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Fortifying Your Boundaries (a Witch’s Perspective)

/ Moonwater / 1 Comment

“I’ve reached the end of my rope,” my friend, Rhonda, said. “I can’t bend anymore. I can’t take any more.”

I nodded.

I saw it in Rhonda’s eyes.
She knew that I understood.

That’s because she knew my story.
During my first marriage, I told my husband that we needed to have food in the house. But he didn’t care. He took care of himself by buying fast food. And overspending on his own video games.

That, plus more details, inspired me to go for a real boundary of “I’m not going to live like this.” I filed for divorce. One of my best decisions.

I have insights for you.

1. State your boundary. Make it brief. Say, “I need this.”

    During my first marriage, I would try to “make my case.”
    He did not listen. He did not care.
    Instead, I’ve learned to say, “I need this walkway clear.”

    That’s the full thought.

    I don’t need to plead and have to justify what I need.

    I have worth as a human being. The Gods placed divinity within me. And within you.

    “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

    2. Realize that your boundary mirrors boundaries in nature.

    “We cannot and must not give love to others before we have respect and love for ourselves.” – Scott Cunningham

    Realize that the Goddess wants your well-being.

    I remember that the bark of a Redwood Tree is highly fire-resistant.

    The bark protects the tree’s core. Redwoods can survive all but the most extreme fires.

    Again, we, witches, learn from nature.

    Maintain a good and strong boundary.

    You, like the glorious Redwood Tree, are loved and valued by the God and Goddess.

    Here is a prayer you can use.

    Gods,
    Surround me with your protection,
    Like the mother bear who protects her young,
    Or the lion who protects his pride.
    Here me now, and surround me with
    your protection on this Day/Night!
    So Mote It Be!

    May these insights support you on your path.

    Blessed Be,
    Moonwater

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    See What the Goddess Reveals (A Witch’s Perspective)

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    “I feel so vulnerable,” Sheri, a friend, said.
    I nodded. I deeply related to this.
    I reflected on this later.

    What if we could align ourselves with Goddess? What if we could know Her power?
    And, we can!

    Goddess and the God placed divinity within us.
    That is our essential identity. Yes, our essence.

    Here is something that stands out: the Goddess’s Principles.
    Here is a definition of principle:

    A principle is a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning. – Oxford Languages

    We can find some of Goddess’s principles as she speaks in the writing of Doreen Valiente:

    “Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let naught stop you or turn you aside.  … Let My worship be within the heart that rejoices, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals.  And therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.” – The Goddess speaking in The Charge of the Goddess, written by Doreen Valiente

    Here is a prayer to support you in your own identity.

    My Gracious Goddess,
    Show me my own beauty and strength,
    My own power and compassion,
    Let me strive for honor and humility, mirth and reverence in all I do.
    Let me see myself in You, and You in myself.
    So Mote It Be.

    May these insights support your path.

    Blessed Be,
    Moonwater

    Enroll in my Online Course Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magick At Udemy.com

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    Missing Closeness in Relationships – See What Goddess Points To … (A Witch’s Perspective)

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    “I don’t think she cares anymore,” my friend, Bert, said of his wife.

    I reflected on this.

    Bert, like many men, places all the burden of emotional support on his wife.

    It’s heavy!

    A comedian noted that when a wife dies, the man falls apart.

    However, when the man dies, the widow carries on with grace because she has a group of women to support her.

    I thought about this. The Goddess directs our attention to nature.

    I have two insights for you.

    1. In an ecosystem, each being plays a role.

    I like sharks. Now, do I want to swim with them? – No!

    There was a book called How to Swim with the Sharks…

    No thanks. I’ll swim in a swimming pool.

    But sharks, the coral reef, lionfish, sea turtles, and sea anemones all play a role.

    So, if you want more closeness in a relationship, make sure you have an ecosystem – that is, a community.

    Then, you can relieve the relationship of some emotional burden.

    You can come back together refreshed and open to your special bond.

    2. The Goddess revels in Her Three Phases.

    The God respects the Goddess. And She respects Herself.

    We, witches, find grace and peace when we flow through our phases.

    I think about my teen years. My face had no creases.

    But I’ll celebrate my wisdom right now.

    How about you?

    Are you finding your personal value in the phase of life you’re in now?

    May these insights support your path.

    Blessed Be,
    Moonwater

    Enroll in my Online Course Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magick At Udemy.com

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    3 Signs You Are on the Right Path (A Witch’s Perspective)

    / Moonwater / 2 Comments

    At fourteen years old, I met the God and Goddess. It was a big surprise. Especially because I was on a retreat for a “conventional religious path.” The retreat leaders sent the attendees into the forest to have quiet time alone. (Well! They would have been surprised to hear about MY experience.)

    I didn’t see the God and Goddess. I felt Their Prescence. The big difference was that my depression symptoms quieted down. Peace flowed over me.

    Every day, my depression symptoms were like a rake clawing my arm. (But worse.)

    Then, when the God and Goddess appeared … it was like I let out a big, cleansing sigh.

    I have three insights for you.

    Here are signs that you’re on the right path …

    1. The Gods introduce themselves to you.

      In my experience and that of others I know, the Gods appear in the time of silence. Some people get “auditory Guidance.”

      My friend, Tiana, gets an “intuitive zing” up her back.

      From experience, she knows that the Gods are supporting her and guiding her.

      2. You see signs of affirmation.

      Imagine you actually see signs that you’re on the right path.

      You may see certain animals that represent the God and the Goddess. Perhaps, you’ll see a mature buck, raven, owl, white heron, or hawk. These animals are good signs that the Gods are guiding you.

      3. You have a knowing or intuitive sense of what to do.

      Sometimes, the Gods lead you through your intuition.

      The first time I encountered a book about Wicca in a bookstore (I miss you Borders!) … I felt like I was coming home.

      You may observe nature and feel a direct connection to something going on in your mundane life.

      Have you suddenly felt relief? – like a weight lifted from your shoulder?

      Or has your chest felt warm and full?

      It can be different for each individual.

      What we do observe is that one often needs to “go quiet” and “make space” for the knowing to appear.

      Learning the Craft is a path.

      Do you feel at home on this path?

      May these insights support your journey.

      Blessed Be,
      Moonwater

      Enroll in my Online Course Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magick At Udemy.com

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      Open the Door to the Goddess’s Embrace (a Witch’s Perspective)

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      My parents dragged me—as a little girl—to Sunday church service. Often, the church leader would talk about how wretched the people in the chairs were. They had to be wrecks so they would need to be “saved.”

      I could feel my head shaking. Even at eight years old, I knew this was not my group. This was not where I belonged.

      Over the years, I’ve learned that a primary way to feel the divinity the Gods placed in you is to go to the place of “letting go.”

      — to let go of limiting beliefs

      — to let go of needing approval

      — to let go of needing to fit in with the “in-crowd”

      — to let go of the narrative that one is born innately inadequate.

      Instead, I learned to shift to a space of wholeness.

      When I communicate with the Goddess, I feel on two levels. My awareness opens. And, I feel embraced. Yes, I feel this hug on the physical level.

      Would you like to make a daily time, perhaps when you awaken, or before you sleep, so you can open the door to the Goddess’s embrace?

      May these insights support your path.

      Blessed Be,
      Moonwater

      Enroll in my Online Course Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magick At Udemy.com

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      How Witches Change Their Awareness

      / Moonwater / 2 Comments

      My cat shares my Diet Coke … well, he licks the condensation off the bottle.

      But I can tell he likes being part of what I’m doing.

      I get him toys, but it’s the Diet Coke bottle that he likes!

      I reflected on this.

      I have a particular insight for you.

      Be open to little things. And, your awareness changes your experience of the next day.

      Recently, my friend, Irma, faced a lot of pain. She wrenched her back. She had an earache, sore throat, no energy, and chronic pain in her shoulder.

      Instead of only focusing on pain, Irma chose to rest up and then find moments to talk with friends on the phone.

      These moments lifted her spirit.

      Here is a prayer you can use.

      Goddess,
      Open my eyes to the precious little things in life.
      Shift my next moments to joy and peace.
      So Mote It Be.

      May these insights support your path.

      Blessed Be,
      Moonwater

      Enroll in my Online Course Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magick At Udemy.com

       Enroll in my Online Course At Udemy.com

      Spiritual Solution for Depression Relief is also an online course on Udemy.com

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      Check out my site MoonwaterSilverClaw.com  for spells and more.

      New Year – Beginnings, Endings, Transitions – A Witch’s Perspective

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      Art by Moonwater SilverClaw
      Art by Moonwater SilverClaw

      “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.

        May these insights support your path.

        Blessed Be,
        Moonwater

        Enroll in my Online Course Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magick At Udemy.com

         Enroll in my Online Course At Udemy.com

        Spiritual Solution for Depression Relief is also an online course on Udemy.com

        Looking for gifts?

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        See my designs at Redbubble. 

        For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

        Visit Moonwater’s Author’s Page for all her books here.

        Check out my Podcast.

        Check out my site MoonwaterSilverClaw.com  for spells and more.

        A Brave New Year – The Tarot and Escaping the Comparison Trap – A Witch’s Perspective

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        A New Year. Thank Goddess! 2024—good riddance. Tough year.
        Parents with troubles at the senior facility. (It’s called facility-for-profit!)
        My husband’s parents had trouble. Oh, and his mother died. And he got physically attacked at work. Crap year. Bye, 2024.

        Hellooooo 2025.
        Have you tried New Year’s Resolutions?
        No fun? Me, too.

        Here are three insights.

        1. Envision Your Personal Unique Path for 2025.

          “Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.” – The Goddess in The Charge of the Goddess, written by Doreen Valiente

          Some of the word pairs in the quote seem to be “opposites.”
          Power without compassion can be evil.
          Humor (mirth) and reverence—good stuff.

          Here’s the problem.
          Humans seem to be Comparison-making Machines.
          We look around to gauge… Am I okay?
          Why does that other person get the promotion? (Or to even keep the job?)

          Politicians love to say, “Are you doing better now?”
          Compared to what?

          Here’s the good news. The God and Goddess put divinity into you.
          You are gifted with a personal unique path.

          Let’s escape the Comparison Trap.

          Let’s begin with your heart. That’s what counts. (Not what other people are doing in their own lives. Yes, letting go of comparison.)

          What does your heart want for 2025?

          2. Arrange your daily life to nurture both the mundane AND the spiritual.

          “Live your earthly life fully, but try to see the spiritual aspects of your activities as well.” – Scott Cunningham

          How are things going for you?
          Are you doing well enough on the mundane level?

          There’s an old phrase: “Treat yourself as a good animal.” What’s that? Eat, sleep, and move so that your body is well-supported.

          And … treat your spirit well, too.

          How? Ritual, meditation, time in nature…

          This is part of a process to reconnect with your spiritual essence and the God and Goddess.

          People are driven to eat for survival on the mundane level.

          However, we need to choose to devote time and effort to experience existence on the spiritual level.

          Are you going to be sure to devote time to ritual, meditation, and more – in this New Year 2025?

          3. Ask the Goddess to Guide Your Tarot Process of the “New Year’s 6 Card Spread.”

          Recently, I did a “New Year’s 6 Card Spread” for myself.

          Here are the elements of the Spread:

          1st card: Theme of the New Year 2025

          2nd card: Where you are starting from

          3rd card: Your path forward to prosperity

          4th card: What you need to learn

          5th card: Trials along the way

          6th card: Things to consider during your journey

          Important Facets of the Tarot Process:

          1. It is truly helpful to ground and center. You get in line with yourself before you start the Tarot Process.
          2. Realize that your spread is a “picture” of one moment in time. Just by studying your spread, you are likely moving the pieces of your future. If you see a “warning,” then you can modify your behavior. (This is a reason that doing multiple spreads over time can be helpful. My spiritual elders advise avoiding doing a daily spread on the same question. It can be excessive.)
          3. Realize that an inverted card does not always mean “awful.” It can mean a new angle to the topic.

          What is your vision for the New Year 2025?

          May these insights support your journey.

          Blessed Be,
          Moonwater

          Enroll in my Online Course Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magick At Udemy.com

           Enroll in my Online Course At Udemy.com

          Spiritual Solution for Depression Relief is also an online course on Udemy.com

          Looking for gifts?

          PentagramWheel2

          See my designs at Redbubble. 

          For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

          Visit Moonwater’s Author’s Page for all her books here.

          Check out my Podcast.

          Check out my site MoonwaterSilverClaw.com  for spells and more.

          How to Lift Your Life from “Ruined” – a Witch’s Perspective

          / Moonwater / Leave a comment

          Divorce. I didn’t want it. My hopes were crushed. More than that, my soul was crushed under my then-husband’s constant berating.

          Sometimes, it feels like life “comes for us.” Divorce. Death of a loved one. Job loss. Loss of a close friend.

          What do you do when you feel your life has been ruined by some tough life event?

          I have three insights for you.

          1. Face the trouble; gather support.

          I had been married for seven years. I had no idea what would be next. Would my parents take me back? Because I had nowhere to go, even for a brief time?

          I was also losing my identity. I had wanted to be a life mate. Someone who loved and was loved.

          Now, this was all gone.

          But things were worse. I had no support. I was buried in depression symptoms. I had no energy. I could not even think of getting help. Also, I did not see any older people who demonstrated compassion or wisdom (Later, I would have spiritual elders.)

          If I could go back and give counsel to my younger self, I would say, “Gather support.” Seek the help of mental health professionals. Seek appropriate spiritual elders. Develop your own self-renewing activities like meditation, exercise (like walking in nature), good nutrition, and sleep.

          About “face the trouble”… I did not deny the pain, suffering, and trouble. I did not put a pretty bow on the trouble and call it “a challenge.” No. It was a painful trauma. I needed to grow, stretch, and endure.

          How?

          Gather support.

          In my circle, people I know step forward and make changes.

          • One friend had to try four chiropractors before finding one who was a match.
          • Another friend had to see four doctors before hearing about sinus rinse. The other doctors pushed antibiotics. This friend, with a daily sinus rinse, has avoided sinus infections for 15 years.
          • Another friend “fired” her psychotherapist. Then, she was truly happy with the next therapist she met and worked with.

          So, gathering support may require multiple steps.

          What can you do to gather support to help you endure a terrible transition?

          2. Realize that you’re losing an identity. And build your new identity.

          Sometimes we lose an identity and friends. If you step away from drinking alcohol, you may lose your “boozer friends.”

          They may resist you changing your lifestyle for a healthier one.

          Some friends that aren’t helping you may drift away. Not always quietly.

          They may get angry, or even accusatory. They might even try to sabotage you or make you feel you’re not “cool” or “fun,” anymore. Or say things like, “You can just (____) one more time, right?”

          Is some old friend sabotaging your new life?

          Sometimes, you just need to get the support you really need, that is, from the Gods.

          3. Ask the Gods for support.

          What can look like ruin to us, may be a step to the Gods.

          You can use this prayer to help you.

          Goddess,
          Help me nurture my inner worth with Your love.
          God,
          Give me Your strength to resist temptations that may ruin my path.
          Gods, guide me and soothe my doubts.
          So Mote It Be.

          May these insights support your journey.

          Blessed Be,
          Moonwater

          Enroll in my Online Course Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magick At Udemy.com

           Enroll in my Online Course At Udemy.com

          Spiritual Solution for Depression Relief is also an online course on Udemy.com

          Looking for gifts?

          PentagramWheel2

          See my designs at Redbubble. 

          For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

          Visit Moonwater’s Author’s Page for all her books here.

          Check out my Podcast.

          Check out my site MoonwaterSilverClaw.com  for spells and more.

          How You Can Ease Up on Beating Yourself Up (A Witch’s Perspective)

          / Moonwater / 2 Comments
          Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

          As I settle to sleep, I suddenly remember messing up when talking to a friend.
          “Damn!” I grumble.
          “You okay?” my husband asks.

          “I’m all right. Just thinking about something I messed up.”

          “You want to talk about it?”
          “Not now,” I say.

          Do you emotionally beat yourself up?
          I have three insights for you.

          1. Find healthy comfort.

            A hug from my husband can help. Or a bite of a chocolate chunky chip cookie. (Okay, I must avoid going to extreme on the cookies!)

            Comfort is not a cop-out.

            Comfort is a necessary part of life.

            Who or what provides you with some comfort?

            2. Get outside in the breeze and more.

            As a witch, you know your kinship with nature.
            Don’t hesitate. Get that 15-minute walk next to trees. Feel the breeze. See the sky.
            Connect with nature.
            Get out of the box (office).

            How can you experience your connection with nature?

            3. Make prayer your ladder upwards.

            In the mundane world, we humans have limitations.
            Call for reinforcements!

            Here is a prayer you can use.

            Gods, shift my mind from self-blaming,
            Keep me growing with kindness and self-love.
            Lift me up to Your light.
            So Mote It Be.

            May these insights support your path.

            Blessed Be,
            Moonwater

            Enroll in my Online Course Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magick At Udemy.com

             Enroll in my Online Course At Udemy.com

            Spiritual Solution for Depression Relief is also an online course on Udemy.com

            Looking for gifts?

            PentagramWheel2

            See my designs at Redbubble. 

            For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

            Visit Moonwater’s Author’s Page for all her books here.

            Check out my Podcast.

            Check out my site MoonwaterSilverClaw.com  for spells and more.