I'm a solitary eclectic. I'm not initiated in anything, but I draw a lot from Wicca and Celtic reconstruction. This page is where I'll be putting various tips and tricks I've found over the years for practical, everyday witchcraft and pagan observance. NB: I overlap between Witch and Pagan. Not everyone does, but that's what you'll find here.
Shrines
Hecate's Keys
Hecate's Keys: Digital Safety for Witches and Pagans
Hi, if you're reading this, you are probably traveling in Witch/Pagan circles online. If I were to guess, you may identify on social media as a witch, pagan, or related category. You may discuss your beliefs and practices, you may post photos, memes, etc. And, especially if you're in the US as I am, you are aware and at least somewhat concerned about recent political changes in the country.
The history of antagonism towards witchcraft, Wicca, Neopaganism (at least in the US) goes back pretty far. We are not on any big radars yet, but we probably will be. Also, if you are reading this, the odds that you are also in one or more marginalized identities is pretty high. Some of those identities are definitely on big radars.
The purpose of this guide is to educate anyone in this community who is a) not very politically involved and b) not very aware of the risks involved in being out of the broom closet. What I have here are my own thoughts as well as resources from others about digital safety. My main focus is social media. Although this would probably scandalize community elders, a lot of W&P life takes place on social media.
In this padlet, you will see some resources here that use heavy terms like "threat modeling", "risk assessment", or "surveillance". I'm not trying to scare you here, but I want you to be aware of what these terms are referring to. In the "Thoughts" section, there are posts that explain these terms. Please read those first to help you understand what's going on here.
Hey to my fellow broke witches!
Here are some money/no money options for your practice supplies!
Book of Shadows:
- Got money? Buy a handmade book - support local artisans! Special ink! Calligraphy! Go nuts!
- No money? Word doc/Open office doc, memo function on phone, dollar store notebooks or binders, Neocities pages (ahem). Whatever you do, have a backup, preferably offline. Do not depend on Google Docs or other similar services or even MS Word. Back. It. Up.
Amulets/Charms/Workings
- Got money? Pomander pendants, ''poison'' rings, old perfume pendants/bottles that you have cleaned out, diffuser jewelry, fancy boxes, trays (if you can leave it out in the open)
- No money?
- *Open a teabag, dump contents if you do not need them, and refill with what you need - if you are careful, you can put it back into its original baggie.
- *Paper cups for coffee or tea - double cup, put whatever you need in the outer cup as long as it won't leach through into the stuff you're drinking.
- *Sticky notes can be stuck together and tied/stapled/etc to form tiny packets
- *Ziploc bags come in all sizes these days.
- *If you know how to sew, you can make tiny pockets in your clothes to hold things.
- *Use random envelopes (for dry mixes)
- *Air freshener bottles or fabric spray bottles can be cleaned out nicely, filled with water, and whatever oils you may need
- *Mix oils into lotions (the oils MUST be skin safe, please look online first)
- *Tiny little bottles from craft stores/dollar stores in the jewelry crafts section
- *Oh, you keep decorative vases? Or decorative mugs? And they're in corners away from clumsy hands, you say? If you don't collect those, now you do. Drop your herbs/oils/etc. in to hide in plain sight.
- Notes: Make sure ALL of these "no money" options are discreet (people get the wrong ideas about carrying green herbs - wonder why). If you are using oils for the love of pete, put them in a carrier oil like vitamin E or olive oil if you have nothing else BEFORE you put them on your skin. Do not ingest them. Do not put them on/in your orifices. Search online for how to use essential oils safely - a LOT are not good to put on your skin especially if you are pregnant.
Sigils
- Got money? Buy fancy pants pens, paints, all-natural inks, henna, etc. Get it tattooed if you are of age and able.
- No money? Draw your sigils on post-it notes/scrap paper, use lemon juice, draw them on yourself in lotion, draw them in your tea or coffee with a spoon.
Notes: As long as you only put body safe stuff on your skin, go nuts!