Witchcraft Perfume Recipes
What an exciting secret it is to carry a magical item on you and have others under its influence without them even realizing it. It is, perhaps, the most consistently enjoyable part of being a witch!
Now imagine that doing just that was as simple as putting on a few drops of your signature scent each morning. It can be just that easy, and this weeks link offers a few good places to start! Whether you're seeking to add another dimension to your spellwork or to have every day guarded and enhanced by magic, perfume is an option that anyone can enjoy!
Quick Link--Perfumes for Witches
Author: Quill / Labels: Quick Link Monday
So I meet a witch and we begin to engage in that most sacred of magical rituals, the Intellect Dance. Who knows more? Who's read more books? What spells have you cast? What was your most impressive success?
We weave around each other offering tiny boasts, sprinkling the exchange with quizzes and minor tricks.
And in the midst of this--especially when it's painfully obvious that there's no need for it--I offer up too much information. I say something that gives away what took me years to discover. Or maybe I reveal my ignorance of a popular practice. Or brag that my collection contains illegal items and then spend the rest of our conversation wondering if I can trust you to keep that to yourself.
Then there are the times I've found a conversant who thrills at the topic of magic but has very little knowledge of it. I should take it slow, lay out something soft and easy to digest, but instead, my excitement overrides my judgement and suddenly I'm chatting about my history with coercive love spells. Or I launch into a passionate rant about the value of demonic evocations. Or gossip about the trouble I've had with covenmates in the past.
Yep, I've said too much again.
As you know, I'm a firm believer that all practitioners, as to their desire, should be honest with themselves and others. We have the right to openly discuss our knowledge, abilities, and practices on the same level as any other person, and to use our magic in whatever way we choose. That being said, there is a definite point when things can go too far and that which should have been better guarded is allowed to land in front of those utterly unprepared to receive it. The one hurt by a reveal like this could be either party, or both.
So the question becomes, is there is a limit and, if so, can it be perfectly predicted? Is there a way to prevent spilling secrets to those with whom we don't share a magical intimacy?
To this end I've devised a simple method--SCRIBE
It's based on the idea that our words should be worthy of preservation. If they're not, they shouldn't be shared at all. Before you open your big fat mouth, consider the following:
SETTING
Does this information fit this time and place? Should I save it for a more private occasion? Would it be best shared after I've gotten to know this person better?CONTEXT
Does this information fit the current conversation? Am I rerouting its direction just to talk about witchcraft?RESPONSE
Is this a conversation? Will the other person have anything to add to this topic?
INTEREST
If I consider this informative, has this person expressed interest or am I just spouting facts?
BREVITY
Do I have already in mind the best way to express this concept to this person? Am I able to explain it without slowing down the give-and-take of our conversation?
EGO
(As honest as you can) Is this just bragging? What do I hope to gain by sharing this?
Some Life Experience
As often happens to those of us who inhabit a counterculture, I've been faced with circumstances that give me only a moment's pause to consider whether or not to open up to a certain person about my occult life. Sometimes it has proven to be the wisest choice.An example that I often return to is a story that Silver RavenWolf told in her book "To Ride a Silver Broomstick" wherein she told a job interviewer that she was a witch--before she even got the job. That, to me, is the absolute wrong time, wrong person, wrong place kind of scenario. How many of the SCRIBE items did she forget to check before she came out with this information?
I can compare that incident to one of my own. I was meeting with our son's preschool teacher for the first time to sign papers, learn about the schedule and whatnot, when he asked if there was anything else about our son that he should know. After giving the idea a quick inspection, I decided to share that our family is Pagan and because our son has been surrounded by it since birth and we haven't hid the fact, the teachers would probably hear about holidays, traditions, and other practices that were unfamiliar.
This was my heads-up and I said so right away. I knew the teacher would be uncomfortable as soon as I said it (and he was), because it is illegal for him to bring up religion as part of a screening process, but I wanted him to know so that he wouldn't be surprised at anything our chatty 4 year old said. That, to me, was the right time, right person, right place.
You, of course, will have to decide for yourself.
Keeping Perspective
Magic is a big, emotional topic and it seems that everyone--even non-practitioners--have big, emotional opinions about it. Keep this in mind when you're talking to others, especially if you stray into the more controversial corners. If you keep facts clearly separate from opinions, maintain a strong take-away message, and hold onto a "quick escape" statement in case you need to wrap things up quickly (especially if the other person is getting upset at your choice of discussion), and all will be well.Remember that sharing of all kinds is about letting people in on the real you. This means that anyone from your sister to the coworker you've been hanging out with after work can hear about this part of your life and it isn't going to ruin everything. Naturally, too, other witches should hear about your take on magic. The secretive nature of the occult really does us a disservice when we try to hide from fellow practitioners.
So go on--share! But do it like all your magic: with care, skill, and no more than is required.
Images from:
empowher.com/adult-living/content/do-i-talk-too-much
pontosdeumbanda.com.br/category/omulu
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki
relate.org.uk/relationship-help/help-relationships/making-your-relationship-stronger/talking-friends-about-relationship-problems
Witch Tip: Unpleasant Truths--Flakes
Author: Quill / Labels: Unpleasant Truths, Witch Tips WednesdayFlakiness exists in every subculture. There's always going to be that set of people who just seem to float from place to place, ideology to aesthetic, without any real ties to any of it. Such is the way for the ones who inhabit the magical community.
Just what are we talking about when we say "flakes" or "phonies" or "fake witches"? Usually, when that kind of language is thrown around--and generally, with as much venom as possible-- the individual in question displays one or more of the following qualities:
- False knowledge or no knowledge
- Pretentious behavior
- Unwillingness to commit to a coven's expectations
- Free-will taken to a selfish degree
- Carefree turning to carelessness
It scares us that we are surrounded by--and possibly are just such a one ourselves--people of no substance.
That happens, folks.
We need to come to terms with that. What means anything now is what we do with that knowledge. Stop acting like flakes are going to be anything but. It's okay. That's what they do; they're going to let you down, they'll tell you flimsy lies, they'll give you the runaround about the smallest, dumbest things. But that's what you should expect of any flake, not just the magical ones.
Because the magical community loves its autonomy and self-directed paths, we're dealing with a fair amount of them. Because we deal with outcomes that don't have a direct physical correlation to the work we put in, they can say a lot before we realize that they know nothing. But that doesn't mean that we should spend all our energy decrying them.
I've had coven-mates who were flakes. One was a glorious example of what not to be, and the rest of the coven was bolstered by it. We were stronger before this person was booted out. Sometimes, an in-group is given its strength by the existence of an out-group.
I've met with new people who did their level best to snow me into being impressed by them, even to the point of later telling everyone that I had begged them to teach me, which was ridiculously false.
But that's not the thrust of what I do, not then and not today. I am a stronger witch based on the storms that I've weathered, the troubles I've endured, the problems I've solved, and--yes--the flakes I've suffered and from which I've drawn wisdom.
So feel free to kick them out, to turn away every flake and every false witch if you feel so compelled. But stop acting like there won't be two more on the way. Instead, get smart, get tough, be firm, turn away from what is wrong for you and for your coven. But then let it die. Don't worry over it. Don't barrage others with expectations of eradicating them totally.
It just can't happen.
Quick Link--Online Guide to Dream Interpretation
Author: Quill / Labels: Quick Link Monday
Dream Bible: the Online Guide to Dream Interpretation
Keeping a diary of your dreams can be a good way to keep track of the hidden things, the broken things, and the undigested knowledge we gain every day. Some dreams are straight-forward replays of the waking world but others require some delving to understand their true meaning.
To aid you, I offer today's link: an expansive listing of dream interpretations for you to check against the wonderland of your dream world.
PST is a painfully common issue in the modern magical community. Only through identification, education, and alternative methods can we eradicate it.
I'm talking, of course, about the phenomena known as Pagan Standard Time.
This malady's main symptom is being habitually and unapologetically late for every Pagan/magical event--whether attending or presenting--causing a stuttering waiting period for things to begin that quickly turns an enjoyable day into a frustration. For those of us already on a razor's edge of a timeline, this can sound the death knell for any future events.
Because the occult world has very little authority--and we like it that way--there are strong feelings on both sides of this argument. On the pro side, we see the forefront is about our cherished individuality. After all, organized religion (that thing that runs opposite to so many magical practices) has schedules and rules that can stifle the free expression and creativity we adore. If we're going to dig our fingers into the mysterious occult, we've got to forge our own perspective on who is in charge and to what degree.
While it feels good (and oh so counterculture!) to always follow your own directive, it can really get in the way when you involve other people. A teaching arrangement, a coven, a public event--all these have to have some sort of schedule. Keep in mind, too, the ever-present desire to present to the outside world a formidable community can make this an issue with real weight. How much do we--and should we--care about looking "professional" to other paths and spiritual bodies?
The support in favor of Pagan Standard Time is worth exploring, as well:
- When you create something yourself (and the magical community is by far self-made), you get to set the rules
- Many of our people are young and impetuous; free-wheeling is their style
- Timelines feel restrictive and unimaginative
- Magical people adore surprises, mystery, and happenstance. What better setting could there be for these things to thrive than one without borders?
On the con side, though, are points just as important to make:
- To be taken seriously, we must present ourselves in a serious manner
- Punctuality is often linked to respect; not always in the eyes of the person arriving but definitely by those awaiting the arrival.
- People are busy and their days and nights are filled with activity. If you want your event to be a priority to them, you must maintain timelines they can trust
How It Happens
Let's be honest, folks. Events are hard to plan and even harder to host. Many elements have to be carefully knit together to be successful. If you want to keep them interested, energetic, as well as inspired, you're going to have to have a quick-moving agenda of unique experiences mapped out in advance. Do you have what it takes to arrange this? Do you even know what such a thing would look like? Yeah, me neither.
Most of us are just stumbling along when it comes to creating great events. Come up with a way cool
idea, dream about how great it would work out, then watch the reality fall far short. It can still be nice, still work to a certain extent, but achieving that ideal is probably out of the question.
Even if you're not asking for the moon (and several perfectly choreographed dancers, drummers, and a poet who will ad-lib beautiful prose in honor of the occasion), there are other factors that go into making events a difficult project that's often over-due or over-time:
1. Events rarely have enough staff
Being a guest at a huge ritual is a helluva lot more fun that working at one. Considering how rare it would be to find a really big event to attend, it's no wonder that so many people want to enjoy the time spent in that space rather than be its bouncer (or do its set up and tear down, or feed everyone, or pass out papers...)
2. We don't have a lot of good role models to emulate in this arena
Until you've been to a number of events, you won't really know what elements go into making them successful. Think of the parties you've attended in your life. Whether you noticed or not, you used every one of those experiences to formulate how to manage social gatherings. You saw what worked and what didn't, what was fun and what made the evening drag, as well as how the host handled problems and turned the focus of the group away from misery-making things like a brewing fight or an embarrassing drunken episode happening in another room. You came away with lots of knowledge from that and it helped make your own shindigs a great time.
What do magic folks have? Unless you live within driving distance of the festival circuit, the likelihood is pretty good that you consider your events history as a few dull-to-regrettable afternoons with other practitioners who claimed to be having the time of their lives. I know this one well.
3. Our needs and desires are unique for spiritual groups
This means that general advice doesn't always help us do a better job. Looking at what works for prayer circles or sweat lodges might not offer any real insight. We do things in a unique way and we need to find our own voice for that.
The most important element of this is freedom. Witches are crazy about it but that makes it hard to get everyone to want to do the same thing at the same time, which is a staple of building group unity. It and individual expression must be in balance without losing focus.
We're also incredibly talkative. Time has to be divided between work and play, social time and magic.
How to Combat It...
Now that we know a bit about where it starts, let's talk about how it can end. To be able to keep the good aspects of PST while ditching its drawbacks might seem like an impossible task. It can be managed, though, if we're attentive to not only what works for occultists in general, but also for our own local groups.
...as a Presenter
When you're the one hosting an event, you must start out recognizing both the weight and the potential in your position. You have a lot to answer for but you also have the chance to put a personal spin on what others are expecting to see. Where do you want to take this and what do you feel is the surest way to get there? This will take some time, so let's start there.
No lie, don't wait a single day to begin the process. Not only is it essential that you have all the prep time you can get, it's also a good idea to begin work while you're still excited about the event and are filled with those initial dreams of its success. This will give you some early fuel.
2. Lots and lots of lists
Start with a basic outline of what you want to have happen at your event, then list the things--large and small--you'll need to have.
How many people would ideally handle each of those aspects? List the positions. List people you know who could fill them.
Where will you get the things you need but don't currently have? Make separate lists for buy and borrow.
Do you have a venue? If not, list ideas. Do you have enough money to do this yourself? If not, list methods of gaining capital, like arranging for donations or requiring payment before or at the time of the event.
3. Know how long things take
Give yourself a generous amount of time for each of the points of interest throughout your event. Add to that meet and greet time before and food and drink time after. This is how long your event will take.
You can also make a separate plan based on ideal lengths of time and then add in some things that people can be doing in the gaps. This is handy for times when people must take turns at something and everyone else waits for their time to come. Give them something to focus on, something to see or do, and you will keep them interested and involved.
4. Have a definite ending
I'm a big believer that you should always end strong. Give your guests a clear idea of the end of the event approaching and they will be relieved to know they won't miss anything or overstay their welcome.
This can be achieved a few ways, depending on your event. You can pass out programs at the door or have it posted online so guests know what will happen throughout. You could also have someone in charge of announcements, giving a 5 or 10 minute warning to the end of one act and reminder for the next. Make these brief, clear, and loud.
Moving an event forward is always about wringing out all the worth from a block of time as possible and making people look forward to the next one. This can be achieved with leaving if you give them something to take with them or something to do when they get home. A classic is the "swag bag" or parting gift that each person picks up as they exit, but you can also offer things for them to do afterward such as posting photos from the event, leaving reviews, or using items made during the event.
5. Take note of what worked
This is essential! Over time you'll get good at this, but until then, learn to watch people's reactions and figure out if your plans are having the desired effect. You might even want to make comment cards available for guests to turn in anonymously. Grow a thick skin if you're going this route, though; people can have startlingly high standards for people other than themselves.
Knowing what to keep and what to cut can really tighten up your timeline for the next event. Also, doing this immediately afterward will keep it fresh in your mind what you thought about the pace. Were you exhausted? More help next time. Did things have to be left out to stay on schedule? Go over your schedule to make sure you gave enough time for the most important aspects and then next time allow lesser aspects to be dropped, if need be.
...as an Attendee
Or how about the member who counts themselves as the backbone of the event but shows up late and bustling through like a hurricane of plastic bags and unfinished sentences, "Oh my god, what a day...Everything's been so...! And I was all set, had the car packed, and that's when it happened--you'd never believe!"
Or maybe it's the one who just decides to swing by and check out what's going on, "Hey, so, did you guys get to the spellwork yet or is it still circle time? 'Cause, it'd be cool to be in on the magic but our paths are different and plus, I've got to jet out of here in 45 minutes anyways..."
Don't be that person, not for your sake or mine.
1. Ask every question you need to when you first decide to attend
Talk in depth to the person who invited you. E-mail or call the host and ask questions. Write down any you want to ask between the initial plans and the event date and contact the necessary person as soon as you can.
Know where you need to be and when, where to park, what to bring, age ranges, limitations, rules, expectations of guests, event timeline...everything and anything you can think of. There's no such thing as being too informed.
Many events will have opportunities for unscheduled time before and after the main occasion where arriving and leaving are okay at any point. Talk to the organizers about this and find out what the window is. Ask what to do if you accidently must breech that limit.
2. Give yourself extra time for everything
Plan ahead for driving time, then add some. Plan your outfit and a backup in case something happens. Be weather-wise in case a sudden rain, snow, etc. delays you or turns an outdoor event sour. Have appropriate emergency items in your trunk.
Pack the night before. Treat this as an excursion that you want to get just right. It doesn't matter if it's only an informal gathering with people you've known for years. It's important to enjoy it--and benefit from it--to the greatest extent possible, so give planning it's due time.
3. Keep a goal in mind
Are you going mainly to make new friends? To reconnect? To find a possible teacher? To learn a new skill from a workshop or meet an influential person? Know exactly what you're seeking so that you won't squander time or miss your chance when it comes.
4. Be gentle with others
Because PST is more the norm than an occasional irritation, it's going to be widely assumed that your behavior as explained here are strange. Think ahead how you'll handle flakiness when you encounter it.
Be generous with your schedule after this event, as well. If things end on time, great! If not, know how much extra you can spare before you need to get back to your own plans.
Remember, PST is not intended to offend. Most of the time, those displaying it are good-natured but ill equipped to deal with the self regulation needed to keep things running on schedule without outside insistence. There's actually nothing wrong with that; those folks just need some support and a few extra hands to help with the work. Offer whatever assistance you can and what advice you can. If those fail you, take charge and create the structure yourself.
And also note that there's nothing aggressive about plotting the demise of PST. It may be a joke to some, but to many of us it's just a bad habit that needs to come to an end and make way for better, more productive things.
No matter which side you're on, awareness beats all.
Images from:
Amazon.com
Pinterest.com
highlandtownshiphistoricalsociety.com
kkrgowthamgudavalli.blogspot.com
Quick Link: Secret Magical Writings
Author: Quill / Labels: Quick Link Monday
Secret Writings for Spells, Magic, and Witchcraft
Oh, how I adore grimoires! If you've been reading this blog with any regularlity, you'll know that nothing pleases me quite so much as books, and occult books are, naturally, the very apex of that love.
To wit, this week's link is nothing but grimoires and occult texts. It's an excellent resource if you'd like to understand the classics or if you've run dry on inspiration from modern reads.
It would appear that the spicy little clove bud has a contentious following; folks seem to either love it or hate it. Either it's a sprightly reminder of home baking, childhood security, and family togetherness or it's headaches, pungent bitterness, and nausea.
Of course, this doesn't stop that little herb from being a fantastic staple to your magical supplies. If you are part of the die-cloves-die camp, you might be able to soften their scent--but not their influence--by tempering clove with other additions while the rest of us enjoy them straight-up!
Cloves, mint, rosemary, and eucalyptus are mixed, simmered in a fatty substance, and then the ointment is rubbed between the fingers and inhaled to clear one's head and instill fresh focus.
They are also linked with peace of mind, tranquility, friendships, and keeping bonds close. For this you can carry them in your pocket or matching conjure bags to be shared between you and a loved one.
Image from:
alinariarchives.it
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