Raven Wings and Witchy Things

Nature-based witch. Currently accepting requests for free tarot readings. Shoot me a message if you're interested.

[north-of-annwn]

To be a Local Witch

Throughout history and our legends, Witches and Wizards were the crazy men and women that lived on the outskirts of the village. Their craft was wild and strange to those that lived in the village, but, nonetheless, people would seek after their wisdom of the land, the plants, the local spirits, and for wisdom or guidance in their path. These men and women, often bachelors, would know the ins and outs of the region and often went walking alone. 

Today, our villages are less rustic and more like local towns, and suburbs. But one can still be a Local Witch, and develop special connections with the land you call home. 

Become a Local Witch: 

Learn Local Lore Folktales, legends, and even tall tales develop the culture of a town or area. Learn these. Retell them over summer campfires, and over drinks with friends. People will start to LOVE your stories. 

Start Frequenting locally owned shops and stores Develop connections and relationships with the owners and those that work there every day. Learn their names, and introduce yourself after visiting more often. Supporting locally owned shops helps small business owners and provides nourishment to your community. This is putting down roots, and develops your connection with the people that shape your town.

Find a Local Bookstore This is an extension of 1 and 2. Locally owned bookstores always have a Local Writers, Local Plants, and Local History sections. Ask inside where these sections are, and start devouring these books. Not only will you be supporting a local shop, but you have a direct source of helpful information. Oftentimes, employees and owners also know a lot of Lore. Talk to them about what you’re interested in learning. They probably have some hidden gems of information. 

Learn about your Indigenous Plants Start researching and learning about the flora that grows locally, learn their lore, their uses, and magical or folklore associations. If Natives from your area used these plants, find out how. Learn where these plants grow and research local foraging. If you’ve never foraged, see if you can find a local group that can serve as helpful guides to stay safe. Never ingest anything unless you are SURE. 

Start a local Plant Grimoire Keep dried presses of flowers and plants in it, draw and diagram to help you remember what they look like. 

Learn about the indigenous animals Research their folklore and mythology. Start finding out what they eat, and what their habitats are. (Safely) Do your part to help foster their growth and health. This could be making insect houses to help local endangered pollinators, or leaving out special birdseed for endangered bird species in the area. (Safely) Start interacting with the non-aggressive species and leave them treats. This is great for birds, deer, rabbits, moles, chipmunks, hedgehogs, etc 

Join local Conservation Projects  Getting directly involved in wildlife conservation strengthens our spiritual and natural ties to the land we call our home. Taking personal responsibility and interest in it’s stewardship is honoring the spirits of the land, and the Gods. 

Use Google Maps while exploring parks, or protected open spaces to drop pins and places where you find animal habitats or useful plants for foraging. 

That’s all for now. More will come later I’m sure. Now go be the best local Witch or Druid you can be! 

[natureandthecraft]

- Buy produce from a local produce stand/farmers market if you can instead of a large chain grocery store. (Where I live, Winco grocery store also tries to locally source their produce)

- Find a community garden in your area. Learn from seasoned gardeners about local plants, soil, and get to spend wholesome time with your neighbors!

- Join your local library. Like the bookstore, but free! Some also have events to get to know people in your community.

- Explore local walking paths or hiking trails. My town is littered with walking paths that I use as nature trails and helps with my grounding. Also gives you a chance to scope out local plants.

[houndofhecate]

- if you’re in a country that has been colonized - also learn about the INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. Acknowledge the land you are living and working on and learn about the practices and values of those that previously, and still do, live there. Don’t steal their practices, but learn about them. 

- Support indigenous business local to your area. 

[witchcraftingboop]

I think people really underestimate what good divination provides, especially during such uncertain times, and it's a genuine shame. Some would rather deride those who claim to be helped and guided by the messages they receive rather than acknowledge that it's a longstanding tradition and practice for a reason. Skeptics, I think, are really the easiest to read for. Their expectations are so thickly clouded that one whisper of truth sends them into a spiral, and there is much in wait that they have shut themselves off to fully receiving.

[creature-witch]

I've had this exact response from people. I used to read for anyone and everyone when my cards were very new so I could practice and learn, mostly people at work. They would get together and laugh and we would all share and it would be fun, sometimes a little heavy but mostly fun, but I gave a reading to one of my coworkers who absolutely did not believe in it, she was humoring me so to speak. She got realllllllly quiet, and upset, and wouldn't talk to me or make eye contact with me for the rest of the shift. Saw her mentally questioning everything she had previously believed in.

[themodernsouthernpolytheist]

Brighid Mural

I randomly stumbled on this absolutely stunning mural that was just completed in Dundalk, Ireland!

It’s apparently part of a new urban art festival there and this piece portrays Brighid as both goddess and saint. The colors are absolutely stunning and I’m in love with it!

Art by Friz

Photograph by Swedish Ginger

[hasleftthechat-deactivated20211]

Fun fact: the Nine of Swords is basically Tarot's way of saying "stop hitting yourself"

[occultcorner-blog]

[birdsofrhiannon]

Lughnasadh by Nadi Spencer

[daughter-of-maat]

Friendly reminder that being eclectic is not an excuse to appropriate from closed spiritual systems.

[ornelasse]

Orbsen mac Allot aka Manannán mac Lir

[jus4bodhi]

[servantofthefates]

Hello Diana how are you. You blog is such a gift! Thank for all the wonderful knowledge and advice you give. I wanted to ask if you have a spell or advice to clean an object from someone’s bad energy? I inherited some beautiful jewelry from my aunt. And I love it. But I can’t bring myself to wear it. Not even to touch it much. You see her husband gave my aunt this jewelry and he was an awful, despicable man. In my opinion Anyways. Thank you and have a wonderful day, Sara. ❤️

I do not cleanse objects. I claim them.

Every time I receive something significant secondhand – jewels, talismans, tarot decks – I formally welcome it to my life.

Taking it to my sacred space and holding it in my hands, I introduce myself.

“My name is Diana... a servant of the Fates... a child of Venus... a Plutonian witch. I am now your sole master.”

I let it know what my intentions are.

“I rarely wear a necklace. But you will not be neglected. I will turn you into an amulet. So you can guard my home when I am not there to look after it.”

I declare my commands.

“Hold on to the strengths of your previous owners. But release anything that could prevent you from fulfilling your new purpose.”

And I tell it what to expect as a reward for its obedience.

“If you ever felt mistreated, it will never happen again. In return for your loyalty, you will be regarded as treasure.”

Then I wait for its reply.

Jewelry gleams, as if nodding to agree. Talismans vibrate or become hotter in your hand. That is how they respond. Tarot, by make, is far more articulate.

Finally, I write down its name in a catalog – an inventory of all my sacred properties. The ink makes the contract binding.

[graveyarddirt]

Abracadabra, by rytaray

[birdsofrhiannon]

[skepticaloccultist]

Blackthorn Harvest Chant

Blackthorn, blackthorn, lend me your sting. Sharp like the wind, the crown of a king.

Blackthorn, blackthorn, deliver me your might. That I may without question my enemies smite.

Blackthorn, blackthorn, grant me your leave. The blood of a shadow, a widow’s bereave.

Blackthorn, blackthorn, permit me your sword. A word that is bound, an ancient reward.

Blackthorn, blackthorn, show me the way, As the sunsets golden on a path led astray.

Blackthorn, blackthorn, allow me to take, That weapon you’ve made for protection’s sake.

Blackthorn, blackthorn, give me your word. That binds us together, in darkness absurd.

Blackthorn, blackthorn, open the gate. The door that’s a veil of the mind’s altered state.

[cosmic-supplies-deactivated2021]

PSA on some toxic minerals

Cinnabar: Is extremely toxic, if you handle it please make sure to wash your hands afterwards. This mineral should under no circumstance be ingested or inhaled. 

Galena:  Contains lead which is toxic to ingest or inhale, this mineral specimen can be handled but prolonged exposure to its dust can cause serious health issues. 

Chalcanthite: Is a copper sulphate crystal, this mineral can cause copper poisoning if ingested, do not under any circumstance place this mineral in gemstone elixirs. This mineral however can be handled. Chalcanthite can sometimes be lab grown and not the natural variation of the mineral. 

Asbestos: Unless you are a qualified professional please do not handle this mineral! Do not inhale it, under no circumstances should you ingest this mineral and even handling this mineral can cause serious health issues. Unbelievably asbestos is still sold as mineral samples, luckily most of the ones you find online are generally fake satin-spar or varieties of garnet.  

Malachite: Another copper based mineral, cannot be used in elixirs and must be handled carefully. Fibrous malachite specimens can scratch and disintegrate in water, it is a good idea for this mineral to be bought in its polished form. Malachite is being artificially produced and faked, so beware when purchasing online. 

Orpiment: An arsenic sulphide mineral, handled incorrectly and left to oxidise this mineral will cause arsenic poisoning. Repeated exposure and handling is not recommended. 

[naturedeathwitch]

Your friendly witchy reminder

You are not a “gypsy witch” (Unless you are actually a Romani)

You don’t have a “gypsy soul” or “soul of a gypsy” (unless you are actually Romani)

You don’t have “gypsy fashion” (trust me it’s probably fetishized romanticzed garbage based on European photography of Romani camps)

I am a Ruska Roma (Russian tribe of the Romani) and this is a HUGE pet peeve of mine on social media. Witchcraft is actually universally disliked by many Romani tribes. If you are a Romani, individually, you can also take on the term “witch” (again, but please keep in mind that many tribes dislike the idea of ‘witchcraft’). 

[aloveaffairwithlight]

[yubba1979]

“Lilith”: Goddess of Abundance, Fertility and Fecundity. “Also Goddess of Death and Transformation…she challenges us to look upon our dark side and incorporate it into our wholeness so that our great beauty can blossom forth.”–Michael Babcock.

[sparklyfoxglitter]

This is appropriation

LILITH KILLS BABIES. SHE IS FROM JEWISH FOLKLORE AS A DEMONNESS AND IS LIKE THE ANTI FERTILITY SPIRIT.

For fucks sake, jewish people make wards against her TO THIS DAY.

Ive had to convince my rabbi to do a get to keep Lilith and her fucking demons away from me

That wasnt fucking easy esp since modern Judaism is very distance from the super natural

[swirlsofblackandwhite]

What do you think of the use of Lilith as a placement in Western astrology? In astrology she’s usually interpreted as the dark feminine. Is that also appropriation?

[sparklyfoxglitter]

A lot of jewish magic users reclaim her and consider her a dark feminine figure/claim her as a feminist figure in the culture. But you know thats people in the culture doing the thing. Fuck, my rabbi does(which made convincing her difficult)

My negative experiences w lilith actually make it difficult for me to move in jewish magic spaces bc a ton of the more pagany circles work w her

As for the astrology thing??? I dont know???? Astrologys touched a ton of cultures including Jewish ones.

Im indifferent personally to the lilith thing in astrology