Category: Ask Black Witch


Ask Black Witch: Off Day

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September 26, 2014

No questions! I got no questions! That means I get free space to do whatever I want.

First of all, I want to direct your attention to this picture in regards to the Black Witch Fan Page on Facebook:

keep up with BW on FB

Enable to stay up to date with all things Black Witch via Facebook, you have to select the “Get Notifications” bar. I know, it’s stupid but that’s Facebook for you.

I’ve really got nothing to say. I usually am prepared for ABW: Off Days but not today. Eh, I’m going to the Baltimore Book Festival this upcoming weekend. It’s going to be at the Inner Harbor instead of in Mt. Vernon. The Aquarium will have a tent…I want to pet a puffin. I will harass them for the puffin. The puffin is my goal.

Alright. Movie time! Yaaaaay!

Here’s some Edd’s World! I loved this series when I was younger and I still go back to watch it from time to time.

Yay! And starting October 1st, I will be starting Samhain Pickers. Stick around for more information.

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Ask Black Witch: I want to learn divination or get a free reading

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August 29, 2014

How does one go about reading their own future or getting their future read for real free?
– Austin

Learning to do divination is just a means of research for what type of divination you want to do. There are so many of forms of divination from tarot to reading flames to scrutinizing how the wind blows. That’s up to you to decide how you want to go about which form you want to pursue and then research about it (especially if it is lesser known) to see how it works. Divination is just a tool, like a tv remote. You  can easily get up and turn on a tv, change channels, manage the volume and settings, but a remote aids you to do the  same with but without having to move. In some respects, divination makes things easier because there’s something for your intuition to process what it is trying to say through. And notice I never said once about how “you have to believe in it,” because that’s crap. If it works, it works, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. 

A free reading done here on Black Witch only happens during Samhain/Halloween and only through the sweepstakes “Samhain Pickers” where a reader has to submit a ticket (email) and they have to be one of the three winners picked. Otherwise, all readings are paid readings and those are only when I feel like doing mass divination (which isn’t often (mainly when I’m encountering financial strife (not as common as prior, thankfully) or someone makes a 20″ tall statue of Storm.) I suppose you can bump around on Tumblr but you may not find as many free readings (and make sure they’re free, if they ask for money during any point of the process, it isn’t free) as paid ones.

And that’s all the Ask Black Witch for today! This was posted from the WordPress app so it shows up odd, that’s why and make sure to inform me so I correct it later.

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Ask Black Witch: How do I black magic, I want to find a partner – fast

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July 25, 2014

What’s your question?: do you practice black magic? is it evil? would my soul be like damed if I started…. do I have to like sell my soul to satain? ino these questions sound blunt and stupid but I really no nothing about black magic only white… it jst kinder seems… uno… pointless to me

– Katie M.

Everyone, this is what a dumb question looks like. Remember, I’m a Black person that happens to practice magick. A little bit of reading would have done this person plenty good. Or just looking at my picture on my About Me page. And so would some better spelling and grammar skills.

Sell your soul to “satain”. It almost looks like you wrote “satin” there. Which would be then very odd if you sold your soul to a fabric. It keeps hair from breaking when you sleep and has many other uses besides that but it isn’t “sell your soul” worthy.

At least this person had the self-awareness to know that the question indeed sounds blunt and stupid. I don’t practice the left hand path, everyone. How many times do I have to say that? To practice any sort of magick, it is important to at least have reading comprehension skills. At least strong enough to tell the difference between a Black person and a person that practices black (read: left hand path) magick.

im Leshelle work for me and i will work for you prove to me that you work so that we can keep contact because i like you, prove to me that you work please come though for me alright i just want a handsome spanish man to be my sex partner to just go steady with sex and i want to act permantly like a rich womam.

basicaly i need to have sex.
my birthday is 0*-0*-19**

– Leshelle

Are you serious? Are you really freakin serious? What is with people wanting me to prove my worth to them and they couldn’t even write me a half way decently punctuated letter? And how vain could this person be? Vain, selfish and petty beyond belief. And thirsty like stuck on the planet mercury.

Look, if you need sex that bad, just buy a vibrator. Or find a sex worker. And you can already act like a rich person, you just have to dive deep into debt to keep up appearances. Seriously, don’t bother me. And I don’t need your birthday, that was redundant info.

That’s all of Ask Black Witch for this month! Catch me on Sunday between 5-7 PM PST on the Pagan Musings podcast! I and other writers are teaming up with Crystal Blanton to promote the new book Shades of Ritual and we want you to listen!

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Ask Black Witch: Want a Book of Shadows, Want to be rich and famous

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June 28, 2014

Alright, it’s this month’s Ask Black Witch, where readers send me questions and I answer them. Remember, good questions are appreciated, bad questions are eviscerated. Let’s get started.

Where can I get a book of shadows?

– Soni

You can create your own book of shadows to record all your findings, books, spells, thoughts, whatever. I think the best way you can go about this is read the book Where To Park Your Broomstick by Lauren Manoy. I always recommend this book because it is really nice to get the basics as you start.

Wish to be an international famous artist

and to live in my dream home..

Thank you.

– Jo

I am seriously wondering why you are telling me this. I’m not a wishing fountain. All that stuff takes work and luck (you’re not the only one who wants this exact thing). Here are some basic questions:

Are you good at music? (As in, you actually know how to play an instrument and well in a complex manner or can sing phenomenally well)

Are you creative? (Can you think up new ideas on your own and regularly enough to create new material consistently)

Do you actually have a talent? (It takes a lot more than simply knowing how to sing a song and play an instrument)

Do you have a lot of charisma? (Can’t be popular if you don’t like people, or at the very least, don’t like support)

Are you willing to work with some unsavory people? (The music industry has loads of them, you won’t be able to pick and choose, especially at the start)

Do you have a brain for business? (Going to need that especially)

And if you maybe – just maybe (you’ve got a better chance at getting struck by lightning, possibly) – do well in the music industry (which is not as common as you think), maybe you could buy a nice house. And work your way up to a dream house – depending on if your contract doesn’t screw you (i.e. 360 deals).

Basically, you’re going to have to do a lot of work for something that maybe, possibly, won’t happen. There are scores of people who have tried and many more who didn’t make it. Try becoming an astrophysicist or psychologist or a teacher or something that we as a society need more of.

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Ask Black Witch: How to practice with the Goddesses

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May 30, 2014

Alright, everyone! Don’t forget! Black Witch 4th anniversary Ustream vcast on June 9th at 10:00 PM EST! Be there! I’ll be taking questions via Ustream and twitter (@thisblackwitch).

Hello, my name’s Evangeline. I have thousands questions, but my two main concerns at the moment is how to connect with the Goddesses. I’ve been on the Pagan/Wicca path for about a year now. I haven’t truly dedicated myself yet. I’m leaning more to Diantic Wicca. I’ve put together a notebook and I’ve decided to choose 10 or so Goddesses that appeal to me and working with them each for a month. I’ve meditated on a few and I intend to continue doing so, but is this a good way to approach it and what do I need to know about them? What do I need to research? Also, I’ve been fascinated by Divination. I’ve dabbled in Tarot (Rider Waite deck), Runes, scrying, and I use a pendulum occasionally. My question is can I work with multiple Divination tools together?

– Evangeline

I recommend research. Reading is probably the best you can do to understand the deities you like and the cultures they come from, which is crucial in understanding and relating to how your selected deities work and their place in the universe. You can start by using Mythology Dictionary (which is in the Links of Interest) and going from there by researching their cultures and backgrounds.

Stay off of New Age-y sites, they’re full of nonsense written by people who possibly slept all the way through high school science and culture classes and possibly think fluoride is a toxin that’s put in our water. They’re not researchers, just really people who are more opinionated than they are educated. Stick with sites that actually go into the cultures of the deities you want to work with and make sure it’s not framed on the spectrum of Whiteness, that people from the culture are actually talking for themselves. And if the site describes the cultures as “barbaric”, “savage” or anything that basically translates to, “aren’t you happy you’re here and not there?”, it is not a good learning material because it is super biased. Even if it is a wiki page from Harvard, get off the site.

Also, read actual books. Internet doesn’t have everything. Go to actual libraries and read actual books. You’ll get a lot more information that way because you’ll see multiple viewpoints on the same thing, which is necessary. Research your deities there and their cultures and see what you come up with. Again, same stuff stands: Stay away from New Agey books (they’re possibly going to be incorrect), stay away from “spectrum of White” books (they’re inaccurate), books that treat the cultures like Western modern culture is the best culture ever and everyone else sucks (also wildly inaccurate).

You can use varying forms of divination together. You’ll be tired a lot, especially if you’re new to it, but you can do it.

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Ask Black Witch: How do I manage my custody case, How do I become a Witch, Dreaming of Cars and Wands

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April 27, 2014

This Ask Black Witch answers questions from both March and April since I couldn’t do an ABW last month due to the Stuck in my Head series. Remember, good questions are appreciated, bad questions are eviscerated. Let’s get started!

I have been practicing for 20 years now and for the first time I have come upon a situation that has me completely baffled. I have people that despise me for no apparent reason. This wouldn’t be a problem but they are my in-laws. Because of them and extenuating circumstances I have step kids I have never got to meet. They have a temp guardianship from years ago (long story, but not anything to do with me or her) and we are too broke to hire a lawyer, but theirs is free. They make my wife’s life hell. They call and harass her every day but won’t ever let her talk to her kids unless they can make time for visitation with them supervising. Basically a bunch of legal crap which will get dealt with in time I do realize that but I know I can do something, magickly, but being my primary focus was never on such situations (as they are rare) I am totally stumped as to what I can and can’t do as far as Karma is concerned and even where to start looking for a solution via magick, yet I know it is there. Advice please on any spells that may help?

Thank you in advance.

– Andy M

Sorry it took so long to get to this question (and the most of the questions in here) so hopefully I’m not too late. Now, I think here I’m going to stick to my usual “no spells given out on BW” rule because it is what is it is. However, I can give tips in regard to magick and regular advice. I would highly recommend a pro-bono lawyer. If you do any magick, I recommend going for Saturday for it is the day of Saturn, which falls under time and justice. Bayberry leaves are good for luck and justice as well. Also, know that this case could take a long time, especially if these in-laws plan on being a major stick in the mud.

My family members who are Jehovahs Witnesses are very rude and hateful to me because I no longer acknowledge their faith anymore. I’m 47 yrs old and @ 40yrs old I decided I never want to be a part of this religion ever again. From birth I had attended. Now I’m yearning for something and it keeps me curious about witchcraft, and this has gone on for about 3yrs. and I don’t want to be afraid anymore, I want to embrace it, if it is meant to be. My dreams are mostly pleasant, but sometimes confusing. I want to belong to this religion so bad and yet I can’t share my happiness. Black Witch is there a way that I can confirm that I actually am a part of this beautiful religion?? One dream I had made me so happy when I awoke was in a huge church and congregation of people and one lady came up to me and said “Bridgett what are you doing here?” I had seen her in a previous dream before this one. Do you think I’m worthy of you??

– Bridgett H.

You can probably tell from my patchy posting, me and time are not exactly friends. This means, unless it’s a rare exception, I’m not taking on anyone.

Witchcraft isn’t a religion, it’s a practice. Paganism is a religion, Wicca is a religion. Witchcraft is not a religion. Now, the best thing I can suggest to you is to just read. I have plenty of books here on Black Witch where you can get started (I recommend that The Arts!: Samhain Editions are a good place to start). You don’t have to do anything special, just be very informed so you know what you’re doing. You’re free to do a self-initiation ritual (there is an example in Where to Park Your Broomstick by Lauren Manoy) but it is not necessary. (I’ve never done one and I’m fine.) Nothing major, just have to become very informed.

Dear Black Witch, How have you been? I had a very strange dream and I was hoping you could help me understand it. It was absolutely all over the place. First I was in a department store slash car shop. Trying to pick between 3 white vehicles to use at my wedding. One was a regular white car (like a 2008 Subaru or Honda Civic), the other looked like a cross between a horse drawn buggy and an old fashioned Rolls Royce, the another one was just as white and shiny as the other ones I just can’t remember the make. The sales person was helpful, but I could not decide.

Then I sat (on the floor) in the far corner adjacent to the vehicles, but closer to the other shops (I think they were eateries) with my mom, my friend from nursing school and some random person (I think she was a white girl I knew in my dream, but not in real life.) There my life coach or counselor sat down with me for a session. The session started off fine as we were talking about the wedding. I don’t know if this matters for dream interpretation my counselor was relatively good looking (kinda looked like an old friend’s boyfriend) and he was in good shape too. I could see his physique under his long sleeve t-shirt. Everyone in my dream was Black like me except for the white girl who seemed to be my friend/ pleasant acquaintance and the disruptive older white man.

Then out of nowhere this white man interrupted our conversation to show a presentation about how he designs bic mechanical pencils. He stood before use giving a video presentation (on one of the store’s flat screen TVs) about how he designed the bottom half and tip of a yellow mechanical pencil. He was very proud about how he made subtle changes to the instrument. We were polite, but very uninterested. Finally a group of friends joined him and I asked him to leave, so I could hear my counselor speak because they were too loud.

Finally my session began, but this time I was listening and looking at my counselor while he was outside an open window in a forest looking in at us from the same spot. Somehow this fool began saying the most ridiculous things like he doesn’t care to help people in need who mess up their own life. (tw: molestation rape) I gave the example of people who have been molested/ raped (and need help moving forward) and he said that it is their own fault and they should only blame themselves. I began passionately arguing with him. (Even though in my head I was trying to cool myself down and remember not to waste energy on people saying things like that because more often than not if they wanted to change they would. There are plenty of resources on how to not be hateful, the oppressed don’t need to run around coddling and educating the oppressors (especially since there are tons of things oppressed people have done to help oppressors change their ways past and present).)

Next thing I knew we were all in a restaurant seated in chairs, except the counselor who was floating just above me. I turned around a slap the snot out of him (figuratively) as we were still arguing and he was still saying hurtful foolishness. Then I woke up and just had to send this too you.

Would you please tell me what you think this means?

If you do answer this could you please call me X.

Thank You

– X

As for, how I have been, I have been watching Running Man (런닝만) practically back to back. I want to say I would like an American counterpart but knowing it would be 95% White cast if shot here, I’d rather pass. I am also hungry but had Chinese yesterday. I can get taro bubble tea delivered to me, that is fantastic, I love bubble tea and taro is my favorite. I should learn how to make it at home. I also want regular kimchi, not kim chi jji gae (kim chi stew), just regular kimchi…maybe with some tofu added. I need to know where to get flaky Jamaican beef patties, not the 7-11 kind, the good kind. I may just opt for spaghetti with garlic bread. Now on to this dream.

The first part of the dream sounds like a desire for change or actual change in progress. Being in a store, especially a big store like a department store usually means that you’re in a situation of change and looking at your options and it involves pretty important things. The fact it’s paired up with a car shop really compounds it. You’re looking at three different white cars, sounds like you’re trying to start new beginnings since white refers to starts and tabula rasas, you’re trying to pick a car – which refers to change and life directions) and three is a number that refers to life, freedom, creativity and self-exploration. It also can refer to the past, present and future. It can also refer to having too many options also (ditto with being in a department store). Between the three cars, you have a regular car, a classy car and a nice car. These cars could symbolize your options or the potential paths you could take. You probably have a helper much akin to the sales person in real life as a person or as information you’ve gotten. Basically you’re at a crossroads in regards to a major life decision and/or partnership.

Sounds like your dream reflects that you’re getting counsel/information in real life since you’re talking about the event with others. Or at the very least, you’re aware that a big change is coming and have consciously mulled it over.  If the person in your dream (the counselor) looked like someone familiar, that person could have some meaning to the dream as well. Also, if the counselor is attractive, it could mean that you’re getting counseling/information that is not difficult for you to accept. I’m not sure what role the White girl plays unless you’ve been watching a lot of mainstream media and she’s the reversal of the [different race] best friend. The White guy that’s coming up definitely sounds like a walking stereotype as the “annoying techie White guy” because he thinks he’s super innovative for something small and sounds like he wants an award for just breathing. This guy could represent an annoying interjection that you’re dealing with that really likes to take up your attention and is not easily ignorable. And this interjection will have just about nothing to do with what you’re doing, it’s just there because obstacles. Seems like you handled it well but not without it multiplying and getting to a level of uber distraction.

Hm, seems like this dream dude is being less of a dream boat now. Open windows refer to opportunity but the fact it leads to a forest is something potentially troubling. Forests in dreams refers to the unconscious/subconscious but also refers to mystery. You could find great things in a forest like a treasure but you can find big trouble there too. The fact the dude does a 180° from being appealing to being a jerk is something because he went from a visually comforting life coach to a possible danger. Sounds like you’re being introduced to some stress from someone or something that should be helping you and it may come from left field.

Sitting in a restaurant, which also can refer to options (you definitely have a lot of dream symbols that refer to choices and decisions). Seems like the dude that was supposed to be a help turned out to be a great big nuisance you could ultimately do without.

So, what could this dream possibly mean? Welp, it seems that you’ve got a lot of choices on your plate with big changes up ahead, a new direction in life. You’re going to (or are currently experiencing) interruptions, both blatant and not-so-blatant. It’s up to you to cut through the noise and make the best decision for yourself.

I had a dream where I stretched out my arm at night and said “sticks and thorns” and then a wooden wand appeared with vines wrapped around it. I just wanted to know what my dream means.

– Z X

Sounds like a potential nonsense dream but there might be something here. I’m just glad it’s not a creeper dream. To imagine your arm in dreams can refer to either having a reach to others or the feeling a lack of reach, therefore a sense of hopelessness. Then there’s the saying “arm yourself”, which, in this dream, seems perfectly applicable giving you’re saying words that reference attack and defense (“sticks and thorns”) to make a regular body part stronger. So, it seems like you’re in a situation where you have to defend yourself or need to take a more aggressive stance on.

To sum it up, you possibly feel potentially helpless in a situation or in life and this makes you respond with wanting additional strength somehow to achieve whatever it is you want to accomplish, be it defense or an additional boost.

And that’s all of Ask Black Witch for this month! W00t! Sorry for the wait, everyone!

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Ask Black Witch (Want to be Pagan, How can I find out an old friend is alive, What should I read)

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February 28, 2014

Hello, I just want to begin to learn about Wiccan/Pagan. I am Christian right now but I don’t feel very connected to Christianity. I love the earth, nature, stones, stuff in that nature. I just want to know where is a good place to start a Wicca/Pagan practice? I don’t know what to look for or do.

– Kris

A good place to start is with Lauren Manoy’s Where to Park your Broomstick. That’s how I got started and it really was useful for me as she also gave a brief overview on other faiths that you may or may not have heard of but could possibly resonate better with.

It’s important to think long and hard about your current faith in Christianity such as what is it that you don’t connect with? What do you disagree with? Why do you feel a disconnect and where is it situated? Is it with the people? Is it with the core beliefs? It’s important you do a lot of thinking because, well, changing religions is serious business. People use faith as the bedrock of their morals and beliefs, thus why you have to make sure that you’re going to be okay leaving one religion for another. Otherwise, you’re never going to feel at home in whatever faith you choose.

Hi,

I’m from Malaysia. I would like to ask is there a way to find out if a person is dead or alive?

Sorry I ask this because, last year on my Birthday – he came into my dream. This guy was my former schoolmate and admirer but we don’t keep in touch. After 21 years, he came into my dream.

In the dream, we went back to our school days where he met me, then jumped into when we are in working life and we date. Final part was then, the both of us get married. Weird is that, he appear in a very bright and clean. He does not utter even a Single Word.

I’m not sure if this means he is dead? I want to find out the truth. If he’s dead or still alive.

Please advise me what to do. Thanks.

– Jennifer S.

Dreams are interesting. You could be getting an omen, learning information about someone or the person could be standing in as a dream symbol. If he seems to be showing all the dream signs that he’s died, you should search for his records. Ask around if you know anyone that may have possibly known you both, look in the papers for an obituary. I guess a good date to start is around when you had the dream and go from there.

If you found a living person (as in, he’s alive and well) then just take what you saw in the dream as a symbol. And that symbol would be whatever this dude meant to you. So if he was the creative type, it refers to creativity. If he was the hyper analytical type, it refers to logic and so on and so forth.

If you found a dead person, it’s up to you what you want to do. If the person died recently, send the family some flowers and your condolences. If it was a while ago, just let sleeping dogs lie and see what symbol he could have played in the dream.

Alright, that’s the Ask Black Witch for this month, everyone. Next month is a new series called “Shut Out” and the subject is mental illness in the Black community. Topics include dealing with mental illness, culture and stigma not only from the Black community but society at large. That means there will be guest writers for this upcoming series to provide their input and perspective.

Hello my name is Kiara and I’ve been researching Paganism/Witchcraft for the past few months. However, since I still live at home (I’m a 20 year old college student), I’ve only been able to learn through online research. I’d like to start getting some books and was wondering if you had maybe a list of reputable authors or books. I apologize if you’ve answered this before but I couldn’t seem to find it through your tumblr or Black Witch website. Thank you and have a great day!

– Kiara

I guess this means I have to do more work in making BW much more searchable or create a new webpage for books I have already recommended on Black Witch. I have suggested a lot of books, especially during The Arts!: Samhain Editions. The book I recommend the most is Where to Park your Broomstick by Lauren Manoy.

And that’s all the Ask Black Witch for this month! Next month is a month long series called “Stuck in My Head”, focusing on mental illness in the Black community.

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Ask Black Witch: Can I be a Christian Witch, How do I Practice Magick Correctly, Can Noetics explain Witchcraft

Filed under: Ask Black Witch, Resources & Information — 3 Comments
January 31, 2014

It’s Ask Black Witch, where you ask me questions! Good questions are appreciated, bad questions are eviscerated. Let’s get started!

Hi, I am also a African American woman who practices witchcraft but I consider myself a Christian witch choosing to worship god in a feminine and masculine aspect as my only divine energy…. Do You think it’s possible to be a Christian witch?

– Janelle B.

I actually was a Christian witch when I was starting out. I pretty much went: Christian -> Christian Witch -> Christian Pagan Witch -> Pagan Witch. Christianity is a religion whereas witchcraft is a lifestyle. You don’t necessarily need a religion to practice magick (even though a lot of books are constructed in this fashion). I understand that some may find it confusing due to Exodus 22:18 “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” and figure that’s pretty clear cut but here’s the thing: that part was kind of mistranslated, partly for political reasons. Originally it was, “thou shalt not suffer a poisoner to live” but then got re-edited to “witch” when King James felt like re-writing the Bible (who, I’m sure we all are aware, isn’t the first to give the holy text the Wikipedia treatment) which was also during a witch craze (it’s where the term “witch hunt” comes from). The word for “witch” as we know it didn’t exist back then and the word that did exist was mainly meant for “poisoner”. Also back then, what we consider were witches were also healers and doctors so to go with the old school idea of a witch, you would pretty much wind up with “thou shalt not suffer a doctor to live”, which is a unarguably bad idea.

Getting back on track, you’re still putting focus on the Christian deity (who I think is never really classified as Dude or Dudette even in the Bible unless consciously put in there so you’re still ok), you’re not letting other deities come before this one and this is just to improve your relationship with the Christian deity. You’re fine, it’s very possible to be a Christian Witch. You’re pretty much practicing magick with a strong emphasis on Christian texts, lore and ideas. This means you’re gonna have to do a lot of research (which I strongly advocate) but yep, it’s doable.

And I know some folks are thinking, “How can you be a Christian Pagan Witch?” Basically, that means you’re Pagan with Christian centered beliefs and you practice magick in line with those beliefs. So instead of the basic Lord and Lady or God and Goddess, you believe in and pray to the Holy Trinity, study the Bible (and all related texts) and other stuff Christians do but fuse it when your Pagan beliefs where appropriate.

Hello, I’m from Baltimore and I’m 22 & black. I’ve always been fond of pagan lifestyle and all things elemental, soul origins, starseeds etc. I’m very I tune with black history so I am thrilled to have found a page/source coming from a black, female, pagan. I was wondering could you give me some insight on how to start practicing magick the correct way. I also believe I have premonitions in my dreams. When I wake up I write my dreams down and they always happen either a week, month, or a year later.

– Tara

Yay! Baltimorean Pagans! Y’all need to show up when I do meet and greets so Black Pagans can meet each other -_- At least be at the Imbloc high rite at Cedar Light Grove tomorrow. I’ll be there!

I think the best way to practice magick “the correct way” is to really just read a lot. Since you’re in Baltimore, I would highly recommend going to the Central library on 400 Cathedral St. and you’ll find books on the second floor of the Business and Social Sciences section. It’s smart to not only read books explicitly for Pagans, Wiccans and neo-Pagans but also read books on history, religion (various religions, Paganism dates back to the Paleolithic period, there’s a lot to cover), cultures (again, Paganism dates back to the Paleolithic period, there’s a lot to cover), and whatever you plan to get into most definitely. Want to learn potions? Good, pick up a book on herbology, chemistry, medicine and biology. Trying to do sigils? Pick up a book on symbolism, history and sigil working. Think outside the box and don’t strictly depend on Pagan authors to tell you everything you need to know. What you need to know is proper information, that’s all. Want to focus on Pan-African magick? Research everything I just told you but take on some added books about the Black experience all over the world from children books to dusty, heavy tomes so you can thoroughly understand what you’re doing (and avoid becoming an Afriboo, you don’t want to be that). Check out some books that I have listed on this site, especially books in the “The Arts!: Samhain Edition” posts. Here are also some Afro-centric books that you shouldn’t overlook:

Encyclopedia Africana (This book is freakin heavy, I’m lettin you know now.)

The African-American Family Album (This is a great book, I strongly recommend it)

And Mythology Dictionary is your friend. Also, it’s not irregular to have precognitive dreams, but it is good you’re taking notice of them, however. Maybe you can notice a trend to tell the different between a pre-cog dream and a regular dream.

I was wondering what your thoughts were on the idea of noetics being used to investigate/explore the physics of witchcraft???

– Madstand

I actually researched noetics a little so I wouldn’t be answering incorrectly (I get rusty, too). Noetics, everyone, is “A multidisciplinary field that brings objective scientific tools and techniques together with subjective inner knowing to study the full range of human experiences,” which is explained on the front page of Noetics.org.

I’m usually iffy with science trying to get into metaphysics of any sorts (and I mean by “metaphysics” is its stark meaning of “transcending the physical”) because science doesn’t really do a good job with anything that can’t be measured physically and thus even scientific tools and techniques can be lacking. It is possible, I’m not arguing that, but extremely difficult. I’ve seen this with science’s interaction with psionics and even with religion. And already with psychology as we currently know it, a science which is based on something as intangible as the human mind and, by extension, the human experience, has holes big enough to ramp a monster truck through because it’s so limited in its knowhow of the human mind and the human experience when it is not hegemonic. If psychology, which has a lot of difference organizations, money, people and schools of thought, can’t see past their own limitations to improve their work, I don’t expect anything better of noetics to explore witchcraft, which is really diverse and thus would require some serious thinking out the box, which I’m convinced science has a hard time doing usually. To explore witchcraft means you’d have to sooner or later explore the people behind them because magick doesn’t always simply pop up out of nowhere, it is created and brought forth. This isn’t to say magick doesn’t exist without people but people definitely add something to the mix, we don’t live in a vacuum separate from nature and life itself.

Basically, noetics to study the physics of witchcraft sounds great on paper but that’s it. Only on paper because it will be screwed up in practice, especially since there “subjective” inner knowledge will be strongly limited.

And that’s all of Ask Black Witch for this month!

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Ask Black Witch: Working with the Spirit World, Finding Other Black Pagans

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December 27, 2013

Blessings to you, Black Witch. I am always searching for information as I have only been a seeker and practicing as as solitary for a little over a year. I want to ask you what the best way is to deal with my fear of the spirit world. When I was in high school and several years after, I had some very frightening experiences after playing with a Ouija board with some friends. Bad decision. Every since then my perspective of the spirit realm scares the hell out of me and I don’t know how to get past it especially because there is no way I can walk the path of a witch, yet be afraid of the spirit world. It is because of my bad experiences that I consider any spirits bad and out to get to me. It’s really becoming a serious problem that I need some advice on how to cope and release the fear. My fear is hindering my practice.

-Maria J.

Oooooh, I know this feeling, it can be really scary working with the spirit world! I understand wholeheartedly about wanting to get past the spooks of interacting with the spirit

world to feel like you’re a well-rounded witch, it really does feel like there’s no way around it. I also understand from personal experience how interacting with spirits and it goes awry can really leave you completely halted.

Best thing I can suggest is research. Research on magickal self-defense (things like amulets, herbal mixes, wards, etc etc) and research on spirits. Now I’m sure with the latter, you’re going “Wat? Lol, no,” but researching various entities and what they’re really like may help you. Most likely, what you summoned was some random spirit that felt like trolling humans (and this letter is why I usually tell people don’t diddle around with Ouija boards) and since it was your initial experiences with spirits, it left you scarred. First impressions really are everything, especially in magick. Knowledge is probably going to be your best bet here since there’s no other way around it unless you want to buy all the shrine bells, iron, holy water and blessing powders in the world to make you feel a teensy bit safe, which will fade over time. It’s best to research to allay your fears. And don’t research the scary spirits first, just get some basic knowledge on spirits and the spirit world (preferably in books and most preferably written by people who aren’t loopy new-age type folks). I think the book The Encyclopedia of Spirits by Judika Stiles is a good suggestion. Try not to be freaked out by it and know that just because you have a book on spirits in your home or you reading an entry on spirits ever does not mean the spirits you’re reading about will come crashing in. It will not automatically summon anything, trust me on that. I had the same fear with spirits due to bad experiences and being really knowledgeable on the subject really helped. I think it’s that not-knowing that ramps a person up because it leaves you feeling helpless and helplessness is a terrible feeling.

Also, you don’t have to be a pro with spirits to be good at magick. You can work strictly with energy until you get past the jitters about spirits. You can study alchemy, improve your herbal knowledge (which I would recommend because it would make you feel better and less defenseless), there’s plenty to do until you fully work out your phobia so you can continually progress while working on yourself, which is very important.

Do you ever have trouble finding others like yourself? I’m a black woman inclined towards esoteric teaching and occultism. Sigil magic is a part of my focus, though I’m new to the path. I’d love some advice. 🙂 Peace

– Venicia

Even with Tumblr and being on African American Wiccan Society’s group, I still have trouble finding other Black Pagans. A lot really don’t want to be out with their work and some are not really Pagans, just completely nuts and somehow floated over to Paganism. Or are just Afriboos that just so desperately want to remove any iota of Western influence (besides internalized racism, homophobia annnnnnnd Western-stemmed misogyny). It’s pretty difficult, especially if you want to interact with them physically, in the real world because they’re either scared someone is going to find out they’re Pagan/practice witchcraft/occultism or they don’t feel like dealing with White Pagans who think now that a Black person has arrived, it’s time to try out all their best racist jokes and passive-aggressive complaints about Black people in general. Or a combo. Even I have sat out of plenty of Pagan events because I get tired very frequently of being the only Black person there and for White Pagans to assume I’m somehow the Ambassador of Negroes. Yeah, for folks who claim to be colorblind (which is a big and harmful myth that actually upholds Whiteness, not dispel it), they seem to notice it pretty well.

Your best chance would just to be on Tumblr and wrack up Black Pagan friends that way. I would recommend following idanceitarotiart, who is pretty nice, and go from there. Also, check out the sigil tag on Tumblr, it’s really nice and you’ll learn lots of new stuff.

And that’s all the Ask Black Witch for not only this month but this year! W00t!

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Ask Black Witch: Speakin Out!

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November 29, 2013

Click to hear.

How did you find out you were a witch or pagan (sorry if i got it wrong)?
– NeNe

Hello!

My name is Yanna. I would love to get on with more things about myself, but before anything else, can I start with a story?

I have had three dreams, one of these dreams escapes me now, but I remember the other two.

The first dream I had was of my mother. In this dream, she was pulling out snacks from a huge bin and passing them out to the neighborhood kids. This bin was so full of snacks of all kinds. I’m talking Rice Crispy Treats, chocolate granola bars, Welch Gummies, name it and it was all in there. I can still remember that dream so clearly today, would you like to know why? Well, a year or two later (after having that dream) my mother went out to Sams Club and bought boxes, upon boxes, upon boxes of snacks and she placed them in a bin. A large bin. And she kept this ‘snack’ bin in the kitchen always. You see my mother is very friendly (on the outside), and I’m saying this because maybe that had something to do with her always giving these snacks that she bought to the neighborhood kids. But anyways, yeah, my mom gave these snack to the neighborhood kids allllll the time. And it finally hit me one day, “YOOOOO I HAD A DREAM ABOUT THIS LIKE A YEAR AGO OMG.” and that’s when I started paying a little bit more attention to things like this.

The second dream was of a classmate. This was about 2 summers ago. In this dream, my class and I were in Language Arts. And everything was fine. and eerily silent since my class is never silent. My teachers is teaching and my classmates are listening until my classmate is pulled out of class. I watched her get up from her desk and walk outside into the hallway. I couldn’t hear and single thing that was being said, but I knew someone had died. I watched my classmate put her hands over her mouth before I woke up. Later on that day, I gave my classmates a call.

I said: “Hey, Nada, did anyone in your family die recently?”.

She responds: “Uhhhh, yeah, why you askin’?”.

I respond: “Oh no particular reason, I just had a dream last night that someone died in your family. I have a question.”

“What’s up?” she says.

“Was that person female?”

“Yes…”

“Was she middle aged or older…?”

“Yeah…omg girl are you physic?”

“I just had a dream…” I respond.

Fast foreword to a month ago, I began doing research on…..you guessed it! Witchcraft! And in my studies I was led to two people, a Spiritual Nymph and you! A witch! With two things in common, both of you are in Baltimore (To be honest I’m not exactly sure where you live I’m just going based on your P.O. box) and black. Which is a win, win for me since I’m black and I live in Baltimore too. But I think we should get on to the actual reasoning of this email.

I kind of feel a bit guilty, because I am currently studying Spiritwork. And in order to study Spiritwork, I must trust my Spirits. But I have only known my Spirits for a month or so. Thus, leads me to your inbox!

Could my dreams have been something coincidental or something else…?

Do you have any good starting Wicca sources?

But anyway, uh, thanks for listening!
– Yanna S.

Seeking a black magic mentor
-Joelle

Dear Black Witch, Thank you for the cartomancy reading! I really appreciate it.

Before now I didn’t know that people could do cartomancy or tarot without being physically close to the person being read. Would you explain how you connect to people from so far away on your blog or in email? This divination was more detailed than I thought possible from accross the country!
– Kara

Alright, that’s Ask Black Witch for this month! I really enjoyed changing it up a bit, very cool indeed. Good Gods, though! I sound seriously Southern! I mean, I am from Maryland and that is a Southern state after all but geez.

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