Search Results

Submitted question covered in this blog/pictures: "Do I need to purchase tools to get started in witchcraft?" This question is sooooo appriciated, thank you to whom submitted it. There is a common misconception that being a witch is an expensive endeavor. The short answer is: No, absolutely not! For example, spellwork is powered by intention. And so, in my tradition the only tool that I really need, to focus and direct energy, is my mind and the pointer and middle fingers of my own hands. Magical tools and ingredients definately can help to focus that intention. However, the best tools to use are the ones that are hand made by ourselves. While we make and create items to be used in the craft our own energy is going into that item. Whether it is an ingredient of herb grown in your garden, a pretty stone found near the sea shore, a stick taken from a tree in a forest for a wand, or cut grass and bindweed vines intertwined to form a human shape to use as a poppet, collected rain water in a bowl to charge in the moonlight to make moon water, etc. If you feel the need for tools and ingredients to assist you, it does not actually require a single cent of money. Nothing that you need in witchcraft had to be purchased. That being said, it DOES take time and patience to grow, seek out or create ingredients or tools to be used within spellwork. Many self made tools tends to be temporary and may need to be replaced or created regularly. With the hustle and bustle of modern life sometimes it may feel like they're just isn't the time to take to make it happen. Not to mention some are not crafty or skilled in making their own supplies, Or perhaps patience just isn't a 'strong suit that is worn often'. If you have the means, there is nothing wrong with purchasing ingredients and tools to save time or be relieved of stress and hassle. It is strongly recommended that when purchasing supplies, that the objects be cleansed and charged with your own energy or consecrated before using for your workings. Items created by others can still contain the others' intentions and energies. Be sure to know the energies you're working with in spellwork! Personally, I have purchased many tools and supplies for convenience over the years of my practice. But, I thought it may be helpful for me to share some of the items that I have created for myself or was provided by nature that I use in my practice: Personal (self made or collected) Magickal Tools: Garden herbs and ingredients: Most of my herbs and ingredients are grown in my garden, harvested and stored to be used outside of the growing season. I also collect, ash, stones and rocks, sticks, acorns, feathers, etc. that I feel have energetic association of properties to them. Some ingredients I am unable to obtain without purchasing, such as salt for example (and I obviously purchased the jars). However, most can be provided by my surroundings in nature. The same can be said for blooms and peddles from my wild yard. When I feel that I need an associated reference within my workings, I can take from my stored supplies of dried flowers when not in season. Making much of what I grow readily available for spellwork throughout the year. Wand: This wand was made by myself from a thin branch on my apple tree on my property. Permission was requested and felt it was granted by the plant to take the branch. This wand symbolises love and protection energy as does the tree it came from. It was sanded and painted black with a specially made blacksalt acyllic mix and anointed with my personal witch's brew oil. Runes: These witch runes are self made by cutting a branch into slices and literally drawing the rune symbols on one side of each. Can be used to cast rune readings and intuitively read the messages received. Can cast to a layout or individually select from a bag and read the symbols as an oracle. Tarot cards: Even in its simplest form, tarot can be helpful to gain insight and new prospectives. Created from cardstock paper and a black pen, these self made tarot cards are Theban charectored and based on numerology and traditional tarot structure. Very simple and yet, very powerful. Books for information: Although I did not create the physical books themselves (they were purchased as blank notebooks) I did however create all of the contents within the books and filling them with most of the information that I have learned along my path in witchcraft over the past decades. These are my references to the craft. I have since purchased author published books (by Scott Cunningham, or Raymond Buckland, for example) which just confirmed for me that I was on the right track for myself. I still prefer referencing my own books of collected references, spells, rituals, shadow work exercises, and other useful information. -- If I can clarify anything here or if you have questions, please feel free to submit your comments and questions on the homepage of www.askagreywitch.com or send email to greywitchbryan@gmail.com Thank you for visiting and reading my blog! UPDATE : I more recently wrote a blog entry about purchases items used in my craft at https://www.askagreywitch.com/post/purchased-items-used-in-my-practice

Submitted question covered in this blog: "Isn't it cultural appropriation to smudge with smoke?" Thank you for this question. With little experience with, I can't really speak directly on the practice of smudging with smoke. Which is not the same thing as smoke cleansing. It is not part of my practice to smudge and so, I am too unfamiliar to talk about its purpose. What I can say is that I have indigenous friends who do smudge with smoke and I beleive that the practice is part of a closed tradition. This means that if not part of or connected to the culture of origin, or not invited into a sharing of they culture, then it would be seen as cultural appropriation to do it. In other words, I believe only those raised in, taught from, or born within the culture or whom have cultural significance should be smudging themselves as a practice. Smudging with smoke mainly originates from indigenous traditions (I believe), and the culture's teachings are heritage based, taught according to origin of band or tribe. This makes It a closed practice, meaning only those connected to the tradition should do it. For example, two of my children have connection to the Iroquois Bear tribe of Ontario, and so it's very important that the learnings of their own indigenous heritage comes from the traditions and beliefs originating from the Bear tribe of the Iroquois people and no other. Not all indigenous nations are the same. This especially applies to those who are not even connected to indigenous teachings what so ever. Although not indicated as such, I wonder if this submitted question may have been directed towards my previous blog and video and so I can talk more about that: Smoke Cleansing and Black Salt www.askagreywitch.com/post/smoke-cleansing-and-black-salt As mentioned in that blog/video: There are different uses for smoke cleansings. For example, to cleanse yourself, waft the smoke around you. Or, cleansing your alter or work space. Or, cleansing personal objects, such as crystals. With intention, smoke cleansing can reduce stagnant energy and remove negative energy from ourselves, objects, or our surroundings. Perhaps it also should've been mentioned in this video (linked above) that smudging with smoke and smoke cleansing are not the same thing. Therefore, I didn't think to mention it and in hindsight, I see this as a mistake. As such, the way I understand it, is that the two practices do not have the same intention involved precisely even though the acts may appear very similar. From my own limited recollection of knowledge, as mentioned above, these traditions do not originate from the same culture. Smoke cleansing is mentioned and taught in many pagan traditions, as well as in witchcraft, and many others, because it is considered an open practice. It involves the use of a variety of grasses and herbs based on their individual plant associations. Being an open practice means that anyone can learn and do smoke cleansings no matter the beliefs or religion, spirituality, etc. Smoke cleansing can also be done with incense. However, smoke is not the only way to cleanse energy. Other forms of cleansings include (but not limited to) water such as a a bath, spritz or potion, sound such as a bell, chimes or singing bowls, voice such as hymns, incantation, tones or singing, or psychic cleansing such as through meditation or visualization, etc. If I can clarify further on the practice of smudging, please let me know and I will find out how appropriate (or inappropriate) it would be too respectfully ask an indigenous friend. If suitable, perhaps they'd be willing to answer a few questions, maybe do an interview to get some clarity. Otherwise, If you have questions relating to my own personal practices, please feel free to submit your comments and questions at www.askagreywitch.com or send email to greywitchbryan@gmail.com. Thank you so much for reading my blog!

Submitted question covered in this blog: " What other ways can you protect against magick? " One of the first advice that I've noticed many give to others in terms of beginning witchcraft is to learn to protect yourself before initiating in spellwork. In my opinion, this is good advice. Aside from opening a circle as one form of personal protection that I've already discussed in a previous blog entry: https://www.askagreywitch.com/post/opening-closing-a-circle Thank you for this question in response to the previous blog entry mentioned above. There are many other ways in which you can make yourself to feel more protected. With what can feel like so much negativity in the world, staying protected can be important to feel more confident and avoid any external negative influences. A common comment that I have seen often in some online communities is "... I think I've been hexed! ... " Many may think this when in fact it's rather quite unlikely. An actual hex would require huge amounts of energy and time. So much so that it is rarely worth doing in most cases. ...and, you might be surprised how often a curse can simply be washed away. More about curses and hexes has been written in another previous blog entry: https://www.askagreywitch.com/post/curses-and-hexes When considering protections, one also needs to consider what is being protected, and against what? "What is your intention" for the protections? To narrow this down, let's take a look at the multiple layers of energetic protections with naming a few example spells for each; Multiple Layers of protection ✓ General external energy protections Examples: a Reversal Spell a Binding a Witches Bottle ...etc. ✓ Property protections Examples: a Perimeter Blessing an Area Ward specific plants, shrubs, trees ...etc. ✓ House hold protections Examples: a Negativity Ward a Witch's Ladder specific potted plants, herbs ...etc. ✓ Personal protections Examples: a Smoke Cleansing an Energy Clearing a wearable ward ...etc. ✓ Internal psychic/spiritual protections Examples: Shadow Work an Energy Sheild a Cord Cutting Spell ...etc. ✓ External spiritual protections Examples: Deities Spirit Guides Ancestors ...etc. Whether you include the Law of Three beleifs into your practice or not, protections are a good idea and defending yourself is not considered to be harmful or baneful magick. The Law of Three There is a general rule about magick that is a metric to the practices of many Wiccans and Witches, called the rule of three also known as the law of three. Basically, it means what ever intentions are sent out comes back to r sender 3 x fold (or stronger). So, for example: if you sent out positive, healing, blessings, prosperity, etc. for others then you will get three times more blessings and prosperity coming back towards you. However, if you sent out negativity, curses, harm, etc. than you will get back three times more harm back to you... and so on. This is also the basis or underlining idea behind a reversal spell which sends back energy that has been sent out returning it to the caster. This general rule itself provides a level of protection with this as a fundamental part of the structure to some practices. Afterall... " what goes around, comes around ". Thank you so much for taking the time to look through and read my blog. At any time please feel free to submit your questions to www.askagreywitch.com Safe journey and blessed be.

Submitted question covered in this blog: "Since my family are Christians, should I myself not be doing witchcraft?" This question actually comes up often within some online communities that I am involved with, which makes this question even more appriciated - thank you for submitting it. Witchcraft is mainly an expression of intention and desire in order to manifest it, as mentioned in this previous blog entry about how I myself became a witch: https://www.askagreywitch.com/post/how-i-became-a-witch ...and there are also details of the differences between Witchcraft and Wicca mentioned in this earlier previous blog entry: https://www.askagreywitch.com/post/why-start-this-blog-channel My advice to beginners whom may not be "out-of-the-broom-closet" yet is to not give up on your own fundamental beliefs. Trust your instincts and follow your intuition. Find ways of continuing your practice descretely. Like your "book of shadows" can pass as a personal diary that you write in occasionally. You don't need to be a witch to weep a floor or lite incense or candles. Gather spell ingredients outside and do spell work where you can be alone and undisturbed, like a forested area (i know, can be easier said than done depending on if you live in a city, etc.) If you do not plan to tell anyone that you a witch, you can still build a practice that is meaningful to you. It may be comforting to know that many ancient pagan traditions long ago were adapted into other traditions as a way of converting the people. What people often don't realize is that they practice pagan traditions of witchcraft without even knowing it! For examples: Cursing the driver in the car next to your car with hand gestures and phrases (can apply negativity just like a baneful spell), or Picking of the petals of a daisy flower saying, "love me, love me not" for each petal until the final petal reveals which (one of the oldest love spells known), or Making a wish and blowing out a candle on your birthday after a happy chant (when does it not actually sound like chanting when most people sing happy birthday together lol) That being said, the craft can actually be practiced within any beliefs or cultures. Although, the religion of Wicca does include witchcraft in its rituals and practices, obviously not all do. In fact, even though other religions, like Christianity for example, may frown on the idea of the use of witchcraft within their traditions and customs, there are however many MANY similarities within the separate religions. Some examples of similarities between Wiccans and Christians are: Blessed witch's water is made by adding salt with intention - same as Catholic holy water. A Witch's ladder is a charm used to count and track repetitive chants - in the same way as a Christian rosary helps track repetitive prayer. Witches ring bells, use incense and lite candles with intention - as well as Catholics for ceremony. ...etc. Not to mention the many other customs and holidays that overlap. Such as: Wedding/Handfasting, Church/Coven, Communion/Initiation, Prayer/Spell, Christmas/Yule, Easter/Ostara, ...and I'm sure there's more! It's my personal opinion that to mark discussion occasions with ritual, ceremony and celebration is a part of human nature within us all whether spiritual, religious, or otherwise. In my own life as a child growing up, my mother was the one who taught me the basics of witchcraft, about setting up an alter, deity worship, the rule of three, premonitions, kitchen magick, and some very simple spell work, even though she was a devoted Christian. The Immaculate Mother Mary was the deity that my mother worshiped, amongst Jesus and the disciples, angels, etc. Her "spell work" was done in the form of prayer and affirmation and synchronization. Even though she never identified as a witch, I strongly believe that my mother was what's known as a Catholic Witch. Although, i did not follow in her Christian footsteps. I followed a path of a secular Witch and studied a Seax Wiccan tradition myself. I pay much respect to my mother as a powerful influence and inspiration to me and on my practice years after she had passed on from this life, she still assists and guides me today. Along my journey I have since met and conversed with many Catholic Witches with different individual practices and traditions that are personally meaningful to each. There's no wrong way to express your spirituality. I now consider myself a Humanist-Wiccan. Each should set up their own practice that is truly meaningful and resonating with your own true beliefs. Trust your instincts, and follow your intuition. UPDATED : this much more recent blog entry more describes my practices as a Humanist Wiccan: https://www.askagreywitch.com/post/humanist-wiccan

The submitted question covered in this blog: "...Isn't it necromancy?" Thank you to whom submitted this question as there are many misconceptions about the practices of necromancy, and what it actually means. Many movies and fictional novels have portrayed "bring back the dead" as a literal corps crawling out of it's grave... this is very far from reality. Many are influenced to be fearful of the practices that involve necromancy due to the many misunderstandings and mistruths that have spread over time. When people think of the dead, they often associate with ghosts, gouls, or other maleficent beings. It is my opinion that these misconceptions are what have lead to some practices being labeled as "Dark Arts". Whereas this line of thinking has caused fear of the topic itself. When death occurs, it is difficult to accept that our loved ones will never return to us after they've passed away. But, the reality is, in fact, that the dead can not be risen. There is no 'bringing back to life', once deceased. Magick can not break the boundaries of physics. We carry energies with us in our memories. The spirit of someone represents the impression on which they have had on those around them. This impression memory allows us to recall the feeling of someone's presence, remember the sound of their voice, knowing what they would be saying to us in the moment if they could, etc. How we associate the impressions of a moment with the spirit of a loved one is how to gain insight and realizations within ourselves. This is often an important part of a witches practice, especially if taught generational teachings passed down as ancestors were alive. Or, if taught from a coven which the elders have passed on. Alters can be set up in honour of the spirit of a loved one which offerings of kind gestures may be placed as a form of showing respect and reverence. It's important to cherish and honour the memories of our ancestors and close friends who have died. It reminds ourselves of the impact in which they may have had on our lives and how their spirit may continue to guide us as we live on in honour of their memory. Even though they may no longer be with us we may still live as example to their teachings and knowledge shared. Necromancy is most often referencing this sort of communication with a spirit of the dead, rather than focusing on returning the dead to the living, as often imagined. It is essentially another way of describing the process of what's more commonly known now-a-days as Psychic Mediumship. More about that was mentioned in this previous blog entry: https://www.askagreywitch.com/post/demystifying-mediumship Demystifying Mediumship. As well as discussed in this previous live broadcast: https://www.askagreywitch.com/post/can-you-be-a-psychic-medium on the Witches of Eastview Channel. And, there are many more examples within other previous blog posts, thanks to submitted questions like this one! Have a look through, and use the search option if that helps to narrow down the subject you're interested in. Please feel free to submit your own question at www.askagreywitch.com Together, we can help to break many of the misconceptions that seem to still exists about energy workers, witches and other magickal folk. Bright blessings✨

Question covered in this blog/video: "Would you join me on a live for a my Buck Full Moon fire ritual?" Thank you to Aurora Moon from the Witches of Eastview empowerment group for inviting me and including me in your "Stepping into your power" fire ritual demonstration. Apologies for the poor sound quality and loud intrusive street noise interference during the discussion due to the location. A special thank you to camera man, Phil Landriault who also helped us through some of the recording complications. Please feel free to submit any questions you may have to AskaGreyWitch.com Blessed be.

By describing myself as a secular practitioner, I signify both my pagan beliefs that nature itself is holy, thus the planet we live on and the bodies we live in are all sacred and my role as a complex person who works with energetic properties. In my personal non-theistic practice, i consider deities to be architypes created to symbolize different aspects of our own human nature and are not external entities or supreme beings, etc.  I strive to do what is felt to be right from a Wiccan background with a humanistic approach. Speaking my mind has sometimes been met with judgment. But, I follow what feels right for me and I encourage you to do the same. Other intuitives have referred to me as a light worker as I am so often drawn to helping others. I offer guidance based intuitive readings to those who feel they may benefit from another prospective. I also offer personal insight and new perspectives through tarot or rune readings. When referring to my craft, I'm actually speaking to my own secular practices involving Seax Wicca and an affinity with nature within my pagan traditions. I dedicated to a Seax Wiccan tradition in 2016 and completed initiation in 2019. As I get older, my craft becomes less about trying to cause specific outcomes fire myself and more about focusing on helping to become more purposeful and compassionate in life. While I still do rituals of the more traditional kind, my magick has become something which I can carry with me in all areas of my life. With many tools, crystals and herbs to aid me in various workings, I make my own infusions, potions, salves, candles, and oracles. Always learning along my path and relying on my intuition, I personally scrye and work with runes, tarot, pendulums, palmistry and tasseography. Devoted to working with all kinds of energies, and finding balance, I am known as a Grey Practitioner, hense the use of the term "Grey Witch". Secular humanism is the belief that I, myself can live a good and moral life without the existence of having a belief in a supernatural god(dess), deity, etc. But, rather I connect with aspects of my own human nature. At times, random strangers unexpectedly sought me out to tell me about their problems or ask me for advice in public places such as in a store or at a bus stop, etc. Quite often I find myself offering guidance, answering questions, providing information and giving advice to other practitioners of magick. And so, this blog will help me to reach out to more whom would like my assistance. I also will be able to divide my time more evenly for those who've requested mentorship. Please submit your questions, or if I can provide information, or examples of, etc. Just let me know. Take good care, journey safe, and blessed be UPDATE: This information was added to and then extended on at: www.askagreywitch.com/greywitchbryan to create an about page. & More about my Wiccan practice can be read in this more recent blog post: https://www.askagreywitch.com/post/secular-wicca

www.staffordtarot.com With my previous experiences giving in person readings and self readings, I have been offering private remote tarot readings to others through video calls or in email during the pandemic restrictions. This has felt hugely rewarding for me to help others in this way by offering some clarity, gained insight or new perspectives, and watch the finding of peace and/or closure. At my Stafford Tarot website, you can request readings by me, read information about how I do readings, look at my tarot decks, and even learn to do readings yourself with a featured free course for beginners to learn tarot for themselves, thanks to Lindsay Knight from 9th Vibration. More information can be found at: www.askagteywitch.com/staffordtarot Questions and comments regarding tarot or about readings can be sent to: bryantarotreading@gmail.com or visit: www.staffordtarot.com

Please feel free to submit a question or topic that you would like to learn about and I'd be happy to provide information from my perspective as a male witch or to answer any questions that you may have. Where if I can provide an example, I may include pictures or make a video. Although videos may be hosted in YouTube, it will be shared here within the posts of this blog. Please don't mind the advertising as I do not make money from this "Ask a Grey Witch" website. And so, I'm also not paying to have the advertising removed or to purchase software for editing at this time. Perhaps if I one day can accept donations I could register the applications and remove the advertising, etc. But, my goal here is not about making a profit. As a light worker following a calling to help others, I am hoping to do just that -- to help others. Much is still to be decided. Stay tuned!!! Coming soon RIGHT HERE is my new blog where I will be answering questions submitted by you! Please submit your questions and they WILL be included in the upcoming entries -- Thanks!!! Don't forget to subscribe below to stay up to date when new entries are posted. Update: so to remove some advertising, this webpage is been featured and sponsored by: www.staffordtarot.com The messages within await!