Surviving a Personal Ragnarok - or Overcoming a Traumatic Event.

We all go through chapters and moments of strife, challenge, and struggle all throughout our lives. Those moments when we feel our world is caving in, crashing down, and nothing could possibly come out from it for the better. These are moments we feel it would be easier to give up; but that is not the case. We are strong. You are strong. 

Here is my list on how to survive your own Ragnarok:

1. Learn to Say No // It is okay to not be able to give another ounce of strength and to just hunker down with blankets and soup. It’s okay to say “I cannot take one more thing right now. I’m sorry”. This is a time where your own health, mental and physical, need to be taken care of as well. You are not a bad person for needing to think for yourself.
2. Do One Thing Every Day That Brings Your Soul Rest // This could be drawing, painting, knitting, cooking, cleaning, reading, or hiking. Literally anything that makes you happy and brings you joy and comfort - do it.
3. Be Gentle With Yourself // Don’t overestimate what you THINK you should be capable of. Your body is exhausted, your mind is frazzled. Stress has an incredible impact on the body. Take things slow. Don't underestimate yourself either.
4. Don’t Measure Yourself Next to Others // How someone else deals with their problems is not going to be the same as yours and visa versa. You are your own person.
5. Sleep // This seems to be the major thing we neglect to give ourselves enough of, especially when we are going through something emotionally draining. Sleep as much as you need. Give yourself nine hours of guiltless, restful sleep. Your body and brain will thank you for it. 
6. Journal // We can feel frozen by all of the emotions we cannot put into words. Write them out. They don’t need to make sense, just write. Journaling can help us process through all of our unspoken thoughts and feelings. No one will ever read it unless you want to share it with others.
7. Practice Self Love // Whatever that means to you. Take baths, take walks, binge watch shows, eat your favorite food, say positive things about yourself, watch your favorite "feel good" movies and shows, etc. 
8. Know That This Phase That You are Going Through, This Battle, This War, Won’t Last Forever // Nothing does. It may permanently change you, It may permanently change your life. But we humans are adaptable. You will find a new normal, a new balance, and find peace again. As cliche as it is, you will find yourself stronger from this battle.

Witchcraft & Depression; You Are Still Magical.

I realize this is a topic I’ve seen, but not covered in a way that gives you any consolation or usefulness when you’re depressed. I see “little rituals” and “how to do more with less energy” but rarely addressed is the “how to do anything with nothing” that comes with deep depression. 

So, when you’re in your depression, with offerings rotting in your ceremony bowls, candles burned down to nubs, your tarot deck missing, your supplies in disarray and decay, I want to tell you, you’re still magical.

Magic comes from different sources, the world around you, the deities you follow and deep within you. When you’re in a depression, the magic within you often feels like it is deep beneath the bottom of dried up well. It may seem like your Gods and Goddesses have forsaken you and you just can’t feel the hum of magic in the world around you. However, don't fret, it has not gone away. The sun might shine just right one day, or you’ll feel an easing in your soul after a good cry, or one little thing goes just right, your Gods and Goddesses might be giving you a sign. You are still magical. Like a dry river bed before a week of rain, you are full of potential. It might take a long time, and you might ache in your soul for your magic to return; it will, in due time. Magic likes to rest, and Gods may go to sleep. Even the natural world lies dormant once in a while. Take this time to allow yourself self-care. Take this time to dedicate to yourself.

Your magic is not gone. Your deities have not abandoned you. Your magic has not left this world. Even when you cannot do anything but exist, You Are Still Magical.