#magical recordkeeping

[wolverinesorcery]

What is a commonplace book

Commonplace books are a method of compiling knowledge into one place, traditionally by handwriting but more recently with computers/word processors. They’re different from journals in that rather than containing exclusively personal thoughts or feelings, they’re a collection of external writings, informations, or other snippets of things recorded whenever it is encountered + usually organised.

To simplify – a commonplace book contains anything that captured it’s owners attention! Poems, extracts of fiction & non fiction writings, remarks or comments by others, anecdotes, observations, pertinent images, or other things along the same lines are all things that belong in a commonplace book!

Commonplace books have quite the history – their uses range between reading logs, reference books for students, and historically they were required by young women to demonstrate their upbringing.

How do they work

The exact system you use in your commonplace book is entirely up to you and what you will remember to use. Usually information is organised under themed/topic-based headings, but this can be as flexible or stiff as the keeper desires. My personal commonplace book is organised by source material – all of my book extracts & notes are kept together and demarcated by paperclips.

A commonplace book has no requirements in terms of physical format, size, page type, etc. As long as it is something you will be able to keep using happily! There is also no rules around decorating any pages with stickers or washi tape, or any rules around using sticky notes to add information on the go.

A commonplace book can also be as expansive or restricted as possible in terms of subject matter. For example, I keep a specific commonplace book for Babalon & Sekhmet. Nothing else enters this book.

What’s their use in religious practice or witchcraft?

A commonplace book can function as an in-between for a Grimoire (a book of magical knowledge and instruction, usually written by someone else and usually for transmitting knowledge within a specific tradition or branch of religion/witchcraft) & a Witchbook/Book of Shadows (more akin to a magical/religious journal for recordkeeping). They’re also exceptionally useful if you read a lot of metaphysical, occult or spiritual/religious books and want to keep organised notes in a hard copy form!

Commonplace books can be used to record interesting information from other, non-metaphysical but useful sources too, foraging notes and recipes are an obvious choice to keep a record of, along with notes about celestial events from astronomy sources.

In some cases, a commonplace book can also be a devotional activity, or a shrine of sorts. Commonplace books as a devotional activity is easy to parse – collecting and mindfully recording information about an entity, deity, divinity or other spirit is a good means to show care and interest.

A commonplace book as a shrine has a similar function to an e-shrine on tumblr, by collecting things that remind or represent an entity, deity, divinity or other spirit, a notebook can be made into a shrine or sacred object. This can also be a useful way to have a sacred touchpoint with an entity and keep it relatively out of sight, for those who are not open about their practice.

Examples

More reading on Commonplace books

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonplace_book - The wiki page for Commonplace books that delves into their general & regional history, along with more variations on memory/infokeeping under See Also

https://notebookofghosts.com/2018/02/25/a-brief-guide-to-keeping-a-commonplace-book/ - A brief history & how-to on commonplace books, along with notable people that kept one.

https://bookriot.com/commonplace-book/ - An informal look at commonplace books, including using a tumblr blog/other digital formats as a commonplace book.

https://medium.com/thrive-global/how-and-why-to-keep-a-commonplace-book-ea80e25b63f1 - Information about commonplace books, alternatives to notebooks, and a small guide.

[mysteryshoptls]

Hello Ras!! This isnt a request but do you happen to know what events Grim and Yuu canonically took part in?

Hm, good question. What do you count as "canonically took part"? Did they specifically have an "active" part? Did Grim get an outfit? Did they help save the day? Did they appear in the event? I'll list the events below and state how much Yuu participated in, because it's never so clear-cut.

Happy Beans Day 1: Yuu/Grim participates, is on the Farmer team, and accompanies Jade and Cater.

Happy Beans Day 2: While Yuu/Grim is on the Farmer team, Part 2 follows other students, so they do not "participate" in this event.

Fairy Gala: Yuu/Grim participates, assisting Ruggie in attempting to steal the magestone.

Fairy Gala IF: Yuu/Grim do not participate in the actual event beyond joining the other First Years to help Ortho.

Ghost Marriage: Yuu/Grim do not participate in the actual event beyond appearing in the event and getting their dormitory taken over.

Wish Upon a Star: Yuu/Grim do not participate in the actual event beyond tagging along with the Stargazers.

Scary Monsters! 1: While Yuu/Grim do not participate in the stamp rally (as their home was essentially taken over by Diasomnia), they do get costumes from the Ghosts.

Scary Monsters! 2: Yuu/Grim are missing before the other students attempt to save everyone, so while they get costumes at the end, they do not "participate" in this event.

Master Chef: Yuu does not participate, although Grim judges.

Vargas Camp 1 & 2: While Yuu/Grim do not participate in the camp activities, they participate as Recordkeeper.

Sam's New Year Sale: Yuu/Grim do not participate.

Welcome to Twisted Tsumderland 1 & 2: Yuu/Grim do not participate.

Port Fest: Yuu/Grim do not participate in the actual event beyond tagging along with Jack and helping run Class 1-A stand.

Glorious Masquerade: Yuu/Grim goes to the gathering of mages, Grim gets an outfit, and participates in the masquerade.

Al'ab Nariya: Yuu/Grim is invited and Yuu gets an outfit.

Kelkkarotu: Yuu/Grim is invited and Yuu/Grim get outfits, but neither participate in the race.

Tamashina-Mina: Yuu/Grim is not invited (but goes anyway), and neither participate in the competition. Grim gets an outfit.

White Rabbit Festival: Yuu/Grim is invited, and Yuu/Grim get outfits.

Lost in the Book with Stitch: Yuu/Grim are whisked away as well, and are wearing the same magical attire.

First Anniversary: Yuu/Grim participates with the First Years.

Second Anniversary: Yuu/Grim participates with the Second Years.

Third Anniversary: Yuu/Grim participates with the Third Years.

[warsofasoiaf]

Have you watched the Fallout show on Prime and if so, what did you think of it?

I watched it. For the most part, it was good - well-shot and well-executed. Walton Goggins stole the show as our favorite ghoul hitman. The Brotherhood was finally and decisively moved away from its Fallout 3 Wasteland Crusaders vibe. I would have liked more of the technological cult of the Brotherhood emphasized a little more, but what they did was fine. Overall, it felt like a Fallout product, albeit a Bethseda one.

And then, the final episode ended up turning into the Mass Effect 3 ending.

Overall, the plot was still the Bethseda "find the family member" plot which is getting quite stale by this point, but having Lucy go through it rather than us going through it ourselves makes the ludonarrative dissonance of Bethseda's "find your family member, but also feel free to dick around literally everywhere" entries into the Fallout series" does make the pill a lot easier to swallow. Her dad being a bad guy was a perfectly fine twist, albeit predictable. I'm not liking how many people seem to keep popping up from Pre-War times as being cryogenically frozen, it keeps losing the magic of the pre-War times with every new Pre-War person.

That being said, some worldbuilding changes I was not happy with. Nuking Shady Sands was something that was desirable for a lot of Fallout devs in terms of wanting to change the world back away from Fallout 2's big established cities to something grittier. But the timing of it throws New Vegas out the window. I believe the writers have said it was a mistake, and it goes back and forth from being an actual outside writer's mistake to a mistake that an in-universe actor made in recordkeeping. To me, it looks like a lack of care for the setting. If that was it, I'd actually be fine with the explanation, but there's a larger pattern at work here.

The change to making ghouls dependent on some magic juice just annoyed me. There was no real reason to change it, and now it opens up a whole of retroactive canonicity issues. It didn't really service the needs of the story except as an excuse plot for the Ghoul to sell Lucy to the organ harvesters in exchange for the magic juice. There were cleaner ways to get the plot to move in that direction without it.

The final episode plot revelations though, about how the US actually won the Resource Wars with limitless power and decided to nuke the world anyway because of the nefarious oligarch business council, was an incredibly stupid plot beat, enough that the series left a sour taste in my mouth. The Resource Wars meant a whole lot to the feel of Fallout, and satirized the jingoist nature of the 1950's Cold War. And what's better is that the entire reason, that they need to ensure a return on investment, makes no sense. The Resource Wars already show us that there's a premium on resources, and the technology level of the Pre-War world is such that having enough power could alleviate all sorts of resource shortages. And it's all under Vault-Tec's control, so there's *no* need to actually get the nukes to start flying from Vault-Tec's perspective. Vault-Tec desires nothing more than money, so it destroys the world to make...a whole lot less money.

That's beyond stupid, and there were so many ways to make it actually work. China attacking the US with nukes in this scenario (which was the prior canon) actually makes sense with this wrinkle - because China has lost and it would rather destroy the world than lose the war. That's well-keeping in line with the themes of Fallout. Even having the US Government find out and attack via Poseidon Energy (a conspicuous absence from the Evil Oligarch Council given the importance of Poseidon to the Enclave). But no, they went with lazy, stupid writing, getting rid of the critique of the warmongering that nearly ran the world to ruin in the 1950's and 1960's for an ineffective satire of the unchecked power of corporations.

That's one of the things that bothers me most in worldbuilding is when lore events are changed, especially for incredibly stupid reasons. It kills the immersion of any series, especially one so dependent on atmosphere and with so much lore as Fallout. It was disappointing to see a series with such potential just fumble the ball in the final minute.

Thanks for the question, George.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

[elfhawk3]

A friend linked me a cohost post for an RPG that uses a tarot deck to build the city the game takes place in. I went ‘that’s the sort of GM solo play I love to do’ and grabbed one of my many tarot decks and a copy of the pay-what-you-want ‘just the city builder’ preview of the full book.

I don’t have a cohost and the area I inhabit here isn’t into RPGs, so this is going to do zero advertising for a cool-looking game,  but whatever, I’m making this for me and if you enjoy it, cool. 

Step One: The Central Power 

The first card drawn decides who rules the city. After pulling out all the major arcana per the instructions, I drew the 10 of Wands.

“The Cult of the God-King reigns. The Crow-Headed Queen will be deified upon her death, but through her sorceries she has reigned for over 120 years. The Temple of the God-Kings stands in the center of the City.”

So this is a place ruled by an immortal sorcerer. Did the Cult control the City before she took over or did it rise up around her? If the former, she might just be the latest in a line of God-Kings. The Cult might be getting antsy about her immortality. Can’t have a proper God-King if your King refuses to die and move on to their bigger duties as God. If it’s the latter, she formed it herself around her ambitions to ascend from mortal to divine. Going by some of the other text, this setting is one where magic is weird and distrusted. What effect has a century (centuries?) of a sorcerer on the throne had on the people of the City? 

I love the symbolism here of a woman holding up a city. It matches so well.

Step 2: Form the Core Districts 

The oldest parts of the city. What was the City originally like? Draw four cards and place them on each side of the Central Power card.

North - 7 of Wands - The Sidereal House

“This institution seeks to understand the lights of the sky and their significance for those who dwell on earth. The Sidereal House is home to a sect of natural philosophers. These astronomers calculate the motions and positions of various planets, their dance, conjunctions, and the timing of eclipses.”

The City’s northernmost district is astronomers on a high plateau away from the smog and lights of city life, tracking time as they watch the skies. As one of the oldest locations in the City, is it possible it started entirely separate from the rest of the City for its prime stargazing spot and the City’s growth expanded to include it? Their duties include tracking, recording, and naming new years; some previous ruler must have wanted better recordkeepers and there was a tower of detail-oriented philosophers just over there.

East - 4 of Pentacles - The Curio Curia

“Seditious materials, false coinage, human chattel, and dangerous sorcerous artifacts are never traded in the Omphalic Market. The answer to economic constraint is the black market. In the City, this takes the form of the Curio Curia, a shadow economy for any illicit good.” 

The Omphalic Market mentioned in the blurb is one of the constants of city design that gets placed after the cards decide the rest of the city layout, so let’s ignore that for now.

The City’s major eastern district is home to the blackest of black markets. I get ‘set up right by the water’ vibes from this. Easy to bring stuff in, easy for a fast getaway when you get into trouble peddling nudes of the Crow-Headed Queen. Perhaps the market is even entirely on the river, and city law stops at the edge of the piers. This would make the entire stretch of the river through the City  something of a no man’s land, which could be interesting. Also tricky to figure out which boat is just someone fishing and which is your smuggler friend’s actual contact pretending to fish.

South - Knight of Cups - The Old Queen’s Library

“Books were the singular obsession of the Old Queen. So much so that this was the one tax she imposed upon the City: any person passing the gates or docking ship must yield up any book in their possession.”

The City’s southern district is home to a major library, love it. A long-dead queen was obsessed with books and had her people collect books to copy. She’d have the copies returned and retained the originals. This is pulled straight from history- there’s Greek writing about the Library of Alexandria collecting books from ships that came into port and doing the same thing. The Curio Curia could even have gotten its start with people trying to get their first editions back and making the queen’s library keep the copy her scribes made. I imagine the library itself isn’t on the water, but on a main street leading directly from what originally was a major dock, though it might no longer be. Today the library is tended by librarian nuns and allows the Cult’s historians, scholars, poets, and lawyers to peruse their stacks. They definitely don’t lend the books out.

As a court card, this is a rich district. Considering the odds of drawing more, this might even be *the* noble district. This library is most certainly not open to the public at large. Devotees of the Cult might be able to swing a day pass, but not that often.

West - 8 of Cups - The Philosophers’ Forum

“There is a (currently popular) branch of philosophy that rejects modern educational standards, the esteem of the City’s various colleges, and even the utility of the written word. These iconoclast philosophers hang out in the district called the Philosophers’ Forum. In essence, these philosophers live as paupers (though they would use the term “aesthetic mendicant”), and make a poor living by selling their treatises, giving public recitations, and betting on rhetorical contests.”

The City’s western district is even more drawn from Greek history than the library. Turn the right corner in this district of eloquent illiterate paupers and you may bump into Fantasy Diogenes. (Be sure to wash afterwards.) Street philosophers debating anything and everything have got to make this a contender for the noisiest district. I imagine quite a few folks living here are just Something Awful forum members, egging philosophical debates into becoming fistfights. Visually speaking, I imagine most of the district is in a pretty heavy state of disrepair- the philosophers don’t brook with currency or upkeep.

It’s fascinating that three of these districts are about knowledge. The City could have gotten its start as a center for learning, but has it remained so? The librarian nuns probably beat the philosophers with sticks when they visit to debate the hoarding of books for just the Cult and the wealthy and then again when other philosophers show up to denounce reading as a crime against the natural order of the world. We’ll see what sprawl builds a buffer from the riotous thinkers of western district for their recordkeeping neighbors to the north and south. 

Step Three: Add The Sprawl

These are the younger districts, springing up as the City expands and contracts through history. The suit of each core district decides how many others have grown around it. Zero for the swords of the military, one for pentacles and the lower class, two for cups for the faithful and the institutions they fund, and three for the wands of the weirdos.

North and the Sidereal House:

As a wand district, three cards let me put the distance between the astronomy tower from the city center that I wanted.

1 - Queen of Pentacles - The Street of Beggars

“It hosts leper houses, orphanages, religious mendicants, and a vast homeless population. Despite its residents being in abject poverty, the Street of Beggars is the home to one of the City’s most powerful factions: the Beggars Guild. The Beggars Guild regulates all petty crime.”

Now this is a great card for the sort of sprawl connecting the City center to a tower on a plateau. People shoved out of the nicer districts to the south slowly growing towards the tower. And people trying to reach the City and just giving up and settling for here. I can just imagine everything sixty feet back from the king’s road connecting the administrative tasks of the tower to the heart of the City is shoddy row houses and even shabbier lean-tos. 

2 - 2 of Wands - Newt Row

“Sorcerers scoff at Newt Row. This hedge-witchery is basically junk (more or less). It’s essentially a tourist’s destination in the City: a place where folks from Far Away can get spooked by a sibyl and pay too much for a blue-eye amulet.”

So this is obviously along the main drag from the central district to our distant tower. The Las Vegas Strip where tourists spend 90% of their time because all around it is nothing. Makes sense that the Beggars Guild would take it over. The merchants probably pay the Guild for protection from getting robbed by the locals as both parties fleece newcomers for all they're worth. 

3 - 9 of Pentacles - The Lichyard Market

“The Lichyard Market is the main meat market, a gourmand’s delight, and a grotesque spectacle. It houses some of the finest taverns, popular thermopolia, and cesspools of biowaste in the City.”

Another market, with even weirder smells. I think the north gates are where most people arrive in the City, or at least this is shaping up to be where most of the commerce goes on. The river I’ve put going through the east district must go somewhere through the north district. Perhaps what separates the tower from the rest of the City is the river.

East and the Curio Curia:

1 - 3 of Cups - Stone

“Each architect displays their masterpieces in the district’s squares, forums, and thoroughfares. The bridges of Stone are colossal statues providing egress; the public fountains are instruments that play music as they burble; the apartment buildings rise as high as cathedrals.”

Oh perfect, engineers to build complicated bridges to connect our astronomers to the rest of the City. It’s amusing I’ve described the Philosophers’ Forum as dilapidated as this district offers plenty of masons and architects for fixing things up. Well, this is one of the newer districts, maybe they’re very new and have been rebuilding the whole city and haven’t made it that far yet. Which makes sense, those guys don’t have any money, whereas the librarian nuns have their Cult’s coffers. The residential parts of this district probably are safe to live in but also miserable due to the sounds of construction.

South and the Old Queen’s Library:

1 - 6 of Cups - The Madrasa of Maiden Wisdom

“Founded by the Crow-Headed Queen and renamed for the mother of Mythrys, the Madrasa of Maiden Wisdom is a public institution of learning. There are a dozen or so colleges inside the City, but the Madrasa of Maiden Wisdom is the largest and most esteemed. It is unique in that it offers free education to anybody, boy or girl, human or non-human.”

I feel like the Crow-Headed Queen founded this before she became ruler. Like it was part of her putting her name on the map. The school is split into two main parts - “the lower houses” cover general education requirements for a diploma, the “upper houses” are for your degree’s specialized main courses. Offering free education doesn’t necessarily mean everything they have is free, so I’m wondering if the lower houses is the free education and the upper houses require payment. This probably is in a buffer zone separating the rich district the library is in from their poor neighbors.

Considering the free education offered here versus ‘you must be a member of the Cult’ the library has,  I can see the two institutes being at loggerheads. Behind the scenes, of course. Both are funded by the Cult and don’t want to draw its attention to their drama. 

2 - 4 of Wands - Kobalosgaard

“The orcs consider their blood oath to the ruler sacrosanct and inviolable. They will fight to the death in defense of their charge. However, if the ruler does happen to die, they see no reason to join them in the afterlife. As part of their pact, the honor guard has the right to leave the City with as much booty from the treasury as they can carry.”

This district is dedicated to the needs of the honor guard of twenty fireblooded orcs housed in a palace here. They’re not local and thought to be completely loyal to the ruler, since they have no ties to any of the factions of the City by virtue of not being local. Side effect, though, is it implies mistrust of the citizenry. But I also haven’t drawn any swords cards yet, this isn’t a particularly militaristic city. 

I do like that they have a retirement option- leave after the boss dies with all the loot they can carry. I wonder how that works when the Crow-Headed Queen has been in charge for 120 years. How long do orcs live? Does their contract allow them an out after a certain number of years served? Or have several generations of orcs gone without the spoils this alliance was supposed to provide them and their people back home? How much trouble is simmering under the surface here?

West and the Philosophers' Forum:

1 - 3 of Pentacles - The Gambol

“It consists of ramshackle bridges spanning chimneys, attics, and garrets. Its residents spend days, perhaps even weeks, never setting foot on solid ground. There’s an old adage that runs, “People never look up.” As such, the Gambol is favored by those who want to disappear: debtors, revolutionaries, and deposed tyrants from foreign lands.”

An entirely aerial district, which means it’s built above another one, or even more. I get the feeling this district got its start with two different things- people trying to escape the philosophy discussions and people trying to hide from the Beggar’s Guild and other criminal elements. The factions make themselves.

2 - 3 of Wands - The Lotus Eater’s District

“The Lotus Eater’s District caters to lotus addicts, but also sells intoxicants of all descriptions. Many kith and kin have found surprising ways to get fucked up, and they can all be found here: dragonteeth blunts, rackety-tam, angelshit, troll spice, takalashi jelly, etc.”

The city has ended up with a lot of Greek references, huh? Stoned potheads probably make good neighbors for the rowdy philosophers. Or at least they don’t care so much as bakers who have to be up at 3 in the morning. The philosophers would be the district’s main customers were they not all broke. Alternatively- this is really why most of them are broke. The citizens of the Gambol probably try to stay off their roofs to avoid tripping in a whole different way than they usually worry about.

Step Four: Place the Constants

Every incarnation of the City has three features that never change- though the exact locations will:

The Grey is a major river that flows through the City. It’s just as important to the City as the Nile is to Cairo. It also has pirates. I think the Curio Curia just became an extremely dangerous place to do business.

The Ossuary is the City’s Paris Catacombs alternate though it’s a former plaster mine, not limestone. It’s most recent expansion uncovered a door carved of ivory that monsters poured out of. They’ve managed to seal it. This is going to go over on the plateau of astronomy, to give them lots of room. Being an underground operation, it won’t have a lot of light pollution.

The Omphalic Market is THE place to go to shop. The true beating heart of the city. Nowhere really jumps out for where to put it, so I’m just going to shove it in somewhere and call it a day.

And voila, a City ready to explore the Underground of. One that speaks of ancient knowledge and wisdom that swung towards commerce and has created a strict divide between the haves and the have-nots.

How very every college town ever of it.

Is the Crow-Headed Queen’s free college (and potential other good works) enough to keep the rumblings at bay or has she spent too long on the distant throne of her temple to remember her own days in the hard-scrabble scrum of survival?

[aalinaaaaaa]

WIP List Tag

Tagged by @maskedemerald !

Rules: Post a list of all the files in your wip folder(s), no matter how vague, intriguing or placeholdery they are. Let people send you asks with the title that interests them the most, then post a snippet or tell them something about it. Tag as many people as you have WIPs.

Listed below are my Scrivener files, mainly from newer stuff but also some older ones:

Caointe na Mná

All Hallows Eve

Sparks by the Oak Wood

Baile Átha Briain

Error 404, Bus Not Found

Eoghain O'Rourke

Saoirse O'Rourke

Ruan (insert surname)

Aoife

Kerrigan

The City Beneath the Bay

Etymology of Irish place names

Geographical features (as Gaeilge)

rough ideas

Notes on title

More ideas

The O'Rourke's business

Snippets

Healthcare system (South Arobyre)

Trading system

The Practice of World-hopping

Restriva's Curse

Obsidia re-write

Alycja Cartovierta

Eshani Faison

Jerdina Varkaikh

Helindian laws surrounding magic

Principles of judicial punishment (Helinda vs. Morilaste)

Chapter ideas

The Disappearance of Charimone Eschredaine

The Lead-Up

Illicit Diplomacies | 225. I Can't Tell

The Stone Arbiter | 223. By Candlelight

A Wisp in the Shadows

Confirmation of the Inevitable

220. Blood is Thicker than Water

Rough notes

Main plot

Second plot — The Chase for the Chalice

South Arobyre

North Arobyre

Helindian language

Fundamental laws

The Art of Summoning

Claudia

Questions

Najsha

Orlaith

Ordune

Affril

Namon

Eshani

Desemir Eschredaine

Key moment #1

Aschill Plonchère

Heishel Felerit

Ishar Yvenaire

Cheyorym Dolchère

Flamebearer

Audacities at Sunrise

Atrocities at Sunset

Estyia Verlova

Cordelia Aurelius Verlova

Aurandra Romelius Verlova

Andreas Tirilius Verlova

Helian Andriyos Verlova

Emir Omaich Kerrasova

Callabiem Elldraikus Kerrasova

Omar Plaridaich Kerrasova

Avelie Callabiraikus Kerrasova

Maxim Czaraskaite (Old Man)

Rika Edernisz

The Recordkeeper

Fate

Maelan Ó Duibhiorma

Selendyia Dellakarre

Timelines + Other notes

In the wake of Zabyelta

Between the Living and the Dead

To Reverse an Allaitriage

Cordelia's Repatriation

The Last Zsar

Fate's influence on Seladian affairs

Apprentice system

Hierarchy of Nobility

Dropping tags for some newly made mutuals as well as my tag game list and anyone else who wants to jump on this. (Feel free to ask if you wish to be tagged for future tag games)

@emelkae @afoolandathief @oh-no-another-idea @talesofsorrowandofruin @talesfromaurea @ettawritesnstudies @drippingmoon @pluttskutt @avrablake @bloodlessheirbyjacques @writerfae @ghost-town-story @druidx @wildswrites @enchanted-lightning-aes @jezifsterswriting @ashen-crest @writing-is-a-martial-art @thesorcerersapprentice @echoing-sailor @saintbrune @splashinkling @copper-dragon-in-disguise @athenswrites @notthatpanda @blind-the-winds @theunboundwriter @sarandipitywrites @forthesanityofstorytellers @scifimagpie

[elystelleven]

Finally, Mornay Sauce Yuri 🔥

Eclair and Blueberry Pie are about to get some real competition once they learn about Bechamel's dedication

Game Description

A feather pen in one hand, and a scroll in the other. Together, these two make the most important pair for none other than Bechamel Cookie, the kingdom’s most distinguished archivist! Working day and night to keep the Golden City’s archives in shape, this spunky scholar proudly boasts her neverending array of knowledge in the nation’s scriptures, having memorized everything from its code of ethics to every piece of literary text there is. A pioneer of knowledge and the mind behind some of the kingdom’s greatest breakthroughs, Bechamel’s headstrong nature is no laughing matter. Who knows? A single dent in the queen’s temple might end you up in a lecture, be careful!

Trivia

- Bechamel is 300 years old, but is completely unaware of this until much, much later in life

- She once belonged to a tribe of magic-wielding cookies in the Parmesan Desert that were on good terms with Golden Cheese's people, but vanished for reasons unknown. The whole reason Bechamel even survived in the first place was because of a relic she received that triggered a seal making her age slower, hence her "immortal" status

- As a result of the seal, Bechamel is able to pick up information at a faster rate than the average cookie, hence why she took up the role of the kingdom's recordkeeper.

- She is known to be particularly stubborn to everyone including the queen's subjects, but to her Radiance herself, it's a whole different story...

- She has a soft spot for supernatural beings (and dragons) that she prefers not to disclose... for some reason...

[commandtower-solring-go]

Its strange to really try to fathom understanding 2000 years ago.

Like, I'm reading the Bible. Never done it before. You can't help but relate to the idea that the universe was built for them. That there are giant magical lights in the sky, which we have used for generations undefinable, which help us tell time of day, where we are in the world, which tell us stories.

Like now we understand that humans havn't existed forever. On some level we get that a defining element of being able to experience the world is the perfect conditions needed to sustain life. And so if the world was worse and life couldn't exist, there would be nothing to experience the world. You can only experience conditions needed to sustain life.

But that's come with maybe 2 thousand years of science, recordkeeping and archeology.

But imagine the world without that context.

yeah, of course they believed that. That stuff makes sense. The sky is this impossibly flat inpenetrable, infinitely deep yet entirely flat, thing. It stratched out forever in every direction. The ocean is exactly the same, always surrounding any mass of land we're on. Yet we can swim in it. Of course they were made from the same thing and split by "the horizon", a cloud of fermament which no one can touch, that splits the two.

Of course there are creatures which swim in the sky like fish in the ocean.

Of course they thought someone created it all. They are a species which create things. Nothing else created things.

They are special because they create things. There must be a reason they are special. They create things that are special. Everything is so special in how precicely intune it opporates. Maybe all special things are created. They are special, therefore, they were created. And someone must have created them.

[alcairstar]

The last thing to exist

I have been forgotten by the universe.

I know that now. After I survived the death of my star, my life force was prolonged past the natural state. The human boy Ryan helped me slowly learn of what I had lost. I learned my name, Eta Carinae, but I never remembered the memories from before I died.

Riftwalkers were always meant to have a definite end, we never feared that end, nor did most do anything to delay it. The death of my star was interrupted by an anomaly. I was displaced in the flow of time, and the existence of my consciousness persisted after my death. I remained there until Ryan and his friend, Carter, passed close enough for my soul to follow them. I was no longer suspended in time, but I had also lost all of my memories.

It took me some time to reform my body. I lingered around Ryan, drawing from his memories as I struggled to remember what living was, what having a body was. When I finally reformed it, Ryan quickly became my friend, and I accompanied him on his journey to find Carter, who he’d become separated from. After I recovered some of my past, I decided to bid Ryan and Carter farewell, and leave to search for my old star.

My journey took many, many centuries. I returned to Earth after my journey to find it thriving in interstellar trade with the other human planets. Ryan no longer lived. I knew he wouldn’t be there, but it still hurt.

I wandered among the human civilization for a couple thousand years. Sometimes I revealed myself as a Riftwalker, sometimes I kept it quiet. Eventually I left again, searching for other Riftwalkers and travelling past planets as a Solitary.

I watched new stars be born and old ones die in explosions that would eventually become new stars, new planets, and I watched the Riftwalkers of my generation slowly fade. As time drew on, I began to wonder about my own end. My star had died long ago, would I ever die? I still showed no sign of fading, my magic still as strong as ever. I continued my wandering and my wondering. Millennia passed in a blink of an eye, and any Riftwalker with a living memory of me died.

I was forgotten by the Riftwalker society, and any Riftwalkers I came across did not know the name of Eta Carinae.

Planetary life ceased, and the Riftwalker society stopped their Recordkeeping. The dusk of the universe was a lonely place, but the Riftwalkers I spoke to didn't remember any other way of life.

When the last star died, the only thing left in the universe was the debris of dead stars, the black holes slowly shrinking, and me.

I lost track of the eons here, the decay of black holes was incredibly quiet and slow. I spent much time in a stupor, floating in one point, lost in my memories. I relived my life over and over again. The boundery between wakefulness and dreams didn’t exist any more. It made no difference. My memories of Ryan were the sharpest, and I saw him many times. Sometimes, it was a memory. A memory of a time when my feet were pulled towards a solid object, and I had other colors to stare at besides black. Sometimes it was my imagination, and we explored many of the planets I had visited together in my dreams.

At some point, I realized I could no longer form my body as I used to. I had kept a physical form. The same one, in fact, I had walked alongside Ryan with, I could touch it and remember what it was like to touch things, but now it became harder and harder to maintain it.

I pondered this for some time, maybe another thousand years.

Then I came upon the answer, the atoms in my body were decaying. The final essence of the universe becoming undone at last.

I let my physical form fade. Maybe now, at the end of the universe, I would finally die.

[victusinveritas]

(A great takedown of an asshat on the shaman-to-fascist pipeline. ) -Below the Cut-

I don’t take pleasure in calling people out, but occasionally it has to be done, especially when the person being called out is actively engaging in harmful, hateful things.  Even when it’s proper and righteous to do so, some people find it hard, especially if the person they’re calling out has a large following or if there are political, financial, or safety reasons at play.  Everyone has their own concerns they need to take stock of, and for that reason, not everyone who deserves a call-out gets one.

A few days ago on Twitter, I did my part to call out Gordon White of Rune Soup, around which the Rune Soup Premium Membership (RSPM) is focused.  This was several years late by my reckoning (for which I apologize), but I saw an opportune moment to do so, and decided that something like this is better late than never.  To that end, if you read Gordon’s blog and see his (hilariously awkward and infantile attempts of) attacks at me, this is why; he’s lashing out because someone dared to speak up against him (although I’m far from the only one to do so).  He is not someone to take seriously, much less take classes from; he is a far and sad cry from being any sort of champion of chaos magic, instead descending to little more than anti-vax right-wing grifting.

For those who aren’t on Twitter or have made the choice to ignore it, indulge me if you will.  For recordkeeping’s sake, I’ll list the relevant Twitter threads I made below for you to read at your leisure:

In which I call out Gordon White and Rune Soup for being involved in violent and anti-vax rhetoric while drumming up a personality cult around him

In which I make fun of his subsequent (and hilariously clumsy) attack on me from a blog post he made in response to the above thread

In which I call out his hypocrisy in trying to pillory me for my employment

Ditto, this time him trying to lambast me for being involved in an ATR while employed as I am

In which I share a screenshot of Gordon saying that the COVID vaccines “literally cause AIDS”

In which I share a screenshot of Gordon sharing extremist, partisan, conspiracy “news sources” that engage in evangelical Christian end-of-the-world conspiracies (think Cain, Satan, nuclear war, the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, etc.)

In which I make fun of another attack on me for my employment and priesthood (see thread #4 above)

I encourage you all to read the posts above if you can; if nothing else, they should be fairly entertaining, and there’s plenty of commentary from myself and others in the many replies thereof.  I’ll be referring to them and screenshots shared there, since I’m going to go against my usual practice and instead refrain from linking at all to Gordon’s blog or Twitter feed (he doesn’t deserve the traffic from my site).  I may, however, link to the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine records of his website, however, depending on the need.  As opposed to tweets and tweetthreads in older posts I’ve made, since I say the same things in the post below, I won’t bother with transcripts.

Oh, and yeah, him saying that COVID vaccines cause AIDS thing is very much real.  Let’s just get that out of the way first while we’re here.  Below is a screenshot of something he said in his private RSPM groups, and it’s far from the only such thing he’s said (alongside the tired variants on how vaccines cause autism, etc.).  Those who’ve been following Rune Soup know that Gordon has said some awful stuff in general when it comes to medicine, healthcare, and the vulnerable, but he says so much worse stuff behind closed doors.  And, as an out gay man himself (and myself, I should note!), I feel like he should have at least some sort of shame about invoking the HIV/AIDS crisis in this horrific, self-serving way.

Anyway, let me share my original statement regarding Gordon White.  It built off of a quote-tweet by Marco Visconti, in which he asked “Are we all still ok with the fake permaculture shaman to keep on serving virulent anti-vaxxer rhetoric alongside his abysmal rune soup?”.  I know I wasn’t and hadn’t been for some time, so I decided to let my thoughts be known clearly:

The only place for Rune Soup, honestly, is down the drain. It’d been bad for a while, and I really don’t know what else to tell people except to stay away from Gordon White’s stuff at this point, given all the hubristic, hateful, and violent ranting coming from him and his blog. I used to like him, I was a supporter of his stuff, I joined in on his classes, and it was great while it lasted, but…well, as it turned out, GW/RS is a fine example of spirituality mingling with conspiracy to make conspirituality—which is as much a con as anything else. It’s not just me that’s picked up on this; I tuned out of GW/RS’s stuff a good while back after he gladly invited some unfortunate people on his show, but others’ve kept up and have better receipts. https://sublunar.space/2021-04-drinking-the-kool-soup.html https://codexastarte.substack.com/p/waiter-theres-a-fly-in-my-rune-soup https://codexastarte.substack.com/p/waiter-theres-a-fly-in-my-rune-soup-f5a

Twitter being what it is, something like this spread quickly.  Now, going into this, I knew that this was going to hit a lot of people in different ways, and I know that I have many people I consider friends or colleagues who are or were part of RSPM or who are otherwise fans of Gordon.  Although it shouldn’t come as any surprise to anyone who pays attention to the things I say when it comes to politics or science, I know my own silence regarding Gordon specifically may have led some into some false sense of alliance between my and Gordon’s views, which I’ve since publicly rebuked and repudiated as being repulsive and vile.  By speaking out, I knew I was gonna make at least some people upset.

And, predictably (given how he’s reacted in the past to other people who’ve called him out along similar lines), Gordon wrote a post of his own on his website in a matter of hours attempting to pillory me.  A screenshot of the post in question:

A transcript:

I’m sure you all remember my pompous, Tory, cokehead little stalker still hopping mad that he isn’t -and never will be- me. From memory, Sam is some kind of federal IT bureaucrat so I guess he knows where his bread is buttered. Only a personality who could endure such a job could also be responsible for the unremittingly boring and lengthy blog posts that always fail to distinguish between what hermetic texts actually say versus the words they contain. The only magic in them is a cure for insomnia. All of this is to say I guess his dumb little take is not very surprising. Anyway, this is what I have the distinct pleasure of dealing with while I go about my fake permaculturing and my fake shamaning. (Including bringing the work of Indigenous elders from around the world to public attention for the first time.) Apparently that’s ‘hate’, according to Sam. Apparently his grumpy little Tory cokehead friend’s repeated instances of misogyny and homophobia isn’t ‘hate’. (Fun bonus fact: Sam is gay.)

I find it comical how he described me and my blog in literally the exact opposite terms in his interview with me from September 2017, but so it goes, I suppose.  As for whatever insults he has for Marco, that’s a whole thing that’s its own debacle unto itself; Gordon likes to cry about being bullied while throwing insults like this, even to the point of making up identities for him to play his own brand of identity politics with, and it goes well beyond just Marco.  It all just blends into background noise after a point when you go through his blog archives.

The rest of his post isn’t worth the read; it’s just so much him whining about how misunderstood he is (despite his ample writing over the years that make abundantly clear what he believes) and how his followers should take the moral high road when it comes to haters (though I doubt they’d do well at that by following his example).  In this specific blurb riddled with ad-homimems, however, Gordon not only attempts to dox me (name, employer, and sexuality—none of which I’ve ever kept a secret, but it’s still a class act of him lashing out) but also makes a pathetic attempt at insulting me and my writing, to which I have two things to say:

Sorry not sorry that my blog posts can get a bit long so that I can produce things of substance instead of mere content, or that I don’t just copy-paste other people’s half-read opinions and share them as some sort of deep truth of my own like some people do.

Sorry not sorry that I use textual criticism because I care about getting things right for real implementation instead of following hucksters who call for harm against people doing meaningful work.

There’s also the “white savior” complex he brings into this, too; it shouldn’t be forgotten that Gordon has made a huge hubbub in recent years about his “shaman certification” that he received (after paying something around $10k for) from Alberto Villoldo, a Cuban psychologist who developed a form of neo-shamanism based on Peruvian and other South American practices, though not without controversy of his own regarding the (severe) impropriety of him doing so, which casts doubt on the very legitimacy of what Gordon inflates and reminds people of constantly.  Although, let’s be honest, it’s not like figuring out how legitimate such a “shamanic healing” practice would be given how Gordon himself talks about and markets it:

In addition to what he said about me on his blog, he also said a few unfortunate things about me on his Twitter, trying to shame me for my employment as a low-level software engineer for the United States federal government.  I’ve never kept this a secret, although I don’t bring up which specific agency beyond saying that it’s one of the calmer apolitical ones in existence.  I know what my job consists of and how it impacts people (and Gordon by his own admission doesn’t, I should note), but I don’t bring it up because nothing I say online or on this blog is ever said from the perspective of a federal employee.  To be sure, the United States as a whole has caused atrocious horrors the whole world over; I’d never deny that.  However, for Gordon (who has built so much of his blogging career on talking about elaborate non-systems and how so many things supposedly interconnect and interrelate to the point of outright unfounded conspiracy theories), there is no nuance here; I am paid by the government, and therefore I am among the worst of archons all unto myself.  Specifically, he now holds me to be responsible for “the most dangerous organisation on earth, that literally turns brown children to paste” and also “responsible for Latin America’s disadvantaged condition, as well as the death of about a million Latins”.  Sure, the US government is to blame for that, yet to impugn me as specifically responsible for this is just puerile, ungrounded, and unhinged finger-pointing on his end.  He also seems to take a special, sick joy in also attacking my initiation as a priest in La Regla de Ocha Lucumí (aka Santería, an Afro-Caribbean orisha religion) which he somehow finds ironic in this context, I guess, all the while woefully ignorant of its history and context. (At least I can trace my priesthood by name back to my forebears with others to attest to its legitimacy, something Gordon can’t with his “shamanic certification”.)

What he’s trying to do (though inexpertly) is shame me for my privilege in how I am so obviously and intimately tied up in the reckless destruction of human life across the world generally and Latin America specifically—all the while boasting about his own descent from British colonial administrators in the Pacific and using that to his lifelong advantage, working for global media companies and immersing himself in the active pushing of government-sanctioned/-directed propaganda to influence people the whole world over, and running in the same circles as actual royalty of colonialist empires and actual billionaires.  He says so right on his own website’s About page, and I swear by the gods above and below that I am not making this up (with the important and rather telling-on-oneself bits bolded by myself):

Australian by birth, Gordon White’s family has strong connections to the wider South Pacific thanks to his grandfather’s experience in colonial administration in Nauru and New Guinea. He spent much of his early years exploring and diving in Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. […] After moving to London, he held senior data and analytics positions in global media companies, as well as starting a chaos magic blog and podcast called Rune Soup… which ultimately led to the publication of his first three books, The Chaos Protocols, Star.Ships: A Prehistory of the Spirits and Pieces of Eight. […] Fun trivia about Gordon:

I think it’s clear to say that Gordon White isn’t some sort of Joe Six-Pack, some sort of common man that disempowered people should relate to.  He is very much a product of the same old money and colonialist regimes that he instead tries to pillory me (and others!) for.  Rather than responsibly accounting for his own privilege, he instead builds his whole career on his privilege being a predicate for everything he’s done, up to and including buying his own farm (which he struggles with) to live out some sort of prepper’s dream to deal with his own midlife crisis.  Rather than making use of his privilege and his experience with the self-same archons that he developed his whole “archonology” theorycrafting about to actually help people, he’s more inclined to perpetuate and propagate those same tendencies and strengths to bend people around him to stoop to his insanity even more.

I could go on, but if you take a look at what I linked to above and Marco Visconti’s original tweet (and all the replies from the many other people to it), you’ll see so much more of this in tired abundance.  Between the non-ironic shares of “news articles” from extremist/conspiracy rags like Expose News or Rebel News, the calls for violence against healthcare workers, the piles of anti-vax rhetoric that he only ever doubles down on (and now seems to be making his whole brand), the extremely improper “medical advice” he gives for people to deal with the vaccine (including talking about turpentine enemas to extract toxins)…it’s not great.  But this is who he is; this is what he does. (Click to embiggen if you want to read some real swill.)

While Gordon has definitely and publicly gone off the rails in the COVID-19 pandemic and how traumatized he was by not being able to travel so freely anymore (quelle horreur!), it’s not like his right-wing extremism is a new thing.  He’s shown tendencies towards New Right ideology in posts dating back at least to 2015, invoking the likes of Ernst Jünger for the sake of rebellion against multiculturalism.  Taking a page out of his own conspiracy/archonology playbook, if there’s one thing Gordon is good at, it’s using, twisting, and adapting language to suit his own self-serving needs—although anyone with a head on their shoulders and their eyes open can see clearly what it is he’s doing.  (The irony of him using Mark Twain’s quote in his recent posts of “it’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled” would be so satisfying if it weren’t so nauseating in this context.)

This blogpost of mine is not intended to be something like Fr. Pera’s documentation of the Nazi occultist Georgina Rose aka Da’at Darling; I’m not tracking all of the awful things Gordon has said or encouraged people to do over the years, as that’s a far greater endeavor than I have the time or energy for, especially when I’ve spent the past few years content with just ignoring him.  However, at this point, the harm he’s causing through his violent rhetoric (all the while couched in feel-good holistic woo and Ursula Le Guin quotes) is simply too much to keep silent on, and so I refuse to any longer.  This is why I spoke out several days ago on Twitter, and is why I’m speaking out now on my blog (which I hope, dear reader, hasn’t been “unremittingly boring” for you).  I simply share what I have at hand about why I’m saying these things, all to make this point: Gordon White is not someone to follow, learn from, or give one’s money to.  I am simply letting people know what he’s actually doing and saying behind his cultivated online presence.

A call-out like this is not going to make me many friends, or so I assume; I’ve already had some (albeit happily not many) people distance themselves from me, calling me an “unhinged tweet spree hate message spreader” or just simply “scum” (for real).  And, yanno what?  It’s honestly no skin off my nose for being called names for calling out someone who seems to want to start a cult around himself.  Unlike Gordon, I’m not trying to corner some market, cultivate some personality cult, or take advantage of people with an obvious grift that preys on people’s enflamed emotions and vulnerability with far-right propaganda-bot-fueled talking points during a global pandemic (and worse).  I’m just here doing my thing, and that’s all I care about; to that end, I just want to make sure that people are well-prepared with the knowledge they need regarding one of the bigger (and more harmful) names in the modern occult community today.  Hence, this blog post, which I hope will be the only one I ever have to write about him, since I’d like to get back to my habit of not having to think about him or reluctantly visit his website/Twitter when someone tells me about some new odious thing he wrote with my name on it.  Since I’ve solidly earned a place on his shitlist, I fully anticipate that he’ll continue ranting and whining about me with bungled attempts at defaming me or shaming me while ignoring the breathtaking hypocrisy or outright ignorance involved in him doing so; I don’t care.

While I don’t expect to deconvert anyone already stuck on Gordon’s bullshit (though hope springs eternal!), I do want to spread the awareness of his bullshit all the same, to let others know who have been picking up on some of these rancid smells that it’s not just them, to let people know that there are those willing to speak out against him despite his following, and to offer an explanation of why my name is coming out of his execrable mouth.  Despite his holier-than-thou railing against people with hate in their hearts, I’m not someone so full of hate like Gordon is in this; I am only (in the words of the Headless Rite) someone “who hates the fact that unjust deeds are done in the world”.  The Rune Soup really is rotten, and the sooner we dump it, the better off we’ll all be.

PS: I am uninterested in reading defenses of bloviating, conspiracy-addled, rage-spreading hucksters, despite what you might have learned from them or how good a friend they might be to you; they can defend and redeem themselves by changing their own apparent behavior and character. And yanno what? I’d love for these kinds of people to do just that! I’m not about playing a game of tit-for-tat to garner support or leverage social media engagement; I just want us all to do better. So please, if you’ve got something to share in support of Gordon or similar people, just save your breath and keystrokes, and instead let them show who they are by their own words and works.

[vanibear]

almost finished with recoded and I think its interesting how it brings up the importance of books in kh. maleficient mentions the book of prophesies (also is that the first time its brought upin the series? i do not know) allegedly has the power to create worlds and jimminiys journal has a similar power in its creation of the datascape (im assuming this is a reference to khux and data daybreak town but im also shaky on my khux lore knowledge) and since the journal is a record of events it makes me think abt how there are a lot of other records significant to the series like the secret reports and ansem the wises research/computer data; other examples of writing that i can think of off the top of my head are roxas’ diary, kairis letters to sora and interestingly, the winnie the pooh book also “creates” a world in a way

i dont rly know what any of this means but I thought they were interesting connections to make - ig the points im getting from them are that books/writing can have very significant magic, and usually they tie to the realm of data; as well as theres a general importance in recordkeeping/journaling, esp in writing down your memories and feelings because memories can be very easily forgotten in this series

[glacevoleur]

Aaaand I'm also rehoming Aurora soon, so here's the (original, old as hell) draft of her backstory.

Much like that of the clan's founders, Aurora's story is not a happy one. Her parents, both Pearlcatchers, nested in the Shifting Expanse, where the pair had spent much of their lives. All was not well in the family, however, as Aurora was just beginning to flap her wings when her parents split. Velika accompanied the rest of her clan to the Sunbeam Ruins, where the group languished and faded into obscurity; Aurora's father, Tempest, moved to the opposing domain, and took up residence in Clan Nightshade.

For a brief period, there was peace in the young Pearlcatcher's life. She and her father were treated well as guests, and she even began courting a handsome young Guardian in the clan. She and Praedor nested, and raised a handsome clutch of three.

Aurora, now a young adult, scarcely had the time to see her children off to new homes before her father was on the move again. With some sorrow and some eagerness, the two left the darkness of the Shadowbinder's domain for the Sea of a Thousand Currents.

Though the Tidelord's ocean was peaceful, it served mostly as a backdrop for the growing tension between Aurora and her father. The Arcane-born Tempest, fascinated by the Water Flight's scrying magecraft, quickly immersed himself in it, and began drifting further and further away from his daughter. When she finally confronted him about it, the resulting blow-up sealed her decision: she couldn't stay any longer.

She fled the clan, taking some supplies from their stores when she went. With no useful magic and no place to call home, she quickly resorted to stealing from nearby Water clans in order to get by, and swiftly gained a reputation as an infamous, if petty, criminal.

When word of this got back to Clan Nightshade, only Praedor thought much of it. Concerned by the apparent drastic shift in Aurora's character, he implored clan ambassador Aeolus to help him track her down. A bit reluctantly, the Skydancer agreed, and joined forces with a reclusive Earth clan, who managed to apprehend her.

The terrified Pearlcatcher was less than relieved to find herself in custody, no matter how familiar her captors were. (She would later confess that it had been so long since she'd stayed with them, she scarcely remembered that she had never wronged them.) Thankfully, matriarch Nightshade and clan recordkeeper Cetus both remembered her, and were more than happy to welcome her back.

The Spiral in particular had an interest in Aurora's abilities, and hoped that the pickpocket Pearlcatcher could assist the clan's Nocturne spy in keeping covert tabs on the goings-on in their area. Aurora, equal parts grateful for the refuge and glad her ill-gotten abilities could be of use, agreed.

Since then, Aurora has slowly been readjusting to clan life. Rather than claim a den of her own, she's been staying with counselor Heza, who hopes to help her be more at ease with her new life, and her mate, Nigate. Aurora has also begun nesting again with Praedor, but their relationship is not as close as it once was, and neither refers to the other as their mate.

Occasionally, travelers staying with the clan seem concerned that the presence of such an outlaw nearby may put them all at risk of attack by vigilantes or bounty hunters. Nightshade seems strangely unwilling to speak on the topic.

[deamare]

˗ˏˋ꒰ ♡ ˗ interview ꒱

There is a darkness here that candles do little to dispel. It drapes itself over every surface, clings to every corner like a cobweb. It is a feeling that registers as familiar, the knowledge that there is something wrong, and the acceptance of the fact that it will always be so.

Ishtar does not tap her foot or thumb at the fabric of her sleeve. She shifts only to breathe, and even that is little – for a woman raised to garner attention, she is one well trained in deflecting it. Mother was not here to scold her for fidgeting, nor to press a cool palm to the small of her back in a silent reprimand to straighten your spine or lift your chin higher, but the phantom of her gaze pierces Ishtar’s skin still.

“Young lady, you may be seated.”

The man before her appears entirely unphased by her appearance as he takes a seat opposite her. She supposes he has seen a great deal of individuals with backgrounds checkered like hers, for that was exactly why she had come to such a place, and yet she cannot help but wonder where upon that spectrum she might fall. Was she a misguided princess to him the way she seemed to so many others, or did he recognize something worse behind the gold that glitters around her wrists, her neck. 

“Now I am obligated to ask; what is it that brought you to our Abyss?” 

It is a question she has prepared herself for, one with a well-rehearsed answer. It follows her, that reason – poisons her thoughts in the night’s latest hours, reminding her at every moment of how deserved this exile is. She draws a careful breath, focuses on keeping her hands still where they fold atop her lap.

“I have come in search of refuge,” her voice does not shake the way she worries that it might, “a place to atone for the crimes I have committed against my home.”

She deserves worse than the man’s understanding smile. A trial, perhaps, though even that seemed an offer too generous for the likes of her. The phantom hands of those children cling to her even now – take hold of the hem of her cloak, curl fingers around the bracelets that adorn her wrists. 

She had failed too many of them in her obedience.

“And of your home, should we expect any… visitors?” 

The question is phrased so gently that its true meaning takes a moment for Ishtar to realize. Her head shakes carefully, eyes downcast. “I have been pronounced dead. There will be no one to come after me.”

By what means she had managed to survive her wounds, Ishtar is unsure. She had embraced death in that moment, believed herself deserving of its frigid solitude. Perhaps this was a second chance at doing what was right, or perhaps the end had been too merciful a punishment. 

“Good to know. Enough of that, then – I will not pry – but let’s move on.” He thumbs through a stack of papers, humming as he wets his pen. “For our own recordkeeping, would you be alright with providing us some insight into your strengths and weaknesses?” 

Ishtar blinks at that, hesitating a moment. She had expected something more – an accusation, perhaps judgement, and yet the man had not even asked her of what she was guilty. “I am skilled with magic.” The answer feels so meek, but now hardly seems the time to proclaim herself the goddess she had been revered as. “I carry the holy blood of the Crusader Thrud, though I don’t imagine that name is well known here.”

The man shakes his head once, still smiling, but says nothing. He is waiting for her to continue, Ishtar knows; to tell him of her weaknesses. She is sure that she could list a hundred, or perhaps a few pitiful enough to equal such a sum. She could tell him that she is a coward, or perhaps that she has never truly known independence. She could tell him that her mother trained her to obey, that all she has known is the direction of others.

“As for weaknesses…” Her eyes take in the man’s features; the way his skin wrinkles just above his brow or at the corners of his lips, how his eyes are warm despite the way the room’s air hangs heavy. She thinks he looks kind, like a man who loves his family. He belongs under the sun, and yet he is here.

“I suppose mine would have to be love.”

Amber eyes turn solemn, and for a moment it feels as though this man she has only just met is gazing at her with an understanding so hot it burns her skin. Ishtar does not shift or flinch, she does not dare to look away. There is silence, a moment of an emotion so raw that she does not know a name for it.

And then it is gone – the man’s gaze returned to his paperwork.

“One final question," he is looking at her again, though something in his expression has changed, “what role do you believe you would play, were your life a written narrative.” 

For all of his questions, Ishtar has known an answer. For this, she finds herself speechless. There is no room in fantasy novels for a girl like her. Those stories boasted heroines, damsels – they were beautiful, untarnished things. She supposes in another life she might have been just as well.

But in this one she had played a fool too scared and love-blind to do what she had known was right. 

Ishtar swallows against the ash collecting in her throat. The man expects something, but all she can offer is a shake of her head.

“They do not write stories about people like me.”

[salthien]

🍁🍋🍪 for perfect vantage?

vantage!! perfect vantage from which to observe the cosmos!!! my beloved weirdo space dragon! magic made sentient!

🍁 [MAPLE LEAF] What is your OC's favourite season? Why and what do they do during it?

Van is the type to say there's something she enjoys about every season - and that's true - but if pressed, her favorite is summer. While not overly affected by the temperature and climate, being situated in the equivalent of a fairly northern clime means the First City (name pending while I do language/conlang exploration) gets a lot more of the cold and dark than the warm and bright, thus its inhabitants try to take full advantage of the summer months, and that's what Vantage adores. Celebrations, faires and an influx of magical and religious pilgrimages to one of the three confluences during the fairer weather only add to the summer hustle and bustle, and Van loves the way the city seems to thaw out and brim over with life near the solstice.

Summer is the easiest time to find her out in the city proper, making connections and taking in the atmosphere - while she makes a point to come down from her studies to be in the city proper at least a few times per season, it's easiest to walk among the people without causing a stir in the summer. There's only so much she can do to disguise her status as, essentially, a walking leyline in a city with a significant population of mages - but it doesn't earn her as much attention when the streets are full and people are more focused on celebration than on the limitless magical battery talking to a fried food vendor three stalls down at the market.

🍋 [LEMON] What is their kryptonite/ultimate weakness?

Physically, as in, What Could Kill Them? Significant concentrations of magic that act in opposition to their own, but even that's not enough to be permanent. Vantage has been killed Often - I don't want to establish a solid number, but in the centuries the City took to establish itself, it came to blows with Vantage many times, in your standard 'this is an unknown variable and thus could be a threat/thing to exploit' kind of conflict. They killed and were killed, and it took both sides of the conflict several generations to come to even a tenuous truce. Van's early memories are essentially nonexistent because of it, so while the City didn't succeed in keeping them dead, it definitely did a pretty permanent number on them.

Emotionally - they're very much a "what will happen, will happen" kind of person, and tend to not fight what they feel is the pendulum of fate. It comes with the territory when your age can be measured in eons. They enter into any social situation already fully conscious of the fact that they will long outlive everyone else involved, and that includes interpersonal relationships. That being said, they will protect the nebulous concept of the City with their whole self, and direct threats to its existence as a whole can be leveraged against them pretty effectively.

🍪 [BUSCUIT/COOKIE] Does your OC prefer things simple or extravagant?

Vantage has lived in just about every way imaginable - out in the open wilds, sleeping in barns and temporary shelters, out of simple cottages and inn rooms, and in palatial, sprawling manses, and he's found things to love about all of them. Not the type to balk at 'roughing it' or things like meager meals/cold showers/hard beds. That being said, he has a fascination with recordkeeping and with beautiful things, and does enjoy the creature comforts that mortals have devised, so his preferences lean extravagant - his current home is not palatial but does have features like marble floors, a walk-in closet and a multi-story library/observatory.

[astralix]

⇢✶𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒙

𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 ✦  Mun called Mage and is 30+, Muses have verses ranging 14-35+ :: Independent, Multi-muse, Multiverse RP :: Contains OC Characters :: Crossover friendly, Duplicate friendly.

Do not use me as a horoscope and aesthetic blog.

𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 ✦ Fandomless, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (Canon Divergence)

  ⇢✶𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒂𝒊

If you wish to be affiliated with me or a main, please let me know.

𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 ✦

𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 ✦

  𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒍 ✦ astrxthesiai (OC & Canon Multi-fandom, Multiverse RP blog)

⇢✶𝒏𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

✦ guidelines ✦ triggers & character studies ✦ carrd ✦ bonds & relationships ✦ masterlists & muses ✦ mundane ✦ credits

Mutuals may ask for my discord.

  ⇢✶𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕

I will be linking you to their masterlists.

  𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 ✦ Coming up:: September 2–Sailor Virgo/Emiko October 9–Sailor Libra/Yuuga November 16–Sailor Scorpio/Sasori November 29–Sailor Ophiuchus/Madoka December 9–Sailor Sagittarius/Mikoto

𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 ✦ Aquarius/Izumi, Phoenix/Mei

The Warrior ✦ Sailor Aries/Tsunobue Aya ⇢✶ Commander of the Zodiac Senshi. (Bio)

The Shieldmaiden ✦ Sailor Taurus/Amano Sakurasou “Sakura” ⇢✶ The Second Zodiac Senshi and uses earth attacks. (Bio)

The Technician ✦ Sailor Gemini/Haruno Yumeko “Yume” ⇢✶ The Third Zodiac Senshi along with her sister, uses force and runic magic.

The Wordsmith ✦ Sailor Didymoi/Haruno Nijiko “Niji” ⇢✶ The Third Zodiac Senshi along with her sister, uses force and runic magic.

The Ice ✦ Sailor Cancer/Himura Umiko “Umi” ⇢✶ The Fourth Zodiac Senshi and uses ice attacks.

The Fire ✦ Sailor Leo/Tategami Hikaru ⇢✶ The Fifth Zodiac Senshi and uses fire attacks.

The Recordkeeper ✦ Sailor Virgo/Teien Emiko “Emi” ⇢✶ The Sixth Zodiac Senshi and uses plant and wood-based attacks.

The Judge ✦ Sailor Libra/Fujiwara Yuuga ⇢✶ The Seventh Zodiac Senshi and uses metal attacks.

The Death ✦ Sailor Scorpio/Kishi Sasori ⇢✶ The Eighth Zodiac Senshi and uses death or venom attacks.

The Archer ✦ Sailor Sagittarius/Igarashi Mikoto “Miko” ⇢✶ The Ninth Zodiac Senshi and uses lightning attacks.

The Assassin ✦ Sailor Capricorn/Koyano Kyoumi ⇢✶ The Tenth Zodiac Senshi and uses gravity or time attacks.

The Void ✦ Sailor Aquarius/Hoshino Izumi ⇢✶ The Eleventh Zodiac Senshi and uses void and wind attacks. 

The Ocean ✦  Sailor Pisces/Enkai Maiko “Mai” ⇢✶ The Twelfth Zodiac Senshi and uses water based attacks.

The Wraith ✦ Pisces Senshi/Enkai Mika ⇢✶ The ghost of Mai’s twin sister.

The Hope ✦ Sailor Ophiuchus/Madoka Sabik ⇢✶ The Doctor of the Zodiac Senshi.

The Sun ✦ Sailor Phoenix/Nakano Tenmei “Mei” ⇢✶ The Sun of the Zodiac Senshi.

[tipsycad147]

Essential Steps for Starting Witchcraft as a Beginner: Your Guide to Getting Started

Embarking on a journey into witchcraft can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially for beginners. With so many traditions, tools, and practices available, it’s easy to feel lost. However, understanding the essential steps for starting witchcraft as a beginner can make the process more approachable and rewarding. Setting up your altar is a crucial first step, as detailed in this guide on Setting Up A Powerful Altar. Additionally, learning How To Cast A Circle Of Protection is vital to create a safe and sacred space for your practices. For those looking to delve deeper into personal growth and the nuances of the craft, 12 Illusive Tips From An Actual Witch and Wicca For Beginners offer practical advice and insightful tips. Moreover, integrating lunar energy into your practice through the Guide To Moon Magic can enhance your spellwork and rituals. Each of these resources provides valuable information to help you navigate the path of witchcraft with confidence and knowledge.

The Raw Truth About Witchcraft: What They Don’t Tell You

Forget the Hollywood hype. This is witchcraft stripped bare – no sugar coating, no mystical fluff. Just the unvarnished reality of what it means to walk this path.

⚖️Wicca vs. Witchcraft: Not SynonymousWicca is a religion. Witchcraft is a practice. You can be a witch without being Wiccan, but all Wiccans practice witchcraft. Witchcraft is about manipulating natural energies to influence your reality.🔍Your ‘Why’ MattersSelf-discovery? Ancestral connection? Personal growth? Your reason for practicing is crucial. It’s what will sustain you when the initial excitement fades.🏷️Labels: Use Them, Don’t Let Them Use YouGreen Witch, Kitchen Witch – they’re useful shorthand, but don’t let them limit you. ‘Witch’ is gender-neutral. It’s for anyone who claims it, regardless of identity.📝Document EverythingYour thoughts, spells, rituals – write it all down. It’s not just recordkeeping; it’s your personal evolution tracker.🎯Start Focused, Expand LaterPick one area that fascinates you. Dive deep. Cross-check your sources. Misinformation is everywhere, even in respected texts.🧪Your Reality, Your RulesWhat works for you is what’s real. Test, record, repeat. Your practice is uniquely yours.🧺Use What You HaveFancy tools aren’t necessary. Your ancestors used what was available. That kitchen herb rack? It’s a magical goldmine.⚡Magic is NeutralLike electricity, it’s neither good nor evil. Your intention determines its nature.🔬The Science Behind the MagicThis might be controversial but for us, magic is unexplained science. Dig into the scientific basis of your practice. Understanding the ‘why’ empowers the ‘what’.👁️Cultivate a Magical PerspectiveIt’s not about Hollywood-style spells. It’s seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary, staying curious, and always learning.

🌀Your practice will evolve, and that’s the point. Embrace the changes. Learn from everyone and everything. The path of a witch is one of constant growth and discovery.

The Philosophical Foundations of Witchcraft

The way we view the world and the nature of reality can have a profound impact on our magical practice. While these ideas may not be scientifically proven, they’re the philosophical foundations that underpin my approach to witchcraft. Consider them, see if they resonate, and observe how they might enhance your spellwork.

🌌The Energetic Essence of All Things

At the core of my beliefs is the understanding that everything – from humans to objects to spirits – is made up of energy. This common ground is essential for comprehending the mechanics of magic.🔮Manipulating the Energetic Flow

Magic, in my view, is the art of directing this energy to achieve specific goals. I visualize it as an energetic push – sometimes direct, like an arrow, and other times more diffuse, like ripples in a pond.🌊Visualization and the Butterfly Effect

When casting spells, I use imagery like shooting an arrow or creating ripples to help me direct the flow of energy. The energy I send out causes changes that then ripple outward, creating further shifts – just like the butterfly effect.🧠Intention: The Guiding Force

Intention is what directs the energy, determining the outcome of a spell. Both intention and energy are necessary – intention without energy is less effective. But the intention must be clear and specific, yet not overly restrictive, to allow the energy to work at its full potential.🔌Sourcing and Raising Magical Energy

Energy for spellwork can come from various sources: personal energy, spirits, deities, objects, planets, or even thought forms. I use techniques like visualization, emotional evocation, movement, and breathwork to raise and channel this energy into my magical workings.🔍Directing the Energy Flow

Once the energy is raised or channeled, I direct it into the spell, often using chanting or incantations. Visualization, physical sensation, or breath can all be used to push the energy into an object or out into the universe.

✨These are the philosophical underpinnings of my magical practice. They may not be scientifically proven, but they’ve helped me deepen my understanding of how witchcraft works. I encourage you to consider these ideas, see if they resonate, and observe how they might enhance your own spellcasting. After all, your magical worldview is your own to define.

🔮 Four Core Energy Practices for Effective Witchcraft

These four practices are fundamental to witchcraft. They’re not just theory – they’re practical tools that can significantly improve your spellwork and daily life. Let’s break them down and see why they matter.

🧘1. Centering: Finding Your FocusCentering is about mental clarity and focus. It’s crucial when you need to direct your energy precisely, like during spellcasting or meditation.

💡 Example: Before a protection spell, take a moment to center. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and visualize your scattered thoughts converging into a bright point in your mind. This focused state enhances your spell’s potency.

🌳2. Grounding: Connecting with Earth’s EnergyGrounding stabilizes your energy and connects you to the Earth. It’s essential after intense magical work or when you feel disconnected.

💡 Example: After a vigorous ritual, ground yourself by visualizing roots growing from your feet into the Earth. Feel the excess energy drain away, leaving you balanced and refreshed.

🛡️3. Shielding: Protecting Your EnergyShielding creates a protective barrier around you. It’s vital for empaths and when working with intense energies or in crowded spaces.

💡 Example: Before entering a busy area, visualize a bubble of white light surrounding you. This shield deflects negative energy, helping you maintain your own energetic integrity.

🦶4. Earthing: Direct Energy ExchangeEarthing involves physical contact with the Earth to balance your energy. It’s a simple yet powerful way to recharge and align yourself with nature’s rhythms.

💡 Example: Before harvesting herbs for a spell, spend a few minutes barefoot in your garden. This direct connection can enhance your attunement to the plants’ energies.

✨ Incorporating these practices into your craft isn’t complicated, but it does require consistency. Start by choosing one technique and integrating it into your daily routine. Pay attention to how it affects your energy and magical work. Over time, you’ll likely notice improved focus, stronger spells, and a deeper connection to your craft.

Connecting with Nature: The Witch’s Power Source

Connecting with nature isn’t just a nice hobby for witches – it’s the backbone of our craft. Here’s why it matters and how it amplifies your magical practice.

🔋Energy AttunementNature is raw, unbridled energy. When you connect with it, you’re tapping into a vast power source. This connection enhances your spells, rituals, and overall magical potency. It’s like upgrading from a AA battery to a power plant.🧠Intuition BoostRegular interaction with nature sharpens your intuition. You’ll start noticing subtle energies, reading omens, and understanding the language of plants and animals. This heightened awareness is crucial for divination and spell timing.🌱Herbal Magic MasteryKnowing your local flora isn’t just botany – it’s expanding your magical toolkit. Each plant you identify is a potential ally in your spellwork. Understanding their growth patterns and properties firsthand makes your herbal magic more potent and precise.👥Spirit AlliancesNature spirits, land guardians, and elemental beings are powerful allies in witchcraft. By regularly connecting with nature, you’re building relationships with these entities. They can offer protection, guidance, and amplify your magical workings.🔄Grounding and CenteringNature provides the ultimate space for grounding and centering – essential practices in witchcraft. The more connected you are to your environment, the easier and more effective these techniques become.📅Seasonal AttunementWitchcraft often aligns with natural cycles. By observing nature regularly, you’ll become attuned to the subtle shifts of seasons. This knowledge enhances your sabbat celebrations and helps you align your magic with natural rhythms.🧪Magical ExperimentationNature is your magical laboratory. As you explore, you’ll discover unique ways to incorporate local elements into your practice. This personal experience leads to more authentic and powerful magic than simply following guidebooks.

✨ Remember, witchcraft is rooted in the natural world. The more you connect with nature, the deeper and more instinctive your practice becomes. It’s not just about knowledge – it’s about building a living, breathing relationship with the world around you. This connection is what transforms a practitioner into a truly powerful witch.

🧹 Cleansing: The Non-Negotiable Practice in Witchcraft

Let’s cut to the chase: Cleansing isn’t optional in witchcraft. It’s an essential. Here’s why it matters and how to do it effectively.

🌪️Why Cleanse?

Think of energy like dust. It accumulates, and not all of it’s good for you. Cleansing sweeps away the energetic debris that can muck up your magic. It’s your spiritual hygiene.🔧Cleansing Tools

Smoke: Not just sage. Try rosemary, cedar, or palo santo.

Sprays: For when smoke isn’t an option. Mix moon water, salt, and herbs.

Sound: Bells, singing bowls, or even your favorite playlist. The vibrations matter.

Water: A stream, or even your kitchen tap. Water washes away more than dirt.

Earth: Bury your tools. Let the soil do the work.

Salt or Rice: These grains are energy sponges. Use them liberally.

Celestial Light: Moonlight for intuition, sunlight for vitality.

Selenite: The Swiss Army knife of cleansing crystals.

Visualization: Your mind is a powerful tool. Use it.

🗓️When to Cleanse

Monthly deep cleans with the new moon. Quick cleans after any energetic exchange. Trust your gut – if something feels ‘off’, cleanse it.🔍Signs You Need to Cleanse

Your crystals look dull. Your tools feel heavy. Your magic feels… meh. These are red flags. Don’t ignore them.🛁Personal Cleansing

You’re not exempt. Spiritual baths, smoke cleansing, or even a visualized shower of light. Clean your energy as often as you clean your body.🧠The Mental Shift

Cleansing isn’t just physical. It’s a mindset. It’s declaring, “This space, this tool, this body is mine, and I choose what energies reside here.”

⚡Remember, cleansing is personal. What works for others might not work for you. Experiment. Pay attention. Your intuition is your best guide. Cleansing isn’t just about removing negative energy – it’s about making space for your intentions to thrive. In witchcraft, a clean space is a powerful space. So grab your tool of choice and get to it. Your magic will thank you.

Stealth Magic: Everyday Protection Practices

Protection doesn’t have to be dramatic rituals or complex spells. It’s the small, consistent actions that build an impenetrable energetic shield. Here’s how to weave protection into your daily life, no wands required.

💍Jewelry: Your Portable ShieldDon’t underestimate that ring or necklace. An obsidian ring wards off negativity. A necklace, charged under the full moon, becomes a 24/7 guardian. It’s not about the price tag; it’s about the intention you infuse.👘Bandanas: More Than Just FashionThat bandana in your hair or tied to your bag? It’s a secret weapon. Add a few drops of protection oil, and you’ve got a stylish talisman. Bonus: No one needs to know it’s magical.💄Makeup: Glamour Magic in Plain SightYour morning routine is a ritual in disguise. Draw a protective sigil with your foundation. Charge your eyeshadow for confidence. Your face becomes your shield, and no one’s the wiser.☕Morning Brew: Caffeinated ProtectionThat first cup of coffee or tea? It’s more than a wake-up call. Stir in your intention clockwise. Draw a sigil with your spoon. Sip mindfully. You’re drinking in protection with every swallow.🛢️Oils and Powders: Invisible BarriersA dab of protection oil on your car’s door handles. A sprinkle of protective powder in your shoes. You’re laying down an unseen barrier wherever you go. It’s protection in motion.🧱Layered Protection: The Power of ConsistencyEach small act of protection adds up. It’s not about one grand gesture; it’s about building layers. Like compound interest, these small actions accumulate into a formidable energetic fortress.

✨Remember, the most powerful magic often flies under the radar. These practices aren’t just protection; they’re a mindset. You’re constantly affirming your right to safety and positivity. Start small, be consistent, and watch as your daily life becomes a walking, breathing spell of protection. Your future self will thank you for the energetic armor you’re building today.

🛡️ Defensive Magic 101: Cleanse, Protect, Ward

Imagine your energy as a house. Defensive magic is how you keep that house clean, safe, and secure. It’s not just about casting a single spell; it’s an ongoing practice to maintain your spiritual and energetic health. Let’s break down the three key steps:

🧹Step 1: Cleansing – Spiritual House Cleaning

Cleansing is like giving your energy a good scrub. It removes negative vibes, stale energy, and any psychic gunk that’s built up over time. Without this step, it’s like trying to lock a dirty house – not very effective!

Beginner-Friendly Cleansing: • Easy Cleansing Spray: Mix equal parts water and white vinegar, add a sprig of rosemary. • For Your Body: Use apple cider vinegar in your bath or shower. • If You Use Sage: Always follow up with a pleasant scent like lavender. This invites good energy back in.

🔒Step 2: Protection – Building Energy Walls

Protection is about creating an energy barrier around you or your space. It’s like putting up walls and a roof on your energy house. This keeps the bad stuff out while letting the good stuff in.

Simple Protection Techniques: • Doorway Magic: Sprinkle a little bit of salt across your doorways and windowsills. • Carry Protection: Keep a small stone like black tourmaline in your pocket. • Visualize: Imagine a bubble of white light surrounding you when you feel vulnerable.

🚫Step 3: Warding – Your Magical Alarm System

Warding takes your protection to the next level. If protection is your energy house’s walls, warding is like adding an alarm system, guard dogs, and “No Trespassing” signs. It actively keeps unwanted energies away.

Here’s what warding does:

Creates Magical Boundaries: Imagine an invisible fence around your space that negative energy can’t cross.

Acts as a Spiritual Alarm System: It can alert you when unwanted energies are trying to enter your space.

Reflects Negativity: Like a mirror, it can bounce negative energy back to its source, keeping you safe.

Maintains Positive Energy: It helps keep the good vibes in while keeping the bad vibes out.

Warding for Beginners: Symbols: Draw or hang protective symbols near entrances. Sound: Hang wind chimes by your door. The sound scatters negative energy. Plants: Grow protective plants like rosemary or lavender near your home. Crystals: Place black tourmaline or obsidian in the corners of your room or home. Intention Setting: Walk the perimeter of your space, stating firmly that no negative energy is welcome.

🔄Keep It Up: The Cycle of Magical Defense

Defensive magic isn’t a one-and-done deal. It’s like cleaning your house or taking a shower – you need to do it regularly. Cleanse, protect, and ward on a schedule that feels right to you. Some witches do it daily, others weekly or with the moon phases.

✨Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all in magic. What works for one witch might not work for another. Try different methods, trust your gut, and stick with what feels right to you. The more you practice, the stronger your magical defenses will become. You’ve got this!

[vent-rat]

I feel like I need to post this on tumblr just for recordkeeping, it’s one of my greatest lines of all time

Context: I commented this on a comic about a magical girl being prosecuted for accidentally destroying a building during a fight with a giant monster