The Otherlight

to make apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe. - sagan

[otherlightspace]

Something I try to do daily is a gratitude practice. Some days are easier than others, and some days it comes out like this…

[otherlightspace]

So how do we get it back? We wake up one day and realize that we're just going through the motions. Where's the joy? That pure unadulterated feeling, the laughter bubbling up…

The advice to follow your heart seems hollow. Oversimplified. And yet when you really listen, when you feel into it and let it lead you - like a bloodhound on a hunt - joy seems to inevitably follow.

But I need to remind myself of this. Because it's not easy to lean into that heart space. Especially for those of us trained to turn away from it, to ignore what is true.

But I see you. And I see me.

✨🫶🌒

[otherlightspace]

I need to remind myself [often] to just let go. It feels at times that it is all my soul craves. I find myself orienting more in that direction, but it can still feel like pushing against the current in this thing we call life.

◯ ☽ ◑ ● ◐ ❨ ◯

[otherlightspace]

Loss, grief. It can take you by surprise. It can be soft. In quiet corners of the dark.

This is for those who leave us behind. The ones we welcome into our homes for a short while - the animals, fish, and birds.

And especially to the sweet bunny that inspired this poem.

[otherlightspace]

Made with love and a dash of grief. 🌿🫶🍂

[otherlightspace]

"a love poem" was written a couple years ago and recently found its way into a quiet women-led publication. it's in the spring issue of Sensible Magazine, alongside one of my photographs. it's amazing to me how something I made in the dark finds the light 🫶✨

access the magazine from the links if you feel called to do so👇

📱 https://apronandsuitcase.com/product/sensible-magazine-spring-2026-instant-download-magazine/?ref_code=mpick

📄 https://apronandsuitcase.com/product/sensible-magazine-spring-2026/?ref_code=mpick

[otherlightspace]

That space in between it all. That space that we are in right now.

[otherlightspace]

[otherlightspace]

I love how poetry can do many things at once. For me this speaks to both the internal and the external. It's time for the helpers. 🫶🏻

[otherlightspace]

The poetry writes itself...

In fact, I don't think I can put to words the delicate beauty of a solstice sunrise.

▪️

[otherlightspace]

This liminal time of year used to be hard for me, but since I've leaned into the shifting of the seasons? Somehow November has won me over. Anyone else?

[otherlightspace]

a Reclamation 🌑

[grey-sorcery]

I had a bot read 100,000,000 witchcraft guides! Then I asked it to produce its own! Here’s what it came up with:

Witchcraft is love, light, & salt. Do you do a witch? How much sage do you burn? Burn sage everywhere in pots and screaming pans. A witch is moss or a crystal.

Ingredients:

rosemary

quartz

tarot

a womb

candle

small knife

screaming

scott cunningham

salt

the moon

First take rosemary in your hand, then quartz on a table. Pray. Scream into tarot deck.

Loki and Hecate are too gay for you and very naughty. Are you gay or a woman? Then you are a crystal.

Rose quartz is a perfect substitute for everything, other than rosemary. Lay down in grass. Feel the vibe of your insides. The mother earth is herbal bread. Energy heal a cat familiar before posting a picture of it on Instagram. If you don’t fold a curse away from you, you will perish. Scream again. Tell a spirit it is a motherfucker, do not let it into your house.

Scott Cunningham wants you to spray salt water on your doors. Make infusions! Put salt in your water!

To cast a circle, walk around love and lightly, whisper sweet nothings to a small knife as you point it at each wall. Call out the names of your cats. Play Magic The Gathering Today!

If you can’t conjure rosemary, store bought is fine. If you say you are a witch, then you are moss or a mushroom. [Image of crystals and herbs] Have you done a cultural appropriation today? Set out your herbs and bowl, place them on the moon. Moon water is crucial for this next part. Do literally whatever you want, it doesn't matter! Feel your ovaries? That's witchcraft. If you cannot, then you are gay and not a witch, unless you are rosemary.

My grandmothers burned so that I can have crystals. The Queen of Cups is my spirit animal. [Image of trees in fog] Run through grass with your toes out. Do not step inside mushrooms, you will lose your name and a baby will be put inside your house.

Twirl your hands clockwise four times and put nails in a jar to stop bad stuff. Anoint a candle with essential oil from bath and body works.

You have now made your house safe from herbs.

[otherlightspace]

Into the ether ✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ where are you bound?

[otherlightspace]

She walks in water ༄

[bronzetomatoes]

Every time a woman makes a pink job or girl math or girl dinner or I'm just a girl joke I unfortunately have to kill a random man on the streets. And you may think this is cruel or unjust but in reality that's just the way the cookie crumbles

[bronzetomatoes]

personally i find the recent explosion of misogyny and normalised belittlement of women incredibly disturbing no matter who's making the jokes

[depsidase]