Italian Traditional Folk Magick

Floriography

Victorian-origin flower meanings were conceived as a code, but can also be used for correspondences. 

This table from a Smithsonian PDF has several common breeds and sentiments as a shorthand, but here are some lengthier resources:

Language of Flowers website (includes seasonal information)

List with a couple household herbs

Book scan from the early 1900s

Long archived list with sexy obscure flowers

Floriography’s most intuitive use is for love spells. Put yarrow in a stave-off-heartbreak talisman, leave a couple violets in a vase on your altar, whatever. However, by the time you get to something like white chrysanthemums (truth), there’s all kinds of divining and revelatory “show yourself” work you can do. 

"Never fear chaos because out of chaos something is always born. Instead of worrying about a chaotic situation, I await the birth. When your mind becomes chaotic—or when my mind is—it is because it is impossible to see the whole".

Carl Payne Tobey in The Astrology of Inner Space

The Construction of the Muse Servitor

I have previously written (at length lol) about the creation of servitors, constructed-familiars, and other what-have-yous, but I wanted to touch on a more specific variety that I don't often see discussed: the muse servitor. 

Given forth by the student, the muse servitor acts as liaison to and inspiration for all things creative or scientific. It is a piece of oneself separated and fed through acts of service, giving back to its creator further insight, passion and — under the right circumstance — dauntless motivation. Are they a necessity? No, far from. But for those creatives and scholars who are, by circumstance, removed from their specialized communities and/or who struggle to motivate themselves toward artistic ends without "external" validation, the muse servitor can fill this void. Their creation can also act as a mental jumpstart on a new project, a new field of study, or be used to reinvigorate passion after a period of stagnation.

The process of creation is relatively simple but can be complicated (non-derogatory) in any number of ways at the student's preference.

To begin, gather: 

An item to embody the muse servitor — could be anything, but association is a powerful tool 

A "house" for said item where offerings will be left — it can be elaborate or not; a box, a jug, a shelf, a cabinet, even a folder on a computer

An initial offering — again, could be anything; it could be your own work (preferred) or an artifact you are utilizing to begin a project or course of study

A catalyst — most often this is the student themselves, but you could channel from almost any source: the moon, the ground, the air, color theory, the concept of relativity, etc.; get as freaky as you want with it

To complete the working:

Hold the item in hand and let your mind work. Channel from whichever medium you prefer, if you have chosen one. Let the thing take shape, applying what you must, see what sticks. You can verbalize your intentions or define the nature of the relationship if you'd like, but it isn't required. Once fully formed (by your own estimate), tie this mental/spiritual concept to the object. Again, you may voice what you are doing if you prefer. And in doing so, so is born the muse servitor: name it and place it in its "home."

Note: For those inclined toward the visual arts, this process can be done by way of practice also. For instance, you might draw, paint, sculpt, etc. a portrait of the servitor. If you have chosen to render it on a scale unbefitting a small "home," you may assign it an area by way of hanging or leaning the work against a wall, placing it on an altar, in a corner, etc. and arranging offerings around it. Writers or poets might use the written word to describe in detail the servitor's appearance and character. These collected pages may be housed as above or, as earlier stated, housed in a desktop folder

Present the initial offering. Verbalize, either mentally or aloud, what it represents. Promise to feed it when you can and ask that, should it begin to hunger, it inspire you to create, to read, to work. If you fail to meet its need, speak that it may go freely to the aether, return to the mind, or be left to its own devices.

Feed it regularly. Develop a rapport. Learn its preferences. Call to it when you need inspiration or guidance.

Et voilà!

The work is done. 

Or just beginning, rather.

I would add that "feeding" the muse servitor can be done differently or by different means beyond the one "assigned." For instance, you can do a portrait, sure, or compose a song, but you could also create a concept board or a playlist. You might also create the muse with the intention of focusing on music, but feed it drawings or readings about quantum theory instead. Work done to completion is only a part of the servitor's purview. The process is important, too. And gathering concepts, exploring alternate modes of doing and expressing, researching. Anything that feeds a well-rounded understanding also feeds the muse. And with it, the muse gives back passion and inspiration enough to continue. To keep going, keep doing, keep searching. "If not for yourself, then for me."

Happy inspiring!

As someone who’s been wanting to convert for a while and who’s also been drawn to witchcraft for ages, do you have any resources or starting points for how Judaism and witchcraft can work together? I’m stuck in this battle of feeling like I have to choose one or the other to commit to and I’m Bad for wanting both, and I feel like I’d face extra judgement as a convert, if that makes sense to you?

(I’m happy to donate in exchange for this question, because I know you must get a lot of the same kind of thing but I don’t know where else to go)

jewitches.com has a lot of great articles, many of which dive into the intersection of Jewish practice and witchcraft! Zo is a lovely human being and also cites all her sources. YIVO institute also has a great, free (free!) course on Ashkenazi folklore which I think is really neat (and I'm happy they make the distinction that it's specifically Ashkenazi instead of treating it as universal.) Here's a link.

Obviously I'm biased, but I really don't believe magic work and Judaism are opposing forces. A lot of folk practices and religious rituals (in a lot of religions, really) would be indiscernible from magic work on paper. We're just busy calling it tradition instead of magic. The word "witchcraft" is also very nebulous and can encompass a lot of different practices, some of which you may decide to abstain from because of your religious affiliation or not. That part is totally up to you.

You're not Bad at all for having your own approach, no more than anybody else is bad for doing their thing. Your connection with the Divine is between you and that Divine! You'll have a lot more luck converting under reform or renewal movements, probably. You don't have to be "out" about your practice with your peers if you don't want to, that's your business. I don't recommend lying to your Rabbi though, so you'll want a Rabbi who is willing to have those conversations. I'm sure they're out there!

I hope all this helps! Totally reach out if you have any other questions. :) And thank you so much for offering to tip, that's very very kind of you. Usually I would refuse, but you caught me in the middle of trying to stop immediately rejecting every nice thing people offer me so I'll share my Paypal and Venmo links just this once lol. Please do not feel obligated to tip me though!!

(Slightly in response to a post seen on @starlightomatic 's Tumblr, posted by @jewish-harrypotter)

Okay I know we always talk about Jewish Wizards on Chanukah lighting candles with magic but

How about doing it the traditional way.

How about that one family who’ve been magical since the dawn of magic. They’ve been there since the beginning, learned traditional magic at the knees of their fathers in Egypt and from within secret caves while hiding from the Romans. They’ve watched the building of Hogwarts and the rise and fall of dark wizards, been expelled from Samaria and France and England and throughout it all, they have carried their traditions on. 

How about one family that has been lighting the Chanukah candles the traditional way, with a flame struck by a piece of wood and a dot of phosphorus or flint, anything that will light the way their forefathers did it. Every once in a while, the youngest child will ask why they do it the “muggle way”, and then the oldest of the elders - the matriarch, usually - will set the child down on a couch with a blanket and will tell them the story of their ancestors. 

Or how about the young muggleborn witch or wizard. 

How about the young muggleborn who has never really felt as if they belonged in either place - too muggle for magic, too magic for muggle, too religious for this secular school, not religious enough for her ultra-orthodox relatives; a foot in each world but unstable no matter where their foot lands. 

How about the young muggleborn who takes comfort in the customs and traditions of her parents in a place where everything is new and kind of scary. How about the feeling of comfort that comes from doing something that both predates you and will outlive you. 

Yes, an incendio would do just fine. Yes, magic is the life they live and the air they breathe. 

But tradition runs in their veins alongside the stories of their ancestors.

Sometimes, the magic doesn’t feel quite right... But tradition? That is enough.

Sea Magick

Hi, sorry if this has been asked before, but do you have any advice or resources you could point me to about being a spoonie or having low energy and practicing divination, like tarot? I've been having a hard time lately energy-wise, and wanted to ask

Hello! I have a couple posts that you may find helpful :)

First of all, this masterpost has all of my spoonie witchcraft posts linked in it:

This post is all about divination:

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Bedridden witch: Divination edition

Ideas for practicing divination while bedridden: Varying in energy + mobility required - please don’t push yourself, hopefully there’s optio

This one features some divination with limited movement:

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Limited Hand Mobility + Witchcraft

For folks who have limited mobility in their hands due to pain, weakness, shakiness, or anything else. These are a range of ideas, not all o

Those two are my main posts that have divination in them but I do recommend perusing the masterpost I linked above, there’s a lot of resources there and many of them have contributions from some fabulous blogs!

Online Grimoires

A quick list of free grimoires you can use and access online: If you want your grimoire added, message me with a link 

Book of Shadows

Cornell Witchcraft Collection

Dark Books

Exemplore

Free Occult Books

Grandpa’s Learn Stuff

Herbal Grimoire

Hermetics

Luna’s Grimoire

Magickal Connections

Museum of Witchcraft

Pagan Lore

The Book of Shadows

The Magick Cabinet

Sacred-Magick

The Witch’s Master Gimoire

Ultimate Encyclopedia of Spells

Violet Witchcraft

Witchcraft Archive

Witchology

World of Wicca - directed more towards Wicca beliefs but can still be used 

an introduction to solarpunk

artwork by Molly Costello (instagram)

what is solarpunk?

“Solarpunks cherish nature, progress and science; the individual and the community.

They believe in a world that is green, colourful, and bright. It can be described as a literary genre, an aesthetic, or a movement. The key points are:

An emphasis on renewable energy, especially solar power.

A demand for technology and society to re-centre around sustainability, longevity, and balance.

A focus on decentralisation, community activism, social justice and civic empowerment.

A recognition that economic, social, and ecological injustices are all deeply inter-connected.”

- Sunbeam City

“Solarpunk is a literary movement, a hashtag, a flag, and a statement of intent about the future we hope to create” - Ben Valentine

Solarpunk as a concept emerged from the imagination of authors and creators in the early 2000′s, and was shared freely throughout the internet. It originated as a genre of creative writing and artwork, but it quickly began to be implemented into decentralised left-wing spaces. Nowadays, solarpunk embodies a whole range of politics, activism, design and art; but at its heart it encompasses positive, grassroots community action and innovation as a way to prevent ecological crises. 

resources

non fiction books, essays and articles

Solarpunk: a reference guide

Solarpunk: notes towards a manifesto 

Solarpunk against a shitty future 

What is Solarpunk?

Solarpunk Resources

Designing Regenerative Cultures by Daniel Wahl

The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams  

Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology by Alexis Madrigal  

Ecovillages: Lessons for Sustainable Community by Karen T. Litfin  

Designing for Hope: Pathways to Regenerative Sustainability by Dominique Hes  

novels and fiction

Goodreads solarpunk list  

Solarpunk Press 

Solarpunk Story Exchange

Sunvault: Stories of Solarpunk and Eco-Speculation 

Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach

Glass and Gardens: Solarpunk Summers by Sarena Ulibarri

Wings of Renewal: A Solarpunk Dragon Anthology by Claudie Arseneault

Sunvault: Stories of Solarpunk and Eco-Speculation by Phoebe Wagner 

Twenty One Twenty by Jason J. Robinson

Winds of Change: Short Stories about Our Climate by Mary Woodbury 

Ecopunk! - speculative tales of radical futures by Liz Grzyb

videos

Sunbeam Cinema (my list of documentaries and films)

Imagining a Solarpunk future (TED talk)

podcasts

Adventures in New America 

The War on Cars

Climate One 

Future Perfect 

The Impact 

The Institute for Local Self Reliance 

It’s Going Down

The Shift Up Podcast

Solarpunk Press 

Strong Towns 

Team Human 

Occulture Podcast, ep. 122

(my list of podcasts and radio shows)

websites and blogs

Sunbeam City Wiki  Solarpunk Anarchists  Solarpunk Station 

tumblr

This is where I need your help - I would love to collate a list of Solarpunk-themed tumblr blogs. If you post about Solarpunk and would like to be included in this list, please comment or message me with your blog URL. Thank you! 

Relevant posts

my list of permaculture resources

my tips and tricks for disabled activism 

my post on gardening 

my post on community activism

post updated: 8/7/2019