#Memory

[outstanding-quotes]

Who might we become if we let our memories prism, if we let go of the stories that bind us?

Lidia Yuknavitch, Reading the Waves: a Memoir

[petrichara]

Love, grief, and magic in the mundane

1- @Bluewmist on Twitter / 2- Roly Poly is Taken on Twitter / 3- About Time (2012) by Richard Curtis, image from Mita Park on Unsplash / 4- Sherri Turner on Twitter / 5- Cold Solace by Anna Belle Kaufman / 6- The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green

[thechthonicherbalist]

My tired heart at your feet, Please pick it up gently and Shelter it against your chest My Sister, Mother, Goddess

- Aphrodite

[butterflytarot]

Low-Energy Ways to Work With Nature

Whether you're chronically ill, work three jobs, or slept in an extra hour and decide it's a good day to have a lazy day, we all have days or moments where we're low-energy but still want to connect with the elements, spirits, and forces around us.

Here are some low-energy ways to connect & work with nature, categorized by the 4 elements (+ the ether)! Please enjoy and I hope this helps <3

THE EARTH

Open a window or sit outside! Yep. It's that simple. Just watch. Smile. Gaze. It's worth it ;)

Watch a documentary or nature-based movie. Even something that's loosely based on defending the earth, or something about plants or ecosystems. There are YouTube pages that make much more interesting documentaries than your typical History channel video, but there's lots of sci-fi & fantasy & adventure movies with similar themes too!

Go for a walk... or a nap, by your favorite tree.

Learn about a new plant - local or foreign - even just once a week, or once every two weeks! Just look up the picture to see the different colors it can come in, or learn about where its name comes from, or explore spiritual uses and properties. You could slowly build a tiny collection in a cute journal or your notes app if you wanted, one fact for one plant each week!

Find photos or art online of nature & mother earth that make you feel good, that resonate with you or make you feel grounded, and use it as your digital wallpapers, profile pictures, etc! Make your signature emoji a flower or tree. Share your favorite witchy artists online! Even just changing the color palette works!

Do some virtual window-shopping for earth-themed decor!

Do your nails - even if its messy! - earthen-based colors.

Sit and breathe in some fresh air. It truly does help.

If you have the time, consider getting an insect or domesticated animal as a pet, one where it wouldn't be harmful to look after them or have them indoors with you. There's plenty that can grow on their own, perhaps they just need certain temperatures, clean water, etc. Research the best one for you, and invite a bug friend or critter inside!

Wear crystal jewelry! There's no better way to connect with the earth than to care for its children, the crystals and rocks and stones that beautify our world! You don't have to do anything but buy the bracelet or snap on the necklace, some you don't even need to take off to sleep / shower (make sure you research crystal / stone / rock safety for whichever you choose, same with different metals if you get metal jewelry)!

THE WATERS

Drink a glass of water. Literally! Water is life, and we are deeply connected to it - and it is connected to everything! The best way we can connect with it, is to unify ourselves with it.

Work with water types! Whether it be floral waters (water with rose petals in it, for example) or dewdrops or rain (after a stormy night), you can observe the waters for divination, utilize it for offerings, etc!

It's as easy as dipping your fingers or toes in! Find a river, or pour some faucet water into a bowl, and sit with it. Feel it. Share space together.

Take a shower! You don't even need to wash, especially if it's just a random shower in the middle of the day and not part of your showering routine. Different temperature waters can help with different things (hot water for comfort, cold for self-reflection or divination, etc, can depend on the person), and you can even start baths if you're more of a bath person. Personally, I like to set a stool outside my bathtub, turn on the hot water, and work on a little project while I let the water hit my back or legs.

Things like cleaning up the ocean or beach can take a lot of time and energy, but an equally helpful alternative is returning things to the ocean! Seashells, sand dollars, things you took but weren't gifts - or otherwise found or received - the waters might really enjoy having back. If you can make it to the waters, consider offering these things back. If you can't, even using them with freshwater is sometimes okay - like a seashell to hold your clean sponges, or a sand dollar as decor in your fish tank.

Listen to water sounds - whether it be the songs of whales, a peaceful storm, or even just the ocean waves, it really can be peaceful and - if you close your eyes - transport you right to the dry rock on a summer day next to the glimmering streams! I recommend this video here, if it's for sleep! This video is also a recommendation of mine!

Shadow work near water! You can reflect, or just journal, take notes, write down prayers... Really, any form of writing or art (like water-color painting) near water can really help you connect with the element!

Protection with water -- protection practices are super important, but they don't always involve burning incense or throwing salt! It could involve sitting out a cup of water near a lemon you've put by your window.

Movement - whether it's just your hands or your whole body, finding a way to move like water - gentle flows, instinctual steps, whatever works to enhance your inner tranquility, focus or general energy work & intentions - can really help! Take inspiration from seaweed - firm on the ground, but still flows with the motions of the waves, like it's gliding through liquid.

If you're in an environment that's dry enough for this, and you aren't risking things like molding in your home, having a spray bottle nearby - whether it be of water, or even an ocean-like Febreeze - to just spray into the air is really useful. You can even have fun with it, spraying it above you or walking into it!

THE FIRES

Cook an easy-to-make meal!

Sit by the fire. Careful not to inhale too much smoke, or burn yourself! Even just a candle, incense or even just a lighter is useful. (MAKE SURE TO PRACTICE FIRE SAFETY!) Listen to crackles. Talk to it. Dance with it, or sing to it. Practice fire-gazing techniques (like trataka). Additionally, even oil burners (like some aromatherapy tools) can be helpful! I recommend a citrus scent, it's physically healing and citrus is often associated with summer/heat! Burning herbs may also work, depending on the herb or purpose or intentions etc.

Fire-based affirmations can really help you connect with the element! Something to get you "fired up" or get in touch with the warmth that burns inside you. Even connecting it to your body parts - like being warm-blooded - or culture/religion can be useful!

Connect with the sun. Watch the sunset/sunrise, draw a photo of the sun with its gorgeous warm colors (or a painting with a similar palette), pray to or with the sun, schedule your day with the sun's rising and falling hours, collect some sun water, etc!

Wear warm colors, or decorate your home with them. Sometimes these colors - like deep reds and cream colors paired together - created a sense of comfort, refuge, or homeliness in your space. They help you feel warm, and foster a sense of snuggling! Additionally, wearing brighter colors can really uplift your mood, boost energy levels, or just overall make you smile - especially if you like those colors! It often feels like a raw expression of yourself, so I recommend giving it a try!

This is going to sound crazy - intimacy! It can really boost your connection to fire, especially if your intentions are set to do so! This can also boost manifestation work, just be knowledgeable about this kind of magic before doing so!

Holding a warm object - stone, mug of coffee or tea, etc - can help, or even just bundling up in blankets! This is a bit harder as it's not a direct connection but it'll help you focus on connecting with the element.

BURN THINGS! Don't do anything dangerous or illegal, but burning paper or an old wedding dress might work if done appropriately ;)

Explore fire-based fae, creatures, etc. Whether it be critters that live on volcanoes, or the great phoenixes of many stories and lore, exploring their symbolism, representations, and how they feel or connect to you and your story are all great associations to get in touch with the element!

Fire-based visualization: Using light, campfires, flames, phoenixes, or similar imagery in your visualizations can really help with respectfully tapping into the energy or calling it to you, and you don't need any resources or materials to do it! If you struggle with visualization, verbalizing statements of this theme, or thinking other thoughts, work too!

THE WIND/AIR

Fly a kite or blow something (environmentally-friendly and generally safe) into the air! You can also hang something, so that you don't need to physically do anything but watch!

Whistling! Singing, humming! Breathing & self-regulation techniques! The air is often associated with communication, so scream! Write! Journal! Exist! Experience! Survive! Live!

Open a window and don't mind if it blows some papers!

Connect with smoke - like from incense or sage! Uplifting scents really help with this - something light, soft or dainty!

Let the wind blow in your hair - and don't mind the mess, it's beautiful and funky and fun!

Watching the sky or listening to the wind. It is patient, and the world bustles by - but not just people on the street or water pushing by rocks, it's also daisies and leaves letting loose into the air, and the cold caress of the wind on your jawbone as the night gets cold or the day gets warm.

Mindful listening - it really does help! Even if its silence, even if its loud! It helps you feel the air, and space, around you, and really get in touch with yourself, your community, and the element around you at the same time!

Bird-watching, cloud-watching, leaf-watching, storm-watching! Whether it be finding creative shapes, admiring beauty, or practicing divination, simply observing is worth the try!

Breathe intentions or prayers. Whether it's the classic "inhale beauty, exhale bullshit" or simply putting the energy, prayer or intentions of a desire of yours into your breath as you exhale, it's worth it for some people. Some people believe that their god, or their creator, is breath itself - representing life - and so each breath you take is in their creator's name and carries power.

Lunar work! Connecting with the moon - an energy in & of itself - is made possible thanks to the atmosphere, thanks to air. Be grateful for all the ways air sneaks into our lives and connects us with one another, and work with other elements in a way that keeps you tied to it.

THE (A)ETHER (SPIRIT, OR SPIRITUAL WORLD)

Explore open spaces. Whether it be crowded or empty, finding a way to resonate with both stillness and movement at the same time can be really powerful. I recommend going somewhere alive in one capacity or another - like bustling people, or just strong winds in the grass blades - and just existing with it. Eventually, you can also try meditation, pondering or self-reflection (even as deep as shadow work), or speaking to the nature spirits around you if they're friendly!

Energy work, in all honesty, can be very tiring - duh, it takes energy. However, even something as simple as calling an energy force to hang out with you, giving a gift or offering, or collecting the paraphernalia of your favorite or most beloved force (such as the ether but others like love, void or divinity too), can really help you connect with the ether in general!

Connect with sound energy - like meditative videos, sound healing techniques, or even just music!

Learn about spirit communication - you don't even need to start, and offerings or tools are not required! Alternatively, learn about different spirits - you could do types like fae and angels, or practices like psychopomp work! This is usually easily accessible somewhere online. You could do some good research, or just talk to others on social media about their beliefs and perspectives and knowledge!

Practice being aware of the energy & world around you, as well as yourself!

Intuition! Enhance your intuition. This can be done with things like tarot, but to preserve energy, even online "intuition tests" or evaluations help - like ones where you see a black and white photo, guess the color of the item it pictures, and then see if you're correct or not!

If you're experienced enough, mantra work might be for you! You can learn about it here.

Create an altar - whether it be for a deity/spirit, or just a space for your workings! It really helps centralize energy and get you feeling the vibes!

Floating and flying visualization - basically as it sounds! Practice visualizations of floating or flying. Be careful if doing this before sleeping - for some people it helps them drift off peacefully into a good rest, but for others it sparks that feeling of being lifted up and then falling down into your bed (among other similar feelings that may be scary for you). I also don't recommend it if you're sensitive to themes of death or grief. However, even doing it during the day can both be powerful and calming.

Get an aura reading! See what color your spirit form is, and what that color may be associated with! You don't have to learn this practice or develop this ability in order to do it, you could easily find someone else - online, even - who can perform this service for you!

Thank you!

I hope this was helpful and that you enjoyed!

Don't hesitate to comment any questions.

Have a good day / night!

[hiddenwwi]

WWI soldier’s boot lying on the battlefield at Hartmannswillerkopf in the Vosges mountains

[404daydreams]

"Music is the resilience within me. So I come with a creative resilience and I work super hard. I'm only laser focused on my career now. Travelling through a workplace to reach my destiny."

-Me

[vintage-tigre]

[nightmare-from-heaven]

Hey. Your brain needs to de-frag. Literally it needs you to sit there and space out.

If you want your memory or executive function to improve, stare out a window at the skyline or sidewalk or trees or birds on the electrical wires for like 20+ minutes per day. (With no other stimulation like a podcast or TV if you can manage but hey baby steps innit). If you're fortunate enough to have safe outside with any bits of nature, go stare closely at a 1 meter square of grass and trip out on the bugs and shapes of grasses and stuff.

Literally this will make you smarter. Our brains HAVE TO HAVE this zone out time to do important stuff behind the scenes. This does not happen during sleep, it's something else.

That weird pressurized feeling you get sometimes might be your brain on no defrag.

Give your brain a Daily Dose Of De-Frag.

[dikdikpronouncedxylophone]

The most terrifying part of having memory issues is when you can feel something from 5 seconds ago be thrown out the window and there's an empty hole where it once was. You remember that you forgot something.

[prokopetz]

A thing they don't tell you until it's too late is that training your memory to be good at one thing comes at the cost of everything else. I can edit documents in my head and quote conversations I had twenty years ago verbatim. This morning I reached into my purse and pulled out a jar of raspberry jam with absolutely no recollection of how it got there.

[caintooth]

seeing people my age talk about how scared they are of memory loss, which they only associate with old age, is so surreal to see as a 24 year old who has actively experienced memory loss for a long time now

there are causes for memory loss besides dementia and alzheimer’s, i hope y’all know that. dissociative disorders, trauma, brain injuries, thyroid problems, even just stress and lack of sleep can fuck up your ability to store, process, and access memory. and that’s just a few of the many causes i can think of off the top of my head right now.

please stop treating disabled people like some scary “other” that you might become only in the distant, decades-away future. we are your age, too. you may become one of us sooner than you know. stop acting like memory loss marks the end of a life, when so many of us have so much living left to do!

[gawki]

Oblivion

A painting about ADHD - more details in comments.

[laddersofsweetmisery]

I don't see enough people mourning over the slow death of physical media. And I don't just mean TV shows, video games, or movies--which don't even get me started about how we don't really 'own' anything anymore. It includes notes, journals, and letters to one another...so much of our history is lost when we lose a password, a website goes down, a file/hardware is corrupted, or a platform disappears. History that doesn't seem important until you no longer have access to it. Physical media does a lot for memory recall. How many memories will we lose because we don't have something tangible to tie it back to? Something to hold in our hands and stir up those memories we thought were once lost? Sometimes I wonder what the difference between burning a book and losing access to physical media is when someone can pull the plug and remove your access so easily.

[pennymations]

A personal comic I made in honour of my late mother, who passed away ten years ago this month. I will admit that was one of the hardest comics I've ever had to make. I miss you so much, Mom.

[crumbsinthesea]

"It wasn’t until about two years into the pandemic, when the “vax and relax” era was clearly not going to work, that I had to reckon with my system for organizing time. I couldn’t delay the future any longer; I couldn’t continue protecting the story of my life from the pandemic’s incursion. So I accepted the terrible fact that the pandemic was going to continue indefinitely and was not merely an event in my life but rather the container in which the rest of my life would take place. This was a difficult reckoning. It required that I come to terms with a great deal of grief about the failures of those around me; about what I lost and will have lost; a privilege in thinking that these were the sorts of world-historical changes that happened to other people, at other times. But it was also a reckoning that rescued the orderliness of time, for me. It was as if the clock was un-paused, and life resumed its forward march. I think most people stabilized their warped sense of time by other means. Instead of accepting that the pandemic continued on, that we failed to contain it and so would need to incorporate its ongoing reality into the stories we tell ourselves about our own lives, they instead transformed the fantasy of after into their reality. After the pandemic, after the lockdowns, after our world ruptured. They were able to interrupt the prolonged uncertainty that the pandemic had brought to all of our lives by erecting a finish line just in time for them to run through it. And as they ran through it, celebrating the fictional end of an arduous journey, they simultaneously invented a new before. This is the invention of memory. The Pandemic became something temporally contained, its crisp boundaries providing a psychic safeguard to any lingering anxieties around the vulnerability and interdependence of our bodies that only a virus could show us. No longer did it threaten to erupt in their everyday lives, forcing cancellations and illnesses and deaths. It was, officially, part of The Past. And from the safety of hindsight (even if only an illusion), people began telling and re-telling the story of The Pandemic in ways that strayed from how it all actually went down. It was a way to use memory as self-soothing."

--Emily Dupree, The invention of Memory