Divining Through Disaster

 Photography by: Maimouna Guerresi

Written by Jaliessa Sipress

Recently, a lot of people’s realities have been turned upside-down; whether through “natural” or man-made disaster or through events that blur the line in-between. Disaster is something most of us live under the threat of everyday. It bubbles underneath our feet and seethes under our skin. It is what keeps us up at night and often impacts our day-to-day decisions. Its intensity and presence ebb and flow but the threat will always remain. Turmoil in this world is consistent but when the building pressure peaks, people start to panic, and they begin to forget.

As witches, misfortune is a part of our lineage. The fear, pain and suffering of those around us prescribed as side effects of us being privy to our own power. Our aptitude to tap into our natural abilities and form deep connections with our bodies, the bodies around us and the body of the earth are all things that make us dangerous because these acts can never fall under anyone else’s dominion. We listen and flow with the earth and her shifts and changes. We practice remembrance and manifestation in accordance with her seasons. We understand that we are of her and can harness her power and this is why we are feared. But the earth is a witch, too. She casts spells of beauty, love and abundance and she, too, is targeted for being angry and vengeful when she tries to heal herself. And this is why we must carry on. This is why we must acknowledge the power of the witch, the strength in our audacity to be our own temples and our own healers. Our abilities to make altars out of debris and never be without our magic because it lies within us.

To divine through disaster is to not ignore it. A lot of the craft is centered in the simple act of noticing. We watch and wait and participate in the art of divine timing. We are here to nurture the collapse of all that ails us, to live in harmony with our fear and loss. We must remember that our ancestors birthed our path to freedom and it is our duty to lead the way for others. Witches work is the work of the people. It is the work we do to stabilize and satiate and educate and support those who have forgotten the power within them.

During times of turmoil, it is our duty to remember and share our knowledge of how to work and heal with water, soil and ash. We must pass on ways to regenerate with what remains when human inventions fail. We are the ones who have to figure out why the world is still turning and we must take note of where our magic fits into the maddeness. We have to keep fighting, casting and believing the way we have been but with steadier consistency and ferocious fervor. Witches have to hold it down. It is our job to lead the way, to teach others how light comes from darkness and to hold onto our beliefs and our beloveds until the walls fall down around us.

Photography By  Photo credit: Maimouna Guerresi

THE HOODWITCH: WITCH TIPS & WEEKLY HHOROSCOPES 8/2-8/2017

Lunar Eclipse 

Written By Jessica Lanyadoo

WITCH TIPS:

Get ready for the feels!

On the 4th, we have another direct hit to the square between "now-or-never" Jupiter to "heal-it-or-fully-destroy-it" Pluto. There are far-reaching social and political implications of this event, but in terms of your personal life, know this: what you do matters. How you pace out the events of your life, what you take on, and what or who you let go of are terribly important now. Believe this: you are a unique thread in the tapestry of humanity, and you count.

You know how intensely you’ve been feeling lately? Blame it on the Moon, baby. On the 7th, we have a Lunar Eclipse (which is like a super-juiced Full Moon with the volume turned all the way up) at 11:11am PST in the forward-thinking sign of Aquarius. You may feel irritable or on edge, and that’s OK; this is a time for transformation and time of healing – not for peace and stability. You’re not meant to maintain the status quo at this time of your life, unless doing so is heartfelt for you. This is a time where what you believe in is getting activated; you may feel a restless need to push things ahead to get answers, power, or to get away from something you don’t like. It’s best to be careful, Puppies. This is an explosive period, one that will have ramifications for a long time to come. Hold your ego in balance with your higher self, and keep your humanity at the center of your processing at all times. You can’t take back the things you do or say once they’re out there; pace yourself through your emotions and your reactions this week, especially when you’re tempted to run with them. When in doubt, wait 72 hours to allow your reactions and feels to settle.

When you’re dealing with heartfelt issues, it’s hard to see your whole situation clearly. How we feel tints our perspective and, therefore, our experience. That’s not good or bad, but it is something to keep in perspective. When upsets occur – even wonderful upsets – it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture and fixate on your strongest, most persistent feelings. The trouble with this is that our most powerful feels are not necessarily the most true or constructive ones. When feels flare up this week (and that they will), choose self-care over self-sabotage at every turn.

XO

ARIES

March 21-April 19

You’re ready to examine the role that fear plays in your life. The Lunar Eclipse on the 7th is going to bring with it so many feels that you may hit a bit of a wall. Take pro-active steps to manage sustainable self-care. Make space for movement, the arts (Instagram counts!), and whatever else gives you some much-needed strength and perspective. Everything you do is an act of creation; build yourself into the person you want to be, Aries.

­TAURUS

April 20-May 20

It’s time to confront the conditions in your life that don’t reflect your values, Taurus. Tensions are running fast and hot this week, so here’s a Pro Tip for managing it like a boss: if you don’t like the game, don’t play. Don’t get so caught up trying to defend your choices that you miss out on knowing your own sweet self. Have enough self-love that you know what your needs and limits are, and enlist the strength of character to honor them, even when it’s hard, my love.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

You always have a choice, Gemini. The trick is to see it and to be brave enough to make the right one for you. This week’s Full Moon intensity will trigger feelings of scarcity that have been motivating you to live smaller than you need to. Not everything that feels good is good for you, and not all pain is a sign that something is wrong. Be willing to confront your feelings, even if they’re painful or scary; growth will happen by going through the complexities of your heart, not by finding a way to work around them.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

Your ruling planet is full this week and pulling us all along for an emo ride. What you feel is both an extension of your inner world and also a reaction to the past, your current conditions, and the people around you. It’s a lot. Do the work of sitting with your feels to better understand where they’re pointing you, Moonchild. It’s Eclipse Season, and you are meant to be changed; bring clarity to your emotions to make sure that you’re moving in the direction you want to be.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

How you relate to anger is up for you, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself agitated or compelled to stand up for something you believe in this week. It’s of the utmost importance that you believe in yourself while not getting caught up in proving it to others. Your ego is running a mild temperature, and if you’re not careful, you’ll trigger conflicts by acting hot under the collar. Find creative ways of experiencing the powerful and driving feels that you have, my love.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

The Lunar Eclipse is ushering in a time for evaluating how you live. Whether your job, your health, or your general day-to-day habits need revaluation, the task is the same: make sure that you believe in what you’re praying to. Ritual and repetitive behavior are like prayer in action, and if you’re pouring your continued attention, time, and effort into conditions you don’t believe in and want, that’s pretty serious. This is an excellent time for facing the truth and making big changes based on what you learn, Virgo.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

When you feel low and down on yourself, it’s hard to believe that things will improve. It’s possible that your feelings may be more dramatic than your circumstances are and that’s OK, but it’s important to know the difference because they require different tools. Consider the bigger picture, Libra. Don’t get so caught up by what’s immediately in front of you that you miss out on what you can get from it. A shift in perspective is what you need for a lightening of your spirit, my love.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

It’s time to let go. You’ve been dealing with so much lately as the energy has been building to August’s two Eclipses. This is meant to be a time when you confront your innermost self, while being kind to whatever you find. You may have to let go of some people, things, or situations that you know aren’t working for you – don’t resist it. You must change in order to grow into the version of yourself that you’re trying to be; don’t hold yourself back, Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Change or be changed ‘cause keeping things the same is not one of your options! This week’s Eclipse is going to shake up your attitudes and friendships, which can be awesome if it’s not very dramatic. Your job is to look within, ‘Tarius. There’s a jumble of fear and hope within you, and you can make either one grow by giving it the right amount of attention. If you don’t know what’s coming next, you might as well choose to bring about the best, my love.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

What you believe in is on the line. This is the time to make sure that you are acting in ways that reflect what you value, even if that means making some pretty meaningful changes. This theme may play itself out in any area of your life, but watch out for your finances in particular. The value you place on money – what you’re willing to do to get it and keep it – is meant to be under inspection. Success is not a destination, Cappy. It’s a feeling, and feels ebb and flow. Get right with yourself this week.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

This week’s Lunar Eclipse in your sign is the thing to look out for. You’re coming to the end of a deep and meaningful cycle, and it’s gonna require all of your attention. The only problem is that you may find yourself feeling agitated and out of sorts. Explore your reactions instead of taking them at face value, Aquarius. What you’re going through is important, but the way you go through it will be defining. How you rise to the occasion is a reflection of your emotional maturity. Act in ways that reflect your integrity, not your situation.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

Having a strong imagination is awesome, but when it goes rogue on you, you’re in trouble, my love. Don’t let your mind get carried away with stories that you have no evidence to back up, no matter how real they feel. Things are not set in stone, and people are inconsistent and weird. None of that has anything to do with you! Allow matters to develop and people to be mysterious, and focus on being the most creative and kind version of yourself that you know how to be.

Witchcraft as Devotion: A Closer Look at the Practices and Principles of Witchcraft in the Modern Age

Photography by Mo www.phobymo.com

Written By Jaliessa Sipress

With Vogue magazine hailing our time as a “witchy renaissance,” it is safe to say that witchcraft is on the rise.* But, what is witchcraft? What is it really for? Is it all just spells to get rich and make people fall in love with you? Is it about worshiping he who not be named and learning how to pronounce wingardium leviosa? For some, it is all of these things and for others, none. A witch can mean many things and can come in many forms, and much of it's popularity seems to stem from that. While witchcraft and wizardry has gained wild popularity for it's reclamation of power and perceived formlessness, what should not be forgotten is that being a witch is less about the fact that one has “power” and more about acknowledging where that power comes from.

Witchcraft is a work of gratitude. It comes from the practice of honoring the people, land and animals that came before you, that coexist with you now and that have yet to arrive. Witchcraft is the work of the wise because it is the everyday practice of those who are humbled by the world around them. Witches find meaning in the mundane and see the magic in weeds growing through cracks in the sidewalk or a shed feather of a dirty bird. Witches are rememberers, mourners and healers because they have reconciled with the cycles of life and realized what is and is not in human hands. Witchcraft is about gratitude and alignment, treading lightly and respectfully and only taking what you need. We must remember that witchcraft is less about control and more about connection. A connection to our own divinity, but also an understanding of the limitations of it.

A witch’s power is in their ability to adapt, working with the natural cycles of the earth to bring about abundance, clarity and direction. It is not about manipulation or having complete control. Witchcraft is about surrendering. It is the knowledge that most things are out of our hands but continuing to work with our surroundings to help swing things in our favor. It is the act of bowing to the elements and submitting to their power that makes a spell stick. Witchcraft is a labor of love and intention. Spells work because they are an act of communion with the powers beyond us, acknowledging our need for help, and partaking in a mutual relationship with things we cannot measure. It is about giving without the expectation of receiving.

Photography by Gregory Halpern

To practice magick is to be in attunement with a sensitive and dying world and being interested in working with, fighting for and healing with it. Yes, witches cast spells and ask the universe for guidance. This is because they are interested in being led, in asking for help when in need and respecting that whatever shall come, will come. Sometimes spellwork is feeding late Aunt Mable’s altar or lighting a “road opener” candle for weeks until anything finally sets into motion. Sometimes it is the humbling act of continually asking and never receiving because it is not what the universe wants for you. It can sometimes mean waiting, worrying, re-configuring and waiting again. But all of the waiting and worrying is worth it because the craft is about finding understanding in failed spells and magical mishaps. It is about finding true love for yourself and the world around you and being in communion with the gifts that come from that. It is about faith.

Witchcraft is a fun, freeing, beautiful and impassioned practice, and we must acknowledge that our ability to experience it as such is rooted in the magnetic force of offering. Offering our power, offering our light, offering our darkness, offering our strength, offering our material and immaterial gifts, our dedication and our relationship to the deities and beings that guide us. Staying in a state of gratitude and giving helps to attract the exact blessings you are grateful for. Your love and power are precious tools. Use them to uplift, remember and protect and they shall never go to waste.