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Owning Your Power

November 03, 2007

susan_preston_innerwitch.jpg

Good Witch ~ Canon 30d

Are you a Good Witch, or a Bad Witch?

Me? Why, I'm not a Witch at all! Don't be deceived into thinking that's a camera I'm holding. It's a magic wand capable of capturing fragments of truth and beauty... not to mention the miraculous!

On second thought, maybe I am a witch! A magical creature who's kicking it up a notch, learning new spells and owning more of her power ~ the power of magical You Go Girl Goodness which is always at our disposal ~ even if you happen to be a man, Baby.

I haven't had this much fun in months, and I have wonderful news for you! Getting in touch with one's inner witch might seem spooky, but it can be transformative and healthy. Many women are afraid of how powerful they really are, which is why we, as a group, reinforce the idea that our intuition isn't real, and our magic is useless. Woe to the woman who succumbs to the spell of disenchantment, leaving her boundaries unprotected while her Inner Guardian snoozes!

All is not lost, my Pretties, for once the Witch Switch is thrown, we begin weaving the magical threads of Wise Woman sorcery. The Witch archetype inspires us to strengthen our boundaries ~ a woman owning up to this kind of power isn't about to hand it over to vampires stumbling across her lawn. These are lessons the Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood didn't quite master... but I will, damnit.

Oh my! I'm speaking in Fairy Tale Language! What's come over me?

My personified witch made her first appearance at a Halloween Ball Friday evening. I'd just dismounted my broom and was in search of some Ghoul Brew when a friend I hadn't seen in ages quipped, "You MUST be happily settled down with some fabulous man because you are just oozing confidence!" She said there was an "energy" about me.

Let's get one thing straight. This sort of "energy" doesn't come from a man, ladies. It comes from hard-won lessons learned of the Soul, and we're always in the midst of learning one. I won't hesitate to admit my gown had magical powers. Putting it on transported me into another dimension. Never underestimate the power of The Wardrobe, and never EVER underestimate The Power of Your Own Inner Knowing. When your still small voice sends out a warning, get on your broom and use your God-given intuitive power!

Where did all of this magic come from? It turns out one of the Halloween e-cards I conjured up ended up inspiring a shift in my line of focus this week. I love it when a creation manifests through me only to speak right back at me in a Redneck accent. A neon light went off in my head as I plunked out the accompaniment on the banjo1 while ordering Frankenstein out of my front yard on the soundtrack.

IF YOU HAND OVER A PATCH OF GRASS TO A MONSTER, HE'LL TAKE THE WHOLE FREAKIN' HOUSE OVER!

is what the neon sign said to me. The subtitle read,"and owning up to your spiritual goodness doesn't mean you hand the keys to your Kingdom over." There's compassion, and then there's Idiot Compassion, the latter of which benefits nobody.2 Healthy, Frankenstein-free boundaries are imperative if you want to protect your house (and life) from being haunted.

Ask any of these witches, they all KNOW:
susan_preston_friends.jpg

Now, keep in mind that Bertha, in her overzealousness, doesn't notice the house that's about to drop on her head. You gotta be patient, humble and mindful when dealing with good-fer-nuthin' green-faced tornadoes ripping up yer front lawn, and the Go-To Girl for understanding this is Dorothy.

A witch of the most powerful persuasion, Dorothy breaks the most evil of spells ~ the belief that our true home is outside of ourselves. Sometimes the Winds of Homecoming blow gently, but frequently, the force driving us back to ourselves can feel like a split second unraveling of the time-space continuum. In fairy-tale language, it's called a tornado. We wake up one day and find ourselves in an illogical world filled with Munchkins and Lollipop Gangs. Don't be afraid to walk the golden path, to befriend the scarecrows, bring life to petrified woodmen, and comfort the cowardly lions. These heartwarming characters loved and respected Dorothy, and she offered her compassion to them freely. When standing face to face with an wicked witch, however, don't hesitate to name the beast and ask if she's brought you a gift of spine-tingling awareness. Try to be polite, but if she gets unruly, don't hesitate to beat the devil off your doorstep!

There really is no place like home when we come to realize home is inside of us. It's up to each and every one of us to do the housework, pick up the lawn, and put mirrors on the doors to keep the vampires out. In the end, whether it be in this life or the next, monsters always have a way of doing themselves in. Keep your integrity intact, stand up for yourself, and put on a witchy, bitchy, Don't Mess with My Power little grin!


1 YES, JAYNE! That's ME on the banjo... my first public performance!

2 IDIOT COMPASSION is a phrase coined by Lama Surya Das in his book, Buddha is as Buddha Does. I love the Lama.

Posted by vincent at November 3, 2007 12:00 AM

Comments

Love, love, love the witches!!! I am trying to remember to tune into my inner witch more often, so thanks for the reminder. And, your banjo playing ROCKS girlie!

Posted by: jayne at November 3, 2007 10:00 AM

You could have written this post just for me. I've been spun around by a tornado for a few weeks now and am just now finding my way back home. :)
Thanks for the banjo card. It was so funny!

Posted by: Sandra at November 3, 2007 12:15 PM

YOU GO GIRL!!!!

Who are your fellow witches??? Quite a gaggle I'd say!

Where ever you are NEVER give an inch of grass over to a monster...........................EVER.

Posted by: janet at November 3, 2007 01:55 PM

Woo hoo! Jayne thinks my banjo playin' rocks!! Smile on this witchy-poo face. Thanks!

Posted by: susan at November 3, 2007 02:02 PM

You Go Susan!!!

Posted by: jzrart at November 3, 2007 07:18 PM

Yeah...ditto...you go...I'm feeling the power, for sure!!

Posted by: Stephanie at November 5, 2007 11:51 AM

You Go Susan! It is good to get in touch with your inner witch and touch your inner darkness. Cool!

Posted by: Bob at November 5, 2007 03:45 PM

This is really resonating with me deeply. I think you touched on a very important principal in spirituality and enlightenment. When you can touch your own darkness and deep desires and unlived life and look into them without judgment, then you gain insight and understanding, then somehow a connection is made in one's own complete essense. One's own true power lies in the ability to bring balance to all the forces that act, be they pleasant or unpleasant; agreeable or unagreeable.

Posted by: Bob at November 7, 2007 05:19 PM

Well said, Bob. I think what you said about balance is true ~ without it, it's is very difficult to maintain healthy boundaries. Recognizing our interconnectedness, and the sacredness of all life leads us to honor and respect all beings, starting with oneself!

May we all live lives filled with integrity and authenticity, even in the face of Mara's illusory arrows flying towards us.

with metta,

S

Posted by: susan at November 7, 2007 06:19 PM

this was so spot-on for me right now

I've been reading, off and on, about the Wild Woman - Woman Who Run with Wolves and the Sisters Grimm series along with re-reading the original Brothers Grimm stories with some new understanding.

Trying to find the roots of my own Wild Woman!

Posted by: aola at November 12, 2007 03:21 PM

((((clapppping))))

oh, I have been away from you for TOO LONG!

Wonderful wonderful WONDER - FULL.
xo-S

Posted by: art tea life at November 12, 2007 10:09 PM

What fun photos! I really enjoyed this post and reading about your getting to know your inner witch of light, your wise and wild woman. Blessings from a witchy sister,

Posted by: Chantal at November 14, 2007 04:49 AM