“This is so disturbing. All the rich and powerful men who gang together to protect themselves when we see evidence of their sexual abuse of women,” my friend, Jessica, said.
“Yes. And I realize that this is a crucial moment in history,” I replied. Jessica and I continued with a significant conversation. From this conversation and others like it, I have thought a lot about what is going on.
Use Anger as a Stepping Stone for Positive Change
When I was a child, I felt like I did not matter. My brother was given preferential treatment. He tormented me, and my parents’ neglect gave me a clear message that he was worth more to my parents than I was. My brother even went so far as to hold me down underwater (at a neighbor’s pool), terrifying me because I needed air! His friends, all boys his age, did nothing, to help an eight-year-old little girl. They just watched me being assaulted.
With the #metoo movement and with a woman testifying Thursday about the sexual assault she endured, we, women, are now taking our place as worthwhile people who will not stand by while such abuse continues in our society.
Perhaps, like me, you were taught to just swallow your anger.
Now is the moment for a new approach.
Use anger as a stepping stone for positive change.
We, Wiccans, know that there are times when we must stand our ground and even actively defend ourselves. During one of my meditations, I used my astral-sword to defend myself.
Methods of Defense and More …
Here are some suggested actions you can take.
Meditate and keep yourself strong – Keeping your spirit whole and healthy is the foundation for everything.
Call Upon the Goddess – In meditation and prayer, ask the Goddess to strengthen you.
Volunteer in the community with an organization that helps women in need.
Find a quiet space, place your feet flat on the ground and breathe deeply.
Feel the tension and stress in your body. In a moment, you’ll use the following Tree of Life Meditation to release this tension.
The Tree of Life Meditation
(You can record your voice on your phone and play it back so you can concentrate on this meditation.)
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, in your mind’s eye, 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 that sprout 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 deep into Mother Earth’s body. Reach 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, 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 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 push out more and more energy into your egg.
Your egg gets stronger and stronger.
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 in, pulling 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.
On the astral plane, I breathed easily, talking with the God and Goddess. In the midst of my meditation, I knew that standing in the Stone Circle was safe.
Just as I took some steps to leave the Stone Circle, the God moved like a flash and barred my exit.
Then I heard a gut-wrenching fight between Jerry (my protective animal spirit) and some thing—outside the protective Circle.
Apparently, Jerry won. He came back to my side and guided me safely back to the earthly realm.
Soon, I opened my eyes. My meditation was complete.
The next day I talked to a friend, and she told me that “All religions have prophesies foretelling this.”
This what? The Veil between the earth and the astral plane is currently quite thin. Around the time of Samhain, The Veil usually does become thinner. However, at this moment, The Veil appears thinner still.
What can we do?
Put up extra wards and protections around your home and your life.
Employ Witch’s Bottles.
I begin with revamping my witches’ bottles. Learn to make you own Witch’s Bottle here.
Bless Salt or Stones for Protection
You can bless salt or stones (particularly hematite) and pour or place them around doors and windows. Wiccans pour blessed salt across thresholds, doors and windows. Wiccans place blessed stones next to such areas, too.
Here is a prayer to instill protection on your chosen substance (salt or stone):
By Sun and Moon, by stream and sea may protection come unto me. I ask the Lord of Death and the Lady of Reincarnation to take any negative or rough entity back to where they belong. May this salt [or stones] protect me and my home. So Mote It Be.
“So much doesn’t make sense now,” my friend, Jacob, said.
“I can guess some of what you’re referring to,” I replied. “Is there something specific that really bothers you?”
“I … I guess. I don’t know why things have to be so screwed up. I feel really bad,” he said.
This began an extended conversation that left me thinking deeply.
So much of what bothers us comes down to asking “Why?”
And then the big question: “Why am I here?”
I have often looked on the earth as a classroom.
So, then the question might take on a new tint, “What am I here to learn?”
The next thought is: “To find out what you must learn, think of… What triggers you? What makes you sad, scared or angry?”
Deep meditation holds the key to the mystery.
Triggers Meditation
Find a quiet somewhere you know you will not be disturbed. Turn off your phone and choose a place to sit comfortably. Keep your back straight.
The Meditation
[Consider recording the following words on your smartphone, and then you can play the recording back. In this way, you would be guided through the process by your own voice.]
First, close your eyes. Notice that the light begins to fade around you. Slowly at first, then it gets darker and darker. Until you are in total darkness, where you feel safe and secure.
(Pause)
Then, just as the darkness came, it leaves. The light returns, slowly at first. Gradually, it gets brighter and brighter. Notice you are in a new place—standing inside a great temple. In front, you find a large stone altar, and you step up to it.
On the altar’s right, you see a large cauldron. Within it, fire burns brightly. It is warm and soothing.
Turning back to the altar, you view three objects resting on the smooth surface. Each of these objects represents a trigger in you. They can represent any belief that keeps you sad, scared or angry.
Picking up the first object, you examine it closely. It is round and light.
(Pause)
You aim the object at the cauldron and continue to feel the warmth of the fire. Toss the object into the fire, and watch as it is consumed by the flames.
Smoke rises from the burning ball. You marvel as you see something in the smoke. Realize that this object in the smoke represents an unknown trigger inside you. Perhaps, it is the source of your sadness or fear—or anger.
(Pause)
Go to the altar. Pick up the second object. Examine it and notice it is round and light.
(Pause)
You aim the object at the cauldron and continue to feel the warmth of the fire. Toss the object into the fire, and watch as it is consumed by the flames.
Smoke rises from the burning ball. You marvel as you see something in the smoke. Realize that this object in the smoke represents an unknown trigger inside you. Perhaps, it is the source of your sadness or fear—or anger.
(Pause)
Turn to the final object on the altar. Pick up this last object and examine it, finding it to be round and light.
(Pause)
You aim the object at the cauldron and continue to feel the warmth of the fire. Toss the object into the fire, and watch as it is consumed by the flames.
Smoke rises from the burning ball. You marvel as you see something in the smoke. Realize that this object in the smoke represents an unknown trigger inside you. Perhaps, it is the source of your sadness or fear—or anger.
(Pause)
Step back from the cauldron. Notice something that you didn’t perceive before. Now resting on the left side of the altar, you find a small silver chest—about the size of a shoebox.
Feel something in your pocket. Pull out the object—the key of knowledge and truth. You find the place to insert the key into the chest. Upon using the key, you hear a quiet click, and the chest opens.
Inside, you see three new and different objects. Pick them up and then find a comfortable place to sit down. Realize that these objects represent three positive truths. These objects are the keys to learning how to grow beyond your old triggers.
(Pause)
Your time here is done. Place these new objects safely into your pocket.
Breathe deeply. One … Two … Three. Notice the light begins to fade around you. Slowly at first, it gets darker and darker. Until you are in total darkness, where you feel safe and secure.
(Pause)
Then, just as the darkness came, it leaves. The light returns, slowly at first. Gradually, it gets brighter and brighter. The light is back. Now open your eyes and see you are back from your meditation. You are safe, feeling refreshed.
May this meditation empower you to find your personal purpose.
“Sometimes, it feels like there’s so much going on and friendships can get hurt along the way. I mean—we all get stressed out,” my friend, Joyce, said. “I’m wondering if there is a magickal way to strengthen a friendship.”
I gave this a lot of thought, and here is a True Friends Spell.
What you will need:
One pink candle
Candle-holder
Rose Incense
Rose oil
Two rings
Ritual tools
Cast Circle in the usual manner.
Dress your candle by rubbing your oil from tip to base. Cleanse and consecrate your candle and rings. Place the pink candle on your altar in its holder. Place the rings by the candle. Take your friend’s hands and both of you say over the rings together:
I swear upon my soul,
Honesty, love, and kindness I shall show.
I State my true name (_each state your name_),
That I am a true friend to you through and through.
That I will be most honest with you,
As I so will, so mote it be!!
Each person places a ring on the other person’s hand other and says:
True friends, true as can be.
Together now so mote it be!
Do the Cakes and Wine Ceremony
Close your Circle
May this True Friends Spell strengthen your bond with your close friend.
I opened the large box that contained my holiday gift. Inside, I found a brewing kit. “Perfect!”
When I was in my mid-20s, I brewed mead. However, I lost my equipment in the move from my childhood home.
It had been a long time since I brewed anything, so I needed a refresher. So, I purchased a book about mead-brewing.
I eagerly read the book—and that takes some doing since I’m dyslexic. Learning about Vikings and how they brewed mead had my attention.
Today, I am once again excited to try my hand at brewing mead. However, this time I am trying an open-air brewing technique I found in the book. It’s brewing done old school—like our ancestors did long ago. Along this line, Wiccans like brewing mead.
Instead of using commercial yeast, I will be harvesting wild yeast. This is something our ancestors did at the beginning of their brewing exploits.
So, I gathered up all the equipment and ingredients that I needed, including a rod to mix my brew. I would dedicate my mead-brewing efforts to the God and Goddess. I wanted to make the mixing rod a sacred tool. Therefore, I wrote a blessing to imbue my new mixing rod with the powers of the God and Goddess.
Mixing Rod Blessing
Blessed Be this Sacred Rod May it Bestow with Healing Energies of the Gods Let my Rod mix my brew With Health, Wealth, Peace, and Joy anew All who taste the brew mixed with this Rod May Find Everlasting Blessedness from the Gods As I will, So Mote It Be
In the next days, I’ll see how my renewed interest in mead-brewing goes.
Are you considering adding something new to your daily activities?
Scrraaapp! A brunch of scratch marks manifested on the side of my car.
Oooh! I got so mad I could spit.
Maybe you can relate to this. An accident. The problem was there were only two elements involved: one human (me) and one pole (it was a SHORT pole—one that was hard to see).
This pole collision happened a couple of hours earlier today.
How did I fall into this mess?
It was a confluence of a number of things. I had two friends visiting from out of town. Feeling sleep deprived, I still made it to have lunch with them. Add the hot weather and the sun beating down on my fair skin, and I probably approached heatstroke.
Tired, thirsty and hot, I finally arrived at my car when the visit came to a close. Pulling out of the parking space and feeling really uncomfortable, I was confused as to how to exit the parking structure.
In my defense … I dutifully followed the arrows on the ground near the exit. But the turn was way to tight and I scraped that damn short pole.
I was so angry at myself. On my way home all I could think of was “You f**king idiot!” I ruminated on how I should have been more careful.
Do you beat yourself up about your own mistakes?
At least back at home, I drank a lot of water. Time to get to the autobody shop. I ruminated again. This time I thought: “It’s Friday. They may have already closed for the weekend.” I called the shop; they would give me an estimate.
I got to the shop. They fit me in. The tech guy said, “I’ll be right back.” When he returned, he had two squeeze bottles and a rag. He wiped some liquid on the effected area and slowly the scuff started to come off. I was so thrilled to see that!
Soon all the yellow paint was off, and I gave him my vial of blue touch-up paint. A moment later, the car looked fine. And the best part? It cost me nothing.
I said, “Thank you. I’m so grateful. That’s why we keep having our cars worked on here.”
The tech guy smiled.
After this, I had some thoughts. What was I supposed to learn here?
What I learned is: I didn’t have a buffer. If I had more sleep and had done meditation this week, I could have had more patience for the situation and myself.
When I talk with Wiccans, sometimes, we say, “I know what I should do. I just don’t get around to doing meditation or ritual.”
So, I just stopped writing this post, and I did a candle ritual—thanking the God and Goddess for the good outcome to the pole collision incident.
What can you do to deepen your Wiccan practice?
Remember, a bad surprise can happen at any time.
We, Wiccans, need to create a buffer in our lives. We need to back off and not burden ourselves too much. We need to preserve our personal energy.
“Can I make a big mistake in Casting a Circle?” my friend, Veronica, asked.
“It is important to focus on three vital details,” I replied.
When you Cast a Circle you want to:
Keep Things Out—They Steal Your Energy
Keep Energy In
Dismiss the Elementals—or They Cause Havoc
Keep Things Out—They Steal Your Energy
If you don’t Cast Your Circle properly, nearby entities can steal valuable energy you have raised. It gets worse: Such entities can cause your spell or ritual to fall flat.
Let’s say you do a Prosperity Spell. But such entities leached your valuable energy. Then, your Prosperity Spell will collapse, due to no power behind it.
Keep Energy In
A properly cast Circle keeps your energy all in one place. When you raise energy, you want it to build—not dissipate into the surrounding landscape. Your Circle helps you magnify such energy.
Dismiss the Elementals—or They Cause Havoc
Elementals can cause havoc on your life if not dismissed. I have heard of problems ranging from electrical issues, plumbing problems to scary incidences of fires breaking out in one’s home.
Warning: ALWAYS dismiss an entity once it has completed its function.
Recently a reader asked me: What does the Wiccan Rede “An ye harm none, do what ye will” mean to you? Is it a law, or is it advice?
If you look at the word “rede” it means to give advice to; counsel.
When I look at the Wiccan Rede, An ye harm none, do what ye will, I view it as sage counsel that is given to us.
Advice fits certain situations. Still, other situations call for using a different approach.
How about self-defense? If you do no harm, like block the attack and cause the opponent’s arm to sting, you would be allowing more harm to come upon you.
So, I don’t view the Wiccan Rede as a law, in part because one cannot live up to it. It is impossible to harm none. We eat, we use chemicals to kill germs as we clean our homes, and we brush our teeth. In all of those activities, something’s going to die.
The Wiccan Rede can serve as advice to live a good life, to be kind and loving whenever we can. I have found that the universe will return the same positive energy—perhaps, in another form.
I had another thought. A number of Wiccans suggest that a principle of the universe is grow or die. If we live by the Wiccan Rede as advice, we have the appropriate freedom to grow. As I view material about the #metoo movement, I notice a number of things. It’s reported that the #metoo movement began and continues (as their website states): “The me too. movement has built a community of survivors from all walks of life. By bringing vital conversations about sexual violence into the mainstream, we’re helping to de-stigmatize survivors by highlighting the breadth and impact sexual violence has on thousands of women, and we’re helping those who need it to find entry points to healing.”
The #metoo website continues: “Our goal is also to reframe and expand the global conversation around sexual violence to speak to the needs of a broader spectrum of survivors. Young people, queer, trans, and disabled folks, Black women and girls, and all communities of color. We want perpetrators to be held accountable and we want strategies implemented to sustain long term, systemic change.”
In a conversation with a number of learned friends, we talked about how any social change has associated pain. Social change does not land in “an it harm none.” People who speak out may lose jobs or worse. One of my friends said, “People, that is, individuals make a decision that the social change is worth the adjustment period.”
As I thought more about this, I found this to be valuable: Strive to do as little harm as you can. Be helpful and be kind when possible to all humans, plants, or entities alike.
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