I couldn’t breathe. I swallowed swimming pool water. My 10-year-old brother kept his feet on top of me. I was 6 years old and terrified.
What could a 10-year-old boy feel that he wanted to terrorize his little sister?
Recently, I realized that the people I grew up around used judgments like knives to cut me. You get cut enough, and you bleed out. Also, you get cut enough—you internalize those shards of glass made of judgments against yourself.
Some people talk about a committee of voices in your head. Many of the voices hate you. What happens? Much of that can turn into self-hatred.
I have three insights for you.
1. Survive when you compartmentalize.
Sometimes, to function, I need to put certain thoughts off to the side. For example, I’ll recall something I said that embarrassed me. If I allow this one negative thought to overrun my life, I won’t get to the facility where my parents live. And I won’t get my mom to her doctor appointment on time.
I will not let that happen. I do what I must.
Do you find yourself doing that, too? Do you compartmentalize sometimes?
Compartmentalizing is only a temporary tactic. I find that I must talk through what bothers me with someone I trust. … when appropriate.
2. Proclaim: “I interrupt this broadcast” and stamp your foot.
Recently, a friend told me about a method that works for several people. When you think of a disempowering thought, you stamp your foot and say, “I interrupt this broadcast.” You are interrupting the thought that showed up in your brain.
You do a physical action to disrupt the trance of negative thinking. Dealing with my depression symptoms, I realize that using a positive disruptive pattern helps me shift my focus.
Here is an example. I think, “Damn. I shouldn’t have said, ‘I can’t do that.’” Then I say, “I interrupt this broadcast.” I stamp my foot on the ground. (This shifts my focus.)
Do you need to shift your focus from habitual negative thinking?
3. Ask the Goddess to help you shift your focus.
Here is a prayer you can use.
Goddess, Help me shift my focus From helpless to helpful, From self-anger to self-love. From fearful to fearless! So Mote It Be.
“When have you felt happy?” “I don’t like that question,” I thought. Why do I have a problem with that question? Let’s pause. Do you clearly know what makes you happy? Are you getting it? Have you settled? Or given up? Maybe, you’re similar to me. You just feel tired. My cat just leaped into my lap. I’m hugging him. Okay, I’m feeling happy. But that’s not the whole story. For one thing, he just shoved his tail into my face. I sneeze.
I have three insights for you.
1. Shift from What can I get? to Why am I here?
“What can I get?” is often connected to survival mode. Have you noticed that kids sense the competition that’s going on?
You have to push to get what you want. It can feel exhausting.
In 2012, I received from the God and Goddess the directive “start a blog.” What? With my dyslexia? I started the blog anyway. I get a lot of help. But at the beginning, I did not know how things would go. Recently, I’m thinking about “Why am I here?” My thoughts include: “I’m here to support others in their learning and their individual path.” Some of my favorite moments with my blog posts and podcast episodes include:
I appreciate hearing from readers.
I like discovering new topics and ways to synergize ideas and learnings.
I like editing my podcast episodes. I like the moments when an interesting assembly happens. For example, I’ll assemble the first part of one sentence and then use part of my second take to make things sound right.
When I’m doing my blog posts and podcast episodes, I feel connected to “Why am I here?” How about you? When do you feel on purpose? This is part of your Soulful Need.
2. Sometimes, your Soulful Need is connected to release from something that shackles you.
At times, fear shackles me. I find that I feel free of fear when I am doing my blog and podcast work, and I have a team member supporting me. So, my experience of freedom from fear is connected to “taking action while receiving support.” That’s a true revelation for me.
What do you need a release from?
Old ideas? Thoughts of limitation? An old identity? (For example, family members can try to hold someone as cemented to an old role of “the shy one.” … The truth is: You can be shy and still be an actor. I know someone like that.)
3. Have you given up a “positive expectation”?
I went to college because I wanted to be an animator using a computer. You know, someone who works at Pixar. I am working with someone now so I can do some animated characters. (Groundwork is happening for that.)
I have not given up on the possibilities of animating material. Have you become so tired that you have given up on having any “positive expectations”? Your Soulful Need can arise as you answer questions like:
What would feel delightful?
What might cause me to stretch and grow?
What could be a positive possibility for me?
Your Soulful Need is connected to the divinity the God and Goddess placed within you.
Here is a prayer you can use:
God and Goddess, Lead me to delightful discoveries. Help me fulfill my Soulful Need with ease. Show me the way to untold possibilities. So Mote It Be.
Moonwater reveals the secrets of how witches discover what their life is for. She uncovers ways witches can use times of confusion or feeling broken. Witches can use such times as important steps for living a fulfilling and authentic life.
Do you feel broken? Moonwater feels deeply the pain of labeling oneself as broken. She deals with depression symptoms—for decades. She reveals how you can transform your experience of “being broken” and discover renewal on a fresh spiritual path.
Moonwater shares personal experiences and how witches can handle physical and emotional pain. She provides actionable insights and a new prayer to the Goddess to help you stay strong.
Moonwater Silverclaw details a unique approach to overcoming fear from a witch’s perspective.
She shares a story of how Alice, a management coach, was challenged by fear due to a single bitter experience. She generalized her trauma and avoided coaching any more CEOs.
However, she later identified her trauma and understood the importance of not focusing on the wrong detail, thus saving herself from crippling generalizations.
Moonwater includes a powerful prayer to the Goddess to help us move forward.
GoddessHasYourBack.com 