With more effort, Will write more improved essays on Paganism.
This blog kinda sux. Sorry for the inconvience.
tomeofthewomb.blogspot.com
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
4th lesson Terms!
For this lesson I will put up websites with the necessary terms for you to know, then I will ask some questions for you to answer as always.
I would also like to commend you on your progress on your studies, I will also put up a site which will tell you about energy exercises to help with the manipulation of magick and so on a so forth.
~TERMS!~
http://www.silverenchantments.com/pagan-terms-glossary.html
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/4885/paganterms.html
These are but some terms to know, no here are some questions.
1. Knowing just a little bit about ritual tools, which one you think you'll prefer?.
2. What do you think a spell is?
3. Whats a book of shadows?
4. Do you think a spirit and a soul are the same thing?
5. What form of divination do you think you'll use?
6. Whats and Athame?
7. Whats a Bolline?
8. Whats a Burin?
9. What craft tools you think are essential for ritual?
10. What form of divination do you favor?
11. whats an Esbat and a Sabbat?
12. What does Deosil mean?
13. And questions so far?
I know your getting an idea of the pagan sabbats/holidays, write me 2 paragraphs on each one and tell me what you may like about each one.
OK, I also know that you wish to take your part in forming a relationship with the Celtic deities, I want you to research ~Cernunons ~Kerridwen ~Pan ~Lugh ~ Arianrhod and i wish for you to write about then for me and tell me why you like or dont like about them...ect
ENERGY MANIPULATION EXERCISES
Energy is all around us, whether it can be seen or not. A fair example would be the wind, it cannot be seen but everyone knows that it is there. Really, there is no such things as individuality in the sense that everyone and everything is a separate being for this matter. Energy is micro-sized matter coming from the medium of space, creating the backdrop of universal energy. As The Law of Conservation of Energy has stated, energy is neither created* nor destroyed, forever constant and always transferring from one object to another. Being this is the case, everything is connected to each other via this universal energy or all would fall apart due to the breaks in the energy. The manipulation of this energy is possible with enough will power. Telekinesis is the basic act of will matching matter.
And example of the Law of Conservation of energy is burning wood. The energy from the wood is transiting to the fire, giving the fire something to feed off of (fire consists of only heat and energy), until it is discharged into the air where it will disperse back into as heat and smoke only to be used again as something else somewhere else if not the same place.
Instead of using the personal energy the psychic already has within himself or herself because it would be tiring and cause near immediate burn out, the energy is channeled from the universe instead. This will not harm the universe any since there is more universal energy than the mind can comprehend due to the theory that space is expansive as well as never ending. The energy can be stored anywhere in the psychic from a single chakra (energy center) to the physical body itself. A chakra is an energy center that stores different types of energy in each chakra. There are many chakras. there are seven major chakras that are used:
1. Root chakra (survival and foundation, red)
2. Sacral chakra (sexuality, orange)
3. Solar Plexus chakra (balance, yellow)
4. Heart chakra (compassion and love, green)
5. Throat chakra (communication, blue)
6. Third Eye chakra (psychism and intuition, purple/indigo)
7. Crown chakra (Divinity and spirituality, all color but no color/rainbow/violet)
Also there are chakras in the palms of the hands and center soles of the feet used to circulate energy
There are many ways to channel the energy. Energies can be derived from:
· The Sun
· The Moon
· A particular star
· Any star
· The Earth
· An imagined field of energy (what is imaginary can become reality)
· A deity
· Anywhere
From these elements, a psi ball can be created. A psi ball is a sphere formulated from compacted energies formed and pressed together by the psychic properties of the mind, thus earning the name "psi ball" or "energy ball."
Energy gathering/psi ball meditation
(Drawing from the Earth)
Imagine that you are sitting or standing on the earth in all its entirety or right where you are. From your feet chakras or root chakra, drop down a cord or roots to the core of the earth, effortlessly falling through every layer. Sense its fire and intensity in its every movement and churn. Like water, absorb the energy of the earth up the cord/root and into yourself. Drawing in the energy, store it within your energy center (solar plexus, third eye, sense where you pick up energy the best) and fill it as if it were a glass sphere. From this sphere, or from yourself if you have chosen so, send the energy out through your hands, your energy center or even yourself. Visualize it emitting as a kind gentle mist spraying from your chosen energy center or right through your skin. If you would like, you may cup your hand as if holding a star or dough. Let your mind draw out the energy in the form a small ball until it is tightly compacted. Hold it there for a minute.
When letting go of the psi-ball, let it fade from existence, fall gently to the grown or send it back into the world.
(Drawing from Universe)
Imagine the chosen image (Sun, Moon, Star, etc) above your head, alive with light and vigor. Its starts to pour its energy into you like a waterfall, filling you with celestial light and energy. Drawing in the energy, store it within your energy center (solar plexus, third eye, sense where you pick up energy the best) and fill it as if it were a glass sphere. From this sphere, or from yourself if you have chosen so, send the energy out through your hands, your energy center or even yourself. Visualize it emitting as a kind gentle mist spraying from your chosen energy center or right through your skin. If you would like, you may cup your hand as if holding a star or dough. Let your mind draw out the energy in the form a small ball until it is tightly compacted. Hold it there for a minute.
When letting go of the psi-ball, let it fade from existence, fall gently to the grown or send it back into the world.
A more “chaotic” version that can be used to draw energy from the cosmos around you is to imagine energy particles being drawn into you like a magnet.
Any more questions? ask em through here. and good luck.
I would also like to commend you on your progress on your studies, I will also put up a site which will tell you about energy exercises to help with the manipulation of magick and so on a so forth.
~TERMS!~
http://www.silverenchantments.com/pagan-terms-glossary.html
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/4885/paganterms.html
These are but some terms to know, no here are some questions.
1. Knowing just a little bit about ritual tools, which one you think you'll prefer?.
2. What do you think a spell is?
3. Whats a book of shadows?
4. Do you think a spirit and a soul are the same thing?
5. What form of divination do you think you'll use?
6. Whats and Athame?
7. Whats a Bolline?
8. Whats a Burin?
9. What craft tools you think are essential for ritual?
10. What form of divination do you favor?
11. whats an Esbat and a Sabbat?
12. What does Deosil mean?
13. And questions so far?
I know your getting an idea of the pagan sabbats/holidays, write me 2 paragraphs on each one and tell me what you may like about each one.
OK, I also know that you wish to take your part in forming a relationship with the Celtic deities, I want you to research ~Cernunons ~Kerridwen ~Pan ~Lugh ~ Arianrhod and i wish for you to write about then for me and tell me why you like or dont like about them...ect
ENERGY MANIPULATION EXERCISES
Energy is all around us, whether it can be seen or not. A fair example would be the wind, it cannot be seen but everyone knows that it is there. Really, there is no such things as individuality in the sense that everyone and everything is a separate being for this matter. Energy is micro-sized matter coming from the medium of space, creating the backdrop of universal energy. As The Law of Conservation of Energy has stated, energy is neither created* nor destroyed, forever constant and always transferring from one object to another. Being this is the case, everything is connected to each other via this universal energy or all would fall apart due to the breaks in the energy. The manipulation of this energy is possible with enough will power. Telekinesis is the basic act of will matching matter.
And example of the Law of Conservation of energy is burning wood. The energy from the wood is transiting to the fire, giving the fire something to feed off of (fire consists of only heat and energy), until it is discharged into the air where it will disperse back into as heat and smoke only to be used again as something else somewhere else if not the same place.
Instead of using the personal energy the psychic already has within himself or herself because it would be tiring and cause near immediate burn out, the energy is channeled from the universe instead. This will not harm the universe any since there is more universal energy than the mind can comprehend due to the theory that space is expansive as well as never ending. The energy can be stored anywhere in the psychic from a single chakra (energy center) to the physical body itself. A chakra is an energy center that stores different types of energy in each chakra. There are many chakras. there are seven major chakras that are used:
1. Root chakra (survival and foundation, red)
2. Sacral chakra (sexuality, orange)
3. Solar Plexus chakra (balance, yellow)
4. Heart chakra (compassion and love, green)
5. Throat chakra (communication, blue)
6. Third Eye chakra (psychism and intuition, purple/indigo)
7. Crown chakra (Divinity and spirituality, all color but no color/rainbow/violet)
Also there are chakras in the palms of the hands and center soles of the feet used to circulate energy
There are many ways to channel the energy. Energies can be derived from:
· The Sun
· The Moon
· A particular star
· Any star
· The Earth
· An imagined field of energy (what is imaginary can become reality)
· A deity
· Anywhere
From these elements, a psi ball can be created. A psi ball is a sphere formulated from compacted energies formed and pressed together by the psychic properties of the mind, thus earning the name "psi ball" or "energy ball."
Energy gathering/psi ball meditation
(Drawing from the Earth)
Imagine that you are sitting or standing on the earth in all its entirety or right where you are. From your feet chakras or root chakra, drop down a cord or roots to the core of the earth, effortlessly falling through every layer. Sense its fire and intensity in its every movement and churn. Like water, absorb the energy of the earth up the cord/root and into yourself. Drawing in the energy, store it within your energy center (solar plexus, third eye, sense where you pick up energy the best) and fill it as if it were a glass sphere. From this sphere, or from yourself if you have chosen so, send the energy out through your hands, your energy center or even yourself. Visualize it emitting as a kind gentle mist spraying from your chosen energy center or right through your skin. If you would like, you may cup your hand as if holding a star or dough. Let your mind draw out the energy in the form a small ball until it is tightly compacted. Hold it there for a minute.
When letting go of the psi-ball, let it fade from existence, fall gently to the grown or send it back into the world.
(Drawing from Universe)
Imagine the chosen image (Sun, Moon, Star, etc) above your head, alive with light and vigor. Its starts to pour its energy into you like a waterfall, filling you with celestial light and energy. Drawing in the energy, store it within your energy center (solar plexus, third eye, sense where you pick up energy the best) and fill it as if it were a glass sphere. From this sphere, or from yourself if you have chosen so, send the energy out through your hands, your energy center or even yourself. Visualize it emitting as a kind gentle mist spraying from your chosen energy center or right through your skin. If you would like, you may cup your hand as if holding a star or dough. Let your mind draw out the energy in the form a small ball until it is tightly compacted. Hold it there for a minute.
When letting go of the psi-ball, let it fade from existence, fall gently to the grown or send it back into the world.
A more “chaotic” version that can be used to draw energy from the cosmos around you is to imagine energy particles being drawn into you like a magnet.
Any more questions? ask em through here. and good luck.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Forth Lesson! YAY!!! for the learning train!
This lesson is to list terms related to the religion of Paganism, and i will be asking about 15-20 questions on this one, so good luck and have fun!
Third lesson! Feel the burn!
Ok in this lesson I will be teaching more in depth on the Pagan beliefs, you will be learning about Reincarnaion and more on magick, and subjects such as phiosophy. You have shone great effort in learning, I apprieciate your magickal knowlege seeking ambition.----------------------------------------------------------
(Reincarnation)This is one of the major beliefs. Reincarnation is a cyles the the souls goes under while it exists. Your soul is incarnated into a body and then the body live and learns and grows. Then when the physical body dies and theres said to be options 1. You incarnate into another body to repeat the cycle 2. To go into a realm such as what your patheon says your going into such as for me Elysiuen fields or Hades...ect or the summerlands like Wiccans believe. 3. You become a spirit guide and help family. Many Pagans have different veiws on the subject. it is even said the we can turn into gods or the sould dies. You make up you own mind. Consciousness, as was earlier suggested, exists on multiple levels simultaneously, and physical reality is only one expression of it. Physical existence can be seen as the intrusion of consciousness into the world of matter, and death as the withdrawing, or in folding, of it back into other dimensions. Pagans hold a variety of views of what happens after death, and most, though not all, believe in an afterlife.
(Magick)
[Definition 1]The practice of causing needed change through the use of powers as yet undefined and unaccepted by science. The movement of natural (yet subtle) ENERGIES to manifest positive, needed change. Magic is the process of “rousing” energy, giving it purpose (through VISUALIZATION), and releasing it to create a change. This is a natural (not supernatural) practice.
[Definition 2]Magic, sometimes known as sorcery, is the practice of consciousness manipulation and/or autosuggestion to achieve a desired result, usually by empirical techniques described in various conceptual systems. The practice is often influenced by ideas of religion, mysticism, occultism, science, and psychology.
[Defination 3] the art of focusing your will and emotions to effect change in the world around you and the world within you. It is important to remember that magick is neutral, it is neither good or bad... only our intentions are good or bad. Magick will only take the path of least resistance.
{Essay on Magick}
Forget all the fallacies and stereotypical pre-conceptionstaught to you out of fear and ignorance and approach this question with anopen mind. You will probably find it is not what you have been taught tothink. Magick has been defined as "The art and science of causing change tooccur in conformity with will *1" which could be put more simply as makingdesired change happen; or as "energy tending to change"; a definition I useis "magick is conscious evolution through directing energy". This does notreally explain magick though, so I will try to elaborate on these phraseswithout jargon.
An aim of magick is to train the mind by harnessing and making moreconsciously accessible such higher faculties as intuition, inspiration andthe creative imagination, and by drawing on the power of the unconscious -to try and use more than the 10% of our brain's capacity that we do.
Magick assumes belief in, or rather experience of, subtle energies. We canonly see about one seventieth of the light spectrum, yet what we cannot seestill affects us - such as x-rays and ultraviolet light. Similarly, magickis about focusing more subtle, non-physical energies, and directing them tocreate change. To go about this requires experience, and training to improvethe power of the mind, and specifically, the will.
Acts such as meditation, breath control, voice work, body work,visualization, drama, ritual, and others, are all designed to improve ourbody and mind, to better sharpen us and balance us, and to enable us toperceive and wield more subtle energies.
In the same way, an individual is as strong as their will, and the morebalanced and integrated a person is, the stronger their will (note, this isprobably one of the main reasons why so many magicians have experience ofcounselling and/or psychology, recognising the help these processes cangive, both through training and experiencing them. This also acts as aremoval of farcical social stigma often attached to these processes).
Practising magick tends to act as a deconditioning mechanism and can be asubtle process, the longer you practice, the more you change and theunnecessary inhibitions, stigmas, guilts and sin complexes that societybuilds in are removed. This has the effect of releasing their energy intothe psyche, where it can strengthen the individual.
The more physical side, such as yoga, bodywork, dance and massage, alsoremoves the tension held in the body as body armour, and releases this andremoves energy blockages which impair full efficiency and may result inillness.
Possibly the major difference between magick and many of the religious pathsto spiritual growth is that magick is more dynamic, and places the emphasison you to work for change - there are no gurus in magick, rather there arefellow students with different perspectives and experiences - we learn fromeach other, as in other areas of life.
Magick tends to work a lot with symbols, as these are the language of theunconscious, and this is an area of tremendous power to tap. Symbols havemany functions, and one of these, released through magick, can be theability to confound the ego and the censor mechanisms, and enabling us toperceive more subtle truths, or experience direct revelations. Although wemay not be able to fully explain how symbols work, we know from experiencethat certain symbols seem harmonious with certain types of energy.
For example a magician may tell you that if you want to attract love youshould wear green, and rose perfume, perhaps wear copper, like a bracelet ornecklace, etc. These are all things attributed with Venus, who is associatedwith love, and so the principal is one of contagion - sympathetic magick, ormaking something happen by working with items linked to it. This is one ofthe oldest and most commonly practised forms of magick. Working with thesymbols of a type of energy does seem to attract that energy.
A cautionary word here, magick is often seen as a way to hidden powers, andentered for the wrong reason, the "I want sex, power and lots of money"syndrome. Now there is nothing wrong with these things in themselves, butwhen you do magick you will discover that you tend to get what you needrather than necessarily what you want.
When you do magick you generally use techniques to alter your state ofconsciousness and raise energy, and then direct that energy to create adesired result. The channel that energy takes as directed by your alteredstate of consciousness is not necessarily the path you might expect in yournormal everyday state. Magick does bring you power, yes, but it is powerover yourself, not other people. It is the power that is important, to growand to create positive change.
This does not mean there is anything wrong with using magick to gain morephysical things, there is nothing wrong with doing a ritual or spell to geta job, whereas trying to make a specific individual go to bed with you wouldbe wrong. Magick is very much about intent, and if your intent is to getwork, you are not imposing on people, whereas if you were trying to makesomebody do something that they would not naturally do, you are imposing ontheir will.
If you did a ritual to attract love without specifying a person, but openingyourself to the opportunity to meet someone where love may arise, and tofeel more attractive and better about yourself, you are not imposing, youare trying to create positive change.
Magick is a commitment to yourself, and it requires determination,perseverance, strength, openness to change and absence of rigidity, a loveof life (including yourself), and a desire to grow and fulfil yourpotential. It may be that you already have all these qualities and do thisalready without calling it magick - magick is not about labels, and thosewho think and talk as if it is unfortunately put some people off. Magick islearning about the natural flows of energy in the universe, and working inharmony with them to effect positive change, both in yourself and in yourenvironment.
Some people ask why magick is spelt with a 'k' on the end. This is todistinguish it from magic, associated in the popular mind with illusionismand prestidigitation, stage magic. Magick is not about illusion, it is aboutcreating real change, and the 'k' signifies this. K is the eleventh letterof the alphabet, i.e. the one beyond ten. Symbolically this is verypowerful, as we work in base ten, and eleven represents the unseen, orhidden energies - the subtle energies of magick, eleven is considered to bethe number of magick.
Magickal training and experience bring forth the energies of theunconscious, and so it is no surprise to see that symbols become moreimportant as you develop, providing not only the language of dream and theunconscious, but also helping create a more flexible perception grid of theuniverse. To grow spiritually, it is vital that you remain flexible and donot become dogmatic, rather that you are open to experience and willing toquestion your ideas and beliefs as a result of those experiences.
Magick can be a painful process. It is not easy to maintain the disciplineand honest self-critical approach all the time. It can also be hard workdealing with the energy released without being knocked off balancesometimes. The important thing in these cases is to remain honest and keepat it. Nobody said magick was easy! It takes a lot of practice and hard workand pain, but the rewards are spiritual and mental growth, the joy of lifeand the beauty of unconditional love. Beyond the limits there are no limits!
(Diety) One way pagans are balanced is the fact that we are a Polytheistic spirituality and that there are male and female dietys. In your case you would believe in Rhiannon or Danu since your going toward the celtic path. their are dietys of family, love, darknees, death and so on and so forth.We also dont believe and or have an absolute good or evil so the dietys often take a creative/destructive side. They are like us but more powerful in a way. Hope you understand and you may ask more questions.
(Pagan Philosophys) Karma.....The Three Fold Law...The Golden Rule....The Law of Cause and Effect....I personally believe in the last one and a little bit in the first one.
Karma is a law in Hinduism which maintains that every act done, no matter how insignificant, will eventually return to the doer with equal impact. Good will be returned with good; evil with evil. Since Hindus believe in reincarnation, karma knows no simple birth/death boundaries. If good or evil befall you, it is because of something you did in this or a previous lifetime.
The Three-Fold Law is the belief and principle on which magick is used. This law relates to the use of power and energy, for when used, power is returned to the sender, three times the level it was sent out.
Golden Rule, is an ethical code that states one has a right to just treatment, and a responsibility to ensure justice for others. Reciprocity is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights, though it has its critics.[1] A key element of the golden rule is that a person attempting to live by this rule treats all people, not just members of his or her in-group, with consideration.
The law of cause and effect is best described as the law of life. It is the law by which all the other universal laws are based upon. Understanding that everything in the universe is energy and therefore everything is connected. Then we can see how through this interconnectedness, what happens to one thing must effect another thing. The old saying “what you give is what you get” is entirely true of life and directly describes the law of cause and effect.
In the entire universe, nothing exists independently. Everything has been created by something else and nothing is permanent. As previously mentioned, everything is made of energy and energy is constantly moving and changing from one form to another. This same principle directly relates to life. No matter how much you might want something to stay the same, it never does, everything is forever changing.
The law of cause and effect is commonly known throughout science. For every action there is a reaction or similarly, for every cause there is an effect and from every effect there must have been a cause. This law is an inescapable truth and until you learn and accept it you will be like the cat chasing its tail.
Often people are living their lives reacting to one event after the next. They presume life is just a random series of circumstances and that they must deal with what life throws at them from moment to moment. They are unaware that they are directly responsible for each and every event that appears in their lives. Due to the law of cause and effect they have in fact created the circumstances that have arrived in their reality from their own thoughts, words and actions. These thoughts, words and actions on the part of the individual are the cause and the resultant outcome at some later date is the direct effect from the initial cause. To follow the chain of events from a particular cause through to its effect would be virtually impossible as a complex series of actions takes place from the initial cause and the universe ultimately brings to us the end effect from that cause.
Karma is a common word used to describe the law of cause and effect. People often associate good actions with good karma and believe if we do the right thing by people then good things will come back to us and this is absolutely correct. There is no specific time in which our good deeds will be repaid to us but at some stage we will be rewarded. The same thing goes for any bad things we do. We will accrue bad karma if we do wrongly by others and our bad deeds will come back on us.
The law of cause and effect applies to everything and everyone in the universe. Although we cannot live outside the law, we can learn to live within the law and learn to use it to our advantage. We have all been gifted with the willpower to choose our thoughts, words and make decisions on our own actions. With positive thoughts, words and actions we draw positive people and events into our lives. We each know intuitively whether our actions will benefit or hinder others and as we learn to incorporate this law into our life we see the positive effects begin to appear in our lives as we do and say the right things by other people and our environment.
Learn to live in faith and know that due to the law of cause and effect, just like the law of attraction, if we live with thoughts of fear this is exactly what will come back to us. However, if we can change our thoughts to love and prosperity, this is the effect that will appear in our life. Just as we trust in the unfailing law of gravity, trust in the law of cause and effect and you will work wonders in your life.
(Minor Beliefs)
We also believe that every thing is interconnected, you know the saying "This really is a small world after all" ya...that kinda covers it.
(Reincarnation)This is one of the major beliefs. Reincarnation is a cyles the the souls goes under while it exists. Your soul is incarnated into a body and then the body live and learns and grows. Then when the physical body dies and theres said to be options 1. You incarnate into another body to repeat the cycle 2. To go into a realm such as what your patheon says your going into such as for me Elysiuen fields or Hades...ect or the summerlands like Wiccans believe. 3. You become a spirit guide and help family. Many Pagans have different veiws on the subject. it is even said the we can turn into gods or the sould dies. You make up you own mind. Consciousness, as was earlier suggested, exists on multiple levels simultaneously, and physical reality is only one expression of it. Physical existence can be seen as the intrusion of consciousness into the world of matter, and death as the withdrawing, or in folding, of it back into other dimensions. Pagans hold a variety of views of what happens after death, and most, though not all, believe in an afterlife.
(Magick)
[Definition 1]The practice of causing needed change through the use of powers as yet undefined and unaccepted by science. The movement of natural (yet subtle) ENERGIES to manifest positive, needed change. Magic is the process of “rousing” energy, giving it purpose (through VISUALIZATION), and releasing it to create a change. This is a natural (not supernatural) practice.
[Definition 2]Magic, sometimes known as sorcery, is the practice of consciousness manipulation and/or autosuggestion to achieve a desired result, usually by empirical techniques described in various conceptual systems. The practice is often influenced by ideas of religion, mysticism, occultism, science, and psychology.
[Defination 3] the art of focusing your will and emotions to effect change in the world around you and the world within you. It is important to remember that magick is neutral, it is neither good or bad... only our intentions are good or bad. Magick will only take the path of least resistance.
{Essay on Magick}
Forget all the fallacies and stereotypical pre-conceptionstaught to you out of fear and ignorance and approach this question with anopen mind. You will probably find it is not what you have been taught tothink. Magick has been defined as "The art and science of causing change tooccur in conformity with will *1" which could be put more simply as makingdesired change happen; or as "energy tending to change"; a definition I useis "magick is conscious evolution through directing energy". This does notreally explain magick though, so I will try to elaborate on these phraseswithout jargon.
An aim of magick is to train the mind by harnessing and making moreconsciously accessible such higher faculties as intuition, inspiration andthe creative imagination, and by drawing on the power of the unconscious -to try and use more than the 10% of our brain's capacity that we do.
Magick assumes belief in, or rather experience of, subtle energies. We canonly see about one seventieth of the light spectrum, yet what we cannot seestill affects us - such as x-rays and ultraviolet light. Similarly, magickis about focusing more subtle, non-physical energies, and directing them tocreate change. To go about this requires experience, and training to improvethe power of the mind, and specifically, the will.
Acts such as meditation, breath control, voice work, body work,visualization, drama, ritual, and others, are all designed to improve ourbody and mind, to better sharpen us and balance us, and to enable us toperceive and wield more subtle energies.
In the same way, an individual is as strong as their will, and the morebalanced and integrated a person is, the stronger their will (note, this isprobably one of the main reasons why so many magicians have experience ofcounselling and/or psychology, recognising the help these processes cangive, both through training and experiencing them. This also acts as aremoval of farcical social stigma often attached to these processes).
Practising magick tends to act as a deconditioning mechanism and can be asubtle process, the longer you practice, the more you change and theunnecessary inhibitions, stigmas, guilts and sin complexes that societybuilds in are removed. This has the effect of releasing their energy intothe psyche, where it can strengthen the individual.
The more physical side, such as yoga, bodywork, dance and massage, alsoremoves the tension held in the body as body armour, and releases this andremoves energy blockages which impair full efficiency and may result inillness.
Possibly the major difference between magick and many of the religious pathsto spiritual growth is that magick is more dynamic, and places the emphasison you to work for change - there are no gurus in magick, rather there arefellow students with different perspectives and experiences - we learn fromeach other, as in other areas of life.
Magick tends to work a lot with symbols, as these are the language of theunconscious, and this is an area of tremendous power to tap. Symbols havemany functions, and one of these, released through magick, can be theability to confound the ego and the censor mechanisms, and enabling us toperceive more subtle truths, or experience direct revelations. Although wemay not be able to fully explain how symbols work, we know from experiencethat certain symbols seem harmonious with certain types of energy.
For example a magician may tell you that if you want to attract love youshould wear green, and rose perfume, perhaps wear copper, like a bracelet ornecklace, etc. These are all things attributed with Venus, who is associatedwith love, and so the principal is one of contagion - sympathetic magick, ormaking something happen by working with items linked to it. This is one ofthe oldest and most commonly practised forms of magick. Working with thesymbols of a type of energy does seem to attract that energy.
A cautionary word here, magick is often seen as a way to hidden powers, andentered for the wrong reason, the "I want sex, power and lots of money"syndrome. Now there is nothing wrong with these things in themselves, butwhen you do magick you will discover that you tend to get what you needrather than necessarily what you want.
When you do magick you generally use techniques to alter your state ofconsciousness and raise energy, and then direct that energy to create adesired result. The channel that energy takes as directed by your alteredstate of consciousness is not necessarily the path you might expect in yournormal everyday state. Magick does bring you power, yes, but it is powerover yourself, not other people. It is the power that is important, to growand to create positive change.
This does not mean there is anything wrong with using magick to gain morephysical things, there is nothing wrong with doing a ritual or spell to geta job, whereas trying to make a specific individual go to bed with you wouldbe wrong. Magick is very much about intent, and if your intent is to getwork, you are not imposing on people, whereas if you were trying to makesomebody do something that they would not naturally do, you are imposing ontheir will.
If you did a ritual to attract love without specifying a person, but openingyourself to the opportunity to meet someone where love may arise, and tofeel more attractive and better about yourself, you are not imposing, youare trying to create positive change.
Magick is a commitment to yourself, and it requires determination,perseverance, strength, openness to change and absence of rigidity, a loveof life (including yourself), and a desire to grow and fulfil yourpotential. It may be that you already have all these qualities and do thisalready without calling it magick - magick is not about labels, and thosewho think and talk as if it is unfortunately put some people off. Magick islearning about the natural flows of energy in the universe, and working inharmony with them to effect positive change, both in yourself and in yourenvironment.
Some people ask why magick is spelt with a 'k' on the end. This is todistinguish it from magic, associated in the popular mind with illusionismand prestidigitation, stage magic. Magick is not about illusion, it is aboutcreating real change, and the 'k' signifies this. K is the eleventh letterof the alphabet, i.e. the one beyond ten. Symbolically this is verypowerful, as we work in base ten, and eleven represents the unseen, orhidden energies - the subtle energies of magick, eleven is considered to bethe number of magick.
Magickal training and experience bring forth the energies of theunconscious, and so it is no surprise to see that symbols become moreimportant as you develop, providing not only the language of dream and theunconscious, but also helping create a more flexible perception grid of theuniverse. To grow spiritually, it is vital that you remain flexible and donot become dogmatic, rather that you are open to experience and willing toquestion your ideas and beliefs as a result of those experiences.
Magick can be a painful process. It is not easy to maintain the disciplineand honest self-critical approach all the time. It can also be hard workdealing with the energy released without being knocked off balancesometimes. The important thing in these cases is to remain honest and keepat it. Nobody said magick was easy! It takes a lot of practice and hard workand pain, but the rewards are spiritual and mental growth, the joy of lifeand the beauty of unconditional love. Beyond the limits there are no limits!
(Diety) One way pagans are balanced is the fact that we are a Polytheistic
(Pagan Philosophys) Karma.....The Three Fold Law...The Golden Rule....The Law of Cause and Effect....I personally believe in the last one and a little bit in the first one.
Karma is a law in Hinduism which maintains that every act done, no matter how insignificant, will eventually return to the doer with equal impact. Good will be returned with good; evil with evil. Since Hindus believe in reincarnation, karma knows no simple birth/death boundaries. If good or evil befall you, it is because of something you did in this or a previous lifetime.
The Three-Fold Law is the belief and principle on which magick is used. This law relates to the use of power and energy, for when used, power is returned to the sender, three times the level it was sent out.
Golden Rule, is an ethical code that states one has a right to just treatment, and a responsibility to ensure justice for others. Reciprocity is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights, though it has its critics.[1] A key element of the golden rule is that a person attempting to live by this rule treats all people, not just members of his or her in-group, with consideration.
The law of cause and effect is best described as the law of life. It is the law by which all the other universal laws are based upon. Understanding that everything in the universe is energy and therefore everything is connected. Then we can see how through this interconnectedness, what happens to one thing must effect another thing. The old saying “what you give is what you get” is entirely true of life and directly describes the law of cause and effect.
In the entire universe, nothing exists independently. Everything has been created by something else and nothing is permanent. As previously mentioned, everything is made of energy and energy is constantly moving and changing from one form to another. This same principle directly relates to life. No matter how much you might want something to stay the same, it never does, everything is forever changing.
The law of cause and effect is commonly known throughout science. For every action there is a reaction or similarly, for every cause there is an effect and from every effect there must have been a cause. This law is an inescapable truth and until you learn and accept it you will be like the cat chasing its tail.
Often people are living their lives reacting to one event after the next. They presume life is just a random series of circumstances and that they must deal with what life throws at them from moment to moment. They are unaware that they are directly responsible for each and every event that appears in their lives. Due to the law of cause and effect they have in fact created the circumstances that have arrived in their reality from their own thoughts, words and actions. These thoughts, words and actions on the part of the individual are the cause and the resultant outcome at some later date is the direct effect from the initial cause. To follow the chain of events from a particular cause through to its effect would be virtually impossible as a complex series of actions takes place from the initial cause and the universe ultimately brings to us the end effect from that cause.
Karma is a common word used to describe the law of cause and effect. People often associate good actions with good karma and believe if we do the right thing by people then good things will come back to us and this is absolutely correct. There is no specific time in which our good deeds will be repaid to us but at some stage we will be rewarded. The same thing goes for any bad things we do. We will accrue bad karma if we do wrongly by others and our bad deeds will come back on us.
The law of cause and effect applies to everything and everyone in the universe. Although we cannot live outside the law, we can learn to live within the law and learn to use it to our advantage. We have all been gifted with the willpower to choose our thoughts, words and make decisions on our own actions. With positive thoughts, words and actions we draw positive people and events into our lives. We each know intuitively whether our actions will benefit or hinder others and as we learn to incorporate this law into our life we see the positive effects begin to appear in our lives as we do and say the right things by other people and our environment.
Learn to live in faith and know that due to the law of cause and effect, just like the law of attraction, if we live with thoughts of fear this is exactly what will come back to us. However, if we can change our thoughts to love and prosperity, this is the effect that will appear in our life. Just as we trust in the unfailing law of gravity, trust in the law of cause and effect and you will work wonders in your life.
(Minor Beliefs)
We also believe that every thing is interconnected, you know the saying "This really is a small world after all" ya...that kinda covers it.
second Lesson! time to get your learn on!
Ok with this lesson I have decided to find a webpage I trust entirely and wholly. This website will tell you of things I will miss; I’m here just to point you in the right way and to let you be independent within your spirituality, as I said you will have to individualize your path and walk the direction you wish to.
Here’s your first site:
http://www.everythingunderthemoon.net/what_is_a_pagan.htm
Second site:
http://www.witchesway.net/links/paganism/beliefs.html
(this site actually taught me a thing or two) ~(Essay down below)~
Paganism is the oldest religion known to humanity. It's origins are obscure, but conjectured to have arisen with humanity's desire to explore the unknown, and seek unity with the divine force (however that may be perceived). Therefore, Paganism has no founder or founders, no earthly leaders, no prophets, no messiahs, and no saints.The word Pagan is derived from the Latin Paganus, "a civilian", and from Pagus, "a village". This delineates Pagans as those who are from a village, or more commonly, simply country-dwellers. Whilst the majority of Pagans today - like the majority of the population - live in towns, this term accurately describes the Pagan heritage, and the affinity which modern Pagans feel with the natural environment.Thus modern Pagans follow a religion which is as old as humanity itself, but whose practices have been adapted to suit life in the modern world. The concepts which were vital to sustaining life in bygone times are revered, and their principles have been retained; however, we acknowledge that our modern lifestyles are sustained in very different ways. WHO ARE MODERN PAGANS?Modern Pagans are people who have made a positive choice to follow a path of individual spiritual growth that is in harmony with the Earth upon which we live. Many people have become aware of a spiritual void in their lives, and have discovered, in Paganism, a religion of joy and love, which allows self-expression, but also encourages social and environmental responsibility.Modern Pagans are men and women of all ages, drawn from all walks of life, and from vaious racial or cultural backgrounds. Members of the Pagan Alliance include scientists, solicitors, students, health care professionals, teachers, farmers, information technology specialists, industrial relation specialists, graphic designers, engineers, members of the Defence Force, Project Managers, members of the Public Service, Librarians, psychologists, artists, and research assistants, to name but a few.The one thing they all have in common is a desire to follow a spiritual path which is in harmony with the Earth, and which encourages self-discovery, and individual responsibility.PAGAN TRADITIONS There are numerous traditions under the generic classification of Paganism.Click Here for more information on Pagan Traditions. PAGAN BELIEFSThe spiritual or religious beliefs of Pagans are that deity is both imminent and transcendent. Deity is therefore a part of the fabric of our being, of our environment, and of that which is beyond anything we can imagine.Deity is perceived as both male and female. God is seen in many ways, and expressed in our worship as the male principle; all of the male Pagan deities are accepted as aspects of God. Goddess is seen in many ways, and expresses the female principle. All of the female Pagan deities are accepted as aspects of Goddess.Pagans do not believe in a dualistic viewpoint of absolute opposites; of "good versus evil". Pagans believe that all things exist in their own place, and that we should strive for dynamic balance and harmony. Extremism of any form does not have a place within the Pagan philosophy.Most Pagans believe in reincarnation. There is a strong affinity with the idea of cyclical life patterns, which do not cease with the death of the physical body. Most Pagans have no concept which could be described as heaven or hell in the commonly-used Christian sense. However, Northern Pagan traditions encompass both a heaven and a hell, with a sophisticated philosophy which describes the operation of these realms. Briefly, Heaven (Asgard) is a final resting place, and Hell (Hel) is a place of rest, from where souls may choose to be re-born. In the Northern Traditions, Hel is not a place of damnation and torture.The Wiccan religion has what is called "The Summerlands"; a place where souls find rest before being re-born into the physical world.The Druid belief in reincarnation is confirmed many times in classical sources; e.g. Posidonius (quoteed by Diodorus): "... [Druids believe that] the souls of men are immortal, and that after a definite number of years they live a seconed life when the soul passes to another body."Julius Caesar: "The cardinal doctrine which they seek to teach is that souls do not die, but after death pass from one to another; and this belief, as the fear of death is thereby cast aside, they hold to be the greatest invective to valour."Each Pagan religion has its own philosophy about the afterlife, and about reincarnation. Individual Pagans may also have their own philosophy about these subjects, for the Pagan religions do not have a dogma, or strict set of teachings, which all Pagans must folow.Paganism is one of the so-called "Mystery Paths", where each individual has direct experience of divinity. Although it is becoming more common for Pagan Priests and Priestesses to administer rites to a group of people, individual experience of divinity remains the primary objective for most practising Pagans.This differs significantly from most State religions, where a figure of authority performs rites, and mediates the divine force, on behalf of a congregation. In most Pagan religions, each individual is a Priest or Priestess in his or her own right.Pagans do not "worship" trees or rocks; however, they do revere the divine force which is contained within trees and rocks; indeed, is contained within every part of the universe.Pagans do not worship a savious, or other spiritual leader. The emphasis is upon each individual's spiritual enlightenment, and responsibility for this is not abdicated to another person. The practice of Paganism is a voyage of self-discovery, and the discovery of one's own place within the divine realm.Paganism is not, therefore, a cult, for a cult has a leader, and Paganism has none. Individual groups will often be led by one or two people who are experienced in the practice of the religion, but such people have no influence outside of their own group or tradition.RELIGIOUS PRACTICES: WORSHIPPagans believe that each individual has the right to worship in their own way; there is no legislation that requires Pagans to follow any prescribed manner of worship. Some Pagans worship in a formal manner; have a more instinctive and unconscious mode of acknowledging and communicating with Goddess and God. Some Pagans prefer to make their worship a private affair; others gather in groups and make their worship a communion with each other, as well as with Goddess and God.Like most religions, Paganism has Rites of Passage, with some traditions having a formal set of rituals for birth, marriage and death. Those Pagan religions which adhere most closely to the "Mystery Path" will also have rites of initiation. These are designed to effect a spiritual awakening within the initiate, and do not include such practices as animal or human sacrifice, nor any activity which is against the wishes or ethics of the initiate.Rituals to celebrate a birth, which often include a naming ceremony, do not promise the child to the religion, in the way of a Christian baptism. The parents of the child will often adk for divine guidance and protection for their child, but will not make any promises about bringing the child up in a particular faith.It is a strong Pagan belief that each individual must follow his or her own path. Children are taught to honour their family and friends; to have integrity, honesty and loyalty; to treat the Earth as sacred, and to love and respect all forms of life. Other than these basic teachings, children are encouraged to question, and to find their own spiritual path. Many Pagan parents will ensure that their children are exposed to the teachings of a number of religions, so that the child receives a well-balanced spiritual education.RELIGIOUS PRACTICES: HOLY DAYSTo Pagans, every day is a holy day, but there are a number of Festival celebrations which are held throughout the year. The Festivals, and the time on which they are celebrated, varies. Within each tradition, there are commonalities, but these are by no means definitive across the whole religion.Perhaps the best known is the cycle of Festivals celebrated by many Pagans, including the Wiccan tradition, and modern Druids. There are eight Festivals, being Samhain, Giuli (Yule), Imbolg (also known as Candlemas), Spring Equinox (also known as Eostre), Beltane, Litha (Midsummer), and the Autumn Equinox (also known as Mabon).These Festivals are derived from variously, Celtic and Saxon sources, and their essence has remained in modern society through folk memory, and in many rural traditions.Other Pagan traditions celebrate the turning of the seasons with four Festivals to mark Spring, Summer, Autumn and Spring. As always with Paganism, the emphasis is upon what is meaningful for each individual, rather than a strict adherence to a rigid doctrine.PAGANISM IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALANDThe history of Paganism in Australia and New Zealand is lengthy, for the indigenous people were Pagan, before the arrival of colonisation and its attendant Christian Missionaries. The conversion of the native people to Christianity was uncompromising.The earliest incidence of revived European Paganism in Australia and New Zealand is unknown, but there are reports of witches meeting in Canberra, ACT during the 1920s. Many immigrants brought their own traditions and practices with them, and since the 1970s numerous books have been published about the revived Pagan religions and their practices.Although laws against "the pretence of the practice of witchcraft" remain on the statute books in a few places, the modern Pagan in Australia and New Zealand can practise his or her religion without fear. Pagans remain the target of mainstream fundamentalist fanatics, but thankfully, fewer and fewer rational people are taking fundamentalist absurdities seriously. However, for this reason, and because bigotry still exists in many places, some Pagans practice their religion privately, and prefer not to make their beliefs public.Some Pagans are prepared to be public spokespeople for their religion, and through the Pan Pacific Pagan Alliance, and other similar organisations have provided accurate and sensible information to the media, police forces, local government organisations, child care agencies, health centres and so on. That we have been so successful in our attempt to inform society of the truth of our religion is a testament to those Pagans who live and work in Australia and New Zealand.PAGAN CUSTOMSBecause Paganism stresses the importance of individuality, there are few, if any, widespread customs. A sense of the sanctity of the natural world, concern for the environment, and acceptance that we are socially responsible to our fellow-creatures, dictates the kind of customs which most Pagans follow.There are no dietary requirements, or any prohibitions within the Pagan philosophy. Those who follow a vegan/vegetarian diet, or who abstain from alcohol, tobacco, etc., do so out of choice, not tenets of faith.There are no laws of blasphemy and conflict between individuals remains the responsiblity and concern of those who are involved. There are no penances, or any other form of religious punishments.Paganism does not legislate where matters of morality and ethics are concerned. It is up to each individual to be responsible for their own viewpoints and decisions. The religion itself does not promote nor condemn practices related to sexual activity, procreation, use of alcohol and other mind altering substances. Individual Pagans may hold viewpoints on one or more of these issues, however, they are PERSONAL viewpoints, and not the considered opinion of the religion per se.Pagans have a high regard for the equality of the sexes and do not suppress the feminine principle in the way that many other religions seem to do. Pagan Priestesses have the same status as Priests; in some traditions, they have primacy in leading the religious practices.Many Pagans acknowledge the concept of "Elders"; those from the community who, by virtue of their training or experience, have a greater understanding of social, moral and practical matters. Pagans who gather together (either formally or informally) as a group, will often look to those who lead the group for guidance on moral issues and socially accepted behaviour. However, it is a fundamental aspect of Paganism that each individual must accept full responsibility for their own actions. There is no "confession" or other absolution to devolve responsibility to another person, or to God and/or Goddess.FALLACIESPagans are not concerned with perverting the sacred symbols, beliefs or practices of any other religion.Pagans do not perform sacrifices (other than of their own energy and time), and are not opposed to any other religious beliefs.Pagans do not sexually abuse children; quite the contrary. Despite many hysterical claims of sexual abuse by witches and other occultists, none has ever been proven to be true.For a Pagan to abuse a child is total anathema. It is contrary to everything that we hold close to our hearts. Our children are our future, and a part of the ultimate divine source. Pagan children are born in love and unity; they are sacred, and are treated as such.CONCLUSION.Paganism is a legitimate, coherent and responsible spiritual path to which many people are attracted in these days of ecological concern. To be a Pagan in the 20th (and 21st) century is to hold and believe in the sacredness of all things; to revere and respect all life; and to love and honour one's family and friends.
Ok here are some questions!!!
1. What can you get out of this personally?
2. What are some of the points in here that catches your eye?
3. Are there points here you don’t fully agree with?
4. If there are points you don’t fully agree with, what are they?
5. Are you able to do Practices that are not directly toward your path for the sake of knowing another angle on how to use magick or energies?
6. If you were asked to do a Pagan practice such as spell work for money what would you say?
7. If early Pagans did ritual sacrifice would you be able to ignore that?
8. Do you feel like your values and or beliefs you have currently are affected negatively by any pagan beliefs?
9. If someone harassed you for being Pagan would you do and or say to them, and how will you conduct yourself on the inside and outside?
10. If I asked you to work with another student of mine (I have three students btw but be proud to know you r the most active and have the most potential so far) as a team, to do magickal workings would you be able to do so?
11. And last and for most, would you be able to meet me when school starts to do active training and teachings? (probably during a lunch or directly after school).
Here’s your first site:
http://www.everythingunderthemoon.net/what_is_a_pagan.htm
Second site:
http://www.witchesway.net/links/paganism/beliefs.html
(this site actually taught me a thing or two) ~(Essay down below)~
Paganism is the oldest religion known to humanity. It's origins are obscure, but conjectured to have arisen with humanity's desire to explore the unknown, and seek unity with the divine force (however that may be perceived). Therefore, Paganism has no founder or founders, no earthly leaders, no prophets, no messiahs, and no saints.The word Pagan is derived from the Latin Paganus, "a civilian", and from Pagus, "a village". This delineates Pagans as those who are from a village, or more commonly, simply country-dwellers. Whilst the majority of Pagans today - like the majority of the population - live in towns, this term accurately describes the Pagan heritage, and the affinity which modern Pagans feel with the natural environment.Thus modern Pagans follow a religion which is as old as humanity itself, but whose practices have been adapted to suit life in the modern world. The concepts which were vital to sustaining life in bygone times are revered, and their principles have been retained; however, we acknowledge that our modern lifestyles are sustained in very different ways. WHO ARE MODERN PAGANS?Modern Pagans are people who have made a positive choice to follow a path of individual spiritual growth that is in harmony with the Earth upon which we live. Many people have become aware of a spiritual void in their lives, and have discovered, in Paganism, a religion of joy and love, which allows self-expression, but also encourages social and environmental responsibility.Modern Pagans are men and women of all ages, drawn from all walks of life, and from vaious racial or cultural backgrounds. Members of the Pagan Alliance include scientists, solicitors, students, health care professionals, teachers, farmers, information technology specialists, industrial relation specialists, graphic designers, engineers, members of the Defence Force, Project Managers, members of the Public Service, Librarians, psychologists, artists, and research assistants, to name but a few.The one thing they all have in common is a desire to follow a spiritual path which is in harmony with the Earth, and which encourages self-discovery, and individual responsibility.PAGAN TRADITIONS There are numerous traditions under the generic classification of Paganism.Click Here for more information on Pagan Traditions. PAGAN BELIEFSThe spiritual or religious beliefs of Pagans are that deity is both imminent and transcendent. Deity is therefore a part of the fabric of our being, of our environment, and of that which is beyond anything we can imagine.Deity is perceived as both male and female. God is seen in many ways, and expressed in our worship as the male principle; all of the male Pagan deities are accepted as aspects of God. Goddess is seen in many ways, and expresses the female principle. All of the female Pagan deities are accepted as aspects of Goddess.Pagans do not believe in a dualistic viewpoint of absolute opposites; of "good versus evil". Pagans believe that all things exist in their own place, and that we should strive for dynamic balance and harmony. Extremism of any form does not have a place within the Pagan philosophy.Most Pagans believe in reincarnation. There is a strong affinity with the idea of cyclical life patterns, which do not cease with the death of the physical body. Most Pagans have no concept which could be described as heaven or hell in the commonly-used Christian sense. However, Northern Pagan traditions encompass both a heaven and a hell, with a sophisticated philosophy which describes the operation of these realms. Briefly, Heaven (Asgard) is a final resting place, and Hell (Hel) is a place of rest, from where souls may choose to be re-born. In the Northern Traditions, Hel is not a place of damnation and torture.The Wiccan religion has what is called "The Summerlands"; a place where souls find rest before being re-born into the physical world.The Druid belief in reincarnation is confirmed many times in classical sources; e.g. Posidonius (quoteed by Diodorus): "... [Druids believe that] the souls of men are immortal, and that after a definite number of years they live a seconed life when the soul passes to another body."Julius Caesar: "The cardinal doctrine which they seek to teach is that souls do not die, but after death pass from one to another; and this belief, as the fear of death is thereby cast aside, they hold to be the greatest invective to valour."Each Pagan religion has its own philosophy about the afterlife, and about reincarnation. Individual Pagans may also have their own philosophy about these subjects, for the Pagan religions do not have a dogma, or strict set of teachings, which all Pagans must folow.Paganism is one of the so-called "Mystery Paths", where each individual has direct experience of divinity. Although it is becoming more common for Pagan Priests and Priestesses to administer rites to a group of people, individual experience of divinity remains the primary objective for most practising Pagans.This differs significantly from most State religions, where a figure of authority performs rites, and mediates the divine force, on behalf of a congregation. In most Pagan religions, each individual is a Priest or Priestess in his or her own right.Pagans do not "worship" trees or rocks; however, they do revere the divine force which is contained within trees and rocks; indeed, is contained within every part of the universe.Pagans do not worship a savious, or other spiritual leader. The emphasis is upon each individual's spiritual enlightenment, and responsibility for this is not abdicated to another person. The practice of Paganism is a voyage of self-discovery, and the discovery of one's own place within the divine realm.Paganism is not, therefore, a cult, for a cult has a leader, and Paganism has none. Individual groups will often be led by one or two people who are experienced in the practice of the religion, but such people have no influence outside of their own group or tradition.RELIGIOUS PRACTICES: WORSHIPPagans believe that each individual has the right to worship in their own way; there is no legislation that requires Pagans to follow any prescribed manner of worship. Some Pagans worship in a formal manner; have a more instinctive and unconscious mode of acknowledging and communicating with Goddess and God. Some Pagans prefer to make their worship a private affair; others gather in groups and make their worship a communion with each other, as well as with Goddess and God.Like most religions, Paganism has Rites of Passage, with some traditions having a formal set of rituals for birth, marriage and death. Those Pagan religions which adhere most closely to the "Mystery Path" will also have rites of initiation. These are designed to effect a spiritual awakening within the initiate, and do not include such practices as animal or human sacrifice, nor any activity which is against the wishes or ethics of the initiate.Rituals to celebrate a birth, which often include a naming ceremony, do not promise the child to the religion, in the way of a Christian baptism. The parents of the child will often adk for divine guidance and protection for their child, but will not make any promises about bringing the child up in a particular faith.It is a strong Pagan belief that each individual must follow his or her own path. Children are taught to honour their family and friends; to have integrity, honesty and loyalty; to treat the Earth as sacred, and to love and respect all forms of life. Other than these basic teachings, children are encouraged to question, and to find their own spiritual path. Many Pagan parents will ensure that their children are exposed to the teachings of a number of religions, so that the child receives a well-balanced spiritual education.RELIGIOUS PRACTICES: HOLY DAYSTo Pagans, every day is a holy day, but there are a number of Festival celebrations which are held throughout the year. The Festivals, and the time on which they are celebrated, varies. Within each tradition, there are commonalities, but these are by no means definitive across the whole religion.Perhaps the best known is the cycle of Festivals celebrated by many Pagans, including the Wiccan tradition, and modern Druids. There are eight Festivals, being Samhain, Giuli (Yule), Imbolg (also known as Candlemas), Spring Equinox (also known as Eostre), Beltane, Litha (Midsummer), and the Autumn Equinox (also known as Mabon).These Festivals are derived from variously, Celtic and Saxon sources, and their essence has remained in modern society through folk memory, and in many rural traditions.Other Pagan traditions celebrate the turning of the seasons with four Festivals to mark Spring, Summer, Autumn and Spring. As always with Paganism, the emphasis is upon what is meaningful for each individual, rather than a strict adherence to a rigid doctrine.PAGANISM IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALANDThe history of Paganism in Australia and New Zealand is lengthy, for the indigenous people were Pagan, before the arrival of colonisation and its attendant Christian Missionaries. The conversion of the native people to Christianity was uncompromising.The earliest incidence of revived European Paganism in Australia and New Zealand is unknown, but there are reports of witches meeting in Canberra, ACT during the 1920s. Many immigrants brought their own traditions and practices with them, and since the 1970s numerous books have been published about the revived Pagan religions and their practices.Although laws against "the pretence of the practice of witchcraft" remain on the statute books in a few places, the modern Pagan in Australia and New Zealand can practise his or her religion without fear. Pagans remain the target of mainstream fundamentalist fanatics, but thankfully, fewer and fewer rational people are taking fundamentalist absurdities seriously. However, for this reason, and because bigotry still exists in many places, some Pagans practice their religion privately, and prefer not to make their beliefs public.Some Pagans are prepared to be public spokespeople for their religion, and through the Pan Pacific Pagan Alliance, and other similar organisations have provided accurate and sensible information to the media, police forces, local government organisations, child care agencies, health centres and so on. That we have been so successful in our attempt to inform society of the truth of our religion is a testament to those Pagans who live and work in Australia and New Zealand.PAGAN CUSTOMSBecause Paganism stresses the importance of individuality, there are few, if any, widespread customs. A sense of the sanctity of the natural world, concern for the environment, and acceptance that we are socially responsible to our fellow-creatures, dictates the kind of customs which most Pagans follow.There are no dietary requirements, or any prohibitions within the Pagan philosophy. Those who follow a vegan/vegetarian diet, or who abstain from alcohol, tobacco, etc., do so out of choice, not tenets of faith.There are no laws of blasphemy and conflict between individuals remains the responsiblity and concern of those who are involved. There are no penances, or any other form of religious punishments.Paganism does not legislate where matters of morality and ethics are concerned. It is up to each individual to be responsible for their own viewpoints and decisions. The religion itself does not promote nor condemn practices related to sexual activity, procreation, use of alcohol and other mind altering substances. Individual Pagans may hold viewpoints on one or more of these issues, however, they are PERSONAL viewpoints, and not the considered opinion of the religion per se.Pagans have a high regard for the equality of the sexes and do not suppress the feminine principle in the way that many other religions seem to do. Pagan Priestesses have the same status as Priests; in some traditions, they have primacy in leading the religious practices.Many Pagans acknowledge the concept of "Elders"; those from the community who, by virtue of their training or experience, have a greater understanding of social, moral and practical matters. Pagans who gather together (either formally or informally) as a group, will often look to those who lead the group for guidance on moral issues and socially accepted behaviour. However, it is a fundamental aspect of Paganism that each individual must accept full responsibility for their own actions. There is no "confession" or other absolution to devolve responsibility to another person, or to God and/or Goddess.FALLACIESPagans are not concerned with perverting the sacred symbols, beliefs or practices of any other religion.Pagans do not perform sacrifices (other than of their own energy and time), and are not opposed to any other religious beliefs.Pagans do not sexually abuse children; quite the contrary. Despite many hysterical claims of sexual abuse by witches and other occultists, none has ever been proven to be true.For a Pagan to abuse a child is total anathema. It is contrary to everything that we hold close to our hearts. Our children are our future, and a part of the ultimate divine source. Pagan children are born in love and unity; they are sacred, and are treated as such.CONCLUSION.Paganism is a legitimate, coherent and responsible spiritual path to which many people are attracted in these days of ecological concern. To be a Pagan in the 20th (and 21st) century is to hold and believe in the sacredness of all things; to revere and respect all life; and to love and honour one's family and friends.
Ok here are some questions!!!
1. What can you get out of this personally?
2. What are some of the points in here that catches your eye?
3. Are there points here you don’t fully agree with?
4. If there are points you don’t fully agree with, what are they?
5. Are you able to do Practices that are not directly toward your path for the sake of knowing another angle on how to use magick or energies?
6. If you were asked to do a Pagan practice such as spell work for money what would you say?
7. If early Pagans did ritual sacrifice would you be able to ignore that?
8. Do you feel like your values and or beliefs you have currently are affected negatively by any pagan beliefs?
9. If someone harassed you for being Pagan would you do and or say to them, and how will you conduct yourself on the inside and outside?
10. If I asked you to work with another student of mine (I have three students btw but be proud to know you r the most active and have the most potential so far) as a team, to do magickal workings would you be able to do so?
11. And last and for most, would you be able to meet me when school starts to do active training and teachings? (probably during a lunch or directly after school).
Omega Lesson, The very first.
Ok this is supposed to be my first lesson that will help me out reach to my students, Kinda a meet and greet. It will also help me get to know then more and to help strengthen them and to help eliminate weaknesses and to help them connect with their inner power.
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Hello Student this is your Intro to Paganism/Magick 101!
Welcome to Class! Hope you enjoy what I will be teaching you!
Ok I wish to tell you that you have the freedom to be individualitic with your path, you could want to be celtic for a couple of months and then want to go into the norse side of paganism, I will not hold that against you whatsoever. another thing I will tell you is to research on your own as well and I will be giving you assingment thru out your path into Paganism and or magick.
Now heres some work for you I will ask questions of you to get to know you and to help you on your path.
1. Why do you wish to pursue Paganism and or Magick?
2. What do you think Paganism/magick will give you as in benefit wise?
3. If you have reserched about Paganism or magick at all, what interests you?
4. What do you know about Magick?
5. What do you know about Paganism/Magick(list them please and thank you)?
6. What other religion(s) have you pursued in your past?
7. What are your feelings on Reincarnation or other Pagan beliefs?
8.What are your feelings on there being other Magickal beings out there such as Ghosts, Lycans, Vampires, Sorcerers, People of the fairy persuasion....ect?
9. Do you see your self 3+ years from now practicing Pagan arts and practices or praticing Magick?
10. Are you dedicated and have disipline to practice and do what I ask of you(I wont ask that mush just few assignments and answers to questions ect){no ritual sacrifce either lol}?
11. [last one I promise] What are your interests and hobbies?
Now that i have asked you these questions i will give you a week and a half to answer them, take your time and answer them with heart and mind. This will get you started to helping me get to know you and help you along your path and to help me know you, the real you!
Good Luck and Blessed Be! my student and freind! Have a good day or night lol!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Student this is your Intro to Paganism/Magick 101!
Welcome to Class! Hope you enjoy what I will be teaching you!
Ok I wish to tell you that you have the freedom to be individualitic with your path, you could want to be celtic for a couple of months and then want to go into the norse side of paganism, I will not hold that against you whatsoever. another thing I will tell you is to research on your own as well and I will be giving you assingment thru out your path into Paganism and or magick.
Now heres some work for you I will ask questions of you to get to know you and to help you on your path.
1. Why do you wish to pursue Paganism and or Magick?
2. What do you think Paganism/magick will give you as in benefit wise?
3. If you have reserched about Paganism or magick at all, what interests you?
4. What do you know about Magick?
5. What do you know about Paganism/Magick(list them please and thank you)?
6. What other religion(s) have you pursued in your past?
7. What are your feelings on Reincarnation or other Pagan beliefs?
8.What are your feelings on there being other Magickal beings out there such as Ghosts, Lycans, Vampires, Sorcerers, People of the fairy persuasion....ect?
9. Do you see your self 3+ years from now practicing Pagan arts and practices or praticing Magick?
10. Are you dedicated and have disipline to practice and do what I ask of you(I wont ask that mush just few assignments and answers to questions ect){no ritual sacrifce either lol}?
11. [last one I promise] What are your interests and hobbies?
Now that i have asked you these questions i will give you a week and a half to answer them, take your time and answer them with heart and mind. This will get you started to helping me get to know you and help you along your path and to help me know you, the real you!
Good Luck and Blessed Be! my student and freind! Have a good day or night lol!
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