Tag: witchy 101

  • Poeaxtry is where the people are – Practicing Paganism

    Poeaxtry is where the people are – Practicing Paganism

    If you had a freeway billboard, what would it say?

    My billboard would read:

    Publishing, Poetry, Paganism, and People – The Poeaxtry Prism Planet.

    Read more below to see the full story as to why…


    Witchcraft and spirituality do not live in perfect aesthetics or mass-produced one size fits all spell bags. It lives where people are actually doing the work. Showing up in kitchens, backyards, workbenches, forests, streams and quiet moments where you can still feel the old world coming through.

    Poeaxtry is where the people are. This brand and motto exist at the intersection of paganism, queer identity, advocacy spirituality, handmade tools, and real-world practice to name just a few. Nothing here is meant to be distant, polished, or untouchable. It’s meant to be used, held, worked with, and questioned.

    This space is rooted in paganism, shaped by personal experience, and expressed through divination, ritual services, and objects made by hand with purpose.

    Heathen or person from a rural person has a new meaning in recent years.


    What Paganism Actually Is

    Paganism is not one religion, and it has never been a single organized system. Historically and in modern practice, paganism is used to refer to a wide range of spiritual paths. These paths are usually nature-based, earth-honoring, and often inspired by pre-Christian traditions.

    Modern paganism is usually experiential rather than dogmatic. People build their practice through relationship with land, seasons, ancestors, symbols, and personal intuition. There is no universal rulebook and no requirement to worship a specific deity.


    That flexibility is not a flaw. It is the point.

    Paganism shows up in Poeaxtry and the Prism, through intention, honoring nature, creation, ritual, divination, the way each item or service is created, and layered into digital and physical literature collections as well. My work is grounded, practical, and personal. Never performative.


    Paganism and Wicca Are Not the Same Thing

    This is one of the most misunderstood topics, so it matters to be clear.

    Wicca is a specific religion that developed in the mid-20th century, drawing from ceremonial magic, folklore, and older pagan imagery. It has defined rituals, ethical frameworks, and religious structure.

    In early Wiccan practice, this rule was often a matter of social etiquette in leu of cosmic law. If a witch did you a favor, you’d be socially tied to return it three times. Pagans argue that turning this into a karmic law or seemingly Christianity related was a later reinterpretation meant to give Wicca a structured, “acceptable” morality.


    Christian Morals?

    Prominent pagan people gave said that Gerald Gardner would invented “ancient” laws to manage coven issues and improve his PR. Non-Wiccan pagans, like myself, and some other believers in the craft feel a universal “law” where actions return exactly threefold… is an oversimplification. Some even see it as a guideline to scare “newbies” into a “non-harmful” practices. This one’s gonna make some people mad, and I’m not sorry about it. The law of three feels like an attempt to make Christians and other people who believe in Abrahamic religions less scared of them.


    Paganism the Umbrella term


    Just small side note on the fact that I have two identifiers that are umbrella terms, and that’s kinda cool if you think about it like I do.


    Paganism is the larger umbrella. Wicca exists within, that being said paganism itself contains more layers than your favorite cake. A good amount of paths that have nothing to do with Wicca at all.

    Some pagans work with deities, others don’t. Practicing Pagans magick. Seasonal, ritual or even ancestral reverence. Eclectic, and Celtic Pagans. Don’t forget Norse, Heathenry, and Hellenism. Kemeticism, an ancient Egyptian form of paganism, and Religio Romana. Yes the Roman’s had a paganism based belief system as well!

    There’s Druidry, whose focused is nature, poetry, and divine inspiration (Awen), though this is typically less spell work more scholar. This isn’t the complete list.

    Poeaxtry is pagan-rooted but not Wiccan. I am more of an Eclectic Pagan if I had to choose. We choose our own path, a curated list of what works for us, from (ethical, not closed) traditions. You can runes, pendulums, smudging herb sticks you dry yourself, let’s use something other than white sage please.

    White Sage is native to Southern California and is sacred to
    the Chumash, Tongva, and Gabrieleno, indigenous tribes of that region.

    Indigenous people were legally banned from practicing their own religions, this included burning sage for decades. It is very disrespectful for their very oppressors to now sell it. Then use it as a trend while the Chumash, Tongva, and Gabrieleno, tribes still struggle for land and rights.


    Tell me in the comments where your practice live? The trees? A seat at your kitchen table?

    Or

    You could share one belief or practice you’ve reclaimed on your own terms.

    Any and all engagement & community building welcome!


    Tarot and Pendulum Readings

    Divination is not about predicting an unchangeable future. Through time, tarot and pendulum work have been tools for reflection, clarity, and energetic awareness.

    Tarot readings offered through Poeaxtry focus on helping people understand patterns, choices, and influences already present in their lives. The cards do not make decisions for anyone. They create a conversation.

    Pendulum readings are simpler and more direct. They are often used for energetic checking, alignment, or focused yes-or-no questions. I have custom boards for more in-depth responses and questions. For people who want clarity without overwhelm.

    These services are offered as support tools, not as definitive guides or fixes and NEVER as medical information.


    Spell Jars and Spell Bags

    Spell jars and spell bags are symbolic containers, holding intention, focus, and material correspondence. They do not replace personal effort or responsibility.

    Each piece created at Poeaxtry by Axton is assembled intentionally, using organic herbs and natural materials whenever possible. That is handcrafted in small batches, based on vibe. They are meant to be worked with, carried, placed, or incorporated into personal ritual.

    They are reminders and anchors, not promises.


    Ritual Services and Spiritual Work

    Rituals offered by Axton through Poeaxtry are grounded in purpose with intention. These can include personal rituals, seasonal observances, or energy-focused work designed to help people mark transitions, release stagnation, or set intention.

    The goal is to create something meaningful and usable for real life.

    Handmade Tools and Body Work

    Hand-whittled wands are shaped by the wood itself. Grain, knots, and natural form guide the process. Each wand is made slowly and deliberately, not carved into uniform shapes. Each wand base is foraged, and whittled, and crafted by me alone.

    Natural body sprays are crafted with botanical ingredients and intended for grounding, energetic refresh, or ritual use. They are not overloaded with synthetic fragrance or filler.

    Organic herbal tinctures are prepared using traditional methods and plant knowledge. These are not trend products. They are rooted in respect for the plants themselves and the people who use them.


    Stone Work and Found Creations

    Stones are collected, cleaned, sliced, or polished using tumblers or hand tools, then transformed into something new. Some are functional. Some are symbolic. Some are simply meant to make people smile.

    The Stony Homies exist for that exact reason. Spiritual work does not need to be humorless to be sincere.


    Wreaths and Earth-Based Art

    Crystal, bone, seasonal, vibe based wreaths and nature-based creations honor cycles, thresholds, and change. Materials are chosen with awareness of season and environment whenever possible. These pieces are not meant to last forever. Their impermanence is part of their meaning.


    Why Poeaxtry Exists in Paganism

    Poeaxtry exists because spirituality should be lived, not staged.

    At Poeaxtry the work is handmade, imperfect, intentional, and grounded. It honors pagan roots without pretending there is only one correct way to practice. It leaves room for curiosity, humor, and personal meaning.

    Poeaxtry is where the people are because that is where real magic lives.

    Through tarot, ritual services, handmade tools, herbal work, stone creations, and earth-based art, Poeaxtry supports people who walk their own spiritual path without needing permission or polish.

    This is living practice. Made by hand. Used by real people.


    Share this with someone who’s still trying to untangle Paganism from the stereotypes.

    Or

    With someone who is untangling Paganism from Propaganda


    Poeaxtry creations! Handmade items, digital collections, Tarot & Pendulum Readings, and more. Physical items only on Etsy! Readings only on Pay-hip/Gumroad. Digital collections on all three as well as kindle/amazon and Google!


    Links. Angel

  • Witchy Moon Phases: Deep Dive + Free Printable Cheat Sheet

    Witchy Moon Phases: Deep Dive + Free Printable Cheat Sheet

    Harnessing lunar phases for spell work, intention, shadow work, and personal ritual


    🌙 Why We Work With the Moon in Witchcraft

    The moon is a mirror, a teacher, a timekeeper.

    In witchcraft, we don’t just look at the sky. We move with it.

    We listen, honor, and adapt the ebb as much as the flow.

    Witchcraft is cyclical. So is healing.

    And the moon, in all her shifting light, helps us shape our intentions to match the rhythm of nature.


    Working with the moon helps you:

    Plan spells and rituals with intention Align with natural emotional tides Honor your energy rather than force it Deepen intuitive and psychic connection Understand shadow, surrender, release

    This guide is your full breakdown of each moon phase. It explains how to work with it. It also highlights what kind of magic resonates best. A free, printable fill-in cheat sheet is included below.


    🔁 Understanding the Cycle: 8 Phases of the Moon

    The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days long. Each phase carries a unique magical energy. Most witches are familiar with the new moon and full moon. However, the in-between phases carry just as much sacred opportunity.


    🌑 NEW MOON

    Magical Themes: beginnings, shadow work, silence, intention-setting

    Elemental Vibe: Earth / Void

    Good for: manifesting, cleansing, writing goals, resting before action

    This is the womb of the moon cycle. A place of quiet potential. Your magic here is about seeds, not harvest.

    Spell work ideas:

    Write new moon intentions in your journal Cleanse your altar or home Banish old energy through smoke or salt Do low-energy shadow work or divination


    🌒 WAXING CRESCENT

    Magical Themes: growth, curiosity, baby steps, beginnings

    Elemental Vibe: Air

    Good for: small spells, momentum, visualization, energy raising

    This is the spark stage. Ideas take root. You’re not meant to leap, just stretch.

    Spell work ideas:

    Start a sigil activation Speak affirmations aloud Plant something (literal or symbolic) Choose one action toward a bigger dream


    🌓 FIRST QUARTER

    Magical Themes: decision-making, pressure, commitment, friction

    Elemental Vibe: Fire

    Good for: focus magic, inner conflict, obstacles, courage

    This is the “choice” moon. The phase where resistance creeps in. Stay the course.

    Spell work ideas:

    Burn doubt in a fire-safe bowl Cast a spell for confidence or clarity Do physical movement to shake stuck energy Draw a boundary or cut off distractions


    🌔 WAXING GIBBOUS

    Magical Themes: refinement, momentum, adjustment, perfecting

    Elemental Vibe: Fire/Water

    Good for: abundance spells, attraction magic, improving results

    This phase asks: Are you aligned? Are you prepared to receive? Tune your magic and your mindset.

    Spell work ideas:

    Abundance bowl or jar Gratitude journaling Spell bag for confidence or clarity Candle spell with fine-tuned intentions


    🌕 FULL MOON

    Magical Themes: illumination, climax, power, deep emotion

    Elemental Vibe: Water

    Good for: charging tools, ritual work, manifesting, release

    This is the height of lunar power. Intuition is sharp. Magic is amplified. Truth shines through.

    Spell work ideas:

    Full moon ritual for release Charging crystals and tools under moonlight Dance or howl to raise energy Perform high magic or deep ancestral work


    🌖 WANING GIBBOUS

    Magical Themes: gratitude, wisdom, sharing, self-inquiry

    Elemental Vibe: Water/Air

    Good for: journaling, healing, teaching, dream work

    This is the reception phase. You’ve cast your spell. What now? Reflect, integrate, rest.

    Spell work ideas:

    Gratitude altar Dream journaling Give an offering or teach someone Reflect on outcomes from your last spell


    🌗 LAST QUARTER

    Magical Themes: release, endings, clarity, accountability

    Elemental Vibe: Earth/Air

    Good for: shadow work, cord cutting, clearing energy

    This moon demands honesty. Time to let go of what’s not serving your path.

    Spell work ideas:

    Cut cords or bury written “goodbyes” Do heavy shadow work Banish toxic patterns with black salt Detox your space, altar, or habits


    🌘 WANING CRESCENT

    Magical Themes: rest, closure, surrender, ancestral guidance

    Elemental Vibe: Spirit

    Good for: sleep magic, healing, divination, dream work

    The void returns. This is sacred rest, not failure. Reconnect with spirit, grief, truth.

    Spell work ideas:

    Divination with tarot or pendulum Sleep sachets or pillow spells Meditation with ancestors or deities Journaling on what still needs to soften


    🖤🌙 Free Downloadable or Printable Moon Magic Cheat Sheet

    Want to track each moon phase in your own practice?

    Download this moon phase cheat sheet for free:

    👉Moon Chart Cheat Sheet👈 👉PayHip👈

    Includes reminders for:

    Multiple ways to celebrate and use each moon phase

    ✨ Keep it in your Book of Shadows, or keep it digitally.


    🧿 Final Thoughts: You Are the Cycle

    The moon doesn’t demand perfection. She shifts, she darkens, she grows, she glows.

    So do you.

    You don’t have to be consistent to be powerful. You don’t have to track every phase to be valid.

    But when you start moving with the moon, not just noticing her, but dancing with her you find rhythm. You find yourself. You remember.

    And if nothing else, you remember this:

    You’re not too late.

    You’re right on time.


    Blue background white font moon phase cheat sheet for digital or physical books of spell uses

    Free Printable PDF Payhip Free Printable PDF GumRoad

    Want To Explore more of my creations?
    Links
    Thank you for supporting me an Indie Poet, Witch, and Creator.


    Want to explore more?

    Visit Poeaxtry and the Prism’s Archive Cheat Sheet. Discover all post categories, with a blurb and link to full post archive for each. Then find every post in that category in chronological order.


  • Witchy 101: Altars, Divinity, and the Five-Fold Path Explained

    Witchy 101: Altars, Divinity, and the Five-Fold Path Explained

    Witchy 101: Altars, Divinity, and the Five-Fold Path
    This is for those who wander between flame and shadow. Their hands are outstretched to the unseen.

    Setting up altar

    typical components:


    Center:
    A cloth, plate, or board to work on

    Candles:
    Often one black (banishing) and one white (inviting)

    Representation of the elements:

    Earth:
    salt, crystal, soil

    Air:
    incense, feather

    Fire:
    candle, match


    Water:
    small bowl, shell

    Tools:
    Athame, wand, chalice, pentacle—optional and customizable

    Offerings:
    Food, herbs, water, flowers, written words


    Divine symbols:
    If you work with deities, include items that honor them

    Refresh the altar often.

    Dust, change it seasonally, and remove anything no longer aligned with your path.

    Think of it as a reflection of your current inner world.

    Deity Work vs Secular Craft


    You don’t need to believe in or work with deities to be a witch.


    Secular witches use energy, intuition, and intention without involving gods or spirits. They often work with the elements, the moon, and their own power.


    Devotional witches may connect to deities, ancestors, or spirits. They may perform rituals, offer devotions, or allow the divine to guide their spell work.
    Neither path is more powerful. Neither is more “right.” What matters is your truth, your comfort, your belief.

    If you do feel called to deity work:

    Study myths, signs, symbols.
    Watch for recurring dreams or synchronicities.
    Start small light a candle, offer a glass of water, write a prayer
    Consent matters.
    You can always say no, even to a God.


    Popular Deities in Witchcraft & Pagan Practice:

    Hecate (Greek):
    Goddess of witchcraft, crossroads, ghosts, and moonlight.

    Brigid (Celtic):
    Goddess of healing, poetry, and the forge.

    The Morrigan (Celtic):
    Goddess of war, fate, sovereignty, and prophecy.

    Freya (Norse):
    Goddess of love, beauty, war, and seidr magic.

    Lilith (varied):
    Symbol of independence and shadow work.

    Cernunnos (Celtic):
    Horned God of the wild and balance.

    Isis (Egyptian):
    Goddess of magic, healing, and sacred knowledge.

    Pan (Greek):
    God of nature, instinct, and chaos.

    Diana/Artemis (Roman/Greek):
    Moon goddess and protector of the wild.

    Bastet (Egyptian):
    Guardian of the home, joy, and cats.

    Choose a deity (or pantheon) that aligns with your values and needs. You don’t have to rush. Some deities find you. Others grow on you slowly, like ivy around a stone wall.

    Elemental Magic: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Spirit



    The five elements form the bones of many magical systems:

    Earth: stability, growth, grounding. Use stones, herbs, salt.


    Air: clarity, thought, communication. Use feathers, incense, wind.


    Fire: passion, change, action. Use candles, ash, sunlight.


    Water: emotion, healing, intuition. Use bowls, moon water, rain.


    Spirit (Aether): the soul, the thread between all things. Represented by breath, the self, or a fifth point on a pentacle.

    To work with them:

    Call them in during ritual. Leave them offerings. Meditate on their qualities. Use their correspondences in spell work. When you build relationships with the elements, they’ll appear more frequently in your dreams. You’ll notice them in the weather and even in your gut instincts.
    Offer them things. Reflect on their qualities. Incorporate their correspondences into your spell work. Build relationships with the elements gradually. As you do, you’ll see them more. They will appear in dreams, in weather, and even in your gut instinct.


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  • The 8 Pagan Sabbats: Dates, Themes, Deities, and Sacred Correspondences

    The 8 Pagan Sabbats: Dates, Themes, Deities, and Sacred Correspondences

    1. Yule – Winter Solstice (Dec 20–23)

    Theme: Rebirth of the Sun, inner reflection, hope Colors: Red, green, white, gold, silver Crystals: Garnet, clear quartz, bloodstone Herbs: Pine, cedar, cinnamon, frankincense, rosemary Symbols: Yule log, candles, evergreen wreaths, sun wheels Deities: Holly King & Oak King (dueling seasonal forces) Frau Holle, The Dagda, Isis, Sol Invictus, Mother Goddesses

    2. Imbolc – (Feb 1–2)

    Theme: Purification, inspiration, new beginnings Colors: White, light blue, pale yellow Crystals: Amethyst, moonstone, selenite Herbs: Chamomile, basil, bay, snowdrop, angelica Symbols: Candles, Brigid’s cross, seeds, snowdrops Deities: Brigid (Celtic goddess of fire, poetry, healing) Vesta, Hestia, Gaia

    3. Ostara – Spring Equinox (Mar 20–23)

    Theme: Balance, fertility, growth Colors: Pastels (pink, green, lavender, baby blue) Crystals: Rose quartz, aquamarine, moss agate Herbs: Dandelion, violet, lavender, clover Symbols: Eggs, hares, flowers, seeds Deities: Eostre (Anglo-Saxon spring goddess) Persephone, Freya, Flora

    4. Beltane – (Apr 30–May 1)

    Theme: Fire, fertility, passion, union Colors: Red, green, white, gold Crystals: Carnelian, garnet, emerald Herbs: Hawthorn, rose, thyme, mugwort Symbols: Maypole, bonfires, flowers, ribbons Deities: The Green Man, Cernunnos (horned god) Flora, Aphrodite, Pan, Maia

    5. Litha – Summer Solstice (June 20–23)

    Theme: Power, abundance, illumination Colors: Gold, yellow, orange, red Crystals: Citrine, sunstone, tiger’s eye Herbs: St. John’s Wort, basil, sage, chamomile Symbols: Sun, fire, oak, honey Deities: Ra, Apollo, Hathor, Lugh, Amaterasu

    6. Lughnasadh / Lammas – (Aug 1)

    Theme: First harvest, sacrifice, gratitude Colors: Orange, yellow, brown, gold Crystals: Amber, peridot, citrine Herbs: Wheat, corn, sunflower, rosemary Symbols: Bread, grain, cornucopia, scythe Deities: Lugh (Celtic craftsman and warrior god) Demeter, Tailtiu, Ceres

    7. Mabon – Autumn Equinox (Sept 20–23)

    Theme: Balance, second harvest, giving thanks Colors: Deep red, brown, gold, dark green Crystals: Jasper, smoky quartz, labradorite Herbs: Apples, sage, marigold, cinnamon Symbols: Apples, wine, grapes, pumpkins Deities: Mabon ap Modron, The Crone, Dionysus, Pomona

    8. Samhain – (Oct 31–Nov 1)

    Theme: Death, endings, honoring ancestors, the veil Colors: Black, orange, purple, silver Crystals: Obsidian, onyx, labradorite Herbs: Mugwort, wormwood, rosemary, sage Symbols: Skulls, bones, pumpkins, candles Deities: The Morrigan, Hecate, Anubis, Hel, Cailleach, Osiris


    If you want to explore the physical & digital side of Poeaxtry, the stores are always open. Physical items like handmade pieces, ritual tools, and select creations live only on Etsy. Digital books, zines, and downloads are available through Gumroad, Etsy, & Payhip. As well as some being available on Kindle & Amazon. The same fingers click the keys across all shops, just different formats for different hands, needs, and screens.


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