Unbinding – Releasing the Stories That Hold You

The stories we tell ourselves can feel as real as the air we breathe, shaping our choices, relationships, and even our sense of self. Some offer comfort; others bind us, quietly limiting the potential we can access.

In this episode of Wayward Witchery, we explore the art of unbinding – noticing, questioning, and releasing the narratives that no longer serve you – so you can reclaim your power and write your own truth.

The Invisible Spell We Cast

There’s a kind of spell that most of us weave without ever realising it. Unlike the rituals you might see in a grimoire or on Pinterest boards full of herbs, crystals, or candles, this spell is made from belief, emotion, and the words we repeat to ourselves. It is the spell of story.

Every story you tell yourself – about who you are, what you deserve, and what you can achieve – carries energy. Sometimes these stories protect, guide, or soothe. Other times, they bind, creating invisible cords that twist through your mind, shaping perception until they begin to feel like truth.

Often, these bindings start as protection. “I’m not ready for that yet,” or “I’ll never succeed” may have kept you safe in the past. Perhaps someone taught you that certain desires or emotions were unacceptable. Perhaps hurt or betrayal coloured the way you saw yourself. Those stories were survival magick, keeping you safe. But survival magick, like any spell, has a shelf life. Wear it too long, and it can restrict breath, growth, and freedom.

Noticing the Knots

The first step in unbinding is awareness. Notice the phrases you automatically use to describe yourself – the “always,” the “never,” the “I can’t.” Ask yourself: whose voice is speaking here? Is this story truly yours, or a reflection of someone else’s fear or expectation?

Many of the narratives we carry are inherited from others – parents, partners, teachers, society – yet we hold them as innate truths. Once you notice these cords, you create space: space to question, to breathe, and to imagine something new.

Unbinding doesn’t erase your history or deny your experiences. Instead, it gently loosens the grip of old narratives so you can stand in your own truth, no longer restricted by stories that were never meant to define you.

The Sacred Tangle

One of the most challenging aspects of unbinding is what I call the tangle. It is the stage where you know, intellectually or energetically, that a story no longer serves you, yet your sense of self has grown accustomed to it. You may find yourself caught between who you were under the spell and who you are becoming without it. That in-between space is often uncomfortable – sometimes messy, sometimes frightening – yet profoundly sacred.

In this stage, old patterns often resurface, as if your psyche is testing whether you are truly ready to let go. You may feel resistance, doubts, or even a desire to cling to old habits simply because they are familiar. These moments are not failures. They are part of the unbinding process, a reminder that transformation is rarely linear. Patience and self-compassion are essential. Every knot you loosen is a small, powerful act of liberation.

Rewriting Your Own Narrative

Once you begin noticing the cords that bind you, you can experiment with rewriting your story. This doesn’t mean repeating affirmations you don’t believe or forcing positivity over wounds. It is about exploring possibility and planting seeds of new belief.

For example, a narrative such as, “I always fail at love,” could gently shift to, “I am learning what love looks like for me.” A story like, “I can’t trust myself,” might become, “I am learning to listen to my inner wisdom.”

These small, intentional shifts are tiny spells – subtle, energetic, and accumulative. By consciously choosing which stories shape your perception, you reclaim agency over your life and energy.

Energy responds to belief. Simply noticing a story and questioning it shifts your vibration. You may feel it as lightness in the chest, a soft exhale, or a quiet clarity that whispers: I am not my story.

Rituals for Gentle Unbinding

Unbinding can be supported with small, practical rituals. When you notice a limiting story arise, pause and breathe. Place a hand over the part of your body where the tension or heaviness lives – often the chest, stomach, or shoulders. Whisper to yourself:

“I release the need to hold this story as truth.”

You do not need to replace it immediately. Let the silence breathe; it is sacred. Later, when you are ready, introduce a new belief or intention:




These small acts are a form of everyday witchcraft – quiet, personal, and profoundly empowering.

The Subtle Magick of Freedom

The effects of unbinding are often subtle but powerful. Over time, you may notice changes in how you speak to yourself, how you react to situations, and how your energy moves through the world. Old cords no longer dictate your responses. You begin to act intentionally rather than reactively, living from a place of awareness, choice, and self-trust.

Freedom in unbinding is not an external achievement. It is an internal shift – a daily, conscious act of loosening the ropes and allowing yourself to grow. The more consistently you practice, the more natural it becomes. You no longer cling to the old stories for safety; you trust your own inner magick.

Step gently into your power, untie the cords that no longer serve you, and may your spirit move freely, guided by your own inner magick.

May your knots loosen easily, your truths rise gently, and your spirit remember: you are the storyteller of your own magickal journey.