praise @harvestmother - Tumblr Blog

Hi, lovelies! In honor of the supermoon tonight, I thought I’d share a sigil I created that I plan to infuse into a silver necklace of mine… Use it and share it however you’d like.

play6irl

thug-gifs

Reblog in 40 seconds and you will be put on the path to achieve your dreams and find your fortune

babydreamgirl-deactivated201902

Wow goals

eclecticwitcheryafoot

🔮✨⬆🎤🎸📝🎨🎭⬆✨🔮

Emoji spell to help increase creativity.

Likes charge. Reblogs cast.

theblossomwitch

A sigil I created. It stands for, “I AM PROTECTED FROM ALL NEGATIVITY”. I needed this today and drew it on my thigh so it would stay hidden from others. I felt its presence and all day I was kept safe. As an empath, I used it like a filter, avoid the negative emotions and let in only the good. :)

hellboundwitch

Political Witchcraft Primer

Y’all, let’s face it. There are a lot of terrible things happening in a lot of terrible places. Sometimes it feels like everything is shitty and there’s nothing we can do about it. But then a few of us remember that we’re witches and feel called to act magically.

Political Witchcraft, for the purposes of this post, is about that call. It’s about magic for a cause. Which causes are up to the individual witch, who may take on as many or as few as they desire or can handle.

Typically political witchcraft manifests itself in the form of curses and hexes on the opposing side, and while that is definitely a practice that has its place, I wanted to make this post to broaden the scope a little. Because while I’m the last person to curse shame anyone, I also think that it’s not always the most effective route for change, and can in fact, make things worse than they were before you got there.

So what else is there to consider? Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Move With The Movement

SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS: The first place I would look is to the already established movement behind whatever cause or goal you’re supporting. Take the time to do a little research into whatever issue you’re going to be casting into. Primarily what you’re looking to find are their needs and objectives.

For example: let’s say you want to abolish the death penalty. You could do a ritual or spell with that purpose in mind, and that would be great! But you might find more rewards and results in taking more focused action. A quick google search shows that there are several organizations that dedicate time to ending the death penalty, and one thing they all do is work on a case by case basis.

Some organizations fight for a stay of execution, while others, like the Innocence Project work to exonerate those wrongly convicted, reform the system so that fewer innocent people are wrongly convicted to start with, and they also provide support to those who have been exonerated, all of which might be of interest to your cause.

Remember, oftentimes it’s not just about the end game issue. You might be fighting for a single issue, but in order to achieve that, the people doing the work may need office supplies, the children of the community may need food, the families may need shelter…It’s not just a single issue, it’s a web, and the more spots on the web you find to strengthen with magic, the stronger it will be.

And of course, most movements need volunteers and boots on the ground, which leads to…

SUPPORT YOUR ACTIVISM: Another option is to use magic to support your own work within the cause. If you’re calling your legislators, for instance, you might want to add a bit of magical oomph to your words so that they’ll be heard and followed.

(The same goes if you’re writing letters, although please don’t do something like, obviously dust your paper with a magical powder! We are living in a post-anthrax world, and sending powders to the government is going to likely be seen as an attack. You’re trying to fight for change, not get yourself arrested!)

Volunteering in the movement will give you the ability to have a hands-on approach through “mundane” efforts, but also give you a greater understanding of what actually needs to be done to achieve your goals, and will better prepare you to use magic for them.

Cursing: Be Smart!

I have nothing against throwing down some curses when needed, but I’ve found this tends to be the default action in political witchcraft, even when it’s not the wisest or most effective choice.

For example, let’s say you put a certain police force in a hot and sour jar and shake it up every time there’s a protest or riot, because fuck the police. That might make you feel better, but is it helping? I think that agitating an already tense or violent situation can cause even more issues.

I would look to something like a binding in that case, not because curses are bad and you should feel bad, but because riling up the people with the guns who are hostile toward the crowd they’re facing doesn’t seem like the recipe for a happy ending.

Which isn’t to say that such magic doesn’t have its place, but in political witchcraft you need to make sure your efforts are lining up with your goals. That’s the point.

When In Doubt…

If you don’t have a lot of time to devote to figuring out where to start, but you still want to help, here are three pretty universal areas each causes needs help with:

MONEY: I can’t think of a single cause I support that doesn’t need more money. Doing magical work to help support an organization’s finances is almost always going to be a helpful thing. You can do prosperity work for them, or even enchant your own donation to draw more in kind for them.

SUPPORT: Activism, quite frankly, is tiring, and sometimes even dangerous. Magical work to help fight against burnout, bringing in more people to share the work and burdens, and generally boosting the efforts of the people who are fighting the good fight is basically an area where you can’t go wrong. And if the volunteers and workers are in danger, protection magic might be called for.

ATTENTION: This is a big one, and a lot of us here on tumblr see how hard it is to get attention from the public or the mainstream media for the issues that matter to us. Well, doing magic to bring the issue to the forefront, to bring attention to the people who are working for your cause and their efforts, and getting people involved and engaged is usually a good place to focus your work.

Positive stories for the organizations and activists (or even negative press for their popponents), getting their proposals seen by influential figures, spreaidng the word that they even exist…these are all things a lot of issues and the people who fight for them need.

The more you get involved, the more ways you’re likely to find to help, but hopefully this is going to be helpful for people trying to get started or trying to achieve more focused results in their work!

spiritvexer

Questions to ask your spirit friends

This post was written by Thicket, Rosemary, Tom, and Alexandria.

Questions for all spirits

How are you?

By what name may I call you, if you wish to give me one?

What offerings do you enjoy? How often do you need them? (This does not mean you must give offerings as often as a spirit requests. Do things on your own terms)

What is your true nature?

What laws do you obey?

Do you live near me?

Why did you answer my call today? (alternatively: Why are you here?)

How do you manifest to me? (Visions, sensations, light orbs, etc)

What do you like to do for fun? What are your pastimes?

What is your preferred method of communication? (Psychic, tarot, runes, other systems)

Is your spirit home comfortable?

Questions for guardians

Is there any danger to me at this time?

What is your normal method of protecting me? (Magic, brute force, cunning)

Are you able to do your job alone? (Be careful, some spirits may find this question to be insulting)

How may I assist you in keeping me safe?

Would you like a thoughtform to aid you in your task?

How are my wards and shields?

In what area are my defenses lacking?

Is there any pitfall or dangerous situation I am getting close to?

Who do I need to be careful of at this time?

Do you require any healing?

What problems can we take care of together?

Alexandria says: “What attacks are necessary at this time?”

Tom says: “Do not listen to Alexandria, be careful when engaging the enemy directly.”

Questions for guides

What form are you most comfortable in?

Tom and Alexandria say: “This is mostly for human curiosity and does not really matter.” Thicket disagrees; the form a creature can take can communicate very valuable information to the practitioner.

What do you think about the direction I am going in?

What paths are available to me right now?

Tom says: “Do not agonize over the future.” I think this is personal advice and not really a question.

What am I doing right now that could be dangeous?

What advice do you have for me? (Tom and Alexandria feel this is an excellent question)

What do you feel the outcomes are for this situation? Tom and Alexandria warn you to not be constrained by the limited futures a guide can show you.

How can I improve my life right now?

How can I aid you in your goals of guiding and directing me to a more secure life?

What is your goal for my life?

How long have you been with me? (Tom and Alexandria doubt the usefulness of this question, especially Tom. They communicate that this has no real bearing on a spirit’s ability to do it’s job – Thicket again disagrees)

What situations should I contact you about? (Serious, casual, everyday, rare)

Questions for helpers and servants

How are you able to assist me?

How am I able to assist you?

Are you able to carry out the tasks I have given you?

What is preventing you from carrying out these tasks, if anything?

What is your favorite task to complete?

What do you get out of helping me?

Do you require energy or recharging at this time?

What do you need in order to carry out your tasks?

Do you need a period of rest? Is it regularly required?

Have you discovered anything important that you need to share with me?

Questions for companions and friends

How are you feeling today?

Is everything comfortable for you?

Do you feel you are receiving enough attention from me lately?

Is there anything you would like to talk about?

Tell me about your day. (Tom especially likes this question; Alexandria is fond of it).

What can I get for you right now?

Are you pleased with your spirit home? Does it require upkeep?

What have you been up to lately?

Have any of your preferences changed? (Alexandria likes this question a lot)

What can I bring you as a special gift some time soon?

Is there any place you would like to travel to soon?

Am I doing anything lately that is bothering you?

How are you getting along with my spirit family?

Do you still enjoy the offerings you are receiving?

Other Notes

Some spirits appreciate being chattered to all day long, just like a close friend. Other spirits prefer to be contacted only when a serious matter arises, or even not at all. When greeting a new spirit, ask them how much they would like to communicate in general.

Do not directly ask for names. Names are serious business in the spirit world! Instead ask, “by what name may I call you,” indicating you are not searching for a true name. Tom feels that even these given names should be kept somewhat secret, and another nickname used to communicate about this spirit to humans. Alexandria somewhat agrees. Do not be offended or worried if a spirit refuses to give you any sort of name at all.

Do not confuse offerings with worship. Offerings are more like gifts – literally, you are just “offering” something to a spirit. A cup of coffee, a shot of liquor, some food, or even a nice glass of water makes a good gift. Just as you would offer snacks and beverages to any guest in your home, politely offer spirits something just to be a gracious host.

Avoid asking questions that give spirits leverage over you. “How do you feel about me?” is a question asked primarily by insecure people. Tom thinks this is harsh. Alexandria thinks this is correct. Some of these questions you may feel are somewhat unavoidable in companionship relationships. Let me encourage you to just be careful.

Tom wishes to leave a final note: “Always be careful. Spirits are not always what they seem.”

elizabetbennet

A R T E M I S goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, childbirth and virginity

pagansuncensored-deactivated202

Still waiting for all these white Kemetics to cite their fucking sources on why it's okay for them to co-opt yet another POC pantheon and disrespect them while claiming this is totes how the religion works guys.

smarmykemetic

@thetwistedrope I’m on mobile, care to enlighten anon?

smarmykemetic

Or @satsekhem, sorry for forgetting u for a second there

satsekhem

I feel like this was discussed in the Karenga quotes TTR was posting. But I don’t really think this poor fool actually wants to be educated so I won’t be looking around for stuff unless I get asked directly.

thetwistedrope

BBJ posted that quote:

“Loprieno (1988) has usefully divided the Kemetic view of the foreign stranger (Auslander) into concepts of Topos and Mimesis. The Auslander-Topos refers to an idealized portrait of the world which serves rhetorical and ideological ends as distinct from literal ones. In this view… strangers are stereotyped and placed in the context of the un-Maatian world as distinct from the Maatian one. On the other hand, the Auslander-Mimesis is a more realistic conception which though still rooted in cultural concepts, allows for treatment of foreigners as individuals and recognition of their humanity and ability to act in positive ways, especially if they are acculturated in Kemetic culture. In this regard, it is important to note that, as Tefnin (1986) and O'Conner (1982, 194ff) contend, this attitude was always a cultural one, never a racial one. Thus as Loprieno (1988, 23) states, we are dealing here with the concepts of “Unkultur” and “Kultur,” with isfet and Maat being defining characteristics of each respectively. Likewise, other distinctions between peoples were in national terms not racial ones in spite of early Egyptological assumptions that they had discovered racial discourse in this or that text (Tefnin 1986, 47).“

And suggested looking into “ acculturated foreigner ancient Egypt “ if anon actually wants to learn, which they probably don’t.

There is also this post.

Seriously. we’ve sourced our shit. So many books talk about how Egypt was imperialistic, how they stole shit and incorporated it the same way that the US does. That they let foreigners completely immerse into teh culture and treated them like native born (as far as we know) to the point that sometimes forieng princes were more loyal to Egypt than their home country. So basically if you acted like an Egyptian, you were an Egyptian.

You all just want to piss and moan and make up problems where there are none. I’m srsly over this shit right now.

And thank you for fucking erasing our PoC community members. again.

temples-wreathed-in-laurel-deac

Leto with Artemis and Apollon ♥ Source: http://tarihvearkeoloji.blogspot.com.tr/2014/12/leto-she-wolf.html

@mythologyrules thank you for giving me Leto feels xD

sisterofiris

Artemis is strength.

She is muscles aching and feet rough with calluses hitting the ground. She is nimble fingers pulling brambles off clothing despite the sting. She is deep breaths, hands clasping branches, toes curling around riverbed stones, glares that say I don’t care, I’m doing it anyway. She is the untamed. The primal.

The hidden.

She is dirt under fingernails, blood under bandages, lips pressed against each other in defiance. She is clenched teeth and swallowed tears. She is knees curled up against guts, heart and lungs to stifle their aching. She is masks of bark and twigs, carefully sewed to hide the pounding veins within. She is steps in the darkness, ears that make every rustle into a predator, and legs that go on anyway. She is survival. She is roots gripping the earth, rabbits venturing from their burrows despite the rain. She is not fearless. But she is stubborn.

She is an overturned stomach, sweaty palms and the echo of a voice that says I don’t care, I’m doing it anyway.

Artemis is quiet strength, like a deer darting out of sight.

#artemis

equilibrium-at-sea

Developing the Godphone

Many people have asked me publicly and privately about how to develop a relationship with the gods. I cannot speak for everyone, but I can certainly give you tips that worked for me.

1. Learn how the gods communicate. There are many ways the gods can communicate with us, and developing the “ear” to hear them is both difficult and important. Some examples are:

Divination - runes, Tarot cards, etc.

Animals - if the gods are associated with an animal (like Anansi with spiders or Ishtar with lions), you might start to see them (or images of them). Pay attention to what they’re doing, but don’t be convinced that every bird or everystray cat is trying to tell you something. Use your discernment.

Weather - like animals, if the gods are associated with a particular kind of weather (Thor with thunderstorms, for example), those might be a good time to reach out to them.

New cravings/interests - you’ve never liked cinnamon before, but now you really want it… but you don’t want to eat it either. What gives? Put it on an altar and see who responds.

Other people - Sometimes the gods use us as mouthpieces, so listen up for when someone says something profound that you don’t expect. Maybe they aren’t the one holding the strings just then.

2. Listen. Once you start paying attention to these things, the gods will communicate more. But you can’t just hear what you want to hear; just because you really want a relationship with Freyja doesn’t mean that she’s going to talk to you just yet. This is okay. Don’t judge what you hear, just hear it.

3. Show that you’re listening. When you realize you suddenly love Mr. Ibis from American Gods and can’t figure out why, reread that part of the story. Or look him up, do some research. Show them that you hear them. In the “godphone” metaphor, it’s you picking up the phone when they call so you can start a dialogue.

4. Ask for help if you need it. So some of this stuff isn’t working for you and you’re frustrated–ask for help. It’s okay to say you don’t have an intuition for this stuff right away. I spent the first three years of my practice praying specifically for the ears to hear their messages, even when I got pretty good at it.

5. Give them gifts. There are so many ways to thank a god for their attention, or ask for it, and just like any human, they really love it! You can:

Offer them food they like

Light incense with a scent they like

Light a candle with their colors

Wear a piece of jewelry to honor them

Write to them (especially true for wordy gods and tricksters)

Do divination

Make projects for them (I’ve made key rings, calligraphy, and illumination projects, while my friends have done devotional embroidery or even research papers for their gods).

Collect jokes (if they enjoy jokes of course)

Wear their colors

Talk about them to others

Share tea/alcohol/water with them

Research them and talk about the results of that research

6. Go back to step 1. Go back to listening. Did they like the jewelry you wore today? It’s okay if they didn’t, just ask them what they’d prefer instead. You develop these relationships like any other.

Trust that they’ll tell you what they want.

Trust that you’ll be able to hear them.

Trust yourself.

equilibrium-at-sea

Reblogging for people who recently saw my “Modern Pagan Ways to Worship” post and want more in-depth information.

crossroadsbela

You asked me once, mother “Why six seeds?”

I didn’t have an answer for you back than but right now I am staring at him and he is tracing out my name onto my hipbone with a smile and I think I’ve found your answer.

Why six seeds?

1. Because he handed me twelve. We both know that spitting out three or nine would not have been nearly so poetic and you always scoffed at my dramatics but it is because of my love for the symbolic that I am with you for half my time.

2. Because when he crawls into bed his feet are bare and bloody and mother, he cannot help it. Every path he walks down is drenched in the stuff. And mother, my hands, when I place them in his, my hands are just as bloody.

3. Because of the way he looks at me sometimes. Like he wants to chain me down and never let me see the light of day. Because he tells me that the way I look at him is even worse.

4. Because he taught me hunger when he pressed me to his bed and he taught me love when he let me leave his arms for yours. Because while you may hate the bruises he leaves me with, know that he lets me press double the amount into his flesh. Because he tells me that my kisses feel like dying and he smiles when he says it.

5. Because with you I was a princess. With you I was a daughter. With you I always trailed behind (you with your honeysuckle and rosebuds, me with my nettle and belladonna). And mother, with him, I am a wife, I am a queen.

6. Because mother, I hear that you created something called winter to terrorize the mortals with while I’m gone. I hear it’s cold. But, I want you to know that I spend those six months warm, curled up beside him and he traces my lips and feeds me food laced with sin and he whispers “my queen, my queen“ against my blood stained hands.

Mother, I wanted you to be the first to know. I made the right choice.

-From Persephone, To Demeter, By: L.D.