Wild Western Witch

inked illustrations and words from my novel The Midnight Balladera ~ 🌙🌵

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New custom Victorian Witch books with tea stained pages made from upcycled books with wicked titles. Made to order ~ up in my etsy store (see bio for link) Night Painter ~ ☆ • ☆ • ☆ • #junkjournal #spellbook #victorian #witch #grimoire #bookbinding #books #bookmaker #upcycled #broomstick #witchhat #witchybooks https://www.instagram.com/p/BsyyMY4AfsS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wexijj4m2r4a

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~ ᎶᏒᎥᎷᎧᎥᏒᏋs~ $33, $44 & $55 DIY handbound spell books or journals • Patina Latex Cover • Traditional Fan binding• secret pocket for your memoirs • colored pages • various embossed symbols • multiple ribbon bookmarks • more books up ----> link in bio• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • #diy #upcycled #grimoire #spellbook #journal #moon #moonphases #pan #triplemoongoddess #halloween #magick #wicca #pentagram #witchcraft #bookofshadows #witchesofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo7u9mHlWG4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19bghi878kd27

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The Star ~ She is depicted half nude through a window, submerged in the night sky, pouring light from a vessel. The Star is able to tap into the dark voids of the universe and shine forth her discoveries. She is awestruck by the wonders beyond and every ray of light acts as her muse to create . This card represents inspiration, gratitude and beauty. Like a sailor navigating his way, should he keep the northern star in his sight, he may find his way. Ruled by Aquarius this card represents hope on the horizon. To honor the star, one should not dim their own light nor hold onto it for themselves. #dailytarot #shine #thestar #esoterica #cosmic #erotica #tarot #illustration #tarot #goddesses #Aquarius #ageoftheaquarius

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The Star ~ She is depicted half nude through a window, submerged in the night sky, pouring light from a vessel. The Star is able to tap into the dark voids of the universe and shine forth her discoveries. She is awestruck by the wonders beyond and every ray of light acts as her muse to create . This card represents inspiration, gratitude and beauty. Like a sailor navigating his way, should he keep the northern star in his sight, he may find his way. Ruled by Aquarius this card represents hope on the horizon. To honor the star, one should not dim their own light nor hold onto it for themselves. #dailytarot #shine #thestar #esoterica #cosmic #erotica #tarot #illustration #tarot #goddesses #Aquarius #ageoftheaquarius

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Where the stars aligned and he first kissed me. #sacredshit 🌙📐✨ #FibonacciSequence #goldenratio (at Eureka Springs, Arkansas)

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I've gotten some cool requests on buying the CD I brought to Viva. I want to mention it's only a lil' demo but it's now listed in my etsy shop. Link in my instagram bio ~ Thanks y'all!! 💋💖 #vintagewestern #hillbillyjazz #rockabilly

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I am a fortune teller and an unfortunate teller... Of tales of love and death. Of the sacred and the lost. Of fates crooked as any ol' snake, gnarled as the wild woods. The stars have written it first, I only tell it as I have seen it- with mine own three eyes. Photo @amberherreraphotographer

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"Tie my high laced boots & warm waiting noose." With my written, illustrated & hand bound book, The Midnight Balladera ~ www.NightPainter.etsy.com photo Amber Hardcastle Herrera

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All 3 of my personalties captured in our natural habitat ~ Photo @amberherreraphotographer #gunsdown #trinity #morrigan #phantomqueen

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How do I swoon for a Harvest Moon ~ Let me count the ways.... Photo credit: @amberherreraphotographer #chickwithawickedtwist #smokebomb #shesmywitch #harvestmoon #sangre #cavewoman #bruja #brujasofinstagram #witchy #crystalball #magick #falling #shitfire

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Grimoire of a Wild Western Witch ~ Hand bound novel with 57 ink illustrations www.etsy.com/shop/nightpainter

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Monkey Pistol Magick ~

The Hura Crepetans were carried by Bandidos and Brujas alike for magik protection. Also called "The Monkey Pistol", 🙊🙈🙉 🔫🔫 the hard fruit possesses 🌙 crescent shaped 🌙 seed capsules that explode like dynamite 💥💣 under heat or pressure. A little Illustrator porn ✒💋, the dried whole fruit was used as a sand jar for ink blotting. This was my first time using a scribe with ink method so it got messy. One more geek fact, upon studying them, I found the Hura Crepetans also fit into sacred geometry 📐 ❇ within the spiral fibonacci ratio. I made this art during the witching hour so it's packed with some extra bang bang

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The Desert Bruja~ Call on Her,

Lady of Thorns, Goddess of the Sun, Desert Dweller;

She lifts our weary shadows up as we cross hellish deserts, knows the trials of the Sun and his relentless fire which consumes even the moon.

She is a vessel of cool water and agave spirits.

She blooms roses upon nopal thorns but she cannot be pierced ~ she has bore enough daggers to have sprouted her own thorns.

In her mesas she throws shade our way. We can always find her, even when we are crawling on our bellies like snakes, our souls dragged through the dirt; she is there, though nothing else exists for miles and miles...

She is there, ever guiding with spiked compass to the north star. ✴

The Midnight Balladera © 2017 Ambur Rockell West

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Homemade Inks

One of the many ways for us artsy witches to use the natural world in our practice is by making our own inks. The act of collecting ingredients, creating the ink, filling it with your energy and intent, and using it in your craft is truly magical! You can add some special touches to your Grimoire, draw sigils, add to potions, create fabulous works of art, or just replace your chemical filled paint with a non-toxic, eco-friendly alternative that is safe for your kids!

Here are some base materials you can use to make inks and the color they generally make. Obviously there’s some variation with the final color depending on the material itself (more or less ripe and the inherent color variation between selections for example) but this will give you a general idea. Also note that the color of some materials can change over a period of time.

Berries

Red Cherry- Red or Light Pink

Pokeberry- Hot Pink

Red Rasberry- Medium Pink

Black Cherry- Pink/Purple

Black Rasberry- Light Purple

Blackberry- Purple

Huckleberry- Denim Blue

Buckthorn- Hunter Green

Nuts

Black Walnut- Rich Brown

Avacado Pits- Red/Pink

Peach Pit- Black

Almond Shells- Black

Other Options

Coffee

Black Bean

Sumac

Spinach

Red Cabbage

Turmeric

Jicama

Onion Skin

Wild Grape

Goldenrod

Experiment! This list is no where near exhaustive and there’s tons of combinations to explore. I will be posting about my process for making inks and providing some examples soon so stay tuned!

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“Who am I, you ask? Why I am the Wild Western Witch! Head Mistress of Sugar Moon Bordello. Thee Violette Clementine. So now that we’ve been improperly introduced, I’m admittedly the least proper of ladies. But do see I am fit to conjure the truth onto these pages.

Pardon me? Oh, hush!  I do read minds, you know.  You distrust a harlot witch’s words?  Well I sensed your disbelief in magic! But my task is not to make a believer of you. If you do not believe in the mystic, I suppose you do not believe in the Great Pyramids or Standing Stones of the world either. In 100 years, our Wild Western society may ever fade into blood and bricks. When hillsides hide wagons, sacred lands are cursed and stories of shamans and Indians portrayed as simply savages.  Cowboys will play a hero every time and healing bathhouses will merely be tourist attractions.”

The Midnight Balladera © 2017 Ambur Rockell West