Hiatus Witch

So this is what its like to take a hiatus...

I've been meaning to put this post up for awhile, but have been putting it off, because I keep telling myself, with a wide and hopeful expression, "Oh no, even though you're living in the desert for a bit, you'll totally be able to update!"

...............

Admittedly, its been a rough couple of months. Its especially hard being away from Lore.

So, for an indefinite amount of time (though I'm hoping only for... a month longer), University Witch is taking a hiatus! But at the same time, I feel as if I've somewhat outgrown what I wanted to use this website for...

I wanted a fun, no-bars approach to the life of magick. Magick is a way of life. That thus makes it beyond just merely a religion, its something that's been integrated into your everyday life that now, it would become hard to separate it.

Anyway! Now that my little... blurb is out of the way. I've also taken on a number of personal projects (and cramming my way back into classes this semester), so hopefully we'll see how it all goes!

I'll also be adding a list of essays and guests posts I've done! I've been meaning to for awhile; I should probably do that...

Good luck in all your magick endevours!

Sincerely,
Soull Soothslayer, the University Witch

24th Spell - The Venus, Sara

I got a pet! Er, sort of.

One day, my friend Kieran took me to Lowe's and purchased me a very cute pet. What kind of pet do they sell at a home improvement store, huh?

A pet plant, that's what!

This is a picture of Sara, my Venus Flytrap. Isn't she cute? After reading the care instructions and putting her in the window, my curiosity got the better of me. I decided to look up some of the magical properties for the plant. Of course, you learn a lot when you research.

The scientific name for the plant is Dionaea muscipula. While the common name is of course a direct allusion to Venus, the Roman goddess of Love, its scientific name has its own meaning itself.

The etymology behind the genus name Dionaea is in reference to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of Love. It literally means "daughter of Dione", whom was noted down as Aphrodite's primary mother in Homer's Iliad. The word muscipula is Latin for "mouse trap". With that in mind, it would make sense that the magical properties of the Venus flytrap, especially if it so reputable as a houseplant, would be good for the protection of the hearth and home.

And the name Sara? Well, the name is Hebrew, the meaning being 'Princess'. So while the name is fitting (she's the Princess of Hearth Protection!), I was thinking about another Sara entirely.

Have any houseplants yourself? Feel free to take a gander in your house! You might be surprised what you find, and what it means! And when you're done, you can leave a comment here and tell me all about it!

Magick in Everyday Life - Mark of the Beast

While flipping through news feeds on the internet, AOL News posted a very interesting article that I thought was worth mentioning.

Witchcraft is a very interesting subject; there's something about it that makes it very interchangeable to the user, depending on their beliefs. The ability to have a choice in the patron deities the God and Goddess represent to you can hold a sort of power to the person. Like in Christianity when people pray to the saints, the patron God and Goddess of the individual's choosing invoke perhaps the same feeling of spiritual gratification--you feel as if someone is taking the time to hear a prayer.

However, one of the biggest subjects on Witchcraft to those whom don't know better is its association with the  Devil or Satan. Now, the Wiccan religion doesn't believe in the Devil. But one cannot casually toss aside that the usage of "demonic" or "satanic" symbols aren't what someone could consider a curse. 


While some people may or may not believe in magick, people are still very aware when they are being cursed, and there is still come fear behind it. After all, whether using the Devil as your advocate or any other type of invoked magickal deity, a curse is still Witchcraft, and thus we still continue to be haunted by this time-old visage of dancing skyclad around a bonfire and sacrificing our cats.

The article outlines an incident at a Walmart that's perhaps close by to where I live; the story takes place in Fort Worth, TX. A woman only known as "Jessica" in the article, tells that when she picked up her car from the auto department of a Walmart after an oil change, a kind associate alerted her of the markings on the underside of her car. In bright blue was 666, and upside-down cross, and an upside down pentagram. Jessica has a feeling of who it was, and the company has apparently reached out to her in this incident.

She even worries if its a curse, which is understandable. Words, feelings, and symbols all have power in their own right. I wonder if she was able to wash it off, or if its stuck on the underside of her car? And if so... does she still feel comfortable driving it?

You can check out the article and video here, while AOL News still has it up.

Beltane Book Publishing!

Happy May Day, everyone! Have you guys noticed I've been absent lately? Beltane is here, and perhaps you've managed to go out and about, celebrate, and make merry!

I was lucky enough in the past weekends to go to Scarborough Faire, a Dallas/Fort Worth area renaissance festival with Lore an my lovable god father. I even got to see people dance around the May Pole for the first time, ever! I've always wanted to see that! And do that, as well.

Beltane is know for spring and birth, and rebirth! So how does the University Witch celebrate?

...By publishing her own book on Amazon!

That's right! I'm happy to present University Witch: A Witch's Guide to Surviving Higher Education for download onto the computer or Amazon Kindle! Click here to visit its page on Amazon!

I thought of publishing it on the Kindle, especially due to my post, Techno-Witchcraft when I received my Kindle for Yule. You can download and check out the sample before purchase! It has the Table of Contents in it, so you can look it over to see what's in the book before deciding on purchasing though purchasing would really help me out considering I'm still unemployed, hahahaha...;;. 

May you all have a happy Beltane! Look forward to the next University Witch post!

Love,

Soull Soothslayer, University Witch

Famous Witches: Watanuki Kimihiro + HAPPY 1st YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

Salutations, Witches and Mundanes!

Today is a special day, April 1^st! Not only is it April Fools Day, but also the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of University Witch! Yes, this blog started last year on April 1^st, and a lot has happened since then. The blog has definitely grown, and I want to give a shout-out to every single person who came and read any of the articles, tried any of the spellcrafting projects, and those who spread the love! But enough about sappiness.

This particular Famous Witches: Real and Fictional course is dedicated to my favorite little witch, who's birthday also happens to fall on this very day! So, without further delay, lets celebrate our one year anniversary with a little bit of magick!

Introducing, for the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION~

Watanuki Kimihiro

Also known as “The Space-Time Witch” or “The Shopkeeper”

So who is Watanuki Kimihiro?

Watanuki Kimihiro is a fictional character, created by CLAMP for the series xxxHolic, which crosses over with Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles. He starts off, presumably, as a normal teenage boy, however hosts a strange attribute: the ability to see spirits. They also happen to follow him around, because his blood smells very good. The series follows his supernatural exploits under the witch Yuuko Ichihara, who owns a shop that can grant any wish. Watanuki makes the wish for the spirits to stop following him, and thus becomes employed under indentured servitude to the witch. With the help of his friends Doumeki (whom repels spirits), Himawari (a girl whom deals out bad luck unintentionally), and the pipefox Mugetsu (a sort of guardian for the young man), Watanuki spends his days outside of school encountering zany supernatural antics. The series also focuses on how he ties in with the characters Princess Sakura and Syaoran.

What makes them special?

Watanuki is an “ordinary boy” who, though magick and strange circumstances, becomes something extraordinary. Throughout the series he begin developing powers that always lay dormant within him, such as being precognitive (the ability to see the definite future, not just what may be), and also is known by otherworldly creatures as being a kind person, as well as a great cook (does that make him a Kitchen Witch, then?). He also has the ability to walk through dreams, and travel the astral plane.

The turning point for Watanuki is that he eventually takes over the wish-granting shop he was once employed under. Soon, his powers grow and he becomes one of the most powerful witches in the universe, spanning dimensions.

Where can I learn more about Watanuki?

You can check out his story in the manga and anime series xxxHolic, but he can also be spotted in the sister series Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles, and well as other CLAMP works such as Kobato, Drug & Drop, and Blood-C.

While xxxHolic for the most part can be comedic, it is a suspense-genre show, and there can be some parts in it that can potentially be creepy and also, violent. Be advised, before deciding to watch with children!

Supernatural Statistics:

Name: Watanuki Kimihiro

D.O.B: April 1st

Sign: Aries

Alliance: Neutral

Known for: His good cooking, good-tasting blood, precognitive powers, dream-walking, wish-granter

Familiar: The pipefox, Mugetsu

Tool of Choice: -None-

Thank you, everyone, for taking a look at this particular post. I'm happy to have managed to survive with this blog one year. I hope I am able to spend another with out, and continue to bring you information on all things magickal!

Merry Meet, and Merry Meet Again!

Soull Soothslayer, the University Witch

23rd Spell - Goldstone

Finding a job is hard.

For people who have wondered where I've been the past couple of months, here is your answer. Job hunting. Still. Oh, and of course wallowing about in my own depression.

"Why does no one want meeeeee."

Which feels true. There are days when I sit and seriously wonder who did I piss off? Well, you know, other than the hex that my girlfriend's grandmother put on me. A part of me wonders if this is some kind of frutation of this event. But, like a good University Witch, I decided to attempt to remedy my rut in various ways.

1. Cleaning. We started cleaning up the apartment with Lore in an attempt to stir up any built up negative energy. It certainly felt good, at least, but its not going to get the bills paid.

2. Keep searching. Though blind ads or online applications (I have no idea how many I've filled out or how many resumes I've turned in), I merely kept putting it in (and looking through my email, I was on average sending out 3 applications a day! 

3. Wallowing in self-pity and misery. WHHYYYYYYY MEEEEEEEEE.

4. When all else fails--

...Magick.

One of my recent endeavors was going to a pleasant little shoppe in Dallas called The Labyrinth, a metaphysical shoppe that my friend Kieran and I will visit from time-to-time on Saturdays. A couple of weekends ago, we gazed at the candles and I spotted one that looked like could do the trick for my dilemma. The color and label caught my eye:

[Prosperity OOH LA LA SHINY CANDLE]

...No that... wasn't the actual label but, its an accurate representation of my thought process as I reached with entranced, child-like eyes for the yellow-and-green candle. Since I was unfortunately broke, Kieran was kind enough to buy it for me in an attempt to boost my good fortune.

Now, I have nothing against their candles. In fact, I purchased one about two week prior to that one--a beautiful white one with the label [Visions] across it that worked wonders for the dreams I was attempting to decode. However, this particular candle didn't seem to do anything for me, as pretty and good-smelling as it was.

Those two weeks passed and still no job.

I was coming up close to my third solid month of being unemployed. That's when we started really cleaning up the apartment in an attempt to cause some havoc... or rather, disperse it.

While I was cleaning out the bedroom, I pulled out a strange handful of stuff. A quarter, a dime, a nickle.... and a small plastic bag with a stone inside. I stared at it blankly before I realized what it was--a Goldstone, which is known for "creating prosperity from nothing", in a tribute to alchemists from times past.

I held the stone in my hand quietly, staring at it. 

There are times when you feel like all hope is lost. But then there are small moments that make you feel... maybe things will be all right.

...If I was the type, I would have perhaps started crying.

Out of relief, of course.

And many thanks.

Another Sabbat has passed us, and the end to the first month of the mundane New Year is over!

I recently wrote an article about being a witch. I've learned through it that there are a lot of people that perhaps feel the same as I do, that they neglect their spiritual selves in favor of maintaining the strain of their day-to-day life. Admittedly, it can be hard and stressful. I was very moved by the multiple private messages I got from it. I hear from such a variety of different individuals, that I was touched by all that I read.

When I did go through all of them, I realized: this is the reason I write. This is the reason I maintain the University Witch blog, why I keep learning, why after awhile of beating around the bush, I fully embraced my faith for all that it is.

For those who stumbled upon here because of the article, or for those who follow the site, or even for those who come here for the first time!... thank you very much!

Love,

Soull Soothslayer, the University Witch

22nd Spell - The Curse

When I answered the phone groggily from my bed, Lore's grandmother was on the other line, and she was casting a voodoo hex on me.

I stayed on the line as she chanted my name, basically told me to die and get hit by a car or something, and said that the “devil was going to take my soul” before hanging up on me. I stared blankly at the phone for a moment, before setting it down on the bedside table, and laying back in bed with the confused look still on my face. Lore was in the bathroom at the time.

My body was shaking.

But it wasn't in fear, oh no.

It was almost as if a surge of magickal energy had rushed through me, practically begging me to put it to use. It was consisted entirely of a strange mixture that included rage, justice, and just plain will-power. I couldn't believe what had happened.

Lore has had problems with her family but I had thought her grandmother and her were all right. I could only imagine what Lore's mother must have said to her to get her riled up like that. She just threatened my life over the phone. Wasn't that grounds for some minor legal action? Why did it always come down to suing each other with Lore's family?

I was still tired, but I was sincerely thinking about calling the cops. Sure, she used references to cursing me and casting voodoo on me and all of that, but in the end, she was still hoping that I'd be killed. In the end, I decided doing anything wasn't worth it in the long run, at least not for what seemed like some foolish family feud.

During the conversation, all I had managed to say were a few things. Most notably, at the end, when I stated, “...Your words will do nothing to me. You're asking for my evil to come back to me... and I have done nothing, and so, nothing shall happened.” I know the Threefold Rule. I also know basic multiplication. Times it by three, ten, one-hundred, how every many numbers you want: when you multiply by zero, you still get zero.

Why, one must wonder, do people cast curses? While this is a long, drawn out explanation with plenty of history behind it (perhaps I shall go over it at a later date), there is one thing that always comes to my mind when I think of curses.

Before Lore left for work, I had done a protection spell on her. I took sage and burned it in the house, around every door and window, and in every room. We both shook the Witch Bottle. She looked to me with that usually smiling face of hers, but her usual, slightly-cocky look was gone and filled with worry as she gazed at me. Lore told me she was anxious.

“I'm not,” I stated faintly as I held the steadily burning sage incense stick in my hand. “...Because no harm will come to me.” But curses don't just vanish into thin air. They will always go somewhere. “...But your grandmother is foolish. She's trying to curse me... and we all know the best way to hurt someone...

“Is to hurt the people you care for,” We both said in unison.

When she left the house, I stood in the dining room, moving the stick on incense in front of me, around me, meditating, zoning out, and allowing myself to become completely focused on the scent of sage and the calming air around me as I enveloped myself into an attuned state.

Cast whatever curse you wish on me

It will only come back to thee.

Harm not I, nor yourself, or she.

But if pain comes with the retribution

Then I hope you learn your lesson.

Only one can rain down hatred and hurt

Your God, my God, our God.

Heed these words:

I bear you no ill-will

Just the inevitable.

If you ever find yourself in a bad position in life, and someone curses you, always be wary. No, not all people believe in magick, but there is magick in every person. You curse someone by wishing them misfortune and hurt fueled by your own hatred... so think about everything that you say.

...Because it will come back to you.

21st Spell - Techno-Witchcraft

Lore always cracks jokes at how technologically-challenged she is, but that's truly not the case. Entirely, at least. But, I'm a gadget and tech-nerd, so automatically my tech-savvy trumps hers. I love the newest shiny things, even if I can't afford them. An important part of magick to me is to find it in everything... even in science and technology. Though, any other form of media will tell you that science and magick don't mix together (anyone ever read Saiyuki)?

A couple of days ago, I got one of my Yule gifts from Lore in the mail. It was a little belated, but I didn't mind at all. So what was this gift?

A Kindle Touch.

"Heavenly Lights" only included with the addition of imagination.

When I initially received it, I thought it was a strange gift. I wasn't a big fiction reader, and had no idea as to what I would use it for. Though, it would be a great gateway to start reading more, but it was missing the feel of holding a real, hard book in your hands.

So what could I use it for?

I thought about it for awhile, but when I looked more into its features (it even had its own email address, how cool was that?!), an idea struck me.

I had always been tech-savvy, on the go... the idea of a portable library suddenly became extremely intriguing. While no, it could never truly replicate the feel of an actual library, the thought was certainly powerful in its own right: so much knowledge at your fingertips. And, with the ability to import documents onto the Kindle, I immediately fell in love with the idea:

An electronic Book of Shadows.

I immediately downloaded a few starter books and things of interest for the beginnings of a BOS. What did I want to put in here? I decided to start with basic things such as a book on amulets and stones, as well as one on herbs for magickal as well as practical uses. I was never very big on spellbooks, but I thought that if there were any that did catch my interest... I could keep them on here! Also, with the document uploader, I could easy write notes and put them on the Kindle, or email the Kindle itself!

I gave it a name: BOSS, which is short for... well, you wouldn't get it.

I had written a book over a year ago, which was what prompted me to start up this blog. Since all it does is sit on my computer collecting dust, perhaps I'll publish it so it can be downloaded as an eBook. Wouldn't that be swell? I had often thought of tech ways to have a BOS... and really, this is a lot smaller and cheaper than a netbook, or keeping it all on an easily losable USB drive that you still have to plug into a computer.

So what does Lore have to think about all of this so called “techno-witchcraft”?

Lore has her own idea for the Kindle... a Kitchen Witch's compilation of recipe books.

Clover Comic - Holiday Hangover