[ohchopin]

Chopin’s Grave, All Souls’ Day

[ofmudandsand]

City life can certainly be interesting.

[ofmudandsand]

No, mother, I have not gotten over ofwoodandbone deactivating and a "lottery spell" blog taking over the url, nor do I intend to be over it.

[bewitchdocrime]

Hi! we are be witch do crime, a discord community of over 100 witches. Our members practice different crafts and have different levels of experience. Everyone is welcome to join our supportive, fun-loving family!

We have channels for various types of practices and identities. We’re also starting a book club, we do tarot readings and play video games together. Our community is very inclusive and lgbt+ friendly – having a safe, warm atmosphere is important to us.

If all that sounds good, join our discord by clicking this link!  

A special thanks to our admin @kampflesbisch​ for creating the community <3

[ofmudandsand]

I'm in this server, and honestly, it's a wonderful group of individuals. They're incredibly respectful of different people and their different crafts, something which tends to be lacking in the online witch communities, especially on Tumblr. At least, it's lacking in my opinion.

[byjove]

what city slickers don’t understand is that weird noises always come from the forest and we just ignore it

[byjove]

if you go out to investigate and get got then that is on you, ignore it and go back to sleep like a rational person

[formerly-flosswolves-moved-deac]

Tarot Asks

[aviculor]

The Fool: Something you’ve always wanted to try

The Magician: Something you’re very good at

The High Priestess: One thing you wish you knew

The Empress: A woman you really admire

The Emperor: A man you really admire

The Hierophant: Something you believe in

The Lovers: A person who makes you very happy

The Chariot: A prize or award you’ve won

Strength: Something you struggle with

The Hermit: Favourite way to spend a day alone

The Wheel Of Fortune: Something you wish you could change

Justice: A decision you wish you could do over

The Hanged Man:A time when you wished someone would listen to you

Death: Someone you really miss

Temperance: Your ideal day

The Devil: Who you talk to when you’re dealing with big issues

The Tower: Something that changed your life

The Star: Someone you consider perfect

The Moon: Something you fear

The Sun: Your happiest memory

Judgement: Your favourite song(s)

The World: Your dream job

[ofmudandsand]

To Bring Money

In order to reap a reward, you must first make a sacrifice.

Crush into a powder bay leaves, lemon rind, and the eggshell of a goose.

Find a vessel. A cup, a bowl, a vase. Any will suffice. Place into it the money you have on you. Bills, coins, anything.

Mix the money with the powder, and as you do so, speak over it.

"Senten ih scaz Senten siu rasco Minne ih naph.”

Leave it in the moonlight over night, with your wallet or purse empty and open next to it. 

The next day, take the money from the vessel, and disperse it amongst others. Give it to those in need, lend it to a friend, tip someone at a café. Simply make sure that it comes into multiple hands, without you spending it.

[germanicseidr]

Concept of a Sibbe

One’s own sibbe/clan was the most important aspect in the life of a Germanic. The word itself comes from a proto-Germanic term Sebjo which refers to a band of people bound by a treaty or oath. A sibbe did not necessarily just consist of people who were related by blood. 

A sibbe was a community of people which usually included no more than 50 families. This community was everything in the eyes of a Germanic. The source of one’s energy, purpose and goals was not directed by the Gods but the sibbe in which the person lived. To be banned from their sibbe because of a crime was one of the worst punishments possible. 

The sibbe also determines the characteristics of the people living in it. Each sibbe had their own special focus per example: courage, poetry, justice, jurisdiction. The kind of work you did, all depended on the focus of your own sibbe. 

Each individu in a sibbe lived to honour their sibbe by his/her deeds. Even one’s morality was determined by their sibbe and not by their own morality. Honour was very important as noticed in the Havamal: “Cattle die, kinsmen die the self must also die. I know one thing which never dies, the reputation of each dead man”

The construct of a sibbe also has a weakness. One’s bad deed could bring down the reputation of an entire sibbe. Some concepts of a sibbe were adopted by Christianity per example, cheating was a punishable crime, homosexuality was seen as unclean, bastard children were seen as unlucky and a shame in the family. France per example, which was former Celtic territory, did not shame their bastard children.

The whole concept of a sibbe was either introduced in Western and Northern Europe by the proto-indo Europeans in the bronze age or a concept which started with the practice of agriculture. The whole idea of a clan working together in order to maximize the chances of survival is actually much older and dates back to paleolithic times. Even the Neanderthals lived in small communities. 

Another important aspect of living in such a close community is ancestor worship, which actually predates the worship of any God. I will also write an article about ancestor worship because it is closely connected to the whole idea of a sibbe and an incredibly important part of the Germanic faith. 

I have to add that these sibbe laws which were taken over by Christianity that I described, do not reflect the opinions of me about them. I have nothing against homosexuality or bastard children. I’m merely just describing the situation 2000 years ago. 

artist photo household: https://www.deviantart.com/ethicallychallengedOther photo shows how a clan would have looked like during paleolithic times and the last photo shows a Germanic settlement.

[galdrastafir-by-raevedis]

FJÓLDÖYSTAVE will cause someone to slowly curse themselves as they spread lies.

The curse of the Fjóldöystave will cause the target to experience an increasing sense of “being dead inside”, growing in intensity every time a lie or false rumour is spread by the person.

The staves themselves are to be painted onto a piece of parchment or paper with ink mixed from charcoal and spit. The parchment is then folded up and wrapped in black cloth. Once this is done, the staves are to be hidden inside, or if not possible; simply near the home of your target.

The purpose of this is not to stop the lies from being spread, but rather cause the target to start even more lies and rumours. As this escalates, the lies will also become gradually more and more incredible, to the point where others will start to realise the obvious falseness and cause the web of lies to collapse in on itself, taking the target’s ego and all credibility with it.

FFFF

[ofmudandsand]

To Bring Pain and Misfortune to Another

Gather all together red chili pepper, lemon, nettles and thorns (not of roses), and iron nails.

Peel away the rind of the lemon with a knife you have not used to eat. Strip them of their safety. Bring to light the misfortune you will bestow upon them. Pierce the flesh of the lemon with the iron nails. As you pierce the fruit, feel the pain piercing through them.

On a paper, write the symbol to bring them pain, and light it. 

Stare into the flame. Empty your mind til it’s filled with naught but anger. Forget the appearance of the symbol. Feel from it only the power it releases.

Bring together the herbs and ash. Add to them the nails, and let the philter steep for a fortnight. Before you go to bed each night, shake the vessel, agitating the contents. Speak.

Ash and metal pepper, nettle bring 'bout my full revenge sour (his/her/their) earth sour (his/her/their) hearth cause (his/her/their) pain without known end.

At the end of the two weeks, filter the oil, leaving in it only the nails. Drop into it an possession of your target’s. If you cannot obtain something of theirs, a name or photograph will suffice. 

Hide the vessel in a dark place. Do not disturb it. Let it collect dust. Let them stew in their misery. 

To break the curse (if you so wish), drain the oil, discard of the object, and bury the nails with the points facing away from your target’s home.

[whysperingwoods]

Meeting Your Home

When you meet someone new, the first thing we do is introduce ourselves. We tell them our name, maybe shake hands, and give them an idea of who we are either by how we present ourselves or what we say. If we spend enough time with them, we may open up further about our aspirations, inspirations, and more.

For those of us who believe in animism (the belief that all things, even unliving, have souls), it might seem a bit much to introduce ourselves to every soul we come across. In our homes, however, a place where we spend so much of our time and energy, taking the time to properly introduce yourself can create a lovely pathway for communication. It because easier thereafter to find powerful energy spots in the home, identify problem areas, and cleanse. Remember that your home has always participated in your life, albeit passively. It has housed you while you dreamed, while you worked, while you rested, and that is a powerful connection to have.

Here I will outline some easy steps to meeting your home and opening a line of communication with it. I have been hugely inspired by the work of Marie Kondo for this, and I highly recommend reading her books if you’re interested in learning more. While she isn’t a witch, her philosophy and workings are great for anyone interested in hearth witchery and I will be writing about her methods more in an upcoming post. She also has a new special on Netflix called Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, which I binge-watched and loved!

Step 1: Explore for the First Time (again)

This first step may seem like an odd one, especially for those of us that have lived in our homes for a long time. The purpose of this exploration is to really take in your environment and learn the depth of your living space. Open every cupboard, every closet, and try to lay your gaze upon every nook and cranny.

If your living space is currently cluttered or messy, this may be a difficult step especially for those of us with anxiety or depression. Remind yourself before you get started that this isn’t the time for negative self-talk or shaming. This is the time to assess the state of your home as it is now, and appreciate that no matter what state your home is in, your house continues to do its job. The roof and walls shelter you, the floors hold you up, and you are safe inside it. Your house knows you and understands you, and above all does not hold any kind of mess against you.

Take the time you need to explore your home and property if applicable, and then move on to the next step.

Step 2: Greet your Home

Find a moment of peace and quiet for this step. It only takes a few minutes, but just as you wouldn’t want to meet someone in a busy environment when there are many distractions, do the same for your home. If you live with family members or roommates that are less inclined to this sort of thing, you may want to wait to do this at night while they are sleeping.

Walk around until you have found a spot that feels right to you. Your home will already feel more familiar after your exploration, and you may already have a place that you’ve connected to. Newer practitioners or those of us who may not have honed our intuition yet may find it harder to figure out the right spot: don’t overthink it. Pick someplace cozy, familiar, comfortable. For some of us it will be a spot on the kitchen floor, others it might be our bedroom, etc.

Once you have chosen your spot, kneel on the floor. If you cannot comfortably kneel, sit on the floor or in a chair. You want to be touching the home either through the floor or a wall, so position yourself in a way that you can touch the home and still be comfortable.

Close your eyes, and greet your house. You can do this in your head, or out loud. Introduce yourself and thank it for everything it has done up until now. Communicate your wishes and your goals so it knows what you are working towards, and can help you in that direction. Try to hold a clear image in your mind of the life you would like to lead, what you want your home to look like, and the energy you want it to be filled with.

Step 3: Push Love

With your eyes still closed, focus on the feeling you have when you think about your hopes and desires for the life inside your home. Imagine the feeling moving outward from your chest and stomach, into your arms, and trickling into your palms. Your palms may start to feel warm, tingly, or weighted. Press them against the floor or the wall, and pour those feelings into the home. Take your time, and when you feel you are done thank your home and resume your day as normal.

Conclusion

Meeting your home can be a beautiful and rewarding experience for practitioners of all levels, especially if you perform any magical workings in your home. It takes only a few minutes of your time to establish a better grounds for communication and understanding that can help in every aspect of your home life.

In an upcoming post I will be showing you a tarot spread for an even more in-depth conversation with your home, as well as one for identifying problem areas. Until then, I would love to hear your personal experiences on meeting your home for the first time and how it went for you! What was your home’s personality, what did it convey? Were there any surprises? Let me know in the comments <}:-)

[thehornedwitch-deactivated20211]

How I Made Friends With My Local Cryptid

Because of my most recent podcast episode on small gods, I thought it might be a wise idea to get more in-depth about the details of how I met the thing at the bridge. This is not a tutorial, it is a true story. If that’s helpful to some, then hoorah!

The tools I used: A pendulum, whiskey, determination, candles, white rope, herbs for keeping the nasties at bay. 

First, I had to find out about him. (we’re going to say “him” because the thing has not give any indicators it objects to being male, so we go with male until further notice)

Some friends of mine, I am still unsure of which group told me about him first, decided to go hang out at the bridge and asked me to come along. I’d never been there before, but it wouldn’t be the first time I’d done something stupid and dangerous in the middle of the night. My partner, two other magically inclined people, and myself, drove through the dark. It was already fully pitch-black, and I would not recommend to go Befriending in that environment, not at first.

I don’t remember there being any people at the bridge the first night, but there may have been. There certainly were at subsequent visits. 

The rope was laid out in a neat circle, candles placed, jars and bowls of herbs laid out within. We four sat, me facing the way we had come (which is now my standard place to sit when doing this sort of thing), in a T. It is dark, remember that, and it’s not super pleasant. It’s warm, it’s muggy, at least two of our party reek of bug spray. I am one of them. We can hear bugs buzzing and the river clogging with trash desperately attempting to flow under us. The century and more old bridge is covered in the sort of graffiti that makes a person sick to see. Swastikas and racial slurs and other horrid things. 

I am sweating, and it is filthy, and the road behind us hums occasionally as a car speeds past. We see fishing-line caught in the branches of trees. We wonder if we will be safe- from spirit or from man.

Why do I say this? Because magic and witchcraft are not always clean and cozy and kind. Because sometimes it is filthy. Often it is frightening. Because much of what I talk about and do cannot be done from the comfort of the home. Because sometimes you must go places you would never go besides the reason you are there.

I placed my pendulum on the bridge with it’s board. A piece of wood, and a bee. I promised the spirit who lived there the offerings we had brought if and only if all four of us were allowed and able to leave safely. The legends of this spirit are not sweet. He is not a kindly beast.

We spoke. We laughed. We Queried. I felt the thing behind me, watching. It had not been spoken to this way in either a long time or ever. He has yet to tell me which is which.

My local cryptid let us leave with the promise of returning. Each time i go, i give him gifts. Burning tobacco in a bowl, rose petals, whiskey, absinth, cigarette smoke. Tangible things, heavy things. Things that old gods might ask for.

Be careful if you follow me. Be careful presuming all things are kind and good, or even neutral. Assume danger. Assume safety. I will not go on the bridge without an offering still and it has been nearly a year gone now. I will not commune with him at night without my rope circle or my tools. We have moved beyond the herbs, at least.

I assume so anyway. I still use them.

Fear and respect are cousins and to acknowledge one is to acknowledge the other. To fear and respect a god or spirit, let it know you know the danger and have taken precautions against them harming you. If it is offended, never speak to it again. If it is honored, continue. Nothing in this whole wide world is worth compromising your life so easily as for a hurt feeling.