A few years ago, three friends and I held a mini retreat in late autumn to feel into the land one of my friends owns. For the purpose of this blog, I will refer to them as the Druid, the Shaman, and the Light Worker, as this identifies their spiritual path, while providing some confidentiality. And, yes, I am aware that I am sounding a bit … Continue reading Seduced by the Flying Dragon
As a woman living alone, a sense of physical security at my home is essential. I live in a relatively nice area, but there have been shootings and break-ins. I have even seen damage on my patio door where someone unsuccessfully tried to force it open. One of my favorite characteristics about where I live is that my backyard area faces a forest, probably 15 feet … Continue reading The Stinging Nettles Home Security System
In herbal witchcraft, there are plants with whom we develop relationships on our own, but there are also plants with whom relationships are inherited. For me, Lunaria annua is an inherited plant partnership. Lunaria, commonly called honesty, is best known for the luminescent inside film of its seed pods, a characteristic which grants the plant its other common name, silver dollars. The plant is among the first to blossom in … Continue reading My Grandmother Herb: Lunaria
As it is spring cleaning time, I physically cleaned my home, then set out for the ethereal scouring. Of all the spells I use, it is those for protection and cleansing that I apply most frequently, and probably, with the best results. I have mezuzot on all my doorways, and those by and far provide the strongest protection against nasty spiritual entities, but I had … Continue reading Cleanse and Protect
As a Jewitch, I am keenly aware of the pervasive cult of Lilith. Many modern women view her as a force of spiritual feminism, defying the ever present patriarchy of Abrahamic religions through her demands of sexual equality. For many Jewish women (as well as pagans), Lilith is viewed as a goddess–the original Jewitch, from whom all defiant women claim the inherent right of rebellion against … Continue reading An Argument against Lillith from a Jewitch Perspective
By nature of the gender defining roles commonly practiced in Jewish culture, Jewish women are kitchen witches in all but name. In the Jewish household, the woman rules the homestead. In fact, the home of a Jewish family is considered of equal status religiously to the standing of the synagogue, our place of worship and community gathering. Women are charged with the responsibility of performing … Continue reading “The best among women… is a witch.”
For many years, I have had people declare that they thought I was a witch, or describe me as witchy. I must admit that I do seem to give off a strong “witch-vibe.” I am not certain that I can define exactly what a “witch-vibe” is, but I think it has something to do with giving off an aura that makes you seem “other” in … Continue reading Jewitchery, in Search of a Feminine Path
Universität Würzburg has developed a wonderful online source for the study of Mesopotamian magic called CMAwRo. The digital project contains scholarly editions of Mesopotamian rituals and incantations for protection against witchcraft. The database contains Romanized transliteration of the text as well as English translation. I’ve not yet had the opportunity to examine the text thoroughly, but I am certainly enjoying what I am seeing. I … Continue reading Corpus of Mesopotamian Anti-witchcraft Rituals Online
Over the past several months, I felt an incredibly strong urge to mount mezuzot in the primary doorposts to my home. Partly, in the process of reinvigorating my relationship with my spiritual heritage, I felt it was appropriate, but also, I would have occasions in which I did not feel safe. It was an unidentified sense of anxiety, nothing specific. As the new moon was … Continue reading Losing Sleep over Broken Glass
Garden of Binah 