Mind Witchery

Why is allowing rest so difficult?

Blame the usual suspects: capitalism, white dominant culture, patriarchal inhumanism, and the Puritanical cultural roots we can’t seem to dig out.

All this to say: it makes total sense that it can be super hard to Just. Stop. Doing.

I hope these thoughts will help.

Make Magic:

It’s vital to notice the difference rest makes, in your ability to focus, overall mood, and essential wellbeing.

To rest with bigger impact, tell friends why and how you rest, and encourage rest in all your familiars.

Transcript: A Spell for Allowing Rest

In a world of Clocks and Calendars,

that wants us to judge ourselves in comparison to others,

it’s so easy to feel like we’re not moving as fast as we should be.

But I have good news.

Behind? It isn’t real.

Mentioned:

Mind Witchery Episode 24, A Spell for Realizing Progress.

The Tyranny of Time, by Joe Zadeh.

Make Magic:

If you find “behind” as demotivating as I do,

ask yourself: what or whom am I measuring against?

If it’s anything other than your own values or goals,

give yourself permission to let it go.

Transcript: A Spell to Stop “Feeling Behind”

Get intentional about the vibes you want to cultivate in your day, and add some To-Bes to your To-Dos.

Transcript: Have a High-Quality Day

The New Moon in Virgo is September 6 (or 7th, if you’re across the Atlantic), and it’s a hand-lettered invitation to us to collect ourselves, sort our priorities, and integrate all our parts.

It’s the perfect time to clean up the part of our everyday that’s haphazard, to establish some good, fertile stability with routine or ritual, and to create time and space for an emerging identity to express itself.

Mentioned:

Get the New Moon in Virgo self-reflections worksheet.

Read Nadège’s re-write of Virgo’s virginity.

Check out my brilliant friend - Astrologer’s Daughter - Bonnie Gillespie.

Transcript: New Moon in Virgo: INTEGRATE

Life is full of decisions to be made, and perhaps you - like me - find them perplexing sometimes.

This episode exposes some of the mind tricks that make decision-making difficult, redefines what a “good” decision actually is, and gives you the most helpful thing to consider as you’re choosing your next step forward.

Mentioned:

Mind Witchery Episode 11, A Spell for Trusting Your Next Move.

Make Magic:

Wherever it’s time for you to make a decision, shift away from Right/Wrong and toward Values and Qualities.

What values are most important that area of your life?

What qualities do you want to cultivate?

Who do you want to be and become?

Which next step takes you in that direction?

Listen: our overnight-success-obsessed culture has a warped sense of progress, and it keeps us from seeing the truth of - and finding comfort in - the cycles of creation.

I love a good metaphor, so in this episode, we’ll use an agricultural analogy to rethink progress as cyclical rather than linear, slow and co-creative rather than fast and dominating, and sustainable rather than explosive.

Make Magic:

Use this metaphor to get new perspective on where you find yourself right now, re: progress.

If your endeavor were a field, which stage is it in?

For what developments do you need to give yourself credit?

Do you ever get scared when things are too good? When you get that great job, find that supportive relationship, or reach a new level of happiness, does it feel too good to be true?

Does it feel too good to be true… for you?

I’m here to tell you that we, that you, deserve that happiness.

This spell will help you embrace the joy in your life, and stop letting fear of disappointment sabotage you.

Mentioned:

Gay Hendricks and his book The Big Leap.

Tarot phenom and podcaster Linsday Mack.

When you’re feeling that fear of things being too good, take a breath.

Allow yourself to hope.

To believe that there is no limit on the happiness you deserve.

And that you will grow through any setbacks along the way.

The New Moon in Leo is August 8, and is asking us to (re)ignite our passion.

Leo Season is all about SHINE: ruled by the Sun, and connecting us with Fixed Fire, it asks us to self-center, listen to our hearts, and lead with pride.

In this episode, my dear friend and brilliant astro-branding expert, Leslie Tagorda, joins me to talk through the New Moon in Leo, as well as what we can learn from Leo’s placement in our natal charts.

Make Magic:

With your birthplace and time, create your natal chart for free.

Get the New Moon in Leo self-reflections worksheet.

Learn more about Leslie’s new course: Written in the Stars.

Listen to another of our astro-conversations about Plentiness and Reckoning.

Shine like the star you are!

Does it ever feel like life is happening to you? Like other people’s choices, or unfortunate circumstances, are dictating what you can and cannot do?

Yeah, me too. But guess what:

It isn’t true.

This spell will help you break up the pity party and start a revolution. Really.

Mentioned:

Fair Fight Action, the organization founded by Stacey Abrams to promote fair elections, encourage voter participation, and educate voters.

Make Magic:

Remember: you don’t “have to” do anything.

You exist at CHOICE.

So:

Consult your values.

Spark your creativity.

And choose.

When we’re struggling with a new practice or an old habit, it’s tempting to blame ourselves. To say “I can’t,” and surrender to frustration and guilt.

What if we gave ourselves permission to learn and grow and fail gracefully?

And to seek help instead of trudging through tasks we don’t want to manage alone?

Mentioned:

Carol Dweck’s very insightful book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.

Make Magic:

The next time you hear yourself thinking “I can’t,” take a break.

Ask yourself:

Is this a skill or habit I want to develop?

Or a responsibility I don’t really want?

Then open yourself to learning the thing, or to letting it go.