Magic wishes

My new account to start new and clean up!!!!

My new account to start new and clean up!!!!

My new account to start new and clean up!!!!

My new account to start new and clean up!!!!

My new account to start new and clean up!!!!

My new account to start new and clean up!!!!

My new account to start new and clean up!!!!

My new account to start new and clean up!!!!

When first looking for a shop, regardless of feeling called to a spirit or not, it can be hard deciding on what shop to choose! Here are some questions I made to keep in mind when looking at any spirit companion shop (last updated 4/2/2019).

​How long they’ve been conjuring and how do they do conjures? How long has their shop been open for?

Are they over 18? Do they allow people under 18 to work in their shop? Do they offer services to minors (and if so, do they have some sort of parental permission form)?

How knowledgeable are they on the species they work with? What info do they provide on the species? Do they have information about the species readily available on their page or website?

How long have they been working with the spirit and/or species? Do they get to know the species first before listing spirits from it?

How long do they vet? What is their vetting process?

What complaints are there against the shop? How have they responded to them?

What are their beliefs around bindings/conjuring/vetting/etc?

How many reviews do they have? Are the reviews reliable? (I made this post on what to look for when reading reviews!)

Do I get along with them? Do I feel like I agree with what they say?

Do they have basic information available to newbies?

Do they market specifically towards newbies? Do they attempt to only offer their spirits as “beginner friendly” in order to profit off those who are starting out?

Do they offer spirits that are from other shops or companions? Did they contact the previous conjuror before listing the spirit? Did they confirm that it was a mutual separation between spirit and companion? Do they still vet the spirits being rehomed?

Do they offer out spirits that have been previously abused?

Do they offer out children spirits? (I would not recommend working with any shop that offers child spirits)

Do they have many spirits listed? Ask them how they are able to vet so many at the same time, and how much time is spent with each individual spirit.

Do they interact with the spirit while waiting for a companion, or do they ignore the spirit until someone applies to the listing?

Do they make outlandish claims, often saying that they are the only ones able to work with deity type spirits or claim to have the most experience?

Do they put down others in attempts to make themselves and their shop sound better?

How do they interact with their potential customers? Are they easy to communicate with? Do they make sure to answer your questions?

How do they interact with their former customers? Are they willing to help out after the binding is done?

What is their pricing system? What is their reasoning behind the prices?

What information do they send to the companion? How long/detailed are their profiles?

Ask them how their practices have changed throughout the years. What is something they feel they can improve upon?

How do they interact with the community and other shops?

What methods do they use for payment? Do they allow payment plans?

How long does it take for them to complete a binding after payment? How long does it take them to ship out vessels or send the spirit’s profile?

How do they respond to questions? How do they deal with people who doubt their services? How do they deal with criticism?

always greet with a smile

show, don’t tell

except for the horns at the back of your throat; we don’t think those will be particularly favourable

don’t forget to bring your gas mask

if they ask about your first childhood home, change the subject; they can smell the trauma

dress appropriately

if a CEO offers to shake your hand, kindly refuse; no one has time for treating radiation burns

make sure to wait at least 3 days to wash the blood off your clothes

Remember: You do not have to let the police in the house unless they have a warrant — or probable cause. If you’re having a party, turn off the music, ask your guests to chill, and ask that anyone who’s too intoxicated carry on in another room.

Go outside to speak with the cops. Close the door behind you. Although some scary precedents are being set these days, police cannot enter your home without a warrant or probable cause. By closing the door, you’re cutting off a visual — or olfactory — line to potential probable cause.

Be polite. Ask why they are there. “Good evening, Officer. What can I help you with?”

Where possible, assure them you will take care of the problem. If the police ask to enter, inform them, “I do not consent to any searches.” If a police officer gives you an order and you are confused about your position, ask, “Do I have to comply?” If they continue with questioning, tell them you’ll need to call your lawyer and that you will not answer any questions.

Some tips from the inside, in case they help:

- life has always been pointless. Or rather, we have always been unable to control the relative point-fulness of life. The factors involved in opening the possibilities of who can have a large scale impact where are so insanely complex that they can at best only be pieced together imperfectly in retrospect

- the only thing that has changed is your awareness of this fact. No, seriously. The sun will eventually swallow the planet; at any moment without our knowledge or control the sun could flare in weird ways that will kill us all; etc. There was geopolitical and socioeconomic fuckery as bad or worse going on before: you just didn’t see it. Promise.

- you do what you can with what you have. You do what’s in front of you. Humanity has survived all of this before; it may survive it again. It may not. You can only do what you can: take what lessons exist from the past and apply them.

- sometimes it is just that bad and they are totally out to get you. The question is, what do you do about it?

- almost without exception in human history the answer has been “build community; support the one you have; reach out to connect MORE and to make the world more kind and less hateful than before.”

- recognize you’re trying to tackle god-level problems with a brain originally meant for keeping small proto-fish from being eaten. Treat that part of your brain like a very anxious toddler or rescue pitbull. Give it small measurable victories and successes even if you have to make them up. Make sure it’s fed and watered and has enough rest. Medicate it if you have to - there’s nothing wrong with that. The opposite, in fact.