Walking a Lonely Path

 For the longest time, I have been reading. Seeking the wisdom of those who came before me. To me, reading is magic. For you are sharing the mind, and emotions of another person.

I agree, it is “just reading”. But it will always be magic, as well.

I have found myself seeking a path. I looked back, to see if any of my ancestors followed a path. One other than something Judeo-Christian Do not misunderstand me, there can be great strength on that Path. And my feet are ill-suited to walk it. My spirit cannot fit itself into the faith that a Judeo-Christian path offers.
So, did any of my ancestors walk a different path? Sadly, I cannot find out. I am somewhat distant from my mother and father's families. There is no real trust built that they would feel safe in sharing that knowledge with me. So be it. I will look for a path through the wilderness for myself.
But, what path? Reading, I know that a Hoodoo path is not for me. Southern Texas and desert magic? No. Appalachian Mountain magic is close. But, it relies on ancestors and the land they live upon.
So, I looked north. To Indigenous tribes folk. As I am Canadian, and my family has lived here for 4 generations, I likely carry some Indigenous blood. What. I may be 1/8^th part of a particular tribe? I cannot seek there. I feel that, with my privilege, it would be insulting to the battles fought and hard won by the powerful Indigenous peoples. I refuse to be intrusive. Rather, I will be in awe at a respectful distance. And educate myself.

So, where else have I looked? Across the Atlantic. To Russia. And their Shamans To the British Iles. Their Welsh, Celtic, and Druidic Paths. Those Clever Folk, Those Village Witches. Those who know some of the ways of the Goode Folk.
Again, those paths are ill-suited to my feet, and my soul. AS powerful as they are, and as much as I may lust after them, I will remain respectfully distant, and learn what I can to educate myself.
For the longest of whiles, I have immersed myself in Wicca. That great stew of traditions and learning. But, In the end, I cannot seem to find a group who can see what I have to offer. I wise, now distant friend, once said that “Many walk a solitary path”. That seems so. At least of me, currently.

So, where do I go next? I supposed I would like to say to you, "See? You are not alone as you walk a confusing path”. Whilst I may not walk your path, I will support your healthy journey. And let you know you are not alone in your confusion.
I do suffer disappointment in my search and my reading. And, occasionally, I will put my studies down and lament what I do not have. I will, however, always pick it up again. I will walk down that dark deer path. I will creep along the banks of that quiet, unmapped creek. Who knows? At the end of those paths, I may see beauty. If I see nothing I can use, I will nod respectfully to what IS there, and go on, looking for another path to walk down.

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

Whats magic?

Yes, I know it’s been a long time, over a year in fact, but I am in school, and understandably, that takes one’s mind away from musings of the esoteric and spiritual kind.

So, without further ado, here is the musing that’s been in my head recently.

Magic is hard.

Not the emotion driven knee jerk magic. I have heard some try to say that, for example, when someone hurts you, let’s say, steals your hard work. You were working on a project for work. It would get you promoted, more pay, you put passion into it. Imagine your anger when you find that a co-worker has just put forth YOUR idea and smiles at you in a cocky way. You just know they were eavesdropping, and they stole your Idea. In your rage you wish that they’re car would break down. Or, perhaps, something equally silly. Or, even something more mean spirited and dangerous. (I won’t give you any more ideas, as I am sure you are creative enough yourself!)

That seems to be a knee jerk type of magic.

Looking further at a commercially available Tome of spells (Illes, March 25, 2004), I have found an awesome list of what some might term “black magic”  and a comprehensive list of “Love” spells.

Rest assured that the rest of the tome is filled with a wealth of other, massively constructive spells, potions oils, and chants and prayers.

But looking at love spells, I realize that most of them are forced. Not all mind you, but a great many. They involve making the target think they you and you only are good enough. Or, making the target’s partner less desirable. In essence, making the target, and the targets current mate, break apart.

Even going as far as to sneak your own essence, be it blood, spit or sexual fluids into a dish you make for your target, forcing them to accept you.

To me, that’s almost a form of rape.

So, rather, I would say that Constructive, loving magic is hard. It’s almost better to do things the, non-magical  normal way.

For example: I make dinner for a target. Rather than kitchen witch and make that dinner full of lust and desire, and be disappointed when the target doesn’t immediately throw themselves at my feet. Instead, I would make a meal, one that I know my target likes. I will make it simply, and as cleanly as I can, imbuing it with my caring , and my skill, and yes, my love. The best I could expect is that my target leaves me with a good feeling that someone cared enough to make a meal for them. A side effect, such as is it, would be that the target feel more affection towards me, but I’d not expect it.

That way the s[ell isn’t meant to force, its meant to sooth, and lift and strengthen. YES, it’s slow. I get that, but it at least then is respectful, and kind of both my target AND myself!

Perhaps slow magic is deeper, and stronger. It may very well honor yourself and your target.

But that leaves hex’s and curses. Goofer dust, bad luck wishes and the like. I wonder how angry you’d need to be to cast one? To risk a backlash. The “3 fold rule”  Do some truly believe that a curse follows the maxim “and it harm none”?

May questions, please respond if you’d like. Id love to hear your thoughts!

Merry meet

Merry Part

Merry meet again!