:aether_spirit: WITCH CHALLENGE - Spirit & Aether Magick

[BryWisteria]

Merry meet!

Thank you once again to all those who joined in for last week’s Witchy Challenge - Earth Magick

As above, so below, and one element leads into the next - the coven has chosen to explore the final of the five elements. From fire to air to water to earth, we are leaving the physical realm behind. It is time to ascend into the spiritual

The theme for this challenge is…

Spirit Magick

Spirit is the element of the infinite. It combines the other four elements to create life, reality, and magick. It exists all around and within us - an intangible, yet all-encompassing element of existence and spirituality. Associated with the Major Arcana in tarot, Spirit may also be called “aether” or “akasa”. Common ways to channel Spirit is through deity worship and meditation.

There are some suggestions for how to explore this theme below, and if you’re looking for additional inspiration, feel free to revisit entries shared in the previous spirit-aligned challenge: The Fifth Element: Spirit

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This challenge is about spirit magick - how you choose to take on this theme is up to you.

So are you ready? Because it’s…

CHALLENGE TIME!

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Spirit Magick

This challenge is all about using spirit energy in the Craft - as always, feel free to explore the theme in a way that aligns with you and your unique practice.

Still not sure where to begin? To help you get started, here are a few suggested spells and other ways in which a witch might approach this challenge.

Please make sure you are logged into your Spells8 Account so you can view all of the resources shared!

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Spirit Spells & Exercises

Spirit Elemental Invocation

Purple Candle Spell & Divine Light Meditation

Guided Meditations

A Pagan Pledge to Spirituality

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Channel Spirit Through Deity Work

Your Deity: Signs a Deity is Calling You

How to Find and Meet Your Spiritual Guides

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Work with the Element of Transcendence & Spirituality

Go Beyond the Veil: Guided Meditation

Astral Travel & Astral Projection

The Major Arcana in Tarot

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Study Spirit Correspondences

Magickal Correspondence Charts

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…And More!

The suggestions above are just a few ideas to help kickstart your creativity. If you feel called to explore the challenge theme in another way, you are welcome to do so.

From Spells8: Signs a Deity is Calling

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How to Join the Challenge

In order for your entry to be counted, all you have to do is write/share about your experience and label it as your challenge entry. There is a lot of chatting here (which is awesome- chatting and discussion are very welcome!) so please clearly write that it is your entry so I know to count it!

Where Do I Share My Entry?

Click here to learn where to share your challenge entry

You are welcome to post it right here- just click “reply” to this post and write your experience in the text box that pops up!

Alternatively, you could create a new post in the forum (this is good for when you have a lot to share and/or would like to discuss aspects of your entry not related to the current theme)

Note: If you do choose to create a new thread, please add the “challenge-entry” tag and/or add a hyperlink back to this post so that it can be easily found- thank you!

Click here for a note for our lovely lurkers

Everyone is welcome to join the challenge. For those who would like the challenge prizes, please know that you will need to share your experience if you want to receive a prize and a public shout-out.

Don’t feel comfortable sharing? No fear! For lurkers and those who are shy, it is absolutely okay to follow along with the challenge on the sidelines. At the end of the day, these challenges are here to help you help yourself by expanding and enhancing your personal magickal practice. I hope they can be helpful for you!

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Deadline

This challenge will close in 13 DAYS

To join in, please share your experience by:

Tuesday, July 1 at 7:00 AM EDT (Eastern US Time)
2025-07-01T11:00:00Z

(Note that the time zone is ET- if you don’t see your time displayed above, you can use this time zone calculator to check for your time zone!)

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Prizes

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

Acknowledgments will be given in a Props and Presents Post that will appear in the forums the day the challenge closes.

After the challenge closes, you are still very welcome to post but please be aware that no additional prizes will be given. This discussion will remain open for about a week after the challenge finishes.

From Spells8: Deep Meditation Incense Recipe

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

If you’re not sure whether or not something is acceptable to post, please double-check with the Forum FAQ and/or reach out to your friendly Moderator Team.

And for those new to challenges- welcome! 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

Picture from Canva

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Close your eyes and open your mind
Find the cosmic planes of the Universe aligned
Become one with the Spirit, vast and unbound—
In silence and stillness, your path will be found.

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Blessed Be

[BryWisteria]

New Emoji!

Every challenge in the forum gets its own signifying emoji, and since the Spirit Element emoji was already in use, a new one was chosen. The Aether Spirit emoji is a combination of all of the elemental symbols:

+ + + + =

It can be used in the forum with the following code: :aether_spirit:

May it serve you well!

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Pick the Challenge Badge

Although the ‘Spirit Witch’ badge is currently available in the forum, it’s been fun to get coven feedback and let you all pick the most popular badge title. As such, for the final elemental challenge, the tradition continues!

Which challenge badge do you like the most?

• Spirit Witch
• Aethereal Witch
• Witch of the Aether
• Divinely Guided
• Blessed by Spirit
• Sage of Spirit

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[georgia]

Cool emoji! Thank you!

[jayne]

I love the new emoji!

Gosh - you’ve given us a hard decision to make, choosing from those badges! Can’t decide!

[dan3]

WITCH CHALLENGE - Spirit & Aether Magick

Picture from Magic Studio (AI)

My Magic is Meditation. I use it to bask in the elements, to push out my path’s desires to others and to myself, and to relax. I am not a poet but I decided to take a skeleton of a poem from an AI and rewrite it to reflect my experiences when manifesting my space and hinting at what I feel like when I do.

“Where Breath Becomes Spirit”

At the edge of night, when silence sighs,
I meet the wind with shuttered eyes.
Upon a safe and whispered space,
I enter breath, I enter grace.

The first large breath enters, tight with thought,
But carries more than I was taught.
It lifts the veil with silent sweep—
The energy within begins to speak.

Air arrives on feathered wing,
A dancing current, an ethereal thing.
She clears the clutter, lifts the mind,
Unfastens what I’ve left behind.
She speaks in streams of gossamer light,
Of truths once hidden out of sight.
With every breath, I learn to see
The thoughts that wish to set me free.

Then, in the hush between the air,
Aether sings—a pulse, a prayer.
She does not shout. She does not move.
She hums in stillness, deep and smooth.
The unseen thread, the sacred tide,
She weaves my soul both deep and wide.
No shape, no form, yet all around—
She is the silence wrapped in sound.

I breathe until the “I” dissolves,
Until the self no longer solves,
But simply is, afloat, aware—
A vessel born of light and air.

I rise from silence changed and aware,
A Skywalker, no need to abear.
With Air, I voice. With Aether, know.
I move with winds that softly glow.

And when the world demands my name,
My energy stares back with my secret flame.
A spell I cast with every sigh:
I am the breath that turns to sky.

[georgia]

@BryWisteria

Which challenge badge do you like the most?

I like Aetherial Witch, too. It sounds like we can walk through walls! But we can only choose one.

@dan3

“Where Breath Becomes Spirit”

I softly read your poem aloud at bedtime. Albus had been peeping softly, ready to snuggle in for the night. Your words brought comfort, quiet, and peace. Thank you!

[Mystique]

Beautiful and peaceful poem @dan3 !

[cherietta]

I’m excited about this challenge! I’m going to do a guided meditation from this book Amazon.com: Wild Magic: Celtic Folk Traditions for the Solitary Practitioner (Audible Audio Edition): Danu Forest, Jennifer M. Dixon, Tantor Audio: Books
I’ll report back my experience.

[BryWisteria]

@georgia and @jayne - Yay! I’m happy you both like the new emoji And yes! Quite a few options came to mind for a possible badge haha. I wasn’t a big fan of how the new ranking poll didn’t display the full results at the end for everyone to see, so this is back to our traditional type of single-choice poll. I’m excited to see which option the coven will choose!

@dan3 - A lovely poem chant! I always love a good rhyme, it makes it fun to read. Thank you for sharing your spirit magick!

@cherietta - I love the book cover, it’s so pretty and symbolic! Good luck with your meditation. I’m looking forward to hearing how it goes for you

[Artemisia]

Challenge Entry - Spirit & Aether Magick

I suppose this is just uncanny as to the timing of how things worked out, but I guess it was meant to be.

A little bit of backstory because it’s been rolling around in my head, how to describe things. I’ve said my practice has evolved or shifted focus, but I’m beginning to think it’s less me changing and more me seeing the whole picture - something akin to the parable of the blind men and the elephant. I’ve been reaching for different parts of my spiritual connection and attempting to define it in terms I understand only to slowly realize it’s all been part of a whole, something I hadn’t realized until time, experience, and a wonderful Nordic practitioner presented me with the complete picture.

I am and have always been connected to and intimately in tune with the spirits of the trees, birds, plants, animals, rocks, rivers, and weather. I’ve moved many times in my life and the one thing that’s always grounded me and given me stability was nature. It wasn’t until a year ago that @tracyS 's research gave me the piece I was missing.

@tracyS

To connect with nature, it’s recommended to connect more with land spirits of your area on a daily basis rather than the gods

from this thread.

Land Spirits.

Little by little, I’ve been making connections with trees that call to me, my favorite herb plants, and the lake nearby. Somehow, it’s hard to put this clearly into words. I haven’t discovered something new; I just finally saw the whole elephant.

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The beginnings of this challenge started back in May with the first of the elemental challenges, but it took much longer than expected to complete. I finally consecrated and dedicated a bird skull.

Ingredients used:

• A bowl of full moon water with rose petals
• Smoke: mugwort
• Candles
• Anointing oil: cypress,
• Offering: A token of spirit allies (a handmade bronze coin pendant)

I cleansed the skull by gently sprinkling flower moon water and said:

This vessel of bone, once earth and wing,
I cleanse with bloom, with life I bring.
No blood remains, no fear nor stain-
Just wisdom now, from beak to brain.

Then I passed it through mugwort smoke to purify it.

Smoke of leaf and root and flame,
I call spirit without name.
Cleanse this bone with sacred breath,
Prepare the way beyond all death.

I dipped my finger in the cypress oil, then touched the skull to anoint it.

Oil of crossing, moonlight path,
Awaken memory, lift the mask.
Bird of bone, I honor thee
Guide of shadow, sky, and tree

Then I dedicated and set intentions:

Spirit ally

I name you ally - bone and breath,
To walk with me beyond all death.

Divination tool

I name you vessel - wise and still,
To speak when I seek with focused will.

Shadow work

I name you mirror - dark and true,
For shadow work and seeing through.

Then I gave the bronze coin as an and placed it underneath the skull.

This token I give, shaped by my hands,
A symbol of pact and what spirit demands.
May this bond be honored, flightful, and real.
So mote it be.

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[BryWisteria]

One week to go!

All the elements are powerful, but there’s something especially potent and holistic about Spirit Magick. Thank you to everyone who has blessed this space with their aether work so far!

For those still pondering what to share, no fear - plenty of time remains on the challenge clock. There is one more week until this challenge closes.

Looking forward to seeing and hearing about your Spirit Magick (and please don’t forget to vote in the poll if you haven’t already!)

Blessed be

[Mystique]

CHALLENGE ENTRY

When I see spirit magic I think of going beyond the veil and communicating with the spirits. I have several ways I do that.

One way I communicate with the spirit world is like getting hit in the head with a hammer. Not my favorite, but is quite enjoyable at the same time. Out of the blue and just randomly, I will get a message from the other side. Sometimes for me and sometimes for others in my life. It’s not a gut feeling, but a sudden and usually loud voice in my head. It’s usually quick and brief.

Another way, and my favorite way, I communicate with spirits is my spirit board. I have several but the one in the picture is my favorite. When I sit down to communicate, I like to cleanse my space and clear my mind. I will sometimes light a candle but not always. I use my non dominant hand on the planchette. I start by asking if there is a spirit that has any messages or would just like to communicate. Sometimes I am looking for a particular spirit and ask for them by name. I also ask for Papa Legba to help guide the spirits across and only allow non harmful spirits through. I always record my sessions in a notebook. Date, time of day, and location.
Even if I get no response, I record it in my notes.

[georgia]

@Mystique

a sudden and usually loud voice in my head.

Thank you for admitting to this. I have been asked to tell how I know certain things, and then I’m treated like I’m insane, despite the voice being right, just because it is a voice no one else can hear. I’ve learned to say I’m hearing “whispers,” though they can be loud. It makes it seem like I hear rumors from neighbors rather than from Spirits.

[Amethyst]

Witch Challenge for Amethyst:

Hey everyone! I wasn’t sure what to do, but I wanted to do something different. I wasn’t up to writing something for myself, because reasons, so for once I went looking on the Llewellyn Spell A Day online. I found this old prayer from the December 18, 2002 Entry.

It looked like just what I needed, so I lit a white candle this morning to go with it and said this prayer by Roslyn:

Crone of night, in thy abode,
Touch the spirit grown cold.
Hear my prayer, hear my plea,
Send my spirit back to me.
Help me see where I’ve gone wrong,
Make me wise and make me strong.
Give me wisdom, give me strength,
Lend your powers to me at length.
Blessed be!

I’ve always heard and believed that you can lose bits of your soul. You give so much of yourself to a job, a relationship, to an old friend, and maybe things didn’t turn out the way you wanted them to. So this is a wonderful way to call the lost parts of your soul back to you and learn something from what you went through!

Hope you like it!

[Mystique]

I don’t admit it to family. I tell them I have a feeling. They have learned to trust when I tell them what my “feeling” is

[dan3]

@Mystique

I don’t admit it to family.

I don’t openly discuss it with family but we are all pretty close so they are aware. Last Christmas I got two sets of crystals for presents from my Catholic niece and her husband.. Such actions aren’t unusual for us - we are diverse when it comes to politics, religion, and other opinions. However, we don’t proselytize and celebrate our other common interests - of which there are many.

[tracyS]

@dan3 A beautiful poem.
@Artemisia aww thankyou such a beautiful ritual.
@Mystique I love your spirit board, it’s gorgeous
@Amethyst I like this, I’m thinking of borrowing this from you please.

So spirit and aether here goes:

Challenge Entry

Ginnungagap.

I’m going to tackle this from the abyss, or in Nordic culture - Ginnungagap.

Ginnungagap is the emptiness of space, the place where order meets chaos and chaos meets order, when life is created, destroyed and recreated, the big bang of the cosmos.

Over time, according to Nordic Mysticism, as humanity turned away from the gods and became more like gods themselves, this depleted power from the old gods to maintain order in Ginnungagap, and chaos is believed to have more control now than the energy of order. Within the darkness live demons known as thursar entities of chaos - from this name we get the name of Thor’s rune (which is, in my opinion, no coincidence as one of Thor’s main roles is to keep a balance in nature).

Many witches will not venture into Ginnungagap due to these demons, however if you can get past your fear, they can teach you alot.

I have entered Ginnungagap many many times, not purposely, I just end up there whilst meditating with runes. It’s very easy to realise you’re there - your inner space, whatever world you started in your meditation turns dark, red roses to silver, day to night, warm to cold, wooden fences to cobbled stone - it feels unsettling, eery even but if you can keep going, holding those runes in your hand, you are safe.

These demons approach me, I see their odd faces, they look at me, then dismiss me as if I’m just too ordinary to be bothered with. I will ask my question, then I start, on auto-pilot chucking down runes, some literal runes on the floor where I’m sat, others will float in my minds eye in neon colours.

Then, I’m thrown out. The space is gone, my eyes are open, the meditation is done.
Now I can work on what these strange spirits wanted to tell me.

Many times I’ve tried to purposely enter Ginnungagap, but it never works. I gain access when they say, so how to start this journey in the first place? I just ask the Thursar if I can meet them, have my runes, start the meditation and they will either let me in, or not. I have learnt to respect this and not demand or try to summon, after all, even for this Lokean, there is only so much chaos one can handle.

Skal

[jayne]

Challenge Entry – Spirit and Aether Magick

At first I wondered what I was going to do for this one. Being such a novice witch, I didn’t feel “qualified” in this area. But after doing some research and working in Co-Pilot, exploring both spirit and aether magick, (and I’ll post that just below) I realized that I have been drawn to spirit and aether magic, without really knowing what it was, for a decade or more.

This image is from my very first art journal, which I created around a decade ago. I was drawn to this quote and felt that it perfectly expressed my innermost thoughts.

And now, as I work in my Witch’s Garden, I feel a connection to the spirits of the land around our house, which used to be forests and fields, and to the trees, shrubs, herbs and flowers we have planted there. They nurture and support me and in return, I nurture and support them.

This is the result of my research and working in Co-Pilot today:

Spirit and Aether Magic: A Journey Beyond the Physical Realm

Exploring the Mystical Forces That Bind the Universe

Throughout the ages, magic has been a conduit through which humankind seeks to connect with the unknown, the unseen, and the divine. Among the myriad of magical disciplines, spirit magic and aether magic stand out as enigmatic forces that transcend the physical realm. While spirit magic focuses on the ethereal essence of being and the connection to souls and spirits, aether magic delves into the cosmic fabric that forms the universe’s unseen energy. Together, they present a harmonious yet intricate dance that bridges the spiritual and elemental planes.

The Nature of Spirit Magic

What is Spirit Magic?

Spirit magic is an ancient practice rooted in the belief that all living beings possess a soul or essence that transcends physical existence. It is the magic of life and death, of connection and transcendence. Practitioners of spirit magic, often referred to as spirit weavers or shamans, channel their energies to communicate with spirits, guide lost souls, and access the wisdom of ancestors.

The Core Principles of Spirit Magic

Spirit magic operates on several foundational principles:

• Interconnectedness: Everything in existence is bound by an invisible web, linking souls across time and space.
• Balance: Maintaining harmony between the physical and spiritual realms is essential to the flow of life.
• Guidance: Spirits can serve as guides, offering wisdom, protection, or warnings to those attuned to their presence.

Applications of Spirit Magic

The spectrum of spirit magic spans across several practices:

• Summoning and Binding: Spirit weavers may call upon benevolent spirits for aid or bind malevolent entities to prevent harm.
• Healing: By addressing spiritual wounds or imbalances, spirit magic can restore vitality and emotional well-being.
• Divination: Through communion with spirits, practitioners gain insights into future possibilities or hidden truths.
• Soul Journeying: Spirit weavers embark on astral journeys to explore realms beyond the physical world.

The Challenges of Spirit Magic

Engaging with spirits is fraught with risks. Malicious entities can deceive or harm the unwary, and excessive reliance on the spiritual plane can lead to a disconnect from the tangible world. Hence, spirit magic requires discipline, humility, and a deep respect for the forces involved.

The Essence of Aether Magic

What is Aether Magic?

Aether magic, often referred to as quintessence or void magic in certain traditions, is the manipulation of the invisible energy that permeates all of existence. In classical philosophy, aether represented the fifth element, a divine substance that filled the heavens and formed the bridge between the material and the immaterial.

The Core Principles of Aether Magic

Aether magic is built upon the understanding of the universe’s underlying structure:

• · Energy Flow: Aether is the current that links all matter, energy, and spirit in harmonious motion.
• · Manifestation: By shaping aether, practitioners can influence reality, bending the laws of nature.
• · Infinite Potential: Aether magic embodies boundless creativity and the capacity for transformation.

Applications of Aether Magic

Aether magic manifests in wondrous ways:

• · Creation: By channeling aether, practitioners can craft objects, worlds, or phenomena from pure energy.
• · Manipulation of Forces: Aetherists can control gravity, light, or other fundamental forces through attunement.
• · Portal Craft: Aether magic allows for the opening of gateways between dimensions or distant locations.
• · Energy Amplification: It enhances other forms of magic, acting as a catalyst to amplify spells and rituals.

The Challenges of Aether Magic

Aether magic’s immense power comes with inherent dangers. Misuse or overextension can lead to catastrophic consequences, including dimensional rifts or energy surges. Practitioners must possess a deep understanding of the aetherial balance to wield this force responsibly.

The Intersection Between Spirit and Aether Magic

Harmonizing the Two Disciplines

While spirit and aether magic may seem distinct, they are deeply interconnected. Spirit magic uses the essence of life, while aether magic taps into the cosmos’s universal energy. Together, they form a symbiotic relationship, where the energy of aether can empower spirit interactions, and spirit magic provides purpose and guidance to the aetherial flow.

Combined Practices

Some advanced practitioners master both arts, using them in tandem:

• · Spirit-Aether Fusion: Enchantments that bind spiritual essence with aetherial energy to create sentient constructs or artifacts.
• · Cosmic Guidance: Seeking wisdom not only from spirits but also from the cosmic forces embedded in aether.
• · Dimensional Healing: Restoring balance to realms or spaces disrupted by spiritual or aetherial disturbances.

Philosophical Reflections

The fusion of spirit and aether magic often evokes philosophical musings. Does the soul itself arise from the aether, or is aether merely a tool of the soul? Such questions drive scholars and mystics alike to delve deeper into these mystical arts.

Conclusion

Spirit and aether magic represent the duality of existence: the intimate connection of life and spirit, and the vast, boundless potential of the cosmos. Together, they remind us of the infinite mysteries of the universe and our place within it. Whether used for creation, healing, or exploration, these disciplines invite practitioners and observers alike to marvel at the unseen forces that shape reality itself. In their practice lies a profound respect for the delicate balance of all things—a balance that, when embraced, reveals the true essence of magic.

[dan3]

@tracyS

Ginnungagap.

I am just finishing a story that has Ginnungagap in it. The mosters are getting out! (well… in the story they are)

[tracyS]

I’m glad it’s in the story