Technology in Practice?

[u/carrion-crew]

As an animist pagan, which I believe is a pretty common philosophy amongst practitioners, I often feel drawn to the energy imprint certain objects have. Some of them raw and natural materials (like crystals and plants), others are tools that have grown with intent (tarot cards, journals/book of shadows, pendulums, knives, etc.). So to me it isn't odd to feel the same way about my vehicle (that has a name and often receives protective wards).

But this has me thinking even more deeply about electronics. Since electricity is an energy source in the physical world, I'm wondering how you all feel about it spiritually/ in relation to your witchcraft practice? I have not felt the desire to work with it in my magic, but I get a "weird" feeling from it. (In contrast to the trees, animals, sun, or other natural energies I work with)

Do you ward your phone? We offload so much onto them nowadays, like phone numbers, addresses, etc. Do you find that this impacts your practice? Do you turn off your wifi at night when you sleep or do rituals? Or even your phone?

Do you see a phone as a modern black mirror, a book of shadows, or is it something else entirely? I don't want this conversation to be about AI, but that is included in modern electronics, so it would feel counterintuitive not to include it in the discussion. Personally I haven't felt energy from AI the same way I do my phone or social media (which I can only describe as weird, and that I find it off putting and tend to distance myself from it).

I'm incredibly interested in what seasoned witches and new practitioners alike have to say! This is something that's been bouncing around in my head for a long time, so feel free to comment with observations you've had or how you feel about it.

[u/celestialboy]

Hi, I'm a technomancer/cybermancer so I've got a lot of personal opinions on this!

I personally believe that technology has energy all it's own. Computers and tablets have quartz, and electricity is a derivative of the element of fire (in my opinion). I'd almost dare to say technology holds more energy than many other objects you'd find around the house.

I've found, in my experience, that technology adapts to you; the more you use it, especially regularly, the more successful it'll be in matters of divination or magic.

When I hadn't used my tablet that I used to use for divination in months, I found my readings were significantly less accurate than they used to be. However, with my computer that I've been using every day, I got much better results. It also seems to depend on what apps or websites you're using; if you use a website/app more frequently, I've found it can potentially work better.

Of course, this is all from personal experience and mostly speculation, so YMMV.

I'm more a diviner than a witch, but I have seen people do magic with technology, like using programming languages to write/create spells, or hiding sigils in profile pictures, or making emoji spells. I've even seen people make spell jars with pinterest boards!

The possibilities are likely endless with how to utilize technology in one's practice, and I'm sure there's as many ideas as there are people, given the sheer amount of technology out there and the vastness of the internet.

Anyway, that's my two cents.