13 Magickal Days - Pose-Surgery Healing Techniques by Silver RavenWolf

13 Days of Magick - Post-Surgery Healing Techniques

Small sacred acts for the first tender days of recovery

By Silver RavenWolf

A blanket. A chair. A careful step. A patch of sunlight on the bed. A glass of water. The soft shuffle of medication bottles. The hush of the afternoon. The sound of your own breathing in a room that suddenly feels both unfamiliar and deeply personal.

After surgery, life narrows.

For those accustomed to doing, fixing, making, tending, carrying, organizing, helping, and pushing forward, this narrowing can feel unsettling. We are used to movement and purpose in visible form, measuring the day by what we’ve finished and valuing ourselves through completion. Then surgery arrives, and the body says, no. Now we do it differently.

Today… we heal.

In those first thirteen days?  One of the greatest tools we have is not force, not speed, not impatience, and not performance.  It is the mind and the permission we give ourselves to traverse a different path…the sacred way of healing…and it is okay.

The mind is not a substitute for proper medical care. We follow the surgeon’s instructions, take medication as directed, and rest or move as told. We do what is required practically because healing requires cooperation. Along with these instructions, there is another layer of recovery: the inner atmosphere in which healing takes place, shaped by our own minds.

The mind can become a lantern.  Or it can become a courtroom. It can say, softly, I am healing.Or it can snap, why aren’t I better faster?

In February of 2026 I underwent somewhat unexpected major surgery – something I’d never anticipated nor had I previously experienced.  My first complaint on the day afterward was:  “They ripped into my body.  They cut things out.  Okay.  I get that.  Precautions and steps have been taken to heal my physical body.  But…what about my ethereal body?  There are no drugs for that.  There was no mention nor thought of that.  Since the current medical mindset does not entertain the existence of the spirit body, how do I heal it myself?  Particularly when, at the moment, I feel like shit?  It had never occurred to me that one of the most distressing experiences after surgery is bone-crushing fatigue and the mind wildly exclaiming that something needs to be done…pronto!  And after a few days?  Your mind says, surely by now I should be stronger than this!

When fatigue does not lift right away, it can be hard to explain to people who have not lived it. It is not just physical. It presses against your identity, pride, and rhythm. It can make a capable person feel helpless and a productive person useless. Part of you worries about appearing lazy, mentally weak, or a failure, yet the body is doing the heavy unseen work of healing.

During my own healing process I learned that recovery has an emotional rhythm of its own. I immediately decided to put my mind to work as a companion – linking the spirit hand in hand with the corporeal. Choosing to mend body, mind, and spirit as a whole. This article shares the magickal techniques I incorporated—including spiritual cleansing with rosemary and holy water, guided visualizations, energy channeling, as well as structured breathwork and affirmations—to bring peace, joy, and patience (because generally I’m not) to the healing process.

Cycle of Recovery

On the day of surgery, most people are tired, sedated, and out of it. There is a heavy, drifting quality to those first hours. Sleeping, waking, and trying to orient yourself may be enough of a challenge.  I made it through the day enough to perform a cleansing before the surgery, and an emotional cleansing within the first few hours of being home.  The emotional cleansing included using rosemary branches dipped in holy water (previously made) to cleanse and bless my body after the trauma.

Then comes what many experience as the low point, often somewhere in days two through seven. This can be the rough patch. Exhaustion may be high. Anxiety may rise. Irritability, sadness, and even regret about having the surgery can creep in. When the body hurts, routines are disrupted, and independence feels reduced, the emotional world can darken in surprising ways. This is one reason post-operative depression can happen. It is not imaginary or weakness. Physical limitations, pain, reduced independence, and isolation can all weigh heavily on the spirit.  The bulk of this article focuses on these days, with suggestions, ideas, and encouragement; however, many of the processes I used can be employed from days fifteen through twenty-one and beyond.

Days eight through fourteen can bring a new challenge: impatience and doubt. As the sharpest pain eases, the mind often expects faster progress. Healing is rarely so predictable. People may become hyper-critical, longing for their old rhythm and seeking proof of normalcy, focusing on limitations rather than progress.

And then, often somewhere in days fifteen through twenty-one, there is a turnaround. Physical improvement begins to show itself in more visible ways. Confidence returns by degrees. The procedure may begin to feel less like an upheaval and more like a difficult trek that is now easing. By about a month post-surgery, many people feel more emotionally stable and far more certain that they made the right decision.

Knowing this rhythm matters, because it can keep you from mistaking a difficult emotional day for failure.

There may also be other layers to recovery that deserve compassion. Pre-operative anxiety does not disappear just because the surgery is over. For some, especially after a frightening or high-risk procedure, the experience can leave a persisting feeling of shock or emotional trauma. Changes in appearance, function, stamina, or comfort can affect body image and cause distress. Even the mental effort of rehabilitation can become exhausting. Recovery is work, and the mind can grow tired from carrying so much vigilance.  The week before my surgery?  I embraced a whole new hair style and color and also had a mani-pedi.  Why?  If they killed me on the table I was going to look halfway decent.  Although I’ve been told my thinking was somewhat crass – these practices gave me renewed confidence going into surgery.  I did two other things that I think I should mention here.  I had a close friend come over to cover my last wishes and where I kept all my important documentation.  Why not family?  Because I knew they would be upset, so having this friend giving reassurance of where I had placed all important paperwork gave everyone a sense of peace.  I also talked to a spiritual friend about my feelings on death and what is next.  This was very comforting.  If I was going to drop?  I was emotionally ready.  I had no fear when they wheeled me into surgery.

In the month post-surgery, when the mind begins its fussing — why am I still so tired, why is this taking so long, why can’t I do more — it may help to answer your fears with some of the techniques I used.  I chose to cover the first 13 days in this article because it was on the 13th day that the fatigue (in general) slipped away.  I learned that the first two weeks is your time to connect with the sacred.

In fact, there is something sacred about being forced to slow down enough that you can finally hear yourself think. Many of us live in such noise — outer noise, inner noise, social noise, work noise, obligation noise — that we forget the spirit speaks softly. Then surgery comes, and suddenly the volume drops. The world becomes smaller, yes, but also clearer.  I learned that this was my time to reconnect with what is holy to me – nature, spiritual connection, gratitude, appreciation,

And because the world is small in those first thirteen days, the healing acts that help us are often small too.

Small Acts of Healing

Sit in the sunlight for a few minutes, if you are able. Morning sunlight is especially kind. You do not have to do anything with it. Do not turn it into a project. Just let it fall on your face, your hands, or your blanket. Let your body remember warmth. Let your spirit remember that light still finds you.  Let yourself spiritually connect with the source of light.  Is it cloudy?  No worries.  Sit outside (with proper clothing) and hook into universal peace.

Deep Breathing.  In for four counts, out for four counts is my go-to.  You may like a different counting sequence.  As I breathe in I envision Spirit-filled healing energy, and as I breath out I visualize any negativity, pain, or illness leaving my body.  This is very good when the pain seems ramped up, when you are feeling depressed or sad, or irritated that things are going as smoothly as you would like.

Use tiny meditations. One minute. Three minutes. That is enough. Close your eyes and imagine soft golden light surrounding the area that is healing. Picture peace moving in with each breath. Imagine your cells wise and diligent, each one doing its proper work. Do not underestimate brief sacred attention. Small things count.

EFT – Emotional Frequency Tapping – I use this a great deal in my healing work and it certainly came in super handy for surgery recovery from the first day through thirty and beyond.

EFT means Emotional Freedom Techniques, though most folks simply call it tapping. At first glance, it may seem almost too simple to matter. You bring your attention to a fear, a pain, a difficult memory, a tension in the body, or an emotion that keeps circling like a restless crow. Then you measure how strong it feels, speak a brief statement of acknowledgment and self-acceptance, and gently tap with your fingertips on a series of points on the body.

These points are usually the side of the hand, the eyebrow, the side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, the chin, the collarbone, beneath the arm, and sometimes the top of the head. Nothing fancy. No glittering equipment. No grand ceremony. Just your own two hands, your own breath, and your willingness to sit beside what hurts instead of running from it.

That is part of EFT’s quiet power. You are doing two things at once: bringing the problem into awareness, while also soothing the body through rhythmic touch. In other words, you are saying to yourself, Yes, this is real. Yes, I feel it. And no, I do not have to be ruled by it. People use EFT for fear, anxiety, grief, emotional overwhelm, old hurts, performance nerves, cravings, and those moments when life seems to snag on the same thorn over and over again.  I have added EFT sequences for your use at the end of this article as well as a website referral.

Speak affirmations that do not insult your intelligence. Recovery is not the time for outlandish pronouncements that feel false the moment they leave your mouth. Better to choose simple words with roots. My body knows what to do. I honor the healing happening within me. I do not have to rush this. Rest is part of the work. Peace lives here too. Each day, I grow steadier. These are the sorts of phrases that calm the spirit instead of arguing with it.

Employ Memorized Chants or Spoken Charms – I practice Braucherei (German folk healing techniques) that focuses on a wide range of healing charms and chants.  I also intoned the Lesser Banishing Ritual at least 3 times a day.  When I was able to get in the shower, I always recited this powerful mini-prayer, uniting the words with the water.  When the surgical area was particularly painful I combined deep breathing with the chants and golden light visualization.  In those first few days, I suggest using something you know well – words that come readily to your mind.  I also used a variations of Florence Scovel Shinn’s teachings (The Game of Life and How to Play It) including blessing all my negative thoughts and fears – for example “I bless my fear because I understand it is trying to protect me.  May the perfection of the universe bring soothing energy to my body, mind and spirit, under grace in perfect ways.  Blessing something brings everything in alignment for your greatest good, and literally squeezes out negativity like squeezing a sponge heavily laden with water.

Journaling can be a comfort, especially when thoughts begin pacing in circles. But keep it simple. This is not the hour to write a thesis from your recovery nest. Three lines will do. Today I felt... Today what helped was... Today my body asked for... Today I noticed... Today I am grateful for... Let the mind empty itself onto paper so it does not have to keep carrying everything alone.  You may also like to try doodling (that’s what I did) and when I felt better, I cartooned my way through the end of the first week and into the second.  Someone gifted me with a portable watercolor set, making it super easy for me to do what I love – make art!  Nothing more healing than that!

Learning can soothe the soul as well, provided it is gentle learning. Read a little. Listen to a talk, a poem, a prayer, a bit of wisdom, an uplifting book, a sacred text, an idea that gives your thoughts somewhere beautiful to go. Healing does not mean all growth stops. It simply changes form for a while.  I signed up for a teaching streaming service and spent many hours learning about the latest discoveries and hypotheses in ancient history.

Music helps. Sound helps. A soft song, a favorite chant, wind in the trees, prayer music, silence, a bell, a chime — all these things shape the room. And the room matters. Recovery has an atmosphere. We can help create one that feels supportive.  Each day I used singing bowls, tuning forks, and rattles.  I couldn’t drum, but I could listen to drumming on my phone.  I also played several hours of healing frequencies while I slept.  If you don’t have singing bowls, rattles, etc. use your kitchenware!  Some glass bowls filled with herb water emit an amazing sound when lightly struck with a wooden spoon.  Certain pots can also emit beautiful sounds.  In the first 2 weeks, you may not have the strength to drag out musical instruments – try using what is around you! Banish those negative feelings with sound!

Beauty and Aroma. Fresh pillowcases. A comfortable blanket. A special mug. A tiny bouquet. A meaningful talisman. A card from a friend. Recovery does not have to happen in a cold emotional landscape. Last summer I made lavender hydrosol and each night I sprayed my pillowcases and blankets with the soothing aroma.  Even the smallest touch of beauty says to the spirit, you are worth tending .A healing scent can change the feeling of a room in a heartbeat. Scent moves quickly through memory, emotion, and comfort. During recovery, when the room begins to feel stale with sameness, a gentle aroma can soften the edges. It can make the space feel cleaner, calmer, more peaceful, more alive.  A softly scented lotion. A linen spray. A drop of essential oil on a tissue set nearby. A diffuser in another part of the room. Recovery is not the time for overwhelming fragrance. The aroma should feel like a soft presence, not an ambush.  Lavender offers peace and rest. Rosemary can feel clarifying and strengthening. Sweet orange brings brightness when the mind gets heavy. Chamomile carries quiet comfort. Rose brings tenderness and heart healing. Choose what soothes you. Let scent become one more way of saying to yourself: you are safe here, you may rest here, healing lives here.

And if you are spiritually inclined, aroma becomes more than a pleasant fragrance. It becomes intention made visible. Lavender for peace. Rosemary for strength. Rose for heart-healing. Orange for hope. A tiny ritual before sleep or meditation. A soft breath in. A soft breath out. Sometimes that is enough to shift the whole energy of the moment.

Beginning with the Second Week --You might also give each day one tiny purpose. Just one. Not a list so long it becomes another burden. One small point of meaning. Sit by the window. Read one page. Write three lines. Bless your tea. Watch the birds. Step outside for one minute if permitted. Send love to someone. Let the day contain one deliberate moment. That helps.

Any activity no matter how small that brings or stimulates a hopeful outlook can help too. That does not mean pretending everything is easy. It means allowing room for the possibility that healing is unfolding, even when it is slow. Steady hope, tiny expectations, and a willingness to notice progress can support both body and spirit.

Setting Up a Healing Altar – Maybe you have lots of altars in your living area; maybe you only have one or two.  Maybe you don’t have any at all.  No matter.  The second week after surgery I erected a temporary healing altar – something that I could work with in my condition.  Someone gave me beautiful artificial flowers and I used them to decorate a wooden tray.  I added a tea candle holder, incense burner, singing bowl and a glass of water, that I changed every morning.   When I could walk safely, I placed 21 small stones in a circle outside where I could clearly see the sun rise.  Each morning I walked the dog to the circle, stood in it, and greeting the sun.  Some days I just stood there, others I performed some gentle yoga stretching.

Monitor Your Human Connections -- Support matters. A lack of support can deepen isolation and sadness. A kind word, a meal, a text, a ride, a prayer, a clean kitchen, someone to sit quietly with you — these things are not small when you are healing. They are part of what helps hold a person together.  Some people hate to accept help.  Is this you?  Time to reassess that community is important and your connections are a flow of energy that help in the healing process. My daughter employed an on-line calendar to share with family and close friends that listed my after-care appointments and what I needed help with.  This tool was invaluable in my care.  You can use this calendar for a plethora of needs from weddings, births, hospice, aftercare surgery, and juggling the activities of several children.  Folks felt connected and helpful thanks to this type of online record keeping program.  And, it is free!  Visit:  http://www.carecalendar.org

In discussing this article with several friends who have had serious surgeries, they all said the same thing:  Do NOT shut out your friends and family.  Let them help you.  Let them support you.  I realize you don’t want anyone to know you are hurting, and of course it is wise to keep the negative Nellie’s away (block them – I did), but allowing those who are decent and comforting to help you is NOT a sign of weakness – it is a sign of courage.  Sigh.  Now…I totally understand the quantum physics premise that the more brains in it – the more it can get mucked up.  The number and disposition of the observers can change a circumstance…and some folks are afraid they will not heal if too many people are involved – I do understand…however, I’ve seen magickal people harm themselves by trying to navigate the healing alone…and because they shut everyone out they sunk into depression from abandonment…and even death.  Strength?  Is recognizing when you need assistance and embracing it.

Being mindful of who you allow into your healing space is deeply important. Recovery is a tender time, and not everyone deserves access to you while you are mending. People who carry a history of negativity, thrive on dramatics, stir up fear, or prey upon pain have no place in the quiet, sacred work of your healing. This is not the time to manage someone else’s chaos, soothe their insecurities, or make room for behavior that leaves you feeling drained, anxious, or undone.  Make note who comes to you with drama during this time, who wants to talk to you about their problems, who wants to burden you with their chaos.

Protecting your peace is part of protecting your body, your spirit, and your strength. Your energy is precious right now, and it should be spent on rest, comfort, encouragement, and the steady return of wellness. Your phone has blocking capabilities. Your internet and social media accounts have filters, mute functions, and boundaries you can enforce. Use them without guilt. Your front door has a lock. Engage it. You are not being unkind. You are being wise.

Healing asks for safe ground. Let your space be filled with those who bring gentleness, calm, practical help, laughter, prayer, kindness, and quiet strength. Let the rest wait outside. This season is about restoration, and you have every right to guard it fiercely.

Pain management matters. When pain is poorly controlled, emotional distress often grows louder. Discomfort drains patience, sleep, and steadiness. This is one more reason to follow instructions carefully and communicate honestly with your care team.  Second opinions from qualified medical providers are okay.  Asking questions is more than okay!  Immediately relieve your fears by asking your team to double-check medications, surgery site care, etc.

Try not to measure recovery by what you cannot yet do. Measure it by what is changing, however quietly. Perhaps today you were a little less afraid. Perhaps you laughed. Perhaps you stood more easily. Perhaps your mind settled for an hour. Perhaps you rested more deeply. Perhaps you cried and felt relieved. Healing rarely arrives with cymbals and parade banners. Most often, it arrives softly.  There may be tears. There may be frustration. There may be fear, tenderness, anger, gratitude, confusion, relief — sometimes all in the same afternoon. Let it come. Surgery touches the whole person. The body remembers. The mind reacts. The soul rearranges itself. You are allowed to be human here.

And if all you do on some days is breathe, rest, and follow the surgeon’s instructions, then hear me clearly:

That is still sacred work.

There is no trophy for pushing too hard too soon. There is wisdom in cooperation. There is dignity in resting well. There is power in choosing not to turn against your own body while it is fighting to restore itself.

So in these first thirteen days, use your mind wisely.

Use it as a companion, not a critic. Use it to bless, not badger.Use it to notice beauty.Use it to choose steadier words. Use it to welcome the sacred. Use it to honor the body’s labor.Use it to make peace with smaller days. Use it to remember that healing is happening, even when it is quiet.

The first thirteen days after surgery may feel like a narrow path, but that path is not barren. The way can be lined with small mercies: sunlight, breath, magick, aroma, silence, stillness, rest, kindness, beauty, and the slow return of strength. This smaller world is not a prison after all.  It is a sanctuary. And from this peace, you will rise empowered and healing—ready to step forward on a new path with courage in your spirit, fire in your heart, and your power fully in your own hands.

Be well.

Author’s Note:I wrote this article on days 15 through 30 of my own recovery because I wanted to keep everything fresh – and grab the intensity of my feelings and how what I was working through could help others.  If you are in the midst of recovery, I send you peace, patience, and a little extra light for the road. Healing does not always arrive with fanfare. More often, it comes softly, through rest, stillness, breath, kindness, and time. Be gentle with yourself. The body is listening. The spirit is near. And the sacred is closer than you think.— Silver RavenWolf

As promised, here are the EFT sequences:

A basic EFT statement might sound like this:

“Even though I feel this fear, I deeply and completely accept myself.”

Then, as you tap through each point, you use small reminder phrases such as:

“this fear,”

“this tightness in my chest,”

“this worry,”

“this sadness.”

After one round, you pause. You breathe. You notice. Has the feeling shifted? Softened? Changed shape? Then you go again, using language that matches what is true now, not what was true three minutes ago.

In plain speech, EFT is a structured way of speaking to the problem while calming the body at the same time. And for many people, that matters. It helps them come back into themselves quickly. It gives them a simple, private, effective technique they can use almost anywhere, with no tools but their own hands and a little honesty.

And honesty is the key. Tapping works best not when you try to sound lofty or holy, but when you tell the truth. Even if that truth is messy. Even if it says, I am scared. I am tired. I do not like this one bit.

That is where healing begins.

EFT for Recovering from Surgery

If you are recovering from surgery, EFT can be a steady companion — not loud, not dramatic, but gentle, grounding, and deeply supportive. It gives you a way to acknowledge what the body has endured, soothe the mind, and call yourself back into partnership with the healing process.

You may do this sitting upright or reclining comfortably. Tap lightly. There is no need to force anything. If emotion rises, let it. Breathe through it. You are not failing. You are moving energy, thought, and feeling through a body that has been through a great deal.

Begin by taking a slow breath in.

Exhale gently.

Notice your body as it is right now.

Not how you wish it felt. Not how you think it ought to feel. Just how it feels in this moment.

Now give your discomfort, fear, exhaustion, tenderness, or tension a number from 0 to 10.

Begin at the karate chop point, on the side of the hand, and tap there gently as you say each phrase three times:

“Even though my body has been through a lot, I honor what it has endured, and I open myself to healing.”

“Even though I may feel sore, tired, worried, or fragile, I choose to support my healing with patience and kindness.”

“Even though recovery can feel slow and uncertain, I trust that my body is working hard for me right now.”

Then move through the tapping points.

Eyebrow

My body has been through a great deal.

Side of Eye

There has been pain, stress, and disruption.

Under Eye

My system is trying to recover.

Under NoseI

may feel tired, tender, or emotionally raw.

Chin

Part of me may be frustrated by the slowness of healing.

Collarbone

Part of me may be frightened or discouraged.

Under Arm

But my body is still working for me.

Top of Head

Healing is happening, even now.

Pause.

Take a breath.

Now begin a second round.

Eyebrow

I thank my body for carrying me through surgery.

Side of Eye

I thank every cell that is working to repair and restore.

Under Eye

I release the pressure to heal too fast.

Under Nose

I release the fear that every sensation means something is wrong.

Chin

I give my body permission to rest.

Collarbone

I give my mind permission to soften.

Under Arm

I allow healing to come in its own time.

Top of Head

I welcome peace, strength, and steady recovery.

Take another slow breath.

Now a third round — steadier, stronger, more empowering.

Eyebrow

With each day, I learn my new rhythm.

Side of Eye

With each breath, I call in calm.

Under Eye

With each moment of rest, I support repair.

Under Nose

I do not have to fight my body.

Chin

I can work with it.

Collarbone

I can listen to it.

Under Arm

I can bless it and encourage it.

Top of Head

I am healing. I am recovering. I am returning to myself.

Pause again.

Now rate the intensity one more time from 0 to 10.

If you still feel stirred up, do another round using the honest language of the moment. That may sound like:

“this soreness”

“this fear of complications”

“this exhaustion”

“this impatience”

“this tightness”

“this need for reassurance”

And let me say this plainly: that honesty matters. EFT works best when you stop trying to sound spiritual and simply tell the truth. Truth has its own magick. Truth opens the door.

For difficult moments — when you are tired, uncomfortable, or emotionally thin — you may use this shorter version. Tap through the points and say:

My body is healing.

I choose calm

I release fear.

I allow rest.

I trust the healing process. One breath at a time. One hour at a time. One day at a time.

When you are done, place your palms over your heart, or near the area around the surgical site if that feels appropriate and comfortable, and say:

My body knows what to do.

My healing is underway.

I welcome peace, restoration, and strength.

I bless this recovery with patience, trust, and light.

If one of the body points is tender, bandaged, aching, or off-limits, do not fuss over it. Skip it. Touch the opposite side if that feels right, lay your fingers there lightly, or simply imagine the point as you breathe and continue.

This is not about pretending everything feels wonderful. It is about standing in the middle of what is true and offering yourself steadiness anyway. It is about becoming an ally to your own healing. Tap by tap, breath by breath, moment by moment, you remind the body, the mind, and the spirit that you are here — and that you are willing to walk yourself gently home.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): Tapping into Emotional Wellness – http://www.eftinternational.org

The Game of Life and How to Play It: 

Do Psychological Variables Affect Early Surgical Recovery? PMC Pub Med Central

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3102096/#:~:text=Overall%2C%20trait%20and%20state%20anxiety%2C,control%20seemed%20to%20promote%20healing