Ellie Potts's Blog

If I Want to Learn It, I Will

What skill would you like to learn?

Because learning should never stop—no matter our age, mood, or moon phase.

There’s a quiet thrill in deciding what to learn next. Not because someone told me to. Not because it’s “useful” or “marketable.” But because it sparks something. A flicker of interest. A whisper of magic. A sense that this skill might become a ritual, a recipe, a game, or a doorway.

I don’t believe in age limits for learning. I believe in curiosity. In creative hunger. In the joy of saying, I want to learn this—and so I will.

I’m not chasing mastery. I’m chasing meaning. If a skill feels alive, I’ll learn it. If it feels like play, I’ll share it. If it feels like magic, I’ll turn it into a ritual.

Because learning isn’t a ladder—it’s a labyrinth. And I plan to keep wandering.

Special Guest Sara Lea, author of Final Order

Hello! I’m Sara Lea, author of Final Order, a short story slasher releasing October 3, 2025. Final Order is part of a multi-author series of 8 total stories about fighting like a final girl. It is a nod to old school slasher horror in a bite size dose. 

In Final Order, the main character, Scarlet, shows up for her shift at the local grease pit diner. She’s expecting another boring shift of serving up greasy burgers and fries to a few locals and truckers passing through. But then the first body shows up… and she realizes that someone is here and ready to place their final order. 

A badass final girl is:

 intelligent

 observant 

 resourceful

 resilient

 She will do whatever she has to do in order to survive.

My all time favorite final girl is Nancy from The Nightmare on Elm Street

(movie series). That girl put all her skills together to fight from the inside of her dreams! Doesn’t get more kickass than that!

All 8 of the Fight Like a Final Girl stories showcase a fight for survival… to be the last one standing… to make it to another day. 

You can grab Final Order on Amazon for .99! https://a.co/d/ea1bz7L

Be sure to check out the other stories too! You won’t want to miss any of them. 

Cover Reveal: Cannabis Grimoire by Ellie Potts

This Cannabis Grimoire is not fully a beginner’s guide; there are some other great books on that. It is for the patient learners, curious explorers, and devoted practitioners who seek knowledge with open hearts and respect for the sacred plant. This grimoire will cover the foundations of cannabis, using it for grounding and centering, basics of herbalism, creating your sacred space, cleansing, divination, spells & rituals, working with spirits & deities, creating your altar and so much more.

Coming soon.

Writing with Tarot in October: A Ritual for Shadow, Story, and Seasonal Magic

October is a threshold. The veil thins, the air sharpens, and the stories waiting in the dark begin to stir. For writers, this season isn’t just about spooky aesthetics—it’s a time to honor transformation, explore shadow, and write with deeper emotional clarity.

One of my favorite tools for this kind of writing? Tarot.

Whether you’re crafting horror, magical realism, memoir, or ritual-rich poetry, tarot can guide your creative process with archetypal depth and intuitive insight. Here’s how to use tarot as a writing companion this October.

Why Tarot?

Tarot is more than fortune-telling—it’s metaphor, mood, and mirror. Each card holds:

An archetype (The Fool, The Tower, The High Priestess)A theme (beginnings, collapse, intuition)A feeling (hope, dread, longing, release)

When you write with tarot, you’re not just pulling cards—you’re pulling threads of story, emotion, and transformation.

October Writing Ritual with Tarot

Here’s a simple ritual to try each week:

1. Set the space.
Light a candle. Brew something warm. Let scent, sound, and texture ground you in the season.

2. Pull 1–3 tarot cards.
Ask:

What story wants to be told this week?What shadow am I ready to explore?What archetype is guiding my creative energy?

3. Write.
Let the cards shape your response. You might:

Write a horror scene inspired by The Moon’s illusionsCraft a character arc based on Death and transformationExplore emotional release through The StarJournal from the POV of The Hermit during Samhain

4. Reflect.
Note what surprised you. What themes emerged? What emotions stirred? Close the ritual with gratitude—or a playlist, if you’re like me.

Tarot Writing Prompts for October

Here are a few to spark your pen:

The Tower + October Fog: Write about a collapse that clears the way for truth.The Lovers + Haunted House: Explore connection tested by fear or illusion.The Devil + Ritual: Write about temptation disguised as tradition.The High Priestess + Samhain: Let intuition speak through the veil.The Wheel of Fortune + Autumn Leaves: Craft a story where fate turns with the season. Want to Go Deeper?

Pair this ritual with my October Creative Art Bingo—a grid of horror, Samhain, and spooky prompts designed to stir your imagination. You can use tarot to guide your bingo picks, deepen your responses, or create your own spreads for character development and emotional clarity.

October is a spell. Let tarot be your guide. Let your stories rise like mist. Let your writing become ritual.

Your pen is a wand. Your words are spells.

Tomorrow, I Choose Me

What’s your #1 priority tomorrow?

Tomorrow, I Choose Me

Tomorrow wakes with silver breath, 
A hush before the sun’s ascent— 
And in that quiet, soft and true, 
My first devotion will be you.

Not to the rush, the list, the grind, 
Not to the weight I leave behind. 
But to the pulse within my chest, 
The sacred vow: I come first, I rest.

I’ll sip the morning like a spell, 
Dress in comfort, rise and dwell 
In spaces where my soul feels free— 
My #1? It’s always me.

I’ll speak with kindness to my skin, 
Let laughter echo deep within. 
I’ll honor joy, and grief, and grace, 
And meet my mirror face to face.

No guilt, no shame, no need to prove— 
Just breath and rhythm, time to move 
Through rituals that make me whole, 
Through art that nourishes my soul.

So when the world begins to spin, 
I’ll root myself in love again. 
Tomorrow’s crown, tomorrow’s key— 
Is carved in truth: I choose me.

October BINGO: A Month of Horror, Ritual, and Creative Mischief *Revised*

Welcome, shadow dancers and story weavers. October has arrived—and with it, the veil thins, the fog rolls in, and our imaginations stir like cauldrons at midnight. This month, I invite you to join me in a communal ritual of creativity: the October BINGO Challenge, a 5×5 grid of horror prompts, Samhain spells, and spooky storytelling sparks designed to awaken your inner witch, ghost, or thrill-seeker.

Whether you’re a seasoned horror writer, a ritual-loving poet, or someone who simply adores the scent of cinnamon and dread, this bingo card is your invitation to play.

What’s Inside the Grid?

Each square is a portal. You might:

Write a thriller set in a fog-drenched orchard Invent a Samhain ritual for releasing grief Describe a haunted recipe with emotional consequences Create a sensory-friendly horror scene using only sound and texture Or map out a ghost town where memories linger like perfume

You can go in any direction—horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or full blackout. There’s no wrong way to play. Just follow your chills.

Why Join the Ritual?

Because October is more than pumpkins and costumes. It’s a season of transformation, of honoring the dead, of letting our shadows speak. This bingo is designed to be:

Inclusive: Sensory-friendly prompts and emotional depth for neurodivergent and sensitive creativesCommunal: Share your responses, remix the prompts, or co-create with friendsMagical: Each prompt is a spell, a doorway, a chance to reflect and release How to ParticipateDownload or screenshot the bingo cardPick a prompt (or several!) that calls to youWrite, draw, collage, or ritualize your responseShare your creations on your blog, socials, or in the comments using #OctoberBingoMagicTag me if you want your work featured or celebrated—I’ll be spotlighting favorites all month long

So light your candles, sharpen your pens, and let the October winds carry your stories. The bingo board awaits.

Let the haunt begin.

October Special Guests

Hi readers!

Starting the first of October, I will host Horror/Thriller writers here on the blog. They will share their books, so stay tuned, and I hope you will find your next reads or more to add to your TBR. I still have some room, so if you are interested in being on the blog, let me know.

Happy reading!

The Fulfillment of Effort: Why Hard Work Feeds the Soul

In what ways does hard work make you feel fulfilled?

There’s a quiet magic in the moment after the work is done. Not the applause, not the metrics, not even the finished product—but that deep, cellular hum of I did this. It’s the kind of fulfillment that doesn’t need validation. It simply is.

The Ritual of Effort

Hard work, when aligned with purpose, becomes a ritual. Whether it’s creating a project, crafting a story, preparing a sensory-rich meal, or hosting a communal event, the labor itself becomes sacred. Each step—each revision, each stir, each invitation—is a spell cast toward transformation. We pour ourselves into the process, and in doing so, we become more ourselves.

The Spark of Accomplishment

Accomplishment isn’t just about crossing the finish line. It’s about the fire we built along the way. The late nights, the doubts we overcame, the moments we chose to keep going. That spark—that I showed up for this—is what makes the final result feel alive. It’s not just a thing we made. It’s a mirror of our resilience.

Fulfillment as Emotional Alchemy

Hard work transmutes effort into meaning. It turns chaos into clarity, ideas into impact. And when we reflect on what we’ve created, there’s a kind of emotional alchemy at play. We feel proud, yes—but also grounded. Connected. Fulfilled in a way that no shortcut could replicate.

A Gentle Invitation

If you’re in the thick of it—mid-project, mid-process, mid-doubt—remember this: the work you’re doing is already sacred. The fulfillment will come, not just in the outcome, but in the way you’ve honored your own capacity to care, to create, to commit.

Let your hard work be a love letter to your future self. Let accomplishment be the candle you light to say: I was here. I gave this my all. And it mattered.

Adapting to change.

What’s the trait you value most about yourself?

Change is going to happen. In life, in years, I’m our bodies. I can easily accept change.

“Shape-Shifter’s Grace”

The wind does not mourn when it shifts its course, 
Nor rivers resist their bend. 
Leaves turn gold without remorse— 
Change is not foe, but friend.

A chameleon heart learns to dance 
In storms it cannot tame. 
Each scar becomes a second chance, 
Each loss, a new name.

So shed the skin that no longer fits, 
Let old songs fade away. 
Adaptability is where courage sits— 
Be reborn with each new day.

The Perimenopause Quest Log With Badges!

A glittery survival map for hormonal chaos, emotional clarity, and unexpected magic.

Welcome, brave traveler. You’ve entered the foggy forest of perimenopause—where time warps, moods swing like vines, and every hot flash is a portal to transformation. This isn’t just a phase. It’s a quest. And you, dear reader, are the heroine.

Below are your Badges of Becoming—earned through sweat, tears, laughter, and ritual. Each badge comes with a creative challenge, a self-care spell, and a communal prompt to share your story.

Mood Swing Maestro
Badge Description: Emotional symphonies conducted with flair. 
Quest Challenge: 
– Create a playlist that mirrors your emotional arc this week. 
– Journal one “unexpected mood” moment and reframe it as a plot twist. 
Ritual Spell: Light a candle, name your mood aloud, and let it dance. 
Community Prompt: What’s your theme song today?

Hot Flash Hero
Badge Description: Sweating through the chaos with style. 
Quest Challenge: 
– Design your “Hot Flash Survival Kit” (real or imaginary). 
– Write a haiku about your body’s temperature rebellion. 
Ritual Spell: Sip a cooling herbal tea while wrapped in a superhero cape (blanket counts). 
Community Prompt: What’s your most dramatic hot flash moment?


Sleep Ninja
Badge Description: Master of midnight maneuvers. 
Quest Challenge: 
– Track your sleep cycle for 3 nights. 
– Write a dream fragment as a short horror or magical realism story. 
Ritual Spell: Place a calming object under your pillow and whisper a wish to it. 
Community Prompt: What’s your weirdest 3AM thought?


Hormone Whisperer
Badge Description: Translator of internal alchemy. 
Quest Challenge: 
– Draw your current hormone mood as a potion bottle. 
– Write a letter to your body, thanking it for one thing. 
Ritual Spell: Blend a ritual tea with herbs that match your current energy. 
Community Prompt: What’s your body trying to tell you today?


Tearstorm Survivor
Badge Description: Emotional downpour, survived with grace. 
Quest Challenge: 
– Make a “cry playlist” or collage of comfort objects. 
– Write a short story where tears summon magic. 
Ritual Spell: Collect your tears (symbolically or literally) and bless them as sacred release. 
Community Prompt: What’s something you cried about that surprised you?

Badges!