Ugh. Sometime in December, my discipline and focus crumbled. I really fell off the trance train…
I’ve been working to reestablish my discipline over the last couple weeks. I started to reread Paxson’s “Trance-Portations” and am going through the exercises. I’m not rushing it. I really want to spend time on the foundational skills. I’ve been more mindful about my grounding, shielding, and visualization. I continue to do my Druid Egg shielding on mornings, but sometimes it’s difficult to visualize when I’m exhausted. (I haven’t been sleeping well lately… )
I started to participate in Sassafras Grove’s Brighid-Along to help me prepare for Imbolc. This has given me additional inspiration for my inner work. I did a very quick meditation on day one. Finding quiet time for meditation and trance has been challenging. My daughter’s sleep schedule has been really off lately, so by the time she falls asleep, I’m usually exhausted. I’ve decided that I won’t allow myself to wallow in the challenges and what I don’t feel able to accomplish. Rather, I’m going to adapt. If I can only meditate for a short time, I’m going to make that meaningful and really focus!
Last night, I meditated on Brighid during, and ended up walking into my inner grove where one of my spirit guide was waiting. (I’m starting to look for other words to describe them…I’ve seen fetch used by several people focused on European traditions, but I need to do more research.) We talked a little, reconnecting. I had felt him reaching out to me a lot over the week, so I knew he was waiting.
My plan is to start posting on my blog again to keep myself accountable.
Author M. A. Phillips 
I’ve found over the years that the blog keeps me asking what it is that I’m doing, what i know that i did not kn ow before… and while nothing i do has much discipline to it aside from the blogging, it’s a really useful focus. I look forward to reading about your journey.