| "How do I stay present to the here and now during the | | | | Putting a Little More Magic Into the Ritual |
| day?" | | | | When I suggested this simple solution to my client, she |
| This is the question a client recently asked me. She | | | | found it interesting but she wanted a ritual with a little |
| asked because she works a high-pressure job yet is a | | | | more pizazz to it, a little more magic. I understand that. I |
| trained magical practitioner, and she has trouble bringing | | | | asked her is she had a specific spiritual guide or angel |
| the two worlds together. She has difficulty bringing the | | | | to whom she felt a specific attachment. She favored |
| quiet of her morning meditation and magic rituals into | | | | the angel Gabriel, so I suggested she create a ritual |
| the high-stress environs of her work. | | | | that included him. |
| Walking both the magical and mundane paths at the | | | | She found a charming but subtle pendant representing |
| same time is a difficulty many magical practitioners | | | | the angel Gabriel, and she wears it on a necklace. |
| have. It can seem impossible to keep one foot in each | | | | When her pager buzzes her, instead of snapping a |
| world. | | | | rubber band around her wrist, she reaches up and |
| A Simple Magical Solution to Stay Present | | | | fingers the pendant, a gesture which looks natural and |
| One of the simplest solutions to this problem combines | | | | doesn't seem out of place, even in a boardroom. Lots |
| modern technology with an everyday object. All you | | | | of people fidget or have nervous habits, and when she |
| need is a cell phone or pager and a rubber band. Set | | | | reaches up to hold her pendant, it looks just like any |
| your cell phone or pager to buzz you at preset times | | | | other subconscious fidget. The ritual has worked, |
| during the day, perhaps every couple of hours, and | | | | literally "like a charm," and brings her back to the here |
| wear the rubber band around your wrist. When your | | | | and now several times a day. She reports feeling |
| alarm goes off, simply snap the rubber band around | | | | more relaxed and at ease during the work day, and |
| your wrist. | | | | less tired at the end of the day. |
| As silly as this seems, it works to bring your attention | | | | What "Rubber Band" Works for You? |
| back to the "here and now." This is because physical | | | | If you're a "down to basics" kind of person, using a |
| sensation always exists in the present, never the past | | | | rubber band will probably work really well for you. On |
| or future. The rubber band snapping against your wrist | | | | the other, if you want something a little more special, a |
| gives you a physical sensation, and to experience that | | | | little more magical, consider choosing an animal totem |
| sensation you have to come back to present time. | | | | or angel symbol to bring you back to the present. |