Kestrel the Druid

Follow me on my druidic journey

recent posts

about

  • Exploring Shadow Work: Embracing Your Hidden Self

    Exploring Shadow Work: Embracing Your Hidden Self

    Today’s meditation brought another visit from a butterfly. This time it was a black swallowtail. Again, it symbolizes rebirth and transformation. Yet, since it is black in color, it also symbolizes shadow work and the shadow self. I was carrying a lot of frustration and anger today. So, this is probably a symbol of my darker emotions, and a need to better understand them. I have been thinking about doing this for a while. I guess this is my sign to dig in further.

    Shadow work is the practice of discovering and exploring all the parts of yourself that you have hidden. Often times, these aspects you have hidden even from yourself. I once heard someone say, “To find your shadow, think about a person you can’t stand to be around. Now list everything that you don’t like about that person. Those are the aspects of yourself that you dislike. So, you have pushed them down to the dark depths, hoping that no one will ever see it.” I have done this often. Especially with coworkers. Each time, I have found a part of me that I have tried to deny. I know that I have so much more shadow work to do. The question is, “Where to start?”.

  • Transformative Insights from a Monarch Butterfly Visit

    Transformative Insights from a Monarch Butterfly Visit

    Today I was visited by a Monarch butterfly. Butterflies are generally symbols of transformation and this is also true of the Monarch. I was also told that my world will be shaken and disrupted in the future. While this may seem scary at first, I am hopeful this will be a good disruption. Like the ability to leave my current employment, or an awakening of my soul and mind. Either way, I am curious to see what the future has in store for me.

  • How to Focus Your Mind: Tips for Meditation

    How to Focus Your Mind: Tips for Meditation

    I have 2 thoughts for today. The first is about racing thoughts and the second is about what we truly want.

    Have you ever tried to meditate only to find your mind running a marathon of thoughts and ideas. It’s racing so fast that you can’t’ keep up with it. You’re trying to think of love and peace. All of a sudden, your brain brings up an embarrassing moment from 10 years ago. Then, it flits to the cringey thing you said to a coworker this morning. After that, it’s off to a 2nd grade presentation you messed up. How do you meditate if your mind won’t calm down. I have a couple suggestions. First, don’t try to stop the thoughts, pay attention to them and make note of them. These thoughts that pop up when you are trying to be empty of thought are your subconscious screaming for attention. Even if you have no clue what it’s trying to say, just pay attention to where your mind wanders. It will give you direction on what part of you needs the most work. Start a journal of these thoughts. After some time, you may notice a pattern. Do they all somehow involve perceived financial indiscretions? Maybe the center around times you felt extreme embarrassment or shame? These will be traumas you have not yet healed from. And still need to work on. Ask your higher power for help to heal and move past.

    The second step to help slow a racing mind is to focus on the now. Pay attention to your surroundings. Study the plant in front of you in detail. Analyze a bug walking across the ground. Take inventory of every inch of your body. Focus on things directly in front of you. This can help to slow and stop those racing thoughts. Also start small. Set a timer for 1 minute. Work on being able to go distraction free for that amount of time. Then slowly increase it.

    My second thought of the day is about knowing what we truly want. I have been getting signs. The reason I’m not where I want to be is that I don’t know where I want to be. So, I dug deep and analyzed what I truly want and came up with very specific desires. I want to be able to retire. That will take a passive income of $5000/month and have all my debts paid off. I don’t know exactly how I will achieve that. But having spoken that desire out loud and knowing that I am worthy of it, I know it will happen.

  • Exploring Astral Realms: Tips for Lucid Dreaming Beginners

    Exploring Astral Realms: Tips for Lucid Dreaming Beginners

    Today I was given a direction. I am to start learning and attempting to travel the astral realm. This will help me to work with the magic when it comes. I was told that dreaming is a form of astral travel and that is where I will begin.

    I believe the first step is to learn and practice lucid dreaming. First, I need to control and remember my dreams every day. Then I will have a better understanding of my astral self. I am not certain where to begin. But I do have a few resources I can look into. Have any of you practiced lucid dreaming? If you have any advice or suggestions, leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

  • Balancing Science and Spirituality in Everyday Life

    Balancing Science and Spirituality in Everyday Life

    “The Magic is coming!” No, it is not some GOT reference. This was the message in today’s meditation. I was told that I would be coming into my magic soon. It would be like a tidal wave. I was warned not to get overwhelmed and to take it in with moderation. It will be easy for me to get hurt when the floodgates open. I can drown in the power and lose myself. So, I will need to practice with caution and intention. I was also told that I need to continue to walk in both worlds. These are the scientific world and the spiritual world. When I asked, “How long?”, the answer was “Forever”. That I would always need to be aware of people in the physical world and their need for science. And because I was in that world for so long, I can understand them. I would love to hear your thoughts on how to achieve this balance. Leave a comment and start a conversation.

    It has become so much easier to connect with spiritual beings and messages since I started doing daily meditations. Today, after my preparations and initiation, it took mere seconds for my spirit guide to reach out to me. In the past it would take several minutes. Or maybe they always reached out in seconds, but it took me several minutes to be able to hear them. The point is that like everything, it takes practice. Do not get discouraged if in the beginning you are not feeling your progress. It will come, and when it does, it will be phenomenal!

    May you have Peace in your heart, Love in your life and abundance overflowing!

  • Meditation Magic: Feeling Love and Support from Beings of Light

    Meditation Magic: Feeling Love and Support from Beings of Light

    Today’s meditation was a much happier one. It was all about love. My mind was able to stay calm and free from most distractions. And I could feel many beings of light around me, encouraging me. I kept feeling love. The phrase “I love you and I am loved” kept repeating itself in my head. I have never felt so good, peaceful and content. I felt a goddess (not sure which one), faeries and gnomes gathered in the space where I was meditating. I could feel their support and encouragement. I felt the worries of the day melt away.

    Have you ever had a similar experience? Leave a comment and share your experience.

  • Today’s meditation

    Today’s meditation

    Today’s meditation took a very dark turn. The subject was of death. I was asked why I was afraid to die. My response was that I was not ready to die yet. I felt that I had not prepared my soul correctly for death at this time. I am working on preparing my soul. I was told that I had many years before I would cross over. And that until then, I would grow and evolve continuously. I will have many ascensions or leveling up. And that by the time I was ready, my soul would be prepared.

    I feel like I’m on the edge of something big about to happen. I worry that this may be a bad or tragic event. I am also hopeful and excited that the coming days will bring good things. Things like growth, development, abundance and eventually peace and calm.

  • Signs From Nature: The Hawk Feather and Dream Insights

    Signs From Nature: The Hawk Feather and Dream Insights

    It has been an exciting weekend! First, I found a hawk feather during a walk on Saturday. Not 100% sure, but I believe it is a red-tail hawk feather. It was sticking straight up as if it was purposely planted for me to find. Or as if it simply grew out of the ground itself. Hawks are often messengers or symbols of a message that will soon be coming to you. They can also be a sign that you are finding your true life’s purpose. Everything I have read about them says they are good omens if they have somehow entered your life. I hope this is a sign that I have finally stopped wandering aimlessly and am now on my correct path.

    Last night was interesting for my dreams. I dreamt of storms and bad weather coming. The meanings of this are endless. Everything from upcoming challenges to unexpected luck. It could be a sign of cleansing or a sign of destruction. Like I said, endless. The main takeaway from my dream was that I was working to protect three animals, 1 cat and 2 dogs. I was also not panicked but concerned. My biggest take away came from the end of the dream. I remember that we were expecting very destructive weather. Still, by the end of the dream, the storm had passed. And nothing was damaged. I took this to mean that something scary will be happening in my life soon. But don’t worry, be calm. Everything will be fine in the end.

  • What Dreaming of Ducks and Chickens Means

    What Dreaming of Ducks and Chickens Means

    I dreamt of chickens and ducks last night. I was in my childhood home’s basement. We had chickens and ducks. We were trying to figure out which were the chickens, and which were the ducks. They both symbolize good things to come. It was very interesting because we were surprised that we had ducks in the mix. Also, the birds kept multiplying. Could that mean that good things in my life will increase soon. Things like relationships improving, a good crop this year. The possibilities are endless. And I look ahead to whatever the universe has in store for me.

  • Beginner’s Guide to Meditation: Tips and Techniques

    Beginner’s Guide to Meditation: Tips and Techniques

    What is meditation? Meditation can be anything that calms, relaxes, or de-stresses. I have a quiet spot where I go sit and try to empty my mind of thoughts. This is easier said than done. I often find my mind wandering and drifting. Like I’ve said before, it takes practice. However, there are many ways in which to meditate. And what works for me, may not work for you.

    If you’ve never meditated before, a good place to start is with guided meditations. There are several apps out there that I’ve had good results using. Medito and Serenity are two that are free to use. Insight Timer is another one that I enjoyed using. There’s also Headspace. Youtube has many good channels that can also provide guidance. I say try many and see if you like one or more.

    Probably the most difficult part of meditating is getting out of my head. I keep finding myself having a dialogue with myself. I’ve been counteracting that with my mantra “Slow the breath, quiet the mind, relax into peace”. It helps to keep me focused and prevent daydreaming. Guided meditations can help with this also, by giving you something to focus on. Some people use a focal object like a flower or crystal to hold their attention.

    What have you tried? Was it successful or was it a failure. (Failure are not bad, simply learning tools). Leave a comment to tell me what focus tools you’ve tried and how they worked.