Faoladh

Double #witchmadness! Day 13: An essential tool + Day 14: How do you use music/sound in ritual?

Music is an essential! To set a vibe, raise energy, give offering. For ritual I will pick one of many ever-evolving playlists & let the music lead my energy, often receiving messages via lyrics as I go.

Cover of book "New World Witchery: A TROVE of North American Folk Magic" by Cory Thomas Hutcheson @newworldwitchery.bsky.social

#witchmadness Day 12: Favorite book for new witches?

Gotta be New World Witchery by Cory Thomas Hutcheson. Truly a TROVE of information that provides excellently researched, foundational knowledge resource that gives North American witches space to grow and build a modern practice.

Took the weekend off from #witchmadness. Welcome Day 10: How do you create your own herbal incense blends?

I love to harvest resin from evergreens in the area while it is still pliable, then work in ground herbs and spices to create cones.

Found this #bumblebee in the house while I was doing some spring cleaning. Tried placing her on the daffodils, but she wasn't a fan, the hyacinth on the other hand...

#witchmadness Day 7: How do you create & charge sigils?

I only recently began working with sigils thanks to a class from @ltzwitch.bsky.social that blew my mind and finally made sigils make sense for me.

Depending on the working, I'll charge by burning, or spitting, or through dance/movement.

@michaelblackthorn.bsky.social touched on it the other day: Witchcraft is in the DOING. Never stop reading and taking in new perspectives and thought, but there is no substitute for the knowledge gained by experience. A witch cannot find their craft if they do not work it.

For me, intuitive thought generally shows up as fully formed. It's a complete concept that pops in, vs thoughts my brain takes time to process and develop, where I'm forming the idea myself.

#witchmadness Day 7: How do you strengthen your intuition in magic?

Listen to it. Just... Start. I'm not saying act on every little thing that might be intuition, be safe and sane of course. But do listen. Do act on what you can. Observe. You'll figure out what is & is not intuition by what works.

New growth of an apple tree sticks up against a blue sky with wispy clouds. An Anna's hummingbird perches on the very top of one branch. A half moon hovers above.

Celebrating the arrival of post-6pm sunsets in the #PNW with dance, the Moon, and a hummingbird. #witchsky #witchmadness

This year I'm taking inspiration from the Becoming a Shepherd ritual from @tempuraapples.bsky.social Year of the Witch. The week prior I will have picked up my order from a local native plant seller, and the Equinox will be spent in ritual with those plants to settle them into the land.

I like to celebrate the Spring Equinox by doing yard work! That's typically how I mark every solar celebration, but for Spring that means putting the first seeds and new plants in the ground, and wrapping up final garden prep. #witchmadness #animism #gardenwitch

Oooh, def interested in hearing how you like this one. I'm unfamiliar with the author.

ABSOLUTELY love to work with Blackberry for protection.

Fix. Your. Heart.

WTF, @gluesenkampperez.house.gov

#witchmadness Day 6: Go-to herb for protection?

Rose is an incredible protection ally I think is often overlooked due to its deep assoc with love magic. But that is a huge mistake. What universal force is more protective than Love? Nothing survives without it, everything is strengthened by it.

Listen to this. Especially if you think you don't need to. Thank you to Imani for this education.

Man, some of my neighbors are loud. #corvidsky #crow

YES. For the love of all, please tell your ingredients what you're asking them to do! 👏👏👏

YEEEEESSSS I used to do a blend for cleansing, blessing, and uplifting that was a lovely morning ritual! May be time to revive that now that mornings are warming up...

It's #witchmadness Day 5! What’s your favorite cleansing method?

How many times am I going to say "It depends" this month? 😜

Smoke - incense, cannabis, resins, herbs
Sound - music, drums, bells, chimes, voice

And never, ever underestimate the power of a shower or bath.

#witchmadness Day 4: What’s your experience with spirit communication?

When I'm opening communication, it is largely through cards, runes, and/or pendulum. In terms of the more random messages from Spirit, those tend to be via Hearing, Knowing, and Smelling.

L.O.V.E. how you stated this.

1. As the toxic, manipulated, excessive, or corrupted expression of the upright. What we might call the unhealed aspect or shadow side.

2. As a sign that this is a personal or internal obstacle. (2/2)

#Witchmadness Day 4: How do you interpret reversed cards?

Wow does it depend. Some decks simply Don't Do reversals, some do, and the spread impacts things as well. Most often, I'll see reversals in one of two ways. (1/2)

Try new things with it! If charm bags are your strength, play with that. What shapes can you make, what colors can you use. Make it as versatile as you view candle magic. Just bc it hasn't been done that way before doesn't mean it won't work, create your own ways.

Yeeees. Lots of focus on baths, but showers are awesome spaces for magic!

1. I did not come here to be attacked so viscously and accurately. 😭

2. Thank you, I've been getting to know OG and this is an interesting tidbit to explore.

3. For what you can't grow or gather, whatever the reason, make friends and form trade networks. (4/4)

2. Gather from your own environment, explore what lives nearby, meet your neighbors. Learn to honorably harvest & create connection to the land that supports you. (3/4)