YouTube Viewing: The Cemetery Witch

I hope you’re all having a beautiful week so far.

I’m taking a little break to update my apps and devices. I’ll be back shortly, but in the meantime let me tell you about my YouTube channel: The Cemetery Witch

I started it some years ago but never did much with it. It was a huge step out of my comfort zone, and still is! (I’m so nervous even just publishing this post). Well, I’ve started uploading to it again.

I’m hoping that as well as sharing my thoughts and feelings with you, it’s going to be good exercise for my brain, as I really struggle with my my cognitive function, especially my memory and word finding. It’s quite different to writing static posts, where I have time to think. This is quite a big challenge for me and my brain, so please be gentle!

At the very minimum, I’m hoping to get an episode of The Witching Week out every Friday, where I take a look at what's been happening over the past week, and pull some tarot cards for the days ahead. I’ve also got loads of Witchcraft related topics I’d like to talk about.

Let me know in the comments if there is a specific topic you’d like me to cover. At some point I’m going to do an “Ask Me Anything” which should be fun!

I’d really love it if you’d join me on this new adventure. Any subscribes, likes, shares and comments will be much appreciated, as they are here.

Enjoy your week everyone!

Building Community: Kindness & Compassion

Following on from a thoughtful post by Meg Rosenbriar (@megrosenbriar ), I’m adding my thoughts on the unkind sentiment that’s being passed around the witch community. It is being said that those who’ve fallen for scammers do not deserve to call themselves “witches”, as they lack discernment and the ability to think critically.

Please can we put a stop to this hurtful narrative? We’re better than that!

Those who are seeking answers may be at a crossroads; they may be feeling vulnerable and looking for answers. Aside from being financially duped, the last thing they need is our judgement, and to be passed off as being “too stupid” to be a witch.

My page has been copied by scammers in the past, so I do understand the sheer frustration of the witches trying to protect their pages, businesses and reputations, but can we also spare some sympathy for the people who have been duped by the scammers - after all, they thought they were supporting us with their purchases.

Please can we shift our anger towards the scammers who think nothing of ripping off vulnerable folk and page creators, not least during a pandemic.

We can tackle the problem together. If you see a page being scammed please report the scammer to Instagram, and let the page creator know; keeping an eye out for other/fresh accounts being made in their name, and letting them know each time (the page creator is often blocked by the scammer).

Another way you can help is by keeping an eye on @scammeralertpage which helps the Tarot and Healing community report scammers.

Thank you, and thank you Meg for bringing our attention to this. 

NEXT - Building Community: What Witches Look Like
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Campaign to Pardon the Pendle Witches

I am supporting Blackpool Tower Dungeon (@btowerdungeon) and Semra Haksever’s (@mamamooncandles) campaign to pardon the Pendle witches. They have called upon the expertise of Robert Poole, Professor of History at the University of Central Lancashire (@uclanuni).

This Halloween they’re recounting the terrible tale of the Pendle Witches, and launching a campaign to call on the UK government to grant an official pardon for the ten innocent people who were convicted and hanged for Witchcraft in 1612.

“The Lancashire Witches were the victims of a gross miscarriage of justice. They were convicted of an impossible crime, by methods that amounted to persecution, on the basis of patently false evidence which they were not able to contest. It’s high time they were given a pardon.” ~ Robert Poole

The names of the Pendle witches are:

Anne Whittle 

Ann Redfearn

Elizabeth Device 

Alice Nutter

Alison Device 

James Device 

Katherine Hewitt 

Jane Bulcock 

John Bulcock 

Isobel Robey

Sadly, the Pendle witches were not the only ones who suffered in this way. Many innocent people were victimised, and suffered the same fate.

This campaign is a stance against prejudice. As well as adding your signature to the petition (below), we want to hear tales of solidarity and commitment to stamping out stereotypes. You can add your voice by tagging your posts #imawitch on social media.

Thank you.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/598232

Farewell: Rest In Peace, Wonderful Smurf

Another great man gone. For the second time in as many months, I’ve had my heart broken, and been shown that life will never be the same again.

You were an absolute hulk of a man, and a joy to be around. A big smile, a big booming voice; you gave huge and heartfelt hugs.

Loved by so many, you did so much for our Pagan and LARP communities; and you made a brilliant Father Christmas for the kids each year.

I’ll always think of you dragging around that bloody mandolin (what I wouldn’t give to hear a few notes of that now…), and wearing your sandals, ready to greet everyone with your joyful enthusiasm.

Our wonderful moot brother, our friend, our family.

Our moot leader has dedicated this beautiful lament by Doreen Valiente to Smurf:

 Elegy for a Dead Witch

(Written by Doreen Valiente for Robert Cochrane)

To think that you are gone, over the crest of the hills,

As the Moon passed from her fullness, riding the sky,

And the White Mare took you with her.

To think that we will wait another life,

To drink the wine from the horns and leap the fire.

Farewell from this world, but not from the Circle.

That place that is between the worlds

Shall hold return in due time. Nothing is lost.

The half of a fruit from the tree of Avalon

Shall be our reminder, among the fallen leaves

This life treads underfoot. Let the rain weep.

Waken in sunlight from the Realms of Sleep.

Rest in peace, dear Smurf.

NEXT: Farewell: Rest In Peace Terry Dobney, Archdruid of Avebury
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Word Magick: Reading Witchology Magazine and Pondering Community

I’m reading @witchologymag this morning, and pondering the power of community after reading recent posts by @marget.inglis_witchcraft and @thewitchesstone

I leave you with a poem from my journal entry today:

Whenever the blues, they come to stay,

You can, with a nudge, gently chase them away;

A call to the Sun, the sky, the flowers!

A call to invoke your personal powers!

Of happiness, strength, and kindness be,

when you’re trapped in a dark, encircling sea,

hold out your hand to others in need,

find peace and calm, and joy indeed. 

Tap into the magick, in your heart it shall be;

Give love and Be love.

So Mote it Be.

If you are struggling right now please be sure to reach out.

Fabulous short story by @thewildmoongarden

NEXT - Word Magick: Defining The Words Witch & Witchcraft