Introducting My Latest Book: "Meditations To Soothe The Soul"

Those of you who follow me on Instagram will know that I recently decided to make the switch to self-publishing, rather than relying on a publishing house. I have nothing against publishing houses, and I definitely wouldn't have had a lot of the opportunities I have if it wasn't for them! However, the self-publishing process suits my specific needs better, and so that is where my focus will lie for the next couple of books at least. So, without further ado, let me introduce my first foray into the self-publishing world; Meditations To Soothe The Soul.


First off, this isn't a 'witchcraft' book in the vein that my previous two have been. This book is focused on meditation, and whilst some of the meditations do draw on more witchy themes (such as connecting with the energy of The Well Maidens to heal your inner self), I have tried to make the meditations as accessible to everyone, regardless of their beliefs. It provides a brief introduction to meditation and how to meditate, before giving you over 40 meditations to try yourself. Ranging from basic meditations suitable for the complete novice, to more complex visualisations, I'm hoping that even experienced meditators will find something to appeal to them in this book.


So to give you a taste of what to expect, I have included two of the meditations in this blog. If you like them, please check out the rest of the book! It will be available on Amazon kindle only (who knows, if it is a success maybe I'll look at getting some physical copies made - if it is something you would be interested in then do let me know and I will see what I can do), and will be released midway through the week of the 14th of October 2024. So get comfortable, and see if any of these resonate with you.

Example Meditation 1: Heal Your Inner Self


I am fascinated by history, myths, and legends. One of my favourite mythical beings comes from a tale called ‘The Elucidation’. Believed to have been written in the early 13th Century by an unknown author, it is one of the many tales concerning King Arthur and his Knights. It recounts how once in the land of Logres there were otherworldly beings called ‘The Well Maidens’. A weary traveller would only have to stop at one of their wells and they would gladly offer the traveller all manner of food and drink. These women, more beautiful than any ever seen, could conjure any food or drink the journeyman desired, and would give it freely. However, one day the King at the time – King Amangon – violated their hospitality, robbing and kidnapping one of the maidens. From that moment onwards no maiden ever appeared again, and the land of Logres became a wasteland.


Enter Arthur and his Knights, determined to find the Well Maidens and bring them home, so that they could restore the land of Logres. I won’t go into the detail of the tale, but we can glean from this story that the Well Maidens were the epitome of abundance and plenty, of kindness and nurturing. Without them, the land could not survive and so they are also very closely tied to nature. When the Well Maidens suffer, the land suffers, and only by calling on the Well Maidens can the land be restored.


Our inner selves could be compared to a garden. When well-tended with sun, water, nutrients, and care, it can grow and flourish. However, if it is neglected, or blighted by sickness, it will wither and die. If we allow stress and negativity to fester, it damages our inner selves, and the longer we leave it the more difficult it can become to heal. So, in this meditation we will be calling on the energy of the Well Maidens to help heal our own hurts and restore us with their care and nurturing.


Get ready for meditation in whatever way you see fit. When you feel ready, see yourself standing in a meadow. The meadow, once vibrant and full of life, now looks neglected and weary. The soil is dry and cracked, the plants are wilting, and the flowers are faded and drooping.


This space reflects parts of your inner self that feels neglected, or in need of care. It is important to approach this space without judgement; you cannot blame the sun for drying out the soil, or the plants for withering. Similarly, you should not blame yourself if you feel you have not tended to your inner self as well as you should. Focus on compassion and the love within you, as it is this that is needed to bring our garden back to life.


In the centre of the meadow, you spot a well. It has a grey stone base, and wooden pillars on each side supporting a slanted wooden roof. An old, rusted pole sits between the two pillars, and a wooden bucket attached to a metal chain sits just above the base of the well. Despite the neglected look of the meadow, this well by contrast is in perfect condition. It almost looks out of place, picturesque here in the middle of the meadow, as if from a fairytale.


You walk towards the well, and run your hands over the stone, weathered and worn. You grasp the wooden handle of the rusted pole and begin to turn it. It creaks and groans before it gives way, and you watch the bucket lower into the well. Before long, you hear the sound of it hitting the water, and you turn the handle in the opposite direction. Eventually the bucket emerges, full of water. You untie the bucket, being careful not to spill any of the water. You can feel the energy of the water, radiating with care and compassion, healing and nurturing. You know that this is a sacred place, and this water is a gift from the Well Maidens.


Slowly, pour the water onto the dry soil. See it soaking deep into the earth, full of pure nourishment. See the soil darken and soften, and feel life returning to the dirt.


Next, move to the wilting plants. Notice how their leaves droop, their petals browning, as they sink towards the earth. Know that you have it within you to bring beauty back to these flowers. Raise your arms in front of you and imagine your hands glowing with pure, white, healing light. See this light building in your heart, full of love and compassion, before spreading throughout your chest, down your arms, and out through your hands and into the plants. Feel them drinking in this energy, and see them start to bloom again. The leaves start to lift, and the petals grow, vibrant in their colour as the plants reach up, growing strong and revitalised by the healing energy you have given them. Their scent begins to permeate the air around you, a soft and delicate sweetness.


You reach into your pocket and are surprised to find a handful of seeds – another gift from the Well Maidens surely. Bury each seed in the soil, and focus on your intention - of restoring the land. Visualise these seeds growing into strong, healthy plants, and know that as you plant the seeds within this garden, you also plant these seeds within yourself. Just as you promise to tend to this physical place, you promise to tend to your inner self; to plant the seeds of self-care and to nurture your own needs with joy and forgiveness in your heart.


As you continue to send love out into the garden, you see if becoming more alive. The air seems to grow warmer, rays of sun breaking through. The gentle hum of insects that have returned is like music as you watch the plants and wildflowers sway gently in the breeze. You can almost feel the presence of the Well Maidens watching over you, blessing your endeavours. Take a moment to stand back and admire your work. Allow yourself to feel gratitude for the healing that has taken place, both within the garden and within yourself. You know that this is just the first step. There is still plenty to do, but you promise yourself that you are willing to take the time necessary to make space for this self-care and growth. Stay here as long as you wish, enjoying this sensation of peace and harmony you have created within yourself and know that you carry it with you.

Example Meditation 2: A Temple To You


This meditation is designed to celebrate everything that is you! Each of us has those things that make us unique; these may be our successes, hobbies, or qualities within ourselves that we cherish. This meditation is designed to help you stop and reflect on everything that makes you ‘you’, to strengthen your sense of self.


Get ready for meditation in whatever way you see fit. When you feel ready, see yourself standing outside of a temple. What does the temple look like? Maybe it is a large, stone building, supported by thick pillars like the temples of old? Maybe it is a pyramid like that of the Egyptians or Aztecs? Or maybe it is a simple, wooden hut? How would you like it to look? Remember, this is a temple dedicated to you, so feel free to shape it however you want in your mind.


Walk to the door. You place your hand on the doorknob and push. The door creaks open and you walk through.


The temple is filled with trinkets, artworks, and all manner of other items. You look to your left; there is a cabinet, and in that cabinet is a number of trophies, medals, and certificates. These represent all of your achievements. Look closely; what ones are represented there? They may have been things you never actually received an award for, but are proud of, such as learning to swim, closing a big project at work, having a book published, championing environmental causes, etc. Spend a bit of time here reflecting on your achievements.


When you are ready, turn from the cabinet and walk further into the temple. There is a table in front of you, and on this table represents items related to your hobbies. Again, take a closer look and see what is on the table. If you are a keen knitter, there may be a pair of knitting needles. Or maybe you are into cycling – you might see a cycling helmet there? Again, spend a bit of time just reflecting on your hobbies and other interests, and feel the enjoyment and pride these evoke in you.


Next, walk to the opposite wall of the temple. This wall is full of photographs of friends, families, holidays, days out, etc. Reflect on these memories and the good times you’ve had, the opportunities you’ve been given, and the people in your life for which you are grateful.


When you are finished here, continue walking further into the temple. There is another table; this one is full of items related to your ambitions and dreams. Again, what do you see? Maybe one of your goals is to own a house – you might see a set of house keys there. Or maybe one of your goals is to release your own music – you might see musical instruments, or a gold disc.


Continue walking around the temple. In your mind’s eye, fill it with those things that are important to you. For example, I love going to live music, so I tend to see all the tickets from the gigs and festivals I’ve been to, and remember these and the fun I’ve had.


As you walk, feel the sense of pride, love, and fulfilment that fills this sacred space. This temple is a reflection of who you are, what you love, and all that you are proud of. Feel the energy and positivity radiating from each aspect of your life that you have honoured here. The items in this temple represent you, and encompass everything you are and everything you can be, and will always be here for you to draw power from whenever you need.