Articles — magick

3 (Big) Wishes for 2023

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

3 (Big) Wishes for 2023

The fake tree is glittering, the stockings are hung. It's time to reflect on the end of the season. Because we are approaching both the Winter Solstice and January 1, this post is one part Yule wish list, one part New Year's resolutions. I've been thinking about what I would wish for the Pagan community if I could have anything at all—and also, what I might be able to do to bring it closer to reality. Everything on this list is a pretty big ask. That is because it is Solstice Eve and getting dark at 4 PM, and I...

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Just a Witch Shop: How I Made Humility the Cornerstone of My Business

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Just a Witch Shop: How I Made Humility the Cornerstone of My Business

It’s a wise person who can say, “I don’t know”—or better yet, “Let’s look that up.” But in the world of Witchcraft, there’s a lot that’s unknown (or unknowable) and not so many reliable ways to look things up. As a result, our community too often falls back on easy answers, bad science, flashy titles, clichés, and cults of personality. How do you work as a professional Witch without preying on the vulnerable or credulous? This is something I’ve grappled with since the first day I decided to start an occult business. The struggle is real—the tension between the weird...

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Create an Ancestor Altar for Samhain: 7 Easy Ways to Celebrate Your Honored Dead

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Create an Ancestor Altar for Samhain: 7 Easy Ways to Celebrate Your Honored Dead

You may already have an altar to your deities, but what about the human spirits that have made you who you are? An ancestor altar is a sacred space that honors your deceased loved ones and can be used for prayer, offerings, and spells. Creating an altar is a beautiful way to remember your ancestors and to show them how much you appreciate their presence in your life. YOU can make an ancestor altar! Yes, you--even if you happen to be spirit-deaf, very busy, or hate your family. If you're not sure how to get started, here are seven easy steps for...

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The Craft of the Old Ones: Six excellent witchcraft books from the 80s and 90s

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

The Craft of the Old Ones: Six excellent witchcraft books from the 80s and 90s

The decade is new and uncertain, the planet is melting, there are way more witchcraft books coming out every day than I can keep up with…dammit! Time to crouch down by a dusty bookshelf and get nostalgic for the books that shaped us when we were baby Witches. Google is great for looking up a moon phase or herbal recipe—but for the dedicated Witch, there’s nothing like the printed word to guide your studies. We’ve combed through our library for classic beginner’s books that have stood the test of time. Each one of these titles has passed the quarter-century mark...

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Seven witchcraft shortcuts that won't mess up your magick

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Seven witchcraft shortcuts that won't mess up your magick

Haste makes waste. Garbage in, garbage out. In witchcraft—as in life—taking too many shortcuts often leads to underwhelming results. However, fast magick doesn’t necessarily have to be sloppy magick. Few of us have time for hours-long rituals, but we can still find ways to fit ­­spiritual practice into our busy lives. Here are seven suggestions for shaving some minutes off your witchy routine: 1. Rely on one-card Tarot readings. I am a big advocate of the one-card Tarot reading. You, too, will be amazed at the concise eloquence of your deck when you ask it for an executive summary of...

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