Something Deeply Intimate About Being Outside Early In The Morning All Alone And Seeing The World As

♡ 赤羽根海岸の朝日と波の音 ♡

When it comes to animal signs and other omens, remember that it is only those extraordinarily unusual or uncommon occurrences, or those that draw your attention, which may be a portent. Not every lizard heralds change, nor every crow or owl death. Omens are not needles in a haystack, they are stepping barefoot on a Lego.

《daily witch tip 215. 》

Racism, Spirituality, and Witchblr

As a Black witch, it first made me relieved to see so many people in the community band together for Black Lives Matter. Over the past 5 years as a member of the Witchblr community, I have been subjected to numerous acts of racist microaggressions and attacks ranging from slurs being thrown at me, death threats, insults to my cultural practices because they’re different from European witchcraft and folk magic, attempted doxxing, and more because I was outspoken about anti-racist action. And that doesn’t include the many accounts of racism and bigotry that I witnessed secondhand. So seeing the community come together to support BLM made me hopeful that there would be a cultural shift within the community. 

But, as time went on, the amount of support for BLM that I saw in the tags slowly began to dwindle as if the movement had some hidden expiration date for allies, as if all the work was done after the mass spells performed on the eclipse.

The work is far from over, witchblr. We still need to protest, sign petitions, donate, and do our part to end police brutality, defund/disband the police and abolish prisons, and address the systemic racism that exists in all facets of society.

To look “locally,” the same problems in our community still exist. And while we alone cannot eradicate racism from the whole of society, we can absolutely prevent its spread on witchblr and in other spiritual/occult communities. 

Being an ally means more than posting a black square on your Instagram page or changing your profile picture to “heathens against racism.” Being an ally means actively being anti-racist and doing your part to ensure the community is truly inclusive and safe for people of color.

So, how can we begin to address the problem of racism in the spiritual communities both online and offline? Here are a few tips. I’ve focused largely on how white allies can address racism as it impacts Black practitioners, as I can only speak from my own experience as a Black person. Other people of color of all races are welcome to add onto this.

Stop supporting cultural appropriation. I don’t care if they’re your favorite blogger, your favorite diviner, your favorite occult supply store, etc, but if they’re posting about hoodoo sweetening/honey jars and they’re not Black, it’s time to block and unfollow. If they claim they speak for the Orisha or the Lwa and they aren’t initiated, it’s time to block and unfollow. If you don’t respect our cultural practices, you don’t really respect us.

Educate yourself on non-European practices. Did you know that there are more ATRs than just Lucumi, Vodou, and hoodoo? Can you explain the difference between Voodoo/Vodou and hoodoo? What is the difference between hoodoo and witchcraft? If you can’t answer these questions, time to do some reading! Educating yourself prevents you from appropriating or saying/spreading ignorant misinformation.

Stop supporting spiritual/occult organizations that act as performative allies and/or refuse to explicitly support practitioners of color. That means covens, fraternal organizations, Discord servers, pagan temples, conventions, and other spiritual organizations (large and small.) Don’t donate to these groups and don’t attend these groups or their events.

Amplify the voices of Black practitioners. How many Black spiritual/occult authors, diviners, bloggers, podcasters, astrologers, priest/priestesses, and/or vloggers can you name? How many African or Black philosophers can you name? Our voices and contributions to religion, spirituality, and the occult matter. Listen to us.

Deplatform racists. If you are a moderator or leader of a spiritual/occult community, delete/ban/kick out anyone who expresses racist or bigoted ideologies. Defending racists under the guise of “freedom of speech” just allows them to spread their hate and potentially harm or traumatize POC. Even if you’re not in a position of power, refuse to engage with bigots to prevent their message from spreading. Don’t reblog their posts, watch their videos, buy their products, etc. If you can, spread receipts of their racist acts instead.

Stop speaking over practitioners of color. If we say that something is racist/appropriation/insensitive, listen to us instead of arguing in an attempt to “save face.” We all make mistakes. Just own up to it and do what you can to fix the situation. Attacking us just because we demand equal respect is an act of racism in and of itself.

Support Black-owned businesses. Instead of buying your herbs from Amazon, go to a botanica. Get readings or other metaphysical services from Black diviners. We deserve to be compensated for our labor. It’s the least you can do considering a large chunk of modern folk magic is inspired by, influenced by, or straight up stolen from Black spiritual practices.

De-center yourself from the conversation. Cool, you’re an empath or a “sensitive”, but venting all day about how much pain you’re in is honestly insulting. And, if you want to rant about all the racist things your family has done, maybe go to one of your other white friends instead of forcing us to listen to you repeat their racist garbage.

Acknowledge your own biases and privileges. There are tons of resources out there on white privilege, white fragility, and unconscious forms of racism. Educate yourself.

Keep up the work outside of witchblr and spiritual communities. Keep donating, keep signing petitions, and keep using your platform for anti-racist action.

These points are only the tip of the iceberg. Racism is so deeply embedded in our society that it won’t be removed overnight. But if you want to claim the title of “ally,” you need to join in and continue doing the work. Unlike you, we don’t get to “opt out” of caring for the movement as racism impacts us every single day of our lives. Don’t opt out on us now.

Healing is a constant state. You don't have to be "fully healed" to give or receive love, to chase after that dream, or to get yourself to that next level.

Don’t let the mainstream sterilize witchcraft

It’s not just love & light and good vibes. 

Witchcraft is walking through the dark when the light let you down.

Witchcraft is crossing your enemies who would rather see you fail.

Witchcraft is giving yourself agency and fighting your abusers.

Witchcraft is owning who you are in a world that wants you to conform.

Witchcraft is confronting your own shadow and healing.

Witchcraft is screaming when you were told to be silent.

Reconnecting with witchcraft and spirituality

As I'm in the process of reconnecting with witchcraft after being not so dedicated for the last two years, there are things I'm being mindful of as I read books as research and wait for some supplies I ordered to be delivered (just coz I wanna do some crafty stuff, not that you need supplies for witchcraft!). Here are some things I've been up to:

Lighting a candle or more everyday and feeling it's warmth and watching it for the fire element

Lighting an incense stick every few days and watching the smoke and taking in the smell. Opening my window wide and smelling the air outside whether it's sunny or raining. For the air element

Being more mindful of how water cleanses and feels when I wash my hands or shower. Drinking more water. For the water element

Researching on herbs and flowers by reading green witchcraft books. Making plans for indoor plants, even if they're fake because of responsibilities and cat. Plans to check the front yard for any herbs my mum may have planted there before she moved. Incorporating more herbs and spices in my food and drinks. Drinking tea. For the earth element

A few minutes of meditation and non screen time. Thinking about my belief and forming it. Working on the arrangement of my altar and making plans for it. Rolling crystals around in my hand as I do uni work. Being more mindful of what I say and my intentions. For the spirit element

Setting up sun water to charge on the windowsill during the day with crystals and the sun tarot card. For Solar and water

Looking into the current moon phase on my side of the world and what to do during it (currently waning crescent for me!). Aligning my goals and intentions with the moon phase. For Lunar and spirit

Despite me having a giant shopping list of things I want to get over time to make things and do spells, and books I want to get physical copies of for taking notes and referring to, right now I'm finding ways I have at home to connect with the elements, especially work on my relationship with earth as one I've neglected previously but now want to focus on as a green witchling, and work on my belief.

Blessed Be!

“Maybe you don’t go to hell for the things you do. Maybe you go to hell for the things you don’t do. The things you don’t finish.”

— Chuck Palahniuk, Lullaby

Happy October Meow! 🍁🎃🍂

In case anyone is having a bad night:

Here is the fudgiest brownie in a mug recipe I’ve found

Here are some fun sites

Here is a master post of Adventure Time episodes and comics

Here is a master post of movies including Disney and Studio Ghibli

Here is a master post of other master posts to TV shows and movies

*tucks you in with fuzzy blanket* *pats your head*

You’ll be okay, friend <3