Rebecca Scolnick's Blog, page 19
October 7, 2022
SITS 1x05: Numerology & the Enneagram
What’s up swimmers? Today, we’re digging into my most requested topic: Numerology & the Enneagram! 🔢⚡️🥳
THIS SUNDAY ON IG LIVE 🚨I’m psyched to join Jules on her Instagram @tarotadventureswithjules on Sunday 10/9 at 11:11am EST to chat all things numbers, tarot, and of course—The Witch’s Book of Numbers!
We hope you’ll join us!
Click Here When the Time Comes!
swimming in the soup is a reader-supported publication. To receive Monthly Numerological Forecasts, DUNE Deep Dives, and to support my work, consider becoming a paid pal 💸
WHAT’S UP WITH ALL THESE NUMBERS? 🔢Today, we’re talking about the Enneagram!
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the Enneagram since I started talking about and teaching Numerology, and at my workshop on my book that I had last month, the conversation was kicked up again, so I figured let’s just do it!
Now, I also realize that we haven’t talked a whole lot about Numerology itself on this podcast—which is a bit wild considering that I wrote a whole ass book on the topic!—so I think today, let’s start basically from scratch, covering the basics of each numeric system and then we can get into comparing and contrasting them!
NUMEROLOGYNumerology is the study of the cosmic language of numbers and the intuitive application of those Divine principles to people, places and events.
It is a tool that can help us gain awareness of the many cycles we are experiencing and patterns we are playing out at any given moment, personally and collectively.
Just as we all have an astrological natal chart, we have our own set of personal numbers that can guide and provide insight into one's life path, patterns, strengths, and invitations into growth.
Numerology is an ancient philosophy with roots in both the Western and Eastern worlds. the earliest writings stem from Babylonian and Egyptian works in the West, and India, Japan and China in the East.
It is both a calculated practice and an art, meaning there are still various schools of thought.
THE ENNEAGRAMFrom Integrative Enneagram Solutions:
IN THIS EPISODE:
The Enneagram is an archetypal framework that offers in-depth insight to individuals, groups and collectives. Consisting of three Centers of intelligence, nine main Enneagram types, 18 wings, three subtypes and Triadic styles, the Enneagram offers a rich map to personal development from an open systems perspective. It does not box in people, but rather opens a pathway to self-discovery and greater personal awareness.
The Enneagram is, therefore, a sense-making tool or a framework that enables the development of self-knowledge and meta-awareness.
The history of both Numerology and The Enneagram
How the Enneagram went from a mystical symbol to a typing system
The false, “ancient” roots of the Enneagram
The Enneagram and Evangelical Christianity
Comparisons of the archetypes in Numerology and The Enneagram
My personal reflections after researching these numeric systems
SOURCES & CITATIONS 😎Integrative Enneagram Solutions (Overview)
Integrative Enneagram Solutions (History & Origins)
October 1, 2022
October: By the Numbers
I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.
- L.M. Montgomery
Happy October! The Season of the Witch! (Not that we ever needed the excuse…)
It’s spooky season, and I’m a generous little witch, so I wanted to share this with all of my sweet subscribers! If you like the vibe, and wish to receive it monthly, please consider becoming a paid pal.
October this year feels a bit busy! A bit frazzled! Or was it just me that sat down with a planner yesterday and screwed her head on straight? It can’t just be me—there are 6 planets currently retrograde! But luckily a couple days into the month, Mercury will go direct. Plus, the numbers of the month seem to project a questionable vibe.
So, let’s get a bit organized, shall we?
In this monthly forecast, you’ll find:
→ Information on the numbers 10, 1, and 7, and how they might show up
→ Playlists for the numbers 1 and 7 to get you inspired
→ A neat little tarot spread based on your personal numbers for October
→ Things to try this month
→ Things I’m trying this month
→ What’s in store this month on SITS + an announcement about next month!
Also, I fully blame Venus is in Libra for the new graphics I’m trying inside of this newsletter. Let me know if it’s working or if I’m just lame and embarrassing.
A timely reminder that I’m both teaching at & hosting The Gathering of the Witches, taking place online the weekend of October 21st - 23rd! The line-up of teachers is incredible, every class is interactive, and it’s sure to be a phenomenal way to celebrate this season in community with other witches. If you can’t make it live, that’s okay—all sessions will be recorded, and you will have 6 months access to review all workshops at your leisure!
October grooves with the number 10. Yes, this is one of those rare moments where a double-digit number gets to come to the party! But have no fear, we’ll also look to the number 1, October’s core energy.
Pythagoras thought that Ten (10) was the perfect number. It’s said that he held classes in groups of ten students, and the sacred shape of the tetractys—a pyramid made of 10 points arranged into 4 rows (pictured below)—was important in his work and his spiritual community.
According to Tobias Dantzig’s book Numbers: The Language of Science, a common Pythagorean prayer was even devoted to the number 10 and its sacred shape:
Bless us, divine number, thou who generated gods and men! O holy, holy Tetractys, thou that containest the root and source of the eternally flowing creation! For the divine number begins with the profound, pure unity until it comes to the holy four; then it begets the mother of all, the all-comprising, all-bounding, the first-born, the never-swerving, the never-tiring holy ten, the keyholder of all.
In most numerological practices, the number ten is reduced to one (1), the number of the self and the beginning, of both source energy and its channel, and of initiation.
In combination with zero (0)—the void, nothingness, unfettered potential—the number one takes on an advanced meaning. Yes, we’re back in the beginner’s seat. Yes, we might be feeling mighty foolish to be back in uncharted waters. And yes, we may be doubting our abilities to navigate this new terrain.
But the good news is that the cycle that came before, the leg of the journey we just experienced during the last jaunt from numbers 1 to 9, doesn’t magically disappear. It’s still with us: all of the things we learned, all of the challenges faced and overcome, all of the tools, tips and tricks we picked up along the way—they’re all still available for us to call upon and to use.
We are different here, at the start of this new month, than we were at the last fresh start.
I remember it as October days are always remembered, cloudless, maple-flavored, the air gold and so clean it quivers.
- Leif Enger
October of 2022 is an overall 7 month, which is the number of questions and analysis, spirituality and secrets, and the archetype of The Seeker.
This might be a month that aggravates. Plain and simple, no need to sugar coat it.
October of 2022 brings us the intense, dogged energy of the number seven (7), which in combination with 10/1 energy, could provide for a push-pull, testing our patience kind of an experience. 1 wants to go Go GO, but 7 wants to think about it a little more… See what else could be discovered… Answer questions with more questions… Indulge the Sphinx’s riddles—that sort of thing. That’s because the energy of 7 really lies in the journey, not the destination.
If you can stay curious this month and not let it become a slog, 7 energy has the potential to open great doors for you, especially in the spiritual, witch or esoteric space. It rules all that is seen and unseen, known and unknown; and paired with the already potent, autumnal energy of October, this team-up is honestly the perfect place from which to make magic.
And not to go all Sandy B. on you, but 1 and 7 are both practical energies, so be sure that your magic has tangible uses in your every day life!
PS. The playlist linked below is my absolute favorite of all of the number playlists. It’s one of 4 playlists that I have downloaded to my phone and it’s just the best.
October knew, of course, that the action of turning a page, of ending a chapter or shutting a book, did not end the tale. Having admitted that, he would also avow that happy endings were never difficult to find: "It is simply a matter," he explained to April, "of finding a sunny place in a garden, where the light is golden and the grass is soft; somewhere to rest, to stop reading, and to be content.”
- Neil Gaiman
Pick a deck that makes you feel the most in your magic! I’m using The Queer Tarot by Ash + Chess, which was on display next to my book during my hometown event, and I couldn’t help but get it!
Pull out The Fool, and place it as the top for a little inspiration!
Find your personal monthly number for October. Add your personal yearly number (your month + date of birth + 2022) to the number for October, 10.
For example, my birthday is 7/7, and my yearly number in 2022 is 2. Adding that to 10 gets me to 12, which is then reduced to 3. My monthly number for October 2022 is 3.
Write down three keywords for your monthly number. These will be your energetic touchstones for the month.
My words were: COMMUNICATE / MAGIC / (EN)JOY
Then, shuffle your deck, and pull one card for each of your keywords. These cards will act as your message, your guide, and your archetypal energy for the month!
My pulls were:
COMMUNICATE: Seven (7) of Pentacles
MAGIC: The Chariot (7)
(EN)JOY: Three (3) of Swords
Interpret in whatever way feels good! Or don’t!
I was blown away by the accuracy of the message I received in The Queer Tarot Guidebook for the Seven of Pentacles, and The Chariot’s entry also gave me some good things to think about. The Three of Swords rightfully freaks me out a bit, but I was also able to capture a few pieces of good advice to stick in my back pocket.
If you try the spread and feel like sharing on social, please tag me @beescolnick so that I can see and share! xx
Thank you for reading swimming in the soup. This post is public so feel free to share it.
Shake up a stagnant routine
Start a questioning practice and document any found information or answers
Research and connect with one new archetype, deity, school of thought, or spell ingredient
Choose a mantra and say it out loud every day
As your guide for a sign a day and take notes on what shows up
Don’t gaslight yourself into thinking the signs aren’t “real”
Read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The above ideas are all sourced from my book, in which I offer tons of practices to try out on a day, month or year ruled by each number. I decided to go a bit further with the tarot spread I shared above, and choose one thing to try for each number for October: 1, 7, and my personal number of 3.
1: Perform a spell on the first day of the month and track its progress
7: Commit to sitting and breathing for 7 minutes per day
3: Journal each morning
Grab your copy and try it for yourself! Bonus points if you pick things that were already on your to-do list!
Other things I’m trying:
Marlee Grace’s class, ORGANIZING A DAY, a two-hour class on creative planning hour by hour, season by season, integrating tools and structures for pushing through avoidance and fear into service and spaciousness
Downloading and getting to know Scrivener, the go-to app for long form writing projects that lets writers see the forest and the trees
Reading Volume II of the Tarot & Politics Zine, compiled and edited by Lane Smith (@politicsoftarot)! It’s pay-what-you-can, features the most rad line-up of magical thinkers and writers, and is a must-have as we wrap up this Lovers/Devil year of 2022. Head to Lane’s instagram for instructions on how to support!
Listening to Lo-Fi for Witches. Great music to write to, even better comments!
September got a little wacky with traveling and my book release, but we’re getting back to it in October!
🥣 Friday 10/7: Numerology & the Enneagram — This was highly requested in my last live workshop, so I’m looking into the roots of the Enneagram and how it aligns, and doesn’t align, with numerology.
🥣 Friday 10/21: Celebrating Samhain — Okay, so the alliteration only works when spoken, but you get it… The Friday before Samhain, I’m breaking down the history, the traditions, and of course, sharing a ton of ways to make personal magic during one of the highest of witchy holy days!
✨ Peppered throughout the month will be a DUNE Deep Dive or two. To be totally honest, it’s been a lot of work to both read and prep and create those episodes, and I’ve fallen behind! Thank you for your patience—maybe you even need this time to catch up?—and I promise I haven’t given up on these. Just moving at a slower pace than anticipated!
I also wanted to share a quick announcement about next month’s SITS!
In November, I’m going to be attempting NANOWRIMO, or National Novel Writing Month! I have an idea for a queer New York rom-com that’s been percolating for a while now, and I’m ready to see what it could look like on the page. It’s a total privilege to be able to devote the month to this endeavor, and I’m psyched to give this gift to my creative self.
Because the daily word count goals are bonkers, I’m going to be taking the month off from the podcast element of SITS. You can still expect the November Monthly Forecast and a newsletter every other week, but it’ll focus on my experience of NANOWRIMO, tips and tricks that’ve helped me to write, and snippets and sneak peeks of what I’m working on! I think it’ll be fun. Then, we’ll see where we land in December and *jaw drops* wrap up the year!
Sending you love & protection for a gorgeous month!xx, Rebeccaswimming in the soup is a reader-supported publication. To receive Monthly Numerological Forecasts, DUNE Deep Dive podcast episodes, additional perks, and to support my work, consider becoming a paid pal 💸.
September 27, 2022
The Both/And of Creative Living
photo by Allexa Crosson Photography
swimming in the soup is a reader-supported publication. To receive Monthly Numerology Forecasts, DUNE Deep Dive podcast episodes, and to support my work, please consider becoming a paid pal 💸!
There are two things that I would like you to know about today:
I woke up with migraine.
I’m writing this at the coffee shop that has my absolute favorite croissant and (bottomless) coffee in the city, and has been my writing/dreaming/people-watching spot since 2013.
MY FIRST PUBLISHED BOOK COMES OUT TODAY!
Okay, so I lied—there were 3 things! Three is the magic number, after all.
And maybe you’re thinking that #3 on the list should actually be #1, but I promise there is a method to my near-absolute madness.
The moon is new and in Libra (my natal placement, except I was born during a first quarter moon, which also might explain why a bit of tension took the top spot in my list), and I’ve been thinking a great deal about the both/and-ness of life. How if we really are to acknowledge the whole, and all the many experiences that run the gamut of existence, then we will often have to hold that which we want and don’t want at the same time.
A few years ago, I filmed on the Tony’s Red Carpet for the first time. I wore a truly badass floral suit from WildFang and white Doc Martens. I had deliciously fancy pre-show martinis with my colleagues at Del Frisco’s. Andrew Garfield held my hand and I caught it on video. It was a magical evening!
The next day, our toilet overflowed and I was on hands and knees cleaning the bathroom.
One night, I was at the ball.
The next, back in the cinders and tackling chores.
Both/and.
One doesn’t negate the other. They both exist, swinging on the pendulum between this and that. And if magic is everything or it’s nothing, then that means that even the literal shit we have to deal with is its own brand of enchantment.
How do we work with that? Especially if the celebration and the crap overlap?
Take the notion of “This too shall pass”—one of my most turned to wisdom principles. We say this when things are tough, if only to touch in with the idea that everything is ephemeral, fleeting. The bad shit won’t last forever. We can make it through. But what if we held this belief in the good times too? The celebrations? Those moments won’t last forever either.
Those too shall pass.
Instead of letting this be disappointing or increase our feelings of foreboding joy, how can it bring us into deeper connection with embodied gratitude (joy) and pleasure? How can it help us to truly be present in the good moments of life? To enjoy them while they last, and savor them when they’re over and we’re back in the muck.
So yeah, this morning—the morning of my first book release—I woke up with migraine. But I was able to go back to sleep for a bit, and now I’m writing this to you from the coffee shop that I’ve been writing in since I was 20. A place that’s held my hopes and dreams for almost a decade. Here, I’ve written fiction, multiple screenplays, dozens of terrible blog entries that should have never seen the light of day, a tv series of Shakespearean fanfic (which is honestly brilliant, if I do say so myself), and yes, parts of The Witch’s Book of Numbers.
And every version of me—from the kid that wrote songs on the floor of her bedroom in the 2nd grade, to the high school novelist writing about love from a thoroughly inexperienced perspective, to the 22-year-old exploring her sexuality through queering Rosalind from As You Like It, to the me of last year, who compiled her life and learnings and questions and musings into a whole ass book that you can now read—is determined to have a BLAST TODAY! Migraine be damned. There’s so much juicy goodness to focus on! So many loved ones popping up on my phone! So many toasts and fêtes still to come!
If we’re always holding the whole, the both/and, then that’s what it really comes down to, eh? Our focus. Our point of view. What we choose to give our attention to.
This is especially important for those living a creative life, who have courageously committed themselves to a rollercoaster of flirting with the muse, tangling with the trickster gxds, and petitioning the gatekeepers, who still hold far too many keys in this capitalist hellscape that craves art, but has never rightfully valued the artist.
I believe that holding the both/and of it all, making peace with that dance and choosing to focus on the joy of the journey, will save your very life.
Nevertheless, we persist! We create! We celebrate! We bask in the big wins! We revel in the moments that make our hearts burst and our souls sing! We go where the love is and we let ourselves drown in it! We focus on what feels good! We tune in to gratitude!
Glennon Doyle says, "Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it,” and I would have to agree with her.
Both/and. The Whole. I want it all. For me, and for you.
I hope you’re choosing joy today, and I’m sending you love and comfort if you’re on the proverbial or literal bathroom floor.
Thank you for all the love and support you’ve shown my book, and me. I treasure it, and you! xx
If you’ve read and/or are going to read The Witch’s Book of Numbers, please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads! Consider what you liked or enjoyed about the book, anything you learned or that surprised you, and the who/what/when/why of recommending to others. Thank you so much!
LATEST & GREATEST FOR MY PAID PALS 💸swimming in the soup is a reader-supported publication. To receive Monthly Numerology Forecasts, DUNE Deep Dive podcast episodes, and to support my work, please consider becoming a paid pal!
Check out the latest DUNE Deep Dive!
In this episode, Nick and I chat about:
Nick’s recent love of science fiction + their top recommendations for anyone looking to read further
How DUNE succeeds or fails at being a feminist text
Second-wave feminism and American gender politics of the 1960s
The Bene Gesserits and stereotypes about “masculine” vs “feminine”
How DUNE is trapped in many binaries
The Kwisatz Haderach as the “fulcrum” between male & female, and how Paul could have been more effective as a non-binary character
Villainous queer-coding in DUNE and who Nick sees themself as in the story
How Nick ships Feyd-Rautha & Paul and Rule 34: If you’ve thought about it, there’s internet porn about it
Ursula K Le Guin’s Left Hand of Darkness, another science fiction classic that tackles gender of the future
MUCH, MUCH MORE!
Until next time, just keep swimming! xxSeptember 23, 2022
SNEAK PEEK: The Witch's Book of Numbers
What’s up, swimmers? I have been quite busy the last couple weeks with travel and book events, and a big ole lesbian wedding!! (Not mine, we’re happy with our COVID elopement!) So, I cannot tell a lie—there’s no new episode of SITS coming out today.
Instead, I thought I’d give you a little taste of The Witch’s Book of Numbers, which officially comes out this Tuesday, September 27th!
PRE-ORDER THE WITCH'S BOOK OF NUMBERS
photo by Allexa Crosson Photography
The entire process of this book was pretty magical: In January 2021, the very beginning of a 5 year in numerology (2+0+2+1 = 5), which rules The Hierophant in the tarot, I received an inquiry from Hierophant Publishing, asking if there might be a book project in my work. I needed to be pinched for many many reasons in that moment, but especially due to the Hierophant of it all. Just so on the nose!
Over the next couple of lunar cycles, I worked with their team to create a proposal for what would become The Witch’s Book of Numbers. It was wild to watch how it naturally unfolded—meetings and notes given on new moons, deadlines and handing over materials on full moons! After the fourth outline with accompanying sample chapters, I got the green light to start writing.
In some ways, this has been the speediest project. It’ll be less than 2 years total from the first inquiry to the finished product hitting shelves. But in many ways, it was also the longest and most isolated process of my creative career! A few trusted pals read pieces of the book along the way, but for the most part it’s stayed in the dark until now, so you can imagine how excited I am to see it in people’s hands!
This past weekend, Ruby’s Books in my hometown of Folsom, CA, was gracious enough to host me for my first ever book event! There, I introduced my book and, in many ways, myself to a group of folks who’ve seen me through many chapters of my life, and who’ve championed me through them all. I feel so incredibly grateful, my cup is so full, and I’m so ready to get this baby out there!
photo by Allexa Crosson Photography
swimming in the soup is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
EXCERPT FROM THE WITCH’S BOOK OF NUMBERS ✨Introduction
Magic, or at least a belief in magic, has been around for pretty much ever, at least if the oldest artifacts of humanity are to be believed.
—Sarah Lyons
During my junior year of high school, I got into a rather heated argument with my mom over my less than satisfactory grade in Algebra II. I was struggling, which was unlike me, because I was a good student. I could’ve blamed my teacher, or the fact that the class was held out in the portable classrooms whose temperature was either freezing cold or boiling hot with no in-between, but the reality was that I just didn’t get it. I didn’t understand how to calculate the right answers, and I definitely didn’t know how any of it applied to the real world. Language, music, drama, history—those subjects all made sense to me. But slap a numeral onto the hypotheticals or ask me to find the value of x and I was lost in the wilderness. “I am an artist,” I whined. “I won’t need math unless I’m in Math: The Musical!” The following week, my mother enrolled me in a remedial program at a local learning center.
While I did go on to pass Algebra II and several other math classes afterward, I can’t say that my relationship with the subject shifted all that much, which is irksome because math seems to provide concrete answers to an otherwise mysterious world. I’ve always been an inquisitive person with big questions. And growing up, some potential answers (or at least the space to ask deeper questions) were made available to me in the form of organized religion.
When I was seven, my mother became a cantor at a traditional Catholic Church. I was mesmerized by all of the ornate costumes, the theatrical rituals, and audience participation—how does everyone just know these calls and responses? But ultimately, their refusal to let me take communion led me to check out other options. Without any direction, I chose a community Bible church from the Yellow Pages and asked my dad to drop me off. Of course, there were obvious questions about the child who sat alone in the front row taking notes on the sermon, but I was welcomed with open arms.
Years later, I was cast in my first leading role in a school musical and told my pastor that I was going to have to take a break from the church youth group to prioritize rehearsals. He remarked that God was “disappointed in me,” which just felt off. There was no way that the Divine with whom I’d been communing over the years—who already didn’t match the wrathful God of the Old Testament or the “loving” rebrand of the New Testament—could possibly be so upset over a high school production of Oklahoma! I began wondering if organized religion was really the right place for me. What I received at church—music, stories, history, folklore, ideal personal and community conduct, metaphors, and thought puzzles—had to be available elsewhere from other communities with values that were a whole lot more aligned with mine. So, I dug deeper into theater, film, literature, and philosophy, anything that scratched my itch to experience mystery and awe, and continued my spiritual education.
It’s also when I started feeling drawn to witchcraft. Shortly after I graduated high school, I received my first tarot deck from the elderly witch running the lone metaphysical shop in my hometown. As she described all of the different tarot decks and their uses, I knew right away that witchcraft was a rabbit hole I could thrive in. Not long after, my mom had my numerology chart done by a sidewalk mystic in a foggy Northern California beach town, and suddenly numbers were back in my life, although reframed and taking on a whole new spiritual meaning.
The Magic of NumbersCaptivated by numerology and curious about math for the first time in my life, I began to look into this newfound divinatory tool that promised to link the digits of my nightmares with the poetic insights of my dreams. What I found was that the ancient mystics of Egypt, Greece, Babylon, and countless other cultures saw mathematics, geometry, and science as the language with which the Universe was created. Answers to life’s big questions varied according to what or whom you asked, but when the mysteries of the Universe were broken down sufficiently, what you were left with was numbers—the building blocks of all life.
Numerology is the ancient study of that cosmic language of the Universe, numbers, as well as the intuitive application of divine principles to people, places, and events. It’s both a calculated practice and a creative art that blends the spiritual and the scientific through sensory experiences, philosophical concepts, lyrical metaphors, and an abundance of synchronicities to enable you to draw meaning from them in your life. Turns out that all I needed to do to shift my relationship with math was to integrate it with all of the other subjects to which I was naturally drawn. That’s when I started finding answers.
Numerology and the magical aspects of numbers acknowledge very little separation between the practical and the spiritual. The men who studied at some of the world’s first universities trained as both scientists and priests. Room has always been left for that which could not be explained through empirical means. In fact, there’s still so much about this world that we yet do not understand. New evidence of divine intelligence is still being discovered every day. We humans— mere animals who’ve evolved to think, speak, and experience consciousness—have tried so hard to separate ourselves from nature, sometimes to our own detriment. Yet, numbers continually remind us that we are nature and we are also divine. They are our proof—the smallest sets of proof—that we are both mundane and magical, and that we are certainly all interconnected.
In mathematics, numbers are positioned in chronological order along a line, but in numerology, it may be helpful to reimagine the single-digit building-block numbers of 1 through 9 as a spiral. We’ll talk more about this shape in Chapter 11, but for now, visualize how this shape is seemingly never-ending, the ending folding into the beginning as the pattern begins again. These numbers, when seen through a numerological lens, offer us another way to be a part of the story of the Universe. They give us a way to be one with the stars above, the Earth below, and the living beings all around us. They invite us into the rhythm of life’s repeating cycles of death and rebirth. These cycles are natural and can be quite comforting once we familiarize ourselves with them. After all, consider how many times we hear the same story repeated without tiring of its basic characters and the plot twists it contains. In life, there is room for every story, and they all add up to something.
Even though numerology had firmly planted its roots in my spiritual practice, it would still be over a decade—years spent in esoteric study and playing with different modalities and crafts—before I ever called myself a witch. The term just wasn’t on my personal radar; I didn’t identify myself with it. And then one day, it felt so right on my tongue that I couldn’t believe I would dare to see myself any differently.
So, if you’re reading this and still questioning whether that word describes you—welcome! What an exciting part of your journey! May your explorations lead you into deeper connection with your unique and magical will, your truest intentions, and your most potent actions. That’s all that witchcraft requires! It entails a personal revolution and a practice that can incorporate many tokens and tools—or none at all, regardless of how hard our capitalist society tries to sell them to you. After all, there’s no right way to be a witch.
Which Witch Is Which?Witch is a gender-neutral term that can be hard to define because, for so many years, it was used as a generally derogatory term for anyone who didn’t comply with the dominant social and religious powers of the time. The word has deep roots in anti-Semitism, with many early and sadly long-lasting physical depictions of the witch matching those of harmful Jewish stereotypes. However, those who were persecuted throughout history for being witches also included Pagans, healers, herbalists, cunning folk—my ancestors—scientists, philosophers, astrologers, mystics, and others who simply didn’t share prevailing Christian beliefs and had no interest in converting to them. As the Church rose to power and suppressed mystical thought and practice, more and more people were inaccurately labeled as witches. Even Hypatia, one of the most prominent Pagan philosophers and numerologists of Alexandria, was killed by a violent Christian mob around the time that Egypt ceased to be a diverse, intellectual Utopia.
One thing that linked those mislabeled as witches was their deep connection with the physical world. They shared a powerful curiosity about the world and a desire to know the self and to live in right relationship with and serve the community. In numerology, witch is what is known as a “27/9 word”—one that connects with the Spirit in service to the collective. Today, those interested in reclaiming the title of witch are also those who observe and ritualize the natural world in ways similar to those of more pragmatic scientists and mathematicians. They see numbers as the code with which the natural world was written and work with numbers to understand and enact physical and energetic change. Science and spirituality can thus work together as they were always meant to do.
Until next time, just keep swimming! xxSeptember 16, 2022
DUNE x GENDER
Hello and welcome to this super special episode of our DUNE Deep Dive, where my dear friend and collaborator Nick Kepley joined me to talk all things DUNE and GENDER!
Nick Kepley (they/he) is a white, queer, non-binary Tarot reader who believes in the power of words and their complete inability to describe reality. Since 2011, Nick has been working as a Tarot facilitator, utilizing the cards as a reflective tool and witnessing the conversations that take place between clients and their deeper-knowing. Nick is also the creator and co-host of the In Search of Tarot podcast. You can learn more about them by visiting manofthecards.com or by following them on Instagram @insearchoftarot
In this episode, we chat about:
Nick’s recent love of science fiction + their top recommendations for anyone looking to read further
How DUNE succeeds or fails at being a feminist text
Second-wave feminism and American gender politics of the 1960s
The Bene Gesserits and stereotypes about “masculine” vs “feminine”
How DUNE is trapped in many binaries
The Kwisatz Haderach as the “fulcrum” between male & female, and how Paul could have been more effective as a non-binary character
Villainous queer-coding in DUNE and who Nick sees themself as in the story
How Nick ships Feyd-Rautha & Paul and Rule 34: If you’ve thought about it, there’s internet porn about it
Ursula K Le Guin’s Left Hand of Darkness, another science fiction classic that tackles gender of the future
MUCH, MUCH MORE!
September 9, 2022
SITS 1x04: Cosmic Love
What’s up swimmers? Today, I’m spilling some embarrassing secrets about how I spend my time… 📺 💕
GOING DOWN TOMORROW 🚨It’s the LAST DAY TO SIGN UP for my free virtual workshop, Get to Know The Witch’s Book of Numbers, which is going down tomorrow, Saturday September 10th at 2:22pm EST. The Zoom link will go out later today, so click HERE to drop your email address!
DUNE 200-300 ✨Last week, I sent out the next Deep Dive episode to my paid pals 💸, which was all about the current water crises happening around the globe. Unfortunately, this information is only becoming more and more relevant—someone even sent me a screenshot of the episode playing above a NYT alert about the water crisis in Jackson, MS.
I also announced that Nick Kepley (@insearchoftarot) will be joining me on a future Deep Dive episode to discuss all things DUNE and gender, including how Paul might be a non-binary character ahead of their time! 👀
consider becoming a paid pal 💸 for access to all episodes of the DUNE Deep Dive!
SITS 1x03 MEME ROUND-UP 😛Start your Friday off with a strange chuckle! Here are the memes for SITS 1x03: Witches in the White House! ⚡️
Let me know which one made you LOL and pop over to my Instagram to share!
IS LOVE WRITTEN IN THE STARS? 🌟I promised you horrifying confessions…. SO HERE WE GO!
Today on SITS, we find ourselves at the intersection of astrology & one of my most cringe interests—reality dating television shows!
Michelle Pellizzon-Lipsitz, the Head Witch in Charge at Holisticism, shares that when creating content and putting your work out into the world, you want to focus on building trust and connection with your clients, your audience, your pals, through two things: Empathy & Authority.
Empathy says, I understand you. And I do. I am you. I, too, need to grab the remote, kick back and lose myself in endless hours of reality dating shows. I also love suspending my disbelief that any of these people are “here for the right reasons” and not just to further their career as an instagram influencer or a dog food jingle composer.
But I get it. I do. Whether it’s a mansion, a villa or an island, I want to be there. I want to witness hot singles, ages 18-40, repeatedly say phrases like, “I really want to get to know you better,” and “I think we have a great connection, I’m excited to see where it goes” without actually asking each other any questions about themselves, or anything really!
I also feel what it’s like to have too many options or just not know which new dating show is the one to try, which leads me to to the second part of creating trust and building connection:
Authority! Why should you listen to me?
Malcolm Gladwell said it takes 10,000 hours to master something.
I will now tell you that I’ve cracked 1,000 hours! Oh yeah, I’m like 1,100 hours into reality dating shows, and those are just the ones I’m remembering. I’ve seen every single episode of Love Island in the world. 8 Seasons of UK, 3 of Australia, and unfortunately 3 of Love Island USA.
Now, I did some math and I’ve spent over 50 days of my life—24 hours a day for 50 days—watching reality dating shows. That’s like a typical jail sentence for a DUI. Like a month and a half watching dating shows.
So, if authority is knowledge and time spent, I think you can trust that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to reality dating shows.
COSMIC LOVE 💫💗Enter Cosmic Love, a new reality dating show on Prime Video (yes, yes, I know… Bezos is the devil! I agree! More on this in the episode!) that asks:
Can astrology find your soulmate and future spouse? Watch Cosmic Love on Amazon Prime Video as The AstroTwins guide four single people on a journey to true love through their birth charts.
In today’s episode, we break down:
The Basic Set-Up
The Four Elements, our series leads
The Singles, the hot eligible boys & girls matched with the Elements
The Cosmic Compound, their culty, but incredible new villa
The AstroChamber, the robot that leads them through the journey
The AstroTwins, the Legitimacy of the Astrology & the Why Now?
How Cosmic Love is “the Patriarchy Appropriating Space Magic” (direct quote from my wife while watching…)
Pros, Cons, and my Final Rating!
SOURCES & CITATIONS 😎Behind the Scenes of ‘Cosmic Love’ (AstroStyle)
The Astrology of Every Episode (AstroStyle)
‘Cosmic Love’ is the New ‘Love is Blind’ (Decider)
‘Cosmic Love’ EP on Astrology (Variety)
There's Finally an Astrology-Based Reality Dating Show—I Just Wish It Were Queer (Cosmopolitan)
PS! The next episode will drop right before my book comes out and I’m thinking about tailoring it to the book and my experiences so far in the publishing world. If you have questions about either the writing or the publishing process, let me know! I’ll do my very best to answer them!
Until next time, just keep swimming! xxSITS 1x04
What’s up swimmers? Today, I’m spilling some embarrassing secrets about how I spend my time… 📺 💕
GOING DOWN TOMORROW 🚨It’s the LAST DAY TO SIGN UP for my free virtual workshop, Get to Know The Witch’s Book of Numbers, which is going down tomorrow, Saturday September 10th at 2:22pm EST. The Zoom link will go out later today, so click HERE to drop your email address!
DUNE 200-300 ✨Last week, I sent out the next Deep Dive episode to my paid pals 💸, which was all about the current water crises happening around the globe. Unfortunately, this information is only becoming more and more relevant—someone even sent me a screenshot of the episode playing above a NYT alert about the water crisis in Jackson, MS.
I also announced that Nick Kepley (@insearchoftarot) will be joining me on a future Deep Dive episode to discuss all things DUNE and gender, including how Paul might be a non-binary character ahead of their time! 👀
consider becoming a paid pal 💸 for access to all episodes of the DUNE Deep Dive!
SITS 1x03 MEME ROUND-UP 😛Start your Friday off with a strange chuckle! Here are the memes for SITS 1x03: Witches in the White House! ⚡️
Let me know which one made you LOL and pop over to my Instagram to share!
IS LOVE WRITTEN IN THE STARS? 🌟I promised you horrifying confessions…. SO HERE WE GO!
Today on SITS, we find ourselves at the intersection of astrology & one of my most cringe interests—reality dating television shows!
Michelle Pellizzon-Lipsitz, the Head Witch in Charge at Holisticism, shares that when creating content and putting your work out into the world, you want to focus on building trust and connection with your clients, your audience, your pals, through two things: Empathy & Authority.
Empathy says, I understand you. And I do. I am you. I, too, need to grab the remote, kick back and lose myself in endless hours of reality dating shows. I also love suspending my disbelief that any of these people are “here for the right reasons” and not just to further their career as an instagram influencer or a dog food jingle composer.
But I get it. I do. Whether it’s a mansion, a villa or an island, I want to be there. I want to witness hot singles, ages 18-40, repeatedly say phrases like, “I really want to get to know you better,” and “I think we have a great connection, I’m excited to see where it goes” without actually asking each other any questions about themselves, or anything really!
I also feel what it’s like to have too many options or just not know which new dating show is the one to try, which leads me to to the second part of creating trust and building connection:
Authority! Why should you listen to me?
Malcolm Gladwell said it takes 10,000 hours to master something.
I will now tell you that I’ve cracked 1,000 hours! Oh yeah, I’m like 1,100 hours into reality dating shows, and those are just the ones I’m remembering. I’ve seen every single episode of Love Island in the world. 8 Seasons of UK, 3 of Australia, and unfortunately 3 of Love Island USA.
Now, I did some math and I’ve spent over 50 days of my life—24 hours a day for 50 days—watching reality dating shows. That’s like a typical jail sentence for a DUI. Like a month and a half watching dating shows.
So, if authority is knowledge and time spent, I think you can trust that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to reality dating shows.
COSMIC LOVE 💫💗Enter Cosmic Love, a new reality dating show on Prime Video (yes, yes, I know… Bezos is the devil! I agree! More on this in the episode!) that asks:
Can astrology find your soulmate and future spouse? Watch Cosmic Love on Amazon Prime Video as The AstroTwins guide four single people on a journey to true love through their birth charts.
In today’s episode, we break down:
The Basic Set-Up
The Four Elements, our series leads
The Singles, the hot eligible boys & girls matched with the Elements
The Cosmic Compound, their culty, but incredible new villa
The AstroChamber, the robot that leads them through the journey
The AstroTwins, the Legitimacy of the Astrology & the Why Now?
How Cosmic Love is “the Patriarchy Appropriating Space Magic” (direct quote from my wife while watching…)
Pros, Cons, and my Final Rating!
SOURCES & CITATIONS 😎Behind the Scenes of ‘Cosmic Love’ (AstroStyle)
The Astrology of Every Episode (AstroStyle)
‘Cosmic Love’ is the New ‘Love is Blind’ (Decider)
‘Cosmic Love’ EP on Astrology (Variety)
There's Finally an Astrology-Based Reality Dating Show—I Just Wish It Were Queer (Cosmopolitan)
PS! The next episode will drop right before my book comes out and I’m thinking about tailoring it to the book and my experiences so far in the publishing world. If you have questions about either the writing or the publishing process, let me know! I’ll do my very best to answer them!
Until next time, just keep swimming! xxSeptember 2, 2022
September 1, 2022
September: By the Numbers
As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.
- Peggy Toney Horton
Happy September! Fall weather, come on, babe. We’re waiting!
First, hi, hello, how are you, thank you for your continued support, I couldn’t be more thrilled to have you here, am I overdoing this, hi, hello!
Next, for everyone who responded via email re: mailed tarot offerings that were a gifty gift with your $$ contribution — they’re on their way! I’m so tickled by how these came together and I had a ball compiling them. I hope you dig it, and be sure to let me know! If you didn’t get my email and would like to receive one, please send me your name and address!
Then, a gentle reminder that my book comes out this month (😭😭😭😭) on September 27! If you haven’t yet placed a pre-order, it’s never too late!
I’m also hosting a couple of free virtual events that I’d love to see you at!
Get to Know The Witch’s Book of Numbers Workshop
Saturday, September 10th at 2:22pm EST
Sign up HERE! Zoom link will be sent on 9/9.
Release Night Reading from The Witch’s Book of Numbers
Tuesday, September 27th at 6:00pm EST
Sign up HERE! Zoom link will be sent on 9/26.
Lastly, I will be seeing you again tomorrow for a DUNE Deep Dive on pages 100-300. Well, technically 324, as I read to the end of Book One. We’ll be talking sandworms and stillsuits and seeds, oh my! We’ll be chatting about the American obsession with lawns and the current water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi. And of course, we’ll be pondering a slower world after capitalism and how to get there, touching back in with our girl Ursula for some inspiration:
We live in capitalism, its power seems inescapable — but then, so did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art.
- Ursula K. Le Guin
But enough annoucements!
Let’s see what September has in store.
September is connected to the number 9, which can be a sobering energy, but one of great maturity, composure and conviction.
Nine (9) is the number of completion. It denotes the ending of a cycle, wrapping up and letting things go, retreat, reemergence and reward. It both basks in a job well done and remembers that “this too shall pass.”
It’s a mental energy, honoring when hard-won knowledge and study become wisdom. You may find yourself being drawn to intellectual pursuits this month or even that back-to-school energy, regardless of whether or not you enroll in a class. But while 9 is roll up your sleeve energy, it knows that the way to wisdom does not just live in the brain alone. All of that work you did in August to honor your gut and your body’s needs will be important to continue in September. We’re moving forward from that place of embodiment, integrity and care.
The 9s in the Tarot are represented by The Hermit (9) and The Moon (18). The Hermit goes within or away, led by the light of their own lamp, knowing the importance of staying deeply and devotedly present to integrate fully before remerging to share. The Moon offers different and new perspectives and opportunities for reflection. If August was chaotic for you, lean into the Hermit vibes that this month has to offer. Especially when paired with our number for the month, September 2022 calls for space and softness.
August 26, 2022
SITS 1x03: Witches in the White House
Hey swimmers! Welcome back to SITS! I hope you’ve had a sweet couple of weeks.
FOR THE CALENDAR 📅Two things to stick on your calendar before we dive into today’s episode!
A FREE ONLINE WORKSHOP on THE WITCH’S BOOK OF NUMBERS
When? September 10th, 2022 @ 2:22 PM EST
Where? On Zoom! Link to come!
What? A 1-hour interactive workshop with me!
Why? Because it’s free & you’ll walk away with some tangible practices & things to reflect on for the remainder of 2022.
THE GATHERING OF THE WITCHES 2022
When? October 21-23, 2022
Where? Online through Insight Events USA! Purchase tickets HERE.
What? A whole witchy weekend of interactive workshops!
Why? Because you want to expand your self and your craft, and spend the equinox with other likeminded & magical pals!
DUNE DEEP DIVE 100-200 ✨Babes, I realize that I’ve promised a lot of episodes at once, so while the deep dive is coming, it ain’t here yet! 😂 Instead, I share a couple fun synchronicities that’ve popped up since we started reading, as well as a few quick thoughts about the next 100 pages of DUNE.
If you haven’t yet listened to DUNE 0-100, check it out! It’s available to all.
consider becoming a paid pal 💸 for access to all episodes of the DUNE Deep Dive!
SITS 1x02 MEME ROUND-UP 😛The meme curator becomes the meme maker!
I had a little too much fun making these memes, which I think I’ll continue to do after each episode. Below are for SITS 1x02 - Five Funny Faith-Based Feuds.
Let me know which one made you LOL and pop over to my Instagram to share!
WITCHY FIRST LADIES ⚡️Alright, it’s time to get a little witchy, a little political & a little occult-y!
This week on SITS, we’re taking a look at the 7 First Ladies who brought a little magic to the White House!
Let’s meet our gals:
Julia Gardiner Tyler — ESP
The wife of the tenth president, John Tyler, and served as the first lady from 1844 to 1845.
FUN FACT: She was the only of the women to claim she herself had spiritual gifts! ✨
Jane Pierce — Spiritualism
Wife of president Franklin Pierce and the first lady from 1853 to 1857.
Invited the Fox Sisters, leading members of the Spiritualist movement, to hold a seance in the White House!
Mary Todd Lincoln — Spiritualism
Served as the first lady from 1861 to 1865, when her husband, president Abraham Lincoln was assassinated while in office.
Hosted seances, which Abraham Lincoln attended, in the White House’s Red Room. Later joined a spiritualist commune, where this spirit picture was taken of her and Lincoln’s ghost 👻 :
Edith Wilson — Employed a Clairvoyant, Madame Marcia Champney
The second wife of president Woodrow Wilson, and the first lady from 1915 to 1921.
Was told that she would one day be the First Lady, and when that came to pass, Edith continued to bring Madame Champney into the White House—through the back door! 👀
Florence Harding — Also employed Madame Marcia Champney
The first lady from 1921 to 1923, when her husband Warren G. Harding died from a strange heart attack while in office.
Consulted Madame Champney throughout her husband’s bid for President, using the code name Jupiter to speak of him through more public channels. Promised upon his win to bring Madame Champney in through the White House front door… but ultimately used the side entrance, directly into the West Wing.
Nancy Reagan — Employed an Astrologer, Joan Quigley
American film actress and wife of president Ronald Reagan, Nancy was the first lady from 1981 to 1989.
When news of Quigley’s involvement in the White House became public, Nancy severely downplayed her role in the President’s affairs. However, Joan (pictured below) went on record stating that she participated in a more “intimate” way, assisting the President with timing of speeches, trips both long and short, and televised debates with both Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale.
Hillary Rodham Clinton — Conversed with Eleanor Roosevelt
Served as the first lady from 1993 to 2001 alongside her husband, president Bill Clinton.
Was advised to have imagined conversations with her idol, and former First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, which was publicized as “channeling.” Hillary’s team firmly disagrees, claiming it was a creative and therapeutic activity, not anything witchy 🙄
What do you make of the long and sordid history of the intersection of witchcraft and American politics? Do you see anything in the pattern or even the individual events? What’s striking your rabbit hole, deep dive fancy? Let me know!
SOURCES / CITATIONSThe First Ladies Who Brought the Occult to the White House (VICE)
The White House Plays Down a New Age Visitor (NYT)
First Ladies & The Occult: Seances and Spiritualists, Part 1 (First Ladies.Org)
The Fox Sisters and the Rap on Spiritualism (Smithsonian)
Nancy Reagan turned to astrology in White House to protect her husband (LA TImes)
Hillary Clinton to set out her vision by invoking her heroine Eleanor Roosevelt (The Guardian)
