This is the last line in one of my daily mantras. Being grateful for what I have instead of praying for what I don’t have is how I have lived for the last fifteen years. I don’t consider myself an atheist. I still believe there is a divine eminence, I just think in terms of a gender-neutral diety. I’ve become more spiritual instead of religious. I was a fairly faithful Episcopalian for about a quarter of a century. However, when I learned for thousands of years there was a female deity and that even the almighty God of the bible most likely had a wife, the dogma of religion totally and completely turned me off. I learned about and read many myths, legends, folktales of other cultures and realized what I had been taught was just one way of believing. So I turned to more indigenous, goddess forms of spirituality. My mantras come from a little book, Witch on the Go by Cal Garrison, I bought in 2006. I’ve revised or added to them to make them my own. Being grateful for the visible, tangible, constant aspects of life, I seemed to wake up to a new way of thinking, of believing. Every morning as I shower, bathe, or just wash my face I recite this little mantra, acknowledging life-giving water.

Water of spirit, water of life, thank you for removing all of the strive,

Out of my mind, out of my body, out of my heart

Every day is a brand new start!

It may sound silly, but as I feel the warm water on my body, or splash cold water on my face, I physically feel the stress or tension leave my body. I feel a lightness come over me and I truly am ready to meet the day.

As I said above, I live my life in gratefulness. Before I take a sip of my morning coffee, I recite another mantra to honor the four directions, the guardians, goddesses, and a divine eminence. I start by facing the east, where the sun rises, reciting the first line, and then taking my first sip of coffee then turn and repeat.

Thank you to the guardians and goddesses of the east.

Thank you to the guardians and goddesses of the south.

Thank you to the guardians and goddesses of the west.

Thank you to the guardians and goddesses of the north.

Earth mother, sky father and divine eminence.

I am receiving all good things,

my family is receiving all good things,

my friends are receiving all good things.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

These two mantras help me keep my life in perspective, positive, and hopeful, which in these times of COVID and political divide are much needed. Both of the mantras reflect my love of nature, the earth, the sun, and the moon; the visible, tangible constant aspects of life that have been worshipped, honored for thousands of years.

Remember, every day is brand new start.