Metaphysical Apothecary

In many ways, modern witches are incredibly lucky. Throughout most of history, practicing magick was reserved for a select few—priests, seers, sorcerers, and the like. They had many names, but their purpose was always to learn the mysteries and carefully select others to learn them and pass them on.

After that came the era of secrecy, when witchcraft, magick, and folk practice of any kind was relegated to the shadows, lest those performing it were arrested—or worse.

That era is fading, but not fast enough for many of us. Those of us who grew up steeped in Christian and other fundamentalist dogma (or who are still there) likely understand the need for sacred hiding places and methods for practicing our craft in plain sight.

It’s okay. We see you. And we can tell you, things get better.

Until you can practice freely in the light, we’ve provided some ideas and methods for studying and practicing secretly and safely. If nothing else, remember, loved ones, that only you control what’s in your mind and your heart.

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Intro/Outro: Witch Waltz by Kevin MacLeod

In this final installment of our mini-series on superstition, Shannon and I tackle the most common reason superstitions exist—fear.

Fear of the dark results in terrifying tales of night-dwelling monsters that’ll kidnap you or eat you alive. Fear of losing money results in little rituals designed to keep your prosperity close. Fear of bad luck itself results in countless tiny charms and rituals you can use to keep it at bay.

During this episode, we discuss the creation of fear-based belief systems, how to validate or invalidate them, and how to avoid falling into the trap of “bad luck paranoia.”

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Further reading:

Heart Intelligence | HeartMath Institute

Post Script from Shannon: In our blog article, The Thorny Side of Flower Magick, I mention using a flower tea to support the expulsion of a malicious entity,  a mimic, from Megan's space and keep it from attempting to transfer to my space through our shared bonds. If you listen carefully, you might hear something that isn't quite an echo, even after I've tried to clean up the quality. Check out the article, brew up some exorcism reinforcement flower tea, and kickback listening to the episode. Enjoy!

Intro/Outro: Witch Waltz by Kevin MacLeod

Does superstition have a place in the magickal world? As witches and magickal practitioners, should we be ignoring superstitious beliefs, or paying close attention to them? Can they have an affect on our daily lives and our magickal practice?

The answer to each one of these questions is yes—and also no. The world of superstition is deeply nuanced and rooted in culture and folklore. Examined closely, superstitions also reveal our ancestors had practical, tongue-in-cheek ways of handling problems common to their daily lives.

This week, Megan and I discuss the origins of common superstitions, how they affect magickal practitioners, and different ways to approach them in terms of our spellwork.

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Further reading:

The Surprising Origins of 9 Common Superstitions | Live Science

Intro/Outro: Brewing Potions

The definition of superstition is “a belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge, of the ominous significance of a particular thing.”

Not based on reason or knowledge? Sometimes.

But not where I’m from. Appalachia is the world of Not Deer, Things in the Cornfield, and What Goes Bump in the Night is None of Your Goddamned Business. Sure, some of the superstitions around these things are practical—deer are dangerous when cornered, cornfields are easy to get lost in, and staying indoors at night keeps you safe from predators (both animal and human).

However, there’s a supernatural component to cultural superstitions that—on closer inspection–begins to hold a curious amount of water.

This week, Shannon and I examine the world of cultural superstitions and their origins—both mundane and spine-tinglingly magickal.

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Further reading:

Appalachian Not Deer, Rowan Bagley

Intro/Outro: Magical Transition by Kevin MacLeod

“Trick” has many different meanings. Sometimes tricks are entertaining physical feats or sleight-of-hand manipulations. Other times, tricks are nasty, mean things intended to humiliate or harm.

Tricksters are viewed in much the same light. These clever, canny characters appear across folklore, mythology, and pop culture, ideally positioned to disrupt the status quo. Agents of chaos, they manipulate and deceive to create as much turmoil as humanly (or, often divinely) possible.

However, as their name implies, tricksters are a tricksy bunch with a multilayered nature. Though sometimes their goal is to ruin someone’s day (or millennium), they’re also capable of deep compassion and empathy—the result of which are usually tricks that turn the tables in their venerants’ favor.

In this episode, Shannon and I explore the many facets of these fascinating beings—the good, the bad, the ugly and the incomprehensible.

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Further reading:

Embodying Trickster Energy: The Archetype that Sets You Free

Intro/Outro: Witch Waltz by Kevin MacLeod

Solar magick has a TON of positive associations, and with good reason! The sun is one of the key factors to sustaining life on our planet. It warms the earth, stimulates our bodies to produce vitamin D, enables plants to photosynthesize, and helps us produce serotonin.

Like the sun itself, solar magicks focus on projecting our will and intention into the cosmos for the greater good. Solar energy is all about moving forward, gaining momentum, and garnering more—more knowledge, more money, more strength, just more.

However, just like anything else, we can overdo solar magicks. Projecting our energy and exerting our will on world around us can cause burnout and harmful feedback loops.

In this episode, Megan and I talk about the pros and cons of solar magicks, how too much of a good thing can become toxic, and ways to recover from spiritual “sunburn.”

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Intro/Outro: Wisdom in the Sun by Kevin MacLeod

Cast the circle, work the spell.

Phrases like these send a happy shiver down my spine. There are few things I enjoy more than the tingly pressure of raising energy to augment a ritual or working. And, let’s be honest, one of the most appealing things about witchcraft is the ~a e s t h e t i c~.

However, it can be easy to get caught up in the look of the thing and forget that we’re the arbiters of our own power. Not the embossed chalice or perfectly arranged altar.

Us. The witches themselves.

In our latest episode, Shannon and I tackle beautifully mundane ways to create sacred spaces and cast circles. We discuss quick and dirty ways to carve out a sacred space, how mundane objects can create the most powerful circles, and reinforce how to make your practice undeniably *yours*.

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Further reading:

If you’re active in pagan communities online, it’s likely you’ve noticed a trend developing over the last several years—every other person I talk to is working with Loki. Or Lucifer and Lilith. Possibly also Hades. And the infernal divine, too.

That can’t be right, can it? Not everyone can work with the same entities, that’s just too convenient.

Or is it?

Actually, it’s not all that strange for entities, deities, and traditions to run in trends throughout the pagan community. It just defies some of our human sensibilities.

This week, Megan and I explore trends in paganism from the late 19th century to modern-day and discuss how and why particular practices, ideologies, and even deities rise and fall in relevance to the context of each decade.

Also, I have a cold and you can hear it in my voice. Please forgive the blurred and slurred wording from time to time. 

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Further reading:

1990's Paganism Was A Long Time Ago | 1990s paganism is dead

Mitch Horowitz | Esoteric Author & Lecturer

Helena Blavatsky | Wikipedia

Intro/Outro Music: Witch Waltz by Kevin MacLeod

Music is the very embodiment of magick. Sounds and vibrations are arranged in ways that evoke an immediate physical response from us. Play any beat, and those who hear it will begin moving to the rhythm. Quick tempos give us energy, while melodic ballads bring us catharsis.

Music also has a profound effect on our ability to heal. It’s been used to ease pain and anxiety, trigger memories in dementia patients, and is being studied as a treatment for certain chronic illnesses.

However, we don’t have to wait for the research. Witches have understood the power of music for thousands of years. Join Shannon and I this week as we dive into the medical and magickal benefits of music both ancient and modern.

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Further reading:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/stonehenge-acoustics-sounds-voices-music

Intro/Outro Music: Witch Waltz by Kevin MacLeod

If you work with the spirit realm long enough, chances are you’ll encounter some pretty weird phenomena. Sometimes this is just our senses expanding, but other times it’s…something else.

An entity. Someone or something that wants your attention and means to get it by throwing proverbial rocks in your path. Or, more literally, books on your floor.

This week, Megan and I talk about how to identify these entities, assess their inventions, and what to do about them.

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Further reading:

Top 4 Signs a Deity Wants to Work With You

Intro/Outro Music: Witch Waltz by Kevin MacLeod