Eros and Witchcraft + Full Moon Reminder
Quick tips but good to know...
Inside: A discussion of the how the erotic shows up in witchcraft, and some important reminders about the upcoming Full Moon ceremony and other events.
Eros and Witchcraft
Last night we had our reading group where we discussed Audre Lorde’s the Uses of the Erotic. I LOVE THIS READING GROUP!! Mostly for selfish reasons, I just love talking about juicy texts with the brilliant minded sophisticates in Mystery Cult. It feels so good to have created a group of folks whom I respect so much, and am constantly learning from. Thank you to all who attended!
One of the things we discussed that I wanted to share with you today is that…
Your witchcraft practice keeps you tethered to the erotic. The practice is erotic in itself.
What I mean by that is: our witchcraft is constantly asking us to return to our pleasure. To notice what we WANT to do instead of what we think we HAVE to do.
Often we can avoid engaging with our practice because we think it has to be done a certain way. We think, “Ugh, I don’t have the time to do all of that right now,” or, “I’m so tired I just want to lay here and watch television — I don’t have the energy to practice magic.”
But what if you allowed your pleasure to show you how to practice magic? What if all magic is, is the practice of feeling our desire and then letting it guide us?
Late capitalist culture is devoted to cutting us off from our desire and our sensuality. If we’re connected to our erotic nature, we can’t be dominated, we’re too powerful. Therefore staying connected to our erotic nature is not only an act of resistance, but it is an essential practice to keep us from being swept away by the imperatives of capital.
Some easy practices to bring more eroticism into your life (which we discussed last night) are:
Staying connected with the beings who bring us joy
Practice magic with others (Full Moon Ceremony is coming up!)
Slowing down, pausing, and checking in with our body about what it needs and wants
Try one of the meditations I send out to you from time to time.
Listening for feedback from the world around you, how is it responding to you, what do the beings around you desire?
I practice this with my cats. They’re all half feral so they don’t always love to cuddle. I have to deliberately slow myself down to listen to their squirms instead of showering them with kisses they don’t want.
You can also do this in your divination practice. What happens when you relax back and LISTEN to the tarot rather than wrestle out the answers?
Developing the capacity to savor all of our feelings and sensations, since they’re all part of being alive.
The feeling of the water on your hands while your doing the dishes, the feeling of desire when you’re craving you’re morning coffee, the smell of the smoke as you blow out the match.
What do you do to stay connected to the erotic? Let us know below.
Reminder About Full Moon in Aries Ritual…
Tuesday 9/26/23 6pm PT: Full Moon in Aries Ritual. (Please note the date for this ritual has changed).
Themes: Aries full moon teaches us to clap back. To stand tall in the face of the mysteries of the Universe. To stand in our full dignity and power, so that we find the strength to move boldly towards what we desire. If you’re ready to claim some gumption, this is the ritual for you!
To prepare for this ceremony:
(if you don't have any/all of these items, don't worry about it, just do your best and use your intuition)
Create an altar (water, candle, incense or feather, stone or bones)
Candles: 1 confidence spell candle (orange preferred, or white), plus your altar candle
Incense or burning herbs (clove, cinnamon, pinon, smoke are all good bets)
A journal and writing implement
Tarot cards if you have them - please pull out the Emperor, the Justice card, the Temperance cards
Flowers or other offerings (like alcohol, herbs, or cakes) for your altar and for the spell
Essential oils (related to confidence, power, and creativity, use your intuition)
Can’t wait to see you there!
Love,
Amanda