#florida witch

[flatwoodshermit]

1st time making my palm leaf version of a st. brigid’s cross on the actual day.

[flatwoodshermit]

palm doll poppets.

[of-freyjas-cavy]

Hey y’all!

As many of us, life has been just chaos it feels like this year. It hardly feels like there’s been a break, a moment to catch one’s breath.

When these moments happen, my witchcraft tends to go on a back burner, heck sometimes it feels like it gets completely tucked into a dark corner! But, sometimes that’s just necessary to do and there’s never anything wrong with that.

That said, I’ve been feeling like I NEED my witchcraft back. I need that magic! I’m a low spoony witch, disabled. Sometimes what could be considered low effort, low energy is high effort for me. Most of my spoons go towards things like taking care of my fur babies, checking my garden/plants and tending them as needed(thankfully living in Florida & having mostly native/tropical plants makes this easy!) & any other necessary tasks that need completed. As a result, most of my limited spoons are used up everyday and I don’t really have any extras to devote towards my Craft.

As much as I may WANT to do more, I just can’t. And that is hard to accept sometimes! However I have an idea, I just need to flesh it all out. I’m planning on making some kind of easily transportable terrarium; something smallish I can take with me when I’m visiting my partner and take back home once I go back. I want it to have some kind of native Florida plant/plants in there, but I’m not sure off the top of my head what would work. I know I can collect some moss from a few different places (whether they’re “native” species or not is unknown to me lol) but I know I can also experiment and see what works. I’ll make an in depth post when I do it! I plan to do it next week when I’m home.

My idea/plan is to make it like a living spell basically? It’ll have one main purpose and my tending it will essentially keep the spell “active” at all times. I plan to probably make a few of these so I can have a couple spells active but my main/first one I have planned is protection for Florida.

When I make my post it’ll all be laid out there! I’ve also made a tiktok but I haven’t been posting on it yet. I think I’ll try to start doing that as well, show of my spell terrariums once they’re made, etc.

I do still want to offer tarot readings, but I may need to make a terrarium for extra spoons first 🤣 another idea I had for a terrarium lol!

I do have an idea for a post for one thing I do manage to keep up: video games + witchcraft. Short example: I play Fortnite a lot and I have one of my back blings assigned to The Morrigan, so when I use that back bling, I’m devoting my game play to Her. I get the vibe She finds it a little silly but rather enjoys it lol.

I’m also on discord a lot more lately, so I do still want to make a server :) I just wanna make sure it’s pretty first 😭

[witchyphilosophe]

Our little coven is small, but mighty.

[evermoortarot]

This is very specific but for the witches in Florida, what is your go to local flora to incorporate in rituals? I’m setting up an event and want to make some spell jars using our local flora but am indecisive and can’t choose a plant to save my life lol

[magicaguajiro]

Florida-Taino Spiritual Connections: Piedra de Rayo, Petaloid Axes and Splitting Hurricanes

Following research, travel, and some really good conversations, I think I may have found a cultural connection between modern Indigenous Floridian and Caribbean Indigenous cultures, both revolving around Axes and Hurricanes! My conclusion is that these coinciding beliefs stem from a mutual participation in the South-Eastern Ceremonial Complex. Further evidence for this is seen in comparing Ciboney with Calusa and Tequesta practices and artifacts, including the mounds found throughout Florida and in parts of Cuba, like Campechuela where my family is from. After reading Behike Miguel Sague’s article here about ceremonial Taino hatchets, as well as the book Seminole Legends by Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, coupled with my own experience in la Regla de Ocha, I plan to present the facts to you here. I do also have taboos to respect, so if I don’t explain the why or how of something it is most likely on purpose.

Let’s start with the Caribbean Roots:

In Cuba specifically, many African and Indigenous traditions were preserved through practices deemed “African Traditional Religions”. It is only recently that we are learning and acknowledging the extent that Indigenous Cubans influenced these practices through their herbal knowledge and connection to the Land, both of which are needed to make these practices work effectively. The example I am talking about today will be about the Piedra de Rayo or Thunder Stone. These small tear shaped stones are used throughout Cuba in Ochá, Palo Monte and Espiritismo Cruzado and Cordon for various purposes. They are said to call or repel lightning and have an effect on the weather. They are associated with strength and protection. They are included in the prendas or pots of Spirits who are often associated with thunder and lightning, as the name suggests. What is less known is that these piedras are often actually artifacts of Ceremonial Petaloid Hatchets, basically the blades of stone-age axes or grinders. They were also utilized during rituals amongst the Indigenous Cubans and also found throughout the Americas. If you read Behike Sague’s article it will explain all of this.

Now let’s examine the Seminole myth:

In many Indigenous Cultures, including both Taino and Seminole beliefs, Twins are held in a high esteem and believed to be connected to the Weather through the Divine. In Cuba, we see the twins Boinayel and Marohu representing the Rains and Clear Skies respectively. In Florida, we see the Seminole belief that twins represent Thunder and Lightning. For this reason, twins are often separated at birth for the fear of a storm harming the Chickee. There is a myth of two twins born conjoined and therefore inseparable. When the town finally couldn’t handle the constant weather problems, a Medicine Man took a blessed axe and split the twins right down the middle, separating them and ending the foul weather. We also see another belief in the Axe’s spiritual splitting power in the Seminole Folk Charm of Hurricane Splitting, which I go into detail about in a previous post.

Now let’s talk the connections:

Its worth noting that the traditions of these important stones were preserved specifically in Cuba more than the other Islands. Also, given the fact that much of Cuba was inhabited by a separate cultural group than the Classic Taino, I think its certainly possible the association of these axes in ceremonial settings and their connection to the weather must be tied to a common source. Whether this means the Ciboney and Guanahatabey of Cuba had a connection with the Calusa, Tequesta or Timucua is past my scope of knowledge but it does seem to support this theory. We also know post-contact, a village called “Abaibo” was established in Calusa territory (near present day Marco Island) by Indigenous people fleeing Columbus in Cuba. But to get back to the point, clearly both of these groups understood axes to be divinely tied to Weather. It is also worth adding Guahayona, the One Foot Hero-figure of Taino Myth was also known to hold one of these axes, and now his constellation is used to track weather cycles. Another interesting connection. These one-legged heroes are often found throughout the Americas in Indigenous oral histories. Nevertheless, these stones offer us a valuable tool and glimpse into one of the Mysteries of our ancestors.

Utilizing the Piedra de Rayo:

Finding a true Piedra de Rayo is one thing, buying it is another. Like all things in spirituality, the commercialization of things has stripped authenticity and made good sources scarce. Poachers often raid burial sites and mounds for these artifacts to sell. Don’t do this, it’s an easy way to ruin your own life, both legally and spiritually, by digging through someone else’s grave. This also means true piedras are rare now, and the ones in Botanicas are often productions made to resemble the artifacts. If you are meant to find one you will and it won’t be in a protected area. If you can ethically source a real one to buy, all power to you, otherwise do not feel bad about purchasing a replica from a Botanica or producing one yourself! Your ancestors will recognize the form of the tool and actions you take, and it is possible they bought their ceremonial axes from a skilled artisan at the time too so why should we feel shame for doing the same. Many say they appear every 7 years, or where lightning strikes dirt under a ceiba. Some say they wiggle out at night to return underground during the day. These stones are often treated as living beings, another nod to the ways of honoring the Cemi our ancestors passed to us. There are four main goals when working with these potent allies.

The first is obviously for weather. Our Taino ancestors’ spiritual systems placed major emphasis on agriculture, and in turn the weather. Depending on the weather, you could live a life of labor or a life of ease. This meant you needed ways to appeal to and even influence the weather day to day. The piedra de rayo offers a simple way to do just that. Whether you are in need of rain or sun, simply give an offering of tobacco and alcohol or perfumed water to the piedra. Additionally, guajiros bury them in the East corner of a new conuco or field to consecrate it, calling on the power of the rising Sun through the stone.

The second form is as a protective amulet. Piedras de Rayo are lightning medicine. They are intrinsically tied to the primordial energy of lightning, and in turn with fire, sudden violence, car crashes and other fast bursts of energy. They have a magnetic relationship with these forces, meaning they can both attract or repel them depending on their “charge”. These stones can be worn to ward off evil eye and protect yourself from hexes and witchcraft, or kept in your car or pocket to protect you from accidents or harm. They also can be useful if you know ahead of time that some extra strength or willpower will be needed, granting the carrier heightened endurance and power in physical feats.

The third way to utilize it is in healing ceremonies. This method is seen both in modern times and historically. In the chronicles of the Caribbean and Florida, we know they used ceremonial hatchets to perform a type of non-invasive surgery, basically spiritually conducting the healing rather than physically. This practice using the Piedra de Rayo is still seen today, but it is highly rare. Using the blessed and charged stone, you first identify the issue and then drag the stone and massage the problem area, usually accompanied by prayers as well as baths or other workings. Every practitioner does things in their own way, and it is said some can even produce physical objects taken from the persons body with this method, like the Behikes in the past were said to do.

And the last way to work with the Stone is as a spirit itself. These stones can be used as the home or body of a spirit, such as a Cemi or other Ancestral Entity. They can be seated within the stone by following directions given by the spirit to create a suitable vessel. This can include burying, carving, wearing, praying over or creating an altar to the stone. It can also include much more or less. This is one way they were used by our Indigenous ancestors as well that has passed directly from Ceminismo into the various traditions through the Caribbean today. Much of how the stone is used comes down to how you charge it, but that can mean two things. To charge it is for it to be consecrated and given offerings based on what you are trying to achieve (i.e. perfume and flowers when for healing vs rum dripped on it and tossing it in a flame for protection). For it to be cargada means it has had a spirit seated upon it.

To build a relationship with one of these stones is a beautiful gift. They are more than just allies or tools, and the tradition of honoring and respecting them is one that I take pride in continuing as a Guajiro. These lifeways prove continuity and are the very thing that turns the Taíno extinction myth on its head.

Ahan Katu

Sources:

Dreaming Mother Earth by Jose Barreiro and Cacique Francisco “Panchito” Ramirez

Account of the Antiquity of the Indians by Fray Ramon Pané

Legends of the Seminole by Betty Mae Tiger Jumper and James E. Billie

Taino Ceremonial Petaloid Axes by Miguel Sague

[magicaguajiro]

In your intro post on Instagram, you say you’re part 7th generation Floridian, what does that mean?

Hello!

On my instagram intro I do mention that I am a 7th generation Floridian, meaning my first ancestor to live and die in Florida was my Great Great Great Great Grandfather and we have all been Floridian since.

In my post I don’t think I mention being “part” anything. Personally I don’t really enjoy that term I am of the belief that I am a whole person!! I hope this makes sense 😄 I am Cuban on one side, Floridian on the other. I can trace my ancestors back even farther in Cuba than the 7 generations in Florida.

Thank you for the question!!

[witchyphilosophe]

Found another cabinet at the thrift like the slut I am.