{"id":18799,"date":"2019-02-01T01:10:31","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T06:10:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=20361"},"modified":"2019-01-29T12:29:24","modified_gmt":"2019-01-29T17:29:24","slug":"the-bad-witchs-guide-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2019\/02\/01\/the-bad-witchs-guide-10\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bad Witch’s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Bad Witch\u2019s Guide to Pagan Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Photo by A L L E F . V I N I C I U S ?<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A\nlot of people assume I don’t pray. This is wrong. I have a daily\npractice and that means I connect in some degree to what is sacred to\nme and within me, usually daily. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My\nprayers can look like regular praying, or dancing, or cooking or\nnothing at all. Let us talk about what I mean when I say prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To\nme a prayer is the mental and spiritual and sometimes physical\nseeking of connection to the Divine within and outside of the self. I\nhave prayers I have written as well as some from the Feri tradition\non my bedroom walls. I may repeat those silently or aloud as written\nas as my heart directs in the moment. The words are important but it\nis the sensation of connection, or depth, of Anwen that lets me know\nI am not just reciting. I am deliberately altering my consciousness,\nwith a mind to connection. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While\nI also meditate often, meditation differs from prayer. In prayer I am\nexpressing something to myself and the Gods. In meditation I am\nlistening. I surrender to that connection. Sometimes I listen more\nthan I speak, sometimes I speak more than I listen. At the root of\nprayer is hope, at the root of meditation is trust, faith. That is\nwhy meditation is difficult for a lot of people. Not just because it\ntakes practice but because to surrender your thoughts, to really\nlisten within and without is an act of surrender. You have to let go.\n Scary stuff for a lot of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prayer\nis different. It is an expression of seeking and of holding on, maybe\neven building something. Even if there were no Gods prayer would be\nimportant as an expression of our hopes, our strength and desire for\nlife and connection. An affirmation of awakened selves. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes\nI call on specific Deities though more often I call on the Lord and\nLady, God and Goddess, or even simply Ancient Ones. I usually call\nHerself first and then Himself. It was the Feri way I learned early\non and one I still use. I find myself \u201cspeaking\u201d more to Herself\nand \u201clistening\u201d more to Himself. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\nlike the Charges a lot too. Though I don’t use them directly often\nsave in ritual circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Praying\ncan be dancing, my unspoken hopes and desires moving my body and\nradiating that into the world. It can be in song, pagan in origin or\notherwise. It can be in my hands as I touch someone (I like \u201cmay\nwhat is sacred to you heal you\u201d). There are prayers in my teacup,\nin the glass I use to take my medicines (I am getting better\neveryday), in the spoons I use to stir my cooking food. Even if it is\nonly the words \u201cthank you\u201d. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\nwas lucky enough to trade and receive a book of translated\nprayer\/poetry of Inanna. It is fascinating, ancient and beautiful. It\nis rather sexy in places too! As a prayer it is a love poem. \u201cShe\nwho adores, adore me!\u201d It was eye opening because prayer for many\npeople is a saintly bland affair. This was funny, entertaining,\nerotic and tragic. It was eye opening. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prayer\nis more than a wishlist of wants like a child’s list of presents to\nSanta. Prayer is speaking in heart, body and mind to what is sacred.\nThere are wonderful prayers out there but crafting your own is both\nmore personal and more relevant. You have the option to be as\nspecific as you like. Writing is often a prayer too. Whether it is\npoetry in my many notebooks, on twitter or articles like these, I\nhave to connect to write. I have to reach into the light within me\nand the light without to find the words, though sometimes I can not.\nSometimes there are no words only sounds or sensations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One\nof the other techniques some Feri traditions teach is to simply speak\nto your Gods. No thee, thy, thou. Just you talking. Though I do this\nleast I do find it helps keep me sincere. It is a helpful expression\nof where you are. Part confession, part shooting the breeze, this\nkind of prayer is both cathartic and humbling. As someone whom has\nbeen and felt I had to be superwoman this gave me a space where I\ndidn’t have to be perfect, all-knowing or strong. I could rest my\nhead on my Mother’s breast and cry, rest and just be. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My\npersonal shrines within my bedroom are where I come to pray most\noften. I find cleaning them and it’s objects a prayer in itself.\nWhile I do give offerings to the Gods this is usually part of rites\nand ritual rather than daily prayer. I don’t like having food in my\nbedroom, so if I do give offerings it is usually flowers, crystals\nand objects like feathers I find that have meaning to me. Much like\nmy own daughter as a small child would bring me flowers and pretty\nthings. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If\npraying is something new for you start small. Something short you can\nremember easily or write in a journal. Taking a few moments to say\nsomething from the heart is a beautiful way to start or finish your\nday. It can be specific or open as you like. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goddess\nyou are the sweet sacred earth<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\nam of your body and I am blessed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goddess\nyou are the sacred waters of life<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\nam of your body and I am blessed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goddess\nyour breath is the sacred air we breathe<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\nam of your breath and I am blessed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goddess\nyou are the candle and the star<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\nam of your radient light and I am blessed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goddess\nyour way is that of gratitude<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your\nway is of peace.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your\nway is of joy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your\nway is that of love.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your\nlove willed me into creation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\nhonour you and I am honoured by you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So\nmote it be.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could easily add a named Deity of your choice, replace blessed with anything else, like strong, wise, or holy. You can make it as complicated or simple as you like, it is the reaching with your heart and mind for that sincere connection that matters. So mote it be means \u201cas I have spoken it will be so\u201d. I prefer it to Christianized Amen. Blessed be is always a good ending too. Different paths may have different wordings. If you do something while you do this prayer, like light a candle or such after a time the act itself becomes connected to your prayer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\ndo not of course have to pray. Yet if you are seeking I think it is a\nworthy endeavour. It is in the seeking that it matters. For if you do\nnot find it within you will never find it without.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\u201cThe\none place Gods inarguably exist is in our minds where they are real\nbeyond refute, in all their grandeur and monstrosity.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n


\n? Alan\nMoore <\/strong><\/em>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Bad Witch\u2019s Guide to Pagan Prayer (Photo by A L L E F . V I N I C I U S ? on Unsplash) A lot of people assume I don’t pray. This is wrong. I have a daily practice and that means I connect in some degree to what is sacred to me and within me, usually daily. My prayers can look like regular praying, or dancing, or cooking or nothing at all. Let us talk about what I mean when I say prayer. To me a prayer is the mental and spiritual and sometimes physical seeking of connection to the Divine within and outside of the self. I have prayers I have written as well as some from the Feri tradition on my bedroom walls. I may repeat those silently or aloud as written as as my heart directs in the moment. The words are important but it is the sensation of connection, or depth, of Anwen that lets me know I am not just reciting. I am deliberately altering my consciousness, with a mind to connection. While I also meditate often, meditation differs from prayer. In prayer I am expressing something to myself and the Gods. In meditation I am listening. I surrender to that connection. Sometimes I listen more than I speak, sometimes I speak more than I listen. At the root of prayer is hope, at the root of meditation is trust, faith. That is why meditation is difficult for a lot of people. Not just because it takes practice but because to surrender your thoughts, to really listen within and without is an act of surrender. You have to let go. Scary stuff for a lot of people. Prayer is different. It is an expression of seeking and of holding on, maybe even building something. Even if there were no Gods prayer would be important as an expression of our hopes, our strength and desire for life and connection. An affirmation of awakened selves. Sometimes I call on specific Deities though more often I call on the Lord and Lady, God and Goddess, or even simply Ancient Ones. I usually call Herself first and then Himself. It was the Feri way I learned early on and one I still use. I find myself \u201cspeaking\u201d more to Herself and \u201clistening\u201d more to Himself. I like the Charges a lot too. Though I don’t use them directly often save in ritual circle. Praying can be dancing, my unspoken hopes and desires moving my body and radiating that into the world. It can be in song, pagan in origin or otherwise. It can be in my hands as I touch someone (I like \u201cmay what is sacred to you heal you\u201d). There are prayers in my teacup, in the glass I use to take my medicines (I am getting better everyday), in the spoons I use to stir my cooking food. Even if it is only the words \u201cthank you\u201d. I was lucky enough to trade and receive a book of translated prayer\/poetry of Inanna. It is fascinating, ancient and beautiful. It is rather sexy in places too! As a prayer it is a love poem. \u201cShe who adores, adore me!\u201d It was eye opening because prayer for many people is a saintly bland affair. This was funny, entertaining, erotic and tragic. It was eye opening. Prayer is more than a wishlist of wants like a child’s list of presents to Santa. Prayer is speaking in heart, body and mind to what is sacred. There are wonderful prayers out there but crafting your own is both more personal and more relevant. You have the option to be as specific as you like. Writing is often a prayer too. Whether it is poetry in my many notebooks, on twitter or articles like these, I have to connect to write. I have to reach into the light within me and the light without to find the words, though sometimes I can not. Sometimes there are no words only sounds or sensations. One of the other techniques some Feri traditions teach is to simply speak to your Gods. No thee, thy, thou. Just you talking. Though I do this least I do find it helps keep me sincere. It is a helpful expression of where you are. Part confession, part shooting the breeze, this kind of prayer is both cathartic and humbling. As someone whom has been and felt I had to be superwoman this gave me a space where I didn’t have to be perfect, all-knowing or strong. I could rest my head on my Mother’s breast and cry, rest and just be. My personal shrines within my bedroom are where I come to pray most often. I find cleaning them and it’s objects a prayer in itself. While I do give offerings to the Gods this is usually part of rites and ritual rather than daily prayer. I don’t like having food in my bedroom, so if I do give offerings it is usually flowers, crystals and objects like feathers I find that have meaning to me. Much like my own daughter as a small child would bring me flowers and pretty things. If praying is something new for you start small. Something short you can remember easily or write in a journal. Taking a few moments to say something from the heart is a beautiful way to start or finish your day. It can be specific or open as you like. Goddess you are the sweet sacred earth I am of your body and I am blessed. Goddess you are the sacred waters of life I am of your body and I am blessed. Goddess your breath is the sacred air we breathe I am of your breath and I am blessed. Goddess you are the candle and the star I am of your radient light and I am blessed. Goddess your way is that of gratitude Your way is of peace. Your way is of joy. Your way is that of love. Your love willed me into creation. I honour you and I am honoured by you. So mote it be. You could easily add a named Deity of your choice, replace blessed with anything else, like strong, wise, or holy. You can make it as complicated or simple as you like, it is the reaching with your heart and mind for that sincere connection that matters. So mote it be means \u201cas I have spoken it will be so\u201d. I prefer it to Christianized Amen. Blessed be is always a good ending too. Different paths may have different wordings. If you do something while you do this prayer, like light a candle or such after a time the act itself becomes connected to your prayer. You do not of course have to pray. Yet if you are seeking I think it is a worthy endeavour. It is in the seeking that it matters. For if you do not find it within you will never find it without. \u201cThe one place Gods inarguably exist is in our minds where they are real beyond refute, in all their grandeur and monstrosity.\u201d ? Alan Moore<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":230,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/230"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18799"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18799\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}