BloomWitchCo’s Recommended Resources
Originally built in our (deleted) Discord community.
If you’re already looking, you’re already a witch.
“There’s a witch wherever you are.” - SFG
Identify what you need and create it.
LOCAL COMMUNITIES
affiliated with UU Church
(ToHG) is a progressive, Deity-based Witchcraft community. The Central Indiana chapter holds regular public rituals.
local based facebook group
statewide witches
LOCAL SHOPS
plant store + witchy gifts, etc.
metaphysical supply shop with Nordic focus
pillar of crystal shops in Bloomington, check out the Annex for metaphysical books, tarot decks, supplies, etc
metaphysical supply with greatest array of herbs and supplies for spellwork
best thrift shop in town
Online only shop focused on Western Esotericism and magic
Located at College Mall, sells ethically sourced crystals and accessories.
Formerly known as Sahara Mart, good for herbs.
Record shop that sells some crystals and some obscure academic texts on witchy topics.
partner store to Moon Stones!
Hispanic grocery/restaurant with some herbs/teas for cheap, but also extremely cheap candles!
GATHERING LANDS
nature sanctuary & campground, all faiths welcome, regular seasonal festivals
regular pagan festivals
regular pagan festivals
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
shelter for women & children surviving domestic violence, programming to get families back on their feet
All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center
Provides free diapers, pathways to abortion access, a talkline for parenting/reproductive health topics and other support.
home of the Hoosier Abortion Fund
weekly non-commitment CSA shares available, food resources for families in need, community garden in progress
Not just books. Video games, seed library, library of things, regular programming, audiobooks, e-books, meeting rooms, and more.
Support for those experiencing homelessness.
Community Kitchen of Monroe County
Offers free meals, no questions asked, 6 days/week at their main location, cold carryout meals and a food truck.
Monroe County Humane Association
Low cost spay/neuter, vaccines, pet food pantry and more
City of Bloomington Animal Care and Control
Lost/found pets, shelter, animal control
Animal rescue and rehabilitation, specializing in rodents.
Local wildlife rehabilitation center.
Community Justice and Mediation Center
Center where community members can seek mediation for various issues.
Not local, but a digital library that anyone with a U.S. library card can apply to become a member of. Books are accessible via Libby/OverDrive.
PODCASTS
Missing Witches - curated by Risa Dickens & Amy Torok, a research and interview based podcast which is a spell in itself, uncovering the pioneers of witchcraft not often mentioned in the history books, as well as witches making magic in the modern day
The Circle is Podcast - new, fun podcast sponsored by Llwellen feat. interviews with authors & modern witches and fun commentary from the hosts Matt Auryn & Rachel True
Moonbeaming - witchcraft +, tarot origins, lunar living, interviews with modern witches
Druidcast - official podcast of the OBOD
Glitch Bottle - Interviews with practitioners on esoteric topics.
Around Grandfather Fire - Discussions about polytheism and spirituality.
Knit a Spell - Newly out of the broom closet within the last few years Katie Rempe discusses the integral connections between crafting and Craft (witchcraft).
New World Witchery - Two practitioners, one of whom has a Folklore PhD delve into all kinds of magical traditions around North America. They often have guests who specialize in that month’s topic. Extremely well researched and respectful and the hosts have a great rapport.
Wayward Wanderer - Radical Heathen podcast by author of “The Way of Fire and Ice”, Ryan Smith.
BOOKS
Drawing Down the Moon - Margot Adler
a sociological study of contemporary Paganism in the United States, Drawing Down the Moon continues to be the only detailed history of the burgeoning but still widely misunderstood Neo-Pagan subculture.
The Spiral Dance - Starhawk
an unparalleled reference on the practices and philosophies of Witchcraft and a guide to the life-affirming ways in which readers can turn to the Goddess to deepen their sense of personal pride, develop their inner power, and integrate mind, body, and spirit
Besom, Stang, and Sword - Christopher Orapello & Tara Love-Maguire
This book presents a complete system of practice utilizing ritual, chant, trance, the six paths of witchcraft as defined and explained by the text. “The book returns the Craft to its primordial forces—animism, baneful plants, folk magic, ecstasy, and hedge-witchery—without gatekeeping, armchair pseudo-academia, or pretension.”—Mat Auryn
Witches, Witch-Hunting and Women - Sylvia Federici
essential text for examining the origins of witch-hunting and its relation to the rise of capitalism
Witches, Midwives and Nurses - Barbara Ehrenreich & Deirdre English
examination of the fall of folk medicine in favor of patriarchal for-profit medical systems
Sekhmet’s Servant: Kemetic Daily Devotional - Megan Zane
Daily devotional with basic information about the Ancient Egyptian Gods, year, and plenty of prompts for reflection.
Kemetic 101: Developing a Personal Practice - Megan Zane
101 book about developing a personal practice involving the Ancient Egyptian Gods.
Doctoring the Devil - Jake Richards
Starter book about Appalachian magic written by a conjure man.
Wild Witchcraft - Rebecca Beyer
Another good place to start for Appalachian traditional magic, author is especially mindful of her positionality
Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom A Book of Tarot - Rachel Pollack
Deep exploration of tarot, more difficult to buy online but I see most witchy bookshops have a copy & our library has a copy of the deluxe edition.
Knot Magic: A Handbook of Powerful Spells Using Witches Ladders & Other Magical Knots - Sarah Bartlett
A good quick guide to knot magic & brief historical explanation/context (not a deep dive). I used the spells listed more like examples for crafting my own & learning knots.
The Witching Year - Diana Helmuth
An account of one woman’s first year on her path into witchcraft. Audio book is voiced by the author
The Dabbler’s Guide to Witchcraft - Fire Lyte
Easy to digest, often funny, introduction into spellcraft. Audiobook voiced by author
The Way of Fire and Ice - Ryan Smith
Introduction to radical Norse Paganism
Queering the Runes - Siri Vincent Plouff
A love letter to the runes, the gods, and the people who follow the Nordic path. The author presents an alternative approach to the runes, one that creates a gentle container for those who want to follow this heathen path.
Inner Witch - Gabriela Herstik
The ultimate guide to witchcraft for every woman craving a connection to something bigger, using the tools of tarot, astrology, and crystals to discover her best self.
ONLINE COMMUNITIES
Discord server, formerly Witchipedia.
Discord server for study and practice of Western esotericism.
Pre-contact Mexica/Aztec religion website. Linked Discord server.
Herbaria community membership with access to new and existing courses, plant profiles, and recipes. Founded by a disabled person of Eastern European and Western Asian descent, regularly offering classes with BIPOC, queer, and other lived experience herbalists. Also offers self-paced courses without the Herbaria membership (some of which come with a free membership).
ONLINE LEARNING
Free Western magical course that is self directed.
Online index of academic writing on Ancient Egypt, maintained by your friendly Bloomington Kemetic.
Free course on completing the “Great Work” of Hermeticism.
Blog by a Greek polytheist in Greece.
good for kitchen, garden, green, and weather witches. Also getting to know your local pests & bacterial threats in the garden.
Are we missing something from this list? Are you a local organization or shop owner who wants to be featured? Are you on this list and want to make an edit? Comment below or message us to reach out.