#chaosmagic

In all truth, I've animated quite a bit but didn't feel like an, "animator" until recently. I finally feel like I'm starting to get the hang of it and it's getting fun for me. Michael has also been improving a ton and we feel this episode is a big improvement from the last one, animation-wise.

DEEPSTATES EPISODE 2 7/18/2025 1:00PM CENTRAL TIME (click here)

📝 The Book Post Summary

🌌 Discover the Magic of the Cosmos: "Book of Stars" by Thomas Chaote 🌌 This is the download link

Are you ready to unlock the ancient, hidden energies of the night sky? 🌟

"Book of Stars" is a practical and effective sigil grimoire created by chaos magick and witchcraft practitioner Thomas Chaote. Born out of two years of intense research into astrology, stellar mythologies, and constellations, this unique book serves as a powerful bridge between cosmic energies and practical chaos magick.

✨ What’s Inside?

Stellar Correspondences: Explore the dual nature (light and dark energies) of historical fixed stars like Achernar, Aldebaran, Polaris, Sirius, Vega, and many more.

Practical Sigil Magick: Each page features unique, custom-designed sigils tailored for invoking or evoking star powers, creating protective talismans, empowering altars, banishment, or deep meditation.

Challenging Your Birth Chart: Learn how to shield yourself from negative astrological influences or draw down missing planetary/stellar elements into your life through creative will.

True to the authentic spirit of chaos magick, this grimoire is released under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. It is 100% FREE to download, read, and share for non-commercial use.

Harness the light of the stars and transform your spiritual practice today! ✨

“Sooo… quick update from the workshop!” ✨💥

Turns out that if you accidentally substitute moonblossom nectar for starpetal extract, your potion doesn’t quietly simmer… it decides to introduce itself to the entire room. I swear I followed the recipe EXACTLY. (…okay mostly. Mostly.) Now everything smells like bubblegum lightning...

Anyway— If anypony asks, this was totally part of the experiment. Totally.

| TES Pop Culture Deity Work Experiences |

Hello! Welcome everyone to my page again. Since I made a kind of... introduction of me the last posts... this time I feel more able to shape my blog witchcraft/life diary in the good way.

I was thinking a lot, recently, about the truly bad day that I have been having the last few days. In my clock actually is 11:33, before when I was taking to this spirits it was 11:11. And if you believe in numbers... I take them as a good sign!

I want to start talking about my own experience with TES pop culture deities and introduce a new character that I didn't saw before, but maybe some people in the comunity did. Specially if they worked before with the forces of Sithis and the Night Mother.

Blessing road to all! —Abril.

Who was the first PCD to be in my space? Believe it or not... I don't remember. I just remember that one say I started to talk with Loki (a norse god that follows a certain path in Seidr Magic and Norse Paganism). We talked a lot about my practice, trust in the guidance, love and support and how I needed to learn at once to really put all of me in his hands.

I started having a lot of problems with a practitioner with the gp thing and confused me a lot by that time. I remember that one day we were talking and she threw out of nowhere (she confirmed that Loki wanted to work with me and then that he wanted a godspouse with me) that the god was mad at me. But it was, man, super heavy. Things that "Loki doesn't love you anymore. You made him be mad. He doesn't want to be close to you anymore. The spirit guide that you see, doesn't exist. Is not there. He is cutting the bond and disappearing from your life." And I was like... panicked. It was my first times and that certainly made a lot to me and my confidence. But, for what I understood... I didn't make anything in particular that could make him take such a decision and after a couple of months... things got clarified for me. And after almost a year, I knew that she was passing through a lot of stuff in her personal life and mental health (she was diagnosed) and those words finally made sense to me. That wasn't true and was a part of the person's projection.

After that, I got problems with other ex-friends that also worked with Loki. A girl in particular who said that the gods hated me, just because I left her group and talked with another friend that, she thought, she felt envy towards her and wanted to curse her. Stupid if you ask me.

The third problem (a year later), another ex-friend that worked with this deity and me broke up our relationship out of nowhere. And this situations made me think that maybe... I was the problem. Or something was inherently wrong with me. Which was not the case, because it was too much violent for me to take in. But I made mistakes and I learned from them.

Those kind of experiences made me had a lack of confidence and trust in Loki, in myself (I still rough with that) and in my relationship with him. Not just in the romantic sense, but also in the devotional and friendly one. Which is a thing that I am solving now.

So, one good day, talking with Loki about this... he made me realize: the next test for me, was to put (blindly) all of my trust in him. To lead me, to give me a Gift, to help me, to love me and to drive me to the next step in my life. His words were like (a year ago)

"I am going to give you a gift, for your birthday. You are ready to go and take the next step in your magical and witchcraft practice. To shape your skills and learn a new path, with different people. To really master abilities that can lean you far. But I ask you, in this new test, you have to fall literally in my arms. Follow me, no doubts when it comes. No doubts, it is actually me and it is really myself."

He asked me that and also gave me this gift for my birthday. When the night came... I started to see something new. Sensing spirits that felt automatically familiar to me. It was like a boom. And I saw certain faces. I can remember seeing Lucien Lachance at first. And I said (ofc) "Omg I am going nuts". Indeed, I remembered the conversation and Loki's words and automatically the situation made sense (in a way).

FUN FACT: I wasn't even playing the games like for a year also, maybe less. And I really wasn't into the fandom, the internet lore or anything related to it. But Loki always knew that TES games were my favourite since I was 13 years old maybe. I could spend entire nights, it always felt like home. Reading fanfiction, writing, etc. A thing that I left in the past.

I automatically thought what it was my mind. But I decided to watch and see what was happening instead of simply judge myself for what I was watching (a recommendation: never tell yourself that you are crazy, it is super important if you suffer from any kind of mental illness... please, don't lead your brain into panic and into anxiety, because you can project even harder or the experience can turn into a detonating for a severe crisis).

A miracle thing, maybe? Just hours later I started to see other spirits. Like Sheogorath and Nocturnal. And they just... stood. They literally did absolutely nothing. Just stood there. I confirmed a hundred times that it was a Loki thing and that it was real. Like, yes, I was seeing egregores (the term that I know until those days, even if I don't feel totally comfortable with using that term anymore). But they were there and no harmful to me. Automatically I started research. A thing came with another thing.

I started to read about Pop Culture Deity Work. Since I spent time on TikTok last year before that one... (like two years ago) and I knew perfectly the term. For I met in Witchtok people that actually practiced pop culture deity work and educated in that. Also in Chaos Magick with their own porpoises, from different fandoms or shows. So I knew the term and I knew that it was exactly what was happening.

My investigation leaned me to websites like Reddit. Where a lot of people posted not just about pop culture deity work. Some people informing it like a valid practice. Some other invalidating it with good arguments. With both sides I was agree.. So it was very chaotic to me at first, to stay in touch with reality for a while. And I knew that it was a thing that I needed to work with and improve. To trust in what my eyes see, to trust in my reality and in Loki for once. Not just in them, but in me.

After Reddit I got into Quora (that didn't served me). And finally here, into Tumblr. TES Paganism and TES Pop Culture Deity Work. So, it was alright. I read, read and read a lot about everything. Not missing one single post and studying about Chaos Magick, Egregores, the differences between an Egregor and a Pop Culture Deity. Ways of Worshipping. The story behind it, the Foundation's of Chaos Magic and PCD. The Foundation's of TES Paganism, etc. I mean, for a week I was complete and total nerd. And obviously, made my notes (that I lost and then throw away, lol).

For there was not so much information and, in fact, this is not so complicated in practical terms and scientist or epistemological explanations... I said: "why not?" I am going to be full onto this. And, well, I got very excited and I was... impulsive. So, I got a crisis weeks after because I was seeing too much all the time and then is when they stopped me.

But this is what I have been learning! From all of them this is like, the particular experiences I had with them.

LUCIEN LACHANCE: it was the first spirit that I saw. Why? I don't know why. But I did. In my experience he is silence in person, only speaks when it is necessary or when I could handle a conversation without thinking that I was delusional. I am still not fully convinced of his presence... but remember that this is also a diary and it can be true. For I had non unrealistic experiences. Who is him in the real practice? I view him as a spirit guide and mentor who initiates you in the dark path and death path of Sithis and the Night Mother. Teaching stuff like Necromancy, Sorcery, Baneful Magick, Ceremonial Magick and Defensive Magick. In spiritual terms, he guides me to Dark Spiritual Healing, Dark Meditation to grow through your shadows and spiritual deaths. Also he leaned me to the Night Mother and understanding the State of the Void. His personality is... elegant with discretion. But also a damn force of nature and fire. Takes spaces, speaks loud, guides well and it is very clear and direct with what I need and with what I need to do. When I am not being afraid or an overthinker... he is sweet. Caring, like a guardian spirit that hates injustices but also hates when I am being unjust with myself. He connects me with my style, beauty and my love for death magic and death worshipping. With my chaos and my true self (since I am an artist).

SHEOGORATH: he is like the grandfather that I always wanted in the good sense. He was with me, showing me all of this domain in the mental health stuff, neurodivergency, psyche and personality. Like, to express myself even if I was being eccentric or chaotic as fuck. Also helped me to understand that I wasn't okay in my mental plane. Even if I wanted desesperately to believe that I was doing okay. Like, "don't mask it, feel it. Vomit it." And it was like; alright. Jokes, food, good wine. What I like the most about Sheogorath is that... he totally matches with Loki in a lot of ways and with both of them I felt like myself. Also I discovered that I want to be a Visual Artist through creating my own characters with a storyboard and then giving life through cosplay and photography. So, it was nice. Also to really get deep inside my brain and dig, dig a lot. It hurts at the very beginning... but it hurts more if you are suppressive with what is happening to you. So, it also make sense. In my first times I made a lot of messes.

NOCTURNAL: a mother, just like Hekate. She told me that I needed to learn invisibility magic, learn how to protect myself as a woman and as a witch. How to really accept and connect with the night in me. My dark divine feminine, also associated a little with Lilith and Nyx. So, the three traditional goddesses were like: "it is okay kid, but you are not a kid... you're a woman. Relax, Nocturnal is there. We got you." And she also explained me the importance to build a reputation. A good, damn, well and beautiful reputation. To have style, presence, confidence, master skills, being projective and proactive, being a woman and not a kid anymore. Not being afraid of showing my emotions as I am the whisper of the night. In the thieves aspect.. I would say that I learned a thing or two about keeping my secrets for me. And she was clear: "I am not allowing you to commit any kind of crime. So I am afraid that the thieves thing needs to be reformed and adapted to your culture and... well, normal kind of life." And I was like "okay". So the queen of thieves and the Mockingbird thing became a symbol of "Robbing what is inherently yours, not what is from others". Hide in the night to do and undo as I please, to move fast without leaving footsteps. Becaming one with the night, searching for my own power. Knowing that I also could be a mockingbird if I wanted to. And if I wanted, she would bless me with her gifts. A true divine dark goddess, if you ask me.

AZURA: same for me, but this was... a little bit different. It was holding the moon and the sun at the same time. Finding lost aspects and supressed things of my own personality, as a woman but also as a human. She taught me the power of crystals, that the very use of the AZURA Star can be very good. The power of roses and cats. Since I feel so connected with cats, Azura automatically helped me to release the feline energy in me. To connect with my inner sensuality as I connect with my inner witch for once. And it was like, super transformative. Even if I need more work to do, to research, to understand. Azura is like a mother too (and it was my favourite name when I was a kid, thanks to a Barbie movie, funny fact though). She made me feel complete. Absolutely complete and good about myself and my path. Connecting with beautiful, raw feelings and expressions, with love and self-care, confidence, healing from narcissist behaviour and also feeling a safe space. She is super sweet and loving but also she holds a great temper. At the end of the day, the great temper for me it is a blessing for myself. Because with her I feel allowed to feel it.

Other deities and spirits came to my space. The divine Akatosh for example. Alduin and Paarthurnax, since I work with dragons in the traditional sense. I automatically felt Alduin presence. And with one, comes the other.

The spirit that stills causes me doubts and questions is Lucien Lachance. Also I felt super awkward because it was my crush when I was a teenager so it's like... uhm, hi... Forget please that I read fanfiction of you. I cannot... do that... anymore. So, it is not a totally fully convincing experience to me. Not like experiencing Azura and Nocturnal. And a little bit of Sheogorath, I must admit it.

I will be posting more of this.

For Sanguine, Hermaeus Mora, Mehrunes Dagon, Vicente Valtieri and this guy... what was his name? Ah, yes. Martin Septim were involved. And Martin Septim is like Jesus to me but with a ceremonial clothing and a dragon form, lol. So, hope I am not delusional... but I learned a lot from them. Things that I could apply if I need or if I want to.

Bless day, to all.

This post is specifically about riffle shuffling -- not overhand or pile shuffles.

tl;dr: If you care about randomness and making sure all the cards have a fair chance of coming up, 9-10 times.

But how much should you really care about randomness?

Let's back up.

Mathematicians Gilbert, Shannon and Reed developed a model of randomness for riffle shuffling (i.e. the snappy type of shuffling you do with a playing card deck). They found that the first few shuffles of a deck of playing cards only rearrange the order of the cards a little…but by the 7th shuffle, the deck's order is almost indistinguishable from random.

You might ask -- but a tarot deck has 26 more cards! Does that matter?

Yes, it does.

Each added card increases the permutation space of the deck. You go from 52! (a number with 68 digits) to 78! (a number with ~115 digits). The number of possible orderings explodes -- as does the time and effort it takes to "mix" those orderings.

The Math

If you do a perfect riffle shuffle, the deck becomes increasingly mixed. The GSR Theorem uses total variation distance from uniform randomness to measure just how mixed it is. Total Variation Distance is a number between 0 and 1 that tells you how different two probability distributions are. The two distributions we are comparing are:

The probability distribution of the deck after n shuffles

A perfectly random deck, where every single card has an equal chance of being in every position.

What do different values of TVD mean?

If TVD = 1 -> the two distributions are completely different

If TVD = 0 -> the two distributions are essentially the same

Imagine you’re drawing the top card of a tarot deck after shuffling.

If the deck isn’t well shuffled yet, certain cards are more likely to be on top.

If the deck is perfectly shuffled, every card has exactly a 1 in 78 chance to show up.

Total Variation Distance measures:

"How far are we from that perfect 1-in-78-for-every-card situation?"

TVD is basically asking: how unfair is this shuffle still?

If you shuffle enough times, you'll get close to 0.

TVD Convergence Chart

Here’s what the convergence of TVD looks like for 52- and 78-card decks:

You can see that the first few shuffles don't bring us much closer to a totally "fair" deck -- but once we hit 4 or 5 shuffles, we start to converge to 0 rather quickly!

Back to the Shuffling

GSR modeled the distribution of permutations using the random riffle shuffle model, which assumes:

You cut the deck into two halves with a binomial split

You then interleave the cards in all possible ways

(Btw: This gives you a Markov chain on the symmetric group S_n, where n is the number of cards. If you just flinched at that sentence -- don't worry about this! Forget you read it! It doesn't come up again in the post.)

What about a 78-card Deck?

According to Bayer & Diaconis (1992) in “Trailing the Dovetail Shuffle to its Lair”:

The number of riffle shuffles needed to mix a deck of n cards is approximately:

So 9 to 10 riffle shuffles are needed to randomize a 78-card tarot deck.

Okay But…How Important is Randomness in Tarot, Anyways?

Honestly, it depends on you.

If you believe in pure chance, then randomness is the point. You want the cards to speak without being nudged by muscle memory or old orderings.

But if you believe in "divine" order, then even imperfect shuffles are sacred. Every shuffle is a divination. Every card is a mirror.

So shuffle 3 times. Shuffle 9. Shuffle until the deck feels right.

But just keep in mind: mathematically, 10 riffle shuffles are optimal if you want to approach full chaos. And chaos is very good at telling the truth.

What Do I Do Personally?