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Pagan Paths: Wicca (Paganism 101 Ch. 11)
Wicca is the big granddaddy of neopagan religions. Most people who are familiar with modern paganism are specifically familiar with Wicca, and will probably assume that you are Wiccan if you tell them you identify as pagan. Thanks to pop culture and a handful of influential authors, Wicca has become the public face of modern…
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Apple and goat cheese risotto for health, love, and wellbeing
This very autumnal recipe is an easy (if time-consuming) way to inject some good vibes into your life. With ingredients associated with luck, prosperity, good health, and love, this risotto brings a little bit of warmth and joy into cold fall days. Ingredients: 1 large yellow onion, minced 4-8 cloves of fresh minced garlic, to…
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Earth-Friendly Witchcraft (Baby Witch Bootcamp, Ch. 34)
Whatever religious or spiritual tradition they identify with, most witches agree that there is something sacred about the natural world. We draw our power from the earth beneath our feet, the sky over our heads, and the air in our lungs. And yet, many of us live in societies that are actively contributing to the…
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Keeping Consumerism out of Your Craft (Baby Witch Bootcamp Ch. 33)
Consumerism is a set of socioeconomic conditions and attitudes that encourage the continual acquisitions of goods and services. There is no “enough” in a consumerist society — members of the society are constantly pushed to buy new things, pay for new services, and keep up with the latest trends. There are a few reasons consumerism…
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Magic vs. Medicine? (Baby Witch Bootcamp Ch. 32)
People who believe in witchcraft know there are things in this world that science cannot explain. Many witches also believe in the healing power of nature. Because of this, there tends to be a lot of overlap between witchcraft and alternative healing. Some alternative healing modalities, like herbal supplements, crystals, and essential oils, are incredibly…
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Curses and Hexes (Baby Witch Bootcamp Ep. 28)
Cursing is one of the most ancient forms of magic — and one of the most controversial. Whereas most magic is constructive (used to manifest or attract things), cursing is destructive (used to cause misfortune or harm). Technically speaking, curses and hexes are similar but different types of spells. A curse consists of written or…
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Blood Magic (Baby Witch Bootcamp Ch. 27)
Human blood is one of the most potent sources of magical power. It has strong associations with both life and death, and is a way to inject your own essence into a spell or ritual. Blood is considered sacred in some cultures and taboo in others. Of all the human effects used in magic, blood…
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Using Human Body Parts in Spells (Baby Witch Bootcamp Ch. 26)
Many witches believe that the human body is sacred. Whether they’re pantheists, animists, or somewhere in between, most magical practitioners agree that there is some sort of divine or magical essence contained in all living things, including our bodies. But if that’s the case, why do so many witches hesitate to use parts of the…
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Practicing in Secret (Baby Witch Bootcamp Ch. 25)
I love things that are traditionally “witchy.” I love dressing candles with herbs. I love setting things on fire. I love making poppets and charms. But not everyone is able to be so obvious in their craft. For various reasons, some witches choose to be secretive about their magical practice. Why Would You Want to…
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Kitchen Witchin’ (Baby Witch Bootcamp Ch. 24)
Kitchen witchery evolved from the ancient concept of the hearth as the sacred center of the home. In the ancient world the hearth, the place where food was prepared and warmth was created, had great importance and was treated with reverence. Humans have always inherently understood that the kitchen is a special place where magic…
Sam Wise 