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The Three Cauldrons

A working model that maps energy and awareness into three “cauldrons” or centers. I use it to check balance, choose practices, and plan simple restoratives.

Quick Map
  • Cauldron of Warming — body, vitality, grounding
  • Cauldron of Motion — heart, connection, emotion
  • Cauldron of Wisdom — head, clarity, inspiration
How I Use This

Before a working, I note which cauldron feels low or overfull, then pick one short practice to rebalance. After, I check again and record outcomes.

Center of breath, heat, appetite, and physical steadiness. When balanced, I feel present and capable; when low, I feel scattered or chilled.

Signals
  • Balanced: steady breath, appetite cues clear, grounded pace
  • Low: cold hands/feet, shallow breath, restlessness
  • Excess: heat/irritability, impulsive action, overexertion
Restoratives
  • 4–4–6 breath for 3–6 cycles
  • Warm tea / light soup; gentle stretch
  • Salt at thresholds; slow room tidy
Ritual Touchstones
  • Candle focus; iron or stone in hand
  • Simple food offering (bread, honey)
  • Feet-on-floor grounding before speech
Journal Prompts
  • What warms me without depleting me?
  • Where does my body say “yes/no” today?

Seat of feeling, relationship, and direction. When balanced, emotions move and resolve; when stuck, they stagnate or spill.

Signals
  • Balanced: calm openness, appropriate tears/laughter, congruent choices
  • Low: numbness, isolation, “going through motions”
  • Excess: flooding, rumination, reactive speech
Restoratives
  • Hand-on-heart breath; gentle hum for one minute
  • Short walk; name three beauties you notice
  • Write a one-line boundary or request
Ritual Touchstones
  • Rosemary smoke sweep, then open a window
  • Water bowl scry: ask one clear question
  • Ribbon vow: tie and state a kind commitment
Journal Prompts
  • What wants motion (name, breath, or action)?
  • Which connection needs warmth or boundary?

Field of insight, discernment, and pattern recognition. Balanced, it receives clear signals; unbalanced, it fixates or fogs.

Signals
  • Balanced: quiet focus, timely ideas, steady decisions
  • Low: fog, indecision, scattered input
  • Excess: overthinking, perfectionism, harsh inner voice
Restoratives
  • Single-task timer (10–20 min), then pause
  • Sound reset: bell/chime; three slow exhales
  • Limit inputs; write a one-sentence aim
Ritual Touchstones
  • Sigil for clarity traced over candle
  • Jade or clear quartz near notes/tools
  • Divination only after breath + water
Journal Prompts
  • What is the simplest next right step?
  • Which thought is useful vs. noise?

Pick one cauldron as your focus and add one supportive touch from a second cauldron.

Cool the Head, Warm the Body
  • Warming tea + 4–4–6 breath
  • One clarifying sentence on paper
Move the Heart, Then Ground
  • Short walk naming beauties → feet-on-floor grounding
  • Gratitude line, then a salty snack or broth
Spark Insight, Keep it Gentle
  • Bell ring + candle focus (2 minutes)
  • Close with body scan and water

Keep a running list of what reliably helps you. Adjust with the seasons.

My Tags

warm tea bell reset window open salt line one-sentence aim

Check-In Script
Body: warm / cool? • Heart: open / closed? • Head: clear / noisy?
Choose one restorative. Do it now. Re-check in ten minutes.