Four Months, holy crap

Well, it's been four freaking months since my last post. For the longest time now I have been fading away from occult practice. Not belief in the occult mind you but occult practice. This seems strange to me being that I went from being a dyed in the wool skeptic of things like auras, and "energy work" to having personal experiences of these phenomenon.

The reality of it all hit me like a freight train the first time I actually saw, and felt my aura. And then the experiences that followed. So how can I explain my lack of follow through on something that changed my world view so completely? It has been puzzling me for several months now.

The answer is personal will. Its fundamental. Practicing the occult arts is all about manifesting your will. Using ritual and subtle (and not so subtle) energies to form reality to your will. However, often the question is how do I manifest my will in the most effective manner possible? If I wish to feel better and run faster is it more effective to perform a ritual or change my diet and training regimen?

It takes a great deal of discipline, study, and soul searching to be an effective witch. I would argue it takes considerably more effort to be a good and effective witch or occultist, etc. than it does to eat right and exercise. Or go and find yourself a mate. Or find a job. Or do just about any old thing a witch would put forth there magical efforts to do. Its economics.

Now a very probable rebuttal to this observation would be that a truly effective witch could effect occurrences that a non-magic user would have no hope of affecting. Such as using magic to heal, foretell future events, protect oneself and their family from harm, or effect the weather. One might also make the argument that it is simply more spiritually fulfilling than obtaining your will by more mundane means.

Such an argument certainly has merit. Certainly I feel much more spiritually fulfilled when actively engaged in ceremony and meditation. But I would also point out that the things that truly matter to a person such as, love, health, a good cup of coffee, and a good roll in the sheets, can all be met just as fully through mundain means.

This leaves me with the question of what is the question here? If the question is something like: Is pursuing my will through occult practices necesarilly more fulfilling than pursuing it through mundain practices? Than I am unconvinced.

If the question is: Am I more fulfilled spiritually when engaged in occult ceremony, meditation, and magical work? Then the answer seems to be yes.

So, which is it the means or the end?

Here's to finding out.

The Wheels Turn Slowly

It's been a while since my last post partly due to being busy. The other part is this continuing internal debate I've been having since discovering neo-paganism and occult systems. Years ago I was a Christian. A very sincere dyed in the wool type. Several years of study and many more years of intense honest questions brought the whole show down around my head.

I never did loose my belief in God, just religion. I had too many what should probably be called "paranormal", if there is such a thing, experiences growing up, witnessed too many faith healing, and felt the presence of divinity and other not so pleasant entities much too strongly to ever stop believing in God in general. Not the Jewish/Christian God mind you, more the DIVINE CREATOR.

However, religion in general seems so ludicrous to me now it is sometimes difficult to marry my personal experiences with any sort of belief structure. Before you go saying that luckily doing so is not necessary in practicing magik, I remind you that nearly all if not all magikal systems were birthed from religion.

I now know Christianity is a false religion. However, I have witnessed faith healings. I am not a Buddhist but I clearly see auras. I don't have an ounce of faith in Gerald Gardner but I have felt the divinity in nature and have trembled in the presence of what I can only describe as the/a goddess. It's not that I believe there is really "something or someone out there". There is evidently a whole fucking lot of something out there and I am at a complete fucking loss as to what IT is.

Shit.

A Thought

For a long time I have intended to "get serious" about my occult practices or my personal craft if you will and haven't done it. A friend once said to me that witchcraft is about power. In order to seek power one must have will. In order to know your will you must know yourself. So tonight, I endeavor to know myself. I'll let you know how it works out.

Wow, so far off track...

My schedule has me scrambling to get my magikal feet back under me. This whole new dad thing has taken a toll on the schedule. Anyway, no more excuses, but I'm starting back from the ground up with some meditation work. That's always where the rubber meets the road for me anyway. Hopefully I'll be able to post something a little more useful soon.

While I've found that I can still do energy work distracted and low on practice, I can say from experience that not having time to metaphysically recharge and refocus it does seem to take the mustard off my work (spells).

I never have gotten comfortable with magik and witch, etc. as terminology. It seems so namby pamby. I guess I could accurately say I am a witch that casts spells, but then I immediately get this mental picture of prancing around a tree in a purple robe. An occultist doing energy work sounds so much more dignified. Damn google videos. Nothing against folks who prefer the whole gay pride/Halloween look. Just not for me I guess.

Anyway, I digress. Just wanted to reiterate the importance of simple things like charging and cleansing aura and chakras, cleansing meditations, and other simple meditations. Also important, finding ways to stay motivated. This is one of my biggest struggles. I've found what often works are simple things. Find a decent book on witchcraft or etc. even a basic one and read for five minutes before you go to sleep. That's what I had to start doing anyway. Also reminding yourself of successes and meaningful encounters. Sometime reminding yourself of those "holy crap" moments helps you remember that yes though some of this shit sounds crazy its real. Also, In my own experience I notice that I start shutting out metaphysical practice when there are personal issues I'm not dealing with. Food for thought. Assuming anyone actually reads this...

Or maybe not...

Taking a break from blogging since I haven't been making the time for my own metaphysical practice lately. Since I'm a big believer in practicing what you preach I'll wait until I'm back in the swing of things to continue posting. Alas, my thousands of acolytes must wait patiently. (hah).

Back Online!

Finally I'm back online! More to follow this weekend!

Power Games Pt 2: Auric Manipulation

Today I'm going to be drawing a picture, if you will, of my own personal technique when it comes to using one's auric awareness to draw in power or energy. Generally speaking when starting out I would recommend getting in a comfortable position for meditation, ie lotus, lazy boy, or what have you.

Now there are several methods I have heard of and used to get into a meditative state. I am going to briefly explain the three that I am most familiar with though I am in no way claiming creative license or ownership of them. The first is to simply 'count down' into a meditative state. This involves sitting down, relaxing, and counting down from a specified number into a meditative state. I personally don't believe there is any one magic number you need to start at here. I would suggest however that the number means something to you.

The second is to begin by simply envisioning yourself somewhere else. Close your eyes and build you own sacred space. Maybe its a grove of trees, a mountain, a ceremonial room, or maybe its a bowling alley. Whatever works for you. The important thing is not where you go but rather what you do. Once you've gotten yourself collected and focused fix your mind on you aura. Hold it there. Feel it. Not metaphorically, really feel it. I can't tell you what it will feel like for you to me its like a magnetic push, or pull occasionally.

The third technique is to simply sit down and clear your mind of everything except your physical body. Once you've focused on your physical body move outward towards your aura. Use your hands to feel where its at. Know and accept it is there.

Now, finally for drawing energy in. Generally once I am focused enough to feel where the layers of my aura are I will hold my hands in front of me in between my second and third layer. I recommend doing the same because it will keep you from confusing energy you are drawing in with the sensation emanated by the layers of your aura.

Now that your all set, visualize power pouring into your hands. If needed, you can repeat a phrase or a mantra. You can visualize a color, or a medium like water, or an emotion, use your imagination. Focus on it building and solidifying until you can feel it in your hands. Now, just to be safe I would recommend defusing it if you don't have a specific purpose for all of the energy your building up. You can visualize pushing it into the ground, dusting it off of your hands like dirt, absorbing back into yourself or whatever you like. Congrats you've done it!

Hope this helps, if it works for you let me know. If it doesn't, go find a better teacher. I would suggest my friends at lodestoneandladysmantle.com. (Hope you guys don't mind the plug!) Or find your own way.