Marcus Ward

A siamese cat nestled into the remains of a raspberry patch - a tangled thicket of skeleton-like stems which crack the sunlight into dappled streams and blotches across the cat and ground. This mostly white cat wears a blue harness has a matching leash which stretches out and loops over a stretch of grass to the right before anchoring back into the soil. The new grass glows bright and cheerful as it soaks in the early Spring sunshine spilling over it. In the bottom center, a grey shoe peaks into the scene - revealing the photographer-author's presence.

Savoring the sunshine today and contemplating how gratitude lists never seem to work for me - they feel forced, hollow, and limiting.

I prefer to simply enjoy and say thanks in the moment, the same way I embrace my pain or upset.

substack.com/profile/1171...

#Spring #Pagan #MentalHealth

Joel Cross (@asoulcalledjoel) Heart Check: You Will Succeed

I needed this small moment of space to explore my own heart; for anyone else out there feeling rushed, lost, or disconnected from their truth and in doubt of their next steps: substack.com/@asoulcalled...

Thanks to Joel Cross for creating this space today ❤️

#MentalHealth #HeartChakrah #Mindful

Against The Dying Of The Light

open.spotify.com/track/1PaWcB... Ditto.

#BeTheChange #SelfCare #MentalHealth #MusicForTheSoul

Runes are not just for divination; in fact, I used them more for spells, meditations, and therapy than anything else for the first 15 years of our relationship.

Runes are alive in ways words cannot capture, and they can be powerful companions in healing or growth if you let them.

#Heathen #Pagan

The more rooted I become, the less time I spend on screens, and the more quality I find in those moments where I do choose to engage electronically.

Regular spiritual and inner self-care opened the door to better balance and alignment with the physical and digital worlds.
/|\
#MentalHealth #Pagan

A silver light rises off a pewter cross of St. Brigid (also a symbol of the Goddess Brigid and an example of where Christian and Pagan can unite in love and light) brightening the wall of red brick where it sits above the altar on my fireplace mantle.

The beauty of Imbolc is how it lights a small flame, kindling hope and warmth, in the depths of a lingering winter.

These days can be dark, cold, and challenging.

Brigid reminds us to notice the small signs of Spring, and keep our heart's fire burning.

/|\

#Pagan #Brigid #Imbolc #BeTheChange

Before we can have open, constructive dialogue, we have to do our own healing. This includes exploring and embracing our shadow sides, building self-care, setting boundaries well, and connecting to the deep Truths to stay humble and compassionate in the face of disagreement.
Not for the weak.

Recognizing values of others/systems is challenging work that asks us to know ourselves deeply, to be mindfully present, to notice our biases & ignorance, and to sit with/listen to uncomfortable new information.
Start by diversifying your feed/reading, digging into history, or learning to listen.

This process takes time, but it is so worth the effort and the patient persistence required.

Start by asking yourself what you value. A core values assessment test can help get you started (buff.ly/NvxAM6k for instance), but ultimately this takes soul searching and aligning within.

We change society by transmutation - shifting the value system. One person at a time; beginning with ourselves:

1. Know your own values.
2. Recognize the values of your culture, government/systems, and local community.
3. Open dialogue to share, explore, and understand.

One. heart. at a time.

P.S. What is this deck and where do I find one?!

Listen... I did not come here to be called out, okay?

At least it was with the most adorable hanged man.

For real though, I think part of this struggle to let go is the innate leadership in us sees a toxic version of "leadership" and buys into that myth of perfect, controlled, and all knowing.

Waking up is not the hardest part; staying awake and persisting in your awareness with disciplined practice and deeply rooted compassion is the real challenge.

At least in my experience.

/|\

#Pagan #WitchSky #MentalHealth #Mindful #Awake #Shamanic

You don't have to have it all figured out and put together. In fact, if you do, I am honestly worried for you.

Sure it might be easier to follow the set path, but then what was the point of drawing breath at all?

Life is messy.
You are singular.

Embrace that chaos!

#MentalHealth #Mindful

REWEAVING: Living Our Sacred Work as the Old World Unravels with Angell Deer A recording from Angell Deer and Rosa Alicia Santoyo's live video

Those who serve The #Morrígan will recognize this call to the front lines.

Those who know #Buddha, will see the value of mud in supporting the bloom of a lotus.

And children of #Hekate will embrace the sacred decay and underworld work needed right now.

substack.com/@angelldeerw...

/|\

#Pagan

Unity, embracing the other and standing in solidarity or understanding, threatens dictatorships. Divided we fall. #USA #Pagan #Christian #BeTheChange

Creativity is a threat to control and dictatorships. #FoodForThought #BeTheChange #USA

Baby WItches and folks considering work with Brigid:

A simple (tradition based) way to start would be to light a candle (e.g. a tealight or whatever is handy) for 19 nights. On the 20th night, make time to learn about or be with Brigid as She tends the flame. /|\
#Pagan #Brigid #Imbolc #WitchSky

a young boy wearing a shirt that says " big " is walking down a street ALT: a young boy wearing a shirt that says " big " is walking down a street

✨️

Shadow work is a psychological and spiritual practice focused on
exploring and integrating the unconscious or repressed
aspects of the self.

It involves examining those parts of ourselves that we may not
readily acknowledge, including negative emotions, hidden desires,
and unresolved traumas

Thank you for these! Saving the image to come back to these when I journal before bed

✨️

For me personally, this was only possible after doing inner work

Releasing copious amounts of supressed fear

Those who try to manipulate me with fear (As is the low-consciousness way to control)
Find no purchase here

That's liberation 🕊

✨️

I loved it so much, I made two more this year, to have one at my desk for Her "Fire in the Head" as well as one in the kitchen (plus the larger version on my hearth-altar).

Molaimis go ler í

/|\

#Brigid #Imbolc #Pagan #WitchSky

Another Imbolc has come and gone; my altars have been cleaned and re-concecrated.

My home is being deep cleaned and purged as the moon wanes.

And I am re-commited to my efforts in planting seeds of change for both my own life and my community.

/|\

#Imbolc #BeTheChange #WitchSky #Pagan

Hate capitalism?
Normalize:
not using hair products (other than essential cleaning),
not wearing makeup,
DIYing haircuts, clothes, games, and any other form of fun, self-expression, or entertainment.
#BeTheChange #WitchSky #AntiCapitalism #USA

It's not that history repeats so much as that lessons must be learned before new things can be experienced.

Integration can't be forced or rushed. Parts that have spent years protecting us won't suddenly trust new ways of doing things. Creating safety - both inside ourselves and with any therapist or coach - lets these protective parts slowly relax and trust the process.

✨️

Parts/shadow *integration* can't be rushed.

The body and subconscious has to process the changes
And that just takes time 🕑

Too much too fast isn't the answer, it's counter-productive
Sometimes slower is faster

✨️

Credit: the Power Ark

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Such an important reminder. As a former mentor/manager used to put it "go slow to go fast" and that is especially true when learning new things in my experience - even more so when they are emotional or deep.

Yes! Engaging the whole body seems to be really helpful. I get this feeling sometimes of alignment or syncing up with my full self in a deeper way, and that has always been a sign that the spell I'm sending is going to 100% manifest.

You are so very welcome ❤️

Walking the path begins with seeking.

Learning wisdom from it relies on noticing.

Again and again you notice. You return to noticing, and the lessons gradually unfold.

Patiently, persistently, we grow closer to the divine Truth.

/|\

#pagan #spiritual #mindful #withsky