The Spit Principle™
One Spit Wide, One Spit Deep
How much is enough?
The Spit Principle is a practical framework created by Liadán Hallow for considering proportion, intervention, restraint and consequence within spiritual and ritual practice.
It begins with a deceptively simple question: how much is enough?
Not every situation calls for more. Not every working should go deeper. Not everything disturbed should be uncovered. The principle helps the practitioner consider what is needed, what should be left alone and when intervention becomes overreach.
Why a Spit?
In working the land, a spit is the depth of a spade blade. It is a practical measure of earth: enough to be turned with purpose.
The Spit Principle takes that physical measure and uses it as a discipline of proportion.
One Spit Wide. One Spit Deep
Do what the situation requires, but do not dig simply because you can.
The measure will not be identical in every situation. It is not a rigid calculation. It is the pause before action: a way of considering purpose, depth, disturbance and likely consequence before deciding what to do.
What the Principle Considers
The Spit Principle does not prescribe one response for every situation. It provides a set of questions through which an action can be measured.
Proportion
What is the smallest meaningful action capable of doing what is needed?
Intervention
What will be changed, opened, moved or set in motion by acting?
Restraint
What should remain untouched, undisturbed or unresolved?
Consequence
What might follow, and who or what will carry the effects?
Restraint is not the same as inaction. It is part of skilled action. The aim is not to do nothing, but to do no more than the work requires.
A Measure Before Action
The Spit Principle can be used before, during and after a working.
Before acting, it helps define the purpose and limit of the intervention. During the work, it asks whether that limit is still being observed. Afterwards, it considers what has changed and what consequences may remain.
It is particularly useful when urgency, fear, curiosity or certainty creates pressure to do more. The principle introduces a pause, not to prevent action, but to ensure that the action remains proportionate to what is actually needed.
It does not remove uncertainty or consequence. It makes them part of the decision.
Learn the Spit Principle
The Spit Principle is taught by Liadán Hallow through talks, introductory workshops and small-group sessions.
One Spit Wide, One Spit Deep: An Introduction to the Spit Principle
Introduces the framework and its central discipline: knowing when to act, how far to go and when to stop.
For upcoming dates or enquires about private group teaching, please get in touch.
The Spit Principle™ was created by Liadán Hallow. © 2026 Liadán Hallow. All rights reserved.