Everyone seems to have days when time flies by. It seems like endless tasks are just not getting done. Even we Pagans have days like this. And no, unlike on television, we cannot stop time or wiggle our noses and have everything done. Boy, that would come in handy. It would sure have helped me at my work today at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair NJ. However, grounding and centering is the key to focusing.
Let me explain the why and the how. There are many things we can do to get back to focus. Panicking is not one of them. Neither is dumping it all on someone else. Sure, ask for help, but do not quit. I usually hold a workshop in Sacred Wheel CUUPs on grounding and centering around November. This is to prepare us for the crazy holiday season. However, we need to be reminders in the Spring too. With school almost over and so many end of the year events we need to stay grounded.
Refreshers are good to remind us what we may have forgotten. We tend to think all is well and stop doing something. We do not realize that these things we did are the reasons why all is going well. Or they become habituated and stale or ineffective. Then in this case, change things up, reword your affirmation, ground differently.
So, there is only one thing to do. As my late elder Hermotimus “Herm” taught me, it is to take on one task at a time. A lesson taught in Three Fires Grove, a Druidic Learning Community, a virtual classroom he co-led with the Rev. Foxxy (Sher) Pullen. We must not forget that just because we are Pagan, that does not make us superhuman.
Affirmations can come in handy now. By saying “I will sleep all night long until my alarm wakes me” makes a difference. Although, sometimes this takes a few tries. Don’t get discouraged, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Sometimes, it takes a few changes. The slightest tweaks to the sentence may in fact bring the positive result you want.
Visualizing the task completed helps as well. Picture clearly the completed task in your head. Every detail of the completed task helps make sure it happens. Be as clear and as concise as possible.
Grounding and centering really will help when you are stressing about what you have yet to accomplish. There are so many ways to ground and center yourself. For one, meditation can ground you. This, however, is not for everyone. There is a tree meditation that guides you to ground and center. Go for a walk in the park, let the air hit your face, providing it’s not raining or snowing. Trust me, walking in the snow down the street is my idea of fun. I tried it once, not to ground myself but to take photos for work. Besides being pelted by the salt truck, it was hard walking in the snow.
Gardening is especially grounding. You’re more grounded when you are working in the garden than most times outside or in. You’re more conscious of Mother Earth and closer to her.
Listening to your favorite song could be grounding too. Or blasting something that you could sing loudly and go ‘nuts” with. Or just go somewhere and yell which could be therapeutic and a start to grounding. Once you’re no longer upset go back to grounding. There are times you need to get the anger out whether it’s yelling into a pillow or beating it up before you are able to ground.
These are all relatively short, however, if needed try running your hands under the faucet water. That’s even a quicker way to ground. You are essentially washing the negatives down the drain. The water in the pipes will carry them right though Mother Earth, away. This is true with any peaceful water. Washing the dishes is an easy way to meditate. Then afterwards, rinse your negatives out of you. Of course, baths and showers work best but sometimes we don’t have the time to stop and fully emotionally cleanse ourselves. That’s where the shortcuts come in.
Then, after you are fully grounded, get back to the tasks you have piled up on your desk, or even just in your mind. Take one and look at it. Approach it from all angles and get to it. In no time you will blow through that pile of tasks. And what can’t be done that day, work on it the next. We are human after all and can only do so much. Yes, we Pagans are only human.
Another lesson my elders drilled into me was never say the words I can’t. These words will sabotage you. You can forget about getting any task done if you say, “I can’t.” At least if you do slip, add the word “yet” to it.
So, yes affirmations, grounding and centering and visualizations are all very Pagan. They are the key to successful spells and rituals, if you ask me.
See also: Affirmations — for spellwork and mundane life — direct your con
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In