ENERGY & INTENTION

Online BoS || Rats.N.Ravens|| ♤

[sigilathenaeum]

Hello! Hope everything's okay! Could you do a sigil to help to get a job or pass interviews?

Hello! I'm good, thanks. I do have several for that sort of thing.

I get the job I am looking for with ease I find a job that pays well and makes me happy I impress all potential employers in my interviews Jobs of my choosing will hire me and pay me well I find the perfect job close to home I get the job that is best for me

If you are looking for something different let me know.

[windvexer]

Poll for witches

This is for anyone who self-identifies as a witch. This poll is about assumptions or social pressure about the role of creative spellcrafting in witchcraft.

"Spells" can also broadly refer to magical techniques meant to have an effect on yourself or the world.

This refers to how you practice a large majority of the time; vote with your heart.

When I need to cast a spell...

I never re-use spells, I come up with a new one for everything

I will re-use spells but I always individualize them

I will re-use spells and sometimes individualize them

I will re-use spells but rarely or never individualize them

Thanks to memory issues, everything I do is for the first time

This doesn't apply to my practice/other

Voting ended onJul 4

Reblog to give a unicorn horn to an angel puppy

[magickfromscratch]

“Because you’re difficult, and I am tired.”

I’m avoiding my ex.

I spent decades with this man. He was kind, and he was cruel. I set boundaries and he ignored them. When I brought up grievances, he made extremely coherent arguments about why he was allowed to act the way he did.

If he hurt me, no he didn’t. If he did, it wasn’t that bad. If it was, it couldn’t be helped. All he wanted from me was for me to be “good enough” by ceasing to be myself, and becoming who he wanted me to be. In his mind, he was always in the right.

And I can’t help but think about people who frame deities *exactly* like that. That the hurting will stop when the practitioner becomes good enough. That the gods have the right to violate boundaries. That you can’t control them. That they have to be that way, to help you stop being who you are, so that you can become someone they like better. I have heard this story from too many damned people. It. IS. Abuse. It hurts. It does damage.

But the important question, with my ex, after a time, wasn’t “how could he do this?” Or “does he have the right to act this way?”

It was how much it hurt, and whether I could survive it if I stayed. And I couldn’t.

For a time, there was no safe way to leave. So I lied to myself about how bad it was. I made excuses. That was how I survived.

And what I eventually did, to get out, was to turn into a grey rock. To emotionally disengage entirely. It worked. He filed for divorce, and now I am free.

If you have priest people telling you that god, or the gods, won’t let you leave? Become uninteresting. Do the absolute minimum. Feign benign incompetence. If you can’t leave physically, leave *emotionally*. And when they get bored of you, slip out the back door.

That’s how you escape narcissistic abuse.

[magickfromscratch]

Here's a really simple magical act that I have found to be ridiculously effective.

On one side of one sheet of paper, write out your boundaries with the spirit world.

Examples include:

I do not consent to any "spiritual lessons" which have not been explicitly discussed with me.

I am not "up for grabs" by random deities passing by. There is no relationship unless I consent to it. I work with the following deities...

I do not require any additional suffering, and I do not consent to it; life is hard enough, thank you very much.

If you want to "help," maybe get me more money. If you want to hurt, may I recommend one of our country's billionaires?

My spiritual goals are x, y, and z.

I came to this reality to X, and not to Y.

Add any terms you like, just stick to one page, and keep it legible.

Then just stick it into your wallet and forget about it. I have a wallet phone case, and some people believe that the phone is a magical object. When off, it's a black mirror. When on, it is full of electricity (bottled lightning). And it is definitely a portal of a kind. But I think just having it on your person all the time is sufficient. When spirits approach, point to the paper. If need be, take it out and read it (doing this before entering a magical gathering is also helpful).

[blackthornwren]

Excuse me, but some of us got into witchcraft because we wanted to set shit on fire.

[carbon-heart]

Set on fire and drown in the river, the duality of witchkind 💅

[blackthornwren]

YES 👏

[cultusquercus]

But... but what about burying stuff in the dirt? 🥺

[rosecoloredtarot]

so we got fire, water and earth already

Some of us go into witchcraft because we.... uhhh like to breathe? have an affinity for hang gliding? are lowkey jealous Dorothy got sucked into a tornado!

[hermagicsword]

I like using singing which is basically controlled breathing so that's air as far as I'm concerned

[hemlock-druid]

Searching Etsy for "Nature Witch" and 99% of the thumbnails being AI generated is so frustrating.

[corvidae-witch]

unfortunately, Etsy is an AI minefield nowadays

i've stopped using it because it's so hard to find handmade products amongst all the dropshipped crap :/

[heatherwitch]

I have a few witchy Etsy shops I can recommend!

DeathsHeadDivination by @torque-witch

TheDruidsForest by @thedruidsforest

TheRestlessWitch by @therestlesswitch

PortlandButtonWorks by @portlandbuttonworks

MossoftheWoods by @mossofthewoodsjewelry (makes quality botanical resin jewelery, I got a necklace 8 years ago and it’s still in great condition)

And a few non-Etsy shops:

Willow Wings Witch Shop by @breelandwalker

The Spiral House Shop (and Portland Button Works) by @spiralhouseshop

MossoftheWoods by @mossofthewoodsjewelry

[cultusquercus]

They're not on tumblr to my knowledge, but I know the folks at Leodrune Press, and IMO their books are more interesting than a lot of the stuff I regularly see recommended.

[thegodwhocums]

@candlesandcantrips [shop link] has nice quality handmade beeswax candles as well

[candlesandcantrips]

Thanks so much for the mention! 🥰

[ambermotta]

Working with Dragons — My POV

When you look up "draconic magick" or "dragon magick" there is not really a lot to read. In fact, a lot of the info you'll find looks like a copy-paste from one another.

So I thought I would bring my own insight into what working with dragons feels like to me. Not exactly an informative post, just a "personal experience" one.

I believe it is important for newcomers to read about variety of experiences because otherwise, they might start feeling their practice is "wrong" if things are different for them.

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If it wasn't clear already...

UPG WARNING!!!

This is my experience only, other practitioners WILL have different takes on working with dragons.

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Regarding Identity

For the majority of my journey with dragons, I have only worked with one dragon. They reached out to me, but took me years to finally feel ready to work with them, and since I was still a bit insecure, I didn't really seek out other dragons.

By the way, I use they/them pronouns because I don't feel a particular gender signature coming from them.

They are strongly tied to energies of the ocean and I have only seen them as very serpent-like.

The other main dragon I have worked with, who showed up a lot later, is a dragon strongly associated with fire and protection, and his energy is mostly masculine from what I can tell.

As of now, this is what I can share about them. One of the things you'll see being talked about dragons is that you should not talk about the ones you work with unless they give you permission to, and for the most part, this has also been my experience.

They can be quite secretive — I had the ocean dragon very often remind me to stay quiet about the work I'm doing, and be very careful about what I share. Not just about them, but about myself.

Some things need not be secret forever, but when they ARE supposed to be done quietly, I will get the nagging, almost intrusive feeling, of keeping my mouth shut whenever I am itching to say something I shouldn't.

They have also shown to be secretive when we work together, as in I'm instructed to do something a certain way but not told why until the work is done.

And I understand why afterwards.

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Demanding?

From all dragons I have worked with, they have always been quite insistent. Be it regarding how something should be done, how to behave, or on what to get.

Please do not misinterpret this as being pushy or forcing boundaries.

What I mean is that some spiritual beings can be very subtle with their messages when they want to tell you something... But for me, dragons aren't subtle. They keep sending signs and messages until I get it.

by Kou Takano

As for being demanding, it depends on your relationship with them.

They were not demanding at first because I was still unsure of what I wanted, but once I decided to commit, they definitely started communicating more and giving instructions on work we should do together.

So there's a greater degree of commitment that we both respect.

As for being "demanding" with offerings, to me they seldom ask for those. If I do it it's because I want to, not because they have asked or shown they needed it. In terms of spiritual beings I have met, they seem to be the least interested in offerings or praise. But again, this is just my experience.

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Personality

It can vary drastically from one dragon to another.

For me, the Ocean Dragon is serene, regal, mysterious, but standing in their presence can also feel scary and can make you feel small. They also have a more turbulent side.

The fire dragon feels much more assertive, fierce, loyal, but at the same time less "massive" in size and less intimidating somehow. They remind me of a knight or paladin archetype to be fair.

by Carolina-eade on Deviantart

So I assume that personality and energy signature, as well as your relationship with them, will change drastically from one dragon to another.

I have not experienced finicky, prideful, or petty behaviour from them. Dragons are often considered in media and mythology to have big egos, but to me, they feel the exact opposite... wise and humble, but their presence is so massive I feel one must be very careful not to mistake their good disposition for weakness.

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Conduct when working with dragons

I find that while they are wondrous and inspiring, their energy can feel intimidating, and maybe because of that I feel like I must be more serious when working with them. I am not necessarily being formal around them, but I do have a great deal of respect for them and other creatures in their presence.

It feels more like respecting the elders than an authority figure though.

As for magical conduct, I have never had to work with them on anything that did harm to others. In fact, they have heavily aided me in works that focused on helping others.

They have also helped me through my fair share of shadow work. So, both right and left hand path.

You may see some folks claiming that dragons have no qualms with helping mages with "dark magic" and that you actually must work on keeping balance, "working on both sides of the coin" if you will.

They have never demanded that of me, though I recognize it could just be in respect for my decision of not wanting to do most baneful work.

I can't say I fully understand their nature and moral compass yet.

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Types of Dragons

So far, they seem to come in all sorts of shapes. The traditional western-type dragon is far from being the only one or the most common one. Some may look much more like snakes or birds than to winged lizards.

I can see some elemental associations, but I don't think they are restricted to working with just one element.

Unfortunately, since I don't know many dragons, I am not sure if they are always tied to an element or how many types there are.

However, the ones I met did seem to "dwell" in certain environments. The ocean dragon I only see in water, and the fire dragon I have seen on top of a rocky hill, looking down a vast, dry, sunny field.

As for dragon guardians of the elements, directions, etc – I haven't met them, haven't worked with them, so I don't know if there is such a thing.

by Kou Takano

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Mythological Dragons

I have not met a lot of people who worked with widely known dragons, such as Tiamat, Fáfnir from norse mythology, or Yamata-no-Orochi from japanese tales.

But I feel working with them would be a singular experience, just as it is with any other dragon (or spiritual being for that matter). It could be easier considering you would have at least an idea of who they are and what they may like, either from "lore", ancient worship, or SPG (Shared Personal Gnosis).

This is still something I'm thinking about exploring in the future.

Fáfnir, found on Harreira.com

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Conclusion

This was just an overview of what working with them feels like to me. I'm definitely not as experienced as some other folks I've talked to, and my practice is constantly constantly evolving.

So far, it's been great! I'd love to hear from other people on draconic magick.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask! Or share your experiences as well!

Thank you for reading!

[stars-and-branches]

In the witchcraft community we talk about witch's ladders a lot but y'all are seriously sleeping on the potential paper chains have. Yes the ones you made in Kindergarten.

For example, I just did a protection spell for myself and my community by making a paper chain from recycled local newspaper and some light sigilwork on each loop. You could do all sorts of workings with paper chains by changing the material, using color correspondences, sigils, etc.

[michaelnordeman]

Liverwort/Anemone hepatica/blåsippa. Värmland, Sweden (18 April 2022).

[autistobrat]

this too shall pass but the fuck was that for

[theprosperitywitch]

Whispers at the Crossroads

At the edge of night, where the lanterns fade,

I walk the path the dead have laid.

Veil-thin echoes call my name,

Soft as smoke, sharp as flame.

The wind hums secrets in hollowed bone,

A lullaby sung in undertone.

Candles flicker, shadows bend,

Time unravels—there is no end.

Silver coins and whispered pleas,

Footsteps lost among the trees.

I stand between, I call, I wait,

The spirits speak. I mark their fate.

Ash and myrrh, salt and stone,

No one truly walks alone.

For death is but a breath between,

A threshold crossed, unseen, serene.

[witchble]

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is clean your room, open the window, and let the air move again. Energy needs circulation just like lungs do.

[juniper-divination-and-witchery]

The "All Snakes Day" Myth: What Actually Happened in Ireland

Every March, the same story circulates in pagan spaces:

St. Patrick’s “snakes” were Druids

Patrick was a conqueror

March 17th is a holiday celebrating the destruction of Irish paganism

The problem is that none of these points are true. Ireland never had snakes. The snake miracle was invented centuries after Patrick died. And the Christianization of Ireland looked nothing like a genocide. The “All Snakes Day” story feels meaningful, but it’s built on fabrications — and pagans interested in Irish history deserve the actual record instead.

Where “All Snakes Day” Comes From

The pagan author and Druid Isaac Bonewits coined the term “All Snakes Day” and wrote songs about welcoming the “snakes” back to Ireland. Wild Hunt, 2012 The claim is that Patrick’s “snakes” were actually Druids, making his legendary snake-banishing a stand-in for pagan persecution. The idea spread through neopagan communities online in the 2000s and 2010s and became a seasonal staple.

Bonewits was the founder of Ár nDraíocht Féin and a well-known figure in American paganism, which helped give the story credibility in some circles.

Ireland Never Had Snakes

The most basic problem with the All Snakes Day story: there are no snakes in Ireland’s fossil record at all.

Ireland’s land bridge to Britain closed around 8,500 years ago as glaciers melted after the last Ice Age. Snakes hadn’t reached Ireland before the sea cut the connection. Popular Science, 2024 Nigel Monaghan, keeper of natural history at the National Museum of Ireland, reviewed the fossil record and put it plainly: “At no time has there ever been any suggestion of snakes in Ireland — nothing for St. Patrick to banish.” National Geographic

In fact, writers were already noting Ireland’s lack of snakes before Patrick was even born. The Roman author Solinus recorded it in the 3rd century CE. Science Musings Patrick had nothing to do with it.

The Snake Miracle Was Added Centuries Later

Patrick’s earliest biographies were written in the 7th century, about 200 years after his death. The snake miracle appears in none of them.

The story first shows up in the 11th century. A more well-known version was written by Jocelin of Furness in the 12th century. Ireland’s Folklore and Traditions

Celtic Reconstructionist scholar P. Sufenas Virius Lupus said in 2012:

The hagiographies of St. Patrick did not include this particular ‘miracle’ until quite late, relatively speaking — his earliest hagiographies are from the 7th century, whereas this incident doesn’t turn up in any of them until the 11th century. Wild Hunt, 2012

There’s also a logic problem with the “Druids as snakes” reading. The 7th century biographies by Muirchú and Tírechán have Patrick fighting Druids constantly. He fights them openly, with earthquakes, curses, and skull-crushing. Wikipedia: Muirchú moccu Machtheni If later writers wanted to describe a purge of Druids, they had no reason to suddenly become cryptic. It had already been said plainly.

The earliest anyone proposed that snakes meant Druids was W.Y. Evans-Wentz in Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries (1911) and even he called it personal speculation. Morgan Daimler, reviewing the text, described the logic as “faulty.” Living Liminally

What the Conversion of Ireland Actually Looked Like

Christianity was already in Ireland before Patrick arrived.

In 431 CE, Pope Celestine sent a bishop named Palladius to Ireland as the “first bishop to the Scotti believing in Christ.” The wording matters: you don’t send a bishop to a community that doesn’t exist yet. There were already Christians there. Prosper of Aquitaine, Chronicon, 431 CE, via Wikipedia: Palladius Britannica History Ireland

The real Patrick was, in his own telling, enslaved in Ireland as a teenager, escaped, and came back as a missionary. His own writing describes beatings, robbery, and real doubt about whether his work had any lasting effect. Strange Horizons / Bridgette Da Silva Living Liminally He was not a conqueror, and his writings are still readable today at confession.ie.

The druid-fighting warrior version of Patrick came from Muirchú’s 7th century Vita Sancti Patricii, written about 200 years after Patrick’s death. It had a clear political goal: promoting the Armagh church’s claim to lead all of Irish Christianity. Wikipedia: Muirchú Strange Horizons It’s church propaganda, not a historical record.

Ireland stayed mostly pagan for eight or nine generations after Patrick died. Living Liminally, citing Da Silva Druids kept working as folk magicians and diviners. Irish law texts from the 7th and 8th centuries CE still describe druids (draoithe) as active in society. Wikipedia: Druid Some joined the Christian clergy as that became the new intellectual class. Strange Horizons, citing Peter Berresford Ellis

Pagan beliefs didn’t die. They blended. Samhain became All Saints’ Day. Brigid’s feast overlapped with Imbolc. Belief in the fairy folk was still alive when Irish schoolchildren recorded local folklore from older community members in the 1930s that is now accessible on Dúchas.ie.

This conversion was a slow process that took centuries. It was not a genocide. There is no historical evidence of a violent purge of Druids.

Why the Myth Keeps Circulating

The “pagan survival” idea — that modern paganism descends from an unbroken pre-Christian lineage that survived persecution — is emotionally appealing but historically weak. Ronald Hutton’s Triumph of the Moon (Oxford University Press, 1999) showed that modern pagan witchcraft is a new religious movement, not an ancient survival. The claimed ancient roots are mostly Victorian and 20th-century inventions. All Snakes Day fits this pattern: a modern story that feels like recovered history.

The genocide framing also gives communities a shared story of persecution and a sense of historical roots. But it’s not a good reason to accept bad history.

The story also gets used as a simple argument against Catholicism and Christianity, turning a complex religious shift into a villain story. That doesn’t help anyone who actually wants to understand Ireland.

These myths ends up hurting Irish and Irish diaspora communities trying to connect with real heritage. The people most drawn to the story often end up with invented history instead of the real thing.

What to Do Instead

The impulse behind All Snakes Day is not the problem. Celebrating pre-Christian Irish culture, honoring Ireland’s traditions before Christianity, wearing a snake pin — none of that needs a fake genocide behind it.

The Henge of Keltria offers a “Feast of Age” as a March 17th alternative: a community celebration not built on invented history. The Witching Path

Better still: learn what Irish people actually did on St. Patrick’s Day. The Dúchas Schools’ Collection — a collection of folklore recorded by Irish schoolchildren in the late 1930s — documents the real customs: the shamrock’s religious meaning, the “drowning the shamrock” drinking tradition, St. Patrick’s Cross worn by women and children, the sally stick carried for household protection, holy well patterns, and farming markers tied to the agricultural year. All those traditions are covered in my next article.

You can also critique the plastic Paddy commercialization, the green beer, the novelty hats, the way Irish-American culture rebuilt the holiday, without inventing victims to make the point.

The actual history of Ireland’s religious shift is more interesting than the myth. Beliefs layered and blended over centuries. Druids became clergy. Fairy faith lived alongside Christianity into living memory. That story is worth knowing and worth protecting from the tidier, false version.

[sistersbyfreya]

[crossroadsofkeyandflame]

Telling A Deity/Spirit How Your Day Went and Finishing it Out Like:

[khaire-traveler]

I believe it's a good idea to check in on deity relationships to see if they're becoming transactional. Reaching out with the sole expectation that you must give an offering in return, reaching out only when something has gone wrong/you need help, etc. If this is the type of relationship you want with deities, that's absolutely ok, but if it's not, then it's good to be aware of these behaviors. It can lead to feelings of burn out and exhaustion within your spiritual practice, especially if there's a silent expectation placed upon yourself to constantly be giving and giving and giving every time you interact with a deity. In my opinion, a religion or spirituality should uplift you. If your practice feels more exhausting than anything else, it's ok to take a step back and examine the reasons for that. It's never a bad thing to take care of yourself. 🧡

[gifts-of-heimdall-runes]

Norse doors ornamental carvings that depict Jormungandr, the Norse serpent.

Original drawing.

Edited using ChromaLab & smartphone.