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Substack | Rayann Gordon

Everyday animist practice, mediumship with the dead, and the groans and grace of being a working witch mama.

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A Winter Solstice Blessing

A Winter Solstice Blessing

Do you feel the power of this solstice, dear one? For those in the Northern Hemisphere, I hope you get a moment to be with the darkness today or tonight. At a time of year when nature calls us to slow down and Christmas traditions may create pressure to speed up, if you are reading this I want you to know that I am grateful.

Elemental Power

Elemental Power

Fire is my dearest friend and confidant these days. I lay with my toes touching the gas fireplace, breathing warmth up into my body. I huddle beside this small fire each morning. Gazing into it, I welcome my old ancestor fire and my body settles into a flow of being with the gently moving flames. Thoughts slow and mellow.

Ancestral Circles

Ancestral Circles

I used to think dead people?… boring! History? barf. Who cares what my ancestors were up to in their lives? Fighting? colonization? No thankyou. Then I met them and somehow I went from being a kid who couldn’t really care less about a family tree to having conversations with my…

When the Prayer is the Offering

When the Prayer is the Offering

This month I thought I would tell you about misconceptions about spirit guides. Instead, I got stung by a wasp in July, had an allergic reaction, spent 5 days in sting-induced liminal space, and since then have been watching life arise and dissolve in a steady flow of surprises.

Spirit and Art Containers

Spirit and Art Containers

Containers are on my mind lately. I can’t ignore the physical ones like my little one’s broken lunch box, the bag that doesn’t quite hold all of our beach gear, and those bright beautiful African baskets that west coast moms use to carry everything all the time.

What’s in a name?

What’s in a name?

When your job doesn't always make sense to people   The nootka roses are blooming here, which I always take as the marker that summer has fully arrived. To celebrate, I updated my summer schedule through September and adjusted when I work to mostly revolve around...

Unwinding the Spell of Instagram

Unwinding the Spell of Instagram

Navigating social media as an intuitive I took an indefinite break from social media 25 months ago, according to Instagram. My leaving was prompted by one of my spirit guides. Those are the benevolent deities, nature spirits, ancestors, and other than human kin who I...

The Simple Key to Spirit Work

The Simple Key to Spirit Work

Sometime last fall I trudged into my office where I do most of my work with spirits for myself and for clients. I was exhausted from parenting and grief for the world and I felt numb. I wondered if there was any point in lighting my altar candles and dropping in with...

Tips for Reconnecting with Your Guides

Tips for Reconnecting with Your Guides

A client recently asked me if I had always been weird like this (sensitive to spirits, seeing dead people and so on) or if it was something that could be learned.  Hallelujah! I have been waiting for this question to come in forever and have endless things to say...

Concussion, Death, and Rebirth

Concussion, Death, and Rebirth

When life brings you to your knees, let your tears water the earth. My life felt full before it happened. I had three jobs that I loved - teaching Pilates, working for a meditation organization, and a shamanic healing practice in...