Dear Diary,

This is my second entry about the wild world of Wicca experienced by the Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary’s student. Maybe “wild” isn’t the best word as studying requires at least a small amount of discipline. Nevertheless, studying Wicca is certainly an exciting adventure.

In this installment, I wanted to tell you about the many ways I’ve been able to incorporate the class lessons into the “real” world. It is important to realize that even lessons meant to better your magical life can and will benefit your “mundane” life. This should not be a surprise to the more experienced practitioner as magic is known to be transformative.

I must also make you aware that I have a history of depression and anxiety in my life. Like many students, my life has been full of trauma. Not all witches have had these trials, of course, but I wanted to let you know where I was coming from. I’m also not a doctor or licensed therapist. Consult them if you’re having a crisis.

The meditation strategies and knowledge taught by the teachers have greatly lessened the impact my mental illness has on my daily life. For one, when I’m anxious, I do what is called diaphragmatic breathing. This is a tool used primarily in invoking Deity, but I found that it also helps a great deal when I’m having an anxiety attack. You breathe deeply from the pit of your stomach for four counts, hold for four counts, and exhale for four counts. I’ve seen this also called “box breathing.” It helps calm me down and lowers my heart rate considerably.

Another thing that has greatly improved my mental health is adopting an attitude of gratitude. If I’m feeling low, I try to find something that is benefiting me at the moment. For example, if I’m tired as all get out and need to go to work, I express how grateful I am for the powers of coffee. This puts a positive spin on my day. I’ve found that expressing my gratitude every day has helped me notice positivity more and obsess over negativity less.

Aside from improving my mental health, I’m also learning valuable leadership lessons that translate very easily into my work life. I’ve learned to see things from another person’s perspective, allowing me to be more empathetic to my clients. I’ve also learned how to check myself when I find that I’m being judgmental of a coworker who just won’t use their given resources to solve a problem. You know THAT coworker.

Quite possibly the most important lesson that translates easily into mundane life is that life is a cycle and that we’re constantly changing. We experience this cycle every day and every year. We are born and then we die, the seasons change, etc. This knowledge has taught me that nothing lasts forever, even tough times like a pandemic. This has kept me from sinking into a deep pit of despair and junk food.

I hope that this helps you incorporate more magic into your everyday life.

Don’t take any wooden nickels and i hope you have a blessed Samhain!

Sarah