Calling the Council Within

Inner Parts Work in Modern Witchcraft in a Burnout Culture

A part of me wanted to start this article with a cheeky one-liner. Another part wondered: Is this getting too personal? But honestly? I don’t have a problem with being open. Otherwise, this blog wouldn’t exist. I know my boundaries. And I know that somewhere in this space — between vulnerability and self-reflection — lies something deeply relevant. Because the truth is: I hadn’t planned to write this piece. I was in a therapy session — doing my own inner work, as we like to say — when something familiar showed up. It felt like running into an old friend: Ego state work. I first met her over a decade ago, during my burnout. And now she’s back — dressed differently, but bringing the same message: Pay attention. Make space.

And I listened.

Because over the years, I’ve learned: When something that seems random shows up with that kind of clarity, it’s worth exploring. So I followed the thread. I dove back into theory, sorted through different perspectives, read up on the research — and ran it all through my own mystical filter. What you’re about to read isn’t a concept. It’s something I’m living. Practicing. Moving through. And honestly — it’s quietly, deeply transformative.

Welcome to the Inner City

Living in a city — in the noise, in the rhythm, in the constant pressure of our times — often means: just get through the day. But it also means: survive, create, rethink, evolve. Arrive — piece by piece — in your own skin. And that includes dealing with the whole cast inside us. The achiever who wants control. The critic with the raised eyebrow. The teenager who just wants to be left alone. The wild one who wants to dance. The healer who feels everything. And then there’s the one who secretly dreams of vanishing — hopping on a bus to nowhere. It often feels like an internal team meeting — with emotional outbursts, long silences, and one slightly witchy woman with tarot cards, chai, and wild hair dropping some unexpected insight into the room. What if we stopped overriding them — and started listening?

Sounds poetic — but is it real?

Oh, it’s very real. And not just since TikTok got spiritual.

Psychology has been working with inner parts for decades. And many spiritual — especially shamanic — traditions have worked with similar concepts for far longer. Two models I currently work with, which also blend beautifully with modern mysticism, are:

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Developed by Dr. Richard C. Schwartz

IFS is a therapeutic model that suggests we’re made up of different “inner parts” — think sub-personalities. These parts all have specific roles and usually form in response to significant life experiences.

IFS typically identifies three main categories:

• Managers – aim to control the system, ensure perfection, and prevent pain.

• Firefighters – act impulsively to distract from emotional pain (think: binge-watching, anger outbursts, addictions).

• Exiles – carry unresolved wounds, often from childhood, and are “locked away” to protect the system.

At the core is the Self — a state of inner leadership that’s curious, calm, compassionate, and present. IFS helps you reconnect with this Self and build inner relationships based on trust and care. It’s now widely used for anxiety, depression, trauma, and self-worth work — and is even gaining traction in coaching, meditation, and spiritual practices.

Ego State Therapy

Originally developed in the 1970s by John & Helen Watkins

This one's a bit more old-school. Ego state therapy sees our personality as made up of distinct ego states — parts of us shaped by life stages, traumas, or roles we've internalized. Each state holds its own memories, emotions, beliefs, and behaviors.

Examples include:

• A capable adult who keeps everything running

• A wounded inner child, scared or rejected

• A rebellious teenager, angry or avoidant

Ego state therapy is often used in trauma therapy, especially with complex PTSD and dissociation. The goal is to recognize these states, build dialogue between them, and create integration — in a safe, compassionate space.

And if you’re wondering: Is this actually evidence-based?

Hell yes. Urban mystics can be nerds too. A 2015 pilot study (published in the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma) showed that IFS significantly reduced PTSD symptoms. A 2021 review by Weinberg & Ronel found that working with parts enhances emotional balance, increases self-compassion, and reduces anxiety. Even neuroscience backs it up: Brain scans show that compassionate self-reflection activates the medial prefrontal cortex — the part of your brain responsible for self-awareness and emotional regulation. In plain English? This work literally rewires your brain toward clarity and calm.

Ego state therapy also has a strong foundation — especially in trauma-sensitive work with complex PTSD and dissociative disorders. Therapists report that acknowledging and relating to inner states helps clients process trauma safely — without overwhelming the nervous system.

A Bridge to the Shamanic Worldview

What I find deeply fascinating is how seamlessly these modern models align with ancient shamanic perspectives — something I’ve been exploring for years. Over time, I’ve taken part in several shamanic trainings and immersions — not to become a shaman, but because I wanted to understand just how interconnected our inner world really is.

In many shamanic traditions, humans aren’t seen as fixed personalities, but as complex constellations of soul parts, spirit guides, ancestral imprints, and — perhaps most importantly — lost pieces of self. According to shamanic teachings, soul loss can occur through trauma, shock, or deep emotional experiences. Soul retrieval rituals aim to bring those parts back home — and restore inner wholeness.

Sound familiar?

For me, it was an aha moment to realize that inner child work, ego state therapy, and other psychological approaches often point to the same thing: integration. Reconnection. Honoring the parts we’ve shoved aside because they were “too much,” “too broken,” or just inconvenient. What I love about shamanic approaches: they don’t rely solely on words or logic. They work with imagery, movement, and energy. With power animals, archetypes, and inner landscapes. These tools give us intuitive access to parts that language alone can’t quite reach. And suddenly, that anxious child inside you isn’t just understood — but seen, held, protected. Maybe even by your inner warrior or a kind spirit animal.

So… where does Urban Mysticism come in?

Right here. Between the subway and the staff meeting. Somewhere between your color-coded calendar and the knot in your stomach — an inner part speaks up. Maybe it’s the little one who’s scared and needs safety. Or the fierce one who’s finally ready to set boundaries. Or a deep knowing in your belly that whispers, “Not yet.” That voice is one of your parts. Call it your inner child, your guide, your soul fragment, your inner protector — doesn’t really matter.

What matters is this: You listened.

Because magic doesn’t live in labels. It lives in presence. In a world that keeps telling us to stay strong, keep it together, don’t feel too much — turning toward your inner world is a radical, almost revolutionary act. And that’s the core of Urban Mysticism: It doesn’t require mountain retreats or mandatory incense. It lives in your everyday life — with both feet on the concrete and your heart wide open to whatever part inside you is calling.

A Practice for the Urban Witch and Her Inner Council

I’ve got a little ritual I do — especially on days when I feel pulled in ten directions and secretly want to hide under a blanket. Maybe it’ll speak to you, too:

Urban Mystic Ritual: Call in the Inner Council

Light a candle — or just take a conscious breath. Pyjamas or power suit, doesn’t matter.

Ask yourself:

• Which part of me is loudest today?

• Which one is trying to protect me?

• Who might I be ignoring?

Wait for the answer. It may come as an image, a voice, a memory, or a gut feeling. Greet this part like a friend who’s been carrying too much for too long. No fixing. No judging. Just curiosity.

Then ask:

• What do you need from me today?

• What are you afraid will happen if you let go?

End the ritual with a breath — or say thank you out loud.(Yes, talking to yourself counts as spiritual hygiene.)

Real Talk

This isn’t some “love & light” bypassing.(By the way, I can’t stand that term — neither as a witch nor as a human. Because let’s be honest: a lot of what passes as “light” culture is just toxic positivity in sparkly disguise.) This here? This is radical honesty. Embodied leadership. And healing that doesn’t care how many likes it gets.

It’s about showing up — not just for your Instagram self, but for the angry, scared, overwhelmed parts of you that still believe they’re not enough. Because when those voices are heard, the magic begins. The fog lifts. The panic quiets. Ideas flow. You remember who you are. And you realize: You’re not broken. You’re just leading one hell of an inner coven.

Final Words

This is modern mysticism.Not always pretty.Not always polished.But always real. So the next time you feel scattered, shut down, or weirdly emotional over a LinkedIn comment (yep, that happens too) — take a breath. Light a candle. Call in your inner council. Ask who’s speaking. And listen — like your magic depends on it. Because maybe it does.

P.S.: Maybe that’s why this work is resurfacing for me — because my system, my whole inner coven, knows I need it now. Maybe yours does too.