Kristi DeMeester (she/her) is the author of Dark Sisters, Such a Pretty Smile, which was selected as a Georgia Author of the Year finalist, and Beneath. Her short fiction has appeared in publications such as The Dark, Black Static, multiple volumes of The Year’s Best Horror, Year’s Best Weird Fiction, and in her short fiction collection Everything That’s Underneath. She lives, writes, and makes horror-themed candles in Atlanta, Georgia.
There is a certain amount of energy required when writing horror. Joy. Grief. Rage. A cost in coming to the page and wringing out blood. You can feel it at the end of a long writing session. That weight. A heaviness sleeping in every movement. The lethargy settling deep in the bones as you look at the rest of your day: the dinner that needs made; the animals that need fed and walked; the child that demands your attention; the physical movement of your body that still needs to happen in the name of health and longevity.
Meditation
It’s why I try my best to start and end my working days with meditations focused on energy manifestation and clearing. I think most practitioners of the craft would vouch for the power of setting intentions and the energy one needs to tap into that special source. After the rush of mornings and packing lunches and school drop off, I take at least twenty minutes to meditate. I prefer a guided meditation meant to raise my energetic vibration that then leads into visualization techniques that tap into what I see as my highest self.
When I come to the page, it is with the confidence of the woman I visualize in that meditation. I particularly like the Joe Dispenza meditations. I have several older ones downloaded to my phone, but these meditations can also be found for free on YouTube. Be forewarned that many people find his voice off-putting, particularly in some of his older meditations, but I am fond of his approach to visualization.
YouTube in general is a goldmine of guided meditations that allow the user to tailor searches to their wants. The Chani app is also a wonderful resource for those looking for focused, guided meditations. There are both paid and free options for this app, but I really enjoy the astrological component it provides.
At the end of my writing day, I like to do a quick, final meditation to cleanse my energy and release any leftover frustrations or anxieties. I’m partial to a guided chakra clearing meditation (also by Joe Dispenza), but often I’ll do this on my own with only the sound of my breath or nature.
For this meditation, I’ll start with breath focus, then visualize I’m rooted in the earth and drawing up energy through it in the form of light. I’ll guide that light through each part of my body and then imagine it emerging from the crown of my head as I release any lingering tension. To conclude the meditation, I’ll draw the light back in and then come back into my body.
Energy Clearing
Additionally, I frequently clear the energy in my writing space. My altar is there, so I’ll burn incense. Sage, frankincense, and sandalwood scents are my favorites. I also have a mix of witch hazel, frankincense oil, rosemary oil, and lavender oil I use as a room spray when the energy feels particularly heavy. Florida Water is a cheap and reliable option for cleansing as well. I’ve found Florida Water previously at Wal-Mart (!!), but you can also find it at retailers online or metaphysical shops.
I’ve also made my own candles for over seven years now, so I always have them in my writing space. The simple ritual of lighting a candle before I begin writing helps set my intention that this is my sacred space for creation. That energy is transferrable. Fire into smoke. Thoughts into stories. The flame itself serves as a centering force. A reminder to come back into the fire, into my passion, even when it’s difficult. Sometimes, I will carve a sigil into the candle. A particular sign, just for myself, to represent my intentions or what I hope to manifest with that day’s work.
Crystals
On my desk, I like to keep a few crystals, and when I’m feeling stuck, I’ll hold them while I try to work through the issue. Carnelian and citrine are always on my desk. Carnelian for its associations with creativity and motivation, and citrine for its manifestation of success. Some days, I’ll add aventurine for attracting luck and prosperity, and sometimes it’s rose quartz if I need a boost in self-love. As I hold the crystal, I take a few breaths and visualize their energies transmuted into me. Often, just taking that moment and giving myself the space to tap into those sensations help me work through whatever snag I’ve encountered.
Tarot
At the start of what I anticipate will be a particularly difficult chapter or scene to write, I like to pull either a tarot or oracle card to help serve as guidance or a light through the work. My favorites are The Literary Witches Oracle by Taisia Kitaiskai and the Golden Thread Tarot by Tina Gong. I keep this card on my desk, usually leaned against my monitor, as a reminder of what energy the work requires and that I’m strong enough to maintain it.
One of my fondest memories of receiving a direct reminder from the universe was during the editing process of Such a Pretty Smile. I’d just quit my long-time teaching job and was wholly intimidated not only by the edits I still needed to finish but also by the very thought of tackling a new book. I’d spent that early morning with my son, working through his Covid-era online school, and trying, unsuccessfully, to work on my own writing. Finally, I stopped trying to force it, re-centered, and drew an oracle card from the Literary Witches deck. I pulled The Snail. And immediately started laughing. It was exactly the reminder I needed. To remain persistent, even in the slow and steady pace I’d been trying to force into something faster.
Not even an hour later, I was headed outside with my son for some sun and fresh air. Immediately upon opening the front door, I was met by a rather large snail, directly in my path. And I laughed again at this not-so-subtle sign presented to me to slow down. To allow. To exist in the moment and in the trust that all was happening as it should.
Let this be your invitation into the temple of your own magic. It doesn’t have to be grand. Or require trips to a metaphysical store (unless you want to!) or tons of knowledge or money. Only a quiet acceptance of the call—to create space to dream, to invoke, to manifest. To write what satisfies the alchemy of your soul. I’ll be here, lighting the candle beside you.
Blessed be.
To note: Smudge sticks that feature white sage or palo santo are often not ethically or sustainably sourced. The disconnect from sacred meaning in using such items—particularly when they originate from Indigenous cultures—should be deeply considered by any practicing witch. Understanding and honoring the cultural significance behind these tools is essential.
Dark Sisters by Kristi DeMeester
Three women. Three centuries. One curse. It started with Anne Bolton, a healer accused of witchcraft, and the dark bargain she made for protection that echoes through the centuries to Mary Shephard and Camilla Burson. From having forbidden affair to unearthing an ancient and unknowable power, these three women will leave a legacy that transcends time itself.
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