So we have been meditating and we have been visualising and our life seems to be in order and all is right with the world. It feels like we are invincible and there is literally nothing that we cannot achieve or accomplish. It is as if we are walking on air itself and flowing with the pure power of the universe. Then all of a sudden we bump into that one person that can instantly make you feel stressful or worthless or we suddenly have a memory that brings our fortress crashing around us. It may be that we are suddenly asked to give a company presentation and our positivity and new found confidence is suddenly washed away in a tidal wave of stress, fear and doubt.

This all may sound dramatic yet it is a very real experience

For some reason "new age" - I hate that phrase - practices and spiritual development is often given a blissful gloss which is totally understandable as a sort of rebellion against the horrific attitude of patriarchal religion. However developing one imbalance to counter the other extreme will not ultimately work. There definitely needs to be an infusion of power and solid awareness into any form of practice for we need to build empowerment and not just blissful compassion towards the stress and horrors of society.

This may seem like a little away from the topic yet what I want to present here is the idea that it is perfectly acceptable to get angry at the injustices of the world and at those who perpetuate these injustices. In fact it is necessary so that good people reclaim their power and the not-so-meek finally inherit the earth.

Now regarding the topic in hand we can see then that we are strengthening our resolve by adopting this empowering attitude. We are standing taller and our new found positivity is a driving force in our lives and not merely blissful ignorance. We wish to eradicate the stress, not just pat it on the back and allow it to remain. So when we are faced with a situation or a person that previously has reduced us to our old selves, what can we do? How do we keep ourselves stable and empowered and stress free?

Instant visualisation in this respect is very useful and can yield magnificent results. Now the symbolism used is so completely personal that you must decide for yourself what symbols to use. Obviously they are going to be ones that evoke strong and positive emotions for you and there needs to be five of them. The first four symbols can relate to a particular pantheon such as Greek gods or Celtic animals or they may be more abstract representations of elemental forces. The choice is yours, yet they MUST evoke power and strength and encouragement. These first four symbols must give you a sense of courage and empowerment and allow you to feel protected and safe and stronger than strong. The fifth symbol is one that represents to you the totality of the experience. Again it is one that gives a sense of protection but also of release. It will be used to finally release the feeling of fear or insecurity or nervousness that you are encountering. This fifth symbol may be a pentagram or a crucifix or the yin-yang symbol. Again it is YOUR choice but do not forget that the purpose is to evoke within you power and strength, so please choose symbols that do that for you. Above all else do not choose symbols because you have been told that they are powerful. They are only powerful to those that have the power invoked within them by the symbol.

Now for the sake of convenience let us assume that you have chosen four Celtic gods and a clockwise spinning solar disc as your fifth symbol. The rituals involved in bringing all these elements together have often been portrayed as lengthy, complicated and only to been enacted when conditions are favourable. Forget all of that. If you are in need of this "rescue remedy" then the conditions are more than favourable and you do not have the time to set up an altar, choose the appropriate incense and start chanting great words of power! This is especially true when you are about to give a business presentation!

Very simply place your four symbols, in this case the four Celtic gods, around you starting at your front and then behind you, to your right side and finally to your left. The images are placed quickly and efficiently without logical thinking but instead with empowering emotion. You can place them clockwise in a circle starting front then right, behind and then left if you wish. I find that the front and back approach gives me instant comfort and then right and left to give the final sense or empowerment. Again the choice is yours.

The fifth symbol, in this case the spinning solar disc, is visualised within you and expanding. As it expands and rotates it drags with it all the stress, tension, anxiety, fear and all the other sludge that is holding you back. Again adapt to your own situation. It may be a flame within that burns the stress away or it may be a great light that eradicates the negativity. Whatever works for YOU.

That is it. This technique is very simple and very quick yet works phenomenally well. Use it in all stressful occasions. If you are facing a problem use this technique to remove doubt and blockages and allow the solution to come through. If you are having a restless night then use it to eradicate the thoughts that are preventing you from resting. If you are walking down a street and suddenly feel anxious then use this technique to protect and empower you. You can see then that the applications are limitless.

Now for this to be effective we have seen that you must choose symbols that invoke an emotional response within you. If you regularly meditate upon these symbols or pray with them and even study their history you will infuse them with your own personal power and you will start to form a relationship with them. Then over days, weeks, months and years they will become so much more than symbols.

So remember the next time that are facing a stressful or a difficult situation just stop for a second. Visualise your symbols before you, behind you, to your right side and to your left side. Then visualise your fifth element within you cleaning and clearing and empowering.

Now you are ready to face the world.

John Hewitt is a full time freelance writer. He has worked in many fields including music, the restaurant industry, film work and as an RSPCA animal welfare officer. If you would like to see more of his articles and poetry then please visit http://www.john-hewitt.com and feel free to sign up to the RSS feed.