⚔ Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - Dual Wielding

Please be aware that this is an extended challenge- please see deadlines below for more details!

Merry meet to all!

Thank you again to all those who joined in for last week’s Weekly Witchy Challenge- Catch-Up! :clock2:

The challenge clock has started once again and we’re jumping right into the deep end- this week is about pushing your creativity to find the balance between opposing forces in magick :crossed_swords:

This week’s challenge is a two-part task and is…

Dual Wielding Opposite Forces

:crossed_swords: :fire: Dual Wielding: Using Opposing Magickal Forces :droplet: :balance_scale:

From the natural elements to different magickal schools of thought- there are many unique forces at play in the Craft.

Some are tangible -such as the elements or the moon and sun :new_moon: :sun_with_face: - while other forces are intangible -think of ethical types (black/baneful and white magick) or categories like yin and yang) :yin_yang:

When doing spellwork, we often match our intent and what we what from the spell with one or more force: Water Magick for emotional and healing spellwork, Chaos Magick for freedom, Lunar Work to honor a Goddess, etc.

While more advanced spellwork often involves multiple elements, how often do you specifically draw on opposing forces?

This week’s challenge is about just that- the task is to try “dual wielding”: using opposing forces in magick in balance.

176ab764663ee40ddbfbaecb51a597e2--daniel-velazquez-the-dark-world
Photo by Daniel Vazquez shared on Pinterest

Why Use Opposing Forces?

Using opposing forces together requires a greater deal of focus and more time honing your intent for most casters, but there are rewards for the work.

For when two opposing forces come together harmoniously, spellwork can achieve a new level of balance, stability, and peace :balance_scale:

Spellwork that brings two opposites together may be especially useful for those looking to solve disputes, help people see something from a new perspective, cast magick for peace, find inner balance, and more.


Art by Milan Loiacono from How Yin Yang Promotes Harmony

This challenge involves Two Steps:

  1. Choosing two opposite forces that call to you and examining them individually
  2. Finding one way (or more!) to use them together in your spellwork.

This one is a real, well, challenge ! So are you up for the task? :wink:

Remember that the only way to lose is give up before you start, so why not go ahead and give it try! :grin:

It’s… CHALLENGE TIME!

:bellhop_bell:


Picture from Pixabay

STEP 1 : Choose Your Forces :open_hands:

For this challenge, you will need to choose a set of two opposite forces. There are plenty out there- here are just a few possibilities you might consider!

  • Opposite elements:
    :fire::droplet: Fire and Water
    :wind_face: :mountain: Air and Earth

  • :yin_yang: Yin and Yang

  • :white_circle: :black_circle: Light and Dark

  • :new_moon: :sun_with_face: Lunar and Solar (Sun and Moon)

  • :cyclone: :person_in_lotus_position: Chaos and Restraint

  • :deer::skull: The Cycle of Life and Death

  • :hot_face: :cold_face: Hot and Cold

  • …And more! Feel free to do your own research or use any two opposite forces that call to you- be creative with it! :blush:

Before moving to the next step, you should take some time to examine the forces you chose- learn their unique strengths, differences, and uses in magick. Doing so will help you find the best (or new!) ways to combine them :pray:


Art by Adult Paint by Number: Sun and Moon

STEP 2 : Finding Balance in Opposition :balance_scale:

For the second part of this challenge, you will need to use the forces you chose in your magickal practice.

Depending on what you chose, this might be easier said than done! :wink:

TIP: Remember the strengths and weaknesses of each force you chose- is there a type of spell that could mitigate the weaknesses while bringing out the best of each?

When you feel ready, go ahead and either create your own or find a pre-made :

  • Spell
  • Ritual
  • Chant
  • Prayer
  • Etc.

… that uses both of the opposite forces you chose.

This is a more challenging challenge, so if you are having any difficulties finding or creating your opposite forces spellwork, please feel free to “phone the coven” by reaching out in the comments below for advice! :infinite_roots: :handshake:


Art by Jaclot: Life and Death

STEP 3 : Share Your Experience :writing_hand:

Click here for notes about challenge inclusivity

All witches are welcome to join the challenge by practicing magick in line with the current theme. For those who don’t feel comfortable sharing, it is absolutely okay to follow along with the challenge but keep your entry personal. Feel free to join in spirit and do what feels most comfortable for you! :blush:

That being said, please know that if you would like to receive a prize and a shout-out, you will have to share your experience with the forum.

To participate in the challenge, please share:

  1. The opposite forces you chose

  2. How you combined them in your magickal practice

For your entry to be counted, please write about your experience in the comments below and/or create a new thread in the forums.

Note : If you choose to create a new thread, please tag the challenge by adding a hyperlink back to this post so that I can easily find it- thank you! :bowing_woman:


:exclamation: This challenge will close in 13 DAYS :exclamation:

This is an extended challenge as your friendly challenge moderator will be traveling internationally. The theme is a bit of an extra-challenging task, so please feel free to use the extra time to your advantage :raised_hands:

To join in, please share your experience by:

Tuesday, December 7th at 7:00 AM EST (Eastern Standard Time)
( 2021-12-07T12:00:00Z )

Please note above- I will be closing the challenge at the same “time” as always, but I will be in a different time zone!

For their efforts, all participants will receive a special shout-out and a small prize! :gift:

Acknowledgments will be given in a Props and Presents Post that will appear in the forums on Tuesday.

After the challenge closes, you are still very welcome to post but please be aware that no additional prizes will be given.

:gift_heart: :gift: :gift_heart:



Picture from Pixabay

A warm reminder that all challenges are designed to be very open- everyone is encouraged to participate in a way that honors and reflects their unique practice :open_book:

If you have any doubts about if something is acceptable to post or say, please double-check with the Forum FAQ and/or reach out to your friendly Moderator Team .

And for those new to challenges- welcome! :heart: Know that the goal of these activities is to help you further diversify and strengthen your abilities and to bring together the Spells8 forum family to inspire and support one another in creative ways :hugs:


Picture from Pixabay

Powers above and forces below
That constitute all that we know
But what may appear to be far apart
May actually be together at heart

Blessed be! :crossed_swords: :sparkles:

25 Likes

Oh, this one is definitely more of a “challenge” plus it ends on my brother’s birthday :joy: & I really like it. I do know that I am going to use Male & Female as my opposing forces. As for the rest… I will have to get back to you & I will make a master entry! I’m so happy about this one. Thank you! :hugs:

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Wow. This one is really going to stretch my brain out. That’s okay, I’ll figure out something. What I don’t know yet. I’m glad we have the extra time. Thank @BryWisteria!

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You’re giving me something to think about with this challenge :thinking: This one should be interesting!

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Thankfully, we have until the 7th for this challenge. This one is a bit difficult, but I think I have an idea.

Last night, my stomach was bothering me, so I made some peppermint tea, lit a yellow candle, and invoked Sairys, the leader of the Air Dragons, for healing (since peppermint is ruled by the element of air). The spell worked very well, by the way, and I’m feeling better.

Could the :fire: of the yellow candle and the :droplet: from the tea count as dual wielding for this challenge?

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Dual wielding? I’m in! :grin:

Seriously, I live and breathe this challenge! :smile_cat: :fire: :droplet:

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Well, this one will be testing my witchy thinking. Since I’m a fire sign :fire:, the opposite to fire is water :droplet:

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Ok, I’ve had a bit of a think and a little bit of a think. I am going to combine my own inner lightness and darkness. I believe that there is strength within both the light and dark within us all. I am going to consolidate these two aspects of myself to utilise my own twilight energy. As to what I am going to do… I’m plotting and planning - something to get every last little skerrick of pain left behind from Him out of my system.

I am going to draw on each of these aspects within myself to find a way to help me deal with the fact I survived 15 years of narcissistic emotional abuse and being used for my money, then essentially discarded for another. I don’t want to dwell in the darkness of what happened forever but I don’t want to pretend that things are all daffodils and teddy bears for me now that I am free either. The abuse was real, it happened. I know and trust my own mind.

I need to demonstrate something to myself where I can live in between where I accept and embrace the darkness of what has happened but not losing the brightness that I have always had. I have a good pure light. He tried to hide that in the darkness away from the world. But he has lost. I am free.

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Ohhh I didn’t even think of Male and Female energy- that’s a great combo to focus on, @Susurrus! :star_struck: I’m glad you like the theme, good luck and have fun with it!

You’re welcome, @Amethyst! And haha yeah, it is a tricky one this time- but you’re a very creative soul, I’m sure you will come up with some interesting opposing forces to work with! :blush: :sparkles: Enjoy!

It is one that requires a bit of thought before jumping in, @MeganB- but you have so many talents across the Craft, I know you’ll be able to come up with something clever! Good luck! :sparkling_heart:

I would definitely count a combination of fire and water magick towards this challenge, @Kasandra- it sounds like you examined the elements for the healing traits you needed and combined them in a way that yielding positive, balanced results. Great job- you’re a natural dual wielder! :partying_face:

Bonus points to @CelestiaMoon- what a great picture! :clap::star_struck: It sounds like the theme this week is your cup of tea, can’t wait to see what you’ll do! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

It does put witchy thinking to the test, @debra2, but it sounds like you’ve already got a great place to start! :grinning: Balancing your own fire Zodiac energy with an external water influence could definitely open new doors and new ways to explore your magick. Good luck! :tada:

I love the forces you chose for this challenge, @jessica72- I always talk about the benefits of Shadow Work, but it is a brutal aspect of magick too. I think that by combining both the inner darkness with the light there is a lot of potential for deep inner healing with less (or without) the usual intensity of Shadow Work. Wishing you all the best, Jessica- yes, you are free! Spread your wings and soar :dove::heart:

9 Likes

I got an idea yesterday while watching a video. I’m going to write a spell invoking the Spirit of St. Nick and Krampus. Seems perfect for this time of year, I just need to research Krampus more. At least that’s the plan right now, I may change my mind. LOL.

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@Amethyst That’s perfect! :joy_cat:

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I think that this is a wonderful opportunity for me to explore my personal relationship with the duality of “Water and Fire”. What fun, eh @debra2 :slightly_smiling_face:

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Thank you! Seems fitting for this time of year.

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And your creativity shines as brightly as ever! :sparkles: That really is a perfect combo for the season, Amethyst- great choice! :partying_face:

A very powerful duo to handle, and a very useful pair as well! Both fire and water are involved in so many different aspects of our lives- I think this is a great combo to work with, Janis! Good luck and have fun with it! :blush:

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Thank you! I’ve got the idea for the Santa Claus half of the spell, the hard part will be doing the Krampus part without sounding like a witch with a B. LOL!

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You got this :pray:t3: And yes you won!! And if you ever need to vent I am here. So now we need to figure out what to do for this challenge I will give it a try .

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Oh goodness, do I have a lot to say about this topic! My post for this week’s challenge is going to end up novel-length, so I’ll be posting it in its own thread and link it to this thread :grimacing: @BryWisteria, I may need your help or help from another admin with that in a few days once I get my post typed up so I can make sure I do it properly :sweat_smile:

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Thank you xxx

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@Jewitch, just pop someone from the mod team a message & 1 of us will be happy to assist! I have the same feeling about my post for this one, I started looking into how I wanted to start it & was like… well… this is going to be more than a couple of blurbs… Its own post it is!

@Amethyst you have quite the way with words & will do just fine with the part regarding Krampus. I know very little about Krampus, just what I have learned through here & a couple of holiday specials over the years. I don’t know that Phineas & Ferb is a reliable source even if it is part of the Disney Channel. :rofl:

@darlene3 if you can think of other things that are opposing that come together, those can be incorporated as well. Black/White, Male/Female, Positive/Negative, Light/Dark… there are a lot &that’s also how I fell into the post longer than a blurb or 2 :joy: It will come to you & can be as simple or complex as you would like to make it.

The best part of this challenge, which I think is great considering the time of year, is that it’s extended an extra week, so there’s no rush at this point to finish within the next couple of days.

10 Likes

Mine is already long and I am not done yet either . I am not 100% on how to link it but I will try :pray:t2:I have another question I cut my middle finger on my right hand yesterday and this morning I cut my thumb on my left hand any suggestions on what this could mean?

Moderator Edit:

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