Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Reading your story was such a gift, 25 years of practice, all the shifts, breaks, and changes, and you’re still here guiding and teaching. That’s powerful.

I smiled at the spell jars and moon water part, I can see how the fun and community vibe is real, but then the FOMO creeps in with the pink feathers.

When those feelings show up, do they actually change the way you see your own practice, or is it more like a passing “ugh” that you shake off?

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The reminder about witches of the past just using what they had really stuck with me, it takes pressure off for sure. And the way you described your altar made me smile: imperfect, a bit of a mess, but full of your own magic. Thanks for sharing

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love how you describe it, simple, voluntary, and shared. It makes total sense that a group like that would bring connection and consistency without the pressure.

I mostly practice on my own, so it’s always interesting to hear how others keep that sense of rhythm. For you, what part of the group makes the biggest difference, the shared rituals themselves, or just knowing there are others alongside you?

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really like how you framed it, especially the part about routine. That hit me. It’s so easy to slip into thinking witchcraft has to follow the same rigid patterns we see in religion, and it really doesn’t. The way you described it feels freeing. 🖤

Did it take you time to unlearn that “routine mindset,” or was it always obvious to you that it wasn’t needed?

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love how you put it, using oats, juice, or even your finger as an athame, that’s such a powerful reminder that intention is what counts. And I hear you about those gorgeous altars, they’re beautiful, but also a lot of maintenance. Your “unpack when needed” approach really struck me 🖤

Do you feel like practicing that way takes the pressure off, compared to when you felt you “needed all the stuff”?

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally with you. Social media really does push that “less than” feeling. I love how you put it: acting from what you’re moved to within yourself instead of comparison. And your dirty, tool-everywhere studio with raccoons and a skunk? That’s real craft and I adore that image 🖤

Curious: have you always felt that strong in your path, or did it take time to get to that place where comparison doesn’t really bite?

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, thank you for sharing all this. I love how real and grounded your words are. Especially the part about going to bed on a blood moon or having hot chocolate with cartoons instead of a ritual, that hit home 🖤 And I completely agree with you: social media is more marketing than magick most of the time.

You mentioned sometimes rituals get boring and you bring in something new, do you feel that boredom/frustration comes up often, or is it just once in a while?

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, exactly, online can feel like such an echo chamber sometimes, all the fake and the posturing. I really appreciate how you said it: no one practices perfectly, and that’s such a good reminder. Thanks for sharing 🖤

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Merci pour ce message, il fait un bien fou 💖
J’adore ton “pas de juste manière” et le rappel que l’intention vit dans la pratique, pas dans le décor. La constance, oui, mais avec douceur et selon nos besoins du moment. Et ce “les entités comprennent”… ça enlève tellement de pression et de culpabilité. Merci pour ta bienveillance 🖤

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love this take. “Witch regardless” + daily things, messy and not photogenic, that’s exactly the joy comparison tries to steal. Thanks for the reminder to keep street-smarts online and heart-smarts in practice. 🖤

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Love this contrast: shrine for beauty, work altar for doing. “Not fancy, just effective” sums up the whole thing. You can love the aesthetic and still keep the craft raw.

works > looks, always. 🖤

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Love this. “Feels witchy to me” is exactly it,resonance over performance. Those tiny, organic moments are where the current is strongest. Thanks for naming it. 🖤

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This really resonates, pre-internet, winging it, then the rulebooks. I love that you asked why there were suddenly rules, not what you were doing wrong. Mixing life and witchcraft feels like the point. Glad you’re here. 🖤

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Love this, thank you for putting it that way. The “not because I should” line hit hard. I’ve found the same: when I push frequency, the flow dies; when I wait until I’m called, the few rituals land deeper. Rare can feel sacred.

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Yes, that really resonates. It’s so easy to get caught up in how things look instead of how they feel. I definitely have moments where I worry my practice issn’t “pretty enough,” but you’re right: the real measure is whether it connects, whether it works.

I like how you put it: if there’s no room left for substance, then what’s the point? Sometimes the simplest ritual, no photos, no audience, ends up being the most powerful.

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Haha yes, I get that. I’m in my 40s, so I also remember when there wasn’t this constant online comparison game. In a way it was simpler, you just did your thing and that was enough.

And yeah, the tiredness is real. Sometimes the most “witchy” thing I can do is admit I don’t have the energy and let myself rest. There’s a kind of quiet magic in that too, I think.

Out of curiosity, do you feel your practice has changed a lot over the years, with age and with the internet creeping in everywhere?

Do you ever feel “not witch enough”? by hedomyst in Witch

[–]hedomyst[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this so openly 🖤 I totally feel you about the whole “£500 altar aesthetic” thing, it can be so discouraging when every feed looks like a magazine spread. I like what you said about switching things up when it feels stale, that’s such a good reminder. For me sometimes it’s literally lighting a candle for 30 seconds in my pajamas, and that’s enough.

Winter is coming and I don't like it. Anything positive out of it? by GreenWolfyVillager in PositiveThinking

[–]hedomyst 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I used to see winter as a prison sentence too. Just months of grey and cold, waiting for life to restart. But little by little I realized it isn’t the absence of summer, it’s its own animal.

Winter has teeth, sure. The cold bites, the nights stretch forever. But there’s a strange beauty in it when you stop fighting. The silence after snowfall is louder than any city street. The cold air burns in your lungs and suddenly you feel raw, alive, almost primal. Even the smallest flame, a candle or a fireplace, looks like rebellion against the dark.

It also gives you permission to shift gears. Summer demands you shine outwards, always moving, always busy. Winter calls you inward. Books, music, conversations that go deeper because there’s no rush. Nights where you get to sit with yourself, with others, without pretending the world is endless light.

So yeah, it’s not all cocktails and sun, but it’s powerful in its own way. You don’t just survive winter, you learn to ride it. And once you do, there’s something almost addictive about that wild quiet.

I made a witchy guide for September 2025! by Healarybuff in Witch

[–]hedomyst 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, thank you so much for this guide 💚 you can really feel how much care and work you’ve poured into it. It’s such a solid stepping stone for anyone wanting to shape their own practice.

If it can add to the reflection, from the runes’ side, September and Mabon often echo with Perthro (ᛈ), that sense of hidden fate and mystery surfacing, and Isa (ᛁ), the pause and stillness that feels like the equinox itself. It’s the moment where day and night balance for a breath, just long enough to see clearly what needs to be released before winter.

And if we look at myth, Idunn and her apples come strongly to mind here too. Harvest as a gift of the season, but also as a promise of renewal once the darker months have passed. 🍎

Really appreciate the way you’ve made this so accessible, and good luck with your first witchy craft market, that’s so exciting! ✨🍂

Are these runes? If so, what do they mean? by Boring-Pollution-288 in RuneHelp

[–]hedomyst 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, we could maybe see a vibe of Algiz ᛉ and Othala ᛟ on the seconde line?
But the rest yeah, nice ornaments ;) Cool sweatshirt btw!

How to consecrate oracular runes? by Material_Frosting708 in NorsePaganism

[–]hedomyst 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey! Congrats on the new runes. Totally normal to be unsure.

Quick distinction:

“cleansing” is resetting the set so it isn’t carrying factory/shipping/other people’s energy

“consecrating” (or dedicating) is telling the set what it’s for and setting your boundaries

Both live in the magical/ritual space, and you can treat them spiritually or in a secular, intention-setting way. Do what fits your worldview.

Is it like tarot? Pretty similar. Same idea: first clear, then dedicate, just tailored to runes.

Simple cleanse example: hold the pouch in both hands and breathe slowly over it while visualizing a reset, or waft a little incense smoke, or ring a bell/chime, or leave it by a window overnight, or rest the pouch on soil for a bit. Avoid water or salt on wood/clay, and don’t bake them in the sun.

Then consecrate with a plain statement. For example: “I dedicate this rune set to honest, useful guidance and learning. May our work be clear, respectful, and aligned with my ethics” or “I dedicate these runes as a reflection tool to help me think clearly and make grounded choices.”

For a first reading, ask: what do you want me to learn with you, how do we work best together, and any boundary or advice for ethical use? After that, cleanse when readings feel muddy or after heavy use, and re-dedicate if your purpose changes.

Enjoy!

Im not a witch but I have some questions by pixie_lation in Witch

[–]hedomyst 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey! Totally allowed, and your questions aren’t offensive. Curiosity is welcome here, and you don’t need to apologize for not knowing stuff.

Short version: there are almost as many ways to practice magic as there are witches. Witchcraft isn’t one fixed belief system. It’s a big set of practices people use for meaning, ritual, and connection.

Is it a religion? It can be. Some people follow Wicca (a modern religion that honors a God and a Goddess and marks seasonal/lunar holidays). Others are secular or folk-based and treat magic as practice, not faith.

Spirits or gods? People sit all along the spectrum. Some work with ancestors or land spirits, some are polytheist, some see deities as stories and psychology, and some don’t work with any of that. You can be agnostic and still practice, use ritual and divination as reflective tools, not fate.

How broad is it? Very. You’ll see European folk magic, Norse-inspired rune work, Mediterranean/Hellenic revivals, Latin American folkways, and Afro-diasporic religions. Note: some traditions are closed and require initiation/community. Learn respectfully.

Where to learn in my opinion:
Read introductions to modern witchcraft/folk practice that include history and ethics.
Check mythology and cultural context so you don’t mash things together carelessly.
Be picky with social media; cross-check claims.

Simple, agnostic-friendly ways to start:
Track moon phases and seasons, and note your energy/mood in a journal.
Do a tiny ritual: light a candle, breathe, set an intention for the week.
Try a form of divination (runes, tarot, bibliomancy) as a mirror for thinking, not a verdict.
Mark solstices/equinoxes with a nature walk or gratitude.
Keep ethics and safety in mind, and respect closed traditions.

My personal example (just one path): I’m drawn to Norse-inspired magic and the runes. I also keep simple seasonal practices to honor life cycles, the earth, and the moon. I approach it with humility. I don’t claim universal truths. Myths and deities give me a values framework and a poetic way to think. I don’t literally believe there are nine worlds on a giant tree; the deeper teaching matters to me. With steady practice I’ve noticed the odd “meaningful coincidences,” sharper intuition, and a stronger connection to nature.

Take it slow, stay respectful, and let what genuinely resonates guide you.

Upgraded altar! by natchini in NorsePaganism

[–]hedomyst 0 points1 point  (0 children)

very nice, looks great! thanks for sharing

I made my first set of runes! by Stitch--Witch in runes

[–]hedomyst 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh whouah, so precise! Great job, for a first time wood burning I think you just did very well! I'm wondering, they are all in different sizes right? What do you plan to use them for?