Xandra the Witch

good morning! This cosy Xandra the witch podcast is a 2-for-1. 1. Introducing the LOTR Cosy Reading CommunityIn the first half, I update you on the reworking of my LOTR Leadership Circle, which now includes a free Cosy Reading Community where everybody gets a hobbit-hole! I like to explain my thought process as it unfolds, for it is an example of wielding leadership. Thanks for being on this journey with me. → Join the LOTR Cosy Reading Community here.→ Read more about the LOTR Leadership Circle here.2. Wintering DreamsIn the second half, I unpack advice around New Year’s Resolutions in an astrological context. And go on about natural light cycles. Each year, I aim to go deeper into my wintering, resisting the capitalist urgency to ‘finish strong’ and consistently ‘produce’ all year round. let me know what lands.♥️Xandrathe witch 🪄 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

Here are 12 little prizes I’ve given myself for doing hard things! Most recently, I rewrote my About page! You can read it here ✨✨✨The prize was to record this podcast, because that’s what felt most fun.the prizes* 10 Things I Hate About You + pizza* 12 minutes of looking at my favourite painting at the art gallery — a nice zoomer in a Chappell Roan concert tee took this photo for me:* butterfly stickers* coloured my planner page Red (get your Lunar Logbook here!)* watched Harry’s short film (I mispoke; it’s stone “squeezing” not setting)* watched Hapidanbui the music video in my pajamas (and learned the dance)* wrote down Hamlet’s speech* put star stickers in my planner* chose a new sporcle badge (here’s the ‘They’re Taking the Hobbits to Isengard’ blog I talked about)* watched Olivia Dean live performances while cross-stitching* recorded this prize podcast!* (bonus) cheers at writers drinks to my new about page!here’s Simone Grace Seol’s Truth or Dare course 🌟Leave your prize ideas and replies in the comments =D♥️Xandrathe witch 🪄→ Apply for the LOTR Leadership Circle here. → Read more about the LOTR Leadership Circle here.🐇 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

craving a cosy little podcast so i made one myselftopics:* recommended mental health practice: Emoji sos* What IS my fave ep of gossip girl?* Blair was manifesting and miserable in Paris* criticising white supremacy IS COSY. just me??* Overnight Addendum: actually Louis is and always has been the worst→ Apply for the LOTR Leadership Circle here. → Read more about the LOTR Leadership Circle here.→ order you Lunar Logbook moon planner here!♥️Xandrathe witch 🪄p.s. my new favourite podcast is the purple pants podcast, wherein brice izyah and friends recap survivor! plus, there are monthly purple pants premonitions with D'Andre who is also on substack 🌟🌟 if you fancy some DEEP GLITTERING THOUGHTS, look no further — This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to the Showgirl Portal / Taylor Swift Album Countdown Club—I’ve been in rehearsal (on my living room floor) to bring you this concert (from my living room floor). 1989 makes me want to sing along, so for my creative project, I learned the chords to a few favourites. At first I was tempted to learn the whole album, but I’m challenging myself to not challenge myself so much. This concert was recorded in one take, and includes mistakes. That is because it’s not about being perfect. It’s about how having fun is enough. And if you can’t shake off perfectionism while at play, you’ll really struggle with it doing serious stuff. So, welcome to the Errors Tour!I invited you to create more space for fun in your life. What’s a small, meaningful project that would bring you joy right now? There are plenty of examples in this Showgirl Portal project: 💚TS1, 💛TS2, 💜TS3, & ❤️TS4And if you’re looking to explore the fun vibe more deeply, connecting to your elemental nature through true, pure, decolonised joy, join me in Fun Club. We begin on 25 October. 🪄Xandrathe witchCurrent Offerings:🌈 Xandra’s Fun Club - 8-week portal beginning 25 Oct📖 Lunar Logbook - undated moon planner for creating the magical story you wish to liveConnect @xandrathewitch:📸 Instagram 📽️ YouTube This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to the Showgirl Portal / Taylor Swift Album Countdown Club. (here’s part 1 & part 2)Today, I heed the call of Speak Now and speak now. If you have been looking for a call to Speak Now too, this is it.💘Your challenge: be an audience member and then, —> create something -anything- in response.Do you seek a deeper and truer connection to your sense of fun? Join my FUN CLUB: a reclamation of joy + return to yourself. The Fun Club portal is open. We begin on 25 October. oh and here’s my speak now outfit!ps. i didn’t get to mention my favourite speak now song castles crumbling which i sang at the hard rock cafe as part of my taylor swift setlist =D =D perhaps the highlight of my music career [so far]. haha i just looked up the link for you and forgot that i referred to this concert as ‘opening for taylor swift at the eras tour’. such a funny joke, x. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

How can we have fun at a time like this? Is it even ok to have fun? Urgent action must be taken to fight fascism and dismantle white supremacy. We also must have fun, because the liberation of joy and peace is what we are fighting to protect. This is not escapist. This is not separate. This is not a break. It is all connected. It is especially not escapist because often systemic oppression exists everywhere — including… Chuck E. Cheese’s! As we turn to childhood nostalgia for reprieve, what we find there is imperfect. I celebrate being able to see these imperfections with the wisdom of time. I celebrate the courage of those who point out the wrongs. I will continue to use my voice to dance us towards joy: Yes fun: without the misogyny and racism 😇. So this video is a mix, just as life is a mix. I gush over a current obsession. I consider the paradox of receiving joy in devastating times. I reflect on the problems of this entertainment company, and what we can learn from them. Most of all — I love what people love. Please stay giddy and excited about whatever random interest is calling to your heart! We need to stay silly. Love, XXandra the Witch is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Sources:* this book is so good! —> Everything to Play For: How Videogames are Changing the World by Marijam Did* “Everything To Play For asks if videogames can achieve egalitarian goals instead of fuelling hyper-materialist, reactionary agendas.” 🌟* NY Times: Farewell, Chuck E. Cheese Animatronics Brand* Brainna Wu in Rolling Stone: Atari Founder Award Reexamined After Outcry Over History* Defuctland sparked my interest in Chuck E. Cheese after this video on the helicopter thing, and a longer Patreon video ranking the animatronics * I’m also enjoying TNT Muffin’s series including this one tracking down animatronics in weird places; this warms my heart and if anyone has animatronics at your local supermarket omg, take that in. enjoy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

Every full moon I delete social media from my phone, and every full moon I announce it. I like to normalise and role model different ways of balancing the virtual world with reality. Over my years of doing this, I learn something new every time! So when Lorde commented on phone addiction, I thought I’d weigh in on why she doesn’t feel confident in her answer. Here are my Sag full moon thoughts on the reality of being online in 2025! disconnect/reconnect at your own pace. 💓XP.S. I’m working on more stuff behind the scenes 👀. You can look forward to (a) the nonbinary priestess diaries column and (b) a secret project coming soon to substack for summer fun. hint: 💌🐌 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

with magic,⭐️ X. This essay poured out of my pen in pretty much one go, born from days and hours of sleep and rest, honouring my soul-aching tiredness. With gratitude to Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey of The Nap Ministry, and to Simone Grace Seol for affirming rest and slowness as a foundation for truth-telling. With gratitude to my divine feminine teachers, Meg McDermott and Bria Melitta.I’m Xandra Sunglim Burns, the Witch, and artist of everyday life. This blog, The Priestess Diaries, is about reviving ancient ritual in modern times. It is also about discovering what a priestess is, does, and why I am one, because I am forever evolving my understanding of this mysterious wisdom! Lunar Logbook, my moon planner for creating your life while honouring nature’s cycles, is now available to order online. I live in Edinburgh, and my pronouns are she/they/he/witch/wizard. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

First Quarter Moon project setting ritual!🪄 Lunar Logbook: https://lunarlogbook.com📸 Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/xandrathewitch/ 📝 Substack: https://xandrathewitch.substack.com/ 📹 TikTok: / http://tiktok.com/@xandrathewitch 🕸️ Website: http://xandrathewitch.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

How to live, plan, and create by the moon’s phases 🌙I’m Xandra Sunglim Burns, the Witch, and artist of everyday life. This blog, The Priestess Diaries, is about reviving ancient ritual in modern times. Lunar Logbook, my moon planner for creating the magic story you wish to live, is now available to order online! I live in Edinburgh, prefer the title Mx, and use all the pronouns. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

As a theme park enthusiast, I wish I could be excited about Epic Universe and Universal Great Britain. But I can’t shake the fact that theme park licensing for HP is the largest source of [my former favourite author turned raging transphobe] JKR’s income. Is that the only reason I feel icky about these projects? In this video/episode I explore the balance between enjoying IP in theme parks with calling out fan exploitation.I made this for YouTube, then realised I can also post it here, hooray!📝 Substack: https://xandrathewitch.substack.com/📸 Instagram:   / xandrathewitch   📹 TikTok:   / xandrathewitch   🕸️ Website: http://xandrathewitch.com 🪄 Lunar Logbook: https://lunarlogbook.comSources:* Forbes reports on JKR’s income* How to Fire JKR This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

My self-development hobby has me podcasting about my favourite habits of the moment 😍. I love hearing examples of what daily practices others are focusing on. Here, I’ll go first: * Daily movement or rest - and how I’m organising my wellness YouTube playlists* Daily Correspondence (Half) Hour - and reducing messaging overwhelm* Mini cleaning ritual - for resetting my space and deep cleaning my homeApologies for the weird beeping sound in the audio :( It’s never happened before!Time Academy Student Centre ⏳* Submit your Time Queries for future episode topic requests* Summer Glow Up List (Paint Nails Read Plato)* Life Lessons from Gossip Girl podcast This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

Every week I paint my nails and watch an episode of Gossip Girl. It’s like my church. Whatever episode I’m on, the themes are spot on to set me up for the week ahead. The timing is always uncanny. Watch the show and see what stands out to you: what inspires you? What disgusts you? Let your emotional reactions to the characters show you what to focus on in your own life. And if you’re inspired, join me in my rewatch! We’re jumping straight in to where I happen to be this week:Season 2 Episode 6: New Haven Can WaitThis is the episode where they visit Yale, culminating with Serena and Blair’s show down and the dean’s reception. Life Lessons from Gossip Girl:Flip that chip on your shoulder.When you’re frustrated, who or what do you blame for holding you back? What’s in your control? What’s not? How can your perceived setbacks be an advantage? Don’t be like Dan and blame it all on being from Brooklyn. Look at Nate, who pretends to be Dan, because anonymity is a privilege. How can you navigate your current situation with pride and authority? Nobody actually cares about how much effort you’re putting in.It’s an ugly truth, but think about it: you won’t get rewarded for trying. Dan and Blair  mould themselves to fit the perceived formula. What’s the magic word that will please the Yale gatekeepers? Craft over Contrived Connection.Jenny focuses on bringing her artistic vision to life. Create the best fashion show, and others will follow your lead. Others might fire you, reject you, or stand in your way, but it doesn’t matter. When you’re creating in service to the vision - not just yourself but for everyone who will enjoy it - the work will speak for itself. Invite people in to witness it, knowing that it’s irresistible. Get comfortable being yourself, and you won’t have to try so hard.Leaning on a persona or manipulating others to get your way is an exhausting method to keep up. But if you’re used to being authentic, you don’t have to try. You just have to show up, relax, and be present. Serena and Blair have the same privilege. Serena embraces her It Girl positioning, basking in the magnetism that comes with letting things be easy. Blair doesn’t leverage the privilege she has, trying to ‘earn’ her way where she doesn’t have to. She misses opportunities to connect in surprising ways. That fashion show that impressed the dean? Serena took credit, but it was Blair’s family’s event. Don’t worry about what Serena Van Der Woodsen is doing.What does Serena have that you wish you had? Use jealousy as a tool to inform what feels missing from your life. But if you’re too overwhelmed by envy to be curious, simply look away. xoxo, X This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

I have something a little deeper and weirder today. If you are feeling the intensity of this moment in time, this message is for you. Time Academy Student Centre ⏳* Submit your Time Queries for future episode topic requests* My Fringe of Colour Response: Charlene Kaye: A Rockstar breaking generational moulds This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

🌒 It’s a Waxing Crescent Moon today 7 August, 2024. This Monday, 12 August is the first quarter moon. This is a call to see the signs of positivity, affirmation, and magic on difficult days. Train your brain to respond in a way that serves you moving forward. It’s time to get specific about your dreams. I talk about the most common forms of resistance around wishing, and what to expect as your dreams come true. Mentioned in this episode:* The Source: Open Your Mind, Change Your Life by Dr Tara Swart * My blog post, The Spell is Working:the magic moth i met:⬇️🌚 Share your New Moon wishes in the comments section 🌚⬇️ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

🌘 It’s a Waning Crescent Moon today, Wednesday 31 July, 2024. This Sunday 4 August at 12:12 BST is the New Moon in LEO! I’ll be honest - I’m recording back-to-back episodes. This leads to a reflection on how we view time in our creative and expressive lives. What rhythm feels best to you? What’s the balance between polish and authenticity? There are a couple retrogrades this week, so allow time for reflection. Retrogrades are not trying to rob you. They’re trying to help you. Own your process. Decide where you’re headed. Allow the retrogrades to reroute you in a way that ultimately aligns with your vision. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

🌖 It’s a Waning Gibbous Moon today, Wednesday 24 July 2024. This Sunday, 28 July is a last quarter moon. What do you want MORE of, in your daily life? Where are you making space for it? Time Academy Student Centre ⏳* Submit your Time Queries for future episode topic requests* My Summer Glow-Up List This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

🌔 It’s a Waxing Gibbous Moon today, Wednesday 17 July 2024. This Sunday, 21 July is the second Full Moon in Capricorn of the year. We’re talking about one of my favourite subjects: CONTAINERS! I bring up old school pencil storage pieces that they still sell at Staples, I have just learned! Time Academy Student Centre ⏳* Submit your Time Queries for future episode topic requests This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

🌓 It’s a Waxing Crescent Moon today, Wednesday 10 July 2024. This Saturday, 13 July is the First Quarter Moon. In this episode, I discuss WHERE to invite vision boards into your life, an expansive definition of ‘home’, and an update on my rollercoaster lock screen dreams.Time Academy Student Centre ⏳* Submit your Time Queries for future episode topic requests This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe

🌘 It’s a Waning Crescent (DARK!) Moon today, Wednesday 3 July 2024. This Friday, 5 July at 23:57 BST, is the New Moon in Cancer. No new plans just yet! Finish what you started or decide to let the steps go. Receive spaciousness, make room for grief of what didn’t go as planned. FEEL THE DISCOMFORT! Time Academy Student Centre ⏳* Submit your Time Queries for future episode topic requests This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit xandrathewitch.substack.com/subscribe