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the-ethereal-serpent · 5 years

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Crystal Healing Or Crystal Harming?

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This post was created by Ruby Sol on the Pagans & Witches Amino.

This is the link to their profile : http://aminoapps.com/p/r17v8b

I have been given permission to repost this.

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It's one of the most frequently discussed subjects in the new-age world, and for many, it is the 'gateway drug' to witchcraft. Much like astrology, crystals and semi-precious gemstones have burst into a market worth billions, and their popularity is only increasing with the Instagram-worthy aesthetic, celebrity and influencer endorsement, and the attractive fashionable wonder of the metaphysical.

However, there are a number of issues within this metaphysical trend that I believe are not discussed or considered nearly as much as they should be. In the past, I've been quite vocal about these issues in discussion, however I've never actually brought it up in a dedicated post. So today I will be discussing some of the key problems stemming from the market.

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Disclaimer: I own crystals and semi-precious stones, loads of them! I am not suggesting you throw out all of your lovely stones! They are beautiful, and I love my collection. However I have made the choice, based on what I'm about to discuss, to no longer purchase any more. I now find all my crystals from natural places such as beaches or in naturally exposed rock. You don't have to make the same choices as me, I just ask that you consider some of the evidence.

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Harm To Ecosystems

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Question : "What crystals should I buy to connect to nature?"

Answer : "None!"

It's no secret that humans are having a huge impact on the welfare of our planet, and the process of mining crystals and gemstones is just another way this is occurring.

There are very few mines that seek only crystals and gemstones, usually they are collected within larger scale metal-ore mines. All mines regardless of size WILL have a negative environmental impact to some degree, which can result from soil contamination, destruction and erosion of land, ground and air pollution, and waste management. Larger mines will obviously have a greater impact.

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It was only recently that mining became more strictly regulated, but as a result adbandonned mines cause massive pollution problems, as companies were under no obligation to restore the surrounding land to any kind of sustainable eco-positive condition. When water enters the mines it can create large amounts of acidic and metallic runoff that contaminates and pollutes landscapes, killing wildlife and affecting ecosystems.

Mining can and does cause great harms to our planet. Furthermore in countries such as Brazil, governments are often encouraged to turn a blind eye to the breach of regulations, so often despite new rules being in place, these may not be adhered to.

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Isn't it ironic that we will buy a stone to "connect with nature", but in doing so may actually contribute to a great harm done to the natural world?

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Harm To Workers

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As stated, there is a distinct lack of regulation into the mining of metal-ore and subsequently crystals and gemstones. This does not just affect the environment, but also the people who work in the mines.

Many mines are situated in developing countries, therefore the mining jobs are often the only option for people living in poverty. As a result, employers get away with paying the workers extremely little. These low paid jobs can also be incredibly unsafe - without the limited regulations, safety procedures are not closely adhered to, meaning unstable mines, breathing in poisonous dust and gases and fumes, and risk of physical injury.

There is also the issue of child labour - in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where citrine and smokey quartz is collected in the cobalt and copper mines, it has been reported that children as young as 7 years old are working in these unsafe underpaid conditions. It has also been suggested that the Taliban earn up to $20m a year from Lapis Lazuli mines.

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Sourcing

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Now you might be thinking "but Ruby, if I make sure to buy crystals from ethical sources, then what's the problem?", and you're right IF you can track precisely where and how your crystals came to the shop and it is ethically sound, then there is no problem!

The issue lies in the fact that it is very very difficult to know where crystals actually came from - many suppliers will not even know for certain! With a distinct lack of governing bodies to regulate the accountability of the industry, accurately tracking and understanding the source of your stones is significantly more difficult than say, checking the source of your eggs to make sure they're organic and free range.

European importers tend to buy from dealers, and not directly from the mines. They therefore have to trust the dealers to be honest about the mining conditions their stock came from, and can never be truly certain of this.

If you do know a local supplier, who you KNOW is vigilant about ethically sourcing their gemstones and crystals, fantastic. They might even gather their own stock if they live near a source of naturally exposed quartz! Furthermore, you might even live near somewhere where you yourself can gather your own crystals, minerals, and gemstones. However, if you are not certain, is it not better to be safe than sorry?

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Evidence

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Now this is the really controversial point. The evidence predominantly suggests that while yes, crystal healing CAN work, there is NO evidence that this is due to any specific energies or vibrations from stones - it's actually the placebo effect. Crystal Healing is, in short, a bit of a pseudoscience.

I don't want to suggest that the placebo effect isn't powerful or useful - it is incredibly powerful! I think one could even class the placebo effect as a type of magic - believing something so strongly that you experience the results, what's not magic about that?

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The point of this isn't "don't bother with crystal healing because it doesn't work", my point is that you should use the benefits, but maybe you don't have to spend large sums of money on expensive crystals that come from ethically questionable sources, when a pebble from the beach will do the EXACT same thing!

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And again, a lot of this does come down to what we choose to believe. For me, there is not enough scientific evidence to make me believe that rocks have "vibrational frequencies" - I personally think its nonsense. However, what does that say about me, as I do choose to believe in magic, gods, goddesses, faeries, and ghosts? These similarly have no shred of evidence, indeed they are all unfalsifiable beliefs. But please consider, do you need the pretty shiny pink stone, or will a smooth pebble do the same job?

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Conclusion

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It is evident that there are significant issues with crystals and gemstones that are not as widely discussed in the Pagan and witchcraft community as they maybe should be. Many pagans and witches preach about wanting to be connected to nature - but then hypocritically buy into a market that actively harms ecosystems. It could be argued that for those who follow the wiccan rede, buying crystals from an unknown source is contradictory - for how can you 'harm none' when buying into a market of child lab

#Crystal #Crystals #Environmental #environmentalism #environmental crisis #Witch #green witch #crystal witch #witchcraft #witchy #witch community #Pagan #Wiccan #Crystal Healing #Metaphysical

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scalesandwanderlust · 6 years

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Just promoting a small telegram group for non-Wiccan neopagans a friend made.

You’ll probably notice it says non-Wiccan; They are just hoping to make a small community here for the people who want a place to take a break from places that happen to have more wiccan-dominated ideas and discussion. Being arguably the most mainstream and accessible form of neopaganism, it’s no surprise that it gets seen as the default or poster child, but sometimes you just need a place to talk about your practice or worship without worrying about the threefold law, wiccan rede or confusion that comes with your deity being labeled as the Horned God/The Goddess/etc by another user. There’s loads of wicca-centric and accomodating resources and communities, but this one just revolves around the lesser-known stuff instead!

Pinned post:

Welcome to the Sacred Grove! This is meant to be a place to make friends, share experiences, and discuss your beliefs away from the extremely widespread Wicca belief system.

RULES:

1. While this is by no means a safe space, you WILL be banned from being intentionally disrespectful to other members.

2. Do not discuss illegal acts, even- and especially- if they apply to your practice.

3. You MUST be 18+ to participate here. No exceptions.

4. Be respectful of the ideas of others, but do not be afraid to question things. A healthy dose of skepticism is essential in all things.

Please be kind to each other, and have fun! If you have any issues, ping me or @puppyresidue and we will take care of it ASAP.

#non wiccan paganism #neopaganism #non wiccan witchcraft

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berabones-blog · 6 years

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About the Writer

Hey everyone,

This is my personal letter to you.

I’m Eve. Also known magickally as Bera (of the Sodalite Ivy). I’m 26, I’m a Gemini/Taurus cusp, Chinese sign of the Monkey. I live in the beautiful city of Phoenix, AZ. I live with my husband—Vyvian, my Jack Russel/Rat Terrier—Ostara, and my Chinese Li Hua Cat—Mota. I’m originally for Fort Wayne, IN. I’m pansexual and polyamorous (although it’s just my husband and I at the time). I work full time as an accountant at a local sign company and part time as a dog walker (gotta hustle). A few of my other interests excluding pagan paths: classic cars, all music genres, dogs/animals, crafting, and a few others I’m sure will pop out here and there. I’m very much so a Gemini in jumping from project to project. I always want to learn more.

I grew up in the rural country area of Indiana. Raised by my Southern Christian parents. I’ve been studying Witchcraft and the like since I was 16. I was actually kicked out of my parents’ house after a heated discussion about me being ‘non-God fearing’. And I found a way to make it on my own, and mend the relationship between my parents and I along the way. When I turned 20, my first husband and I moved into the biggest city nearby—Fort Wayne. Here is where I branched out from being solitary. I was a member of the largest pagan circle in the area for years before I was elected into an ‘Elder’ leadership role. I became the voice of the younger in the group. I worked around the clock to ensure our community stayed together, heathy, and thriving. I attended festivals, public rituals, retreats, and helped to host our Pagan Pride Day. During this time, my relationship was dissolved and we divorced. This only impacted me to become even more involved in the pagan community. I met my current husband who swept me off my feet and away to Phoenix. A negative relationship between myself and another Elder dissolved my affiliation with the Fort Wayne circle. Since then, I have been very exclusive with whom I choose to practice with. I’m a current member of a very small group—Coven of the Crystal Forrest.

My paths have changed and re-changed multiple times. They’ll change until the day that I die. But a few motifs, and labels have stuck with me along the way. I’ve probably placed my hand into almost every pot I’ve found so far. From Voodoo to Hindu; Buddhism to Satanism; Green Witch to Diviner. You name it, I’ve dabbled in it. But in attempts to show you who I am. Here’s a list of motifs I identify with: Heathen, Norse, Lokean, Tribal, Shaman, Primal, Druid, Chaos Magick, Left Hand, Ganja, Altered Conscious, Energy Work. I mean, serious. The list could go on, but I think you can probably see that I thrive in the darker spectrum of paths. I do not identify as Wiccan specifically because I cannot/will not abide to a rede.

Overall, my goal is to put magickal intent into every piece of my life I can think of and I want to get that idea out to more people. Your craft should affect you daily and not just once every full moon or solstice. And most of all, it’s fun to create new ideas and ways to make the mundane into a ritual. I hope to create this blog to organize the ideas in a more consumable format and to be a helpful, friendly guide to help anyone who has a question that I might be able to answer. You create your life. So let’s make our paths together. I think most people would be surprised how much control over your life you have, and that’s what I’m here to enhance.

I hope to divide this page up into easy to access topics such as DIY’s, Spells, Lore, and possibly further into path topics like Chaos Magick, Heathenism, and the like. I want to make a promise to always respond to those who request further information or just have a question in general. But, I have to admit, I’m forgetful A LOT. Please be patient with me!

I hope you’re happy on the path you’re on. And if you’re not, I hope you search until you are happy. Remember that where you are now is not where you will always be, everything changes… whether you like it or not. Learning to adapt and control what we can is our jobs as Witches.

Be Blessed. Eve

#pagan #occult #chaos magick #witchcraft #heathen #metaphysical #about me

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whitemoonkitteh-blog · 6 years

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Since last summer I’ve been thinking of being a witch. I do follow a lot of blogs but I have no idea where to start. Could someone help me?

💕Tips for Beginner WitchesThere's no exact order you need to follow. I’d advise you to be respectful to magick, to the elements, to the deities, and to mother earth. Start being more aware of all she gives us, if you aren’t already.💕4 Things I Believe Beginner Witches Should Ask ThemselvesNote that the answers to these things will change, but that a firm grasp of the answers at any point in your practice may be helpful to you. I recommend actually writing your answers down, and every now and again check back and see if your stance has shifted.💖Is magick real? If yes, then what do you mean when you say, “Magick is real”. (Do you mean that you can effect reality with your will, intent, and energy? Do you mean like, Harry Potter real? What will disappoint you to realize might not be probable? What will inspire you to realize you can accomplish?)💖Where are your lines? (What do you firmly believe is true/false, right/wrong? Violence, doing harm, controlling others, etc. Would you punch someone if they threatened a friend? Would you curse someone if they threatened a friend? What would you do, if your coven head told you it was right but you felt it was wrong?)💖What are you looking for in a magickal path? (Pro Tip – no one has all the answers and there is no one right way.)💖What are you prepared to do in order to accomplish your goals? (How many spoons do you have to give this practice? Can you devote one night a week, are you going to randomly pick stuff up on Tumblr, are you going to leave society to pursue your studies under a waterfall, etc.)I recommend that no one make any oaths or vows in their first year of practice. Get to know yourself, how you feel about magick, and what you actually want to do before you do any big commitments. (Historic anecdote – this is what the original year and a day was for.) More strident, but still personal, recommendation: if someone tries to get you to oath to them within your first week of being a witch, run. 💕Things People Should Tell Beginner Witches, But Often Don’t💖Never do anything you don’t feel comfortable with.💖Never rush ahead of yourself. Take your time with learning about the craft, you will thank yourself in the future.💖Use what you have! You don’t need supplies to be a witch or have a successful spell. Its all mental and about your flow of energy. You only need yourself, your intent, and a belief in magick. Your craft is your own, do not feel pressured to be more like witches you admire. Do whatever feels right to you. Unless you follow a specific tradition, there are no rules in witchcraft. There is a lot more freedom in witchcraft than you may realize.💖Don’t ever shame other witches. Best example, some witches curse and some don’t. 💖Be respectful. Always remember to thank mother earth for everything she supplies us with.💖Always say goodbye to any entities you call into your circle.💖Never be scared of spirits. They are all around us, all the time, they only make themselves known sometimes. Fear can feed them and help them grow in strength.💖Don’t worry about a title, you don’t need to scramble to find out what kind of witch you are. You will just know based on what you do most in your practice, it will take some time.💖Don’t be afraid to change your mind. 💖Don’t throw good energy after bad by continuing to do something that isn’t right for you. 💖Don’t be afraid to continue your education, even if that means learning something that was right for you before that is no longer right for you.💖There is no one right way to do this.💖There are as many bad people in Paganism and witchcraft as there are anywhere else. Don’t think that these people are all spiritually enlightened beings who mean you well and who will give good advice. 💖Yahoo Answers is not your friend. You have the internet – which has access to both all of human information and all of human misinformation. Look for credible sources. Anything that seems too easy or too good to be true probably is. Work on critical thinking.💕You Should Probably Learn the Difference Between Paganism, Wicca, and Witchcraft💖PaganismPagan is an umbrella term for a member of a religious, spiritual, or cultural community, other than those of the main world religions. Some Pagans practice witchcraft, others do not.💖WiccaWicca is a religion. Most people consider Wicca as falling under the Paganism umbrella, although not all Pagans are Wiccan. Not all Wiccans are witches and not all witches are Wiccan.Wiccan is generally defined as: Dualistic – There is a God and a Goddess.Pacifistic – Wicca has a rede that requires Wiccan do no harm to themselves or others, though not all Wiccans (such as those who follow Doreen Valiente’s suggested guidelines) are Pacifistic, so there are definitely exceptions to this.Earth-based – Having a respect for and acknowledgment of the powers of the Earth.💖WitchcraftThe spiritual or secular art, craft, and/or practice of the witch, defined many ways by many different people.Yes, male identifying and/or presenting persons can be witches.💕Pagan and Witch FallaciesThere are certain ideas that most beginners in the witchcraft community will encounter over and over again. I’m going to run down some things with the reminder, that I can only speak for my personal tradition.💖“You should remove all negative influences from your life! You should purge all negative feelings! Be positive all the time!” Not everything that is negative is bad. Not everything negative can be avoided. We can’t all just quit our jobs and live in a witch shack in the mountains. We have to endure negative things, both because it is healthier to experience the full range of human emotion rather than to ignore a large chunk of it, and because it isn’t possible. What we should do is stop victim blaming witches who are going through hard times and stop telling witches they can’t be angry when they encounter something that should be angering.💖“But, tradition!” Just because an affluent white guy in the 1400-1600s said something, doesn’t mean you should do it. We don’t follow their medicinal advice anymore; we don’t have to follow their magickal advice either. Seriously, I don’t care if tradition says a trans woman shouldn’t be in a sky clad ritual that’s bullshit. We don’t put leeches on our bodies anymore let’s leave the past nonsense where it belongs.💖“We have to make sure everyone feels included and welcome!” Not if they abuse the welcome of others, we do not. The problem with making some people feel included and welcome is that you make their victims feel excluded and unwelcome because you’ve made them unsafe. 💖“We have to support each other and love each other and be a positive force in people’s lives.” Okay, yes, in small doses, this is a great aim. It doesn’t work for everyone (some witches are spite and malice fueled and they are still witches), but okay, it’s a nice idea. Until it becomes ableist or demands free emotional labor from people, which it often does.💖“We have to educate them!” Okay, it’s great that there is this effort in the community to educate others. But if you don’t have the spoons or if it seems like they’re using the demand for their own education as a way to still have access to a community they are abusing, then no, you have no obligation to put their education over your well being. None. They have access to Google (even if they have to go to a library to use it.)💖“You have to earn your right to be a witch.” No, no you don’t. Seriously, though, from whom? Dusty white men in graves? A Llewellyn author who couldn’t fact check themselves out of a paper bag?💖“You have to be ________ rank, degree, etc. to have an opinion on this topic.” Yeah, okay, I’ll be sure to wave my certificate in your face before having an opinion on my own tradition. No. Your opinion may be an uneducated one and you may be corrected for it, but that doesn’t mean that you didn’t have the right to it before you completed your O levels at Hogwarts.💖As a corollary to above, “This is just my opinion and you can’t be mad at me for it!” People absolutely have a right to their opinions. And everyone else the right to decide those opinions make them a rude person.💖“I’m super special and powerful because xyz, which means I get to tell you what to do.” People only get to tell you what to do if you let them. Sometimes, that’s an exchange we willingly make, but other times, people will feel they have the right to tell you what to do because they are a hereditary witch or because they’ve been practicing longer. Just remember their position doesn’t trump your humanity and you don’t have to kiss the feet of someone who kicks you.💖“The person really wants _____ from you, and you should help them on their path. Helping them on their path helps you on yours!” Just because someone wants something from you, doesn’t mean they get it. Being a witch doesn’t take away your right to say no. Please remember that you don’t have to earn your right to be here. This one is tricky on some level to be the respected person in your community, you need to put in your time.You don’t have to earn admission to witchcraft, but you do have to earn specific positions and other people’s trust. If you teach people not to trust you through your actions, they won’t trust you. 💕Research This list is designed for the beginner witch, who keeps hearing the advice “Research!” but wants some better specifics on what exactly that means.Now, you don’t have to be a complete expert on all of these or even most of these! You don’t even have to incorporate all of them into your practice. They’re just some stuff it’s good to have a basic working knowledge of in the craft.💖Planetary Correspondences- Even if cosmic witchcraft isn’t your thing, a lot (and I mean A LOT) of correspondences in any other category are going to eventually lead back to the planets. Having a basic understanding of what each planet governs is extremely helpful when learning the correspondences of basically anything else. 💖Herb Correspondences- Herbs and spices are incredibly useful! They’re probably one of the most versatile of the “big categories” since they can be used in herbalism and kitchen witchery, as well as a great add-on to any other variation of witchcraft. It’s good to have a working knowledge of what herbs you can use in a pinch, especially the stuff you already have in your kitchen. When an emergency calls, it’s good to know how that chili powder can help you.💖Crystal Correspondences- This is another great add on! Crystals can often be used to enhance and focus the energy of a spell, as well as cleanse any ritual tools you have. Besides, who doesn’t like pretty rocks? Crystals can be particularly great for the witch who has a tactile mind, and likes to have things they can feel and roll around in their hand. 💖Days of the Week- Knowing the right time to cast a spell can be very important! Casting a love spell on a Friday gives it an added boost, or at the very least creates a path of least resistance. Besides, there’s only seven of them, so it’s easy to learn quickly. You get a lot of bang for your buck!💖Phases of the Moon- I have a really big collective crush on the moon, it seems. And for good reason! The moon is a great source of power and mystery even in a completely mundane setting! Understanding the phases of the moon and how it can affect your craft is extremely important. (Hint: you can cast spells even when it isn’t the Full Moon.)💖Basic Mythology and Lore- This is an absolute must if you plan on going into any type of spirit work. Even if that isn’t your thing, it’s good to know a little bit. Firstly, because you may draw unwanted attention from spirits, and it’s good to know how to deal with them if it happens. Secondly, because if you draw from a path with any history behind it, it’s good to know how the rules go down on their turf. 💖Basic Divination- Not everyone has the money or the time to pick up and learn how to read a 78-card Tarot deck, but things like scrying and pendulums are pretty easy to figure out quickly. What’s more, they can be done on little to no budget. Divination’s a useful tool to have on your utility belt, and who wants to pay someone to use a pendulum for them when you can learn it yourself?💖Religious Roots- You don’t have to be a religious witch at all, but witchcraft still has its roots as a religious practice! Lot’s of practices have a cultural context as well, which can be important to know in order to fully understand the action you’re performing. A lot of correspondences, traditions, and rites come from cultural or religious roots. It’s good to know not only what people did, but why they did it! Does x tool have some symbolic meaning or was it just what was available at the time? What was simply a product of the culture around them?💖The History of Witchcraft- It's good to know the history of witchcraft because you are now becoming a part of it.💖Famous Witches- It's up to you if you want to research this topic. It is by no means a requirement to know this. If your interested to know famous witches then by all means research it up!💖Types of Witches- It's great to know all the different types of witches not only to figure out what type of witch you are, but just to be educated about all the different types of witches.💖Types of Magick- For example, white magick, chaos magick, etc. It's good to research and learn about the different types of magick because then you'll have a better idea of what type of magick you'll be practicing the most.💖Types of Spells- Such as curses, hexes, etc. It's good to know the different types of spells because soon you'll probably be practicing one of them.💖Talismans vs Sigils- Its good to learn what each one of them are and how to use them because you'll most likely be using them in your craft.💖Witch Alphabets- It is not required to know this, but it's something good to learn if that’s your thing. Some witches even use certain witch alphabets such as the Theban alphabet in their Grimoire/BOS. 💖Witchy Symbols- I have a tattoo of a witchy symbol on the back of my neck. It's the triple moon symbol and it reminds me that my craft is valid and beautiful. It reminds me that I'm part of the witchcraft community. It symbolizes my faith and my love for my faith. I think it's very important to learn all the witchy symbols because it doesn't hurt to know them.💖Deities- If your the type of witch who worships deities then by all means go for it! Research more and more about the deities until you have it down pat and you have it memorized.💖Different Paths- Secular witchcraft and religious witchcraft. Witchcraft alone, is a practice. However, some paths are indeed religious, such as Wicca. Make sure you know the difference before you begin actively practicing and before you decide on your path, if you do choose to do so.💖Color correspondences- This is something great to know for future spellwork. 💖Sabbats- Also known as esbats and the witches sabbaths. This is kind of a must-know because if your going to be a witch you must know your own witchy holidays such as Samhain, Yule, Beltane, etc.💖The Basic Tools of Witchcraft- It's good to know the basic tools of witchcraft for future reference in your spellwork or so you know what to find/buy for your craft. It is by no means necessary to buy these tools unless you absolutely want to. You do not need any fancy witchcraft tools for your craft. You only need yourself, your intent, and your belief in magick. I prefer to use tools myself though.💖Altars- It's good to know how to set up your own altar and what exactly is an altar. 💖Traditional Witchcraft Practises- Such as circle casting and how to cast a basic circle protection.💖Safety- It's very important to know what is safe to use/burn/touch/ingest. There are lots of poisonous and potentially fatal plants and ingredients out there. Remember to be safe when working with these dangerous ingredients. 💖Easy Magick/Witchcraft- It's good to start off small with the easy spells rather than to start off big. So look up easy spells/magick/witchcraft to start with.💖Elements- Elements are a huge part of magick it would be very good for you to know the importance and use of the elements in magick.💖Dream Interpretation- Something interesting to know is dream interpretation. Study what your dreams mean, why they’re important, and how you can benefit from listening in to the deeper messages they hold. You can even keep a dream journal! Start recording everything you can remember as soon as you wake up.💖Charging- Something that works in everyday witchcraft is charging! Learn how to charge your crystals, jewelry, objects, and sigils.💖Enchanting Objects- Something that works in everyday witchcraft is enchanting! Learn how to enchant objects you use everyday.💖Glamours- Something that works in everyday witchcraft is using glamours in makeup, cosmetics, and everyday wear. Learn more about how to use glamours.💖Witchblr- Don't underestimate witchblr there's so much useful information on Tumblr. So research witchblr on Tumblr and read, read, read!💖Grounding- I think everyone should ground themselves at least once a day, it makes you feel so balanced. So learn how to ground yourself and practice grounding yourself everyday.💕ReadBefore you even think about practicing magick, you need to study. It sounds tedious, I know, but witchcraft is not a trivial undertaking. 💕Start A Grimoire/BOS You’ll need a safe place to keep all of the information you’ve gathered safe, and a Grimoire/BOS, is essentially a journal for that exact purpose. It doesn’t have to be fancy (though you’re welcome to make it as ostentatious as you like.) It can be a bullet journal if that’s easy for you. Within your Grimoire/BOS you should keep all gathered information, spells, failures, successes, records of work you’ve done, anything that pertains to your craft, etc.💕Don’t Pressure Yourself To Pick A PathYou might see a lot of witches who class themselves as one thing or another. For example, storm witches, kitchen witches, elemental witches, spirit witches, green witches, cosmic witches, etc. That is cool and their prerogative, but you will also see witches known as eclectic. Eclectic witches, are simply witches who choose to practice many different types of magick and forge their own path, instead of following only one, or following a pre-established path. Basically, there is no need at all, whatsoever, to label yourself. With many of us, our paths found us in time. 💕Carry A Little Journal With You You can’t always carry your Grimoire with you, so I personally like to carry a tiny little journal with me, for those moments when inspiration takes me, or if something captures my imagination or attention. You can add it to your Grimoire/BOS later.💕Never Stop Learning Oh, and one more thing, don’t ever stop learning, reading, and recording. Witchcraft is a path of continuous learning.💕Grounding Grounding is the act of centering your energy and focusing it within yourself. You can ground yourself by being out in nature and using visualizing techniques that tie your energies firmly into the ground (very traditional method), or by finding a quiet place that you are content in and meditating.💕Keep Journals Keep journals. Yes, plural. One for dreams, one for your general day to day feelings, and one for your craft. You cannot record too much! Take notes on everything!💕Start Calling Yourself A Witch The final steps are to start calling yourself a witch and start practicing witchcraft. My asks are always open, if you have any questions just ask and I will answer. You can also send me a message. Hope I helped! Good luck babe!Please add to this so any baby witches can see what you have to say and be informed!

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allwicca · 6 years

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The Dangers of the Love Spell

“Dangerously In Love” may have been an awesome album by Beyoncé, but it’s not exactly the kind of thing you want to find yourself involved in, especially if you are using magick to attract love into your life.

It is a basic human need to desire love and affection from another person. To this end many forlorn folk seek surcease from their loneliness through the use of magic and witchcraft to bring someone’s affection to them. While this may sound like a noble cause on the surface, the use of love spells is a very dangerous and potentially damaging activity.

On its most basic level, a “love” spell is intended to subvert the object’s personal freewill and force them to give their attention to a specific person, the spell caster, whether there is any normal attraction between them or not. By using such a spell on someone, you have set yourself up to come between the desired person and the path they may have chosen for their own life. The spell becomes a trap that holds another person hostage to your will rather than letting the natural pathway of their life to unfold.

In our Ask a Witch feature, we often get requests such as the following:

I’m totally in love with X, but they don’t feel the same way and they’re getting ready to get married to Y. Y is not good enough for X. I know that I’m meant to be with X forever, they just don’t see it yet. Please help me cast a spell on X to make them fall in love with me and never, ever leave me.

Love spells are probably one of the most badly misunderstood elements of magick and energy. If you watch a children’s movies you will walk away with this idea of love magick: “And he fell madly in love with her with the first kiss and they lived happily every after.

On the other hand, if you are more inclined to listen to adult movies than children’s fairytales, you will likely feel that love spells work like this; “And the other woman/man was banished forever and they fell back, madly in love. To spite all odds, love conquered all.”

Both of these philosophies on love spells are frightening, shockingly, dangerously in error.

The most important reason it’s never a good idea to cast a spell on someone so they fall in love with you is because it takes away that person’s free will. Magick is a very real and powerful force, and it causes change to occur. Now, I could quote a few different lines from the Wiccan Rede like “and it harm none, do what thou will, ” but this is bigger than that.

One of the few truly innate rights we have is the power of free will. To take that away from someone is not only unethical, it’s karmically criminal. Imagine for a moment that you wake up one day and you no longer have the power to think independently. Imagine your thoughts being under the control of someone else. What do you think that would feel like?

Love spells can range from a simple repeating of a poem to a prayer to your chosen entity of faith, to the lighting of a candle, all the way to very complex multi-day rituals that involve multiple people and huge expense. Any one of these types of spells can be negative or positive.

Being a Witch does not mean that you have the right to take away another person’s free will. Don’t be a home-wrecker. Even if you’re not using magic with this one, just don’t. If you are using magic – even on yourself – stay away from people who are happily in a relationship. Don’t make yourself irresistible to your best friend’s boy/girlfriend. Just don’t. Putting a spell on yourself is fine, but don’t cast when you’re angry, depressed, or otherwise emotionally distressed. Also never cast a love spell of any kind if you think a specific person will come to mind part of the way through.

So, what is the difference between negative and positive love spells? It’s very simple. It’s something called intention.

The intention is what you mean for energy to do. Intention goes into everything. Cooking, cleaning, speaking, eating, exercising… No matter what you do, you do it with the idea in mind that you want a particular result. When you bake a cake, you might be expecting delicious chocolate indulgence for yourself, or you might be hoping to impress your date, or maybe your mother-in-law. Whatever it was that you were hoping that cake would accomplish, that was the intention.

What would be a pure intention for a love spell? You have a right as human being to work magick on yourself, and to ask the universe to bring about the highest good for others. That’s where it stops.

This is why almost all love spells are negative. If you cast a love spell to bring a certain person back into your life, that is violating their free will. If they wanted to be with you, they would not have left. To cast a spell to bring about a divorce between to people is also negative, because if they want a divorce they can get it themselves. To work magick to make someone love you when they do not already have those feelings is to break their freedom to choose who they love.

One of the hardest things to accept about love magick is that no matter how strong our emotions are for someone, they do not justify us stepping in and changing things magically.

If you are in a relationship that is bad enough to require magical intervention, then you are in a bad relationship. If you have been abandoned by someone, then spells will only bring back to you the same disloyal person how betrayed you the first time. If someone doesn’t love you, casting a spell to make them love you will only temporarily give them an emotional high, not build true lasting love. As soon as the spells wears off, and they always do, that person will be gone.

SO CAN YOU CAST POSITIVE LOVE SPELLS?

You can ask the universe to bring you your own perfect true love. You can ask the universe to make your heart ready to receive that love. Last but not least, you can ask that the universe work for your highest good in love and romance. This means opening your heart to receive the right person, even if that person is not the one you have your eye on. You can also work magick on yourself to bring your desire into alignment with what is best for you, so that you will want only the right person, not the wrong one.

You can do this through prayer, poems, chants, candles, crystals, or whatever resonates with you most deeply.

But when it comes to casting love spells on someone else, it’s better to steer clear and leave that person’s destiny up to fate.

from The Dangers of the Love Spell

#The Dangers of the Love Spell

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ravenblackpublicationsllc · 7 years

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So...You’re a High Priest/Priestess

Are you really? Here’s a question, have you ever puffed out your chest and arrogantly proclaimed so? Have you ever tried to use that title to intimidate people into doing what you want? Do you feel a rush of power as you say this? If you answered Yes to any of these questions…guess what…you’re not. Here’s why I say you aren’t. Being a Clergy in any facet is not an excuse to abuse others or to lord power over other people. You are fallible and you Do have to answer to higher powers. It matters not if you believe in them or not, they will lay down the karmic smackdown when you decide to be an arrogant prick. Did that word shock your senses? Prick. If you’ve ever used your title to intimidate someone who disagrees with you or whatever reason you have to attempt to abuse it, you are not Clergy. Yes, being a High Priest or Priestess is a form of clergy, it’s an all encompassing word, so don’t get your “I’m not Christian” panties in a bunch. Walk away from your soap box and listen.

Who am I? Why am I qualified to lecture on this topic? In comparison to the vast universe, I am no one important. I hold no other title myself, aside from High Priestess. It was not something I strived to become, it just happened. People turned to me for help or guidance. Many people of many faiths and irregardless of their path, I guided them in the way I knew best. I have protected others from rotten people that call themselves by many religious titles, christian, pagan, heathen, buddhist, ect. Becoming one of the leaders or guides as I see it, is not an excuse to hold power over other people. It’s not. Now, there are some of you reading who are angry right now and I’ll tell you why. It’s because I just made you feel guilty of your behavior.

Being a High Priest or Priestess is also not simply a title. Nor is it an excuse to stroke your EGO. That arrogance and Ego-stroking belongs in Satanism, not in Paganism or Wicca. If that’s your reasoning for taking on that title, perhaps you should venture more toward the Satanic path, where Ego is king and it’s all about you (in other words, you’re God).

To be a High Priest/Priestess, means you’re responsible to the community. Yes, there are times where someone is so off the beaten path of Paganism or even Wicca, that a little hard guidance and tough love is necessary. Over the course of 15 years as a practicing Pagan myself, I have watched as people with little to no experience, declare themselves a leader, a clergy and are only in it for the power trip. Guess what? There is no power in this position. You don’t suddenly become a God or Goddess, you aren’t suddenly gifted with every mythical power you have read about. What you are gifted with is the ability to help and guide others. To protect people from themselves (sometimes) and to help ensure the health of the community.

For too long, I have watched as our community has not only drifted apart, been torn apart but been poisoned. Every child with a paycheck and a Hot Topic in their town wants to be the next Nancy Downs. That isn’t what Paganism is about. It’s not sacrificing animals, hurting children or women. It’s about loving Mother Earth (who is female) and respecting all things she has created. It’s a matriarchal faith, where the Goddess is primary but the God is vital to help protect and create. Just because you buy a Pentacle and a spell book, does not make you a Witch, a Pagan or a Wiccan. There is so much more to it than that. It calls for more responsibility upon you. It means paying attention to the natural cycles of the earth, respecting nature, not forcing your will on others and harming none.

There needs to be a serious revamp an adjustment of who can and cannot be a High Priest or Priestess. If you have ever stolen, committed rape, murder, or pedophelia, you are never qualified to be any form of clergy. A position such as this, calls upon you to be of pure heart and intentions. Do not give the excuse that it’s “part of my faith” or it’s “the way I practice”. Absolutely not. Nothing in any one of the paths gives clearance for these crimes against man. Again I will say Harm None. Now, some of you are saying that “I don’t subscribe to the Wiccan Rede.” Well, karma is very real and it will catch up with you. It doesn’t matter if you choose Aphrodite as your Goddess, gratuitous sex and images are not what she is about. She is not lust, she is love, know the difference or get a dictionary.

Here is where some of my words contradict themselves, you are however, allowed and encouraged to pull that status card when you see someone who claims themselves Pagan or Wiccan and they are doing whatever they want. They are casting spells without thought, treating people in whatever way they feel is appropriate (using their Witch status to intimidate) or you feel they are far too young to understand what it is they are playing with. Your plastic Pagans and Dabblers and such. Or in the case of an event I went to a few years ago, they leave a public park trashed after a gathering. When they give the community a bad name because of their behavior. This is not an organized religion but there are still rules and if you are a “High Priest or Priestess” you are responsible for helping to enforce them. There needs to be order brought back to our community. Thanks to shows like Charmed and Buffy, everyone wants to be a Witch, without ever realizing that we have far more rules than any other faith. Just no one has bothered to enforce them because we get rebellion in return. Even the Satanic religion (organization) has rules they must abide by. They do not “do whatever feels good.” So why do we have a bunch of little Pagans who think that behavior is okay? Because there is no real leadership anymore.

So, if you’ve gotten this far, I do hope you consider my words seriously. That you see the plague spreading across the Pagan community and you are willing to do something about it. Also, that if you realize, you have not been a true Priest/Priestess, you correct your behavior. Another note before I leave you, having 2-5 years experience does not qualify you for that responsibility. You are in no way ready for that path. It also means you have to teach lessons (not just about herbs, spells and crystals) but real life and Pagan lessons. By that I mean if someone is fooling around with a Ouija board and they get a demon in their house, you make them clear it. Otherwise, they will continue to make irresponsible decisions and expect you to clean it up. Whatever spell they cast, you have to teach them that they are responsible for the results, magick is not a game. Are you ready for that responsibility? You have to ensure their safety and well being while in circle and even when they are not around you. You do that by advising them when you see they are stepping in an unsafe direction or giving them information on herbal cures for what ails them. No Christian Clergy have this level of responsibility.

If you have not stopped reading by now, congratulations, you have intestinal fortitude. I am fully aware that my words will anger some people and that in the back of their mind they’re thinking “Who the heck does she think she is? She can’t tell me what to do.” No, I cannot, you’re right about that. Just don’t bother to approach and speak to me in public and don’t contact me when you have nasty spirits walking around your living room. I will not help you. The Goddess will correct you, not me. Take into consideration what I am saying and please, let’s start making a difference in a small portion of humans. We all know, the world is already turning into a cesspool of ego and selfishness. Let’s none of us help contribute.

#clergy #high priest #high priestess #wiccan #pagan #witch #Occult #metaphysical

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whitemoonkitteh-blog · 6 years

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I’m just starting to get into more “witchy” things, do you have any tips for a beginner?

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