Pain Relief Methods

Other effective tools for pain relief include visualization, meditation, prayer, and chanting.  

Each of these activities affect brain wave activity and facilitate altered or higher states of consciousness. 

During my last blog, I spoke about physical pain and made an appeal for compassion toward pain sufferers.   I also promised that I would share a couple of pain management techniques that have helped me.   I didn’t expect it would be an entire week before I would be able to write again.

I should have known that if I was going to write about pain, the Universe would dish me out a bigger than usual dose, just so I would know what I was talking about.  Last blog I spoke about neuropathy pain, but this is not my only source of chronic pain.  I also have arthritis in both of my knees.   To add to this, I injured my right knee about ten years ago.  With a bit of physical therapy, the knee eventually healed well enough that I could hobble around pretty good with my cane.  Until recently, I considered this my “bad knee.”   Whenever there are barometric changes that precede a storm, or it gets very cold or windy, this knee has a tendency to “act up”, becoming very painful.  My menstrual cycles are also accompanied by flare ups of pain.  Fortunately, as I inch toward crone-hood, I have far fewer of these. 

I recently injured my “good” knee.  I’ve been giving it lots of rest, but instead of getting better, it seems to be getting worse!  In fact, I feel as if I’ve started falling apart...  I’ve had to rely more heavily on my cane and on my “bad” knee as I hobble around.  This has enraged both the old injury in my “bad” knee, as well as reawakening the pain in my shoulder.  Even my hand is becoming painful from grasping my cane.  If I thought ambulation was painful before—now it is extremely painful as its next to impossible for me to stand, much less walk, without leaning on a cane! 

I can use a wheelchair for most things during the day, but the doorways in my house are very narrow, so my use of a wheelchair is limited to my living room and kitchen. The short walk to my bathroom and bedroom has become very difficult. There have been days when this knee, along with the other areas it has begun to affect, has been so painful that there is not one comfortable position in which I can sit, stand, or lie.  A few nights, I was even aware of the pain in my sleep!

When dealing with light to moderate pain, there are many effective measures I can rely upon.  A few include smoking cannabis, which is proven effective in relief of pain, nausea and neurological issues, as well as a number of other conditions.  I plan on writing a blog dedicated to the many, almost miraculous, healing properties of cannabis.  Until then, let it just suffice it for me to say that it is a very effective pain deterrent.  Other effective tools for pain relief include meditation, prayer, and chanting.  Each of these activities affect brain wave activity and facilitate altered or higher states of consciousness.   

Pain signals may also be interrupted by other stimuli such as rocking, bouncing, postural changes, bathing or showering, the application of heat or cold,  effleurage (a very light touch massage technique), and deep tissue massage.  Distraction techniques such as reading, knitting, watching TV, working a cross word puzzle, and other pleasant activities can also block out some of the bodies pain signals.   These are probably some of the easiest methods of coping with minor pain.  But when you can not escape from pain, even in your sleep, other measures may be required.

When I experience heavy pain, one of my most effective tools is to attain a deep, trace-like state of relaxation.  Some readers may protest that its impossible to relax while in pain.  I’ll give you that it is difficult, especially if you have not already practiced relaxation techniques.  But if you totally relax your muscles so that you become floppy, like a rag doll, and breathe as if in a deep sleep, your ability to process and let go of pain will improve remarkably.

 When I gave birth to my two sons, I rejected the huffing and puffing freight train antics of my friends who had used the Lamaze method.  I found that relaxation alone was sufficient to cope with the discomforts of labor and birth.  Now, before you just blow me off as being an easy birther, let me point out that I had my second baby at home with midwives.  He was both posterior and had his head cocked to one side, with a hand and ear presenting.  This was not an easy birth!  Nevertheless, relaxation helped me transform the considerable pain of labor into a warm and interesting sensation that was no longer painful.

Of course, labor and birth are temporary events and their pain is transitory.  When pain is long term, it is impossible to remain relaxed constantly.  One can't engage in movement and physical activity and remain in a deep state of relaxation.  For some of us pain sufferers, just walking to the end of our front walkways can be a physically demanding chore.  Some things that are routine, every day tasks for normal healthy individuals, can be very daunting for us.

 

I hearken back several years to the time of my first knee injury.  My ex husband had been gone a couple of years by then and I had thoroughly divorced myself from his Christian religious beliefs.  When I first met him I self identified as a Witch, and he was a "backslidden" Christian.  Shortly after I had our first child  he returned to Christianity--and expected me to do the same.  After years of not practicing, I no longer felt competent as a Witch.  Plus there was a “religious” form of Witchcraft called "Wicca", that I wanted to learn more about.  So I undertook coven training.  Toward the end of my training period, I was expected to write and execute a solo ritual.  If I failed, I would not receive initiation.  Having freshly hurt my knee, I was experiencing great difficulty of movement.  Even getting in and out of a vehicle was excruciating.  So I had no idea how I was going to get through this necessary ordeal.

Those of you who have never cast a circle may not understand what a physical challenge this can be if you do not walk well.  There is a fair amount of walking involved.  The first step of casting a circle is doing blessings and cleansings.  First, one blesses the elements at the altar, then they cleanse the ritual area.  This involves navigating a nine foot circle three times around with each of the four elements represented.  So I made three nine foot circuits while aspurging the area with salt and water.  Next, three more circuits are made with fire and air (lit incense).  Then the actual circle must be erected.  Depending on circle call, this may require from one to three more circuits around the perimeter.  Next, portals for the guardians of the watchtowers must be opened.  As there are four Elementals, this required another four circuits.  After this, it was back to the altar for Goddess and God calls.  The circle in place and all participants present, it was then necessary to raise energy to accomplish our magical goal.  After raising and dispatching energy, comes the blessing of the cakes and wine.   The wine, and then the cakes, must be separately delivered around the circle and shared with each individual along with a blessing.  After all this, I had to reverse all these steps—farewell to deity, navigation around the circle multiple times to dismiss the Elementals, and finally to open the circle. 

I was on my feet for just over an hour and made at least 36 passes around the 9 foot perimeter of the circle.   But that was only part of the challenge.  You see, it is a requirement that a circle be cast without the use of mechanical aids.  This can include anything from eye glasses to a cane, crutches, or any other aid to walking.    One must also be free of any substances including medical cannabis, prescription pain relievers, or anything else that might reduce my pain level.

I greatly agonized on how to do this.  During my quiet time just prior to circle, I went inward and sought the Goddess. I appealed to Her to help me step out of my human frailty.  She invited me to rely on her strength and I envisioned Her wrapping a hooded cloak around my shoulders and head.  This garment appeared to be made up of multiple twinkling stars, suns and planets.  Clad as I was, my pain vanished. So did the weakness in my knee.  Thus, I found the strength to do my first solo circle.  

I have taken on the mantle of the Goddess several times since.  Each time I do, I am always amazed at what a powerful, magical tool this is.  Not only does it help me to temporarily get past my pain and physical challenges, it allows me to transcend physical reality and thereby do things that I know would otherwise be physically impossible for me. When times are tough, my pain seems unmanageable, and the road in front of me seems impossible, I find that when I reach beyond my ordinary human strength and seek the strength of the Goddess that lies within me, I can transcend the impossible. 

I know the Goddess will not be everybody’s source of strength.  Using guided visualization is not dependent upon the Goddess, She is just my chosen source of strength.  I have helped others cope with their pain by altering the visualization to suit their spirituality.  For instance, I’ve helped several Christians with a visualization in which I ask them to imagine their pain as angry red energy.   As they breathe in, they visualize breathing in cooling and healing blue light.  As they breathe out, they expel the angry red light.  This exhaled negative energy is collected into a mental satchel, which they then place at the foot of the cross.

Inclusion of spiritual entities is not a prerequisite for using visualization as pain relief.  One might also place their hands in a large bowl of water and visualize their pain being absorbed into the liquid.  When done, immediately pour the negatively energized water outside onto the ground for the Earth to neutralize.  If that is not an option, you may also pour it down the drain, or flush it down the toilet.  Absolutely do not drink it, water plants with it, or recycle it!

I expect that many skeptically minded people might, at first question the validity of chanting, meditation, and visualization for pain relief.  I don’t blame you, I too am a skeptic.  But I’ve learned to keep an open mind about most things until I’ve studied and explored them. 

I find there are reasonable explanations for most things. This includes visualization for pain control. Let me explain.

 The brain is constructed, and functions, as two separate and distinct hemispheres. The left side of the brain is dominant as it governs logical brain functions and everyday activities. 
The right half of the brain normally only comes into play during creative, artistic and musical pursuits, during REM sleep, while day dreaming, and during meditation, prayer and other spiritual pursuits.  In fact, it even has filters that keep us from perceiving left brain activity! 

Our brain functions at different levels of consciousness.  The scientifically minded will prefer to refer to these levels as call "brain waves".  Currently we know of five levels: Beta (14-40 Hz) is the every day level where we spend most of our waking hours.  When we are at Beta level, the brain filters the information we receive.  Alpha (7.5-14 Hz) is the level we function at during meditation, deep relaxation with eyes closed, and while day-dreaming. When we enter this state, we can consciously achieve a relaxed detached awareness that can greatly help cope with pain.  7.5 Hz lies at the base of our conscious awareness.  This is the "gateway" between the conscious and subconscious mind. Heightened intuition occurs while in Alpha state and becomes "louder" and stronger the closer you get to 7.5 Hz.  Theta (4-7.5 Hz) is the level we function at during deep meditation and REM sleep. This is the realm of the subconscious mind and is normally experienced only momentarily—as leave the Alpha state and drift off to sleep; and as you arise from a Delta level sleep or state.  This is the level at which Astral Projection can occur.  We experience a very strong sense of our deepest spiritual connection—the Oneness with the Universe.  While in Theta, vivid visualizations, great inspiration, profound creativity, and exceptional insight occur.  The mind's deep-seated programming can be accessed at Theta. Some people use hypnosis or entheogens (mushrooms, peyote, LSD, and other hallucinogens) in order to access this state. Delta (0.5-4 Hz) is the slowest level of mental functioning.   We only attain Delta during deep, dreamless sleep, while under heavy anesthetics, or when in extremely deep states of trance or meditation. At this point awareness is completely detached from our individual ego or physicality.   This is state the state of adepts who separate their minds from all bodily sensation of pain.  Delta is the realm of the unconscious mind.  It is also the gateway to the Universal mind and the collective unconscious.  Information received here is inaccessible at the conscious level.  

To sum it up, when at Beta level, left brain hemisphere operation, we are limited to self awareness.  Here we are individual ego—a  single, solid human being, separate from other beings, from the flow of the collective consciousness, and separate from any emanations of Deity such as Gods and Goddesses,  I AM or whatever you perceive.  But when we enter into deeper levels of consciousness, we bypass the governors of the left brain and loose our individuation.  It is here that we are no longer “I”, but rather a cell in the matrix of the collective consciousness and the Life Force power of the Universe.  Here, where we are "at one" with all that is, we can access the vast knowledge of the collective consciousness! 

There is one additional level of consciousness that I haven’t yet addressed.  That is Gamma (40+ Hz)   This is the fastest level of brain wave activity and we know little about it, but Gamma waves seem to be associated with high level processing. Gamma is reportedly the level at which Kundalini awakening happens.  The Gamma state is associated with those brilliant bursts of insight often associated with seeing a "flash of light".  Other manifestations are possible.  For instance, a friend who experienced sudden revelation while in Gamma heard a loud popping noise when having sudden brilliant insights.

When researchers measured the brainwaves of Tibetan Buddhist monks, their gamma wave frequencies fluctuated between 30 and 90 Hz. during meditation.  The neurons in their brains fired in coherent synchronized patterns too perfectly timed to be controlled by normal neural processes, which are relatively slow.  This leads some researches to suspect "non-local quantum effects", in other words thought transference.  This suggests that at this level of brain function, thoughts could be received directly from a higher being!  But I'm getting off my subject here!
 

I have used these techniques to cope with a prolonged period of very rough pain, but what I’ve experienced is nothing compared to the prolonged suffering of cancer and burn patients, victims of traumatic accidents, etc.  I thank the Goddess everyday that my suffering is not of that caliber.

I certainly don’t have all the answers when it comes to pain and I don’t claim my few relaxation techniques will (immediately) work for everybody.  Those adepts who are able to separate mind from body and block out all discomfort have spent countless hours attaining their special abilities.  Unless you are a master of the arts, sometimes pain can become so severe that there is NO way around it except to resort to heavy medications.

If your pain need is so severe that you are not able to manage it through these few techniques, remain positive.  Don’t ever feel like a failure because you must resort to chemical means of pain control.  Our society’s attitude toward pain and relief of suffering lacks greatly in compassion because we are so overly concerned with drug addiction.  Don’t let other’s negative judgments get you down.  Pain is a terribly difficult burden to bear—you are not lazy and your pain is not your fault—but with a little effort you may learn to attain a state where you can find some comfort and relief.  Be well! 

Blessings and Peace,

Esmerelda

A Painful Reality

"The more we work together to foster healing and compassion, the better and more loving planet we will create."

A friend of mine recently added the following message to one of his social media pages:

"Its hard to explain to someone who has no clue.  It's a daily struggle feeling sick on the inside while you look fine on the outside. Please put this as your status for at least 1 hour if you or someone you know has an invisible illness (Anxiety, Bi-Polar, Depression, Diabetes, LUPUS, Fibromyalgia, Chrohns, MS, Arthritis, Cancer, etc.).  Never judge what you don't understand."

I too suffer from chronic pain and I have to agree with him. It doesn’t surprise me that I was the only person in our circle of friends who bothered to re-post.  I've long known that most people don’t understand what it is like to cope with pain on a continual basis.  Unless you have ever been in that situation it is impossible to know the insidiousness of pain. 

The friend who posted this has confided many things in me.  I won’t betray his confidences by bringing up any specifics, but I feel I can, in good conscience, point out that anybody who knows him can freely see.  He’s a young man who was formerly very active in many things, including sports. Since becoming less active due to chronic pain, most of his former friends have rejected him.  Even his family seems less than supportive.  The complaints others frequently cast against him concern his (perceived) “laziness”.  Some blame the medical cannabis that he smokes to alleviate his pain for making him lazy, rather than recognizing pain as his major energy drain. 

Sadly, I’ve heard other seriously ill individuals being criticized for being lazy.  If they also happen to smoke cannabis in order to cope with their condition, the knee jerk response toward them becomes “lazy pot smoker”. 

I recently overheard a conversation in which three healthy young men, all under the age of 35, were berating another man who wasn’t present.  The person they were gossiping about is at least 25 years their senior.  Almost three years ago he suffered a devastating neck and back injury.  His injuries left him in constant agonizing pain. While he awaited neck surgery, he slowly lost function of his legs due to nerve damage in his neck and spine. This man’s pain was so severe he was literally curled up in fetal position moaning from the torment.   After surgery he almost died from a staph infection.  

It took almost a year for the bone deep neck wound left behind after surgery to heal.  It finally closed less than 12 weeks ago. This was after it was discovered that his neck surgery had been botched. A large, needle sharp bone remnant had been left, lodged directly into his cervical spine.  This led to multiple wound infections, additional nerve damage, and other horrendous complications. Yet among the callous comments I inadvertently overheard spoken by some of those closest to him were that, “he expects everybody else to do everything for him”; “he doesn’t try hard enough”; and “he has just given up.” 

Given up???!!!   Its remarkable that the man has rehabilitated himself to the point that he has!  He can hold on to objects in order to stand up; he has devised a way use his socks to pull his legs over the tub and then manages to  give himself a shower.  He also grasps his socks to help him pull his legs in and out of bed and to get into his feet onto the leg rests of his wheelchair.  He can even grasp the kitchen counter, lean against his sink and wash his own dishes.  This once very active man is anything but lazy, as was being suggested.  He suffers from nerve damage, is weak, and experiences constant pain!  What’s more, he still faces another surgery to repair additional damage in his spine!  So I was entirely shocked by the callous words being spoken about him.  I had to blink away hot tears.

I could share example after example of others I know who suffer illness and are derided because of it, but I won’t belabor you.  Suffice it to say that, unless you’ve walked a mile in a pain sufferers shoes, you have no idea of how difficult life is for them, nor can you comprehend all the other areas of their lives that the pain affects. The reality of chronic pain goes far beyond the physical agony of the pain itself.  It does not just impact the area(s) of the body that hurt, it affects multiple other areas of a sufferer’s life.  

As illustrated above, when a person continues to suffer from chronic pain, their closest relationships may begin to erode.  Often those nearest and dearest, who are usually called upon to bear the extra burden when an infirm person is no longer independent, become resentful, and often critical.  

When somebody looses some, or all of their independence or usefulness, they also have identity issues they must deal with.  There also may be frustrations due to lack of control.  Caregivers often do not carry out tasks important to the infirm in the way that they would prefer; and when asked to do things in a manner more familiar to the ailing person they can tend to become defensive and stubborn.   When caregivers are unsupportive and unsympathetic it makes it even more difficult for the ailing person to trust their caregivers decisions pertaining to their person and their lives.

 

Even those who are still fully independent may suffer mood swings and display attitude toward caregivers.   Pain affects one’s mood, leaving the sufferer always on the edge. Just like a wounded animal, they can suddenly lash out at those who only wish to help, pain sufferers can become snappy and unpleasant.  It is difficult to be jovial and amiable while hurting.    

As for a pain sufferer's loss of energy and productivity, continuous pain slowly drains the sufferer moment by moment and day by day.  When pain also disturbs sleep, it really sap one’s energy because it becomes impossible to fully rest and recharge.  

Severe pain can also demand all the sufferer’s attention.  It becomes very difficult to concentrate.  Suggestions to watch T.V., read a good book, or distract oneself with a game or crossword puzzle are ludicrous when you hurt so bad you can’t even think straight.  Sometimes pain can even make it difficult to carry on a conversation.  If you doubt me, just try to carry on a conversation with a woman in advanced first stage labor! 

Even health care professionals tend to rationalize their way around their patient’s pain rather than acknowledging the impact it can have on their lives.  Unlike an infection, broken bone, surgical requirement, etc., chronic pain is an “invisible” illness.  With the abuse of prescription drugs, and especially pain killers, an issue focused upon in the nightly news, chronic pain suffers may find even their doctors are reluctant to help. 

I am so familiar with the plight and prejudice experienced by pain sufferers because I’ve experienced it firsthand.  I’ve suffered from chronic pain for many years.  Nobody seems to understand what I go through, or how I feel.  I have a close relative who has unleashed many angry words at me because I’ve can’t attend family events at his house.  I’ve told him again and again that the eight steep steps leading to his front door are impossible—pain-wise—for me with my arthritic knees.  I can get up them, its coming down that is impossible for me. Rather than accept this explanation, he casts angry words at me each time there is an event I fail to attend.  He has said I’m lazy, and accused me of preferring to smoking pot (which greatly helps reduce my pain level) with my friend, rather than attend his family functions.

I also have a close friend who has berated me for not being more active.  His theory was that, as I moved more, the pain would somehow magically vanish.  I tried his way for about two years.  Along the way I suffered a back injury and repetitive stress injury to both shoulders.  I also experienced a re-emergence of pain from an injury to my achilles tendon that originally happened when I was clipped by a horse around age 14.  I actually began to love exercising, but one can only tolerate so much discomfort.  Eventually pain from my back injury prevented me from carrying out my routine and I soon reverted to my more sedentary “natural” self.

I suffer greatly from arthritis in my knees.  This, coupled with neuropathy has greatly affected my mobility.  When not in my wheelchair, I must use a cane just to get around my house.   The neuropathy causes an annoying numbness in my feet and lower legs.  The numbness makes walking difficult because I can't feel my legs and feet.  In addition, I feel a constant overall ache throughout my body, just as one would feel with the flu.  But the worst part of the neuropathy is the frequent “lightning bolt pains”.   

Lightning bolt pains are sudden searing pain episodes come out of nowhere.  Without warning, a burning bolt of pain will flash down one of my legs, or sometimes arms.  Wherever the affected nerve pathway ends in my fingers, toes, or soles of my feet, it feels just like somebody holding a lit match to the area.  The area can continue to “sizzle” for anywhere from several seconds to a couple of minutes.  These episodes can happen many times an hour.

I’ve tried a variety of methods to cope with the causes of my pain including vegetarian diet, vitamins, herbs, acupuncture, and the aforementioned exercise regiment.  I’ve also resorted to the use of several pharmaceuticals.  In the end, the natural approach did little to help my pain (except for the acupuncture, which did help but was too expensive to continue).  The pharmaceutical approach leaves me feeling drugged and inebriated, not a pleasant state for me.  I don’t walk well.  The last thing I need is something that further impairs me! 

When the reality of pain can be so all consuming, why do others always seem to look down upon those who suffer chronic pain?  Why can’t they see us as more than just lazy?   It really demonstrates how lacking in compassion our society has become.

Often the individuals who point accusatory fingers toward pain sufferers are young, healthy, and have no idea what they are talking about. They have no idea how very difficult just getting through each day can be.  Let me clue you in on something: it is impossible to know the level of pain somebody is experiencing!  Pain suffers perceive that others do not like to hear about our sufferings, so we generally do our best to keep the full extent of our misery to ourselves.  You never know when there might be a pained grimace hiding behind that forced smile.  Until you have experienced ongoing severe pain, you have no right to disrespect us or count us as lazy. 

Another point, please don’t criticize them for smoking cannabis to alleviate their discomforts.  Medical cannabis is not drug abuse.  Cannabis is an amazingly helpful medication and it is much less inebriating that your standard pharmaceutical pain killers.  In addition, it is healing and life giving.  I personally know at least three individuals with severe disease who would not be alive today without it.   Finally, do not falsely attribute the lack of energy and motivation that accompanies pain and illness to “smoking pot.” Pain requires a lot of energy to endure.  If the pain is severe, there is often no energy left for other pursuits.

I thank the Goddess everyday for the medical cannabis that I smoke.  It does not impair me, but it alone addresses my lightning bolt pains.  It reduces their number, so that on some days I only have one or two episodes.  It also reduces the length and severity of the sizzling sensation.   It eases my overall achy pain and helps me cope with the arthritis in my knees.  It also enhances my creativity, helping me to write, draw, meditate, and engage in many other activities that significantly improve the quality of my life. 

I am sure that I will address the issue of medical cannabis many times during the life of this blog because it is a subject that I am very passionate about. But my purpose here today was not to talk about cannabis.

I want to remind those who misunderstand pain sufferers to have a little compassion and sympathy.  You never know when some tragic and untimely event could lead to your own suffering.  The understanding you extend toward a pain sufferer today may be paid back to you in the caring somebody extends toward you tomorrow. The more we work together to foster healing and compassion, the better and more loving planet we will create.

I haven’t forgotten those of you who suffer from pain.  My next blog will be a part II on pain that is going to include several useful techniques I have used over the years to cope. Until then, I'd like to leave you with this inspirational quote.  

"If someone listens, or stretches out a hand, or whispers a kind word of encouragement, or attempts to understand a lonely person, extraordinary things begin to happen."  ~Loretta Girzartis

Blessings and Peace,

Esmerelda

The Witch's Rosary

"Magic is an art which enables us to focus thought and therefore alter reality..."

Like most devoted Pagans, I have specially consecrated areas here and there around my home where I enjoy quiet moments of contemplation and communion with the sacred.  One of these places is in my bedroom.   An antique sewing machine housed in an old, wooden, cabinet stands at the foot of my bed.  The top swings open to allow the machine to be raised, or swings closed to create a table top that conceals the machine.  Even though the ancient black singer it houses does not work, I fell in love with the cabinet the first time I saw it—the clincher was the charming cut-out hearts on either side.  I brought it home and covered the wooden top with a black satin altar cloth.  It now holds many of the items I use during my devotionals.  One of these sacred items is my rosary. 

Some people might be surprised at the idea of a Pagan/Witch using a rosary so please allow me to clarify--my “rosary”, is not the common variety, with ghastly dangling crucifix.  Rather, it is Goddess oriented.  

Before I am accused of irreverently adapting a Christian icon for blasphemous uses, let me reassure you, I intend no disrespect.  Praying with beads is a spiritual practice with a long history and has been included by most of the world’s religions. Not to mention, the rosary was originally a devotional devise dedicated toward a Pagan Goddess. 

Yes, I am aware of the legend of Saint Dominic.  (This tale has it that the “Virgin Mary” appeared to Dominic in a vision and presented him with the first rosary.  She then promised him that as he spread devotion to the rosary, his religious order would likewise flourish.)  According to legend, this event took place at the church of St. Sabina in Rome during the 12^th century.  But the rosary was already used in Rome several centuries previous. 

Often referred to as the “Flower of Venus”, rosaries were carried by sacred temple prostitutes.  In Venus’ mystery traditions, the red rose represented full blown maternal sexuality, while the white rose or lily was a sign of the Virgin Goddess.  These representations were later transferred by the Catholic Church to the Virgin Mary, who they referred to as the “Holy Rose”.  

These Venus chaplets were strung with beads created from rose petals that had been pounded into a paste, formed into shape, pierced and allowed to dry.  Our term “rosary”, which comes from the Latin rosarium,  meaning "rose garden" or "garland of roses", is a carry over from those rose petal beads.   

The history of beads as an adjunct to prayer goes back even earlier than Rome, with beads dating back over 38,000 years having been found.  These finds give evidence to the special religious significance they have held since the dawn of time.  Primitive man shaped beads from fangs, claws, bones, horns, and ivory.  In hunter-gatherer society all these materials represented a successful hunt.  This association led to the use of beads  as currency, and for display of wealth or social status.  The connotations of a successful hunt may have also played a part in their development into magical talismans to protect the wearer against harm and amulets to attract certain desirable energies, wisdom, good luck and fortune.  So I suppose if anybody could lay claim to originating the very first rosary, it would be some ancient shaman.

Prayer beads may be found among cultures as diverse as the African Masai and the Native American Yaqui.  But most scholars agree that the practice of using prayer beads originated in the Orient.  The ancient Hindus, Buddhists, and Egyptians all used prayer beads."  The Egyptians called their prayer beads, sha sha, which means "luck”.  Buddhist prayer beads were known as malas and Hindus prayer beads were known by the related name “japa-mala”, a Sanskrit term which means "muttering chaplet." 

This reference to muttering aptly refers to prayer beads function of helping the devotee keep their place, without having to count, while muttering a long series of chants or prayers.  This use has carried through until today. Despite the Biblical warnings to avoid vain repetition during prayer, even the Christianized rosary was designed for repetition of prayer.   

Physiologically, we know that repetition builds and reinforces neural pathways. This is why students are required to do so much rote recitation of important facts such as their multiplication tables.  The more a concept is repeated, the more it is reinforced. If you will indulge me for a moment in regarding prayer as a (supplicational) magical spell, it suddenly becomes easy to understand how repetition of a prayer request might increase its power.  There is power in our thoughts, especially when focused mental energy is directed toward a single purpose.  Magic is an art which enables us to focus thought and therefore alter reality—it is the tool that gives us the ability to bring our desires to manifestation.

Having revealed this, you may already suspect that a Witch might use her rosary for more than rote prayer.  After all, Witches are known for creating their own changes in reality, NOT supplicating Deity to make changes for them! 

Rosaries can be very useful while chanting, during meditation, and while praying.  Using one enhances concentration and deepens altered states consciousness.  When fingered like worry stones they help calm the mind and can neutralize and displace worries that, during normal states of consciousness, constantly invade the background mental dialogue.  Used as a part of daily devotions directed toward a particular Goddess (or other deity concept) they can be an important tool for forging a strong connection to Deity.  The rosary may also be used for reciting self-affirmations or otherwise reinforcement of the will or desires.  And yes, it can even be employed during spells or rituals.  In this case, each bead or decade might represent a desired energy, action or visualized result.  They might also be employed in the same as the knotted length of rope known as the “witch’s ladder”—to either capture or dispatch particular energies. 

A Witch might string her rosary from any of a vast array of natural objects, including beads of clay, ceramic,  glass, wood, crushed rose petals, gemstones, crystals, shells, or bodhi seeds.  If possible, she will look for appropriate correspondences when selecting her materials.  Strands of alternating amber and jet is a popular choice among practitioners of traditional Witchcraft. 

My personal rosary is dedicated to a Celtic stellar Goddess.  It is a circlet made of beautiful, faceted, indigo-blue beads.  Small silver beads act as spacers and flat, disc shaped indigo beads veined with silver act as medals.  A short single strand of various beads and medals dangles from the circlet, with a silver spiral goddess (a symbol of life, rather than death) hanging at the end—or the beginning... 

Below, I’ve included a Goddess oriented Rosary devotion.  I received it along with several others years ago while taking a class (through Ecclasia) on making Rosaries.  You may use it, but please don’t let it limit you.  Rather, use it as a spring-board to help you create you own Rosary devotion; one that is dedicated to your chosen Deity and holds special meaning to you.

Blessings and Peace,

Esmerelda

ROSARY TO THE EARTH MOTHER

Blessing on the Goddess Figurine

Green Lady of the budding Tree, the Full Blossomed Fruit, the Dying Seed

Queen of Life, Death and Birth

Mother of Sorrows, Mother of Mirth

Ancient Mother Knows as Gaia, Demeter, Tellus, Ceres, and Danu

I say this Rosary in Honor of You.

First Bead:  I ask the Earth Mother to Ground Me.

Second Bead: I ask the Earth Mother to Center Me.

Third Bead: I ask the Earth Mother to help Me Grow.

Fourth Bead: I ask the Earth Mother to help Me Flow.

Fifth Bead: I ask the Earth Mother to Nourish my Soul.

Medal: 

Green Dewy One

Rich brown earth that nourishes me to my core

Lady of the rolling prairies

Dusty One of the Desert

The Fire that lies under all

Womb and Tomb of all Life

Mistress of the Garden of Paradise.

First Decade:

Purify me with your Air

Let me shake away all of my bad though and experience

So I might hear the voice of Your Inspiration

Let me speak Freely and Truthfully

And protect Your creation.

Divider Bead: The Earth Mother Purifies me in Thought and Deed

Second Decade:

Warm me with your Fire

Free me from my seed husk

And let me embrace Your Sun

And Grow to my full potential

Every day, till my work is done.

Divider Bead: The Earth Mother lights and emblazes my Spirit and Soul.

Third Decade:

Cleanse me with your Water

Let me wash away all of the dirt and grime

Of times past and present worry

Let me flow more eagerly and freely

With Love and Compassion everyday till my last.

Divider Bead: The Earth Mother showers me with Compassion and Love.

Fourth Decade:

Mother, Ground Me in Your Earth

Let me grow rooted in faith,

Strong and hardy

Yet bendable like the trees        

So I might change and serve You in all Your needs.

Divider Bead: The Earth Mother Grounds me in Stability.

Fifth Decade:

Mother, Fill me with Your Spirit

Change me, Touch me, Make me Whole

Bring me Peace from Union with You

Our Voices and Souls are joined in al that I do.

Divider Bead: The Earth Mother Fills me with Her Spirit and makes me Content.

Medal

Our Lady of the Earth

You who are the Divine

Reveal to me Your healing Ways

Lead me on my Path Today

Guide me, Oh Gracious One

From now till my day is done

Let me set myself Free

As I will,

So Mote It Be!

Blessed Be, Blessed Be, Blessed Be!

Purification Through Sound

Bells and chimes keep away bad luck that could interfere with prosperity.

As I was blissfully blogging about our universal obligation to maintain ch’i, all hell was breaking loose in my neighborhood!  To give you an idea of the scene, there were multiple pedestrians walking up and down my normally quiet, dead end dirt road.  Groups of these pedestrians stood at either end of the block yelling at each other.  A  home owner, who lives near the center of the block, was yelling at the pedestrians in both groups from behind his security screen. 

Eventually, the sheriffs arrived. They spent the next hour or so driving between the home owner’s house, and the pedestrians, who had now moved a block or so up the road.  Then, a fire department rescue vehicle appeared on the scene.  As the evening progressed and darkness grew, the din began to die down—until I suddenly had people who had been involved in this huge blow up, coming to my door!   

There is nothing to be concerned about on the level of physical trauma, nobody was injured.  But there was anger, betrayal, emotional trauma, two people were unexpectedly displaced from the place where they had been staying, and their lives were suddenly disrupted.

The person responsible for most of this chaos is a relative of mine who happens to live nearby.  He has a great deal of negative energy attached to him.  He is deceptive, manipulative, and violent, subject to delusions (seriously!), and does little else with his life but create drama. I’m convinced he takes pleasure in the mayhem he creates.  He thrives off of the negative energy he has devised.  Over the years I have seen him poison the lives of several of those near and dear to me.   I go out of my way to avoid drama, so I generally steer clear of him. I consider this a matter of self preservation. 

Doesn’t it just figure?  I make a significant step in the right direction and opposition comes along to test my resolve.  It didn’t help that Mercury had just gone retrograde.  Fortunately, I keep certain things in place to dispel negative energy before it can enter my home.  I won’t share my entire bag of tricks with you, but I’d like to talk to you about sound, and how you can use it to keep your personal space pleasant.

Since the Shaman of the distant past began shaking a rattle to scare away evil spirits, sound has been used to affect the energy of an area.  Sound can purify a physical space, clear negative energy from a person’s aura, and discourage the presence of discordant energy/ beings.   Before you dismiss me as a crackpot think of the old adage, “music soothes the savage beast.” 

It is a well known fact that playing soothing, relaxing music, especially strings and gentle chimes, has a peaceful affect on the atmosphere.  Hence the easy listening “elevator music” piped into office buildings, grocery stores, restaurants, and, of course elevators, and other places where aggression is unwelcome.  As much as I enjoy music, keeping a stream of gentle, meditative music going constantly would be very inconvenient, so other means are needed to bring melodic sound into the everyday environment.

In medieval times, bells served this purpose. The large bells that announced worship services, royal events, weddings, funerals, and impending disasters from medieval church towers were originally intended to do more than act as announcements.   Their clanging served to dispel curses and chase away “evil spirits”. 

Other examples of bells being used for the same or similar purposes include the bells that adorned the robes of the Levitical priests, Buddhist sacred bells (ghantas), Sanctus bells rung during Catholic, Methodist and other Christian liturgy, and bells rung during evocation in Ceremonial Magick and some traditions of Witchcraft.

One reason bells were ascribed magical power was their elevated position, hanging from the church tower—between heaven and earth.  The other reason was because sound waves affect the movement of air; it stirs things up and begins moving air in waves.   Our thoughts and attitudes, the atmospheres or energies of certain locales, and immaterial beings all occupy the realm of air.  So sound, which moves air, has ruler ship over these things.

If you think the use of sound to dispel evil is no longer a practice today, think again.  You may have noticed that many small shops have hanging bells or chimes that ring each time the door is opened.  Many people assume the bells are there to alert the proprietor when a customer enters the store, but there is an older meaning.   It is believed the bells keep away bad luck that could interfere with prosperity.  The sound of the bells breaks up any negative energy clinging to customers who enter so that it can not take hold inside.

Wind chimes serve the same purpose—the tinkling of chimes breaks up any negative energy near the entrance of my home and move it away so it cannot enter.  

The wind chimes that hang from the eaves by my door and the small bells that hang from the front door knob are more than melodic decorations.  They both have a magical effect. This is what I intended when I hung them.  Sometimes the best magical tools are those that aren’t immediately recognizable as such.

May your homes be filled with serenity and magic.

Blessings and Peace,

Esmerelda

Finding Ch'i

We have the potential to create good through the innate power of our minds.

  

I am one of those people who shouldn’t read newspapers or watch the news because it's very bad for my ch’i!   Some days the things I hear really get my dander up, especially when injustice is involved.   One of the more troubling recent news reports involved a case in which several Fullerton police officers beat a non-resisting (according to witnesses) homeless man to death. 

Other recent disturbing news reports include storm trooper style raids being levied against peaceful Amish farmers who have the audacity to sell unadulterated raw milk to their neighbors, and raids against  food co-ops because organic gardeners have organized to share the bounty of their gardens with one another without consulting Uncle Sam.  I am also very concerned by the all too frequent reports of ailing medical cannabis patients jailed for growing a plant they use as a valuable herbal medicine.  

My sense of  trepidation increases each time I hear a new report of police and government crime and corruption.  As our civil rights evaporate and law enforcement, and other civil authorities become more aggressive and brutal, I fear we are edging far across the line that once separated democracy from totalitarianism.  I worry about the negative impact of our faltering economy and the world wide debacle of our narrowly averted budget crisis. 

On top of all this, I am extremely concerned about the environment.  While the media encourages  blind consumerism, every single living organism on Earth is being endangered to benefit the concerns of an elite few and the voting public are given no voice in the matter.  We can no longer be certain what we are consuming. Our drinking water contains poisonous chemicals including chlorine and fluoride, sewage and industrial waste.  Traces of by hormones, antibiotics, and other pesticide residues are present in water supplies, meat and produce and genetically modified foods occupy grocery store shelves without so much as a warning label.  

Meanwhile, our civil rights have disintegrated until the United States has begun to resemble a totalitarian regime. It is more than evident that we are on the brink of disaster.  Our long term survival demands powerful, Earth-friendly changes.   

Fortunately, I am not the only one who has taken notice of the fact that society is quickly descending a downward spiral.    There are already many clarions out there making their voices of reason be heard and  directing awake and aware citizens on how to respond to our present multiple crises.  This actually takes a great deal of perceived responsibility off of my shoulders.  I am in no position to direct anybody!  It has become discouragingly evident that my long-held dreams of solar panels on my roof, passive heating and cooling, chickens, goats, green house, and organic garden are not going to manifest during this lifetime.  The pittance I recycle, the few potted herbs I grow, and the few animals whose lives have been spared through my vegetarian diet, don’t represent even a drop in the bucket of the needed change. 

So I’ve asked myself what difference can one inconsequential woman, who spends most of her days seated on a wheelchair, make?  What can I do to contribute to world change?  

I am a proficient writer, so the obvious answer is to write about the issues that concern me.  And I imagine I’ll do my fair share of ranting as I post in this blog.  But continual band-standing about the current state of affairs may be counterproductive—it damages the ch’i, both mine and other’s.  I'd rather participate in helping myself and others reclaim the sacred connections we have lost—to nature, the land, our perceived forms of deity, and toward one another.   When these essential ties are broken, we flounder and sink into mental mire.  But when we are grounded and connected, we attain personal balance and are happier and more effective.

These times demand action and effectiveness—we must each shoulder our personal responsibilities and work to make things better before they are irreparable!  This includes how we use our mental energy.   It occurs to me that our karmic responsibility may not end on the level of action—i.e. "harm none".  

If “thoughts are things”, as both the science of physics and esoteric lore suggest, then many of us are throwing some very nasty garbage out into the Universe!  

We all belong to the Collective Consciousness.  All conscious beings are co-creators of reality.  So in addition to the direct physical impact of our actions, we also mentally influence the events that unwind during the course of our lifetimes.  Our conscious choice to demonstrate love and think kind thoughts may be just as important as our physical efforts.  We have the potential to create good through the innate power of our minds.  Knowing this may be true greatly changes the stakes.  Just as we each have an obligation to be good citizens in society, perhaps we owe a similar obligation to deposit love, gratitude and positive thought within the collective consciousness, and to influence others to do so as well.   

So besides sharing news, rants and important discussions about issues that I hold dear to my heart, I’d also like to share some tools for attaining and maintaining mental balance and ch’i.   Please don’t misunderstand me.  I make no claims of super spirituality.  I am not the contemplative monk on a pinnacle, able to maintain my composure while the world crumbles around me.  (If I were, I probably wouldn’t “need” this blog).  But, at least some of the time, I manage to create a very peaceful and serene mental oasis.

Whatever assists others in finding balance and establishing an inner connection to the Universe will be fodder for this blog. As we go on I’ll be digging into quite a mixed bag of tricks.  Anything from metaphysics,  philosophy, sage Native American sayings, prayer, guided meditation, aromatherapy, visualizations, crystals, and herbs.  In addition I'll be sharing rituals for celebration of seasonal Sabbats, the tides of the Moon, and one's own personal tides and rhythms.  Some of what I share will also be my own personal techniques, developed by my own device. 

 An effective positive affirmation should be short but powerful. I wrote the following affirmation several years ago and still speak it over myself almost every morning as I face the rising sun. 

"I am a Witch, I am one with the Universe and the Divine. 

I am a co-creator of reality and whatsoever I decree is mine.

 And I decree peace, health and prosperity;

for my friends and loved ones, and also for me. 

Let this day be free from strife or fear. 

Let only love and joy come near. 

With blessings given and received,

I walk in peace in word and deed.

So Mote It Be.  Blessed Be."

As we go on, I hope to influence each one of my readers to create peaceful interludes each day during which they quiet their minds, reestablish their sacred ties and connections, and begin to cultivate their inward treasures.  As we seek to create a better mental reality, we also assist in creating the peaceful paradise upon Earth that we desire.  Once we can harness and direct our minds, nothing is impossible to us! 

Peace and Blessings to All!

Esmerelda