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pigeonflavouredcake · 1 year

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How to organise a grimoire

This is how I've decided to organise my grimoire now that I'm digitising it. I thought this may be of some benefit to other autistic/dyslexic practioners by sharing how my brain likes to formulate things. The trick is to categorise.

I have one large category I'm calling the chapter and every chapter has a number of categories within it and smaller sub categories underneath each one.

So my brain basically works like a russian nesting doll or like a very messy spider diagram. Organising it this way helps me to stay on track and stops me from getting overwhelmed. (I used this method in all my university essays and it helped push my grade up a lot).

I'm not writing it in any specific order but here's a list of what I've completed so far. Please feel free to take any of these. I hope this helps you with your own grimoire writing.

Theory 📚

Terminology

Paganism: historical context. Modern context. Core values.

New Age Spirituality: Development. Capitalism. Modern Example.

Cultural Appropriation: What it is. How it happens. How to avoid it. List of closed practices and red flags.

Wicca: What it is. How it's practiced. Gerald Gardner. Criticisms.

Thelema: Aleister Crowley. Development (egyptomania). Criticisms.

Conspiracy Theories: Development (root cause). Dangers. Examples. List of spiritual conspiracies. List of antisemitic stereotypes and propaganda.

Cults: What are they. How are they dangerous. How to recognise one (B.I.T.E model). List of religious/spiritual cults.

Satanic Panic: Historical development to our current satanic panic. The 1980's moral panic. Christian persecution complex.

KJV: Who was King James. The creation of the KJV. The KJO movement (evangelical and Christian fundamentalism. American Folk magic)

Witches in context: The modern witch. The post-modern witch. Historical context (England. Ancient Greece. Ireland).

Cats in context: Modern context. Familiars. Historical context (Egypt. Greece. China. England).

Transphobia: the idea behind terfism. How to recognise a terf. Examples of Terfism in spirituality (Lister). Dispelling myths and Misinformation.

Queerness: Erasure and queerphobia. Why queer people gravitate to witchcraft/paganism/Wicca. Examples (intersex. Gay relationships. Lesbian relationships. Asexuality).

Practical Basics 🔮

Terminology

Health and Safety: Fire. Smoke. Essential Oils. Toxicity. Wound Care. Biohazards.

How to make a magical space: What they are. Different types. Tools and their uses.

Grimoire/Book of Shadows: What they are. The differences. Different Formats. The Front cover.

Cleansing: What it is. What its used for. Examples.

Grounding: What it is. What its used for. Examples.

Protection: What it is. What its used for. Examples.

Intuition: What it is. What its used for. Developing it. Examples.

Discernment: What it is. What its used for. Steps of discernment (from a Christian perspective. From a secular perspective). Psychosis.

The Year and the holidays: Samhain. Yule. Wassailing. Imbolc. Spring Equinox. Beltaine. Summer Solstice. Lughnasadh. Autumn Equinox. (Historical development. How they're celebrated).

Deity Worship: Scientific Context (Neuroscience of Religiosity). Spiritual Context. Worship Vs working with. Finding a deity. Your religious rights. Critiquing your religious path. For example ↓

Hellenism: Historical context (Wars. Colonisation. Slavery. Citizenship. Pederasty). Modern Context (White washing. Transphobia).

Your Deities (if you choose to have any): Iconography. Mythology. Associations. Offerings.

Spirits: Ghosts. Shadow people. Demons (what they are. fear and labelling. History Vs pop culture). The Warrens (history. Criticisms). Other folklore.

Practical Magic ✨

I have a lot more planned for this section.

Terminology

Divination: What it is. What its used for. List of types and tools. For example ↓

Tarot: Structure of the tarot deck. Historical context. Modern Context. The fool and you.

Basic Astrology: What it is. Historical Context. Signs. Planets. Houses. Reading a natal chart.

Colour Magic: Basic colour theory. Symbolism. Practical application.

Correspondence 🌿

When there's a long list of items and spiritual meanings/applications I keep it in this section at the back of my grimoire.

Colours

Symbols

The Classic Elements

Astrology

Stones

Herbs and Spices (kitchen cupboard specific)

Common plants in your area (invasive and non invasive)

Seasonal fruit and vegetables

Miscellaneous laws and philosophies

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thewriteadviceforwriters · 1 year

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Unleash Your Inner Witch: Tips for Writing Witchcraft

Introduction

Witchcraft has been a fascinating and mysterious topic for centuries. From the Salem witch trials to modern-day Wicca, the practice of witchcraft has evolved and endured. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or a curious beginner, writing about witchcraft can be a powerful and transformative experience. In this blog post, I’ll help you explore tips and strategies for writing about witchcraft, including researching the history of witchcraft, developing your own unique system, selecting tools, creating spells and rituals, incorporating mythology and folklore, and writing with intention and purpose.

Explore the History of Witchcraft

Before you can write about witchcraft, it's important to understand its history and evolution. Witchcraft has been practiced in various forms throughout history, from ancient pagan traditions to medieval and common era witch-hunts. A thorough exploration of the history of witchcraft can provide context and inspiration for your writing.

One way to explore the history of witchcraft is to read books and articles on the subject. Look for works by reputable historians and scholars, such as Ronald Hutton's "The Witch: A History of Fear from Ancient Times to the Present." You can also visit museums and historical sites related to witchcraft, such as the Salem Witch Museum in Massachusetts or the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Cornwall, England. Google is another way to research, but the articles you find on the internet aren’t always true; it’s best to use search engines other than Google to find more truthful information.

Finally, consider connecting with other practitioners of witchcraft and participating in online communities and forums. These communities can provide valuable insights and perspectives on the history and practice of witchcraft.

Research Modern-Day Witchcraft

While the history of witchcraft is important, it's also essential to understand modern-day witchcraft. There are many different traditions and practices within the broad umbrella of witchcraft, from Wicca to Hoodoo to modern eclectic witchcraft. Researching modern-day witchcraft can help you develop your own unique system and style of writing about witchcraft. Start by exploring different books and websites on modern-day witchcraft. Look for authors and practitioners who resonate with you and your writing style. Consider attending local events and workshops related to witchcraft, such as pagan festivals or Wiccan covens. These experiences can provide valuable insights and inspiration for your writing. You don’t have to go to physical events or workshops in order to learn about witchcraft, but if you want a realistic experience and authentic knowledge on witchcraft it’s best to do so.

Remember that witchcraft is a constantly evolving and changing practice. Stay open-minded and willing to learn as you research modern-day witchcraft.

Develop Your Unique Witchcraft System

Once you have a solid understanding of the history and modern-day practices of witchcraft, it's time to develop your own unique system. This can include selecting tools and materials, creating spells and rituals, and incorporating your own personal mythology and folklore.

When selecting tools and materials, consider what resonates with you and your writing. This can include herbs, crystals, candles, and tarot cards, among others. Experiment with different tools and materials to find what works best for you.

Creating spells and rituals can be a powerful and transformative experience. Consider what intentions and desires you want to manifest through your writing, and craft spells and rituals accordingly. Remember to stay true to your own personal beliefs and values.

Finally, consider incorporating your own personal mythology and folklore into your writing. This can include family stories and traditions, personal experiences, and cultural mythology. By incorporating your own unique perspective and voice, you can create powerful and authentic writing about witchcraft.

Choose Your Witchcraft Tools

Once you have developed your unique witchcraft system, it's time to choose your tools. This can include physical tools, such as candles and crystals.

When selecting physical tools, consider what resonates with you and your writing, including whatever fits the plot of your story. This can include materials that have personal significance or symbolism, as well as tools that are practical and useful for your writing process.

Find Your Writing Software

When selecting digital tools, consider what will help you stay organized and productive. This can include writing software, such as Scrivener or Google Docs, as well as online communities and forums for feedback and support.

Remember that your tools should support your writing process and help you achieve your goals as a writer of witchcraft.

Create Spells and Rituals

Creating spells and rituals is an essential part of writing about witchcraft. These practices can help you manifest your intentions and desires, as well as connect with your own personal mythology and folklore.

When creating spells and rituals, consider what you want to achieve through your writing. This can include personal growth, healing, or manifestation of specific desires. Craft spells and rituals that are aligned with your own beliefs and values.

Remember to approach spells and rituals with intention and respect. These practices can be powerful and transformative, and should be treated accordingly.

Consider noting what spells would fit in your story, for example if you’re character wants someone to fall in love with them consider creating a love spell, make sure to have a note-taking digital software or app to help you note down everything about the spells and rituals you create. Including the incantation, the items your character needs to cast it. And anything else that has a relation with your spell(s).

Incorporate Mythology and Folklore Mythology and folklore are an important part of the history and practice of witchcraft. Incorporating these elements into your story can add depth and richness to your work.

When incorporating mythology and folklore, consider what resonates with you and your story. This can include cultural mythology, family traditions, and personal experiences. Use these elements to add authenticity and depth to your writing.

Remember to approach mythology and folklore with respect and sensitivity. These are living traditions that should be treated with care and reverence.

Write with Intention and Purpose When writing about witchcraft, it's important to approach your work with intention and purpose. This can include setting goals and intentions for your writing, as well as staying true to your own beliefs and values.

Consider what you want to achieve through your writing. This can include personal growth, healing, or sharing your experiences with others. Craft your writing with these goals in mind. Remember to stay true to your own voice and perspective. Witchcraft is a deeply personal and individual practice, and your writing should reflect this.

Practice, Revise, and Share Your Work

Like any form of writing, writing about witchcraft requires practice, revision, and sharing your work with others.

Take the time to continually research about witchcraft and the traditions, and incorporate your research into your revision process. Revise your work with intention and purpose, and seek feedback from others to help improve your writing. Don’t be afraid to get a real practitioner of witchcraft to become a beta-reader for your story. They can help you find anything offensive or misleading about witchcraft in your novel.

Finally, share your work with others. This can include submitting your writing to publications or sharing it with online communities and forums. By sharing your work, you can connect with others and inspire them to explore their own inner witch.

Conclusion

Writing about witchcraft can be a powerful and transformative experience. By exploring the history of witchcraft, researching modern-day practices, developing your own unique system, selecting tools, creating spells and rituals, incorporating mythology and folklore, writing with intention and purpose, and practicing, revising, and sharing your work, (try saying that five times.)

You can unleash your inner witch and create powerful and authentic writing about witchcraft. Remember to stay true to your own voice and perspective, and approach your writing with respect and intention.

(Note:) It’s important to note that witchcraft is a craft/practice not a religion. All Wiccans are witches and pagans, but not all individuals who practice witchcraft are wiccans or pagans.

TheWriteAdviceForWriters 2023

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hiswitchcraft · 1 year

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I see a lot of beginner tips on the internet that seem to be for people who have already gotten started, how about some tips from someone who has no idea where to start at all?

Tips for Witches Who Haven’t Even Started Yet

Heads up this guide will be designed assuming someone has learned modern witches are a thing, is interested and maybe wants to be one, but has done none or very little research. First let’s go ahead and get rid of some COMMON misconceptions people come into my DMs with when they’ve barely begun...

There are all things you do not have to do to be a witch:

Do evil things or be a “satan worshiper”

Be a specific religion, because witchcraft is not a religion

Work with deities or spirits of any kind

Be a woman, witch is a gender neutral term

Be Wiccan or Pagan

Pick a witch type

Spend a lot of money

Be in a coven or know other witches

Have a big or pretty altar, grimoire, ect

Have tarot cards or any tools for your practice gifted to you

One final disclaimer Another thing to go into your research with that you may not know if you’re just starting at the very beginning is that there are many paths, practices, belief systems, ect besides the eclectic form of witchcraft I teach here and that you will commonly see presented online. I feel a lot of people may benefit from a more structured, or different path. Keep an open mind. You might come across something more fitting. So if the above is all false, are there any rules? The only rules I ever push around here are have an understanding of what you’re doing and its consequences, and do not appropriate from closed practices! Okay, so I read all of the above, now what? If you don’t know where to start at all? Research. Research is always where you should start. That sounds overwhelming and may be something you’ve already seen a few times but it could be as simple as a google search to start and I will be here to make it as simple as possible with this guide. Also as usual my DMs are always open if you have questions.

Onto how to do that research... First here is a google doc full of links I’ve compiled that may give you somewhere to start! With that, here are some suggestions for what to research.

Follow your interests For someone who has just begun I would highly suggest following your interests. What I mean by that is if anything interests you, keep googling, try Youtube maybe, check if your library has books on it, ect. Take notes on what it is, why it interests you and what you find. There are tons of practices and subjects witches study so just keep learning at your own pace and incorporating what works.

If you need somewhere to start, here’s some general topics I’d suggest:

Types of magical/Pagan practices

Cleansing

Charging

Grounding

Warding

Banishing & binding

Divination types

Tools & ingredients

Closed practices

If you’re stuck hopefully doing some searching on the above topics will get you down a rabbit hole of interest. Below is also a bunch of info on how to do GOOD research. Doing good research is very important to me.

Research tips Think critically and ask yourself questions like this while researching:

What are the qualifications, motives and biases of the person giving me this information?

Who recommended this source?

Is anything they're implying or advising here a threat to my or someone else's safety or health? Do I know that this suggestion is safe?

Does this line up with other things I know to be true? Like science, other factors about witchcraft, your beliefs, ect. Beliefs won't dictate fact but often in witchcraft personal belief is the only thing that will sway you towards one answer or another.

Does it make sense? Like logically does it make sense to you? Why? Just ask yourself why. Ask them why. Ask them for sources or an explanation.

Have I seen someone say this before? How often? Apply the above questions to that source or sources as well.

Here are all my other general research tips:

Take time to take things with a grain of salt. Try not to categorize them as right or wrong until you're absolutely sure.

Cross reference everything you find. The answer you see the most is likely right.

Understand that many things are up to personal belief and for many questions the answer will be "Depends on the witch." Both answers might be correct. This path is yours and often you have to dictate how things will work.

Check out your local library.

Use books that aren't marketed as being about witchcraft or the occult. Folklore, local flora and fauna, nature, botany, gardening, foraging, geology, these are all useful subjects.

Ask real, experienced witches. Do not rely on them as your soul mentor and ideally and contact multiple witches or groups, but do ask.

Don't worry about making a fancy grimoire or book of shadows or having all the correspondences in the world written out. That's the least of your worries, take notes on the essentials and things that interest you personally. Some things to include are the subject, date & source of what you're reading.

Take notes, here’s how I mentioned note taking in there and I definitely have more to say on that! A lot of the time people get overwhelmed before they’ve even done anything remotely “witchy” because they feel like they need to have a big fancy grimoire. This is not the case. You can make a google doc or shove a bunch of notes in a binder. This tip has helped a LOT of people including me. I do strongly suggest taking notes, but take them your way.

General Tips And finally here are some general tips to reference or keep in mind as you research and maybe start practicing witchcraft.

Don’t believe everything you hear and take information with a grain of salt. Most things to do with witchcraft depend on the witch.

Lots of witchcraft supplies can be found or made. It doesn’t have to be expensive.

You can find supplies at mundane places, the dollar store, craft store, library, ect.

Follow your intuition! One of the most important things here. To be a good witch and form a solid, personal path you have to know and be able to tune into yourself.

Experiment! Try different things. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t.

When you don’t know what to do, return to the basics. Whatever that means for you. Cleansing, warding, your deities, ect.

If you feel overwhelmed, start with just one topic or two! You don’t need to take in witchcraft as a whole right away. Same goes for if you return from a break from the craft.

Finally remember that you are always welcome to DM me for any reason with any question or concern throughout your research and practice! After my hiatus I’ve learned helping you guys one on one is my favorite thing, so remember I’m always here 💕

#his posts #asks #anons #info #new witch #where to start #research #resources #witchcraft #witches #witchblr #witchy #witches of tumblr #magick #occult #baby witch #beginner witch

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thevirginwitch · 1 year

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The Origin & Evolution of Correspondences in Witchcraft

This post was shared a week early over on my Patreon! Working a day-job and running a blog full-time is a ton of work, so any support is insanely appreciated! Patrons will receive early access to content, exclusive content such as research notes and book recommendations, free tarot readings, access to a private Discord channel within my server, discounted products from my Etsy store, free digital files, voting power on my content, and MUCH more! Check it out here for as little as $2/month.

If you’ve been a witch for a while, you’ve probably asked yourself: where do correspondences come from? Who decided that lavender was good for calming, or that obsidian was good for absorbing negative energy? Where does the concept of correspondences come from in the first place? To answer these questions, we must first look at something called “correlative thinking”: Marcel Granet (1884-1940), a French sociologist, coined the term “correlative thinking”, which can be defined as “thinking of an item of one class by correlating it with an item of another class”, typically organizing and relating “natural, political/social, and cosmological data in highly ordered arrays or systems of correspondence.” Sound familiar?

Correlative thinking takes many forms throughout religion, philosophy, and humanity – even showing up as early as Mesopotamia, where they believed events on earth ran parallel to events in heaven: “each city-state had its own patron god and every change in the balance of power between the city-states was seen as the direct reflection of a change in the relationship of the gods.” (Cavendish, pg. 12) In ancient Greece and among Hellenic philosophers, they came up with the “macrocosm/microcosm” analogy, which describes the relationship between the smaller, human being (the microcosm) with the much bigger, seemingly infinite cosmos (the macrocosm).

This correlative thinking is prevalent in many magical texts throughout the years – including The Emerald Tablet (late 8th-early 9th century), The Picatrix (a 9th century Arabic grimoire), The Key of Solomon (1312), and the Three Books of Occult Philosophy (1533). After the publication of The Three Books of Occult Philosophy and the boom of new-age spiritualism in the 1970s, there have been a massive number of publications related to witchcraft, correspondences, ritual magic, and more. For the purpose of this post, however, we’ll be focusing on these foundational texts to better understand the evolution and origin of correspondences.

The Emerald Tablet, dated around the late 8th-early 9th century, is one of the most highly influential texts within the philosophical and occult realm. An English translation of a line of text within The Emerald Tablet provides one of the most popular terms among new agers and modern pagans: “That which is above is like to that which is below, and that which is below is like to that which is above”. A shortened version of this phrase, “as above, so below”, can be found in Helena Blavatsky’s work, Isis Unveiled (1877), where it became massively popularized among the modern pagan community. This phrase, along with terms related to correlative thinking, tie back to many cultures – including China, India, and more.

The Picatrix, 9th-century Arabic grimoire on astrological magic, is yet another influential piece of text. This text contained astrological magic, magical potions and spells, and different Hermetic, Neoplatonic, and Aristotelianism philosophical passages – and it also included the explanations of links between planets and intangible objects such as colors and perfumes/fragrances.

After a few series of translations in the 12th and 13th centuries, the information within the Picatrix (and other sources) were recorded and arranged by Henry Cornelius Agrippa (1486-1535) in his work, Three Books of Occult Philosophy in 1509 (not being published until 1533). From there, Dr. John Dee (1527-1604) expanded on Agrippa’s work in the 1580s and 1590s.

Shortly after, in 1620, the Magical Calendar was published, which compressed much of the previous material. This calendar, amazingly recorded on one page, “contains tables of correspondences arranged by number, from one to twelve. The material is based largely on the extensive tables in Agrippa, book II, but goes beyond this, especially in its inclusion of sigils.” (Skinner, pg. 14)

Moving onto another incredibly influential text, The Signature of All Things, published by Jakob Bohme in 1764, covers a similar concept to correlative thinking known as ‘the doctrine of signatures’: God created everything on Earth with a “signature”, or sign, that tells you what that object’s purpose is. The idea is that any plant, herb, or object on earth should resemble what it’s purpose is – for example, walnuts (which look like brains) are used for brain health, and tomatoes (which are red, plump, and contain ventricles like the human heart) are used for heart health. Obviously, this concept was adopted in the context of medicinal use – by looking up an object’s signature within this book, a physician could theoretically find treatments for specific illnesses. While the contents of this book (and similar texts) have been debunked as pseudoscience, the influence of the doctrine of signatures is prevalent in witchcraft correspondences today.

In 1888, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was founded, and during that time S L MacGregor Mathers (1954-1918) and Dr. Wynn Wescott (1845-1925) prepared knowledge lectures for the Order, which eventually led to the generation of a Book of Correspondences (unpublished). According to Adam McLean in his edition of The Magical Calendar, this book circulated among members of the inner order of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and was later published by Aleister Crowley as his own work, Liber 777 (1909). Meanwhile, in 1908, The Kybalion (an anonymously written text, though often attributed to William W. Atkinson [1862-1932]) was published, including topics like “The Principle of Correspondence” and “The Planes of Correspondence”.

From here on, we have an uproar in magical texts, thanks to the new-age/spiritualism movement of the 70s and 80s – popular authors like Gerald Gardner, Scott Cunningham, Ray Buckland, and many others published works on the subject of magic, often including their own correspondences, typically influenced or inspired by the works of Crowley, Mathers, and Atkinson. Of course, the contents of these modern texts are what is most recognizable to practitioners today – we usually find tables of information, relating astrological signs, herbs, planets, feelings, colors, and more to their “meanings”: protection, anti-stress, happiness, love, etc.

As it stands, correspondences are a by-product of the ‘correlative thinking’ concept we covered earlier – this correlative thinking shows up in Mesopotamia, and evolved throughout magical texts and grimoires, eventually becoming these “tables of magical correspondences” that we are familiar with seeing in modern witchcraft and pagan books and resources.

As I round off this post, I want to share a quote from Richard Cavendish in his book, The Black Arts: “Man is a tiny replica of the universe. If two things are naturally associated together in the human mind, which is an image of the ‘mind’ of the universe, this is evidence of a real connection between the two things in the universe. Many of the important magical analogies and connections are not natural to most people’s minds today, but have been handed down by tradition from the remote past. This enhances their value for occultists, who believe that humanity was a great deal wiser in these matters in the remote past than it is now.” As practitioners, particularly modern practitioners, I feel we put too much emphasis on older concepts and traditions. While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with sticking to traditions and building off of older magical systems, I think it’s just as important that we work on our own magical systems – what does the color red mean to you? What about the planet Jupiter? Find out what works for you – you may find that it makes you feel more connected to your craft and your practice, and your workings could become more powerful, too.

Sources/Further Reading:

Dictionary of Gnosis & Western Esotericism by Wouter Hanegraaff

Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa

The Signature of All Things by Jakob Bohme

The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish

A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult by DK

The Complete Magician’s Tables by Stephen Skinner

Neurobiology, Layered Texts, and Correlative Cosmologies: A Cross-Cultural Framework for Premodern History by Farmer et al

https://youtu.be/p0z3MuuB9uc

https://youtu.be/gYSGSjU84vE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx1av438mLY

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/matauryn/2018/06/03/magickal-correspondences/

https://howardchoy.wordpress.com/tag/correlative-thinking/

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/An-abstract-diagram-meant-to-illustrate-the-perfectly-correlative-structure-of-the_fig4_237249544

https://swedenborg.com/emanuel-swedenborg/explore/correspondences/

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the-occult-lounge · 3 months

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• Paganism is a term first used pejoratively in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism or ethnic religions other than Judaism.

• Neo-Paganism is a modern religious movement incorporating beliefs or practices from outside the main world religions, especially nature worship.

• It is Polytheistic in nature; worship of or belief in multiple deities, which are usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religions and rituals but can also just be a reverence for nature without any belief in deities.

A Brief Pagan Time-line:

• 300-353 Emperor Constantine orders the pillaging of Pagan Temples in the Roman Empire and begins to ban pagan rituals under threat of death

• 363 to 375 Emperor Julian and his next three successors lead a revival of Paganism in the Roman Empire while also tolerating Christianity.

• 381 Emperor Theodosius begins a war on Paganism. Visits to temples are banned, the sacred fire of Vesta is extinguished, the Olympics are banned, Pagan rituals are banned, and many holy Pagan sites throughout the Roman Empire are destroyed by force.

• 410 Rome is sacked by the Visigoths. Many Romans viewed it as punishment for turning away from the gods.

• 400s to 500s Paganism in the Roman Empire is forced to go underground, Pagan libraries are burnt, and it becomes official policy to hunt down and torture the remaining Pagans. Some Pagan festivals are incorporated in Christianity.

• 600s-1300s Many Pagan Resurgences occur while many nations go under the influence of Christianity

• 1300s to 1700s a series of witchcraft trials sweep through Europe leading to an estimated 40,000 to 100,000 deaths. How the trials relate to Paganism is debated.

• 1492 Christianity is first introduced to the Americas and the African Diaspora soon begins.

• 1780s to 1860s The Romantic Movement emerges in Europe. Its members loved nature and were influenced by folklore and mythology. Several of the Romanticists including Thomas Love Peacock, Thomas Jefferson Hogg, Edward Calvert, and Algernon Swineburne wrote poetry praising the old gods, built altars to Pan, and began to identify as Pagan.

• 1904 Aleister Crowley transcribes The Book of the Law while in Egypt and proclaims the establishment of the “new age” of the Æon of Horus.

• 1910 Rider-Waite tarot deck first published

• 1921 The Witch-Cult in Western Europe by Margaret Murray is published and the Witch-Cult Hypothesis is further popularized.

• 1939 Gerald Gardner is initated into the New Forest Coven, and believes it to be ancient.

• 1954 Witchcraft Today by Gerald Gardner is published and leads to the spread of Wicca.

• 1960s Interest in Paganism and new age philosophy explodes.

• 1980s The Satanic Panic occurs

• 1980s-2000s Neo-Paganism finds a new breath of life and worshipers

#discord #occultism #occultist #pagan #paganism #witch #witch community #witchblr #witchcraft #witches

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creature-wizard · 11 months

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Lauren Stratford claims modern witches are satanic abusers. (If you're part of Witchblr, she means you.)

(A heads up, this post is talking about exposed fraud Lauren Stratford/Laurel Rose Willson, who claimed to have been an SRA and CSE victim, and played a large role in perpetuating the Satanic Panic. There will be disturbing topics discussed in this post/thread.)

We're now reaching the point in this book where Stratford is getting her Harold Hill on and telling us what sorts of things in our society are tools of Satan.

She claims that if you have participated in any of the following, then you, YES YOU, are a victim of satanic ritual abuse or are at risk of becoming one:

Playing Dungeons & Dragons

Wearing pentacle jewelry

Making the sign of the horns

Experimenting with ESP, astral projection, guided imagery, or meditation.

Using a ouija board or tarot cards.

Healing via pyramid power, crystals, or colors

Participating in polytheistic spiritual rituals

New Agey/New Age adjacent self-improvement/empowerment

UFOlogy

OBEs

Channeling

I think most of us would agree that some of these things have... issues (EG, crystal healing) and do in fact connect to some very unsavory politics (EG, New Age), but they are very much not satanic, much less do they have anything to do with some grand satanic conspiracy that can only be defeated through the power of Jesus.

As for the rest, it's very clear that Stratford is lumping all modern witchcraft, all modern paganism and polytheism, and all unconventional spiritual practices together as satanic, and therefore, tools of satanic ritual abuse. Oh, and do you enjoy modern fantasy games? Yeah, no, that's satanic, according to Stratford.

(Satanic Panic peddlers really hate fantasy media.)

But if you disagree with Stratford at all:

Of course you didn't think of yourself as a victim. That's where the deception begins. In each of these areas, you are being directed toward the power of self, the power of nature, the power of another god or other gods, or the power of Satan, and you are being pulled away from the power of God. You are becoming a victim of Satan's deceptions.

And she claims that:

Your only answer, your only hope, your only real freedom is in Jesus Christ. I've shared with you how I found Him to be my answer. Now I long to share with you in a simple and practical way how you can find Him to be your answer.

If you're reading this post, odds are good that you're among the people Stratford claimed was a victim in need of saving from Satan. The Satanic Panic was never about saving people from any sort of abuse; it was always a hate movement targeting anyone who wasn't a conservative Christian. There was never a single shred of evidence found for the grand Satanic conspiracy people claimed existed, but there were lots and lots of frauds like Stratford who were relied upon as authorities on the existence of this conspiracy.

The tropes of the Satanic Panic itself were rooted in witch hysteria and antisemitism. It's the same old violent conspiracy theories repackaged for a new generation, for the same purpose of asserting conservative Christian dominion.

Among many other allegations of SRA that may or may not be rooted in something that actually happened, that were likely as not embellished by law enforcement officials desperately looking for satanic crimes, Stratford claims that:

In 1981 the Witches International Coven Council (WICCA) listed several goals at their convention in Mexico. This list was intercepted and confiscated by law-enforcement officials. Among their objectives are:

To bring about personal debts, causing discord and disharmony within families

To remove or educate the "new-age youth" by: a) infiltrating boys'/girls' clubs and big sister/ brother programs b) infiltrating schools, having prayers removed, having teachers teach about drugs, sex, freedoms c) instigating and promoting rebellion against parents and all authority

To have laws changed to benefit our ways, such as: a) removing children from the home environment and placing them in our foster homes b) mandatory placement of children in our daycare centers c) open drug and pornography market to everyone

Yeah, so, if you're a modern witch, Stratford says that you're involved in a conspiracy to destroy society. She claims that people like you are targeting children in preschool for horrific abuses:

These goals are being systematically pursued, and one of the primary avenues is through preschools. Apparently satanists are actively training and seeking employment in preschools throughout the country, and using this as a base for recruiting and programming children for satanism. What these children see, hear, and endure is practically beyond belief: people in robes; sexual abuse; drugged lemonade; animal sacrifices; human sacrifices.

Anyway, it's a good time to mention that no evidence whatsoever was found for any of the allegations of satanic abuse made during the McMartin preschool trials, adults coached children on what to say, and some children made things up because they were put under pressure.

#lauren stratford #laurel rose willson #satan's underground #sra #satanic ritual abuse #witchcraft #conspiracy theories #conspiracism #conspiracy theory

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littlewitchygreen · 5 months

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The Commercial Witch

This post is a little unlike my others, but it is one that I find interesting and have been wanting to make for a while, if simply to talk about it as more of a think piece. Since I began actively practicing witchcraft, I've been seeing a rise in companies and brands promoting and selling things related to witchcraft, as well as a host of social media influencers making witchy aesthetic posts with elaborate altars and setups. While there is nothing inherently wrong with either of those, it has led to a side effect that I've seen mentioned offhandedly but not really talked about much: the commercialization of witchcraft.

Influence

While I love the aesthetic posts as much as the next witch (both because they are pretty and organized well, and because it sometimes sparks ideas of my own), I don't so much love the implications such posts give about the nature of witchcraft in the modern day.

I've seen many new witches ask what crystals they have to buy, and what plants they should start with, and how to make a grimoire look picture perfect, and where to buy the best tools, and is a drawer full of divination tools enough or do they need more? All perfectly valid and genuine questions for those still learning, that deserve full and honest answers. But I've also seen just as many posts from people wanting to learn witchcraft that lament that they could never afford it, and that is where the problem I feel lies.

Posts from witchcraft influencers and those who simply like the aesthetic and are not actual witches imply through what they show that it is the things that make the witch rather than the person themself - and that the only way to harness magical ability is through items rather than practice and skill. So, not knowing any better, new witches pick up on that and believe the same.

To be clear: material goods are not a problem. If dozens of tarot decks make you happy, go ahead. If collecting crystals adds value to your practice, do so. If you find a box full of A-Z herbs useful, absolutely get it! My problem comes with the fact that none of these collections are necessary to becoming a witch, and it is often presented as such. The earliest witches we have records of did not have access to the wide range of spices and herbs we do. They did not have crystals, minerals, and stones from around the world to harness energy. They often did not have libraries of books to learn from - and likely, many would not have been able to read even if they did. They (usually) did not have specially made tools for their craft. They used what was available, they used what they knew and made and grew themselves, they learned from each other or practice or observation, and they used items that they already owned.

And so can we.

Capitalism and Witchcraft

As the other half of this topic, the relationship between capitalism and witchcraft is also concerning to me for a variety of reasons. I have noticed an increase in regular stores selling witchcraft goods in kits and little box sets and the like, and upon inspecting them, most are... inadequate, at the least. Generally, they are either very surface-level or very appropriative - neither of which should be something we should be thrilled about.

From selling white sage for 'smudging' and a cheap tarot deck in Sephora's Starter Witch Kit to TJ Maxx selling herb kits, mini mortars and pestles, and cheap divination decks as a Halloween gimmick, large companies are trying to cash in on the renewed interest in witchcraft. The increase in interest itself is not offensive - many witches I know appreciate the more open acceptance of a practice many of us have had to keep hidden for fear of judgment and safety. However, with large brands treating it like a trend without doing research or marketing it appropriately, it can cause harm.

I made a post recently about cultural appropriation in witchcraft, and two of the signs of appropriation are lacking respect for a practice and commercializing it. Large brands marketing things like tarot decks as fun games to play with your friends ignores the rich historical and cultural context attached to the cards, as well as the spiritual significance they take on for many readers. By giving surface-level books on how to read them, or failing to provide books at all, they encourage a lack of knowledge in the subject - another red flag for appropriation. By selling herb kits for 'smudging' containing things like white sage or palo santo, they are taking from closed practices and traditions that were often made illegal to those from whom they originated (yet another red flag), and teaching newcomers to as well.

This isn't to say a new witch cannot buy their first items from brands like this - many do not have the option of locally sourcing their materials from small businesses that put in the work to sell items respectfully, as these are still often far and in between. There may also be safety reasons or other reasons why they are unable to acquire tools in any other way, and my intent is not to pass judgment on those who do for whatever reason. My intent is to urge new witches to look beyond the surface of what these companies present, and to critique the companies for selling these items the way they do to begin with.

Some of these companies have removed their items due to backlash - as Sephora did with their kit - while others simply do not care. And, there is nothing we as individuals can do to stop the companies from trying, without organized collective action; and I do not believe our communities are at a place where that effort can be made in earnest just yet, though hopefully in the future they will be.

Moving Forward

So, from where I stand, it is up to us as consumers of both media and materials to think critically about what we are consuming. Whether that be questioning assumptions we make based on what we see online, or questioning the ethics of what we are purchasing and where it comes from.

Our lines will look different depending on where we are, what we practice, and the resources available to us. All I urge people to do is to do what they can to be intentional in their choices, and that if consuming from large companies and social media to put in the work to deepen the surface-level understanding they offer and grow on your own.

#witchcraft #witchblr #witch #witches

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breelandwalker · 6 months

Note

Hey, love your book and podcast! I've been an invisible fan for years haha. Thank you for providing so much insight, it's really helped me in my personal spiritual direction. :)

I wanted to ask, have you heard of the whole, "you can't buy your own tarot deck, someone must give it to you" theory, I've had it thrown around at me a few times, personally mine was bought by me, however my first deck was given to me. What do you think about it?

Personally? And with an eye to the history of tarot and modern witchcraft? I think the idea of "needing" to receive your first deck as a gift is a relic of a Golden Dawn tradition that got pasted onto some hand-wavey fictitious Romani tradition by the modern witchcraft movement....and then it got repeated over and over until everyone forgot how recently the tradition was created.

(Which is what happens when several generations of witches are taught the history of their movement by a very small number of pagan authors rather than reading actual history books, even though Drawing Down The Moon was right there.)

That happened with a lot of things in modern witchcraft, actually. There's lots of things that we have perfectly good documentation for that shows certain things were invented or added to the canon VERY recently, by practitioners who are still living, but they get called "ancient" because some people don't believe things have value or legitimacy unless they have antiquity. (My podcast senpai Trae Dorn had a MARVELOUS chat with Aidan Kelly about this very topic on BS-Free Witchcraft.)

In all fairness, if this is news to anyone, there is absolutely no shame in that. We don't know what we don't know, and it's not like they teach the history of the modern witchcraft movement in public schools.

And if some witches prefer to receive their first tarot deck or oracle deck as a gift, that's fine. But it's not a requirement and nothing bad will happen if you go out and pick a deck yourself. There's a pretty sizeable market that depends on people buying their own decks, actually.

I actually covered the history of tarot cards, including the likely origin of the "first deck must be a gift" motif, in an episode of Hex Positive back in 2021. If you're interested, you can check out Ep. 019 - The Trouble with Tarot.

Hope this helps! 😊🎴

#snailbeard #tarot #witchblr #witchcraft #witch community #divination #Hex Positive #Bree answers your inquiries

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eldritchboop · 10 months

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The Witchcraft and Magic Collection

The Lost Book Project is charging $13 for this collection. If you've found this useful, please consider donating to the Internet Archive or Global Grey Ebooks instead.

Other roundups here

Aradia, Or The Gospel Of The Witches (1899)

Magus – A Complete System of Occult Philosophy Book 1 (1801)

The Book Of Ceremonial Magic by A.E. Waite (1913)

Key of Solomon The King (1622)

Malleus Maleficarum (1487)

The Black Pullet (1700's)

Daemonologie by King James I (1597)

Manual of Occultism (1914)

Divine Pymander (1657)

Golden Chain of Homer (1723)

Monas Hieroglyphica by John Dee (1564)

Encyclopedia of Ancient and Forbidden Secrets (1898)

The Book of Hallowe'en by Ruth Edna Kelley (1919) The Kybalion - a study of the hermetic philosophy of ancient Egypt and Greece (1908)

Book of Black Magic by Edward Arthur Waite (1910)

Alchemy - Ancient and Modern by H. Stanley Redgrove (1922) Alchemy – Rediscovered and Restored (1914) Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism (1922) Anima astrologiæ; or, A guide for astrologers (1886) Architecture, Mysticism and Myth (1892) Astral Worship (1895) Astrology – Its Technics and Ethics (1917) The Book of Aquarius: Alchemy and the Philosophers' Stone (Unknown)

Comte de Gabalis (1914)

Dogma Et Rituel De La Haute Magie Part I (1896) Dogma Et Rituel De La Haute Magie Part II (1896) Fortune Telling By Cards by PRS Foli (1915) General Book of The Tarot (1920) Gleanings of a Mystic (1922) Hermetic Arcanum (1623) Illustrated Key to The Tarot (1916) Irish Witchcraft and Demonology (1913) Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft (1830) Magical Ritual of The Sanctum Regnum (1896)

Magic and Religion by Andrew Lang (1901)

Magic – White and Black, or The Science of Finate and Infinite Life (1900) Magus – A Complete System of Occult Philosophy Book 2 (1801) (Ed note: Both books because I love you <;3)

Mythology and Rites of The British Druids by Edward Davies (1809) Numbers - Their Occult Power and Mystic Virtues (1911) Occult Principles of Health and Healing (1919) Occult Sciences - Waite (1891) The Occult World (1883) Ophiolatreia - Serpent Worship (1889) Outline of Occult Science (1922) Pagan and Christian creeds - Their Origin and Meaning (1920) Records of Salem Witchcraft Copied From The Original (1864) Stonehenge - A Temple Restord To The British Druids by W. Stukeley (1740) The Book of Talismans, Amulets, and Zodiacal Gems by William Thomas Privitt (1922) The Cloud Upon The Sanctuary (1895) The Comte De St. Germain (1912) The Druid Path (1917)

The Tarot of the Bohemians - the most ancient book in the world for the exclusive use of initiates (1896) The Veil of Isis, or, Mysteries of the Druids (1861)

#witchblr #witchcraft resources #historic books #witchcraft #witchy

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gladstones-corner · 2 months

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Glad's Book List

I wrote a post recently about my history (normally I'd link it but I don't want to be narcissistic), and realized that I've read a fair few occult books over the years. So here's the list; I'll keep updating it as I find more books in my various libraries and book stashes.

Quick note before getting into this list--not everything I've read will make it. Just the stuff I read and recommend others parse through. For example, I have intentionally omitted my studies in Kabbalah to discourage others from unintentionally appropriating.

But by "parse through", I truly mean that. My path has meandered through several schools of thought and wandered into appropriative territory at times (I constantly strive to correct any appropriation in my practice that gets brought to my attention). Maybe about 20% of each book makes it into my current path.

Eh, so it wasn't so quick of a note. Here's the list:

CEREMONIAL MAGIC

Aleister Crowley, Book 4

Chic and Sandra Cicero, Essential Golden Dawn

Donald Kraig, Modern Magick

Henry Agrippa, Three Books of Occult Philosophy

Israel Regardie, The Golden Dawn

Lon Milo DuQuette, Llewellyn's Complete Book of Ceremonial Magick

Samuel Mathers, The Book of Abramelin

Stephen Skinner and David Rankine, Key of Solomon

CHAOS MAGIC

Archtraitor Bluefluke, The Psychonaut Field Manual

Jan Fries, Visual Magick

Lon Milo DuQuette, Low Magick

Peter Carroll, Liber Null & Psychonaut; Liber Kaos

Phil Hine, Condensed Chaos; Prime Chaos

Richard Metzger, Book of Lies

Robert Wilson, Prometheus Rising

CRYSTALS

Cassandra Eason, The Complete Crystal Handbook

Karen Frazier, An Introduction to Crystal Grids

Robert Simmons and Naisha Ahsian, The Book of Stones

Scott Cunningham, Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, and Metal Magic

Yulia van Doren, Crystals

DIVINATION

A.E. Waite, Pictorial Key to the Tarot

Brigit Esselmont, Everyday Tarot; The Ultimate Guide to Tarot Meanings

Chic and Sandra Cicero, Golden Dawn Ritual Tarot

Diana Paxson, Taking Up the Runes

Lon Milo DuQuette, Understanding Crowley's Thoth Tarot

Melissa Cynova, Kitchen Table Tarot

Rachel Pollack, Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom

DREAMS

Carl Jung, Dreams; The Red Book

DRUIDRY

Dana O'Driscoll, Sacred Actions

John Greer, The Druidry Handbook; The Druid Magic Handbook

Philip Carr-Gomm, The Druid Way

Ross Nichols, The Book of Druidry

HELLENISM

David Mierzwicki, Hellenismos

Hesiod, Theogeny

Homer, Iliad; Odyssey

John Opsopaus, The Oracles of Apollo

LABRYS Community, Hellenic Polytheism

Orpheus, The Orphic Hymns

HERBS

Nicholas Culpeper, Culpeper's Complete Herbal

Scott Cunningham, Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs

HERMETICISM

Hermes Trismegistus, Corpus Hermeticum; The Emerald Tablet

Three Initiates, The Kybalion

GENERAL MAGIC

Aleister Crowley, Magic in Theory and Practice

Christopher Dell, The Occult, Witchcraft and Magic

Manly Hall, Secret Teachings of All Ages

Owen Davies, Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic

Rock Point Publishing, Spellcraft

Sarah Lyons, How to Study Magic

MEDITATION

Diana Paxson, Trance Portation

Stephen Bodian, Meditation for Dummies

PAGANISM

Herman Slater, A Book of Pagan Rituals

Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon

Ronald Hutton, Triumph of the Moon

WICCA

Doreen Valiente, Witchcraft for Tomorrow

Gerald Gardner, The Meaning of Witchcraft; Witchcraft Today

Janet and Stewart Farrar, A Witches' Bible

Raymond Buckland, Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft; The Tree; Wicca for One

Scott Cunningham, Wicca; Living Wicca

Starhawk, The Spiral Dance

Thea Sabin, Wicca for Beginners

Thorn Mooney, Traditional Wicca

#glad's thoughts #occult books

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samwisethewitch · 2 years

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Witchcraft, Occult, New Age, or Pagan? What's the difference?

For folks just getting into alternative spirituality, terminology can be confusing. What's the difference between New Age and pagan? Are all witches pagan? What does occult even mean? And where do my beliefs and practices fit into all that?

Truly, you don't need to label your spiritual practice unless you want to. Labels can sometimes feel uncomfortably restrictive. On the other hand, knowing what common labels mean can help you find resources, teachers, and groups that are relevant to your practice, so in this post I'll explain some of the ones that are commonly misused or confused with each other.

I want to make one important note: All of these are umbrella terms, which means for each of these labels there is a whole range of belief systems that fit under that label. Keep in mind that these are very broad and very general terms.

Also, none of these approaches is inherently better or worse than the others, and there's no rule against combining one or more of them. Wicca could be considered paganism, witchcraft, and occultism, and many modern witchy authors incorporate New Age elements in their books. You may find that more than one of these labels could apply to your practice.

New Age

I want to start with the label New Age, because this is the one I see misused most often. Some people use "New Age" as a catch-all term for anything outside conventional, mainstream spirituality, but this is incorrect. Someone who does witchcraft or reads tarot is not necessarily New Age, and New Age beliefs are very different from traditional witchcraft, paganism, and occultism.

Modern New Age spirituality began in the 1970s, but it has roots in several 19th century movements, most notably New Thought, Spiritualism, and Theosophy.

The New Thought movement began in the US in the 1800s. It grew out of dissatisfaction with mainstream Christianity at the time and was dedicated to a "mind over matter" approach to spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. New Thought practitioners believed that the spiritual realm was higher or more real than the physical world and that spiritual causes create physical effects. (Basically, everything comes from a spiritual cause.) These are all ideas still present in New Age beliefs.

Spiritualism is another 19th century American movement and is based on the idea that the souls of the dead can communicate with the living. Spiritualists tried to contact the dead, usually with help and/or guidance from a medium. Some spiritualists also believed in other psychic phenomena, like clairvoyance, telepathy, and precognition. This is where the New Age concept of "channeling" comes from.

Theosophy (from the Greek theos, "god," and sophia, "wisdom") is a movement that grew out of Western occultism in the 1800s. Theosophy was focused on connecting to a deeper spiritual reality through trance, meditation, and other mystical practices. Theosophists believed that all world religions have an esoteric "inner meaning" and that all religions contain some truth. They also believed in a single, all-encompassing divine source and that the goal of human life was to return to our spiritual home. These concepts are foundational to most modern New Age movements.

Modern New Age spirituality began in the US in the 1960s and 1970s as several loosely organized groups with a shared interest in mystical, transcendental spirituality and practices like alternative healing, Asian-style meditation, channeling spirits, and psychic phenomena. From there, it spread through magazines and periodicals, then later through books. Some authors claimed their books were "channeled" -- revealed to them by spiritual beings.

New Age spirituality is not an organized religion, but many individuals around the world who read the same books, have similar beliefs, and engage in similar practices.

Common New Age practices include meditation, energy work, crystal healing, channeling, and sometimes practices drawn from world religions like yoga (from Hinduism), mantras (also from Hinduism), or working with angels (from Christianity).

Witchcraft

Witchcraft, to put it bluntly, is poor people magic. Less bluntly, it's folk magic: the use of charms and spells to create a desired outcome. It could also be classified as natural magic -- that is, magic that deals directly with natural forces, as opposed to ceremonial magic, which deals with summoning spirits. (Although some witches do call forth spirits in their rituals.) Witchcraft is typically low magic, which is simple, practical, and intuitive, as opposed to high magic, which involves intricate and complex ceremonies.

It's important to note that the way the word "witchcraft" is used by most witches today is very different from how it was used historically. Before the 20th century, witchcraft meant magic that was done explicitly to harm people. Modern witches are closer to historic "cunning folk," who used charms and spells to help their communities.

The reclaiming of the word "witch" is a long and complicated story, but in many cases it's about recognizing feminine power and agency. As author and witch Starhawk says, "To reclaim the word Witch is to reclaim our right, as women, to be powerful; as men, to know the feminine within as divine."

The witch label has historically been used to demonize marginalized people -- not just women, but Jewish and Muslim people, Black and Brown people, queer people, disabled people, and poor people. To reclaim the word witch is a political statement that sends the message that we are powerful despite our marginalization.

Witchcraft is usually very practical. It's not really about theory -- it's about doing what works. It's usually pretty simple, and it's almost always very intuitive. It can be a structured or as freeform as you make it, but there is usually some internal logic.

Witchcraft is not religious, but it is spiritual. Witchcraft itself is not a religion, although some religions do incorporate witchcraft into their practices. Witchcraft can coexist with any religion a that doesn't have taboos against magic. However, most witches do feel that there is a spiritual component to witchcraft.

Witchcraft is culturally relative. Witchcraft in Italy looks very different from witchcraft in the Czech Republic, which looks very different from witchcraft in New England, which looks very different from witchcraft in Mexico. Even within a single country there may be many different traditions shaped by different cultural influences.

Not all magic is witchcraft. Witchcraft is only one of many approaches to magic.

Pagan

"Pagan” is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of different religious faiths. These different faiths are linked by a shared history, rather than by shared beliefs or practices. Someone who practices Wicca, for example, will have very different beliefs from someone who practices Hellenismos, but both are pagans.

The word “pagan” comes from the Latin paganus, which literally means “area outside of a city” or, to phrase it slightly differently, “countryside.” This adjective was used to describe people and things that were rustic or rural and, over time, came to also have the connotation of being uneducated. Originally, the word had no religious association, and was even used to refer to non-combatants by the Roman military.

From this definition, we can gain some insight into what makes a religion or practice pagan. Pagans feel a kinship with the wild or rural places of the world, and are comfortable walking “off the beaten path.”

But how did paganus come to refer to a type of religion, anyway?

To understand the religious meaning of paganus, we have to understand a little bit about the religion of Ancient Rome. Rome (the city) was built inside a pomerium, a sacred boundary that formed a spiritual border around the city and its people. Paganus folks were those who lived outside the pomerium and may not have been strict adherents of the state religion — they certainly wouldn’t have been able to travel into the city for every major festival. They may have gotten a bit more creative with their worship of the gods. However, the word paganus did not have an explicitly religious meaning in ancient times.

The use of paganus as a religious label began after the legalization of Christianity by the Roman Emperor Constantine in 313 C.E. Christianity would not be adopted as the official state religion until 380 C.E., but Constantine’s conversion and decriminalization of Christian worship paved the way for Rome’s transformation into a Christian state. It was around this time, as Christianity was quickly growing in urban areas, that early Roman Christians began using the word paganus (pagan) to refer to those who still practiced polytheism. Rather than referring to those outside the city’s boundary or to untrained civilians, the label now referred to those outside the Church, those who were not “soldiers of Christ.”

As Christianity spread in popularity throughout the Mediterranean, Europe, and Northern Africa, the pagan label was applied to all non-Christians in those areas. The word “pagan” became a derogatory label, implying an inferior and backwards religion.

So, really, the thing that makes a religion pagan is a historical conflict with Christianity. Pagan religions are those that were suppressed or completely destroyed after Christianity became the dominant faith in the region.

This is why Norse Paganism and Kemetic (Egyptian) polytheism, which are very different, are both considered pagan while Shinto, a Japanese religion that shares a lot of common features with many pagan faiths, is not. Because Christianity never achieved total dominance in Japan, Shinto was never pushed aside to make room for Jesus.

In the 20th century, people who felt drawn to these old religions started to reclaim the pagan label. Like many other reclaimed slurs, “pagan” became a positive label for a community united by their shared history. Today "pagan" is an umbrella term that incorporates both reconstructionist religions, which seek to reconstruct a pre-Christian religion, and neopagan religions, which seek to apply pagan concepts like honoring nature and worshiping the divine feminine in a modern context.

Occult

Wikipedia actually defines occultism really well: "a category of esoteric supernatural beliefs and practices which generally fall outside the scope of religion and science, encompassing phenomena involving otherworldly agency, such as magic, sorcery, and mysticism and their varied spells."

Basically, occultism is Religion After Dark. Virtually every major religion or spiritual movement has its own occult movement, which often takes the teachings of that religion or movement and applies them in unorthodox ways, like magic rituals.

The word "occult" comes from the Latin occultus, meaning "hidden" or "secret." This implies that occult practices are secret or underground in some way.

In Western cultures, when we talk about the occult we are usually talking about Western occult traditions, which have roots in European Christianity and, in some cases, pre-Christian religion. (And, unfortunately, a lot of appropriated Jewish and Muslim practices.) The word occult originally referred to practices like astrology, alchemy, divination, and magic.

The occult includes both folk magic practices like witchcraft and formal systems like ceremonial magic -- however, people and groups that identify as occult tend to place a focus on esoteric knowledge. In my experience, self-identified "occultists" tend to be more interested in high magic systems than in folk magic, or their interest in folk magic is academic rather than intuitive. There are also occultists who identify with modern occult fields like demonology, cryptozoology, parapsychology, etc.

One of the most influential works in Western occultism is the Corpus Hermeticum, texts on occult sciences attributed to Hermes Trismegistos (a syncretization of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth). Occult systems based on the Corpus Hermeticum are called Hermetica.

Another major influence on Western occultism is the Kabbala, an ancient Jewish mystical tradition. To be clear: Kabbala is a closed practice. Not only that, but to truly understand Kabbala requires a grounding in Jewish philosophy and culture that really isn't possible for outsiders. Western occultism is not based on Kabbala -- it is based on a misinterpretation of Kabbala by Christian magicians in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. (And if you're not Jewish, Kabbala shouldn't be part of your occult practice.)

Secret societies play an important role in many Western occult traditions. One of the most famous of these is the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, which was active in Great Britain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Notable members of the Golden Dawn include Aleister Crowley (whose writings are incredibly influential in modern occultism), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (author of Sherlock Holmes), Dion Fortune (another well-known occult author), Pamela Coleman Smith and A. E. Waite (creators of the modern tarot deck), and Bram Stoker (author of Dracula), among others.

The Golden Dawn has had a huge influence on modern occultism. Gerald Gardner, founder of Wicca, was influenced by the Golden Dawn, and as a result Wicca combines GD-style occultism with paganism and witchcraft. Aleister Crowley founded his own religion/spiritual tradition called Thelema.

Some more recent occult movements include chaos magic, demonolaltry, and many forms of Satanism.

Some examples of occult practices are: alchemy, astrology, divination with tarot cards, using magic circles in spellcasting, calling the quarters, invocation and evocation of spirits, and creating sigils.

Sources:

"Religion Library: New Age" - Patheos

"New Thought" - Encyclopedia Britannica

"Spiritualism" - Encyclopedia Britannica

"Theosophy" - Encyclopedia Britannica

Witchcraft for Everyone by Sam Wise

The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

"Natural Magic" - Wikipedia

"What Does It Mean to be Pagan?" by Sam Wise

"Occult" - Wikipedia

"Occultism" - Encyclopedia Britannica

"Our Problematic Occult Ancestors" by Mat Auryn

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greenpanda-basicfakewitch · 8 months

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Disclaimer | About Me

I feel as if I need to make a disclaimer here just in case. So here my blog is a compilation of everything I can find on Wiccan/Pagan and Witchcraft from the internet.

For Literary purposes only. Aka for fictional stories. BUT even if it's fiction I do want to make sure the information I'm using IS accurate it's not something I myself am thinking of practising. But even so my stories are based in a Fantasy version of Modern Britain about a family of Witches.

Even in a media/art form I won't have my fictional witches touch anything that could be cultural appropriation.

Aka I'm looking away from anything american/indeginious and only british only to THEN find out that theres a ton of jewish/antisemntic stuff in there that I've just found out [Don't even try me, whats common knowledge to you could be new to someone else you don't see me hastling the wiccan on here about the dangers of AI art and writing and how do they not know about the wga strike etc etc people are in different social circles and wont be aware of such stuff]

Given that I'm british I figured I would use British Witchcraft as a base.

BUT even so I will be posting information about stuff here even if I won't use it- and will even post links/stuff to deter others away from such a thing. But there will be witches in that world who do practice things such as hoodoo and voodoo I just won't go into detail [but I don't want to make stuff up] it would only be a reflection of the current world as their are people who practice such things bringing an awarness to say they exist in that world isn't the same as appropriating-

For example I don't want all witches to be white witches in my story, I want to include others but not go too far into it but only bring an awarness that they exist. Hence why some of my posts will include things, from others practices but I WILL try to be accomidating and reference if Wiccans approriated or if it's a closed practice and none of my posts are meant to encourage such a thing.

Even so- I am thankful for the people who have messaged/replied and outright told me if something was problematic. I will remove OR reblog relelvent information under such posts but I will have to say [and hope this doesn't come across as rude]

I won't believe in a "This is wrong coz I said so." Especially if I look online and people from that group say it's okay, aka Chakras so I'm unsure as most don't care meanwhile others have stated its a closed practice. [If I make that post I will link to BOTH and stay nuetral but will raise awarness on both sides points]

Or a "I'm an experienced witch." And thats it, theres no links/sources, no information and instead of being helpful and supplying said links they just go.

"Google it."

The mental exhaustion to look up something which simple to them- I have to google EVERYTHING from crystals/tarots/history/ And I'm only looking up the internet thats not counting the BOOKS I havn't written up yet [I won't rewrite everything just the passages so I'm no casually pirating books and sourcing them]

Why do you think I'm here? Also google websites seem biased and from my post about the 'founders of wicca' Gardner wasn't great but that website didn't go into detail. And most websites seem biased as if their painting these individuals with sympathy aka, Margaret murray who 'should' be the founder and its blatantly sexist that everyone assumes it's gardner just to realise that she's just as bad and exagirated most of her information.

It's so easy to just say google it, but googles search engine isn't great and i'll be damned if most of my sources are coming from wikipedia.

#witch community #witchcraft #witchtok #witchblr #pagan #babywitch #witch #paganism #wiccan #wicca

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lazywitchling · 11 months

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Jes' Collection of Witch Books

I said I would make this list, so here I am, making this list.

These are all the Witchy (and witchy-adjacent) books I own and/or have read. It's a long list, so it's going under a cut!

Key of Symbols:

📗 Read

📖 Reading

📚 Not Yet Read

Books that I own

📗 Rebel Witch by Kelly-Ann Maddox (Review)

📖 A Dabbler's Guide to Witchcraft by Fire Lyte

📚 Spellcrafting by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

📗 The House Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock (Review)

📗 Witchery by Juliet Diaz (Review)

📚 A Witch's Guide to Spellcraft by Althea Sebastiani

📚 All That is Sacred is Profaned by Rhyd Wildermuth (edit: nevermind, he's a transphobe now)

📚 Reclaiming Ourselves by Emma Kathryn

📚 In the Midnight Hour by Anthony Rella

📗 Weave the Liminal by Laura Tempest Zakroff (Review)

📚 Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways by Gemma Gary

📗 Grovedaughter Witchery by Bree NicGarran (@breelandwalker)

📗 The Sisters Grimmoire by Bree NicGarran (@breelandwalker)

📚 Witchcraft by Anastasia Greywolf or Tamsin Chamberlin (don't buy this one: here's why)

Books I read from the Library

📗 The Modern Witchcraft Spell Book by Skye Alexander (don't buy this one: here's why)

📗 Backwoods Witchcraft by Jake Richards

Zines and Pamphlets

📗 A Pagan Anti-Capitalist Primer

📗 Brainscan 33: DIY Witchery by Alex Wrekk (@upthewitchypunx)

📗 Brainscan 34: A Dabbler's Week of DIY Witchery by Alex Wrekk (@upthewitchypunx)

📗 Everyday Magic #1

📗 Everyday Magic #2

📗 Exploding the Tangerine by Clint Marsh & Oliver Bly

📗 Five Principles of Green Witchcraft by Asa West

📗 Hex Your Ex

📗 The Witchy Zinester's Pocket Book of Spells

📚 Twin Peaks Tarot Spreads

📚 Sow Sprout Grow Tarot Spreads

Charity Bundle E-Books

These all came as a bundle, so the quality will vary as it does with any bargain grab-bag. I'm not linking these unless I've read (or am reading) them because it takes a long time, and I have no idea if they're good or absolute shit. If you want to learn about these, you know how the internet works.

📚 City Magick by Christopher Penczak

📚 Consorting with Spirits by Jason Miller

📚 Herbal Magick by Gerina Dunwich

📚 Hex Twisting by Diana Rajchel

📚 Italian Folk Magic by Mary-Grace Fahrun

📚 Love Magic by Lilith Dorsey

📚 Magic When You Need It by Judika Illes

📚 Magickal Astrology by Skye Alexander

📚 Personal Magic by Marion Weinstein

📚 Plant Witchery by Juliet Diaz

📚 Positive Magic by Marion Weinstein

📗 Queering Your Craft by Cassandra Snow (Review)

📚 Reading the Runes by Kim Farnell

📚 Spellcrafting by Gerina Dunwich

📚 The Big Book of Tarot by Joan Bunning

📚 The Study of Witchcraft by Deborah Lipp

📚 The Witch's Eight Paths of Power by Lady Sable Aradia

📚 The Witch's Guide to Wands by Gypsey Elaine Teague

📚 True Magic by Draja Mickaharic

📚 Water Witchcraft by Annwyn Avalon

📚 Wicca Made Easy by Phyllis Curott

📚 Wishcraft by Sakura Fox

📚 Witch, Please by Victoria Maxwell

📚 Witchcraft Activism by David Salisbury

📚 Year of the Witch by Temperance Alden

#jes vs witch books #lists

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