Soft Witches 🌼

Red Flags in Witchcraft

Red Flags When Looking For Information

As a Witchling, doing research before attempting any spell-work is important. Whether you are asking more experienced witches for their knowledge, reading a book or searching for information on Google, you should always cross reference from multiple sources. While this is a good way to verify information, you should be aware of red flags to look for when doing your research. Inconsistency in terminology Pay attention to the words people use. You can often find people interchanging words to refer to the same thing. If you see this, consider it a red flag. It is important that you research the definitions of different terms, especially when you are just beginning your path as a witch. Here are terms that are sometimes interchanged that shouldn’t be: - Talisman & Amulet - Pagan & Wiccan - Smudging & Smoke Cleansing - Pentacle & Pentagram - Jinx & Hex & Curse Claiming Spell-work Does Not Have Consequences You may come across some witches who like to believe that doing any kind of spell-work doesn’t ever have serious consequences. Here is the problem with that: every action results in a consequence. It may not necessarily be a negative consequence, but there are risks. Always keep in mind that when you do spell-work you can either have no results, the results you expected or results you did not expect. Spell-work sometimes backfires. Sometimes spells end up causing more harm than good. There is also the possibility of causing collateral damage to people who you never intended to harm. This is why we always push the fact that Witchlings should always learn how to do proper cleansing, banishing and learn how to set up strong protections before attempting any other spell-work

When They Talk About Using Restricted and/or Closed Practices If you are new to witchcraft, you may not have heard of these before. Some practices are restricted or closed, meaning you either have to be born into them or be invited and/or initiated. The primary reason for certain practices to be restricted or closed is due to them being oppressed and abused. The history often includes racism, slavery, invasion of their sacred land and genocide. Here is a list of practices that are restricted or closed:

Restricted:

Hoodoo

Eastern European Religions.

Judaism.

Sikihism

Zoroastrianism

Gardnerian Wicca.

Alexandrian Wicca.

Shamanism Closed Practices

Indigenous Practices

Polynesian Practices

Santeria

Voodoo

Rastafarianism

Nahua

Sami

African Tribal Religions

Claiming Witches Must Be Wiccan

Many of the sources that you find will probably be based on Wicca. Although not all Wiccans push Wicca onto Witchlings, there are some narcissistic Wiccans who will tell you that to be a true witch you must be Wiccan. This is not true. If you do not vibe with Wicca, then it simply isn’t for you. There are many other paths to choose from. The threefold law and the rest of the Wiccan Rede may not vibe with you. That is okay. Wicca is not for everybody and it is not the only valid path for a witch.

Claiming Only Women Can Be Witches Men can be witches, too. No, they don’t have to refer to themselves as “warlocks”. As far as most witches are concerned, Witch is a gender-neutral term. If anybody tells you men cannot be witches, chances are they are a misandrist. Don’t listen to them. Claiming You Must Work With Some Sort Of Entity Listen carefully. Whether it is deities, the fae or any other type of spirit, you must understand that working with any type of entity requires a certain level of responsibility and knowledge. There are trickster spirits and other negative entities that would love to jump at the opportunity of taking advantage of a Witchling who does not know what they are doing. You can get hurt if you do not know what you are dealing with. Do not attempt to work with any entities until you have learned the bare basics that I mentioned earlier. With that being said, working with entities of any kind is not a requirement to be a witch. That is a matter of belief and personal preference. There are some witches who are agnostic or atheist, and that is okay. Do not force yourself to work with entities if you know you do not want to. Claiming You Must Learn Some Form Of Divination This one may be against popular belief, but truth be told you do not have to practice divination. Although divination has its benefits, some witches just don’t vibe with using pendulums, runes, tarot or any other divination tool. That is perfectly fine.

Claiming You Must Celebrate The Sabbats You may have already discovered the Wheel of the Year, but if you have not then all you need to know is it tells of the holidays that many witches celebrate. Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh / Lammas, Mabon and Samhain. You do not have to celebrate these to be a witch. It is all a matter of personal preference.

Claiming You Must Identify As A “Type” Of Witch

Green Witch, Kitchen Witch, Eclectic Witch, Grey Witch, etc… Does not matter. These types of labels only exist to give people a sense of structure. You do not have to label your path. You are a witch. That is all that matters. Claiming You Must Do Shadow Work Listen carefully. Shadow Work isn’t a witch thing. It is a psychological thing. If you don’t understand this, look up Carl Jung and his theories. Shadow Work, although beneficial in many ways, can be difficult on a person who has experienced severe traumas. If you know that your traumas are very triggering for you, please avoid doing Shadow Work unless you are in the presence of a medical or psychological professional.

Claiming You Must Do Shadow Work Listen carefully. Shadow Work isn’t a witch thing. It is a psychological thing. If you don’t understand this, look up Carl Jung and his theories. Shadow Work, although beneficial in many ways, can be difficult on a person who has experienced severe traumas. If you know that your traumas are very triggering for you, please avoid doing Shadow Work unless you are in the presence of a medical or psychological professional.

These are just a few red flags that you should look out for when doing research. Understand that not all people and resources are trustworthy and you have to be able to decipher what resources are reliable. There are many egotistical witches, , poorly written books and bad information across the internet.

Tarot Meanings: The Wands Suit

Ace of Wands

Upright: New beginnings, good news, physically starting something, creative spark, new initiative, finding new passion, enthusiasm, urgency, accepting a challenge, potential, talent, growth, action, travel, excitement, getting in the game, getting fired up, spontaneity, fun, being bold/daring, fertility, birth, conception, new lease of life Reversed: Delays, disappointing news, stopping something, creative blocks, lack of initiative/ passion/ assertiveness/ energy/ enthusiasm/ motivation/ growth/ action/ spark/ fun, slow, hesitant, missed opportunities, wasted talent/potential, infertility, pregnancy issues, cancelled travel, being too intense, stuck, bored, predictable

Two of Wands

Upright: Two paths, decisions, options, planning, grass is always greener on the other side, emigration suddenly leaving, deciding to stay or go, waiting, anticipation, restlessness, detachment, withdrawal, wanderlust, lack of contentment, business partnerships, co-operation, expansion overseas, overseas travel Reversed: Fear of change, indecisiveness, restricted options, lack of planning, fear of the unknown, staying put, cancelled emigration, deciding not go, being held back, choosing the safest option, self-doubt, disappointment, anti-climax, cancelled or delayed travel, choosing a mundane life, sudden arrival or return

Three of Wands

Upright: Travel, moving abroad, foreign land, foresight, forward planning, moving forward, self-confidence, self-belief, freedom, success, happy with choices/outcome, hard work paying off, experiencing life, spreading your wings, adventure, long distance/ travel romance, fortune favours the brave, overseas trade/expansion, growth Reversed: Returning travels, moving home, lack of foresight/ planning, holding on to the past, haunted by the past, lack of confidence, self-doubt, restriction, failure, disappointed with choices/outcome, frustration, clipped wings, lack of progress/ adventure/growth, failed long distance relationship, failed overseas trade/expansion

Four of Wands

Upright: Happy families, reunion, coming home, celebrations, surprises, parties, weddings, events, feeling welcome, community or family coming together, community spirit, teamwork, success, prosperity, stability, security, laying down roots, pride, self-esteem, being proud of achievements Reversed: Unhappy families, postponed/ cancelled reunion, leaving home, cancelled celebrations/surprises/parties/ weddings/ events, feeling unwelcome, not fitting in, community divided, lack of community spirit, instability, insecurity, uprooting, self-doubt

Five of Wands

Upright: Conflict, fighting, arguments, rows, disagreements, struggle, opposition, battles, aggression, temper, clashing personalities/egos, strikes, chaos, unruliness, being defensive/ territorial, assertive, pent up energy/aggression,  lack of control/ cooperation, frustration, irritation, competition, adrenaline, sports, being rough, petty Reversed: Compromise, end of conflict/ row/ struggle, reaching agreements, peace, harmony, battle fatigue, fear of confrontation, shyness, intimidation, suppressed temper, finding solutions, cooperation, control, focus, order, lack of competition, war, looking for an argument, extreme aggression, short fuse

Six of Wands

Upright: Success, victory, winning, having the advantage, triumph, achievement, praise, acclaim, awards, recognition, applause, goodwill, fame, celebrity, fans, well-wishers, supporters, crowds, being in the spotlight, riding high, being a leader, stability, strength, confidence, self-esteem, pride, sharing your victories, campaign trail Reversed: Failure, lack of achievement/recognition/ support/ confidence/ endurance, losing, disadvantage, disgrace, being hunted, ill-will, mob/ pack mentality, treachery, disloyalty, disappointment, broken promises, being a follower, weakness, fame hungry, diva, arrogant, egotistical, pride before a fall, unsuccessful campaign

Seven of Wands

Upright: Standing up for beliefs, fighting your corner, protective, defensive, determined, challenging, opposing, stamina, holding your own, taking high road, maintaining control, territorial, assertive, forceful, relentless, strong will, under attack, blame, harassment, scapegoat, resisting, busy, hectic, demanding Reversed: Folding on your beliefs, giving in/up, admitting defeat, yielding, quitting, surrendering, weakness, being timid, lack of courage/ self-belief/ stamina, failing to defend/ protect, resolution, compromise, scandal/losing moral authority/ control/ power/respect, sharing territory,  being overbearing, worn down, burnout, exhausted

Eight of Wands

Upright: Hastiness, speed, progress, movement, action, rushing, exciting times, travel, freedom, vacation, taking off, gaining momentum, ahead, thinking on your feet, sudden action, hard work paying off, results, solutions, energetic, positive, infatuation, obsession, being swept off your feet, jumping in Reversed: Slowness, lack of speed/ movement/ action/ results, slow progress, delayed/ cancelled/ returning from travel or vacation, restriction, bad timing, losing momentum, missed opportunities, late start, unfinished business, lack of energy, negativity, lack of romance, panicked, hysterical, impatient, impulsive, out of control   

Nine of Wands

Upright: Ongoing battle, battle weary, fatigue, drained of energy, nearly there, close to success, courage, persistence, perseverance, backbone, learning from past failure, gather your strength, fight your corner, last stand, guarded, wounded, expecting trouble, holding out, not working out as planned, setbacks, strength of will Reversed: Refusing to compromise/ give in, stubborn, rigid, obstinate, last one standing, not learning from past, no fight left, chronic fatigue, stalemate, retreat, withdrawal, falling at the final hurdle, lack of courage/ persistence/ perseverance/ backbone, weakness, dropping your guard, unexpected trouble, giving up, chip on shoulder

Ten of Wands

Upright: Overburdened, overloaded, responsibilities, stress, problems, weight on shoulders, duty, drudgery, obligation, saddled, restricted, burn-out, uphill struggle, taken for granted, taking on too much, delays, struggle, resistance,  lost your way, lost focus, major challenges, lack of fun/ spontaneity, keep going, end in sight Reversed: Insurmountable problems, flogging a dead horse, duty-bound, resigned to fate, too much responsibility/ stress, cross too heavy to bear, collapse, breakdown, no stamina, not up to the challenge, working hard but getting nowhere, learning to say no, off-loading, dumping, shirking duties/responsibilities, letting go

Page of Wands

Upright: Good news, swift news, letters, phone calls, word of mouth, fresh, cheerful, childlike, fun playful, active, optimistic, full of energy, bright ideas, new exciting plans, creativity, lovable rogue, charismatic, free-thinking, confident, intelligent, extroverted, fearless, rushing into things, finding your passion Reversed: Hasty, gullible, impatient, lack of energy/ ideas/ creativity/ ambition/ goals/plans, lazy, lethargic pessimistic, spoiled, loud mouth, tantrums, problem/inner child, delinquent, lack of confidence, self-conscious, close-minded, predictable, fearful, boring, procrastinating, failure to act, feeling uninspired, not finding your passion

Knight of Wands

Upright: Being hasty, adventurous, energetic, charming, warm, exciting, fearless, confident, self assured, hero, rebellious, brave, revolutionary, open minded, free spirit, sexy, warm, shameless flirt, hot tempered, travel, moving country, swept off your feet, finishing what you start, success, taking risks Reversed: Arrogant, reckless, hyperactive, daredevil, overly confident, loud, show-off, lack self-discipline/ control, passive, fearful, lack of enthusiasm/ ambition/ purpose, chip on shoulder, violent, abusive, jealous, volatile, extremely aggressive/ hasty, overly competitive, domineering , not finishing what you start, cancelled travel

Queen of Wands

Upright: Energetic, vivacious, strong, courageous, passionate, funny, independent, confident, optimistic, outgoing, assertive, sexy, chaotic, hot tempered, forgetful, efficient, accomplishing many tasks, efficiency, motherhood, fertility, helping others, organizing your life, taking charge Reversed: Pushy, demanding, overbearing, self righteous, busybody, bully, unfriendly, jealous, catty, manipulative, spiteful, vengeful, malicious, liar, deceitful, unfaithful, trouble maker, low confidence/ self esteem/self belief, temperamental, overwhelmed, exhausted, burnt out, fertility issues, bitchy

King of Wands

Upright: Energetic, experience, optimistic, confident, strong, friendly, funny, charming, way with words, fearless, freethinking, motivated, action orientated, proud, passionate, honest, loyal, lenient, dependable, protective,  natural born leader, self centered, controlling, hot tempered, taking control, daring to be different

Reversed: Rude, boorish, forceful, bully, dictator, tyrant, impulsive, abusive, nasty, vicious, bitter, weak, unreliable,  lack of energy/ experience/ enthusiasm, breaking promises, womanizer, volatile temper, taking a back seat, setting a bad example, afraid to be different, not being proactive, undependable, ineffective, powerless

healing isn’t structured. healing isn’t linear. it’s ok to cry about something you thought you healed from.

our last day together.

TAROT TRICKS: How to Avoid Blanking When Reading

To truly master tarot, you have to put in the time to learn the cards’ traditional and evolved meanings. You cannot rely on your intuition alone. That would be cheating. But, when you are a total beginner, your intuition could somehow be your tutor.

1) Use common sense.

Read the room, so to speak. Observe the mood of the card or the spread. Look at the facial expressions. The colors. The setting. The atmosphere.

This way, if the question is, “Does he love me?” and you get the Nine of Swords, you do not have to remember that card’s meanings.

You only have to look at the card and see that the figure in it is stressed, not happy. The color of it is black – a shade of negativity. The background has a bunch of swords hanging on someone’s head, like a threat.

Does this card look like someone who is in love? Not at all. You have your answer.

2) Refer to the name.

The Major Arcana is a cheat sheet in itself. The cards’ names contain their meanings.

What is a magician? Someone who can do magic. Therefore, in most cases, The Magician means having magic in your life, such as a wish come true or a last-minute miracle. Anything wonderful.

Who is the devil? Someone bad and evil. Therefore, The Devil is usually someone who has sinister plans. You are being warned against a toxic person, a dangerous situation, or self-sabotage.

When it comes to the Minor Arcana, all you have to do is remember what each suit means. Wands are passion. Cups are emotions. Swords are thoughts. Pentacles are foundations. When looking at a card, replace the suit names with the above. Suddenly, the Ten of Pentacles becomes the Ten of Foundations. That is, someone incredibly stable.

3) Form a sentence.

Remember this basic sentence structure: Subject-verb-object. Jason drank juice. Andy bought books. Stefan punishes bullies. Read spreads as such. Below is a nine-card spread read from top to bottom.

Queen of Pentacles + The Star + Two of Cups. “A woman (subject) wishes (verb) for love (object).”

The Empress + Six of Cups + The Lovers. “She (subject) will receive (verb) it (object).”

Knight of Wands + Six of Pentacles + Ace of Cups. “A Fire sign (subject) will give (verb) it (object).”

This way, you do not need to spend ages on interpreting one card. Instead, you are allowing them to interact and give you one coherent message.

4) Turn to basic math.

If you do not know anything yet about tarot numerology, remember your lessons in kindergarten. The bigger the number, the better. Would you rather have five chocolate bars or ten?

It is the same with tarot. Bigger often means better. The Nine of Cups is the card of satisfaction. But satisfaction fades. The Ten of Cups is the card of fulfilment. Something full takes longer to be drained.

When it comes to negative cards, the same is still true, except “better” becomes “worse”. The Nine of Swords is ridden with anxiety. But the Ten of Swords is reeking of death. Anxiety can get better, but death is final.

This even applies to the Major Arcana. But for that to make sense, you will need a deeper understanding of The Fool’s Journey – how the cards, even the negative ones, progress in wisdom and maturity.

5) Zero in on a detail.

When you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of cards and their meanings, focus on just one detail to get rid of your confusion.

If the question is, “How will my finances be for 2022?” and you pull the Queen of Wands, focus on the throne, for example.

Do poor people sit on thrones? No. Only royals do. Royals are rich. They own jewels, land and castles. Therefore, the querent’s finances in 2022 are looking positive.

Direct your thoughts towards one object within a card, and start speaking about what that object generally represents. Simply voice out your thoughts, and you will arrive at the message.

Small Things To Contact Spirits About

…If you want to flex your communication muscles but don’t want to be cutting deals or making things complicated for now. Just little things to try.

Let me hear a love story

Show me a song from your people

Tell me something you did today that you are proud of

Let me draw a portrait of you

Tell me a little about your culture

Ask me any questions you may have about human culture (and I will answer them, if I can.)

Look at this song/story/poem I wrote, tell me what you think.

Tell me my local reputation, if I have one.

Tell me your story (and if desired, I will record it and pass it on for more to see.)

Share a joke.

Let me admire your beauty/grace/powerful appearance/plumage/scales/wings/great personality

Tell me about your friends

What is your one big token of advice?

Teach me how to make my home more welcoming for you (while still being safe for me.)