I’m exhausted. I just said to my kitten Max, “Behave yourself. Go to your room!” (His room is a special pet bed that has a dome over it.)
Max has two speeds: “Berserker and off (Sleep)!” He cycles through that at least 7 times a day.
Perhaps, you’ve had similar experiences. You are running, running through your day.
Often, I am supporting my elderly parents through their cycle of doctor/therapy appointments—get groceries—and more. Plus, my other responsibilities.
I need to slow down.
Do you feel you need to catch your breath?
Consider these words of the Goddess.
“Keep pure your highest ideals. Strive ever towards it. Let none stop you or turn you aside.” – The Goddess speaking in The Charge of the Goddess, written by Doreen Valiente
The Goddess wants to support you in expressing your divinity.
Consider this breath ritual.
The Goddess Breath Ritual
Breathe in as you recite in your mind: “Goddess” Breathe out as you recite in your mind: “Stress Away.”
Do this cycle three times. (Yes, 3 is a sacred number.)
I was scared. I couldn’t believe it! My precious kitten, Max, had worked the cat carrier open. His head was poking out of the carrier. At the top. The opening was strangling him! His meow was a scream! And I was driving my car on the freeway!
I pulled off to the freeway shoulder. I leaned over to the seat on my right. I had buckled the seat belt over Max’s cat carrier. I got the top open a bit—and released Max’s head. I moved the zippers around. Finally, he was safe. The other cars on the freeway raced by at 70 miles per hour.
Eventually, we made it home.
I thank the Goddess that I avoided an emotional meltdown and did what was necessary to save Max. And to keep us both safe on the freeway with cars whizzing by.
The Wiccan Rede came to mind.
“Mind the Three-fold Laws you should, three times bad and three times good,” – The Wiccan Rede (in several published long form versions)
Some time ago, I was in a discussion, and an acquaintance said, “I’m concerned about The Three-fold Law. Could I make a mistake and get hit with three times the trouble?”
A short form of The Wiccan Rede reads as “An ye harm none, do what ye will.”
As I take a breath and settle into my gratitude for the safety of Max–my kitten–and me, I realize that the Goddess wants us to be safe and grow.
The Goddess says,
“Keep pure your highest ideals. Strive ever towards it. Let none stop you or turn you aside.” – The Goddess speaking in The Charge of the Goddess, written by Doreen Valiente
So, when you face a surprise hard moment or scary moment, remember to call upon the Goddess.
“I want to quit that damn job!” my friend, Alexandra, said.
We talked for a while.
“Two people are so judgmental. There’s no space for me to do a good job. They’ve been there for years, and they don’t give a damn about the clients,” Alexandra said.
I reflected on this.
What creates humans who are so rigid?
Here are two insights.
1. Make a shift from beliefs to values.
Alonso, a friend of a friend, said, “I’ve noticed that what blocks someone listening to another person is that they resist the possibility of changing their own mind.”
Alonso went on and said, “If someone holds tightly to beliefs, they miss the connection with who they truly are. That includes their values.”
As I talked with spiritual elders, a topic arose: A witch’s values are connected to their “Witchy Essence.”
We move beyond beliefs and opinions to Essence. Your Witchy Essence is the divinity that the God and Goddess placed in you.
Your essence is not your roles (parent, partner, worker, artist).
Your essence is your “quiet center.”
Do you meditate or conduct ritual to get to your quiet center?
2. Pray to the Goddess
Here is a prayer you can use:
Great Lord and Lovey Lady, Help me connect to my quiet center, That is my Witchy Essence. So Mote It Be
“Just about every day, I get hit by fear of a bad future,” I said. “About what?” asked one of my spiritual elders. “Not having enough money. Losing the place where my husband and I live,” I said. “What do you want?” “I want to feel safe,” I said.
Later, I reflected on this.
First, let’s start with this question:
What do you want?
One of my husband’s friends coaches clients to have better lives.
This coach said, “Many of us are preoccupied with ‘self-preservation.’”
In my conversation with one of my spiritual elders, this idea arose: “Which self are you trying to preserve?”
Is it the ego-self? The part that’s full of fear? Is it the artist self? The part that’s all about expressing your thoughts and feelings? Is it the divine self that the God and Goddess gave you?
I have shared on this blog before my direct experience of when I first met the God and the Goddess. In Their Presence, I felt Their total love and acceptance of me. That felt completely different from how I felt every day when I was 16 years old.
As I look back upon that moment, I realize that it was a revelation. That I was loved. It did not matter what my genetically related family members were like. I have a Spiritual Family.
I recall this quote:
We ask no Heaven, we fear no Hell, Nor mourn our outcast lot, Treading the mazes of a spell By priests and men forgot.”
― Gerald B. Gardner, The Meaning of Witchcraft
We Wiccans can go beyond the “outcast lot.”
I am a 3rd Degree Wiccan Witch of the Gardnerian Tradition.
I realize that I can make an internal shift to my Divine Self. That’s my Essence as given to me by the God and Goddess, I do not have to fall into a “small self” that might want to be elsewhere.
“That perhaps is at the core of Wicca—it is a joyous union with nature. The earth is a manifestation of divine energy. Wicca’s temples are flower-splashed meadows, forests, beaches, and deserts. When a Wicca is outdoors, she or he is actually surrounded by sanctity.” – Scott Cunningham
So, when you look to preserve your Self … look to the “core of Wicca…as a joyful union with nature.”
“All who seek to know Me, know this… All your seeking and yearning will be in vain unless you understand the Mystery that if what you seek is not found within, you will never find it without.” – The Goddess speaking in The Charge of the Goddess, as written by Doreen Valiente
So, in the quest for “self-preservation,” we can make a shift to the God and Goddess—and the Essence that They put within you.
Your Essence is not the body that grows old. Your Essence is not the approval of others. Your Essence is not the fear of a bad future.
Instead… Your Essence is the Certainty that You Are One with the God and Goddess. Preserve your experience of that!
“I want to talk about loneliness,” I said to one of my editors. “That’s a big topic. It has so many elements to it,” my editor replied.
Later, I wondered, “What has the Goddess said that applies to loneliness?”
The first phrase that leapt into my thoughts was:
“Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let naught stop you or turn you aside.” – The Goddess speaking in The Charge of the Goddess, written by Doreen Valiente
Let’s look at “highest ideal.”
What is your highest ideal?
Have you heard about people who met their lifemate or new friends while they pursued their own hobbies or interests?Perhaps, you’ve stopped making space for hobbies or interests. Are you called to do something different now?
How can you connect with your highest ideal—where people are?
“The Goddess’s law is love unto all beings.” – The Goddess speaking in The Charge of the Goddess, written by Doreen Valiente
Where can you do good? How can you bring some form of kindness to some people? Reiza, someone I know, has a mission when she goes to work at a grocery store. She is kind to people. And several of the customers respond with smiles and kindness toward her. She has found a few new friends.
How can you hold space so you are okay with people’s differences?
I began as a Solitary Wiccan. I empathize that it can be lonely in certain areas of this world, where we cannot share our Wiccan faith.
I noticed something unusual. A friend, Mason, has a friendship with someone who is on the opposite end of politics. These friends talk about everything—health, hopes, dreams … and they simply do NOT talk about politics.
They end phone calls with “Love ya, Brother.” On many things, they share common ground. Their phone calls alleviate some loneliness.
Would you find it possible to share part of your journey with someone?
Pray to the Goddes
I realize that loneliness is a complex situation for many of us. Many times, I understand that I need to turn to the Goddess for support, as I walk the path that can be tough.
Here is a prayer you can use.
Goddess, Support me in times I feel lonely. Show me how to expand my social circle. Bring good people into my life. So Mote It Be.
“I don’t want to miss an opportunity. But … but I’m shaking,” a friend, Henry, said. Henry is artistic, and he was facing a whole new venue for his art. A big opportunity. “And a big risk,” Henry said.
In talking with spiritual elders … the conversation often turns to the idea of “your essence versus your ego.”
Henry’s essence is “artist.” His ego is “scared guy worried about making a mistake.”
The idea is that one’s ego is made of fear. The ego tries to protect you. But the problem is that it is influenced by genetics. The people who passed on their genes were those who ran away from tigers and lions.
The ones who said, “Here, Kitty, Kitty” … got eaten.
Fear, for many of us, is a first reaction.
The ego tries to protect us. And the ego keeps us small.
On the other hand, the Goddess wants us to experience Our Essence. The God and Goddess placed divinity in you. That’s your essence.
What is your essence about? Growing and giving.
Make space to shift.
Some artistic people I know keep pen and paper (how old-fashioned) next to their bed. They write down ideas as they wake up in the morning. At times, they capture some divine inspiration.
Many of us meditate with a journal nearby to record the inspiration we receive.
Drop seeking willpower in favor of making it a routine.
Several people I know say they have trouble with making meditation a daily ritual.
However, making a routine—or tying meditation to a routine you have—can support your spiritual life. Allison, someone I know, does a brief breathing meditation in her bathroom immediately after brushing and flossing her teeth.
That’s a routine connected to a routine.
Pray to the Goddess.
Here is a prayer you can use.
My Lord and Lady, who granted me my essence, Help me separate my essence from my ego. For my ego is not my true self. Support me as I walk my true path. So Mote It Be.
“I surprised myself,” Alice, someone I know, said. “How?” I asked. “It was my first chance at having a long-term client for my coaching business. I asked the person, ‘How much do you think the investment is in a year of coaching?’ The prospective client said, $12,000.” And I replied, “You’re right about that.” Alice said. I saw Alice shake her head. Was something off? “What’s that about? You’re shaking your head,” I asked. “It’s just that… I had never made that kind of money before,” Alice said. The conversation continued. Alice told me that she gained that client. During that year, Alice drew on her personal fear and used it as fuel to ensure the client had a great experience.
Later, I reflected on details that arose in that conversation with Alice.
Here are three insights.
1. Realize that you may need to clear your path to financial abundance. You might ask during a Tarot session: • How might I clear my path to financial abundance?
2. You may need to ask questions related to fear. Have you noticed yourself or a friend procrastinating on taking a step toward improving one’s financial situation?
You might ask during a Tarot session: • What step do I take so I step up to my next level? • How might I quiet down my fear?
3. Remember, the Goddess knows your path ahead. You can use a prayer like this:
Goddess, Guide me on my path ahead, So I don’t feel that dread. Escort me to my highest ideal, And with this prayer, help me heal. So Mote It Be
I was 17 years old. I didn’t know that day that I might not make it to my 18th year. After a boring day of high school, I walked to my parked car.
It was on a side street. I felt it was safer because some people damaged cars parked in the school lot. I drove off and soon pulled up to an intersection. The light turned green. My foot automatically went to the accelerator.
But I felt a command, “Don’t go.”
I dropped my foot to the floorboard.
Whoosh! A car roared through the intersection. It would have smashed my car and taken my life.
Thank you, Goddess!
After this, I have reflected on the lesson.
1. Make space to listen for the Goddess’s direction.
When I was saved by the Goddess, I was a solitary witch. I was learning about Wicca and witchcraft. It’s possible that my being new to the Craft helped me stay open to lessons from the Goddess.
Now, I keep a space to listen for the Goddess’s direction by talking to Her each day.
Do you devote time to talking with the Goddess?
Even 3 minutes may be helpful. We recall that “3” is a sacred number.
2. Sometimes, the Goddess’s direction is surprising.
I was surprised about the Goddess directing me to sit there when the traffic light was green.
Percy, someone I know, failed to listen to the Goddess’s surprise direction. He was at work, and a co-worker brought in a homemade apple pie. He received a thought, “Do not have any pie!”
He didn’t listen. He wanted to be “nice.” He had one bite, and a walnut shell in the pie broke his tooth in half!
Have you ever had an intuitive thought that seemed unusual, but it could protect you?
3. Pray to the Goddess.
Here is a prayer you can use.
My Gracious Lady of the Moon. Open my mind so I can hear You speak, Help me hear You so I don’t weep. Give me lessons that I can learn, So my life improves in turn. Open my eyes so I can see, The blessings You have for me. So Mote It Be
Recently, my beloved cat, Magick, passed away. I’m still crying.
He knew he was going to go. He changed his daily routine to stay closer to my husband and me.
I held him until his last breath.
Do you ever ask the Goddess, “Why does life have to be so painful?”
I miss my dear Magick.
I imagine him playing with other cats in the Summerlands.
I imagine him delighting my husband’s mother. She passed a couple of years ago. Magick would likely curl up on her lap. She’d hear his contented purring.
Here are three insights:
1. Gratitude for the Chapter You Are Currently Living
I am grateful that I had the chance to love such a wonderful being. But I am still grateful for all that I have. I am grateful for my husband, my home, and having food on the table. I am grateful for you reading this.
What are you grateful for?
2. Cry and allow yourself to be “cried out.”
My husband and I are still crying. We’ve suffered a great loss. We let our tears flow to clear our souls for new possibilities.
3. Pray to the Goddess.
Here is a prayer you can use.
Goddess, Hold me close. Ease my pain during this tough time. Help me understand that this is the Cycle of Life And that my burdens of sorrow will be lifted from me. So Mote It Be
Also, I wrote this eulogy for Magick, my cat. You may find this suitable for your beloved pet.
Eulogy for a Pet
My little darling [Pet’s Name], Lay down your sweet head. We are now praying for you As you transition and become One of the beloved dead. The Summerlands await you. Where you will be young and strong. So lay down your sweet head, till the great hunt comes along. As I So Will, So Mote It Be!
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