Witch* (the asterisk is a truncation symbol and returns results from anything starting with the root "witch," e.g., witch, witches, witchy, witchcraft) zines in our collection include, but are not limited to
Practical paganism : tips for pulling yourself out of a spiritual slump and forming a stable, consistant worship
“Practical Paganism is a modern worship guide on how to start practicing after a slump, and continuing daily worship.”
This DIY zine is a general worship idea book for any Pagan, of any faith-a guide to keep practice “alive and kicking.” Yunan provides tips for finding time to worship and how to practice prayer, alongside ideas for simple altars, offerings, and devotional items. The zine is illustrated by Yunan.
im not your little girl im a WITCH
This zine explores mother and daughter relationships and societal norms through analysis of the Gingerbread episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The first holding is an unbound original flat of the zine and the second a copy, made with permission from the creator, who was a Barnard first-year student when she made the zine.
A witch's guide to intimacy, sex positivity and herbal aphrodisiacs
A witch's guide opens with a letter from herbalists Sarah Levine and Brittany Ducham discussing the importance of openly exploring sexual desire, rather than treating it as something dirty or shameful. The authors ask readers to “tap into their sexual power” by cultivating intimacy not just with friends and partners, but with themselves. Aphrodisiacs are described as plants that not only stimulate sexual desire, but also “create comfort and fun during moments of intimacy.” The zine includes writing prompts that encourage the reader to reflect on their kinks and desires, their communication style, their love language, their expectations/anxieties surrounding sex, and their relationship to intimacy and their body. It then describes several aphrodisiac herbs that readers might consider using. Each page contains a short description of an herb, its uses, herb pairings, practical tips for how to make use of the herb, and safety warnings (contraindications). The herbs listed are: oat, damiana, rose, kava kava, cacao, and ashwagandha. The zine ends with a list of resources and further reading, as well as additional information on where to buy herbs.
This Is a Spell. : A Witchy Primer on Intention Setting, Liminal Spaces, and Sigil Magick
This educational zine by a Salem, Massachusetts-based librarian, is all about being a witch and covers the two selves, liminal spaces, writing power into existence, intention setting, sigil building, and witchcraft as a form of social justice. The pages are collaged with colorful celestial graphics throughout.
Brainscan. No. 33 : DIY Witchery : An Exploration of Secular Witchcraft
Alex, a "vegan DIY punk," finally decides to share their identity as a witch with Brainscan readers, discussing their journey into studying and practicing secular witchcraft and their prior reluctance to write about witchcraft in their zines. They define their identity as an agnostic secular witch and gives a note to skeptics, and writes about the relationship between her witchcraft and DIY/punk. There is also writing about the Tumblr witchcraft community, how Wicca does not equal witchcraft, paganism, Free Schooling, their relationship with their atheist ex-husband, reclaiming their punk house through cleansing, folk magic, animism, Jungian Synchronicity, chaos, and Terry Pratchett's Discworld books. Alex also gives an intersectional critique of modern paganism and witchcraft, including discussion of Karma, spirit animals and Native American culture, "black magic," and cultural appropriation. There are witch tips, book recommendations, a resources list, and a list of secular celebrations that Alex observes. The text-heavy zine is packaged inside a buff manila envelope and includes vellum, green, and yellow pages that are twine-bound with an acorn charm.
Rag Hag Catalog
Tanya Goldberg A.K.A. Skuld advertises services and merchandise. Products on offer include cloth menstrual pads, soap, Japanese bags, panties, t-shirts, jewelry, patches, pins and stickers, and a dream pillow sachet. Each ad contains a price and a description of the item in curly script. All images are black and white; some are hand-drawn.
We have witch* zines from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, and the United States.
The top subject heading is Teenage girls, probably because many of them were made by Barnard first years. Other top headings include Witches in literature, Witches, Witchcraft, and Punk culture.