Witchy things communicate with the spiritual realm and tap into the energy of the universe. Witches have the ability to communicate with spirits, deities, and entities from different dimensions. They use various tools and practices, such as divination, spellcasting, and rituals, to connect with these energies and receive messages. Divination is the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or unknown through tools such as tarot cards, pendulums, or crystal balls. Witches use these tools to communicate with the spiritual realm, ask questions, and receive guidance and insights into various aspects of life. Spellcasting is another way witches communicate with the universe.
Another way of connecting with your ancestors at Samhain is to cleanse and protect your space then set a place for them at your home. Offer a suitable meal or offer cake and tea (which is universally welcomed!) and, while sitting at the table, light a black candle and call out to invite your ancestor to come forward.
Before communicating with your ancestors, make sure you have the skills and experience in the craft, master your tools and protect yourself and your home. Practising ancestral witchcraft involves studying the culture, foods and day-to-day ways of your ancestors and incorporating it into your magickal path.
Spellcasting is another way witches communicate with the universe. By harnessing the power of intention, energy, and ritual, they are able to perform spells to manifest desires or bring about change. Spells can be used for protection, love, prosperity, and healing, among other things.
Witch ancestry - are you the descendant of a witch?
"We are the daughters of the witches you didn't burn" is the latest popular phrase I've seen casually thrown around on social media - mostly shared on witchy groups in Facebook and emblazoned across T-Shirts and hoodies in sponsored Instagram posts.
Burning witches is not a phrase to be taken lightly. It has been estimated that around 50,000 people were executed as witches in Europe alone during the witch-hunt hysteria of the 15th to 18th centuries, with hundreds of thousands more in the US. Many of these victims were hanged or beheaded, or died in prison cells during the hysteria of the witch trials. Those that survived were horrifically tortured or put on trial only to force an accusation of another neighbour or villager. Many surviving witches and Pagans went into hiding. A lot of innocent people died.
Witchcraft at Salem Village - Image source: WikipediaIf you're new to witchcraft, or curious to find out whether you're related to a witch, exploring your ancestral line is a fascinating place to start but, before delving into your family’s history, it is important to think about whether you believe these men and women were actually practising witches or not. Under conditions of torture, the majority of the accused would confess to being witches to lessen their sentence or to avoid further punishment. Their closest connection to witchcraft simply being the practise of using locally found herbs for healing.
I intentionally wrote 'practising' witches above because everybody has magickal connections in their family tree, if you go back far enough. European ancestors were Pagan before Christianity took over, Ancient Greeks encompassed a collection of beliefs and rituals and Hinduism, the oldest religion in existence and the third largest in the modern world, focuses on practises such as meditation, chants, yoga and burning incense for their deities. Practises may be called different things and techniques may differ slightly, but the magick has always been there. Everyone has at least one connection to a priest, priestesses, druid, shaman or witch doctor throughout ancient history.
Whether it's basic level nature magick or experienced witchcraft, humans have been using magick for as long as we have existed. Some witches are born knowing their abilities or born into a magickal household, while others learn and develop them throughout their life.
Witches harness their powers and practice witchcraft. Some do it openly, some only ever in their private space. You may never know if you have a witchy ancestor but, the first step to finding out is to identify your family tree. Beginning with your last name, write your father last name and mother’s maiden name above it, then branch out to her mother’s maiden name and her father's name (your grandmother and grandfather on your mother's side), and your father’s mother’s maiden name and his father's name (your grandmother and grandfather on your father's side) and so on. Identify as many surnames as you can, then compare those names against recognised witch bloodline names. It also helps if you mark where those family members lived to get an idea of where the names originated from. This will make finding your ancestors slightly easier.
The next step is to research the names. There is an enormous amount of information on the internet and you can use online tools such as Ancestry.com which has an enormous record collection. Some genealogy sites are free, some are pay-per-view and some require a subscription. It's also worthwhile speaking to your family members and visit your local records office if you have one. London's Wellcome Library recently published a seventeenth century manuscript online, available at Ancestry.com, containing the names of over 300 people accused of witchcraft during the Scottish witch panic of 1658-1662.
Through these rituals, witches establish a channel of communication with the energetic forces of the universe and direct their intentions towards the desired outcome. Rituals are an essential part of witchcraft and serve as a way to communicate with the divine. These can be elaborate ceremonies or simple daily practices that help witches connect with their intuition, inner wisdom, and higher selves. Through rituals, witches create a sacred space and set intentions to communicate and receive messages from the spiritual realm. In addition to these practices, witches also communicate with nature and the elements. They have a deep connection with the earth, moon, sun, and other natural elements. By observing and interacting with nature, witches can receive messages and guidance. They also use herbs, crystals, and other natural objects to communicate and enhance their magic. Witchy things communicate on a subtle level, often through signs, synchronicities, dreams, and intuitive insights. Witches cultivate their intuition and psychic abilities to interpret and understand these messages. They develop a deep trust in their own inner knowing and the messages they receive from the universe. It is important to note that witchcraft and the communication with the spiritual realm are diverse practices that vary among individuals and cultures. Each witch may have their own unique ways of communicating with the divine based on their personal beliefs and traditions. In conclusion, witchy things communicate through various practices such as divination, spellcasting, rituals, and connection with nature. Witches tap into the energy of the universe and receive messages from the spiritual realm through signs, synchronicities, dreams, and their own intuition. The ability to communicate with the spiritual realm is a fundamental aspect of witchcraft and is deeply rooted in the belief that there is a higher power beyond the physical world..
Reviews for "Shifting Perspectives: How Witchy Things Challenge Traditional Notions of Community in Communi6ea"
1. Jane - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Witchy Things Communi6ea". The plot was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth. The writing style was also very choppy and awkward, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I found the book to be disjointed and unsatisfying.
2. Mark - 2 stars - "Witchy Things Communi6ea" fell short of my expectations. The magical elements of the story were poorly explained and left me feeling confused and disconnected. Additionally, the pacing was extremely slow, and there were several chapters that felt unnecessary and dragged down the narrative. I was hoping for a captivating and enchanting read, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - As a fan of witch-themed novels, I was excited to read "Witchy Things Communi6ea," but it left me feeling underwhelmed. The writing lacked polish, with many grammatical errors and awkward sentences. I also found the main character to be unlikable and difficult to relate to. While the concept had potential, the execution fell short, resulting in a mediocre reading experience.