BANEFUL MAGICK FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE

A Recap from my time on the “Magic Exists” Podcast with Dani Margeaux

Welcome to a very special article, my darklings. Today I am excited to share, and recap, my fantastical time with Dani Margeaux on her Podcast “Magic Exists”. We talked about so much; elemental magic, spell-work, connection to the universe/ether/deities, and even touching on a more controversial topic of hexing, cursing, and binding (under the umbrella of baneful magick) specifically for victims of abuse and trauma. You can listen to the episode below, or anywhere podcasts are found.

*Trigger Warning for SA, Domestic Violence, and Family Trauma*

I know we’ve had some pretty intense articles in the Grimoire, from sharing my story of grief, to my experience of being put under a love spell, and even connecting with others on our shared struggle of navigating sex as a wxtch with chronic pain . But I hope that through the darkness you see the light and feel the warmth of the coven surrounding you. Because you are note alone! Through my own vulnerability of sharing my personal stories as well as my craft, I hope you’ll be able to understand your own darkness, pain, and trauma and use it to bring forth your own healing (or revenge?) through the use of Witchcraft. It’s here in this podcast episode, and article, that I dive into how you can use your craft to bring forth healing, and in some cases JUSTICE.

Clairs, Psychic Abilities and What Role They Play in Witchcraft

When Dani asked me what my Clair was it was very tricky for me to pinpoint just one, or a “main” one. Depending on the clients I see and what they are seeking from me indicates what ability comes through (if any!). Why many spiritualists, witches, and diviners have recently been discussing clairs is hard to pin down. My two cents? I find people want to understand the way in which gifted individuals could know things they never would have known without prior knowledge or information. I believe that’s a part of the human condition. Whenever we see someone with a “super power” or an ability that seems “otherworldly” we want to understand it, maybe to be able to obtain it for ourselves or to debunk it.

So, when you come upon a great reader, and they just seem to know things that in no way could they could have, it usually comes down to their abilities within the psychic realm; which ultimately means clair abilities. To hear messages, see spirits that aren’t there, smell objects, people, or environments that aren’t in the immediate vicinity, become overwhelmed with feelings that don’t belong to us, and many more examples- these are experiences of psychic people with clairs. I have an article coming soon that dives deeper into what each clair is, and how you can begin to identify which one you may possess (or learn to develop).

The role clairs play in witchcraft is one of choice. Many witches do have a sixth, seventh, or even eighth sense, if they work on building that ability. It can enhance their magick, craft, and divination practice wether its for personal reasons or their witchy biz. Tapping into the unseen world is a necessity for witchcraft, because that is what magick is; the belief in the unseen and utilizing it in whatever way we witches see fit in that time (political rebellion, protection, enhancing love connection, building upon wealth abundance, securing optimal health, etc). Tapping into this unseen stream of consciousness can also inform us of obstacles to come, people to avoid or be weary of or situations we must try to side step. It is encouraged for witches of all backgrounds to find their version of this and incorporate it into their craft.

What is a Wxtch? Who is a Wxtch?

In the simplest of terms; being a wxtch is the noun/name given to those who act upon their magick, ultimately that being wxtchcraft.So you’re probably left with the question ‘Ok, Bronté, so than what is wxtchcraft?’ It’s going to look and be different for every wxtch, in all honesty, and some have more rigid standards for their practice than others. I’d say it is the act of harnessing unseen forces to be used for the benefit of the self and others; the form at which magick is born into reality is chosen individually. Similarly to how astrology’s twelve signs have been accepted for their vast differences within the same modality, wxtchcraft works the same. There are hearth witches, green witches, chaos witches, cosmic witches, satanic witches, light witches, coven witches, solitary witches, religious witches (wicca, druid, heathen, pagan, jewish, christian, muslim, catholic), the list goes on and continues to build to this day. With all of this being said, if you asked a different wxtch each day this very question, you’d get a different answer from each one, but with the same through-line underneath. Wxtches work within the realm of the unknown, and unseen. Their is great belief in their own power, as well as the collective power, and beyond. It is with this power, magick, that we can bend the realms of reality to our very desires, needs, and wishes.

Where can I Find Other Wxtches?

You can find wxtches here, in our little online community! Going to Instagram or YouTube and say hello to other fellow witches in the comment section (while we work to create a better community gathering for y’all *wink*). In some states and countries it is very dangerous to out yourself as a wxtch, and that is why I recommend online sources as the main option of connection, but if you are in a progressive town, family, or friend group, invent opportunities for others to connect with you in person by building a safe space to practice! Maybe your first outing will be at the Practical Magic 2 movie coming out September 2026, I know I’ll be there! And then from here, you can discuss practicing magick together. To share my vulnerability here, I never found my coven, my support, which is why I took matters into my own hands and began building one right here- you can too!

I also want to acknowledge that within the spiritual community at large, as well as the wxtch community, it can feel very isolating because some individuals, or groups, feel that their way is the correct way of doing things. We do have to be aware of what is cultural appropriation, what tools are sacred to certain groups, what closed practices are, and also to not look on social media for facts! I know, that’s controversial, but if you’re seeking insight about a certain practice, I highly recommend you do some research and reach out to either a group, or member of that group and ask for insight. It’s easier to vilify people when they’re at a distance, but up close people are generally good. Although some of us, maybe many of us, have felt ostracized or belittled because were still learning, don’t let that discourage you. Keep reading, keep connecting, keep building your craft! You are a wxtch!

Working with the ‘Dark’ Deities and How this Empowers Those Who Have Experienced Abuse, Pain, and Suffering

Persephone

In this podcast episode with Dani you’ll hear me speak in a general sense of my work with Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. She is a Grecian Goddess known for defying her mother, being “stolen” by Hades and brought to the Underworld, where she then must decide to remain with her beloved King, or ease her mothers grief and loss by returning to her side. Instead Persephone takes back her power, eating six pomegranate seeds, that ensures she must return to the Underworld for half the year, and six months during the abundant seasons with her mother. The great message here for victims of abuse is that we have the choice, even when it feels impossible we can choose our fate. It does not mean it will be an easy road, we may, like persephone to her mother, let people down. They may not understand our choices, and even fight against them, but it is our push back that instills the divine courage in us that knows who we are and what we deserve. I’d like to also mention that if you have trauma, pain, or hardship surrounding a mother wound, working with Persephone can help tremendously during your healing process.

Hekate

Persephone isn’t the only deity of the dark who can help carry you through these times, Hekate is the carrier of the flame. Hekate gets compared to, and even overlapped with the triple goddess (maiden, mother, crone), and although she is not seen in my practice this way, I see that she is wise with knowledge of all these stages within her. Regardless of what stage of life you are in, she brings the light to you, shining it on your darkest shadows, and helps to guide you to embracing these things about yourself integrating them into who you are truly meant to be! She also helps to shine light on the hurt and pain others have cast upon you, and she will encourage you to let those people or situations go…even trapping them in their own shadows as an opportunity to learn and grow. Use old keys as a physical offering to Hekate, and ask her to help unlock the pain within you.

Medusa

There are a few versions of Medusas story, and the one I’d like to touch on today involves sexual assault, specifically the Roman Mythology of Medusas story. Neptune, God of the Sea, is completely overcome with lust upon seeing Medusa, and in his lustful rage he takes her without consent, inside Minervas Temple. Minerva seeing this becomes enraged and curses Medusa, transforming her hair into snakes, and making it that any man she gazes upon be turned to stone. Quite a traumatic experience for Medusa, given she was the victim in this unfortunate happening, and was still punished for it. Not all of us get revenge in the way we hope, but asking for Medusas guidance in seeking that revenge, can be very palpable. Offer her snake sheddings as a token of transformation, or a cloaked mirror on your alter, and she may guide you in turning your anger into joy (and your abusers pleasure to pain)!

The Morrigan

She observes, plans, and glides through the world in the form of a crow when it’s less convenient to be in her “human” form. She is known as a shapeshifter, the goddess of death, war, grief…she understands the darkness of human kind, as well as the Gods. An ancient Celtic Goddess of Sovereignty, The Morrigan is a deity that could help you to transmute your pain, grief, and anger into action. Stories suggest that she depicted who lived, and who died on the battlefields- which made befriending her, amongst soldiers of war, an undeniable quest. However, those who may have thought it to be bullshit had the higher chance of meeting their fate. Known to be a Goddess of vengeance, hate, and unforgiving anger, she is someone to call upon when you wish to cast ill-intent upon another. However, like previously stated, she is vengeful and worshippers have warned of her retaliations if you do not honor her or follow through with your offerings to her as promised/exchanged for her help in carrying out your hex/curse/etc.

Kali

Kali is a Hindu Goddess that is associated to war, death, destruction, and liberation. She is a ‘mother’ Goddess, some could easily say overly protective- but for those who are in need of a parental or guardian figure to stand up for them, she is definitely one to call upon. You may be familiar with the image of Kali; blue skin, four arms (sometimes more), jet black fair, wide eyed with a long red tongue (sometimes forked like a serpent). Her appearance is both feminine and masculine, the complete embodiment of gender itself, and all in-between. She is a very powerful deity, and one not afraid to cause war, shed blood, and take heads when necessary. I do not recommend calling upon her unless you are willing to go to the depths of your being, staring straight into the eyes of your pain, fear, and shame because she will without doubt transform you.

Ares

One of the most loyal deities, and stereotypically rage-full and vengeful. Ares will guide you through the flames of fury and into a state of acceptance and empowerment. A God willing to start wars over things less pervasive than what victims of abuse have faced, so imagine what he’ll be willing to help carry out for you once he’s heard of your wrong doings! Now keep in mind, Ares is a very loyal God (beloved by Aphrodite for a reason) which means it’s highly recommended that you build a relationship with Ares first before asking him to carry out war for you. That doesn’t mean it’ll take months, but understanding him, and offering him objects associated to his nature (carnelian, red rubies or garnets, frankincense or dragons flood incense, fire/candle magick, go for a really intense run and offer that action as a gift to him)…you will easily build his trust. I encourage those who have had issues with ‘intense/aggressive men’ to consider Ares because the act of working with a deity of a similar nature will be very healing.

Loki

Many of us think of Loki played by the devilishly charming Tom Hiddleston in the Marvel Movie Universe. He is flawed and tortured, a trickster and justice seeker, many of his attributes immediately opposing and conflicting within him. Maybe that’s why so many of us work with Loki, or at the very least respect him. He is a mirror of humanity; flawed and beautiful, hopeful yet unwilling to wait for change so we set things in motion to make that change. Loki is a wonderful companion through hardship, a great listener, and, especially for those who may not be fully ready to jump into the deep-end of hexing and cursing, he will hear your pain and carry out a sense of devilish karma. Your abuser may experience car trouble for the next year, or maybe they’ll receive a spider or centipede infestation that drives them out of their home…regardless of how these little annoyances come about, Loki is sure to be the culprit. If you find dead spiders (DO NOT KILL ANY SPIDERS) offer them to Loki. Something a little easier to come by would be coffee or a dark alcohol (whisky, scotch, mead). You can even share a drink with him and build the relationship further.

Circe

My number one deity, Circe. I’ve taken the time to tell her story here. With that I’ll go into why connecting with her can be a truly transformative and vengeful experience. Circe is a master of witchcraft and sorcery, so she will have a spell, a ritual, and/or magical tool for you to immediately start implementing. She is a deity that isn’t afraid of her power, which was brought forth through her innocence and hope. However, once that was taken advantage of, it ignited her fury which only excelled her powers, and expanded her knowledge of herb use to get back at any suspecting danger. She is a deity that will not only help you seek immediate revenge, but will also grant you protection. You can choose either, or both in your practice with her. I recommend offering her hand knit/sewn/crafted art, herbal offerings (tinctures, herbaceous cooked items), wine, animal figurines/images (pigs, lions, wolves), knives, water magick or fire magick tools/trinkets/etc. Her energy feels like that of a mother or older sister, a protective maternal figure who is as nurturing as she is fierce.

There are many other deities from other cultures and various spiritual backgrounds, so I highly encourage you to continue seeking their guidance through research. Your craft is, and should be, specifically tailored to you. Even if you work within a coven, or have family traditions, ask yourself what feels right to you, and how each addition to your craft can support you and inspire you. Even working with your ancestors can be a great tool to fight against wrong doings, and it has the potential to break ‘curses’ or ancestral trauma so that those in later lineage do not experience the same pains. It is all in your hands. It is your power that will end the suffering, and build strength that will follow you for years to come.

How to Use the Craft to Heal & Seek Justice; Hexing, Binding, Cursing!

We’ve all come across the “love and light” spiritualists, wiccan witches, and religion based healers, but simply because one person sees karma one way, doesn’t make it the only way. The biggest thing I would encourage for people new to this type of work is to listen to yourself first and foremost. There will be things I say and share that may not resonate with you, and it’s not my place to be your guru in the world of witchcraft. You are your own guru, guide, high priestess, hermit, therefore take a moment with every spell, ritual, book, community recommendation and ask yourself “does this feel right to me?” If you aren’t ready (and maybe this isn’t something you’ll ever want to include in your work) you can always come back when you are. Sometimes it’s good to take a peak behind the curtain before thrusting into something full force. However, If you’ve been in so much pain that it physically hurts, if you’ve been trapped and felt there was/is no escape, if you want to rip out the dark seed of victim that was thrust upon you, and maybe even seek revenge for it…than you’ve come to the right place.

Hexes (highly aggressive): When wanting to send a message, or to retaliate in a way that lasts for a moment in time, send a hex. Wanting someones hair to fall out so they understand how painful it was being bullied for how we look is a great example. This is a quick and fast acting hex, one that is slow in the subject “returning to normal” afterwards. It forces the abuser to have to experience the same pain you did, but isn’t something that lasts a life time. Eventually the hair will grow back, but the lesson will be learned and growth (not just on their head) can be possible, and forgiveness can be achieved. There are many hexes that can carryout a similar effect, this is just one easy example.

Curses (highly aggressive): Unlike hexes, Curses last a loooonnnggg time. You may be familiar with Hollywood throwing these into many witchy storylines…

The "Owen's curse" in Practical Magic (1998) is a generational hex created by Maria Owens, ensuring any man who loves an Owens woman dies prematurely. Triggered by the sound of a deathwatch beetle, the curse was meant to protect Maria from the heartbreak of rejection, ultimately causing centuries of premature widowhood for her descendants, Sally and Gillian - Gina Wurtz, Movie Mondays with Gina

Curses don’t have to be generational, especially when cursing an abuser wxtches tend to focus on the individual and, if anything, send intentional protection to their family or anyone close to them, to be shielded from their violence. You are wxtch, so you decided how you with to conduct your magick. Curses aren’t for the weak. You will see someone suffer for years to come, most likely their whole life, until the curse is complete (which you get to set the timeline). So when using hexes protect yourself and distance yourself from the chaos that could unravel from your subject.

Demonology (highly aggressive): Working with demons is quite controversial to say the least. Demons have been around for millennia, but depending on where you learned about demons you may feel completely overt to this path. Those who are curious, I recommend doing a little research on different demons (even their cultural backgrounds- you don’t want to get in over your head). You work with a demon the same way you work with a deity, it is an exchange. Make offerings, and maintain that relationship for the duration of time you plan to work together. This can be a contract (ie: 3 months) or similarly to deity work, a life long union. An offering I have encountered is to ‘feed’ the name of your abuser to the demon you’re working with. Feed it your pain, your hurt, your suffering, but also the name and even information of your abuser. You will not be disappointed with the results.

Jinxes (mildley aggressive): When I think of Jinxes my mind immediately goes to Loki, the ultimate joker/prankster energy. Think Harley Quinn or Joker - they are not playing nice, but their tactics and means of torment are twisted, calculated, and annoying to say the least. A great example of this is that every time your subject leaves the house they forget their keys, wallet, put on two different shoes or socks, etc. This can also be a little more harmful; adding a sprinkle clumsy into their lives so that they walk into walls, trip, knock things over, embarrass or humiliate themselves especially during important work meetings or on dates, etc. Jinxes are vast, get creative with them. It’s a great starting off point to building a baneful practice.

Binds (neutral/protective): Made popular by the 1996 cult classic The Craft, binds do exactly as the name suggest, binds the subject from being able to do whatever you’re binding them from. The example from the movie is one of protection

“I bind you Nancy from doing harm, harm against other people and harm against yourself” - Sarah, The Craft

You can bind people from anything, but the more specific you get the better your bind will work. Many Wiccans and Love and Light witches recommend binds because they are less “aggressive” forms of magick. I am a witch that is neither and still do recommend binds as a good protection measure- but also they can be quite aggressive in nature depending on your intention. You can bind someone from having sex until they come clean. to previous partners that they’ve infected with an STI. You can bind someone from being able to tasting any food, removing all pleasure from eating, because they have been shameless with their fatphobic comments…whatever your reasoning, there is a bind for that.

Return to Sender (mildly aggressive): A simple and neutral spell to simply take the energy of wrong doings that were done to you and send them back to the person who did them to you, thus receiving their Karma. Return to Sender spells do not revoke, remove, or erase what has been done, but what it does do is carry the pain, rage, and vengeance on the heels of mercury back to the perpetrator. This doesn’t mean that if you were SA’d that your abuser will then be SA’d, but what it does do is facilitate their comeuppance in way that would be as equally devastating to them. You can also create a return to sender ward or preemptive talisman so that if anyone dares to mess with you, it will bypass you and circle back to them! There are many different return to sender spells/rituals that you can find depending on your magickal needs.

Karma Magick (neutral): Karma magick is another term coined by Wiccans, Love and Light witches, and even other spiritualists or religious people. It’s the belief that the universe, God, Goddess, etc. will carryout the disciplinary actions at the time it is meant to. It doesn’t ask for much action but more of belief that your deities, nature, your protectors and guides will protect you and bring the gauntlet of justice down to those who deserve it. I’m much more of an active participant in aiding justice to it’s rightful place, but then again I’m not your Love and Light witch. I work with my deities to bring the scales back to a place of balance in whichever ways I see and feel are fit.

Light Magick vs Baneful Magick

Making your way through this article you may be feeling nervous. Karma, God, Jesus, Mohammed, Moses, Mother Teresa, Gandhi, and maybe even your parents have made it clear that we should “Do no harm”. But where were these non-violent justice seekers when the world did us harm? Taking matters into our own hands and using the unseen forces to carry out justice doesn’t make us any less pure hearted than them. I didn’t get the full opportunity to speak in depth on how to use magick, or The Craft, to work through healing. Here is what I would like to deconstruct to hopefully help you feel more comfortable with taking your power back, and exploring baneful magick to do so.

Threefold Law came from Wicca, a religion created by a misogynistic pedophile. I don’t think I need to say more, but I’m happy to elaborate on why the threefold law is complete bullshit.

You’ve been bullied at school, at work, at home, and you have tried taking matters to the respectable people who are meant to handle such things; the principle, HR, your parent/authority…and nothing has changed. So, you decide to hex the bullies, bringing their downfall; loss of job, loss of friends, loss of romantic partner, etc. The idea of “The Rule of 3” or Threefold Law, is that as soon as you cast your hate, hurt, retaliation onto this person, karma is going to send it back to you times three! This is another invention by a leader hoping to control his followers from rising up against him. The man who brought about this rule talked about women remaining in a traditional and, quite frankly, sexist existence. Imagine if those who were being harmed were to be punished for reclaiming their power by putting the abuser in their place? We see it a lot in our current society, so it’s not as far fetched as it sounds. But we don’t have to live in fear of ridicule and more pain if we denounce this bullshit, and take the power back ourselves! That’s why hexing, binding, banishing, etc. is SO important. Fuck the Threefold Law!! Hex the Patriarchy!!

Free Will vs Destiny ….and Consequences?

Many will come for me for simply arguing that we have Free Will over destiny/fate. I do believe that there is magick and within the realms of magick are fateful situations, relationships, etc. However, I do believe that we have more freedom to make decisions based on our lived experience in this realm, therefore not all fated happenings need to remain in our reality if we do not wish it to be. So, with that being said we have the choice to act in whatever ways we see fit based on our lived experiences and in this case, when we cast a hex/curse/etc., we are accepting full understanding, full knowledge, full responsibility for the ‘fall out’ or progression of that energy. There is no smiting for negative thoughts, hurtful acts, or dark intentions- that is why we humans created a justice system, in an attempt to uphold some version of a “moral compass”. The only consequences that come to those who cast dark magick (curses/hexes/etc.) are that of ones inner moral compass. Is there guilt? Did I act too rash? Was this spell-work too intense for the situation at hand? Only you can be the decider of such things, as the practitioner, as the magick wielder. We have free will to decide how we wish to deal with our pain, our love, our successes, and our failures. There isn’t a mystical figure keeping tally of all the mean doings of the world. If there were, don’t you think we’d be living in peace?

Good vs Evil

Predominantly in Christianity, but as well as other religions, communities, tribes, and clans predating that, created many historical stories found throughout time which were meant to be guides for right and wrong. However, as humanity has evolved, and maybe has always been, there is more grey area than pure dark or pure light on the spectrum of good and evil. Perfect examples are those who took part in writing these stories, and then the acts at which they took to make sure the larger masses (other countries and even continents) believed and acted in accordance to those stories! Invasions, genocides, forced assimilation, holocausts, ethnocides, gendercides, some of the worst things we could possibly imagine have been carried out by these rule makers of the righteous. So, the idea of ‘Good vs Evil’ should always come into question. What does that really mean on a larger scale? What feels good or evil vs what are we told is good or evil?

What You Believe You Become/Mind Over Matter.

If we were as powerful as this saying, we’d all be billionaires, with fulfilling jobs, or no jobs at all, have zero trauma, and may be in a world of peace or complete despair. Luckily, and unfortunately, we don’t have that kind of power. So the idea that the “Christian God will smite you for sending out a penis plaguing spell on a predator” think again. Beliefs are exactly that, belief. As real as magick is, it all comes down to your trust within it, and your dedication to acting upon that belief, that’s the difference here. And even if you send out a spell wanting your abusers penis to fall off, it doesn’t mean it’s a hundred percent going to happen. But what this will do, is dir3ect that energy to the subject, and to the area of their body, that is deserving of Karma and Justice! That (action) is witchcraft, baby!

It was an absolute delight being a guest on the Magic Exists Podcast talking about magick, psychic abilities, deities, and witchcraft as a whole. Witches deserve to be seen, heard, and accepted. We are rule breakers, law changers, protectors, justice deviners, healers, community builders, curiosity explorers, mystical adventurers, history keepers, the list goes on. Regardless of the pain we withches ahve endured, as a community or individually, our work helps to unite us all and protect us by sharing our magick as a collective. My hope is that this article was the flamed baton used to illuminate the darkness in your life, for you to take what you need and leave the rest. To share your findings and pursue even more, to continue enlightening yourself and the coven you build around you. Alone we can be empowered, but together we are powerful!

Until next time, stay protected Darkling xx