Monthly Columns

Peeking in the Shadows: Crafting a Book of Shadows and Light

 

Over the next few months, we’re going to take a look at the categories and sections you may wish to include in your BOS. What you add to your BOS is as unique as you are and will evolve and change as you evolve and change on your path. Flexibility is key to organizing your BOS, but you should have a method of organization as well.

This month our focus is on Visionary Work….

Visionary work takes many forms so you will undoubtedly have multiple sections in your BOS that are inclusive of that work. These will include divination and oracular practices, information gained from spell crafting, ritualistic visioning, pathworking, contemplatives and more. All of these practices will at some point have a component of visioning. So, what is “visioning”?

In the practice of the Craft, visioning refers to the process of seeing, as the mundane semantics of the word suggests. But, this type of seeing is often less about the physical experience, although sometimes the content of visioning presents in physical manifestation or ephemeral glimmer (for those with the sight) and is more relevant in the astral and non-corporeal domains we inhabit when we make application of visioning work.

This practice often includes a component of codification so that the information shared may be reflected upon by the individual visioning as well as the one(s) for whom the visioning is occurring. This is important because there is a stream of recording that begins to weave and if in particular the visioning is for a specific outcome or goal, a road map so to speak is being built along the way that can be used later to retrace steps or forge new pathways.

Visioning may be used to seek information about events, your personal (or another’s) spiritual growth, all manner of mundane endeavors that would benefit from deeper information or simply as a tool of devotion and connection with your Gods/desses. It also serves as a tool of experience to be developed-all of us are capable of visioning; the depth and accuracy determined by the refinement of the skill and natural ability-that benefits by some particulars so we may begin to learn the correct triggers, ambiance, and stimuli needed.

What you find below is another template to help you begin the process and add to your BOS:

A Record of Visioning Experience

(Your Magickal Name)

Date:

Location: Where did you begin the visioning? What was the setting-indoors, outdoors, a dedicated ritual/contemplative space? Was it in a space regularly used for contemplative or visioning work? Was it part of a ritual?

What Tools/Form Was Used: Record here if you used ritual as the vehicle for the visioning, a divination tool, trance or journeying, etc…

Time Begun: This is when you started the intention and process of visioning.

Time Ended: This is when you returned to regular consciousness and ended your session.

The Intention for this Visioning:

Write as much as is needed for you to have a clear picture f what the intention and purpose of this visioning session was. This will be important especially if you are planning to engage in several sessions for the same purpose or return to these pages after a lengthy period of time.

How Did I Prepare For This Visioning Work:

Were there specific actions taken, ie: breath work, meditation, energetic protocol, creation of sacred space, or just on the fly?

Information Received:

Write in as much detail and with clarity what information was received.

What I have Learned About Myself:

Use this space to record what you have learned about your process engaging in visioning work.

What have you learned of your responsive nature?

What have you learned about how you process information (the steps you go through mentally and emotionally)?

What would you change about this session to make it more effective?

Other Impressions:

Write any other thoughts, ideas, emotions that you may have about the visioning work you have completed.

In Gratitude to Myself and to those Beings Seen, and Unseen. So Mote It Be!

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Your Homework:

Select and intention for information needed. Complete your template and spend some time reflecting and en-visioning.

Next Month:

Spell Crafting

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About the Author:

Robin Fennelly is a Third Degree Initiate within The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition and serves as High Priestess of Coven of the Mystic Path, the 12th Coven within the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition. She teaches and facilitates classes for the Pagan Experience Study Group that serves as foundation for membership within Coven of the Mystic Path.  

Her spiritual journey is strongly rooted in both Eastern philosophy and the Western Magickal systems from which she has formed a core foundation that is diverse in knowledge and rich in spiritual practice.  A life-long learner, her practice has evolved from the classical and philosophical teachings of books, practical experience and enrichment of this knowledge base by attending workshops of various spiritual traditions presented by master teachers.

Robin formally came to the Wiccan path in 1994. Following practice as a solitary for 2 years, she dedicated to Oak and Willow Coven of The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition in November of 1996. She received her 1st, 2nd and finally 3rd degrees within the Assembly Tradition and has served as High Priestess of Oak and Willow since Samhain of 2001.

As a teacher of esoteric and magickal studies she has used Energetic Anatomy, Tarot, Astrology, Hermetic Qabala, Eastern Philosophy, and Numerology as the foundations of her diverse selection of workshops and writings for more than 25 years. Exploration of varied energetic protocol has been the focus of her work for some time now and the information gained through direct experience informs all of her magickal and spiritual work.

Robin’s writings have been featured online, and in print Internationally.  She has authored several books incorporating her unique style of writing making use of poetry, prose and pathworking to enhance the concepts presented.  She has taught extensively throughout the Pagan community, including Sacred Space Conference, Spring Magick, Between the Worlds Interfaith Conference and Free Spirit Gathering Festival this Summer. Her most recent project is hosting an online blogging community entitled The Pagan Experience.

Robin is the owner of Holistic Embrace providing services for mind, body and spirit such as Tarot readings, Astrology reports, Spiritual Guidance and other related offerings.  She lives in Eastern Pennsylvania and her life is blessed by a 40+- year marriage, five children and the opportunity to work in the field of public education.

Robin’s Books

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 1 It’s Written in the Stars-Astrology

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 2 Poetry of the Spheres-Qabalah

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 3 Awakening the Paths-Qabalah

The Light of SELF: Consciousness, Spiritual Practice and Learning to Breathe

Magickal Verse: A Collection of Poetry and Prose

A Year of Gaia: The Eternal Cord

The Elemental Year: Aligning the Elements of SELF

Temple of the Sun and Moon: Luminous Devotions

Sleeping with the Goddess: Nights of Devotion

A Weekly Reflection: Musings for the Year

The Magickal Pen: A Collection of Esoteric Writings

The Enchanted Gate: Musings on the Magick of the Natural World

For more info: http://www.robinfennelly.com/books.html

Robin’s Website: www.robinfennelly.com

Coven of the Mystic Path, ASW: www.covenofthemysticpath.org