“Fire and water are contrasts. One is hot, the other is cold. One dries out, the other moistens,” I said.
“Could it be that an obsessive focus on ‘being positive’ can cause trouble?” my friend, Alicia, asked.
Now, I was intrigued.
“Yesterday,” she continued. “I took a blow to my heart. I discovered that my friend Susan is someone I cannot rely on. She is really stepping away from me. Like she’s become just an acquaintance.”
I saw the deep sadness on Alicia’s face.
“Then, I talked with you,” Alicia said. “You are a true friend. I am so grateful. So I learned something by contrasts.”
As a witch, do you focus on only having positive experiences?
Or do you flow with life as it goes?
Here is a prayer you can use:
Goddess, Show me the way to clarity in my life. For I cannot know Your light without understanding Your deep shadows. Help me balance Your brilliance with Your darkness for my good and the good of all. So mote it be
“I should take better care of myself,” I told my friend, Alicia. This happened after a gaming night in which I ate too many delicious and sugary foods. (What’s a gaming night for, anyway?) I was disappointed in myself.
Do you relate to this?
I have two insights for you.
1. If you’re disappointed, you’re judging yourself.
Is it really possible to take one parent to a doctor’s appointment, one’s spouse to work, get the grocery shopping done, edit a video for a YouTube channel, and … so on and so forth … in one afternoon?
Are you judging yourself on a standard that is not kind and not even possible?
Instead, imagine you’re thinking about your best friend. Would you cut that person some slack? You’re likely not judging them in such a harsh way.
As a witch, are you disappointed with yourself for not meditating, not doing the right rituals, or meeting with members of your coven?
2. Ask the Goddess to help you release yourself from harsh judgments.
You can use a prayer like this.
Goddess, Help me release my judgments of myself. Raise me up from the disappointment in myself. Show me my Divine Self. So Mote It Be
“I don’t think I take good enough care of my husband and parents,” I shared with my friend, Alicia.
She kept listening.
I had a thought. These guilty ideas strangle me. They keep me away from being present in this current moment. My focus is reduced to pain … instead of the divinity the Goddess placed within me.
I have a particular insight for you.
“One sentence solves guilt: If I knew then what I know now, I would have done things differently. … Guilt is in the past, and the one thing you cannot change is the past.” – Dr. Edith Eger
So, divinity is in this present moment.
Now what?
I realize that I can use a twinge from an idea of guilt.
I can ask, “So I didn’t like how what I did in the past turned out. What can I do now? What is a different approach now?”
Here is a prayer you can use:
Goddess, show me my true path. Give me guidance and lead me forward. Release me from guilty thoughts, Replace them with inspiration. So Mote It Be.
Terrified. That was the right word. I stood in front of the audience about to give my first speech at a Toastmasters meeting.
It did not matter that other people would speak after me. They would be nervous, too.
My own fear made me shake.
Speaking aloud in front of an audience had not gone well in my past. I remembered reading a paragraph aloud in a high school English class. My dyslexia made me sound like an idiot.
The teacher said, “Okay that’s enough.”
Fellow student, Joe Jerk-face said, “Yeah! That’s enough!”
And now at Toastmasters, I was about to give a speech. Crap!
I said, “I couldn’t breathe. My brother held me underwater. Why would he torture a little girl? When I coughed up the water, the swimming pool didn’t look like a place to play. How much more of this life could I survive?” A few minutes in, I saw two people nod. (Oh, thank you! Good humans!)
After I finished. Some applause.
All good.
Even better. I was proud of myself. I had walked toward my fear.
Later, I went on to be a guest speaker – over 12 times – at a Comparative Religion college course to introduce people to Wicca. That was new for them. It still was a tough stretch for me to talk to an audience but … again and again … I walked toward the fear.
Here are three insights.
1. Keep yourself safe.
Number one. Keep yourself safe. Can you get physically hurt if you take on a risk? David, someone in my circle, was a movie stuntman over 20 years ago. Would he risk his health or life today? No f***ing way!
Still, he took precautions during his stuntman time. He also refused to do certain stunts. And, he’s alive to tell the tale.
Are you thinking of taking a risk that could hurt you physically? Like walking in a dangerous area? Just after the bars close? Hold up! Stay safe.
2. Decide what you value most. Drop the distractions.
Other risks may mean temporary pain. So, high school kids laughed at my reading a paragraph. I still adapt to having dyslexia.
But, you know what? Who cares about high school kids’ laughter?!
I have to value your opinion in order to let it control me.
What do you value most? Is it growing as a person? Pushing beyond some artificial limits?
When do you feel most alive?
3. Ask Goddess for support.
When I have walked toward fear, I was answering the call of divinity that Goddess placed within me.
Here is a prayer you can use:
Goddess, help me answer the call, Help me know the true call from the false call. Show me how to walk into the unknown with Your strength. So Mote It Be.
“What? Medicare is threatened?” my friend, Sharon, in her 60’s said. “Why is life so hard? Why are they making trouble?”
I thought about this.
The God and Goddess have a perspective that is beyond our perception.
Here are 3 insights.
1. Hard situations can be an opportunity to grow.
“In truly understanding the Goddess and God, one comes to understand life, for the two are inextricably entwined. Live your earthly life fully, but try to see the spiritual aspects of your activities as well. Remember—the physical and spiritual are but reflections of each other.” – Scott Cunningham
Ask yourself, “How can I grow from this tough situation?” Where is the lesson? The Gods put challenges in our path to help make us stronger. These hard times build our resilience.
Also, consider: “What can I learn from this?”
You can consider new choices. Perhaps, you might make changes to your lifestyle. Or maybe get better at money spells.
Learn to shift.
“Let my worship be within the heart that rejoices.” – The Goddess, in The Charge of the Goddess, as written by Doreen Valiente
When things are hard, it is easy to stay in a dark place. One might ruminate over how hard things have become.
However, when you conduct ritual and worship the Gods, you are invited to do the “hard thing” and make a SHIFT to the gifts they can bestow upon you.
One powerful shift is: I have resources within me—the divinity within—I have not tapped before.
“For if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.” – The Goddess, in The Charge of the Goddess, as written by Doreen Valiente
“Witches and folk magicians, through timeless rituals, are only drawing upon natural energies found within the earth and our bodies to create positive, life-affirming change.” – Scott Cunningham
2. Ask the Goddess for insight into the lessons.
Here is a prayer you can use.
Precious Lady and Mighty God, Open my eyes to the lessons I must learn Guide my path to growth and peace. So Mote It Be
My father is facing a surgical procedure. Something is wrong inside his bladder. I am also helping my elderly parents move to another living facility. Lots of pressure for us all.
What more can go wrong?
If you face these kinds of worries—often called “being afraid of the other shoe dropping” … I have one particular insight for you.
Use a chant to focus your mind and release you from worry.
Here is a chant you can use.
“Goddess knows. And Goddess protects me.”
Say this at least 3 times. As you likely know, 3 is a sacred number.
Goddess knows everything that there is to know, and She will surround you with protection.
Tuning into this reality can be a “breath of fresh air.”
Consider trying this.
Recently, I held hands with my husband, and we said this chant aloud together.
“People talk about new beginnings, but they don’t talk about the slog through mud to get there,” my friend, Alicia, said.
She was referring to the transitions that we endure.
I earned one degree at a community college. Then, I went to a “polytechnical” college. The other students had more money than I did. They bought the apps. They were ahead of me. I had to “live at the computer lab.” Worse. Some instructors did not teach. I was behind others. What a lousy transition.
Fortunately, I have a knack for video editing (for example), and I have edited some good work.
In this New Year, let’s talk about beginnings, endings, and transitions.
I have three insights for you.
1. Shift from inner resistance to change.
“Magic is natural. It is a harmonious movement of energies to create needed change.” – Scott Cunningham
Have you ever hesitated to do a ritual to create the change you need in your life? I’ve noticed that many of us do not want something enough to endure the change that would be required.
Authors Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy wrote about how you can transform your life. There is just one hiccup. To have a big positive new chapter in life, you might have to let go of 80% of your usual habits. That’s right. It’s dropping one’s comfort zone.
I suggest that we look at doing something that is at least in the helpful direction. For example, tonight, it was tremendously cold. My husband and I went for a 12-minute walk. That was better than nothing.
We got over our inner resistance by promising ourselves “It’s just 10 minutes…”
What resistance do you need to let go of?
2. Shift from “Need” to “Want.”
Author Dan Sullivan wrote down in a log what he really wanted every day for 25 years. At that point, he had manifested a loving relationship and created prosperity with work that truly served others.
What do you really want?
What if you could have it…even if it might take three years in real-time?
When you focus only on “what you need,” your canvas is too small. The universe is vast. The God and Goddess want you to have more prosperity and happiness.
How do you define happiness?
If you had all the money you wanted, would you be happy?
I have been talking with friends about “practicing being happy.” What does that require? Being grateful right now for what you got.
Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things and My love is poured out upon the earth.” – The Goddess in The Charge of the Goddess, as written by Doreen Valiente
The shift from “need” to “want” is NOT about sacrifice. It’s about a shift in energy and perspective. When you have enough energy, change is a flowing experience.
What rituals will you do to uplevel your energy?
Are you interested in using energy to make a transition from where you are to where you really want to be?
3. Ask the God and Goddess to elevate your energy.
You can use a prayer like this.
Light Goddess, Dark Goddess, Goddess make me whole. Jannis God of doorways, Jannis God of Beginnings, Endings, and Transitions, Usher me into my New Year safely. Help my spirit and body rise in the names of the Gods. So Mote It Be.
“I just felt like a weak failure,” I told a friend recently. “I have trouble crying because I don’t want to show weakness. I’m afraid of showing weakness.”
Have you heard someone tell you, “You have to have a thick skin”?
People say that one is too sensitive to criticism. So, supposedly, having a “thick skin” is like being courageous. You’re supposed to do more and do better.
But wait a damn minute. What about those “energy vampires” who consciously cut us down? It’s not about having a thick skin. It’s about someone draining our energy.
Without enough energy, you don’t have the capacity to stand strong. I’ve seen myself, because of depression symptoms, being stuck. Paralyzed to do something simple. Why? No energy.
Do you relate to this?
I have three insights for you.
1. Keep your shield strong so they can’t take your energy.
Here is a process so you can keep your shield strong.
The Tree of Life Meditation/Cosmic Egg Shield
Meditation Exercise – “The Tree of Life”
Slowly breathe in and out. Breathe in the energy of love and peace (envision this as white energy). Breathe out all stress and negativity (envision this as black smoke). Keep taking deep breaths in and out. Concentrate on the white energy being breathed in and filling up your body with loving energy. Then let go and breathe out the negative energy you see as black smoke. As you do this, release the stresses of the day. Repeat this breathing cycle at least three times until you are comfortable and relaxed.
As your body and mind begin to relax, continue deep breathing and focus on this image:
Envision roots made up of energy sprouting from the bottoms of your feet. With each breath, extend the roots farther and farther down toward Mother Earth.
Extend them down through the floor, down past the plumbing of the house, and down, down deep into Mother Earth’s body. Go down to her core, to the center of her heart.
Once there, with each breath in, pull up the energy from Mother Earth. Breathe out the stress and breathe in the blue-green energy of Mother Earth.
Pull the energy up through your roots, up past the plumbing of the house, past the floor, and into your feet. The energy feels clean and refreshing.
Breathe in deeply. Pull the blue-green energy up into your legs and past your knees. Pull it up, up into your Root Chakra at the base of your spine. Let it fill your body, going up, up into your Sacral Chakra, and continuing to your Solar Plexus Chakra. Breathing in deeply, draw the energy up into your Heart Chakra. Let the energy flow down your arms and into your hands. Feel your body relax as the energy fills it.
Breathing in, draw the energy up into your Throat Chakra.
Concentrate on the blue-green energy filling your body. When you are ready, with another breath in, breathe the energy up into your Third Eye Chakra.
Using your breath, draw the energy up into your Crown Chakra. Feel the energy flow throughout your body.
With another breath in, pull the energy up and out of your head. The energy forms like branches toward the Sky above you. Continue and let the branches flow up to the universe and out into the cosmos.
Draw down the golden energy of the Sky and universe into you. Continue to let the Sky energy intermingle and mix with the Earth energy that is already there. Pull it down through your body and into your arms.
Continue breathing deeply, mixing and pulling the energies down to your Heart Chakra.
Breathe in again, pulling the energy of the universe down into your Solar Plexus Chakra.
Continue pulling in the energy. Let it flow into you. Pull it into your Root Chakra. Breathing deeply, pull it down your legs and down to your feet.
Feel the energy from both the Earth Mother and the Sky Father that is within you.
Now focus on pulling this mixed energy out from the top of your head once more. But this time let it cascade down all around you like a waterfall until it completely surrounds you.
With a deep breath in, take the energy and push it out in all directions into an egg shape around you. This is the Cosmic Egg of Protection.
Keep breathing and as you do so, push out more and more energy into your egg.
Your egg gets stronger and stronger.
And when you are satisfied with the strength of your egg stop and relax.
In a moment or two, slowly start to pull your branches back within you, pulling them in with each breath.
Let any extra energy dissipate through the roots that you had placed into the Earth from your feet, keeping the egg intact.
Now breathe the roots up, and back into your body just like the branches that were above you. Give yourself over to the total relaxation you now feel.
In a moment or two—and when you are ready—open your eyes.
[Please know that you can record the above meditation and then listen to it later. Or you could invite a friend to read above script and guide you through the meditation.]
You have now made the Cosmic Egg Shield. This shield will protect you from absorbing negative energy. It will repel any baneful energy thrown at you.
Just remember to reinforce your egg.
The Second Form of Shield—The Cosmic Egg as Mirror Shield
Create the Cosmic Egg first as you learned with the process above. This time though, imagine the outer skin of the Cosmic Egg to be a mirror. This mirror will repel the energy thrown at you by energy vampires. Instead of being able to feed on your energy, the energy vampires’ attempt will backfire, and the energy vampires will feed on themselves.
2. Realize: “I have to value your opinion before your judgments mean anything.”
We, witches, know that several groups set themselves up to think they are our opponents. You probably have noticed that they “don’t know what they’re talking about.” Really? Do they think all witches are the witch-character from The Wizard of Oz?
My friend, Cheryl, once told me of a situation in which her sister said a particularly mean comment. She could feel herself on the brink of spiraling down. Then, she told herself. “Stop. I don’t care what Trisha said. Because she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. And she doesn’t care. So, there’s nothing for me to say to her!”
That’s part of protecting yourself from an energy vampire. You choose your next thought. The first thought that bothers you can be replaced (at times).
Who says mean words to you? Perhaps, you want to tell yourself something like, “Stop. I don’tCARE what Joe said. Joe, you have no power.”
3. Ask Goddess to strengthen you to withstand the storms.
You can use a prayer like this:
Goddess, Give me your protection, From the vampires of life. Help me strengthen my healthy boundaries. So Mote It Be
GoddessHasYourBack.com 