Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - Congrats to the Coven! 🎊

Jewitch · May 1, 2021, 12:12am

This challenge for this week was yet another great one for me. It gave me an excuse to sit back and think about how grateful I am to have found the Spells8 website and the Infinite Roots Coven.

Looking back on my childhood, even though I grew up very sheltered in a relatively conservative-ish Christian household and had no idea Witchcraft was a thing until I was probably in 3rd or 4th grade, I now see that I’ve always had quite witchy tendencies. When I was very young, I used to piss my mom off because when she was distracted, I’d go into the kitchen, climb up onto the counter, and mix together a bunch of herbs and spices. I would pretend that the result of the different herbs being mixed together would have some sort of effect. For example, I’d mix a bunch of stuff together and it was supposed to turn into cookies or a popsicle. Sounds a bit like making potions, eh? However, at the time, I didn’t know it was a thing, and I referred to my concoctions as “experiments”

Looking back on this makes me realize that I’ve always seen the magic in the mundane task of cooking.

As I grew older, just like many late elementary school / early middle school kids, my interest in things such as tarot and curses grew. I went through a phase where I was FASCINATED by voodoo dolls.

As I continued growing older, my interest shifted more toward more standard religion. I began doing research and seeking out a denomination of Christianity that I felt comfortable with. Long story short, I went through a phase where I identified as Episcopalian, and then I stumbled upon Quakerism. I identified as a Quaker most deeply and for the longest of the Christian denominations.

Eventually, I decided to explore my fascination with Judaism. I attended a Conservative Jewish synagogue in Columbus while I attended Ohio State University. I took an Intro to Judaism class at OSU, and I also took an Intro to Judaism course at the synagogue I attended. I also took a semester of Biblical Hebrew at OSU because I wanted to be able to read the Tanakh (the Old Testament, in Christian terminology) in it’s “original” language. For my final project of the Biblical Hebrew class, I had to translate a section of the Tanakh from Hebrew into English, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and it helped deepen my connection to the Judeo-Christian scriptures and my Judeo-Christian belief system.

As I started thinking things through, stuff I was learning in my religious experiences kind of pushed me away from “traditional” organized religion. I decided to focus my spiritual energies on the Earth, and, long story short, began my path toward Paganism.

My interest in Witchcraft resurfaced as I began walking the Pagan path. Like others, as I was looking for info on Witchcraft and Wicca, I was led to and then drawn to Spells8. I did the self-initiation course, then decided to become a member of the site, and I’m BEYOND glad that I did! In it, I’ve found an AMAZING community that I am so excited to be a part of. I haven’t been here very long in the grand scheme of things, but I feel so welcome and at-home here. I usually only ever lurk on online communities, and have been avoiding Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram like the plague since an ACTUAL plague began (haha), but I’m always excited to check the forums to see what everyone’s up to and what I get to learn at that time!

Thank you to @Francisco for building this community, and thank you to everyone who has been so warm, inviting, welcoming, and friendly! I look forward to continuing to learn and grow with y’all! Blessed be!

Rowan · May 1, 2021, 1:37am

I’ve taken time to write this post because I really wanted to be able to express everything I think and feel for this Community, Coven, Creator, My Craft, and Friends.
First, @Francisco thank you just seems small in comparison to what your vision, your goal, and your success with this creation has brought to my life and allowed me to be me. How do you thank someone for opening your eyes to your path? You have given me the opportunity to silence the voices that deterred me for so long, to believe in myself and the magic within me. Spells8 has replaced my social media and I learn something every day through each and every member. No, thank you just doesn’t measure the amount of gratitude that I hold for this creation that is Spells8 and our coven Infinite Roots.
To the Community, the never changing acceptance and unity that we have here, is amazing. If even half of the world had that, imagine the beauty! I thank you, @BryWisteria for your guidance and wisdom in all that you do for us, and for your unwavering support and kind words. @praecog29 our silent warrior, you engage us all in caring for each other and putting such warmth and light in the world with a candle and positive energy. Its like a call to arms for us to defend each other and support one another when Life throws us curve balls. You never let anyone going through something feel alone, and I personally thank you for that.
There are so many others I would thank but it would take quite a while…So to the Community within Spells8, thank you for even the smallest thing as a heart like on a post, a picture, or a link. For reading rants, realizations, answering questions, giving compliments and support. Thank you for joining this community and blending with each of us to create such a wonderful and amazing place to learn, grow, and meet others.
My craft has always been within me, I think or at least the desire for it at least. But until I found Spells8 it had been dormant while I raised my children. The day I clicked the link after a google search, and saw Spells8 it awoke. At first, I wanted to just absorb everything I could, like a kid in a candy store I wanted to try everything, I had to learn everything! HAHAHA thinking back now its funny how starved for knowledge and acceptance I was, but Spells8 gave me that and so much more.
I’ve been here for a year and Im still just in awe of it all.
I still have so much to learn, but now it’s exciting and confidently noted in my Book of Mirrors instead of shyly wondered about in the solitude of my mind.
Spells8 has given me so many things to be grateful for I couldn’t name them all, but I will say Holidays had become something of which I no longer looked forward to, (except Halloween…because I am a witch after all lol) my kids are grown and my family is not what it once was with crowds of people. But since joining Spells8 I now have new holidays to celebrate and get excited about, and an encouraging and accepting family to share them with, that is just one example of joy that Spells8 has brought into my life.
Not only am I learning about Paganism, Witchcraft, and my path but I am also learning about myself and liking who I am and who I will be.
And this is all because of what you created @Francisco, from the bottom of my heart Thank You!
Congrats To The Coven!

mary25 · May 1, 2021, 2:01am

This made me cry you said so many things I felt, too, but could not articulate. I am so happy to have found Spells8 and this community.

mary25 · May 1, 2021, 3:01am

Happy Birthday, Spells8! Thank you so much, Francisco, for creating this fantastic home and learning center online and also to your wonderful collaborators. I had been exploring witchcraft on and off for years but when I found Spells8, it all fell into place. THAT is when it started feeling right to me, a part of my spiritual life and my lifestyle. It has filled a gap in my life that my faith did not. I am blending the two, taking what I like and leaving the rest. Fortunately, with Spells8, there’s not really much I feel like leaving out. The connection I am beginning to feel with something I don’t even fully understand is very tangible and concrete. The closest thing that has made me feel this centered and “right” was becoming a mother. This is a little like that.

So, you asked about our favorite aspects of magick. For me, it has been casting circles. This practice makes me feel serene, relaxed and deeply content. It is like prayer without the agony and self-doubt. It just feels right. I don’t wonder if I am deserving. I feel like I am part of it. This practice makes me feel very close to God, to the Universe, to Nature, my ancestors and to people I don’t even know.

When I call the Quarters, well, it is a party. So many are invited LOL. I call the quarters, I call Father Sky/Sun and Mother Earth/Moon (depending), Spirit and my ancestors! One thing I started doing for the Father, Mother, Spirit and ancestors was to add the phrase: “I am your child and I love you.” The first time I tried this, WOW. I knew I had struck something genuine. It was like falling in love! I felt like they were on Team Mary LOL. I am joking but it just feels…oh heck, I have no words for it. Maybe when I do this more, I will.

Here’s the kind of imagery I use with the Quarters and Elements. I borrowed the idea of talking about the elements in nature from another witch but the part about it also in me (fire, earth, air and water) is my own construct. I am sure I am not the first to do it. It makes me feel sooooo connected and part of it.

Guardians of the West, Spirits of Water
Water inside me and all around me
In the earth and in the sky
In lakes, oceans, streams and rivers
In rain and in snow
In the blood of my body and the vapor of my breath
And everything that has life.
I call on you, lovely water
To bless me
And to bless this circle

And to my ancestors I say

Dearest Ancestors
You paved the way
I am your descendant and I love you
Lend me your wisdom and strength
As I perform these works tonight
I call on you to bless me
And to bless this circle

Anyway, love you guys Take care and thank you!

mary25 · May 1, 2021, 3:26am

So interesting. What I like about paganism – and I don’t nec. consider myself to be one although I admit I am kind of acting like one! Is that it doesn’t exact a high price from you to join. I am Episcopalian and about twenty years ago, I was attending my home church where I had married and baptized my baby. The rector was a woman and had a baby about my child’s age. She had married me and my husband and baptized our baby and I admired her greatly and always looked forward to her sermons. She was deeply intelligent. So, it was an ordinary Sunday and I was sitting in the pew with my baby. The rector began talking about her own baby. She mentioned how she could not allow the baby to come between her and God. As much as she loved her child, she knew she had to always put God first. And that, as Christians, that was something we all had to do. As she talked about this, she clearly was miserable and torn, and I was horrified. I held onto my baby so closely as I listened to her, tears pricking in my eyes. I thought, what kind of religion makes a mother pay this kind of price? I wanted to hug her and tell her, no, you are closer to God because you love your baby. Your baby IS God, you are God, there is no need to put one aside for the other. But then I thought that my thinking probably wasn’t in line with the scripture she was talking about and it wasn’t my place to say it. But it WAS in line with what I felt in my heart. I didn’t want to make that kind of choice and I didn’t want to be part of something that would force me to. I stopped going to church shortly after that, althogh I still identified as a Christian. So I guess maybe I am creating my own hybrid religion or just a way of interacting with the world and spirituality that is based more on love and deeds than sin and sacrifice.

Magdelina · May 1, 2021, 4:32am

First I love our coven symbol. I am booked to have a couple of small tats done on May 5th but I will eventually get this one on my hand, left i think between the thumb and first finger.

I was looking for a spell and to learn more about the craft when I stumbled upon Spells8. I was intrigued since I am a visual learner and this site had so many videos to watch and learn from. I jumped right in feet first wholeheartedly back in November 2020. I was unsure if I was on the right path at that time but as I got to know everyone and felt so much warmth and love and welcome I decided to stay.

My favorite aspect of the craft is … well…everything!!! I have always been keen on changing my space every season since I was a child. Drove my husband up the wall for so many years until last year when we found that we were being called away from the Catholic Church (that is a long story and I will be writing it soon) and he to a Druid and me back to witchcraft and Wicca which I was learning about in my teens. I am more of an eclectic witch, I dabble in everything, I want to know everything but I learn slowly and with intention. I mostly use kitchen and green witchery but have been drawn to the energies of crystals and their use on the body. My husband is now a Reiki Master and is using me as his guinea pig He is very good at what he does.

My all time favorite spell was the Return to Sender with the lemon and cloves. It actually works very well for me. But my go to spells right now are manifesting financial freedom spells. I have been using the coin bowl and it has been working slowly on my business, so much so as to allow me to quit my day job and focus my whole attention and intention on being my own boss and creating one of a kind gifts for everyone which I spell with positive energy and love.

I hope to one day meet all of you in person where I can hug all of you!!! You all part of my extended family now. And I am a crazy witch lol.

Blessed Be.

Jewitch · May 1, 2021, 12:05pm

I’m so sorry you had that experience That’s awful! I’m so glad you stood up for your personal beliefs though! That’s one of the reasons why I’m not a super big fan of organized religions. I appreciate and respect the faiths themselves, but I have no respect for how humans twist and use those faith systems to control and take advantage of people. Especially when it comes to children!

The biggest things that turned me away from the Christian Church (but not the faith itself) are kind of similar to your story. My parents stopped going to and taking me to church eventually because one day my dad walked in to my Sunday school class and the teacher was talking about how if we don’t get our parents to donate as much money as possible to the church, both we and our parents are going to burn in Hell for all eternity. In addition to this, my grandma was of the belief that if you don’t get baptized, you can’t get into Heaven. She would regularly tell me that I was going to go to hell because I hadn’t been baptized yet.

I really don’t understand – from my reading of the scriptures, at least – where they get these twisted teachings from? To me, the main point of Christianity is to be Christ-like. Jesus treated everyone with love and compassion, even the “outcasts” of the day, such as those with leprosy. He demonstrated that Love and Compassion transcend the rules and expectations of the Old Testament, i.e., not coming in contact with people with various forms of leprosy. If Jesus broke the rules and went against the status quo to treat “outcasts” (for lack of better words) with compassion and respect because the “outcasts” were still created in the image of God and therefore deserved to be treated like a normal human being – because they are! --, how can a rector/pastor/priest/etc. say that a parent should put their love of God above their child? According to the Bible, humankind was created in the image of God. To me, personally, that means that ALL humans should be treated as if they have divinity in them, and that includes having compassion for those with views different from our own, provided that they’re not legitimately evil people.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk haha

Rowan · May 1, 2021, 2:03pm

Thank you.

Rowan · May 1, 2021, 2:04pm

Congrats on your business!

Garnet · May 1, 2021, 2:07pm

What lovely sentiments. Thank you, I am a woman of words and I couldn’t have said it better.
PS: If our mentor, @Francisco, doesn’t walk on water, his shoes don’t get too wet. This is for everyone.
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Garnet · May 1, 2021, 2:15pm

Awww, I thought I was the only one sobbing at my keyboard. Francisco, you are simply the best.
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NickWick · May 2, 2021, 1:32am

You are so right with this I really dont either any more

I know exactly what you mean!!

NickWick · May 2, 2021, 1:42am

My story is a bit different from this but I can definitely relate to where you are coming from. I my self di believe I am creating my own hybrid path spiritual. It was hard at first but things seems to be falling into place for me a bit.

NickWick · May 2, 2021, 1:47am

I hope to meet you too love this part so much, you made me smile.

Kasandra · May 2, 2021, 4:02pm

Happy 2nd birthday, Spells8! I thank the gods that you’ve created such a wonderful site @Francisco! Books were a great way for me to begin practicing Wicca, but the amount of information on this site has helped further me along in my Craft.

I’ve worked with various types of Magick over the months and I’ve discovered that the ones that call to me the most are Candle, Draconic, Kitchen, and Tea.

Tea and candle meditations are a great way to cleanse myself before casting spells.

I’ve enjoyed learning about the history, health benefits and magicakal properties of herbs. It’s taught me that we don’t always have to take over the counter medication for headaches, nausea, etc. 🪴

Working with dragons has given me the strength I’ve needed during stressful situations and I can’t see myself drifting away from them at anytime along my Path.

I can’t say I have a favorite spell per say. I enjoy working with all of them, even if I don’t always get the intended results. The only spells I haven’t cast (that I can remember) are justice spells or protection spells against hexes and I pray I’ll never have to. When I did the self-initials ceremony, I swore that I would never use my Craft to hurt anyone or anything. I suppose that itself is actually a protection spell against curses by attracting positive energies.

Bright blessing, Infinite Roots! I look forward to spending many more years here!

AliceInWonderdab · May 2, 2021, 4:18pm

Blessed be! So proud of everyone and everything

praecog29 · May 2, 2021, 5:05pm

It’s an incredibly humbling thing being allowed a peek into so many amazing lives. Being a part of Infinite Roots is truly a blessing.

Each story is moving and unique in it’s own way. But there is also something familiar. Many of us were looking for renewed or new faith - faith in the world, in others, in ourselves, and in the magic we could feel in and around us. We’ve seen our magic change our lives, our families lives, and the lives of fellow coven members. And although many of us have faced great difficulties we have come out of them not bitter but wiser, not angry but understanding, not defensive but protective of what we love.

I want to respond to each post here but to spare everyone a book I will mention two in particular.

Wade,

My move from radicalized Christianity to where I am today included unbearable depression and anxiety. The journey had signposts like the Tanakh, the Apocrypha, and even a Quran. I am happy you are here and you bring all of your knowledge to us so freely. Thank you.

Rowan,

Like what I said to Siofra earlier this morning, I wouldn’t be here in this forum today if it wasn’t for you. You were another voice that led me from the wilderness. Thank you.

I’ve told enough about my story over the past few months that I won’t you all with it again. For anyone that missed the snippets, I will include links to them below.

I do want to say this, though. I was ready to give up on magic, on faith, on anything spiritual last year. Then I met this wonderful person who made me question such a drastic, life-altering choice. In response, I went looking for answers. While I may never get my new person of the month badge, I devoured everything I could from the site in the first month or two I was here.

Thanks to Francisco, TheTravelWitch, SilverBear, MeganB, and Limeberry I was able to find this safe place to grow again - like a phoenix from the ashes. Thanks to Missa, Christina4, Berta, Janelle, Jeannie1, and Amethyst I was challenged to be a better version of me. And now I am getting to know people like Walter, Saulamay, NickWick, and CelestiaMoon better through their posts and I am moved by what I see.

Happy 2nd Birthday Weekend Spells8. I love you Infinite Roots.

Saulamay · May 2, 2021, 5:25pm

Greetings everyone and Happy Birthday to Spells 8! I am like others and fortunate to have found this site, I had seen many things about it on Pinterest and it caught my eye so I started looking into what was available here and then decided to join. This site is just one of a handful of sites I go to when looking for advice and ideas when it comes to spells and Magick. There are so many amazing people here that are willing to provide guidance, I would list them out but I would be afraid that I missed a few so to all of you, and you know who you are, thank you for all that you do to bring this site to life.
For me this feels like a puzzle I have been working on for 50+ years and all the pieces are beginning to fit and come together. And as I progress down this path I realize and discover that some parts have interchangeable pieces depending on the path you choose.
As for what I like the most about all of it it is hard to say. I love the work that goes into preparing for ritual, preparing yourself and your altar, casting the circle and calling on my Deities and the quarters, as well as the elements. Realizing that it is okay to miss a word or two in a prayer or chant as long as the intentions of the act is solid. That tingling vibration I get when I pick up my Tarot cards and you feel the energy they hold. Then there are the rituals themselves and the energy that is generated. There is also the creations of potions and charms and how they can change the energy around you and heighten your senses to a new level.
For this site there is the Energy Exchange that we can all share in, whether we are looking for help from others or we are reaching out to help others. I may not have much, but I am willing to help others when I am able. There are days when I feel lost and I can come here to see so much positivity that it becomes enough to recharge and keep the light shining bright.
Apologies if this became a ramble, but yeah, we have a lot to be thankful for and this site has had a bigger impact than expected so Thank You to everyone involved in making this site what it is. Blessed be.

Amethyst · May 2, 2021, 7:15pm

First of all, I’ve read all the comments and am honored to be in a coven with you wonderful people. It means the world to me.

My journey to Spells8 was pretty much the usual. Last summer I was having problems with depression and anxiety, as a lot of us have had. Well, earlier in the spring I had bought myself a printer and I was looking for information for my book of shadows and I found this wonderful guide to a book of shadows on YouTube.

I followed that and watched the video, wanting to have such pretty pages for my BOS. So I followed the link to the website. It took me a while to join, but by the Summer Solstice, I had decided to join on a trial basis.

Of course, once I joined and got rid of my shyness, I quickly got dragged into the fun of the activities. It wasn’t long after I joined that @BryWisteria did the first weekly challenge and I got my first badge.

It was the fun, the companionship that I got here though that has kept me here. I’ve been looking for a long time for fellow pagans to connect with, trying Meet Up and Facebook and the like. I love the people here, my fellow coven members who encourage and embolden me.

I’ve done more magic in the last year or so than I got the courage to do in the past ten years of reading and knowing the theory. I finally feel like I have the right to call myself a witch. Thank you for that, @Francisco, and for this wonderful community of witches and pagans. My hat goes off to you, kind sir, and to the mods to keep this crazy place running.

Blessed Be.

IrisW · May 2, 2021, 7:38pm

I’ve popped my own thread here to explain a little about how I found you:

My Route to Spells8 and Infinite Roots