What role do we play in our lives? We don’t necessarily have control of everything or everyone around us, but what we do have is control over the role we play. I share a technique I’ve been using in the last couple months that has helped me change my perception about the role I am in and allowed me to flip the script on the situations I’m in.
Wealth Magic 4: The Application of the Mundane
In this final installment, I cover the importance of mundane actions around wealth magic and share why the mundane choices you make play a powerful role in the wealth magic you do. I also share why your mundane actions will always be the foundation that either supports or sabotages your wealth magic.
How to release your neediness and discover your actual needs
In the last few months I have had a great opportunity present itself to me. I have come face to face with my neediness and co-dependent behavior and I’m going through this process to recognize and release the neediness in order to discover what I truly need. That probably sounds a little contradictory until you consider that the root issue of neediness is based in fear. When we feel needy, we often feel that way because we are afraid to discover ourselves and what we truly need.
This journey of mine has involved me learning even more about my relationship with fear. I already knew a lot about it, but I’ve come to recognize how fear is the root of neediness. When I feel needy or clingy, what is operating at the root of that needy clinginess is the fear I feel. Part of what has helped in doing this work is connecting with Saturn, because in a very real sense Saturn is an embodiment of fear.
Wealth Magic 3: The Application of Magic
In this third installment we explore the application of magic to wealth, building off the foundation of need and discipline that presents us with an informed awareness about wealth in our lives. I share why its important to apply short and long term perspectives to your magical approach and discuss the benefits of working with spirits or doing wealth magic through practical magic, as well as when to blend the efforts together.
Wealth Magic Part 2: The Power of Discipline
In part 2 I discuss the power of discipline and how it applies to wealth and wealth magic. I explore why discipline can help you get further with manifesting wealth and share some examples of how to apply discipline to wealth magic as a principle that helps you get focused.
Wealth Magic Part 1: The Power of Need
I discuss the power of need in relationship to wealth magic and why need trumps want when it comes to creating effective wealth magic. I also share my definition of wealth and explain why magic isn’t always the best path to wealth.
Ritual magic and walking the land
For Fall Equinox, I decided to visit the Sandy Delta Park, near Portland. I’ve been there before, but it had been a while and I wanted to honor the spirit of the Columbia, while also doing my ritual for the equinox. However I was prompted to get creative with my approach to doing the ritual and thought I would share what I came up with. I ultimately decided to do a walking ritual, where I called in the sphere and the circle while walking the park.
Book Reviews May to September 2022
Book Review: Can I be Honest with you? by Amy Palatnick (affiliate link)
This is an edgy, empowering and deep read. As I read this book I reflected on the lessons that it brought up for me, both in regards to when I have been too pushy with what I've wanted, but also not honest enough with myself or other people. Reading this book pushed me to make some changes in my communication and work harder at both letting myself in and other people in while also being true to myself. It wasn't easy to read. There were times I really squirmed and felt called out, but it also gave me the courage to examine where I have fallen short in my communication with other people and start making some changes. I definitely will re-read this book again because I think there is a lot here for anyone to explore and work through.
Book Review: Psychic Skills for Magic and Witchcraft by Cat Gina Cole (affiliate link)
This is an excellent exploration of the intersection between Psychic and magical powers. The author does a good job of presenting the intersection and showing how psychic powers can enhance magical skills, while also sharing survival skills of sorts for how to use psychic abilities for internal work and processing. It provides some useful exercises that the reader will benefit from implementing.
Goetic pathworking for internal work
Over the course of this year I’ve been taking a Goetic Daemon a week course offered by S. Connolly on her Patreon. It’s been a fascinating course to take and its helped me expand my experiences and knowledge of working with daemons. While I already had some experience working with them going into the course, I’m glad I’ve taken the course because of the insights I’ve gained.
One of the suggestions that S. Connolly is working with the Daemons for the purpose of doing internal work and I’ve found this to be a great practice. Often it seems that people think of working with the Goetia when they need an external result or want to do an evocation, but there is a lot of value to be discovered in doing internal work with them.
How to become resilient in Magic and Life part 2
In this week’s video I share how resiliency must come from within, but also why the right resources can help you cultivate that resiliency and strengthen your inner core. I also share how to identify those resources and why it’s important to develop an approach to self-care that carries you through any situation you encounter.
How to Become Resilient in Magic and Life part 1
I discuss how to become resilient in magic and life and share one of the core skills that you need to draw upon in order to be resilient in the face of changes that inevitably occur in life.
The wild man and the sacred masculine
I’ve recently been reading a book called Iron John, which is a fascinating exploration of the Wild Man and the journey of a boy to discover sacred masculinity, through the wild man, as well as the sacred connection between the land and the spiritual king. I’m only halfway through the book at the time of this writing, but what strikes me about this book is a theme of journeys, and specifically the journey the boy is initiated through when he chooses to free the wild man (Iron John) from the cage he is in, and goes with him to the wilderness.
It reminds me of the Green Knight and the journey Gawain goes on to return the axe to the Green Knight as well as offer his head. All the experiences Gawain has along the way are part of an initiation into the mystery of the sacred masculine. When he first leaves on his quest, although Gawain is technically a man, he’s really a boy. He only begins to discover his own masculinity, in a sacred context, when he undergoes the various trials that reveal his weaknesses and failings as well as his strengths.
Why it can be good to get a second divinatory opinion
I discuss why it can be good to get a divinatory reading from someone else, in order to confirm details of a situation or get a different perspective and why an unbiased reading can be beneficial if the person doesn't know much about you.
Healing the soul through nature
One of the spiritual practices I try to do regularly is walk the land. This is a practice of communing with the spirits of the land and nature in order to develop a relationship with them, but it can also have other aspects, which can be equally important, such as healing. Whether I’m walking in my suburban neighborhood, or in a urban area, or in a park or in the countryside, I find that the spirits of the land are always with us, just waiting for us to open ourselves to them, if we are willing to be receptive.
On the 4th of July weekend I hiked Spencer Butte for the first time. I had been meaning to go it for a while, but hadn’t found a good time to do so. The long weekend presented that opportunity and I decided to take myself on a date and visit the Butte. Walking the land on the Butte became a healing experience for me, setting my soul to rest as I soaked in the experience of nature and let the land into speak to and through me.
Book Reviews June 2022
Book Review: Creating by Robert Fritz (Affiliate link)
This is one of the most unique and thought provoking books I’ve read. The author explores the act of creating in depth. The perspective and depth he brings to the topic of creativity can help you change your understanding of creativity, what it means to create and also become more creative in the process. His perspective on long term thinking, alone is invaluable and necessary.
Book Review: Vastu by Robert Svoboda (affiliate link)
This is a fascinating book which explores the nature of space and how to create an intentional space using knowledge of pranayama and the 5 elements. The author shares case studies of applying vastu to spaces. It was a really unique take on how people embrace and live within a given space. I found the magical aspects to be helpful in designing my own space.
Book Review: The Courage to Be Happy by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga (affiliate link)
Another thought provoking book that will change your life and how you approach love and happiness. Reading this book has provided me valuable insights and I have no doubt I’ll come back to it again and again to learn and consider and apply these principles to my life. Some of what is read isn’t easy to read but it will make you think and grow if you make the choice to consider how to apply it to your life.
Book Review: Mistakes were Made (but not by me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson (affiliate link)
This is an eye-opening book that can help you recognize the dissonance in your own life and how you apply that dissonance to justify your choices and mistakes. Reading this book wasn’t easy for me. It caused me to reflect on my mistakes and see instances where I created my own sense of dissonance to justify my choices and behaviors, but reading it also helped me take better ownership and responsibility for those choices. I recommend reading this book because it will help you reflect on how you rationalize your own choices and how you reduce dissonance with those choices.
Book Review: The Tai Chi Space by Paul Cavel (affiliate link)
I recommend reading this book if you have experience with qi gong because then you can take on what is shared and apply it. However like any book on martial arts, the limitation of the book is that text and diagrams can only take you so far. I think it’s a useful supplementary guide that can help you appreciate the movements if you already have experience in those movements, but will not help much if you have no experience.
Book Review: The Art of Black Mirror Scrying by Rosemary Guiley (Affiliate link)
This book presents a fascinating history of scrying, which is a must read if you want to learn more about the background of scrying. The author also provides some explanations for how scrying works and includes exercises you can do to sharpen your skills. She also explains how to create a black mirror for scrying. The book is well written and provided some useful information on scrying.
Book Review: The Process of Creating Life by Christopher Alexander (Affiliate link)
This is another amazing book in this series that explores how architectural design can be used to create a living space. What I found most interesting was how the author wove in multiple disciplines and schools of thought into this work. I read this book over the course of a couple years because it really requires some digestion and perspective, especially if you’re not an architect, which I am now. I nonetheless find the insights are relevant to my own practices and am thankful for this book.
Book Review: The descent of Ishtar by Timothy Stephany (affiliate link)
A translation of the The descent of Ishtar and related sumerian myths. I didn’t get a sense of the Akkadian version, but found the overall content to be fascinating and insightful in regards to some research I’m doing. I do wish the author had included some analysis and translation notes.
Book Review: Courage is Calling by Ryan Holiday (Affiliate link)
Another excellent book from the modern day stoic Ryan Holiday which explores the virtue of courage and how you can instill it in your life. He share some excellent historical stories, but more importantly he explores what it takes to be courageous and what can happen wen you aren’t. Reading this book has helped me see the moments where I hesitated and could have been braver, and also sown what I can do to be braver in my life.
Book Review: Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown (Affiliate link)
This book is a survey of the emotions and how we feel and experience them, but it also more than that. It is an opportunity to explore our relationship with the emotions, but also with connection/disconnection and the way we show up with ourselves and others. Reading this book and meditating on what was shared opened me up to some good realizations, showed me where I need to continue working on my ability to connect with others meaningfully and gave me some direction during a tough time in my life.
Researching Mythology to create magical workings
One of the projects I’ve lately been working on has involved doing research into the Mesopotamian mythos of Ishtar and Gilgamesh. I’m currently reading the Penguin Version of the Epic of Gilgamesh. I’m not just reading the myths, but also the notes and information that the translator has shared because it can be equally valuable in terms of informing the translation but also the work around finding this information. The history is often quite fascinating and provides valuable context. I’m doing all this research because I want to create magical workings around tis mythos, but even though I already have a general knowledge of the mythos, I find it useful to do a deep dive to establish a strong foundation from which to build magical workings off of.
The importance of self-care in magical work
I discuss why self-care is important in magical work and share some thoughts on how you can implement self-care in your magical practice as well as what to consider when incorporating self-care into your magical work.
What is the benefit of internal work?
One of the questions I sometimes ask myself is what the benefit of internal work is. I ask this question because it can be easy to get so caught up in the internal work that you don’t seem to really make progress because you’re busy dealing with whatever is coming up internally. You can get stuck in your head and your heart at times because of how intense internal work can get. Yet I think that staying the course with internal work is ultimately beneficial. After all, when you are doing internal work you are getting the opportunity to recognize your issues and triggers and work through them in a way that can liberate you from them. A life unexamined, in contrast, is often messier in the long run, even if in the short run it seems less complicated.
Timing and Magic Part 2: Further thoughts on when to do magic
I explore the significance of planetary hours in magic and share an experiment I’m currently engaged in and what some of my thoughts are on the experiment and how its allowing me to explore my process of magic from a different perspective.
When should you do magic? An exploration of timing in magic
Is there an optimal time to do magic for a given type of magical operation? I share some thoughts on timing in magic and why a given day or hour isn’t necessarily as important as one might think as well as how to factor in how to bring in specific influences within your magical working.