Letter 8: November Newsletter Bear Spirit Animal, Dreams, Adrenal Glands, & Protection Rituals

“There are no accidents.”  - Master Oogway

Happy November to you all!

Thank you for joining me again as we continue to explore the most transformative season of the year. In this week’s edition, I invite you to take a deeper look at your journey to connect to your inner self. As we discuss the magical correspondences of November and the late autumn, you will realize the need for protection during this season where the veil is thin is as important as ever. You will learn tips and tricks for developing your own practice of protection rituals for any time of year and any situation. During these long nights of November, we will also talk about the dream world and how to utilize messages from your subconscious. As we journey through the transition from autumn to winter, it's vital to nurture both the physical and spiritual aspects of our being. We will delve deeper into understanding the role of the adrenal glands in managing our response to stress and talk about holistic approaches to preserving harmony within yourself during this journey! 

During November and the late autumn months, as we begin to prepare for the dark season after daylight saving time ends, there are many themes to explore. Themes of hibernation, looking within, and the shadow aspect of our daily lives. We have talked about the symbolism of the shadow during these months and how it has been the perfect season for shadow work, releasing old energies from the year, cleansing, and looking deep within for the reason why we started shadow work in the first place. But, for November, I wanted to talk more about something that represents November the most to me. The Bear spirit animal.

We are cozying down for a long winter, celebrations ended, rituals completed, the days are officially shorter, and it’s not looking to warm up any time soon. We have gathered all of our resources and taken into account everything that we want to take with us into the next chapter of our lives and have buried or left behind everything we don’t. The symbolism of the Bear spirit animal is this, protection, introspection, healing, courage, the dream world, the cycles of life, solitude, and independence. It shows us the importance of settling down, and taking the time to rest and reset. It speaks to us through our subconscious of ways we can heal, through the cycles of life, like those we have talked about in previous letters. Just like a hibernating bear during the winter, through rest and rebirth we can become our best selves and find the courage to depend on ourselves more and trust ourselves to heal from within. Call upon the wisdom of the Bear spirit animal when you are in need of trusting yourself and your own independence, and when you need protection or wisdom about ending or beginning a new cycle.

We are all entering a hibernation period this winter, and I wanted to speak more about the hidden subconscious world of dreams. It is my favorite teaching and belief that there are no accidents or coincidences. I am the wrong person to talk to, if you want someone to tell you that your dreams are a mix of everything you see or think about throughout the day. As an amateur dream interpreter, I am a huge advocate for the spiritual opinion that your subconscious mind speaks to you through your dreams. Many cultures have different theories about where dreams come from and why we have them. I love to think that dreams are just what is leftover connection to infinite wisdom that we used to have before entering our world we live in now. To easily interpret your own dreams, I recommend getting in touch with correspondences. If you know that butterflies are the universal symbol for rebirth and transition, and that an egg symbolizes fertility, birth, new ideas, and security, then you automatically know that your dream of a butterfly hatching from an egg means that you are changing or giving birth to a new idea or a new sense of being. 

You will already know what your dream means when you wake up depending on what you are going through or are asking about in your awake life. If you have random dreams that you can’t seem to remember, then before you fall asleep simply ask your higher self, guides or ancestors to help answer your question in your dreams. If you have trouble remembering your dreams then a good practice is to keep a dream journal by your bedside so that when you wake up you can write everything you do remember. This way, your subconscious becomes more conscious and helps you to have better recall upon waking up. Take each interpretation with a grain of salt though, subconscious minds aren’t a one size fits all. Most dreams will mean something completely different for one person than another depending on their life and their situation. Use your intuition to really decode what it might be trying to tell you. Dreams can be very revealing and a powerful way of getting in touch with your higher self. 

The book I use for interpreting dreams is Llewellyn’s Complete Dictionary of Dreams

https://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738741468

Our dreamscapes often mirror our waking emotions, and the feelings they evoke can resonate deeply within us. Interestingly, these feelings and emotions have a significant connection to our physiological state, including the intricate workings of our adrenal glands. Let's now transition from the enigmatic realm of dreams to explore the remarkable role played by the adrenal glands in shaping our emotional responses and overall well-being.

The adrenal glands are two small glands positioned on top of each kidney, and play a vital role in the endocrine system. They are responsible for releasing hormones like cortisol that regulate our stress levels, metabolism, and adrenaline. These glands are also responsible for the fight or flight response we feel during times of high stress situations or anxiety. Their proper functioning is vital to our whole being feeling balanced. When these glands are over stressed or in fatigue you may notice easily because your energy levels are lower, you have fight or flight response to everyday stress, and can generally feel it in your overall mental health.

It is important to keep your stress response cycle locked in because when stress and anxiety affect you daily and you don’t have a healthy way of releasing it or keeping it to a comfortable level, then your adrenal glands are the part of you that are taking the hits. The adrenal glands beautifully flow with the message of the Bear spirit. The following emotions are connected to the adrenal glands based on “feelings buried alive never die” by Karol K Truman.

Adrenal Glands

• Feeling defeated

• Feeling like a victim

• No belief in self

• Lack of courage

• Feelings of anxiety

• Subconscious belief that life must have burdens

• Being disloyal to yourself

• Unresolved fears

• Feels that life must be a struggle for success

If you are struggling with adrenal fatigue or any of these emotions resonate, then it may be that you are experiencing disharmony within the body and it is in need of some self care and attention. These “symptoms” are a great first step to diving deeper to the why of shadow work. Ask yourself things like “When did I start feeling a lack of self belief?” “In what situations do I feel like a victim the most?” “What other emotions do I feel at the same time as feeling defeated?” These questions might help you find the core issues. But, also take these with a grain of salt because remember it isn’t a one size fits all! Everyone is on a different step on their journey. Remember to call on your Bear spirit when you need extra courage, or need to trust yourself. If you are unsure of the right questions to ask or the reason you feel these things, then ask to be shown the reason in a dream. See what comes up!

As our discussion of the adrenal glands highlights the importance of maintaining balance and well-being, it's worth noting that the body's ability to respond to stress and protect itself is closely intertwined with our physical and emotional health. Just as the adrenal glands help us cope with life's challenges, so too can we explore the realms of protection, not only on a physiological level but also in the spiritual and emotional aspects of our lives. Protection rituals hold a special significance in various cultures and belief systems, emphasizing the need to safeguard one's well-being, both physically and spiritually. These rituals provide a sense of security, helping individuals navigate the uncertainties of life. They serve as a shield against negative energies, harmful influences, and emotional stress, fostering inner peace and resilience. In a world filled with challenges, protection rituals offer a powerful means to establish boundaries, fortify the spirit, and maintain a harmonious, balanced existence. This ensures that we can face life's adversities with strength and confidence. I want to share with you a short protection ritual you can add to your witchy home practice.

You will need:

• A white or black candle

• A small bowl of water

• Any protective crystals (Obsidian, tourmaline, or amethyst work great!)

• A peaceful space to practice

Steps:

• Find a space indoors or outdoors, whichever is preferred

• Carve into the candle, names of those you wish to protect, or just the protective rune Algiz ᛉ 

• Take a few deep breaths or feel free to meditate as the candle burns

• Dip your fingers in the bowl of water and sprinkle around your space, this represents cleansing and purification

• Take the protective crystal(s) in your hand and visualize a white light encompassing whatever it is you are wishing to protect

• Take a pinch of salt with your dominant hand and sprinkle it around the space and repeat the following “By the power of the earth and sea, protection surrounds and shields me(or whoever's name)”

• Then quietly repeat to yourself “I am safe, I am protected, I am secure, negative influences are kept at bay.” (you may replace I with any persons name)

• When you are ready extinguish the flame to mark the end of the ritual

• Place the crystal in your space where you will see it and be reminded that you are protected, or give it to the person you are wishing to protect.

The effectiveness of any ritual or spell depends solely on your intentions and beliefs. You can adjust the ritual to be more elaborate or more simple depending on your needs and resources.

Thanks so much for joining in this week! I hope the information finds you well and you are able to utilize it to your best intentions.