Best products from r/WitchesVsPatriarchy

Enchantments: A Modern Witch’s Guide to Self-Possession by Mya Spalter is a great 101 witch primer with a modern slant that encourages you to make your craft your own. The author worked at a famed NYC occult store and she has an interesting fresh take on things. I didn’t realize it was a basic intro to witchcraft book when I got it, and I have read so many of those that they get repetitive, but this one was super enjoyable. It’s available as an audible download too, and the author narrates it and she has a lovely, relaxed, friendly voice, it’s a joy to listen to. I highly recommend it to anyone curious about the craft.


https://www.amazon.com/Enchantments-Modern-Witchs-Guide-Self-Possession-ebook/dp/B078VW3BP3

Yes, Anne Shirley from Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables 1908 book. The 1985 version is a truer interpretation of the book. The Netflix version gets a lot of flack because it deviates so much from the original, and can also get quite dark. But (and I don't want to get too controversial here because people feel really strongly about the new version), I have a place in my heart for both. I tend to agree with the History Chicks that the combination of grit and charm is really appealing in the new one for a number of reasons. Anne is beautifully whimsical (edit: and strong) in both versions, and that's what matters to me. I just binge watched Anne with an E over the holiday and followed it up with the '85 miniseries, which inspired this post. Your library might have the '85 version. I got mine cheap used.

I'm not sure if you're currently tracking the lunar cycles, but if not I definitely recommend first and foremost getting a lunar calendar. If you have a local crystal/apothecary shop it's likely they'll have them for sale. Same with New Age-y stores.

If you can't buy local, they sell them pretty cheap on Amazon.

Post it where you can see it every day. If you use a day calendar, post it next to your day calendar and use your lunar calendar to make the majority of appointments/plans.

Keep a journal. Note any correlations in mood and lunar cycle. Use these correlations to plan ahead.

Read up on moon magick (if you haven't already). A lot of people recommend Diane Ahlquist's Moon Magic.

Briefly, moon phases correspond as follows:

New Moon is for beginning things. Undertaking new ventures, new friendships, new projects. Optimism and growth.

Full Moon is for power and completion. Closing on a house, keeping a promise to yourself, manifesting your desires. Month-long spells begun on the New Moon using the next full moon as a timetable have worked really, really well for me in the past.

Waning Moon (the period from after the full moon until the new moon) is for banishment and eradication. Spring cleaning, breakups, dissolution of old friendships.

Waxing Moon (the period from after the new moon until the full moon) is for growth and labor. Gestation, if you will. Hard work, sacrifice, working towards the fruits of your labor.

If you're into elemental correspondences, New Moon corresponds to Air, Waxing Moon to Earth, Full Moon to Water, Waning Moon to Fire. (There will probably be some people who dispute that/disagree with those correspondences based on their relationships with those elements and their relationship to the moon. I claim no authority, only my experiences.)

Also, it's important to note that the moons follow a procession through the zodiac just like the sun does. So, for example, this most recent full moon was a full moon in Gemini, the zodiac sign which rules communication, among other things. December's full moon is going to be full moon in Cancer, the zodiac sign which rules the moon and emotions among other things. Use these to your advantage.

Observe, Record, Plan Ahead. You've got this.

Sorry if any of this was stuff you already knew, thanks for reading!

I haven't read this one but it's been in my amazon cart for awhile! I heard a talk by a herbalist in my community who referenced this book in talking about this exact topic -- how feudalism was an essential component of that shift. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1570270597/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

A book I have read is Medical Bondage: https://www.amazon.com/Medical-Bondage-Origins-American-Gynecology/dp/0820351350

It's specifically about enslaved women in america and how white american society viewed these sisters as human capital (and human capital generators). It's not the exact topic either but super interesting.

I also recommend the podcast For The Wild by Ayana Young. She interviews a lot of awesome experts in areas of social justice, environmentalism, feminism, etc. I can't think of a podcast on this specific topic, but they talk a lot about remnants of patriarchy surviving today and issues around it.

Late comment but thought it weirdly fortuitous seeing this discussion after coming across a book today at the library I visited for the first time. It’s called Jailbreaking the Goddess and discusses a somewhat newer version of the fivefold goddess model.

The more common model seems to be maiden, mother, crone, with warrior and lover added. The book breaks the idea down a little differently, using Latin names, with the following:

Femella: girl, the primal child, the divine child.

Potens: the woman of strength, full of potential and power.

Creatrix: female creator, the maker, mother, author.

Sapientia: the wise woman, teacher, leader, woman of science and art.

Antiqua: the old woman, dreamer, storyteller, the witch at the gate.

Image of the page with better detail.

Like this better but I do have yet to read most of the book. There are further chapters on each, such as how the creator is more than merely a mother archetype with artworks, songs, and revolutions of thought under her purview. I truly think though that, if you’re drawn to getting power from the goddess model, you could do so from one, three, or five, or however many faces you’re moved to commune with.

I've been reading up on this for Yule & I've been so confused because first, before anything else, I was under the impression that the "12 days of Christmas" were 12 days leading up to Christmas. Apparently that's not a thing to anyone though, lol (might have been mixing up Advent Calendars & 12 Days of Christmas)

The 12 days of Christmas start on Christmas and last for 12 days, ending with [Epiphany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday) on January 6th.

And the 12 days of Yule begin on Winter Solstice Eve, dusk on December 20th, ending on New Year's Day.

I'm probably going to buy this kindle book: A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule (Heathen-style!): Folklore, Activities and Recipes For The Whole Family to Enjoy For 12 Days! by Jenn Campus. I read the first night rituals & thought it was lovely!

Anyway, the more I try to learn about ancient Celtic & Druid practices, the more I realize there's almost nothing to be found, as the entire belief systems were assessed for compatibility with Christianity for hundreds of years & either incorporated into Christianity (bringing them into parables, demoting goddesses to saints or witches, etc) or thrown out altogether.

When it comes to trying to understand the ancient Celts now, the best info we've got is mainly by studying the folklore+historical roots of like... every Christian holiday

(

My first exposure to everything was through Cunningham's Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner, which I honestly believe is a good "introductory" book even though I personally don't practice Wicca. It goes over many of the core concepts common to multiple practices of witchcraft, introduces basic things like the wheel of the year, and - most importantly - is commonly found in all sorts of places. I've seen it in Barnes & Noble, and PDFs are readily accessible if you can't afford a hard copy.

It's not the Bible of Wicca, like some people treat it, but it's a good starting point. Take what you like, work it into your own practice, and figure out what interests you from there.

This might be a bit much, but I want to help inspire the next generation of women scientists. Might I suggest a rock tumbler at some point? Perhaps make some nice Jewelry, or just simply studying the stones that come up?

Just to add my two cents. I scrub first. My skin gets irritated if I scrub again right after shaving.

Also, exfoliating gloves or towels are AMAZING! Better than a loofah because they're easier to clean and dry, so bacteria doesn't build up on them. And as opposed to some body scrubs, they won't clog your drain. I use them with face wash when scrubbing my back/shoulders and a moisturizing/milky body wash on my legs/rest of my body. Also, with the towels, you can get different strengths. So I have a medium strength one and a hardcore one. The hardcore one is great to use on my legs before I shave. You'll get a way better shave from properly exfoliating before you shave.

This is what I'm talking about if you haven't heard of them: exfoliating gloves and exfoliating towel

Also, I never really liked shave gel, but this Cremo Cream shaving cream changed my life. It is so freaking good

Ok I haven't read this book personally , but it was written by a witch that I follow: Blackthorn's Botanical Magic

A link to her online shop

This is an occult blog that has a lot of esoteric info on different occult topics.

Edit: I don't have any specific gem-related websites, but I do LOVE the show Steven Universe where he saves the world with the Crystal Gems :D it's kind of my current favorite modern mythology and the personification of each gem is not insignificant when it comes to their derived meanings.

Well if there was a day to support yourself & celebrate your craft, today would be it! I would vote yes to a new deck for sure.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0738746347/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Nuu2BbZXJKK88

There's a great fictional account called Daughters of the Night Sky. They were amazing women.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XTQ4YD1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_4mVYDb23YSDWA

This is a good group! If you're interested in this at all, the creator of the group also wrote a book that has more information and is a good read.

Magic for the Resistance: Rituals and Spells for Change by Michael M. Hughes

Google in images: "strega fashion men" or "dark mori boy". See if any of the images appeal to you.

On Amazon, you can look for things related to this jacket/hoodie/cloak: https://smile.amazon.com/Weiyi-Mens-Long-Hooded-Cape/dp/B01702PSD4/ref=pd_rhf_dp_s_all_spx_wp__29?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0159K6T00&pd_rd_r=27798458-3523-4cfd-9790-5513948aa5f2&pd_rd_w=nTCPE&pd_rd_wg=9hrOT&pf_rd_p=ffd394b3-6bb0-43ec-8bd8-b3dd44ab44d6&pf_rd_r=V19AXSQTY0BAAMVC7BKA&refRID=V19AXSQTY0BAAMVC7BKA&th=1&psc=1

Things related to it might also be listed under "urban street casual".

Good luck!

Since you got the obvious one out of the way, I'll add Diana Wynne Jones, most known for the original Howl's Moving castle book series. For the older, witchiest readers I'd highlight "A Sudden Wild Magic" a less child-friendly story about a coven of new age practicioners facing off an attack on their dimension.

For the sci-fi fan, A Door into Ocean written by science witch Joan Slonczewsky

and most stories by Vonda mcIntyre many of which can be found online (in googling this I just learned she passed this spring :( )

She writes about biology, aliens, sex, centaurs, alien sex, genetic manipulation and marvelous winged sapients. There is a peculiar wistful melancholy to her stories. A good starting point is the short story "Of Mist and Grass and Sand" that segues into the novel Dream Snake, a story about a wandering healer and her three snakes with various "medicinal" bites.