Wild Rites: Reborn

REBORN WILD RITES

$10.00 USD

ISSUE NO. 1

DECEMBER 2018

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PAGE 2

DEC. 18

CONTENTS

"THE PHOENIX MUST BURN TO EMERGE." - JANE FITCH, "WHITE OLEANDER"

PAGE 3 Staff 5 Letter from Creative Director 6 Podcasts & Music 8 Caught in the Ice (Tarot) 9 Winter's Necessity 13 Reborn Sigil 15 Magical Flames 18 Cailleach Bheur (Poem) 20 Into Death (Art) 22 Haunted 26 Spill the Tea 27 Divination Ointment 29 Inspired (Art) 32 Reborn, Again

PAGE 34 35 38 39 41

the Creek (Poem) Yearly Meditation Sharper (Art) His Name (Hades) Business Profile: the Quirky Cup Collective 43 Foundations (Spell)

SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OF THE AMAZING PEOPLE THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS FIRST EDITION OF WILD RITES. WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT EACH OF YOU. <3

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DEC. 18

STAFF CREATIVE DIRECTOR KATIE H. / witchsaidwhat

EDITOR ALEX E. / alisandera alextemperance

STAFF WRITERS SAM I. / auroraliferous AETHNIR / emeraldastral emerald_astral SAM A. / weareweirdatlast samazzaroartistry

DISCLAIMER Wild Rites prides itself on exploring all aspects of witchcraft and offering detailed, accurate information with research and sources.

Wild Rites claims no particular path, sect, religion, or spirituality.

Please practice responsibly. Witchcraft is not a replacement for medical treatment.

ABOUT Wild Rites (magazine and blog) aims to inform about the many, but never claim any, religious/spiritual/cultural aspects of witchcraft. We seek to highlight every facet and promote the sharing of knowledge between witches everywhere.

Wild Rites produces monthly content for download and purchase, and part of every purchase will be donated to the Wildlife Alliance.

The Wildlife Alliance works to eliminate wildlife extinction, and the organization focuses on combatting illegal wildlife trade by cultivating alternate sources of income for struggling, underserved communities.

Wildlife Alliance also provides hands-on rescue and rehabilitation to animals in plight.

WILD RITES

WORK WITH US

Wild Rites is currently seeking writers, designers, and editorial staff members for our upcoming January issue. We are very excited to have openings within our team and are looking forward to working with a great deal of different people. If you are interested in working with us, please email your cover letter, resume, and work samples to: WILDRITES.BLOG@GMAIL.COM Currently, the team is working pro bono on the magazine, but it is our hope that through securing advertisers and more readership, we will be able to pay our hardworking staff.

Submit your work today!

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F

LETTER FROM THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR

DEC. 18

all turning to winter in one of my favorite

times of the year. Things begin to harden and crystallize right before our eyes.

Intentions are set with a concrete will. We prepare ourselves for the darker and colder nights. I think that is why it seemed so appropriate for Wild Rites to begin in this season of rebirth. The seed was planted many months prior to this; it just needed time to change, to grow, to solidify.

I find that witches are always in a constant state of flux. We spend our lives discovering and harnessing our inherent power, and for what? Surely bringing our desires to manifestation is an accomplishment to brag about, but what more can we do? How can we help prolong the upward trajectory of

A glimpse of my November ice storm.

our growing population?

I think we have been in a state of chrysalis Witchcraft has been reborn in the last couple

for far too long and it is time to shed our

of years. It is an exciting time to be alive

skin. Gone are the days of being fearful; of

while misinformation is crushed and techn-

cowering in the corners of bookstores and

ology provides us with a means to

whispering about who we are.

communicate our beliefs more effectively. I spend a lot of my time encouraging others

It is my sincerest hope that through Wild

to listen, to research, and to share. It is with

Rites, more witches will find themselves and

those three actions that witchcraft has found

that their own fire ignites in the wake of ice.

itself in the process of regeneration.

-- KATIE H. WILD RITES

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IN OUR EARS STAFF PICKS

PODCASTS

Looking for spooks,

PLAYLIST

inspiration, or a new way

"Come As You Are" Civil Twilight

to explore fandoms?

"Listen My Son" the Unseen Guest

Check out our fave

"Lovers" Anna of the North

podcasts we are listening

"Tell Me Why" John Butler Trio

to (all available on Spotify!)

"Paris" Maple Syrup

Mostly Dead (top) asks

"Water" Jack Garratt

guests and listeners: do

"Tokyo" the Wombats

you believe in ghosts?

"She" the Misfits

Coffee Talk with Kalyn

"R.E.D." A Tribe Called Red

(middle) covers everything

"Fascination Street" the Cure

from wellness to mental

"Canyons" Joseph

health.

"Seer" Witch

Harry Potter and the Sacred Text (bottom) explores all 7 books through instructive and inspirational themes that teach us about our lives.

WILD RITES

HAVE SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE LISTENING TO AT WILD RITES? Email us with links to podcasts, music, or videos: wildrites.blog@gmail.com!

We'd love to share your work!

"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the loneliness of it; the dead feeling of winter.

Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show."

- ANDREW WYETH -

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CAUGHT IN THE ICE

A FIVE CARD SPREAD BY: SAM A.

Winter is typically the time of year where most people feel stuck in some way. We've come up with a spread that may help you figure out a way to get out of the rut you may have found yourself in.

Card 1: Your signifier card.

Card 2: What has frozen you over/why are you stuck in a particular situation?

Card 3: What/who can be used to help bring you out of this situation?

Card 4: How will you come out of the situation? Will you be positively or negatively impacted?

Card 5: How does this situation affect the rest of the year?

As always, Tarot is not a means to solve your problems. Your path can change with as little as a mundane choice you make. Take everything with a grain of salt.

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NECESSITY IN

WINTER'S WITCHCRAFT BY: ORRICULUM

It can be hard to connect to nature when the cold and wet chase you back inside your warm home and not much seems to be growing outside anyway. It’s easy to feel in touch with the environment in a warmer season when everything is growing and flourishing, when herbs and inspiration are abundant, and every other Sabbat celebrates what we are given under the sun. So often in witchcraft, we seek growth and renewal, chasing first buds and full moons. But before growth, before rebirth, we must take time for death.

Cold, darkness, sleep, everything we associate with death comes with winter. Winter’s witchcraft is of a different temperament than spells practiced in the spring and the rituals of summer.

The nature of the craft changes with the season, as the climate strips away all petals and frills.

Days grow shorter, like eyes slowly blinking into sleep. Just as snow blankets the outdoors we curl up with covers inside.

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The cold of wintertime brings many new methods for spells—as my own craft grows, I find new ways of adapting. It happened a few times that I forgot non-tempered glass bottles out on the window and temperatures got so low the glass broke, before I thought to use this in a spell, or thought to pack herbs into a small snowman to use it as a slow-acting poppet.

While nature becomes seemingly barren it is a good time to see what is around you, what plants are in season. On the east coast of the US, there are some plants I’ve noticed which are in their stride:

WINTER PLANTS & THEIR USES: Birch – rebirth, renewal, and beginnings. I like to peel off the paper-like bark for writing spells on, or wrapping them up in it.

(Make sure it is a tree you are allowed to take from, removing bark from park trees may get you in trouble!)

Chestnuts – fertility and desire, as well as symbolizing the overcoming of obstacles. The burs that first enclose them can be used the same as thorns and pins in spells.

Holly – for consecration, beauty, and revenge. When planted at home it provides protection.

Fir – for resilience, health, and healing. Fir trees retain their color year round as well, and do not shed as coniferous trees do. The branches are often simmered in water for their scent or burned as an incense.

Mistletoe – well known for its use in love magic, but also has uses in protection. However, it is also toxic and should be handled with care, and its berries never eaten. Take care not to use it around anyone who is pregnant.

Pine Branches – present and green all year round, they are used to brush away negativity, and make lovely besoms (if you don’t mind the sap!)

Pinecones – strength in adversity, transformation, and wards against illness. They make a good vehicle for spells, especially ones that call for being burned. They’re easily found in the approaching winter.

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Various types of water play into witchcraft, from herbal tinctures to waters charged with the moon, and just as seasonal as the plants we find in winter is the weather itself. I find the form in which we receive the weather can change its use and magical associations. These are some personal correspondences I have used in my craft.

WINTER WEATHER ASSOCIATIONS & THEIR USES: Icicles – purification, harmony, cleansing, protection. Flicking water off them as they melt has been a seasonal way for me to cleanse.

Snow – healing, stillness, delicate magic. Snow, especially fresh snow, evokes a quiet and introspective feeling.

Hail – protective magic, resilience. Tough and packing a bit of a punch (you know if you’ve ever been knocked with one!), they’re hard to split open, the sort of quality you might want for yourself.

Snowflakes – transformations, balance, liminality. When snow is starting to cover, or recover the area, it shifts your perspective of the place. It highlights new features and makes you consider different angles, but until it finishes it is an in-between stage, a door from one perspective to another.

Blizzards – power, strength, survival. Lovely for charging crystals, at least ones that can weather water safely.

REBIRTH REQUIRES INTROSPECTION. Just because little grows in the winter doesn’t mean it is a time of stagnation. It is a period of meditation and of reflection, shedding away excess and rebuilding crafts from the ground up. The craft is broken down to its bare essentials. This is a time of necessity, reminding us to take only what we truly need into the next year with us, and what you can’t carry with you gets lost in our yearly rebirth. Rebirth requires introspection, for us to take stock of ourselves. It demands we ask why we cleanse with that method, do the traditions I use stem from a place that is relevant to me? How does your craft contribute to the person you want to be?

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When I ask myself these questions, why I always use a particular besom, I wonder what would

Rose Orriculum is

happen if I ever lost it, or if my cat finally had his

just another witch

way with it. If I broke from that routine, could I

who provides

discover something new? If I went out in the cold

resources for new

and found a pine branch to cleanse with, would I

witches and people

find that it works in a way that more suits this

looking into

season? If I hang mistletoe to kiss under, have I

witchcraft. Dwelling under a rock in not-

taken the time to know why? If I only assume it is

quite New England, she enjoys red hair

for love magic, I don’t know to burn it later for

dye, false eyelashes, and being vague as

lasting love. Colloquial knowledge only carries a

she possibly can about her personal life.

craft so far, and if I want to deepen my understanding, I must pause to question what I

CONTACT

already know.

orriculum.rose@gmail.com The year turns with or without us, but our crafts

Tumblr: orriculum

do not have that luxury. They grow with us, and

YouTube: youtube.com/c/Orriculum

little makes us what we are now beyond our own efforts. To not overburden ourselves, we must prune what no longer serves our spiritual health, and make room for new growths.

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REBORN : SIGIL

PAGE 13

In making this sigil, I wanted to create something that could be used as a small gesture of positivity on a particularly bad day or to help in times of seasonal depression.

With the topic of rebirth, I thought about the different things that hibernate to later thrive after the winter months. From this, I took inspiration from the look of shattered ice and the different fragments it can have; I implemented a similar design when creating the lines for the sigil.

The snowflakes are held within the sigil while the sun shines above and the flowers surround the sigil as the end goal: to create warmth and positivity throughout the winter. May this sigil bring you warmth in the coldest of places.

I'm Sam and I run Sam Azzaro Artistry! I'm 24, Nonbinary/Queer, and overall an oddball of a person. In my art, I focus on using various traditional and digital mediums to share my artistic and witchy ideas. In addition to having a small art business where I sell original work, commissions, stickers, etc., I am also a student seeking my degree in the Fine Arts. (Eventually, a master's degree as well.) In my spare time, I practice divination, sigil work, and research the world and the place witchcraft has within it. You can find me, my work, and photos of my bunny, Poe, at: Facebook: samazzaroartistry // Instagram: samazzaroartistry weareweirdatlast.tumblr.com // Twitter: weird_at_last

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MAGICAL FLAMES BY: MARY EVANS CREATOR OF SPIRIT-SPEAK TAROT

A powerful force in these winter months is the hearth, fire.

What leads us through the darker nights and the great unknown.

I use candle magic year round, but I feel that this ritual is extra potent this time of year.

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Taking the time to cut ties with what no

magic work best for you.

longer serves us, we see the earth visually reflect this process of death and rebirth. It

A spell candle, as it burns throughout the

is in the void, the darkness, that all roads

day, is a reminder of our intention as we go

are open to us. Just like in the quiet of our

about our tasks. It holds continuous space

mind, we see great possibilities.

for us and what we are trying to achieve.

I celebrate the idea that magic is about

Personally, I like to make my own spell

intention. All of the physical rituals, tools,

candle labels. Creating them myself gives

and symbolism should be personal to you.

me the freedom to be very specific about

There is no wrong or right way to perform a

what I want. You can often find these blank

spell. Each time you work to manifest or

7-day candles at a dollar store, pharmacy,

clear something from your life, you learn

or gas station. With a blank piece of paper

lessons on how to make these acts of

cut to size, I think about my intention andÂ

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PAGE 17 broken heart necklace to remind me that sometimes certain things must be broken for other doors to open.

Now is a powerful time to give thanks to what is broken in our lives, to release. Soon we will again plant seeds in the spring. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to remember that. We cannot hold onto our dead crops and dry leaves.

Letting go and clearing space creates healthy soil for our future goals.

try to make a fitting visual. Sometimes I use collage, paint, markers, or you could just write on the label as well. I will also write letters or prayers to my guides on the

Mary Evans, born in Nashville Tennessee, was influenced early on

inside of the label.

by her environment. Dark and playful southern folk art and story-

I find it helpful to build an altar for your

telling have become the bones of

candle. Currently, as I write this, I see my

Mary's work. Folk art, serving more

altar in view. It is an unblocker candle

as a craft than "high art" is a

meant to clear the roads for my upcoming

reoccurring theme.

path. I have surrounded it with salt for protection, dark stones like shungite and

You can visit her at:

onyx to represent the mystery of what is to

www.spirit-speak.com

come, a key for unlocking, a lock of my hair

@spirit.speak

to represent change and release, and aÂ

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THE CROONING OF THE

CAILLEACH BHEUR BY: ALANA RAIN

I see stars perched among the branches of the trees I hear wind roaring and cascading overhead I feel shivers crawling up my back, up my spine Don’t you dare come into this land of mine And tell me everything’s dying Not with the wind gnawing at your bones I know nooks where shivering butterflies crawl Letting, after a long year, their spirits go free The storm spirits whisper good day in my ear And go to let strangers know what they’ve got to fear But they leave me alone; the sky knows I’m a seer Afraid of nothing nor anything but me

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Old Time’s gnawed my flesh and ravaged my skin Still, in a few places, they tell tales of my rage They hurry past my cave, trying not to see The things I’ve got hanging on my old oak tree I’ll come soon enough, yes soon I’ll be free Free of Summer’s binding cage I see stars perched among the branches of the trees I hear wind roaring and cascading overhead I feel shivers crawling up my back, up my spine Don’t you dare come into this land of mine And tell me everything’s dying Not with the wind gnawing at your bones I know nooks where shivering butterflies crawl Letting, after a long year, their spirits go free The storm spirits whisper good day in my ear And go to let strangers know what they’ve got to fear But they leave me alone; the sky knows I’m a seer Afraid of nothing nor anything but me Old Time’s gnawed my flesh and ravaged my skin Still, in a few places, they tell tales of my rage They hurry past my cave, trying not to see The things I’ve got hanging on my old oak tree I’ll come soon enough, yes soon I’ll be free Free of Summer’s binding cage

ABOUT THE POET Alana Rain is a British land witch and spirit worker. They work closely with fae and other spirits, and follow the Celtic pantheon, with a special relationship to Arianrhod. Their interests include necromancy, divination, and herblore. They are the Wheel of Fortune of the Tarot.

Tumblr: aira-of-the-circle

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I work primarily in traditional methods: mostly micron-style pens, copic, and colored pencil on bristol board. I draw all manner of things—from scifi, such as in my Mommy Darkside series, to historical and fantasy. I've

UNTO DEATH

been focusing a lot lately on LGBT and mythology and how those can intertwine, as well as telling stories about them separately.

About [title of art]: I'd written this based on some North American traditions of souls and death. Many believed owls could take spirits and that death is just part of the cycle of life.

"The dead souls rose below her, fluttering like fog over the trees. Alistreena stroked the feathers of the owl perched on her hand. It screeched, impatient.

Her hand went through the bird—her time was short. She opened her hand, the owl flapping out into the sky, moonlight gilding his wings.

She leaned back, skull thunking against the tree trunk. Silver eyes closed as she sunk to the ground to wait for her companion to return with the first batch of the souls she required for the coming year.

Already she was weakening and without her those souls would wander forever."

I’m Ailisi, or Suli, or whatever combination thereof. I am demigirl and pansexual. I am also polyamorous and in an amazing relationship with three gorgeous women who inspire and encourage me to keep doing better. I am also a freelance artist. I draw all sorts of things, and am working on a few comics. I have one set in the Star Wars universe that follows a former Sith apprentice and her fight to raise her son to be better than she ever was. I have another that I have been working on and off again with, called Once. I like drawing mythical creatures, monster girls, and pretty much always have my commissions open.

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ARTIST PROFILE:

iluS isiliA "Already she was weakening and without her those souls would wander forever."

Visit the Artist: Tumblr: ailisisuli // Facebook.com/ailisisuli

NATASHA RAICHEL PHOTOGRAPHY

HAUNTED

PAGE 22

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Photo Copyright: Natasha Raichel Photography // Model Instagram: softandpowerful

IT'S THE BENT-NECK LADY.

SHE'S BACK.

If you haven't watched Netflix's the Haunting of

examination of what it means to be haunted. I

Hill House, you must be living under a rock...or

am sure that most people when watching were

you are absolutely too terrified to turn it on.

expecting a few jump scares, but I was not

This hit show has reintroduced multiple

prepared for the questions each episode left me

generations to the word "terrifying." With its

with.

rich story, frightening characters, and heartbreaking secrets, the Haunting of Hill House

Haunting takes a fractured family and dissects

has something for everyone -- not just the

love and loss, mental health, death, addiction,

horror fanatic.

and reconciliation. You'll need to prepare yourself, so keep the lights on. This is more than

What's most interesting about the series is the

a scary show; it's an intervention. - KATIE H.

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"NELL IS IN THE RED ROOM."

"A GHOST CAN BE A LOT OF THINGS. A MEMORY, A DAYDREAM, A SECRET.

GRIEF, ANGER, GUILT. BUT, IN MY EXPERIENCE, MOST TIMES THEY'RE JUST WHAT WE WANT TO SEE." - STEVEN CRAIN PLAYED BY MICHIEL HUISMAN EPISODE 1: STEVEN SEES A GHOST

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SPILL THE TEA BY: AETHNIR Although this winter drink doesn’t technically qualify as a tea, it is a powerful way to facilitate the healing changes that come at this important transitional time of the year. Use your time this season to sit down, relax, and enjoy the magic of cranberry tea.

CRANBERRY TEA 1 package cranberries - Protection and Cleansing 2 quarts water (+ 2 additional cups) Regeneration and Change 2 c. orange juice - Health, Happiness, and Purification ¼ tsp ground cinnamon - Insight, Healing, and Raising Spiritual Energy 3 tbsp lemon juice - Cleansing 2 c. sugar - Dispelling Evil 1) Cook cranberries in water until they pop open.

2) Add sugar and cinnamon.

3) Add 2 more cups water and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.

4) Add orange juice and lemon juice.

5) Stir and enjoy!

Aethnir is a secret eclectic witch who has been practicing in some capacity for 9 years, specializing in kitchen witchcraft and cartomancy. She is a graphic design student in the Southeastern United States. In her free time, she likes to care for her plants and listen to podcasts and classical music. aethnir@gmail.com // Tumblr: emeraldastral // Instagram: emerald_astral

PAGE 27

BARBERWITCH'S

DIVINATION OINTMENT

This ointment is a personal favorite. Connecting to the history of witches, healers and cunning folk in the woods, it smells of earth and power.

Using it helps add clarity and depth to divination by unblocking energy that gets stagnant in day to day life. It’s like flipping a switch in my head: any time I apply it I forget the day’s distractions and am able to read more clearly. Whether raising energy, reading tarot or runes, or doing shadow work, this is one of my favorite things to make during the winter months and give out to my fellow witches for Yule.

INGREDIENTS 1-2 cups rendered animal fat (alternatively, use jojoba or sunflower oil)

SUPPLIES 2 jars, for infusing and storing fine mesh strainer

1 tbsp clove buds

saucepan

1 tbsp roughly chopped pine needles

1-2 oz beeswax

1 tbsp wormwood

NOTE:

½ tbsp mugwort 1 tsp lavender buds

You may exclude the beeswax from

1 tsp juniper berries

the oil alternative and use it as an

8 pods cracked cardamom pods

infused oil. Please take all

Optional: vetiver essential oil, vanilla essential oil (up to 5 drops each)

precautions when working with any

Optional: 1 inch mandrake root, crushed

herbs due to allergic reactions.

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BARBERWITCH'S

METHOD DIVINATION In a canning jar, heat the fat/oil in a water bath until it is fully liquid. Add in the

herbs and put the lid on loosely. Remove the lid and stir occasionally. Keep an eye on the infusion and the pot of water. Replenish the water as needed to make sure the water doesn’t fully evaporate, as this will scald the infusion.

Continue this for approximately 4 hours.* Strain out herbs and pour the infusion into a sterilized jar.

Return to heat and add in beeswax. Adjust amount to desired consistency.

The mixture will keep for up to 2 years. *Alternate method: Start the process and infuse like this for 1-2 hours, then take off the heat and tightly seal the lid. Allow to sit in a warm place for another 7 days, out of direct sunlight. Reheat and strain the herbs through the strainer. Add beeswax and store in a sterile container.

Carlos is a 27-year-old witch who lives in Southern California with his partner and three dogs. When he’s not adding glamour magic to and enchanting clients with baked goods at their salon, he can be found reading a book or out in the forests and hills around his Los Angeles home searching for local plants to grow and propagate for his personal stores and ointments. He describes his practice as Traditional Witchcraft due to the importance of connecting his practice to the local folklore and his culture’s practices, as well as the use of native plants to carry the brunt of his herbal needs. Practicing a form of bioregional witchcraft with some reconstructionist methods, he keeps his cultural practice of brujeria separate and views it as a reclamation and form of duty, keeping traditions and practices of his culture and family alive. He is proud to say he’s been practicing for over half his life and is excited to continue learning and practicing his craft. Tumblr: Barberwitch // Instagram: Barberwitchandtarot https://www.etsy.com/shop/WolfsbaneWitch

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INSPIRED My art process is spiritual for me. I’ll light a

magic. I don’t do sigil work myself but I know

few candles around me, center and ground,

a few witches who do beautiful work. (drauu,

and then start with rough sketches in red

thesigilist, yggithewitch on Tumblr.)

colored pencil. I go in and solidify the lines with my micron pens—those are my absolute

The second is called Hedge and is very

favorite for precise linework. And then,

inspired by folk magick. There is a sweetgrass

depending on the object/subject, I’ll either

braid, rusted old nail, human tooth, deer jaw,

use a slow stippling method or a soft cross-

besom, bundle of lavender, bobcat claw,

hatching method for texture.

acorn, incense censer, ogham runes, bay leaf with a protection sigil, match, mushroom,

I was inspired by not only my own

berry with an eye, and cicada wing. The

involvement of the craft, but many other

hands are again covered in different

witches’. Every witch is different—each of us

protection and defensive sigils, along with an

has our own interpretation, belief system,

intersectional witchcraft sigil.

and trade. In the first piece, Mystic I was inspired by hands tattooed with different

Lilium Tinúviel is an eclectic pagan

sigils for daily protection, as well as common

witch that has been practicing for

“spooky” witchcraft items.

about four years now, and actively practices spirit work and death work. They also practice some herbalism, making

Some of those items are a planchette, potion

tinctures and oils. They are endlessly inspired by the

bottle, severed finger, raccoon jaw, futhark

workings of the universe and love to learn from others.

runes, a candle, hagstone, and hanging stickman (Blair Witch Project). Many of the sigils I simply dug through a few sigil forums for.

Many are a combination of protection,

NOW ONLINE AT: Tumblr: bloodwiine Instagram: occu1tbabe Please feel free to inquire about commissions!

healing, energy, balance, and some defensive

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MYSTIC

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HEDGE

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PAGE 32

REBORN, AGAIN BY: KORVINA

I am being reborn. Like the wind coming off the sea-struck cliffs or from the rolling green moors, it’s a rush and it is sudden. Darkness, then a flood of white, hot light.

Re·born /Rēˈbôrn/ adjective 1: brought back to life or activity.

"The grand concourse stands reborn as a four-star restaurant" 2: having experienced a complete spiritual change.

"A reborn Catholic" source: Google

I was reborn—a late and snowy January morning. I started anew with a fresh slate and new lessons to learn. The first, simply how to function in this new life.

I was reborn again early in life. I had the curiosity of any child growing up. Too much curiosity, some would say. I questioned everything, even those most sacred things that I was not supposed to. I was reborn, I was saved. I should not question my savior.

I died a little inside, a part of me squashed—both from being scolded and also from not receiving answers, so I remained silent—a silence that would eventually, become the usual.

I died completely inside. A light extinguished. This was not supposed to happen to me. Why would this happen to me? I did all I was asked, unquestioningly, unflinchingly. I questioned everything.

And again, I was not allowed to question the will of the one and only savior. A savior whose will was law and whose being was removed of flaws. I was told to stand down, be silent, don’t question.

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But that light that was extinguished was still a coal—a flickering ember.

That light was a flickering ember that reignited when a very real, and a very literal gust of wind caressed my cheeks when my curiosity got the better of me and was no longer afraid to ask and to question—and no longer afraid to find my own answers when the world did not want to provide them for me.

I was reborn. I was reborn to the elements. I was reborn to the spirits. I dedicated myself to arcane magicks and to walk in the footsteps of the mother. Alive and alight again.

I died a little. A candle put away in a cupboard. They didn’t want my light to go out for fear of the wind that brought my flame back to life. They wanted me

I HAVE BEEN SET FREE.

all to themselves. But I had to share them with their demons. I wanted my flame to keep them warm. But it was too hot for them to touch, to understand. A candle in the cupboard - starving for oxygen. A dying flame.

It’s a rush and it is sudden. Like a rush of fresh air. Darkness, then white-hot light. No longer am I contained. I have been set free. Like a raging, roaring, inextinguishable fire, consuming all within its path. Again, I commune with the elements and the wild spirits. Again, I learn of the old ways, reinvigorated to study the arcane magicks and follow in the wild footsteps of the mother. Alive and aflame.

I am being reborn, again.

And I will be reborn again, and again, and again.

Korvina has been a practicing, solitary, eclectic witch for just over a decade. She grew up in the Roman Catholic Church—life was somewhat cruel in that respect, since she also has a curious and ever-questioning nature. It was a significant life event that led her on the path she now follows and is rediscovering.

Korvina successfully completed the 101 through 104 (final) open-community courses on Wicca and Witchcraft at her local metaphysical shop in Louisville, Kentucky—in addition to her own research as a solitary practitioner. Instagram: wyldkat93

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THE CREEK They tossed her with the coming of the tide,

BY: JAX MONROE

treating her bones with the salve of time; with it, she would come to blush, look delicate, and scared cry out ‘Mother! Mother, you have killed me!’ — Those old treacherous bones down there.

She drowned in her own salvation.

The taste of wine on lips (hers) and shadows on hips (mine) compels me to the forest, to the fence where we met.

They say they drowned her.

‘Already dead,’ she said, kissed my cheek, bent my head.

‘A love affair of corpses.’

I watched her sink — I bound her feet.

‘The air,’ she smiled - a secret ‘is all down there.’

When I return to water, will Persephone be there?

Jax Monroe is a twenty-something literary alchemist, shadow spelunker, and Tarot slut, whose intrigue with the magickal power of narrative and word is only getting nerdier with every passing day. They've edited and written for many, many moons and been a pretentious so-and-so for even more.

Instagram: reversedkore Tumblr: reversedkore Tumblr: do-not-go-gentle

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YEARLY

REBIRTH BY: MICHAEL GREYWOOD

This meditation is one that follows the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. It begins with a seed, born into a flower or tree, growing and thriving, dying or hibernating, only to regrow, to blossom and bloom again in the spring.

1. Find a place to meditate. It should be a

happy, you have yet to become anything. As

comfortable place, well lit. Light candles or

you are in this state, visualize yourself

incense or whatever else you need to have in

becoming light. Your entire body, every part

order to successfully meditate.

of you slowly turns into light. What color light does not matter. Choose whatever color feels

2. Sit and start with focusing on your

most natural to you. You then, in this light

breathing. Slow, steady breaths until you are

form, fill the seed or acorn to its brim.

relaxed and prepared for the meditation. As you breathe out, let your stress and worries

4. Once your light has filled the seed, let it

flow out, and as you breathe in, take in

begin to break through the walls of the seed.

calmness.

Not quickly, not with force, but gently, boring through it and into the soil around it. These

3. Let us begin. Close your eyes. Visualize that

light tendrils will become your roots. They will

you are within a seed or acorn. Your entire

connect you to the world and the people

body is encompassed in this state, in this

around you. Your thoughts, feelings,

safe, warm shell. You are content, you areÂ

memories, everything you are makes upÂ

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these tendrils, these roots.

pouring from your roots into the ground, they are feeding your growth. The good, the

5. As they grow deeper into the world around

bad, all of them.

you, your seed begins to break down and your light body has taken on an exact form.

8. Allow your mind to naturally reach the

That form is still growing, however. Your light

current time, and your current experiences in

body is now the form of a tiny sprig, with two

its own way, in its own time. Do not force the

leaves. Pushing up as the roots grow down.

thoughts and memories. Now, you're in full

Push up, up through the ground, until you

bloom, whatever plant you've visualized

break free of the earth and your leaves touch

yourself becoming, and it is time for death

the air. Take a deep, refreshing breath here.

and rebirth. Â Continue with your eyes closed

Your leaves stretch out, the sun is shining

and breath slowly, visualizing that your

and your light body is now encased in the

branches and leaves wither, and your light

fiber of a plant.

and warmth and everything you are at this moment in time is pulled back into the seed

6. Grow. Continue to grow. Allow your roots

you began in, at the heart of the plant's roots.

to dig deeper, holding onto each thought, each memory, each piece of who and what

Here you can wait until another time to

you are for a brief moment before you grow

continue the meditation, or do it immediately.

again. Taking in each experience, taking in everything and learning from it as you grow.

9. If you are returning to the meditation here,

At this point, become whatever plant feels

get yourself back into the state you ended in.

natural. Be it one that exists, like an oak tree

You are a ball of light kept warm at the heart

or a rose bush, or one of your own making.

of the roots, in a seed. Now, either returning to it or continuing, spring has come, and it is

7. Sprout more leaves, form your bark,

time to reemerge from the safety of our

blossom and bloom flowers and fruits. As

seed. Pour your light first back into the roots.

you continue to build on your memories and

Set your intentions and state who you are

experiences, you come to the fullness of your

planning on becoming in the following weeks

fruit. These memories and experiences areÂ

and months.

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10. Now pour your light and intentions into the rest of your plant body. Revive it. Fill it once again with life and blossoms and fruits.

Return to this point in the meditation whenever you've achieved another goal, and make that achievement one of the fruits.

Same goes for any successful change you make in your life when completing any of the steps you've set in your intentions for becoming who you wish to become.

11. This part is repeatable. Do the above until you are who you wish to be. Each new part of yourself becomes a blossom or fruit or bud or branch. New memories, new experiences show up every time you change, every time you grow. Every year you will cast away the old and use it to fuel the new you, to feed the changes you wish to go through.

Michael Greywood is a 28-year-old father of two, and a writer, poet, member of the OBOD, and a witch of nearly two decades. He lives in Northwestern Ohio where he drinks copious amounts of coffee and spends much of his spare time writing or playing with his children.

He will be returning to college next year to get his master's in English Education.

Tumblr: mgreywood (poetry) // Tumblr: thebasildruid (pagan/witch/personal) Twitter: MichaelGreywood // Instagram: Mgreywood1 mgreywood.wordpress.com

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SHARPER I'm Eli, a Canadian student who loves to draw beauty. My main muses are animals and the people I meet. I've been drawing since forever, but have only been drawing in this style for about four years. The horse in the picture is my beautiful mare Dawnguard.  You can find me on Tumblr @ the-dream-glider.

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HIS NAME BY: SAM I.

In our modern understanding of the Hellenic pantheon, we have names for all the different deities: Poseidon, Zeus, Hades… naming these deities helps us understand them better and identify which one we are acknowledging at any given time. But, what if I told you that the naming of the deities was not to be taken so lightly?

It is understood from multiple ancient sources that mentioning deities by name was not to be done lightly; even after mentioning them, to disclose information about the deities’ personalities or worship practices was sacrilegious to the devout. More than once there are records of authors going, “and I would tell you this about this deity, but I cannot.”

And which deity would one never wish to mention anything about lightly? The one whose effect on life cannot easily be argued? The god of the underworld, of course.

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IF HADES ISN'T HIS NAME, WHAT DO WE CALL HIM?

Hades was almost certainly given his name

probably came about from combining ‘πόσις’

because of the domain he rules over; Hades,

Posis, meaning master, and ‘γῆ’ Ge/De,

or Tartarus. The Underworld. The home of the

meaning Earth.

dead. While this name was used by the ancient Greeks, it was more common to refer to him

Now you might be left wondering, well if Hades

as Pluton, “the giver of wealth,” when such

isn’t really his name, what do I call him?

reference was necessary. Otherwise, it was more common and acceptable to simply refer

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. The ancients

to him through pseudonyms or in the

called him by pseudonyms, and sometimes

generous and favorable view that Pluton

called him Hades, still. What mattered was that

inspires.

they showed him respect and acknowledged his importance as the lord of the underworld,

One supposed reason for the nature of his

and so long as we all do the same then we are

name is that prior to the formation of a

fine. The spirit in which the invocation of his

coherent Ancient Greek pantheon, there were

name is made matters more than the name

separate cults for the three ‘main’ gods: Zeus,

itself.

the God of the Sky, Poseidon, the God of the Sea, and Hades, the God of the Underworld.

SOURCES:

While the hesitance to refer to Hades as Hades

HADES: http://theoi.com/Khthonios/Haides.html

is one example, another is Zeus. After all, the

DR. CHRISTOPHER BISHOP, the Australian National University

Greek word for God or the divine is theos or deos, ‘θεός’, and it very easily morphed to ‘ζεύς’, Zeus. As for Poseidon? His name

(full bibliography on website)

Sam is an Australian witch who loves birds.

Tumblr: auroraliferous

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GETTIN' QUIRKY BY: KATIE H.

I have been a fan of the Quirky Cup Collective over on Instagram (@thequirkycupcollective) for a bit now. I mean, who could resist?

Looking at Sydonie's feed is like forever living in joyful spring. I thought that her shop and products were a perfect way to liven up the cold winter months ahead. Plus, when I reached out to her to highlight her business, she was more than happy to answer questions and spread her infectious cheer!

Business Name: The Quirky Cup Collective Owner/Founder Name: Sydonie Baldissera Established: Hobby started in Dec. 2014 and turned it into business in Nov. 2017 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Tell us a little bit about your company: Well, firstly, I'm a small, one-woman run business based in Adelaide, South Australia! I just operate from home out of my bedroom and carport, and I still consider myself to be a "baby business" who is still finding their feet. I'm lucky to have my mum help and still be passionate about it after all this time.

Tell us a little bit about your products: The products that I sell are all things that I have a vested interest in! I absolutely love teacups, books and flowers and such, so I love to share my loves with my customers through the products I sell. I personally love to buy or design things for the store that make you feel good and that you can utilize every day.

How did you kickstart your business: I just started in my bedroom by painting my friends some gifts for Christmas four years ago! I loved creating them so much that I just continued doing it. I handpainted teacups for three years before I truly started my business, and turned it into what it is now. It came to this point where I wasn't making much money as

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(cont.) an artist and I felt like I was a bit stuck, so starting my business and getting my designs printed was the decision I had to make to evolve as a person, and to work towards my future as a creative.

What are some of your favorite products: Ooh, if you're asking about my own products then I would have to say the mugs I have coming next year. Haha! I know that isn't helpful, but I truly am so in love with them and I can't wait to get them out to everybody. I also really love my books because I don't feel like you could ever have too many.

How has your business changed over time: It has changed in so many ways, and it keeps changing all the time. It's so hard to keep up! Obviously, I started out as a hobby and then turned that hobby into my little business. The business itself has gone from being solely teacups to expanding into this cute little online hub for fun and beautiful gifts, and the range just keeps on growing! I've also gone from just working in my bedroom to taking over the garage, the office, the spare bedroom and occasionally the kitchen.

What are some of the products you hope to develop over time: That's a hard one because I feel like the options are limitless, but I also need to stay focused. I would love to do some stationary, and obviously more mugs and teacups. Planters would be really cool and I'd love to do some kinda of travel cup.

I dunno; it's a tough one to figure out, but I'll get there.

What inspires you: I am constantly inspired by nature and all the beauty it has to offer. It is endless and fascinating, and absolutely magical.

Who inspires you: Women in small business! Or people working toward something they really want to achieve and are passionate about. I love seeing my fellow hard-working boss ladies on their hustle, making their dreams come true. It inspires me to keep doing my thang.

If you could choose any word to be your "magic" word, what would it be: If I'm being honest, probably some kind of swear word. I can't go past a good 'curse' word. (Notice my little pun there. Ha!)

IF YOU KNOW OF A WITCHY BUSINESS WE SHOULD FEATURE, EMAIL US! WILDRITES.BLOG@GMAIL.COM

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FOUNDATIONS A WINTER SPELL

Winter is a time to bring everything back to homebase, to take a look over our interior and tend to our inner needs. FOUNDATIONS

WHAT PRESSURE AND HEAT TEMPERED YOU

will help us in that during sleep.

Marble provides us with incredible willpower

WHAT MILLENIA YOU HAVE SEEN

and mastery of thought. The stone can aid in protection, stability, and structure both in

CHANGEABLE STONE OF MANY GRADIENT

the physical and emotional mind. Marble may inspire artistic endeavors, just as it inspired great sculptors to unlock this stone’s mystery.

You may utilize a piece of actual marble (or create your own representation with varying colors of clay) by your bedside for this spell.

Charge your piece of marble under the full moon and set intentions for hardening, steadying, and reinforcement. (This can be repeated with every full moon.)

Recite the following incantation and hide your marble in a drawer near or under your bed.

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FIND IN ME THE INNER STRENGTH TO HOUSE STEADFASTNESS, TO HARNESS FORTITUDE RETURN TO ME THE STRENGTH OF EARTH'S MIGHTY CORE AND REIGNITE THE FLAMES OF REVELATION

THANK YOU On behalf of the staff and all the contributors of the first edition of Wild Rites, we just want to express our deep appreciation.

Thank you for investing in our little passion project. We hope that in the future, we continue to bring you quality content and beautiful imagery that will serve as inspiration for your path.

Part of the proceeds invested in Wild Rites is donated to the Wildlife Alliance. We are proud to share with this amazing foundation that aids the many creatures of this planet. We hope that our monthly contribution can continue to feed and shelter, rehabilitate, and release our furry friends back to their wild roots.

#GETWILDWITCHES