This reminded me of the time I was vending somewhere witchy, and this mother was asking everybody if they sold rosemary because "her daughter really needed it and she is starting witchcraft." Well no one had any of course, and when she got to me, I suggested, "have you tried a grocery store?" And she looked offended and I told her that they always sell rosemary at our local markets. 😂 and she said, "BUT I NEED IT FOR WITCHCRAFT!!!" 😂 Yes, everything we have daily can be used for witchcraft. The internet has made it such a strange consumerist hell lol.
My local grocery store sells LIVE herbs! That you can *GROW* !! They used to sell catnip, but that went away and I can't find any that I don't have to grow from seeds.
That's it! Jul Bols is now my new seasonal festive swear word 😂. Drop something on your toe..."Yule balls!" Cat knocks over your wine "Yule bolls" etc etc etc 😂😂😂
Yule Balls suffer from a common problem of social media witchcraft, which is no particular system or understanding of correspondence. Idk how people miss this most fundamental principle of magic, but the ingredients we use /mean specific things/ and /are selected for a reason/. It’s not just about what herbs you like or vibe with, it’s a recipe of ingredients, each playing its specific role to achieve the end result. I can think of little else that outs a pretender more reliably and efficiently.
Oh my Gods. Yes. The lavender and cinnamon just made my teeth itch. It's like the crafter put in whatever herbs/flowers they had with absolutely zero attention to correspondences. I mean, it's not hard - anything by Cunningham, the Farrars, or ANY of the herbal crafters will list correspondences. PAH.
Modern witchcraft and paganism (generally speaking) has gone from reestablishing folk practices to simply being an aesthetic to facilitate individually tailored roleplay. Studying the disciplines a practice draws from is unheard of and too much to ask when it's all about "feeling witchy".
Just a basic education in how sympathetic magic works seems EXTREMELY lacking. Is there a "why" reason that particular stone is good for X, or is the reason because of the color the stone has, or what it reminded people of 500-3000 years ago? If the deciding factor is color, does it have to be exotic and expensive, or is there something you could substitute? With a little research you learn "why" factor is often little more than "It's purple. Wine is purple. Therefore protecting mental clarity." Cat Yronwode makes it clear in her Hoodoo herbal that a lot of old spells call for plants that are now endangered (and sometimes illegal to harvest) in the wild, so it's essential to substitute!
I'm not sure about other countries, but where I live the endangered species laws have severe penalties against owning certain animal parts and plants. Ones I see a lot is eagle and hawk feathers and certain ethnogens. It doesn't matter if you found some shed feathers in the forest, you can't prove that, and fines can be as stiff as $50,000 USD. Exceptions are made for people with permits and registered members of Indigenous tribes. The rest of us can use something else!
Witches not seeming to know what they're doing is a trend I've noticed recently. Re: the consumerism. I think this is what has caused me to be drawn to folk magic like Hoodoo because that's all about using stuff you have locally. These traditions were created by impoverished people who simply did not have the money, literacy, and/or freedom to go fill a cabinet with ritual-only tarot decks, books, exotic herbs and stones, tools, etc. I've left Tarot groups that have gone from legit study and discussion to constant shopping hauls, even though with some divination systems you don't actually need more than one or two books or decks (e.g. Lenormand.) Most of what I get anymore is handmade or vintage, and I donate stuff I don't use anymore to raffles at gatherings. It was explained to me once like this: which will have better energy, something made in a sweatshop somewhere, or something that's sat in an elder's or grandma's bookshelf for 30 years?
With Hoodoo, it is essential to have an ancestor from the African Diaspora. Many workings draw on Orisha and other culturally significant entities. It's definitely best to use what's around you though.
I thought of Yule Balls, like, from Harry Potter. Personally, my family celebrates Yalda, which essentially our country’s version of Yule/Solstice, so that’s what I thought of.
The yule ball distracting spirits sounds a bit like our Appalachian tradition of a witch bottle. You hang blue or green bottles in a tree out your door or if there's no tree, in a window. Malevolent spirits are attracted to the color an go in the bottle instead of the house. They get trapped in the bottle and are dispersed by sunlight. Couldn't say if it's true or where the tradition can from but growing up there was a tree in our yard that my dad had old green bottles hanging in.
YESYESYES! I'd forgotten this, but it's very definitely a variation on the same tradition. In a folk music/magic tradition, the Appalachians have a much purer link to 16-17th century England than most of England does. I'll stop there, because I'm way too much of a nerd on this subject. Pleased to meet you, and the thought of your dad's green bottles has made me very happy
I remember being told to put glass balls in the window and something about sailor knots. It is annoying how commercialized nature lovers of earth magic is becoming
Excited for the possibilities. Also, really wish these authors would lay off the things you NEED in your cabinet and on your altar lists. I think those lists contribute a ton to the consumeristic capitalism at the start of learning this path. Lets try to teach how to find the things in nature, and I don't know, listening to our intuition to make the tools we need from the hidden gems that call to us on our walk abouts. My son used to pick up all kinds of rocks on our walks and go home and bash them about with hammer to try and see what was inside. Good fun for a 5 year old.Anyway, rambling. Sending love.
I have used a piece of brick shaped like a pyramid in my workings that I walked past to and from school everyday, it called out to me. So eventually one day I took it home. It sits on my alter to this day. For 20 years. It's great for anything firey and earthy. Intuition is so important for a witch. I completely agree.
OMG, yes! I just started skipping all those "magical restock" sections of books, full of extremely specific spell supplies like essential oils and dried plants that I'll probably use exactly once. The book exercises that have proven most powerful for me are guided meditations and psychic work, which can be done almost anywhere, for free!
To me a Yule Ball should be like a "kissing ball", traditionally a ball of Mistletoe used as decor at a party. But the Yule Ball would include Mistletoe, holly, pine cones, winter berries and please, please, please, lose the plastic. It serves no purpose. My opinion anyway.
If you lose the plastic, then wherever will the asshat making those craptastic baby smotherers sell them?? Won't anyone think of the sellers of useless shyte?!?
I have a very nice selenite wand. Which is not really speaking to me. My son carved some prop wands for my husband and I's side hustle, and I picked one up and pointed it as a joke. Damn thing near crackled. No idea if it's because it was made by my son, but I'm getting him to make me another now we've sold those ones, but until that arrives, FINGER! (I tend to use a mudra, but still fingers!)
In Traditional Wicca, magical tools have specifications, like what to make a wand from and the measure specific to the witch. It was long the norm that most tools would be hand made or found/repurposed. Even so, you're also taught how to do without or what can be an adequate substitute. E.g., technically you don’t "need" a wand, you can carry on without. I was initiated over 30 years ago, never found the "right" wand. A double terminated clear quartz works just fine, or I do without. (Gesture with index & middle fingers extended✌️but the 2 held close together.)
@@GrumpyOldCroneI have been meaning to learn the mudra. I have been collecting sarees and sari wrap skirts (it is all I wear instead of jeans now) and occasionally, you will find one with pictures of mudra signs all over it. (As well as ones with characatures of various dieties). I got into the wrap skirts and thrift shopping as a means of keeping SILK and viscose out of the landfill, but mostly because I wanted access to cheap silk and silk-like fabrics.
Same. Forged one, carved one with cyborgs and traditional symbols/symbols used in my practice. I like cyberpunk and I practice within multiple traditions due to being from a mixed background. It's my personal wand.
I am not particularly ‘wand’ oriented. 40 years ago I bought an antler wand with a crystal set in the end, also some polished stones set into the ‘shaft ‘ of the antler, the 2 branching points would curve around one’s wrist and it was obviously a left-handed wand! I have kept it these many years but rarely used it. I have another, dragon headed and carved in Vietnam. It is an intact ‘short-timer’s stick’ - where the joints of the shaft are to be broken off for every month you survive the last 7 of your term. It is intact so I am thinking it was a souvenir from someone. I don’t use it either. I do use mudras, those of Simha Mukta. I also use song and sometimes rhyme because it can occur spontaneously. Thanks for providing this forum BTW. I can never talk about this with people in the world-place I live.
i found my mindless consumerism was helped a lot by deleting my amazon account and trying to support smaller businesses rather than lining the pockets of evil billionaires!
Amazon sells so much garbage. Plus they track everything you look at. The extra time I spend buying from other websites, gives me better quality and I buy less.
Absolutely irrelevant to anything here, but yesterday I overheard an Irish man say "Santa Claus" and I heard "Scanty Claus" and now I can't get rid of this head canon that in Ireland some naked bloke pops down chimneys lobbing gifts at people and doing shots of whiskey. I just felt like someone needed to hear that lol.
"except for you fundamental....." I laughed so hard at that. Thank you from a grumpy old crone who complains to her sheep on a small farm in rural Canada. Absolutely can't wait to see what you create in the new year!
Quite apart from the sheer silliness of the "Yule Balls" in a witchy sense, I can hear my Brown Owl yelling "that's not an artsy project"! She had high standards and didn't approve of many crafting kits. As for gifting, my family has a policy of not getting something to gift for a set date. We will either gift when we see something that's just spot on for a particular person or suggest they buy something for themselves
😂 I’m laughing so hard. As a solitary witch I’ve not heard of a lot of things your sharing: baby witch, Yule balls, etc. I’m sure now they will be showing up in my feed.
Blessed Yoool Balz to you 😂 I found your UA-cam channel recently and I would be remiss if I didn't tell you how much I fucking appreciate you! What a beautiful surprise you are to me! You, Alwyn Oak, Hearth Witch and Bex from Witches Cookery are my friends that I just haven't met yet. I'm an American woman who, fortunately, doesn't know anything about Witchtok, I've never purchased a 'witch box" and, as far as I can tell, all of my crystals are real from Mother Earth. I have a fave metaphysical shop where the shop owners are authentic, genuine and some of the most lovely people I've yet to meet in my life. I'm a Nature Girl, 59 years old. Of all my most precious things are items I've foraged or useful stuff that belonged to my grandpa and grandmas. Thank you for sharing your experiences, your personal reviews and spectacular advice on UA-cam. I'm going to be loyal to you bc you are good for me. Sending love and hugs to you.
100% agree that zero plastic should be used in creating Witch Balls, said as an owner of several of the hand blown glass variety 🖤 I’m in a serious no spend on anything that isn’t genuinely needed until next Samhain to ween myself off those dopamine hits & to use up the vast hoard of items languishing in my witch cupboard ♥️ lol I do actually use a genuine antique copper cauldron. I found a new home for my cast iron one of the same size as soon as the copper one arrived. I’ve never regretted the copper cauldron purchase 😉 The Witch Sister deck is honestly awesome, reads very well for me as a communication aid for Celtic deities. I definitely have a weakness for decks so that will be the area that will bother me during the no spend time. Plus zero book 📕 buying until I’ve read my large to be read pile 📚 will be ‘painful’ 🤪😂
My TBR pile is painfully large. I feel slightly better about it after chatting to Hearthwitch a couple of weeks ago, and she said she's started a project to reread EVERY SINGLE BOOK on witchcraft that she owns. Mine is smaller than that, so I feel I'm still a bit ahead... Don't tell me the copper cauldron is awesome 😞. I want it even more now! And yeah, I'm pretty sure the Witch Sister is going to be happening for me soon. Oh dear. I'm failing so hard...
I can’t say I’ve heard of them being called Yule balls but I do know what you’re referring to. In my area they are usually made of glass and filled with stuff that corresponds with the working to support your intentions. Basically a spell jar of sorts in a Christmas bulb. I made one for my daughter for university and filled it with herbs/small crystals that corresponded with self-love and confidence. Told her to hang it next to her mirror and told her why I put it together the way I did. I used a clear glass bulb, not hand blown though, those are incredibly expensive here. I will disagree a bit with your point, I think my craft is what I make it, it doesn’t have to follow centuries old tradition, we can make new traditions. Especially here in Canada, this place is new, we define what Canadian witchcraft is every day, so why not glass spell balls? Not the same as a witches ball for intentions and purposes. As far as the plastic ones I see marketed online, they don’t make sense to me. (Not a fan of plastic either) The contents are pretty but they don’t actually go together in terms of correspondences. I think you have a point, that’s just consumerism. It does just look like witchcraft being exploited to make a buck. Anyway, good food for thought as always.
Hello! Im 60 and have been into the craft since i was 12. My parents supported me and so, i have a butt ton of items. I cpuld open a shop seriously. And then appears a pic or tarot reading and blam..oo those cards are so pretty. And its tempting but i resist as i have no one to bequeath my precious things to. So i try to only get soaps, oils, etc that i can use up. Great video, just subbed❤
@@ellacowin9974 hi! I totally understand! I have so many books to read, shows to watch, etc. But one thing I'm super grateful for..living thru the wonderful music Era I did. Wouldn't trade that for anything. Many blessings to you and yours! And yeh, just shoo those butterflies away and live your wonderful life🤗
Just want to say how much I've been loving and appreciating your videos. I found you through the Resin Crafts video, and spent a good deal of time this weekend watching through your backlog of videos while I've been cleaning and unpacking. Thank you so much for the "why?" question. It made me think a lot about each item I was unpacking onto my altar and now I have a bit of research and learning to do! So again thank you very much for all your videos, you are so practical and straightforward in ways the general online pagan/witch community really needs.
I think that you made a really good point about consumerism. I’m a new witch and I’m still working at accumulating the bits and bobs I need for my alter. While the shopping is a fun and sometimes necessary evil, the bits that I am most excited about are the things that I am sourcing from items I already own! Years ago when I lived on an island I made a silly little project where I filled a small spray bottle with sand/shells from my local beach and tap water-figured this would be a fun representation for Water on my alter! Then I read that a bell can be useful for charging crystals and I was gifted a gorgeous bell from a Buddhist family I stayed with as a HS exchange student! I have kept it safe for almost two decades and I love the idea of bringing it into my practice ^^ Is a spray bottle full of water and beach or a bell from a Buddhist temple particularly witchy? No, but they are part of me and I believe that connection will show in my spellcasting far better than something purchased
Hello Annie, lovely to see you! Yes you do look better today, your cheeks are pinker than last time which means youre feeling better OR you've been on the whiskey - One or the other! 😆 I didnt know about see-through-plastic Yule Balls before now and now i DO know about them, will definitely NOT be buying any! I'm happily painting Christmas cards at the mo and am now up to 56! Maybe time to stop but i seem to have developed an addiction to painting pine trees covered with baubles and ice-skating snowmen. There are worse things. Thanks for your fab video, you always make me smile. Love, Mel xx 🍰 🌻
Hit the nail on the head with this one Annie! I'm not that knowledgeable but even i know about correspondences. I did laugh about your witch bells comment too. I sell in the witchy / alternative community and I see a lot of this sort of stuff. There are definitely people who know what they are doing but a lot of people just make whatever witchy aesthetic tat sells. I would love to see your mug, or indeed any of your favourite witchy tat on camera!
I was recommended your channel just as a started a DIY mosaic project on Saturday afternoon and I've been binging your videos for the whole project. Just as a finished setting all the tiles today, this video pops up. I'm sure I'll be thinking of you every time I look at my refurbished side table for the unforseeable future. Also, I've had a very curated Patreon list and I can't take any new creators on at this time so I'm all for regular ads so I feel I can at least contribute a little bit.
The Patreon comment is very much what I'm hearing from other people as well. I am, however, intrigued by their "free membership" level, which feels like it might be able to act as a community hub without payment. And if that's true, then I've got some potential right there.
@GrumpyOldCrone I'd like to add that even when I pay for a Patreon, I'm still fully on board with ads on top of that. Small, sincere creators deserve every perk they can get for their time and energy put in. And for some UA-camrs without a Patreon, I sometimes just do single contributions in the comment section. Not sure if that's an option for you already when you monetize your channel.
Glad you're on the mend. On the subject of yule balls, I went to a beltane market earlier this year and so many people were selling Beltane Balls which were (like you said) a plastic bauble full of pressed flowers and herbs which makes a lot more sense to me because of the timing. Beltane is more spring-y and bright and colourful whereas yule is the time where you can't get much plantlife. Still don't understand the point of the ball exactly as no witch I know has bad enough hayfever to be warded off by flowers in a sealed bottle but at least it's more thematically appropriate. As for the patreon I'm all for it. I use an adblock so my view time doesn't count for people so giving back through patreon would work well I feel
I’ve been having such a fun time combing through your backlog. I’ve taken a lot of time off from my spiritual practices but want to reconnect since I’m going to be living by myself for the first time ever in a few days and I want to build healthy habits and community while I adjust. I really needed someone to tell me to not buy so much junk while I’m getting back into the groove 😅
I recently discovered your channel and oh boy do I love it! I needed a grumpy old crone in my life! My wife isn't a witch/practitioner but I am, but she also listens to the videos, nodding along and going " see! She's saying it! Listen to your grumpy lady!" And darn.. Yule Bolls, I'll be using it as a safe swear word near my kiddo XD
My rule of thumb is that unless it's either heavily discounted or I stumble upon something that I wasn't expecting to find at a reasonable price, as I do work with a couple of entities (Pluto and Raum) who seem to point me in a good direction by putting things like that in my path, than I probably won't buy it. Unless it's crystals. I am a total sucker for my shiny rocks, I have over 30 different types of shiny rocks, must have shiny rocks. The guys who run the candle and crystal shop in my nearest city know me very well at this point. We all have our weaknesses.
I'm part of an online coven. It's run by an American lady, and it runs like an email list. I've not taken an active part in it for a few years, and there are not as many seasonal rituals run now (these used to be done by someone volunteering to write the ritual, then emailing it out, and then everyone undertaking the ritual at the appropriate time and day). People dip in and out as they want. So setting one up, shouldn't be too much hassle, you'd just have to look at how you'd like it to operate.
Greetings from Portland, Oregon. I’m enjoying your content and would be interested in an online group of sorts in the New Year. I think that would be lovely!
Yup, I hate the adverts however, I'd far rather sit through a few of those on channels I love rather than give YT money by subscribing for add free. Patreon and discord are both having their issues at the moment.
Yule Balls, I am so glad I haven’t seen any of these for sale or online. In my head I’m hearing Prince and Sheena Easton sing “U got the look”, which is exactly what Yule Balls are…. people just want to look like a witch. Whatever happened to the witches pyramid, or four powers of the magus, or to know a witch by their works and their silence. No, scrap any actual teaching and look for balls! To look witchywoo is what matters to these folks. It feels like cultural appropriation. It’s so frustrating!!!!!!! In terms of clearing stuff, I’m in the process of a Swedish Death Cleanse after being recently bereaved. Less is more so I totally get what you are saying about needs over wants and energy of objects.
As I've gotten older, I try to get more mindful of what I'm buying. Now I try to get things I need from either 2nd hand stores or smaller businesses. My area is lucky to have a couple metaphysical shops & book stores so I try to get items from them instead or ordering online from Amazon.
I do believe a lot of creators these days have got moderators amongst the fan base that volunteer to help keep the peace, seems to work for a lot of groups that aren't super big.
You'e my favoite channel right now simply for the fact that every video you upload, I can tell you're doing it because you truly have fun making and sharing the content you do. No matter where your channel goes, always remeber where you started and neve give up that spirit of uploading videos because its what you enjoy doing. :)
I found your channel last weekend and love it. Thank you for your down to Earth thoughts. You describe very closely how I practice! I would be interested in the online coven idea.
My top budget witchy tips: If you can't grow your own or afford fresh, dried supermarket herbs, are fine. No buy years/ months and charity shop buys (after cleansing) are a great resource for witchy tools .
It is very nice to have my coffee and visit with you. I am quite poor so can’t pay for Patreon. For me, a very solitary solitary, your videos are like having community. I’ve had my gray wool cloak since 1970! As for Yule Balls…putting flowers in them is more an Equinox thing if you ask me. I had a friend who would sell ‘wildflower pie’ at our local festival; the point of this is that our fall wildflowers would go to seed in the plastic pie slices, giving you wildflower seeds for the next spring. To me ‘yule balls’ should be something with holly. Retail therapy is interesting but aside from a small ‘spell candle’ holder (the only thing stolen from my altar when then house was robbed) I have not ‘bought’ specific witchy things for the altar save the statuettes I brought from Egypt. Where I live it is probably not wise to advertise one’s beliefs, therefore I always wear my pentacle beneath my clothes. Luckily no one comes to the house; the Horus door-knocker might give me away. I await your next post with great anticipation!
Thank you Annie for another great rant! I boxed up many of my "old" items that I found I wasn't using in my Druidry practice, felt so much better! However, my wish list needs a clear out too! lol Have a fab week, Carolyn x
Loving the content, you hit my pain points with such accuracy. I have a plan, if I need something, I’ll draw it first, if I use the drawing I’ll buy, if not, I’ll use the scrap paper for intention setting and burn it 😊 Sorted ✔️
Anyway, spot on about the need to buy 'stuff' to make ourselves feel better. Also let's not ignore the fact that many of us are magpies and are entirely distracted by and drool over the shiny. Whatever you decide to do, though, I'm in. 😁
Grew up in OK & coastal TX. Witch balls were blue or green glass net wrapped fish floats or bottles on witch trees or combination of both. Draw in or ward off, mixed messages ? Either are pretty/quirky cool & don't think would affect anyone's practice. Enjoy the folklore origins though. Recycle or upcycle, everything old is new over a long enough span of time. Quit needing "stuff" & learn to make what you have into what you need. You will be better for it in the end.
Utube has quite a few recipes for tea that will dissolve the gluey stuff you speak of, rosemary, clove, holy basil, etc. look for herbal congestion relief. (You’ve probably already thought of that.) Thank you for the video.
I always try and wildcraft what i can first. Trade next, then move onto purchasing. Except gems and minerals, i cant help myself with them, but even those i prefer going hounding for and im in a great area for it! But trying to live more minimally and more naturally is something i strive for.
Everyone who disliked this did not watch it fully or -frankly- probably didnt get it. Each negative thing that you said was reasonably argued and done so in a very kind way. You could have been way more critical but you werent. People are just not self reflecting enough when it comes to their ways of living, which is understandable but alsoa bit sad, because I think they would actually be happier if they bought less and valued the individual things more and longer. So yea, i love hearing your refreshing takes, especially on the consumerism. I am also continously trying to minimize what i buy new. Its not necessary to stop it altogether but just be waaaay more mindful.. This actually ties perfectly with your video about the "Why" in witchcraft. Why the Yüle balls? Probably nobody can answer it. xD On monetization: ads are preferable for me anyways as its the easier way to support you (which is why i choose against adblockers as well) (: good luck and hope your channel keeps growing! And dont feel bad if you take sponsors, just dont forget to look into the company And the online coven thingy sounds amazing, i havent seen anything like that done before. Not a very socially active person, but being in a supportive inspirative space is magical indeed. Id even spend some euros a month for being able to partake in that. But im just happy for the channel regardless
So glad I found your channel. Feels like catching up with a friend each week. Even hubby enjoys watching with me when I bob you on. Keep up the great work 👍❤
I'm sort of on the outside of witch stuff,poking my nose in. My intuition is that it is a practice of spiritual contentedness, highly involved in symbolic meaning and with a lot of value placed on organic nature-related stuff. The emphasis on symbolism makes it potentially a sort of highly magnetizable lifestyle hobby, but the emphasis on tradition and hands-on nature work all seems meant to be mostly free. It's all bringing outdoor freebies you grow or forage into the house and simple,handmade projects. Surely you have a stronger connection to things that grow in your area that were grown or gathered by you. Surely symbols like a pentagram on the wall mean more when you make them yourself and know all the processes and things involved with your own hands and have spent time with them to establish a bond with, fix and reinvent them continually. Treating yourself spiritually is so often about ritual and making from things that are already specifically meaningful to you, right? What already exists in the world and in you surely is a matter of what symbols and stuff are easily meaningful in routine life already. I feel like a core value I see, at a glance, in all this witchy stuff is putting value on physical and mental experience and spending time with oneself, others, nature. I'm impressed by how deeply anti-capitalist, or at least, deeply not currency focused the core ethic seems to be.
Yes I think we forget we don't always need to buy stuff for our practice. I love to craft many of my own tools. Or repurpose things. For example instead of buying an athame, I use an antique pair of scissors that belonged to my grandmother ❤
I got to admit I thought that you were talking about Yule dances (Balls) at first. lol. Also I had a question. I'm getting into Tarot more, again, and I have Guided Tarot by Stephanie Caponi. What might be a good next step book? Thanks and I love you channel!
You do need Julia jeffreys Witch sister Tarot it is fabulous and individual in its interpretations it has become one of my all time favourites. I hope you get it at Yule or something. I get where your coming from and you are right we don`t need to get dopamine from buying but from being. Get well ! xxx
I detest ads to the point that we pay for UA-cam Premium. I am also interested in Patreon. I have a few I pay into, only one offers tangible benefits that I don't take full advantage of. I was more interested in helping a creative person *be* creative and then they got semi- famous for it. Anyway, looking forward to whatever you put together after the xmas season.
I have a dozen tarot decks and oracles. I just added Julia Jeffrey's Tarot Deck to my Wishlist. 😎 I love the look of Witch Balls, but yeah, aren't they supposed to repel witches? Why would a witch want one? Kinda like Sabrina the teenage witch having a cat named "Salem".
I have very little money and don't buy much. I'm definitely adverse to capitalism but have to admit, i purchased a copper cauldron with bronze feet from Etsy. Antique from France. It was reasonably priced and free shipping so i was nervous it was going to be crap but It's absolutely beautiful. We have nothing like it in my country. The cauldrons we do have are tiny tiny. I'm literally in love with it. It's solid, definitely old hand hammered and nice and big. It's a stunner and I use it often. I do have a bit of a thing for cauldrons though....
I do not do commercialism. Budgets that are tight helps. I get my dopamine hit from taking walks in nature and coming home with a pocket full of treasures. Rosehips, conkers, hazel nuts, nettles, petals. Every season has its treasures. I have a problem. I also want a giant cauldron, one i can suspend over a fire pit and make a good stew. I don't eat stew. Still love the idea of giant fire pit cauldron. Possibilities are endless. Storage space and usage opportunities not so much.
Oh dear! I seem to be utterly clueless. Looking at the title i had to google "retail therapy" and as in my native language there is only one word that means both yule and christmas and most of the basic stuff that goes to a regular christmas tree are litterally called yule balls, I was starting to get nervous about why the strong hate against such a basic thing. :D
Fabulous video yet again, don’t know why Yule Bols makes me think of a “witchy” cocktail mixer 😂, so glad to hear your thoughts on monetising. I’d love pay for a patron and I love to have some on line group or lessons ❤. Totally different question, have you seen Marvels “Agatha all along “ did you like it and what are your thoughts on witches portrayal in popular TV and movies
Notice I did Not ask for advice on what witchy crap I'm to buy lol I will simply listen and learn whilst waffling afirming, greatful & insane comical comments at ya 😆👍🙏👩🏫✨💗🍷
Well done! Save your money! There are some nice things to buy, and there is some fun to be had with retail therapy (copper cauldron....) but knowing what will be useful is by far the most important thing.
So little thought from those people. It's like hitting the accelerator and the brake in your car at the same time! And yeah - endless amounts of plastic. I'm so tired of it.
😂 I’m laughing so hard. As a solitary witch I’ve not heard of a lot of things your sharing: baby witch, Yule balls, etc. I’m sure now they will be showing up in my feed. Also. The glass net floats are thick and sealed off. How’d you get your “tinsel” in the witch ball?
And that is how a witch is ensnared by a witch's ball!! They stare and stare and stare some more at this marvelous of magic, forget utterly WHY they were sneaking around to begin with and eventually just toddle off home, trying to figure out HOW to get tinsel into a sealed glass ball! I mean, now they've got battery operated led fairy lights? HOW?!?
I'd be interested in an online community, i think that would be fun! I'm not sure i can dump Amazon just yet but will try and buy local, thanks for the reminder 😮
I don’t know, I think I could make cinnamon and lavender work for me, as an anxious procrastinator. “Come on, let’s get going, let’s get it done! But let’s not work ourselves into a panic attack doing it. Let’s get it done…calmly”
So if the point is to do like warding, one, you could just do a traditional vinegar pointy objects pee in it bury it which jar. lol These sound like do it yourself which balls which are usually made out of blown glass. For that kind of thing I mean you'd want a black Crystal something like obsidian or jet, specifically protective herbs, and maybe some chili peppers to like ward away and bite whatever is coming at you.
I nean i like yule balls. But as a craft i can do with the kids. They can be very pretty for a decoration. We use things that are actually appropriate for the season like juniper or pine, and cinnamon, dried orange, cloves. Things that actually make sense for mid winter. Im not doing it to ward off evil spirits. I just think they look pretty and the kids have fun making them with mom and dad.
From my observations it appears as tho those “witchy” purchases are more for shock value and status. I have seen much laziness and disrespect within some of the newer practionners who label themselves witch, priest/ess or my personal fave, goddess, for attention, a purely look at me I’m dangerous action, without any esoteric/metaphysical knowledge, intention to study/develop skills or develop relationships with the Other Worlds. Retailers market to these folks who want it now without the work.
Your so funny 👏👏👏I've tried to track back through your stuff but to many to get thugh. I'll just stay forward with us 🙌I'm your new twitchy witchy Student 👩🏫✨Like it or not 😆🙏💗 Ps.... I think I've met you and your husband. 👍I was from Scunny. Gigs ect perhaps. Festivals , possible old friends in common. I'm not sure but I knew I'd seen you before. 😊🍷💗
Well that's pretty cool! I do pop up in the Shire quite a lot with music stuff etc. :-). If you met me before 2017, you might not have met Mr Grumpy Old Crone - I got divorced and remarried my lovely Mr GOC after 2017. I look forward to meeting you again!
Honestly, anyone who says you can’t put magical ingredients into a plastic bauble to hang in your tree clearly doesn’t have small children or cats. Nowhere in my house is 100% safe from the little criminals, so thin glass items are simply not worth the risk. I have a plastic garden gnome and a plastic fairy house protecting my garden and both are doing a superb job. After all, weren’t we just harping on about using what you have? It’s fun to be judgy, goddess knows I enjoy a good rant or two about how people are dunces, but I’m not going to preach about intention setting, etc. and then tell folks they’re doing their craft wrong. That said: I know some of you want to have a go at me about the plastic. I can smell it. Save yourself the time. I try to keep those purchases to an absolute minimum. Items I buy tend to stay with me for many, maaaaany years. And my magical practice is just fine, thank you. As far as buying crap goes in general, it would be nice if peeps applied critical thinking more often and in the case of witchcraft, combine that with learning the principles of the craft first (they might then realize they really don’t need to buy a damn thing), but that’s not the trend I’m seeing. Thanks for another fun video. Rant on.
I think a lot of people who haven't done enough research seem to think witchcraft is like Harry Potter in real life. There's a big theme of consumerism in the books too, hell the first thing they do is go shopping. A lot of this newer "witchy" stuff seems very reminiscent of fantasy books. Which is fine if you like that, but call it what it is. Larping already exists. Same with the yule balls. If you want to do a fun craft project, just do a fun craft project. There's no need to turn it into something it isn't.
To be fair, this consumerism traces back to the '80s when the publishing companies decided to go all in and made Wicca a cottage industry which gave rise to so called Big Name Pagans. It rippled out from there. They profit off the dopamine high consumers get from buying stuff, just tell them what they want to hear. "You don't need to seek training or a coven, you don't need community. All you need is to buy our books and load up on gimmicky witchy gewgaws. Just do what feels right, make it up as you go along. If you say you're a high priest/ess or some other title, then you are, etc." It just worsened exponentially once the internet came along.
And there was I going all Harry Potter and thinking that a Yule Ball was a dance around about Yuletide. You need a musical introduction to the "Meat and 2 Potatoes" section, my thoughts head towards about 5 ominous chords, with some good bass. You could possibly do an on-line coven as a stream - do you have enough subscribers for UA-cam to let you stream? You can run streams so that only people who are subscribed to the channel can comment. With an on-line coven there's the question of who you want to keep out, as well as who you want to let in. If I were in your shoes I'd want to keep the fundamentalist Christians out. While I think they'd be very unlikely to gatecrash a physical coven, I am not so sure that they'd have the same reservations about gatecrashing an on-line coven. Then there are people like me. I don't share your beliefs but I do share your attitudes (that's why I enjoy your videos)! But should I be allowed into a coven meeting? What about people who are wondering about whether or not witchcraft is for them? Maybe you'd be better with the online coven on Zoom (or something similar, there are apparently computer security issues with Zoom), and not on UA-cam. You also mentioned that you enjoyed running a face to face training session recently and that you would be interested in perhaps doing some more. Are you going to be pushing yourself too hard if you try for both face to face training and also running an on-line coven?
Okay but on the note of learning more via the internet (which in my head is what an online coven may be about?) does anyone know of other channels that might be good for learning these things as someone newly into paganism? I’ve looked around a bit and this is about the first channel I’ve come across with such a great sense of humour and groundedness in a more varied practice, but I’d like to see more! I feel like there must be more good witchy/pagany stuff that folks know of (obviously other creators have their own style, but I figure folks who like this stuff might have similar taste to me haha)? Anyways, thanks anyone who can help and thanks for so many thoughtful grumbles about this stuff, I feel like I’m learning a lot here and I love learning through a grumble :)
Jül bøls! I am also deafer than usual because one of my hearing aids has disappeared, probably having been stolen by the cats. Fortunately my husband is used to me shouting 'Could I have my hearing aid back please' up the stairs into apparently thin air.
That produced a silver hairstick I lost months ago, so at least the local immaterials don't seem to be offended at me. (One of the cats definitely is offended, but that is because he has had to have a week-long course of antihistamines rather than anything esoteric)
My cat is currently washing his yule balls right in front of me, which is indeed quite distracting. I might be an evil witch
😆🐱
When a cat cleans its rear parts, it forms a pentagram.
This reminded me of the time I was vending somewhere witchy, and this mother was asking everybody if they sold rosemary because "her daughter really needed it and she is starting witchcraft." Well no one had any of course, and when she got to me, I suggested, "have you tried a grocery store?" And she looked offended and I told her that they always sell rosemary at our local markets. 😂 and she said, "BUT I NEED IT FOR WITCHCRAFT!!!" 😂 Yes, everything we have daily can be used for witchcraft. The internet has made it such a strange consumerist hell lol.
I love the Badia brand of spices sold here in the US. It's so cheap, for a nice big bottle.
Lol what does she think rosemary is? What you use it for has nothing to do with who you pay for it. 😂
My local grocery store sells LIVE herbs! That you can *GROW* !!
They used to sell catnip, but that went away and I can't find any that I don't have to grow from seeds.
@@zarinaromanets7290 She probably thought it was gonna change her attitude or something lol
Funny! 😆
She'll be really shocked that lots of us grow it in the garden!
That's it! Jul Bols is now my new seasonal festive swear word 😂. Drop something on your toe..."Yule balls!" Cat knocks over your wine "Yule bolls" etc etc etc 😂😂😂
I would be lying if I tried to deny I haven't been doing exactly that....
Haha yes brilliant! I'll be joining you n Annie on this!!
🍰🌻
JÚL BOLTI!!!!
Yule Balls suffer from a common problem of social media witchcraft, which is no particular system or understanding of correspondence. Idk how people miss this most fundamental principle of magic, but the ingredients we use /mean specific things/ and /are selected for a reason/. It’s not just about what herbs you like or vibe with, it’s a recipe of ingredients, each playing its specific role to achieve the end result. I can think of little else that outs a pretender more reliably and efficiently.
Oh my Gods. Yes. The lavender and cinnamon just made my teeth itch. It's like the crafter put in whatever herbs/flowers they had with absolutely zero attention to correspondences. I mean, it's not hard - anything by Cunningham, the Farrars, or ANY of the herbal crafters will list correspondences. PAH.
Modern witchcraft and paganism (generally speaking) has gone from reestablishing folk practices to simply being an aesthetic to facilitate individually tailored roleplay. Studying the disciplines a practice draws from is unheard of and too much to ask when it's all about "feeling witchy".
Just a basic education in how sympathetic magic works seems EXTREMELY lacking. Is there a "why" reason that particular stone is good for X, or is the reason because of the color the stone has, or what it reminded people of 500-3000 years ago? If the deciding factor is color, does it have to be exotic and expensive, or is there something you could substitute? With a little research you learn "why" factor is often little more than "It's purple. Wine is purple. Therefore protecting mental clarity." Cat Yronwode makes it clear in her Hoodoo herbal that a lot of old spells call for plants that are now endangered (and sometimes illegal to harvest) in the wild, so it's essential to substitute!
I'm not sure about other countries, but where I live the endangered species laws have severe penalties against owning certain animal parts and plants. Ones I see a lot is eagle and hawk feathers and certain ethnogens. It doesn't matter if you found some shed feathers in the forest, you can't prove that, and fines can be as stiff as $50,000 USD. Exceptions are made for people with permits and registered members of Indigenous tribes. The rest of us can use something else!
Witches not seeming to know what they're doing is a trend I've noticed recently.
Re: the consumerism. I think this is what has caused me to be drawn to folk magic like Hoodoo because that's all about using stuff you have locally. These traditions were created by impoverished people who simply did not have the money, literacy, and/or freedom to go fill a cabinet with ritual-only tarot decks, books, exotic herbs and stones, tools, etc. I've left Tarot groups that have gone from legit study and discussion to constant shopping hauls, even though with some divination systems you don't actually need more than one or two books or decks (e.g. Lenormand.) Most of what I get anymore is handmade or vintage, and I donate stuff I don't use anymore to raffles at gatherings. It was explained to me once like this: which will have better energy, something made in a sweatshop somewhere, or something that's sat in an elder's or grandma's bookshelf for 30 years?
With Hoodoo, it is essential to have an ancestor from the African Diaspora. Many workings draw on Orisha and other culturally significant entities. It's definitely best to use what's around you though.
I saw YULE BALLS and thought I needed a posh frock 😂
That only occurred to me after I'd said it with that stupid accent like a million times!
I thought of Yule Balls, like, from Harry Potter. Personally, my family celebrates Yalda, which essentially our country’s version of Yule/Solstice, so that’s what I thought of.
Hahaha yes! 😆
🍰🌻
The yule ball distracting spirits sounds a bit like our Appalachian tradition of a witch bottle. You hang blue or green bottles in a tree out your door or if there's no tree, in a window. Malevolent spirits are attracted to the color an go in the bottle instead of the house. They get trapped in the bottle and are dispersed by sunlight. Couldn't say if it's true or where the tradition can from but growing up there was a tree in our yard that my dad had old green bottles hanging in.
YESYESYES! I'd forgotten this, but it's very definitely a variation on the same tradition. In a folk music/magic tradition, the Appalachians have a much purer link to 16-17th century England than most of England does. I'll stop there, because I'm way too much of a nerd on this subject. Pleased to meet you, and the thought of your dad's green bottles has made me very happy
I remember being told to put glass balls in the window and something about sailor knots. It is annoying how commercialized nature lovers of earth magic is becoming
Blue bottles too. Those were common.
Excited for the possibilities. Also, really wish these authors would lay off the things you NEED in your cabinet and on your altar lists. I think those lists contribute a ton to the consumeristic capitalism at the start of learning this path. Lets try to teach how to find the things in nature, and I don't know, listening to our intuition to make the tools we need from the hidden gems that call to us on our walk abouts. My son used to pick up all kinds of rocks on our walks and go home and bash them about with hammer to try and see what was inside. Good fun for a 5 year old.Anyway, rambling. Sending love.
I have used a piece of brick shaped like a pyramid in my workings that I walked past to and from school everyday, it called out to me. So eventually one day I took it home. It sits on my alter to this day. For 20 years. It's great for anything firey and earthy. Intuition is so important for a witch. I completely agree.
OMG, yes! I just started skipping all those "magical restock" sections of books, full of extremely specific spell supplies like essential oils and dried plants that I'll probably use exactly once. The book exercises that have proven most powerful for me are guided meditations and psychic work, which can be done almost anywhere, for free!
To me a Yule Ball should be like a "kissing ball", traditionally a ball of Mistletoe used as decor at a party. But the Yule Ball would include Mistletoe, holly, pine cones, winter berries and please, please, please, lose the plastic. It serves no purpose. My opinion anyway.
I'd forgotten about kissing balls! But yes, absolutely that!
Yes! It is! ❤
If you lose the plastic, then wherever will the asshat making those craptastic baby smotherers sell them??
Won't anyone think of the sellers of useless shyte?!?
Yup. Glass bulbs are also so cheap. Wait until the day after Christmas, get 'em on massive clearance! I got 100 of them for around $7.
I have 2 wands, both I made myself from prunings from the garden but I have to say, if i need a pointing/y thing, I mostly used my finger 👉🏻 😊
I have a very nice selenite wand. Which is not really speaking to me. My son carved some prop wands for my husband and I's side hustle, and I picked one up and pointed it as a joke. Damn thing near crackled. No idea if it's because it was made by my son, but I'm getting him to make me another now we've sold those ones, but until that arrives, FINGER! (I tend to use a mudra, but still fingers!)
In Traditional Wicca, magical tools have specifications, like what to make a wand from and the measure specific to the witch. It was long the norm that most tools would be hand made or found/repurposed. Even so, you're also taught how to do without or what can be an adequate substitute. E.g., technically you don’t "need" a wand, you can carry on without. I was initiated over 30 years ago, never found the "right" wand. A double terminated clear quartz works just fine, or I do without. (Gesture with index & middle fingers extended✌️but the 2 held close together.)
@@GrumpyOldCroneI have been meaning to learn the mudra. I have been collecting sarees and sari wrap skirts (it is all I wear instead of jeans now) and occasionally, you will find one with pictures of mudra signs all over it. (As well as ones with characatures of various dieties).
I got into the wrap skirts and thrift shopping as a means of keeping SILK and viscose out of the landfill, but mostly because I wanted access to cheap silk and silk-like fabrics.
Same. Forged one, carved one with cyborgs and traditional symbols/symbols used in my practice. I like cyberpunk and I practice within multiple traditions due to being from a mixed background. It's my personal wand.
I am not particularly ‘wand’ oriented. 40 years ago I bought an antler wand with a crystal set in the end, also some polished stones set into the ‘shaft ‘ of the antler, the 2 branching points would curve around one’s wrist and it was obviously a left-handed wand! I have kept it these many years but rarely used it. I have another, dragon headed and carved in Vietnam. It is an intact ‘short-timer’s stick’ - where the joints of the shaft are to be broken off for every month you survive the last 7 of your term. It is intact so I am thinking it was a souvenir from someone. I don’t use it either. I do use mudras, those of Simha Mukta. I also use song and sometimes rhyme because it can occur spontaneously. Thanks for providing this forum BTW. I can never talk about this with people in the world-place I live.
i found my mindless consumerism was helped a lot by deleting my amazon account and trying to support smaller businesses rather than lining the pockets of evil billionaires!
I should find the strength to do just that. Hats off to you!
@ it was a bit of an adjustment at first but it’s been over 5 years now and would never go back! you can do it 💪
Hear hear!
Amazon sells so much garbage. Plus they track everything you look at. The extra time I spend buying from other websites, gives me better quality and I buy less.
Absolutely irrelevant to anything here, but yesterday I overheard an Irish man say "Santa Claus" and I heard "Scanty Claus" and now I can't get rid of this head canon that in Ireland some naked bloke pops down chimneys lobbing gifts at people and doing shots of whiskey. I just felt like someone needed to hear that lol.
OMG! You just made my day! Can’t stop laughing or picturing that! Thank you!
@@deniseoconnor2490 I somehow knew the audience here was the right one for Scanty Claus lol. Glad it could make you laugh :D
That may actually be preferable. I'm down with Scanty Claus.
"except for you fundamental....." I laughed so hard at that. Thank you from a grumpy old crone who complains to her sheep on a small farm in rural Canada. Absolutely can't wait to see what you create in the new year!
They can go do one, right?
Quite apart from the sheer silliness of the "Yule Balls" in a witchy sense, I can hear my Brown Owl yelling "that's not an artsy project"! She had high standards and didn't approve of many crafting kits.
As for gifting, my family has a policy of not getting something to gift for a set date. We will either gift when we see something that's just spot on for a particular person or suggest they buy something for themselves
😂 I’m laughing so hard. As a solitary witch I’ve not heard of a lot of things your sharing: baby witch, Yule balls, etc. I’m sure now they will be showing up in my feed.
Blessed Yoool Balz to you 😂
I found your UA-cam channel recently and I would be remiss if I didn't tell you how much I fucking appreciate you! What a beautiful surprise you are to me! You, Alwyn Oak, Hearth Witch and Bex from Witches Cookery are my friends that I just haven't met yet.
I'm an American woman who, fortunately, doesn't know anything about Witchtok, I've never purchased a 'witch box" and, as far as I can tell, all of my crystals are real from Mother Earth. I have a fave metaphysical shop where the shop owners are authentic, genuine and some of the most lovely people I've yet to meet in my life.
I'm a Nature Girl, 59 years old. Of all my most precious things are items I've foraged or useful stuff that belonged to my grandpa and grandmas.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, your personal reviews and spectacular advice on UA-cam. I'm going to be loyal to you bc you are good for me.
Sending love and hugs to you.
100% agree that zero plastic should be used in creating Witch Balls, said as an owner of several of the hand blown glass variety 🖤
I’m in a serious no spend on anything that isn’t genuinely needed until next Samhain to ween myself off those dopamine hits & to use up the vast hoard of items languishing in my witch cupboard ♥️
lol I do actually use a genuine antique copper cauldron. I found a new home for my cast iron one of the same size as soon as the copper one arrived. I’ve never regretted the copper cauldron purchase 😉
The Witch Sister deck is honestly awesome, reads very well for me as a communication aid for Celtic deities. I definitely have a weakness for decks so that will be the area that will bother me during the no spend time.
Plus zero book 📕 buying until I’ve read my large to be read pile 📚 will be ‘painful’ 🤪😂
My TBR pile is painfully large. I feel slightly better about it after chatting to Hearthwitch a couple of weeks ago, and she said she's started a project to reread EVERY SINGLE BOOK on witchcraft that she owns. Mine is smaller than that, so I feel I'm still a bit ahead...
Don't tell me the copper cauldron is awesome 😞. I want it even more now! And yeah, I'm pretty sure the Witch Sister is going to be happening for me soon. Oh dear. I'm failing so hard...
My husband was annoying me while watching your video so I said “Yule Balls!” to him 😂 He looked so confused 😂 Love your videos xx
I can’t say I’ve heard of them being called Yule balls but I do know what you’re referring to. In my area they are usually made of glass and filled with stuff that corresponds with the working to support your intentions. Basically a spell jar of sorts in a Christmas bulb. I made one for my daughter for university and filled it with herbs/small crystals that corresponded with self-love and confidence. Told her to hang it next to her mirror and told her why I put it together the way I did. I used a clear glass bulb, not hand blown though, those are incredibly expensive here. I will disagree a bit with your point, I think my craft is what I make it, it doesn’t have to follow centuries old tradition, we can make new traditions. Especially here in Canada, this place is new, we define what Canadian witchcraft is every day, so why not glass spell balls? Not the same as a witches ball for intentions and purposes.
As far as the plastic ones I see marketed online, they don’t make sense to me. (Not a fan of plastic either) The contents are pretty but they don’t actually go together in terms of correspondences. I think you have a point, that’s just consumerism. It does just look like witchcraft being exploited to make a buck. Anyway, good food for thought as always.
Hello! Im 60 and have been into the craft since i was 12. My parents supported me and so, i have a butt ton of items. I cpuld open a shop seriously. And then appears a pic or tarot reading and blam..oo those cards are so pretty. And its tempting but i resist as i have no one to bequeath my precious things to. So i try to only get soaps, oils, etc that i can use up. Great video, just subbed❤
While I am so glad for the privilege of being old, that feeling that this ride's almost over gives me butterflies in my stomach.
@@ellacowin9974 hi! I totally understand! I have so many books to read, shows to watch, etc. But one thing I'm super grateful for..living thru the wonderful music Era I did. Wouldn't trade that for anything. Many blessings to you and yours! And yeh, just shoo those butterflies away and live your wonderful life🤗
Just want to say how much I've been loving and appreciating your videos. I found you through the Resin Crafts video, and spent a good deal of time this weekend watching through your backlog of videos while I've been cleaning and unpacking. Thank you so much for the "why?" question. It made me think a lot about each item I was unpacking onto my altar and now I have a bit of research and learning to do! So again thank you very much for all your videos, you are so practical and straightforward in ways the general online pagan/witch community really needs.
Thankyou so much!
I think that you made a really good point about consumerism. I’m a new witch and I’m still working at accumulating the bits and bobs I need for my alter.
While the shopping is a fun and sometimes necessary evil, the bits that I am most excited about are the things that I am sourcing from items I already own! Years ago when I lived on an island I made a silly little project where I filled a small spray bottle with sand/shells from my local beach and tap water-figured this would be a fun representation for Water on my alter! Then I read that a bell can be useful for charging crystals and I was gifted a gorgeous bell from a Buddhist family I stayed with as a HS exchange student! I have kept it safe for almost two decades and I love the idea of bringing it into my practice ^^
Is a spray bottle full of water and beach or a bell from a Buddhist temple particularly witchy? No, but they are part of me and I believe that connection will show in my spellcasting far better than something purchased
Hello Annie, lovely to see you! Yes you do look better today, your cheeks are pinker than last time which means youre feeling better OR you've been on the whiskey - One or the other! 😆
I didnt know about see-through-plastic Yule Balls before now and now i DO know about them, will definitely NOT be buying any!
I'm happily painting Christmas cards at the mo and am now up to 56! Maybe time to stop but i seem to have developed an addiction to painting pine trees covered with baubles and ice-skating snowmen. There are worse things.
Thanks for your fab video, you always make me smile.
Love, Mel xx 🍰 🌻
I'm definitely feeling a lot better. I've got work this evening, so can't hit the whisky, but it's a definite thought!
😂 My favorite video of yours to date! I love that you are straightforward. So refreshing ❤
Hit the nail on the head with this one Annie! I'm not that knowledgeable but even i know about correspondences. I did laugh about your witch bells comment too. I sell in the witchy / alternative community and I see a lot of this sort of stuff. There are definitely people who know what they are doing but a lot of people just make whatever witchy aesthetic tat sells. I would love to see your mug, or indeed any of your favourite witchy tat on camera!
I was recommended your channel just as a started a DIY mosaic project on Saturday afternoon and I've been binging your videos for the whole project. Just as a finished setting all the tiles today, this video pops up. I'm sure I'll be thinking of you every time I look at my refurbished side table for the unforseeable future.
Also, I've had a very curated Patreon list and I can't take any new creators on at this time so I'm all for regular ads so I feel I can at least contribute a little bit.
The Patreon comment is very much what I'm hearing from other people as well. I am, however, intrigued by their "free membership" level, which feels like it might be able to act as a community hub without payment. And if that's true, then I've got some potential right there.
@GrumpyOldCrone I'd like to add that even when I pay for a Patreon, I'm still fully on board with ads on top of that. Small, sincere creators deserve every perk they can get for their time and energy put in. And for some UA-camrs without a Patreon, I sometimes just do single contributions in the comment section. Not sure if that's an option for you already when you monetize your channel.
@@marlyd Thankyou so much! I'm still exploring possibilities, and figuring what will work without wanting to be a burden on people.
Glad you're on the mend. On the subject of yule balls, I went to a beltane market earlier this year and so many people were selling Beltane Balls which were (like you said) a plastic bauble full of pressed flowers and herbs which makes a lot more sense to me because of the timing. Beltane is more spring-y and bright and colourful whereas yule is the time where you can't get much plantlife. Still don't understand the point of the ball exactly as no witch I know has bad enough hayfever to be warded off by flowers in a sealed bottle but at least it's more thematically appropriate.
As for the patreon I'm all for it. I use an adblock so my view time doesn't count for people so giving back through patreon would work well I feel
I’ve been having such a fun time combing through your backlog. I’ve taken a lot of time off from my spiritual practices but want to reconnect since I’m going to be living by myself for the first time ever in a few days and I want to build healthy habits and community while I adjust. I really needed someone to tell me to not buy so much junk while I’m getting back into the groove 😅
How I loved (and agreed) with your YULE BALLS rant!! Thank you!
I recently discovered your channel and oh boy do I love it! I needed a grumpy old crone in my life! My wife isn't a witch/practitioner but I am, but she also listens to the videos, nodding along and going " see! She's saying it! Listen to your grumpy lady!"
And darn.. Yule Bolls, I'll be using it as a safe swear word near my kiddo XD
My rule of thumb is that unless it's either heavily discounted or I stumble upon something that I wasn't expecting to find at a reasonable price, as I do work with a couple of entities (Pluto and Raum) who seem to point me in a good direction by putting things like that in my path, than I probably won't buy it. Unless it's crystals. I am a total sucker for my shiny rocks, I have over 30 different types of shiny rocks, must have shiny rocks. The guys who run the candle and crystal shop in my nearest city know me very well at this point. We all have our weaknesses.
I'm part of an online coven. It's run by an American lady, and it runs like an email list. I've not taken an active part in it for a few years, and there are not as many seasonal rituals run now (these used to be done by someone volunteering to write the ritual, then emailing it out, and then everyone undertaking the ritual at the appropriate time and day). People dip in and out as they want. So setting one up, shouldn't be too much hassle, you'd just have to look at how you'd like it to operate.
All excellent points, thankyou!
Zoom meetings would be amazing! We could see each other and have a closer bond that way❤
Greetings from Portland, Oregon. I’m enjoying your content and would be interested in an online group of sorts in the New Year. I think that would be lovely!
Yup, I hate the adverts however, I'd far rather sit through a few of those on channels I love rather than give YT money by subscribing for add free. Patreon and discord are both having their issues at the moment.
Oh my goooooodddd the tassels definitely get me every time I LOVE a good tassel. Not a mischievous witch but oo I love me a nice tassel.
Yule Balls, I am so glad I haven’t seen any of these for sale or online. In my head I’m hearing Prince and Sheena Easton sing “U got the look”, which is exactly what Yule Balls are…. people just want to look like a witch. Whatever happened to the witches pyramid, or four powers of the magus, or to know a witch by their works and their silence. No, scrap any actual teaching and look for balls! To look witchywoo is what matters to these folks. It feels like cultural appropriation. It’s so frustrating!!!!!!! In terms of clearing stuff, I’m in the process of a Swedish Death Cleanse after being recently bereaved. Less is more so I totally get what you are saying about needs over wants and energy of objects.
As I've gotten older, I try to get more mindful of what I'm buying. Now I try to get things I need from either 2nd hand stores or smaller businesses. My area is lucky to have a couple metaphysical shops & book stores so I try to get items from them instead or ordering online from Amazon.
Careful if you consider discord for a group online. Discord can be crazy and emotionally disregulating! 😫
That is a useful thing to know - thankyou!
I do believe a lot of creators these days have got moderators amongst the fan base that volunteer to help keep the peace, seems to work for a lot of groups that aren't super big.
You'e my favoite channel right now simply for the fact that every video you upload, I can tell you're doing it because you truly have fun making and sharing the content you do. No matter where your channel goes, always remeber where you started and neve give up that spirit of uploading videos because its what you enjoy doing. :)
Oh your timing is so perfect 👌 thanks for sharing ☆
Glad it was helpful!
I found your channel last weekend and love it. Thank you for your down to Earth thoughts. You describe very closely how I practice! I would be interested in the online coven idea.
My top budget witchy tips: If you can't grow your own or afford fresh, dried supermarket herbs, are fine. No buy years/ months and charity shop buys (after cleansing) are a great resource for witchy tools .
It is very nice to have my coffee and visit with you. I am quite poor so can’t pay for Patreon. For me, a very solitary solitary, your videos are like having community. I’ve had my gray wool cloak since 1970! As for Yule Balls…putting flowers in them is more an Equinox thing if you ask me. I had a friend who would sell ‘wildflower pie’ at our local festival; the point of this is that our fall wildflowers would go to seed in the plastic pie slices, giving you wildflower seeds for the next spring. To me ‘yule balls’ should be something with holly. Retail therapy is interesting but aside from a small ‘spell candle’ holder (the only thing stolen from my altar when then house was robbed) I have not ‘bought’ specific witchy things for the altar save the statuettes I brought from Egypt. Where I live it is probably not wise to advertise one’s beliefs, therefore I always wear my pentacle beneath my clothes. Luckily no one comes to the house; the Horus door-knocker might give me away. I await your next post with great anticipation!
Damn, It's really hard to resist a shiny copper cauldron, I feel you on this one😮💨
Right? I'm still twitching when I think about them. The struggle is real.
@@GrumpyOldCrone Buy one that you can use in your kitchen. Always can use more copper kettles in the kitchen. 😁
Yaay! Can't wait to see what this video has for us! Love your videos xo
Thank you Annie for another great rant! I boxed up many of my "old" items that I found I wasn't using in my Druidry practice, felt so much better! However, my wish list needs a clear out too! lol Have a fab week, Carolyn x
The way I thought you were going to rant about pagans throwing a dance 😂 I’m so glad I haven’t seen these
Loving the content, you hit my pain points with such accuracy. I have a plan, if I need something, I’ll draw it first, if I use the drawing I’ll buy, if not, I’ll use the scrap paper for intention setting and burn it 😊 Sorted ✔️
'Yul Bolz!' I. Am. Dying!!! 🤣🤣🤣 Annie watching one of your videos always brightens my day. 😊
Anyway, spot on about the need to buy 'stuff' to make ourselves feel better. Also let's not ignore the fact that many of us are magpies and are entirely distracted by and drool over the shiny. Whatever you decide to do, though, I'm in. 😁
Grew up in OK & coastal TX. Witch balls were blue or green glass net wrapped fish floats or bottles on witch trees or combination of both. Draw in or ward off, mixed messages ? Either are pretty/quirky cool & don't think would affect anyone's practice. Enjoy the folklore origins though.
Recycle or upcycle, everything old is new over a long enough span of time. Quit needing "stuff" & learn to make what you have into what you need. You will be better for it in the end.
Utube has quite a few recipes for tea that will dissolve the gluey stuff you speak of, rosemary, clove, holy basil, etc. look for herbal congestion relief. (You’ve probably already thought of that.) Thank you for the video.
I always try and wildcraft what i can first. Trade next, then move onto purchasing. Except gems and minerals, i cant help myself with them, but even those i prefer going hounding for and im in a great area for it! But trying to live more minimally and more naturally is something i strive for.
Every time I hear “Here comes the positive bit”, I keep thinking of the house band from French & Saunders (yes I’m that old)
French and Saunders is not old. Hush those words... Refuse to accept that is old
@@judebennett1739I’m right there with you 😂
OMG! I remember them! Were they called something like “Raw Sex”? Wore glitter suits and bow ties! Hang on… does this mean I’m old, too? Bugger.
I can't watch yet cause I am supposed to be working but what a lovely thing to look forward to after work :) I can't wait :)
I'll see you later!
Everyone who disliked this did not watch it fully or -frankly- probably didnt get it. Each negative thing that you said was reasonably argued and done so in a very kind way. You could have been way more critical but you werent. People are just not self reflecting enough when it comes to their ways of living, which is understandable but alsoa bit sad, because I think they would actually be happier if they bought less and valued the individual things more and longer. So yea, i love hearing your refreshing takes, especially on the consumerism. I am also continously trying to minimize what i buy new. Its not necessary to stop it altogether but just be waaaay more mindful..
This actually ties perfectly with your video about the "Why" in witchcraft. Why the Yüle balls? Probably nobody can answer it. xD
On monetization: ads are preferable for me anyways as its the easier way to support you (which is why i choose against adblockers as well) (: good luck and hope your channel keeps growing! And dont feel bad if you take sponsors, just dont forget to look into the company
And the online coven thingy sounds amazing, i havent seen anything like that done before. Not a very socially active person, but being in a supportive inspirative space is magical indeed. Id even spend some euros a month for being able to partake in that. But im just happy for the channel regardless
Thanks for another great video. I may or may not, be off to eBay now to look at copper cauldrons... Yes, I know I don't need one but they're pretty!
I have bought most of my tools and altar decorations from flea markets and second hand shops.
So glad I found your channel. Feels like catching up with a friend each week. Even hubby enjoys watching with me when I bob you on. Keep up the great work 👍❤
I'm sort of on the outside of witch stuff,poking my nose in. My intuition is that it is a practice of spiritual contentedness, highly involved in symbolic meaning and with a lot of value placed on organic nature-related stuff. The emphasis on symbolism makes it potentially a sort of highly magnetizable lifestyle hobby, but the emphasis on tradition and hands-on nature work all seems meant to be mostly free. It's all bringing outdoor freebies you grow or forage into the house and simple,handmade projects. Surely you have a stronger connection to things that grow in your area that were grown or gathered by you. Surely symbols like a pentagram on the wall mean more when you make them yourself and know all the processes and things involved with your own hands and have spent time with them to establish a bond with, fix and reinvent them continually. Treating yourself spiritually is so often about ritual and making from things that are already specifically meaningful to you, right? What already exists in the world and in you surely is a matter of what symbols and stuff are easily meaningful in routine life already. I feel like a core value I see, at a glance, in all this witchy stuff is putting value on physical and mental experience and spending time with oneself, others, nature. I'm impressed by how deeply anti-capitalist, or at least, deeply not currency focused the core ethic seems to be.
You're absolutely right - I must buy a copper cauldron at once!!! 😅❤
Yes I think we forget we don't always need to buy stuff for our practice. I love to craft many of my own tools. Or repurpose things. For example instead of buying an athame, I use an antique pair of scissors that belonged to my grandmother ❤
I got to admit I thought that you were talking about Yule dances (Balls) at first. lol. Also I had a question. I'm getting into Tarot more, again, and I have Guided Tarot by Stephanie Caponi. What might be a good next step book? Thanks and I love you channel!
You do need Julia jeffreys Witch sister Tarot it is fabulous and individual in its interpretations it has become one of my all time favourites. I hope you get it at Yule or something.
I get where your coming from and you are right we don`t need to get dopamine from buying but from being. Get well ! xxx
I detest ads to the point that we pay for UA-cam Premium.
I am also interested in Patreon. I have a few I pay into, only one offers tangible benefits that I don't take full advantage of. I was more interested in helping a creative person *be* creative and then they got semi- famous for it.
Anyway, looking forward to whatever you put together after the xmas season.
Every time I see a YULE BALL on my feed I now have the overwhelming urge to say YUHLE BALLS 😂
I’ve really enjoyed diving into a few of your videos, thank you for being a grumpy old crone 😌
a small pot of pau d arco bark tea sipped through out the day might help with cold symptoms.🌬bless🕊
I have a dozen tarot decks and oracles. I just added Julia Jeffrey's Tarot Deck to my Wishlist. 😎
I love the look of Witch Balls, but yeah, aren't they supposed to repel witches? Why would a witch want one? Kinda like Sabrina the teenage witch having a cat named "Salem".
I have very little money and don't buy much. I'm definitely adverse to capitalism but have to admit, i purchased a copper cauldron with bronze feet from Etsy. Antique from France. It was reasonably priced and free shipping so i was nervous it was going to be crap but It's absolutely beautiful. We have nothing like it in my country. The cauldrons we do have are tiny tiny. I'm literally in love with it. It's solid, definitely old hand hammered and nice and big. It's a stunner and I use it often. I do have a bit of a thing for cauldrons though....
Thank you so much for this. It's such a nice break from everything.
I do not do commercialism. Budgets that are tight helps. I get my dopamine hit from taking walks in nature and coming home with a pocket full of treasures. Rosehips, conkers, hazel nuts, nettles, petals. Every season has its treasures. I have a problem.
I also want a giant cauldron, one i can suspend over a fire pit and make a good stew. I don't eat stew. Still love the idea of giant fire pit cauldron. Possibilities are endless. Storage space and usage opportunities not so much.
Have you considered a camping Spyder? They are pots suspended on a tripod over a campfire, usually cast iron with a lid!
If you warm up a little whisky and add a touch of cinnamon and sip it slowly, it should help soothe your sore throat.
I thought you meant Yule ball as in a dance. I thought who doesn’t like a little winter solstice soirée lol💃🏽🧙🏽♀️🤌🏽
So glad that I found your videos! 😊
Oh dear! I seem to be utterly clueless. Looking at the title i had to google "retail therapy" and as in my native language there is only one word that means both yule and christmas and most of the basic stuff that goes to a regular christmas tree are litterally called yule balls, I was starting to get nervous about why the strong hate against such a basic thing. :D
Fabulous video yet again, don’t know why Yule Bols makes me think of a “witchy” cocktail mixer 😂, so glad to hear your thoughts on monetising. I’d love pay for a patron and I love to have some on line group or lessons ❤.
Totally different question, have you seen Marvels “Agatha all along “ did you like it and what are your thoughts on witches portrayal in popular TV and movies
Notice I did Not ask for advice on what witchy crap I'm to buy lol I will simply listen and learn whilst waffling afirming, greatful & insane comical comments at ya 😆👍🙏👩🏫✨💗🍷
Well done! Save your money! There are some nice things to buy, and there is some fun to be had with retail therapy (copper cauldron....) but knowing what will be useful is by far the most important thing.
"Yule Balls" - can we please just stop with the plastic in this stuff??
(Also I did an actual shudder when you mentioned cinnamon with lavender!)
So little thought from those people. It's like hitting the accelerator and the brake in your car at the same time! And yeah - endless amounts of plastic. I'm so tired of it.
Great video, I agree with all, as always.
Much appreciated!
😂 I’m laughing so hard. As a solitary witch I’ve not heard of a lot of things your sharing: baby witch, Yule balls, etc. I’m sure now they will be showing up in my feed. Also. The glass net floats are thick and sealed off. How’d you get your “tinsel” in the witch ball?
And that is how a witch is ensnared by a witch's ball!! They stare and stare and stare some more at this marvelous of magic, forget utterly WHY they were sneaking around to begin with and eventually just toddle off home, trying to figure out HOW to get tinsel into a sealed glass ball! I mean, now they've got battery operated led fairy lights? HOW?!?
I'd be interested in an online community, i think that would be fun! I'm not sure i can dump Amazon just yet but will try and buy local, thanks for the reminder 😮
I don’t know, I think I could make cinnamon and lavender work for me, as an anxious procrastinator. “Come on, let’s get going, let’s get it done! But let’s not work ourselves into a panic attack doing it. Let’s get it done…calmly”
So if the point is to do like warding, one, you could just do a traditional vinegar pointy objects pee in it bury it which jar. lol
These sound like do it yourself which balls which are usually made out of blown glass. For that kind of thing I mean you'd want a black Crystal something like obsidian or jet, specifically protective herbs, and maybe some chili peppers to like ward away and bite whatever is coming at you.
Or you could just lay rose stems with thorns in your window sills.
Exactly. You understand the concept of correspondence! I don’t think the maker in the video I watched did…
I nean i like yule balls. But as a craft i can do with the kids. They can be very pretty for a decoration. We use things that are actually appropriate for the season like juniper or pine, and cinnamon, dried orange, cloves. Things that actually make sense for mid winter. Im not doing it to ward off evil spirits. I just think they look pretty and the kids have fun making them with mom and dad.
From my observations it appears as tho those “witchy” purchases are more for shock value and status. I have seen much laziness and disrespect within some of the newer practionners who label themselves witch, priest/ess or my personal fave, goddess, for attention, a purely look at me I’m dangerous action, without any esoteric/metaphysical knowledge, intention to study/develop skills or develop relationships with the Other Worlds. Retailers market to these folks who want it now without the work.
Well I now have a new vocal stim. YULE BALL. Thanks haha
I like to think I have spread some chaos in my wake! But it's just so FUN! YULE BALL!
`great video u made me giggle so hard .. needed that .. love your videos ..
Your so funny 👏👏👏I've tried to track back through your stuff but to many to get thugh. I'll just stay forward with us 🙌I'm your new twitchy witchy Student 👩🏫✨Like it or not 😆🙏💗 Ps.... I think I've met you and your husband. 👍I was from Scunny. Gigs ect perhaps. Festivals , possible old friends in common. I'm not sure but I knew I'd seen you before. 😊🍷💗
Well that's pretty cool! I do pop up in the Shire quite a lot with music stuff etc. :-). If you met me before 2017, you might not have met Mr Grumpy Old Crone - I got divorced and remarried my lovely Mr GOC after 2017. I look forward to meeting you again!
Honestly, anyone who says you can’t put magical ingredients into a plastic bauble to hang in your tree clearly doesn’t have small children or cats. Nowhere in my house is 100% safe from the little criminals, so thin glass items are simply not worth the risk. I have a plastic garden gnome and a plastic fairy house protecting my garden and both are doing a superb job. After all, weren’t we just harping on about using what you have? It’s fun to be judgy, goddess knows I enjoy a good rant or two about how people are dunces, but I’m not going to preach about intention setting, etc. and then tell folks they’re doing their craft wrong.
That said: I know some of you want to have a go at me about the plastic. I can smell it. Save yourself the time. I try to keep those purchases to an absolute minimum. Items I buy tend to stay with me for many, maaaaany years. And my magical practice is just fine, thank you. As far as buying crap goes in general, it would be nice if peeps applied critical thinking more often and in the case of witchcraft, combine that with learning the principles of the craft first (they might then realize they really don’t need to buy a damn thing), but that’s not the trend I’m seeing.
Thanks for another fun video. Rant on.
Meat and two potatoes... 🤣🤣🤣 Good lord, i need to get my brain away from the sewer.
I think a lot of people who haven't done enough research seem to think witchcraft is like Harry Potter in real life. There's a big theme of consumerism in the books too, hell the first thing they do is go shopping. A lot of this newer "witchy" stuff seems very reminiscent of fantasy books. Which is fine if you like that, but call it what it is. Larping already exists. Same with the yule balls. If you want to do a fun craft project, just do a fun craft project. There's no need to turn it into something it isn't.
To be fair, this consumerism traces back to the '80s when the publishing companies decided to go all in and made Wicca a cottage industry which gave rise to so called Big Name Pagans. It rippled out from there. They profit off the dopamine high consumers get from buying stuff, just tell them what they want to hear. "You don't need to seek training or a coven, you don't need community. All you need is to buy our books and load up on gimmicky witchy gewgaws. Just do what feels right, make it up as you go along. If you say you're a high priest/ess or some other title, then you are, etc." It just worsened exponentially once the internet came along.
Mixed Crystal Chips, is that anti-fae shrapnel?
And there was I going all Harry Potter and thinking that a Yule Ball was a dance around about Yuletide.
You need a musical introduction to the "Meat and 2 Potatoes" section, my thoughts head towards about 5 ominous chords, with some good bass.
You could possibly do an on-line coven as a stream - do you have enough subscribers for UA-cam to let you stream? You can run streams so that only people who are subscribed to the channel can comment. With an on-line coven there's the question of who you want to keep out, as well as who you want to let in. If I were in your shoes I'd want to keep the fundamentalist Christians out. While I think they'd be very unlikely to gatecrash a physical coven, I am not so sure that they'd have the same reservations about gatecrashing an on-line coven.
Then there are people like me. I don't share your beliefs but I do share your attitudes (that's why I enjoy your videos)! But should I be allowed into a coven meeting? What about people who are wondering about whether or not witchcraft is for them?
Maybe you'd be better with the online coven on Zoom (or something similar, there are apparently computer security issues with Zoom), and not on UA-cam.
You also mentioned that you enjoyed running a face to face training session recently and that you would be interested in perhaps doing some more. Are you going to be pushing yourself too hard if you try for both face to face training and also running an on-line coven?
Okay but on the note of learning more via the internet (which in my head is what an online coven may be about?) does anyone know of other channels that might be good for learning these things as someone newly into paganism? I’ve looked around a bit and this is about the first channel I’ve come across with such a great sense of humour and groundedness in a more varied practice, but I’d like to see more! I feel like there must be more good witchy/pagany stuff that folks know of (obviously other creators have their own style, but I figure folks who like this stuff might have similar taste to me haha)? Anyways, thanks anyone who can help and thanks for so many thoughtful grumbles about this stuff, I feel like I’m learning a lot here and I love learning through a grumble :)
Are we going to have to count the JUL BOLS in every rant between now and the new year?
New drinking game!
@ an excellent plan!
Yüle ball
Yül Brenner
Yületide
Yüle be glad. Quite fun, this! ✌🏼😁
❤ sounds like a Jul bols idea...er that means good ❤😂
Jül bøls!
I am also deafer than usual because one of my hearing aids has disappeared, probably having been stolen by the cats. Fortunately my husband is used to me shouting 'Could I have my hearing aid back please' up the stairs into apparently thin air.
That produced a silver hairstick I lost months ago, so at least the local immaterials don't seem to be offended at me. (One of the cats definitely is offended, but that is because he has had to have a week-long course of antihistamines rather than anything esoteric)
haha Yuuuuullllllll Balls! Cannot stop laughing