Men can be witches. Trans persons can be witches. Nonbinary persons can be witches. Genderfluid persons can be witches. Agender persons can be witches.
Gender has zero influence on a person’s witch-hood.
I literally thought this until I was 23 years old and started practicing magick again. It’s hard not to believe when nearly every book, guide, and tutorial you come across is geared towards Wicca. Wicca is a religion in which its followers may practice witchcraft. Witchcraft is a practice that may or may not involve religion.
Witches don’t cast curses and if you do, you’re a terrible person
No, stop. The idea that cursing is “bad” stems from the Wiccan “threefold law,” you know, the whole “whatever you do will come back at you three times as much” thing. Not everyone is Wiccan, not everyone follows that belief. You do you, but don’t try to police other people’s craft.
Witchcraft is a religious practice
Witchcraft itself has no religious basis. You can be pretty much whatever religion you want and still practice magick. You can practice witchcraft with no religious preference whatsoever. You can choose to work with deities, or keep your craft entirely secular. Up to you.
Witchcraft is the work of the devil and if you practice witchcraft you’re going to hell
A Christian concept and scare tactic. Not everyone is Christian or even believe in the Christian devil or Christian version of hell.
You have to dress the part
I practice magick in sweat pants and a t-shirt. I find that I work best when I am dressed comfortably, not in some flowy black dress and pointy hat. You don’t have to dress a certain way to be a witch or cast spells. Some witches or magicians have ceremonial clothing that is worn during various rituals but for your every day spell, it’s really not a requirement.
You can call yourself a witch without actually practicing witchcraft
No, I’m not referring to those with chronic or mental illness who practice magick in a minimalistic manner. I’m referring to those who call themselves a witch for the aesthetic and don’t actually practice magick. You don’t have to constantly do spells or even involve magick in your life on a daily basis but you do have to practice magick at some point in order to call yourself a witch.
Witchcraft is inherently dangerous
Practicing witchcraft itself is said by some to invite spirits and entities into your life that are sensitive to the energy we give off, but that may not be true for everyone. Learn how to protect yourself from these kinds of things and you’ll be golden.
You can cherry pick from closed cultures and use those practices in your craft
You don’t have a “gypsy soul,” pizza isn’t your “spirit animal,” having a bundle of white sage doesn’t automatically mean it’s a “smudge stick,” and you should probably throw away that shirt that says “namaste in bed.” A lot of terms we see modern witches use these days have no cultural basis or leg to stand on in their practice. Yes, some cultures and religions are open or partially open but don’t go around disrespecting those that aren’t to sound trendy.
You have to choose one path of witchcraft and stick to it
Ever heard of eclectic witchcraft? You can incorporate many types of magick into your craft and it’s not a problem. Some witches get overwhelmed trying to choose a “type” but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.
You have to be a woman/straight/cis, whatever, to be a witch
Heck nope. There’s no generalized rule that states you have to be a particular gender or sexual orientation to practice witchcraft. Homosexual, trans, and male witches do exist.
You have to be born into a family of witches to be a “true witch”
Witchcraft is a learned practice, not something embedded in our DNA. Even if everyone else in your family is a witch, you can choose not to follow that path. The same goes for those who don’t have any witches in their family history.
friendly reminder: this year, halloween is on a wednesday
Ahh…. I dont get the symbolism behind this?
No worries, we… probably do.
Historically, nothing in terms of celebration of the actual holiday- the closest Norse festival to that time was probably Dísablót, which is semi-spooky in some regards but not really. But this is Odin, so we’re talking about a gentleman who goes by a number of very interesting aliases, including Yggr (Terror), Grímnir (masked/shadowed/hooded face), and Draugadróttinn (lord/chief of the undead) who enjoys wandering around in disguise and often taking stuff from people. Usually a little more than candy, but I guess you could reasonably end up at Billingr’s house for Trick or Treating, too. I don’t know your life.
So depending on how you spend your Halloweens, there are a lot of options for modern associations, here.
Also the basic facts that he’s a charmingly creepy sorcerer who wanders around with two ravens, two wolves, talks to dead guys and severed heads, inspires a lot of terror and poetry… eh, you see what we’re getting at.
Loki: What if the only reason we can’t walk through mirrors is that our reflection blocks us.
Helblindi: What if they’re protecting us though? What if they know that the other side is horrifying and painful and they are trying to keep us from crossing over.
Loki: I must be on the wrong side of the mirror then.
Helblindi: Maybe you’re the reflection-
Býleistr [trying to sleep]: I swear to fucking god if you both don’t shut the fuck up.
A spread inspired by the Norns of norse mythology, the demi-goddesses of destiny. The Æsir often sought their council at the base of the cosmic tree Yggdrasil. May it be a light to you in dark places when all other lights go out.
First Card: Urðr, the first Norn, she represents what once was.
Second Card: Verðandi, the second norn, she represents what is coming to be.
Third Card: Skuld, the third norn, she represents what shall be.