What Native people say about the use of sage: you can use sage, but you cannot smudge as nothing you are doing (waving sage around) is actually smudging. Smudging is a ceremony and you are, we promise, not smudging. Please buy sage from either us, or someone who sources the sage from us. White sage may not be considered endangered by the US government but corperate sourcing is making it difficult for us to source sage for our own religious purposes. Let alone to sell it.

What white people hear: never use sage ever, don’t ever buy it, don’t own it, don’t even look at it.

Look, y’all. There’s a couple of facets to my talk today.

1) Yes! You can buy sage! You really, truly can! Buy it from either native sellers (go to a powwow! Eat our food, buy our stuff, watch some dancing!) Or buy it from a seller who sources the sage from native people. Pick one. And no, buying it from 5 Below doesn’t count.

2) you CANNOT smudge. This isn’t just you “shouldn’t”— this is a YOU ARE INCAPABLE OF SMUDGING. Waving a sage stick around your doorways IS NOT SMUDGING. It is smoke clensing. Smudging, depending on the tradition and tribe, could easily have dancing and drums involved. You, as a white person, do not have the cultural BACKGROUND to even know how it works. At all. Period.

3) please, for FUCKS SAKE, stop making posts here on tumblr where you tell other white people about cultural appropriation and what they can and cannot do. Please stop, your license has been revoked because none of you bother to get the facts right. We native people are FULLY CAPABLE OF DOING IT OURSELVES. Consider instead: a) reblogging our posts where we talk about it! We’re here! We have made posts!! b) Making a post that states what we said and then LINKS BACK TO US. Screenshot with a link if you must. Stop centering your own voices in these conversations. You are already centered in everything, stop centering yourselves in a native space.

I’m tired of this nonsense, y’all.

Thanks for coming to my TedTalk ™

——

Help Support a Native artist?

Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/jnwampler

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/khanji

#witchy things #baby witch tips #cleansing

twelfthremedy reblogged

spellchased-deactivated20210321

thestoneforests

Dollar Tree witchcraft✨

Thank you so so much for 350 followers— Hope this list helps inspire someone to do some affordable yet fun witchcraft shopping!

- Goblets or wine glasses serve as chalices

- Frames (you can create a black mirror, or print out pictures of your familiar or pet, or draw pictures of symbols and sigils and insert them into the frame)

- Salt, herbs, and spices

- Jars and bottles

- Mugs for teas and charmed drinks

- Vases

- Candles

- Plates/dishes

- Styrofoam molds (guys, they have some amazing styrofoam stuff??? Heads, balls, wreath shapes, squares, etc. perfect for decorating. You could paint them with a thick, glossy paint to try to cover up the styrofoam look, but it would also look cool with the chipped effect! They’re great for many projects. You could even paint a styrofoam head to hold any amulets/etc. Try cutting a hole at the top and supergluing a crystal in it so that it pokes mostly out, and then even gluing dried moss around it. Or, Painting a styrofoam shape black and then drawing sharpie sigils such as for "the object this holds is cleansed" and then if questioned say you’re just decorating it to "look cooler")

- Bowls for cleansing things in

- Incense

- Matches/lighters

- Stickers

- Seeds

- Bells

- Candle stands/holders

- Fish netting (gives a cool look to many things, especially as a "cloth" for water based altars!)

- Paper bags

- "Gems" and stones (could paint runes or elemental symbols on them, etc)

- Canvases

- Containers

- Twine/burlap and decorative greenery (flowers, fake moss, straw, etc) (you can usually buy burlap in bulk at stores for a better deal)

- Sometimes around fall they have hand sized hay barrels you can set crystals, a candle, etc on!

- Branch wreaths

- Fake vines and leaves

- Glitter (spell jars, sigil decor, etc)

#witchblr #witches #witchcraft #witch tips #dollar tree #secret witch #modern witch #baby witch tips

twelfthremedy reblogged

witchcastors

Witch Tips

Witch tips from a witch who has practiced for many years; here are some of my traditional beliefs as well as things I picked up along the way. 💫

🔮 When foraging, do not forget to thank for what you took. Thanks the gods, the fae, the earth, or whomever you worship, but do not just take.

🌙 Wear beautiful clothes when performing a ritual. Before I get into saying anything else I want to say - There is NO PRICE VALUE which makes the ritual clothes beautiful. They do not have to be expensive, or a certain brand, or from a certain place, or anything of the sort. Just make sure that they are well taken care of and that you think they are beautiful.

🔮 People will rarely understand you, and most do not actually even want to. But the trees. The plants. Animals of the earth. Rivers, still and moving water. The stars and the moon. They understand, they will listen, and if you listen, too, you will hear what you need to and be validated and understood. People alive thousands of years before you have been sharing the same heartbreak, pain, suffering, and struggle with the universe. It understands. It has heard before, and will listen again.

🌙 When trying to meditate, you are not actually doing anything wring by being unable to “clear your mind.” The goal is not actually to have a blank mind, but an open and receptive one. If a thought pops in suddenly, acknowledge it, dismiss it, and move on. It doesn’t mean you’re not focused or doing it wrong.

🔮 Another note about meditation; there is no shame in needing herbs to achieve meditation. There is nothing wrong with you. Some people just need the extra help, and that is okay! It is also a traditional part of many practices to smoke, ingest, or otherwise consume herbs before a ritual/meditation/journey/etc. This pertains to herbs such a kava, sage, wormwood, mugwort, and cannabis. (Do not use unless you ask a doctor, know it’s safe, and so on.)

🌙 Wisdom is the combination of emotion and logic. To make a wise decision, validate the emotion and why it is being felt, look at the logic and the facts, and combine the information for the answer.

🔮 Do not be discouraged that you cannot find witches (or Wiccans, Pagans, Druids, etc) where you live. We are here. We are all over the world. It is just unsafe in some places to practice openly. But if you look for us, you will find us.

🌙 Intent is the most powerful ingredient you have.

🔮 There are hundreds (if not thousands) or ways to create a sigil, and you can make a sigil hundreds on different ways. This also goes for charging and activating sigils.

🌙 You can practice both black and white magick at the same time.

🔮 Bullying other witches is never a good idea. Obviously, bullying anyone is never a good idea and you shouldn’t, but in my years I have seen over and over again it happen when one witch attacks another and then that witch comes down with horrible luck. That is not just because they were cursed by people who support the witch who was being bullied (which is also a huge risk, and causes a lot of issues and conflict) but the universe knows when a witch attacks another witch, and it doesn’t like that. (This does not include calling someone out in an appropriate way for unacceptable behavior and so on. But when you do it about differing opinions….)

🌙 Never stop researching. You will never know everything.

🔮 Deciding that you want to start to practicing witchcraft does NOT mean you have do denounce any previous beliefs.

#witchy things #baby witch tips #witchcraft #future reference #witch tips

twelfthremedy reblogged

witchcastors

delphicsacrifice

Advice for the baby Hellenic Polytheists

I’ve got just about a year under my belt now, so I’m very much still a baby myself. But here’s a few things I wish I’d known, or think might be helpful.

Just make khernips with a match. No really. It’s the extinguishing of a flame in the water that makes it lustral. Don’t worry about the rest unless you really want to and have the time.
You don’t have to introduce yourself to any gods. They all want to be worshiped; just get to it.
We’re not as intimidating as you think we are. We just…read a lot. You can read a lot too. You’re welcome here. We’ll even help.
Books are expensive. Theoi.com’s library is free.
Statuary is nice. It is also wicked pricey. Here’s what you need on an altar: A bowl for offerings, a vessel for khernips (can be near the altar rather than on it)
Wine, olive oil, honey, water are pretty universal libations. You’re welcome.
Dispose of offerings however works for you. Just do it with respect, and you’re fine. Oh but don’t consume offerings to cthonic (underground) deities, alright? That’s bad times.
The gods demand Arete. That is your personal best, not the best of the person next to you, or your mother, or somebody you idolize on tumblr. Do your best.
This is a religion of Kharis. When you ask the gods for something, give them something. Then, do not forget the thank you. Offer again if you are granted what you asked for.
Our tumblr community is pretty great, but we also are sometimes wrong. Find sources, and for gods’ sake do not try to replace your studies with Tumblr. Read for yourself, learn for yourself, build your religion such that it best honors the gods and works for you.
If you’re like me, you’re constantly moaning “How do you pronounce THAT?”. I know, friend, I know. Try a couple of these lessons on the ancient Greek alphabet. It is NOT fool proof. It is an incredibly complex language, and pronouncing it ain’t easy. But boy it will help with those particularly tricky epithets.
Oaths are serious business. Gods are easy to fall in love with. Be careful. Be patient.
Real life pagans are way, way nicer than the ones on the internet. Go find them.
There are exceptions to most rules. Most of those exceptions are Dionysos.
“I don’t know what to say” “I don’t know how to write a hymn” We basically have a hymnal.
No, ___ will not get jealous if you also worship ____. It’s a fear of us recovering monotheists, but I promise it does not apply to this religion. It’s kind of what POLYtheist means, and plus, most of our gods are related. Show the whole family some love.
“What is [god name] like?” They’re pretty fucking cool. Go find out for yourself, and bring gifts.
The gods know we are mortals, and that mortals make mistakes. Apologize. Bring gifts.

immortal-echoes

this is great honestly i love this

#witchy things #deity work #deities #hellenic #baby witch tips #deity

twelfthremedy reblogged

witchcastors

death-witch-envy

Offerings for Deities

It’s been a while since I’ve made a post. I’m going to address one of the most frequently asked questions I receive: How do I give offerings? For some reason, many beginner books don’t dive into the specifics of this religious practice which many are unfamiliar with. Hopefully this will help.

General Rules:

Offerings are given as thank-yous, as little gifts to say that you appreciate the deity’s existence. They don’t have to be expensive, but they should be special in your eyes. For example, I often offer donuts or wine simply because I don’t buy those two things often.
Offerings should be appropriate for the deity you’re giving them to.
You’re allowed to get creative with offerings–in fact, the Gods even prefer that you do!
How often you give offerings in accordance to your practice is up to you.
You may give apology offerings for any offense you think you may have made.
Prayers, songs, playlists, and there intangible gifts still count as offerings.
You do not need an altar to give offerings. You can give offerings anywhere, at anytime.
Simply saying “This is for you” makes the object an offering.

Food Offerings:

Most food offerings are eaten after being offered. The main exceptions are Greek chthonic deities, and ancestors, in which case you do not eat the offerings. Research your specific pantheon to make sure if eating is appropriate or not.
There is no set amount of time to leave out food offerings. In fact, many worshippers will eat said offerings right after they offer them.
If you do not eat food offerings, you may throw them away, saying something like, “Though I discard these physical offerings, the spiritual offering remains”.
You may also bury the offerings. Make sure that the offerings will not harm the surrounding environment or animals. Do not bury them in a jar or plastic bag.
If you offer herbs, you may either burn them using a charcoal block or cauldron, or you may throw them out/bury them. While burning is certainly traditional in many pantheons, do not feel the need to if you will be bothered by the potent smoke or handling fire.

Liquid Offerings:

Liquid offerings are handled in the same way food offerings are, with the exception of oils.
You do not have to drink oils after offering them. (Drinking straight olive oil is pretty gross, and please DO NOT drink harmful essential oils!) I recommend pouring them into the ground outside, or into the trash can.
You may pour liquid offerings into the offering bowl, or, you may keep the liquid offering in a cup. I have a special teacup that I often use for offerings such as tea, but any regular teacup will do. After all, you are offering the liquid, not the cup.

Incense and Candle Offerings:

According to tradition, these offerings must be left to burn out on their own. I recommend lighting small tea light candles for these offerings, as big candles burn for a long time. However, some modern Pagans may blow, rinse, or snuff them out early to prevent a fire hazard.
Make sure to be present while the offering is lit, and make sure nothing catches on fire.
If you are bothered by incense smoke, using an essential oil diffuser or unscented candle works fine.
Although many Pagans recommend incense as a general offering, you do not have to offer it, or any candles, if they bother you.

Plant Offerings:

If you offer a plucked flower, you may leave it on an altar or table until it withers. Afterwards you may throw it away. Basically, you handle it as any other friend would had you given them a plucked flower.
If you offer a growing or potted plant, tend to it as you would your other plants. If it dies, that’s okay. Simply discard it as you would normally. The Gods understand that plants die, and They appreciate the beauty of plants while they last.

Other Offerings:

For objects such as stones, shells, or family heirlooms, keep them on the altar or somewhere else special. Ideally, you will not need to throw these away. If they get damaged somehow, and if you cannot repair them, you may throw them out, but give an apology offering and try to replace them.
For artworks or crafts, place them on the altar or hang them somewhere. Don’t sell your offerings; they are gifts you gave to the Gods and not yours to sell.
For songs, play or sing them anytime you’d like to connect or give something to your deity.
For writings, you may keep them, or some people might burn them to “send” to their Gods. Whichever way is up to you.
For e-shrines or other technological offerings, keep them saved in their own folder, keep them nice and up-to-date.
For magical tools, such as grimoires or wands that you dedicate, feel free to use them as normal. Just take care of them, and remember to thank the deity you devoted them to once in a while.
For daily or private actions, such as cleaning, giving to others, etc., simply think “This is for you” or send your energy to the God, and finish the action.
You may say prayers out loud, write them down, or simply think them in your mind. All are perfectly legitimate.

I hope I got all of this. Feel free to reblog or message with corrections, since I know I don’t know everything about every pantheon. Have a beautiful day, and have fun worshipping!! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

#witchy things #deity work #deities #offerings #polytheism #hellenic #intro to polytheism #baby witch tips #witchcraft