Shadow work ritual

TOOLS Black candle | Lighter or matches | Tarot deck | Journal | Pen

Your shadow self is the dark side of your personality, a part of you that is hard to get to know as it means exploring personal traumas and uncomfortable truths. This spell is intended to get you started on your shadow work journey, to help you heal from within.

Start by casting a circle, grounding and centering, then cleansing your altar space and tools. Next, ask any spirits, allies, deities, or ancestors you may work with to join you for this spell, as they may be able to assist you. Light the candle, and shuffle your tarot cards, reciting:

Cards, show me what I may not like, but need to see about myself, so I may grow and accept myself. So mote it be.

Lay out a three-card spread starting with the center, and then place one card to its left and one to the right. The center card represents you in that moment and how you see yourself. The card on the left symbolizes a behavior in your past that you have not yet acknowledged, and the card on the right shows what work you need to do to truly accept your shadow self. Take your time with this spread and feel free to pull extra clarification cards. Use your journal to write detailed notes on your interpretations and how these cards make you feel.

Now write down your traits or traumas that you wish to work on. Rip out the page, fold it, and place it beneath the candle. This is the first step to acknowledging your shadows. When finished, extinguish the candle, thank and release your spirits, and open the circle.

BEST TIME New Moon, Monday

Accepting your shadows ritual

TOOLS Bowl of water | Journal | Pen

As hard as it can be to get to know your shadow self—your triggers and any uncomfortable truths—it can be even harder to accept them fully. This spell should be performed after the “Shadow work ritual” opposite and is intended to assist you further in this journey of self-discovery and true acceptance.

Start by casting a circle, grounding and centering, and cleansing your altar space and tools. Ask any spirits, allies, deities, or ancestors you may work with to join you for this spell to guide you. Next, take your bowl of water and place it on your altar. Sit in a comfortable position facing the bowl. Gaze into the water and say:

Water, water, reveal to me my true self, may I see and may I accept what you show to me, so mote it be.

Look upon your reflection and meditate on what your shadow self is truly like, consider that it has always been a part of you, and that is okay. Take the paper from the “Shadow work ritual,” unfold it, and read the words you previously wrote. Then, place the paper in the bowl of water and, with your dominant hand, stir the water and paper, clockwise to signify accepting your shadows, until it disintegrates. Say the words:

Water, strong and soothing, take my shadows and cleanse them with your essence.

As the paper disintegrates, focus on your shadows and your own reflection blending together, and accept that you cannot separate yourself from them; they are a part of who you are. Then take your time to write in your journal, and try talking to your shadow self, acknowledging its presence and how it has affected your life and personality. Explore where it shows up in your life most. How has it blended in with who you think you are? Where has it trickled into your daily habits? When finished, thank and release your spirits and open the circle. Pour the water away or use it in another shadow work spell.

BEST TIME New Moon, Monday

DK

Forgiving yourself ritual

TOOLS Incense | Lighter or matches | Pen | Paper | Thread

This spell should be performed only after you have carried out the “Shadow work ritual” and the “Accepting your shadows ritual”. This ritual represents the next step in your journey to embodying your shadow self—you will cast a spell of forgiveness to yourself.

Start by casting a circle, grounding and centering, and cleansing your altar space and tools. Ask any spirits, allies, deities, or ancestors you may work with to join you, as they may be able to support you. Light the incense and gather your pen and paper. Now take your time to write a letter of forgiveness to yourself. Be as honest as possible, letting out any past traumas you have buried, hurtful or embarrassing situations, embarrassing encounters, any circumstances you would prefer to forget, and forgive yourself. When you have finished writing the letter, fold it in half toward you, to call forgiveness to yourself, and wrap the thread around it to form a cross. Tie a knot, and while doing so, speak the words:

The spell is done, I tie it in, forgiveness may come, so mote it be.

Next, hold your letter in the incense smoke so that your intentions may be carried away to the wind. When you’ve finished, thank and release your spirits and open the circle. Keep the letter safely hidden—you can use it for the “Releasing the past” spell.

BEST TIME New Moon, Monday

Releasing the past

TOOLS Pen | Paper, or your letter from the “Forgiving yourself ritual” | Cauldron or fireproof container | Lighter or matches

This spell is intended to support your personal growth by helping release the past, letting go of any hurt emotions, trauma, sadness, or anger—especially those you direct inward.

Start by casting a circle, grounding and centering, and cleansing your altar space and tools. Ask any spirits, allies, deities, or ancestors you may work with to join you. On your piece of paper, write down the things you wish to let go of. Or, take your letter and sit in meditation with it, reflecting on all that you have written. Focus deeply on the emotions that arise and the things you would like to rid yourself of, so that you may grow and continue with your life in a happier state. Now take the letter and light it, and drop it into the cauldron. As the paper burns, imagine it releasing all that was written on the letter. Watch the words burning, being cleansed by the fire, and speak the incantation:

I release these ties, may they no longer hold power over me, so mote it be.

When finished, thank and release your spirits and open the circle. Take the ashes outside, away from your home, and sprinkle them to the wind.

BEST TIME New Moon, Monday

DK