as above so below

36yo, she/her, Italian, eclectic witch my witchy corner on the web Ko-Fi about me

[lafalenawitch]

Just passing by to say hi.

Life's been a rollercoaster. Spiritually speaking:

Right now expending my knowledge in Reiki as a practitioner and studying aureas. Hermes pushing me to do more shadow work, the one topic I've been avoiding. New things to research about. New tarot spreads to write down.

So, what have you been up too?

[herballwitch]

I need you to understand and to really listen when I tell you that the land knows you.

If you have spent months, years, decades living in the same place and exploring the same land I can promise you that the trees, the plants, the lakes and rivers, and the spirits will know and remember you.

You can call out to them and they will call out to you because they know you - they have for so so long, my love, and they love you, so much.

Trust me.

[witchble]

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is clean your room, open the window, and let the air move again. Energy needs circulation just like lungs do.

[the-clumsywitch]

[scryhard]

❦ Intent Is Not Everything: The Architecture of a Spell

You don’t build a fire by yelling “burn.” (or maybe you do?)

So let’s talk about why some spells flop. It's not because your desire was weak. Not because the moon was in the wrong position. But because you built a magical toaster and forgot to plug it in.

You can have a brilliant, spicy spark of intent, but if it has nowhere to go? No structure to hold it, no current to carry it, no ritual act to release it? That energy just... sits there. Fog in your chest. Static in your bones. Sometimes it loops. Sometimes it leaks. Sometimes it just becomes ✧vibe soup.✧

This isn’t about perfection. Or control. Or doing it “right.” It’s about structure and the subtle architecture that lets magic move.

Let’s break it down.

⚙︎ The Functional Parts of a Spell

⚘ 1. INTENT — The Internal Spark

This is the raw juice. The emotional voltage. The psychic heat. It’s not just what you want, it’s what you’re willing to make room for. Not a wish. A directive.

Intent is clearest when it’s emotionally honest and not trying to control everything like a micro-managing Virgo sun.

Bad intent ≠ evil intent. It usually just means the signal is fuzzy, performative, or split. You say “I want clarity,” but your gut is screaming “abandon ship.” That’s a short circuit.

⚛︎ Scientific thread: Functional EEG studies show intent activates motor planning centers before action begins (Libet, 1985). Translation: the brain literally starts prepping for action the moment will is engaged. Magic agrees.

Ask: What am I actually calling for? Not with my mouth, but with my will?

➴ 2. FOCUS — The Conscious Thread

Focus is what holds the circuit together. Lose it, and your spell turns into an energetic sneeze.

It’s not just about “concentrating.” It’s about staying present enough that the energy doesn’t leak out your ears. Focus is somatic. Breath. Trance. Motion. The ritual nervous system.

⚛︎ Scientific thread: Sustained attention boosts neural connectivity (Posner & Rothbart, 2007). Theta waves (4–8 Hz), accessed in trance or deep meditation, = peak spellcasting state. High suggestibility, low inner critic, good vibes.

Ask: Can I stay with the energy long enough to deliver it?

⚒︎ 3. ACTION — The Ritual Anchor

Action is what makes the spell real. It’s not a metaphor. It’s a physical interface.

Whether it’s lighting a candle, chanting, drawing sigils, or screaming into a jar. A ritual action anchors intent in time and space.

The body becomes the spell’s delivery system. It’s not just theater, it’s sensorial confirmation that “something has changed.”

⚛︎ Scientific thread: Embodied cognition says movement affects belief. Intentional gestures create somatic markers (Wilson, 2002). You literally move your body into belief.

Ask: What is my body doing to tell the world this spell is happening?

❀ 4. CORRESPONDENCE — Symbolic Resonance

This is how your spell speaks the universe’s language.

Correspondences (herbs, colors, crystals, numbers) aren’t just ✧aesthetic choices✧. They are the semantic tags of the ritual world.

But they’re not universal. What’s “attraction” in one system might be “banishing” in another. Magic is contextual. Meaning is coded.

⚛︎ Scientific thread: Lakoff & Johnson (1980) argue that cognition is metaphor-driven. When you use red for desire, you’re engaging neural circuits that associate red with heat, passion, and activation.

Ask: Do my symbols clarify the spell, or confuse it?

⌛︎ 5. TIMING — The Temporal Current

Spells don’t exist in a vacuum. They drop into a world that’s already moving.

Timing can mean:

Moon phases

Planetary hours

Your own emotional weather

Ancestor holidays

“This just feels right”

Right spell, wrong time? It fizzles. Or misfires. Or just ghosts you completely.

⚛︎ Scientific thread: Chronobiology says our bodies respond to time cycles (Refinetti, 2006). Mood, immunity, cognition—they’re all tide-sensitive. Why wouldn’t magic be?

Ask: What larger rhythm is this spell stepping into?

❂ 6. MEDIUM — The Elemental Channel

Magic needs a conduit. An element. A field. A medium to move through.

Is it fire? Smoke? Water? Ink? Your body? A blog post? A bone? A USB drive?

Medium decides how the energy moves, and where it lands. Wrong medium = muffled signal. It’s like trying to cast a glamour using baking soda.

⚛︎ Scientific thread: Energy always moves through something. Different materials conduct energy differently. Even placebo effects rely on the “medium” of meaning and context (Benedetti, 2012).

Ask: Where is this spell going? And can the medium carry it?

🜸 7. RELEASE — The Letting Go

No spell works if you cling to it like it’s your ex. You have to let it go.

Release is the exit point. The click. The exhale. The hand off the steering wheel. Without release, the spell loops. It stalls. It paces in your aura like a ghost waiting to be dismissed.

⚛︎ Scientific thread: Polyvagal theory says we need closure to reset our nervous system (Porges, 2011). The same might apply to magic: unresolved intention = energetic static.

Ask: Have I released this? Or am I still haunting it?

The Spell as a Functional Circuit

Visualize it like this:

If any part of the circuit is broken, the spell may misfire, stall, or just sit in your chest like ghost soup.

This is basically the magical version of a pre-flight safety check.

Magic Is Not Wishful Thinking. It’s Systemic.

A spell is not a vibe. It’s not ✧aesthetic ✧. It’s not a Pinterest board with herbs.

It is a functional symbolic system designed to influence reality. Neurologically, emotionally, energetically, maybe even physically.

It works when it’s built to move energy. When the circuit is whole. When the fire has a place to go.

A spell isn’t just a spark in the dark.

It’s the structure that carries that spark into the world. And lets it burn clean.

Part Ⅱ of Occult Mechanics 𝟷𝟶𝟷

✍︎ Further Reading & Sources

✧ Magic & Culture

Frazer, J.G. The Golden Bough (Sympathetic and contagious magic)

Tambiah, Stanley. The Magical Power of Words

Betz, Hans D. (ed). The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation

✧ Science of Mind & Body

Porges, Stephen. The Polyvagal Theory

Libet, Benjamin. “Unconscious Cerebral Initiative and the Role of Conscious Will.”

Wilson, M. (2002). "Six Views of Embodied Cognition." Psychonomic Bulletin & Review

Benedetti, F. Placebo Effects: Understanding the Mechanisms

Posner & Rothbart. Educating the Human Brain

Refinetti, Roberto. Circadian Physiology

✧ Symbolic Logic & Metaphor

Lakoff & Johnson. Metaphors We Live By

Starhawk. The Spiral Dance

King, Karen. What is Gnosticism?

[noeliogallagh3r]

Moots get over here

☆ha4to cat frend maker☆

make a frend!! ☆☆ creds kor3ku (tt) please stop tracing this and turning it into your own picrew. draw your own originally, edit the image

@sam-yow @anomymous2 @zaustavitezemlju @ziggy-stardust-is-in-love @rainystarssx @teaboot @urmumsfan @ingydarz @iamgoldteeth @onlygirlaliveinnyc @omnipotentnothing @peachpitter @deaddogmotif @drybonesinamericantowns @dessycanwait @gloomymelody @hippie4l @happylian @jasperthenewt @kris29301 @led-the-bastard @maraudersmaketea @melhks @cigarettes-after-s @chameleonsd1sh @veilandvapour @velvetwrappedashes @baffledbirdbandit @northwxrds @noelsbf @noelsbambii @4damhatesyou @17yearoldghost @snoopingbeesting @stargazinghorror @frogzilla3983 @prettyboyaz @mackonfire @raskoln1kovsaxe @ameliascreampuffs

+ anyone i forgot SORRY

[peachpitter-deactivated20260402]

@soleilizana @blogbustersii @ciclicos @pinkkyoon @britpuppy @dontlookbckinangr @l1vvypoo @mayonakaurea

[inpleinsoleil]

This is SO cute I love 3d art

@hueysamo @anjalfc @the-jovial-jester @qatarsprint2023 @hmxoxomadferit

everyone is welcome 💝

[hmxoxomadferit]

AWWW THANKS FOR THE TAG QUEEN THIS IS SO CUTE

@okaycuteness 💋💋 @natoncd @adrenalineangle02 @caff1end @ainthebyline @hueysamo @definit3lymayb3 💋💋 @aceofspadeszszs ❤️ @igotherautcgraph @softiecakesy @tracedfingertips @softgirlnovels @brxwneyes1 @overcaffinatedmiri @satinwisp @miugato 💋 @l1vvypoo @akechidaskechi ❤️ @depeachy @kaihasmoreswagthanyou3 @noelgallagh3r ❤️ @witchh09 @vermelho-sangue @britpopgirly💋 @disastrouschoices @ciclicos @z-ko @ainthebyline @adoringyouhxney @starshapedoasis @foryourgreen ♡ @priestessbetty @invisiblegirl211 @blursbeetlebum @i-actually-hate-everthing @ghostinyourhome @hernamewasavaline ♡ @jellyfish-enthousiast @oneofmanyisas @sally2033 @annamationartist99 @urfavvsel @hercindoll @rebelatnight @notakeyring @ju5tl1k34w0m4n @velveteenswan @ladyrindt ♡ @axeedoll @chemicalword @cryingliam @sidviciousssidk

[aceofspadeszszs]

YAAYYY IVE BEEN TAGGED!!!! my cat Picrew is kinda based of me and britpop fashion :D

@toastchoo @nroha @ruthlessrogeroverhere @vexinghearts @soggybread77 @tracyjacks @moronnnnn @lord-of-bad-art @league-of-viktorians

[lord-of-bad-art]

thank you for the tag!! here’s mine: @committeeofpublicsafety @deceitful-circus @raskolnikov-did-nothing-wrong @girlkisser-official @callofthezombie

[tiredsocalistwithamotorbike]

TYSM FOR THE TAG

@waxx-wings @felis-silvestris27 @plumesnout @caramelphleg @falloutnewnobody

[waxx-wings]

THANK YOU FOR TAGGING ME MOOT!!’

@lafalenawitch @sparrowinkk @lemons69 @phcsphoros @clouddragonshaman @helpolhaven @trash-bin-witch @oneiric-oracle

[lafalenawitch]

THANK YOU @waxx-wings

A bit like me, a bit like my cat :'D

@painting-metaphors @selfcontro @honeyandspite @sagittariuswitchery

[ursusofmichigan]

I'd like to put in a good word for Hermes, whom not coincidentally I have made my profile pic for Tumblr.

In 25 years of paganism, the exact set of deities I honor has been fluid. Gods can come and go. But Hermes has been with me, more or less, for those 25 years.

In myth, he is the herald of the gods and also the Psychopompos who leads the souls of the departed to Charon.

In the daily lives of the average person, he was a god who brought protection and good fortune to the traveler, who increased the abundance of livestock and domestic resources, and who guarded the boundaries of the homestead and fields.

He was also a god of divination and Oracles of chance (as opposed to the grander Oracles of Apollo). He was a god some prayed to before sleep to bring good dreams. He is a god associated with magic, and was invoked in curse tablets (even moreso than Hecate).

Finally, he was a god of chance and athletic contests, and in the Hellenistic era he (along with Heracles) became the god of the gymnasium.

He has a few temples in Greece, but was more properly honored as a private god within the home and market place. By all accounts he was dearly loved even if gods like Zeus, Athena and Apollo had all the formal glory of the temple cults.

Now, fast forward 2500 years. Hermes, as we have seen, is associated with travel, commercial and financial abundance, and communication. This is all the more true because these are the aspects of Hermes that the Romans emphasized in their equivalent deity, Mercury.

Modern economies essentially revolve around travel, trade and finance, and communication. I feel Hermes is extremely at home in the modern world. We moderns are creatures of modern international economies (whether we want to be or not). To the degree we must be so, Hermes is a good friend to have.

Hermes is my "go to" god in daily life whom I invoke precisely for protection in travel, good luck and financial gain, and clarity in communication.

(And, truth be told, I might have had an occasion or two to invoke him in curse tablets. But that is a subject for another time).

So hail to Hermes, the multifaceted god of daily life and the modern economy!

[lafalenawitch]

I haven't posted this week because I graduated aaaand... I had my silly autistic meltdown few days before the final examination, and all of the stress and the feeling of being now without University after 5 years is overwhelming. So I'm basically lost, anxious and sad and I feel like my battery is very very low. Haven't done any witchy things this week, and I start missing it but simply I don't have any energy.

[butterflytarot]

Beginner's Spirit Work

I talk about this subject often, but I figured I'd write an incomplete guide encompassing a variety of things I've posted about for those interested!

Before the Work:

I know, I know. You're here to learn about spirit work, so why is there even a section prior to it? Well, it's because spirit work begins with the energy forces (spirits of energies), the spirits of herbs and our own spirits, before it begins with deities, fae and ghosts.

Before performing any kind of spirit work as you may know it, it's important to begin with these basics:

Thorough, layered protections that cover each of your bodies (physical, spiritual, etc), any of your items (especially once you may use in spirit work, such as divination tools), and your place of residence as a whole (the space you reside in most, that has most of your energy accessible inside of it, that you will likely perform a large portion of your spirit work as well). If you're worried, please also look into protections for other members of your household / residence, such as furry friends / "pet" family members, just keep in mind that while some protections automatically cover anyone else in the residence (including any spirits btw, be mindful), some protections can actually do harm to animals.

Ethics, morals, and values. This is going to encompass things like being respectful to other spirits, how to imagine them in your brain to ensure you aren't treating them as a commodity, recognizing their autonomy and self-determination, etc. This is meant to be general as each spirit type (learn more below) and individual spirit is different. This is also great to help you determine what path of spirit work you want to take - psychopomp work, bonding with nature spirits and growing plants / herbs, casual hanging out with spirit friends, etc etc etc

Cleansings and banishings. These are talked about a lot, but let me tell you, wards and sigils are not always the way to go. In fact, wards and sigils - even if done correctly - can lead to accidental spirit bindings / trapping spirits in your residence rather than keeping them out. These are not effective protections to lean on without any additional protections / support, and not bullet-proof whatsoever. If your protections are strong enough, they are the safety net. However, when inviting spirits into your space, you are sometimes giving them permission to bypass your permissions - so try looking into protections that can, without harm, force a spirit out of your space once they are unwanted there. This is known as a "banishing" as well, but really it's just a protective method. Cleansings are important when encountering any kind of spirit, and great for non-spiritual health too!

Vetting

Vetting is the process of verifying who a spirit is, whether you're sure you know who they are or not. It's a sign of respect to many spirits, such as deities, but also really important to your safety and well-being. Whether a spirit is harmful, a trickster, or just someone you misunderstand, learning who they are, why they're there, and how to properly communicate / interact with them based on those things is incredibly important to forming any kind of bond with a spirit and / or keeping yourself safe throughout your work.

Vetting is not just asking questions. In fact, it is meant to be a very thorough process. Spirits are just like us - they can lie, tell the truth, or be misunderstood. It's important you understand how to vett properly when learning spirit work.

The steps to vetting include:

Research / Familiarity

Divination

Research: This step is all about learning. What are you learning about? Depends on the spirit you're trying to contact, but obviously, that spirit haha. However, you gotta learn more than just the spirit you're working with, to be able to identify spirits that may show up that may not be them, spirits they introduce you to, other spirits you encounter in your daily life or practice that you may need to handle, etc. So, more specifically, what are you learning about?

-> Spirit classifications: different spirits (or "spirit types"), their traits, etc. Of course, every spirit is an individual, but their "type" still affects or shapes them, just like how being human affects or shapes us. This will help you to understand what's safe for them and what's not, if they're friendly to you or not, what they can help with and what they can't, what they like and don't like, etc. From there...

-> Spirit communication basics is the next step of research for if you wish to speak with them. Certain spirits have specific customs, preferences or conveniences. Which are safe to say xyz to, which are not? Etc. Learning about their spirit "type" can help because it will also help you with this kind of communication, as different spirits have different "ground rules" in terms of communication (what they find respectful / disrespectful, what is safe / not safe to say in their presence, etc).

You want to become familiar with these materials. Take notes, be thorough. You do not need to memorize what you've learned as long as you're in a protective space, but you shouldn't have any notes exposed at the time of vetting (more on this below).

How to research:

Do heavy and thorough research (personal stories, ancient beliefs, historical artifacts, studies, religious information, scholarly academia, non-scholarly "UPG" experiences, etc)

Verify the credibility and context of all sources and cross-compare / cross-reference

Some things to keep in mind when researching:

Memorize lore, stories, facts, associations, practices, etc, that relate to the god / spirit you’re planning on reaching out to. (Please keep in mind that during the vetting, you should not think the answers to the questions you're going to ask in your head, as for many spirits you're basically giving them the answer that way. Additionally, do not have your notes exposed or accessible in any way while you're vetting - it's based to avoid taking notes at all, or deleting them later. Saving the resources in a tab folder on your computer is a great idea to refer to when assessing the answers the spirit gave you)

Save the tabs of the resources you find in a dedicated folder on your computer. (If you're writing traditionally, make sure you take extra precautions to keep your notebook safe so that spirits can peek into it and find the answers during vetting.)

Divination

Most people tend to bust out a deck of tarot cards for this - I do not recommend this! As a tarot reader of about 9 years now, this is a one-way ticket to Frustration Town. Not only is it incredibly easy to misunderstand what the spirit is actually trying to say if you aren't advanced enough in tarot (or if the spirit themselves aren't as familiar with tarot as they are with other divination methods), but the spirit can get frustrated too! Do you know how painful it is saying the same thing 5 times but instead it's invisible charades? Lol

Instead, I recommend utilizing a pendulum. This is much clearer and more convenient for both parties. There's some things to keep in mind when utilizing a pendulum:

-> Yes / no is the easiest method, but you can also do a true / false or a more elaborate spread. (I do not recommend doing oujia-board style for a variety of safety and efficiency reasons.)

-> As mentioned, don't have your notes out and don't think the answers to questions in your head. Simply ask the questions, ask the spirit to leave your space (banish them if they don't; in which case, you likely shouldn't work with them anyways haha), and then deliberate over the answers.

-> Call on the spirit without loopholes. Do not call in "peaceful spirits." Know who you're contacting, even if you don't know their name, otherwise you're opening yourself up to a whole swarm of risks. There are other ways to meet random spirits without needlessly endangering yourself. When calling on the spirit, be respectful, kind, and I recommend verbal if possible.

-> When asking questions, don't ask the basic "are you so-so" or "is hades the god of the underworld" questions. If this information is commonly known and widely accessible to you, then it is also commonly known in the spirit world (especially since they're a spirit / deity you're even reaching out to) and accessible to them as well. You'll want to look into conventional things, uncommon information, stuff that isn't typical or well-known - if they are who they say they are, they will be able to answer correctly, even if the information is incredibly specific or niche.

-> Consider waiting until you're in a good space of mind to establish a relationship. This way, you're less likely to make mistakes that lead to a spirit taking advantage of you. If this is an unrealistic standard for you, make sure you've accommodated yourself in your practices and that you're still respectful to the spirit (some spirits appreciate being told if you're unwell, some this is dangerous to do when communicating with them).

-> Many people are worried about involuntary movements when it comes to using a pendulum. This worries are incredibly valid. That's why you should look into (yes, these exist) specific positions you can sit in and position your arms / etc in that limit the risk of involuntary movements when divining with a pendulum.

There's also some general things to keep in mind when divining throughout the vetting process in general:

-> Trust your intuition. If you have any spirit-sensing abilities, you're allowed to trust yourself there too, as long as you've ensured your healthy and well.

-> Be aware of how you feel emotionally / energetically / internally, how your nervous system feels, any changes in temperature, how your thoughts may be (as some spirits can influence thinking), any physical bodily sensations you may begin experiencing, etc.

Fear-Mongering

There is an incredibly ill-thought-out idea circling these days that spiritual protections are "fear-mongering" or speaking on harmful spirits is "fear-mongering" derivative of Christians being against witchcraft. I'm just gonna say it: this is fucking stupid and an incredibly uneducated, discriminatory take.

The idea of harmful spirits existed long before Christianity was even developed, despite efforts to destroy our cultures, and still exist outside the lens of Christianity today. (Stop taking my culture and spiritual practices, shaming me for it, and then calling me a Christian for practicing it. What kind of backwards logic is that from a witch / practitioner / pagan?)

If you're protected, then you have nothing to worry about. You do not have to feel afraid in order to do your due diligence. We don't ever hop in a car expecting a car crash, but we still put our seatbelts on just in case. We still take driver's tests just in case. We still look both ways before making a turn just in case. It's really not that big of a deal.

Fear-mongering would be "all spirits are out to get you specifically because you don't do what other witches do." But saying things like, "hey, keeping yourself safe is a good idea because bad things can happen" is not fear-mongering. Saying things like "just as spirits can be our friends, they can be our enemies or purposefully / unintentionally harm us too; just like people can" is not fear-mongering. Saying things like "making sure you feel safe and comfortable is important and should not be taken as disrespectful by any spirit / deity" is not fear-mongering. Saying things like "there are consequences to your actions, even spiritually" is not fear-mongering. The idea that really basic practices based in centuries of tradition and developed in modern times are "fear-mongering christian beliefs" is a slippery slope to spiritual psychosis and getting yourself hurt / your spells or spirit work not working or going well / etc. It's also a great fucking slope to continuously erasing practices that Christianity and other oppressors have already been attempting to take, twist and erase for centuries.

Just because Christians took an idea from a traditional practice (multiple, really) without learning the intricacies about it and use it to hurt others, does not invalidate that actual practice they stole from. If it did, all of witchcraft, paganism and other cultural customs would be "fear-mongering." Y'all are just allowing the colonization of our practices and then shaming us for not following your ideals. Besides -- Christians do not speak on the subject more often than traditional practitioners in general, so maybe you guys need to do some more genuine listening and learning / finding actual traditional practitioners if you think Christian ideologies run our practices lol (yeah... people like y'all who preach this sound a bit indoctrinated ngl, and most of us would prefer if you didn't bring that into our teachings and try colonizing us instead of doing some really basic research and self-healing, thanks)

If you're going to talk about fear-mongering, then be knowledgeable about fear-mongering. It doesn't have to be as complicated of a mess as it is, truthfully.

Spirit Work Paths

There's a variety of ways you can lean on relationships with spirits, depending on the relationship and those specifically involved. Here's just a handful of ideas!

Psychopomp work

Spell work

Energy work (especially energy forces / spirits of the energies)

Divination practices

Additional protections

Baneful workings

Healing, health boosts and overall well-being

Attraction, confidence, abundance, etc

Learning about the spiritual world (or even the living world!)

Learning ancestral / cultural practices

Learning lessons and teachings from spirits

Bonding with nature and your environment or spiritual community

Deity work / worship

Animal bonding / work, and / or plant bonding / work

Inner peace, intuition enhancement, etc

Spiritual gift(s) unlocking, locking, development / enhancement, training, etc

Ancestral veneration

and more!

Thank You

Thank you for taking the time to read my post / learn from my personal knowledge, experiences, and beliefs!

You can learn more about spirit work in this guide to working with death. I also have a brief guide to vetting in this post. For research tips, visit this post and this post, as well as this post on finding traditional Greek practitioners (more focused on Hellenism). Check out this PSA on tricksters and also this post on fear-mongering in spirit work I came across recently. You can also take a look around my Table of Contents post for other posts on the topic, as I have shared a variety, and / or send an Ask any time!

[lafalenawitch]

A tarot spread for shadow work

Italian version in continue reading

When I started working with deities, they wanted me to do shadow work. It was mandatory, and it was presented to me as a way not only to know my shadow and integrate it, but as a way to alchemize myself. A way to transform. To become something new.

I started doing it using tarot and automatic writing.

This is the spread I use

The shadow // A card to represent the shadow to get to know in this reading.

Why I rejected it // Take your time reading this card. Feel it. Dig deep in yourself. Sometimes even the reasons are in shadows.

How does it surface in my life? // Everything you reject, or suppress, or do not acknowledge finds its way to your everyday life. Take your time with this card, too.

The hidden value of the shadow // Every shadow has something to teach you, to empower you. Getting to know yourself better strengthens you. Find the wisdom in it. Face the shadow and see it's beauty.

How to Alchemize it // The way to integrate the shadow in your life. To harmonize yourself with it. To look at the shadow as a friend, as a part of you, and not something to hide or reject. The way to shift internally and transform.

It was really useful.

If you use it and have feedback, let me know!

Una stesa per il lavoro sull'ombra

Quando ho iniziato a lavorare con le divinità, volevano che facessi shadow-work, ovvero il lavoro sulla propria ombra. È stato proprio una tappa obbligatoria, che mi è stata presentata non solo come un modo per conoscere la mia ombra e integrarla, ma come un modo per "alchimizzarmi", per trasformarmi e diventare qualcosa di nuovo, una persona.

Così ho iniziato a farlo coi tarocchi abbinati alla scrittura automatica.

Questa è la stesa:

1. L'ombra // La carta che rappresenta l'ombra che verrà approfondita nella lettura

2. Perché l'ho rifiutata // Una carta che ha bisogno del suo tempo per essere "sentita" in profondità, perché a volte anche le motivazioni rimangono nell'ombra.

3. Come affiora nella vita? // Tutto ciò che rifiutiamo, sopprimiamo o non riconosciamo comunque trova il modo di affiorare in superficie nel nostro modo di vivere. Anche qui, prendetevi del tempo.

4. Il valore nascosto dell'ombra // Ogni ombra ha qualcosa da insegnare, e può renderti più. Conoscere se stessi ci fa crescere. Cercate la saggezza in quest'ombra. Guardatela e trovate la sua bellezza.

5. Come Alchimizzarla // Il modo per integrare l'ombra nella nostra vita, per armonizzarci con essa. Per guardare all'ombra come un'amica, come una parte di sé e non qualcosa da rifiutare o nascondere. Questa carta indica il modo di compiere quello spostamento interno e trasformarci.

È stato molto utile, per me.

Se usate la stesa, fatemi sapere com'è andata!

[lafalenawitch]

Any tips to read Lenormand?

Over the years I bought two decks and a little book to help me out, yet didn't have the time/energy to focus on it.

Now it just popped back into my mind. So... Any practical tips?

Feel free to reblog/comment/message me!

[lafalenawitch]

I met this guy while gaming online. We became friends, and while talking I helped him realize: 1) he might be neurodivergent (he's being assessed) 2) he was deeply depressed -or in an autistic burnout (he's getting psychological support now) 3) his wife was unfaithful and gaslighted him (he's getting divorced and she's showing her true colors)

He likes carving wood and this week we were joking about how I helped him out (he calls me "strega") and he told me jokingly: next time I chop off a tree I'll make you a wooden statue. And I replied: plant a tree instead!

Well, that crazy man really planted a tree today to honor me. A teeny tiny oak. And I'm a Virgo, as far as I know that is "my" tree, and of course he doesn't know anything about it. He said last winter he found a sprouting acorn and took care of it, waiting for the right moment to plant it. And it was today.

And I'm like overwhelmed because this is beautiful. This is magic.

[lafalenawitch]

Got tagged by dear @waxx-wings

GET TO KNOW YOUR MUTUALS!

RULES: answer and tag six people you want to know better!

FAVORITE COLOUR: too many! grey, army green, bright pink, black, blue, red. I prefer cold colors in general.

LAST SONG: The Old Religion - Florence and The Machines

CURRENTLY READING: The silence of the lambs - Thomas Harris

CURRENTLY WATCHING: It - Welcome to Derry

CURRENTLY CRAVING: chocolate!

I tag: @painting-metaphors @oceanwaves444 @honeyandspite @corvidae-witch @crazycatsiren @sagittariuswitchery

[lafalenawitch]

Witch journals

may sound boring or obvious: keep a witch journal.

Write everything down. You made a weird dream? Write it. A tarot reading you didn't quite understand? Register it. Write immediately that meditation before the details vanish, write the answers of your pendulum/dowsing rods, write what you learn, write what you like, what got your attention, write about that cat you saw in the street.

You have no idea (or well, you may well know it!) how much of it makes sense when you go back reading it after weeks, months or years.

Plus it's nice to see how your perception, knowledge and understanding of things changed through time :)

[bitter-bats-cult-of-the-moon]

Energy Shields - Basic and Advanced Techniques

Psychic Defense Technique One – White Light

This technique is widely accepted and utilized within the new age and mainstream avenues involving metaphysics. The initial concept is about surrounding ourselves with white light encompassing positive energies relating to protection and love.

White light often is associated with illumination, purity, harmony, and wholeness. It raises our awareness and energy vibrations as a whole while neutralizing negativity away from us.

Visualization Remedies

Imagine yourself in the center of the room illuminated by light bulbs providing warmth and security to you and your home.

Find yourself standing under the shower waters or next to a waterfall. Seeing and feeling the waters turn into light illuminating over you and around you are becoming a protection barrier.

Visualize angels watching over you and the light is radiating and forming just the right kind of shields.

Psychic Defense Technique Two – Bubble Shields and Layers

Bubble Shields

The Bubble Technique uses the idea that we can mentally surround ourselves with either a bubble or shield itself that will reflect and absorb negativity, so we do not feel the full effects. It is useful when having to learn shielding techniques because the bubble or shields themselves can feed on the negative energies directed at us, but only if there is a filter being used.

Filters

When it comes to energy filters try to think of it like this. We use coffee filters to take in all the good stuff leaving behind the coffee grounds or else it slows down our intake and is more like sludge that we are drinking. Some of us are left feeling nauseas and will end up sick if this keeps happening.

Throat Chakra

The color blue is associated with the throat chakra and this energy point represents will power. Whenever an individual visualizes their personal shield try combining the associated color and chakra point energies because directing willpower and your voice to the shield strengthens it.

Layers

When it comes to the bubble shielding technique it is a good starting point for beginner energy workers, but there are advanced methods one should learn to further reinforce themselves.

The easiest way for me to explain this is an individual should start out by visualizing the sphere around them and from there adding more layers. You can be creative with this, and the bubble method doesn't always have to be utilized in this way. Some practitioners visualize a suit of armour or an actual shield that will aid in their personal protection. So, my question is what do you think would work best for you? Is the armor or bubble surrounded by elemental energies that correspond with you as an individual? What about colors and their metaphysical meanings? Are there any plants or animals that work with you in order to properly create these shields?

It doesn't always have to be the bubble method or suit of armour either. The shield can be a triangle like a pyramid or walls built around you. The creativity is left up to you as the author.

My best advice for trying out advanced shields and adding in layers is to write and / or draw it out physically for yourself. Do not show anyone else because this is for your eyes only. Having an actual physical visual for yourself helps because you can look at this and change things around at any given time.

Psychic Defense Technique Three – Shadow Shields

Like the bubble and light variations of shields the shadow shield can be formed as either a barrier, fog, mist, or utilized as a combination. For focus and laying out the basic foundations visualize yourself in a dark room so that there is a perpetual shadow. This will familiarize you with how you may look in the darkness of a room or another way to achieve this is by going outside and peering down into your own shadow visualizing it as a suit of armor or your shield.

The shadow shield can be turned into an offensive weapon as well if the magician visualizes additional parts to their own shadow such as spikes, barbs, or tendrils. It's also an effective cloaking method if one wishes to remain unnoticed by people around them. The shadow when visualized properly can create a camouflaged space around you, but this method requires more energy and focus to maintain. Remember and think of things like this as well. It's easier to hide behind shadows than in a clear or colored shield.

Psychic Defense Technique Four – Physical Body Positions

Certain body positions can act to close off the energy circuits and protect chakra points depending on where the arms and legs are crossed. Next time you are around someone that seems to be draining and pulling at your energy or spewing a bunch of negativities try sitting down and crossing your arms and legs. Simply listen, but do not give into their issues.

Another way to try this is to think about your chakra points along the human body. If you are unable to sit down, think about the throat and heart chakras. Visualize slowly closing the chakras off temporarily while around these types of people.

Psychic Defense Technique Five – Reflections

Mirrors

The visualization technique here is to imagine mirrors facing outwards so that energy is reflected away from you. This is a good method to try whenever keeping unwanted energy out. Everything will be reflected return to sender.

Another way to utilize this is by visualizing mirrors around someone else facing inward. Whatever they try to send at you will return to them. The cause and effect will be that they themselves get to deal with their own energies instead of causing harm to your own.

Negative Bubbles

Visualize a bubble around the person that is being negative. Similar to the mirror method, whenever the individual in question tries to throw negative energy or use negative emotions to their advantage, the energy won't be able to escape the bubble. The person will feel everything for themselves versus harming you. They will learn to be nice or be zapped by their own negative energies.

Hallways And Doors

Remember that person throwing negative energies at you? Instead of visualizing mirrors or bubbles to return to sender you can also try this. For any psychic attack being thrown in your direction visualize and redirect those energies by looping hallways with doors or imagine whatever it is attacking you on fire before giving the outside energies a kick to the curb.

Psychic Defense Technique Six – Salt

Kosher Salt or Sea Salt works the best for protection because these types of salt absorb negative energies and will ground them or take it away from you. There are many different ways to use salt. How does this help in shielding yourself one might ask? Simple. Sea Salt can be used as a physical or energetic barrier. It is also good for grounding your own energies because it is an element from the earth.

Salt Remedies

Salt in a small cup around a busy room and where you work the most will help by absorbing the negative energies. Make sure to flush and change the salt out every month.

Sprinkle salt into bath water and soak. The salt will absorb and take negative energy from you while also grounding your energies. Add a touch of baking soda if you need to kickstart your own energies and revive what has been lost.

Dilute salt and mineral water into a spray bottle. In each room that has been overloaded with negativity I want you to spray mist into the air. This will cleanse and clear your home. Alot of people tend to try this if they cannot or will not use smoke cleansing methods.

Psychic Defense Technique Seven – Protection Symbols

Protection symbols come in many different forms but will only work if you believe in them. Your belief in the symbol actually working will give the best results. Confidence is always the key whenever one is working in metaphysics, period. Belief is the most important, and when it comes to protection symbols, they can be utilized as an additional method to your energy shields. The symbol can act to strengthen the subconscious mind which adds to your defenses.

What works best for you? Many people believe in different things and any symbol can be used for protection as long as the symbol means something to you. What may work for you might not work for the next person due to having different beliefs.

Psychic Defense Technique Eight – Prayer and Affirmations

Prayers are good for building positive energy, amplifying protections, and adding layers of defense to your energy system. It's a good way to get to know your deities and spirits as well. While this may be a good tool for building a relationship with your spirits, please remember to not fall into the habit of doing this and becoming too dependent. Deities and Spirits are there to help guide you. They are teachers and sometimes will become your friend -but like all other mentors they want what is best for you so that you will grow. This includes being able to protect yourself without aid at some point as you progress in your metaphysical workings.

Affirmations are about bringing positivity to yourself as a person.

Simple affirmations include:

"I allow only positivity around me."

"My vibrations grow stronger every day."

When writing out an affirmation try to keep it in the first-person perspective and stay in the present. Do not sink into the past and think about all the negatives. Affirmations are about all the positives one possesses. Adding this right after a prayer is a good way to boost relationships with your spirits.

Psychic Defense Technique Nine – Crystals

Crystals can be used for various workings and amplify your protections or work to protect you on their own accord. Many crystals are already attuned to certain metaphysical properties and each stone holds its own meaning. There is even a way to use crystals and lay out a grid for bigger spell workings or intentions. To provide some great examples; black tourmaline and most obsidian stones are great for protection aid and are good choices for crystal grids when seeking out protection and absorbing negative energies away from you. Most crystal grids rely on a bigger crystal that is central to the rest being used because they act as a generator giving power to the grid itself and amplifying the other crystals within the line up. A lot of people use clear quartz for generator crystals, however if this type of crystal is under too much strain or absorbs too much negative energies they are known to chip and crack. Darker stones are your friend.

Psychic Defense Technique Ten – Sounds

Using sound as a means of defense can be effective and primarily it is used more so as a warning or deterrent within an outer to middle layer of your shields. Sound distracts and thus scatters a target's focus on the original intent. With this obviously there is a source of irritation present rather than direct counter attacks.

Various sounds that can be used are high pitched ringing, alarming bells, constant chatter of people as background noise, nails on a chalk board, etcetera.

Which sound you choose for yourself is entirely up to your imagination and as always one method may not work for all attackers.

At times, this is a temporary idea for whenever you need to craft your shield and get other layers up.

[coffee-without-anesthetics]

forgive me father for i have opened a notification and read the message within to make the red dot go away and then forgot to reply for a month . it will happen again

[8nin]

hey sorry i acted weird the other day i was trying so hard to act normal that it backfired

[crazycatsiren]

It does seem that every time I attempt to be normal I turn out weirder.

[lafalenawitch]

Life advice from me. Stop acting normal. Be the weirdo you are. Attract your people. Free yourself and find your tribe.