Brown, fertile earth – barren rocks – beautiful stones – a dark cave. Earth as an element is embodied in the mountains of this world, in the ground beneath our feet. Earth is solid, both in its state of matter, and in its solid, matter-of fact, comforting presence. It promises endurance, permanence. It gives form. It is form.
Earth is the solid foundation beneath our feet. To experience earth is more often than not an experience of grounding, of connecting to something bigger than ourselves. It is about placing our feet firmly on the ground and being rooted in physical reality, which is the starting point and foundation for reaching for the stars.
Often, this is accompanied by experiencing, or more often building, some protection, a magical barrier or cloak, shielding us from anything and anyone dangerous, damaging or malevolent.
“The earth is her body.” Let us try to experience ourself as a part of that body.
Exercise earth
For the earth exercise, I am presenting a classical grounding exercise. Probably almost everyone already knows some variant of it: the tree. However, I think it is a very effective visualisation and I like my own version, which I developed after reading a lot of different versions.
For this exercise, either stand, firmly on both feet, shoulder wide apart, slightly bent knees, arms hanging down, shoulders relaxed. Alternatively, you can sit down – on a chair or with crossed legs, not on your knees – with a straight back, shoulders relaxed. Take a few breaths and turn your attention towards yourself.
At the point where your are touching the ground, either your feet or your base, feel roots growing out of yourself, burying into the ground. Start with two or three roots, crossing through any concrete, asphalt, then into the earth, through humus and stones, between rocks, crossing water reservoirs, deeper and deeper. Add some more roots growing out of you, growing deeper, branching out, until you feel you are securely rooted in the ground. Feel the contact your roots make with the ground, its different parts. After a few moments, you feel a tingling on one of your roots, a soft pressure. The pressure increases, and finally feels as if your root opens up, and the energy coming from the earth is entering your root, filling it, raising along it. The same is repeated on each of your roots. Feel the energy raising, through all of your roots, up... up... until it reaches your feet. It moves easily from you roots into your body, into your feet, raising along your legs, into your torso, filling you, filling every part of you, moving into your arms, your hands. And still energy is rising, filling you up, more and more. Then, just before the pressure gets too much, you feel how from your arms, your head, your shoulders, your upper body, branches begin to grow, expanding, growing, forming a beautiful treetop around you. The energy, still welling up from the earth, pushes them, pushes into them. ... Each branch carries numerous buds and the energy flows up, up through you, through your body, into the branches, into the buds, pushing, until the buds open, and beautiful green leaves unfold, interspersed with blossoms that open and show their beauty. ...
After a few moments, the fist blossoms begin to wither and release their hold on your branches, floating gently down to the ground. All the while, the energy flows up through your roots, through you, into your branches, opening even more blossoms, flowing back to the ground with the wilting blossoms, returning to the earth where it came from, building a circle, raising through you, returning through your ever flowering, ever wilting blossoms, that form a veil around you. The energy takes with it everything that clings to you, anger, annoyance, let go of it. It gets swept away, into the earth, where it will be accepted and transformed. The veil of energy surrounding you is a veil of protection, keeping away everything evil and unwanted. It gets washed down into the earth, and is recycled there.
Enjoy the feeling, and let the energy flow for a while...
Now, feel the energy getting slower, getting less. Begin to retrace your leaves, your branches, your roots into yourself. The last flowers fall to the ground. However, you feel changed, strengthened by the energy that flowed through you. Visualize all of your extensions returning into you. Take some deep breaths and return with your attention to your surroundings.
Once you have practised this for some time you will be able to keep the visualisation up even while walking, thus providing you with a veil of protection. However, there are alternative, maybe easier ways of building a protection.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
The Elements
The western concept of elements knows four elements that are the concepts the universe is built from: earth, air, fire, water, sometimes complemented by a fifth element, spirit. This system is by no means universal. There is a different system of elements that is based on the five elements of earth, water, fire, metal and wood. This system is more common in eastern school of thought. However, in neopaganism and western magic, the four elements are a concept widely known, believed and utilized.
Historically the four elements originate from ancient Greek philosophy. Empedokles framed the idea of four qualities, not only corresponding to the states of matter, but also being the eternal, invariable basic building blocks of the universe. Everything is composed of a combination of these four elements.
There have been some changes in the interpretation of the exact meaning of the elements over time. As an example, today we know a lot more about the building blocks of matter and do not take that aspect literally. From Greek philosophy, the elements made it into mediaeval alchemy and magic, and this is how they ended up in Wicca.
So, what are the elements? Once again, I have no definite answer, only a try at my personal explanation. Elements are a central part of the huge network of associations used in western symbolism. Everything can be attached to one element or a combination of two or more elements. Once you mention them, there is an immediate flood of associations. However, they are not empty symbols. They are names, symbols for very powerful – and very real – forces, or rather, energies. On the physical level, they are linked to the different states of matter – solid, liquid, gaseous, plasma. On a personal level, they may be linked to certain experiences, states of mind. On an energy level, they are pure force, each different to the other. On the level of entities, there are elemental beings, or elementals, associated with each element. There are certain Gods associated with each element. The list is endless. The most important part is this: you can experience them. And that will help you much more than any explanation I could give you. We will take four weeks to go through the different elements. I will talk about each of the elements and then offer an exercise.
There is a beautiful song/chant by desert wind about the earth goddess Gaia that goes
“The earth is my body,
her water is my blood,
her winds are my breath,
her fire is my spirit” [1]
The elements are not only the building blocks of the universe, but also the forces of life.
[1] Desert Wind,Gaia, Earth Goddess: Ritual Dances of the Mother, 1992
Historically the four elements originate from ancient Greek philosophy. Empedokles framed the idea of four qualities, not only corresponding to the states of matter, but also being the eternal, invariable basic building blocks of the universe. Everything is composed of a combination of these four elements.
There have been some changes in the interpretation of the exact meaning of the elements over time. As an example, today we know a lot more about the building blocks of matter and do not take that aspect literally. From Greek philosophy, the elements made it into mediaeval alchemy and magic, and this is how they ended up in Wicca.
So, what are the elements? Once again, I have no definite answer, only a try at my personal explanation. Elements are a central part of the huge network of associations used in western symbolism. Everything can be attached to one element or a combination of two or more elements. Once you mention them, there is an immediate flood of associations. However, they are not empty symbols. They are names, symbols for very powerful – and very real – forces, or rather, energies. On the physical level, they are linked to the different states of matter – solid, liquid, gaseous, plasma. On a personal level, they may be linked to certain experiences, states of mind. On an energy level, they are pure force, each different to the other. On the level of entities, there are elemental beings, or elementals, associated with each element. There are certain Gods associated with each element. The list is endless. The most important part is this: you can experience them. And that will help you much more than any explanation I could give you. We will take four weeks to go through the different elements. I will talk about each of the elements and then offer an exercise.
There is a beautiful song/chant by desert wind about the earth goddess Gaia that goes
“The earth is my body,
her water is my blood,
her winds are my breath,
her fire is my spirit” [1]
The elements are not only the building blocks of the universe, but also the forces of life.
[1] Desert Wind,Gaia, Earth Goddess: Ritual Dances of the Mother, 1992
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Contemplation: Wiccan Worldview
The exercise for this week is a contemplation on the topic “What is the Wiccan worldview? What is my personal world view?” For instructions on preparation etc. go back to the description of contemplation.
For the first two or three days, do the meditation without further preparation. See what topics come up that way. Remember to take notes, and to compare them at the end of the week, looking for consistency. After three days, browse through at least one Wicca 101 book and identify topics mentioned there that you have not considered yet. Include those topics in your contemplation exercise. I also give you a list of topics that might come up during the further course. Again, do not use that list during the first days. If you start with a book, or worse, a list, you might be focused too much on this list so that it is difficult for you to identify your own personal topics. So, enjoy this week's trip into your own beliefs.
List of topics:
- elements
- seasonal cycle, wheel of the year
- mythical creatures (elfs, fairies, dragons etc.)
- the Gaia theory
- magick (high and low magick)
...
For the first two or three days, do the meditation without further preparation. See what topics come up that way. Remember to take notes, and to compare them at the end of the week, looking for consistency. After three days, browse through at least one Wicca 101 book and identify topics mentioned there that you have not considered yet. Include those topics in your contemplation exercise. I also give you a list of topics that might come up during the further course. Again, do not use that list during the first days. If you start with a book, or worse, a list, you might be focused too much on this list so that it is difficult for you to identify your own personal topics. So, enjoy this week's trip into your own beliefs.
List of topics:
- elements
- seasonal cycle, wheel of the year
- mythical creatures (elfs, fairies, dragons etc.)
- the Gaia theory
- magick (high and low magick)
...
The Wiccan worldview
One of the things most pagans and Wiccans seem to do is to collect – and read – books, lots and lots of them. Through this, we all are soaking up a large collection of common themes for a Wiccan worldview. There is much discussion about the definition or minimum definition of Wicca, and I do not want to get into this topic. (If you are interested, take a look at the homepage of my tradition, UEW).
However, there is a large number of themes that can be found in a variety of traditions, and a lot of books. Typical examples are the four elements: you do not have to believe in them or work with them to be Wiccan. Nonetheless, there are very few books on Wicca I have read so far that do not at least mention them. There are a lot of other examples, too.
Why is this important? These ideas influence our perception of the Universe. The divine universe is something we want to know more about, we want to grow closer to. So the different parts of the Wican worldview gives us a starting point for exploring the divine universe. We will take some of these parts and work with them in the next weeks. However, not everybody agrees on the different aspects that can be part of the worldview of a Wiccan, and each person might incorporate different parts into their personal view of the world. You might even be doing this subconsciously, agreeing to some things and discounting other things whenever you read about them. In fact, you most probably are doing it subconsciously, never realizing what you really believe in, not reflecting on what parts you agree with, which ideas might be worth incorporating, and what concepts might sound good on the surface, but do feel wrong or do not fit once you go into more detail. Of course, I might be doing you an injustice, and you are much more conscious of your believes. It might still be interesting to take the time to look at your believes in detail.
This week, the only exercise will be a contemplation on your personal version of the Wiccan worldview – or, if you prefer, on your personal worldview. We want to grow closer to the divine universe, and a very important step is to know what this universe actually is, what it consists of. A lot of books simply tell you what you should believe, and then present you with corresponding meditations etc. Of course, I will present meditations and exercises that fit into my personal view of the world, but I want you to become aware of your own view of the world, so you can decide whether or not you want to include an exercise. This week's contemplation will give you a better foundation on which to base your decision instead of vague feelings of not liking a particular instruction – which might also come from the subconsious realisation that you probably will not like the answers you are likely to get (wich should not keep you from doing it!).
Of course, you can perform an exercise for a topic you do not believe in or are unsure about. Your experience might change your mind. However, if you decide to skip some exercise, then go back to earlier weeks and choose something else to do instead. Do not break the habit of daily practise.
At this point, I want to include another piece of warning: do not overdo it. Create a regular habit, if possible, but do not try to do a 30 minute meditation, followed by a pathworking, followed by a contemplation on three different topics. You do not have to focus completely on one thing, but take care that the amount of time is something you can reasonably dedicate to daily practise regularly. Also, if you try to do too many things, the experience will probably either get too intense – leaving you disoriented in your everyday life – or too shallow, and you cannot get as much out of it as you could otherwise.
However, there is a large number of themes that can be found in a variety of traditions, and a lot of books. Typical examples are the four elements: you do not have to believe in them or work with them to be Wiccan. Nonetheless, there are very few books on Wicca I have read so far that do not at least mention them. There are a lot of other examples, too.
Why is this important? These ideas influence our perception of the Universe. The divine universe is something we want to know more about, we want to grow closer to. So the different parts of the Wican worldview gives us a starting point for exploring the divine universe. We will take some of these parts and work with them in the next weeks. However, not everybody agrees on the different aspects that can be part of the worldview of a Wiccan, and each person might incorporate different parts into their personal view of the world. You might even be doing this subconsciously, agreeing to some things and discounting other things whenever you read about them. In fact, you most probably are doing it subconsciously, never realizing what you really believe in, not reflecting on what parts you agree with, which ideas might be worth incorporating, and what concepts might sound good on the surface, but do feel wrong or do not fit once you go into more detail. Of course, I might be doing you an injustice, and you are much more conscious of your believes. It might still be interesting to take the time to look at your believes in detail.
This week, the only exercise will be a contemplation on your personal version of the Wiccan worldview – or, if you prefer, on your personal worldview. We want to grow closer to the divine universe, and a very important step is to know what this universe actually is, what it consists of. A lot of books simply tell you what you should believe, and then present you with corresponding meditations etc. Of course, I will present meditations and exercises that fit into my personal view of the world, but I want you to become aware of your own view of the world, so you can decide whether or not you want to include an exercise. This week's contemplation will give you a better foundation on which to base your decision instead of vague feelings of not liking a particular instruction – which might also come from the subconsious realisation that you probably will not like the answers you are likely to get (wich should not keep you from doing it!).
Of course, you can perform an exercise for a topic you do not believe in or are unsure about. Your experience might change your mind. However, if you decide to skip some exercise, then go back to earlier weeks and choose something else to do instead. Do not break the habit of daily practise.
At this point, I want to include another piece of warning: do not overdo it. Create a regular habit, if possible, but do not try to do a 30 minute meditation, followed by a pathworking, followed by a contemplation on three different topics. You do not have to focus completely on one thing, but take care that the amount of time is something you can reasonably dedicate to daily practise regularly. Also, if you try to do too many things, the experience will probably either get too intense – leaving you disoriented in your everyday life – or too shallow, and you cannot get as much out of it as you could otherwise.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Dialogue with the Gods
Before, we talked about one-sided ways of communicating with the Gods: Talking to them through prayer and listening to them in our lives. This week, we will start a dialogue with the Gods.
In some of the previous pathworkings, we tried to communicate with the Gods. Pathworking, guided meditation, can be used to enter in a dialogue with the Gods. Repeat the meditation “Meeting the Gods” this week, but vary it:
Once you are in your safe place, you see not one, but two doors. One of them bears a sun disc, glowing golden. The other one is marked by a silver shining moon crescent. Look at both doors, and decide which one you want to take. Perhaps you can see a sign, an invitation, one door being locked, the other one not, or one symbol glowing invitingly. Open that door. There is a passage beyond, one that is adorned with the symbols and stories of either the Goddess, or the God, depending on the door you chose. Take some time to explore that passage, the displays.
At the end of the passage, you reach an open door, leading to a room that is smaller, more private than the throne room where you meet the God and Goddess together last time. It might be an audience chamber, or a sitting room. You are expected, by either the Goddess or the God, depending on the door you chose. Take a good look at Him/Her. He/She greets you. “Welcome. I have been expecting you.” Greet Him/Her and talk to Him/Her. Talk your own part, and listen for the answers and reactions.
...(If recording, leave a long pause for interaction).
Finally, you feel that it is time to return home. You thank the God/Goddess for the opportunity to talk to Him/Her. Then you return the same way you came here: Through the door, down the passage, into your safe place. From there, return to your body.
I probably told you this before, but I am happy to repeat it: Write down your experiences. Memory is a strange thing, and some things might stick with us, but others might slip away. Therefore, take your journal and write down your experiences.
In some of the previous pathworkings, we tried to communicate with the Gods. Pathworking, guided meditation, can be used to enter in a dialogue with the Gods. Repeat the meditation “Meeting the Gods” this week, but vary it:
Once you are in your safe place, you see not one, but two doors. One of them bears a sun disc, glowing golden. The other one is marked by a silver shining moon crescent. Look at both doors, and decide which one you want to take. Perhaps you can see a sign, an invitation, one door being locked, the other one not, or one symbol glowing invitingly. Open that door. There is a passage beyond, one that is adorned with the symbols and stories of either the Goddess, or the God, depending on the door you chose. Take some time to explore that passage, the displays.
At the end of the passage, you reach an open door, leading to a room that is smaller, more private than the throne room where you meet the God and Goddess together last time. It might be an audience chamber, or a sitting room. You are expected, by either the Goddess or the God, depending on the door you chose. Take a good look at Him/Her. He/She greets you. “Welcome. I have been expecting you.” Greet Him/Her and talk to Him/Her. Talk your own part, and listen for the answers and reactions.
...(If recording, leave a long pause for interaction).
Finally, you feel that it is time to return home. You thank the God/Goddess for the opportunity to talk to Him/Her. Then you return the same way you came here: Through the door, down the passage, into your safe place. From there, return to your body.
I probably told you this before, but I am happy to repeat it: Write down your experiences. Memory is a strange thing, and some things might stick with us, but others might slip away. Therefore, take your journal and write down your experiences.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
May Eve
Beltaine is already over, but I forgot to post the (already prepared) Beltaine pathworking last week, so I'll just slip it in this week.
Last week was May Eve, or Beltaine. April, the month of often changing weather, is over, and spring has definitely taken hold. There is fresh green everywhere. Have you ever realized that the colour of spring green is quite different from the greens you see later in the year?
It is a time of joy, of celebration and of growth. According to the myths, this is the night when the Goddess receives the seed of the next sun god, the one who will be born next winter solstice. So this is a feast of fertility rites, where the goal is to recognise, to celebrate and to participate in the joyful union of Goddess and God.
The pathworking for this sabbat is quite low-key, but it can be changed to be much more explicit if you want to.
Pathworking May Eve
Make yourself comfortable. Take some deep breaths and relax. Let go of stress, anger, anxiety.
Close your eyes and go to your safe place. Turn around and look for the door. It is there, quite unobtrusive, with an eight spoked wheel engraved.
Open the door. On the other side, the sun filters through the fresh green of the trees, and draws patterns through the woods. Flowers line the path leading from the door. You follow the path, walking among the trees, and listen to the friendly chatter of the birds. Your path leads you downwards, slowly getting steeper...
From beyond the trees, you can hear laughter and singing. You reach the bottom of the descent, and the trees give way to a wide open meadow. Here is where the joyful sounds come from. A may pole is erected in the centre of the meadow, its ribbons dancing in the gentle breeze.
The meadow is full of flowers, and the people gathered are adorned with the prettiest of these. Some of the people are singing, while others are walking around and greeting each other . Among them, you can see the Sun God, unmistakable in his golden glow, and the Goddess.
One of them sees you and waves at you, so you join them.
(Leave time for interaction)
Suddenly, the Goddess clasps her hands. “I'd like to dance. Who will join me?”
Somehow, you end up among the dancers, clasping one of the ribbons of the may pole. What colour does it have?
The music is provided by the singers, and the dance is simple, a lively weaving around the pole.
(Leave time, insert music if possible)
The dance gets slower and slower, until it finally ends. The ribbons have woven a pattern around the pole. Yoru last partner bows to you and leaves.
Next to you, you can see the God kissing the Goddess, and then she draws him with her, away from the people, into the wood. Some people cheer as they see them vanishing, and some other pairs follow their example.
You watch them leave, and then it is time for you to return. You slip away silently and follow the path that led you here, up the hill and through the forest, until you stand before the door that has brought you here. You open the door and return to your safe place.
From here, return to your body. Take some deep breaths to return and readjust. Count from 10 to 1. Open your eyes. Welcome back.
Last week was May Eve, or Beltaine. April, the month of often changing weather, is over, and spring has definitely taken hold. There is fresh green everywhere. Have you ever realized that the colour of spring green is quite different from the greens you see later in the year?
It is a time of joy, of celebration and of growth. According to the myths, this is the night when the Goddess receives the seed of the next sun god, the one who will be born next winter solstice. So this is a feast of fertility rites, where the goal is to recognise, to celebrate and to participate in the joyful union of Goddess and God.
The pathworking for this sabbat is quite low-key, but it can be changed to be much more explicit if you want to.
Pathworking May Eve
Make yourself comfortable. Take some deep breaths and relax. Let go of stress, anger, anxiety.
Close your eyes and go to your safe place. Turn around and look for the door. It is there, quite unobtrusive, with an eight spoked wheel engraved.
Open the door. On the other side, the sun filters through the fresh green of the trees, and draws patterns through the woods. Flowers line the path leading from the door. You follow the path, walking among the trees, and listen to the friendly chatter of the birds. Your path leads you downwards, slowly getting steeper...
From beyond the trees, you can hear laughter and singing. You reach the bottom of the descent, and the trees give way to a wide open meadow. Here is where the joyful sounds come from. A may pole is erected in the centre of the meadow, its ribbons dancing in the gentle breeze.
The meadow is full of flowers, and the people gathered are adorned with the prettiest of these. Some of the people are singing, while others are walking around and greeting each other . Among them, you can see the Sun God, unmistakable in his golden glow, and the Goddess.
One of them sees you and waves at you, so you join them.
(Leave time for interaction)
Suddenly, the Goddess clasps her hands. “I'd like to dance. Who will join me?”
Somehow, you end up among the dancers, clasping one of the ribbons of the may pole. What colour does it have?
The music is provided by the singers, and the dance is simple, a lively weaving around the pole.
(Leave time, insert music if possible)
The dance gets slower and slower, until it finally ends. The ribbons have woven a pattern around the pole. Yoru last partner bows to you and leaves.
Next to you, you can see the God kissing the Goddess, and then she draws him with her, away from the people, into the wood. Some people cheer as they see them vanishing, and some other pairs follow their example.
You watch them leave, and then it is time for you to return. You slip away silently and follow the path that led you here, up the hill and through the forest, until you stand before the door that has brought you here. You open the door and return to your safe place.
From here, return to your body. Take some deep breaths to return and readjust. Count from 10 to 1. Open your eyes. Welcome back.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Listening to the Gods
In our prayers, we talk to the Gods. In our lives, they talk to us. The only problem is that most of the time we are not listening. How are they talking to us? There are little signs, symbols along our way, sentences we hear, sometimes without context, on our way to work, a randomly opened page in a book, an animal crossing our path. The possibilities are endless. Take one day this week and try to go through the day with all your senses open, aware of the possibility that the Gods might be giving you a message. If you want to, light a stick of incense in the morning and ask a question. Look in your life, during your day, for the answer. Beware, it might come in some quite unexpected places and situations.
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