The Magickal Pen

Welcome the energy of Taurus and Learn more about the Modalities in the on-line course: Traveling Through the Stars

Taurus: A Fiercely Beating Heart

Strength unmoved as dust swirls

around the stamping of hoof.

Fire rages in the heart and

coils of fevered breath move from

chamber of lung and throat,

weaving between air’s stagnant web….

……read more here

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The vultures circle high above
their wings syncopating
Flora’s rhythm of Life.
The space within this natural world
is fertile and green
And where carion’s death hides
no point of  light can reveal….

Read More at my blog: https://themagickalpen.wordpress.com/2010/05/01/floras-gait/

Keep our Mother in Your Heart every Day!

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There are many milestones that we take note of as we go through our lives.  Births, deaths, puberty, adulthood, middle age and old age. Some we have no choice about their occurrence and others such as marriage, education, vocation, etc.. are those which we select, fine tune and choose as our goal or life’s work.

I was reminded of one of those milestones of choice yesterday as I stood in witness to an initiation within our Tradition of the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel. The young woman who was the soon to be a Third Degree* initiate entered the carefully prepared sacred space fully aware, fully present and eager to take up the work of the High Priestess and all that this would require. The 2-hour ritual represented the sum total of years of hard work, dedication, service and putting one’s free time towards the work of self growth to be more effective in the tasks that would come.

As I drove home, I thought back to my own Third Degree initiation 10 years ago when I too stood at that place of choosing. I thought back to the steps I also had taken, beginning with my dedication to Oak and Willow Coven and the ASW, that led me to a First Degree Initiation in 1998. I thought on all the work- both physically and spiritually,  done up to this point; much of which has made me more human, more understanding and acutely aware of my actions and the interconnected nature of all life.  And, in looking back at these various milestones that were self-selected it brought to mind the other self—selected milestones I had celebrated. Marriage, children, graduations and more flooded my thoughts and with each came a deeper sense of the crossroads and options that presented. I felt a sense of pride for those choices which had produced success and remembered the lessons learned from those that had failed. I realized that the greatest growth had come from creating many of those chosen highlights and although all were not always the final chapter of a particular goal, they propelled me forward, whether for positive or negative, in a way that would not have occurred had I sat idly by.

So, sit in reflection on some of those things you may not have realized to be milestones at the time, but definitely had impact on who and where you are now. Sit in excited anticipation and plan those milestones that will be the markers for your future experience.  The important thing is to begin the process and enter it fully aware and fully present and eager to take up the work needed to create that turning point- a marker- a milestone that gives history to the work you have done as you’ve traveled the course of a lifetime.

* Within the ASW we have 5 degrees of Initiation. The First Degree is that of dedicating oneself to walking and connecting more fully with this specific spiritual Path. The Second Degree is that of refining and defining the Magickal Persona and deeper knowledge of oneself. The Third Degree designates the initiate as leadership/clergy or High Priest/Priestess. They serve as leadership and teachers within their covens and are responsible for providing the foundations upon which their membership may grow. They are upholders of the Tradition’s values and serve as example of the potential we all hold.  Each initiatory experience builds upon the other and together the represent a considerable amount of work, effort and commitment to the Tradition and the larger pagan community. The Fourth and Fifth Degrees (Elder and Craft Father/Mother, respectively) relate to the continued growth of the Tradition, its support to the larger community and leadership guidance towards all the covens within the Tradition, rather than one specifically.

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The Temple stands ready

and books of wisdom line the walls

Love fills this space

and

energy moves in rhythm

with breath and blood

The Gods surround

and

my Spirit rises in joyous embrace

The Great Work

now begun

The final installment in our Year and A Day Wicca online course. Enjoy! Check it out here:

http://www.oakandwillow.org/Yad13%20Overview%20of%20the%20Lesson.htm

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May the sun
bring you new energy by day.

May the moon
softly restore you by night.

May the rain
wash away your worries.

May the breeze
blow new strength into your being.

May you walk
gently through the world and know
its beauty all the days of your life.

As you move through your day, week, month and year let these words echo through you; connecting you to the energy of the natural world.

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I recently was looking through some older papers I had and came across these daily spiritual exercises that were offered by philosopher, scientist and educator, Rudolph Steiner(1861-1925). His works encompassed a variety of spiritual disciplines and his unique perspective on consciousness and the spiritual Path propelled him to the status of what would today be considered a highly effective motivational speaker.

These daily activities of focus are timeless (despite their dated language) in their use and adaptable to whatever positive spiritual path you may be following. I have added the planetary correlate for each of the specific days to serve as further support to the precept for that day. Those who are versed in astrology and knowledge of the planetary energies will easily see the connections. And, for those who are not this additional component can either be ignored or serve as a tool for researching what those specific energies.

SATURDAY: Right Thinking                                           SATURN *

Be aware of your thoughts. Gradually learn to separate in your thoughts the essential from the nonessential, the eternal from the transitory, and truth from mere opinion. When listening to conversation, try to become inwardly still, renouncing all agreement and, more important, all negative judgments (criticism and rejection). Do this in both thought and feeling.

SUNDAY: Right Judgment                                              SUN *

Decide on even the most insignificant issues only after full, well-founded deliberation and reflection. Abstain from doing anything that has no significant reason. Once we are convinced that a decision is correct, adhere to it with inner steadfastness. This is “right judgment” because it was made independently of attraction or aversion.

MONDAY: Right Word                                                    MOON *

Avoid the usual sort of conversation that involves jumbled, simultaneous cross-talk. Listen thoughtfully to every statement and answer. Consider every approach. Never speak without a reason. Prefer silence. Try not to talk too much or too little. Listen quietly and process what you hear.

TUESDAY: Right Deed                                                     MARS *

Our outer actions should not disturb others. When we are moved inwardly (by conscience) to act, carefully weight how best to employ the occasion for the good of the whole, and the happiness of others and the eternal. When you act from yourself and your own initiative, weigh the consequences of your actions in the most fundamental way.

WEDNESDAY: Right Standpoint                                       MERCURY *

In ordering your life, live in harmony with nature and spirit. Do not get buried in the external knickknacks of life. Avoid all that brings restlessness and haste to your life. Be neither impetuous nor lazy. Consider life as a means of inner work and development and act accordingly.

THURSDAY: Right Striving                                                JUPITER*

Take care not to do anything beyond your power, but don’t leave anything undone that is within your ability. Pose goals that are connected with the highest of human responsibilities. In relation to these exercises, for example, try to develop yourself so that later—if not immediately—you may be better able to help and advise others. Let the preceding exercises become a habit!

FRIDAY: Right Memory                                                       VENUS *

Strive to learn as much as possible from life. Nothing happens that does not give us the opportunity to gather experiences that are useful for life. If you have done something incorrectly or incompletely, it becomes an opportunity to do it correctly or completely later on. When you see others act, observe them with the same end in mind (but not without love). Do nothing without looking at past experiences that may help in your decisions and your actions. If you are attentive, you can learn much from everyone. including small children.

* adapted from: Start Now! A Book of Soul and Spiritual Exercises, by Rudolph Steiner

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“ It All Begins At the Exact Moment You Were Born”

Oak and Willow is pleased to announce the expansion of its Traveling Through the Stars project. As we move through the changing of the sun signs each month we’ll also be learning about the fascinating world of astrology, how to read your natal chart and the tools that are used to reveal the cosmic you. As the individual  Basics of Astrology links become available the stars and astrological glyphs will point the way. A special pathworking will be added to each of the signs as the year progresses through each to open the inner paths to your unique gifts.

Check it out at:

Traveling Through the Stars

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In honor of “World Poetry Day” and the new beginnings of the Spring Equinox:

The sweet song of the birds

calls me from my winter’s sleep

announcing that Spring has arrived.

I stretch and wipe the remnants of sleep

from slowly focusing eyes.

Sunlight streams though spider silk curtains of gauzy

lightness and a soft and gentle breeze

carries the scent of newly awakened earth

I stand from my soft bed of moss and greenery

the earth below my feet moist with fairy kissed dew

a leafy canopy of roof that shelters over head

filters early morning sunlight like shards

of the finest crystalline prism

All of nature surrounds me

The call to Spring heard

in the deep roots that

meander through

loamy earth.

I lift my face upwards

towards sun drenched sky

and breathe in the

essence of newness

Quickened life fills my being

and in harmony with

the eternal cycle

I am clothed

in the fabric

of

Gaia’s Spring cloak

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As I sit thinking on what to write this week, my thoughts and heart are turned towards the profound loss of life, home and income in wake of the earthquake and tsunami of Japan. The usual ramblings and concerns that I may have written of pale in the reflection of this catastrophe, and the many others that have occurred in recent times. The sorrow of all humanity for its own weighs heavy  as reminder of our interconnectedness.

May Japan and her people be held in the Grace and Light of healing. May aid come swiftly and may the spirits of those whose lives have ended so abruptly be guided to their final rest and go forth shining into the Light of the Limitless All.

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With Spring almost upon us, and increasing demands on my time, organizing my thoughts has become a must do. This pressing need spills over into my meditation practice as well. And, as I become more deeply entrenched in the demands of mundane life I am going for quality not quantity of time spent in reflection, communion and interaction with my spiritual self. To support this state of being I like to identify a few core foci to work with continually, over the months. Usually, each builds upon the other, much like the waxing of the Light half of the Year.

As I looked through copies of readings or exercises that I thought would be excellent tools for meditative practice, I realized that the random books, magazines or web articles seemed cumbersome and something I would not return to frequently. And, more importantly each time I set off for my evening meditation, I did not want to spend most of the allotted time finding what had drawn my attention initially. Eureka! I could use my index cards!

I routinely use blank index cards to record notes to myself, make my to do lists and throw in my purse as reminders for family and personal events. I like the flexibility of this method and most of all appreciate the fact that they easily and lightly fit in a purse, bag or even within the pages of a book I am taking notes on.

Now, to most the connotation of “a house of cards” has always been a negative one, filled with the imagery of a structure easily blown apart, likely to fall and just not durable. However, there is much to be said for Intent and Will as being the mortar that holds the house together.

I write out (or copy, if lengthy) the information that I will use as my focus for the intended focus of multiple meditations. They are kept in a beautifully decorated box and as I prepare to sit for my meditation, I select and reread or refresh my intent with the appropriate card (s). It may seem like extra work or you may be thinking “why anyone would need a card as a reference point?”. The key, for me personally, is the additional engagement that I am offering up to my intention. Taking the time to plan out, write out or read through makes use of the physical senses that contribute towards a synthesized and fully present process. This manner of focus and direction pinpoints precisely where I wish to hold my consciousness as I begin my meditation.

And, the greater outcome is that these simple, yet deeply connecting actions form the structure, framework and foundation that I can use as I open to accommodate and hold the energy of the higher connection with the Divine. This is the House in which I find communion with my Higher Self. This is the House of Cards that will stand strong for eternity.

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