Burnt Sage & Blunt Truths

 Oh yes—let's talk about that soul-sucking doom-scroll vortex and the psychic sludge it leaves behind. You’re absolutely right to be concerned, especially now when the world feels like it’s burning (and not in a cozy Beltane bonfire way). Sensitive witches, empaths, and magically-minded folks are canaries in the coal mine. We don’t just see what’s happening—we feel it. Deeply. In the gut. In the bones. In the dreams. And too much media, especially the toxic kind, can unground us, scatter our energy, and leave us walking around like emotionally-fried little lightning rods. 🔮 Introduction: When Reality Feels Like a Curse Let’s be honest—turning on the news feels like stepping into a hex. Every headline, every breaking update, every hot take on social media... it’s a barrage. And for sensitive souls—witches, healers, empaths, and the magically inclined—it’s more than just noise. It’s a full-body energetic assault. We’re not just overwhelmed—we’re spiritually flooded. So how d...

  Whether you accidentally called in a sticky spirit with a fictional spell, got more than you bargained for in a moment of grief or curiosity, or just feel that something is hanging around your energy like an unwanted houseguest—you’re gonna need a ritual that doesn’t just sage it and hope for the best . This is a no-nonsense spiritual eviction notice , dressed in incense and iron. Let’s get rid of what’s lingering. 🕯️ Spiritual Cleanup: A Ritual for When Something Knocked—and Stayed This ritual is for when you feel watched, drained, confused, haunted, or just off after doing spiritual work (especially the kind that didn’t include boundaries). It clears energy, cuts cords, and tells spiritual squatters it’s time to GTFO. 🔧 What You’ll Need: A small iron item (nail, railroad spike, key, horseshoe, even a cast iron pan if you're bold) A black candle (white works in a pinch) A bowl of salt water (sea salt preferred) A cleansing smoke (mugwort, rosemary, or...

Let’s get one thing straight, witches: just because it sounds cool on Netflix doesn’t mean it belongs in your spell book. We need to talk about fictional spells. You know the ones—Latin incantations from pop culture, blood magic rituals out of vampire novels, or that gorgeous but completely made-up moon ceremony from a high fantasy series written by someone who’s never lit a single candle outside of a Bath & Body Works store. Here’s the tea: fictional spells aren’t always harmless pretend play . In fact, treating them like they are? That’s how you end up spiritually tangled, energetically fried, and wondering why your house feels like someone’s watching you when all you did was "summon your shadow twin" from a Tumblr post. Or from DnD...you'll wind up in a Mitsubishi trunk cause demons really don't play nice... Let’s break it down. 1. Fictional Spells Aren’t Fiction to Your Spirit Your spirit, your subconscious, your guides—whatever you want to call your de...

We need to talk about the grave mistake too many modern witches make when building ancestor altars: they start with vibes and end with visual clutter. You know the kind—lace doilies, 30 thrifted candlesticks, a framed Victorian child you don’t know, and a mummified lemon. Somewhere in the frenzy of “aesthetic,” we forgot that this is supposed to be for someone. Someone real. Someone who doesn’t want to be trapped in a shadowbox shrine next to your Halloween décor . Let’s fix it. Let’s build an ancestor altar that feels like home. One that welcomes your people and doesn’t scream, “I saw this on Pinterest and panicked.” Step One: Know Who You’re Inviting Before you light a single candle or haul out your dead uncle’s pocketknife, stop and ask: Who am I actually honoring here? An ancestor doesn’t have to be blood. We all have queer ancestors, chosen family, cultural ancestors, and spiritual lineages. If Grandma Ruby makes you feel safe and seen, she belongs on that altar. If Cousin ...

  How to Spot a Hex (and Why It’s Probably Just Your Poor Sleep Hygiene) We’ve all been there: the unexplained streak of bad luck, the persistent feeling of being watched, or the uncanny sense that something just isn’t right . When things take a turn for the worse, it’s easy to fall into the trap of blaming forces beyond our control—superstitions, dark energies, maybe even a hex . But before you rush off to a fellow witch or start burning sage, let’s take a deep breath and consider a more mundane (yet surprisingly powerful) possibility: your sleep hygiene . Yes, you read that right. The symptoms of a “hex” may just be your body’s way of telling you it’s time to get serious about your sleep habits. So, let’s dive into how you can spot a hex and why it’s probably just a lack of good, restful sleep. The Classic Signs of a Hex: Unlucky or Unhealthy? First things first—let’s break down the typical signs that people often attribute to being cursed or hexed: Unexplained Bad Luck F...

You know who you are. You call me Mama Bear , and somehow, that one nickname carries more truth than most people ever manage to catch in an entire lifetime of knowing me. This one’s for you. Because let’s be honest—there aren’t enough words in the world to properly explain what it’s like to love someone platonically, fiercely, forever. You’re not my partner. You’re not my blood. But you are, without question, my family . You’ve seen me at my worst—ugly crying, mascara-streaked, furious at the universe and barely holding on—and you never flinched. You didn’t try to fix it or dress it up. You just stayed. You let me be real . That’s something rare. Something sacred. You’re the one I call when the sky feels like it’s falling or when I just need to hear a voice that doesn’t demand anything from me. When the world gets too loud, too sharp, too damn much—you’re the silence that wraps around my bones and reminds me I’m still here. And I love you for that. Not in some “let’s define this...

 Witches have been out here putting up with too much for too long. We’ve got centuries of wisdom, spirits at our backs, herbs in our pantries, and freezers that are criminally underutilized. And while we might not be able to fix the whole world overnight, we sure as hell can throw some energetic punches where they count. So let’s go there. Let’s talk about quick and dirty protective magic , the kind that doesn’t require a full moon, a blood sacrifice, or a weeklong fast. Just the good ol’ fashioned, spicy witchcraft that gets the job done—especially when someone (or something) is out there actively trying to harm people. 🧂“Protect Your Peace, Hex Their Hatred” A Field Guide to Fast-Acting, Low-Effort Defensive Witchery 🧊 1. The Freezer Spell: Old-School and Ice Cold This one is a classic for a reason. It’s not about destruction—it’s about containment . You’re not cursing anyone here; you’re putting them on pause. You're silencing their harm, turning down the volume on thei...

I am Angela McIntire—also known as Sage , and to some, Mama Bear . I’ve been walking the crooked path, carving runes in the dirt with bare feet and stubborn fire, for over 41 years. My magic isn’t something I stumbled into by accident. It’s stitched into my bloodline, whispered down through the marrow from my mother, my grandmother, and my great-grandmother before her. My younger brother had the Sight too—though that particular torch burned too hot and too fast. The gifts were there. The knowing. The dreams. The uncanny timing. The way animals seemed to pay attention when we walked past, like they knew something stirred just beneath the surface of our skin. But boy howdy, were we steered away from all of it. We were baptized in holy water and guilt before we could walk, marched to church every Sunday morning and Wednesday night without fail. Bible quizzes, youth group mission trips, singing hymns in nursing homes, scrubbing the floors of orphanages for Jesus—if there was a gold sta...

 Let’s talk witchy road trips —not just snacks and playlists (although yes, always bring the good chips), but intentional, sacred travel that taps into the earth’s energetic spine. Because this isn’t your average "roll down the window and blast Fleetwood Mac" kind of road trip (though we are doing that too). This is a pilgrimage . This is magic on wheels . This is planning a journey with ley lines, liminal places, and land spirits in mind . 🚙 Witchy Road Trips: How to Plan a Sacred Journey Using Ley Lines Pack your (portable) altar, check the oil, fuel up, charge your tires, and follow the Earth’s magic Let’s be honest: most of us witches already make every road trip magical. You’ve got herbs in the ashtray, playlists labeled “ritual bangers,” and at least three amulets dangling from the rearview mirror. But what if we took it up a notch? What if we mapped our journeys like modern-day ley line pilgrims , traveling not just through space, but with purpose? Let’s br...

  Celebrating the Sabbats Without the Colonial Hangover By Burnt Sage and Blunt Truths Let’s be real: the Wheel of the Year? It slaps. The rhythm. The seasonal awareness. The excuse to dress up, light a bonfire, and eat bread in the woods with people who probably own at least one cauldron. Beautiful stuff. But here’s the rub: many modern interpretations of the Sabbats are filtered through a distinctly colonial, Eurocentric, and often cis-hetero patriarchal lens. And that’s a big ol’ nope. For witches, pagans, and spiritual rebels trying to practice responsibly in the 21st century, it’s time to reframe, reclaim, and vibe check our holidays. So let’s walk the Wheel together—without the guilt, gatekeeping, or Great White Folk Festival energy. Sabbats for the people. Sabbats for the planet. Sabbats for the now. 🌱 Imbolc – Not Just Brigid and Brooms Imbolc is often sold as a quiet honoring of Brigid and the return of the light. And listen, we love Brigid—but not everyone wal...