Ariel

they/them :) 24 my little online siddur and sefer segulot

[seraphimsegulot]

🌞things to know about me🌞

hello!! i’m ariel, they/them, and i’m a jewish puerto rican mystic. you can follow me @/auntiebruja on tiktok if you wish to see more of me :)

my craft is a blend of:

🌬️ renewal judaism

🧄 jewish folk magic

🦌 southern cunning

☕️ puerto rican folk brujería

i do curse work.

my other blogs are @auntiebruja (main) and @draculasdaydream (gothic media)

this blog is a safe space for everyone except nazis, terfs, or bigots of any kind.

xoxoxo 🖤🌿

[psalmicwitch]

🔹 Psalm Magic 101 🔹

I practice with psalm magic a lot as a Christian witch, but it’s not exclusive to Christian witches. I’ve said this before on my blog, but the psalms are some of the oldest, most well documented pieces of magic we have.

The psalms, commonly attributed to King David, but there’s actually no evidence of who authored any of the psalms. We have no idea who they came from, but we know they came from much older sources. Using the book of psalms as magical test is a sort of pre-Wiccan traditional witchcraft practice.

I tend to follow Ariel Gatoga’s method of psalm magic, though there are many traditions.

Step 1: Start with a Psalm

Start with a psalm. It helps if it has a meaning that aligns with what your intentions are, but it isn’t explicitly necessary. You’ll have a harder time working the psalm, but it is definitely not impossible. I like this index of psalm meanings.

Your first read through of the psalm you’re going to treat it like an incantation. Recite with intent and with energy, whatever that means for you. Do this without stopping. (If you stop you do gotta start over)

This doesn’t have to be out loud, if you’re in the broomcloset, but read through it as if you were reciting it out loud. I like to describe this as “all but” letting the words come out of your mouth.

Step 2: Work the Psalm

Next, we move on to working the psalm. Our next read through, mentally or out loud, we’re reading and digging deeper, verse by verse, finding the occult meanings behind certain words.

What are occult or double meanings? I really like, again, Ariel Gatoga’s booklet on discerning the double meanings of certain words.

He describes finding these words as seeds which we plant and grow into magic. The description that resonates with me is knitting these words together to grow into a functional spell.

There’s no inherent magic in reciting a psalm. The magic comes from working and weaving its pieces together with intention to work towards your goal.

Sometimes, if I have the energy, I’ll do a second working of the same psalm. Don’t do more than one psalm a day. One thing about psalm magic is that it can be exhausting. I remember the first time I really had success with a working it completely drained me and I passed out immediately after. Even if you don’t get physically tired, it is mentally taxing, so don’t overdo it. (Remember to always raise energy before and ground after.)

Ending and Circuits

I personally end with incanting the psalm once more, putting special emphasis on those occult or double-meaninged words. I made this up. It helps me feel like I’ve gone full circle, but truly, we were finished after we worked the psalm. This second incantation is really just putting frosting on the outside of the psalm cake.

Circuits are an integral part of psalm magic, unlike my little frosting on the cake. When you work a psalm, it’ll work, but to add more energy to what you preformed, you’re going to want to recite similar psalms the next few days. My favorite circuit is definitely 9, 90, and 91 for healing illness.

To work a circuit, pick the 3-6 psalms you want to work, and work them, one a day, 3-6 days straight, depending on how many psalms you picked. After, take a few days rest and evaluate how you feel about what you did. I search deep for my gut to tell me where I stand in the problem. If you feel good, great! If you don’t, do the circuit again.

I like psalms because psalmic magic does not rely on anything else. You can create a ritual around it (I do!) but nothing else is required. You can be the most inconspicuous witch ever. You only need a Bible or a book of psalms.

A final note, if you feel detached from the language found in the book of psalms, especially if you’re not a devotee of an Abrahamic god, it’s important to reframe it. In this text, you are god. (Heresy alert lol). Remember, these texts predate what they’re used for in the Bible. Change your frame of reference, and realize you are the god of the texts. (Or if you do resonate with the way they are written, don’t bother.) It’s about how to make the text work with you. There is no power in the exact language with which the psalms are written.

Once you learn the process, psalm magic starts to feel like second nature.

If you ever don’t want to write your own spell, if you want to recite some old magic, or even if you are worried about getting caught, psalm magic has something for everyone. I really do implore you to give it a shot.

Lastly, if this has been helpful or insightful to you, please consider donating to the ALS Association.

I’m on a mission to end ALS. If you can’t donate, reblog my pinned post, or hey, send a psalm up for healing those with ALS, or knowledge for those working for the cure.

[theblackdahliaemporium]

Dealing In Death: A Quick Guide To Death Magick

On the surface that might sound kind of scary, even downright evil, but I assure you it’s the farthest thing from. In this blog I will attempt to give you an in-site into the basics of death work. Please know that every witch does things their own unique way, so for the purposes of this work I will be trying to explain things in as unified a fashion as I can. This is intended to essentially be a starting point to bounce off of.

«~ • ~»

• Death Energy •

Death energy, simply put is energy called from death and death symbols. It’s about stillness, endings, and the deconstructing and reconstructing processes. It’s about using what’s in the past to fertilize what’s new and grow something that has purpose in the next step of your life. It’s about the acceptance of inevitability and what we can’t change to bring about what we can. Many practitioners call on death energy in everyday spell work the same way you would any other energy. In that sense it’s not to different from life energy.

«~ • ~»

• Cemetery Work •

For a lot of death witches, doing work in a cemetery or graveyard is a must, although there are those that don’t, a great deal more either do or will do when they get the chance. Lots goes into this type of work though and a thorough study on the subject should be done before pursuing this type of magick. However, some key points to remember are to always be respectful, obey the laws and rules of your land regarding the resting places, and listen to what the dead tell you.

It’s very important to recognize that there are always going to be practitioners that have their own unique rules on this subject, but the best way to know if the dead favor something or not is to ask them. What rules you inevitably believe should revolve around what the dead are comfortable with. That said, some of these rules are shared amongst practitioners. I have compiled a list below with some of them. Remember, this is very basic and what a practitioner adds or changes is up to them.

Typically these are the oldest spirits in the cemetery and are in charge of maintaining order. Most offerings include things like coins, drink, bread, or apples.

It’s important to let the spirits know what your intentions are. Will you be doing magick at the crossroads, magick at a grave, or foraging? The gatekeeper should let you know through energy what is acceptable. Remember each Cemetery is different and has different rules over all.

Gifts on a grave belong to the spirit dwelling there. It’s okay to pick up things like trash, or moldy flowers in still water but, rocks, dried or fresh flowers, feathers, etc should be left alone.

Try not to walk near the headstone of a grave (you’re walking on their body. Try to stay near the feet and always say excuse me politely if you have to step on it), always ask for a spirits help never demand it, and always bring them an offering as a thank you.

If you’re gathering dirt, sticks, or plants from a cemetery, even if it’s not on a grave, and you get a feeling like you shouldn’t touch it, then don’t. Spirits will always let you know what they want to keep. Obey that or it’s theft.

Being polite and thanking your hosts is always a must in general and can bring good energies between you and the dead. Especially if you intend on going back to work at that Cemetery.

«~ • ~»

• Necromancy •

Another common staple amongst death workers and arguably one of the most misunderstood practices. Simply put, this practice is divination with the dead. It’s all about connecting to and asking the dead for answers from the beyond. Lots of that used to be done in the cemetery and as a result many wild and fantastic rumors about zombie creation were formed, but that’s far from the truth. There were indeed many radical understandings within the practices history however but as science matured so did the knowledge on what this practice actually was.

While necromancy is still done in cemeteries even today, it’s not a must. Calling fourth a spirit can be done a number of ways and will definitely alter and change based on the witch. Some working maybe more cultural than others, and some may be more complex. The uniqueness of these practices can number well into the double digits and is always interesting to learn. Some of the most common spirit summoning techniques (aside from going directly to someone’s grave) are the spirit board, a mirror, and the pendulum. As for how these spirits are called, that too can differ from witch to witch. Most often though, it can involve candles or crystals as an energy source, a personal item or favored item like food, and/or the spirits name. It can be as simple as physically calling out to the abyss, beckoning the spirit forward or as elaborate a ritual as calling in the four directional guardians or a guide to lead them to you.

Regardless of how it’s done, it’s always a good rule of thumb to be respectful to them. Don’t demand from them, ask instead, and offer gratitude and an offering when you end the session.

«~ • ~»

• Deity and Spirit Guides •

Lots of death workers may worship deity just like any other practitioner. However the deity they are generally more drawn to are often either associated with the underworld or a psychopomp, like Osiris, Hades, Anubis, or Hecate. However they may also be a deity tide in some way to the personification of death, much like Thanatos.

Even if the witch chooses not to utilize deity they can still conjure up spiritual guides of some sort. These guides can be something as common as ancestral spirits or even animal spirits. Most common animal guides often have some death association and symbolism to them. So animals like Black cats, bats, vultures, owls, crows and ravens are quite popular.

«~ • ~»

• Bones & Body Parts •

Its not uncommon to see bones on the altars of death witches. Many beliefs around these tools and what they represent circulate within the community. For some specific animal bones it’s believed you can use that animal spirit and energy. Other beliefs revolve not around the animal itself but rather the type of bone, as each one has its own unique symbolism attached to it. The possibilities are near limitless and for most death practitioners they are a very necessary tool within the craft. Some practitioners even collect additional things like insect exoskeletons, animal skins, and preserved body parts like a rabbits foot.

DISCLAIMER! People should be made aware that it’s always encouraged for all materials to be ethnically sourced. Any form of unlawful collection or cruelty is frowned upon and not condoned within the community.

«~ • ~»

• Conclusion •

As started above, these are just some of the basics of death work within the pagan community and serves as a starting point to bounce off of. It’s very important to do your own research and come to your own conclusions regarding this craft and always remember to obey your local laws. Death work can be very fulfilling but not when it’s done under illegal circumstances.

[ofcedarandbone]

Notes from a witch who is a part-time caretaker of a rural graveyard:

Disclaimer: These are both mundane and magical personal observations and recommendations acquired from living directly beside, working part-time for, and working with the spirits of a rural graveyard.

If the grass is being cut regularly, the graveyard/cemetery is being looked after. Even if headstones are neglected and the decorations rarely change at the graves, someone is coming out regularly to check things out.

Even if you know for a fact a graveyard/cemetery is abandoned, it does not mean it's been entirely forgotten. You're probably not the first person to stumble upon it and probably won't be the last. Don't ruin it for others by desecrating graves or damaging the natural environment.

Be mindful of rules and be respectful of the cultural practices of the graveyard/cemetery. Some graveyards/cemeteries have regulations as to what can be left at a grave; either in general or during certain seasons, or they may have set visiting hours; often in an attempt to deter nocturnal mischief makers.

If you are ever questioned as to why you are there, be calm and courteous. You don't have to divulge your spiritual practice, but simply explaining that you're visiting out of an interest in history can more often than not put suspicious minds at ease. However, if you are explicitly asked to leave, by the living or the dead, do so. There is no sense in arguing and it may be for a good reason.

This may be personal preference or may depend on whether or not you have built up a connection with the graveyard/cemetery (spirit/guardian/etc), but when in doubt: come with protection.

Avoid leaning, standing or pushing on headstones. It is not uncommon for stones to topple, especially those with preexisting damage, those made out of softer material like limestone, or those simply not designed to take much force.

Sometimes stepping on a grave is inevitable. Politely apologize and carry on.

You can show respect and still laugh, joke, tell stories, etc. There's no rule saying you must keep the mood sombre.

If you will be doing any type of magical workings, ask permission and respect the answer. This goes especially for any workings done at a specific grave.

When finished, give your thanks and take all non-biodegradable tools/spell ingredients/offerings with you. You could even pick up trash as you leave, but be mindful of what may be a misplaced decoration or offering.

If you want to clean/repair headstones or cleanup the general area of the graveyard, do your research and go through the proper legal channels. Your intent may be good; but if you don't know what cleaners/tools to use or mistake a misplaced decoration as trash, you could unintentionally do more harm than good.

If you require grave dirt or other forageable matter, tread lightly. Only take what you need and opt to take from the perimeter over a specific grave*.

When you are finished with your workings and are ready to head home, say goodbye and leave the spirits at the gate. You can cleanse yourself and your tools once you've crossed the threshold or as soon as you've gotten home.

*Removing dirt from a grave is often viewed as immoral and depending on your location may even be illegal (desecration of a grave). <- I'm not mentioning this last bit as a scare tactic, just as a reminder that you never know how your actions will be interpreted by outside eyes.

As an alternative to grave dirt, consider this: The earth has been around for 4.5 billion years. In that time, many a thing has lived and died across its surface. Dirt is made of decaying and decomposed matter. So technically speaking, the entire planet is a series of unmarked lost graves, making all dirt grave dirt.

[bobemajses]

Memorial candles on the grave of Rabbi Judah Loew, the Maharal of Prague, in the Old Jewish Cemetery, Czechia, Ninth of Av 1981.

[uququ]

purely semantic interpretation of signs. i know what the scratches in the dirt are telling me but i don't consider them a point of authority

[ofwoodandbone]

Makeshift Hand of Glory

Not everyone has the left hand of a hanged man to make into a Hand of Glory.  I’ve concocted my own method to make one utilizing the same powers, just in different forms.  Boil a good amount of black wax.  Add graveyard dirt, sesame seed, and crushed mandrake root, if you can manage to find it.  Stir with the left hand.  Remove it from the heat.  Continue to stir the wax while it cools. Wait for it to become a semi-firm consistency.  Take the wax and shape it into the image of a left hand standing upright.  Have wicks, either braided by hand or bought, on hand. Rub them down with the fat of a chicken.  Tie the wicks to a long needle or skewer. Draw the wick up through the hand, leaving a wick exposed for each finger. Let it cool and harden.  Light the Hand to stop someone from doing something, putting them to sleep, giving them nightmares, forcing them to face themselves, and opening ‘doors’ closed to you. 

[chronically-chaotic-cryptid]

Times I Encountered God Recently

- person wearing a face mask in on the train home that day, golden sunlight spilling through the windows, living proof some people still care

- the old woman on my street who asked me how i was keeping before she asked me what house I lived on. she let me pet her dogs too

- an old man at a bus stop in town holding a bunch of yellow roses in the rain

- seeing person after person give up their seat on the bus so everyone who needed it would have somewhere to sit

- discussing what we want to do in life and philosophy with a friend on the grass while playing spit

[chronically-chaotic-cryptid]

Back on my Quaker nonsense (seeing that of God in everyone, viewing every person as inherently worthy of a good life and fair treatment, hoping and trying to fight for a better world, finding God in nature and tragedy in people being forced into violence, etc)

[friendinstrument]

God's wisdom is not constrained to one faith.

He lives in all of his believers, and imparts truth to all of us. Just as we all are blessed with the inward light, whether believer or not, we are all blessed with the light's guidance. The thing is to listen to it- listen to the voice of goodness.

It is from this that good comes from not just God's christians, but his muslims, his jewish children, his atheist children, his pagan children, his buddhist and filian and all of his other children.

Learn to recognize that God's work and his love comes from all, and goes to all.

[cottoncandytrafficcones]

I love you pomegranates I love you olive branches I love you doves I love you menorahs and chanukiahs I love you Shabbat candles I love you shofars I love you Torah and Tanakh and Gemara I love you Ladino and Judeo-Marathi and Krymchak and Yiddish and Judeo-Malayalam and Judeo-Arabic and all the languages I love you seven species I love you kiddush cup I love you sefarim I love you Aron I love you sniut I love you henna I love you nose rings and earrings and necklaces I love you rain and snow and storms I love you and sun and moon and stars I love you white clothes on Yom Kippur and Shabbat. I love you Judaism.

[verbrannt74]

[pomegranate-jewitchery]

Some notes I have done on things I could do during the Winter Months for the winter solstice, channukah, and other days. And some rituals I plan on doing for channukah that are linked below.

Winter Solstice

Refrain from drawing water on the winter solstice as it is tainted by demons.

Honor She’ilah, Jephthah’s daughter, by pouring out water for her as a memorial to all who are killed unjustly, and as a sign to fight against injustice even when things are unclear during winter.

The morning after the winter solstice, enjoy the sun. 

Channukah

A feast to honor heroic women.

Give earth centric gifts like stones, shells, herbs, or wood carvings. 

Say a prayer for the return of light to the world on the 1st of Tevet.

Meditate on Channukah lights to revive the spirit, to allow the Shekhinah to awaken more strongly in the coming spring months.

Jewish Winter Solstice Tales by telshemesh Tevet by telshemesh Chanukah/Solstice: Thoughts for 2008 by telshemesh Winter Solstice Take 2 by telshemesh Chanukat haTekufah/Ritual for Chanukah and the Winter Solstice by telshemesh

Chanukah and the Olive Harvest by telshemesh Chanukah Ritual for the Seventh Night by telshemesh Rituals for the Calendar New Year by telshemesh Ritual for the Sixth Night of Chanukah by telshemesh Festival of the Daughters by telshemesh Candlelighting Chant for Chanukah by telshemesh

Rituals for Channukah by JewitchesThe Kabbalah of the Dreidel by Chabad.org

[solacescastle]

Affirmations for the Four Worlds

***NOTE: Judaism is a semi-closed practice. If you are not Jewish or in the process of converting, I ask that you engage with care. If your culture has similar concepts, I would love to hear about those!***

In Jewish Renewal, we talk a lot about the Four Worlds: Assiyah, Yetzirah, Beriyah, and Atzilut. They come from Kabbalah, and though I don't know much about the Kabbalistic tradition, in Renewal we correspond the worlds to aspects of the soul.

Assiyah

I manifest good things into the world

Every step I take is a reflection of my values and intentions

My choices align with the universe's plan

Everything I do brings healing, light, and justice to the world

I am a force for good

My actions create meaningful change

Yetzirah

I am so grateful that I'm alive and have the capacity for deep emotion

I extend the deep compassion I hold for myself to others

My emotions are guiding me towards healing

I am emotionally resilient and am comforted by the fact that I can withstand anything

I am in love with the universe, without fear or hesitation

Each experience I have is an opportunity to grow

Beriyah

I am a co-creator with the Divine

My mind is a channel of divine creativity

I honour my intellect as a tool for shaping my future

I bring my vision to life through the gifts of creativity and intellect I have been given

The knowledge of the universe flows through me effortlessly

I honour the creative process, knowing that great things are birthed from thoughtful, focused energy

Atzilut

I contain a spark of divinity

I am one with the divine presence in every living being

The light of G-d shines through me

I trust that the divine light is always present within me, even in moments of darkness

I am part of the universe and am at peace with existence

The divine spark within me is my true essence, and through it I am connected to the creator of all things

[intpalex]

[pomegranate-jewitchery]

Jewish Amulet Mood Board

[will-o-the-witch]

Localizing Your Practice

So much witchcraft emphasizes how important it is to honor and work with the Earth, but then teaches us spells with ingredients we basically have to import using locations we don’t have access to. It’s rare to find an existing grimoire or guide book that actually works with where we live. We can still use them, but it doesn’t enhance our connection to our local land, which to many can feel important. Here are some tips for localizing your practice and working with the land you actually live on.

See what nature exists around you. Explore your own backyard with a critical eye. What plants can you actually go and pick yourself? What are those plants associated with? Do you have access to a creek or river? What does your local land actually have on it? If magic correspondences for your local plants haven’t been written about, you may have to do your own research. Example: I grow several plants on my back porch which I can potentially use for magic.There are magnolia trees and rhodedendrons on the grounds of my apartment complex. My parent’s neighbors have chickens in the backyard, so I have access to some feathers when they shed. 

Check out local folklore, legends, etc. This is one of my favorite parts, but can also be the hardest. What are the stories of your area, both on a local and cultural scale. Example: A West Virginian may incorporate legends of the Mothman. Everyone says that one building on my old college campus is haunted (and they’re right.) People talk about that liminal-space feeling when you drive down that one road at night.

Find the magic spots. Sometimes the urban legends will tip you off to these (usually in a bad way) but other times you can find them on your own. A place where the energy is just right for some reason. A place you can go to be closer to nature, or a place you could host a ritual if needed. Sometimes it’s just a place where you can feel your mind open a little bit. Example: The shady corner of a public park. The tunnel downtown. That weirdly-perfect circle of trees in the woods behind Wal-Mart.

Meet your land wights. Spirits of the local land. This could be the fair folk, but also house spirits, the spirits of the trees near you, the nature spirits of wherever you are. They’re there. Be good to them and they’ll be good to you! Note: Some spirits and wights will not be interested in working with you, and that’s okay. I generally think it’s good to at least leave a polite offering to just be on general decent terms even if you never work with them more directly beyond that. 

Check in with your Seasons. Harvest holidays generally don’t have actual lifestyle importance to most people reading this. The seasonal shifts other people write about may be from a very different climate than yours! Figure out a calendar that works for you. It doesn’t have to be detailed, but something that ties you to the seasons as you actually experience them. I also love working in any fun annual festivals nearby, if any.

[libeary-misspelled]

If you live in the United States, the Department of Agriculture has a plant database. It is very detailed and has everything from common names of plants and regional areas, to rarity, and a list of plants that are identified as culturally significant.

Anyway, not every plant is completely detailed, but it’s a really good resource, if like me, you have never grown shit and have no idea what local plants are actually native to the area and what is or isn’t endangered.