[templeofviadescioism]

Viadescioism: Viadescioic Cosmology

Clearly this will be revised as new information, becomes available. This is a cosmology for Viadescioism that shows a basic understanding of how all of existence is laid out. This is to help Viadescioism move away from the more common, and cultural reality maps that are used in the practices of occultism, esotericism, mysticism, and religion especially those created by theosophy, neo-platonism, neo-paganism, qabbalah, and the new age.  By allowing Viadescioism to have its own unique understanding it will be more flexible, and moldable to practitioners experiences and new available evidence of how existence works.

Here are some definitions for understanding the rest of this writing as it is written:

Planes: Planes of existences are separated by different vibrations of matter, and are not separated by distance, but much rather states of being. The planes are neither above nor below one another, but interpenetrating and existing in the same space, just on different levels.

Veils: The veils are different gateways between the planes of existences that open up based on different parameters. Between every plane of existence there is a veil, and these veils are what needs to be done in order to make it to the next plane of existence. every veil has a descending and ascending variable that must be met in order to make it to the next plane of existence. Dimensions: A dimension is a quantitative measurement that can communicate the position of a construct within a particular area of existence. Specific dimensions such as the 3rd, or 4th dimension uses the number to represent minimal number of parameters needed to describe the space. These type of dimensional parameters would be things such as X, Y, Z, and time. Universes: A universe is a specific section of existence that consist of its own specific space-time continuum.

Sadaqa | Physical plane:

The physical plane is home to all of the physically incarnated entities which reside there, and it is the densest plane of existence which vibrates at the slowest frequency. The physical plane is a 3rd dimensional space, and is the lowest plane of existence. All entities on this plane or greatly separated in their being. Life on this plane usually revolves around the act of surviving, and keeping the physical body alive. The physical body is gained when you incarnate physically, and is lost when you physically die.

Danacada | Body-Mind Veil:

The Body-Mind Veil is located in between the physical and mental plane.

One can ascend from the physical plane into the mental plane through the process of entering an altered state of consciousness, or once the physical body has died. An individual is able to descend from the mental plane into the physical plane if they are incarnated into a physical body.

Ladaqa| Mental Plane:

The mental plane is a 3rd dimensional plane of existence. It is the plane of the mind, and can be accessed through altered states of consciousness brought on through meditation, sleep, or drugs, along with other things. On this plane of existence time works a bit weirdly, and can seem distorted at times. The dreamscape is also on this plane, and is the place in which you are when you are dreaming. This is also the plane of existence were entities such as ghosts, and nature spirits that are connected to the physical reside. Thoughtforms also begin their creation from this plane and will primarily exist here.Everything that exists in the physical plane has an mental body that is an exact replica of the denser physical body, this even includes inanimate objects. Entities that exist on the mental plane must be bound, or grounded to objects, places, or people in order to stay at that frequency so they can exist in the mental plane for an extended period of time. You are able to be ungrounded from the physical plane and get forcibly sent to the mental plane. Mental bodies that are separated from the physical body are still very attached to it, and can only move so far away from it, before it is snapped back. During a dream state the mental body does not leave the physical body, but does perceive, and interact with projections, though skilled practitioners can also separate their mental body from their physical body in a process that is known as etheric projection. The forms of entities on this plane are malleable, and fluid and can change by the will of the entity.

Naskacada | Mind-Spirit Veil:

The Mind-Spirit Veil is located in between the mental and spiritual plane. In order to ascend from the mental plane one must disconnect from the physical plane.

In order to descend into the mental plane one must be grounded to the physical plane.

Madaqa | Spiritual Plane:

The spiritual plane is a 4th dimensional space where you are able to move through time, and are able to see the past, present, and future. It can look like the physical plane, or can be surreal. This plane of existence can be interacted through astral projection, or astral travel. People who have near-death experiences may also reach this plane during their experience, and It is usually seem to be the afterlife in most other forms of traditions.

This is the last plane of forms, and the forms of entities are malleable, and fluid. The spiritual body is usually a reflection of your physical, and mental body, though this form is easily manipulated, and changed through thought, and desire. The energy centers, along with the rest of the energetic body also exist on this plane. The spiritual body is attached to your physical body with an energetic cord. This energetic cord is to connect you to your physical body so that, if your spiritual body gets separated from your physical body it can return to it. Entities are able to die on the spiritual plane, which can either return you back to your physical body if you are astral projecting, or can forcibly send you to the primordial plane, if you do not have any more bodies on any of the planes.

Oxaknadaqa Cada | Primordial Veil 3:

The Primordial Veil is located in between the primordial plane, and all the other three planes.

In order to ascend you must release your physical, mental, and spiritual bodies, become formless, reconnect with your higher self, reconnect with the all of information, you must become a collective, you must become your true spiritual self, you must be reduced down to your core, and you must reconnect with source.

In order to descend into a physical, mental, and/or spiritual body, you must take form, you must separate off from your higher self, and become an individual projection, you must detach from the all of information, you must become a individual, you must be defined by specific universe laws, and you must separates parts of yourself out.

Oxaknadaqa | Primordial Plane:

Once all of your forms are shed you go into the formless, and examine the forms. This plane of existence is in the 5th dimension, the 6th dimension, the 7th dimension, the 8th dimension, the 9th dimension, and the 10th dimension. It’s a weird chaotic combination of all of them and this is the chaos in which the universes come from. This is the station of pure abstraction and essential unity. it is impermanent and always in flux. It is the underlying essence to the other three planes, and All the divines are present on the primordial plane. In this plane of existence you become your higher self, and are connected to all your incarnations.  This is the you that has had all the experiences of the projections that have been sent down into the other planes of existences. From here you are aware of yourself, and are a separate entity, while also being here you are aware of your divineness, and your overall connection to existence, and source. The higher self is able to see many different pasts, presents, and futures, and it has access to multiple universes, and are able to jump from this universe to any other universe. This is the absolute oneness with the divine, and is the apotheosis of existence. This is the plane of being, where everything that is anything is, and there exists an unlimited unmanifested potential of energy of creation. It is all that is possible, and all that you can experience. It is everything, and it is nothing. It also encapsulates everything that exists, and is the place where the divine monad for everything is present. It seems to be inherently incomprehensible because it is outside the normal laws, and can be many things at once. All entities, and constructs of existence have some connection to the primordial plane.  

Impassable Cada | Impassable Veil:

located nowhere The Impossible Veil cannot be passed and does not exist. The separation between these two states is existing in non-existing, and nothing can move in between these states.

Skaknayaack | The void:

This is absolute nothingness that does not exist outside of existence. It is not even nothing because it does not exist.

[witchesversuspatriarchy]

Not a comprehensive list, but it’s a solid starting point.

[growing-yet-into-magic]

In regards to research:

Don’t accept witchcraft books for history. Read history texts. 

Don’t accept witchcraft books for mental processes. Read psychology and biological texts. 

Don’t accept witchcraft books for mythology. Don’t accept witchcraft books for religion. Read original texts and papers written researchers credited in their fields. 

Use witchcraft books for witchcraft, and witchcraft alone. That is what they specialize in and what they are published for. If it branches out into a different subject, be suspicious and research the topic later. 

[comtedemoney]

May I please also add that “looking shit up on the Internet” and getting “answers” from unaccredited websites and some git on social media does not constitute research?

Please, instead of going to the New Age and Wicca section of bookstores, go to a library, and immerse yourself in the anthropology, archaeology, ecology, history, and literature sections. You will learn so much about daily life, thought, values, customs, arts, crafts, and foodways of The Ancestors — and they’re *all* our Ancestors, from great Aunt Myrtle to the Neanderthals and the Denisovans to “mitochondrial Eve” and “Y-chromosomal Adam” to everyone and thing all the way back up the biological Tree of Life to that first cell which split in the primordial ooze (now you know just who that wretched co-worker of yours so obviously descended from; the resemblance is more than just uncanny).

Most importantly, you get to discover what can be reliably, documentedly known from primary (archaeological finds, and texts whether carved, painted, stylused, reed- or quill-penned) and secondary sources (commentaries and allusions). You’ll never get that in the mass market paperbacks the publishing houses churn out. There is so much that cannot be known, and so much that isn’t currently known, but there is so much that is both known and knowable.

You’ll see for yourself that so many of the givens at the heart of modern eclectic Wicca (as well as sabbatic witchcraft, The Golden Dawn, and Renaissance ceremonial magic) are alien to what is known of actual pre-Christian paleopagan reality. (Mind you, that does not mean they don’t work.) What it does mean is that any claims to being “Thee Olde Religion” are, at best, wishful overstatements. And “Witch Queens” are right out.

You will be entirely and understandably forgiven for yelling at your flat screen because of “historically-based” miniseries’ utter bullshit (full-grown Travis Fimmel in furs instead of Calvins’, the rest of the casts’, and the extras’ whoremoanal provocations notwithstanding).

Lastly,

1. Cultivate crazed archaeologist (proximalcardia: MMMMMWAH!), historian, and linguist friends! You’d be amazed at the leads they can inadvertently give you.

2. If thou truly desirest an historical curriculum to live deliciously, hie thee unto the method of the theurgy of Iamblichos the divine of Chalcis! (although not necessarily his cosmology).

℣. Thus endeth the sermon. ℟. Thanks be to the Gods.

[witchesversuspatriarchy]

That’s a pretty nice yurt.

[witchesversuspatriarchy]

Digital witchery

[qedavathegrey]

Throwin’ the Bones

Of the divinatory techniques with which I am familiar, bones are my personal favorite. Yes, they have that very witchy vibe – but it’s more than that; the bones are honest. They don’t sugar coat, and while they have to be interpreted, once you know how to read them – there’s little room for interpretation. They are very direct and are much better suited to answering yes or no questions than tarot. With a little imaginative methodology, there few questions the bones can’t answer. And even fewer they won’t answer (as tarot cards can be known to do). A few examples of things I think the bones are better at answering than tarot: questions involving time, questions regarding health, sickness and maledictions; they present a broader grasp to any given situation – incorporating things outside of the question presented and how these things relate to the question or the reading, showing the interconnectedness of life – and how these things all relate back.

Our countless cultures have countless methods for collecting and reading the Bones – and I can only rightly attest to my own methodology: one in which the Bones need not necessarily consist solely of bones, but a collection of gathered trinkets and curios, all with their own meaning, their own story and their own energy. My collection consists of: bones (bare and painted), coins, stones, shells, jewelry, twigs, buttons, animal teeth and other squabbles. The only rule I implement is that the item can be easily gathered and (safely) tossed without breakage or injury (save your razor-blades and glass shards for witches’ bottles!).

Collecting the Bones and Bobbles

Most any small bones will do, though its recommended that you use bones that haven’t been cooked, as cooked bones have a tendency to get very brittle – especially in the case of chicken, which is quite common. In my collection I have a number of different animal bones: most are chicken, but I also have some raccoon and possum bones, as well as teeth and claws. I built a “base” of bones, but am continuously adding or replacing as I see fit.

A short list of “Bones” I like to include – most of which serve as my “base” bones:

Self Bone – used for the reader

Other Bone – used to represent another person or the person you are reading

Magic Bone – represents the need for or use of magic

“Evil” Bone – malicious or hateful acts, disadvantageous behavior

Love Bone – represents romantic love

Male Bone – represents male fertility, masculinity, sexuality or a man

Female Bone – represents female fertility, femininity, sexuality or a woman

Health Bone – represents physical or mental health

Wealth Bone – represents financial standing or monetary issues

Family Bone – represents familial connections or a family member

Fate Bone – represents destiny and your lifepath (I use a shell for this: open side up means an event can be altered, destiny is not set in stone; open side down, this path must be walked – prepare in lieu of fighting)

“Key” Bone – (I actually use a small key) which represents the key to any given situation, the remedy or problem at hand and its cause

This list is by no means comprehensive and I have many more bones in my collection with more menial meanings. This is simply a small list of options to be added to and adapted by whosoever casts the bones.

Reading the Bones

There is no right or wrong way to read the bones, there is simply your way and their way. Below I will dictate how it is that I do a general reading – again, this is just an example of one way, take and adapt to fit your own unique style or tradition!

Begin by collecting your bones into your hand. I keep mine in a leather pouch, but don’t like to toss them directly from the bag as it doesn’t allow for much control – i.e. the bones fall out either in a massive, unreadable pile or they fly out in such a scattered way nothing is close enough to read. Throwing them from the hand allows for a rather contained casting, and one that can be read easily. I do not include the Self or Other bone, instead, the Self Bone is placed before the caster and the Other Bones is placed either in front of the person you’re reading for or simply in the middle of the casting area. When reading for yourself, place the Self Bone in the center and discard the Other Bone.

Throw the Bones. This can be done on a square of cloth on which a circle (or any number of complex shapes) has been drawn or simply upon a flat table. If throwing in a circle, discard all bones that fall outside of it. These bones are null for the reading, though they can also be read as “far from the person’s mind/current situation.”

Interpret the Bones. This is done by noting the location and connection of the bones present. For instance, note the Love Bones proximity to the Other Bones and the Male Bone. This could be interpreted as being the male love of the querent – but if the “Evil” bones is introduced, this could symbol ulterior motives or a hostile or explosive relationship. Read based on both their proximity to the Other Bone – the closer, the higher priority the matter is – and their relation to one another. It’s very much like investigating a big puzzle, putting it together piece by piece to form a comprehensive understanding of their life or situation. Also not their relation based on the third dimension: x bone seems to be overlapping y bone – is the x issue eclipsing an underlying problem or truth represented by y? It depends. Only through practice will you find clarity.

Convey the message. I always like to spend a few moments making a variety of “hmm” noises when reading for others – it builds up their anticipation. Or you can throw in the occasional gasp or snarky smirk. Their responses are usually hilarious – even more so when yours are genuine! If you are reading on your own, it may be a good idea to sketch out a general map of the readings as opposed to taking a picture as often bones overlie others, which makes for a rather misleading photo representation. You might also find jotting down notes rewarding, especially in synthesizing a cohesive read.

Once you’ve garnered all the information you can from that particular toss, feel free to specify: take the bone/situation you wish to examine and toss the rest again over it/them, reading the others through that particular lens. I.E. Who is this person mentioned? What are their qualities? What is the nature of this love? What magic is being referenced here? Follow that rabbit hole as far as you wish, building your understanding.

Do not be afraid to adjust your style! Want to narrow down a time frame? Make a sort of timeline with the bones. Wish to determine the source of an ailment? Shape the bones into the form of a body. I find the bones allow for far more creativity and ingenuity than cards. And above all – TRUST YOUR GUT.

Photos: These are photos of my “base” bones when I first started reading; since then they have probably doubled (if not tripled) in number and do not incorporate my other animal bones, claws or teeth. 

[spiritusarcanum-deactivated2020]

Quite a marvelous intro to throwing bones! And very similar to my own techniques and experiences.

[w-and-co]

| Redbubble | Part of our Mystic Collection

[deactivated-blog]

Hello! Welcome to a new bunch of book recommendations. 

This one focuses on witches and divination in history! 

Some of the books on this list also appear elsewhere in my annobib posts, but that’s mostly because they tend to address multiple topics.

I decided to go ahead and post this tonight because I saw some folks in the tags asking for witch history-related reading material! I decided to include Tarot/etc history books here, too, since they’re related.

You can find more book recommendations via the #annobib tag on my blog, all organized into lists by topic! There’s also an index, here!

Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, by Judika Illes. Even better than the Weiser Field Guide to Witches - this book is huge and chock-full of information. It’ll explain in easy-to-understand language how the concept has developed throughout time, why witches do what they do, and different types of witches.

The Weiser Field Guide to Witches, by Judika Illes. This gives an excellent look at the historical lore concerning witches, from the perspective of a witch herself. It’s kind of tongue-in-cheek, but it does have some information that won’t be found elsewhere.

Triumph of the Moon, by Ronald Hutton. An inside no-holds-barred look at the history of Wicca and Modern paganism. Highly recommended. This is sort of the book that fluffbunnies don’t want you to read.

Stations of the Sun, by Ronald Hutton. Curious about what ancient pagan practices actually looked like? This book mostly focuses on festivals in ancient times and their relationship to the cycle of the year, but it’s a neat look into ancient lore.

Book of Lies: The Disinformation Guide to Magick and the Occult, by Richard Metzger. Lots of facts and history of magick in the context of Postmodernity. This is different from the Crowley text of the same name, which I wouldn’t recommend unless you want to focus on his tradition.

The Place of Enchantment, by Alex Owen. This is a purely historical text that documents the occult revival within the context of Modernity. I remember it being very good, but please realize I haven’t really picked it up much since graduating, and it might just have served my mindset at the time.

Witches, Werewolves and Fairies, by Claude Lecouteux. Mostly focused on the history of what we now call hedgecraft. Details many accounts of astral journeying experienced by both pagans and Christians in earlier times, and gives a good description of the concept of the astral double, the architecture of the soul, and other topics throughout history.

Demons and Spirits of the Land, by Claude Lecouteux. Great, detailed information about spiritwork practices throughout time, in both pagan and later Christian contexts. Lecouteux is a favorite of mine, in case that wasn’t clear!

Modern Wicca: A History From Gerald Gardner to the Present, by Michael Howard. Wicca is not my purview, but this was an interesting book covering the latter half of the 20th century’s occult milieu, by a Gardnerian initiate. 

Perdurabo: The Life of Aleister Crowley, by Richard Kaczynski. If you’re interested in the history of ceremonial magic and how it influenced witchcraft, this is one to check out. It’s a biography of the notorious Aleister Crowley, and gives a good picture of the Golden Dawn’s history, as well.

Secrets of the Waite-Smith Tarot, by Marcus Katz and Tali Goodwin. This book focuses just on the history, symbolism, and creative process of the Waite-Smith deck. It gives you an inside line on just what Pixie Smith was thinking when painting specific scenes, and is a great look at her life’s work, as well.

Mystical Origins of the Tarot, by Paul Huson. While this book contains the normal “Tarot beginner” info, it also features a vast history section tracing the Tarot throughout time. Worth a read, but very dense and a bit obtuse at times.

Tarot Time Traveler, by Marcus Katz. An unusually-organized, highly personal look at Tarot history and the people who shaped it. Also features historically-inspired Tarot spreads and other cartomantic exercises.

The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination, by Robert M. Place. This book will not teach you to read Tarot, but does give an actual, accurate portrait of the history of the phenomena, which is incredibly important and useful. Know your history.

Dark Star Rising, by Gary Lachman. Well, uh, this is more current events than history, but this is an attempt to trace how various occult movements influenced the election of Donald Trump, modern populism, and the rise of the so-called alt right.

[thecultoflexithewulf]

Divination: Lithomancy

Lithomancy is the active divining through stones, or crystals. Lithomancy can take many forms, and because of this the practices can be very different depending upon what practitioner is doing them. It is primarily done through the casting of stones, but it can also be done through the act of inspecting the reflected light from the stones, though in this post we will be focusing on the former. This post will be less about how to do Lithomancy, and more about aspects of it.

In this form of lithomancy a certain number of stones is thrown, and then interpreted by the diviner. These stones are usually given aspects that they represent either by the diviner, or from the metaphysical properties of the stone itself. Practitioners have been known to use upwards of 16 stones for this process, but the amounts of stones use varies on the practitioner. What types of stones are used changes depending upon the preference of the practitioner, but it is helpful to use stones of different types, and colors. These Stones do not have to be crystals and can actually be simply rocks that have been given meanings. Many different things can be interpreted about the stones once they are thrown such as seeing how they clustered together, or by seeing which way their edges point towards.

Aspects that could be assigned to the stones:

Planetary correspondences

Elemental correspondences

Zodiac correspondences

Metaphysical properties of the stones

Love

Death

Joy

Change

Wealth

Creativity

Abundance

Beginnings

Endings

Fear

Intuition

Strength

Focus

Illusion

Practitioners may also choose to have an interpretation stone also sometimes called the center, or question stone which is a stone that everything will be interpreted relative to. The interpretation Stone may be placed in the middle of where the stones are going to be cast, or it can be thrown with the other stones starting the interpretation process from where it lands. Stones are interpreted starting with the closest one to the interpretation stone, and expanding outwards usually up to 6 inches, or some other length decided by the practitioner. This will give an order to the stones when interpreting and will allow their insights to flow more like a story. Stones that fall outside this are not part of the reading.

The stones can be cast onto a lithomancy board which may help gain more insight of the reading depending upon where the stones land. These boards are separated up into sections that are given specific aspects that will influence how the stone is interpreted that lands within it. Stones that do not land on the lithomancy board may also not be counted in the reading.

Some useful sections that may be put onto a lithomancy board:

The past

The present

The future

Work life

School life

Spiritual life

Romantic life

Health

Financial situation

Planetary correspondences

Elemental correspondences

Zodiac correspondences

The months

The days of the week

The seasons

Practices may not even include an interpretation stone, and can use only lithomancy boards. Some practices may not use either of these and may interpret Stones simply applied where they fell and their relationship to each other.

At the beginning of the lithomancy divination the question that is being divined will be asked while shaking the stone gently like dice, and the question would usually be asked to the interpretation stone, if there is one. From there the stones will be dropped from a generous height, so that they can then be cast out, and interpret it.

[descensum-and-such]

What is Lithomancy and where does it come from? Lithomancy is a form of divinary arts in which stones are used to “see” the past, clarify the present, or predict the future. The history and origin of lithomancy is not clear. There is little to no records on the use of Lithomancy in ancient times and so, many aspects of the art remain a mystery. Some historians believe that it originated in ancient Turkey, in the city of Constantinople, now called Istanbul. Others believe that it dates back to pre-Roman times. The earliest recorded account of lithomancy use was sometime in the late 800’s, when Saint Photios I of Constantinople describes lithomancy being used by a physician named Eusebius to perform a ritual. How is Lithomancy preformed? Due to the lack of recorded history, Modern use of lithomancy varies from place to place and among users. The number of stones as well as the stones representations and the techniques used are somewhat different depending on whom you ask. The form of lithomancy most commonly found in the British Isles uses 13 stones that represent Love, Magic, Fortune, Home, Life and the astrology signs; Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Sun and the Moon. Each of these representations have a vocabulary of meaning that coincide with their own meaning. For example, Love could also mean passion, harmony, honest, relationships etc. and Venus, planet and goddess of Love and Beauty, could mean any of the same. Once the question has been asked the stones are thrown and the meaning is interpreted based on the pattern and the relation in which each stone lands. The answer received by the stones will be read as the stone caster sees fit. As with any form of divination, the stone caster’s intuition and experiences will determine how they choose to read the stones. Another form of lithomancy, which is more common in Wicca and other Neo-Pagan practices, uses 16 stones instead of 13. The representations for these 16 stones are Male, Female, the Sun, the Moon, Love, Death, Joy, Sorrow, the Past, Present, and Future, and the elements; Air, Fire, Water and Earth. The final stone is the Center or the question stone and is usually the biggest stone in the set. This form of lithomancy is heavily influenced by Tarot and the results are much easier to interpret. The stone caster begins by asking the Center stone the question at hand. The stone is then placed on a flat surface, usually on top of a cloth, and the remaining stones are cast from directly above it. The height at which the stones are released vary anywhere from 6 inches to a foot. Once the stones have landed they are read in order from the stone closest to the Center stone to the stone farthest from the Center stone. However, any stones that land more than 6 inches away from the Center stone are not considered part of the reading. Here you can see the yellow stone represents the Center stone. The stones that are green would be the stones that are interpreted in the reading starting with the stone closest to the Center stone and the stones that are red would be left out of the reading all together. In this form of lithomancy the order in which the stones land is very important to how the results are interpreted because the answer is read like a story. For example, if the Past stone is first, followed by the Water, Sorrow, Future, then the Joy stone, the caster might read that the person’s past was filled with emotional pain and suffering while their future is filled with joy and happiness. Now, if the stones landed with the Past stone first followed by the Joy, Future, Water, then the Sorrow stone, the caster might read that the person’s past was filled with joy and happiness while their future is filled with emotional pain and suffering. In order to help better understand the stone representations and their meanings, below is a small list of examples that can be used for each stone.

Male: A man himself or Action, Competitive, Aggressive, etc.

Female: A women herself or Passive, Balance, Nurturing, etc.

Sun: itself or a Leader, Outgoing, Confident, etc. Moon: itself or Intuition, Spirituality, Change, etc.

Love: itself or Relationships, Compassion, Honesty, etc.

Death: itself or Forgiveness, Banishing, New Beginnings, etc.

Joy: itself or Happiness, Luck, Optimism, etc.

Sorrow: itself or Sadness, Misfortune, Pessimism, etc.

Past: itself or Wisdom, Knowledge, Insight, etc.

Present: itself or Reality, Learning, Awakening, etc.

Future: itself or Fate, Dreams, Control, etc.

Air: itself or Intellect, Mental, Spring (season), etc.

Fire: itself or Creativity, Willpower, Summer (season), etc.

Water: itself or Culture, Emotions, Autumn (season), etc.

Earth: itself or Abundance, Physical, Winter (season), etc. 

The meanings that are assigned to each stone is determined by the caster based on the question asked and their intuition. As lithomancy has gained popularity in the US and Europe there have been many new forms and variations that have begun to emerge. In the end, each stone caster must decide which technique is best for their personal use. How do I choose my Lithomancy stones? The stones that are used in a lithomancy set are a matter of preference. Although, most would agree it is best to have different size, shape and or color stones for each representation in order to recognize their meaning. Below I have compiled a list of stones that can be used to represent the different meanings.

Center: Clear Quartz, Diamond, Clear Apophyllite, Colorless Beryl, etc.

Male: Bloodstone, Black Agate, Red Carbuncle, Amozonite, Garnet, Topaz, etc.

Female: Blue Lace Agate, Pearl, Sapphire, Jade, Pink Calcite, etc.

Sun: Sunstone, Ruby, Amber, Apache Tear, etc.

Moon: Moonstone, Mother of Pearl, Opal, White Labradorite, etc.

Love: Rose Quartz, Pink Tourmaline, Alexandrite, Pink Diamond, etc.

Death: Rhodonite, White Coral, Rhodochrosite, Angelite, etc.

Joy: Petrified Wood, Blue Quartz, Yellow Zircon, Celestite, etc.

Sorrow: Obsidian, Black Opal, Dumortierite, Eclogite, Epidote, etc.

Past: Tiger Eye, Fossil, Apatite, Kyanite, Selenite, Hawk’s Eye, etc.

Present: Carnelian, Aquamarine, Chrysoprase, Morganite, etc.

Future: Serpentine, Howlite, Labradorite, Adventurine, Chalcedony, etc.

Air: Amethyst, Onyx, Lapis Lazuli, Tanzanite, Aragonite, etc.

Fire: Red Jasper, Hematite, Fluorite, Fire Opal, Citrine, etc.

Water: Chrysocolla, Lipidolite, Sugilite, Feldspar, Kunzite, Marble, etc.

Earth: Emerald, Brown or Green Jasper, Peridot, Green Tourmaline, etc. 

Of course, most of the stones listed above can be used for more than one of the representations. For Example, Amethyst could be used for Female, Moon, Love, Joy, Future, Air, Water, or Earth. Ultimately, which stone is used for which representation is up to the stone caster. 

References: 1. Lithomancy, The Psychic Art of Reading Stones (2010) by Gary L. Wimmer 2. Dunwich’s Guide to Gemstone Sorcery (2003) by Gerina Dunwich 3. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary 11th Edition (2008) 4. Holland’s Grimoire of Magickal Correspondences (2006) by Eileen Holland 5. Healing Crystals 4th Edition (2009) by Michael Gienger

[leannan-sithe]

If you’re dealing with “Celtic” entities, it’s important to discuss a specific topic with them –  Are they faery soup kind of entities? Or should you be following a more specific tradition of Ireland, Wales, England, or Scotland?  Faery soup is a new phrase I’m using for the mishmash of vaguely appropriated Celtic concepts where fae are considered universally similar amongst all the Celtic nations. Some entities obey by these rules – like a modern mythology made real. 

Some entities 100% do not want anything to do with the faery soup. Be mindful and respectful of their wishes. 

[action]

It’s Not Too Late to Make 2020 Count

The 2020 U.S. election is right around the corner. Tuesday, November 3, is the last day to cast your ballot. We’re almost at the end of this seemingly endless election cycle–but don’t break out the bath bombs yet. There’s still work to do, like making sure you cast a vote that counts. Here’s some info that’ll help you do just that:

Who should you vote for? Well, that’s up to you. We’re not here to tell you how to live your life, just to make living it a little easier. Find out here where the presidential candidates stand on key issues like climate change, healthcare, and racial justice. Sure, the presidency gets the top billing, but those smaller, local elections affect you as well. Use this state-specific ballot guide to help you fill out your entire ballot. 

It’s not too late to vote early. In some states, the early voting period ends Saturday, October 31, aka Halloween. Like this election cycle wasn’t scary enough. Learn more about your state’s early voting deadlines here. If you still haven’t registered to vote, @whenweallvote makes it easy to explore all of your state’s voter registration deadlines in one place. Find your polling place ahead of time. Waiting until Election Day to look up your polling station is like waiting until the day of the show to buy tickets to a MCR reunion tour. It’s not a good idea. 

If you voted by mail, your job isn’t over. To confirm your absentee ballot has been accepted by your state’s board of elections, use @resistbot for status updates. No, that’s not a text from your crush: it’s Resistbot! Unless Resistbot is your crush…in which case, maybe you should just check the status of your ballot online.

There’s something in the air

If you consider yourself anywhere from barely to extremely online, you’ve been bombarded with misinformation—and you might not even know it. At Tumblr, you control the conversation. As a result, we need you to help us shut down the spread of misinformation. 

With one of the most contentious elections in U.S. history only days away, we’re asking all users to be watchful of what you see and read online. Use our Election Integrity Guidelines to help you identify and avoid sharing potentially harmful information. To combat misinformation within the Tumblr community, we’re also asking users to read more about media literacy and report misinformation or abuse of any kind right here. 

Good luck out there, Tumblr. Don’t forget to #Make2020Count.

[staff]

✨Tomorrow is Election Day in the United States. If you’ve already voted by absentee ballot, check the status of your ballot using @resistbot. If you’re voting in-person tomorrow, make sure you know where your polling place is. ✨

[yo-daddys-my-bitch]

May the 10 of Pentacles bless your account with more money than you can spend. 💵✨

[hermes-is-my-homeboy]

10 of Pentz came thruuu

[violaslayvis]

Omg this actually works!!! Thank you 10 of Pentacles!!!

[borkdork]

I could seriously use this money right now….

[ashashi-corner]

Please give me my refund of 400$ soon…

[hermes-is-my-homeboy]

I feel obligated to reblog this every time it shows up in my dash

[hermes-is-my-homeboy]

No bragging, just 100% floored and grateful. Work hard, maintain a positive attitude, and believe that anything can happen.

[virgocity]

So I reblogged this exactly a week ago because I thought it was funny and uh lo and behold, a family friend wrote me a big ol’ check just to help me out of a tough financial spot AND my bank refunded me $32 for fees they’d originally taken out. SO UH YEAH. Reblogging this again in hopes that it brings equally good fortune to my followers.

[penprp]

Sure why not? Jobs bring in money and prosperity…

[leradny]

I NEED TO FIX MY CAR DOOR

[getlostpeeves]

It fucking WORKED.

[nineprotons]

Could use this to help with Mini-p’s nursery school, the need to get our winter tires put on rims (which would save us tire-changing money in the long run), maybe someday help me visit my family in the US again, lol… :) Between winter tires at the start of the year, needing to have the garage door fixed, needing a new dryer, then losing the nice subsidized nursery school program, etc…2018 has been a bit spendier than normal. D'oh.

[breelandwalker]

I can always use a boost. Hopefully from book orders!

[eclectixwitch]

Why not🥰 please bless me with fouturne🙏💰

[essenceevocation]

Reblog if you need good fortune, little witches. I know I could use some right now. 💰 ✨

[themori-witch]

Curses vs. Hexes: What’s the Difference?

If you were to look up the definition of both of the words on a search engine (hello, Google!) they are defined as follows:

Curse: (aside from meaning vulgar words) is “casting the evil eye or an evil spell upon someone.”

Hex: to curse someone.

Oh, dear sweet Google, you have tried your best but in this instance, every witch will tell you that you are wrong.

The general consensus is that ultimately, curses are worse than hexes; the target tends to suffer more at the hands of a curse than they do at the hands of a hex. 

Curses:

Usually more serious than hexes.

Can live on through generations if that is what the caster intended.

Tend to be long-term in nature.

Usually, curses are borne of anger; of hatred and even a need for justice.

They can usually be reversed or undone; reversals can be done by the caster, and undoings may be done by the caster, target or a third party.

Hexes:

Often cast as a “one-off” piece of magick.

Their effects are apparent very quickly, but they are not long-term - seen sometimes as an instantaneous form of malevolent magick.

Hexes are borne of revenge and/or annoyance, and they usually cause irritation and subsequent annoyance to the target - hexes are a way for the caster make their target feel what they have been made to feel for a short time.

Due to their nature, hexes are usually over and done with quickly and do not require a reversal or undoing.

Both of these forms of magick, are forms of malevolent magick that is used for many reasons.

Some people curse their abusers, or people who have hurt them and some people hex their ex-partners, or someone who has brushed them up the wrong way. Like all magick, what you do is circumstantial and no one can tell you whether you should or should not perform magick of this kind (I am pro-curse and hex, but not everyone is).

Common Cursing & Hexing Components:

Taglocks:

Bodily fluids (blood, spit, semen, menstrual blood, tears, urine, etc.)

Fingernails.

Hair.

Photographs.

Personal possessions.

Poppets.

Usernames/nicknames/names.

Herbs/Plants:

Cayenne Pepper

Chilli

Lemon

Black Pepper

Thistle

Thorns

Poppies

Mold

Other items:

Nails (rusted for potency)

Razor blades

String/yarn/chord

Cemetery Dirt

War Water

Needles

Bones

Vinegar

Mirror (broken or whole)

Broken glass

Dead Wasps

You’ll notice that I’ve bunched the common ingredients for curses and hexes in one list - that is because these two are simply lesser and greater forms of the same kind of magick, so you must bear in mind what your intent is when you choose your spell/ritual ingredients.

Do you want to frustrate, annoy and irritate your target? Do you want to bring them bad luck? Do you want to bring them untold misery? Consider this carefully.

*The word “hex” is used in modern witchcraft to describe a mild form of baneful magic[k], but if you want to know more about the word’s history, click here for a fantastic post by @athenathewitch .

[samwisethewitch]

Keeping Consumerism out of Your Craft

Consumerism is a set of socioeconomic conditions and attitudes that encourage the continual acquisitions of goods and services. There is no “enough” in a consumerist society — members of the society are constantly pushed to buy new things, pay for new services, and keep up with the latest trends.

There are a few reasons consumerism is bad news. For one thing, it’s terrible for the environment — consumerist cultures usually have linear economies, where resources are extracted, consumed, then discarded, with no effort to replenish them. This is highly unsustainable, because at some point those limited resources are going to run out. Consumerism also has a human cost, as it often leads to the use of sweatshops, which violate basic labor laws. In many sweatshops, workers are not paid a livable wage, children are employed as workers, and working conditions are unsafe. Companies in countries like the United States get around labor laws by outsourcing labor to other (poorer) places. Consumerism also contributes to classism, as the acquisition of expensive items is often treated as a status symbol.

Consumerism is present in nearly every aspect of Western culture, and this includes spirituality and witchcraft. There are multiple “Beginner Witch Kits” for sale from Amazon and other online retailers which include candles, crystals, and incense — which is great, as long as that’s all stuff you’ll actually use in your practice. (I mean, do you really need twelve different varieties of incense?) Witchy authors and bloggers often treat magic like a matching game, where every problem requires a very specific herb or crystal. YouTube is full of “witch hauls,” videos solely dedicated to showing off new purchases. All of this contributes to a commercialized witchy aesthetic, which can only be achieved by buying the tools of the trade.

I get it. Shopping is fun, especially when you’re still learning about magic and magical items. It’s exciting to search for the perfect crystal or incense blend, especially if you have a local metaphysical store where you can shop in person. But owning the right stuff doesn’t make you a witch. All you need to practice magic is your will — everything else is optional.

I’m not saying every witch should be a hardcore minimalist, or that you can never buy new things. What I am saying is that all of us, witches or not, need to be more mindful of how we spend our money and the impact of our purchases on the world around us.

How to Avoid Consumerism

If you’re considering buying something, ask yourself if you’ll really get use out of it. For example, I don’t use a lot of tools in my practice because I prefer to work with my hands, so it wouldn’t make sense for me to buy an expensive wand or ritual knife. Don’t feel like you have to buy something just because another witch uses it — if you don’t think you’ll use it, don’t buy it.

Don’t buy multiples of the same tool. Instead of buying multiple different colored altar cloths for different times of year, buy one white altar cloth you can use year-round. Instead of buying multiple tarot decks, find one or two you really enjoy working with. You get the idea. (Obviously, there will be some items you need more than one of, like spell candles. This rule applies more to tools that can be reused.)

Replace things as they run out instead of buying them before you need them. Buying things in bulk can lead to unnecessary waste and drawers full of unused magical supplies. Buy things you know you’ll really use, and only buy one or two at a time. Use up the items you have before you buy more.

Invest in items that have multiple uses. For example, most kitchen spices can also be used in spells — search your spice cabinet before ordering special ingredients online. There are some items that have multiple magical uses, like rosemary and salt. Buy a couple of these multitaskers instead of a large collection of herbs with very specific uses.

Use the “two week” rule. This is something I do to keep myself from making impulse purchases. If I think I want to buy something online, I wait two weeks before I order it. If I still want it after two weeks, I take that as a sign that I’ll actually get some use from it.

Go “shopping” in your backyard. Familiarize yourself with the plants, animals, and minerals that are native to your area and go foraging for spell supplies instead of buying them. Items you can probably find near your home that could be used in ritual include leaves and flowers, pine cones, seed pods, tree branches, rocks, and naturally shed feathers. Just make sure you never harvest enough of a plant to hurt it, and make sure you properly disinfect any animal products you pick up.

If you can, make it yourself. Not only does making your own magic items save money, it also creates a much stronger personal link between you and that item. You can grow your own magical herbs in a garden or in indoor pots. Many common magical tools, like brooms and wands, are easy to make at home with some basic craft skills. Making your own items also means you can customize them, tailoring them to your own craft.

If you can’t make it yourself, but it used. There are some items you can’t reasonably make yourself, like incense burners, cauldrons, and books on the craft. But you can find most of these items used, either in thrift stores or online on websites like Ebay and Depop. Buying used almost always ends up being cheaper than buying new, and because you’re buying items already in circulation you aren’t contributing to a linear economy. Thrifting is also a great way to find unique items that won’t be like what anyone else has on their altar.

If you can’t find it used, support a small business. Sometimes, you can’t make what you need or find it in a thrift store. In that case, buying from a small business is preferable to buying from a big retailer like Amazon. When you support a small business, you’re supporting an individual rather than contributing to some CEO’s massive yearly bonus. A lot of small business owners make their items themselves, which avoids sweatshop labor. Pretty much everything I buy new for my craft comes from Etsy sellers — there are a LOT of witches on Etsy, so with a little digging you can easily find exactly what you’re looking for!

Don’t buy crystals. I know, I know. Thanks to social media, large crystal collections have become synonymous with witchcraft. But the crystal trade is highly unethical, with unsustainable mining techniques, dangerous working conditions, and child labor. Because of a lack of regulations, it’s virtually impossible to find crystals that are truly ethically sourced. Most sellers don’t know where their crystals come from and can’t guarantee that no workers were harmed in their extraction. No stone is worth the health and safety of other human beings, no matter how pretty.

Avoiding consumerism in your witchcraft means being less reliant on tools and set dressing. This will allow you to rely on your own energy and will, which will lead to a deeper and more meaningful spiritual practice.

Resources:

Revolutionary Witchcraft by Sarah Lyons

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins

“11 Facts About Sweatshops” on dosomething.org

“Child labour in the fashion supply chain” from The Guardian

“Bangladesh factory collapse toll passes 1,000” from BBC News

“Are crystals the new blood diamonds?” from The Guardian

“Dark crystals: the brutal reality behind a booming wellness craze” from The Guardian

[fresherbrine]

[tobacconist]

vine tarot

by ‘holly sweet’ on redbubble

five feet apart cus theyre not gay

oh my god they were roommates 

i wont hesitate, bitch

THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELLS YOU

its wednesday my dudes

(no associated catchphrase)

a potato flew around my room

i have the power of god AND anime on my side

MY POOP IS COMING

~got a red dress on tonight, dancing in the dark in the pale moonlight~

(no associated catchphrase)

(’take on me’ opening notes)

(no associated catchphrase)