Heroes, Serpents, and the Whispered Words of Witchcraft
Matthew Venus of Spiritus Arcanum illuminates the power of spirit relationships in modern witchcraft practice on Your Average Witch Podcast. As a practitioner who balances running both a physical shop near Salem, Massachusetts and a thriving online presence, Matthew offers profound insights into connecting with the spiritual essence of objects, plants, and places – what many call animism. This perspective forms the foundation of traditional witchcraft practice that honors reciprocal relationships with the spirits that surround us.
A recurring theme throughout their conversation was the danger of putting magical teachers or authors on pedestals. Matthew points out that when we elevate practitioners to superhuman status, we set ourselves up for disappointment when they inevitably reveal themselves as flawed humans. This "no gods, no masters" approach encourages practitioners to develop their own relationships with spirits rather than merely following another's teachings. Matthew shared personal experiences of students projecting unrealistic expectations onto him, emphasizing how important it is that we recognize the humanity in all practitioners, regardless of their experience level or visibility.
The Salem Witchcraft and Folklore Festival represents Matthew's commitment to building authentic magical community. This hybrid event (both in-person and online) offers intermediate to advanced classes that fill a gap in magical education. What makes this festival particularly powerful is its reclaiming of historical spaces like the Salem Witch House – the only remaining building with direct ties to the witch trials. Matthew describes the profound feeling of performing actual witchcraft rituals in the home of one of the judges who condemned the accused, calling it "an act of empowering or reclaiming." This annual gathering brings together practitioners from various traditions who might never connect otherwise, creating cross-pollination between academic occultists and social media witches.
When discussing influential forces in his practice, Matthew credited Scott Cunningham for providing accessible information that validated his path as a young queer practitioner. The personal connection to plants, particularly cinquefoil (five finger grass), demonstrated how developing relationships with specific plant allies can reveal unique magical applications beyond what's written in books. This reciprocal relationship with plants exemplifies how traditional witchcraft centers connection with the land and its inhabitants.
The episode culminated in a collaborative spell-crafting session focused on connecting with ancestors through dreams. Matthew and the host discussed incorporating plants with personal connections to deceased loved ones, sacred stones from liminal places, and the power of speaking intentions aloud. Matthew emphasized that speaking words creates physical vibrations that help manifest our intentions beyond mental space. This practical demonstration showed how personal items carry their own spiritual significance that can be incorporated into effective magic without requiring elaborate ritual structures.
Matthew's upcoming book, "Ensouling the Effigy: Art of Enspirited Objects," promises to expand on these concepts of animism, spirit relationships, and the creation of magical vessels. For those interested in deepening their practice with these approaches, the Salem Witchcraft and Folklore Festival in August offers both in-person and online opportunities to learn from practitioners who specialize in this traditional approach to magical craft.
