melancholy is a friend. nostalgia is family

1. Tables will always turn.

-ancient roman posca: water, red or white wine vinegar, honey, salt, herbs (coriander, mint, thyme)

-switchel: water, ginger, vinegar, sweetener, lemon, salt

-ayran: yogurt, water, salt, mint

-sees the reports of the heatwave in Europe-

Case in point: Tsun Zu's rival defended a city with 10 men against Tsun's army of hundreds by disarming his own soldiers, dressing them in plain clothes, INVITING Tsun's army to come in, and it only worked because Tsun knew the guy was an ambush master and thought "if we attack the city he's inviting us into, we will die." and left without even trying ON THE BASIS OF HIS RIVAL'S REPUTATION AND NOTHING MORE

Another example: Tsun Zu, on being told his soliders were out of arrows during a battle against a city across a river from them, had his men craft scarecrows, put them on a boat, send it out on a line, leave it there for half an hour, then pull it back in and used the arrows the enemy had fired at the boat to restock their own ammunition. It only worked because it was foggy and the enemy couldn't tell the difference between the scarecrows and actual soldiers.

First of my glass animal mask series! This was so fun to paint, what other animals should I try? So far I'm thinking owl and deer for a woodland theme🦊🦉🦌

This painting and more have just been added as a print to my webshop :)

I'm so pissed off. Aren't you? I'm so angry. I want to help those I can't reach and I want to hurt those I can't touch. I try to do my part. I cry. I'm so fucking frustrated and numb at the same time.

I use this spell for when I want to rip out my hair and scream into the void. When watching a video on my phone makes me want to vomit from the injustice.

This spell won't fix the world. But it will help you release the paralysis so you can actually DO something (or rest without guilt).

What you need:

Salt

A candle (any candle)

Paper + pen

Your breath

The spell:

1. Light the candle. Say: "I acknowledge what I cannot control."

2. Write down what's making you feel helpless. The news. The state of the world. The thing you can't fix. Whatever's crushing you. Be specific.

3. Read it out loud. Let yourself feel the weight of it. Don't rush past this part.

4. Say: "I cannot carry the entire world. But I can carry my part."

5. Pour salt in a circle around the candle. This is your boundary. Inside the circle: what you can actually do. Outside: what you have to release because it's not yours to fix.

6. Ask yourself: "What is ONE thing within my control right now?"

Not "save the world." Not "fix everything."

ONE thing. Text a friend. Donate $5. Rest so you can show up tomorrow. Make dinner. Don't look at your feed for an hour.

7. Write that one thing on the back of the paper.

8. Say: "I release what I cannot hold. I commit to what I can."

9. Fold the paper. Place it inside the salt circle next to the candle.

10. Sit with the candle for 3-5 minutes. Just breathe. Watch the flame. Let the helplessness drain out of you.

11. When you're ready, blow out the candle. Say: "I am not powerless. I am doing what I can."

12. Do the one thing you wrote down. Today or tomorrow. Doesn't matter when. Just do it.

13. Throw away the paper (or burn it if you can do it safely).

14. Sweep up the salt. Throw it away or pour it down the drain. You're releasing the boundary—you don't need to hold it anymore.

The point:

You can't fix everything. You're one person.

But helplessness makes you freeze. And freezing helps no one.

This spell breaks the freeze.

It reminds you: You have agency. You have choice. You can do SOMETHING, even if it's small.

And small things compound.

You don't have to save the world today.

Because you shouldn't have to buy a single thing to practice magic.

No crystals. No candles. No herbs. No fancy tools.

Just you, your intention, and 60 seconds.

Here are 10 spells you can do right this second:

1. The Invisible Shield Breath Take three deep breaths. Visualize a protective bubble forming around you with each exhale. Say: "I am protected." Use before stressful situations.

2. The Threshold Protection Stand in a doorway. Place a hand on each side of the frame. Say: "This is the boundary. Only what serves me crosses this line." Step through with intention.

3. The Mirror Visualization Close your eyes. Imagine you're covered in tiny mirrors facing outward. Any negativity bounces off and returns to sender. Use when dealing with gossip or jealousy.

4. The Grounding Breath Count Breathe in for 4, hold for 4, breathe out for 4, hold for 4. Repeat 3 times. Imagine roots growing from your feet into the earth. Use for anxiety.

5. The Posture Spell Stand up straight. Roll shoulders back. Lift your chin. Say: "I am powerful. I take up space. I belong here." Hold for 30 seconds. Use before anything that scares you.

6. The Cord Cutting Visualization Imagine an energetic cord connecting you to someone draining. Visualize cutting it. Say: "I cut this connection. Your energy is yours, mine is mine." Use after toxic interactions.

7. The Open Hands Spell Hold hands out, palms up, like you're receiving something. Say: "I am open to receiving. Money flows to me easily. I have enough." Use for financial anxiety.

8. The Five Senses Grounding Name 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste. This pulls you out of your anxious brain and into your body.

9. The "No" Practice Spell Say "no" out loud 10 times. Say it different ways: firmly, kindly, loudly, quietly. Feel how it sits in your mouth. You're practicing the spell of refusal.

10. The Crisis Mantra Say: "I have survived 100% of my worst days. I will survive this too." Repeat until you believe it. Use during panic or bad news.

These are just 10 of the 50+ no-supply spells I wrote about. Want the full guide? Read it here: https://www.edgeandaltar.com/post/no-supply-spells-magic-without-buying-anything