“Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you very far.” – Jodi Picoult
Given the times in which we live, anxiety is something that we are all too familiar with under the threatening conditions of racial capitalism. And anxiety SUCKS. It’s chronic tension, constantly on the edge of panic, your thoughts a blur of worry. In my most anxious moments, all I want is a moment of peace, to breathe deeply and just be. I want my rocking chair to stop rocking so I feel the solid ground beneath me. It is in that moment I reach for my serenity charm.
Anxiety communicates to us that our nervous system is experiencing overwhelm which can bring us into dissociated states and feelings of disconnection. These are the moments when we need to resource ourselves with practices and rituals that bring us back onto solid ground and feelings of inner calm.
It’s important to remember that your body is wise and that your feelings are providing you with important information arising from your environment. Under the exploitation and repression of racial capitalism our bodies are not safe and chronic anxiety is one indication of this.
Learning to self-soothe by coming back into settled connection when you are anxious is an important practice in your self-love healing journey. The ingredients and earth medicines that make up the contents of this Serenity Charm have been intentionally selected because of their calming properties.
This is not a replacement for anxiety medication. This is not an invitation to stop any practices you utilize for your anxiety. If a prescription is working for you or meditation is your jam, keep doing the things that help you steer your boat to calmer seas. Check out our Guided Meditation for Emotional Regulation.
The serenity charm is a way of keeping Mother Nature's calm with me, a talisman to remind me there's peace at the end of this anxious moment. It is a prayer to Earth, a prayer of grounding and tranquility held together by herbs and stones.
What You’ll Need
Incense Stick (Rosemary or Sage)
Lighter or Matches - get at your local grocery store
Salt - get at your local grocery store
Bay Leaf - get at your local grocery store
Amethyst
Rose Quartz
Candle (white or green) - get from any local shop or make your own!
Eggshell Powder (optional) - keep your egg shells, dry them under the sun, grind & store them.
Wax melts (optional)
We encourage you to grow your own plant medicines and purchase as much as possible from your local area. Here are a list of a few metaphysical shops in the Piedmont area of NC if you happen to be here:
House of Spiritual Roots, Greensboro NC
MagikCraft Durham, NC
Magik On 70 Hillsborough, NC
Eclectic By Nature Greensboro, NC
Asheville Pagan Supply Store Asheville, NC
In all that you do, we encourage mindfulness especially when it comes to our consumerism habits. We refrain from using Amazon as much as possible, so if you're ordering online try ordering from local, family owned stores. We also encourage you to research and support shops that may owned by BIPOC and queer folks. When shopping for crystals, aim for folks who sell ethically sourced gemstones such as Moonrise Crystals. If you can't find what you're looking for, don't worry about it! What matters more is the intention, letting your own intuition guide you, and staying aligned to your values.
Setting the space
I start by casting a circle to focus and contain my energy. I happened to be inside when I created this charm, as my first attempt outdoors was quickly blown away by particularly mischievous winds. Being inside, I spread a cloth on the table, and I cast my circle upon it. This helps establish a physical altar… and it's a big help in the clean-up (let's face it, this eco friendly witch makes a mess).
I choose to cast my circle with eggshell powder. Eggshells have an inherent protection in them, and if you're creating outside, they're not quite as harsh on soil as salt. Check out our post to make your own eggshell powder.
I set all my ingredients up, and I cast the eggshell circle around them. Once the circle is complete, sit within a while, holding your intention. Visualize calming scenes. Imagine a calm ocean, a placid lake, a gentle flowing river. Imagine sitting in a quiet cool forest, breathing with the trees. I go to nature for all of my varied emotions and states. You can choose your own calm as you sit with your circle.
When I feel ready, I light a candle.
Preparing the charm
I begin by cleansing the bottle or jar with the incense.
In my mind, this is clearing out all other intentions and energy, leaving space for only what I put into the bottle.
I add the herbs one layer at a time, ending with a layer of stone chips. Make sure to use completely dried herbs. Any moisture would cause the jar or bottle to mildew, spoiling the charm.
As I add each layer, I speak aloud the intention of the inclusion. There’s power in speaking a thing aloud, there’s power in calling in the energy of the herb or stone.
Adding Ingredients
My first layer is always salt, both for protection and dispelling negative energy. I chose pink himalyan salt for the added dose of self-love. When do we need to be more gentle and loving with ourselves than in a moment of anxiety and stress?
I add lavender for calm and peace.
I add chamomile for calm and purity. There’s nothing more murky than anxiety.
I add ground sage for wisdom and protection.
I break up a bay leaf and add it for healing, strength, and warding off negativity.
I add some amethyst for its natural tranquilizing ability and to help transmute the anxious energy into the warm and fuzzy feeling of peace.
I end with a layer of rose quartz pieces. Rose quartz is the stone of unconditional love and infinite peace.
Sealing the charm
I end by sealing the bottle with wax. I use wax melts because I have them on hand. I’m an old-fashioned gal who sends snail mail letters closed with a wax seal. You can use a candle just as easily!
I choose green wax because it corresponds to the heart chakra, and it’s usually my heart that needs calming. I melt the wax in a metal spoon over the candle fire and pour it carefully around the cork to seal the charm, speaking aloud again my prayer for serenity.
Let the wax dry for a few minutes in your circle, marinating in all the intention you infused into the charm.
Serenity Charm Self-Soothing Practice
Here's a simple self-soothing practice to do with your Serenity Charm when you are feeling anxious and unsettled:
Find a quiet place where you can be alone for a few minutes
Find a comfortable position sitting or lying down
Hold your serenity charm over an area of your body where you feel the anxiety
Hum 5 times in a long and slow manner
Speak aloud any of the following intentions:
As I relax and slow my breathing, anxiety flows out
With each exhale, I release tension
I trust myself, I trust my body, I trust this moment.
I’m strong. I’m ready for change.
I am connected to all that is, I am comfortable and at ease.
Everything is working out for my highest good. Out of this situation only good will come. I am safe!
Conclusion
We are living in uncertain and chaotic times as we sense and bear witness to the crumbling of Empire. Life under capitalism is traumatic, and even more so for people who hold marginalized identities. As much as some people would like to think otherwise, the system isn't designed for our thriving. It is designed to keep the vast majority of people disempowered, in fear and locked into cycles of harm and survival which puts immense pressure on our nervous systems, causing chronic dysregulation and dis-ease. This manifests in myriad ways such as numbness, depression, exhaustion, and anxiousness, to name just a few.
As part of our collective healing journey, we each have to take our power back in order to create the kind of culture we long to see in the world. We must start in small ways, beginning with ourselves by learning to listen to the cues/messages our body is sending to us. Feeling anxious is one such cue that you can begin paying attention to as an indicator of what you need: slowing down, coming back into presence, and finding solid ground for inner calm to arise. Finding practices or rituals that alleviate your anxiety become your daily anchors that you can return to over and over again.
We hope that incorporating the Serenity Charm into your daily routine can offer one such pathway to settled connection with self. Keep this charm in your pocket on full days. Tie some string around it and hang it in your car if you’re on the road a lot. Place it on your own altar in your home and come back to it in the moments you need it.
If you liked this blog post, we'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment below. Wishing you peace <3
Love your eco-friendly witch,
Lily
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