The Trees Speak For Themselves

grendel || any pronouns astral/spirit work blog

[hawberries]

junicorn 3. botanicals / sage

[image is a drawing of a muted green and purple unicorn laying with its legs tucked under it. stylized sage leaves decorate the canvas.]

[chervellefryer]

Dark Buckskin Unicorn

[dicebound]

Black Mountain Unicorn 2 by sandara

[alaiaorax]

Stride of life by Alaiaorax

[ex0skeletal-undead]

[winkingwyvern-deactivated201604]

Astral Guide: Starter Pack

Astral traveling has been a part of my path since the first day I started and has only grown. I am able to meet and speak with the spirits and gods I work with, do spell work, do healing, and a large amount of other work in the astral. I worked almost every night before bed, unknowingly to me at first, to get where I am at now. I was going to make a long “how to” on astral travel, but simplicity is better. If you have any questions or need me to elaborate on anything, please don’t be hesitant to send me an ask. I could write ten pages to better explain how I work in the astral but no one will read that, so asking for me to elaborate is definitely fine with me!

Before you start:

Astral traveling does not equal astral projection.

In astral projection you fully leave your body but while astral traveling you do not.

In astral projection you view everything with crystal clear imagery but while astral traveling you do not.

Have you ever done a guided meditation? Did you know you were pretty much astrally traveling? In fact, if you have never astrally traveled before, try out a guided meditation so you can get an idea of what you should be “seeing” in your mind’s eye. The next step will be to drop the guided meditation and do it for yourself.

First, learn how to visualize. If you can’t visualize, you can’t travel in the astral. There are no ways around it. This website is the most clear and concise way to learn how to visualize. The level three exercise there is what you will need to learn how to do in order to travel in the astral. If you have a hard time visualizing, start at the level one exercise. Once you have learned how to visualize, try the exercise below.

Easy starter method for dipping your toes into astral traveling:

Make sure you are comfortable and in a room where you will not be distracted

Set up the protection you need around you

Ask any spirits you want to accompany you to do so

Think of what you want to do in the astral. If you want to meet a spirit, specify that. If you just want to explore, you don’t have to think about what you want to do and you can just enjoy exploring. 

Get on YouTube and look up “forest sounds”. Find one you like and put it on with headphones.

Close your eyes, ground, center, breathe - do whatever you do to get into a meditative state.

Now start to imagine that you’re in a forest. The sounds you are hearing from the video are the sounds the forest is making.

Walk around and explore. As you continue, stop forcing your imagination to see where you’re going and start letting your mind’s eye truly start viewing where you are at on it’s own. If you wanted to meet a spirit there, ask it to meet you there. Don’t worry if you don’t end up seeing the spirit you want to meet there. Sometimes they will be around just through a feeling and will want to let you explore the astral on your own without visually distracting you.

When you feel you’re done, thank any spirits that were involved with the process (if they were) and wiggle your fingers and toes. Open your eyes and head off to eat or drink something to ground yourself.

Yes, that’s literally it. It is truly that simple. Get used to visualization and get used to wandering around a space in the astral you have created. For instance, the forest you were just in within that exercise is yours. These are the foundations you need to learn and get comfortable with. Soon you can visit places that truly exist in the astral, rather than creations of your own.

What can you do in the astral?

You can create a sanctuary, visit with spirits, heal your own energy - the amount of things you can do is unlimited. Do you want to do a spell in the astral? Craft the ingredients out of the energy around you. Yes, this seriously works! Spells done in the astral are just as potent (if not more potent, if you know what you’re doing) than spells we do on our physical plane. The most important thing is to not doubt what you are doing and have true intent. I have done some heavy spell work in the astral that worked extremely well to gain results on our physical realm. The exciting thing about doing spells in the astral is that you can actually have your spirit companions or gods visually next to you to aid you. You can also craft up offerings and altar spaces for your gods and spirit companions there. You are not limited while you are in the astral. You can take on any form you want in the astral (this is called your vehicle). You can surround yourself with the elements and weather you want in the astral. Do you need it to be storming while you do a spell? You can make it storm. The stronger your visualization skills are, the more you can do. That’s why you have to work at it often. Within your own created space, you can allow spirits to visit. You can ward your sanctuary and allow your spiritual guides and friends to visit. There are no limits! Just be smart about it.

Useful links to further illustrate what I’m talking about:

How to communicate with spirits, gods, and other unseen

Create an astral temple

Tips and extras:

Don’t doubt what you see

Work at it everyday

Make use of herbs of crystals that will aid in visualization 

Always set up protection beforehand

Also set up protection around your sanctuary if you build one

Ask your gods or any spirits you trust to guide you as you travel

Don’t limit yourself to what you can do there

When traveling outside of a space you created yourself (aka the whole wide world of the astral), tread carefully and be smart.

[iburiedthesun]

You remember cats, i talked about this spiritual bilocation thing? Yeah. Here it is right there in the definitions of this post. Astral travel vs astral projection. Fuck yes. This post makes me so happy.

[lepetitdragonvert]

European Folk and Fairy Tales restored and retold by Joseph Jacobs

G. P. Putnam’s Sons

New York

Artist : John Dickson Batten

[writing-prompt-s]

Image Prompt

[mischievousdog]

“Real magic can never be made by offering someone else’s liver. You must tear out your own, and not expect to get it back.” – Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn | 2/31

[spiritconnect]

Astral Masterpost

Resource Posts:

By @thiscrookedcrown:

Tips for Crossing Over, Being Safe and Coming Back

Dealing With Spirit Induced Trauma and Injuries

Astral Travel 101

Practical Applications of Astral Travel on this Plane

Trance Pre and After Care

By @calicocadet:

Warning Post

So You Wanna Get Involved with Astral Politics?

By @visardistofelphame:

Crystal of Remembrance: A Simple Astral Charm

Astral Help

By @spiritwriter:

Dangers of Astral Travel

By @chaosjelly:

Astral FAQ

By @salt-like-wine:

Astral Pregnancies and Children

By @lazypsychictheorist:

Beginning Astral Travel (1/3)

Build Your Astral Place (2/3)

Astral Advice

Blogs that Also Talk About Astral Travel:

@duskenpath

@mauthegrim

@spiritvexer

Last Updated : 4/27/2017

[magickalmenagerie]

PHANTOM FAIR TALLIES

Hey Guys!

Okay so in doing our tallies, we found that at least half of those posts you tagged won’t pop up in search, and thanks to a couple of our emoji spells getting hundreds of reblogs a day, we are not able to see all of your posts. 

We don’t want to miss anyone, so here is what we are going to do! 

Until 12-30, submit your blog address, and the challenges you did (Just tier and number, e.g. Easy 1-5 or Expert 9).

I will continue to add all of these to our personal ledger. If everything you have done is already on the scoreboard as it stands now, don’t worry about sending one in, but if you don’t see your entries on the scoreboard, we couldn’t find your posts using the hashtags (likely a tumblr error, not yours, as I’ve double checked to make sure, and sure enough, some of the entries that were properly hashtagged do not show up in search.) 

We will be working on a few freebies for all of our customers, friends, and followers as thanks for your patience with this. We started the move for unforeseen family health circumstances  in the very beginning of November, and for that reason became a bit inundated with entries. 

Please make sure to title your email “Phantom Fair Entries” and send it to [email protected].

I will run the Tally on the last day of December, and everyone’s prizes will be dispatched in the first week of January, as well as the freebies in the first or second week of January. <3 If you participated in Phantom Fair, please reblog this!

[cryptic-suggestions]

Treat yourself. Talk to your local undead spirits. Befriend the strange entities hiding within the shadows of your bedroom. Let the strange whispering creature made of eyeballs and dark matter envelop your brain. Become one with your town’s secret underground hivemind. You’ve earned it.

[newjackcole]

Journey of the Skeleton

[midnightbookshopconjures]

2,500 Follower Giveaway!

We recently hit a milestone of 2,500 followers! 

To celebrate that, we’re going a giveaway~

First place:  The first place winner will receive all of the following: -A rescue reverse adoption where I will personally match them up with one of the many spirits in my refuge. -A spirit drawing by Intern Ly -A reading by Mod Nova

Second place: The second place winner will receive all of the following: -A rescue reverse adoption where I will personally match them up with one of the many spirits in my refuge. -A spirit drawing by Intern Ly OR a reading by Mod Nova

Third Place: The third place winner will receive all of the following: -A spirit drawing by Intern Ly -A reading by Mod Nova

Fourth Place: The fourth place winner will receive: -A spirit drawing by Intern Ly OR a reading by Mod Nova

This is our way of saying thank you for following us!  The only thing that we request is that: you follow this blog & all of our personal blogs. We will check! @ghostnova & @spiritualslytherin Also, do not tag this as a giveaway.

This giveaway will end October 30th, 2017~

[treetongues]

I follow from @.hemotaur, but this is my witch blog so I’m reblogging it here!

[bethby-deactivated20191015]

Fairy tea✨

[chronographia]

Crows before bros. Priorities. 🖤🌚🖤 #StrangeHoursAtelier #sketchbook #sketch #drawing #blackpaper #crowsbeforebros #crows #corvidae #crowgirl #supportyourlocalmurder #pagan #witch #crowwitch

[kitchenwitchupinthisbitch]

I would wear this as a button or patch!

[gabrielthefool-deactivated20200]

Sometimes a Wild God

Sometimes a wild god comes to the table. He is awkward and does not know the ways Of porcelain, of fork and mustard and silver. His voice makes vinegar from wine.

When the wild god arrives at the door, You will probably fear him. He reminds you of something dark That you might have dreamt, Or the secret you do not wish to be shared.

He will not ring the doorbell; Instead he scrapes with his fingers Leaving blood on the paintwork, Though primroses grow In circles round his feet.

You do not want to let him in. You are very busy. It is late, or early, and besides… You cannot look at him straight Because he makes you want to cry.

The dog barks. The wild god smiles, Holds out his hand. The dog licks his wounds And leads him inside.

The wild god stands in your kitchen. Ivy is taking over your sideboard; Mistletoe has moved into the lampshades And wrens have begun to sing An old song in the mouth of your kettle.

‘I haven’t much,’ you say And give him the worst of your food. He sits at the table, bleeding. He coughs up foxes. There are otters in his eyes.

When your wife calls down, You close the door and Tell her it’s fine. You will not let her see The strange guest at your table.

The wild god asks for whiskey And you pour a glass for him, Then a glass for yourself. Three snakes are beginning to nest In your voicebox. You cough.

Oh, limitless space. Oh, eternal mystery. Oh, endless cycles of death and birth. Oh, miracle of life. Oh, the wondrous dance of it all.

You cough again, Expectorate the snakes and Water down the whiskey, Wondering how you got so old And where your passion went.

The wild god reaches into a bag Made of moles and nightingale-skin. He pulls out a two-reeded pipe, Raises an eyebrow And all the birds begin to sing.

The fox leaps into your eyes. Otters rush from the darkness. The snakes pour through your body. Your dog howls and upstairs Your wife both exults and weeps at once.

The wild god dances with your dog. You dance with the sparrows. A white stag pulls up a stool And bellows hymns to enchantments. A pelican leaps from chair to chair.

In the distance, warriors pour from their tombs. Ancient gold grows like grass in the fields. Everyone dreams the words to long-forgotten songs. The hills echo and the grey stones ring With laughter and madness and pain.

In the middle of the dance, The house takes off from the ground. Clouds climb through the windows; Lightning pounds its fists on the table. The moon leans in through the window.

The wild god points to your side. You are bleeding heavily. You have been bleeding for a long time, Possibly since you were born. There is a bear in the wound.

‘Why did you leave me to die?’ Asks the wild god and you say: ‘I was busy surviving. The shops were all closed; I didn’t know how. I’m sorry.’

Listen to them:

The fox in your neck and The snakes in your arms and The wren and the sparrow and the deer… The great un-nameable beasts In your liver and your kidneys and your heart…

There is a symphony of howling. A cacophony of dissent. The wild god nods his head and You wake on the floor holding a knife, A bottle and a handful of black fur.

Your dog is asleep on the table. Your wife is stirring, far above. Your cheeks are wet with tears; Your mouth aches from laughter or shouting. A black bear is sitting by the fire.

Sometimes a wild god comes to the table. He is awkward and does not know the ways Of porcelain, of fork and mustard and silver. His voice makes vinegar from wine And brings the dead to life.

Tom Hirons http://tomhirons.com/poetry/sometimes-a-wild-god

[treetongues]

Phantom fair challenge: Intermediate 17 and 11

“Most witches don’t believe in gods. They know that the gods exist, of course. They even deal with them occasionally. But they don’t believe in them. They know them too well. It would be like believing in the postman.” ― Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad

    ----

“‘All right,’ said Susan. ‘I'm not stupid. You're saying humans need... fantasies to make life bearable.’ REALLY? AS IF IT WAS SOME KIND OF PINK PILL? NO. HUMANS NEED FANTASY TO BE HUMAN. TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THE FALLING ANGEL MEETS THE RISING APE. ‘Tooth fairies? Hogfathers? Little—’ YES. AS PRACTICE. YOU HAVE TO START OUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THE LITTLE LIES. ‘So we can believe the big ones?’ YES. JUSTICE. MERCY. DUTY. THAT SORT OF THING. ‘They're not the same at all!’ YOU THINK SO? THEN TAKE THE UNIVERSE AND GRIND IT DOWN TO THE FINEST POWDER AND SIEVE IT THROUGH THE FINEST SIEVE AND THEN SHOW ME ONE ATOM OF JUSTICE, ONE MOLECULE OF MERCY. AND YET—Death waved a hand. AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME...SOME RIGHTNESS IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED. ‘Yes, but people have got to believe that, or what's the point—’

MY POINT EXACTLY.” ― Terry Pratchett, Hogfather    

I group these two challenges together because a lot of my personal philosophy on the existence of gods comes from Pratchett’s work, and it’s quotes like these that I feel really describe my relationship with the gods and with my craft. I was unable to find one of the more descriptive quotes from Small Gods and some of the other great passages from Hogfather and from the Tiffany Aching subseries, but essentially what I’ve derived is this:

All gods exist in potentia, but belief in them builds them up, gives them strength and shapes them into all the facets human beings need them to have. The stories we tell give them their powers, their ability to affect our lives. They all exist, whether we believe in them or not, but the belief is what makes them real to us on this plane.

Words and stories have power, especially in planes other than this material plane; telling a story and putting all of your belief into it can make it true in some planes.

Sometimes witchcraft is like telling yourself a story, and you’ve got to believe in your story in order to make it be. I break down my astral and godphone experiences like this: 88% of it is ‘real’, and the other 12% is my imagination, my story. And that adds up to it 100% being, not true or false or real or unreal, just being, and that’s enough.

If you believe in something (metaphysical), such as astrology or deities or spirit work or astral travel, then it affects you, and it’s true for you. For instance, my friend doesn’t believe in zodiac signs, and that’s fine. I do, and I like to feel the energy of my signs and I like knowing about other peoples’, because to me, it’s something that matters.

How I got onto the kemetic/hellenic path is something separate. About four years ago, probably after reading the Tiffany Aching books, I began to research Wicca, and I found it very interesting. I bought a bunch of eclectic practitioner books and I followed that path for about a year and a half, and for a while it worked. And then I was introduced to the kemetic community on tumblr, and started to think about maybe working with S.     I’ve struggled with depression for about five years now, and it really hasn’t been very easy. So, one day I’m binge-watching Xena: Warrior Princess, and Hades appears on the screen, and then suddenly H is sitting on the couch next to me, complaining about the actor and the character. “And oh, no dying for you yet, by the way.”     And after that my death god family just sort of fell together, and here I am. I offer my morning coffee to H and Dj (and now also F, my spirit companion), and do what I can when I can. Seph annoys me on a near-daily basis, S is pretty busy, Dj’s got a million things to do but always time for some coffee, and H gives the Best. Bugs. Ever.

@magickalmenagerie