Pop-Culture And TechnoPaganism/Magick Part I
Pop-Culture and TechnoPaganism/Magick Part I
When I first heard of Pop-Culture Paganism/Magick and Techno-Witchcraft/Paganism my first thought was, “Whut?”
It seemed strange to me and after looking into it a bit I was still quite confused over the concept.
Worshipping a fictional character as a deity? Writing spells around dialogue from a TV show? Using modern day technology as magickal tools? It all seemed a bit absurd to me.
As Pagans, we tend to lean toward a more natural path than most other religions. We tend to shun electronics in our practice (save for maybe that Spotify playlist we use for ritual) and think that those sorts of modern day amenities can interfere with our magick and energy. We look towards the Olde Gods and our ancestors during worship or ritual work and not Castiel from Supernatural or our favorite fictional character.
But then I really thought about it…and it started to make more sense to me and I realized that I actually incorporated some of these beliefs into my own practices and didn’t even realize it.
These paths, these traditions are seemingly Pagan evolution. What we now know as Paganism and witchraft is going to be vastly different from what was practices thousands, or even hundreds of years ago. Sure, we have a ton of information that has been passed down from scholars, monks, and familial lineage, but it isn’t going to be 100% accurate and that is ok.
For instance, (I am going to go a bit off track here) Wicca is one of the most common Pagan traditions you hear about nowadays, but seventy years ago it was a non-entity. It didn’t exist, but maybe a concept did in the minds of a few. Someone decided to reinvent and revive a part of the Olde Ways and give it their own twist…and the Wicca we know today is even different than the Wicca of the 50’s. Religion and practice is constantly evolving with the times and with the people that practice.
So, back to the Techno and the Pop-Culture and why I think it is a valid practice and system of magick as well as religion.
What are the Gods? Some of us may see them as real energetic beings, while others view them as just archetypes. They have attributes, correspondences, and stories to go with them, but none of us have physically encountered them, we have faith that they are there and exist on some level, but not physically, at least not anymore (if you view them that way.)
Now, Pop-Culture Paganism…I will start with a personal experience.
I am a follower of Loki, a Lokean if you will. I have loved his character and archetype since I was young and before I even discovered Paganism. He chose me (as he does) and came to me originally not as his ginger haired self, but…as Marvel’s Loki.
This seems to be something that is far more common than I realized, at least for the Trickster, but a lot of people who found Him through Marvel were being invalidated by other Pagans and Heathens in the community saying things like “You just really have a crush on Tom Hiddleston and you are delusional for following him because of that.”
Ouch.
Maybe that was the case for some, but Loki of all beings would be the first one to make himself known in this way. The Marvel Loki played by Tom is very different from Himself, but also very much the same. Really, when you look at it, it is Tom himself that personifies the Trickster God and draws people to him. Their personalities are very similar and I feel like Tom channels the God in a lot of ways.
And there you go, Pop-Culture paganism. You identify with Loki, but you prefer the Marvel version so you set up an altar and instead of having a fancy, super expensive effigy of Him, you place a Lego Loki or a Loki Helm pendant that you got at con to represent him. This doesn’t mean you are necessarily worshiping a fictional character, but this is what clicks with you and how you view that God.
There are those, however, that worship actual fictional characters or write rituals around fictional magick, or even perform spells that are written specifically for a TV show or movie.
I have actually cast the “To Find a Lost Witch” spell from Charmed (and it worked) as well as using the Devil’s Trap from Supernatural to protect my magickal tools and even going as far as tattooing it on my body for protection. These things, though fictional, have some root in truth and the fact that millions of people put their energy and time and love into these things, gives them magick all on their own.
It is like the Tulpa (which was in an episode of Supernatural, haha) or thoughtform, a concept in mysticism of a being or object which is created through spiritual or mental powers. The term comes from Tibetan “emanation” or “manifestation”.
What are these fictional Gods, spirits, and ideas but essentially just that? We give them power and then there they are. But there is also the possibility that if you believe in multi-worlds or multi-dimensions that somewhere out there on a different plane of existence, these characters actually DO exist and could be worshiped and revered.
This concept doesn’t sound so far-fetched now, does it?
Here’s another example… tutting. Tutting is inspired by the art of Ancient Egypt (the name derived from the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, colloquially known as “King Tut”), tutting exploits the body’s ability to create geometric positions (such as boxes) and movements, predominantly with the use of right angles. It generally focuses on the arms and hands, and includes sub-styles such as finger tutting. This has been used in Pop-Culture magick examples in shows like “The Magicians” and movies like Marvel’s “Doctor Strange. What is this but using sacred geometry to cast magick. Not only are you using your will and thought to cast, but the movement of the body to will the energy forward. It may have become popular because of fiction, but it is still valid and a lot of people may have been using a form of this magick without even realizing it.
This is how paganism and magick evolves. We have thought, we have intelligence and a thirst for knowledge and we also have the ability to create our own magick and thoughts.
As a writer, I am constantly tweaking known magick, lore, and pagan concepts to fit my stories, but they could also be plausibly used in my actual practice. I even wrote my own tradition (and am still working on it) loosly based off of my fantasy novel series, ”Faytes of the Otherworld". Sometimes I wonder if fiction like this is the writer channeling actual magick, energy, and practice from a higher being. I mean, how did we get the knowledge that we have about our craft and Paganism in the first place? Even monotheism got it’s religion from supposedly God himself, the Bible being written by man but the context being delivered from God, so it would make sense.
I have many more examples, but this post has already become rather long.
What are your experiences with Pop-Culture Paganism and Magick?
Share with us in the comments.
part two focusing on Techno-Paganism to follow soon.
http://thespiraloakgrove.weebly.com/the-spiral-oak-grove-blog/pop-culture-paganismmagick-and-techno-witchcraftpaganism-part-i
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Actions as planetary offerings 🔮✨
Moon - divination using water or mirrors, being empathetic, caring for others, meditation, self-care, emotional awareness
Sun - displaying leadership, taking charge of a project, displaying confidence, taking pride in your success, spend time watching the sunrise and sunset
Mercury - long drives, studying, learning new things, meaningful conversations with others, exchanging gifts, thrifting, bibliomancy
Venus - acts of cooperation, group work, volunteering, random acts of kindness, self-care, doing your make-up, going on a date
Mars - acts of passion, being goal oriented, protecting your loved ones from harm, playing competitive sports or games, energy work, "if you're afraid to do something, do it scared"
Jupiter - paid work, playing card games or using cards for divination, public speaking, investing, charity, working towards a promotion, an effort towards personal growth, favors for others
Saturn - acts of justice, being responsible, being organized, following through on your promises, setting priorities, cutting ties from things that no longer serve you
Uranus - taking an interest in electronics and the sciences, seeking higher/advanced knowledge, breaking free from expectation, independence, challenging tradition, taking advantage of freedom
Neptune - meditation, dream work, mirror scrying, acts of self-sacrifice and compassion, spending time near the ocean, introspection, beach clean up
Pluto - spirit work, honoring loved ones who have passed on, changing bad habits, indulging in pleasure, astral traveling, bone throwing, "out with the old, in with the new"
compiled from my personal grimoire & based on my own associations updated 9.22.24
© 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 𝙰𝙳-𝙲𝙰𝙴𝙻𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙸𝙰
Black salt 🧂
☀️Sun water☀️
🌞Used for:
Protection, healing (especially physical), happiness, truth, clairvoyance, courage, strength, prosperity, luck, self-love, cleansing, confidence, leadership, justice, gardening, growth, warmth, comfort, fertility, and creativity
🌞How to make it:
Leave the water on a sunny windowsill or outside, preferably in direct sunlight. Sunrise, 9 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm are perfect times for this, or you can leave it from sunrise to sunset. You can also add herbs and flowers to it as well (lemon peels, orange peels, marigolds, chamomile, cinnamon, sunflower, etc.) Or charge it with some stones (like sunstone, orange calcite, citrine, tigers eye, goldstone or carnelian), but please don’t put these stones in the water. You can also make a sun tea with sun water for a very potent solar spell.
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Umbra Witchcraft FAQ
Background:
When I started on my path I didn’t have a name for it. Asking around, researching, and I couldn’t find a name for my ability to feel and work with shadows and their energy. A friend suggested I forge my own path and thus I started referring to my path as Umbra Witchcraft.
What is Umbra Witchcraft?
Umbra witchcraft utilizes the energy of the shadows to fuel spells, wards, curses, etc.
Practicing with the energy of the shadows also has a side effect of drawing what lives in those shadows to you. So be prepared to see dark orbs darting out of the corner of your eye or seeing shadow people.
Is it dangerous?
All magic is dangerous in one form or another. But keep in mind not everything that lives in the shadows is friendly so warding before reaching for umbra energy is a must.
Umbra energy vs The Umbra
Umbra energy comes from the shadows but The Umbra is a shadowy realm created, originally, by the Goddess Nyx as a safe haven for her children. It eventually expanded and become a safe haven for all of the dark deities and creatures of myth and legend.
Do I have to worship Nyx to practice Umbra witchcraft?
No you don’t. You can if you want and you might draw her attention when you first start out but you do not have to worship her or any other deity if you do not want to.
Is it ok to call myself an Umbra witch?
Yes of course its ok! I might be the first to consider myself an Umbra witch but that does not mean I own the name. In fact I would hope others refer to themselves as Umbra witches so we can find each other and share our experiences.
Colour magic
Colour magic is a component of many magical traditions since colours have specific connections. However, keep in mind that certain traditions may establish their own correspondences that differ from those listed.
When it comes to employing these correspondences, be imaginative and think outside of your usual comfort zone. You may have a variety of candles, coloured paper, altar cloths and fabric, ribbons, or even ink on hand to employ in different magical workings.
Spells and incantations should be written in the proper colour or on comparable coloured paper. You may use stones, plants, or flowers in whichever colour you like. If you meditate or perform chaka energy work, you can visualise yourself surrounded by light of the colour you require for your magical works. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
Red-
Red is associated with boldness and health, as well as sexual love and passion. It can be useful in spellwork. Use red lipstick to kiss your partner, fill a red cloth pouch with herbs to improve your sex life, or light a red candle before a difficult task to give yourself a little additional bravery. If you participate in sports or other competitive activities, wearing anything red under your uniform might boost your confidence.
Red is also connected with war and strength, so if you're ready to engage in physical or mental combat, red may be a helpful colour to have; imagine yourself bathed in a great crimson glow before marching into battle. Red is also related with the root chakra. As a result, it is linked to our sense of stability as well as our interactions with the physical and material worlds.
Magic uses: Love, physical energy, health, willpower, Passion, courage, strength, intense emotions
Pink-
Pink represents friendship and pure, innocent love. Have a crush on someone but aren't quite ready to ignite the flames of passion yet? Use pink roses or other flowers to convey your message. Dress in pink to make new acquaintances. Burn a pink candle to invoke emotional and spiritual healing magic, or to foster a new relationship.
Magic uses: Romance, spiritual awakening, partnerships, children's magic, Affection, friendship, companionship, spiritual healing
Orange-
If you're working for attractiveness and encouragement, incorporate orange into your magical endeavours. Light an orange candle to attract fresh chances into your life; if you desire excitement and adventure, wear something orange that will catch people's attention. Orange is a colour of creativity and self-expression, therefore utilise it while performing magical rituals connected to concerns like writer's block, or if you're an artist who feels like your muse has been suppressed recently. Because orange is connected with the sacral chakra, it represents both sexuality and emotion, particularly our ability to form emotional relationships with others.
Magic uses: Adaptability to sudden changes, encouragement, power, Energy, attraction, vitality, stimulation
Gold-
Gold is related, as one might expect, with money prosperity, commercial ventures, and solar connections. Hang gold colours around your entryway to attract money, or burn a gold candle for workings that will help your business succeed. If you want to give your profession a magical boost, wear gold jewellery or keep a piece in your pocket. Gold is also beneficial in situations concerning the law, courtrooms, and the justice system; if you are waiting for a judgement in a civil action or a criminal case, tuck a piece of gold paper inside your shoe before entering the courthouse.
Magic uses: Success, health, ambition, finances, good fortune, divination, Inner strength, self-realization, understanding, intuition
Yellow-
Yellow is an excellent colour for persuasion and protection. It's a bright, cheery colour that promotes happiness - and when people are happy, they're far more inclined to see things your way! Yellow is associated with self-empowerment due to its affinity for the solar plexus chakra. A person with a strong solar plexus chakra has a good mix of self-confidence and self-control.
Magic uses: Communication, confidence, divination, study, Intellect, inspiration, imagination, knowledge
Green-
As you might expect, green is associated with financial wealth and money, but it is also firmly linked to fertility magic. Green also corresponds to the heart chakra. It is our emotional centre, which allows us to love others and receive love in return. Forgiveness, romantic love, compassion, empathy, and platonic love are all centred in the heart chakra, thus use green for spellwork including these topics.
Magic uses: Prosperity, employment, fertility, health, good luck, Abundance, growth, wealth, renewal, balance
Light blue-
Light blue is connected with magic, including healing, patience, and understanding. To promote wellbeing and good health, sew a sachet or pillow packed with therapeutic herbs or crochet a baby blanket out of blue flannel cloth. If you have a sick buddy, write their name on a blue candle before burning it. Another wonderful suggestion is to give them a pack of blue socks.
Blue is also the colour of the throat chakra, which serves as our communication centre. It's what allows us to be honest and open with the people in our life. Our capacity to trust and be trustworthy, to speak truly and fairly, all stem from the throat chakra, therefore utilise light blue if you need to get to the bottom of a problem or establish channels of communication.
Magic uses: Well being and good health, communication r better communication spells. Healing, psychic ability, harmony in the home, understanding, Peace, truth, wisdom, protection, patience.
Dark blue-
If your magical practice involves despair and emotional weakness, dark blue is the colour to utilise. Dark blue, or indigo, is associated with the brow chakra, where many people think our Third Eye is placed. Our ability to self-realize, to develop our psychic powers and empathic skills, is linked to the brow chakra, as is our ability - and desire - to recognise, admit, and then let go of emotional baggage, thus employ dark blue in workings of this type.
Magic uses: Healing, psychic ability, harmony in the home, understanding, Peace, truth, wisdom, protection, patience
Purple-
Purple is the colour of royalty, and it represents ambition and strength. Wear a purple tie or scarf as an accessory if you know you'll be at a business meeting where there may be disagreement. Purple or violet is related with the head chakra in several metaphysical systems. This is the part of ourselves that is concerned with our connection to the Divine, the Universe itself, and our capacity to understand our role in the big scheme of things. If you're doing magic to strengthen your connection to the deities of your tradition or path, utilise purple.
Magic uses: Spirituality, wisdom, devotion, peace, idealism, Divination, enhancing nurturing qualities, balancing sensitivity
Indigo-
The spiritual connotation of the hue indigo is commitment and sincerity. Indigo is an extremely dark blue with hints of violet. In the ancient world, lapis lazuli was one of the earliest stones mined and used in jewellery. It was a positive hue that was thought to shield the deceased from evil in the afterlife.
Magic uses: Emotion, fluidity, insight, expressiveness, Meditation, clarity of purpose, spiritual healing, self-mastery
Brown-
Brown can be used in projects involving the environment or animals. If you need to reconnect with the natural world, light a brown candle or carry some brown dirt in your pocket. A sigil, which is also connected with home life and stability, can be created on your door or threshold with a brown marker or paint. Inscribe spells or charms on brown paper; sandwich-sized lunch bags are ideal for this!
Magic uses: Endurance, solidity, grounding, strength, Balance, concentration, material gain, home, companion animals
Black-
Use black in magical workings involving negativity and exile. If someone bothers you, jot down their name on a sheet of paper. Burn the paper around the edges with a black candle, telling them that you are burning away any hostility, desire, jealousy, or other sentiments they may have towards you. Burn as much of the paper as you can, leaving only their name, and then bury it. Another alternative is to put their name on a black balloon, load it with helium, and then carry it far away before releasing it into the sky.
Magic uses: Dignity, force, stability, protection, Banishing and releasing negative energies, transformation, enlightenment
White-
White represents purity, honesty, and our connection to the divine and higher selves. It should be noted that in candle magic, many Pagan traditions allow for the use of a white candle instead of any other colour. Use white for workings that involve harmony and peace, the consecration of magical equipment, blessings, and purification.
Magic uses: Peace, innocence, illumination, purity, Cleansing, clarity, establishing order, spiritual growth, understanding
Silver-
Silver symbolises reflection and truth, intuition, and lunar connections. If you need to undertake any full moon scrying or any other type of activity involving psychic development, dreaming, or astral travel, use a silver candle. Because of its lunar ties, silver is associated with women's secrets, the tides, and pregnancy.
Magic uses: Wisdom, psychic ability, intelligence, memory,Spiritual development, psychic development, meditation, warding off negativity
Grey-
Grey is often connected with stability, calmness, and composure. Grey stones signify something long-lasting and sturdy. It is also a colour linked with knowledge gained through ageing. Because of this, some people link grey with ancestral representation. Grey can also be connected with loss or depression, and it can affect the mind and body by eliciting disturbing feelings. Because grey is a combination of black and white, its meaning varies - deeper hues closer to black can be more enigmatic, while lighter shades closer to white can be more enlightening.
Darker colours, such as charcoal grey, invoke the power of black but lack the negativity associated with black, whereas light greys share some of the traits of white. Grey is considered a colour for both men and women. Light greys are regarded feminine, whilst dark greys are considered manly.
Magic uses: Stability, contemplation, neutrality, reserve, Complex decisions, binding negative influences, reaching compromise
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Celebrating Beltane: A Neo-Technomancy and Chaos Magick Perspective
Beltane, celebrated on May 1st, marks a pivotal point in the pagan calendar, symbolizing the peak of spring and the hint of summer on the horizon. This festival, rooted deeply in Celtic traditions, is rich with themes of fertility, fire, and renewal. It's a time when the veil between the natural and the supernatural feels particularly thin, making it ripe for magickal endeavors.
Historical Roots and Modern Interpretations
Traditionally, Beltane is a fire festival. Ancient Celts lit bonfires to honor the sun and encourage its growth in the coming months. This act of lighting fires was also symbolic of purification and protection. In the context of neo-technomancy—a blend of technological insights and magickal practices—these fires can be seen as a metaphor for sparking new innovations and transformations in the digital realm.
How Neo-Technomancers and Chaos Magicians Celebrate Beltane
Digital Fire Rituals: For the modern magick practitioner, the Beltane fire can be reimagined through the glow of our screens or the electricity coursing through our gadgets. This could involve creating digital artworks that incorporate fiery visuals or programming dynamic fire simulations that serve as focal points for meditation or ritual work.
Virtual Maypole Dancing: The maypole dance, a traditional part of Beltane known for its intricate weaving of ribbons around a pole, symbolizes the entwining of energies and the fertility of the earth. Neo-technomancers might recreate this dance in a digital environment, perhaps through a collaborative online platform where participants from around the world contribute to a virtual maypole, weaving together digital threads to create a communal art piece.
Energetic Device Blessings: Just as tools and personal items were often passed through the Beltane fires for blessings, technomancers might hold a ritual to cleanse and empower their electronic devices. This could involve using electromagnetic fields or specialized software designed to 'purify' and optimize the functionality of their gadgets, aligning them with the owner’s magickal and mundane needs.
Sigil Creation for Growth and Prosperity: The creation of digital sigils to harness the energy of Beltane is another powerful way for technomancers to blend magickal intent with their technological skills. These sigils, designed using graphic software, can be used as part of digital wallpaper, shared on social media, or even integrated into user interfaces, continuously radiating magickal energy.
Chaos Magick and the Spirit of Spontaneity: Aligning with chaos magick principles, Beltane is a perfect occasion for spontaneity. This might involve using algorithmic generators to make unexpected choices or to create random, yet meaningful, magickal symbols or spells.
The Broader Implications of a Technomantic Beltane
Celebrating Beltane in this contemporary magickal-technological hybrid manner not only honors its ancient origins but also reinterprets its significance for the digital age. It’s about integrating the primal energies of old with the innovative potentials of today—using technology not merely as a tool, but as an extension of the practitioner’s will.
As we stoke the fires of Beltane in our digital hearths, we are reminded that the essence of magick lies in transformation—whether of ourselves, our environments, or our societies. And in this transformative process, technology becomes our ally, helping to manifest our deepest desires into the physical and virtual worlds.
So, this Beltane, let’s ignite the old fires with new sparks. Let's celebrate with a spirit of innovation and a respect for tradition, blending the two into a unique expression of our time. Through these practices, Beltane becomes more than just a date on the calendar—it becomes a moment of personal and communal alchemy, a time when we can truly connect the dots between the magickal and the technological, and perhaps, transform the world one byte and one spell at a time.
#BeltaneMagic #NeoTechnomancy #ChaosMagick #DigitalDivinity #MagickalInnovation #EcoTechWitch #SpiritualTech #MagickalCommunity #ModernWitchcraft #PaganTraditions
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