​Often, when our lives don’t go as planned, we get stressed, get angry, maybe even lash out. We tend to vent to trusted friends or family members about our ordeal, and when we do, one of the most common things we hear is to “Let it go”. This advice, one hopes, is said with caring and compassion, but what does it really mean? Well, one definition (according to Oxford Languages) is “to relinquish one’s grip on someone or something”. This definition seems rather appropriate to me, because these situations we hold on to do seem to have as much of a grip on us as we have on them, emotionally speaking. Recognizing, acknowledging, and  ultimately releasing these negative thoughts and emotions, can help us let go of the negative experiences that made us feel out of control of ourselves/our lives that were causing the issue in the first place.
 Does this mean you are supposed to just forget that someone hurt you or that things are not going the way you want them to? Should you expect to be able to just forget it happened and move on? That would not be practical, or helpful. 
Letting go is not as easy as that, and, depending on the severity of the hurt or problems it has caused, can take time to do. While we can learn ways to cope with the little things that happen to us in the course of a day, a coworker in a bad mood, a wrong turn, a small mistake, the bigger things take time and effort.
For the small things, something like mindfulness techniques like body tension awareness and release, simple breathing techniques like box breathing*, or just taking a break for moment of joy (like a favourite song, a happy memory, or a quick exchange with someone you love) can really help. Any of these things can help break the tension, bring us back into the moment, and change our perspective.
Bigger stressors/issues are not always so simple. They can seem more overwhelming, or time/thought consuming, and can require the use of more than one technique over the course of days, weeks, months, or even years. While this blog post will not be able to cover every available technique, and is certainly not to be used as a substitute for professional mental health advice/therapy, there are some things you can do to help yourself at home. The techniques mentioned above can be a good start to put yourself in the right frame of mind for any personal work. I have always found that when addressing issues that have caused a lot of stress and upset that it is good to start from a place of calm, at a time when you have ample time to address and reflect on what is going on. So definitely not while still in the situation, while driving, or otherwise preoccupied.  
As a side note, keeping a journal that tracks the techniques you use, their seeming effectiveness (or lack there-of), and your experiences/feelings/thoughts as a result would definitely be helpful. Especially if you do seek help from a therapist/counsellor/psychologist/etc.. They may find this information helpful. 
Once you are in the right frame of mind, think about what happened. How did it make you feel? If you have difficulty naming/identifying emotions (more than happy, sad, or angry) I highly recommend Brene Browns book Atlas of the heart”. It defines, compares, and discusses them in depth. Actually, I just recommend reading this book period. Don’t be afraid to let yourself feel these emotions as they come up, but do not dwell on them. You can use mindfulness practices (I discussed some in a previous post called Speaking of Spirituality), cord cutting (also described in a previous post by that name), or visualization exercises that allow you to visualize a different/better outcome. Although this does not change what happened it can reframe the experience in a more empowering way for you allowing for the possible release of at least some of the emotional distress linked to it. You can create boundaries (physically, mentally, or emotionally), between you and the person/situation/place related to the distress/stress/negative energy, you can create a positive mantra to remind you of your personal power (or the lack of power it has over you), always practice self-care, and surround yourself with people that support you. Don’t forget that you may not have control over every situation, but you can control how you react to it.   
As long as this post is, it barely scratches the surface of this topic. That said, I hope you found some helpful tips to help you on your journey. Remember that if you need help there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for it. As the 17th century poet John Donne once wrote “No man is an island.”
 
*This technique involves breathing in for a count of four, holding that breath for a count of four, releasing the breath for a count of four, and then holding that breath for a count of four before breathing in again. Do this 5 - 10 times, or until you feel the tension is gone and then return to your normal breathing pattern.

​Every night while we sleep we dream. Some good, some bad, some strange, or even scary. Why we dream is a matter for debate. Some say that dreaming is our brains way of processing our day, or our stressors. Some say it is our subconscious or even our guides/the universe sending us messages. Perhaps it is even a mix of both. While some may believe they have no real significance at all, I have a hard time believing that. Our subconscious is a miraculous and mysterious thing, and we, perhaps through it, are connected to the universe and each other.
Regardless if our dreams process our stress and emotions, or they are messages sent to us, both theories suggest that they have meaning that many of us try finding ways to interpret. There are many books available on dream interpretation. Many of them give symbolic meanings to everyday things, creatures, and places. While these generic symbolic meanings can be helpful, I believe, as many do, that interpretation is much more personal. After all, what has one meaning for me may have a very different meaning for someone else. For example, being on a boat may have happy memories for me, but someone who had a frightening experience on a boat may feel very different about it. It stands to reason that one’s feelings and experiences would shape how and why our subconscious would use something to convey a particular message to us. With that in mind, when trying to interpret one’s own dreams, one should take into account their emotional response to each aspect of the dream, dissecting it bit by bit.
Keeping a dream journal is a good way to keep track of one’s dreams. Information such as the date, time, moon phase, any significant events happening at the time, and, of course, as much detail from the dream as you can remember, would all be important details to write down. Once you have written down the details of your dream, then you can begin dissecting it. I like to start with the bigger picture. What kind of landscape or environment did the dream take place in? How did it make you feel at the time? Where there any prominent colours (were they warm or cool, bright or dull, etc..)? Next you would move on to the smaller details in the dream. Were there people, animals, or objects? What were they? Do any of these things/people/creatures have special meaning for you? How did they make you feel in the dream. Were any words or numbers said, or were they written on something you could read?* Write all these things down piece by piece so you can determine if there are any patterns within the details of your dream. If certain parts of your dream seem to  have no particular meaning to you, that would be a good time to turn to a dream dictionary for some inspiration.
One should keep in mind that people in your dreams may not represent that person specifically. They can also represent things like aspects of personality (either our own or of someone else’s) or ideas/concepts. Dreams are often not literal in nature. Even messages from our guides/the universe may not be as direct and obvious as we would like. Reoccurring dreams or dream themes can also be important to note, which is why writing them down can be important. Also, one should question whether a dream is a message or their subconscious working something out. When going to sleep, one can always set the intention to remember their dreams, and remember to keep your dream journal and a writing implement close at hand for when you wake.
While dream interpretation in not an exact science (not yet anyway), it is interesting to try and interpret one’s dreams to see what they show us. Everything is always up for interpretation. Sometimes we may not realize a meaning or see a message until after something happens, and then we remember a dream we had about it. That is why it is such a personal thing. Only you know what things mean to you and how they make you feel.
Do you often remember your dreams? Have you ever tried to interpret your dreams? How did you fair? Do you keep a dream journal? Would you?
 
*On a side note, I heard long ago that you cannot read inside a dream, however, I have always been able to read in my dreams. I wonder if that is something everyone can do, or if only some people can. Have you ever tried or been able to read in your dreams? 

​Channeling energy through one’s hands is a basic practice for witches, healers, and other energy workers alike. This practice is as natural to us as breathing and there is no right or wrong way to do it. It all comes down to whatever feels “right” or natural to you. That said, one thing I keep hearing is that the flow of energy during magical work is “in to” (received by) the nondominant hand (usually the left), and “out of” the dominant hand (usually the right)*. I have read this theory in numerous books. It is quite popular in witchy “how to” books. While this does sound practical, it isn’t going to be the case for everyone. Recently I watched a video regarding the meaning of itchy palms which basically stated that the right was your receiving hand and the left was the  power hand. Again, this may be the case for some, but not all. My issue with either theory is two-fold.
My first issue, as I stated above, is that it is really about what feels right for the individual. Each person would have to discover for themselves what works for them; experimenting with how energy feels, how it flows within and through themselves. Many print and media sources give channeling instructions as if they are the way things are done. This is very misleading to new practitioners.
My second issue is that, as any energy healer can tell you, energy flows through them and out through both hands. Energy healers also run hands over a body to find temperature or energetic discrepancies that may be locations healing energy needs to be focused on. That would imply that either or both hands can be used to receive and direct energy. While it is possible one hand may be more efficient at either task, both are capable. If you have learned an energy healing modality like Reiki or chakra healing you may be aware that there are many chakras (energy vortexes) in the body, including in the hands. Energy is said to move both into and out of the chakras, which supports this as well.  
I guess my issue over all with this kind of thing is how information is passed to new practitioners or curious people as though that is the way it is. I do not agree with that myself. It has been my experience that working with energy for any reason is a personal thing. While basic general knowledge can be passed to get one started, experience is really the best teacher. One should take everything they read or learn with a grain of salt and trust their instincts/intuition.
What have you been taught? Do you generally favour channeling in one hand and out the other? Did you figure it out for yourself, or were you taught the way that works for you? 
 
*Note: These theories have nothing to do with energy vampirism, which is an entirely separate topic I may touch on another time. This is about channeling, not feeding.

​It is difficult to mention witchcraft without conjuring visions of bubbling cauldrons over an open flame, potions brewing, sisters chanting and cackling over the proceedings. I know, it sounds rather cliché, but here we are. The fact is, cauldrons are just one of many tools that can be used by witches to practice their craft. Like all tools, they are not a necessity, but they do come in handy, and their symbolism is rich.
Generally we think of cauldrons as being made of something like cast iron, however, they can be made from things like brass, aluminum, or copper as well (to name a few). One doesn’t have to own a specially made cauldron to do the work either. As long as the vessel is heat resistant and won’t leach unwanted chemicals into your brew (like a stock pot or something similar), it’s all good.
Symbolically, the cauldron is generally accepted to represent the feminine aspect; receptive. It can symbolize the womb, the power of creation or transformation, and used to channel or amplify power. In some cultures it also represents the underworld. They can be used ritually to brew potions, combine spell ingredients, burn spell components, manifest, scry, or whatever else you can think of. They are typically thought to correspond to the element of earth as they are a working tool, but could also be considered to correspond to water (when replacing the chalice). 
The cauldron appears in stories, myths and legends such as Shakespeare’s MacBeth with the three witches, Cerridwen’s cauldron that grants knowledge and inspiration, the Norse gods were said to feast from a cauldron called Eldhrímnir, and The Cauldron of the Dagda, also known as the coire ansic ("the un-dry cauldron") , from Irish Mythology, was said to represent generosity and “plenty”, sort of like a cornucopia.
Cauldrons are mentioned in many books about practicing witchcraft, Llewellyn even released an entire book all about them as part of a series on magical tools. It is called The Witch’s Cauldron. The Craft, Lore, and Magick of Ritual Vessels by Laura Tempest Zakroff. This book is quite informative if you want to learn more about the use and history of cauldrons than most craft guides provide. That goes for any of the books in this series. Knowing the history of the tools you use, while not strictly necessary, is never a bad thing.
The use of cauldrons as both cooking vessels and ritual tools was wide spread among many cultures. Like today, many every day household items can and did double as ritually used items. While it is nice to be able to separate your tools, that is not always practical, or financially possible.
Do you use tools like the cauldron in your practice? Have you read the stories about them? Do they conjure good or scary images for you? Do you like to learn the history of the tools you practice with?