Witchcraft Research

I'm Vanessa. 28. She/Her. An energy/snow/divination/kitchen/urban/techno witch. Probably more at this point but whatever. This is just a side blog for my research into witchcraft.

[aesethewitch]

Divination Troubleshooting

One of the more difficult aspects of divination, I think, is working out what to do when things don’t work the way they’re supposed to. When you’ve done everything technically right, there’s a chance you still won’t get answers that you can interpret, that make sense, or that are correct. If you have an occasional problem with divination, that’s totally normal — nothing will work 100% of the time. But when it happens consistently, it might be time to do a little troubleshooting.

This post is far from a complete list of possible problems. I’ve spent many years trying (and failing at) different forms of divination, so these are things I’ve personally run into and the things I consider when troubleshooting.

The basic format of this post is the form of problem, a short description of what the problem looks like, possible causes for the problem, and multiple suggested solutions for each cause. These recommendations are fairly general and non-exhaustive. You may find that you need to employ multiple solutions before the problem resolves, and you may find that none of these proposed solutions solve the issue you’re having. Some listed problems are specific to a particular tool, but most are applicable to more than one type.

Sometimes, determining the cause of your issue can be difficult. It can take a good amount of discernment to figure out, so don’t feel discouraged if you can’t fix the problem on the first try!

Unclear Answers

You’ve drawn your cards, cast your charms, selected your runes, and… it makes no sense, or maybe the answers you receive are too vague to be useful.

Cause: Lack of practice or familiarity with the tool Solutions:

Perform practice readings with the tool

Study the guidebook, if you have one, to determine whether there are additional meanings to glean

Look up potential alternate meanings to the individual cards/runes, or consider another perspective (Three of Swords not always meaning heartbreak, for example)

Ask for a second opinion by taking a picture of the reading and sending it to like-minded practitioners who would be willing to help you interpret

Request a reading from a more seasoned diviner to confirm the information you’re able to glean from your own reading (if you do this, I would suggest letting them know that you’re seeking clarity from a divination you did for yourself)

Cause: No thoughts, head empty (brain fog, sudden blanking, fatigue, etc.) Solutions:

Set it aside and come back to it later with fresh eyes

Do grounding or energizing exercises before redoing the divination

Take care of your mundane needs (drink water, eat something, sleep, take medicines, go outside/get fresh air, etc.) and then return to it

Ask for a second opinion

Write down what you can understand and return to it later to check your interpretation and/or reinterpret it

Cause: The question was poorly worded, or you’re asking the wrong question Solutions:

Reword the question

Ask a different question related to the situation

Consider whether the answer given is to another question or another facet of the situation

Ask the tool, spirits, deities, etc. what you should be focusing on, if not the question you’re asking

Ask follow-up questions to clarify specifics

Cause: The tool isn’t suited to the question you’re asking Solutions:

Try a different tool

Reword the question to suit the tool better

Request a reading from someone else (if you only use one type of tool)

Cause: Stagnant energy is lingering on or around the tool Solutions:

Cleanse the tool and any containers you keep the tool in

Reshuffle, shake, etc. thoroughly before attempting to divine again

Allow the tool to “rest” so it can “cool off” and lose some of the stuck-on energy

Cause: Missing context or information Solutions:

Write down what you can understand for now and come back in a few days/weeks to see if it makes more sense

Walk away and come back to it in an hour to see if new details come to mind

Work on phrasing your questions to account for information you don’t actively know

Cause: One single card is standing out, not meshing with the rest of the reading Solutions:

Let the querent know it’s a confusing card, explain what it typically means, and allow them to offer clarification or possible meanings to it

Decide ahead of time what you will do with cards like this and what they could possibly mean, so that when they come up, you can seamlessly deal with them

Disregard the rogue card entirely

Allow the card to stand on its own, almost like a separate reading within the existing reading; redraw for the position if doing a spread

Consider alternative or unorthodox meanings to the card, especially if it’s in an odd position in a spread:

The card may be referring to another question or situation; if so, set it aside and consider doing a separate divination with that card as a focus

The card may indicate a particular person; determine who it may be and what their impact is on the overall situation

The card may be a message from a spirit, related or unrelated to the situation; set it aside and consider doing a separate divination to see the full message

The card may indicate an unexpected element, upheaval, discomfort, or mismatched priorities; the interpretation largely depends on the card and position

Wrong Answers

You thought you had it, but the divination ended up being completely wrong. One time is normal, but consistently very wrong divinations are less so.

Cause: Lack of practice or familiarity with the tool Solutions:

Perform practice readings, either with actual questions, hypothetical scenarios, or no prompt at all to work on weaving meanings together and identifying messages/symbolism

Ask others if you can practice your divination with them to get more practical experience

Study the guidebook (if there is one) or other guides and articles on the tool to determine whether you missed a meaning, theme, or detail that would have made the reading more accurate

Study how you asked the question, performed the divination, and interpreted the output to see what may have gone wrong, if anything

Cause: The tool you’re using isn’t suited to you Solutions:

Try a different type of tool

If using tarot or oracle cards, try a deck with different imagery

If using tarot, try a deck based on a different system (Thoth vs. Rider-Waite-Smith, for example)

Cause: You’ve asked the same question too many times in a short period, and now the readings are so muddied nothing is accurate Solutions:

Take a break from divining on the question or topic

Consider the answers you’ve already gotten and determine which is the likeliest to be true (or untrue)

Ask a different question

Cause: Misleading or incorrect phrasing and information from the querent Solutions:

Clarify the situation with the querent

Before beginning the divination, let the querent know that they need to be honest with you or results may not be correct

Rephrase the question or prompt to be more honest about the situation

Cause: Blockages or disruption between you and the divination target Solutions:

Ask the querent to temporarily allow you through their protections

Cast a spell to break through the barrier/blockage before trying the divination again (note that if the barrier is a purposeful protection against prying eyes, there may be consequences to busting through)

Request spirit assistance with breaking through the blockage

Ground yourself and clear away any blockages or reluctance within yourself to see and understand the truth

Accept that the target person doesn’t want you divining about them

Cause: The question was poorly worded for the tool you’re using Solutions:

Try a different tool better suited to the type of question you’re asking (pendulums for yes/no, magpie oracle for general life readings, tarot for advice, etc.)

Reword the question to suit the tool

Practice asking better divination questions overall (proper wording, understanding the tool’s capabilities, etc.)

Conflicting Answers

When you do separate readings on the same topic and get different answers, it can be confusing! Which one do you believe? Which will actually come true?

Cause: You’ve asked the same question too many times Solutions:

 Take a break from divining on the topic or question

Consider the answers you’ve already gotten and determine which is the likeliest to be true (or untrue)

Ask something else, either relating to the situation or not

Cause: Circumstances have changed radically since you last divined on the situation Solutions:

Divine on what’s changed and how it’s caused the shift

If the change is undesirable, ask how you can get back on track to the future you want

Compare the readings to see if you can determine the links between them

Cause: The future is mutable, and there are separate, very different possibilities branching out around the situation Solutions:

Divine about the causes of each outcome already gathered to see what’s causing the vast difference in readings

If there are many people involved, do smaller, more specific divinations to determine their impact on the future

Accept that you may not get to know the future perfectly

Ask instead how you can attain the future you actually want, rather than what may happen

Always Exhausted Afterwards

After doing divination, you feel absolutely drained of energy. Whether that’s physical, emotional, or spiritual energy, when it happens often, it can be discouraging and make you want to never do divination again!

Cause: Your energy is depleting naturally Solutions:

Do smaller divinations

Only perform one divination in a single sitting, rather than attempting several back to back

Request assistance from spirits to boost your own energy or borrow theirs for the reading

Eat a nourishing meal beforehand and have a snack afterwards

Cause: The querent, tool, spirits, etc., involved are draining your energy Solutions:

Bolster your area’s protections with a focus on keeping your energy to yourself

Wear something like a veil or other protective clothing, jewelry, or accessories during the divination to prevent the drain

Do a grounding exercise beforehand to center your focus and keep your energy to yourself

Pause the divination if you start feeling yourself draining to refresh and protect your energy

If working with spirits which are draining you as part of a deal (whether spoken or unspoken), make a physical offering instead of an energetic one

Practice energy work to learn how to better contain your energy so that it isn’t as free for the taking

Cause: You didn’t have the energy to begin with, but divined anyways Solutions:

Request a reading from a trusted source

Seek ways to boost your energy before beginning

Take care of your mundane needs before performing divination (eat something, drink water, take a nap, get some fresh air)

Spirits Aren’t Coming Through or Assisting

You’ve invited spirits to the table, but it doesn’t seem like they’ve got a hand in the divination results you’re getting.

Cause: You haven’t made an offering equivalent in value to what you’re asking for Solutions:

Set out an offering before starting if you haven’t already

Determine what the spirits might want other that what you’ve already offered

Offer something more personalized to the particular spirit

Make a sacrifice, rather than a simple offering (give up the last cookie, lay a piece of meaningful jewelry on their altar, etc.)

Cause: The spirits think you aren’t ready to know the answers you’re looking for Solutions:

Seek answers from another source

Wait a while and try again later

Ask a different question

Cause: The spirits you’re trying to contact aren’t immediately available/answering Solutions:

Call on the spirits before you start divining and let them know what you’re doing and why

Perform the divination at their sacred space, if possible

If working in an animist sense, “wake up” or “activate” your deck’s spirit in some way before beginning (knocking, speaking to it, etc.)

Cause: Another spirit is interrupting Solutions:

Ask the intruding spirit to back off (for now or forever, that’s up to you)

Perform a banishing if the spirit is unwelcome and will not leave when asked

Find out what the interrupting spirit wants and either decline or fulfill their request

End the divination and come back to it later on

Pendulum Won’t Swing Consistently

The pendulum swings willy-nilly with little to no rhyme or reason, providing no clear answers.

Cause: The cord, chain, string, or other material isn’t long enough Solutions:

Replace it with a longer cord, chain, string, etc.

Use a different pendulum

Create your own pendulum using a length of string (or twine, etc.) and a crystal, stone, pendant, coin, or other relatively heavy item

Cause: The pendulum itself isn’t heavy enough, or it’s an uneven shape Solutions:

Replace the pendulum with a pointed stone, crystal, or piece of glass Thread other, heavier beads, charms, crystals, stones, etc., onto the pendulum’s cord/chain

Cause: Your source for answers isn’t working with you Solutions:

If working based on your own intuition, do a grounding exercise and try again

If working with spirits, make an offering or see whether the spirits are present before trying again

Cause: There’s a breeze making it swing Solutions:

Wait until the wind dies down

Move indoors to try again

Close windows, turn off fans, and turn off air conditioners in the immediate area

Cause: The energy in your area is causing interference Solutions:

Perform a cleansing of the area to clear out excess energy

Banish any rogue spirits hanging around who are messing with the pendulum on purpose

Perform a ritual to calm the energy around you, like soothing a storm or lulling the wind to sleep for the duration of your divination

Keep Dropping Cards

Dropping your whole deck of cards may be an issue with grip strength, clumsiness, or joint bendiness… or, it may be a sign of an underlying issue or message.

Cause: The deck is too large or cumbersome to hold and shuffle easily Solutions:

Try another, smaller deck of tarot cards

Try a deck with standard card shapes (round or very large cards are personally super hard to shuffle neatly)

Ignore jumping or dropped cards, and only take cards you consciously draw

Cause: The shuffle itself is difficult Solutions:

Try another method of shuffling

Practice shuffling with regular playing cards, then with the deck you want to be using (this makes a fun fidget while watching shows)

If all shuffling is difficult, spread out the cards on a flat surface and mix them together before putting them back into a pile and drawing accordingly

Cause: The spirit(s) you’re communicating with don’t want to provide answers right now Solutions:

Provide an offering or payment for services rendered (especially if you haven’t in a while)

Take a break and try again later

Investigate the root cause of their reluctance and plan accordingly

Never Feels “Right” to Stop Shuffling or to Pull a Card

You’re shuffling. And shuffling. And… shuffling. You’re waiting for a sign to stop and pull cards, and it just never comes.

Cause: Your brain and/or intuitive thinking is exhausted Solutions:

Take a break from divination and other magical practices

Do a grounding exercise to reconnect with your intuitive thoughts and try again

Replenish your energy by eating something, drinking water, having a nap, and otherwise taking care of your mundane needs before trying again

Cause: You aren’t meant to know the answer to the question you’ve asked Solutions:

Ask a different, related question to see if you can get answers

Try again in a few days

Try a different divination tool (different tools can provide different answers with varying levels of detail)

Failing troubleshooting, accept that you can’t know everything that’s ahead and simply plan accordingly (magically and mundanely)

Cause: Blockage between you and the target of the question Solutions:

Cast a spell to break through the barrier/blockage before trying the divination again (note that if the barrier is a purposeful protection against prying eyes, there may be consequences to busting through)

Determine whether there are missing details about the situation that may help break through

Request spirit intervention to get around the blockage

Ground yourself and clear away any blockages or reluctance within yourself to see and understand the truth

Accept that the target person doesn’t want you to divine about them

If the reading is about a situation, a spell of “true seeing” or clarity may help

Cause: The querent isn’t being fully honest about their question (misleading phrasing, leaving out information that would impact the reading) Solutions:

Clarify the situation with the querent

If divining for yourself, consider all facets of the situation and question before rewording it more clearly and honestly

Talk or journal about the situation before beginning to get as much information as possible

Cause: The spirits you rely on for divination have declined to provide answers Solutions:

Ask why they aren’t answering

Try again later

Try another divination tool

Use another source for answers, such as the universe on the whole or your own deeper intuitive self

Reword the question to be more specific or general, depending

Cause: Something about the cards or shuffle themselves isn’t right Solutions:

Try another shuffle/pull method (spread out cards and pull at random, create piles and take the top of each, etc.)

Try a different deck of cards

Try another type of divination tool

Give the deck a cleanse

Look for a way to “wake up” or “activate” the cards

Too Many Jumpers

Even if you read tarot like I do with all jumpers, having a ton of cards leap out at once can be daunting — and even annoying, if it keeps happening consistently.

Cause: Your deck is too large for your hands, or it’s an odd shape (circular, non-standard number of cards, above-average card size, thick card stock) Solutions:

Try a deck with fewer cards or a more standard shape and paper weight

Create your own deck of cards that fits more securely in your hands

Try a digital deck of cards

Disregard jumping cards completely and only accept cards you’re pulling on purpose

Cause: More possibilities or details about the situation need to be brought to light than expected Solutions:

Try another spread to accommodate the jumpers

Ditch the spread altogether and read the cards as they fall instead

Treat the jumping cards as amendments or extra information about the card whose position you’re drawing for (for example, if drawing for a “Self” position and you get two jumpers before pulling your card in your usual fashion, the two jumpers modify the Official Card)

Cause: Spirits are interfering with the reading Solutions:

Cleanse the area or banish the offending spirits if they’re not ones you’ve welcomed into the space

Request that they chill the heck out and not throw any (or as many) jumping cards

Make an offering to quell their mischief

Pay attention to why they’re acting this way; if you’re not sure, ask for their reasons

Applicable to Now, Not Later

Your reading describes your situation as it is right now with perfect clarity, but it doesn’t reveal anything new or give insights into the future.

Cause: Your current talent lies in revealing the present Solutions:

Practice with readings explicitly about the immediate future

Practice targeting a specific moment in the future, such as a particular future month’s events

Fine-tune your questions to specifically request information you don’t know

Employ spirits or deities to expand your abilities to encompass the future

Try another tool or supplement your reading with another tool

Cause: The question or prompt is too open or general Solutions:

Ask a more specific, carefully worded question

Ask what you mean, rather than a general question around the situation (“What do I need to know about my relationship with X?” vs. “What do I need to know about my love life?”)

Cause: There will be little to no change in the timeframe you’re asking about Solutions:

Expand the range of time you’re asking about

Choose a time further in the future (next year instead of next month, for example)

Make an active choice to change the future if you’re dissatisfied with things as they appear to be now

Can’t Get into the “Right Headspace” for Divination

You’ve sat down and have your tools ready, but you just can’t get into the zone.

Cause: Your environment is distracting Solutions:

Move to a quieter location where you can focus more

Perform a grounding exercise to shut out distractions and focus on your divination

Wear headphones and play music that will help you focus (I suggest unobtrusive music without lyrics, so that it doesn’t impact your interpretations; personally, I use crackly fireside sounds over lo-fi beats)

Cause: Your environment isn’t inspiring you to get into the right headspace Solutions:

Create a space specifically for performing divination, whether permanent or temporary

Curate an aesthetic for your divination space with candles, crystals, plants, divination cloths, and other things that are meaningful to you

Go for a walk in a place that does inspire you and perform a divination there, if possible (cemeteries, parks, museums, rivers, etc.); if not possible to do divination there, absorb as much of the inspiring energy as you can and carry it back to your divination location

Cause: You don’t have the energy for it right now Solutions:

Focus on replenishing your energy with food, water, sleep, and other self-care tasks before divining

Request assistance from spirits to boost or borrow energy

Request a divination from someone else

Cause: You just aren’t in the mood for it Solutions:

Create a ritual that will help you get into your desired headspace for divination (putting on specific accessories, preparing your space, calling on spirits, etc.)

Request a divination from someone else

Walk away and come back to it when you feel more motivated

Scroll through others’ divination posts, watch a video, or listen to a podcast to get inspired to do your own divination

Conclusion

Again, there are countless possible issues and even further countless possible solutions to those issues. In general, walking away for a while, having a rest, practicing asking questions, and becoming more familiar with your tool over time will be the best tools in your belt. And if you can’t find a solution on your own, there’s no shame in crowdsourcing ideas for fixes! Ask your friends, your favorite witchy blogger, your Discord servermates, make a public post for others to comment on, or otherwise reach out. The best ideas often come from conversation.

Feel free to drop questions in the reblogs, replies, or my ask box if you’d like to ask me in particular about your divination troubles! I’m always happy to help out where I can. And if I’ve got no clue, one of my followers or mutuals might have a thought to share!

If you enjoyed this post or my other work, consider tossing a couple dollars in my tip jar! (And check out my commissions for custom spellwork and tarot readings!) Everything goes toward keeping me and my partner afloat on our bills, so it’s very much appreciated!

[rosecoloredtarot]

How queer is Witchblr?*

I am a queer mage

I am an LGBT+ mage, but don’t consider myself queer

I am a mage and do not consider myself queer

I am not queer nor a mage

Vanilla extract

Voting ended onAug 25, 2023

*for purposes of this poll I will be referring to any and all magic users as “mage” because it’s 4 letters and there are too many different magical identities. No t no shade no pink lemonade 💅🏻

[jaded-witch-baby]

You don’t have to cast spells, cleanse your house, or do anything “witchy” regularly to be a witch. You are a witch regardless of how well you keep up with your craft.

[obscurexodd]

Witchcraft 101: Let's talk about cleansing, because no, it's not just sage

First and foremost, every single element has an ability to be used for cleansing and banishing.

Air: Used to literally "blow away" energy

Open your windows

Turn on a fan

Use your breath (there's a reason you sometimes snuff a candle and other times blow it out)

Water:

Running water over an object (make sure this object is safe to do that with, okay? Don't be like the raccoon with the cotton candy)

Ritual baths and showers

Washing/cleaning

Earth:

Salt (again, careful with where you put the salt, but still)

Plants can be used as protective barriers

Burying an object for a period of time before digging it back up and cleaning it off

Certain rocks and crystals

Fire:

To get the obvious out of the way - burning. This does not mean you should commit arson. This is more "burning photographs of past relationships" not "light your ex on fire"

Burning candles

Spirit:

Meditation

Self care as a priority

Cleaning your space regularly

Now, most common forms of cleansing do not use only a single element (especially fire, for obvious reasons). So here are some of the most common and easy ways to practice cleansing in a practical, everyday manner.

Smoke cleansing - combines air, fire, and earth. Practices by burning protective and banishing dried herbs, plants, incense, or wood.

Salt water - combines earth and water. Can be used in either ritual baths or on its own, spread near the borders of a space. But again, careful with where you put salt.

Crystal grid - combines earth and spirit. Create by placing protective crystals in each corner of a space.

Steam cleansing - combines air and water. Use essential oils if you so choose.

Ritual bath or shower - combines water, spirit, and if you want to add bath bombs, salt, or flower petals, earth.

Tea magic - combines water, earth, and (if you inhale the steam) air.

Literal cleaning rituals - combines spirit and any other elements you so choose. Do your laundry, clean your room, declutter what no longer serves you.

[servantofthefates]

Always trust your tarot cards.

When I was new to tarot, I was afraid I was merely manipulating people.

A guy makes small talk about buying a Mother’s Day gift. So when I draw the Queen of Cups, I tell him about his mother, not a lover.

A woman casually mentions her plan to go to Bali. So when I pull the Six of Swords, I say “vacation” instead of “transition”.

But eventually, I came across querents who dropped no hints and even asked no questions. “Just tell me what you see.”

And I panicked.

A woman carrying a Louis Vuitton purse draws the Five of Pentacles and The Empress reversed. Poverty. Nervous, I said it out loud anyway. She said her husband was being investigated for swindling, and they could lose everything.

This handsome man comes in. Very flirtatious. Yet there were no women in his spread. Just knights and kings. Referring to a lover, I said, “She… or he…” He asked about confidentiality and proceeded to tell me about his sexuality.

When in doubt, do not freak out.

No matter how thick a querent’s mask, your cards are always up to the task.

[tuiliel]

Yeah - my runes do this as well. You need to trust your tools.

[windvexer]

growth in witchcraft as shedding of snake-skin

Sort of obvious, but I had to learn it (like everything else) the hard way. And as spooky season approaches and people may be revitalizing their practices after breaks, I want to say something that might end up saving a couple folks from a lot of frustration and heartbreak:

Just because it worked that way for you in the past, doesn't mean that's how it works for you now.

I mean this in a literal, making-stuff-happen with magic and sorcery way.

You guys have heard the adage that some spirit guides are with you for life, some for short periods, some for just one lesson, etc., right?

Well, the same can be said for sorcerous techniques.

I don't know if I just shed techniques like hermit crabs shed shells or what, but this happens to me a lot. Here's the kind of thing I mean:

You used to do readings with a specific little ritual involving a prayer and incense, but now that technique seems to produce incorrect readings. It feels flat and you can tell you're not connecting.

You used to be able to tie intent into knots and carry the thread around with you all day to conjure specific little occurrences, but now it barely seems to work and manifestation is spotty.

You used to be able to converse with spirits by going into a deep meditation, but now when you try you can hardly connect and it's like their messages are getting blotted out.

And I think sometimes when these things happen, people tend to process this with:

self-blame (I'm not a devoted enough witch, I brought this on myself!),

scapegoating spiritual allies (I used to pray to Hekate before divination but now my divination doesn't work, so Hekate must be mad at me), or

developing personal doubt (I used to think magic worked but now I can't replicate my own results).

When the reality is, if you're a magical snickity-snek and you've shed your skin, you might be slithering about in the soil trying to do the little old things that no longer fit the bigger, better you.

Sometimes this "shedding" is very obvious and we can feel and taste it. "Shedding" may come before, during, or after a period of intense personal transformation. It may come in a numinous moment when you hear a single phrase, or view a single image, that makes you become the Hanged Man and see reality in a whole new way.

But it can also happen without us really noticing it. I might put down my tarot cards for a couple months, pick them up again, and suddenly the ways I used to read don't work for me any more.

It's not because I'm a bad reader, or that the spirits have abandoned me, or that magic isn't real.

It's because what used to work for me doesn't any more, and now I just need to find new techniques.

So if you're trying to pick up what used to work and it just doesn't seem to be helping any more, consider that it's just like outgrowing an old set of clothes. Nothing is wrong with you, or the clothes. It just doesn't fit any more.

Since I think it'd be frustrating as hell to read a post like this without some actionable steps, below the cut are some ideas that might help you develop new techniques if your old ones seem to be failing you.

Start with your beliefs

Examine your own rituals and see if what you're doing still matches what you believe. Let's say you used to pray to Hekate and light incense before divination, but now you do that and your divination doesn't work.

Do you believe Hekate is allowing your divination to be possible? Do you believe she's the best goddess to seek aide from at this time?

What role does the incense play? Is it an offering to Hekate? Is it to feed the ancestors who supply you with interpretations? Is it just to set the correct tone and atmosphere?

Maybe you've grown in your relationship with divinity, and you now believe it's more proper to call on gods with formal prayers - but your divination ritual still uses a simple, improvised prayer.

Maybe your understanding of Hekate has changed and it feels more suitable to call on different powers.

Maybe you feel strangely about constantly "paying" gods to help you, when they say they don't need it - and lighting the incense makes you feel awkward.

Change what you're doing to match what you believe. That's always a solid first step.

Examine your own emotions and reactions

Try performing rituals (from the smallest ritual of stirring intent into coffee, to full-blown compass-casting affairs under the full moon) mindfully.

Be aware of what you're doing as you do it, but also try to examine your own reactionary thoughts and feelings.

Suppose my ritual of stirring my coffee seven times clockwise to manifest a desired emotion doesn't work any more. It used to work great, for years, so I do it quickly. But now it doesn't work, so I do it mindfully.

And while I'm stirring, I watch a few thoughts pop up to the surface: why am I doing this seven times? I'm stirring my coffee for too long and staring into it like an idiot, and it's embarrassing. What if someone thinks I'm weird?

If any individual step of a ritual makes you feel embarrassed, stressed, or avoidant, or if you feel relief from not having to do that any more - that technique is probably not serving you very well.

Seek out methods that make you feel excited, hopeful, empowered, or interested. Or, at the very least, ones that don't make you feel bad.

Be open to shifting your paradigm entirely

Going back to the stirring coffee thing, maybe I think stirring seven times is too much. So I try to stir my coffee three times. But that still feels clunky.

Then I get into left-handed vs right-handed stirring, because someone might have said that doing stuff with your right hand is for blessings.

Then I try out a new little inner mantra while I stir X times with Y hand.

But it's just not working. No matter what I try, it feels like walking barefoot on a gravel road.

So maybe I just need to do something entirely different.

Maybe numerology isn't my thing any more. Maybe now, I just need to embrace my inner divine creator.

Maybe I should think about the ultimately powerful creative energy within rich, black soil - and as I pour my coffee, I can imagine that I'm pouring pure creative energy into my divine cauldron. When I sprinkle in a little sugar, I'm seasoning that creative power to my personal tastes - and no matter how many times I stir it, when I drink that creative power, a new reality blossoms from within me.

No numbers. No memorized chants. No left hand/right hand stuff. Just me, imagining myself as a planet, drinking pure creative energy that will bloom out of my aura as wildflowers bloom in the spring.

Ask for help

I'm not called fool for no reason, and after a couple years of being unable to astral travel - after having successfully done so for years - I finally sat down and asked my spirits for help.

The answer was immediate and simple. So simple, in fact, that I was confident it wouldn't work at all.

Well, of course it worked. I spent years trying to figure out the problem on my own, trying time and time again to use an old technique that I was confident would work. It took a goddess like four seconds to tell me the new way it worked for me.

Even if you're not in communication with spiritual allies, you can still perform divination to help troubleshoot your own magical skills. Try asking a series of questions: what doesn't work for you any more, what you should try, and what you should avoid trying.

When divining, consider the different "levels" of application. A reading that means "don't use excessive force" might refer to high-level life stuff, like, you're working too hard on all your responsibilities right now, learn to relax and the magic will come. But, it might also be referring to something very specific, like, you're trying to raise huge amounts of energy in individual rituals, break them up into smaller spells where much less force is required for each one.

[will-o-the-witch]

When to Consult Divination

You're stuck in the decision-making process and want help thinking through it from a different angle.

You need to sort out your thoughts. Divination is good for breaking out of a circular thought process and approaching it in a different way.

You want something to focus and reflect on for the coming day/month/chapter in your life.

You need a second opinion on something spiritual.

You want something to aid your planning process by suggesting steps and strategies

You want advice for how to tackle a situation.

When NOT to Consult Divination

You're fishing for a specific answer and just want something to validate you. Your bias WILL get in the way of the truth.

You want very specific details about a future that hasn't happened yet. (What will my husband be like? When will I meet him? How many kids will I have?)

You want to know what someone is thinking/feeling/hiding. Literally just communicate with them.

Asking if you should break up with someone. It's like Googling "am I gay quiz." If you're at this point you already know the answer.

[moon-alchemy]

Reblog if you are aware you still have far to go in your craft.

Even after years of practicing, I still feel like I have only begun to scratch the surface. 

[themanicnami]

I’m getting REAL tired of the witch community telling: trans-witches, male witches, nonbinary witches, genderfluid witches and everyone else who is not cis female they can’t be witches. 

NEWSFLASH

They can. Anyone can be a witch. Stop your gatekeeping bullshit. If I see you saying that they cannot be, I will block you. End of story.

This has been a PSA, thank you.

[stormwaterwitch]

[hexfeathers-deactivated20241121]

Stomp Out The Bastard Spell

If you don’t have a lot of time or money to do magic and spellwork, here is one way to ruin your abuser’s day. This is one that I do to keep a rancid family member from coming around.

Write the name of your target on a piece of paper.

The target can be an individual person, a group or an idea. (This works great too if you want to stomp out a bad habit, or maybe your racists ass senators.)

Fold up the piece of paper and stick it inside of your shoe, between the sole and the insole. Then, say:

“Under my foot, your power is no more.”

Now, every time you take a step and walk, you will be stomping out the target’s power. It’s very satisfying.

You can also tape the piece of paper onto the actual bottom of your shoe and enjoy watching that shit get ripped up as you walk around and enjoy your fabulous fucking life. Treat yaself while you keep your target under your foot.

Discard the paper when you see results.

[hearthhag]

some ideas for non-verbal spell casting:

so i’m a pretty quiet person irl, and i find a lot of spellbooks and posts on here include verbalization in the form of incantations, mantras, et cetera.

which is all well and good if that works for you, whatever floats your boat and casts your spell; but what if you’re like me and verbalizations make you uncomfortable?

or you’re practicing late at night while your housemates are asleep?

or you just. prefer to not speak?

well, here are some alternatives!

say your incantation internally

visualize your incantation

make your incantation physical (could you add movement/gestures to your spell?)

make it symbolic (breaking something, binding something, burying it?)

use a noisemaker! (eg. a bell, clap, a song, note, chord, etc)

simply do without! not every spell or ritual needs a verbal component, and maybe you’re just not that kind of practitioner. that’s okay!

i’m sure there are tons of things that i’ve left off or forgotten, and i definitely want to hear more ideas if you have them!

wind be with you!

[heatherwitch]

Great ideas! I have similar ones/others listed in this post! :)

Nonverbal Witchcraft

For my witches who cannot speak, struggle to speak, or choose to remain quiet. This post is a compilation of ideas and personal methods from

[theoreticalpermaculture]

[sunkeepersolarpunkmusic]

Leaving this for myself if not others because someday I want to be able to grow my own food

[hexfeathers-deactivated20241121]

Hey, so, when someone practicing in a closed religion tells you to stop appropriating their deities, traditions, holy texts and such, and you respond with:

“But x deity reached out to me why would they reach out to me if they are closed to people outside of x culture?”

That is a bullshit excuse lol

First of all, the voices of physical, tangible human beings that are a part of a marginalized group are who you should be listening to.

Second of all, I am sorry, but no amount of “x deity reached out to me so I am gonna listen to them before I listen to you lol” is going to erase the fact that you are choosing to be disrespectful and violate living cultures and living people, rather than using discernment to see whether or not that closed deity is even actually communicating with you. 

Some of you folks claiming to be communicating with Lilith, despite not being Jewish, are so desperate to work with a Gaslight Gatekeep Girlboss™ that you are not taking into consideration the countless, COUNTLESS deities and spirits who actually DO fill that role, and are not part of a closed practice.

At the end of the day, there is no true tangible proof that you are communicating with a god. We are all believing in what we do out of faith. But practitioners, minorities, and people who are part of closed cultures are 100%, undoubtably, sitting there and watching you show your ass in the name of disrespect and ignorance.

It costs 0 dollars to listen to active practitioners.

Stop stealing from Judaism.

Stop stealing from Vodou.

Stop stealing from Brujeria. 

Stop stealing from things that do not belong to you.

[dionysianfreak]

agreed 100%. I want to offer this:

if you really were communicating with a closed Spirit, why do you think They would tolerate you being a bigot towards Their people ?

if you were really communicating with a closed Spirit, wouldn’t They want you to honor the wishes of the people They love ? the people who have honored Them and spoken Their name for generations ??

if you were really serious about having a relationship with a closed Spirit, you would respect Them and their culture. which means FUCKING OFF.

unless, of course, you’re serious about it. then go get initiated. some cultures don’t allow initiation and that is for a REASON, but some do allow in outsiders (ex: Judaism for all the Lilith stans out there). there’s a clear path for you to respect living breathing humans, your neighbors, and you still choose to be an entitled bigot who whines and cries over not getting what you want.

if you really cared and wanted to have a relationship with Them, you would put in the time and effort to respect and contact Their communities. if you really cared you would work towards being able to have that relationship.

don’t wanna do all that ? go find a Deity from an open religion. obviously you aren’t willing to put the work in required to begin your relationship with that Being. which, again, makes you an entitled, selfish crybaby that literally no one in spiritual communities likes.

good post op

[spellgazed]

Warding

Warding is the method of casting a shield or barrier to defend and protect a space, person, portal, or item or to deflect potential negative energies and dangers. This is a remarkably important intention to consider and practice.

Methods & Mannerisms: General:

Adding protective symbols, shapes, or colors into your wardrobe or space.

Smoldering incense, bundles, herbal blends, or (legally) blowing smoke.

Incorporating a protective sigil, rune, or symbol onto one’s space or body.

Using Magickal sprays, mists, and humidifiers with diluted essential oils.

Making or purchasing a protective sachet to place or carry around.

Enchanting crystals and amulets to wear or store at home.

Personal:

Writing or tracing protective sigils, runes, or symbols on oneself.

Magickal topicals, salves, tinctures, lotions, and diluted essential oils.

Enchanting something you can wear such as clothing, or jewelry.

Enchanting and carrying an item that is symbolic to represents you with intent.

Casting a bathing or shower ritual; running water is considered very sacred and will protect as well as cleanse your soul of other energies.

Spatial:

Using smoke like an incent, bundle, or blend around your residence.

Sealing mirrors covering them or inscribing them with sigils, runes, or symbols.

Growing, hanging, or burning protective or plants throughout your space.

Enchanting your crystals, salts, herbs, potions with defensive wards.

Incorporating holy, moon, rain, rain, stream, salt, or sea water into your home.

[theskepticalwitch]

Practical Things I Think Witches Should Research

Cultural Appropriation

Closed paths and practices

Cult warning signs

Spiritual Discernment

Herb interactions (i.e. how they interact with your medications, if they are poisonous, if you are allergic, can you ingest them, etc.)

Fire safety (for candles, smoke cleansing, incense, etc.)

Crystal Care (learn if your crystals will dissolve in water, if they can be in the sun, if they can be in the cold, etc.)

Pet Care (make sure herbs don't have poor interactions with your pets, make sure you know what to keep away from them, etc.)

[theoldcottage-deactivated202208]

Tip for a Green Witch

... Profile your herbs, fruits, plants, trees, vegetables etc.

But I just don't mean like profiling their magickal properties. I mean - their medicinal properties, how to propagate them, do they require pruning and pinching, full sun/half sun, what time to sow them (including what sign the moon should be in if you want to go down that deep), harvesting time and so on. Legitimately, if you're going to grow these herbs, know every damn thing about them. Better to know it and not need it than need it and not know it. Also it just helps with gardening purposes, like if you overwater a strawberry (that prefers drier soil) then its going to suffer and you're going to wonder why.

So here's a list

Name

Folk Names

Magical Properties

Medicinal Properties

What Sun does it need

Best time to plant it : (season), (moon phase), (moon sign)

Harvest time

What type of soil does it like: Acidic/alkaline

Watering: a lot of water, not much water, water twice a week

Folk Lore and Superstitions:

Best time to harvest it:

Signs and symptoms : root rot, etc.

Pet friendly : do I need to put it on the top shelf to prevent Ravioli from eating it.

Etc.

[the-darkest-of-lights]

You should always cross reference the magical and medical attributes of herbs.

[enchanting-jewel]

Are you a broke witch?

Here’s a few ideas to keep practicing while not hurting the bank:

How often do you shop at the $ tree?! You’d be surprised how much witchy stuff you can find if you just open your eyes:

I just love the different size jars they have for my spell jars! Have you checked your local $dollar tree?