The Triple Goddess symbol of the waxing, full, and waning moon over dark background. (Photo of the moon: NASA)
“I’m exhausted,” my friend, Amy, said. “Your Sjögren’s syndrome is a lot to bear,” I said.
Part of caring for my friends is to listen well. I ask questions, and they discover details for themselves.
I asked, “Would you be okay with exploring two ideas?” I waited. Maybe she was too tired at this moment on the phone.
“It’s okay,” she said.
“What does the fearful part of you say?” I asked.
“That I’m done. My life is going to stay in this box of illness. That I’m going to have this level of pain until I leave this planet.”
We talked some more.
A few minutes later, I asked, “What would Goddess say?”
This stumped her.
She paused.
I waited.
Eventually, she said that Goddess would encourage her. Goddess, would say, “Be compassionate with yourself. Because you are My child. Pain has different colors and textures. You’ll have times when you won’t think about the pain.”
Later, I reflected on this.
Often, I return to the words of the Goddess, in The Charge of the Goddess, as written by 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
“I apologize for my tone,” my friend, Ian, told the nurse practitioner during his phone call. He called because for four days he was having pain in the back of his head. He was unsteady when he stood up. “I’m scared. I have so much hope. I have people who love me, and I love them,” Ian continued.
Are you dealing with health difficulties?
I have three insights for you.
1. Acknowledge the fear.
Ian is afraid to lose his life just when good things are going on. Do you connect with this? We notice that it is important to acknowledge one’s true experience. Fear is often connected with the dread of losing something. Losing time with loved ones can feel devastating. It is valuable to have someone to talk to. Perhaps, you can turn to spiritual elders, a certain friend, or a therapist.
Who can you talk to?
2. Acknowledge how moment-to-moment you experience “shifts” in the day.
Ian pauses. He takes a deep breath. He notices that his dizziness does not stay the same throughout the whole day. He also notices that the body’s symptoms are signals. Many authors emphasize that “the body is a communication device.”
What is your body saying to you? Is it saying: “Slow down”? Or “take care”? Or “get more sleep”?
You may need to see a physician, therapist, or psychiatrist.
3. Invite the Gods to comfort you in your time of need.
When I feel like cr@p or don’t know what to do, I talk to the Gods. I pray or ask, “What do I need to learn about this?”
Here is a prayer you can use.
Honorable Lord and Gracious Lady, Give me comfort in my time of need. Hold me close. Guide me to good choices in this and all situations. Open my eyes to see wisdom and truth. Let me learn from this moment in my life. So Mote It Be.
Ever get sick? Not just a cold. I mean, have you been really sick?
When I’m in such a tough time, I make space to get more rest (during which I ask for the Gods’ healing). Then there’s chicken soup—lots of it.
When I’m really physically ill, I ask for my coven’s help.
A Spell of Healing
What you will need:
One Blue Candle
Healing oil (or extra virgin olive oil)
Candle Holder
Three Stones (your choice) – Moss Agate, Axinite, Beryllonite, Crocoite, Red Jade
Your Ritual Tools
Chamomile Tea
The Sick Person
Chicken Noodle Soup (or other appropriate soup)
Warm freshly laundered blanket to be blessed
Rattle
On your altar, place the Blue Candle. Add healing stones around the candle in the form of a triangle. Put the warmed-up soup on the altar next to the candle on the left. Place the blanket on the right with the rattle on top of it and the Chamomile Tea behind the Blue Candle.
In your Circle the altar will be in the north section. The sick person sits in the middle of the Circle.
Cast your Circle.
Bless the rattle, stones, tea, Blue Candle, soup and blanket by holding each in turn saying:
I do bless this (name of item) that it may heal by the Gods’ hands.
Dress your candle with the healing oil, rubbing from wick to base.
And say:
I pull healing energy to (Name of Person).
Light the Blue Candle and say:
I now heal (Name of Person).
Shake the rattle above the sick person’s head while they take a sip of the soup. Next, with the soup, you walk widdershins (the opposite of clockwise) around the cast Circle’s edge.
At each quarter, say:
West: With this soup, I banish all illness from the blood
South: With this soup, I banish all illness from the spirit
East: With this soup, I banish all illness from the breath
North: With this soup, I banish all illness from this body! So, Mote It Be!
Bring the soup to the sick person. Have them partake of the soup again. Shake the rattle over the sick person’s head, as the person eats the soup, and say:
I cleanse you of all illness.
Go to the alar and pick up the cup of tea.
Have the sick person take a sip of the tea. With the tea, you walk widdershins (the opposite of clockwise) around the cast Circle’s edge.
At each quarter starting with the West, say:
West: With this tea, I banish all illness from the blood
South: With this tea, I banish all illness from the spirit
East: With this tea, I banish all illness from the breath
North: With this tea, I banish all illness from this body! So, Mote It Be!
Bring the tea to the sick person. Have them partake of the tea again. Shake the rattle, as the person drinks the tea, and say:
I cleanse you of all illness.
At the altar, hold your athame over the blanket and say:
I call all healing energies to infuse this blanket.
Let it heal the body as well as the soul.
Wrap the blanket around the sick person saying:
You are healed with the Gods’ love.
Do the Cakes and Wine Ceremony.
Close your Circle.
Give the person space to rest and recover.
May this rite bring healing to you or someone dear to you.
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