📚 Tell us about a book that strongly changed or shaped how you think about magic.
Aidan Wachter's Six Ways: approaches & entries for practical magic!! And by extension (and because I don't really remember what's from the book and what's from elsewhere now), a lot of what I've heard and read from him in other places since I first read that book.
I think the most important thing about that book for me is how wonderfully non-dogmatic Aidan's writing is. He talks a lot about his own practices and gives exercises and the types of things you'd expect from a book with that title, but he keeps coming back to points like "this works for me. it may not work for you." or "if you try this and don't vibe with it, don't do it." I've become increasingly aware that I can be quite literal minded, and so someone saying that explicitly was huge for me.
Another big takeaway: I don't have to know exactly who every single spirit who walks with me is. They're around. Many of them have always been around. I can talk to them and be clear about wanting to be in practice and relationship with them and it's fine if I don't really 'hear' back - though ideally the health of that relationship will be clear in other ways. He talks openly about how his 'spiritual senses' aren't that great and how he's made his practice work despite that.
I was always an animist but I think this may have been the first book I read from someone writing from an animist perspective? About how we're all part of a spiritual ecosystem. That really resonates with me.
🏺 Which historical or mythical sorcerer do you draw the most inspiration from?
Ouuuuuhhh good question!! I'm sure I'll come up with a better answer once I post this but at this point I'm not sure there really are distinct historical or mythical sorcerers I draw a lot of inspiration from?
It's more that there are groups of them, and I haven't really imprinted on particular figures at this time. I'm very curious about pre-Christian Norse magical practitioners (who we know veerrry little about. Long dead seið-people, pls call me), and about later folk magicians (who we do know more about), but I've been more focused on practices than individuals.
🎓 Are there any magical or sorcerous skills you’re actively working on these days?
Spirit flight! I've always been inclined that way but I go through periods where it's not accessible to me. Right now I'm working on... well I'm trying to work with something that I got with me from my pilgrimage and that involves a lot of experimentation. Spirit flight trying different methods and in different places is a part of that. It's a complement to walking the land, sitting out, and watering body and soul.
