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Musings of a Christian Witch

@pastorwitch / pastorwitch.tumblr.com

A bisexual navigating their exploration of spirituality. She/they. My focus is Christian witchcraft and green witchcraft. I also work with kiddies and am a bleeding heart so you may see some funny kid stuff and sjw stuff on here too.

Christian Witchcraft? WTF!

It’s the first time you are hearing about Christian craft and it seems so foreign to you. How can such contradictory things be part of a worship, you ask. How can you be a God-fearing Christian and a witch?

What is witchcraft?

Witchcraft is a practice that can include shaping energy and interacting with the spiritual world. No witch uses witchcraft in exactly the same way. Some use it for healing, some for divination, some for cursing, etc. Many use it to worship their deities and cultivate a relationship with them, but not all. Some are secular and do not work with deities. Some have relations with deities but do not incorporate them into their craft. A witch’s spirituality is not intrinsically tied to their craft. Alternatively, witchcraft is not a religion, but a practice. It can be an expression of a religion, but it is by nature non-religious.

What does the Bible say about Witchcraft?

Please read this post by phoenyxangel.

calyhex also did a lovely series (part 1, part 2, part 3)

My own analysis on a few verses:

I am a green witch. That means I use creation, particularly plants, in order to perform my spells. Green witches use the energy stored within creation in order to create effects.

We know God has invested power in creation because of the story of Cain and Abel. It is the ground that seems to convict Cain for his crimes. Before Cain killed his brother, the ground gave him strength.

And the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen; your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
-Gen 4:10-12

Consider also that if humans do not worship God creation must cry out to Him.

But he answered them, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones will shout!”
-Luke 19:40

The power is there. Is it wrong to learn to use it? On the contrary, I find it to be an interesting way to study God. By knowing His creation, I come to know Him better.

Also note that when Jesus was confronted with magick (albeit, religious magick) he did nothing to condemn it. In the story of the healing at the pool Jesus heals a man who is waiting at a magick pool. Whenever the water was stirred it was supposed to be because an angel came and touched it. Whoever jumped into the pool first was supposed to be healed. (I’m assuming it worked, at least in part, for all of these people to be waiting so eagerly for their chance to jump in. The man in question had waited there for a long time and had missed many chances because he couldn’t move.)

Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed, waiting for the stirring of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred up the water; whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was made well from whatever disease that person had.
-John 5:2-4

If Jesus didn’t have an issue, then maybe we shouldn’t. I think Christian witches need to be judicious in what they practice. I think baneful magick is iffy at best. Jesus wasn’t baneful, so neither should we be. That being said, bindings and curses do not have to be baneful.

You can read more about my personal path on my FAQ. You can find book suggestions on my Books and Resources page.

What about Christopaganism?

That really isn’t my area of expertise. The Bible is clear that there are other spiritual forces in the world and God Himself refers to them as gods!

For that night, I will pass through the land of Egypt and kill all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both men and animals; and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt; I am Adonai.
-Exodus 12:12

Do they exist? Yes! Should you have a relation with them and how should you go about balancing your time spent with each deity? You would have to ask a Christopagan yourself.

It’s important to note that not all Christopagans are witches. Not all Christopagans work with other pantheons either, some preferring to work within the Abrahamic faith. Please do not assume anything and approach them respectfully.

Try:

  1. norvicensiandoran
  2. thespringpagan
  3. thepaganstudygrouppage
  4. thechristopaganmystic

Should I be a Christian witch?

I don’t know, because I do not know your relationship with God or the core motivations you have for pursuing craft. Being a Christian witch is about using craft to express your relationship with God. It is to help you draw closer to Him by experiencing Him through magick. It can also cause you to be an asset to other Christians and to this world. You can work magick for those in need.

You can be a Christian and a witch without being a Christian witch as well. You would simply be a practitioner who does not incorporate God into your magick. If you do work with other deities, it will be important that you keep a strict balance and healthy understanding of who these forces are to you in your magick. It will be a difficult road to navigate f you are trusting other forces for your power yet truly putting your faith in God, and perhaps impossible for you without falling into temptation.

Healthy Christian Craft is an article I wrote explaining some common ways in which craft can become unhealthy for a Christian. Remember, this path has as many temptations as any other, but the Christian community offers much less support than with other forms of worship. You will have to constantly be realigning your will with God’s will so that you will not fall into sin. You may also want to follow my meditations and work through them in order to come to a conclusion. This is a decision that takes a lot of reflection and soul searching. Christian witchcraft should not be approached lightly.

Ok, this is not a drill.

My neighbor offered me goats next year. A like here is a vote for goats in Pastor Witch house.

Tell me all the magical things I can do with goats to convince my wife we need goats for religious reasons.

Magical thing you can do with goats: love them :)

Also maybe make magical soaps out of goat’s milk?

Oh, I already love them and they haven’t even been conceived yet! ☺️

I like the idea of magic soaps! Cleanse me of that bad bad energy!

You: Being a witch must be so ethereal and so dangerous. I imagine you walking in the woods, naked, after sunset, eating only the dew off the ferns. Exquisite. Divine. Otherworldly.
Me: There’s literally a bread holiday, Susan.

Divination

I love reading tarot. I find it very relaxing and illuminating. This is what I believe about this practice and how I answer some of the frequently asked questions about tarot and other forms of divination.

How does divination work?

I believe divination is a chance to learn something about yourself. When you lay the cards down and see the archetypes and stories before you and find yourself in them, you learn something new about yourself. You may not learn the future, but you will find something true in yourself there. Divination is illumination.

Can we really tell the future? How?

We can see possible futures, but nothing is for certain. The future we see is a possible future based on our guesses about what the future might hold.

Is it wrong for Christians to practice divination?

Christians have practiced divination since the time of Jesus. When it came time to fill Jesus’ and Judas’ spots at the table, they cast lots, knowing that God would work through that medium to illuminate their future.

Many Christians believe that it is inappropriate to ask about the future, believing only God should know that. I disagree, though I do not often ask about the future. Christians also do not tend to practice seeking omens as it is expressly forbidden.

Does a spirit control the deck?

I do not believe spirits control the deck or any other form of divination. I believe spirits can reach out to touch them, but this is easily solved by warding and cleansing.

People in the Tanakh often “inquired of the Lord”, sometimes asking about the future, so I don’t think it’s forbidden. I just personally wouldn’t do it because if it was negative then that would terrify me. I would rather just get advice to take with me into the future, than know what the future is.

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thewitchandtheword

I also don’t like looking into the future a lot due to anxiety, but one of the great things about tarot is that instead of just fortune telling, you can use it to look deeply into the current reality of a situation for help in decision making. I read something once that was like, “when the pictures of your life are before you, you get a more objective view and can make clearer decisions.” In this way tarot can become a kind of wisdom tool.

These are both fantastic point! I honestly don’t mind asking about the future, but I’m never sure how helpful it is because I believe the future is ever changing. I am not sure what it says will be accurate tomorrow.

Anyway, if you blame Jewish people for Jesus’s death

DING

DONG

YOU ARE

WRONG

Jewish people did not kill Jesus. With Pilate (an emissary of Rome, the biggest super power in that area of the world) “washing his hands” of Jesus’ death (allowing an innocent man to be condemned) the gospels make it clear that all of humanity was responsible for Jesus’ death.

Singling out Jewish people is antisemetic and proves you have missed a huge theological point.

Good to remember as Christmas is around the corner. Don’t be antisemetic, be theologically elevated.

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🌲Yuletide Simmer Pot🌲

I know I’m a few days early but I wanted to welcome the season in a little earlier than usual; plus I wanted to do some spell work too after the week I’ve had at work so yeah!

❄️ Ingredients ❄️

❄️A handful of cranberries for Abundance & Love ❄️A few bay leaves for Protection & Manifestation  ❄️Several orange slices for Luck & Prosperity ❄️4 cinnamon sticks for Success & Prosperity  ❄️3 tbsps. of whole cloves for more Protection & Clarity ❄️A whole red delicious apple in slices for Beauty & Wisdom ❄️A few pine branches for Cleansing & Protection

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I could be wrong but what’s interesting to me personally is that Elijah wasnt just mad, he was scared for his life cuz there was a queen who wanted him dead so Elijah ran and told God he wanted to die because he was in such anguish

But God is so good and He always knows what we need!

Notice too that he didn’t even give Elijah some encouraging words to comfort him.  He just told him to eat.  Sometimes just being there and making sure someone gets through their anguish is enough.

AND THUS SPOKE THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE

“Why don’t you have a some food and maybe you’ll feel better.“

And God said, “Have a Snickers.”

And Elijah inquired of the Lord, asking “Why?” and the Lord replied, “Because thou doth lament greatly when thou art hungry”.

Thus Elijah took and he ate of the confection, finding it to be exceedingly satisfying.

The Lord then asked, “Art thou better?”, and Elijah replied, “Indeed Lord, I am better”. Then the Lord further advised Elijah, saying unto him, “Thou art not thineself when thou art hungry”.

quality religious jokes, people

I sound like a squeak toy with how I’m laughing

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romanticfistfight

Thought this said Billie Eilish not Bible Elijah

Winter Solstice Ideas for Christian Practitioners

The Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year. The sun leaves us early so that the night can wrap us in slumber. Winter has come, ending the time of plenty. These next few months will bring a chill to the land that can bury the North with snow. Winter’s icy fingers will also reach the South, freezing the high desert at night, but making it much more tolerable during the day.

Before continuing, check to see when your solstice really is.

Spiritual Fortification

By the Winter Solstice you should be spiritually fortified for the coming months. The harvest festivals have passed and all that is left is to settle in and wait. If you have not stored up spiritual comfort for yourself, do so now. Imbolc will not be for another month and a half, for those who celebrate it, and for those who don’t they will have a long wait for the Equinox.

Activities for the Day

For those who live where it will be cold, consider spending your daylight hours inside where it is warmer. Spend time with family and friends. Eat together if possible. Take comfort in the fact that you will not be facing this Winter alone.

For those who live where the temperatures will be more mild, spend the day outside, enjoying the cooler temperatures. Notice how the landscape is changing and getting greener. Rejoice in this time when life is so evident.

Suggested Magickal Practices

This is the longest night of the year. Take the opportunity to practice some shadow or dream work. The Bible says that Christians can and will have prophetic dreams. What better time to ask for them then on the longest night of the year? This is also a great time to break out the tarot for shadow work. How have you changed this year? Where should you be heading for the next Gregorian year?

Childhood Wonder

Enjoy the night sky, and what she has to offer. Spend time with the moon, which will be moving towards fullness this Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, this is the perfect time to consider Christmas lore. The long night adds to the dreamlike state of the season, which can take us back to childish reveries. Consider writing a letter to Santa or participating in something else that is both appropriate for the Christmas season and full of the wonder of childhood.

A Wintery Meditation

Finally, consider the Christmas story. The Winter Solstice is a perfect day to examine the trip of the Wisemen. Spurned by an astrological event (the appearance of a star) these men (likely Zoroastrian priests) made their way from Persia to visit a toddler Jesus. They came bearing gifts, riches that would be required for Joseph and his family’s escape to Egypt. The story culminates in Herod’s evil slaughter of children.

In this way we are reminded of the parts of the cycle leading up to Winter. We have journeyed hard this year in order to build up stores of spiritual riches for ourselves and others, as the wisemen journeyed far in order to bring physical riches to the most spiritual being in all Creation. We will liquidate these spiritual stores in order to save ourselves this Winter. Joseph liquidated those riches in order to move his family to Egypt and save Jesus from Herod’s slaughter. In doing these things, we may honor Christ this season. Remember the gifts God gives and the protecting nature of Joseph this day.

Happy Solstice!

Cat Cuddle Comfort Spell

Spell-a-Day: Day 26

Description: For when you are stressed and need love to feel ok.

Materials:

  1. Amethyst (small)
  2. Cat
  3. Catnip (optional)
  4. Chamomile Tea
  5. Pillows
  6. Blankets (optional)

Notes:

  1. Charge your amethyst beforehand.
  2. You may substitute any pet.
  3. In the event that your furry friend has passed you may substitute a stuffed animal or visualize them. You should also look up a purr simulator in youtube.

Instructions:

  1. Brew the chamomile tea.
  2. Perform any pre-spell rituals.
  3. Place the amethyst under a pillow you will be resting on.
  4. Call your cat. You may need to tempt them to come over and stay with catnip spread on your chest. Wrap yourself in blankets or alternatively wrap both of you in blankets.
  5. Pet them until they purr loudly.
  6. Sip your tea and pet your cat. Repeat these words as necessary:
  7. No matter what happens, my cat will still love me.
  8. His/her purrs wash over me with their healing power,
  9. Calming me and making me whole again.
  10. His/her love heals my heart.
  11. Their unconditional love is a true measure of friendship.

Notes:

  1. This spell is best when done with a cat because a cat’s purr does having healing abilities. If you have another pet you can talk about their kisses in place of the purr, or any other aspect of them.
  2. Take time to allow yourself to slow down and just be loved. Before I was diagnosed with my anxiety disorder, cuddling with my cat was the only way I knew how to cope.

Dedicated to my cat: I still need you.

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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was not a perfect show but its treatment of imperialism, war crimes, and genocide was light-years ahead of some of the stuff coming out today (looking at you, Star Wars).

In DS9:

  • Bajor, a world struggling to recover from decades of genocidal colonial policies, is front and center
  • Bajoran characters, most prominently Kira, are allowed to grapple with their own trauma and their stories don’t revolve around making their oppressors, the Cardassians, feel better
  • Kira’s history of violent resistance against the occupation is not sugarcoated, nor does the show shy away from the fact that she hurt innocent people in the process. But neither does the story condemn her for using violence to resist genocide
  • Not only was Kira a terrorist, but a religiously driven one as well. Belief in the Prophets held Bajor together during the occupation, and is a major subject of exploration in the show
  • Despite all that Bajor suffered, Bajorans are not relics of the past or a destroyed, defeated people–their culture is vital and alive, they are rebuilding against incredible odds, and are working toward Federation membership
  • Bajorans themselves are not some misty spiritual cardboard cutouts, either. They are complex, they lash out, they are spiritual, they are lovers, killers, reactionaries, weirdos, mystics, the full range of experiences and personalities
  • And then there’s Kai Winn, who is an entire book in herself. She is such a well-drawn female villain, a complicated portrayal of self-serving ambition, self-deception, and self-entitlement
  • Because Bajorans are given their own stories, it actually works when some Cardassians–generally minor and one-off characters–are shown to be dissenters, or themselves traumatized from the occupation
  • We actually see Dukat, the leader of the occupation, trying to play the misunderstood hero/redemption card only to get slapped down by the narrative time and again
  • Dukat isn’t a one-note villain either; he is often charming and sometimes inspiring, as when he has a stint as a resistance fighter himself against the Klingons occupying Cardassian territory
  • Ultimately, though, the story reveals Dukat to be a liar, a virulent racist, an abuser, and at heart an imperialist megalomaniac who almost destroyed the Alpha Quadrant with his lust for power
  • David Brin was right and Star Trek is better

You are right to center Bajor in this but let me talk about Cardassians too:

- the show makes an effort to explore Cardassian culture without ever trying to excuse their imperialism and the brutality of the Bajoran occupation

- Cardassian civilians who just want to do their thing outside of the military or secret agencies are shown

- the complex questions of accountability of small cogs in the machine of the administration of totalitarian regimes are explored without easy black/white answers

- they are shown as victims of imperialism as well without diminishing their own responsibility

- the reasons (lack of resources, cultural pride, militarist society) that drove Cardassians to occupy other planets including Bajor are explored openly without excusing their actions

- the selection of characters complicit in Cardassian imperialism range from true believing patriots to small minded bigot to ambitious asshole to nihilistic egotist, just like real world dictatorships

I wonder if ds9 could have happened AT ALL in a post 9/11 world tbh

DS-9 was created for a post WWII world. Kira’s backstory which would likely be sensored in a post 9/11 world serves as a necessary reminder of the heroes of WWII.

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I’m both pro herbal medicine and pro vaccination because you can treat burns with aloe vera juice and sore throats with lavender infused honey but you can’t rid a country of polio with plants. 

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made-of-love-and-stars

THIS.

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alandofdawnandstarlight

Don’t forget kids, jewelweed is a natural counteragent to poison ivy rashes but it won’t do shit against whooping cough

Mint for nausea, valerian and chamomile for sleep, antibiotics for fucking infections.

I’m in love with this post

spiritsong2

What do you do with your moon water? I like to make lavender lemonade with mine in summer! ☺️