Level I Week 2

Part A

Self Improvement: Getting Clean.

The first step in spiritual study is still our minds and bodies. We do this by "turning down the volume" in our lives and minimizing negative interference so that we can listen to what we need to learn. This stillness is a type of purification, where we detox from harmful substances that affect 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, record how well you stick to your resolutions each day. (I keep a checklist 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 will 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 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.

Ariadne (Sacred Source)

During your devotional time this week, continue reading an entry per day from 365 Goddess, and continue writing in your 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 end 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 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 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.

.

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!

Smudging.
Smudging is a symbolic cleansing that can be done with any of the following aids. Click here for more info on smudging!

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 saying, "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 an 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 western Ukraine, sometimes numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

They were gathered in agricultural paradises and 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.

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If you could envision a "Golden Age" for the future, what would that be? Describe it in a paragraph, and send it to me.

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 or two paragraphs about any of Stein's ideas you'd like to incorporate into your 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!!!

Namaste' My Dear Sister!
Please feel free to e-mail me about how your lessons are going,
I look forward to hearing from you!

Hugs!
GrannyMoon

Please send your lessons directly to goddessschoollessons@yahoo.com