A Witch's Sacred Journey

When you embark on making a deeper commitment to your spiritual Path, there are often exercises, readings and studies that present themselves and offer opportunity to expand your knowledge base as well as the spiritual aspects of our Wiccan practice. Listed below are a few of the staples that are cornerstones of a successful and productive practice. Some you will do daily, others less frequently and others still only as the occasion or need arises as you move forward on your Path.

Meditation

“The pathway to good INTENTion is paved by Meditation”

There was a time that meditation was not a traditional part of practice of Western Hermetics. This protocol was strongly identified with those practices of Eastern philosophy and as such were not routinely incorporated into a strictly earth-based nature centered religion. As the craft has evolved the benefits of many of the Eastern protocols are realized to be not only compatible, but largely supportive of a well structured practice that incorporates mind, body and Spirt in the work. Meditation has become a primary and essential part of magickal work. Training oneself to sit quietly, observe their thoughts or listen for inner guidance is a discipline that will spill over into your mundane as well as spiritual life. It teaches you to relax and quiet your physical being and your mind. Setting aside time on a daily basis to engage in this discipline also teaches you how to focus and either expand or narrow your perception. These are the skills needed as we work magick and in ritual to keep us anchored in the work we are engaging in. The process of meditation is the creation a firm base of self-awareness, heightened experience and union with the Higher Self and the Divine.

The act of meditation has been used for centuries as a tool for health restoration, spiritual endeavor behavior modification and self-awareness. A regular practice of daily meditation has been clinically proven to relieve stress, reduce blood pressure, enhance the ability to maintain productive attention and contribute to the general well being of an individual. Despite all these obvious benefits, many people find it difficult to establish a regular and consistent meditation practice.

The focus of your meditation does not always need to be the same. This can change as you move through your work. You will want to use this quiet time for connecting with or gaining information from a Deity you may be working with; use it to enhance your visualization skills; de-stress after a stressful day; or as part of ritual or personal work to enhance the overall concentration and intensity. Be sure to record in your journal your intent, focus and results. These can proved quite useful in the months that follow. And, in accord with the act of meditation, it is generally the easiest time to write down thoughts with clarity as you have stilled the mind to outside distraction and opened to a source within.

A very simple daily meditation that incorporates the chakras (energy centers) of the body can be found here in pdf format on the Book of Shadows page:

Chakra Renewal Meditation 

Resources:
How To Meditate: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Art and Science of Meditation by John Novak
8 Minute Meditation: Quiet Your Mind. Change Your Life by Victor N. Davich
How to Meditate: An Illustrated Guide to Calming the Mind and Relaxing the Body by Paul Roland

Establishing a Regular Meditation Practice – An upcoming Bonus Post through the Magickally Human Blog (January 2015)

Breath Work

Breath Work and training yourself to slow and rhythmically pace your breath are vital aids towards improving your meditations and quiet moments of reflection. The Four-Fold Breath Technique develops awareness and control of the breathing process, which is the foundation of energy work. This technique also provides greater relaxation and deeper breathing, using fuller capacity of the lungs. This is an excellent way to begin a meditative session or use as way to relax into and open to the journaling process. At this point in our studies you should be well acquainted with the results of this type of breathing as an entry way into a deeper state of being.

Another technique is Alternate Nostril Breathing. This aids in opening both of the pathways of energy that run concurrently in our bodies; specifically, the Lunar and the Solar. We often favor one nostril over the other in our normal pattern of breathing. When we consciously engage the breath in and the exhale out using both nostrils, more movement within our energetic circuitry and for those with allergies and other respiratory ailments, there is greater flow of oxygen.

• Beginning with the right nostril , using your right thumb press the right nostril closed and inhale through the left – Hold.
• Pinch the left nostril closed with the index finger and exhale through the right-Hold.
• Inhale through the right nostril – hold. Pinch the right nostril closed with your thumb and exhale through the left.

Repeat the cycle of inhaling through one nostril. Pinching closed, then exhaling through the other. And so on. Repeat this pattern for 8 sets. When you have completed the cycle, you should feel a sense of clarity and energized calm. This exercise is an excellent way to begin your daily activities and your evening meditation practice.

Resources:
Conscious Breathing: Breathwork for Health, Stress Release, and Personal Mastery by Gay Hendricks

Energy Work

Energy practice incorporates the use of focus, breath, intention and direction by engaging the chakras and subtle bodies in active energetic flow. How we later use the energy we have stimulated depends on what outcome we wish to produce. Additionally, the method we use to raise our energetic state is also determined by the outcome desired.

• Physical methods include:
  Breath work
  Movement- dance-martial arts
  Toning- Chanting

• Affecting Energy Through States of Consciousness includes:
  Meditations
  Pathworkings
  Visioning

For most people the first experience of sensing energy occurs with a physical sensation within Solar Plexus (diaphragm region). These are the butterflies we may feel of excitement or fear- energy is moving in accord with our emotional state. Sometimes there is a tingling or tickling sensation that occurs when the flow of energy is opened. As the work and practice continues, the origin of initial sensation that is the precursor of energy raising may move to the throat center or sensations in hands or feet. For this reason, it is important that you take some time to research and learn about our energetic anatomy.

Side Trip:

Read through these posts on the Sacred Vessel Blog for more information about our Energetic Anatomy….
The Sacred Vessel: Our Physical and Subtle Anatomy Parts 1 and 2

Some ways to energize, enliven and bring more awareness to the chakras..

There are many benefits to consciously doing a practice which includes strengthening and cleansing the chakras. As continual receptors of energy that surrounds routinely visualizing your chakra centers as vibrant in color and form serves to purify and cleanse unwanted build up of negative or residual non-productive energy. This also ensures that as you do any energy work (yoga, tai chi, Qigong, meditation or other type of energy practice) the organs of the subtle bodies will be in good working order. You would not consider running a marathon if you had not trained properly and the same is true of any sustained practice you intend for your subtle bodies. Visualization alone is a good start, but if you can also include the element of toning, you will be enhancing the efforts through the vibration of energy within each of those chakra centers. Sound carries its own rhythm and pattern and when combining with the already flowing patterns and rhythms within each chakra point, you can subtly change the quality and flow of that energy to one of better production, higher amplitude and thus receive more of a healing and regenerative flow through the work.

Resources:
Chakra Clearing by Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.
Eastern Body, Western Mind by Anodea Judith
The Art of True Healing by Israel Regardie

Observation and Visualization Exercises

Observation exercises, which are designed to enhance your skills of observation of the world around you keep you more fully aware of areas of change and areas of stagnation. These gems of visual wisdom can then be applied to the flow we have moving through our own practice and space of experience. Many of the Western Mystery paths have at their core the skill of refined and detailed observation, which can then be used and trained into a modality of visualization. Most people have difficulty visualizing or seeing in their mind’s eye something they have never seen before. Through training ourselves to be accurate observers, even those things which go largely unnoticed at the time of seeing something are, nonetheless, imprinted and stored in our storehouse of memories. These can later be used as we begin to more concretely develop a set of exercises and practices to enhance our own inner path.

Physical Practice

Any physical activity that creates greater body awareness will serve you well in your spiritual growth. Some considerations and ways to facilitate a working, healthy physical vessel are:

• Regular Physical Exercise- Walking- Tapes- Yoga, etc..

• 5 Elements Exercise:
  Water – swimming
  Fire – sweat lodge- weight training
  Air – the need for speed- cycling- running- sky diving- skiing
  Earth – hiking- gardening- climbing
  Spirit – let’s get the CHI moving Martial Arts – Pilates- dancing- walking

• Adequate Rest:
  Making sure that you get quality sleep is important to the process of walking a nature-based path. Your physical being is part of the nature that we honor and hold dear. Taking care and giving love to our physical nature is the highest form of tribute we can pay to the God and Goddess. And, of course

Eating well and regular exercise gives the message to your physical self that you are cared for and as a spiritual vessel, I will honor you.

Resources:
The Wiccan Wellness Book by Laura Perry

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Time to Grow (A Practice of Your Own)

“When a human reaches up to his/her Higher Mind and accesses the vibrational gifts from that realm (of his or her own higher consciousness), she or he will be filled with inspiration and courage. And this type of inspiration and courage could change the world through actions that are then taken by that individual.”
… anonymous …

What is Devotion?

A Definition of Devotion….

1. Ardent, often selfless affection and dedication, as to a person or principle.
2. Religious ardor or zeal; piety.
3. Commitment to some purpose;
4. An act of religious observance or prayer, especially when private.

If we look at the definitions above we have a sense of the complexity of this word. And, that complexity can take on many forms and nuances as we move along the Path. If we are not devoted to the work, we will not put forth the maximum amount of effort. If we only give half-heartedly, most of the effort is wasted and dissipates just as quickly as it was generated. Devotion to self, Deity, the work all serve as anchors that hold together the many spokes of the wheel around which we establish our place in magickal working.

Some Keywords that relate to Devotion are:

sacrifice            commitment
questioning      formulating
aspiration         inspiration
yearning           laying claim
expanding        contracting

Think about what each of these mean to you. Which resonate more deeply and which do you feel should not even be on this list. Periodically checking in with what the definition of a Devotional Path means can give you valuable information about where you

The Essential Elements of Devotion

If we look at devotion through the lens of the elements we see the cycle that occurs in the process. These Three elements form the Triad of Fire and Energetic Awakening (AIR/FIRE/WATER).

“This is the FIRE that ignites the Passion and YEARNING for THAT which it seeks out and willfully  INFLAMES“

FIRE

The Youthful stage that is enthused and excited about new found information, Deity and practice. This is the stage that ignites the desire to learn more, do more and be the most effective we can. It is the combined energy of enthusiasm stimulating the urge or desire to move forward that allows us to become a fertile ground within which the seeds of devotion and dedication are quickened.

WATER

We evolve from the impetuous nature of Youth and move to the place of guardian, nurturer and sustainer of what we have taken as our own. Because we have given time and energy to the process we are able to claim authority over our feelings of devotion. Through our efforts at sustaining this “faith” and state of dedication we then become also the providers of that energy. Wanting to share what we feel and enable others to feel the power and glory of dedicating oneself to a path of devotion.

AIR

When we arrive at a place of “faith” and ownership of the ideals and energies we have found upon the Path we have a sense of conviction that is based upon internalization of those energies. We identify fully with what we are devoted and dedicated to. We wish knowledge for the place of service it may allow us. We wish communion with the Divine because that is our birthright and we wish for the best outcome for all, knowing that we are part of that recipe.

Incorporating Devotion into Your Practice

Setting up an Altar dedicated to a specific Deity is a beautiful way to display your dedication and devotion to that particular Deity. Acknowledging your Path and the work you have achieved on that Path as you sit in contemplative medication is an affirmation of your Devotion. Each time you spend a moment in thought about the magick that surrounds you, the marvel of your physical body and give thanks for those others who share your life generates the energetic pattern of Devotion. Just as the rose in the picture at the heading of this page shows, there are many chambers that are unfolding at any given moment. Some are hidden and others are there for all to see. But, all lead to the very center and heart of the flower. And it is by ever striving towards that center that we find the many ways that devotion forms and shapes our lives.

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I Sing the Body Electric

Give up, and you will succeed.
Bow, and you will stand tall.
Be empty, and you will be filled.
Let go of the old, and let in the new.
Have little, and there is room to receive more.

The wise stand out,
because they see themselves as part of the whole.
They shine, because they don’t want to impress.
They achieve great things, because they don’t look for recognition.
Their wisdom is contained in what they are, not their opinions.
They refuse to argue, so no one argues with them.

The Ancients said:”Give up and you will succeed”.
Is this empty nonsense? Try it.
If you are sincere, you will find fulfillment.

The quote above is one that I read often. It reminds me of the amount of energy that is expended simply in being present and cognizant. It also calls me to a place of action that is infused at a cellular and subtle level by the products of “trying”. The most important concept I take from this quote is the amount of energy I waste when I get in my own way.

The Ancients said:”Give up and you will succeed”. This sentence, alone, speaks brilliantly to adopting a state of mindfulness and a basic knowledge of how energy flows in and around us. 

Energy… The Definition of

1. The capacity for work or vigorous activity; vigor; power.

2. Exertion of vigor or power: a project requiring a great deal of time and energy.

3. Vitality and intensity of expression: a speech delivered with energy and emotion.

4. Usable heat or power

5. Physics. The capacity of a physical system to do work.

If we look at the definitions above, we get a clearer picture of what and how energy works and how it relates to a magickal Path. We are by nature energetic beings. Although we may not feel that way, and will often resort to ingesting those substances which we feel we need to produce more energy, renewal is as easy as breathing fully for a few repetitions. We have, at our fingertips more energy than we would ever need. Accessing it, however requires 1) Awareness – 2) Opening and – 3) Connection.

We cannot make use of that which we are unaware of. It may on occasion seep into our state of being, but is largely undirected and unfocused unless we consciously acknowledge and direct its use. The next phase is knowing how and when to allow ourselves to be open conduits through which this Universal energy may flow, revitalize and enliven. And, then connecting fully to this downpour and movement in a way that is productive, of use and made with intent.

When we engage in energy work we are beginning an alchemical process. Alchemy concerns itself with transformation and transmutation. Maintaining an energy practice and using energy in our magickal workings changes the way in which we move through the world as well as the effects we have on that world we are moving within. Our awareness becomes heightened as a by product and this we become more sensitive and in touch with the subtle energies that surround us. Things that would normally go unnoticed come to the foreground. Movement of energy, and the interweaving of energy are the primary goals of magickal work, whether it be ritual, spell work or personal practice.

What is the Source of Energy?

The Alchemical Process

The Law of Resonance states that everything in the Universe is energy or vibration and when a strong field of vibration is introduced to a weaker field of vibration, the weaker will change in frequency to match that of the stronger one. This is the basis process that occurs when we take note of our energetic field with a simple exercise such as rubbing both palms together- slightly parting the hands and being able to still feel a connection between each, although separately. We have created the conditions for our resonating now with the energy around our hands, and in turn that energy is responding and pushing back against the pattern we have generated.

Universal Source, the Divine

The FIRE within and all around (tendency towards heat when the energetic fires are aroused- hands become warm, might feel the sensation of warmth spreading throughout body) is generated by a Universal Source. Energy embedded information is available for us to tap in to. For most , however, they remain oblivious to that storehouse and plethora of revitalization. By default magick workers are also energy workers.

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Tools for Learning

” I must first know myself, as the Delphian inscription says;
to be curious about that which is not my concern,
while I am still in ignorance of my own self would be ridiculous.

“Plato
(427?-347 B.C.)

In order to build an effective personal practice it is vital to engage and be familiar with all the bits and piece s that comprise your physical, spiritual and energetic make up. Last month we discussed using the parts of Self to create the Magickal Persona. Knowing how each of these energies play out in your day to day activities can help you draw upon those types of experiences, exercises and tools that will resonate harmoniously with your personal path of development. So, please reread through this excerpt from last month. This time from the perspective of how to engage each in an active way of regular, sustainable practice.

Review of The Parts of Self

“When we enter sacred space or engage in a magickal working, we do not enter alone. We bring onto that space the sum total of all the pieces of our experiences physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Each of these experiences are processed through our consciousness and it’s varied states of being.

A core component of the process of creating a Magickal Self is integration and communication between all the levels of our consciousness. In many spiritual traditions there are 3-5 levels or states of being that are embodied within the human being and are the holders of the Universal energy pattern. These parts act individually but are also interdependent upon one another to achieve a balance and bring the body into a place of Self-hood or wholeness.”

These Feed and Fuel our way as we cultivate the tools of choice in crafting our spiritual practice:

Lower/Physical Self
I Have

The Lower Self ( Lower Mental) is our primal instinctual nature. This is the physical body we inhabit and the conscious self that responds and reacts to stimuli in the physical world through our senses and tactile abilities. This is the self that we rely upon for the creating a practice that is satisfying and stimulating enough to keep us interested. This is the place that we seek the tangible and concrete results that provide us with the inspiration to continue.

Middle/Emotional Self
I Want (to Become)

The Middle self more closely relates to the subconscious mind. The place of dreams and aspirations; of emotions and feelings. In this space of selves the desire to Know, to be to dare and to dream are manifested. This is the fuel that we use to catalyze when doubt sets in. This is the fuel that ignites the will towards action and to keep going despite challenges. This is the food we sup upon when the hunger to do the Great Work of Self sets to rumbling the void that is needed for the Divine to fill.

Higher/Mental SELF
I Will Become

The Higher Mental self is the super or Higher conscious self. It knows the results of the subconscious desire working upon the conscious mind and has transcended to a place of “knowing it will be”. Accessing this self calls forth the awareness that everything is continually striving towards self-awareness and a deepening of understanding that connects us to the greater cosmos. We use this intention in personal practice as we reach out to our Deities, Patrons and Guides to assist us in our progress. We also hold this as the ideal towards which we are stretching, knowing that everything must change and in that process of change we become the version of ourselves that we are seeking.

The Spiritual SELF
The Divine Spark
I AM

The Spiritual SELF is the continued contact and communication with the impulse of the Divine. There is no longer a need to Have or possess. There is no desire for anything; for it is all and at once formed and formless. Using this Self to inform and enliven our personal practice is the affirmation that we are already Divine in nature and thus already possess whatever knowledge is required to advance our spiritual nature in accord with and for the highest good of all.

We discussed last month how these parts of Self interact as the Magickal Persona is crafted and called into being. We use these in the same way as we move through the daily pursuits of our practice. In fact, if we think in this way than any act we take that holds the intent of sustaining a viable spiritual practice will be done with the idea that the Magickal/Spiritual and the Mundane aspects of ourself are working collaboratively.

Take some time to go back and review Lesson Seven….

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The Path of Devotion