Week III | Magick | Lesson Three

[mol]

This lesson is based on preparation which we found to be an Ethic in Lesson Two. So, lets do the same thing we did before...

I want to hear ONE thing you do to prepare for a Work of Magick. Just one.

In the end we will compile a list and discuss. And remember...this is PREPARING...not performing...

So...lets have it..

[BrightStar]

Hi all!
I guess one thing is I'd think about the need I'm trying to address with magick.Then figure out how to write my spell.
Peace and Love
Rain Brightstar

[pattyann]

The first thing I need to do is watch and learn what it is about..Atleast the basics.
pattyann

[mol]

Originally posted by pattyann
The first thing I need to do is watch and learn what it is about..Atleast the basics.
pattyann


hehe..yes...overall, that is the real first step! Just because you dont have a lot of experience doesnt mean that you cant participate! Thanks pattyann...

[Lilu]

I ground and center using a grounding technique taught to me in a meditation group I used to attend. Being grounded is important to me.

Lilu

[Lynnaea]

one thing? one of the things would be to decide exactly what you want the outcome to be.

[Jazzmine]

I relax in a meditate in a cleansing ritual bath or shower on what I am about to do.

[mol]

Ok...here is what we have so far...

1. Address the need.
2. Look at the outcome.
3. Ground and Center.
4. Ritual Cleansing.

Great work everyone...lets hear some more..perhaps some new members want to jump in?

[Lilu]

Hmmm, just throwing in another...

Decide which beings you will call on if doing a circle (elementals, angels, whatever), and which deities (if any) are appropriate to call on in the ritual, and study them before hand.

Lilu

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by Lilu
Hmmm, just throwing in another...
Decide which beings you will call on if doing a circle (elementals, angels, whatever), and which deities (if any) are appropriate to call on in the ritual, and study them before hand.
Lilu

All this for a magical act? *scratches head*

(see, this is what I was talking about in that one post ~ this is what I don't understand. *shrug*)

[mol]

Originally posted by Mairwen


All this for a magical act? *scratches head*

(see, this is what I was talking about in that one post ~ this is what I don't understand. *shrug*)

And this class is to help everyone understand the different practices...not just to teach Magick...but to teach other ways of Magick.

[Mairwen]

Which is why I'm here, in this forum. I'm hoping all this will start making sense to me. LOL! ;)

[Mairwen]

Oh, add "desire" to that list of "needs".

[mol]

1. Have the Desire.
2. Address the need.
3. Look at the outcome.
4. Ground and Center.
5. Ritual Cleansing.
6. Have the Ritual prepared. (!)


ok...that is what we have so far...looking for more of everyones thoughts. Is there any more?

[pattyann]

What does "ground & centered" mean? Will you have the "rituals" in here later? So many terms..<scratches bewildered head>
patty

[Lynnaea]

Originally posted by pattyann
What does "ground & centered" mean? Will you have the "rituals" in here later? So many terms..<scratches bewildered head>
patty

Ground and center is a term for the state of mind you must enter when performing magic. There are different ways of doing this, different people have their preference. To center is to bring your thoughts inward, to stop the scattered thoughts that buzz around inside our heads and go withing the center of ourselves. To ground is to feel the connection with the Earth, just like electical currents must be grounded so must our thoughts be grounded.

This feeling must be experienced, it is hard to describe. It is similar to the feeling you have right before sleep when you are there with just yourself and no outside disturbances.

[Dagda Moon~Lily]

I would make sure I have everything I need on my alter, fresh candles, the darned matches or lighter, the water and salt. Just make sure everything was stocked and ready to go. I would hate to cast my circle and find out, opps....I need a new green anointed candle for the spell I want to cast because my son used my last one when the power when out!!

:)

Dag

[mol]

Originally posted by Dagda Moon~Lily


I would make sure I have everything I need on my alter, fresh candles, the darned matches or lighter, the water and salt. Just make sure everything was stocked and ready to go. I would hate to cast my circle and find out, opps....I need a new green anointed candle for the spell I want to cast because my son used my last one when the power when out!!

:)

Dag

heh. hate it when that happens.

Keep going everyone..this is a great discussion so far.

[wiccamags]

I don't know if this is part of preparation, but I heard once that you must not enter a circle with hate in your heart, so you would have to sort out your differences before casting.

[Semele]

Ok all the centering and preparation is great but i think the most important thing for my preparation...around our house anyway is to unplug the phone. Nothing like getting all centered and into a nice magical state of mind to be interupted with a ringing phone. aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!

Semele

[Mairwen]

Am knocking on wood like crazy, but you know what, Semele, in 12 years of study/practice, I've never been interrupted by the telephone.

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by wiccamags
I don't know if this is part of preparation, but I heard once that you must not enter a circle with hate in your heart, so you would have to sort out your differences before casting.

Interesting. We say that if you cannot bring your negativity/anger/issues with you to meetings. (ie, with negative connotation) If you've come to meetings with any of those in mind (or if you show up drunk or drugged), you're not even allowed through the front door.

[Shatav]

Originally posted by Mairwen
Am knocking on wood like crazy, but you know what, Semele, in 12 years of study/practice, I've never been interrupted by the telephone.

Neither have I in my 16 years. I once had my cat walking the circle the entire ritual, but never an interruption. (After the shock, I just figured she was part of the ritual and was supposed to do that.)

[mol]

I have had ythe phone ring...the cat walk in...my kid start screaming in the other room...

And I have passed out.

Hehe. Oh well. It all works out in the end.

[Shatav]

Originally posted by mol
And I have passed out.



??? Awroo?

I've passed out afterwards, but never during! I can't even imagine the implications of that.

*shudders*

[eaglewolf]

Originally posted by Shatav

I've passed out afterwards, but never during!


Whew, glad I read the previous posts, I was starting to sweat...

We always unplug the phone from the caller ID, so if someone calls it is logged, but the phone does not ring. We would turn the ringer off if we had the option.

Scarlet's mother loves to call at the worst times... we put a stop to that.

~ew

[Litha]

originally posted by mairwen:
We say that if you cannot bring your negativity/anger/issues with you to meetings.
(ie, with negative connotation) If you've come to meetings with any of those in mind (or if you show up drunk or drugged), you're not even allowed through the front door.

yup, no one drugged/drunk is allowed to sit in the circle, but we do allow people who have issues to come to meet and be heard. If peace cannot be made, the person who has none will leave or be asked to do so, and circle can be cast in love and trust

[Mairwen]

yup, no one drugged/drunk is allowed to sit in the circle, but we do allow people who have issues to come to meet and be heard. If peace cannot be made, the person who has none will leave or be asked to do so, and circle can be cast in love and trust

Right, we do that, too. But Ritual and Study Nights aren't the time and place for things like that.

[mol]

Originally posted by Shatav



??? Awroo?

I've passed out afterwards, but never during! I can't even imagine the implications of that.

*shudders*

You dont want to know. ;)

[mol]

Now this conversation can continue but the class must move on...

Here is what we have so far:

1. Have the Desire.
2. Address the need.
3. Look at the outcome.
4. Ground and Center.
5. Ritual Cleansing.
6. Have the Ritual prepared. (!)
7. Make sure you will not be disturbed.
8. Make sure that you are in the right mindset.
9. Don't pass out! (LOL.)

And if there are any more...then just let me know. The class will continue this after noon. I will post the next subject.

[Shatav]

*Gack!* No, purity is of utmost import. Truthfully, I won't even drink or smoke (I know naughty habit, I'm doing well with quitting, though, no lectures!) 24 hours before I do a major ritual. I just don't think that I'd be physically pure enough if I did.

[Shatav]

Originally posted by mol


You dont want to know. ;)

I'll just have to trust you on that one! Yow! :D

[Sleeping Ghost]

i mostly clear my sacred space before i do any work...
light some incense to.. if it will help me relax.

[Witchbourne]

Well i empty my thoughts and goes in to tune with they who are with me.......this is how i prepare myself....

[mol]

I am glad to see everyone is still sharing...keep this going...

[pagangoddesschild]

Well i havent really done any magick as of yet although i did do one dream spell... Basicly one of the things i did to prepare for it was to quiet my inner voices. Not Easy! (sorry for the lateness, i'm trying to catch up though)

[mol]

Originally posted by pagangoddesschild
Well i havent really done any magick as of yet although i did do one dream spell... Basicly one of the things i did to prepare for it was to quiet my inner voices. Not Easy! (sorry for the lateness, i'm trying to catch up though)

No problem...catch up with us. ;)

Now, what type of ritual did you perform to rid yourself of these inner voices?

[pagangoddesschild]

Originally posted by mol


Now, what type of ritual did you perform to rid yourself of these inner voices?

LOL The only one i know and not a ritual really, just breathing exercises. I just focused on my breathing and tried to think only of that. For the most part it works but not all the time.

[mol]

Originally posted by pagangoddesschild


LOL The only one i know and not a ritual really, just breathing exercises. I just focused on my breathing and tried to think only of that. For the most part it works but not all the time.

It can work all the time. And we can work on this...of course, it would probably benefit you to join the Ritual class as well in the Ritual forum. Both of these, Magick and Ritual classes go hand in hand.

[pagangoddesschild]

Originally posted by mol


It can work all the time. And we can work on this...of course, it would probably benefit you to join the Ritual class as well in the Ritual forum. Both of these, Magick and Ritual classes go hand in hand.

Thanks Mol. I'm there!

[Shatav]

Originally posted by pagangoddesschild


LOL The only one i know and not a ritual really, just breathing exercises. I just focused on my breathing and tried to think only of that. For the most part it works but not all the time.

I've always found that focussing on something is far easier than trying to focus on "nothing" or clearing your mind completely...and can often work just as well.

p.s. Welcome to the discussion!

[Illyandra]

Okay, preparation...cleansing was mentioned but I have a variation on that... I perform reiki on myself to clean and open my chakras. :D

[ruthie]

Just read through the posts, and although I have little to add, I wanted to put something in. Yes, I understand the need for a ritual cleansing, and practicalities (e.g. unplugging the phone <lol> etc). Thanks for all the ideas.

[vocis noctis]

I'm new to the Magick, but I did it yesterday. I noticed I was concentrating on what I wanted, desiring it and ofcourse preparing everything I needed. The spell didn't work :(

[Mairwen]

How do you know it didn't work? Sometimes things take time! :D

[vocis noctis]

I was really amateuristic. I think I did it good because it came streight from the heart, but I didn't have the equipment. I have red candles but I use tealights for white candles, I did use incense and water but eeeerh I just don't know. I hope it works and I will do it again tonight...

[Lavender]

Centering myself is the one thing I always do in any kind of magic workings. This goes for any kind of formal ritual to making a cup of tea to relieve someone's headache. This morning I was outside planting & puttering around my herb garden. Before I did anything, I centered myself & pull my "magic" together. As I planted my seeds & tended my garden, I could feel the magic so strongly. :)

-Wildchild

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by vocis noctis
I was really amateuristic. I think I did it good because it came streight from the heart, but I didn't have the equipment. I have red candles but I use tealights for white candles, I did use incense and water but eeeerh I just don't know. I hope it works and I will do it again tonight...

But it's not the tools you have ~ it's your desire, intent and will. In other words, it's what's inside you that counts. Tools are just that ~ props to cue the mind. In any kind of magics, they don't mean squat.

[cydira]

Aside from that, I've been reading through the list of guidelines before working and I noticed a few that I use that y'all don't have. I don't know if anyone else does this, but...

1. Prepair the working space.

This would be stuff like a simple clearing objects out of the way to do the magical working or perhaps even a ritual clensing. It kinda depends on the situation.

2. Have your spell/working planned out.

I sometimes find it helpful to have everything planned out this way I don't accidentally forget what I'm going to do. It also lets me keep track of what I did and figure out what worked well and what didn't work well. :) You can't tell that I use a book of shadows, can you? :D