Wanna Disappear?
I wanted to bring you something special on the first edition of “All My Witchy Things”. This product certainly fits that bill. Like most products I fall in love with, it was purchased on a whim. I had no idea how it might fit into my practice but I was inspired by the idea. If you have made your way to my tiny corner of the internet, I know you are already familiar with the work of Austin at BaneXBramble. To me at least, Austin’s style has just the right amount of dirty. So when I saw Black Cat Oil I had to jump.
People grow Datura all around me, and the itch to go harvest came late one Saturday night. I live in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of DC. It’s a beautiful area, rich with little corner parks and ornamental gardens. But it’s also very lively—bustling with bars, late night hangouts, and dinner spots. It’s a neighborhood that only seems to slow for a sleepy Sunday morning and picks itself right back up by afternoon.
Everyone here is a witch. I’m convinced of it. Datura allowed to grow wild around a sculpture honoring flight?
The Black Cat Oil was still sitting on the table in the front hall. I hadn’t even had a chance to take it out of the packaging but thought: “guess now’s the time”. I noticed the smell: light, sweet, a little floral and a little musky. It was smooth and cool as I slid some behind my ears. I took a moment to center and ground, and performed a cloaking technique I typically engage when I’m about to do something stupid—something that I’m not 100% sure isn’t legal?
The Datura I work with most is about a block from my place. A little overgrown garden about 7’ x 7’ at a Y-shaped crossroads. Right behind is a convenience store that is clearly a front for something. I’ve been here for 15 years and still can’t figure out a front for what—but all they seem to sell is warm beer and expired tubes of Pringles. I said my prayer and thanked the plant, and as I stood there in my pajamas with a copper sickle about the size of my forearm, an entire bridal party walks by. I just stood there, still, watching them all flush and giggly with their long night of drinking and revelry. They just walked past me. Only a second later were the of five national guard people on patrol (yes, we were and still are under occupation from this regime). They, supposedly here to “protect” the people from freaks like me, with their giant rifles and camo drag also just walked on—not a second thought about the sickle wielding madman.
A week later came the scheduling of a last minute teams call. I didn’t want to join, but there is entirely too much Virgo in my chart to not at least try and prepare. I hate calls like this one. It’s the implementation of new software and the training that has to go behind it. Making matters worse, no one on the call has worked together in the past. I was ready to off myself there in front of them when the moderator recommended we go around and say where we are from and one “interesting factoid” about ourselves. I dabbed on a little Black Cat Oil and willed myself into the background. Before they could get to my little face tile and I was forced to say “I’m from DC and secretly hexing each and every one of you right now”…I was skipped. The mod went straight from Brandon in New Jersey to Mardi in Texas. I stayed invisible to most of the call. I only became visible again when I made polite but backhanded comment about the use of AI in creating training materials. She honestly looked surprised when I interjected myself.
Now granted, my practice has meant working in the shadows most my life. Everything from growing up gay in the Midwest and meeting married men in public parks, to my later years of performing rituals in the “great outdoors” of busy cities. I became good at hiding in shadow—escaping glances in plain sight. But I will say it has never been quite as easy and seamless before. I’m looking forward to taking Black Cat Oil to my outdoor spaces for moon and seasonal rites. Hiding myself in the dark of the forest forever reaching out to my Devil. Living just a little more fearlessly thanks to the added protection of a new friend. And look, I’m not going to tell you what to do or how to live, but if I were a younger and single, I would absolutely let a good cologne, Black Cat Oil, and Sniffies ruin my life.
You can get your oil, or book a service with Austin here:
Your Friend,