The Northern Witch' s Blog

What a peaceful New Years Eve and night. People did care, after all. My dog and cats are all safe and well, without the usual fear, trembling, barking, meowing, and running all over the house.

So, a happy new year has begun. Let´s hope that the vaccines will help and that more people will care more for others rather than only themselves from now on. It is about time things change for the better.

My husband and I celebrated the New Year with my almost 83-year-old father on the cell phone, and together we got through a tough year with many new things to adapt to.

This year, I´ll continue to write on this blog every Friday. I will also try to come up with some sort of direction for this blog in the course of January. From February, however, it´s time to begin my novel.

I´m extremely excited about the prospect of writing my very own trilogy. It´s a life-long dream come true. A month more of preparations with the settings, and then I´m as ready as I can possibly be.

I know, it´s a tough journey awaiting me. But I just know that I have to try it out, and I know that it is possible, if you only dare to try and know how to prepare yourself for the long haul.

During the last eighteen months, I have been preparing myself, my family, and my friends for a task that demands me in the seat between four to six hours a day. Every day, also holidays and weekends.

I have tried to study as much about writing in my genre, the psychological thriller, as I possibly could consume and use as inspirational lighthouses in my search for the ultimate writing achievement.

I have read a lot, and I have written a lot. Especially here on this blog have I learned to trust my inner gut feeling when it comes to writing your best.

And I have also learned that some days I write downright rotten, and it is okay and fine. Everybody makes mistakes at some point, and I better do that before I take my first steps as a writer of novels.

I feel that I owe to my audience, that includes you, dear readers and followers, to do my very best. And to do that I have tried to prepare myself for both an adventure and countless hours of hard work.

Let me say out loud a happy new year to the world. With the new vaccines, we all got a glimpse of hope for a better future. And my husband and I will accept the offer as soon as we get it.

I have decided not to look back at the crazy year of 2020. It belongs to the past now, and on this first day of the new year, I prefer to write about the positive and to leave the negative for my novels.

I have chosen to write about people when they are stressed the most, when they find themselves meeting life on uncertain terms, and when they have no other choice but to act to survive.

Not only survival in the physical aspect, but in particular to remain sane. This is where the psychological thriller knows how to intrigue its audience. And this genre is so much me.

I have a life full of mixed experiences with many different kinds of people to draw some of my inspiration from. Other sources are the ways sadly so many people seem to be behaving these years.

And I have many ideas to how I can bring my characters in danger to force them to act accordingly. But that´s for my readers later to learn. First of all, I need to write my story through.

My goal is to write a minimum of 275 words every day. That way, I will have a novel consisting of 100,000 words in a year. I believe it is a reasonable and realistic goal.

This weekend I will take a good and hard look in my calendar, so that my other passion, witchcraft, also get its fair share of my attention. I need a lot of magick in my life, also as a spiritual release in a busy everyday.

Let me finish this happy new year to the world by referring to the most beautiful words that I know. Happiness is the new rich. Inner peace is the new success. Health is the new wealth. Kindness is the new cool.

If you happen to know the author behind such beauty, please let me know. And promise me to take good care of yourself and others. Because Covid-19 is yet to be conquered for us all. Happy New Year. So mote it be.

Finding and experience inner peace is bliss. This week, we celebrated both Yule and Christmas. And found bliss.

It is very different this year. My 82-year-old father is not visiting, and less is definitely more.

My Yule altar with the wooden Yule log in my witches den and a small decoration in the living room is the only visible signs of celebration.

But the Sun shows its beauty and warmth this week, and we enjoy the walk with the little wise, old dog even more than usual.

The next time that I write something here, it will be on the first day of 2021. So, today is for my thoughts of this crazy, strange, and scary year.

I have seen and heard pretty much everything in my life, but this year is so unbelievable that I often have had to pinch myself to believe my eyes and ears.

What shocked me the most besides this damned virus called Covid 19 was the way people in general behaved throughout the year.

Why, oh why, won’t people listen and do what it takes to fight this serious disease and all the bullshit in its wake?

Why is the old life suddenly more important than being healthy and alive?

And why is it necessary to party away while the world fights for life and is in big trouble?

Egotripping is not a moderen invention, however, so bad and stupid human behavior is more the rule than the exception.

But I believe it is well about time to change our ways of living. Mother Earth won’t say please the day she gets fed up with our constant exploitation of scarce resources.

Here, we continue our simple, yet complicated life, where social status, possessions, and snobbish behavior have absolutely no influence whatsoever.

These days, we await the next press conference in the week to come with serenity.

Because we can do nothing more than we already do. Because we can’t spend our lives worrying about things out of our control. And because waiting and waiting with patience and serenity seems to be the new agenda.

While we are waiting, we keep ourselves busy with something we love to do. And try not to think too often on the serious stuff that happens around us, the only difference being a window to the world it takes place in.

And it helps me to write about all this. It enables me to activate my strategies to control my mental disorders, it makes me free in body, mind, and soul, and it makes me happy to write.

My window to the world is this blog and one day, hopefully, my novel trilogy.

We have been lucky so far this year. No Corona virus has invaded our lives yet. And with the new vaccines coming from tomorrow, there is a little glimpse of hope in the future.

So, Happy Yule and Merry Christmas, dear readers and followers, wherever you are.

Let us pray a silent prayer to the Universe. Let us say thanks for both the positive and the negative. And let us focus on becoming the best possible versions of ourselves.

So mote it be.

Recovering from the latest press conference, awaiting the one next week that will decide people’s behavior on New Year’s Eve.

I’m happy to live a life somewhat secluded from the world outside right now, just a few days before Christmas.

My everyday doesn’t chance markedly due to more and more restrictions.

But mentally, I’m just as Corona-tired as everybody else.

Therefore, my aim with this blog post is to deliver an atmosphere of magick and positive thoughts.

This weekend, I need to prepare the last Sabbath this strange year, the celebration of Yule or the Winter Solstice on Monday, December 21,2020.

It will be a celebration of the returning and life-affirming sun.

Denmark has not been so dark in the month of December in sixty years. So it is very much welcome to celebrate the return of the light as soon as possible.

It has been and is a strange and unfamiliar year. The worst parts being the virus and the stupid behavior of stupid people.

A view from a lockdown is positive despite the serious problems everywhere.

For I try to divert my mind from all the negativity, bad news, and bullshit due to the behavior of stupid people.

We don’t ask for much here, for we have everything we need and a lot more to that.

We had changed our lifestyle several years before this scary, relentless, and tiring year.

And when I choose the path of witchcraft, I found a physical, mental, and spiritual refuge and a well of knowledge and inner peace.

My ritual on Monday will be dedicated to light and a positive outlook on life in general.

For life is a precious gift that should be handled with loving care.

Until now, we have been lucky in my country. But with rising numbers and more and more people hospitalized, we now may expect restrictions as those we see and hear about all the time.

Therefore, I plan to attend both my writing adventures, my witchcraft practice, and my many other creative pursuits much more focused.

I try to cut down on the amount of daily news, yet I need to follow some of it to be updated.

My home is my castle. From here I use my window to the world to put words on my thoughts about all this.

But my main objective is always to look for the positive aspects in everything, no matter what happens in my life.

May you be safe, dear readers and followers. May the new vaccines make a positive difference for the world. And may inner peace be for us all to appreciate. So mote it be.

Rising, worrying numbers, local lockdowns across the country, and the next county could be mine. The need for diversion has grown this week, and my anxiety hisses at me from its corner.

Yes, I have Corona blues tonight. I´m tired of bad news, tired of stupid people doing reckless bullshit, and I´m tired of the gray tones of the weather these days.

So, I´m a bit late with this blog post. My little, wise, old dog has stomach problems and needed to see the vet today. And I have been busy transferring all my writing notes to an online haven.

My laptop annoys me at times, and I don´t want to experience one day that all my hard work is wasted. So I create backup whenever I hav e the possibility to do so.

But despite bad news, despite mental disorders and physical ailments, and despite this eerie Corona blues, I´m happy and content with my life. My bipolar “friend” in my head behaves, and the anxiety is on a strict leash.

I look forward to creating the ritual for the Winter Solstice, Yule. That day , the light returns. That day, the wheel of the year turns, and that day, I will enjoy a quiet and beautiful witchcraft ritual.

And I work with my novels again. I´m researching the settings, gathering my material around me, and preparing myself for the task of being able to sit in a chair between four to six hours a day.

To write a trilogy, a psychological thriller about how people are capable of treating others badly. To write so my readers feel they are in the middle of a movie. To write because I love to do it and want to try it out.

And after a couple of days, I begin to adjust my body, my mind, and my soul to the enormous task of being a writer. My deepest respect goes to those before me.

Because it is difficult to write. But I know I will regret it, if I don´t take a chance and try to do what so many have told me to do. To write my heart out, to write with music in every word, and to write for the love of it.

The Corona blues is inevitable. But I´ll fight it every inch of the way, and I have all my strategies up and ready to use, no matter what. We are also extremely careful when we go out now.

I think we will see a major lockdown soon due to the rising, rising, rising numbers. It is only a matter of time. But we can still manage well here at our sacred spot.

I speak with my 82-year-old father three times a week now. And this Christmas, we will celebrate on the cell phone with as many calls as he wants. It would be too dangerous for him to travel here by train.

Because of my work with my novel, I´m able to divert my thoughts and my anxiety from the world outside. Because of my witchcraft practice, I´m able to relax in my mind. And because of my loved ones, I thrive.

So, from the positive perspective, everything is okay here, thank you. Tonight, my thoughts go the people of the world. May this evening bring happiness, inner peace, good health, and kindness.

I have begun brainstorming the plot for my trilogy. I need to research a little more, to re-write a few more notes, and to practice daily word counts to follow my development as a writer.

So, I´m pretty busy these weeks. I also need to handle the laundry, to help a little extra every day, and to work hard with my anxiety. But it feels much better to be busy than to sit and think doing nothing.

I have discovered an inner craving for working with my trilogy. It is my reward when I finish my chores, when I win over yet another anxiety attack, and when my mood swings annoy me.

And tonight, I fight the Corona blues with loud rock music with roaring guitars, thundering drums, and that sound of pure bass in my ears. It feels like dancing with my keyboard.

I hope that you are all well and okay, dear readers and followers. Depending on the development in things in my country, Denmark, I will probably write more on this blog in the near future.

I have many things on my mind that I need to transform into written words. It helps me personally, and perhaps, with good luck and goodwill, can it help and inspire others too.

May your weekend be blessed with positive vibes, may life be fair for you, and may trouble stay away, dear readers and followers. As we will it, so mote it be.

This week began with a beautiful Full Moon ritual on Monday. I walked my circle on the floor in my witch´s den three times, reciting a relevant poem and throw salt as general protection during the ritual.

Our house jar protects our home, and I put it on the windowsill all day and night at Full Moon. And I created a protection spell bottle for my husband and me.

Since Tuesday, I have been busy researching for my novel. I had some leftover notes to write in my OneNote notebook, there is app. 150 articles to read and use in my writing, and then there is the setting.

My novel takes place in both a big city and in the countryside, so nature will play an important role in my research in the next seven weeks from now.

Today, however, this blog post is about our little paradise, where we share our lives together, no matter what happens. The theme is about genuine human warmth and caring in a cold era.

Not only is the weather bad, with parts of snow and parts of rain that leaves traces of a piercing cold wind, but the numbers are rising a lot these days.

Therefore, we did our shopping early in the morning, so we would not meet many people. Of course, my glasses drizzled in the local shop, so I practically could see absolutely nothing for quite some time.

Now, we don´t need to go shopping before Tuesday/Wednesday next week. My husband needs time to recover from the winter depression that always catches him at this time of year.

So the Danish tradition about hygge is highly recommended here at our spot on Mother Earth. Hygge can be anything from a couple of lit candles to a long-lasting conversation with coffee and something sweet.

It is impossible to translate into American English, so when I write the word hygge, I think of cozy and comfortable surroundings, a good time spent in the company of good people, and a feel-good atmosphere.

I spent a little time in my creative den earlier today. I´m trying to learn water-coloring techniques, and it mocks me and does everything that it is not supposed to do.

But I keep on working with it because practice makes perfect. I also needed a longer break from the desk and the keyboard. Today, I have physical side-effects of my bipolar disorder.

I´m restless and have trouble sitting still for a longer period of time. But tonight, I´m going to sit down anyway and do what it takes to behave like a writer rather than a whining Crone.

My feet rock along with the music in my ears. As I write myself into a sort of trance, where I forget everything about the world around me and focus solely on the finger dance across the keyboard before me.

Next week, I want to work with witchcraft again. However, this time it is not a ritual, but some research could be useful in this area of my life too. So I plan to go through my Book of Shadows (BoS) once again.

I always find something new that makes me too curious not to examine further. And in a split second, my thoughts are already on where to search for issues worth researching.

From today, I will carry a notebook and a pen because I seem to catch ideas without them, and then I forget to write it down. I will copy the handwritten notes into my laptop notebook.

During our daily conversation, I got so many ideas that it overwhelmed my husband and me. But I can only remember a few of them now, so I clearly need to work with a notebook and a pen as a routine.

Therefore, I will begin right after this blog post to write down my ideas. And I continue until my novel has been written. That way, I won´t miss the brainstorming effect.

My husband and my dear friend are clever and tough sparring partners who are hard to negotiate with. They know what they like as an audience, and they tell me clearly when it sucks.

So far, so good. No mentioning of the harsh times we all deal with across the globe. Please allow yourself the space for some life-affirming hygge tonight, dear readers and followers.

And may 2020 be a year to remember, a life lesson to adapt peacefully to, and a warning to us humans. We have to treat Mother Earth with respect and loving care.

So Mote It Be.

Happens, when you are busy living your simple, yet complicated life, and then, out of nowhere, the world and people happen. The Coronavirus is bad enough. But I dread all the bullshit it its wake.

No need to inform you, dear readers and followers, just write mink scandal, and you can see and read your own conclusions. I only know that I´m happy that my life is as simple as possible.

No need to mention all the bullshit that seems to happen, when you are happy living your life. It is the world outside, not my daily world, oh yes it is, and I´m not amused as the late Queen Victoria would have said.

And no need to worry more than I already do, so this week I have been practicing several diversion techniques to better cope with the fact that the world is star crazy, and this year people are crazy in particular.

Necessary diversion is a list of strategies to use, when everything feels wrong, too fast, and scary. I´m into creative projects, but everything you love to do can be used as a way to a break from the world.

And this year has taught me many things, one of which is that I have to have some sort of protection against the overwhelming feeling of living in a horror movie, only the horror is extremely real these days.

My protection is also about my witchcraft practice, so in my next ritual that I´ll create this weekend, there will be attention to protection in general, house protection and personal protection.

I can wear jewelry, I can draw sigils, and I can create jars, potions, and spell bottles. The only issue is to choose the strongest possible mix of those things.

So my new creative projects are to create protection items than can be cleansed and consecrated in a ritual next week. It is Full Moon on Monday, so everything speaks for a ritual here.

At the moment, I´m re-writing old notes from my travel diaries. It is a fun and emotional journey to follow close. I also have a painting with water colors to continue with, a drawing to finish, and a colored pencil project.

Every time I feel too emotionally involved in the news stream, the press conferences, and the rising numbers, I go to one of my diversion projects and spend at least half an hour to calm down and to think positive again.

I have the time to do so because I´m early retired, but the technique is useful, whether you work or not. This way, I at the same time conquer both my anxiety and my bipolar disorder.

I had a good and life-affirming meeting with my new counselor yesterday. We talked about my life, the situation in the world, and useful ideas to learn to cope with a new normal.

Necessary diversion also happens when I´m busy doing something I love. If I do not control my time, I will forget it and keep on working with my project, until it is done.

When I concentrate, I do it like a pro. When I write that I soon will embark on my journey of research for my novel, I mean thorough research.

Things need to be closely examined, before I even consider using something for my novel. I´m a consequent boss for if something doesn´t sound natural, then I would rather rewrite than publish too soon.

This week has been busy. My husband has cleaned our kitchen and tidied his cabinet in our living room. In stages, of course, we are not 18 and 22 anymore.

But nevertheless, next Summer we can celebrate that we will be one hundred years old together, meaning my husband will be forty-eight and I will be fifty-two years old.

February 14th 2021, that date we will have known each other for twelve and a half years. It is a long time, but I would go all the way all over again, for my husband is the true love of my life, and vice versa.

By writing these lines, I just conquered a masked anxiety attack. I sensed the symptoms long before, it evolved, so I´m okay, thank you. It always happens, when you are busy doing something you love, like writing this.

Back on track again, this week has been pretty productive here, and we are close to the goal of overhauling the house and the garden to be presentable on pictures.

The little wise, old dog has also had a great week. He had his teeth fixed lately, and he doesn´t respond too well to anesthetics, so he has been poorly for a while, but he is okay again, thank you, dear Universe.

The whole week, I have listened to old school rock, beautiful ballads, and Danish music. I use music as an instant diversion, whenever I feel symptoms of anxiety. It calms me immediately.

Necessary diversion is also a positive way to control your response to what happens in the world of 2020. Therefore, I use my techniques as often as possible, and it helps so much.

I have laughed a lot more this week, been able to make my little extra daily effort, and had a great week almost without any signs of my different physical ailments and mental disorders.

The vaccines are coming, it is said. That´s great news, but I´m more interested in the practical implications for our little paradise here at my spot on Mother Earth.

So, we´ll wait as everybody else. And no more Corona in this blog post, thank you. I wish you a pleasant weekend, dear followers and readers. Please stay safe, please be careful, please be good to yourself.

So it is.

The pictures today are from my thanksgiving and gratitude ritual on Wednesday this week. The ritual itself lasted perhaps forty-five minutes. But the main conversation took a couple of hours.

It was true magick, because the atmosphere was calming, yet encouraging. There were lit candles and LED tea candles everywhere, I used sage as incense, and my close friend and I shared gratitude.

It felt so appropriate to share my ritual, talk about how much we should be grateful for, and create a feeling of happiness, inner peace, good health, and kindness.

When I finished tidying up after the ritual, I needed a big nap on the couch. I decided to wait for the writing part until today. Because true magick needs time to settle down in body, mind, and soul.

Yesterday, I met with my new counselor. We went for a long walk while we talked about my anxiety and my bipolar disorder. We will walk next Thursday again, because right now it is the best way to meet.

I will not have home visits until the numbers drop again. Right now, they are way too high for my comfort zone, and we stay as close to our home as possible.

She described a method to align expectations with my loved ones. Therefore, my husband and I have decided to talk daily at around eleven A.M.

Today, we talked for about ten minutes, but we agreed that the time span can be longer, depending on my mood on the day and how my husband feels about it.

That way, we will catch personal issues long before they evolve into trouble. And I know that I have time every day to talk if it feels necessary.

It has been a long week with my bronchitis and my husband´s sore throat. But things are positive here, nevertheless. I speak with my father three times a week now, and it feels good.

We don´t know if it will be safe for him to travel at Christmas, so we plan a holiday for my husband and me only. I want him to visit, of course, but I think he needs to stay safe, so I pray that it may be so.

True magick is what we create ourselves and together. And my ritual this week has worked its special magick. I sleep much better, my ailments grant me freedom, and I have expressed my need to talk.

May I last, but not least, introduce you to my friend, Michelle, the artist behind the drawing of the goddess Hekate in the second picture. She is skilled, meticulous, and very talented as an artist.

May your weekend be pleasant, dear readers and followers. Thank you for your choice to follow my journey as a writing witch. I will do my best every time to respond to such a trust.

So mote it be.

To Goddess Hekate

Queen of the Witches, the crossroads, and the Night,

Please, hear my words of gratitude,

Carried to You by the smoke

From this letter.

I count my blessings :

• The freedom of being able to live in perfect trust and perfect harmony
• Living with the love of my life, my dog, my cats, my family, and my friends
• The wonderful life here at this beautiful and creative place
• My creative, mental, and psychic abilities
• My good health, my possibilities, and my many memories in life

Without which I would not know my strengths.

I count my challenges :

• My past experiences that teach me how to learn my life´s lessons
• Transforming negative past experiences into positive future physical, mental, and spiritual events
• My anxiety, bipolar disorder, and physical ailments that teach me how to face my fears and fight
• The way people in my life act outside my control in times of trouble
• Unforeseen events outside my control, especially in times of trouble

Without which I would not know my weaknesses.

To Goddess Hekate,

Queen of the Witches, the crossroads, and the Night,

I thank You for the blessings and challenges in my life.

For all that I am grateful.

This is my letter of gratitude that I will use in my upcoming thanksgiving ritual next week. I will, of course, again walk you through my ritual by creating an atmosphere as if you are here with me.

It is a first-take letter that I wrote this Summer. I will burn it during my ritual for the Goddess Hekate with whom I feel a special bond as a witch and a becoming Crone.

It feels right to pick up that letter now. Many things have taken place these last couple of months, and I believe that it is time to create a beautiful thanksgiving ritual.

It is also an attempt of direct diversion from all the bad news that are haunting the world right now. I need to think of something better, and there a witchcraft ritual feels so appropriate.

To me, a letter of gratitude is appropriate, too. Especially, because I live a privileged life where the world outside my house and my garden are kept at bay to help me stay as sane as possible.

I wanted to share it with you, dear readers and followers. It is my hope that it will inspire, bring joy, and make room for positive reflections about life in general and this difficult era in particular.

There need to be positive moments a lot more these days than we are aware of as human beings. Let us send an online prayer to the Universe and join each other in creating a better world together.

It all begins with yourself and the attitude with which you meet both blessings and challenges. The attitude can be controlled, life will happen no matter what.

But we can take the first step by acknowledging that change begins with each of us. Before we take action and think with a positive outlook, nothing will be achieved.

I embrace change now and try to live in the present moment only. For the past is a constant, and nobody can promise a future. It is therefore up to ourselves to adapt to change and to change attitude.

May your evening be pleasant and comfortable, dear readers and followers. A letter of gratitude does not harm anybody or anything. It is, in fact, a fine way to do shadow work with a positive twist.

So it is.

My primary goal this 2020 is to remain as sane as possible. To do that demands lots of energy, determination and a long daily recess. And I´m slowly, but surely getting closer to that goal.

I take a look on the news stream to my morning coffee. I sigh, turn to my recess time and live my life. Because I can´t change anything but my own reaction to what I hear and see.

This week has been long, crazy, and tough. I had a good conversation with my new counselor with whom I will meet next Thursday. But it is no ordinary meeting between people in a private home.

No, due to the Corona precautions, we are to walk for half an hour outside, wearing face masks. But I need the help and the psychoeducation, so I agreed on doing it.

My daily recess time depends on my mood and how many chores there are to do. So some days I have longer time to do what I love the most to do.

The whole week, I have fought a nasty cold and bronchitis. I was tested for the Coronavirus before I could see a doctor. Thank you, dear Universe, I was negative.

But nevertheless, I have finished four canvases, illustrating the four elements, the four seasons, and the four directions. All symbolized in a tree in different colors.

I used a lot of glue and glitter, and for tonight I plan to create an abstract image on a canvas, with glue, glitter and artist tape. It is my reward for making it through this day that brought yet another press conference.

A daily recess is necessary for me because of my many different mental disorders and physical ailments. That became a good idea this week due to the many bad and shocking news in my country.

At the moment, 15-17 million mink are being euthanized around my country. We have mink farms close by, so we are as precautious as possible.

The worst part is that there has been incidents where the culling went wrong, where dead mink were dropped on the roads by mistake, and our government did not have the law behind them.

It is becoming a major political scandal in our country, although it is too risky for the public health to keep on producing mink. I agree that the risk is too big, but at least they can treat the animals correctly.

So, there have been extremely disgusting pictures and videos in the news. Especially those showing some of the mink mass graves was tough to watch.

Therefore, my daily recess time has gone up to whole days. I need to recover from a hard week. Today, I write and work with my creative spirit.

For the weekend I have absolutely no plans. Except from meditation time in my witch´s den with my Book of Shadows, my Spellbook, and lit candles.

I want to make a ritual of gratitude for next week. Where only positive matters are allowed. Where there is room for inner peace and happiness. And where beauty and calmness is the main priority.

Tonight, there is singalong night again in Denmark. I will watch it, and then I will go to my creative den and listen to even more music. Loud. Strong. Happy.

Diversion techniques are essential to my mental well-being, and I try to use every strategy available to keep on feeling well. I´m still in the high end of the scale, but I have discovered that I have rapid cycling.

Which means that I can be in both sides simultaneously. I can feel it, and some days it is so disturbing that I take the whole day out of the calendar and sleep instead.

I will discuss it more next week with my counselor, who I have asked to help me understand the implications of rapid cycling. The more I know, the more I can do to work with it in my everyday.

But today, I´m enjoying my daily recess in my creative den. It is warm and cozy here, I have everything I need close by, and there is a room full of peace.

May you also enjoy moments of inner peace, wherever you are, dear readers and followers. And let us light a healing candle of hope for the world tonight. So it is.

Yesterday, I had a mental fog, I slept most of the day, and the tears came forth like a tsunami, due to stress from the many press conferences, the news, and the world outside.

Therefore, writing would not have been the wisest tool to turn to. Witchcraft was impossible because I´m fighting coughs and sneezes and don´t practice magick when I don´t feel good.

Today, the tears come in more tolerable amounts, and writing seems to be my only refuge. Witchcraft I save for tomorrow, where I will meditate over a cup of chai tea and say a silent prayer to the Universe.

Today, I waited for the right time to begin writing, when yet another press conference was announced with short notice. We watched the necessary stuff and let the medias deal with the rising number of questions.

I took a couple of deep breaths, made my creative den warm and comfortable, and began thinking of why writing and witchcraft can help in times of trouble.

Writing is calming, mentally challenging, and fun. Witchcraft is soothing, spiritually enriching, and fun. Concepts that I search for during this damned pandemic with crazy stuff in its wake.

I need to divert myself a lot this year, because I don´t trust the human factor, and certainly not, when the shit hits the fan as much as it has been doing lately.

Going out is extremely stressful for me, and this crappy year only worsens my anxiety when among many people. I use almost every resource in me to come through a shopping trip outside my little peaceful town.

So I´m trying to protect myself from too much stress generated from the world outside. Therefore, I´m looking into the possibility of being tested in my home rather than standing in a long queue with cough and sneezes.

Writing helps me to think twice, to relax, and to breathe calmly. I can use this window to the world without having to actually go out there. For that I´m grateful.

Writing gives me the possibility to express my emotions and my thoughts, often more clearly than when I speak. Throughout my life, writing has been and is a loyal companion to trust, especially in times of trouble.

And writing refines my language, whether it is in American English or my native Danish. So, I love writing for its liberating momentum of the dance with the fingers.

Witchcraft helps me to find a spiritual reference point in the midst of chaos, to work at my own pace, and to focus my thoughts. I´m in my fifth year as a witch, and I´m grateful that I have chosen this path.

Witchcraft gives me the possibility to express myself creatively and to practice effective shadow work. For more than four years now, it has changed me for the better permanently.

And witchcraft refines my thoughts and emotions to a degree, where I find deep inner peace, serenity, and long-lasting emotional balance. So, I love witchcraft for its life-affirming feeling of happiness.

Stop …

We just learned that Mr. Joe Biden will be the next president of the U.S.A. And Mrs. Kamala Harris will be the first female vice president. Congratulations, America.

The first good and positive news for a very long time.

This is also help in times of trouble, and tonight, I´m proud to be a quarter American (my grand mother was born in the U.S.A, in Akron, Ohio).

It feels like true magick. And it is so liberating to write: Yes, yes, yes!

A light of hope is now lit. May it bring us all peace of mind, at least for a little while, before it is back to the “new normal” that was left in the ashes of my Samhain ritual.

So Mote It Be.

Yesterday afternoon, our prime minister told us that all mink on Danish farms are to be euthanized ASAP. Mutations of the Coronavirus has been found in mink, and 12people are affected already.

It has serious consequences, if the authorities do not respond to this. So, it is truly a sad day for Denmark. Until yesterday, we were the number one in the world regarding the production of mink fur.

My parents had a mink farm when I was a kid, so I know the drill, it is hard work. My thoughts today go to the brave people who are to do this. It is no fun at all, it is devastating for a whole trade.

But it would be so much more worse not to respond before it was too late. We are so lucky if this is stopped in due time. The consequences could affect this planet, and we must do all we can to take proper action.

It is estimated that this will cost the Danish state a huge sum of money. There are all the practical and logistical precautions, there are jobs to re-create, and there are families, generations to help.

So, I´m sad today. Because this also implies more restrictions that can be used wherever the authorities find it necessary. Therefore, I need to follow the news stream a lot more these days.

And it takes it toll on us all. I need to rant a bit today, I need to cry, and I need to divert my mind from this damned Coronavirus. Writing about it helps immediately, and there are both chores and creative projects.

We truly live in dangerous times, and at the same time, there is the American Presidential Election to follow close. I sincerely hope that Mr. Joe Biden wins, for four more years with Mr. Trump is scary.

To be able to breathe and fight my anxiety today, I think deliberately of the most positive things I can think of. My privileged life here, my family, my friends.

And I do the things I love to do at home. My husband went shopping this morning, so now there are four days before it is my turn to go. I did it the day before yesterday, but today I stay home.

I have an irritating cough, running nose, but luckily no fever. The kids next door will be tested for Coronavirus Saturday, and until we know any further, we take our strict precautions.

If the kids are positive, we will go for a test, too. We will do it anyway soon, because it is only appropriate to do so now. I´m sorry to have to write about such sad news, dear readers and followers.

But I feel I have an obligation to write, especially today of all days. For this is serious news. Worldwide, Denmark got its fifteen minutes of fame, yesterday afternoon was an eye-opener of dimensions.

The threat is simply too big a chance to take. With mutating potential and documented incidents already, we need to move fast. Also faster than we are used to here in Denmark.

Our county borders two counties with this threat only a few miles away from my spot on Mother Earth. We have mink farms close by, so we could potentially be under a severe lockdown too.

We shop as little as possible in physical shops effected immediately. We have a big retail chain, Bilka, with a To-Go concept, where you order from home, and they pack your goods and place them in your car.

We will try this for the next payday on November 30. However, I have absolutely no need to go shopping physically, if it is possible to buy online. And to stay home now feels like a sanctuary from a world in chaos.

A sad day for Denmark indeed, I will return tomorrow with a brighter post about how witchcraft and writing can help in times of trouble. Please be careful out there, people of the world.

Yesterday, I celebrated Samhain with my husband. In this blog post, you will find my photos of the event, so you can imagine the atmosphere that I try to bring forth, both here and with you.

I began several days before to plan my ritual. I always use a homemade worksheet because I personally can´t remember everything without notes and a certain structure around the ritual.

Right before the ritual, I enjoyed a hot and long ritual bath, where I used a mix of sage leaves, lemon oil, and Himalaya rock salt, which has a refreshing aroma.

I evoked the elemental forces of Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Spirit/Akasha, and I summoned my ancestors and my favorite Crone goddess, Hecate, the Queen of Witches.

Then I read a couple of beautiful and serious poems before taking a look into our New Year Wishing Box that I made in my second year as a witch. There were new changes to add, as life has been crazy lately.

We also shared a renewal spell for the new year and a wishing spell. Even my Tarot cards looked upon me with favor. I have been through a rough ride, and now it is time to harvest my hard shadow work results.

I used as many crystals and essential oils as possible because their presence assured me that things will turn out for the better in due time. I wore my best witch dress and my red cloak, too.

And yes, we used Halloween decorations, although we were celebrating the old ways rather than the modern edition. Sage was a pleasant and calming incense.

I have added two more daily altars to my collection. Now, I have five altars, where only one is permanent, the cabinet in my witch´s den. It would work well as an old curiosity shop.

I love second-hand shops and to use what I already have in new combinations. So I make a few changes in my witch´s den from time to time, which I hope you will like.

If it makes you feel at home, safe, and comfortable, my aim is reached. For cakes and ale, we only had chocolate and soft drinks. Perhaps next year, I will prepare a whole meal and share the recipe with you.

Today, I tidied the room, put the good stuff back in place, and rested for several hours in the afternoon. Tonight, I think of you, dear readers and followers. Please take extra good care of yourself wherever you are.

Today, I celebrate my New year as a witch. Tomorrow, my first task on the first day of my fifth year with witchcraft, is to write about the beautiful ritual that my husband and I shared this afternoon.

I have good pictures, too. But for now, my writing concerns the new response system for Covid-19. There are five steps. We are at step 3, where step 4 and five happen when the shit hits the fan.

It is meant to be used once a week to be able to respond quickly to the rapid changes with this damned Coronavirus. Pardon my French and bear over with me, I ask the Universe to end this strange year soon.

My anxiety rests calmly in its corner, my bipolar disorder allows me to use my extra energy wisely, and my other ailments cooperate as well. And, speaking frankly, I need to divert myself even on a perfect day.

So, this post is my interpretation of Samhain. Samhain is like New Year´s Eve to me. At this time of year, I renew my pledge to be a witch, I let go of what no longer serves me, and I celebrate the completion of the year.

Everything is different outside my home and my witch´s den. Samhain is also known as the third harvest, where sacrifices are made to ensure good harvest next year.

My sacrifice is my bottles of collected rain water from 2020. Mother Earth shakes us humans, perhaps to remind us that we are not alone to decide the future on this blue planet. I will sacrifice Sunday morning.

Samhain is a time to remember our ancestors who went before us in life. Their day is today. Therefore, remembrance and memories are in our thoughts this weekend.

I will write part two about the ritual itself tomorrow. To be honest, I´m too tired mentally today to write more than a few lines. I also choose a longer nap after the ritual today.

And, I have a creative date with my dear friend right after this. We will work with a sewing machine, drawings, and glue and glitter. We will talk about what matters the most. And we will laugh and cry together.

The perfect way to relax after a rather demanding ritual with plenty of positive energy and careful preparations. All the good stuff were on my three altars, and lit candles made it cozy and pleasant to be present.

So, may you enjoy a happy Halloween, dear readers and followers. And may the world be freed from the threat of the Coronavirus and all the bullshit in its wake.

So it is. Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again.

The rain filled the day with a feeling of way too many people shopping. The face mask felt heavy and too dense against especially my nose, and it took its toll on us to go shopping today.

But we got most of what we needed, we enjoyed the company of dear friends, and the weather quickened our trip. We went to two stores only, that was more than enough to me, thank you.

A ray of hope on a gray day is the prospect of hours with creative pursuits after yet another positive meeting over a cup of fresh coffee. With happy kids, one of which already touches the future teenager aspect.

With a positive, helpful, and interesting conversation between adults who truly enjoy each other´s company. And with about an hour of creative freestyle writing.

Tomorrow, it is time for Samhain, my kind of New Year as a witch. Also known as Halloween, All Hallow´s Eve, and the third harvest Sabbath. In 2020, it is also Blue Moon and Full Moon.

So there is plenty of positive energy around to use in the ritual that I prepared Wednesday and yesterday. Space for the usual stage fright from anticipations. And a pleasant feeling of trustworthy intuition.

Another ray of hope on a gray day is my level of productivity this week. I know that I´m in the high side of my bipolar disorder, and much of my creative drive and energy stems from that.

But this time, I can manage to do the little extra every day, and now I´m downstairs in my home, where we will continue our overhaul of a house and a garden with personality and character.

I did not plan this blog post. It came alive with the arrival of my creative muse. She rests on my shoulders, sparkling with new ideas and thoughts, and so demanding.

What I plan, however, is a follow-up on my Samhain ritual tomorrow. I will try to guide you through my rite, so you feel that you were there. Therefore, expect pictures of beauty, inner peace, and happiness.

Last, but not least, a ray of hope is also the ability to conquer fear of going out into the outside world in times of serious trouble. Oh yeah, the numbers are rising in Denmark, too.

It has been a gray day, but we came through it without whining. Now, the evening is full of tingling anticipation for a couple of hours with the creative drive at full speed.

I had an hour to write this, to find an appropriate picture, and to read it aloud to listen to the music between the lines. Tonight, it is the old stuff that still catches my attention.

Because the writing process has its own sounds, depending on my moods on the day. Because I dance with the keyboard, when I sit for a creative writing session. And because you can feel it if I do my work properly.

So, this is it for today. I hope that you are well, happy, and content, dear readers and followers. May this Samhain be the opposite of this terrible year. So mote it be.

From today, we can only gather ten people at a time. From Thursday, we are to wear a face mask when we do our shopping and more or less everywhere when inside in public.

We can take it off when we sit down. And tomorrow, I will buy some for our necessary supply. It doesn´t appeal to me because I find it difficult to wear glasses when wearing a face mask.

But I do it without complaining because we are told to do it. I respect the authorities and do my part. Here, rubbing alcohol and frequent hand wash are a must.

New routines again mean that the world outside is closer than we like to think of. My appointment with my GP was peaceful and full of good news. Now, I need to go to the hospital tomorrow for my mammography.

I´m rewarding myself tomorrow afternoon by doing something I love to do. Yeah, to tidy and clean my little big house and get some high quality pictures to serve as memories when we are old and gray.

Tonight, I calming myself by writing her at my window to the world and by spending creative hours with my dear friend. I hate doctors and hospitals. My only worse fear is for dentists.

But I know I will go through it with strength and character. And tomorrow will also be as good a day as today. I may not control the circumstances, but I can control my response to them.

At this moment, it is fair to write that my bipolar disorder cooperates this Fall. Right now, it helps me to get through a long wanted and needed overhaul of our home.

It is also a bliss that my anxiety level remains low at this critical moment of the strangest Fall I have ever experienced. It is here, however, for I sense its presence in its corner where it hisses at me occasionally.

My next blog post will be published on Saturday 31, 2020, and not on Friday as usual. It happens due to my celebration of Samhain on Saturday. My plan is to write right after my New Year´s ritual as a witch.

It is the beginning of my fifth year as a practicing eclectic witch. I plan to write a lot more about witchcraft in 2021 and to practice more often than I have done this strange and unfamiliar year of 2020.

So, new routines again trigger my desire to stay at home as much as possible. And with more energy, I want to embrace more magick in my daily life as a writer and a witch.

Tonight, I´m simply celebrating that I managed to pull myself together and cleared and cleaned our bedroom, where I keep my many instruments. Three guitars, one bass, one keyboard, and one set of drums.

Tomorrow, I plan to do the same for the remains of the first floor. Then it will be time for my witch´s den that needs to be ready for Samhain on Saturday. And so on, until we are through this overhaul.

It is a major victory for me because I physically have less energy than I prefer. So everything takes more time for me. But it is okay, Self, to do things at your own pace.

At the same time, new routines again are a constant reminder that some things just need to be done. And I participate as much as my limited physical energy will allow me to.

So, despite the negativity in the outside world, we are coping quite well, thank you. But, of course, we feel the Coronavirus closing in on us, too. Therefore, I need to rant every once in a while.

But tonight, everything feels okay from my point of view. Tonight, I enjoy life and the accomplishment of a big goal. And tonight, I reward myself for the little extra that I´m doing these weeks in October 2020.

May your evening be full of happiness, inner peace, good health, and kindness, dear readers and followers. And may these beautiful concepts be the new cool in our world. So Mote It Be.