#ellienbie

[breelandwalker]

Hi, quick witching question. Do you know of any herbs and the like that are good for mental stuff? Trying to make a spelljar for a friend rn and can’t find anything for that.

Rosemary, peppermint, and green tea! I recently made a focus charm with two of the three and it's working VERY well. (So I made more and put them in the shop lol.)

Some medical studies suggest that certain compounds in green tea may have benefits for cognition, mood, and overall brain function. The scents of rosemary and peppermint are sometimes used in aromatherapy to assist with mental clarity, alertness, and concentration.

Personally, I also associate peppermint with focus and memory, since one of my old college life hacks was to chew peppermint during study sessions and on exam days, since that can assist with information recall. And I do reach for a green tea with red berries on the days when I know I'm going to need extra mental spoons. So I know these align for me, and they might work for others too, magically speaking.

Hope this helps!

[breelandwalker]

Any tips for setting up an unobtrusive altar? Still not out of the broom closet yet, but still want to be able to practice the craft.

Absolutely! There are a few ways to go about making an altar if you have to fly under the radar - hide it in something small, hide it in plain sight, or go digital.

If you feel comfortable setting up a hidden altar, you can use small container like a shoebox, jewelry box, or candy tin. Decorations can vary, but all you really need for veneration is an image that represents your craft or your chosen deity and a place to put a small offering. If you want to use it as a focus for your workspace, just find a flat surface, set it up, and do your witching.

If you want it to be a compact altar that can be set up and taken down quickly, think small and simple. Battery-operated tealights or birthday candles can be fit into very small boxes. Avoid incense unless you live somewhere that it won't attract suspicion. (Incense matches might be your friend here too.) Keep your items simple and easy to explain away.

If you want something that can hide in plain sight, mundane home decor is going to be your best friend. Think silk flowers, animal figurines, artwork, colored ribbons, LED candles, things that fit in with things that are already in your space. Avoid icons and statues or anything that looks like it came from a witch shop. Displaying a bunch of crystals might be toeing the line, but if they're pretty, they might be able to pass as decorations. The most important thing is that it should not attract attention. To the untrained eye, it should just look like part of the aesthetic.

If neither of these seem like good options, or if your privacy is regularly invaded, you can create a digital altar on your blog, your phone, or an online drive. This is a good way to store your notes and resources as well, if you need to.

It's important to note that you can do magic anywhere and with anything or with nothing at all. Having an altar is a lovely thing, but it's not a requirement. If you need to wait until you're in a safer or more accepting environment, please put your own wellbeing first.

If you like podcasts, I discussed lots more tips for stealth witches on my show, Hex Positive, Ep. 012 - Witching From The Broom Closet (Jan 2021).

Best of luck, witchling!

[omegamoo]

#30 and #93

30. places you find sacred?

the woods up the road from my house where you & i go. dark empty theatres with only a ghost light up. cars when you’re parked in your friends driveway at absurd hours and you’re just talking and it’s all dark and quiet

93. nicknames?

ohhh doxxable information right here… i consider “moo” to be a nickname but people shorten my irl name, enlongate my irl name, and call me by my last name. also someone calls me a kind of bug but i wont specify

[pissfaggot-transsexual]

Any good punk music reqs? I’ve run out.

another reason to list off songs i like and force people to listen to them! thank you :]

Dog Park Dissidents, Queercore

Song recs: Bad Dog, Rev Your Motor, Class Strugle

Dream Nails, Riot grrrl

Song recs: Vagina Police 2.0, Kiss My Fist, Corporate Realness, DIY, Lovefuck

Joe & The Shitboys, Garage rock queercore

Song recs: Closteded HomoFObe, The Good Ol' Days, The Reason for Hardcore Vibes (Again)

The Oozes, Hardcore riot grrrl

Song recs: Ready, DBSAC, Swallow, Wanker

Pinkshift, Hardcore pop-punk (a rare combo, pop-punk and being good)

Song recs: BURN THE WITCH, the kids aren't alright

Rough Francis, Garage rock

Song recs: Deathwire, Urgent Care, Giving Up

The Royal They, I think this counts as garage rock (i am but a baby punk, a bunk if you will)

Song recs: Kamikaze, Shinburner, Sludgefucker

VIAL, Riot grrrl

Song recs: Mr. Fuck You, Piss Punk

Mannequin Pussy, not exclusively a punk band, but when they are: hardcore

Song recs: Pigs Is Pigs, Perfect

Queen Zee, Queercore

Song recs: I Hate Your New Boyfriend, Victim Age, Porno, Boy, Sissy Fists