Mid-Year Resolutions! December 31st marks the last day of any calendar year and we bring all the accumulated lessons, joys and sorrows of that year with us as we cross the threshold into a new beginning- the first day of a new year. For many, this self-initiated new start is welcomed by the making of carefully and thoughtfully chosen “resolutions”. And, just as many, often find that by the end of that cyclic year, those resolutions have fallen by the wayside, replaced by regrets or excuses for not having accomplished what we had set out to. What I would like to offer is a new way of looking at this…

The Flames of Beltane The column for this month focuses on Beltane and the creative Fires that are in abundance. We stand at another season and another turn of the Great Solar Wheel. We gather in the fertile space of circle greenery anchored well with phallic maypole standing tall. We dance around the potent fires of Beltane celebrating the sacred union of God and Goddess, youth and maiden and the polarity of seed and womb offered by male and female. The air is fragrant with the promise of summer’s musky scent and shoots of fresh grass elongate delicately upwards, stretching towards Father Sun and longer days to bask in His…

The Book of Creative Mind This pathworking was written as the conclusion to a workshop I taught entitled “Crafting Effective Pathworkings”. The intent was to offer sample of the various components that may be used in a pathworking and to plant the seeds of creative idea for the participant’s own use in writing.   Begin by taking in the scents and sounds of this room and this space. Now gently close your eyes and turn your focus and attention to your breath. Allow your consciousness to move with the rise and fall of your chest and the filling and release of your lungs. Continue in this manner for several breaths;…

The Calling: The Magick of Experience This morning I felt the need to be outside at lunch. This had nothing to do with the beautiful sunny weather. Instead, it was a deep yearning to hear and feel what I sensed needed my time and attention. I work in an office, sitting at the computer for most of my workday. Although we have a window that looks out to a tree-lined neighborhood there is nothing natural about this environment. So, at lunch I walked to my favorite space that is nestled within a bustling suburban community. As I sat quietly on the porch of the historic colonial home that was once farmland.…

The Dark Side of the Light   “As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.” (Carl Jung)   Jung and The Shadow   At some point along a spiritual path we must also encounter what is often called the “shadow self”.  This is an important milestone towards forward movement, and it is at that juncture that we have come upon the divergent path that offers choice of either embrace or retreat. So, what exactly is this shadow self?   According to Carl Jung, there are within the human experience and consciousness several archetypes that define the human…

You Take the High Road and I’ll Take the Low Road….   This month, I would like to have us give consideration to the type of magick we practice. We are entering a New Year and the potential held in crossing those Gates into a new way of experiencing Magick is ripe and ready. Before we can define what we practice, we need to know what some of the definitive properties are and what the effects could be.   There is some debate over what the definition of Operative Magick is and the tag lines of Practical, High and Low Magick associated with its definition.  Moreover, the term High and…

Re(de)fining Your Magickal Practice Your personal magickal practice is what serves as the foundation upon which you mold and define what your magickal endeavors will be and ultimately their effectiveness. This is the work that we do in the space of our own making as we work through the challenges and successes of setting foot on a magickal path. This is the stuff that is then shared and offered up in our public lives through ritual, healing work, and the Greater Work we choose to engage in within our respective communities.   Defining Your Magickal Practice By definition (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) the word “Practice” means: 1. A habitual or customary action…

Using a Guided Meditation Last month I wrote about the art of Pathworking. I discussed the characteristics of a Pathworking compared to that of a guided meditation; the goals being similar yet different in approach. The guided meditation makes use of entraining the mind to respond in a specific way to familiar stimuli that has direct impact on the emotions. Most often a guided meditation will be used for stress relief, changing addictive behaviors or building self confidence because these are feeling driven reactions. The intensity of transformation that a Pathworking has potential to cause at an etheric and spiritual level is equally effective in the use of a guided…

The art of Pathworking Many people confuse pathworkings with guided meditations as they become more involved in developing their spiritual practice. The two may seem to describe the same practice, simply with different nomenclature, but when you have a better understanding of what the effects and goals of each are, the differences become more discernible and more apparent. I write a lot of pathworkings and usually incorporate them in my workshops and articles as I can. For years I used guided meditations to relax and reaffirm myself or simply as a way to deepen my ability to remain open and receptive to new information. This was enfolded as part of other…

In the Hall of the Gods I light the candles in silence and sit readying myself for the journey at hand. Incense wafts gently into each nostril and tendrils of wispy smoke arise creating their images. I breathe gently and fully, preparing the vessel of my body to enter the “between” state of awareness and gently close my eyes as the intent fills the space of mind’s eye. My inner screen of action is vibrant with blue energetic veiling and I breathe even more deeply into the image of myself stepping through this veil. I emerge on the other side in a space that is dark and dense with energy.…