The Mystic Crone, revisited

 

About three years ago, 2023, I started what I meant to keep as an incognito anonymous blog and tarot site called "The Mystic Crone". At the time, I would do a follow up audio version of the written blog post, and I even set up a new and anonymous YouTube channel in which to post these videos, though I have since deleted this channel. I do, however, have all of the videos still sitting in my computer. At this time, it's been about ten months since I've written a post at The Mystic Crone, but I certainly have not abandoned this site, I've just been busy with other projects during the past year, launching new Facebook pages, as well as putting the finishing touches on a new book.

I don't know if I originally started this blog for the public, as much as I started it for myself.  I will return to this platform at some point, and I will probably regurgitate the old audio videos, as well as create new ones.  I'm still thinking on this as it is more work and maybe more work than I'm willing to put into it.  But, we'll see.

Let me know what you think in the comments.  

Would you like to see more posts from The Mystic Crone?

I looked this blog up to see if any of it was still meandering through Google and the internet world, and I was kind of surprised at how thorough the information and the synopsis was.  I'll post that below, along with a link:

The Mystic Crone

http://bristolwicks.blogspot.com

Core Themes & Psychological Framing

Amythyst Raine’s approach to Tarot heavily bridges traditional divination with modern pop-psychology and boundary work. The reading structure typically focuses on binary conflicts:

• The Culprit vs. The Victim: Explicitly called out in Episode #45, the readings push the audience to self-reflect on which side of a toxic dynamic they occupy, dealing heavily with themes of greed, boundary-rattling, and imminent karmic justice.
• The Conservative vs. The Wild Card: Episode #44 frames life choices as a structural spectrum. It highlights "social media comparison syndrome" as a modern anxiety and shifts the Tarot's focus onto building personal self-confidence.
• Over-Giving and Entitlement: Episode #39 addresses transactional relationships (likely romantic or platonic) where the seeker has turned self-sacrifice into a habit, warning them that their generosity has bred a toxic sense of entitlement in others.

🌿 Archetypes & Deck Selection

The author intentionally switches between distinct Tarot decks to match the specific energetic "flavor" of the advice she is trying to channel:

• The Green Witch Tarot: Utilized for episodes dealing with alignment, personal power, nature, and raw bluntness (e.g., calling on the Knight of Athames to bypass politeness and use "brutal and blunt" communication).
• Motherpeace Tarot: Known for its circular cards and feminist, Earth-centered imagery, this deck was intentionally chosen for Episode #41, which focused on deeply internalized emotional blockages ("digging a hole with a teaspoon instead of a shovel") and facing a larger audience despite the fear of negative criticism.

👵 The "Unapologetic Crone" Persona

The overarching narrative identity of the blog relies heavily on the spiritual reclamation of aging.

• The Power of Invisibility: The author reframes the societal stereotype of older women becoming "invisible" as a spiritual superpower. Invisibility is equated to gaining autonomy, quiet observation, and gathering untethered personal strength.
• Boundary Enforcement: Across almost every entry, there is a recurring directive to drop defensiveness, put down "the sword" (the ego), enforce harsh boundaries against false friends ("ghost them"), and use voice as an immediate tool for liberation.

⚡ Breakdown: The Tower (Positive vs. Negative)

In Episode #46, the author offers a personal meditation on The Tower, moving past its surface-level reputation as the "shit hits the fan" card to explore its dual nature:

• The Negative Warnings:
  • Receiving an unexpected, out-of-the-blue "hit".
  • Feeling so utterly overwhelmed by a person or situation that you want to give up.
  • Becoming the explicit target of an organized attack.
  • Experiencing abrupt, free-falling endings with zero warning.
• The Positive Attributions:
  • Tearing down fundamentally broken foundations to rebuild something that actually works.
  • Clearing out physical and emotional clutter to create clean, intentional space.
  • Powerfully destroying a state of mind or an individual that held dominion over you.
  • Recognizing danger and executing a narrow, "nick of time" escape.

---

💼 Analysis: Financial & Career Advice

Money and career choices in these readings are consistently tied to integrity, boundaries, and recognizing hidden motives:

• Protecting Assets from Deceit: In Episode #45, the author warns victims of "dirty deals" and "financial scheming" to sit tight. Her advice is deeply practical: do not panic, do not lend money to anyone, and completely lock down access to your financial accounts and information.
• Spotting False Opportunities: In Episode #42, she highlights a dual situation. While an unexpected employment or financial opportunity is coming, she warns that the group tempting you is not your friend. The advice here is to ghost the deceptive individuals but remain hyper-aware and ready to put in the effort when the authentic opportunity finally presents itself.
• Handling Failure and Regrouping: In Episode #38, after a business venture is brutally smashed by an unexpected fiasco, her advice shifts to tactical resilience. Because you weren't left completely empty-handed, you must use the failed experience to gain a new perspective, go back to the drawing board, and apply that hard-earned knowledge to the next venture.

---

🗣️ Progression: The Evolution of "Finding Your Voice"

The concept of personal expression undergoes a distinct evolution across the chronologically recorded blog entries, shifting from basic survival to an aggressive tool for liberation:

• Phase 1: Overcoming the Burden of Silence (Episode #38 - Nov/Dec 2024)
  • The State: The seeker’s voice has been entirely suppressed by an overwhelming individual or circumstance, breaking their boundaries and crushing their self-confidence for years.
  • The Lesson: Finding your voice is framed as a literal weight-lifter. The act of speaking up is the only way to banish heavy long-standing emotional burdens from your shoulders.
• Phase 2: Tactical Silence as a Shield (Episode #37 - Nov 2024)
  • The State: Surrounded by superficial, manipulative energy ("the Cheshire Cat smile") aimed at controlling your material wealth or influence.
  • The Lesson: The evolution takes a strategic detour. Before you can speak effectively, you must master silence. Silence is weaponized as a temporary tool for protection and diligence while you quietly map out a life-changing decision.
• Phase 3: Reclaiming Energy and Refilling the Cup (Episode #43 - June 2025)
  • The State: The seeker is exhausted from a completely one-sided relationship or project, feeling like they are "beating a dead horse".
  • The Lesson: Voice requires fuel. The author states you must first pull back, enter a time-out, and "refill your cup" mentally and physically before you can successfully project your power.
• Phase 4: Weaponized, Blunt Authenticity (Episode #43 - Bonus Card)
• The State: The polite approach has utterly failed to yield results for a long period of time.
• The Lesson: The absolute peak of the evolution. The author discards diplomacy entirely, telling the seeker that it is time to be "brutal and blunt". The final directive is to open your mouth, let it rip, and actively put an agonizing situation out of its misery.

Across the entries of The Mystic Crone, Amythyst Raine applies a highly grounded, protective, and psychologically urgent spin to the Minor Arcana. While standard tarot traditionally views the suits through abstract elemental lenses (Air for intellect, Earth for material wealth), this blog anchors them firmly into day-to-day survival, self-defense, and emotional equity.

Here is how the blog uniquely reinterprets the tension between Swords/Athames and Pentacles/Discs:

🗡️ Swords / Athames: Weaponized Ego vs. Blunt Liberation

In standard tarot, Swords represent intellect, communication, and conflict. In The Mystic Crone, they are uniquely framed as literal boundaries, physical armor, and instruments of sharp finality.

• The Trap of Perpetual Defensiveness: In Episode #40, cards like the 5/swords and Page/swords are interpreted as holding a frozen, hyper-vigilant posture. The author treats the sword as an exhausting burden to the physical body ("your shoulders ache from holding that sword aloft"). The weapon becomes a tool of the defensive ego, shielding you from attacks on your decisions but inadvertently blocking out the joy and warmth of the world happening in your periphery.
• The Transition from Polite to Brutal: In Episode #43, using the Green Witch Tarot (where Swords are styled as Athames), the Knight of Athames is stripped of any airy intellectualism. Instead, it is treated as a green-light for pure verbal aggression. The author explicitly shifts the suit's meaning away from diplomacy and elevates it to a tool for being "brutal and blunt" to put a stagnant situation out of its misery.

🪙 Pentacles / Discs: Financial Schemes, Entitlement, and Controlled Environments

Traditionally, Pentacles represent grounding, stability, and career progress. This blog, however, routinely views Pentacles through the lens of manipulation, boundary-testing, and material vulnerability.

• Weaponized Entitlement and Habitual Giving: In Episode #39, the 4/pentacles and Knight/pentacles appear in a relationship context. Rather than representing solid financial planning, the author interprets this combination as a toxic, repetitive cycle of giving away something you should be holding onto for yourself. The suit is used to expose a "sense of entitlement" in the recipient, warning that material or emotional generosity has devolved into an unacknowledged, thankless habit.
• Jealousy and Financial Sabotage: In Episode #45, the 2/pentacles paired with wands and swords is read as an indicator of "thievery... questionable business practices, or jealousy, greed, and avarice." Instead of simple multitasking or balancing finances (the standard 2 of Pentacles meaning), it is interpreted as an active alert to lock down bank accounts and block external access to your material wealth.
• The Controlled Cage: In Episode #41, utilizing the Motherpeace Tarot (where Pentacles are Discs), the Daughter of Discs is viewed as a warning against hiding. Instead of representing a steady, budding career opportunity, it is interpreted as trying to accomplish a goal within a "controlled, limited environment." The author notes that the material security of the suit can become a trap if you are too afraid of negative criticism to face a larger audience.

Armchair Psychology ~ the bully's victim

 

Bullying victims often experience deep-rooted psychological and somatic distress, including chronic anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and social isolation. Bullies typically target individuals who exhibit submissiveness, lack a strong support system, or react intensely, as these visible signs reward the bully's need for dominance.

     The psychology of a bully's victim can be broken down into three key areas:

1. Risk Factors & Vulnerabilities

Children and adults who are targeted typically do not stand up for themselves aggressively, making them easy targets for perpetrators seeking submissive individuals. Common traits include:

Social isolation:
Victims often struggle to make close friends or lack a protective peer group.

Emotional reactivity:
Crying, retreating, or yielding to demands signals that the aggression is working, which reinforces the bully's behavior.

Perceived differences:
Standing out due to physical differences, learning difficulties, or different socio-economic backgrounds often makes victims stand out in a crowd.

2. Immediate Psychological & Physical Impact

The experience of being bullied creates an environment of constant insecurity, forcing victims to be constantly on guard.

Mental Health:
Victims frequently develop intense anxiety, chronic depression, and overwhelming feelings of shame or worthlessness.

Physical Symptoms:
High stress manifests somatically, leading to psychosomatic issues such as frequent headaches, stomachaches, fatigue, and sleep disturbances.

Avoidance Behaviors:
To escape the torment, victims may develop severe school or work avoidance, causing a sharp decline in performance and attendance.

3. Long-Term Effects

The trauma of being bullied doesn't end with childhood. It can impact adult personality, relationships, and mental well-being for decades.

Attachment issues:
Trusting others in romantic or professional relationships becomes difficult.

Perpetuation of trauma:
In some cases, prolonged victimization leads a target to become an aggressive "bully-victim," where they act out against others to regain a sense of control.

Chronic conditions:
Adults with a history of being bullied have higher baseline levels of anxiety and a greater propensity for depressive episodes.

To understand the psychology of a victim deeply, we must look at the cognitive shifts, neural changes, and behavioral coping mechanisms that occur when a person is systematically targeted.

1. The Cognitive Shift

 
Learned Helplessness

When a victim cannot escape or stop the bullying, their brain undergoes a profound psychological shift known as learned helplessness.

Loss of agency:
Victims stop attempting to avoid the abuse because they internalize that their actions have no impact on the outcome.

Internal attribution:
They develop an internal explanatory style, believing "I am being bullied because something is inherently wrong with me", rather than blaming the bully's behavior.

Cognitive distortion:
This leads to severe confirmation bias, where they hyper-focus on their perceived flaws and ignore positive feedback from others.

2. Neurological & Physiological Changes

Chronic bullying is not just a mental challenge; it alters physical brain structure and biological stress response systems.

Hyperactive amygdala:
The brain's threat-detection center becomes enlarged and hyper-responsive, keeping the victim in a permanent state of fight-or-flight.

Hippocampus atrophy:
Sustained high levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) can damage cells in the hippocampus, impairing memory, concentration, and emotional regulation.

Inflammatory response:
Studies show victims of chronic bullying have higher baseline levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation linked to long-term physical illness.

3. Coping Mechanisms

Internalizing vs. Externalizing

Victims generally process the trauma through one of two distinct psychological pathways, which dictate their behavior and future relationships.

Internalizing:

The victim turns the trauma inward. This manifests as severe social withdrawal, self-harm, eating disorders, and somatic complaints (like unexplained chronic pain).

Externalizing (The Bully-Victim):
The victim turns the trauma outward. To regain a sense of power, they display reactive aggression, targeting weaker individuals. These "bully-victims" often suffer the most severe psychological impairment of all groups.

4. Relational Trauma & The "Victim Schema"

In adulthood, the primary lingering effect is a disrupted "relationship schema"—the subconscious blueprint a person uses to interact with the world.

Hyper-vigilance:
Adults who were bullied constantly scan social cues for signs of rejection, often misinterpreting neutral facial expressions or comments as hostile.

Submissive positioning:
In workplace settings, former victims may unconsciously adopt submissive postures, accept unfair treatment, or struggle to negotiate boundaries out of fear of conflict.

Sources & Recommended Reading:

Psychology Today

Better Help

National Institute of Health

Anti-Bullying 101:
A Quick Guide on How
to End, Overcome, and
Rise Above Bullying

by Christina Catalano

@ Amazon

The Physiology of Bullying:

How Bullying Hijacks the 

Nervous System and What
Leaders Must Do

by Liza K. Collins

@ Amazon

Our New World
of Adult Bullies:
How to Spot Them 
How to Stop Them

by Bill Eddy

@ Amazon

NDEs ~ Near Death Experiences

 

I'm happy to say that I've never experienced this phenomena, but I have been reading interesting articles on it and watching some fascinating videos.  The whole thing is intriguing, but what I find most intriguing is something that I just recently uncovered... it's been said that some people who return from an NDE don't come back alone, they bring something back with them.  Let's take a look at the standard ideas and theories on NDEs, and then lets see what information we can get about the more chilling aspect.

A near-death experience is a vivid, profound event reported by about 10% to 20% of people who survive a life-threatening medical crisis or clinical death. 

     Common Features

People around the world and from many different backgrounds report similar elements: 

Out-of-body sensation: 

Feeling detached from the physical body and watching events from above.

The tunnel and light: 

Moving rapidly through a dark space or tunnel toward a brilliant, loving light.

Encounters: 

Seeing deceased relatives, pets, or spiritual figures.Life review: Seeing a fast replay of major life events and feeling the emotional impact on others.

     Types of Experiences

Pleasurable NDEs: 

Most experiences bring deep peace, warmth, joy, and a loss of fear about dying.

Distressing NDEs: 

A small number of people report frightening feelings, such as an empty void, isolation, or a hostile environment. 

     Scientific and Medical Views

Scientists and doctors study these events to understand how the brain reacts to extreme stress, lack of oxygen, or dying brain cells. You can read more about peer-reviewed findings and accounts at the Magis Center. While neuroscience explains some physical triggers like altered brain activity, the full psychological impact remains a subject of ongoing study. 

People who survive near-death experiences (NDEs) often return with profound psychological shifts, new sensory or spiritual capacities, and altered worldviews rather than physical objects.

     Psychological and Personality Changes

Loss of Fear of Death: 

Most survivors lose their anxiety about dying, viewing death as a natural transition instead of an end.

Increased Empathy: 

Individuals frequently report a deep lasting sense of interconnectedness with all people and living things.

Shift in Values: 

Material wealth, status, and competitive drives often lose importance, replaced by a focus on love, relationships, and learning. 

     Spiritual and Cognitive Aftereffects

Expanded Intuition: 

Many people who have experienced an NDE report heightened intuitive or psychic sensitivities, such as precognition or sensing others' emotions intensely.

Aesthetic and Sensory Appreciation: 

Everyday sights, sounds, and nature are perceived with magnified vibrancy and gratitude.

The "Afterglow": 

The integration process can take years, as individuals try to reconcile their infinite timeless NDE insights with normal linear earthly life.

People who return from a near-death experience (NDE) sometimes feel that a spiritual guide or loving presence stays connected to them after they wake up. 

     What NDE Experiencers Report

Ongoing Presence: 

Some people feel a guardian angel or a deceased relative remains near them after they return.

New Sensations: 

 

People who experience an NDE often report a permanent change in how they sense energy, intuition, or emotions.

Deep Connection: 

People often feel that the love or peace they found on the other side stays in their hearts. 

     Common Interpretations

Spiritual Guides: 

Many believe supportive spirits or angels watch over them during and after the event.

Heightened Awareness: 

Doctors and researchers note that the brain changes during an NDE, which can alter a person's waking perception.

Lasting Comfort: 

The lingering feeling is usually described as comforting rather than frightening. 

When someone refers to something negative "attaching" to a Near-Death Experience survivor, the phenomenon is understood differently depending on whether it is viewed through a spiritual, energetic, or clinical lens. 

     The Spiritual and Energetic Perspective

In metaphysical communities, an NDE is seen as a profound event where the soul leaves the physical body, leaving the individual’s energetic field and vacated body temporarily open and vulnerable. 

The Open-Door Concept: 

The trauma of clinical death or a highly distressing NDE can create "tears" or "holes" in a person's energetic defense. This is believed to allow low-vibrational entities, earthbound spirits, or energetic parasites to latch onto the host.

Reported Symptoms: 

Those who believe they are experiencing a spirit attachment often report sudden personality shifts, uncharacteristic anger, severe energy depletion, persistent nightmares, and an intrusive voice or presence that pushes them toward self-destructive behaviours.

Metaphysical Remedies: 

Spiritual practitioners generally recommend energetic hygiene to resolve this. This includes intentional grounding, aura clearing, establishing firm boundaries, and focusing heavily on raising one's emotional vibration through love and forgiveness, which makes the host inhospitable to negative energy. 

     The Clinical and Psychological Perspective

From a medical and scientific standpoint, what feels like an external "negative attachment" is typically diagnosed as a severe psychological or neurological byproduct of surviving a life-threatening crisis. 

Distressing NDE Trauma: 

While many NDEs are peaceful, up to 1 in 5 are distressing NDEs involving terrifying voids, feelings of panic, or hellish landscapes. Surviving this can leave a person with profound spiritual trauma.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): 

The mind trying to process the terror of dying can manifest as PTSD. Flashbacks, intrusive dark thoughts, dissociation, and an overwhelming feeling of alienation, or being detached from reality, can easily mimic the feeling of an external entity invading the mind.

Integration Challenges: 

Studies shared by organisations like the International Association for Near-Death Studies show that survivors often struggle to fit back into their old lives. They face high divorce rates, feel misunderstood, and fear being labeled as mentally ill. This acute isolation can feel like a heavy dark cloud hovering over them. 

     Summary of What to Do

If an NDE survivor is struggling with a persistent sense of negativity, a dual approach is often the most effective path to healing.

Grounding Practices: 

Focus on physical wellness, proper sleep, nutrition, and nature to firmly re-anchor consciousness into the physical body.

Seek Informed Integration Support: 

Connect with specialised groups like IANDS (International Association for Near-Death Studies),or a trauma-informed psychologist who understands NDE aftereffects, so the experience can be processed without judgement. 

 

Sources & Recommended Reading

Life After Death: True Near-Death
Experiences to Give Emotional
Comfort and Spiritual Inspiration

by Molly Hooper @ Amazon

Life After Life: The Bestselling
Original Investigation That
Revealed "Near-Death Experiences"

by Raymond Moody @ Amazon

The Big Book of Near-Death
Experiences: The Ultimate Guide
to the NDE and Its Aftereffects

by P.M.H. Atwater @ Amazon

My Descent Into Death:
Second Chance at Life

by Howard Moody @ Amazon

(Forward by Anne Rice)