Acountibility or something

[suterraintales]

current state

main room: half of the old wallpaper is down

bed nook: walls wallpapered&painted, ceiling half done

workroom: floor is done

hall: not even slowly getting an idea what I want

kitchen: shelf above window installed

bathroom: shower curtain and lamp installed

terrace: nothing finished

storage: shelves installed, electrotrash needs to be disposed of

garden: a mountain of guilt and three painted raised beds

[witchyfashion]

Enhance your witchcraft by putting needle and thread to fabric. Part sewing manual and part grimoire, this fun and easy guide turns every craft project into a magickal ritual. Packed with easy-to-follow instructions and photographs, Sew Witchy presents a wide variety of projects that complement and improve your practice, from dream pillows and spell bags to cords and altar cloths.

With spells grouped by type, this book encourages you to enhance familiar spells with sewing supplies and try spells that infuse mundane sewing tasks with magickal intent. You'll also find a comprehensive list of the magical correspondences for sewing tools, notions, and fabrics. Perfect for any skill level or magical path, this enjoyable and colorful book explores the historical and cultural uses of magic and sewing from all over the world.

buy here

[eclecticoccult]

"some people will try to pass off their UPG as reliable when often it has strong personal meaning and is non-transferable. so here's my belief, which is definitely transferable to you bc I'm reliable."

anyway don't let anyone tell you how to practice witchcraft or magic. even thousand year old scriptures are only reliable to those within the culture that developed them. methods need to have meaning to you. ingredients need to have meaning to you. and when finding information that does or doesn't vibe with you, its important to understand why.

[eclecticoccult]

this goes quadruple-y for anyone who's culture has been stripped away from them in the "great melting pot," that is the United States. i have strong ties to my Polish roots, but culture in pre-Christian Poland is practically non-existent, and the crusades made sure of that. anything that smelled of paganism was destroyed. i have no living ancestors or traditions from those periods. regardless, i will likely never visit Poland in my lifetime. i will never meet the spirits that were integral to them. i will never commune with that land. ingredients and materials that they had aren't accessible to me. i respect revivalists' efforts from a historical point of view, but as far as building a realistic practice, it comes across as unrealistic. times have changed. i have no choice to grow where I'm planted, so I follow my intuition and build my practice from the ground up with what i have.

[agathisfelis]

I made a calming bottle today. I used blue food coloring, blue mica powder, black mica powder, blue glitter, clear Elmer's glue, baby oil, a few plastic gems, and electrical tape.

I had some help from someone who had made them before. She filled the bottle a little more than halfway with water, and then tried to guess how much 1/3 of that was and we added that much clear glue. She shook it to mix it up, and then I added blue food coloring, mica, a little baby oil, and glitter. Shook that up again, noticed we were getting way too many bubbles, added more baby oil to help with that, and then added the gems because it needed a little bit more.

We added more water and glue in about the same proportions to get close to the top. We left some space for air. Then I used the electrical tape to seal the lid.

When I shake it up, the mica and glitter swirl around in the dark blue water and it reminds me of a gas giant's swirling clouds. The idea is that you shake it up and focus on it while the swirling is slowing back down and the stuff inside is precipitating.

The glue is in there to help slow the precipitation - if you want it slower, you add more glue. She had not made one with mica before and we discovered it causes more bubbles, so we had to add more baby oil than normal.

It's lovely and it looks almost exactly like I thought it would.

[violetmoondaughter]

Since ancient times, the symbolism of the bee has been associated with the divine, prophetic, and spiritual realms. In the ancient world, bees were not regarded merely as honey-producing insects, but as sacred creatures, possessing a nature that bridged the earthly and divine worlds. Honey was already considered by the Egyptians to be the food of the gods, and bees have always maintained a close connection with the sacred, particularly with the cycles of regeneration and rebirth characteristic of the ancient fertility deities.

The roots of this symbolism appear to date back to the ancient Minoan and Mediterranean cultures, in which the bee was one of the emblems of the Great Goddess, the mistress of fertility, nature, and the cycles of life. Some scholars have identified the Minoan Potnia as a possible “Lady of the Bees,” associated with the generative power of nature and the mysteries of rebirth. This connection is particularly evident in the cult of Artemis in Ephesus, a city that, according to legend, was founded by the Amazons and where a great Potnia, goddess of fertility and wild beasts, was worshipped.

Melissae (“Bees”) was the name given to the priestesses of Artemis in Ephesus, to the Delphian Pythia and, more generally, to the priestesses of various female deities, including Demeter and Persephone. In Crete, the Great Goddess was called Britomartis, a name meaning “sweet virgin” and symbolically evoking the sweetness of honey produced by bees. The importance of this cult is attested by the numerous depictions of bees on the statue of the Ephesian Goddess, as well as on coins and pendants from the Archaic period.

In Greek religion, the bee represented an ideal model of purity, order, and dedication to the community. Just as bees worked within the hive in perfect harmony, so too were priestesses called upon to safeguard religious mysteries and maintain a connection between humans and the divine world. It is therefore not surprising that the term “Melissa” was associated with both priestesses and mythical figures closely linked to the sacred realm.

According to the myth, Melissa was in fact the name of a priestess initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries. Because she refused to reveal the secrets of the cult of Demeter, she was killed by a group of women; the goddess, to honor her loyalty, transformed her into a swarm of bees. Melissa was also the name of the nymph who, according to tradition, fed the infant Zeus with her own honey, thus contributing to the idea that honey was the food of gods.

The relationship between bees and prophetic knowledge is particularly significant. The Homeric Hymn to Hermes mentions the three Thriae, winged female figures likened to bees, capable of uttering oracles after tasting honey. This passage suggests a very ancient connection between honey, sacred ecstasy, and divination. Bees were considered bearers of inspired wisdom, and their ceaseless movement between heaven and earth made them ideal symbols of communication between the human world and that of the gods.

The observation of bees in the ancient world likely contributed to the development of symbolic interpretations of their movements and to the imitation of their dances in ritual contexts. In various religious contexts, prophecy was not conceived as a mere rational prediction of the future, but as a state of divine possession or trance. Bees, due to their seemingly mysterious and coordinated behavior, thus became a favored model for representing divine inspiration and contact with invisible realms.

Bees also held strong chthonic and funerary significance. In ancient times, it was believed that they arose spontaneously from the carcasses of animals, especially cattle, through a process of self-generation known as Bugonia, as described by Virgil in the Georgics. This belief helped make them a symbol of life’s victory over death and of nature’s perpetual regeneration. In many mystery cults, bees were associated with the human soul, conceived as a divine spark that, after death, could be reborn in a new form.

The idea of cyclicality and rebirth associated with bees also stems from observations of the beehive, whose structure symbolically evokes the womb and the labyrinth of creation. The fact that bees seemed to disappear during the winter only to reappear in the spring further reinforced their connection to the processes of death and rebirth that govern nature. The beehive itself, with its perfect organization and continuous renewal, became an image of the cosmos, of gestation, and of the eternal cycle of creation.

Finally, a lesser-known aspect concerns the sound produced by bees. In many ancient cultures, the buzzing was associated with altered states of consciousness. Some scholars of the history of religions have observed that the continuous, vibrating sound of the swarm evokes the ecstatic practices found in mystery and shamanic cults. The buzzing of bees could thus be interpreted as the sonic manifestation of a liminal state, suspended between the human and divine worlds, capable of evoking trance, prophetic inspiration, and contact with the sacred.

[bodhi-devotee]

I LOVE THIS! i love bees :))))

[suterraintales]

Isn't she pretty? Basically screaming to be the home of a goddess. A bit roughed up here and there, but I can fix that. She will be the home of my Mokosz statue once she is cleaned and received some TLC.

[witchescollection]

coming back from my retirement to just pipe on here and remind y'all that a lot of witchblr is generic and rooted in consumerist culture.

example: you do not need mass-produced correspondences tables that some other witch (no matter how reputable) put together. look at the damn thing. you already have your own associations with colours, shapes, etc. just write down you think the rock is pretty and it's for when you need an outside look bc it's sky blue (which reminds you of when you look up at the sky and feel like an ant).

another example: no one can tell you how to work with your deities. look up some academic sources, read some ancient literature, sure. but also just do it. stop sitting around waiting for someone tell you it's okay to give this deity chocolate - it's your craft for fuck's sake.

i'm not saying everything on tumblr is bullshit, but most of it is people taking what works for them and then using that to write a guidebook. you are the witch. you are at the centre of your craft. it's your ancestors, your gods, your tools, and your life.

decide what you want for yourself.

[awitchnamedjuniper]

Ginger Root Project Spell

A little kitchen charm to for when your projects have gone stagnant and need a little wake-up.

Cut a few rounds of ginger root and drop them in a cup of hot water, letting the roots steep.

Dip your fingers into the ginger water and flick the droplets onto whatever has gone stagnant. (Take care with electronics and the like!)

Say, "Take your roots, grow with speed. Give this project the fire it needs."

[space-queen]

WELCOME TO WITCHDEX.NET 💜

witchdex is a comprehensive, dynamic, and mobile-friendly reference for magical + witchcraft correspondences based on several years of independent research. it's a work in progress and i am constantly updating and adding information so please remember to do your own research!

currently compatible with firefox, chrome, and safari, and for entertainment purposes only - not a replacement for medical, financial, or legal advice.

dataset + code created by me - please don't steal, copy, or redistribute as your own!

CURRENT CATEGORIES

crystals, plants, fruits, planets, metals, colors, and one single mineral, which is salt lol

TIPS + TRICKS

search for whole words without punctuation - instead of "self-love" try "self love"

some of the most common terminology used for associations/traits include but are not limited to: attraction, banishing, binding, cursing, divination, dreamwork, fertility, fidelity, love, lust, manifestation, protection, psychic abilities, power, warding

keywords for items include associations that would be considered benefic to the caster, and if an item also has a baneful association, it will be listed as such underneath its keywords - the same applies for items that may be toxic

you may notice missing information in some sections as i continue to work on this page - please be patient with me! :)

if you see any misinformation, misspellings, typos, formatting errors, coding errors, duplicate entries, etc. OR have any questions, please send me a message via the contact page

please enjoy and consider buying me a coffee so i can keep doing stuff like this in my spare time. :)

my links for non-tumblr viewers: - blog - personal site - book of stars [grimoire] - witchdex - ko-fi

♡ luna // space-queen

[zmiyina]

Rusaliyi: The Goddess, Fertility and Liminal Femininity

Before I meander on to my point, there is one thing I need you to take with you. Be alive and with a heart full of love this summer! As were

For once seasonal posts come in advance, I assure you to no credit of mine.

[vilha-alder]

Celebrating rusalki week!

[marzipanandminutiae]

people in the notes of that "I don't have a serger" post are going off on tailor's chalk for some reason? as if that's also something that's hugely expensive and insane to assume everyone has?

like. okay. you don't HAVE to use tailor's chalk, but you should at least use something you know won't bleed or otherwise mess up the material. in this case, it does make more sense to do the extra research and maybe buy something new if what you have to hand isn't ideal. ruining your fabric will cost you more time and money in the long run

much as we all hate Am*zon, you can get a 10-piece box of tailor's chalk on there for like $6 USD if you're really cash-strapped and want to sew. that's not the only safe marking material, of course, but it is a tried-and-true option you don't have to research the fabric safety of.

trust me- it's worth it in this case

[marzipanandminutiae]

if this is helpful to anybody-

Marzi's Sewing Must-Haves:

needle

thread

fabric

ruler, or ability to eyeball 1/2" reliably

scissors

pins

way to mark fabric that you know won't cause problems down the line

Marzi's Sewing Extremely Helpful To Haves:

sewing machine

specifically a clear ruler intended for sewing

ironing board and iron

Spray bottle for dampening fabric to be ironed, if you're like me and keep losing the little iron-filling cup

scrap fabric/cheap fabric to use for mockups

Things Marzi Swears By Because Her Main Money-Consuming Hobby Is Sewing:

French curve (for drawing curves if you plan to modify patterns)

Needle board for ironing velvet (okay can someone explain why these cost an arm and a leg?)

Beading needles

Embroidery Needles

Awl

Pinking shears

Sleeve board (for ironing sleeves and smaller pieces of fabric)

Gridded paper to transfer patterns from books (I use wrapping paper, tbh)

Tracing paper to transfer soutache and embroidery designs

Ribbon-threader/bodkin/drawstring-pull/whatever you want to call Big Needle For Threading Ribbons And Drawstrings Into Casings

Needle case

Piping foot (called by normal 21st-century people "zipper foot")

Things Marzi Sees No Need For Because She Is A Misplaced Victorian-Era-But-More-Progressive Alternate Universe Dweller:

Serger

Buttonhole foot (I just like having more control over things like buttonholes, personally, than a machine can comfortably afford me)

Super-advanced computerized sewing machine

Things Marzi's Friend Got For Christmas And Promised Her Use Of And She's Incredibly Excited About:

EMBROIDERY MACHINE

[vinceaddams]

Also very important:

Thimble

Seam ripper

Measuring tape

Other things I find useful:

Pin cushion. Easy to make yourself, just double up the fabric layers and stuff it with sawdust.

Needle book. Also easy to make yourself.

Beeswax. Important for a lot (but not all) hand sewing. I've used the stump of a beeswax candle and it worked just as well as beeswax cakes made for sewing.

Another thimble or two in slightly different sizes, for when your hands are a bit swollen.

Terrycloth hand towel, or a piece of cotton velvet, to use instead of a needle board. I've pressed soft slinky velvet just fine on terrycloth by pressing lightly and carefully, using mainly the tip of the iron right on the seam.

A small chisel for cutting open buttonholes. (PLEASE don't use seam rippers for that, I beg.) There are ones made specifically for buttonholes, but a cheap little wood chisel works perfectly fine, just as long as it's sharp. I have two I got from a junk shop.

A few glossy magazines, to use as a cutting surface for said buttonhole chisel. For situations when you're pressing straight down with the blade it's WAY better than a cutting mat.

Tweezers & a lighter for burn testing the fibre content of thrifted fabrics. Mine live in their own little jar.

Magnetic bowl, which can be found at any hardware store. Keep it next to the sewing machine and you can just chuck the pins at it as you pull them out.

Several thrifted metal trays & serving dishes. Good for keeping all this clutter contained and easily moveable between surfaces. And it's fun to keep pins and buttons and thread clippings in fancy little dishes.

Pressing ham. Also super easy to make yourself, though I have a fairly old one someone gave me. A lot of people stuff them with fabric scraps, but we also had a big one at school that was stuffed with straw.

Organza press cloth. Great for pressing intricate things because it's see-through! I have a couple metres of secondhand silk organza and it's lasting me forever, I just cut a new chunk off it, about the size of a sheet of printer paper, every time the old one gets full of holes. A cotton organdy would work too.

Assorted thrifted glass paperweights, to use as pattern weights. I also have two pattern weights that are just broken chunks of iron sewer grate I found in the gutter. They're nice and heavy and I just washed and painted them.

[shamebats]

Tiktok post by @ wynunlimited.

[iamoutofideas]

“heres how to make a pair of pants for yourself”

step 1: have a entire room completely set up just for tailoring

[niceferatu]

it needs an iron, masking tape, a pencil, and see-through paper. you don't need the pins if you're careful about keeping it lined up. you could do that on your floor and hand-sew it after that if you wanted to. the most specialised piece of equipment they used in the video, apart from the sewing machine, was a clear ruler.

[vinceaddams]

Yeah that's a silly complaint, tons of people cut fabric on their kitchen tables or on the floor. I've been sewing since 2011 and didn't have an actual sewing room until the start of 2024. It was frustratingly cramped sewing in my bedroom, but I still sewed lots of things in there.

Most of my fabric is secondhand, and I've gotten a lot of sewing supplies from thrift stores and estate sales. I know not everyone lives somewhere that has those things, but there are still budget options to look into. There are a lot of things that are nice to have but not strictly necessary.

Frieda Leopold did an experiment earlier this year where she bought the minimum sewing supplies necessary for a dress, and kept to a budget of 150 euros for all the tools including the sewing machine.

And this Morning Mercury video about trying to learn weaving without spending any money also feels relevant.

[pigeondyke]

hazariel atelier also has a video about making patterns from clothes you already have

one of the items was made from a second hand bedsheet, so you could do this without even spending much on fabric

[vinceaddams]

Yes, I love thrifted cotton bedsheets! Best fabric ever for nightgowns and pyjama bottoms.

Also I just found the full length video that was mentioned at the end of the tiktok. I haven't watched it yet because it's late and I should go to bed, but there are a lot of comments saying it's clear and easy to understand.

[belladonnacandlelight25]

Full Moon Prompts (Late But Stil Good!)

Been a while and I need to get back into it so here is some Full Moon Prompts:

What truth feels impossible to ignore right now?

What emotions have been louder than usual lately?

What pattern keeps repeating in my life—and what is it trying to teach me?

Where have I outgrown a version of myself?

What am I proud of that I don’t acknowledge enough?

What am I holding onto out of habit rather than alignment?

What belief about myself no longer feels true?

What am I afraid would happen if I let this go?

Whose expectations am I still carrying that aren’t mine?

What would relief feel like if I stopped gripping so tightly?

What emotion do I resist the most—and why?

What do I need more of right now: rest, honesty, boundaries, or courage?

How do I usually cope when things feel overwhelming? Is it working?

What would it look like to treat myself with more softness?

What feels aligned in my life right now?

What does my intuition keep whispering?

If I trusted myself fully, what choice would I make?

What am I learning to accept instead of fight?

How can I honor my energy better in the next lunar cycle?

What am I releasing under this full moon?

What lesson am I carrying forward?

What does emotional balance look like for me right now?

What part of myself deserves gratitude tonight?

Write a letter to the thing you’re letting go of—then close it with intention.

[talonabraxas]

Between the windy, swirling fire And all the stillness of the moon, Sweet witch, you danced at my desire, Turning some weird and lovely rune To paces like the swirling fire. As in the Sabbat’s ancient round With strange and subtle steps you went; And toward the heavens and toward the ground Your steeple-shapen hat was bent As in the Sabbat’s ancient round. Upon the earth your paces wrought A circle such as magians made… And still some hidden thing you sought With hands desirous, half afraid, Beyond the ring your paces wrought. Your supple youth and loveliness A glamor left upon the air: Whether to curse, whether to bless, You wrought a stronger magic there With your lithe youth and loveliness. Your fingers, on the smoke and flame, Moved in the mysterious conjuring; You seemed to call a silent Name, And lifted like an outstretched wing Your somber gown against the flame. What darkling and demonian Lord, In fear or triumph, did you call? Ah! was it then that you implored, With secret signs equivocal, The coming of the covens’ Lord? Sweet witch you conjured forth my heart To answer always at your will! Like Merlin, in some place apart, It lies enthralled and captive still: Sweet witch, you conjured thus my heart! Witch Dance Clark Ashton Smith The Witch by Diogo Lopes

[mercurael]

Crystal Crumbs #1 - Fluorite

Fluorite is a lovely crystal that comes in a variety of colors. In this inaugural post of Crystal Crumbs, a series on the many crystals we meet in witchcraft, let's meet fluorite and her many faces.

Chemical Makeup

Fluorite is a halide mineral, meaning it is composed primarily of an anion of a halogen gas. Other examples include halite, which you may know as rock salt or NaCl! Cl- is an anion of chlorine. In fluorite's case, its chemical makeup is CaF2, with fluoride (F2) being the dominant anion.

Fluorite forms primarily in cubic shapes, but it can also form in octahedrons, or other complex isometric shapes. Fluorite ranks at 4 on the Mohs hardness scale, and is in fact the reference mineral for that level. This means it is harder than calcite, but is easily scratched by quartz and other harder minerals.

Pure fluorite is colorless like quartz, but chemical impurities give it a wide spectrum of possible colors, which fluorite is prized for in lapidary and jewelry-making. These impurities can include:

iron

manganese

rare earth elements like yttrium, cerium, samarium, thulium, etc

uranium

radioactive interference and heat during formation

hydrocarbons

Natural Companions/Lookalikes

Because fluorite comes in many colors, including colorless, it can often be mistaken for other minerals. Additionally, because it primarily grows in voids in hydrothermal vents and hot springs, it is often a companion to other minerals. These companions include:

quartz

calcite

baryte

sphalerite

galena

pyrite

dolomite

chalcopyrite

muscovite

rhodochrosite Lookalikes include:

quartz (especially amethyst)

halide (similar shapes and composition)

calcite

tourmaline

History

Fluorite has been known to many civilizations for centuries, primarily for its use in decoration. Pliny the Elder described it in Naturalis Historia as a purple-and-white mottled stone, and it is believed that a mineral described in Sanskrit alchemical texts called vaikrānta may refer to fluorite. However, it truly rose to prominence in 16th century Germany, when scientist Georgius Agricola described it in his works on mineralogy and metallurgy. In iron smelting, fluorite is used to reduce the viscosity of slag, giving rise to its name, coming from Latin fluere, to flow. In his work, Agricola originally named it "fluorspar", a name still used today in industrial contexts. In 1852, fluorescence was discovered through the use of UV light on fluorite, and the element fluorine was also named after it.

Other Names

fluorspar (original name, industrial context)

murrina/myrrhina (classical studies, archaeology)

flourite

several other synonyms, available on mindat.org

Traditional Uses

Fluorite has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, labeled as a spirit-calming stone. It has also been used as a decorative stone for thousands of years across ancient Rome and Egypt. Fluorite has seen uses symbolically to improve blood flow (owing to its name), dental health (fluoride is a known element necessary for teeth), as well as generally calming and balancing several systems.

Modern Uses

In mundane life, it is used in optics to create lenses, and high-purity fluorite is often used as a source of hydrofluoric acid and pure fluorine gas. Magically, fluorite is a popular choice for focus, clarity, and purification, owing to its associations with intellect and "flow". It is used by many holistic practitioners for purposes relating to the joints, muscles, bones, and teeth.

Correspondences

Zodiac: Libra, Capricorn, Pisces Numerology: 7 Planet: Mercury Element: Air, Water Magical uses:

Stability

Peace

Purification

Focus/concentration

Clarity

Spiritual and psychic development

Psychic shielding

Grounding

Cleansing

Teaching, studying, learning

Alternatives

Don't have access to fluorite, or not interested in buying new crystals but using what you have? Try some of these crystals that carry some of the same properties:

amethyst (peace, balance, psychic protection, meditation, joints/arthritis)

ametrine (peace, cleansing, intellectual stimulation, psychic protection)

calcite (purification, peace, memory)

dumortierite (mental clarity, communication, psychic and spiritual development)

hematite (memory, grounding, calming, peace)

labradorite (spiritual and psychic development, intellectual stimulation, discernment, protection)

obsidian (clarity, grounding, protection)

selenite (mental clarity, energy cleansing)

smoky quartz (grounding, mental clarity, protection)

Pairings

Fluorite functions well on its own, but it can also be paired with other crystals and various herbs/botanicals for specific properties.

quartz: amplification of fluorite's focus and clarity

amethyst: amplification of psychic and spiritual development/protection

black tourmaline: grounding and shielding

selenite: purification of environment and energy

labradorite: intuition and communication

calcite: emotional and mental harmony

lepidolite: anxiety relief

moldavite: spiritual transformation

rose quartz: adds compassion and love to mental focus

pyrite: adds willpower to mental focus

lavender: adds calming and peaceful energy

cinnamon: accelerates workings and brings willpower and manifestation to your focus

thyme: cleansing and balancing

rosemary: amplifies mental clarity and purification, protection

bay leaf: set intentions for your newfound focus, protection

sage: wisdom and mental clarity, purification You can also choose crystals and herbs that align elementally or zodiacally with your purposes.

Extra

Cleansing/charging notes:

Please be aware that fluorite is not safe to submerge in water for extended periods of time, as it contains toxic fluorine. You should also refrain from contact with salt, and do not drink water that has had fluorite in it. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, which can fade the colors of the crystal. Otherwise, cleanse and charge your fluorite in any way that you prefer.

Please remember that these posts do not constitute medical advice and are purely for entertainment and spiritual purposes.

Sources:

mindat.org Muse + Moonstone Wikipedia University of Minnesota, Twin Cities FossilEra Natural Gemstones space-queen on Tumblr The Citrine Circle CrystalanceMe & Qi

header and dividers by @pomegranate-jewitchery

[bubblefemmes]

i haven't rlly been on tumblr in the past week, but i wanted to come on just to throw a few reminders out here specifically for the witchblr community.

#1: racism, xeonophobia, antisemeitsm, and islamaphobia are rampant and normalized in the witchcraft/spiritual community. if you proclaim to be against these forms of bigotry or an ally to the people affected by these forms of bigotry, you need to put your money where your mouth is. it's not enough to proclaim yourself as anti-racist or decolonizing your practice -- is your work and are your words actually practically or materially helping marginalized people, or are you virtual signaling so you can be told by other people in the majority groups you're a good leftist?

#2: bipoc and religious/ethnic minorities are the experts of their own experiences and do not need other people to speak for or on behalf of them. yes, you can talk about racism and be white, or you can talk about antisemitism and be a goy, and so on... that's all fine and it has its importance in liberatory work. but if you feel the need to position yourself as a leader on these conversations to the point of dismissing and talking over those same people? i suggest it might be time to unpack why you feel the need to be the loudest and most morally right voice in the room. i think it's an innate and neutral human desire to want to be heard and have your perspective valued, there's nothing wrong with that at its core, but if its coming at the expense of other people (especially those you claim to be speaking in favor of)? that's a problem and is making your work a source of harm, not healing.

#3: when marginalized people confront or critique you and your first instinct is to dismiss them, subtly play into stereotypes like "the angry black woman," and so on? you're effectively showing the world that your ego is more important to you than your ally-ship to marginalized people. biwoc and female religious/ethnic minorities are already tone policed enough (in a way that is rooted in misgoyny/sexism too quite frankly -- depicted as overreacting, too emotional, foolish and misguided, etc.) if a minority tells you outright "that's bigoted/harmful," how nicely they said it or not doesn't change the fact that they are absolutely allowed to speak on that and confront you on actions that directly affect them. also saying this as a white irish jew -- we need to stop demanding bipoc hold our hands when they do the emotional labor of calling out our implicit racial biases, even if we did not have any intention to act in a racist manner. let it be clear: white people are not the victims of racial violence, discrimination, and oppression, and if you think a not-perfectly-worded-message is the worst thing to happen to you, imagine what bipoc people go through on a daily basis.

#4: let me nip this in the bud real quick before it gets to this point: if you take public critique as an invitation to invoke moral superiority, carceral justice, or modes of harassment/bullying you are part of the problem -- yes this include both any of you who act in the above ways towards the biwoc + female religious/ethnic minorities who spoke up (who's identities i'm keeping anon out of respect for their experiences unless they want to come forward and speak for themselves), AND those of you who act in any of the above ways towards willow/salixsociety. you can unfollow people, that's fine, and you're welcome to block them too if that enhances your tumblr experience. however, if your takeaway from the response me and @pomegranate-jewitchery wrote is "this person is evil and irredeemable and deserves to suffer" you have missed the point. what i don't find helpful (which i've seen on witchblr prior) is deciding things need to be blown out into full ass crusades, so for the love of g-d DO. NOT. HARASS. PEOPLE. OR. UNILATERALLY. PAINT. THEM. AS. WHOLLY. GOOD. OR. EVIL.

instead, i suggest we direct that energy into sending mutual aid to bipoc and religious/ethnic minorities or uplifting orgs that do work for racial/ethnic justice and interfaith collaboration. while i do encourage folks to get involved with work and people local to their area, if you really need a jumping off point may i suggest these us-based orgs, all of which have long standing histories of working with and for marginalized communities:

NAACP | ACLU | Black Youth Project | MLFA | Muslims for Progressive Values | American Council for Judaism | JFREJ

i firmly believe fucking up is something we all do, and there is no community that exists where harm is not perpetrated sometimes. but at the same time, acknowledging that as an inevitable reality doesn't mean people get free passes for harmful behaviors. i want to finish this off saying thank my bipoc witchblr friends for all they have done, acknowledge both their emotional labor and trauma, and let you know that i see you, love you, and you deserve to be heard when you speak up instead of being shut down out of a place of fragility and ego.