Once Upon A Time: Make Your Own Good Luck

Once Upon A Time: Make Your Own Good Luck

Author: etain.butterfly

After watching two episodes of the new series Once Upon A Time I remembered the old nursery rhymes I used to read to my children when they were young.

There was Rumpelstiltskin a tiny little man who spun straw into gold for the miller’s daughter, but for a price. The first time he spun the straw into gold she gave him her necklace; the second time it was her ring and the third time she had nothing to give him. Rumpelstiltskin made her promise to give him her first child if she became Queen. The tale continues…the King was young and handsome and saw the miller’s daughter leaving the castle and fell in love with her. They soon married and she became pregnant. Rumpelstiltskin returned to collect on the promise of her first born child. The Queen cried so hard that Rumpelstiltskin had pity and gave her three days to find out his name and if she did she could keep her child. The Queen was determined to change her luck. She sent out messengers all over the land to find different names. One messenger returned with a rhyme he heard a strange little man singing:

Tonight I brew, tomorrow I bake,
And then the child away I’ll take.
For little knows the Royal Dame
That Rumpelstiltskin is my name.
[1]

The Queen was so delighted and immediately summoned Rumpelstiltskin to let him know she knew his name. “A witch has told you that – a witch has told you that!” shrieked the little man as he fled into the woods in a rage never to be seen again.

Beauty and the Beast is another fairy tale that taught us that beauty is only skin deep and that what is in you heart is most important. As Beauty got to know the Beast he appeared less ugly in her eyes. As the story goes, the Prince had a spell put on him by the magician because he was proud, thoughtless, vain and selfish. He was to remain that way until a beautiful girl consented to marry him of her own free will.

The Prince did not give up. He was determined to change his luck and break the spell. He succeeded and Beauty and the Prince got married and lived happily ever after.

These fairy tales always had an evil villain that made life almost unbearable and emphasized the determination of the recipient to figure out a way to beat the odds. Isn’t that what real life is all about? Well, maybe not the ‘evil villain casting spells’ part but the concept of triumph over adversity is the same. Life is filled with all kinds of plunges and how we choose to handle these obstacles is the key to survival.

As Witches, we have many tools that can help us on this journey we call life. However when things get really tough we sometimes forget to use them. One of my most beloved techniques is ‘grounding and centering’. It’s an easy ritual to use. You can take it anywhere and using this ‘tool’ can show results almost immediately.

In times of stress or anxiety, grounding is a way to release excess energy and allow you to calm down and think things through. At times when you need energy, grounding enables you to draw energy up from the Earth, offering a wellspring of power that can flow through you without exhausting your own resources.

Another tool that we as Witches have at our fingertips to help detangle life’s hard knocks is meditation. Just like grounding and centering, it’s simple and inexpensive and it doesn’t require any special equipment. You can practice meditation wherever you are. Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance. When you meditate, you clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress. The emotional benefits of meditation include: gaining a new perspective on stressful situation, building skills to manage your stress, increasing self-awareness, focusing on the present and reducing negative emotions.

By clearing away the informational overload, you reclaim the ability to think clearly, allowing you to formulate plans that will help you get through the tough times. It is all about survival. There can always be a new beginning.

The concepts behind “Once Upon A Time” gave me the inspiration to create this poem:

Fairy Tales (by Terry Moore / Etain.Butterfly ©)

Jack and the bean stalk, Cracker Jack box,
Life isn’t a fairy tale; it does have some hard knocks.

Mary had a little lamb and little Bo Peep,
Sometimes things plunge and sometimes things peek.

There is Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty and lots of happy endings,
So keep in mind when life gets tough there is always new beginnings.

Like hay diddle – diddle, the cat and the fiddle and the cow jumped over the moon,
Remember to keep a smile on your face, for your luck will change real soon.

For all things we cannot control, just remember those old rhymes,
Never give up, make your own good luck and create your own good times.

My Witchy philosophy is to use all the tools that are available to me to help me to create a life that sustains my mind, body, and spirit for a “happy ever after” in this lifetime. For real, life is not a bowl of cherries and I have experienced some really hard knocks. The key is that I did not give up. I got back up determined to create my own good luck. I did not rely on someone else to fix the bumps in my road of life – I used the tools I had within myself to resurface my own road.

Once I figured out that I have the ability to ‘act on’ instead of ‘react to’ those obstacles that everyday life throws my way, I learned it is easy to make my own good luck. I am a Witch and I am truly blessed. I am living the “happy ever after” in this lifetime.

Blessed Be.


Footnotes:
1. Rumpelstiltskin; Shirley Temple’s Storybook – Random House 1958

Your Horoscopes for Friday, October 21st

The Moon in expressive Leo reflects our need to let others know how we feel. Unfortunately, we could come on stronger than we realize because the Moon’s midday hook-up with pushy Mars prompts us to fire up our creative process with a high level of urgency. We want immediate results, yet the Sun’s smooth trine with dreamy Neptune can blur the boundaries between fact and fiction, challenging us to be imaginative without losing touch with reality.

 

Aries Horoscope
Aries Horoscope (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

The Moon-Mars conjunction heats up your 5th House of Fun and Games and encourages you to express your inner child. You’re eager to participate in enjoyable activities today, especially ones that allow you to display your emotional warmth to someone you love. Nevertheless, you may think that everything is perfect if you continue to avoid the truth. Your current state of grace won’t last forever, so face the facts while your creative powers are still strong.

 

Taurus Horoscope
Taurus Horoscope (Apr 20 – May 20)

Your idealistic attitude at work today can gain you extra points from your boss. Although others might hold you in high regard now, they may not be able to see the real you. Don’t add to the confusion by diffusing your message with too many words because the more you talk, the greater your chances of contradicting yourself. Instead, let your actions speak for you to make the best impression.

 

Gemini Horoscope
Gemini Horoscope (May 21 – Jun 20)

Although everything is busier today with the Moon and Mars joining in your 3rd House of Immediate Environment, you still may be able to float through the day without feeling much stress. Your daydreams are so real now that, like Cinderella, you can turn a pumpkin into a beautiful carriage in your mind. Very little can get in your way, but your sense of perspective may be a bit warped. Don’t be afraid of your fantasies; just remember that they can influence your objectivity.

 

Cancer Horoscope
Cancer Horoscope (June 21 – Jul 22)

You may actually believe that you have established equilibrium in your family life, but the hidden complexity can catch you off guard today. Your immediate reaction to an unexpected turn of events could be so intense that it’s more surprising than what actually happened. Think twice before allowing a rush of adrenaline to determine your future. Sit with any decisions you make now before acting on them in an impulsive burst of energy.

 

Leo Horoscope
Leo Horoscope (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

You might feel as if your life is taking off now that the Moon conjuncts impetuous Mars in your 1st House of Self. Thankfully, your physical energy level is high, enabling you to pick up the pace of your walk, put an extra bounce into your words and appear happier than before. Just be careful not to lose perspective because ignoring the facts can stir up resistance from others. You can maintain a positive attitude without going overboard.

 

Virgo Horoscope
Virgo Horoscope (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

You often like to work behind the scenes, and today’s Moon-Mars conjunction in your 12th House of Secrets can push you even deeper into your inner world. Your reaction to someone’s evasive behavior can be so strong that you don’t even know how to put it into words. But bottled up feelings can have negative consequences, so fight against your current tendency to withdraw emotionally and let others know what you’re experiencing as gently as possible.

 

Libra Horoscope
Libra Horoscope (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

Your fantasy life is more active than usual as the Sun in your artistic sign harmonizes with ethereal Neptune in your 5th House of Creativity. Although you can be productive if you put your mind to it, you’re more likely to pursue social activities today. Thankfully, relaxing with your friends can be very beneficial now, setting the stage for an efficient workday tomorrow when you can make up for lost time.

 

Scorpio Horoscope
Scorpio Horoscope (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

This can be a powerfully productive day as the Moon joins superhero Mars in your 10th House of Career. You are at the top of your professional game and have abundant energy to apply yourself toward your job. Nevertheless, you still need to convince yourself that it’s okay to work for your own success, rather than only doing as you’re told. Make your dreams come true instead of just giving in to other people’s expectations.

Sagittarius Horoscope
Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Getting together with a group of coworkers or kicking back with a few friends might be the best thing you can do for yourself today. You may have big career plans but pushing toward your goals is frustrating if you don’t make as much progress as you want. However, it’s not wise to let go of your dreams, even if they take additional time to manifest. Ironically, easing off on the gas pedal now could be the catalyst that refuels your forward movement.

Capricorn Horoscope
Capricorn Horoscope (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

You may be very unrealistic about your potential at work because today’s Sun-Neptune trine emboldens you to believe nearly anything now. Although you’re able to see far beyond the present moment, it’s challenging to separate your fantasies from what’s real. If you have specific goals, make certain that you’re giving yourself enough time to deliver on your current promises. You won’t be happy if you just daydream about your future without taking concrete action.

Aquarius Horoscope
Aquarius Horoscope (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

You may be involved with others in ways that pull you into new territory as the Moon joins forceful Mars in your 7th House of Companions. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to know how assertive you need to be in order to get the ball rolling. On the other hand, you might choose to withdraw if someone else acts too aggressively. Ultimately, following your intuition is the best strategy. Pay attention to your dreams; they won’t steer you wrong now.

Pisces Horoscope
Pisces Horoscope (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

You may try to keep your feelings to yourself today, but it’s so easy to get caught up in office politics or sucked into someone else’s melodrama. Your sensitivity is high, so you are more sympathetic to others than you realize. Nevertheless, it’s still possible to be compassionate without losing your perspective. One way to maintain balance is to concentrate on your work now so there’s not much energy left over for wandering into uncertain emotional territory.