✨Faeries ✨

A deity is a mystical presence, like a god, that is worshipped by individuals who believe it commands or wields influence over a characteristic of existence. In the witch world, many worship or work with deities or spirits. However, you never need to do this to be a valid witch, and always hold magic within yourself as well.

Worshipping Vs Working With:

Worship:

Worshipping is to believe, honor, and venerate a spirit or deity. This means not only believing in their existence, but admiring their power and displaying gratitude and loyalty towards them.

Working With:

Working with an entity is different than worshipping, although many consider it important to start worship before working with any spirit or deity. (That doesn’t mean stop when you start working with them though!) This is when an entity comes through with energy, messages, and is willing to guide you.

Terminology:

Aspect:

Aspects are a phrase utilized across various beliefs and in theology to illustrate a particular manifestation or perception of a deity or spirit. Subject on the religion, these may possibly be separate, overlapping, or methods of perceiving or conceptualizing the deity in a distinct context.

Devotee:

A passionate or fervent believer in a particular religion, deity, or spirit. To explain further, an individual who is completely devoted and given almost exclusively to conviction, and one who is spiritually committed to conscientious obligations, principles, and ceremonies.

Devotion:

An act of prayer, offering, or ritual, generally cast in private. This can range from playing music, to writing poetry for them. Devotions are often considered to occur solely in the mornings in some cultures.

Epithet:

In Hellenic and European primitive times, an epithet was a informative term to be associated with or occurring in place of the name of a deity or spirit. These epithets are repeated continuously in their ancient literary works, and this phrase is used to specify the characteristics of a deity or spirit.

Matron:

A distinct Goddess you feel most linked and relaxed working in alongside, and can often be demonstrated within themselves. The amount of Matrons an individual may have is a subject to preference.

Offering:

An offering is to put forward something to a deity is to show and recognize allegiance, appreciation, and passion. Offerings are usually given in devotions, in veneration of, and general rituals.

Oracle:

A human being that an entity is conducted to answer when consulted, they convey messages through this deity with the ability of communication of them. Oracles are considered to be dead to many, although there are reconstructionists today.

Patron:

A distinct Goddess or God you feel most connected and comfortable working in conjunction with, and is often displayed within their temperament. The number of patrons a human can have is a matter of choice, although most individuals choose one as their principal spirit.

Priest:

A priest is a human certified to execute the blessed traditions of a religion, deity, or spirit. A Priest is regarded as an authority, and often requires an initiation. This is also sometimes referred to as a High Priest.

Priestess:

A priestess is a woman certified to execute the blessed traditions of a religion, deity, or spirit. A Priestess is regarded as an authority, and often requires an initiation. This is also sometimes referred to as a High Priestess.

Veneration:

To venerate is to worship, respect, and admire another. Metaphysically, veneration is often used as a term of worship to a spirit or deity. Unquestionable and unconditional belief can be associated with this term.

Part 2 💖✨

A reminder for the tarot or divination community.

Jewish Angel Work

I don't see a bunch of writing about angel work in general, and what I do find is often heavily Christianized! I wanted to talk about what angel work can look like from a Jewish perspective.

(Gentiles may interact and enjoy, but understand that this is for educational purposes and not an invitation to appropriate! 🤍)

A Jewish-Specific Perspective

Judaism views angels in ways other traditions may not share! Some examples:

Angels aren't former humans. They are their own distinct beings just like demons, cows, land spirits and butterflies. People who pass away, even children, are not considered "angels returning home." These angels have specific forms and looks depending on the type, some more humanoid than others.

Angels don't have free will. This does not mean they are held hostage or can't have their own personalities, but their will is an extension of HaShem's Will, serving a specific role in making that Will manifest. Kind of like employees in a corporation doing their tasks!

They don't have names. Or at least, they don't have names we're supposed to know or ask for. They may be incomprehensible to humans, or maintaining a level of anonymity as to not distract from HaShem. Either way, asking for a name is often discouraged in traditional texts.

They AREN'T all here to help you. While it all serves a Divine Will and is therefore Good in the grand scheme of things, many angels serve completely neutral functions from a human perspective. Some could even be considered harmful to humans, the most prominent example being HaSatan. (Even still, HaSatan isn't seen as a true villain. He's just doing his job.)

Some of them are ONLY here to help you! Historical Rabbis were big on the concept of guardian angels. The Talmud says "Every blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, 'Grow, grow.'" (Midrash Rabba, Bereshit 10:6.) Every living creature, including you, has a guardian angel to help you along your path. Some translations say the angels hit the grass, and that's not the only story of angels smacking things, so that guidance isn't always gentle, but it's always in the right direction.

Types of Angel Work

Spirit guides. Like mentioned above, guardian angels can help encourage you to "Grow! Grow!" and keep you on a path in line with spiritual health and lovingkindness.

Communing with HaShem. Gd is extremely esoteric. Angels help us send and recieve messages in an easier-to-conceptualize way! Meditation and prayer can also play into this. Beyond every-day applications, angels can also appear unexpectedly with important messages.

Communicating with other spirits. As angels are often messengers, I also think it's helpful to call upon their aid when working with other spirits!

Working with angels of various functions. Modern day Rabbis often marry angelic theology with scientific phenomena, with angels overseeing the process. By that extent, we could ask those angels for help/guidance when relevant!

Protection. Psalm 91, often recited for protection, depicts HaShem commanding angels on your behalf to guard you in all ways. One bedtime prayer names the four archangels to surround us.

Shalom Aleichem is traditionally sung on Friday nights before Shabbat dinner. It invites angels of peace to basically come and hang out with us during shabbat, then to leave in peace once shabbat is over. Many arrangements also make a good lullaby.

Other Notes

Metatron (מֶטָטְרוֹן) is a specifically-Jewish angel who gets appropriated a lot in spiritual circles. He does not appear in the Tanakh, but is mentioned in the Talmud and largely fleshed out in kabbalistic literature! (Islamic literature does mention him by different name, ميططرون, Mitatrun/Mitatrush. Solidarity.)Lots of people recognize Lilith as closed, but the same attention hasn't been given to Metatron. He's a very complex and ambiguous figure worth a whole post of his own so I won't get into it here!

This post is by no means comprehensive! This is just a very "quick" overview of a very rich field of study.

Further Study

On My Right Michael, On My Left Gabriel: Angels in Ancient Jewish Culture-- Mika Ahuvia

A Gathering of Angels: Angels in Jewish Life and Literature-- Morris B. Margolies

Ascending Jacob's Ladder: Jewish Views of Angels, Demons, and Evil Spirits-- Ronald H. Isaacs

small reminder that this reality isn't the blueprint. why tf would one singular reality dictate the whole damn multiverse??? you are allowed to script and shift to whatever reality you want, even if it's deemed as "unrealistic" from this reality's standard. you are allowed to have EVERYTHING you desire, don't let this reality limit you from what you truly want.

helpful magickal associations for every day of the week!

source: @libramoonstone on instagram 💕

doing the inner work

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