tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41226493329891070942011-07-29T07:57:34.643+02:00Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.comBlogger701100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-9946896250014349792010-02-20T13:58:00.000+01:002010-02-20T13:59:43.654+01:00

I have to admit that while the topic for this post has been clear for a while, I am at a loss on how to approach it. How do you try to faciliate the mystical experience of oneness with the universe? It is a rare experience for me, but one that has been very precious. I know no clever pathworking or exercise, or anything, to promote oneness with everything. You see, we all are already one with the

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-4141323867928032982010-02-13T19:48:00.002+01:002010-02-13T19:52:57.023+01:00

All to often, we have an inspiring meeting with the Divine, with the Gods, in ritual, on a special day, and get smashed out of it during the grey, dull days of everyday work that follow. One antidote to that is to spend a short, special moment every day where we can meet with our Gods. That can be quite informal and spontaneous, but what I propose today is to create a five-minute ritual that is

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-86314892441926540472010-02-09T07:37:00.000+01:002010-02-09T07:38:32.913+01:00

This is the last exercise about getting into contact with the divine self, and it is about meeting our different selves. We all have different aspects in our personality. Perhaps I should say that I know I have them, and so I presume you also have them. Some of them are very dominant, and can be seen in everyday life. Others may be hidden and known only to ourself, or even suppressed and unknown

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-17576392678919805522010-01-30T10:48:00.003+01:002010-01-30T10:54:08.035+01:00

The sun has turned at winter solstice, and yet it has been difficult to recognize the change. From now on, the return of the light is more noticeable even though it is still winter, and nature is still sleeping quietly. This day is also known as the festival of Brigid, an Irish Goddess and Saint. In the cycle of the God, this is the time when He grows, from child to adolescent. At spring equinox,

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-63074923171842144982010-01-24T11:52:00.003+01:002010-01-24T13:06:14.978+01:00

I started this blog with the intention of writing a one year course on getting into contact with the divine daily. The year is almost over by now, and this course draws to a close. I have four more posts planned: one for Imbolc next week, and one final meditation for each of the three aspects of the divine in February. Today, there will be no exercise but a list of book recommendations for

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-416723750234393342010-01-16T12:15:00.000+01:002010-01-16T12:16:01.604+01:00

Winter has finally arrived in Munich. There are loads of snow out there, and when I first thought about this meditation, it was still snowing. All too often, we walk through our lives, head down, without risking a glance to the sides. This is an exercise about recognising the beauty that surrounds us every day. Do the exercise on a day when it is snowing, or at least when you have some snow lying

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-46978402325916002472010-01-09T10:49:00.002+01:002010-01-09T11:14:23.604+01:00

One of the last exercises was retrospection, and originally, I planned to include some parts about exploring yourself next. Due to the unexpected hiatus, I will skip these, and today's topic is about planning and setting goals. Traditionally, New Year is the time for setting goals that are forgotten by the end of January – the classical New year resolutions. Obviously, these are useless and a

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-2713743832723338892009-12-30T19:19:00.002+01:002009-12-30T19:26:28.072+01:00

My last post has been quite a while, but I hope to go back to writing regularily in 2010 again. The post for today is late, too, because it is a pathworking for winter solstice, or Yule. Right now, it is dark, very dark. Many people now leave their houses in the morning when it is still dark and return in the evening, when it is dark again. It is during this time of the year that we have time for

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-72690554475921404152009-11-08T12:18:00.001+01:002009-11-08T12:22:34.519+01:00

As a new year has begun, it is time to look back over what happened during the last year. Take something to write and go to a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Light a candle and some incense, if you want to. If you have been writing Daily Pages in the last year, or some kind of journal, take that with you, too. First of all, think about important topics or areas of your life. Restrict

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-13798386265274084932009-11-08T12:10:00.000+01:002009-11-08T12:18:44.442+01:00

In some traditions, the New Year starts at Samhain. The year starts with the dark half, with winter, just as the day starts with the evening, at sunset. Therefore, for me the time around Samhain is the time for introspection, for looking back over the last year, and for looking forward into what I want to do and be next year. In terms of the three aspects of the divine, introspection means

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-14880484573218918462009-11-01T20:11:00.000+01:002009-11-01T20:14:24.498+01:00

Blessed (belated) Samhain to everyone. I am sorry, but what happened this Smahain was kind of unexpected and I did not manage to write a meditation this week. I will hopefully resume blogging next weekend.

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-73666586522120924672009-10-24T10:20:00.000+02:002009-10-24T10:20:00.245+02:00

After getting up in the morning, before you do anything else, go outside. Bring a cup of water with you. Go to a place where you can stand barefoot on the earth, your garden or a nearby park, or somewhere in the wilderness. Do a grounding exercise, and connect to that earth beneath you. Become aware of the air around you, the winds, the sounds that reach you. Take the cup of water, and take a sip

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-4014292892170341602009-10-18T10:16:00.000+02:002009-10-18T10:17:25.001+02:00

Part of the reason why I started writing this course was that I wanted to find a way to build a regular meditation practise that would help to integrate religion and spirituality into our daily lives instead of reserving it for special holy days. This week, I want to have a look at the interaction of our religion and our life. In my Wiccan tradition, one of the first things we ask our students to

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-83178262373457708672009-10-11T09:04:00.000+02:002009-10-11T09:19:51.079+02:00

The season I like best is autumn. When the weather is fine, I like to go outside, enjoying the last warm rays of a sun that is quickly loosing its strength, and watching the changing colours and the winds that carry away the leaves from the trees. When the weather is rainy, however, I like to do an autumn candle meditation.For this meditation, you need: a rainy day, at least half an hour of time

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-32579942022205516942009-10-03T14:26:00.000+02:002009-10-03T14:26:00.477+02:00

Currently, it is harvest time, and that is a good reason to enjoy the pleasure the harvest can mean for us. On a beautiful day, sit in the sun. Connect to the earth below you and the sky above you. Take some fruits that grow where you live and that are currently ripe – if it is possible and safe to do so, gather them yourself. An example would be to pick some apples from the tree in your garden,

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-27461751351264264922009-09-26T13:24:00.000+02:002009-09-26T13:24:00.511+02:00

Last week was Autumn equinox, a sabbat that is considered to be a harvest celebration, the second of three harvest festivals in some traditions. In our times, few people actively participate in the harvest by collecting vegetables from a field, canning fruits or doing any of the work associated with harvest. Mostly, we enjoy that a variety of fresh, local food is available. However, harvest time

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-32224477738147922362009-09-20T22:09:00.002+02:002009-09-20T22:12:17.726+02:00

This week is the time of autumn equinox (the exact date is 22nd of September). Day and night are of equal length. The sun is slowly loosing strength. In nature, it is early autumn right now: the first coloured leaves can be seen, and harvest is in full swing. In my area, the first pumpkins are ripe and the temperature has dropped below 20°C most of the time, so it is easy to notice that autumn

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-72549575260556563442009-09-12T13:35:00.000+02:002009-09-12T13:35:00.477+02:00

On a night of the new moon, sit down in a quiet spot, preferably somewhere where you can see the night sky. Take some deep breaths and relax. Gaze upon the night sky while you let go of anger, stress, anxiety and distractions. Then, close your eyes. Go to your safe place. It is a very dark night here. Only the slimmest crescent of the moon is visible in the sky. Its light touches you, and in

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-61790112041842172972009-09-12T13:30:00.000+02:002009-09-12T13:30:00.615+02:00

The fourth face of the Goddess is her terrible one: destruction, war and death. She is the Dark Mother, the one who takes back what the Mother has given. A mythological example might be Persephone, who reigns the underworld, or the war Goddess Morrigan. She is not gentle, and Her wrath is terrible. Most often, this forth face is not part of the mythology of the moon Goddess. Her warrior aspects

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-78230503652464136202009-09-06T16:25:00.002+02:002009-09-06T16:30:14.857+02:00

On a night of the waning moon, sit down in a quiet spot, preferably somewhere where you can see the moon. Take some deep breaths and relax. Gaze upon or visualize the waning moon while you let go of anger, stress, anxiety and distractions. Then, close your eyes. Go to your safe place. It is night here, but the night is illuminated a bit by a waning moon shining dimly in the sky. The moonlight

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-3855426812051435132009-09-06T16:22:00.001+02:002009-09-06T16:25:21.995+02:00

The Crone is the Old One, the Wise One. Her children have grown up, become independent and so she is free once more. But she has the experience of a lifetime that helps her judge any situation, and from that comes the wisdom that avoids rash actions, but knows when to act. The crone also has come to know loss, and grief, and in times when we need consolation, we can turn to her. She can teach us

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-75029422158761018572009-08-29T08:40:00.000+02:002009-08-29T08:40:00.189+02:00

The threefold Goddess: Meditations on Maiden, Mother, Crone and HagOn a night of the full moon, sit down in a quiet spot, preferably somewhere where you can see the full moon. Take some deep breaths and relax. Gaze upon or visualize the full moon while you let go of anger, stress, anxiety and distractions. Then, close your eyes. Go to your safe place. It is night here, but the night is

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-60339536105505486842009-08-29T08:37:00.000+02:002009-08-29T08:37:00.543+02:00

The threefold Goddess: Meditations on Maiden, Mother, Crone and HagThe mother obviously corresponds to the woman during pregnancy and after childbirth, as long as she looks after her children. This can be quite literally, but it can also be metaphorically, a person taking on responsibility, creating projects, caring for the execution, organising things etc. The mother is the woman with

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-4511653781513185662009-08-21T20:29:00.004+02:002009-08-21T20:43:08.956+02:00

The threefold Goddess: Meditations on Maiden, Mother, Crone and HagOn a night of the waxing moon (like this week), choose a quiet spot. It would be best if you could look at the waxing moon. If not, take a look at it before you sit down, or visualize the crescent. Take some deep breaths and relax. Gaze upon or visualize the moon while you let go of anger, stress and distractions. Then, close your

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-92218571766354135722009-08-21T20:23:00.001+02:002009-08-21T20:28:33.648+02:00

The threefold Goddess: Meditations on Maiden, Mother, Crone and HagWhen I talked about the moon, I talked about the three faces of the Goddess: maiden, mother and crone. The maiden roughly corresponds to the age of a woman between childhood and childbirth – without taking both parts overly literal. She is the virgin, the woman without attachments, without dependants, who has the freedom to do as

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-1541577815942380892009-08-15T11:00:00.000+02:002009-08-15T11:00:03.582+02:00

In the Charge of the Goddess it says “and you shall sing, dance, feast, [...] all in my praise, for mine [...] is joy on earth”. I suggest we do just that!A traditional part of Wiccan ritual is “cakes and wine”. Depending on your tradition and persoanl preference, the drink may be wine, mostly red wine, juice, mead or any other beverage. The food is most often cookies, or a cake, but may be

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-69831833006300392692009-08-01T13:00:00.001+02:002009-08-01T13:00:01.938+02:00

In the Charge of the Goddess it says “and you shall sing, dance, feast, [...] all in my praise, for mine [...] is joy on earth”. I suggest we do just that!Choose a piece of music you like to dance to. Again, it does not have to be something specifically pagan, just something suited to you and your needs. It can be something slow and sensual, a love song, or something energetic, animated.Choose a

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-88312889078588368582009-07-26T10:34:00.001+02:002009-07-26T10:38:02.865+02:00

In the Charge of the Goddess it says “and you shall sing, dance, feast, [...] all in my praise, for mine [...] is joy on earth”. I suggest we do just that! Singing and dancing are wonderful ways to express your joy in life, your gratefulness, or on the other hand to express and transform anger, depression, loneliness.Chose a chant or a song you like, or – if you feel inspired – write one. Choose

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-7126096753518586922009-07-18T11:30:00.001+02:002009-07-18T11:33:12.978+02:00

The next new moon is on Wednesday, so that would be the perfect night to perform this meditation. On a new moon's night, sit down somewhere dark and quiet. It would be best if you could look into the sky and see the stars, the missing moon. Take some deep breaths and relax. Become aware of your surroundings: the quiet, the darkness, the shadows visible in the star light, the distant glimmer of

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-36926692130626645982009-07-18T11:28:00.000+02:002009-07-18T11:30:50.193+02:00

Darkness is one of the primal fears of mankind. We fear what we cannot see, cannot understand. The new moon is the darkest time in the cycle of sun and moon. And yet, if you want to see the stars, they are clearer on a new moon night, without interfering light from the moon. It is through looking into darkness that we can find hidden things. Darkness is a transition that enables new beginnings,

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-91542926184579516132009-07-11T15:00:00.001+02:002009-07-11T15:02:45.920+02:00

At the beginning of this week, choose an affirmation. It can be one you find somewhere, and I will give some examples at the end of this exercise, but from my experience it is best if you take the time to find/write your own affirmation. For that, sit down in a quiet place and have paper and pen ready. Relax yourself and quiet your mind. Then, focus your attention on your current life situation.

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-37484912631093157362009-07-11T14:57:00.001+02:002009-07-11T15:00:40.484+02:00

Affirmations are short sentences that we repeat to ourselves over and over again, both in our minds and speaking out loud. Through continuous repetition, you start to believe it, and you – and your life – start to adapt to the affirmation. Choose affirmations that have to do with yourself, your perception of yourself and your life – not affirmations that run completely counter to hard facts. As

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-21103354910714238642009-07-05T16:37:00.001+02:002009-07-05T16:37:54.590+02:00

Choose a place where you can sit down and gaze at the full moon. Make yourself comfortable. Take a few deep breaths and relax...Raise your eyes to the moon. The silver moon shines down on you, bathing you in its cool, silver light. Open yourself, and allow the light to stream into you, flow through you, illuminate you. Feel the touch, the caress of the moon. Empty your mind from all other

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-15910868495963450002009-07-05T16:36:00.001+02:002009-07-05T16:36:34.562+02:00

What is the difference between worshipping the moon and honouring a Goddess for which the moon is a symbol? Implications?

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-86972079112598106012009-07-05T16:27:00.001+02:002009-07-05T16:35:59.874+02:00

The moon carries a certain fascination. Through the ages it has been connected with Gods, inspired poets and artists, watched over lovers or just given comfort in a dark night. In Wicca, the moon (often) is a symbol for the threefold Goddess, She who embodies change, and the life cycle of women. There is the maiden, the young one, connected to the waxing moon, full of joy, free of burden, without

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-19754109096201211212009-06-28T19:46:00.004+02:002009-06-28T19:54:02.567+02:00

As I wrote before, I am currently on a tour through Ireland. Therefore, this week's post is shorter than the ones before. The topic is something that has occupied my thoughts during the last week for some reasons: Mother Earth. We often use that expression, in a variety of contexts. But what do we mean with it? Who is that creature, and what is our relationship to Her?So, this week I suggest a

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-54380197909999818062009-06-20T20:06:00.001+02:002009-06-23T08:17:30.005+02:00

The flickering flame of the candle, the comforting sound of a bonfire, or the blazing rage of a destructive fire, always bringing with them the heat, and the change, that forms its nature. The state of matter is plasma, an ionized gas, a state of high energy. That is what fire mainly symbolizes: energy, lots and lots of it. Fire destroys, it causes change by consuming things, transforming them.

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-60628403428145877852009-06-14T21:59:00.002+02:002009-06-14T22:06:49.223+02:00

First of all, I want to apologize for being late with this week's post, which is an air meditation (see below). I have been occupied with preparations for my holiday. I will be leaving for Ireland tomorrow morning for two weeks of vacation. Therefore, I might not be able to put up a post fot the next two weeks. Posting will resume on July 4th at the latest.

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-63798153314740384142009-06-14T21:54:00.001+02:002009-06-14T21:59:42.801+02:00

A gentle breeze, cool on a hot summer's day, a strong wind heralding the coming storm. The beautiful smell of a meadow in spring colours. The first sun ray in the morning. The state of matter of air is gaseous, and its qualities are sometimes difficult to grasp: Air stands for freedom, new beginnings, adventure, curiosity, but also for intellect, knowledge. Air is something that surrounds us all

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-78253951807884276712009-06-06T11:25:00.002+02:002009-06-14T22:13:26.106+02:00

Raindrops falling from the sky, the crystal clear water following the river bed towards the sea, grey at times, beautifully blue and green at other times. Steam rising to the skies, gathering in clouds, before the water returns to the earth again as rain. Water is liquid, both in its state of matter and in its nature: accepting, embracing, surrounding, adapting, ever changing, but always the same

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-52523187806982656402009-05-30T11:17:00.000+02:002009-05-30T11:23:39.026+02:00

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

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-52262028183338154612009-05-30T11:11:00.001+02:002009-05-30T11:17:16.840+02:00

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

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-9837771793173959582009-05-23T09:12:00.001+02:002009-05-23T09:15:40.837+02:00

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

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-83301139809983930682009-05-23T09:04:00.003+02:002009-05-23T09:13:18.536+02:00

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)

Windsonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11314061890705179615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4122649332989107094.post-47420794711857971332009-05-17T10:54:00.002+02:002009-05-17T11:01:15.450+02:00

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,

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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

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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

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The most common form of communicating with the Gods is through prayer. I already talked about that quite a bit, so I will not repeat myself here. A way to intensify your prayers is to include small offerings. A typical example is incense. For this week, speak a prayer each morning (or each evening, whichever you prefer) in which you ask the Gods to bless your day (or something similar). Each time

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"The Gods are divine", and therefore the Gods are one aspect we want to get into closer contact with during this course. In contrast to the Self and the Universe, the Gods provide a divine counterpart, one that makes real communication possible. Therefore, the exercises for this part will be threefold: Listening, talking and communicating or dialogue with the Gods. However, before we start with

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Our hearts are our feelings, emotions, our dreams, desires and fears. They are what motivates us, what moves us. You have already taken a big step towards meeting your heart if you started writing Daily Pages at the beginning of this course. If you have not, go back now and start now!This week, re-examine these daily pages. What have you written about? What did you feel strongly about, whether

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Your body is your temple. We are all stuck with our bodies for this life. Yet it is astonishing how little we know about it, how little we are aware of it, and how little we care about it. There are a lot of things we can do to honor this temple. One important part is to take care of it: eat healthy, and keep fit. You do not have to fulfil any ideal of beauty. You have to feel comfortable in your

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"The self is divine". I discussed this idea before. You are divine, I am divine. The Church of All Worlds expresses this as "Thou art God". Therefore, we strife to come to know ourselves better, to come into contact with ourselves in order to know the divine. But what is our self, what parts does it consist of? There are a lot of concepts, but I will tell you my personal belief. Basically, there

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Preparation: Follow the preparations already given in the pathworking for your safe place. Be comfortable, relax, make sure you have enough time and will not be disturbed. Either memorize the pathworking or record the text. Take a few breaths and relax. Go to your safe place. By now you should have repeated the pathworking for your safe place often enough that you can reach it easily and fast. If

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Visualisation is one of these skills everybody has – but it needs practise. Reading books, daydreaming, planning for the future are all activities that employ and hone your visualisation skills. The exercise given here is meant to practise visualisation without any further goal associated with it. Each day this week, pick a fruit – apple, orange, grape, kiwi, cherry, whatever. It is best if you

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One of the most fascinating abilities of the human being is the ability to visualize something: to see it in his minds eye as clearly as if it as before him. That ability is a prerequisite for making plans for the future, for engineering something, for creative work, for a lot of things. Incidentally, it is also a component of magic and of some meditation techniques like pathworking.

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This week is the time of spring equinox. Day and night are of equal length. The sun is strong enough to conquer the dark. In nature, it is early spring right now: the first spring flowers can be seen, and there is a certain smell of expectation in the air. In the cycle of the God, this is the time when he grows into a young man and starts courting the Goddess who returns his attention as the

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Different mythologies can be found for the wheel of the year, the seasonal cycles. Two of them are most prominent in Wicca: The Sun God, who is born in winter, grows with the sun in strength, courts the Goddess, grows old and dies only to be reborn again, and the mythology of the two Gods who rule for half a year and do battle at the equinoxes. For this meditation series, I will stick with the

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The following is the first guided mediation or pathworking that will help you to find and explore a safe haven. The place will be your starting point in future pathworkings, so take the time to build it up and explore it. Record the following text, making appropriate pauses and speaking slowly ("appropriate" meaning rather long. They will not feel as long once you actually do the meditation.)

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Our breath is something that accompanies us all the time. It is a prerequisite for life. However, most of the time we are not aware of our breathing in the least. In this meditation, we will focus completely upon our breath. Preparation:Choose a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Switch off the phone. Make sure you have enough time. Use a clock if you have to be finished at a certain

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The topic for this week is "The self is divine", and the implications of this statement. Preparation: Choose a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Switch off the phone. Make sure you have enough time. Use a clock if you have to be finished at a certain time; this will make you more calm during the contemplation exercise. Make yourself comfortable, but not too comfortable to avoid falling

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Meditation is a word that is used often, and in more than one meaning. Linda Chrisman at answers.com defines meditation as „a practice of concentrated focus upon a sound, object, visualization, the breath, movement, or attention itself in order to increase awareness of the present moment, reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance personal and spiritual growth.“[1]Originally, the word comes

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One of the five basic creeds of my tradition is the Ethic of Attunement to the Divine. That means for me that throughout my life, I should constantly try to grow closer to the Divine. "Attunement" means growing closer, coming to know better, becoming more similar to the Divine.This idea uses a very general word: "Divine". What is this Divine? I cannot answer this question for sure, and probably

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Short versionWrite a daily diary. Choose a medium you like, pen and paper, a nice notebook, a computer, whatever. Make sure it is not read by anyone but yourself. Write at least one page per day. Rationale and tipsWhy should you write a diary? It sounds so childish. Ok, so we call it daily pages, instead of diary. You write at least one page every day. The topic does not matter much. Write about

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Simple versionTake a comfortable position. Watch your breath. Concentrate only on your breath. Think: In... Out... Do not change your breath, just let it flow naturally and follow it with your attention. If other thoughts interfere, let them pass and move your attention back to your breath again. Do this for some minutes.Long versionBasically, the simple version given above is all. However, here

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The most common and easiest way of contacting divine Beings is prayer: talking to them, confident that they will hear you, but expecting no immediate answer. Basically, there are two different forms of prayer: formal vs. informal. Formal prayer is something that is said or done always the same way. An example would be saying grace at meals and using the same sentences every time. Doing it this

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Here we go: today the one year course for coming into contact with the divine daily starts! We will start slowly through the first weeks, with some very, very basic exercises. The important first step is to create a habit of doing something daily. So this week, we will start with prayer. There are a lot of reasons to speak a prayer, and it will not take much time. If possible, you should free

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I started these introductory posts too early – I am running out of things to say before the beginning of the course. So I will take the opportunity to talk about myself a bit. I started on my path as a pagan something like 15 years ago. At that time, I did not know anything about internet, but I had read a lot of self-help books and stumbled over a copy of Starhawk's “Spiral Dance”, and Z.

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Most religions have a (more or less clear) definition of what makes you a member of that religion. You have to be baptised to be a Christian, or initiated for some branches of Wicca etc. For me, the important question is not whether somebody is officially recognized as a member of a religion or tradition or whatever. The important question is: Does it make a difference? Am I influenced by the

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The course will probably consist of 52 weekly packages. Each one will include some theoretical musings and at least one exercise. The course is called daily practice, so you should take a bit of time each day when you perform the exercises. In order to get the most out of the course, I recommend that you try each exercise at least once, so you can give an estimation of whether it works for you.

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Hail and welcome to all who have found their way here! This blog is intended as a collection of meditations and exercises that allow us to get into closer contact with the Divine. I will post them weekly as I practise them, and I hope to find readers who join me and practise those meditations they find interesting and helpful. So who am I? I am known as Windsong, and I have been a practising

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