Rediscovering History

Mid December, amidst piles of holiday cookies and knitting on the go, I decided it was about time to venture into the storage room to look for some wrapping paper. I ended up stumbling across a number of keepsake boxes put together by my mom, and within one (buried beneath a lot of embarrassingly bad artwork) was a little box full of minerals that I had completely forgotten about in my adulthood.

When I was a kid, my dad gave me this box of labelled Canadian minerals from his own childhood because I had begun to show an interest in rocks and crystals. I remember being so amazed by this little pocket collection, and extremely annoyed with the piece of Agate in the box, thinking it looked more like a sliver of almond than anything else. I think I kept this box within reach for a year or two and then moved on from it, finding other interests and eventually forgetting much about it. Thankfully, my mom tucked it into a storage box with some other ephemera for me to find again.

When I rediscovered it, it felt really significant to me - a nod from childhood Imogen, an acknowledgement that what I'm doing now would likely strike her as extremely cool and aspirational. That was a really needed message, coming at a time in my life where I'm often second guessing my choices, wondering if I'm doing the right thing and so on.

So, let's talk about this box of Canadian Minerals. It's unclear what supplier this came from, but online research shows it is likely some sort of MCM Vintage Rock box from the 50's-60's.

My dad doesn't remember much detail about this box, he was also a kid with a lot of fleeting interests and passions and I wouldn't be surprised if he quickly moved on from this collection as a child too.

My dad was born in 1950 in Conquest, Saskatchewan - a teeny tiny rural prairie village (currently consisting of approximately 160 residents). At some point, he must have received this mineral collection, he guesses it was either a gift or a souvenir from a brief travel. One thing is for sure - it was his and his alone, as his name (Stafford Neal, Conquest Sask) is written on the front of the box AND the back of the box AND on the inside of the box behind the crystals for ultimate identification should it ever go missing.

The minerals themselves are nothing flashy - a chunk of lead, quartz, and something labelled chrysocolla which looks to me more like a piece of river rock with some quartz running through it. There's a piece of something called travertine, which I had to research just now so that I can tell you its a kind of sedimentary limestone. The agate, like I said above, is SO bland to look at that it almost blends in to the paper.

But I don't care; the sentiment is the magic of this box. It almost makes me feel like the universe (and my family) has been guiding me on this path since before I even knew it was possible.

It also makes me think about how special a mineral collection is, whether big or small. May we all collect and share and pass the magic of nature through many generations. Who knows what guidance our collections might offer in the years to come!

xo Imogen

(this post was originally shared to Patreon)

Witchcraft for the End of the World

It feels like the world is ending nearly every time you open social media, doesn't it? The worldwide news is nearly too much to comprehend these days - we can only absorb so much before our brains shut off.

And so, we move from one type of social media to another, scrolling mindlessly until our eyes glaze over and we stop absorbing anything at all. If you're anything like me, your screen time is going up and your level of relaxation and happiness is declining.

I came across a post on Threads the other day about cultivating skills for "the end of the world". And while I don't really believe the world is ending, It's undeniable that it's changing -- and often not for the betterment of everyday people.

Some of the skills recommended are deeply practical: gardening, canning, sewing, a general return to the basic building blocks of a comfortable life in an uncomfortable world.

But how about witchcraft? Is spinning magic from nothing not also a skill? Isn't it skillful carefully and thoughtfully we alter our reality by nurturing a deep core belief that anything is possible?

I believe witchcraft is not merely a hobby or a belief system, but a skill that can and should be practiced particularly at times of personal and general turmoil -- not only because it may be able to improve your life practically, but also because it is an invaluable tool for improving your mental health.

Here are some suggestions for practicing witchcraft "at the end of the world".

Build Community

• Whether you're a solitary practitioner or a member of a coven, this is a time we need community more than ever. Making connections with like minded people and building communities will save us time and time again. Nobody can do this alone, we all need to lean on each other.

• Consider visiting your local metaphysical shop and chatting with the owner or customers. See if anyone is interested in grabbing a tea and getting to know you!

• Build online community by interacting and messaging with witches on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok. Spend less time on apps scrolling, and more time making meaningful connections.

Witches Gift Economy

• If you haven't heard of a gift economy before, it's a method of community trade that involves one offering a gift to a community member without an expectation of immediate remuneration. This is best described by Robin Wall Kimmerer in her 2022 book The Serviceberry -- "..in the gift economy, gifts are not free. The essence of the gift is that it creates a set of relationships. The currency of a gift economy is, at its root, reciprocity"

• I envision a world where witches, working closely and intimately with nature, strike up a gift economy of our own. When a friend is struggling, offer the gift of a spell. If the night is dark, offer the gift of a candle. A neighbour is ill, offer the gift of a handmade herbal tincture. You never know what will return to you.

Witchcraft as Self Preservation

• Ultimately, the best thing we can do as we move through periods of deep unrest is to tend to our wellness so that we are best equipped to help where needed.

• Learn yourself deeply. What witchcraft helps you feel the most connected? Do more of that.

• It's not selfish to light a candle for yourself while others are also suffering.

Witchcraft for Worldwide Wellness

• The internet has given us a valuable tool - the ability to coordinate our spellwork and rituals with witches around the world.

• If there is a current issue that you feel a desire to change, consider participating in a group ritual. These are frequently advertised on social media. It's usually a particular time of day, when a group of witches all over the world combine their power and do one ritual.

Witchcraft as Nature Healing

• Every single witch I know has a deep reverence for nature, and understands that it is our job to protect it.

• Participate in the protection of nature by spending time getting to know the land you're on. Aid with efforts to remove litter, plant seeds, and manifest the wellness of all living things.

Now, I leave you with a line from Mary Oliver's poem "Evidence"

I want to step out into some

fresh morning and look around and hear myself

crying out:  "The house of money is falling! The house of money is falling! The weeds are rising! The weeds are rising!"

If the house of money is falling, let's cultivate the weeds. Let's celebrate the birds and trees and people we love and will love. Let's make magic with what is left.

xo

Imogen

(this post was originally shared on Patreon)