#witch activist

[thesorceresstemple]

[eclecticmeowgic]

The “Big Beautiful Bill” Isn’t Beautiful It’s Terrifying

So Congress yesterday passed something called the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

And I can’t say this strongly enough: there is nothing beautiful about it.

This bill massively cuts support for poor, disabled, and chronically ill people, and continues the attack on immigrants, queer people and people of color, while giving giant tax breaks to the rich. It’s already being celebrated by Trump and his allies like it’s some kind of miracle. But for people like me? It’s a disaster waiting to happen.

I’m disabled. I deal with chronic fatigue, severe back pain, and limited mobility. I want to work, but I physically can’t do most jobs and even the ones I could get in the past either underpaid me or didn’t last. (And legally, I’m only allowed to work part-time on SSI anyway.)The only reason I’ve survived is:

Medicaid, which covers the physical therapy that helped me with severe back pain that made it imposible to sleep for several days.

Harmones, which help me stay mentally sane. (also covered by medicaid)

My SSI and section8. I make less than $1,000 a month on SSI in a state where the average rent is between $2,000-$3,000 a month. I'd be back on the streets if it wasn't for section8.

This new bill doesn’t just go after immigrants. It puts people like me at risk by pushing work requirements on Medicaid. Colorado (thankfully) isn’t enforcing those requirements, yet. But nothing is guaranteed after the next election. One change in state leadership, and I could lose everything.

To make it worse:

My mom and stepmom were just laid off. My dad’s side voted for the guy who pushed this bill and now they’re struggling too. They used to be my safety net. But now? If I lose my benefits, I’ve got no one to fall back on.

This bill will strip millions of healthcare, food access, and housing. It gives nothing to us but everything to billionaires and defense contractors.

And they called it “beautiful.”

If you care about disabled people, poor people, immigrants, trans people, or anyone just trying to stay alive you should be furious. Because I am.

[willowofthehearth]

Hi! Ive been asking this question to a few people and wanted your opinion! What's the difference between a cottage witch and a hearth witch? I know they both tend to encompass green, kitchen and household witchery but whats the defining factor that separates the terms? Or what's your opinion on the matter?

This is a good question that doesn’t have an official answer! For some, those terms are used completely interchangeably and that’s entirely okay. Because witchcraft is about making your own path. Unless you belong to a specific religion, a lot of things are up to you (and of course always being mindful not to be appropriating!).

So, what follows is entirely my own reasoning and rambling on the topic and as it applies only to me. And is not meant in any way to invalidate someone else’s reasonings and ramblings. I say this not to protect myself from backlash, but as a reminder that everyone’s thoughts are valid! Mostly, this is going to be my thoughts on what a hearth witch is, as that’s what I’ve spent most of my life being and doing!

When I think about a cottage witch, I think a little more about a house. A specifically designed house, if you know what I mean? The “cottage in the woods” aesthetic.

Images like this immediately spring to mind. Cottage witchcraft is intrinsically tied in my mind with the cottagecore aesthetic. And listen, I am Here. For. It. I love this kind of aesthetic, I incorporate it in my own personal style, in my life, etc. But I also recognize that it’s idealized and likely not accessible to me (in this lifetime anyway).

Hearth witch too brings up imagery. Particularly if you’re aware of what a hearth is.

The hearth, the heart of the old home. Warm welcoming fire, cozy. There is certainly overlap with cottagecore, I mean the aesthetic of a warm fire with cozy couches and blankets has a strong pull! It always makes me want to grab a good book, something/someone to cuddle, and a cuppa.

The hearth for a long time was where food was made. It was the stove. And so there’s a lot of overlap into kitchen witchery. Food has always brought people together. A feast cooked on a fire, drawing people in from the cold to warm their bones.

So I think when a lot of people think of hearth witchery they think of little cottages, that rustic farmhouse, off in the woods vibe, with the ever present smell of fresh baked bread and so much good food. Truthfully, that was my initial draw to the concept of hearthcraft. I love cooking and baking, I love that aesthetic. It lined up with the aspirations I already had for myself.

But, of course, the longer I’ve been practicing, with no guide or sacred text, the more I’ve had to dig into it on my own. I’ve had to peel away at it to find the stuff underneath. When life circumstances meant my house was a rental that at times suggested hints of hoarders instead of cozy calm. When chronic illnesses, financial limitations, and depression meant that there wasn’t a lot of homecooked feasting going on. 

Was I still a hearth witch then?

I was. Because being a hearth witch has absolutely no dependency on your house or your ability to cook or bake. (you also have no requirement to be a practitioner of herbal medicine, that is a medical profession and entirely unrelated to witchcraft!)

Hearthcraft is not about the fire or food. It’s about the welcome.

Hearthcraft is about making space for people to be safe and welcome and loved and validated. This can happen anywhere, because it’s not about the aesthetic, it’s not about the food, or cozy blankets. Those can be methods, tools used... but they aren’t the heart of it. It’s about meeting needs, and accepting people where they’re at.

This doesn’t have to mean a meal you labored over all day. It can be picking up a person’s favorite coffee and dropping it off at their work. Sharing a meme that made you think of them. Texting them randomly to check in on them. Letting them rant and scream and rage and cry, validating their feelings.

It’s also about opposing bigots. Taking a stand against racism. Educating yourself to be a better ally. Donating time or money to causes that work to make marginalized people safe. Making your space: whether that’s online spaces you occupy, your neighborhood, your work, your house, any space you exist, safe by making it UNSAFE for racists, bigots, sexists, etc. When you give an inch to people who hold that kind of hate in their life... you are inherently making your space unsafe for those they hate. There’s no compromise, no middle ground. A hearth cannot welcome the oppressed as long as it welcomes those who seek to oppress them.

And so as you walk the path of hearthcraft, unfolding the layers and digging in, taking hold of what it means to have a welcoming hearth, you may well find yourself diving into activism. Because once you get yourself in hand, you realize that it’s time to start working on the rest of the world! And just like hearth witchery, this doesn’t mean it has to be the ideal. Protests every weekend, getting arrested, tearing down statues. That’s all AWESOME work, and I applaud people who are able to do that. But it can also mean voting, working phone banks, writing letters to your governmental leaders.

These things are all naturally within the domain of hearthcraft. Because they are about being welcoming. I will admit, the irish polytheist concept of hospitality had a lot of influence on my thoughts on this. Hearthcraft IS hospitality. True, deep, meaningful hospitality.

Something else you might have noticed? There’s no mention of magic in my hearthcraft practice. No spells. 

I have often said I am the most skeptical, disbelieving witch I’ve ever met. My hearthcraft practice is witchcraft. I firmly believe that. But it also isn’t inherently magical. And in this case, I am referring to magic as spell work. Because being a warm, welcoming person is super fucking magical. You ARE magic. Sure, one can use magic and spells. Hexes, or charms. But you don’t have to. 

Living as a hearthwitch means living your magic.

I hope my early morning ramblings have answered your question! This is a topic I love thinking and talking about, so anyone can feel free to slide into my asks with questions or just to talk about it!

[thehagandthestag]

Counter protests in San Francisco and Berkeley

Yesterday, it was in the news that some potentially alt right protesters are going to be in San Francisco on Saturday and Berkeley on Sunday. Is there anyone from my tumblr fam, any witches pagans or polytheists, that plan in going to the counter protest? If I end up being able to go, I'd like to meet up with some of you so we can do some witchy protesting. Send me a message or re blog if you're going or if you know of any similarly minded groups going!