Spells for Collective Liberation and Healing
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Knowledge Base
A growing and constantly updated library of concepts, tools, and resources that have been helpful to us.
Concepts
Ideas and topics that help us understand our world.
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, word, or phrase that is repeated over and over through humming, speaking, chanting, or singing. There are different ways to work with a mantra: - Many spiritual lineages work with mantras that come from long traditions and carry a lot of meaning in them. See examples below. - You can also craft your own mantra by choosing an affirmation that you would like to focus your mind on. "The word 'mantra' means 'mind-protecting.' A mantra is something that protects the mind from itself, really, by giving it some fodder other than the thinking process." – Ram Dass in Paths to God "As you chant, start to surrender into it, start to offer up all of your other thoughts as sacrifice into it." – Ram Dass in Paths to God - Om Mani Padme Hum - Om Ami Dewa Hrih
Upper Limit Problem
The Upper Limit Problem describes the tendency to unconsciously sabotage ourselves when we surpass a familiar level of success, happiness, or love. Rooted in internalized beliefs and fears, it limits our capacity to grow, like an internal ceiling. Overcoming it means expanding our ability to receive and sustain well-being without self-sabotage. The term Upper Limit Problem was coined by psychologist and author Gay Hendricks in his book The Big Leap. - Impostor syndrome - Fear of outshining As above so below: just as individuals hit an inner ceiling on how much joy, success, or peace they allow, collectives (and the human organism as a whole) can unconsciously limit how much well-being or transformation they believe is possible. When systemic breakthroughs arise toward justice, healing, or liberation, they often meet resistance not just from external forces, but from within the collective psyche. This may show up as backlash, polarization, or a retreat into the familiar. Recognizing the collective Upper Limit Problem invites us to ask: What are we afraid of when things get better? And how can we expand our shared capacity to hold more possibility, not just individually, but together?
The Magician
The Magician is the creator. They know how to transform energy and turn something that has previously existed only in their imagination into a material manifestation. They know that attention is power and don't waste time complaining about situations. Instead, they take a look at the matter at hand, identify possibilities, and get to work. They are a light worker.
Attention
Attention is power. Where do we direct our attention? Who do we give it to? External attention (like feeling desired, admired...) can lead to spiritual ego. It's important to not confuse this type of attention with connection. Attention is a near enemy of love. "What you pay attention to grows." – adrienne maree brown in Emergent Strategy "The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers." – Thích Nhất Hạnh - Gratitude Journaling - Awe Walk
Repair
Repair is the process of rebuilding and deepening trust after rupture has happened. It can involve: - Holding space for the pain - Building compassion for each other and the situation - Apologizing with sincerity - Suggesting ways how to handle situations like this in the future In conflict, we can both work on our individual healing, but without repair our bond isn't strengthened. There is not always capacity for repair, and that's okay. However, how repair was done in past situations is a key factor in how safe we feel in showing ourselves vulnerable now. A commitment to repair not only involves taking responsibility for the pain our behavior has caused. It is also necessary to bring up situations where we were hurt by others, even if we fear feeling rejected and invalidated. - Have my requests for repair been valued and taken seriously?
Holding Space
Holding space means being present when someone shares their inner world with us. Energy and emotions that someone has been holding onto can be released when they're being witnessed by others. When we're in the role of the space holder, it's important to ask ourselves if we have the capacity for raw emotional sharing at this moment. Our mental state strongly affects our boundaries and capacity to witness others in a non-judgmental way. With practice, we can offer a container that leads to direct transmutation without us taking in too much ourselves. If we end up soaking in some heavy emotions, it is recommended to do something grounding after the listening.
Grounding
Grounding means connecting more with the present moment, yourself and the Earth. Especially after drawing in a lot of external energy and emotions, it is important to find an outlet. Otherwise, it could lead to involuntary discharge or an inflated ego. - Creation - Movement, fitness, stretching, dance - Taking a shower (a cold shower can have an even greater effect) - Acupressure like Shakti Mat - Various types of grounding meditation - Spending time in nature - Physical touch and co-regulation
Meditation
Meditation is about taking time to slow down, be present, and listen to what's going on inside and around us. Meditation may serve different purposes, for example: - Mindfulness Meditation: A focus on observing thoughts and practicing the ability to notice when the mind is wandering. - Working with the unconscious: Bringing ourselves into a meditative state to uncover what is hidden (shadow work) or to make positive change of patterns and belief systems (light work). Most meditations incorporate some or many of the following practices: - Stillness - Breathing - Visualization - Bringing attention to the body and our senses
Patterns
According to estimates, we make at least 90% of our daily decisions unconsciously. This often leads us to repeat patterns we learned at some point (often in childhood). Shadow Work is a practice focused on bringing unconscious patterns into awareness. Breaking these patterns is also referred to as breaking the cycle. Seeing our own patterns can lead to us seeing more patterns in others as well. When this starts to happen more, it can be quite overwhelming. It's OK to see patterns of others. The question is how much we take them personally. When we don't enmesh ourselves in patterns of others and also recognize that we bring our own projections and assumptions, seeing more patterns leads to more compassion instead of frustration. Seeing patterns is only a burden if you take them seriously. The following methods and exercises can help in recognizing patterns: - Written methods, e.g. journaling - Visual methods, e.g. drawing a timeline
Tools
Exercises and practices that help us shape our world.
Ultimate Success Mantra
The Ultimate Success Mantra is a mantra that was developed by Gay Hendricks and presented in his book The Big Leap. It is designed to be an antidote to the Upper Limit Problem. "I expand in abundance, success, and love every day, as I inspire those around me to do the same."
Energetic Shield
The visualization of an energetic shield helps with stronger energetic boundaries. It can help to visualize energy bouncing off the shield like when something hits a windshield. It can also be helpful to see the shield as a transformer that converts anything that comes through into loving, joyful energy. I decide where my attention goes. I decide what energy I take in. I am my own refuge. This shield is a transformer. It turns anything that comes through into loving, joyful energy. <Image src="/img/2024-04-19-energetic-boundaries.jpg"
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is perhaps the most common form of meditation. It is about recognizing when the mind has wandered off and then just letting that thought go in a gentle way. These moments feel like waking up from a thought, and this awareness can be trained like a muscle. After doing mindfulness meditation for a while, it is also easier to be aware of your thoughts and mental state in daily life. If you are prone to overthinking, this practice can help a lot to catch these moments earlier and then decide if it's still productive thought. Lift a finger when you notice you've drifted off. This helps remember what this type of meditation is about. To let go of a thought, it helps to visualize it like a thread that can be gently cut or let go of and then floats away.
Mudra
A mudra is a hand gesture or pose that is associated with a specific meaning, often in a ritualistic context. While different types of symbolic gestures can be found across cultures, the term mudra and many of its applications originated in Indian and Tibetan religions and philosophies like Hinduism and Buddhism. Mudras can be used for anchoring with the intention to get into a specific state of mind. There are different types of mudras: - Collective Mudras: A good way to get started is to use gestures that are already recognized. Many of the existing mudras have been passed on for centuries and thus charged with a lot of meaning and effectiveness. - Personal Mudras: It can also be effective to develop your own gestures and use them for specific contexts. This way, they lack the collective meaning, but can be charged with your own and increase effectiveness over time.
Inbox Zero
Inbox Zero is a productivity method that aims to reduce mental overhead by moving and archiving all emails when they are taken care of. The more emails there are in my inbox, the more mental clutter. Usually, as soon as there are more than 7-10 emails in my inbox, tasks can get lost. Checking off emails and reaching inbox zero can be very calming.
Affirmations
Affirmations are short, positive statements that help reframe thoughts and reinforce desired beliefs and intentions. By repeating them regularly, we can affect how our consciousness perceives ourselves and the world around us. Since affirmations are typically used to shift thoughts and perceptions toward positive outcomes, they can be seen as a light work technique. - Choose an affirmation that reflects a belief, intention, or quality you want to strengthen - Keep it short, present-tense, and positive (e.g., “I am a source of calm, strength, and hope.”) - Repeat it regularly It is even possible to create a mantra out of your affirmation and repeat it over and over to focus your mind on it even more. Affirmations are not inly relevant on the individual level. We believe it's very important for the collective to use them to envision a better future. May our affirmations be as bold as our imagination allows. Examples:
Resources
Books and other resources that we recommend.
Book: The Big Leap
In _The Big Leap, Gay Hendricks introduces the Upper Limit Problem and shows how we can move past it. - Ultimate Success Mantra
Article: Damien Echols on Leaving Ritual Behind
On his Patreon, Damien Echols published an article called Leaving Ritual Behind. "For many years, ritual work was the center of my life. [...] And it worked. Unquestionably. It changed my inner landscape, sharpened my attention, reorganized my psyche, and altered the trajectory of my life in very concrete ways." "Because of that history, people often assume I must still be doing ritual work daily. [...] The answer surprises them: no, I don’t. And if ritual is done correctly, there will come a time when you don’t either." "The Buddha gives a perfect metaphor for this in the Diamond Sutra. He describes it as crossing a river. To cross it, you need a raft. The raft is essential. Without it, you will drown. But once you reach the other shore, carrying the raft on your back would be absurd. The raft has done its job. You leave it behind and continue walking." "In the beginning, ritual is a technology. [...] Ritual gives the untrained mind something to hold onto while it learns how to stay present." "Early on, ritual feels powerful because it is. The practitioner’s inner world is chaotic, fragmented, and reactive. Ritual introduces order. It creates boundaries. It teaches cause and effect on an internal level. You perform an action with intent, and something changes. This is intoxicating, because you realize it’s not fantasy, and it gives you agency where there was previously confusion and helplessness." "Over time, if the work is done correctly and with great devotion, the effects of ritual stop being episodic and start becoming structural. [...] Presence begins to appear on its own more and more often in “regular life.”" "At a certain point, ritual becomes redundant." "Ritual, in its early stages, often involves negotiation with the world…requests, invocations, adjustments. Later, that impulse disappears. The practitioner no longer seeks leverage over circumstances. Instead, they remove the internal friction that prevents reality from moving cleanly through them." "When ritual has done its job, it leaves you with something quieter and far more demanding: the responsibility to meet each moment directly, without ceremony, without insulation, and without excuses."
Article: Care on Avoiding Boundaries
On their Substack newsletter Erotics of Liberation, Care published an article called Avoiding boundaries is not kindness. It is a refusal to risk being known in real time. "I tell myselves I struggle with boundaries because no one taught me. Because of my intersections. Because of white supremacy. Because of trauma. Because of history. And all of that is true. And, it’s not the whole truth." "I am tired of my wounds. Not in a bypassy way, not in a “just get over it” way—but in the way that comes when you realize that healing doesn’t only mean tending to pain. It also means losing the identities we’ve built around our wounds." "_The truth is: I struggle with boundaries a lot because I struggle with intimacy." "I delayed truth until it hardened into resentment because resentment felt safer than vulnerability. Resentment preserves power without risking rejection." "Over time, I’ve come to understand that boundaries are not just about self-protection; they are a direct line to my capacity for accountability. When I don’t hold my boundaries, resentment begins to accumulate." "I stay silent. I’m scared to set a boundary because I learned early on that boundaries threaten the relationship—and sometimes my safety within it. I learned that it was safer to abandon myself in service of the relationship than to risk the freedom that might exist outside of it." "When internal boundaries are weak or absent, resentment becomes the substitute. And resentment is dangerous because it disguises itself as moral clarity while actually being deferred responsibility. It says, you should have known, when the truth is, I didn’t say." "For me, resentment is often closer to jealousy than to anger. It sounds like: “Well, I didn’t say anything when you did X last fall.” What I’m really saying is: I cannot hold your boundary because I cannot hold or speak my own." "When a boundary finally appears—but it isn’t mine—the one I should have set months or years ago arrives late, charged, absolute, and often absurd. It’s not a boundary anymore. There is no room for repair then, only punishment wrapped in layers of defensiveness. Accountability, at that point, can no longer be practiced."
Article: Care on Political Bypassing
On their Substack newsletter Erotics of Liberation, Care published an article called The wound I can't heal. Care mentions how political bypassing can be used to evade vulnerability. It is part of what we mean with externalization when focusing only on the outer layers of the spheres of responsibility. "Political bypassing happens when we use politics to avoid intimacy. When analysis becomes armor, we end up hiding behind theory instead of showing up in relationship. We name systems (“that’s just patriarchy,” “that’s your conditioning”) instead of naming how we actually feel. It’s similar to spiritual bypassing, where spiritual language or practices are used to sidestep pain or accountability — but in this case, it happens through politics." "Political bypassing replaces vulnerability with ideology —it makes us sound aware while keeping us disconnected." "Accountability became theoretical, and compassion conditional."
Article: Damien Echols on the Great Work
On his Patreon, Damien Echols published an article called What is the Great Work?. "The Great Work is the purpose of your life. It’s why you’re here." "The Great Work is the process of remembering who and what you really are, and then living as that." Damien explains the phrase Solve et Coagula: "They represent the stages of breaking down the false self and reassembling the soul around something real." Solve: "In the early stages of the Great Work, everything begins with “solve.” You dissolve your old identities, your illusions, your wounds, and the programming you inherited from culture, family, and trauma." "Not all at once—but slowly, layer by layer." "This stage can feel like death." Coagula: "The second half of the formula is “coagula”—reassembly. Once you’ve burned away the dross, you begin to consciously, deliberately rebuild yourself."
Article: Damien Echols on the Warrior's Mind
On his Patreon, Damien Echols published an article called The Warrior’s Mind: Discipline as a Sacred Fire. He uses the image of the warrior to show how everyday discipline is an important skill on the transformational path, including: self-mastery, purpose, emotional resilience, presence, humility, service and integrity, stillness and solitude. "People think warriors are forged in battle. But the truth is, battle only reveals the edge you’ve already sharpened." "I’ve known cages made of concrete and cages made of comfort." "So what defines a true warrior’s mindset? It’s not aggression. It’s not fearlessness. It’s not domination. It’s clarity. Discipline. Presence. Purpose." And it doesn’t just happen. You cultivate it—daily. "Self-mastery isn’t about punishment. It’s about sovereignty. The ability to command your own mind, body, and emotions. To train when you’re tired. To speak with care when you’re angry. To act with honor when no one will ever know." "_You build self-mastery through daily practice: