Blessings Darlings!
Having consulted with others, and thought about it myself - there are more things I'd like to see in Wicca/Pagan 101 books.
Let's start with ... footnotes for history claims, and suggested reading lists! And the authors need to have their facts right. "Truthiness" is not an option tho' LABELED UPG (unverified Personal Gnosis) is fine.
That you should pay attention of all sorts of spirits, not just the Gods.
THAT THE PAGAN COMMUNITY HAS PREDATORS.
Witch books better include the concept of raising, shaping, and sending energy - not just 'put up mirrors to block negative energy.'
Rede Thumping along with the Rede.
That Karma isn't what most Westerners think it is, and that Dharma matters.
How well the book is edited, spell checked, etc. No book is perfect, and I know that it's HARD to get Kindle editing to do what you want, but a good-faith effort should have been made.
I fear that expecting them to NOT go on about Christianity is too much to ask ... but I'm asking it anyway.
More criteria might be listed later, as things bug the shit out of me.
Frondly, Fern
Showing posts with label beginning magic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beginning magic. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Friday, April 11, 2014
Start Menu - Part two - Focus your mind.
Blessings Darlings!
Having addressed your mundane life in the last "Start Menu" post, let's move on to another issue, focusing your mind/attention.
No magic here yet - it all comes down to practice!
The most common technique that is used to develop mental focus is meditation. This is not necessarily the same goal that some Eastern types of meditation have, although the techniques may be the same. You are learning focus, not trying to still/obliterate, your mind.
For this, pick a form of meditation and ... do it daily. Twice daily would be even better. Mantra mediation is fine. Counting your breaths (usually to 3 or 5, then going back to one) is fine. Focusing on a flame, walking your lawn digging dandelions, Zen walking meditations, studying the edge of a sword ... there are countless ways to meditate to focus your mind.
You mind WILL wander. The goal is to have your mind wander less often over time. So keep track of how often you get distracted. Maybe have a bowl of dry beans, and remove one from the bowl every time your mind goes off on its own. After you've finished meditating, count how many beans you've removed from the bowl. Over time the number will go down.
I've never hit zero myself, but I've gotten better over time. You will, too.
Frondly, Fern
Having addressed your mundane life in the last "Start Menu" post, let's move on to another issue, focusing your mind/attention.
No magic here yet - it all comes down to practice!
The most common technique that is used to develop mental focus is meditation. This is not necessarily the same goal that some Eastern types of meditation have, although the techniques may be the same. You are learning focus, not trying to still/obliterate, your mind.
For this, pick a form of meditation and ... do it daily. Twice daily would be even better. Mantra mediation is fine. Counting your breaths (usually to 3 or 5, then going back to one) is fine. Focusing on a flame, walking your lawn digging dandelions, Zen walking meditations, studying the edge of a sword ... there are countless ways to meditate to focus your mind.
You mind WILL wander. The goal is to have your mind wander less often over time. So keep track of how often you get distracted. Maybe have a bowl of dry beans, and remove one from the bowl every time your mind goes off on its own. After you've finished meditating, count how many beans you've removed from the bowl. Over time the number will go down.
I've never hit zero myself, but I've gotten better over time. You will, too.
Frondly, Fern
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
The Start Menu - Part 1 - Mundane
Blessings Darlings!
So you want to get started in magic/Pagan spirituality/mysticism/whatever. Congratulations! But where do you start? I take a Maslovian view of this - that you start with the mundane.
Therefore, you'd start with things like:
* Eating right
* Getting some daily exercise
* Getting and keeping your house clean
* Addressing any physical health issues you have
* Addressing any mental health issues you have
* Addressing any financial issues you have
* Get in the habit of making a daily/weekly/monthly (at least these three levels) to-do list, and work that list.
* Addressing any other outstanding mundane issues you have. IRS? Legal issues? Relationship issues? Housing issues? There are tons of things that fit in here.
You don't have to totally solve all your mundane issues you have before starting magical/spiritual working, but you have acknowledge them, and be working on a plan to deal with them.
Why? For several reasons.
First of all,, these actions reduce major distractions in your life/day. Reducing distractions gives you more time and energy to do the work you want to do. There are plenty of guided meditations out there that begin with "put all your daily concerns on a scroll, and put it aside for safekeeping. You'll be able to pick it up again after you do this exercise." If you already have them on a physical (or electronic) list, and already have started dealing with those concerns, it really is easier to put them aside for a time.
Second, you're a beginner. Much of the work you'll be doing in the future will revolve around developing your will. All of these things do that, too. And unlike a lot of the internal will-work you'll be doing ... these goals are easily measurable. Did you or did you not eat 5 or more servings of fruit and veggies today? Did you or did you not exercise? Are your dishes done? All yes or no answers.
That's the mundane starting list. Go for it!
Frondly Fern
So you want to get started in magic/Pagan spirituality/mysticism/whatever. Congratulations! But where do you start? I take a Maslovian view of this - that you start with the mundane.
Therefore, you'd start with things like:
* Eating right
* Getting some daily exercise
* Getting and keeping your house clean
* Addressing any physical health issues you have
* Addressing any mental health issues you have
* Addressing any financial issues you have
* Get in the habit of making a daily/weekly/monthly (at least these three levels) to-do list, and work that list.
* Addressing any other outstanding mundane issues you have. IRS? Legal issues? Relationship issues? Housing issues? There are tons of things that fit in here.
You don't have to totally solve all your mundane issues you have before starting magical/spiritual working, but you have acknowledge them, and be working on a plan to deal with them.
Why? For several reasons.
First of all,, these actions reduce major distractions in your life/day. Reducing distractions gives you more time and energy to do the work you want to do. There are plenty of guided meditations out there that begin with "put all your daily concerns on a scroll, and put it aside for safekeeping. You'll be able to pick it up again after you do this exercise." If you already have them on a physical (or electronic) list, and already have started dealing with those concerns, it really is easier to put them aside for a time.
Second, you're a beginner. Much of the work you'll be doing in the future will revolve around developing your will. All of these things do that, too. And unlike a lot of the internal will-work you'll be doing ... these goals are easily measurable. Did you or did you not eat 5 or more servings of fruit and veggies today? Did you or did you not exercise? Are your dishes done? All yes or no answers.
That's the mundane starting list. Go for it!
Frondly Fern
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