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Class is over – Learning and doing now begins

August 8, 2012 in Walking Between the Worlds

Class is ending – Learning and doing now begins

A Wicca 101 class I have been assisting to teach is nearing its end. Overall, I’m very proud of the students and participants.

Each week there was part lecture, part discussion. Some lessons lent very much to hands on activity, which we tried to include when possible.

Each lesson had homework, which included reflective writing, research, practical application.

This series was to be 6 weeks worth of classes, but also a Sabbat and a full moon were in the mix as well.

I learned some things about the material, my students, my own path, and my self as well along the way.

I am so grateful for the experience.

I look forward to seeing how everyone develops individually, now.

Development, learning, practice, regardless of faith, belief, or what religious label you attach yourself to, ultimately is an individual responsibility.

Speaking of which, time to do some of my own.

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Going to the source.

July 25, 2012 in Walking Between the Worlds

Lately I have been coming to realize more and more the importance of going “old school” in studies, and in my practices.

There is value in going to older, more ancient lore and researching and finding original sources. Personally, I find myself delving into Greek

hymns the past few days.

 

I feel more more connected, and see this as more direct than reading a modern book which analyzes an earlier book about an earlier source.

The more times something is filtered, interpreted, reworked, the more contaminated or altered the information or , yes, lore.

Don’t simplify, or take a watered down version of a God or Goddess. Take them at full face value, all the light and all the dark sides. Don’t

assume, or force them to fit in a mold that is generalized or mass marketed.

The next stage in going straight to the source is working on building that personal relationship with Spirit, God, Goddess, by communicating, and opening yourself up to relationship by speaking with them.  Experiment with a bit of historical reconstruction. Don’t expect to be entirely accurate. Do try to be authentic, but most importantly sincere.

 

Remember that while your personal craft may be growing, it has roots from ages ago.

 

Find old works and methods of Craft. Find and listen to Elders,  and be open to learn from their experience.

 

Another part of going to the source is getting connected outdoors. Be sure to do so regularly.

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Applied Ethics in Divination

July 10, 2012 in Walking Between the Worlds

Ethics is a part of every day life, and home life and professional.

I recently was in my first “psychic fair” type of event. I perform a few various divination techniques, but my am most skilled in tarot.

There was a potential customer that came by twice looking for me to read past lives. At this fair venue there was a variety of different vendors. I probably could have easily had him as a customer, but I do not read, nor do I attempt to read past lives. The methodology I was using at this event was tarot. I explained this once. He came by again. Again I more clearly stated, I personally do not do readings on past lives, I am giving traditional tarot readings today, and then pointed the gentleman in the direction of someone advertising they read past lives. Can they, could they accurately, I don’t know. I do know that I do not, and that they advertised they do. That is the wording I used, that the person stating they give that type of reading is “over there”. Imagine me pointing at this point. At this point I was being honest about describing my service.

Later, I had a situation in which in the reading, someone mentioned, that this yes, they were seeing a doctor regarding something I picked up on in a reading. At this point I turned it to, revisit the doctor and perhaps as well seek medical style professional counseling regarding this particular problem. One of the key things I have realized is when doing a reading, while you are a tarot reader, you are neither a medical, legal, or psychiatric counseling professional.

One client asked me about work, and he happened to be in a similar line of work as my “mundane” job, which he revealed midway through the reading. When we got onto this subject, and I began speaking as a professional in that area, I told him “ok, right now I am stepping out of my tarot reader, and stepping into that other role, and when I was getting ready to return to the reading, told him I was stepping back into being the tarot reader.

I received many confirmations, or statements affirming accuracy in readings, which is always confidence boosting, but there as always there were a few clients and a few cards which they could not confirm. When I encountered this, I simply said, “while neither of us may not what this directly relates to at this time, that is the meaning of this card in this context”, and simply stick by it. At times it may be tempting to tell people what they want to hear, but I have not done this.

Give an accurate interpretation of cards, combined with your intuition, combined with ethical and sound advice, flavored with life experience and personality. That’s what I did.

I tried to greet them warmly as they approached, and always thanked them for choosing me, talking with and visiting me.

Yes, I made money. Money’s not a bad thing. It helps with things like, you know needs. I worked for it. I provided a service and skill that took time to study, train and develop. I provided a service with integrity, energy and care. I gave my clients my full direct attention. I did not string them into anything else that would cost them more. I gave them tools and advice of things the client can do to empower themselves. I gave a portion of the money, by my choice, to help

This is what means to me, and examples of applied ethics in divination type work.

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The Recent Mis-adventures of Sam the Cat

June 27, 2012 in Walking Between the Worlds

Here lately, our cat Samantha, whom we usually shorten to Sam, has been getting into so much trouble. Like many parents, when the child is in trouble, we whip out “the full name”. Samantha Marie!!

As of late, she has been climbing on and sitting on, everything. This tended to be followed by knocking things over.

One day last week Samantha knocked open my tarot cards and started playing with them. The next day she jumped on my keyboard, opened my music player, and started playing “Away with Fairies”. These both were quite cute actually.

Samantha then began in the following few days get on our altar. She used to do so before, but this is the first time she started knocking things over, knocking them into the floor, and nearly breaking things.

She got spanked and is steering clear of it so far. This was so out of character for her, but I think she’s over it. Not the getting into magical items part, but the destructive part. She has always been around and drawn to ritual space.

She is a black cat, after all.

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Energy, Spell, Magical, and Ritual WORK

June 16, 2012 in Walking Between the Worlds

I am a Wiccan and a Witch. I am a Pagan.  I work with nature. I work with elements. I work with Spirit, Deity, and Deities in the plural. I work with energy.   I may work with one, some, or all of these various components. This may vary on the time, timing, purpose, reason, and intention.

There are times I use my own energy, raised energy, Ki/Qi/Chi or Reiki types of energies.

I am trying to emphasize work here, not as in negative, tiring, boring, or even backbreaking.

But it is work.

What I do is not simply wish, or speak in lofty, dreamy affirmations without doing anything.  I do not simply think or daydream about energy work, spell work, magical work, or ritual.I don’t just read about my craft, or read spiritual books. I don’t simply browse web sites on witchy topics.It may begin with a thought, and I would venture to agree that even the thought is the beginning of any of these, but it is not complete, or the end. I perform actions. I go through motions. I research. I get my mind right. I perform actions, and tasks. I move and am in motion. I connect. I enter altered states on occasion. I act in accord. I do devotionals, and prayers , and not just to ask for something. All of my magic or spell work is not “Gimme! Gimme” . I make whatever I do very personal. I craft. I create.After all is done, I observe, and take note of the results.

I can practice anywhere, in my home, in the woods, in the desert. I could be alone, with other Pagans or Witches, or in the midst of those “normal people”.

I Practice actively all of the above I’ve mentioned. Guess bottom line of whats on my mind is to be a Doer, not a reader, or someone sitting the sidelines. Its not always just easy. It does take discipline. But DO it.

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Beyond Belief

May 29, 2012 in Walking Between the Worlds

Belief to me implies that there is a possibility, or perhaps even a choice to doubt. You choose to believe or disbelieve. Faith to me is almost like hope. Some say that faith is a belief without “provable” evidence or experience.

When I discovered Wicca and Paganism, and I’ve heard a similar experience from many others, it was a feeling of being“awakened” or “coming home”.

I’ve now had many experiences which at one time in my life I may not have believed if someone else had told me. Nor would I expect certain other people to believe me should I tell them. Perhaps this is part of the reason of the guidance, to “keep silent.” Some people would not believe you, and accuse you of lying. Some people would doubt even perhaps that you are sensing or perceiving things correctly or accurately. Still more may question your sanity. Yet those people would not question their own belief.

My spirituality, and the spirituality of many of those I associate with, does have a level of belief and faith, but there is more. There are experiences. Experiences which can’t necessarily be quantified, qualified, or measured. They can be memorized, written, passed on orally. They can even be witnessed in many cases, by those present, but not necessarily recorded on any sound or video device. There are several occasions I know of in which during ritual, technology failed or was disrupted.

Some experiences I have were during inner reflection, or intentional meditation or trance work. Others were in listening to the world around me. Some occurred during group ritual. Finally, there were happenings and results of magical workings or spell work. They can be deeply personal. What is revealed to me may not be for anyone else but me.

This is why my practice is beyond, and more than, belief.

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Show me the magic

May 15, 2012 in Walking Between the Worlds

When I first started telling people I was a witch, the first response I received from many was, “show me some magic.” At the time, I did’t really have a good response other than it just didn’t quite work like that. In this series, I will go through why it sometimes isn’t seen or perceived.

Now I do, and here it is.

First of all, it may even be happening right in front of you, but you would have to be ready to see it. Doubt or disbelief can blind you to it. There may also be times that if something is not what you expect to see, it if is not in your what your mind considers normal, you may even block it mentally.

Next, there is the acceptance of something as real or as happening. If you don’t accept it, even if its fact, it may not be recognized as magic. Don’t dismiss it as coincidence or chance.

Magic is a natural force, and as such follows natural laws. It is as much a part of real life, sometimes more so, than what you think of as modern life. Don’t expect the impossible. It is not the movies, a fantasy novel, or a game. Examine your ideas and conceptions about what you think magic is and how it works.

Even then, magic does not always work as we quite expect. At times it can be very literal. I’ve known instances where I’ve seen magic come about so literally, that is by the wording, it was humorous. Magic can have unexpected results.

Time can work strangely. Magic may work, or start working instantly, or take some time. It may take some timing and involve another event. The start of something working does not mean complete.

Magic takes will and intention to work, but if there is doubt , it can cancel out. Doubt is a type of non committed will, or willing something not to happen.

Oh, and by the way, because someones a witch or magical practitioner does not mean they are an illusionist, or entertainer.

Magic is a skill, a tool, a bit of a perk or a benefit and not a right nor a primary reason for my Pagan spiritual practice. It is not a toy or game, and should be used “in vain”.

The final, and primary reason some may not see magic, is that it involves the spiritual senses often. Being in tune with spirit, higher self, will, would help you recognize it in motion. As well spiritual and psychic types of senses which aid you in seeing magical energies and events, develop over TIME, through discipline, meditation, preparation.
Experiences are remembered and analyzed after the fact.

So that, cowan, is why I can’t SHOW you magic.

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Prelude to Walking Between the Worlds

May 1, 2012 in Walking Between the Worlds

This is my first post, so I thought it fitting to do a bit of an introduction, what I expect to be writing on the subjects on, and a bit of an explanation of the title.

When I discovered Paganism, I was in the Army. I was exposed to new cultures and new beliefs never read, seen or discussed before. I’ve always felt at home with things of nature, and always generally considered myself spiritual but I haven’t seemed to find what fit quite yet. When I was both learning and discovering my path, I quickly learned a a few things based on my situation. I learned that you while for religion, and sometimes ritual, objects and tools can be nice, but for spirituality, you need nothing but spirit, intent and energy. I learned that many meditation and altered states by meditation alone can open you up to experiences, and that visualization and intent are quite powerful. I learned that I prefer, when possible to practice outdoors when practical. Yes when practical. It’s not wise to be outside if it is literally freezing.

For my day job, the one I rely on to pay the bills, I happen to work in information technology. So I work in a world of technology and technology workers. I strive to balance the tech, natural, and spiritual part of my life, and if anything trying over time to tip it more into the natural and spiritual.

A safe estimate now is that once  a week I am assisting with either a class or public ritual of some type, although often more.  I communicate by phone, text, social networking site, or in person with other Pagans in my area on a daily basis. Then there are a couple of festivals that are looking to be annual events.

From time to time the occasion arises for me to work with other ministers or do interfaith work.

There are also the worlds of spirit, altered states, sensing energy, spirit journeys,  ritual space, meditations. Walkers between the worlds is a term which encompasses these.

But what truly inspires me is the awareness that some people are not aware of anything beyond their mundane 9 to 5 work life. They have no idea about things happening around them in nature, in spirit, or that there is a large and growing Pagan community in their midsts.

In future editions of this regular column, I will cover day to day life, meditations, rituals, from this outlook. This is where I am going. Won’t you join me?

 

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