Duskthewitchesblog - Dusk 🌸

When I say "connect with nature" I don't just mean the aesthetic forests with deer and beautiful flowers.

I mean the weeds growing through concrete, the fungus that grows on the rotten shed, the nettles that always seem to return and the scary, spindly cellar spider in the corner of the bathroom.

Nature is not always pretty or magical - the pigeons and seagulls you swat at are nature too, the wasps and flies that hover by your meals are animals too, store-bought strawberries and the leaves that fall from your neighbour's tree are not all that different from the Giant Sequoias and it's seeds.

If you want to connect and understand nature, I mean *really* connect to it, in it's entirety, you have to seek out and learn about the ugly, scary and mundane things as well. You don't have to like it, just don't forget that it's there.

Herbs I Wish Grew in My Backyard (and Why)

If I could plant a little garden of magic, these are the herbs I’d want growing wild and free — each one carrying a secret spell in its leaves.

• Lavender — for peace, sleep, and soft dreams woven into the air

• Rosemary — for memory, protection, and cooking with a little bit of magic

• Chamomile — for calming storms inside my chest

• Thyme — for courage when the world feels too loud

• Mint — for energy, healing, and sweetening every breath

• Mugwort — for vivid dreams and wandering through them safely

• Basil — for luck, prosperity, and the feeling of being cared for

• Lemon Balm — for joy, gentleness, and mending what is frayed

• Rue — for strong protection, old-world magic, and standing tall

• Yarrow — for healing wounds you can’t even see

• Vervain — for drawing love, inspiration, and secret strength

A backyard not just full of green things — but of whispered spells, stitched into the roots.

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Hi! Fellow werewolf p-shifter here. I have a few questions if you don’t mind!

Have you ever heard of a user named Sheangel before?

Do you believe in multiple awakenings and further development of being a shifter/were? As in what’s called a “growth phase”?

Thanks!!

hello!

that name sounds familiar, but I don't personally know them or know anything about them. I might've heard that name before from somewhere, but I can't recall from where! sorry about that!

also, I think to some extent, yes, I think that "growth phases" or further development in someone's journey is expected, no matter if you are nonhuman or not. we're always figuring out who we are as individuals and I don't see why it would be impossible to have different phases or sudden personal growth spurts. I think I'm even going through it myself currently! I'm relearning a lot about my nonhumanity and what I feel connected to.

you're welcome, and if you (or anyone else) has any other questions or comments, feel free to add on ^^

Connecting with nature

Mindful walks Mindful walks isn't about just going for a walk or how often. It is about listening to nature, observe nature, stop, sit down, meditate, look at natures details in plants and rocks and landscape. The more you look the more you find. Nature is amazing that way.

Mindful shopping Yes, mindful shopping. Do you really need it? Is it organic? Is it a brand that tests on animals? Do the brand produce somewhat ethically? (I'm aware most brands are super unethical in all ways, but try find some you can afford that are the least harmful on nature)

Ground in nature Hug a tree, sit on a rock, feel the sun in your face, let the water wash over your feet or hands. Something about being in nature in general and interacting with nature feels refreshing and grounding. Ever tried to say hi to a tree? Hold one of it's branches and bow/curtsy to greet them? Give it a try if you haven't!

Research Research plants and insects around you, learn to identify them and which ones toxic. Research how to forage ethically and thank nature for every harvest.

Garden If you have a garden you can use that to know natures energies, plant some plants you like. Bonus point if they're bee-friendly! As humans it might be a normal thing to dislike insects, but it's so important for our nature. Set up insect hotels, insect friendly drinking station and other (cute) nature friendly decor!

Pick up trash Yes, it is a very boring job. But the nature needs us to do it, and we can't always think "someone else will do it". It's a PERFECT way to honor the nature. Be the one person that matters. Remember to always bring a trash bag and a couple of gloves for the job.

I run a Discord server! Join here if you're interested (Ages 15-30). You can find a bunch of resources in the server, and we're happy to help you by finding more.

book recommendations pt. 1

i read,,, a lot of books. and with a special interest in this shit that means i have a considerable amount of books that are just witchcraft/paganism related. ofc, not all of these are going to be the Best options out there, i know that it's much better to get your information from a primary/secondary source or academic study, but i'm working with what i have and what i know how to get access to. if you have any recommendations or addendums to these, let me know! i'd love to hear what yall have to say.

THE WITCHY BOOKS

sigil craft: teaches you the basics of creating your own sigils using existing imagery, alphabets, and your own creativity

encyclopedia of magical herbs: honestly just a great resource to have for any witch. i'd say any herbal magic book is a must have for a witch

don't wanna buy the book? here's a great alternative!

crystal, gem and metal magic: another must have imo!! i prefer this book to the crystal bible because that book/those books spend a long time on chakras, whereas this book is more concerned with things like astrological associations and cultural contexts

don't wanna buy the book? here's a post i made that has some basics

enchanted tea time: love this book, it was honestly such a good find. tbh though, i wish there was more clear warnings about some of the ingredients, and some of the recipes like the lucid dreaming ones could have a more thought out presentation

don't wanna buy the book? here's a post i made that's similar

the complete book of incense, oils and brews: another great book by scott cunningham (honestly i had no idea how much of a shill i was for him until now), but it's probably not a must-have, especially if you're not very crafty or already have an herbal grimoire and a good youtube tutorial

guided tarot: it is so important to me to have a book like this, because no matter how many little guidebooks and online guides i looked through, NONE were as detailed and accurate as this. i personally prefer this book the most out of all that i've seen, although it could have more information on reversed cards tbh. i prefer this book to seventy-eight degrees of wisdom cause that book has some weird overlapping ideas of qabbalah, although i do recognize it's very well written and thought provoking

just some good spellbooks!

[Found on pinterest- unknown artist]

you don’t need 60 mini spell jars from etsy. you need FRESH AIR and THE SUN. ppl stop feeding witch overconsumption to baby witches and claiming they ‘NEED’ something for their practice. it’s ridiculous.

i’m currently working on a large post for free / extremely cheap witchcraft tips because this drives me up the wall.

— 🦌🌿☕️✨

the trees you grew up with have not forgotten you. their branches still whisper your name in the breeze and their roots remember the paths your feet once traced through their shade.

Gentle and friendly reminder that not every label is catered to specifically you, and you/your experiences only.

Heavy /not being rude/ for the title.

It may be a hard pill to swallow, but some labels are meant to include certain demographics you want to stay away from, or dislike, and that is okay. Some labels are going to cater to a widespread of demographics that you may not even like, or care to interact with that side of it. Another reminder that many labels are umbrella terms for specific, different, experiences, even if it's not explicitly stated. No two beings will be identical in every way. The beauty in this community, is that things can change. Things are fluid. Identity is fluid. Biology and physicality is fluid. It isn't always static.

"Physical nonhuman" means many, many things for many different nonhumans. Some physical nonhumans are only physically nonhuman, but mentally human. Some physical nonhumans aren't fully nonhuman. Some physical nonhumans are fully nonhuman in absolutely every way. Some physical nonhumans weren't always nonhuman. Some physical nonhumans have traits that others consider nonhuman. Some physical nonhumans are physically nonhuman to cope. Some physical nonhumans experience delusions that allow for them to be physically nonhuman. Some physical nonhumans are physically nonhuman due to transitioning. Some physical nonhumans are born physically nonhuman. Some physical nonhumans can shift between human and nonhuman. Some physical nonhumans are nonhuman in a non-literal sense, and reclaim their body as physically nonhuman.

Physical nonhuman does NOT just mean the last sentence. It isn't always metaphorical for some folks. For some creatures, it's absolutely literal, and is to be treated as such. If you experience physical nonhuman in a non-literal sense, I think that's actually really cool, and I recognize you as physically nonhuman, regardless! However, it is not an excuse to push out those who literally are physically nonhuman. Sanism doesn't fix anything. It doesn't make you look any better.

"Yeah, I identify as physically nonhuman, but I don't literally think I am. That's when it's clinical zoanthropy."

"I'm a holothere, and all holotheres know they are biologically human."

"I'm physically nonhuman, but I think we shouldn't enable delusions by calling clinical zoanthropes and other delusional folks in the community nonhuman. They aren't actually nonhuman if they have a delusion."

"P-shifters don't count under the label physical nonhumans because p-shifting isn't real."

"Most physical nonhumans actually know they're human. They just physically identify as nonhuman non-literally."

"Physical nonhumans don't experience delusions regarding their physicality."

^ Examples of what it can look like to throw out a good portion physical nonhumans from their own community. Communities made for them. Forcefully assigning labels onto folks who are only presenting as themselves is very weird, in my opinion. Don't come into communities expecting them to cater specifically to you, and then pushing away existing community members for the sake of "reclaiming" a label to look more "sane".

Making blanket statements like these do more harm than good. There's a reason why physical nonhumans, especially on this site, are getting angrier and louder about the tireless disrespect, even indirect disrespect. It's disrespectful to come into a community, choose to learn absolutely nothing about said community, and then proceed to push out anyone you think doesn't fit your narrative of what physical nonhumanity should look like. It's disgusting.

Holothere, especially on Reddit, began losing its meaning because self-proclaimed holotheres would use the label, and then go on to claim that biological nonhumans aren't actually included. Girl, are you the coiner of the term? Did the coiner tell you that? Did you even read the Carrd? The Carrd that's literally on the front page, and one of the top search results on Google when you simply type in "holothere"? Did you? Did you look into the community and read and take time to digest our experiences, and accept that every holothere is different? Words cannot describe how *frustrating* it was to see a Reddit post that discussed the term, only for other holotheres to kick ME, a holothere, out of my own community. The term was literally made for me in mind, too? Like wtaf.

Again, there is NOTHING WRONG with being figuratively physically nonhuman. I can see why someone would do this for various reasons, and I think you guys count. This isn't directly JUST concerning these nonhumans who identify that way, but this is definitely directed towards nonhumans who decide to push each other out for the sake of sanism, and as a result of ableism. Let's face it, denying a delusional individual's right to autonomy of the usage of a label, or usage of something that makes them comfortable in their delusions is ableism. Pushing out delusional folks because they are experiencing something you consider not real is ableism.

Absolutely nobody is forcing you to interact with delusional nonhumans. If you decide not to, that's cool, but don't erase them because you don't like what they have to say. Don't erase physical shifters and automatically discredit them just because you don't believe in physical shifting. Don't armchair diagnose and mislabel literal physical nonhumans just because you don't think it's possible outside of a metaphorical/figurative experience. That's where the issue lies. It isn't about how you experience your identity, but folks with this type of physical identity do tend to be very exclusive and close-minded when it comes to physical nonhumanity. It very well seems to be in a way to make themselves look better. It's easier for most non-physical nonhumans to digest in most spaces.

Please, for the love of everything, DO NOT try to push someone out of a community that is literally meant with them in mind, simply because they seem "weird", "too intense", "delusional", or "scary". We wouldn't be so scary if you would listen, and kill the idea that we need to latch onto the idea of "being normal" in order for us to be taken seriously.

Hello. Wolf here who is unsure of her label. I don’t know if I’m truly a therian or a p-shifter, so my question is this:

How do you know if physical shifting exists?

I know because I've shifted before, plus I believe there's enough evidence to say it's real. My own shifting experiences lead me to believe it's possible in some way, shape and form. Others in the community have also corroborated my experiences, so I know its not just me. Even if I couldn't physically shift, I've seen enough evidence (in the form of historical accounts and modern day claims) to say it's real, or that something supernatural is going on. Most historical accounts of the supernatural talk about shapeshifters in some form or manner, and people still claim to see shapeshifters in the present day, so at the very least we can't chalk it all up to tall tales. I also haven't seen academic studies disprove it outright; as long as the conservation of mass is being followed anything is possible. This is a short explanation, let me know if you want me to go into more detail anon!