The Importance of Grounding Yourself

June 23rd was my first group ritual in the ten years I've studied Wicca. All I had learned, I had read in a book. Solitary rituals were very simple but still meaningful. 

I greatly enjoyed the Midsummer ritual, which honored the Sun at its highest power of the year, and also the start of its decline.

However, what I didn't enjoy was the post-ritual headache, fever and chills that I experienced for a solid 24 hours afterward.I was confused and thought I was just getting sick, until I reached out to the Wiccan community on Tumblr, and I was educated very quickly about grounding yourself.

What is grounding? Grounding is, for lack of a better phrase, rooting your energy into the Earth. It's a good habit to do it when you wake up in the morning, but it's not necessary. It's one of a few things you can do to avoid feeling ill after a group ritual, though.

During a group ritual, a lot more energy is stirred up and manifested than would be in a solitary ritual. If you don't ground yourself before doing the ritual, your energies will not flow the way they should. Your energy will be erratic and your magic may not do what you expect it to do. This will cause you to feel ill, because the balance in your body has been thrown off. Of course, if you forget to ground before a ritual you can still do it after it's over, or even during the ritual if you remember, but it's better to just do it beforehand.

It is surprising how little modern books about Wicca talk about grounding. All of the books I have read barely even touched on it, even though it is one of the most basic skills a Wiccan can have - as well as one of the most important ones.


Grounding yourself is pretty easy but requires a little practice to get the hang of it. It is useful to ground yourself during stressful situations and after you have been injured or fallen sick. 

How to Ground Yourself:


Picture your body surrounded with visible energy. Imagine that energy manifesting into branches and roots coming out from your body. Picture the roots going into the ground beneath you (stretch them a little farther if you're indoors) and the branches stretching into the sky, creating a solid foundation and a strong grip for your energies to take hold.


It can take a few tries to really feel it, but it's quick and easy and the more you do it the more you'll feel its positive effects. You may start to feel more balanced and less stressed.

Good luck and Blessed Be!

)O( Lily

Building for the future.

Been super busy lately...but something big this way comes!

Stay tuned.

Damian

The Dark Moon - Good Mojo

To society the dark moon may seem like such a scarey time. Without the reassuring light of the moon, people can feel a little lost. But those on the magickal path know there is a whole other side of the new moon. With the dark moon falling so closely with Ostara, now may be the time to utilize the energy of change along with the banishing energies of this moon. Break old, negative habits under the new moon and when the day comes the energy of spring can intensify your work, lifting you up.

Ostara 2012: Spring Equinox

We are coming up on the vernal spring equinox Ostara, mainly us here in the northern hemisphere. As in accordance with nature, this is a time for new life this year. Jubilant spirits overcome the winter slump and the weather is more inviting for outdoor activities. Take advantage if your areas has beautiful weather. Go to a park, a local event, get together with friends, go on a walk, ride, hike, play a sport,  do some rituals, and/or just bask and take it all in. No matter when or how you observe it, CELEBRATE.

Here is a great source to learn more. Even has a nice ritual you can do.

Picture credit: http://fullhdwallpapers.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/green-hd-spring-wallpaper.jpg

                              Damian

Why Do We Need Religion Anyway?

Lately it's been easy to focus on the negative aspects of religion, because it is the negative aspects of certain major religions which are so horribly impacting life and politics in so many parts of the world.  Rather than just bashing those religions, I think we should be asking ourselves why they have so much control and influence over so many people, what benefits religion offers, and why so many people get bent out of shape when confronted with those of different beliefs than themselves.

Lets face it, folks, very few people are genuinely happy being agnostic.  Most people will ascribe to some sort of view of the cosmology of life/death/existence, where we came from, why we are here, and where it's all going.  Even atheism answers this question by asserting that physical reality is all there is, that there is no intrinsic meaning to it, and a nihilistic lack of existence is all that there is beyond this mortal coil.  While this might seem frightening, for those who believe it is also comforting in its surety.

All major world religions offer a certitude of what has been, what is, and what shall be.  They describe the Human place in the world, physically, morally, societally, and cosmologically.  They provide guidelines for how to react to events, how to behave, and how not to behave.  They don't have to make logical sense.  They just need to provide a firm foundation from which to view that great puzzle, Life.  They work because most people want to have answers to their Questions ready and waiting for them as soon as they ask.  It makes things easy when someone or something else is a ready authority.  It takes away the uncertainty and stress of searching for answers.  Life is complicated enough for most people without spending time questing for the existential.

Once a person has decided to invest in a particular religious belief, the natural tendency is usually to view that belief as True, and by proxy, all others as False.  We do this not just because we are irascible creatures, but also because it helps protect the religious beliefs from being challenged, and thus potentially plunging us back into uncertainty and confusion.  When a religion includes tenants commending open-mindedness and acceptance this can be kept in check, because the individual is violating the beliefs he/she seeks to protect when attacking others for perceived Falsehood.  When a religion encourages insular, exclusive attitudes, it is a short (and religiously justifiable) step to take the Roman route and "defend" by attacking any potential "enemies".

Despite it's informal structure, Wicca is such a successful and prevalent pagan religion because it also addresses these questions in a very firm manner, and it does so in a way that is completely compatible with modern life.  It is also open enough to allow for modification to suit each coven which chooses to practice it.

Other modern renditions of traditional European pagan religions are often more difficult to explain or practice in a modern context due to broken traditions, or traditions which are not practical or not possible in modern society (try to get the permits to build and then burn a long ship as a funeral pyre).  This doesn't mean they are invalid, but it does mean that they will never be as attractive to the casual soul-searcher looking for a different religion.  Modern Druidism in particular is almost entirely practiced by dedicated individuals who have an unusually strong desire to personally search for answers to the Difficult questions.  It does not provide firm answers to any of the Usual questions (let alone the Unusual ones), not in small part because the modern Druid religions have no direct ties to historic religions except through academic-style research.  Its overriding emphasis on independent research is very commendable, but not the sort of effort that an average person is going to go to.

Religion is also very much about community.  It provides a framework of common ground, and the likelihood of acceptance among practitioners of the religion when one is traveling, or if one moves to a new area.  It provides a support network in difficult times, and more smiling faces in celebration, to name just a couple of the community benefits.

After all, while it might be nice to be alone sometimes, the life of The Hermit is a lonely one.  Is it really any wonder that the vast majority of people ascribe to some religion, or periodically try out new religions in search of a good fit?

If you are currently in a religious community, what benefits does it provide in your life?  Mine provides friendship, mutual encouragement and support, a place of sanctuary, and eager conversation about research.  It is solely because of the wonderful friends I made and the community they created that I am now a practicing Wiccan.

Raising Pagan/Wiccan Children

Like many things in life, there is not wrong or right way on how you can share your beliefs with your children. You as the parent know your children the best, who else would know what they can and cant understand yet. Parents with small children may find it harder to go into much detail on how and why a ritual works or the many depths of the Goddess and God as they could with older ones. One of the most important things I have learnt is not to try and force your children, regardless of the age, into sharing your beliefs. Most of us have came to this path on their own for their own reasons. You have to let your child come to this decistion on their own, but that doesn't mean you still cant teach them. They easiest way I have found to teach your children is to lead by example, they are watching you even you don't think they are. As a mother of two small children I'm always thinking of new ways to teach them, be it a simple nature walk to show them the changing cycles of the seasons or looking out their window at night to see the different phases of the moon. There isn't many children group activities out there yet that I have found but one can hope that it will change in the future as our culture grows. If you have any comments or hints for other Parents raising their children off the beaten path please feel free.

Bless It Be.

The Internet Age : Everything at Our Fingers

In this present day we may not recognize how spoiled we are. In the time before youtube and wikipedia, it could be really difficult for people to find information on alternative faiths. Much less find materials like drums, specialty chalices, rare herbs, or semi precious stones. If you wanted drumming music, you would need to scour the stores for CD's and cassettes. In this era, we are blessed with complete access to stores, free music and meditations (via youtube), instant access to almost anything you would like to know, and the ability to purchase everything or anything within the scope of the law. It really is a great time to explore your path and remember it was not always this easy.