#Mindfulness Meditation At Work

[astrosouldivinity]

𝘾𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙢 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙙…

☆ Capitalism resembles a game of appearances. Like a chess match, we play this game on an imaginary social hierarchy where we get placed with or without our consent. Our value is often determined by superficial factors such as wealth, attractiveness, racial factors, heteronormativity, and anything else that brings forth privilege.

☆ Over the next 19 years, the transit of Pluto in Aquarius will analyze and ultimately dismantle existing social constructs. Pluto, the planet of transformation, rebirth, and regeneration, will be in the sign of Aquarius, which embodies innovation, humanitarianism, and the collective consciousness. Are you ready for change?

⋆˙⟡Preparation: Pluto in Aquarius

☆ Pluto in Aquarius transit encourages you to embrace change and stay open to transformation. Here are some steps you can take to facilitate a smooth transition-

1. Embrace Change: Acknowledge that transformation is inevitable. Stay open-minded and adaptable to new ideas and perspectives.

2. Reflect on Social Constructs: Consider the societal norms and structures in your life. Identify which ones no longer serve you and think about how you can contribute to positive change.

3. Cultivate Innovation: Engage with new technologies, ideas, and ways of thinking. Explore creative outlets and innovative solutions in your personal and professional life.

4. Focus on Community: Strengthen your connections with others. Get involved in community-focused activities or humanitarian efforts that align with your values.

5. Educate Yourself: Stay informed about important social issues and community innovations. Knowledge can empower you to become an effective advocate for change.

☆ Lastly, remember to stay grounded. Engaging in grounding practices that help you stay centered, such as yoga, nature walks, or other forms of physical activity, can be highly beneficial. Additionally, developing your emotional resilience will equip you to handle challenges more effectively. Practices like mindfulness, meditation, and journaling can help you process changes more smoothly.

Capitalism Part One:

[allmyandroids]

hey ho could need a meditation for stress management read by Raymond Reddington I swear my stress level would drop to 0 immediately ! ! ! 😭

[urloveangel]

In the infinity of life where I am, all is perfect, whole, and complete. I see any resistance patterns within me only as something else to release. They have no power over me. I am the power in my world. I flow with the changes taking place in my life as best I can. I approve of myself and the way I am changing. I am doing the best I can. Each day gets easier. I rejoice that I am in the rhythm and flow of my ever-changing life. Today is a wonderful day. I choose to make it so. All is well in my world.

Louise Hay

[thepersonalwords]

Breath is the finest gift of nature. Be grateful for this wonderful gift.

Amit Ray, Beautify your Breath - Beautify your Life

[wanderingwitchspeaks]

So, Glamour Magic.

In my research, this is what I’ve concluded on the topic of Glamours. There is plenty of debate as to what a Glamour actually is, whether there are different types, whether they’re toxic and manipulative. This is merely my views on the subject and as always I encourage you to cross reference.

So what is a Glamour spell? Glamour spells are a form of craft which change how yourself and other people perceive you. They do not actually change your appearance beyond the mundane aspects of the spell. For example a commonly used Glamour tends to be an intentional positive affirmation. It is an affirmation that is charged with the energy and intention of changing your level of attraction.

A Glamour that would actually change your physical appearance via the mundane steps of the spell would be wearing nail polish with the color corresponding to how you want to be viewed by others. Yellow would represent joy whilst red would correspond to sensuality and passion.

━─━────༺༻────━─━

Here are a few Glamour spells you may be able to cast right now!

-

>Enchanting Jewelry

Step one: Cleanse. There are many ways you can cleanse your jewelry via covering it in salt for a few hours, smoke cleansing, water cleansing or all of the above. Get those negative energies as far from your piece of jewelry as possible (note: Make sure your jewelry won't rust whilst cleansing if you choose to use methods other than smoke. 

Step two: Intention. Hold your jewelry cupped within your hands and push into it the intention and energy of what you’re trying to achieve, be it general attractiveness, confidence, etc. 

Step three: Wear it! Wear the jewelry with pride and when you’re feeling down about yourself, remember your spell has your back.

-

>Nail polish

Step one: Decide. Choose an intention and research what color corresponds with said intention. You can wear nail art with different colors for more complex spells or simply wear pink to look more innocent. 

Step two: Wear it! It’s literally that easy.

- 

>Makeup

This one is sort of a combo of the other two. Allow me to explain.

Step one: Cleanse your makeup. Unfortunately your options are pretty much limited to smoke cleansing lest you ruin your makeup. If you’re able to get creative and find another means of cleansing that’s great! However, If you’re able- smoke would be the easiest

Step two(revisited:)  Intention. Hold your makeup item cupped within your hands and push into it the intention and energy of what you’re trying to achieve, be it general attractiveness, confidence, etc. 

Step three: Boost. For an added boost use color correspondence. Pick your intention, and research what colors correspond. If you’re looking to appear bold and confident, use warm colors for your eyeshadow such as red or orange. Add yellow for a boost of child-like happiness others will envy. 

Use black eyeliner for protection, brown to make you appear dependable, blue to appear bold and collected. Etc, you can find limitless charts on color correspondence on Pinterest or Tumblr. 

━─━────༺༻────━─━

Remember Glamours are meant to boost what you already have. So look deep within yourself and remember: you are beautiful, you are stunning, you shine and nothing will ever change that.

[pivsketch]

special technique

[seculartarotreader]

Daily Secular Tarot Card

This card comes from the Tarot of the Divine by Yoshi Yoshitani.

The King of Cups is deeply emotional and protective of those they care about. The King of Cups knows that fulfilling relationships are as precious as pearls and are worth putting the work into. Wisdom and emotional control, not suppression, are the tools of the King of Cups… this King also reminds us that dragons are cool as hell.

Depending on the context some keywords you may associate with the King of Cups includes: wisdom, compassion, diplomacy, and emotional balance.

Other keywords (typically in a King of Cups reversed) you may associate with the King of Cups includes: anxiety, emotional-manipulation, moodiness, and violence.

Some questions the King of Cups may help you answer:

What emotional triggers are affecting my judgement and how can I develop the emotional intelligence to better control my reactions?

What boundaries do I need to set for my emotional wellness?

How can I lead with emotional intelligence in my personal and professional life?

What emotions am I avoiding and how can I process them healthily?

What personal practices can I use to keep me emotionally balanced and centered?

For my own personal reading I think the King of Cups serves as a reminder that having emotions is not a weakness, it is a strength. True weakness is using my emotions as an excuse to harm myself or others. True strength is using my emotions as a way to connect with myself and others.

What do you think of the King of Cups?

[angelpink610]

Shadow Work is NOT meant to be easy or comforting;

Guess it’s about time that we talk about this!

This is a reminder to myself and to anyone that might need it—the ones who feel like it’s only bringing them down, that it’s making them feel miserable or bad. Let’s clear up some things.

Feeling down in the moment is the best sign you can receive that IT IS WORKING! Shadow Work is the courage to look at the parts of yourself you despise the most, you fear the most, you are embarrassed of the most. It’s not simply acknowledging that bad things happened to you, it’s experiencing them all over again but now straightening up your back and looking right to its face.

I, myself, also am someone that's still learning about it and have been experiencing hard times throughout it. Sometimes I feel unmotivated and down, also lately I had noticed my sleep was a bit more inconsistent and I have big dark circles. Well, I know that saying this is probably going to scare some people even more away—and I understand the unsettling feelings! But the way that I see it, it’s like anything great in life: takes time, heavy work and some sacrifices.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not sacrificing my entire life because of it. I workout every single day, keep my mind active, go to university, all normal. But some minor sacrifices are the price we pay for lifelong healing. My personal experience’s greatest example of sacrifice is how much emotional energy it actually takes from you. I swear on my word that sometimes when I look at the notebook I use as my Shadow Work journal, I instantly feel kind of “off vibes”, like the energy that it has is unsettling—but, here’s the thing: it is!

The energy that it requires to heal your deepest traumas, pains, griefs, obviously wouldn’t be super light and nice. Your words carry the pain you felt, some that you still feel, the heaviness of its result on your life (maybe years, decades of constant suffering, even); it’s pretty obvious that the notebook that carries them wasn’t gonna be all warm and fuzzy.

It’s not easy, guys. And I know that, at this point, you might’ve already realized that, but I want to remember us all of something: it’s in adversity that we are able to grow. You are capable of living through this healing process, you are capable of surviving the dark before the light, you are capable of facing your monsters and returning with their heads on a stick. But you HAVE TO BELIEVE IT.

Live through the suffering stage of the process like the champion you already know you are. Don’t give up when you suddenly burst into tears during a meditation session where you talked to your younger self. Persist when you have to stop and take deep breaths at every few sentences you write when you are journaling about a traumatic event because it feels like it’s too much. Hold onto it tighter when you live all over again the worst thing that’s ever happened to you.

One last time: I’m not saying it’s easy or simple (in reality, those may be some of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do through your entire life, perhaps). But I do mean it when I say you’ll understand why you had to go through all that once you reach the light on the other side, and your scars will be the forever reminder THAT YOU ARE A SURVIVOR.

The same way a lot of kids are not scared of/don’t see evil in certain horror imageries until they are told that it is scary and choose to follow that thought—we should learn from them as adults and finally understand: monsters are only monsters when we give them the power to haunt us.

[changingthemood]

www.changingthemood.com

[supremeromanticizer]

Your self worth is not tied to your productivity.

[taurusreads]

A GUIDE TO: SHADOW WORK

masterlist || paid services || ko-fi

below is a step-by-step guide on what shadow work is, how to practice it, as well as addressing a major misconception that many people have about the process. if you're interested in learning about shadow work or want to find out how to start the process, i hope that this provides enough information to help point you in the right direction <3

remember: shadow work is not an easy process and should not be taken lightly. to make sure that you have all the knowledge you need before starting, conduct your own research on how to do shadow work, as i only used a few sources that i looked through while doing my own research on the topic.

WHAT IS A SHADOW?

Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. - carl jung

a shadow is described as the aspects of a person that one forgets, hides, and or represses subconsciously.

all people have a shadow, there is never someone who goes through life without having at least one. shadows make up the people we are, and how others perceive us. our shadows are the counterpart to the self that we present to others, it is our truest thoughts, feelings, wants, and needs that others, whether it be friends, family, society, etc., have deemed unacceptable.

these aspects of ourselves that we hide from others and sometimes even ourselves is called our shadow self.

our shadows are formed throughout our lives and typically occur in moments when we don't have the knowledge, skill set, or mental capacity to stand up for ourselves. these shadows grow when we feel like we can't express our truest selves due to an external source telling us that what makes us unique is bad, weird, taboo, etc.

most people are not aware of their shadows until their early to mid-20s, but everyone is different, so it could be much later than that. our shadows are karmic and are meant to teach us life lessons once we hit a certain stage in our lives, but only if we choose to acknowledge them.

HOW DO WE SHOW OUR SHADOWS?

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. - carl jung

our shadows are shown in the 3D by projection. if one has not faced their shadows and worked with their shadow self, then they could project their own insecurities and fears onto the people, things, ideas, etc. around them. when people inherit beliefs and values that don't align with who they truly are beneath the surface, this can cause resentment, fear, or even anger towards the ideals, beliefs, and values that they really do have.

for example, someone with a neglected inner child wound could have experienced feeling silenced in their home, feeling left out, and fearing abandonment. having feelings like this in their shadow self could result in actions like people pleasing, overextending, emotional immaturity, and more. they can project these actions, thoughts, and feelings onto other people and hold high expectations for others, often resulting in behavioral patterns. these patterns are learned throughout life, and then have to be recognized and broken.

"If you grew up a very talkative child, your parents might have told you repeatedly to be quiet or talk less often in social settings. In order to feel loved and accepted, you might’ve started to repress that talkative aspect of your personality. And over time, as you continued to repress those parts, your shadow held onto those feelings until they bubble over or they’re triggered by external stimuli." (Cleveland Clinic, HealthEssentials, 2023)

acknowledging these shadow aspects of ourselves and learning to accept them can help people have more care, love, and compassion for others and themselves in hard situations.

HOW TO DO SHADOW WORK

The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed. - carl jung

there are many ways for people to do shadow work, and it all depends on the person and their personal preference. Most people practice a few different methods of shadow work and stick to the few that seem to work the best for them.

a few ways that people could practice shadow work consists of:

mirror gazing

shadow work prompts (most common)

meditation

the shadow work journal

and more!

it is imperative that you try different methods of shadow work, and pick the best options for you. some options could work better than others, so it is important that you pay attention to how you feel after each exercise, and make sure that you're mentally ready for the work you are about to put in. do ample research on each method that you want to look into before attempting.

WHEN SHOULD YOU DO SHADOW WORK?

There is no birth of consciousness without pain. - carl jung

a person should only do shadow work when they feel like they are mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically ready to do so. if you feel at any point in time that you are not ready to face your shadows, then it is highly advised to wait before you delve into it.

shadow work is all about facing the parts of yourself that you've subconsciously blocked due to trauma, so it won't be easy to complete without facing emotional backlash.

if you think about the idea of shadow work and it makes you feel nervous, worried, anxious, scared, etc., then more than likely you're not ready to commit to your shadow work at that time. on the other hand, if you think about shadow work and feel excited, optimistic, motivated, and most of all ready for change, then more than likely you are ready to take the next step in your spiritual journey!

sometimes, our guides will give us signs that we are ready for our shadow work journey by relaying information to us through dreams, downloads, angel numbers, significant animals/items, etc., so be conscious of the signs that your guides might be trying to show you!

IS IT DEMONIC/SATANIC/WITCHCRAFT?

I have treated many hundreds of patients. Among those in the second half of life - that is to say, over 35 - there has not been one whose problem in the last resort was not that of finding a religious outlook on life. - carl jung

no. absolutely not.

shadow work is a process that was discovered by a swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst named carl jung. jung believed that there were three different parts to the human psyche; the ego (conscious self), the personal unconscious (shadow self), and the collective conscious (shared mental constructs among society).

jung believed that shedding light on our personal unconscious could drastically change the way that we interact with the world around us, as well as ourselves for the better.

shadow work isn't about summoning anything that wasn't previously there, it's about acknowledging the unknown parts of yourself that already existed so we can truly figure out who we are on the inside.

shadow work is something that takes time, effort, and willpower, but it is a safe and loving practice that helps people better their self-love, self-worth, self-acceptance, and overall mental well-being.

all information provided is from my own personal experiences and research. if there are any other questions about what shadow work is or how to do it, send your questions to my ask box!

© taurusreads 2023

[bitter-bats-cult-of-the-moon]

Moving Meditation Motivations Discovering the Right Focus Technique

There are some people who can sit through meditation while other individuals simply cannot. During a passive meditation they find themselves fidgeting and unable to focus. This leads to further frustrations, and an unwillingness to try any sort of meditation again.

The advice most people hear is to try again or that they were not doing it right. Well, guess what? There are other ways to possibly reach a meditative state of mind when your body is in motion. Moving meditation, if done accurately can give a person the same benefits as passive meditation where one sits.

How to Choose Your Activity

It should be something that engages you and holds your focus for an extended period roughly anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes a day. To gain a better meditative state one must do something that is continuous, fluid, methodical, and repetitive so that the movements become more automatic in time.

For example, a walk in the park at a steady pace putting your attention on your breath, and taking in the sights that surround you such as:

how the sun feels on your skin

the clouds overhead

if there is a wind breeze

examining the trees and their own leaves

It's all about the state of mind you're able to achieve being one of mindfulness, of living in the moment, of relaxed awareness.

Other Suggestions

Walk a Labyrinth: One walks clockwise in a circle or in a particular pattern towards the center of a destination point. It should not be like a maze where you find yourself frustrated towards the end, but choosing a pattern that fits you and your needs.

Qigong: This is a 5,000-year-old Chinese health exercise technique. Its goal is to synchronize the breath with the mind's intentions. One moves with flow and grace as they further learn this skill.  A regular practice can lower your blood pressure and boost your immunity, flexibility, and circulation.

Example:

1. Relax your body, imagining that your feet are sinking deep into the earth. Your hands are in front of your lower belly, palms facing each other, forming a ball of energy.

2. Inhale. Open your arms to the sides as if to expand the ball, while raising your arms, to shoulder height.

3. At shoulder level, turn the thumbs back and the palms up and exhale, releasing any tension from your body as you drop and relax your shoulders, elbows, and hands.

4. Inhale, as you raise your arms up over your head.

5. Palms facing down, deeply exhale as you lower them, “showering” the body with cleansing, revitalizing energy. Repeat three times.

Yoga Exercises: There are several different methods of yoga, some having religious dogma attached while others focus primarily on the exercises themselves. Everyone has different preferences, but if you are looking to simply relax and reach a meditative state then I suggest trying out the exercises themselves. This is a practice to connect the body and mind into one.

Tai Chi:  Short for Tai ji quan, or T'ai chi ch'üan, is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training, its health benefits and meditation. The term Taiji refers to a philosophy of the forces of yin and yang.

Karate Katas:  A practice of detailed patterns of movements either solo or in pairs. Karate kata are executed as a specified series of a variety of moves, with stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain perfect form.

Art: painting, drawing, etc.

Crafts: knitting, crocheting, paper folding, weaving, anything rhythmic.

Exercise: stationary bike, weightlifting, elliptical machine, step climbing, sports, etc.

Playing a game that has a repeating theme and is not too difficult that one can get into.

Music: focusing on the song's rhythm, beats, and possibly lyrics. Pick something that reached out to you as an individual.

[tangledinink]

Wait wait wait

You do witchcraft???

That's so cool! I had no idea there were other witches in the TMNT fandom!!!

What kind of witchcraft do you practice?? Personally, I deal mostly with divination, but I'd love to hear more about other people's crafts!

I do! ^^ Though admittedly my practice has been a little bit dormant as of late because I sort of fell out of habit after An Event which was a Bit Disruptive to My Life lol. But I guess I kind of dabble in a bit of everything? I dunno if I could pin myself down to just one kind of practice yet, I still sort of consider myself a Baby Witch. But I really like making little spelljars and casting candle spells and things of the like, and I've been trying to learn tarot for a while now! I also really like making and drawing sigils... For a while part of the joy for me has been just Learning New Things.

^ ft. gecko enclosure and tail lol. BoS and altar not pictured.

[urloveangel]

[connectingpatterns]

Somagetic Tantic Energy Healing

[wanderingwitchspeaks]

Energy Work... What is it?

As you progress in your exploration of witchcraft, you will fall upon many conclusions and notice various resemblances in energy from individual to individual. You will begin to recognize the unique significance you attribute to various correspondences. You may begin to fall upon the conclusion different colors represent different states of being to you as opposed to your colleague within the craft. For instance, the color red may not always symbolize passion or anger for you, yellow might be symbolic of psychic power, and purple could convey a sense of caution. While, yes, there are charts that live amongst literature instructing you as to what hues and textures represent what emotions and mental states, these connections are wholly subjective. Energy is often perceived as a spectrum of colors and materials that could mean something entirely different to you compared to someone else. It primarily revolves around individual viewpoints arriving at the same result or inference. 

I tend to visualize energy as a radiant mist exuding various shades. However, in extreme cases, one's energy may reshape the texture of the energy I sense. Moreover, these hues help portray the emotions I sense from the mist or substance. For instance, to interpret a friend's energy, I could describe the sensation as such: "Your energy mirrors that of an innocent child, filled with curiosity, optimism about the future, and abundant love for the world. Nonetheless, it feels somewhat empty, perhaps due to a recent deep wound inflicted upon you by someone close. It appears you may be seeking solace and support from others who may not be equipped to meet your needs, which in turn intensifies your feelings of desertion." Alternatively, I could interpret it simply as: "Your energy feels a mix of yellow and blue, and slightly melancholic. Do you want to discuss it?

In essence, energy sensing refers to the capacity to perceive the external energies in your surroundings. This involves detecting energies from plants, objects, stones, and people. Why is this important? For those who practice magick, energy sensing is utilized to recognize and perceive energies outside their own that they might want to engage with. This is evident when you ask a plant for permission before taking something from it, or when you try to understand what a crystal can provide you. Conversely, it can be employed in vampiric rituals. Energy sensing finds its use in divination or spirit work, and can also be utilized by energy healers to support medication and identify energy obstructions and toxins, thus allowing a more effective mental and physical healing process.

Energy sensing can let you work with spirits, nature, deities, energy healing, tarot reading, and anything outside of the self. 

We as people and everything around us are made of energy. We can work with this energy in various methods, some people are going to be naturally better at energy sensing than others. This is seen in empaths, vampires, and sensitive people in general. 

In short, energy sensing is essentially advanced empathy. This empathy extends to those who have closed themselves off, those who are unsure of their own energetic current, plants and even inanimate objects. I hope this somewhat clears the way for your personal practice in energy work. 

Farewell!  <3