Blog Archives - Shadow Maven

Manifest with Magic

4/29/2024

We all wish for things to come into our lives. Whether they are material things like a better car or a house, or less tangible things like love, peace, or healing, there is always something we aspire to obtain. However, merely wishing is not manifesting. Manifesting something takes work, energy, and intent. There are many ways you can let the universe know what you need/want, and to help bring about the necessary changes/energies to bring those things into your life. Not every way works for every one; you will have to find what works for you, of course. One thing that is consistent with all manifestation techniques is where you manifest from. It is said that the heart radiates with a magnetic field 5,000 times that of the brain, so when we manifest, we are meant to do so through our heart/emotions. Some manifesting techniques include (but are not limited to):
Journaling – writing down what you want/need in a simple phrase as if you already have it. Do this mindfully and with gratitude (ex. I am grateful that I have “X”).
Candles – Burning a candle of the colour that matches your intent (love, abundance, protection, etc..). You can roll it in oils/herbs or carve sigils/words and/or chant your intent.
Crystals – Find crystals that correspond to what you are trying to manifest, charge them with the intent to attract “X” into your life and carry them with you or place them on your altar/somewhere you will see them every day.
Sigils – create a sigil using a word/phrase, cross out all repeating letters, and combine the remaining letters together to make a symbol. You could also use existing symbols (like hearts, pentagrams, or dollar signs) and combine these to make a new symbol. Charge this sigil with your intent. You can carry it with you, put it somewhere you can see it every day, or even burn it to release it and you intent to the universe.
Bay Leaf – Write what you wish to manifest on a dried bay leaf and then burn it. You can do this on a piece of paper instead (a coloured piece that matches your intent would add to the magic). Always burn bay leaf in a well-ventilated area.
Symbols – You can enhance and of the above ideas by adding relevant symbols that are meaningful to you (and your intent). Whether they are astrological symbols, power symbols, symbols you are attracted to, or even Reiki symbols (if you are a practitioner).
Regardless of what you are trying to manifest, you must still do the work, put yourself out there, put in the energy/intent, and be open to the opportunities the universe provides us. Even when we know what we want, the universe may have its own ideas on how to bring it about, or having something better in store.
These are just some of the ideas on how to manifest your desires. Have you tried any of them? Did they work for you? Do you have another way that works best for you?

Daemon vs Demon

4/22/2024

If, like me, you read a lot of metaphysical and paranormal books, you may have come across references to daemons. While some people do use the word daemon interchangeably with demon, this is not actually the case. If you Google the terms, you will find some sites that say the word daemon eventually evolved into demon. However, while they both refer to entities, energies, or spirits, they are not the same thing.
The term daemon (also spelled daimon) is an ancient Greek work meaning god/godlike, power, or fate (though it has deeper roots in a Proto-Indo-European word meaning provider, or divider of fortunes/destines). Spelled this way it actually refers to a guiding spirit or lesser deity. These spirits were sometimes seen as the souls of those chosen to teach or guide the living. In Faery traditions, it often refers to the “holy” or “higher” self. These spirits/entities/energies were not seen as negative or bad at all.
On the other hand, demons are known as malevolent entities/energies. They cause chaos, destruction, and harm wherever they go. They appear in the religion, folklore, myth, and legend of many cultures. They are known to be able to make people to terrible things, to do terrible things to people, and even possess human/animal bodies. Depending on your religious/cultural beliefs, they may be agents of the devil/Satan, entities created out of fear or malicious intent, energies/entities from other planes of existence/dimensions, or even our own personal “demons” we try to hide. Regardless of their origins, their intent is malicious.
As you can see, they are not at all the same. While, on a universal level, they are both agents of change (something I will get into in a later post), they way they go about helping those changes come about are very different. That said, both daemons and demons can be summoned/petitioned to aid in whatever cause or work you are doing. However, one should choose their “helpers” wisely, and know them well.
Have you/do you work with daemons or demons. What is your view on what they really are?

Tarot vs Oracle

4/15/2024

I know that there are more deck types out there than just tarot an oracle, this is my focus for now. I may choose to write about others like Kipper, Lenormand, or wisdom cards at another time.

As I have mentioned before, I write reviews for tarot and oracle decks for a friend of mine. I love using the cards; oracles being my favourite. I do readings mostly for myself, but I know so many more talented readers, I don’t do them professionally. That said, I have a very large collection of decks, and I am always collecting more. My favourite decks are usually oracle cards. I have my favourite authors like Barbara Moore who provides phenomenal tutorial information, card descriptions, and reading tips in her companion books (in the larger deck sets), and artists like Jasmine Becket-Griffith and her wide-eyed beings, and Paolo Barbieri and his fantastical creatures. I love oracle cards because every deck is different. You have to work with your deck to learn how to read with it. While a lot learning to read cards is about using your intuition (regardless if you are using tarot or oracle), I always recommend reading the companion book to see how the author explains the theme of the deck and how it pertains to a reading. They often provide deck theme related spreads, and their card descriptions can help provide more in-depth meanings to the cards you may not have thought of/felt. I have also found that, depending on the oracle deck you choose, the readings they provide can range from gentle messages to really deep or bold, and sometimes provoking messages. Actually, over the last few years I have noticed an increase in decks being released that focus on shadow work, which can be tough at times.
While I do love the diverse personalities of oracle decks, there is something to be said about the comfort of a structured system like tarot. Once you learn how to use tarot cards you can pick up pretty much and tarot deck and use it. While there are some variations to card meanings, depending on the author and their intent in creating the deck, you don’t necessarily have to follow their descriptions by wrote. There are many books out there that can teach you the basics of tarot, and more that will teach you the basic symbolism and story of the cards. However, nothing really beats learning hands on working with the cards. That goes for any deck.
There is no “best” deck to use, whether it be tarot or oracle, and choosing a deck is very personal. The artwork and symbolism must resonate with you personally. Choosing a deck that has a theme you are familiar with can also help learn the deck faster. There are a wide variety of decks to choose from, that range from creatures (whether real or mythical), to beings like angels/demons, faeries, or the Gods/Goddesses, and even TV shows/movies, crystals, herbs, locations, and so much more. I really do believe there is a deck out there for everyone (should they want one). I would also point out that spreads are not generally tarot or oracle specific either. Most spreads can be used with either. Choosing a spread is mostly about what you want to ask, and how in-depth you need to go; not what deck you are using.
One final thought. I have heard that it was said somewhere that someone has to buy you a deck. I do believe this to be a myth. While my first deck (and a few since then) was actually a gift from a friend long ago, I have bought hundreds of decks since then, and I find no difference in their usability or credibility whether purchased or gifted.

So, which do you prefer? Or which would you like to learn?

Making a Connection

4/8/2024

Making a Connection

A friend of mine is getting married, and she stopped by to drop me an invite. We were chatting about all the excitement, anxiety ,and other emotions surrounding the fast-approaching big day which led to her saying how she feels she has met her soulmate. She was telling me how she feels so “in sync” with her significant other. How her presence is calming and reassuring, and how they feel like they have known each other forever. Basically, her partner “feels like home”. These, as I pointed out to her, ate just a few of the wonderful signs of entrainment.
Entrainment, is defined (by the American Psychology Association dictionary) as “the natural synchronization of brain waves to a frequency or rhythm presented via music or some other environmental stimulus”. As you may know, every person emits their own personal frequency, and spending a lot of time in close proximity to another person, particularly with their heart center, can cause entrainment. As a couple, my friends spend much time hugging and cuddling, which brings their heart centers into close proximity regularly. The love they feel for each other adds to the positive energy being shared, as they open their heart centers to each other. Studies have shown that a 30 second (consensual) hug (heart to heart) can help elevate one’s mood, and help people bond together. This is because hugging (when done mindfully) releases oxytocin; also called the “love” or “hug” hormone. As an article on www.frolicforlife.com states “The more you hug your partner, the more love and trust are built between you”. In our fast-paced world we often don’t take the time to do or enjoy these simple things that can bring/keep us close together, and that bring us little pockets of joy. Just another reminder that mindfulness matters.
Have you ever experienced entrainment with someone? Would you be willing to add a meaningful/mindful, fully "in the moment", 30 second hug to your daily routine to see what benefits it brings?

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs...

4/1/2024

Lately I have been reading a lot of Jung, which, of course, involves a lot of symbolism. It got me thinking about a conversation I had years ago with a friend of mine about signs. While many of us look for and believe in signs, there are also many that do not. She, sort of, sat on the fence about her belief about whether they were real, or could be trusted. This led to a discussion about various theories about where signs come from and/or whom sends them. Some believe that it is God/The Gods that sends us signs, or maybe angels or other light beings, or even our higher selves. As a more spiritual explanation, these are popular among spiritually minded people. However, there is another explanation that is more closely related to psychology than spirituality. If you think about it, we are subjected to millions of visual stimuli every day. Much of it doesn't really register on a conscious level. We see it, but don’t really SEE it. It is believed that our subconscious communicates through symbolism. Many people spend much time trying to analyze our dreams for this reason. So, out of the millions of “things” we see each day, our subconscious may fixate or focus on particular things to try to communicate with us. Whether we asked the universe/ God(s)/our Higher Selves etc.. for a sign, or our own mind is trying to get our attention, our subconscious may be the one choosing what catches our attention so that we may get the message being sent. For example, if you were looking to get a pet, but you weren’t sure if you wanted a dog or a cat, you could ask for a sign. If you continuously saw one of these animals in ads, in real life, heard them cry out, etc.. then that might be the sign you are looking for. Keep in mind though, that signs can be either positive or negative depending on how they make you feel. If it makes you uncomfortable, it is probably a sign you should avoid, or at least be cautious, of whatever it is.
I am a firm believer that when I have a problem that I cannot seem to solve, I can let it sit with my subconscious and it will work it out for me. This has worked for me many times, and the answer just seems to pop into my head out of nowhere, but it wasn’t from nowhere at all. So, this theory makes perfect sense to me. Not that I don’t believe in things greater than myself that play a hand in all tings happening; I have been party to or privy of too many situations to not believe. What do you think? Are signs more psychology or spirituality? What is your experience?