Every time I read the Greek Magical Papyri I'm surprised by how common they are. These spells wouldn't be out of place at the average wooy craft fair stand. It makes me wonder how direct the lineage is. Like, when I was handed a spell bag by a wooy woman at a gallery opening, is the construction of that spell influenced by the classical magical milieu? Or is "bag of candles and interesting rocks with a prayer" independently developed multiple times over the course of history?
I think it's reasonable that people can come up with "spell bag" independently. They are produced with readily available objects and materials. But, the conception of a candle as a meaningfully magical object has to be influenced by history right? How could it not be? But then the question is how, and how much?
I can see how a source of light, especially before modern times, would be considered a magical thing. How it still is, especially when brought back to such simplicity.
I can not be fucked to set up fancy spells and rituals at 3am. Whoever tells you that spell work needs fancy items and herbs is lying. I've spent the last 5 hours screaming and ranting to my house spirits about my lost airpods. They'll show up.
The amount of 'witchy' groups on Facebook that are defending and encouraging genAI is fucking infuriating. Like... do you actually believe in anything or do you just believe in content?
Absolutely dog shit takes from the pagan/witch community.
"You can't say its bad for the environment while still using Facebook because Facebook has high water usage, too."
Oh! So its okay then. Its okay to massively increase our water usage because we were already wasting water, so its okay to waste more water.
In the 80s, yall would have been like 'what if we made the hole in the ozone bigger?'
"The water used to cool the servers isnt wasted, it goes back into the soil and into the water cycle. This is third grade science."
And leaks biocides and corrosion inhibitors into the ecosystem. This is 6th grade science. For pages that give us the thinnest veneer of being 'stewards of the earth,' you'd think they'd have at least watched Captain Planet.
From a group of people that purport to be 'earth children,' so especially tone-deaf.
And then there's the misinformation, a problem already so incredibly present in the witch/pagan community and amplified by easy access to a machine that generates eye-catching graphics.
For the past month, one of these pages has been posting about different 'runes' and 'sigils' that are clearly made with AI. No historical precedence. No information for whom these runes belong or how theyre used. And wholly impractical to use because look at them-
The fuck are these? What do they mean? What is their use? Which vampires use these and how? What use to me is this? Why does this go on a witchy page and not a roleplaying page?
No context, only content. And when I ask, I dont get answers because they dont have answers. Its just content.
Im watching 2016 witchblr discourse again because someone found out the mediocrity machine can generate 1 true thing and twelve false things and decided not to tell which is which.
"But genAI helps business owners!"
Disrespectfully, it does not. It doesnt do anything that we weren't already able to do with a little bit of effort. We have always had stock photo archives. Product photography and writing copy are skills you can learn. Make graphics with clipart. I dont think AI is actually helping any businesses because customers are turned off by the lack of genuine effort.
All of this, the displacement of jobs and homes, the data scraping, its manipulative nature and more... and for what?
A bland image of a woman standing in front of the moon with a cauldron? AI makes art that is mediocre at best.
The amount of 'witchy' groups on Facebook that are defending and encouraging genAI is fucking infuriating. Like... do you actually believe in anything or do you just believe in content?
The other day while walking to work, I found a bumblebee on the footpath that seemed to be struggling, possibly dying, idk. I had just a few minutes to get to work on time but I stopped to try and help this lil guy onto my phone cover so that I could relocate him.
But it was a windy day. Everytime I'd get a few steps, if that, the wind would send him tumbling away like a tumbleweed. But I kept trying, until I managed to get him to a sheltered spot.
I like to think deities do the same. They have important things to do but they will stop to help you get to a better place even if you struggle to help yourself. Even if you're exhausted and at the mercy of the world. That better place might be nothing more than just a spot where you can rest for a while, but it's still better than before.
I don't think there was much hope for that bee. But I still helped. It was still worth helping.
I wish more critics of professional psychics weren't so convinced that each and every one of them is a conscious liar, because that's really not how it is. Like yes, there are a lot of people who are knowingly deceiving people, but there are a lot of people out there who genuinely believe they have psychic powers because they've been taught that they can awaken their psychic gifts, and that certain feelings and mental experiences actually come from external sources, and aren't just impressions their minds generate from things they already know. Like, this is a very real and very big problem, and we can't fully address the problems with the psychic business until we can acknowledge that we're dealing with a lot of people who've been taught bad epistemology.
Your altar doesn’t have to look aesthetic. A chipped mug with flowers, a rock from your walk, or a photo that feels sacred to you is more powerful than anything in a witchy Pinterest board.
Sea water: good for curse/hex breaking, cleansing, healing, banishing and protection spells.
Dew water: beauty, love and fertility spells, as well as delicate magick. Also Good for Fae work.
Storm water: is great for spells and rituals that has to do with emotional strength, confidence, charge, motivation and force. It’s known for strengthening spells. Also good for curses.
Snow water: Spells and rituals that focus on purity, endings and change, as well as slow working spells.
River water: Good for creating changes, moving on and letting go of negativity, warding and focusing energy.
Rain water: Very multi-purpose, but specifically great for growth and rebirth spells. Great for spells that you want to keep gaining power over time.
Spring water: Growth, holy water, cleansing, protection, prosperity
Moon water: Depending on the moon phase it was created in, it can have different properties.
Sun Water: protection, healing, clairvoyance, courage, strength, prosperity, luck, self-love, cleansing and creativity.
Hey, y'all, in light of the AWS outage today I wanna scream from the rooftops again:
Stop using Amazon.
Purchase directly from websites.
Shop locally.
Barter and trade where applicable.
Donate and go to places where stuff is located.
Obviously, not everyone can completely drop Amazon for various reasons, but it is easier than you think. Start small.
Alright, you know I won't post something like this without resources. Here are some sites to check out. Most of these are not going to gut your wallet, since you'd be paying similar prices on Amazon.
Btw I don't make any commission off of this (who would sponsor a barely active tumblr account?)
Home + Health
Earth Hero - Good for home goods, tech accessories, baby care, beauty, office supplies, and more.
Public Goods - Home decor, skin and body care, cleaning, dining, etc.
Grove Collaborative - Home and cleaning goods, but they have items for body + skin + hair care and miscellaneous items as well.
Simple Switch - Offers clothing, home goods, cleaning supplies, and even pet + plant stuff.
Blk + Grn - Black artisan-focused site that offers skin, hair, and body care, as well as some home goods.
Kitchen + Pantry
Misfit Market - Offers cheaper options for food items cuz they're a lil ugly but still fresh. Better than pretty and gross. Just be mindful of auto shipments (I can be forgetful)
Imperfect Foods - Basically the same thing as Misfit Market, but may offer other options depending on your location, so check both out.
Thrive Market - Shop smarter and sustainably. Purchasing groceries online can also help you avoid impulse purchases (of which I am personally guilty). It does require a membership which is frustrating but overall an ok deal if you're using it.
Hive - Snacks and pantry goods, with a few home goods sprinkled in.
Good.Store - The Green brothers have a store where 100% of proceeds go to charity. Currently, the offers are coffee, tea, soaps, socks, and cleaning supplies. You can suggest things to them, though (I suggested candles).
Entertainment
Bookshop.org - Books! Buy them online new or used or EBOOKS!
Your local library - see what services they have. Mine has three different ebook apps that you can use FOR FREE. Movie and shows are also offered through an app or through physical media.
Libby - Find ebooks and audiobooks for free (often found through a library)
Tech
Backmarket - New tech is expensive anyway, want a barely used or refurbished device? Check out backmarket. They have an app, too. They even have appliances!!
Ebay - Also an ok place for tech, but be wary of who you're buying from. Good for lots of second hand stuff. Just use your critical thinking skills.
Clothing
Ok, there are a LOT of sustainable clothing sites that cost a lot of money, so keep this in mind, but some cheaper options are:
ThredUp - Secondhand clothing.
Poshmark - Secondhand shopping
Urbankised - Slow fashion, handmade items, and unique styles. Can be a bit pricey but you're purchasing quality, and most items seem to be similar to what you'd pay at any basic clothing store.
Ethical Trading Co. - Quality clothing and accessories at ok prices, could be easier on the wallet but you're purchasing things that are built to last. They also sell food and home goods.
Allbirds - Shoes, so it isn't cheap, but they are high quality and sustainable. They even have a second hand store (ReRun)where you can get shoes at a resale cost!
Misc
Uncommon Goods - A little pricier, but you're paying real people for items made by hand. Great for unique gifts.
Ten Thousand Villages - supports artists and craftspeople from small communities in need by selling their hand-made items. Prices ranges from affordable to a little pricey, but again, you're paying real people.
Chewy - Great for pet supplies! Notoriously fantastic customer service.
UpRoot Design Studio - Perfect for gifts and greeting cards.
Want more?
Good. Here are a few more resources for you to find what you're looking for.
100+ Socially Responsible Brands You Should Know by The Honest Consumer
How to Be an Ethical Shopper by The Honest Consumer
The Honest Consumer's Ethical Brand Directory
Top 200 Ethical Businesses by The Good Shopping Guide (you can also search for brands on their site)
How to utilize witchcraft against fascism that literally anyone can do:
Protection spells for those protesting or pushing for change in political spaces.
Binding spells against those who are fascist and bigoted. Including, and in fact, especially starting with your local lawmakers.
Communication spell to increase awareness around a particular topic.
Anti-fascism sigil, created to repel the bastards from you and yours.
Curses for fascists. Curse 'em.
Confidence spell on yourself to boost your bravery and fight for change in the ways available to you.
Attraction spell to connect you with more like-minded people. Use dirt or concrete chips from your local town square if you wanna specify locality.
Spell to obscure the face of protesters from view.
Spell to hide the location of those who ICE may be inclined to pick off the street. Bonus if you know them personally.
ICE banishing spell for your neighborhood/town--melt ice over a sigil created for the express purpose of banishment, and then flush that shit (water and all) down the toilet. Feel free to throw in extra bits and baubles like rusty nails or dead bugs just to add a lil flair.
There's more, but I'm crashing from a caffeine high, so feel free to add.
I've decided that I will open any tarot deck for people to check it out. One person was concerned that if they don't buy it then no one else will want it if someone had touched it. I said "then I guess it wasn't meant for them" also, must not be a very good witch if you can't cleanse/claim an item.
Step into the magic of your own identity and embark on an affirming spiritual practice.
For thousands of years, various cultures around the world have drawn connections between magic, spiritual power, and LGBTQ+ identity. This guidebook retraces these ancient connections and weaves them into a secular witchcraft practice deeply rooted in modern queer history and culture. Hands-on practical exercises and thought-provoking discussions serve as guideposts to help queer witches and allies create a spiritual path that is authentic to them, no matter how they identify. Topics covered include elemental magic beyond binary gender, queer planetary magic, spiritual allies for all identities, sample holiday rituals, and more. Through this work, we cast a magic circle inclusive of all bodies and identities.
Coming Aug 25, 2026 from Moon Books. Preorder the paperback here! (Ebook preorders coming soon!)
What people are saying:
'Extremely solid debut from Sam Wise that adds flavor & glitter to even the most well-rehearsed magical rituals. I absolutely loved it and you will too!"
- Cassandra Snow, editor of Tarot in Other Words and author of Queering Your Craft and Queering the Tarot
"My first impression of this book was that I had stepped into a safe, welcoming space that was inclusive for all. Sam Wise, the author, makes some great points about the dearth of resources for fully queer-friendly spirituality and paganism, which is one of the reasons this book is such an essential read. Sam then lays the foundation with some queer history, showing that a lot of today’s challenges aren’t new at all — as too many members of the queer community know. From simple ways to bring queer energy into your working to understanding the roles of queer magic practitioners throughout history, this book is packed with methods for embracing magic and divinity without indulging heteronormative practices or beliefs.
I love the exploration of liminality as a crossover point between witchcraft and queer being. Witches are on the edge of things as are queer people, both experiencing “othering.” As a queer, autistic witch, I relate to this deeply. As Sam says in the introduction, the metaphorical table everyone wants to be at needs to be bigger so more people can sit and be welcomed. This book takes an important step toward that goal, with one critical aspect being its secular nature; this witchcraft is not faith- or path-specific, but describes practices anyone can enact. Truly, this volume has been an inspiration to embrace my own identity more firmly and hold safe space for those who need it, however they identify or experience love — or magic."
-Mabh Savage, author of Practically Pagan: An Alternative Guide to Planet-Friendly Living and the upcoming The Magic of Birds
"Sam Wise's Lavender Witchcraft serves as a helpful introduction for anyone first embarking on a Witchcraft path, or for those already established upon it who seek examples of how modern Witchcraft can be practiced outside of binary frameworks. This is something that is of benefit to all, regardless one's own identity.
Wise's book is a breath of fresh air for readers within the LGBTQ+ community who yearn for a practice that is inclusive and cognisant of our sacred place in modern witchcraft and how our identities are reflected in the magical natural world around us. This book is also valuable for those outside of the LGBTQ+ community, highlighting important considerations that anyone in an intentionally inclusive community should be aware of. "
- Olivia Church Ph.D, author of Pagan Portals Isis (2021), Sekhmet (2022), and Osiris (2026)
"This volume is both an approachable introduction to queer Witchcraft and a love letter to queer Witches. As a queer Witch myself, I found myself affirmed throughout the book, and I also found myself thinking about new ways to continue queering my own practice. Sam Wise gives readers a little taste of everything -- from recipes to astrology info to personal stories -- and definitely whets the appetite for more exploration of the queerness of Witchcraft and the Witchiness of queerness."
- Susan Harper, author of Pagan Portals: Feminist Witchcraft
