2018 So Far – Welcome to My Practice

Alter Pic – Early January 2018

For anyone who has a regular intuitive practice (whether it be astrology, dream journalling, mindful meditation, general openness to the universe, or straight up witchcraft) the transition from December 2017 into the new year has been packed with planetary punch. Last year was difficult and full of energy and feelings bubbling to the surface. It was a year of work, and for those who did the work, hopefully, pay-off.

I live in the US and most of last year was a slap in the face for those fighting for progress and representation. It was also full of bull shit, lies, and general lack of awareness from people in power (I also work in Hollywood S.O.S). Personally, I found that if those people could not look in the mirror and speak honestly and with integrity, I was going to have to step up and prove that I could. Don’t get me wrong, I’m an entry level employee with no power or influence, but I really do believe that what you put out into the universe comes back three-fold.

In 2017 I came out to more people, my parents, co-workers, friends outside my main circle. I addressed my anxiety and depression on my own, in a healthy way, for the first time since starting to see therapists in late 2013. I tripped balls in the desert, traveled from coast to coast, spent quality time with family and friends, and through it all I found an inner power that I always knew was there but was too scared to address before.

In August, I started a baby coven. Mostly we are sisters and friends who practice separately, maintain alters, love crystals and herbs, and, sometimes, come together under the moon to set intentions and eat awesome food. I started a new job that month after coming out to my parents. It was rocky and unstable at first, but I found my momentum and have been practicing and embracing my witchy-ness ever since.

And I don’t plan on stopping in 2018.

Witchcraft has directly related to my self care. Tracking my cycles with the moon has lead to a deeper understanding of how my body and mind work. Meditation has helped with my mental illness. I put stress on being out in nature and caring about the food I put in my body. I started to enjoy exercise and routine – two things that are hard every day but then I remember they help me tap into my inner power (and I love feeling powerful) #worthit. Reading about the goddess tradition and its embrace of the masculine and feminine in everyone has helped me self-identify, and honestly, it helped me to become a better feminist. I am more motivated to learn and keep growing and spread what I learn outwards to those I love. And through all of this, I have learned to talk better with myself, which only means I have gotten better at communicated with those I care about and with whom I interact on the daily.

It’s still not perfect, but these are the lessons that brought me out of 2017 and into 2018.

So now I have to ask myself – what do I do with all of this?

I still have anger, frustration, confusion, and a myriad of other emotions to parse through in relation to the world. It is sometimes coupled with joy and love too (which, I find, can be just as confusing). It boils down to wanting to DO something. So why not write. I have a voice, one of an individual with, I think, a lot to offer. And if I really do believe that what you put out into the universe comes back three-fold, I better start putting out some good vibes in a major way.

2018 is going to be all about enjoying the work we put in last year. For someone with anxiety, it can be hard to sit back, relax, and enjoy. But we all deserve that, the universe is telling us that! (If you want to find out more about planetary ish and what the universe is yelling at us, check out Forever Conscious. They are my go-to website for astrological intentions!)

January started with a Full Moon. From day one we were getting powerful energy that was clearly telling us what needed to be taken care of. For me, I got the flu. I was the most sick I have been in years and it lasted a long time. With it came thoughts of self-hate, fueled by the sick ick. I felt unworthy of being around those I loved. It made me focus on what energy was coming from me and what energy was coming from things out of my control. It also kicked me back into my self care routine in a big way – something I had been slacking on, as many do, over the holidays. These are still mindful practices I am focusing on as the moon cycles back to full.

After I got better I started to focus on moving with intention. I have a feeling that if I can be more clear in my intentions, it will help me better recognizes others’ intentions outside of me. At the same time, I was hit with an incredible amount of sexual energy bubbling up around me. I was more able to talk about my feelings and desires, as were those in my circle. (For more on desire check out Natalie Portman’s speech from the 2018 Women’s March. She was one of my favorites of the day.) I felt re-charged in a way that I haven’t since the end of my last, monogamist relationship way back in November of 2016 (I know, it took a while)! I also found more people who echoed my personally philosophies of free love and polyamory. And I started reading “The Ethical Slut” which is my new bible.

We have one week left until the Blue Moon/Eclipse/general awesomeness on the 31st. I feel gifted to be alive at this time, practicing and acknowledging my intuition. The month opened with full power and will close with a super charged full throttle push into the rest of the year. I plan on riding the wave, and I hope whoever is reading this does too. I am sending you love in your practice.

In general, this year is going to be about Earth and Water coming together, goals and emotions. It’s a good time to open and balance your root and hearth chakras. (Here is a link to a good post on that). This is also a year of feminine energy. This rise in the feminine started last year (holler at the Women’s March) but it was still in tandem with a strong masculine tide.

This year, femininity takes its roots, demanding the balance the world deserves. As a non-binary person, I find this incredibly exciting and I hope my male, female, and other, friends take full advantage of exploring this side of themselves in the new year.

I have lots of rituals, projects, meditations, and practice tips I want to talk about this year. I hope it resonates with whoever finds it and possibly inspires others to ride ~*the wave*~ with me. I feel more and more people coming into their power, reclaiming the title of “Witch”, and manifesting what they need most. It fills me to the brim with love to see this. I’m ready to overflow with abundance and let it wash over everything in my life. Lots of water imagery, I know – I’m a Pisces 🐟

I hope you stay tuned – even if it’s just to see pictures of my alter and my ceramic cat, Deb (she’s my totem, my guardian, and her name is short for Debutant)!

Deb <3

Much Love – Riss.