heyfortunae

[heyfortunae]

I am Angry at The Lost Book Project so please enjoy this curated list of ebooks

TL;DR: A company is trying to resell books from the Internet Archive at a markup. Here are roundups to all the free links instead.

Please donate to the Internet Archive if you find this post valuable.

42 Ancient Medicinal Plant Remedies

7 Lost Books and Texts on Meditation

The Witchcraft and Magic Collection (51 books)

11 Secret Books for Spiritual Seekers

11 Classic Numerology Books

The Lost Entrepreneurs Handbooks

21 Rare Books on Sacred Sexuality and Magick

16 Seminal Books on Law of Attraction and Manifestation

The Ancient Greece Collection - 36 Rare Books

The Ancient Key to The Tarot - 21 Books

The Definitive Demonology Book Collection

33 Rare Hidden Books on Freemasonry

The Manly P. Hall Collection

45 Rare Supernatural Books - Ghost Stories and Mysteries

37 Ancient Lost Texts on Buddhism

20 Books On Astrology, Zodiac and Horoscopes

The Lost Book of Spells - Spellbooks and Rituals

37 Lost Books on Ancient Mesopotamia

18 Lost Alchemy and Occult Science Books Works Of Sir George Ripley

The Vikings & Norse Mythology Book Collection

My angry rant as to why I am willing to do this in my spare time is below the break.

So I received a target Facebook ad for a website called the Lost Book Project (I refuse to link to them) advertising a collection of herbal books for a nice low price. Problem - the first book I saw them selling was Culpepper's Herbal from the 1600s, meaning it's well outside copyright. I own a digital copy for this reason!

So logically, I decided to check if the other books on the list, most of which are outside copyright, were also available on Archive.org. Sure enough, the whole list is available there.

Now, for starters, this makes me INCREDIBLY angry. It's not illegal to sell out-of-copyright books, but the Internet Archive is my favorite place for old books, and like Wikipedia they operate entirely on donations. Their average donation is $17 - just about the cost of this collection.

Websites that are making money off of a free service by locking them behind a paywall are anathema to everything that the Internet Archive stands for. Furthermore, if you're in the US or UK (where most of these books are sourced from), your tax dollars have already paid for these books to be stored and digitized.

EDIT: I have also noticed that two many books are still in publication and under copyright! I have sent notices to their publishers.

Things like this activate my sense of fairness to the nth degree. I hate scammers. I hate people who sell things without adding value. And I really hate it when they're taking money from good institutions that need it. Imagine if half of the people who paid for these books donated instead!?

So please help yourself to the links on each roundup. I'll continue to do the work needed to link all of the books they offer to their proper sources.

And fuck companies exploiting the work of others for their own profit.

[heyfortunae]

Truly I wonder if Witchblr just forgets that witches of color exist or something.

[heyfortunae]

I became friends with my former student who was a debater that I coached. I’ve long left the school but I’ve kept in touched with him. We bonded on the basis that we’re both queer.

Recently I gifted him a tarot deck because I found out he’s also been leaning into tarot. I found it so exciting to have new people that are able to do tarot reading as me too. Another junior of him was also introduced to tarot deck and expressed in getting a tarot deck.

And I think that speaks about how I also crave connection to spiritual community in real life.

Today I met a girl working at my local metaphysical shop who also does deity work. Like irl! It was so exciting. We were both so happy to have met each other. I honestly could have stood there for hours talking to her. I nearly did. She was so, so sweet.

We shared about our practices. We both just lit up when we started talking about our deities, like we had both been waiting for someone to ask. I told her about the deities I worked with in the past and who I am currently working with. We couldn’t seem to stop talking to each other. It was like talking to my online pagan and witch friends.

We immediately understood everything the other was saying. We talked about our clairsenses and how our deities communicate with us, the signs they gave wanting to connect with us, our altars, our personal experiences with them, and more. She kept saying how she never meets anyone who does deity work. To anyone else, our conversation probably would have seemed crazy. But I have never felt so seen and heard.

The wildest part was that my (very rare) name was also her middle name. What are the odds? Not in my small commuter city!

I wanted to ask for her number but didn’t know if it would have been too forward of me. I want us to be friends, or at the very least, for us to meet again.

I realize now, hours later, that I need community. I crave connection. Talking to someone in person about your practice, someone who just gets it when no one else around you knows who you truly are, was such a fulfilling experience. It really put things in perspective for me.

I wish for all closeted pagans and witches to experience what I have today.

[heyfortunae]

Listen, sometimes a wild spirit rolls in with the storm. You stop whatever you're doing right then and there and you light the candles to greet them. Break out the nice liquor and maybe a smoke. Be such a good host.

Other times, you're listening to thunder rock your home and praying to whoever the fuck is out there that you don't get struck by lightning and die midway through your shampoo and conditioner routine.

Spirit work is a multifaceted practice.

[heyfortunae]

How to Become an Occultist:

An easy (?) step-by-step guide.

SO YOU WANT TO BE A WIZARD?

There's no easy step-by-step guide to the occult; someday I'd like to write a course on it for my patreon, or maybe a book. But for now, I'll give the short version:

I’m just going to say upfront, research is the enduring and eternal step. You can’t become an occultist without doing research, and you’re never going to stop doing research. I have a list of pdfs of classic occult texts and grimoires here, and a recommended reading list here.

Step 1: Pick a tradition, practice, or subfield.

The first step is to know what you’re signing up for. Western esotericism is a large field with lots of different subsets. Here’s just a few of them:

Witchcraft: A broad umbrella term that covers everything from historical folk magic, to Wicca and its offshoots, to modern WitchTok folk magic, and beyond. “Witchcraft” has become something of a general term for pop-occultism in recent years, and it’s what people tend to see first. Witchcraft seems more folk-magic-focused than some of the other fields, but that’s not universally true. Modern witchcraft is almost the melting pot of the Western occult tradition, so, if you’re able to find good reading material, it’s a good place to start.

Wicca: Wicca is an neopagan religion founded in 1951 by Gerald Gardner. Wiccans worship a God and a Goddess, practice magic, and call themselves witches. The ritual structure of Wicca is largely inspired by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (see below), but it also takes inspiration from folk magic, witchlore, early anthropology, and a bunch of other things from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Wicca is probably the best-known occult religion, and it’s mostly responsible for the association between witchcraft and paganism in pop culture.

Ceremonial Magic: Ritual magic or “high magic,” mostly codified in the Renaissance era by grimoires like The Lesser Key of Solomon. This kind of magic is characterized by the evocation and binding (summoning) of spirits — angels, demons, “olympic spirits,” and so forth. One can theoretically command these spirits to do one’s bidding. Modern magicians who work with demons typically fall into two camps: traditional Solomonic magicians who believe that the demons need to be bound and controlled, and demonolators who worship and work with the demons the way witches might work with pagan deities. Also in this subfield is planetary magic, rituals that exploit the powers or influences of the planets by using the tools associated with each one and doing rituals at particular times on particular days, etc. Enochian magic, a system of communicating and working with angels developed by John Dee and Edward Kelley, also falls into this category.

Folk magic: Folk magic or “low magic” is a catch-all term for magic practiced by average people to solve everyday problems. This is your healing magic, love magic, apotropaic (protection) magic, luck charms, spells to find lost objects, curses, etc. etc. Almost every culture has their own local form of folk magic, but there are also some ideas and techniques that are consistent across most of them (e.g. “like attracts like”). There’s also considerable overlap between folk and ceremonial magic; sometimes the only real difference is the social class of the practitioner.

Hermeticism: A system of philosophy based on the Corpus Hermeticum, a set of ancient Greco-Egyptian philosophical dialogues about the nature of the universe. It’s a short but dense text, not the simplest introduction to occult philosophy, but still worth reading because of how influential it was. It’s the loose basis of a nineteeth-century occult society, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, which is the great-grandfather of most modern occult societies (including Wicca). The HOGD was concerned with a lot more than classic Hermeticism; they also practiced ceremonial magic, astrology, alchemy, and mysticism. Golden Dawn liturgy is so common in modern occultism that you should probably look into it, whether you plan on practicing it or not.

Alchemy: A historical practice that is at once science, philosophy, art, and poetry, alchemy is a thing unto itself. The short version is that alchemy is early chemistry. Alchemists’ attempts at understanding how matter worked was understood to be a philosophical study of the nature of existence, on both a physical and spiritual level. That’s why the goal of alchemy is called the Philosopher’s Stone. The Philosopher’s Stone is allegedly a perfect substance, crystallized divinity, that is able to physically and spiritually perfect anything it comes in contact with. Alchemy is very complicated and hard to understand without diving deep into it, but some alchemical imagery and maxims (“as above, so below”, solve et coagula) have made their way into the general Western esoteric sphere.

Thelema: A religion developed by Aleister Crowley in the early twentieth century. It combines Golden Dawn material with a lot of Crowley’s own personal philosophy and general edginess. Its core tenant is “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law,” which means that one should always follow the guidance of what Thelemites call the “True Will,” the divine intention of one’s Higher Self. Its most important foundational text is a short, cryptic… poem, I guess?… written by Crowley, called The Book of the Law.

Chaos Magic: When Thelema meets postmodernism, you get Chaos Magic. Chaos Magic is more of a philosophical approach to the study of magic than a particular practice. It does away with the pomp and trappings of ceremonial magic and cuts right down to the basics, the magician’s relationship with their subconscious mind. That makes it very straightforward, but also difficult, because you can’t rely on any of those more complex tools. Chaos magicians (or “chaotes”) interpret belief as just another tool, so, they aim to pick up and put down different beliefs and traditions at will, based on whatever suits them in the current moment. The only specific practice associated with chaos magic is sigils, a symbol or other abstract representation of one’s desire that one uses to cast a spell. Chaotes tend to be deliberately haphazard — they have a “fuck the rules, do what you want” kind of attitude.

Satanism: The best-known of the spookier, edgier, “left-hand path” occult traditions. There’s two main varieties of Satanism, atheistic and theistic. The Church of Satan or LaVeyan Satanism (after its founder) is atheistic. It uses Satan kind of like a mascot for their beliefs of self-indulgence and free will. Although they don’t believe in any gods, they do practice magic; it’s mainly Golden Dawn material with an edgy “black mass”-style twist (like invoking demons, using a naked woman as the altar, etc.) The Satanic Temple is also atheistic, and it’s not really an occult society. It’s more a political activist group that fights for religious freedom in the United States. Theistic Satanists believe that Satan is an actual entity, and usually believe that he’s a positive being that represents free will and enlightenment. Some are demonolators, meaning they evoke and work with the demons of traditional ceremonial grimoires as though they’re gods (some believe that they literally are gods). The majority of Satanists are pretty chill. Very few believe that they worship literally evil entities.

That’s just scratching the surface, and keep in mind that this is all in the realm of Western esotericism. It’s a huge field. I recommend having an idea of what you want to study going in, because it’s a lot of material, and it’s easier to find good sources if you know what you want to focus on. Speaking from my own experience, I wish I knew what my options were going in.

Step 2: Learn a divination method.

Every occultist needs some kind of divination method. There are potentially thousands, but I’ll give you some of the big ones:

Cartomancy is card reading. There's lots of different kinds of cards: tarot cards, oracle cards, Lenormand cards, you can even use normal playing cards. It's a super common and super popular method. Tarot is definitely the most popular system. This method is easy to learn and very accessible.

Cleromancy is divination by lot, or casting objects onto the ground — dice, sticks, bones, stones, etc. — and reading the random pattern they make. There's lots of different types. This method is very old and very common. One of the more popular methods nowadays is casting runestones, which use Norse letters.

Scrying is gazing into a blank object until you see visions projected onto/into it. The object can be a crystal ball, a black mirror, a bowl of water, even a dark window or a blank wall (though that's not particularly mystical). Scrying is often used to see spirits in ritual magic. I can't scry worth a damn, so I can't tell you more than that. It's worth trying if you're a visual person, though.

A pendulum is a stone or other heavy object on a chain. You can use it to answer yes/no questions. Lots of crystal shops sell fancy pendulums, but you could just use a pendant. You say to the pendulum, "show me my yes" and "show me my no." Usually the "yes" is going around in a circle and "no" is going back and forth, or vice-versa. Pendulums are fun, but not super reliable because you can influence them easily. I wouldn't interpret any answer a pendulum gives you as final.

Oneiromancy is dream interpretation, and it’s another ancient method that’s used all over the world. I don't have significant dreams very often, though, despite my best efforts. With the abundance of other methods, I don't recommend relying solely on this one.

Automatic writing or “free-association writing” is my personal preferred method. It’s writing a question, and then writing whatever comes to mind as the answer, regardless of whether it makes sense. This technique is very, very effective for me, and has triggered full-on mystical experiences more than once.

Astrology is also a type of divination that involves interpreting the position of the stars and planets on the 2D plane of the sky to learn about the future and/or about specific people. It’s a much more complicated system than horoscope apps make it look. Practically a necessity for planetary magic, but in this century, you can be a wizard without being an astrologer. It’s good to have at least a foundational knowledge of it.

Different methods are useful for different things. Automatic writing and scrying are good for talking to spirits. Astrology is pretty useless for talking to gods, but is a good way of determining the outcome of your spells and the various influences upon your life at a given point. Cartomancy and cleromancy can be used for either, with some benefits and drawbacks. I recommend playing around with different methods to find one that works for you.

Step 3: Develop basic magical skills.

In addition to divination, you’re going to need some other basic skills. The most important one is meditation — if you don’t know how to meditate, learn. Meditation doesn’t have to mean sitting still. I definitely can’t sit still; I meditate by pacing back and forth. Anything you can do to lull yourself into a trance state can work, even singing in the shower.

You’ll also have to practice visualization, imagining your magic as though it were something tangible. For example, a lot of ritual formats will begin by asking you to imagine a white circle of light around yourself, or imagining taking each of the four elements into your body. Next is energy work — manipulating these imaginary forces and seeing how they affect your body, your emotions, other people, and the external environment.

You’ll also have to learn the basics of how to conduct a ritual, and gather your basic tools (which don’t have to be fancy or expensive). Rituals can feel awkward and silly at first, but that changes with practice. The basic point of a ritual (“supernatural” stuff aside) is to create the conditions to put yourself in a particular state of mind.

Finally, magic requires a lot of introspection and self-awareness. You have to really know what you want, not just what you think you want. And when your magic is successful, you have to have the humility to not have it go to your head (or else you’ll be afflicted with the dreaded “Magus-itis”). And that’s without going into the fact that ritual can drag up some intense stuff. Work through your shit, do your Shadow work. It’s hard, but it pays off in the long run.

Step 4: Practice a simple ritual.

Once you have some basic skills, it’s time to try your first ritual! You’re not going to want to try anything that’s labor-intensive or life-changing. Save the demon-summoning and stuff until later. The first ritual you do will probably be a banishing — a simple spell that’s intended to clear the space of any spiritual crap. Ideally, it should be used before and after every rite. Even if you don’t believe in evil spirits or “negative energy” or anything like that, a banishing is like the magical equivalent of turning it off and back on again. It’s a systems reboot. It wipes the slate clean. You’re gonna want to know how to do that, so you can 1. know what a space feels like when it’s free of influences, and 2. put down whatever you call up. It’s a good first thing to learn because it’s so essential, and also because it’s almost guaranteed to have no major repercussions.

The standard banishing ritual in the Western esoteric tradition is the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP), which is from the Golden Dawn tradition. It consists of intoning or “vibrating” the names of God and invoking the angels of the four directions. If that’s too Abrahamic for you, there are plenty of other variants that use different divine names. The Wiccan “circle casting” is essentially the same thing, trimmed down a bit. If the LBRP doesn’t appeal to you, there’s plenty of other banishing rites out there.

The first full ritual I did was actually a simple variant of the Wiccan “Drawing Down the Moon” invocation. I remember really feeling something the first time I did it, and that was enough to convince me that I wanted to continue.

And there you have it, a step-by-step guide to becoming an occultist, as simple as I can make it. Keep it simple to start, take your time, do your research. Whether you want anything specific out of occultism, you want to satisfy your curiosity, or you just like the idea of being a wizard, it’s fun to study magic.

[heyfortunae]

Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot Deck

The Thoth Tarot deck, created by the enigmatic occultist Aleister Crowley and artist Lady Frieda Harris, is a masterpiece of esoteric symbolism and artistic expression. Its history is intertwined with the mystical and magical traditions of the early 20th century.

Crowley, a prominent figure in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, had long been fascinated by the Tarot. He believed that the traditional Tarot deck, while powerful, could be further enriched with deeper symbolism and occult significance. In the late 1930s, he embarked on a project to create a new Tarot deck that would reflect his own unique understanding of the mystical arts.

To bring his vision to life, Crowley enlisted the talents of Lady Frieda Harris, a skilled artist and Egyptologist. Together, they embarked on a five-year collaboration that would result in one of the most influential Tarot decks ever created.

The Thoth Tarot is renowned for its complex and layered symbolism, drawing from various esoteric traditions such as Kabbalah, astrology, and Egyptian mythology. Each card in the deck is a microcosm of the universe, representing specific archetypes, divine forces, and psychological states such as:

• Kabbalistic Correspondences: The 22 Major Arcana cards are aligned with the 22 paths of the Tree of Life, a central diagram in Kabbalah that represents the structure of the universe.

• Astrological Associations: Each card is also associated with a specific astrological sign, planet, or element, adding another layer of meaning and interpretation.

• Egyptian Mythology: Crowley's fascination with ancient Egypt is evident in the deck's artwork, which often features Egyptian deities and symbols.

The Thoth Tarot, like its creator, has been a subject of both admiration and controversy. Its complex symbolism and unconventional approach to Tarot have made it a challenging but rewarding deck for many. However, its association with Crowley's often controversial beliefs and practices has also led to its reputation as a dark and dangerous tool.

Despite the controversies, the Thoth Tarot remains a powerful and influential deck that continues to inspire and fascinate Tarot enthusiasts around the world. Its unique blend of art, symbolism, and esoteric wisdom offers a profound exploration of the human psyche and the mysteries of the universe.

Thoth Vs. Raider-Waite-Smith, Key Differences:

• Naming: Some cards have different names in the Thoth deck, reflecting Crowley's unique interpretation of their symbolism.

• Symbolism: The Thoth deck often uses more complex and esoteric symbolism, drawing from various occult traditions like Kabbalah and Hermeticism.

• Artwork: The Thoth deck's artwork, created by Lady Frieda Harris, is known for its bold, geometric style and its emphasis on color and symbolism.

Additional Notes:

• While the Thoth deck can be more challenging for beginners, it offers a deeper and more nuanced understanding of Tarot.

• Both decks are valid tools for divination and personal growth. The best deck for you will depend on your personal preferences and learning style.

So, which would you choose?

[heyfortunae]

Be Careful in Witchy Spaces Online 🕯️

Social media is full of witches, tarot readers, and magical advice. That can be amazing for building community, but it can also be dangerous if you are not careful.

🚩 Red Flags to Watch Out For

Fear tactics: Posts that make you feel cursed, doomed, or like you need to buy their service to “fix” your energy.

Gatekeeping: Anyone saying you are “not a real witch” unless you practice their exact way.

Pay-to-play spirituality: If someone’s entire pitch is that you can only be powerful if you buy their course, candle, or spell.

Over-promising: “This spell will make someone love you instantly” or “This ritual guarantees wealth.” Witchcraft does not work like that.

⚠️ Subtle Ableism in Witchy Spaces

Some posts look harmless but carry ableist ideas:

Saying you “can’t be a witch if you take medication” or that being neurodivergent makes you “less spiritual.”

Calling people “low vibration” if they are depressed, anxious, or struggling with trauma.

Shaming witches who cannot afford elaborate tools or rare herbs.

Real witchcraft is accessible. You do not need perfect health, constant positivity, or a big budget to practice.

🕳️ Hidden Dog Whistles

Be wary of creators who:

Talk about “purity of bloodlines” or “chosen people.” That is coded language that often ties back to racist or nationalist beliefs.

Push conspiracy theories under the disguise of “esoteric wisdom.”

Use terms like “starseed” or “indigo child” in ways that exclude others or feed into superiority complexes.

🕸️ How Online Witchcraft Spaces Can Slide Into Cult Territory

Witchy communities can turn harmful when:

One leader demands absolute loyalty and punishes questioning.

Information is tightly controlled or only given if you pay more.

Members are isolated from outside opinions or told everyone else is “asleep” or “less evolved.”

The group encourages secrecy, shame, or dependency on the leader.

When witchcraft stops empowering you and starts controlling you, it is no longer community. It is manipulation.

✨ Witchcraft should free you, not trap you.

[heyfortunae]

Reminder that the dude who originally decided "magic" wasn't a good enough spelling and we had to use "magick" instead was Aleister Crowley, who was racist as fuck and quasi-fascist.

[heyfortunae]

A quick list of astrological correspondences for the Thoth tarot by Phyllis Seckler, The Kabbalah, Magick, and Thelema: Selected Writings Vol. II, ed. David Shoemaker, Gregory Peters, & Rorac Johnson

[heyfortunae]

The Anatomy Of Baphomet

Baphomet is one of the most complex and misunderstood figures in occult and esoteric history. Over centuries, it has evolved from a mysterious name whispered during the Crusades to a symbol deeply embedded in modern occultism, especially within Satanism, Thelema, and Left-Hand Path traditions.

History Of Baphomet

Origins in the Templar Trials (14th Century):

• The earliest known use of the name Baphomet was during the Inquisition of the Knights Templar in 1307.

• The Templars were accused of heresy and idolatry, including worship of an idol called "Baphomet". The exact nature of this idol remains unclear—some described it as a human head, a bearded man, or a demon.

• Most modern historians believe the name Baphomet may have been a corruption of Mahomet (an old form of Muhammad), reflecting the Crusaders' exposure to Islam.

19th Century Revival; Eliphas Lévi:

• In 1856, Éliphas Lévi, a French occultist, radically redefined Baphomet in his book Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie.

• Lévi depicted Baphomet as a winged hermaphroditic figure with the head of a goat, a torch between the horns, female breasts and androgynous features, one arm pointing up and one down, with the words Solve (dissolve) and Coagula (combine) on each forearm. This became the iconic image associated with Baphomet today and symbolized the unity of opposites: light and dark, male and female, human and beast, matter and spirit.

20th Century and Beyond (Satanism and the Occult):

• The Church of Satan, founded by Anton LaVey in 1966, adopted Baphomet as a symbol of Satanic philosophy—not as a literal being, but as a representation of rebellion, knowledge, and liberation from religious dogma.

• The Sigil of Baphomet—a goat’s head within an inverted pentagram surrounded by Hebrew letters spelling “Leviathan”—became the official insignia of the Church.

Symbolism Of Baphomet

Baphomet represents balance and integration of opposites. It is a philosophical and alchemical emblem rather than a deity to be worshipped.

Key Symbolic Elements:

• Goat Head- Instinct, primal nature, and untamed energy (possibly derived from the god Pan).

• Torch Between Horns- Divine illumination; the light of intellect and truth.

• Androgyny (Breasts and Caduceus Phallus)- Union of male and female, symbolizing wholeness.

• Wings and Hooves- Duality of spiritual ascent and earthly grounding.

• Arms Pointing Up and Down- The Hermetic axiom “As above, so below”, expressing the correspondence between planes.

• Solve et Coagula- Alchemical principle of breaking down and reforming—transformation and enlightenment.

Baphomet In Magick And Occult Practice

Baphomet is not commonly invoked as a deity but is used as a symbol of occult mastery, personal transformation, and spiritual rebellion.

In Thelema (Aleister Crowley’s System):

• Crowley saw Baphomet as a mystical androgen, a symbol of spiritual initiation and the reconciler of opposites.

• He took the name “Baphomet” as a magical name when he became head of the O.T.O. (Ordo Templi Orientis), aligning it with sexual magick and Gnostic symbolism.

In Satanism (LaVeyan, Theological, Etc.):

• Baphomet is used as a symbol of rational self-interest, rejection of traditional religious authority, and the embrace of carnal existence.

• The Sigil of Baphomet is used in rituals, meditations, and symbolic expressions of personal empowerment.

In Witchcraft and Modern Paganism:

Some non-theistic witches or Left-Hand Path practitioners view Baphomet as:

• An archetype of sacred balance

• A symbol of hidden knowledge

• A guardian of the threshold—facing and integrating one’s shadow

Magickal Uses Of Baphomet

Rituals and Practices:

• Invocation or Meditation- To balance opposing forces within oneself—gender, emotion and reason, higher and lower self.

• Shadow Work- Baphomet can be invoked as a symbol during introspective work, especially when dealing with repressed desires or fears.

• Alchemy and Transformation- In rituals seeking internal transformation, Baphomet represents the alchemical process of spiritual rebirth.

• Sigil Magick- The Sigil of Baphomet is used for protection, empowerment, and banishing fear or dogma.

Altars and Tools:

• Practitioners may use statues, medallions, or artwork of Baphomet to create a liminal sacred space, serve as a focal point for meditation, and represent the divine within and without—a mirror for the seeker.

The Nature Of Baphomet

Baphomet is not a devil, not a god, and not a literal being—it is a metaphysical symbol. Its purpose is to challenge, to enlighten, and to reveal the wholeness hidden in duality. Baphomet asks the seeker to transcend dogma, embrace the totality of existence, and find spiritual freedom through inner synthesis.

[heyfortunae]

I think some of y'all are missing the "unverified" and "personal" parts of unverified personal gnosis (UPG).

[heyfortunae]

me : argued with my ancestors and spirit guides

EGG EXPLODED AFTER I COOKED IT IN MICROWAVE AND CAUSED BLISTERS TO MY PALM

me : foine

[heyfortunae]

Automatic Writing

Automatic writing, also called psychography, is a claimed psychic ability allowing a person to produce written words without consciously writing. Practitioners engage in automatic writing by holding a writing instrument and allowing alleged spirits to manipulate the practitioner's hand. —Wikipedia

I understand that some spiritual practitioners might refer to this as channelled writing, but I increasingly realise that the creative writing process I engage in, especially when writing fantasy genre based on my mythology and folklore, can be overwhelming.

It's almost like mediumship through writing, where when you are writing about certain spiritual entities in your creative writing, you'd unlikely summon the energy of it. And it could be draining if you are not armed with protection work, if you have not cleansed yourself spiritually before you start your creative writing process.

Perhaps I am mostly sensitive to energy, so I need to pay more attention to how the spiritual creative process works. I need to pay more attention how to pay homage to the spirits that I wish to portray in the creative writing that I wish to explore. Perhaps I need to seek for permission from my spirit guides and ancestors before delving into it, if I were to truly honour creative writing as a truly spiritual process.

[heyfortunae]

if you're struggling right now, ask your tarot cards:

what am i doing really well right now? where or how am i kicking ass?

[heyfortunae]

50 questions to ask a psychic

1. What is my shadow self telling me?

2. What does my dream mean?

3. What do they want to say?

4. What can help me to improve my life & or love life?

5. Will we be in contact or reconcile?

6. What spiritual growth will help me best right now?

7. What career path will best suite me right now?

8. What can i do to attract love towards me?

9. Are there blockages i dont see in my love life / general life ?

10. How does my past life influence this life?

11. What was my past life like?

12. Should i stay or should i go?

13. What will help me to move on

14. Do they have any feelings for me still?

15. Is anyone sending me the evil eye?

16. How can i protect myself spiritually?

17. What good things are coming to me?

18. What can my last relationship teach me?

19. What role did i play in my last relationship that i didnt see? ( relationship shadow )

20. What is my subconsious trying to tell me?

21. How can i best communicate to them?

22. Are my manifestations working the way i intend?

23. Full moon / new moon messages for me

24. Are there any signs i'm not seeing?

25. What does the near future look like?

26. What is my inuition telling me?

27. How do my spirit guides help me?

28. Will my love life be happy/harmonious?

29. What can i learn from my higher self?

30. How to improve my connection with x?

31. What challenges are coming my way?

32. Will i have a successful career doing x?

33. What spirit guide is with me right now / most?

34. How can i tell my spirit guide is with me?

35. How can i connect with my spirit guides?

36. Is my love life changing anytime soon?

37. What does my pet want to say to me?

38. What does spirit want to say to me right now?

39. How can we move past this misunderstanding?

40. What does next month hold for me?

41. Do i need to watch out for anything important?

42. How can i prepare myself for the next phase in my life?

43. Should i reach out to them?

44. Are they thinking of contacting me?

45. What is the outcome if i choose to ___?

46. What is the energy around my love life?

47. What is the energy around my spiritual self?

48. What is the energy around my work / money ?

49. Am i ready for new love to enter my life?

50. How can i face challenges in love / life / spiritually/ family/ friendships/career?

[heyfortunae]

Current spiritual work:

allowing myself to be seen, in order to attract the right people and the right opportunities into my life

learning to trust my own voice, instead of shying away from voicing my opinions by showing more of my personality

learning to not settle and to ask for more because I deserve more for the work that I am willing to put in with my spiritual guides and ancestral veneration

it's time to challenge myself and step into my role, the one that I keep praying from my ancestors and spirit guides to become

[heyfortunae]

Oh look, a long list of mythological creatures from my culture.

Epic Creatures in Malaysian Folklore

***For Ghosts in Malaysian culture, see Ghosts in Malay culture.

Note: This is my copy-paste from Wikipedia for future reference of epic creatures that I could develop into future fantasy short stories. This list also serves as prompts to motivate me to create more fantasy short stories based on my Southeast Asian heritage and roots. Malaysians have always taken great interest in stories of ghosts and mythical creatures. Due to the animistic root of Malaysian folk lores, these ghosts are seen as sharing the plane of existence with humans and are not always considered evil. However, when the delicate line that separates the boundaries of existence is crossed, or a transgression of living spaces occurs, a conflict ensues that may result in disturbances such as possessions. In Malay, the term hantu is used to describe demon, ghost or ghoul and similar to the Japanese Yōkai. Malay folk stories also adopted elements from the Islamic world, of middle eastern and Persian origin, which are somewhat differ from what Malays now refer to as angels or demons.

Among the popular ghost or mythical creatures in Malay folk lores are as follows:

Ghosts

Bajang: a ghost with long nails that supposedly likes to disturb pregnant women or children

Pelesit: a ghost who supposedly likes to suck blood (usually represents themselves as grasshoppers)

Penanggalan: a ghost that supposedly can fly while its stomach is strapped out.

Pocong: a ghost in the form of corpses wrapped in shrouds

Polong: The polong is a type of familiar spirit in Malay folklore. It has the appearance of a miniature woman, the size of the first joint of the finger.

Puntianak or Langsuir: a ghost who supposedly likes to suck blood and disturb women in childbirth, and usually are themselves like women

Toyol: a goblin toddler who supposedly likes to steal money

Hantu Raya: A type of familiar spirit in Malay folklore that acts as a double for black magic practitioners. Roughly meaning "great ghost", it is supposed to bestow great power onto its master. Its true form, according to the folktale, is a humanoid form with a black hairy body except the facial area, rough grey skin, long sharp teeth and red eyes.

Hantu Air: Hantu Air, Puaka Air or Mambang Air is the Malay translation for Spirit of the Water or Water Ghost, which, according to animist traditions in Maritime Southeast Asia, is the unseen inhabitant of watery places such as rivers, lakes, seas, swamps and even ditches. Communication between humans and Hantu Air occurs in situations based on the well-being of the environment and can be positive or negative. Water spirits are called on and communicated with through ceremonies, rituals, incantations, and, in extreme cases, exorcisms. Hantu Air is associated with bad things happening to people, including missing persons, drowning, flooding and many other incidents.

Jembalang Tanah: A type of earth spirit, which may act dangerously if not appeased with the proper rituals.

Humanoid beings

Bidadara: a prince in heaven or in Kayangan

Bidadari: a princess in heaven or in Kayangan

Bunian or Siluman: hidden people in the forest

Duyung: a woman who is supposedly half human and half fish (tail part) and lives in the sea, equivalent to a mermaid.

Kelambai: a female red-haired ogre

Orang Mawas: a Bigfoot of Johor

Orang Minyak: a being who lubricates his body with oil (so that he will not be easily caught) and usually harasses women with the intention of violating them

Raksasa or Gergasi or Bota: a man-eating giant

Lycanthropic beings

Jadian: a human being who can transform themselves into animals (especially tigers)

Mythical beings

Naga: a fictional creature in the form of crocodiles or snakes but with wings and claws, able to breathe fire out of its mouth

Semberani: a fictional creature in the form of a horse with wing and can fly

Sulur Bidar: a fictional creature in the form of man-eating carpet monster and lives in the lake

Tambuakar: a fictional creature in the form of a dragon that evolved from fish after thousand of years

Mythical birds

Burung Bayan: a mythical bird that brings romantic notions

Burung Cenderawasih: a mythical bird in heaven or in Kayangan

Burung Geroda: a mythical bird in classical Malay literature, great eagle

Burung Jentayu: a mythical bird that always cries out for rain

Burung Petala: a mythical bird, guardian of Kelantan

Middle Eastern and Persian additions (Islamic influence)

Buraq: an animal (in the form of winged horses and heads like a human) ridden by Muhammad during Israk

Dajal: a creature that is believed to exist when the end times is near

Jin: a creature created by Allah from fire that can resemble angels

Malaikat: a creature created by Allah from light, their nature and habits are always submissive and obedient to Allah and never violate His commands

Peri: a genie who can be transformed into a beautiful woman

Syaitan: an evil subtle being who encourages evil

Source: Folklore of Malaysia