Magickal Studies
Here are thirteen spiritual truths that you will learn over time as you practice magick and connect with the Gods and the Powers That Be:
- Magick really happens.
- The Universe is listening.
- What we give, we get.
- There are no coincidences.
- We create what we feel.
- Optimism attracts positivity.
- Your gut is your Spirit Guide.
- Love heals hatred and misery.
- Prayers work.
- Meditation works.
- Chanting works.
- Full moons are magickal.
- New moons are magickal.
Source: Unknown
Spell work first begins with your own moral responsibility when performing magick. When you perform any magick spell or enchantment, you must be honest with yourself and accept that you are doing it not only for the good of yourself, but also for everyone else.
“What goes around comes around,” according to the law of witchcraft, and ill intentions sent out may be visited upon you – usually threefold. So remember, never cast spells in a moment’s impulse, in anger, or to hurt or upset others. Each time you cast a spell, think about your motives. Are they with goodwill, with no intentions of hurting anyone else?
Everytime you work with the magickal world, accept that there are unseen powers that may be difficult to contact. This is why performing spells at certain times of year creates the right interface between you, the spell, and the magickal powers of the heavens.
As witches, we must respect the workings of the universe and its magick, and it may be that at times we simply didn’t quite get it right. Perhaps we just didn’t believe in the magick enough for it to work. Perhaps our timing was off. What you must never do is worry or dwell on spells that don’t work. Rather, move on, try again, and most of all find deep within yourself a real sense of belief. The next time, you will succeed.
When casting spells, you must truly believe in the magick of the universe. You must truly believe that what you are doing is going to work and that you’re going to make something beneficial happen. Once you have accepted this, you will be quickly on your way to creating spells that will help you to form your own destiny, just as you want it to be.
~Spells For A Magical Year
Magick circles are often used for more complex work because they protect you from a wide variety of unwanted energies, which can get in the way of your spell.
Magick circles are best done outside, because you are then drawing directly on the electromagnetic forces of the landscape. You can first practice this at home, but it puts you directly in touch with the magick in nature if you can do it outside. Choose a quiet place, perhaps your garden, in the countryside, in a par, or even on a beach.
Take a compass if you aren’t very good at working out which direction you are facing!
Facing east, stand upright, extend your right hand, and point your index finger to the ground. As you slowly pivot around, draw an imaginary circle around you on the ground in a clockwise direction until you arrive at the east again. As you draw the imaginary circle, repeat the following:
“I draw this magick circle for protection and to show I am at one with the heavens and the spirits of the four directions.”
Next, you have to call in the spirits.
With your right hand outstretched again, point your finger to the east and call in the spirit of the east. Say:
“I call you, spirit of the East, to help me be touched with inspiration and innovative ideas.”
Repeat this charm in each of the other three directions, doing so in a clockwise direction, and calling on the individual attributes of each direction.
- East – Inspiration/Innovation
- South – Passion/Growth
- West – Introspection/Inner Work
- North – Protection/Permanence
Note: You can use whatever words you choose to call in the directional energies, just be sure to do them in order in a clockwise direction.
Now that you have called in the spirits, stand quietly for a moment in the center of your magick circle and quietly prepare yourself for the next stage of whatever spell you are working with.
When the spell is complete, open the circle by thanking each one of the directional energies, Often, this is done in a counter-clockwise manner beginning with the North and then working around to end in the East.
Declare the circle to be open. A nice way to close a circle is with the following chant:
The circle is open
But unbroken
May the peace of the Goddess
Be ever in your heart.
Merry meet and merry part.
And Merry meet again.
~Spells For A Magical Year
We are all born with different degrees of psychic abilities but for whatever reason, we have learned to ignore it. Through the years, our God given intuition gets dull and muted. Our inner voice is silenced as we lose touch with our spiritual self.
Relying on our intuition can help us in our every day. By listening to our gut, we can make better decisions in our life because our intuition always points us in direction that helps us.
The good news is that we all have the ability to develop and sharpen our psychic abilities. By practicing every day, you can get back to your God given intuition and develop powerful psychic abilities.
What Is Intuition?
Ever have that “funny feeling” that something bad is going to happen or just “know” what someone is about to say. This is Intuition.
Intuition goes by many names; gut feeling, sixth sense, innate wisdom, inner sense, instinct, inner voice, or spiritual guide. Whatever you call it, it’s the driving force of your spirit and is always accessible to you.
Some believe that intuition is knowledge stored in your subconscious mind. Others believe it is the spirit world helping guide you through your life journey.
In order to access this amazing ability, you have to continually practice and develop it. Through daily practice, you can sharpen your senses and uncover abilities you never knew you had!
Different Psychic Abilities
There are five “clairs” that are simply an extension of our five senses. We are all unique and therefore use our intuition differently. Most of us have at least one of these powers. Which one do you have?
- Clairvoyance
Also called Psychic Seeing, this is the ability to clearly see non-physical things like auras, energies, visions and spirits. A clairvoyant person will pick up a though and see it. This person has the ability to transform a thought into a vision or symbol in their mind’s eye.
- Clairaudience
Also called Psychic Hearing, this is the ability to hear beyond the physical hearing; such as voices, music and sounds.
- Clairsensitive
Clairsensitive means clear feeling or clear knowing. It is defined by having intuition or a gut feeling, but at a heightened level. A clairsentient person often has precognitive thoughts, dreams or hunches and is often described as an empath.
- Clairaroma
This ability gives a person the ability to smell an odor or aroma when nothing is present in the physical world. People have reported smelling flowers, perfume or cigars shortly after a loved one dies.
- Claigustus
Claigustus is a taste in the mouth one gets. For example, a person might get a citrus fruit taste in their mouth when thinking of a deceased relative or when they are getting a sign from the other side.
Sharpening Your Psychic Powers
Whenever you develop your own intuitive powers, you are opening yourself up to different energies; both higher and lower level energies. It is important to always protect yourself from negative energies. Before starting any ritual, light a Spiritual Protection Candle and imagine a bright light entering the top of head. Allow the light to flow down and fill your entire body all the way down to your toes. Continue this visualization while reciting the following:
The Light of God fills and surrounds me.
The Love of God enfolds me.
The Power of God Protects me.
May all messages be from the Light
for the purposes of Healing and Love.
Note, you can substitute “The God” or “The Goddess” for God in the above recitation.
Exercise #1
Ask someone to bring a small object to you, like a piece of jewelry. Don’t look at it. Close your eyes and take a few deep breathes while rubbing your hands together to get the energy moving. Have this person place the object in your hand and continue to relax. Focus on feeling the energy in this object and notice if you get any impressions on the owner of the object. Do you feel anything? Get any impressions? If not, don’t worry! It takes time to develop these senses so don’t give up!
If you do feel something, write it down. Don’t filter anything. Relay any thing you wrote down to the person who brought you the item and ask for feedback. The more you do this, the more validation you will receive.
To increase your psychic ability, add Yerba Santa Leaves and Uva Ursi Leaves to your baths. You can also mix Anise Seed with Camphor and burn to help make you more clairvoyant or to improve your psychic abilities.
Exercise #2
Ask a friend to hide the object that has a lot of energy in it, like a wedding ring or an article of clothing, in your house. Then try to connect with this energy and find where it is hidden.
Light our Intensity Psychic Talents Candle next to a glass of water. Read Psalm 78 and concentrate on your own God given psychic abilities. Also Vanilla Incense can also improve psychic powers.
Exercise #3
Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and make sure you are comfortable. When you feel centered and calm, imagine yourself projected into the next day. Think about what is happening, whom you are with and what others are wearing. When you feel like you have enough information, write down your predictions for tomorrow. Keep practicing and you’ll notice that your predictions get more and more accurate.
Use Meditation Oil, Ambergris Oil, Lemongrass Oil or Lucky Prophet Oil on your candles or on your body to help develop your psychic abilities.
Developing your intuition is vital if you choose to live a spiritually aware life. If you practice daily, you will be surprised on how psychic you truly are!
If you feel psychically blocked:
If you are not able to tap into your psychic energies, then chances are, you are allowing things to block them. There are tons of different things that can cause these energies to become blocked and several are much more common than you might think.
If these things are happening/present in your life then changing them might really make a difference. You are capable of so much more than you realize. Through overcoming these obstacles you will uncover so much more strength than you could have ever imagined.
7 Things That Are Likely Blocking Your Psychic Energies:
- Allowing stress to build within your life.
If you refuse to face the stress before you it will only continue to build up. Once it reaches a certain point it will begin having serious negative effects on you. This can really squash a lot of your positive energies, not just the psychic ones.
- Bottling your emotions inside.
Bottling your emotions inside will cause a lot more damage than you think. While you might forget things for a bit they will come out sooner or later. This causes your energy to change as time passes and brings the psychic energies within to a halt.
- Surrounding yourself with negative people.
If you are allowing toxic people a place in your life you need to stop. Cutting ties with these toxic individuals will help bring back the flow of your psychic energies. While it might not sound like much, the more you’re around toxic people the more toxic you become as well.
- Forgetting to ground yourself.
If you do not ground yourself properly you are putting yourself and your energies at risk. When we are not grounded others can and will drain us. When someone is draining you of your energy, you are left with nothing.
- Ignoring your well being (not taking care of your body).
You must take care of your body. Your well being matters, if you are the kind of person that does not exercise or eat right you need to make some changes. Your body needs to be taken care of.
- Not striving for mindfulness.
Mindfulness is something a lot of people forget about. If you are not mindful then you are most likely either stuck in the past or obsessing over the future. Neither of those things will promote the flow of psychic energies.
- Being ‘too busy’ to get outside.
If you are not spending any time in nature that needs to change. The more time you spend in nature the more your energies will grow. being in nature is one of the most amazing ways to promote positive energies.
Sources:
Love magick is the most popular and sought after magick in the world. A smooth functioning of the world needs love to grow among people. Love magick is known to build bridges of peace between people at war, the magick could be used to arouse peace and harmony in the world by acting on the conflicting nations of the world. This is how love magick could be of immense use. Magick can be used in this case to arouse the feelings of love and harmony among people replacing feelings of jealousy, enmity, and hatred.
Love magick can really work wonders on the entire world populace. It can make people more generous and kind towards their fellow humans. It can negate feelings of animosity and resentment. These are feelings that arouse when we use our powers of reasoning and logic. Love magick replaces these intellectual achievements by feelings of compassion and hope, because love changes everything in the world. Love magick is thus seen as the agent of change in the world.
Love magick operates through objects used as symbols for proper action of the spell. Talismans, potions and charms are the most commonly used in invoking love magick when desired. These objects are not merely the agents, but these represent the thoughts and ideas of the individuals in love.
A good relationship always involves some amount of compromise among the concerned people. Love is a bit different. Love does not need the person or persons to make a compromise or adjustments. Love needs a comfortable coexistence of the lovers. Love magick works on the individuals erasing the need for these adjustments and compromises.
This fact highlights the importance of the psychological outlook of the person casting the spell. This automatically means that the spell caster needs to concentrate on the object, visualize his or her goals, and act on the projections for love magick to be effective. The fact remains that the goals of all sorts of positive magic are spells cast for the purpose of love and the company of the other person. One wishes to be in the other person’s company for a long time, and even for a lifetime. This is where love magick helps out people by preparing them for further interactions with each other.
True love between individuals is believed to identify the individuals with God. One feels so good that the earth is transformed into paradise. In some ways, love magick could go a long way into making people comfortable with their surroundings and such spells could be used to induce feelings of harmony.
People are guided by a flow of positive energy between the individuals. Love magick works by giving a definite direction to the energy. Your intentions and aims are thus given a definite flow by the use of love magick. The goal is then a lot closer this way. At the end of the day, the trick to make love magick work often is to practice it most often.
Retrieved from Articles Base.com
- Ask for what you need
If you don’t need it, don’t ask for it. The magical power of a spell is driven by a true need; if you’re asking for a second yacht, you probably won’t get any results that you would like.
- Don’t fence yourself in
The most likely reason for a spell to fail is if you’re asking for something too specific – you want to give yourself and the universe as much room to maneuver as you can. Don’t focus on details, focus on the feeling you want to have when things work out right. Close your eyes and try to find that feeling “out there;” if you find it, either move toward it or reach out and bring it toward you.
- Pay attention to the tides
The second most likely reason for a spell to fail is if the time is just wrong. Remember that spells work within the bounds of nature, and sometimes the wind and the tides are working against you. When that happens, the best thing you can do is to put a finger to the wind and figure out where you can go, working with the natural flow of things; or just wait it out until the tides shift in your direction.
- Give something back
If you’re asking for something, it’s a good idea to offer something in return, at least as a token gesture – a flower, or a bit of food, or a coin, for instance (no live animals, please).
- Remember other people are using magick too, whether they know it or not:
Most people have some natural magical ability, whether they know it or not, and an instinct for taking care of themselves. If you try to cast a spell that is inherently detrimental to another person, you will meet resistance from that person’s magical energy. The magickal universe is a crowded place, and things will work out best for you if you manage to navigate a path that avoids direct conflict with your fellow beings.
- Follow up with mundane action
Another important point about spells is that it’s very important to follow up with mundane action. If you cast a spell for money, don’t expect a check to just show up in your mailbox the next day; get out and look for a job, or at least buy a lottery ticket (magick doesn’t work terribly well with those, by the way, because everybody who buys a lottery ticket throws a bit of magick into it, whether they know what they’re doing or not). The idea is to make a point of putting yourself into situations where the magick has a chance of working.
Source unknown
Life isn’t always easy… and most of the people feeling the “pain” are desperate for anyone to help. This usually means they want someone to “fix it” for them by casting a spell for them. They don’t BELIEVE that Magick inside them exists… and/or they don’t BELIEVE they can use it to change their lives.
It sounds corny, but it’s true. You’ve got to BELIEVE in yourself and the Magick energy you were born with in order to bring miracles into your life… and transform your situation into one you’ve always dreamed about.
But you can’t just go to some online spell caster, or have someone else say a chant, light some candles, and have everything change.
YOU’VE got to do it… it’s the ONLY way. And it is VERY easy, and things can change EXTREMELY quickly. But you’ve got to believe in yourself and the power your Magick energy has to bring miracles into your life.
Source unknown
Circle casting is an important, and at times, difficult activity. It involves the use of many skills, and for the beginner it can seem like a pointless, if not impossible, routine. How do you do it properly? When should it be done? And perhaps most importantly: how do you know if you’ve done it?
What is a Circle?
A circle is a boundary of energy extending halfway above the ground and halfway below. It marks the boundary between the worlds: inside the circle is a cleansed space where the two worlds can interact. Outside is the mundane, ‘regular’ world. That’s the basics; more on this later.
Why do you need a Circle?
A circle is cast to create a clean space in which to do ritual and magickal workings. It creates an area in which both worlds are present; in a very real sense, it is between the worlds. To invite a Deity, or an Elemental, etc. without a circle (into the mundane world) isn’t always such a great idea. It’s easier to interact inside a circle. It also acts to keep magickal energy inside until it is ready to be released, or to keep negative energy outside.
What do I need to know to cast a circle?
Well, you must have a lot of focus. You must be able to clearly visualize what you are doing, and how you are doing it. You should be able to feel the energy you are attempting to move, and have a clear idea of where you want to put it. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- 1. What is the purpose of your circle?
To protect from outside negativity; to contain magickal energy; to create a space between the worlds; another purpose; a mixture? The nature of your circle will depend on the ritual you are planning on doing.
- 2. How big will your circle be?
If you are casting the circle for practice, then all you need is a circle the size of your own body. For a larger group, no big surprise, a larger circle. In my personal opinion, it should be large enough that you don’t keep wandering to the edges and sticking your head through it.
- 3. How will you visualize your circle?
If you are just learning, it might be best to stick with simple colors. Later on, you can learn funky patterns and effects. Practice casting a circle in your mind during meditation. You must learn how to visualize things clearly, hold them in your mind, and focus while you rotate and move them. At the beginning, stick to the basics: there’s no substitute for them.
- 4. Can you keep your focus for as long as it takes to set up the circle?
If you are constantly second-guessing yourself, you can’t maintain your concentration. Trust yourself.
- 5. Treat it with respect.
Constantly walking in, through, and out of the circle without cutting a door, or otherwise ignoring its boundaries doesn’t really help you much. You can’t really expect to cast strong circles if you can’t create and keep it in your mind first. The circle is real because you make it real. You make it real by believing in it and acting on it.
- 6. Finally, don’t be disappointed if you don’t get it the first time.
Or the second. Or the 30th. It takes time; it takes self-trust; it takes PRACTICE.
When do I cast the circle?
I’ve found that the best time is right after you have cleansed the space (by blessing, sweeping, or making lots of noise), and before you invoke any elements or Deities. If you have others with you for the ritual, save up jokes, and try to make each other laugh really hard just before you create the circle. This further gets rid of any negativity that might be present, and provides enough positive energy to cast a good circle. My friend and I have had some fascinating rituals this way.
So, how do I cast a circle, exactly?
Well, there are many ways. If you’re reading this for information, then you’ll probably want a simple one.
First, ground and center yourself. Stand with both feet firmly on the ground, and relax your arms at the sides of your body. Simply feel and visualize the energy of the Earth below you, and the Sky above you.
Face one of the directions, and physically reach down with your arm and gather the energy of the Earth into your hand. Reach up to the Sky and gather the energy of the Sky into your other hand. Now scoot down near the ground and face your palms outward, sending that energy into a smooth wall of colour that will spread itself into the shape of a circle. Rise up as you do this, shaping and smoothing the wall at this corner.
Repeat this at the other three directions, constantly smoothing and shaping it with your hands. At each direction, the circle gets stronger and thicker; there are no gaps because the energy of the circle constantly swirls around evenly.
See the energy as a thick, fluid stream of color. It also flows under the ground, to even itself out as a complete sphere. You can shape it underground by visualizing it through the floor. Solidify it by visualizing the energy of the circle as sticking together, like hot glue or warm honey.
When you feel the circle is ‘set’, all you have to do now is keep it in mind, and perhaps make minor re-adjustments if you feel it is necessary. Take as much time as you need, and don’t rush. No one is holding a stopwatch. Don’t be afraid to move around spontaneously; no one is marking you on grace or coolness. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to screw up; that’s an important way to learn.
Casting A Circle – How do I know if I did it?
This is the fun part. Everybody has their own unique way of sensing circles. Some people can see the circle; as a band of color, or a thickening of the air. Some people can feel it as a spark of electricity, or again as a thickening of air. Some people can hear it as a low hum. Everybody is different.
One thing is certain, however: circles get really hot. In a strong circle you can feel the cold air rushing in when you cut a door. When you take it down, you can practically feel a breeze. In the beginning, you may not be sure whether or not you’ve succeeded; don’t let that bother you. When you really get the hang of it, you’ll know for sure.
Casting A Circle – What’s this about cutting a door?
Cutting a door basically means opening a hole in the circle so you can leave it. It’s best to stay in the circle the whole time it’s up, but there are times when you’ve forgotten something important in another room (like a lighter), or there’s something you have to deal with.
My personal favorite way of cutting a door is to hold your fingers and hand in a straight line, and move your hand around a rectangular outline large enough for you to walk through. Visualize the energy of the circle inside that rectangle being sucked into your forearm where you can store it until you get back.
When closing the door, do this in reverse, and then smooth out the edges of where the door was. Visualize the energy of the circle swirling around until the location of the door is lost. Still, cutting too many doors in a circle can also weaken it eventually.
I live in an apartment; will the people downstairs walk into my circle and mess it up?
I just added this question because I’ve wondered about it myself. Yes, the circle does extend halfway below the floor, and yes, someone downstairs could walk right through the bottom part of it. All I can suggest is that you either do your rituals after you’re sure they’re out or asleep, or just try not to think about it. 🙂
When and how do I take the circle down?
At the very end of ritual. After the Deities are gone, the Element/als have returned to their respective realms, etc. etc. etc. The only thing that generally follows taking down the circle is eating, drinking, and chatting. Take the circle down exactly the same way that you set it up, in reverse. Take as much time to take it down as you took to set it up. Send the energy back into the Earth, the Sky, or wherever you chose to get it from. If you used the energy from the Earth and Sky, then it’s a good idea to change it into healing energy for our planet and our skies before you channel it back.
What’s the best way to practice casting a circle?
Actually: alone. If you can do it alone, then you can do it in a group; it doesn’t always work in reverse. Working alone also lets you develop your own style, and you don’t need to worry about people staring at you. You can work on your concentration more easily by yourself, and you don’t feel like you’re boring people if you take a while. Write your own visualizations and keep track of your results in a journal. But above all, learn to trust yourself and your instincts; it’s one of the most valuable gifts you can give yourself.
Author: Keitha (FireWind)
They say that the longest journey begins with a single step. So, too, the exploration of Magickal studies begins with a single step. Though the first step in a physical journey is often self-evident, the First Step on a Magickal journey is often not quite so clear. While formally organized groups often have a path of lessons to instruct newcomers, the solitary or isolated student is often left standing in perplexity on this broad plain of knowledge, wondering just where in the heck to begin. And wondering, too, if it’s “okay” to start just anywhere.
While it’s true that studies can begin in a direction that attracts you, the necessary first step must be learning to make psychic shields. There are “Things of the Dark” out there. There are any number of explanations for what these things might be– ghosts, demons, or simply uncontrolled urges of the subconscious mind. In truth, it doesn’t matter what they are. What does matter is that their effect is very real and unless they are put under your control, they will drag you over the borders of sanity into psychosis.
You are most vulnerable to them while you’re in an “open” trance or meditative state. That’s why the wise practitioner always begins by taking steps to define exactly what will be permitted through the portals of their “psychic shields”– no matter how simple the ritual. And this, in a nutshell, is what “protective magic” is about.
There are a number of ways to do this. The most common is to begin by drawing a circle (around a group or yourself) and invoking the one or more protective powers. Generally, this is done by candlelight, in front of an altar that holds certain magical objects. The circle may be further “secured” and “cleared” by using salt, salt water, rum, incense, or some other method. You may be wearing a special robe and will have taken a bath (or performed a cleansing ritual) earlier. The powers that protect you will be called on and then you will begin your ritual.
Is it psychological? Absolutely! Is there a reason why protection rituals always take this form? Positively! Let’s take a step back and see what you’re actually doing and how the process works– from a psychological standpoint– and how to use this knowledge to help you refine your circles to enhance your rituals.
Psychologists and psychics alike view the mind’s structure as a three-part entity: The ego (that which you think of as yourself), the superego (the “higher self”) and the Id (the child within). The Id is, in a sense, a computer. Like most computers, it operates on the “garbage in – garbage out” principle.
There’s an old superstition “as you name something, so will it become.” Tell yourself that you’re very unlucky and your id will obligingly give you bad days by enhancing any negatives in your environment. Tell yourself that you are clumsy, and your id-computer will obligingly arrange for you to break a leg while stepping off the sidewalk.
The bad news is that the Id can’t make a judgment as to whether or not this is a good idea. It only knows that it’s received these “instructions” and must carry them out. The good news is that you can actually program/reprogram this portion of your mind.
You begin programming this Internal Servant of yours by first drawing its attention to what you want done and then explaining what you need done in a simple and clear manner. Repeating the instructions in a chant help fix the goals for the Id– rhymed chants seem to be easier for it to process. Each time you perform the ritual and repeat the chant, the programming is strengthened. Never mind that your ego and superego understand that you’re going to program the child-like Id. It works just the same.
To direct the Id’s attention to the process, you first have to impress it. Using special tools and clothing alert it that something unusual is going on and that it must pay attention. Acquiring hard-to-obtain items, drawing symbols, performing a symbolic sacrifice (donating money, say, to a good cause) are all ways of reinforcing the Id’s impression that this ceremony is very special and that the result will be very powerful. Organized, meaningful symbols, speak to your subconscious mind in ways it understands, reinforcing the goals you have set.
Drawing the circle itself establishes boundaries within your environment (“The rest of the world can do what it likes Out There. All within this circle is in MY control!”). Purifying the circle and consecrating it (sprinkling water which has been blessed and salt added) further enforce your territory, defining the borders where you are “safe”. Nothing can enter this area except what you invite inside. You further tighten these borders by calling on certain powers.
You can call on any powers you like. Some use traditional Christian images. Others call up deities from the religion they are most comfortable with. And many people use the thought/image of a beam of light that represents either God/Goddess (whichever one they like) OR The power of light and life and goodness in the Universe.
The number of powers called as guardians varies. You may choose to invoke one powerful being to protect your circle. Or you might call on the Universal Being/Light AND four guardians (one for each quarter of the compass). A third approach is to use a guardian for the four quarters of the compass and no higher being. There is no “absolutely correct” system; the correct system is the one that YOU are comfortable with.
Take time to choose the guardians of your circle carefully. You should select guardians (gods or animals or some form of life) which have a deeper meaning to you and whose qualities are in harmony with your goals. For the new student, it’s best to have all your Powers and Guardians from the same belief system/religion/mythic universe so that the symbols will be consistent and not confuse the Id.
You CAN use people– saints, movie actors, figures from favorite books as guardians. DO, however, pick someone who’s dead or non-existent. The dead can’t argue with your interpretation of them, whereas the living may be highly offended to be approached as gods/ guardians).
As your studies continue, you will find that your totems or guardians change. This is to be expected; as you explore new realms in your studies, you may find you need guardians who deal with very specific areas to strengthen and guide you in these new fields.
But don’t make the mistake of assuming that you’ll become so powerful that you will never need the protection of the psychic shielding circle in some form. And don’t assume that you will not need a circle for “positive” magick such as healing. Open is open– and open is vulnerable. And circles strengthen and protect you by defining what psychological influences will be allowed to work with you.
NOTE: It is equally important to close your circle when you are complete. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Key elements are a statement of intent, for example: “The circle is open” and the releasing of the energy contained within the circle either by sweeping the perimeter, retrieving objects, or whatever feels appropriate.
Author: Mel White
Why does singing and chanting have such a powerful effect on us? Repetitive or boring tasks are easier to perform if there is a tune in the background, or if someone starts to sing.
I remember with particular fondness the “work songs” which were evolved when I spent a few months picking oranges and grapefruit in Israel, and they certainly livened up what was a boring and strenuous task. Songs and chants establish rhythms, which not only distract from the boredom of a task, but also seem to add energy and help “carry” each person along. Group spirit and enthusiasm is raised.
One of the key factors seems to be rhythm. rhythms carry our consciousness along, from heartbeats, to cycles of breathing, sleeping, night-day and the passage of seasons. rhythms promote associated body movements and adjustments, and act as a signal to begin movement without conscious effort, so that less energy is expended when you begin; for example, it has been shown that soldiers can march further, and in better form, with less fatigue, when accompanied by a marching band.
The feeling of being “carried” comes from the structure that rhythm gives to our time-sense, and the pattern gives a sense of continuance. It becomes a motor attitude, and one’s attention is freed (if this is desired). rhythms also become “mirrored” by our brain activity, and they have powerful physiological effects on us. Music Therapists have found that people suffering from Aphasia or Huntingdon’s Chorea (both neurological disorders which impair speech) can carry a tune, and group singing is a common element in therapeutic voice training.
Rhythms are everywhere around us, and group chants and songs reflect this fact and bring us towards an enhanced sense of participation in the world.
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