Into The Shadows

I saw a photograph of the International Space Station over Stonehenge this week and realized it was an almost perfect depiction of my spiritual philosophy. Science that is both inspired by and stands on the shoulders of our ancestral traditions.

For whatever reason, the image shook me out of my petty brain, which had switched into overdrive recently, and back into my internal processing groove and back into my own lane. The daily yoga practice I talked about last week probably helped too. My inner druid decided to walk along with my Daoist one-thousand-days practice. Both traditions are ingrained in my DNA, one ancestrally and one through intentional study. Both come from beyond time. I’m pretty sure that means that once I progress from ticking off the days to establish the habit, to the internal alchemy that’s sure to follow, things are about to get real.

There’s nothing new under the sun, as the saying goes. This is true. Another saying proclaims that everything old is new again. This is also true. These statements are metaphors for a common paradox. At least, I hope it’s common and I’m not the only one struggling with this life experience.

I’ve written quite a bit about my quest for relativity. Now that I’ve reached the point where I’ve been around the block a few times, I’ve noticed that others are traversing the same block, learning the same lessons, gaining similar skills… and believing that they are breaking new ground and becoming adepts in the myriad trails that many others have blazed many times before them.

In some ways, this belief is true. The newcomers are taking what is established and repackaging it in the language and technology of today. Their fresh faces and flashy approach are pleasing to watch, but I’m concerned about the results. I fear they are questionable, in this 60-second soundbite world where the process is documented solely for the reach, for likes and shares. Does it work? Does anyone care about the validity of the results if the aesthetic is right, and people see it?

I unintentionally upset someone I care about when emphasizing the importance of the witches’ pyramid (used by other secret practitioners as well): To Know, To Dare, To Will and To Keep Silent. That last part was the problem. My intention was misconstrued, and my point was missed completely.

And so it is, in this world of those who don’t understand how to walk between the light and the shadows. Or how the shadows serve an important role in what we do. It’s dangerous and irresponsible to spin positivity and reframe, or worse blatantly ignore, the scary parts.

The early years of home-connected internet were, in my opinion, the Golden Age of technology for witches. We knew how to find each other. We were open and accepting, but also held no quarter for newbies who weren’t willing to do the work, or ‘fluff bunnies’ who only wanted the “love and light” without the bane and the darkness. Neither kind lasted long in our small internet circles where we shared information, but also kept our secrets. Those who did are now better magical practitioners because of it.

But time moves on, and the witchy vibe, which once held mystery and fascination, is currently in fashion. I am trying not to hate it. I’m trying to look past the collective, hoping to find gems of substance among the rhinestones. I know they are there, and I am more than happy to share what I’ve learned and experienced with those who are not only willing to do the work, but also understand what the work is.

The time I spent with my Shifu, Lao, didn’t so much teach me new mystical practices or magical techniques as much as it broadened my philosophical understanding of how and why they work. Becoming part of his Daoist lineage increased my abilities and refined my skills to a point where the work I do seems to take no effort, because it requires all my effort. Rather than molding me into an acceptable image of what a Daoist is supposed to be, he helped me further develop the Daoist witch within me.

You would think I’d have learned my own lesson before now, especially as he led by example. He wasn’t concerned with appearance, validation, or the perception of any ‘brand’.  He didn’t exist in this or any space until he determined it was time to emerge from the shadows and walk with those who understood the work. It’s been over two years since my ordination and a year since his transition, but the effects of my one-thousand-day practice have taken hold very quickly. It’s time to retreat into the shadows, where I’m best able to transform my ideas into action, without outside distractions. I’ll continue to post readings and periodic live sessions with Jacq, my LunarMuse partner, whenever the universe calls, on Facebook and Instagram and I’m active in my small book discussion group. And walk with those who understand the work.

I’ll be back in your inbox next week, fully intent on bringing inspired ideas and profound musings with me. And if you’d like to talk about the work I do in the shadows, I’m only an email or message away. You won’t find that, from me, on the interweb channels.

If you would like to know more about my ancestral connection work, my Daoist path, or my other offerings such as tarot readings, spiritual guidance and mindset coaching, you can find more detailed information by using the drop-down menu on my website: The Mystic’s Parlour (the-mystics-parlour.ghost.io)

You can also contact me via email at themysticsparlour@gmail.com or on any of my social media channels. Your continued support and encouragement are greatly appreciated.