"Rx for a spiritual hangover" by Patty Shaw.

Felt great didn’t it? You probably remember getting in touch with the real you, and got high on just how liberating that was. You were on top of your physical, emotional and mental game and you came through it like an empowered warrior or a goddess or just an awesome you. Decisions were made and plans forged. Life looked hopeful and maybe even a little sparkly.

Then you drove home. The closer you got back to your life the more the weight of your world wrapped its constricting, demanding needy arms around you; and the spiritual hangover began to settle in. It’s at this point your confidence and clarity started to dry up and blow away and all your hard work seemed pointless. This is a tough spot and will take effort to move through it. The letdown after such an important experience is part of process. Your epiphany or healing is not complete until you expose it to the day to day. This is where the new you meets the old you and you two have it out. Be on the lookout for the old you. It can take many different forms; like, the same old reactions to family dynamics, the same old feeling of being stuck in a rut at work, or the same old health issues. This battle will be your will against your habit and they both can’t take the brass ring. Someone has to come in second.

When you come to this murky place you may feel defeated. You are not defeated. Remember that, and even though you can’t bring the facilitator or your therapist home with you, believe me, I’ve seen enough people ask that question, there are things for you to lean on until the pain passes. All hangovers pass and it’s usually because you’ve done something courageous and loving for yourself. It’s no different with a spiritual hangover.

Taken straight out of our book DIY Akashic Wisdom, here are some suggestions for getting through a spiritual hangover.

1. Slow down take some deep breaths and choose to be in the present. Stop reminiscing on the past and the pain, let the future take care of itself and be fully in the here and now. Suggested candle; Grief Affirmation candle

2. Do something mundane like housework, fold laundry, spend time with a good book or a hobby or focus on the task at hand at your job. (Bosses love that). Suggested candle; Goddess Affirmation candle

3. If the after party blues got you feeling sick or irritable or having a meltdown you can contain it with the blister pack exercise until you can get help (page 226). Suggested candle; Angel Affirmation candle

4. Be honest that you could be resisting change. We all are afraid of the uncharted territory that change brings. Be patient with yourself and others and keep in mind that you can try again and again until you get it right. Suggested candle; Guardian Protector Affirmation candle.

5. Your personal path of empowerment is for you alone. Your evolution is upwardly mobile and if you are using your new found strength to overpower someone you have missed the point. This will hurt you more than if you did nothing. If you find you are falling into this trap, stop, drop and roll before you occur more karmic debt. Call your therapist, get a therapist, most of all, spend some time looking into the mirror and say nice things about yourself. Something like, “I love you too much to let you do something like that or act like that.” Suggested candle; Soul Mate Affirmation candle.

Next time you find yourself in the middle of a spiritual hangover, pull out this list and take action. You’ll be fine and you will find that the inner strength you gained is still there and now is the time to tap it.

Patty Shaw is co-owner of Coventry Creations and the Candle Wick Shoppe , author, teacher, Reiki Master and Akashic Record Healer. For appointments call 248-547-2987 or go to www.HealingwithPattyShaw.com

"The sweetest hangover - What to do after the magic" by Jacki Smith.

I don’t often engage in earning a drunken night hangover anymore but I have found that there are many other ways to earn that drawn out, plastic, exhausted feeling that we classify as a hangover.

There are late night hangovers, crying hangovers, headache hangovers, worked-too-many-hours hangover, sugar-binge hangovers and magical hangovers. Yup, magical hangovers are a real thing and not only I have had them, you probably have too.

In DIY Akashic Wisdom, Patty and I call them Spiritual Hangovers and they are what you get after an amazing, magical experience and you have to engage in the world again in all its imperfections and messiness. Spiritual hangovers are the point where you realize how much in your life you have to change to have the magic you generate fully manifest. It is the kick-in-the-pants reality none of us like and many of us avoid or deny.

But this is a sweet hangover because it means life can get better if you put in the work and take the steps that are scary and uncomfortable. You know a good, transformative spell is never comfortable. We cannot create profound change from the comfort of your illusions because your illusions (aka fears) will stop the magic from manifesting. Discomfort is that alchemical catalyst that promotes the transformation you are looking for.

Know that once you step back into the big scary world you will give yourself a choice, do you carry your magic forward and do the work it takes to manifest the next thing, or do you step back into your uncomfortable comfort zone?

The best things for a spiritual hangover is the same thing you would do for any hangover; nurture yourself. Hydrate because you might have to cry and grieve for the changes you need to make. Eat the bread of life to fill up all of your empty spots with energy that will carry your through the transformation. Look for and surround yourself with quality substance (or people) that you can lean on and use in this journey as you will be experiencing new and uncomfortable ideas. Take rest breaks in your growth to let all parts of you catch up.

Having a magical aftercare kit will help this process: Stones to support your journey, candles to ease the transition into digestible bites, oils to keep your energy vibrating in this new way and affirmations to remind your brain of this new ideal you are manifesting.

Try this combo the next time you have a big change:

Stability Blessed Herbal Candle, Road Opener Hoo Doo Oil, a quartz crystal to keep your energy up and an affirmation (that you create) that represents your new ideal.

You will learn much on your magical journey as long as you keep walking it.

"Full moon November 25 in Gemini" by Patty Shaw.

It will be easy to find because the Gemini moon will supercharge your powers of observation. I’ll give you a for instance. On my first list I put down; took business classes. On my second list, I saw that I wrote down, I don’t really understand finances. My third list showed that I abdicate financial planning to others and my fourth list revealed that I still haven’t mastered a P&L or Balance Sheet. My negative spiritual habit is that I believe I am stupid when it comes to the financial part of running my business. This last statement is my target and it’s going down.

Now it’s your turn and you will need a few supplies. Scraps of paper, matches, ashtray and a candle. I suggest a Needed Changes Blessed Herbal Candle, but you go with what appeals to you. When you find your destructive spiritual habit, write it down on a piece of paper. Look it square in its beady little eyes and tell it it’s time to go. “You’ve been loyal, but I’ve changed.” You may say more, it’s your ritual. On another piece of paper write your updated spiritual habit. Mine will be; “I understand numbers and it's fun. They help me run my business better and help me feel more confident with my decisions.”

Light your candle saying the blessing and adding in that you are letting go of old thoughts, beliefs, habits, and patterns you’ve indulged in and have let others put upon you. Now we play with fire. Light the paper with your old destructive spiritual habit written on it. Carefully place it in the ashtray and let it burn out. Be sure to affirm that you are open to this change and are grateful for this opportunity to learn and grow. Feel your subconscious mind let go of the old thoughts as they go up in smoke with the little piece of paper. When the paper has turn to ashes, go and bury it in the garden. Let it become plant food.

Last step, read your new spiritual habit and claim it as your new mindset. Then put it on your bathroom mirror so you can see it at the start of every day. Read it aloud and make sure you put feeling into it. Be happy about this new spiritual habit. Make friends with it and celebrate it.

 

"Meditation isn’t what you think it is….." by Jacki Smith.

Meditation is not neatly packaged in a one-size-fits all definition, not even Buddha expected his people to meditate in the same way. Many meditation instructors will tell you that the goal is to transcend the mind and release yourself from thought – creating a clear mind. I avoided mediation for years because that is something that I just cannot grasp. An empty head is not something I can attain let alone strive for.

Here is what finally got me to embrace my own form of meditation - The goal of meditation is not an empty mind, it is a transformed mind. Meditation is a releasing of the circular thoughts and an unwinding of your mental tension. Now that I can do and already do every time I work on changing whatever spiritual habit is trying to drive (or crash) my bus.

You meditate more often that you realize. Anytime you are working with your hands and without additional input such as TV or Music, you are meditating. When you are bathing or showering you are having a meditative moment. The reason so many eureka moments happen while you are on the toilet is that is a moment where you are alone with your thoughts and you can let them wander and unwind.

Many of us live very dynamic lives that created a spiritual habit of busy-ness. Between family, work, hobbies, volunteering, friends, church, etc., there are so few moments where we do not add anything to our brains. The input in this 21st century is constant and it’s so easy to get greedy with information; always adding to the pile and never releasing what is unnecessary.

I am a practitioner of moving meditation where I will allow a mental white space while I perform a repetitive or mundane task. Pouring candles, crocheting, coloring, folding laundry, doing dishes, standing in line at the grocery store. This is where my mind unwinds and I can start to see the collection of spiritual habits that limit me or heal me in that moment. I am also a practitioner of finding a quiet moment wherever I am to let my brain unwind. Those are some of my most profound moments of meditation. No timer, no pillows, no cd’s, just me in a moment.

Go ahead and find your meditation wherever you can… you are worth it.

 

"New moon November 11 in Scorpio" by Patty Shaw.

This is a habit that lays waiting in your subconscious ready to pounce on your affirmation, rituals and healings to prove to you that you haven’t changed at all. It can’t help it. Its job is to store your memories, thoughts and beliefs and serve them up to you each and every time you think or do something contrary to its program. Hey, it’s just trying to keep you honest. Never fear, we can make changes to the programing of our subconscious. It is, after all, the part of our mind that records. Which means we can wipe, defrag, write over and delete anything we want to. That’s what we’re going to do this month with the help of the new and full moons.

During the three days of the new moon, November 10-12th you will be taking inventory on how effective you have been in reaching your goal. When the full moon arrives we will sock it to our subconscious and update its programming.

Get out a Truth and Justice Blessed Herbal candle, light it and grab your journal. You will be making lists. The first list is of all the things you’ve done to better your life. Include the practical things too; like get a makeover, take a class, smile more, reduce your sugar intake. Now make a second list and write down all the things that you thought, said, and mumbled that sabotaged your confidence. Your third list will include all the things other people have said (and maybe done) that showed that they didn’t support you or have confidence in you. Fourth and final list; write down all the things that happened that went contrary to your ideal. For example, you didn’t get the job, he/she didn’t ask you out/accept a date, you cheated on your diet so much you gained weight. Take your time and do the deep and honest reflecting needed to make accurate lists. You have until November 24th to complete your lists. See you in a couple of weeks.

"New moon November 11 in Sagittarius" by Patty Shaw.

This is a habit that lays waiting in your subconscious ready to pounce on your affirmation, rituals and healings to prove to you that you haven’t changed at all. It can’t help it. Its job is to store your memories, thoughts and beliefs and serve them up to you each and every time you think or do something contrary to its program. Hey, it’s just trying to keep you honest. Never fear, we can make changes to the programing of our subconscious. It is, after all, the part of our mind that records. Which means we can wipe, defrag, write over and delete anything we want to. That’s what we’re going to do this month with the help of the new and full moons.

During the three days of the new moon, November 10-12th you will be taking inventory on how effective you have been in reaching your goal. When the full moon arrives we will sock it to our subconscious and update its programming.

Get out a Truth and Justice Blessed Herbal candle, light it and grab your journal. You will be making lists. The first list is of all the things you’ve done to better your life. Include the practical things too; like get a makeover, take a class, smile more, reduce your sugar intake. Now make a second list and write down all the things that you thought, said, and mumbled that sabotaged your confidence. Your third list will include all the things other people have said (and maybe done) that showed that they didn’t support you or have confidence in you. Fourth and final list; write down all the things that happened that went contrary to your ideal. For example, you didn’t get the job, he/she didn’t ask you out/accept a date, you cheated on your diet so much you gained weight. Take your time and do the deep and honest reflecting needed to make accurate lists. You have until November 24th to complete your lists. See you in a couple of weeks.

 

"I had become a Goth girl healer" by Patty Shaw.

Over time staring down the throat of my clients demons, promising to trash them started to taint my perspective on life and I really started to believe my practice was about “what’s wrong” and eliminating the bad guy. Even my meditations were about digging up something to be fixed. I had forgotten about celebration and gratitude. Yes it’s true, I had become a Goth girl healer. I even started to wear a combination of black, grey and darker grey.

 

Now that I’ve got a few more miles on my tennis shoes I’m letting the sun shine again during healing sessions. I still use all the excellent tools; reiki, inner child work, energy work, releasing of negative entities, but I come from a place of encouragement instead of broken. I’m not saying that I’m white washing anything. I’m saying there is always something to celebrate and when I end a session on a positive note and sprinkle it thought out the session, my clients (and me too) feel a world of difference.

Last week my client mentioned that healing with such positivity made a big difference in her ability to accept some painful truths and do some letting go. We both learned that lingering grief, regret, shame, anger, and so on do not help us heal as well as forgiveness, humor and saying Ah for feck’s sake, that’s not helping me at all.

 

To make room for the sunshine I include a brief meditation in each session to help my clients release old pain. Jacki and I wrote about it in our book, DIY Akashic Wisdom. It’s called Healing Waters and it’s amazing at getting free from the pain that is old as dirt. Look it up, it’s a great exercise. The idea is to imagine you are in a pool of water in a beautiful setting. As you sit there make the intention to release all the pain surrounding a specific event. Then you just let it happen. All my clients are amazed at how easy it is to do. And they don’t get traumatized because the rule is to look the other way. It’s done and not to be rehashed, remembered or fussed over. While you are letting go of the past, allow yourself to be filled with light. It makes a world of difference to how you feel about life and yourself after spending time with what’s wrong.

Patty Shaw is co-owner of Coventry Creations and the Candle Wick Shoppe , author, teacher, Reiki Master and Akashic Record Healer. For appointments call 248-547-2987 or go towww.HealingwithPattyShaw.com