Nothing to Write

Sorry folks. I got nothing.

Random Quote

"Be wiser than other people if you can; but do not tell them so." Chesterfield.

Be honest, how do you react when someone heres about your faith, and then says something to the effect of "Of course you worship Satan; you just don't know it," or "I wonder what you'll think once you get out of this phase," etc.

So watch yourself. It's easy to SAY you don't proselytize, but you'll catch yourself doing it, whether you like it or not.

Journaling

Possibly one of the best exercises any Witch can accomplish. Journaling is easy: remembering to do it regularly is hard.

At first you may find confiding your innermost secrets to paper (or webspace if you use LiveJournal like I do) difficult, not used to spilling your guts or perhaps afraid someone you know might read something that you would rather they not be privy to.

However, journaling is a wonderful way to get in touch with yourself. Especially for teenagers. A journal is the perfect place to vent and rant about any and every little thing, the perfect place to think out loud, and the perfect place to be nobody but yourself, somtheing we could all practice to a higher degree.

If you have a journal which you do update regularly, then you can ignore this. If you have a journal, but you could be a bit more consistent in your entries, then perhaps you oughta make more of an effort. If you do not have a journal or diary, I highly suggest you start one.

The Witch's Pyramid

You may have heard of the Four Secrets of the Sphinx, or the Four Powers of the Magus, or maybe the Four Rules of Magick. They are all the same thing, and are referred to as the Foundation of the Witch's Pyramid: To Know, to Dare, to Will, and to Be Silent. When mastered, together they cause the fifth, the point of the Pyramid: To Go. They are sometimes known by their Latin names and correspond to the Elements as well:

To Know-Noscere-Air
To Dare-Audere-Water
To Will-Velle-Fire
To Be Silent-Tacere-Earth
To Go-Ire-Spirit

They say that mastering these is the key to true advancement in witchcraft. Think about what they mean to you: some people think that "To Be Silent" means not to discuss your magick lest you dissipate the magick; do you agree or disagree? Why?

Article--Knot Magick

Knot magick, also known as cord magick, though not as common as candle magick is just as effective and “easy,” in the sense that any witch can obtain the materials needed and learn the steps. Knot magick involves tying your magickal will/goal/energy into the cord you are using. Any kind of string may be used, and the spell can be made more specific by chosing color correspondences or even braiding different colors together. The type of string used can often affect your magick; a length of packaging twine can be used in a communication spell and so on. Knot magick is generally more useful in any type of binding spell. This not only means binding someone from doing harm, but also can be securing a new job, or tying up a messy situation so that it will end nicely. Remember: no manipulative magick.

A typical knot spell consists of cleansing the cord being used, visualizing and raising energy, pouring it into your cord and saying words of power. I generally do the pouring and the chanting while I’m tying, so that I am literally tying my goal up. A traditional nine knot spell chant goes as follows:

By knot of one, the spell’s begun.
By knot of two, I make it true.
By knot of three, so make it be.
By knot of four, the open door
By knot of five, the spell’s alive
By knot of six, the thing is fixed
By knot of seven, the Earth and Heaven
By knot of eight, the stroke of fate
By knot of nine, the thing is mine!

After, the cord may be deposited on your altar until the goal is manifested, or you may use the ninth knot to tie the cord in a loop and wear it. When the spell has been completed, the cord may be disposed of in a natural manner, such as burying, dropping in a fast-flowing stream, or burning. In these instances, it is best to use biodegradable string. It also makes the thing more complete if you say a little chant of thanks or conclusion when you dispose of your cord. The cord may also be stored wherever you keep the remnants of your spellwork (many witches keep a special box for just this purpose.)

Daily Life--Regular Practice

Several Wiccans will testify that Wicca is not areligion for weekends and sabbats, but a way of life. I find this to be true in my experience. When I cut my spirituality down to part-time, I feel low, drained, confused, and disconnected. I feel like my mind is cluttered.

So I want you to look at your day to day life, and see how you can fit your religion into it. Can you perform Devotions morning and night? Do you have time for a nightly ritual (you lucky witch)? At least, do you have time for meditation and/or prayer?

If you find you are neglecting your path, figure out how you can alter your schedule to accomadate any or all of these options.

Blessed Be.

Focus

Any witch will tell you that focus is the most important element in witchcraft. However, I think many witches can be a little vague in their descriptions of focus.

Let me put it this way: the ideal state you want to attain is that in which nothing exists for you but what you are focused on. However, knowing this makes it hard for us to reach it, as our inner monologue starts to go like this:

"Whoa, I'm totally doing it!"
"Shut up, you'll ruin it."
"Oh. Right. Sorry."
"Oh damn. You've ruined the atmosphere now."

This leaves you discouraged and apprehensive about trying again. So what you must learn before you try to focus (whether it be through meditation, visualization, or a simple act of will) is how to let go of yourself. You must try not to be aware of your mundane self, and not lose yourself in your magick, but rather find yourself in it.

Am I making sense?

When you are focused, you want to be incredibly aware of everything that is happening that is pertinent to your magick, but not aware of anything that will distract or take away from the energy of it.

Daily Life--Wonder and Amazement

I've started babysitting a four year old up the street from me. Her favorite game is playing with her dolls.

I haven't played with dolls in years, so it took me a little while to slip back into it. I was amazed how absorbed the child became in her game, that something as mundane as sending a doll to the store or to school became exciting. Her wonder at the microcosm of her toys led me to pontificate, as many things do these days.

As I said yesterday, I had stopped taking care of myself spiritually, and the world had become mundane for me. I needed to remind myself that every moment is amazing, and that the Goddess is in every moment, not just those spent in ritual. I also needed to be reminded that magick is everywhere, in the mundane as well as in the divine.

I suppose what I'm trying to get into is how important it is to change your outlookon life to a magickal one. When you are a Wiccan, you must actively try to see the world through a different lens to fully understand the powers around you.

Update

Well, I'm feeling better. Sort of.

I forgot Lammas.

I felt terrible after that, and I also realized I didn't even know what moon phase it was. I think therein lies my problem. Wicca had fallen into a bit of a rut for me; I did almost the same thing at every ritual, I hadn't done any real magick for I don't even know how long, and I wasn't keeping in tune with the world, with the Lord and Lady, or with myself.

So now I'm in the process of returning myself to the rhythms of the world, to try and sustain my spiritual growth, and make Wicca a groove, and not a rut.

Blessed Be, everyone. I'll post again tomorrow.