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Oops chaos happens, time to ground, center and shield

Oops chaos happens, time to ground, center and shield

Last updated on: December 3, 2025 at 2:54 pm by Ann Trip

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Oops chaos happens, time to ground, center and shield 2025-12-03T14:54:25+00:00 Ann Trip

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Large bubble that reflects a streetscape in Ljubljana, Slovenia. PHOTO BY PL BECHLY

Well, now that it’s Dec. 2 I realized late yesterday that I did not write my blog for November. Now I could fret and according to my elder, the Rev. Foxxy (Sher) Pullen I did. However, I am taking a deep breath, ground and center myself and writing an early December story. Hopefully, you’ll all be treated to another from me in a few weeks.

So, anyway, back to this fubar, I am not perfect. Our deities don’t expect perfection. They only expect us to do our best. And well, this is my best at this moment. I have a good reason, although some may see it as an excuse. I have been taking care of my mother, on top of that most of the housework. And let’s add two part time jobs, which I really love and am extremely grateful for into the mix. Oh and let’s not forget the non-Pagan holiday of Thanksgiving.

Zorbing in South Park PHOTO BY NATASHA CERIDWEN DE CHROUSTCHOFF

One thing to do is to not forget to take care of yourself. This is very important, not just for Pagans, but for anyone. Grounding and centering are two excellent ways to do this. They work perfectly together, one cannot center without grounding first. Even my therapist agrees and suggested I do some meditation and visualization work, which can be both grounding and centering.

Foxxy and her late husband, Herm taught us this in Three Fires Grove, a Druidic Learning Community, a virtual classroom. A lesson that we all could use or a refresher for those of us who already learned this.

There is no need to wonder why I host a grounding and centering workshop this time of the year. I even need the reminder to stop and ground and center myself. It is the core to every Sacred Wheel CUUPs healing circle at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, NJ.

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Water II PHOTO BY TOM RAFTERY

There are many ways to achieve this as I have said in previous blogs. One quick way is running your hands under water. This washes all the negatives away. Another way is to picture yourself as a tree, take in positive energy and release negative energy to Mother Earth. She can handle it and knows how to safely disperse it.

As I’ve also said before in another blog, until you are grounded, you aren’t centered. To be centered, you need to ground yourself. There are other ways to get there, including going to the beach and listening to peaceful music. You need to figure out what works best for you. Maybe you are a person who needs to meditate every time. Something should help keep you grounded and centered though.

This will help you get through the holidays. It should help you with the crowds in the stores, if you still shop that way. Additionally, it will help you deal with family members that you’d rather not associate with but are in their company.

Another aspect is shielding and warding. These two are just as important and especially useful right now. After you figure out how to successfully ground and center, this next part is essential. Ward your wallet, your house, anything valuable that doesn’t move, not your car as it has wheels. Instead shield your car. Shield yourself from negative energy trying to invade your space.

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Traffic Jam PHOTO BY LYNAC

The very first time that I knew I shielded correctly was when my parents and I were driving home. See we were on the highway driving home from my grandparents house down the shore on well, Thanksgiving. I was feeling nervous because traffic was so heavy and there were buses that were basically on top of us. I began to ground and center and I was thinking about shielding.

Well, I shielded so well that traffic was gone, in fact so were any of the cars too anywhere. We were all alone. There were no cars in sight for the size of a football field surrounding my car. Yep, that’s right both sides of the highway were clear. However, if you looked back and probably ahead, you could still see the congestion that we were in.

So if done correctly, shielding works. Now I don’t suggest creating a shield that large, but around yourself and those around you sure. It is strongly advised to ask permission before doing any spell work on others. This sort of falls in that line, although sometimes you cannot avoid shielding others. It’s a grey line here. Up to you, if you feel better by asking, then ask.

These next few months are going to be chaotic. I suggest learning all these techniques. Trust me, you’ll need it and you will be much better off. Oh and by the way, happy holidays!

and The keys to finish any task — Grounding & Centering

Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair

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