The Pale Raven Official

  If you spend any amount of time on my website, you will see a common theme. My absolute biggest “peeve” right now is the love-and-light takeover. Of course, I am no young lady, and this delusion has been oozing its way into the witchcraft community for a long time (thanks, Wicca). I do my best to counter this modified history by consistently researching and blogging about the true history of Magick—the often malevolent nature of it since early civilization. But with the internet, I find that it’s “us against the world.” The desire to keep yourself in a positive mindset, on its own, is a noble and good intention. However, it becomes dangerous when the ever-growing community of TikTok witches and forced positivity guardians begins to police those of us who do not take the same path. This policing can lead to harassment. I see it daily in Facebook groups, especially in circles titled “Everything Occult,” which are truly a mix of vastly different beliefs and moralities all crammed to...

  For my very first installment of “Herbal Highlights”, we will discuss my favorite soup ingredient.  I'm kidding, of course. However, it is one of my favorites I keep (carefully) in my garden. And it does have a host of uses outside of poisoning your foes. I plan to write up a very detailed article on the safe care and keeping of belladonna, so keep an eye out for that!  Deadly nightshade, scientifically known as Atropa belladonna, is a perennial herb infamous for its toxic properties and historical use in both medicine and folklore. Native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, this plant has captivated the human imagination for centuries, revered for its beauty yet feared for its deadly potential. The name "belladonna" translates to "beautiful lady" in Italian, a reference to the use of its berries by women in ancient times to dilate their pupils, creating a strikingly alluring appearance. However, the dual nature of this herb raises important questions a...