Hearth and Bone

Between hearth and grave, shadow and spark—where stories are stitched into the marrow, and the bones of forgotten things lie buried

[morbidmomma]

Daddy's girl

Art by morbidmomma

[ravenlestrangewitch]

LOOOOVE!!!

[ravenlestrangewitch]

Why I Believe the Threefold Law is Utter Bullshit

There. I said it... however, I want to make it clear that if you believe in the Threefold Law, that is totally valid and your prerogative. But don't push that shit onto anyone else, mmmkay? Because when you do, you start sounding no better than Bible-thumpers who insist you’ll burn in hell if you don’t let Jebus into your heart. Sorry, but it's true. That said, for the unfamiliar, the Threefold Law is a Wiccan belief that whatever energy you put into the world—good or bad—returns to you three times over. It’s not some ancient universal law.... it’s a modern, Wiccan invention. It first shows up in mid-20th century Wiccan writing, popularised through the works of Gerald Gardner and later Doreen Valiente (who, by the way, wasn’t even technically a founder).

So why do I hate it?

Because it’s spiritual fear-mongering... another way to control new witches by making them afraid to experiment, curse, or work outside the “harm none” rule. And let’s be real, early Wicca carried plenty of misogyny, racism, and other problematic baggage I won’t unpack here.

My biggest issue, though? It defies basic physics.

The first law of thermodynamics states:

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another.

Whether you're a scientist like I am or not, this is a law of physics... This is a scientific fact... it doesn’t require belief. The idea that you send out a spell and it somehow comes back to you three times stronger simply doesn’t add up.

A word on baneful magic...

In my 35+ years of practice, I’ve done my fair share of baneful work. But I don’t just wake up and choose violence for the fun of it, my spells have been warranted. If you hex someone purely for entertainment, yeah, you might face consequences. But in my belief, it won’t be some cosmic “threefold” payback, it’ll be life handing you your own lesson and hopefully you'll learn something to better yourself from that lesson.

Lastly... A quote from a witch I admire in the community... Robyn at @atiredwitch on Instagram:

Ethics in baneful magic is a scam invented by armchair magicians

Bottom line: If you believe in the Threefold Law, that’s fine. But don’t shove it down anyone’s throat. If you see someone asking for a baneful spell on Facebook and it triggers you, keep scrolling. You don’t have to turn every post into a sermon.

Yours witchfully,

A baneful witch 🖤

[ravenlestrangewitch]

Sorry Doll, But There's No Witchcraft Gene... (And Other Hereditary Bullshit)

So guys, in the 90s there was this crap that went around where people would claim to be a "3rd generation hereditary witch" as if it was a badge of honour or a "I'm better than you" certification. It was cringey then, and honestly, I thought we'd moved on... apparently not. Here we are in 2025 and I was recently told about a woman who said one of my friends isn't a real witch because her parents aren't witches. I got second-hand embarrassment for the person who told her this! According to this logic, after 30-35 years of practice, being pagan my entire life, intense study, ritual and spellwork out the wazoo, multiple covens, lived experience, years of teaching... I'm not a witch apparently.... HOWEVER... my 15yo daughter who, sure... she was brought up pagan, but has only now taken an interest in witchcraft... SHE is the real deal guys. Not me. Why?? Because her mum is a witch.... but then, by this definition I'm NOT a witch because my parents weren't... so therefore does that mean she isn't a witch? And by that train of thought, literally no one is because at some point in their bloodline there had to be a patient zero haha.... a "first" witch... but they didn't have witchy parents, so that makes that definition null and void doesn't it?? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!

Now, can I just say... I'm a witch, but I'm also a literally a geneticist in my day job... a molecular biologist specialising in genetics. Let me tell you a secret... There is no fucking witchcraft gene! You can't inherit witchcraft in your DNA anymore than you can be born knowing how to drive a car. What can be passed down to you are beliefs, traditions, practical experience, tools, etc. Just like a kid who is born into a family of athletes has a bit of a head start in athletics if they choose to pursue it, so too does a child have a headstart in witchcraft because information is literally at their fingertips. They have parents and family members who can act as mentors and guides and answer questions, practice with them, learn from etc. Others may need to work harder to get to the same level but that doesn't mean they're any less a witch for fucks sake. In conclusion guys, witchcraft is not a bloodline. It's a path. A spiritual practice. A way of seeing and shaping the world around us. It's learned. It's lived. It's chosen. And above all, it's personal. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having family traditions, with honouring ancestral practices, with lighting the same candles your grandmother did. That’s beautiful. But to gatekeep the entire spiritual path because someone didn’t “inherit” it? That’s elitism. That’s insecurity. And it’s frankly laughable and embarrassing.

The witch wound runs deep, and the last thing we need is to keep carving each other up with it. So whether you were raised in a circle or stumbled into your craft later in life, whether you found it through books, dreams, Instagram, or sheer curiosity.... you belong. You are a witch.... because you are a witch. Because you chose it or it chose you. Because it called you and you answered. Blood has nothing to fucking do with it.

Through the Blood and Through the Land... - Raven LeStrange

[ravenlestrangewitch]

With Ash-Stained Fingers...

Welcome to my first blog post. This is something I've been wanting to do for a while, but either my shadow made me feel like I wasn't worth reading about, or I just didn't have time, but I'm making time. This is going to be a part of my shadow work, but also my way of sharing my practice, knowledge, and my brand of weird with the world. So who is Raven LeStrange? She’s a name, an alias I chose with intention... a little magical, a little strange. But behind her is a real person... a mother, a writer, a scientist, a witch. I’m walking the line between the mundane and the mystical, building a life stitched together with tea and tears and ritual and love.

I created this space as a hearth for the parts of me that don’t always fit in elsewhere, where I can write freely, share spells and thoughts, document my growth, and let the ghosts of old dreams stretch their limbs. I'm one of those weird witches that actually hates journaling. I find that I'll excitedly start a journal, only to rip the pages out and burn them weeks later. So I thought I would write the personal stuff down and intentially burn it, and write the other stuff here that might help others with their journey.

Expect reflections on witchcraft, womanhood, spirituality, softness, rage, sometimes motherhood, sometimes my logical thoughts on witchy things as a scientist, but also creativity, grief, rebirth, and all the beautiful mess in between.

I don’t promise polished perfection here. Just honesty, warmth, and the kind of magic that grows in quiet corners.... eventually, I'd love to even start a podcast! If you’ve ever felt like a little too much or not quite enough, you might feel at home here.

🖤 With ash-stained fingers, Raven LeStrange