Meditation Spell Guide

If you feel you need to give your meditation an extra boost, or would like to ask for help meditating in a ritual or spell, here are some basic magickal correspondences dealing with meditation.

Colors; Blue, White, Silver, Indigo, Purple, Violet, Yellow

Astrology; Aquarius, Pisces

Planets; Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Day of the Week: Saturdays or Wednesdays

Element: Air

Plants & Herbs;
Basil, Bay Laurel, Benzoin, Copal, Frankincense, Gardenia, Jasmine, Lavender, Mugwort, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Patchouli, Sage, Witchgrass, Wormwood

Crystals & Gemstones;
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Blue Topaz, Calcite, Citrine, Herkimer Diamond, Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Mica, Moonstone, Obsidian, Onyx, Peridot, Quartz, Rose Quartz, Sapphire, Selenite, Sodalite,Topaz, Turquoise, Ulexite

Additional Tools;
Bell, Chimes, Tibetan Singing Bowl, Meditation Pillow, a Meditation Table or Altar


If you are having trouble with meditation; whether it be finding the time to meditate, or being able to still your mind long enough to relax, look at this list and see what you can put together to encourage and enhance your meditation practice.  The more ritualistic you make your meditation time, with the continuous practice and repetition of the same ritual each time, you will begin to settle more quickly and easily into a meditative state. You will also have made more of a commitment to practice meditation and there fore will find more time, or time will present itself to you.

For example, using the list and suggestions above, I would make a small meditation table in my bedroom or another private area... even a bathroom!  Place a few of the above mentioned crystals on it, along with an Air Element representation of my choice.  I would place my bell or Tibetan Singing Bowl on this table, and an incense burner or essential oil diffuser.... and choose from the above listed plants and herbs for a scent for my incense or oil.  I may find a candle in one of the colors listed above, anoint it with essential oil from one of the plants listed above and bless it with my intention to meditate more often or for longer periods of time.  I might choose to carve symbols that represent the astrological signs or planets listed above into the sides of my candle.  Once I have my area set up, I begin each meditation the same way.  I make note of what order I do things in and remember to do them in the same order each time I sit down to meditate... this repetition creates ritual.
For example, I might do a few simple stretches and drink some water.  Roll my neck and shoulders gently and stretch my back and legs to prepare for sitting.  Then I light my candle, and say a simple prayer to God/Goddess/Angels/Spirit Guides to protect me and help me during my meditation.  Next I light the incense or oil burner and simply breathe the aroma for a minute, enjoying it.  Then I would sit myself in the position I am going to meditate in, ring my bell one time to signal the beginning of my meditation, and then begin.

This is just one example of how you may use the list above to help you in meditation.  There are so many possibilities with the things listed above, from the blends of incense you might make, a mojo bag to hold while you meditate, crystals to use on a meditation mala necklace, symbols and colors to create a mandala for meditation.... come up with whatever works best for you and use it to enhance your meditation practice!

Message from the Angels; Breath

This is from the book, "Messages From Your Angels" by Doreen Virtue.  Doreen works very closely with the Angels, who are non-denominational beings of Light and Love.  She can see, hear and feel them, and she wrote this book of messages she has channeled from the Angels for all humans to hear.  I felt this is an important message to share right now, with our focus on Breath and Meditation in this week's lesson on the Air Element

Breath

"Ahh yes, your relationship to oxygen.  The very breath that you take at this moment is fueled by a desire to continue on this path that you have started.  Some may say that breath is an automatic instinct, but from our perspective, it is a behavior that you engage in, as confirmation of your desire to stay upon the earth.

Each breath contains information within it's molecular structure.  We are in charge of this exchange of information.  For, as you continue with your stay upon Earth, you need sustenance and assistance.  We imbue each molecule of precious oxygen with guidance and instructions.  It is our chief means of staying in touch with you, and within you.

Your breath is tantamount to a continuous meeting between us angels, your higher consciousness, and your Earthly self.  It is a round-table discussion, in which your next move is planned, and then the next.  All of this is based upon your intentions, you see.  With your out-breath, we are able to extract from you that which you no longer desire.  And with your in-breath, we imbue positive direction that holds you up in the face of apparent discourse.

The stronger your desire, the stronger your breath.  That is why during moments of strong desire, your breath deepens, and during moments when you feel helpless, your breath is shallow.  Anytime you desire to create strong and rapid movement in your life, simply deepen your breath while perceiving your desire.  You can achieve this through physical exertion, or simply through breath combined with meditation.  

This formula may seem quite simple, yet we assure you that it is a powerful one that is instilled deep within your subconscious mind,  So often we see you weary and in need of our help.  You call upon us, yet our effectiveness is hampered by your slow and shallow breath.  Right now, draw upon a deep and elongated breath while you call upon us for assistance.  You shall feel our presence as you inhale.  

When we encourage you to exercise, we do so partly to encourage this deeper form of breath.  We know you have noticed how many of your questions and troubles are answered at the conclusion of your exercise activities.  That is because we are deeply transmitting to you as you exercise and deepen your breath.  We are instilling you with comfort, guidance, and new perspectives on the situations at hand.

Awareness of your breath is essential for you at this time.  Breathe deeply into your belly, and enjoy the sensation of filling your lungs.  The higher the percentage of oxygen within each breath, the greater our degree of transmission to you.  This is why it is more difficult to hear us when you block your body from receiving oxygen through such activities as smoking, drinking alcohol or carbonated drinks, and breathing fumes and polluted air.  That is one more reason why we ask you to join with us in dispensing toxic soot from your air, as it diminishes our abilities to freely communicate with you and all beings.  For now then, dear child of God, establish your foothold strongly by concentrating on deepening and strengthening your breath.  Then, we shall see what information is in the store for you - information that can free you in so many ways!!"

Air Element Study, Lesson 3 - Breath & Meditation

Air Element Studies, Lesson 3 - Breath & Meditation

The easiest and most efficient way to connect with Air Energy is something you do all the time anyways.  Breathing.

Inhale.

Exhale.

You just engaged yourself quite directly with the Element of Air.  Of course, to really connect with Air Energy you need to bring awareness to your breathing.  Pay attention to it.  Do it with intention, take notice of how you feel with each breath.  This is where meditation comes in.
Meditation is a form of Air Element Magick.  It's an important skill to learn, not just for Air Energy magick, but for all forms of magick, for positivity, the law of attraction, stress relief, and improved health.  Meditation improves your focus and concentration, which makes it easier for you to truly focus your intent into any magick or ritual you do.  It also improves your brain-power as your focus and concentration improve, so do your abilities to learn and remember things (as you remember... learning and studying are basic Air Element aspects).  Meditation and focused breathing improves blood flow to your brain, eyes, and all other internal organs, improving your all over-health and sense of well being.  It can help you relieve stress, sleep better, worry less, and just feel better!

Over the next week I will post some basic meditation tips and techniques, a few guided meditations, and yes we will even create a craft project to help us with our breath meditations!  For starters, here is some food for thought;

The Meaning of the Breath
by Stephan Bodain, from "Meditation For Dummies"
"  Traditional cultures identified the breath with the life force that animates all beings.  For example, the Latin word spiritus (the root of both "spirited" and "spiritual"), the Greek word anima (from which we derive the word "animated"), the Hebrew word ruach, and the Sanskrit word brahman may all sound quite different, but they all have one thing in common - they all mean both "breath" and "Spirit or Soul".  When you follow your breath with awareness, you're not only harmonizing your body and mind, which gives you a sense of inner harmony and wholeness, you're also exploring the living frontier where body, mind, and spirit meet - and attuning yourself to a spiritual dimension of being."

Getting Started.... Basic Awareness of Breath Meditation
There are many basic meditation techniques that involve controlling the breath (controlling the length of inhale and exhale), counting the breath (counting how many breaths you take or how long each breath is), or creating a certain rhythm to your breath.  We will explore some of these later on.  But for now, just to simply learn awareness and contact basic Air Energy.... begin by simply being aware of your breath.  Sit comfortably, and relax.  It's best not to lay down because you may fall asleep, and while you do want to relax, you also want to remain aware.  Find a comfortable position and simply observe your breath.  Observe how your lungs expand.  Observe how in some breaths you breathe down into your belly, and in other breaths you simply breathe into the top of your lungs.  Observe that your exhale is naturally longer in length than your inhale.  Just spend 5 to 10 minutes observing your breathing, not trying to control or change it but simply just trying to remain in awareness of your breath.  If your mind wanders and you find you are thinking of something other than your breath, that's okay.  Just gently re-direct your focus and awareness to your breathing.  Be gentle with yourself, as if you are reminding a child who has been distracted to get back to their task.  Just simply spend some time in awareness of your breath.  Repeat this throughout the next couple of days.  Even when you are busy, take a moment to notice your breathing and how it is changed based on how you feel, what you are doing, who you are around.  Make an effort over the next few days to simply bring awareness to the act of breathing, which is something we normally do without notice or thought.

For Young Children (or for the young at heart!)
Sit cross-legged.  Place your hands on your chest and simply notice how your chest moves up and down with each inhale and exhale.  Do this for a couple minutes.  Next, lay down flat on your back.  Place a small stuffed animal on your belly.  Notice how it moves up and down with each exhale and inhale.  Try to remain focused on moving your toy up and down by simply breathing in and out as long as you can, up to 5 minutes.

A Spell For Balance

Air Element Studies, Lesson Two

Air Pollution and What We Can Do about it.

A Spell For Balance

by Starhawk, from "The Earth Path"

"When you are faced with a choice to do something small in service of the Earth that requires some sacrifice [or change] on your part, stop first, breathe and ground and say;

"I offer up this (walk, bus ride, effort of recycling, creation of a compost pile, money spent on an energy saving light bulb... etc.) to the greater balance and healing of the Earth.  Let this small act be like a ripple that grows into a wide circle as it moves outward, leading to greater change.  With every breath in as I (walk, ride, compost, enjoy the light...etc), I will remember my gratitude to the ancestors for the miracle gift of air.  With every breath out I will renew my love and commitment to the balance"."

If you haven't yet, choose something you can do to help prevent and clean up air pollution.  Make a commitment to do it, say this prayer, and remember to breathe in and out slowly and feel gratitude, respect, balance, and intention every time you do whatever it is you have chosen.  No matter how small it seems, it is an act to restore balance and show your love for the Earth and respect to your Ancestors.

This is one small thing I have done so far.  I bought a second trash can for my kitchen, and I labeled it so my kids know to use it for items that can be recycled.  This helps them remember to sort the recyclables from the regular trash, which means we should be recycling a little bit more every week!  I am going to say the above prayer every time I empty this trash bin into our Recycling Collection bin that the city provides for us.  

Environmental Healing Spell Guide

Air Element Study, Lesson Two

Air Pollution and what we can do to help.

If you are wanting to create your own spell or ritual for Healing of The Earth, here are some correspondences you might want to keep in mind.  Creating your own spell is easy and fun, and I think sometimes a spell created on our own can be more powerful because we put our own energy into coming up with it.

Environmental Healing Spell Correspondences

Colors; (Colors can be used for candles you use, paper your write on, color of pen you use for writing your prayer, ribbons or string/cord you use, or fabric to make a sachet.)
For Earth Healing; Green, Brown, Black
For Air Healing; Yellow, White, or Sky Blue
For Water Healing: Blue or Sea-Green

Plants;  (Used in the form of incense, essential oils, or dried herbs you use in any other way)
Acorn, Apple, Basil, Copal, Elm, Frankincense, Lavender, Maple, Myrrh, Pine, Rose, Sage, Sandalwood, Tobacco, Willow, Yarrow

Crystals and Gemstones;
Amber, Bloodstone, Calcite, Carnelian, Copper, Garnet, Jasper, Obsidian, Petrified Wood, Quartz

Astrological Signs (For timing of your spell, or for writing / carving a sigil representing the sign's power into your candle or paper, etc)
For Earth Healing; Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
For Air Healing; Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
For Water Healing; Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Day of the Week (not necessary, but might add a boost to your spell if you can do it on the day of the week related to it's element.)
For Earth Healing; Saturday, Thursday
For Air Healing; Wednesday, Sunday
For Water Healing; Monday

Element/Direction/Elementals.  All directions may be summoned for your circle, as all elements are connected.  But you can pay special attention in calling these elements or directions depending on what kind of environmental healing you are doing.
Earth Healing; Earth/North/Gnomes
Air Healing; Air/East/Sylphs
Water Healing; Water/West/Sprites or Mermaids

Tarot Cards; (Some people like to place Tarot Cards on their Altar to represent the magick they are working)
Earth Healing; The Empress, The World or Ace of Pentacles
Air Healing; The Sun, The Lovers, Ace of Swords (or Ace of Wands depending on your deck's correspondences)
Water Healing: The Star, Temperance, or Ace of Cups

For a list of Archangels, Gods & Goddesses, and Elementals you can call on for Environmental work and Earth Healing, read this post.

Chemtrails - Info & Prayer For Healing The Skies

Air Element Studies; Lesson Two

Air Pollution and what we can do about it.

Here are two documentaries about chemtrails.  Please watch them when you have time.  Below is a prayer invoking several different Archangels and Deities to help with clearing away the toxins in the skies left by chemtrails.

What in The World Are They Spraying?

Why In The World Are They Spraying? 

Chief Calls for World Prayer for Chemtrail Healing

This is another link to someone praying for healing of chemtrails, though I can't get the video to load you can check it out as well; http://youtu.be/Toa45HexG9g 

Simple Prayer for Healing of Chemtrails.  Simply ask whatever God, Goddess, Archangel, or Elemental you wish to work with to clear the skies when you see chemtrails.

Example, "Archangel Michael, please help clear away the toxins in the skies left by chemtrails.  Heal the skies and let them shine clear.  Amen."

Or, you can even include all the Archangels, Dieties, and Elementals I mentioned in This Post.

For Example;

Archangel Ariel, please help protect the animals of the earth, including humans, by clearing away the toxins created by chemtrails.  Archangel Jophiel, please help make the skies beautiful again and clear away all traces of these chemtrails in the sky, and help all people see the beauty of nature.  Archangel Michael, please help clear away the toxins in the skies left by chemtrails and help us heal the skies.  Beautiful Amaterasu, Goddess of the Sun, please help clear the skies of pollution and let us absorb the true, healthy light of the sun, and help us show others the way to heal the planet.  Beloved Aine, Queen of the Faeries, please help heal the skies and protect the earth and all it's inhabitants.  I offer my aid to You and the faeries in doing my part to help take care of nature.  Beautiful Sylphs, creatures of the Wind, please help clear the skies and bring only weather that is natural, not man-made and toxic.  Powerful Dragons of the East and the Air Element, we would be ever grateful to you for flying through the skies to clear away these toxins, chemtrails, and smog with your powerful wings.  Swift Mercury, messenger of The Gods, carry our prayer through the skies, take our message of love and healing far and wide and let our prayer be heard by all Divine Forces, Angels,  Elementals, and Ascended Masters.  

You can say this entire prayer, or just choose the parts of it you feel comfortable saying.  Or, call upon your own deity of choice, or simply The Divine, Mother Nature, etc.  Let's join together in daily prayer to help heal the skies, and in prayer whenever you see chemtrails over the areas where you live or work.

Air Element Study; Lesson 2 - Air Purification (Household Magick)

Air Element Study: Lesson 2

Air Purification (Household Magick)

Here are some methods for purifying the Air within your home! 

Fresh Air Spell

by Ember

"This spell is to create a room-cleansing mist to cleanse a space of negative energy and create a positive atmosphere.  Make a "tea bag" by adding equal parts rosemary and sage to a piece of cheesecloth.  Tie the bag and toss it into water that is just at the brink of boiling.  Allow this infusion to steep until it's partially cooled.  Remove the cheesecloth bag and pour the mixture into a clean spray bottle.  Add a few drops of peppermint and orange essential oil, a sprig of dill, and a pinch of sea salt.  Place the bottle on your altar or table and allow it to cool completely.  If you wish, make a circle of quartz crystals around it and focus your intent on specific issues you wish to manifest.  Spray the mixture into the air of any room you would like to freshen with positive energy."

Note from Tarot Mom; To make this spell into a more Air Energy type of spell, place it on your Air Altar before use, light your Air Element Candle, place the Ace of Swords next the the bottle with the crystals, and say a prayer asking the water mixture to be blessed with the energy of fresh Air; and focus your intent on creating positive space that allows clear thinking, learning, and communication.  For an extra Air Energy boost, ring a bell as you spray the room.

Air Purifying Household Plants

Some wonderful plants to keep around your home, they will suck up large amounts of carbon dioxide and other toxities in the air and put out nice big bursts of Oxygen purifying the air. 

1. Bamboo Palm According to NASA, it removes formaldehyde and is also said to act as a natural humidifier.

2. Snake Plant Found by NASA to absorb nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde.

3. Areca Palm One of the best air purifying plants for general air cleanliness.

4. Spider Plant Great indoor plant for removing carbon monoxide and other toxins or impurities. Spider plants are one of three plants NASA deems best at removing formaldehyde from the air.

5. Peace Lily Peace lilies could be called the clean all. They're often placed in bathrooms or laundry rooms because they're known for removing mold spores. Also know to remove formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.

6. Gerbera Daisy Not only do these gorgeous flowers remove benzene from the air, they're known to improve sleep by absorbing carbon dioxide and giving off more oxygen over night. So make great bedroom plants.

~ From "Wicca Teachings" on FaceBook

Himalayan Salt Lamps

Scientific studies have shown that rock salt lamps can increase the negative ion count by up to 300% and excessive negative ions are essential for a positive mood and high energy. When warmed by the globe the rock salt generates a stream of negative ions which improves the air quality.

They remove odors from the air naturally, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Televisions, radios, computers, microwaves, transmitters all produce positive ions. Placing a Rock Salt Lamp nearby produces the negative ions required for good health. Using one at work will help to make you feel more energized. 

Working under bright artificial light can make you feel tired, however the negative ions created by your lamp, balance this energy making you fell rejuvenated and energized.

Also beneficial for people effected by arthritis, asthma, stress, insomnia, aches, fatigue, tiredness, migraines, headaches, hormonal imbalance, attention deficit disorder and poor concentration.

It is safe and beneficial to leave your lamp on at all times.

Care of your lamp:

To clean your lamp just wipe gently with a damp cloth. Do not use a soaking cloth as this will begin to dissolve it. 

If you live in a humid area place your lamp in a plastic bag when it is turned off so it will not absorb the moisture in the air.

Angelic Guidance for the week of April 15 - 21

As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Doreen Virtue.  I consider her to be one of my personal spiritual teachers, one of my "gurus".  Although I have never met her in person, I own many of her books and oracle card decks, listen to her radio show, and watch her weekly oracle card readings on youtube.

This week I wanted to share with you the video she posted for the coming week.  It speaks of the empowerment that comes from our own personal choices, and also the importance of seeking for an accepting the help or guidance of others.  I think this week's reading goes quite perfectly with our Fairie message for this week, don't you?  The Fairies have urged us to cleanse and detoxify our bodies; cleansing ourselves of harmful toxins we put in our bodies.  Watch this reading for the week by Doreen and see how it might fit in with our week as we embark upon a somewhat uncomfortable - yet empowering - journey of detoxification!

I also found another Oracle card reader who works closely with the Angels who posted a similar style of reading for the week, using a different Oracle Card Deck.  I was delighted with how these two readings seem to really align with and support each other!  Once again keep in mind our goal of detoxification as you listen to this reading;

Overview from both readings & my thoughts as they apply to our "Detoxification" reading from Friday.
Beginning of the week;
Page of Water.  Intuition, sensitivity, fears.  (deciding to give up an addiction or detoxify your body can be scary, overwhelming, and set your sensitivity on edge.)
What do Your Desire? - set your intention clearly in your mind, decide why you are doing this and that you deserve to treat your body with respect.
Manifesting Dreams; My dreams are coming true!  Again, all about setting your intention clearly and trusting that you can manifest your desires, and you CAN accomplish this goal!  Oh, and check out the picture on that card- full of fresh fruits and vegetables!

Middle of the week;
King of Air; Brilliant, impartial, professional, diplomatic.  You gain confidence as the week goes on, and possibly encounter a person or people who are supporting you along the way.
Energy Work; The power of self-healing, taking care of your body... these are now coming through on a spiritual and energetic level as well!
Awakening Ancient Wisdom; Deep inner knowing is emerging within me!  This card perfectly complements the King of Air - confidence, knowledge, support, and wisdom! Pay attention to sychronicities and signs that will be affirming that your detoxification process is going well, and trust that this process will bring you great inner wisdom!

End of the week; (Weekend)
Eight of Water; a new emotional level.  You will have moved on from fear and sensitivity of the beginning of the week, to a point where you are feeling ready to move on to the next stage in your life.  Isn't that one of the goals of detoxification?  Removing some blocks and freeing ourselves to see and feel what we really want!
Be Honest with Yourself - Clarify what you are feeling.  Now that you have detoxified your body, you can take a more honest look at how you are feeling, without worrying about whether your feelings and intuitions are being clouded by certain toxins or physical ailments.
Exceeding Expectations; I soar into excellence!  If you have followed through on your detoxification and the advice of the cards from earlier in the week (Setting your intentions clearly, manifesting what you want, being confident, getting support from others, doing energy-work and self-healing) then you have something to be proud of and you have probably exceeded your own expectations!  You have removed blocks and physical ailments and are now able to be truly honest with yourself.... you are ready to soar to the next level of healing and learning!

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Thanks for reading and make sure you come back often as we learn more about the Air Element, and listen to and apply the advice of the Fairies and The Angels as we continue our Air Element Studies!

Air Quality Control Bath / Aura Cleanse Bath (for detoxification)

These are two homeopathic bath remedies designed to help detoxify the body and skin, and I thought they would be perfect for this week because of our message from the Fairies urging us to Detoxify.  (see yesterday's post).

Air-Quality Control Bath and Face Mask
to heal the effects of air pollution and smog to our faces and skin.
Mask: 2 tbsp. powdered brewer's yeast, 3 tbsp. warm water
mix until smooth and apply to face and neck in gentle upward strokes.  For acne, add 4 drops of Tea-Tree Oil.
Bath: Fill bathtub with hot water, add 2 cups of Epsom salt and 5 drops each of Lavender oil and chamomile oil.. 
Leave the face mask on for 15 - 30 minutes while relaxing in the bath.  Afterwards, rinse face with cool water.

Yogi's Aura-Cleanse Bath
a powerful chemical detox and spiritual/auric cleanser.
Bath: 1 lb. Baking Soda, 1/2 lb sea salt or coarse kosher salt.  Dissolve all ingredients in a bathtub full of hot water, soak for 20 to 30 minutes in the tub.  Rinse your body with lukewarm to cool water after the bath.
For added spiritual and auric cleansing, you may choose to place several clear quartz crystals in the water with you, or around the edges of the tub.  Light several white candles around the bathroom.  Burn incense while you bathe; preferably Sage, Sandalwood, or Dragon's Blood.  You may also want to listen to some relaxing meditation music or a meditation cd.  (I would suggest the Chakra Clearing CD by Doreen Virtue)

These bath detoxification's were not written by me, but they have been paraphrased and are not quoted directly from the source.  I copied them down from a copy of a friend's book several years ago and while the recipe is exact, I may have added some of my own suggestions.  The book that I originally got the recipes from was called "Water Magic: Healing Bath Recipes for the Body, Spirit, and Soul", by Mary Muryn.  From what I recall, it was a wonderful book and I hope to someday own my own copy!  When we study the water element, I will describe more about magickal baths.... and although this may seem like Water Magick, I am including these in our Air Element study because of their powerful detoxification qualities and the fact that they help cleanse our bodies and skin of toxins we may encounter in polluted air.  And also, because of yesterday's Fairie message about detoxification, of course!!

In my Book of Shadows I also found this Detoxifying tea recipe, though I don't remember where I found it.

Body Cleansing Tea
to promote the immune system, for clear skin, and to remove toxins from the body.
3 tsp. chopped nettle leaves
1 tsp. parsley
1/2 tsp. lavender flowers
juice of 1/2 a lemon
Boil in one cup of water, allow to cool to drinking temperature, enjoy!

Faerie Friday - Detoxification

I thought that with our Air Element studies, it would be a good time to connect with the Faeries and see what lessons they have for us each week!  So every Friday (as my hectic life permits) I will draw a card - either from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck by Doreen Virtue, or from The Fey Tarot by Mara Aghem.  For each week's reading I will ask what advice the Fairies have for us; both for myself and for those of us who are following this blog and the Air Element Studies.  This card will give us something we can work on, an area of focus, or some advice to follow for the following week.... from Friday thru next Friday!  Enjoy, and let's see what the Faeries have to teach us!

This week I drew a card from the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Cards by Doreen Virtue.

DETOXIFICATION

Artwork by Nancy Chien-Eriksen

Card Meaning;

"You are being guided to clean your body, environment, mind, and heart of toxins.  God and the fairies will help you with this endeavor. 

It's time to let go of toxins, within and around you.  This card validates your inner guidance that has been telling you to let go of harmful habits.  Go outside in nature, and call upon the fairies to surround you.  Ask God (and Goddess) and the fairies to help you release toxins from your mind, body, and heart.  Ask them to help you release cravings for harmful habits.

You'll soon find yourself naturally desiring organic fresh food and produce.  You'll be guided to read ingredient labels of all foods, beverages, and toiletry items, and you'll only want to use natural products.  You'll be guided away from environmental toxins.  And most important, your thoughts and emotions will veer away from judgment and fear, and will become love based instead.

Affirmation: I take excellent care of my body, and I crave only healthful foods and beverages."

From the Healing With The Fairies Oracle Deck Guidebook by Doreen Virtue, Hay House Inc.  

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I feel that this card is reminding us that our Mind, Body, and Spirit are all connected. In order to embark upon any kind of spiritual journey or learning-quest, our bodies must be healthy and well taken care of.  Pay attention to what you are putting in your body.  Drink more water, make healthier choices, embark upon a detoxification process such as a juice fast if you feel it necessary at this time.  Exercise, do yoga, meditate, and make sure you are taking care of your basic hygiene needs.  You may also want to examine what kinds of cleaning products you use in your home and look for less toxic products for cleaning your home environment.  The fairies will guide you to show you what you need to change in your life, if you are open to listening to them!  For a couple tips on using a homeopathic bath to help you detoxify, check HERE.

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Here are a few additional meditations and affirmations to help you with the Detoxification process!

Addiction;

Affirmation 1; "I claim my power and move beyond all limitations."

Affirmation 2; "I forgive myself, and I set myself free."

Addiction Meditation;

Heavy dependence on anything outside myself is addiction.  I can be addicted to drugs and alcohol, to sex and tobacco; and I can also be addicted to blaming people or judging people, to illness, to debt, to being a victim, to being rejected.  Yet, I can move beyond these things.  Being addicted is giving up my power to substance or a habit.  I can always take my power back.  This is the moment I can take my power back!  I choose to develop the positive habit of knowing that life is here for me.  I am willing to forgive myself and move on.  I have an eternal spirit that has always been with me, and it is here with me now.  I relax and let go, and I remember to breathe as I release old habits and practice positive new ones.

Food;

Affirmation 1; "Food is a good friend.  I thank it for giving it's life to nourish me."

Affirmation 2; "I love eating good, healthy food."

Food Meditation;

Eating good, nutritious food is deeply pleasurable whether I am at home, in a restaurant, camping, hiking, or taking my lunch break at work.  I love myself; therefore I choose to be aware of what I put into my mouth and how it makes me feel.  When I eat, I am putting fuel into my body to give me energy.  Every body is different.  I easily find the kind of fuel that my body needs to have optimum health and energy.  Fast foods can be fun occasionally, but it is not normal or healthy to exist on colas, cakes, and processed convenience foods that have little nutrition in them.  Learning about the basics of good nutrition is fun and energizing.  I enjoy cooking and eating delicious, healthful, natural foods.

Nutrition;

Affirmation 1; "I lovingly take charge of my body now."

Affirmation 2: "I nourish myself with love."

Nutrition Meditation;

I care enough for myself to nourish myself with all the best that Life has to offer.  I learn about nutrition because I am a precious being, and I want to take the best care of me that I can.  My body is special and different from all other bodies; therefore, I learn the things that my body assimilates the best.  I learn everything I can about food and beverages.  I pay attention to what I eat and drink, and I I notice some food or beverage does not agree with me.  If I have something to eat and an hour later I feel tired or fall asleep, I realize that particular food is not good for my body at this time.  I search out the foods that give me good energy.  I bless all my food with love and gratitude. I am nurtured and nourished.  I feel healthy, happy, and great!

Body;

Affirmation 1; "My body is a good friend that I take loving care of."

Affirmation 2; "I love my body"

Body Meditation;

My body is perfect for me at this time.  My body weight is also perfect.  I am exactly where I choose to be.  I am beautiful, and every day I become more attractive.  This concept used to be very hard for me to accept, yet things are changing now that I am treating myself as if I am someone who is deeply loved.  I'm learning to reward myself with healthy little treats and pleasures now and again.  Little acts of love nurture me, doing things that I really like, such as quiet time, a walk in nature, a hot soothing bath. or anything that really gives me pleasure.  Caring for my body is the best way to show myself self-love and acceptance.  I believe it is okay to like myself and be my own best friend.  I know my body is filled with star light and that I sparkle and glow everywhere I go.

Housekeeping;

Affirmation 1; "I continually clean the rooms of my mind."

Affirmation 2; "Simple Household chores are a snap for me."

Housekeeping Meditation;

I make housework fun.  I begin anywhere and move through the rooms with artistic flair.  I toss out the garbage.  I dust and polish those things I treasure.  We all have a set of beliefs.  And just like a comfortable, familiar reading chair, we keep sitting in these beliefs over and over again.  Our beliefs create our experiences.  Some of these beliefs create wonderful experiences.  And some of them can become like an uncomfortable old chair that we don't want to throw out.  I know that I really can toss out old beliefs, and I can choose new ones that significantly improve the quality of my life.  It's like housecleaning.  I need to clean my physical house periodically, otherwise it gets to a point where I really can't live in it.  I don't have to be fanatical.  I do need to clean.  Physically and mentally, I fill the rooms of my house with love.

All the above meditations are from the book, "Meditations To Heal Your Life" by Louise L. Hay, Hay House Inc.

___________________________________________

I would suggest that along with the initial advice from the Fairy Oracle Card and asking the fairies for help with detoxification, you choose one of the above meditations (whichever one calls out to you as the one you need help with the most or would be most beneficial to you), and read it to yourself two or three times a day for the next week.  You can read it once in the morning upon waking up, once during the day, and again when you go to bed.  Good luck, and don't forget; God, Goddess, and the Fairies are helping you with this undertaking!

FlyLady - Pagan Style; Take Care of YOU! Day 28

As you may have noticed, I have been posting the FlyLady 31 Baby Steps and my thoughts on them. I have been adding my thoughts on how cleaning your house, even the simple stuff, can be part of a spiritual devotion, and how the babysteps and the FlyLady program encourage you to think positive about yourself, your home, your habits - all to make life a little easier and better for you!

Today is Day 28 of the BabySteps! So far we have developed a few simple habits of things to do on a daily basis; in the form of simple morning & evening routines. Our goal is to make these routines a habit... if we do them consistently enough then they just become second nature!

Morning Routine

• Make Your Bed!
• Get up and get dressed to lace-up shoes; fixing your hair and face
• Look at your posted reminders in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Swish and Swipe
• What's For Dinner?
• Drink Water, Take your Vitamins *
• Recognize the negative voices and change them. Remember, you are FLYing now!
• Put out your Hot Spots for two minutes
• Check Your Laundry
• Five-minute Room Rescue (pick any room in the house). Set your timer and go!
• Spend 15 Minutes decluttering each day. You can’t organize clutter!

Afternoon Routine

• Check Kid's Backpacks for Flyers, News, Homework, etc.
• Homework Time
• Guide kids to do their daily chores
• Drink more water! *
• Check Hot Spots again
• See more ideas for building your Afternoon Routine Here!

Before-Bed Routine

• Keep your sink shining
• Check Your Laundry
• Drink more water! *
• What's For Dinner?
• Lay out your clothes for tomorrow
• Put out your Hot Spot. It will make you happy in the morning!
• Go to bed at a decent hour! Set a bedtime and stick with it!

*If we aren't taking care of ourselves, it's so much harder to take care of our homes and our families!  Add reminders to your Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Routines that will help you remember to drink plenty of water, take vitamins, eat healthy, and get enough rest!  Taking care of ourselves is fundamental!  Remember, F.L.Y. means Finally Loving Yourself... so remember to take care of yourself... YOU ARE WORTH IT!

FlyLady - Pagan Style; Get Enough Sleep!

As you may have noticed, I have been posting the FlyLady 31 Baby Steps and my thoughts on them. I have been adding my thoughts on how cleaning your house, even the simple stuff, can be part of a spiritual devotion, and how the babysteps and the FlyLady program encourage you to think positive about yourself, your home, your habits - all to make life a little easier and better for you!

Today is Day 17 of the BabySteps! So far we have developed a few simple habits of things to do on a daily basis; in the form of simple morning & evening routines. Our goal is to make these routines a habit... if we do them consistently enough then they just become second nature!

Morning Routine

• Make Your Bed!
• Get up and get dressed to lace-up shoes; fixing your hair and face
• Look at your posted reminders in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Recognize the negative voices and change them. Remember, you are FLYing now!
• Put out your Hot Spots for two minutes
• Five-minute Room Rescue (pick any room in the house). Set your timer and go!
• Spend 15 Minutes decluttering each day. You can’t organize clutter!

Before-Bed Routine

• Keep your sink shining
• Lay out your clothes for tomorrow
• Put out your Hot Spot. It will make you happy in the morning!
• Go to bed at a decent hour!  Set a bedtime and stick with it!

For day 17, FlyLady wants us to think about how much sleep we are getting.  If we stay up too late and don't get enough sleep, we aren't doing ourselves any favors!  I know this is something a lot of adults struggle with.  For me, I tend to stay up late because after the kids go to bed is the only time I really get to myself!  Yet as much as I resist the idea, I know that getting a better night's sleep would be beneficial for my health!  I thought it was ironic that the "Motivational Essay" I just posted for yesterday's babystep was also about getting enough sleep!  Wait, not ironic... but obvious now that the Universe is sending me a message that I need to get more sleep!

From a Pagan/Witchy perspective, I think our time spent sleeping, in itself is a magickal thing.  It is a time for our bodies to heal and rejuvenate.  It is a time for our mind to rest.  It is a time for our spirit to be free!  Many magickal things can happen to our spirit while we sleep!  We can receive special dreams, we can have visits from loved ones or astrally travel to different places (even if we don't remember those, they happen!)  We sometimes receive spiritual lessons from our angels and spirit guides in our sleep!  Again, we might not remember these... it's like a file was downloaded to our system and then once we are awake, we have to be open enough to receiving the message before we can find the file!  Otherwise the "file" is stored for when we are ready!
If we aren't giving our self enough time asleep, what might we be missing?!
Last year I read this amazing book, called The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep.  It deals with some more complex aspects of Buddhism and Yoga, but it's written in a way that is easy to understand and gives some great insights as to how important our sleep cycles are and how to make our sleep cycles a part of our spiritual practice.

Here is a great video by the author of the above mentioned book!

I know as a Pagan, it's hard to set a regular bedtime also because so much of our ritual work is done at night time!  We wait until the moon has risen high in the sky to get the full energy effect of some of our rituals!  For Pagans, our spiritual time isn't at 10 am on Sunday mornings!  It's anytime.... but preferably at night for many reasons!!  So sticking to a regular bedtime just isn't part of our spiritual path... and that's okay!  The key here is to forgive yourself on the nights you DO stay up late, but on the nights you don't have to stay up, don't!  Don't just stay up late for no reason!  Recognize that sleep can be a magickal time as well as the times you are awake, invoking the moon!
Getting yourself on a regular sleep schedule can be hard!  But if you are consistent, you can reset your inner clock.  Part of what's great about the FlyLady routines is that you develop a routine of things you do before bed.  Once those routines are done consistently, your body knows that when these things are done, it's time for sleep!  Even if you don't do your before bed routine, just consistently going to bed and getting up at the same times will help you retrain your body, mind, and spirit!  I found this excellent article with some very practical tips on how to get enough sleep, it is worth looking at to see if you can make some changes that will help you fall asleep easier!
http://healthylifejournal.org/healthy-living/how-to-get-enough-sleep-at-night/

FlyLady - Pagan Style; Hot Spots

For those of you who don't know what FlyLady is, it's an inspirational website designed to help you clean and de-clutter your home and your life. It helps you create routines that work for you, your lifestyle & your family to help housekeeping become stress-free and something you just do naturally and daily rather than something you put off until the last minute and then stress about when you have company coming over.

I have felt for awhile now that many aspects of the FlyLady program can be applied in spiritual ways to those who consider themselves, Neo-Pagans, Kitchen Witches, Hearth Witches, Green Witches, etc. I will be going over some FlyLady basics here in my blog and writing about how they can be seen as a spiritual thing; not just a house-cleaning and organizing thing! If you missed it, check out my post called "FlyLady - Pagan Style; Welcome Letter"

When you start with FlyLady, there are 31 days of "Baby Steps" to help you slowly start to integrate small changes into your daily routines. It's about developing habits and changing your mind-set to a positive one!

BabySteps Day 6
Keep Doing what you have been doing!
Look at the written reminders you have made for yourself!
Get Dressed To Shoes When you Get up!
Keep Your Sink Shining!
Learn about Hot Spots and spend 2 minutes "putting out" one major Hot Spot in your home!
(read FlyLady's Day 6 message here )

 

 

 

FlyLady describes a "Hot Spot" as a place that attracts clutter.  We all have places in our home... usually some kind of flat surface like a table top, countertop, or a chair, where you put things instead of putting them away.  Then more things get put there, and more things, and more things.... and like a wildfire it is soon raging out of control... a big clutter spot that has taken over the whole surface!

 

Energetically, these Hot Spots can be dangerous!  In Feng-Shui we learn that clutter disrupts energy flow in our home and our lives, and this effects our stress levels, our health, our financial abundance, wealth, and family happiness.  How many times have you forgotten or missed a bill payment because you misplaced a bill in one of these "Hot Spots"?  Or had an argument with a family member because someone has "lost" or misplaced something, and eventually you find it buried at the bottom of one of these clutter piles.  All this could have been avoided if we had just put things away in the first place!  We tell this to our children all the time, and yet we still have these areas in our home that attract and collect clutter!  When I go around my house on a "Hot Spot Firedrill", I imagine that I am putting out little fires... it's almost like putting out random candles so they don't cause a house fire.  I find all sorts of things on random surfaces and I say "Hey!  You don't live there!  Where do you live?"  And I pick up the papers, mail, toy, hat, coat, random candy wrapper, etc.... and go find it's "Home".  It may sound silly, but I feel like a house fairy flying around and finding any unruly children and taking them back to their rooms!!

 

Today your goal is to identify your "Hot Spots".  You don't have to clean them all up today, just identify where they are throughout your home!  Spend at least 2 minutes cleaning one of these Hot Spots.  You are going to add this to your Daily Routines, to spend just 2 minutes every day clearing Hot Spots.  Once you get the main ones cleaned up, if you spend just two minutes every day going around your home and clearing those Hot Spots, they never build up and out of control again!  Just two minutes a day to put things away!  Eventually it becomes habit to keep these spaces cleared and put things away right away, and this will make a huge difference in how you take care of your home and family!

 

I have a hutch right next to our front door... a cabinet with doors on it.  When we get bills in the mail, I put them in here.  I throw away the junk mail, and take cards or letters to my desk.  When I need to find the bills, I know exactly where they are, and they are not cluttering up a spot on the kitchen table.  You can use a basket or a bin to hold your bills and important incoming mail... create a "home" for the things that need to be put away, filed, etc... this way you have a place to put things instead of just throwing them in a "Hot Spot".

 

Keep up the positive thinking!  Write a reminder to yourself to check your Hot Spots every day!  So far with the Baby Steps you are getting fully dressed when you get up in the morning, checking your written reminders to yourself, spending 2 minutes clearing your Hot Spots, and keeping your Sink Shining!  You are speaking to yourself with a more loving, positive voice and noticing how even these few little things you do... if you do them every day, they make a big difference!  Keep up the great work!

 



Clearing and Healing the Throat Chakra

I had a blank deck of cards that I used to make my own oracle cards with.  I didn't draw pictures but simply wrote different areas of spiritual focus on each card... for example there is one card for each element, one for each chakra, etc.  When I am feeling the desire to have a spiritual focus in my life, but having trouble finding exactly where that spiritual focus should be... I go to my hand-made deck.  Today before work I drew a card to see what my spiritual focus should be for this week.  I got the Throat Chakra card!  So I wanted to write a blog and share with you what I discover about the Throat Chakra and how to clear it and balance it.  First off here is a wonderful guided meditation I found for Clearing the Throat Chakra;

The Throat Chakra is the 5th Chakra and is also called Vishuddha Chakra.  It is located at the center of the throat and glows a clear, bright blue.  The energy of this chakra deals with our communication with others, the communication of our Higher Self with our being, our ability to hear and see Angels or Divine Presence, how we hear and speak truth, wisdom, and self expression of our creativity.  This chakra also deals with connecting our physical body to the spiritual.  It is located below the Third Eye and Crown chakras which deal more with our Higher self, and the lower chakras which deal with our physical being and our ego.  Vishuddha Chakra helps connect body with Spirit and helps us express ourselves as truly spiritual beings.  If you are ever having trouble in matters of communication or have trouble speaking your truth or speaking up when needed, you Throat Chakra is probably in need of balancing.  Alternatively, if you have been overly vocal and have used your words or communication in a disruptive way or untruthful way, your throat chakra will need clearing and balancing as well.

To determine whether you have an imbalance in Vishuddha Chakra you can ask yourself the following questions;
* Do others see me as aggressive and overbearing?
*Do I dominate conversations?
*Do I find it hard to speak up for myself?
*Do I live in a way that is true to my core beliefs and values?
* Do I lack inspiration?
*Do I feel connected to my spirituality?

It's funny that I got this card today, because my personal goal this week has been to avoid complaining, which is directly related to the throat chakra!  Let me tell you, it is hard to get through a day without a complaint!  But with a degree of awareness and self restraint, I think it is possible!  Along with some meditation on clearing the Throat Chakra, it should get easier to speak only positive words.... therefore attracting more positivity into your life!  Also, I am starting a new job and I am having trouble knowing when and how to exert my communication.  I have had a couple times when I should have spoken up and I didn't, and a couple times when maybe I am dominating conversations because I am trying to fit in with my new co-workers.  So I can definitely see how this chakra needs some clearing and balancing right now!

So how do we balance our Throat Chakra?*Well, first of all, listen to the guided meditation I posted above... I think it's perfect!  Maybe listen to it once a day while you work on clearing and healing your Throat Chakra.
* Use affirmations and positive statements.  OFTEN.  Pick daily affirmations for yourself and say them frequently.  Get yourself used to speaking positive words.... and try to avoid speaking negatively and complaining or arguing.  The more positive words you speak, the more you cleanse away the effects of negative words on your throat chakra.  Practice complimenting those around you, and yourself!
* Visualization - Visualize Vishuddha Chakra as a beautiful ball of blue light rotating in your throat.  Visualize clear white light radiating from the ball of blue light and cleansing away any impurities.  You can even use a clear quartz crytsal or any blue crystal or gemstone to physically help clear away any impurities in your Throat Chakra.
* Breathing - Meditate simply on your breathing.  Become aware of the flow of air in and out of your throat.  Practice awareness of breathing slowly and gently for a few minutes, then alternate to pushing the air quickly out of your throat (exhaling through the mouth) to clear away an impurities in the throat chakra.  Allow yourself to make a sound with each exhale... whatever noise comes naturally as you push the air out, just let it flow.  You can also meditate with the Mantra of "HAM" as you breathe and feel the vibration of the sound of HAM resonate in your throat.
* Yoga - use specific yoga poses to clear and balance Vishuddha Chakra.  Asanas that help align your throat chakra invovle many shoulder-opening poses.  Below are listed some Asanas that will help you balance, open, and heal your Throat Chakra.  (You can look these poses up online if you are unfamiliar with them)

Warm up -
Shoulder Rolls (roll your shoulders in circles forward 10 times and backwards 10 times)
Neck Rolls (roll your head gently in circles to the right 10 times, and gently in circles to the left 10 times)
Ujjayi Prayanama (Victorious Breath Pose)

Asanas -
Uttiha Hatasana (Upward Worship Pose) or Talasana (Upward Reaching Mountain Pose)
Ardha Uttanasana (Prepare Pose)
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose)
Chatushpada Pitham (Four legged Table Pose)
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge Pose)
Sarvangasana (Candle Pose/ Shoulderstand Pose)
Ardha Matsyendrasana (Seated Spinal Twist) left and then right
and don't forget to always finish your yoga practice with Savasana (Corpse Pose) for final relaxation and meditation.

Thursday Thirteen - 13 Ways to Nurture your Inner Child

In keeping with the theme of my previous two blog posts, I thought it would be fun to list 13 ways to Awaken and Nurture your Inner Child!



1. Eat healthy foods.  Think to yourself, would I let a child eat this way?  Chances are, you wouldn't let a child drink that soda or eat that junk food... so why do you let yourself eat that way?

2.  Get enough sleep.  Don't stay up too late!  Again... think of how you would care for a child.  Would you let them stay up this late and then still expect them to go through the next day without being grumpy and sleepy?  Why do we have different expectations for ourselves?

3.  Color!  That's right... get some crayons, markers, or colored pencils and some paper and let yourself draw and color!  This can be very theraputic!  Don't judge your artwork for perfection... once again... would you tell a child that their drawing is not good enough?  No, you would praise them and tell them how beautiful it is!

4. Read a book.  Read something light hearted and fun!  As a child we love a good story, and a good book has the power to transport us to another land or another time.  If you have a favorite book from your childhood, consider re-reading it.  Or, try reading something new!  Your inner child will love a new adventure, fantasy, or mystery novel!

5. Listen to some favorite music from your childhood.  What music reminds you of your childhood?  Music has a powerful ability to awaken the Inner Child by returning us to a time when we felt happy and peaceful.  Find some of that music that takes you back to a happy time in your childhood and listen to it!

6. Watch a movie you enjoyed when you were a child.  We all had a favorite movie, cartoon, or sitcom we loved to watch as a child.  Take some time to find and watch something that makes you smile and laugh... even something that makes you cry!

7. Play outside!  Don't make excuses about the weather... if it's too cold or there is still snow on the gound, bundle up, make a snow man, splash in some rain puddles!  If it's warm, take some time to play in the dirt, get your hands dirty digging for worms, making mudpies, and working in your garden or planting a tree or flowers!  If it's hot outside, put on some sunblock and go swimming or play in the sprinklers!

8. Go to a zoo or museum.  Look at some animals or learn something new!  To a child everything is new and amazing!  Find the joy in learning again!

9. Dance and Sing!  Turn up the music and let yourself dance and sing along!  You can even do this while you're doing housework!  Let yourself bounce and waggle however you want... a child doesn't care if anyone is watching.... so just dance like no one's watching and let yourself laugh and sing!

10. Play Dress-Up.  Every child likes to play dress up!  Find something in your closet you haven't worn for awhile... even that fancy dress or your nice Sunday Suit... put it on and just let yourself feel "Dressed Up" for awhile!  Ladies, Do your hair, paint your nails, do your make up... but do it a little differently than you would normally do it.... let yourself experiment and play the way a little girl plays with her mom's make up!

11.  Look for Fairies.  Find magic in every moment!  You can do this however you choose... it can be as simple as just taking time to notice the magic of a blooming flower or a magical moment in nature, or building a "Fairy House" to welcome the fairies into your home, garden, or yard.

12.  Treat others with kindness and compassion.  Children love pleasing others.  What can you do to bring a smile to someone's face, or warm someone's heart?  Chances are you have multiple opportunities in a day to show random acts of kindness and compassion to people... seize the moment!

13.  Love yourself the way your Gaurdian Angel loves you!  I got this idea from Delia at Open Your Heart Project.  This blog post outlines a simple meditation and awareness activity that will help you to love yourself the way your Gaurdian Angel loves you! - Love Yourself The Way Your Gaurdian Angel Loves You!




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Four-Twenty Tuesday

Four-Twenty Tuesday
Mood: Cathardic
Listening to: Madonna
Today I: ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Cramps Suck. Thank the gods for Pamprin. And those cool menstrual heating pad things. Stick a heating pad to the inside of your pants and let the heat melt those cramps away for 8 hours. Seriously, I was considering a trip to the ER, until the pamprin and heating pad kicked in.

Today someone came and fixed the swamp cooler. This may have saved my life today, if not at least my sanity.

I still can't use my dryer. Towels do not get very soft when they dry on a rack in the Arizona sun. My towels all feel crunchy. Drying off after a shower will be more like exfoliating with sandpaper. I will have to learn how to use fabric softener.

I started organizing the office. I should have taken some "Before" pictures, but I didn't think about it. I cleaned the entertainment center, hooked up the printer and DVD player, organized all the board games, and started organizing a bookshelf and some craft supplies. The heating pad, a Frappacino, half a Darvocet, and the nice cool air from the fixed swamp cooler are mostly to thank for this burst of energy and motivation. Soon I will get to the boxes with my tarot decks in them. I could have gotten them out today, but I'm just not feeling ready yet. I want them, but I don't. Hard to explain. Mercury retrograde menstruation has me all upside-down and inside out.

I really enjoyed tonite's episode of Glee, "The Power of Madonna". I folded my crunchy towels and felt sexy.

I Write Love On My Arms

I have struggled with depression since I was a teenager. I have learned coping skills since then and for the most part I am a positive and happy person. But when life gets stressful and the depression kicks in, it can be hard to practice what I preach. I told a friend last night, "I can't throw myself a life jacket." I was sitting here considering whether or not to call a depression crisis hotline, as I just felt that I needed someone to talk to. But I was scared, I've never called one of those hotlines before. And I kept giving myself excuses. I'm not suicidal, I'm not crying, I'm not cutting myself or self medicating with drugs. But other signs of depression have been here. I'm so tired, but I can't sleep at night. At night I lay awake in near panic-attack mode, my mind spinning with the worries and stresses o my life. In the daytime, I can function, but it's a struggle just to keep myself out of bed. On the days I do go back to bed, I sleep all day. On the days I manage to stay out of bed, I feel that it is all I can do to take care of the kids and the daily household chores. Taking a shower or bath? Too much work. Making important phone calls? Too hard. Eating? Too much effort.
So I was stting here looking online at a list of Depresson Hotlines, trying to decide whether or not to call someone. Which one? What would I say? Would they judge me? Would I be wasting my time calling a hotline that says "Suicide Hotline" - when I'm not suicidal? Excuses. I picked up my deck of cards (at the urging of an online friend) and drew a card. The 9 of Swords. (Above). Okay... obvious, right?
I called a local Crisis Hotline. It was the best thing I could have done. The person I talked to was so compassionate and understanding, and seemed to know exactly what to talk to me about. I talked for an hour to a stranger about my life and my feelings, and this phone call was probably the biggest act of self-love that I have taken in a long time. Aside from talking me through my feelings, she gave me some ideas and hope, along with some community refferal numbers to call for further assistance. I guess I'm writing this because I want others to hear first hand that these hotlines can help. If you're feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or depressed, call someone. It was the best thing I could have done.

Today is "To Write Love On Her Arms Day". TWLOHA is a Depression Awareness and support group. Each year they ask people to write love on their arms to spread awareness about Depression. As I wrote "Love" on my arm today, I realized how far I have come over the years. Last night I reached out and asked for help. In the past, I wouldn't have done that. I would have silently suffered until I reached my breaking point. Here on my arm where the words Love are written, there used to be scars. The scars have faded and over the years I have finally learned how to Love myself instead of hurt myself.

Warm Home Cider Spell

Kitchen Magick is all about letting everything you create in your home or kitchen have a focused purpose. Every moment can be magical, if you want it to be. When you cook something, think about each ingredient you add, visualize, meditate, pray. Focus on your food or drink being *more* than just physical sustenance, and visualize the outcome you desire.

Here is a recipe for Hot Spiced Apple Cider, and a spell I wrote to g along with it.

*Hot Spiced Cider *
8 cups Apple Cider or Apple juice
2 cups Orange juice
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
6 Cinnamon Sticks
1 Tsp Whole Cloves
1 Tsp Allspice
1/2 Tsp. Ginger
1 small apple or orange

Slice the apple or orange, stick the whole cloves into the apple or orange. Combine all ingredients in crockpot, slowcooker, or large pan. Heat slowly, serve while Hot!

"Warm Home Cider Spell"
Collect all ingredients for the recipe above, or for your own variation of Spiced Cider. As you add each ingredient individually, visualize the positve traits of these plants and spices entering your home. As the cider heats, the aroma will infuse these gifts into your home.

Apples / Apple Cider - Health, Healing, Fertility, Prosperity Creativity, Luck, Leadership, Happiness, Love

Allspice - Health, Healing, Creativity, Confidence, Communication, Happiness, Marriage/relationships

Cinnamon - Health, Healing, communication, confidence, employment, prosperity, success, wisdom.

Clove - Health, protection, fertility, confidence, employment, communication, love, stress relief, peace, happiness, understanding

Ginger - Grounding, health healing, breaking bad habits, happiness, love, marriage, success, prosperity, wisdom

Later, as you serve full cups of hot cider toyour family or friends, tell them each that you love them and name one reason you are thankful for them. Remember to tell yourself that you love YOU too, and think of at least one reason you are proud of yourself. Drink and enjoy and feel the warmth, health, love, and prosperity filling your home!!