"It’s time for our Spring 2026 update. Today, Rev. Sosanna Olson shares the impact of the Blessing Box, the transition to the newhecatebrimo.org, and the roadmap for the Sanctuary for the rest of the year. Thank you for being the 'Torchbearers' of this community."
I recognize and honor the Indigenous tribes whose sacred lands we now inhabit and the enslaved Africans whose resilience and contributions shape our community. At the Sanctuary of Hecate Brimo, we actively uphold these legacies in all our practices, ensuring our actions reflect this commitment. The music used is copyright-free music.#pagan#magic#witchcraft#readings#oracle#weeklydraw#psychic#healing#consultation#hecate#hekate#neuseriverwitch
Most people treat spiritual growth as a feeling, but ancient philosophy treated it as a set of instructions. Today, we’re looking at the Five Virtues of the Covenant of Hekate—their roots in Platonic ethics and the 2013 collaborative project that defined them for our modern community. In a world of chaos, these are the tools we use to stay sovereign.
In this video:
The Lineage: How 2,000-year-old ethics were adapted for the 21st century.
The 5 Pillars: A deep dive into Compassion, Courage, Temperance, Justice, and Wisdom.
Daily Practice: Using affirmations to anchor these virtues.
The Crossroads Layout: Our signature 3-card Oracle study.
Connect & Grow:
✨ Free Ritual Library: hecatebrimo.org
🛍️ Shop & Support: hecatebrimo.org
📖 The Blog: confessionsofamodernwitch.com
#Hecate#virtues#SanctuaryOfHecateBrimo#coh#covenantofhekate#compassion#wisdom#justice#courage#compassion
Welcome back to By Her Fires, a space dedicated to the Goddess Hecate Brimo. I’m Rev. Sosanna Olson, founder of the Sanctuary of Hecate Brimo. Today, we are doing the hard work. We’re talking about the 'Stockholm Syndrome' of spirituality, the legal battle for your moral agency, and how to finally reset your own internal compass. Stay with me—we’re going to look at the history they didn't teach you and the archetypes that can help you reclaim your own path of Active Harmlessness."
Now, you’ll see me looking at my laptop today—I’m neurodivergent, and I use my notes as an anchor to make sure I stay on track and don't wander off on a tangent. It’s my way of making sure we stay focused on the history and the archetypes that help you reclaim your path."
Let’s get started.
Is our spirituality inherited? Are we following the religion of our oppressors?
1. The Morality Hijack: The Permission Slip Myth
Arthur C. Clarke famously stated: "One of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion." This is our starting point. When an institution "steals" morality, they convince you that without their specific book, building, or blessing, you would be a monster.
The magician Penn Jillette famously addressed this question. When asked, “Without God, what stops you from stealing all you want?” he replied that he already does steal as much as he wants—and the amount he wants to commit is zero.
"Goodness" isn't a religious product; it’s a human trait. We have an internal compass powered by empathy. Most of us don't avoid hurting people because we’re afraid of a divine "police officer" in the sky; we avoid it because we don't want to cause pain. That internal desire to do no harm proves that morality is built-in, not bolted-on.
2. The Stockholm Syndrome of Spirituality
Many of us inherit our religion the same way we inherit a family debt. We are born into "spiritual muscle memory"—rituals we perform without thinking and loyalties we never signed up for. This is where it gets uncomfortable: Are you praying to the same system that was used to colonize your ancestors? There is a specific kind of tragedy in rejecting every part of a past oppression except the religion that the oppressors used to justify the chains.
The Ghost Laws Even today, seven states in the U.S. (including Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas) still have language in their constitutions that technically prohibits atheists from holding public office. In our own state of North Carolina, the document that governs your neighbors still technically lists non-believers alongside "criminals" as people disqualified from service.
In 1961, the Supreme Court ruled in Torcaso v. Watkins that these "religious tests" are unconstitutional. Yet, these states refuse to remove the language. Why? Because keeping those words on the books is a form of spiritual "territory marking." It’s meant to tell you that you are a second-class citizen if you don't subscribe to their specific God.
Historical Control
The Incan "Sun" Monopoly: The Inca held tribal idols "hostage" in the capital to ensure loyalty. Modern systems do the same by holding your "reputation" or "legality" hostage.
The Council of Braga (572 AD): They banned lighting torches at crossroads to break the people’s connection to their land. If you can’t honor your own crossroads, you have to go to their church.
3. The "Apostasy Trigger": Recognizing the Glitch
Why do people eventually walk away? Usually, it's because they encounter a "glitch" in the system. This is the Apostasy Trigger. It’s that moment when your inherited system demands you hate someone your heart tells you to love, or when it mandates a conflict that your internal compass rejects.
When the "habit" of your religion causes more suffering than it heals, your mind naturally seeks a new "technology." This isn't a rebellion; it’s an Integrity Upgrade. You are finally putting down a weapon that was handed to you at birth—a war that was never yours to fight.
4. The Scribe vs. The Follower
If you are resetting your compass, you are moving from being a "Follower" to being a "Scribe." A follower waits for a script; a scribe researches, edits, and writes their own.
Research as Ritual: In the ancient Hellenistic world, people didn't just "submit" to one god. They mixed and matched. They "subscribed" to the values that helped them survive and thrive.
Choosing Your Tools: For me, archetypes like Hecate, Thoth, or Anubis are not "new masters." They are mirrors. Hecate is the guardian of the threshold—the perfect "key" for someone in transition. Thoth and Anubis represent the discipline of the mind and the weight of the heart.
The Mirror Test: You don't need my archetypes. You need to find the "mirrors" that reflect the best version of your humanity. The goal is the same: to have a toolkit that helps you live a life of Active Harmlessness.
5. The Sovereignty Checklist
Ask yourself these questions to see if you’ve truly reset:
The Harm Test: Does my path require me to dehumanize or "other" anyone else to stay in good standing?
The Origin Test: Am I following this because it brings me peace, or because I’m afraid of disappointing my family?
The Question Test: Does my system encourage me to ask "Why?", or does it tell me that questioning is a sign of weakness?
The Ownership Test: If I were the only person left on earth, would I still practice these virtues?
6. Practical Sovereignty: Morality in the Streets
True morality doesn't need a sermon; it needs a sandwich. When you stop doing things to earn "points" for an afterlife, you start doing things because they are right in this life.
I'm reminded of Sofia in The Color Purple when she tells Celie, "You ought to bash Mr. ____'s head open and think about Heaven later." We need to focus on reducing suffering now and worry less about the "pearly gates."
"Sovereignty isn’t just a word we use to feel empowered; it is a responsibility. When you stop waiting for an institution to tell you who to help, you start seeing the crossroads in your own backyard. You move from 'What does my religion say?' to 'What does my humanity require?'"
This is why we support the Blessing Boxes in Goldsboro, NC. Our internal code—our Sovereignty—requires us to reduce suffering at the crossroads. Your support proves we don't need an institution to tell us how to care for one another.
Now, let’s get to the Three-Card Pull for this week.
Arkansas (Article 19, Section 1): > "No person who denies the being of a God shall hold any office in the civil departments of this State, nor be competent to testify as a witness in any Court."
The Point: This doesn't just bar you from office; it historically claimed that if you don't believe in their God, your word is legally worthless in a court of law.
Maryland (Declaration of Rights, Article 37): > "That no religious test ought ever to be required... other than a declaration of belief in the existence of God."
The Point: This is the very clause that Roy Torcaso fought in 1961. It explicitly frames "belief" as a prerequisite for "trust."
Mississippi (Article 14, Section 265): > "No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office in this State."
North Carolina (Article 6, Section 8): > "The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God."
South Carolina (Article 17, Section 4): > "No person who denies the existence of a Supreme Being shall hold any office under this Constitution."
Tennessee (Article 9, Section 2): > "No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this State."
The Point: This one is particularly aggressive—it doesn't just require a belief in God, but a belief in Heaven and Hell ("rewards and punishments") to be allowed to serve your community.
Texas (Article 1, Section 4): > "No religious test shall ever be required... provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being."
The Modern Deipnon - Feeding the Soul with Rev. Sosanna Olson
Hecate’s Deipnon is a 2,500-year-old practice, but its true power lies in how we apply it today. Join me as we reframe this ancient "evening meal" into modern action through the Goldsboro Blessing Boxes.
While we are discussing this today (Sunday), the Dark Moon falls this coming Wednesday. This gives us time to prepare our focus and our supplies for the transition into the new lunar month.
On this channel, we use Hecate, Thoth, and Anubis as models for our own growth.
Hecate: The Guardian of the transition.
Thoth: The Scribe who records the lunar cycle and our actions within it.
Anubis: The Opener of the Ways who guides us through the darkness.
This isn't just a ritual of "purification" (Katharmos); it’s a commitment to reducing suffering. Today, I’m packing the Blessing Box with:
Food: Canned proteins and meals.
Protection: Socks and gloves.
Hygiene: Soap, toothpaste, and feminine products.
Recommended Reading:
Hekate Soteira – Sarah Iles Johnston
Restless Dead – Sarah Iles Johnston
The Rotting Goddess – Jacob Rabinowitz
Hekate in Ancient Greek Religion – Robert Von Rudloff
The Greek Magical Papyri (PGM) – Ed. Hans Dieter Betz
Devil Girls of Ancient Rome - Jacob Rabinowitz
Support the Sanctuary:
✨ Free Ritual Library: hecatebrimo.org
🛍️ Shop the Sanctuary: hecatebrimo.org
📖 The Blog: confessionsofamoderwitch.com
🔥Subscribe to My Channel: [https://www.youtube.com/@ByHerFires?sub_confirmation=1]
Sunday Card Pull:
Stick around until the end of the video for our weekly Three-Card Oracle Pull to navigate the energy of the coming week.
"Brimo demands that we be formidable in our care for one another."
Rev. Sosanna Olson🔮
By Her fires🔥
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
I recognize and honor the Indigenous tribes whose sacred lands we now inhabit and the enslaved Africans whose resilience and contributions shape our community. At the Sanctuary of Hecate Brimo, we actively uphold these legacies in all our practices, ensuring our actions reflect this commitment.
#pagan#magic#witchcraft#readings#oracle#weeklydraw#psychic#healing#consultation#hecate#hekate#neuseriverwitch
The Dangerous Words You Say to Yourself Every Day (And How to Change Them)
Most people think affirmations are something you repeat in the mirror every morning.
You know the ones.
“I am successful.” “I am powerful.” “I am unstoppable.”
But the truth is… most people are already using affirmations all day long.
They’re just not positive ones.
Every time you say something like:
“I’m terrible with numbers.” “I’m horrible with names.” “I always mess things up.”
Your brain hears that as an instruction.
Your brain doesn’t argue with repetition.
It adapts to it.
So today I want to talk about the power of the words we say to ourselves, the affirmations we accidentally repeat every day, and three simple affirmations that can actually shift how you see yourself.
News
Before we get started I just wanted to cover a few things really quick.
Old website shut down due to Wix’s affiliation - New website up
Membership center for CoH at Sanctuary of hecate Brimo has been up for a week and we already have 10 applications
The Problem With Most Affirmations
One of the reasons affirmations get a bad reputation is because people are told to repeat things that don’t feel true.
For example:
“I am wildly successful.”
If your brain doesn’t believe that, it pushes back.
Your brain immediately responds with:
“No you’re not.”
That’s why effective affirmations aren’t about pretending.
They’re about direction.
They help move your identity forward instead of reinforcing limitations.
The Hidden Affirmations We Use Every Day
Most people don’t realize they are constantly reinforcing beliefs about themselves through language.
These small phrases become identity statements.
When you repeat them often enough, your brain accepts them as truth.
Here are some of the most common ones people say without thinking.
1. “I’m bad with numbers.”
Counter it with:
“I’m learning how to understand numbers better.”
2. “I’m horrible with names.”
Counter it with:
“I’m getting better at remembering names.”
3. “I always procrastinate.”
Counter it with:
“I’m learning how to start things sooner.”
4. “Nothing ever works for me.”
Counter it with:
“I’m still figuring out what works.”
5. “I’m terrible with technology.”
Counter it with:
“Technology is something I can learn step by step.”
6. “I always mess things up.”
Counter it with:
“Every mistake helps me improve.”
7. “I’m not creative.”
Counter it with:
“Creativity grows when I give myself space to explore.”
8. “I’m not disciplined.”
Counter it with:
“I’m building better habits every day.”
9. “I’m too old to learn that.”
Counter it with:
“Learning is something I can do at any stage of life.”
10. “That’s just the way I am.”
Counter it with:
“I’m always capable of growth and change.”
When you start paying attention to your language, you realize something important.
You are constantly shaping your identity with the words you repeat.
The Rule for Effective Affirmations
If you want affirmations to work, there are three simple rules.
1. They must feel believable
Your brain has to accept them.
2. They should focus on growth
Not perfection.
3. They should be repeated consistently
Repetition is what programs belief.
This is actually one of the reasons I’ve written several books focused specifically on affirmations and intentional language. Each one explores how simple changes in the way we speak to ourselves can gradually reshape our thinking patterns and our sense of possibility.
Affirmations aren’t magic words. They’re tools that help redirect the stories we repeat about ourselves.
Three Affirmations That Actually Work
Instead of using exaggerated statements, try affirmations that support growth.
These are simple but powerful.
Affirmation 1
“I am capable of learning anything with time and practice.”
This replaces the idea that you are simply “bad” at something.
Affirmation 2
“Every day I am becoming a more capable version of myself.”
This focuses on progress rather than perfection.
Affirmation 3
“The way I speak to myself shapes the life I create.”
This one reminds you that your words matter.
The Rule for Effective Affirmations
If you want affirmations to work, there are three simple rules.
Closing
The words we repeat eventually become the beliefs we carry.
Those beliefs influence our choices, our habits, and the direction our lives take.
So if you’re going to repeat something to yourself every day, make sure it’s something that helps you become the person you want to be.
And if you want to explore this idea more deeply, the four affirmation books I’ve written go much further into how intentional language can reshape the way we think and live.
Sometimes the smallest shift in the words we use can create the biggest shift in how we see ourselves.
You can help me to continue my work by visiting HecateBrimo.org and picking up on of my e-books on affirmations today!
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