CHAPTER SEVEN

MEDITATIONS, AFFIRMATIONS, AND SPELLS

As a Witch, you have many tools at your disposal to help enable you to create positive change in your life. Whether you are looking for empowerment, prosperity, healing, love, protection, peace, or something else, you can tap into goddess energy to give you a boost. You can also use affirmations, meditations, and spells to guide you toward your goals.

I’m sure that most of my readers are familiar with all three of these, but just in case you’re not, here are some basic definitions.

An affirmation, as its name might suggest, is an affirmative or positive statement that reinforces an idea or intent. For instance, “I am beautiful and self-assured.” The purpose of affirmations is to create a positive mindset, and by doing so, to change the way we view ourselves or the world.

I go into a lot more detail on affirmations at the end of this chapter, when I tell you how to come up with your own, but the main things to remember is that they are brief and always said in the present tense, as if whatever it is you are trying to bring about is already true. It doesn’t matter if just at this very moment you feel anything but beautiful and self-assured. We are creating a new reality in which you do.

Affirmations can be said every day, or as needed, and sometimes they are repeated more than once as a kind of a mantra. This is especially useful if you are trying to break bad habits or make substantial changes. The brain can be retrained from one way of thinking to another, but it takes concentrated effort. Affirmations can be very helpful in this. You can say one over and over as you walk or exercise, or you can say it as you light a candle, or simply mutter it under your breath when you catch yourself thinking something less positive.

A meditation is a guided journey of sorts, longer than an affirmation but still relatively simple. For instance, if you want to work on peace, you may do a meditation in which you visualize being at the beach or in a forest, wherever you feel the most calm and safe. These can be done in a few different ways. You can read it to yourself either silently or aloud, sinking as deeply into the experience as possible, or you can record it and listen to it later with your eyes closed. You can also read through it and then guide yourself through the journey, even if you don’t remember it word for word. Plus, of course, you can find meditations other than the ones in this book and read or listen to them.

If you are part of a group, one person can lead the meditation and the others can listen, which is what we usually do in Blue Moon Circle. (Meditations are probably the most effective if you listen with your eyes closed, but if you can’t do that, it is always fine to just read them.) The important thing is that you are focusing as deeply as possible.

Spells are magical workings, usually based on the written or spoken words of the spell itself. These can be as basic as saying a few words out loud, or more involved with various tools intended to help you focus your intent and your will as you send the spell out into the universe. Spells can be addressed to the goddess (or god and goddess) in general, a goddess who is suited to the situation or with whom you have a connection, or just recited without being aimed at any deity in particular.

If you are new to Witchcraft, you might find it helpful to use a few herbs, stones, candles, and the like to help boost your power. Those who have been practicing for some time (or who don’t have access to these things) may just say the spell without embellishment. There are also spells that don’t need anything other than to be said from the heart. What you add or don’t add is up to you, although I will list some optional extras in case you want to use them. In general, any stones or herbs are placed on your altar or table. You may wish to hold them in your hand or offer them up to the goddess as a gift.

The examples that follow are just the tip of the iceberg. There are entire books filled with spells (I even wrote one), and you can find plenty of affirmations and meditations both in books and online. You can also easily write your own to fit your specific needs, if you can’t find what you’re looking for elsewhere. But to get you started, here are a few that cover the general areas most of us work on at one time or another.

EMPOWERMENT

Use these when you need strength or to feel that you are capable of taking on whatever challenges lie before you.

AFFIRMATIONS

I am strong and competent. There is nothing I cannot do.

I am filled with power. The energy of the goddess is within me.

I come from the earth and the stars. I am filled with elemental power.

MEDITATION

Envision yourself standing in a brightly lit meadow. You are dressed in whatever makes you feel the most powerful, whether that is a suit of armor or a sexy skirt. In your right hand, there is a sword. In your left, there is a pen. These represent the strength of your body and of your intellect. If these symbols don’t suit you, replace them with whatever tools make you feel the most powerful. At your feet, there is an animal that represents empowerment to you—perhaps a lion, or a panther, a big dog, or even a dragon. Know that it is there as your companion and your protector, both separate from you and yet a part of you. Feel the warmth of the sun as the rays shine down, permeating every cell of your body with energy and power. Hear the crack of thunder and reach your arms up toward the sky. Overhead, lightning flashes, but it will not hurt you. Reach up and welcome the might of the gods as it fills you with power and courage. You can do anything. Feel the truth of this in your soul. You can do anything.

SPELL

Optional tools for empowerment—Orange, red, or white are the usual colors. Carnelian is good for courage, and other stones associated with empowerment are crystal quartz, amethyst (these two are good for almost everything, as is turquoise), and tiger’s eye. For herbs, try a few sprigs of fresh thyme or some fresh or dried yarrow, or ginger. Use a white or orange candle.

This spell can be done on the night of the Full Moon, or whenever you need it. Light the candle and gaze at it for a few minutes. See the way it glows, and envision yourself glowing from within to match it. Say, “Great Artemis, goddess of the hunt and the moon. Lend me your power and strength. Make me a warrior, brave and resolute, so I might fight the battles that matter the most to me. Fill me with courage and help me to stand strong in the face of whatever challenges life sends my way. Help me to find my own inner power. So mote it be.”

HEALING

Healing comes in many different forms—including physical, emotional, and spiritual. We may need to heal from an injury or a long-term illness, or mend a heart broken by rejection or grief. We may also wish to do healing on the behalf of others (only do this with their permission—remember the rule about free will) or for our planet. Sometimes we only want a boost, and sometimes we’re asking for a miracle. Just remember that most of the time, healing is a process and takes time, and try not to be frustrated if you don’t see immediate results.

AFFIRMATIONS

I am strong and healthy. My body is balanced and working perfectly.

I can feel the healing energy of the goddess flowing within me. I am healed. I am well.

I send healing energy to the Earth, and receive its energy in return.

I am healed in body, mind, and spirit. That which was broken is mended.

MEDITATION

See before you a beautiful pond in the middle of a peaceful clearing. The sky is wide and blue, there are birds singing, and a gentle breeze blows away the worries of the day, leaving you ready to focus on the task at hand. The water is clear and pure and seems to glow with vitality. Take a step forward until your feet are in the pond, and you can feel the softness of the water gentle on your skin. Slowly walk in until your whole body is immersed—you can float on the surface if you like, or sink underneath. Don’t worry, you can breathe under the water if you choose. Feel the water touching every part of you, washing away all those things that no longer work for your benefit, reaching down into your cells to fill them with healing and vitality. Stay in the water for as long as feels comfortable, and then walk slowly out of the pond, feeling reenergized and healed, and carrying that feeling with you back into the mundane world.

SPELL

Optional tools for healing—Blue is the color usually associated with healing, although purple may be used for spiritual or psychological healing, or black to banish illness. Stones for healing include turquoise, lapis, sodalite, bloodstone, amethyst, and crystal quartz. Any herbs that are used for medicinal healing also have that magical property. I especially like calendula, lemon balm, rosemary, lavender, and eucalyptus. Use a blue, lavender, or black candle, depending on what you are trying to heal. For instance, blue is good for physical ailments, while lavender is more likely to be used for emotional ones, and black can be used if you need to banish any form of mental, physical, or spiritual ailment. White is always a good substitute if you don’t have the color you want.

If you want to increase health, try doing this spell as the moon is waxing (growing larger). To decrease illness or sorrow, do it as the moon is waning. If the situation is dire or of long standing, you may want to repeat the spell every day for a couple of weeks or even a month, in which case you can start on the night of the Full Moon.

Light your candle, hold your hands palm up to the sky, and say, “Isis, I call on you to shine your healing powers down upon me. Help me to let go of illness and pain, sadness and disease. Like the waters of the Nile wash away the old and transform the land, aid me in letting go of anything that causes me harm and help me to move forward into a healthy, productive, and happy new season in my life. Bless me with the gift of healing, Isis, and with the power of your love and your magic. I give myself over to healing and being healed, today and in the days to come.”

PROSPERITY

Who couldn’t use a little more money? But prosperity comes to us in many ways that can’t necessarily be summed up in a bank balance. Prosperity may be an abundance of whatever it is you value most. (I am definitely rich in books.) It may be an unexpected opportunity or a way to avoid spending money you can’t afford or a gift that comes just when you need it.

When you do prosperity magic, I always recommend leaving some room for the universe to fulfill your needs in ways you may not have thought of—you’d be amazed how often this happens when you are open to it.

AFFIRMATIONS

I have everything I need and most of what I want. The universe blesses me with prosperity.

My life is filled with abundance and prosperity.

I am open to prosperity in any and all positive forms.

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Note the phrasing—you always want to be careful how you ask for prosperity, because you don’t want to end up inheriting money because someone you loved died, or getting money from a lawsuit because something horrible happened to you. I almost always add something about “positive ways” or end a prosperity spell by saying “for the good of all and according to the free will of all” just to be on the safe side.

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MEDITATION

Envision yourself in a castle. It can be any kind of castle you like—light and airy, as if it belongs to the queen of the faeries, or dark and luxurious, filled with sumptuous fabrics and gleaming fixtures. As you walk slowly from room to room, open the closets and drawers and cupboards to see everything you have ever wanted. Maybe there are gold coins and precious gemstones. Maybe there is a library that holds all the books you would like to read, or a craft room brimming with supplies to create anything your heart desires. Beautiful clothing, comfortable furniture, maybe that cool kitchen tool you wished you could afford. Whatever you have been longing for, all the things on your wish list are there in that castle. You slowly realize as you walk that everything in the castle belongs to you. Everything you ever wanted is there, within your reach. Feel the contentment of knowing there is nothing you can’t have, and then open the doors and invite in anyone you would like to share it with. If you’d rather just curl up by the fireplace with a good book and enjoy it all by yourself, then do that. Soak up that feeling of knowing you have everything you need and want, and bring that feeling back with you as you return to the real world, opening yourself to the possibility of having it all.

SPELL

Optional tools for prosperity—Green is the most common color for prosperity work, although sometimes gold or brown is used as well. Any green stones are good, but I am especially fond of aventurine, jade, malachite, and bloodstone. Tiger’s eye, turquoise, and pearls are also associated with money work. Herbs used for prosperity magic include basil, clove, cinnamon, ginger, and peppermint.

Note: when Witches use the term herb, it tends to include not just actual herbs like peppermint, but also spices, fruits, trees … basically anything that grows.

I like to take a green candle and carve it with various symbols, like the rune signs gifu (gift) and uraz (strength and wealth), my initials, dollar signs, and anything else that seems appropriate to whatever it is I am seeking at the time. Then I may dab it with some essential oil made from one of the herbs I mentioned. I also make up my own magical prosperity oil using a few essential oils mixed together and then blessed and consecrated for positive use.

You can do magical work for increasing prosperity during the waxing moon and work for decreasing debt during the waning moon, although really, I just do it whenever I feel the need.

Place your tools on the altar if you’re using them. I also like to add some form of “fancy” money, like a cool dollar coin or a stack of shiny new pennies, to symbolize the prosperity I’m asking for. If you want to carve symbols into your candle, you can either do that before you start or as part of the ritual, so you can do it slowly and mindfully.

Think about what it is you really need. Is it actual money? A better job? Less financial pressure? Whatever your goal is, fix it firmly in your mind. Then light a green or gold candle and say, “Lakshmi, you who bestows wealth and prosperity, I open my arms to receive your gifts. Demeter, goddess of abundance, bless me with your overflowing bounty so that I might have all that I need to satisfy the needs of both body and spirit. I ask that you send me prosperity in positive ways, for the good of all and according to the free will of all, and I promise I will use it wisely, and share with those whose need is greater than mine. Thank you, Lakshmi. Thank you, Demeter. I thank you in advance for the gifts to come.”

LOVE

When people talk about love, they often think primarily in terms of romantic love. But love comes in many forms. There is the love between a parent and a child, the love of good friends for each other, the love of a Witch for her goddess and vice versa. Not to mention our love for our furry companions. (And a few that don’t have fur, but maybe scales or something else instead.) The possibilities for love are limitless, and we may need different aspects of it at various times in our lives. Don’t feel that a love spell has to be limited to romance or relationships.

I am not a fan of the traditional types of love spells, although they are often popular. I especially don’t like any love spell aimed at one specific person, for a couple of reasons. For one thing, you run the risk of interfering with free will. Think about it: do you really want someone you had to force to love you by casting a spell on them? (Hint: The answer is supposed to be no. True love is never forced.) Another concern is that you might end up with someone who isn’t really right for you. I did this myself. Once. In my early years of practice. To say that I learned my lesson the hard way would be a massive understatement. Learn from my mistakes, people. Don’t cast a love spell on someone just because you’re sure they’re supposed to be with you. If it turns out you’re wrong, these kinds of spells can be incredibly difficult to break, and you might have a hard time getting rid of the person once you’ve figured out they weren’t the one after all. (Especially if the gods decide to use this as a learning opportunity for you. Which they probably will. Just sayin’.)

Your other choices are to do a general love spell, asking the gods to send you the right person, and leaving that choice up to them, or to do a spell that opens you up to love. This is actually the kind I prefer. A lot of the time we are unconsciously holding ourselves back from finding love. Maybe deep down we don’t feel worthy of being loved. Maybe we don’t really believe in love based on past experience or what we learned while we were growing up. Maybe we’re too picky and looking for someone who is impossibly perfect.

Doing a spell to open yourself to love helps to get rid of some of the roadblocks we put in our own way, and sends the message out into the universe that we’re ready for whatever kind of love would most benefit us at that time. It can also be made less specific, so that if what we really need is a new friend or a better relationship with family, we’ve left the door open for that possibility as well.

Mind you, if you really want romantic love and you’re pretty sure of what you’re looking for, you can certainly ask the goddess to send you that. There are lots of goddesses who specialize in romantic love. Pick the one who resonates with you the most and ask Her for help.

AFFIRMATIONS

I am a child of the goddess, made in her image, and I am worthy of love.

I give and receive love with an open heart.

Love is mine, today and always.

MEDITATION

Visualize yourself sitting in a beautiful meadow. It is a warm, sunny day and you can feel the heat of the sun shining down on you. Focus on your heart chakra, which is located in the middle of your chest. See it as a faintly glowing gemstone—pink, or a mix of pink and green if you prefer. In this vision (and in reality, if you want), place both hands over this spot and send yourself unconditional love. Think of yourself as if you were a small child, innocent and vulnerable, and take all the love you would give to that child and send it inward. Your chakra stone will get brighter as you do this. When you are ready, see a colorful bird—any kind you like—fly toward you and land at your feet. In its beak is a glowing ball of energy, a gift from the goddess who loves us all. Hold out your hands and accept that gift, then put it against your chest so it can be absorbed by your heart chakra. See the glow of that chakra gemstone grow brighter still. Now, see the form of a person approaching. The sun is in your eyes, so you can’t make out anything except a vague form, but know that whoever this is, they carry with them love that is meant for only you. Hold out your hands and accept it, then place it in your chakra as you have the other gifts. See that part of you growing so brightly it rivals the sun, and carry that feeling of warmth and love back with you into the world. When you need a boost, close your eyes and put your hands over that place on your chest, reminding yourself of all the love that is there already, and the potential of love to come.

SPELL

Optional tools for love—Pink is the color most associated with either romantic love, or love between friends. Red is for passionate love and sexuality. Stones used in magical work for love include amethyst, rose quartz, moonstone, turquoise, and garnet. The herbs I like to use are roses (the petals off of whole fresh roses are nice, but you can use dried if that’s what you’ve got), lavender, lemon, clove, and cinnamon. If you’re not sure what kind of love you are looking for, you can always use a white candle, with or without a pink ribbon tied around it.

Decorate your altar with a fresh rose or roses, or things that symbolize love to you. I have a few heart-shaped stones I might use, for instance, or you can fill a goblet with wine, mead, or pomegranate juice to represent the sweetness of love. If you are looking for a romantic partner, some people like to write a list of the attributes they are looking for in a mate and put that on the altar, too. Just be careful not to be too specific (you don’t want to make the task impossible, if that six-foot-tall, blond, handsome billionaire doesn’t happen to be available) or too vague (what does “nice” mean, anyway? Try saying “Kind to me and treats me well”).

Sit for a moment and think about what you want. If you are lonely, maybe it doesn’t matter whether you find a lover or a friend; you just need whatever kind of love the goddess thinks will solve that issue best. If you are specifically looking for romantic love, do you want short-term or long-term, passionate or gentle, or do you want to leave it up to the universe?

Light your candle and say, “Aphrodite, you who are the queen of love, hear my plea. Help me to open myself to love without fear or hesitation. Let me give and accept love freely in the best, healthiest way possible, and remind me that I am worthy of both giving and receiving love. Send me that love which is meant for me, so that like the rose I can blossom and grow. Aphrodite, send me love. So mote it be.”

PROTECTION

We live in a treacherous world, and sometimes it seems as though danger is all around us. Every day the news is filled with stories about terrible things happening to innocent people, and it can be easy to become overwhelmed with fear or dread. But that’s not a great way to live. You can’t let fear rule your life, or it will make your world into a much smaller and darker place than it really is.

Yes, accidents sometimes befall us no matter how careful we are, and there are folks out there with bad intentions, and illness can happen to anyone. Obviously, we all want to take whatever reasonable precautions we can to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. But once you’ve done the practical things, adding in affirmations, meditations, or a protection spell can help you to feel less vulnerable, easing your mind so you can focus on the positive, less frightening aspects of the world.

AFFIRMATIONS

The goddess is my shield and my armor. She keeps me safe from harm.

I am safe and protected. A bright, positive light of protection surrounds me. I am safe and protected.

I am strong and capable of defending myself, whatever comes my way.

MEDITATION

Visualize yourself standing in a dark space. Slowly, a glowing light appears before you. It is a suit of armor. This may take the shape of an old-fashioned warrior’s armor, a modern bullet-proof vest and helmet, or even a super hero’s costume, whichever speaks of protection to you. As you stand in front of it, it shimmers and disappears, only to reappear on your body. You can check your armor piece by piece, making sure that you are covered head to toe. If there are parts of you that are still wearing everyday clothing, you can envision them shining with supernatural energy. Hold out your left arm, and a shield will appear in your hand. Know that this shield can deflect any harm or negativity away from you. Hold out your right arm and see yourself holding whatever weapon you feel you could use to best defend yourself if necessary. This might be a flaming sword, a magical spear, or something more realistic if that’s what you’re comfortable with. (Feel free to reverse the arms if you are left-handed, so the shield is on your nondominant arm.) Feel the strength of the earth below you, and pull it up into your core. Connect with the power of the sky above, and know that the goddess is watching over you. Stay in this space for as long as you like, and then take this feeling of security and protection and power back into the everyday world.

SPELL

Optional tools for protection—People commonly use the color black for protection work, although white is fine, too. Stones associated with protection include black stones, such as black onyx and black tourmaline, red jasper, agate, crystal quartz, garnet, amber (especially if paired with jet, since the two together are considered the Witch’s stones … a bit ironic, since they are actually both forms of natural resin and not gemstones at all), tiger’s eye, amethyst, and turquoise. Some of the herbs used for protection include garlic (it’s not just for vampires), rosemary (which was traditionally planted by the front door for protection), sage, basil, dill, and juniper. Salt, especially sea salt, is also considered protective.

I do a protection spell on my house every year, usually in the fall as part of my preparations for the coming winter. This is a simple ritual, but one which brings me comfort and a feeling of security. I mix a few dried herbs—rosemary, sage, basil, and garlic—with some coarse sea salt in a container. I might add an agate at the bottom, just to give it a little extra oomph. I bless and consecrate the mixture on my altar for the work of protection, and then walk around the outside of my house and the edges of my property line, sprinkling it as I go.

I usually repeat a fairly basic prayer to the gods as I go, something along the lines of: “May this house be protected. May this land be protected. May all those who live here be protected from harm, both malicious and accidental. May this house be protected. May this place be protected.”

See—simple. But I do it every year, and I believe it helps to keep me and mine safe. (It apparently has no effect on the intermittent leak in the roof, but that’s more of an annoyance than a threat.) I keep a small amount of the mixture back and use it to start off next year’s batch, to keep the protection unbroken.

You can do whatever variation on this that will work for you. If you can’t do it outside because you live in an apartment, for instance, go light on the garlic, and sprinkle the mixture inside, then vacuum it up in a day or so. You can also place some of this mix in a cloth bag and create a charm bag, which you can then hang by your main entrance.

When a friend and I attended a large Pagan convention where we’d had issues with intrusive energy in previous years, we actually sprinkled a little protection mix in the corners of our hotel room and on top of the headboards of our beds. (Goddess knows what the maid thought the next day, but we did clean up after ourselves the best we could in the morning.)

To give it a little extra power you can bless and consecrate your herbal mixture or charm bag. To do this, place it on your altar or a table and sprinkle it with salt and water (to represent Earth and Water), and waft a sage wand over it (to represent Air and Fire, and also to purify it). Then say, “Great Inanna, mighty goddess, bless and consecrate these sacred herbs so that they might protect my home and all those within it. So mote it be.”

PEACE AND CALM

We live in a turbulent world, surrounded by noise and stress and (especially these days) swirling emotions. It isn’t easy to hold on to serenity under these circumstances, and most of us struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by all the demands on our time, energy, and psyche. There are various things you can do to help you keep an even keel. Meditate, do yoga or Tai Chi or walk or whatever form of exercise makes you feel calm and centered, connect with the natural world (water can be especially calming), pet a cat or dog, spend time with people you love, read a book, and occasionally turn off the television and the cell phone so you can hear yourself think. Maybe take a long soak in a bathtub, if you have one.

Although it can be difficult, considering all the demands most of us have on our time and energy, try to make space for your spiritual practice. Like yoga or meditation, focusing on spirit—whether that means prayer, or magical work, or just talking to the goddess—can help us stay grounded, centered, and more able to stay calm in the face of life’s ups and downs.

AFFIRMATIONS

I am calm and at peace.

My mind and spirit are at peace. I am grounded and serene.

The goddess is my rock and my shining star. She brings me peace.

MEDITATION

Envision yourself standing on a beautiful beach. The sand is cool and soft beneath your bare feet, and a gentle breeze carries the scent of salt air. The beach is quiet and empty. It is just you and the ocean and the distant call of birds. You sit at the edge of the water and listen to the sound of the waves as they lap against the shore. In and out in a rhythm like the heartbeat of the world, swishing and sliding against the sand. Your heart begins to beat in time with the waves as they go in and out, slow and steady and calm. The waves wash over your feet like silk, including you in their primal dance. You can feel the warmth of the sun overhead, the cool strength of the sand underneath, and you are one with the land and the sea and the sky. You are serene and at peace. You can stay in this place for as long as you need to and return whenever you wish. It is always here and will always be here. Be at peace.

SPELL

Optional tools for peace—White is traditionally the color used for calming, but light blue is another option, as is light pink. Popular stones include amethyst, aventurine, carnelian, rhodochrosite (which is a dusty rose shade of pink), sodalite, blue tourmaline, and rose quartz. Lavender is probably the best herb to use for peace, but Witches also use passion flower, gardenia, vervain, and violet, among others. Rose is another herb that can be used to calm stress. You can throw a few petals in the bath after a tough day.

If you are in need of peace and serenity, you may not have the focus to do a complicated ritual, so we’ll keep this simple. Place some lavender (fresh or dried, whichever you have) in a small dish on your altar or a table, along with a piece of amethyst or rose quartz. Put a white candle in front of you. If you want, you can dab a little lavender or rose essential oil on the candle, too. If you have some nice calming music or a CD with ocean sounds or quiet drumming, put that on in the background. (Some white-noise machines have an option for ocean sounds or rain.)

Light the candle and run your fingers through the lavender to release its calming scent. Take a few slow, deep breaths and then say, “Kuan Yin, Mother of Compassion, enfold me in your loving arms. Take away my stress and worry, ease my heart and my spirit, and gift me with serenity. Help me to be calm and at peace, secure in the knowledge that you hold me safe from harm. Kuan Yin, help me to be calm and at peace.”

Then sit for a few minutes, or as long as you can spare, feeling yourself enveloped in the goddess’s gentle and loving embrace.

PRACTICAL MAGIC—CREATE YOUR OWN AFFIRMATION TO ADDRESS YOUR PERSONAL NEEDS

What if I didn’t include the exact affirmation for your particular needs? Don’t worry—you can create your own. It isn’t difficult. Just remember that affirmations are always said in the present tense. For example, “I am healthy and full of energy,” as opposed to the less powerful, “I will be healthy and full of energy.” By stating the affirmation in the present tense, you are putting the full weight of your belief behind it, and that alone makes it more true. So, while it may feel odd to be stating a truth that hasn’t happened yet, just by putting that intention out there, you are helping to manifest it.

Start by figuring out exactly what it is you want your affirmation to achieve. Keep it simple. In the example above, you’ll note I didn’t say “I am able to run a half marathon without my knees hurting, oh, and also my digestive system will stop clearing a room after I eat.” I just said “healthy.” You can be specific, if your goal is relatively basic. “I am free of cancer,” or “My heart is healthy and working properly.” Just remember that affirmations are uncomplicated and straightforward.

Make sure it is a positive statement, and not a negative one. For instance, instead of saying, “I’m not poor,” try saying, “I have everything I need.” If the words “no” or “not” show up, that’s probably a clue you need to reword it. Don’t say, “I’m not in pain,” say “I feel good.” See what I mean?

Keep it short. An affirmation is something you want to be able to memorize and repeat as needed, so you want to avoid something so long that you have to write it down. Many times, we say affirmations over and over, almost like a mantra, so you want to make sure that whatever it is flows pretty easily. “I am successful in my studies” works better than “I excel in all my classes, ace my tests, impress my teachers, and get the highest scores.”

Or we want to be able to have them become an automatic response to a negative thought, so again, they need to be simple. The saying I use the most often is like that. If I find myself whining or being negative, I say, “This too shall pass.” It isn’t an affirmation, but it serves the same purpose.

If you are using an affirmation as a reminder to change your thinking, it needs to be short enough to become a spontaneous response. Think of it as reprogramming your brain. Negative self-talk is an easy habit to get into and a tough one to break. Affirmations can help. Figure out which nasty things you say to yourself on a regular basis and create affirmations to counter them. If you say to yourself, “Nobody will ever love me,” then counter that with “I am loveable and the goddess loves me.” If you find yourself thinking “I’m fat and stupid,” replace that with “I am perfect just the way I am.” Because you are. You really, truly are.

So to recap: keep it simple, make sure your statement is positive and in the present tense, and make your affirmation short enough that you can remember it and repeat it often. Now, repeat after me, “I am capable of creating positive affirmations for any and all of my needs.”

You go, sister.

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE: FURTHER EXPLORATIONS

It is my hope that this book has given you the tools you need to start this magical journey and continue connecting with the goddesses, the exciting world of modern Witchcraft, and your own inner kick-ass goddess self.

If you want to keep on with the exploration we started in this book, in the following appendixes, you’ll find more information, including some Witchcraft basics, a glossary of terms you might find useful, and a list of some of my favorite Witchcraft and goddess books to give you a place to go next. There are many different aspects of goddess worship (and many more goddesses than I could possibly cover in this one tome), and Witchcraft has endless and varied facets. These books are just the tip of the iceberg, but they happen to be ones I have read and enjoyed, and which I think you might find helpful. Every single one of them is in my home library as we speak.

Needless to say, nothing compares to your own practice and experience—reading about that of others can only get you so far. (Says the author. But it’s true.) So, the next steps are all about what you want and need in your life, and the ways you go about getting it. May the goddess guide you on your travels.