ArcticWitch

Ravenshaw's response would normally be my first thought as well. But there's this: Here are my theories: - Your energies were indeed messing with the results. - Something is telling you to put the cards away and either listen to yourself, take a complete break from divination for a while, or thoroughly experiment with other forms of divination. Personal anecdote: tarot had always been a consistently dependable source of information for me...until I began formally practicing witchcraft. I was convinced that the garbled gibberish and ominous themes that randomly popped up between "normal" readings were my own wonky energies, or metaphysical influences from the immediate vicinity "jamming the signal". Looking back, it was a lesson. A lesson that forced me out of my comfort zone and away from dependency on tangible tools. - No judgement with this idea: I have a love for logistics, coordination, and systems that is probably borderline unhealthy. I'm wondering if your guides are telling you to loosen up a bit with your codes and keys in order to strengthen your intuition and open yourself to processing things "outside the box"? - My last theory is quite the ego booster! ;) I feel that it's generally accepted that tarot results are a snapshot of the situation you're querying about in that exact moment in time. If you practice witchcraft and have a very strong emotional response to a reading (or, in your case: two sessions with the same results), it could be that your anxiety prompted you to inadvertently/subconsciously perform some good old-fashioned magic that took care of the problem in your favor.

What's even more frustrating to me is when practitioners of Wicca- not even those who influence the community, write the books, or lead the covens- don't recognize the distinction between Wicca and the other flavors of witchcraft. Tangent story: I recently stayed with a friend who I discovered was Wiccan a year into our friendship. I told them multiple times that I was a witch, not a Wiccan, but they doggedly kept using the label for me when they brought up spiritual matters. It wasn't until their mother sat down with me and confronted me that things changed. I was asked, point-blank, what I was. Exasperated, I shrugged simply opened myself up a little bit and let her in. She popped in and took a look around, I popped into her and got the gist of things, and a few seconds later we grinned at each other as she replied "Ah, I see: you're a bit of everything, like I am". Not that I have any desire or need for validation at this point in my Path, but DAMN that experience felt good. And I intend to use the "Bit 'o everything" descriptive if I find myself in a similar situation again.

I'm going to assume this is a serious post and respond in kind, just because I feel like jagging off here for a bit. My two cents: ancient entities that have seen the rise and fall of empires have zero interest or investment in what we fickle humans define as "bad" or "good", and do not alter their behavior in a way to accommodate our definitions (unless they want something from a person). So, from the demons' perspective, who cares if they're being "unfairly" targeted? (I'm trying to keep a straight face as I type this due to the mental image of a demon wringing its hands and complaining that it feels like a victim of prejudice.) Applying homo sapiens social structure and ideologies to Things that can traverse time and space in ways we don't fully understand seems like an exercise in futility. From a human stance, yes it seems odd to me when people hate an entire group of occult beings. Frustrated with: yes. Avoidant: yes. But genuinely hate, especially after only one or two BAD-but-no-one-died experiences? Yeah, seems a little odd. Some shadow creatures are destructive; some are not. Some wandering dead people are incredibly annoying in their inability to accept that they're dead; others are mildly startled but are ultimately cooperative in moving on. Why would demons, or djinn, or any of the other culturally-perceived "scary" astral critters be any different? However, to use a sweeping generalization label like "racism" to describe the complex relationship between humans and the Other doesn't seem quite appropriate to me. If I hated a human racial group, it's because I fear my lack of understanding their culture and being intimidated by the fact that they're different from me. It's quite a different situation when things like spirits- malicious (which is how I inferred your use of "bad") or otherwise- have the capacity to influence an entire family line for generations, and have the ability to inject themselves into someone's environment at will. Even if someone doesn't "hate" a "race" of entities, I don't feel that it's necessarily inappropriate to treat such groups with a great deal of wariness and distrust (especially when earned): the dynamics are just too different and volatile compared to the relatively simple constructs we humans make about racial matters. I could be seen as "hateful" towards specific groups of entities, because I do not entertain ANY obligation to give an uninvited entity the chance to continue existing in this realm if it violates protections. That isn't hate or racism or anything but exercising basic fucking personal autonomy, which every person (witch or otherwise) is entitled to. But, hey, this is your thread, even if it smells like a manipulated recruitment for the young, witchcraft-dabbling crowd who are increasingly socially isolated and think that conjuring a demon "friend" is going to be all black puppies and monochromatic rainbows. Kids: don't come crying to us crotchety old farts when things goes sideways the first night you decide to go all Goetic.

I've been too occupied with other things to indulge in deeply researching the topic, but I refuse to accept that this is an original idea. Any input regarding other practices, paths, and systems that utilize this would be greatly welcomed! It strikes me as being mostly independent from the concept of taking communion and other equivalent religious practices involving feeding and imbibing. The label "Consumption Magic" seems to fit. Basic idea: infuse an edible with your intent, and consume it. Power (or the perception of it) is increased if a bit of kitchen/gardening/hunting/foraging magic went into creating the edible item; your mileage may vary. I first tried it fairly recently, and it seems to work better for me than nearly anything else for manifesting intentions for personal development. With the exception of healing magic, I have yet to try it with external/non-personal magical projects. The way I go about it is slightly ritualistic due to the time invested in selecting the appropriate food or drink for symbolizing the Intention, preparing the fare, then focusing as I consume. So how does it work? If a witch wanted to lose weight, they could take a carrot (or other food generally regarded as "healthy") and slowly munch on it, reciting a prepared spell between bites and inviting the vegetable's nutrients into their body while purging out both physical and spiritual toxins that were responsible for original weight gain. Another example with a different approach: let's say a witch has severe social anxiety. They could ritualistically imbue a piece of unappetizing food with their insecurities- perhaps even selecting a food they explicitly dislike- and rip into the food like an animal, commanding it to provide their body with fuel while simultaneously breaking down the anxiety/food into a putrid mess that will eventually be expelled out the other end. Making strength out of weakness, so to speak. My theory for external manifestation would be to prepare a double helping, and use the second portion as a sort of combined message-and-offering to the spirits who make stuff happen.

Do you ever "test" these Things that present themselves to you? For example, the most recent incident where I was approached by something that identified itself by a name that I recognized, I politely stated that I held the genuine incarnation of the spirit in high regard, and demanded that it prove it was what it claimed to be via an unmistakable and relatively immediate sign. It didn't like that, tried to intimidate me, then left (permanently) when I pointed out that it was like all the other scallywag spirits: a liar. I find it impossible to believe that the king of demons has the slightest interest in shooting the shit with a human about modern entertainment. With few exceptions, it's my experience that legit demons who appear without being summoned only want to exploit people who are willing to do business with them, or destroy any human that they're compelled or commanded to end.

--- Not sure if I would perceive it as an "honor" so much as an invitation that has resulted from your intentional practice of witchcraft. You've already acknowledged that you've caught the attention of lower-level entities: why would it be so strange that such activities would also attract the interest of more powerful beings that seek human allies to effect their agenda(s)?

It's my understanding that humans have considerably more dominion over this world when compared to the influence of most Things that we encounter. Because most people don't realize that, the average person will fear Things considerably less powerful than themselves because they just don't know any better. Fear is the ultimate weakness in my opinion, and even the lowest-level entities can use that vulnerability to destroy a person. The more we take on these Things as active practitioners of witchcraft, the less our fear of the unknown and sometimes-Unseen subsides and the stronger we become. The Things (good and bad alike!) take notice, and we are subsequently treated with increasing levels of respect. In my experience, the real fun comes in when you not only command the nasties to leave the world, but develop a relationship with the Ones sent to target you for juuuuust long enough make them your bitch and send them straight back to the original spiritworker/witch/magician who sent them your way to begin with. (Although, admittedly, it can be just as delicious to fuck with a metaphysical antagonist's mind by showing them mercy.)

--- I can't help but jump on board about this health tangent... I was on Synthroid for 1.5 years, Armour for 10 years, and have been on Naturethroid for 2 months. When doctors are hesitant to switch patients from Synthroid to Armour, it's a legitimate reaction on their part: never before with a medication have I ever had so many problems with inconsistent availability, wildly changing prices, and constant formula changes. But even with all that hassle, it was still WAY better than Synthroid. I switched to Naturethroid recently and will use no other brand: 75 years of being on the market, and they have had zero product recalls and are the only allergen-free thyroid medication available. Since switching, I have lost the "brain fog" and GI issues that I endured on Armour. Oh, and the ease of which I am able to practice witchcraft has improved as well. Much easier to focus your intent when you don't have to fight a hormonally-imbalanced body! ;)

I really like how colors of the small knife and its sheath are so complementary. Well done!

You're making me want to go on an impromptu road trip to do some occult investigating! ;) In all seriousness, though: I know this isn't a "regular" forum post seeking input, but your experience has really got me thinking. It sounds like maybe you are a little too 'open' at the moment? If I were in your shoes, I would Craft a type of Protection that forces Things to announce/"knock" first before inserting itself into your mind.

I've always used the same method as Ravenshaw for disposing of used-up herbs and other flammable Working components, and almost always do what Caps does with items that cannot be burned. There have only been a couple of times that, rather than remove/neutralize/destroy the used, tangible "ingredients" of a Working, I harnessed its new metaphysical properties (often baneful at that point) for other Workings.

This time of year is when I like to harvest willow and moss. The willow has frozen and thawed enough times to be more pliable than it is during the growing season, which makes it easier to weave into wreaths or baskets. I prefer to harvest moss during the coldest months of winter simply out of convenience: it removes the added step of deep-freezing it in my refrigerator at home in order to kill parasites. It also seems that around February is when I run out of the previous season's wildcrafted rose hips (for tea) and lingonberries (for homemade cosmetics), but this time around I still have more than enough leftover from last year's stash to warrant a foraging trip.

When the cards ain't talking but throw me a major arcana like that that "feels" legit, I will typically use the thrown card as an anchor and do a spread by simply asking the deck what it feels it needs to tell me. No pointed inquiries, no context: I just let it speak.