Magic and mystery in Tibet Tibet, often referred to as the "Roof of the World," has long intrigued people from around the globe with its rich culture and ancient traditions. One of the most captivating aspects of Tibetan culture is its deep connection to magic and mystery. For centuries, Tibet has been known as a land of magic and sorcery. Tibetan Buddhism, the dominant religion in the region, incorporates various mystical practices that involve harnessing and manipulating supernatural energies. Tibetan monks, who are highly revered for their spiritual knowledge and abilities, are believed to possess magical powers. One such practice that is closely associated with Tibet is the art of tantra.
🌕🌑 Magick Mondays: Join us every other Monday for #MagickMondays, where we gather beneath the moon's radiant light to explore spellcraft, divination, herbalism, and more. These enchanting evenings are brimming with knowledge, practical workshops, and lively discussions. Together, we discover the secrets that enrich our magical journey.
Magick Mondays Join us every other Monday for MagickMondays, where we gather beneath the moon s radiant light to explore spellcraft, divination, herbalism, and more. In Africa to-day, although tribal society predominates, it is not static; on the contrary in many respects it is in a state of constant change and modification, some would even say of a disintegration.
One such practice that is closely associated with Tibet is the art of tantra. Tantra, a term derived from Sanskrit, refers to a spiritual path that aims to achieve enlightenment through the transformation of ordinary experiences into extraordinary ones. Tantric rituals often involve the use of mantras, visualizations, and other esoteric techniques to tap into hidden powers and transcend the physical realm.
Want to be a full-time witch this spooky season? There’s a growing West Michigan group for that.
Katrina Peshka, pictured here, is one of the founding members of the Witches of West Michigan Facebook group. The group now has nearly 2,500 members.
shares- Audra Gamble | [email protected]
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Move over, Sanderson sisters from the “Hocus Pocus” movies. The Witches of West Michigan are taking over.
Initially created in August 2021 so friends could discuss “witchy things,” the Facebook group called “Witches of West Michigan” now has nearly 2,500 members.
The group was created by Erica Franke after she was talking with friends about the need for a safe space online to talk about witch-related items like crystals, herbs, moon cycles, pagan holidays and spells.
“We were expecting maybe 50-60 people, but we grew really fast,” Katrina Peshka, another of the group’s founding members, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press.
Now, the group has expanded to divination festivals, selling witchy clothes and merchandise, supplies swaps, “witches brew” coffee meetups and more.
Though the group is geared toward women, non-binary folks and supportive male partners of witches are welcome on the page. For male-identifying people interested in witchcraft, the Men’s Magical Council of West Michigan exists too.
Members of the Witches of West Michigan group participate in a supplies swap in January 2022. The group swapped items like books, candles, crystals and more. (Photo provided by Katrina Peshka)
Being a member of the Witches of West Michigan group does not necessarily mean someone is Wiccan or pagan.
“It’s a very diverse group,” Franke said. “We have moms, people in college, all walks of life. They’re all just looking for a space online to talk about witchy things. We have Christian, Jewish and atheist witches. Witchcraft is not inherently linked to religion.”
There are different categories of witches, like kitchen witches who enjoy cooking some magic into their baking or tea, cosmic witches who gravitate toward astronomy and astrology and green witches who focus on gardening, herbs and nature. Water witches might be drawn toward taking dips in the lake and crystal witches channel energy through different minerals and gems.
What the Witches of West Michigan are not, though, is evil.
“We don’t worship Satan, this is not a coven,” Peshka said. “We’re not necessarily Wiccan, either.”
In fact, the majority of witches in the group are brand new to witchcraft, called “baby witches.” At each of the festival events hosted by Witches of West Michigan, there is some sort of workshop geared toward those baby witches like broom making, magic 101 and spell making.
“The one major thing is that it’s a nature-based path of living within the cycles of the Earth,” Peshka said of witchcraft. “It doesn’t need to be religious at all. There’s no gatekeeping in our community. We’re not about to tell anybody how to practice witchcraft.”
Witches brew and witches brunch events now happen in Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Allegan, Lowell, Alma, St. Joseph and Big Rapids.
Many of the witches brew locations are in the heart of the West Michigan Bible Belt, which Peshka said was a surprise to the group’s founding members.
The Witches of West Michigan sell coffee mugs, T-shirts and other items with witchy logos.
“We’ve discovered that strangely enough, there are concentrations of witches in teeny tiny conservative towns,” she said. “It’s interesting going through our Facebook analytics and it’s places they must have burned the witches ages ago.”
Posts in the Witches of West Michigan Facebook group range from funny witchy memes to asking for advice on creating spells to crowdsourcing where to find supplies like herbs or crystals.
“Eighty to 90 percent of folks are really new to all this and having seasoned witches as a resource is really where we shine,” Peshka said.
Members of the Witches of West Michigan group participate in a broom making workshop. (Photo provided by Katrina Peshka)
Anyone interested in the Witches of West Michigan is welcome to attend its upcoming Samhain festival taking place 10 a.m-4 p.m. Oct. 23 at Little Space Studio in Grand Rapids.
The festival will include an eclectic group of vendors, book sellers, tarot card readers, a workshop on communicating with the dead and a two-hour, witch-themed drag show. Tickets are $33 and can be purchased online at eventbrite.com.
Other holidays celebrated by the witches include Yule (winter solstice), Ostara (spring equinox) and Midsummer (summer solstice). For Midsummer celebrations next June, the group is renting out an entire campground for a weekend.
“The fact that it is a place we can have these events, to have that community, it’s overwhelming,” Franke said. “When you give somebody a safe space, even if it’s just online, they can live their true lives.”
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Another aspect of Tibetan magic is the practice of divination. Tibetan divination methods are diverse and can include the use of dice, cards, oracles, and astrology. The most famous form of Tibetan divination is the Mo divination, which involves examining the patterns formed by throwing a set of dice onto a diagram to gain insights into the past, present, and future. The Tibetan landscape itself also adds to the air of mystery surrounding the region. The snow-capped peaks, serene lakes, and remote monasteries nestled in the mountains create an otherworldly setting that feels disconnected from the outside world. It is no wonder that Tibet has inspired countless tales of hidden treasures, sacred caves, and mystical beings. Furthermore, the mythology and folklore of Tibet are filled with stories of supernatural beings such as yetis, dragons, and celestial beings. These mythical creatures are believed to inhabit the vast and unexplored areas of the Tibetan plateau, further adding to the allure and mystique of the region. Tibet's unique blend of magic, mysticism, and natural beauty continues to attract curiosity seekers from all walks of life. The aura of ancient wisdom and the possibility of encountering the extraordinary make Tibet an irresistible destination for those in search of something beyond the ordinary. Whether it is exploring hidden monasteries, engaging in spiritual practices, or simply marveling at the grandeur of the Himalayas, the magic and mystery of Tibet cast a spell on all who venture into its realm..
Reviews for "Nyingma Tradition: Ancient Wisdom of Tibetan Mysticism"
1. Tom - 2/5 - I was really looking forward to reading "Magic and Mystery in Tibet," but I must say I was disappointed. Although the subject matter of Tibet and its ancient traditions is fascinating, the author's writing style was dry and hard to follow. The book lacked the depth and detail I was hoping for, and I found myself bored and skimming through most of it. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and informative read on Tibetan magic and mystery.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - I found "Magic and Mystery in Tibet" to be incredibly confusing and disjointed. The author seemed to jump from topic to topic without any clear structure or organization. Additionally, the book contained numerous factual errors and inconsistencies, which made it difficult for me to trust the information presented. I was hoping for a thought-provoking exploration of Tibetan mysticism, but instead, I was left frustrated and disappointed. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a comprehensive and accurate understanding of Tibetan magic and mystery.
3. John - 2/5 - Although I appreciate the author's attempt to shed light on the magical practices of Tibet, I found "Magic and Mystery in Tibet" to be heavily biased and lacking in objective analysis. The author frequently inserted his own opinions and beliefs into the narrative, which made it hard for me to discern fact from fiction. Additionally, the book was filled with excessive metaphors and flowery language, which further detracted from the clarity and coherence of the content. Overall, I was expecting a more balanced and scholarly approach to the subject matter, and unfortunately, I did not find that in this book.