I believe in magic. I am probably risking my reputation as a therapist by admitting that, but it is time I come out of the magic-closet. Harry Potter, The Wizard of Oz, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, bring it on! I love magic, and I know it is very real.
Many therapists will say we need to take the magic and mystery out of therapy. I do not totally agree. I believe magic works for some clients. There are some clients who are more open to what the eyes cannot see. There are some clients who are sensitive souls, and the sensitive souls are the most sensitive to the magic that exists in the world.
How can we say magic doesn’t exist, when we know for sure that the placebo affect has been scientifically proven? If we BELIEVE something will work, it is much more likely to work. The opposite is also true. If we believe something will not work, it is more likely to not work.
Please do not worry, I am not saying I put magical spells on my clients. I am not saying that I want my clients to depend on something I have and they do not have. What I AM saying is that I can help clients who are open to find their own magic.
A few years back I went to a workshop on self-injury at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, as I used to work with adolescents who self-injure. Alexian Brothers has a highly respected and scientific-based self-injury program. I have referred many clients there.
The woman who was the head of the self-injury program led the workshop that I attended. She mentioned that many adolescents who self-injure claim they are Wiccan (or of the Wicca religion). I expected this woman to roll her eyes like most adults do when they hear teenagers claim they are Wiccan. What she said surprised me and led me to respect her on a deeper level.
The head of the self-injury program at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital said she researched the Wicca religion, and it is actually a very healthy religion. She said this religion actually speaks against self-injury and drug and alcohol abuse. So if an adolescent (or adult) truly feels drawn to follow this religion in its true form, it could actually be healthy for them? As a lover of religion and all things spiritual, I was intrigued.
You can find “The 13 principles of Wiccan belief” at http://religioustolerance.org. The second principal listed here is, “We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with nature in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.” (http://religioustolerance.org). The Wicca Religion is about attuning oneself to the environment, much like the Native Americans lived. One of the main principles of Wicca beliefs is do no harm: no harm to self, others, or the environment.
In Wicca For Beginners, Lisa Chamberlain says, “Wicca is a reincarnation of the very earliest religions, long predating Christianity. Wiccans celebrate and share many of the same beliefs that early people held, and they try to embrace their ways of life, all while remaining fully functional in today’s modern world.”
You may seem to be wondering why I am going on and on about the Wicca religion in this post. It is because I know it has something to offer us. In a world where we are so busy and out of tune with the environment at times, a healing ritual that leaves us more in tune with nature can heal our minds, bodies, and spirits. I believe it is something we long for deep in our souls.
“In our modern, high-pressured world, many of us fail to take notice of the sheer beauty of the natural world surrounding us. In many ways this is a travesty.” (Lisa Chamberlain, Wicca For Beginners). Who can disagree with that? Lisa Chamberlain goes on to say, “The world we live in today seems so completely distant from the one our ancestors lived in, a world where humans and nature were one, their existences intertwined in the natural cycles of life.” (Wicca For Beginners).
We have many unhealthy coping skills that seem to be totally socially acceptable in this society: binge drinking, binge eating, binge spending, workaholism, chronic stress, gossiping, taking pills. I could go on. Why is this accepted, but if someone talks about how they honor the earth and it’s cycles, they are judged as crazy? (I know it has gotten better, but lets be real. The stigma exists.)
And yes, Wiccan’s do believe in spells. Here is an example of a “Peace of Mind Spell” from the book, “Wicca Book of Spells: A Book of Shadows For Wiccans, Witches, And Other Practitioners of Magic:” Listen carefully, because you will want to try this yourself.
You will need a white candle, “peace of mind” essential oil blend (a blend of chamomile, lavender, and ylang ylang essential oils. Or you could just get the “peaceful sleep” NOW brand blend that is $10 on amazon or at Whole Foods), chamomile tea, and a hot bath. One hour before bed you take a hot bath and drink the tea in order to be as relaxed as possible. Then you put the oil on your pulse points, close your eyes, and clear your mind. Next open your eyes and light the candle. Then say the following words, “I release the burden to my higher power, turn my attention to balance and rest. Now let it be.” Then you sit and gaze at the candle as you concentrate on relaxation and handing over your worries to a higher power. You can let the candle burn out in the sink or just blow it out when you are ready. Then get ready for some sweet dreaming.
I did this spell, and it was quite magical. But you know me, I believe in magic. The word “spell” may freak some people out, but let me ask, is casting the “peace of mind spell” (now that you know what it is: using essential oils, lighting a candle, and choosing to let go of stress) healthier than smoking pot, having a drink, or taking a clonazepam? In my professional opinion, Yes! As John Lennon said, “I’d give you everything I’ve got for a little peace of mind.” My guess is that John Lennon believed in magic too.
Peace, Love, and Magic,
Elizabeth
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photo credit:
Flickr, Creative Commons, Shalanie Bachiller, id456491_size1, https://www.flickr.com/photos/34155216n043178569309/3463871991/in/photolist-6h6fsT-2jYn1P-bMyTxP-9c4JCG-5vNnSk-qXyns-ad1y4T-LcL4D-ad5Ubo-oyX4AF-avrwdF-ad6dPQ-egAX6y-ad5TSQ-6har13-6kjMfq-ad3qaZ-dYqzeW-ad4naU-5vKLC-avrwJr-4THxQp-aPMUFM-96tD4D-ad4pW7-cve887-pQ9Qon-kcpgA-3jbzCF-GvE7u-gK9Qur-hc1UeQ-84C9X9-6K3NLZ-GvJFR-ad5RDW-hccbLQ-GvJCx-pQbut1-ad343k-axnYek-azdMW4-hcc55n-84CaWQ-GvEaU-dPxTcf-pU8jQ-59CVW2-Jhspr-bgqtYt
Flickr, Creative Commons, Shalanie Bachiller, rede-wicca. https://www.flickr.com/photos/34155216n043178569309/3464687886/in/photolist-6har13-6kjMfq-ad3qaZ-dYqzeW-ad4naU-5vKLC-avrwJr-4THxQp-aPMUFM-96tD4D-ad4pW7-cve887-pQ9Qon-kcpgA-3jbzCF-GvE7u-gK9Qur-hc1UeQ-84C9X9-6K3NLZ-GvJFR-ad5RDW-hccbLQ-GvJCx-pQbut1-ad343k-axnYek-azdMW4-hcc55n-84CaWQ-GvEaU-dPxTcf-pU8jQ-59CVW2-Jhspr-bgqtYt-8nogPE-84yYiD-hc4YLv-hc9vDU-hc6ZVF-hbZuFF-84C3KE-hc1Tgg-84z1zT-hc79S9-hc6vyP-84yUg6-b3Jb64-b396cH