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.

Connect & Grow: ✨ Free Ritual Library: [hecatebrimo.org] 🛍️ Shop & Support: [hecatebrimo.org] 📖 The Blog: [confessionsofamodernwitch.com]

#Hecate #ArthurCClarke #SpiritualSovereignty #InheritedConflict #ActiveHarmlessness #Thoth #Anubis #SanctuaryOfHecateBrimo

Reference of State Laws:

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."

This triadic connection has been quietly shaping my practice for years, but only recently have I felt ready to share it. Hecate has always stood at the center of my path, and over time Anubis and Thoth began appearing in ways that felt natural — inevitable, even. After sitting with their presence for years, I finally feel called to speak about how their roles intertwine as guides, guardians, and keepers of wisdom.

In my spiritual work, I’ve long honored Hecate as torchbearer, guide, and amplifier of magic. But pairing her with Anubis and Thoth reveals a powerful harmony — each distinct, yet deeply interconnected.

Hecate: Messenger and Amplifier

Hecate is often described as a messenger goddess, a carrier of words between realms. She doesn’t just deliver prayers and invocations — she amplifies them, ensuring they reach the ears of gods and spirits.

She also has a role as escort of the restless dead — those caught between worlds, untethered, or forgotten. With her torches, she lights their way, guiding them toward passage and peace.

And as a goddess linked to the moon, she governs cycles, thresholds, and illumination in the darkness — a thread that connects her directly to Thoth.

Anubis: Guardian and Witness

In Egyptian tradition, Anubis stands as psychopomp — guiding all souls into the afterlife. Unlike Hecate, whose domain is often the restless, Anubis escorts every soul to their rightful place.

He is also the witness of the heart-weighing, present when a soul’s deeds are measured against Ma’at’s feather of truth. His role is not only to guide, but to guard the sanctity of justice.

In this way, Anubis shares a role with Thoth, who records the outcome of judgment. Both stand in the liminal moment where a soul’s eternity is decided.

Thoth: Scribe, Magician, and Lunar Guide

Thoth may not lead souls like Anubis, but he is always present at the moment of judgment. His task is to record the truth — inscribing the results of the weighing of the heart.

Beyond this, Thoth is a god of wisdom, language, and magic — the one who gave humankind writing, knowledge, and the power of sacred words. Without him, the truths of the cosmos would remain unspoken.

Thoth, too, is a moon god, linking him to Hecate through their shared lunar influence. Where she shines torches at the crossroads, he reflects celestial light onto wisdom and memory.

The Triad Connection

When we see these three together, a powerful sequence emerges:

This triad doesn’t just govern the passage of the dead — it also teaches the living. They remind us that our words matter, that truth will be weighed, and that wisdom is eternal.

When I was becoming a Keybearer, I had to choose a title — and I chose Scriba, the Latin word for Scribe. At the time, it felt like the right fit, but over the years its meaning has deepened for me.

As Scriba, I hold the key to our stories — our past, our present, and the possibilities of our future. In this role I seek to preserve, share, and amplify the words of our community: the experiences of those who walk with Hecate, and the wisdom of those who honor her companions.

It wasn’t until I began working more closely with this triad of Hecate, Anubis, and Thoth that I realized just how aligned this choice was. Thoth, the divine scribe, recorded the truths of the heart-weighing and safeguarded wisdom for eternity. Hecate carries messages between worlds, amplifying them so they are heard. Anubis witnesses, guarding the process of passage and judgment.

In my own way, I step into that lineage — recording the voices of our covenant, witnessing our struggles and triumphs, and carrying forward the words that matter so they will not be forgotten.

And just as words become sacred when written, so too do symbols become sacred when placed with intention. One way I honor this triad is not only through story, but through space — by creating an altar that embodies their presence and brings their roles into daily practice.

To honor this connection, you might create a small altar with three simple symbols:

A torch or candle for Hecate

A scale or jackal image for Anubis

A pen, feather, or journal for Thoth

This altar becomes a threshold itself — a space where messages are carried, truth is weighed, and wisdom is preserved.

Invocation

Here is a short prayer you can use at your altar or in ritual:

Hecate, torchbearer and messenger, carry my words.

Anubis, guardian and witness, weigh my heart.

Thoth, keeper of wisdom, record my truth.

To support your work with this triad, I’ve created a free Visualization you can use before altar work or meditation. It helps you ground your energy, set boundaries, and open safely to divine presence.

➡️ Download the Triad Visualization here.

Working with this triad has opened new pathways in my practice — reminding me that magic isn’t just about casting, but about speaking truth, moving with integrity, and learning from wisdom across cultures.

If you’d like to go deeper, my oracle decks, eBooks, and classes offer guided ways to strengthen your spiritual connection in my shop.

And remember: every purchase supports the Blessing Box of Goldsboro, helping provide food and care at the crossroads of our community.

Let wisdom, new beginnings, and creative expression shape your day.

Have a glorious day. 🔥

BY HER FIRES.COM

The New Moon is a cosmic exhale.

It’s the quiet before the bloom — a sacred space for letting go of what no longer serves, and planting seeds for what you truly want.

You don’t need a full altar or perfect moon water to participate. You just need a clear intention and a little time to connect inward.

Here’s a simple New Moon ritual you can do tonight (or anytime the moon is dark and dreaming):

🕯️ Step-by-Step New Moon Ritual

You’ll need:

A candle (any color)

A journal or scrap paper

10–15 minutes of uninterrupted time

1. Center Yourself

Take three slow, deep breaths. Imagine the air moving through your body like a gentle tide. Feel your energy settle.

2. Release What’s Weighing You Down

Ask yourself: What am I ready to release?

Write down any habits, thought patterns, relationships, or energies that are taking up too much space.

Then (safely) burn the paper, bury it, or tear it up with intention.

As you do, say:

“I release what no longer serves. I clear space for what is meant for me.”

3. Call in What You Desire

Write down what you want to manifest. Be specific — not just “abundance,” but “a steady stream of income doing meaningful work.” Not just “peace,” but “a sense of safety in my own body.”

Hold the candle, close your eyes, and visualize it coming to life. Feel it like it’s already here.

Say aloud:

“I call in what aligns with my highest good. I am open, I am ready, I am whole.”

This card is a beautiful reminder that your manifestations don’t work on a human deadline — they work on cosmic time. You’ve set the intention. Now let go of the grip and trust the process. The universe is listening, even when it feels quiet.

Want help getting clearer on your intentions?

Try pulling a card from the Crossroads Oracle or River Witch Oracle — they’re perfect for moon rituals and soul prompts.

🧘‍♀️ Want More Support?

If this ritual resonates, check out:

My Daily Affirmations for the Hecate Devotee eBook — a full guide with affirmations for building your magical spirit.

Developing Your Oracle Skills— a self-paced course on working with psychic energy in your everyday life.

My free protection visualization — quick, calming, and powerful.

Final Thought

The New Moon doesn’t ask you to do more. It asks you to trust more. To dream more. To believe that the unseen is already working on your behalf.

In our next post, we’ll explore a quick Full Moon visualization to help you release heavy energy and reconnect with your power.

And don’t forget — every purchase you make supports the Blessing Box of Goldsboro, placing food and care items at local crossroads for those in need.

Let wisdom, new beginnings, and creative expression shape your day.

Have a glorious day. 🔥

BY HER FIRES. COM

Greetings, fellow seekers,

As a witch and a Keybearer for the Covenant of Hekate, I navigate the realms of light and shadow not only in my spiritual practice but also in the broader landscapes of literature and ethics that inform our journey. Today, I delve into the deeply challenging topic of Marion Zimmer Bradley's troubling revelations and the implications for those of us who cherish her works, particularly The Mists of Avalon, a seminal book that reshaped many views on Arthurian legends with its powerful portrayal of female characters.

Marion Zimmer Bradley was more than a celebrated author; she was a figure who brought the stories of strong, mystical women to the forefront. However, her legacy was irrevocably tarnished by her deeply troubling criminal behaviors towards her daughter. 

These revelations compel us to confront uncomfortable questions about the intersection of personal morality and professional contributions. In my own experience, I've grappled with similar revelations about another author whose work initially guided me on my path. I kept their book, believing that owning it didn’t mean I condoned their behavior. Yet, after reading several accounts from Bradley’s victims, my stance has shifted. I've realized the significance of the symbols and energies we choose to surround ourselves with. This is something I will be remedying post haste, as I seek to realign my external influences with my internal ethics. What once guided me on my path now only flashes with negativity, hostility, and aggression.

The knowledge of Bradley’s actions presents a profound ethical dilemma. How do we reconcile the wisdom and empowerment found in her narratives with the darkness of her personal deeds? This question extends to the broader sphere of authors whose careers were launched or significantly influenced by her mentorship and patronage. Can the insights and breakthroughs facilitated by her support remain untainted by her personal failings? As a community, we must reflect on the ripple effects of supporting work tied to problematic figures and consider the full scope of their influence, both positive and negative. Do we continue to print her books, or should we allow her works to phase out of print? How do we weigh her literary contributions against her moral failings?

As a survivor of child rape, I know the trauma never fades. Even forty years later, driving past locations in my hometown where I was assaulted brings back vivid memories. I imagine Bradley’s victims feel a similar trigger when they encounter her works or hear how she changed lives as some sort of magical guru.

Owning a book by someone who has inflicted harm poses a significant moral question for us in the magical community. It compels us to consider the energy we emit when we keep such works on our shelves. What messages are we endorsing, and what energies are we fostering within our sacred spaces? Is there ever a time to "toss the baby out with the bathwater"? Sometimes, distancing ourselves from works that are overshadowed by their creators' misdeeds may be necessary to maintain the purity of our practices and the integrity of our environments. What is the impact of erasing these voices? Is our community better for not having learned of Bradley’s actions? Is it better to understand that perpetrators live among us from all walks of life and sometimes right under our noses, than to lie in denial and continue to support a work that could be a constant reminder of such horrible pain?

Moving forward, it is essential that we use these challenges as teaching moments. We must ask ourselves if the energies we invite into our lives align with the principles we uphold. Engaging in open discussions about the ethical implications of our literary and spiritual choices teaches critical thinking and ethical discernment to our community. Supporting creators who not only inspire but also live lives of ethical integrity is crucial in fostering a body of work that reflects our highest ideals. As a magical community I feel as though we should make it clear to others who may not have rooted much of their identity into the Mists of Avalon. Instead of coming with anger and fists shaking approach them with honest conversation and provide the facts. It's hard to argue alone; however, if we take this approach, I believe we can convey the seriousness of the situation without alienating the reader. 

As we advocate for change and ethical integrity, it's important to remember that the path to understanding and healing is long. Words hold power—'spelling' is not just about letters but about the energies we create and sustain. While I wouldn't recommend burning all copies, if destroying a book helps cleanse your personal space, then it may be a necessary step for some.

This path is not about easy answers but about the willingness to engage with complexity and make choices that reflect both the light of our wisdom and the depth of our integrity. Let us choose with wisdom and lead with courage, setting examples that future generations can look to as they navigate their own ethical landscapes. Ultimately, our goal here should be growth and healing. We need to learn from history and become better people because of it.

As we reflect on these complex legacies, how can we as a community support each other in making ethical choices that lead to real healing and growth?

Thank you for joining me in this necessary reflection. May our choices always be guided by light, even when made in the shadow of complex legacies.