Add Some Oomph To Your Spells With Magical Timing

Paganism’s problem with racism

Let me make myself very, very clear: Black lives matter. I am not here to take up space and talk about my white feelings about the #BLM protests. But I 100% support everything the protestors are doing, and I 1000% support defunding the police (like actually dismantling the policing structure, not just clawing back funding). If you want to help and can’t protest, donate to bail funds and the NAACP. Donate to your local Black Cultural Organization. Uplift and elevate black voices, and call out your racist fucking uncle.

Okay. Strap in, this is gonna be bumpy, and long.

I am so unbelievably disappointed, but so massively not surprised at the response of many during this incredible time of revolution. I am disappointed in the pagan and witchcraft community for continuing to excuse and practice cultural appropriation, including ATR and Voudou. I have seen some NASTY arguments and racist backpedaling.

I am also, as someone who reads a lot of books, am really pissed off at most of the occult publishers right now. Let’s talk about why, one by one:

Llewellyn: Llewellyn as a publisher makes a lot of money from white folks writing about ATR and cultural practices that don’t belong to them. They spent Blackout Tuesday promoting their own magazine and events, and did not mention #blm in any capacity until JUNE 11. They made the following statement:

“Llewellyn Worldwide stands together with all those who have been working tirelessly to enact the changes needed to eradicate racial injustice and systemic racism here in our hometown of Minneapolis-St. Paul, across the country, and around the world. We are, as we have always been for our 100-plus years, deeply committed to elevating a diversity of voices and to act as a conduit reaching and teaching their respective audiences. We stand with our employees and authors, our local community, and our readers, who are united in the effort to build and sustain a more inclusive world. However, words are often not enough, and we are looking at what we can do better as a company. Inspired by the progressive work of our late President and Chairman Carl Llewellyn Weschcke, we have recently donated to the NAACP, and to “We Love Lake Street” and “The Hamline Midway Coalition” - two organizations working to rebuild the neighborhoods and cities our company and our employees call home. We hope that our small steps for change join with many others to create a large and lasting global footprint for generations to come.“

Which is nice, I guess. But unless you’re changing your practices and publishing more books by BIPOC authors and stop letting lily white men write about African diaspora traditions, it’s performative as hell. I mean, The money is nice, but how much did this multi-million dollar publishing house donate? $100? We don’t know because they didn’t tell us. Be accountable, and if you’re a multi-million dollar company that is HQ in Minneapolis, show the damn receipts.

They also had some horrible comments on their FB page stating that occult subjects are generally white. Wow.

Red Wheel/Weiser: I was pleased to see they’ve been promoting Lilith Dorsey’s work, as of June 10, as she’s a black author who writes about Voodou and ATR. They generally have a more balanced catelogue, and most of the books written about Voodoo and ATR are by actual BIPOC practitioners. However, they’ve made no mention of #BLM specifically on their social media, which is disappointing. I think in these times, you need to be very clear, very direct about your support. I wish they would just come out and say they support black folks and support organizations that help people fighting for rights.

Troy Books: They haven’t been active on social media since April.

Anathema Publishing: Very active promoting their own authors, but nothing about what’s going on in the world. Their stance is completely apolitical (which is BS).

Moon Books: They don’t seem to have any social media I can find, but their website says nothing.

Three Hands Press: Not active on social media since 2016, nothing on their site, and all of their authors are white.

Scarlet Imprint: Active on social media, nothing mentioned.

Avalonia Books: Active on social media multiple times a day, nothing mentioned.

I’m sure I missed some publishers, but this is a big chunk of them.

So, why is this a big deal?

It’s a big deal because it means that the majority of the information going out (specifically by Llewellyn) about ATR and Voudou is being written by white authors. It means that what should be a black led discussion about their diasporic traditions is a white led discussion. It’s a big deal because many BIPOC don’t feel at home in the pagan community, and are often told things like ‘you should just practice things from Africa’. It’s a big deal because white people have already done enough to silence and obfuscate black voices, and the last place we should be doing this is in our spiritual communities, which are supposed to be built on understanding and acceptance.

Now is not the time for pretty words and fence sitting. You are either unequivocally behind Black Lives Matter, or you are complicit. You need to directly, loudly, and authentically support BIPOC fighting for their rights. You need to join the fight.

What do I suggest? Start putting pressure on these publishers to uplift and promote BIPOC voices. Speak with your wallet. But truly? Read more writing by BIPOC. Follow people on here like @witches-ofcolor​, @borinquenaqueer​, @hellboundwitch​ and @blackwitchspace​. Read more blogs from folks like Bri the Hoodwitch, Crystal Blanton, and Black Witch. Elevate those voices and really, really listen.

AND TELL OFF YOUR RACIST UNCLE.

LISTEN

ON THIS BLOG WE SUPPORT WITCHES OF ALL SHAPES, SIZES, ETHNICITIES, GENDERS AND SEXUALITIES

NO gate keeping will be tolerated

Welcome To POC Witches Uncensored ✨

A space where POC Witches, Rootworkers, Brujas, and Spiritualists can vent their frustrations towards racists, appropriators, and other witchblr antics amongst themselves, without your approval.

A Support blog for all POC Witches. We’re here for you, you’re not alone.

Ok. What is a list of books about Voodoo, Vodun, fiction and nonfiction written by black people?

Zora Neale Hurston wrote Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica Jewell Parker Rhodes wrote Voodoo Dreams a novel of Marie Laveau. Who else?

Reblog if your a Afro witch/Witch of color

Vodou Gods And Goddesses

🖤Loco – God of the wild, vegetation, and all its gifts – from healing to death.

🖤Zaka – The friendliest of the Gods, who rules over agriculture and harvest.

🖤Kalfu – The moon God, ruler of the night, sorcery, and black magic.

🖤Erzulie – Goddess of love, beauty, and passion. She has three husbands, adores lavishness and luxury but is saddened by broken hearts.

🖤Ayida-Weddo – Goddess of the rainbow, white is her colour. She is also a fertility Goddess.

🖤Marinette – Patron Goddess of liberation and slavery, she can free you or keep you in bondage.

🖤Damballa - Damballa is the Sky God and the primordial creator of all life. He rules the mind, intellect, and cosmic equilibrium. White rum is sacred to him.

🖤Simbi - Simbi is guardian of the fountains and marshes and cannot do without the freshness of water. 

🖤Agwé - Agwé God, is a loa who rules over the sea, fish, and aquatic plants, as well as the patron loa of fishermen and sailors in Vodou.

🖤Baron Samedi - God of sex, death, and endings.

🖤Marassa Jumeaux - Marassa Jumeaux is the God of the divine twins in Vodou. They are children, but more ancient than any other loa. The God of love, truth, and justice. 

🖤Azaka Medeh - Is the God of the loa of the harvest in Haitian Vodou mythology.

🖤Ti Jean Petro - The God Ti Jean Petwo is a serpent spirit who dances in flames and consumes fiery things when in possession of a human body. 

🖤Agassou - The God Agassou is a loa, who guards the old traditions of Dahomey. 

🖤Baron La Croix - The God Baron La Croix is one of the Guédé, a loa of the dead and sexuality, along with Baron Samedi and Baron Cimetière in Vodou. 

🖤Belie Belcan - The God of justice, protection against evil, and protection against enemies.

🖤Baron Kriminel - The God Baron Kriminel is a much feared spirit or loain the Haitian Vodou religion. He is envisioned as a murderer who has been condemned to death, and is invoked to pronounce swift judgment. 

🖤Baron Cimetière - The God Baron Cimitière is one of the Guédé, a spirit of the dead, along with Baron Samedi and Baron La Croix in Vodou. He is said to be the male guardian of the cemetery, protecting its graves.

🖤Filomez - The Goddess Filomez is a loa that belongs to the Rada nation. She is a water spirit that is served with pastel colors such as blue, pinks, and sometimes even green. 

🖤Adjassou-Linguetor - The Goddess Adjassou-Linguetor is a loa with protruding eyes and a bad temper in Haitian Vodou. She governs spring water.

🖤Anaisa Pye - The Goddess Anaisa Pye is a very popular loa within Dominican Vodou. She is considered the patron saint of love, money, and general happiness within the 21 Divisions. 

🖤Ayizan - The Goddess Ayizan is a racine, or root loa, associated with Vodoun rites of initiation. She is associated with priestly knowledge and mysteries, particularly those of initiation, and the natural world.

🖤Gran Maître - The Goddess Gran Maître is the primary creator God in Haitian Vodou.

🖤Mademoiselle Charlotte - The Goddess Mademoiselle Charlotte is a loa who manifests with the commonly perceived personality traits of a white woman in Haitian Vodou. Mademoiselle Charlotte prefers the strict observance of all the niceties of ritual protocol.

🖤Maîtresse Délai - The Goddess Maîtresse Délai is the patron loa of tambourine players in Vodou.

🖤Maîtresse Hounon'gon - The Goddess Maîtresse Hounon'gon is the loa who presides over the chanting done during an ordeal by fire, called a canzo in Vodou.

🖤Maman Brigitte - The Goddess Maman Brigitte is a death loa and the wife of Baron Samedi in Vodou. She drinks rum infused with hot peppers and is symbolized by a black rooster.

🖤Mami Wata - The Goddess Mami Wata’s patronage is water, the sea, mermaids, markets, divination, healing, luck, money, and music. Her attributes are snakes, pearls, gold, and diamonds.

🖤Mawu - The Goddess Mawu is a creator Goddess, associated with the sun and moon in Dahomey mythology.

🖤Yemoja -  Yemoja is a major water Goddess from the Yoruba religion. Yemoja is motherly and strongly protective, and cares deeply for all her children, comforting them, and cleansing them of sorrow. She is said to be able to cure infertility in women, and cowrie shells represent her wealth. She does not easily lose her temper, but when angered she can be quite destructive and violent.

🖤Ogun - The God Ogun is an Orisha, loa, and Vodun. He is a warrior and a powerful spirit of metal work, as well as rum and rum-making.

🖤Papa Legba - The God Papa Legba is a loa in Haitian Vodou, who serves as the intermediary between the loa and humanity. He stands at a spiritual crossroads and gives or denies permission to speak with the spirits of Guinee, and is believed to speak all human languages. Papa Legba facilitates communication, speech, and understanding.

🖤Clermeil - The God Clermeil is a loa who makes rivers flood their banks in Haitian Vodou.

🖤Dan Petro - The God Dan Petro is the loa who protects farmers in Vodou. 

🖤Badessy - The God Bedessy is a minor loa who holds the domain of the sky in Vodou, and particularly in Haiti.

🖤Dinclinsin - The God Dinclinsin is a loa depicted as a white colonial slave owner, feared for his temper, and cruelty in Haitian Vodou. He often carries a whip and is recognizable by his habit of putting whatever is given to him in his pockets. One of his favorite tricks is being able to pour rum into his pockets without getting them wet.

🖤Diejuste - The God Diejuste is a kind-hearted, benevolent loa in Haitian Vodou.

🖤Bugid Y Aiba - The God Bugid Y Aiba is a loa of war in Vodou, and especially in Haiti and Puerto Rico.

🖤Boli Shah - The God Boli Shah is a minor loa who guards families in Vodoun, and especially Haitian Vodou.

🖤Dan Wédo - The God Dan Wédo is a loa of the waters in the form of a great serpent in Vodou.

🖤Adya Houn'tò - The God Adya Hount'tò is a loa associated with drumming in West African Vodun.

🖤Adjinakou - The God Adjinakou Haitian loa in the form of an elephant.

🖤Kokou - Kokou is a warrior God, renowned for his violence, and ferocity. He is the most feared of the Orisha.

🖤Mombu - The god who stutters and causes heavy rains.

🖤Legba - The sun god and intermediary between the Gods and humanity.

I am a luxury.

I am a blessing in my partner’s life.

I deserve exclusivity. I deserve mutual respect.

I deserve for all of my material desires to be fulfillied quickly.

I deserve love.

I deserve security.

Upcycling Jars, Bottles, and Other Glass Containers.

I cook ALOT. I’m quite proud of my little collection of herbs, spices, teas, legumes, and other dried edibles. Not so much for the actual contents, but for the fact that 90% of the glass containers were upcycled. I saved my kimchi jars, pasta sauce jars, pickle jars, jam jars, booze jars - errrr, whatever I bum off the bartender, and etc. I especially love using the Canada Dry tonic water bottles for my spices; the wine corks I save fits the perfectly as a stopper! The rest of my containers are usually rescued from flea markets and thrift shops. 

I encourage everyone to find a place in their homes for glass packaging. Keep them out of the dumpster.

“Style has a profound meaning to Black Americans. If we can’t drive, we will invent walks and the world will envy the dexterity of our feet. If we can’t have ham, we will boil chitterlings; if we are given rotten peaches, we will make cobblers; if given scraps, we will make quilts; take away our drums, and we will clap our hands. We prove the human spirit will prevail. We will take what we have to make what we need. We need confidence in our knowledge of who we are.”

— Nikki Giovanni (via blackcontemporaryart)