simply witching

[pathandpractice]

✨ Welcome to the #pathandpractice tag community ✨

In the spirit of cultivating intentional community in the #pathandpractice tag, I have gathered some shared expectations and ideals from the witches who’ve helped shape this space. Remember, this is a community space. It is not mine, or any one person's, but ours. These thoughts come from the input and hopes of the people already participating, and they’ll continue to evolve as we do.

We want this to be a space for personal practice and lived tradition. That means we’ll see posts that are messy, changing, and nonconforming--and that’s a good thing.

Remember that practices and terminology will differ between paths and traditions. Words may carry different meanings depending on who uses them.

When we don’t understand something, we’ll try to ask questions before drawing conclusions.

We’ll practice and advocate for radical kindness while engaging critical thought, discussing ethics, origins, and practice with care and respect for closed traditions and complex histories and heritages.

We want this tag to belong to real people sharing their real work and reflections. Please don’t post AI-generated writing or images here.

We’ll appreciate things that may not be “for us” while respecting those they belong to. We can learn about closed or personal practices without expecting to participate in them.

We understand that community takes work. We seek to contribute what we can, express gratitude to those who share their knowledge, and avoid placing unfair expectations on others’ labor.

We’ll strive to make this a space where learning happens without fear of being “wrong,” and where knowledge or experience never defines someone’s worth as a witch.

If you find that you don’t get on with a particular community member, please don’t let one person or one blog dampen your experience here. Use the block button and other tools available to you to cultivate your own dashboard and tag experience. Protecting your peace is part of tending community, too.

This is a sideblog managed by @slewfootwitch on behalf of the #pathandpractice tag.

We are also on Discord. Our server is 18+. A tumblr blog with age in bio/pinned and at least some personal posts is required to join (it does not have to be a witchcraft blog). Please Note: Our community guidelines are visible to everyone who clicks the link, even if they do not apply to join.

[pathandpractice]

Small Server Announcement: We have added a channel for discussion of unrecorded/undocumented/nameless deities as well as an opt-in channel for godspousing and spirit marriage. To get access to the latter, click the associated button in the member roles channel.

[pathandpractice]

I wish I could join the server and/or start interacting with other witches. But the constant drama in tumblr-discord witchcraft circles makes me wary. It seems like so many are out for blood. I'm not good enough at communicating, making friends or doing magic to feel safe.

If you're anxious about joining the server and interacting with it, you're more than welcome the join and lurk until you feel comfortable. There is no requirement to interact. You can "try before you buy" so to speak.

Unfortunately, the interactions on tumblr that have been related to previous"drama" are much larger in scale than the in-server interactions they are related to. I can assure you, the issue we addressed last night with the use of certain words is the only interaction of that type that has ever taken place in the server. Mostly users share recipes, trade tips, and even swap trees/seeds.

We don't have a function that announces when people enter and leave except to the admin, so you are welcome to join and lurk until you're comfortable.

[pathandpractice]

A Note About Language Use In Our Server: Recently, a member of the pathandpractice server shared a self-written decolonization resource that included the use of the words "ethnic", "exotic" and "racial" when referring to POC and non-white people, groups of people, and cultures. This post was shared with the explanation that the writer was sharing it for discussion. As a result, a concern was raised about the use of these words (by another member who is visibly mixed race and immediately identified themselves as a POC) and a discussion began which included input from POC as well as input from a member with a professional background providing DEI training and resources for teachers and school staff.

Although this user left the server, we do want to make it clear that the use of these words to describe POC and non-white people, groups of people, and cultures outside of specific quotations from scholarly sources is not something we will tolerate in the server, either in messages posted there or in resources that are shared there. Additionally, we want to be clear that we approach academic racism and academic discrimination (including the implication that POC users "do not understand" the material presented or are "misguided" in their criticism of word use and approach, even in DEI context) as racism and discrimination. We understand that it is not always possible for non-POC to understand the impacts of certain language use on POC people and groups of people, and we do not hold not knowing against anyone. However, we do treat the repeated assertion that POC who take issue with things such as language use, presence of stereotypes, etc. are themselves "misguided" or misinformed, or the idea that "racism exists, therefore one has no choice but to use those words" and POC must just accept it as an instance of academic discrimination and stereotyping.

Please be aware going forward that, while we encourage discussion and do not hold not knowing against anyone, responding to such concerns with further racial bias and insults to intelligence will not be an issue for discussion and will result in an immediate ban. We apologize to any POC or other members who may have been upset by this interaction. We have received many messages about this, which we are in the process of addressing. We have left the interaction in the channel in question for both transparency and for educational purposed, but have added a trigger warning to the channel. Thank you to everyone who was part of addressing this exchange and situation as well everyone who provided additional feedback on whether to remove the messages or simply trigger warn them.

[pathandpractice]

For transparency, here is the warning that we have added to the affected channel. Please use caution when viewing the channel if you are triggered by the use of academic racism or academic bias against POC.

[pathandpractice]

A Note About Language Use In Our Server: Recently, a member of the pathandpractice server shared a self-written decolonization resource that included the use of the words "ethnic", "exotic" and "racial" when referring to POC and non-white people, groups of people, and cultures. This post was shared with the explanation that the writer was sharing it for discussion. As a result, a concern was raised about the use of these words (by another member who is visibly mixed race and immediately identified themselves as a POC) and a discussion began which included input from POC as well as input from a member with a professional background providing DEI training and resources for teachers and school staff.

Although this user left the server, we do want to make it clear that the use of these words to describe POC and non-white people, groups of people, and cultures outside of specific quotations from scholarly sources is not something we will tolerate in the server, either in messages posted there or in resources that are shared there. Additionally, we want to be clear that we approach academic racism and academic discrimination (including the implication that POC users "do not understand" the material presented or are "misguided" in their criticism of word use and approach, even in DEI context) as racism and discrimination. We understand that it is not always possible for non-POC to understand the impacts of certain language use on POC people and groups of people, and we do not hold not knowing against anyone. However, we do treat the repeated assertion that POC who take issue with things such as language use, presence of stereotypes, etc. are themselves "misguided" or misinformed, or the idea that "racism exists, therefore one has no choice but to use those words" and POC must just accept it as an instance of academic discrimination and stereotyping.

Please be aware going forward that, while we encourage discussion and do not hold not knowing against anyone, responding to such concerns with further racial bias and insults to intelligence will not be an issue for discussion and will result in an immediate ban. We apologize to any POC or other members who may have been upset by this interaction. We have received many messages about this, which we are in the process of addressing. We have left the interaction in the channel in question for both transparency and for educational purposed, but have added a trigger warning to the channel. Thank you to everyone who was part of addressing this exchange and situation as well everyone who provided additional feedback on whether to remove the messages or simply trigger warn them.

[pathandpractice]

Weekly Discussion Question: Have you ever stopped believing in something you previously relied on in your practice? What changed? How did you handle it?

[pathandpractice]

Discussion Question: How do you work with doubt when it shows up in the middle of a magical working?

Every Wednesday, in the server, we post a discussion question for everyone to reflect on and share their answers if comfortable. We are also going to try to remember to post these questions here for tag users and the broader magical community who are not server members.

[pathandpractice]

I am returning to witchblr and the pagan side of tumblr after being away for a few years. The pathandpractice tag is new to me. Can I ask what it is for? What types of posts can be tagged with it? I want to use it properly.

Thank you in advance.

The pathandpractice tag is for any kind of witchcraft and pagan posting. A bunch of users just decided to get together in the tag to make a more intentional, more contained community than the broader witchcraft/witchblr community. Usually our welcome post is pinned but, for now, you can find it here. The main this is really that it's a community that emphasizes being intentionally kind, intentionally open to other paths and ideas, and intentionally working to build a grounded, ethical, discerning space.

[pathandpractice]

As people are continuing to mention pathandpractice in their tags to spread false accusations and we are receiving concerned messages making claims about things that are happening in their DMs, we do want to share here that @slewfootwitch has provided top to bottom screen recordings of her entire contact history with the banned user that recent false allegations have been about and has provided evidence to the contrary of these claims in this tag and this tag but particularly in this post, this post, and this post. Although the accusations are ongoing, the users making them have been able to bring forth no evidence to support their claims or to suggest that @slewfootwitch had any other contact with that person aside from what she has published.

We have also reviewed that user's 1000+ interactions in the server (occurring between November and March) and found no instance where this person was mistreated. The only instances we have found where they even been redirected was a user asking them to move an off-topic conversation out of the research channel. Our message history is available to all members of the server and it is open to anyone (18+ who wants to join). We appreciate everyone's patience as these false accusations and allusions to misdoing continue. We have provided all the information we have and, unfortunately, can do nothing else because no other interactions ever happened.

[pathandpractice]

🕯️✨PathandPractice Pinterest Witch Game ✨🕯️

New tags = new friends = new chances to get to know each other. So we're redoing out Pinterest game for the pathandpractice tag. Let Pinterest weigh in on your witchcraft, choosing your perfect witch cottage, familiar, mentor, magic, and all. To play, use the prompts below, pick and image from the first row, and share your collage. When you're done, tag a few friends to join in too.

Prompts:

🏡 "your name + dream home" (your witchy abode)

🐈‍⬛ "your craft /witchcraft + animal" (your spirit familiar)

🌙 "last tool you used + witch aesthetic" (your practice aesthetic)

🕯️ "a word from the title of the last witch book you read + witchcraft" (your magical area expertise)

📜 "favorite place to work magic + spirit" (your magical mentor)

👗 "your name + fashion" (your everyday witch attire)

🌿 "your craft / witchcraft + tool" (your primary tool)

🪞 "your name + spirit world + aesthetic" (your spirit realm)

📖 "your religion + folklore OR where your family is from + folklore" (your folklore)

🐾"cryptid spirit + the last place you worked magic" (the cryptid you befriend)

🗣️ "witch + quote" (your witch motto)

🌄 "witch + landscape" (the landscape your magic connects to)

[witchblr-kind-takes]

Shoutout to the folks at @pathandpractice for trying to do something constructive and positive for the witchblr ecosystem!

YEAH!

@pathandpractice come collect your fan mail!

[pathandpractice]

Aw. We appreciate this so much!

[slewfootwitch]

While I am on the topic of the messages in my inbox, let me answer a question I have gotten repeatedly: The sole reason I have not addressed a certain situation that occasionally crops up in and related to the pathandpractice tag isn't because I'm being backed into a corner and can't defend myself. (I know what happened and I am comfortable with the documentation I have of what happened. Since this all stems from a server admin situation that was being handled in off-server messages, every conversation was well documented for admin clarity.) The reason I don't address that head on with that documentation is that I am not comfortable creating a situation where I might make a post that prompts other people (followers or viewers that I don't know and have no connection to) to take it upon themselves to retaliate "on my behalf". I know how quickly these online situations can get out of control and I hope to be able to avoid even the possibility of such a thing happening.

So while I do not reply to some of the support and check ins I receive in my inbox (because I don't want to give that kind of environment an opportunity to grow), I do appreciate them. I appreciate being checked on. I appreciate people checking to see if I'm aware of what's happening. Trust me, I am. But I am also comfortable with what I know my behavior has been. I am comfortable with the conversations I know I have had. And I am comfortable with the way the community server has been run. I won't go so far as to assume that all 85 members of that server like me (especially since I am very hands off as an admin and don't pipe up as often as most mods might), I am comfortable with knowing that none of them feel that way about me. And I am comfortable knowing that there is no real-life world in which I said or did anything that supports these claims. I know my heart, yes, but I also know what conversations I had and what words I used. There is no question of my being confident or feeling secure in this situation; there is only a question of what actually transpired and what conversations actually exist.

So, yes, a massive thank you to all of you who have checked on me. I am okay. But I am okay because I know exactly what online conversations exist and there simply is not a single example that fits this reimagining of events. It is, from start to finish, a lie. As simple as that.

[pathandpractice]

The issue we dealt with last month has continued to go on and the accusations have escalated to the point that we are unable to just ignore this person and hope that it goes away. I want to make it clear that we have documentation of all of the conversations that happened with the banned member that these accusations are related to (because they were related to a server issue and taking place on another platform). The harassment and false accusations are ongoing and have escalated to include usernames and close allusions to usernames in now-deleted posts.

The events mentioned in these accusations simply never happened. They are complete fabrications created by someone that we have had no contact with outside of ask games, on behalf of someone with whom admin was only in direct contact for three to four days.

At this time, we have reviewed all 1000+ messages and interactions involving this user in the server. We have found no evidence of any significant interaction with admin and no negative interactions. They were only ever addressed with redirection to ask them to move an off topic coversation out of the research channel. As all 85 members of the server know, no abuse ever took place in the pathandpractice server. It has never functioned as a cult. We are very comfortable with the documentation that we have to disprove these false claims. Our server is open to everyone over 18 and our message history is available to all members.

[pathandpractice]

Hey, friends, just a small note to say that, while we love seeing everyone's "Where I Live" posts and we welcome them in the pathandpractice tag, the credit for that activity actually goes to @dvoeverie-stitches and is not affiliated with us outside of our members participating in it and putting it in the tag. Please make sure to tag the creator in your posts if you participate in the "Where I Live" activity and give @dvoeverie-stitches the credit she deserves for that. ❤️

[pathandpractice]

A PathandPractice Witchcraft Survey

✨Here is a fun little survey for anyone who wants to participate. You do not have to be tagged or receive any asks to join. You do not have to be a @pathandpractice tag member to participate. It is not an ask game; just a good, old fashion myspace-style survey. Just copy this post questions, post your answers, and (if you feel like it) tag a few blogs. Please keep this description and credit to @pathandpractice when reposting. ✨

If your magic had a soundtrack, what would be its theme song?

What’s the weirdest substitute component you’ve ever used?

What’s a superstition you don’t believe in?

What’s your most chaotic spell outcome? How off-target did it go?

What’s something "completely mundane" that feels magical to you anyway?

If your intuition had a voice, who would it sound like? What kind of magic do you think you are/you would be bad at, and why?

What’s a sign or omen you completely misread at first?

If your altar could judge you, what would it say you’ve been neglecting?

What fictional universe would your magic thrive in?

What is a witchcraft-related hill you will die one?

What’s a habit you have that accidentally turned into a ritual?

If your could take the shape of an animal for a day, which one would you choose?

What’s something you’ve outgrown spiritually, but still feel nostalgic about?

If your magic had a moral alignment (chaotic, lawful, neutral), how accurate would it be?

What’s a belief you held early in your practice that makes you laugh now?

If you could bottle and save one feeling for spellwork, what would it be?

What’s your “this shouldn’t work, but it does” method?

What’s the most aesthetic over practical thing you’ve done in your practice?

If your practice had a warning label, what would it say?

What was the first magical/witchcraft book you ever read?

Tagging: @awitchnamedjuniper, @hillbillybubbeleh, @yorubaby

[yorubaby]

Poll for Path & Practice Event

Hey y'all! I was talking to @slewfootwitch about hosting a live event in the @pathandpractice Discord, and want to run a poll on the event topic!

Would you like an event on how-to set up a money bowl/altar?

Yes!

No.

Voting ended onMar 28

I would cover the different types of ways these things can be set up, along with a demonstration on how to also bless and feed your bowl/altar!

Feel free to also drop anything you'd like to know about this specific subject too if you vote yes! :) + RB for reach if you please! :)

[pathandpractice]

Another Path & Practice Ask Game

Some tag users were saying they wish people would ask them about their practice, and we could use a little spring joy. So here's a little ask game for all of the tag members and all of the other witches out there. Send emojis to ask questions, or send a question of your own. Remember to keep the game going by sending asks to the person you reblogged from.

🌿 What is your "witchcraft origin story"? 🍃 What were your first magical influences vs your influences now? 🧭 If your personal practice had its own unique craft/tradition name, what would it be? 🪶 What specific tradition(s) (if any) do you follow? If you're more eclectic, explain how you put it all together, 🕯️ What does a day-in-the-life look like in your practice? 🧰 What type of workings do you do most frequently? 🌙 What tools do you use the most? 🕊️ What animals and land features do you most often use in your practice and how? 🧠 Do you prefer to do divination with tools or with the inner sense? What are your preferred methods? 🔄 What’s something you believe about magic that’s changed over time? ✨Are you a mundane before magic, mundane beside magic, or magic first type of practitioner? 🌧️ What has been your greatest challenge within your practice? 📚 What magical books are you currently reading / did you last read? 🌱 What is something you are learning, exploring or improving in your magical craft? 💖 What about your practice brings you the most joy?

Bonus:

Send 🔮 for a simple divination reading

Send ❓ along with a custom question not included here

[pathandpractice]

Please let bubbeleh know we love and support her and understand her need to step back from asks at this time. She has been a beautiful member of this community and a joy to interact with. ❤

This was timely since I am on the phone with her right now and I got to read this directly to her.