Intent

 Over the next few posts, I'd like to talk about some things deemed “forbidden” or “Dark” by many practitioners and followers of many paths. Please remember, the path you walk is yours. I'll not often tell you your path is wrong.

I want to talk about Curses. Blood Magic. And Sex Magic. And, how “Intent” plays into them all. I'll tackle them, one subject at a time.

I completely understand if anyone wants to not read. It took me a few years to prepare myself to read about these things. And, come to the conclusions that I have.

First, Id like to talk about the word Intent, and the meaning of it.

Miriam/Webster says that Intent can be a noun and a adjective.
Both are important. The boding is my own.

Intent: Noun
“a usually clearly formulated or planned intention”

Adjective:
“having the mind, attention, or will, concentrated on something or some end or purpose”

These meanings are important in the work we do. In the way we do it.

When I do my Magical work, I go into it with my mindset. Knowing what I want to achieve. An example. If I weave my magic to help my spring seeds to root deeply, I focus on that. I try not to allow thoughts of the soil, and how much water my seeds will need. Don't get me wrong, those things are terribly important for my seeds to grow strong. But, at that very moment, my INTENT is to have them root deeply. I believe that our INTENT shapes our will. Our INTENT

And, oh, is it hard! All I just spoke of is difficult. Even with training and practice, it's easy to get distracted, to lose our intent. Alternatively, training and practice will aid in our work. But, failure happens. Be gentle with yourself, please.
I'd like to speak of subconscious Intent. We all have it, we all do it!
In regards to our seed? Subconscious intent may be that we are planting, and hope for a particular colour. If we don't get it, do we feel we failed? Or, do we look back, and ask was that in our intent? Try to be honest with yourself in your intent. You cast your Magic to help the seeds root deeply. Not, to have pretty blooms of a pretty colour.

Try to go into your Works and Magic knowing, as fully as possible, what you want the results to be.

Honestly? There is always a distraction. There will always be something we forgot or didn't consider. None of that is wrong, Life just happens.
During our daily routine, ask yourself “what have I spent my intent upon today? Did I focus on doing good at work? Did I pour thought into my meal being tasty? Or, my thoughts were heard, and valued?
At the end of the day, as you unwind, think on that. And gather your intent back to you. It is yours, yes? Reclaim that intent.
How? Here, again, is where your individual path helps. Meditation? Bathing? Sleep? Prayer? Engage in what relaxes you, and allows you to draw back the energy, and will, you've spent today.

In all this, INTENT is what can guide us!
Until next time,
Merry Meet!
Sheldon. 

Secrets

Merriam-Webster defines it as follows..
Definition of secret

: kept hidden from others 

: known to only a few people

: keeping information hidden from others

So, for today, lets discuss a secret in terms of Pagan and Wiccan paths.

Now, before you all panic and say “But Sheldon, don’t reveal our Secrets!” please know I’m talking of secrets in general, and why we keep them. NOT any particular secrets!

For many a Path, pagan, or not, Secrets kept us safe from physical harm. In a time, when your path was considered to be heretical, or cursed, how would you let someone know you were of the same path. Let us consider the story of the Icthus. More popularly known today as the “Jesus Fish”

Before Christianity became established as a popularly followed religion, it was a cult. It is said that to find if another shared your faith, you could casually draw a curved arc in the dirt with your foot. If the other person drew a curved arc OVER yours, you then knew they were a follower! The 2 curved arcs came together to form the crude shape of a fish.

Now, I personally don’t know of any such thing today. I’m not saying that Path or Society doesn’t have a call and counter call such as this. But this was used so that you would not be attacked, or even killed!

Even today, in many parts of the world, following a certain path will get you attacked. I am totally aware of my privilege here. I live in a mainly open Country. And, because of this I am allowed to follow my path. A privilege, for which I am intensely grateful for. Consider, many of the current issues plaguing the Middle East.

Many practitioners of a particular path keep things a secret because of privacy. If you are part of a Coven, a circle, or, whatever you choose to name yourselves, you all may not want others to know how you chant. For YOUR chant is special to you, of value to you, and private to you. I cannot speak for others, but, I can respect that attitude.

I find this type of secret to be in many Martial arts schools and private teachings. If a move or position is found that exemplifies your path, you and your Master/Teacher may want to keep it secret so that it becomes YOURS. You can use that secret move to establish a relationship.

“Where did you learn that style of circular walking? Only MY school teaches that style?! Its not that you CAN’T use it, I would like to know where you learned it!”

Now, its time to speak of the confusing and awkward secrets. The secrets of ignorance.

I have never been skydiving. I can read of skydiving. And I have. I’ve read of the rush of wind in your face, and over your ears, and the pounding of your heart. I have even read of the sudden powerful upward rush as you pull your ripcord. Have I personally experienced it? No.

Others have, and they are special in that shared knowledge. But, is there something that I am missing? Of course there is! Because I’ve not done it, felt it, EXPERIENCED it, I’m missing a lot of things. Why am I missing things? I’ve read extensively! I didn’t miss anything!

I’m missing things because the authors I’ve read didn’t think to write everything down, because there were somethings that have no words. My readers, who HAVE skydived, would you say that the experienced cannot be fully expressed, unless you do the act itself? And after your feet have left the plane for the first time, and then thudded to the ground, THEN you can talk, you’ve shared the experience!

Many years ago, I was accidently exposed to a very scared rite. A young lady had had her first Menses. She was congratulated by a group of local Matrons, they having been told by her mother. The matrons were speaking of the knowledge’s and treatments for many of the pains that come with being a physically mature woman. That’s when I stepped into the scene. I realize now, that this was a “Woman’s Secret” and they were angry. NOT because I was a Man, but because I could not understand what they had felt. They were angry at my ignorance. No amount of metaphors could explain a period cramp. The bleeding, the mental fog that they, as Woman, experience.

Their Secret is kept from many Men, not because we are men, but because many of are Ignorant of all the mechanics of Menses. We may profess to WANT to know, but we may never.

On that day, I didn’t understand I just knew it was important to apologize and walk away.

It’s a stretch. But, perhaps Magic is a secret such as that? A Secret of Ignorance? A Secret of Experience?

If we, as practitioners, are to learn of these secrets, we need to be open. We need to gather as much experiences, and feelings and emotions as possible. And yet, remain open to the idea that we may never be able to understand the secret.

On the other hand, if we are lucky, we may find another o teach us, to share their knowledge so that, we as well, may know a Secret.

Do you know of another type of secret?

Merry meet,

Merry part.

Sheldon

So, its been asked of me. "Whats a pagan? Is it the same as a witch?" While I've not been asked this in THIS way, I have tried to define this in an earlier post. Lets see if I can say it another way.

Interesting question that. lets explore the meanings of words together, shall we?
Several sites here on the internet say this..

Pagan: a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions.
Now, the big 3, I have found, is Christianity, Judasim, and Islam
 Notice how there is not "witch" in there? 
So, to be a pagan means you follow a spritual path not of teh big 3. You could be a Shaman. A Witch. A Druid. 
I cant imagine how many more things you could be. All under the umbrella term of "Pagan"
For reference, I will also define what I said above, just for disscusion purposes. 

Shamanism: 1. The animistic religion of certain peoples of northern Asia in which mediation between the visible and spirit worlds is effected by shamans.

2. A similar religion or set of beliefs, especially among certain Native American peoples.

 

Wiccan:the religious cult of modern witchcraft, esp. an initiatory tradition founded in England in the mid 20th century and claiming its origins in pre-Christian pagan religions.

 

Druidism: A member of an order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain who appear in Welsh and Irish legend as prophets and sorcerers. 

 

Now you know! There is a saying I have heard tossed around ."All Wiccans are Pagans, but not all Pagans are Wiccans."

Being informed is a good thing! Now you kniow, and can tell teh difference! 

As well, there are 1000's of variations on the above definitions, as many of these paths are intensely personal. Please, respect another choice.

Now, my purpose here is NOT to say your definitons  are wrong! But, instead, to spark debate. If you disagree, all well and good, but explain to me WHY you disagree.  

Remember, here, on this blog, we want to get to the roots of things. The beginings as it were, so lets see where this takes us. 

 Log in another time, and we can talk about the upcoming holidays! yes! I said Holidays! 

 

Defining the Sprial Dance

It is time. Time for the “Plain Language” portion of The Plain language Pagan! Time to explain certain words and concepts, as I understand them! I will use many and sundry internet dictionaries and the like, as well as books. Yes, let’s all collectively gasp at that word. “Books” real, holdable, rich smelling, needing to use your eyes, Books! I do read them!

Without further ado, let’s get into our first phrase.

Spiral Dance:

Wikipedia defines it as follows;

The spiral dance usually involves a drumming group and a chant or song in addition to the dancers. All members present hold hands and follow a leader in a counter-clockwise motion using a grapevine step. As the leader comes near closing the circle, he or she whips around and begins moving clockwise while facing the rest of the dancers. By continuing this formation, every dancer in the line will eventually be face to face with every other dancer.

In some close-knit circles, where people are comfortable with the idea, a kiss is given to each person at the moment they pass each other in the dance. In some cases kissing may be discouraged upon during large or public rituals, due to disruptions of the rhythm of the dance.

Rather neat sounding, yes?

Wiktionary defines it thus: spiral dance (Noun)-A neo-pagan group dance emphasizing community and rebirth

Community, and rebirth? Those are something to consider!

A dance where you love, and respect one another. A dance where you want to see the best of someone in hopes they succeed, and want the same for you?

The 3 dances I have been in were all that is described. A sense of fun, well being, and belonging! After a long ceremony, that feeling is rather uplifting! You can even stumble, and the fact that you are holding hands means that you will not fall. It means that you are supported!

Now, you know what Spiral Dance means, and can read more for yourself!

Tell me, do you have words or phrases that others have used you’d like defined? Ask me to define them here! I will try, and then, we can learn together!

Merry meet!

Merry Part!

Merry Meet Again!