One
to serve as
your personal journal and one to to record material from these
lessons. This is the beginning of your very own Book of Shadows and
Light.
. If
you are still waiting for your texts, you may begin with Part A, B
and C.
The first step in
spiritual study is still our minds and bodies. We do
this by "turning down the volume" in our lives, by minimizing negative
interference so that we can listen to what we need to be learning. This
stillness is
a type of purification, where we detox from harmful substances that
affect all of our senses: hearing, taste, smell, sight, touch, and
psychic/spiritual perception.
Last week you decided on
at least three ways to "get clean,"
physically, mentally, and emotionally. Try to put those resolutions
into action this week. Whether you've decided to take an evening walk,
turn off the car
radio on your commute to work, or go without fast food, keep a record
of
how well you stick to your resolutions each day. (Personally, I keep a
check-list in my journal.) Don't expect to be perfect, and don't give
up
if you "fail." Any day you carry out even one of your decisions is a
reflection
of progress. Everything counts!
But this is only the
half of the bargain. The junk in our lives is
there for a reason. Most of it serves to de-stress us. This week, you
will need to substitute healthy destressors for the junk you take away.
Instead of the candy bar, eat a juicy piece of fruit. Instead of
listening to a talk show, put in a tape of feel-good music. Instead of
reading the disaster
headlines, read one of your texts. My favorite way to relax is to take
a
cool bath by candlelight with incense burning.
So keep notes not only
on how you well cut out the junk, but on how
well you take care of yourself this week in healthier ways. Are your
efforts
being rewarded with a sense of spiritual refreshment? Please write a
brief
summary of your experiments in "getting clean" this week and email them
to me.
. . Part
B Daily
Devotions
Last week we focused on
finding a consistent time for devotions. This
week, we'll focus on finding a consistent place. Privacy and quiet are
key. If you have plenty of both, explore your dwelling for "power
spots,"
places where you feel peaceful or energized. Perhaps remake a corner of
one room as your meditation spot, complete with pillows and a little
table
or stand.
However, if privacy and
quiet are a luxury in your house, you will need
to be more creative. Your bedroom is probably the first choice,
especially if you have it all to yourself (or all to yourself at a
certain time of
day). Also consider the kitchen. If the kitchen is your domain, perhaps
you can reserve a spot at the counter or a corner of the table as your
devotional space. Don't rule out the bathroom, especially if you love
to take baths like I do. You may even find space in a big walk-in
closet! An outdoor
space can be wonderful too, especially if you can find one sheltered
from
the weather. The main thing is to find a space where you feel
completely
comfortable and safe.
During your devotional time
this week,
continue reading an entry per
day from 365 Goddess, and continue writing in your personal journal.
(You
don't need to write a lot. Even writing a few lines a day is a habit
which
will prove to be very valuable later on.) In addition to reading and
writing, add these elements into your devotions this week: ritualize
the beginning and ending of your devotional time and spend 1-5 minutes
in prayer and
meditation.
Marking the beginning
and ending of your devotional time. The most important
element is .consistency Feel free to experiment a
bit, but once you find something that works for you, do it every time.
Ritualizing your daily spiritual time sends clear signals to your
subconscious mind
that "now is the time" to connect in stillness. This will help calm
your
mind and heighten your awareness. This habit will prove especially
valuable
later on in your studies. Here are some suggestions for marking the
beginning
and ending of your spiritual time:
--light a candle/blow it
out --ring a bell or clap
your hands --say a phrase out loud,
like "I am open to receive" then "I close in
gratitude" --perform a certain
gesture, like hands open palms up then hands
clasped together It is also helpful to
burn the same scent of incense, play the same
soft background music, and/or to sit or stand in the same posture each
time.
All of these things will serve to "anchor" the experience of your daily
spiritual time. Soon you will be able to step into this spiritual time
very quickly and leave behind the concerns of the day with ease.
Prayer and Meditation. If you regularly pray
(or would like to start praying), during your
devotions is an excellent time. I pray for loved ones and for specific
requests each morning. If prayer is not part of your belief system, you
might take 60
seconds just to send positive energy out into the world. Someone once
said,
"prayer is talking; meditation is listening." If you are already
skilled in meditation techniques, try blending that practice with your
daily devotions. If you are not, take 60 seconds each day to just
listen with the intent
of hearing what you need to hear. (We will start learning some specific
meditation techniques in a few weeks.)
It may seem like we're
adding a lot to our devotions this week, but
they need not take any longer than the 15-20 minutes suggested last
week. Here are the suggestions so far: consistency of time and place;
mark the beginning of the time period; read one page; write a few lines
in your journal; pray (1-5 minutes); meditate (1-5 minutes); and mark
the closing time.
Write one paragraph
about your devotions this week. Describe your place
and your success with the other suggestions. Send your paragraphs to me.
. Part C
Mini-Ritual.
This week, instead of (or in addition to) trying a
mini-ritual from 365
Goddess, try one or more of the following mini-cleansing rituals. In
ritual, the most important thing to remember is that energy follows
intent. As
you perform the suggested actions, focus on cleansing and purifying
yourself. You can focus on general purification to rid yourself of any
negativity, or you can focus on cleansing yourself of something
specific, like fatigue, anger, bitterness, jealousy, or
self-destructive behavior. Before you begin any ritual, focus the
intent clearly in your mind, and repeat it to yourself, either aloud or
silently. "I cleanse myself of ____________." (If you're familiar with
some of these exercises, try one you haven't tried before.)
Spring water.
Hold a glass of cold, clear spring water in your hands and drink it
down with intent. Imagine the water purifying you inside and out.
Ritual bath.
Run yourself a bath (in a clean tub!) and sprinkle in something that
represents purity to you. Sea salt (or even table salt) is always a
good choice. A
grated lemon peel or spritz of lemon juice might be nice. Perhaps a
"clean
smelling" oil, like peppermint or bergamot is what you need. Look in
your
spice cabinet for other ideas. As you slip into the bath, imagine
yourself
being purified. Let the water soak up anything you need to get rid of,
then
when you're ready, pull the plug and watch all that negativity pour
down
the drain!
Smoke.
A "smudge stick" is a short bundle of herbs, mainly sage, that you can
buy in bookstores and new age shops. Make sure you have a small bowl of
sand
or other fire-proof container handy before you light it!
The Exercise
Stand barefoot with your feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly
bent. Do some deep breathing and anchor your intent in your mind. Now
light the bundle and blow on the flames until the herbs are glowing and
smoking.
(Flames should be out!) Raise the stick above your head, and in gentle
swooping motions, brush the smoke down your body, to your shoulders,
down
your arms, down your torso, down your legs. Brush the smoke over your
palms
and soles, and down the back of your body as best you can. All the
while
say, "With this smoke, I cleanse myself." When you finish, put the
bundle
in a fireproof container, top down, to let it go out.
This same exercise can be used, substituting smoke with one of the
following:
Water.
Mix a small bowl of water and salt. Anchor your intentions in the
water, then sprinkle it over yourself, using the same motions suggested
above.
"With this water, I purify myself." Pour any remaining water down the
drain
or into a nearby stream.
Rock, crystal, or feather.
If you have a rock, crystal or feather that is calling to you for this
exercise, first place it in direct sunlight for a hour or longer to
"clear" it of any residual energy. Then perform the above motions.
"With this _____, I cleanse myself." When you finish, vigorously shake
it off. You may want to place it back in sunlight to clear it again.
Oil.
Is there a certain essential oil that represents purity or cleanliness
to you? (For me these scents are lavender, peppermint, bergamot, and
tea tree.) If so, dab a little on your palms and vigorously rub your
palms together, anchoring your intent. Perform the above exercise by
moving your palms
over your body, about 4 - 6" away from your skin. When you finish,
shake
off your hands, and wash them well.
Your hands.
You don't even need oil! Your hands alone are powerful enough. Perform
the exercise above, and try to feel the energy move. Shake off and wash
your hands when you're through.
Write one paragraph describing the experience of your mini-ritual(s).
Send your paragraph to me.
Part
D Goddess Studies. Read chapter two in
Gadon, "The Unfolding of Her Mysteries." This is a
very short chapter, only 4 pages long. Pay special attention to the
very last paragraph, then read the following excerpt from Malcolm
Godwin's The Holy
Grail (Labyrinth Books, 1994, page 24):
There is now enough
substantial evidence to confirm that an Earthly
Paradise could have been a historical reality and that many of the
[Grail] myths
are actually collective memory traces of that vanished Golden Age.
Archaeologists have recently unearthed the remains of communities in
Anatolia, Yugoslavia, Romania and the western Ukraine, sometimes
numbering in the hundreds of
thousands.
They were gathered in
agricultural paradises and apparently coexisted
in peaceful harmony for almost four thousand years. Within a time span
comparable to that between ancient Egypt and the present moment, these
Neolithic peoples evolved virtually all the major domestic technologies
we know of today under the benevolent religion of a Great Mother/Land
Goddess.
Among the over 30,000
artifacts unearthed in the area, now known as Old
Europe, no weapons were found. The very absence of such objects tells
us that here we have discovered a culture which is unlike any
previously known. For while these mysterious peoples had all the
technologies to fashion
swords and shields they chose to make comic masks and fish hooks
instead.
It would appear that
these communities lived in a way that was arguably
the most joyous, peaceful and life-affirmative the world has ever
known. Seeing the tiny altars and vessels used, we can easily imagine
that the nurturing and life-giving spirit of the Goddess must have
permeated every aspect of everyday existence. The evidence available
suggests it was an age
of partnership, cooperation, equality, and an overriding sense of
shared community.
. If you could envision a
"Golden Age" for the future, what would that
be? Describe it in a paragraph, and send it to me.
Part
E Introduction to Women's
Spirituality
Read
chapter one in Stein's Casting
the Circle, "Women, Ritual, and The
Goddess." Take notes on anything that sparks your interest as
you go.
"Casting
The Circle" may be a bit difficult to find, but worth it! When
you finish the chapter, write one - two paragraphs about any of
Stein's ideas you'd like to incorporate into your own spiritual
practice. Send your paragraph(s) to me.
Part
F
Your Book of Shadows
Have
you started saving your words of wisdom, your lessons or other
information that will one day be sacred to you? Often called Book of
Shadows, sometimes, Book of Light, or Book of Light and
Shadows! If not, please click on the Book
of Shadows above and start it now! The
Book of Shadows (BOS) is used to store information you'll need in your
magical tradition. Many Pagans feel a BOS should be handwritten, but
some use a computer to store information as well. Bear in mind that a
BOS is considered a sacred tool, which means it is an item of power
that should be consecrated with all of your other magical tools. Copy
spells and rituals into your BOS by hand – this will not only transfer
energy to the writer, but it also helps you to memorize the contents.
Make sure you write legibly enough that you’ll be able to read your
notes during a ritual!
1.
Tell me about your BOS! Either one that you have currently or one that
you will be starting this week. Please feel free to send a photo!!!
END
OF WEEK II
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Namaste'
My Dear Sister!
Please feel free to e-mail about how your lessons are going,
I look forward to hearing from you!
