#mexican folk magick | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

samwisethewitch · 5 years

Text

✨🏳️‍🌈 Deities, Saints, Crystals, and Herbs For All Your Gay Magick Needs 🏳️‍🌈✨

Note: This was originally posted on my blog, themysticbitch.wordpress.com.

Happy Pride Month, my loves! June is upon us, which means it’s all gay, all the time for the next few weeks. Being queer is a big part of my life and my identity, so I wanted to do something special for Pride. The end result was my most recent video, which you can watch here.

In that video, I try to get through a ton of information in as little time as possible, so I decided to post a written version here for anyone who wants a more solid starting point for incorporating these deities, saints, herbs, and crystals into their own practice. I’ve tried to be as inclusive as possible here — if I’ve missed something that seems obvious to you, please let me know in a comment so I can update the list!

Spiritual Patrons For LGBTQ+ Folks

Patrons For WLW:

Artemis (Greek goddess): Artemis is considered a “virgin” goddess, but it’s important to note that the word “virgin” had a different meaning in Ancient Greek culture. The one thing we know about Artemis for sure is that she was not romantically interested in men, for whatever reason. Artemis swore never to marry or have sex with a man, and she lead the Hunters of Artemis, a group of all-women warriors who spent their days hunting and roaming the forest. She is associated with the moon, archery, the forest, and the hunt. Some of her common symbols are bows and arrows, stags, hunting dogs, and the moon. She was worshiped by the Romans as Diana.

Freyja (Norse goddess): Freyja is a Scandinavian goddess of sex and sexuality, as well as sorcery, wealth, war, and death. I decided to include Freyja in this list because she is associated with sex and sexuality, especially of women, but is not associated with pregnancy or motherhood like many other sex goddesses are — her children are rarely mentioned in the surviving myths. All we know about her husband is that he was lost, leaving Freyja single for all intents and purposes. She is noted for being bold in her sexual pursuits, sleeping with whoever she pleased. She is a goddess for any woman who wants to get in touch with her femininity and sexual power, regardless of sexuality. Some of Freyja’s common symbols are gold, amber, cats, and falcons.

Saints Perpetua and Felicity (Catholic saints): Perpetua and Felicity were African Christians who were persecuted by the occupying Roman government for their faith. Perpetua was a noblewoman — Felicity was one of her slaves. The two women were arrested together and sentenced to prison — eventually they were publicly executed. Some of Perpetua’s letters to family and friends survived, so we actually have a firsthand account of her imprisonments. From these letters it is clear that Perpetua and Felicity were very close, and historians have long speculated that they may have been romantically involved. Today they are considered unofficial patron saints of same-sex couples, especially women. You can buy medals and prayer cards for both of these saints from online Catholic stores. Like all Catholic saints, they can be honored with a white candle and/or Three Kings incense (this is the incense blend used by churches).

Patrons For MLM:

Apollo (Greek god): Apollo was the twin brother of Artemis, and has a similar history with the LGBTQ+ community. The Ancient Greeks had a very fluid attitude towards sexuality, but today we would probably classify Apollo as either bisexual or pansexual. There are myths that explicitly mention him having male lovers. Apollo was very close with his sister, Artemis — perhaps an early example of MLM/WLW solidarity? Apollo is associated with the sun, prophecy, healing, and the arts, especially music and poetry. Some of his symbols include the lyre, a laurel wreath, a bow and arrow, and a python. He was also worshiped by the Romans.

Freyr (Norse god): Funnily enough, we have another brother/sister pair. Freyr was the brother of Freyja, and he shared her association with sex and abundance. Freyr was a primarily agricultural god, and was believed to bring spring rains to nourish the growing crops. One of his strongest associations was with male sexuality — in fact, he was often depicted in art with a giant, erect penis! Like his sister, Freyr was more associated with the act of sex itself than when what comes after. Freyr is an excellent god for any man looking to get in touch with his own masculine power, regardless of sexuality. Some of his symbols are a boar, a ship, and a phallus.

Saint Sebastian (Catholic saint): Saint Sebastian has long been considered an unofficial patron of gay men, and the story behind this association is a wild ride. Unlike Saints Perpetua and Felicity, there is no historical evidence that Sebastian was queer. He was a martyr, and according to legend he was executed by being bound to a tree and shot with arrows. When the Plague hit Europe, Sebastian was often called upon for protection — this was the beginning of his popularity as a saint. Baroque artists created a lot (like, A LOT) of paintings of Sebastian that depicted him as a beautiful, muscular young man, clad in a loin cloth, gazing passionately up at Heaven as he was pierced with arrows. As you might imagine, he became something of a sex symbol. In fact, Sebastian became so popular with the gay men of Italy that he had his own cult! You can buy medals, prayer cards, and candles dedicated to Saint Sebastian, and again, he can be honored with a white candle and/or Three Kings incense.

Nonbinary and Genderfluid Patrons

Loki (Norse god): Technically, Loki is a jötunn (a frost giant), not a god, although he was formerly allied with the Aesir and lived in Asgard. Loki was a shapeshifter, and was known to take female forms as well as male. In fact, he once took the form of a female horse and gave birth to a foal! Loki is probably one of the most explicit examples of a genderfluid deity in European mythology. However, some pagans choose not to work with Loki. He is sometimes considered a “negative” god because of his association with mischief and chaos, and because he ultimately betrayed the Aesir. It is up to you whether to work with him or not, although I would definitely advise you not to bring Loki into a circle with any of the Aesir.

Odin (Norse god): The common image of Odin in pop culture is of a fierce warrior-king, but this is not historically accurate. Odin was often depicted as an old man in traveler’s clothes, and he was associated with several cultural taboos. Though he is definitely identified as masculine, Odin ruled magick, which was considered feminine in Scandinavian culture — it was dishonorable for a man to practice such “woman’s work.” Odin knew that some things transcend gender, and he is a wonderful patron for anyone looking to break away from traditional gender roles. Besides magick, he rules war, strategy, death, astral travel, and knowledge. Some of Odin’s symbols are ravens, wolves, his spear, and his armband. I personally burn mugwort incense when working with Odin. He was also worshiped by Germanic and Anglo-Saxon peoples as Wodan.

Archangel Gabriel (an angel honored in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam): Gabriel is usually identified with masculine pronouns, and “Gabriel” has became a common man’s name in many countries — but in art, Archangel Gabriel is often depicted with feminine features, and sometimes even with a clearly feminine body. This is because Gabriel is strongly associated with the Divine Feminine and with feminine energy in general. Gabriel rules pregnancy and female reproductive disorders, and is responsible for the care of children. He is also associated with the moon, a common symbol of goddess energy. Angels have no true gender, so they are all androgynous in nature, but Gabriel is especially so. Because of this, he is an excellent patron for nonbinary people. Some of Gabriel’s common symbols are a trumpet, a white lily, the moon, and water. Incenses associated with him are frankincense and camphor.

Honorable Mention: Santa Muerte (Mexican deity/folk saint): Santa Muerte may not be trans, nonbinary, or genderfluid herself, but she’s a fascinating figure and deserves a place on this list. Nuestra Señora de la Santa Muerte (“Our Lady of the Holy Death”) is a personification of death, and is called on for healing and protection by her followers. What is especially interesting is that Santa Muerte is considered a protector of all outcasts from society, including all LGBTQ+ people and especially transgender people. She is even invoked in same-sex marriage ceremonies in some parts of Mexico! Her worship has recently spread to the United States, with churches dedicated to her in California and New Orleans. You can buy statues and altar candles in her image. Common incenses for honoring Santa Muerte include copal, myrrh, and rose.

UPDATE: I’ve been told that worship of Santa Muerte is part of a closed cultural tradition, and is therefore not open to people outside of Mexican and Mexican American culture. I’m leaving her in this post because I still find her story uplifting, but I do ask all of my followers to please be respectful of this beautiful goddess and her cultural roots. I think we can find hope in her role as a pro-LGBTQ+ deity, while respecting that she is not ours to worship or work with.

Correspondences For LGBTQ+ Issues in Meditation and Spellwork

As I mentioned in one of my previous YouTube videos, magick is the act of manipulating the spiritual energy that permeates the universe. Every part of the natural world, including plants and minerals, has a different type of energy associated with it. If you want to connect with a certain energy (like the energy of romance, for example), you can surround yourself with things that correspond to that energy to make the connection easier.

A lot of the love spells that I’ve been able to find online use correspondences that have a strong association with straight romance. Obviously, some symbols are universal, but I wanted to find some correspondences that can specifically be used for manifesting same-sex romantic relationships. Here’s what my research turned up:

Correspondences For Love Between Two Women:

Rose Quartz: Rose quartz is considered the stone of unconditional love, and it can be used universally to attract love of all kinds, not just romantic. I think this crystal could be especially useful for women seeking a feminine partner, because it has a very strong feminine energy. Rose quartz is also strongly associated with self-love, and teaches us the important lesson that the best way to attract love is to start by loving ourselves. You could incorporate it into a love spell, wear it as jewelry, or meditate with it to align yourself with its loving energy.

Moonstone: Sometime’s called “the woman’s stone,” moonstone is very strongly associated with womanhood and with feminine sexuality. It is said to attract love and to increase passion in existing relationships. Unlike many other crystals associated with sex, moonstone has a very peaceful energy and can be used to calm anxiety or to soothe tense situations. Moonstone is a great stone for any woman looking to reconnect with her feminine power, or for increasing passion in an existing relationship between two women.

Violets: Violets have been associated with romantic love between women since the Ancient Greek poet Sappho of Lesbos (from whom we get the words “lesbian” and ‘sapphic”) used them as a symbol in poems dedicated to her female lover. In the Victorian era, queer women would give their lovers bouquets of violets instead of roses. (In the Victorian “language of flowers,” violets represent faithfulness.) In magick, violets are used to attract love and to increase luck in romantic endeavors. They are also edible — why not brew a violet tea and drink it as a love potion?

Correspondences For Love Between Men

Malachite: In many ways, malachite is the masculine counterpart to rose quartz. Despite its strongly masculine energy, malachite is deeply healing and works to open and unblock our heart chakra, as well as to heal any heartbreaks we may not quite have gotten over. Malachite is also considered the “salesman’s stone,” and can be used for situations where you are trying to “sell yourself” to a potential lover by giving a good first impression. Some people are afraid to use malachite because it is “toxic” — although it does contain copper, which can cause health problems if consumed in high amounts, wearing malachite or holding it against the skin is definitely not enough exposure to cause an issue. As long as you don’t eat your malachite or dissolve it in water, you will be fine.

Red Jasper: This is a wonderful stone for men looking to recharge their sexual energy, or to spice up an existing relationship. Jasper in general is associated with courage and charm, and for this reason it is often recommended to people involved in the performing arts, like actors and singers. Red jasper has a strong masculine energy, and is associated with the root chakra and our connection to the earth. Red jasper is an excellent stone to work with if you are dealing with sexual anxiety, or anxiety over being open about your sexuality. Meditate with it to feel more grounded, courageous, and stable.

Green Carnation: Although the connection between green carnation and queer men is not as ancient as the connection between violets and queer women, it is still well established. Oscar Wilde, who was openly gay, is said to have begun the trend of wearing a green carnation as a signal that he was seeking a man as a lover. Other men in Victorian England began to follow the trend, and the association still stands. In magick, carnation is said to enhance creativity and magickal power. Since it acts as an amplifier for other magickal energies, a green carnation can make any love spell more effective, especially for men seeking men.

Crystals and Herbs For Trans and Nonbinary Folks

Note: I said this in my video, but I feel like it bears repeating here — magick is not a replacement for mental healthcare. If you are struggling with gender dysphoria, I strongly encourage you to seek professional counseling if at all possible. None of the herbs, crystals, or spells mentioned below (or anywhere in this post) are intended as a replacement for medical or psychiatric treatment. If you are already taking medication of any kind, be sure to research potential interactions before ingesting any herb for magic or holistic purposes.

Chrysocolla (for trans and nb women): I first learned about chrysocolla from an episode of the Fat Feminist Witch podcast called “Not Every Goddess Has a Sacred Womb.” That episode discussed issues with equating womanhood to motherhood (or even just to having a uterus), and chrysocolla was brought up as a crystal with strong feminine energy that wasn’t tied to uterine health. This is a great stone to meditate with to get in touch with your own goddess energy, without any biological associations. Chrysocolla is also strongly associated with new beginnings, which may make it a useful spiritual tool for anyone who is just coming out of the closet.

Green Tourmaline (for trans and nb men): Much like malachite, green tourmaline is strongly associated both with masculine energy and with the heart chakra. It is a stone of masculine authority, and can be used either to get in touch with your own power or to help in overcoming emotional issues related to a father figure in your past. Tourmaline in general is said to convert negative energy into positive, which makes it ideal for overcoming any difficult situation.

Damiana (for trans and nb men AND women): Known by the scientific name Turnera diffusa, damiana is currently being clinically studied for its ability to balance hormones in all sexes. In holistic healing, damiana is commonly used to treat sexual problems — this is another one that may be useful for increasing sexual confidence. It is also said to help relieve anxiety and to decrease stress. Damiana is available both as herbal supplements and as a tea.

Angelica or Dong Quai (for trans and nb women): These are two different names for Angelica sinensis, which has been used in folk medicine for hundreds of years. It is often used to relieve symptoms of menopause because it increases estrogen levels when taken regularly. Angelica is also a powerful magickal herb, and is popular in American folk magick. It is sometimes associated with Archangel Gabriel, who I mentioned earlier, and is used for protection and healing. Angelica is available in teas and supplements, though it is usually marketed as “dong quai” in these forms.

Ginger (for trans and nb men): Lab studies found that ginger significantly increased testosterone levels in male rats. Human studies are still underway, but the research that has been done indicates similar benefits for humans. In magick, ginger is considered a magickal “power up” of sorts, and is often added to spells to add power or to speed up results. You can use ginger to increase your own masculine power, and to infuse yourself with a little bit of its sweet and spicy energy. Ginger is available both as a supplement and in teas, and of course it can be used in cooking.

This ended up being a way bigger project than I originally planned, but my research turned up so much good information that I wanted to share. I hope that some of this is helpful to all of my fellow gay witches out there, and I hope that you all have a magickal and blessed Pride Month.

P.S. I’ve actually written three different love spells based on this research. One is for men seeking men, one is for women seeking women, and one is for people who either don’t associate strongly with any one gender or don’t care about the gender of their partner. I was going to include those spells in this post but after seeing just how much info I had to cram in, I decided to give them their own post. You can find those spells here.

194 notes · View notes

brujeria-n-bongs · 6 years

Text

🌚Full Moon Bath Magic:

🕯️👁️🍯🙏🛁

Cleanse away sin, break hexes, and induce psychic visions.

♦️🕯️✴️🕯️♦️

This is gonna be a rather involved bath ritual.. Buckle up

(this works best on an empty stomach - don't if you think it won't be safe)

♦️Intent:

Cleanse away and forgive sins, break hexes, gain balance, bring blessings, enhance psychic ability, purification, meditation and vision inducing

♦️Saints / offering/ petition :

For each involved Saint / Orisha/ diety / etc. Include 1 icon & 1 offering.

VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE 🌹

Red rose petals

Personal patrones, gain forgiveness, compassion, love, guidence, and protection

EL SANTO NIÑO DE ATOCHA ⚽

Braid of sweet grass

For good health, protection, joy, wonder, and guidence

SAINT JUDE THADDEUS 🏅

Basil

For miraculous intervention, wealth, good health, protection from disease, a happy life, to break the chains that bind me, guidence and protection

♦️Hardware:

Red rose petals -2 cup - love, forgiveness, divination, blessings, Healing, protection

Marigold - 1 cup- cleansing, protection, psychic boost, good health, happiness, vision inducing

Espresso - 1 cup- hex breaking, strong cleanser, amplifys other herbs and intent, absorbs and removes negitivity

Lavender candle - 1- peace, protection, clean energy, psychic ability

Oolong tea - 5 bags - one per element, balance, good health

Green tea - 1 bag - Immortality and wisdom

White quartz - 1 - Enchance energies, amplify intent

Something to burn herbs in (metal tea infuser for me)

Rubbing alchoal / 90 proof alchoal / Florida water - spray into bath water in a cross pattern - cleansing, extinguish flames against you, dispels ill will, destroys malicious intent

Witch hazel - spray 3 over lapping circles in the bath working from head position towards the drain of the tub - Cleansing, extra magical strength, bring in beauty

Holy water - blessings, protection, purity, holy intervention, blessings from heaven

Pslams:

(pray in order)

104 - Bless tools and herbs (before bath)

75 - cleanse away & forgive sins

136- forgiveness of sin

88 - removes evil

89:19-21 - psychic vision (Replace David's name with yours)

92 - bring good fortune

150 - Thanks to God (say after exiting bath)

♦️Step by Step:

Organize and bless all of the tools and herbs you'll use before running the bath water.

Clean bathtub with rubbing alchoal / Florida water.

Add herbs to water (save a pinch of each to burn) and Pray psalms while bath is running.

Light candles and burn herbs - smoke cleanse everything at this point

Place saint icons and offering accordingly (this is how I did mine)

North corner - Earth - St Jude

East Corner - Air - Santo Niño

South corner - Fire - Guadalupe

West Corner - Water - White quartz (not a saint but it 2as placed with them to complete the circle)

Step into bath, kneel and greet each saint appropriately, and give offerings, working counter-clockwise starting with the Virgin of Guadalupe (or highest ranked spirit so-to speak. If you're working with the Oishas or another pantheon that has specific orders for spirits do THAT)

♦️While in the bath:

Meditate on your life and confess the sins that weigh on your soul. Ask for them to be taken and destroyed.(say them out loud and ask for forgiveness and guidence)

Ask for all of the negitive emotions that bind you to be dispelled and removed.

In its place, ask for blessing of good energy (protection, love, compassion, understanding, enlightenment, etc)

You can't JUST remove bad energy without replacing it with something, in this case some positives.

Splash the water over the top of you head while you ask for these gifts and as it trickles down visualize all of your sins and negitive energy and emotions washing away. What's left is happiness and blessings in abundance

At this point, meditate in the bath water on any questions or concerns you may have. Focus on your breathing and allow yourself to transcend into a vision - state.

♦️As you Exit the bath:

Thank and dismiss the saints respectfuly starting with St Jude (or the space you ended when greeting them) then working clockwise.

Don't let these herbs go down the drain just because it's awful for your plumbing. Fish then out and throw them in the trash, coffee is okay to go down.

Let the water drain and take all your "bad" with it.

Pray Pslam 150 to thank God for the blessing and forgiveness you just received

Wash your face, brush your teeth, comb your hair - do your regular stuff to get ready

Once your done, take 1 drink of Holy water as a seal to the spell. It will be like a cork holding in the good while sealing out the bad. (And if you're like me and getting ready to pass out by this point it'll take you off the edge)

Alright kids, that's it! You're blessed and cleansed. Your sins have washed away and forgiven. You're abundantly blessed and protected - pass it on.

153 notes · View notes

magickpumpkin · 5 years

Text

BASIL

OCIMUM BASILICUM

Italian: Basilico

Spanish: Albahaca

FOLK NAMES:

Albahaca, American Dittany, Balanoi, Common Basil, Sweet Basil, "Our Herb," St. Joseph's Wort, Witches Herb

GENDER: Masculine

ELEMENT: Fire

PLANET: Mars

DEITIES: Ares, Erzulie, Mars, Vishnu,

POWERS: Exorcism, Happiness, Love, Peace, Prosperity, Protection, Purification, Success, Tranquility, Wealth - excellent as an all-purpose magickal herb

MAGICKAL USES:

LOVE:

It has been said the scent of fresh basil causes sympathy between two people - so it is used to soothe tempers between lovers. (Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs.)

Note: What better way to soothe tempers between lovers by sharing in a pizza (because pizza is love) and topping it with fresh basil

Also used for love divinations

Example: place two fresh basil leaves on a live coal, if they don’t move and burn quickly to ashes then the relationship will be a good one. If the leaves crackle just a bit, then the relationship will have some problems - but if the leaves fly apart, then the relationship will not be a good match. (Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs.)

It is also used to keep your lover from straying from you - sprinkle some on your partner's side of the bed.

PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES

For exorcism/purification - burn the leaves to rid a space of evil entities (like demons or malicious ghost)

Can also be added to baths for purification

Place on the floor or in snatches around the house for added protection

WEALTH

Carry it in your pocket to bring wealth

Place it near the door of your business or the cash register to bring in more business

OTHER

Give a gift of basil to new homeowners for luck!

Can be used to deal with stomach cramps and dealing with headaches

Basil Tea can be used by gargling it for sore throats or to heal sores in the mouth

The same tea be used on external insect stings

BLENDS WELL WITH:

Lemon and Rosemary to relieve anxiety

Add to peppermint oil to spray into your shoes for an energy boost*

Anise oil - added to basil tea (only a drop or two) will help to fight organism in the body that causes dysentery

Also, basil naturally blends well with tomatoes (regarding cooking)

SUBSTITUTIONS:

The best would be Coriander and Ginger

Regarding similar taste (for just cuisine) - Tarragon or Parsley

PRECAUTIONS:

It has been said that basil oil can be used as a stimulant so pregnant women and children should not use it.

*DISCLAIMER

ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE YOU INHALE OR INGEST OR APPLY ANYTHING TO YOUR SKIN -- AKA Be cautious when using essential oils!! They do need to be diluted!

FURTHER READING: Links are provided for each book, so you gather more research before use

☽ Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Llewellyn Publications, 2013.

☽ Davidow, Joie. Infusions of Healing: a Treasury of Mexican-American Herbal Remedies. Simon & Schuster, 1999.

☽ Dunwich, Gerina. Everyday Wicca: Magickal Spells Throughout The Year (Citadel. Random House USA, 2000.

☽ Lust, John B. The Herb Book. Dover Publications, Inc., 2014.

☽ Murphy-Hiscock, Arin. The Green Witch: Your Complete Guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils, and More. Adams Media, 2017.

☽ Torres, Eliseo "Cheo.", and Timothy L. Sawyer. Healing with Herbs and Rituals a Mexican Tradition. University of New Mexico Press, 2014.

☽ Wigington, Patti. Wicca Practical Magic: the Guide to Get Started with Magical Herbs, Oils, and Crystals. Althea Press, 2017.

#witch #witchblr #wicca #wiccan #witches #magick #witchcraft #witch community #witch life #bruja #strega #basil #kitchenmagick #kitchen witch

37 notes · View notes

this-isnt-magic · 5 years

Note

Do you know of any or recomend any Christian witch blogs or resources?

We don’t recommend blogs for a couple of reasons, the biggest being that anyone we recommend will almost certainly be assumed to either condone us, be related to us in some way, or both and that isn’t super fair to randos putting out good information.

Christian magick is a worldwide phenomenon, particularly when it comes to localized folk practices and grimoire magick. If you’re into ceremonial magick, start looking into the Solomonic and grimoire traditions. If you’re into folk magick, I recommend researching the folk magick practices of your heritage and/or denomination (for example: “Mexican catholic folk magick”). Leaving out the term witchcraft and focusing on specific regions or ethnic backgrounds tends to produce better resources than vague terms like “christian witchcraft”. You might also want to start looking at historical and anthropological sources as the vast majority of European witchcraft was happening within a Christian context.You can do this effectively by tacking the phrase “early modern” onto your search terms.

-Mod C

#Anonymous

11 notes · View notes

elhoimleafar · 1 year

Text

JOIN US ON MAY 20~21. Our Sorcery Hour is Collectively hosted by a group of LGBTQIA members of the craft and made with love for everybody in a safe virtual space for everyone. Recordings are Available immediately after the event for the attendees.

Featuring; Laura Davila (Texas), 'Mexican Sorcery' Author. Mawiyah Bomani (New Orleans), Author of 'Conjuring the Calabash'. Ylva Mara Radziszewski (New Orleans), Author of 'A Practical Guide for Witches' and creator of 'The Living Altar.' Nicholas Pearson (Florida), Author of eight books published by Inner Traditions. Moss Matthey (UK), author of an upcoming book with Llewellyn. Ella Harrison (Latvia), author of 'The Book of Spells'. Aly Kravetz AKA The Bronx Witch (New York), creator of The Bronx Witch Headquarters. Elhoim Leafar (New York), author of 'The Magical Art of Crafting Charm Bags' and the upcoming 'Dream Witchery'.

I'll be here teaching my South America Folk Indigenous Magic class. Which is not just my second most popular class of all time but also the most well-curated, for which I'm constantly researching new information, tales, and folklore.

This virtual-live event includes A Welcoming Ritual, eight workshops of Magic & Witchcraft in two days, and a Meet & Greet with the presenters and host at the end of each day. Recordings of the classes will be available via a private channel on youtube just for the attendees to rewatch and listen to how many times they want for a Year. The whole price of the event is just $40.

Save Your Ticket Here: https://elhoimleafar.com/oursorceryhour/

2 notes · View notes

tipsycad147 · 5 years

Photo

Cosmos Magick

Published September 27, 2016 | By shirleytwofeathers

Scientific Name: Cosmos bipinnatus Folk or Common Names: Mexican Aster Type: Flower Ruler: Jupiter Element: Air Month: October Numbers: 2 and 8 Parts Commonly Used: The flowers Magickal Qualities: Harmony; Order; Balance; Simplicity; Confidence

The name Cosmos comes from the Greek kosmos, meaning order, harmony, or the world. The cosmos flower was said to have been named by Spanish mission priests in Mexico who grew them in their mission gardens. The priests felt that because of their symmetrically aligned petals these flowers should be named after the Greek word for “ordered universe.” However, when one closely observes the plant, it not only expresses order and harmony in the blossom’s symmetry, grace, and simplicity, but also in the symmetrically balanced, regularly-doubled production of leaf and blossom stems.

The “cup” of the Cosmos in full bloom is exactly the shape of a dish antenna, and is even “aimed,” at the sky at much the same angle as these wave receivers. The fully-open Cosmos blossom often turns this “dish antenna” somewhat towards the sun. When the wind blows, the blossoms turn their undersides to the direction of the wind so that the inner, fertile disc is sheltered behind a round “parasol” of ray florets.

The gestural shape of the blossom, a broadly opened cup turned towards the sun and the heavens indicates a character of openness and receptivity to messages from outside of the earthly realm.

Because the name Cosmos comes from the Greek word for harmony and order, and the cosmos flower is generally thought to be the symbol of order, harmony, peace and modesty.

A gift of cosmos flowers will bring good luck.

When given as a gift to a romantic partner, these flowers are commonly meant to represent the notion of walking together hand in hand, or to express the joys that love and life can bring.

Plant them in your garden to attract fairies.

Spend time in meditation with the flowering plants in the garden, and to attune your mind to messages from beyond.

It is said that Cosmos flowers will attract fairies, particularly if grown in a “wild” or uncultivated corner of the garden. This is also the environment where Cosmos is most at home, roadsides and waste places being the natural habitat of this freedom loving flower. It is interesting to reflect that “roadsides and waste places” are recognised in traditional cultures worldwide, as sites for spiritual epiphanies, encounters with spiritual beings in disguise, vision quests, walkabouts, and other metaphysical and transformative experiences of the . . . Cosmos.

The Cosmos has a form and gesture that is graceful, airy, and mobile. It is responsive to every breath of wind or touch by another living thing. It opens outwards in a generous gesture, expanding, trusting, and risking.

At the same time, it is protective of its innermost, female reproductive parts until they are fully ripe and ready to be released. It has an expansive signature in its bounty of blossoms and multitude of seeds that emerge from each blossom.

The blossom’s colour signature shows a yellow centre, symbolising a strong solar plexus chakra, with a radiating aura of mauve or magenta, which seems to symbolise the sacralising of the will by spiritual awareness. This suggests aid to those who feel afraid to assert their will in the world, because they are never quite sure whether their motives are informed enough by the highest possible consciousness.

Along with their harmonious symbolism, cosmos are also representative of October births and 2nd wedding anniversaries, and are frequently given as simple tokens of affection on these particular events. In 1999 the World Kindness Movement in Tokyo adopted the cosmos bipinnatus as the emblem for the organisation.

Medicinal and Herbal Uses:

Some botanical sources state that cosmos has “no known uses” (or hazards) as food or medicine, others categorise it as a weed. It seems extremely benign. Being both highly attractive to insects, and not causing any kind of allergies or skin irritation in humans, it is clearly lacking in irritants. Similarly, being scentless, it seems to lack any significant volatiles.

Because it is attractive to lacewings, tachinid flies, hoverflies, and various parasitic mini-wasps, all of which prey on more destructive insects, the cosmos flower is a popular companion plant in many gardens.

Compiled from various sources including Flower Info and The Flower Society

https://shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/magickal-ingredients/2016/09/

1 note · View note

alchemisland · 5 years

Text

Mortimer's Mort Timer

Ever hear the story of old Mortimer Considine? He was bold as block letterin’, round as a cowerin’ brushhog, feared and lovered in equal measure. Them scales was centred for him. Instinctively he knew right from wrong. Round Texas way at one point he was the toughest sonofabitch the world had ever see’d. Papers sid it, wimmin giggled it, smoke signalled it, so it musta been true.

Guns smoking, he toured the land righting injustices, collecting bounties and if rumour holds truth, fathering bastards, later becoming county scourges in their own right. Nothing on their old man though, dull facsimiles, whudever that means. Chaotic he was. Kindly too. Smart as a Greek. Strong as a mountain man, and I hear them Greeks had big boys too.

Now, he was fixing to be the best at shooting after his days out ranging. Tired of hauling baddies in for cash. He wanted hisself a wife and cosy home, young’uns to raise right. Make right some on his past transgressions. Hell, if he had cash enough, as he was heard to say only in deepest cups on full moon nights, when the moon controlled the tides of his tears ‘well as them on the beach, he’d seek out his illegitimate sprogs and give ‘em something for their hard lot.

Best gotta beat the best. Roving West then East, he rode into town with his holster turned front, making his business clear so to speak. Everyone he’d fought so far he felled easy, like dead trees keeling at a shove. There was big boys, tough men who a punch would never fell. Only the impersonal, devious strength of a bullet would do it, seemed a shame really fer all their liftin' and sweatin'. What finnesse they had in riding and wrasslin’ they lost at steels, for Mortimer was quick as cancer and spun like a storm at the whistle, shooting ‘em full of steaming holes.

Had himself a reputation now. When he came upon town and rode the highstreet on his black destrier like a demon called from hell, only the toughest mothers dared from the shadow of the awnings. Now this one place he went, or was bound for, he got to hearing was a hovel of wretched rapists and varmint brigands, living in squalor, wallowing in vile hedonism. Imperial in their particular perversions, namely unholy orgies in that there big church built by them mexicans was once this far into the states, them was once from further yonder than Mexico and came upward, with them layered temples like square sandcastles.

Pilgrims passing elsewise in other directions he met, but none going toward. Then he saw it, the black spires silhouetted on the matte of night, which held purple and pink and orange, flashes of winking silver, and all the gold jewels of the firmament. He had no want of killing and no provin’ to do with regular folk, so he kept his gun shy in behind, his trenchcoat held firm at his chest with a single button, which he took from a sheriff’s waistcoat.

You there, he’d said, so high on his horse he appeared a drawn shadow, as if some perfidious god had set to drawing charcoal on the mirror of the world. Up stole the pilgrim and leapt almost.

Mort?

Nay, giggled Mortimer, almost though. What’s yonder?

Pilgrim, without lookin, answered quick, Ain’t nothing there and no god. Kindly sort you seem. Can tell from ya eyes. Big ol blue ones like the desert moon at night. Not cold though, blue as magick fire.

Mortimer again requested the name of that spiked tower.

Babel, he says and left.

Babel, Mortimer says and left wondering had he heard that name before. He’d met a guy named Barber once. Polack chap taking his wagon clean through to York. Was that the same word? Maybe. Nobody could kill him, not with a gun. Too fast, too cunnin’ at gunnin’. Few years left at the top, at least. If they did it, it’d be ignoble, uncunning and devious. Mind, he was cunnin’ at augurin’ too. Augured him a plan.

After tracing his steps at a canter, Mortimer spied the same stooped soul, satchel slung on his back, hooded. Pilgrim, he said, help me and I’ll pay ye. When the work is done, I’ll ferry you safe to your destination.

Deal, said the pilgrim so quick as to be near suspicious.

All the way he walked fast. Faster’n an old man, Mortimer reckined. The man had loped, limped and lounged before, as a man of advanced age, now he sprang more sprightly.

Mortimer had a suspicion maybe. Gut feeling. A gnawing doubt. Not enough too stop him. Reckined he was too cliver ‘n devious to get got. That morning when they got close to town and descried distantly, from a rise which he took to be an ancient thing built by them northern southern mexicans, a multitude assembled in the centre of town.

Mortimer turned to his pardner to git planning and found hisself did in, plugged and smoking, a fresh red rosette pinned on his breast. The pilgrim relieved Mortimer of his possessions and stole away back into a fresh day, right quicker than ever he’d gone yet.

That was the story of that there Mortimer

3 notes · View notes

ecce-mater-tua-maria · 5 years

Text

This is my Reclaim the Day post for @witches-ofcolor 's event. In the first picture is my Santa Muerte/Ancestor Alter. The second picture is my main Alter. I am a Latin@ Folk Catholic/Magick practioner.

I post primarily about Mexican Folk Catholicism, Religion, and Folk Magick.

#witches of color #reclaim the day

37 notes · View notes

clevercrowapothecary · 6 years

Text

Herb Of The Day Nettle

Nettle (also known as Stinging Nettles) has been used for centuries to treat allergy symptoms, particularly hayfever which is the most common allergy problem. It contains biologically active compounds that reduce inflammation. Dr. Andrew Wiel M.D. author of Natural Health/ Natural Medicine says he knows of nothing more effective than nettle for allergy relief. Urtica dioica, often called common nettle, stinging nettle (although not all plants of this species sting) or nettle leaf, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae. It is native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and western North America, and introduced elsewhere. The species is divided into six subspecies, five of which have many hollow stinging hairs called trichomes on the leaves and stems, which act like hypodermic needles, injecting histamine and other chemicals that produce a stinging sensation when contacted by humans and other animals.The plant has a long history of use as a source of medicine, food, and fibre.

Nettles are the exclusive larval food plant for several species of butterflies, such as the peacock butterfly, comma (Polygonia c-album), and the small tortoiseshell. It is also eaten by the larvae of some moths including angle shades, buff ermine, dot moth, the flame, the gothic, grey chi, grey pug, lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing, mouse moth, setaceous Hebrew character, and small angle shades. The roots are sometimes eaten by the larva of the ghost moth Hepialus humuli.

Stinging nettle is particularly found as an understory plant in wetter environments, but it is also found in meadows. Although nutritious, it is not widely eaten by either wildlife or livestock, presumably because of the sting. It spreads by abundant seeds and also by rhizomes, and is often able to survive and re-establish quickly after fire.[12]

Nettle sting treatment

U. dioica close-up of the defensive hairs.A hand with a large sting, with visible bumps on the skin Anti-itch drugs, usually in the form of creams containing antihistaminics or hydrocortisone may provide relief from the symptoms of being stung by nettles. Because of the combination of chemicals involved, though, other remedies may be required. Calamine lotion may be helpful. Many folk remedies exist for treating the itching, including dandelion, horsetail (Equisetopsida spp.), leaf of dock (Rumex spp.), greater plantain, jewelweed (Impatiens capensis and Impatiens pallida), the underside of a fern (the spores), mud, saliva, or baking soda, oil and onions, lemon juice, and topical use of milk of magnesia.

Food

U. dioica has a flavour similar to spinach mixed with cucumber when cooked, and is rich in vitamins A and C, iron, potassium, manganese, and calcium. Young plants were harvested by Native Americans and used as a cooked plant in spring when other food plants were scarce. Soaking stinging nettles in water or cooking removes the stinging chemicals from the plant, which allows them to be handled and eaten without injury. After the stinging nettle enters its flowering and seed-setting stages, the leaves develop gritty particles called cystoliths, which can irritate the urinary tract. In its peak season, nettle contains up to 25% protein, dry weight, which is high for a leafy green vegetable.[18] The leaves are also dried and may then be used to make a herbal tea, as can also be done with the nettle's flowers.

Nettles can be used in a variety of recipes, such as polenta, pesto, and purée. Nettle soup is a common use of the plant, particularly in Northern and Eastern Europe.

Nettles are sometimes used in cheesemaking, for example in the production of Cornish Yarg and as a flavouring in varieties of Gouda.

Nettles are used in Albania as part of the dough filling for the börek. The top baby leaves are selected and simmered, then mixed with other ingredients such as herbs and rice, before being used as a filling between dough layers. Similarly, in Greece the tender leaves are often used, after simmering, as a filling for hortopita, which is similar to spanakopita, but with wild greens rather than spinach for filling.

Traditional medicine

U. dioica herb has been used in the traditional Austrian medicine internally (as tea or fresh leaves) to treat disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, locomotor system, skin, cardiovascular system, hemorrhage, influenza, rheumatism, and gout.

As Old English stiðe, nettle is one of the nine plants invoked in the pagan Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm, recorded in the 10th century. Nettle was believed to be a galactagogue, a substance that promotes lactation.

Urtication, or flogging with nettles, is the process of deliberately applying stinging nettles to the skin in order to provoke inflammation. An agent thus used is known as a rubefacient (something that causes redness). This is done as a folk remedy for treatment of rheumatism.

Magickal Uses

Nettle is male in action and associated with the sign of Scorpio (some say Aries) and the planet Mars and element of Fire. Powers: Consecration, Exorcism, Healing, Lust, Protection.

Nettle can be burned to drive out negativity or unwanted spirits. It can also be used in protection bags, our ground into powder and used in spells to break curses.

Nettle is an ancient herb of protection. Use it to send back the evil or curse by sprinkling it around the home or stuffing a poppet with it or carry in a sachet or amulet. Burn it to avert danger; hold to keep ghosts at bay.

Place freshly cut nettles in the sick room to speed recovery. Mexican spiritualists and mystics recommend bathing in it for purification over other herbs. Nettle has even been considered a lust inducing herb because of its carnivorous aura.

One of the traditional rites of consecration for an athame calls for Nettle to be added to the herbal wash into which the heated blade is plunged.

Nettles are associated with the ability to dispel darkness. Taken as a magickal tea, they are not only good for the body but also good for the spirit.

In past times it was believed that Nettles were of such healing power, that a fever could be dispelled by plucking a Nettle up by the roots and reciting the name of the sick and also the names of their parents.

Combine Nettles with Yarrow to help take heart against deep fears.

Brooms made of Nettle are used to sweep out evil and send it back. To remove a curse and send it back, stuff a poppet with Nettle or carry it in a sachet. For healing power, pluck a Nettle up by it’s roots and recite the name of the sick person and his/her parents. Place Nettle leaves into pockets to be safe from lighting. If dry leaves are placed into shoes, it will keep evil from leading one to harmful places.

Sprinkle Nettle around the house to keep evil out and send it back. To avoid avoid danger sprinkle in fire, it can also be carried on one’s hand to ward off ghosts.

It has been used in Europe for centuries as food in early spring when other sources of food were scarce, as a nutritive spring tonic and to build the strength and milk production of pregnant and lactating women and livestock and as medicine for various conditions. Hippocrates recorded 61 medicinal uses of the plant in the fourth and fifth centuries BCE.

Nettle was once widely used for its stem fibers which were retted and spun like flax. In Denmark, burial shrouds made of the resulting cloth have been found dating back 5000 years or more. Native Americans used the fiber for making fishing nets and for cordage.

Nettle leaves produce a green dye which was used in war time Europe the make camouflage and is used to this day in Germany to keep canned vegetables looking a healthy green.

#herb of the day #herb of the week #clever crow apothecary #herbalism #herbalist #herbalife #herbal medicine #plant magic #plant medicine #plant magick #herb magick #apothecary #apothecary knowledge #kitchen witch #pagan wicca #druidism #green witch

20 notes · View notes

marcoshassanlevy · 4 years

Link

According to popular lore, witches are creatures that find themselves in the exact point between night and day; in other words, the occult and everyday life. However, most witches in history—those who have been persecuted, burned alive, immortalized as enemies of the common people, or worse, forgotten in the annals of time—have been ordinary women who have gone beyond their assigned gender role to succeed extraordinarily in their fields, resulting in a threat to men in power. Look beyond the fairytales and witch trials and those same preconceptions, it’s still happening in 2020.

There has been a rise in women’s rights awareness on a global scale in the last few years, shouting “ni una menos” in the streets, raising their voices against abusers, and crying out for basic rights that have been denied to them time and time again. This is something Sexores have made into their grand statement. The result is Salamanca [Buh Records], their fifth full-length album, a celebration of 10 years making art and their most ambitious album to date.

Sexores are a shapeshifting band from Quito, Ecuador that can mix pop melodies with loud guitars (2014’s Historias de Frío), play dimly lit funereal pop songs with gravitas (2016’s Red Rooms), or turn up the beats and synths to deliver would-be hits from yesteryear (2018’s East/West). Their output has made them one of the most exciting alternative bands to come out of Latin America in the last decade.

Album art courtesy of the artist

All the while, Sexores have transformed from a quintet to a duo, moved to Barcelona after losing most of their gear at gunpoint in Quito, moved back to their native Ecuador and then settled in Mexico City where they now reside. Initially going by numbers instead of names, Sexores consists of Emilia Bahamonde Noriega (or 2046) on vocals and guitars, and David Yépez Valencia (or 606) on drums; with both handling electronics and programming and Bahamonde in charge of the production, mixing and mastering of the project. They have become quite popular thanks to the internet, where fans of shoegaze and goth in far places like Europe and Asia have made the band into their own. Institutions like NRMAL festival and Mexico and KEXP in Seattle have given a platform to the band. 10 years in, this is only the beginning.

Salamanca might be the most accurate representation of Sexores, an album that showcases a band at the peak of their powers communicating their dreams and desires. From their shoegaze influences to their darker hues to their poppier and most danceable moments; everything connected to a single concept. Songs like “Volantia” gracefully inhabit the ‘80s synthpop influences of East/West, while others like “Mistress of The Marble Hill” dive into the shadows of Red Rooms; and then there are songs like “The Depressing Sounds Of The Witch” which point to a hybrid of all their previous music into something new. Salamanca has the feeling of a pagan celebration as they write in the liner notes: “This compendium of tales and sounds could become its own ritual to summon personal demons and face them in the dark of any given sleepless and anxiety-ridden night.”

Salamanca strives to honor all the women that have unjustly been murdered out of fear of their power. Indeed, the album is described in the liner notes as interpretations of tales about witches and magic books of different cultures, written thanks to exhaustive investigation of folk tradition from around the world. Per the liner notes, “Salamanca is a pagan festivity, a witches’ Sabbath, a celebration and the end of a 10 year cycle.”

The themes explored in Salamanca are inspired by the feminist movement happening in Mexico and Latin America, how women have raised their collective voices. Although Bahamonde had already written a song expressing some of these ideas—“Tropical Nest” from East/West—she felt there were still things left unsaid. “We wanted to talk about how women have been written off as witches because they don’t fill the roles they are supposed to fulfil, like ‘wife’ and ‘mother,’” she says about the subject. “I have lived through that as a woman my whole life and I have seen it in my profession. I wanted to turn it around, not to victimize myself but to empower us. We’re sick of getting killed, the death rates are very high and the authorities are not doing enough to stop them rising.”

“There are a lot of cultural efforts from women as well [in Mexico],” Bahamonde continues. “Stuff like Cyborg Girls, Híbrida y Quimeras, Tiempo de Mujeres. It’s amazing.” Another aspect of said sorority in action can be heard in the album. Their live bassist Piaka Roela and Mexican electronic musician Naerlot contributed to the track “Volantia,” while Noelia Cabrera of the Peruvian band Blue Velvet guested on “Hanya.” However, the closing track “Salamanka” is perhaps their most intense celebration of feminism as the various types of vocals for the track were handled by Choute Sergina Honoré from Haiti, Mariana Carvalho from Brazil, Tamya Morán from Ecuador and Timpana from Bolivia.

While most of the subjects and inspirations for Salamanca are about the demythification of women as masters of the occult, Sexores do cite some supernatural inspirations. “There was a lot of magic involved,” Yépez says. “Like Emilia would be mixing a song and I would be reading, not paying attention to each other, and then we would find out we were thinking the same thing. The name of the song, “Aqueronte,” came to us that way. There’s a lot of chaos magick involved in the making of the record.” Both Bahamonde and Yépez attest to their connection getting stronger with time both as individuals and as musical collaborators.

Photo courtesy of the artist

The process of making Salamanca implied its own kind of ritual. After recording East/West in Quito at their studio with virtually unlimited hours—spending sometimes 15 hour days recording—Sexores tracked the album using free software at the Music Faculty located at UNAM using free software. Both members of the band had limited time to work on music because of their daytime jobs, Bahamonde at UNAM where she’s a faculty assistant as well as studying for a masters degree in music technology, and Yépez at MUTEK.MX. In their words, the process involved “spending a lot of days sleeping less, investigating a lot and really investing ourselves in it.”

“[With Salamanca] we thought that every take could be the perfect take because we were about capturing a moment and seizing it,” Bahamonde says. “We tried to make it the most transparent and liberating album we could and that has brought about the best of our creativity. Limitations don’t have to become frustrations. We didn’t have the best computer or the most expensive software but we made do.”

For the band, going out of the comfort of their home has been a constant. While it hasn’t been a stroll in the park, being an independent music act has been a goal for them since day one, which makes them experts of sorts. “You have to be brave,” says Bahamonde. “I think a lot of bands don’t dare to do things themselves because they think that it’s going to cost them a lot of money. It doesn’t have to be hard. You can find funding somehow. Giving lectures and such has helped us with our touring in Europe and South America. You can have parallel projects to make extra money and save up. I hope more bands take note of this.”

Sexores are entering a new era that feels like anything is possible. There’s still plenty to say and new challenges to overcome but the band is now its own entity, planted firmly in the present, finding a home at last. “In the past, we would finish recording our albums and immediately have regrets about them. Now we don’t have regrets because it was a liberating experience,” says Bahamonde. “I think it comes across as a great representation of our band. There’s a lot of ourselves in this album.”

Thursday, April 2, 2020 at 11:34 AM EDT

#shoegaze

0 notes