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estellawitch · 3 years

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˳✧༚ ☽ witchy activities to strengthen your craft & relationship with yourself ☾ ˚✧⁎

☾ perform literally any type of self care! our energy is constantly being drained either in spellwork, studying, or everyday life. you deserve it. (take a shower, drink some water, make some food, etc. don’t underestimate the power of taking care of yourself!)

☾ get some air dry clay and have fun with creating! you can make witchy items such as a pendulum, pendants, offerings, amulets to write talismans/sigils on, etc. and it’s even better because you’re making it with your own intent!

☾ when stressed, take a moment to connect with mother nature. this can be done wherever, even inside. imagine you are sitting in the grass. your roots are intertwined with those in the earth. they are giving you energy and strength. remind yourself everything is in divine timing.

☾ decorate your bos/grimoire and make it more ‘you’! remember, perfection is a completely made up term to make people overwork themselves. it doesn’t exist. what works for you, is perfect. what’s made with your hands, and your mind, is perfect.

☾ create a witchy playlist for when you’re doing spellwork/studying witchcraft! music can be incredibly uplifting. i’ve even created a witchy playlist for my blog! (check it out if you want hehe)

☾ wake up with the sun, go to sleep with the moon. have daily conversations with them both. realize they are your friends and are always there for you.

☾ record when you make mistakes magically! i know, this sounds like a nightmare to most neurodivergents. but you can use this to your advantage! you will learn from them, and eventually figure out what’s works for you and what doesn’t. knowing what works for you will empower you.

☾ carve sigils into your furniture for further protection! (and i mean your furniture, not your parents, roommates or siblings. please don’t vandalize things that aren’t yours)

☾ don’t stress yourselves out over labels. it can be fun to be this and that, but there is absolutely NO obligation to call yourself a certain type of witch! i have some witch friends that simply vibe, and practice all types. you can simply be a witch if you’d like.

☾ create your own set of rules/reminders/moral code to follow (ex. bible). although a lot of witches that i’ve met usually all follow the same type of moral code; if you’re not hurting anyone/anything, or meddling in anyone’s life, do what you please.

☾ cleanse your room/home! you’ll feel better, and sleep better. you can do this with incense, sunlight, sound, or herbs (please only use white sage if you’re native or if it has been gifted to you by a native person).

☾ don’t let ANYONE tell you how to do magic! it’s your craft! it doesn’t concern anyone else but you. if someone tries to tell you you’re doing something wrong, pay them no mind. (unless they are telling you that you are appropriating a culture, or something of the sorts then LISTEN!!!!)

#self care #self love #mental health

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estellawitch · 3 years

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History of Witchcraft Correspondences pt 1: Plants to Planets

[part 1] [part 2] [part 3] Note – This isn’t the most reliable info, I’m way out of my depth as my background is in biology & visual arts, not remotely in history or sociology,, so I’m hoping someone in those fields will come along and patch this up for me. I just want to give a general overview, focusing mainly on herbs. This is for historical purposes only, I don’t vouch for the ethics of any of these authors. Pennyroyal for Peace, Peony for Protection - but why? Who says? The correspondence lists we tend to see in witchcraft books and blogs today, especially for herbs, come from a lot of sources. Many of them can be traced back to pre-modern Western medical uses dating back to ancient Greece. The line between magic and medicine has been moved and blurred throughout history depending on cultural context. I am interested in tracing the ideas that are now used for magical correspondences in popular witchcraft. The main path of this information from Europe, as far as I know, goes something like: Ancient Greek & Roman medical texts -> Hermetic tradition (Greek/Roman/Egyptian/Jewish mashup) -> Medieval Grimoires & Renaissance philosophers -> Ceremonial Magic -> Gardnerian Wicca -> Neo-Wicca & New Age When people talk about The Doctrine of Signatures in herbal correspondences, there’s two main ideas they might mean. For clarity I’m going to call one The Doctrine of Signatures and the other Medical Astrology, although they could both be lumped together into the former. Doctrine of Signatures: plant’s physical characteristics = body part it treats The physical characteristics (shape, colour, taste etc.) of a plant resemble the body part which it can be used to treat. This was thought to have been arranged by some unseen force of Nature, or by God, or the plants themselves, depending on the writer’s cultural context. Notable fans of this idea: Ancient Roman medical writer Galen. Some Renaissance scholars. Christian theologian Jakob Boehme in the 1600s. Medical Astrology: plant’s physical characteristics = planetary ruler = body part it treats All things are ruled over by one of the planets, each of which is associated with various colours, moods, shapes and other ideas. A plant or plant part’s physical characteristics (shape, colour, taste etc.) will match the planet that rules over it. Once you figure out its ruling planet, you can use it to treat ailments of that planet’s corresponding body parts. The plant might also have magical powers related to its ruling planet. The same system could be used for animals and their parts, stones, metals, or anything else. Notable fans of this idea: Medical writer Hippocrates in ancient Greece. Galen again. Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa in the 1500s. Nicholas Culpeper in the 1600s. Part 2: Hippocrates to Herbals

#correspondence #history #witchcraft #plants #planets

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estellawitch · 3 years

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Let’s talk about •••

••• Spirit Work

Pt.2/2

You’ve seen it around and decided you want to try your hand at Spirit Work or you have had encounters and would like to take back some control by deepening your knowledge of this practice. So:

I. Where to begin

• First Step

Ask yourself and define this: What do you want to work with? What do you classify as spirits?

Ancestors and Known Deceased

— These tend to be the easiest to communicate and connect with, due to your shared experiences and energies. In this type of Spirit work most people tend to utilize divinatory instruments or the astral.

Unknown Human Deceased

— Just like the first example, these also are somewhat accessible, since their plane tends to be parallel with ours. Normally it requires more steps of protection and precaution, since you don’t know the spirit's temperament nor it’s signature.

Nature Spirits: elements, plants, animals

— These are at the same time the most common and the most difficult type - common because people tend to, unknowingly, communicate with them all the time and due to that their presence is quite naturalized, making it tricky for some to actively seek them out. Each of the subcategories also have their own language and means of communication.

*I’ve added elements, because honestly, ask any nature or green witch out there, elements are also spirits and have their own language, messages and signature.

Nature Spirits a.k.a Entities: angels, fay, demon

— Ah, yes. The coveted and honored. These are easy to connect to, but also are easy to mess up with. Each subcategory of entity has its own subcategory, and in those the methods of communication and connecting vary a lot, but are heavily influenced by two aspects: Respect and also Trying not to mess up and unknowingly sell yourself.

Divine Spirits a.k.a Deities

— Divine Spirits and Deities are the most popularized, since many these days are visited and maintain a tight relationship with their deities. Each deity or divine spirit has its own specificities when it comes to communication and connection, not to mention the UPG’s and particular experiences of their followers, worshipers or workers.

Thoughtforms a.k.a Tar Spirits

— This is a topic to debate, as I’ve seen thoughtform being used in various themes with different connotations, but to specify, this one is related to what the web has been calling Tar Spirits. I, particularly, don’t communicate with them because their egregore and existence isn’t really one amenable to cleansing, enlightenment or anything - but there are people who claim they do so, these two have their own way of being handled when doing Spirit Work.

Those were only some (yes, only some!) generalize examples, each one has its own subcategory. So you see, deciding what you want to work with, first and foremost, is the first step to begin practicing Spirit Work. Also, nothing impedes you from broadening your range of work with time, as long as you have a clear intention as to who and what you’re working with.

• Second step:

With that done, you’re ready for the part that many dread and others adore - Research.

Yeah, yeah, I know. People in the community are already tired of seeing research be always recommended, as if it is implicit. But hey, doesn’t hurt to comment about it once again, because it is true.

This practice, as any other can be done through the empirical way, but will you really put, quite literally, your life at risk?

If the answer is no, then a way to prevent that is to research. Understand the details and methods of the target audience you’ll be working with so that you can prepare and protect yourself.

• Third step:

You defined your target audience, you researched, so much so that you’re confident in yourself and have a certainty that you’ll be safe. Now what? Practice!

Finally the time to start acting and testing all the theory you went through, so… how do you begin?

I’d suggest here beginning in controlled environments with controlled methods. Those, different from just wandering around on energetically charged places (like hospitals, cemeteries and so on) are the ideal to at least not be straight up traumatized in the beginning. So, choose your method of communicating - will you use divination, herbs, meditation, trance, the astral plane, channeling, psychography (the spiritual one, not the study method)?

Whichever method you choose make sure it’s one you're well versed in interpreting, so the chances of having your leg pulled are lesser.

So, do a checklist

Target audience ○

Study and Theory ○

Confidence ○

Preparation ○

Protection ○

Plan and Method ○

Plan B ○

Checked all of those? Then you’re ready to go.

Always make sure to tell a friend who knows what you're doing before, so they can also serve as a second pair of eyes if anything goes haywire.

II. Getting Better

Now, that’s a complicated topic. One because the answer, as you have probably guessed, is to practice. But other than that, when doing Spirit Work you have some… branches of possibility you may choose to follow.

One is to master one technique, applying yourself to the specific type of Spirit with one specific method. Another is to branch out, try as many different Spirits and methods as you want.

So yeah, pretty contradictory, though nothing impedes you from mastering something and then branching out after, just a thought.

III. Instruments

Most Spirit workers do their practices alongside instruments, that of course is not an obligation and it doesn’t mean that if you don’t have one of such you won’t be able to do Spirit Work - but I can not lie, having at least an aiding instrument helps a lot, specially so that you don’t use all your energy up, specially in the beginning of your practice.

Okay, so, these instruments will include herbs and such because they work as an aid during spirit working and also methods of communication, because these too are instruments. With that said, here we go, yeah?

Divinatory Methods: Cards, Runes, Charms, Seashell, etc.

— Used for communication.

Smoking Stick, Candles, Crystals or Incense

— Used for either channeling, warding or intensifying. Can also be used for inviting.

Rue Broom

— Used for cleansing the space before the Spirit work session and after to get rid of any lingering negative energies

Wands and Blades

— Used for directing and controlling energy

Tibetan Tingsha Bells

— Used for attracting and Inviting

Tibetan Bell and Dorjee

— Used for cleansing and passing on the Spirit.

Bones, Remains and Plants

— Used for channeling and Inviting.

Rope and Vessels

— Used for binding.

IV. Interesting Readings

-> How to Communicate with Spirits: Seances, Ouija Boards and Summoning by Angela Kaelin

-> A Brief Introduction to Macumba - on The Culture Trip site

-> Features of Trance Mediumship in Tibetan Buddhism and Modern Spiritualism by Martha Maxine Meilleur

-> The State Oracle of Tibet, Spirit Possession, and Shamanism by Homayun Sidky

-> Buckland's Book of Spirit Communications by Raymond Buckland

-> Talking with the dead: Spirit mediumship, affect and embodiment in Stoke-on-Trent by Nadia Bartolini, Sara MacKian and Steve Pile

••••• 👁•••••

This is it, I’m happy I could approach this topic because it has been one that I’ve been wanting to breach for a while here on tumblr. The readings above are mostly easily accessible pdfs, so if you have time take a look at them, yeah?

Hope this somehow can help someone.

-Lou

( ・∇・)👇🏽

Etsy | Donations

#spirits #spirit work #beginner

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estellawitch · 3 years

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Let’s talk about •••

••• Spirit Work

Pt.1/2

• Spirit Work 101

Spirit Work is a term that was coined very recently, mostly having an upsurge with the new age witchcraft in social medias - that is not to say that the practice of communicating with spirits is new, rather, that such a term can be used in an overgeneralized manner. That in turn leads to misinformation about the topic.

•• So, what is Spirit Work?

Broadly, it is seen as a witchcraft practice where a person uses their abilities to communicate with spirits - people who have passed, guides, ancestors and such. What the term doesn’t clarify is that there are a multitude of ways in doing that, from religious practices to self developed methods as well as the target audience of that spirit work.

Taking a look at the word spirit we find the first divergence of intent: those stated before all fall in the category of deceased human spirits; then we have those who through their animistic or similar beliefs include the spirits of animals and all beings (and “things”) who once lived. Then, we have another category, those that communicate with the otherworldly and nature centred beings that have passed (though most commonly those are still alive), such as the Fae. Others include communication with deities in this practice, and lastly, we have another modality of those that work with the essence of spirits, be they dead or alive - they are included for they too have soul. • This is the first break, and as such themes and different styles of practitioners can already be found, most commonly used are Mediums, Healers, Channelers, Communicators.

Outside of that, we have believers and followers of certain religions that also have this designated space for that type of communication, though I won’t go into detail for this, Norse Paganism, Spiritism and African Traditional and Descending Religions, are some of them.

••• So, no, it is not a bad thing that this practice has been disseminated and made accessible to all practitioners, witches, pagans and heathens out there - but one must always take a step back and analyze the information they have as well as the intent they will follow in this path.

Spirit Work is no game, it can have serious consequences and that should not discourage you to try - rather, encourage you to be attentive and take it seriously.

• What not to do

This here, at least for me (but feel free to add on or disagree, the beauty of the community are the different methods after all) - are some of the absolute don’ts when practicing Spirit Work, divided in two topics as there is a theoretical and a practical side to it.

• Theoretical

Don’t immediately go following any instructions, no matter if they explicitly are for summoning, inviting or channeling or just imply that it’ll make your communication with spirits easier.

Because: You need to be 100% aware of what exactly you are doing, though there are some good sources, it is always good to double and even triple check ingredients, intents and procedures before starting anything.

Don’t begin anything if you don’t have contingency plans and a way to clear a possible mess up.

Because: When doing this type of work, you are the only thing you have control of - spirits can be volatile, especially if you’re starting communication with ones you never had contact with before. Plan ahead and certify yourself that even if something goes out of what was expected you'll be able to deal with it.

• Practical

Don’t call forth anything that you have no idea what and who exactly it is.

Because: There are opportunistic spirits that excel in impersonating. If your intentions are unclear when channeling or inviting someone or something they can and will take the chance. Be clear about who you are working with.

Don’t be rude or insistent towards spirits.

Because: Spirits deserve respect, and as such, you won’t want to anger an immaterial being just because of impatience. Treat them as you would like to be treated. Being firm doesn’t mean being rude.

Don’t keep your sensitivity channel open, if you can.

Because: The Spirit World is everywhere, and it exists alongside our material World. When working with spirits you’ll see that there are moments you need to distance yourself otherwise the input will be constant. Learn how to control and lock your sensitivity as it is being developed to minimize bothersome encounters or overload of inputs.

Don’t do your Spirit Work in any place - reserve a specific place for it.

Because: Not only is this a sign of respect towards the spirits you’ll be communicating with, but it also makes it easier for you to control, cleanse and protect that environment.

•• How to

Preparation and Protection

After that many Dont´s, we finally go towards the Do´s. Let me get this right, I by nature am extremely paranoid, and due to that I find preparation and protection essential to control variables, be confident and to keep calm - like this, I don’t fear the unknown nor the uncontrollable because one way or another I'm ready for it.

Now, once again, these preparatory and protective steps will depend a lot on what method of Spirit Work you’re practicing, but some of them are pretty universal and these are the one’s I’ll be passing on to you.

• To Prepare

A spirit worker's body and spirit must always be clear, attentive and sensible. To prepare you must do whatever rituals pertain to your practice, that prepare you emotionally, psychologically and spiritually to deal and work with spirits.

This might include meditation, trance work, cleansing rituals and so on - this takes off the layer of mundane impressions that could marr your interpretation and leave you like a clean slate through which the Spirit’s voice can be clearly understood.

Your working space should also be clean on any influencing energies, organized and quiet enough (or loud enough depending on your vertent) for you to focus solely on the presence you’ll be working with.

I particularly find that asking for permission and guidance from my guides always makes this preparation process easier, as that is their realm and their ponctuations, advice and warnings are always welcome.

• Being Protected

There are three points of protection: Your Body (which is the conductor of your energy), Your Mind (which contains your Spirit - though not all beliefs follow this) and Your House (or de place you do your Spirit work).

These three should be duly protected and warded as you see fit before you start your spirit work. Methods for those vary as they can be easily found around the internet, in books and such. I wouldn’t be able to tell you which method of protection and warding you’ll prefer, which you’ll absolutely trust to work and which will be ideal to your specific target audience with spirit work but, one advice: Never share all ingredients nor steps of your protection and warding spells.

You may realize that I rarely, if ever, post spells. The answer is simple: any spell can be counteracted, especially if people know everything you used.

And trust me when I say that these protection and warding spells of your for Spirit Working are ones you wouldn’t like to be tampered with.

•••• 👁 ••••

For now that’s it, this post was very broad as I talked about general warnings and things of importance that precede the practice of Spirit Working. It’ll be a short series of posts, with only two.

The second one will be more action centered, most likely bigger with explanations of what to do in each case of spirit working. Till then, yeah?

-Lou

#spirits #spirit work #beginner

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estellawitch · 3 years

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Spring Death Witchcraft ☠️🌱🍄

Death witchcraft can be easy to maintain in seasons like fall and winter but I know many death workers like myself can struggle with the “reverse death” time that is Spring. But just because it’s mostly about growth and life doesn’t mean it doesn’t tie into death as well!

Here are some ideas on death witchy things to do when your area is in springtime:

Clear out sticks and debris in your gardens and yards so new growth has an easier time. I like to put mine in piles in the corner for ground bees and insects to make homes in, but you can also burn them ritually if needed due to personal preference or local property laws

Collect mushrooms! Fungi have a deep connection to death due to the type of earth and soil they need to grow successfully. Be absolutely careful with this though- know what type of mushrooms you are collecting and only use in non-ingested spellwork unless you are 100% sure they’re an edible variety (like morels!)

Visit parks and cemeteries to pick up trash and enjoy the spirits, nature and otherwise. Nature spirits especially are starting to get more active now! Check out my Spirit Work 101 post for learning to communicate with a nature spirit.

Make bread from scratch! The fermitation process needed for yeast is basically kitchen and death witchcraft merging into a delicious treat!

Collect early herbs and early edible plants from your yard. Garlic mustard is at peak growth during the spring in my area, as are spring onions and violets. Do some research to determine what sort of plants might be growing naturally near you that you could eat or do spellwork with. Make sure it’s from an area that isn’t sprayed with pesticides. Harvesting a plant so that you may ingest it’s nutrients is death work!

Start a new project, book, or take a class! This is a time to take advantage of increased productivity in communities and households. There may be more opportunities at your local libraries or colleges for learning and workshops. The cycle of life and death are closely link and it’s time for you to pursue some growth as well!

KonMari your home! Spring Cleaning is a longtime tradition amongst many societies and the spiritual style that Marie Kondo has made popular is an excellent way to make your decluttering witchy. Finish with a good cleansing floorwash and spritz of infused water around your house! Use herbs for health, luck, and happiness in your infusions. Don’t forget to clean out your fridge and freezer. 😉

Look for bones! Now that snow has melted and green is growing and the ground is less hard to “pick through”, it’s a good time to take hikes and keep a sharp eye out for (legal) found remains to vulture. Also a good time for interesting rocks and sticks to collect for ritual use.

Restock herbs and other supplies. A well stocked witch is a happy witch.

Leave offerings to locale and household spirits. Especially ones related to growth like water, eggs (eggshells for outdoor offerings), coffee grounds, etc!

Start building a relationship with a local park or cemetery for local spirit work.

#death witchery #death witch #spring

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estellawitch · 3 years

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💸💀Low Cost Death Witchcraft💀💸

Collecting fallen pinecones, leaves, seeds, weird rocks, sun bleached sticks/branches. Vulture culture of animal remains is a lovely aesthetic but it can get costly!

Visiting memorials and graveyards for walks and meditation.

Watching death positive and education YouTube and docs on streaming services.

Reading local obituaries or local headstones and keeping a memento mori journal.

Creating an ancestor shrine with objects you already have and pictures/artwork printed from a computer. Add a couple items from a thrift shop or dollar store if you are able but not required.

Spirit work! That is always free!

Volunteer at a hospice or nursing home.

Light candles for souls that have passed; whether you know them or heard about them in the news.

Read up on your local Wills & Probate procedures or see if there is a local group offering a free workshop.

Visit natural history museums or art museums and practice energy sensing or just absorb the history and stories of the pieces.

Create a simple decorated candle/painted craft/box/space for The Forgotten Dead. Give regular simple offerings (water is a good one).

Talk to (trusted) friends and family about death and end of life desires.

Write a story or poem relating to death.

If you are theistic, spend time communing and praying/writing or doing devotionals to death oriented deities of your pantheon.

#death witchery #death witch #budget

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estellawitch · 3 years

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Peering Down the Path

A tarot spread for helping decide if a new direction you’re considering is right for you.

What Am I Missing? Things typically don’t beckon us when we are 100% content. What hole are you looking to fill? What element are you seeking out? What are you hoping to gain from this?

What Does This Path Offer? This is both the response to the question posed in the previous card and a guiding signifier for the whole spread. What does this specific path bring you? Does it heal, look pretty, or empower you in some way? Does it compliment what you’re searching for?

Short-Term Look What will the beginning of this path be like during the first month or three? Will it require a lot of prep-work? Will it be enlightening or frustrating?

Long-Term Look Where does this path lead after more time? Is it tough in the beginning but become really fulfilling if you stick with it? Does it start out strong but fizzle out later? Is this path an investment in your future or a temporary supplement? (Either is fine, but it’s good to know so you don’t cling to it after it’s spent.)

#tarot #spread

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estellawitch · 3 years

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Strengthening Intuition?

Does anyone have any advice, resources, meditations, etc. on how they practice strengthening their intuition? Anything is appreciated!!

My intuition used to be insanely reliable but it's gotten very hazy over the past year or so.

#intuition #mine #estellaasks

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estellawitch · 3 years

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Delphic Maxims Masterpost

Took a little bit but here is a post full of links to my interpretations of the Delphic Maxims

First Attempts:

Delphic Maxim 1

Delphic Maxim 2

Delphic Maxim 3

Delphic Maxim 4

Full List:

1: Follow God

2: Obey the Law

3: Worship the Gods

4: Respect Your Parents

5: Be Overcome by Justice

6: Know What You Have Learned

7: Perceive What You Have Heard

8: Be/Know Yourself

9: Intend to Get Married

10: Know Your Opportunity

11: Think As A Mortal

12: If You Are A Stranger, Act Like One

13: Honor the Hearth/Hestia

14: Control Yourself

15: Help Your Friends

16: Control Anger

17: Exercise Prudence

18: Honor Providence

19: Do Not Use An Oath

20: Love Friendship

21: Cling to Discipline

22: Pursue Honor

23: Long for Wisdom

24: Speak Well of the Beautiful Good

25: Find Fault in No One

26: Praise Those Having Arete

27: Practice What is Just

28: Be Kind to Friends

29: Watch Out For Your Enemies

30: Exercise Nobility of Character

31: Shun Evil

32: Be Impartial

33: Guard What is Yours

34: Shun What Belongs to Others

35: Listen to Everyone

36: Be (Religiously) Silent

37: Do A Favor for A Friend

38: Nothing to Excess

39: Use Time Sparingly

40: Foresee the Future

41: Despise Insolence

42: Have Respect for Suppliants

43: Be Accommodating in Everything

44: Educate Your Sons

45: Give What You Have

46: Fear Deceit

47: Speak Well of Everyone

48: Be A Seeker of Wisdom

49: Choose What is Divine

50: Act When You Know

51: Shun Murder

52: Pray for Things Possible

53: Consult the Wise

54: Test the Character

55: Give Back What You Have Received

56: Down Look No One

57: Use Your Skill

58: Do What You Mean To Do

59: Honor A Benefaction

60: Be Jealous of No One

61: Be On Your Guard

62: Praise Hope

63: Despise A Slanderer

64: Gain Possessions Justly

65: Honor Good Men

66: Know the Judge

67: Master Wedding Feasts

68: Recognize Fortune

69: Flee A Pledge

70: Speak Plainly

71: Associate with Your Peers

72: Govern Your Expenses

73: Be Happy With What You Have

74: Rever A Sense of Shame

75: Fulfill A Favor

76: Pray for Happiness

77: Be Fond of Fortune

78: Observe What You Have Heard

79: Work For What You Can Own

80: Despise Strife

81: Detest Disgrace

82: Restrain the Tongue

83: Keep Yourself from Insolence

84: Make Just Judgements

85: Use What You Have

86: Judge Incorruptibly

87: Accuse One Who is Present

88: Tell When You Know

89: Do Not Depend on Strength

90: Live Without Sorrow

91: Live Together Meekly

92: Finish the Race Without Shrinking Back

93: Deal Kindly with Everyone

94: Do Not Curse Your Sons

95: Rule Your Wife

96: Benefit Yourself

97: Be Courteous

98: Give A Timely Response

99: Struggle with Glory

100: Act Without Repenting

101: Regret Falling Short of the Mark

102: Control the Eye

103: Give A Timely Counsel

104: Act Quickly

105: Guard Friendship

106: Be Grateful

107: Pursue Harmony

108: Keep Deeply the Top Secret

109: Fear Ruling

110: Pursue What is Profitable

111: Accept Due Measure

112: Do Away with Enmities

113: Accept Old Age

114: Do Not Boast in Might

115: Exercise (Religious) Silence

116: Flee Emnity

117: Acquire Wealth Justly

118: Do Not Abandon Honor

119: Despise Evil

120: Venture Into Danger Prudently

121: Do Not Tire of Learning

122: Do Not Stop to Be Thrifty

123: Admire Oracles

124: Love Whom You Rear

125: Do Not Oppose Someone Absent

126: Respect the Elder

127: Teach A Youngster

128: Do Not Trust Wealth

129: Respect Yourself

130: Do Not Begin to Be Insolent

131: Crown Your Ancestors

132: Die for Your Country

133: Do Not Be Discontented by Life

134: Do Not Make Fun of the Dead

135: Share the Load of the Unfortunate

136: Gratify Without Harming

137: Greave for No One

138: Beget Rom Noble Routes

139: Make Promises To No One

140: Do Not Wrong the Dead

141: Be Well Off As A Mortal

142: Do Not Trust Fortune

143: As A Child, Be Well-Behaved

144: As A Youth, Be Self-Disciplined

145: As of Middle Age, Be Just

146: As An Old Man, Be Sensible

147: On Reaching the End, Be Without Sorrow

Additional Maxims:

(add) 4: Obey the Virtuous

(add) 11: Live Without Sorrow

(add) 13: Avoid the Unjust

(add) 14: Testify What is Right

(add) 15: Control Pleasure

(add) 22: Praise Virtue

(add) 27: Train Your Relatives

(add) 55: Believe in Time

(add) 56: Receive for the Pleasure

(add) 57: Prostrate Before the Divine

(add) 60: Do Not Boast in Might

(add) 62: Use the One Who Has the Same Interests As You

(add) 64: Be Embarrassed to Lie

(add) 66: If You Believe in Something, Do Not Be Scared to Act for It

(add) 68: Be Firm on What Has Been Agreed

Reflection by D

#delphic maxims #hellenic polytheism

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estellawitch · 3 years

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Light is information. It’s not good or evil. It’s information. Darkness is lack of light. Not good or evil. Just lack of information. Shadow work is bringing information to those dark spaces inside of us to better innerstand them and allow ourselves to move away from running.

Our lives from dark spaces don’t know as much as the spaces that hold light and information. After all, the work from that dark spaces is to protect or secrete/keep secret which is just a disempowered state. You’re literally leaking energy out of you working from that state.

So let’s get really clear about this...we are a piezoelectric being. Our body is crystalline. And we are trying to remember beyond the veil and activate our entire 🧬 to reach our full potential. The goal is to become a light being.

Light is information-consciousness. The universe is made of light.

Therefore understanding physics, magnetism and electricity are paramount when it comes to shadow work.

#shadow work

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estellawitch · 3 years

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When Your Spell Fails

no witch succeeds with their spells 100% of the time. here’s a short list of reasons why it could have happened and some solutions

possible reasons why:

distraction - a spell you’re not invested in isn’t going to have much power behind it. if you’re concentrated more on you. if you cast a motivation spell while planning out your vacation, it’s going to subtract from that motivation.

rosemary replaces everything - supposedly. it supplies general power, but if you add nothing into the spell that has any real meaning to you, then what is that power supposed to do? where does that energy go with no direction?

associations - the correspondences everyone else lists for herbs and stones and planets can be very useful, but sometimes you have a personal conflicting association. perhaps lavender is gross to you, and not peaceful at all. then that dream sachet isn’t going to give you peaceful dreams.

didn’t help the spell - magic does not exist in a vaccum. spells can only do so much, but if you don’t make the effort, it much less likely to work. job spells dont work if you don’t fill out applications, love spells don’t work if you don’t go out and talk to people, and so on.

too many cooks - if you cast 10 love spells, and yet no one is attracted to you, it’s entirely possible they all did work but they all conflicted with each other, and ended up canceling each other out.

shot for the stars- sometimes you try to achieve something, and you set your expectations too high. either it’s impossible, you’re trying from the wrong angle, or you didn’t get as much as you wanted.

cancellation - sometimes a spell may appear not to work when it does, but the results are invisible because it canceled something else out. say you cast a money spell and get no extra cash after several weeks, it could be just helping you maintain your current income and blocking extraneous expenses.

impatience - unless you programmed a working time limit into it, the spell could be working and you just don’t see the results yet. these things can take time.

out of your depth - if you don’t feel like you’re ready to do a spell, your lack of confidence or discomfort can either disable the spell or not give it enough power to work

what to do:

take a break, ground, cleanse, and give it time. refocus your intentions

contemplate each ingredient and step in the spell, and modify

use the ingredients that you know best work for you, old standards hold up.

think about what you could do to help the spell work. what mundane methods haven’t you tried?

take a step back and look at it realistically. is there another angle you can approach this from, can you break it down into smaller steps?

return to the spells you are comfortable doing, and work from there.

#spells #spell failure #beginner #witchcraft 101

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estellawitch · 3 years

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The Death Witch’s Personal Graveyard

I think at least some of us have been in this situation; you want to practice death magick but you don’t have access to graveyard. Don’t worry! I’ve come across the perfect solution. Simply make your own!

Step 1: Figure out where you want your graveyard to be. It’s going to be small so you don’t need that much space. My graveyard is in a glazed clay box my grandma made for me, but you can also make it outside.

Step 2: If you’re doing yours in a box like me, pour dirt into the bottom of the box and flatten it out. If you’re graveyard is outside, make sure you’re satisfied with the dirt.

Step 3: Find a flat rock that fits in your graveyard. This is the headstone. If you want, you can write a message on it or a rune, but I left mine blank.

Step 4: Decorate! You can add crystals, rocks, herbs, statues and plants! Whatever you think should go in your graveyard.

Step 5: Dedicate your graveyard to any wandering, grave-less spirits. This is a place for them to live and take refuge. If you want, you can set rules for them and bar certain spirits.

Now, whenever you need graveyard dirt, you can just go to your graveyard and ask any spirits living there and leave an offering.

#death witchery #death witch #graveyard #diy #oh I love this!

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estellawitch · 3 years

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I’m looking into miasma again (previous research here, here and here) and the more I read, the more I’m struck by the gap between ancient texts and modern interpretations. Among Hellenic polytheistic communities, miasma is generally defined as the ickiness of mortal life, as in this explanation by Elani Temperance:

Miasma occurs whenever the space or person comes into contact with death, sickness, birth, sex, excessive negative emotions and bodily fluids. It also comes from a lack of contact with the Hellenic Gods. […] The most important things to remember about miasma is that it holds no judgment from the Gods, and that everyone attracts miasma. It’s a mortal, human, thing.

Or in this similar one by shipping-the-gods:

Miasma translates to the vague word “pollution”, but it isn’t as bad as you might think. It’s just the everyday things we hold onto throughout our lives as humans. It is humanness, and nothing to ashamed of or scared of.

If these definitions were historically accurate, we would expect to find a number of ancient texts describing purification from miasma before a ritual. However, I went through all instances of the word “miasma” in ancient texts, using the TLG Text Search tool, and to my surprise, this usage does not appear a single time. Let me repeat that: there is not a single text in which a regular person purifies themselves of miasma before a ritual. All attested purifications from miasma are expiatory rituals designed for criminals.

Instead of miasma being “everyday things” of which the presence “holds no judgement from the Gods”, in ancient texts it has the following causes (excluding fragmentary texts and passages with vague context):

murder (by far the most common, mentioned by ten authors)

murder of a family member

murder of fellow citizens

murder of animals (only in Plutarch)

abandonment of a person to death

eating human flesh

incest, both contemplated and acted upon

adultery

refusal of suppliants

crime against a member of the priesthood

dedication of plunder taken from Greek people to the Greek Gods

taking offerings from temples

death in a sacred space

non-specific crime

using bad language (only in Charondas)

In the above contexts, miasma is often coupled with the words ἀσεβής (impious), ἀκαθαρός (impure) and ἀνόσιος (unholy). It’s also worth noting that there are no mentions of miasma in the poetry of Homer or Hesiod; its earliest appearance is in Aeschylus’ plays.

The only causes which overlap to some extent with modern understanding are the following:

natural death and funerary rites

pollution associated with birth and death (mentioned by Diogenes Laertius in the phrase “death, birth and all miasma”, though it should be clarified that this is in relation to Pythagoreanism, not to the mainstream cult)

certain diseases, disabilities and disfigurements (explainable by the fact that illness and physical deformities were considered to be signs of moral failure)

In summary, what ancient texts tell us is that miasma is not a morally neutral and inherently human occurrence. Its most normal cause is death, and possibly also birth; but more commonly, miasma is caused by (what the Ancient Greeks considered to be) severe physical impurity and by crime, specifically crimes against another person, especially one of the same family or social group, and crimes against the Gods.

Nevertheless, as I’ve discussed in previous posts, the impurities described at the beginning of this post do exist in Hellenic polytheism; the term for them is not miasma but lyma, a mild form of spiritual (and physical) pollution that can simply be translated as “dirt”. From Homer onwards, it’s lyma, not miasma, that ancient people purified themselves of before ritual.

So how did this confusion arise? How did the current definition of miasma, as used by Hellenic polytheists, come to be? I would point in part towards Christian and Christian-influenced texts, which understand miasma as a softer, less specific kind of impurity; in 2 Peter 2:20, for example, it refers to worldly things, as opposed to the holiness of God. It’s also worth noting that of the 923 occurrences of the word “miasma” in Greek literature, over 600 are found in Christian texts.

But beyond ancient interpretations, I would also point towards the nature of the modern Hellenic polytheistic community. Since many worshippers don’t have access to scholarly resources, and even fewer can read ancient texts in their original language, much of the information found online is essentially from a handful of (often simplified) sources. As that information travels, it gets reinterpreted and expanded upon via UPG, while still being presented in an authoritative manner. Somehow, along the way, we decided to call all spiritual pollution miasma; somehow, along the way, we assumed that miasma was caused by mortality; somehow, along the way, we interpreted it not as a defilement but as a distraction from worship. In short, somehow, along the way, we created for ourselves a whole new definition of spiritual pollution which has almost nothing to do with the ancient understanding of it, and yet which is almost universally accepted among modern worshippers.

This is not inherently a bad thing; in fact, I find it quite fascinating. I would still highly encourage my fellow reconstructionists to use the ancient definitions of miasma and lyma in their worship - because we strive to be close to our religious ancestors, because these terms preserve a nuanced view of pollution which is lost in the all-encompassing “miasma”, and because they lessen the otherwise strenuous expectation that we should go through elaborate purifications before each ritual. But if the neo-definition of miasma, or your personal definition, suits your own practise better, I’ll not be the one to stop you from using it.

What this topic does highlight is how easy it is for what is essentially UPG to get widely accepted by the Hellenic polytheistic community. Our religion is growing and thriving, and as it develops, new understandings naturally arise - which is great! But it’s just as important that, as a community, we strive towards giving an honest representation of what is new and what is historical, so that each individual may make an informed choice of what suits their practise best.

#hellenic polytheism #miasma #lyma

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estellawitch · 3 years

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On Household Worship:

An Evaluation of Historical Practices and a look at Modern Means of Practice

Household worship was a key aspect of worship in ancient Greece, that little information on has survived. Evidence of household shrines and statues have been found in abundance, but little information is known of the actual practices used to worship the Theoi within the home. According to Homer, altars to Zeus stood in every household courtyard. And in Athens evidence of crossroad shrines to Hekate outside of homes is apparent and abundant.

Faraone and Boedeker look at family and household worship in the context of polis or city worship, since the two are inherently connected, though different aspects of worship. They also propose that no act of worship within Hellenism could or should be truly private, with group worship being core to the practices. Scholars readily acknowledge that household worship was much smaller than polis worship, but the question, and the debate, comes into play with how similar or different household worship was from polis worship. Some scholars put forth the idea that household worship was scaled down polis worship, while other maintain that it was it's own unique means of worship.

One difference between household worship and polis worship may have been the frequency of animal sacrifice. Animal sacrifice may have been much less frequent in household worship, and honestly that makes sense. A family may not be able to sacrifice a valuable animal at every festival, while the polis could use animals donated from wealthier families and rotate through who had the responsibility/honor of providing the sacrificial animal, which would be far less of a burden.

Another aspect of household worship, as mentioned in literature, would be the significance of giving to Hestia in offering. It's stressed by Homer that Hestia receives the first and richest portions of an offering. And with the hearth as a central part of the home, it makes sense that Hestia would be central to household worship.

Household worship may have focused heavily on life events. The birth and marriage rites both took place within the home, along with coming of age rites and funeral rites. The fact that these familial milestones were celebrated within the house, rather than publicly, supports the idea that household worship focused on matters that were important to the individual and the home, where polis worship focused more on matters which applied to the entire community. Additionally, there are several holidays and rituals which were observed strictly within the home as well.

Each month as observed in ancient Greece began on the night when the first sliver of moon following the new moon was visible. That day was celebrated in households as Noumenia, and honored the household deities. Incense, food, and wine were given in offering to the Theoi, and ancestors are venerated at the household shrine as well. During the Noumenia a Kathiskos is made in offering to the Agathos Daimon and to Zeus Ktesios. The Kathiskos is a jar filled with fresh water, oil, fruit, and other food stuffs before it is sealed and given in offering. The contents of the jar were known as panspermia or pankarpia. That jar was then placed in the pantry and stored with the household food.

The second day of each month was the Agathos Daimon, and celebrated the household spirit which protects each family and home. Libations are most likely the offering of choice, and arguably the Agathos Daimon observance could be expanded to include ancestors and beloved dead who may be protecting and guiding the family as well.

Finally, the last day of each month is Hekate's Deipnon. A closing ritual to the month which empties out the month's Kathiskos and gives a meal in offering to Hekate and the dead in retinue to Her. Many of the features of Hekate's Deipnon revolve around purification, removing waste and miasma from the last month to purify the home so that the new month may be blessed. Though extreme and reserved for special occasions, Hekate's Deipnon may also have included animal sacrifice in order to purify the family of miasma which had been incurred in a way that brought about the wrath of the Theoi.

The connection between the household and several Theoi becomes clear when we look at specific epithets and roles. Household deities were known as Theoi Ktesios, and featured well known Theoi with roles outside of the home, and specialized roles within the household. For example, the Greek word herkos means fence, and herkeios is an epithet of Zeus under which He was worshiped as a guardian of the household. An example of an altar to Zeus Herkeios has been recovered at the ruins of a home in Oinomaos. Additionally, an altar dedicated to Zeus Kataibates stood beside that of Zeus Herkeios in the ruins of the house of Oinomaos, and has been found in other homes as well. As Kataibates though, Zeus is “He who descends” and protects the household from lightening and storms. Another epithet under which household altars to Zeus have been found is Ktesios, and He again is claimed to be worshiped by all people under this name. As Ktesios, Zeus took the form of a snake and was represented as such. And finally, Zeus may have been honored within the household under His epithet of “Father.” Under this role He would be patron to the men who acted as head of their households, and could easily have had further involvement with household worship.

If Zeus was honored as Father and the head of the household, then it makes sense as well that Hera, who was the patron of wives and mothers would play a role in household worship under those attributes. Her worship in the polis is apparent, with prominent temples and sacred spaces which predate even those of Zeus, though little evidence has been found of Her role in household worship. Surely though, in a society where women's roles were traditionally to be at home, Hera would have played a significant role in the lives of women within the home.

The Dioscuri, sons of Zeus, also had a prominent place in household worship. In Sparta, They were commonly depicted with a snake, and a couch and meal was regularly prepared for Them as a sacred space and offering within the home.

We also can see evidence of Apollon in household worship. Under the name of Apollon Agyieus, or “Apollon of the street”, conical stones were erected outside of homes where offerings of oil were poured on the stone to invoke Apollon's protection of the household.

Hekate played a prominent role in household worship, being both a protector and a purifier of the household. Altars to Hekate stood outside of homes, where Her Deipnon was observed every month, and according to Aristophanes, women venturing outside of the home would stop to pray to Hekate before leaving.

Hermes too played a role in household worship. Hermes rules over guard dogs, both those which guarded flocks, and those which guarded homes. He was also prayed to in order to protect the home from thieves, and bears the epithet of “Propylaios” or “of the gateway.”

Aphrodite was an important figure for marriages, and also is connected to household worship by Her symbol of a swallow. Swallows were sacred to household deities.

In addition to the Theoi, there were specific daimons associated with the home as well, who almost certainly played a role in household worship. The Agathos Daimon, or good spirit, was both a protector spirit of the home, and an epithet of Dionysos. The Agathos Daimon took the form of a snake, and was considered to dwell within the home. Ktesios was both and epithet of Zeus, and sometimes regarded as an individual daimon.

When looking to establish our own practices that include household worship, the first thing to note is the natural variance in practices. Household worship, by it's very nature, is going to look different in each instance. There is no one way in which household worship should be practiced, since it is so inherently tied to our own family traditions and those Theoi who are important to our homes.

You can certainly begin with adopting the same Theoi who were honored in the household, and shaping your practice there. While there still are holes which would need filled in through creative adaptation and adding your own means to ritual, there is a solid base for establishing household worship. Alternatively, you can build your own household worship around those Theoi which have acted as patrons to you and your family. Seeking out the Theoi you feel most connected to, or Who you feel hold the most influence over your life, and looking for ways to honor Them as a regular part of your household.

If you are a solitary practitioner, then there's no question of who would be leading your household rituals. If you have roommates or family members who share your faith or are willing to observe religious holidays with you, then you can expand on the roles and create an experience which involves all willing participants of your household. While the traditional gender roles of the oldest man ruling the household may no longer apply to us, we can look at who is in charge of the home to lead rituals. We can also look at who may be most interested or best suited to lead a specific ritual. Allowing children to participate in household worship and even lead simple rituals can be a meaningful way of introducing them to worship and teaching them to build kharis with the Theoi of your household.

Observing monthly rituals can certainly add structure, and a sense of continuity to your practice. If the traditional household rituals don't fit your practice, then looking for other relevant days in the month may help you create a personalized household worship calendar. Maybe you perform a ritual to give thanks to Zeus on paydays. Maybe you observe a family dinner once a week, and give thanks to the Theoi then as well, inviting Them to sit beside you and partake of your meal through offerings. Maybe your household has a family game night once a month, and you use that day to observe household ritual honoring friendly spirits and your ancestors. The possibilities are endless, and can be tailored specifically to your life and home.

The difficulty in my opinion with establishing household worship, is not in the lack of solid and detailed information surrounding household worship for reconstruction purposes, but in differentiating between household worship and public worship. Without public celebrations in many areas, most of us are left to observe traditionally polis based festivals as though they were household observances—scaling them down and practicing them in private. When modern polis worship looks like household worship, it becomes difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins. Many people don't feel the need to establish specific household worship, since arguably everything they do right now is a means of household worship. As Hellenism grows however, I think that founding our own household traditions for worship will become increasingly easier and more important. Public worship allows us to celebrate the Theoi with our community, and household worship allows us to privately celebrate the Theoi with those closest to us.

Speaking from personal experience, setting aside practices to observe as household worship can be greatly rewarding. It brings a feeling of intimacy and closeness to the Theoi that exceeds anything I've felt during rituals which follow the traditions of public worship. It affords a way to thank the Theoi, not just for Their general blessings and gifts, but for the specific things They have given my household. And, it's nice to have a part of my worship which is just for myself and my household, a thing that is unique to my family and our praise of the Theoi. While not for everyone, household worship can lend another layer of depth to the worship of those who are interested in it.

Sources:

Household and Family Religion in Antiquity. Oxford and Carlton: Blackwell Publishing

Alexandra Sofroniew, Household Gods: Private Devotion in Ancient Greece and Rome.

Martin P. Nilsson, Greek Popular Religion: The House and Worship http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/gpr/gpr08.htm

Household and Family Religion in Antiquity

Temenos https://sites.google.com/site/hellenionstemenos/Home

#hellenic polytheism #home #household #worship

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