“That did not go as I expected,” my friend, Sandra, said.

“Was that a good thing?” I asked.

“It was … just different,” she replied.

How are you with expectations? Do some things just not measure up to your expectations? Do you feel disappointed frequently?

Recently, I went to see the film Avatar: The Way of Water. I tried not to expect too much. I just decided to let it be—to be whatever it was. I must say that I remain a huge fan of the original Avatar as directed by James Cameron. So, going to the theater to see the second film in the series was a big thing for me.

I also made sure to see no movie reviews of the new Avatar movie before I entered the theater.

I have three insights for you.

1. Let expectations flow by like leaves on a stream.

The idea is to let the thoughts that contain expectations flow past you. Why? Certain expectations can cause anxieties to rise. I know this well. Often, I’ll ask the God and Goddess to help me find peace in this moment.

2. Appreciate what is there.

Witches cultivate inner power by connecting to the beauty and goodness in this present moment. I often find walking in nature to be a truly empowering experience. Why? I appreciate the glorious beauty Goddess has created.

3. Remember the Goddess’s Wisdom

“For I am the Soul of Nature, who giveth life to the universe.” – The Goddess speaking in The Charge of the Goddess, as written by Doreen Valiente

What do we notice about Nature? Seasons and cycles. Birth and death. Warmth and cold.

The Goddess knows that certain parts of our lives blossom in a cycle like flowers can blossom in nature.

It helps to step back and imagine Goddess’s perspective. She sees how all things fit together.

May these insights support your path.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

Donate to our team at Goddess Has Your Back to support continued content.

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

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Looking for gifts?

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

Goddess Style Weight Loss: Wiccans — Happy, Healthy and Confident

Goddess Has Answers to Life’s Tough Problems: Wiccans – How You Can Experience Happiness and Healing through Goddess’s Wisdom

Break Free with Goddess: Wiccans – How You Can Get Free of Worry, Illness and Anxiety and Enjoy Abundance, Health and Confidence

Be a Wiccan Badass: Become More Confident and Unleash Your Inner Power

Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path

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

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

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

Goddess Style Weight Loss: Wiccans — Happy, Healthy and Confident

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

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

Does Yule time bring up extra stress for you—especially as a witch?

Recently, I was talking with a friend. Concerns about pagans dealing with other people’s pushing about “the holiday season” came up.

These specific topics arose:

• It feels unfair
• You get treated like an Outsider
• Details appropriated—like the Yule tree

I’ve thought about these details over the years. Why? We witches cannot escape the stresses that arrive with “the holiday season.”

I have three insights for you.

1. Own the blessing of the Yule Tree.

Let’s look at the Yule Tree. Evergreens were seen as proof of everlasting life. Our ancestors saw that evergreen trees were the one source of life that continued to live and stay green throughout the year. Even in the deepest winter. They didn’t die with the rest of the plants during the cold months. They were special.

Our ancestors celebrated this. They and we, modern Pagans, consider the Yule Tree sacred.

This is why our ancestors’ brought evergreens into their homes and decorated them with small gifts to the God and Goddess. Candles were placed on the bows of the trees (Please avoid this due to the fire hazard). This is where Yule trees come from, and yes – Christians have adopted the Yule Tree as their “Christmas tree.”

Still, we, witches, can say to ourselves “Our Yule Tree!”

     2. Realize the stress of meeting with family, and focus on your Chosen Family

An old comment is: “If you think you’re enlightened, just attend a family reunion!”

Do you ever dread going to family reunions?

For Pagans, family reunions can be an extra burden. Many of us, for good reasons, must keep our Pagan path as our own secret.

Many of us fear being outed as a witch/Pagan. We hide our pentacle necklaces and other jewelry to conceal our true selves.

So, what is the solution?

Devote Time with Your Chosen Family

In a few days, I’ll be attending gatherings with friends who are Wiccans. What a relief! Being with like-minded people can really help with the loneliness/alienation/fear that comes with being around non-pagans. Especially this time of year!

Finding a place where you can share common ground with support can be a lifesaver. Really!

     3. Return to the roots of gift-giving

For Pagans, exchanging gifts, at this time, is really about celebration. How?

Think about it. Why do you give gifts in the first place?

The first gifts were exchanged by our ancestors as a means of expressing joy for the Sun God’s return.

Small gifts were hung on the branches of the Yule tree for the God and Goddess. Now, we give gifts to each other, too.

You can think “small and meaningful.” Even giving a printed-out photo, placed in a frame (from a “dollar store”) can be a good gift.

In summary, Yule has always been our time. Smile to yourself and own it.

May these insights support your path.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

Donate to our team at Goddess Has Your Back to support continued content.

---

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

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 Enroll in my Online Course At Udemy.com

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Spiritual Solution for Depression Relief

---

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Looking for gifts?

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

Goddess Style Weight Loss: Wiccans — Happy, Healthy and Confident

Goddess Has Answers to Life’s Tough Problems: Wiccans – How You Can Experience Happiness and Healing through Goddess’s Wisdom

Break Free with Goddess: Wiccans – How You Can Get Free of Worry, Illness and Anxiety and Enjoy Abundance, Health and Confidence

Be a Wiccan Badass: Become More Confident and Unleash Your Inner Power

Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path

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

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

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

Goddess Style Weight Loss: Wiccans — Happy, Healthy and Confident

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

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

Have you ever beat yourself up and put down your own work?

I often put myself down. I say about my artistic work: “Other people can do it better.”

My depression symptoms function like a filter.

My husband’s praise of my artistic projects often cannot get through my depression-symptoms filter.

He told me, “You make beautiful necklaces and pendants.”

“Other people can do it better,” I reply reflexively.

At this moment, I see how this drains my energy.

I have three insights for you.

1. Focus closely on what you like.

Creating art can be an in-the-moment journey. I suggest you choose an empowering focus. I say, “Focus on what you like.”

I invite you to focus on doing your art.

This is your art. This is your moment.

For example, I’m writing this material now. Later, my editor and I will talk about adjustments to this writing. So, at this instant, I am focused on writing—that is, doing this art form.

Realize that creating something is a process.

To focus on what you like is the opposite of looking outside yourself and saying, “Other people can do it better.”

Think of the Mother Aspect of the Goddess. The Mother creates. The Mother nurtures. She is caring of Her offspring. She creates life and, with the God, creates all around us. This is part of Her true essence.

As you create something, you are an artist. We’re not talking about whether someone outside of you “likes” the art. That’s a different topic and focal point.

You are an artist.

       2. Focus on your true essence.

What is your true essence? Do you default into calling yourself something which refers to people outside of yourself? Do you say daughter/son or mother/father? Do you describe yourself in terms of your job? As many people say, “That’s not what I am. That’s what I do.”

Let’s go back to true essence. One time, my husband was asked by a possible employer: “Who are you?” My husband replied, “Creative energy.” He added details about how he writes text and marketing materials. He mentioned how he edits videos and writes for social media.

The potential employer was surprised by my husband’s comment “creative energy.”

What is the true essence of a witch? Witches like to work with the Elements.

Witches enjoy good relationships with the God and Goddess.

You are not a human being having a spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being having a human experience. – Dr. Wayne Dyer

As a spiritual being, you are creative. You could say, “I am a spirit who is doing art—in this moment.”

For readers who do not do traditional artistic work (painting, writing, and more), it’s still important to realize that you are a creator. You create the moment when you hug someone. You create the moment when you listen to a friend. You create solutions to life’s daily problems. You are creative.

    3. Use a chant to create solutions and wonders.

I often write and use a chant to get to the essence of some aspect of life.

You can use this chant to energize yourself. This process can help you create your art and your life.

The Creation Chant

Thread in needle,
Paint on brush.
I focus on the deed
I’m in no rush.
Now beauty be seen,
By others and me.
Light this flame in me.
So Mote It Be.

May these insights support your path.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

Donate to our team at Goddess Has Your Back to support continued content.

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

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 Enroll in my Online Course At Udemy.com

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Spiritual Solution for Depression Relief

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Looking for gifts?

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

Goddess Style Weight Loss: Wiccans — Happy, Healthy and Confident

Goddess Has Answers to Life’s Tough Problems: Wiccans – How You Can Experience Happiness and Healing through Goddess’s Wisdom

Break Free with Goddess: Wiccans – How You Can Get Free of Worry, Illness and Anxiety and Enjoy Abundance, Health and Confidence

Be a Wiccan Badass: Become More Confident and Unleash Your Inner Power

Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path

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

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

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

Goddess Style Weight Loss: Wiccans — Happy, Healthy and Confident

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

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

“It’s a tough choice,” my friend, Amanda, said.

“Which one?” I asked.

“Not giving up,” she replied.

I nodded. I’ve learned that life can be so tough that it’s hard to remember the good parts of one’s day.

“Let My worship be within the heart that rejoiceth.” – The Goddess speaking in The Charge of the Goddess, written by Doreen Valiente

A definition of rejoice includes “feel or show great joy or delight. (Oxford Languages)”

The question is: “How can we keep the door open to good moments?”

How can we keep our hearts in the place of rejoicing and being grateful?

I have three insights for you.

1. Communicate with the Goddess for your needs.

“Whenever ye have need of anything, once in a month, and better it be when the Moon be full, then ye shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of me, who am Queen of all Witcheries.” – The Goddess speaking in The Charge of the Goddess, written by Doreen Valiente

This phrase “whenever ye have need of anything” captures my attention. How often do you ask for what you need?

Some of us hesitate to ask. Why don’t we go to the Goddess and God more often?

See if you relate to this. I often feel tired and lack energy.
I cannot let myself get stuck.

Perhaps, similar to me, you need to set a real intention to connect with the Gods.

2. Release yourself from tiredness and connect with the Gods.

I have learned that a vague idea does not move me to action.

Here’s a better plan. 

A. Set an intention.

Identify how many times a week you’re going to connect with the Gods

B. Make a schedule.

Set a time of day. Identify how long you will devote to connecting with the Gods. Decide how often you’ll connect with the Gods.

C. Make your action into a routine.

Start with something simple and easy. (I began by saying a prayer every morning before I opened my laptop computer.)

3. Make a shrine.

Making a shrine to the God and Goddess can create good feelings.

With your shrine, you make offerings and pray to the God and Goddess. These can be happy and good moments in your day.

Be creative in your design. It doesn’t need to be big and flashy. You can see an example in my Mobile Shrine blog post.

Have fun. Your shrine will serve you well. It will be a focal point for your prayers. Place your offerings in your shrine.

Your shrine will help you stay connected to the Gods and give you happy moments while communicating with Them.

Here is a big benefit: Your shrine helps you develop Spiritual Energy to stay open to good moments—during the rest of your day.

May these insights support your path.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

Donate to our team at Goddess Has Your Back to support continued content.

---

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

---

---

Looking for gifts?

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

Goddess Style Weight Loss: Wiccans — Happy, Healthy and Confident

Goddess Has Answers to Life’s Tough Problems: Wiccans – How You Can Experience Happiness and Healing through Goddess’s Wisdom

Break Free with Goddess: Wiccans – How You Can Get Free of Worry, Illness and Anxiety and Enjoy Abundance, Health and Confidence

Be a Wiccan Badass: Become More Confident and Unleash Your Inner Power

Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path

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

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

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

Goddess Style Weight Loss: Wiccans — Happy, Healthy and Confident

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

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