#meditation for beginners free

[tarotbyjam24]

when I meditate why do I feel soft itchiness between my eyebrows ? Does it mean anything?

[thepanvelite]

How to Meditate for Beginners: A Casual Guide

Meditation builds focus, reduces stress, and brings inner peace. Follow these steps.

Meditation is like a mental gym for your brain. It helps you build focus, reduce stress, and find inner peace. If you’re new to meditation, don’t worry���I’ve got you covered! Let’s dive into some simple steps to get you started: Find Your Zen Spot: First things first, find a comfy spot. You can sit on the floor with your back straight or even on a chair. Close your eyes if you like, or keep them…

[flushingmeditation]

Free Guided Meditation Lessons

Free online meditation lessons are designed for those who are not able to attend the lad based meditation centers or classes. If you really want to learn how to meditate properly, then the time has come to attend the free online meditation lessons.

[shapingholisticjourneys]

Website : https://www.shapingholisticjourneys.com/

Address : 2545 Bellwood Rd., North Chesterfield, Virginia, 23237

Shaping Holistic Journeys, founded by Lymari Vélez, a professional with over 15 years of experience in holistic therapies and practices, is dedicated to empowering and enhancing the quality of life within communities through the integration of holistic (Mind-Body Connection) practices for health and wellness. The organization offers a variety of services, including individual sessions, health and wellness programs, corporate health and wellness programs, memberships, videos, and online programs, all aimed at facilitating self-empowerment through healing journeys. With a focus on integrative methodologies for healthier and happier lifestyles, Shaping Holistic Journeys provides support through multidisciplinary holistic health experts and Yoga Instructors, ensuring a well-rounded approach to mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Twitter : https://twitter.com/S_Holistic_Jrny

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Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/company/shaping-holistic-journeys/

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[lunarforager]

Beginner Witch's Guide: Crystals

Today's witchy lesson is on crystals! Specifically, crystal shapes and their meanings, types of crystals and their meanings, and what you can use crystals for in your practice!

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Basic Crystals and Their Meanings:

Clear Quartz -> Clear quartz is known for its ability to amplify intention and magnify the energy of other stones around it

Selenite -> Selenite is good for cleansing and purifying the area and objects around it

Amethyst -> Amethyst provides a peaceful and relaxing energy

Carnelian -> Carnelian is known for boosting creative energy and allowing for better creative flow

Rose Quartz -> Rose quartz is known for supporting and amplifying love of all kinds (self love, romantic love, platonic love, etc.)

Pyrite -> Pyrite (also known as 'Fool's Gold') is known for drawing in success and fortune

Obsidian -> Obsidian sucks in negative energy from the surrounding space providing protection from unwanted energies and negativity

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Crystal Shapes and Meanings:

Cube -> Cube shaped crystals are often tied to grounding and would be good to use during meditation or meditative spellwork.

Sphere -> Sphere shaped crystals are thought to be more balanced with the energy they emit, splitting it evenly in all directions. They are good to use in grounding work (like meditation) or for protective spells/energy.

Pyramids -> Pyramid shaped crystals are most commonly associated with the idea of communing with celestial bodies or with the universe. Pyramid shaped crystals would be beneficial to use in deity worship or working with deities for spellwork.

Tower/Point -> Tower and point shaped crystals are known to amplify intention and point it in a certain direction. In my opinion, they are the most universally helpful shape and so can be used for a variety of spells.

Palm Stones -> Palm Stones are flat disks of stone that can be placed in one's palm and are often used to provide soothing energy. When placed in the palm they can be rubbed to provide therapeutic relief in moments of anxiety.

Cluster -> A cluster is a mix between a sphere and a point. The energy is emitted in all directions, but not evenly. They are most beneficial for spells and powers you want amplified, but don't need to be even or concentrated in one particular area.

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General Crystal Tips:

When purchasing crystals, make sure the ones you are buying are coming from reputable, ethical sources and are actual crystals!

Before letting any crystal come in contact with the sun or with water, make sure it is safe to do. Some crystals are known to leech harmful chemicals or elements into water when submerged while some will just erode away in minutes. Some crystals can also fade if left in direct sunlight for a long time (amethyst is one of these so keep that in mind!)

If you do not like working with crystals, think something works better for you than crystals, or simply are just not interested in working with crystals, they are not necessary for the craft! Crystals (like any other witchy tool) are optional but can not only provide useful energies or attributes, but also just look super cool and are great to put on altars or in spaces around your home!

---

Well, that's all for my beginners guide to crystals! There are so many more crystals out there with their own unique shapes, attributes and energies that I suggest going and doing more research as you start to collect crystals! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out, I love talking to people and love making new friends <3

Valete my friends! :3

[ponchigg]

Relearning | The Void State

What’s the void state? How is it useful for manifestation/shifting?

The void state, also known as simply the void, is a deep meditative state where one fully connects to their true essence - a state of pure awareness free from attachment to thoughts, emotions and identity.

Different practicers describe the void in different ways. Some believe the void is as the name suggests, a state of pure nothingness where the practitioner cannot feel/hear anything. While others believe the void is just the final state of mindful meditation where one fully let’s go of societal conditioning and other egoic constructs. Both perspectives are correct, as it’s noted that the void will manifest in different ways for everybody.

During the void, practitioners disconnect from their rational/conscious mind, leaving space to fully connect with the subconscious instead. This is the reason why the void is described as the perfect moment to manifest/shift realities, as there will be no doubts/limiting beliefs holding you back.

How does one enter the void state? Is there a foolproof method?

The more well-known manner to experience the void consciously is through deep, mindful meditation. This can be achieved through practices such as focusing on the breath, observing thoughts without attachment and feeling the inner body.

Some authors also believe that a state akin to the void happens during deep, dreamless sleep - yet there’s not a lot of information on how to become conscious of the void during this state.

People who struggle with sitting straight for long periods of time may struggle with achieving the deep meditative state necessary to enter the void. Though, that just means one would have to practice more, as we all have the ability to enter the void regardless.

Addressing common misconceptions about the void state.

The void is nothing more than a deep meditative state, it can be easily achieved through meditation with some practice.

Loud noises and sudden touches can indeed snap you out of the void, as again, the void is not an OBE (out of body experience), you are still within your body.

The void MAY manifest as pure nothingness for some people (not feeling your body or surroundings), but that’s not the norm. A lot of people can still feel their surroundings while experiencing the void, though lack of sensation/numbness is very common.

So how would one know they are in the void? The main symptoms of the void are a deep feeling of fulfilment/interior peace and detachment from thoughts and the ego. If you have experienced a sense of inner emptiness and silence while attempting to enter the void, it’s very likely you did achieve it or a state akin to it.

Sources and books: ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckart Tolle. | ‘The Spectrum of Consciousness’ by Ken Wilber. | ‘Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind’ by Shunryu Suzuki. | ‘The Way of Zen’ by Alan Watts. | ‘The Heart of the Buddha’ by Chögyam Trungpa.

[kalki-tarot]

Your Shadow aspects you need to work on to meet your FS. 🥀

1 - 2 - 3

Disclaimer — The images I used to select a pile were sourced from Pinterest, I hope the reading will resonate with you. I'm not responsible for any decisions you make in your life from my readings. I'm just a beginner and these readings are just for fun.

Check masterlist for more !

Pile 1

Death, wheel of fortune, queen of swords, the chariot, ace of wands, the emperor, king of swords, the lovers, 10 of pentacles.

The most prominent thing I see here is your obsession for fairytale romances, basically you are having unrealistic expectations etc.

This behaviour leads to you to watching a lot of tarot readings, like alot of them!

The high priestess in the bottom of deck tells me you need to learn how to identify and work with your own intuition. You need to develop it for your own good.

Don't be dependent on tarot readings or fiction romance.

You maybe have an image of a rich handsome ceo in your mind. Idk if it's right or wrong to imagine that or set expectations around it but the tarot the deck is showing me exactly this issue.

Please be reminded that a perfect love story in not perfect. It has ugly fights and a lot of things like that.

I'm not saying you don't deserve a love you desire, I'm saying not to be too obsessed with these unrealistic expectations.

Start working on your intuition, meditate, be in nature for sometime. It'll guide you, you'll be your own guide. Take tarot readings as a possibility of the future. Don't let anything take your power.

You'll surely have a love story, with passion and romance if you trust your intuition.

Pile 2

King of wands, ace of pentacles, strength, devil, the empress, queen of wands, 10 of pentacles, 3 of swords, 2 of swords, 2 of wands, 7 of pentacles, death

I feel like you're in a soulmate connection or a twinflame journey. Are you seeing 22 or 222 or 2323 alot?

Do you recognize your talents and creativity, pile 2? If not then start doing it. Nurture your divine feminine side. Keep yourself in check. It will align you with meeting your future spouse.

Don't be too harsh on yourself, it's okay to not be able to follow the same timetable or routine everyday.

Why are you restraining yourself to a point that it's hampering your spiritual growth?

You were born with these talents you have, keep doing it. Allow yourself to feel and do things what make you happy and peaceful.

I'm aware of the heartbreak or painful time you faced in the past. I know it's stopping you from loving yourself, but see the bigger picture.

You need to make a choice, it's in your hands. The choice to either be stuck in the past or move forward with a free and energized spirit on the road of success.

Work on your plans, carry them out in the reality. Plan and succeed. It's your destiny to reap the benefits of your hardwork.

Allow yourself to go through this transformation in life.

Pile 3

Ace of wands, strength, 10 pentacles, ace of pentacles, 7 wands, the lovers, 4 or cups, death, queen of cups.

You need to balance and keep check of your emotional health. You are too sensitive emotionally. You need to master your emotions.

I think it's because of someone broke your heart romantically or you were in a toxic relationship which made you like this.

Please remember how much potential you have carrer wise. You are much more capable of everything, more capable than you think.

You have a tendency to repeat this cycle where someone tells you something critical, you take that seriously, you blame yourself for being this way here and in your love life too and it just keeps going in a circle.

I think you need to rewire this pattern of self blaming. You are not what you think you are. You are much more tha that. You are meant to live a rich and abundant lifestyle, so focus on that. Love will itself find you.

[jordynbreeloa777]

“Let Go” VOID ENDGAME CHALLENGE.

THIS IS COMPLETELY OPTIONAL! YOU CAN USE FOR ENTERING WIDE AWAKE, OR WAKING UP IN! { Original} ⚠️‼️

For this challenge we will be using states and robotic affirmations/askfirmations.

STEP 1: 🌹 Embody the state of someone who always enters, or wakes up in the void state aware. By doing this simply affirm “I am now the person who always enters/wakes up in the void state aware.”

STEP 2: 🌹 Affirm whenever in your free time, but also watch your consistent thoughts daily. Keep a STRICT mental diet. Affirm whatever you want, but to keep it short,sweet, and simple and for recommendations you can use for waking up in “ I always wake up in the void state aware.” “Everytime I fall asleep I always wake up straight in the void state it’s so annoying.” “Why do I always wake up in the void state aware?” For entering awake, you can use “ I always enter the void state with ease.” “I always enter the void state aware.” “The void state is soo easy to enter.” Regardless of everything (ROE) I always enter the void state aware on my command. { Please note, please affirm for awareness!! Like huge tip the void is soo relaxing sometimes you forget🤣!

NOTE:💌 That’s really it! Also don’t be discouraged if you don’t enter, or wake up in instantly remember failure doesn’t exist in your reality. We don’t give failure an option. We aren’t victims, and it’s not outside of you so of course you enter when ever you please. Keep THAT MINDSET! Also this is suppose to be fun so if it’s getting stressful take a breather/break. Also for new beginners please don’t be scared! The void is not scary AT ALL it feels like utter relaxation! How you know you have entered is when it’s all black, I saw stars but sometimes people are different! You can also customize your void state! Note that intrusive thoughts or doubts don’t exist in the void state! It’s still and quiet! Manifestations are almost INSTANT because it’s completely 4D, and nothing is impossible in imagination! I recommend using blanket affs (if you want you can name every single one of your desires) but it’s you in your purest form so of course it knows what you want! You can use subliminals, or meditations to help relax to inter, but I entered before without it! I just sadly struggled to be aware which is why IM TELLING YOU AFFIRM FOR AWARENESS! Remember you’re in control! I will be doing this challenge as well, if you have questions please comment/ask/dm/inbox me<;3 Happy Manifesting!💝💝

[tenofmuses]

Free Witchcraft Resources for Beginners

A couple months ago I made a post shouting out the fact that witchcraft doesn’t require any money to get started (or to be practiced, for that matter), and I had a few people ask me about what they can do that’s free, especially as a beginner, so I wrote up this post. I was lost and broke when I was getting started with my craft, and it was really difficult to find tips for beginners that weren’t just “buy these things!” I’m hoping this will be useful for people who are looking for a place to begin.

So. You’re interested in witchcraft and would like to find out more. Maybe you keep seeing those “crystals/herbs/books/etc. beginner witches should have” posts, and you’re frustrated, because you want to begin your practice, but don’t have the money for those supplies. I was once in that spot, and even now that I’m five years into my practice, I have rarely purchased any of the supplies witchtok deems to be fundamental. Here are some places you can begin instead. Let’s get started!

Info continues below.

Foundations

By foundations, I’m referring to things that aren’t explicitly witchcraft, but that I have found very beneficial within my own practice.

1. Before anything, I recommend asking yourself a simple question: why do I want to practice witchcraft, and what do I hope to get out of it? You may not know for sure yet, and your answer will likely change over time, but having some intentions going in can be helpful when you’re in the early stages of research. When I was starting out, I felt very overwhelmed by the amount of info out there, so if you have a bit of an idea of what you’re specifically interested in, that can be helpful to get you going.

2. Meditation: not all witches meditate, but a lot of the skills you develop through meditation can be helpful within witchcraft. You can try out secular meditation (apps like Balance and Headspace, as well as Insight Timer—the former has a mix of secular and spiritual meditations), or you can find a witchcraft-specific guided meditation on YouTube. For neurodivergent folks out there, I recommend looking into active meditation, which I’ve found to be quite beneficial for myself.

For me, it’s always important to remain grounded when I’m doing any spiritual practice, and meditation is a good skill you can work on to help with that. I also find that having a background in meditation can be really helpful later down the line when/if you are attempting visualization and/or astral projection, witch’s flight, and so forth.

3. Journaling: another thing that isn’t specifically witchcraft-related, but is an important skill to harness, on my opinion. To me, it’s crucial to be in touch with what I’m feeling (especially when it comes to doing spellwork), and journaling is one great way to do that. If you’re stuck and don’t know where to begin, look up witchcraft (or general) journal prompts on here or somewhere else. A lot of the ones that come up will be shadow work, which can be intense, so only do what feels comfortable for you.

I’d also like to note that automatic writing/drawing is an entirely free option if you’re interested in communing with spirits or deities. Essentially it involves getting into a trance-like state (usually in a dark room only lit by candlelight or similar—this is to avoid distractions) with a piece of paper and pen, and you write or draw everything that comes to your head without thinking about it. And then you go back and see what sort of messages you may be receiving. It’s a bit hard to explain and I’m not very experienced in it myself, but it’s something worth looking into if it sounds interesting to you!

4. Look at what you have, instead of what you don’t: a lot of beginner witch resources will list specific items that you should have, without really explaining why. And without that knowledge of how/why having an item is important, you might find your Must Have crystal sitting unused on a shelf somewhere. So instead of focusing on the items you want or feel like you should have, look at what you do have. Are there plants or herbs in your house/yard that you feel drawn to? Do you have a collection of cool rocks and stones? How do these items make you feel?

For me, a large part of my craft is my belief in Animism (the belief that all living things have innate spiritual qualities, like a soul, spirit, or specific energy) and this can play into the way you interact with the natural world if it’s a belief you also subscribe to. Try and feel the presence of a plant to see if it gives you any specific feeling. It does? Great! Now you have a correspondance for that plant. And it’s even better than the correspondances you’ll get in a book because it’s based on your own personal connection and intuition. That’s what is most important.

5. When in doubt, use your intuition. You might find a source that says cinnamon should be used for protection. Another will say it should be used for abundance spells. What matters the most is what you think about an herb/plant/stone/colour, or whatever else you may utilize. I recommend to start keeping a list of what you associate these things with. It can take awhile to build up a personalized list, but once you have one, it’ll be a lot more useful than what a correspondances book says to do.

6. Scour your pantry and get cooking: are you wanting to try out a spell but you haven’t bought the ingredients? Look in your pantry. You may be surprised by how many commonly used witchcraft herbs you find in there. And if you have been starting to associate certain herbs or spices with specific feelings or energies, that’s a great way to get started with creating your own spell.

You can do a spell in many ways, but when I was starting out, one of my favourite ways was to incorporate a certain herb or spice into food I made. Say you’re making a soup and maybe you want a bit of protection, so you add some ground pepper with the intention of that pepper protecting you as you stir it into the soup. Same goes for any other ingredient you’d like to use. A little intention goes a long way!

7. Dedicate your actions, time, or energy: if you’re interested at all in working with deities, ancestors, and other spirits but don’t have the time/space to build an altar—or maybe you aren’t sure how involved you want to be with this part of witchcraft—you can devote an action to the entity. This can be simple. For example, when I worked with Apollo, I would use taking my meds and vitamins as an act of devotion to him. This is an offering. And offerings can be anything you want them to be. They don’t have to be expensive or fancy!

It’s also important to note that you do not need to work with deities or spirits to be a witch. You don’t even have to believe in them. Many witches are atheists or don’t work with any deities at all. But for those who are interested, simple offerings can be a good place to start.

8. Practice energy work: in my view, energy work is the most important skill to learn for your craft, since so many things build off of it. And with energy work, you don’t need to spend any amount of money on it. All you need is yourself, your intuition, and anything else—I mean that quite literally, you can practice feeling the energy of other people, pets, trees, buildings, foods, socks, your favourite pen, and whatever else you think of!

Once you get to know the energy of the things around you, you can more effectively utilize them as tools within your practice (this builds off of the intuition point I made earlier).

For example, as a child I lived in a house that was surrounded by cedar trees. It was a place where I felt very safe. To this day, when I see or smell a cedar tree, I feel safe and protected. You can read this any way you’d like—to me it’s both a spiritual and psychological phenomenon—but this is one example of sensing energy.

As a witch, you can practice that skill and use it to get to know the tools you’d like to use within your own craft (the things that connect to you personally, not what you’re told you should connect with). This isn’t an easy skill by any means, so if it doesn’t come naturally to you, that’s perfectly okay!

For more on this subject, I recommend two books: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Kimmerer (more on animism in particular) and Psychic Witch by May Auryn (lots of exercises to practice working with and sensing energy).

Where to Go for Learning

After you’ve thought a bit about some of the above, or skipped it altogether if it doesn’t suit you, you’re probably wanting some good resources that will actually tell you how to do the witchcraft thing. But before that, I want to reiterate again that this is your practice, and you should only do what you are interested in. So take what you want and leave what you don’t.

I’m going to point you in three primary directions for learning good information: books, podcasts, and YouTube.

But first, I want to issue a massive disclaimer for the YouTube information (and some books, for that matter). You should not have one sole source for your information. Books that have bibliographies are always the most trustworthy sources. And even though I trust the information coming from the YouTubers I’ll mention—especially because I’ve read similar information in several witchcraft books—don’t take their word at face-value. Be critical of what you’re told. Believe what you believe. This is a skill you’ll learn over time. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but it will get easier to discern what’s good info vs. bad info, over time.

Before you get started, I highly recommend watching this helpful video by HearthWitch with info on how to vet your witchcraft sources: link.

Books

In my view, books are the Best source of information, period. Anyone can publish an article or video online, but not everyone can publish a book. So there tends to be a bit more reliable info in witchcraft books.

As far as knowing what book you should begin with, there are lots of lists out there for beginners, and I recommend just looking at one of those lists and picking what sounds interesting to you. Take what you like and leave what you don’t.

Most of the YouTubers I’ve listed below have videos recommending books for beginners.

If you’re interested in British folk witchcraft, I started out with Folk Witchcraft by Roger J. Horne and it was a brilliant beginners guide that I recommend to anyone who is interested in that branch of witchcraft.

As always, while you read witchcraft books, be critical of the information you are presented with. Unfortunately, lots of witchcraft books (especially the classic ones) can be rooted in concepts like bioessentialism, colonialism, and racism. My recommendation is to not take any author’s word as gospel and to use your critical thinking skills when reading witchcraft books.

Where I live, books are EXPENSIVE. And when you’re just starting out in your practice, you might not have the money or ability to go out and buy a book just yet. Maybe you’re still unsure if witchcraft is right for you. Or maybe you’re in the “broom closet.” Whatever the reason, here are some free places to find books.

1. The public library: a bit obvious, but a great resource to look at, because you never know what your library might have. Libraries are the best. And entirely free!

2. Library apps like Libby or Overdrive: especially helpful if you don’t want to bring home a physical witchcraft book, or if your branch doesn’t have any copies of what you’re looking for. You can also get some audiobooks on there.

3. Archive.org: aka the web archive. Entirely free and entirely legal, this works as an online library service where you can check out a book for a bit of time right from your computer. Sometimes you can download PDFs as well. I’ve found a lot of my favourite witchcraft books on there, so if you have a specific title in mind, search it there.

YouTube

First, as a bit of a caveat before recommending you to watch YouTube videos on witchcraft: in my view, books are the best source of information for any witch, as they are able to contain a large degree of nuanced and research-informed information. But books aren’t a simple solution for everyone, and I’ve learned a lot from informed YouTubers over the years (in fact, like many witches, I was first exposed to witchcraft via Harmony Nice on YouTube!).

I’m including a list here of witch YouTubers that I personally recommend because I have found that their content aligns with information I have read in books and other research-informed sources over the years, and because I find them to be generally reliable.

I want to note here that this list is rather biased, as I tend to watch witchcraft YouTubers whose practices mirror my own in some ways. So most of these practitioners have practices informed by European folk witchcraft, and are not very diverse as a result. If any practitioners have further recommendations to add on, especially for practitioners of colour and practices that are different from mine, please do so!

My recommendations:

ChaoticWitchAunt: folk witchcraft, specifically in the Italian tradition, some great beginner content, info on working with saints and spirits.

TheWitchOfWonderlust: death magic, spellwork, great beginner content, lots of excellent info on working with spirits.

HearthWitch: truly a well of information on British witchcraft, beginner videos on any topic you can think of, q&a livestreams, and there’s even a video on vetting witchcraft sources that I really recommend for beginners.

The Redheaded Witch: folk witchcraft and folklore, spirit and ancestor work, daily witchcraft ideas, some beginner videos.

TheGreenWitch: such an excellent resource for herbal/green witchcraft, videos on spellwork, ingredients, tools, and more.

Mintfaery: lots of beginner information, videos on working with the fae, nature witchcraft, and lots of fun witchy days in the life.

Ella Harrison: German folk witchcraft, great beginner resources, including some more niche traditional craft topics like witch’s ladders.

The Norse Witch: info on Norse witchcraft and Heathenry, Norse paganism, and some content about astrology.

simplywitched: lots of great everyday witchcraft content, pagan witchcraft, more vlog style.

Warrior Witch Nike: witchy book reviews, paganism, deity work, some astrology content.

Mhara Starling: the place to go for anyone interested in Welsh witchcraft and folk magic related to Wales.

Alwyn Oak: lots of witch’s guides, especially relating to sabbats (those popularized in Wicca), forest witchcraft, gorgeous videos.

Ivy The Occultist: chaos magick and lots of interviews with practitioners from a variety of paths/backgrounds.

Shadow Harvest: personal day in the life witchy content, some videos looking at working with dark goddesses and deity work in general.

Note: some of these YouTubers have written their own witchcraft books geared towards beginners, so if you enjoy their videos and want to learn more, check those out.

Podcasts

The Astrology Podcast: not specifically witchcraft, but if you want to learn about astrology in detail, this is an excellent place to begin. Link goes to YouTube.

Books and Broomsticks: all kinds of good info, especially pertaining to folk magic, witch guests invited on to share more about their own practice. Link goes to Spotify.

Southern Bramble: A Podcast of Crooked Ways: a variety of witchcraft related topics, interviews, and discussions, often revolving around folk magic and traditional craft—interviews show different traditions. Link goes to Spotify.

New World Witchery - The Search for American Traditional Witchcraft: what it says on the tin; various topics and conversations through an American traditional/folk magic lens by the author of the (amazing) book with the same name. Link goes to Spotify.

Salty Witches Podcast by Cat & Cauldron: traditional witchcraft through a modern lens, another podcast that has a wide variety of topics covered. Link goes to Spotify.

—

As always, if anyone has any additional (free!) resources to add onto these ones, please do so.

Good luck to all of the beginner witches who are embarking on their spiritual journeys, and I hope some of these tips have been helpful! :)

-Em

[magickkate]

A Beginner's Guide: Exploring the Basics of Witchcraft

Are you intrigued by the mystical world of witchcraft and eager to begin your magical journey? Whether you're drawn to the art of spellcasting, divination, or connecting with nature's energies, the basics of witchcraft provide a solid foundation for your exploration. Here's a beginner's guide to help you embark on this enchanting path:

1. Understanding Witchcraft:

Witchcraft is a spiritual practice that encompasses a diverse range of traditions, each with its own beliefs and practices. It is fundamentally about harnessing personal power, connecting with nature, and creating positive change.

2. Embracing Your Path:

Witchcraft is highly personal, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Explore different traditions, read books, and listen to your intuition to discover what resonates with you. Your journey is uniquely yours.

3. The Power of Intention:

At the heart of witchcraft is intention. Your thoughts and feelings shape the energy you put into the universe. Clarify your goals, visualize your desires, and set clear intentions for your magical work.

4. Working with Energy:

We believe in the existence of energy that flows through everything. Learn to sense and manipulate this energy through practices like grounding, centering, and visualization.

5. Tools of the Craft:

While not mandatory, many witches use tools such as candles, crystals, herbs, and tarot cards to amplify their intentions. Familiarize yourself with these tools and choose the ones that resonate with you. Intention is your most powerful tool.

6. Moon Phases and Timing:

The phases of the moon play a significant role in witchcraft. Learn about the energy associated with each phase (new moon for beginnings, full moon for culmination) and align your magical workings accordingly.

7. Spellcasting Basics:

Spellcasting involves directing energy toward a specific goal. Start with simple spells, focusing on your intentions. Remember, the more aligned your actions are with your intention, the more powerful the spell.

8. Meditation and Visualization:

Cultivate a regular meditation practice to quiet the mind and enhance your ability to visualize. Visualization is a potent tool in spellcasting and energy work. This is so important for overall focus and mental clarity.

9. Protection and Grounding:

Before delving into magical practices, establish protection and grounding techniques. This ensures you are anchored in the present and shielded from unwanted energies.

10. Building an Altar:

An altar serves as a sacred space for your magical work. Personalize it with items that hold significance for you—crystals, candles, symbols, and representations of the elements.

11. Respect for Nature:

Witches often have a deep connection with nature. Spend time outdoors, observe the changing seasons, and incorporate natural elements into your practice.

12. Research and Learning:

Knowledge is a cornerstone of witchcraft. Read books, join online communities, and attend local events to expand your understanding of different traditions, rituals, and practices.

13. Ethics and Responsibility:

Ethical considerations are crucial in witchcraft. Respect the free will of others and act with responsibility and integrity.

14. Journaling Your Journey:

Keep a magical journal to document your experiences, spells, and reflections. This becomes a valuable resource for tracking your progress and understanding patterns in your magical work.

15. Embrace Your Unique Path:

Witchcraft is an ever-evolving journey. Embrace your uniqueness, trust your intuition, and allow your path to unfold organically. There are no rigid rules—only the ones you choose to follow on your enchanted journey.

Remember, the essence of witchcraft lies in the exploration of the self, the connection with the natural world, and the pursuit of personal growth. May your journey into witchcraft be filled with wonder, discovery, and the magic of self-discovery. 🔮🌙✨

My messages are open for questions and ideas! Happy Witching!

[vamprincessrina]

How to Manifest: for Beginners

I had received a question on how to begin manifesting and realized that it also would be beneficial to have my own "tutorial", for lack of better words, to pin on my page. For any personalized manifesting or shifting advice, feel free to send an ask on my profile.

The Law of Assumption

The Law of Assumption is a theory first proposed by writer, speaker, and mystic "Neville Goddard". Neville insists that we are the creator, or operant power, of our reality. Reality is "us" pushed out. He postulates that God, the universe, or whatever higher power you may believe there is; is within us. Every assumption we have about ourselves or our life's circumstance that we believe to be true has manifested into our "3D", the physical, tangible reality. Everything, good or bad, that you assume to be true manifests into the outer world. That is the Law.

So how do we take advantage of this Law? How do we actively create and take control of our physical realm? To quote Neville: "Now can you believe that you are now the man that you would like to be, though at the moment of the assumption, reason denies it?

"Can you perceive a scene, which if true, would imply the fulfillment of your desire? You can of course imagine it, but can you believe it?" What Neville is alluding to is that: in order to experience the thing we want to have; money, a relationship, a career, a different life completely; we must assume to already have it. "My assumption, though false, if persisted in will harden into fact."

Everything has already happened. Everything that you can imagine exists. It exists in the plane often referred to as the "4D". This is our inner world, or imagination, and where the "3D" receives information from. I don't want to dwell too much on the "3D", "4D", "5D", etc. I can make a post breaking them down if anyone's interested, but, they are just terms that you'll often hear in the community. Don't get too hung up over them.

How to Manifest

1. I want something. Be specific. "I want $1000. I want to be in a relationship with so-and-so." 2. Imagine that you have it. Imagine a scene and the feelings associated with having your desire. Feel the money in your hand. Give life to the image you have of it. If you cannot visualize, that's okay. The feeling is the important part anyway. 3. Know it is done. That was the shift. Now you just wait for the 3D to bring you your manifestation. Persist in knowing it is done regardless of the ways the 3D might try to dissuade you. Regardless of how your mind might make you second guess yourself. This is the time to affirm. This is the time to meditate.

It really is this simple. Ease? Well, that depends on how difficult you make it. Keep in mind that everything in our 3D reality is based on our assumptions. This is the Law. The Law doesn't care how bad you want something. You must believe that you have it and persist in knowing it is coming.

There is always a delay when manifesting. It can take time for the 3D to process information that is coming from higher planes. Whether that be two seconds or two weeks, it's enough time for doubts to accumulate. You MUST know that if you truly have something that nothing is changing that. I'm going to tell you something I wish I heard early on:

To believe you have your desire is to know you have it now, as you are. As imperfect or "undeserving" you may think you are; that doesn't matter. You do not have to work hard for your desire. You don't have to do a million methods. You don't have to go on this big journey and learn everything before you can do it. You can start now. Hell, you already started as soon as you became conscious.

For beginners, I do encourage you to start small in your journey. I'm not discouraging you from manifesting big things. Just be mindful that you've gone your whole life being programmed to think "it can't be that easy to get ____." Well, it is. However, when we manifest things we are really attached to or seem really big; early on it might create an environment where we are less likely to believe in our capabilities. Even experienced manifesters get doubts. So, baby steps are always good.

But, don't let me tell you what you can and can't do. If you have an incredible self-concept and believe you can have whatever you want then please don't let me stop you! It's all up to what you believe in. Even doubts, or beliefs that you think are limiting you, aren't. Again, I want to re-emphasize that you don't have to become the person that has your desire. You already have it as you are. Embody it.

I don't want this post to be super long and I certainly don't want to over-complicate manifesting. If you ever get doubts or struggle with the 3D circumstances, I have posts delving into that topic that I will link. I might even make this some sort of master post as I make more related posts. Remember that you are capable. If I am and others are, so are you, because we are all interconnected.

I believe in you,

ℜ𝔦𝔫𝔞

[tadpoles-and-daydreams]

A witchcraft basics doc; update, resource call, interest check, and a possible second doc

Bet most of you didn't even know I was working on this >:D

Yes this is a huge post. It's a lot of things.

So, one of my first posts ever on this blog was me mentioning that a friend of mine had NO clue what they were signing up for when asking for the basics of witchcraft. The google doc I wrote took on a life of its own, and the post did as well when people started asking for it. I still plan to tag said people when I post it, assuming they haven't deactivated. The thing is, this doc had become a proper project, and it took a long time for me to have the motivation to work on it again. Now, though, it seems to me like a damn good way to reconnect to my craft after a rut! (which, by the way, is why I've been offline.)

So, my first post back is for a couple of reasons. For one, if you have any resources you'd think would be useful for beginner witches, feel free to shoot me an ask, DM, or comment/reblog on this post! I'll have a list of things I'm putting in the doc (taking recommendations there as well) at the bottom of this post.

The other thing is that I might end up making a second doc, one that's a little less "101" in vibe. It would have a MAJOR MAJOR UPG warning on it, first off, and I'm not sure whether or not I would be marking any UPG either since this would essentially be a second Grimoire/Book of Shadows for me that would be public to others for the sake of sharing information! I can't say I'd call it "advanced witchcraft" by any means, I'm not very fancy lol, but I don't want the basics doc to get too overwhelming. I do, however, want to scream about random witchcraft topics that interest me. So this is also a bit of an interest check for that, as well as the basics doc.

FINAL NOTE: I fully plan on posting this basics doc before it's done. Some sections will be unwritten or unfinished, because if I wait until I find it "finished" I'll never post it. It's going to be added onto whenever I can, but I feel as though getting it out is the best course of action.

A list of stuff in the doc that I'd take resources on (AKA everything planned in it) with * by anything that will be left unwritten/unfinished on purpose until I know more. I will take resources and recommendations on EVERYTHING though. This is in no particular order:

grounding and centering

VOCAB (intention, intuition, UPG/SPG/VPG, appropriation. probably others I'm forgetting.

candle, plant, crystals and safety* (as well as any other tools one might need safety tips for. This is left completely unwritten as I use very few tools of this type.)

deity work* (the whole debate surrounding when to start, as well as information about it. Will include smth about house rules/boundaries. My work is very casual, I'd love to see different POV's of this! This is by nature left unfinished because deity work is so unique to the witch.)

grimoire/book of shadows

tools of the craft* (common tools and how to use them consumerism in witchcraft, etc.)

cleansing

appropriation* (I don't know near enough about this, I just check what's in my own practice. I would like this to include a list of commonly appropriated closed practices, a definition of appropriation and why it shouldn't be done, open pantheons, and common open practices.)

spellwork*

meditation

where someone could go from here* (including sigils, tarot, crystals bc my friend likes rocks lol, maybe astrology but oh god I have nothing about that it makes my brain hurt just looking at an astrology chart /pos. I will probably make a list of stuff that I could add in this section.)

casual/daily/quick/low energy practices and witchcraft

paganism and witchcraft; overlap, what they are individually, why one might be for you rather than the other, etc.*

there'd be a credit section for anyone who wants to be credited for links/resources at the end! If you send me resources plz specify if you want to be included in that or not.

Things I might include in the second doc if I make it:

the craft and mental health and my experiences with it

things commonly touched on in the community (your deities don't hate you, cycles of inactivity and burnout, other things I'm forgetting rn)

deity-specific things, more specific topics of the craft, etc. yet another reminder that this would all include UPG, possibly unmarked, because it would basically be primarily used to give me motivation to research more.

[sejdkvinna]

a year and a day of witchcraft research

Years ago, I asked myself how I would approach witchcraft if I were to start all over again.  I loved the idea of dedicating yourself to a year and a day of study, even if I don’t align with Wicca. From this, I created a weekly study plan for a year and a day of witchcraft research  Realistically, I don’t think you can study one topic in depth per week, but I do think it’s useful for beginners to explore a little bit of everything to find their interests.  Please don’t feel confined by the weekly structure!  If a topic interests you, take more time to explore it!  The application of a topic is just as important as reading about it.  If a topic doesn’t hold your attention, be grateful for what it has taught you and move on. Or just use this for inspiration on what to dive into next!

A note on research - not all sources are the same quality!  Over the years, I’ve gravitated to academic articles and botanical books for information on history, plants, etc.  Many witch authors have spread an insane amount of misinformation, so being able to track where their information is coming from is crucial.  That’s not to say there aren’t good witch authors on witchcraft – do a quick search on their background and look at book reviews!  This is additionally important to understand what biases may be lurking in their writing.

Finally, I want to encourage you to keep two journals during your study.  I keep one journal as a grimoire/book of shadows (BOS) or whatever name you choose to call it.  I keep another journal to keep my personal experiences with the craft (meditations, spell work, etc.).  I’ve loved being able to look back at my progress over the years.

Week 1:  History and Cultural Appropriation

A good place to start your witchcraft research is the history of witchcraft.  Learn a bit about where it started and how it evolved to its modern form.  This is also a good time to also do some research into cultural appropriation – many modern witchcraft practices are full of it!  Understanding the roots of practices will help you to not only build discernment skills, but it will also help you to respect closed practices.

Week 2:  Traditions

There’s many schools of thought and cultural contexts for witchcraft.  This is a good time to explore the different witchcraft traditions and see what resonates with you.  I personally would discourage beginner witches from picking a path early on, as I find that you’ll naturally gravitate towards what’s meant for you.  However, doing some research on different paths early on can help you make connections and see practices through different lenses as you progress.

Week 3:  Ethics

In addition to there being many paths, many witches have created codes of ethics.  Do some research into what ethical framework you wish to move forward with – you are more than free to create your own!  What does ethical witchcraft mean to you?

Week 4:  Cleansing and Banishing

Learn what cleansing and banishing are, and find a few ways to do it that you like.  What are some indicators that a cleansing or banishing might be needed?  Think about cleansing yourself, your home, your sacred space, tools etc.

Week 5:  Protection

To follow up cleansing and banishing, learning some forms of magical protection and warding.  Again, think about the different ways you might protect yourself and your space.  What are some signs that it’s time to renew your protections?  Make sure to practice protection magic moving forward in addition to learning about it!

Week 6:  Meditation

Do a little research into how to meditate and give it a try.  Meditation doesn’t come easy to everyone, so don’t get discouraged!  For this week, focus on your breathwork, entering a blank space, and generally relaxing your mind and your body.

Week 7:  Visionary Work

Once you’ve gotten the basics of meditation down, move on to visionary work.  Build your visualization skills – this does not have to be “seeing” things in your head.  It can include all senses!  Something that helped me with visionary work was to look at my surroundings in front of me while “seeing” my surroundings that were behind me.  Incorporate meditations with visionary aspects during this week.

Week 8:  Centering and Grounding

Now that we’ve done some visionary work, try doing some meditations with the goal to center/ground yourself.  There’s so many meditations (and even other ways to center and ground yourself) out there – find what works for you!  What are some signs that it’s time to ground yourself again?

Week 9:  Energy Work

Hopefully you’ve already got a bit of a sense for handling energy from centering and grounding, but this week it’s time to really dive into energy work.  What does your energy feel like?  What about others’?  Objects?  How can you manipulate and shape energy?  Etc.

Week 10:  Shadow Work

Get to know your shadow this week! Learn about what shadow work is and how to integrate your shadow. There's lots of exercises and prompts out there already - go ahead and explore!

Week 11:  Developing the Senses

Next, let's start developing the psychic senses. From the visionary magic week, you might already have a sense of which of your psychic senses might be strongest. Start looking into what the psychic senses are, and how you might start developing them. For an introduction, I really like this video by The Norse Witch.

Week 12:  Consecration and Desecration

Now we're going to focus on how to consecrate and desecrate objects. Consecration is a valuable skill to be able to designate objects for a certain intent, and desecration is valuable for when you need to remove intent from an object, whether good or bad. Learn about a few different methods for each!

Week 13: Bioregionalism

It's time to get to know the nature around you. What plants grow in the area? What rocks and minerals can you find? Where are some crossroads that you can visit? These questions are just a starting point; take the time to really get to know the land around you!

Week 14:  Elements

Now we're going to focus on the elements. The four classical elements may not apply to the tradition you're working within - do some research to see what the "building blocks" are for you! If you do want to work with the four (or five) elements, take some time to learn about the correspondences, associated spirits, etc.

Week 15:  Directions

Building off of the research done on elements, do some research on the four directions and their associations. This can also be a good point to look at wind magic, and how different directions are associated with different winds.

Week 16:  Holidays and Seasons

While many witches choose to work with the wheel of the year, you might find there are other holidays associated with other traditions. This can be a good time to think on how you want to celebrate the changing of the seasons. How do you know each season has come? What magical workings might be best for each season?

Week 17:  Lunar Phases

This week, let's look at the different lunar phases and their correspondences. What workings are best for each phase? What about for each sign the moon can be in? This is also a good time to look at the correspondences for the lunar eclipse.

Week 18:  Planetary Correspondences

Now let's research the correspondences for each planet. How does the positioning of each planet have the potential to affect your spellwork?

Week 19:  Astrology

While learning everything about astrology would be very time consuming, this week you could aim to understand your birth chart, as well as what each sign is associated with.

Week 20:  Timing

Zooming in now, let's look at timing. Look up what the days of the week and times of the day are associated with, and how they can affect your practice.

Week 21:  Written Verse, Incantations, etc.

Written verse is a part of spell work for many practitioners. How can you write the incantations for a spell? Does your tradition offer any guidance or structures?

Week 22:  Color Correspondences

What do you associate each color with? While there are many correspondences you can find online, be sure that they align with your intuition as well.

Week 23:  Candle Magic

Building off of color magic, this week is for delving into candle magic. How can candles be used? How do you dress/anoint a candle?

Week 24:  Knot Magic

Look into what knot magic and some ways you could practice it. Personally, I am a big fan of the Witch's Ladder.

Week 25:  Herbalism

There's too many plants to learn the correspondences for all of them in one week (or even a lifetime), but take this opportunity to learn more about the plants growing in your area! This is also a good time to look at how to make balms, tinctures, etc.

Local/native plants

Week 26:  Crystals

Once again, there's too many crystals for one week. What are some rocks/minerals you could find in your region? How can you use them in your practice?

Week 27:  Tools

What are some tools you can use in your practice? This doesn't have to be the athame, chalice, etc. You can think of both physical and nonphysical tools for this.

Week 28:  Spell and Ritual Writing

Now that you've got down a lot of the parts of spell writing, it's time to put them all together! While you can rely on others' spells for a while, learning to write your own is a powerful skill.

Week 29:  Amulets and Talismans

How would you create an amulet or talisman? What purposes can they serve? If you feel called to it, try making your won.

Week 30:  Shrines and Altars

What's the difference between a shrine and an altar? What are some purposes for both, and what might you put on them? This would also be a good time to make your own, if you feel called to it.

Week 31:  Pendulum

This week, we'll start focusing on some divination practices, starting with the pendulum. Look into how to use one, as well has how to make a pendulum and pendulum board if you don't want to go out and buy these things.

Week 32:  Tarot

For tarot research, I found that looking up the meaning of each card, taking in the visual symbolism, and then assigning one word meanings to each card helped me to learn how to read tarot. Look into some spreads you could use as well!

Week 33:  Scrying

To add another divination practice you can choose from in the future, research scrying and how to perform it. It might also be a good idea to find some ways to make your own scrying mirror.

Week 34:  Runes

This week, let's look at the runes? Learn about their origin and history, the rune poems, their meanings how to perform divination with them, etc.

Week 35:  Tea Leaf Reading

To wrap up the divination weeks, learn a bit about tea leaf reading (tasseomancy). What are some common shapes, and what are their meanings?

Week 36:  Sigils

What are sigils? How are they charged and activated? How do you draw a sigil? There's a few different ways to create sigils - see what works best for you!

Week 37:  Symbols

What are some symbols and their meanings? What are their origins? Which ones resonate with you?

Week 38:  Sacred Geometry

Do a little dive into sacred geometry. What is it? What are some examples of wit can appear? How can you use sacred geometry in your practice?

Week 39:  Alchemy

Look into alchemical principles and how you might want to apply them to your practice (if at all). Does it align with your view of witchcraft?

Week 40:  Numerology

What are the correspondences for each number? If you're interested in it, look into your life path number and what it means.

Week 41:  Axis Mundi

Many traditions have a concept of an "axis mundi" - what is the axis mundi in your tradition (and if you don't subscribe to a tradition, what does an axis mundi mean to you? How might this relate to your practice and accessing other worlds?

Week 42:  Animal Correspondences

What are some correspondences for different animals? What animals are good psychopomps? What might seeing certain animals mean to you?

Week 43:  Protective Spirits

Many different traditions have some concept of protective personal spirits. Many modern witches might instead refer to a "spirit team". Do some research into the different protective spirits - what resonates with you?

Week 44:  Ancestral Work

Some of the easiest spirits to work with are our ancestors! You can start an ancestral practice to honor those who came before you, even if you do not know or wish not to honor your blood ancestors. Look into some ways you can work with and honor your ancestors during this week.

Week 45:  House Spirits

Next, let's look at some house spirits. Do some research into some different house spirits, and get to know the spirit of your house!

Week 46:  Land Spirits

This week, let's move on to land spirits. Dive into what some different land spirits are and get to know the land spirits around you. This may include spirits from folklore, as well as the spirits of rocks, plants, water sources, etc.

Week 47:  Egregores

Now, let's look at egregores. Research what they are, how they are created, etc. You don't need to create one now, but it will help you to have this knowledge background if you choose to continue with spirit work.

Week 48:  Dream Work

This week, let's research how to interpret dreams, lucid dreaming, how to communicate with spirits through dreams, etc. This is also a good time to start recording your dreams, if you haven't already. You can also build off past herbalism research to enhance your dreams.

Week 49:  Astral Work

For this week, research the astral plane, other types of spirits, how to reach the astral, etc. For many, astral projection/travel takes a lot of time and practice - don't get discouraged! There's many ways to interact with spirits outside of the astral plane.

Week 50:  Pantheons and/or Animism

Many witches choose to incorporate deity work into their practice. Other witches do not, and some of these witches may believe in animism and choose to work with plant, rock, etc. allies. What do you believe it? If you do feel called to deity work, this could be a good time to start. I recommend starting with looking into the different pantheons and seeing what resonates. I do advise against assuming everything is a sign that a deity is calling to you - reach out to those you want a relationship with, and your psychic senses or divination to see if they want to work with you too.

Week 51:  Mythology and Folklore

Whether you choose to believe that stories from folklore/mythology are true or not, they do often contain valuable information on witchcraft from their traditions. Take some time to read these and recognize patterns within them. How can these inform your practice?

Week 52:  Covens v. the Solitary Path

What are some benefits to working in a group? What are some benefits of working alone? Are there other practicing witches in your area? How might you meet them?

Last Day:  Reflecting on your Path

You made it to the last day, congratulations! This day is dedicated to reflecting on your path so far. What lessons have you learned? Are you feeling called to any particular paths, or what interested you more than others? Do you see yourself looking for a group to practice with, or do you wish to continue on your own?  

[lazyyogi]

On Effort and Effortlessness

In spirituality, there is often the question of effort versus effortlessness. Misunderstandings regarding the role of effort can lead to stagnation, confusion, or even deeper ignorance.

The teachings on effortlessness reflect the fundamental nature of reality, as no amount of effort can make the Real any more real than it already is—or make Divinity any more divine. These perspectives may be found in dzogchen and advaita. Sometimes this perspective is called the Ultimate or Absolute.

Whereas teachings on the effort required to overcome the momentum of our ignorant habits and self-based illusions speak to our relative experience in daily life. Such teachings and their respective practices are necessary for any tangible, real world results to free us from suffering. In contrast to Absolute teachings, these are called Relative teachings.

Both the Absolute and Relative teachings have important roles to play in spiritual practice but it is the relative level that shows us where to begin. Some spiritual seekers are tempted to fixate on Absolute teachings and ignore the Relative, which results in spiritual bypassing.

For instance, if the average person were instructed simply to let go and just be, the most likely result is that they would let their ego take the wheel. They would continue to be pushed around by their habitual compulsions, aversions, and perceptions. Because letting all that continue requires less effort than breaking free.

The reality is that our preferences, judgments, habits, and imaginations have controlled us all our lives—perhaps over many lives. And so it takes a wise application of effort in order to disrupt those cycles.

So what does that look like?

The most practical example is meditation. In the Jangama Dhyana technique that I practice and recommend, the instruction is to close your eyes and gently focus your attention on the space between your eyebrows. Do not repeat mantras, contemplate, or visualize anything.

Of course the moment you sit down to actually do this, seemingly endless thoughts and images will flow forth. Then you react to those thoughts, following them down trains of thinking. Before you know it, you have entirely forgotten that you are meditating.

It is here that effort is required.

Once you realize that you have wandered off in thought, you must shake it off and return your attention to the point of focus between your eyebrows.

For most beginners, this is how meditation sessions will play out for a while. You focus your attention between your eyebrows, you catch yourself wandering off in thought, and you bring your attention back to the point of focus.

You do this over and over, as often as necessary, while also remaining generally relaxed.

With daily practice and patience, eventually your attention will stop wandering off. Your attention will remain focused between your eyebrows even while you feel at ease. It will begin to feel more effortless and natural.

Thoughts may still pop up but by keeping your attention focused, those thoughts will also vanish instead of pulling you into further thinking. At this point there is nothing you need to do about thoughts popping up and vanishing, you just remain focused without analyzing.

It is around this point in your practice that you will get a real sense of what is meant by effortlessness. An entire separate post would be necessary to discuss that further, so I will leave it here.

To summarize, it is the application of effort in your spiritual practice that will lead to an understanding and experience of effortlessness. And with continued practice, the very notion of effort versus effortlessness will lose all meaning regardless. But until that point, you must be ready to put in effort.

Much love!

LY

[austerity-audacity-asceticism]

Degrees of Prayer, according to St. Teresa of Avila

Teresa of Ávila, OCD was a Carmelite nun and prominent Spanish mystic and religious reformer. Sh was born in 1515 at the brink of the Reformation in Ávila, Spain. The first female Doctor of the Church, she has had a significant impact on how we currently understand contemplative prayer, what it means to have a personal relationship with God, and how we can continue the spiritual practices of monastic life even though we work and live in a secular society.

Her writings demonstrate not only rigorous discipline and contemplative prayer, but also a dry wit. She should also be the patron saint of the audacity, because I remember distinctly reading the Interior Castle for the first time and coming across her writing to her fellow Carmelites, "From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us!"

We celebrate her feast day today, October 15. In honor of the first female doctor of the Church, this is a brief rundown of St. Teresa's Degrees of Prayer, with explanations that are not meant to be exhaustive, but to encourage you to read more of her writings, as I pale in comparison to the lucidity of her writing.

Meditation: Drawing Water from the Well

According to St. Teresa, this degree consists of prayer through active meditation. This requires focused effort and withdrawing from the world for a bit, so that we may not be distracted by the concerns and anxieties that plague our minds on a day to day basis. These beginners should aim to be be happy and free and confident. They should attempt great things in the pursuit of active meditation.

Reference: the Life of Teresa of Jesus, chapter 11 and chapter 12 and chapter 13

2. The Prayer of Quiet: The Waterwheel

After a soul has become accustomed to active meditation, St. Teresa encourages moving towards the prayer of quiet. She writes, "Here the soul begins to be recollected and comes upon something supernatural because in no way can it acquire this prayer through any efforts it may make." The fruits of this degree is the movement of the soul away from earthly delights, and into a sense of peace. The efforts of prayer ease, while the activity does not. This degree of prayer reveals grace to us more clearly, and fills us with a deep inner satisfaction. When a soul experiences the Prayer of Quiet, it seems that no greater blessing is possible. Because of this, while many people are given to the prayer of quiet, few people think to go beyond it.

Reference: the Life of Teresa of Jesus, chapter 14 and chapter 15

3. Union: Water Flowing from a Stream

In this stage of prayer, St. Teresa reflects that it now seems that its fruits are all a product of God's work, while one's faculties seem to be asleep. The stream of divine water flows freely into the garden of one's soul; this may happy whether one is in a state of contemplation, or active charity. The inner work and relationship of prayer seems to be continuing beneath the conscious surface. One's faculties fall asleep, and the soul becomes absorbed in union.

Reference: the Life of Teresa of Jesus, chapter 16 and chapter 17

4. Rapture: Heavenly Rain

St. Teresa describes this degree as the prayer of union, using the image of "heavenly rain that saturates the whole garden in abundance." She writes these experiences as short-lived and scarce, but the goodness received as incomprehensible. St. Teresa had other words for this degree: elevation, flight of the spirit, transport, ecstasy.

Reference: the Life of Teresa of Jesus, chapter 18 and chapter 19 and chapter 20 and chapter 21

"My chief aim is to cause souls to covet so sublime a blessing." - St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us.

Links to additional resources:

St. Teresa of Ávila – Who St. Teresa of Ávila Was, Her Feast Day, Carmelite Spirituality, Prayers & Quotes

Four stages of Mystical Prayer in Teresa of Avila

Summary of the Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila - The Life of by Herself

The Interior Castle or The Mansions