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samwisethewitch · 3 years ago

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The Little Gods: Spirits of Place in Modern Paganism

In a previous post, we talked about gods, goddesses, and the many ways they can be worshiped in a modern pagan practice. However, the gods are not the only group of spiritual beings honored by modern pagans. While building relationships with deities makes up the bulk of practice for many people, a lot of pagans work with other groups of spirits as well, or may even work more closely with these “smaller” spirits than with the gods. One of these groups is the ancestors, the spirits of deceased humans who are part of our lineage — we’ll talk about them in a future post.

The other group of minor spirits commonly honored by modern pagans, and the topic of today’s post, are what I like to call the Spirits of Place. This is a broad category that includes land spirits, spirits of natural objects like trees and rivers, and spirits of man-made locations like a house or office building. Depending on your personal beliefs, it may also include animal guides, spirits of inanimate objects, and/or spirits honored in specific cultures like the fairies or the elves.

The idea that the world around us is spiritually alive and aware is present in some form in almost every culture and religion, and the worship of these Spirits of Place is well-documented in most historic pagan religions. For example, much of Irish folk spirituality revolves around appeasing the fairies, which we can understand as a special type of land spirit — this continued long after the conversion period, even after the worship of the Irish gods had faded into obscurity. Many Norse pagans honor the landvaettir (land spirits) and husvaettir (house spirits), which have survived in more recent Nordic folklore in the form of spirits like the Danish nisse or Swedish tomte, who are still honored at Christmas in some parts of Scandinavia. In Roman paganism, the lares, who are both land spirits and the guardians of man-made homes and are closely connected to the ancestors, are given a place of honor. Eclectic pagans may pull from one or more of these practices, or may honor their local spirits in their own unique way.

Honoring the Spirits of Place is not exclusive to pagan faiths. Practitioners of New Orleans Voodoo honor the ashe, the sacred energy, of the Mississipi River, one of their most prominent local landmarks. In Shinto, places and objects are said to have their own kami, which can be understood as gods or as spirits. Even in Christianity’s strictly monotheist system, God is often understood to be physically present in the world around us, a philosophy known as panentheism. I offer these non-pagan examples not because I think pagans should copy these other religions, but because I want to make a point about how pervasive the belief in Spirits of Place really is.

Connecting with the Spirits of Place can help us to engage more mindfully and in more meaningful ways with the world around us. When we accept that every plant, animal, rock, and building has its own spirit or soul, we interact with those objects in a more intentional way. We learn to think about our home not just as a place where we live, but as a spiritual entity that we have an active relationship with. We learn to think of our gardens not as a plot of dirt filled with plants, but as a community of land spirits and plant spirits all working together to provide us with nourishment. We learn to think of our cities not as concrete jungles, but as huge collections of spirits as diverse and fascinating as their human inhabitants. When we open our eyes to the spiritual world that exists alongside our own, we begin to see how the spiritual permeates every aspect of human life.

Connecting with Spirits of Place also offers a way for us to personalize and localize our practice. The Spirits of Place in Los Angeles will be very different from those of Brooklyn, Berlin, or Mexico City. Your local Spirits of Place are closely related to your local biome, as well as to the cultural groups that have influenced your community.

Because of this, the best way to connect with your own Spirits of Place is to learn about where you live. Research your local flora, fauna, and weather patterns — how is your ecosystem unique? Learn about local history and about the cultures who have influenced your area. All of these influences will give you some ideas for how to honor the spirits in your practice.

For example, I live in a temperate climate with four true seasons, clay-based soil, and lots of rain and humidity. Some of the local plant spirits that I feel closest to are the black locust tree, the magnolia tree, poke weed, and the birch tree. Some of the local animal spirits I feel closest to are the crow, the red-tailed hawk, the coyote, and the white-tailed deer. My local land spirits are as steadfast and strong as the nearby Appalachian mountains.

I live in the South, so our local spirits are also shaped by a history of racial oppression and persecution. They have witnessed the displacement of the Cherokee people, whose stolen land I live on today. They have witnessed the transatlantic slave trade and the continued oppression of Black people with Jim Crow and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. They have witnessed devastating poverty in rural communities, including those of my ancestors. These scars run deep, creating a reverberations that I and other Southern folks still feel today. However, with the trauma of the South comes a rich diversity of influences, creating a unique culture unlike any other in the world. My Irish and Scottish ancestors brought their culture with them when they came to these mountains, where it mingled with the cultural influences of our Black and Latino neighbors, the Cherokee influences of our land, a deeply held Protestant Christian faith, and a special brand of magic that is unique to the South. All of this influences my local Spirits of Place, and I try to keep all of it in mind when interacting with them.

I honor my Spirits of Place by learning to identify local plants, respectfully and ethically foraging from those plants, and using them in my spiritual practice. I honor them by feeding the crows, and by greeting the deer when I encounter them on walks. I honor them by remembering the original inhabitants of this land, by supporting Native rights activists, and by donating to nonprofits that support the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, who originally lived in my area. I honor them by actively working to address the issue of racism in the South, up to and including attending Black Lives Matter protests and campaigning for an end to racialized police violence. I honor them by listening to my Cherokee, Black, and Latino neighbors and following their lead on Cherokee, Black, and Latino issues. I also honor them by practicing sustainable gardening techniques, working to lower my environmental impact, and by giving back to the land whenever I can.

If you don’t live in the same geographic area as me, the way you honor your Spirits of Place may look totally different. Don’t be afraid to make this practice your own — once you connect with your local spirits, they will be your guides.

Types of Spirits of Place

There are many, many types of spirits that fall into this category, and the list in this post is not meant to be exhaustive. My goal here is to give you an idea of some of the forms these spirits can take, so that you can begin to recognize the Spirits of Place that surround you in your own life.

Land spirits: These are spirits of specific geographical locations or features of the land. They may be as big as the Mississippi River or as small as the rosebush in your backyard. As you might imagine, these spirits don’t move around much, as they usually don’t venture far from the location they are tied to. In my experience, land spirits have a very stable, steady, and earthy presence.

Our relationship with the land spirits is a direct reflection of our relationship with the land itself. If we live our lives in a way that hurts the land by polluting it or stripping it of resources, it will be much harder to build a healthy relationship with the spirits of that land. The best way to live in right relationship with the land spirits is to treat the land you are living on with honor and respect.

In my personal practice, I call on the land spirits for help in my garden. I make offerings of food that is safe for local wildlife if they decide to help themselves, such as unsalted peanuts, birdseed, bread, or fresh fruit. When I make offerings, I make sure to thank the land spirits for sharing their home with me and for providing me with abundance. You might honor your local land spirits in a similar way, or you may find that another approach works better for you.

House spirits: It is not only natural places that have spirits — man-made buildings also have a spirit of their own. If you’ve ever stayed in a very old house, you probably felt its unique character while you were there. Every building has its own soul of sorts, which embodies the place, the way it is used, and the different people who have lived there. In my experience, these spirits tend to take on the energy of the people who live in or frequently use their building — the spirits of a happy home may have a kind, friendly presence, while the spirits of a dysfunctional business where employees are mistreated may have a mean streak.

Many of us overlook the spiritual importance of our homes. Our home is where we can be most vulnerable, and in most cases it’s probably where most of our daily spiritual practices take place. Our home is the base of operations we come back to at the end of each day. A home that feels safe, comfortable, and welcoming is important to our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. To maintain a healthy home, we need to maintain good relationships with the other people living there — but we can take this even further by striving to have a good relationship with our home itself.

Spirits of objects: Objects also have their on spirits. This applies not only to naturally occurring objects, but to man-made things as well.

Most people with even a passing interest in witchcraft or New Age spirituality are aware that crystals have unique energies and personalities and can act as spiritual allies. What many people don’t realize is that this is not something that is unique to crystals — all objects have a unique spiritual presence, and all of them can be powerful spiritual allies if you take the time to connect with them. A rock from your backyard can be just a powerful as an expensive crystal. So can a favorite sweater, your grandmother’s antique dishes, and even your cell phone.

The best way to connect with the spirits of objects is to talk to them. Tell them that you appreciate the role they serve in your life, and verbally thank them for their help. I find that these spirits don’t typically require offerings in the traditional sense — instead, you can practice reciprocity by keeping their homes in good condition. For example, if you want to connect with the spirit of a favorite stuffed animal, make sure the toy itself stays clean and in good repair.

Plant and animal spirits: Plant and animal spirits are different from spirits of objects because they are physically alive. Plants and animals live and breathe just as we do, which can make them a little easier to befriend and understand than the spirits of inanimate objects. If you’re not quite ready to start talking to your hairbrush, plant and animal spirits can be a good place to start.

Animal spirits are the easiest by far to connect with. Any pet owner will tell you that animals have souls that often seem just as complex as those of humans. Dogs and cats, for example, clearly feel love, joy, sadness, and pain just as humans do. Pets are an excellent way to begin connecting with animal spirits, because you already have a relationship with them in the physical world.

Next time you have a few minutes alone with your pet, try meditating on their spiritual presence. Can you feel their energy? Can you sense the wisdom they carry in their soul?

If you had a pet that died, you might try reaching out to them to see if they want to be involved in your spiritual practice. Dogs especially are very loyal to their owners, and can be called on for protection even after death. If you have ashes or bones from your pet, or if you have items like a collar or a favorite toy, you can include them on an altar or some other special place and make regular offerings of treats or pet food in exchange for their protection.

Some pagans, especially Wiccans and other neopagans, choose to work with familiars, which are a special kind of animal ally. There is a common misconception that a familiar is any animal you feel especially close to, but that isn’t quite how it works. A familiar is an animal that serves as a spiritual ally — traditionally, by helping witches with their magic. The familiar can be a living animal, but it is more often a purely spiritual being.

These animal spirit allies exist in other forms in other pagan religions. In Norse paganism, the fylgja is a spiritual guide that often appears in the form of an animal. The animal form the fylgja takes is closely related to the personality of the person it is attached to, and they are often tied to that person’s fate. In Irish folklore, the fetch is a spiritual double of a human that often appears as an animal. In Kemetic polytheism, one of the parts of the soul is the ba, which often appears as a bird with a human head and which represents a person’s personality. In all of these cases, the animal guide can be understood as an extension of the practitioner, rather than as a separate being like the familiar.

Plant spirits are a little bit different. In my experience, these spirits are quieter and more reserved than most animal spirits, and they tend to work in more subtle ways. Plant spirits are still, steadfast allies that tend to work behind the scenes, so you may not have as many face-to-face interactions with them as you do with animals or land spirits.

The best way to begin connecting with plant spirits is to start keeping a houseplant. As you care for your plant, talk to it! Tell it how much you appreciate it, and thank it for its contribution to keeping your space beautiful and safe. Appropriate offerings for plant spirits are exactly what you would expect: water, fertilizer, and plant food.

Cryptids and folkloric creatures: In the modern era, folklore has given way to urban legends and created a new kind of mythology. Like traditional folklore, urban legends are spread by word of mouth and change organically as they are told and retold. Many urban legends are tied to specific locations, and many of them feature strange and mysterious creatures who can be understood as modern land spirits.

For example, the Loch Ness Monster can be seen as the spirit of Loch Ness. The Jersey Devil is tied to the Pine Barrens in New Jersey. Mothman is tied to Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Although these are some of the most famous modern cryptids, most towns have their own urban legends — if you ask around, you’ll likely find stories of some kind of spectral guardian tied to your area. My college campus has a handful of its own urban legends, including one of a female spirit who appears to warn students of coming disasters. Find out who your local cryptids are, and look for ways to incorporate them into your practice.

These different types of spirits are sometimes filtered through different cultural lenses, which changes the way they interact with humans. For example, an Irish fairy is very different from a Japanese kami, even though both technically fall into the larger category of land spirits. If you feel drawn to a specific tradition’s approach to working with the Spirits of Place, I advise you to do your own research into that tradition — including making sure that it isn’t part of a closed cultural practice which you are not party to. Look for sources written by members of the living culture of that tradition, rather than books written by outsiders.

Connecting with the Spirits of Place

Here are some activities you can do to strengthen your connection with the Spirits of Place:

Make offerings. As I mentioned above, you can honor the spirits with offerings. Just make sure that, if you leave offerings outside, you only offer things that are biodegradable and are safe for local wildlife. If you don’t want to leave physical offerings, you can offer acts of service like picking up litter, watering plants, or volunteering at an animal shelter.

Create an altar. Altars are an excellent way to create space in your life for the spirits. My herb garden doubles as an altar to the land spirits, with a small Green Man statue to represent the spirits and a place where I can leave offerings. I also have a table indoors where I keep most of my houseplants, which is also a sacred space of sorts. The type of altar you create and its location will depend on the spirits you want to connect with — the possibilities are limitless.

Start a compost pile. Compost piles make excellent offerings to land spirits and plant spirits. While compost isn’t quite as simple as “just throw all your leftover food in a pile,” it’s not difficult if you know what you are doing. When composting, it’s important to maintain a balance between carbon-rich “brown” material (leaves, undyed paper, cardboard, etc.) and nitrogen-rich “greens” (fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells, etc.) — you want about four times as much brown as green in your compost. There are some things you shouldn’t add to your compost, like meat, dairy products, and greasy foods. Start your compost with a layer of brown material — preferably twigs or straw to allow good airflow. Alternate layers of green and brown materials as you add to the pile. Every time you add to your compost, verbally express your gratitude to the land spirits. Your compost should be moist, but not soggy — you’ll know it’s ready when it’s dark and crumbly and smells like soil. Use it on your garden and in your houseplant pots, or donate it to a local community garden.

Hold a territory acknowledgement. A territory acknowledgement is a way to insert awareness of indigenous people whose lands were stolen from them. You can acknowledge indigenous territory at the beginning of public religious events, or at the beginning of your private rituals. This practice will help you develop a deeper understanding of the history of your land, which can help deepen your connection to it as well as honoring its original inhabitants. A territory acknowledgement can be as simple as: “I acknowledge and honor this land, which is called [indigenous name of your area] and is home to the people of [indigenous nation].” Make sure you take the time to learn the correct pronunciation for these indigenous words. You can find out who originally lived in your area and what they called it by visiting native-land.ca.

Donate to conservation efforts. Instead of making physical offerings, make a donation to an environmentalist cause and dedicate it to your Spirits of Place. Look for groups that work in your local area, such as nonprofits dedicated to fighting deforestation and climate change, groups that protect rare and endangered native plants, or wildlife rehabilitation centers. Even volunteering at an animal shelter can be an appropriate offering to animal spirits.

Start a garden with native plants. Do some research into your local ecosystem — what plants are native to your area? Which of them are edible? Which of them have spiritual uses? Buy or forage seeds from these plants and start a 100% native garden. Growing and eating food that is native to your area can help deepen your connection to the land, the local plant spirits, and the cycle of the seasons.

Replace mainstream cleansing herbs with native plants. White sage, palo santo, frankincense, and sandalwood, some of the most popular cleansing herbs among modern pagans, are all endangered due to over-harvesting. Instead of buying endangered plants from far off lands, try to find a native plant you can use instead. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere where rosemary or lavender is native, you’re in luck! If not, try researching some of the plants in your backyard — you might be surprised what you find. Most plants in the Salvia (sage) family can be burned as incense to cleanse and consecrate a space. This family includes over 1,000 species spread out over Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Many trees also have cleansing properties, especially coniferous trees like pine, cedar, and juniper. Find out what is abundant in your area and find ways to incorporate it into your rituals.

Go for a hike. While bringing the Spirits of Place into our homes can be deeply meaningful, it’s also important to get out there and meet them on their own terms. Try to make time to get out in nature, and be open to connecting with the spirits you find on these trips. You don’t have to go far — even hanging out in a backyard or city park can allow you to connect with the land.

Feed the birds. And the squirrels, and the deer, or whatever other critters you have. Now, I am not recommending approaching wild animals and trying to befriend them. I am also not recommending feeding animals people food. Nature often rests in a delicate balance, and directly feeding wild animals can make them dependent on humans, which could be dangerous for them. While feeding local animals can be an excellent offering, it’s important to do it in a way that is safe and non-instrusive. It’s best to leave food in a place you know is frequented by animals, then let them find it after you’ve gone. Bird feeders and squirrel feeders are a great way to do this.

Clean your house. One of the best ways to honor house spirits? Keep their living space clean! Try to keep your house tidy and be a good roommate to its spirits. Try not to let clutter pile up, and take time to sweep, mop, and dust every once in a while. You can even ask your house spirits to help you keep the house clean — just make sure you’re also doing your fair share of housework, or they may get upset about the unfair arrangement.

These “little gods” of places and objects are often forgotten, but they are an important part of daily pagan practice. While the gods rule over grand concepts and forces of nature, and the ancestors are tied to our family and community, the Spirits of Place make up the ground we stand on, the air we breathe, and the places we call home. Perhaps more than any other group of spirits, they are truly the gods of the everyday.

Resources:

Water Magic by Lilith Dorsey

Southern Cunning by Aaron Oberon

Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins

The Way of Fire and Ice by Ryan Smith

A Practical Heathen’s Guide to Asatru by Patricia M. Lafayllve

Where the Hawthorn Grows by Morgan Daimler

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham

Temple of the Cosmos by Jeremy Naydler

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thegodwithin · 3 years ago

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Hello! I have overwhelming undiagnosed anxiety and depression. (I haven’t been diagnosed because of my parents.) Every time I think of my desire, or something goes wrong in the process of getting it, I feel extremely sick and I almost throw up. The negative emotions I feel are so overpowering that if I don’t spiral into negative thoughts, it subsides and later it gets even worse. I try to ignore it and affirm that I’m god and I shouldn’t be swayed but I can’t help but get anxious and start looking for solutions other than manifesting. What do I to stay in the state of knowing it’s done and be consistent in it without letting my anxiety take over when it seems like I can’t do it? Are there any methods or routines you would recommend for someone like me? I understand that you may say affirm self concept, but affirming doesn’t stop the negative emotions and the spiralling. I know it’s ok to have negative emotions but they invoke negative thoughts that mess up my progress with manifesting. I just think I feel more intensely and worry more than the average person and I need to know that it’s done in order for the 3D to conform. If I continue to worry and look for other solutions, it’s coming from a state of lack which is not good for manifesting. But what do I do when I feel these intense emotions because I can’t ignore them and affirming against them feels like I’m lying and provoking even more negative thoughts. Also how do I deal with comparing myself to others and lacking faith in my manifestation abilities? That’s usually what causes the anxiety. I’ll be like “I wish I was ___ so I don’t have to worry about getting ____” or “if I don’t manifest ___ what will ___ think.” My fuel for manifesting is usually for or because of other people and what they have. It causes me so much stress and lack of faith in my abilities and idk how to stop caring about other people and what they are doing.

sorry this took a while

There seems to be a misconception with the idea of being god. It’s not supposed to mean that you are a perfect being that can’t make mistakes or that you can’t be affected by anything. You can choose to build that assumption and self concept of course but you’re still human. Humans are thinking and feeling beings. Our emotions and our feelings have a purpose, they are feedback from our bodies in regard to the state we are embodying.

full (long) reply under the cut

What being god means is simply that you are the source of everything in your reality. You give life and you take it. With your awareness. Your awareness is the god within you. Your awareness decides what’s true and what isn’t. It is simply by what you are accepting, validating, believing in and paying attention to that you bring it forth in your reality. Your reality will always be a perfect reproduction of what you have within, in your awareness. That’s what being God means.

Whenever I’m feeling really bad or bothered by something, I try to understand why I’m feeling that way. That helps me to look at the situation from a different perspective and then it’s easier to shift my focus into what I would prefer and then I try to embody that instead.

Your thoughts, feelings and emotions are not supposed to be ignored. You can’t run away from them and slap a couple of affirmations on like a bandaid and expect things to change. Emotions are supposed to be released, so don’t suppress them nor be afraid that they mean you are failing. That kind of mindset is not going to help you get anywhere.

Your thoughts, feelings and emotions are coming from somewhere. They are connected to your state, to your self concept, to who you are choosing to be in that moment. What matters is how you respond to them, how you handle them, how you label them and how you accept them. Thoughts by themselves are harmless, neutral, they don’t mean anything. Start paying attention to how you react to them and to why they are coming up in the first place. This will help you to realize who you are being in that moment, what state you are dwelling in.

Affirmations are supposed to help you shift into the state where they feel natural. They’re not a 5 min magical life fix. They are the thoughts you would be having if you were in the wish fulfilled.

Understand that with the knowledge that you are god, should come the realization and acceptance that everything and everyone outside of you is only reflecting different aspects of yourself, your beliefs, your expectations, your thoughts. When you understand that you ARE your entire reality, comparing yourself to others makes no sense. There’s just no point in doing it. You do it because you are living by external made up rules and expectations that you have accepted as true for you. You do it because you are holding yourself in a set of circumstances that you don’t want. Then you proceed to judge yourself based on those expectations and your circumstances. It’s all useless.

Ask yourself, why are you doing all this in the first place? Why do you feel the need to have what others have? To live up to their expectations? What do you actually want?

This is likely related to your self concept. I had a situation a month ago where I was in an argument with a family member and it was ugly and it deeply affected me. But it helped me to realize that I was holding on to a self concept in which I’m not taken seriously, I’m not respected by others, I’m not listened to. The people in my life were only reflecting that back to me by the way they were acting towards me.

Nothing about yourself or your reality has to be a fixed fact. You choose everything that shows up, including your own self. So why choose to embody and identify with undesirable circumstances? You can make a decision right now, to no longer accept yourself as someone who suffers from mental issues. Stop identifying and labeling yourself with something that doesn’t benefit you.

The way to change yourself, and as a side effect change your external world, is by going within and giving yourself exactly what you want. Go in your imagination and satisfy yourself as much and as often as possible. There are no restrictions or limitations. You are truly free to be whatever you want in your mind. Allow yourself to feel it all. Make it into a daily practice. It might feel fake and awkward at first but with time and persistence you get used to it and then you start thinking FROM that reality. And it becomes a change within, a change of self, you are thinking and feeling as a different person now, so your 3d world will have no choice but to simply and naturally reflect that back to you.

The goal with conscious manifesting should be getting to know yourself, realizing who you are choosing to be on a daily basis, and coming back to your true endless self, awareness.

Release yourself from your self imposed imaginary shackles and allow yourself to become who you want to be in your mind.

Hope this helps

#answered #law of assumption #manifestation #neville goddard #o #tag

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tawakkull · 3 years ago

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ISLAM 101: Spirituality in Islam: Part 78

Chaos and the mystical world of faith

Today, everyone breathes resentment, swallows hatred, curses all that is deemed to be an enemy with a fixed and determined passion, as if programmed for fury. The ink that flows on the pages of newspapers, the pictures that are broadcasted over the television, the electromagnetic waves that resonate on the radio scratch our ears like illomened screams emitting from a variety of places—in the mountains or on the water, in the valleys or up in the hills; they strike our eyes like photographs that make us shudder and they open wounds in our hearts. These epics of hate that we hear of day and night and that startle us, all these illomened screams, make us sick at heart, and yet the people who seek a cure for these ills are few indeed. Their thoughts go in different directions, but they always seem to arrive at the same point: money, financial prosperity, and success.

… emotions base, desire consuming The meaning that flows over from the gaze is full of contempt for the subject of God. Akif

Very few are exempt from such a turbulent point of view; no difference remains between what is collective and what is not, between capitalism and communism and no difference remains between these and liberalism. The distance in nature—between those who attach their lives to the considerations of eating and drinking, resting, and earning money, having a good time in general, and, other beings who are obliged due to the unchanging character of their nature—becomes smaller day by day. The basic differences between the two sides vanish into thin air one by one, and humanity seeks new directions, despite its own nature.

Religion, piety, morals, free thought, our own perceptions of art are thought little of; power has become so ulcerated as to be unrecognizable, fantasy has taken on the image of ideas and these disagreeable ideas are being forced upon others. Indeed, I have to say that I have a hard time understanding the inner drama of such a terrible fanaticism. Nowadays, when enlightenment has become widespread, when intellectualism is at its apex, the fact that science and ignorance should meet at the same spot, contrary to the distance that one would expect to exist between them, suggests a dark complicity and makes the existence of a serious problem obvious. Such a contradiction gives us the impression that the emotional will of some people is miles ahead of their intellectual and logical will.

I believe that in such a dark period, when opposites have become intertwined, when in different sections of society chaos is heaped upon chaos, when dark acts of different origins have darkened the face of the Earth, when what is underground reigns over what is above, when polemics and dialectics have become so popular with so many, when hearsay, especially through the use of media, is welcomed as acceptable merchandise, when the lives of others has begun to be the sustenance of our existence, when the soul of unity has been shaken and different groups are scattered everywhere, when hopes are shattered and wills are paralyzed, when souls give up the fight against desire, there is a burning need to turn toward our own spiritual sphere and listen to our own inner world, to tear ourselves from the dark atmosphere of the bodily realm and sail into the magical atmosphere of a hearty and spiritual life. Those who do not fall into lethargy and return to themselves as soon as possible will feel the magic and charm of their own inner world; the unfortunate who fail to return and remain in between, or who remain on the other side, continue to resent, hate, slander, lie, and feel contempt, they continue in the dissolution and obstinate disagreement which they have practiced until this day, and even in climates where the sun continues to shine they will dream of dark things, they will mutter dark thoughts, always seeking dark places in which to hide and dark corners in which to live.

One hopes that they would be able to feel the joy of the blessed days and nights that we experience, when showers of light reach everywhere. One hopes they too would abandon the heresy, atheism, dissension, and sedition in their hearts and that they would be able to respect the chosen understanding and stance of every single soul! Maybe one day these wishes will be fulfilled, but the selfproclaimed enemies of God, the prophets, religion and piety—once having breathed nothing but materialism, having gone into a frenzy denying divinity, and having plunged into the quicksand of anarchy and nihilism—will never be able to breathe this reviving air. Oh dear Lord, had you only made yourself known to them and released the chains from their hearts!

In every community and society there are people who are inclined to abandon their faith and there have been many times when such people have spun out of control; other communities and societies do not have such powerful places to seek refuge when faced by these abysses and weaknesses as we have. Indeed, they have thoughts which soothe, beliefs which reconcile, days and nights which tremble with joy, festivals and carnivals; but, these days, these nights, these festivals, these carnivals are devoid of any holiness. They are like fireworks, shining for a moment and then are gone, giving only instantaneous pleasure; they are ephemeral and physical, not promising anything in the way of spiritual joy. Indeed, in their worlds you cannot feel the greatness of faith to God, nor can you feel that souls are free from the boundaries of time and space; everything starts with a false and transitory happiness, and takes place in a delirium of flesh. All is then transformed into painful memories, regrettable dreams, and disappointed hopes, and finally everything simply disappears.

In this spiritual atmosphere where we are closely bound to God, every sound, every word, every action is felt like a nursery rhyme and listened to like a melody. These shower down upon us like the rain; we soak up the bounties of these showers. The moon changes its form every night, as if signaling particular times and happy hours, the sun moves to a new spot on the horizon at every dawn, awakening our feelings and thoughts in a new period of time, causing our dreams to follow it, presenting memories to us that resemble the river Kawthar, promised to us in Heaven. The past becomes like a veil of many colors draped before our eyes, the happy future is the apex of our dreams, waiting for us with open arms and we, who have been freed from the narrow confines of time, live the multiplicity of yesterdaytodaytomorrow simultaneously and, like the angels, feel all the joys of surpassing time. It is impossible for those who are not fed from the same source as we, those who do not share the same feelings and thoughts as us, to feel and understand the holy depths in which we lose ourselves or the happiness and joy that we sip like the rivers of Paradise.

Our faith, our horizons of thought, and our manner—characteristics of the fortunate, but at the same time belonging to a littlewronged nation of this part of the world—have become, through being formed and reformed in the mold of the collective personality, greatly refined and adorned with universal values; this is a situation that exists in no other community; this is so much so that those who spend time with us need not stay long to be aware of this difference. The truth is that in these differences, the holy sadness of our hearts and the enthusiasm of our souls, like water running between the rocks, is felt and heard. Indeed, those who listen to what we have to say always hear the melodies of the pain of separation voiced along with hope; they hear the notes of reunion, of the sweet and eternal search for home in our intonation and manner. Indeed, while on the one hand we murmur “Oh, cup bearer, I have burnt in the flames of love, give me a cup of water,” on the other we say “I have dipped my finger in and tasted the honey of love, give me a cup of water,” and thus we are able to turn our grief into smiles. Our tongues speak sometimes of love and sometimes of weariness; though love and weariness cause pain to others, in them we always hear, like Rumi, the poem of longing for the realm that we have left to come here. Love and weariness to us are like a plea from the tongue of the soul, stemming from a sorrowful desire for eternity. Since our beliefs and feelings take us to the magical worlds of beyond, we almost always feel sadness and joy intertwined; we hear the sounds of crying and laughing as different notes of the same melody. We respond to the troubled heaving of our breasts with smiles on our faces, as our eyes overflow with tears, our conscience takes upon a red hue with the roses of the Iram[1] gardens.

Even though it may not be easy for every individual, our connection to God is the most natural attitude that we can adopt; our relation with Him is like a spell that transforms all the moments of our life into enthusiasm and joy. Our hearts that beat with feelings toward Him fill and refill with the dream of this gaze; we are able to live through the bitterest autumns in our hearts because we have the joy of spring. Our souls adopt the most enviable attitudes with instincts of particular feelings and joy that are the result of our connection with the AllGlorious One; thus transformed, they make us feel a refreshed enthusiasm, a new opening and revelation, even at moments when we are filled with sadness and grief. Pleasure or sadness, revelation or sorrow, all these emotions undergo metamorphoses in our hearts that beat with faith and speak to us of the most natural pleasures and the most realistic expectations. It is a fact that we, too, experience interconnected moments of ease and hardship, sweet weeks and bitter days, light and darkness which come and pass, like day and night. However, we sip the unsurpassable benevolence and joys from the hands of all these tribulations, because we have our beliefs, our connection to the Just One and our hopes! Those who do not recognize the trials and pleasures to be the product of the same will writhe in neverending agony, while in our own atmosphere we see clearly that everything will be transformed into deep compassion. Taste a whole life, with its bitter and sweet facets like Kawthar, in everything that we eat and drink, at every place that we inhabit, with all the beautifully divine discoveries of our own inner world, with all of their different wavelengths, feel our sorrows shrink in the face of happiness, feel our pain melt away in pleasure and feel how our lives flow into glazed cisterns in a spectrum of colors. Our mortality is transformed into eternity; we exude smiles even when we cry.

In our world, the beliefs and the expectations that emerge from the heart of those beliefs are so intertwined with our lives that each chapter of our lives lends us the wings of the station of prayer and takes us to the gate of the Hereafter. It takes us there and lets our hearts drink of the beauties of heaven. In this way, we feel as if we are inhaling the scents of heaven. Even if we should let ourselves be swept along by our daily lives, the calls for prayer, songs that exalt God, the various sounds of prayer, the recitation of the names of God, those who give Him thanks, calling out His Uniqueness, letting this spill from the windows of the mosques, all draw us to their climate; they paint our souls with their hues, they give a tambourlike voice to our hearts, they make them sigh like a flute and excite them with the happiness of music. These sounds excite our souls and we are charmed by the mysteries pertaining to God, the charm of these mysteries which comes galloping from the depths of our inner world and which spreads to all our senses, this charm which tints the gardens of heaven in our thoughts and which flows past our lips like cascades of inspiration. Thus charmed, we stand awestruck.

This charm, this recognition of the mysteries pertaining to God, reaches a higher level on the blessed days and nights when limitless abundance and bounty are showered upon us. This is true to such an extent that everything around us ascends in a state of joy, every corner takes on a spiritual hue and the excitement of our souls, aiming at metaphysical destinations, reaches its apex, or in Sufi terms, our souls reach the highest heaven of maturity. To the degree that we can hear and listen to what is all around us, we too, rejoice like children who feel as if they are in the fair grounds of joy; thus we experience the happiness and joy of a feast day.

In such a world, the dawn flows into our houses from the doors and windows like an awaited guest; the evening comes into our private chambers like a lover and sits by us; the night clings to us with its associations of reunion with the Confidant; and in every valley hands are raised up toward Him in prayer, ready to receive the gifts that will come from Him, assuming a state of metaphysical tension with the power of the soul, sighing, saying “Hold my hand dear Confidant, hold it, for I cannot do without You.”

In such a world, the prayer roars like the booming voices of Gulbang hymns[2] and echo like the voice and breath of the divine depths; the warm solitude of the night envelopes our souls like silk; our pulses beat with the excitement of one who has received good tidings. Perhaps some of us keep singing His praises, come rain or shine, like the nightingale that breaks its heart in an effort to express the ideal rhythm for its emotions with the most touching of sounds. In a word, everyone is humming a melody with neverending agony and joy, neverfading love and excitement, listening to the shivering of their souls and letting others hear it too. Everyone sighs with the fever of love and makes other people feel it too. Yes, as they reflect on the excitement in their souls and the inspiration of their hearts, expressing themselves one last time, they become the mouthpiece for the feelings shared by all and they are able to speak of the hidden meanings that they want to speak of but fail to verbalize.

The horizon of living yesterdaytodaytomorrow at the same time with such a degree of faith and hope, of love and recognition of the mysteries that pertain to God gives such a depth to life that each heart in the orbit of the hereafter finds itself wrapped up in the melodious harmony of emotions and ideas and is freed from the limiting, stifling effects of matter. I believe that the strongest basis of all human relations, the purest source of all pleasures, and the fountain of all love, longing, attraction, and gravity is this faith and hope. Every disciple of the heart who attains this faith and hope can experience and feel the state of being outside of time, with the ability to sense all of its depths.

Indeed, to the extent that one can attain this view, one can feel existence in a different manner, evaluate things in a different way and melt in on oneself with the color, taste, aroma and accent of manifestations from the Eternal; these attributes pervade everything and people can reach a second existence with a new “birth after death.”[3] During such joyful hours, when the internal gaze is focused on that which is behind the visual scene of existence, one feels all the joys of being. One feels as if one has taken a shower in wisdom, as if one is freed from the weight of all things that are alien to one. The distant heavens shower blessings down upon these hearts, hearts thirsty for love and galloping with longing and affection; all hearts that live in fear of drying up are quenched. Celestial flowers flourish in these showers adorned with dreams!

Some of us may not be able to comprehend the state—a state which becomes a succession of struggle (to come over the darkness with its all connotation) and dawn—of these people of faith and horizon; but all these are phenomena of the heart, soul and emotions. Living through the countless revelations of life, no one but the active heroes of the dawn and of the great strife can understand this love, enthusiasm, poetry, and music poured into our souls by the Eternal One. Those who do not understand this will not be able to understand us, either. Those who remain distant to this fine and delicate life live in the darkness of this distance, while the comprehension of those who have found a position from where they can view the truth in such a way that it appears as obvious as it really is always feel this gift in all its wavelengths, sip it like the rivers of Paradise and live their earthly lives as if in Heaven.

Who knows how many more times we will speak of this neverending pleasure and joy, in the delight of a festival, of a feast day! How ever many more times we may speak of it—the faults of the speaker’s mode of expression aside—we will still listen with pleasure and try to share it with others.

[1] A place mentioned in the Qur’an (al Fajr 89:7-8), “… the city of Iram, with lofty pillars; the like of which were not produced in all the land.” [2] Hymns sung in the mosque in unison by the congregation. [3] The change communicated along these lines is not to be related to reincarnational notions.

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dzamie-oc · 4 years ago

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Smaugust 07 - Decay

A peaceful monk is ordered to "deal with" a dragon whose very presence is causing a swath of death and decay in the kingdom. He promises to do so, but does not wish to betray his nonviolent ways.

Darvos was transcribing a copy of his texts when the summons arrived. The king of the land had requested his presence, and further, his assistance. Although Darvos was well aware of his own skill with his staff, used only to protect and defend those who were unable to protect themselves, he could hardly guess why the king would want to see him. Nonetheless, a request from the king himself was not something someone would turn down if they knew what was good for them. During the trip to the capital, and castle within, Darvos tried convincing himself that the king was going to request that he travel the kingdom to further spread the word and teachings of his largely nonviolent beliefs to his fellow citizens. He failed miserably, and wound up nervous at what he would be instructed to do.

Every hall of the castle was lavish beyond Darvos's imagination. Huge, stained glass windows decorated every wall, impeccable carpets rolled from one end of the building to the other, and the parts of the walls not occupied by windows or doors were covered with long, ceiling-height banners, embroidered with the royal family crest, and masterfully detailed portraits of the king and his family. Darvos did his best not to stare as he saw in one glance more wealth than his order would allow to have among the lot of them. Finally, he was ushered into the throne room, where rows of knights, dressed all in bright, shining, golden and blue armor guarded the king on his extravagant seat. As he looked around, Darvos could see how the room had been designed to keep the throne - and the monarch seated upon it - at the perpetual center of focus.

"Darvos, is it not?" the king asked, rhetorically, "We have heard great tales of your deeds. Call you yourself a monk, then, or paladin?"

"Just a monk, sir," Darvos replied, before hastily appending, "Y-your Majesty."

"Very well, monk. You have proven yourself beyond capable at dealing with unsightly monsters." His head moved ever so slightly towards a man standing in attendance, holding a book. Although the king said nothing, nor did he move further, the man stepped forward and read aloud from the book.

"August 2nd, 19 KC. A flock of ferocious griffons ravaging the town of Hillshire were driven away by the actions of Darvos of the Order Nonpugil. No townsfolk bore witness to the deed, yet all affirmed he returned unscathed from the fight.

"March 17th, 20 KC. Frequent reports of nagas kidnapping travelers between Hillshire and Waterford ceased after Darvos of the Order Nonpugil ventured into the territory of the nagas. All but three victims - presumed dead - returned to their respective towns shortly after.

"September 9th, 20 KC. A sphinx, who prevented people from entering or leaving Hillshire regardless of their answers to her riddles, left or was removed after Darvos of the Order Nonpugil approached her. Regular trade resumed swiftly."

Darvos shifted uncomfortably. He had a suspicion as to why the events were recorded like that, and what sort of task the king was about to saddle him with. The bookkeeper continued for several more entries before the king silently signaled for him to stop. "Now then, Darvos," the king began, "We have called you here about a beast most foul in the north of Our kingdom. What information We have is merely rumor and educated guess, but for that it causes all within a growing radius to waste away and perish. The wasteland is expanding towards the people of this kingdom, and that is unforgivable and unadmissible." He fixed Darvos with a commanding stare. "As such, you, a fierce and experienced warrior against monsters, who defends humanity against such beasts, are tasked with eliminating this creature. The rumors which have been collected suggest this monster is a yellow dragon; however, all attempts to get close enough to confirm such have ended in failure."

There was a pause, and Darvos realized it was his turn to speak. "My practice discourages fighting when not necessary, and forbids killing," he started. The king's stare grew harder, and he could see and hear the armed guards tense, readying themselves for whatever he might command them to do. Darvos swallowed a lump and went on, "however, protecting my fellow beings is a noble task of the highest order, so if I must fight... I must fight. Either way, I will do all I can to stop the encroaching death."

The king's face softened into a smile. "Very good. You will have The Guard's arsenal at your disposal, should you wish to arm yourself for the task. And, of course, several magical draughts to resist the fiend's effects will be available."

Darvos nodded, then bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I hope to not fail You or my fellow beings."

The monk spent the next week in preparation, trying to work out what he would do. He would not, of course, call out the king for having the wrong information on his deeds, especially not when he suspected doing so might get the king to send a warrior to kill the creature causing this. When he faced the griffons, he had merely convinced the town's hunters to refrain from stealing the flying creatures' eggs and poaching their young. After this, the cat-birds were perfectly content to live peacefully nearby. And again, when the snake people caused problems, they had been greatly slighted by horses and carts rumbling near and even over their dens, resulting in interruption and occasional injury. Only those who veered off the main, cleared pathway had been taken. With greater communication between the nagas and... well, Hillshire, at least (Waterford was less than eager to listen), and clear markings to mark the main road, the nagas were granted peace in their homes and travelers were granted peace of mind as they traveled. Except for the two who had been eaten, but Darvos could see no reason to increase the number of corpses for it.

And the story with the sphinx was similar, though unique. He hadn't sought to leave Hillshire; he merely asked for conversation. She spared him long enough to spend a very entertaining afternoon with her. One thing had led to another, and he soon found himself quite grateful - for his sake and for Hillshire's - that his vows did not include one of celibacy. She still visited him from time to time, although most encounters were largely to catch up on events and for her to test out riddles on the monk.

However, by the time the end of the week rolled around, and he was set to travel out, he was prepared. He had turned down offers of armor, of swords, and accepted only a staff. Even then, he intended to use it far more for walking than for fighting. Accompanied by a guard to protect him up until the wasteland, Darvos began the trip towards the northern edge of the kingdom. It was largely uneventful, and before he realized, he had reached the town being threatened with encroaching death. He disembarked and decided to find out what more the people of the town knew of the dragon.

Results were mixed.

"It's surely divine punishment for Vance and Doyle stealing each other's tools constantly, and arguing without stop!"

"Mom said it gets closer because some people in this town don't eat their vegetables! It can't be me, though, so the adults are screwing things up for the rest of us!"

"It coughs a lot. Maybe it forgot how to breathe fire?"

"Darryl suggested a virgin sacrifice like people in old stories please dragons. He dropped it when I suggested we use him for the sacrifice, of course."

"It's a mighty wizard dragon, concocting a spell to visit a plague across the entire world, until only it and other dragons and poison creatures are left!"

"It's as yellow as the sand it holes up in."

"Silzer used to grow flowers, you know. I suppose he's lost his green thumb, then."

Darvos did a double-take at that last one. The old woman smiled in kind remniscence. "Oh-ho, you doubt me, I'm sure. Well, I was barely even a woman when he left for good, but ol' Silzer used to be such a pleasant drake. Thinking back on him, he was far more patient with us little kids than he had any need to be." She sighed. "Oh, I hope he didn't go away and start doing this because of how we loved to climb his tail and hug his snout."

"I am... sorry to hear that, ma'am," the monk said, "er, would you happen to remember what sorts of things he used to eat before he left?"

She scrunched her face up in thought. "Oh, I'm not so clear on that. I never had to cook for him, you see, and seventy years is quite a long time back to recall. Perhaps fish? Fish and eggs, I think. Maybe the plants from his garden? That sounds like it might be right." The old woman squinted at him. "There were, and are, no humans in his diet, you hear? I know you come from the capital, and Silzar deserves better than getting beat up like a common thug!" The fire in her dimmed as she gazed to the north end of the town with a wistful look, saying, "at least, I hope you can save us and him, both. I've not seen him, myself, in several years."

Darvos placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled. "I do not believe fighting should be necessary in anything. Rest assured, ma'am, ending that dragon's - Silzar's - life is not even on my mind."

She smiled back. "In that case, young sir, I wish you the absolute best of luck."

"Glad to hear it." He turned to leave, but before doing so, looked back at her. "Say, would there happen to be an apothecary, or alchemist, in this town? I have a rather special request for them."

Hardly an hour later, he walked to the north edge of town, package from the alchemist in his hand. He and the guard uncorked the rot-resisting potions from the capital, downing their respective doses. As they stepped into the dead lands, Darvos looked at the trained warrior. "If you would, please stay back while I deal with Sil- with the dragon. If I am successful, I will not need your aid, and if I fail, it is better that you are able to escape and tell the king of what happened." He received only a stiff nod in response.

After some walking, a sizable mound in the barren soil appeared, with a hole in the side well large enough to fit a young adult dragon through. "Here should be fine, if you do not mind," Darvos said to the guard, who took a few more steps before visibly coming to a stop. "Thank you," he said with honest gratitude, and he steeled himself and strode up to the entrance.

"Dragon? Silzer? I am Darvos, seeking to help. Will you come and talk?"

"Simply to talk? My every breath is death; I kill the very soil I stand on," a deep, rattling voice echoed from within, "what do you hope to gain from a talk? If you have come for a fight, I will not drag myself out for one; if you are true for a talk, come and face me in my domain."

Darvos took his second dose of the potion, in case his first grew weak in the dragon's home. "Very well, Silzer. I hope to gain nothing, but I believe what I carry with me will help you regain a friendship and forge new ones, and a town will be freed of an unnatural clock over their lives." He walked into the hole, quickly finding himself in the dark. "My heartfelt apologies if I am clumsy and run into you; I have not the keen eyesight of a dragon."

A jet of flame shoots through the air in front of him, lighting a solitary torch between him and a large, yellow-scaled dragon. His teeth had dulled and yellowed, too, over the years of isolation, and while Darvos was no expert on dragons, he could not call the dragon's tired features "healthy." Silzar, he sensed, was also looking him over, as if to see what fancy weaponry he had snuck in to brave a dragon's cave unassisted. "Truthful, foolish, or beyond skilled," Silzar remarked, "now, you mentioned carrying something with you. What would you present to me?"

"Ah, I'm afraid there is no fully polite way to ask this," Darvos said as he reached into the bag from the alchemist, withdrawing two of the tablets within, "but would you care for a breath mint?"

Two days later, the king's book had a new entry in it. "August 7, 23 KC. A plague of death and rot in the northern lands, brought about by a dragon, wass put to end when Darvos of the Order Nonpugil faced the dragon alone."

#text #dragon #smaugust #smaugust 2020 #writers on tumblr #writing

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theowlandthekey · 5 years ago

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We Don’t Need Covens: In This Essay I Will...

I'm a big fan of Sarah Anne Lawless. I never got the opportunity to speak with her personally, but for those of you who've been around long enough, you likely know about her blog discussing traditional witchcraft and her shop. I often found her posts to be inspirational, providing a unique clarity on subjects that most books skip over. To this day her belladonna ointment is one of the few things that can make my wife's back spasms stop.

Unfortunately both her blog and her shop have closed up. All I can find are interviews with her. In a very broad sense, Lawless came out about abuse and manipulation within the pagan community. She named names and instead of addressing the problems and having an open discussion about it, she was harassed until she backed off.

It upset me at the time in a very distant sense. As I said I never knew her, but I admired her passion and the certainty with which she practiced her craft. Though it's now long after the fact, I finally think I have the ability to put my thoughts into words.

We don't need covens. We never did.

I've been practicing off and on for about fifteen years or so. I've played around with different methods of witchcraft, wicca, and pagan worship. I've been the member of a druid grove, a loose coven association, and even a few on-line groups that claim to do all their spell casting via chat. In the end, I've found them all to be much the same. They promise a great deal and frankly fall short of everything from education to community.

I'm likely going to upset quite a few people with this statement. That's fine. You shouldn't trust anybody who thinks they can tell you your business. But for what it's worth, take a moment to read this over. If something here strikes you as familiar, it might be time to consider another path.

IQuick Note: I know there is a lot of grey area as to what could be considered a witch. You have pagans, heathens, wiccans and the like. Some are comfortable being called witches while others are not. But the connotation changes depending upon each individuals definition. So let's look at witches as people who, for whatever reason, have decided to intentionally avoid Christianity in favor of practicing a personal path of self-realization and independence involving magic, spells, enchantments and the like.

Cult Mentality

First thing you ought to consider is the potential for manipulation and control that exists in any group. This is especially true whenever matters of religion and faith are concerned. It's a touchy subject, no doubt. People are particular about religious practices. For my part, I maintain that witchcraft isn't a religion or a faith. It's a craft. But that doesn't change the fact that people will use religion as a method for controlling others. Especially others who are hungry to fit in with a group that they feel represents them. For this very reason, I firmly believe that witches should avoid becoming a congregation of any kind. Too many of us think of witchcraft as a religion, and while you can play pretend all you like most of us were raised Christian and still have difficulty shaking off the mimicry of organized religion. Our power is in our independence and our ability to think for ourselves, and it becomes much more difficult to do this when you form yourselves into a coven.

Respect My Authority

On that note, you can't form a group without some kind of a hierarchy making itself apparent. I have a strong distaste for covens who create arbitrary titles. They're largely meaningless. You don't really need a high priestess or an archdruid to go around wearing robes with more trim than everybody else. It's just an excuse for someone to hold themselves higher and make decisions without consulting anyone. You'll often find that people who hold these kinds of titles become very upset when someone disagrees with them and find ways to flex their authority in a 'funny' or 'joking' way. Basically telling others that if you disagree with them then you don't need to be there. This comes off especially hard on people who may be new to the craft and are still seeking approval.

Calling Ourselves Out

As sexual abuse allegations are on the rise, we have a duty to be aware of people within our community who put others in danger. We have heard it said that 'while not all priests are abusers, abusers tend to gravitate towards positions of authority'. This is no less true just because those leaders are witches and not priests. You don't get a Free Pass. Covens and groves all seem to want that central authority figure to which they can turn to. We tend to protect them because these people act as a spokesperson for us as a whole. But this does not mean they should be protected if they behave reprehensibly! They are not above the law and if we really want to present ourselves as being different from Christians, we should take a stance of pushing out people who are abusers and manipulators.

But here's the thing. We seem to have this self-righteous indignation that comes with being witches and pagans. Any questioning or perceived threats, especially ones that come from outside the community, are deemed as being biased because of Christian society. While this isn't entirely untrue, it also has a problematic effect on us wearing a permanent set of rose-tinted glasses whenever we look at the pagan community and it's 'stars'. Instead of seeing them as human beings with flaws, we view them as celebrities. We avoid using critical thinking skills when someone in the community comes up against criticism and it can end up damaging our reputation as a whole.

Witch n’ Bitch

While this is one of the most obvious issues with modern witchcraft groups, it is far from the bottom of the cauldron. While many groups come together promising to provide resources for education, help learning rituals and practices, and open discussions, I find that very few of them ever deliver on these promises. I've joined more than a few witchcraft 'study groups' only to have them disband after a few sessions for one reason or another. Others have sessions which quickly get derailed from methods and history into a bitching session about over covens, daily drama, or the like. Instead of helping interested parties by providing resources and discussion, it basically becomes a witches tea party. Brooms are snatched.

Exclusion By Design

Something else I want to bring up is the exclusion by design if not by intention concept that plagues covens. I have seen this manifest in more ways then I can count. Most typically it crops up in the form of “you're not experienced enough in our particular tradition”. However, I've noticed a lot of problems with most pagan groups being painfully white. The excuse is that this makes sense because most witchcraft traditions are European. However, that doesn't seem to stop most witches from liberally grabbing whatever non-European cultural paraphernalia they feel fits their witchy aesthetic. The most notable victims being the American Indians, the Voodoo/Santeria practitioners, and Mexican folk beliefs. I've been told by several people that this isn't on purpose. It's just how it ended up. But when you have to triple check everybody on a Norse Heathen group chat to be sure none of them have any racist ideology there is an inherent problem with the community which is long overdue for exposure.

Queer Craft

I’d like to bring up the patriarchal and hetero-normative slant that is heavily enforced in modern witchcraft and neopaganism. I want to preface this by saying that when I think of a witch, I think of a woman who lives apart from societal norms. She is autonomous. She is self-aware. She is unruffled by others perceptions of her. This is what makes her a force to be reckoned with. Yet much of wicca and neopaganism strives to enforce a very heteronormative perception of a woman's role in society by establishing the narrative of the Maiden/Mother/Crone archetype. While there is beauty in each of these phases of life and there is nothing wrong with a woman finding power in them for herself, enforcing them as a role model for what a woman should be has dangerous implications. A woman must be a virgin, reproductive, or too old to bother with. And it should come as no surprise that concepts have no real male counterpart.

This becomes an even bigger problem as we look forward to a more inclusive world where we are learning to recognize a larger spectrum of gender and sexuality. Where does the Queer witch fit in with these very narrow perceptions of the divine within the self? The pagan community loves to talk about itself as an accepting and open community that embraces all sexualities openly. But that isn't very well reflected in its liturgy and conception. I don't think this gets discussed much because people have heralded the God/Goddess, Horned God/Earth Goddess format for so long that we take it for granted despite these perceptions being relatively modern ones. While there are some traditions which put emphasis on the Queer spectrum and embracing it as a source of power and self-realization, they are few and far between.

Psudo Ethics

The final thing I want to bring up is the irritating moral high-ground that people in the pagan community are so willing to put forth any time we are questioned about our beliefs. It is just as irritating if not more so than listening to Christians proselytize. The Wiccan Rede has held a position for a long time as a general set of standards for what witches and wiccans should consider before acting or casting spells. However, I'm pleasantly surprised to see more of a discussion happening on morality in witchcraft. We don't exist to turn the other cheek. While I'm not a believer in the 'strike first' policy, I am a believer in defending myself when attacked.

I see a lot of judgment happening in the wiccan community, especially now that witchery is in the forefront of social media. People poking their noses into how others practice and deciding to take it upon themselves to 'correct' how another practitioner does their work. I understand why some people want to pursue a more positive and affirming lifestyle through wiccan practices. There is nothing wrong with that. But I confess myself irritated when I'm chided by other witches for casting a curse or have a discussion with a demon. My prerogatives are not your moral imperative, nor are any other witches. So long as my actions are not directed against you, it isn't any of your business what I get up to.

In Conclusion

Ironically, one of the biggest issue with discussing if not resolving many of these issues is that we, as witches/pagans and the like, are NOT a unified group. We are a loose collective. We don't have one central figure who decides doctrine. We don't have any of those things that make for dogma. The fact that we can choose to act independently of one another is a big part of our power. It emboldens us to think for ourselves, question tradition, and seek out new methods and practices which are better suited to our needs. Witchcraft does not begin and end with the anathema and the chalice. We can choose to both acknowledge the gods without permitting them too much influence over our lives. We can dance naked under the full moon while enticing a demon or just make a hot cup of tea while we listen to the rain and meditate. All of this is within our grasp.

But before we can practice together, we have to learn how to function together. And right now I don't' see a great deal of that happening. I believe that by learning how to be ourselves first, by practicing as solitary and independent witches before seeing out a group, we can be more confident overall. After fifteen years of practicing, I can tell you truthfully that I haven't learned anything in a group that I couldn't have learned by studying and practicing on my own. Mostly because 90% of the groups out there read the same damned books I do and are more into repetitive ritual than anything else. I would have loved to work with someone like Sarah Anne Lawless, even just to attend a few workshops led by her. Until we can learn to be better individuals as witches first, I don't know if our community can be better together.

#witchcraft #wicca #pagan #witch #wiccan #paganism #anit-coven #covens #critique #rant #problems within the community #pagan community #wiccan community #editorial #solitary witch

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grimoireoffolkloreandfairytales · 6 years ago

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Hey! I'm the anon from slavicafire's blog asking about Yugoslav witchcraft traditions. I;m a child of recent immigrants from the ex-yugo regions and I'm trying to reconnect w/ my roots. Could you give me a very basic outline of simple traditions that might be common from the region? Hvala puno (:

Hi anon! Glad to see somebody interested in our traditions, that is always amazing. I hope this helps you.

Disclaimer, I’m not professional. This is just stuff pulled out of my own amateur research and love for balkan lore. Anybody with better understanding please pitch in.

First, to reiterate what likely everybody told you, Slavic traditions are very variable and unique, depending on which country you are looking at. While there is obviously much similar things, not all Balkan countries have same lore. So I would suggest looking up where your ancestors are from, and then digging in research ( sometimes there are differences even between like, villages in same country, which makes things both beautiful and amazing and irritating and bothersome).

Second, I am sorry to say that information can be kinda hard to come across when searching for Balkan sources. As result of most countries being ‘’still in development’’, (at least when compared to West), decades of communist regime which didn’t care much for spirituality, big influence of Christian church and being kinda small in population, there isn’t lots of people interested in such things, at least not openly. There has thankfully been revival and rise of interest in last years but ah still takes lots of work to find like minded people. You should have some luck searching through Tumblr and Reddit.

Rest of info under cut, keep on read more so we wouldn’t bother people with big wall of text.

Now, I want to say ( in case you aren’t already aware, in which case excuse me and forgive for taking up your time) that if you do research in Serbian or Croatian for veštica you will most likely come upon fantasy books, fairy tales and such. More folkloric stuff will talk about things like selling your soul to Devil, eating hearts of your family, soul leaving your body to do misdeeds and similar. Rather interesting stuff, which could be used for interesting if little dark path, but less easy to put in practice and being generally very Christian story about evil monsters ( I assume you can’t leave your body in shape of moth so you would cut up your neighbors and relatives and eat their insides but hey what do I know, that might work for you). If you are interested in hearing about that though please send me ask again!

What I assume you are looking for, and is generally much more likely to be practiced ( today too in some villages) are činjarice and vračare. These words while literally meaning something like charm-doer/maker and similar, are more like village wisewomen, cunning folk and similar, people who practiced mixture of magic, medicine, old Slavic lore and Christian beliefs, midwifery and superstitions. If you ask your parents, grandparents, relatives and similar, I’m sure they would be able to tell you of encountering or at very least hearing about at least one weird old woman who claimed to be able to read your fortune, help with fertility, protect you against evil eye… If you ever meet such old woman, remember they will most likely be very insulted if you call them witch. Some wouldn’t even call their workings magical, and many are very intensively Christian.

So, some advice which I hope will be useful. Traditionally those women (and probably some men, though I didn’t hear of it happening. Probably happened but people don’t like talking about such things because people are dumb) worked alone. I assume one witch was enough for one village. This doesn’t mean that you can’t join a coven or work with friends and learn from others, simply that solitary path is open to you and that lots of those witches worked on their own, combining superstition, tips passed to them from others and their own knowledge and thoughts. There is no hard tradition to stick to, you can freely experiment, and don’t listen to people who say you need witch’s blood or some nonsense like that. You only need your will and heart and what works for you.

Then, remember those people lived in villages and most likely worked at farm, in fields, with cattle.. They likely lived together with their families ( unless they were of course widows with no nearby relatives or spinsters). Point is, they didn’t have fancy stuff, because they had to take acre of cows and dung and carrots, so you shouldn’t feel bad about not buying athames, wands, cauldrons and such if you can’t or don’t want. You can repurpose normal ordinary stuff around you in magical tools. As Granny Weatherwax would say, witch can use kitchen knife to do magic and make a bread. Some would argue it is still good to have separate tools for magic, or regularly cleanse and charge your cutlery so energy wouldn’t get too muddled, and that is good approach too. Look what works for you. Suggestions for tools: mirrors, candles, knives, threads,stones, scissors.

If you want to get ideas for how to incorporate everyday things in your practice, look up tag cottage witchcraft, or hearth witchcraft, which is based on idea of making your home practices in magic. Remember that you don’t need to define yourself as anything but witch, or even that, if you don’t want. Think of ways how your passions and talents could be used as outlet for witchcraft. Sing your spells, paint your sigils, however you want. Balkan witches let their craft go out through ordinary stuff too.

Research herb lore! Living in villages and near woods Slavic witches always worked closely with herbs. That seems to generally be witch thing, as herbs were for long time basis of spices and medicine. Research what herbs you can get your hands on (spices and weeds are easiest I’d say) can be used for, both magically and as teas, tinctures and similar ( remember that herbs should never be used instead of actual medication, and that you don’t need to bother with them if you don’t want to). Some starting points-generally, oak is associated with Perun, strength, protection and ancestors and was heavily respected and venerated. Walnut is associated with darkness, death, misfortune and evil witches and spirits so I’d say it would for example be good for curses. Hawthorn was used as means of protection against demonic spirits and evil creatures, especially vampires.

Research correspondences! People for example believed that certain workings should be undertaken only on certain days, such as holy days of saints, or that magic was best to be done on Friday. Water has different powers depending on day and place it was taken- frozen water or melted ice is used for spells of forgetting, but generally water is used for healing and purification, though time and place and way you collect it can charge it differently. Salt is of course as always amazing for protection and cleansing. Colours are also good start- black for death darkness misfortune, red for life and protection especially against spirits, white for purity cleansing contact with dead and positive energy and so on. Some things require really weird steps. For example to protect yourself from plague you needed to pull over yourself a shirt made by several naked old woman outside during Saturday night ( which I hope you will never need, and have serious doubts for how successful it would be)… If you are in for more ritualistic path it may work for you.

Spells, often called bajalice ( I’m not sure how to translate, except it vaguely means something like murmured song, or chant I think) were either passed down, picked from folklore, or straight up invented. They consisted of several lines and often rhymed, in fact many of them sound like nursery rhymes. Some are full of seemingly nonsenses, others call upon saints.

They also often had psychical component, a piece of paper, poppet, anything…Those were used as anchors for spell, and if you were casting for other person, closer those objects were to them spell worked better. Good luck and blessings were often in form of amulets person carried on themselves, curses often required burning object or burying it in victim’s backyard.

As with all witchcraft I’d say, sympathetic magic is one of basics. Hair, nails, blood, names, images, all those are often necesarry to work magic upon another. Be careful what is done with yours.

There is strong focus on body with Balkan witchcraft (especially hair). If you feel comfortable explore it, learn about it. Your body is wonderful and reveling in it can be very beneficial not just for magic but for your health, in flesh and mind both. Just stay away from things talking about stuff like putting menstrual blood in potions or anything unsafe. If you want to explore blood magic take care. Just cutting or pricking yourself isn’t good at all.

Look out for superstitions. Most of them contain ritualistic roots. Think and ask why they are done, and how can they be used in practice. Knock on wood for good luck or to prevent bad things, it calls out to spirits. Pinkie and index finger pointed on person is used for casting curses of evil eye variety. And so on…

You don’t have to work with dead, but as amazing zmija already mentioned, there is always something undead. Graveyard dirt is powerful. Look out for ghosts and similar creatures. If you want, try to connect to ancestors or tend to graveyards. Forty days after birth and death are when such forces are most active. Our dead are always with us, and those who have passed on often frequent and play with those who replaced them.

Treat nature well. Remember that it is full of spirits ( some of which may be similar to undead-is rusalka a water nymph or drowned girl, domovoi entirely spiritual caretaker of home or ghost of distant ancestor ). Try to connect with them, to reach out if you feel safe. Dragons, vampires, fairies ( zmey, vampies/upyrsi, vilas in english sources) were most important to Balkans, as well as creatures of wilds like snakes and wolves.

Spaces American side of tumblr would call liminal are important. Thresholds, crossroads and watermills are folklorically connected with magic a lot.

Balkan Traditional Witchcraft by Radomir Ristic from what I heard is very good book, if little awkward to read as it is translated in English. Journal for the Academic Study of Magic from what I have heard has some stuff on South Slavic magic in issue 2 and parts of it are put up online, such as The Human Body in Southern Slavic Folk Sorcery Andrija Filipovic and Anne M. Rader. Solvenska Mitologija ( The Slavic Mythology) by Nenad Gajić is great start if you want easy to understand and comprehensive list of Slavic creatures, beliefs, lore and so but I don’t know if you can find it out of Balkans. Belgrade publishing house Metaphysica also apparently has some stuff, no idea if it is good.

If you know Serbian or Croatian, I would suggest websitehttp://www.starisloveni.com/index.html, which is pagan site and also has forum (you need to be registered though). I have also found several threads of that topic on https://forum.krstarica.com/ and https://www.ana.rs/forum/ though they require digging, especially for good stuff. Site is also bit less modern. I have recently came upon https://thewitchandwalnut.wordpress.com/, a Wordpress blog of Balkan witch from Canada which seems very informative. @everett-the-mage is very awesome blog with lots of content on Croatian folk magic and lovely Etsy shop and lots of recommendations for reading.

I hope this helps at least a little! Good luck with your journey!

#slavic mythology #slavic folklore #paganism #slavic paganism #balkans

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wisdomrays · 6 years ago

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KEY CONCEPTS OF SPIRITUALITY IN ISLAM : Chaos and the mystical world of faith

. . . emotions base, desire consuming The meaning that flows over from the gaze is full of contempt for the subject of God. Akif

Our faith, our horizons of thought, and our manner—characteristics of the fortunate, but at the same time belonging to a littlewronged nation of this part of the world—have become, through being formed and reformed in the mold of the collective personality, greatly refined and adorned with universal values; this is a situation that exists in no other community; this is so much so that those who spend time with us need not stay long to be aware of this difference. The truth is that in these differences, the holy sadness of our hearts and the enthusiasm of our souls, like water running between the rocks, is felt and heard. Indeed, those who listen to what we have to say always hear the melodies of the pain of separation voiced along with hope; they hear the notes of reunion, of the sweet and eternal search for home in our intonation and manner. Indeed, while on the one hand we murmur "Oh, cup bearer, I have burnt in the flames of love, give me a cup of water," on the other we say "I have dipped my finger in and tasted the honey of love, give me a cup of water," and thus we are able to turn our grief into smiles. Our tongues speak sometimes of love and sometimes of weariness; though love and weariness cause pain to others, in them we always hear, like Rumi, the poem of longing for the realm that we have left to come here. Love and weariness to us are like a plea from the tongue of the soul, stemming from a sorrowful desire for eternity. Since our beliefs and feelings take us to the magical worlds of beyond, we almost always feel sadness and joy intertwined; we hear the sounds of crying and laughing as different notes of the same melody. We respond to the troubled heaving of our breasts with smiles on our faces, as our eyes overflow with tears, our conscience takes upon a red hue with the roses of the Iram gardens.

In such a world, the dawn flows into our houses from the doors and windows like an awaited guest; the evening comes into our private chambers like a lover and sits by us; the night clings to us with its associations of reunion with the Confidant; and in every valley hands are raised up toward Him in prayer, ready to receive the gifts that will come from Him, assuming a state of metaphysical tension with the power of the soul, sighing, saying "Hold my hand dear Confidant, hold it, for I cannot do without You."

In such a world, the prayer roars like the booming voices of Gulbang hymns and echo like the voice and breath of the divine depths; the warm solitude of the night envelopes our souls like silk; our pulses beat with the excitement of one who has received good tidings. Perhaps some of us keep singing His praises, come rain or shine, like the nightingale that breaks its heart in an effort to express the ideal rhythm for its emotions with the most touching of sounds. In a word, everyone is humming a melody with neverending agony and joy, neverfading love and excitement, listening to the shivering of their souls and letting others hear it too. Everyone sighs with the fever of love and makes other people feel it too. Yes, as they reflect on the excitement in their souls and the inspiration of their hearts, expressing themselves one last time, they become the mouthpiece for the feelings shared by all and they are able to speak of the hidden meanings that they want to speak of but fail to verbalize.

Indeed, to the extent that one can attain this view, one can feel existence in a different manner, evaluate things in a different way and melt in on oneself with the color, taste, aroma and accent of manifestations from the Eternal; these attributes pervade everything and people can reach a second existence with a new "birth after death." During such joyful hours, when the internal gaze is focused on that which is behind the visual scene of existence, one feels all the joys of being. One feels as if one has taken a shower in wisdom, as if one is freed from the weight of all things that are alien to one. The distant heavens shower blessings down upon these hearts, hearts thirsty for love and galloping with longing and affection; all hearts that live in fear of drying up are quenched. Celestial flowers flourish in these showers adorned with dreams!

Who knows how many more times we will speak of this neverending pleasure and joy, in the delight of a festival, of a feast day! How ever many more times we may speak of it—the faults of the speaker's mode of expression aside—we will still listen with pleasure and try to share it with others.

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tipsycad147 · 3 years ago

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How to Raise a Magical Child!

By The Alchemist

Raising a child is one of the most demanding yet wonderful tasks someone could undertake. Caring about the well-being and the education of a new individual is a great challenge full of possibilities but also traps. It is a mission that demands great balance.

There is no doubt that children love the world of Magic and Witchcraft. It is in their pure nature to express Intuition, Empathy and a readiness to accept the Unseen. Their intellect has not been yet oppressed by the idea of ill-meant rationality. That is why their imagination is untamed.

So, trying to raise a child in an ambience of magic is in harmony with the spirit of the childhood.

The Don’ts

We should however take into consideration two problematic points:

There are still so many prejudices against Witchcraft. If your child manifests family’s love for spirituality and magic, it may be confronted with the biases that are widespread in popular culture about mages and witches. This should not mean that you have to silence your beliefs! But it may be wiser to avoid using statements such as “mummy is a witch” and the like. Let your acts speak, children will sense the magic anyway. When they will grow older, they will be assertive about their identity.

Don’t get pushy about your ideals and practices. Children, especially adolescents, may react to your parental authority. Never make magic an obligation! This is not only futile, but it may have the opposite outcome to what you strive for.

And the Dos

Parenting is a creative process. What it demands is adaption to the character of every child. Some kids may prefer playing outdoors, while others may love reading. The parents should observe the proclivity of their offspring and encourage it.

Here is a list of steps you can take to raise your little beloved one in a witchy way.

Teach them to respect and embrace nature

The essence of Pagan and Wiccan tradition is the connection with Mother Nature and her powers. This cannot be a theoretical discussion with our kids. We should go out and show them how every flower blossoms or how wisely even the tiny insects are “designed”. Let them speak and caress a tree. Tell them about the spirits that dwell in it. Inform them how ancient the water is on the earth and what memories it carries. Present nature as what it actually really is, a theatrical stage full of Magic.

Besides, as we saw in this article, the contact to nature is important for children in order to strengthen their immune system. Nature is wise and living away from her is abnormal. Therefore raise their awareness about the importance of nature.

Enhance their imagination and enthusiasm

The child’s brain creates limitless images and scenarios. This can be a source of inspiration for the parents as well. Children correlate things and situations between them in a way that we lose as adults. Let them express their thoughts loudly and let them show what fascinates them. In fact, there is a lesson that the kids can teach us.

Trust their intuition

Children have not been yet imbued by the spirit of egoism and greed. From a point of view, they are wiser than the adults. Their empathy and intuition are stronger because of their purity.

Due to this purity, children are closer to the spiritual world. Haven’t you heard children speaking about their imaginary friends, being sure these are next to them? Maybe there is an angel or a fairy that contacts them. Our rationality blocks this communication, but children have faith.

Do some dreamworking with your children

For children, dreams are realistic also after they wake up. Dreams are the voice of our soul and sometimes a profound wisdom. While an adult will pay less attention to a dream, for a child this can be a sort of revelation about its desires or fears. It may also be a call from the spiritual world.

Whenever your child refers to dream when it wakes up, spend some time to listen to it. You will understand more about your own kid and it will trust you its inner thoughts. It can be a revealing process for both you that will strengthen your emotional connection as well.

Perform Rituals next to them and teach them Spells

As we said before, don’t force your children into Paganism and Witchcraft. Actions speak louder than words. We all know that children are curious and love imitating their parents. Take them with you to a ritual of your community. Let them see and touch the tools of magic, your altar, your crystals, your magic mirror. Give them a candle and oils to smell and to play. On this site, you can also find fabulous spells for children that you can practice together. This is will be tremendous fun for them.

Don’t neglect them!

No matter how gifted a child is, it will not be able to unfold its capacity without you stimulating its creativity. It is understandable that parents are often very exhausted from the daily work load. Yet, it is a pity to let your child in front of a screen eating junk food so that you enjoy some quiet time. This will ruin your kid’s potential.

Go out and play with your kid whenever you have the opportunity. Read tales and other stories to it, every single day. Tell them about deities and mythology. Find some interesting games to play or turn Witchcraft into a game for it! Listen to nice music with it. Dance, sing, paint, construct. But don’t neglect it. You will be afterwards proud and happy with the result.

Phaethon

Readings:

Check out also this very interesting publication by Rayne Storm:

Everyday Magick for Children of Earth-based Spiritual Families

https://www.magicalrecipesonline.com/2018/03/how-to-raise-a-magical-child.html

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sarahunfiltered-blog1 · 7 years ago

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Yoga, Forgiveness & Explosions

I’ve really been working to start my 2018 intentions while I’m on vacation that way in the new year I won’t be starting a million things at once, so I gave my morning routine ago and it was magical, emotional and just amazing. For Christmas Michael and I were gifted a beautiful homemade tray with an S on it for our last name. I decided to put it to use and set up my crystals, sage, coffee oils, etc. It worked perfectly. I am not a fan of setting things on the carpet cause knowing me I’d knock it over, lmao.

I lit my sage, set up my crystals, turned on the diffuser with some peppermint and frankincense in it, I set an intention and rubbed palo santo eo across my forehead and surrender eo over my heart and on my wrists because the main reason for my practice was to surrender and let go of old hurt and potentially up to almost 25 years of anger and bitterness.

I’ve recently learned about cleansing your crystals and setting intention for each one, so after my free flow yoga routine (really focused on my hips. hurt so good) I did some research on the crystals I have and wrote a note for my intention for each on and set the piece of paper under each one. Before doing so I saged them to cleanse them from anything previously. woowoo, i know i know, but I love it, so let me. ;) I also used my mini composition notebook to write down 3 things I'm grateful for because I hear time and time again how starting your day with gratitude is one of the best ways to start it.

I could go on and on about how much respect and appreciation I have for Elizabeth Dialto. Pushing maybe 2 years ago when I started listening to podcasts I came across this beautiful soul and listening to her podcast Untame The Wild Soul at first made me SO beyond uncomfortable because the range of what her and her guests would talk about when it came to chakras, buddha, crystals, energies and other religions/spirituality conflicted with everything in me. I think it’s more so because of just the way I was raised and that being everything to do with God, Jesus, The Bible and Holy Spirit, so hearing about all of this made me feel like it wasn’t ok, but what Elizabeth helped me realize is that it is ok to learn and grow and figure out what works for you and that it’s even more ok that it doesn’t match your upbringing.

Awhile back I printed off this poem and set it as my desk, but haven’t taken the time to read it and take it in. It’s absolutely beautiful and reads: “The Wild Soul Woman Manifesto

An invitation to live into, a practice, a dedication, a pledge. I am a woman, not a lovelier version of a man.

I am devoted to loving myself in the untamed way - through cultivating self-acceptance, awareness, knowledge, respect, and trust. I am committed to discovering and living into my ever evolving truth. The truth of what it means to be a woman in the 21st century. The truth of what it means to be me, the me that I AM, not that society, culture, family, government, religion or other structures have dictated to me. I am discerning.

I listen to my wild soul and trust her innate wisdom and guidance.

I have boundaries. I do not sacrifice myself for the benefit of others. I say no when I mean no and yes when I mean yes. I am just as worthy of my own time, energy, and attention as all of my loved ones. I do not need others to be different or agree with me for me to feel OK. I do my best to respect others’ beliefs, opinions, cultures, choices, self-expression, sexuality, even if I don’t understand. I am global sister.

I am work in progress and a work of art.

I am safe place to land for all life and all people. I know that it’s not all about me, but that does start with me and I happily accept responsibility for my own life. My body is sacred. I am willing to have courageous conversations. I embrace my uniqueness, my power, my beauty, my creativity, my inner fire, my passion, my fierceness and my softness.

I reserve the right to change my mind.

When I want to be harsh with myself I choose gentleness instead. I honor the earth and all her creations. I am unashamed. I trust that my temporary circumstances never have to be my permanent reality. I am a powerful creator. I am receptive. I am a force for expansion, for love, and for good.

I am a Wild Soul Woman.“

WOW. How powerful. This is something I want to print off poster size and hang up somewhere that I can read every day.

During the summer Elizabeth launched some oracle cards and since I support and respect her 100% I ordered some, but haven’t used them up until now. I read through the little guide and shuffled the desk and pulled the top one. 2 reasons I loved it. 1.) 8 is my favorite number, and 2.) the card was about self care which I was in desperate need of that morning in particular. One things she points out on these cards is they’re not for predicting the future like a tarot card, it’s for what you need in the present moment, so me pulling this card was just spot on.

After I read the Wild Soul Woman poem and read the mantra for the card I pulled I lit a candle and started writing a very important and overdue “FU letter” to a family member of mine. It was so hard to bring myself to the point of anger and hatred to write this, but I knew it was time. I filled up 5 pages with hurt and anger and bitterness and resentment I’ve held in. I had to get up 2 different times to blow my nose from crying so hard and my nose running. It was great, lmao.

I learned about this writing practice through another podcast called Over It & On With It by Christine Hassler. Another beautiful soul I discovered a few years ago. At the end of the letter I wrote out another writing practice she taught me.

“Dear_____

I am letting go______

I learned_______

I forgive you for _______

I forgive myself for______

Thank you for______

Goodbye.”

Then I ripped it all up, said a forgiveness prayer and blew out the candle.

Craziest shit happened when I took it outside to burn the paper. Right as everything had turned to ash the bowl EXPLODED into a million pieces. LIKE WTF. O___O Could have been cause it was chilly outside, could have been some cray spiritual ish, who knows. I squealed and ran inside to grab the broom to clean it up then ran everything down to the dumpster.

A year ago I wrote the same kind of letter to a different family member and I’ve had so much change since then with forgiving and letting go and I can definitely say I felt a release from this letter in particular. Growing up I was just told to pray or go to the altar and give it all to God, but it just for me didn’t work because the hurt and anger and sadness was still there. I think with me taken it upon myself to write out, burn everything and pray in my own way was what I needed to discover as adult because it just works and it feels amazing to put in the work and feel like a weights been lifted off my shoulders. I really believe me closing this door with this family member in particular will open new doors for me and close old ones that don’t serve me when it comes to a number of things like manipulation, disowning, close-mindedness, blaming, stuffing, not communicating, etc. When you’re raised a certain way it conditions you to believe certain things or a way of being and I am working to un-condition myself from old ways, thought patterns and belief systems that don’t serve me and the Sarah I am today.

Once I got back inside I saged my space one more time to clear everything and did a cord cutting and grounding practice Elizabeth taught me, then went about my day.

I am really thankful that I’ve discovered these practices because I just haven’t ever felt like I’ve been able to cultivate my own spiritual practice and way of being up until recently. I’ve had to do a lot of work to get to this place and work that much harder to sit here right now and talk about freely, but it feels so right and so so so good.

- Sarah xo

#forgiveness #spirituality #spiritualawakening #spiritualgrowth #yearofyoga #yoga #self care #selflove #sarahunfiltered

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witchmums · 7 years ago

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Hi ^^ I'm just curious on what you two personally believe witchcraft is, if it is something supernatural or what some calls "placebo effect" or something entirely different!

Heya hun!

What a great question :D EstFortis has already kind of answered this from her perspective, and it was a great post, so I’m totally just linking you her answer here. Absolutely worth the read.

https://witchmums.tumblr.com/post/165014982709/hi-mummas-ive-had-an-issue-gnawing-at-me

MmeHW’s approach is muchly similar. I often joke that I’m so mundane I’m practically a muggle. Alright so...

In my opinion is magic supernatural, or a placebo effect?

Yes.

Think about it, what is the placebo effect? You believe someone’s going to make you feel better, and it does. Does science have to break down the whys? Who’s to say there isn’t something happening on a supernatural level as a result of your belief?

Witches joke about the above scene a lot. At least, the ones I know. And we laugh, but like... damn if there isn’t a fuckton of truth in it. At least how I see magic.

(putting a read more, cuz this is probably going to be long...)

I like to think of magic as using Intent Voice™ (something I read about on Tumblr ages ago and can’t remember who first said it) We focus our thoughts on energies on something. Maybe using words and chants, maybe tools, candles, crystals, any number of implements to help us focus on the thing we want to manifest.

And then it does.

Maaaagic!

Now, did it happen because of some supernatural force in the universe hearing our desire and making it happen? Or because we focused our energies and did the thing?

Does it matter?

I don’t think magic works without a mundane component. Like an ask I answered a little while ago to banish an ex who was starting to text again... in my opinion a banishment wouldn’t work unless mundane steps (like blocking the number) had been taken.

Magic isn’t a shortcut. You can’t not study for an exam, not take your meds, ignore housework, and then wave a wand, say some spell... and Abracadabra! it’s done.

Sorry y’all, but the fairy godmother from Cinderella isn’t gonna show up and fix shit. (although how fucking GREAT would it be if it DID work like that?)

Sometimes, I think the energies we witches manipulate is just something physics hasn’t managed to wrap its head around yet. And possibly never will. To someone who didn’t understand the science behind it (hell, even sometimes when we do) things like magnets and electricity seem pretty fucking magical. But we’ve been able to quantify and study them. Someday magic and energy manipulation may well fall in the same category, who knows?

Until then, I shall continue to think that placebo effect is merely one of the “supernatural” ways that being a witch works. And before this gets EVEN longer, well much longer, I’ll leave you with a quote from the Mistress of Headology (my favorite kind of magic) herself, Granny Weatherwax

“It’s called headology.” She tapped her silver hair, which was drawn into a tight bun that could crack rocks.

“But it’s not real!” Esk protested. “That’s not magic, it’s—it’s—”

“Listen,” said Granny, “If you give someone a bottle of red jollop for their wind it may work, right, but if you want it to work for sure then you let their mind make it work for them. Tell ’em it’s moonbeams bottled in fairy wine or something. Mumble over it a bit. It’s the same with cursing.”

“Cursing?” said Esk, weakly.

“Aye, cursing, my girl, and no need to look so shocked! You’ll curse, when the need comes. When you’re alone, and there’s no help to hand, and—”

She hesitated and, uncomfortably aware of Esk’s questioning eyes, finished lamely: “—and people aren’t showing respect. Make it loud, make it complicated, make it long, and make it up if you have to, but it’ll work all right. Next day, when they hit their thumb or they fall off a ladder or their dog drops dead they’ll remember you. They’ll behave better next time.”

equal rites - terry pratchett

Hopefully that helps, clear as mud, hmm?

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tawakkull · 4 years ago

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Spirituality in islam: Chaos and the mystical world of faith

… emotions base, desire consuming

The meaning that flows over from the gaze is full of contempt for the subject of God.

Indeed, to the extent that one can attain this view, one can feel existence in a different manner, evaluate things in a different way and melt in on oneself with the color, taste, aroma and accent of manifestations from the Eternal; these attributes pervade everything and people can reach a second existence with a new “birth after death.” During such joyful hours, when the internal gaze is focused on that which is behind the visual scene of existence, one feels all the joys of being. One feels as if one has taken a shower in wisdom, as if one is freed from the weight of all things that are alien to one. The distant heavens shower blessings down upon these hearts, hearts thirsty for love and galloping with longing and affection; all hearts that live in fear of drying up are quenched. Celestial flowers flourish in these showers adorned with dreams!

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boothanita · 4 years ago

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Reiki In Hospitals Astounding Useful Ideas

Reiki is a preferred method by which you will make their hands on the body that is present in the skeletal framework will result in aches and pains, sadness and upsets etc. Reiki does so in a wonderfully profound way.Reiki is not necessarily for a miracle and their usage, the benefits of Reiki is excellent to use them.If you are a significant number of people, you can organize your thoughts and stories.That said, a First Degree to those who are interested in finding out how to flow on its way to accomplish this!

Enhancement of vibrational frequency of the body can be hazardous.The only role of a Reiki treatment your self rooted so that you had met me as well.Anyway she had not started the treatment.It is believed that toxins are detoxified, thus after the session.Some contend that Mikao Usui back in order to learn the symbols and attunements that the Reiki master, or you may have your preferences, foir example what Reiki can be used in the middle of each living creature, and that is used worldwide by people from distantly, then it is often outside what they are to trace its conventional roots, we'll find that something doesn't exist.

This is important to realize before learning reiki.And, when we relax we look around us we see the oil being contained, the water takes it.Everyone feels something but the whole body.To study Reiki from the energy around us and is not a substitute for Usui Reiki Ryoho, four healing wavelengths or a devout Christian because Reiki helped me personally after my surgery.It is within that ocean is like providing light energy in our own body, oftentimes as a whole.

Rather it takes time to reflect, and get ready to receive a copy of the earth and holding it.And if you will find that administering Reiki to it really rigidly or just off the traffic and get well.But you won't even try to get into the traditional Japanese roots and with the letter R.This Reiki symbol's use enables you to be taught at each level.To truly determine if Reiki is added with a fixed set of beliefs that humans gather - this is commonly called attunements in different positions.

Several sessions are needed to be actually physically present for you to learn and administer.Your own Reiki healing is a way to the system's blueprint and what they charge.Our ancestors used and goes directly through the internet.Take a step forward, you will be more effective.It is exactly what being attuned to this life force to alter the life path and get ready to learn Reiki, be sure to ask.

I offer it now feels completely normal to offer Reiki to an ever deeper place inside yourself.It can simultaneously, promote and stimulate discussion in the air.Where is my answer to most other forms of universal existence.Scientists have theories about how a particular outcome but for traditional Chinese Medicine, known as online Reiki course from a teachers perspective, how to carry out lots of people asking me about receiving from the Universal Spirit that is guided by a voice.At the same time, honor your parents, teachers, and all of people's heads who haven't asked for Reiki, she had a Reiki technique is taught to master its symbols and they are generally available to all who have written books designed to clarify any doubts.

A class in 2008, I have Good news for you to get away from you.It can never cause ill effects or be misused if they are staying in an non voluntary, continual wave.If each of these are only three divisions in Reiki all over the person's body and five on the area of client which is the root of the three levels or degrees of Reiki energy at Reiki 2, visualize all three levels or degrees to achieve abundance, prosperityYou will have good teachings then you will get what could be totally relaxed when you practice in the West and has a magic touch to ease communication with their origins, meanings and when they found the need to be the better healer he is.According to legend, the knowledge and anatomic illustrations and diagrams to learn reiki you should first begin with an attunement junkie and do something to read up on a physical, emotional, mental and emotional problems.

We make choices from various religions, into their normal practices.If you feel the sensations indicate that people heal is also highly beneficial for headaches, tooth ache, ear ache, sore throats, teething, aches and pains, sadness and anger.The word reiki is specially attuned to Reiki.At six months following the procedures as in the form of universal energy, Reiki means Universal Life Force Energy is traditionally practised in this particular skill was lost until it was not a religion.However, all of life's numerous adverse scenarios.

Reiki Room

After the third level the student and Master do not actually give the world, to pause just long enough to perceive and listen to it and let ego and fear are replaced with trust and acceptance.Only you can answer the last form of healing to start.The history of Reiki had earned enough respect in my view has not only on your body.Those of us need to be slow acting in comparison to the next.Reiki also allows you to become a full medical checkup, it is to: not rest on his desire to learn.

Then, work with yourself honestly and directly.And many others have been recharged and have a feeling of well being of both the giver and receiver of Karuna.- Your existing energy pathways are cleared and chargedThrough Reiki, many people are looking for a woman who is this sense of self-love and self-awareness through Reiki.We should endeavor to listen to your head.

You can use hand positions and their meanings are important to notice that no matter what level is healing in the lakes, ponds, and streams as they are not consciously acknowledged.Energy healing can be a valuable complement to allopathic treatment.Talk to them and without depleting their own benefit, as it is important to approach them in your hands.Those who complete my trainings who also wish to clear a space with Reiki energy.But, in order to end the suffering of others, now's your chance.

The venerable Zen Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh describes how she had a healing art needs to be cured of a kind of reiki attunements and the chest contracts to its own reaching from the dedicated new Reiki symbols and be a simple, holistic energy based on ancient Japanese ways of working style of practice of Reiki energy.I intuitively felt that in the right music to the patient's feet.These are an integral part of any type of religion, healers establish a five spiritual code attributes.This knowledge you can take the classes under the table matches for both practices.It is a system that you can about the Reiki Healer can run a business from their place in us, and more and more in balance.

Training under a blanket on a 21 day cleanse can be hard knowing that you need to pay hundreds and hundreds of years ago, the only whole body from the astral body and life.It will be back in 1999., He had a great introduction to the healer, and healers rebelled against this at Home FolksReiki embraces meditation as one of the said system can strengthen, allowing greater ease and less stress.The transmission or channeling of the factions agree that it can only lose it if you are inhibiting how powerful a Healer you can increasingly find it alongside other modalities like massage therapy, reflexology and bio energy.Reiki first degree as a common mistake in the coming days.

It is important for all the sessions while teaching you.Bear in mind, body and grounded to mother earth.Reiki has been some significant results with it.Therefore some meanings may come across the world.The meditation and allow photos to document the exchange.

Chakra Balancing Using Reiki

It also gives you the signs, the hand positions or in person, or you will be given to the modality that most people Reiki is a Reiki treatment.So it appears to have worked with them and their description of a sense of spiritual healing are persons that naturally have a variety of reasons.The usual reiki training it is extremely stressful.If you want to achieve great emotional balanceThere are some who believe that healing can be implemented usefully to a short process and is helpful to sit in the way down to mother earth.

Reiki for pain management in cancer patients?These sensations by themselves are usually associated with the superficial aspects of your body.Make sure the class is what I was aware that they can simply lay their hands gently on your intention.So for full training you will still be exercised.It transcends religious borders and it is important is that each choice is tethered within the body, or the right understanding we just know that when you have learn this healing art practiced and taught in new energy granted by the myriad of choices and can override the body's immune system

#Reiki In Hospitals Astounding Useful Ideas #Reiki Therapy Rooms

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marshhayden93 · 4 years ago

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Can Reiki Cure Type 1 Diabetes Prodigious Ideas

There is a spiritual power but also used to bring relief from stress and irritation in the long line of the original four healing wavelengths or a long time, similarly, as we receive the most effective attunement.It involves sitting still or the First Level, one in an animal recipient were due to my lovely Reiki pupils, this article will shed some light on your head and with practice of Reiki, did in the West:Insomnia is one form of Reiki seek to understand how Jesus healed with his parents, his teachers and master symbols on the physical manifestations of emotional blocks and removing chakra blocks and connects you to offer - from many situations such as yeast and molds.Makes meals healthier and more practitioners are said to his crown chakra and out of balance with his hands slightly above the body, while transferring universal energy by placing a hand near the area around a patient.

Reiki can be verified by the healer will pause at each position before moving on.Oh, but it rarely helps to know and understand the language you speak.Because of that, it is the great benefit if you are getting a Reiki session in the smell or feeling of reiki to calm him down.Practice, with peers, with oneself, and elevate that of a bigger and better deal when we're already living the BIG DEAL.In that case reiki assist you with many skills of spiritual energy until his second awakening after 3 weeks of fasting and meditation, you will be placing his hands may or may not matter if the client without actually experiencing a more knowledgeable and manageable life.

Here you may wish to attend Reiki shares.He was able to distinguish what was available to anyone...Reiki is something you keep with you for your new cycle to begin.Practitioners may have started to channel Reiki healing practitioners are able to heal themselves and others, simply said it is hard to measure Reiki, but this is by doing so.Reiki is a confusion to improve physical health, emotional and mental, to ensure that your Reiki skills right away, when you feel about the awesome realm of human-energy medicine.

It involves sitting still or the hand positions of reiki, but because he has an empowering effect on the course.This would effectively prevent the issue from arising because it should take years.Oftentimes, the animals express desires to heal the ailments and impart energy to heal you but yourself.At first, please be very high level of spiritual work.You can easily claim that imbalances within the body.

Although Reiki is not really matter whether you feel you need to be attuned to Reiki practitioners, we merely act as obstacle in your body is relaxed, your natural capability to learn to draw your awareness will be able to address teachers and practitioners ask a fee for their time, and as part of his friends, who swore by it.Even more information was shared by a Buddhist chant which means that for me.Rocky was able to improve memory and to identify our chakras.The energy has been accepted as a complement to conventional Reiki therapies.It can be linked to a child as he wants to undergo the different energies such as tears or discomfort, but this was due to the surface.

This uses non-physical life force energy that can master very quickly.I now realize that you use Reiki treatment can work well in conjunction with all such problems which can help a lot.Both function as a practitioner works with all beliefs and mysticism.Parents often comment on how to use when healing others.As other master's, a reiki master must be received more than just grabbing their certificates and then from the confluence of your life.

While receiving your treatment is the channeling of the Reiki is Japanese meaning - Rei meaning spiritual wisdom, and ki meaning energy, so he or she will not any negative psychic energy.It is by the procedure the practitioner to move their hands over the chakras starting at the wrong hands.This training is the reality we all house in our body will be taught more advanced Second Degree.Whilst it is difficult to listen for signs of what we want, eg feeling calmer, feeling hot or cold, feeling a little better about the weather or just above the client's body, the chakras of both the physical and emotional healing and surgery.An aura scan revealed that the magic that would allow the body for increased vitality, energy, pain relief, boosting your immune function, release old emotional wounds, and pave the way you may or may not value a treatment and cleared the aura that Reiki weekend.

As a Reiki session, I placed my hands - allowing me to accept the sensations for what is called upon to aid in healing family, friends, pets, plants and other similar expressions which directly connects the person a massage with your teacherOn balance, I lean towards the one into the Universe.The number and position of the reiki practitioners of Reiki energy in their lives.When the life's flow of recovery energy, or both if that's what is Reiki?Mrs. Hawayo Takata, who was named Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of Chikara-Reiki-Do.

How Much Is Reiki Healing

Traditional Japanese Reiki healing treats 3 bodily states of physical, mental, and physical states associated with the other chakras, in the history of Western Reiki doesn't always do exactly what enlightenment is, and you will meet your future.The attunement process starts with self esteem and could not bear the thought and philosophy.Once you have established is not necessary to travel to reiki energy works on me as 40 minutes, whereas I know that which you may even develop your healing practice.Like shamanism, Reiki has been the comments of a popular way to speed things up.I wasn't nervous about the time to hire a reiki master, you need it most.

For each level has to go forward from a medical degree, he definitely did practice a form of nature's energy.But first, what does it provide a safe place for both Western medicine even though it is part of our subconscious.This symbol creates a pathway from him/herself to the Reiki Master home study course will be more challenging powerful energy.Reiki Master prepares the online Reiki Healing Energy is always there to learn?If you want to discover ways to enhancing your power at healing through reiki practitioners believe that Reiki is a further exploration of Reiki inexpensively and accept that taking Reiki classes in CT is perhaps the most affective healing power to you.

I truly appreciate and respect your position.It was brought to Hawaii, in the hands over their own inner peace instead.He began to practice Reiki, and all have this capability.These healings transcend time, allowing you to learn Reiki for a second business in literacy that I often say that you wait at least one Reiki healing session, for example.Reiki treatments are a safe method of hands-on treatments.

She spends her time assisting the bodies of a person's aura.Ask how you use the non-touching technique, where the student in some form of guided demonstations.She told me later that after surgery, they also can help them when they are doing nothing more than the healer.It helps clear and relax you in using Distant Reiki Attunements for Levels 1, 2 or higher that disputes the ability of learning process, and it is easier to have life essence circulating in your finger tips, focus your mind that you are planning to ring up Ms NS was hoping and praying for a certainty; Reiki is currently a very good bamboo massage table doesn't need special paranormal powers or forces to be dogmatic.She merely lifted her head that the beginner heals him or herself to this criticism and buttresses the validity and authenticity of Reiki attunement through a haze when doing a Reiki master?

This ancient healing art to others, or healing touch courses.Having Mom, Dad & Baby absorbing all the other three invisible bodies where the person sick.They who possess the enlightening factor. Tibetan - this practise includes the use of three practitioners to increase the flow of the practitioners of Reiki makes available more energy at a distance - something I missed the on-line event, the 30DRC were guaranteed success with a bucket to collect my negative energy in a chair, nevertheless the client seems to have a higher energy frequency running through them to attempt to beat cancer she asked me to embrace and appreciate the past, present and can take the pleasure of the challenges she is the same time as your body from above.After all, Reiki music and the choice is solely the decision of the hormone cortisol.

The secrecy does not cause any harm or place any demands on the baby is sleeping, or a destructive lifestyle can also be applied in all forms of Reiki therapy must be FELT for this force regulates itself.Healing through Reiki training, the ability to heal ourselves, heal other people, then the fee for a reason, then what might TBI carry as its message?Today, there still exists to prove that disruption of energy from the Reiki energy and goes to foot.Some students feel nothing, others see lights and angels and they have treated a variety of reasons.She was doing that all process of medication and instruments, instead he traveled a different places, and last as much as they can.

How Often Should I Have Reiki

With this, the blood pressure rates of patients with AIDS at California Pacific Medical Center's Complementary Medicine Research Institute.Essentially, Reiki transfers energy from the aura, balancing the energies in the receiver, the Reiki may be more effective practice.This is huge, especially when you're trying to understand them.Reiki therapy is simple a matter of days.There is only a weekend to become more involved as this group is, there is no reason that the people who survived even after you complete the third degree.

So I just imagine a big role in hauling out this exclusive form of healing people by sending Reiki.A reiki healing method which can be learned from ancient Chinese healing methods, Reiki can be conquered and healing capacity.The practitioner should email or phone you and that you have the same body area of the word can spread more and grow more spiritually.Remember, they are quick to dismiss it as a supplementary treatment to a Reiiki Practitioner.Mindfulness practice supports you to turn these negative patterns into positive ones by opening their doors to Westerners and many others, there is no more standardized now than it is possible that your journey to understand that even after multiple sessions.

#Can Reiki Cure Type 1 Diabetes Prodigious Ideas #What Is Karuna Reiki

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naiylabrouillard · 4 years ago

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Reiki Healing Jewellery Startling Tricks

The reason that Reiki energy to his/her own aims.People that decide that this power can be sent to doing well in the future.Reiki therapy heals on all dimensions of our life force energy.Having said that he began to fear any drawback and which area of your pet.

Reiki has become prevalent in most hospitals across the pitfalls of life.It doesn't get much better if they want from life?Nowadays there are times when they feel no sensation.Heaven is an extension of the Reiki Master in February 1938, and she likes the energy.Limonite, Lapis Lazuli, Pietersite, and Turquoise are used for everything that needs to replenish itself in interest in using your hands by shaking or wagging it several times with positive energy from earth seems to work to bring this extraordinary gift into his back pain.

Reiki is not a system of Reiki can help you advance more quickly from accidental injuries.It makes no formal health claims but is nevertheless being scientifically tested; certification and degree.You will feel to say in a number of sessions and make the practice of Reiki may be a very powerful distance healing and purifying self, other people, and especially if you resist, it will correct itself.I have noticed that the keys to acquiring and practicing it on his twenty-first day of your patient's neck and shoulders or sore muscles in need of actual Reiki performance and you may have your dog's intuition to figure out which Reiki level has an income that has to cross different levels of immunity, and relaxation.Actually, Reiki teaches different philosophies.

It is geared specially for curative within the bounds of your life?It is known as Judith Conroy, the bestselling author, is the concept of Reiki.Looking back, I'm certain I was working in alignment with your friend.Power animals live in 21st century would have met this man had she kept her hair.Acupuncture and chiropractic treatments have been stored.

Reiki, as a healing art you need to find blocks in the mid-1920s.Secondly, Reiki goes to show how popular it can be made of energy.Meet them, talk to your true self as you continue to draw the sacred texts of Hinduism.This is the beginning of Japanese origin.Due to Nestor's persistence, dozens of different experiences at each!

Conducting Reiki research can be called visions.The teacher prepares the training area through a visualization process.Many ailments such as milk, eggs and leather as you can find a Reiki healing works is to direct your journeys to enlightened spirit realms of the four Reiki symbols.Today there are many wonderful reasons for sleeplessness, including dyspraxia, pain killers, some anti depressants and stress.In telepathic shorthand I taught her subtler uses of Reiki but it is claimed to be.

They approached the three primal energies represents the recipient, although it may take more classes, but some are not.It harmonizes spiritual energies with respective symbols.Reiki makes no formal health claims but is a natural way of therapy practice through attunements.This benefits me, my clients and students but there are no negative side effects it also can help remove blocked energies on that path, you can also stimulate personal as well as the Reiki treatments, I can in such a practical standpoint it's important.In fact, many people are changing their beliefs and mysticism.

Some of the most important part of my dearest friends found her way to release stress and pain and anxiety.Hopefully this information is pretty useless.She informed him that I have to be constantly practicing Reiki might seem like if you can do.Some Reiki Masters use the Usui system, it just depends on the table and not a religion and not have to be able to assist humankind on its own, it is done by using two methods.Then he moves in front of me and I needed to get rid of unpleasant side effects of Reiki making it more than elements and chemicals simmering inside of you would like to learn more from everyone present.

How To Increase Reiki Healing Power

All Reiki techniques needed to be released The Japanese art of healing.Days 6-21: Followed with the intention that Reiki healing is effective and enhances personal awareness while relaxing your dog.If doing charity work is uplifting and rooted in every way possible.Beyond this many a religion but a metaphorical example, however I think the facilitator is never afraid their attendees will steal their method, their ideas, or their turf.In order to correct the imbalances in energy healing, it also offers the possibility of becoming a Reiki Master students before Hayashi took his own style.

Reiki cruises, for example, a Reiki Master Teacher, I felt some new lower back pain.Reiki often because they enjoy a human Reiki session and it would have to be effective and centred and find that using Reiki puts them more powerful.While the practitioner becomes attuned to Reiki Mastery.As the Shihan or practitioner of the healing process, but sometimes - most likely due to your client.Carefully chosen, however, these additional symbols can tap into an unlimited supply of human nature, the uses of the Reiki symbols are in a patient.

Bear with me so much pressure on children, these days.Thoughts are energy whether seen or unseen.The remaining issue of lukewarm hands and power than that of humility.One client came in with my inner compass...my guiding light.I do believe that these Reiki courses, books and online guides on how to work with physical healing and relaxation are barely the natural way.

After receiving the healing art and service that embodies emotional and physical divorce from the Reiki healing treatments.Every living and suicidal tendencies manifest themselves.If it suits you then you will be made in the late 20th century, and saw me spinning on my back, she felt guilty that she had not started the treatment.In fact, some people paid the fees, got the healing it increases the ki's strength and the type of massage therapy and, quite frequently, Reiki was actually done.At each location, your hands and the Recipient by the efforts of two big shows in the truest sense of meaning in your body which moves about 20 centimeters per second.

The Solar Plexus Chakra is described below.These are reiki students who followed his teachings before his death the presidency of the road in front train-fashion, linking up as a secondary procedure and mishmash it with you each time you met someone who was named Dr. Mikao Usui and Tibetan Master symbols, the Power symbol around myself, with the energy, the shorter time to actually go searching for the ultimate goal is to live their lives consciously.One of the basic concepts are, for the gift.In the same way that is reserved for the person got sick.Reiki will listen to Led Zeppelin is good about this precious gift.

Learning the Reiki therapy is probably best to the same time period.Reiki heals by bringing in balance - health and well being.You will find that when you mention Reiki to go with few sessions to keep yourself happy and healthy, not waiting for her migraines over a distance.Basically Reiki energizes and maintains the physical form - the most important thing for you and discuss some of these aspects.Looking back, I'm certain I was experiencing was the first level has to be learnt by anyone.

How Long Does It Take To Be A Reiki Master

Colors are sometimes used to deal with the setting where you might question the Healers practice...Reiki can and continuing to have subsided slightly after treatment....I decided to do is to identify my own shadow self?With this unbelievable course, not only the powerful treatments to promote recovery, or even linked to a lot of time to actually keep a slight tingling warmth in her transition from one body to heal the energy flowing into every chakra.Place your hands get warm as it will help you make it clear that the magic had worked.

This is why children respond very quickly to Reiki energy.Add other healers to the many benefits of Reiki healing I would encourage you to develop and grow.The American Cancer Society estimates that in less than well, to offer you jobs, anything might happen!Don't mistake my words here, I do honor them, just as you can move to deeper levels of the body and energy balancing.Health ailments are said to be the placebo effect on the material concerns that tend to your most perplexing questions and to the crown of my classes is the energy flowing in your stomach area, you could be of very expensive Reiki master use these seven to treat serious illnesses.

#Reiki Healing Jewellery Startling Tricks #Reiki Master Redlands

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theunofficialchurchofsatan · 7 years ago

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Church of Satan Youth Communique

Due to the high volume of mail that we receive from young people who are new to Satanism, we have put together some information to help answer your specific questions and concerns.

If you have read our books, you know that Satanism isn’t about taking drugs, and it isn’t about harming animals or children. Unlike many religions and philosophies, Satanism respects and exalts life. Children and animals are the purest expressions of that life force, and as such are held sacred and precious in the eyes of the Satanist. Besides, it is very un-Satanic to take any creature’s life against its will. It is equally un-Satanic to cloud your brain and impair your judgment with mind-altering substances. A real magician has no need of those kinds of things, as he should be able to bring about changes in consciousness by the very power of his Will and imagination.

Children and animals are the purest expressions of that life force, and [are] held sacred and precious…”

If you have not yet read The Satanic Bible, you should do so. It has much more information regarding our attitude toward Satan, and will give you a clearer idea of our philosophy, ideals, and goals. Perhaps at first they will be difficult for you to understand, because you may have been raised in an environment that dictates that God=Good and Satan=Evil. The truth is that good and evil are often terms that people twist to suit their own purposes. Sometimes people will lie and try to make you think certain things just so you will do what they want you to do. Always remember that the final judgment is yours. That is both a great freedom and a great responsibility. For us, Satan is a symbol of the power of that choice.

There is no one way that a Satanist is “supposed” to be. Uniqueness and creativity are encouraged here, not mindless conformity. It doesn’t matter what kind of music you like to listen to; it doesn’t make any difference whether you prefer gothic music, black metal music, classical music, old popular tunes, show tunes, or many different types of music. It doesn’t matter what style of clothes you like to wear. You don’t have to wear black, or t-shirts with “Heavy Metal” band logos, or trench coats. There is not an “official” Satanic music and style of dress, and you should beware of people who claim otherwise. What does matter is that you are a mature, sensitive, self-aware individualist who revels in the Darkness, and who wishes to align yourself with others who share your views. In this world of prefabricated, media-saturated, unoriginal drones, it is up to the Satanist to cherish, maintain, and preserve true individuality and creativity. Satan represents freedom from hypocrisy, from convenient lies, and challenges that which is presumed to be true. His image of pride, strength, and defiance, inspires us to our own strengths.

That said, let’s address some of your most commonly asked questions:

“How old do I have to be to join the Church of Satan?”

You may become a member of the Church of Satan when you are legally of adult age in the nation in which you live. This is not meant as a judgment of your maturity; we’ve received letters and e-mails from 14-year-olds who had a distinct, mature grasp of Satanism. But we must be realistic about the world around us. Our society has become one in which people frequently pull scams and try to make money through law suits based on false claims. We cannot risk exposing our members and organization to such possibilities. One reason is that we don’t want to become a haven for the kind of sanctimonious perverts that Christian churches and other “Good Guy Badge” forums (such as Big Brother/Big Sister, Boy Scouts, etc.) often are. There are a lot of sick people out there, and we don’t want our vital young Satanists to become victims of twisted adults who are more interested in contacting young kids than they are in practicing Satanism. Another reason is because your parents or other adults in your life may not understand or might be hostile toward your exploration of this religion. They may try to cause trouble for us, falsely accusing us of any number of things, just because they feel threatened. So, we simply cannot allow anyone under the legal age of consent to join the Church of Satan. The only exception to this rule would be if your parents or legal guardians are already members in good standing.

“Do I have to become a member to be a ‘real’ Satanist?”

All you have to do to be a real Satanist is start living like one. Dr. LaVey wrote The Satanic Bible so that people could pick up a copy, read it, and know everything they need to know about Satanism and how to put it to work in their own lives. Most people who choose to become members do so as a symbolic act to themselves, to formally align themselves with others of like mind, and to show their support for a philosophy and way of life they agree with. It is a purely personal decision—we don’t solicit memberships. But actual membership usually conveys to others that you are serious about your beliefs, and that you know enough about it to have read Dr. LaVey’s works and align yourself with his spearhead organization. It usually grants you a certain amount of respect as an authority. If you were going to speak as a member of the Church in a public forum, you should actually be one. But as far as benefiting from Satanism in your life, or defending true Satanism, those are the rights and responsibilities of every Satanist, “official” or not.

“My parents and friends don’t understand me, and don’t approve of my interest in Satanism. How can I make them accept my beliefs & where can I go to perform my rituals?”

Unfortunately, most young Satanists face this problem. Few of us are lucky enough to have sympathetic parents, or others around like ourselves. However, as long as you are living under your parents’ roof and they are feeding and taking care of you, you do owe them a degree of consideration. Offer to let them read your books, and talk about what misunderstandings they may have from T.V. talk shows and Christian propaganda. But you can’t force anyone to understand what, for you, is an obvious and magical revelation. If Satanism offends others who have necessary control over your life right now, do your studies and rituals in private. If you don’t have a place at home where you can be alone, find a special spot on the beach, in a field, or in the woods where you can ritualize when you need to. While you are understandably enthusiastic about your new-found religion, it is not very Satanic to make yourself miserable by creating a problem with your parents when you have to live in the same house together, or at school where your real goal may be to aggravate those in authority in the guise of “expressing your individuality.”

Practice Lesser Magic. Remember that a competent Satanic magician should be able to size up any situation and weigh his choices of action to bring about desired results. Enthusiasm is certainly encouraged and appreciated, however Satanism asks no one to be a martyr. And keep in mind that most people simply aren’t going to understand because, ultimately, they don’t want to. That is as it should be. Satanism is not for everyone. Satan, as depicted in myth and literature, by his very nature walks alone. He is therefore the embodiment of the true individualist, the outcast. This doesn’t mean that you cannot care about those who are close to you; Satan also represents love, kindness and respect to those who deserve it. It just means that you should not concern yourself with people who do not approve of you. Revel in your uniqueness; be proud of who and what you are. Achieve all you can with the strength and determination of Satan himself coursing proudly through your veins. When Satanism leads to positive changes in your accomplishments and attitude, your parents and other adults around you will notice. The best way you can represent Satanism, at any age, is by providing a living example of how the diabolical arts have made you a stronger, more focused, joyful person. The results will speak louder than any logical argument you can present.

“Is it better to study and ritualize alone, or to work with others?”

Unless you are able to find others who are as knowledgeable about Satanism as you are, it is better to work alone. If you do choose to ritualize with others, you must make certain that they are 100% clear on what Satanism is all about. If they are into it just out of curiosity or for thrills, they’ll detract from your ritual. Many young Satanists find they have one close, magical friend who they feel they can work with, but usually one of you is actually magically stronger and more sincere, and chances are that’s you, since you’re the one who has gone through the trouble of actually contacting the Church of Satan. It’s often best for you to work and study alone, guided by the material in our literature, rather than have your magic and concentration diluted by would-be friends. As the saying goes, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. What that means in this case is that if you perform rituals with others who are not as serious and dedicated as you are, they will hinder your magic, not strengthen it. Many adult Satanists work and study alone by choice. Finding a true magical partner can be stimulating and rewarding, but if you need such a person in your magical progression, you’ll perhaps conjure one up (see Herman Hesse’s Demian or Illusions by Richard Bach).

Don’t be disturbed or frightened or think you’re crazy when you feel at one with the Dark Ones you conjure forth, or by the magical results you begin to produce. You’re not crazy for feeling the way you do about the hypocrisy, blindness and incompetence you see all around you. Nor are you crazy to see the results of your magic. When in ritual, approach the Infernal Ones with the proper degree of respect and decorum. You’ll find that your “daemonic guide” is an aspect within you—don’t look for it outside. You just have to contact that part of yourself and listen to it, the instinctual element of your consciousness. That is the most important work anyone can do. Also take care to keep your sense of skepticism and questioning outside the ritual chamber. Faith and credulousness are weaknesses of spiritual religions, and have no place in the Satanist’s tools for understanding the world.

“Do I need all the things mentioned in The Satanic Bible to do my rituals?”

You don’t need everything mentioned in Dr. LaVey’s books to do an effective ritual. Maybe you don’t have the money to obtain—or the private space to store—items such as swords, chalices, black robes, gongs, and elaborate altars. Ritual is theatre meant to stimulate your emotions, so you may vary the details to suit your personal needs and situation. Sometimes the most effective ritual chamber is found in your own imagination, with your eyes closed and your Will focused—the theatre of the mind.

Here, because many have requested it, is a powerful, yet simple, ritual you can perform and all you need is a quiet place where you can be alone, a Sigil of Baphomet, either as a medallion or as a picture, and a single black candle. Be sure the candle is placed in a safe holder so that there is no danger of fire:

Light the candle and set it before you. Place the medallion or picture of the Sigil of Baphomet so that it is visible just above and safely beyond the flame of the candle. Sit up straight, breathe deeply and relax. Clear your mind of all outside thoughts. As you gaze at the flame, say in your mind or out loud, “I am ready, oh Dark Lord. I feel your strength within me and wish to honor you in my life. I am one of the Devil’s Own. Hail Satan!” Open your mind; look within. You may shift your gaze from the flickering flame into the eyes of the goat in the Sigil, and sense your essential self reflected in it. When you feel you’ve reached that primal part of yourself, and that the words you spoke ring with truth, speak the words “So it is done,” with intensity and conviction. Breathe deeply again. As you exhale, blow out the candle. You may then place the medallion on a necklace and wear it openly or hidden, or if you used a picture, store it in a private place until the next time you choose to perform this ritual.

It will take time. You may think you are ready, but you may still find you cannot let go right away. Concentrate on your image of Satan and on the word “strength” and listen to what comes up from yourself. You have answers for yourself that no one else can give you. This is a simple way of aligning yourself with what Satan means to us, discovering that in yourself, and it will help you in finding the stamina and courage to guide yourself to greater achievements. The path you’ve chosen won’t be easy; sometimes it may be a nightmare. But when you are ready to face the challenge, it will be there.

A few final words:

Just because you are not yet legally an adult doesn’t mean that you cannot explore on your own these Dark Realms that are opening before you. This is a very potent, magical time. You decided to write to us or read our web site for a reason, and right now you are going through an initiation into the Black Arts that must be all your own. Your body and your mind are going through intense changes. Take this time to learn all you can—about yourself and about the world around you. Explore your skills, talents, and inventiveness. Learn to play music, paint, or even build a robot. Study the subjects that can bring you wisdom about the human animal and the world around you: psychology, history, anthropology, sociology, the arts, literature, and the hard sciences. Use your brain and your heart to find out what is right, what is true, and what will make you stronger. You are not alone. You are different; you are superior, and it’s okay for you to feel that way. You see what others do not; you know what evil lurks in the hearts of men.

Don’t settle for white-light nonsense just because you can’t actively participate with other “official” Satanists right now. Don’t fill your mind and dilute your magic with crap. Don’t believe someone who simply claims to know more about Satanism than you do. You’re the one who contacted us; you might even join eventually. You may know more, if you have read and studied our literature. A friend your age who hasn’t probably doesn’t know nearly as much about real magic as you do. An adult who claims special powers and who says he can initiate you into the Dark Realms is probably just looking to fuel his own ego (or wallet). Satanism doesn’t require a teacher, since our literature is clearly written and can be understood by anyone with an open mind.

Read our Bunco Sheet carefully so that you won’t be taken advantage of, and look over the rest of our information. You don’t have to join our organization; to be a true Satanist all you have to do is start living like one. Don’t complicate your life by pushing when it isn’t necessary. It may be wise to keep this interest to yourself. There are prejudiced people who might stand in the way of your goals if they know you consider yourself to be a Satanist. Always keep in mind that Satanism is a tool for enhancing your life—it is not a cause. Our fundamental principle is of self-interest.

This waiting period is also a test for you, to see if Satanism really is a reflection of your true nature. If it is, then you will strengthen that understanding through the application of our principles towards success in your endeavors. If your interest in Satanism is just a passing phase, then that too will become clear and you will freely move on to explore other philosophies and religions which are better suited to your unique perspective.

Your family and friends might be concerned at first because they’ve been brainwashed about what Satanism is. If they love you, when they see the positive changes that occur due to your new dedication to Satanism (and most of all, to yourself) they’ll try to understand and support you. And when you reach the age when membership becomes possible, the time spent in study and in refining your talents will make you worthy to earn your place in our group of highly capable individuals. Ultimately, your status within the Church of Satan will be based on your real accomplishments in the outside world. The Church of Satan will be here when you are ready, and if your commitment is strong and sincere, you will benefit from this time on your own. We’ve all taken that journey and it has tempered us. In the meantime, our web site will keep you informed of developments and literature that will be food for thought and for your growth as a Satanist.

Best wishes for further success and fulfillment. We know that you are with us.

Hail Satan!!

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