Clear Communication Talisman
I have a difficult conversation coming this week. Two of them, actually. I will need to be more receptive, emotionally responsive, and—hardest of all—more tactful than I usually am. One of the conversations is likely to lose me a friend no matter how carefully I handle the situation, but it can’t be helped. If you have ever been in a situation like this you understand the anxiety and dread that is weighing me down as I try to prepare, mentally and emotionally, for both conversations. Yeah, it’s a lot. Here’s what I’m doing to help my mind and body cope.
Taking my supplements. I have two prescribed mood elevating supplements that I take daily, and a stress relieving supplement that I take as needed. It’s the “as needed” one that I usually forget to take when I do need it, so I’ve been making a point of not forgetting this time.
Drinking water. Don’t underestimate how much better you feel when your body is hydrated. Seriously, it helps.
Getting plenty of sleep. Also not to be underestimated: any difficult situation feels more manageable when I’m well rested. Inversely, if I am short on sleep, anything out of the ordinary feels like too much.
Drinking calming teas. I love coffee, but it makes me jittery if I’m already anxious. This afternoon when I needed an energy boost I made black tea with lavender. Chamomile, lavender, mugwort, mint, St. John’s wort and catnip are all wonderfully calming teas. Right now I’m drinking a tulsi and rose tea that claims to be “stress-relieving and magical.” They aren’t exaggerating.
Reminding myself that I am doing the right thing, that I am responsible only for my words and actions and am not responsible for how they are received. Period. This one is gonna take a while to sink in.
Getting support by talking to people I trust and who aren’t involved in order to work through what I want to say and how. This has been the most helpful by far.
Making myself a “successful communication” talisman.
Cait Johnson and Maura D. Shaw, authors of Celebrating the Great Mother: A Handbook of Earth-Honoring Activities for Parents and Children, define a talisman as: “A collection of objects put together with a specific purpose and conscious intention1.” They note that single objects can work as a talisman, but that “the act of combining is a powerful one.” The words talisman and amulet are often used interchangeably, even though they don’t function in exactly the same way. The difference between an amulet and a talisman is generally understood to be magnetic in nature; that is, amulets ward off that which is unwanted, while talismans attract that which is wanted. Most books on practicing magic contain at least one list of the magical properties of various herbs, trees, animals, colors, crystals, etc.; and a quick internet search is the easiest way to find out the properties of a specific object. The most important guide to creating the right talisman, however, is your own intuition. If an object feels right to include, do so; regardless of it’s commonly understood spiritual significance. If an object does not feel right, don’t include it; no matter how appropriate it might be according to the lists compiled by other people. Creating a talisman that is right for you, or for someone you know, is a deeply personal act and requires a good bit of self-knowledge and self-trust. It is also deeply rewarding.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to CrossWitch to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.