The Contemporary Mystic

  (Image made through Canva without AI) Dear Readers of The Contemporary Mystic,  In past blog posts, I have used AI (Artificial Intelligence) from Canva or ChatGPT to create images to convey the topics. However, after further research and understanding of the dangers and concerns of AI, I will no longer be using AI moving forward . Outside of managing my digital journal, I am a professional artist and often use my spiritual experiences to enchant or inspire certain pieces. For me, art is an integral part of my devotional practice as well, to honor the Divine.  I now fully understand that the AI models steal from any content online to generate images, books, and more. “ The language models and image generators need samples before they can generate anything – they can’t create text or images from nothing. The companies call this “training” – the AI is being provided huge datasets that are run through several algorithms. Where does that data come from? From us. Human creati...

(Artwork by Delaney Marie Designs ) Alchemizing Ancestor Lineage: You Are Still You I’m getting closer to my thirties now, and it’s been a wild journey. Emerging from my turbulent adolescence into the process of becoming who I truly am—my own sovereign individual—has been a diamond-in-the-rough passage. When I look in the mirror, I see a strong, fierce, vibrant woman, and I am so incredibly proud of her. However, when certain Parts of myself become activated and I need to un-blend them from my Self, I sometimes see my maternal caregiver staring back at me—or, more recently, my eldest sibling. This can be unnerving, as for many years my goal was to never be anything like them. I spent much of my early twenties, especially around alcohol, trying to avoid any resemblance to “them.” Seeing traces of them in my physical appearance was jarring. My saving grace was that I had my father’s eyes and scars on my body that were not from some of my abusers. I spoke about this with a friend and show...

Devotional Magic as Daily Practice My devotional magic is just as vital as my ritual work. I’ve been practicing for a decade now, but my spirit experiences began much earlier around the age of seventeen. Mediumship runs in my family: my aunt often saw spirits, and she was the only one who could get my grandmother to open her eyes in her final days of hospice care. When I was eighteen, a shadow figure entered my apartment. In fear, I prayed to every saint and angel I knew until it finally left. Afterward, I lined my windowsills with salt. From that day forward, blessings and protection prayers became a regular part of my practice. In college, an ex introduced me to ceremonial magic. I loved the structure of timing rituals with planetary hours and angels. It gave me the same sense of sacred rhythm that church once had, but with empowerment at the center rather than obedience. Now, years later, my focus has shifted. I’ve grown into devotional practice. Part of this comes with age, part wi...

  (This image is generated through the use of AI)  Guided Meditation: Pond of Protection On Tuesday, the Day of Mars, begin by preparing and clearing your ritual space. Using your finger, trace a clockwise circle around your working area. As you do, visualize a cord of red light forming a protective boundary—strong, radiant, and sealed. Starting in the east, visualize the air swirling around you and point while saying: "Come, element of air, attend and empower this circle.” Continue moving clockwise to the south, picturing crackling fire surrounding you as you declare: “Come, element of fire, attend and empower this circle.” As you turn to the west, imagine water flowing around you and say: “Come, element of water, and empower this circle.” Finally, when you face north, envision the wild energy of the earth and proclaim: “Come, element of earth, and empower this circle.” Complete the process by bringing your finger back to the east. Take a deep breath and state: By Earth, the ...

(This image is generated through the use of AI)  Reclaiming Wholeness: My Journey with the Holy Guardian Angel Over the past few months, I’ve been deepening my relationship with my Holy Guardian Angel (HGA), a journey that has unfolded in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. This sacred connection has brought profound healing, spiritual clarity, and a greater understanding of who I truly am beneath the layers of identity, expectation, and performance. As part of this path, I’ve immersed myself in spiritual study and practice. I recently completed Discovering Your Personal Daimon by Cat Rose Neligan and Your Guardian Angel and You by Denny Sargent  two deeply insightful books that offered language and structure to what I had already begun feeling. Daily, I light candles to honor my HGA and the planetary ruler of the day. I meditate several times throughout the day, often in silence, often in conversation with the unseen. This commitment has opened doors within me and realigned my...

(Painting by Delaney Marie Designs) Ritual of Union with the Holy Guardian Angel Stand in a quiet, sacred space. Slowly trace a circle clockwise three times with your finger, envisioning a golden, protective light forming around you—soft yet strong, encircling you and the room in radiant safety. Face East, arms open wide. Feel the breath of life stir around you fresh, vital, awakening. Point outward and say: “Come, Element of Air, attend and empower this circle.” Turn South, and as you do, envision flames dancing bold, alive, illuminating your spirit. Say: “Come, Element of Fire, attend and empower this circle.” Turn West, and imagine water swirling around your feet cool, flowing, sacred. Speak: “ Come, Element of Water, attend and empower this circle.” Face North, grounding into the energy of soil, stone, and root. See the earth rising to meet you. Say: “ Come, Element of Earth, attend and empower this circle.” Place a tealight candle in a bowl of water before you. If desired, dress t...