Journal 3 - 5/14-19/2021

Journal 3 - 5/14-19/2021

I've been a little hectic inside my mind and it's been seeping into my daily activities. The few days that I took to myself has brought me a little more understanding about what has been going on around me. It started when I had this crazy dream about taking a journey and at the end I was given red roses and other plants that seemed unreal. There was one that looked like a small tree with purple blossoms but the white/ grey trunk had the face of a wizard-looking man carved into it.

A day after this I had pulled a Tarot Card from my Fairy Deck which was of the major arcana; 18 The Moon which. It read: "Powerful intuitive epiphanies. Letting go of worry and fear. Understanding the truth of a situation." I found that this card spoke to me by helping me realize that my dreams are telling me something big and powerful that may come into my life and that I must be wary of unfortunate events that may be brought on by poor decision making.

I have been through an awful depression this entire week and I have just found myself climbing out of it feeling hardly alive. I hope that by tomorrow I will be able to get on with my daily activities despite work and the people around me that bring negativity...

I wanted to talk about this phenomenon but I’ve been having trouble focusing. Sorry to keep this short~ I hope to come back with more interesting topics for my next journal when I’m feeling a little better.

Understanding and How to Cope with Stress

A lot of the time, our lives are bombarded by obstacles. Some bringing new challenges to the table which is healthy for a fulfilling life but some may be a little more to deal with that can cause unforeseen troubles like sleeplessness, losing control of any given situation, irritability, and so much more.

Understanding your stressors is one way you could learn how to cope with them in the time it takes for the objective to be met. Think of it like a short term goal with a mountain in the way of you meeting that goal. You have the stress of climbing that mountain but what can make the journey over this mountain easier? Bottled water, rope, good hiking shoes maybe? Finding something to make the journey easier or to take your mind away from how difficult it may seem are good ways of coping with stress until you meet that much deserved prize at the end of the trek.

Some Ways I Found To Help Cope:

I work a very stressful job. One of the smallest mistakes could cost me my job or I could even get hurt doing it if I'm not careful. Sometimes, without meaning to, I bring work home with me and I will sit there and think about the day constantly like a broken record. Wondering how I could've handled a situation better, what words that I should've used. Here are some ways I have learned to cope with stress physically and spiritually.

Write in a Journal - I know this one is a little bit more on the obvious side of the spectrum but something as simple as writing your thoughts about the day in a daily journal or diary helps to relieve pressure from the day's stressors. I think of it as having weights on your chest that you want to get off but don't necessarily want the behaviour that comes from the words spoken to go onto someone else when said aloud. I've found that writing about a stressful day really helps manifest the emotions onto paper so by the time you are done writing all the anger and sadness are now on the paper and out of your body. You'll think about how silly you were in the moment and remember that day is now on the paper and out of your hair. Some days, especially if nothing really happened, you can write a poem about something you felt or write a short story. I personally like to place pictures and scrapbook alongside my writing, the possibilities are endless.

Painting on Canvas - This isn't for most people but for the more artistically inclined I have found that painting on canvas has proven to lift my spirits after a long, hard day. Something about how smoothly the paint (oil or acrylic) glides on the canvas makes it as if the paint brush is a bridge for all my feelings to melt into the paint. Once the paint dries upon the canvas it's like the emotions of that day are locked inside. Could be happy, sad, or angry emotions and you'll remember that the piece of artwork was a product of that emotion now locked away in the past. The moral is to focus on the now and leave the past in the past but in a more materialistic way. Sometimes looking at something helps you remember to leave something where it was.

Creating a Meditation and/or Ritual - On the more spiritual side, there are ways of practicing devotional meditation or rituals. Completely a meditation every day after work, school, or activities is a wonderful way of clearing the mind and getting ready to end the day with much needed rest. I personally practice yoga and breathing exercises as a form of meditation and usually at the end of each session I feel completely relaxed and ready for bed. If you like to spice up your meditation routine with a bit of spirituality, help from deities, use incense to cleanse the negativity from yourself and objects around you you can create a daily ritual to conduct before going to bed. It doesn't have to be a crazy complicated ritual, just something that will help you let loose and forget the daily struggles that have occurred. Say a small prayer or blessing and relax.

The only one that can make change is you and the power of your will.

Good day! If it's possible, I'd like to ask for a three-card reading please. In about two months a new year will start for me at university. In the last couple of months I've booked some personal growth and overcome several obstacles. But my question is, how will next academic year fare? What challenges will I face? What will come my way? My initials are E.V, Cancer is both my sun and moon sign, and (sea) water is my spiritual element. Thank very much you for your time and energy. Blessed be.

Hello!~

It's wonderful knowing that you have overcome a lot of obstacles recently! I would say personal growth is one of the hardest things a person can learn, it is hard knowing yourself and knowing what you want in the coming years and being happy with every decision you make with no regrets.

I decided to use my Fairy Deck [by Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine; Illustrated by Howard David Johnson] as it gives the best insight for looking within the self and understanding career and academic choices.

The Past (Card on Right) - For your past, I drew Ten of Spring of the minor arcana. This card reads: "Ask for help from others! All work and no play. Being weighed down by too many responsibilities." In your past you have overcome the obstacles that you have mentioned previously, this card is telling me that these obstacles have also been overcome by trusting friends and family who understand how hard you work towards your goals. You understand that work leads you to a path in which your goals are able to be met but you must remember the fun that there is to enjoy in life while also balancing your responsibilities.

The Present (Card in Middle) - Your present is represented as the Three of Autumn of the minor arcana. This card reads: "Follow your passion when it comes to your career. Be the best at what you do! Being compensated for your creative talents." You must be one talented person! This card knows that you have worked incredibly hard to get where you are today. This card is telling you that even with all this hard work there is more work to be accomplished to let this talent grow into either a profitable experience or academic endeavor. The choice is yours! Whatever you did in the academic year before will lead you to a brighter future as long as you know your goals are within reach.

The Future (Card on Left) - Your future seems to be represented as the King of Summer of the minor arcana. This card reads at the very top: "Honorable, Devoted, Mature, Warmhearted." And at the bottom it reads: "A romantic partner you can trust. Excellent advice that comes from the heart. Getting involved in a cultural or creative endeavor." In your bright future you are devoted to your craft and nothing will be holding you down when it comes to your studies. You will find yourself surrounded by loved ones who support you in everything you do. During this time you may face more challenges that you thought you were able to get over, as the past may rear its ugly head and begin to hold you down once again; but in this time you will have matured and these challenges will not be as tough as you remember them to be. Be true to yourself and always understand your limits, you can't afford to be burnt out for the majority of the school year. Remember to take care of yourself and go out, enjoy nature as it is, enjoy the simple things like ice cream on a sunny afternoon.

Overall your future looks very promising. I believe that as long as you believe in yourself and understand your boundaries and your limits you can still come on top of everything. Fighting through obstacles will be something that you cannot completely get rid of. Obstacles and learning how to conquer them is what we do, it's how we mature as people and how we learn new things. Maybe you will encounter something you have not encountered before? It seems really daunting at first, but taking your time and spending the energy needed to learn from it it will be extremely rewarding in the end.

I do hope this helped you! This one was a little difficult, a lot of questions to be answered but awe-inspiring nonetheless!

I wish you every luck in your academic endeavors,

RaveMey

Why I Do Spellwork

I am not new to the world of magick and have been practicing spellcasting for nearly 6 years now, refining my skills in rituals and spellcasting. I never could be religious about my beliefs although I have tried in the past and found that I use magick best as a mental strategy to manage feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Everyone is different when it comes to their reasons to begin their spiritual journey into witchcraft and although it sounds like a religion it can be as religious as it can be nonreligious. I tend to practice on the nonreligious side. Sure I like hearing the stories that come with deities, Gods, Goddesses, etc. I find them to be something quite interesting and all have morals. One could always learn from tales of old. Their symbolism means a lot to me when it comes to spell crafting and although I may not worship them, I see them as spiritual guides. 

I am no master at the craft, I am always learning more each day I study. Each day I learn something new about myself and what materials and symbols mean for my spells. I enjoy learning. I feel like the mind becomes more and more aware with the knowledge that fills it. 

I use my studies not only for me but I find it useful to help others who ask for it. I always focus on the positive outlook of spellwork, I work to achieve happiness, luck, protection, etc. If someone came to me for a protective spell or charm I would put my little heart and soul into it to help them. I sometimes think that I worry too much for others and I care too deeply (that’s usually what gets me hurt), but the feeling of helping others is too good for me to stop.

Overall, spellwork and rituals really help influence the energy around me. Whether it is to help my mental state or to help protect my home from negative forces. Spellworking is a gift and a spiritual guide to the unknown and to understand better yourself and the others around you.

I've recently just found my love for the colour gold. I've always loved rose gold but I feel like gold in general has made it onto my list of jewelry I would wear and things I would own. I always hated the colour gold until I was given a gold ring by my now fiancé <3 I think that's what influenced the change of heart

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