Spring Equinox in Sherwood Forest

Once again the wheel has turned and Ostara graced us with her loving presence this weekend. This year I had the honour of being able to celebrate the return of spring with my friends in the Spiral Dance – a group of Pagan Witches that I regularly work and socialise with.

We headed into the older part of Sherwood Forest at 4:30pm; it was a crisp spring evening with a slight chill in the air. A drizzle of rain drenched the trees, filtering through slowly to the forest floor. Un-deterred, our little group headed into the forest and made our way to the old tree that we found last summer. As with our Solstice celebration, we got the feeling that we were welcome. We were surprised to see the untouched remnants of the offerings we left behind at Summer Solstice.

A circle was cast in the clearing and the familiar warmth, and quieting of the world outside descended on us. A few prayers were said to give thanks and to welcome new beginnings and we had a discussion about the past few months. It was amazing the level of energy feeding into our circle from the forest, and we were surrounded by spirits, some of whom made their presence visibly known.

As the light began to fade, we finished by blessing some sunflower seeds that they will grow as our wishes for new beginnings grow in our lives. Each of us then planted the seeds in small pots to take home. The circle was closed and we headed to my house for an evening of feasting and merriment.

Whatever you did for your Ostara celebrations I hope they were peaceful and enlightening.

Blessed Be!

Nodens

Meditation aids magical working

An important part of magical development is the ability to meditate, and also to make it a regular part of your daily practice. For many, the art of meditation is often seen as a way to relieve the stress and strain of modern life. That is certainly true and I won’t attempt to dispute that claim. I have used meditation on many occasions in my life to calm and centre myself. However, meditation has more to offer on so many levels. For the purpose of this blog post I will focus on the magical elements of this skill.

A central and fundamental part of Wiccan practice, and our ability to use magic, is the power of visualisation and intent. It’s where the physical manifestation of magic and spells start. You need to be able to visualise life as if the spell has done its work and you (or a friend or loved one) are feeling the benefits. It’s not about a casual glimpse; it’s about really focusing and creating that scene in every minute detail. Who is in the scene, what are they wearing, where is the scene set, is it night or day, hot or cold, can you smell anything in the air? It has to be at that level of detail, and for most this ability is something that needs to be honed and developed over time. It’s just like working your muscles in a gym to get a fit and toned body.

So, where possible, take five or ten minutes out of your day to relax and meditate. Imagine a scene and build it up in your mind; it could be a forest glade, or a beach. Start off by creating the general scene, and then each day, add new details. For example, are there wild flowers on the ground? What colour are they? Try bending down to smell them. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can develop your visualisation skills with daily meditation.

When you’ve mastered this skill you might want to build a place that will become a centre of power on the astral plane. For me, I have a forest temple set in a thick grove, complete with ancient, crumbled stone walls covered in vines and moss. It’s here that I communicate with my guides, and sometimes, any Gods who wish to pass on guidance and wisdom. I also use this temple to raise energy and work magic on the astral plane which is often very powerful.

Have fun with your meditation exercises, spend time to develop your visualisation skills and don’t get dis-heartened if for the first few times things don’t go your way. They will eventually!

Love and light,

Nodens

Towards a spiritual re-awakening

So, it’s 2010, we’re ten years into the new millennium and a brand new century. I can remember New Year’s Eve 1999 well, along with all the hopes people had for change. It was as if something magical would happen and that all the ills of the world would fade away.

Ten years on here we are, living in a much larger world than before. We’ve seen our technology evolve at a massive rate, we can be anywhere in the world in less than a day, and a great invention called the Internet has revolutionised the way we live our lives. But for all our advances we’re still not happy. Just watch any news channel and you’ll see the state of the world – wars, terrorism, failing economies and suffering on a global scale.

In the age of instant communication it’s as though we are drifting apart as a species. Governments, the media and society in general tell us to be suspicious of each other – that strangers in the street are out to get us, and our children are in constant danger. I remember as a child walking past people in the street and they would smile and say “good morning”. Now, people walk head down in their own private world of fear.

When I talk with people, my friends, work colleagues or just random strangers out and about I get a sense that things are not well with the world. We’ve become disconnected from that most precious of gifts – our spiritual selves. Science and technology are great, but we’ve become too dependent on them. All we’ve found is the cold numbness of lifeless machines which can only bring the illusion of the contentment and happiness we need and desire. I’ve found myself regularly asking the question – have we lost our ability to believe?

It all sounds like doom and gloom, but if you look hard enough the answer to that question is NO, and for me that gives great hope and optimism for our future. So what made us turn away from our spirituality and belief in the divine?

I think that deep down, despite all that’s happening in the world, people need to believe in the intangible, the divine. The things we can’t see or touch. We need to know that the world and the universe has a plan and that we’re helping it work towards playing that plan out to completion.

The problem lies in the “new religions” of the world that arrived only a short time ago. They came into being as a means of control. A way for an elite core of individuals to selfishly steer the course of humanity. We’re told that we must follow the doctrines and teachings of these holy paths, or face eternal damnation and suffering. On the one hand the new religions preach peace and tolerance, yet on the other they encourage hatred and intolerance for anyone, or anything that does not conform to their world view.

Ask yourself the question – if the modern concept of “God” is a supreme being who is all powerful, all seeing, all knowing, and all forgiving, then how could he tell us that certain aspects of humanity are an abomination and should not be allowed to live? We’re told that God made us in his image and that he is incapable of making a mistake, so would it not be true that these same aspects of humanity are in fact exactly as God intended and go to make up the diverse whole that is the human species? It’s more likely that men introduced these rules under the guise of “God” to make sure we squabbled and bickered amongst ourselves so that we didn’t see what was really going on.

It is my belief that after centuries of enforced intolerance and doctrine we’ve come to the realisation ourselves that this can’t be the true face of the divine. So we’ve rejected the modern faiths and flocked away from the churches, mosques and synagogues in droves.

In our defection we turned to science to show us the way, but when we looked we couldn’t find God there either. So now we wander helpless, alone and in despair. But there are a few who remember that it wasn’t always this way – that we come from a rich heritage of spiritual belief and fulfilment that has been lost for so long.

So what is this rich heritage that I speak of? In plain and simple terms it is the ancient beliefs of our ancestors who were more in tune with the world, nature and the ways of the universe. They knew about the seasons and how they affected life, and of the spiritual beings that interact with us in all the things that we do.

All this is so much hocus pocus you might think, and best relegated to the psycho fringes of society. But you’d be wrong in your assumption. Everywhere we turn the “looney new age freaks” have become more acceptable to society.

People are searching for something more to life, and they are increasingly looking to more natural, simpler ways to live. We’ve seen a surge in holistic therapies such as Reiki, Aromatherapy, Chinese Medicine and herbalism. All these practices have been handed down by our ancient “Pagan” ancestors, often in secret to prevent persecution. We’re discovering that they have as much relevance in our lives today as they did thousands of years ago.

We’re also rediscovering that nature can heal the soul by spending time walking through a forest, or swimming in the ocean with dolphins. Here, we are close to the life essence of the universe and it invigorates and recharges us.

People go to counsellors and hypnotherapists to work through issues and to relieve deep seated psychological problems. In the modern world we’ve sanitised and given clinical names to these practices. But not too long ago anyone practicing these arts would have been branded a Witch, because these are the ancient practices often viewed as “magic”.

Think what you will, the simple truth is that the spiritual part of our nature is waking up and more and more people are starting on a journey to re-discover that lost part of themselves, the soul. We don’t need the rigid doctrines telling us how to live our lives; we want to connect with spirit and the divine in a way we can relate to personally.

The old ways are often called “the mystery religions” because each person’s journey will be unique. There are simple frameworks and practices, but the path to your own enlightenment and knowledge of the divine universe is yours to take. Each and every person is unique, diverse and individual. It’s only right that we experience the truth of universe in a way that’s appropriate for us.

So, even though life is complicated and hard in this modern technological world, you can take comfort in the fact that our spiritual selves are still there, sleeping under the surface. You can find happiness in the simplest of things.

Next time you feel down, go for a walk in nature, find a quiet spot and just sit and be still. Open your senses to the true world around you and you’ll experience the beauty of the universe. The wind in the trees may whisper a message to you, or you’ll just experience the healing energies of the Earth. Whatever you experience just accept it for what it is, no need to look for an explanation, it’s just your connection to universe waking up. Enjoy it.

Blessed Be.

Nodens

Spirit makes a show at the party

This weekend I helped a friend celebrate one year in his home with a group of psychic, pagan and spiritual friends. It was a great evening and it seemed that we attracted some attention from a group of spirits present in the house. I’m guessing having a large number of sensitives was too much for them to pass up the opportunity to make themselves known.

As the guests departed, only four of us remained and as we chatted by the stairs, my friend noticed small wisps of “smoke” appearing and floating through the air. This happened a few times and we noticed the temperature drop. Another friend who has abilities in mediumship told us that a little boy was here and wanting to play. He was 9 he told us. Play for him was rushing past us and letting us feel his energy brush against our hands as we held them out. That was a new experience for me and pretty amazing.

We walked up to the small bedroom on the front of the house; this was his bedroom. Calling out, we asked if he wanted to play and to tap on the wardrobe or try closing a door. This didn’t happen but he kept bushing past us. Maybe he didn’t know how to make a physical manifestation, or maybe he just didn’t want, but he certinaly let us know he was there.

Overall, it was an exciting end to the night and we’re planning on holding a proper gathering to see if we can spend more time getting to know this little boy and his story. I’ll let you know what happens.

Shielding: learn to walk before you run

I’ve been practicing Witchcraft for ten years now and have had the pleasure of meeting many interesting people. My path has introduced me to mediums, clairvoyants, psychics, shamans and other witches to name but a few. It’s amazing that there are such a diverse range of skills and abilities out there in the world, all working for the greater good of the planet. However, one thing that has shocked me a little is the number of people who fail to see the importance of the most basic skill; shielding.

It’s not very exciting and doesn’t produce any cool, visible results; so people don’t bother to spend any time learning how to do. Can I please stress that it’s the most important magical skill you’ll ever learn! It doesn’t matter which particular path you walk, this rule applies equally. When we work, our souls shine out like beacons in the astral world, and there are negative souls and entities that like nothing more than to corrupt those of us who work for the light. We can also be subject to psychic attack, or be drained by psychic vampires who like to feed on energy and emotions.

There are lots of ways to create a shield and I encourage you to read about it online and in books. Find a method that works for you and use it daily to get yourself into the habit, and give you the experience to create a shield at will. In this article I will show you how to construct a multi-layer shield that you can call on at any time you feel you need protection.

• Sit comfortably and close your eyes, taking deep, calming breaths to focus and centre yourself.
• Imagine roots spreading from your feet down into the earth and feel the energies drawing into yourself and your centre (just below the belly button). Let the earth energies recharge your centre and flood out into your body.
• Now imagine a strand of white light coming down from the heavens into your head. Pull it down to your centre and allow it to recharge with universal energies, and then let it flood out into your body.
• Focus on your centre – a ball of intense energy just below your belly button. Imagine pink light forming and then push it out in a sphere around your body. Fill it with unconditional love. Only unconditional love can pass this barrier.
• Bring your attention back to your centre and imagine blue energy and push this into a sphere just beyond the pink. Use your intent to charge this energy as a barrier against negative energies. None may pass.
• Again, come back to your centre and imagine a grid forming like the lines on a globe. Push this out beyond the blue sphere. With your intent programme this layer to continually draw energy from the universe to keep the shield powered and charged.
• Finally imagine golden energy and push this beyond the grid, using your mind make the gold sphere shiny like a mirror. This will reflect all harm and negativity away from you. Keep focusing and imagine lightning bolts swirling over the surface ready to lash out against any stronger attacks.
• Now, focus on the layers and charge them fully. Ask the shield to stay with you and activate when needed. When you are happy your shield is ready, imagine it shrink to the size of a golf ball and move to hover over your left shoulder. You can call it whenever you need it.

So, there is a magically constructed shield to help keep you from harm. I would advise that you go through this charging process once a week to keep it strong and ready. It will also help with your powers of intent, visualisation and focus.

Once made, it’s a great tool to have around as it will charge from universal energy once activated, leaving you free to work as you want. Alternatively, you can it place around you to keep you safe while you sleep.

Hello world

Hi everyone,

Thanks for taking the time to visit my Blog. Over the coming weeks and months I hope to share my thoughts and feelings on all things Pagan, Wiccan and mystical as I encounter them on my journey. I’ve been a practicing witch for ten years now and have learned so much, and met some very interesting people (and a few not so nice people) on the way. Overall, it’s been an amazing journey so far, and I look forward to the next ten years with excitement.

Blessed be,

Nodens