Beltane Rituals for Every Element

Written by  Lisa Stardust

Beltane is here! It’s May 1st, May Day, halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice. It’s time to invite some friends over eat, drink, and be merry, embracing the beauty within and outside of ourselves as we celebrate the awakened, blooming flora and fauna of Earth. Originally celebrated as a Gaelic festival to protect cattle and encourage growth, Beltane is the light and beauty where we celebrate the sun and blossoms which perfume the air. In this May Day ritual, we are celebrating and giving back to the Earth, using all the elements (fire, earth, air, water) to ignite the hearth of Beltane. 

 
FIRE
Ideally, a bale fire is traditional merriment for the last night of April going into Beltane, May 1st. However, in this modern world, it may be impossible to have access to space which permits a bonfire. Consider using a small cauldron or candles. The colors of the earth, including red for passion, green for prosperity, purple for spirituality, yellow for happiness, white for harmony (or as a stand-in for any other colors. Red, green, and white are traditional Beltane colors. If you don’t have access to colored candles, you can use tea light candles. It’s ok to use the materials you have, remembering that the most important thing about magic is your intentions. 

Facing North, light the candles, evoking the goddesses you cherish and ancestors you admire as you go. Take a deep breath. As you inhale, close your eyes while the warm glow surrounds you. Amidst the warmth of the flames, envision a protective light surrounding, purifying, and stoking your own inner hearth. Open your eyes to the beauty of the flames burning. Let the heat serve as a shield against negativity, as you welcome in positive vibrations. 

EARTH 
Any urbanite can grab a fist full of fresh greenery and place it in a cauldron. Smelling fresh grass and flowers will bring life and abundance to any room. Honor their magical power and embrace the evergreen aroma. If possible, add some dandelions for positivity, hawthorn for fertility, and violets for protection. Try crossing twigs together with a red string to create a talisman that will also serve as a protective force against evil. When done using, recycle back to the universe by placing all remains outside to give back to Mother Earth. 

AIR
Make a wish for Beltane and release it to the air. Write down your desires on flying wish paper and let your desires travel on the wind. Through setting the intention and releasing your dream into the universe, you have the opportunity to plant valuable seeds of hope and creative renewal during these festivities. Giving prayers to the earth goddesses, pleases and inspires their support of your deepest desires to be manifested in the months to come. 

WATER 
Milk and honey is an offering made to Flora, Goddess of Flowers, to ensure vegetation blossoms in abundance during the Spring season. Added to baths, this mixture was notably used by the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra freshen up her soft, vibrant look and add beauty to her appearance. The mixture of milk and honey adds an element of fertility and sensuality to daily life. Rose petals infuse bathwater with feelings of self love and emotional healing. Use this combination for some bath magic to connect to the Earth Goddesses (such as Flora) and meditate. In this bath, be sure to take a moment of pause to connect to Flora’s lustful springtime earthy desires and evoke her spirit, as well as other water spirits like the river Goddess Oshun, who is also giver of love and fertility, and abundance, meditating on what you hope to grow. 

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Milk
• 1/2 Cup Honey 
• 1 Cup Salt 
• Rose Petals 
•  

Directions: 

• Run warm bath water. 
• Add milk, honey, and salt in a jar. 
• Seal the jar and shake to mix ingredients together. 
• Pour the mixture into bath.
• Add rose petals to bath.
• Lie back, relax, allowing your skin to absorb the 
• Gently rub skin and soak in bath. 

WITCHTIPS & HOROSCOPES 4/4-10/2018

Written by Jessica Lanyadoo

Witch Tips

Mercury Gatorade got you down? Don’t worry – this is the last full week of it! The planet of communications goes direct on the 15th, but not before it wreaks a little havoc, of course.

From the 4th through the 6th, Mercury will form an upsetting square to the master of Daddy issues himself, Saturn. This combination of planets can have you feeling depressed, pessimistic, or acutely aware of your aloneness. If you can keep in mind that you (and everyone else) are seeing the glass half empty, it may be easier to cope. The trick is to not be so “reasonable” that you reason yourself into a scared and sad hole. Reach out to people you trust, and don’t reject connection. This isn’t a great moment for serious introspection because you’re likely to be lacking in perspective, and for the same reason, it’s not wise to hang out with your most critical friends. If you’re feeling worked up, tend to your feels before you go seeking fixes. This is a great time to deal with your taxes, sort through your inbox, or any other annoying but finite task that requires attention to detail and concentration.

From the 6th through the 8th, we get a well-deserved break. Diplomatic Venus will form a harmonious trine to long-term planner, Saturn. Relationships or projects started at this time may carry a feeling of being fated, and they may very well be. Just wait until Mercury goes direct next week before signing papers or jumping to conclusions. This is the perfect time to tend to the folks that hold you up, to manage your finances, or to clean out your closet; basically this transit helps you to organize and prioritize the things that you value (but also just cute stuff).

From the 9th through the 11th, we have two events: romantic Venus is forming a trine to passionate Mars, and the planet that governs your sense of self, the Sun, will be square to creator/destroyer Pluto. The combination of these two transits is a mixed bag. You’re likely to feel compulsive, obsessive, and have your survival mechanisms kicked up, and there’ll be plenty of fodder for you to feel paranoid about. Pluto triggers issues of abandonment, feelings of resentment, or the drive for vengeance. The Venus transit suggests that this is likely to play out in your relationships (yay!), but don’t fear – there’s much to be gained here. Practice letting go. If there’s a dynamic at play in your life that you don’t want to deal with, recuse yourself. If you can’t walk away, you certainly don’t have to play games or take the bait when someone isn’t acting right. Moderate your behavior and what you give your attention to so that you can make the most of this time. Pluto brings intense growth or intense break downs; the only thing it never does is chill. Seek the best possible good in the situations you find yourself in, and as always, act in ways that reflect your integrity, not your situation, my love.

 

ARIES

March 21-April 19

When you obsess on things that bring you pain, all you succeed in doing is making yourself feel awful. If you don’t like something, fix it. If you don’t know what direction to point your efforts, you simply haven’t sat with the problem long enough. Picking at your wounds will result in slowed healing and nothing more, Aries. Let go of your version of who did what and why, and focus on your part. In this way the answers will organically present themselves to you this week.

­TAURUS

April 20-May 20

You don’t have all the facts, and it’s got you feeling off-kilter. Whether you’ve been mislead, you’ve misunderstood, or things simply haven’t played out enough yet, you can’t rush certainty. Instead of trying to collect data so you can plan your next moves, take a durn break, Taurus. If life is allowing you to pause and catch up, it’s on you to receive the gift. There will be more than enough time to plot your course once things change. Take a break, my love.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

Fritz Perls famously said that “fear is just excitement without breath.” Fear doesn’t always make sense; sometimes it’s when you’re doing your best that you find you can’t shake negative thoughts. When something powerful moves through your life, it’s easy to mistake the accompanying exhilaration with anxiety, and then when you go looking for what’s got you freaking out, it’s easy enough to pinpoint what might go wrong. Make a decision and stick with it – just remember to breathe, Twin Star.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

It’s not always necessary to assert your opinions, even if they’re objectively the best ones in town. Being right is fun! But it won’t always win you popularity contests, and more importantly, being right doesn’t make you right. Be weary of shoving your views down someone’s throat this week because no matter how high the ground you’re standing on seems, you’re not immune to consequences. Pick your battles with reason and integrity, Moonchild.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

When you don’t resist it, heartache can be baptismal. The only things you mourn are those that you’ve loved, gotten value from, or have become attached to. This week you may need to grieve something or someone, and while it’s not pleasant, it’s not a bad thing either. Determine what’s driving you – love or attachment – and whether you need to let go or fight with all your heart. You’re a person with a great capacity for love; pour your heart’s energy into what feeds your soul, not just your habits, Leo.

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

There are creative solutions to your problems, but you won’t find them when you’re tapped. Rest is an essential part of self-care, and when you forgo it for too long, you stop thinking clearly. Take a break – not watching videos, not scrolling through your phone, and not taking care of anyone else; take an actual break, Virgo. Carve out some time this week to act like a cat that has nothing better to do than recline and enjoy a bit of sunlight. It’s just what you need.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Can you accept what you don’t like? This week is going to kick up how you cope with interpersonal annoyances. Before you get worried, there’s a bigger picture to consider: you’re not naturally great at this and could use the practice! Think of this time as a chance for you to be more honest, diplomatic, assertive – whatever it is that the situation calls for. Don’t protect others from the truth of who you are and how you feel, Libra. There’s no long game in that.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

When you’ve spread yourself too thin is when you start feeling overwhelmed and dramatic. It’s important that you keep your self-care game on point this week, or you’ll find yourself overreacting to people and jumping to conclusions about situations. Tend to the basic needs of your body (that’s water, food, rest, and breath), and this will set the foundation for managing your life wisely. What you do now will boomerang back to you, so make sure you believe in what you’re selling, Scorpio. 

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

If you’ve taken on too much, this week is gonna be extra stressful for you, my love. How you engage with your responsibilities is a huge deal. Whether you tend to get rebellious, resistant, or go full-throttle on getting things done, you’re in the same boat now. No strategy is sustainable when it’s your only one. You need support because you need to change, ‘Tarius, and the place to start is by letting go of your drive to be in control. You can do it all, but not all at once.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

The bad news is that you’re not in control, and in fact you may find that things are progressing in such a frustrating way that you want to fast forward to find out how the show ends. The good news is that you can’t do that (obvi), and life wouldn’t be better if you could. Have faith, Capricorn. There’s a bigger picture playing out in your life, and what you do now is not as important as how you do it. Pace yourself, honor your values, and keep on showing up.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

Pacing yourself is not an Aquarian trait, as your sign prefers to focus on the future. Feeling like you’ve arrived is not as important as having confidence that you’re solidly on your way. Likewise, you don’t have to have all the answers. You’ll get them sooner or later. Staying in the here and now has its advantages though. The goal is to work smarter, not harder, and that requires not trying to forge plans based on predictions. Keep it simple and put one foot in front of the other this week. You’ve totally got this, my love.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

This week will test your clarity. What you want can get clouded by what you think is possible, your hopes, fears, and of course, other people’s projections onto you. When you get caught off guard by your reactions, take a moment to center yourself. If you’re not careful, you may catch yourself defending something you actually don’t want to protect, or busting your hump trying to achieve something that you don’t actually care about, Pisces.

Bitter Brew: Why The Hoodwitch Should Hex Starbucks

Written by Katherine de Vos Devine of Cauldron Arts Incubator

Starbucks recently introduced a “Crystal Ball Frappuccino,” presumably hoping for a sequel to its wildly successful Unicorn Frappuccino.

Here is Starbucks’ Crystal Ball Frappuccino Instagram post from March 22, 2018:

Purple, green or blue-they say the Crystal Ball Frappuccino chooses you. ✨🔮 Available in US, Canada and Mexico...while the magic lasts.

179.5k Likes, 6,229 Comments - Starbucks Coffee ☕ (@starbucks) on Instagram: "Purple, green or blue-they say the Crystal Ball Frappuccino chooses you. ✨🔮 Available in US, Canada..."

This Starbucks ad is clearly based on the distinctive images produced by Bri Luna, aka The Hoodwitch, for her web site, social media, and various collaborations.

Bri Luna is a distinctive witch. Her look, style, writing, and images do not fit popular stereotypes about what witches look like, what they wear, or how they act. Luna troubles the definition of “witch” and expands it to be more broadly inclusive. She’s intersectional and inspirational.

But Luna was not remunerated, consulted, or in any way involved in the production of the Starbucks ad. Understandably, Luna was pissed, as were her Instagram followers and fans.

Granted, most witchy imagery isn’t distinctive enough to merit this level of outrage. The stereotypical witch aesthetic is culturally pervasive – and thus ineligible for copyright protection – at this point in time. But black brujas with witchtips, a predilection for saturated colors, a penchant for glitter, and love of neon haven’t exactly reached critical mass on the internet or in the popular imagination. If Starbucks had gone with a black cloth, silver jewelry, and a milk-white hand, I’d probably be on their side

But they didn’t.

If I say “crystal ball,” you’re likely to think “witch” or “fortune teller.”

If I say “witch,” you may think green skin, hooked nose, pointy hat, enjoys the company of flying monkeys.

If born after 1975, pale skin, black-clad, silver jewelry, dark lipstick, and a scowl may come to mind.

If you’re into millennial witchcraft, you may also think Free People, tarot apps, and palo santo perfume.

You probably don’t think:

or this: 

It’s hard to call anything or anyone “original” in the twenty-first century, but Luna is one of the few people I laud with that accolade. Luna has greatly expanded what it means to be a witch. (So have lots of other witches, in lots of different ways, but that’s a different post.)

Yet, witchcraft remains a fairly small community, its internal aesthetic debates are not known to the broader public, and the singularity of Luna’s imagery is not likely to register with most Starbucks customers.

Thus, prospective Crystal Ball Frappuccino buyers aren’t likely to see the Starbucks ad above and think, “Hey, that looks like Bri!” They’re likely to think, “Oooo, that’s looks magical, fresh, colorful, sweet, and kind of badass.” But “magical, fresh, colorful, sweet, and [totally] badass” is Luna’s brand, her imagery, her vibe. And it’s highly distinct from other magical practitioners.

And that’s why Starbucks’ behavior sucks.

Ripping off an artist’s images to sell corporate coffee is poor form.

Riffing on witchcraft to sell corporate coffee is worthy of an eye roll, but this is not the first time that mysticism has unwittingly served capitalism.

Jacking an African-American-Mexican bruja’s photographs, concepts, and style, which have greatly changed how the witchcraft community sees its members, but are mostly unknown to the broader public…that’s a multi-pronged abuse I can’t dismiss.

Legally, it’s tough. Hypothetically, were Luna to sue Starbucks, a court would look at specific similarities between the Starbucks image and Luna’s images. There are plenty. Thus, most courts would consider “substantial similarity” and “total concept and feel” –  a doctrine developed for situations such as this one.

When considering total concept and feel, a judge is invited to consider both “intrinsic” and “extrinsic” elements.

“Extrinsic” elements are defined as “the type of artwork involved, the materials used, the subject matter, and the setting for the subject.” [Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions, Inc. v. McDonald’s Corp., 970 F.2d 106 (9th Cir., 1977)] But…“Obviously, no principle can be stated as to when an imitator has gone beyond copying the ‘idea,’ and has borrowed its ‘expression.’ Decisions must therefore inevitably be ad hoc.” [Sid & Marty Krofft Television Productions, Inc. v. McDonald’s Corp., 970 F.2d 106 (9th Cir., 1977), citing Peter Pan Fabrics, Inc. v. Martin Weiner Corp., 274 F.2d 487, 489 (2 Cir. 1960)] Translating this legalese: things can get fuzzy.

“Intrinsic” elements concern the judgment of “an ordinary person” when the expression of the works are compared. The comments on Starbucks’ Instagram post are divided, and suggest that witches see too much similarity, while non-witches don’t see a problem. Thus, we’re left with a question: who is the ordinary person? Someone familiar with Luna’s imagery or someone who is not? (Get nerdy about the identity of the “ordinary person” with me in the comments – it’s definitely an open question.)

I’m sure another lawyer could argue that the elements in each image are so simple that “total concept and feel” doesn’t apply. Or that the ordinary person is a non-witchy type who wouldn’t see Luna’s imagery as distinctive. But I think the Starbucks image clearly bites Luna’s style, in a way that might rise to the level of infringement. (And, before you ask, fair use absolutely does not apply here, as the Starbucks image has no purpose consistent with fair use.)

As you can see, the legal answer is a bit messy. But, ethically, it’s pretty straightforward.

Starbucks, a multinational corporation, decided to mimic imagery from an independent artist who belongs to numerous minority groups – African-American, Latina, witch – and seemed to think she wouldn’t fight back, that her fans wouldn’t notice, and that consumers wouldn’t care. (Given my interactions on Instagram, 1 out of 3 of my assumptions seem to be correct: Becky just wants her Frappuccino.) This is an abuse of power and this is wrong.

Starbucks most likely paid someone to source and create imagery for the ad. If they liked Luna’s work so much, they should have asked her to direct the project, take the photographs, or style the ad. At minimum, Starbucks should have credited Luna as the inspiration for the Instagram spot. And it’s all much worse because Luna actually lives in Seattle and has a robust online presence. She isn’t hard to find.

Finally, Starbucks posted the ad to Instagram, one of Luna’s primary modes of interaction, with no credit. Even a nod – “Inspired by @thehoodwitch” – would have gone a long way towards mollifying Luna’s fans (if not Luna herself). However, they would never do this, because it could weaken Starbucks’ position should Luna sue them for infringement. Which, frankly, should make you more suspicious than anything I’ve said so far.

As I’ve discussed before, there is aware appropriation and there is sterile appropriation. (The terms are Jaron Lanier’s and if you haven’t read his book, go do that right now.) Aware appropriation uses pre-existing material in ways that enliven the images or information, creating a new lens for the viewer or reader. It takes thought, feeling, and effort to be an aware appropriator. Sterile appropriation, on the other hand, repurposes pre-existing material in ways that are flat, serve only the appropriator, and have no intelligent effect on the audience’s engagement with the pre-existing material. Corporations almost always engage in sterile appropriation, but with a modicum of effort, entities like Starbucks can use their colossal influence in more positive ways.

It starts, as you might imagine, with crediting – and paying – artists like Bri Luna.

THE HOODWITCH:WITCH TIPS & HOROSCOPES 2.28-3.06-18

Written by Jessica Lanyadoo

WITCH TIPS

There’s so much going on this week that it’s important to remember to breathe. The bottom line is that life is not a collection of details – it’s the whole picture. You may be having a rough time now, but that doesn’t mean that you will tomorrow. If you find that you’re losing perspective, take a step back and take a moment to get present. You don’t need to be perfect, you only need to be whole. You don’t need to know what’s coming next, you only need to do your best in the here and now.

From the 27th-29th, there will be an irritating square between Mercury and Mars at the same time as an intense sextile between Mercury and Pluto. This is an excellent time to sort through your taxes, study for an exam, or generally sift through a lot of data that is both detailed and finite. The problem here is that you can get fixated on something that bothers you and then justify obsessing on it, even if all that does is make you cray. If you catch yourself caught up in petty, vengeful, or micromanaging thoughts, try to make the decision to redirect. It won’t be easy, but it’s for sure the healthiest thing you can do.

On the 1st we have a fertile Full Moon in Virgo at 4:51pmPST. What are you willing to let go of in order to make room for something better? The Sun is in idealistic Pisces, while the Moon is in boots-on-the-ground Virgo. It's time to pour your heart and efforts into what you love. How can you love what you have to do, even when it’s a boner? This is a period to explore the idea of perfection; what is it, really? Find it in the mundane, in the profane, in the weeds, and in the valleys. Perfection is right here, right now because the present moment could be no other way than as it is. Perfection requires presence and acceptance – not an OCD attention to purity but an embracing of this moment – the good, the bad, and the ugly of it.

Let go of distractions, and be here for the beauty of what is. Gear your actions in service to what you can help improve. This isn’t the time to lament what could’ve or should’ve been. Deal directly with what is, and try to let go of what doesn’t serve that purpose.

From the 3rd-5th, we have another anxiety provoking transit, when the self-centered Sun sits on top of identity-blurring Neptune. Some of the themes that were upsetting you last week are likely to come back up. You may feel anxious, depleted, inspired, or just plain old loopy. The trick here is to have healthy boundaries. Strive to know where you begin and where you end, what you want versus what you think you should want. This transit is an opportunity to get right with yourself, but that may happen by becoming aware of where you’re wrong. Don’t be a droopy dude – it’s OK to make mistakes. Be kind and patient and use your struggles as building blocks. Wisdom comes from experience, so don’t sit this one out.

ARIES

March 21-April 19

You’re on your way, Aries. You’ve been working so hard; your efforts are paying off, so keep on doing what you’re doing. The only problems you’re likely to confront this week are around the things you’ve been willfully ignoring or have just lost track of. Treat your anxieties or confusion this week as a gentle nudge to pay closer attention – not to check out. Complete success requires that you integrate the whole, so pick up the pieces, even when it’s uncomfortable.

­TAURUS

April 20-May 20

If you’re not careful, your ego will get you into some serious trouble this week. People are weird. They act hot and cold, they have reactions you don’t see coming, and sometimes they like music you think is bad (how rude!). When people do mysterious things, it’s not a reflection on you, and this week you can expect people to be especially odd. Don’t take it personally, Taurus, and don’t try to process with others when you’re feeling extra bad.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

Peace isn’t about being happy all the time – it’s about being in alignment with yourself. If you’re of many minds about a situation, it’s hard to know which one to act on. Spend time this week reminding yourself of your big picture goals, so you can determine what is a good goal versus what’s a good goal for now. This is an excellent time to do a reset, but if it’s not based on self-knowledge, it’s just you chasing another white rabbit down a random hole.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

There’s such a thing as too much, and when you cross a line past what you can handle in a healthy way, things start to fall apart. It’s time to let go, Moonchild. You may need to forgive, you may need to stop obsessing, or your path may look more like quitting a job or taking a break from a relationship, but at the end of the day, it’s all the same. You need to take responsibility for what you sign up for and be willing to step back when necessary, my love.

LEO

July 23-Aug. 22

Don’t try to find solutions before you fully understand your problems, Leo. Pain is a bummer of a teacher, but that doesn’t mean that it’s got no value. Chill isn’t on the agenda this week, but that’s kinda perfect in in it’s own way; the stuff that feels bad is trying to get your attention so that you can finally do something about it. You want security, but first you’ve gotta find the truth. You want happiness, so it’s time to finally let go of what you know brings you no joy.

 

VIRGO

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

The Moon is full in your sign on the 1st, and it’s a fertile time for you, Virgo. It’s time to let it all go: your plans, your drive for perfection, your desire to have all the answers at this moment. They all have their value, but they can also be a distraction. Get aligned with what you’re grateful for in the here and now. You have so many advantages, but you can’t make use of them if you’re wrapped up in what’s out of your control. Find ways to say yes this week.

LIBRA

Sept. 23-Oct. 22

Fear is compelling. Even when you don’t want to listen to it, we humans are hard-wired to protect our safety, and a good part of that is by tracking danger. The trouble is that if you’re looking for problems, they’re easy enough to find. This week you’re making breakthroughs and are exactly where you need to be – so don’t push it. Don’t rush for answers or try to press people. Manage your feels, and let things fall into place around you, Libra.

SCORPIO

Oct. 23-Nov. 21

Don’t let your worries drag you down, Scorpio. You’ve got enough real-life problems to contend with that it makes no sense to wring your hands over what-ifs and coulda-woulda-shoulda’s. Strive to take control of where you allow your thoughts to go this week. If you catch yourself on an unproductive train of thought, rein yourself in with a spiritual mantra or a pleasant thought – it doesn’t really matter. Find healthy distractions for your unhealthy habits this week.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

You’re strong enough to change what needs to be changed, but are you willing to do the work? The hard part isn’t following through; it’s identifying what needs to get done. Don’t let your FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) lead you astray, Sagittarius. While you may be capable of doing it all, no one can do it all well. Reconnect with your primary objectives, and then make your choices in deference to them.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

No matter how quickly or slowly things are changing, changing they are, my love. This week you’ve got one job, Cappy, and it’s emotional integration. Allow space and time for your feels to catch up with your circumstances. This is essential for being healthy, of course, but also for you to be able to know what should come next. It’s time to be careful about what you ask for because you just might get it. It’s better to slowly get there with a clear heart than to look back with regrets.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

If you don’t like the way your hair looks, changing your clothes won’t help you much. Try not to react to upsets this week with distractions, no matter how dynamic they seem. Life right now is a bit of a mixed bag, and that’s OK. What you most likely want to do is focus on what you know how to handle, but that’s not wise, Aquarius. Take small steps towards figuring out what’s not clear to you, and let everything else just simmer this week.

PISCES

Feb. 19-March 20

Let people love you, Pisces. Let the Sun warm you, and let cats charm you, and receive the gift that is this life. What others think about you is important information, but it won’t define you if you don’t let it. Choose to align yourself with what’s positive and future-focused so that you don’t lose yourself in the heavy stuff this week. In order to truly know yourself, you must also know what you’re not.