Shine Anyway: Magickal Resilience & the Courage to Be Seen

There’s something terrifying about being seen.

Not just looked at, but truly seen. As you are. With all your quirks, all your edges, all your light. Being seen means you’re no longer curating or hiding or rounding yourself out to fit what someone else thinks is palatable. You’re just… you. Unfiltered. And that takes guts.

For me, being seen doesn’t mean I’m out here trying to draw attention. It means I’m living without fear. If someone does perceive me, fine, but I want to know that what they’re seeing is really me. Not a version I polished up to make other people comfortable. Not a shadow of myself that’s easier to digest.

Just me. Witchy, weird, joyful, and radiant.

Hiding Isn’t Protective—It’s Just Heavy

I spent years hiding my craft. Growing up and in my early twenties, the message was loud and clear: this part of me wasn’t acceptable. So I kept it quiet. Watered down. Tucked behind closed doors. And I hated it.

It felt like a betrayal of my truth, of my spirit, of the magick that lived in me whether anyone else approved or not.

That changed in 2016. My father died suddenly, and it cracked something open in me. It was the kind of loss that reorders everything. One moment, life is normal. The next, you’re awake in a whole new world. And in that new world, I realized I didn’t have time to keep pretending. If this life can end in a moment, I sure as hell wasn’t going to keep living mine as someone I’m not.

The Magick of Being Visible

Witchcraft, at its core, is visibility. You raise energy. You cast intention. You shape your reality with your will. That’s not quiet work.

Magick is bold. It’s expressive. It’s rebellious in the best way.

But it’s also deeply vulnerable. Every spell is an act of exposure. Every ritual a declaration: I believe in something unseen and I believe in myself enough to work with it.

So yes, posting myself dancing on TikTok felt like a lot. It was fun and freeing, but also terrifying. That little voice was right there: What if you look silly? What if people judge you? What if this is too much?

And I did it anyway.

Because magickal resilience doesn’t mean you’re never afraid. It means you keep showing up with your whole radiant self, even when fear is whispering in your ear.

Surround Yourself With Mirrors, Not Shadows

Here’s what helps: find your people.

Find the ones who cheer when you take up space. Who want your light turned all the way up. Who say, “I see you” and mean it. That kind of support is sacred. It’s alchemy. And it gives you the strength to keep stepping into the spotlight of your own life.

Because let’s be honest—some days will still feel wobbly. That’s okay. Shine anyway.

A Little Magick for the Moments You Want to Shrink

When the self-doubt hits, here’s a simple ritual I come back to:

• Light a candle (yellow or orange if you have it)

• Look in the mirror; not to critique, but to witness

• Say this aloud: “I am not here to be small. I am not here to be silent. I am the spell. I am the sun. I shine because I exist.”

• Breathe it in. Let it settle. Let it spark.

You don’t need permission to take up space in your own damn story.

In Case You Need the Reminder

Shining anyway feels like a release. Like a weight coming off your shoulders. Like coming home to yourself after years of trying to be someone else’s idea of worthy.

So here’s your reminder:

The sun doesn’t ask permission to shine. And neither should you.

Let them see your magick. All of it. Loud, joyful, raw, tender, real. You’re not too much. You’re more than enough.

And you’re just getting started.

Blessed Be,

~Elle