Tips For Adhd Witches!

When you're considering working with spirits, I highly, highly discourage seeking out the most vivid, intense experiences you can. This is for ones' own mental safety.

Not mental safety as in "ooooh you're not powerful enough yet" or "oooh you're not going to like what you see," but "hey this could easily fuck up your grasp on reality in a way that's difficult to recover from."

Naturally everyone wants to see the "hard evidence" of spirits, catching them on photo, hearing voices, receiving visions, something reaching out and touching you, etc. Everyone wants to see inanimate objects move and other "impossible" acts. But if this is the baseline for how we define spirit behavior and only strive for more and more it's going to unravel us pretty quickly.

Historically speaking, most spirit work has nothing to do with this. It mostly involves either warding/scaring them away for safety or paying your respects to them in some fashion. You might talk to the latter and and ask for guidance or help, but nothing is expected to manifest right in front of you. If we only treat these Grand Experiences as the most valid, we're skipping over a lot more meaningful work.

More importantly though, nothing is above the laws of physics. Actively seeking to break the laws of physics (moving/levitating objects, shape-shifting, physically changing dimensions or having spirits visually/physically manifest) can shred your ability to process the material world around you. You can't always find qualified research to back up what you'd like to hear, but there will always be some speculative pseudoscience ready to "prove" it for you. You can ALWAYS rationalize how something "could" happen, which becomes how it DOES happen. Once you've mastered the art it can can validate every delusion, every paranoia, every hallucination, every self-doubt, every ludicrous idea, with nothing solid to grab onto.

Mastering those leaps of logic, it's no wonder folks have zero trouble believing the earth is flat, amethyst cures cancer, vaccines cause autism, the government is secretly controlled by alien lizard people, you get it.

Let yourself draw a line of what you DON'T believe in. It's healthy.

hey chicken! any good tips on cursing someone?

I got a few for ya' in the old grab bag of henpeckery.

Listed in no particular order.

One is generally advised to not curse another magical practitioner, especially one who Knows What They're Doing. But if hands must be thrown, ensure you have more than a couple wards up to break malefica - and if this person is in your friend group, under no circumstances can you accept gifts or food from them (and destroy anything they have given you). Do, however, try to give them gifts and pre-cursed foods.

Giving someone a cursed object or cursed food is an excellent way to get the job done. There's something very fairy-like in the way magic can work: by accepting the gift, they accept the curse, and it circumvents many natural defenses.

Perhaps more than any other form of magic, it does to pre-divine on the matter to see what outcome will occur. I highly encourage this when the cursing is done as a form of self-defense, because sometimes some forms of malefic magic can be fuel on the fire of abusive situations. However, even a practitioner of slight power can cause serious harm with a curse - perhaps more damage than intended. It's really just best to measure twice, as it were.

As with many spells, create for yourself a little indicator that the spell has worked. For example, wear one of those brittle hematite rings. If it breaks, the spell has become manifest. This is especially lovely if the person to be cursed is outside of your social circle and you don't have access to see if your manifestation worked.

Cleverness is all well and good, as is poetic justice. A witch does well to keep in mind, however, that their natural strengths may neither be clever nor poetic, and sometimes you've got to just make due with the tools you have in your toolbox.

When casting spells on yourself or your household, targeting isn't much of an issue. You're right there, the magic is right there, and voila. However, when working on a third party - especially one that doesn't live with you - targeting becomes relevant. If gifting an object or food to your target won't work, consider doing what you can to bring your curse into their presence by whatever physical means are safe and possible. If you can't do this, see if you can obtain something of theirs to work over by use of a poppet or some other sympathetic magic. If none of this is possible, try to make a thoughtform or employ a spirit to deliver your spell (or attack them outright), but this will be hard unless you know where they live. In other words: your spell has to get to them somehow. Figuring out how to make it happen is half the job.

Depending on how the magic is worked, it is beneficent to cleanse both yourself and your casting area after the work is done. If a spell must be kept ongoing and close at hand, cover it with a black cloth (or t-shirt, or whatever) and keep it out of view to avoid having your own space polluted with unwanted energies.

If you need a specific outcome for your own wellbeing, consider employing as many spells as you require to obtain that outcome. E.g. one for binding a tongue, another for getting that person fired, another to calm gossip in the workplace, and so on.

Pay extremely little mind to people with moral admonitions, but keep their scoldings filed away. In a few months or years, in moments of reflection, ask yourself whether or not they were right.

If for no other spell, this time, write down precisely what you do. If for no other reason than to cackle maniacally as you see exactly how each little ingredient of your spell plays out in their lives.

did u see them btw...

Your gods are listening to you. Yes, even when your tears are falling and you think you are alone. You are not.

your humorous post has delighted me. i will now absorb it into my dark crystal

communicating with deities

now of course this is a multi layered topic that is different for everyone. some people will use some of these techniques, some people use none, others may use all in sparing amounts. and some techniques may not work for you at all, and that's okay!

just remember that you and your practice is valid, this is just advice for whoever needs it (and that may not be you! it's okay!).

HOWEVER it should be said that a lot of cultures place an emphasis on cleanliness--both spiritual and physical. so, hey, maybe set up some incense and wash your hands before doing some of these methods.

1. Tarot, Runes, Etc.

Now this section is probably the biggest out of all of them. There are so many different physical divination techniques across several different cultures including tarot and runes, but also bone/charm casting (here's a good tutorial for that), psephoi, coin flipping, geomancy, the ogham, and gods so many more I just can't get to all of them.

I like to do this at or near my altar space while wearing my devotional jewelry or sometimes even while veiling, depending on the deity.

What I like to start with is just a simple "Please [deity name] guide this reading." before I ask my question and cast lots. I imagine the deity during the question, during the pulling, and while interpreting.

Sometimes, with deities, the question you ask isn't always the one that is answered. If there is a certainmessage they deem more important, they will give you that instead. This happens to me very, very frequently.

I don't have a particular spread that I always use, but I tend to go for a simple five card pull. I also tend to place a lot of importance in cards that fall out while shuffling, and will look at them with and apart from the other cards I pull. Other than that, a simple past-present-future can also be very useful here.

2. Meditation

This is what I know most practicioners to use, as it seems to come the easiest to most people. However, if you're someone like me who's on certain psychiatric medications, this may not work for you. Furthermore, if you have difficulty visualizing (which is Not your fault, some people are just built differently and that's okay), this may be difficult for you.

The way I used to go about it is that I would find a dark, quiet place, I would light some incense, perhaps even play some light music or nonspeaking ASMR. Here is a good tutorial on YouTube. I just needed to get relaxed enough to be almost asleep, but not so relaxed I lost focus. Recently, I've also noticed that doing some,,, gardening (iykyk),, helps a lot with reaching the right state.

You're looking for just the fine line between sleep and wakefulness, it should almost feel like you're being pulled upward (at least, that's how it feels to me).

Messages may come in the form of images or words, and can be direct or very vague. Just remember to be patient with yourself and your deities, the time may not always be right for you to hear some messages.

3. Pendulums

The reason why pendulums get their own section is just because they're so dang good. Yes, pendulums can and do answer yes/no questions, however they can also be used with certain alphabetical charts to discern individual words and phrases from your deities.

Again, like with tarot, I like to set myself up near my altar with my devotional jewelry. Then I'll ask my pendulum to please contact the deity in question. The reason you want to do this is because I've noticed pendulums may have energy of their own, and may answer questions themselves if given the opportunity. This is not inherently bad, it's just not what you want.

Remember to always ask your pendulum if they're okay being taken over by a deity, some will already be occupied by their own force and won't appreciate being budged out. Others won't care and you'll have an okay time with it.

4. Dreams or Visions

Some of our polytheist friends will be given the ability to receive dreams or visions from their deities. This often comes in it's own package of strange messages and symbolism, but it works nonetheless. Keep a look out for dreams that include your gods' symbols, holy animals, or popular visages.

Remember, it is totally alright if you don't receive direct messages from your gods. I, for one, do not. Sometimes I will dream about my deities but I almost never remember what happened in the dreams, much less if there was a message. Those that receive dreams and visions are not better than you, nor do they automatically have a better relationship with that god than you.

In this case, there isn't much you can do except pray for visions. You can't force them to happen, there's no way to make yourself the perfect vessel or devotee (unlike what some might claim), it just works or it doesn't.

Also if you're having frequent visions and seeing full apparitions while awake that are convincing you to do things or are encouraging paranoid delusions, please seek therapy. I don't automatically believe you need to medicated because you see apparitions of the gods in broad daylight, but you should see someone who can help you discern if these are real messages from your gods or are figments of poor brain chemistry. Take care of yourselves, please.

5. Devotional Acts

Some people, especially in antiquity, communicated the gods in a mostly unidirectional manner. This includes burning offerings and incense, setting up altars, engaging inprayer, and doing devotional activities.

My favorite devotional activities include:

-going thrifting for fun nicknacks for my altar space

-eating food in their name, especially ones that remind you of them

-making devotional jewelry, including prayer beads

-doing divinational readings for others

-going out to look at the sunrise/sunset/moon

-spending time with family, especially female family members

-doing kind things, like making donations to charities you like or giving money to the unhoused

-reading books or stories about your deities

-loving and taking care of your furry friends, especially strays

Anyways, that's all I've got for today, Khaire! <3

Be silly sometimes

I was at my local book store for some new reading material and saw "Metaphysical AF" by Maggie Wilson and it got me thinking. So much I had to buy a copy.

But it got me thinking about how serious people have started taking the craft. I say this as someone who suffered from this in the being myself. Some time cleansing your space is just lighting a incense opening the door a blaring some music that makes you feel strong or shake your ass. Sometimes your glamour is just looking in the mirror and reminding yourself you are beautiful. Sometimes you write down someone's name, ball up the paper and throw it around to get someone to leave you alone.

The universe can be very serious but it can be just as silly as you

The Only Tarot Spreads You Will Ever Need in Your Life

Learn these, and forget everything else.

1. The Celtic Cross Tarot Spread

Gives you a comprehensive answer to any question

2. The Soulmate Conversation

Tells you everything about your soulmate

3. The Three Wishes Tarot Spread

Tells you which of your wishes will come true

4. The Two Paths Tarot Spread

Guides you towards making the right decision

5. The True God Shuffle

Reveals which higher power you are connected to

6. The What If Tarot Spread

Shows you alternate realities

7. The True Colors Tarot Spread

Shows you a person's true colors

8. The General Prediction Shuffle

Tells you about your life in general

9. The Life Purpose Draw

Reveals your life purpose in this incarnation

10. The Major Arcana Grand Tableau

Shows you the full year ahead

11. Your True Passion Tarot Spread

Reveals your true passion and how to live it

12. The Life Advice Shuffle

Gives you advice about life's many departments

13. The Sex Life Draw

Reveals your sex life with a current or future partner

14. The Past Life Tarot Spread

Reveals the truth about your past life

15. Allies & Enemies Tarot Spread

Reveals who your allies and enemies are

16. Your Future Children Shuffle

Tells you about any future children of yours

17. Sports Match Prediction Method

Lets you win meaningful bets

18. Age at Death Prediction Method

Tells you how long you will live

19. The High Priestess Tarot Spread

Answers any question about the future

20. The Time Prediction Method

Reveals the timing of any event

Bedridden witch: Divination edition

Ideas for practicing divination while bedridden: Varying in energy + mobility required - please don’t push yourself, hopefully there’s options for everyone! Quick note: I’ve only included forms of divination I personally do.

Tarot:

Tarot apps are a great way to pull a card with a tap or two (Labyrinthos and Galaxy tarot have been recommended). 

Spread the deck on a flat surface, and move your hand over to pick (let your hands sense the energy), or pick based on intuition. 

Do a two-card (or more!) spread - you don’t have to lay it out if you can’t sit up, you can hold them in your hand or place on your lap.

Sleep with the deck under your pillow.

Pick one card that represents what you want from the next day and slip it under your pillow or mattress for the night, or place on your altar.

Memorize the meanings of the cards.

Make or buy a mini deck for easier use.

Do the easy “find this card and whatever is above or below it =X” spreads.

More limited mobility suggestions here

Scrying:

Use a black mirror or picture frame with black cloth/paper behind it.

Get a mini scrying bowl and fill with water, cradle it in your hands.

Pendulum:

Wear it around your neck.

Shorten the string so you don’t have to sit up.

Prop your hand on a pillow if you need the strength/steadiness.

Use off of the side of your bed if it’s too long (this can be a bit awkward)

Keep it under your pillow.

Use a mini pendulum or a necklace as a pendulum.

Make a simple board or don’t use one at all, just condition your pendulum with basic movements.

*You CAN use a pendulum even with shaky hands, it just takes a bit of bonding and conditioning.*

More limited mobility suggestions here

Tasseomancy:

Get a mug with two handles.

Keep in a sealable container until you’re ready.

Put a towel over yourself in case you spill.

Use a Tupperware container. No shame.

Runes:

(With a huge thanks to @adragonspath for compiling a list of suggestions!)

Sleep with your runes next to you.

Memorize their meaning.

Draw one rune and meditate on their meaning and how you can manifest them in your life.

Charge them with sun/moon light by your window.

Study their origin and reading methods.

Crystal and wooden runes: connect with the element Earth and the intent corresponding to the crystal/type of wood.

Other materials: meditate on the origin and development of that material. Connect with the corresponding element and intent.

Other ideas + Posts

Automatic writing

Astragalomancy - Divination using playing dice

Oneiromancy - Interpretation of dreams in order to predict future.

Stitchomancy - Get a book. Ask question, then open book to random page and read what pops out to you.

This awesome post

Bedridden witch: Nature edition

Bedridden witch: Worship edition

All my bedridden witch posts

Limited hand mobility + witchcraft

Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) by Will Burrard-Lucas