Warm greetings to the lovely forum family!
And big thank youās once again to all those who joined in on last weekās challenge: Inviting Abundance. I hope all that you wished for has come or is coming to be!
After welcoming prosperity and seeking good blessings into our lives, it is time to take a step back and appreciate all the wonderful things we already have. The theme for this weekās challenge isā¦
Gratitude and Thankfulness
In our lives we have so many things to be thankful for, many of which we may not often take the time to think about! After asking for blessings last week, now is a wonderful time to sit back and look at all the things that bring us happiness and joy
For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, this challenge is timed with Mabon- also called the Witchesā Thanksgiving. This is a wonderful occasion, but know that gratitude is a healthy and beneficial practice that should be experienced much more than just once a year! So no matter where in the world you may be, take some time to enjoy your blessings this week!
Are you ready? Itās CHALLENGE TIME!
STEP 1: Practicing Gratitude 
Whether you take some time to look back on your witchy journey, count the material or spiritual blessings in your life, or practice gratitude magick- this challenge is all about expressing gratitude and showing thanks!
As always, this challenge is very open to your own interpretation and what suits your practice best.
For more info about gratitude, here is a discussion and resources on how to begin: Practicing Gratitude.
In addition to the ideas there, here are a few more ways to help get you started:
Thank Your Gods
Is there a deity you call on often? Now is a great time to offer your thanks to your deities or patron gods for all that they do for you.
Gratitude Devotional Prayer
The Artemis Gratitude Devotional Prayer will help you to express thankfulness and devotion to the forces of nature and life itself.
Count Your Blessings
Consider writing a list of things you are grateful for. You can add it to your Book of Shadows, hang it somewhere as a reminder, or incorporate it in a spell or gratitude meditation.
Appreciate Even The Small Things
Clean your altar and magickal tools and show appreciation for the items and space that lets you practice your craft.
Celebrate Witchesā Thanksgiving
Mabon (the Autumn Equinox) will begin on September 21st for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere! Consider celebrating this holiday by creating a thankfulness offering or showing gratitude for friends and family.
You can find more ideas about how to celebrate Mabon in How to Prepare for Mabon and How to Celebrate the Fall Equinox Alone
Gratitude Meditation
Consider taking some quiet time to calm your mind and focus on the blessings in your life. There are many ways to practice meditation- a great and beginner-friendly method is with a guided meditation. There are many out there on the internet, you can find free gratitude meditations on YouTube!
Here is a nice Gratitude Meditation (Strengthen Happiness) by MyLife on YouTube:
Share the Love!
If there is someone in your life you are very appreciative of, consider letting them know! You can pay them a visit (keeping in mind current safety recommendations), give them a call, write a note, or if you are feeling shy, perhaps make an offering in their name. Doing so may strengthen your ties and can lead to good feelings all around
STEP 2: Share Your Experience 
To participate in this challenge, you must share your experience!
Please feel free to create a new post in the forums (and tag the challenge by adding a hyperlink or link back to this post!) or write about your experience below
For all those who express their love and show gratitude, there will be a shout-out and small prize awarded to you! Although giving gratitude is an act of selflessness, I believe you deserve a little special something for your efforts
This challenge will be open for 6 DAYS!
(Please note that this challenge is a bit shorter than previous challenges! I am experimenting with days, and hoping to try Wednesday as a weekly challenge day )
To join in, please post about your moon magick by 7:00 AM CET (Central European Time) on Tuesday, September 22nd!
After the challenge closes, you are still very welcome to post but please be aware that no additional prizes will be given.
A warm reminder that this challenge is very open- all are encouraged to participate in a way that reflects their unique practice. There are no right or wrong answers so long as you practice respectfully, and there is no way to āloseā the challenge if you participate!
Please know that this challengeās goal is to help you help yourself! By exploring new aspects of magick and trying new practices, the hope is to both help you further diversify and strengthen your abilities and to bring together the Spells8 forum family to inspire and support one another
On that note, Iād like to get the ball rolling by sayingā¦
To all those who have read this far and are ready to jump in on this challenge! Thanks for being a part- I appreciate YOU!
May your gracious heart continue to be full of many blessings, love, and joy!
Blessed Be!