The Wicca Project

Day 14: Re-Thinking God

Most of us who are now exploring the pagan path were raise in traditional Biblical religions.  This means we grew up with an image of god as a fatherly or grandfatherly figure, always watchful, sometimes benevolent, but most of the time angry with us.  There was this lengthy set of "rules" that we had to follow or risk god's anger and a fiery eternity after death.  We lived our lives in fear of god - he was above and beyond us, something much greater than we could ever be.  Much of the social culture of both Europe and the Americas are shaped by this religious view.  So.... what happens when we toss all of that aside, and consider god as something totally and completely different?

In Wicca, the divine isn't something "above" or "greater than" human - it is simply an energy that exists and manifest through us, and every other thing on the planet.  It is who and what each and every thing that exists is.  When you think of it that way, it changes things, doesn't it?  So many of us (myself included) still try to have this image of the divine as being "somewhere else" - as the god and goddess still being separate and greater than ourselves... we have trouble grasping the fact that THEY are US.  We go through each incarnation trying to understand this and react to the world in a manner that is consistent with this thought.

Roderick gives us some questions to ponder to help us understand our current view of the divine.  I'm posting my questions/answers here.

1. What images of god did you hold as a child?  Growing up, God was a grandfather or father - like Santa Clause he was always watching, but without the promise of toys if I was good.  Instead it was follow his rules and go to heaven when I die, and be with my family, friends and pets that had gone before me or break the rules and go to a place of eternal torture where I would live out forever in pain and agony.

2. How have these childhood images influenced your understanding of the divine today?  I still struggle to think of divine, of the goddess and god as something that is a PART of me... and something that I am a part of in turn.  I still imagine them as separate.... and they're not.  I'm working on it.

3. Are the images of god that you know actually representative of god's fundamental nature?  If you mean the ones I grew up with, no.  I believe now that no god would be so vengeful as to damn their own creations, made in love to a place of eternal torment.  It is said, that when you create something, you put a part of yourself into it - and I understand now that this is true with the divine.  We are all made up and part of the divine energy that binds the whole world together.

4. Are images of god important? Why?  I think perceptions of god are important.  They shape how we react to and in the world around us.

5. What is the purpose of believing in deity? I think it gives us something to strive for, and it helps us to become better people.  It keeps chaos from reigning in the world.

6. Do we cheat ourselves at any level by characterizing god through image? Why or why not?  Yes, we do.  To think of god looking a certain way or acting a certain way, we limit god.

7. Does it bother you to see the word "god" not capitalized in this book? Why? It used to.  I guess I've always thought of the divine, of god, as something/one that should be respected and honored.  But, that was partially because of how I understood god. 

8. Does the word "god" need capitalization? Now that I'm understanding god as energy that is present in every living thing, I still think it deserves respect and honor... but the name doesn't necessarily have to be capitalized.

9. What automatic, conditioned responses do you have in relation to words, letters, and grammatical formalities? Just like anyone else, words that are in bold, capitalizes, or in italics command more attention and emphasis than just normal words.  It's how we are all taught.

I'm back! Day 13 - Place of Power Meditation

HaHa!  No crappy internet connection is going to keep me down for long!  Seriously, I'm sorry it has taken so long to get back to everyone.  Between a horrible internet connection (whoever heard of a cable connection that's as slow as dial-up?!) and starting a new job (I'm working for an organic garden/market!) circumstances have conspired to keep me away.  But, I'm back, and ready to get back into the swing of things, so here we go!

Day 13 is more meditation, but it's a guided imagery meditation to find your spiritual place of power.  Now, I don't think I can post the full text of the meditation here without breaking some copyright laws, but I can post enough that you get the gist of it, I think.  The main thing is to start out like any other still meditation, close your eyes and take deep breaths.  Record yourself reading or reciting something that involves you being enveloped in a comforting warm mist and transported to your place of power.  In the meditation explore the place - is it a desert, beach, forest, mountain?  Find a spot that calls to you and sit - THIS is your place of power.  Here you can find rest and peace, and gather your magical power.  Stay for as long as you like before calling the mist back to transport you home.  Open your eyes, and take some time to consider your experience, and write it down.

In my yard here at my new house there is this wonderful, big crepe myrtle tree.  See, where I come from crepe myrtles are bushes, not trees, but this is most definitely a TREE.  I love to climb up onto a lower branch and sit with my head against the smooth bark...

Oh, why am I rambling on about this tree?  Because it was in my meditation - how cool is that?!?  Granted, it wasn't on my front lawn in my meditation, it was on a beautiful nighttime beach with a lovely fire going nearby, but still.  How awesome to have a physical representation of my spiritual place of power right in my own front yard??

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...

Day 12: Moonwalking and Sunwalking

Okay, today's post is putting into practice the meditational walking methods we talked about on Day 10.  Both methods require 20 minutes or so of undisturbed time, depending on the person. 

MOONWALKING

For Moonwalking it is best to walk under the moonlight if possible.  Posture-wise, you stand straight with your feet together and look down at a 45 degree angle.  Place your right hand over you left hand on your abdomen, so that the knuckles overlap.  You take small steps, each only about half the length of the opposite foot, and count your steps from 1 to 10 as you walk.  If you find your mind wandering, start over from 1 until you can walk forward without missing a number/step.  If you still have time left in the 20 minutes, start over from 1 to 10 as many times as is necessary until you reach the end of the 20 minutes.

I found moonwalking to be a bit slow, but also relaxing.  I'll admit that my mind wandered plenty, and I took almost the entire 20 minutes to complete the count only twice.  I did feel relaxed and peaceful afterwards, though.

SUNWALKING

It's important to either have a long, level stretch of walking area or a meditational walking circle for sunwalking.  If you choose the circle method, mark off a nine-foot diameter circle using stones, candles, seashells, or some other item that is pleasing and spiritually awakening to you.  The posture for sunwalking is the same for moonwalking, it's the stride that is dramatically different.  In this case you set a stride that is brisk, but sustainable.  Again, count your steps from 1 to 10, restarting the count as necessary and repeating as many times as necessary to complete the 20 minutes.

I think that sunwalking might be good for me in times of stress, as the brisk pace really got my mind going, and I think I could more easily and clearly work through a problem, etc. that I might be having with this method, but I didn't find it very good for a spiritual meditation.  As expected, moonwalking was much better for me in that area.  After sunwalking I felt energized and I think that it wouldn't be a bad idea to add it to a morning ritual or devotional every once in awhile.

So, what do you think?  Which method did you think would suit you best, and did that ring true for you as well?  I'd love to know your thoughts.

The Joys of Nature

My apologies for no update yesterday.  I've been working on some outdoor projects and while I did read the daily chapter in Roderick's book, by the time I got in to write the blog I was totally out of energy.  I've been planting begonias and snapdragons in our yard, not to mention taking some time to enjoy our wonderful new outdoor living space with my four beautiful children.  Hopefully when the projects are complete, I'll be able to post a few picture to show you all how lovely they look, and also that I'm not just making this up; I really have been busy.  I do have yesterday's intended entry written out, and I will do the same with tonight's daily entry and I'll get us all caught up, no worries.

Our house here is absolutely lovely.  I don't know who lived here before, but there are really beautiful wildflowers all over the yard... white, purple and yellow ones.  Honestly, I'm glad that it rained the other night so that it was too wet this weekend for my husband to mow - I hate the thought of cutting them.  There's also this tree that is blooming right now that seems to be a magnet for bees and bluejays.  I truly have an awesomely peaceful place to live, and the energy here is incredible.  I am so glad that the Goddess led us here.

Day 11: Meditational Walking

I woke up feeling really sluggish today.  Must have stayed up too late watching movies with my sister-in-law (who I am lucky enough to also call my best friend).  I still got up before the rest of the house (I try to make it a point; with 4 little ones to chase after all day long, some quiet time to start my day is absolutely essential), and I found that a cup of hot black tea ('Morning Thunder' from Celestial Seasonings is *awesome*) and some of yesterday's meditational breathing cleared my head right up and allowed me to get on with a productive day.

Today continues the series on meditation in Timothy Roderick's book.  I have, of course, heard of meditational walking and I have seen images of spiritual labyrinths but I have never had the opportunity to walk one.  I like the idea of meditational walking, because I think that I will be better at a form of meditation that keeps my body active, as I have a tendency to fidget when I try to sit still for longer periods of time (mostly because it gets very uncomfortable).

So, today I had to decide whether I am a "Moon walker," someone who would be better suited to a slow pace, with each small step followed by a pause for contemplation, or a "Sun walker," with a longer, quick stride.  Roderick gives us a list of qualities to help us decide:

SOLAR QUALITIES                                            LUNAR QUALITIES

Firey: Expressive                                                 Mellow: Contemplative

Fast Paced: Active                                              Serene: Sluggish

Impatient: Moving                                                Forgiving: Tranquil

Overt: Frenetic                                                    Discrete: Secretive

Sexual: Passionate                                             Sensual: Emotional

Cerebral: Analytical                                             Empathic: Compassionate

Logical: Reasonable                                            Intuitive: Introverted

For me, I definitely had more qualities in the lunar category than I did the solar category, which really surprised me.  I figured, being a Leo, that I would have tendencies leaning more towards the solar aspect.  Surprise, surprise!  I guess it's amazing what you learn about yourself with a little introspection.  I will venture a guess (remember, Roderick says no looking ahead!) and say that tomorrow's exercise will involve employing whichever method/technique of meditational walking I was best suited for.  I promise, however, for you solar types, that I will include the technique for both in tomorrow's post, if that is what the exercise calls for.

Day 10: Meditational Sitting

Now, many people don't know that there is a correct way to sit while meditation, or they have a skewed picture of what it must be.  Truly, meditational sitting can be accomplished by simply sitting in a chair, feet flat on the floor, spine straight and gently resting on the backrest.  Of course, if you have the money and inclination, you could go out and buy a zafu cushion.  Timothy Roderick seems to think that these two options are the only ones, but I have found a couch or chair cushion placed on the floor to be equally effective.

When using a cushion, sit on the front third with your legs arranged in a lose cross-legged position.  That's right, folks, the full-lotus sitting on the floor isn't absolutely necessary for proper meditation.  In fact, I find it to be quite uncomfortable and distracting.

Today's practice was "wall gazing," or the art of gazing ahead and letting the eyes become unfocused.  It wasn't too difficult for me, mostly because I'm a daydreamer and I'm used to having the misty-eyed gaze that sees through the world around me.

The second part was a bit harder, focusing my attention on my breathing.  Simply counting each exhalation, even through only ten of them.  My mind has a tendency to drift, as most do, and I had to keep direction my attention back and start over.  I'm definitely out of practice with meditation, and it'll take me awhile to get the hang of slipping right into the correct focus.  Still, after awhile I got it, and I'm sure I'll get better each day.

Returning to the Project - Day 9 - Meditational Breathing

Now that we're mostly unpacked and settled here in the great state of Texas, it's time to return to my daily project of working my way through Timothy Roderick's book, Wicca: A Year And A Day.  I'm going to pick up right where I left off, at day 9.  If you've forgotten what we were doing, day 8 was all about types of meditation and picking the right one.  Today continues in the meditation series of lessons.

Today's lesson focuses on breathing, which isn't necessarily as easy as it seems.  Many people go through life never aware of their breath or breathing practices.  The fact is, though, there is a correct way to breathe, not only for magical and meditational purposes, but for health purposes as well.

Most people breathe from the tops of their chests.  Try it out: take a deep breath.  If you are like 96% of the population, your chest expands, and your shoulders rise towards your ears.  Uncomfortable, right?  (Oh, let that breath out now, you're turning blue!)  It's uncomfortable because it's wrong for your body.  When you breathe, it's important to move your diaphragm, not your chest.  The easiest way to practice this is to lay flat on your back and place a book or two on your stomach.  As you breathe in, concentrate on keeping your chest still, instead pushing the books on your stomach up.  Don't worry if it takes you a few tries; it can take some practice.

If you've ever watched a baby sleeping, you know that they breathe this way naturally.  So what happens?  As we age, and encounter the stresses of life, we forget how to breathe.  Our breath becomes shallower when we're under stress (and many of us are under some sort of stress most of the time), and our bodies begin to accept this "stress breathing" as natural.  Anyone who has training as a wind instrumentalist or singer knows that the first step you take into the musical world is re-training yourself to breathe in this way, because it is the only way to correctly play your instrument without passing out from hyperventilation.

So, why is breathing so important?  Because correct breathing practices help align our spiritual energies.  If you don't believe me, try it for just a moment.  Close your eyes and take several deep, slow breaths, being sure to breathe from the diaphragm.  Go ahead, I'll wait.

...

.....

......

Feel that?  As you breathe in and out slowly and correctly, the tension in your body drains away and your spiritual energy awakens.  It becomes easier to focus, and your body feels more awake and alive.  Breath focus is also a great method of grounding and centering yourself.

Try adding this practice, even if only for a few minutes to your morning and evening devotions.  I'll bet you notice a difference not just in your spiritual practice, but in your daily life as well.

Happy practicing!

Eco-consious and parenting blogs I follow

In the last week or so, I've found my way to a few really great blogs, and I thought I'd share them with you!

1. Life Less Plastic - http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/

    Unfortunately the blog hasn't been updated since December, but what's there makes for great reading.  The writer lives in Chicago, IL and is attempting to live a life where she contributes as little plastic waste to our landfills as possible.  VERY interesting and entertaining reading.

2. Fake Plastic Fish - http://fakeplasticfish.com/

    Another great blog about contributing less plastic waste to the environment.  Updated regularly, and includes videos and weekly "plastic use updates".  Again, excellent reading.

3. Free Range Kids - http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/

    A really wonderful open-parenting blog.  I try to raise my kids as "free-range" as possible, what about you?

All three of these are really great, and have excellent information and are very entertaining.  Enjoy!

A quick update

Just wanted to post a quick update to all of you on how things are going.  The move to TX is almost complete - the moving trucks will be here on Sunday to pick up our furniture and boxes, and the children and I will be driving down to join my husband in Longview.  He has been working very hard, and managed to find us a lovely little house there to rent, which I am looking forward to making my own when I get there.

I have big dreams for the new house.  There is a local organic farm there for fresh vegetables and some fruits, and for my meat-loving husband and son, there is a local farm that sells pasture raised, grass fed beef and pasture raised pork (as in, pigs allowed to roam freely in wooded areas and wallow in mudholes, etc as pigs love to do).  I plan to start a container garden in the back yard as soon as possible with some vegetables and herbs.  I have lovely mental images of herbs drying in my new kitchen.

As soon as possible after we arrive in Texas I will pick back up where I left off on the project, and will resume regular blogging.  Until then, blessed be!

Imbolc and Convergence

Hey everyone!  Sorry I've been away, but in addition to being a bit under the weather, BIG changes are happening here.  The correlation to my renewed journey down the Wiccan path and the good things that are now happening in my life cannot be ignored.  But, more on that later.

First, Imbolc!  What a celebration.  My children and I spent the day getting the house spic and span, and then placed candles on the front and back porches.  As the sun set, we light the candles and sang a little song from Anne Hill's "Circle Round and Sing" CD.  They absolutely love that CD, and if any of you have children, I highly recommend it.

Later that night when I had some time on my own I had a very quiet ritual.  It included some thankfulness, some healing meditation, and a small prosperity ritual.  It really was beautiful, and I'm very glad that I took as much time with it as I did.  I rushed nothing, did everything very carefully, and just tried to be very "present" in the moment during the whole thing.

So, now we get to the convergence.  Lo and Behold, my husband got a call today that he's been hired for a job in Texas that is going to give him a substantial raise.  What's more, is they want him to start March 7th.  What's more, we found a house in that area that is only $200 more a month than what we're paying now, and is relatively the same size as what we're living in now.  Thank you Brighid!

So, if my blog updates are not quite every day for the next few weeks, I hope that you will all bear with me, as I'm trying to pack up a house of 6 people in a very short period of time!  I'm still in the meditation portion of Timothy Roderick's book, and I will pick back up where I left off in my next update.  Blessed Be!