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October 18 through October 24, 2021

Mercury will resume forward motion on Monday, but because it takes a week or two to get out of its "shadow period", don't think we're out of the woods yet! Continue to back up all your work and electronics, take all you hear with a grain of salt, and expect the unexpected until it clears. We'll have a lovely Aries full Moon on Wednesday, also called the Hunter's Moon, which will generate a sense of financial peace. Having what we need, as well as something we want is an aspect of this Moon. The restrictions we've faced in the past will now culminate at the end of the limits we've been under for a year and a half and offer solid solutions and relief. The Sun will enter karmic Scorpio late Friday/early Saturday morning, which will also shift our focus to the possibilities that await us. For the next four weeks, we will feel more in tune with spirit and our divine destiny, releasing the things that no longer serve us and embracing the true wonder of our lives. This is also a time when the veil between worlds is the thinnest, and we can get messages and direction from our loved ones on the other side. With the Moon traveling through Gemini this weekend, it could be an ideal time to try your hand at a channeling session or connect with someone who can translate important messages from the spirit world to you!

Silence Is Golden: Give Ways to Quietly Make a Difference in a Loud World, by Zoe Howe

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

Over the centuries, witches, folk magicians, and "cunning folk (as we refer to them in the British Isles) have beavered away behind the scenes to help their communities, often by stealth and in most cases without credit. At odds with the performative, virtue-signalling culture of the digital era, there were and remain magical workers and healers who rarely broadcast their works of positive magic, not least because, depending on individual or societal circumstances, such boasting could be misconstrued or lead to danger.

Additionally, as my mother always told me, if you let ego get in the way of this kind of work, one's "gifts" may be taken away. There are many positive aspects to social media, and I love that so many inspiring practitioners have been able to connect with each other and share thoughts and ideas. Through social media we can support and learn from each other, cheer each other on and form global communities in ways we never could before. But, as with all things, balance is vital.

When it comes to working effectively (and, indeed, being a decent human being) the underrated quality of humility is essential. Whatever our path, magic and witchcraft is deep, spiritual work, and we must frequently inspect our intentions. Are we coming from a pure place? Or are we doing it so we can post about it on TikTok, or to appear "mysterious" and powerful? In this "pictures or it didn't happen" epoch, the squeaky wheels often get the grease, but when said squeaky wheel suddenly realizes they aren't the only witch in the village and that others around them have quietly been practicing for years, rather than rejoicing that there are kindred spirits nearby, there can be a sense of competition or a desire for self-justification. I feel this is a great shame and can stand in the way of love, unity, and progress. It's also important to remember that the biggest voice ultimately counts for little if they're not committed to living their magic and doing the work, every day. And a lot of that work takes place—you guessed it—in silence. Without anyone knowing about it. By stealth, if you like.

"Stealth" normally makes one think of sneaky behavior, but how about when you just want to silently do some good for another with no agenda? It's hard for humans to do a nice thing without wanting a pat on the back for it—usually in the form of a thousand likes on Instagram and a flurry of new followers—but when we seriously commit to our work as witches, and we become accustomed to the magic and power within silence, the grip of ego becomes at least a little looser.

Magical work is also, as many of us know, more effective when it is not talked about; when we discuss it with others, we risk our plans or results being inadvertently polluted or knocked off course by people's attitudes, doubts, or negativity. "To know, to dare, to will, to keep silent" is a law many magical folk live by, and for very good reason.

Occult means "hidden," but sweet Venus, how open things are now. Even twenty years ago I would carefully cover my witchy books in silver paper so I could read them on public transport without arousing curiosity, or bury them deep in drawers so nosy landladies wouldn't see them as they snooped about. Let us never forget the value, necessity indeed, of silence and mystery. But it's not just about hiding what's precious to us from prying eyes and mischievous minds; it's also a beautiful act of magic in itself, I think, to want to do something to help or uplift another without expecting anything other than the quiet satisfaction of having done it.

What can you do, by stealth and without seeking credit, to uplift others? Here are some ideas that may sound mundane, but are filled with positive magical potential—and amplifying the magic in the mundane is at the heart of my new book Witchful Thinking:

1. Leave tokens, notes, or positive messages in public spaces for people to find. I used to live in a seaside community where kindly unknown souls would paint an affirming message on a stone and leave it on the beach, on a bench, or under a tree for someone to find. The number of pictures of these stones snapped by delighted passers-by proved that a simple but powerful magic had not only taken place, it had spread for others to enjoy, the messages being received by those who needed them. Alternatively, whenever I was feeling flush, I would attach a pound coin to a postcard with a friendly message encouraging the finder to put it towards a treat. But just a note or a single word can create a shift in someone's day that prompts a butterfly effect.
2. Donate. If you can afford to donate to a charity, it is wonderful to be able to do so. Look into having a tree planted to aid reforestation. Pop the loose change in your purse at the end of the week into a special tin that is just for charity use, and donate it at the end of the month. Alternatively, donating items you no longer use or want to thrift stores can help others, too. If you can afford to do so, you could add extra food to your grocery shop to take to a food bank, or delivering a pack of healthy pet food to a struggling animal shelter.
3. Write a positive review. As consumers, we rely more than ever on customer reviews. We are quick to dismiss a service if we spot a one-star write-up (even if we can't prove whether or not the review was genuine or due to some personal agenda). On the other hand, we all too quickly fall for the product garlanded with fake 5-star praise that's secretly been paid for. As a result, our genuine kind words are like gold dust—as they always have been— unfortunately, many of us only feel moved to write a review online if we're angry or displeased, rather than if we enjoyed something, or received decent service. Take the time to think about a book you loved, a café you enjoyed, a beautiful artisan-crafted candle you bought—anything at all. All of those things have people behind them, people who worked hard and did their best to create something special. Once you've made a list—or even if you can only think of one thing—go online and spread the love. Don't worry about time-scale—your positivity is always welcomed and makes a real difference on so many levels.
4. Send energy. We are sending out energy all the time, anyway—good, bad, and neutral—and this makes a difference, for better or worse, because we are all ultimately connected. With that in mind, I often like to hold a person, an animal, or indeed the whole planet, consciously and lovingly in my thoughts if they are going through a difficult time. One way to do this is to sit quietly and light a candle, concentrating on raising your vibration (the act of lighting a candle alone will help with this). Call in your guardians and guides and request that you are filled and surrounded by the white light of the Divine, of Spirit, the Higher Power, the Highest and Best—use whatever words and terms that work for you. Then humbly request that the guides of the other person accept a gift of healing energy or positive, uplifting thought from you. Ask that, if it is not accepted, it be redirected wherever it is needed and wanted. Then visualize your friend (or a place, or the planet) looking serene and happy, enrobed in light for as long as is needed. When you have finished, say goodbye, thank your guides and theirs, close down the meditation and ground yourself—eating and drinking something is a simple way to do this, or stamp your feet. You could do both, but maybe not at the same time (it could get messy). I also like to tailor this ritual if someone's pet has gone missing, with a prayer to Bast for a cat, or to Hekate for a dog, for example. Hold them in the light and imagine them bounding safely back to their owners, who greet them with relief and joy. (Resist the desire to tell them you've done this when you see them celebrating their return. Just be pleased for them.)
5. Send prayers to those passing over. Tap into old-style "cunning folk" ways by assisting the journey of souls into the next world. One way to do this would be to spend time in meditation and ask the appropriate deities (Hekate, who lights the way, for example) or angels to guide souls safely to the light. It's a lovely way to silently, meaningfully, support others, whether you know them or not. Write a heartfelt prayer to those who have passed, or are about to. Light a candle at twilight or just before dawn: these liminal times are considered to be "thin," making it easier to connect with the other side. Imagine yourself grounded, and picture yourself suffused with Divine Light. Now speak the words, aloud or in your head, while linking in with any others doing the same, on both sides of the veil; you can bet those already in Spirit will be working with you to amplify this work too. Byron Ballard wrote a beautiful prayer for the dead during the first year of the Covid 19 pandemic, and generously shared it with the world. Many people adopted it and recited it every night. You can find it here.

These are just a few examples of straightforward but profound acts of compassionate magic, and they make a quiet but powerful difference in the world—to others and to yourself. What simple acts of "stealth" magic can you conjure?

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2022. All rights reserved.

During the wee hours of this morning, I heard incessant doorbell ringing. My eyes flew open and my heart was racing. Naturally, when you hear a doorbell ringing during the middle of the night, you think it must be bad news. I shook it off and calmed down. I went back to sleep and another series of incessant doorbell ringing ensued. I didn't look at the time, but I hopped out of bed like I had seen the Holy Ghost. I looked out my front door for the motion detector lights, which were not on. I knew it was the front door because it has a very distinct ring that sets it apart from the one under the garage. I thought the doorbell ringing was symbolic because my great-grandmother was buried close to this time last year. However, I'm leaning toward attributing it to my girlfriend. I read a Hindu interpretation of this sort of dream that says it is indicative of my desire to touch my girlfriend and be with her physically. It also said that she was probably the person ringing the doorbell and that I'm supposed to go to her. Ironically, she said something similar to that a few weeks ago - that if I want to be with her, I need to come to her and show her. Is it possible that the incessant doorbell ringing was my wake-up call to get it together and step up to the plate in my relationship? This has really scared me because it woke me out of a deep sleep. To be honest, I'm scared to go back to sleep. I will probably be consulting a sleep specialist next.

Brittany

Susyn:

There are many possibilities that may account for your doorbell ringing in the middle of the night. The most important aspect of what happened is that you are now more alert and taking note of some of the emotional and spiritual issues in your life that need to be addressed.

When a person experiences something this profound, it is definitely a wake-up call that something is out of order in their lives. You have done well to consider all the possibilities that could be connected with this experience.

I have had a few clients who had similar experiences. In one case in particular, the previous owner of the house my client lived in had passed away.

The story goes that he used to come home late at night from the bar to find his wife had locked him out. He would ring the doorbell incessantly until she let him in. He died before his wife did, and she remained in the house until her own passing. The door bell ringing in the middle of the night turned out to be a residual haunting. In residual hauntings, a scene plays out over and over, much like rewinding and replaying a section of a DVD.

If you continue to experience this sort of thing, from the safety of your bedroom, ask the entity responsible to leave. Using phrases such as, The person you are looking for is not here or No one is home should do the trick.

However, my sense is that you will not experience this again because it achieved its purpose: it got you to think about your relationship. You might note that if you and your girlfriend were together, she may have been able to confirm whether the doorbell was actually ringing, and you would not have had to go through this unsettling experience alone.

Researching the Hindu meaning of your experience has affirmed your suspicion that this was related to your girlfriend. In fact, she may have unconsciously astral projected to your house in her dreams because she was tired of waiting for you to reach out to her.

If you still feel confused or hesitant about this relationship, don't worry: If Spirit is ready to move the two of you closer, you will continue to experience signs that affirm that. You probably won't be awakened by another session of midnight doorbell ringing, however, for it seems you got the message the first time, and are prepared to take action.

*****

Mata:

I think the Hindu dream interpretation led you far astray. Of course, you are the ultimate authority on your own dreams, so if this feels spot on to you, you must trust that feeling. The problem is that I don't think this was actually a dream, so trying to interpret it as such is a fool's errand.

The phantom doorbell is an astral experience. It occurs when your mind is in harmony with the astral plane: when you are on the cusp between being awake and asleep.

It is not a physical phenomenon. A number of people who were tired of being awakened in this way have disconnected their doorbells only to find the experience continues. Further, the sound of the phantom doorbell (or phone or alarm) is often different from the sound the physical apparatus makes.

In my experience, hearing a phantom doorbell is almost always a result of a loved one in spirit trying to get our attention. Most people only begin to experience this after the passing of a significant loved one. Further, many are awakened to the presence of that loved one; they may not directly see or perceive the spirit with their physical senses, but they know that they are there.

Most of the time, this is just the loved one stopping by, much as they might have done when they were living. Sometimes, however, they are trying to get our attention for a specific reason. For example, if you have overslept and need to get up, you may be awakened by the sound of a phantom doorbell, alarm or phone ringing. I have also heard a number of stories from people who heard a phantom ring or knock at the door who awakened to discover some sort of emergency, such as the house being on fire.

Basically, this is a way for spirits to get our attention. I recall hearing a story about a man who was sometimes startled by the presence of his dead brother. One day he jokingly told him to ring the doorbell the next time he came around, and guess what? That is when the phantom doorbell phenomenon began at his house.

Though it often occurs out of the blue, there is a definite trend for this sort of thing to happen on significant dates such as the anniversary of a death or your own birthday. If you research this, you'll read many stories from people who describe how a loved one gave them a sign like this at a time that held clues regarding the identity of the sender.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.