Just letting people know that "Shifting", that thing on TikTok that was popular, isn't real.
Dream scripting however is, and has been used to help people cope with PTSD dreams and other negative dreams. It is a useful skill, but you have to understand that it is a dream.
Lucid dreaming is also very real, and very fun! I've done it multiple times, and it's a skill you can learn.
"Shifting" is dangerous because it ends up targetting mental ill people and vulnerable people who want to escape their current reality and believe they are actually going to another reality. This can cause them to ignore their real life, the real world, and their real health.
This is a very unhealthy coping mechanism and I cannot stress enough that "Shifting" is not real.
"Shifting" is dangerous to believe in because it can seriously impact people's mental health. And I am so sorry to those who do believe in shifting, I really want you to reach out to a therapist to try and find healthy coping skills so you don't feel the need to escape this reality.
source
from here
to the moon
and back
Finding your path in your witchcraft journey isn’t always the easiest one. It’s so overwhelming at first, sifting through mountains of information that can take you infinite directions. Here, I have a rough outline of how I found my path and maybe it can help you find yours?
Research, Research, Research!
I know you probably have heard this a million times already, but we say it because it’s true! Researching topics in witchcraft is the only way to truly get started and headed on your way to finding your path as a witch.
Narrow it down by looking up popular topics in witchcraft online. It gives you a solid starting point to jump off of.
Delve deeper into your studies
Find physical books that you can annotate on the topics you decided to focus on. Having a physical copy is easier to flip through and easier to learn from in my opinion. Everyone is different though!
What type of witch are you?
After discovering a plethora of information you may now have an idea on what type of witch you want to be! This could range anywhere from Green Witch to Cosmic Witch to Hedge Witch. You are the creator of your own destiny.
Remember! It’s always okay to switch paths! If you feel like you’ve lost passion or interest in a certain path you chose, just start from the beginning again and let your heart lead you to the path you belong to.
Honing your craft
Once you’ve found out if you want to have deities, want to focus on herbs, crystals or moon magic for example, you’re finally ready to make a compilation of your studies.
I highly recommend obtaining a Book of Shadows or Grimoire for personal record keeping of your studies. You can find professionally made BoS and grimoires on Etsy the easiest, but if you want to use regular notepads as well go for it!
I personally have three separate BoS, one for general information & spells, one for correspondences and rituals and one for my deities. I’m pretty extra and I think it’s unusual to have that many BoS, but you do whatever you’re comfortable with. That’s what matters.
Finding your path
Ultimately after you’ve completed these steps you should have an idea of whether you have deities you worship or if you want to opt out of that and what type of witch you are.
Remember! Witchcraft is a craft and your personal craft can be anything you would like it to be! Finding your path just makes it easier to find what you truly want to study and dedicate yourself to.
“There is a luxury in self-reproach. When we blame ourselves, we feel that no one else has a right to blame us. It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution.”
— Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray (via philosophybits)
Places where the veil is thin due to reality feeling distorted. These are usually spaces of transitional energy and are excellent for meditation, divination, astral work, etc.
Examples of Liminal Spaces:
the beach at night
any time after midnight but before sunrise
abandoned places
cemeteries
tunnels
underneath bridges
convenience stores after midnight
empty parking lots at night
airport terminals
waiting rooms
laundromats
empty classrooms/schools
*Reminder*: if you choose to visit any of these places please remember to make your safety your top priority. Liminal spaces are meant to feel like reality is distorted, but if you have any actual bad feelings or fears about a place, listen to them.
*pulls out draft from over a year ago* ENJOY
Hi! this is a list of witchy self-care things you can do. Most of these are pretty basic on account that i wrote this ages ago but they definitely still work. Anyways, I hope these help :)
Do the dishes and dedicate it to your house spirit (if you have one) or a deity (if you're religious)
sweep/mop your floor in the shape of sigils
add rosemary (or rosemary water/essential oils) to the water you mop with to set an intention of cleansing
taking ritual a bath/shower
cleansing your energy. it's so basic but I forget more than i'd like to admit
dedicating time to yourself. it's just as important as dedicating time to your deities/other spirits
light shadow work or going to therapy. bettering your mental health also betters your spiritual.
go outside and ground yourself
take a nap (less witchy, more, I love naps. rest is important)
work out/stretch and dedicate it to an entity
do some gratitude
take 5 minutes to just sit and turn off your devices. you can use this time for anything, just take a second to get off screens and connect with the world around you
meditate. if you can't sit still long enough to meditate, just focus on taking 3 deep breathes
when you wash your face, draw sigils on your face with the cleanser and moisturiser
^do the same as above but with your body wash and when you wash your hair
say some affirmations/manifestations while brushing your teeth
just check in with yourself and see how you're feeling spiritually, psychically and emotionally. sometimes we don't actually know how we're feeling until we sit down and actually ask ourselves.
If anyone has any more to add please comment. I'll add them to the list (with credit of course)
Sleeping fox
I see a lot of posts on #witchblr for baby witches saying you need to collect this and that when you are starting out. (So many lists!) As though you can't make magic without a particular starter kit of cups and cards and crystals. I don't think this kind of materialistic approach is useful.
Now, I'm not saying that it's not nice to have shiny rocks and floral potpourri, but it is not necessary. Tools can help focus and enhance spell work, but the spell comes from within first and foremost.
So my advice to baby witches is to not run around and spend all your coin on the aesthetic, but instead invest your time into research, reflection and meditation.
This will give you a much better idea of the things that will actually help you get the most out of your workings—instead of accumulating seasonings that will rot in your pantry—if you even feel you need anything at all.
Finally, if you research well you will probably find that what you have in your home and/or neighbourhood is all you need (markers, paper, salt, flour, matches, water, cups, books, playing cards, birthday candles, perfume, text articles and PDFs on the internet, rocks, leaves, etc.) in terms of tools.