I know a lot of my Pagan friends struggle with some form of chronic illness, I do too. So I wanted to bring it up to see how you make it work despite it all. As for me, I have long periods of no practice at all, because my regular life things use up all my energy. I’d really like to get back to a more regularity and practising more often. But it seems like every time I try, another bad period comes along. I really need some good ideas on how to get it done.
I do try to do the three major blots each year, but I’d also like to do something every full moon, and some form of magic every week at least. The longer I go without doing anything like this, the edgier I get.
How often do you do rituals and/or magic?
For those of you who haven’t read my blog before, I’ve had chronic pain for the last 20 years or so. Here’s a short summary:
- Back surgery for a herniated disk twice in three years
- Chronic neck and back pain, muscle pain and subluxations
- Arthroscopic surgery on both knees
- Osteoarthritis grade III-IV (to the bone) in both knees
- Hypermobility affecting almost every joint
- Chronic joint pain in fingers wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, and toes which hasn’t been diagnosed
It’s gotten worse for every year, and I’m now on sick-leave. I’ll probably be filing for disability soon.
How do you manage to keep up a magical practice despite your illness(es)? Fill out the comment form below, hit “Post Comment” and let me know.
This post is part of the Pagan Blog Project, created by Rowan Pendragon.
I try to keep things simple – I have 2 kids under the age of 5, both with substantial medical issues, along with chronic illnesses of my own. I do a lot more prayers rather than full-on ritual, I shorten the rituals I do, and so on.
I hope your kids and you aren’t in too much pain (physical or otherwise). I don’t pray, so I need something to relieve the need for magic and the divine dialoguge in my life. I also shorten things but I’ve shortened most of it too much, so it’s nearly nothing. I think I need to schedule it, so I make time, and make sure to reserve energy for it.
The way I cope with my disability is to take one day at a time. If I’m up to doing magical stuff then I do it, if not then I don’t. I don’t beat myself up anymore if I can’t manage stuff, the deities understand, as do the Spirits. I kind of work on a day to day basis now. If I cannot manage to ‘do’ something then I read something spiritual, or one of my pagan books. My advice is to pace yourself and try and live mindfully.
Blessings
Deep~Glade
I’ve done that and when I don’t prioritize it, my spirituality gets pushed to the bottom of the very long list of things I need to do. I don’t have much help at home, and it gets pretty intense sometimes.
I can’t relate to the constant pain but I do suffer from depression and low energy. How can I work magic if I can’t even find the energy to get up in the morning? I have an altar space that I can sit at. That’s what I do, just sit. No rituals, no casting circles, just me talking or crying to the Goddess, sometimes silently. Other times I read pagan books. I keep track of the moon cycle. When I have the energy, I do ritual. It may not coincide with any event and I’m sure the Goddess doesn’t mind.
Sorry to hear that. I’m glad I don’t have any signs of depression. The fatigue is connected to the joint issues. I hope your normal energy level gets raised soon.
I’m so sorry Linda. I had no idea you had all this pain. I’m assuming if you’ll be filing for disability, there is no cure per say? Nothing the doctors can do to fix it or help eleviate the pain? I don’t deal with a constant pain or illness that keeps me from my practice so I can’t offer any words of wisdom but I do have a pit bull that is really not digging my candles and incense burning, especially when he can’t be in there with me. 🙂 Sorry honey. Sending you blessings and hope you can find some relief. ~hugs~
Thanks 🙂 I have good painkillers now, which I didn’t have for about 16 years, but I can’t use too much. My digestion doesn’t like them.
Since it’s probably damage and inflammation caused by the hypermobility (no diagnosis yet), there’s really nothing they can do that hasn’t already been tried. Shoulder surgery on both shoulders is probably in the near future, but there’s no guarantee that it’ll fix them. I’ve been talking to my doc about getting in at the pain clinic, since they know a lot more about combined problems than others.
Thank you for writing about this! I, too, have some chronic conditions that are often overlooked because i am able to dance, etc. It’s good to see this aspect of our magickal lives acknowledged.
I’m glad you liked it. It doesn’t show on me either. So people easily assume I don’t have any health issues. Have you heard of Spoonies? It’s for all of us who have to measure our energy in small portions to get through the day: http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com
There’s also Chronic Babe: http://www.chronicbabe.com/
I hope you’re as well as can be.