depthsofthesea

[depthsofthesea]

Okay, so today we're gonna talk about Whale sharks!

ECOSYSTEM/HABITAT

Coastal to open ocean (pelagic); sometimes aggregate around specific reefs or beaches.

LENGTH

Whale sharks can be anywhere from 18-33 feet long, this means they can either be the size of a SUV or a 3 story building

WHERE ARE THEY FOUND

Most whale sharks can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They also prefer to inhabit the epipelagic zone(sunlight zone)

IMPORTANT

Whale sharks are currently being overpoached and they are being caught and sold for their meat and fins(absolutely horrid) if whale sharks are to die off that would mean plankton in the sea would be in abundance. What this means is it would cause algal blooms which would lead to reduced oxygen levels, light being blocked from the ocean, gill clogging and it will release harmful toxins to other sea creatures making them sick. All of this will soon lead to the destruction of their habitat.

This is why whale sharks are, absolutely detrimental to the sea and its well-being. They are gorgeous to look at but yet another factor in the ocean's ecosystem that needs protection. All of these ocean animals deserve a safe home and to not be poached. I'll be sharing some conservation sites as well.

https://friendofthesea.org/marine-conservation-projects-and-awareness/whale-shark/

https://www.ifaw.org/animals/whale-sharks

https://marinemegafauna.org/whale-sharks

https://www.cdc.gov/harmful-algal-blooms/about/harmful-algal-blooms-contributing-factors-and-impacts.html

https://coconutsammi.co.za/the-symbolism-of-the-majestic-whale-shark/

https://www.gviusa.com/blog/international-whale-shark-day/#:~:text=So%2C%20if%20these%20creatures,numbers%20are%20decreasing%20each%20year.

FUN FACTS

Whale sharks can live up to 150 years so many we see today will continue to live on. They are also know as the gentle giants of the sea as they don't go out of their way to seek humans.

https://www.seakayakadventures.com/blog/majestic-whale-shark#:~:text=An%20extraordinarily%20long%20lifespan,of%20their%20vertebral%20growth%20bands.

SEA MAGIC

How can whale sharks influence your sea magic?

Well let's take a look!

They can embody a sense of peace, tranquility, wisdom and protection. Remember when trying to work with or call upon a whale shark to be as gentle and kind as they are!

Remember to protect and conserve your oceans and its sea life💙

[depthsofthesea]

"Aren't witches and Christians oppositions of each other?"

No. Because witches, as we are today, as the word "witch" became reclaimed in the 20th century with the modern witchcraft movement, did not exist when Christianity appeared in the world.

"But what about the witch hunts?"

You should know by now that the witch hunts were not about witches, and it was not witches that were being hunted.

The fact is that we're just witches as we are today, no more and no less. We're not the Antichrist. We're not here to be against Christians. Our existence and identity are not for opposing Christianity or any religion. We're witches, that's all.

It's the same idea that you can be both Christian and queer. To say you can't be is just misinformed and, well, ridiculous. Jesus Christ never condemned witches, just like he never condemned queers.

[depthsofthesea]

Witchcraft is literally out there for free!

I feel like most beginner witches start in Autumn, with the so called "season of the witch" but if anything, now is the time to start! This is the true season of the witch, the summer season!

Lots of beginners think that you have to buy a lot of the tools and ingredients witches use, but that's further from the truth. Witchcraft should be and is accessible to everyone!

Magic comes from within you. No amount of tools will do the magic for you, you have the harness the tool's and ingredients magical property through your energy and magic.

Magic with NO ingredients:

Singing, chanting, murmuring, announcing, praying, yelling - think of speaking it into existence!

Dancing, moving, exercise, yoga, clapping - As offering, or moving stagnate energy.

Meditation - Obvious, to clear the mind, and focus.

All your senses - Be aware of spirits talking and listen, or listen to the wind, talk to the wind, taste your food, taste the magical properties, see auras, see spirits or see visions, touch things and feel their energy.

Friends - Ever seen those "send thoughts and prayers" post? well that's because the more people we use for a spell, the more energy we give a spell. So if you're comfortable, ask your friends to send energy your way for a spell or wish you luck on exams, or jobinterview, or wish you a happy birthday, or to send healing energy by wishing you good recovery.

Charging, binding, banishing - through feeling, visualization, hearing and more. Charge your spells using your energy.

Magic with ingredients for FREE:

Physically you and people - Hair, nail clippings, sweat, blood, tears, etc.

Power of animals - Either your pet, or animals in your park, nearby forest, lake, ocean. Just being near them to lend their powers.

Botanicals - You can go outside right now to your nearby forest or park and pick up herbs, leaves, flowers, dirt, grass, etc for spells! You don't have to buy them

Your kitchen - You most likely have a spice rack and can use that for your spells, the same goes for baking items like flour, sugar, etc can be used. I know you've already bought these items and therefor used money but, it's free in the sense if you already had them.

The elements - Not just outside but they're also inside you! You breath air, your body heat is the fire, your skin is from and will be earth, you are made of 70% water.

Rocks - You don't have to buy crystals, you can find quartz in river banks and creaks or hag stones at beaches, or just rocks you like. from your drive way.

More magic for free I couldn't categorize:

Celestial bodies - You can easily work with celestial bodies like the earth (being that we're from here) and the moon!

Days and hours - Cast your spells on a specific day, no ingredients or tools required. if you want a spell of luck, cast it on a Thursday and so on!

Working with spirits - Talk to the plants, animals, forests, trees, your house, and more! The simplest offering you can do for no money is picking up litter in your are or forest or beach or park you like to go to. Dancing and singing are also offerings for zero money.

Thresholds - Cast your spells in specific areas like crossroads, graveyards, ruins, natur, or even in your own home such as casting dream spells in the bedroom.

Researching - You can find many online resources for free on the internet, from youtubers to articles, helpful image guides and blog posts. Remember to go beyond the witchcraft sphere. In order to find and identify the right herbs, learn from herbalists and foragers, not just witches.

Substitutions - If you don't have a certain thing, research and look further for something else. You don't have to buy that ingredient if you have something similar, especially in your area or in the realm of what you usually buy.

Low budget magic:

Tea lights - As candles.

Rubber bands - I always get rubber bands for free when buying eggs, and you can use rubber bands for binding spells or to hang your herbs up with instead of string and ribbon.

Tap water - Depending on your area i suppose, but you can use water for everything, even as an offering to spirits, they're probably thirsty.

Arts and crafts - Printer paper and pens that I've taken from office buildings that can be used to write, make sigils, and draw for spells and offerings.

Reused jars - From pickles to marmalade, you can save those jars and use them to contain dried herbs and spells. This can count too with bottles from vodka or lemonades. I use those bottles to store waters like river water.

Mentioned it already but... your kitchen - Your spice rack, baking ingredients, coffee mugs, glasses, scale, plates, pots, pans, knives, and more! I use a plastic spoon ment for soups in my kitchen for stirring my potions, I don't use those fancy extremely tiny detailed teaspoons. don't have a morter and pestle? place your ingredients in a bg and hammer it and role it with a rolling pin, should be good enough.

Even if you don't have access to nature in an aesthetic sense, there's still plenty of ways to do and perform magic. Nature still exist in the city. It's there in the dogs barking, the dandelion through the concrete, the bird shit on your window, the icy on buildings, the leaves on the ground, the pollen in people's noses, the sun in the area, the puddles from rain, the rocks rom car tires picking them up, the wind in your hair.

This is just what I can think of right now, I bet there's many more things out there in the realm of witchcraft for free because that's what witchcraft is. It's free.

[depthsofthesea]

HEKATE DISCORD SERVER | SANCTUARY OF THE CROSSROADS

☽｡⋆ A 16+ community that honours the ancient greek goddess Hekate and other hellenic crossroad divinities like Hermes Enodios and the Lampades, torch-bearing nymphs from the underworld who follow Hekate.

☽｡⋆ This is a place of connection and education, and we welcome those who walk a path with Hekate.

If you're a Hekate worshipper or you're curious about Hekate (but might be a bit intimidated or wanting to learn more first), then I'd love to invite you to our virtual sanctuary!

Here are some of the things we do:

Monthly events including live readings, presentation nights, scheduled vc events and movie screenings.

Activities like our Hekatean book club, myth retelling prompts and syncretism discussions.

Devotional conversations about our practices and beliefs, balancing scholarship and personal gnosis.

Opportunities to ask questions, find resources, and connect with like-minded practitioners.

Festival celebrations including the revival of Kleidous Agoge (Procession of the Key) inspired by Hekate's Temple of Lagina.

Prayer request channel, channels to share altars and offerings, a channel to share your experiences!

A monthly divination exchange/offer/request event leading up to deipnon!

⋆˙⟡ Come along to learn about Hekate, expand your worship, and participate in our activities!

Join the Sanctuary!

[depthsofthesea]

I truly think that one of the best things you can do with your polytheistic practise is to stop listening to random people on the internet.

Don’t listen to the people who tell you that the gods don’t care about or love you. Don’t listen to the people who tell you an offering of water is not good enough. Don’t listen to the people who say it’s a requirement for show of devotion to have expensive items strewn across your altar. Don’t listen to people who tell you that you should have an altar even if you can’t. Don’t listen to people who suggest your disability makes you worthless to the gods because you can’t do what others can.

Try to find and make your own experiences with the gods, and look at what works for you and them. Please don’t let some random post on the internet stress you out and make you think you are doing something wrong (chances are, you’re not, especially if it’s absurd statements like the above).

[depthsofthesea]

Info-dump on starting angel work Because it's been a while since I've posted about angel work!

I love angels!

People particularly work with Archangels because they are the leaders of their domains. There are theoretically infinite angels and you could really pray to any in any domain but we'll get back to that.

There are many different groups of Archangels, rather than one agreed upon "pantheon"

I work with the Ars Paulina system, which includes but isn't limited to (because there are many): Archangel Samael = Angel of Execution Archangel Haniel = Angel of Grace Archangel Raphael = Angel of Healing Archangel Gabriel = Messenger Angel Archangel Michael = Angel of Protection Archangel Zadkiel = Angel of Mercy Archangel Cassiel = Angel of Temperance Archangel Azrael = Angel of Death Archangel Uriel = Angel of Wisdom

Lists in this post courtesy of my friend @angelmilkdreams <- amazing blog for angel work btw

Ars Paulina is the angel version of Ars Goetia and is part of the Lesser Key of Solomon

You can also look into your birth angels or sun & moon angels through this system! They're your teaching angels, so they can sort of tell you what you may do in this life or something about your energy. The angels are assigned by zodiac:

Traditional: Aries & Scorpio = Samael Taurus & Libra = Haniel Gemini & Virgo = Raphael Cancer = Gabriel Leo = Michael Sagittarius & Pisces = Zadkiel Capricorn & Aquarius = Cassiel

Modern: Scorpio = Azrael Aquarius = Uriel Pisces = Asariel

For more about your birth angels, I suggest checking out Ariel Gatoga. I still recommend him after all this time.

If you ever get into angel work, you might want to explore different sets of angels to see who resonates with you. You also don't have to work with every angel in a pantheon. The main ones I call upon are Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel and Haniel. I bring in other angels for prayers to others, though

Practitioners have different opinions about this, but I think angels are one of the easiest spirits to work with!

Because they love unconditionally. They love to help us and their purpose is assisting creation! They do still exist beyond this material world though - so it's not like strict servitude to humans

Another great reason: they don't require ceremony to be summoned. You may come across things like ceremonial magic for angels, or enochian magic etc. Ars Paulina also has rituals for summoning but I found you don't need them (maybe if you're asking for huge stuff).

That's cool if people want to do that though you simply need to use your words. Just invite them into your life, or your space, or something (like job, if relevant). There's no structure to prayers but you can be inspired by helpol prayer format if you so choose.

"Archangel Haniel, Archangel of Grace and Harmony, I invite you and your blessings into my life."

This is a good enough prayer to say to start a devotional connection with Archangel Haniel.

Angels don't need offerings but they're still nice to give. We usually say you venerate angels or work with angels rather than worship. But it's up to you as well - this way is just more common.

Some offerings can include angelic imagery or icons, flowers, things that remind you of angels, items that are specific to certain archangels (oils, sachets of herbs, amulets and talismans), incense!

Where do they come from? Who knows? /hj Depends on your belief system.

I believe angels come from a variety of sources. I believe angels came from the universal source, I believe they probably came from God too. I believe pagan gods have angels. I believe Hermes, Iris, Eros and Thanatos are angels who have their own angels. It doesn't really matter to me where they came from - I just know they exist in different forms across religions

Fun fact: Did you know the most common hierarchy of angels was written by a guy named Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite? His book was called On the Celestial Hierarchy

Extra fun fact: His inspiration is said to be the Chaldean Oracles and Hekate's triad of angels. The iynges (don't know too much about these ones), the synochesis (intercessors and guides) and teletarchai (something to do with initiation, probably with mysteries).

Extra extra fun fact: Zeus was said to have an angel (angelos) in inscriptions at Stratonikeia, Hekate's most significant town as a civic/patron goddess. Some scholars theorise the unnamed angel in Stratonikeian inscriptions could be Hekate herself

Anyway, angels like devotional acts too! Prayers are a good way to communicate with them. It is possible to sense the energy of angels! I noticed a difference in my room when I started working with angels - I could tell they were around, and they made things a little brighter

Can you use prayers from Christianity and Catholicism for the angels if they resonate? Yeah sure

You can also get into astrology with angels. It's a pretty big part of Ars Paulina (the planetary aspect). If you want to work with Haniel at a peak time, do it on a Friday when the planetary hour is aligned with Venus. If you want to do the same for Gabriel, Monday on Moon hours. For Raphael, Wednesday on Mercury hours.

Angels have sigils and symbols. You can use the planetary symbols as sigils for them too. I've attached a couple sigils for Raphael here

This website has information from Ars Paulina - another I still recommend after all these years: https://www.archangels-and-angels.com/

Ariel Gatoga's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/arielgatoga

Let me know if you'd like to know anything else about angel work! Practitioners can have varying opinions about all this, so be sure to research and consider what works for you. It can also change over time.

[depthsofthesea]

Stop policing other peoples practice.

I got a helpol "tutorial video" against my will on my tiktok for you page this and I have to rant about, but I believe this is very important.

This person said in their comment section that hellenic polytheism IS ONLY a reconstructionist religion and someone who isn't a reconstructionist shouldn't be in the religion. And their post was about offerings to the gods and in their caption they implied that any offering that wasn't in the video (those being common offering like milk, honey, bread, hymns, etc) wasn't valid.

Here are my thoughts on that:

That's an opinion, not fact, and that opinion can fuck right off. The claim that Helpol is only a reconstructionist religion is fucking stupid, and that's coming from someone who's a borderline reconstructionist. I don't call myself that because I have to adapt to a modern way of practicing to make practicing more accessible for myself. Everyone has to. Including the overconfident poster who said that stupid thought. Unless that poster is currently building temples for the community, they can fuck off. They even told a commenter on their post who challenged that thought that they shouldn't be a part of the religion. It's fucking disgusting. Everyone also shows their love to the gods in many different ways. Just because someone decides to offer the gods something over another something does not mean they do not actually love the gods.

Now in these pictures, there are a good amount of things that I agree with. Yes, people shouldn't treat this religion like some game and treat it seriously. Yes, there is more to this religion than altars. Yes, TikTok has done a lot of damage to this community. But that includes this person's post. Stop speaking for the entire Helpol community. Stop gatekeeping. Stop policing shit that does not affect you.

I'm stressed right now and i don't know if this is a rational crash out💀 If I'm acting crazy, please tell me

[depthsofthesea]

I wanted to share a small list of the 5 major things I have learned as a Priestess of Lady Aphrodite

1. Not everyone will like you or your practice, but as long as you are not causing harn, their opinions don't matter

2. One does not always have to be "love and light", you can still be human

3. The learning never stops, you will always have something new to discover

4. Two priests of the same deity will have two very different paths, practices and views of that deity. Do notcast judgement

5. NEVER let anyone police your practice, especially your priesthood. The Gods don't care how they are honored as long as you are respectful and true to yourself

[depthsofthesea]

Hoodoo Ain’t for Everybody — And That’s Okay

As someone who walks the path of Hoodoo—not because I found it online, but because it lives in my blood, my bones, my people—I feel it’s time to speak plainly.

Lately, I’ve been feeling a shift. I’m not the only one. More and more folks in the Hoodoo community, especially Black folks who’ve inherited this work through our families or come to it through ancestral callings, are speaking up about something that’s been sitting heavy on our hearts: Hoodoo is being treated like it’s open to everybody. And that’s a problem.

Let me be real clear: Hoodoo is Black American folk magic. It was born out of slavery, survival, resistance, and deep spiritual knowledge carried from Africa and blended with what our ancestors could find and use in a world built to crush them. It’s not a trend. It’s not “just magic.” It’s not interchangeable with witchcraft or Wicca or whatever new aesthetic is popular this week.

This is our tradition. It was built in the shadows of plantations and backwoods kitchens. It was whispered between grandmothers and aunties, handed down in prayers, in oils, in roots, in the way we survived when nothing was left to hold onto but God and grit.

And now, it’s all over the internet.

Non-Black folks are selling jar spell kits labeled “Hoodoo.”

People with no connection to the culture or history are making content, writing books, and calling themselves rootworkers.

Things that used to be sacred are now trending hashtags.

It don’t sit right. It shouldn’t sit right.

The truth is, more of us are starting to say: we want Hoodoo to be a closed practice again.

Not because we’re trying to gatekeep out of spite—but because we are tired. We are tired of seeing the sacred used carelessly. We are tired of seeing folks profit off our culture while ignoring our history. And we are tired of having to constantly explain that you don’t get to choose to practice Hoodoo the way you choose a new hobby.

This work comes with ancestors. It comes with accountability. It comes with pain and power that can’t be separated from Blackness.

And yes, we’re protective. We have every right to be.

So here’s what I’m asking, if you’re reading this and you’re not part of the Black community but you’re drawn to Hoodoo:

Sit with why.

Is it because you want power without responsibility?

Is it because it looks cool on social media?

Or is it because you’re longing for connection—and maybe you need to find it in your own roots, your own ancestors, your own folk traditions?

Because Hoodoo ain’t for everybody. And that’s not hate—it’s protection.

We protect this work because it protects us.

Because our grandmamas didn’t fight to keep it alive just to see it turned into a gimmick.

Because our spirits, our roots, our ancestors deserve better than exploitation.

If you care about Hoodoo, respect it enough to leave it to the people it belongs to.

If you’re a practitioner, speak up. Set boundaries. Keep the sacred sacred.

We don’t need permission to reclaim what’s ours. And we don’t owe anyone access to our medicine.

[depthsofthesea]

[depthsofthesea]

[depthsofthesea]

I am so tired of posts where someone implies that people who are godspoused are delusional or experiencing hallucinations. I am so tired of posts where someone arrogantly touts that godspousal has no historical basis (lmao), specifically in hellenic polytheism, and therefore must be fake

It is disgusting and disrespectful to armchair diagnose people with a serious medical condition simply because you experience the gods differently

I'm tired of being nice!

Who the fuck do you think you are?

Who the fuck gave you the authority to speak for the gods, to boldly proclaim you absolutely understand their desires and agency? Your textbooks?

THE GODS DON'T LIVE IN MYTH OR TEXTBOOKS: THEY'RE ALIVE RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW! They interact with our world every day, and they interact with us every day - sometimes casually, sometimes intimately, sometimes in signs! If you think you're a lowly little worm to your gods, then that's a YOU problem

Leave people who are godspoused the fuck alone

[depthsofthesea]

A friendly word of witchy advice: just go with it.

You’re trying to contact a deity and you immediately have a random thought? just go with it. It doesn’t make sense? Whatever, write it down. Maybe it will make sense later.

Wondering if you should and get the feeling that you should? do it.

Suddenly think you shouldn’t? don’t.

Doing tarot and the card comes out sideways? It’s sideways. Interpret.

When I go for a walk and take a seat on a bench and think, gods I wish I had some shade, and the clouds conveniently come together to block out the sun, I just go with it.

Thank you :)

Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. Truth will reveal itself with time.

People ask me all the time, how do you know Lucifer is speaking to you? I trust him, even when it doesn’t immediately make sense, even when it seems random.

Your first thought, yes, write it down. Your random inclination, follow it.

This doesn’t mean that everything is a sign, it means stop prohibiting yourself from receiving signs by constantly hyper analyzing everything. Let your brain and body perceive without fighting against them.

You heard a whisper in the wind? Listen.

You think you saw something in the smoke? Draw it.

Confusing nonsense that probably means nothing? Document it anyways.

Just go with it.

[depthsofthesea]

Worship Without an Altar

I often see closeted pagans (or pagans who don't have the space for an altar) frustrate about offerings, which often requires an altar. So, my liege, here are some tips for worship if you don't have an altar, or a space for one.

Another thing, altars are purely optional. They're worship spaces, all you need is a prayer and a place in your mind for them.

-> Prayer. You can pray anywhere, on your bed, at your desk, at school, at work, etc. If you don't have khernips, you can use normal tap water, or hand sanitizer.

-> Offerings. These are important as this religion thrives off offerings and kharis. Food offerings work best for Ouranic deities, just put food in your lunchbox, and after a few hours. For Chthonic deities, you can offer the food in a drawer until it rots.

-> Devotional acts. These are pretty easy, and none of them need to make sense but to you. You want to honor Lord Dionysus? Watch a musical! You want to honor Lady Astraea? Learn about the stars! You want to honor Lady Hecate? Research about witchcraft! Remember, the best form of worship is to take care of yourself.

-> If you have struggle with creativity and want to write a prayer or hymn, you can always find some online and save it on your phone.

-> Now, candles! Do you need candles? No! Candles, at least in my practice, are sort of representations of the deities, so I know they're there. But its not required. Electric candles work well if you cant light actual candles. Incense also works, get the incense that reminds you of your deity.

-> Representing your deity. Use anything that reminds you of them! A plushie, an action figure, a toy (cough the sheep toy I found that reminds me of Lord Apollon cough dies). Draw your deity! Even if you suck at art, remember kids, being bad at art is better than using AI art!

If I remember any, or if you want to suggest any tips, I'll be sure to edit.

Khaire <3

[depthsofthesea]

Unpopular Opinion: Humans are no less worthy of this Earth than any other species

Humans are not the Big Bad™

Humans have definitely causing climate change, they're also plenty fighting it x

Humans have caused extinctions, we are also a species that can cooperate together to specifically save species from that fate

Removing humans from an area doesn't make it pristine wilderness, thats anti-indigenous bullshit

Humans are of this Earth. Not above it. Not beside it. A part of it.

[depthsofthesea]

There's something to be said about the way people use xenia, "the pillars of Hellenism," and Delphic maxims, like the Hellenistic version of the Ten Commandments.

[depthsofthesea]

growth in witchcraft as shedding of snake-skin

Sort of obvious, but I had to learn it (like everything else) the hard way. And as spooky season approaches and people may be revitalizing their practices after breaks, I want to say something that might end up saving a couple folks from a lot of frustration and heartbreak:

Just because it worked that way for you in the past, doesn't mean that's how it works for you now.

I mean this in a literal, making-stuff-happen with magic and sorcery way.

You guys have heard the adage that some spirit guides are with you for life, some for short periods, some for just one lesson, etc., right?

Well, the same can be said for sorcerous techniques.

I don't know if I just shed techniques like hermit crabs shed shells or what, but this happens to me a lot. Here's the kind of thing I mean:

You used to do readings with a specific little ritual involving a prayer and incense, but now that technique seems to produce incorrect readings. It feels flat and you can tell you're not connecting.

You used to be able to tie intent into knots and carry the thread around with you all day to conjure specific little occurrences, but now it barely seems to work and manifestation is spotty.

You used to be able to converse with spirits by going into a deep meditation, but now when you try you can hardly connect and it's like their messages are getting blotted out.

And I think sometimes when these things happen, people tend to process this with:

self-blame (I'm not a devoted enough witch, I brought this on myself!),

scapegoating spiritual allies (I used to pray to Hekate before divination but now my divination doesn't work, so Hekate must be mad at me), or

developing personal doubt (I used to think magic worked but now I can't replicate my own results).

When the reality is, if you're a magical snickity-snek and you've shed your skin, you might be slithering about in the soil trying to do the little old things that no longer fit the bigger, better you.

Sometimes this "shedding" is very obvious and we can feel and taste it. "Shedding" may come before, during, or after a period of intense personal transformation. It may come in a numinous moment when you hear a single phrase, or view a single image, that makes you become the Hanged Man and see reality in a whole new way.

But it can also happen without us really noticing it. I might put down my tarot cards for a couple months, pick them up again, and suddenly the ways I used to read don't work for me any more.

It's not because I'm a bad reader, or that the spirits have abandoned me, or that magic isn't real.

It's because what used to work for me doesn't any more, and now I just need to find new techniques.

So if you're trying to pick up what used to work and it just doesn't seem to be helping any more, consider that it's just like outgrowing an old set of clothes. Nothing is wrong with you, or the clothes. It just doesn't fit any more.

Since I think it'd be frustrating as hell to read a post like this without some actionable steps, below the cut are some ideas that might help you develop new techniques if your old ones seem to be failing you.

Start with your beliefs

Examine your own rituals and see if what you're doing still matches what you believe. Let's say you used to pray to Hekate and light incense before divination, but now you do that and your divination doesn't work.

Do you believe Hekate is allowing your divination to be possible? Do you believe she's the best goddess to seek aide from at this time?

What role does the incense play? Is it an offering to Hekate? Is it to feed the ancestors who supply you with interpretations? Is it just to set the correct tone and atmosphere?

Maybe you've grown in your relationship with divinity, and you now believe it's more proper to call on gods with formal prayers - but your divination ritual still uses a simple, improvised prayer.

Maybe your understanding of Hekate has changed and it feels more suitable to call on different powers.

Maybe you feel strangely about constantly "paying" gods to help you, when they say they don't need it - and lighting the incense makes you feel awkward.

Change what you're doing to match what you believe. That's always a solid first step.

Examine your own emotions and reactions

Try performing rituals (from the smallest ritual of stirring intent into coffee, to full-blown compass-casting affairs under the full moon) mindfully.

Be aware of what you're doing as you do it, but also try to examine your own reactionary thoughts and feelings.

Suppose my ritual of stirring my coffee seven times clockwise to manifest a desired emotion doesn't work any more. It used to work great, for years, so I do it quickly. But now it doesn't work, so I do it mindfully.

And while I'm stirring, I watch a few thoughts pop up to the surface: why am I doing this seven times? I'm stirring my coffee for too long and staring into it like an idiot, and it's embarrassing. What if someone thinks I'm weird?

If any individual step of a ritual makes you feel embarrassed, stressed, or avoidant, or if you feel relief from not having to do that any more - that technique is probably not serving you very well.

Seek out methods that make you feel excited, hopeful, empowered, or interested. Or, at the very least, ones that don't make you feel bad.

Be open to shifting your paradigm entirely

Going back to the stirring coffee thing, maybe I think stirring seven times is too much. So I try to stir my coffee three times. But that still feels clunky.

Then I get into left-handed vs right-handed stirring, because someone might have said that doing stuff with your right hand is for blessings.

Then I try out a new little inner mantra while I stir X times with Y hand.

But it's just not working. No matter what I try, it feels like walking barefoot on a gravel road.

So maybe I just need to do something entirely different.

Maybe numerology isn't my thing any more. Maybe now, I just need to embrace my inner divine creator.

Maybe I should think about the ultimately powerful creative energy within rich, black soil - and as I pour my coffee, I can imagine that I'm pouring pure creative energy into my divine cauldron. When I sprinkle in a little sugar, I'm seasoning that creative power to my personal tastes - and no matter how many times I stir it, when I drink that creative power, a new reality blossoms from within me.

No numbers. No memorized chants. No left hand/right hand stuff. Just me, imagining myself as a planet, drinking pure creative energy that will bloom out of my aura as wildflowers bloom in the spring.

Ask for help

I'm not called fool for no reason, and after a couple years of being unable to astral travel - after having successfully done so for years - I finally sat down and asked my spirits for help.

The answer was immediate and simple. So simple, in fact, that I was confident it wouldn't work at all.

Well, of course it worked. I spent years trying to figure out the problem on my own, trying time and time again to use an old technique that I was confident would work. It took a goddess like four seconds to tell me the new way it worked for me.

Even if you're not in communication with spiritual allies, you can still perform divination to help troubleshoot your own magical skills. Try asking a series of questions: what doesn't work for you any more, what you should try, and what you should avoid trying.

When divining, consider the different "levels" of application. A reading that means "don't use excessive force" might refer to high-level life stuff, like, you're working too hard on all your responsibilities right now, learn to relax and the magic will come. But, it might also be referring to something very specific, like, you're trying to raise huge amounts of energy in individual rituals, break them up into smaller spells where much less force is required for each one.