I’ll be going through the greek pantheon first in order of family tree and then other pantheons later on
Chaos was the origin of everything and the very first thing that ever existed. It was a primordial void, which everything was created from including the universe and the Greek Gods. In ancient Greek, Chaos is translated as ‘the gaping void.’
In the beginning, Chaos was a state of random disorder existing in primordial emptiness, and soon later a Cosmic Egg formed in its belly and it hatched producing the first deities into the darkness. Chaos was often thought of to be female, possessing both anthropomorphic and tangible qualities however this interpretation changed as the mythology evolved according to different historians and poets. The far-reaching idea is that Chaos is a space that separates and divides the Earth and the Sky.
For witches, a question that can get often asked is what path you’re on, usually the answers being a Left Hand Path (LHP), Right Hand Path (RHP), Middle Hand Path (MHP) or you simply just say “I don’t know.” If you don’t know what these terms mean, I listed them below and will further explain them. These terms are not void of controversy and bias, however.
The Left Hand Path
The left-hand path is considered to be about the elevation and centrality of the self as well as the rejection of religious authority and societal taboos.
The left-hand path focuses on the strength and will of the practitioner. It downplays the need for intercession by any high power although some may believe that a higher power exists.
Satanism (both LaVeyan and Theistic) and Luciferianism are considered left-hand paths. Followers of Thelema disagree whether it is a left- or right-hand path.
The Right Hand Path
The right-hand path, in the words of left-hand path follower Vexen Crabtree, “concentrate[s] on the symbols of goodness, of the sun, of herd mentality and submission to god(s) and religious authority."
To put it a little more diplomatic, the right-hand path can be thought of as one of dogma, ritual, and a belief in the community and formal structure as well as a higher power. Though each of those can also be found in left-hand path religions, there is less focus on indulging the self in the right-hand path.
The vast majority of religions are considered part of the right-hand path, from Christianity to Wicca.
In my own words…
Usually the left hand path is viewed as “bad” and right viewed as “good.”
With your LHP being demons, Lucifer, Hades, Anubis, satanism, and black magick
And your RHP being angels, Apollo, Archangels, Ra, and white magick
Yin and Yang type situation.
Limitations and Biases
One very large limitation of this terminology is that it is primarily used by followers of the left-hand path. Satanists commonly describe their path as that of the left-hand. However, Christians, Jews, Wiccans, Druids, and the like do not identify themselves as being of the right-hand path. As such, definitions of the right-hand path tend to be phrased in fairly derogatory terms as Crabtree demonstrated.
The Origin
The terms left-hand and right-hand paths in Western occultism is commonly attributed to Theosophy founder Helena Blavatsky, who borrowed the terms from Eastern practices.
The West has a history of associating the ‘right’ with goodness and correctness and the 'left’ with inferiority.
The left side of a shield is known as the sinister side, which is based on the Latin word for "left.” This later became associated with evil and maliciousness.
Middle Hand Path
Both the left hand path and the right hand path can often have extremists and see things in linear shades of black and white if they aren’t looking deeper.
Middle path is about moderation and about having empathy to understand who is next to you. Anything in excess will have a negative effect. While spirituality and occult can be helpful, we need money to buy the clothes we wear, pay the internet we view this on etc.
It’s all about moderation and also seeing things objectively. To view the world in black and white can be rather limiting. Every story changes depending on who tells it.
Here’s a list of different types of witches, this is a pretty chunky list but it’s not all and as I remember more and more and learn about more of them, I’ll add more of them onto the list but for now, here ya go:
There are many types of witches, many of which can change throughout one’s journey, it’s important to know which path is which and how that affects us and others.
Atheist/Laveyan Satanic: Witchcraft worked with the idea that satan is a concept, rather than a real person or entity (loosely put; it’s a very detailed concept). Also known as Satanic witches who fit the secular description.
Alexandrian: holds that all participants are priests and priestesses; everyone is able to commune with the Divine, therefore there is no laity.
Augury:Divine omens, signs and symbols
Celtic: Studies and worships Celtic deities and magick
Cosmic: Looks to the stars, moon, and astrology
Christian: Witchcraft that is performed to honor / or is performed in conjunction with the Christian God as the primary and only deity
Correllian: practices based on the idea that inner truth is universal in nature. Since Corellian Witchcraft teaches that Deity enters the life of the seeker in a way that can be best understood by them, Deity is key to the beneficial magic of this tradition.
Crystal: Uses crystals and their properties
Dianic: Offshoot of Wicca focused on female deities
Divination: Used tarot cards, I Ching tools, etc for divination
Druids: promotes harmony, connection, and reverence for the natural world.
Eclectic: Embraces any and all magick and magickal work
Elemental: Works with fire, water, air, earth, and spirit
Faery: Based on British folklore and works with the Fae
Gardenian: based on the polarity of a male and a female, which are represented in covens by the High Priestess and High Priest. The values being: the value of life, the inevitability of death, and the reincarnation after this life ends.
Green:Magic based on gardening and herbalism
Hearth: Practices magick focused on the home
Hedge: Solitary practitioner, a herbalist
Hellenic: Worships Greek gods and goddesses
Hereditary: Handed down a bloodline of witches
Kitchen: Likes to mix food and cooking with magick
Lunar: Works with the lunar cycles
Norse: Based on the religion of Scandinavia
(Theistic) Satanic: Witchcraft that is often centered around honoring and/or working with satan in spellwork and prayer
Science: A form of magick in which both metaphysical ideas and scientific facts/theories are mixed in together by the individual practicer
Sea:Practices water based magick
Secular: Does not worship deities
Shaman:Enters altered state of consciousness
Solitary: Practicing by ones’ self; not included in a group
Traditional: One who practices witchcraft by honoring and using old and ‘traditional’ ways of magick; this type of witch might be one to practice modern methods of magick, but they might also stick to traditional concepts or techniques
Write a letter to yourself, forgiving yourself of all the things you did but don’t like dwelling on, and apologizing to your younger self for not treating your mental wounds like you would physical, then write about what you’re going to improve about yourself, stick to it.
Casting Circles is very important for baby-witches to learn for protection and in general for spells, but before preforming any spells please make sure you know how to cast a circle.
What is a circle, and why does it matter?
A circle is often a barrier that houses your spells and rituals. By casting a circle, you’re allocating energy to protect you from any unwanted or negative outside influences. There are a lot of formal ways to begin a circle and some informal.
It’s important to note that there are many ways to cast a circle.
In traditional witchcraft, you might call upon a god or goddess, while if you’re a secular witch, you might call upon the elements, or create a wall of your own energy. A circle isn’t mandatory, but it can significantly assist with protection and energy.
How to cast a circle
Always begin by cleansing your space. You can either use your mind to mentally push out, use incense to burn away or use a broom or besom to sweep away. Once you have your method for cleansing your space, it’s time to define your circle. To define your sacred circle, it’s important to take your space and location into consideration. Are you in your bedroom? Bathroom? Or outside? You can make your intended circle as large or as small as you’d like. You can mentally define your circle or mark the directions or elements with candles or crystals. If you’re using the four elements, you can create a cross shape. If you’re using the five elements, you can create a pentacle shape.
To cast a circle by calling upon the elements, begin facing the east. This is home to the element of air. When you move clockwise, you’ll end facing North where you can begin your ritual or spell work. Stand in your intended circle as you begin to relax and focus on your breathing. Take as long as you’d like at this step or until you feel calm, centered, and present.
What to Do/Say
Begin by envisioning the wind whipping around you and get really in tune with the element of air and say: “Element of air, I call on you.”
Moving clockwise, turn to the south. Envision crackling flames and the warmth of the sun. Once you are in tune with fire, say: “Element of fire, I call on you.”
Turn to the west. Envision flowing water in waves and waterfalls and streams, possibly moving around your body. When you feel attuned with water, say, “Element of water, I call on you.”
Turn to the North. Conjure up the scent of the earth after it rains. Imagine the silence and darkness of a cave and the rooted feeling of being barefoot on the earth. When you feel attuned, say, “Element of earth, I call on you.”
Still facing North, become aware of your feet and send a column or roots of light deep into the core of the earth. Bring this energy up from the center of the earth and into your body and visualize a white light flowing, creating the circle and say: “With these elements together under spirit, I cast a circle of protection above, below, within.”
This is where you perform your ritual, meditation, or spells.
You can also temporarily exit your circle without repeating the entire circle casting process. To do so, hold an athame or wand in your hand and make a cutting motion across the line of the circle and say: “I use this athame of crystal to open a door.” Your wand or athame will help you direct energy to make an incision in your circle of energy. When returning, you can simply reverse the process to close the door.
Opening a circle
Also called closing a circle is a way to release the energy you’ve built and is a way to thank the elements for their assistance.
The process of opening a circle begins with you facing north to release earth and saying: “Earth, thank you for your energy. I bid you farewell.”
Next, you’ll turn to the west to release water: “Water, thank you for your energy. I bid you farewell.”
Then, you’ll turn to the south to release fire: “Fire, thank you for your energy. I bid you farewell.”
After that, you’ll turn to the east to release air: “Air, thank you for your energy. I bid you farewell.”
Finally, you’ll return back north to release spirit and the circle by saying: “Spirit, I bid you farewell. I open this circle and release the energy back into the earth.”
Other popular phrases for circle casting and opening:
“The circle is open, but never broken. The love of the deity name is forever in my heart.”
“Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again.”
“I thank you, element of name for lending your energy tonight. I bid you farewell.”
“I call the Guardian of direction and the element of element to watch over this sacred circle.”
Belated #inktober day 8. Blood Witch. I had a lot of fun with this one. #inktober2016 #31witches #redink #thrideye #blood #magic #witches #pentelbrushpen #drawingchallenge #artistsoninstagram #artwork #inkdrawing #inktober2016
Belated #inktober day 6. Seamstress Witch. She stitches protection spells in all of her clothes. #pentelbrushpen #31witches #inktober2016 #drawingchallenge #witches #inkdrawing #sewing
for best results try retracing the steps of where you lost the item. if you can’t find it in the place you’re looking pray to your deities (for me the theoi) and place it out of your mind. it will eventually show up.
Some of my witches designs so far ❤️ The mint-haired one is called Silvian. Send me name suggestions for the rest if you want! . ✨Prints avaliable HERE✨
