Mountain Witch

Enh, I'm me and I dislike labels but I use the term, "witch," because that's what most everyone else uses. Don't care about gender, don't care which term you use. (I have friends who use 'warlock.' Fine by me.) Whatever makes you comfortable with yourself.

Please note: this thread discusses the use of baneful substances. Many witches have and use herbs and brews which can be harmful or fatal. We ask that you treat the posts in this forum area as information only. We do not encourage nor endorse the use of illegal or poisonous substances. If you decide to ignore this disclaimer, you are on your own.

Please note: this thread discusses the use of baneful substances. Many witches have and use herbs and brews which can be harmful or fatal. We ask that you treat the posts in this forum area as information only. We do not encourage nor endorse the use of illegal or poisonous substances. If you decide to ignore this disclaimer, you are on your own.

Sigil: "an inscribed or painted symbol considered to have magical power." So you can use Spare's method to create one, draw a picture of a tree, whatever you think has magical meaning for a specific purpose, then put that on your body, either temporarily or permanently. What, exactly, were you looking for?

Like a few others, I grew up before the internet and most of today's popular authors weren't even born, yet. No one in my family knew a damned thing about magic and if I spoke aloud about what I knew, I'd have probably been taken to therapy. But I listened to spirit guides...and plants, and the earth around me. They were my teachers. Would I know to call myself a witch? Probably not. But would I be doing what I'm doing now? Absolutely. So call me what you will.

There is no "historical" precedent for a blank stone. As far as I can tell, that was made up by Ralph Blum in the ...70s? The few other authors I've read on them do not include one. I've been reading runes for years and haven't missed not having an "Odin" stone.

Child, I'm not sure where to start with your egregious statements. The statement Ravenshaw called you out on suggested the virus is sentient and would ignore a witch. "Providing you are respectful, I doubt the virus would come near a witch." Puh-leez. Viruses are not sentient. They have one job...replicate. They don't care who or what is their host, as long as it's a comfortable environment. Witches are human and as such, are comfortable environments. Respect doesn't have a damned thing to do with it. Then..."[...] follow precautions & at the same time, not to think about it." Using common sense (as you pointed out above) means thinking about this damned thing and doing whatever you can to protect yourself and others. You cannot do one without the other. Obsessing over something to the point of manifestation is an entirely different matter. "Superiority? To the contrary, I'm not really sure what you're referring to." Go back and read your recent posts. The language used in nearly all of them borders on pomposity. Come down off your high horse.

Don't mind at all...it wasn't mine to begin with!

I did actually make a note. This is from a recipe inscribed on the walls of the temple at Edfu. Modified, as I said, because I couldn't find camel grass. Wet Ingredients 1 part Juniper Berries 3 parts raisins (I use golden) 1/2 part honey (good stuff, not the crap in the plastic bears) 1/4 part red wine (not too sweet but if you regularly drink something sweet-ish like a Merlot or Syrah, these are fine) Dry Ingredients 3 parts Frankincense, powdered 2 parts Myrrh, powdered 2 parts Gum Arabic, powdered 1/2 part Lemongrass (the substitute for camel grass - it's in the same botanical family), crushed 1/2 part Calamus Root, powdered 1/2 part Cinnamon, powdered 1/2 part Mint (I use Peppermint), crushed Mix wet & dry ingredients separately. Allow to steep 2 weeks, stirring occasionally. Smash the plump berries, then combine wet & dry. Roll into small balls (pea-sized or thereabouts is ideal). Allow to air dry another 2 weeks. Wrap in cheesecloth & store in an airtight container. A few hints: If you don't get your resins already powdered, put them in the freezer for a few hours before trying to grind them. That'll prevent the resin from sticking to either your pestle or the blades of your coffee grinder. Nothing has to be powdered or crushed real fine but no large chunks. I live in a humid climate so I tried putting the first batch in my dehydrator to make the drying process go faster. Mistake! It dried the dry stuff too fast and they just got gummy. If you live in a humid climate, just let them sit for a month or so. I've learned my lesson & now do this in the winter when the inside air with the heat on is much drier. When you're rolling the balls, dust your hands with some powdered Calamus Root. It'll help with the stickiness without bothering the rest of the recipe.

I make kyphi about once a year. It takes about a month to make (between marrying the scents & drying time). The recipe I use is from one of the Book of the Dead papyri (I think, can't remember where I found it), modified because I couldn't find camel grass. It does smell divine. If anyone's interested, I'll share my recipe when I'm back in the shop.

Do I believe you can be a witch and not practice witchcraft? Yes. Do I believe you can practice witchcraft & not be a witch? No. To use K's example: those teenagers who bought a couple of books, did a candle spell or two - with results (that part is crucial), then discarded it for the next thing are still witches. It's just not a part of themselves they chose to pursue. Sort of like Christians who believe as they're supposed to but, for whatever reason, do not go to church or pray or do any of the other things a "good Christian" might do (I know a few). But yes, IMO you can be a witch and "not practice witchcraft" if you define witchcraft as only doing "big spells." I do little things on a regular basis - keeping the house cleansed & protected, talking to the spirits who might be around, talking to the plants...But "big" spells? My life is settled - quite - and there's (currently) no need for them. I don't think that makes me less of a witch. (I don't include divination in my definition of witchcraft . I know many psychics who aren't witches and many witches who are horrible at divination. ) I'll also add I seriously dislike labels but "witch" is what people use so I'm stuck with it.

"Mithridate" or "Mithridatium" supposedly got its name from Mithridates, a king of ancient Pontus who, after the assassination of his father, became obsessed with creating an antidote to poison. (Remember, poison was a favorite of assassins.) The theory is he ingested a concoction of poisons in sub-lethal amounts on a daily basis to make himself immune to poison. Sort of like today's allergy shots are minuscule amounts of whatever it is you're allergic to. The story goes that it worked - he tried to commit suicide by poison but couldn't. After he died (he finally had to have someone thrust a sword into him because he was too weak to do it himself), his formula was expanded upon, ingredients added, and touted almost as a cure-all. Kyphi, while now used for most anything, was originally a temple incense. It predates Mithridate by centuries. The recipe I use smells divine. Doesn't taste so good, though. Its base is resins.

Because I kept that part of me hidden from him. (As I have many other people.) It's not something he would accept - at all. And to call in a magical manner would seriously freak him out. We're no longer young...

Sort of. It was my 'wish' catalog in my younger days. I'd look at it and sigh. However, one thing does come to mind. I saw a ring in that catalog that I sort of liked (I would change the setting of one stone), tore that page out, and put it in my "shit to keep just because" folder. Years later, that ring was the basis for my engagement ring.

If I were to "call" him, as you suggest, he'd freak. And I do mean to the point of possible cardiac arrest. Which is why I never considered it. Well accustomed to odd dreams which mean nothing. Those, for me, fade after time - usually only a day or two. This one has been sharp for over 2 weeks, now. But as I said, I'll just have to shrug my shoulders at this one. If he is indeed looking for me, I'm not that hard to find.

I would, but I have no idea how to get in touch with him. I didn't save any contact info for him and he's not on social media that I can find (which isn't surprising at all). Ah, well. One of those things I guess I'll just have to shrug my shoulders at.

I use the Elder Futhark. Mine are stones (blue lace agate, to be exact). I tried wood but they didn't feel right in my hands. If I'm doing a full cast, I'll toss them on a cloth but if it's just a one- or three-pull, I'm usually sitting in my recliner so I put them on the arm of the chair. I'm not real formal about it.

I'm normally good at interpreting my own dreams but this one has had me stumped for over a week. Thought I'd throw it out for others to opine on. My ex-boyfriend and I were in a Wal-Mart looking for a specific piece of luggage. I'd given him a slip of paper with the manufacturer & model number on it. The manufacturer's name was Spiegel - not a luggage manufacturer at all, but a catalog company. I can't remember the model number so I don't think that factors in. Unlike your usual mega store, this one wasn't brightly lit - it was shadowy. We wandered separately up and down aisles, looking for this piece of luggage. At some point, he found me and had a security guard with him. We weren't in the "luggage department" at all, but "lost and found." That's when I woke up. Why the ex-boyfriend was in the dream is as weird as the rest of it. I've been married to someone else for over 20 years. Yes, we parted on the best of terms and remained friends (he was at the wedding!) but I haven't seen or had any contact with him in about 18 years. Any ideas?

And it was disallowed because arguments ensued - there are people of the entire political spectrum on here. Whether it "affects our quality of life" or not, it is not witchcraft-oriented, which is the purpose of this site.

See my signature!

Photograph. On the back write as much personal information as you know - full name, date of birth, place of birth, anything else of a *very* personal nature. Fold that up & put it inside the poppet.

Please do some research before just downloading. I took a look at one list and more than half were still in publication, which means this is a pirate site & you're stealing from the author.

Mugwort is the national flower of the Isle of Man. A sprig of it ("Bollan-Bane") is worn on the left lapel on Tynwald Day. The tradition dates back centuries...at one time it was thought to ward off witches/witchcraft. (Today I can only find references to 'white magic'.) Someone wasn't thinking it through since mugwort is a favored herb of witches! I had the good fortune to be on the Isle of Man on Tynwald Day a few years ago. I asked our friend what the deal was with the mugwort in the lapel & he just cited it as tradition because it's the national flower. I had a difficult time containing my mirth once I found out from another man why the 'tradition'.

Ack. That's what I get for posting before enough coffee. It's the Nine Herbs Charm. Found this. Haven't pulled my copy of Pollington to see if it's accurate on either side but... https://www.heorot.dk/woden-9herbs.html

The Nine Charms is from the Lacnugna, an Anglo-Saxon herbal written about 1000 CE. You can find it in "Leechcraft: Early English Charms, Plantlore, and Healing" by Stephen Pollington. This is an updated translation of an earlier book. I can't remember the title or author of the earlier one but I think I found it at sacredtexts. Pollington's book has the Anglo-Saxon on one page and the English translation on the next.