Pagans Overcoming Fear

March 4, 2016 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

anitHarmNone

“Sometimes, it just gets to be too much to bear, you know?” Merla said. At PantheaCon, we were taking a break. She told me about how she still had to hide her pentagram necklace at family gatherings. Her family held to a strict Christian point of view. If they knew her Pagan faith, she’d be denounced and disowned.

“I could put up with losing some family members. Hell, if my father never talked to me again, that would be a relief. But losing my baby sister. That would hurt. Really bad.”

I listened closely. I kept quiet mostly so that Merla could talk herself out. Merla feared losing all contact with her sister. I could relate to fear.

Have you noticed how fear can keep us stuck?

Will Merla ever come out to her family? Is her relationship with her sister strong enough so she could come out just to her sister?

These are tough questions. Maybe not coming out to her family is the right decision for Merla. I don’t know.

I do know that if you run your whole life by fear, it can really screw you up.

In my own journey, moving through fear has been truly important. Recently, I gave a speech. Here is the text of that speech:

* * * * * *

“Have you ever been so scared that fear stopped you cold?

I have!

At 15 years old, I wanted to be a writer, but I had dyslexia.

Writing scared me.

Why? Because I never had regular English classes. I was in the Special Ed group. I never learned how to break down a sentence. Or to write a “proper paragraph.”

Writing scared me. So I shut down for over 20 years and didn’t do my dream.

I have 3 Big Ideas to share with you tonight.

The first one is: “You don’t have to believe. You just have to act.”

Let me share how this worked in my life. I have a friend who knew an Acquisitions Editor at a top publishing company. I knew the books that came from this publisher. I really wanted to write for this publisher.

This is the dream for a wannabe writer like me. The one big opportunity. So I went to their website to find out what I needed to submit to the publisher. Under the tab “submissions” it said that I had to submit a complete manuscript of the book.

Write a whole book?! Are you crazy? I can’t even write a paragraph.

But then I had an idea. “Just one step.” Did I believe I could write a book. No. What could I do? One step. Write a paragraph. Another step. Write a second paragraph. Then, write a short blog post. One more step. Write a second blog post for the second week of the blog.

One year later. 52 blog posts done. Now, I had most of the material for a book.

What did I learn? “JUST ONE STEP.” Just one step at a time is all I needed.

You don’t have to believe; you just have to act.

Here’s my 2nd Big Idea for you tonight.

I have dyslexia. Can I polish my writing on my own?

No.

So I came up with this idea–my 3rd idea for you tonight: The Power of Me Expands to the Power of We.

In my case, “We” means that I write the first draft. It’s all my ideas, my content—what comes from my heart.

Then I bring in my editor. Then I had other team members like a fact checker and a proofreader. So let’s go over those Big Ideas:

1) JUST ONE STEP and
2) The Power of ME expands to the Power of WE.

Now, I invite you to think of something you want. Something you want to try. Something you want to experience. Think of One Step in the direction of what you want.

Yes—Doing a Google Search counts!

JUST ONE STEP.

Say that with me now. All together: JUST … ONE … STEP …

I know this works. I’m living proof. The dyslexic who has written 4 books.

And let’s all remember: “The Power of ME expands to The Power of WE.”

Look around. We’re all gathered tonight. We’re supporting each other. During the networking time, you could meet someone who can help you – and you could help that person in return.

What is possible? More than you think. Remember: Just One Step and the Power of WE.
Thank you.”

* * * * * *

In my above speech, I talked about how I dealt with fear by taking small steps forward.

In your spiritual path, what small steps can you take forward? Do you wish to connect with more Pagans? You might go to Cog.org [website of Covenant of the Goddess].

Another valuable website is witchvox.com

You could also connect with me at askawitchnow@gmail.com

If you can find your way to California, usually in February, you can attend PantheaCon.

I invite you to find other Pagans and build your own circle of support.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

Protect Yourself: Always Cast Circle

February 26, 2016 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Skull

“The God of Death won’t leave,” I said, really concerned. My mentor nodded; she understood. This was years ago around the time of Samhain. The God of Death has many faces. The one I kept seeing was the corpse-face of a deer on a man’s body.

“The God of Death wants to talk to me,” I said. My mentor suggested that we do a meditation so I could find out his reason for a conversation. My mentor and I settled down in her living room, and soon I went to the astral plane to talk to the God of Death.

Once I was done and had received his message, I came back to the mundane world.

But I didn’t come back alone. The God of Death clung onto me and wouldn’t leave!

I ended up doing a ritual in the woods and appeased him with a gift of a pomegranate. Finally, he left me. What a relief!

The Big Lesson

I learned something of vital importance. It’s necessary for us to Cast Circle BEFORE we do a meditation.

I repeat: Cast Circle BEFORE, you do a meditation.

In essence, I was fortunate. I learned a big lesson without having to pay a big price.

If I had Cast Circle, then the God of Death would not have returned with me from the astral plane.

Okay. Lesson learned.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

P.P.S. I’m pleased to invite you to a Free Event that I’m co-hosting “Discover Your Enchanted Prosperity” in Sunnyvale, California — March 9th at 6:30 pm.
For details, go to Meetup.com when you CLICK HERE

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

Money, Prosperity and Wiccans Enjoying Life: A Money Spell

February 19, 2016 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

moneystack

In a gathering of friends, some conversation about money arose. You could see it. Some of the people gathered bristled.

I like to talk about prosperity which includes an abundance of love, friends, things we need and the ability to be generous.

For example, just last night, a homeless man stood outside a 7-Eleven convenience store. He asked, “Could you buy me something to drink?”

“Sure,” I said. I was buying a Big Gulp, and I bought him one, too.

“Thank you,” he said, quietly.

I was grateful that I had the cash in my pocket to buy something for both of us.

Sometimes, we simply need cash to buy something for another person or to pay our bills.

In light of that, here is a Money Spell.

Money Spell

You will need:

A green candle
“A check to yourself from the Universe”*
Cauldron
Money drawing oil
- Money Oil (add drops of essential oils together)
  3 parts ginger
  2 parts orange
  4 parts pine
  2 parts cinnamon
  1/2 part chamomile
  1 part cedar wood
  5 parts jasmine (optional)
matches or a lighter

* We create a check from the Universe by writing the amount we want and writing “from the Universe for the Good of All” in the memo section on the check.

Warning: ONLY work this spell during the waxing moon.

Cast Circle in the usual manner.

Dress the green candle properly. (That is, dab your finger in the money oil and rub the candle repeatedly from wick to base—until the whole candle is covered in money oil.)

As you dress the candle, envision money flowing into your life.

Light the candle and chant the following out loud:

As I light this candle so,
Make my money grow and grow,
Let it flow without rhyme or reason,
Each and every turn of season,
Filling up my pockets so wide,
Let me enjoy this happy ride,
Make me stronger than the ocean tides,
Manifesting my will to coincide,
With no malice, woe or hitches,
May there be no mess or jinxes,
With no need of fear of ruin,
Let it rain money, bless my journey.
An it harm none, so mote it be!

Now hold the “Check from the Universe.” Light the check via the candle and place the check in the cauldron to burn safely.

Watch the flame as it burns the check.

Meditate while focusing on the flame of the green candle.

When you are ready, place the green candle in a safe place and let the candle burn completely out. [Do NOT leave an untended candle. Stay safe.]

Close the Circle.

Enjoy the Cakes and Wine Ceremony

The above spell has worked for me. I had difficulty receiving appropriate checks and things cleared up. I was grateful!

May your journey be prosperous and happy.

Blessings,
Moonwater

P.S. Often, we Wiccans like to customize our spells. For more information about this, sign up for my E-Newsletter because I’m going to be sharing information about customization in my next installment of my E-newsletter.

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

“I’m So Terrified to Die”

February 12, 2016February 12, 2016 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

RWT

“I’m so terrified to die,” wrote one of the followers of my blog.

The person went on to say, “I don’t want to be like an atheist, but I’m not connecting to my soul.”

My intuition gave me the idea to share this:

“To help you connect with your soul and the Gods, I would suggest you go out into the forest or even a secluded place (pick a safe place) in a park if you can’t get to the forest. Then sit quietly. Notice nature around you. Listen to the sounds of nature. Now as you sit quietly ask the God and Goddess for a sign. Breathe deeply and slowly. Be still and relax.

The sign could be as simple as seeing a bird or some other animal (domestic or wild). You might see some fallen leaves on the ground that inspire a thought or feeling in you. Perhaps, a patch of snow in a particular shape catches your eye.

The sign does not have to come with trumpets and a parade. Most likely, it will be something small, something quiet.

But it will be there. Take your time and just sit. Listen and witness the miracle of the world. It may take a while. I suggest resting there for 20 minutes, 45 minutes or more. You can stay as long as you wish after that.

Do this on a regular basis. Soon you may see the signs of the Gods.”

Perhaps, my comments above reach something deep in you.

We Wiccans often find the God and Goddess in quiet signs found in the natural world.

I also suggest that a number of us may find the God and Goddess in a moment of creativity. Finding a connection with God and Goddess can arrive in many ways because we’re all individuals. My friend Sarah says that she finds a sign when she’s drawing or sketching. It’s like she becomes a conduit of the Divine.

My friend Mark tells me that he discovers insights as he writes. He may be writing for 10 minutes and not like what he’s writing. Then, a flash of insight, and he sees something new arrive as he keeps typing. “Where did that come from?” he asks. But then he knows. The God and Goddess wanted to say something through him.

Wiccans also connect with the God and Goddess through meditation and doing ritual.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

Depression, Suicide, and A Wiccan Path to Healing

February 6, 2016February 7, 2016 / Moonwater / 4 Comments

Tulips

He had been tossed out of a branch of the armed forces. Why? Poor performance of his duties? No! It was his sexual orientation. A couple of years later, he killed himself. Often, every month, I remember my dear friend.

None of this is a theory to me. I’ve attempted suicide myself. The first time—when I was 8 years old.

Wiccans acknowledge that winter is the season of death. Death does not always mean the end of life. In the Tarot, the card “Death” also means change.

I know from my own journey that feeling the urge to kill oneself is a call for change—and a call for love.

During the winter, a significant number of people struggle with seasonal affect disorder.

For many of us who are enduring difficult times now, here is a meditation from my book Goddess Has Your Back to help you.

Self-Love Meditation

Close your eyes.
Breathe in and out deeply . . . Relax.
Keep breathing.
Breathe out the stress of the day.
Breathe in relaxation and peace.

(Pause)

You are still aware of the light that is in the room.
Now the light begins to fade.
As it fades you feel total comfort. You feel safe and secure in the darkness.

(Short Pause)

Now, a new form of light blossoms. It surrounds and wraps you in its loving energy. This light is the light of the Gods.
It is a light of love and compassion. Take it in.
As you take this light and understanding in, you can now see with the Gods’ eyes.
You can now see yourself as they see you, pure, beautiful, whole. You are a masterpiece of their creation. You were made with love, and you are a manifestation of their love. You are love.
This understanding fills you.

(Pause)

With this new understanding you are now ready to return to the physical world.
You know that even though you may leave the light at this time it is never truly gone.
It’s a gentle transition as the light begins to fade around you.
Slowly at first. It gets darker and darker.
As it fades you feel total comfort. You feel safe and secure in the darkness.

(Short Pause)

Then a familiar light returns, the light in the room where you started.
It gradually gets brighter and brighter.
You are back in the room. You have brought the calm and peace and happy feelings back with you.
Now, gently open your eyes.

I hope you find comfort with this meditation.

You can also meditate and ask the God and Goddess for help. Meditate on what the Gods see as a helping answer for you. Remember, the God and Goddess are always on your side.

If you’re in distress, please call the Suicide Hotline at: 1 (800) 273-8255

Yes—I have attempted suicide more than once. But now my life is good. It’s really worth it to endure the pain because life CAN get better.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

Happy Imbolc

February 2, 2016February 2, 2016 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Candle

Happy Imbolc

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

How to Raise Your Low Self-esteem Through Wicca

January 29, 2016January 30, 2016 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

“How can I let go of the feelings of sadness and low self-esteem?” Alexandra asked.

I’ve talked with many people who, like me, suffer from times of low self-esteem.

Here is a meditation to help those of us who need to raise our self-esteem.

Find a nice quiet spot, somewhere you will not be disturbed. Light a candle and burn some incense if you like. Turn off all of your electronics, and get comfortable.

In the below meditation, you will identify a worn, harmful belief. Then you will represent such a Harmful Belief as one “difficult-word.” For example, if your word is “can’t”—soon you will place it in the fire (in your mind’s eye). It will transform. For example, “can’t” can transform into “I CAN learn what I need to learn.” This is a New Belief.

Meditation to Raise Your Self-Esteem

Close your eyes. Be aware of the light that is in the room through your closed eyelids.

Breathe in and out deeply … Relax.
Keep breathing deeply. In … and … Out.
Breathe out the stress of the day.
Breathe in relaxation and peace.

(Pause)

You are still aware of the light that is in the room.
Now the light begins to fade.
As it fades you feel total comfort. You feel safe and secure in the darkness.

(Short Pause)

Now, a new form of light blossoms around you.
You look down and see a cauldron.
Flames are fluttering from within the cauldron, and they rise to about four inches above the lip of the cauldron.

Pick one thought or memory of sadness or “I can’t do it.”
Now identify a word that represents the difficult thought.
See how the “difficult-word” appears to break down.

The difficult-word is now old and worn out.
You know in your heart that you no longer need the word.
It is time to let it go.

(Pause)

See your difficult-word. The flames in the cauldron
are flickering behind your difficult-word.
Now with your mind, push the difficult-word into the flames.
The difficult-word catches fire, and the fire completely consumes the difficult-word.

(Pause)

The difficult-word disappears and soon a green colored smoke rises from the cauldron.
It starts to form your New Belief—which is in the form of a sentence.
This New Belief helps you and supports you.
Breathe in deeply and absorb the green, supportive New Belief.

(Pause)

The New Belief is now part of you, and you have gained its attributes.
Feel it. Know it is so.
You now return to the physical world, and you always know you have that positive attribute no matter what anyone says.

(Pause)

Coming back is a gentle transition as the light begins to fade around you once more.
Slowly at first, it gets darker and darker.
As it fades you feel total comfort. You feel safe and secure in the darkness.

(Short Pause)

Then a familiar light returns, the light in the room where you started.
It gradually gets brighter and brighter.
You are back in the room. You have brought the feelings of higher self-esteem and happiness back with you.

(Short Pause)

Now, gently open your eyes.

Use the above meditation as often as you need to. With a lot of practice, soon all of the bad thoughts about yourself can transform into the green smoke of renewal and higher self-esteem.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

Making the Pattern of Your Life

January 23, 2016 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

blanket

I’m chatting on Facebook with a distraught young woman “Janis.” She has enjoyed my writing on my blog and now I’m helping her. Janis’ self-esteem has been torn apart by her family members’ vicious remarks about her Wiccan path.

As I help Janis, I glance at my knitting project (a blanket) at my side. It becomes so clear to me that we create our lives by the choices we make – one choice at a time.

After the Facebook chat, the conversation stays with me. I realize that every moment of my life before that Facebook chat prepared me to be in the right place at the right time. I had the right experiences so I could provide compassionate guidance for this young woman.

Imagine that your life is a knitted blanket. Each stitch represents an event or a choice you have made in life. Each time you have had an experience, you made a stitch in the blanket. The stitches including your thoughts, choices and feelings combine to make the unique fabric. So one stitch leads to another stitch and another stitch — until a blanket is made.

Then I had another thought: At the end of my life, I’ll have a large, knitted blanket of experiences, thoughts and feelings. When I pass from this life do I bring the whole blanket?

Yet another thought arose. A spiritual thought. There is something that is eternal: The yarn — the essence of me. This essence continues through each project.

When we die, the pattern that we’ve made is like our body. We leave that behind. Soon enough, we will begin again as one single strand of yarn that will continue to manifest into the many lives during reincarnation.

When we start a new pattern; we may become a shirt or a hat this time. It all depends on what choices we make and what pattern we choose.

I find this comforting — the eternal aspect of each of us. The eternal strand of yarn.

In Wicca, I look upon reincarnation as a gift. Because we get to come back with people we loved before. In each incarnation we get to learn new stuff and make new choices. We get to have new experiences that we missed in a previous life. We get to gain spiritual wisdom in each successive incarnation.

Today I was knitting and had a mishap. I had to take apart a small section of my project. That’s when I “tink” the project — yes, you’re seeing the word “knit” backwards. So in knitting as with other processes in life, it’s not about doing things perfectly.

It’s a process. Your job is to stay aware and keep knitting, keep learning and to keep growing.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

How to Bless and Consecrate an Object

January 15, 2016January 15, 2016 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Offerings: picture by David O.

How to Bless and Consecrate an Object

“I have this cute statue I just bought, and I am going to place it on my altar,” my friend Lisa said.
“Have you blessed and consecrated it yet?” I asked.
“No.” said Lisa.
“It’s vital to bless and consecrate an object to make it safe to use,” I emphasized.

Witches often Bless and Consecrate an object, space or person. We use this process every time we cast circle.

Use holy water to Bless and Consecrate an object and thereby remove bad energies and entities. You avoid having other energies mix with your intentions. Leaving in bad energies and entities would have created chaos and undesired effects.

Below I’m going to give two highlights from the blessing and consecrating processes.

Using Holy Water*

After Casting Circle, you hold the object and sprinkle holy water upon it (the process of asperging). Say: I cleanse you by Earth and Water

Using Smoke Arising from Incense

Waft the object through the smoke arising from Blessed Incense. By the way, wafting the object through smoke is the process of charging the object.

As you waft the object through smoke three times, say: I bless and consecrate you by Fire and Air

You have made the object suitable for use in your spellwork.

(*Witches make their own holy water with three pinches of salt.)

Blessed Be,
Moonwater SilverClaw

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble.

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

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

Stepping Out of the Darkness

January 9, 2016 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

MCU

Recently, I was called to give a speech.
Here is the text of that speech:

“She’s eight years old and she’s drowning, held underwater in a swimming pool.

Yesterday, she loved running on a hilltop in Redwood City. The grass feeling cool between her toes. Yesterday, she climbed a tree.

But today, her brother holds her down, underwater. She is drowning. And he is waiting. Waiting for her to stop moving.

What does this do to a little girl?

I can tell you. My brother finally stepped away.

But the tough times didn’t end there. My brother kept up his torture of me until I couldn’t take it anymore.

So at 8 years old, I stepped to the edge of my bunk bed. I wrapped some yarn around my neck again and again. I stepped off my bunk bed – And I hung there for a moment—until the yarn broke.

My story is about stepping OUT of the darkness.

Sure, I’ve experienced dark times, but I’ve also experienced other things.

I once turned to a friend and said, “How many depressed people does it take to change a light bulb? None. They just sit there in the dark.” [audience laughter]

I’m glad to be speaking with you today about stepping OUT of the darkness.

Along that line, I’m going to share with you the 3 Steps of Empowerment.

The First Step is Diagnosis. When I was 11, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder – another term for this is clinical depression. Clinical Depression is not just feeling the blues. It isn’t just sometimes feeling sad. It doesn’t just go away like Seasonal Affect Disorder.

Clinical Depression is like having tinnitus. That’s the condition where you have constant ringing in your ears. Except this situation is a horrible feeling of pain, sadness, and hopelessness. It can get so bad that death seems like the only way out. A friend of mine killed himself. He had clinical depression.

So Diagnosis is the First Step.

The Second Step is: The person must say, “I want help.”

I’m using the word “say” – but the situation is really about taking action. The depressed person needs to take action.

You and I cannot help a depressed person if they don’t want help. If they won’t take their meds, and if they won’t show up for therapy – there’s not much we can do.

I know that I have family members who want to find a “Happy button” on me. Well—I don’t have a Happy button on me.

Can I borrow yours? [I address an extrovert in the audience. The audience laughs.]

As I mentioned: the Second Step is when the person says, “I want help.” The depressed person has to choose it.

I wanted help. So I worked with psychiatrists and therapists. And I take appropriate medication.

The Third Step is: Maintenance.

Sometimes, I think of maintenance of my well-being as a daily fight. I have certain “weapons” to use to hold my ground against clinical depression.

First, I have a therapy animal, a cat I named Magick. I called him Magick because he makes food disappear! [audience laughter]

I love him and petting him helps me to feel better. He helps me switch to happier thoughts. I feel he takes away some of the pain.

Second, I stay active. I go out with friends when possible. I enjoy laughing with friends. I also stay active by taking daily walks with my sweetheart.

Third, I have things that I do for myself when I’m alone. Knitting and writing are great ways to help me cope.

I have shared with you 3 Steps of Empowerment that mean a lot to me.
1) Diagnosis
2) The person must say “I want help.”
3) Maintenance

And finally about that eight-year-old girl who felt no one cared … She is still inside me, but now I am a full grown woman.
I am here.
I care.
I will protect her.”

People have told me that the above is a powerful speech.

As a Wiccan, I still feel, at times, that I must protect myself.

Do you feel the same?

How can you protect yourself from those who do not care or do not understand our Pagan path?

I’ve learned that I need to face reality. To this day, my parents still do not respect my Wiccan path. They never ask me questions nor hear me out.

Part of taking care of myself is to gather with like-minded people who love me.

May you find your tribe.

Blessed Be,

Moonwater

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