Archive for July, 2011


Ask Black Witch

Filed under: Ask Black Witch, Dreams, Resources & Information, Spells & Potions — 2 Comments
July 29, 2011

I know it’s not strictly enforced (because it never had to be) but actually I have a three question monthly quota. Since this is the first month I’ve actually gone over, I’ll answer all questions. I keep the quota around just in case I get a slew of questions but since this is really a first, I have no issue answering everything. Same for the upcoming months unless there are more and more question filled months but I provide warning first. In short, all is spiffy.

I have been cursed or hexed to not have or keep money. What can I do to break the hex or curse? Or what can I do to attract success or money to me.
– Louis R.

Usually when people come to me saying they’ve been cursed, I’m a bit of a skeptic but only because I’ve seen many people come to me claiming to be cursed when really it could be their own downfall or a general downfall that’s been going around (i.e. bad economy, illness, stress) and not a curse. The general rule of thumb is that the more developed a nation, the likelier that someone has not been cursed really but got some bad luck going but even then you have to stratify that to socio-economic levels and environments (in other words, if you’re upper class and fairly wasp? It’s probably bad luck, mate) so still people can get hit with a hex but it’s not common. Improbable but not impossible, basically.

Now as for Louis, I can’t tell for sure if you’ve been actually jinxed out of money, I’d have to hear more to be able to rule out the fact we are currently in a pretty sluggish economy and as of this writing, with US unemployment at 9% and Black unemployment at 16% and even big businesses are feeling the brunt of the economy. That can have an easy chain effect on a person’s spending and finance. Also, hexes don’t come from nowhere (no one really hexes a random person just for the screw of it, that’s mad rare) so if it’s not really traceable (as in, without doubt. Not, “Well, I got that weird coworker…”), it could be unfortunate circumstances that has fallen upon your head. I’m just throwing that out there to make sure you know what you should look for roughly when it comes to figuring out if it’s bad luck or bad juju.

How are you hexed out of keeping money? Surprise bills? Things keep breaking that are in constant need of repair (and shouldn’t be)? Mugged every time you step off your front step? Banks constantly go, “’Paychecks’? What’s that?” Magick takes the path of least resistance usually but when it comes to hexes, they can throw in wrenches like none other. For example: Say you have been magickally knocked in the pockets. It could express itself by the bank losing track of say, your direct deposit and no one’s been notified. You don’t have money (that you honestly should) in your bank account, which you seriously did not know and so you spend like normal, which hits you with overdraft fees and not-so-nice letters from the banks, possible not-so-nice letters from bill collectors and you try to check into it but every human on a computer is saying all is fine and you screwed up (even though it was an error in the system, either human or technical) and because the blame is pinned squarely on you, ya gotta fork up some cash to remedy (which, remember, you don’t have because of your status of direct deposit went awry) and that all snowballs into a giant headache, to put the ending nicely. These are all situations that could and has happened to people in the past: banks making mistakes on accounts, programs have an error, unknown overdraft fees get accumulated, banks going “Not me” even when it is squarely their fault, etc etc. They’ve all happened before in human history of modern finances. But it’s quite a queer probability all of that happening at once and if it’s pretty sudden as well as have a super hard time being corrected, as if obstacles keep falling onto your path.

If what I described above sounds pretty close to your situation, then yep, you just might be right, someone’s put a fix on you. How to solve it? Depends on your background and how good you are with faith and spirituality. If you are particularly spiritual and part of a particular religion (i.e. Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc etc), then generally you’ll be able to find some prayer that’s meant for protection from evil and harm as well as for prosperity and good fortune. Faith would seriously do some good now because prayers and rituals can’t be done without heart in them. Salt is useful for neutralizing but I’m not at the point where I’m going to tell you to sprinkle it about (and if you do, don’t do it on your lawn, it’ll kill the grass). Hexes are spells just like any other, they come in different kinds and thus must be handled differently. Dragon’s Blood (it’s a resin and can come in the form of oil, incense and even a bath solution) is good for uncrossing and for protection. Patchouli and Jade are great for finance and success. I’m giving beginner’s grade stuff because I don’t know your background in magick and I don’t want to suggest anything that has a very good chance of screwing up if you don’t know what you’re doing. Also since I don’t know the nature of the potential jinx, I can’t really subscribe anything more particular than that. Believe it or not visual mediation may also best aid you in severing ties from your hex (that should have prayer woven in there somehow because you can’t do it on your own) by visualizing actual dark ropes you are severing mentally.

Granted this is if all your money troubles stems from a hex, remember. If life is still pretty crappy no matter what you do, it could be life throwing you a hardball that’s completely striking you out. Hopefully things will work out.

Hi, I have read your blog and seen you on facebook… My question is that I done a prosperity spell last week visualizing that I make sales at my telemarketing job, it worked the first time  ( I made a sale)  but the second time nothing happened. Strangely I got called 2 days later about a job offer working for a company that I love and a career I love! I don’t have the job yet because it opens later this month but it seemed very strange that all the sudden after the ritual they called me… just wondering.
– Olivia L.

How astonishing! You have my first name. I would say definitely that it was probably the ritual helping you out to do bigger and better things. Now for the reason why something happened the first and not the second time: Magick, not always like the movies, does not promise you’ll get it in each and every time. Plus the spell could have bundled up energy from what could have been the second good sale in a row and become a big opportunity altogether, which is forever better. I hope you’re happy in your new position!

I happen to know a couple of these ‘preachers’ that frequent the buses down in this county, and it does annoy me, but what can I do about it?
– Torrence B.

This question is in reference to the recent post Get Off the Bus. My suggestion is either get some good headphones to blast them out, debate with them until they note their own fallacies and shut up or you might just have to deal with it until they get off or you get off. It’s not easy dealing with people like that, I’m certain, but sometimes you can’t do something or may not have the will to do it. I wouldn’t upfront suggest debate because not everyone has an extensive amount of religious knowledge and it can be a battle of personalities too so if you don’t have a dominant personality or just an expression of strong yet silent will, it could put you in a bad spot because these people don’t really respond or dialogue, they just think it’s the Devil in you making you speak out and shut them down so they may simply grow more persistent and shouting matches help no one. If you have the knowledge and background to flip whatever they say on its ear, perhaps go for it because I can say for myself it does make them pipe down but if you don’t have what it takes, that’s okay. It’s not okay that these people take free license to be total bigoted douchebags who don’t know the difference between spreading the word of God and forcing it down people’s throats but your well-being has to go before their empty-headed ways. Informing the bus driver may not do anything except get you scolded and that’s not good. So your best bet is to get a good Mp3 player with nice headphones and slip them on when they start yappin’.

Hi and nice to meet you. I come from a very strong Christian background so this is a very big step for me it’s just god irritates me so you know. By the way this may be a rather long message but please read it I am desperate to get an answer I have tried so many other people and not got a reply. So please let me tell you a bit about my self so this will all cover the question I need to ask.

I hate how I look I have a big nose and thin lips and puffy eyes and I am always either pink or red and I am very prone to spots.

I also look a lot like my mum and we aren’t on the best of terms right now so I would prefer to look more like my dad. Recently I have met a girl who I imagine would look just like my dad’s daughter if there was no interference from my mum. It’s also a rather funny story actually because my friend looks a lot like her dad who she does not like and I also look a lot like her mum so it’s really weird. So I was thinking what if I had been born in her body and she had been born in mine so we would still be recognised as the same person who we are now. so obviously it would be very difficult as you can probably imagine to find spell that would have the power to do that so I was thinking about trying to make my own spell or maybe you could give me a spell hopefully but if not I will try and make my own but another question is is would a spell be able to change the past because I’m not just talking about a body switching spell I am talking about a spell that could actually change the past!

I don’t want to be a different person I still want to be me just to have been born in another person’s body. I also don’t really know if making up my own spell would work so I guess that’s three questions altogether and I really hope you can help me. Hope I hear from you soon
– Jershua

It sounds like two interconnected questions to me.

I read your question over several times (It was a little hard reading, mate. I figured the British prided their language more than us Americans) and I’m going to be quite frank and start with the bottom and go up. You say you don’t want to be a different person but you actually do. Your whole letter bleeds with that intention because in your mind, you think you can escape your mom (and ultimately the bad relationship with her) if you were just in another physical body or to switch up the past. You could switch bodies with anyone from your friend to your next door neighbor to the Prime Minister, but keep the same mind and you’ll always be tortured because your problem is in your mind, not on your face. You could cast a spell to change the past but I can pretty much assure you what you’re asking for is waaaaaay beyond your skill set and most likely will forever be since you’re tipping into high magick and that’s no walk in the park. I have major difficulties with it and I’m a practiced Witch of nearly ten years. Besides, by changing the past to change the present and the future, how do you know the wheel of fortune will spin in your favour the second time around?

Now, since you would have someone to switch bodies with, your good friend who doesn’t like her dad, how do you know she would want to switch places with you? Can’t exactly pull a “body snatchers” thing, especially not on an unsuspecting and new friend. And how do you know you would be happier in her life – actually, body since changing bodies doesn’t promise a life switch – than you are in yours and that she vice versa? It just sounds a little one sided in your question. Even if you two equally do want to switch bodies (but not minds), what happens if one of you want to switch back?

Even in the vastness of magick, possibilities can come with limits and things happen for a reason. It’s clear you want to separate yourself from the hurt and that makes total sense but this really is not the way. You don’t like your physical features because of who they relate to so there’s nothing you can do really that would truly heal your problem on the physical level except to deal with them on the mental and emotional level where they reside. Work on whatever problems you have with your mother because running won’t solve anything. Talk to a counselor, therapist or someone that you trust to help iron out the problems. That’s the only way to solve this issue. The problems you have with your body are simply red flags to a deeper issue that need far more attention than the shape of your nose and lips. And try some Witch Hazel solution for your skin, it takes care of the red very well and keep spots at bay with consistent use.

I apologize if this is a strange question, but I was browsing and found your site, and was curious if you had an answer for me.   First off, let me say that I am not a pagan, nor am I very familiar with pagan customs; but, I felt that if I wanted to gain some understanding, I’ve got nothing to lose in asking and searching.

So, as for my question:

I have been having an interesting recurring dream.  Well… sort of.  I’ve had an interesting recurring “visage” lately.  Every couple of nights or so, I drift off to sleep and I see this girl.  She has lovely features, but never says a word.  In my dreams I often walk with her and talk to her.  (The setting is always a moonlit glade or stream).  She simply smiles and listens until I wake up.

Well about a month ago, I had the most peculiar thing happen.  I was laying, staring up at my ceiling in the dark early morning.  I think I must have only been half awake, but I could feel a presence in the room with me.  And just for the strangest moment, I felt a cold but calming touch on my face…. and (this is going to sound really bizarre) I saw the girl’s smiling face in a glimpse and she kissed my cheek… I think.  As I startled awake, the image and feeling was gone.

I know I must sound completely insane, or that it’s just my “hormones” running away with me.  It’s for this very reason I haven’t told ANYONE about this.  I can’t explain how, what or why, but this being whatever she is, feels so real to me.   I am currently happily in a relationship, and yet the “girl” doesn’t seem to care.  What’s really strange is that, being with her feels natural…  It doesn’t feel in any way conflicting with my current relationship…  Which makes me feel a little guilty.   

Again, I know I must sound crazy.  Please forgive the strangeness of my question..  but I am just curious if you, as a witch, had any sort of insight for me.

Truly and sincerely yours,
S.S.

If I had a nickel for every “This is a strange question”, “I’ve an interesting dream” or “I must sound crazy”, I would never worry about money again.

Have you ever thought that this dream could be crafted by your own mind because sometimes a cigar is just a cigar? I don’t know how long you’ve been having this dream versus how long you’ve been dating the girl you’re currently with but it sounds like you’re just having a happy dream. It doesn’t mean that you don’t love your girlfriend, it doesn’t mean you’ve gone nuts, it could just mean that you’re just dreaming. Even the half-asleep part, which is probably you already being halfway in the dream state hence touches and things like that feel real.

Nothing to feel guilty over until you put more focus on the dream girl than the real girl or even worse, try to turn the real girl into the dream girl. People can have reoccurring dreams of good things just like they can have reoccurring dreams of bad things. So go with it unless things take a turn for the worse.

That’s all the Ask Black Witch for this month! Want to ask a question? There are various ways to contact me! Everything is on the About Me/Contact Me page but you can also use the Ask Black Witch Submission Form on the right or tweet me @thisblackwitch and/or using the #askblackwitch hashtag. ABW questions are answered on the last Friday of every month.

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Black Witch Gift Shoppe is now open for service!

Filed under: BW Announcements — Leave a comment
July 27, 2011

You read the title folks, Black Witch is starting to open up for some scratch (because she could use some pesos). This is starting with the Black Witch shop which is operated through Zazzle so you can see my designs there in the form of mugs, magnets, mousepads and more. This shop will be updated consistently with new designs for you, the reader, to choose from and purchase. Right now everything is with the black and white logo but expect a wonderful ream of colors in the future, I’m just figuring everything out for now. And since I am figuring everything out for now, if there are issues, please contact me.

Right now, everything is produced by Zazzle but in the future, there will be a store (probably done through Etsy if nothing better catches my eye) of actual handmade products made by me from journals to cell phone charms to shirts to whatever else my sewing machine and crafting workstation can churn out. That I am aiming for around Samhain/Halloween but no later than Dec because guess what? Black Witch, the writer of this blog, will be moving to a new location so there will be actual space to handle whatever responsibilities maintaining a webshop for handicrafts shall bring. Since that place won’t have a kiln or a machine to churn out mousepads, the Zazzle shop will still be available then too in case you still want a Black Witch mug or mousepad.

So click through to the Black Witch Gift Shoppe (yep, renamed because it sounds cuter), buy stuff and be happy.

Oh and pre-order for the Black Witch book if you want as well.

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The Arts! (AngelBopByeYa/VirtuouslyVindicated, Black Pagan, WeeabooStories)

Filed under: The Arts — Leave a comment
July 22, 2011

It’s The Arts! of July, let’s hop to it! – Actually, before we do, did you know that you could pre-order Black Witch: Life from the Black Pagan Perspective, vol. 1? It comes out on Sept. 9 through Lulu publishing. Check out the Black Witch Shoppe for information!

AngelBopByeYa/VirtuouslyVindicated
I’ve actually never featured a tumblr before so this is a first. Tumblr, for those who don’t know, are an alternative to the blog for it is easier to post multi-media in addition to text instead of the other way around. I have found Angel’s tumblr to be a very nice read to keep up on because a lot of tumblrs out there seemed to be nothing more than carousel pukes of pictures and things that are supposed to outline an edgy life that doesn’t actually exist. Angel’s tumblr, VirtuouslyVindicated is a refreshing and very genuine read that is very nice to keep up with.

The tumblr has a lot of Janelle Monae content so if you’re a big fan of the android herself, this is a definite go but instead of being a total fan site, there’s a healthy mixture of genuine insight and likes. It’s a very honest tumblr, I really love the Christian postings because it’s super rare to find that kind of traditional living in a modern mind nowadays, especially with younger people in a way that doesn’t sound like robotic talking. I was raised in a very traditional Christian manner and really appreciate it (hence why I harp the derp ones) so it’s nice to see it here. A post Angel made that I liked is the discussion between a science student who is Christian and an atheist professor:

Professor: You are a Christian, aren’t you, son?
Student: Yes, sir.
Professor: So, you believe in God?
Student: Absolutely, sir.
Professor: Is God good?
Student: Sure.
Professor: My brother died of cancer, even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn’t. How is God good, then? Hmm?
(Student was silent)
Professor: You can’t answer, can you? Let’s start again, young fella. Is God good?
Student: Yes.
Professor: Is Satan good?
Student: No.
Professor: Where does Satan come from?
Student: From.. God.
Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student: Yes.
Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it? And God did make everything. Correct?
Student: Yes.
Professor: So who created evil?
(Student didn’t answer)
Professor: Is there sickness? Immortality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?
Student: Yes, sir.
Professor: So, who created them?
(Student had no answer)
Professor: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son.. have you ever seen God?
Student: No, sir.
Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your God.
Student: No, sir.
Professor: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God, for that matter?
Student: No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.
Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student: Yes.
Professor: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, Science says your God doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student: Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor: Yes, Faith. And that is the problem Science has.
Student: Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
Professor: Yes.
Student: And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor: Yes.
Student: No, sir, there isn’t.
(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events)
Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of Heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There was a pin-drop silence in the Lecture Theatre)
Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?
Student: You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light… But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and it’s called Darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, You would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?
Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student: Sir, my point is, your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
Professor: Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student: Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
Professor: If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes of course, I do.
Student: Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going)
Student: Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?
(The class was in uproar)
Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?
(The class broke out into laughter)
Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? .. No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable and Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures?
(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable)
Professor: I guess you’ll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student: That is it, sir.. exactly! The link between man and God is Faith. That is all that keeps things alive and moving!

The student’s name was Albert Einstein. Brilliant.

— I have nothing against science…except when it challenges my faith. God IS. That’s all. [♥]

This pretty much sums up my perspective on faith and science too, ha ha (Although, I thought Einstein was Jewish or at least had Jewish relation. I’ll research that later.)

Virtuously Vindicated also has a lot of Obama pictures, especially documenting Mrs. Obama and her influence on Black little girls everywhere. It’s a good face of Black culture, politics, belief and music all wrapped up into one place. It’s a wonderful tumblr and a good reminder that not every American kid is going to wind up face down in the barrel of stupidity and false identities.

VirtuouslyVindicated
AngelBopByeYa Twitter

Black Pagan
I think this is the second blog I have ever heard about being Black Pagan. It is still new and among the recent crop of Black Pagan blogs I have seen (I’ll compile a list later but look on African American Wiccan Society). The blog is from an older Black Pagan’s point of view and talks about the Pagan holidays (something I noticeably don’t do since I don’t really celebrate them greatly) and what it is to practice her diverse interpretation of Paganism. The blog is still fairly new, as in there’s less than three months of content, but it seems pretty promising. It updates on Mondays, check it out

Black Pagan

Weeaboo Stories
Summer time means convention time and one of the most frequented are anime conventions. I’ve been to a few myself, it really is a lot of fun. There are so many people all gathering for anime, mangas and East Asian street culture (Lolita, the fashion I’m part of, is a type of J-Street Fashion) and it really has picked up over the years. WeeabooStories is a tumblr about the worst of those kinds, Weeaboos.

A Weeaboo is a pretty much an Otaku that haplessly fetishizes Asian culture, with a particular preference for Japan. Their knowledge for Japanese is very limited (as in, they seriously don’t know jack about Japan except for whatever American and Anime Culture has taught them) and they can be mad obnoxious. They don’t live in reality but through cartoons characters and drag everyone through it.

Weeaboo Stories is a tumblr where you submit your run-ins with these people so if you get upset about what gets posted, hate the player not the game (for those not savvy with Black lingo: get pissy at the submitters and contributors, not the person who runs Weeaboo Stories). Besides, the site is very quality, it’s not all about bashing the socially and racially inept of a fandom but there will be good stories, pictures and times to be had on that site. And to top it all off (for me), the site’s Black Owned (Ran?), the person behind the tumblr, going by Weeaboo Goddess, is Black (and a lolita). Happy days for me and leaves me thinking… Why the f**king hell didn’t she run for a Black Weblog Award? This girl got my vote faster than Obama, mate.

Oh and some weeaboos don’t like the fact that she’s Black and running a quality site and will post hate at her about it, pulling out all of the stops. Like, “Birth of a Nation” mixed with a dose of White Privilege shaken up in a bowl of Racist-R-U-Srs? and a dash of “Whites Only” on the side. Some of the terrible things those shut-ins have said to her really sound like stuff you’d hear on the street in 20 – I mean the 1940s, 1950s. So if you feel like shutting down the Third Reich kids for whatever reason or another, knock yourself out.

Like I said, Weeaboostories is super cool. That’s actually where I found the video Carlito

And because I found it insanely awesome, here’s another video of the vocaloids that has done Carlito alongside a pair of humans doing a wonderful imitation of it! And here’s the original without the humans.

Oh, and another vid I found on Weeaboo Stories that can show that it actually is quite fun to be at a ‘con.

Weeaboo Stories (NB: Viewed best on Chrome)

That’s all The Arts! for this month! Next week is Ask Black Witch! If you haven’t submitted a question yet, do it nao! Use the Ask Black Witch submission form on the right-hand side, go to About Me/Contact Me page, do whatever you can, just submit, submit!

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In Your Mind, Out of Your Head

Filed under: Psionics — Leave a comment
July 15, 2011

A new year, a new column topic: psionics.

Now, I’ve been wanting to discuss this for a while but the thing about chatting about psionics is pretty much, well, if you think naysayers about witchcraft is bad (“There’s no such thing as witches! Just crazy people.”), naysayers for psionics are simply toxic because we’re starting to trump into a level of metaphysics and energy manipulation that is incredibly reminiscent of sci-fi movies and books. Just like witchcraft, a lot of psionics is energy manipulation, meditation and practice but the responses to it, especially from the over-skeptical crowd, is pretty deafening to the point that I even thought about not talking about it in the column at all because I seriously don’t feel like dealing with the “Oh yeah? Prove it!” people because, well, I was curious myself but at least I’m willing to believe something after seeing enough proof. Science is great but so often abused when in the hands of a douchebag with limited life experience.

Alright then, for those simply scratching your heads at what psionics is, it’s really the more modern term of ESP (Extra Sensory Perception) so within the field of psionics is a myriad of topics ranging from psychokinesis to remote viewing to pretty much anything to do with the mind and energy (which I may call “chi” from time to time since I’ve had that term beaten into my head from martial arts) and how it works with matter. Psions are people who practice anything with psionics.

I’ve always been interested in psionics growing up, I think it’s pretty cool. I have had some experiences myself with it that I’ll perhaps share in future columns and I have friends that are actually pretty successful with it, particularly with telekinesis (oi, I feel like an otaku writing that) to the point that it became old hat and even boring sometimes. Even I admit to sometimes seeing people move a psiwheel (a handmade device meant to practice energy movement) spinning and felt a sense of “Seen it, do something new.” There’s a lot to it, though because it is, well, basically energy movement, which serves as a good jump-off point for other practices in psionics.

Are there weirdos in the field of psionics? Yeeeeees. Too many. Too many X-Men wannabes, people who have read a little too much sci-fi and people who so desperately fish for any idea that slightly resembles “cool”. They’re the ones that make it super easy to discredit any psionic because they’re fluffy bunnies in the way that they seriously don’t know what they’re talking about, can’t do a single bit of it and just are the loudest and worst examples. They prowl about on the message boards blabbering and attempting to brag that they did anything that could be grandiose. The Japanese earthquake? They did that. The headache you just had? Responsible for that too. They pretend they are the ruler of the universe when really they are nothing more than an insecure child trying ever too hard to be unique and stand out. Think of obnoxious otakus (weeaboos they are sometimes called, read weeaboostories if you don’t know what it is) and how they take on aloof or overly bubbly anime characters. Yep. I usually duck them because they’re very easy to spot by their overzealousness but boy, are they a pest.

Back when there were few sites to really gather at for people serious in this stuff, it was a lot harder to showcase practice because of lower pixilation of cameras and the absence of a convenient cameras at that. If you didn’t have a camera for a long time, you either could only describe what you did through text, leaving room for fakers who wanted to grab for any attention they could possibly get and live in their fantasy pseudo-Marvel comic world, or just keep to yourself and ask questions when questions came up. I used to be on PsiOnline but I think it’s a dead forum now.

Now that it is easier to showcase practice with higher definition cameras, youtube and better internet connections, it really is great to see the recorded processes of tk practitioners who are getting along well with what they’re doing, getting more creative and adding more obstacles but I think some of the obstacles that get added are mainly attempts to silence people who go “Faaaaaaaaake, I can do that myself with [insert tech here].” Such as with this video of a youtuber that I subscribe to who’s part of a psionics group I have found a while ago (there are new groups as some of the old ones have faded away due to aging members not being able to post as much or with social media). He’s doing Air Stasis, basically working against air currents:

(I also love that this telekinetic is Black, makes me very happy because the psionic field has the same problem Paganism does: Too White.)

Regardless what people say, I am happy to see psionic practice still going on and well at that. It is annoying to hear skeptic after skeptic to the point that even when you do have someone who’s a success at it, they keep it to themselves because no one wants that kind of harsh spotlight. I haven’t done it myself in a while because my time has gotten quite restricted over time but I do admire those who are doing it because, well, it’s just fun and it is amazing to see how far the mind can go.

Next week, The Arts! Who’s being featured:
– AngelBopbyeya/VirtuouslyVindicated
– Black Pagan
– Weeaboo Stories

And don’t forget to pre-order Black Witch: Life from the Black Pagan Perspective, vol. 1 in the Black Witch Shoppe!

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Sound Off: What Would You Like To See In the Black Witch Shoppe?

Filed under: BW Announcements — Leave a comment
July 12, 2011

In lieu of starting the pre orders of my book, Black Witch: Life from the Black Pagan Perspective, vol. 1, I would like to expand the Black Witch Shoppe even further to include actual merch. Some of it will be handmade by me (i.e. wristbands, tarot bags, cell charms, etc) and some as normal merch (mouse pads, mugs, etc). My question to you is what would you like to see in the store and at what price range. Let me know in the comments below.

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Get Off the Bus

Filed under: AfroPunk/The Establishment, Pagan Life — 4 Comments
July 8, 2011

The Establishment (Afro-Punk) Version

Bus preachers. I don’t know if they exist anywhere else but they’re a staple in the Black community. They’re Christians who either are pastors doing unnecessary overtime or wannabe pastors preaching what is not entirely their flock. They believe everyone should hear the word of God – regardless whether everyone wants or needs to or not.

They bleat to their captive audience the glory of the Lord and His Father and how good They are to the preacher and how all should rejoice and be gladeth in it for this is the day that the Lord has made. All who refuse the notion is an outright sinner that will verily soon feel the dark persecution of the Lord for unknowingly siding with the Devil and his wicked ways. Everyone else should get right with their life too because Judgment Day is comin’. It’s comin’ and there won’t be no foolin’ God so be faithful to the Lord, be gladeth in His creations – or suffer.

God, how annoying.

I’ve got nothing against the Christian God, really, but some members of his fan club ought to go on mute when it comes to preaching in public places. It’s rude, myopic and frankly, very annoying. They’re not blind to the idea that not everybody is Christian but totally deaf to the notion that Christianity is not for everyone so all that preaching could be going down a sink. It is not fair to me, the Pagan, that I have to hear you preach simply because the Lord compels you but if the tables were turned, it would be problematic and praising the Devil somehow.

I don’t mind discussion of religion, I think that’s fantastic or I wouldn’t go through the trouble of having a comment section, a fan page, twitter, email or P.O. Box otherwise. But discussion is very, very different from preaching. Preaching is not discussion, it is very one-sided and the only time the preacher allows talking is for the call and response and the response isn’t a free response, but something you’re supposed to say. Preaching is great in church (given the subject stays on God, Christ or the Bible) because all the listeners are supposed to be there and attentive, just not on a bus filled with diverse beliefs where the people who don’t believe the same don’t need to hear all that preaching.

Some may think it isn’t right but I usually challenge bus preachers (street preachers don’t bother me as the audience isn’t captive, just walk away). Hey, they felt like spoiling my ride and my quiet, surely they should expect some repercussion somehow, some way, some day. It’s fun to debate sometimes and since just about all arguments I have heard before, it makes for nice entertainment. See, I was raised Christian, these Christians can’t go super far being challenged before they trip up somewhere and start backpedaling – and that’s usually where the fun begins. I’ve learned that bus preachers are pretty ignorant about any religion (and even other denominations) that aren’t theirs and actual political religious history, hence mad easy to trip up.

I am very aware that it is a must for Christians to spread the word of God but there are ways to go about it that doesn’t have to come straight out of the “Unbelievably Annoying” category. Paganism doesn’t have (nor I think condones) proselytizing but in my experience of dealing with Christian friends, readers and people, what works best is to not blast it out and force it down people’s throats. Express it through living, that goes a lot farther because that person is just doing them, nothing to get mad or annoyed at and everything to admire. Not only that but it doesn’t kill them that they’re willing to understand beliefs that aren’t their own. See, then you, the Christian, may feel free to talk about your faith because I don’t feel harped at about mine.

As said before, Pagans don’t preach or proselytize – it’s part of the religion not to yammer broadly in the ears of those who don’t want to hear it – but I have heard of Pagans who have participated in doing this, just to the lower degree of waiting to be provoked instead of standing up and ruining everyone’s commute. Pagan fundamentalists, they’re called. They’re fewer in number than the Christian variety but look and act the same, just with 14% more crazy and 32% more self-embarrassment. I’ve never met one (or it would be up here on Black Witch toute suite) but from what I heard, “wack” isn’t word enough for these people. It’s something beyond “trifling” and somewhere in the neighborhood of, “Lol, wut?” Granted if I did meet one, I’m afraid I would – excuse my momentary vulgarity – have to dick with them just because. They spew outright nonsense as super pseudo-environmentalists, probably couldn’t tell you a single country the equator passes through and their minds got way too hyped from Live Earth. They don’t understand the nature part of Paganism (which is 99% of the foundation of the religion) and honestly, they could afford a piping hot cup of Shut The Hell Up.

My main thing? Don’t shove your religion down other people’s throats. Just live, leave me alone and followers will come if they feel it in their hearts. Have a nice trip.

On a lighter note, tommorow is two things: The Black Weblog Awards live ceremony (which, sadly I won’t be physically there for) which will be broadcasted at the Black Weblog Awards site and the pre-orders for this blog’s very first book Black Witch: Life from the Black Pagan Perspective, vol. 1 starts. The book will drop on Sept. 9th through Lulu publishing so if you want to pre-order, go to the Black Witch Shoppe page for info.

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Passing the Word: Full Moon Summer Solstice Prosperity Ritual

Filed under: BW Public Service Announcement, BW Special — Leave a comment
July 3, 2011

I’m simply passing this along but there is an event I was informed of through the African American Wiccan Society yahoo list proc that is on both Blog Talk Radio and on Facebook called “Global Women’s Full Moon Fill’em Up Ritual (Summer Solstice)”. It’s an open ritual, meaning any and everyone (well, all who are women) can attend all around the world. The main details are within those links so check them out if interested. It’s going to be on July 15th and during the full moon. The ritual is for prosperity, wealth and good fortune so be sure to bring your biggest purse. Check it out!

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Back In The Day: “Faker Faker: How to Spot a Con”

Filed under: AfroPunk/The Establishment, Divination — Leave a comment
July 1, 2011

The Establishment (Afro-Punk) Version

I made these when I was the president of my university’s Pagan Student Union. This mini guide is basically for those who want to seek out a psychic parlor to get a reading and not want to be jipped. Now while I do personally suggest people simply learning divination on their own since it’s a lot cheaper and not that difficult, some folks would like to still go to a diviner for guidance. Here are the tips:

Faker faker #1: Conduct of diviner
Does the diviner act like a normal person or a car salesman desperate to make a deal? Some cons will bear down on you like a hawk or even try to give you some info about yourself that you probably already knew or that you gave away. For example, she may note that you’re a traveler or a big spender. You may think that’s novel but you could be using a very fancy and expensive phone or letting off that you like to be adventurous.  A diviner is a normal person, just like you, and should act so. If they act the least bit odd, walk out.

Faker faker #2: You seem to have to keep paying for more information
You originally walked in for a mini tarot reading for $5 and now you got yourself a full tarot reading with a special palm love reading, astrology job reading, a special good luck kit and what the weather is going to look like in the next month before you head to Sri Lanka, though you have no travel plans whatsoever. Total: $350 and counting. A diviner shouldn’t be pressuring you to pay for more than what you want. Sometimes you just have to be assertive and tell them that you just want the reading you asked for and that’s it but they will try to lure you with cliffhangers (“Oh! But I see this mysterious someone that could be coming into your life. S/he may be the one maybe, I could look further with a palm reading—but that’s aside the point…”) but don’t take them. It’s just more sensationalism to get you out your money. A good diviner usually does a reading without side commentary. All divination is, honestly, is to give sound advice. Nothing outrageous, just normal advice.

Faker faker #3: Gotta give up something “Cursed”
Somebody you love or you are gonna die! Quick! Fork over that heirloom diamond ring your mother passed down to you — It’s cursed! Seems like the more pricier it is, the more cursed it is. Capitalism sure can be a downer sometimes. However, be rest assured that most likely the stuff you own doesn’t have a hateful spirit or something bound to it. If the diviner is trying to give you a serious scare story for something in particular, chances are it’s expensive and can be pawned for a lot of money. I think you should call the cops on this one, this is racketeering.

Faker faker #4: Tricked into casting a spell/you’re “cursed”
Your ancestors somehow slapped Abe Lincoln and stomped on a dodo, now you’re paying the price as their kin. To correct the past, you have to buy $400 leather shoes from Nordstrom (can’t be from anywhere else), spit in them at 4 AM for a week and bathe in lye for a month. If what they ask you to do sounds against your religious beliefs, downright insane, illegal or something you would laugh at someone else for doing, you shouldn’t do it either. They’re pumping money out of you somehow and screwing you over in the process. The truth: Most people aren’t cursed, just a run of bad luck. People don’t really jinx each other that much. If the diviner says you’re cursed and want you to do unethical and pricy stuff to nix it, you’re probably not. Proceed with running and calling cops.

I’m not sure if many, if any, saw the old website or even read that part (it was all super glitchy) so I figured why not put it up here where it can be seen more? I wrote this after teaching Divination 101 classes for PSU after talking about it as a whole and noticing a lot of people have no exact clue how not to get hoodwinked.

In addition, I had on the “Truths and Myths about Pagans” page a small FAQ about diviners:

Firstly, I personally can see how divination can be turned into a cash cow. All you need is something people can’t entirely explain but believe works, desperate folks in need of guidance and those same people to have nice amounts of money (gullibility works fine too) and then you have religion—I mean a cash cow. 

There are cons in pretty much any field. Quack doctors, lawyers, priests, scientists—you name it, someone did it. Divination is no different and there’s plenty about. Cons, like Ms. Cleo, usually prey on people who they believe are in so much distraught they don’t think sensibly about the advice they’re given or money they’re about to fork over. Often a con uses what they see, what you say and fear tactics (“oh, so and so is going to die if you don’t…”) to get your cash.

So there you have it, a mini-guide on how to get your divination done and not to have your pockets done in. I still recommend my readers to learn divination themselves but if you don’t want to at least now there is a guide that can tell you what to look for and what not to go for. I’ve never gotten a reading in a psychic parlour before – I’ve been in them but mainly to mess with the pseudo-diviners for kicks. But many I know have and it’s unbelievable – and downright funny for some of them – how they got the wool put over their eyes and so soundly at that. Still got questions? Just throw them in the comments or email me or fill out an Ask Black Witch form or any other way to talk to me. As always, I answer them all.

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