There are some (Christians and similar mainly) that would say all magick is black. However I'm going to explain what I consider for each shade and perhaps give some examples to help make things clearer.
White Magick: What I consider white magick is the magick done to benefit someone else with the other's permission. An example would be if someone asked you to do some healing magick for them, or you get permission to perform magick to help the other balance their emotions.
Grey Magick: To me, grey magick is two things. Magick done for the self, and beneficial magick done without permission. I consider self-magick grey because of the controversy behind wither or not you should cast for yourself. Some consider it to be greedy and not good, while others say there is no reason you can't use magick to help yourself along. A good example of beneficial magick done without permission .. say you have a friend that is so terribly sick that you can't get permission from them to help heal them. You're not sure if they want the healing or are giving up, but you do know that they have given permission before.
Black magick: Black Magick to me is any harmful magick or manipulative magick done. Some say that there is nothing wrong with cursing someone, but I believe Karma knows the situation better than we do and can give a more Fair justice than we as humans are capable of doing. Manipulative magick is any magick that controls someone, like casting a love spell on that hot boy or asking that the teacher give you an A.
Banishing people is something I"m unsure of. At the very least I would say it is grey magick. Because one you are casting it for yourself (maybe another) and two you don't ask the permission of the one you are banishing. However it's something that occasionally is needed, and something I'd do after all mundane attempts has failed.
These definitions and explanations may not be true in your eyes, you might have a different opinion about what is white, black or grey but as I said earlier: This is how I see things. A good rule of thumb in my book, Never cast for another without their permission. You don't know if they want the results or not (look at what happened in Practical Magick when the Aunts gave her just a push in a love spell!) and you can't know the entire honest to goddess truth behind it as well as they do so you can't judge for sure.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
Growth
Obviously there are many types of growth the average witch goes through. You grow in body, mind, spirit, and more. Everything that enters your life, be it good or bad, is a point of growth for you or another. Let's say someone enters your life and you can't possibly grow from them, perhaps you were meant to help them grow.
When growth (for you or the other) is no longer available, then you'll part ways. I know it's sad, but at this time the growth will be finished as well as the interaction. A good example of this is a close friend that you no longer talk to or care for as much as you once did, eventually the two of you stop talking or interacting at all. You never forget that friend, but both of you has grown as much as possible from the friendship and are moving on to more growth.
However, there are some growths that never end. A good example of *this* would be that close friend that you're still as close to today as you were when the friendship first began. My theory of this is multiple. The two of you are constantly growing with and because of each other. Another thought is that your spirits are connected, either because you've been close in a previous life or because they are part of your life lesson.
A warning though, not all things are meant to be dealt with. Some of them may just be making you grow so that you stand up for yourself. If you don't feel improvement from the event or person perhaps you are meant to learn to cut ties from it. A good example would be a neighbor that is always inconveniencing you. The growth here is for you to have strength to say "enough is enough" and stand up for yourself. You may still be able to help them grow, but if no matter what you do the person is constantly bringing you down then there is no growth available there.
When growth (for you or the other) is no longer available, then you'll part ways. I know it's sad, but at this time the growth will be finished as well as the interaction. A good example of this is a close friend that you no longer talk to or care for as much as you once did, eventually the two of you stop talking or interacting at all. You never forget that friend, but both of you has grown as much as possible from the friendship and are moving on to more growth.
However, there are some growths that never end. A good example of *this* would be that close friend that you're still as close to today as you were when the friendship first began. My theory of this is multiple. The two of you are constantly growing with and because of each other. Another thought is that your spirits are connected, either because you've been close in a previous life or because they are part of your life lesson.
A warning though, not all things are meant to be dealt with. Some of them may just be making you grow so that you stand up for yourself. If you don't feel improvement from the event or person perhaps you are meant to learn to cut ties from it. A good example would be a neighbor that is always inconveniencing you. The growth here is for you to have strength to say "enough is enough" and stand up for yourself. You may still be able to help them grow, but if no matter what you do the person is constantly bringing you down then there is no growth available there.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Interacting with Altar
Yay! Another alter post. However, it is important that you interact with your altar regularly. Think of a room, if you never go into it, or have anything to do with it, then eventually it will become stale, full of dust, and isn't as welcoming as you would like. Your altar is just like that, if you don't interact with it, and just ignore it, then it will grow stale, be covered in dust and won't be as welcoming to any deities or beings that wish to visit it.
Cleaning Altar: Not only should you clean and cleanse your altar space when you first set it up, but you should do so regularly to keep both physical dust and clutter as well as metaphysical dust and clutter clear from it. Keep it looking and feeling nice. It doesn't have to be as regular as cleaning a real room, about once a month should be just enough to keep your altar clean and cleansed.
Updating Altar: Think of your house, it has furniture and some stuff that stays year around, but some things change throughout the year. Decorations, items are added and removed, and more. Just like you're altar. You should keep it with the seasons, change the cloth (if possible) to match what season or Sabbat you are celebrating. As you grow and change, so will your altar. You might add or remove tools and decorations as new stuff and information present themselves to you.
Praying: No, not in the Christian use of the word. Any kind of spell work or meditation or wish. Perhaps light an incense on your altar and say "This day is blessed" or light a candle for a short time and focus on a goal or desire you have for the day, week, month or year. You could also just take a moment each day and say "thank you" for whatever reason, or to greet your altar and/or the deities and beings that are welcome there.
Those are just some basic ideas that should get you started and being comfortable in interacting with your altar. Perhaps you know of other ways, or you will discover new ways to interact with it. The altar is not a piece of furniture to be used only when desired, but something that should be cared for and visited with. It's alive... kind of like a dog or cat. Those need cleaning, company, and will grow and change with the seasons. You wouldn't ignore your pet, don't ignore your altar!
Cleaning Altar: Not only should you clean and cleanse your altar space when you first set it up, but you should do so regularly to keep both physical dust and clutter as well as metaphysical dust and clutter clear from it. Keep it looking and feeling nice. It doesn't have to be as regular as cleaning a real room, about once a month should be just enough to keep your altar clean and cleansed.
Updating Altar: Think of your house, it has furniture and some stuff that stays year around, but some things change throughout the year. Decorations, items are added and removed, and more. Just like you're altar. You should keep it with the seasons, change the cloth (if possible) to match what season or Sabbat you are celebrating. As you grow and change, so will your altar. You might add or remove tools and decorations as new stuff and information present themselves to you.
Praying: No, not in the Christian use of the word. Any kind of spell work or meditation or wish. Perhaps light an incense on your altar and say "This day is blessed" or light a candle for a short time and focus on a goal or desire you have for the day, week, month or year. You could also just take a moment each day and say "thank you" for whatever reason, or to greet your altar and/or the deities and beings that are welcome there.
Those are just some basic ideas that should get you started and being comfortable in interacting with your altar. Perhaps you know of other ways, or you will discover new ways to interact with it. The altar is not a piece of furniture to be used only when desired, but something that should be cared for and visited with. It's alive... kind of like a dog or cat. Those need cleaning, company, and will grow and change with the seasons. You wouldn't ignore your pet, don't ignore your altar!
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Fluffy Bunnies
There are many types of fluffy bunnies, some that are worse or better than others. Fluffy bunnies read one book or maybe two and suddenly consider themselves an expert. Or perhaps they got all their information off the internet and is TOTALLY misinformed. Though some fluffy bunnies are willing to be corrected, not all are. It's those that don't want to be corrected we have to worry about, because they will just turn around and teach their own twist on things to others, not allowing others to learn their own way with gentle guidance. They are frustrating, annoying, and a pain in the arse.
A good fluffy bunny, while allowing to be corrected, will also be respectful of other members and the one they approached. They admit errors, will allow facts to be corrected and are open minded to new ideas or viewpoints. These are the ones we don't mind having around, because they are excited but willing to grow and improve.
A bad fluffy bunny generally shows no respect for other members, is ALWAYS right on all believes and if you express how you believe and see things you will be corrected on it and told what is the truth. They use terms like "only close minded" or "those full of hate" to comment on who wouldn't agree with him. Some claim to have more power than they actually do (able to become something else, able to make bad spirits nervous, etc.) and cannot stand being in any position if it's not a leading role. They don't listen, and only hear what is said. They refuse to cooperate, or support, only putting in their own ideas.
This is why a year and a day of constant studying is SOOO important in the craft. It prevents you from becoming a fluffy bunny, No way will you learn all there is to learn from this amount of time, but you will learn enough to be able to participate respectfully among the other members, you will learn enough to where you're only making mistakes and not a fool of yourself.
Fluffy bunnies, you are not impressing anyone. When you step up claiming that you are such and such, those that are more experienced can see through you. We can see that you are full of it, we know our facts and often laugh at you rather than respect you when you do this. If you want respect, then you have to earn that respect both by being respectful in turn and actually knowing a little about what you are talking about. I know magick is exciting, but take the time to learn and you will be better for it!
A good fluffy bunny, while allowing to be corrected, will also be respectful of other members and the one they approached. They admit errors, will allow facts to be corrected and are open minded to new ideas or viewpoints. These are the ones we don't mind having around, because they are excited but willing to grow and improve.
A bad fluffy bunny generally shows no respect for other members, is ALWAYS right on all believes and if you express how you believe and see things you will be corrected on it and told what is the truth. They use terms like "only close minded" or "those full of hate" to comment on who wouldn't agree with him. Some claim to have more power than they actually do (able to become something else, able to make bad spirits nervous, etc.) and cannot stand being in any position if it's not a leading role. They don't listen, and only hear what is said. They refuse to cooperate, or support, only putting in their own ideas.
This is why a year and a day of constant studying is SOOO important in the craft. It prevents you from becoming a fluffy bunny, No way will you learn all there is to learn from this amount of time, but you will learn enough to be able to participate respectfully among the other members, you will learn enough to where you're only making mistakes and not a fool of yourself.
Fluffy bunnies, you are not impressing anyone. When you step up claiming that you are such and such, those that are more experienced can see through you. We can see that you are full of it, we know our facts and often laugh at you rather than respect you when you do this. If you want respect, then you have to earn that respect both by being respectful in turn and actually knowing a little about what you are talking about. I know magick is exciting, but take the time to learn and you will be better for it!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Visual Exercises
I talked about this a little before, but now I would like to go into more detail. No matter how much you progress, its something you're going to need to do on a daily basis, treat it like you would any other exercise you were serious about doing. Your visualization will improve and/or stay in shape if this is done regularly.
The easiest would be a piece of paper, nothing special about it, other than it can change colors! Yep, imagine it being different colors. Or perhaps draw a simple shape on it (circle, star, triangle, all those shapes you learned in kindergarten), and make the shape change colors. Or you could make both change colors (red star, blue paper).
Let's make it a little more complicated now. With a plane sheet of paper, try remembering (don't cheat and look it up, you'd only be cheating yourself) how to fold.. a paper boat, one of those paper fortune teller things, a sailor's hat, or a paper cup. Or anything you used to make a lot of as a child. Try to remember you're favorite way of making it. Once you get good at them, why not concentrate on keeping the paper a certain color (blue, green, any color other than the normal color) while you fold the paper.
Want to increase the difficulty of either of these, give it a smell, or a sound, perhaps a taste. Make the paper blue, with the sound of trickling water and the taste of the ocean, perhaps the paper feels like water or it's made of water! That is only a simple example of how complex you could make it.
Be inventive, if it's a mild challenge then go ahead, if you can't manage it then make it a bit easier until you can! Work on them regularly, perhaps you can focus on the simplest for a week and slowly make it more difficult. Maybe you want to continue with the easier ones while you improve on more complicated ones (good warm up idea). How you do it is up to you.
The easiest would be a piece of paper, nothing special about it, other than it can change colors! Yep, imagine it being different colors. Or perhaps draw a simple shape on it (circle, star, triangle, all those shapes you learned in kindergarten), and make the shape change colors. Or you could make both change colors (red star, blue paper).
Let's make it a little more complicated now. With a plane sheet of paper, try remembering (don't cheat and look it up, you'd only be cheating yourself) how to fold.. a paper boat, one of those paper fortune teller things, a sailor's hat, or a paper cup. Or anything you used to make a lot of as a child. Try to remember you're favorite way of making it. Once you get good at them, why not concentrate on keeping the paper a certain color (blue, green, any color other than the normal color) while you fold the paper.
Want to increase the difficulty of either of these, give it a smell, or a sound, perhaps a taste. Make the paper blue, with the sound of trickling water and the taste of the ocean, perhaps the paper feels like water or it's made of water! That is only a simple example of how complex you could make it.
Be inventive, if it's a mild challenge then go ahead, if you can't manage it then make it a bit easier until you can! Work on them regularly, perhaps you can focus on the simplest for a week and slowly make it more difficult. Maybe you want to continue with the easier ones while you improve on more complicated ones (good warm up idea). How you do it is up to you.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Celebrating Sabbats 2
Last time I focused on those that were in the broom closet and couldn't talk about it. I gave tips for those in a group or those going solo for the time being. This time I will follow a similar concept, only instead I will focus on those that can express themselves but don't have *any* spare money. You can combine the two (like if both of them fit, hiding and no money) if you need, or adjust the tips and ideas if you have a bit more than this available to you.
Broke- Group
Yule: Gather Holly, Mistletoe, and other evergreens and hang them up as decorations. You don't need to put glitter or paint as in the olden times the items themselves were considered decorative. Perhaps a ribbon or something, it doesn't have to be glitter. You're group could agree to make gifts for eachother to exchange, or perhaps instead of giving gifts, perhaps you could exchange services (like readings, healings, etc.) or just bless each other.
Imbolc: Leave a light on in every room for an hour, and/or light a candle in each room and let it burn out.
Ostara: You could celebrate the mundane way if possible (hunting eggs), or you could spend time planting a garden (if possible), enjoy the spring air outside (weather permitting).
Beltane: Singing, dancing, bonfire and playing games. If you plan those right, it'll just look like a family having fun. Feel free to invite rest of family to join in if they wish to, the bonfire might not be possible, but you can make up a game to play that requires nothing if needed.
Litha: Sing, dance, and make merry. This time of the year crops are doing well and everyone is joyful of the abundance. This holiday is mostly for enjoyment.
Lammas: First harvest, why not get out into the field as a family and harvest your plants or herbs if you've grown some. If not, then perhaps just gather together and make music.
Mabon: Celebrated Like thanksgiving really. Plan a picnic outside beneath a large tree, you could make it a game where before each serving of each item someone has to name one thing/person/event they are grateful for.
Samhain: Celebrate it the "mundane" way, only after trick or treating have a short dumb supper afterwards and let the children remember their lost loved ones in their own way before bed, while the adults do so in their way.
Broke-Solo
Yule: Gather Holly, Mistletoe, and other evergreens and hang them up as decorations. You don't need to put glitter or paint as in the olden times the items themselves were considered decorative. Perhaps a ribbon or something, it doesn't have to be glitter.
Imbolc: Leave a light on in every room for an hour, and/or light a candle in each room and let it burn out.
Ostara: You could celebrate the mundane way if possible (hunting eggs), or you could spend time planting a garden (if possible), enjoy the spring air outside (weather permitting).
Beltane: Singing, dancing, bonfire and playing games. The bonfire might not be possible, but you could always play a one player game (not virtual, something that you have to physically do) or make one up.
Litha: Sing, dance, and make merry. This time of the year crops are doing well and everyone is joyful of the abundance. This holiday is mostly for enjoyment.
Lammas: First harvest, why not get out into the field and harvest your plants or herbs if you've grown some. If not, then perhaps just make music.
Mabon: Celebrated Like thanksgiving really. Plan a picnic outside beneath a large tree, you could make it a game where before each serving of each item you have to name one thing/person/event they are grateful for.
Samhain: Celebrate it the "mundane" way, only after trick or treating have a short dumb supper afterwards and remember your lost loved ones in your own way before bed..
Broke- Group
Yule: Gather Holly, Mistletoe, and other evergreens and hang them up as decorations. You don't need to put glitter or paint as in the olden times the items themselves were considered decorative. Perhaps a ribbon or something, it doesn't have to be glitter. You're group could agree to make gifts for eachother to exchange, or perhaps instead of giving gifts, perhaps you could exchange services (like readings, healings, etc.) or just bless each other.
Imbolc: Leave a light on in every room for an hour, and/or light a candle in each room and let it burn out.
Ostara: You could celebrate the mundane way if possible (hunting eggs), or you could spend time planting a garden (if possible), enjoy the spring air outside (weather permitting).
Beltane: Singing, dancing, bonfire and playing games. If you plan those right, it'll just look like a family having fun. Feel free to invite rest of family to join in if they wish to, the bonfire might not be possible, but you can make up a game to play that requires nothing if needed.
Litha: Sing, dance, and make merry. This time of the year crops are doing well and everyone is joyful of the abundance. This holiday is mostly for enjoyment.
Lammas: First harvest, why not get out into the field as a family and harvest your plants or herbs if you've grown some. If not, then perhaps just gather together and make music.
Mabon: Celebrated Like thanksgiving really. Plan a picnic outside beneath a large tree, you could make it a game where before each serving of each item someone has to name one thing/person/event they are grateful for.
Samhain: Celebrate it the "mundane" way, only after trick or treating have a short dumb supper afterwards and let the children remember their lost loved ones in their own way before bed, while the adults do so in their way.
Broke-Solo
Yule: Gather Holly, Mistletoe, and other evergreens and hang them up as decorations. You don't need to put glitter or paint as in the olden times the items themselves were considered decorative. Perhaps a ribbon or something, it doesn't have to be glitter.
Imbolc: Leave a light on in every room for an hour, and/or light a candle in each room and let it burn out.
Ostara: You could celebrate the mundane way if possible (hunting eggs), or you could spend time planting a garden (if possible), enjoy the spring air outside (weather permitting).
Beltane: Singing, dancing, bonfire and playing games. The bonfire might not be possible, but you could always play a one player game (not virtual, something that you have to physically do) or make one up.
Litha: Sing, dance, and make merry. This time of the year crops are doing well and everyone is joyful of the abundance. This holiday is mostly for enjoyment.
Lammas: First harvest, why not get out into the field and harvest your plants or herbs if you've grown some. If not, then perhaps just make music.
Mabon: Celebrated Like thanksgiving really. Plan a picnic outside beneath a large tree, you could make it a game where before each serving of each item you have to name one thing/person/event they are grateful for.
Samhain: Celebrate it the "mundane" way, only after trick or treating have a short dumb supper afterwards and remember your lost loved ones in your own way before bed..
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Celebrating Sabbats 1
Today I will be with my group and a sister group celebrating Litha this evening. Which got me to thinking, I hadn't talked about how to celebrate the sabbats yet. Again I am basically focusing on those that can't be as outspoken for one reason or another. So on the next two posts I will talk about ways to celebrate if you're in the closet, or if you simply can't afford tools. I will cover both of those for solitaires and groups. Well not quite 'cover' more like give some suggestions that you can use or perhaps they'll spark some ideas for how you can celebrate it. As always only you know your situation and how you can do it. For this one, let's focus on those that are in hiding.
Hiding - Group
Yule: Christmas is already pretty pagan, except for the story it tells. Yule included decorating, eating, dancing, singing, and gift exchange. Perhaps you could decorate your place on yule, while singing and dancing, then do the eating and gift exchange on Christmas with the rest of the family?
Imbolc: Leave a light on in every room for an hour, and/or light a candle in each room and let it burn out.
Ostara: Easter is already pretty pagan as well. Perhaps you can color eggs on Ostara (Unless Easter is too long away) and nibble on chocolate. Then hunt and eat with the rest of the family. If Easter is too far away, then perhaps you could make other Easter decorations (that could be both Easter and Ostara) to hang out and decorate with.
Beltane: Singing, dancing, bonfire and playing games. If you plan those right, it'll just look like a family having fun. Feel free to invite rest of family to join in if they wish to.
Litha: BBQ outside while listening to music and splashing in the water.
Lammas: First harvest, why not get out into the field as a family and harvest your plants or herbs if you've grown some. If not, then perhaps plan a big meal and invite some family that you want to share it with.
Mabon: Celebrated Like thanksgiving really. Excuse could be "Don't have to wait till thanksgiving to be thankful"
Samhain: Celebrate it the "mundane" way, only after trick or treating have a short dumb supper afterwards and let the children remember their lost loved ones in their own way before bed, while the adults do so in their way.
Hiding - Solo
Yule: Christmas is already pretty pagan, except for the story it tells. Yule included decorating, eating, dancing, singing, and gift exchange. Perhaps you could decorate your place on yule, while singing and dancing, then do the eating and gift exchange on Christmas with the rest of the family?
Imbolc: Leave a light on in every room for an hour, and/or light a candle in each room and let it burn out.
Ostara: Plant a garden of either flower, herbal, or other. If no room for a garden then how about planting a single seed?
Beltane: Sing some of your favorite songs while dancing, or make your own music. Perhaps drink some fruit (fermented or regular) juice.
Litha: Go swimming, tan under the sun, or just generally enjoy the outdoors.
Lammas: First harvest, why not get out into the field and harvest your plants or herbs if you've grown some. If not, then perhaps plan a big meal and invite some family that you want to share it with.
Mabon: Make a list of everything you are grateful for, then make a small meal and share with your dietie(s) while you express your gratitude
.Samhain: Celebrate it the "mundane" way, only after trick or treating have a short dumb supper afterwards and remember your lost loved ones in your own way before bed.
Hiding - Group
Yule: Christmas is already pretty pagan, except for the story it tells. Yule included decorating, eating, dancing, singing, and gift exchange. Perhaps you could decorate your place on yule, while singing and dancing, then do the eating and gift exchange on Christmas with the rest of the family?
Imbolc: Leave a light on in every room for an hour, and/or light a candle in each room and let it burn out.
Ostara: Easter is already pretty pagan as well. Perhaps you can color eggs on Ostara (Unless Easter is too long away) and nibble on chocolate. Then hunt and eat with the rest of the family. If Easter is too far away, then perhaps you could make other Easter decorations (that could be both Easter and Ostara) to hang out and decorate with.
Beltane: Singing, dancing, bonfire and playing games. If you plan those right, it'll just look like a family having fun. Feel free to invite rest of family to join in if they wish to.
Litha: BBQ outside while listening to music and splashing in the water.
Lammas: First harvest, why not get out into the field as a family and harvest your plants or herbs if you've grown some. If not, then perhaps plan a big meal and invite some family that you want to share it with.
Mabon: Celebrated Like thanksgiving really. Excuse could be "Don't have to wait till thanksgiving to be thankful"
Samhain: Celebrate it the "mundane" way, only after trick or treating have a short dumb supper afterwards and let the children remember their lost loved ones in their own way before bed, while the adults do so in their way.
Hiding - Solo
Yule: Christmas is already pretty pagan, except for the story it tells. Yule included decorating, eating, dancing, singing, and gift exchange. Perhaps you could decorate your place on yule, while singing and dancing, then do the eating and gift exchange on Christmas with the rest of the family?
Imbolc: Leave a light on in every room for an hour, and/or light a candle in each room and let it burn out.
Ostara: Plant a garden of either flower, herbal, or other. If no room for a garden then how about planting a single seed?
Beltane: Sing some of your favorite songs while dancing, or make your own music. Perhaps drink some fruit (fermented or regular) juice.
Litha: Go swimming, tan under the sun, or just generally enjoy the outdoors.
Lammas: First harvest, why not get out into the field and harvest your plants or herbs if you've grown some. If not, then perhaps plan a big meal and invite some family that you want to share it with.
Mabon: Make a list of everything you are grateful for, then make a small meal and share with your dietie(s) while you express your gratitude
.Samhain: Celebrate it the "mundane" way, only after trick or treating have a short dumb supper afterwards and remember your lost loved ones in your own way before bed.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
God or Goddess Symbol Exercise
"Having fully familiarized yourself with your personal symbol, relax to a meditative posture and visualise it as strongly as you are able. Then amplify the symbol in your mind's eye until it becomes large enough to create a seat for you to mount or relax into.
"Once you feel comfortable and absolutely secure in your hold, proceed as follows: start to rotate your symbol clockwise, slowly at first but increasing speed as you spin. Close your psychic eye so that you do not feel dizzy. You may find that you need to give the whole process a little encouraging push to start with, although some people who have tried this have gained momentum with a minimum of mental effort. The time taken is of no consequence, and will again vary with the individual. For a moment or two you will spin and then you will slow down, come to a halt, and land somewhere in outer time. Using your mind's eye, look around: the first thing you see will be an archetype appropriate to you who will greet you or give you some point of reference. In your terms of reference, it could be a god or a goddess, a maternal or paternal figure, a personality associated with the particular religious faith which has influenced your terrestrial programming, or a cosmic being. But whomever you see will represent the other half of your natural spiritual polarity."
Practical Solitary Magic, Appendix B pages 235-236.
Notes: When I did this and it stopped spinning I was alone. There was no one around and something urged me to walk to them. The one I met gave me an item to be used as my symbol. Perhaps they will point to something or give you something but they will help you after you have made it clear what you are looking for.
Don't be afraid to sit around and visit for a while afterwards, either by sitting (or standing) in companionable silence or hugging them. Take your cues from the person you meet and spend time with them, get to know the name or who it is. If you ask or are curious you will either be told or shown by symbols that you can't mistake. (Like winged shoes for Hermes, growing fields for Demeter, or a bolt of lightening for Zeus!)
"Once you feel comfortable and absolutely secure in your hold, proceed as follows: start to rotate your symbol clockwise, slowly at first but increasing speed as you spin. Close your psychic eye so that you do not feel dizzy. You may find that you need to give the whole process a little encouraging push to start with, although some people who have tried this have gained momentum with a minimum of mental effort. The time taken is of no consequence, and will again vary with the individual. For a moment or two you will spin and then you will slow down, come to a halt, and land somewhere in outer time. Using your mind's eye, look around: the first thing you see will be an archetype appropriate to you who will greet you or give you some point of reference. In your terms of reference, it could be a god or a goddess, a maternal or paternal figure, a personality associated with the particular religious faith which has influenced your terrestrial programming, or a cosmic being. But whomever you see will represent the other half of your natural spiritual polarity."
Practical Solitary Magic, Appendix B pages 235-236.
Notes: When I did this and it stopped spinning I was alone. There was no one around and something urged me to walk to them. The one I met gave me an item to be used as my symbol. Perhaps they will point to something or give you something but they will help you after you have made it clear what you are looking for.
Don't be afraid to sit around and visit for a while afterwards, either by sitting (or standing) in companionable silence or hugging them. Take your cues from the person you meet and spend time with them, get to know the name or who it is. If you ask or are curious you will either be told or shown by symbols that you can't mistake. (Like winged shoes for Hermes, growing fields for Demeter, or a bolt of lightening for Zeus!)
Friday, June 21, 2013
Personal Symbol Exercise
"Lie down or seat yourself comfortably, close your eyes, and take an imaginary journey backwards in linear time to the moment of your birth. Some people I have spoken to tell me that they have visualized this rather like playing a film backwards, so that the end progresses towards the beginning.
"Visualize yourself poised to ensoul the embryo that is to become your present self, and enter the womb at the point of your actual conception. Pause for one moment to 'feel' the energies surrounding you and become aware of a silver cord which connects the spiritual 'you' to its physical counterpart. then slowly start to move forward in time, passing through your embryonic growth and the drama of your birth. Take hold of the silver cord and pull it along with you as you proceed forward towards the present. As you pass through the experiences of childhood, pause here and there to register particularly important or traumatic experience or meaningful event, great happiness, pain or new awareness, and record each incident by making a knot in your silver cord. Continue your mental travels through your teenage years forward to whichever part of your life you have now reached, but always imbibing the sensations of each significant episode and knotting your cord accordingly.
" You will finally arrive in the present, trailing your knotted silver cord. Here is what you do next: take the conception end and join it to the point which represents the present, thus creating a circle after the style of the Ouroborus, the serpent eating its own tail. This circle will represent the sum total of your inner and outer time experiences as related to the 'now.' Continuing to employ your creative imagination, lay the circle flat and step into the center. You will immediately find yourself gradually sinking fearlessly through a gentle darkness, to eventually touch down in what can only be described as the primordial womb.
" This experience will vary with each individual. Keep relaxed, breathe slowly and deeply, and you will find yourself automatically rising, but the way in which you rise will again be unique to you. But ascend you will, and very soon you will arrive at the top of this deep well of your experience. The first thing you see when you reach the top will be your own personal symbol."
Practical Solitary Magic, Appendix B page 233-234.
Tips: Climb until you cannot climb no more, if you can go up then go up until you read a point where you cannot possibly in any way go higher. If you don't see anything but a scene or a view, then look around again there may be more to climb that you didn't over look (or your spirit may be taking a quick rest and so hid it from view until ready to climb further).
When I did this exercise I thought I had reached the top thrice, it wasn't until I reached a dead end with no way to go anywhere but back down that I finally found my symbol.
"Visualize yourself poised to ensoul the embryo that is to become your present self, and enter the womb at the point of your actual conception. Pause for one moment to 'feel' the energies surrounding you and become aware of a silver cord which connects the spiritual 'you' to its physical counterpart. then slowly start to move forward in time, passing through your embryonic growth and the drama of your birth. Take hold of the silver cord and pull it along with you as you proceed forward towards the present. As you pass through the experiences of childhood, pause here and there to register particularly important or traumatic experience or meaningful event, great happiness, pain or new awareness, and record each incident by making a knot in your silver cord. Continue your mental travels through your teenage years forward to whichever part of your life you have now reached, but always imbibing the sensations of each significant episode and knotting your cord accordingly.
" You will finally arrive in the present, trailing your knotted silver cord. Here is what you do next: take the conception end and join it to the point which represents the present, thus creating a circle after the style of the Ouroborus, the serpent eating its own tail. This circle will represent the sum total of your inner and outer time experiences as related to the 'now.' Continuing to employ your creative imagination, lay the circle flat and step into the center. You will immediately find yourself gradually sinking fearlessly through a gentle darkness, to eventually touch down in what can only be described as the primordial womb.
" This experience will vary with each individual. Keep relaxed, breathe slowly and deeply, and you will find yourself automatically rising, but the way in which you rise will again be unique to you. But ascend you will, and very soon you will arrive at the top of this deep well of your experience. The first thing you see when you reach the top will be your own personal symbol."
Practical Solitary Magic, Appendix B page 233-234.
Tips: Climb until you cannot climb no more, if you can go up then go up until you read a point where you cannot possibly in any way go higher. If you don't see anything but a scene or a view, then look around again there may be more to climb that you didn't over look (or your spirit may be taking a quick rest and so hid it from view until ready to climb further).
When I did this exercise I thought I had reached the top thrice, it wasn't until I reached a dead end with no way to go anywhere but back down that I finally found my symbol.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Visual Quests (Intro)
I don't recall if I've said this before or not, but my visualization skills left something to be desired for the LONGEST time. I'd read about a quest, then not be able to complete it, as if I kept coming up against a brick wall! I was so frustrated and I would try regularly to do a visual quest. My problem was that I kept restarting when the visual flickered out, rather than picking up where I left off.
Have you been doing your visual exercises lately? If so, then I'm sure you've noticed an improvement on how well you can picture it, and how you are able to hold it a little longer. Have you also noticed that you are able to pick back up where the thread was lost (this skill probably comes from the folding paper trick I talked about)? It will take lots of time dedicated to practice before you are able to hold a visual for very long, or improve upon it. However, don't let that dissuade you from practicing!
I want to share with you two quests that were the first I successfully completed! They both come form Practical Solitary Magic by Nancy B. Watson (if you have the book or have read it then you're probably already familiar with them). A tiny part of me wants to share my journey with you, but it feels personal something that I'd only put in my Mirrors. Every quest will be a little different, so don't feel discouraged if you read someone's sometime and see that it's different, or you try after reading theirs and see that your quest is laid out differently.
Beneath Each quest I will give the page number and other necessary information followed by tips and advice to help you along the way. My first piece of advice is to read all of the quest (at least) before beginning. You don't have to know each individual step word-for-word to partake, you only need to know what to look for and what to do.
Have you been doing your visual exercises lately? If so, then I'm sure you've noticed an improvement on how well you can picture it, and how you are able to hold it a little longer. Have you also noticed that you are able to pick back up where the thread was lost (this skill probably comes from the folding paper trick I talked about)? It will take lots of time dedicated to practice before you are able to hold a visual for very long, or improve upon it. However, don't let that dissuade you from practicing!
I want to share with you two quests that were the first I successfully completed! They both come form Practical Solitary Magic by Nancy B. Watson (if you have the book or have read it then you're probably already familiar with them). A tiny part of me wants to share my journey with you, but it feels personal something that I'd only put in my Mirrors. Every quest will be a little different, so don't feel discouraged if you read someone's sometime and see that it's different, or you try after reading theirs and see that your quest is laid out differently.
Beneath Each quest I will give the page number and other necessary information followed by tips and advice to help you along the way. My first piece of advice is to read all of the quest (at least) before beginning. You don't have to know each individual step word-for-word to partake, you only need to know what to look for and what to do.
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