Worry
W orry is the feeling that causes anxiety. You can be concerned and anxious about a situation, problem, or person and even get into a panic about it. It can be very easy to take the small seed of worry and escalate it to totally unrealistic proportions. Worrying can cause sweating, headaches, and muscle tension. You might feel restless, ill at ease, and irritable. Worrying is a trait that I personally struggle with; I worry about everything!
In this chapter you will find magical suggestions to help ease your worries. Work with as many of them as you like. Follow your intuition and be guided by it as to what you choose to work with.
Affirmations. Regular positive statements can change the way we think about ourselves and our situations.
Colour Magic. Colour plays an important part in how we feel and can affect our emotions; work with it to boost positive energy.
Herbs. This section will contain my suggestions of herbs to work with in magical spell workings. Pick from my ideas or use your own—be guided by your intuition.
Foods. All foods have magical properties. I have given you some suggestions that can be eaten or used in spell work. I’ve also included a recipe in each chapter.
Herbal Teas. These can be created with herbs and spices that help alleviate negative issues. Work with my suggestions or use your own.
Incense and Oils. Scents can bring up strong emotions. Work with my suggestions to create incense blends or oil blends to use in ritual or spell work. You can also create these blends just because the scent will lift your mood!
Everyday Exercise. In this section you will find easy daily or regular routines to help get your positive energy flowing and get rid of the negative vibes.
Crystals. They hold such power in tiny, easy-to-handle form. Crystals can be worked with in all sorts of ways to help with all kinds of issues.
Meditation. Read through the script or even record it on your phone. Take some time out and work with the meditation for help and guidance.
Spell. You will find spells to help with any issue. Keep it simple and straightforward. If you don’t have the items I have suggested, substitute them with whatever you feel is right. Personalise it; make the spell your own.
Ritual. The rituals included will not be too fancy or complicated. Often, the rituals connect with a deity and the elements to work some magic.
Magic Bundle. In this section you’ll find my suggestions for creating a magic bundle to help you through your situation.
Affirmations for Worry
I let go of what I cannot control.
I focus on what I can deal with.
I am worry free.
I am carefree.
Life is good.
Colour Magic for Worry
If you saw worry as a colour, what colour would you see? This will vary from person to person. For any negative emotion or issue that I want to release, I see black as a good colour to work with. White is also good because it is neutral.
Worry for me would be a wishy-washy, pale green/blue colour. It’d be kinda insipid and not really any true, full-on colour. Counteract it with a bold, bright, happy colour.
Herbs to Combat Worry
These are for magical use, NOT consumption.
• Alyssum
• Benzoin
• Dill
• Holly
• Hops
• Knotweed
• Passionflower
• Rue
• Skullcap
• Valerian
• Vervain
• Witch hazel
Foods to Combat Worry
These can be used magically and/or eaten.
• Basil
• Blueberries
• Chamomile
• Fennel
• Green tea
• Lavender
• Lemon balm
• Mint
• Poppy seeds
Recipe: Shortbread
Shortbread is simple but effective; it really helps soothe those worries. This is a basic recipe. You can add all kinds of flavourings, herbs, and spices to kick this shortbread up a notch. I’ve included some variation suggestions below.
Magic of the Ingredients
• Butter—antidepression, nurturing, love
• Sugar—to make life sweet!
You can charge or bless the ingredients as you add them to the mix or do so once the shortbread is made. Hold your hands over them and say:
Shortbread soothes, simply made
Keep my worries right away
Shortbread
125 g (4 oz) butter
55 g (2 oz) sugar
180 g (6 oz) plain flour
Caster sugar for decoration
Heat the oven to 190°C (375°F).
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until smooth.
Add in the flour. If you are making a variation, add your extra flavourings as well. Stir until you have a smooth paste.
Transfer mixture onto a work surface and gently roll out until the paste is 1 cm (½ in) thick.
Cut into rounds or fingers and place on a baking tray. Sprinkle with caster sugar and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.
Bake in the oven for 15–20 minutes or until pale golden-brown.
Set aside to cool on a wire rack.
Variations
• Add one tablespoon of chopped basil leaves.
• Add one teaspoon of fennel seeds.
• Add the grated rind of one large orange.
• Add the grated rind of two lemons or limes.
• Add two teaspoons of dried chamomile.
• Add two teaspoons of green tea leaves.
• Add one tablespoon of chopped lemon balm leaves.
Herbal Teas for Worry
These are some herbal teas that can be drunk on their own to alleviate the feeling of worry:
• Basil
• Chamomile
• Fennel
• Green tea
• Lavender
• Lemon balm
• Mint
• Passionflower
Try creating your own blends. Here are some of my favourite combinations:
• One teaspoon chamomile, one teaspoon passionflower, and a slice of lemon per mug of hot water
• One teaspoon mint and one teaspoon basil per mug of hot water
• One teaspoon fennel seeds and one teaspoon mint per mug of hot water
• One teaspoon green tea and a slice of lemon per mug of hot water
• One teaspoon green tea and one teaspoon mint per mug of hot water
• One teaspoon lavender and one teaspoon passionflower per mug of hot water
Incense and Oil Blends for Worry
Any of these can be used in spells, rituals, body care, anointing, cleansing, and more to help ease your worries. Each one can be used on its own or mixed with others in a blend.
• Basil
• Benzoin
• Chamomile
• Fennel
• Lavender
• Lemon balm
• Mint
• Passionflower
Incense Blends
• One part frankincense resin, two parts lavender, and one part passionflower
• Equal parts benzoin resin, basil, and fennel seeds
• One part frankincense resin, two parts lemon balm, and two parts mint
• Equal parts lavender, chamomile, and lemon balm
• Equal parts mint, fennel seeds, and basil
Essential Oil Blends
• Combine six drops frankincense and ten drops lavender. Use in your bath or on an oil burner/diffuser or mix with a base oil to use on the body.
• Combine four drops lavender, four drops chamomile, and four drops lemon balm. Use in your bath or on an oil burner/diffuser or mix with a base oil to use on the body.
• Combine four drops lemon balm, four drops mint, and three drops fennel. Use in your bath or on an oil burner/diffuser or mix with a base oil to use on the body.
• Combine four drops frankincense, four drops fennel, and three drops basil. Use in your bath or on an oil burner/diffuser or mix with a base oil to use on the body.
Worry Beads
Beads are a brilliant tool for meditation and working through stressful emotions. Sometimes called worry beads, meditation beads, rosary beads, or mala beads, they act as a kind of anchor or a grounding point, giving you something to focus on.
Making your own set of worry beads is easy. Pick beads that you like and thread them onto a string. You can choose different beads for different purposes or you can have a string of plain beads that are all the same colour. It is your choice—use whatever works for you.
Be careful not to overload the string—you need to be able to slide the beads along. Leave plenty of space on the string to slide the beads along or tie a knot after each bead, leaving a small gap between the beads and knots.
If you aren’t crafty or don’t want to make your set of worry beads, sets of beads can be purchased from craft sites.
The beads can be used in several ways. A popular method is to hang the string between your thumb and your third finger, traditionally in your right hand. Using your middle finger, you rotate the beads toward yourself one at a time. Begin rotating the first bead and repeat the process with all the beads, continuing around the loop until you reach the start. Each time you rotate a bead, repeat a mantra or affirmation and take a breath.
A variation of this method is to hang the string on your middle finger and rotate the beads using your thumb. Rotate the beads one at a time in the same fashion.
I keep my set of worry beads on my altar. You will want to keep them somewhere safe; if not on your altar, perhaps in a drawer or box.
Your worry beads may need cleansing occasionally if you feel the energy is a bit off. Cleansing them with incense is perfect.
Everyday Exercise for Worry
I love a bit of drumming, and making noise can really help release negative emotion and raise your energy. If you have a drum, perfect! If not, you can improvise. Use a metal biscuit tin or a saucepan and wooden spoon. When you feel the need to release worry, fears, or tension, get your drum out and give it a good ol’ bang! Walk around the house, stand in the yard, or take yourself out to the woods and make some noise. Really give it some gusto. With each bang of the drum, visualise your worries being crushed and destroyed. Let the sound take them away. And then possibly apologise to your neighbours …
Crystals for Worry
Carry crystals with you, use them in magical spells, or meditate with them. Remember to charge the crystal with your intent before use and cleanse it afterwards. Cleansing suggestions can be found in Chapter Three of this book.
• Amber basically sorts your brain out, providing clarity of thought.
• Amethyst clears the mind and brings clarity to any situation. It is calming and healing.
• Angelite has a beautiful, peaceful energy to calm and soothe.
• Black tourmaline is grounding and promotes self-confidence.
• Blue tourmaline is a stone of peace.
• Blue lace agate encourages a sense of calm and peace. It is a stone of communication so it can help you talk about your worries.
• Celestite helps relieve worry, bringing balance and happy vibes.
• Citrine is comforting and relaxing and brings security.
• Fluorite helps the mind focus on what is important and helps bring balance.
• Hematite has a grounding energy that brings things into perspective and helps alleviate worry.
• Larimar is the perfect stone to take the burden of your worries.
• Lepidolite is calm and tranquil, bringing balance to the spirit, mind, and soul.
• You can depend on red jasper to keep you grounded and focused.
• Smoky quartz uses a gentle energy to focus and clarify situations.
Meditation for Worry
Hopefully, this meditation will help you chill out and release your mind from worry.
Make yourself comfortable in a place where you won’t be disturbed. If you feel drawn to, put on some light music, drumming, or chanting. Light your incense or oil blend if you would like.
As your world around you dissipates, you find yourself standing on the side of a grassy hill. Above you is the hilltop, and you have a view of other hills and mountaintops. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and the air is fresh and sweet. It feels like late summer or early autumn.
The grass is lush beneath your feet, and stones and small boulders are scattered around. You take a look around you and see a small, chalky pathway leading toward the top of the hill so you begin to follow the path.
It is not steep—just a pleasant, comfortable climb. Take in the scenery, the sights, and the sounds around you as you walk and breathe in the fresh mountain air.
As the pathway rounds a bend, it opens out on to the top of the hill: a large, flat area of grass. You are surprised to see the ruins of what looks to be an old abbey or temple of some sort.
Walking over to the structure, you see that it is made from hand-carved stone. Some of the pillars are still standing along with a few low walls, but most of it has long since fallen. You put out your hand and feel the cold of the stone.
As you stand there quietly taking in the energy and feel of the place, you hear a noise and are drawn to the centre of the ruin. Walking over, you see an animal snuffling about looking for food. What animal is it? It looks up at you, and your eyes make a connection. You sit down quietly on a piece of broken wall and find yourself talking to the animal, telling it all about your worries and fears. The animal sits patiently, listening …
When you are finished, the animal responds to you …
Then, in a flash, the animal turns and is gone.
Your attention is drawn to what looks to be a purple blossom on a plant that is creeping and twisting its way up several of the pillars. You head on over and take a closer look.
The plant is indeed covered with purple flowers. They are strange-looking blossoms that have a wonderful scent, and you breathe in deeply. You feel the need to reach out and hold one of the flowers. A connection is made, and you feel the name “passionflower” pop into your mind.
This flower wants to listen too, so you talk …
Then it responds …
Once the message has been conveyed, you are given permission to pick the flower and take it away with you.
You feel the need to go to the edge of the hilltop, looking out over the scenery below. Shout … shout out loud … let all your worries out so that the breeze can carry them away …
Then take a final look around at the ruins and the scenery that surrounds the hill, taking it all in. Soak in every detail, knowing that you can always come back to this place if you need to.
You finally start to make your way back down the hillside pathway. Each step downwards feels like you are lightening your load, leaving your worries behind.
Slowly and gently come back to this reality, wriggling your fingers and toes. Open your eyes.
Drink and eat something.
Jot down any thoughts or images that came to mind during your meditation. It can be useful to refer back to them later.
Spell to Let Go of Worry
We are going to make mud pies with your worry! The magic of this spell is in the herbs and the soil. Each herb will help release the worry that is clinging to you, and the elements of nature will remove your worry. Let the earth and water clear and cleanse the negative emotions that you are carrying with you.
You will need:
• Bowl of dried herbs of your choice (try to include herbs that correspond to letting go of worry: basil, lemon balm, or mint)
• Bowl of soil
• Jug of water
• Candle (optional)
Light your candle if you are using one. This is just to give you a sense of focus.
Place the bowls and water in front of you.
Take a pinch of the dried herbs and visualise one of the things you worry about. Drop it into the bowl of soil. Take another pinch of ingredients and repeat, visualising the worry and then letting go of it as you drop it into the soil. Repeat as many times as you feel necessary, transferring your worries from your mind to the herbs, letting go of them as the herbs hit the soil.
When you are done, take the jug of water and pour a little into the soil. Stir it with your fingers and make a sticky, muddy mess. Mix it up really well so the herbs are totally covered by the mud. Say:
With the elements of earth and water
My worries are gone
With the elements of earth and water
My worries are done
The mud can then be tipped into the garden.
Snuff out your candle if you used one.
Candle and Herb Ritual to Release Worry
This ritual’s intent is to help you let go of your worries. Here we work with the power of the Hindu god Ganesha. He removes obstacles and blockages and provides a pathway for new beginnings.
The spell within this ritual uses the magic of herbs, one for each element, and candle wax to seal and remove. It also brings colour magic into play, using black to dispel negative energy and white to bring in the positive.
This ritual can be done using the items listed below, or you can sit quietly in your space and just visualise the whole thing.
You will need:
• Small dish of herbs or flowers to represent earth (honeysuckle, grass, or salt, for example)
• Small dish of herbs or flowers to represent air (alyssum, lavender, or mint, perhaps)
• Small dish of herbs or flowers to represent fire (I suggest basil, black pepper, or rosemary)
• Small dish of herbs or flowers to represent water (I recommend lemon balm, poppy seeds, or thyme)
• Fireproof dish or cauldron
• One central candle to represent the god Ganesha
• One black candle
• One white candle
• Matches or a lighter
• Something to eat and drink
Before you start, place a dish of herbs at each compass direction.
Cast your circle. Walk around in a circle deosil (clockwise) or turn around on the spot if you are limited for space. Visualise a soft, glowing light forming a circle around you. When the circle is complete, visualise the light forming above you and below you to form a globe. As you cast the circle, say:
Circle of light
Circle of peace
Circle of protection
Circle this place
Call the quarters. Turn and face each compass direction, starting with the north and working deosil (clockwise). North is earth, east is air, south is fire, and west is water. Running your fingers through each herb as you face each one, say:
Element of earth, bringing stability and grounding
Please join me in this place
Blessings of earth
Element of air, bringing peace and clarity
Please join me in this place
Blessings of air
Element of fire, bringing energy and passion
Please join me in this place
Blessings of fire
Element of water, bringing emotion and calm
Please join me in this place
Blessings of water
As you light the central candle, say:
I call upon the strong and wise god Ganesha
And ask that you bring your strength, guidance, and assistance to remove blockages
To assist me with this rite
Blessings to you
Now light the black candle.
Take a pinch of herbs from the north/earth and visualise it containing one of your worries. Then sprinkle the herbs into your fireproof dish or cauldron.
Now take the black candle and drip a few drops of wax on top of the herbs, saying:
With the power of dark
I wipe out the worry
Next take a pinch of herbs from the east/air and repeat the process, dropping them into the cauldron, dripping them with wax, and saying the chant. Do this with a pinch of herbs from the south/fire and then with the west/water herbs. You should have a waxy, herby mess in the bottom of your cauldron now.
Snuff out the black candle.
Light the white candle. Drip some of the wax on top of the herb/wax mixture in your cauldron. Say:
With my worries gone
I let in the light
Drip as much white wax as you feel the need to, then snuff out the white candle.
Take a sip of your drink, raising your glass to Ganesha.
Take a few bites of your food.
Then close the ritual. Face the centre and hold your arms wide, saying:
My thanks to you, great god Ganesha
For your strength, guidance, and wisdom
Please continue to guide and support me
With blessings and thanks
Face each direction in turn, starting with the west. Work widdershins (counterclockwise) and say:
Element of water
My thanks for lending your energy today
Blessings of water
Element of fire
My thanks for lending your energy today
Blessings of fire
Element of air
My thanks for lending your energy today
Blessings of air
Element of earth
My thanks for lending your energy today
Blessings of earth
Then walk the circle widdershins (counterclockwise) and say:
Circle of light
Circle of peace
Circle of protection
Circle this place
This circle is now open but never broken
Pour the rest of your drink and crumble some of your food onto the earth as an offering to Ganesha.
Unused herbs can be sprinkled into the garden or put away for use at a later date. The waxy herb blob will need to be scooped out of your cauldron and thrown in the trash.
Bundle for Worry
To begin, choose a piece of fabric that makes you feel calm, soothed, and worry free. You will need a cord or ribbon to tie it with, or you could use a drawstring pouch.
Your worry bundle can be filled with anything that you feel drawn to add—with the exception of fresh food or herbs because those would go mouldy! You could add crystals, dried herbs, seeds, dried leaves, twigs, dried flower petals, small tokens, beads, buttons, coins, small ornaments, etc. Trust your intuition.
Sit quietly or meditate to decide which things to add. Reach out to a deity such as Ganesha and ask what needs to go in. It might only be one or two items at first—you can add to it over time.
Each item is representative of your journey to dispel worry that you are hanging on to. Charge each item individually before you pop it in the pouch. Hold each one in your hand and visualise positive energy entering it, bringing release and positivity and preventing you from hanging on to worry.
Here are my suggestions:
• Anything that makes you feel calm, balanced, and focused
• Herbs that can help ease worries, such as fennel seeds, lemon balm, or poppy seeds
• Crystals that will alleviate worry, particularly ones that you can pick up and hold in your hand to release their energy to you
• A set of worry/meditation beads
Keep the bundle on your altar or somewhere that you will see it. Use it when you meditate, either holding it on your lap or opening it up and handling each item in turn. You can also reach for it when you feel the need to let go. Draw upon the energy within to fill your mind and spirit with positive energy.
Worry can eat away at you and send you into a downward spin.
Don’t let it get the better of you: talk about it, research it, do something to clear it.
Change your thinking patterns for the better.
If you find yourself worrying more than usual, refer back to this chapter for magical suggestions that might help.