A Reflection on the Discussion with The Jungle Pirate Wizard Nate From Postmugglism.com
You can just do things. Nate inspired me greatly. The conversation was chock full of actionable advice from building relationships with spirits, making magic in the city and taking claim over our lives to shape our personal destinies.
Below are 5 small practices to implement and 2 big hairy goals, as The Jungle Pirate Wizard put it, to chew on and aim toward if you’re ready to recognize magic as real. ‘Cause it is.
Small Practice #1 Treat the World Like It’s Listening
In one sentence:
Pay attention to what you pay attention to.
Nate repeatedly comes back to the idea that reality isn’t dead or mechanical. Our lived reality is relational and reality itself responds to relationship. Whether that’s with nature like telling a tree its big and beautiful, with people and being with them without judgement while they express themselves, or spirits like giving thanks to your spirit team, your guardian angel, and dropping gifts at a crossroads for Hecate, the first step is acting as though your interactions matter. And they do.
Easy Mode
Tomorrow:
- Say thank you when something unexpectedly works out.
- Thank your house.
- Thank the tree that gives you shade.
- Thank your coffee.
Not because you know someone is listening.
Because gratitude changes the way you move through reality. Gratitude gives you that Saturday Night Fever Strut through your day and builds upon itself. See what its like when you stop slinking through blame and start strutting through gratitude. Strut baby. You know you gotta cool way of walkin.
Small Practice #2 Give Before You Ask
This might be the single biggest lesson from Nate.
Before asking for help
Be someone worth helping.
Nate talks about this through his work with Hecate as well as spirit relationships generally. It’s reciprocal. It’s relational. You build up cool vibes and trust by giving first rather than immediately asking for favors.
Easy Mode
Every morning ask:
“What can I contribute today?” If nothing comes up immediately that’s ok. In my experience the opportune moment will present itself.
Drop the
“What can I get?” We get to participate the way only a human being can. We get to grow and shape ourselves and express ourselves into the physical expression of the universe.
It works with:
- friendships
- business
- family
- magic
It’s surprisingly universal.
Small Practice #3 Ask Better Questions
This was one of my favorite moments when Nate gets into Tarot.
Instead of asking:
“What should I do?”
he asks:
“What happens if I do this?”
or
“What happens if I don’t?”
That’s just good thinking.
Tarot becomes less fortune telling…
…and more decision making.
You don’t have to roll with what it gives back. Take it like a perspective from an advisor. Now you have more information to weigh in your own decision making.
Easy Mode
Even if you don’t own Tarot
Though it’s worth having some divinatory system to consult,
Journal these every morning. Get theses into your mind, let these seeds settle into the good earth of your subconscious:
- What happens if I continue this?
- What happens if I stop?
- What small experiment could I run this week?
That third one in particular generates some interesting results.
You’d be amazed how much more optionality appears.
Small Practice #4 Build a Relationship With Nature
This one wasn’t just about gardening.
Nate was talking about becoming embedded in the living world.
He describes how gardening during COVID completely reordered what he valued and ultimately led him to move to the jungle and build a food forest.
Easy Mode
Grow ONE thing.
Seriously.
One tomato.
One basil plant.
One sunflower.
One mushroom kit.
Watching something that depends on you grow, grows something inside you.
Small Practice #5 Leave Room for Weirdness
One of the many things I appreciate about Nate…
He doesn’t just weave experiences.
He notices them.
Birds.
Coincidences.
Dreams.
Unexpected meetings.
He’s pays attention without obsessing.
That’s healthy balance.
Easy Mode
For one month…
Write down only three strange things every day.
Not to prove anything.
Just to observe. Just to see.
Patterns and opportunities have a funny way of revealing themselves after enough observations.
Two Big Hairy Goals
The kinds of things that can bring the big change.
1. Build Your Own Rivendell
Nate talks about eventually realizing he needed to create a place where his soul actually wanted to live. That became his jungle home and food forest—not overnight, but through years of choices.
I’m not necessarily saying make a move to Mexico. But hey you do you.
I’m saying:
“If I designed my life around what nourishes me instead of what impresses other people, what could that look like?”
Maybe that’s:
- moving
- buying land
- creating a garden
- building a workshop
- Setting up a dedicated reading and meditation space
- making a studio
- living closer to nature
Build your Rivendell.
Even if it takes ten years.
2. Become Someone Future You Would Call a Wizard
This might actually be my favorite takeaway from the interview.
A wizard isn’t just someone slinging psi balls and Hadoukens.
It’s someone who has spent years intentionally acting and developing relationships with
- people
- nature
- intuition
- wisdom
- discipline
- beauty
- mystery
Magic becomes more than only casting spells
It becomes a gradual embodiment of the sort of person who consistently influences reality in intentional and I’d like to think positive ways.
Imagine asking yourself every birthday:
“Am I a little wiser than last year?”
Not richer.
Not more famous.
Wiser.
Kinder.
More capable.
More helpful.
That’s a long game that’ll inevitably pay dividends.
So living your magic doesn’t just begin with seeing spirits, reading tarot, or taking big swings and moving to Vegas to become the best Elvis impersonator the world has ever seen,
It begins much more quietly. It begins by paying and giving attention.
By honoring and actively cultivating your relationships.
By giving before asking.
By making one small decision today that your future self will thank you for.
The goal is to participate in your life so fully that your lived experience starts to feel enchanted and seasoned more in the way you’d like it to taste.
Like toasted garlic, salt and olive oil on a slab of sourdough.
Now I’m hungry.
Hangin With Mist3rdouglas yeah 