9 Magickal Days to Surgery

Nine Magickal Days Before Surgery

Practical and spiritual ways to prepare, reduce stress, and ready the heart, mind, and spirit.

By Silver RavenWolf

An unusual energy fills the days before surgery—a calm center edged with tension. There is much to do, yet the spirit urges quiet contemplation for steadiness and empowerment. The choice is made; now, we prepare.

Life keeps going during this time. There are still dishes to wash, laundry to do, bills to pay, calls to answer, and pets to feed. The world keeps moving as usual. But you might feel a little removed, as if something has shifted. Your schedule feels tighter. Both your body and spirit sense something important is coming. Your mind may race with unfinished tasks. If we are honest, many of us try hard not to pace with worry.

The days before surgery are not just empty time. They are not simply about waiting. These days are for preparing and focusing your intentions. This combination can be powerful.

In January 2026, I was surprised by a diagnosis that meant I needed major surgery. I had a little time to get ready, though not much. Since I had never gone through something like this before, I decided to focus on what I could control—my choices. I used my time to simplify where I could, organize what mattered, reduce stress, and balance both practical and spiritual tasks. I wrote several things, including a guided meditation and a statement to my problem, which I will share in another blog post. I chose a special stone, the holey stone, to keep with me during this journey. I also knew I needed to prepare for healing, so I would not feel scattered when surgery day came. I wanted to respect the process and get ready for recovery. I picked a time frame that felt right: 9 Magickal Days, which is what this article is about – those powerful, important days leading up to your surgery date.

If your surgery is coming up quickly, and you do not have a full nine days, do not worry. You can still use these steps in a condensed format—combine days, pick the practices that call to you most, and fit what you can into your available time. Even a few intentional actions or moments of preparation can make a real difference. What matters is honoring your process, however much time you have.

I chose nine days because I felt it provided structure—not too long, not too short. It’s enough to gather thoughts, organize, calm your spirit, and prepare. I asked friends from the magical community, each with over 30 years’ experience and several surgeries, to share advice, which you’ll find later in this article.

Before you start my countdown, remember this is just a guide based on what helped me. Feel free to change anything—add your own ideas or skip what doesn’t fit. This is your journey, so stand tall and make it your own.

Day Nine: Name What Is Happening

The first task required nothing but my mind.  I needed to… Face it.

Many avoid thinking about surgery until necessary. They distract themselves, overwork, focus on small details, and claim it’s no big deal. But the body knows a threshold is near. When fear isn't acknowledged, it leaks out—irritability, exhaustion, forgetfulness, or inexplicable tears.

So begin by telling yourself the truth.  Yes, this is happening. Yes, it matters. Yes, I am afraid.  Of what?  For each person, it will be different.  Of dying on the table?  Of post-surgery complications?  Is this the end?  Okay.  Okay.  

How do I feel about it?  Angry?  Scared?  Disappointed?  Whatever the answers, once you have permitted yourself to have this personal conversation, you have faced your feelings.  Honesty changes the atmosphere. The thing is no longer looming nameless in the muck of mental fear. It has been called forward into the light, where it can be met and put down!  You may cry, throw something (safely), or try to avoid the worst of it – all this is normal.  If you feel you are drowning or can’t do this alone, seek professional assistance.  There is nothing wrong with that.

When I faced the topic of death, I remembered when my mother was diagnosed with leukemia during my teenage years. Life changed in an instant. What stood out most was her struggle with fear. She called on various clergy, searching not for a promise of salvation, but for guidance that could help her move through her terror and panic. Unfortunately, she never found what she needed.

When I faced my own crisis, I realized I’d been spiritually preparing for this situation most of my life. Yet the week before surgery, my special needs puppy died. That hit me hard. That was tough.

To address death, I petitioned my ancestors. I thanked them, reviewed what I knew of them, and asked for their protection during surgery and recovery. “May I do my best throughout this experience.”

On day 9, I cleansed myself throughout the day with sacred smoke and herbal holy water. I held tiger eye, clear quartz, and amethyst in my palms for truth and clarity as I processed my thoughts.

Another helpful but not magical step: When talking with physicians and staff, I accepted all recommended aftercare my insurance covered. This filled my calendar, but in retrospect, it was wise. From genetic counseling to acupuncture, dietitian visits, massage, and decompression chamber sessions—I did it all. These helped my recovery. Always check with your doctor before starting any therapy to ensure it's safe. Keep your healthcare team informed.

Today’s Spiritual Task: Use this day to begin sacred preparation. After acknowledging your situation, light a candle if you choose. Sit quietly. Breathe. Allow yourself to just “be”. The number 9 represents resilience, vigilance, luck, endurance, wisdom, heightened force, and courage. Make a protective bag of 9 blessed items—whisper nine’s power over it. Tie it tightly, pass it over flame or light, and keep it with you until surgery.

Today’s Physical Tasks:  On this day, gather a notebook or folder and a calendar.  Dedicate the notebook to your surgery preparations. Put the appointment information there, the doctor’s instructions, medication notes, questions, phone numbers, directions, insurance information, and anything you do not want to trust to a frayed memory. Who waters the plants?  Who feeds the cat?  Getting it out of your head and onto paper is one of the most powerful favors you can do for yourself.  A single place for all the facts is an anchor for the mind.  Don’t panic.  You don’t have to fill everything out today.  You don’t have to assign things to people today.  I am a big fan of breaking tasks into smaller pieces.  Get your vehicles for data collection together today and fill out everything another day, if you like.  I used a three-ring binder to hold the plethora of paperwork I was given by various medical providers, because honestly?  They gave me so much stuff – fliers, instructions, pretty pictures of the medical establishment, history – okay, a lot of junk I didn’t need, and I wondered how many trees went down screaming for the non-essential marketing hype.  Seriously?  I recycled all non-essential material.  

You are going to need your calendar…trust me…post surgery.  I had two – one for the wall so everyone in the household and those visiting could see and read it, and one online, thanks to my daughter.  She found this amazing, free calendar website that offers event tracking for a variety of family styles.  We found this service to be an amazing help during my surgery window (pre- and post-op).  Friends and family repeatedly raved about this data collection tool.  Visit:  http://www.carecalendar.org

Start to declutter your recovery space. Will it be your bedroom, den, or the family room? How many people will your recovery affect? What works best? I chose the living room recliner facing the TV—I didn’t want to be behind a closed door. No cleaning today, just decluttering. Remove anything that doesn’t belong. It's surprising how much migrates from room to room.

Decide which daily techniques you’ll use until surgery. My list: Gentle stretching yoga, greeting the day outside facing the sun, the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (see www.silverravenwolf.wordpress.com), daily gratitude to my ancestors with fresh water, and bringing floral fragrance into my day.

This is likely the busiest day of the nine, and I planned it that way because you’re full of energy at the start. Later, you might slow down, but today, you’re ready to go!

Day Eight: Learn What You Need to Know

There is a world of difference between preparation and panic. This is the day to confirm what you need to know. Yesterday, we got our collection vehicles together and maybe filled in a few things.  But, today, we’re going to persevere and fill out and acknowledge as much as we can.  Arrival time. Fasting rules. Medication instructions. What to wear. What to bring. Who is taking you? What happens afterward? Get clear on the real details. Write them down. Simplify them. Because…dimes to dollars (what does that mean, anyway?), someone is going to ask you, the sick person, when you are feeling your absolute worst, what the itinerary is.  Seriously?  Or how much medication, or which medication you have to take today, when your head is filled with swimming bull sharks of stabbing pain.Yup.  It can happen.

Once you’ve finished, try not to get stuck in worry. Do something fun! Today’s practical task is to finish what you started yesterday, then enjoy yourself. The number 8 stands for self-mastery, taking care of practical matters, investing in your future, and handling responsibility.

Today’s Spiritual Task: On the spiritual side, this is a day to guard the mind. Place your hand gently over your brow and imagine a cool, white, gold, or silver light settling there (I’ve learned to accept the color I immediately visualize), soothing your thoughts and quieting the spin. Tell yourself, clearly and firmly, “I welcome clarity. I reject needless fear.” It is a clean line, and a useful one.  I am a big advocate of EFT - Emotional Frequency Tapping – I use this a great deal in my healing work, and it certainly came in super handy for surgery preparation.  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 focus on 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 the times when life seems to snag on the same thorn over and over again.  I have added an EFT sequence for your use at the end of this article, along with a website referral.

Day Seven: Prepare the Place Where You Will Heal

On day 9, we picked our first room where we will heal, so today we will focus on preparing that recovery space.  I say 'first room' because you will move to another room as your healing advances.  Your healing body should not have to stumble into clutter, search for pillows, or make ten unnecessary trips for water, tissues, chargers, medications, and all the other little things that suddenly become very important when you are sore and tired.  Today, build your healing nest.

Practical Tasks:  Clear the path to the bed or chair. Wash the sheets. Set up a small table nearby. Gather what you are likely to need: water bottle, lip balm, notebook, charger, medication supplies, tissues, glasses, light blanket, perhaps a shawl, heating pad, perhaps a relaxing book, or maybe nothing more than a quiet lamp and a sense of order. Oh!  And know where the darned remotes are!  Practical preparation is one of the purest forms of compassion you can show yourself.  Me?  Recliner, a freestanding tray, a pumpkin-shaped table (of course), a rolling cart with all the “stuff”, and a quilt storage bag with my blankets, pillow, etc., zipped inside and ready to go when I need them, but not in the way until then.  I sprayed most of the cloth items with the chamomile/hyssop hydrosol I made last summer and tucked the bottle on that rolling cart.  I also made sure my spray bottle of Florida Water was on that cart, too!

Spiritual Tasks:  Bless the room. Open a window if the weather allows. Let stale air and stagnant energy move along. You might place a glass of water by the bedside as a symbol of calm and renewal and a gift to your ancestors.  Change this water every day.   You might murmur a blessing over the blankets, or simply stand in the room and say, “This is a place of peace. This is where I will mend.”  I cleansed the room with sacred smoke and herbal holy water this day AND the night before my surgery.  7 is the number of meditation, analyzing, listening, evaluating, deciding if you’ve been cultivating something that will not offer rewards, and measuring your progress.  This is not a day to overdo it.

Day Six: Tame the Everyday World

Stress loves loose ends. On days 9 and 8, we worked on your personal calendar and tasks associated with your surgery and recovery.  On the 7th, we prepared our healing space.  Today, we expand into general life and thinking ahead for yourself and for your family.  A bill you forgot or might forget. A refill for your dog’s meds so he doesn’t run out.  What about groceries in the house?  Arlene’s cheerleading practice and Doug’s art lessons – how are they going to get there? These are the small practical goblins that turn up at the most unfortunate possible time, pulling on your sleeve when your body needs rest.  So tend them now.  If you can, pay what you must. Refill what must be refilled. Make a grocery order or simple meal plan. See to the sensible and unglamorous details that make ordinary life run more smoothly.  Do not try to conquer the whole world in a single afternoon. Choose the tasks that will reduce future stress the most, and do those first. Three finished things are better than twelve half-done ones.  Don’t forget to empty the refrigerator of all the old stuff.

Today’s Practical Task:  Once you’ve gotten these pesky chores behind you, rev up for Spa Day.  Yup!  Healing starts with the alignment of body, mind, and spirit, and there is nothing that puts you more in sync than pampering yourself!  From a mani-pedi to a brand new hairstyle and color – I went for the gusto!  My philosophy was:  If I don’t make it, I’m going to look good going out!  I felt like a million bucks that night.  Whoot!

Spiritual Task:  Six stands for actions that balance and bring harmony within your life.  What activity will you choose today to fulfill this task?

Day Five: Know Who Your People Are

Surgery has a way of revealing who is truly dependable. Some people mean well but vanish. Some talk a great deal and do very little. Others may be quiet, awkward, and not at all poetic, yet they will show up with soup, drive you to the appointment, carry the groceries, and remember the one thing you forgot. Those are your people.

This is the day to decide, clearly and realistically, who is in your support circle. Consider what you will need on your healing journey. Who can drive? Who can check in? Who can help with meals, household tasks, errands, or pets? Who is emotionally steady? Who makes you feel calmer instead of more rattled? If you don’t have nearby friends or family, or if your support system feels thin right now, remember you are not alone. Many hospitals have social workers or patient navigators who can help coordinate resources. Some communities offer volunteer services for rides or meal delivery, and there are online groups that support people through medical challenges. Even a friendly neighbor, a faith community, or reaching out to a local agency can make a difference. The most important thing is to have some kind of support, even if it looks different from what you expect.

Ask before you are desperate. That is the key.

People often wait too long because they do not want to inconvenience anyone. Then they find themselves overwhelmed and depleted, trying to manage too much on their own. Do not do that. Ask clearly. Ask simply. Let people help in real ways.

For me, the aforementioned calendar was a true blessing.  My daughter posted it pre-surgery and asked several people if they were interested in joining.  There were some who were reticent because they weren’t comfortable with hooking in online, and some had trouble making their way with any type of electronic data sharing, so she had to print out paper copies for a few – she’s tenacious, that daughter.  But, I have to tell you, it didn’t stop there.  After surgery, she set up a gift cart inside my front door, filled with all sorts of little gifts for those who brought food, came to clean, or helped out in general.  Everybody left with a smile on their face – a new totem animal, notebooks and pens, keychains, candles…she thought of everything.

On the spiritual side, receiving care is not a weakness. It is a form of grace. It allows love to become visible. It teaches the heart that support is not always a burden and that healing is not an individual competition.

Your Spiritual Task for Today:  5 is the number of change – and change is what we will be experiencing, so let’s start now by permitting this energy in our lives.  Celia, one of my friends, said she cleaned off all her altars and rearranged them before her various surgeries. I removed the main altar but did not set it back up again because I wanted to build a new energy vortex while I recovered.  I cleaned the other altars and removed most of the items. I also stocked magickal items and put them in my recovery area – Florida Water, Holy Water, Incense, my singing bowl, and a rattle, etc.  Small things that make me feel better.  I also stitched an empowered a Himmelsbrief into my shirt that I was going to wear on my surgery day – 5 represents the points of the protective pentacle.  My friend, Anna Maria, takes this day to choose the crystals and gemstones that are associated with the upcoming surgery.  She cleanses and empowers them, and then decides how she will use them – a conjure bag, or laying them out on her altar, or on a table in her recovery room, etc.  She also cleanses all the rooms in the house with her favorite herbal smoke/incense, and takes a spiritual bath on this day as well as the day before her surgery (following the guidelines of body products from her physicians).

Day Four: Reduce the Noise

Around this point, the mental static often gets louder. Everyone has an opinion. Someone wants updates. Someone else has a story. The phone pings. Social media chatters. News crawls across the screen. A random acquaintance appears with medical folklore from 1987 and delivers it as gospel. It is enough to make a sane person hide under the bed.

So reduce the noise. Limit conversations that leave you tired. Step away from social media if it stirs anxiety. Turn down the television. Delay nonessential obligations. Protect your energy the way you would protect a candle flame in a drafty room. Not everyone is entitled to access to your healing field, and that is how you should think of it—this field of energy that you, through your actions and thoughts, are building around yourself. This is also the day to set boundaries to protect yourself from the people who thrive on drama, negativity, or fear. They do not need front-row seats to this chapter of your life.

If you are normally a caring, giving person who listens and tries to ease pain and meet others' needs, this may be very difficult for you. Setting boundaries, especially with those you love, can feel uncomfortable or even guilty at first. That is normal. Remind yourself that protecting your healing is not selfish—it is necessary. You might try a simple phrase such as, "I appreciate your concern, but I need quiet and calm right now," or "I am focusing on my own well-being this week, so I won't be available for long talks." These gentle words can help create space without creating conflict. Because there is always someone who doesn’t notice those silent cues. They are so needy themselves that it never crosses their mind that you just might be in a bit of a pickle yourself. Be courageous. Stand your ground. This is your time.   These are often the feeders in our society — constantly trying to drain you of your resources, tangible or not.  You may wish to make a note and handle them differently in the future.

And then there are the oh-so-helpful people with sage advice.  Everything will be better for you if…

You exercise more.Don’t eat so many goodies.Find something “meaningful” to do with your time.Increase what you’ve always been doing – produce more.

Yessssssss.  All this while undergoing major surgery you wonder-person you!

And then there are those that can’t deal – so they flap hand in the air and tell you this is REALLY no big deal.  You will be fine.

Seriously??

I won’t lie to you.  I was ruthless on who I let into my space, who I shared my situation with, and who I talked to on a general basis.  And I was happy with my choices.  And happy is how we want to move into this experience.

Day Four was the day I called in a friend to talk about the “what if” scenario. I already have a will, my DNR, and my last wishes on what is to be done with my body.  However, I knew that if I did pass, my family would be extremely upset, so I asked someone I trusted to come over and talk about these things.  I showed her where I kept important papers and talked about my desires.  I knew that in the face of chaos, she would be the voice of reason AND I told family members that I’d spoken to my friend, and why.

Spiritually, make this a small banishing day. Pass your hands slowly through the air around your body and imagine yourself brushing away agitation, intrusive opinions, pressure, fear, and noise. Then say, “Only what supports my peace may enter here.”  Four represents a solid foundation – it symbolizes the act of building, and you are preparing to build a new future.  You have chosen to step off the path, coupled with sickness, and move onto a better pavement of healing.

Day Three: Be Kind to the Body

The body is already listening. Even before surgery, the nervous system may be under strain. Sleep may be off. Appetite may change. The body may feel alert, tired, achy, or vaguely unsettled. This is not the time to punish yourself with overexertion, poor meals, or a heroic last-minute campaign to do everything at once.

Instead, turn toward gentleness. Eat simply. Drink enough water. Rest more. Wear comfortable clothes. Move with care. Follow any medical instructions you have been given. Write them down where you can see them. Remove guesswork from the equation. Speak kindly to your body. Too many people approach surgery feeling betrayed by the very flesh that is trying its best to survive, repair, and endure. Today, try another way. Place your hands softly over your heart, your belly, or whatever feels right, and say, “Body, we are in this together.” No grand ritual is needed. Just respect. Just partnership.

It is also completely normal if speaking kindly to your body or trying these gentle practices feels awkward, uncomfortable, or even impossible at first. There may be grief, anger, or numbness that makes it hard to connect. This is not a sign you are failing; it is simply part of being human, especially when facing pain or uncertainty. If the emotional or spiritual side of this process feels difficult, know that you are not alone—many people find these steps challenging, and it is okay to ask for help. Consider reaching out to a trusted friend, counselor, or spiritual practitioner for support. Offering yourself compassion in the struggle is also an important form of healing.

To me, my body and I were jointly suffering an invasion, and I think this comes from my Braucherei training. Illness is not defeat; it is a wayward energy that has taken up residence and must be expelled for the whole to thrive and prosper. It is not a demon, and it does not “think”; but it will act as is its nature to survive. Grow faster. Attempt to spread. Sabotage healing, etc. It was my job to release this idiot OUT of my body, mind, and spirit. So… this means you have to contemplate how this problem took up residence in your space in the first place. Talk about this with yourself. Be honest. Stress manifests in terrible ways. Listen to your dreams. Write down the images and do a little free association.

Here is another way I think differently from most people.  I believe you open the door to accidents and illness through your thoughts, feelings, and actions.  Breakdowns in the body occur when outside pressures begin to chip away at your sanity (don’t know how else to put it).  Experiencing abuse, cruelty, anger, loss, grief, fear, monetary burdens, accusations of responsibility … oh my goodness, the list seems endless, doesn’t it?  So…the surgeon is going to fix this on a physical level, but how are you going to walk away and release yourself from those things I just listed – the ones that got you here in the first place? I am a super big fan of spiritual cleansing – particularly what I learned from author Ray Malbrough in my Spiritism training - but I also learned cleansing techniques from Preston Zerbe, my Braucherei teacher.  I use both of these processes successfully for myself and others.  But you are not perfect, and you never will be.  And although you can remove a great deal of negativity?  You will miss some.  Ignore some.  You are human - not a machine.  If you are sick, it doesn’t mean your cleansings didn’t work — it just means you still have work to do.

Today, consider what you have learned in your life that you can use for this type of cleansing.  Contemplate and build a new foundation for living and healing yourself.  You deserve it.

3 is the number of bringing beauty and joy into form.  It is an industrious number – of employing body, mind, and spirit for a purpose – to do something creative that represents rising above your challenges.

Day Two: Finish the Important Things, Then Let Stillness In

As the date draws near, edgy energy can make people restless. Suddenly, there is a powerful urge to clean the garage, alphabetize the pantry, reorganize old files, and complete forty-seven tasks that were apparently never urgent until this very moment.

Resist that nonsense.

Today is for final details that genuinely matter.  Cleanse and bless all items that you will be packing and the comfortable clothing you will be wearing to and from…whatever. Confirm transportation. Recheck the arrival time. Put identification, insurance card, glasses case, charger, lip balm, and other essentials in one place. Make sure the home is reasonably ready for your return.

Then stop.

This matters. Allowing peace to surround you is important.

Do not let anxiety disguise itself as productivity. Once the true essentials are handled, allow quiet to enter the room. Take a warm shower if that is appropriate. Sit with a cup of tea if allowed. Watch something gentle. Listen to music. Let the body begin its inward turning.

Spiritually, water can be especially helpful tonight. Even an ordinary handwashing can become a cleansing act if done with intention. Imagine worry flowing off you and down the drain. You do not need to carry every thought into tomorrow.

2 is the power of union – patience, weaving things together, cooperation – what can you do today to foster this energy?  What can you do to bring balance?

Day One – Prepare for Ignition – Spend Time With Nature

One is power and moving in a new and exciting direction.  We’ve already covered what you need to do to be prepared.  So today, we can enjoy a break.  Is there something on your bucket list you’d like to accomplish?  Can you do it?  Or, perhaps, there is a project you’ve avoided finishing.  Is today the window for that?  Maybe you just want to spend time with nature – I walked outside in my bare feet (hey, phooey on snow, right?)  I cleared the snow down to the ground and felt the Mother embrace me.  Then I went back inside and spent some time doing gentle yoga stretches, and stating my intent of healing before I began.

For the evening, I have to thank my daughter for this one, too.  She arranged a dinner with all of my favorite foods.  We stayed within the surgical window, and the entire family ate with gusto!  We laughed, we stuffed ourselves, and we enjoyed each other’s company.  A good day, and had it been my last?  It was marvelous!

The Eve of Surgery

Follow the instructions exactly. Set alarms if needed. Keep things simple. And although we’ve already talked about this, it deserves a repeat -- Avoid arguments. Avoid heavy conversations. Avoid the sort of people who feed on tension or delight in recounting grim experiences in vivid detail. They are not invited into this space.

Do one or two things that soothe you. A soft blanket. A prayer. A chant.  Music. Quiet television. A beloved scent. A soft shawl. In the Black Forest Clan, we have a tradition (if we have enough notice) of giving handmade healing blankets empowered by the circle.  I always make note of who shows up for the laying in of energy for these gifts.  Don’t get me wrong.  There is no judgment – but who is in circle makes a particular matrix – something special for the receiver.  If the need is sudden, I have a chest of blankets or other crafted items that we can share, ready for blessing.  My friend, Anna Maria takes a spiritual bath on this evening (ingredients verified with her surgeon).  Rachel drew protective runes on her body far from the proposed surgical area with body paint – “Super tiny,” she said, laughing.  “I also baked cookies and drew runes on them with icing as well.  I ate one cookie per evening, chewing slowly and ingesting the energy of that rune.  Surgery morning I drew runes over the glass of water I was allowed to have, and imagined them sinking into my body as I drank.”  Georgia?  Empowered/activated her tattoos for safety and protection.

Right before you go to bed, allow yourself a few minutes to embrace stillness with your hands folded over your heart. The goal is not to force yourself into some grand, fearless state. The goal is to create calm conditions and let peace be possible.  Pay attention to who or what shows up in any visualizations you may have.  Owl came to me.

Before bed, speak to your own soul.

Tell yourself that skilled hands, wise minds, and healing forces are gathering. Tell your body it is not being betrayed. It is being cared for. Imagine yourself surrounded by steady light, not theatrical and blinding, but calm, capable, certain light.  You do not need to be without fear. You only need to be willing to walk forward.

Surgery Morning: Step Through With Intention

Though not technically one of the nine days, this morning belongs to them all.  I performed a rattle bath, which you can find on my WordPress Blog.  I’ve used it often in my Great Release Program.  Visit https://www.silverravenwolf.wordpress.com  I also deliberately chose two new projects that I wanted to complete after my surgery.  Like an expert fisher, I cast my mind-net into the future, and caught the finished product in my mind. 

For now, take one steady breath before you leave the house. One. That is enough to gather yourself. Touch your heart. Say a prayer if you pray. Use sacred water if that is part of your practice. Speak a simple truth over yourself.

“I am guided.”“I am protected.”“I am ready to receive healing.”

Do not demand more from yourself than that.

It took real courage for you to get here.  Congratulate yourself and mean it.

And then, as I stepped out of the car, I said, “I will endeavor in the future to enjoy new experiences, eat new foods, and find new techniques to help heal myself and others.”

A Final Blessing for the Nine Days

The days before surgery are not empty time. They are active preparation of the most meaningful sort. They are days in which you clear the path, reduce the burdens, soften the room, gather support, guard your peace, and speak kindly to the body that is about to carry you through something significant. In the same way, the practices you begin now can carry into your recovery period after surgery. Gentle rituals, mindful breathing, spiritual cleansing, and practical self-care can help ease your transition into healing. These ongoing practices support your body and spirit as you move forward, reminding you that healing is an active, continuing journey—even after the procedure is done.  I have written an article entitled, Thirteen Days of Magick - Post Surgery Healing Techniques that is on this blog as well should you be interested in continuing this type of practice.

That is sacred work.

You are not “doing nothing” these days. You are building the conditions for healing. You are making your home, your schedule, your heart, and your spirit more ready to receive what comes next.

Clear what you can. Bless what you touch. Release what is needless. Welcome what is steady. And step toward the coming day, knowing that the preparation you did is a form of great power.

Author Blessing to You:

May fear fall away.

May peace surround you.

May the hands that care for you be guided and sure.

May your body rest in safety, and your spirit rise in strength.

Go forward in courage, and return in healing.

May it be so.

Peace with the GodsPeace with NaturePeace Within.

Silver RavenWolf

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

EFT Sequence for Surgery Preparation – Eliminating Fear

Start by rating your fear on a scale of 0 to 10. Do not judge it. Just notice it. If you feel panicky, shaky, tearful, numb, or tight in the chest, that all counts.

Use the side of the hand point and tap gently while saying this three times:

“Even though I am afraid of this surgery, I deeply and completely accept myself.”

You can also use one of these if it fits better:

“Even though I am frightened about what might happen, I honor how I feel.”“Even though my body is scared and my mind keeps racing, I choose to bring in calm.”“Even though I do not like this and I wish it were different, I am open to peace.”

Then tap through the points, about 5 to 7 taps each, while speaking the reminder phrases out loud.

Eyebrow:“This fear.”

Side of eye:“This surgery fear.”

Under eye:“My body is nervous.”

Under nose:“I am afraid of what is coming.”

Chin:“I do not feel in control.”

Collarbone:“My mind keeps going to worst-case scenarios.”

Under the arm:“My body is holding this fear.”

Top of head:“All this fear before surgery.”

Pause. Take a breath.

Now do a second round and allow the truth to come out a little more honestly:

Eyebrow:“I am scared of the unknown.”

Side of eye:“I am scared something will go wrong.”

Under eye:“I am scared of pain.”

Under nose:“I am scared of being vulnerable.”

Chin:“I am scared of waiting.”

Collarbone:“I am scared of what they might find.”

Under the arm:“My body is carrying all this tension.”

Top of head:“And it is exhausting.”

Take another breath. Check your number again from 0 to 10.

Then move into a calming round:

Eyebrow:“I can let some of this fear go.”

Side of eye:“I do not need to carry all of it right now.”

Under eye:“I know my body is striving to protect me.”

Under nose:“Thank you, body, for trying to keep me safe.”

Chin:“But I do not need full alarm mode right now.”

Collarbone:“In this moment, I am here.”

Under the arm:“In this moment, I am breathing.”

Top of head:“In this moment, I am safe.”

Now a strengthening round:

Eyebrow:“I choose steadiness.”

Side of eye:“I choose calm, one breath at a time.”

Under eye:“I do not have to solve everything today.”

Under nose:“I only have to take the next step.”

Chin:“My body knows how to receive help.”

Collarbone:“I allow support.”

Under the arm:“I allow skillful hands to help me.”

Top of head:“I allow peace to enter now.”

If you want a final round with a more meditative tone, use this:

Eyebrow:“I call my spirit back to center.”

Side of eye:“I release dread.”

Under eye:“I release panic.”

Under nose:“I release the need to suffer repeatedly.”

Chin:“I meet this with courage.”

Collarbone:“I welcome calm into my body.”

Under the arm:“I welcome strength into my heart.”

Top of head:“I walk toward healing.”

When you finish, sit quietly for a moment. Notice your breath, your shoulders, your jaw, your belly. Rate the fear again on a scale of 0 to 10. If it is still high, repeat the sequence, changing the words to match exactly what is bothering you most.

Here is a shorter emergency version for the night before surgery or in the waiting room:

Side of hand, three times:

“Even though I am scared, I am safe in this moment.”

Then tap through the points saying:

“This fear.”“My whirlwind thoughts.”“This tension in my body.”“I do not have to carry all of this.”“One breath.”“One moment.”“One step at a time.”“I choose calm now.”

A few good phrases to swap in, depending on what the fear is about:

“I am afraid of anesthesia.”“I am afraid of the results.”“I am afraid of the waiting.”“I am afraid of losing control.”“I am afraid of pain.”“I am afraid of bad news.”“I am afraid because this matters to me.”

That is the key with EFT: say the real thing first, then soften it, then shift it.

Here is one gentle final statement you can say with your hand over your heart:

“My fear was real to me, but it is not the whole story, nor does it control me. I am breathing. I am supported. I am moving toward healing.”

Thank you for reading this article!