and open to Her Wisdom."
25th Day of the 2nd Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Medusa
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Luis/Rowan
19th Day of the Celtic Tree Cycle - Luis/Rowan
Moon Phase: waning half moon
Moon rises: 3:46AM EST
Moon sets: 12:50PM EST
Moon in Sagittarius goes v/c 11:56PM EST
Ceridwen's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The gift of love.
Sun in Aquarius
Sunrise: 7:22AM EST
Sunset: 5:45PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What boundaries
do you need to pass through?"
Imbolc (Gwyl Mair) Quarter of the Year
February 8th, 2010
Making An Asperger
An Asperger is used to sprinkle oil, water, or even occasionally wine. While it is in no way an essential tool for the Witch, as you can always your fingers, it is a simple and effective tool to make.
The resting season is a good time to make an Asperger, as you will be able to see and select the types of wood you need. If you have your own garden you can make this seclection part of reshaping the tree or plant in question. Some plants which led themselves to this are Broom, Rosemary, and Sage (if you have a very well-developed plant). You will need to gather a few twigs about 20 to 30 cm long. (There are about 2.54cm to an inch - so I guess the twigs can be about 10 inches long) Each should branch into several pieces about half way down. If the wood is green (living) you will need to thoroughly dry it out. Tie the twigs together just above the point where they branch, binding the un-branched ends together with a fine ribbon so that the whole resembles a sort of mini besom (broom-stick). Some people like to choose the color of their binding ribbon or ribbons to honoe the Gods: white, red, and purple for the Triple Goddess; golden orange for the Sun God, and so on. ALternatively, you might choose greens and browns to celebrate the fact that has actually come from a living plant.
Before using your Asperger in your Rites, take it outside and practice with water until you can be sure that you can achieve a light and even sprinkling, rather than sousing everything and everyone in sight!
"Trying and failing achieves far more
than not even giving it a go."
[From: "The Real Witches' Year" by Kate West]
Exercise 8 - Candle Meditation - "The Inner Temple of Witchcraft" by Christopher Penczak
Here is another exercise from the chater on Meditation.
1. Start by lighting a white candle on your altar if this is not part of your regular practice. Dim the lights. Sit in your meditative state. Do exercise 7 which is obtaining Total Relaxation.
2. Direct your gaze to the burning candle. Do not stare intently, but face the candle with your eyes open. Let your focus soften.
3. Let the image of the candle fill your thoughts. Focus solely on the candle and stay in the moment.
4. Do not strain your eyes. If they are tired, close them, but visualize the candle in your mind. If visualization is difficult, alternate between opening your eyes and studying the candle, and then closing your eyes and re-creating the picture in your mind. This will help build your visualization skills. Do not worry if you have difficulty holding the image. Hold the idea of the candle in your mind. Relaxation with focus is more important than visual skill at this point.
5. Do this meditation for a few minutes at first and build to longer intervals. When done, close your eyes, rest and relax.
You can substitute any object for the candle, re-creating it on the screen of your mind.
Inner visualization is another path into the meditative state, and many people claim it is the most powerful because the talent lends itself to many other magickal practices. You've learned how to feel and experience your own personal energy and the energy of a partner in previous exercises. You have some understanding of this invisib le force. But our conscious mind has difficulty processing energy,
or even understanding it. That is why we connect with the psychic and divine minds. The psychic mind can process psychic energy, but has difficulty translating the experience so the conscious mind can comprehend it. Our psychic self has to use a code that the conscious self can understand. This code is symbolism. Symbols can stand in for concepts and energy. Personal symbols are private messages from your own psychic self, to your conscious self, as when we have dreams. General or universal symbols, falling into the realm of archetypes, is how the collective unconscious speaks to humanity.
Visualization is the process of using these symbols. Most people see in their dreams. Other senses may be involved, but dreams mainly have a visual component. Likewise, the easiest method to get a direction or command to the psychic mind is through the use of a visual symbol. Practitioners of magick have always studied symbols. from petroglyphs and ancient alphabets to dream interpretation and vision quests. The symbols of our collective and personal mythology are the ways to direct power. Those who understand the symbols and can project them, through intention, will, ritual, and yes, visualization, tap into a power we all possess, but few use.
Visualization is a very effective and quick method of altering your consciousness. The advantage of this method is that your 'psychic muscles' are activated and 'warmed up' from the process, and will function more effectively in deeper meditations.
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