Working Through Transitions

Transitions have a way of shaking things up. Even when the change is something you chose, there’s still that strange (or even unsettling) in‑between space where your routines feel unfamiliar and your magical practice doesn’t sit the way it usually does. I’ve been in one of those periods myself, and I’ve noticed how easy it is for people to assume that if they feel disconnected, something must be wrong with their relationship to the Daemonic.

In reality, nothing is wrong. You’re just adjusting to the newness of the situation.

Life hands us all kinds of transitions. Some are exciting, like going back to school after years away or stepping into a new marriage. Some arrive with joy and exhaustion at the same time, like welcoming a new baby. Others come with a sense of loss or disorientation, like the death of someone you love or the end of a long chapter of your life. There are the practical shifts too, such as moving to a new place, changing careers, or suddenly finding yourself in a completely different living situation. Retirement can feel like a relief and a void all at once. And then there are the internal transitions that don’t look dramatic from the outside but feel seismic on the inside, like realizing something about yourself that rearranges your entire worldview. Any of these moments can unsettle your practice because they unsettle you.

When life shifts, your internal landscape shifts with it. It’s an unavoidable part of change. Your energy may move differently. Your priorities can end up rearranging themselves. The way you show up in ritual changes because you’re not the same person you were a month ago. Heck, some of us even aren’t the same person today that we were three days ago. We may have learned something new or had a new experience in that time. That doesn’t mean the Daemons have stepped back. It means you’re recalibrating so you can meet them from where you are now.

During times like this, and I’ve had quite a few in my 53 years on this planet, I tend to lean into the currents that help me find my footing again. Belial is one Daemon I return to when I need to feel the ground under me. There’s something steadying about his presence when everything else feels like it’s in motion. Leviathan helps me sort through the emotional undercurrents that come with transition. It’s easy to get swept up in the noise of your own thoughts when you’re trying to navigate change, and Leviathan’s current has a way of helping you breathe through it. Belphegor is another spirit I’ve worked with during periods when old structures are dissolving and new ones haven’t fully formed. That current can highlight possibilities you might overlook when you’re focused on what’s ending.

What I’ve learned is that you don’t need elaborate workings when you’re in the middle of upheaval. You don’t need to force yourself into a ritual structure that doesn’t match your current state. A simple moment of connection is enough. Light a candle. Sit with your breath. Hold the Daemon’s sigil in your hands. Speak honestly about where you are and what you’re trying to understand. The Daemons aren’t waiting for you to be perfectly composed. They are ready to meet you in the middle of the mess, as long as you’re willing to show up.

If your practice feels off, it doesn’t mean you’ve lost anything. It means you’re in motion. The one constant in life is change, so give yourself permission to be in that space without judging it. Let the work shift with you. Let the connection take the shape it needs to take right now. You’ll find your rhythm again, and when you do, it will fit the person you’ve become on the other side of the transition.

If you want something simple to help you regain your footing, sit somewhere quiet for a moment and place your hands on your legs or on the floor beside you. Let your breath settle into a natural rhythm. When you feel ready, speak Belial’s name softly and let the sound anchor you in your body. Perhaps hold his seal, and chant his enn. Picture the weight of your own presence sinking into the space beneath you, as if the ground is rising to meet you. You don’t need to visualize anything complicated. Just feel the sense of being held up by something solid. When that steadiness begins to settle in your chest or your stomach or wherever you tend to feel it, acknowledge it with a quiet thank you.

Stay with that feeling for a few breaths before you move on with your day. It doesn’t have to be more than that. Sometimes the smallest moment of grounding is enough to remind you that you’re still connected, still supported, and still capable of finding your way through whatever transition you’re in.

You might be asking if you can work with the Death Daemonic instead, and the answer is yes. Spirits like Murmur, Bune, Euronymous, Balberith, and others can help you weather change, or bring about change. They can help you with grief. Reach out to the Daemonic force most grounding for you and work with them.

If you find you are needing some guidance for your most recent transition, consider ordering a reading.