Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Magick as a tool for Self Transcending Self


In an attempt to transcend yourself/ mind, a practice of magick can be adopted, which would rewire the brain and create a different paradigm to the one previously held. (in your mind).

Our current mental flux, which emanates around this island, creates a “net of consciousness” which has the capability of trapping other individuals who seek to transcend the “net” and their individual minds.

Each Self here is bound by thought patterns and programs, which create the paradigm by which we operate. This is passed on from generation to generation. Our core beliefs about what is, or what is not possible have been stamped and sealed in our minds; and almost nothing that we have learnt speaks to ourselves. We have been programmed in our behaviour and our beliefs. We have been programmed into the “we culture” and “ we ting.”

A friend of mine pointed this out recently. Being from another country, he is not bound by the paradigm placed on us Trinidadians. The reaction and behaviour of Trinidadians is often perplexing to others. The inability to rise above their mental limits is a curious thing. Conversations and behaviour most often have a scripted quality.

In all countries, there are cliques and stereotypes. Individuals attempt to conform to a group, which is closest to their purpose. However, the difference on a small island is that there are a limited number of cliques, limiting the number of choices, which can create a local relative meaning (local to the Self) for an individual. The cliques create their own conscious net, and only very few strong willed individuals can pull away. Almost none of these strong willed individuals are successful in creating a completely new paradigm or clique.

That being said, magick is a useful tool, which allows the individual to rewire his/her brain to transcend personal paradigm/ reality.
According to the author of the blog “Exemplum Stupendous”, magick allows for a new operating system to be introduced into the mind. This system challenges all the previously held beliefs, which the Self held as “Truth.”

It is important though, that the individual recognises those things, which his/her mind responds to, and use them to create a believable dogma or system for the purpose of achieving Self’s goals.

The Self needs to recognise the statements which held them from belief. For example, if the goal is to get a car, and the goal is not forthcoming, then there is a negative belief at the core preventing the flow of energy in Self’s observer created Universe. It is a difficult thing to realize; to purposely change your own beliefs. But it can be done. More on this will be discussed later.

It is absolutely possible, that all the associations, tools listed in Magick to shift belief (paradigm) do not register as “truth” for the individual.
Many of us, in searching for Magick do not ever sift through the wrappings of ceremony and associations to realize that we need to create our own associations. Many practioners and Wiccans would tell you that intuition is more valuable to your mind than regurgitated readings. Intuition; is the thin Golden Thread of thought, which has the beginnings of real belief.

Austin Spare said many times that the system of Magick he created was valid only to his Self. This does not mean that we throw out things and lessons practiced by those gone before. Rather, we absorb, experiment, learn the thing well, and then break all the rules and make our own. Magick needs to speak to you, not to be believed by anyone else. Be as silly and as creative as you wish to be. If you wish to wear a pair of pink fairy wings to create the belief in transcendence, then so be it.

You can find whatever tools are needed.
Listen to your Self.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Staying in the Broom Closet- for good


Yes I blog anonamously. For good reason. This country is the first to leagaaly recognize the African Based religion called Orisha. Other wise known as the Shouter Baptiste Religion, its practitioners had been fighting for years to have the law against practicing repealed. It eventualy did, and now we even have a public holiday for the group.

So on the books its legal, but its still okay to throw out a tenant from your property on the basis of religion......
happened to a friend of a friend. Also, another artist friend of mine put up an art piece flag display in a public space, and it was destroyed several times, each time she put it up again. Come on, you think I could convince these people that what I practice isn't evil....they are still debating whether to pass the Gender Equality act! I don't want to get kicked out of my apartment, or have my work thrown out of a public space.... I shall stay in the closet where it is safe and warm and cosy. Me and the broom bristles have a good thing going...and we are happy with our arrangement.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

"My father is a christian, My Mother is a nothing"


So my son goes to a private Catholic School, with nuns and the like, right next to a chapel none the less. The issue of First Communion came up. He absolutely refused to do the ceremony. Says he a christian...... I let him be. The nun corners me in the school car park to protest that I was not doing my parental duty by insisting that he do the First Communion thing. She asked " Your son says that his father is a born again Christian and his mother is a nothing. What does he mean by that?"

Funny, the convent upbringing just hit me right in the face and I went into Pavlov mode. "Sidestep the question." says the good me.. "Tell her you are a witch!" says the bad me.

I shrugged and made some lame excuse about following his father's (ex-husband actually) wishes.


I couldn't understand Maddonna. Guy Ritchies complained that she didn't allow her kids to celebrate Christmas. In my house we celebrate darn near everything. The island we live on is multi-ethnic, and there are holidays for every religious or ethnic group. That helps. My household has one witch/neo pagan whatever; two born again Christians, one sort-of-Catholic; one who is too young to decide and one nothing. My Catholic baptised son is experimenting with Dragon Magick.....although he doesn't know it.....he was born in the year of The Dragon and that has stuck in his head. He believes he has powers......he knows more than he realises.

My point is that if I, or any parent for that matter wish to follow a spiritual path, then we should understand that our children too may not wish to follow that same path. We should respect that, just as much as we wanted people to respect our choices. We make the excuse that our children are too young to know better. They are not. They have been given the same tools to make that decision as we have, and that's spirit. Their desire to experience something, stems from their desire to have growth of that spirit. Desires and experience take one down a path of spiritual growth. Even if it leads to a decision to change paths, or continue. Its Growth, and this is needed for learning about yourself truly.


So we celebrate Christmas, because Santa encourages them to wish for their hearts desires. This may transalate in later life to set goals...and keep life alive. (Even though I was sorely tempted by the black Christmas Tree balls this year) I think life on this island is too limited for me to limit them from their hearts.............

Blessed Yule, Merry Christmas, Happy Eid, Happy Kwaanza, and all the other festivities we celebrate.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Just Shoot Me.







Its been about two years since I have been in the Wicca movement and I would really like to get a peice of jewelry or something to be a symbolic protection device. So I have narrowed my choices down to three patterns which I like, that represent the forces I feel drawn to.
There they are; all nice and pretty pictured together.
I have two basic problems, getting any one of them, and wearing any one of them....and I shall explain.
To obtain one, I would have two options. One - Order them from overseas. and Two - Have a jeweller make one.
Option one is more feasible, if only I could be assured that it would get to me, as somehow anything other than a letter seems to dissapear from the Postal Service in our little Banana Republic. And option two, being more difficult, as I can imagine the look I would get, just asking the people here to make one. Since gossip spreads faster than melting butter on a car parked in the blazing hot sun... I could imaging the looks and refusals of the superstitious jewellers. I may get away with the triple moon pendant, but don't even think about approaching with a pentacle!
As for wearing the thing....well I would have to keep it hidden always unless I go to an art festival or a rock session.....the former which never happens here, and the latter which I am too old for.
Even though our watch words for the country are "Discipline, Tolerance and Production", I don't think that any jeweler would have enough tolerance to produce it, and the Post office workers don't have enough discipline not to steal.......
Sigh......could I make it myself I wonder.........where is my book on jewelry making?

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewilederd


One new online acquaintance asked me the other day if I was Wiccan, Witch or Pagan. EEErk!? The lines are not so clearly defined for me. It got me wondering though about this thing that I practice which has no label. I do not follow all the ritual rules that are given. I find it hard to relate to anything else other than the All, the God and The Goddess. I understand and feel the Masculine and Feminine elements. I feel the All or quintessence flowing through everything, I do practice Magick, but I write my rituals in a way that appeals to me, and each time is completely different. I "wing it" as well if something comes to me. The way I see it, is that Magick focuses on the force that is within all, using it to implant a wish or thought, and allowing it to resonate in the Astral sphere until it becomes manifest by whatever means it can......... To me, getting caught up in which Goddess is right for the ritual, and which tool or prop to use is quite unnessary...... I resond to pictures and runes...and thats about all I use..and a few candles thrown in for good measure. The more I read about Wicca...the more I realise that it is a combination of Golden Dawn High Magick rituals, Celtic practices and Pagan beliefs. To me its almost as if a religion was made up by some.....no wonder there is no Wicca 102 or further than beginning practice....because it never got further than that for the creators. Since there is nothing wrong with creating, and being Spiritually creative...then I shall do just that...and follow my spirit to the drum I hear. Magick, to me must come from the heart. It is a special gift given by the All, and only you know how to wield your tool. For this, you must learn yourself, you must know what you respond to. So can I call this thing I do, Wicca? I don't know any more......but I know the Magick is in me, and I know I must use it. Yule Blessings to all...... and Merry Christmas, cuz if Santa doesn't come in my house, my kids will be dpressed.

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewilederd


One new online acquaintance asked me the other day if I was Wiccan, Witch or Pagan. EEErk!?
The lines are not so clearly defined for me. It got me wondering though about this thing that I practice which has no label.
I do not follow all the ritual rules that are given. I find it hard to relate to anything else other than the All, the God and The Goddess. I understand and feel the Masculine and Feminine elements. I feel the All or quintessence flowing through everything, I do practice Magick, but I write my rituals in a way that appeals to me, and each time is completely different. I "wing it" as well if something comes to me. The way I see it, is that Magick focuses on the force that is within all, using it to implant a wish or thought, and allowing it to resonate in the Astral sphere until it becomes manifest by whatever means it can.........
To me, getting caught up in which Goddess is right for the ritual, and which tool or prop to use is quite unnessary...... I resond to pictures and runes...and thats about all I use..and a few candles thrown in for good measure.
The more I read about Wicca...the more I realise that it is a combination of Golden Dawn High Magick rituals, Celtic practices and Pagan beliefs. To me its almost as if a religion was made up by some.....no wonder there is no Wicca 102 or further than beginning practice....because it never got further than that for the creators.
Since there is nothing wrong with creating, and being Spiritually creative...then I shall do just that...and follow my spirit to the drum I hear.
Magick, to me must come from the heart. It is a special gift given by the All, and only you know how to wield your tool. For this, you must learn yourself, you must know what you respond to.
So can I call this thing I do, Wicca? I don't know any more......but I know the Magick is in me, and I know I must use it.
Yule Blessings to all...... and Merry Christmas, cuz if Santa doesn't come in my house, my kids will be dpressed.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Chant Beads


I got the inspiration to make some Chant beads, to help with my centering and these are what I came up with.
I chant air, fire, water earth...the cycle from thought to manifestation....... and reincarnation.
The Pearl is the Soul, the fall from spirit to earth (material manifestation , birth) and the cycles.
This one must be consecrated also, by the full moon. I have already written the ritual.

Tools.

One of the tools I do use is a wand. Not a store bought wand, but hand made with my energies. I do not know the type of wood it is though. I wanted a wand, and though about taking a walk around the Savannah or something to get a stick. I happened to visit my mother, who had a whole bunch of branches thrown out by her gate. Perfect I though...I have been granted a wish......
Any way, the correct length for a wand is the lenght between your inner elbow and the tip of your middle finger. I cut the length, and scraped the bark off. Next I trimmed the tip to something suitable, and then sanded the wand.
One important step is to oil the wand with an oil that reflects ytour intentions. I used Gingerlily oil, which is for positivity..because thats my focus.....
After the wand is oiled, I painted it with gold and green. Gold is my transformation, the green is the growth. I also inscribed a few Runes just above the handle area.

I am yet to consecrate it.....I await the next full moon.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

A Few Changes to the spell


SOmetimes I wonder if I actually practice Wicca. I throw so many things in, take out so many things. My rituals are a cross between play and fun and prayer. I throw my hands up if I feel like it and skippy hoppy down the purple smoke lane to the place where the goddess can hear me best.
I have no athames, and the format goes nothing like old Bucky says, but its mine. When I am done I feel refreshed, energized, and ready to get back into this world which drives me mad.
So is is Wicca? And do I care?
Not really....so what if I have one candle? So what If I have no athame? So what if my wand is made of Guava, and not Rowan or Willow?
I read somewhere that these are only props, and thats fine. Because I cannot relate to those plants with my Caribbean Background. Coconut, Guava, and Mango....or maybe and Immortelle tree also have energies you can draw from.
And I feel the connection...........thats why I work Magick