⛤

Queer witch

[catgirltoes]

What the hell happened to the energy around gender neutral bathrooms. Remember when we were fighting for all bathrooms to be gender neutral. But now we can barely argue that people can use the gendered bathroom of their choice. Maybe there's some single stall bathroom tucked away in a basement somewhere.

[banchie]

i've been phasing the phrase 'google it' out of my vocabulary and going back to 'look it up'. fuck you youve lost your generic trademark privileges

[manuciruja]

awww the like button turns into a rainbow when you press it! that's so cute...hey staff what's with all the trans women you keep nuking?

[manuciruja]

i think we should be ridiculing them more for this. you don't get to try and go all "queer website" when your staff likes to go on nuking sprees targeting the trans fem users

[hyzensteaparty]

Going apartment hunting soon and getting a house that I can finally make my home. Lady Hestia bless me with a speedy search <3

[vvitchingaltar]

Working with King Paimon

[aceofblades222]

This is so so incredibly important

[creature-wizard]

Reminder that:

The Christianization of Europe and the witch hunts are two completely separate things.

The witch hunts took place in the early modern period, well after Europe was Christianized.

The witch hunts were driven by conspiracy theories. It's literally a predecessor of QAnon.

Many conspiracy theories of the witch hunts were repurposed antisemitic conspiracy theories. (For example, blood libel and Satan worship.)

Lots of Christians practiced folk magic. They didn't usually call themselves witches.

Witchcraft was associated with polytheistic religions by Christians. Polytheists didn't call themselves witches. Whatever they were doing, they had their own words for it.

Modern witchcraft is a modern construct. It is not a revival of a genuine pre-Christian tradition of any kind.

Modern witchcraft cannot be "colonized" because it's literally a modern creation made by white people. However, modern witches are capable of doing colonialism, such as when they promote pseudohistory about other cultures.

[cultusquercus]

I advise that you do meta magic. Not in dnd but like actually.

Do magic that helps you to do more magic.

Do magic that gets you motivated to do all of the other magic you've been meaning to do.

Do magic that gives you that extra burst of energy and ability to ignore your pain for long enough to do magic more often.

Do magic that creates a shortcut into doing other magic.

Do meta magic.

[uncahier]

[worstgirleva]

Male socialization is such an evil rhetoric. Yeah I guess not transitioning at the age of 5 is my fault and I'm evil for it. Yeah I guess not having the childhood I wish I did means I'm a danger and I should perpetually apologize for it

[zedogica]

"The fact that socialization is a specious argument became obvious to me during an exchange I had with a trans-woman-exclusionist who insisted that my being raised male was the sole reason in her mind for me to be disqualified from entering women-only spaces. So I asked her if she was open to allowing trans women who are anatomically male but who have been socialized female — something that’s not all that uncommon for MTF children these days. She admitted to having concerns about their attending. Then, I asked how she would feel about a person who was born female yet raised male against her will, and who, after a lifetime of pretending to be male in order to survive, finally reclaimed her female identity upon reaching adulthood. After being confronted with this scenario, the woman conceded that she would be inclined to let this person enter women-only space, thus demonstrating that her argument about male socialization was really an argument about biology after all. In fact, after being pressed a bit further, she admitted that the scenario of a young girl who was forced against her will into boyhood made her realize how traumatic and dehumanizing male socialization could be for someone who was female-identified. This, of course, is exactly how many trans women experience their own childhoods."

---

Julia Serano, "Whipping Girl"

pg. 184

[lesbianchucklefucker]

You don’t have to think you’re hot but other people inevitably are going to so you at least need learn to accept that perception with grace instead of falling back on self deprecation every time someone is brave enough to call you cute

[sheydmade]

Simple Methods of Magical Protection

by Keziah

There is a misconception that the more steps involved in one's magical work or the more one pays to have it performed, the more effective, more powerful that work surely is. This, plainly put, isn't the case. Some of the simplest forms of magical work have been found to be incredibly powerful and effective.

Protecting ourselves from negative energy, malicious magic, evil eye, gossip, and other such (unfortunately) everyday occurrences shouldn't be inaccessible - it shouldn't be locked away behind a paywall, doled out by practitioners convincing others that magic can only be accessed via a pay-to-play system that benefits only those practitioners charging (often exorbitant amounts) for work that they've convinced others can't be carried out any other way; it shouldn't require financial strain or dedication of time that some people simply don't have to spare; and it shouldn't have to involve intricate ritual or spell work with dozens of steps and a reliance on magical systems that don't always align with the practices of those in need of protection.

In this post, we'll explore some very simple and versatile methods of taking magical protection with you wherever you go. These are measures ideal for any practitioner in need of magical protection, regardless of experience level, tax bracket, or creed. May it serve all those in need of it.

By the Hair

There are various methods of protection involving hair, be it by dressing the hair with substances, covering the hair, or wearing the hair in particular styles.

Dressing the Hair

Dressing the hair or scalp with oils or rinses believed to have protective properties is one method of taking added magical protection with you everywhere you go.

A practitioner can apply a small amount of oil to their scalp, their hair, or to a specific section of their hair to invoke the oil's protective aid. Using a rinse instead of an oil is always an option and can be a better alternative for those with sensitive skin.

[ *Note: It is wise to perform a patch test before applying any oils or rinses to the skin. This will help you determine which ingredients you may have allergies or sensitives to. ]

A few ingredients for oils and rinses commonly associated with protection (and also commonly used on hair) are rosemary, clove*, lavender*, and cedarwood.

*When using these as oils they should be diluted with a carrier oil - such as jojoba, sweet almond, coconut, or olive oils (research which is best to use with whichever herb or ingredient you prefer) - before being applied directly to the scalp or skin.

Braiding

Braiding hair, like braiding and knotting cords, thread, and other materials in some magical customs, can provide magical protection against harmful spirits or entities by means of confusion or distraction. Knot and braid magic as a means of protection is said to confuse spirits or distract them, as they become focused on the braid or knot and trying to undo or understand them, distracting them from carrying out any malicious acts. Knot and braid magic has also been said to be a trap for spirits, that the works entangle the spirits and their energy, rendering them unable to move against the worker.

Braiding one's hair or wearing a braided or knotted cord or ornament in one's hair can, then, offer similar protection. This can be made all the more potent by dressing the braid or ornament with an oil associated with protection.

Veiling & Covering

Veiling, as it's commonly called amongst the broader witchcraft community (though some religions and cultures have their own terms for this practice), is the custom of covering one's head or hair for spiritual, religious, cultural, or, yes, magical reasons. This has been in practice across many cultures and belief systems and throughout a vast number of regions, particularly across African, Asian, and European societies, for, at least, thousands of years.

Within the witchcraft community, some practitioners veil or cover as an overlap of their religious customs (forms of veiling are/have been prominent within Judaism, Islam, Christianity, and within some Pagan religious traditions) and their personal magical practice, and many folk witches have taken to covering their hair as a means of feeling better connected to the cultural history of their practices and their ancestors.

Eil Molei Rachamiem (Commemorative Prayer); Maurice Minkowski, 1922.

Veiling and covering, though, is also used as a means of protection. Within some schools of belief, covering one's head or hair (whether partially or wholly) serves as a ward between the person and negative, harmful, or malicious energy sent their way.

Some cover their hair with scarves, shawls, or veils of specific colors, patterns, or materials associated with protection in their personal practices - white is a color commonly associated with protection and purification, red has been used to empower protection work in some customs, and black is another commonly used color in protection work.

Some wear veils only whilst performing prayer or magical work, some veil when leaving the security of their home, and some veil all the time.

Veiling or covering one's head/hair with a scarf, cloth, or hat can, you'll find, be a versatile means of protecting oneself from undesirable energies.

By the Eyes

Line the Eyes

Across many cultures, there is the belief that wearing black around the eyes can protect the wearer from evil eye and attacks from harmful spirits or entities.

In some traditions, the customs around lining the eyes for magical or 'superstitious' reasons are more specific - for instance, there is a Hindu custom that calls for wearing kohl or kajal liner around the eyes or a kohl dot on one's neck (especially for children and babies) to combat evil eye; similarly, the Yemeni practice of applying kohl around an infant's eyes not long after their birth stems from the belief that it would prevent the child from being cursed by evil eye; ancient Egyptians wore kohl around their eyes as a marker of status, as added protection against the brightness of the sun, and also as a means of magical protection against illness and bad luck. *

The tradition of wearing kohl around the eyes has existed since at least as early as the Naqada III era (3200 - 3000 BC) Egypt and originated then as a means of protection against 'eye ailments'. The custom of lining one's eyes, whether for cosmetic, spiritual, or social reasons, has been found in countless regions and cultures around the world throughout history. From many of these customs comes the modern belief that wearing black eyeliner offers protection from negative energy, the effects of malicious spirits, evil eye, and other curses.

[ *NOTE: The modern use of kohl has been linked to toxic lead poisoning in children. ]

Eye Shadow

As eyeliner can be used as a simple means of protecting oneself magically, so, too, can eyeshadow. Using colors from one's cultural or religious beliefs that bear association with protection can be a great way to incorporate protective measures in one's cosmetic habits.

Common colors associated with various form of protection are red, black, blue, gold, and green.

By the Ornament

Charms, amulets, talismans, and other forms of apotropaic items have long been used as a magical means of protecting the wearer/carrier.

Some charms for protection, their origins, and their uses:

Blue clothing, jewelry, and accessories (Carribean / West Indies) - wearing blue clothing, jewelry, and/or accessories is believed to ward against maljo, bad eye, and najar. Bright shades of blue are sometimes referred to maljo blue due to this association.

Brigid's Cross (Irish) - the Brigid's Cross or St. Brigid's Cross is used to protect against evil spirits and illness.

Coins (Ancient Near East) - flattened discs of gold, copper, siler, and lead were worn, often around the neck, to distract the evil eye and confuse evil spirits. Coins of the same materials, so long as they are shiny enough, can be used to those same ends in modern practice.

Cornicello (Italian) - the little horn is worn, often made of silver, gold, or red coral, to protect the wearer from evil eye and bad luck, but also as an amulet of strength, good fortune, general protection, and fertility. It's also called cornetto and corno portafortuna ('horn that brings luck').

Cowrie Shells (Senegalese) - cowrie shell bracelets and necklaces are worn to absorb the negative effects of the thiat or evil eye, as well as other negative and evil energies.

Crucifix (Christian) - has been used to ward against evil since the early days of the Church.

Eye of Horus (Egyptian) - a symbol associated with the god Horus and believed to offer protection and healing.

Grasshopper (Roman) - a grasshopper charm was placed by Pisistratus at the Acropolis of Athens as a means of protection.

Hamsa (Mesopotamian) - though it is believed to have originated in Mesopotamia, the symbol of the open hand has also been found in ancient North African, Phoenician, Iberian, and Levantine regions and has sense spread to be commonly found in North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and diasporic groups from these regions all throughout the world. It's used (in many variative styles) within a number of religious traditions, including Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and folk religious customs. It is also called the Hand of Fatima, the Hand of Miriam, and the Hand of Mary (and may have been what Aristotle referred to as the Tool of Tools). It is considered a symbol of divine protection, protection against fascination (or magical workings against you) and sometimes features added protection with the incorporation of an open eye symbol in the hand's palm, believed to ward off evil, evil eye, and curses.

Nazar (Turkish) - this glass ornament or bead depicting the image of an eye, most commonly seen in blue hues but also in reds, blacks, greens, and other colors, is believed to offer protection from evil eye, evil spirits, demons, and other negative energies. It possibly hails from Turkey, but is also commonly found in traditions in Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Palestine, Romania, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and within Jewish diasporic groups throughout the world, as well as in some Christian and Muslim practices.

Red String (Judaism) - wearing a red or crimson thread, string, or cord, usually as a bracelet, is a Jewish custom believed to ward against evil eye.

Snake/serpent (Albanian) - charms and amulets featuring the likeness of a serpent or snake serve as a means of protecting against evil, evil eye, and bad luck.

Snakeskin (Albanian) - amulets made from or bearing a piece of snakeskin are also used to ward off evil eye.

St. Benedict Medal (Christian) - is used to ward against the effects of the devil and demons.

Phalluses (Roman / Ancient Greek) - believed to be a symbol that attracted good luck and fortune, the phallus was used to counteract the effects of any evil eye or bad luck sent one's way. Such amulets were also called fascinus and fascinum in Ancient Rome.

SOURCES & FURTHER READING:

-'A Cultural History of Hair in the Middle Ages' - Milliken, Roberta -'Angels & Demons' - Rubin, Norman A. -'the Book of Talismans' - Pavitt, Kate & Thomas, William -'Childhood in Ancient Athens: Iconography and Social History' - Beaumont, Lesley A. -'the Complete Book of Amulets & talismans' - González-Wippler, Migene -'Cleopatra's Eye Makeup Warded Off Infections?' - National Geographic -'the Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols' - Frankel, Ellen & Platkin Teutsch, Betsy -'the Evil Eye in the Bible and in Rabbinic Literature' - Ulmer, Rivka -'From Sacred Symbol to Key Ring: the Hamsa in Sacred Jewish & Israeli Societies' - Sabar, Shalom -'Jewish Cultural Studies Vol. 1 - Jewishness: Expression, Identity, and Representation' - Bronner, Simon J. -'Makeup in Ancient Egypt' - Natural History Museum of Utah -'Opthamology of the Pharaohs: Antimicrobial Kohl Eyeliner in Ancient Egypt' - Kreston, Rebecca -'Ritual in Early Modern Europe' - Muir, Edward -'the World of Roman Costume' - Sebesta, Judith Lynn & Bonfante, Larissa -'Women in the Ancient Near East' - Stol, Marten -'the Year in Ireland: Irish Calendar Customs' - Danaher, Kevin

[maxxie-or-smth]

you've met me at a very "yeah i'm trying to work on that" time in my life

[thesituation]

i don’t feel like debating that topic much farther bc truthfully if it comes down to “women will lose to men in every sport bc they don’t have as much testosterone!!!!!” my elite feminist response is honest to god “ok we will lose with honor as equals instead of having our own special Easy Mode Female category so we can win amongst ourselves” like i’m sorry i just can’t be persuaded. i’m a brick wall. i want co-ed sports

[sacredlittleember]

animism, in simple terms, is the belief or worldview that the world is alive with presence.

not just humans. not just animals. but rivers, trees, mountains, stones, weather, places, ancestors, and more.

animism does not always mean “everything has a human-like soul.”

sometimes it means everything participates in relationship.

the question becomes less “is this object alive?” and more:

how do i live respectfully in a world full of beings?

[boop428-deactivated20260202]

“The night is also a sun.”

-Thus Spoke Zarathustra

[child-of-earth-and-starry-heaven]

They observe the holy mystery in the rites by calling the sun Apollo when it is in the upper (that is, daytime) hemisphere; when it is in the lower (that is, night-time) hemisphere, it is considered Dionysus, who is Liber. — Macrobius, Saturnalia, Book 1

[this-is-trans-joy]

everyone loves to hate terfs until they realise that it actually entails rejecting bioessentialism entirely and then suddenly you’re “taking things too seriously” and you “don’t have a sense of humour” like i’m sorry but saying protect the dolls doesn’t make you immune to terfism it has seeped into every corner of mainstream feminism and unless you’re actively searching it out and checking your own biases you will always be at risk of sharing a space with terfs

[this-is-trans-joy]

“Only women can—” nope. “But all men—” nah. “The divine femininity of—” gonna stop you right there. “Everyone born ama—” if you finish that sentence I’ll kill you. “Men don’t experience—” you’re wrong. “Gender isn’t real but sex is imm—” *loud incorrect buzzer*

It also goes without saying that bioessentialism inherently can’t be trans inclusive no matter how hard you try. “All men including trans men—” probably not. “This is only a woman’s issue—” is it really? “Afabs only—” why? “All trans men are like—” what? what are they like? finish the sentence i dare you.