As I was trying to sleep last night, I was having difficulty letting go of a couple of worrisome thoughts. I have PTSD and am living in a situation that triggers me regularly and in a significant way that reminds me of the trauma that caused the disorder.

I tried to think my way out of those feelings, and tried to feel my way out of those thoughts. I wanted to sleep.

I even prayed to God, something that isn't my usually go-to as I had a difficult childhood reared on fundamentalist christianity which actually added to my initial trauma.

Nothing was really working, although the prayer brought a small amount of relief. 

Just when I was about to give up, I got an image of a woman tying up a trash bag. That was it! I was just going to put all my worries and feelings of anxiety of the moment (and there are many per moment in my day-to-day life!) and those that God felt I should also let go of (whatever they were, and I was relieved at not having to know what they were), and put them out on the sidewalk. The sidewalk represented their being out of my head, mind, and consciousness.

I did that and felt immediate relief. I was asleep soon after that.

I now believe that my prayer did actually work.

Angels are the arms and thoughts of God. They are God's gift to us, to help us make our lives easier, and to help us have a better relationship with the divinity that is within each of us.

 One of the things I appreciate most about the angels is that they are completely non-denomenational. They work for everyone regardless of religious or spiritual belief, or even no belief. 

Two ways they do this is to help get us out of harm's way when it is not yet our time to leave the planet, and come to our aid when we ask for their assistance. The best way to call the angels is to say or think, "Angels, please help me!" But they also answer our call or cry to God, for whom they work.

I believe this is what happened when I cried out for relief from my painful thoughts last night. I believe God heard and answered my prayer by sending an angelic thought and vision of myself "taking out the trash" of my worrisome thoughts.

Below is a helpful exercise for when you want to cease a strong flow of thoughts and feelings of worry:

Angel Meditation for Anxiety: Trash Bags on the Sidewalk 

1) Close your eyes.

2) Take a few slow, very deep breaths. Imagine the breaths cleansing not only your body but also your mind free of worry.

3) Imagine yourself standing outside where you put your trash. You are bending over slightly, using a twistie tie to close up a large bag full of garbage. These items of refuse are the thoughts that are bothering you now, as well as a bunch of others you either are or are not aware of. 

4) See yourself smiling as you stand upright again, and walk back to your home, away from the trash bag. (If you need to have more than one bag, feel free to create, fill, and leave out as many as necessary!)

5) See yourself now inside your home, peacefully doing whatever you want (in my case it was sleeping, and smile broadly, knowing your trash is now out where it can't affect you anymore. 

6) Say or think "Good riddance!"

7) Give thanks to God, and the angels. And make a mental note to call upon them again soon.

With angel blessings,

Amethyste Rah