If They Want Your Information They’re Feds

as someone who spent a long time in that category of worshippers and is still unlearning some of it, i’ve been making more of an effort to use Theoi vs gods (for more of an anthropological perspective discussion.) i’ve wanted to open more of the barrel of monkeys that is reconstructing ancient religion, but in this current day and age, it’s a little more difficult to trust sources.

do you have any known reliable resources for finding the more historically accurate terms (unfortunately digging through texts isn’t always accessible and google can’t be trusted anymore) or is there terms you prefer to use?

I hate a lot of terms adjacent to HelPol spaces. So many of them are indicative of 1. Being raised with Christianity 2. Lack of deconstruction of those beliefs and 3. Utter lack of research (what I call Tik-tokisms)

I do not like the terms deity, misuse of the term “altar”, ever using patron, “my gods or goddesses”, devotee, “reach out” (as in a spirit is reaching out), “talking to the gods”, offending the gods.

I’ve got some REALLLY unpopular opinions about Ares, some primordial spirits, Khaos, like.

I am selective about the term “god”, (Theos and Theoí are commonly more appropriate to my conversations). I’m also slightly apprehensive around the phrase “work with”, but that being said I don’t care as much.

USING YOUR MENTAL SAFE SPACE AS AN ASTRAL STRONGHOLD

Safe space visualization is something I was taught in therapy, but why not use it for magical purposes? So I thought I’d talk a bit about my methods for safe space creation, what I use my safe space for (magically), etc.

What absolutely comforts you? Think of color combinations, indoor or outdoor? Maybe your safe space has a specific noise or smell. Maybe you have a designated god or goddess or ancestral spirit that knows the layout of it, or maybe it’s just for you. I highly recommend if you do invite a spirit in that you make sure it’s one you trust ENTIRELY. I let my great grandma who I love and admire in my safe space. Important thing is that she RESPECTS my magical beliefs, and practice in general, even if she doesn’t understand it entirely. Spirits that you aren’t super familiar with or have only met a few times are not recommended for being invited in.

Doing a meditation to explore your safe space is entirely up to you, but thats my preferred way of accessing and developing my safe space as a magical realm. For starters, don’t make your space too big, mine is just a small one because the bigger it is the harder to imagine consistently or protect in general. If you’re looking for a good safe space discovery meditation, the following link will lead you to a free one on a free app.

https://insig.ht/SWJ2hZyBESb

Revisit this space when you feel anxious, but also when you feel calm. Why? Well, put simply, if you only visit a space when you are in a bad headspace it will become associated psychologically with negative things for you. If you visit in all different types of moods, you cultivate a neutral understanding of the space, and it doesn’t gain a bad connotation.

IF YOU STRUGGLE WITH INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, PARANOIA, OR PTSD:

I struggle with these things, so i got ya. If you start to envision creepy shit or startling unsettling things in your safe space accidentally popping in, then here’s what i do. I acknowledge that it’s my fears acting up. And i just go “lol thats not actually my safe space” and bring myself back to a centered state repeatedly until I find peace. It may happen again and again but I keep taking a deep breath and not giving too much thought to why or how these things pop up, I simply draw my attention back to center, and breathe. Eventually (for me) these things have disappeared and lost relevance over time. If this concept of a visualized safe space triggers you to an unhealthy point, please don’t push yourself to keep doing it though. And as always please seek professional help for these symptoms of trauma, OCD, OCPD, and Paranoia in general.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST FOR SUGGESTIONS: You probably shouldn’t share a moodboard or map of your safe space with others. Even friends. It’s for you and you only, like a secret sanctuary that only you and any additional spirits you trust can enter.

WHAT I USE MY SAFE SPACE FOR MAGICALLY:

🧡Magic Spells

💚Connecting With Beloved Spirits That I Truly Trust

🧡Sitting Quietly

💚Anti-Anxiety

🧡When I feel el mal de ojo (the evil eye) as a protective measure

💚To get in a good clear thinking headspace before doing tarot readings for clients

CLOSING THOUGHTS:

Having a safe space that you can mentally go to is so helpful in my opinion, but definitely not necessary to the craft. I just wanted to share this concept with yall. Comment if you have any questions and I’ll try and answer to the best of my knowledge.

i’m sorry people don’t know this? what the fuck do you guys think they scan at the register if there’s no price sticker? there is a barcode on the back yall

I don't know why I continue to be surprised at how few people seem to know that most mass market paperbacks have the prices printed on the back.

Most of our books do. Only the British imports and some of the indie books don't.

i did not touch a physical spell component (other than paper and pen for sigil work) for the first year i was a closeted witch as a minor.

i performed multiple spells to varying degrees of success (it's been 10 years no i don't remember details) all with energy work basics i had put together from multiple witchblr sources and a long history of therapy and mediation.

witchcraft is INTENTION. physical components only focus and guide your energy to make your working stronger/easier on you. Intention is the basis of all magic, and can accomplish most basic tasks just fine.

You don’t need to work with anything to be a witch.

Not a thing. You don’t need to work with any spirits.

You don’t have to work any tools.

You don’t have to work with any gods.

You don’t have to work with anything, you just need your own energy. Anyone that says otherwise is wrong or trying to sell you something.

You don’t have to work with anything to be a witch. But… you can. You can work with all the things you like.

But a lot of the things you will probably end up working with the most will be gifts, things you made. Things that came to you in odd ways, spirits that come into your craft when you weren’t even thinking about it.

So many witches get $100 books if shadows and never write in them, because they are afraid to “mess it up.”

Nice things are nice, but they won’t make you a powerful witch.

okay but can you imagine Frankenstein with the radioactive green aesthetic worked into the goth

we are pitting bad bitches against each other for gladitorial entertainment

What I've Done Instead of Shadow Work

This is going to be the last thing I say on the topic of shadow work, because, honestly I'm getting bored of the subject and would rather go back to talking about spirit work, or spells, or any of the many other subjects that I care a thousand times more about. Some folks seem to be hearing “I refuse to do any introspection” when I say "I have never and will never do shadow work". I have done lots of introspection, I've done therapy that follows evidence based practices, I just see no reason do try and guide myself through a method of therapy with little to no scientific evidence. But in case anyone's curious, or wants some tips, here's what I've done instead! Mindfulness exercises: I love mindfulness exercises that train you to think about your thoughts, but not judge them. Consistent mindfulness practice has really helped me become more aware of my internal thought processes, what I get hung up on, what I struggle with, what emotions I’m feeling and what caused them.

The Artist Way & Embrace Your Weird: These are both self help books for creative folks with a heavy emphasis on journaling and self expression. I found both of these helpful in different ways when I felt like I was struggling with creative burnout or felt like I was stuck in the daily grind of my day job.

Journaling: I keep multiple journals! One is a commonplace book that I fill up with on the spot thoughts, quotes, song lyrics, etc. just stuff I want to remember. The other I write in every morning when I first wake up, a continuation of the morning pages from the Artist’s Way, to just unpack and process whatever going on in my head.

Therapy: Actual real therapy with a licensed professional. I specifically see a pain psychologist because most of what we focus on is the impact my chronic pain has on my and developing healthy coping mechanisms for that.

I think what gets a bee in my bonnet the most about the few negative reactions I’ve gotten on this topic is that these folks seem most concerned about the trauma and “inner demons” aspects of shadow work. There’s always something about how dangerous or unhealthy it is for me or even those around me for me to have not delt with my trauma via shadow work. I don’t like that they presume to know my life and mental health history without having ever spoken to me. And I really don’t like the insistance that everyone has the same kind of trauma that needs to be healed in the same way.

my legal first and middle name are both on this list and THAT is why I am CHANGING THEM

I’m watching Splash (1984) which is a romcom about a guy who falls in love with a mermaid, and when she chooses a human name she chooses Madison and guy says “that’s not a real name, but alright” which seems to imply that Madison was not a name until at least the 80’s and all girls named Madison are actually named after the mermaid. thought you should know

Athena is the goddess you call on when you have strength and courage, and need her wisdom to guide you.

Ares is the god you call on when your strength and courage fail, and you need his passion to drive you

(Art by @dxwart)

mr steal your girl or whatevr

it’s the 3rd but i’ve reblogged this for literal years and I ain’t stopping now

Rabbits Rabbits Rabbits

Reblog this on the first of the month for good luck all month long!