Foundations

I was going to write a post today about praying; what purpose it serves, how to do it, and problems that can come out of it. It was going to be a good post (I promise!), discussing the signs from our gods, and what to do when you hear the voice answering a question you've only half-asked.

The answer for today's post was no, when I did my own praying. So instead, I will ask the gods to bless my words as I put them forward to you.

A very important secret was imparted to me in the past regarding magic and rituals, but I forgot about it. Today, a very good teacher reminded me that it is those "secrets" that we should be taught from the start, as a foundation to our practice, rather than a supplement added in later as an afterthought.

I'd like to use the tools of divination as an example to tell you this secret, although this is universal for raising a circle, casting a spell, meditation, prayer, or any other use you may have as a Practitioner.

So, I hope you have, in your wanderings, found a set of divining tools that resonate with you; Tarot is rather popular nowadays, but other people have been known to use tea leaves, a pendulum or two (or three!), crystals, palm reading, or Oracle cards.

My weapon of choice is the Elder Futhark runes, so I'm going to use them as my reference point. Whatever you use, take it out. Have it ready in front of you. Also, grab some silverware. Yeah, forks and spoons and knives, whatever. Or a few pairs of shoes. Or maybe a short lineup of candles (you won't need to light them). Set your mish-mash of things next to your bag of runes.

I want you to grab two of the stones in the bag (or cards in your deck, etc.). If you want to ask a particular question, please feel free. But the main point here is to pay attention to the energy of your tools. What do they feel like, energetically? How does that affect you?

My runes are really talkative; they always want to come out and play. I imagine them as about ten years old, energetically. They get confused when I go out dancing, because to them, my current lover is their dad (sometimes, it feels more like "first love"). However, they also speak the truth of things. An excitement runs through my fingers as I grab the bag, every time. The stones give way to my fingers, and they clink gently beside each other. It immediately gets me ready to do a reading, like the smell of white sage or gazing at the Moon on an esbat.

When I draw out two stones, I get Thorn, and Raidho. I've been with these runes long enough that I know what they mean to tell me: prepare for a journey. What do your cards say? Is your crystal sending you a message?

Really spend some time bonding with this reading, because the next part is important. Find out what your divination is truly telling you, on your mental, physical, and spiritual planes. Do you have certain guides that are speaking through them? Be aware of their influence. Think of all the time you've spent studying them, the meanings in different books, looking them up online, doing exercises with yourself to make sure you got it right. Your first reading for yourself. Or another.

Feel that strong connection you have with your cards or runes. Now transfer that same connection, like copying a file into a different folder, to your silverware. Once you feel it settle in, do a new reading--you can ask a different question or use the same one.

If you don't feel it, remind yourself that you are the one with the power. Don't tell yourself, "I'm trying." Instead say, "I will feel it."

And you will. That energy is still there. Your sporks can be tools, too.

Now, here's the secret. You don't actually need anything to complete your readings. Remember, all of these are tools, more for focusing your mind than the completion itself. It's your Will that manifests your wishes. A green candle is not necessarily needed in order to draw in prosperity, nor is that rare (and frankly, quite expensive) herb to nab you the love of your dreams. However, they're excellent for ensuring you stay intent on your goal. Sometimes, your human mind needs something to keep itself entertained while your spirit taps into that great pool of knowledge. But the point, the goal of our practice, is to lose the wand and cauldrons.

It is with that foundation that we should learn about divination and spells. It means that we save our money instead of worrying about buying that chalice, or making sure you have the right kind of athame (I speak here from a Wiccan perspective, although the same can be said for shamans, Reiki healers, and all other Practitioners). The reminder of that important lesson opened my eyes, even as I clutched to my Thor's Hammer, hoping to maintain a bit of the power I've packed in it. It reminded me that I have that power, not the charm.

So now, as is the custom of our people, I pass my lesson on to you. May the gods show you how to find that connection whenever and wherever you need it.

Be well,

Kate R

Epic Blog

For real. The Beta version was our first shot, and it pretty much went all belly. We'll now post our entries at this fabulous new location and no longer gripe with livejournal accounts. Now without further ado, let's have it from the top.



So it begins!

It feels like standing on a threshold, the door thrown wide open and nothing to stop me but a veil just thick enough to obscure the view. That veil makes me nervous. In my more vulnerable moments I find it terrifying. So I procrastinate, I distract myself with details and ruminate on how exactly I'm affected taking that first step into the unknown. At this point my excuses have finally run out (or have I grown tired of coming up with them?), and, finding myself unable to ignore the doorway any longer, the Gods gave me a good kick in the ass and sound advice to get me started.

Learn, teach. Take, give. Follow, lead.

Balance.

About two years into this solitary pagan practice, I still find it difficult to connect to the greater pagan community. I don't feel totally wet behind the ears, though I will greatly appreciate my mentor when I find one at long last. It'll be a couple years before I earn that sheepskin and make myself a legit scholar. So much of my identity seems to be evolving at once that I truly need to assess myself and my values on a consistent basis. My primary goal is to keep a log expressly intended to record my spiritual and magickal observations and to incorporate this practice into my serious study as an extension of my commitment of Dedication. As this archive grows I hope to eventually foster an open dialogue for the rest of us in-between-ers who find ourselves floating somewhere in the middle of all the labels.

I suppose the Path is easy enough to follow when I put one foot in front of the other - much as I'd have liked to have known about the bouldering in advance.

I asked if I should ask about those kinds of obstacles in advance.

The Gods replied, "You wouldn't have gone for it if we told you."

I said, "Huh... I can't seem to find anything to say to that."

And They helpfully supplied, "L'chaim."

~Joli D



Whispering Lite is Needed

We have duties. Not just as spiritual beings, but specifically as those in a minority faith. Not only is it important, I think, to determine what these are and why, but also how to fulfill them, one step at a time.

So what is a duty? It's a task set to us as an understood addition to our responsibilities. And as Pagans, these are especially important. Our Gods are alive, vibrant. Their messages are sometimes clear as spring's first rainfall, or hidden in the twilight's shifty shadows. How do we know what They ask of us?

We listen. That, first and foremost, is our task. We cannot complete an assignment without its directions - as such, we need to learn the language of the commands. And what is the best way to listen? Surely, not expecting heavenly envelopes to drop from the sky! No, the best way to hear our Lord and Lady is to quiet ourselves, our surroundings, and to welcome Their presence. To praise, to show gratitude, to express frustration, to ask, and to give. In others words, to pray.
The revelation found in prayer is important. It takes us by the hand and leads us deep within ourselves. My God has shown me what I am afraid of, what I have failed at, where I have gone wrong. He has also shown me whose lives I've changed for the better, (literally) moved me to a new place of spiritual worship, and brought me sky high.

We learn how to communicate--through candles, water, dance, song, and prayer. But it isn't enough.

I know, I know. Entire lives--entire generations--have been dedicated to personal communion with the Divine. And I have the nerve to say it's not good enough?

You're damn right it's not.

Because the other half of our duty--after internalizing our faith and finding our Gods, lighting our incense, offering libations on holy days--is to commune with others. To find and foster fellowship.

That, more than anything, is what I feel compelled to do now. Even if we all have different beliefs--and it's guaranteed that we do with Gods as diverse as ours--we must join together. Stand up for our legal rights as Pagans, communicate our needs to each other, create communities and groups, write plays, start fanclubs on Facebook, write inspirational poetry, love songs, worship hymns, make pottery, crochet scarves, offer jobs to each other, support local Pagan businesses, build temples...

Our duty as Pagans (or, better put, as people), is to learn, pray, and commune together. That is why Whispering Lite is needed. Right now.
So let it begin.

~Katherine