Holidays are hard.
Even if you love holidays (as I do!), they still provide plenty of stress as well as physical and financial exhaustion. In the midst of joy, there are plentiful opportunities for disappointment. Feelings run hot. Boundaries are tougher to hold. And if we are already grieving, the holidays turns up the volume.
But as a Witch, there is always something you can do.
Read on for more. In the meantime:
Holding Space For You
Grief changes us. Magick changes us. Because grief changes us, grief is its own Magick. Join me for a virtual workshop and conversation about a Magickally-minded approach to grief on December 8 at 2 p.m. Pacific Time. Reserve your space, pay what you can. Workshop will be recorded and sent to all registrants afterward. Closed-captioned.
Hope to see you there. <3
A Magickal Practice For Navigating Grief Over The Holidays
If you’re going into an environment where you may not be supported or cannot show your grief, consider trying the following before going into the situation.
A Ritual Without Tears
From Sacred Tears: A Witch’s Guide To Grief
If you’re not someone who cries or it’s not be feasible for you to take cry breaks, it may be helpful to dedicate a few moments to your grief at the start your day or before leaving the house. Consider trying the following:
Place a beloved crystal on your altar or in your sacred space. If you do not have a crystal or do not typically use crystals, collect any rock from your yard or a nearby park. It doesn’t have to be large. If you don’t have an altar or a dedicated sacred space, take the crystal or stone to a quiet space in which you feel safe. Beside your bed is a fine place for this work.
If you have the time and space, consider lighting a candle. Any color candle will do, but colors especially good for this rite include blue or purple as they are peaceful and gentle. Whether or not you use the candle, hold your rock or crystal to your heart and ask it to ground your grief while you are out and about. If you are at a loss for words, here is an incantation you can use:
“Crystal, stone, earth’s strong bone,
Wait for me, far from home,
Hold my strength, courage, fears,
Until I’m home to release my tears.”
Tell your crystal or rock what, if anything, you are nervous about while navigating the world as a grieving person. Describe your worst-case scenario (“I’m afraid I’ll start sobbing at dinner and I won’t be able to stop….” “I’m afraid I’ll scream at a customer and I’ll get fired…” “I’m afraid I’ll say something rude to someone I love or laugh at an inappropriate time and embarrass myself.”). You don’t need to plan to address your worst-case scenario, unless formulating a plan is helpful to you. Just acknowledging it will support you.
Leave the stone on your altar, in your sacred space, or some other safe place and go do what you need to do.
When you return, sit with your crystal or stone again. Thank it for holding space for you.
The goal is to leave the crystal or rock in specific place in your home, such as on your altar or on a bedside table, to hold sacred support for you while you navigate the world. However, you may feel called to carry the rock or crystal with you and that is perfectly fine!
Have you read Sacred Tears? What did you think?
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