Challenge entry #2
Technologic & Modern Magick
I live with technology so closely that I thought this would be a fun challenge to see how to inject something new into my normal. My day job is programming, and my hobbies include website development and (computer) gaming, so on most days, I spend almost every waking hour at the computer. Iāve even got a witchy website in the works, with a focus on those practicing in Australia.
My initial thoughts
I donāt think technology is necessarily harmful to natureāitās a tool and if we use it to harm, thatās on us. After all, electricity itself is an element of nature. A computer is simply a massive collection of little on-and-off switches powered by electricity. The internet and other methods of connecting things are also combinations of electrical pulses, energy waves, and so on. The materials are mostly metals and glass, with plastic shielding. The latter isnāt great, but plastic is still just super-refined oil. A really shitty, super-refined oil that refuses to return to nature. But still.
What Iām getting at is that itās all nature harnessed in a way that looks or feels unnatural, but itās no more or less harmful than what nature already throws at us. (That being said, I live in Australia where everything is trying to kill me, so take that with a grain of salt.)
The highly technical nature of using such devices probably makes them feel overwhelming. Even though it can ultimately all be simplified down to easy singular processes and steps, we tend to think of everything as a whole and overwhelm ourselves before we begin.
Despite finding them to be simple in their complexity, I try to keep communication between my devices as simple as possible. That means avoiding wireless, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in the home. My mouse, keyboard, and printer are all USB-connected. My internet, all ethernet cabled up. No IoT stuff like smartwatches, other connected appliances, etc. My fridge will never keep track of its contents, and my cat litter will never log the time my cats last did a poop. I think itās in conveniences like this where the actual pernicious nature of technology use starts to reveal itself.
But anyway, I take this approach in the kitchen, too. For example, the first thing I learned to make for others was cupcakes. Iād been cooking for myself for a while, but it was only ever for myself. Once I developed a good recipe, I started sharing my creations with others.
Then, my family bought an electric hand mixer. I tried it. My cupcakes suddenly didnāt taste as good. Why? Back then, I didnāt understand. It didnāt affect other peopleās baking like it did mine. For example, my fatherās girlfriendās stuff all tasted the exact same as before (not that it was ever great, but still); it was just easier for her to make.
So, I manually mix with wooden spoons and knead with my hands, whether making cupcakes or bread. I manually grind everything with a stone mortar and pestle. (Which, yes, is technology itself, but not as āadvanced.ā) Itās more effort, but no one can replicate the things I make, even when I teach them to do the exact same things. Even my partner, an amazing cook, who taught me every professional technique that I know. I know something is going on there ā itās not that Iām the best cook I know; my partner is (and theyāre good enough to be a chef, so itās hard to compete with that). So I donāt know what it is. But itās something.
That being said, I do use technology in my craft all the time. I print things with my printer; I listen to things via my computer or smartphone and either speakers or headphones; I research, write up, and organise my own writing, books, and other things on my computer; I even use apps to improve my writing or understanding, like Grammarly to improve my English and Google Translate to help me understand things people are saying in other languages; and so on.
Letās get exploring
How can I incorporate these two worlds more? Can I write digital spells? So, a spell must be understood by a computer to be digital. That means any incantations canāt be spoken, they have to be written. (Well, they can, but I have no interest in digitising my voice right now.)
Wait a minute! I do that five days a week. Software engineering is writing words that are turned into computer language and impact the digital realm. Iāve kind of been digital spellcasting this whole time!
Okay, so how can I do this more intentionally?
Can I write a protection spell? First of all, what would such a script do to protect me? It would shield me from harm by others. Okay, many forms of protection are already covered, from firewalls to anti-viruses (not that I use any). They would only protect my computer, but theyāre still there. Theyāre like spiritual guardians but of the digital realms.
Perhaps I should shift my focus to look for ways to make the two realms cross over. I can already do many things with a computer that fulfil what many use spells to do, whether creating opportunities for wealth, hexing others, or spiritually healing people. Iām really struggling to think of something Iād use a spell for that I couldnāt easily do otherwise.
What have other people done, then? Maybe I can get some ideas from there. Theyāve made sigil generators, online tarot readings, and even digital altars.
Could we achieve more with collaborative rituals? Where people can visit some living digital space and contribute their energy towards it and also draw from it. Oh, we are already doing that with the healing circle.
What about a digital spirit guide? Where people can talk to it, ask it to help make spells, and so on. Itās not the most interesting idea, but it could be useful and would let me work on my machine learning. I suppose this kind of exists with AI, but none of them have āa memoryā or the whole personality of being a spiritual guide. So that could be interesting to work on.
My thoughts after
Finding something I can use magick for is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Thereās so much I can already do with technology that Iām not surprised that the modern world has become less interested in magick. After all, why rely on the divine for what we can achieve ourselves? Isnāt that the reason we have free will? So we can take charge of our own lives? (Or do we have it at all? Iām not convinced that we do, but thatās the most common belief.)
Perhaps the digital realm is just another plane of existence. While we exist in the material place, many believe we can visit others, such as the astral, and the experience there is entirely different. They also believe that they can be harmed by other entities in the astral, just as we can be here. So perhaps that parallels the digital more than I originally thought.
On the other hand, perhaps the digital realm is just a combination of the various elements, and Iām more of an elementalist than I previously thought.
Welcome to your first Catch-Up Challenge, I hope you have lots of fun with the process- enjoy! 
You worded it beautifully, Phoenix- itās kind of like an open workshop or group class in this sense. Itās a judgement-free zone to dip into something new, experiment, and potentially find a new area of the Craft that brings joy and value. At the very least, the challenges are a place to swap ideas and share inspiration around! 
They are kind of a breather- a chance to catch your breath and look back on any topics that were missed. And there is always another one near on the horizon- we do a Catch-Up every 10 challenges, so opportunities will always exist. No stress and no pressure! 
Iām gobbling up all of the wisdom, ideas, recipes, spells, and more. Catch-up challenges are my favorite- it is so much fun to see everyoneās beautifully diverse practices on display! 
)
Iām chuckling at the image now, but it actually is really frustrating to have my curiosity shut down so hard all the time.
This will be my first challenge - im really looking forward to it!
Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - Blessed Besoms
Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - A Witchās Collection
Witch Brews & Potions 
