_e.png)
Welcome to the Arcane Shaman! This blog marks the start of a new phase in my life, a new journey. 2016 has been a crazy year with so many ups and downs, so many learning opportunities. You see, around the start of the year I made the decision, silently somewhere deep down within me, that I was done playing by the book. I would do whatever it took to live my most fulfilled life. And the universe immediately set itself to testing my resolve.
The thing is: to find fulfillment, to even start the journey toward it, you have to first know what it is that fulfills you. All the challenges I faced this year were amazing learning opportunities to figure out that very thing. I had to look honestly at why I wasn’t feeling fulfilled in my life, face some shadows and fears I hadn’t realized had taken root, distance myself from some people that were draining me, and have the courage and determination to not only keep going but to throw everything I had into it. And the hardest and most important lesson: Surrender.
I’m a Scorpio with a Leo moon, surrender does not come easily to me. I hate feeling like I’m not in control of my life. I tend to hold onto things and people far longer than I should. I’ve been working on surrender for a long time and finally I had the courage to truly let go. The moment I did, opportunities and support that I never dreamed possible came pouring in. I had done the work and was seeing the results. I know who I am, what I want and that the learning never stops. I also realized that everything I had done before had been laying the groundwork for my life’s work.
Now that I’ve laid that groundwork, I’m ready to start my own journey to fulfillment. The next phase of my journey is a literal journey. I am currently packing most of my life into storage and will be spending the next 8 months with my spouse and 8 year old daughter travelling the world! We will be learning about ourselves, the cultures of the world and how spirituality is expressed all over the planet. It is my belief that the way to peace, balance and true progress is by focusing on how we are similar instead of how we are different. I believe that most religions and spiritual traditions are at their core just different expressions of the same universal truths. I want to better understand the threads that bind us. I’m so excited (and nervous) to start the next phase of my life and to share my journeys with you.
So, I’m ready to start a new phase of my spiritual and life journey, but the journey actually starts at the end. It can be very hard to start something new when there is old, stale energy taking up space in your life. It’s best to complete any open cycles/projects that you can and let go of things that no longer serve. It opens space for what you need and want to bring into your life.
Ritual is a great way to do this regardless of spiritual/religious belief (or lack thereof). The human mind works best with symbols. Ritual is symbolic, it signals to your brain that what you are doing is important and to take notice! It is also an effective way to better access and work with your subconscious. If you are ready to clear some energetic space in your own life this is a great time to set intentions of letting go and clearing what no longer serves. The moon is currently waning which is perfect for those energies. If you already have a practice or ritual of letting go of your own, the waning moon is a great time for this. If you don’t, here is a secular ritual suggestion that may help:
Pick a time and a place where you will not be disturbed. (Optional: Get a blank piece of paper, pen, candle, fireproof container and journal.)
Take three deep breaths and quiet your mind. (If you cast circle or create sacred space do so in whatever way works for you.)
Ask yourself/the universe/your deity: “What am I holding onto that no longer serves?” Let the answers bubble up naturally. If you have the paper and pen, write down what comes up.
Examine your answers. Do some of them surprise you? Why are you holding on to these things? What are you getting out of holding onto them? How are they holding you back? Be honest with yourself. This is a great time to journal about it. Let all your feelings and thoughts about the situation/s out.
When you are ready, light the candle and fold up the paper that you wrote your answers on. Hold it between your hands and visualize the paper absorbing the things that you need to let go of. Set the intention to yourself and/or the universe/deity to release the things that no longer serve to open the space for what you need to move forward in a healthy way. Then burn the paper (you can also cut it up and throw it away, whatever feels right to you).
Take another 3 deep breaths and let the moment settle before going on with your day.
Starting anything new can be sometimes scary but it’s also exciting! If you aren’t happy, it is never too late to figure out why and work towards change. Spirituality is really about getting to better know yourself and the universe you inhabit.
I hope you find this little space for my musings useful and that it inspires you on your own journey. Thank you for stopping by!