iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Bit late sharing, but I had the most amazing experience on Jan 3rd (which was the 1st in my inner-world because I'm weird 😅). It started snowing as I left the house, and lay around me as I walked to work. Felt so magical so I spoke a soft spell of hope and blessings into the wind! /|\ #WitchyWalks

A street just as the snow was starting to settle

I walk by this building all the time, but it looked so different to me that morning, like I was seeing it with fresh eyes.

A junction by a roundabout showing a build up of snow. The snow had become quite heavy at this point and the wind was blowing it in my face. I'm quite sensitive to rain/snow on my face and usually this would stress me out, but I felt so calm. So peaceful.

This is a quiet suburban street that I pass about 20 minutes into my 40 minute commute (or 20 minutes if I cycle, but I walked this day). The snow was already about an inch deep at this point, and as nobody else was around, every step I took was the first.

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

As someone who can get carried away by my unverified personal gnosis, the concept of reality tunnels is exactly the grounding I need before I go any deeper into my druid training. It's definitely been a shift in consciousness for me and something I'm taking my time to explore and sit with. /|\

A quote by Robert Anton Wilson who popularised the idea of reality tunnels and that featured in episode two of Adventures in Nutopia. It is written over a stock image of a long, strip light lit subway tunnel and reads: If we tried to be conscious of all the signals from our environment, we couldn't do it. So we throw out all the information that seems unimportant, which means we also throw out all the information that seems threatening to our belief system or to our dogma and our brain constructs a model out of all the information coming up from the rest of the nervous system and we project the model outward and consider it reality. It's not reality. It's our reality tunnel."

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

I'm so amused by this. I once dabbled in #Encanto fanfic in an attempt to share the Madrigals in my head with folks in the real world. I wrote a scene where they were playing Uno (well, Crazy 8s, bc Uno wouldn't exist in the Encanto 😁). Seeing them on their favourite card game made my day! 😂😂😂

I can't copy/paste the text because I lost the original manuscript when my laptop died, but it describes a scene where Camilo, Mirabel and Bruno are playing Crazy Eights. Bruno complains that the suit keeps changing (because he's holding a bunch of diamonds). Pepa interrupts to bring her brother a cup of her sister's 'special tea' just as Camilo takes the victory. She then asks to be dealt in. An awkward moment follows when Camilo mentions his mom said she hated the game (it was really that it brought back uncomfortable memories of a happier time).

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

More horrific news today, so here is José again. This was last September when we went to Paris for a work trip (my colleague and client loved him! Or, I think so anyway -nonverbal communication was never my strong point 😂😂😂)

José the toy rat is shown sitting on a lilac suitcase-shaped box holding a mini passport in his paws and there's tiny little card suitcase beside him with his name on the tag.

José is shown with his head peeking out of my carry on bag as it hangs on the hook of the plane seat in front of me. Ready for take off!

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

Two years ago, I found this adorable little toy rat in a department store and couldn't resist him. I called him José (long story 😅). José and I have had so many adventures since, so I think I'll share pics of him sometimes when I need cheering up! 😁🐀✨️

A collage I made of photos of a little toy rat (it's meant to be an elephant mouse but looks like a grey rat with a pointed snout). He's quite realistic and rests on his hind legs with his head looking upwards.

The middle image shows him sitting in my hand in the store I found him in, then it is surrounded by images of him in various locations: a table in a bar, poking out of a side pocket of my rucksack, sitting on a railing and posed to look like he's washing his face with his 'hands'.

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

Reposting this because although it seems my type of imagination isn't as common as I once thought, I DO hope to find more folk like me. The text is too long to post in a reply though, so reposting to add alt text.

A screen shot of a post I wrote on Facebook which reads:

"Those who've known me since childhood, or have met me drunk enough that I gave you a whistle-stop tour of 'Rotokia' will know how vivid and complex my imagination is. As I grew, I learnt to mostly keep it confined to what I call my 'inner world' although my mum will recount times that a discarded carrier bag has grown bunny ears and began to hop down the road, and I once saw a tiny little pig with dragonfly wings crawl out from the curb on a rainy street-lit suburban road, freezing for a moment when it saw me, before quickly flying off!

But then I read articles like this one: https://www.self.com/story/hyperphantasia and think, no, it's not like that. It's not loud or disruptive. It's not video-perfect either, and I can tell the difference between what I'm seeing with my mind's eye and what's 'real'. They're not hallucinations, and although I get exceptionally vivid hypnagogic hallucinations in bed sometimes, the events I witness in my inner world are rarely THAT clear. It's more that I'm so wrapped up in the 'story' that I forget I can't really see unless I'm actively focusing on something, and my brain fills in the details afterwards so when I recall the events it's just as vivid as a memory of what I'd done at work that day.

So I really don't know. Am I one of the rare 3%? Or am I just blessed with an overactive imagination? Either way, this is surely one of the few positives that have come from 'living life on hard mode'!"

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

So... I've done the thing! Is there a way to go back and add alt text to old posts, or should I just repost any I'm particularly fond of? I know I'm a tiny profile but that's no reason not to be as inclusive as possible!

Image shows a screen shot of the settings page in which the 'require alt text before posting' option can be enabled so this feature can't be accidentally forgotten.

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

I was sick yesterday so didn't have coffee or do my usual morning #meditation. The coffee tasted so good after the break this morning, and my meditation was deeply restorative. Maybe I should purposely take breaks sometimes? Maybe we need to miss the good things in life to appreciate them? 🤔

A close-up of my favourite coffee mug that reads, "Life is a mixture of magic and coffee." I took it while outside on the swing seat where I like to meditate if the weather allows, and my favourite blanket is over my legs. It's a bright pink Encanto blanket.

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Anyone on bsky have or know much about #hyperphantasia? I'm especially interested in hearing from those in the pagan or occult communities who incorporate it into their spiritual practice or have built UPG around it. (Article below) /|\ #witchsky #occultsky #autism

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

What a cutie! Reminds me a bit of my own grey fuzzball, Dolly! Hope you had a blast at the camp! /|\

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

This morning while meditating, a beautiful prayer I used to recite every day in the late 2000s, suddenly popped into my head. It's by Francesca De Grandis, and her version of 'Celtic witchcraft' was probably what led to me transitioning from Wicca to Druidry. (Full prayer to follow) /|\ #witchsky

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

Had a lovely trip to Rothbury yesterday with a friend from work. We were hoping to see emperor moths but had no luck. Saw lots of other cool animals though. I just didn't get any photos of them. 😅 I feel I'm really making progress with my goal of getting out more! #Nature #paganism #druidry

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Could kick myself for not getting her card so I could credit her, but I bought these today from a lovely lady at a local market. She said Magpie is her spirit animal, like me, though she paints other animals too and her designs are incredible. I'll go back next week to get her name. #WitchyFinds

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Belated Beltane Blessings to those who celebrate! The seasons are a little late here on the NE coast of England, so I like to wait for the hawthorn to be in full bloom. Wasn't quite there last week, but nature has finally given me the go-ahead! 🌸🌸🌸 #witchsky #paganism

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Realised my mental health was slipping a bit this morning, so decided it was time to go sit by that willow tree I'd promised myself I'd make time for. What a difference! I just poured all my sorrows and worries into the Earth, and felt a fresh flow of nwyfre renewing from the heart out! 💖 /|\

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Maybe more druid than witchy, but I discovered an old well yesterday. I think it was built circa 1260, but wonder if it's on the site of an older well. Either way, it could be a nice place to leave offerings for Brigantia/Brigid, and talk to the tree that stands guard over it. #witchyfinds

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Are you familiar with 'Starry Tales'? The image you shared reminded me of that! Each illustration contains the constellation and surrounding stars!

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

The seasons tend to reach my part of England last, so I take cues from nature for when to celebrate the fire festivals, rather than follow the set dates. For Beltane I wait for hawthorn to be in full bloom, which it isn't yet here. So I have time to figure it out. (Photo taken yesterday).

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Squeezing in one last walk before #witchywalks is no more. Did my usual cheat and took the scenic route on my way to work. Saw these beautiful tulips, and plan on coming back when I have more time so I can sit beneath that beautiful weeping willow and hear their stories!

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Are you maybe talking about access to the online gwersi? Just they wanted £135 off me for access to them, which is around $180. I felt that was steep considering I'm already a paid up member though, so I'm sticking to my dusty old CDs! 😅 Hearth price hasn't changed according to my emails.

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

This line particularly made me smile, because it made me think of this sweet fella: my own inspiration, cloaked in green! 😅

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Reposting this so I can pin it, as I think it speaks to the journey I'm on better than a post apologising for being imaginative! I've realised my imagination is my greatest gift, so I'm gonna wear it with pride from now on! No more apologies!

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

My 2nd client was a no-show and had 3 hours before my next call, so decided to use the time to explore a nearby park. Stopped to meditate briefly on a bench, and twice, a little bird joined me on my path, flitting ahead as if to say, "Come on, little magpie lady. Keep going!" 🐦 #witchywalks #druidry

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Well, I started! In this month's Druidcast, Kristoffer Hughes mentioned the connection of wrens to druidry. So I thought, as a tiny bird myself, I'd start with the sacred, yet humble wren! Angle of the beak is a bit off, but it's a start. /|\

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

This post reminded me of my own sigil that I designed around 25 years ago. It depicts my guides, magpie wings, the importance of triplicity in my spirituality, and the spiral which represented what I called 'pathworking' and is still a central aspect of my practice /|\ #paganism #witchsky #sigil

I central spiral going deosil with 'wings' either side consisting of three sweeping strokes. A single tear-shaped dot above represents my main guide and looks like the head of the 'bird' and 3 similar dots below represent my 3 supporting guides; one for each of the 'spheres' I work in (Land, Sea and Sky in this world, and the three realms in the spirit world), and form the tail feathers of the 'bird'.

My sigil painted crudly in gold on a heart-shaped piece of polished lepidolite. I used to hold this while meditating to help me enter my inner-world!

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

Very meaningful walk today. Met a magpie on a bridge, then saw a cute rat hurrying along a path. Got lost trying to take a shortcut and found a funny sign pointing to 'The Grove' in opposite directions (that's groves for ya! 🤣). Finally, saw a dove on the bridge on my way back! 🕊 /|\ #witchywalks

A friendly magpie perched on a pillar of a bridge over a dene. The tops of tall deciduous trees can be seen in the background. This was the start of my magical journey!

My attempt to photograph the rat. A narrow path runs past a wooded area then disappears behind a grassy mound. I've zoomed in to show a blurry blob that you'll have to take my word is the rat, and put it in a heart overlaying the main image.

A street sign with the words "The Grove" on it. Below the words are two arrows, one pointing left and the other right. Found it amusing, but also kinda meaningful as I make my return to druidry but don't know if I want, or need to join a grove. "All roads lead to the grove," I heard a voice whisper from somewhere deep within!

A white dove (or hybrid) on a different section of the same bridge I encountered the magpie on. A little reminder that I'm on the right path!

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

Realised I'd made it a bit too dark. So here's a lighter version (see previous version for alt text).

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

I feel like I could fill a thread with my struggles with the bardic aspects of druidry, but let me instead share this quote from episode 179 of Druidcast. Damh said this just after he and Penny were talking about the stifling effect of needing approval from others, and it hit deep! /|\

A quote from Damh the Bard reading, "That's where the blessing of the Awen comes from. That idea that whatever I create must come from me and my honesty, and my integrity and be congruous with my life. And that's all that matters."

It is written over a drawing I did in my early twenties, back when I still drew sometimes. It's a silhouette of a girl on a hill by a tree with her arms outstretched. I copied it from the cover of The Onion Girl by Charles de Lint.

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

I see people sharing pics of their altars so here's some of mine. I don't do rituals often and prefer to keep them simple, and props to a minimum, but there's a ritual I do on certain sabbats, and I'll set up a mini altar when journeying sometimes (see alt text for more detail).

A ring of 9 tea light candles around a central candle in a holder depicting the Green Man. A statue of my main spirit animal, Magpie, is in the background by a dish of incense cones and a vase of flowers.

This ritual is based on the 9-waves druid blessing. I organise my life into 3 areas (physical, spiritual and mental), and choose 3 goals for each, giving my 9 altogether. Then I do a blessing for my goals on or around Imbolc, Litha and Samhain.

My mini altar consisting of a single tea light, 3 magpie feathers (they leave them for me sometimes) an incense cone and a pretty two-toned stone I've had for 25 years and is very sentimental to me.

This is my go-to set up when I do shamanic journeying. Not sure it's necessary, but I will say that even though I struggle to meditate these days, once the drum track starts and the incense reaches my nose, I have no trouble entering my inner world, and the spirit worlds beyond, and the intrusive mental chatter shuts up!

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

I fell off yesterday, but that's okay. We have to be gentle with ourselves and allow for breaks now and then. Today's session didn't go well, but I tried. I showed up, and that's good enough. 🧘‍♀️

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Sorry I'm late to the party. A group of my neurodivergent friends has been encouraging eachother to get out into nature more. It's hard for me to leave the house besides for work, so I've been setting off earlier and exploring the natural spaces along my commutes! Here are some recent #witchywalks;

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Bless younger me! I was so dyslexic and clearly had learning difficulties but all I got was some 1:1 sessions with a tutor. They blamed my issues on EVERYTHING from my sister, teachers going on maternity and 'not being interested'. I had #autism. That's all. It was so obviously autism. 😢

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

This one particularly fascinates me. It's the final book, after I'd moved to what I thought was a blend of druidry and shamanism, but have since learnt is just the ovate path! /|\

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Like a lot pagans, #Wicca was my gateway drug. As part of my quest to redefine my path, I'm reading my old Books of Shadows. They span 18 years and I was only 15 when I started. Seeing my progression as I transition to a more druidic path is quite fascinating. /|\ #witchsky #BookofShadows #pagansky

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Brooke's words from episode 1 of Adventures in Nutopia ring so true right now. I really hope they're right that this is a sign of a positive change to come. 🙏 /|\ #NewMyths #TransRights #pagansky #TowerTime #AdventuresinNutopia

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

In case anyone is interested in the concept of Tower Time. Here's a link to Byron Ballard's essays. To me, it's not an apocalyptic prophecy, but simply the messy end of an outdated system. It brings me hope, not despair. www.myvillagewitch.com/the-tower-ti... #Tarot #witchsky #paganism #occult

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

I love this! I feel so much better on the days I get to cycle to work. We don't own a car, so it's public transport otherwise. A lot of ideas and insights come to me while cycling, but I never considered seeing it as part of my druidry. It's a great idea. Just look at this commute! 🥹

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Without fail! Every time I do inner-work/journeying, she plonks herself on my lap. Doesn't matter where she was or what she was doing prior! 🤣🐈‍⬛️ /|\ Great session though. Very eye-opening and gave me hope! 🥹 #witchsky #paganism #druidry #shamanicjourney

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

I love this so much! My inner light has been a significant part of my spirituality since my teens. I'm trying to make it more of a priority so I've added it to my self-care app so I don't forget 😅

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

So, let's start with why I need this. I used to be quite consistent with my practice and could enter deep states of meditation easily, but there was a lot of change and turmoil in my life last May/June and I had a complete breakdown. I've struggled to meditate since. (images from Insight Timer app)

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

🧵 I've recently been trying to rebuild my #meditation skills, having lost them following a period of poor mental health. So I thought I'd start a little thread to document my journey, keep me accountable, and who knows? Maybe even inspire others along the way. Feel free to pipe in if you wish!

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

FINALLY got around to making a better version of this! I'm a Bruno loves buñuelos truther 'til I die!!!! 🥰 #BrunoMadrigal #BrunoLovesBuñuelos #Encanto

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

This #Druidcast episode gave me food for thought this morning. I'm at a bit of a crossroads in my #druidry, and it got me thinking of the importance of defining what druidry means to ME. I wrote this to a friend last year, and it's a start, I guess. /|\ druidcast.libsyn.com/druidcast-a-...

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

A client of mine recently recommended this book having found it helpful in his own healing journey. After a flick through, it seemed good, so I ordered a copy. Hoping it helps me too, because my self-confidence seems to be getting worse, not better, with age. 🫣😞🦋

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

I wish I could be this unapologetically me! Social anxiety holds me back in so many areas of my life. I recently visited the labyrinth in the park near my home, but I was too shy to walk it. I just sat by it quietly and soaked up the atmosphere instead. 😞 #pagansky

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Happy Full Moon, #druids, nature lovers and magical folk of Bluesky. I'll be doing a simple, but personally significant candle ritual this evening. Do you do anything specific on the full moon? /|\ #PaganSky #WitchSky #FullMoon #Paganism #Shamanism #Esbat

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Magpies and Madrigals @jembru.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

What a lovely idea! 🥹 On Wednesday, I supported a client to visit the Lego Store. It was his first time travelling so far on public transport! Then that evening, his mum messaged to tell me how happy it had made him 🥹. Got myself a little souvenir too! It was such a lovely, magical day!

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