Olivia Hartwell

So, I got this idea from this particular creator that I adore. Here is her video: The 13 Magical Nights. If you don't follow her content, I highly suggest you do (if you're into that sort of thing) as her voice and content are both very soothing and highly magical. But I took her idea and tweaked it to fit my own brain a little better.

Because, I, ladies and gentlemen, have ADHD. And I will NOT remember to do this if I wait. The winter solstice will come and go, and I will be thinking "Was I supposed to be doing something??" and not find the little jar until next year sometime. So, instead of trying to force my brain to fit into someone else's box, I am working on taking the boxes I find in life and make them fit my brain instead. And also, I am really trying to make Samhain the most magical night of the year again for me and my family, and this I think will be an enormously fun way to do so.

What am I talking about, you ask? Well, the Seeds of Samhain Ritual, of course!

Disclaimer: you do not have to be witchy to do this! You can be anything you like and use whatever you like as your carrier (spirit guides, angels, the universe, the fae, etc).

This ritual takes the entire month of October, which is my favorite month of the year. And since Samhain (which is the ancient Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter) is also known as the witch's new year, I tend to use it as my own new year, rather than January first. As I used to be a Wiccan, I fell in love with Samhain's whole "the night between the veil is thinnest" theme and used this night for divination for the upcoming year. Every Samhain I keep adding to it, making it the biggest holiday in our house all year long. And the most important one.

This ritual will make this holiday even more important, as it coincides with my yearly tarot reading (13 cards: one for each month plus a theme) which I just did and will be posting soon. Here's how we're going to do it:

All month long, we gather ideas we'd like to see come into our lives during the next year. We write them down on little slips of paper, fold them up, and place them into a special jar that we've either collected or decorated (or even a little box). Then, on Samhain, we get a candle (I use a ritual candle that I only use for rituals on this day) and take out all the little pieces of paper and one by one, burn them and know that our spirit guides are receiving these through their dissipation. We can visualize them being sent to the ether, or just hold in your heart the knowledge that they are being received by the universe. And then when there's only one left, we open it up and that one is ours to take care of. The rest will be taken care of in their own time by the universe.

Now, you don't have to write 31 things, just when you think of something. You can write them all in one day if you like, but you have 31 days to remember in case something escapes your memory. Each member of your family writes their own intentions and/or things and everyone has their own candle.

But remember: do not write these things as "I wish" or "I want", write them as "I am" or "I have".

I do highly suggest making an October altar for all your autumnal and Samhain fun. Which you can read about here.

I've been a published author since 2010. I wrote my first book back then and recently sold oodles of it at a book fair. I also had a book signing and sold oodles of it there, too. Putting my book on Amazonh has never done much for my book, it seems to do much better in person for some reason. I think that's mostly due to the fact that I am a very lazy with social media. I don't like social media. But I still put my original book on Kindle back then due to the fact that most people used (and still use) Kindle for their digital books and because I could make it cheaper for those who cannot afford a physical book. But also there was the fact that once you bought your Amazon book, it was yours to keep. It wasn't something anyone ever thought would change. Because why would it?

So, my plan was to keep it on Amazon forever. That is, until now.

Why would I use a platform that refuses to allow the reader who buys my book to keep it? Why would I use a platform that is basically making other people pay them (with only a tiny bit going to me) to rent the book (that I took years to write) from them? Why would I do that when I can offer my readers a PDF or some other format of their choosing and get paid for most of it myself? That means I get to keep more of the money as the author (the person who actually wrote the damn thing) AND it means you, the reader, can actually keep the keep for yourself and read it on any reader (or computer) you want. Yes, this also means people could pirate my book more easily, but people who pirate books aren't going to buy my book anyways.

So, because of this, my new book, Fates Unwoven, will never touch the Amazon Kindle marketplace. Yes, I will find a way to format it for the Kindle for you, if needed, but you will always have to buy the digital copy directly from me. Maybe one day I'll put it on Kobo or something similar, too, but only if you're allowed to keep your file of my book as your property. In a day and age when NOTHING is yours to keep anymore, I want to combat that by giving you something you're allowed to actually have. And every single book I release from here on out will be the same. Yes, I'll use KDP to print my books (unless something better comes along), but I'll never use Kindle again. Not until they change their policy on property ownership with digital media back to normal. Though I highly doubt that will ever happen.

So, if you'd like a copy of my book, please use the QR code below to get your PDF. And if you need it another format, please message me on my Ko-Fi page and request it with your email address (which I would never sell or use for nefarious purposes, other than maybe sending you pictures of my cat...though you have to opt-in for that part) and I will be sure to get it to you ASAP.

So, what do you think about Amazon Kindle's new-ish policy? Let me know below. Because me? I think it sucks. And I no longer want to support a monopoly who is taking my creative work and telling the person who buys it what they can and cannot do with it. My book should not be their property to do with as they see fit. That's my job! So, dear reader, if you want to print out the PDF and make paper airplanes out of it? Have at it. Maybe if you throw them into a crowd I'll get some new readers...oohh, that's a new way to market!

If you're interested in purchasing my book, then follow the QR code below.

I write about unusual things because I am into unusual things. And one of those things I am into are sigils. What are sigils, you ask? Well, they are symbols based on a word or phrase that you pick that you want to, well, magicalize. It's like creating your own personal rune.

You might be asking yourself, "But why would I want to create one?"

Sigils are used as a form of symbolic magic, manifestation, and personal empowerment. They act as visual representations of an intention, energy, or concept, helping to focus the subconscious mind and direct energy toward a specific goal. Also, they are a great way to get connected to ideas such as manifestation or magic, without getting too much into it, in case that's not your thing (or they can just be a part of your regular magic use). And besides, they're just fun to make!

Here are some ways in which sigils can be used:

Manifestation & Intention Setting

Sigils help turn abstract desires into tangible symbols, making it easier to focus energy on achieving goals. They act as a "psychic shortcut," embedding the intention into the subconscious.
Protection & Warding

They can be used for energetic shielding, home protection, or safeguarding personal spaces. Can be drawn on doorways, jewelry, or carried as a charm.
Meditation & Spiritual Connection

They can be used as a focal point in meditation to deepen awareness and connect with spiritual energies. Sigils dedicated to deities, ancestors, or personal guides enhance spiritual work.
Shadow Work & Inner Healing

Sigils can be created to aid in emotional healing, self-acceptance, or breaking old patterns. They can be burned, dissolved in something liquid, or buried as part of symbolic release rituals.
Dreamwork & Subconscious Influence

They can be placed under pillows or visualized before sleep to influence dreams and enhance lucid dreaming. They help program the subconscious to work on a goal while resting, like osmosis!
To Include in Your Journals

Maybe you want to put one as your book cover? Or maybe inside as chapter titles? Or maybe in a map of your world? The possibilities are endless! What's awesome is that you know that nobody else will have the same ones as you, as they are personally created by you, and you alone!
Creativity & Inspiration

Artists, writers, and musicians use sigils to unlock creativity and channel inspiration. They can be put in creative spaces to enhance flow and imagination.
Energy Charging & Spell Amplification

Used to enhance spells or rituals, acting as an energy amplifier. They can be charged through meditation, breathwork, or exposure to the elements (fire, water, sun, moon, etc.).
Personal Empowerment & Confidence

Sigils can be created for courage, self-love, motivation, or clarity. You can wear them on your body, infused into objects, or mentally visualized to reinforce personal strength.
Elemental & Nature-Based Magic

Sigils can embody the energies of earth, air, fire, water, or spirit to enhance whatever magic you're working on. You can use them in nature-based rituals or drawn with natural materials like sand, clay, or leaves.
Transformation & Habit Formation

They can be used to reprogram thoughts, eliminate fears, or break old habits. They can be activated through repetition, visualization, or physical action (e.g., drawing it daily), which also helps to elicit habit change.

Let's talk about how to create one:

There are so many different ways to create sigils and different types of sigils, too. Some are pictorial in nature, but many are made up of letters. But all become a template for intention. Here are twenty different ways to make them:

Word Compression Method

Write an intention (e.g., “I am strong”). Remove repeating letters (e.g., “IAMSTRONG” → “IAMSTRNG”). Rearrange or stylize the remaining letters into an abstract design. Here is a great example (click).
Magic Square (Kamea) Method

Assign numbers to the letters of your intention using numerology (A=1, B=2, etc.). Plot these numbers on a planetary magic square (e.g., the Moon’s Kamea for lunar sigils). Connect the dots to form a sigil.
Automatic Drawing / Intuitive Sigils

Meditate on your intention. Let your hand freely sketch lines and shapes without thinking, allowing the subconscious to guide you.
Geometric Sigil Creation

Use sacred geometry as a base (e.g., circles, triangles, or hexagons). Embed your intention into the shape through stylized lines and symbols.
Rune or Alphabet Fusion

Use existing runes (Elder Futhark, Ogham, or even your own alphabet). Combine different runes/letters to form a unique sigil with blended meanings.
Mirror & Reflection Sigils

Write a word or symbol and mirror it horizontally, vertically, or both. This creates balance, symmetry, and hidden depth in the sigil.
Layering Symbols Method

Use existing spiritual symbols (moon phases, elemental signs, personal glyphs). Stack and intertwine them into a cohesive sigil.
Grid-Based Sigils

Draw a grid (3x3, 4x4, etc.). Assign letters or symbols to different points. Connect them with lines to create the sigil.
Collapsing Letter Method

Write your phrase. Gradually simplify it, merging letters into curves and abstract forms. Keep simplifying until it feels right.
Astrological Sigils

Incorporate planetary glyphs or zodiac signs relevant to your intention. Modify and merge them to create a unique sigil.
Dot & Line Sigils

Represent letters or words as dots, either on a grid or otherwise. Connect the dots with curved or angular lines to form an elegant symbol.
Elemental Sigils

Use elemental symbols (fire, water, air, earth) as a base. Modify or add details to infuse the energy of the chosen element.
Labyrinth Sigils

Create a continuous line in a labyrinthine pattern. Infuse the energy of a journey or transformation into it.
Stave Sigils (Bindrunes or Galdrastafir Style)

Create a vertical or horizontal staff. Attach runic shapes or personal symbols along the staff to form a sigil infused staff. Use this staff when meditating or performing magic (or create protection sigils to put on it and use it while hiking).
Solar/Lunar Sigils

Use sunbursts, crescent moons, or eclipse shapes as a sigil base. Infuse them with hidden letters or symbols.
Knotwork & Weaving Sigils

Intertwine lines like Celtic knots to create sigils that represent unity, connection, or protection.
Color-Based Sigils

Draw sigils with specific colors that align with the intention (e.g., red for passion, blue for wisdom).
Water Ink & Dissolving Sigils

Write a sigil with ink or chalk on a surface and dissolve it in water to activate it. Common for cleansing, emotional healing, or dreamwork.
Negative Space Sigils

Draw around the sigil shape, letting the empty space form the symbol. This works well with shadow work.
Stamped or Imprinted Sigils

Carve your sigil into an eraser or a stamp or clay or wood and press it into wax, clay, or sand to temporarily charge an object or space.

So, with all of that in mind, let's create one together!

I want to create a sigil for lucid dreaming, because I am fascinated by dreams and how they are created AND I get a lot of my story ideas from dreams. And the idea that we can be lucid (which happens rarely for me) during one, fascinates me even more, because that could mean I can change whatever I like so I could create a really excellent story! So, I would like to see if this helps.

So, I picked my phrase: "I am fully aware in my dreams".

From “I AM FULLY AWARE IN MY DREAMS”, we remove duplicate letters and vowels, leaving us with:

I M F L Y W R N D S

Now, we take these remaining letters and if we want to, we can stylize them into a unique symbol by:

Merging lines and curves
Simplifying shapes
Rotating or mirroring elements
Overlapping letters
Deleting anything that is completely overlapped by another letter.

(I removed both the I and the N because they overlapped other letters and ended up with:

M F L Y W R D S

And mine looked like this:

I used Canva to make this, and its sort of a mess, but if you write yours by hand, it will most likely turn out way nicer. Then you can upload it to Canva and put a background on it if you, like I did. Or just leave it as is.

Then I chose to make a second one of the same letter sequence with a magic grid, like this:

I followed the directions and came up with this:

Without the grid, it looks like this:

If I clean up it up a little, turn it, and decorate it, it looks like this:

I wanted to make it memorable that it's for sleep so I didn't forget. And, the picture itself will activate the sigil in my mind, so I know exactly what it's for when I am looking at it.

Charging the Sigil:

With the first one, I meditated on it, I visualized myself becoming lucid in my dreams, and I placed it under my pillow.

The second, I also meditated on, but I hung that one over my bed. I now have two sigils to use for lucid dreaming. Let's hope they work!! (I'll let you know my progress with this as it happens!)

Now, it's your turn to try it! If you do, please link me below OR tag me on Instagram @WrittenByOlivia and let me know if it works!!

Yesterday, I ran my laundry downstairs. The basket is one of those tall, hefty ones. And I grabbed it to take downstairs. I opened the basement door, saw my packages of envelopes that I put on the top step to take down and grabbed them and put them on top of my clothes in my basket. The colored envelopes were from my youngest son that he didn't need anymore, so he gifted them to me. I, then, took the basket downstairs and put it on the floor in front of the washer, like I always do.

I then looked up to see see my mother's basket on top of the washing machine and said "Oh yeah, I forgot her laundry was in the dryer" and so I pulled it down and filled up her basket from the dryer and placed it on the floor. Here is the weird thing: I don't do that. I don't close the washer lid for any reason after I use the washer. I know that will lead to mold, and a stinky washing machine, but there it was, closed, with the basket on top. In the moment, I didn't even think anything of it, as my son does that. But I never put baskets on the top of the machine myself. But I didn't think anything of it at the time, even though I was the one to put the clothes in the dryer the day before. And I know this, because I remember being freaked out that evening, because every once in awhile, I get freaked out in my basement, thinking something is down there or watching me. It's a weird feeling and I hate it. I don't always feel that way, just sometimes.

So then, I opened the washing machine and poured in the soap, turned on the water, and stuck my head in the washing machine to get a big whiff (as I always do--this soap smells sooooo good LOL), then reached down, grabbed those envelopes out of my basket (they were in my way to get the laundry out), put them ON TOP of the dryer (as I always do when I carry something downstairs with the laundry--the dryer is my go-to place to put stuff), and filled the machine with my clothes and closed the lid. I promptly forgot I put the envelopes ON TOP of the dryer, because I am ADHD and I always forget I put something on the dryer (usually it's my cell phone LOL). I then walked over to my rack of clothes to see if there is room for my sweatshirts and winter coats (there was not) and went up upstairs.

A few hours later, I remembered the laundry (as I wanted to sleep and my PJs were in the wash), and I went downstairs to switch over the laundry to the dryer (actually, I was just going to just put my PJs in there so they'd dry quicker, and then throw the rest of the laundry in after they were done, which is what we did).

But, I get downstairs and there it was: my very large and tall laundry basket is ON TOP of the washer. What?! I left that sucker on the floor, what was going on??

I always keep baskets on the floor, though once in awhile I have put my mother's basket on the top of the washer while it was washing, but only so it doesn't get mixed up with other baskets and it's pretty small. But very seldom have I ever done that. But my big honking laundry basket? I know for a fact I would not do that and did not do that. But that wasn't even the weirdest part. I then look on top of the dryer...and there's my envelopes...UNDER the box of dryer sheets. Double what??!!

Bobawooyo Dog Confused GIFfrom Bobawooyo GIFs

A) I don't use dryer sheets. Ever. I only bought them because I was having an issue with static one time this past winter. One time in FOUR YEARS. But 99.99999% of the time, I do not use them.

B) I am not certain where I placed those envelopes on my dryer but if it was anywhere related to the dryer sheets, it would have been on top of them. But I never touched that box of sheets when I was down there. To me, it looked as though someone knocked them both down off the dryer and then picked them up and placed them back on top, but the opposite way I had them. But there is ZERO chance it was me. There was also a set of bedsheets knocked down, too that fell between the washer and dryer that I don't remember seeing earlier when I loaded the washer, but maybe that happened at another time? But I really think I would have noticed it, as it's a package of brand new sheets and they are a different color from everything else (which is why I saw them when I did).

C) Here's the lowdown on where my family members were when all this was going down: my hubby (Alex Hartwell) had a pretty bad migraine and was in bed all evening, so it wasn't him. My youngest hasn't been in the basement in days. And my oldest never goes in the basement, and if he had, he's the type to knock something over and leave it, not pick it back up and put it back. But he hadn't been downstairs in at least a week. And my mother was 1) sleeping and 2) she's disabled and doesn't go in the basement and hasn't been down there since last year's tornado scare. So....it was just me...and my laundry. And yet, none of these things were me. So yeah. What the heck? How did these things happen and who did it?

This shit makes me feel crazy! And because of that, I have to keep second guessing myself "Did I do that? No...no way did I do any of that. But maybe? No...there's no freaking way! But...what if...?"

Sorry Did I Do That GIFfrom Sorry GIFs

I will say, the laundry baskets being on top of the washer surprised me, but neither of them made me feel the way I felt when I saw my envelopes with a box of dryer sheets on top of them. When I looked over to see that, my stomach just dropped to the floor and I started panicking. Because putting a laundry basket where it doesn't belong is one thing, but to know for a 100% fact that there was NO way I put something on top of the item I just set down, let's just say it was more than just a little unsettling. My mind never first goes to ghosts or the supernatural or to a glitch in the matrix. No, my mind goes straight to:

"WHO THE FUCK IS IN MY HOUSE??!!!" The supernatural doesn't scare me, but people do. And the idea of a person being in my basement with me? Well, I think that's pretty much everyone's nightmare come true.

So I quickly threw my PJ's in the dryer and ran upstairs and desperately interviewed everyone in the house to make sure it wasn't them. They I sent my husband and my "vicious" dog to go check out the basement and nope, nobody was there (I use quotes because he's a love bug, but would definitely kill a stranger who got into our house). So, if no strange human was in our basement, and no strange family members had been in the basement in many days (except for me), then what other explanation is there?

Maybe it was me? I don't know. I mean, I can get on board with maybe, just maybe, the laundry baskets. But I never shut the washer after washing, because my washer gets stinky and mildewy. But perhaps this one time, that's what I did. I don't know why I would have as I've never done that before, but I will give in on this one thing. Maybe. BUT I REFUSE to give in on the fact that the envelopes were somehow placed UNDER the box of dryer sheets (that I never use) by me. There is ZERO way that I would have done that, as I clearly remember putting them down and not touching them again, nor did I touch anything else on top of that dryer.

So, what do you think? A glitch in the matrix? Or does this middle-aged woman need her memory checked? Either way, let know what you think below.

Oh, just so you know, I am so freaked out by this that I ordered another house camera to catch movement in the basement (it snaps pics when someone comes in view of the camera). And if that doesn't sound like beginning of a horror movie, I don't know what does LOL I will upload anything strange--or unusual--here. Until then, my friends. And please, tell me, has anything like this happened to you??

So, you wrote a book, whoo hoo! But now you’re staring at a your finished work wondering what in the world formatting even means. Don’t worry, friend. You’re not alone, and you don’t need to be a wizard to get your book looking polished and professional.

Here’s a super basic, step-by-step guide to help you format your book, even if you’ve never done it before.

How to Format Your Book

First, we're going to choose your trim size. This is the size your book will be when it's printed. The most common for fiction is 6”x9”. If you’re using a platform like Amazon KDP, they’ll give you size options. Pick one before you begin formatting, because changing it later is a headache.

Next, let's open your new document and set the page size to your trim size (File > Page Setup > Custom Size). Set your margins: usually 1” on all sides is safe for digital, but for print, you’ll want to use “mirror margins” (Word has a setting for this under Layout > Margins > Mirrored). Choose a clean, easy-to-read font like Garamond or Times New Roman, size 11 or 12.

Now I am going let you in on a little secret: for the love of all things good and holy, do not press enter a bunch of times for the chapters! We're going to use page breaks instead. At the end of a chapter, go to Insert > Page Break. Even if there's only a single space at the end of the page. Though, as you edit, always go back and make sure there aren't blank pages, because those can be accidentally added if you're page break is very close to the bottom of the page. But it's still okay, just go back and delete those blank pages.

Okay, let's now create some front matter for your book. The first few pages of your book should include your title page, your copyright page, a dedication page (if you want one), and a table of contents if you're doing and eBook. You can look at a few books you own to see what the order looks like.

Got chapter headings? Let's make them stand out. Use styles in your word processor for your chapter titles. This helps with consistency and makes it easier to create a table of contents later. Example: “Chapter One” should be in a larger size, centered, and bold. You can also make it a Heading 1 style in Word or Docs.

Okay, you're doing great :) Now let's format your paragraphs! Here’s a basic setup:

Indent the first line of each paragraph (except for the first paragraph in each chapter). To indent: Highlight your text, right-click > Paragraph > First Line Indent (0.3–0.5 inches is typical). Make sure it's 0.50, and not 0.05...which is what I did one time and it looked terrible.
Do not add extra spaces between paragraphs unless you're switching scenes (then I like to do 3, but you can do between 1-3).
Use left alignment, not justified, it’s easier to read.

Remember to save your work correctly. If you're making an eBook, save your file as a .docx or convert it to .epub using free tools like Calibre. If you’re going to print your book (like through Amazon KDP), save it as a PDF to keep all your formatting intact.

Formatting a book can feel overwhelming, but take it one step at a time. It’s like dressing your story up for the world: it deserves to look its best. And the good news? You don’t have to be fancy to be professional. Clean, readable, and consistent is all you need to start.

You’ve got this. Now, go format your book and get it published!!

I am so in love with my tarot cards! I've been a reader for over 30 years. I got my first deck at 12 years old from an auction in my neighborhood as a kid.

I will say, in that time, I've really changed the way I've read them. When I started reading them in middle school, I thought they would predict my future, to tell me things in life would get better or how something amazing could happen. It was exciting and fun! But even though I used the "predictive" style to read the cards, my underlying way to use them was to see them for what they truly were: which is a tool of introspection and deep personal connection. This means that every single card can be applied to every single person. This why they work so well. As I've aged, this has become the only way I use them, for both myself and my clients. They aren't magical, they aren't supernatural, they are cards with archetypal images on them so you can see what you need to see in them in order to access your deep desires and feelings. Answers always lie within you. The tarot are just tools to help you see those answers.

But, if you want to gain story ideas from them, you have to work them a little different and pretend you're a little more like Miss Cleo (she was a great storyteller! LOL).

There are so many ways to generate random story ideas, but the tarot can give you so much more than just a online generator would (or other ways to get story ideas). They give you pictures that you can draw from for your stories so you can details that you may haven't thought of. Which make them the ultimate tool when creating the perfect story idea 💗

Here's how:

Pick a layout (see below). You can just deal your cards and come up with a story idea or pick a detailed layout to give you a very detailed idea.
Grab a tarot deck (or use a free app on your phone or tablet if you don't own a deck yourself).
Shuffle the deck any way you wish.
Lay out your cards (either in a layout or just deal as many cards as you like).
Read the cards either based upon the positions in the layout or just read the cards and get a story idea from the reading. You can use a book to read the cards, with the traditional meanings or you can just "read the card", which means to look at the card and let it tell you a story. I like doing both.
Record your reading (on paper, audio, or video).
That's it!

Decks:

Some of my favorite decks for this use are:

The Gaian Tarot

The Llewellyn Tarot

The Forest Folklore Tarot

Layouts:

Write a list of what you want to figure out for your story. You can do a character sketch or a story idea. It could look like this:

Main character, sidekick, love interest, plot, setting, etc.

Or for a character sketch:

Age, job, personality, quirks, life growing up, etc.

Each one of those will be a different position for your reading.

Then you shuffle and deal as many cards as you chose for the layout (per your list). Then choose which card would fit for what position. If a card can't or won't fit, pick a new one. And bam, you have your story idea or a character sketch! Very easy to do 🙂

This technique leads to endless story idea possibilities! And you're guaranteed to come up with something unique every single time.