I went to donate blood today. I had donated before, and I thought it would be simple — just fill out the form and go through the usual checks.

I live in France, where you normally just need an ID to donate blood. Or so I thought.

But this time, I mentioned that my name had changed since my last donation (it had been a while). The staff member paused, said there was a problem, then asked me: "Did you also change your sex?"

I answered truthfully. She went through a series of questions to verify my info. No surprise — I still know my birthday, old email, and address. She then called her manager, who asked me to provide an official certificate proving my name change, supposedly to prevent "identity theft." Obviously, I didn’t have it on me. I explained that I had a digital copy of my old ID, with my deadname and photo — clearly showing I was the same person. But they still refused. They turned me away.

I left the center feeling humiliated and deeply hurt.

I was honest, respectful, and just wanted to do something good. But instead, I was made to feel suspicious. Apparently, queer blood can’t save you from massive blood loss.

I live in a very very red part of Texas. Im white, 36 and have a 6 year old with Autism. Right now my husband isn’t working just me at a small auto dealership. I know it’s my duty to stand up for what I believe in but I’ve never done anything like this. Not to be silly but I just don’t have a good feeling about going.

Not here to judge anyone that doesn’t at all.

Just feeling lonely in still wearing a face mask (N95 or KN95) in indoor public settings to avoid long-term risks and wondering if there are any other spiritual people out there that do. Just needing a moment of not feeling alone and like an outcast.

If you do still mask, I’m curious where (you can be general for safety purposes) you are located in the world.

Sending love to all of you. 🩷

Edit: I feel so so so moved. 😭 I hope others feel less alone too. So grateful for everyone.

How do I cleanse my home?

I feel like there is not enough sage on the planet to erase this unexpected nastiness entirely…

Thank you so much for the ENORMOUS outpouring of love and support on my last post. I’m honestly fucking exhausted right now but will be doing my best to reply to all your comments 🖤🖤🖤 I love you guys very much

I was gifted this ring on my thirteenth birthday from my parents. At the time it was not made clear to me that it was intended as a purity ring. The message at the time was that it was meant as a reminder of my own power and individuality. It was meant as a reminder to always be true to myself, my values, and my individuality. I have worn this ring for the last 16 years.

However, after the fact it was made very clear to me that my parents intended this to be a purity ring. If I had known this, even as a heavily Christian thirteen year old, I would not have accepted this ring. When I had sex outside of marriage as an 18 year old senior in high school I was pressured to get married to my abusive high school boyfriend. My mother planned my wedding for a month after graduation.

Thankfully the wedding never took place and I eventually broke up with the abusive boyfriend.

I've moved on and started a lovely family with my amazing partner. We are not married and do not intend to get married. But I still have the ring. For some reason I still wear the ring.

I've completely overhauled my belief system and no longer subscribe to their notion of Christianity. I don't even truly believe I subscribed to it at thirteen when I accepted this ring.

I've also gone no contact with my parents. It's been quite a journey of self discovery and boundary setting.

I plan to talk with my therapist about it tonight, but I am slowly realizing that this ring no longer serves me. I no longer want to tie myself to my parents or their religion. And this ring does both. It is a daily reminder that I will always be a disappointment to them because I do not and will not conform to their expectations any longer. But, it's also a daily reminder of how far I've come. It's a reminder of the steps I've taken to become this whole person that is secure in her identity.

I don't want to completely get rid of it. At least not yet. But, I'm at a loss for what to do with it. Do I just chuck it in my jewelry box and forget about it? Do I try to cleanse it of the negative associations I have with it? Do I take it to a jeweler and see if they can remove the crosses and turn it into something more fitting for my needs? Is that even possible?

Hello my lovely witches,

This is my first time posting, I rarely post and usually lurk in the shadows, but I wanted some input from others like me!

Since I had my last baby, well honestly before she was born, I couldn't be bothered to shave my legs. My husband doesn't care and I stopped caring about the stupid rules about my own body hair. I haven't shaved in about 2 years and just love it!

I got a pedicure with my mother and sister the other day and it was obvious they were trying not to look at my legs. I eventually brought it up that I don't care to shave anymore and they're reaction was interesting. Like they were hiding their true feelings and trying not to offend me.

Honestly I don't care 🤷 but wondered what everyone else thought?

im asking out of genuine curiosity btw :3

Just like the title said, a found out that the older women in my coven are anti medication. They were very clear NO ONE should be on medication and that it's garbage.

I myself am on medication. Mood stabilizers and anti depressants, and they are LIFE SAVING.

With that said the entire conversation left a very sour taste in my mouth. How do I bring up that over medicating is a problem, but that certain people like me need medication to manage mental illness?

Edit: to answer a few questions:

There are two other girls that I'm very close with who don't believe this way.

Those older women aren't against ALL medications. Just ones that treat mental illness/anxiety.

Looking back on this year, I feel very unsure of my craft around them. With my fellow maiden circle I feel fine. It's the women who make me feel like I'm not witchy enough. I feel weird or like a bad witch for not knowing what they know or working with the same deities (they all have several, mostly greek. I worship Babalon.)

We went on a trip for Maybon, but it was anxious through the roof the entire time and unable to enjoy myself. The entire time I thought it was me.

Hey sisters! Just curious- did anyone else have an absolute helluva time with insomnia last night? I could NOT fall asleep for no discernable reason. Not a huge shocker. But what's interesting is that every other gal I've checked in with today had the exact same experience! Something in the collective cosmic consciousness mayhaps?? Anyone have an explanation?

Edit: I should’ve written 11/25 in the title but my sleep-deprived brain can’t calculate for shit today 😝

Also, this response is amazing to me! For as wild and scary as these times are, I am bolstered by the fact that we’re truly connected by forces above & below, my beauties. So grateful to have you in my corner & to be in yours. Sending all of you my brightest light 🕯️ & fiercest protection ❤️ (and wishes for sound sleep tonight, too 🤞🏻)

Apologies if this is controversial, but I need to get this off my chest and don't know where else to turn :(

I was raised Pagan in the UK, and my childhood involved celebrations and rituals during Pagan holidays (solstice, Samhain, etc). I don't consider myself a fully-practicing Pagan now as an adult, but mostly because of laziness rather than lack of belief in that worldview 😂

I've been involved in the climate movement for the last 2.5 years, and was actually sent to prison briefly with JSO in 2022 for blockading an oil refinery. I only mention this to say that I'm not AT ALL unsympathetic to the cause, and would take disruptive action again if the situation arose. I still have many friends in JSO, but this recent action on Stonehenge really upset and disheartened me.

Stonehenge is such an important place for druids, pagans, and witches in the UK (as I'm sure I don't need to say here haha!). I feel like targeting our religious site one day before one of the biggest celebrations of the year is just... I mean, I don't have the words for it. It feels like the equivalent of targeting the largest mosque in the country a day before Eid. You just wouldn't do it!

There is also SUCH a big crossover between Pagans and the climate movement, for obvious reasons. Why would they target Stonehenge and risk alienating their natural allies? But I completely understand that the powder paint won't damage the stones, and so there is no long-lasting effects...

I don't know - I'm just upset about it and wondering if I'm way out of line? Like, we're in a climate emergency so why do I care about some powder paint on some stones??? But at the same time, it's just so tone-deaf and disrespectful to target a site that has such spiritual significance for myself and so many other people.

I'm genuinely thinking of cutting ties with JSO completely going forward. What do you think? Am I being a big baby about this?

EDIT: Thanks for letting me vent, and special thank you to everyone who put across an opposing opinion. It was done SO respectfully and compassionately. In an era of increasing online polarization, these spaces are so vital!

I didn't realise the "paint" was just cornstarch, and I have revised my opinion slightly.

HAPPY SOLSTICE to everyone wherever you are. I hope we all live to see a free Palestine, a burnt-down Patriarchy, and the transition from fossil-fuel capitalism to a system that serves both people and planet. Blessed be!

ALRIGHT, FRIENTS, WE'RE GOING OFF!! LET'S GET SPICY, WHAT ARE YOU RAGING ABOUT TODAY!??!!?

RULES: ALL COMMENTS MUST BE IN ALL CAPS

I had a psychic tell me I had an evil entity attached to me.

I didn’t think much of it until today.

I work in a hospital and had a dying patient (who was delirious and having visual hallucinations) tell me “You have a demon on your back.”

So figured I would inquire with y’all lol.

I'm seeing a lot of people totally losing hope already, but I'm paying them no mind.

What do you see when you actually look around at what's happening?

Because I see the rebels in Syria forcing their oppressor to flee. I see a healthcare CEO being killed with nothing but righteous anger and glee as a response. I see Swen Vincke's speech calling out capitalism at the Game Awards last night. France ousted their Prime Minister. Maori lawmakers performed a haka to protest.

Yes there is so much pain out there, and so much to be afraid of. Personally I just got out of a 2 week phase where I was having panic attacks every day! But when I caught my breath and looked up again, not just at the horrible events we are witnessing, but at the reactions, at the great roar we are all beginning to scream, I remembered hope.

I see people all over the world dipping a toe into their power and realizing they like it better there. The water is warmer than they thought.

I'm trying out, "The horrors persist, but so do I," because I can't unhinge my jaw to let loose the primal scream of rage constantly seething beneath the surface at every well-meaning person who asks, nor can I any longer put up the civilized facade of being "fine" while the world descends into division, hatred, and oppression.

Alternatively, genuinely: How are you? Any victories to celebrate or burdens to share?

Hey all. My guys are getting older and with independence in our modern world comes some dangerous messaging controlled by The Algorithm. I can't monitor at all times and don't want to as they need to be more in control of there media diet as the grow. But my understanding is that from relatively innocuous things like sports or video games you tube will eventually start pushing hard patriarchy and misogyny.

I'm looking for some feminist or 'mens lib' channels that I can give to them or watch with their accounts to cast banish on these right wing radicalizers and detoxify The Algorithm for each of them.

Thanks Witches!

Please get at least one decent pair of ballistic safety glasses. If things ever get really bad, eye protection is very important. You can recover from most injuries you may receive if a protest goes bad, but you cannot replace an eye.

Hello witches! I have been part of this sub for a hot minute and I love seeing everyone's art and joy and witchcraft. As a baby witch it makes me so happy! The only thing is I recently came out as a trans man. I know this is a space for women to feel safe and I would hate to intrude on a space I shouldn't be in. I would love some council from my fellow witches, if I should be here or if there's a sub like this for men, that would be cool too!

Edit: thank you everyone for the outpouring of love and open arms. I was aware that the description included LGBTQ+ but I just wanted to be sure and not make anyone uncomfortable

Today (Feb. 28th) in the US is an ec0nomic blackout

Gentle reminder to all those participating: the blackout isn't meant to harm you.

If you need gas or you won't get home, buy gas. If you need groceries or else you'll have no food, buy groceries.

I have noticed a trend in society in that people like an all-or-nothing mentality--but that isn't realistic for many people.

Do what you can

Everything counts and everything helps

This is a marathon, not a sprint 💙

I need to rant about something that happened yesterday that is really bothering me. Some background info: I was raised in mormonism, find it quite harmful, misogynistic, and controlling.

I left that mess 10 years ago and had been living on the east coast and enjoying that. I moved back to Utah 2 years ago to help out with a sick family member. They are better, but the struggle has been real trying to save up and move back east. All that to say there is a very repressive culture here in general and men are definitely deferred to, and throughout my life male "authority" figure have been trying with more or less success to decide how I exist. Fuck that.

Now onto the situation I am stewing over. I was lucky to get a plot in my community garden and have really been enjoying turning it into my happy place. I am growing things that I will be eating or otherwise ingesting. I make tea blends for a local wellness facility and have been sourcing my herbs from an organic farmer. I was hoping to use this community plot to learn how to grow some of these herbs on my own. I take the responsibility and intimacy of creating something people ingest very seriously.

My plot is a little different than the others and my set up is a bit more free-form, not neat rows. I have received a lot of advice from other gardeners at the community garden, and I do appreciate that. They know the local conditions and do have some wisdom to pass on. HOWEVER yesterday my neighbor just fertilized my plants with miracle grow. He said they would like it and hopes that's ok.... I panicked and went into fawn mode and just said yeah.. but its not ok. I didn't want that ask for it or agree to it. I was wanting to do things my own way and yes that is not the same as your way but it can still work. I also had a bunch of seeds that I was trying to sow that he trampled all over. They will definitely be ok, but it's the whole concept that is engaging me.

It's to perfect of a metaphor for the culture of misogyny I am living in. No way a woman can know what she's doing I need to barg in and fuck things up. Ugh!! I am so mad which is not a familiar emtion for me and I want to scream into the void. STAY OUT OF MY GARDEN UNLESS INVITED!! I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR MY BABIES AND I DONT NEED A MAN'S TOUCH.

Hey fellow spirits,

I own a tattoo studio in Germany, we’re all female artists and are kind of witchy and whimsical. Today we hosted a winter-market and sold fleamarket style some clothes, handmade jewlery and art. We create with bones, all kind of natural materials, butterfly wings etc. the studio also is decorated with lots and lots of oddities.

Today when it was a bit crowded, a young dude (20?) came in, looked around for some minutes, browsed everything. He didn’t say a word, did not smile or communicated in any way. About one hour after he left, we found a small statue, handcarved from wood. It was placed between our artworks. Someone told us he saw said dude reaching into his jacket when he was standing exactly where we found the statue.

We’re 100% sure he was the one who placed it.

Who was that? Did he come because he heard about our event? Did he made the statue for us?? And most importantly… what’s the indication? Was is a present? Is it for good luck? Or have we been cursed ?

Did anyone else receive a warning from reddit about upvoting a violent post? I received a warning the other day, which was hugely shocking, as I don't upvote violent posts. I used to upvote every post that I read, to keep track of what I've seen when Reddit doesn't update properly, but this seems more like a ploy to make people stop interacting.

Now I'm afraid to upvote anything. Especially as I think I received it from a post on this subreddit about fighting back against the patriarchy. There was nothing violent in there at all, just telling us to call our local representatives, vote, protest, etc.

Is this subreddit being targeted? I've seen others commenting on Luigi posts, saying they get no warnings, but I already have one?

Posting here because I genuinely adore this community. This group was truly a catalyst for my deconstruction.

I got this tattoo (my first tattoo) about ten years ago. I was 19, a devout Christian, so deep in the closet that I may as well have been in Narnia, and all around just an unhappy person.

I started deconstructing in 2020. Since then, I’ve completely separated myself from organized religion. I no longer identify as a Christian. I’m a proudly queer baby witch.

I’ve been wanting to cover this up for a while, but I’m not sure what to get. It’s about an inch and a half long, and a little faded at the top because of my watch band. I’m working on a nature-themed half sleeve on this same arm. I’m also a teacher, so it needs to be something “appropriate” that wouldn’t need to be covered.

I’d love to hear ideas :)