Search

Goddess Musings

Witch. Photographer. Writer. Runner. Dreamer.

Open Search
Tag

Create

Manifesting

The Witches that watch over my magical space.

A few weeks ago, I came across an article about manifesting goals or dreams and how from a scientific perspective, it wasn’t possible. I didn’t finish reading the entire article; I got sidetracked (hello ADHD!) and I’ve hunted for it to no avail. But it did get me thinking.

They aren’t wrong. But they aren’t right either. It’s true, from a purely scientific perspective, you likely cannot 100% prove that you can manifest your goals or dreams. I mean, if you are a 5’2” woman and you state that you want to be a 6’ tall super model, we all know that’s not going to happen. But, that isn’t manifesting. That is wishful thinking.

I’ve heard manifesting referred to as the “New Age” form of prayer. And it really isn’t any different than Christian prayer. Or a spell that a Witch would cast.

Manifesting, isn’t any different. You are speaking your goals and dreams into being. It’s more than that too. Just because you speak it, doesn’t make it so. It’s the work that you put into it after you speak it.

Whether you are casting a spell, praying to a God (any God/Goddess), or manifesting something you seek, it’s not as simple as saying the words and then sitting down to wait for it to happen or materialize.

As a Witch, anytime I cast a spell, I’m putting my intention and will out into the universe. It doesn’t stop there though. I still have to continue to do my part. There is always a price for manifesting, praying or casting spells. I am reluctant to use the word “sacrifice” because that can be taken very out of context when discussing Witchcraft. But it’s an accurate term. Only that sacrifice would be of your time and energy. And that sacrifice is required no matter what religion or deity you pray to.

If we’re manifesting wealth, we have to work on our finances; focus on saving money. We may have to invest in additional schooling or training to enhance our skills to advance our career. Or if you’re manifesting a healthier body, we have to change our behaviors.

When casting a spell, or manifesting something, we have to be specific. Are you looking for a new job? Write out what it is you want, be specific, write down the job a field you want to work in, add in details – salary, benefits, location, etc. This applies to anything you seek. You want to be specific. Then realistically look at what you’ve written, what additional work do you need to do to obtain said goal? Make a plan and start working towards it while asking the universe, Goddess/God for their help and guidance.

Be open to what may present itself to you as you work toward manifesting what you’re seeking. What the universe has in store for you may not be exactly what you wrote down. It could be even better than you dreamed! Sometimes we have to take a leap of faith and trust that the universe has our best interests at heart.

0

Connection. Power. Purpose.

Last week, I did one of those hidden word memes where the first three words you see are supposed to be for whatever. My first three words were connection, power, purpose. In that order.

It’s interesting how the universe is able to put into very specific words the feelings I’ve been experiencing. And just when I needed to read them. I’ve been searching, but had not really given exact words to it. I’ve been restless, but not knowing exactly for what; I have strong ideas of what, but was just not articulating it well. And then I read those words. They completely sum up how I’ve been feeling and the work I need to do.

Spiritually, I have been drifting for a quite some time. Since 2020, I have been pulled to reconnect with my spiritual side and my Practice. I started rebuilding my library of books on the Craft. Acquiring new copies of many books, and discovering new authors to add to my collection.

The fact that connection, power, and purpose are the three words I saw confirms to me that my decision to step back into an active role in the Pagan community is my path. It will not be an easy path, but I’ve never been known for choosing the easy way.

As I’m working to fully embrace my own magic power and purpose, I’ve accepted that I need to continue to heal too. Heal from my own trauma and the generational family trauma I carry. It’s time to make peace with those things, lay them down and set them free.

I’m bought a copy of Heal the Witch Wound by Celeste Larsen a couple of months ago. If I’m being honest, it took me those couple of months to read it not because I was deep in other reading material, but rather good old procrastination. It’s a heavy subject. But I started reading it over the weekend and so much of it rings true. Yes, it is heavy, but that heaviness has been part of my soul for a long time. Reading it not only validates that part of myself I don’t discuss for fear of being thought crazy, but it has made it easier to carry. It’s part of healing and growing.

I’ve journaled a lot about these words. About the process of healing. About embracing my Witch identity. In New Orleans, I was very open and public in my practice. I relocated to New England about 15 years ago and have been pretty private. I lived in Salem, MA for several years and was still private! Of all places!

But, I was also going through a ton of things; divorce, a miserable job, literally running away from my feelings and problems training for a marathon. I was not in a right mindset to practice. After hitting rock bottom pretty much, I began to climb my way out of that dark time. I worked on myself a lot. Not spiritually per se, but I focused on changing my career, building my skills and overhauling my life into someone I loved again.

The spiritual growth came later. It’s happened in fits and starts over the years, but it’s a key focus going forward. It has to be if I’m going to embrace my Connection, Power, Purpose.

0

The New Moon in Cancer

This week was the New Moon. I have been focusing on the New Moon more this year than I have in past years. This years Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook has a section on working with the New Moon and I decided to intentionally do some New Moon work this year.

Unfortunately, for June, I did not get to do any planned ritual. I’m nursing a case of COVID this week and just not feeling my best. I did however, spend some time rereading and setting some intentions.

Directly from Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook, “The New Moon in Cancer is a time to create intentions around self-care, nurturing, belonging, family, home, hearth, and security.”

During this pandemic, I really turned my focus inward to home and hearth. My original intention was finding local sources for things that were in short supply, and where I could, natural or minimally processed sources. Meat and eggs were in short supply early on and we started frequenting a local dairy. We’ve continued this and signed up for a vegetable CSA through that dairy. We’ve started getting a meat CSA through another farm and also get local fish.

I started looking for reusable or more environmentally friendly options to paper products and found bamboo paper towels, toilet paper and tissues. The bamboo paper towels are compostable, so less of them go into the trash. Plus, bamboo grows much faster than trees. I do use cloth towels as much as possible. The toilet paper works well too. The only thing I didn’t love in the bamboo is the tissues, they are a bit rough and scratchy on the face if you’ve got a cold and blowing your nose a lot.

As I rebuild my practice, I’ve also started rebuilding my herb collection. Not just herbs for ritual use, but also for medicinal use too, where appropriate. I’m definitely a believer in Western medicine, but I also believe in utilizing Eastern medicine and herbal remedies. A good chunk of my current reading list if books on herbalism and making natural products for the home.

Some of my summer reading list.

Hearth, home, family, and self care; for me these all tie in together with getting back to living closer to the earth. Closer to the Goddess and reconnecting with nature.

1

Finding Balance

I started this blog 4 years ago and made 2 posts and then I let it be silent. I wasn’t sure what I had to say or if there was a point to documenting it if I did. My interests are varied and I kept thinking they didn’t fit together well to make a blog because how many photographer-runner-writer-witches are there out there? It’s taken me those 4 years to realize it doesn’t matter. That’s who I am. I am writing for me. If someone reads this and chooses to follow along on this strange adventure, I’ll welcome them and hope they gain something from one or more of those aspects of me.

It’s not lost on me that I’m resurrecting this blog at the beginning of a new year. This isn’t a resolution of any kind, I refuse to set those, I never stick with them. I am, however, setting a word for this year. Create. This last year has brought home to me how important it is to take time to do things we enjoy. I want to spend more time on my photography and writing.

I have spent much of the last 7 years growing my career, and while that’s important, I’ve let it be all encompassing much of that time. I like my career and job. I’m good at it and I make a nice living. I’m VERY grateful to have my career, but there is zero creativity to it. It’s all numbers and dates. Growing up I hated math and numbers and even chose my degree based on what required the least amount of math! Ha! And now, I spend my days living in Microsoft Project. I’m still continuing to learn and further my career, but I’m at a place in life that it’s not “all work, all the time.” I’ve done that and it got me a career, but also, depression, anxiety, and complete burnout.

Flower in a Railing, London, UK

In 2019, M and I took a trip to the UK for a couple of weeks. We spent a week in Scotland, and a week in England. While we were in England, we did a photography tour. As we were walking to a little chapel, I saw these flowers tucked into the railing leading down some steps. I still wonder about the story behind these flowers. Who were they meant for? How did they end up tucked between a railing and an old wall? It was just a quick snap as we were going along and it has ended up being one of my favorite pictures of that trip. They remind me to look for the beauty, no matter what.

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑