Latest Posts by fkaslime - Page 3

As promised, the sequel to Ritual Music! Aptly named, Ritual Music II! I hope you enjoy!

Tracklist

Glass (The Clockmaker’s Remix) // Bat For Lashes The Prince Is Coming // araabMUZIK Romany Dagger // All Them Witches Nocturnal Hecate // Daemonia Nymphe Leyenda // Charo Luz de Luna // Chavela Vargas Ave Maria // Vitas Dazzle // Siouxsie & the Banshees Hounds of Love // Kate Bush Edge of Seventeen (Live, Crystal Visions Tour) // Stevie Nicks Pax Deorum // Enya If I Had A Heart // Fever Ray I Will Never Die // Delta Rae Pearl’s Dream (Blossom & Surrender Remix) // Bat for Lashes Pays to Know // Mypet Bad Ritual // Timber Timbre Fresh Blood // Eels La Bruja // Salma Hayek & Los Vega Malaguena // Olivia Ruiz La Maza (feat. Shakira) // Mercedes Sosa Prahbujee // Ravi Shankar & George Harrison

The Witches’ Baptism

Or – perhaps more fittingly – the Witches’ Rites of Renunciation are meant to sever the religious ties of your own personal past. This is done (I have found) for two distinct reasons: to shed the preconceptions forced by organized religion, including both the doctrines and the antithetic notion of hierarchal power in regards to Enlightenment, and as a symbol of rebirth. Much like a baptism! Only in this instance, the sin you wash away is the sin of religious indoctrination, hypocrisy and the very human realities that accompany the notion of “church.” It is meant to be a freeing exercise – one that cleanses all the malformed ideologies imbued on you throughout your earlier life. Of course, that is easier said than done and no one ritual can truly clear the slate completely, but it serves as a formal boundary between the past and the future – a future in which you must relearn your understanding of the world at large. One in which the answers presented are not set in stone, but fluid – from which you must come to your own conclusions, test your own theories and tessellate the scattered mythos and ideas into a cohesive faith – you own faith, reliant wholly on none other than yourself.

That is The Witches’ Baptism, and this is one example of how it may be performed:

Ideally, the rite should be done at a Crossroad (of whichever type speaks to you the most) as it is a transformative ritual! Bring with you whatever you need to light a fire in your preferred method – such as wood for a classic bonfire, Sacred Fire to light in a bowl/cauldron/vessel, or alcohol – which can be poured in a circle (note: isopropyl alcohol isn’t fond of the cold or wind, so either plan according to weather or bring a backup solution).

On site, when you are emotionally prepared, build your fire. Depending on your chosen medium, your window of opportunity will differ greatly (the above are listed from greatest to least burn-time), so factor this in as well. For those of you who thoroughly enjoy taking your time, I recommend building a true fire.

The following part should be personalized to fit your taste, as how you wish to release the past is up to you. You can do it simply, by speaking out loud that you rebuke the religion of your youth/past (traditionally, this is done by rebuking the Holy Spirit of Christianity – the unforgivable blasphemy – so as to free oneself from its vice-grip, though the renunciation can extend to any religion [or even no religion]). As an example:

I, [name], child of [father’s name] and [mother’s name], Reared in the faith of [“Our Lord,” “Yahweh,” “Allah,” etc.] – rebuke these laws; No longer am I bound by tomes or cathedral walls, Nor do I kneel at the altar of man – But I walk the crooked path – proud, For I was born in the Earth – In the Heart of the Tempest; And so I have become; From whence I came – so I return.

A few other options consist of writing these things out – in as long-winded or concise a manner as you wish (these can even be written days in advance) – or burning a symbol of the past. The flames are freeing – allow them to be.

Purge these broken things from the mind and heart, and cast them symbolically into the consuming fire of creation and destruction. It is these things that stand as obstacle – let them be cleansed from you. And when the time has come, when these things have been expressed and used as kindling (carefully) leap the fire (and try not to wear any hairspray!). Then you are free.

Upon the other side, you may douse the fire, allow it to burn out, or use this time to connect with another Spirit or Deity (I said you were free, not that you had to stay free!), Nature at large, or even with yourself – whichever is most befitting your chosen path. Theoretically, this could be done by an Abrahamic witch if only to cleanse the effects of church indoctrination – for those who wish to follow the gospels/tomes in a unique or personal way.

And for those who wish to follow the Traditional Witch path (the “origin” of the Witches’ Baptism), this would be the perfect instance to Evoke the Devil!

photo source //  “Baptism of fire: Girls leap over flames as part of ancient cleansing ceremony held on the birthday of John the Baptist,” DailyMail

The Spirit Vessel

Home of the Spirits, the ideology of the Spirit Vessel spans countless faiths – and rightly so, for it is an “instrument” matched by few in the witch’s arsenal. The Spirit Vessel exists for a number of reasons: it is a grounder – a fetish that binds spirit to our physical plane and builds a bridge between worlds, but – more than that – it is a home, an abode in which the spirit energy dwells. Some are used to trap and harness the energy of the given spirit – so that it may be employed to do practitioner’s bidding, but others exist to house that sacred energy – not with entrapment, but with respect. That is not to say the former is not respectful, only that voluntary bonds exists as oath and agreement. It is a symbiotic, mutual source of power – a hearth by which to draw the force of the arcane. One that bonds both parties. In this aspect, I refer to the Higher Spirits – Gods, the Messengers, and Liminals, though vessels can be employed with equal success to the Dead – specifically ancestors, as a way to draw from the ancestral power – often relying on blood and earth.

Given the vast differences from path to path, I bring a stripped set of instructions: general principles that can be built upon to specialize the vessel for your “camino.”

Begin with the Vessel. What this vessel is depends heavily on both tradition and personal tastes. Possibilities are endless, though cauldrons, ceramic vases, wide-mouthed jugs or basins, even jars can all be utilized effectively. For most, I prefer an opaque, lidded vessel – though for my Spirit Cauldron dedicated to Rosa Caveira, I used a non-lidded cauldron (go figure). This is in line with her fiery energy which lends itself well to iron and sulfur – both of which are present.

One of the most important steps (and one often glossed over) is to treat the Vessel. For my cauldron, I bathed it in high proof alcohol and oils and set it alight. Given its dedication to Rosa Caveira, I did this in her Land – the Cemetery. I also lined the inside of mine with graveyard dirt, which I mixed with the same alcohol (along with flammable oils) and sculpted up the walls, then fired again to create a ceramic-like liner (in part to prevent rust – as iron will readily do so).

After treatment has commenced, it is time to bless and bond the Vessel – which can be as simple or as intricate as you wish it to be. While it was still alight (and since I went heavy handed on the oils, it stayed lit for quite some time) I danced with it in the graveyard. Spinning this flaming cauldron and singing joyfully to the spirits and My Keeper. I explained that this home was forged in her name, gateway between worlds, and a seat for her energy. I drizzled it with rose oils steeped with Herbs of the Dead and my own blood to “seal the deal.”

If that wasn’t fun enough, the last portion consists of Decoration – a term I use loosely, as these same “decorations” will undoubtedly serve a purpose. I filled mine with herbs, sulfur, curios, all of which corresponding to her. Every now and again, I’ll take some of the permanent items out and set the offerings alight. As is forged in fire, so must return. After which, I return the permanent items and place it back beneath my miniature terreiro – which then constantly draws from its energy.

As aforementioned, this general process can be employed for any number of spirits and traditions – even those without a vessel-history. In a sense, it can be equated in part to an altar – as I leave offerings therein and use it as a source of power to draw from. However, given its nature, it can be packed around with me for particularly powerful rituals on the go – which is a particularly useful facet. I’ve also been known to feed any troublesome spirits or energies to it, wherein they may be devoured and purified/concentrated. It is very important to “feed” the vessel, for – as I said – it is a mutual relationship. If you take, it is only right that you return – lest you be cut off from its power.

ℑ𝔊: _𝔨𝔵𝔲𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔦𝔷𝔢_🖤

Is anyone else as mad as me about Tumblr deleting NSFW shit?

via weheartit

alanis morissette (1995) björk (1994) hope sandoval (1993) fiona apple (1997)

Circa Survive collection. I took pictures of my favorite variants.