THE

M•Y-S•T•I-C

FOUNDATION

About the Author

Christopher Penczak is an award-winning author, teacher, healing practitioner, and eclectic Witch. His practice draws upon the foundation of modern Witchcraft blended with the wisdom of mystic traditions from across the globe. He has studied extensively with Witches, mystics, and healers in various traditions to synthesize his own practice of Witchcraft and healing. He is an ordained minister, herbalist, flower essence consultant, and certified Reiki Master (Teacher) in the Usui-Tibetan and Shamballa traditions. He is the author of several books, including The Inner Temple of Witchcraft, The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft, Gay Witchcraft, Magick of Reiki, and Instant Magick.

CHRISTOPHER PENCZAK

THE

FOUNIJATION

UNDERSTANDING & EXPLORING

THE MAGICAL UNIVERSE

Also by Christopher Penczak

City Magick: Urban Spells, Rituals and Shamanism

(Samuel Weiser, 2001)

Spirit Allies: Meet Your Team from the Other Side

(Samuel Weiser, 2002)

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development

(Llewellyn Publications, 2002)

The Inner Temple of Witchcraft Meditation CD Companion

(Llewellyn Publications, 2002)

Gay Witchcraft: Empowering the Tribe

(Samuel Weiser, 2003)

The Outer Temple of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells and Rituals

(Llewellyn Publications, 2004)

The Outer Temple of Witchcraft Meditation CD Companion

(Llewellyn Publications, 2004)

The Witch's Shield

(Llewellyn Publications, 2004)

Magick of Reiki

(Llewellyn Publications, 2004)

Sons of the Goddess

(Llewellyn Publications, 2005)

The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft

(Llewellyn Publications, 2005)

The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft Meditation CD Companion

(Llewellyn Publications, 2005)

Instant Magick

(Llewellyn Publications, 2005)

Forthcoming by Christopher Penczak

Ascension Magick

(Llewellyn Publications, 2007)

Acknowledgments

Profound thanks go to my husband, Steve Kenson, and my parents, Ronald and Rosalie, for keeping me grounded.

Thank you to Laurie Cabot, for teaching me the science behind the Craft.

Thank you to Timothy Bedall, Kevin Castelli, and David Boyle for inspiring me to write this book and showing me that it was needed. As always, students make the best teachers.

For all the thoughts, teachings, and input, a very special thanks to Crystal Bear, Chris Bashaw, Stephanie Rose Bird, Steve Bir, Gita Bryant, Sandi Liss, Stephanie Rutt, Danielle Serge Everton-Bouchard, and Beth Washington.

Contents

List of Exercises xi

List of Charts and Figures xiii

Introduction 1

Part One: The Fundamental Forces of the Universe

Chapter One: The Powers of Creation 9

The One 9

The Power of Two 11

The Trinity 14

Chapter Two: The Elements 17

The Four Powers 17

The Quintessence 26

Chinese Elements 32

Part Two: The Fundamental Forces Within Us

Chapter Three: Vital Energies 39

Life Force 40

Energy Centers 41

Chapter Four: Subtle Anatomy 53

Part Three: Exploring the Universe

Chapter Five: The Worlds Beyond 65

The Spiritual Dimensions 66

The Shamanic World Tree 67

The Elemental Worlds 69

The Seven Layers of Reality 70

The Tree of Life 72

Chapter Six: Entities of Spirit 79

Spirits 80

Spirit Talk 86

Chapter Seven: Sacred Space, Sacred Time 91

Sacred Sites 91

Feng Shui 95

Sacred Timekeeping 98

The Wheel of the Year 98

Astrology 102

Astrological Ages 116

Part Four: Exploring Ourselves

Chapter Eight: Going Within 127

Meditation 127

Chapter Nine: Developing Intuition 139

Psychic Ability 140

Divination 143

Chapter Ten: Psychic Development 151

Psychic Defense 151

Psychic Travel 158

Dreams 162

Chapter Eleven: Magic 167

Spells 174

The Magic Circle 182

Chapter Twelve: Healing 193

Energy Healing 193

Psychic Healing 194

Psychic Surgery 194

Spirit Healing 195

Faith Healing 195

Crystals 195

Vibrational Remedies 196

Healing Rituals 196

Part Five: Exploring the Paths

Chapter Thirteen: Mystic Traditions 201

East and West 202

Institutions 203

Initiation 204

Spiritual Names 206

Secrecy 207

Chapter Fourteen: The Paths up the Mountain 211

Alchemy 211

Ascension 212

Astrology 213

Baha'i 214

Buddhism 215

Christianity 215

Discordianism 216

Druidism 217

Faery Faith 219

Hermetic Ceremonial Magic 220

Hinduism 221

Islam 222

Jainism 223

Judaism 224

Martial Arts 225

Mithraism 226

Paganism 226

Reiki 227

Satanism 228

Shamanism 230

Shinto 231

Sikhism 232

Sufism 233

Thelema 234

Theosophy 235

Wicca and Witchcraft 235

Voodoo 237

Yoga 239

Zen 239

Zoroastrianism 240

Chapter Fifteen: Picking a Path 241

Appendix: Sacred Teachings 243

Glossary 281

Bibliography 315

Exercises

Chapter Two

Elemental Journaling 31

Cleansing Space 33

Meditation on the One 35

Chapter Three

Feeling Energy 41

Grounding 47

Chakra Balancing 49

Chapter Four

Aura Cleansing 59

Chapter Five

Rising on the Planes 74

Chapter Six

Speaking with Spirit Guides 88

Chapter Seven

Dowsing 93

Balancing the Day 122

Chapter Eight

Meditation 137

Chapter Nine

The Psychic Game 141

Pendulum 148

Chapter Ten

Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram 155

Psychic Travel 161

Chapter Eleven

The Magic Circle Ritual 184

Chapter Twelve

General Healing Spell 196

Charts and Figures

Charts

Chapter One

Chart 1: Traditional Sun Sign Dates 14

Chapter Three

Chart 2: Chakra Correspondences 46

Chapter Seven

Chart 3: Planetary Days 103

Chart 4: Gemstones of the Zodiac 111

Chapter Eleven

Chart 5: Magical Color Correspondences 179

Figures

Chapter One

Figure 1: Yin /Yang Symbol 13

Chapter Two

Figure 2: Earth Triangle 18

Figure 3: Pentacle 19

Figure 4: Earth Signs 20

Figure 5: Water Triangle 20

Figure 6: Water Signs 21

Figure 7: Air Triangle 22

Figure 8: Air Signs 23

Figure 9: Fire Triangle 23

Figure 10: Fire Signs 24

Figure 11: Elemental Triangles Together 25

Figure 12: Earth Cross 25

Figure 13: Elemental Quality Wheel 26

Figure 14: Pentagram 27

Figure 15: Pentagram with the Elements 28

Figure 16: Devil Tarot Card from Lo Scarabeo's Universal Tarot 29

Figure 17: Hexagram 30

Figure 18: Tattwas 31

Figure 19: Chinese Pentacle with Creation and Destruction Cycles 32

Chapter Three

Figure 20: Chakras 43

Chapter Four

Figure 21: Elemental Bodies 56

Figure 22: Seven Subtle Bodies 58

Figure 23: Banishing Pentagram 60

Chapter Five

Figure 24: The Veil and the Infinity Loop 66

Figure 25: The World Tree and the Shamanic Worlds 68

Figure 26: Elemental Ladder 69

Figure 27: Planetary Spheres 71

Figure 28: Tree of Life 73

Figure 29: Four Qabalistic Worlds 77

Chapter Seven

Figure 30: Cutting the Coat Hanger 93

Figure 31: Dowsing Rod 93

Figure 32: Pa Kua Modern Nine-Square Image 96

Figure 33: Pa Kua Traditional Octagon 97

Figure 34: Wheel of the Year 99

Figure 35: Twelve Houses 113

Figure 36: Twelve Houses with Their Natural Rulers 115

Figure 37: Twelve Houses as the Signs Rotate 116

Figure 38: Sidereal and Tropical Zodiacs 118

Figure 39: Vesica Pisces 121

Chapter Eight

Figure 40: Magician Tarot Card from Lo Scarabeo's Universal Tarot 129

Figure 41: Om Symbol 132

Chapter Nine

Figure 42: I Ching Hexagram 146

Figure 43: Rune 146

Figure 44: Fool Tarot Card from Lo Scarabeo's Universal Tarot 147

Chapter Eleven

Figure 45: Sigil Creation Examples 177

Figure 46: Altar 183

Figure 47: Goddess Position 188

Figure 48: God Position 189

INTRODUCTION

A few weeks after teaching a meditation class, I got an e-mail from a student who was concerned about demons. Someone told him that if you meditate and open yourself up spiritually, you will attract dark forces. This person then proceeded to tell my student ugly stories that mixed urban legend with Hollywood horror script. The meditation technique he learned was perfectly safe, but when someone knows only one technique and doesn't have a strong foundation in mystical thinking, a little misinformation can cause a lot of fear. Fear is one of the biggest obstacles to spiritual growth and mystical understanding. I would be more concerned about fear than demons, since such demons and devils are most often reflections of our fears.

Most fears come from misunderstanding. Those of us living in the modern Western world were not raised in a culture of metaphysics. Our mystical knowledge has survived only as superstition. It is easy to either dismiss a superstition as having no wisdom, or become fearful of it, because the idea that has devolved into an ignorant superstition is not understood.

Most of our superstitions come from metaphysical ideas. Meditation, psychic development, healing, spirit communication, and magic all are based on sound philosophies and concepts and can be found in cultures across the world and across time. Our modern Western culture is one of the few that allowed this wisdom to devolve into superstition. In an effort to exert greater control, certain institutions within our society allowed this empowering wisdom to be lost, or imbued it with fear and misunderstanding. Even as we enter a time of increased personal empowerment through these techniques, we lack a basic understanding of the building blocks of mystical and holistic principles. With the new interest in herbalism, holistic healing, crystals, yoga, and other topics considered New Age by the public at large, we need to develop a common metaphysical tongue. The subjects most people consider to be New Age actually come from an older age-they simply have been reestablished in our current time.

One of the reasons so many people describe those involved in metaphysical pursuits as "flaky" is that the foundation behind their beliefs is not understood. Unfortunately, a lot of people who consider themselves part of the New Age community don't understand the foundation either. They have some experience or a little bit of information, but do not understand the whole picture. Some have had such a moving spiritual experience that they discard facts accepted by most of the mainstream without having another foundation firmly in place, which can cause them to become ungrounded, unbalanced, and misinformed. They don't know where the foundation of their experiences and beliefs can be found. They discard the modern mainstream paradigms of life without establishing a new paradigm. In the scope of a lecture, workshop, or book on a particular topic, it is difficult to get a full foundation in the mystic arts. It is up to the student to seek out this information and begin his or her education as a quest into the unknown. The modern mystical paradigm is a synthesis of many diverse cultures, traditions, and philosophies, and, contrary to popular opinion, does not exclude modern science or common sense.

I began my mystical quest not with a spiritual experience but with skepticism. I believed in a divinity of some kind, but my traditional religious background hadn't helped me directly experience it, if it was even possible to do so. I doubted the possibility of direct divine experience. I studied Eastern thought and found wonderful philosophies, but didn't explore them further, because at that time, to me, they were just words, and sounded like carnival-barker double talk. I now know that spirituality contains many paradoxes, because the very thought of putting something spiritual (which is thereby beyond shape and form) into words creates problems with communication. Our modern languages, as beautiful as they are, lack much of the sophistication found in ancient languages, which had words to describe these mystical ideas and experiences. For example, in the English language we have only one word for love, though many different kinds of love are possible. We don't have a sufficient number of words to make the distinctions. This lack of clear communication with metaphysical topics gives the impression that those involved in the mystical are deluding themselves, or worse yet, purposely misleading others.

Then I met a woman who taught metaphysics, magic, and Witchcraft as a science, and she gave me a scientific and philosophical background to understand these metaphysical concepts. She taught quantum physics and ancient philosophy, and compared the two. The similarities were shocking. I wasn't asked to believe in anything on blind faith. Once I had an understanding of the ideas involved, I was given demonstrations and was then asked to participate in exercises, to give me real-world, personal experiences in the topics. They weren't the province of the special or elite, but experiences that could be shared by all.

This scientific, philosophical, and experiential approach gave me the tools to understand other teachings. The more I learned, the more I realized that all the mystic traditions and world religions say very similar things. They each seek to describe universal principles, but their descriptions of these universal concepts are colored by their individual cultures, time periods, locations, and founders. They use different words and symbols to describe similar truths.

To have a strong mystic foundation, you must understand the greater pattern of truths as well as the pieces that make up the pattern. Each tradition calls the pattern and pieces something different, but most recognize the same things. For example, a yogi, rabbi, alchemist, monk, Witch, and shaman all recognize life force, but each may call it something different. Terms also depend on the location and time period. Having a familiarity with a variety of metaphysical terms is helpful when studying new material or speaking with people from different traditions. The concepts behind each term have universal applications. A good text will provide succinct definitions of terms, but you can't always count on New Age texts, or even the ancient classics they draw from, to clearly define terms to a modern, twenty-first-century person.

An understanding of metaphysical terms prevents the jargon of the guru. A guru is simply a teacher who bestows divine grace, and can refer to both an outer spiritual teacher and inner guidance. Ideally, an outer guru will help you connect to your source, and to your inner guru, what many consider the higher self or inner guide. The word guru has received a lot of criticism in recent times, because many gurus have abused their position of power and respect. This abuse is not limited to Eastern gurus, but can be found throughout the human condition, from orthodox religious leaders to politicians and public servants.

Unfortunately, many would-be gurus seek dependence from their students and use a combination of charisma, minor feats, and spiritual jargon that is never clearly defined to dazzle the students into submission rather than truly teach the tools for self-awareness, independence, and self-mastery. As a student, if you don't know a word, ask the teacher to define it clearly. You may already know the concept, but not this particular term for it. Other teachers will use the same word, but with a different meaning. When in doubt, ask. Spiritual teachings are often much simpler than most of us believe.

The Mystic Foundation introduces basic spiritual concepts in easy-to-understand language and teaches a variety of terms and labels associated with these concepts. Some of the words will seem occult. Many people are scared by that word. Occult refers to the word ocular, relating to the eye. It does not mean evil, as many mistakenly believe. When something is occult, it simply is hidden, obscured from view, from the eyes, and refers to material that most people don't see or study, the mystical arts. This book is an effort in the tradition of practical, sane occultism both to explain the spiritual mysteries and to show how this information can be applied in daily life.

I love using the term mystic, because each tradition has a mystical aspect to it. A mystic is one who explores spirituality through a personal relationship with it. Mystics are the truth seekers and visionaries, regardless of the culture. Mystics are found in ancient cultures as well as the traditional monotheistic religions.

The word metaphysics refers to the structure of reality beyond the known physics of science. Meta can mean transcending or beyond, so in this case it is beyond the physical sciences, into territory that is not validated by science. Metaphysics is another word that many people find intimidating. Someone once asked me if I had to study at M.I.T. in a lab to learn metaphysics. I explained that it was more of a philosophy and not a physical laboratory science. Strangely enough, such a big word gives more validation to the study to people in certain circles who laugh at the term New Age. New Age seems flaky, but the study of metaphysics sounds serious.

Each mystic tradition is like a paradigm, a systematic point of view. Each one is correct, if you are standing in that position. If you move to another position, you can change your view and see the truth from a different window. None is an absolute truth, but rather an individual truth, when looking at the universe from that point of view. Each is helpful in understanding the whole, but none is complete and all-encompassing in itself.

Each paradigm is a belief system, a tool to organize into a coherent whole the experiences of those who have gone before, adding to the tradition's stories, myths, proverbs, rules, and advice. There is nothing wrong with such paradigms; in fact they are quite helpful to learn. But every student must remember that a paradigm is simply a description of the truth, not an absolute truth. Mystics learn to divide truth into personal truth, or revela tion, and absolute truth, which to some is unknowable or, at the very least, indescribable. In Taoism, the Tao is described quite similarly in the first two lines of the Tao Te Ching: "The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao. The Name that can be named is not the eternal Name."

Many religions were founded on one person's personal truth and divine experience, and these religious movements led to the creation of the more institutional traditions. They can be called prophetic religions, because they are based on the prophecies, the mysticism, of an individual or series of individuals. These prophecies were recorded and interpreted as the foundation of a tradition. The problem is, they have been mistranslated over thousands of years, and the original meaning and cultural context have been lost. Seekers hope to find a guide for a personal experience in recorded text, but usually the text becomes a foundation for dogma.

Though the teachings of Christianity are based on the life experiences and teachings of a man called Jesus, many in the Christian faith have had personal experiences of the divine, seeing visions, hearing voices, and witnessing miracles. To see the most dramatic examples, one only has to look to the lives of the saints, but anyone in the Christian faith can have a personal relationship, a mystical experience, with the divine, if he or she chooses and is encouraged to do so. Sacred texts can act as roadmaps, but you have to walk the path yourself if you are a mystic.

A good mystic can walk between paradigms, moving to see things from a different point of view, without having his or her personal beliefs and experiences challenged. A fundamentalist, of any tradition, believes that his or her point of view is the only point of view, and all others are false. Fundamentalism stems from fear, a fear that one's point of view is not correct. Ideally, everyone has a slightly different point of view, even people in the same tradition, because no two people can stand at the same exact place at the same exact time. Many teachers, masters, and prophets disagree with their peers and their predecessors. If you agree completely and have nothing to change or add from your own experience, you are not having a mystical experience-you are simply accepting another's experience as your own truth.

The Mystic Foundation contains four main sections, four corners of a foundation, to provide stability and knowledge. Each one explores an aspect of the mystical experience, covering a variety of paradigms and models used in modern metaphysics. Their similarities and differences will be demonstrated. The chapters alternate between seemingly outer and inner experiences, though a mystic knows they are one and the same. One classic mystic teaching is the Principle of Correspondence: `As above, so below; as within, so without." Inner and outer truths are the same. Subjective and objective experiences are not as different as you might think. The fifth section of this book, like the apex of the pyramid, contains information on a variety of mystic traditions and disciplines. With the four corners supporting you, the traditions will help you climb to the top.

Eastern mystics say there are many paths that lead up the mountain. The mountaintop, like the top of our four-cornered pyramid, is spiritual enlightenment. The journey is our exploration of spirit. The paths on the mountain are the different traditions. Each path has a different point of view. Some spiritual paths are easier to walk, while others are much harder. Each path requires different things of us, but in the end, all of these paths lead to the top of the same mountain. Some just take a more scenic route. A good mystic can simply step off of one path and spend a little time on another. Ultimately, we each have a path that is perfect for us and us alone, and it may wander to and from the well-known, well-worn paths of mainstream religions.

Today, with this renewed interest in mystical lore, we have an opportunity to reclaim spiritual wisdom from long-ignored traditions and let this knowledge stand side by side with our scientific and technological paradigms. Only by understanding the foundations of all these traditions can we find a truly holistic fusion that is practical, spiritual, and grounded in reality. One tradition need not fight the others. Science, art, and spirituality not only can coexist, but must coexist and find harmony together as we move into the next epoch.

With an understanding of the spiritual worlds, we never need fear the demons of the dark coming to get us when we meditate or at any other time. Knowledge, and the wisdom to use it correctly, dispels all fears. Together, these strands of wisdom can be woven into a healthy, balanced interpretation for the New Age mystic.

ONE

THE FUNDAMENTAL

FORCES OF THE UNIVERSE

1

THE POWERS OF CREATION

Mystics from around the world believe the universe, material and spiritual, is made up of a variety of forces. Their interactions are what create, sustain, and transform the universe. Scientists haven't yet learned to classify all the energies known to the mystic, but we do find their echoes in the forces studied by modern physicists. People of different cultures divide and name these forces in different ways, but essentially they are all working with the same energy. Naming these forces is just a way to communicate about them with others. When you understand these powers and the patterns they make, you can identify how they affect you, the people around you, and the world. With understanding comes a greater sense of empowerment.

The One

All things are connected. All people are connected to each other, as well as to the Earth and everything on it. We are connected to everything beyond what we know, seen and unseen, on all levels of the universe. What one person does affects and influences the whole. On this planet, we are all connected by the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the land we stand upon. From a metaphysical point of view, we also are connected on a subtle level. There is one spirit running through all things, one great creative force, but it has many different expressions. Each expression of spirit sees itself as an individual. On one level of creation, this is true-each person, place, or thing is separate and distinct upon first glance. But on another level, from another viewpoint, each expression is part of a greater whole that created and sustains it.

Shamans might say that we are all branches from the same tree. Though we grow in different directions, we all come from the same roots. Our fates are all tied together. What affects part of the tree will eventually affect the rest.

Witches might say that we are all strands in the web of life. When you move one part of the web, you move the entire thing. The web carries the movement, or vibrations, from one end to the other. The Goddess weaves creation into life, creating the web and all that is in it. She sits in the center of the web.

The Hindus say we live in the Maya. The Maya is the dream. It is an illusion of separation. We think we are separate, but we are part of the whole, which is the truth. When one awakens from the dream, or reaches a level of spiritual awareness or enlightenment, one truly lives from a sense of knowing that we are all connected. We are like waves upon the ocean. Each wave seems like a separate thing, and for most practical purposes it is separate, but it cannot survive without the ocean. The wave will eventually reach the shore and lose its individuality, becoming one again with the ocean.

To demonstrate this oneness, Hermetic mages might quote the Principle of Mentalism: "We are all thoughts in the Divine Mind." The great connecting spirit mentally creates the universe, and all its creations are thoughts within its vast, omnipotent mind. All things, on all levels, are contained within the Divine Mind, yet the Divine Mind is greater still. Just as each person has thoughts, and each thought seems individual, each thought is contained within the greater matrix of that person's mind. Each person mentally creates his or her own inner world, populated with his or her own thoughts. Each thought appears individually, yet is part of a greater whole. In the world, we each appear individually, yet are a part of a greater whole, the Divine Mind. We are part of the divine matrix, the mind of God, Goddess, or Great Spirit. You can call this creative force whatever you'd like. In the modern mythology that is found in the movie Star Wars, this energy is called "the Force." It is the energy connected to all things. Modern scientists have explored this concept through the holographic model of the universe, theorizing that the universe works much like a hologram. Each part contains the information of the whole. Each part is connected to every other part. We live in an age where scientists sound like Hindu scholars and age-old mystics.

This concept of connection is the heart of magic and psychic ability. Magic is the ability to create change in the world. You could not create change if you were not connected to everything. The change would not manifest if your will was contained only within your own body. Psychic ability is much like magic, but instead of projecting out a thought, those with developed psychic ability are listening or watching. They can receive information in a variety of ways, because they are connected to the greater whole. If they were not, all they would hear would be their own minds, and they would never be accurate in their perceptions and predictions. Some people have a greater inborn awareness of this connection. Mystics develop their psychic and magical abilities to truly know and understand their connection to all, and strengthen this bond as a part of their mystical development. Legendary mystics are known for their seemingly paranormal abilities, but these abilities are simply a result of being consciously aware of the connection among all things.

The Power of Two

Just as all of creation can be seen as one creative, animating spirit, this spirit can be divided in a number of ways. When you divide the fundamental energy into two, you see polarity. Hermetic wisdom calls this the Principle of Polarity: "Everything has its poles; everything has its pair of opposites." Although often described as opposites, being opposite ends of a pole or range of qualities, mystics see such pairs as dual. They are not necessarily in complete opposition to each other; they are complementary to each other.

The most common polarity with which humans are familiar is male/female. Although male and female seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, they are complementary. One cannot survive for long without the other. In fact, when you think about it, no one person or thing is wholly one gender. Sure, each of us may have a distinctively male or female physical anatomy, but in terms of male and female qualities, however a society defines them, we each contain a bit of both. How we balance these gender energies is what makes us unique. Hermetic wisdom expands on this concept, calling it the Principle of Gender, which states that all things contain both genders.

Most people involved in nature religions, such as Neo-Paganism, Wicca, and modern Witchcraft, see the divine with both genders. The divine creation is the interaction of male and female, God and Goddess. They are the Great Mother and Great Father, and we are their children. Their union sustains creation. Their continual love generates the cycles of life within the universe.

In Chinese medicine, polar forces are described in terms of yin and yang. Yin is the feminine, passive, receptive energy, and yang is the masculine, active, projective energy. Part of this healing system is about maintaining the proper balance of these two forces within the patient.

In Hindu traditions, the qualities of male and female energies are somewhat reversed, showing that the assignment of gender qualities can reflect a cultural bias. Goddess energy, called Shakti, after the goddess of the same name, rises upward from the Earth and is usually considered active. God energy, named for the god Shiva, descends downward. Shiva is the great dissolver.

Other polarities exist. Any pair of seemingly opposite or complementary words can be considered a polarity. We have polarity in up and down, demonstrated by sky and Earth or heaven and hell. We have it in the Sun and Moon, which many consider masculine and feminine as well. Most Western cultures think of the Sun as male and the Moon as female, because the Sun is direct, warming, and drying, and the Moon is cooling and stimulates the inner worlds, intuition, and dreams. But other cultures see the Sun as the mother principle, being the source of light, and the Moon as masculine, being a precise and intricate timekeeper. Other polarities include light/dark, good/evil, love/fear, hot/cold, mental/ emotional, soft/hard, light/heavy, and positive/negative.

Somewhere along the line, particularly in Western society, in an effort to simplify things, all the different polarities got lumped together. Rather than being distinct pairs, all the sets began to blend together. Qualities such as light, good, love, male, Sun, mental, and positive all were put on one end, while their counterparts of dark, evil, fear, female, Moon, emotional, and negative were categorized together on the other end. This created a great shift in our consciousness, to the detriment of more "feminine" cultures reverent of the mysteries, the arts, and the unknown world. These divisions put us in polar conflict with our own nature and selves. Instead of having complementary pairs that can coexist, we now have absolute opposites in constant conflict.

Unfortunately, our myths of the last couple of thousand years, including those in our modern literature, movies, and television programs, have reinforced this conflict. The myth of absolute evil in the Devil and absolute good in God has emerged, but if all things contain their opposite, as symbolized in the familiar yin/yang symbol, then nothing is absolute. Even our modern myth example of Star Wars divides the Force into the light side (good) and the dark side (evil). But if you remember the movies, the film series is about the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the Force, so in the end, director George Lucas is really emphasizing an age-old wisdom, even if the point is lost on many viewers who see the film as an epic of light versus dark.

I think a healthier way to look at polarity is in the yin/yang symbol. In each side, the seed of the opposite is contained. A balance must be struck between pairs to find the peaceful center.

Figure 1: Yin/Yang Symbol

These days we use the term positive to denote all things "good" and negative to denote all things "bad," but this terminology is imprecise. Many people in the New Age world seek to dispel the negative, but positive and negative are simply electrical charges. What mystics mean when they say "banish all negative" is that they want to banish all energies that would cause harm or imbalance. Too much of anything can cause an imbalance, even if it is something that would be labeled "good." Too much of a healing medicine, which is "good," can lead to an overdose. A small amount of a poison, which is "bad," can be a cure, such as a homeopathic remedy. Labels such as good and bad are relative.

All things are relative, even in polarity. Even the definitions of light and dark depend on what you compare them to. We think of the qualities of light and dark as absolute, but they are not. Take a stormy day, for example. Some would describe it as dark, and others would describe it as light. Compared to a sunny summer day, it is dark. Compared to a windowless room with no illumination, the stormy day is bright.

So the next time you say a prayer, affirmation, or spell to be protected from "all negative forces," perhaps you should ask for protection from "all forces that bring me harm."

The Trinity

Although most people think of the universe solely in terms of polarities, the forces of change for the universe can be seen as a trinity as well. The power of the trinity is the power of change. Mythologies from diverse cultures acknowledge triune deities, but they all represent the same fundamental forces.

Mystics use many names to describe the three universal forces. The first is the power of initiation, the power to begin and create. It is the impetus to move energy in the creative process. The second power is the energy of consolidation and manifestation. It is the power that binds and sustains a creation. It brings the energy that initiated the creation into form. The third power is the energy of dissolution. It breaks a creation into components so something else can be created. It is the power of adaptation. Though it is often considered to be the destructive element, it is not evil. Modern society considers the end of something to be bad, but something new cannot begin until the old ends. We often fear change, but it is a necessary part of life. The third power of the trinity is the power of change.

In the language of astrology, the trinity is divided into cardinal, fixed, and mutable energies. When the Sun enters a cardinal zodiac sign, a season begins. The cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. When the Sun enters a fixed zodiac sign, we enter the middle of a season, and the energy of the season is sustained. The fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. When the Sun enters a mutable zodiac sign, the season prepares to change to the next. The mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. A new cycle then begins in the next cardinal sign.

When you are born, the sign the Sun occupies is considered your "Sun sign" and can tell a lot about the energies you are working with in this lifetime. Although we all work with all three energies in life, we might have a particular focus on the type of energy reflected in our Sun sign.

Aries: March 21-April 19

Taurus: April 20-May 20

Gemini: May 21 June 21

Cancer: June 22 July 22

Leo: July 23-August 22

Virgo: August 23-September 22

Libra: September 23-October 22

Chart 1: Traditional Sun Sign Dates

Scorpio: October 23-November 21

Sagittarius: November 22-December 21

Capricorn: December 22 January 19

Aquarius: January 20-February 18

Pisces: February 19-March 20

Chart 1 (continued)

In Hindu mythology, three gods hold this triple power. Brahma is the creator god, much like cardinal energy; Vishnu is the preserver, relating to fixed energy; and Shiva is the dissolver or destroyer, corresponding with mutable energy.

In modern Witchcraft, the Triple Goddess can be seen as the trinity. In Norse myth, she is called the Norns, or Wyrd sisters. These three are the Fates, the weaver goddesses of past, present, and future, or what was, what is, and what may yet be. A similar trinity of Fates, known as the Moirai, is found in Greek mythology. You can also see the Triple Goddess in Hecate, the triune goddess of Witches from the Greco-Roman era, as well as in the Morgan, the Celtic triune goddess who is the patroness of war and battlefields. The popular modern image of the Triple Goddess draws from these legends, manifesting now as the maiden, mother, and crone, seen both in the phases of the Moon and the seasons of the Earth.

In Catholicism, the Trinity is described as three aspects of the one God. The first aspect is the Father, often relating to Yahweh of the Old Testament. He is usually interpreted as the creator god. The second aspect is the Son, Jesus of Nazareth, viewed as the savior. It is said that upon his Second Coming, the faithful will be brought to an everlasting paradise. The third aspect is the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, the formless power of inspiration and miracles. In earlier forms of Christianity, such as certain sects of Gnostic Christianity, the third aspect is represented by the Holy Sophia, a feminine aspect of divinity. This power of inspiration brings revelation and change.

In ceremonial magic, which often blends the mystical aspects of Paganism, Christianity, and Judaism, the threefold formula is written and chanted as IAO, for Isis, the Mother Goddess; Apophis or Apophis-Typhon, the serpent monster of destruction; and Osiris, Isis's husband-brother, who is the risen and resurrected god. For those familiar with Egyptian myth, Apophis-Typhon is often equated with Set, Osiris's brother and murderer. This formula alters the order, with the destructive force in the middle, and the regenerating force (the eternal and solid power of Osiris, the god of fertility and of the eternal underworld) at the end.

In alchemy, a spiritual discipline of transformation as well as laboratory work, the universal forces were originally a polarity, described as sulfur and mercury. They are not literal sulfur and mercury, as in the periodic table of elements, but names symbolizing the forces of nature. Originally, sulfur was the fiery, active, male principle, while mercury was the silvery, cool, receptive, feminine principle. As alchemical philosophies gained greater complexity, later alchemists added the principle of salt-fixed form, rigidity, and solidness. With the addition of salt to alchemical symbolism, the ideas developed along different lines. Sulfur became more like the cardinal energy and mercury like the mutable, while salt claimed the fixed form. Some look to salt as the body, while sulfur is the soul and mercury the spirit, or vice versa, depending on the teaching and the different definitions of soul and spirit used. These words can have different meanings and symbolism, based on the alchemical text, time period, culture, and author used. Each alchemical tradition built on the previous one, but had its own system of codes.

A teacher of mine once told me that the word God is an acronym for the three universal forces: G is for the generating force, 0 is for the organizing force, and D is for the destructive force. I love that definition of God, because it can apply to any tradition without any dogma, or even gender, attached to it.

Every creation has a beginning, middle, and end. Everything in the universe contains these three energies. Some we can see more easily, because their cycles and patterns are readily observed by humans. We can see the seasons, phases of the Moon, and human lives. Other patterns play out over time periods that are much longer than our life span, and are thereby harder to observe, but still exist. Hermetics call these cycles the Principle of Rhythm: `All things have their tide. All things have their season." By understanding the cycles of creating, sustaining, and destroying, we know the universe and ourselves.

2

THE ELEMENTS

Our creative forces can also be subdivided in terms of qualities and described as classic elements. Mystic traditions across the world describe these powers with similar names and images, though the specific systems are different. We usually look at the elements in divisions of four or five.

The Four Powers

Patterns of universal energy are subdivided most popularly into four categories. Most people know these forces as the classical elements of earth, water, air, and fire. These names are the ones most commonly used in Western traditions. Mystics honor these four forces by honoring the four sacred directions, although practitioners of different traditions, from Witches and hermetic magicians to native shamans and medicine people, associate different elements with each direction.

Everything consists of these four elements, four forces, in various combinations. It is important to recognize that the four elements represent energies, and the physical elements themselves are symbols of the energies. This is similar to alchemy, where sulfur, mercury, and salt refer to energies and not literal chemicals. Fire the element is not fire from a burning torch; it is an energy whose nature is similar to that of a burning torch. The burning torch symbolizes the element of fire, and, in ritual, will even embody it. Some texts refer to the mystical elements as the "elements of the wise," so elemental fire is referred to as "fire of the wise," to distinguish it from the torch. Elemental earth is "earth of the wise," to differentiate it from garden soil or stones. Largely because they misunderstand this symbolism, modern scientists have devalued and essentially thrown away the profound wisdom in magic and alchemy. Modern psychologists, particularly those whose work is based upon the alchemical works of Carl Jung, are reclaiming these esoteric symbols.

Each of the elements is not only an energy, an energy found in all things, but also a level of consciousness, a dimension or plane of existence that interpenetrates all things. Each of the elements exists at a different energetic vibration, and each one brings different qualities from the rest. Each person can relate to certain elements because he or she has a natural affinity for those qualities, and may have difficulties with other elements because he or she lacks those qualities. Working with the elements means learning to work with the principles of balance.

Figure 2: Earth Triangle

Earth

Earth is the element we all know the best. The energy of the earth element represents the physical form and physical world. All that can be seen and measured by the physical senses consists of the earth element. Our homes, food, plants, trees, stones, and all humanmade items, such as cars, toys and jewelry, are composed of earth energy. Our bodies, our bones, and all the minerals and metals within us are representations of the earth element.

Earth energy rules all physical concerns, so it also influences our physical health and financial security. In the tarot, earth energy is represented by discs, sometimes called coins or pentacles. The five-pointed star can indicate manifestation or protection on the physical plane. People with strong earth energy are powerful in the physical and financial worlds, while those who are learning about earth energy are challenged in those areas. The highest form of the earth element is sovereignty, meaning you control your own body, home, and fate. Astrologically, the earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, since each of these signs deals with the physical world in some way. The north is usually the direction of earth, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, because of the strong, solid magnetic earth energy of the North Pole.

Figure 3: Pentacle

Figure 4: Earth Signs

The element of earth, of earth of the wise, is usually distinguished from the planet Earth. When mystics talk about the planet Earth, they are usually referring to the consciousness, the soul, of the planet, which is usually personified as a feminine mother figure. The Earth has many names. One of the most popular is the Greek name Gaia, or Gaea, because in our recent history, a scientist named James Lovelock proposed the Gaia Theory, which theorizes that the planet's biosphere is one intelligent organism and we are all smaller parts of that organism. We are like cells within the body of the planet. What affects one of us affects the greater whole.

Figure 5: Water Triangle

Water

Water is the energy of the astral plane, the level of symbolic reality where shape and form are fluid. Water is the element of dreams. In our body, water is symbolized by the liquid in our blood and cells, but the elemental energy of water is actually our astral body, which travels when we sleep and dream. The astral body is our self-image influenced by our emo tions. Like water, this energy is fluid and changes form easily. Our astral body is like the container for our emotions, just as a glass contains liquid. When our emotions are clear, the liquid is clear. When our emotions are confused, the liquid is murky. The watery level of the universe is known as the astral plane, or emotional plane.

The glass analogy also symbolizes another issue of water energy-boundaries. One challenge of water is to establish boundaries in relationships. Emotion is a building block for any type of relationship, with a family member, friend, lover, or spouse. Developing emotional connections and relationships is one of the spiritual challenges that water presents to us.

Water also involves psychic ability and delving into the mystical depths of consciousness. Western European traditions usually associate water with the west. Though the strongest symbolism is the large ocean to the west, the Atlantic, the direction of the setting sun is also the place of death, mystery, and the unknown. For many, the lands of the dead and water are synonymous, and are found to the west.

The highest and purest form of the water element is unconditional love, which is associated with miraculous healing, cleansing, and compassion. In the tarot, water is associated with the cups, and in a mythic sense, water is associated with the Holy Grail, a magical cup or cauldron with both Christian and Pagan associations. The water signs of the zodiac are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Each of these signs deals with emotional relationships in some way.

Figure 6: Water Signs

Figure 7: Air Triangle

Air

Air is the element of the mental plane, the realm of ideas, concepts, and thoughts. Like the sky, our minds can be clear and peaceful. At other times, they are turbulent with thought, or clouded by the water vapor of clouds, our emotions. The link between the emotional body and the mental body is like the relationship between the sea and sky. Before something takes shape on the astral plane, a mental idea, a thought, must animate it.

Air is the element of communication. We use the air of our breath to speak our words. The air between us carries sound waves, so our words can be heard. Many who study the element of air think it is only about talking, but it also involves the power to listen. Air is logic and memorization, but also poetry and cleverness. In the tarot, air is symbolized by the swords. We use imagery like "her mind is sharp" to describe a person who is strong with the air element. Being double-edged, swords represent the two-way power of communication, which requires both listening and speaking. They also symbolize the power of words to connect, and the power to hurt. We use sword imagery for betrayal, such as "he stabbed me in the back." The ultimate sword symbol is found in Arthurian myth-Excalibur is the sword of truth. Air's ultimate power is truth, but how that truth is expressed is up to the wielder of the sword.

In most Western traditions, air is associated with the direction of east, but sometimes is associated with the south, to pair the earth and air as opposites in the north and south. The air signs of the zodiac are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius, as each works in the sphere of communication and connection.

Figure 8: Air Signs

Figure 9: Fire Triangle

Fire

The most intangible element is fire. Earth you can hold, water you can drink, and air you can breathe, but fire cannot be held. The element of fire is symbolized within our bodies as our metabolism. We know it is present, but we cannot extract it like the other three elements. Fire is described by mystics in different ways. Fire is the energetic reality, the power of creation. The energy of fire inspires an idea, a concept, on the mental plane. The energy flows from the mental plane to the emotional plane, giving the idea a shape or image in the astral world. The energy continues to flow from the emotional plane to the physical, earthly plane, where it manifests as a reality

For some people, fire expresses itself as career, while for others, it expresses as sex or artistic endeavors. Fire is the drive to find identity through our passions. Fire in its highest form expresses our will, which comes in many forms. The most basic definition of will is what we want, what we desire. This is considered the ego will, or personal will. Transcending the ego will is higher will, or divine will. It is the will of our highest, most divine identity. Some call it the higher self. You could think of it as the soul, the divine spark of individuality in each of us. When we merge our personal will with our divine will, we find our true spiritual identity, and all doors are open to us.

In the tarot, fire is symbolized by wands, spears, or torches. The wand is the symbol of the Wizard or Witch, who uses it to focus his or her magical will. Mythically, the spear is the Spear of Destiny, the spear that pierced Christ's side, or the spear of Lugh, the leader of the gods in Irish myth. Destiny is another way to think of the higher will. Even with destiny, we must choose to accept it and implement it. Most people associate fire with the south, since the noonday sun is associated with the south in the Northern Hemisphere, and that is the hottest time of day. Also, the further south you go, the closer you get to the equator, and the warmer it is. Others put fire in the east for the rising sun. Obviously, some of the four directional associations would be different in the Southern Hemisphere.

The astrological fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Each of these signs questions identity, ego, and the will in its own way.

Figure 10: Fire Signs

Some traditions switch the symbolism of fire and air, associating fire with the blades, as they are forged in fire and are sharp weapons of the warrior, considered a fiery discipline, while the wands are air, as the branches are found in the windy treetops. This is simply another symbol system, no better or worse than the first.

Figure 11: Elemental Triangles Together

Fire and air are considered male elements and have upward points, while water and earth are considered female elements and have downward points.

Figure 12: Earth Cross

The equal-armed cross in the circle is a symbol of the four elements and directions in the sacred circle. It is also the astrological symbol of the planet Earth.

The Quintessence

Beyond the four elements is a fifth element, which is even more difficult to describe than fire. All things start with this element, and all things return to it. The fifth element is the sum of all the previous four elements and beyond. The fifth element is known as spirit.

Spirit is not the most descriptive title, since some traditions describe fire as spirit, and also call nonphysical entities spirits, or refer to the divine creative force as Spirit or the Great Spirit. Other traditions call the fifth element ether, akasha, or prana, though prana is also linked to the life energy of the air element, as Hindu traditions call breath work pranayama. Alchemists call the fifth element quintessence, the very essence of the other four. When the energies of the four previous elements are removed from an object, all that remains is the quintessence, the animating force of all things. In its primal state, it is also known as the first matter, though it is not really matter, but the subtle energy that sustains matter.

While the quintessence is the fundamental force behind all things, objects, and, theoretically, people, it can be transformed by manipulating the qualities of the elements. The elements are each described in terms of warm/cold and wet/dry. Earth is cold and dry, fire is warm and dry, air is warm and wet, and water is cold and wet.

Figure 13: Elemental Quality Wheel

By manipulating these qualities, you can transform one element into a neighboring element. To transform an element into the opposing element requires two steps. Water is cold and wet. In the case of seawater, if you remove some of the moist quality by allowing it to evaporate, you get salt (and any other remaining minerals), which is a symbol of earth, being cool and dry. If you take cold and dry matter (earth), such as dry wood, and apply enough warmth through heating, it will combust and create fire. If you remove the dry quality of fire by adding moisture, you get water vapor, a gas that is warm and wet, like the element of air. If you cool the water vapor, it will condense and become water. Symbolically, for the practitioner these images represent shifts in energy that create a transformation.

Mystically, the five elements represent the balance of five qualities within each of us. We each use the tools of the body, emotions, mind, soul, and spirit. By maintaining a healthy, dynamic balance of these forces, we will have all the resources we need to lead healthy, joyful lives.

Figure 14: Pentagram

The pentagram of the five elements is one of the most misunderstood mystical symbols. It has many different meanings and is considered to be one of the most ancient and perfect symbols. Technically, a pentagram is a five-pointed star drawn in one line, and a pentacle is the same star within a circle. Both are used by mystics across the world.

Within the pentagram's proportions is the phi ratio, a ratio that is found in the proportions of all life, creating the spiral. The phi ratio is also found in the proportions of the human body. Symbolically, it stands for humanity-two arms, two legs, and a head. It also symbolizes the five physical senses of life encircled by the sixth sense. In the Greek mystery schools it was referred to as the pentalpha, or five alphas, the first letter of the alphabet, symbolizing beginnings. These are a few of the reasons that the five-pointed star is associated with Goddess worship, for the Goddess is classically considered the source of life. The sixth sense, or psychic intuition, is also the gift of the Goddess. The planet and the goddess Venus are particularly associated with the five-pointed star, as five-petalled flowers are sacred to Venus.

Figure 15: Pentagram with the Elements

Each point of the pentagram is associated with an element, with the fifth element being the top point. Much of the confusion about the pentagram comes from this symbol ism. Many people believe the five-pointed star, particularly when drawn upside-down, is a symbol of evil or the Devil. Others believe it symbolizes energy moving downward and into the earth, so they use it for banishment rituals. The reversed pentagram also depicts the four worldly elements ruling over spirit, rather than spiritual principles ruling over the four elements. In essence, you've lost the "point" of the spiritual journey when you have it upside-down. Some traditions have lower-level initiates wear a reversed pentagram to denote that they have not yet mastered the elements, and only those of a higher degree can wear it upright.

In the tarot deck, the traditional image of the Devil card has an upside-down pentagram, and the card can symbolize materialism, being shackled to the world, and being ruled by the senses and desires rather than the spirit, an esoteric interpretation of temptation. The figures "chained" by the Devil image in the card are held only loosely. They are free to go at any time, but choose to remain.

Figure 16: Devil Tarot Card from Lo Scarabeo's Universal Tarot

Many mystics don't believe in an ultimate source of evil such as the Christian Devil, because of its social and political origins. They believe that the true source of evil is temptation and abuse of power by humans. Though there are tales of temptation and harmful spirits in many myths and legends, the concept of an ultimate source of evil and ultimate source of good really came with the advent of turmoil in the Christian church, when many concepts and teachings were fused into the image of the Devil, drawing from principles of Gnostic Christianity and even earlier Zoroastrianism. The familiar horned image of the Devil was borrowed from horned Pagan gods, in an effort to make Pagans convert to Christianity by proclaiming their old gods evil in the eyes of the new faith.

With its upright point, the pentagram is a symbol of spiritual power and command and is used for protection. The pentacles or coins in the tarot are also described as shields, tools of protection. Pentacles and coins are associated with earth, because it takes all five elements to manifest something on the physical plane, and with the symbol of the five-pointed star in the circle, you are protected on all five levels of reality. Though many people assume the symbol on King Solomon's magic ring to be the Star of David, or sixpointed hexagram, the ring's symbol, used to command spirits to do his bidding, might just as likely have been the five-pointed star, also known as the Witch's knot. The hexagram is also a symbol of the elements in integration, for the hexagram is the combination of the four elemental triangles.

Figure 18: Tattwas

You will also find images of the elements in Hinduism and Sufism, in the form of tattwas. These symbols are used in Hinduism to represent the elements, much like Western seekers would use the elemental triangles. Western magicians use a system of scrying, or gazing into these tattwa symbols, to connect with the elemental planes.

EXERCISE

Elemental Journaling

Write the answers to the following questions in your journal. If you don't want to keep a journal, simply record your answers in a notebook or computer file for future reference. If you don't like to write, see if you can find someone else in your life interested in mystical topics who will have a discussion about this elemental exercise with you.

What element resonates with you the most? Why? Do you simply like the physical representation of the element? Do you feel that element's experiences are easy or hard for you personally? Do you identify its qualities with your personality? Does it correlate with the element of your astrological Sun sign? Does it remind you of anyone in your life?

What element resonates with you the least? Why? Describe or qualify your feelings for it. Do you simply dislike it, hate it, feel unmoved by it? Do you dislike its physical representation? Do you feel the element's experiences are easy or hard for you personally? Does it represent something about yourself that you don't like or feel is lacking? Does it correlate with the element of your astrological Sun sign? Does it remind you of anyone in your life?

Chinese Elements

The Chinese have a similar system of five elements, which uses the pentacle to demonstrate its creation and destruction cycles. Like the Western system, the Chinese system contains fire, water, and earth. The energy described as air in the Western tradition is symbolized as metal in this system. The elemental energy is not literally air or metal; these are simply symbols to help people understand the energy. Elemental air is symbolized by the sword, which is metal itself, so the symbolism is not so different.

Instead of the element of spirit or ether, the Chinese call the fifth element wood. Out of the five, it is the only one associated with cellular life. "Elemental" wood in the Eastern system is the same energy as ether or spirit in the Western system, and both hold a unique position in their respective elemental systems.

Figure 19: Chinese Pentacle with Creation and Destruction Cycles

When laid out on the five-pointed star, somewhat differently in than the Western layout, the order can be used to describe the cycles of creation, known as the Sheng cycle, moving clockwise around the circle. As fire burns, it creates ash, which adds to the earth. Earth creates metals in its depths. Metal, as a pipe, carries water across great distances. Water feeds the seed that grows into the tree. The wood of the tree fuels the fire, beginning the cycle all over again.

To describe the cycle of destruction of the Chinese elements, called the Ko cycle, the order follows the pattern of star. Fire melts and purifies metal, preventing it from holding solid form. Metal, as a blade, chops down wood. The tree's roots absorb the minerals and power of the earth. Earth absorbs water, preventing it from flowing. Water extinguishes fire.

Comparing the Western and Eastern systems of elements is an excellent way to show that mystics across the world study the same fundamental forces of the universe, but find different ways to describe and explain these forces, based on their cultural conditions and aesthetics.

From the power of one, of unity, to the division of five and elemental theory, you now understand the powers of the universe. The universe is one whole, two polarities, a trinity, four quarters, and five elements, all simultaneously.

EXERCISE

Cleansing Space

The five elements are used in traditional rituals to bring balance and purification to the self and to the space. Many rituals include them, though you might be familiar with the rituals yet never know that they are based on the concept of the elements. Growing up Catholic, I never really understood the use of holy water and the sign of the cross before entering the church, or the use of incense, yet there is elemental symbolism in these practices.

Water, salt, incense, and flame (physical symbols of the four elements) are traditionally used to cleanse a space. Usually, you hold each of these for a few moments, while concentrating on the concepts of cleansing and balance. This act of concentration, directing your energy and intent into the object, is called charging, consecrating, or hallowing an object in magical practices, but is quite similar to the mainstream practice of blessing an object.

Water can be used to anoint and bless a person or object. It can be sprinkled on the ground or traced around the edges of objects and door frames. Salt, known for the purifying qualities inherent in its color and earthy crystalline nature, can also be sprinkled, but many practitioners find it more effective to mix a small amount of salt, usually sea salt or kosher salt, in water, and use them simultaneously. Table salt usually has chemical additives in it that are less than ideal for spiritual purposes, and for your health. Salt is said to absorb the harmful energies near us, and ground them. When salt is spilled, folk custom has us toss it behind us, to symbolically throw away any bad luck.

Incense smoke is symbolic of air, though incense could stand for both fire and air, being burning plant matter. Certain substances burned for incense are considered by occultists to be "high vibrational" incense. Burning these substances releases strong and pure spiritual vibrations that automatically cleanse any lower or harmful vibrations from the environment where they are burned. A mixture of frankincense and myrrh is my favorite, since they are considered masculine and feminine, respectively. Sandalwood, lavender, cinnamon, cloves, dragon's blood, mugwort, and patchouli are also protective and cleansing. Sage, or mixtures of sage with cedar, sweet grass, and pine, are favorites in Native American traditions to banish harmful energy. Copal is the favorite resin in South American traditions. Incense or herb is used to "smudge," meaning the area is filled with the smoke, then the person is exposed to the smoke or the object is passed through the smoke. A ritual feather is often used to help direct the smoke.

For fire alone, the flame of a white candle, blessed for protection and purification, is quite powerful. I have a white candle burning in my meditation space, or in my home after any disturbance has occurred.

In traditional cleansing rituals, the tools are brought to the four directions. Salt and water can be sprinkled in the four directions, or incense smudged, usually starting in the north or east and moving clockwise around the room, home, or yard. Not only is each compass direction associated with an element, but each element is associated with a variety of beings, spiritual entities that act as guardians and guides who aid a practitioner in creating sacred space (see part 3). Different traditions look to different forms of spirits for the four elements. Western magicians often call upon the four archangels, while shamanic traditions will call upon animal spirits.

For now, cleanse the space where you will be performing your mystical exercises and meditations. Keep the process simple. You don't have to use all four elements, but choose the techniques that resonate the most with your personal preferences. Honor the four directions with your cleansing tool, and notice how the space feels afterward. Periodically cleanse the space of unwanted energies and forces. If possible, cleanse the space and yourself before every meditative exercise or ritual.

EXERCISE

Meditation on the One

Since our polarity, trinity, and quintessence develop out of the one energy, the Divine Mind, mystics often begin their quest with the contemplation of the one.

Set up a comfortable space in which to meditate and practice your exercise. Have a seating space either on the floor, where you can comfortably sit cross-legged, or in a straight-backed chair or couch, where you can sit upright, with feet flat on the floor and hands in your lap. These are the two classically accepted meditation positions. Across from you should be a table or flat working space. Cleanse the space as directed in the previous exercise, "Cleansing Space." Have a single white candle burning on the surface. If you want, you can have some incense burning. See the previous exercise for incense recommendations.

Relax your body. Start at the top of your head, and tell yourself to relax all the muscles in your head and neck. Inhale, and when you exhale, release all tension or stress. Continue down your body. Relax all the muscles in your shoulders and your arms, right down through your fingertips. Relax your back and chest. Relax your belly and waist. As you breathe, feel waves of relaxation sweep through you. Relax your hips and lower back. Relax your buttocks. Relax your legs, starting with your thighs. Relax your knees, calves, and shins. Relax your ankles and your feet, down through the tips of your toes. Relax completely and feel yourself sink into your chair or the floor.

Focus all your attention on the candle flame. Stare into the candle flame, and think about how the essence of this fire is the same as that of all fires, from the fire of your metabolism to the fire in the heart of a star. Think about how there is one spirit, one energy, running through everything. Feel the power of the one force that connects all things, everywhere. The light in this room is the same light that is in the stars and that shines from your spirit. Focus all your will and attention on the candle, to the exclusion of everything else, for as long as possible. When you start this practice, you might only be able to hold your attention for a few minutes, but with practice, you will build up your endurance.

Take breaks as needed, but over a period of time, try to build up your powers of concentration and focus. When done, bring your awareness back to your body. Stretch and blink. Feel yourself back in your body, and snuff out the candle. Many traditions of magic discourage the practice of blowing out candles. Some say that blowing out a charged candle will create a curse or create ill will between you and the spirit of the element of fire. In the end, it will simply unbalance any intention you have placed in the candle, so I suggest getting into the habit of snuffing them out.

This meditation is a basic foundation and will help you develop subsequent skills. Meditation simply means to contemplate. It induces an altered state of consciousness. As you relax your body and awareness, your brain waves shift to a lower cycle, opening to the gifts of imagination, insight, intuition, and inner vision. Some people experience a profound sense of awareness in meditation. Many see images or hear messages. Some people simply feel things intensely, or "know" when something is happening in this state. They don't know things in pictures or words, but simply have a sense of knowing information on an intuitive level.

There is no right or wrong way to experience meditation. Use whatever techniques work best for you. Most written or guided meditations work with the visual medium, because it is the most descriptive to the largest number of people, but all the senses work on the psychic level, not just vision. A person who see visions during meditation is not more spiritually advanced than another who does not. Don't be discouraged if you don't envision things suggested in future meditations in this book. Visualization skills can be built over time, but they are not as important as trusting your own intuition and inner wisdom, however it manifests. Go with the senses and experiences that resonate best with you. Meditation helps focus and discipline the mind to other realities and mystical truths, but we all perceive them in our own unique way. Honoring your own path is part of the mystic's journey.

TWO

THE FUNDAMENTAL

FORCES WITHIN US

VITAL ENEBqIES

`As above, so below. As below, so above." This is the Principle of Correspondence, quoted in various forms in mystic traditions. Basically, it means that patterns repeat themselves on all levels. Whatever you see in the larger world, or macrocosm, is reflected in the smaller world, the microcosm.

Patterns of the universe repeat in the body. Look at the shape of the planet-crust, mantle, and core-and then look at the structure of a cell-membrane, liquid, and nucleus. Just as the universe has invisible mystical forces in unity, polarity, and the elements, so we have these same principles within us. The outer world parallels the inner world. By studying one, we gain a greater awareness of the other.

Modern scientists, studying the so-called outer world, often arrive at profound metaphysical concepts that parallel the discoveries of devout mystics devoted to the study of the inner worlds. All that was described in chapter 2, "The Elements," also applies to us as individuals. The elements of fire, air, water, and earth correspond to four energies, four levels of reality found in the universe, but their microcosmic versions within us are the soul, mind, emotions, and body. One pattern is reflected in the other. All the forces of the universe are within each of us.

Life Force

Each person consists of a subtle but vital energy that sustains and animates the body, mind, emotions, and soul. This life force is found in everything, but its shape and form vary when we compare different substances and even different people. It is known all over the world by various names and has different cultural associations attached to it. Mystics who can see this energy can measure a person's health and vitality. By manipulating the energy, mystics can heal and create change.

In India, this life force is called prana and is associated with the breath. Pranic healers manipulate this energy for hands-on and distance healing work. Prana has become a popular name for this force in the modern New Age community. Hawaiian mystics call it mana, in Japan it is called ki, and in China it is chi. Some branches of modern futuristic science call it orgone, od, odyle, or odic force.

Many people relate this vital life force to the fifth element, our akasha or quintessence. But different people, locations, and substances have different types of life force. At their core, the different types of life force energy all may be the same, but mystics can sense them differently. The life force of certain crystals is more powerful than that of others. The life force of each plant is different, and in part, it is the quality of life force in certain herbs and foods that creates medicines. Certain people seem to have a different quality or greater amount of life force. Others have a lesser amount. Forms of exercise, meditation, and diet can change this energy.

Life force energy itself is not good or bad, but the form in which we perceive it carries certain connotations. I tell students that spiritual energy or life force is like electricity-it depends on what it is used for. Electricity can light a room and dispel darkness, or electrocute someone. The general vibe of a lamp is very different from that of an electric chair.

Everything has a perceivable energy to those who are sensitive enough to tune in to it. Some call it resonance, and others harmony. I simply say "vibe" out of a desire to recapture the colorful sixties, which I never experienced firsthand. Many people perceive energy, but don't understand their perceptions. When they meet a new person or enter a room, they have an immediate sense of safety, danger, joy, nausea, or some other unexplained feeling or sensation. The experience did not initiate with them, but it causes a reaction within their body or consciousness.

With experience, a mystic can perceive these feelings without being overwhelmed by them. This is a basic part of psychic health and self-defense. Without this defense, you may often feel like you are taking on the feelings and thoughts of others around you. It is difficult enough at times to process your own energy. You do not necessarily have to take on other people's energy. It can be confusing until you learn to distinguish between the two, which is what you will do in the following exercise.

EXERCISE

Feeling Energy

Still down in a quiet place where you won't be disturbed, and take a few deep breaths. Deep breathing helps clear your mind, relaxes your thoughts, and gives you greater awareness. If you can pay attention to the subtleties of your breath, you can perceive all sorts of things most people miss.

Rub your hands together vigorously, like you are trying to warm them. This sensitizes them to feel energy. Then spread your arms so your hands are as far apart as possible. Slowly, bring your hands together, palms facing each other. With each moment, try to perceive a tactile sense of the space between your hands. You are feeling the energy of your body. Everyone feels it differently, but it has been described to me as heat, vibration, or pins and needles, or like two positive ends of a magnet coming together. I personally think the sensation is much more subtle than any of those descriptions, but this is a good starting place to feel energy.

Move your hands back and forth, playing with the energy between them. You may feel different layers of sensation or resistance. You may not feel a lot at first, but the more you play with this exercise and refine your perceptions, the more you will feel. It will help you feel the energies of different people and locations and gain an awareness of the general vibe, or resonance, of the energies.

Energy Centers

Our bodies process this primal life energy, and it moves through our energetic centers like food, oxygen, and waste move through our cells and organs. Primal energy manifests in our bodies as it does in the universe, creating polarity energy, or yin and yang. We also have the triple energy and the four elemental energies within us, though the different mystic traditions all can't agree on exactly how they work or where they are. I prefer to think of these energies as being in a dynamic balance, ever changing, rather than in a static state that can be definitively measured.

The various traditions do seem to agree that there are spiritual "organs" within the human body that process life energy. In certain primal shamanic traditions, as well as Qabalistic ceremonial magic traditions, the major centers are at the top of the head, chest, belly, and feet, connected by a central column of energy.

Chinese medicine maps out intricate systems of meridians that carry energy through the body. Meridians are like energetic blood vessels. They carry energy, not blood, and since they are not physical entities, they cannot be detected like blood vessels. One cannot remove a meridian during a traditional operation or autopsy, though injuries and illnesses can block and damage them. You could also think of meridians as subtle nerves, as energetic pathways for life energy, with no physical tissue. Acupuncture and acupressure are based on this system of energy flow. Although Chinese medicine and its art of acupuncture meticulously map these pathways, and their systems of healing have been documented to be effective, other traditions have different systems of meridian lines that do not coincide with the more mainstream systems, yet still seem to work.

The system of energy centers that has benefited me the most is the chakra system. The term chakra is very popular in the Western New Age movement and is believed to be universally known by mystics, at least in part, though the most complete system of chakras, including the term chakra itself, comes from the Hindus. The word chakra usually translates to spinning wheel or spinning disc, because many psychics see these centers of energy as spinning vortexes of light embedded in the body.

Although many have added to and adapted this system, the basic form consists of seven chakras running along the spine. Starting at the base of the spine, with red, the chakras ascend the colors of the rainbow. Each center is like a spiritual organ, representing a level of consciousness. As they ascend, they range from basic needs to highest ideals. Energy is exchanged through each center, powering that particular level of consciousness within us. Think of each chakra as a transformer, regulating the energy as it travels from level to level, from the lowest to the highest and back down again.

Unfortunately, this system of high and low has led many teachers to think of the lower chakras as "bad" and the upper chakras as "good." Remember, a building can't survive without its foundation. The basement might not be as aesthetically beautiful as the architecture above, but it is a vital part of the building. It is the same with the lower chakras. The Principle of Polarity, discussed in chapter 1, teaches us that balance, not absolutes, is the key.

When someone tells me the lower chakras are bad, I like to think of the colors of a rainbow. Purple isn't better than red, though many people assume one color to be more "spiritual" than the other. Both are needed to form a rainbow. I think of them as gifts from the divine natural world. Many myths describe rainbows as bridges between the worlds. We each may have our favorite color, but it takes all colors to make a rainbow. We are each a rainbow in the world. We are each a natural gift of beauty and contain all colors. Without all the colors, we cannot be a bridge between the worlds within us, and the worlds around us.

Figure 20: Chakras

Root Chakra: Muladhara

The root chakra is the root of consciousness, grounded in the physical world. Viewed as a vortex of red energy at the base of the spine or the perineum, it represents the consciousness of survival, focusing on physical survival and the ability to enjoy physical pleasure. Reproduction and elimination, sex and death, are associated with this chakra. Sexuality for reproduction and pleasure, rather than emotional intimacy, is the primary concern. Survival in the physical world also relates to procreation, so the reproductive system has two connections to the root chakra. People who are capable of maintaining their physical needs of food, protection, safety, and pleasure have a well-functioning root chakra. People who are ungrounded or escapist, or who struggle when dealing with worldly concerns, have imbalances in the root chakra. Western magicians often view this chakra as being located between the feet, because much of their work is done standing, while Eastern yogis perceive it at the base of the spine, since their meditation is done on the floor, making contact with the ground and the root chakra. I think of the space between my feet as the extension of the center at the base of my spine. The root chakra is traditionally associated with the earth element, but its red color also gives it fire attributes.

Belly Chakra: Svadhisthana

The second level of consciousness is viewed as a vortex of orange light near the navel (the belly button) and is sometimes referred to as the sacral, navel, or spleen chakra. When we move past the simple need for survival, the next step is to develop trust and intimacy and connect with others. The belly chakra relates to the basic gut instinct we have, which tells us whom to trust and not to trust. Through this consciousness, we learn to build a relationship with ourselves, to trust ourselves, and then to build relationships with others. The spleen and intestines are connected to the belly chakra. These organs discern what is nutrition and what is waste or poison, the ultimate physical form of discernment. Water is the element of the second chakra.

Solar Plexus Chakra: Manipura

The solar plexus is the power plant of the chakra system. Here, we enter the realm of consciousness dealing with power and will. Through exercising our will, we learn a great deal about our relationships with ourselves, others, and the world. As a yellow orb of light just below the diaphragm, this center deals with how we project our will and energy, physical and psychic. When we feel unsafe, we enter the consciousness of fear. The solar plexus is associated with the adrenal glands and the fight or flight response. Power, fear, and selfimage are all connected. When we feel our power sapped by others or our environment, we use our natural body language to cover the solar plexus area, to shield it. This is the place where we are most likely to lose energy or even take it from others. Fire is the element of the solar plexus.

Heart Chakra: Anahata

Anahata means unstruck and refers to the unstruck sound of the heart. This level of consciousness goes beyond the survival, connection, and power of the lower three chakras, the foundations, to the level of compassion and emotions, beyond our own personal needs. The heart chakra, located at the sternum, is viewed as green. Some people view it as green with a pink or red center. The fourth chakra acts a bridge between the lower and upper three chakras, grounding the experiences of both extremes through love. When you are in touch with your emotions, your heart chakra is more open and balanced. When you are blocking your emotions, and your ability to love is denied, then your heart chakra is unhealthy. The gland of the heart, the thymus, rules the immune system. When we are in touch with love, we are naturally healthy and balanced. Air, water, and earth have all been linked with the heart chakra.

Throat Chakra: Vishuddi

The throat chakra represents the power of communication, our ability to speak to others and the universe, but also our ability to listen and receive information. Visualized as a blue orb of light, the throat center allows us to bring our thoughts, ideas, and intentions into form and express them to others. The throat chakra is also an expression of our will. If we can't say something, we often can't make it happen. Mystic traditions often talk about the power of magic words. Words make things happen. People with issues involving the throat, respiratory system, or thyroid gland, all of which are parts of the body ruled by this chakra, have imbalances in their throat energy. The ears are also related to the throat chakra, for the ability to listen as well as speak. Air and spirit are the elements of this chakra.

Brow Chakra: Ajna

The brow chakra, also known as the third eye, is traditionally associated with psychic visions and powers. Although it is the center of consciousness of psychic ability, visualized as purple or indigo between and above the eyes, its primary function is vision. Even people without any apparent psychic ability have a third eye. When you dream, visualize, or imagine, you are using your third eye. When you envision yourself in the future, or receive divine visions filled with information that helps you on your path, you are using your psychic eye. The pineal gland and lower brain are associated with the brow chakra, and water and spirit are its elements.

Crown Chakra: Sahasrara

The crown chakra is your connection to the divine, and is visualized as white or violet. While the root chakra represents physical survival, the crown is spiritual survival, giving you a sense of higher purpose and spiritual guidance. Some people feel the crown is a chakra of potential, not actual manifestation, since it is located at the top of the head, mostly outside of the body, but it is associated with the upper brain and pituitary gland. Any imbalance or illness that causes a person to awaken to higher spiritual awareness is considered an issue of the crown chakra. Though some traditions ascribe the pituitary gland to the brow chakra and the pineal gland to the crown chakra, the pituitary is the master gland, so it is fitting that it is the gland of the crown chakra. Most people consider the crown chakra to be beyond any element, but the closest corollary is spirit.

Chart 2: Chakra Correspondences

Chart 2 (continued)

Some traditional Hindu teachings assign completely different, nonprismatic colors to the seven chakras, along with slightly different locations. Each chakra is a mandala based on the image of a lotus flower, with specific associations, colors, petals, and symbols. Much of our New Age chakra lore is very Westernized and differs from traditional Hindu lore, but both contain valuable teachings based on experience. Modern lore gives us many more "minor" energy centers in the body, and also includes "higher" chakras outside of and above the body. My understanding of the traditional Eastern lore has in no way diminished my experiences with more modern interpretations. It just shows yet again that there are many ways to view the same thing. Our experiences with chakra energies are subjective.

EXERCISE

Grounding

Grounding is one of the basic skills every mystic should have. Grounding simply means to be fully present in the physical world. When you alter your consciousness, either intentionally or unintentionally, you are not fully present in your body. To be grounded, you must return your consciousness fully to the here and now, anchored in the body. When you wake up in the morning, you feel like part of you is still asleep, still dreaming-you are ungrounded. After meditation, people feel slightly dizzy or dazed when they are not fully grounded. If you are shocked, frightened, or in sudden pain, you can become ungrounded. The most extreme experience of being ungrounded is what is called an OBE, an out-of-body experience. All manner of hallucinations and visions indicate being ungrounded. When you are absent-minded or daydreaming, you are ungrounded. Some people are naturally less grounded than others. Those who are more creative, or embody the archetype of the dreamer or escapist, are less grounded than those who embody more pragmatic concerns.

Being ungrounded is fine under certain circumstances. When doing various meditations, psychic exercises, and rituals, you want to be ungrounded, because you are intentionally expanding your consciousness. When shocked, becoming ungrounded is a self-defense mechanism in response to the trauma.

The trick of a good mystic is to be able to come back fully at will to a state of normal waking consciousness. Many techniques for this exist. Eating grounds you, bringing your energy back to your body for digestion. This is one reason to have breakfast in the morning, or to have a feasting celebration after a ritual. Even drinking water can help. Caffeine is very grounding, although that sounds contrary to conventional wisdom. The caffeine high is centered in energizing the body and boosting the metabolism, much like eating in general raises the metabolism. A small burst of caffeine can do so faster, but it's not good to become dependent on it for your grounding. I use it only in extreme situations, and my favorite source is chocolate. Other substances that give a high, such as alcohol and most recreational drugs, actually unground you, so they cannot be used for this purpose. Certain stones, usually dark stones such as hematite, smoky quartz, and onyx, are also grounding when held. The best grounding techniques are internal and psychic and don't require any tools. The following are just a few that are helpful to me.

You can ground yourself by imagining a beam of light from your root chakra digging deep into the earth, anchoring you like a balloon. Focus on the feeling of gravity pulling you back to center.

Imagine your feet are growing like the roots of a big tree, digging deep into the land and holding you down, yet at the same time nourishing you. Feel yourself become sturdy and solid, like a tree.

Pretend you are sinking your feet deep into beach sand. Feel yourself firmly anchored in the material world. You can even just press down on your feet, and bring all your attention to the soles of your feet, bringing the energy down the body, grounding you.

If you feel too energized after a ceremony, get down on your hands and knees and press into the floor. Imagine grounding the excess energy into the earth, like a lightning rod. You can even bow your head, imagining only the excess energy pouring out and into the earth. You can send an intention of earth healing with it, so as not to waste the energy. If you can't bend over, then hold a ritual object, such as a staff, walking stick, or sword, and use it like a lightning rod to ground the energy into the earth. You can even lean into the altar and use that like a lightning rod to ground the energy. With the release of energy, root yourself with the other techniques just discussed and you will be fully grounded.

Experiment with these grounding techniques, and find the ones that work best for you. Make sure to ground after every exercise that expands your awareness beyond the physical world. Integrate the technique into your daily life when needed.

EXERCISE

Chakra Balancing

Sit down in a quiet place, as you did in the previous meditation. Take a few deep, clearing breaths. Focus your awareness on your feet, if you are sitting with your feet flat on the floor. You can also sit cross-legged, focusing your attention on the base of your spine.

As you inhale, imagine you are sucking up energy from the earth below through the straw of your spine. Imagine a beam of light extending from your spine deep into the earth, into the center of the Earth itself. Inhale and draw the energy up this personal tube. Exhale normally. Continue to breathe, and with each inhalation, feel the energy rise up. The energy will feel much like it did in the previous exercise. As you inhale, concentrate on your root chakra. Feel it fill with energy and glow with a dazzling ruby-red energy. The red light clears the chakra of any unbalanced, unwanted energy. Release any blocks to survival and pleasure. Feel yourself rooted in the world, grounded and centered.

After spending a few moments on the root chakra, draw the energy up to the belly chakra, transforming it into a warm orange color. The light cleanses this chakra of unbalanced energy. Release any blocks to trust and intimacy. Feel your sense of knowing grow and strengthen.

Move on to the solar plexus chakra. As the energy ascends with your breath, it turns a golden yellow. Take several breaths, energizing the solar plexus and cleansing it. Release your fears, your need to control, and anything that contributes to an unhealthy self-image. See yourself as you desire to be-strong, confident, and self-assured. You draw your power from yourself and your divinity, not from other people's perceptions of you.

Draw the energy up to your heart chakra, changing it to green light. Fill yourself with great, loving light. Let the light heal and cleanse you, releasing all that prevents you from giving and receiving love. Feel yourself become love, a universal unconditional love, connecting you to all things.

Move the energy up with your breath to the blue throat chakra. Feel it fill with light, and energize it. Cleanse all blocks to true communication and understanding with the blue light. Feel yourself find your own personal inner truth.

Feel the energy ascend to your third eye, turning a dark purple or indigo. Feel the light cleanse your third eye and awaken your powers of inner vision and psychic ability.

Spend a few moments on your third eye, then let the energy rise to your crown chakra. Feel the crown open in multicolored lights. Feel the energy of the Earth ascend like a geyser, spraying a shower of light all around you, clearing your crown and the space around you. Spend a few moments feeling your divine connection, bridging the Earth and heavens.

When you are done, stop willing Earth energy up through your spine. Let the remaining Earth energy in your spine come out of your crown. Take a few moments to bring your attention back to your root, and the beam of light grounding you to the Earth. Feel yourself centered, grounded, and anchored in the world, energetically clear and free.

Some texts urge you never to focus on the chakras consciously, because such exercises will cause great harm and imbalance in your body and energy. Though misuse of the chakras' energy can cause harm, in my experience I have found no detrimental effects in performing this simple cleansing and balancing exercise. Quite the contrary. It's brought great benefits on all levels in my life, and in the lives of my students, friends, and family who practice it.

If you are worried about causing harm to yourself or any others in your mystical pursuits, begin your exercises with this firm intention: "I ask that all I do here be for the highest good, harming none. So mote it be." So mote it be, which simply means "it is so," is used in the traditions of magic that I practice. You could also use "So be it" or even `Amen," if that is more comfortable for you.

4

SUBTLE ANATOMY

Surrounding and interpenetrating the physical body are the energy bodies, the subtle bodies. As each chakra regulates the energy of a particular level of consciousness within us, each chakra is based in a particular energy body, the field of energy that helps us express that consciousness. Through the four elements we create a model of our physical and nonphysical anatomy that includes four levels: the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. The fourfold model is only one way to look at it. Some occultists divide our physical and nonphysical anatomy into seven subtle bodies, based upon the imagery of the seven chakras.

Although we think of our consciousness, our mind and soul, as being contained within the body, and the body is a shell, these energies are simply too expansive to be contained within the mortal form, so they "spill" out and radiate outward. This is your vibe, or resonance, that people pick up on when you enter the room. You could think of your energy field as being generated by your spiritual organs, your chakras, much as heat radiates from your physical body due to the metabolic processes of your physical organs.

Collectively, mystics refer to the subtle bodies as the aura. Some perceive the aura as a sphere or bubble of energy around an individual. On the subtle psychic level, the aura has many layers and colors, and those skilled at interpreting the colors and symbols in the aura can diagnose the health, state of mind, and state of spiritual awakening within an individual.

The energy bodies are actually greater than what most people see as the aura, expanding far and wide, but the most cohesive energy appears to be a field reaching a little further than arm's length all around a person, and slightly above the head and below the feet. The more "energy" a person has, spiritually, the bigger or brighter the person's aura. The less spiritual energy a person has, the less intense or more contracted or diffuse the aura will be.

The aura is also the boundary of personal space. Those with healthy personal boundaries will have a healthy auric boundary. Those who are constrained or tense or who lack personal presence will have contracted auras. Those who lack boundaries, strongly identify with others, or can't separate themselves from other people's problems or successes will have large, diffuse auras that melt and mingle with other people's auras. The aura is not limited to just people. All things contain and radiate a subtle energy. We perceive the strongest energy from living beings, the cellular life of the animal and plant world, but minerals and even crafted objects have detectable auras.

Though many mystic traditions describe the subtle bodies as specific layers with definite names and boundaries, the energy is more like a personal ocean. The ocean has many layers of temperature and pressure, but there is no membrane separating each layer. The layers blend into each other. You experienced one of the denser layers when you felt the energy between your hands in the "Feeling Energy" exercise in chapter 3. The energy around you extends beyond just your hands. If you look at a true rainbow, and not a drawing of one with neatly drawn separate lines, you will realize that a rainbow, too, is a blended spectrum. No lines divide the colors.

Systems of division occur when a tradition draws lines in this ocean of energy to describe its properties. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as you understand that these are no hard lines or absolute truths. Some traditions draw more lines than others, or call the same layer by different names. When you study the subtle bodies, try to keep in mind that they are part of a dynamic whole, and not separate, divisible layers. Some systems have three, four, five, or seven layers. Other systems are even more complex.

A simple way of looking at the body is through the eyes of a shaman. Though most shamanic models are very complicated and subtle, dividing the self into many parts, most shamanic traditions divide the self into three parts. The middle self is the body and linear mind, including the ego. It is the part of the self to which most nonmystics relate. The modern world focuses on the middle self. The lower self is the body of instinct, psychic ability, and primal emotion. The higher self is the spiritual, divine, and enlightened self that most people feel detached from. It is connected to the other selves, but the middle self must use the lower self to consciously connect and commune with the higher self. The lower self acts as a bridge, informing us of the higher self's message through our intuitions, dreams, impressions, and visions. Our higher and lower selves take part in the process of manifesting our life, our reality. When we send out our intentions into the world, through our thoughts, words, and deeds, the lower self collects the energy of our intentions, and brings this energy to the higher self. The higher self uses this energy to metaphorically "pave" the road to our future life. The higher self can only create a life based upon the raw building material we give it. If we give it shoddy intentions, our road is rougher. If we are clear in our intentions, the road of our future comes with fewer bumps. This three-self shamanic road-building model might be symbolic, yet the experience and relationship of the three selves is very real.

Another system of division looks at the subtle bodies in terms of elements. Your physical body, the one the modern world knows the most about, relates to the earth element. What is called the astral or emotional body, the body of shape, form, and feeling, corresponds to the water element. The air element relates to the mental body, and the element of fire corresponds to the soul. Each level extends progressively outward from the physical body, so you can think of the physical body, earth, being inside the soul body, or fire. Most people think of the soul as residing in the body, but many occultists see the soul as much larger than the physical body.

Energy in the physical body is exchanged with energy in the emotional body. The emotional body, too, exchanges energy with the mental body, and the mental body exchanges energy with the spiritual body. You can vividly see this chain of exchange when you focus your thoughts on something that resonates powerfully for you. It doesn't matter if the focus creates harmony or discord. Pick something that makes you really happy or something that upsets you. Your intense thoughts on the subject create feelings. Many people believe their feelings are uncontrollable, because they well out of their initial thoughts. Discipline of the mind can bring greater emotional control. The emotional feelings can create sensations in the body and, if they persist in generating discord, eventually a physical disruption in the body, manifesting as illness or injury.

For example, if a person were to focus on the fact he or she lacked any income, and thought about it intensely, the possible ramifications of having no money-such as bill collectors, debts, loss of home and possessions, and possible starvation-would set in. These are uncomfortable thoughts that can generate feelings of anger, sadness, shame, and worry. The feelings could translate into loss of appetite, anxiety, or tension, which, if they persisted, could create digestive and nervous system ailments, and eventually disease.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, a person who has no money, but is happy about living off the land, or living in a monastery or ashram retreat, and is otherwise satisfied with the status of no income, can generate feelings of happiness, detachment, and relaxation, allowing the energy to flow freely in the physical body and maintain health. Health and balance depend on a person's thoughts about the current situation.

Figure 21: Elemental Bodies

My favorite way of dividing the subtle bodies is based on the chakras, corresponding a different subtle body with each energy center. The root chakra corresponds with the physical body. The belly chakra partners with the etheric body. The etheric body is like an energy template, a pattern of the physical body that radiates out just a few inches from the physical body. The solar plexus chakra connects with the astral body, a more fluid selfimage. People think of the astral self as the dream self that journeys when we dream, fantasize, meditate, and do certain forms of psychic work. Some call it the lower astral or lower emotional body, since our emotions change our self-image and intuitive abilities. The heart chakra relates to the emotional body, or upper emotional/upper astral body. This is the body of our higher emotions, compassion, and healing abilities. The throat chakra is the link to our mental body, the realm of thoughts and ideas. Psychics perceive this less as a human body and more as a sphere or egg around the body, being more abstract in nature. The third eye chakra relates to what I call the psychic body, for the psychic eye. Some call it the upper mental body, lower spiritual body, or Buddhic body. The crown chakra relates to the divine body, or soul body. The soul body is another name for the higher self.

Other systems divide the energy bodies in other ways, based on the Tree of Life teachings or other mystical paradigms. Just as there are forces within us, there are also forces beyond us, in the macrocosm. Just as we all have these potential subtle bodies, so does the universe, or universal being, when you think of the universe as alive and conscious.

None of these views are absolutely right or wrong. They simply describe something energetic that cannot be objectively mapped the way physical anatomy can be mapped. The wonderful lesson in exploring multiple views is to know that there are many "truths" in the world, and none are mutually exclusive. Each model seems to work for the practitioners using it.

Figure 22: Seven Subtle Bodies

EXERCISE

Aura Cleansing

Periodic cleansing of the aura is a powerful way to maintain spiritual and mental health. It removes unwanted energies from our subtle bodies. For this exercise, sit in a quiet place in a comfortable position. Take a few deep breaths, centering yourself and your awareness. Imagine that you are inside a large bubble or egg. This is the aura around your body. It is like a bubble filled with water, and floating in the water are all your thoughts and feelings. The unhealthy thoughts look and feel dense. The healthier thoughts are fluid and ethereal, without weight or density.

Imagine scanning your aura for dense thoughts and feelings. Even if you are not sure you are feeling or seeing anything, use your imagination. Imagine reaching out with your mind and taking hold of these dense energies. Unwanted thoughts from yourself and from others will appear as dense, heavy, and dark packets floating in the aura, or coating the inside or outside of the "shell." These are often called thoughtforms, but can be composed of emotions as well as thoughts. Fill a dense packet of thought with a dazzling white light, allowing the density to dissolve and break apart. One by one, reach out to your dense, unwanted thoughts and clear them away. Clear your entire aura, to the best of your ability.

Next, imagine filling your aura with light. You can use a dazzling white light, since it is composed of all colors. If you cannot manage to clear the individual dense forms of energy in your aura, fill the entire aura with dazzling white light to clear as many of them as possible at once. You can also use any color you desire. What is your favorite color? Which of the chakra colors represents the level of consciousness you want to fully embody? By using your will to visualize yourself surrounded by that color of light, even for just a few moments, you bring that level of consciousness and its qualities into manifestation.

When you are done, imagine yourself in a clear, clean crystalline field of energy. Charge your protection shield, the edge and boundary of your aura, by putting this intention into its energy: "I charge this shield to protect me from all harm on any level. So mote it be." Repeat this three times. For additional protection, you can visualize four pentagrams, symbols of protection, at the boundary of your aura, one in each of the four directions-before you, behind you, to your left, and to your right. For protection, the pentagram is traditionally drawn starting in the lower lefthand corner and is called the banishing pentagram. Imagine it drawn in a flaming white, blue, or violet light.

Figure 23: Banishing Pentagram

When done, return yourself to normal waking consciousness with a few breaths. Become aware of your body and the physical world. Feel yourself centered, grounded, and anchored in the world, energetically clear and free.

You might not be able to clear your entire aura in one session. You can do several sessions spread out over time. Be gentle with yourself, since cleansing the aura might force you to confront your unhealthy, unwanted feelings. I have found journaling to be extremely helpful when doing energetic clearing. Journaling allows us to process mentally what we have already processed energetically, to fully purge and release our past experiences yet still draw upon valuable lessons and teachings.

A balance of personal life force, through the chakras and subtle bodies, is what creates health and well-being. Only by knowing the forces inside ourselves can we command greater awareness and clarity and inspire healing, creativity, and enlightenment.

THREE

EXPLORINCj THE UNIVERSE

5

THE WORLDS BEYOND

"There be dragons" used to be written on old maritime maps, before the world was truly explored. It denoted the edges of the known world, where the mysterious, unknown, exciting, and possibly dangerous forces dwelled. Although the seafaring explorers feared such "dragons," there was also a sense of romantic excitement to be the first to see one.

When I read about mystical philosophy, I often think the books should have "there be dragons" written somewhere on them. Although many authors write about the spiritual universe as if it were a set of perfectly defined facts, mystical texts are much more like medieval maps. They are models, maps of reality that are not absolute. Their edges are less defined the further away you get from the world you know. At the edges, there is the unknown. There are dragons. And I, for one, am quite glad that this is the case, because the world would be a boring place without dragons. Life would be dull without mysteries to be explored and different points of view to consider.

Even though the mystical realms cannot necessarily be measured by the physical senses, and therefore cannot be objectively defined, we humans, by our very nature, define and label our experiences. There's nothing wrong with that, since it gives us the ability to discuss experiences with a common language. In fact, as mystics compare experiences, they realize there is a lot of common ground. They record benchmark experiences in meditation and ritual to create their maps, and find that many others have taken the same sort of path. Explorers' experiences are colored by their own cultures and expectations, but a lot of the fundamental ideas are the same.

The Spiritual Dimensions

Mystics have divided reality into many different levels. Some view these levels as different places, like different locations on a map. By using spiritual models that describe the levels of reality, you can travel to those levels, just like following the lines on a map. These levels are called dimensions or worlds. Others see these realities as different vibrations, realms that exist in the same place as the world we know but at different densities. The different realms overlap, yet they do not conflict with each other, since they are vibrating at different rates. Experienced mystics can "tune in" their consciousness to the right vibration, and shift their awareness.

In a sense, both views are right. Each description is one way of looking at a truth. They each attempt to describe something that is beyond linear description. Like many topics in both science and metaphysics, they are models, not absolute truths.

The first model of spiritual realms, the dualistic model, is the one most ordinary people are familiar with. Reality is divided into two worlds-the physical, known universe and the spiritual, intangible, unknown world. Most think the physical world is completely charted, while the spirit world is filled with strange, unsubstantiated life forms, ghosts, and other things that go bump in the night. The dualistic model is pretty simple, and is the first step toward acknowledgment of a realm beyond the physical. In reality, there are mysteries still to be explored in both worlds, particularly where they overlap. The separation between the physical and spiritual worlds is often called the "veil" or "veil between the worlds," though the term veil can refer to the separation between any two spiritual worlds. Another symbol for the veil is the magic mirror, as the spiritual world is said to be on the other size of the mirror. All reflections are gateways to the other side of the veil. Pools of water act like mirrors, and in mythology are gateways to the spirit worlds. Our experiences in this other world, this reflected spirit world, can appear contradictory or backward, and the customs of the spiritual inhabitants of this world may seem strange. To us, we are watching a reflection of the physical world, and the energies of the spirit world appear backward or reversed because they are reflections of the energies in our familiar physical world.

Figure 24: The Veil and the Infinity Loop

Within the microcosm of humanity, this dualistic view is the body-and-soul theory of mainstream religious thinking. We have both a physical body, residing in the physical world, and a mysterious spiritual aspect, unseen and seemingly unknowable, that belongs to the other side when our physical shell ceases to live.

The Shamanic World Tree

For the shaman, the universe is divided into three basic worlds. The first is the middle world, which consists of the physical world we know, but also includes what science would call the space-time continuum. The middle world is the present time, but also the past and future.

Surrounding the middle world is a lower world and an upper world. The lower world is the place of ancestors, where the spirits of the dead go to rest. It is a place of earthy power, healing, and emotion. Visitors to the underworld can experience love and healing, or find strength through facing their fears. All who enter the lower world are transformed. Many people think of it as the collective unconsciousness. The nature of the lower world is like the mirror, the veil we pass through to enter the realm of spirit. The energy of this realm shows us whatever we are, like gazing at our reflection. Everybody's experience of it is different. Those who come to the lower world with fear can experience fear, and the opportunity to overcome it. Those who visit with joy experience joy. The lower realm takes on the characteristics of the visitor's thoughts and emotions.

The upper world is the realm of spirituality, enlightenment, direct knowledge, and detachment. Psychologists would relate it to the superconsciousness. Here is the realm of the heavens and eternal reward. It is the realm of the enlightened ancestors, saints, gurus, and gods.

Different mythologies further subdivide these realms, but the basic three are found in many shamanic or mystic traditions. Connecting all three worlds is a cosmic axis, referred to by scholars as the axis mundi, or main axis, usually viewed as a tree, mound, mountain, or ladder. Just as the planet rotates on its axis, so does the spiritual universe rotate on its axis, but this center of the universe is accessible to any shaman who does the proper meditations, rituals, and visualizations. Many traditions call the cosmic axis the world tree.

You may notice the similarity between the world tree and the shamanic model of the self, having a middle, higher, and lower self. These three essential natures relate to the three worlds of the shaman.

Figure 25: The World Tree and the Shamanic Worlds

The Elemental Worlds

In the elemental model, the world is divided into four realms, based on the four elements. The physical world, which is the densest, is the realm of earth. The astral world, the realm of energetic shape and form as well as emotions, since the two are so strongly connected, is the realm of water. The intellectual world of the mind is the realm of air. Finally, the realm of the pure energy animating all things is the realm of fire. Spirit/ quintessence is the energy that encompasses them all. Within these realms exist aspects of ourselves. Our individual bodies reside in the physical realm, our emotions function on the astral level, our minds operate in the mental realm, and our souls dwell in the divine spirit realm.

Figure 26: Elemental Ladder

Notice that the elemental planes are ordered from the most ethereal on the top to the densest on the bottom, and are surrounded by the fifth element, quintessence. Just as some systems switch fire and air symbolically, some place the realm of air above that of fire. Another system, drawing from the system of philosophy called the Qabalah, puts the elemental worlds in an even different order, with fire on top, followed by water, air, and earth. Each system works, and shows how energetic reality is symbolic. There is no one way to see it. Different mystics can see things differently, and still have success.

The Seven Layers of Reality

Though the elemental model of reality seems complete, the layers of reality can be further subdivided. In this division, I use the chakras as my guide. As the chakras represent levels of consciousness within us, think of these levels of reality as the levels of consciousness in the divine body of the universe. Each one corresponds to one of the previous seven subtle bodies discussed in relationship to the chakras.

The root chakra corresponds to the physical realm. The belly chakra works with what I call the etheric realm, a level of energy that is very close to the physical, where patterns of everything physical exist-they are the energetic templates to the physical universe. The solar plexus chakra relates to the astral plane, a more fluid pattern and template that is influenced by our will, emotions, and self-esteem. The heart chakra corresponds to the emotional plane, what some call the higher astral plane. At this level we find the energy of relationships and connections. The throat chakra is the realm of the mind, the mental plane. The third eye chakra relates to what I call the psychic level, the level of pure information. Some call it the higher mental plane. The crown chakra is the level of the divine, the spiritual plane. Here, everything is connected in divine bliss. This is where our highest selves exist.

Some mystics even view the seven magical planets of the ancients as the seven chakras of the solar system's "body," each truly functioning on the corresponding subtle plane or energetic "layer." The physical planet we see is only the physical expression of that solar being's "chakras." Each of the planets has key spiritual associations related to its realm of consciousness, associations used in both astrology and ritual magic. Modern mystics dispute which planet is related to which chakra. One of the most common methods is to start with Saturn, the planet used by the ancients that was the furthest out, and correspond it to the root chakra, and then move in, ending with the Moon and Sun. In astrology, the Sun and Moon are considered planets, although technically they are really luminaries, or celestial lights. The physical planets astronomers have charted are the physical representations of these spheres of consciousness.

Figure 27: Planetary Spheres

The Tree of Life

In the Qabalah, a form of Hebrew mysticism that exists in both a traditional Jewish form and one blended with Western hermetic ceremonial magic, the universe is divided into ten realms of consciousness, said to be emanations from the divine creator. The Tree of Life is a map of these ten realms. The tree is said to have its roots in the heavens, and the physical world is its fruit. On the tree, the spheres-called sephiroth, though sephiroth technically translates to emanations or numerical emanations-are connected by linear pathways. The sephiroth are all associated with planets, and the paths are associated with the Major Arcana cards of the tarot. Each sphere is a plane of consciousness, a state of being, both within ourselves and in the universe. Each path, and its corresponding tarot card, represents the process to reach that level of consciousness from another level.

Although the Tree of Life is one of the most complicated systems of mapping reality, many others exist. The advantage of the Qabalah map is that it is complete, and most other systems or traditions can be "mapped" upon its branches.

Qabalah is spelled in many different ways, denoting its tradition and use. Qabalah usually denotes Western magical Qabalah. Kabalah or Kaballah usually indicates the more orthodox Hebrew system. Cabala denotes a Christian version of the system. Not all authors and scholars use the Q, K, and C differentiations. All of these systems essentially contain the same information, though they each treat it differently, colored by their particular belief system and culture. The names of the sephiroth also have many variant spellings.

The lowest sphere on the Tree of Life-number ten, called Malkuth, meaning Kingdom-represents the physical realm and the Earth. In this system, the four elemental planes are related to the tenth sphere, since they all are the powers of manifestation in the physical realm, though the various upper spheres, based on planetary or astrological associations, also have further elemental associations. On the tree, this sphere is often divided into four equal parts for that reason. It is the realm of the elements and the seasons.

The ninth sphere, Yesod, meaning Foundation, refers to the astral plane, which is the foundation of the physical realm. All things must occur on the astral plane, and have an astral double, to exist in the physical realm. Yesod relates to the Moon.

The eighth realm is Hod, the realm of the mind, which translates to Glory. It is the glory and splendor of the mind, knowledge, and truth. Mercury is the planet of Hod. Paired with Hod is Netzach, the sphere of Venus and the realm of emotion and attraction. Netzach means Victory, indicating the victory and triumph of emotion.

Figure 28: Tree of Life

The center of the tree is Tifereth, the realm of the Sun, meaning Beauty. It is the realm of the higher self, what ceremonial magicians call the Holy Guardian Angel, because it embodies our most noble self. Tifereth is the consciousness of selfless sacrifice for the higher good.

Next on the tree is the sphere of Geburah, or Might. This is the consciousness of Mars, the warrior, and willpower. Paired with it is Chesed, meaning Mercy. It is the realm of Jupiter and the benevolent father consciousness.

Highest on the tree are the last three spheres, Binah, Chokmah, and Kether. They can be viewed as the divine manifestations of the Goddess, God, and Divine Spirit. Binah is Understanding. It is the sphere of Saturn and holds the pattern of creation from the primal mother. It is the cosmic ocean of potential. Chokmah, meaning Wisdom, is the seed of consciousness, the energy of the divine father. Unlike the other spheres, Chokmah does not correspond with one of the seven magical planets of the ancients. Qabalists correspond Chokmah with the zodiac signs, though modern mystics, desiring to fit the "new" outer planets into the Tree of Life, assign Neptune or Uranus to Chokmah. The seed of Chokmah fertilizes the oceans of Binah, bringing about the creation of the sephiroth below.

Kether, although often visualized as male in Judeo-Christian mysticism, is beyond gender and represents the divine light of creation. Modern mystics relate Kether to the planet Pluto. Kether, which means Crown, is the most knowable form of the divine source, emitted from the veils of nothingness to manifest creation. Before the last triad is the unconnected sphere, Da'ath, meaning Knowledge. It sits in the abyss between the levels of Geburah/Chesed and Binah/Chokmah. One must pass through this abyss to reach the highest realms. Those beneath the abyss in consciousness can't truly understand the realms above it.

EXERCISE

Rising on the Planes

"Rising on the planes" is a term given to a meditative experience of the ten spheres of the Qabalah, though in a variety of traditions it could be used to describe psychic travel or shamanic journey. Some practitioners use precise formulas and rituals to open the paths between the spheres, and more detailed meditations also focus on specific pathways, using associations with tarot cards and Hebrew letters, to make the connections between spheres. In this exercise, we will be doing a simple, basic version of rising on the spheres, to give you an experiential understanding of the Tree of Life and its components.

Sit in a quiet place in a comfortable position. Take a few deep breaths, centering yourself and your awareness. As you breathe, be aware of the physical world, the world of Malkuth. You are in Malkuth, the kingdom or garden, the realm of four directions and four seasons. As you breathe in and out, feel your awareness grow lighter and lighter, as you feel your sense of self rise up out of your body. Imagine the Tree of Life above you.

Become aware of a purple moon above you, a purple sphere of light, soft and pulsing. The purple may be flecked with silver. Enter the realm of purple light, the sphere of Yesod. Feel the power of emotions flowing back and forth. Enter a realm that is much like your dreams. This is the sphere of Moon goddesses and gods, sacred timekeepers, and gateways to the higher realms. Feel your intuition, not your reason, guide you in this place, as you float in the sea of purple energy.

Feel yourself rise out of the purple light of Yesod. Above you resides a bright orange sphere. As you enter the sphere of Hod, feel your mind become quick and sharp. Enter the realm of language, the sphere of logic, reason, and communication. The very realm seems to be made of language. This is the realm of messengers and magicians.

Rise from the sphere of Hod into the emerald green light of Netzach. Enter the land of nature, the green, growing faerie realm, abundant in life and light. Feel your senses come alive amid a garden paradise. This is the realm of nature spirits and fertility gods. This is the realm of Venus, also known as the Greek Aphrodite, goddess of love, born of the foamy ocean. This is the realm of attraction and love.

From the clear skies of Netzach, see the golden yellow sun shining above you. Its rays invite you upward. Draw yourself upward. Enter the sphere of Tifereth, the realm of the Sun kings and sacrificed gods. Here is the realm of unconditional, spiritual love, the realm of your higher, noble self. Feel the love of this level radiate and fill you, sustaining you, like a plant soaking up the rays of the sun.

Rise from the golden yellow of Tifereth to the fiery red sphere of Geburah. This is the sphere of the warrior, of judgment. Geburah is the realm of the warrior gods, like the god Mars himself, but it is also of the realm of the spiritual warrior, those on the path who pursue their truth with honor and discipline, dedicated to the will of the divine. Many war goddesses are associated with Geburah. The fires of Geburah burn away all that does not serve your highest good. It stimulates and activates your inner fire, and challenges you to use your power and will.

The purifying fires give way to the cooling blue light of Chesed, the sphere of mercy and compassion. This is the realm of the ascended masters, teachers, and saints. It is the realm of benevolence and grace, and of the loving father gods.

After resting in the gentleness of the blue sphere, imagine yourself crossing over a dark abyss, a chasm, into the sphere of knowledge, the realm of Da'ath. Da'ath is the sphere of ultraviolet, otherworldly light. It's like looking into a peacock's feathers or an oil slick. It mesmerizes. Don't let yourself get stuck in Da'ath, but rise above it.

The abyss gives way to a dark sphere of blackness, the sphere of the dark mother goddess. This realm is known as Binah, a vast primordial ocean of potential. Feel yourself floating in the currents of the starless night sky, like a black, inky sea.

Move from the realm of Binah to the fountains of light in the gray sphere of Chokmah. Chokmah is the seed, the potential, the form that is implanted into the sea of Binah to bring life from the cosmic oceans. Feel the starry light of the star fathers within this realm.

The last stop on the cosmic ladder is Kether, the brilliant light of the crown, the purest state we can conceive of. Feel the dazzling light around you and in you. Become one with the light.

When ready, slowly descend back through the spheres, one by one, in reverse order, returning to Malkuth. Imagine that you are following a string, a path you have left for yourself. Feel yourself move from the absolute pure white light of Kether to the gray light of Chokmah, then to the inky blackness of Binah. Descend through the abyss of Da'ath, through the blue and red spheres of Chesed and Geburah. Pass through the gold of Tifereth, down through green Netzach, orange Hod, and purple Yesod, making your way back to the physical plane of Malkuth and your body.

Ground yourself in your body. Feel the physical world around you. When ready, rise from your position and reorient yourself.

What makes the Qabalistic Tree of Life even more complex is the simultaneous belief in a fourfold system, along with the ten-sphere tree. The four worlds of the Qabalah are modeled very similarly to the four-element system, though the traditional order given, from the most sublime to the densest element, is usually fire, water, air, and earth, differing from other elemental models.

Figure 29: Four Qabalistic Worlds

The ten-sphere tree exists in all four realms. A particular sphere's inherent nature can be more attuned to one of the four worlds. Malkuth is more aligned with the fourth world of manifestation, but can also be found in the other three worlds. Therefore, you can discuss the qualities of Malkuth in the first world, which would be slightly different from those in the second, third, or fourth world, but the fourth world would be closest to its traditional nature.

Many would argue about the "Rising on the Planes" meditation just given, stating that you cannot conceive of, or really experience, the upper spheres of the tree. But in this meditation, you are experiencing their lowest, fourth-world aspects, rather than their highest, most exalted states in the first world. Each of the spheres exists in all four worlds.

6

ENTITIES Of SPIRIT

The spiritual realms are not uninhabited. Our myths and mystic texts talk quite extensively about the natives in these realms. Like the models of reality, these spiritual beings vary from one magical model and culture to the next. A general term for these forms of life is spirits. Most mystical cultures recognize that consciousness goes beyond the physical realm, and mystics have learned to communicate with those spirits. Only in our modern scientific age have we doubted the possibility of consciousness without physicality. World religions recognize that consciousness survives after death, though there is much debate about what happens to the soul after death. Mystical lore tells us there are spirits that move beyond the human realm, including some that have never been human.

Nonphysical beings that take an interest in human affairs and aid in the spiritual development of individuals and communities are generally referred to as spirit guides. They have a higher perspective, and can often see things more clearly than we can, but their wisdom is not absolute. Different cultures have a variety of opinions as to what types of spirits become spirit guides, along with their forms, functions, powers, and motivations. The following are some types of entities you might encounter in your spiritual exploration.

Spirits

Ancestors

Ancestors are relatives who have passed from this world and guide us from the other side of the veil. Many cultures believe that ancestor reverence is vital for continued health and prosperity. Ancestors act as guides and intermediaries between the living and the higher powers. They guard us and grant us blessings. Some people consider only blood relatives to be ancestors, while others use a modern definition of ancestors and include those in their spiritual lineage, or those whose lives have greatly inspired them.

Masters

Masters, or ascended masters, refer to humans who have passed on from this world in a state of enlightenment. While on Earth, they are reputed to be advanced spiritual beings, mystics with abilities beyond the average person, yet they demonstrate the potential within us all. They remain connected to the earth plane to act as inner teachers and guides to humanity, and in this spiritual state they are available to help a multitude of people rather than be confined to only one physical location, as was the case when they were in body. The ascended masters are often thought of as saints in the West and bodhisattvas in the East. Many people relate them to the great scholars, religious leaders, and even Pagan demigods and deities. Sometimes they are called inner plane masters or inner plane adepts.

Power Animals

Tribal cultures believe that an animal spirit is associated with each person or tribe. That animal's traits and habits, its "medicine," help bring humans back into balance with nature. The animal spirit guides us, defends us from the spirits of sickness, and teaches us its abilities. Some people think your animal spirit, called your power animal or totem animal, is a part of your soul, while others believe your animal spirit to be a separate entity. You can work with more than one animal spirit at a time, though most traditions believe you have one primary animal that stays with you for a long time, if not a lifetime. Many traditions believe that all animals in a species come from one animal spirit, as if each species has an archetypal group soul. When you work with a crow totem animal, you are working with Crow, the same spirit all people who work with crow call upon. Other traditions believe that each animal totem is separate and distinct, and each practitioner has his or her own individual crow spirit. The animal's basic nature corresponds with your own inner nature, or the functions and lessons you are learning in this lifetime. Each animal holds an animal medicine, a teaching based on its natural character and qualities that helps bring us back into balance. These medicines are discovered by observing the animals, as well as looking at cultural folklore. The most common example would be Dog medicine, which reminds us of the virtue of loyalty. The wisdom of the zodiac, which means "wheel of animals," is found in shamanic animal medicine, even though our image of the zodiac is no longer based entirely upon animals.

Angels

Angels are an order of spiritual beings that has many different subdivisions. They are found in various cultures and sometimes have animal associations, particularly in the ancient traditions of the Middle East. In Tibetan lore, they are sometimes referred to as the Dakini. Various Jewish and Christian texts divide the angels into different choirs, or hierarchies, such as angels, archangels, cherubs, and thrones. Different archangels and angelic orders are associated with the ten spheres of the Tree of Life. Though our popular image of an angel is of an androgynous figure in a gown with feathered wings, Judeo-Christian lore paints fearsome images of angels, with many wings, many eyes, or wheels of fire. Angels are messengers and oversee an aspect of creation for the divine. Guardian angels are protectors of individuals, while other angels may embody a variety of principles, from healing to war. The most popular among the angels are the archangels of the four quarters: Raphael, the healer for the east and the air element; Michael, the warrior for the south and the fire element; Gabriel, the messenger for the west and the water element; and Uriel, the gatekeeper for the north and the earth element. In ceremonial magic, the Holy Guardian Angel, or HGA, is not simply your protective angel, but your highest consciousness, your divine self, known as the Higher Self.

Faeries

There are many different definitions of faeries. Our popular image of faeries as small, winged creatures comes mainly from the Victorian era, but myths of faeries are found all over the world. The spelling "faery" is often used to differentiate them from the stereotypical images of pop culture. In myth, sometimes they are big, and sometimes they are small. Many faeries are beautiful, while others are frightening. They are all connected to the land and the old ways that honor the land. They are sometimes associated with the wild nature spirits of mythology, including satyrs, dryads, elves, brownies, and goblins. In many myths, the faeries have kingdoms beneath the hills, leading shamanic practitioners to believe that they are really underworld spirits. In magical hierarchies, faeries are thought of as earth or underworld angels, the mirror images of the angelic realm. They could be guardians of the land. New Age mythology identifies faeries with the devas of Vedic lore, and considers them the architects or overarching spirits of nature, different from the underworld spirits. Some think they are aspects of old Pagan gods who are no longer actively worshipped. Faeries are not small in stature, but our perception of them has diminished, so they seem small to us. They can be allies to those who honor the old ways, but not all faeries are automatically benign. They demand respect, and when they don't receive it, they can be tricksters, and sometimes even malicious. In Celtic traditions, they are often called the "good folk." Offerings of milk and honey are left for them to ensure healthy crops and a healthy family.

Elementals

Elementals are the spirits who embody the elements of earth, air, fire, and water. Traditional lore tells us the earth elementals appear as gnomes or dwarves, tiny men who dig in the earth. Air elementals appear as sylphs, thin, small beings with gossamer wings, like our Victorian image of faeries. Fire elements are reptilian, called fire salamanders or fire drakes. Water elements are undines, mermaids, and mermen. Elementals don't always appear in these forms. They can simply be balls of colored light, or take on the literal quality of the element-a humanoid shape made of earth, air, fire, or water. Elementals guide the four forces of creation used in magic and healing. Each elemental originates from a spiritual realm that corresponds with its nature. Fire elementals come from the elemental realm of fire, water elementals come from the elemental realm of water, and so on. Each realm has a spiritual hierarchy of life, lead by an elemental ruler, an elemental king or queen, guiding the elementals of that realm. Some people believe that the archangels of the four quarters-Raphael, Michael, Gabriel, and Uriel-guide the corresponding elemental rulers. The elementals answer our calls in ritual because they wish to learn more about using their element in the world for manifestation. As they help us by providing elemental energy for our rituals, we help them by giving them opportunities to learn. As they learn more, they can either ascend their own elemental hierarchy or seek to master all four elements before becoming another type of spirit. Some people think that once an elemental masters all the elements, it moves on and becomes an angel, nature spirit, dragon, faery, or even human soul.

Nature Spirits

Nature spirits is a catch-all phrase for the consciousness and energies of plants, trees, stones, and the land. Some people think that nature spirits and faeries are the same beings, while others feel they are separate and distinct. When I speak to the consciousness of a particular herb, such as yarrow, I know I am talking to Yarrow, and not to a faery. To me, the faery realm is something guiding the natural world, but is not incarnate in plants or trees.

Devas

The word deva comes from the Hindu culture and can be translated to gods or shining ones, often referring to the gods who govern over nature. Some people think of devas as faeries or nature spirits, while others think of them as angels. I learned that devas are like the angels of nature; they are the spirits that oversee creation, while nature spirits are the ones who actually do the constructing. A deva will hold the pattern, the architectural blueprint, of a type of plant, and will give that pattern to the nature spirits to grow into. A friend of mine described it to me using the analogy of a foreman and a construction crew. The deva of the plant yarrow holds the pattern for all yarrow plants, and guides their growth, but individual nature spirits fill the individual yarrow plants.

Gods

The gods are an interesting topic that causes a lot of controversy, depending on your mystic tradition. Originally, most cultures were polytheistic, believing in many gods. They saw that the divine has an abundant nature, with male and female aspects, and named all aspects of the divine. There became a goddess of the Earth, a goddess of the Moon, a god of the Sun, a god of writing, a god of travel, a goddess of love, and so on, until every aspect of nature, every location and every quality, had a divine ruler. Modern psychologists think of these divine aspects as archetypes. Many cultures had an Earth goddess, but each had a different name and story for her. Then polytheistic cultures lost control to monotheism, a belief in one god. Some monotheistic groups were simply cults devoted to one god of many gods, and they wished to wipe out the worship of all others. Other monotheistic groups sought to unify the nature of the divine, so practitioners could see they were all connected to one spirit. Such cultures often converted the Pagan gods to saints, heroes, and villains in the mythologies. Goddess worship was funneled into reverence of Mother Mary. The Irish goddess Brid, or Bridget, became St. Bridget. The horned gods Pan and Cernunnos were fused with the Christian concept of the Devil. The modern revival of Paganism and other nature-based religions has created a revival of the old, pre-Christian images of the gods. They appear in meditations, dreams, and visions and can act as guides and healers to mystics. My personal philosophy is a combination of monotheism and polytheism. I think of the gods as aspects of the divine creative spirit. I call the creative spirit the Great Spirit, without gender, but personally work with aspects of the Great Spirit I can relate to, the gods and goddesses. Both realities exist for me. Such attitudes are prevalent in the Hindu forms of polytheism, which recognize many aspects of the divine one, as well as in Qabalistic concepts of the divine. One saying is that the gods are all shadows cast from the same flame of the one spirit.

Avatars

Avatars are physical incarnations of divine gods. They are aspects of the divine spirit manifested on the Earth. Usually found in Hindu mythology, a god would incarnate to become a teacher of humanity. The god Vishnu has had nine avatars of various forms, including the well-loved hero god Krishna. This tenth avatar has not yet appeared. Some would say that Jesus was an avatar of Yahweh. Others claim he is an ascended master who reached a level of enlightenment. Aradia, a semi-mythical figure of Italian Witchcraft, could be considered an avatar of the goddess Diana. Though many people may strongly embody a particular archetype in their lives, they are not necessarily avatars of that archetype or divinity. An avatar implies a certain level of spiritual mastery that one did not necessarily attain in this lifetime, like an enlightened master, but rather that one already possessed before coming into this lifetime.

Mythical Creatures

Mythical creatures are beings who show up in fairy tales, folklore, and mythology, though there is no physical evidence of them living on the earth plane. They include unicorns, dragons, griffons, basilisks, giants, elves, sirens, and sea serpents. Some mystics experience these creatures during meditation or shamanic journey, believing them to be living spiritual energies beyond the earth plane. Others feel their value is only symbolic and believe they are not living beings.

Devils and Demons

Devils, demons, and other malevolent entities are always difficult to explain. Most mystics believe that spirits are much like people, and while some mean to help and hold good intentions, there are also those that mean to harm. Such malevolent spirits can be warded away with protection rituals. Ignoring them or laughing at them are also great ways to banish them. They feed off of fear, and the more attention you give them, the stronger they seem. Some traditions believe demons are our own repressed traits, both personally and for the collective human consciousness. They represent our shadow side, and once confronted, they can no longer harm us. In the Tree of Life, the shadow sides of the ten sephiroth are called the Qlippoth, which means shells. The Qlippoth are not the antithesis of good, but rather represent the lack of the ten divine qualities. When you are faced with the lack of a divine quality, it is easy to see the emptiness as evil. For example, the divine principle of the sphere of Chesed is mercy. When you are faced with the Qlippoth and demonic forces of Chesed, they manifest with the qualities of no mercy and no compassion. The way to overcome that evil is to manifest the missing divine quality, compassion. In the end, such forces are really teachers. Many people blame their misfortunes on demons, devils, or other people around them, but if you keep these definitions in mind, you will find yourself more empowered to handle any situation. Acknowledge these malevolent entities, but do not give your power away to them. They simply represent our worst traits, just as angels are said to embody many of our best, while the gods have a balance of both. By acknowledging and owning your shadow side, the demonic world has no power over you.

Ghosts

Ghosts usually refer to the spirits of the deceased who have not passed over into the next world. They are bound to the physical plane through intense emotion, such as fear or anger, or feel they have left something undone. Such spirits are not necessarily evil, but they are no more enlightened now than they were when they were alive. In fact, since they are stuck, they are probably not the best spirits from whom to seek advice. Some ghosts are not conscious souls; they are just echoes of a person, a fragment of that person's energy left behind. Some ghosts are recordings. They are an event that is etched into the ethers of a particular location. Some places have a ghost that can be seen going up the same flight of stairs at the same time every day. Battlefields have "ghost battles" etched into their energy, but the souls of the soldiers are not necessarily trapped there. Intense feelings and energies can record themselves in the energy of a location, just as sound or information is recorded on a magnetic tape. Poltergeists are thought of as violent ghosts who have the ability to physically manipulate reality by throwing objects. According to most lore, poltergeists are not ghosts at all, but are the pent-up energies of a prepubescent or pubescent teen demonstrating unconscious telekinetic ability, or a disturbed nature/faery spirit unhappy with the disruption of its current environment.

As you may have noticed, all these spiritual entities do not have easy descriptions and definitions. Each tradition has its own view of them, its own truth. These traditions disagree or contain paradoxes. There is not one absolute viewpoint but a multitude of perspectives when you explore the inhabitants of the spiritual planes.

The spiritual models of the universe classify spirits by the "locations" where they reside in the spirit world. Each of the three worlds of the shaman has different inhabitants. Sky gods and angelic spirits live in the upper world; underworld gods, faeries, and demons are in the lower world; and nature spirits reside in the middle world. In the Tree of Life, each sphere has its associated archangel, angelic order, deities, and spirits, along with ritual correspondences, such as tarot cards, incense, and mantras to be chanted. These correspondences help you tap into the energy of the sphere, and allow you to connect with its inhabitants. Sometimes connecting to a particular level of consciousness involves journeying to its realm, or communicating with its associated spirits.

Spirit Talk

There are many ways to communicate with spirits, from the use of divination devices, such as pendulums and spirit boards, to the deeper trances of mediums and shamans, who act as bridges, in their own way, to the spirit world. No one way is correct, but practitioners of the various traditions have strong feelings about which is best.

Mediums perform a process called invocation, though few refer to it as such. When a person channels a spiritual entity, from a deceased human to an ascended master or angel, letting it speak through his or her body, he or she is performing an invocation. At the end of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth, seances involving speaking with the dead were quite popular, and they still are in their modern TV show form. Modern New Age invocations have made connecting with hidden masters and aliens a new venue for information.

Channelers differ in style with the type of channeling they perform, usually divided into conscious channeling and full-body, or trance, channeling. Practitioners of conscious channeling simply repeat back the message as they psychically "hear" it from the entity. They never "leave" their body and remain aware of all that transpires. The advantage is that they are in full control of the experience. The disadvantage is that their ego might tamper with the message, letting them hear only what they want to hear or what they fear, and not the true message.

Full-body channelers either submerge or dismiss their consciousness to the entity they are channeling, and the spirit entity controls the voice and movements of the channeler's body. When their consciousness returns, they typically have no recall of the session, and if any message was given for the channeler personally, others in the session must relay that message. The advantage of this type of channeling, according to some, is a purer message, because the ego is bypassed. Others believe that the ego of the channeler is anchored to the physical self, and is simply taken on by the entity. The message is still filtered through it. The disadvantage is that the channeler is not conscious and is giving over his or her body to an entity that doesn't have a body. Some feel that these spiritual entities will care for it greatly, and having such high spiritual vibrations in his or her body will aid the channeler's own enlightenment, while others feel that such energies are not meant to be in a body, and will burn out the channeler's energy system. They also worry that an entity without a pure and loving intent could do harm if allowed the opportunity to channel. In the end, intuition, discernment, clarity, and common sense are the watch words of channeling. The practice goes beyond the scope of this book and will be not listed as an exercise here. If you pursue this path, make sure you read up on the psychic self-defense techniques in part 4. You can also find more information on channeling in my book Spirit Allies: Meet Your Team from the Other Side.

Various magicians and Pagan priests and priestesses perform invocations, allowing the energy of a god or goddess to come through them during ritual. Even the ceremonies in the African diaspora religions, such as Voodoo, have spontaneous invocations that often occur as part of the ritual. The spirits involved, called loa or lwa, are said to "ride" the participants, offering messages and blessings and accepting offerings. Unlike most forms of invocation, such "mounts" can involve incredible feats of magic, such as holding burning coals or drinking copious amounts of rum without getting drunk or suffering alcohol poisoning.

Many people fear possession by spirits, but invocation differs from possession. Possession indicates involuntary interface with a spirit and is much rarer than most people think. Invocations involve some form of ritual, with a clear beginning, a purpose, and an ending that dismisses the spirit and grounds the practitioner back in the physical world.

The word evocation is often used synonymously with invocation, but technically they are two different practices. Evocation manifests a spirit outside the body, either in the physical world or on the psychic planes, where those who are sensitive enough to see them will know their presence and possibly communicate with them. The medieval magician's techniques for summoning spirits are forms of evocation. Traditionally medieval magicians would create a magic circle, drawn on the floor, and a magic triangle, also drawn on the floor outside of the circle, to separate themselves from the spirit they were evoking into the triangle. Calling upon elementals and watchtowers from a Pagan ritual circle is another form of evocation. Asking your guardian angel for protection is yet another form.

Evocation and invocation have one thing in common. In both practices, the practitioner asks the spirit to cross the veil and make its presence known in the material world. The last option you have in spirit work is to make the journey yourself to their realm to communicate with them. Or ideally you can meet them in an "in-between" space that will facilitate communication for you both. This is a more common undertaking for the shamanic practitioner. Though practitioners of some forms of shamanism also do invocation and evocation, most focus on the shamanic journey, altering consciousness and entering the realms of the spirits. Modern practitioners refer to this state of mind as Shamanic State of Consciousness, or SSC. Journeying also occurs for those who do dream work and those who favor guided meditations to the inner planes. Rising on the planes is another way of accessing the different realms of spirit. At each level, you can encounter different types of spirits. Magical knowledge of each sphere on the Tree of Life, or any other system used to move between worlds, lets you know where to go to find the appropriate spirits for your intention. Magical systems are like maps, allowing us to navigate the territory and avoid the potential harmful "dragons" at the edges.

EXERCISE

Speaking with Spirit Guides

Since the practice of invocation goes a bit further than the foundation we have built so far, and evocation through ritual magic will be touched upon in chapter 11, this exercise will focus on journeying, specifically a guided meditation to go to one of those in-between places where you can communicate comfortably with your spirit guide. If you have done the aura cleansing exercise in chapter 4, as well as the space cleansing exercise in chapter 2, then you will be fully protected from any unwanted or mischievous entities. When you are clear and centered, you have a better sense of personal boundaries and protection. If you have any apprehension about this exercise, or working with spirits, skip it until you have had a chance to review the specific and extended psychic self-defense material in part 4, which includes the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. In my experience, this ritual should be unnecessary, but if you have any concerns at all, make sure you have all the information you need to be comfortable.

Sit in a quiet place in a comfortable position. Take a few deep breaths, centering yourself and your awareness. Feel yourself relaxing from head to toe, getting into a deeper meditative state. Be aware of the four directions. Be aware of the space in front of you. Bring your attention to the space to your right. Be aware of the space behind you. Bring your attention to the space to your left. Now take a moment to focus on the space above you, then below you. Finally focus on the space you are in, the center. You are in the center of the crossroads, a sacred space where all roads meet.

Imagine that before you is a great staircase, perhaps carved in stone, crystal, metal, or even pure light. Take notice of the steps as you ascend it. At the top is a doorway, and around the edges of the door frame, streams of light and energy pour forth. This staircase leads to a temple of communication and guidance, a place where you can communicate with the spirit guides that are perfect for you, who are already in your life, even if you are not aware of them.

Open the door and enter into the light. You feel almost blinded by its dazzling colors. As you feel your awareness adjust to the light, within it you see one or more shapes, the shapes of your spirit guides. Moment by moment they become clearer in your consciousness. When they come into full clarity, speak with them. Introduce yourself and ask them their names. Ask the spirits to describe their purposes and functions in your life. What types of spirits are they? What work will you be doing together? Have a conversation with them, and listen with an open heart and mind. Allow whatever messages they have to come through. The messages might be auditory, visual, or acquired through simply a sense of knowing. If you can't understand them, ask them to communicate in a way you can understand. If possible, they will accommodate you. Ask them any questions you have. Spirits often give spiritual guidance, answers on the important issues in our lives, but they can be asked anything. Many of my guides have helped me with quite mundane problems related to home or business.

When done with your conversation, thank your guides. Ask them how you may communicate with them in the future. Affirm to yourself that you will remember all the details of your experience when you go back to the physical world.

Return the way you came, closing the doorway and heading back down the staircase. Acknowledge the directions around you again. Start with the space before you, then to your left, behind, right, above, below, and center. Center and ground yourself as you bring your awareness back to the physical world. Write down any messages you got, so you won't forget them. Information received in this state can be wispy and dreamlike, and easily lost in the light of the day.

SACRED SPACE, SACRED TIME

Mystical traditions from all over look at both place and time as important on the spiritual path. Each tradition has holy places, often marked by a temple, and holy days and times, when the community of practitioners comes together at these places. Sacred space and time play roles in our own personal development, but those of us in the modern world often neglect these two important factors.

Sacred Sites

As we explore the universe's subtle planes of reality, the intangible locations of the inner planes, we must acknowledge the sacred all around us. The natural world is filled with mystical energy. The physical world is the densest aspect of spirit. It is spiritual energy manifest, but it is still spirit. Mystics across time and space have found their truth by spending time in nature, be it the forests of Celtic seers such as Merlin, or the top of the mountain favored by Eastern yogis.

Though all matter, all land, is sacred, some places are considered more sacred than others. Particular rivers, mountains, and ancient temple sites are in alignment with both Earth energies and stellar energies, making them particularly powerful sites for meditation and ritual. Temples were created to align with the Sun, Moon, and stars at specific times of the year. The most popular ritual times are the summer and winter solstices. Rituals done on sacred sites and at sacred times align the participants with the flow of universal energies through the planet, creating more intense or powerful results.

Though we tend to associate sacred sites with ancient temples, such as the Egyptian pyramids, Stonehenge, or Central American Mayan ruins, sacred sites are all around us. You can find locations of powerful energy in the woods, near rivers, bogs, and mountains, and even in cities.

Such sites, both the well-known ancient temples and lesser-known local natural sites, are said to anchor vortexes of energy. Recently, the vortexes in Sedona, Arizona, have become a popular hotbed of New Age attention. They were always there, but only local mystics knew of them until the news made its way to others. Although travel to sacred sites is wonderful, first try finding the sacred in your own area.

Vortexes are spiraling fields of energy, like chakras of the Earth. Major vortexes are the major chakras of the Earth, and are considered to be the sacred sites of the ancient world. The smaller vortexes are the other minor chakra points. They are still part of the overall system and still powerful. Vortexes are intersections of the subtle planes of reality with the physical world, and feel like gateways to the inner planes. Some legends say the temples built on these sites lead to the other worlds.

Vortexes feel like they are moving. The energy is much subtler than most people think, and can fluctuate with the seasons and astrological alignments. When I felt my first vortex energy in Sedona, I thought, "This is it? What's the big deal?" The energy was subtle but powerful. Other people in my group were extremely sensitive to the vortex energy and became physically hot or cold, or strong emotions welled up in them. Since then, I've visited a number of sacred sites in the United States and England, and have found that other Earth vortexes feel different to me. Each site seems to have its own personality and characteristics.

Just as chakras are connected with lines of energy used in healing work, vortexes also are connected with lines of energy. In the modern world, these lines are often called ley lines. In the East, they are called dragon lines. Some European traditions call them faery lines or Witch lines, which may or may not be the same things as ley lines. I usually call them Earth energy lines. Though many people have attempted to map them and create definitive systems to categorize all the different types of Earth lines, no one system has become the standard. Those familiar with dowsing rods or divining rods can use these tools to find these energy lines.

EXERCISE

Dowsing

For this exercise, a pair of dowsing rods can be made from a metal wire coat hanger. If you can get the kind of coat hanger with the cardboard tube at the bottom, so much the better. Using a wire cutter, cut off the hook of the hanger. Then cut the longest end of the triangle in two, so you are left with two sides of the hanger.

Figure 30: Cutting the Coat Hanger

Figure 31: Dowsing Rod

For each piece, bend the remaining wire to form roughly a ninety-degree angle. Cut your cardboard tube in half, and put one half on the shorter end. If you hold the tube, the wire will rest on it, but will be able to move and rotate as it senses energy.

If it is too much trouble to make your own dowsing rods, you can purchase them at a metaphysical shop. Before using them, cleanse your dowsing rods with the space cleansing techniques found in chapter 2, to remove any unwanted energies. It is a good practice to cleanse spiritual tools before using them, to prevent other energies from interfering with your results.

To work with the dowsing rods, hold them by the tubes, roughly shoulder length apart, with the wires parallel to each other. The wires will move when reacting to an energy field. If you hold the dowsing rods and walk toward someone, the rods will swing open as you approach the person's energy field, or aura.

My first experience with dowsing rods was in a class exploring the human energy field. Holding our dowsing rods, we determined that our target person's energy field was a bit further than arm's length. Next, the teacher wanted to demonstrate how quartz amplifies energy. She instructed those of us with dowsing rods to back up, and had our target person hold a large quartz-crystal cluster. As we walked toward the target, our rods swung open at least three times further away than they had done before.

In another workshop, I learned how to dowse for Earth energy lines. By moving slowly from side to side, rather than forward, holding the dowsing rods, the wires will cross whenever they come into contact with an energy line. By walking in a grid pattern over an area of land, you can map out the energy lines. I was surprised to find these lines everywhere, even in my backyard. The lines near sacred sites, such as the site called America's Stonehenge in New Hampshire, produce bigger and more tangible lines, but I have found lines in many different sites, even one going through an old neighborhood church.

The results of this technique are amazingly consistent, though not always foolproof. If you walk under a power line, or get too close to a generator or underground wire, the wires also will cross. Dowsing rods pick up all sorts of energy, and are often used to find underground water, since the water's flow creates an energetic current. I have found that applying other spiritual tools to this technique improves accuracy. After I cleanse the rods, I ask for the help of my spirit guides, and ask to find only what I am looking to find, which are usually Earth energy lines; but I could change my intention when communing with my spirit guides in a quiet moment of meditation, and ask them to work with the dowsing rods to find water, or anything else that I desire. Using intention and spiritual guidance with your dowsing rods seems to filter out unwanted readings, such as those generated by humanmade energy fields and underground water.

Feng Shui

Feng shui is a Chinese art and science concerned with the flow of energy shaping the land. The ancient Chinese saw the sacred in everything, outdoors and indoors, and sought to promote healthy relationships with all things by exploring these principles of balance in all areas of life, from the construction of tombs to the arrangement of towns and cities. Feng shui has erroneously been referred to as geomancy, using the term to refer to working with Earth energies, but technically geomancy is divination, foretelling the future, through interpreting lines and markings made upon the earth.

Feng shui (pronounced "fung shway") is a relatively new term for this long-standing tradition. It literally translates to "wind and water," referring to the energies that subtly and not so subtly flow through the landscape, much like the invisible movement of wind and the ungraspable flow of water, which can only be directed, harnessed, or blocked. This living, vital force is referred to as chi. Feng shui is the tradition of working with these forces to remove obstacles and misfortunes and enhance health, wealth, and happiness. The original Chinese characters for this art were Ham and Yu. Ham basically means to receive the heavens, while Yu is the connective force from the Earth to the heavens; thus feng shui is really the connection of the heavens and the Earth. Overly simplified and diluted by many practitioners, particularly those in the West, feng shui is part of a complex system of esoteric knowledge, including Chinese astrology, numerology, medicine, and mystical philosophy.

Originally, feng shui was concerned with the geographic evaluation of the land, rooted in the Chinese landscape and weather patterns of the time. This type of feng shui is known as the Form School, and since its inception, many other traditions of feng shui have been developed. Once the compass was invented, feng shui became much more personal and developed into systems of home placement, creating the Compass School. The Black Hat sect of feng shui, started in the 1960s, has been one of the most popular forms in the New Age movement.

Feng shui encourages the accumulation of chi, of flowing energy, but is greatly concerned with the quality of the energy. The chi, like blood, must keep flowing to effectively bring blessings into our lives. Slow-moving water or air encourages a "good" chi, while fast-moving water or wind dissipates it. Stagnant water might have chi, but it's not necessarily "good." Disharmonious shapes, harsh corners, sharp angles, and clutter can interrupt the flow of healthy chi. Harmonious shapes encourage its healthy flow. You don't want the chi to flow too fast, which can be the result in corridors and with doors opposite each other. Careful placement of household objects, as well as plants, flutes, mirrors, and crystals, is used to slow the chi and encourage a harmonious flow of energy. The placement of the house in relationship to the land affects how energy, chi, flows in and out of the dwelling. Objects in the household are arranged to facilitate an optimum flow of this energy. The occupant's own energy can also affect the arrangement of objects in the building. Practitioners use information based on the birth date of the owner or occupant to aid them in determining the optimum arrangement. Ideally, a home would be built with these considerations in mind, but now we use feng shui to correct any problems inherent in the home and to promote harmonious chi flow.

Feng shui is concerned not only with pure chi, but also with the balance of yin and yang energies. Yin energy is often equated with feminine and receptive forces, and yang with masculine and projective forces. An appropriate balance of each, for the home or individual, is needed. The balance of the elements, as described in Chinese five-element theory, is also a concern.

Most systems of feng shui work with the eight trigrams of the I Ching, arranged around an octagon called a pa kua, to determine the area of influence for each part of the building (figure 32). The pa kua is laid over the floor plan of the home or office. It can also be placed over a single room, or even used as the method of laying out your desk.

Figure 32: Pa Kua Modern Nine-Square Image

Figure 33: Pa Kua Traditional Octagon

When working with a building or room, the front door is aligned with the side of the pa kua that has Knowledge, Career, and Friends & Mentors. Many believe the front door is the entrance you use most often. If you have a traditional front door that you never use, then align the pa kua with the door that you do use. That is where the chi is flowing.

Another method, known as the Eight Trigrams method, or Nine Stars method, aligns the pa kua to the compass directions (figure 33). Both systems work. The state of harmony or disarray, and the flow of chi in a particular section, will affect the corresponding area of life. Many in the West encourage the use of "intuitive" feng shui, either using your own intuition to feel the flow of energy that is best for you and your home, or using other mandala systems to help balance and align your environment.

Some critics of feng shui say that its principles are based on China's climate, weather patterns, and culture, and do not meld well with those in the Western world, but the principles of harmony, flow, and health resonate with every culture. If you find sound advice that works for you through feng shui, intuition, or any other system, then by all means use it.

Sacred Timekeeping

Not only are places sacred, but all time is sacred as well. Mystics have been the keepers of the calendars. Sometimes mystics follow cycles of the Earth and Sun, the visible patterns of the seasons that are obvious to all. Other times we follow the paths of the stars and the Moon. Systems of numerology and astrology are applied to calendar dates. There is a true art and science to timekeeping.

Timing is incredibly important in mysticism. Each day contains a variety of energies. Certain days are auspicious for certain actions, and other days provide challenges. We all have sacred cycles, sacred patterns within us that mimic the rhythms of the world around us. The inner world and outer world are synchronized. In ancient days, the priests and priestesses would be consulted before beginning a project, to start with the best possible energy to ensure success. They could predict times of challenge in a person's life and give advice as to how to handle the challenges.

Cycles and seasons are marked by celebrations and rituals led by priestesses or priests. Most of our modern holidays relate to seasonal celebrations, though they have been disguised by many traditions and levels of meaning. By recognizing the rhythms of the world, and synchronizing yourself to them through ritual, you bring yourself greater awareness, balance, and health on all levels.

The Wheel of the Year

One of my favorite sacred calendars is the Wheel of the Year, which is a modern adaptation of the ancient solar and agricultural holidays found in Pagan cultures. The holidays were celebrated differently all over the world, but modern Pagan traditions brought them together in a cohesive form. Although they are usually described in terms of northern European mythology, the individual holidays were celebrated in many different cultures. Through looking at the Wheel, one sees the interaction of the Goddess and God energies, as the land, sun, vegetation, and decay.

Figure 34: Wheel of the Year

The Wheel of the Year consists of eight holidays that mark the changes of the seasons and humanity's interaction with them. Four holidays are solar in nature, the two equinoxes and two solstices. Though many believe these solar days to be the holy days of the ancient Celts, they probably played a more significant role for the Teutonic tribes. The Celtic high festivals were four agricultural holidays, called fire festivals, held between the solar holidays.

The following is a basic description of the Wheel of the Year. Keep in mind that different cultures and different modern traditions celebrate differently, so many variations exist. The imagery is biased toward those in the Northern Hemisphere, since the traditions of modern Paganism arose in the Northern Hemisphere. Pagans in the Southern Hemisphere have opposite seasons, and often celebrate festivals at opposite times of the year as Pagans in the North. Others feel the astrological correspondences are most important, and the earthly season is less important. For example, Samhain, the feast of the dead, is celebrated in October, when the Sun is in Scorpio, the sign of death and regeneration, regardless of the season being fall or spring.

Samhain: October 31

Samhain, usually pronounced "Sow-wen," is traditionally the Celtic new year and a celebration of the ancestors. Celebrated on October 31 or November 1 of the modern calendar, Samhain is the basis of modern Halloween traditions, with a Christian lens distorting the Pagan traditions. Due to the change of season-as all things wither in the fall, and the life energy withdraws to the underworld-the veil between the land of the living and the land of the dead is said to be thinnest at this time. The God and Goddess of life are said to retire to the underworld for rejuvenation. Many traditions have the lord of the hunt, the horned god or the underworld god, ruling the land until the God of life returns. Samhain is a time to make offerings to our ancestors by leaving out their favorite food and drink and setting up ancestor altars. It is also an excellent time for divination and scrying, to ask questions about the future year, as our psychic abilities are at their peak and the loving ancestors can give us clear guidance.

Yule: Winter Solstice, near December 21

Celebrated on the winter solstice, this holiday is a celebration of the rebirth of the God as the child of the Sun. From this point on, the Sun will grow in power, giving us longer days and shorter nights, until the summer solstice, when the process will be reversed. The custom of celebrating the birth of the God at this time was so prevalent in the ancient world that the early Christian church changed the birthday celebration of Jesus Christ to December 25, to more closely fit the Pagan traditions. The birthday of the god Mithras is also celebrated on December 25 by those in his Roman mystery tradition. Many of our traditional Christmas customs, such as evergreen trees, holly, mistletoe, and Yule logs, are actually Pagan practices.

Imbolc: February 2

Known in the Christian world as the celebration of Candlemas, Imbolc is the Pagan celebration of the lights, held in honor of the fire goddess Brid (pronounced Breed or Bride), who was later transformed to Bridget and then St. Bridget. Her priestesses became the nuns of St. Bridget. Candles are lit to awaken the Goddess in the underworld, so she may rise and bring the spring at the next holiday. Imbolc refers to "ewe's milk" and is marked by the lactation of the herd. It is a time of nourishment for the young child God, who is growing up as the rising Sun.

Ostara: Vernal Equinox, near March 21

At this time, the great Goddess rises from the underworld, bringing the spring. The land is resurrected with the rise of greenery and early flowers. Ostara is named after the Teutonic goddess Ostre, the goddess of eggs and seeds. Seeds are blessed and planted. Eggs are decorated and left as offerings and magical talismans of fertility for the coming year. Many of the symbols of Ostara, most importantly the theme of resurrection at this time of year, were coopted into the Christian celebration of Easter.

Beltane: May 1

Beltane is the Celtic celebration of spring and the growing season. The God is seen as the growing green, a young and virile man, while the Goddess is the flower maiden. They join together at this time to ensure the fertility of the land. Traditionally, bales of hay and sacred woods were lit on fire, and the herds were driven between two of these fires, for purification from the last traces of winter illness. Modern Pagans translate Beltane to mean "the fires of Bel," Bel being the Celtic fire or solar deity. Dancers weave ribbons around the pole, a symbol of union between the God and Goddess, in celebration of fertility. These practices were adopted into the festival of May Day, a vestige of the Pagan Beltane, though many traditional Christians might be surprised at what the Maypole represents.

Litha: Summer Solstice, near June 21

Litha is the modern name for the celebration of Midsummer, the peak of the Sun's power. The divine couple are queen and king of the land, preparing for the royal bounty of the harvest. From this point forward, the energy of the God begins to wane. Some traditions believe he fights his shadow and loses to his dark side. Others associate this day of longest twilight with the faery folk, believing the door to their realm to be open. Solar magic is worked on this day, to store up on the healing energy of the Sun to survive during the darker months of winter.

Lammas: August 1

Lammas, known as Lughnassadh in the Irish Celtic traditions, is the first harvest, the grain harvest. On this day, the first grains are cut and a celebration is had. In modern Wheel celebrations, the cutting of the grain symbolizes the death of the grain and solar God. The world will be ruled by his shadow, the dark underworld God, for half the year. Like an old-world funeral, feasts and games are held to celebrate his life. The theme is also taken from Lughnassadh, which translates to "the funeral feast of Lugh." Lugh is the Irish Celtic god of many skills, equated with the solar and grain figures, and leader of the tribe of gods known as the Tuatha de Danaan, the Children of Danu. The funeral feast in traditional myth, however, refers to his mother and not to Lugh himself. Modern Pagans still celebrate this time with ritual, games of skill, and feasting.

Mabon: Autumnal Equinox, near September 21

Mabon is the second harvest, the fruit harvest, followed by Samhain's third and final "harvest," the meat harvest. At this time, the fruits are collected and made into intoxicating beverages. Intoxication is one of the Pagan methods of opening the gates between the worlds. On Mabon, the gates are said to be swinging open. As the spirit of the light God descends to the underworld, to be reborn, all vegetation soon follows him, bringing the fall season. The Goddess mourns her lover, and begins her descent into the underworld. Mabon is named after the Celtic god Mabon, who as a child was lost in the underworld until later rescued, being reborn in the world. Rituals of trance and journey are common on this day.

Astrology

Astrology is another pattern of sacred timekeeping. It is the study of the skies to understand the patterns of energy in our lives. At the moment of your birth, the sky symbolically contains the patterns-the lessons, abilities, and challenges-that you will face. My astrology teacher, Jan Brink, describes it as the curriculum your soul chooses to learn in this lifetime. When an astrologer creates a chart of this moment, it is called your natal chart, or birth chart. By studying the current patterns in the sky in relationship to your birth chart, a talented astrologer can predict how various energies will affect you and can advise you in handling challenges.

In astrology, particularly magical forms of astrology, various times are "ruled," or influenced, by different planets and signs. The ancients worked with the seven planets that were known at the time, and the seven days of the week were named after them. Some of our modern names are derivatives of the names of Norse gods, the closest archetypal equivalents of their planetary Roman counterparts.

Chart 3: Planetary Days

Each day is influenced by the ruling planet's energy. This sevenfold pattern is found in many ways, from the days of the week and the planets to the chakras and the subtle bodies. Some people relate each day and planet to a "ray" of light, an aspect of the divine shining upon humanity, with various spirits, powers, angels, and even forms of yoga and exercise corresponding to the ray and the day. Friday's ray, for example, is the green ray, dealing with love and matters of the heart. Unfortunately, some systems of rays do not always correspond with the classic color associations of the planets. Very few people in the New Age world talk about working with the "black" ray, yet black is the color of Saturn.

More detailed systems of astrological timing will calculate a planet's influence on each hour of the day. For example, you can be in the day of Venus, the day of love, romance, and relationship, but be in the hour of Mercury, the hour of communication. This would be an auspicious time to speak with your partner about your relationship. Calculation of planetary hours goes beyond the range of this work, but you can find out more about them in any book detailing magical timing, including my book The Outer Temple of Witchcraft.

Other aspects of astrology are based on the zodiac signs. We have already discussed the signs in relationship to the four elements (fire, earth, air, water) and the three qualities (cardinal, fixed, mutable). Each sign is also considered masculine or feminine, in alternating order. As a planet passes through the signs, it takes on the qualities of each sign. The planets are like actors, and the signs are the roles they take on and play out. The signs are like colored filters over a light. They change the quality of the light and how it interacts with us. The same light can pass through twelve different filters, and take on twelve different qualities.

Aries T

Symbol: The ram

Gender: Male

Triplicity: Cardinal

Element: Fire

Ruling planet: Mars

Color: Red

Part of the body: Face

Aries is the cardinal fire sign, starting the zodiac wheel. The process of Aries is beginning. Aries is the sign of the leader, the one who must charge forward to explore new territory. All fires signs are about identity, exploring your will and desire. Aries is the quest for identity through action, learning to overcome fear through action. Its classic statement is "I am," but it could equally be phrased as the question "Who am I?" The part of the body associated with Aries is the face, because it is the biggest outward sign of identity. The drawbacks to such leadership qualities include being too headstrong, dominant, or aggressive, or acting before you know where you are going or have all the facts.

Taurus ZS

Symbol: The bull

Gender: Female

Triplicity: Fixed

Element: Earth

Ruling planet: Venus

Colors: Green, red-orange

Part of the body: Throat

Taurus is the sign of the bull, fixed earth. Taurus is the fertility of the Earth itself, and its ability to give us the things we need and want. Taurean qualities include a desire for comfort, often in the form of material luxuries, food, music, and art. Pleasing the senses appears to be a hallmark of Taurean energy, but the true spiritual quest is for security. Taurus's key statement is "I have." Some Taureans seek security in material comforts, and others in financial strength. They take refuge in their talents that bring material comfort, including artistic talents such as singing, for the throat is the part of the body associated with Taurus. Other negative qualities of Taurean energy are materialism and stubbornness, as well as difficulty taking risks, breaking routines, or being spontaneous. Ultimately, the quest of Taurus leads to finding security in oneself, not the material world.

Gemini U

Symbol: The twins

Gender: Male

Triplicity: Mutable

Element: Air

Ruling planet: Mercury

Colors: Orange, blue, multicolored patterns

Parts of the body: Hands

Gemini is the first sign of communication, and focuses on communication with those closest to us, including self-communication. The talk of the twins, often mistakenly seen as a quality of multipersonality or schizophrenia in the nonastrologically versed student, is really about the internal dialogue in each of us. When we are multitasking by saying one thing but thinking about something else, we are using the power of Gemini. Gemini qualities include skills in speech and writing, but the challenge is to speak deeply, truly, and in a focused manner. The key phrase of Gemini is "I communicate." The hands are associated with the sign of the twins, both because they are mirror images of each other and because they can be used to communicate information, creating an animated or social exchange, another hallmark of the sign. Gemini's virtue of doing many things at once can also be its downfall, scattering its energy until nothing is done.

Cancer S

Symbol: The crab

Gender: Female

Triplicity: Cardinal

Element: Water

Ruling planet: Moon

Colors: Silver, yellow, lavender

Parts of the body: Stomach, breasts

Cancer is the sign of the Great Mother, rising from the primordial ocean and protective, like the shell of the crab. The shell is indicative of the emotional boundaries those with strong Cancer energy must learn to develop for self-defense. The key phrase being "I feel," Cancer energy is the most empathic, bordering on psychic, as such intuition is the realm of water. The mothering instinct of Cancer naturally makes these people great caregivers and nurturers. The parts of the body associated with this sign are the stomach, the watery container that gives us all nourishment, and in women, the breasts, which provide sustenance to offspring. Although the qualities of love, caring, and support are strong, the downsides of Cancer include being overly sensitive, defensive, or emotionally unavailable when things get overwhelming. One of the great lessons of Cancer is learning how to nurture and mother yourself.

Leo dQ

Symbol: The lion

Gender: Male

Triplicity: Fixed

Element: Fire

Ruling planet: Sun

Colors: Gold, yellow

Part of the body: Heart

The symbol of Leo is the golden lion, a symbol of nobility and pride. The lion leads like the archetypal king of the jungle, recognized for his abilities and gifts. This outward recognition and the search for recognition, or identity, through others are key aspects of the spiritual lessons of Leo. Those with strong Leo energy are stereotypically said to be entertainers and performers, those with "look at me" professions, but anybody who seeks recognition is working with Leo lessons. Many astrologers cite the phrase "I perform" as the key mantra to understanding this sign. Leos play a central role, a vital role, in the lives of those around them, as symbolized by this sign's body part, the heart. The heart is in the center, and without it, the other organs could not function. Leo's strengths are qualities of leadership and charisma, as well as formation of a healthy ego, while the drawbacks include the pitfalls of ego, arrogance, and being overly sensitive to criticism.

Virgo rtr

Symbol: The harvest

Gender: Female

Triplicity: Mutable

Element: Earth

Ruling planet: Mercury

Colors: Brown, green

Parts of the body: Intestines

Virgo's symbol is one of the most misunderstood. Often called the virgin, a more accurate title would be the corn maiden, associating her with an aspect of the fertility and underworld goddess Persephone. Virgo's true symbol is the harvest, the grains and corn produced when the Sun is in this sign. Virgo applies the mental process of Mercury to the physical world, because it is an earth sign. Separating the wheat from the chaff gives us an understanding of the process, analyzing and discerning what is nutritional, or helpful, and what is not. The parts of the body associated with Virgo are the intestines, which separate food from waste. The key statement of Virgo is "I analyze," though the downside of Virgo energy is to make the process too personal, creating perfectionist or anal-retentive tendencies. The virtue of Virgo is the ability to separate and analyze all the components of a situation to make the most informed choices.

Libra s?

Symbol: The scales

Gender: Male

Triplicity: Cardinal

Element: Air

Ruling planet: Venus

Colors: Pastels, gray, green

Parts of the body: Kidneys

Libra is the sign of the scales, the sign of balance. Being a cardinal air sign, the process of Libra is learning to find a balance in relationships-your own needs versus another person's needs. This symbol shows that it takes both sides to bring balance to a situation. Often one side takes responsibility for both, creating further imbalance. The ruler of Libra, Venus, indicates that such balances fall in the romantic and personal spheres as well. Libra's key phrase is "I balance," and it is represented in the body by the two kidneys. Venus also lends a sense of artistic sensibility to this sign, while the scale symbol naturally implies a link to justice and fairness. Librans have a hard time making decisions, because they can easily see the merits and flaws of both sides, but once they make a choice, they usually hold firm to their decision.

Scorpio rn,

Symbol: The scorpion

Gender: Female

Triplicity: Fixed

Element: Water

Ruling planets: Pluto

Colors: Scarlet, black

Parts of the body: Reproductive and eliminative systems

This fixed water sign is one of the most misunderstood signs of the zodiac, and often gets a bad rap. Scorpio represents a range of qualities involving the mysteries of life-sex, death, and transformation. This sign involves areas of life where we often have no conscious control, and although intense desire is a hallmark of Scorpio, one often must surrender personal desires to a higher will. In its lower form, this sign is expressed as the scorpion. It may seem strange to have a desert creature as the symbol of a water sign, but to me, it's always been the poison in the tail that is Scorpio. Poisons can be deadly or, in small doses, cures. That is the double-edged power of Scorpio. Another lower form is the snake, which sheds its skin to transform. Scorpio's key statement is "I transform," as it transforms from lower forms to higher forms. It is the process of surrendering the ego will to the higher will. The higher images of Scorpio are more spiritual, being the eagle or phoenix. Qualities associated with Scorpio include the desire to penetrate mystery by understanding and investigating, often with an interest in the paranormal or psychic, while remaining intensely private. The parts of the body associated with this sign are the reproductive and eliminative systems-sex and death. Scorpio energy is stereotypically seen as stinging, because the truths it expresses on both the higher and lower levels can be sharp. Scorpios can express a strong sexual current or magnetic charm.

Sagittarius /

Symbol: The archer

Gender: Male

Triplicity: Mutable

Element: Fire

Ruling planet: Jupiter

Colors: Blue, purple

Parts of the body: Thighs

The archetype of Sagittarius is the seeker. The sign of the archer, centaur, or horse is the explorer or traveler. Sometimes its energy is expressed in physical exploration and travel, learning directly from other people and other cultures and lands. Other times it is the power of intellectual and philosophical travel, being the sign of higher education. Sagittarius will often take on the role of spiritual understanding and exploration. Its key phrase is "I understand," and its body parts are the thighs, helping these natives travel from place to place. Those with strong Sagittarian energy are athletes in the physical realm, or visionary managers and publishers, facilitating other people's explorations in the mental realms. Qualities associated with this sign include the desire for freedom, expressed on many levels, as well as joy, excitement, and optimism. The search for freedom can give some Sagittarians a reputation for being unable to commit or be dependable. For Sagittarius, what matters most is the quest, the journey, not the goal or outcome.

Capricorn 13

Symbol: The sea goat

Gender: Female

Triplicity: Cardinal

Element: Earth

Ruling planet: Saturn

Colors: Black, magenta

Parts of the body: Skeletal system

The symbol of Capricorn, the sea goat, is the odd mythical animal with the hindquarters of a fish and the front of a mountain goat. Many modern astrologers use the image of the mountain goat, or even the mountain, exclusively, as Capricorn is a cardinal earth sign, reaching for the heavens. Climbing higher-in power, stature, view, or community standing-is a pattern of Capricorn. The lessons of Capricorn include the use of ever increasing power, and learning that with such power comes responsibility. "I use" is the phrase of this sign. The knees, shins, calves, and in fact the entire skeletal system are ruled by Capricorn, giving the body the structure it needs to stand tall. At times, Capricorn can seem overburdened by responsibility and too set in structure and rules, without the ability to be flexible. The challenge is to temper responsible use of power with an understanding of each situation, and to strive to reach the highest outcome.

Aquarius Z

Symbol: The water bearer

Gender: Male

Triplicity: Fixed

Element: Air

Ruling planet: Uranus (formerly Saturn)

Colors: Dazzling blue, white

Parts of the body: Ankles

The water bearer, like many of the non-animal signs of the zodiac, is often misrepresented. One would assume that Aquarius, being a water bearer and having the word aqua in its name, would be a water sign. However, Aquarius is an air sign. It is the bearer, not the water itself. The bearer is a human being, and humans are capable of thought and speech, aspects of the mind. The waves it bears are likened to the waves of electricity, of communication systems, connecting us all invisibly. Aquarian ideas are of community, equality, brotherhood/sisterhood, and social service. Aquarius is also about being an individual, your unique self contributing to the whole. The downsides of Aquarius energy include being unique bordering on eccentric, and producing innovations that no one can understand or appreciate. Aquarius's key phrase is "I am aware" or "I know," and its body parts are the ankles.

Pisces 3E

Symbol: The twin fish

Gender: Female

Triplicity: Mutable

Element: Water

Ruling planet: Neptune (formerly Jupiter)

Colors: Sea green, sea blue, violet

Parts of the body: Feet

The twin fish, one swimming toward the heavens and the other toward Earth, are the symbol of Pisces. Seemingly incompatible, the fish represent the struggle between the ideal and the actual. Pisces qualities are idealistic, romantic, and inspirational. When reaching for the highest ideals, Pisces is the mystic, the healer, and the artist, sent to inspire all with visionary qualities. The key phrase of Pisces is "I believe" or even "I merge," to symbolize both the spiritual power of faith and the ultimate goal of merging with the one divine nature. The feet-of the traveler, the ecstatic dancer, the journeying into the mystical realms-are its body parts. Unfortunately, these visions sometimes fall short of the reality, creating a sense of disillusionment and despair. The lower qualities of Pisces include a desire to escape. Forms of escape may include addictions, from the traditional addictions of drugs and alcohol, substances that can give quick glimpses into the visionary world, to excessive television or music, ways of shunning the outside world. Those with strong Pisces energy are often very sensitive to the feelings of others and must learn to strive for their ideals while still living in the imperfect material world.

Many people resonate with the gemstones associated with their birth Sun sign. Unfortunately, this system has gone through many transitions, as different cultures associated different gems with each sign, often based on what was available to them at the time and place. The system was later adapted to birthstone months, but is truly founded in zodiac signs, not humanmade calendar months. Here is the system that I use for the zodiac gems, based on magical associations, colors, the gem's properties, and a mix of precious and semiprecious stones.

Aries: Ruby, garnet, diamond

Taurus: Emerald, rose quartz

Gemini: Agate, carnelian

Cancer: Moonstone, pearl, beryl

Leo: Citrine, topaz, diamond, amber

Virgo: Agate, sapphire

Libra: Peridot, jade

Scorpio: Diamond, obsidian, jet

Sagittarius: Sapphire, lapis, turquoise

Capricorn: Onyx, garnet, jet

Aquarius: Opal, aquamarine

Pisces: Amethyst, aquamarine

Chart 4: Gemstones of the Zodiac

Most important for day-to-day living, and the most easily noticed, are the changes of the Sun and Moon. The Moon travels through all twelve signs in under a month. Since the Moon is the planet of emotion, you may find particular signs emotionally difficult or emotionally empowering.

The Sun passes through the same twelve signs, but does so in a year's time. The Sun is less volatile and changeable than the Moon, but its energy directly influences us. The Wheel of the Year is influenced by Sun signs. The Sun changes signs on the solar holidays, moving from a mutable sign, which ends a season, to a cardinal sign, which initiates a new season. The Sun is in the middle of a fixed sign on the fire festivals.

By journaling, and using an astrological calendar, we can look for our own personal patterns and discover that the Sun or Moon in particular signs can have a strong effect on us.

Astrology readings are based on the generation of an astrological chart. The most popular reading is an interpretation of the natal chart, the chart of the sky when and where you were born. The art and science of astrology is based on the belief that the moment of your birth contains the lessons and qualities you will be working with in this lifetime. You can also glean valuable information by comparing your natal chart with another person's chart, to show the compatibilities and challenges between you and that person in relationship-including romantic, family, personal, and business areas of life. You can compare your natal chart to the current position of the planets, and see how the current forces are influencing you. Such comparisons are called transit charts. With this knowledge, you can gain a greater understanding of the forces at play and the potential spiritual lessons, challenges, and boons available to you at any time.

Interpretation of an astrology chart focuses on the planets, and what roles they are playing, as well as where they are playing them. The sky is divided into twelve sections, called houses. The houses are the areas in life where the planets play out their roles. Although there are many ways to calculate the houses, called house systems, the houses remain in relatively fixed positions in the sky. Six houses are above the horizon, and the other six are unseen, below the horizon. The first house is always on the eastern horizon. The planets and signs rotate through the houses, making each moment a slightly different alignment of planets and signs. On its daily journey, it takes the Sun roughly two hours to move through each house. Each house has a "natural" ruler, a sign that resonates with the energy of the house. For example, Aries is the sign of personal discovery, having qualities of leadership and drive. The first house is the house of self-identity. It's where you learn about yourself. But if Taurus is ruling the first house of your natal chart, your relationship with yourself will have Taurean qualities. Houses indicate "where" things occur, both in your life and in your psyche. Signs describe how things occur in the houses. They represent the process that guides the house.

The location of a planet in a sign or house can indicate characteristics of an individual, but most importantly it represents places in life where the individual invests a lot of energy, and has learning to do. "Empty" houses represent places where less energy is invested, and thus where less learning occurs.

First House: House of Self-Identity

In the first house you learn to relate to yourself and know the true you. The cusp, or edge, of the first house, the eastern horizon, is called your Ascendant. The sign of your Ascendant is also known as your rising sign, and can be the sign that influences how others view you, the mask you wear in the world. The Ascendant plays an even more significant role in how people perceive you if you were born at night, as your natal Sun is on the dark side of the planet. If you were born during the day, your Sun sign energies are more noticeable to people. If you were born at night, your Ascendant energies are more noticeable.

Second House: House of Resources

In the second house you work with material resources, and the skills, talents, and gifts that help you amass resources in the world. The second house influences the body, because your body is the first resource you have in this world, and it is through the skills you develop in your body that you earn your way in the world and gain other resources and valuables.

Third House: House of Communication

The third house involves learning to communicate in your day-today life to the people around you. It indicates how we think and how we learn. Relationships with siblings are also influenced by this house.

Fourth House: House of Family

In this house you develop your relationship with your formative family, as well as the family you create later in life, based on your childhood experiences. The fourth house is usually associated with the mother, but truly is associated with the primary caregiver or nurturer. The cusp of the fourth house is often referred to as the Nadir.

Figure 35: Twelve Houses

Fifth House: House of Children and Lovers

This is the house of ego, where you are most sensitive to others, especially your children and lovers. Here you learn about your identity in relationship to others and their feedback. Here is the house where you shine, and where you are most easily crushed and have to learn to move past ego reactions.

Sixth House: House of Service

The sixth house is where you serve on a daily basis. It represents your day-to-day work in the community. Since your work, and your relationship with it, affects your health so greatly, it is also the house of health and well-being.

Seventh House: House of Partnership

This is the realm of public relationships, and includes partnerships of all kinds, because they are publicly declared relationships. Most people think of it as the house of marriage. Private romantic relationships fall in the domain of the fifth house. When a public declaration is made, as in a marriage ceremony, it moves the relationship into the seventh house. Found opposite the Ascendant (the cusp of the first house), the cusp of the seventh house is called the Descendant.

Eighth House: House of Transformation

Here is the house where we learn to relinquish control, or at least let go of our ego's need for control, and trust in the spiritual transformation process. Medieval astrologers used to call this the house of sex, death, and taxes, because ultimately these are things we have no control over. The lessons of the eighth house provoke our transformation, and often have an element of mystery or sexuality to them.

Ninth House: House of Higher Learning

The ninth house defines higher learning, not just in an academic sense but also including philosophy, spirituality, and studying other cultures. The ninth-house challenge is to expand our viewpoint and see the potentials of the greater world. We often experience higher learning through spiritual paths or world travel.

Tenth House: House of Career

While the sixth house represents day-to-day work, the tenth represents career or vocation. The tenth house indicates our purpose, what we are here to do in the world and share with others. The cusp of the tenth house, called the Midheaven, is the midpoint of the sky. Here we find what we are learning to be in the world. Some feel that the issues of the father, or the primary earner in the family, manifest in the tenth house, being the opposite of the family/mother associations of the fourth house.

Eleventh House: House of Social Consciousness

The eleventh house is the realm of social communication and service to the greater community. It is sometimes referred to as the house of friends, because here we develop lateral relationships rather than hierarchical relationships. This is the realm of community and cooperative service.

Twelfth House: House of Merging

In this house we find divine inspiration and creativity, but also a tendency to escape from the rigors of the material world. Medieval astrologers called it the house of hidden enemies, because it indicates where we are most likely to be self-defeating. Some think of it as the house of addictions or illusions, because they are self-defeating behaviors. The twelfth house was also called the house of institutions, ruling everything from convents to mental institutions, because in both places we find the solitude for true introspection and potential merging with the divine, as well as escape from reality.

Figure 36: Twelve Houses with Their Natural Rulers

Figure 37: Twelve Houses as the Signs Rotate

A sign other than the natural ruling sign can rule a house in an actual astrological chart. In this chart, Taurus (2), the natural ruler of the second house, is on the eastern horizon, so it is ruling the first house. Here, Taurus is considered the Ascendant.

Chart interpretations vary in style, focus, and details, and can include not only the placement of a planet in a sign and house but also the various relationships, symbolized by specific angles called aspects, between the planets. By understanding the basic vocabulary and definitions, you can gain a great appreciation of astrological movements, seasonal shifts, and even astrological readings. Most people find knowledge of their Sun sign, Moon sign, and Ascendant (rising sign) to be of primary significance. Consulting a professional astrologer-particularly one with a mystical and spiritual orientation who can give you insight into your life's purpose rather than just simple predictions-can be a valuable asset on the mystical path.

Astrological Ages

We can observe the sacred cycles not only in the days of the week, lunar month, solar year, and cycle of human life, but we can find the patterns of astrology, the greater seasons of cosmic development, played out in the history of the world. Each culture marks periods of history differently, and calls them by different names. The mythologies of Greece speak of a Golden Age, and relate the time periods by metals corresponding to levels of enlightenment. Practitioners of ceremonial magic in the traditions of Aleister Crowley follow three historic epochs named for Isis, Osiris, and Horus. Our anthropologists, historians, and artists use different measuring sticks to categorize historic periods. Each of these systems measures the periods in different ways, yet all are leading to an important shift, and we are on the cusp of it. For me, the astrological calendar, using the astrological ages, has been a fascinating one to watch, and plays an important role in understanding what we now call the New Age.

Before we can understand the astrological ages, we must know that there are two distinctly different, yet related, zodiacs (figure 38). This is the biggest point of confusion and controversy. Astrology, even mythic astrology, is based on our viewpoint from the Earth, not on the reality of the solar dynamics. From our point of view, it looks like the Sun is orbiting our planet through the zodiac. Viewpoint relates to the Principle of Correspondence. Patterns repeat themselves, and it is our view of the patterns that affects us.

The word zodiac usually translates to "wheel of animals," relating to the ring of constellations through which the Sun, Moon, and other planets seem to pass, from our viewpoint on Earth. This zodiac based on stellar constellations is called the sidereal zodiac, and is used in Vedic, or Hindu, astrology. Most Westerners use the tropical zodiac, based on the ring of space around the Earth divided neatly into thirty-degree segments. The first thirty degrees of space in this wheel, after the point where the Sun is located at the vernal equinox, is Aries. The next thirty degrees is Taurus, continuing the pattern of all twelve signs. The tropical zodiac relates to the seasons on Earth rather than the actual stars.

At one point in time, the sidereal and tropical zodiacs were aligned, but due to a wobble in the Earth's axis, the stellar constellation behind the Sun on the vernal equinox slowly changed. It seemed to lose one degree every seventy-two years. While astrologers debate the exact starting and ending times of each age, it takes 2,166 years to shift from one sign to another.

This transition, called the precession of the equinoxes, has led to a theory that each age of roughly 2,000 years is dominated by the energy of the stellar, or sidereal, sign the Sun occupies during the vernal equinox. Many people believe that we as a culture are transitioning out of the Age of Pisces and into the Age of Aquarius, the New Age, with the potential from past prophecies to be a new golden age of enlightenment and peace. Astrologers argue as to when and how this could possibly manifest, but when we look at history through this astrological lens, patterns of change and development seem to be clearer in a larger context.

Figure 38: Sidereal and Tropical Zodiacs

The Age of Leo

10,966 to 8830 BCE*

Although it depends on your definition of civilization, the Age of Leo is said to be the start of what we think of as the earliest human culture and civilization. Although the Homo sapiens species evolved much earlier, the end of the last great ice Age marked the dominance of its hunter-gatherer tribal civilization, with earthen fertility goddesses and horned god consorts. Mythologically, the Age of Leo was said to mark the end of the last great civilizations and golden ages, often described as Atlantis in the Western magical traditions. Though great debate continues over the physical evidence of Atlantis, myth says that the people of this advanced culture abused their power, be it scientific or mystical, and, due to this act of ego, destroyed themselves, returning to the stone age, but the survivors planted the seeds of mystical advancement in the ancient cultures. Ego and pride are classic lessons of Leonine energy, where we ultimately learn to find self-esteem through inner identity and spiritual power rather than outer achievements.

The Age of Cancer

8830 to 6664 BCE

The sign of the Great Mother marked the rise of the goddess civilizations and the Neolithic period. The shift to the domestication of animals began, along with aspects of agriculture. The life of the nomad was replaced by the life of settled village, marking territory, land, and ultimately home, the province of Cancer. Fertility and phallic images from this time have also been found. The civilization of Crete, as well as the town of Jericho, were founded during this time period.

The Age of Gemini

6664 to 4498 BCE

During this age, the first truly accepted sense of "civilization" began. The land known as Sumer was settled. More advanced ideas, the hallmark of Gemini, were introduced to improve agriculture and irrigation. Towns and villages swelled to form cities, and the first form of urban life appeared. Language became more standardized, and the first true writing systems were created. From them developed our notions of trade and industry, ways of exchanging ideas, information, and resources. Traditional fertility cults, depicted in the Sumerian myths, still abounded, as the Goddess took more triple images as maiden, mother, and crone, or upper world, middle world, and underworld, but pantheons became more complex and worship more diverse.

The Age of Taurus

4498 to 2332 BCE

The Age of Taurus is known as the age of builders, as various cultures developed into their recognizable civilizations, including the Egyptian, Minoan, Mesopotamian, and Indian regions. The bull became a major icon, the horned God, as the Goddess's sacred consort and sacrificed lover. Mythologies and mysticism became more "solid" and stable in the minds of the people of these cultures, dividing the various gods and goddesses into pantheons that are recognizable today. The signs of the zodiac were fixed into their current system, which is still recognized by modern astrology students.

The Age of Aries

2332 to 166 BCE

Aries, as a fire sign, also has solar attributes, as the Sun is said to be exalted in Aries, meaning the energies are very harmonious and compatible. Solar religions grew to great heights in the lands of Egypt. A royal cult created by the controversial figure Akhenaton focused on the solar disc itself, as the god Aten, to the exclusion of all other gods. This first bout of monotheism did not last long, and after Akhenaton's death the old religions were reestablished. According to some biblical scholars, the rise of Abraham and then Moses occurred during this age. Abraham is known for his sacrifice of the ram to his god. The archetype of Aries is often the warrior, one who charges ahead fearlessly, and the Age of Aries was marked by the migration of warrior cultures across the European continent and the rise of empires. The Trojan War, as well as the rise of the Roman Empire, occurred during this period. Weapons of war were the technological leaps of the time, as the metal of Aries, and its ruling planet, Mars, is iron. Due to the influence of Aries' opposing sign, Libra, there also was a rise of justice and laws, arts, literacy, and language. A zodiac sign's opposing sign, its shadow, acts as its complement and will always influence its partner.

The Age of Pisces

166 BCE to approximately 2000 CE

The age that is currently ending is the age of the Fish, marked by the rise of Christianity as a dominant world power. Though most often viewed as a monotheistic religion, Christianity is also a fertility cult based around a sacrificed god figure, who is both the redeemer and healer. Though Christ is one of the final expressions of the theme, the seeds of the sacrificed-god archetype were planted with Dumuzi, Tammuz, Osiris, Dionysus, and Mithras. On the highest level, Pisces is the mystic, merging with the divine and returning to the world with great healing power, insight, and inspiration for all. Ideally, with this insight comes a sense of spiritual, unconditional love, which really is the highest expression of Christianity. The other side of Pisces is institutions, confinement, seeking escape, romanticism, fanaticism, disillusionment, and addiction. We have also seen expressions of these over the last two thousand years. Great advancements in philosophy, science, and politics have occurred, truly with divine inspiration, but the shadow of Pisces is also present in this age. It is interesting how the sign of the Fish-which is actually the sacred-geometry form of the vesica pisces, two interlocked circles creating an "eye"-became the symbol of Jesus and Christianity, as it is the herald of the Age of Pisces, the sign of the Fish.

Figure 39: Vesica Pisces

The Age of Aquarius

2000 (approximately) to 4166 CE

This is the coming age surrounded by much prophecy and excitement. Some think it is the end of the world, but in many ways it is the end of a world, and the start of another, meaning the start of another world consciousness. No one agrees when the new age really starts, since the time span is so large from a human perspective. Years such as 1905, 1969, 1972, 1987, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2020, and 2080 have been given. I think that, like all shifts, the change will be powerful but initially subtle, though Aquarian qualities can shock and surprise everybody, defying expectations. Aquarian qualities at their highest include a universal equality, a sense of kindred sisterhood/brotherhood, the removal of hierarchies in favor of lateral relationships, community service, true friendship, a celebration of diversity and individuality, revolution, and innovation on the technological and spiritual planes leading to a utopian society or another golden age of peace and prosperity on all levels. Though these are the highest ideals, Aquarian energy struggles with individuality versus the needs of the whole, being eccentric and unable to relate to others, and creating sudden changes that are often violent, whether natural earth changes or uprisings and military revolutions. Because of this, there are an equal number of prophecies of violence and destruction surrounding the New Age, though the general mystical belief is that we create our own reality. If we raise our consciousness to a higher state, we will avoid such difficulties. If we do not, they will be the vehicle by which we learn how to realize Aquarian energy. The blessings and challenges of an age often manifest simultaneously, and pragmatic mystics are well advised to keep that in mind, rather than looking to be rescued by other divine or extraterrestrial beings. The Aquarian current is about taking responsibility for ourselves yet being part of a larger community, uniquely contributing to the greater whole. Utopia will come only if we work for it.

Western astrology is not the only model of sacred calendars and sacred ages. Eastern astrology, from the Chinese zodiac to Vedic astrology, plays a prominent part in sacred timekeeping. Vedic astrology divides the great ages a bit differently, calling them yugas. The great ages also appear in a variety of indigenous tribal lore. The Hopi have the story of many worlds. Their myths closely parallel the mythic history of the Aztecs and Mayans, who have intricate timekeeping systems that are growing in modern awareness and popularity. The sacred Mayan calendar is said to be one of the most accurate and complex systems; it can accurately predict the solar sun spot cycles, something that modern scientists only recently discovered.

EXERCISE

Balancing the Day

Tribal people all over the world honor not only the four sacred directions but also the four sacred times-dawn, noon, dusk, and midnight. Classically, they are magical times between the worlds, when faeries and otherwordly Witches can be glimpsed. Each relates to one of the four directions. Dawn is associated with east, and often the element of air, beginning the day, although some traditions put the rising Sun with fire. Noon relates to the south, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. Most think of the hot noon Sun as relating to fire, and the further south you go in the Northern Hemisphere, the warmer it gets. Some think of the south as the direction of air, for the wide open sky. West is the direction of sunset, the land of endings, relating to the realm of water. Magically, water is associated with the west, even for people on an east coast, because water relates to the dead, to the ancestors, and the sunset relates to the land of the ancestors. The Sun "dies" and goes to the underworld. Midnight relates to the north, and most often to the element of earth.

I have honored the four points of the day in my own practice with the following poetry. It continues to evolve and change as I do.

Dawn (Waking)

East

To the powers of the east I feel the call of the rising Sun I ask that your breath fill me up And guide my thoughts.

Midday

South

To the powers of the south I feel the essence of the midday Sun I ask that your fire fill me up And guide my soul.

Sunset

West

To the powers of the west I feel the call of the twilight Sun I ask that your waves fill me up And guide my heart.

Midnight (Bedtime)

North

To the powers of the north I feel the call of the midnight Sun I ask that your soil fill me up And guide my body.

Find your own way to honor the four times of day. If you are not conscious at dawn and/or midnight, count waking up as your dawn and going to sleep as your midnight. Face the direction at the appropriate time, and think of its qualities and powers. Take time to give thanks to the divine. Some traditions have elaborate poetry, but you can simply say or think whatever is in your heart at the time. The important thing is to take time out of your day for the sacred times.

The ancient calendar keepers, be they Western, Eastern, old world or new, understood the power of time and its relationship to the flow of mystical energy, and used it to their advantage, for their own evolution and expansion. Time, space, dimension, and vibration are only a few of the markers we have for understanding and exploring the universe around us, on all levels.

FOUR

EXPLORINCj OURSELVES

8

gOINq WITHIN

Through understanding the magical maps of the universe, and the symbol systems used by mystics, we gain the foundational skills to walk the magical path. By understanding traditional views on the universe, we understand ourselves, fulfilling the "as above, so below" teaching. We can put the esoteric concepts into practice. Ultimately, building a closer relationship with the divine means you come into a closer relationship with yourself. By building a closer relationship with yourself, you find your own divine center and can more easily find the divine in everyone and everything else.

Meditation

Regardless of the tradition, meditation is a key to greater spiritual awareness. Each tradition thinks of meditation in different ways. Particular differences arise between Eastern and Western traditions, but ultimately, each definition, and each technique, serves the same purpose: mastering consciousness.

Meditation simply means contemplation. Meditation is a method of altering consciousness through contemplation on a focus. Our brain waves are measured at various states of mind. Beta level is thirteen to sixteen hertz, or brain-wave cycles per second. We call beta level our normal waking consciousness. By consciously shifting our brain waves into states other than our normal waking state, we create opportunities for inner awareness, psychic experience, magic, and spiritual epiphanies. Alpha level, measured at eight to thirteen hertz, is associated with daydreaming but also with creative visualization and psychic experience. Theta, the next lower state, measured at four to eight hertz, is a place of deep journey and meditation. The lowest level, delta, measured at four or less hertz, is a place of deep sleep or coma. Some mystics consciously penetrate these deep areas during meditation.

The various meditation techniques give us a focus. The focus of thought allows a shift in brain waves. Through this contemplation we can learn many things. Each level of consciousness can unlock various mysteries. Each practitioner's experience will be different, and will grow and develop over time, but some of the common basic experiences include the following.

Mind-Body Connection

The relationship between the mind and the body is demonstrated during meditation. By changing the focus of your thoughts, your body and its systems naturally change in accordance with your thoughts. When your thoughts are agitated, excited, nervous, or angry, your body reacts in an equivalent manner. When you focus your thoughts on rhythm and relaxation, your body responds in kind. Improving health through meditation occurs through this connection.

Mind-Emotion Connection

Many people think they are subject to the whims of their emotions, which they believe to be entirely beyond their control or influence. Though some people are more easily influenced than others, we all have the ability to alter our emotions, through control of our thoughts. When learning meditation techniques, you learn to focus your mind, and see how it changes your mood. You can bring the techniques into your daily life by using them to focus through emotional situations. This doesn't mean that you don't feel the emotions, or that you deny them, but that you have a measure of control in responding to them, rather than being subject to seemingly uncontrollable emotional reactions.

Consciousness Control

Through the awareness of the mind's connection to the body and emotions, a practitioner naturally learns how to shift consciousness when appropriate. With meditation techniques, by literally using your mind and will, you can alter your brain waves and move between various levels of consciousness. You can use the techniques to ground yourself when you feel flighty or spacey, to enter the creative or intuitive state of alpha brain waves, or to get into a deeper trance. You can alter your point of view, entering a form of "witness consciousness" where you observe your own behavior and thoughts and can consciously change them to suit your own personal goals. Magical practitioners can enter a state of consciousness where they have a greater awareness of energy and more acute psychic impressions, and can project their will to create change in their lives.

Figure 40: Magician Tarot Card from Lo Scarabeo's Universal Tarot

The True Nature of Consciousness

The greatest gift that comes from practicing both Eastern and Western meditation techniques is understanding the true nature of consciousness. As a practitioner, you will come to the realization that "you" are having the thoughts, but "you" are not the thoughts. So many people identify with their mind, mental body, or ego. We even have the philosophical saying "I think, therefore I am." Untrue. You are having thoughts. Your mental body is a possession of the true you, the spiritual you, the soul, or higher self. The true you owns your mind, and your emotions, as much as your body. They are all temples that house and express "you," but they are extensions. They are not more you than your car or your house. Because we live in a society that closely identifies with acquiring material possessions, it is even harder to embody this concept. Western magic has four sacred tools-the wand, sword, cup, and disc; but the true spiritual self-the will, mind, heart, and body owns these four tools. The imagery in the Magician card of the tarot displays this truth. One popular saying that embodies the true nature of consciousness is: "You are a spiritual being having a human experience, not a human being having a spiritual experience." Your true identity includes the human realm, but is much larger and vaster than it.

Unity

Meditation practitioners often come to a state of consciousness, both in and out of the meditative state, pervaded by a sense of unity and connection to all things seen and unseen. It brings a sense of truly knowing that we are all connected, that we always have been and always will be. The Hindus call this seeing through Maya, or illusion, that we are separate, and recognizing the truth of our unity. You can learn this principle intellectually, but until you experience it, it is meaningless.

How you come to these realizations is different with each form of meditation. The forms do not have to be mutually exclusive. I practice both Western and Eastern forms of meditation, and use various techniques, but it's good to stick with one technique for a while and get some benefit from it. Many people give up on meditation too easily. They think that something is "supposed to happen," and when an amazing spiritual experience doesn't occur the first day, week, or even month, they quit. As with all disciplines, the benefits of meditation take time to manifest, and are different for everybody. The purpose of meditation is to focus and clear the mind, which will automatically bring benefits. Some people have transcendental visions or epiphanies, but that is not the goal of meditation. Many feel that meditation has no goal, that it is an experience for the sake of the experience, which is like saying the path is about the journey and not the destination.

Though for simplicity's sake we divide many of the meditation techniques into perceived Eastern and Western styles and divisions, such divisions are not clear-cut. Various traditions use a combination of all these techniques, or even define them very differently. In the end, what's important is to find the spiritual techniques that suit your own mystic path and tradition.

Eastern meditation techniques focus on clearing the mind. Through a sense of quiet stillness, what is described as an emptiness, the gifts of the universe flow. Many say the difference between Eastern and Western meditation techniques is that the East turns the mind inward on the self while the West turns the mind outward, though this is not entirely true. Both have their inner and outer tools. The focus is no thought, just pure consciousness. The mind's chatter is quieted by a focus, such as counting the breaths or repeating a mantra.

The first meditation technique I learned was a simple breath count. While breathing slowly and deeply, you count eight breaths and then begin again. In other styles, you count how many seconds you inhale, hold, then exhale. I learned the eight-four-eight breath, in which you inhale for a silent count of eight, hold for a silent count of four, exhale for a silent count of eight, then repeat. You focus on the breath and count, and nothing else. You exhale all stray, unwanted thoughts until it is just you and the breath.

Mantras are words and phrases, often in a "sacred" language, that are said out loud or internally, with the intention of altering consciousness. The word or phrase is used to direct the consciousness and hold the attention to one focus. Repeating a mantra-either out loud, with or without a specific melody, or internally, using the mind-is a method of directing consciousness. Mantras are used in devotional meditations, healing, and what some might consider magic, to create a change, such as manifesting prosperity or love in the user's life.

While the term mantra is usually associated with Buddhist and Hindu traditions, the concept of sacred words of power is found in many ancient cultures and systems of mysticism. Unlike affirmations, which are simply intentional phrases, many believe the very structure of sacred words and phrases-the sounds they make and the way the mouth forms and the tongue moves to pronounce them-contributes to their mystical power. Studies show that the way the tongue strikes the palette can have a healing response much like reflexology.

Some people feel the mantras themselves are divine powers. Others believe mantras are the names, the vibrational energies, of particular gods and creative forces, and when chanted, they control those entities. There is a long-standing tradition that says if you have the "true name" of something, you have power and control over it. Others see mantras as prayers to the divine forces, and by resonating with those forces, you can create change.

Though most mantras come from a language associated with a mystic tradition, modern mystics use their own names, either their given birth name or their spiritual name, as the focus for their mantra meditations. In some forms of meditation, such as Transcendental Meditation, or TM, the practitioner is given a special mantra that is not to be shared with others. Most mantra systems allow the sharing of mantras, believing that each mantra works effectively for everybody.

Bija, or seed mantras, are used to build larger mantras. Each of the seven chakras is said to have a seed mantra, the sound that is at the core of the chakra when it is healthy and balanced. By reciting a seed mantra, you align with the chakra's power. Some systems disagree on the exact mantras for the upper chakras.

Figure 41: Om Symbol

AUM, or OM, is probably the most popular mantra. Said to be the sound of creation, everything resonates with AUM. The three distinct sounds of A-U-M are said to stand for the three principles of creation, sustenance, and destruction, which are embodied by the Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

Here are some mantras used for manifestation, focusing on the divine feminine.

OM GUM GANAPATAYEI NAMAHA

(Om Gum Guh-nuh-puh-tuh-yeah Nahm-ah-ha)

Mantra to Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, to remove all obstacles from one's path.

OM SHRIM MAHA LAKSHMIYEI SWAHA

(Om Shreem Mah-ha Laksh-mee-yeah Swah-ha)

Mantra to salute Lakshmi, the great goddess of abundance.

OM SHRIM SIDDHAYE NAMAHA

(Om Shreem Sid-hah-yea Nahm-ah-ha)

Mantra to salute the Goddess who releases the inner magical powers.

OM DUM DURGAYEI NAMAHA

(Om Doom Door-Gah-Yei Nahm-ah-ha)

Mantra to salute the goddess Durga, the divine protectress.

Kundalini yoga uses a series of mantras, usually in the language of Ghurmeki, used by the Sikhs. The translations are not always precise, but are said to convey an energy that is not always bound by earthly languages. Here are a few of my favorites from the kundalini tradition.

SAT NAM

This is the seed mantra most often used in kundalini yoga. It means "true name." You recite "SAT" on the in breath and "NAM" on the out breath, silently, while exercising. This mantra aligns your personal identity with your divine self.

ONG NAMO, GURU DEV NAMO

This is the mantra used at the start of every kundalini yoga session. Its purpose is to help you tune in to your higher self and the great "golden chain" of kundalini yoga teachers of the past. Through it, you are calling upon divine wisdom and your inner teacher.

SA TA NA MA

This mantra is said to embody the primal powers of the universe. The first syllable stands for infinity, the second for life, the third for death, and the fourth for rebirth. This is often done with the hand movement, or muddra, of the first finger and thumb when reciting SA, thumb and second finger for TA, thumb and third finger for NA, and thumb and pinky for MA, repeated over and over again.

AD GURAY NAMEH, JUGAD GURAY NAMEH, SAT GURAY NAMEH, SIRI GURU DEVAY NAMEH

This mantra is a chant of reverence, meaning the reciter of it bows to the primal guru, the inner teacher, to the ancient wisdom of the ages, to true wisdom, to the unseen wisdom. For practical purposes, it is a chant of protection, and is said to surround the aura with light.

RA MA DA SA, SA SAY SO HUNG

This mantra is a chant for healing. The syllables embody the primal powers. RA stands for the Sun, MA is for the Moon, DA represents the Earth, and SA is infinity. These four are known as the Earth mantra. The final four syllables, known as the Ether mantra, mean "Total infinity, I am thou."

WAHE GURU, WAHE GURU, WAHE GURU, WAHEJEEO

This mantra elevates the spirit, putting you in touch with the ecstasy of your inner teacher and pure divine consciousness.

EK ONG KAR, SAT NAM, SIRI WHA HE GURU

This mantra awakens the kundalini and brings the mind to bliss. A combination of many powerful words, it is said to mean "There is one Creator whose name is Truth. Great is the ecstasy of that Supreme Wisdom."

GOBINDE, MUKUNDE, UDARE, APARE, HARING, KARING, NIRNAME, AKAME

This mantra means "Sustainer, liberator, enlightener, infinite, destroyer, creator, nameless, desireless." It balances the right and left sides of the brain, and aligns the brain and heart to unite with the infinite creator.

ADI SHAKTI, ADI SHAKTI, ADI SHAKTI, NAMO NAMO, SARAB SHAKTI, SARAB SHAKTI, SARAB SHAKTI, NAMO NAMO, PRITHUM BHAGAWATI, PRITHUM BHAGAWATI, PRITHUM BHAGAWATI, NAMO NAMO, KUNDALINI, MATA SHAKTI, MATA SHAKTI, NAMO, NAMO

The First Shakti Mantra attunes the user to the power of the Divine Mother. It is protective, but it also generates energy. It is the primal power and is used to create your life and fulfill your desires. This mantra is also said to eliminate fear.

Here are some other popular mantras.

OM MA NI PAD ME HUM

(Om Mah Nee Pahd May Hum)

This mantra is the best-known Tibetan Buddhist chant, originating in India. Though most often translated as "Behold the Jewel in the Lotus," the mantra is really beyond those simple words, and contains a deeper meaning and teaching that cannot be translated into English but only experienced through using the mantra in your spiritual practice.

BA BAK BENNU

A mantra attributed to the Egyptians and used in Egyptian-influenced New Age circles, the term Ba is depicted as part of the soul, according to the Egyptians, and symbolized as a bird like a dove. Bak is symbolized by a hawk, and stands for the physical body, while the Bennu bird, in this phrase, means the phoenix, symbolizing the transformed or transcendent consciousness.

Traditionally, mantras, particularly Eastern mantras, are recited in multiples of three. Three, nine, thirty-three, and 108 repetitions are not uncommon. Sometimes a set of beads, known as mala beads, are used, consisting of 108 beads, with one head bead known as the "sumeru." Traditionally, you hold the beads in your right hand, index finger extended. You either can hang the mala between the thumb and the ring finger, and use the second finger to rotate one bead at a time, toward yourself, or you can hang the mala on the middle finger, and use the thumb to rotate one bead at a time, toward yourself. One bead is moved for each complete mantra recited. The index finger never touches the beads. You start on the summit, or head bead, and end never crossing over the sumeru. If you choose to do more than one round of 108 mantras, you turn the mala around and proceed in the reverse direction. The mala can be worn as a piece of spiritual jewelry, bringing its vibration to your daily life. Some feel the mala you use in daily meditation should never be displayed to others, and should be kept in a separate bag.

Catholics will mention that the mala bears a striking resemblance to the rosary, but the use of prayer beads in many cultures and traditions is ancient. Witches have a similar practice of using the Witch's ladder to recite incantations. Mantras are not restricted to the unfamiliar syllables of the Eastern world. Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and even English prayers and phrases can have similar effects and benefits.

Other forms of Eastern meditation techniques include physical yogic exercises and martial arts. The focus is brought to the body, and the connection between the body and mind. Often our mind tells us we can't do something physically that in truth we can do, if we move past the mind and into our divine consciousness. Such physical activities give us an opportunity to move past the mind. These discipline traditions provide far more than physical exercise or even mental fortitude, and embody a rich spiritual wisdom.

Western meditation techniques are more directed and conscious. Instead of focusing on clearing the mind and using repetition to get into that pure, empty state, Western techniques use directed and guided visualizations and intentions to occupy the mind and move past stray, unwanted thoughts.

The basic meditation in these traditions, taught in both modern ceremonial magic and modern Paganism, is focusing on the light of a candle. You sit in a darkened room and stare at a candle flame, directing your attention to the flame to the exclusion of all else. Some traditions have you then close your eyes, and re-create the image in your mind's eye, focusing on it clearly and making its inner manifestation more and more real. This prepares you for deeper visualization experiences.

Such guided meditations are often called pathworkings, based on the concept of the Qabalistic Tree of Life, diagramming ten states of consciousness, with twenty-two "paths" linking them. Each path has associated images, letters, and even a pictorial "key" in the form of a tarot card from the deck's Major Arcana. This information is used to connect the two levels of consciousness. Contemplation of the images and symbols of the path gives rise to a meditative experience, leading from one level of consciousness to the next.

The word pathworking has been applied to all manner of guided imagery meditations using sacred or mythic images but not necessarily directly related to the Qabalistic Tree of Life. Basically, a general set of images that are archetypal in nature, drawn from traditional lore, are suggested, either self-suggested to the more experienced practitioner, or guided by a teacher or even a recording. The spontaneous images that occur symbolically reveal clues to the issues at hand that the practitioner needs to work on, and may provide information on how to work with this knowledge.

For example, if the meditation guides you down through a cave tunnel to take you to your sacred temple, and once you get there, it's on fire, think about what fire could mean to you. Is it aflame with your divine will and light? Is it burning with your anger? What does it feel like? You might not even "see" it clearly, but simply know or feel what is happening. If you ask for help and see a large pen that is spraying water like a hose, and it succeeds in putting out some of the flame, you might construe that writing would be a way to resolve your anger issues.

Other times, these psychic archetypal scenes are areas not only to interact with our own consciousness but to act as launch pads for spiritual journeys and common rooms to meet with nonphysical beings.

Eastern techniques may focus on a visual, such as a sacred symbol or yantra, or use guided imagery when relaxing or focusing on the chakras. Some techniques do not fall clearly on either side of East or West. The repetitive drumming and dancing of shamans and ecstatic cults contain elements of both traditions. These techniques seem wilder and less physically and mentally disciplined than those of the East, but lead to "no thought." They use symbols and imagery of many Western traditions, such as visualizing a great world tree connecting all realms, yet they are not guided in specific steps, but are freeform. Some would argue that such techniques are not contemplative enough to be meditations, and are more magical or mystical rituals.

EXERCISE

Meditation

You have already done some pathworkings, or visualizations, more in harmony with the Western traditions, in chapters 5 and 6. Though such experiences can be quite wonderful and informative, and grant you a firsthand experiential understanding of the paradigm from which the visualization is drawn, they might not lead to the discipline, awareness, and awakening of a consistent meditation practice. You can learn to integrate meditation into your daily regime by practicing it regularly and applying its wisdom to your everyday life.

To help you build this discipline, I suggest you take some time to work with a more contemplative technique. Choose either the simple breath count meditation or the eight-four-eight breath on page 131, or the candle-staring meditation on pages 135 and 136. Set a timer. Start with two minutes. This may not seem like a long time, but it can be. Practice the meditation for two minutes and see how you do. Can you remained focused and clear, or do a lot of stray thoughts manifest? Don't worry if they do, and don't be mad at yourself for not being perfect. Clearing your consciousness is part of the process. The practice is what helps. If you were perfect at it, you wouldn't need a meditation practice. Few people are perfect at anything, but it's the experience that counts.

Perform your timed meditation regularly, and try to lengthen it a little bit each time. You will develop your focus and meditation skills, as well as patience. As you become more and more successful, you will get to a state of "no time," where your perception of time alters with your consciousness. What was once an exceedingly long period of time will seem to be over quickly, because you will truly be in the moment, not thinking about the past or worrying about the future.

You might be tempted to omit this type of contemplative exercise from your mystical routines, because it is not as flashy as some of the others. You might feel it is too basic, particularly if you had vivid experiences in the earlier pathworking exercises in chapters 5 and 6. Those exercises were designed primarily to illustrate the teachings in those chapters, but the foundation of a life-changing meditation practice starts with simple contemplative exercises.

9

DEVELOPING INTUITION

One of the greatest benefits of regular meditation is an increase in the faculty of intuition. Many people notice this effect of meditation almost immediately. Their increased universal awareness has an added practical benefit of helping them make decisions and be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. Doors seem to open that were always closed before. In fact, many people who seek to develop their psychic abilities are told to learn to meditate first.

The connection between meditation and psychic ability is strong, but not obvious to most people. So many think that psychic ability is some kind of super power, reserved for the rare individual, and that most of us mere mortals are not capable of it. In true mystical wisdom, the psyche is the soul, the divine inner wisdom that each of us possesses. In the modern medical context, it has been reduced to the mind, and is the root of our mental disciplines of psychology and psychiatry. But the psyche is not the mind, and its original lore is rooted in much of the mystical and intuitive goddess-born wisdom.

When people say they are psychic, they really mean they can listen to this inner wisdom, they can listen to the voice of their soul. We all have this divine essence. When we slow down long enough to tune in to it and find the unique way that it communicates with us, then we become more intuitive.

Psychic Ability

A lot of fancy names have been used to describe psychic "powers." They are simply ways of describing how the psyche communicates with you. Clairvoyance means seeing psychically. Someone with developed psychic sight might see people's auras as color, see spirits, or have visions of the past, present, and future. Clairaudience means psychic hearing. Many think of it as the still voice within us. Clairaudients can hear the voices of spiritual beings as well as their own inner voice. They might hear vibrations, and the tone, pitch, and quality can be indicative of the situation. Haunted houses might have a high, piercing psychic background noise, while sacred earth sites have a low hum. At times the energetic vibration is perceived as literal sound through the ears, but most times it is an inner sound, much like when you remember a sound, voice, or song with your inner ear. Psychic impressions can be translated as music. Certain kinds of music mean different things. Harmonious music identifies harmonious energy, and discordant music symbolizes discordant energy. Some mediums report hearing high bells when making contact with spirits. Some practitioners have developed both gifts, seeing and hearing things psychically.

All the physical senses can be conduits for psychic information. Although some practitioners have difficulty distinguishing psychic sight and hearing from physical sight and hearing, in general the impressions are usually more subtle and sometimes vague. You are not using your physical eyes and ears, but your psychic equivalents. Others use their sense of smell, touch, or taste to receive psychic impressions. I once knew a healer who would psychically "smell" people, and the scents were symbols for various states of health and illness. Someone who carried the psychic scent of roses was healthy and spiritual, while the person with the scent of gasoline was sick. The people didn't literally smell of those substances. The scents were just a way that this healer's psychic mind communicated with her. Though all five physical senses can be conduits for psychic impressions, sight and hearing are the most common.

Clairsentience means psychic knowing, and doesn't involve sight, hearing, or any other sense. One simply knows the information. Often this sense of knowing is like a gut feeling that needs to be translated into words. Other times the ideas and words are present in the mind, though they were not heard or seen; they simply became present. Some psychics call this ability "the knowing."

In my experience, psychic ability can be developed by anybody. Some people have natural ability, while others struggle. Like any art or skill, those with natural gifts can develop them even further. Developing psychic abilities can help a person develop relationships with spirit guides and develop deeper meditation skills for problem solving and healing.

Those without natural psychic gifts may not become amazingly proficient, but can develop basics skills. I can learn to play basketball and develop the skills necessary to enjoy the game, but I will never play for the NBA. It's not my calling, just as being a professional psychic is not for everybody, yet everybody can learn the basics if they want. Psychic skills can be quite helpful in life, and fun.

I've noticed that many students have a "grass is greener" attitude when it comes to how their psychic abilities manifest. Those who see visions are upset that they don't hear any messages. Those who get messages wonder whom they are coming from, because they can't see anything. Both skills can be developed, but in the end, it doesn't really matter how you receive the information. Is the experience helpful, no matter how the information comes to you? That is the important question. Everybody thinks they are missing out on the experience if it is not exactly like their friend's experience. Everyone is unique, and works with his or her intuition in unique ways. That is a wonderful part of the mystic's gift.

EXERCISE

The Psychic Game

The "psychic game" is not a specific exercise, but something to incorporate into your life. It works best if you have a friend or companion you see often who is also interested in psychic development.

Simply take every opportunity you can to practice quieting yourself and listening to your first intuition regarding any matter. Play the game with inconsequential situations. When the phone rings, psychically ask yourself who it is, and then pick it up. Right or wrong, it doesn't matter, but as you develop your skills, you might find more right "guesses" and know that your intuition is developing. Ask yourself how many phone messages are waiting for you when you get home, or if your bus/ train is running on schedule before you get to the station. Ask yourself if there will be a wait at a restaurant where you want to dine.

As you become aware of feelings, quick flashes of vision, or quiet voices within you, notice what happens when you follow them, and when you don't. I used to be really bad about listening to my inner wisdom about driving and taking different roads. I would pick the shortest route, even if my intuition said to go another way. Each time I would end up in a traffic jam and then be late for my appointment.

None of these examples are that important, but paying attention to them will help you develop your skills for more important situations and learn to recognize the feeling of a psychic impression, versus one of your own hopes or fears. These inconsequential games have no great emotional charge to them, so you will learn how to filter out the strong emotions that can cloud your psychic impressions. Regular meditation helps clear the mind and emotions for a clearer "signal" as well. That is one of the main reasons that meditation is so helpful. Play games to see how psychic you are when you are meditating regularly, and when you are not. Think of the game as practice, honing your skills like any athlete, artist, or musician.

Many people think that developing psychic ability is a power trip, for those who desire to be special. Some people seek to develop their psychic ability because they think it will give them an advantage over others.

The best reason to develop your psychic ability is for spiritual advancement. We talk grandly about how all things, people, places, and times are connected, yet if you don't have a personal experience of this connection, then it is just simply an idea. When you are able to get information about someone or something of which you have no linear knowledge, you realize how connected you are. When you can affect something or someone beyond the normal channels that modern science readily accepts, you feel this connection. The more you make such realizations a part of your everyday life and outlook, the more you will live like you are connected to everything else.

Western mystic traditions often encourage the development of psychic abilities in moderation, to demonstrate these truths. We need such proof to help fuel our mystical quest, particularly because most of us, myself included, come from a skeptical background.

In Eastern traditions, particularly of India, such abilities are considered to be the natural byproducts of spiritual evolution. As you develop spiritually, your psychic abilities grow. These psychic talents, called sidhis in the Hindu traditions, are greatly detailed and catalogued. If you focus on the psychic abilities, however, rather than the spiritual quest, they will become a distraction and even a hindrance to your quest for enlightenment. You can become seduced by your growing power, and forget that it was a desire for spiritual awareness that helped you gain that power in the first place.

I suggest striking a balance between the Eastern and Western views on psychic development, knowing they both have lessons to share with us. For me, psychic development was a big part of my awakening to spirituality, beyond the dogma of religion. It has helped me greatly on my mystical path. But I know the focus is not on perfecting or increasing my psychic abilities. I still have a fairly normal life and can relate to people who are more mainstream or conventional. As I develop in knowledge and awareness, I am sure I am receptive enough to the messages and experiences I need without having to be a super psychic. In the end, psychic development is a practical exercise for me.

Divination

Many people, regardless of their psychic ability, use tools as triggers for their ability. These tools are used in divination. Divination simply means "to make divine," and popularly refers to techniques to know the past, present, and future, or divine guidance, when making a decision. Divination is truly a way of getting divine advice, though most people think of it as fortunetelling.

The simplest divination tools are usually yes/no devices. The pendulum, a weight on the end of a string or chain, is used as an interface with your psychic ability, or perhaps even your spiritual allies, to gain answers. The answers usually come in a yes/no format. Tradition says a clockwise motion of the pendulum means yes, while counterclockwise means no, though I have found that different people, and different pendulums, behave differently. If you use a pendulum to connect to a specific spirit or guide, the yes and no responses can be different from your usual ones as well. The best thing to do is to start your session by asking for a yes answer, then a no answer. The pendulum can be developed into a more sophisticated device, often with place cards with a spectrum of answers, and the motion will point to the appropriate answer.

A pendulum with a place card is similar to a Ouija board. The Ouija board is surrounded by much fear and misunderstanding. It is another interface, like the pendulum, but it is used specifically to connect with nonphysical entities. A planchette is moved across a board, pointing to yes or no, or specific letters and numbers to spell out responses to questions. The concept behind it is that the spirit helps guide the planchette to answer your questions.

The technique came into fashion at the turn of the twentieth century, as mediumship and spiritualism gained popularity. Technically, the term Ouija belongs to Parker Brothers, which holds the trademark for the term, but it has been used generically for any spirit talking board. The commercial board and planchette set originated in 1890 with Elijah Bond and Charles Kennard, who patented the first board. William Fuld, an employee of Kennard, later started his own board line under the name "Ouija." Fuld's estate sold it to Parker Brothers. It's important to realize that the techniques behind this method of communication predate the modern spiritualism movement, though the development of a commercial product rose from the interest and experimentation that spiritualism encouraged among the public.

Many people tried to use the Ouija board as a way to speak to the dead. Though it has been demonized by the media, it is just a game, manufactured by game companies. Most serious spirit guides are not attracted to it, or they see it as a game, not a tool of spirituality. It usually attracts lower spirits-spirits that are not necessarily evil, but not necessarily wise or serious either, accounting for the vague and jumbled answers most people receive when using it. I know that in my own experiments, my friends, fellow mystics, and I received vague answers when using it. Then we did a ritual of purification and protection, to banish all unhealthy, unbalanced spirits, and the board went dead. We couldn't get any of our regular spirit guides to communicate through it. I think other, less sensational techniques are best for spiritual work, but don't be afraid of the Ouija board. Just don't take it too seriously.

I've had the best luck using pendulums with the simple yes/no response rather than the more complicated cards, but the pendulum is not my favorite tool. If you explore divination tools, you will find the ones that work best for you.

Another form of divination that can yield similar results is muscle testing, also known as applied kinesiology. Through a series of movements, you test the strength or weakness of the body in a gentle manner, to connect with the body's wisdom. Muscle testing was initially used by practitioners to test medicines and holistic remedies, to see what strengthened the body and what weakened it. When the body is strengthened, the response is taken as a yes, or positive response, and when the body is weakened, it is taken as a no, or negative response. The technique was refined for solo use, to connect with the intuitive gut wisdom of the body, and even as a vehicle to communicate with spirit guides. The yes/ no response went beyond just finding out what is good for the body in terms of physical health, and became a medium to interface with higher wisdom and spiritual guides.

The simplest yes/no divination device is a coin toss. When using coins, pendulums, and even Ouija boards, I suggest that you spiritually cleanse these tools and then say a blessing or prayer that they be used for the highest good, and that they answer truly.

More symbolic forms of divination exist, allowing the information received to be much broader than a simple message or yes/no answer. The problem lies in how the broader message is interpreted. Symbolic divination basically comes in two forms: freeform symbolism and a traditional symbol system.

Freeform symbol divination is done by getting into a light altered state and staring at a reflective surface or changing pattern that can suggest a variety of shapes. Such systems were at one time done with animal entrails. An animal was sacrificed, and its innards were spilled out onto the altar and examined. Originally it was an act done when a tribe moved into an area, to see if the land could support and maintain the health of the animal, or if the animal was ill. Later, the shapes suggested in the symbolism of the various organs became a method of divination. Most mystics do not perform animal sacrifice today for divination.

Gazing at floating tea leaves or coffee grounds, clouds, or oil/wax in water can suggest shapes. Also used are reflective surfaces, such as a crystal ball, blacked mirror, bowl of water, or still pool. When divining in reflective surfaces, the act is often called scrying, or skrying, as the surface is believed to be opening a window into the astral world, or providing a space for you to project your mind's eye. Some people even scry in fire, smoke, or tapestry patterns.

If you ask a question about money, and you see a crown, dollar sign, or coin in the shapes, then the answer is probably beneficial to you. If you see an empty bowl or a house collapse, then the answer is probably negative. The answers are symbolic, but the issue becomes one of interpretation. With a trained meditative mind, you can learn to separate your own strong emotions, desires, and fears from your reading, to avoid coloring the information and interpretation. If you can't do this, then you should seek out another practitioner. In general, you can get more psychic impressions and specific information for others when you are not attached to their situation and outcome. That is the reason that many say you should not do divinations for yourself. I don't agree, but I think you have to learn to separate yourself and become detached from your expectations. Seeing other practitioners is very helpful at times, but you can learn to do divination for yourself. The fixed systems are often more helpful for self-divination.

Fixed systems of divination include the tarot, runes, and I Ching. Each is a complex system associated with the mystical powers of the universe, as conceived by a specific time and culture. Each key-card, rune, or hexagram-has a specific cultural meaning, though its meaning in relationship to your question is open to interpretation. The cultural associations and traditional meanings make it harder for you to project your fears or desires into the reading, though it's not impossible. The drawback is that it can give less personal information. Layouts of the symbols can give you the context from which the information can be taken. Layouts often include spaces for the past, present, and future.

Figure 42: I Ching Hexagram

Figure 43: Rune

Many psychics use the symbols as a psychic springboard. They might disregard the traditional meanings of the system and focus on whatever symbol is suggested, and allow a chain of associations to give them a psychic impression.

For example, the Fool in the tarot is traditionally depicted with a small dog at his feet. If, during a reading, you look at the dog and think, "Shepherd-Thigh-Sick," without censoring yourself or breaking the chain, you might then ask your client if he or she has a Shepherd dog with an injured leg. The card really has nothing to do with dogs, legs, or health, but since that image association suggested itself to you through the card, it might be completely accurate, even though it sounds crazy. The card acts as a springboard for psychic intuition through word and image associations.

Figure 44: Fool Tarot Card from Lo Scarabeo's Universal Tarot

Augury is a form of divination between the fluid and fixed symbolism, in which meaning is taken from seeing natural occurrences, such as the flight of birds. Each type of bird, and the number of birds counted, has a specific meaning in the tradition, though traditions and meanings vary between cultures and time periods.

Learning a system of divination, and gaining proficiency in its practical use, can be an excellent way of developing your psychic abilities.

EXERCISE

Pendulum

The pendulum is one of the simplest divination tools to use. If you don't have a commercial pendulum, you can use a weight on a string. Silk or cotton string is said to work best, with silver as the metal, so a silver ring hanging from a piece of silk thread or a silver chain is excellent. I've also used silver chains and necklaces, and even a regular washer on cotton thread, with excellent results. Commercial pendulums are usually crystals hung on a length of chain.

Cleanse your pendulum and "consecrate" it by holding it and saying or thinking this, or something similar:

I charge this pendulum for the highest good, to answer all my questions truly and accurately.

I like to repeat this every time I use a pendulum. Then dangle the weight from the cord, and say or think: "I call upon my highest wisdom. Show me a yes answer." Close your eyes, and imagine yourself someplace very peaceful. Don't think about the pendulum. Then open your eyes after a few moments and watch the movement. How is it moving? That is your yes. Repeat this step, asking for a no response. Then you can ask your yes-or-no questions. Start with questions to which you know the answers, to get your bearings with the device, and then ask the rest of your questions.

Close your eyes and think of a peaceful place in which to learn to disconnect your conscious mind from the pendulum. By focusing on a peaceful place, you are not focusing your mind directly on the pendulum, subtle influencing it based on your desires or fears. Once you know your yes and no answers, many people think "yes, yes, yes" when they ask a question and want a yes, or visualize the pendulum moving to indicate a yes. It can be hard to know when your own personal power is moving the pendulum, what is called telekinesis or psychokinesis, and when your higher guidance is responding. This step helps you connect with your higher guidance and disconnect from your ego.

When done, say or think: "I thank my highest wisdom for these answers." Put down the pendulum. Many people keep it in a special bag or other sacred space, so it won't get mixed in with mundane items and energies.

The pendulum, and in fact any method of divination, is not infallible. Our egos can always potentially get in the way. I also believe in free will when it comes to divination. A divinatory reading shows you what is most likely at that moment, but with this information you can change your future. If you get information about something unhealthy or unwanted, you have the opportunity to change it, much like Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Nothing is set in stone. You are empowered to create your own life.

10

PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT

A natural extension of developing intuition is the expansion of other psychic gifts and abilities. In the Eastern traditions, they are said to be side effects of pursuing a mystical path, though the aspirant is warned not to be seduced by his or her power. In the West, we develop these skills to understand our connection to the universe and experience self-empowerment.

Psychic Defense

One of the key reasons I chose to write this book was to address the issue of psychic defense. Without education in the occult, many people are afraid of what could happen to them if they pursue an unorthodox spiritual path. Our culture is filled with books, movies, and stories that generate a great deal of fright, and without firmly rooted knowledge, it's hard to know what is real and what isn't. People are afraid that if they dabble in the mystical arts, demons and devils will carry them off into the night, but that is simply not true. Such images are truly part of a propaganda campaign that is strongest in the Western world, initially started to discourage people from exploring direct experience of the divine, or from seeking counsel from practitioners who were not authorized by the dominating church or government.

A lot of magical rituals and techniques are about purification and protection. In the traditions I teach, we create a sacred space and state that we are protected from all harm. We light incense to banish all harm. We wear potions and oils for protection. I wear a silver pentacle for protection. A friend once came to a ritual I was conducting and said, "Why do you need all that protection? If this isn't dangerous or evil, then why do you need so much protection?"

What a great question! I taught the rituals as I learned them, and they made sense to me, but until that point, I never really had to explain why protection is such a focus in magic rituals. Mysticism is not evil, and is not inherently harmful; it's a part of life. Like most things in life, there are risks and dangers. When you cross a street, you take the risk of getting hit by a car, so you take actions to make that unlikely. You learn to look both ways before you cross. You know not to cross during rush-hour traffic, or lounge in the middle of the road. These rules make sense, because the potential dangers of an oncoming car are apparent. You know the potential dangers and take the appropriate measures to protect yourself.

In the mystical world, any potential dangers are subtler than in the physical world. Subtle energy, the energy of the nonphysical planes, is potentially a danger when doing mystical work. This energy is very real, but not inherently harmful. Like a car, you can use it to drive from place to place, serving your needs and making things easier, or you can get hit by it without warning. It all depends on your relationship with the car, or with the energy.

Most often, we do protection and purification rituals to protect ourselves from the energy of our thoughts and feelings, which can conflict with our purpose. If you feel doubt, tension, fear, or even simple nervousness, it can work against your mystical pursuit. If you are working in a group, other members of the group can affect you too. Mystical work is usually done in a group, because group energy can be more powerful and can support you. Some people experience much more vivid meditations and energy in a group setting than on their own. Ritual creates a group consciousness, but at times group consciousness can detract from the magical working, particularly if there is someone who is not in harmony with everybody else in the group. Such preventive rituals can clear unwanted energies and prevent them from intruding again, in a solo or group situation.

I would like to be able to say that our own harmful energies are the only things we have to watch out for, but unfortunately that's not the case. Dangers can come in many forms, though they are usually not as colorful as Hollywood movies make them out to be.

If thoughts have energy, and "good" healing thoughts and prayers can help us, then harmful thoughts can hurt us. Most harmful energy comes from the environment around us. Our buildings, homes, and living conditions are not as naturally cleansing of energy as outdoor environments. Exposure to the elements-sun, wind, water, and land-is very purifying. Without this direct contact with nature, the energy of our thoughts and emotions builds up in our dwellings. If you live in a place with tension, arguments, illness, or violence, those energies can become imprinted on the dwelling and can influence its occupants. The flow of subtle life energy can become stagnant and prevent helpful influences from entering the lives of those who work or live there. One of the first exercises you learned in this book was "Cleansing Space," in chapter 2. It is an excellent protective ritual as well, to purify a space of stagnant, harmful energies.

When a person directs harmful thoughts, anger, fear, or hate toward you, the energy is real and can affect your daily health and well-being. That's one of the reasons that many magical practitioners keep their practices secret, so no one else can affect their work. If you are secure and anchored in yourself and your personal power, you usually will not be greatly affected by other people's harmful thoughts. If you are ungrounded, uncen- tered, and unsure, lack personal boundaries, or are overly sensitive to psychic energy, such thoughts can dramatically affect you.

Most people don't know that their thoughts have true power, so their thoughts usually don't have a lot of "wattage" behind them. Such people are not intentionally wishing you harm. They simply may be frustrated and directing their frustration at you because you are a convenient target. Sometimes people realize the power behind their thoughts, and use it maliciously. This is what some consider to be the "evil eye." Though it is not common, it is possible for practitioners of mystical arts who know their power to intentionally use their psychic or magical abilities to harm others, creating a curse of some sort.

Nonphysical beings are also potential dangers on the subtle planes. "Lower" entities are said to reside on the denser planes. The words "denser" and "lower" are just descriptions of discordant or inharmonious energy. The more subtle and refined the energy, the more spiritual, enlightened, and loving it is said to be. When we work with entities who act as our guides and teachers, we look to such refined beings for aid. Denser beings simply don't have the perspective or insight to help. Most are not inherently malevolent. Some are simply scavenger spirits. They have their place in creation as psychic scavengers, just like we have carrion feeders in the physical world.

When you first become magically, psychically, or spiritually "active," it is as if you are lighting up the spiritual planes, and many spirits, from all levels, will be checking out the new activity. Most people don't notice such things, but those with some sensitivity will feel as if they are being watched, or get a sense of what my students have described as the "creepy crawlies." As you continue your practice, such sensations will go away. You will become a part of the background, since you are no longer "new." For a time, your spiritual work will attract attention, but the more aligned you become with your part in the universe, the more you will become a harmonious part of the spiritual background and will not attract undue attention, unless your role requires you to attract attention. In fact, the greatest protection you can have from all psychic attack-intentional, unintentional, human, or spirit-is to find and fulfill your life purpose. When you live in harmony with the divine pattern, there is little that can deter you. Such purpose is often called true will, divine will, magical will, or dharma, and will be discussed in detail in the next chapter on magic and manifestation.

Some spirits are more harmful, creating the mythic images we have of demons and monsters, though the most serious and dangerous of these creatures are not spirits "outside" of ourselves but representations of the repressed parts of ourselves, our shadows and personal demons. We disarm them by becoming conscious of them and confronting the issues they embody.

Other harmful spirits are like harmful people, in that they can be helpful or harmful, and for the most part don't really care about you individually. The same commonsense rules about trusting people apply to spirits as well. If you intuitively don't trust someone, don't associate with that person. Don't put energy into a relationship. Draw a boundary, and clearly demonstrate that you do not want any contact.

Harmful spirits simply seek energy. Those that thrive on fear and anger want to feed off of fear and anger. If you want to stop them, stop taking them seriously. Harmful spirits get very upset when you stop taking them seriously and you laugh at them. By doing so, you transform your energy into something that will no longer feed them. You break the energetic circuit, the connection a spirit has. If you are not satisfying a spirit's needs, it will stop bothering you.

You have already learned some powerful protection techniques, such as cleansing, grounding, and creating protection shields and banishing pentagrams. Cleansing a space is very helpful, even when there is not a specific problem or danger present. It lightens the energy, making all mystical pursuits easier and more peaceful. Cleansing is a great preventive measure.

Charging your aura to create a protection shield around you is another great protection technique. I recharge mine frequently. You will find, as you become better versed in the technique, that everything has energy and you can charge that energy to create a protection shield. I also put up protection shields around my home, office, and car.

The banishing pentagram is a powerful and trusted technique. Drawn in the four directions around you, it not only can help heal and protect the aura, but can banish any unwanted spirits or clear an entire room. If you feel harmful energy being sent toward you from a particular direction, you can draw a banishing pentagram in that direction to break the connection. If you feel you are under psychic attack, you can draw banishing pentagrams all around you. I also like to draw them on all the doors, windows, and other entry points to a building.

When drawn in the four directions, the banishing pentagram is a simple version of a more complex ritual known as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, or LBRP. This is one of the first rituals taught to those in a ceremonial magic tradition. It is a preliminary process that prepares you for deeper work, continually healing and clearing your energetic field. Strangely enough, I have found that the ritual has made its way into many different nonceremonial traditions and settings. I was surprised to find a yogi using it to clear his studio before classes. He felt it cleared any influences from the last class and gave a fresh, new start. Many involved in Wicca learn about ceremonial magic in their training, and use the LBRP to prepare the space prior to a ritual.

EXERCISE

Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram

The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram involves several parts. It is drawn from the modern ceremonial tradition of the order most commonly known as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. In the ritual, symbolism from Jewish, Christian, and Pagan sources are fused into a harmonious whole.

This type of ritual involves coordinating movements, sounds, and visualizations. Combined, they move and transform energy to fulfill the purpose of the ritual. Intention is the key to bring together the individual parts. The first part, called the Qabalistic Cross, is similar to the traditional Lord's Prayer and Sign of the Cross. The practitioner imagines himself or herself as the Qabalistic Tree of Life, with the top sphere at the crown and the bottom sphere at the feet. The words of power are intoned or vibrated, meaning that they are not simply recited, but are spoken with power and intention. The practitioner draws out the power of the sound by holding the note, much like a chant. The words are not sung with melody, but simply intoned. Many books create great confusion over the correct way to vibrate such words, making the process more complicated than it needs to be. Simply try intoning the words, and see how it feels. You will find your own style and method of doing it. I've never found two magicians, or two traditions, that do it exactly the same way.

Qabalistic Cross

Stand firm and tall. Face east and take a few deep breaths. Feel the world below you and a sphere of heavenly white light above you.

Point to your forehead with your right hand or with a ritual blade. Visualize a beam of white light entering your crown chakra. Imagine your crown is the top of the Tree of Life.

Intone: Ata

Point to the root chakra or ground with your right hand. Visualize the beam of light descending from your crown, down to your root, then down to the Earth between your feet. Imagine the bottom sphere of the Tree of Life between your feet. Feel a connection between your crown and the Earth.

Chant: Malkuth

Point to your right shoulder with your right hand. Visualize a beam of light from the space to your right that comes into your right shoulder.

Chant: Veh Gebura

Point to your left shoulder with your right hand. Visualize the beam of light moving across from your right shoulder to your left shoulder, crossing the first, vertical beam at the heart/throat area. Feel the beam of light move out of your left shoulder and into the space to your left.

Chant: Veh Gadula

Bring your hands to your heart center in prayer position, palms pressed together.

Chant: Le Oh Lam

Focus on the cross of light running through the middle of your body. Feel yourself grounded and balanced. Focus on your connection to all.

Chant: Amen

The purpose of this part of the ritual is to root the image of the Tree of Life within your aura. You are connecting to the highest sphere in the vertical line, Kether, and the lowest sphere, Malkuth. Divine light for protection and wisdom will flow through you. You are also connecting to spheres on each side pillar, Geburah and Chesed (which is also known as Gadula). Through the Qabalistic Cross, you become one with the Tree of Life and the forces of creation.

Next, you can commence with the true banishing ritual. If you are in a small room, or simply banishing harm from your aura, turn in one-quarter steps as directed. If you are clearing a larger room or temple, move one quarter of the way around the room as you perform the banishing.

Banishing Ritual

Face east and draw a banishing pentagram in blue light.

Chant: Yud Heh Vahv Heh

With your finger, point to the center of the pentagram and slowly turn clockwise ninety degrees, visualizing one quarter of the circle being drawn in white light, connecting east to south.

Facing south, draw a banishing pentagram in blue light.

Chant: Adonai

With your finger, point to the center of the pentagram and slowly turn clockwise ninety degrees, visualizing one quarter of the circle being drawn in white light, connecting south to west.

Facing west, draw a banishing pentagram in blue light.

Chant: Eh Heh Eh

With your finger, point to the center of the pentagram and slowly turn clockwise ninety degrees, visualizing one quarter of the circle being drawn in white light, connecting west to north.

Facing north, draw a banishing pentagram in blue light.

Chant: Agla

Complete the circle and face east again. Visualize one quarter of a circle in light, connecting north to east.

Feel yourself surrounded in a ring of light, with a blazing blue pentagram in each of the four cardinal directions. Each pentagram is energized by chanting one of the four names of God found in ceremonial magic, associated with the four directions.

Call upon the archangelic guardians of the four directions with the following chant. Since this is a banishing ritual, many perceive them to be facing outward, guarding and protecting.

Chant:

Stretch out your arms and legs, and visualize yourself as a banishing pentagram. Visualize a hexagram, a six-pointed star, in your heart chakra.

Chant: Within me shines the six-rayed star.

Repeat the Qabalistic Cross. Then the ritual is complete. Notice the changes in the feel and energy of the room.

The LBRP is a foundation exercise in psychic self-defense. Many people are afraid to use it because of the seemingly complicated gestures, visualizations, and words involved. I know I was intimidated when I first learned it. From my experience, I've found that even though each part of the ritual is important, the intention is the most important of all. The LBRP is a great exercise to have to maintain basic psychic self-defense, balance, and health. I know many advanced practitioners who still practice this ritual regularly. I do recommend that you try it, and if it doesn't suit your tastes, you can find a way to adapt it that is more comfortable for you.

Psychic Travel

Psychic travel, also known as astral travel, mental travel, or remote viewing, depending on the technique, is one of the most sought-after psychic talents. I have students who take long-term classes just to learn this technique. It can be a powerful and useful tool, but always keep in mind that it is one tool of many.

Psychic travel refers to projecting your awareness beyond your body. Many people have the ability to retrieve and retain information from whatever location they visit. Technically, psychic travel can refer to any activity that projects your consciousness away from your body. All our pathworking meditations are a form of psychic travel. Dreams are a form of psychic travel. Any type of guided meditation or shamanic journey is a form of travel. Near-death experiences, or NDEs, which are becoming more prevalent in our culture, are a form of psychic travel. Most people, when they refer to psychic travel, are referring to traveling psychically along the physical plane, finding accurate details about locations they have never physically visited.

Most people think of psychic travel as astral travel, which involves projecting the astral body out of the physical body. Expectations run high, and many believe, due to other reports and descriptions, that psychic travel and out-of-body experiences are always identical. They expect all psychic travel to be a dramatic, detailed experience, with full sensations of being out of body. Technically, the astral body is just one component of your energy, and projecting it outward doesn't leave your body "empty." Sometimes it can feel that way, and many people believe that elusive empty feeling is what makes the experience real. Most psychic travel experiences are not as dramatic and, at least initially, can simply be vague impressions. But with experience you will find that those vague impressions are often right, and with time and practice you can refine your skills.

Some traditions divide psychic travel into astral travel, mental travel, and soul travel, referring to the part of your psyche that you are projecting forward. Though I personally don't think such distinctions are important in the overall effect of the exercise, they can be helpful in understanding the various sensations and perceived experiences. Though many of my students don't have vivid out-of-body experiences with these psychic development exercises, most are able to become fairly proficient at a form of mental travel, where their awareness is viewing things remotely, yet they are still vaguely aware of their body and the physical surroundings of their body.

Some think of this as bilocation, where your consciousness is located in two places at once. Those with keen psychic senses might be able to perceive their "double" at their target location. Other traditions refer to bilocation as full physical manifestation at two places at the same time, visible to all regardless of psychic ability. I don't know of too many people who can credibly claim that skill, though I believe anything is possible.

Why do people focus so much on psychic travel? Well, there are a lot of reasons, though most seekers are unaware of them. Generally, people want to do it because it seems cool. They think of psychic ability as a superpower, and psychic travel seems very super indeed. They want to have a real and vivid experience to prove that mystical experiences are real, and psychic travel seems so far out of the range of "normal" skills that it qualifies as something truly mystical. People chalk up many other mystical experiences to coincidence or luck. Being able to visit a location you have never physically been to, and then verify that your impressions are correct, is a very powerful experience, opening you up to a new worldview that is not only possible in theory but possible personally.

As for practical, earthly purposes, there are not a lot of reasons to do this work unless you are involved in espionage or otherwise need to gather information and bypass conventional routes. If you learn other magical arts, such as healing, you can use psychic travel to send healing energy to others distantly and check in on their condition. Psychic travel can be mixed with many other disciplines. For example, you can send messages via dreams.

Psychic travel along the physical plane helps validate psychic travel on the subtle planes. Many people think of their earthly remote-viewing experiences as "real" because they can be objectively verified, but they consider their experiences beyond the physical, where shape and form are more symbolic and subjective, as less than real. Both are realities, but different kinds of realities. With success in the objective experiences, and the realization that you are using the same faculties in the more subjective experiences, your subtle-plane journeys-from guided meditations to dreams-carry more weight, meaning, and importance. They become more real and not idle fantasies or daydreams.

Before doing the following psychic travel exercise, reaffirm any of your protection disciplines and make sure you will not be disturbed. Many seekers and teachings talk about how you will not be able to find your body if it is moved during psychic travel, or that if someone tries to wake you, you will die. Some talk of a silver or gold cord that attaches your astral body to your physical body, and if the cord is cut, you will be lost or dead. From my own personal experience, as well as my students' experiences, I have found that the worst thing that happens if you are disturbed during psychic travel is you get a really bad headache. I believe the perception of the cord, usually from the solar plexus, is a projection of your energy from that point. It is as if your awareness is projected and stretched out from that chakra, giving the appearance psychically of a cord. What seems to happen is your energy "snaps" back, creating a sense of psychic whiplash, and while that can be rather unpleasant, it is not life-threatening. Still, I try to avoid it.

Pick a target location that you have never been to, but you can easily visit. I suggest a store where you know the location, but have not been inside. Independent stores, rather than large chains, are often a bit more of a challenge, keeping us from using our associations with other stores of the same name.

You can also "visit" a particular person you know, someone who is willing to be your partner for this exercise. You can write down whatever you see or hear the person doing at a particular time, and the individual can report his or her activities at that moment, to see if you are accurate. Since the astral plane is technically beyond time, make sure you hold the intention that you wish to visit the person "at this moment, on the physical plane," and note the times at the start and end of your exercise, so no confusion will result.

EXERCISE

Psychic Travel

Sit in a quiet place in a comfortable position. Take a few deep breaths, centering yourself and your awareness. Feel yourself relaxing from head to toe, getting into a deeper meditative state. Be aware of your surroundings, but focus on your own breath and body, allowing yourself to relax deeply and become more centered.

Think about your target. Focus all your attention and will on the target. Imagine yourself projecting out toward your target. Feel your energy, aspects of your psyche, going toward the target. Don't worry if you don't know the way physically via streets and roads. You will be guided by your magical will. I often imagine I am traveling through a tunnel of pure light. One end is at my body, and the other end at the target.

When you arrive at your destination, take a look around. Be aware of all your impressions, using all your senses. Traditionally, this is a more visually oriented exercise, but those who feel they lack visualization abilities might be surprised at the strong feelings and impressions they get. Your information may not be visual, but instead you simply know the shape, color, and layout of the target. Don't worry if your impressions are not crystal clear. Go with your first impression and trust it. Things will become clearer if you relax and simply go with the process.

With practice, you will discover your own style and methods of psychic travel. If you work well with spirit guides, you can call upon a spirit guide to help you in the process, and may take the journey together. If the location is dark at the time you are visiting, psychically create light, or ask your guides for light, to see things more clearly.

When you are done, return the way you came. Ground yourself in your body. Feel the physical world around you. When ready, rise from your position and reorient yourself. Quickly write down all your impressions, so you don't forget them.

When you are ready, check out the location or speak to your partner. Don't worry about being 100 percent accurate, at least at first. As with all things, it takes time and patience to develop this skill. Every "hit" you have is a major accomplishment, even if the impression was vague, such as "I feel the color blue to the left of the entrance." You might not have known it was a rack of blue jackets, but that is still very impressive. Take enjoyment in all your successes. With acceptance of these blessings, your abilities will improve.

Dreams

Dreams are another way we explore our psychic abilities and ability to travel to other realms. Though mystics seek to consciously control these abilities, some have far more success when their conscious mind is asleep, and out of the way, allowing for a greater intuitive or mystical experience to occur. Many traditions, and in particular Tibetan mysticism, highly encourage seekers to develop an active dream life as a part of the spiritual development process.

So what are dreams, and where do they come from? There are no easy answers. Modern science looks at dreams as the product of involuntary biological processes occurring when we sleep. Dreams are associated with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and occur with elevated breath, heart rate, and body paralysis. Our minds interpret the random brain impulses occurring while we sleep as sensory information. Dreams are a series of images, sounds, and sensations that we experience in this sleep state, ranging from pleasant dreams to nightmares, as well as sexual dreams. On one level, this scientific viewpoint of dreams is correct, yet it doesn't really explain them.

From a psychologist's point of view, dreams are contact from our subconscious or unconscious mind. Through them we gain insights about ourselves, our motivations, behaviors, and issues that need to be addressed. Often, people who are disturbed by unresolved feelings of guilt, anger, or shame will find these themes in their dreams. Issues and information we don't want to consciously recognize or verbalize can become the themes of some dreams, though most dreams stem from day-to-day occurrences, as the mind unwinds from the stresses of waking life during sleep. Other dreams are stray thoughts, fantasy fulfillment, or a whole range of themes that might not have any deep significance or point the way toward any issue. Though dream interpretation, made famous by Sigmund Freud, is a popular aid in some forms of psychotherapy, most academics don't necessarily believe that dreams have clear meanings or messages.

From the mystic's point of view, dreams are an opportunity for your consciousness to enter a different state of being. Through sleep, you open a gateway to other worlds, where thoughts, emotions, and reality are not as keenly separated as they are in the physical world. Your thoughts and feelings manifest in symbolic form in the dream world. In the model of our cosmos, the dream world is associated with the astral and emotional planes of existence. Every night, everybody, regardless of their mystical interest in the conscious world, has an opportunity to interface with other dimensions as well as deepen their relationship with their own psyche. Mystics, however, learn to retrieve this dream-time information, and bring it back to the conscious world.

Yes, some dreams are simply the chatter of your mind taking on shape and form, but there are dreams that are significant, that seem different or important. The memory of them often fades, but with training you can learn to remember your dreams, and program them to aid you in your waking life. You can even "wake up" in the dream itself, realize that you are dreaming, and take charge of the dream. This type of clear dreaming is known as lucid dreaming. Some people do it naturally, but the rest of us can learn techniques for it. We can learn to do lucid dreaming for our own enjoyment, but also to practice the powers of manifestation, to know that our thoughts create our reality, but to do this practice in a safe environment. Lucid dreaming is a great preparation and enhancement for magical work. Lucid dreaming can also be seen as a form of psychic projection, projecting your consciousness to the dream world of the astral plane rather than to a physical location on Earth.

Prophecy and psychic prediction are a large part of dream workings. You can dream something, and then sometime later it literally comes true. Many people receive information through a dream about whatever is about to happen in their lives. According to Ward Hill Lamon, a friend of Abraham Lincoln, the president, had a dream that predicted his assassination. Dream prophecy, also known as oneiromancy, was a popular art in ancient cultures, including biblical times, as Joseph interpreted the dreams of the Egyptian court.

Oftentimes, prophetic dreams are not direct messages, but are related in symbolism. You don't see exactly what is going to happen, but through the dream's story you can relate it to your life in a way that speaks to you. The symbols have to be decoded. We use psychology, mythology, and modern symbolism to understand what dreams are telling us. Some dream symbols are universal, part of our collective human databanks, while others are more localized. The culture you live in can affect the dream symbolism. Someone living in an urban section of the United States will have some associations different from someone living in a tribal culture in the Brazilian rain forest.

Although oneiromancy technically refers to the prophetic aspect of dreams, it has developed into more mainstream dream interpretation that delivers messages and insights, if not direct prophecies and psychic predictions. Dream interpretation is an artistic skill as well as a psychological one, requiring both intuition and knowledge of stories, myths, and archetypes, as well as a sense of how they would relate to that individual. Often, the meaning of a dream is not completely clear until much later, if ever.

Greek literature and myth state that dreams come to us from one of two gates. Dreams that come to use through the Gate of Horn are true, while those that come through the Gate of Ivory are deceitful and empty. Sometimes it's hard to tell which type of dream is which. Trusting our intuition is a key to determining which dreams feel right and which ones don't. Other spiritual practices, such as meditation, and treatments, such as psychotherapy, help us distinguish between our hopes and fears and our intuitive impressions.

If they are not random brain impulses, then where do these dream messages come from, according to our spiritual model? Some would say they are communications from your own self, your higher consciousness, as filtered through the unconscious mind. In modern Huna, the controversial system of spirituality drawn from Hawaiian traditions, dreams are said to be messages from the higher divine self, as couriered by the lower, psychic self. When we are not conscious of our higher self, the messages come through garbled and are hard to understand. When we are more spiritually tuned in, we hear the higher self's message more clearly and know which dreams to pay attention to and which are unimportant. Other teachings would say they are communications not from the higher self but from other nonphysical entities-spirits guides, angels, deities-using the gateway of dreams to send a message to you, since in your waking life you pay little attention to the unseen world. Communication with spirits is easier in the world of dreams, yet difficult to remember.

Here are some tips to help you activate your dream life:

• Keep a notebook or recorder by your bedside. When you wake up, record the first thing you remember, even if it's "I don't remember." This practice will get you in the habit of retrieving dream memories when you first wake up.

• Set a snooze alarm a half hour before you have to get up. Wake up a few times to the snooze alarm, and each time you do, try to remember your dreams and record them. When REM sleep is interrupted, the dream memory is much more present in the conscious waking mind.

• Look at your dreams over the course of a month, or Moon cycle, and see if you notice any themes or patterns. The dreams might not make a lot of sense individually, but over a cycle you may see similar themes. Or you might notice that when the Moon is full, or dark, you have clearer, more meaningful dreams. It is well worth it to get an astrological calendar and take note of the Moon signs. Certain signs and phases of Moon activity can facilitate dream work. The Moon is the astrological body that rules over dreams and the unconscious, as well as psychic ability.

• The following herbs are helpful in dream working: chamomile, catnip, lavender, lemon, lemon balm, mugwort, rose, sandalwood, valerian, vanilla, and wormwood. Put a combination of these herbs that is pleasing to you in a small pouch, and place it under your pillow to enhance your dreams.

• The following stones enhance dreams: aquamarine, beryl, clear quartz, Herkimer diamond, moonstone, mother of pearl, opal, pearl, selenite, and the metal silver. Cleanse the stone in incense smoke, water (except selenite, since it's a water-soluble salt), or pure intention, and place it under your pillow or in a bag with the herbs mentioned above.

• If you have a question, problem, or issue in life that you need insight and understanding to solve, write it out as clearly as possible and put it under your pillow. When you wake up the next day, see if your dream contains some clue to the answer.

11

M A g I C

Magic is a powerful, evocative word. All cultures and traditions recognize magic, but not all use the same word for it. Magic is the process of creation. All creation stories are really magic stories, regardless of the mythology. They often start with a word, sound, or song. In the New Testament, John 1:1 says: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The Word is a magic word. Sound and word are vibrations. Vibration is energy. Harnessing and directing energy is magic. Your own words have the same creative power and energy.

Energy comes in many forms. Not only are our words energy, but our thoughts and actions are too. Herbs, metals, stones, symbols, and colors are all forms of energy. Traditional forms of magic involve all sorts of exotic paraphernalia and recipes. Though they have powerful symbolic value as well, each resonates with a particular type of energy. Magic rituals harness this energy, along with the magician's will, to create a change in reality.

Magic is described as a science. Though many people would disagree with that description, magic conforms to basic principles and parameters that are consistent. If you look across many cultures, the paradigms describing magic are different, but each contains some basic similarities that can be boiled down to what metaphysical students call magic theory.

A popular thought stated in science fiction literature is that any science or technology not understood by an observer appears to be magic. When we think of all the technological marvels at hand in the current era, people in the past would probably be awestruck by our technology, and assume it has a magical origin. The same process works in reverse. Technologies from the past, relying on principles not generally understood in the modern era, seem fantastic or unbelievable, but at one time they were a part of the ordinary view of reality.

Nonmagical practitioners often think of magic as a science as well, but do not understand how the practitioner is intrinsically tied to the process. Magic is a science, but it is also an art, a skill to be learned. Modern stories propagate the idea that if you simply say the right magic word, at the right time, and in the right place, or mix together the right combination of exotic ingredients, poof, something amazing will happen. As in modern science, they expect all experiments to be repeatable by anyone. Under the right laboratory conditions, two parts hydrogen to one part oxygen always makes HZO, or water. This chemical reaction is predictable and repeatable. Sugar dissolves in water, a process that's also repeatable. It doesn't matter who does it. The results are always consistent if the conditions and the procedure are the same.

With art, it's an entirely different matter. Imagine a room full of people with a wide variety of skills, tastes, and backgrounds. We can all start with the same box of paints, have all the same resources available, and all be shown a model whose portrait we are to paint. Each rendition will be different, unique to that artist and to that moment in time. The principles of painting, design, and color are consistent, but what you do with them is unique. Magic is much the same.

Unlike traditional science, magic doesn't recognize truly consistent and controlled laboratory conditions. The principles are universal, but each moment in time is unique, adding to the many variables. Different times of day, year, and astrological cycles have an influence in magic. Each person is unique, and brings the greatest variable. Magical formulas fuse with the practitioner's will, focus, concentration, and intent. We each have those qualities in different measures, and the variations between practitioners doing the same spell will affect the intended outcome.

Because of the mythical qualities surrounding magic, many people are surprised to discover how magical their lives are. We are all doing magic all the time. The difference between a true magician and everybody else is that a magician is consciously aware of the magical reality, and uses this awareness as a part of his or her personal and spiritual path. To the practitioner of magic, every thought, word, and action is part of our magical reality.

Those on the spiritual paths of ceremonial magic, Witchcraft and Wicca, and Paganism are traditional practitioners of magic, reclaiming old ways and adapting them to the modern world. They often spell magick with a k, to distinguish esoteric, spiritual forms of magick from sleight-of-hand stage tricks. Other people use the power of magic, but call it prayer, positive thinking, creative visualization, or manifestation. A shamanic practitioner might call it medicine. All have a different worldview, a different paradigm in which they believe their system works. Many follow the mystical techniques outlined in this book, though they would use different words.

Most other practitioners would be aghast to think their techniques have anything to do with magic. A good Catholic praying for healing would not think of it as magic, but there is not much difference between that and forms of folk magic. Some like to say that meditation is listening to the divine, while prayer or magic is speaking to the divine. Both are needed for a balanced mystical practice. More conventional people, not on a path of magical spirituality, sometimes seek out magic as a quick fix to their problems. They will seek out a money spell, love charm, healing, or even curse in times of desperation. Sometimes magic can be the solution to a problem, but ultimately magic works best when it is part of a spiritual practice, done in the context of a spiritual tradition. Those who are trained in magic will also be trained to think about the ethics and consequences of their actions. Those who dabble in emergencies, or seek out less-than-reputable practitioners for aid, often cross moral and spiritual lines that have far-reaching consequences they did not contemplate at the start of the magic.

The manifestation of magic can disappoint those looking for Hollywood movie excitement. If you expect lightning bolts from your fingers, it may be theoretically possible, but I've never seen it, and quite frankly the amount of effort it would take to attempt such a thing would not be worth it. Many people ask me, as a practitioner of magical arts, questions like, "Can you telekinetically levitate a book across a room?" Why would I do so, when I can just as easily pick it up and move it across the room? Magic is a practical, earthy art in many respects, and follows the path of least resistance. Practitioners are not concerned with exactly how the result manifests, just that it does manifest. If it's easier to get up and do something, we do it. Much of our magic relies on real-world follow-up.

Magic will more likely manifest through a series of coincidences. Sometimes the results are immediate, but other times they take days, weeks, and even months to manifest. Though some amazing things can happen, usually the results are mundane. They are synchronicities, but not out of the realm of possibility. The practitioner casts a spell, a specific act of magic, with a specific intent, a desired result that changes reality. The change is first created on the subtle planes of reality, and eventually the energy trickles down, or precipitates, into the physical world. Like flowing water, magical energy will take the path of least resistance to manifest something, unless you "program" it to do otherwise.

Energy is programmed through a spell, given a specific set of instructions. This programmed energy is called a thoughtform. Unwanted thoughtforms, or unhelpful programs, can get stuck in your energetic field, and are removed when you clear your aura. Helpful thoughtforms can be very beneficial. Usually they last until the spell is completed, but some are semipermanent. In fact, many people believe that certain spirits are thoughtforms created by a tradition, sustained by the knowledge and belief of the practitioners.

If you do a spell to get a new job, you should specify the type of job, pay range, or any other requirements you have. If you don't, you might get the new job at a fast food restaurant, being fired from your quiet office job, and feel like it was a step down for you. Neither job is inherently good or bad. You asked for a new job, and the universe gave it to you. You should have asked more wisely. Keep in mind the old saying "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it." Make sure you really want what you have done a spell for, not what you think you have done a spell for. Intention is powerful, but intention must be coupled with clarity.

On the other hand, you might be so specific in your spell craft that you make the fulfillment of the spell impossible. If you ask to immediately become the head of a department at a specific company, make double your current salary, and have the corner office and the best parking spot, the universe might not be able to fulfill that request. If you left your intention open to a specific type of job and a specific type of company, with an acceptable pay range and benefits, then more possible openings could fit your desire.

Lastly, you have to follow up with real-world action. If you do a job spell, get your resume together. Network. Answer help wanted ads. Practice interviewing skills. Prepare. Magic can knock on the door, but if you are not prepared to answer it and let a new blessing in, then a spell will be of no help. Sometimes a spell manifests so quickly that you don't have time to follow it up with extensive real-world action, and that's wonderful when it happens, but it's not always the case. You might do a job spell and immediately get a phone call with a job tip or offer. Still, you must be prepared to follow up.

One of the most important stipulations that I put into all my spells is that the result be "for the highest good." I want to make sure that my desires do not hurt anybody else. Some people say "for the good of all involved, harming none" or "for higher divine will." Another favorite is that the result be "completely acceptable to me on all levels." Many people fear, particularly if they are not comfortable with the idea of magic in terms of religion, that if they do a spell, something horrible will happen to fulfill it, making it a curse. Sometimes that does happen. You do a money spell, and get into an accident and win an insurance settlement. Yes, you got money, but are you enjoying it with your injuries? I'd rather have less money and be pain-free. If you do such a spell with the intention "for the highest good, harming none," you can usually avoid such problems, though not always. Magic is a blessing, but it's not always safe. It doesn't always give you what you think you asked to get.

Though many people think practicing magic is selfish and immoral, most practitioners have the highest morals and ethics. There are very few rules to magic, though different traditions of magic have their own spiritual codes. The reason magicians are ethical is because they know firsthand about something called the Law of Return. Basically stated, what you do comes back to you, usually amplified. It's the fundamental reason that magic works. Through words, rituals, and visualization, you take what appear to be your insubstantial thoughts and make them reality. The thoughts return to you amplified as a reality. The thoughts and emotions that fuel your magic return to you. If you do a spell with anger and malice, then more anger and malice will return to you. In the end, all magicians have to be responsible for their creations, because they know they are creating their own reality, through their spells, and through all thoughts, words, and deeds. Spells are just the most focused and powerful of their thoughts, words, and deeds.

So if magic can backfire if you are not careful, and carries all this weight of responsibility with it, why would anyone do it? Each practitioner has his or her own reasons for walking the path.

Many of these reasons are practical in nature. You are already doing magic, so why not really understand what you are doing? It's not selfish. Most people are already trying to manifest their will on Earth, but most don't take the time to think about their motivations and actions, and take responsibility for them. Although magic is described as supernatural, it's really just natural, and we all tap into the powers of the universe in different ways.

The other main reason to practice magic is spiritual in nature. Through knowledge and study of the various correspondences associated with magic, we learn about the universe. Humanity is a reflection of the cosmos, and the cosmos is a reflection of humanity. We learn to see, hear, and feel the life in all worlds, human and nonhuman, physical and nonphysical. Spell work helps us focus our will with the use of herbs and stones that resonate with our intention, and helps us partner with these energies to create a harmonious world for us all.

By communing with the plant, animal, and mineral kingdoms, as well as studying the seasons and stars, we learn more about ourselves. We begin to see patterns and make connections that most people do not. Magic is truly a path of introspection. Magical practitioners were the first psychologists, healers, and ministers in the ancient world. Esoteric systems have profound systems of soul psychology that many people find more helpful than modern psychological models.

Magic is any change that conforms with a person's will. Magicians recognize many realities, not just the physical. Sometimes the most profound magic is a shift in your own consciousness. By changing your awareness, you change the way you interact with the physical world and thus change your reality. As practitioners become more proficient, they often start focusing less on making changes in the physical world, knowing how to do so if needed, and turn their attention to changing their own thoughts, feelings, and body, to create the change they desire.

Magic is associated with will. Some distinguish between different types of will. Most people are familiar with personal will, which is your desire. What do you want? That is your will. Another way to look at will is higher will, also known as divine will, true will, or magical will. What is it that your soul, your highest consciousness, wants? What is your true purpose in life?

Exploring spiritual magic is exploring your divine purpose. Sometimes your personal will is in conflict with your divine will. If you do magic consistently for a specific purpose, and it doesn't succeed, then you must take time to reflect. Were the technique and execution of the spell flawed, or is the universe not supporting you because the spell's intent is not for your highest good? If the universe is supporting your will, then you will have a clearer understanding of your purpose and true will. The more you understand and execute your true will, the more you live in communion with the divine. Eventually, every thought, word, and action becomes an act of devotion and partnership with the divine, to manifest your true will in the world.

You can study and execute magic in many different ways. Many people assume that magic is divided into white magic and black magic. Most practitioners don't use those terms, and even those who do don't use the Hollywood stereotypes attached to them. The average person on the street would say that white magic is good and black magic is evil. Magicians don't see it that way. Yes, black magic is technically any magic that is used to harm another, or impose one's will on another. White magic is not just good magic, but any magic with the intent of spiritual alignment with the divine. Continually conscious spiritual alignment with the divine is called Enlightenment in the East. Ceremonial magicians and alchemists in the West call it the Great Work.

So in what category is a healing spell? Most people assume a healing spell is white magic, because it is good. Not necessarily. Technically, it is gray magic, effecting a change in the physical world but not necessarily causing harm to another. If you do a healing spell against someone else's wishes, you are doing black magic. Perhaps on some level the person wants to be ill, and you are subverting his or her personal or divine will. The same goes for those who "pray" for others without their consent, if they are praying for a specific outcome not in alignment with the wishes of the recipients of the prayer. Many "pray" for Pagans to find Jesus or for homosexuals to become straight, and technically those prayers are a form of black magic. Some pray with the intent of "the highest good" or for "grace," leaving it up to the divine as to whether and how the prayer should manifest. That is much less potentially harmful and potentially quite helpful. The best thing to do is ask permission of the intended recipient, and only do magic or pray if you have permission. We often think we know best, but we don't always see past what we want for others.

Black, white, and even gray magic have fallen out of favor as magical terms, particularly among Pagan practitioners who embrace both the dark and light as descriptions of the divine, and do not associate either with purely good or purely evil. They look at the aspects of polarity as nature, expressed as female and male, Goddess and God. Some practitioners use the color terms until their students understand magic well enough to discard them. Other practitioners attribute certain colors to magic for specific purposes, such as green magic for money magic or purple magic for spirit magic.

Magic and Western mysticism have been called the "black arts" throughout the ages, conjuring images of "black" magic and curses, though there is a very good reason that all magic can be considered the black arts. In Western alchemy, there is the step of spiritual putrefication, or darkening, associated with the black depths of darkness and despair. Spiritually, we can think of this as the profoundly moving "dark night of the soul." The light is temporarily expunged, and the mystic is faced with what is dark and dense before coming to a greater sense of spiritual awareness and fortitude. All mystics must face the shadow. It is like the darkness before the dawn.

Other practitioners divide magic based on technique, referring to high and low magic. High magic is intricate ceremonial magic, with elaborate ritual tools, specific gestures, rituals often in foreign languages, and usually a more lofty spiritual pursuit. Historically, high magic was shrouded in secrecy and practiced only by those with the luxuries of time, education, and financial resources, but now it is available to anyone through popular books and the Internet.

Low magic is the magic of the peasant folks, using simple household tools, herbs, and stones with an intuitive style. The goals of low magic are more practical, day-to-day concerns, such as prosperity, love, fertility, and protection. Many think of high magic as spiritual and low magic as practical, but in the end they encompass both realms.

Spells

How do you cast a spell? Some basic techniques exist. Just as with artistic techniques, start with the ones that capture your imagination first. They will work best for you, but don't be afraid to expand your repertoire beyond your normal boundaries and explore something new.

For me, the key component of magic is ritual. Though the word conjures quite a vivid image for the magical practitioner, a ritual is simply any repeated action done with meaning. Rituals are different from habits, because they are repeated actions that serve your will, that you are fully conscious of, habits, on the other hand, are usually unconscious and sometimes harmful. Rituals can involve complicated ceremonies and exotic tools, but many of our magic rituals are simple actions. They are symbolic actions of what we want to create. Symbolic actions are one of the best ways of speaking to the universe, and having the universe respond and create what we want. If all that we do returns to us magnified, a ritual clearly communicates what we want to create and efficiently allows it to manifest in our world. Rituals allow us to gather, focus, and release energy. The stronger and clearer the energy, the more likely that it will manifest our desire.

Traditional magic rituals use time-honored techniques, though that doesn't mean new techniques cannot be discovered. Most "new" techniques follow the same patterns and theories, but simply express these ideas in a new way. Some traditional rituals are done repeatedly, the same way, for the same purpose. The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram is one such ritual. Others are more open-ended, for more specific acts of manifestation, such as the Witch's magic circle.

Simple folk rituals, which can be used by anybody, frequently mimic the actions they seek to accomplish. To the magician, you are creating an action on a smaller scale, or microcosm, and it will be reflected on the larger scale, or macrocosm. If you want to create rain, pouring a little water during a ritual is a way to communicate that desire to the universe. If you want to cleanse your home of harmful energy, try physically cleansing the space. You can use soap and water, but add a few ingredients that are known for protection and cleansing, such as salt or lavender oil. As you cleanse physically, use your intent and imagine the space psychically cleansed. Such actions are also called sympathetic magic. You literally perform an action that symbolizes what you want to occur. In this case, physical cleaning corresponds to psychic cleaning. Other examples of sympathetic magic include cutting a string to break ties with someone harmful to you; planting a seed for some quality you want to grow in your life, such as prosperity; or sticking pins in a poppet or Voodoo doll to heal or harm the one for whom the doll was made and named.

Here are some popular magical techniques found in the modern era.

Affirmations

To traditionalists, affirmations don't seem like magic, but they are a powerful tool in manifestation, using word magic. Some people think of it as positive thinking or reprogramming the consciousness. An affirmation is usually a positive statement of what you want to create. Instead of focusing on your desire, saying "I want," you focus your energy as if you already have what you want, with such positive statements as "I have" or even more popularly "I am." The energy you send out is of abundance, of having, not wanting, so having is what manifests. Many people use the affirmation "I am prosperous," repeating it daily. That affirmation does create prosperity, but if you were to say "I want prosperity," all you would do is magnify your own want of it, rather than create actual prosperity. I have found that using affirmations repeated in sets of a sacred number-such as three, four, five, seven, nine, and, in general, multiples of three, such as thirty-three and one hundred eight-has a powerful effect. In the study of numerology, three is the number of manifestation.

Visualization

Visualization is another popular skill that most people don't associate with magic. Many call it creative visualization and think of it as a modern psychological technique, but it is the basis for much of our more esoteric magical work. The technique consists of getting into a focused yet relaxed state, a light meditative state often known as the alpha state in scientific terms. While in this state, visualize what you want to create in your life. As when doing affirmations, don't focus on the "want" of it; imagine yourself already having it. How does it feel to have it? Though we call this technique visualization, it is not totally visual, and many people who feel they are not "good" at visualization can still do it. Magical visualization is really imagination, imagination with intent. Some students say that they feel they are making it up. That it's not real. It's not magical. They are just using their imagination. I say, yes! Then you are doing it perfectly. Use your imagination. That is magic. Bells and whistles will not go off because it is magic. The state of mind you are in is very similar to a daydream, except you are focused and willing it, rather than letting it take you aimlessly. That is the only difference. The quality of creative visualization still feels like imagination. The best practitioners use all their senses. See yourself successful with your desired outcome, but also feel it. When you reach your goal, what do you see, hear, feel, smell, and taste? What does the excitement in your body feel like? Use all your feelings and senses as the foundation for your visual magic. Hold the image for a few moments to a few minutes. You can repeat the visualization several times, and then when you are done, bring your awareness back to the waking world and let go of the image. Let go of the energy. Let it go and manifest.

Words and Letters of Power

Certain traditions use specific languages and words to create changes. They are the archetypal magical words. The belief is that either the sonic quality of the words, or the language itself, interacts with the energy of reality and the energy of your own consciousness to produce change. In the ceremonial magic tradition, the Hebrew names of God found in the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram are used to empower, clear, and protect. Many feel the very letters of the Hebrew alphabet encode magical power and meaning. The same is true of Sanskrit, where specific mantras and chants are repeated to create a change in consciousness. Such names and mantras are like sonic formulas created and used for specific purposes, although unlike affirmations, the meaning might not always be clear to the practitioner.

Petition Spells

Petition spells are simple, direct, and powerful. Basically, you write down what you want as a petition to the divine. The papers are usually destroyed, through burning or burying, to release the intention. For myself, I might write a petition spell like this:

I, Christopher, ask in the name of the Great Spirit, Goddess, and God to grant me [and then list whatever I want, with whatever stipulations or conditions I feel are appropriate]. I thank the Great Spirit, Goddess, and God, and ask that this be correct and for the good of all involved, harming none. So mote it be.

As mentioned earlier, in Wicca and forms of ceremonial magic, "so mote it be" means "it is so," and is like ending a prayer with "amen." It's a phrase that turns the petition into a positive affirmation-like statement. It's like saying, this is already real and manifest in my future, so I no longer have to worry abut it. I like petitions because they are so direct. The "harming none" part is usually thought about and intended in all other magic, but in the petition spell it is directly stated and very clear. Petition for the final result you want, not for how it will manifest. If you want to go on a vacation, ask for the vacation, with every thing you want for it, rather than for the money to go on vacation. That way, someone might give you a trip, or you could win a contest, but no one would directly give you the money.

Symbols and Sigils

Spells involving geometric elements come in two basic forms. One uses traditional symbols for a traditional purpose. Spell books, from ancient to medieval sources, have lists of symbols and their meanings. Modern practitioners have even cobbled together a basic form of symbols used in many traditions of magic. Other symbols are unique to the practitioner and are created using a geometric system. Such symbols, known as sigils, have gained quite a bit of popularity in the modern era. Your magical intention is reduced to a simple statement. Any repeated letters are crossed out, and you are left with a few letters to represent the essence of your intent. Traditionalists, particularly ceremonial magicians, will plot the letters on a grid of letters and/or numbers that would work well with the spell, such as a planetary square of the Witch's wheel. Then the new sigil is lifted off the grid and used in magic. It is empowered in a ritual and then either drawn in the air, burned on paper, or carried as a charm. More modern magicians will artistically arrange the letters into a pleasing geometric form.

Figure 45: Sigil Creation Examples

Figure 45: Sigil Creation Examples (continued)

Charms

Charms are a catchall form of magical device. In some traditions, a charm that attracts forces to you is called a talisman, while a charm that banishes unwanted forces and protects you is called an amulet. Other traditions think of a talisman as a three-dimensional container of magical substances for your spell, such as a vial of herbal powder, while a charm is more two-dimensional, involving a flat surface and a symbol of your magical intention. Charms work through the system of correspondences, relating natural substances or geometric symbols to your magic. By carrying them around, you automatically attract or banish forces in alignment with your spell. Many charms are simple bags of cloth, with the color matched to the intention, and filled with herbs, stones, metals, or other tools that are connected to the intention. A charm to attract romantic love might have rose petals, yarrow, hot pepper flakes, a rose quartz, and a copper penny.

Candle Magic

Candle magic is a powerful form of magic. Though many think of it as an ancient art, it is most likely a bit more modern, since candles are relatively modern and only now affordable and readily available. The practice of candle magic probably originated in lamp and fire magic. The candle is so powerful because it inherently represents the four elements in magic. The wax is earthy. The flame is obviously the fire element and consumes air to burn. The wax melts, becoming like water. To do candle magic, use a candle with a color that matches your intention. Cleanse it. You can "dress" the candle by carving any appropriate magical symbols or letters into it, or carving the name of the person whom the spell will affect, the person's astrological sign, or anything else. You can combine candle magic with affirmations and carve the affirmation on the candle. Carving can be done with any small implement, such as a small knife, pen knife, or letter opener. You can even use your fingernail. You can also dress the candle by anointing it with oils that correspond with the intention. Other practitioners will take it a step further and roll the oiled candle in dry herbs that match the intention. Some even carve out the bottom of the candle and pack the end with herbs, so they will burn at the end of the spell. Once the candle is cleansed and dressed, hold it and think about your intention. Get clear and focused. Visualize your intent. Speak it as an affirmation. Focus your will however you can. Imagine filling the candle with your energy. When you are done, light the candle. Ideally, you should let it burn out, but if you can't, snuff it and then relight it later. Never blow it out or dip it in water. You want to keep its unique balance of the elements, and not add air or water to it. Once the candle burns completely, your energy has been released, and your spell will manifest.

Chart 5: Magical Color Correspondences

Chart 5 (continued)

Chart 5: Magical Color Correspondences (continued)

Cord Magic

Cord magic is another simple folk magic technique. Start by taking a length of string or cord. Natural material is preferable to synthetic but not absolutely mandatory, as the power is manifested through the knotting. The medium simply aids the flow of energy. Match the color with your intention. Some people choose three colors and braid them together. Then, as you think of your intent, tie a knot. Some spells do one knot. Others do three. Traditional spells often have nine or thirteen knots. I've known some people to do as many as thirty-three or forty-two knots, with a really long cord. With each knotting, focus on your intent. Put all your energy into the knot as you tie it. Multiple knots are good for spells with multiple components to them. Some spells will have similar themes, but have a few parts. Each knot can be for a different part. This is a simple yet powerful technique. This method of cord magick is for specific spell work, while another type of cord magic uses a longer cord to make a more elaborate charm that holds a general intention, such as protection or health, rather than a specific goal.

These spell techniques are some of the more popular forms of magic, but they are not the only kinds. There are many traditions of magic, using footprints, alchemical processes, the flow of the rivers, playing music, and gardening. Everything can be turned into a magical act.

The Magic Circle

One of my favorite magic rituals, the cornerstone of my personal magical and spiritual practice, is known as the magic circle. Other names and variations of it are the Moon circle, Witch's circle, or magician's circle. Basically, in this ritual, the practitioner creates sacred space by acknowledging and evoking divinity, the four directions, and the four elements as the powers of creation. Traditions across the world have ceremonies that similarly honor the four directions and sacred powers, though each culture and tradition has different associations with it. Those who have experienced Native American medicine wheel rituals remark how similar the magic circle is to these tribal teachings. Some ceremonies are used for celebration, and others for healing. More still are used for magic.

In this sacred space of the magic circle, your thoughts, words, and deeds are in a more direct communication with the divine. Witches say you are "between the worlds." Your intentions are catalyzed and become even more powerful. I like to do both meditation and formal spell work inside the confines of a magic circle. I do visualizations and petitions and consecrate charms, candles, and symbols in the magic circle, and I find it much more effective and spiritual for me than performing these actions in other ways.

Most circle work involves building an altar before creating the sacred space. An altar is simply a magical workspace. Upon it are tools used to help create the sacred space of your circle. In the Magician card of the tarot, you can see the four most popular tools in Western magic: the wand, cup, blade, and pentacle. They are the tools related to the four ele ments-fire, water, air, and earth, respectively. The tools on the altar represent the powers called upon in the ritual. Items that represent the God and Goddess, the male and female life forces, are often placed on the altar. In my tradition, the practitioner places a black candle on the left for the Goddess and a white candle on the right for the God. The altar faces north in the traditions I teach, for the magnetic power of the Earth, though in many traditions it faces east, in honor of the power of the rising Sun. Other altar items are both symbolic and practical, to set the tone of the ritual, such as matches, incense, oils, flowers, stones, crystals, and bells.

Figure 46: Altar

In the following exercise, you will be guided through a general form of the magic circle ritual, based on many of the most popular and traditional correspondences.

EXERCISE

The Magic Circle Ritual

The first step in most forms of ritual magic, including the magic circle, is purification. Both the practitioner and the environment are cleansed. Cleanse the space as taught in the Cleansing Space exercise in chapter 2. You can also use the same principle to cleanse yourself. The Aura Cleansing exercise in chapter 4 can also be used for personal cleansing. The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram from chapter 10 is useful for cleansing yourself and the space.

Many ritualists use the technique of ritual bathing. Some take a bath of sea salt and purifying herbs, such as lavender, rosemary, or frankincense and myrrh. Here is one of my favorite versions, based on a recipe by Scott Cunningham, found in the chapter on herb baths in The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews.

4 parts lavender

4 parts rosemary

3 parts thyme

3 parts basil

2 parts fennel

2 parts hyssop

1 part mint

1 part vervain

1 pinch valerian root

4 parts sea salt

Other ritualists take a shower, and visualize the water as a shower of light, cleansing both the physical body and all the spiritual bodies. The tools on your altar should be periodically cleansed of energy and charged with intent, just like your pendulum and other divination tools. I thoroughly cleanse my ritual tools and altar once a year and periodically cleanse and consecrate them as needed.

Once your self, space, and tools are set, prepare for your ritual to create your sacred space. Get into a light meditative state. Hold your magical wand in your dominant hand. Your dominant hand is usually considered to be projective and allows your energy to be sent out, while your nondominant hand is considered receptive. Some traditions rigidly follow the right hand as projective and left hand as receptive model, but I believe you should follow your intuition in these situations and use what you feel is best.

With your wand in hand, face north and feel with each breath that you are drawing energy up from the ground into your feet and down from the sky and stars into your crown. Feel the pure magical energy mix within you, then with your imagination and will, feel it flow down through your arm. Project it out through your wand as a beam of light. Starting in the north, use this beam of light and move clockwise around yourself to create a ring of light, much like the ring created in the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, but in one continuous movement, without stopping to draw the four pentacles. Create the ring three times to make the boundary of your sacred space. As I do this, I usually say the following words or something similar:

I cast this circle to protect me from all harm on all levels.

I charge this circle to draw the most perfect energies to this space for my working.

I charge this circle to stand as a sacred temple, a space beyond space, a time beyond time, a temple of perfect love and perfect trust, where the highest will is sovereign.

Take a moment to feel the shift in the energy around you. I feel a stillness that indicates I have erected a boundary. Unlike with the LBRP, once you have created the boundary, do not cross it until the ritual is over and you have released the circle. To make something real on the psychic level, you must treat it as real. The more your will and intent reinforce the reality, the more all entities on the subtle planes will treat the circle as a reality. The LBRP cleanses you and your space, but doesn't erect a stationary energetic container, a sacred space, the way the magic circle does. In various ceremonial magic traditions, practitioners create sacred space using more elaborate rituals that are similar to the magic circle, such as the Greater Rituals of the Pentagram, Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram, and Opening by Watchtower.

The circle is then anchored by calling upon the four powers, the four elements associated with the four directions. Different traditions use different associations for them, so I will be sticking to some of the most traditional correspondences. Many traditions, from Wicca to ceremonial magic, call upon the four archangels. Since you are already familiar with these four powers from the LBRP, I will use them in the quarter calls for the magic circle.

Stand before the altar, face the north, and hold out your receptive, nondominant arm, hand outstretched. Traditionally it is the left hand. If you have a ritual pentacle, you can hold it. If you don't, spread out your fingers like the five points of a star. Say:

To the north, I call to the powers of the element of earth. I call upon the archangel Uriel to aid me in my magic. Hail and welcome.

Feel the power of the earth, the solid, cool, and dry power of the land beneath your feet. Feel the stability and power of the earth.

Face the east, with your arm similarly outstretched. Say:

To the east, I call to the powers of the element of air. I call upon the archangel Raphael to aid me in my magic. Hail and welcome.

Feel the power of air, the warm and moist power of the wind and breath. Feel the clarity and quickness of the air.

Face the south, with your arm similarly outstretched. Say:

To the south, I call to the powers of the element of fire. I call upon the archangel Michael to aid me in my magic. Hail and welcome.

Feel the power of fire, the warm and dry power of light and combustion. Feel the dynamic force and illumination of the fire.

Face the west, with arm outstretched. Say:

To the west, I call to the powers of the element of water. I call upon the archangel Gabriel to aid me in my magic. Hail and welcome.

Feel the power of water, the warm and moist power of the seas and rivers. Feel the love and healing of the water.

Stand in the center, before the altar, and hold up the pentacle with both hands, or raise your outstretched arms. Say:

I call upon the Goddess, God, and Great Spirit to join me in this sacred space. I call upon my spirit guides and guardians that are perfect for this working. Hail and welcome.

Feel the presence of the divine and the element of spirit in the circle. Feel yourself between the worlds, where everything is possible. This space protects you, gathers your energy, and amplifies your magical intent.

In the traditions of Wicca and other forms of Paganism, we honor the divine as both Goddess and God. If this is not comfortable for you, adapt it. You can call upon the archangel Metatron for the center and the element of spirit/ether/akasha instead.

In a bowl on the altar, keep a solution of sea salt and water. Anoint yourself on your wrist with a banishing pentagram. In other traditions, an oil or potion of protection is used, but the salt solution is perfectly fine.

In Wicca, the anointing is usually followed by the Great Rite, but since this is an all-purpose ritual, even though it has a strong Wiccan flavor to it, it will not be included.

Once you have created the sacred space, you can do your magical spell work. Some traditions "raise" energy to be contained by the circle and charged by the spell craft. Raising energy can take the form of intense will, singing, chanting, dancing, trance work, sex, burning herbs and woods, and a variety of other techniques developed by practitioners. I do my spell craft at this point, anything from candle magic to a petition spell.

When releasing the energy of a spell, I raise my arms in what is known as the Goddess position (figure 47). Imagine a burst of energy going out of the circle, sending out your intention in what is known as the Cone of Power. Then take a moment to reflect on your spells in the God position (figure 48), arms crossed over your heart, much like an Egyptian pharaoh figure. When you have completed all your spell work, ground the energy. To do this, you can get down on your hands and knees and feel the remaining unneeded energy leave your body and enter the land. You can also visualize the energy going through the roots of your legs and feet and extending into the earth, or project it through your altar, wand, blade, or a staff into the land. If you are indoors, visualize the energy going through the building structure into the land. In some Wiccan traditions, cakes are eaten as well, since digesting food helps one ground into the physical world. Traditionally, each practitioner can do no more than three spells per circle.

Figure 47: Goddess Position

Figure 48: God Position

When the spell work is completed and the grounding is done, it is time to release the quarters, thank divinity, and release the circle. Start by facing the north again, and stand before the altar. Raise your dominant, projective hand, traditionally the right hand, and hold up your ritual pentacle or outstretched fingers. Say:

To the north, I thank and release the element of earth and the archangel Uriel. I thank you for your aid. Hail and farewell.

Feel the connection to the element of earth recede from the circle and its guardian take leave. Turn counterclockwise and face the west. Say:

To the west, I thank and release the element of water and the archangel Gabriel. I thank you for your aid. Hail and farewell.

Feel the connection to the element of water recede from the circle and its guardian take leave. Turn counterclockwise and face the south. Say:

To the south, I thank and release the element of fire and the archangel Michael. I thank you for your aid. Hail and farewell.

Feel the connection to the element of fire recede from the circle and its guardian take leave. Turn counterclockwise and face the east. Say:

To the north, I thank and release the element of air and the archangel Raphael. I thank you for your aid. Hail and farewell.

Feel the connection to the element of air recede from the circle and its guardian take leave. Turn counterclockwise and face the center. Hold up the pentacle in both hands, or raise your outstretched arms. Say:

I thank the Goddess, God, and Great Spirit, the powers of creation. I thank you for all your aid. I thank all spirits who come in perfect love and perfect trust, stay if you will, go if you must. Hail and farewell.

Point your wand to the north, and trace the circle of light, moving counterclockwise. Some practitioners imagine the light getting sucked back into the wand, while others imagine the light expanding out infinitely. Either is fine. Follow your intuition. As you do this, say:

I cast this circle out into the cosmos as a sign of my work here. The circle is undone, but never broken. So mote it be.

Take time after the ritual to ground yourself and return fully to the regular world. Eating is very helpful, as is any other real-world, mundane action that brings your attention back fully to the physical realm.

12

HEALINCj.

Out of all the forms of magic and mysticism, the one that is most often sought out is the art and science of healing. Healing traditions have arisen and made themselves known, moving through the modern world in the form of alternative healing or holistic health. Interest has risen in traditional forms of healing, particularly herbalism, aromatherapy, energy healing, crystals, and even shamanism. Since many of these practices are brought to use through alternative healing, many people have no knowledge of their mystical and magical associations. These modern applications are based on the more ancient mystical practices. Here are a few variations on the healing traditions.

Energy Healing

Many forms of energy healing exist. Most consist of a system where the practitioner draws on a source of vital energy, of life force, often known as chi, ki, or prana, and transfers the energy to the recipient. The recipient's body uses this life force to effect the healing. Techniques exist for transferring energy both in person through touch and via distance. Energy healing can be combined with other techniques, and is often used in conjunction with methods to clear and balance the chakras and the aura. Reiki, a form of energy healing from Japan, is a very popular, safe, easy, and effective form of energy healing.

Psychic Healing

Psychic healing is the process of using your will and intention to effect a change in healing. Practitioners often visualize the healing taking place. They imagine broken bones being knit together or malignancies shrinking. Some visualize colored lights, yet with this technique, if they are using energy healing, they are not filtering the energy through their body, but psychically directing the energy to the recipient. Colored light is a symbol of their healing intention.

Psychic Surgery

Psychic surgery is a hotly debated topic among those in the mystical world, and opinions on it vary, depending on how it is defined. When it reached the more mainstream society, some charlatans were proponents of it and, with their deceptions, polluted the possibility of the most dramatic form of healing for most people. The more dramatic definition of psychic surgery is using psychic ability to literally and physically reach into the body and perform surgery, removing or changing physical tissue, without scalpel, anesthesia, or any other modern surgical device. Though I believe in the psychic possibility of this healing, I have never seen it performed, though I have reliable friends who state they have witnessed it. Unfortunately, charlatans have "removed" from people what in reality is chicken guts, claiming to remove tumors. Through sleight-of-hand gestures, they appear to pull out the tumors, tricking patients into believing they were cured. In a more psychic arena, what is also known as shamanic surgery is the process of energetically removing the illness or injury with sur- gerylike techniques. This does not involve a literal manipulation of tissue. The theory is that if you remove the energy of a sickness, such as a tumor, the physical substance will more easily collapse and will be healed by the immune system naturally. Shamanic surgery is not the immediate miracle cure many people expect when they hear the term psychic surgery, but it's able to be performed by more people involved in healing arts, and has a great track record when used in conjunction with other forms of holistic healing.

Spirit Healing

Spirit healing is a shamanic technique using the healing powers of various nonphysical spirits. Such spirits are embodiments of the natural realm, from animal spirits to plant and mineral spirits. Such spirit healing is often called spirit medicine, because the spirit embodies a healing lesson that helps bring the person back into balance. Much of what a Witch or magician considers to be healing magic is called "medicine" in shamanic traditions, because it heals and brings the recipient's consciousness and life force back into harmony with the universe and the person's own divine nature.

Faith Healing

Faith healing is found in a number of metaphysical traditions, including some expressions of the dominant monotheistic faiths. It involves very few of the metaphysical principles or models. The concept relies on the faith of the practitioner and/or the client in a higher power that will bring complete health. This form of healing might include a prayer or reading, but not what a magical practitioner would consider an evocation or ritual. Illnesses are not visualized as being healed or banished. It's a very simple technique based solely on the power of faith.

Crystals

Crystal healing is the process of altering energy and consciousness by laying stones upon the body or carrying them with you. Each stone, based on its structure, color, composition, and spiritual qualities, is used to heal a particular area of life. Most crystals have properties to heal on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. Crystals, like all things, have unique vibrations. Their colors correspond to the chakras. Their structure not only vibrates healing qualities of energy, but many crystals, particularly those of the quartz family, can amplify any intentions placed in them, much as a magnifying glass amplifies the heat of sunlight. This quality makes crystals very powerful in healing and magic.

Vibrational Remedies

Vibrational remedies are dilute solutions made from flowers, stones, and other substances. Originally known as flower remedies, from the pioneering work of a homeopath named Dr. Edward Bach, vibrational remedies encode in a water and preservative mix the healing vibrations, the subtle spiritual qualities, of a substance. The most popular vibrational remedies are made from flowers and are often called flower essences or flower remedies. Working according to principles that are similar to those in homeopathy-such as the concepts of like cures like, and small, frequent doses can be more effective than larger highchemical doses-vibrational remedies work to heal on the emotional, mental, and spiritual levels. When the consciousness of the essence recipient is changed by taking the remedy, then the process that supports the disease also changes and is no longer supported by the individual thoughts and feelings, and the body can more easily and gently correct itself. Each flower, or any other natural substance, has a healing property based on its signature-its physical shape, color, medicinal qualities, and folklore. For example, a rose is universally associated with love, and the opening of a rose is symbolic of opening the heart. Rose flower essence is used to open the heart to love and to heal relationships. The powers of vibrational remedies are subtle, but they can have powerful effects, particularly with long-term use. Practitioners act as consultants, helping those in need choose essences and create harmonious combinations of essences, but individuals can also intuitively or deductively choose and self-administer essences quite successfully.

Healing Rituals

Healing rituals are magical formulas that are used in many traditions, combining and adapting many of the techniques presented in this chapter. Witches, magicians, and shamans use ritual techniques to direct their will toward healing both themselves and others. They also use the rituals to alter the consciousness of their healing recipient, to help induce self-healing. Healing changes are effected by petitioning deities, spirits, and elements, and using the power of color, visualization, candles, herbs, and stones.

EXERCISE

General Healing Spell

This healing spell can be used by anyone, for any healing purpose. It is not dependent on faith or any specific metaphysical system, other than the belief in energy and magic. You can do it in a magic circle, if you'd like, but this is not absolutely necessary. Do what feels most comfortable for you. For this working, you will need the following:

1 white candle

1 quartz crystal

A photo or personal item of the healing recipient, if it is not you

Take this time to get into a meditative state. Center yourself. Feel yourself at peace with your world and the universe. Call upon the divine, in whatever form you feel comfortable. In my own practice, I call upon "the Goddess, God, and Great Spirit." Call upon the divine to let the healing powers of the universe flow through you, for "the highest good, harming none."

Feel a beam of light descend from the heavens. Intuitively choose the color of light, or intellectually choose an appropriate color based on your knowledge of the chakras and magical correspondences. If you are uncertain with either technique, focus on white light.

Hold the personal object or photo, and think about the person in need of healing. With the following words or something similar, call upon the person's higher consciousness and spirits:

I call upon the higher self and highest guides of [name of healing recipient]. I ask for your permission and help in guiding this healing energy, for the highest good, harming none. If this healing is not for the highest good, please direct the energy to where it is needed and will be accepted. So mote it be.

Set the personal object down, then hold the candle. Think about the light of energy descending from the heavens into you. Feel the healing energy flow through your body. Fill the candle with it. You are not using your personal energy, but this universal energy flowing through you. Think about the recipient, and imagine the person bathed in healing light. It might change color in your mind's eye. I imagine it as "crystal white" light, an opalescent or prismatic light filled with a rainbow of colors. You can imagine the recipient healthy and vital. You can imagine illness declining and disappearing and health being bolstered. Place the candle in a holder next to the personal object and light it.

Repeat the process with the crystal. First fill the crystal with light, and imagine the light cleansing the crystal of all unwanted energies and programs. Then put your magical healing intention into the crystal. Imagine the crystal taking the light of the candle and amplifying it, directing it out to the recipient. Place the crystal next to the candle. Let the candle burn out. If you cannot leave it, snuff it out and relight it later. Repeat the process as often as necessary. This will send a vital healing light to the recipient, to be used for the person's highest healing good.

FIVE

EXPLOSINCj THE PATHS

13

MYSTIC TRADITIONS

All cultures have their mystic traditions. In our modern terminology, it's hard to distinguish between various spiritual titles and vocations. For the purpose of this book, I am using the word mystic to describe an individual seeking a direct experience with the divine. Some people would distinguish a mystic from a magician, Witch, or sorcerer, but I think of mystic as a larger category, and magicians, Witches, shamans, martial artists, yogis, ecstatics, seers, healers, and members of various spiritual orders as part of this broader category. Anybody who seeks a direct spiritual experience can be a mystic, regardless of the tradition, culture, or time period. In more secular places and times, philosophers, scientists, artists, dancers, and musicians have walked the path of the mystic, seeking transcendental experiences to know themselves, the worlds, and the divine.

Spiritual traditions use the metaphor of climbing a mountain to describe the path of enlightenment. As you ascend the mountain, you gain a wider, more encompassing viewpoint, and better appreciate the beauty around you. The spiritual climb gives you many of the same benefits. You see the whole and learn to appreciate many of the paths leading to the top.

There are many paths to get to the top of the spiritual mountain. We each start at a different place. We might find our own paths, or walk well-worn paths cut by those who came before us. We might use a path as a guide, but walk slightly off the path, finding our own way, but looking for similar landmarks.

Mystic traditions are the paths up the mountain. We can walk them, or use them as guides. We might cross from one path to the next, trying several ways of life. Eventually, all routes lead us to the top of the mountain, though some might be more difficult or easier for us. Many people take time to appreciate parts of the mountain, while others race quickly to the top. Each path suits a different climber, but all are good. Even people who seem to be lost, wandering aimlessly at the base of the mountain, appearing to have no mystical interest at all, eventually find their way to the top.

East and West

The previous chapters contain basic information that has become fairly standard in the modern New Age mystic traditions, with a broad cultural view yet with a general bias toward what most people would call the Western traditions. Various spiritual paths, in the West and East, have their own take on the information, with specific terminology, cultural biases, and insights. The previous descriptions offer generalizations and common denominators, but do not encompass a complete and whole tradition. Each tradition is unique, with its own traits and personality.

Some people divide mystic traditions into Western patterns and Eastern patterns, though this is a great oversimplification, and many traditions do not fit neatly into either division. People in the West often describe Eastern traditions as passive, introspective, and aesthetic. The practitioner withdraws from the world to understand the true nature of consciousness. But Eastern traditions such as yoga or the various martial arts are quite active and vigorous. The practitioner has to perform the exercises to get the spiritual benefit. While the stereotype of Eastern traditions is of "non-doing" and detachment, the Western traditions are seen as actively pursuing, studying, and affecting the material world. Through building a relationship with the physical world, and the energy that sustains it, the practitioner comes to understand the powers of the universe. Creating change in the world is known as magic, though magic encompasses both internal and external changes. The arts of Witchcraft, hermetic magic, and alchemy follow this path. Though the image is one of active participation, the Western traditions contain a fair amount of introspection and quiet contemplation. Traditions on both sides require discipline and introspection, but simply pursue them in different ways. In truth, they are like two sides of the same coin. Both are needed. The yogis of the East are often viewed as magicians. The Western Qabalah, as a system of mystical union, is often called the yoga of the West. Many sha manic practices have both Western and Eastern traits, and appear to be a universal fount of wisdom for people on both sides of the globe.

Institutions

Those on the spiritual path invariably codify their experiences into traditions. The first seers and shamans came back with their tales of otherworld adventures and divine beings, creating tribal mythology, songs, and customs. They passed on their techniques, experiences, and interpretations of those experiences to their students. They shared information and influenced the spiritual views of the tribe.

When humankind became agrarian, settled down, built cities, and developed writing, the oral traditions became solidified into various teachings. Some of the teachings became mystery traditions, rituals and techniques to induce personal contact with the divine. Others became institutional religions. Civilization created a divide between the esoteric, or inner mysteries, and the exoteric, or outer religions. The average person in the ancient world was Pagan, but not necessarily a mystic. In many societies there has always been a caste of people who are focused on the mystical and esoteric.

Religion and mysticism are not mutually exclusive. Both are often very entwined, depending on how you define religion. Many mystical systems have grown into formal institutions, and many exist side by side. The most famous of the institutional religionsJudaism, Christianity, and Islam-all have their own inner mystic traditions that are not as widely known. At various points in history, such institutions have discouraged the personal mystical experience, but mysticism and institutional religion are not incompatible. The difference between the two is that mystics learn techniques for direct experience of the divine. That is the focus of their traditions. Institutional religions are more prophetic, based on the revelation of an honored mystic in that tradition. Rather than encourage personal revelation and interpretation, institutions base their theology on the experiences of accepted and approved prophets. The wisdom and experiences of these prophets are recorded as sacred scripture and become the basis of the religion's teachings.

The teachings of institutional religions can become dogmatic, not evolving with the changing consciousness of people over time. What was appropriate for one era might not be universally appropriate for another. Difficulties also arise when scriptures are translated into many different languages, as the original meanings often become muddled, colored by cultural and personal prejudices.

No matter your personal belief system, you cannot look at figures such as Moses, Abraham, Jesus, the Apostles, and Mohammed and not see that they are all mystics, with direct experience of the divine. But instead of using their lives as models for our own mystical experiences, their experiences and the words attributed to them became the foundations of the religions. These mystics are held in high esteem as having the divine truth revealed to them, for the good of all. In many ways, the mystic's experience is the foundation of metaphysics, magic, and religion.

Initiation

Initiation is an important experience for practitioners of mystic traditions. The word initiate literally means "to begin." Although many people think of an initiation ritual as a graduation ceremony, because it occurs at the end of a length of training or testing, just like a graduation from school, the ending is also a new beginning. A ceremonial initiation occurs when a mystic is accepted into a tradition or order as a full member, after completing a period of training or series of tests. Traditions with more than one rank or level can have an initiation ceremony for each level. Initiation rituals occur in mystical as well as mundane groups. The best-known and most notorious are the initiation rituals of fraternities and sororities at institutions of higher education. The trials and hardships are said to build character, and connect the person to all of those in the group who have experienced the same initiation. Initiation can be a bonding experience, as only those who have gone through it can truly understand what it means to be a part of a particular group. We find initiations in Freemasonry, blending elements of a social group with past mystic traditions.

Initiation is more than a ceremonial acknowledgment. It is a spiritual connection to the energy of a tradition, as those who carry the energy of the tradition pass on that connection to the newest members. It links the initiates to all the sisters and brothers in the tradition who have come before them, and all those who will come after them. Many people believe that certain abilities or talents are passed on during initiations. In traditions that encourage psychic or magical development, those abilities often expand after the initiation. In the healing tradition of Reiki, one becomes a practitioner of the art through an initiation into the energy of Reiki. Though most call the process an "attunement," it is quite literally an initiation, and after this ceremony, the practitioner naturally channels the healing energy of Reiki. Other initiation ceremonies can grant different gifts, but the greatest gift is the sense of accomplishment and belonging to a spiritual tradition. The initiates become part of a spiritual lineage, linking them to the founder of that tradition. This is a key teaching in the Christian concept of Apostolic succession, sharing a link to the founding of the church.

Initiations are often awakening experiences. Teachers of the mystery traditions design their initiation rituals to awaken the initiate's inner powers. Up until that point, much of the esoteric lore the person studies may be objective and intellectual, but the initiation rituals awaken the divine within, and alter the initiate's worldview. Initiations involve surprises, challenges, and oaths.

The most primal initiations occur spontaneously, and were the foundation of the ritual initiations of mystical orders. The first mystics would alter their consciousness and open themselves to the paths of a new reality and understanding through a trial or traumatic experience. Many times this would occur during an extended period of illness, particularly with a fever. The person's spirit would leave the body during this time of sickness and commune with the spirit world. These near-death experiences would forever alter the worldview of the new mystic. Other initiates have an awakening of psychic ability or insight that alters them. Though I've undergone ritual initiations, I think my most important initiation experience involved my first attempt at psychic diagnosis and healing. Using the techniques I had learned in a Witchcraft class, I put the esoteric knowledge into action, and it became real for me. I was able to connect with a person I had never met, intuitively diagnose her illnesses and pain, and send healing energy to her. Going into the exercise, I didn't quite believe it was possible, but had an open mind. As with many initiation rituals, I was afraid of failure, yet pressed onward. When we were done, my mind was completely blown. All the theories of magic and meditation became a reality for me, and after that I believed that anything was possible. I was forever changed in a night, though it took me quite a while to integrate the experience. Like many initiation experiences, it was a rebirth process for me. Life initiations, or personal ordeals, can be the most powerful initiations of all.

Formal rituals sometimes imitate and reenact the mythic resurrection stories, such as those of Osiris and Isis, Persephone, Dionysus, or even Jesus. The death symbolizes the loss of the old self, and the initiation is the rebirth of the new, more mystically realized self. Initiation does not necessarily mean enlightenment. Many people misunderstand and think they will become fully enlightened, saved, or perfected automatically through the ritual. The ritual gives us the opportunity to expand our consciousness, but it's up to us as to how we integrate the experience. I don't know anybody who has become instantly enlightened and perfected from an initiation experience, but I know people who have totally transformed their lives for the better after a successful initiation.

Some initiations are not as successful. Many people simply go through the steps, but do no inner preparation to expand their consciousness through the ritual. Many take time to really contemplate the meaning of the initiation, and the results are not immediate. It takes time for them to fully manifest. For others, the sudden realization of a larger worldview and expanded consciousness is frightening or overwhelming. With an increased sense of power comes an increased sense of responsibility-for yourself and your world. Many people, especially those who are blame-oriented for their life situations, cannot handle the newfound responsibility.

Initiation, like any spiritual experience, comes with many blessings, but is a great responsibility. Before deciding upon an initiatory path of training, give it plenty of thought. Understand the roles and responsibilities expected of you when you join a tradition. Make sure it is compatible with your spiritual path and calling. Many people feel the need to be formally initiated into a tradition in order to feel like a legitimate mystic. A true mystic is one who has done the work and had the experiences, regardless of lineage. Most great innovators founded their own tradition by finding their own way. Names, titles, certificates, and initiations are less important than the experiences themselves. The most important initiations are the natural, spontaneous awakenings that happen on the mystic's path.

Spiritual Names

A common theme in many initiations is renaming. After a pivotal experience that becomes a rebirth, such traditions feel a renaming is appropriate. Most of us don't get to consciously pick our birth names. Our parents or guardians do so for us. When we turn to the mystic's life, we often get the opportunity to rename ourselves.

Specific traditions have various guides in the naming process. Some have a teacher rename the student. Others use astrology and numerology as guides. Many allow the initiate to choose his or her own name. Sometimes the name of a mythic figure that the initiate aspires to emulate is chosen. Some initiates create unique names using a combination of sacred sounds and phrases from the tradition. Still others make combinations of words from nature-including animals, plants, and astrology-to symbolize their new journey. Lastly, many initiates meditate and receive their name directly from their own guidance.

In traditions with several initiation steps, the seeker may be encouraged to take a new name at each step, either adding to previous names or discarding the older ones as the path unfolds.

Many people feel their mystical experiences reveal their true name or soul name. Some traditions of magic use names in both healing and cursing. Practitioners of such traditions take care never to reveal their true spiritual names, because to know someone or something's true name is to have power over it. Many traditions of spirit evocation and control are based on knowing the name and symbol of the spirit. Cautious practitioners might have a public name or even a public spiritual name that is much like a guise. The name is true to themselves and their character, but not something intimately used. It could be a spiritual name from an early initiation. Another name may be used in magical circles that are intimate, such as a coven, order, or lodge, but kept secret. Still another name may be used privately, between the spirits and the mystic.

On the other end of the spectrum, certain people feel it is vitally important for practitioners to use their true spiritual names whenever and wherever possible, to own them and to radiate their inner magical power in all aspects of their lives. Many spiritual seekers use their spiritual names in public, but in spiritual circles only. Others use them in public all the time, and some even change their legal names to match their spiritual names.

You don't have to be an initiate of a specific tradition to take a spiritual name. If you feel called to do so, particularly after a transformative experience on your mystical path, then follow your inner wisdom and intuition and use the name that is appropriate for you.

Secrecy

Secrecy is one aspect of the mystic traditions that can cause great difficulty for seekers. By its very nature, the mystical is esoteric, not exoteric. The teachings are not for everybody. They are only appropriate for a certain group of people. Mystical study requires a certain discipline and desire to experience the divine directly. Most people who are involved in religion are involved in the institutional forms of religion, with guidelines on life, morality, and belief systems set by scriptures and prophets. For most people, that is enough. Not everybody is looking for a direct experience. Many are called to do other work and service in the world, fulfilling their own unique role. They are still spiritual beings with a unique, wonderful part to play in creation. Some may dabble in the esoteric, but not devote themselves to the path of the mystic.

The consciousness-expanding techniques of the mystic traditions are intense. They can bring awareness of the unconscious aspects of the self into full awareness. Without the support system of a responsible teacher, order, or class, the realizations the mystical techniques bring can be shattering rather than healing.

Mystic traditions are based upon a set formula. Archetypal themes are followed that speak to the deep inner wisdom and active consciousness. Teachings are followed in a specific order, with the student expected to understand and master a set of basic experiences before going on to learn more advanced techniques. Traditions that teach magic and psychic abilities fear the potential of the teachings being abused to the detriment of others. Orders often ask initiates to take oaths of secrecy to protect the teachings, or take vows to use the information in the most reputable and honorable ways.

With the expansion of the printed media, and the bustling New Age metaphysical market, mystical material is available to those without a teacher in a way that has never before occurred in our history. Many traditionalists see this as a problem, because many of the structures and safeguards have been taken away. There is a possibility of the information from one tradition being mingled with another and diluting the teaching.

More modern practitioners and teachers look at this openness as a potential blessing. As we enter the New Age, the similarities between wisdom traditions all across the world will be revealed. In this age, certain teachers and orders will hold the job of keeping traditions pure, while others will be spiritually responsible for showing the common threads and making the information accessible to all. In books such as this one, the views of many traditions are distilled into common ground and made accessible to a greater number of people.

Many mystics have had transformative experiences from books, CDs, videos, and weekend workshops, following their own unique path and using ancient wisdom as an aid and signpost on the path. Though there is a danger in any kind of experimentation, mystical or otherwise, there can be great rewards as well. I, among many other modern authors, feel that the accessibility of the ancient wisdom for greater numbers of people far outweighs the potential risks. As we enter a new time, there are simply not enough orders, temples, ashrams, and teachers to personally oversee all the mystical seekers. Modern media allow access to information for those who truly dare to take the next step. Many people buy books and take classes related to spirituality, but don't actually put any of the teachings or techniques into practice. They are armchair mystics, collecting information but not experience. Those who move beyond the intellectual exercise of collecting data and put the teachings and techniques into practice are rewarded with a rich spiritual life. A mystic realizes that even seeming difficulties on the path can be great teachers and, in the end, wonderful blessings.

Though most people are not necessarily seeking the mystic's path as their own, those viewing the New Age through a lens of equality feel that the consciousness-expanding experiences of the past will be made available to all on some level. One of the more positive prophecies of the next age is that it will be a golden age of enlightenment. Each human being will be more developed and self-realized. The mystics of the next age will do their part by taking consciousness to the next level of human development. In the age of light, much of our secret traditions will come out of the shadows and be available to all.

14

THE PATHS UP THE MOUNTAIN

The teachings of this book have simplified and distilled the common points of many different mystic traditions, Eastern and Western. This represents a foundation of metaphysical thought found in the modern New Age community. A thorough understanding of it gives an aspiring mystic sure footing, no matter what tradition he or she follows.

Each path, however, is unique, with its own terminology, beliefs, and history. The unseen worlds are difficult to describe, even when we experience them firsthand, and each mystic's description is colored by his or her own tradition, culture, and time.

The following is a list of mystic traditions and systems. It is by no means complete, but includes some of those that I have drawn upon for this book, and those that have affected my life in a direct way. The purpose is to give you an understanding of the many paths up the mountain of spirituality, so you can determine for yourself which, if any, you seek to study.

Alchemy

Alchemy is a tradition that focuses on the act of transmutation. Though it eventually transformed into modern-day chemistry, losing its spiritual value except with the most isolated of seekers, alchemy is a worldwide tradition, with roots in Egypt, Greece, Asia, and the Middle East. The classic alchemical text, the Emerald Tablet, is ascribed to the Greek figure Hermes Trismegistus, known to the Egyptians as the god Thoth. Hermetic manuscripts attributed to Hermes or his followers continue to influence alchemy and Western magic. We are most familiar with the image of the European alchemist. This tradition is an amalgam of many different cultures, mixing Qabalah, Hermeticism, astrology, and some Christian symbolism. The secrets of European alchemy are encoded in a variety of images and esoteric symbols involving nature and the stars. The most popular image is that of transforming lead into gold. Most people misunderstood this teaching, assuming it was about greed, where one looked to take something worthless and transform it into something financially valued. Such alchemists seeking only fortune were labeled "puffers" by those who sought the spiritual value of alchemy.

Spiritual alchemists sought to change their darkness, or what might be known as karma, their personal lead, into refined spiritual energy, enlightenment, or gold. Some looked at the lead-to-gold imagery as just symbolism, while others thought of it as literal fact-if a person could literally transform the qualities of lead into gold, then he was a spiritual master, like Jesus turning water into wine. It was a sign that the person had reached that state of enlightenment and understanding of the universe. This transmutation was often called the Philosopher's Stone or the Perfected Stone, and was said to change lead into gold, grant immortality, and cure all illnesses. Many thought it was an outer rock, a synthesized mineral, but in reality the Philosopher's Stone was an inner tool, the perfected alchemist's soul. The various chemical processes the alchemist performed to distill and refine matter-such as calcination, distillation, separation, fermentation, and coagulation-were also occurring on the alchemist's energy, to refine his or her consciousness. Prayer, ritual, and meditation played as big a role in the success of an experiment as actual chemistry, for the alchemist sought change in the inner and outer worlds.

Ascension

The ascension paradigm is not one specific religious path, but an amalgam of the mystic traditions around the world. Most people would consider it a subset of the overall New Age movement, with some of its own specific theology and terminology. Rooted in the modern spiritualist movement and the inspired works of Theosophy and its offshoots, including the works of H. P. Blavatsky, Alice Bailey, and Guy Ballard, ascension lore has incorporated aspects of Hinduism, Buddhism, Gnostic Christianity, Qabalah, Taoism, alchemy, ceremonial magic, Paganism, and shamanism into a synthesis that is dependent upon the practitioner. No one consistent doctrine or set of core beliefs defines all the participants in the movement, other than the belief that humanity is "ascending" to another level of consciousness, what is often referred to as a higher dimension or higher vibrational level. Otherwise, the beliefs and practices vary widely from practitioner to practitioner. Many believe a variety of other beings, including angels, spirit guides, deities, faeries, enlightened aliens, and ascended masters, are aiding our evolution to the next level. In fact, these ascended masters, enlightened beings from every culture and time period, are the model for our own ascension process.

Some ascension practitioners also believe that another set of forces-both physical and nonphysical beings, characterized as "dark brothers"-is seeking to stop or slow the ascension process by creating a battle with the forces of light. They see Earth's history as being riddled with mysterious societies, conspiracies, and secret agendas, battles that have been hidden from mainstream society, and include in their history a belief in locations such as Atlantis, Lemuria, and Shamballa. Ascensionists sometimes refer to themselves instead as "light workers," meaning they work with the principles of esoteric light, psychic energy, to create healing and harmony. The focus is on world peace, healing, unconditional love, and the belief that we all come from the same source and will return to it, and the essence of this source is love. Complementary practices, including healing arts such as Reiki and crystal healing, as well as channeling, psychic development, and holistic health, are a part of the overall paradigm.

Astrology

Astrology is not a religious or even a spiritual tradition, but a tool found in many cultures that aids the mystic in understanding his or her spiritual development. Though some may follow it like a religion, it is a practice found in both Western and Eastern occultism, based on the observation of the patterns of the sky and how these patterns correspond to what is occurring on Earth and in our lives. We find its influence in modern Hinduism, alchemy, ceremonial magic, Witchcraft, and popular psychology. Though there are several forms of astrology-from Western astrology, based on the tropical zodiac, to Vedic, or Hindu, astrology, based on the sidereal zodiac-each is based on the patterns of the sky, from the zodiac signs to the movement of the planets, to understand the energies present at any given moment. The systems teach that the alignment of the sky at a person's birth determines the potentials and challenges in that person's life, and the current movements of the sky in comparison to the birth chart can provide insight into the forces at hand in the person's life. Each of the signs is an archetypal energy, and each planet corresponds to a part of the person's psyche that acts out that archetype. Where the signs and planets fall in the sky determines "where" in the person's life they influence him or her.

As a tool, astrology acts as a lens to understand the past and present and to work with the future, for the best possible outcomes. Some focus on the spiritual pursuits of astrology, understanding the development of consciousness through life's lessons. Others use it simply to observe personality traits and personal strengths and weaknesses, or to find fortunate moments of opportunity in business or love. Astrology is even used to plan appropriate times for ritual, ceremony, and meditation. Working through the Principle of Correspondence, `As above, so below; as below, so above," this science and art operates on many levels, and its benefit is determined only by the scope of the user.

Baha'i

Baha'i is a religion that grew out of the Islamic tradition in the 1800s, but is distinct from Islam. It is a monotheistic tradition based on the teaching of the prophet Baha'u'llah from Persia. His name means "the Glory of God" in Arabic, and his teachings include the belief in one supreme god who is unknowable to man. There is one humanity, and all people are equal in the eyes of God. In our oneness, Baha'i encourages cultural diversity. Men and women are equal, and the tradition seeks to eliminate prejudice and create world peace. Baha'i recognizes that all religions were brought by prophets of God, including the teachings of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Followers see Baha'i as the next stage of religion, in which God will reveal his will in the modern world. The Baha'i stance on traditions such as Paganism is not clear. Practitioners of the Baha'i faith believe in a covenant between God and humanity to send prophets to bring God's teachings, as well as the succession of prophetic authority.

Baha'i teaches moderation as a key principle and lacks a rigid structure, though there are fasts once a year, restrictions against alcohol and recreational drug use, and mandatory financial contributions. In addition, chastity before marriage is required, and homosexual relationships are prohibited. There are few specific rituals in the Baha'i faith, though the rituals that are a part of the tradition include specific marriage and funerary practices, daily prayer facing the "Point of Adoration," and reading the sacred writings of the faith each morning and evening.

Buddhism

Buddhism is an Eastern religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, named Siddhartha Gautama, who was born approximately 550 years before Jesus Christ. Starting in India, Buddhism spread throughout Asia, including Tibet, China, Korea, Mongolia, and Japan. Though the basic core of the teachings is the same, different cultures have manifested different strains of Buddhism. One of the most popular branches is Tibetan Buddhism, which bonded Buddhism with the Tibetan native religion of Bon. In the modern era, Buddhism has spread all over the world.

The aim of Buddhism, through its moral and philosophical code and meditative practices, is to awaken the practitioner to true reality and to be liberated from the cycle of death and rebirth. In essence, anyone can become enlightened, and thereby become a Buddha. The title is not restricted to any one person or spiritual leader. Siddhartha Gautama, who is called Shakyamuni Buddha by Buddhists, does not claim any special status, and simply shows the way for those who want to follow the path of awakening and realization of nirvana. On Siddhartha's journey, he discovered the Four Noble Truths, teaching that suffering and dissatisfaction in life come from craving. This condition of humanity is curable, and the cure is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism, emphasizing "right" action. Five precepts to aid the practitioner are given, including refraining from harming other living creatures, stealing, sexual misconduct, incorrect speech, and intoxication. Traditions of Buddhism use ritual, prayer, mantra, and meditation as a part of their practice in achieving Buddhahood.

Christianity

Christianity is the religion based on the life, teachings, and death of Jesus of Nazareth, known as Jesus Christ. The word Christ is derived from the Greek Christos, and means "anointed one." Followers of Christianity believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. Christians base their teachings on both the Old Testament and the New Testament, a record of Jesus's life and teachings recorded by his followers, as well as the actions of the early Church. Like Judaism, Christianity is a monotheistic religion, yet many Christian sects believe in the Creator as a trinity as well as a sole being. God manifests as the Father, the god of the Old Testament; the Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit, also known as the Holy Ghost or Holy Sophia. A main precept is that Jesus, as the messiah, was literally the son of God, a manifestation of the divine, who became flesh to redeem all those believers from their sins as he suffered, died by crucifixion, and literally resurrected himself from the dead to return to heaven. Followers are promised resurrection and everlasting life in heaven on Judgment Day. The essence of Christianity is to be "Christlike," meaning to follow the actions of Jesus in the Gospels, emphasizing love, forgiveness, and healing. Although Christians follow the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament, the Golden Rule takes precedence: `All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets," or more simply, "Do unto others as you would have done unto you" (Matthew 7:1).

Christianity has broken into a variety of sects. The most dominant and largest groupings include Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. The early branches of Christianity included various sects of Gnostic Christianity, a more mystical, personal take on the tradition, marked by the theology that only personal knowledge of the true reality grants salvation from this world. As the Roman Catholic Church was formed, various Gnostic texts and practitioners, demonstrating alternate views on Christ's teachings, were suppressed. The early church in the British Isles was known as the Celtic Christian Church, and for a time incorporated Pagan beliefs and teachings into its structure. Some people believe the Druids of the Celtic people eventually became part of the orders of priests, monks, and brothers of the church, and preserved some of their teachings in the Celtic Church. Eventually the more traditional forms of Christianity became dominant in the isles.

Discordianism

Discordianism is a religion that is not taken seriously, even by its practitioners. It is based on a book called Principia Discordia by Greg Hill, and the tradition began in 1958 or 1959. Its principal deity is the Greek goddess of discord, named Eris, and her Roman counterpart, Discordia. Though such godforms might evoke an image of serious ancient ritual magic, Discordianism is anything but serious. It is based on the concept that while other religions focus on harmony and order in the universe, Discordians feel that the forces of chaos and disharmony are just as valid. While most religions are serious, with poetic texts, Discordianism is silly and doesn't make much sense from a logical perspective, and its texts read like jokes. There are several principles about the apparent order or apparent disorder of the universe, but the true reality is pure chaos. There are various sects of Discordianism, though their organization, structure, and hierarchy are not readily apparent.

One of the symbols of Discordianism is the Sacred Chao, a spinoff of the yin/yang symbol, where one of the "dots" of the symbol is a pentagon, while the other is appleshaped. The pentagon is associated with the Aneristic Principle, or perception of order, as well as a teaching known as the Law of Five. The apple is a nod to the goddess Eris, in her story with the golden apple of discord, and related to the Eristic Principle. The Apple of Discord story involving Eris is known to Discordians as the "Original Snub." Discordian teachings are called catma rather than dogma, and the pineal gland is seen as the source of answers to life's questions, with the popular saying "Consult your pineal gland." Becoming a Discordian is described on page 00032 of the Principia Discordia: "If you want in on the Discordian Society then declare yourself what you wish do what you like and tell us about it or if you prefer don't. There are no rules anywhere. The Goddess Prevails."

Druidism

The word Druid refers to a member of the priestly caste of the ancient Celtic people. There is great debate about the nature of the Druids, their culture, and their practices, because the Druids held an oral tradition, with little being written down. Much of what we do know about the Druids comes from scholars and historians outside of their culture and traditions, with various biases. The Romans, when expanding into the Celtic territories, wrote about the Celtic tribes, yet many believe their reports, though containing facts, reveal an obvious bias against the people the empire was seeking to conquer.

The name Druid is most commonly associated with the word duir, meaning oak, and having associations with wisdom. The romantic view of these priests is of age-old wizards, wise men who were capable of great feats of magic, and who held within their minds a veritable storehouse of wisdom and occult knowledge. They acted as religious priests, judges, and the keepers of cultural knowledge. They were the guardians of history, myth, and genealogy, as well as medicine, astrology, law, divination, and ritual. Though we have an image of men wearing white robes and acting like courtly magicians, due to some modern reconstructions of Druidic practices in the eighteenth century, historically the Druids were most likely animal-skin wearers (fitting in with the times of their people), both men and women, and much more like tribal shamans, with a more codified oral tradition and a role that expanded beyond one tribe to be recognized among many of the tribes. Because of this great political and social influence, the Romans feared the power of the Druids to unite the separate and feuding Celtic tribes.

Ancient Druids were said to train for at least nineteen years, going through several training periods. First they were trained as bards, the keepers of the music, myths, and lineages; then as ovates, the soothsayers and judges of disputes; and then as priests, or Archdruids themselves, who were in charge of religious rites of passage and seasonal celebrations. Druids acted as intermediaries between the Celtic Pagan gods and the Celtic people, overseeing many offerings, sacrifices, and rituals. Though many people associate the solstices with the Druids, the Celtic people considered the fire festivals (known today as Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lammas) more sacred than the solar festivals. The solar association comes with the image of Stonehenge, being aligned with these solar holidays. Though the Druids most likely knew of these times and days, and possibly celebrated them in ritual, they were not as pivotal to the Celtic people. Many people believe the Druids built Stonehenge, but ancient Stone Age people, predating the Druids' arrival in the British Isles, were the true engineers of Stonehenge, though some speculate the Druids used the site as a place of worship. The Druids more likely worshiped in nature, in groves of sacred trees (particularly oak trees), in caves, or near sacred bodies of water. Human sacrifice is attributed to the Druids, primarily by the Romans, and we are still unclear if this is true or a part of Roman propaganda. Even if it is true, as many suspect, both animal and human sacrifice have been a part of ancient cultures, often with either a willing victim, who gives his life for the rejuvenation of the land, or the execution of criminals, since there was no penal system in the Celtic culture.

As Christianity soon replaced the Roman Empire as the dominant force against Pagan Celtic culture, many believe the Druids, realizing the future, embedded themselves in the Christian Church as monks, brothers, priests, and scribes, to preserve many of the old ways, myths, and holidays of the early Celtic Christian Church, or used their bardic skills to become wandering storytellers and musicians, keeping the old ways alive. From the revival in the eighteenth century, modern Druidism, or Neo-Druidism, has evolved along several lines. Some look to the cultural context of Druidism, the poetry, myths, and storytelling, and those of a religious bent, more akin to modern Neo-Paganism and Wicca. Such Druids usually work with an Earth Mother and a variety of Pagan deities from the Celtic culture, may use Celtic words and phrases in ritual, and celebrate the seasons. Many modern Pagans and Witches see the Druids as their Celtic ancestors and feel a kinship with their traditions. There is a lot of overlap between both the cultural and the religious expressions of modern Druidism, because many religious groups do not require a conversion to Paganism, and many cultural groups do not inquire as to your religion. This has resulted in both monotheistic and polytheistic Druids. Some see Druidism simply as a philosophy and apply it to their lives in any manner they see fit, incorporating aspects of Christianity, Paganism, or a variety of other traditions. Though the eighteenth-century revival was often not historically accurate in the light of modern research, many are still influenced by it, while others in the Druidic movement are strict Celtic Reconstructionists, and hold to an exacting standard of scholarship in their personal spiritual practices. If there is no historical evidence that the Druids performed a ritual in a particular way, then they will not adopt the ritual. No even partially complete Druidic ritual has survived in writing into the modern era, so such reconstructions are based on the classical writers who had contact with the Druids, as well as the mentions of Druids in the Celtic tales. Such practitioners often reject modern creations, such as many Wiccan and ceremonial magic practices, even if they fit into the belief systems of the Druids. In the modern era, two organizations responsible for promoting the Druidic tradition are the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD), the oldest and largest order of Druids based in England, and Ar nDraiocht Fein, the largest American order of Druids.

Faery Faith

The faery faith is not a specific faith or formalized religion, but a collection of folk traditions, customs, mores, and lore passed on in certain parts of the world, particularly in Celtic territories and places where their descendents have settled. The faery faith involves a partnership with spiritual beings defined as faeries, who come from another world but are intimately tied to the land and seasonal cycles. Though much of our modern faery lore depicts these beings as tiny and winged, traditionalists in the faery faith know that they come in all shapes and sizes, often as tall and shining warriors, and, like humans, they come in all temperaments, not just docile or playful.

The faith involves a healthy exchange with the "good folk" through offerings of milk, honey, and bread in return for blessings of health and good harvest. It also includes following other customs and prohibitions, such as the avoidance of all iron or steel when working with these shining ones. Those who are particularly attuned to the faery world are often labeled seers, being able to see into the faery realm and deepen the pact. Some do specific acts of magic, learned from, or in cooperation with, the fair folk, including blessing and cursing, faery healing, divination, prophecy, and artistic inspiration. For quite a while, faery traditions had lived side by side with Christian traditions in the British Isles and parts of the United States. Some have influenced, and been influenced by, forms of mystical and Gnostic Christianity.

Hermetic Ceremonial Magic

Hermetic ceremonial magic is a long European tradition considered "high" magic, using specialized tools, foreign languages, and elaborate ceremonies with an emphasis on spiritual enlightenment over mundane life changes through spell craft, differentiating it from the folk magic of the peasantry, which uses common tools and simple objects available to everyone. Hermetic magic draws upon the mystical teachings of Hermes, teaching that are also heavily entwined with the practice of alchemy. Many involved in Hermetic magic draw upon whatever mystical resources are available, from astrology to Eastern yogic and tantric practices, as well as Gnostic Christianity, Hebrew Kabalah, and angelic/demonic lore, eventually creating a form of magical Qabalah, often spelled with a Q to differentiate it from the Hebrew and Christian versions. Modern practitioners, most notably the founders of the Order of the Golden Dawn, drew upon these older sources and synthesized a new practice of ceremonial magic. The modern public lodge of the Golden Dawn was founded in 1888. The Golden Dawn rituals were eventually made public, over the protests of many practitioners, and have become the default foundations for subsequent study.

Though not a religion in the strictest sense-for ceremonial magicians often also identify as Christian, Jewish, or Pagan-ceremonial magic is a spiritual tradition that guides the seeker into deeper levels of mystery and understanding, providing a framework of initiation based on the Tree of Life Qabalistic glyph. Initial training is focused on mastery of the elements within the practitioner, as symbolized by the magician's tools of the pentacle, blade, wand, and cup, also found in the tarot. Though the Golden Dawn was a lodge of magicians, with group practices, many practitioners successfully use the techniques and follow the path solitarily. Though ceremonial magic shares much in common with, and has influenced and been influenced by, traditions of Witchcraft, it is not a celebratory or community service-oriented path, but one of self-enlightenment, seeking completion of the "Great Work," much like an alchemist. Modern ceremonial magic was highly influenced by a text known as The Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin the Mage, and the ritual contained within became known as the Abra-Melin Operation. The purpose was to make contact with your higher self, also known as knowledge and conversation with your Holy Guardian Angel, or HGA for short. Variations of this ritual have been created by modern practitioners. Though the Golden Dawn's initial curriculum has provided a modern foundation, many seek their own way into the Hermetic mysteries, looking at the original source material starting with the works of Eliphas Levi, Cornelius Agrippa, Francis Barrett, and John Dee and working backward to older Hermetic texts. Many traditions and practices have emphasized a specific culture, such as Egyptian, Greek, or Sumerian. Like other mystical paths, those of ceremonial magic are quite diverse.

Hinduism

Hinduism is a religion based upon the sacred texts known as the Vedas, as well as the traditions and belief system of the people of India. Depending on how you define religion, it is considered by many to be the world's oldest formal religion still in practice. Though it is often perceived as a single religion, within Hinduism is a wide range of traditions, rituals, and sects. The term Hindu comes from Sindhu, which is the Indus River specifically and also a term for any river. Hindu became the name for those people living beyond the Sindhu. In the religious text of the Rig Veda, these Indo-Aryans mentioned come from the land of the seven rivers, to the northwest of the Indian subcontinent. One of those rivers is the Indus.

Hinduism involves the belief in dharma, traditionally defined as individual ethics, duties, and obligations; samsara, or reincarnation of the soul; karma, one's actions and the consequences of those actions; and moksha, or salvation for every soul. Salvation is not seen in the Christian sense as salvation from sin, but release from the cycle of death and rebirth to become one with the divine cosmic spirit. The soul is known as the atman, and continues the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. There are many paths of action that lead to this salvation, including devotional service to the divine, selfless actions for the work, enlightenment through knowledge and study, and simply belief in the divine.

The divine can be viewed as one vast cosmic being, both immanent and transcendent, known as Brahman, but the divine can also manifest through a variety of deities, which are expressions of Brahman. These deities are seen as both male and female, gods and goddesses. There is also a belief in a variety of entities, including those known as devas, or celestial spirits, and demons. Though Hinduism may appear to be polytheistic, particularly when compared to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, technically this is not correct, as the tradition espouses one supreme creator that manifests in many ways, creating a sort of paradox. It is one of the few traditions that openly states that the divine is both immanent and transcendent. Practitioners of Hinduism can develop an impersonal relationship with the divine, or form a very personal relationship with a specific manifestation of the divine. Many temples, rituals, and traditions have been developed around the devotion to one manifestation of the divine.

Islam

Islam is the prophetic religion following in the traditions of Judaism and Christianity, referring to the followers of the lineage of prophets that runs through Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as the People of the Book, in reference to the Old Testament, New Testament, and Qur'an. The name Islam means submission or surrender, and implies a surrender to the one God of Islam. Followers of Islam, known as Muslims, make up the second largest religion of the world at this time. The prophet of Islam is Muhammad, and God revealed to him his divine word through the Qur'an, or Koran. Though following a prophetic succession that could conceivably be started with Adam from the Garden of Eden, Muslims believe that the Qur'an is God's final word and Muhammad is the final prophet, and this perfect word supersedes all others, as the Bible and Torah can be flawed. The Qur'an is only perfect in Arabic, and any translations of it are simply commentaries and potentially fallible.

Muslims are monotheistic, believing in one supreme god worthy of worship, and this god is known as Allah. Though monotheistic, Islam finds messengers, both in the form of prophets and in the form of angelic beings, acceptable. The basic belief required to become Muslim is that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is his messenger. There are no visual images or depictions of Allah, though there are ninety-nine "names" or "qualities" attributed to him, such as The All Beneficent, The Most Merciful, and The Most Holy. Along with angels, there is also a belief in djinn, or beings of fire that are not entirely material or spiritual. A belief in magic or sorcery of any kind is forbidden. There are a number of branches of Islam, including Sunni, Shi'ite, and Kharijite, which have some differences in theology, but all Muslims believe in one god, Allah, and that he is the only one worthy of worship. They also believe in the prophets, including Muhammad, in the sacred books sent by God, in angels, in a judgment day and resurrection, and in destiny. Islamic practitioners believe in the immortality of the human soul and the fulfillment of a divine plan, where the faithful will be rewarded in a divine paradise and the unfaithful and unjust will be punished. Some branches of Islam are more progressive, while others are more conservative, and views, actions, and customs can vary widely.

Jainism

The religion known as Jainism, or Jain Dharma, finds its roots as an ancient faith and philosophy in India, attributed to the Hindu prince Mahavira (599-527 BC) but possibly predating him by several thousand years in the early Indus Valley culture. Having similarities to other aspects of Hinduism, and greatly influencing Indian society, Jainists believe in karma, reincarnation, nonviolence, asceticism, and the time cycles known as Yugas. Jainists do not believe in a creator god, and feel the universe is eternal, with no beginning or end. It simply moves through these yugic cycles of ascension and descension. Jainists believe their tradition preserves the eternal truths that are periodically lost by humanity over the cycles of time and rediscovered as various people reach a level of enlightenment when these truths become evident.

Jainism is dualistic, as an emphasis is placed on the spiritual world and material world, with the material world trapping the spiritual essence and causing suffering. Jainist society is divided into monks and religious persons, who seek to devote all their efforts to escaping the wheel of rebirth, and the laypeople of the society, who work in traditional jobs. AllJainists believe in non-injury non-lying, non-stealing, chastity (monks are celibate, and laypeople can have sexual relations only within the confines of marriage), and non-possession. Jainists believe in tolerance for other beliefs, and that nothing is absolute, as we have a flawed perspective of reality and the divine, and no one tradition has a hold on the only truth. It is not a religion of absolutes, even though its requirements seem strict. Jainists believe that absolutism results in fanaticism and does not facilitate the liberation from suffering. Jainist rituals often include rice, which is used to trace the holy symbol of the rightfacing swastika. Another symbol is the hand with the wheel in the palm, written with the Jainist vow of Ahimsa, the vow of non-injury and non-violence. It represents the search for the truth through the cycles of reincarnation. Jainists take the vow of non-injury and nonviolence beyond strict vegetarianism and will not eat certain root vegetables, because their harvest is seen as unnecessarily harsh.

Judaism

Judaism was one of the first recorded monotheistic religions and is still practiced in a variety of forms today. The history and customs of Judaism have become the basis of the Abrahamic religions, named after the Jewish prophet Abraham, and have gone on to influence Christianity and Islam. Though viewed as a religion in the context of this book, it is difficult to separate the concepts of Judaism from ethnicity, culture, and history. The traditions of Judaism have been influenced by those in ancient Egypt, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. Central to Judaism as it is known today is the concept of monotheism, or of a single creator. Some people would argue that Judaism was not originally monotheistic, and their central concept of God began as a tribal god among many gods, who then forbade his people from worshipping and even acknowledging other gods. Today most involved in Judaism believe it to have always been a monotheistic tradition. Judaism is a prophetic religion, with many messengers sent by God to deliver his word and law. These sacred scriptures come from divine revelation and are considered the true word of God. The Hebrew Bible, known to Christians as the Old Testament, guides the tradition, and includes the famous Ten Commandments. According to legend, Abraham was the first Jew, in covenant with the God of Israel, and he rejected idolatry and Paganism and preached monotheism. The most famous of the Prophetic line was Moses, known for freeing his people from servitude in Egypt.

Jews believe in a divine covenant with God, that they are the chosen people. They believe in and await a messianic figure, but do not believe Jesus Christ to be the messiah. The practice of Judaism includes prayer, temple services, and observance of holy days, including the Sabbath. Sin, as wrong or unacceptable actions, is believed in, though atonement of sin can be undertaken directly with God. Though there is a belief in beings such as angels, they are not to be prayed to. Only God receives prayer. There is a priestly caste known as rabbis, acting as ritualists, counselors, and community leaders. Traditionally, one was considered Jewish if born of a Jewish mother, though most forms of modern Judaism accept converts. People who are born Jews but who leave the traditions for another, or to be agnostic, are still considered Jews, but lose their status in the Jewish spiritual community.

Currently, there are many forms and branches of Judaism, each with its own interpretation of the sacred teachings and its own way of putting them into action in the world. The Kabalah is the mystical teachings of Judaism, traditionally reserved for married men over the age of forty. The Kabalah details creation through ten sephiroth, and the twenty paths connecting these emanations of creation. The theories of Kabalah were later codified into a map of reality known as the Tree of Life. Kabalah became a major portion of the Western mystery traditions, as some speculate its principles were a part of the magical systems of Egypt and Sumeria. Kabalistic lore has been adopted by those outside of the Jewish faith, tradition, and culture. It was absorbed into medieval forms of ceremonial magic and alchemy and has played a major role in the revitalization of the Western mystery traditions, such as the Order of the Golden Dawn. As a system, the Tree of Life schematic can organize and explain vast amounts of esoteric ideas and occult terminology, from numerology and astrology to various non-Jewish mythologies. Ceremonial magic traditions often use the spelling Qabalah, while Christian mystics might use Cabala. Though each is interpreting the wisdom in a different way, they are all essentially describing the same view of reality.

Martial Arts

Though not a religious tradition, the Eastern martial arts play a significant role in the development of many people's spirituality, much like the disciplines of yoga or the practice of Reiki healing. Like yoga and Reiki, each martial art has its roots in a spiritual tradition, though being a member of such a tradition is not a requirement to explore the art itself. Though martial arts technically means a military art of combat, it now usually refers to the traditions of self-defense and fighting from the Eastern world. Martial arts in the Western world exist, though our popular cultural mind has linked most martial arts to Eastern traditions and spirituality. Primarily known as fighting systems of unarmed combat, or when involving weapons, not using conventional modern weapons such as handguns, the underlying systems promote physical fitness, health, self-development, self-defense, meditation, and an understanding of energy and the flow of the universe. Martial arts traditions include Aikido, Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Karate, Kendo, Kung Fu, Ninjutsu, Tai Chi Ch'uan, Chi Kung, and Taekwondo, among others. Each has its own style, traditions, and philosophy. Many see the martial artist as the spiritual warrior.

Mithraism

Mithraism is a mystery tradition passed on through initiation, much like those of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Based upon the god Mithras, or Mehr, found in the traditions of Zoroastrianism, Mithraism originated in the Eastern territories of the Mediterranean around the first or second century BC. Though it would be easy to equate the Persian Mithras with the Mediterranean one, their myths are not always the same, and Zoroastrianism, although it has a dualistic slant, is a monotheistic religion, and its one god is Ahura Mazda. It was later practiced in the Roman Empire, finding its popularity among the soldiers until Pagan rites were banned and the tradition became extinct. We have very little on which to base our knowledge of Mithraism, since few texts survive. It was an experiential, and not scripture-based, tradition. Seen as a male-dominant warrior tradition, women were not allowed to join. The image of Mithras springing forth from an egg, as well as the sacrifice of a bull, seem central to the tradition. Some see in this a motif of life, death, and rebirth, while others view Mithras as being a mediator between humanity and the divine source. There appears to be a connection between the solar cults and Mithraic worship, and some believe that the Cult of Mithras influenced the early Christians' view of Jesus Christ. Even though Mithraism was outlawed, it continued briefly until it was completely supplanted by Christianity.

Paganism

Paganism, or more accurately Neo-Paganism, is the revival of the pre-Christian Pagan traditions of Europe. The word Pagan comes from the Latin Paganus, meaning "country dweller" or "of the land." Now it is used to refer to practitioners of the old religions that were intimately tied to the land. When Christianity first began to grow, it took root in the urban environments, and those in the outskirts who were considered Pagan eventually were associated with the older religions. Pagan does not mean someone who has no religious beliefs, or someone who is solely a hedonist. Although Pagans enjoy the physical pleasures of the world, this is but one aspect of life, and not the sole focus.

Modern Pagans seek to recapture the Earth-reverent, nature-oriented traditions of ages past, where nature was seen as an expression of divinity. Pagan traditions are considered polytheistic, meaning a belief in many gods. In ancient mythology, each culture had diverse pantheons of beings, each embodying one or more natural or societal concepts. In Greek myth, we have Gaia, the Earth Mother; Zeus, the storm king and ruler of the gods; Hades, the god of death and the underworld; Aphrodite, the goddess of love; and Ares, the god of war; among many others. Some modern Pagans work with an amalgam of polytheistic gods and philosophies, while others focus on a specific culture, such as Celtic Paganism. Paganism has many traditions within it. Modern Witchcraft and Wicca are subsets of Paganism. When teaching new students, I use the simile "Paganism is to Witchcraft as Christianity is to Catholicism." One is a larger grouping, and the other is a subset. Some in the Northern European traditions, particularly the Norse, seek to separate their traditions and beliefs from the overall Neo-Pagan movement. They prefer the term heathen, rather than Pagan, reclaiming the word used to refer to people of the heath, the wild, uncultivated lands often covered with various evergreen trees and shrubs. Within heathenism there are specific traditions and movements, such as Asatru, followers of the Norse gods known as the Aesir.

Reiki

Reiki is a form of energy healing that originated in Japan in the late 1800s with a man named Dr. Mikao Usui. Reiki translates to "universal life force." Many mystical cultures have recognized life force. Known in Japan as ki, this is the second syllable of the name Reiki. As a system, Reiki is a tradition in which the practitioner is "attuned," or connected, to this pure universal life force through a ritual given by the teacher. From that attune ment, Reiki energy flows through the practitioner and is usually applied through contact with the hands. It is characterized by a warm or tingling sensation, for both the practitioner and the recipient, that emanates from the hands of the practitioner. Later training teaches methods of distance healing and modern techniques of "beaming" this energy to a recipient.

The philosophy of Reiki as a system is that the practitioner offers the Reiki energy to the one in need of healing. The recipient controls the flow of energy on an intuitive, or higher consciousness, level. The practitioner acts like a straw, a channel letting the energy come through. The energy has its own intelligence, working with the recipient, and knows where to go for the highest good. The practitioner and the client cannot consciously control how the healing will manifest. The Reiki practitioner cannot overload or harm the recipient with too much energy. When the recipient is "full" of energy, the flow naturally stops, just as one would stop drinking from a straw

Though Reiki is not a religion, it has many spiritual benefits. It can be practiced by anybody, of any religion. The precepts are rooted in Japanese Buddhism, even though some stories claim a Christian origin, or genesis in a mythic ancient culture. The concepts of nonattachment and surrender are key to Reiki. The Reiki attunements themselves awaken the student spiritually to more divine energy, and facilitate the student's own healing process. Each level of training has one of these rituals. When one offers Reiki to another, the practitioner is also nourished by this energy. The Reiki principles, given by Dr. Usui, have continued to be a guiding part of this spiritual discipline. Many people use Reiki as a spiritual structure for life, as others use yoga, martial arts, or meditation.

Satanism

Though most people would not include Satanism in a list of spiritual traditions, it most certainly is a valid spiritual choice. Many mystics are fond of saying that all paths lead to the top of the mountain. Satanism is no exception, though many Satanists might disagree. There are several manifestations of Satanism, and in general, the public is ignorant of most of them. Satan translates to "adversary," and in the Old Testament was the name of an agent of God, sent to test the faith of believers. In that context, many people believe Satan, or Satanael, to be an angelic figure, one doing God's will, and not a fallen angel. Satan has been liked with many figures in Judeo-Christian-Islamic and Pagan mythologies, including the fallen angel Lucifer, the snake in the Garden of Eden, the Beast of the Apocalypse, the Islamic Iblis, the Roman god Saturn, the Greek Pan, the Celtic Cernunnos, and the Devil. They are not all considered the same archetype and entity. The Greek term diablos meant to throw something in your way, to make an obstacle, and the later term Devil first meant a force trying to slow your spiritual development by giving you obstacles. Eventually this term was equated with an ultimate entity of evil and a social, political, and spiritual scapegoat.

On one level, most see Satanism as an inversion of Jewish or Christian traditions. Images of Satanic masses parodying Catholic rituals are popular, though they do not constitute the full Satanic tradition. Some people have practiced this brand of Satanism, choosing to identify and worship the figure of evil in Christian myth as an act of rebellion against the church's morals and values. Fundamental interpretations of Judeo-Christianity would look at any religion not of the Abrahamic line as Satanic, including Hinduism, shamanism, Buddhism, and Paganism. Others think of Satanists as illegal groups of murder ers, animal sacrificers, and child pornographers as portrayed in the popular media in the United States, even though there is no evidence of a great brotherhood of evil conspirators actively pursuing occult crime and the downfall of Western civilization. At best, such a view is an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory fueled by isolated incidences.

The esoteric philosophy of Satanism is best described as a left-hand path, though the definitions of a left-hand path and a right-hand path differ depending on the organization you are in. Some erroneously think that the left-hand path equates with evil and the righthand path with good. Some look to the social customs and taboos regarding eating and washing in terms of left- and right-hand connotations. Perhaps these taboos and negative connotations are reflections of the cultural bias against left-handed people. Others see the left-hand path as feminine, or sexual in nature, and the right-hand path as aesthetic and based more in discipline or hardship than pleasure. In a modern Satanic context, the lefthand path is about self-realization, becoming like a god, a creator, rather than submission or union with the creative force. Individuality and individual consciousness are emphasized, rather than union. Some would see it as an ego-based tradition, and at some levels it is, though for many it is a tradition of self-realization and self-actualization, honest enough to look at the desires of the practitioner in a clear light. Some see the left-hand path as the tradition of dissent and rebellion against the status quo, only for those daring enough to go against societal expectations and follow their own callings and impulses. Strangely enough, many traditions that deify individuals, such as the ascended masters of Theosophy and the New Age ascension movement, would be considered, at least in part, left-hand paths by modern practitioners of left-hand paths, though the practitioners of these traditions would assume they were right-hand paths; while traditions such as Wicca, which have a more sinister reputation with the public, are considered far more right-hand paths by true left-hand practitioners. Some would even say, contrary to public opinion, that Jesus Christ's life was an example of a left-hand path, as he fought the status quo, was rejected by the mainstream, followed his own callings and teachings, and eventually was deified as an individual entity by his followers.

Personally, I think most mystic traditions are not exclusively left- or right-hand, as these two concepts do not have to be at odds with each other. Individualization and simultaneous union are spiritual mysteries. The most popularly known branch of Satanism is based on Anton LaVey's Church of Satan and his book The Satanic Bible. This might be the least spiritually oriented modern branch, influenced by more modern intellectual philosophers than mystical philosophers, though Aleister Crowley was also an influence on LaVey, and this has erroneously caused Crowley to be labeled a Satanist. In this branch, Satan is seen as a symbol of both nature and human nature, and not a literal entity. These Satanists don't actually believe in Satan. Each practitioner is viewed as his or her own god, and ritual magic is done to further the practitioner's own desires. Followers of the Temple of Set broke off from LaVey's organization and see Set as an actual entity, as a prince of darkness, one of the first divine spiritual rebels or dissenters to the orthodox order. Set is not to be worshipped or served, but used as role model in the practitioner's own process of becoming more godlike.

Other groups of a similar tradition have splintered from the Church of Satan and Temple of Set. Another misunderstood branch, which is technically not a form of Satanism, is Luciferianism, or Gnostic Luciferianism. The varying traditions related to this concept see Lucifer as the light bringer, and the redeemer and lord of the world, as a positive figure rather than the antithesis of God or a destructive force. Like the Greek Prometheus, Lucifer brings individual light, consciousness, awareness in the dark. He sacrificed himself to redeem the world, and many look at him as the precursor of Jesus Christ, as both are redeemers. Some faery traditions and forms of Witchcraft are considered Luciferian in nature. Some look at Lucifer as the equivalent of the Gnostic Demiurge, or God of the World, and the Demiurge is equated with the God of the Christians and Jews, Jehovah or Yahweh. They then use this to either elevate the image of Lucifer or paint Jews and Christians as devil worshippers. In the Middle East, there is a small sect of ethnic Kurds known as the Yezidi, who are labeled Satanists and devil worshippers but actually worship Malak Ta'us, a pre-Islamic fallen angel or fallen god associated with the peacock. Their religion has some strong links to Zoroastrianism, Mithraism, and Gnosticism, as well as elements of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and pre-Islamic Kurdish beliefs. As all these traditions have valid mystical concepts to share with the world, the Satanic traditions should also be looked at in our mystical survey. Some of the most self-aware, insightful, and responsible mystics I know identify with one of these branches of Satanism.

Shamanism

Shamanism popularly refers to the spiritual medicine traditions of indigenous people across the world. Technically, the word shaman, or saman, comes from Siberian tribes, and is properly used to refer to the healers of the tribes who share a similar genetic origin to the indigenous cultures of Siberia. It has come into common usage to describe a set of a techniques and ideas, now known as "core shamanism," that can be applied to a variety of cultures and time periods. This has led to the creation of terms such as Celtic shamanism or Norse shamanism, even if those cultures did not use the term shaman. The practices of core shamanism for healing, insight, and problem solving date back to the Stone Age, yet each culture experienced and created its own rituals, myths, and symbols around the basic core framework, making it personal and consistent with the values and customs of its tradition. Many consider shamanism to be the impetus for the creation of human civilization and the foundation for other forms of magic, mysticism, and religion. Core shamanism is set apart from other indigenous tribal spiritual and healing practices, as its focus is on entering an altered state to travel to the nonphysical worlds and commune with the spirits. Through a relationship with these spirits, a shaman brings change, healing, and wisdom back to the material world.

Shamanic cosmology usually looks to a cosmic axis known as the axis mundi and often thought of as a great tree at the center of the world. This axis holds together at least three worlds: a middle world of space, time, and general humanity; a lower world of the ancestors and earthly spirits; and an upper world of sky, solar, and stellar spirits. Common themes in many shamanic traditions include connecting to a primary spirit ally who guides, protects, and teaches, often in an animal form, as well as eventually forming a "team" of spirits who aid in the shaman's work. As the core techniques are brought to people in the West-most notably by Michael Harner, through his book The Way of the Shaman and his organization, the Foundation for Shamanic Studies-terms such as shamanic practitioner and shamanist have been created to distinguish a traditional tribal shaman from those simply using the techniques.

Shinto

Shinto, which means "way of the gods," combines two characters: Shin, or the gods, referring to the Kami, the gods, spirits, and presences of nature; and To, or Tao, the way or path, in a spiritual sense. Often described by Westerners as Japanese Pagans, Shinto practitioners honor the spirits of nature. Some of these are local spirits, while others are grand natural phenomena, such as the Sun and Moon. Shinto was the official state religion of Japan until the end of World War II, though it is still a part of Japanese life and culture and continues to influence the community, even in subtle and often unrecognized ways. Shinto has influenced the "new" religions established in Japan, particularly Japanese Buddhism. The tradition itself has no set dogma, scripture, or hierarchy, other than a past recognition of the Japanese royal family, whose influence has dwindled since World War II. There is little emphasis on the afterlife, but instead a collection of rituals, prayers, and methods to develop a relationship with the Kami. Shrine worship is part of the practice, along with folk customs such as divination, spirit possession, and healing. An emphasis on family and tradition, nature, physical cleanliness, purification, and honoring the Kami and the many festivals dedicated to them are all part of the tradition.

Sikhism

Born in the environment of the conflict between Hinduism and Islam, the Sikh religion sought to bridge the gap between the two traditions and welcome all people equally to its doors. Sikhism is based on the unity of one God, neither male nor female (though often the male pronoun is used but understood to encompass both genders), as well as the teachings of ten great gurus. Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak near the end of the fifteenth century. After taking four epic journeys, he began to preach to both Hindus and Muslims. Desiring to go beyond both religions, he incorporated elements of each, from reformed Hinduism to Islamic Sufism.

The term Sikh means a strong and able disciple. Guru Nanak attracted these disciples for which the tradition is named. Sikhism fuses this monotheism with some esoteric ideas from Hinduism, such as the concepts of karma, reincarnation, and the maya, or the illusion of the material world veiling the true nature of God. The caste system is rejected in favor of a view of equality for all before God, and seeing God as divine Father/Mother. Women do not hold a lower status, nor do they have to wear veils. Practitioners meditate, usually early in the morning, recite prayers and mantras, and have a holy text known as the Guru Granth Sahib. Traditionally, Sikhs are required to wear turbans to cover the head, as well as to wear or carry the five K's, words that translate to uncut hair, comb, circular bracelet, shorts, and a small curved sword. Each of the five K's is a symbol of spiritual activities and attitudes that should be integrated into the daily life of a Sikh-a balance between work, devotion to god, and charity, or good works.

In Sikhism, practitioners are judged according to their actions rather than a strict moral code. Salvation is breaking from the wheel of rebirth to be absorbed back into God. As an esoteric tradition without a priestly caste, practitioners are encouraged to live a family life and be a part of the world. Asceticism is not allowed, though practitioners are discour aged from collecting too many worldly goods and getting attached to them. The tradition encourages an optimistic view of life as well as learning to not be attached to both the joys and tragedies of everyday reality. Sikhs have a strong sense of morality and ethics, believing we should stand up for our own rights and the rights of others, as we are all inherently part of the divinity of God. Alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other intoxicants are prohibited. There are also prohibitions against behavior that is considered nonlogical, such as religious "superstitions," and rituals that have no meaning for them as a tradition, including fasting, women wearing veils, religious pilgrimages, sacrifices, and idols. As spiritual warriors, Sikhs fight the five "thieves" known as ego, anger, greed, attachment, and lust. Their weapons in this battle include contentment, charity, kindness, a positive attitude, and humility.

Sufism

Sufism is considered the esoteric, or mystical, branch of the Islamic religion. Where Sufis fit into the Islamic map of beliefs is not always clear. While some of the Sufi organizations, brotherhoods or sisterhoods, are sometimes considered Shiah or Sunni, many of them are not associated with any of the main branches of Islam, so Sufism can be considered a force unto its own in the Islamic world. It has even made inroads into non-Islamic communities, particularly in the West, though it is rooted Islam. According to most Sufis, the name Sufi means "one who purifies the heart." The core teaching of Sufism is love, that love is the projection of God to the universe. Sufis seek to be touched by God, and to see this love in themselves and all others, creating a system of tolerance and personal experience.

Sufism is often taught in small groups, by a master, as many practitioners believe such a spiritual teacher is necessary to aid their spiritual growth. Parables, metaphors, stories, and poetry are used as teaching tools. Sufis also have a spiritual cosmology comparable to such esoteric teachings as the Qabalistic Tree of Life, and a belief in six personal energy centers in the body that develop over time and with spiritual practices, similar to the chakra system. Disciples of Sufism are known as dervishes and often take a vow of poverty. Their spinning dance, which is a method to induce a trance state and have a personal experience of God, has given rise to the popular image of the whirling dervish, yet not all Sufis practice this style of dance. The rituals and prayers of Sufi groups can be quite varied.

Thelema

Thelema is a mystic tradition founded in 1904 by Aleister Crowley through the transmission of a book known as The Book of the Law, or Liber Al vet Legis, from a divine source while in Cairo, Egypt. As most Thelemites consider themselves ritual magicians, Thelema is rooted in Crowley's practice of ceremonial magic, being a former member of the Golden Dawn, yet has its own variations of its rituals. Some of the symbolism of these rituals, such as the Star Ruby, one of Crowley's variations of the Golden Dawn's Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, is erroneously thought of as being Satanic in nature. Though Crowley's works influenced some branches of modern Satanism, Thelema would not be considered a Satanic path. In his tradition, Crowley draws upon the systems of ceremonial magic, alchemy, yoga, tantra, tarot, and astrology. Because of its birthplace, Thelema is ripe with Egyptian and pseudo-Egyptian symbolism and mythology mixed with its own powerful philosophies. Crowley was considered the prophet of the next Aeon, or Age, with the Aeon of Horus replacing that of Horus's father, Osiris.

The basic tenet of Thelema is to find and perform your True Will, what might be known to others as your Magical Will, Higher Self's Will, or, in some contexts, your dharma. Your purpose is to fulfill your True Will in this world, and your True Will doesn't conflict with anyone else's. Thelemites must respect other people's True Will, even if it conflicts with their personal, or ego, will. Prime keys to Thelema include a recognition of humanity's inherent divinity and a natural inclination toward freedom, as well as finding a balance between personal responsibility and discipline, though critics would argue that Crowley did not live up to them in his personal life. Key phrases from The Book of the Law are cited as the basis for these philosophies, such as "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" (AL, 1:40) and "Love is the law, love under will" (AL, 1:57).

Various organizations have adopted Thelemic tenants in whole or in part, in particular the Ordo Templi Orientis, or O.T.O., an organization of which Crowley was the head. Others see Crowley's law as the basis for the modern-day Wiccan Rede, and believe that either Crowley influenced Gerald Gardner, of the Gardnerian Wicca tradition, since they knew each other, or the two had access to similar traditional material. One of the most popular and moving rituals of Thelema, practiced by branches of the O.T.O., is the Gnostic Mass, which includes this powerful communal statement made by each participant: "There is no part of me that is not of the gods."

Theosophy

Theosophy comes from the words Theo, meaning god, and Sophia, meaning wisdom, and is said to be the search for or study of God found in all religions. As a formal tradition, it was brought to light by one of the founders of the Theosophical Society, a controversial figure known as Madame Helena Blavatsky. Blavatsky wrote some seminal books that highly influenced the New Age movement, including The Secret Doctrine and Isis Unveiled. She claimed to be in touch with "ascended masters," beings who were once human but have completed their experiences in the physical world and reached a level of enlightenment where they can reside between human consciousness and complete union with the divine, where they are available to many seekers simultaneously. Though many believed Blavatsky's ascended masters were physical beings, or could choose to be and appear to others, most in the modern Theosophical movement look at ascended masters as discarnate beings contacted during meditation and trance work. Theosophy and subsequent modern "channels" were influenced by the work of the Spiritualist Movement. Though not directly endorsed by the Theosophical Society, the author Alice Bailey followed in Blavatsky's steps, acting as the "secretary" to the masters with whom she was in psychic contact. Bailey wrote a large number of texts on spiritual topics, including A Treatise on White Magic and Esoteric Psychology.

Theosophy as a philosophy itself seeks to find the underlying truths, the search for God, in all religions. Though it definitely has an Eastern flavor, as many of the masters claimed Tibetan Buddhism as their path in the last lifetime before they ascended, it incorporates the wisdom of the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Hindus, and mystical Christians. Many people feel the early teachers in this paradigm were anti-Semitic, though those who have continued on, particularly those in the ascension movement that Theosophy inspired, have made efforts to incorporate mystical Judaism, including Kabalah, into Theosophical teachings. Though one of the biggest criticisms of Theosophy is that its inclusiveness leaves it with little clear theology or structure of its own, it is because of this inclusiveness that we can see the common points between so many mystic traditions.

Wicca and Witchcraft

Wicca is considered to be the modern revival of the religion of Witchcraft. Witchcraft is an art, science, and spiritual tradition based on the Pagan traditions of the ancient world. The word Wicca is often translated as to bend or to shape, referring to the Witch's ability to bend and shape the forces of nature, but also to flow with them, not break them, to make changes in life known as magic. Others believe there is a connection between the word Witch and the word wise, referring to the Witch as one with knowledge. Modern Witchcraft, or technically Neo-Witchcraft, is rooted mostly in European traditions such as those of the Celts, Teutons, Greeks, and Romans, with some influence from Egyptian and Middle Eastern mythologies such as Sumerian. Witches look at the priestesses and priests of the ancient world, the cunning men/women of Europe, the hedge Witches and traditional herbalists, the Druids, and the Pagan seers and magicians as spiritual ancestors and inspirations. Witchcraft comes in many forms and traditions and is considered a subset of the larger Neo-Pagan movement.

All Witches are Pagans, but not all Pagans identify as Witches. As a tradition with no central authority or fundamental spiritual text, Witchcraft is defined in many different ways, depending on the practitioner. Key concepts to most of the traditions include a reverence for or veneration of nature, as the material world and the divine are seen as being inexorably linked. Divinity manifests primarily through a Goddess and a God, though each can have many expressions. The Goddess is seen in the Earth, Moon, and stars, while the God is often viewed as a horned animal lord, or deity of the grain, Sun, and sky. Modern Witches often look at a cosmology of a triple goddess-maiden, mother, and crone-with a dual god, a god of light and a god of darkness. Though many Wiccan traditions seek to balance female and male energies, if any gender is favored, it is traditionally the feminine. The high priestess and the Goddess are favored, as the Goddess is seen as the source from which all things flow and to which all things return. Witches celebrate eight yearly main holidays, or sabbats, known collectively as the Wheel of the Year, including two equinoxes, two solstices, and four fire festivals in between, drawing on both Celtic and Teutonic symbolism. They also celebrate Moon rituals, known as esbats, on the full and/or dark Moon. Witches seek to develop psychic and magical abilities as part of their spiritual path and communion with the divine. The Witch's main tools are much like those of the magician, with the wand, pentacle, chalice, and athame (double-edged blade) being primary. The pentacle is the most popular symbol of Witchcraft for modern Witches. In their work they also use the cauldron, broom, scourge, tarot cards, and a variety of natural substances such as herbs and stones.

The words Witchcraft and Wicca are equated by some practitioners and firmly separated by others, yet the definitions are not consistent globally. One school of thought views Wicca as the religion, and Witchcraft as the collection of techniques. Others see Witchcraft as the more traditional practices, and Wicca as the modern eclectic form of the Craft. Yet another group sees Wicca as solely the initiatory forms of the tradition, and Witchcraft as available to anybody, regardless of initiation or training. Wicca was first brought to public light by the controversial figure Gerald Gardner, who was the founder of the initiatory tradition of Witchcraft known as Gardnerian Wicca. Formal traditions often emphasize initiation from teacher to student, while modern traditions allow and even encourage selfdedication, self-initiation, and direct experience between the Witch and the gods.

Voodoo

Voodoo is the spiritual tradition that grew from the synthesis of the West African tribal traditions, such as the Fon (Dahomey) and the Yoruba (West Africa), with Catholicism and the natives in the Caribbean, when the slave trade brought many Africans into Haiti and eventually the United States. Voodoo is the popular spelling and often refers to the practice in New Orleans, while the spellings Vodou or Voodou refer to the Haitian practice, though all are related. The religion is monotheistic, with one creator and a variety of intermediary spirits originally known in West Africa as the vodu but now known as the loa or lwa. These spirits are not gods, angels, or ancestors in the strictest sense, as they are unique to the Voodoo tradition, but they share archetypal qualities with all three of these classifications of spirits. The loa are not worshiped, but served and honored. Each loa has an archetypal resonance that matches it well with a variety of Pagan godforms. There is a trickster who opens the gates, known as Legba. There is a loa of love and relationship, known as Erzu- lie, and a loa of the dead, known as Baron Samadi. From a Western magic view, these loa would be comparable to Mercury, Venus, and Pluto, respectively. Voodoo practitioners also revere the ancestors, and the line between the loa and the ancestors often seems to blur.

When the African slaves were forced to convert to Christianity, they noticed common themes with Catholicism, with one creator god and a variety of more personal intermediaries in the saints. The parallels were so close that the practitioners of the African religion were able to disguise their spirits under the mantle of various saints with similar attributes. In Voodoo, altars are built to honor each of the loa with whom the practitioner works, with candles, colors, specific foods, and offerings made on that Loa's favorite day of the week. The loa are not commanded, bound, or bribed, but asked like wise old friends for favors and guidance, while the practitioner makes offerings in thanks to the spirit. Priestesses of the tradition, known as mambos, and priests, known as houngans, will work with people to make offerings to the loa, and craft charms of herbs, roots, stones, and bones. The African American version of root work and magic, which has fewer of the religious and spiritual connotations, is often known as Hoodoo, though it is not the same as Voodoo or Vodou. This spiritual clergy of Voodoo lead rituals with dancing and food. Vevers, or symbols of the loa, are drawn on the floor to invoke the loa, and during the ritual participants are often "ridden," or possessed, in a voluntary manner as a part of the celebration. Certain Voodoo priestesses or priests are dedicated to the work of one or more loa in particular.

Practitioners of Voodoo are most often practicing Catholics as well. A popular saying about the tradition in Haiti is that 90 percent of the country is Catholic, 10 percent is Protestant, and 100 percent is Vodou. Practitioners see no incongruities with this, as the African traditions are quite compatible with other traditions, and absorb them to survive. Though Voodoo has a dark reputation, it has been maligned in popular culture. Some of the misconceptions came about because this spiritual tradition grew from a culture that was disempowered through slavery and racism. Voodoo was a means to combat this disempowerment, which is why so much of the tradition is focused on healing, cursing, and breaking curses. The common religion, as an amalgam of traditions of several African and native tribes, along with Catholicism gave the mixed slave population a bond and an ability to rise up for freedom.

In essence, this spiritual tradition is about aligning with various parts of the soul, referred to with the symbol of angels, which New Age practitioners would find surprising. The gwo bon anj, or great good angel, gives a person his or her unique personality, thoughts, emotions, ideas, creativity, and knowledge. The ti bon anj, or little good angel, is the cosmic life force. This force keeps the body alive and guides a person's morals and conscience. Working with the loa helps practitioners understand themselves better. Voodoo is about service to the spirits who serve the Creator, and service to the community. Along with Voodoo, there are several other similar traditions, with different cultural contexts, such as Lukumi or Santeria, based in Yoruban traditions with a Spanish Catholic merging, rather than a French Catholic one. By no means are they the same traditions, but they have much in common with Voodoo in terms of philosophy and execution.

Yoga

Yoga is a system of mysticism, philosophy, and practice designed to bring the individual closer to self-realization, to the cosmos or ultimate source of reality. The word yoga literally translates as "to yoke," meaning one yokes, or joins with, the divine. Most people translate yoga as "union." Yoga predates our recorded history, but finds its roots in the Hindu culture of India and relies heavily on Sanskrit. Many words in Sanskrit cannot be easily translated into other languages, so some confusion can arise around the terms and philosophies when yoga reaches other cultures. The Bhagavad-Gita, a sacred Hindu text from the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, is a tale of Lord Krishna giving advice to Prince Arjuna on the field of battle, and is often considered a cornerstone in yogic thought and philosophy. Though it comes out of the Hindu culture, yoga is a series of techniques and philosophies, not a religion. While many people erroneously assume that all yoga practitioners are Hindu, many in the West have applied yoga to their lives without necessarily changing religions. It is perfectly valid to be a Christian yogi.

Though most people tend to see yoga primarily as a form of exercise, body posture, movement, and breath, that is only one form. Hatha yoga is the best-known type of yoga in this category, and many other modern forms have been based upon it. Hatha yoga is often a preparation for raja yoga, the meditative branch of yoga. Kundalini yoga is a more callisthenic form of yoga, with exercises designed to clear the energy field and encourage the energy of awareness, the kundalini, to rise up and expand one's consciousness. Other forms of yoga include bhakti yoga, the path of devotion; jnana yoga, the path of intellectual discernment; and karma yoga, the path of selfless service to others.

Zen

Zen is a Japanese form of Buddhism influenced by Taoism that emphasizes meditation. It is a practice of transforming your whole life into a meditation and can be viewed as a religion, philosophy, art, or simply a way of living life. In modern times, some have divorced Zen from the Buddhist religion, considering it a philosophy that anyone of any religious persuasion, such as Christian, can practice.

The goal of Zen is the spiritual awakening, or satori, and eventual enlightenment, which is certainly not restricted to practitioners of any one tradition or religion. The role of the teacher, and of direct communication over scripture, are emphasized. Some schools of Zen emphasize sitting in still meditation, or zazen, to clear the mind. Other schools of Zen use anecdotes, called koans, between teacher and student, to shock or puzzle the student to cut through the mind and ego and reveal his or her true nature. Koans appear to be paradoxes, but it is the solving of the paradox that brings transformation. Zen philosophy influences Japanese culture and activities, including martial arts, writing, painting, gardening, calligraphy, flower arranging, and cultural ceremonies, such as the tea ceremony. Through these rituals, Zen teaches us, with effortless action, that we cannot separate who we are and what we are doing. We enter a zone of awareness of the true nature of reality. We learn to make every action effortless and a part of our divine meditation.

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is based on the teachings of Zoroaster, or Zarathustra, the legendary prince of the magi, who reportedly lived in ancient Persia around 1000 BC. Scholars speculate that the legend of Zarathustra is based on a composite of magicians from that era. Originally coming out of a more polytheistic faith in Persia and eventually developing into what is considered Iranian dualism, the principles of Zoroastrianism are based on the conflict between two forces. The first force, Ahura Mazda, or Ohrmazd, the "wise lord" and supreme creator, is battling Anghra Mainyu, or Ahriman, the "destructive spirit" and master of the material world. The material world is said to be their battlefield. Ahura Mazda lends his name to another title of this religion, Mazdaism, and is symbolized by fire and light, two important aspects of Zoroastrianism. Most rituals and prayers are centered around a source of light as the focus for the divine creator. Asha, the Zoroastrian way of righteousness, is symbolized by fire. Asha brings happiness and drives away evil.

Due to the lack of written records, we know very little about the rituals of ancient Zoroastrianism. Basic tenets include an equality of gender, keeping the environment clean, charity, hard work, and respect. Most Zoroastrians do not proselytize. Within its theology are the concepts of heaven and hell, final judgment and resurrection of the body, and reuniting with the soul. The tradition spread from the Middle East over a wide area, influencing aspects of many dualistic and monotheistic religions such as Judaism, Mithraism, Christianity, and Gnosticism. Sects of Zoroastrians exist in the modern age, surviving in India, Pakistan, and Iran, although in Iran they are looked at as a persecuted minority. Many Zoroastrians, of both Iranian and South East Asian descent, survive as a diasporic community, in such places as the United States, England, Canada, and Australia.

15

PICKING A PATH

All mystic paths have something wonderful to offer. All of them have their advantages, and they each have disadvantages if they are not suited to your spiritual calling. None of them are perfect, but each is a piece of our global spiritual mosaic, each illuminating the divine in a different way.

One of the strongest suggestions I offer to a seeker on the path is to determine which path is your foundation, the solid stone upon which you will build your own spiritual paradigms. Though I'm a big believer in eclecticism, following intuition and weaving together a path from many faiths, as we are children of the global community in the New Age, I am also a strong believer in picking a path and having it be your center. Many people in the New Age move from one topic and tradition to another, without delving deeply. They don't gain the true benefits of any path because they don't stick with it long enough to explore its mysteries. All mystic paths, in essence, are mystery traditions. You must practice and experience them to have the mystery revealed to you through your work. The image many teachers use is digging many shallow wells, never striking water, rather than digging one deep well that will serve your needs.

I think it is best to dig one well in the place that calls to your soul. What, on an emotional, mental, and spiritual level, "feels" right to you? Right is not necessarily the easiest or the most aesthetically pleasing path, but the one that suits your soul's needs. Then as you grow, you take the digging tools of other traditions and add them to your own central well, learning how to use them to enhance your own practice.

I left my traditional upbringing to follow the earth traditions of modern Witchcraft. That became my umbrella, my toolbox and cultural view through which I saw other mystic traditions. My friends joke that it is my cauldron, or big pointed hat, that contains the other techniques and traditions I've learned. Once I established a solid foundation in the teachings of the Craft, and put them into daily practice, integrating them into my life, I then explored outside of my tradition. At times I thought I would leave Witchcraft, but each exploration only strengthened my connection to the Goddess and God in my core tradition. I studied yoga and Eastern mysteries. I worked with North and South American shamans, and saw the parallels to European core shamanism, and how it related to my Craft. I studied traditional Western herbalism, magical and medicinal, which led to an exploration of alchemy and Hermetic magic. I went into the New Age world, studying Reiki, crystals, Theosophy, and ascension lore. I found parallels to my Witchcraft and new ways to explore similar ideas. I learned to integrate all these healing techniques into my tradition, and for me, they were all under the umbrella of Witchcraft. My "cauldron" helped me synthesize the parts of each of these paths that worked for me, but gave me a solid foundation, a structure and paradigm, from which to use them. Rather than digging several shallow wells, with no central path and calling, I was able to dig deeply into my own witchy well, and receive the water of life that welled up from it.

I know many who have done the same thing on their explorations. Some stick with whatever tradition they were raised in. For many, it is a form of Christianity. They seek out the mystical teachings beneath the orthodox traditions, and integrate more metaphysical concepts from other traditions as they go. But at their core, they have a structure that allows them to explore other paths to enhance their own, rather than play shallowly, with no true understanding. When you fully understand the mysteries of one teaching, you can see how they parallel the mysteries of other teachings. Each further understanding takes you deeper, expanding your consciousness.

Soul-search, using all the techniques at your disposal, to find which mystical path is for you. Make a commitment, and then add to it to make the practice truly yours.

Appendix

SACRED TEACHINCj. S

Use these excerpts from sacred texts to find the teachings and images that stir your own soul, and aid you in finding the paths that are right for you at this time. They illustrate the similarities and the differences between the mystic paths.

Allah Is Light ...

Now We have sent down to you signs Making all clear, and an example Of those who passed away before you, And an admonition for the godfearing.

God is the Light of the heavens and the earth The likeness of His Light is as a niche Wherein is a lamp (The lamp is a glass, The glass as it were a glittering star) Kindled from a Blessed Tree, An olive that is neither of the East nor of the West Whose oil wellnigh would shine, even if no fire touched it Light upon light (God guides to His light whom He will.) (And God strikes down similitudes for me, And God has knowledge of everything.) In temples God has allowed to be raised up, And His name to be commemorated therein; Therein glorifying Him, in the mornings and the evenings, Are men who neither commerce nor trafficking Diverts from the remembrances of God And to perform the prayer, and to pay the alms, Fearing a day when hearts and eyes shall be turned about, That God may recompense them for their fairest works And give them increase of His bounty; And God provides whomsoever He will, without reckoning, And as for the unbelievers, Their works are as a mirage in the spacious plain Which the man athirst supposes to be water Till, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing; There indeed he finds God, And He pays him his account in full; (and God is swift at the reckoning). Or the yare as shadows upon a sea obscure Covered by a billow Above which is a billow Above which are clouds, Shadows piled upon another When he puts forth his hand, well nigh he cannot see it And to whomsoever God assigns no light, No light has he. Hast thou not seen how that whatsoever is in the heavens and in the Earth extols God And the birds spreading their wings Each-He knows its prayer and its extolling; and God knows the things they do. To God belongs the Kingdoms of the heavens and the earth, And to Him is the homecoming. Hast thou not seen how God drives the clouds, then composes them, Then coverts them into a mass, Then thou seest the rain issuing out of the midst of them? And He sends down out of the heaven mountains, wherein is hail So that He smites whom He will with it, and turns it aside From whom He will; Wellnigh the gleam of His lightning snatches away at the sight, God turns about the day and the night; Surely in that is a lesson for those who have eyes. God has created every beast of water, And some of them go upon their bellies, And some of them go upon two feet, And some of them go upon four; God creates whatever He will; God is powerful over everything.

-Koran XXIV, 33-44. A. J. Arberry, trans.

Atharva Veda (Hindu)

High Truth, unyielding Order, Consecration, Ardor and Prayer and Holy Ritual uphold the Earth, may she, the ruling Mistress of what has been and what will come to be, for us spread wide a limitless domain.

Untrammeled in the midst of men, the Earth, adorned with heights and gentle slopes and plains, bears plants and herbs of various healing powers. May she spread wide for us, afford us joy!

On whom are ocean, river, and all waters, on whom have sprung up food and plowman's crops, on whom moves all that breathes and stirs abroadEarth, may she grant to us the long first draught!

To Earth belong the four directions of space. On her grows food; on her the plowman toils. She carries likewise all that breathes and stirs. Earth, may she grant us cattle and food in plenty!

On whom the men of olden days roamed far, on whom the conquering Gods smote the demons, the home of cattle, horses, and of birds, may Earth vouchsafe to us good fortune and glory!

Bearer of all things, hoard of treasures rare, sustaining mother, Earth the golden-breasted who bears the Sacred Universal Fire, whose spouse is Indra-may she grant us wealth!

Limitless Earth, whom the Gods, never sleeping, protect forever with unflagging care, may she exude for us the well-loved honey, shed upon us her splendor copiously!

Earth, who of yore was Water in the oceans, discerned by the Sages' secret powers, whose immortal heart, enwrapped in Truth, abides aloft in the highest firmament, may she procure for us splendor and power, according to her highest royal state!

On whom the flowing Waters, ever the same, course without cease or failure night and day, may she yield milk, this Earth of many streams, and shed on us her splendor copiously!

May Earth, whose measurements the Asvins marked, over whose breadth the foot of Vishnu strode, whom Indra, Lord of power, freed from foes, stream milk for me, as a mother for her son!

Your hills, 0 Earth, your snow-clad mountain peaks, your forests, may they show us kindliness! Brown, black, red, multifarious in hue and solid is this vast Earth, guarded by Indra. Invincible, unconquered, and unharmed, I have on her established my abode.

Impart to us those vitalizing forces that come, 0 Earth, from deep within your body, your central point, your navel, purify us wholly. The Earth is mother; I am son of Earth. The Rain-giver is my father; may he shower on us blessings!

The Earth on which they circumscribe the altar, on which a band of workmen prepare the oblation, on which the tall bright sacrificial posts are fixed before the start of the oblationmay Earth, herself increasing, grant us increase!

That man, 0 Earth, who wills us harm, who fights us, who by his thoughts or deadly arms opposes, deliver him to us, forestalling action.

All creatures, born from you, move round upon you. You carry all that has two legs, three, or four. To you, 0 Earth, belong the five human races, those mortals upon whom the rising sun sheds the immortal splendor of his rays.

May the creatures of earth, united together, let flow for me the honey of speech! Grant to me this boon, 0 Earth.

Mother of plants and begetter of all things, firm far-flung Earth, sustained by Heavenly Law, kindly and pleasant is she. May we ever dwell on her bosom, passing to and fro! ...

Do not thrust us aside from in front or behind, from above or below! Be gracious, 0 Earth. Let us not encounter robbers on our path. Restrain the deadly weapons!

As wide a vista of you as my eye may scan, 0 Earth, with the kindly help of Sun, so widely may my sight be never dimmed in all the long parade of years to come!

Whether, when I repose on you, 0 Earth, I turn upon my right side or my left, or whether, extended flat upon my back, I meet your pressure from head to foot, be gentle, Earth! You are the couch of all!

Whatever I dig up of you, 0 Earth, may you of that have quick replenishment! O purifying One, may my thrust never reach right into your vital points, your heart!

Your circling seasons, nights succeeding days, your summer, 0 Earth, your splashing rains, your autumn, your winter and frosty season yielding to springmay each and all produce for us their milk! ...

From your numberless tracks by which mankind may travel, your roads on which move both chariots and wagons your paths which are used by the good and the bad, may we choose a way free from foes and robbers! May you grant us the blessing of all that is wholesome!

She carries in her lap the foolish and also the wise. She bears the death of the wicked as well as the good. She lives in friendly collaboration with the boar, offering herself as sanctuary to the wild pig....

Peaceful and fragrant, gracious to the touch, may Earth, swollen with milk, her breasts overflowing, grant me her blessing together with her milk!

The Maker of the world sought her with oblations when she was shrouded in the depth of the ocean. A vessel of gladness, long cherished in secret, the earth was revealed to mankind for their joy.

Primeval Mother, disperser of men, you, far-flung Earth, fulfill all our desires. Whatever you lack, may the Lord of creatures, the First-born of Right, supply to you fully!

May your dwellings, 0 Earth, free from sickness and wasting, flourish for us! Through a long life, watchful, may we always offer to you our tribute!

0 Earth, 0 Mother, dispose my lot in gracious fashion that I be at ease. In harmony with all the powers of Heaven set me, 0 Poet, in grace and good fortune!

-12:1:1-17, 32-36, 47-48, 59-63. Selections from its "Hymn to the Earth," Raimundo Panikkar, trans., The Vedic Experience: Mantramanjari, pp. 123-129.

Bhagavad-Gita (Hindu)

I am the taste in the water, the light of the sun and the moon, the sound in the ether, the ability in the man, the fragrance of the earth, the life of all that lives, the strength of the strong, the intelligence of the intelligent, and the original seed of all existences.

-Sloka XX

Deep in the hearts of all, there is the light of all lights, forever beyond darkness. This is wisdom, the goal of all knowledge and what is to be known. Know this to be the absolute Brahman.

-Sloka 13:17

The Charge of the Goddess (Wiccan)

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, Who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Ceridwen, Diana, Arianrhod, Brigid and by many other names:

"Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me Who is Queen of all the Wise.

"You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked in your rites. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy on earth. For my law is love unto all beings. Mine is the secret that opens upon the door of youth and Mine is the cup of wine of life that is the cauldron of Ceridwen that is the holy grail of immortality.

"I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone on before. Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the mother of all things and My love is poured out upon the Earth."

Hear also the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of Whose feet are the hosts of heaven, Whose body encircles the universe:

"I Who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto Me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return.

"Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold-all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.

`And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire."

Cleanthes' Hymn to Zeus (Greek-Stoic)

-Stobaeus, "Eclogae," I, 1, 12. Cleanthes of Assos (331-233 BC) is considered to be the real founder of the Stoic school of theology. Translation by Frederick C. Grant, in his Hellenistic Religions (New York: 1953), pp. 152-154.

Commandments of the Qur'an

Say, come, I will recite what God has made a sacred duty for you: Ascribe nothing as equal with God; Be good to your parents; You shall not kill your children on a plea of want; we provide sustenance for you and for them; You shall not approach lewd behavior whether open or in secret, You shall not take life, which God has made sacred, except by way of justice and law. Thus does God command you, that you may learn wisdom. And you shall not approach the property of the orphan, except to improve it, until he attains the age of maturity. Give full measure and weight, in justice; no burden should be placed on any soul but that which it can bear. And if you give your word, do it justice, even if a near relative is concerned; and fulfill your obligations before God. Thus does God command you, that you may remember.

Verily, this is my straight path: follow it, and do not follow other paths which will separate you from God's path. Thus does God command you, that you may be righteous."

-Qur'an, 6:151-153

The Earth, Mother of All

I will sing of well founded Earth, mother of all, eldest of all beings. She feeds all creatures that are in the world, all that go upon the goodly land, and all that are in the depths of the seas, and all that fly: all these are fed of her store. Through you, 0 queen, men are blessed in their children blessed in their harvests, and to you it belongs to give means of life to mortal men and to take it away. Happy is the man whom you delight to honour! He has all things abundantly: his fruitful land is laden with corn, his pastures are covered with cattle and his house is filled with goods things. Such men rule orderly in their cities of fair women: Great riches and wealth follow them: their sons exult with ever fresh delight, and their daughter with flower laden hands play and skip merrily over the soft flowers of the field. Thus it is with those whom you honour 0 holy goddess, bountiful spirit.

Hail, Mother of the gods, wife of starry Heaven; freely bestow upon me for this my song substance that cheers the heart! And now I will remember you and another son also.

-The Homeric Hymns. Hugh G. Evelyn-White, trans., The Loeb Classical Library (New York: 1914), p. 456.

Emerald Tablet (Alchemy/Hermetic)

In truth, without deceit, certain, and most veritable.

That which is Below corresponds to that which is Above. And that which is Above corresponds to that which is Below, to accomplish the miracles of the One Thing. And as all things have come from this One Thing, through the meditation of One Mind, so do all created things originate from this One Thing through Transformation.

Its father is the Sun; its mother the Moon. The Wind carries it in its belly; its nurse is the Earth.

It is the origin of All, the consecration of the Universe. Its inherent strength is perfected, if it is turned into Earth.

Separate the Earth from Fire, the Subtle from the Gross, gently and with great ingenuity. It rises from Earth to Heaven, and descends again to Earth, thereby combining within itself the powers of both the Above and the Below.

Thus will you obtain the Glory of the Whole Universe. All Obscurity will be clear to you. This is the greatest Force of all powers, because it overcomes every Subtle thing and penetrates every Solid thing.

In this way was the Universe created. From this comes many wondrous Applications, because this is the Pattern.

Therefore am I called the Thrice Greatest Hermes, having all three parts of the wisdom of the Whole Universe. Herein have I completely explained the Operation of the Sun.

Four Agreements (Toltec)

Be Impeccable With Your Word Don't Take Things Personally Don't Make Assumptions Always Do Your Best

The Five Precepts of Buddhism

I undertake the precept to refrain from harming living creatures. I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not freely given. I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct. I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech. I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness.

The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism

Dukkha: All worldly life is unsatisfactory, disjointed, containing suffering.

Samudaya: There is a cause of suffering, which is attachment or desire (tanha) rooted in ignorance.

Nirodha: There is an end of suffering, which is Nirvana.

Marga: There is a path that leads out of suffering, known as the Noble Eightfold Path.

Gatha of the Choice:

Zarathustra Reveals the Exemplary Choice Which Took Place at the Beginning of the World (Zoroastrian)

1. Now will I speak to those who will hear Of the things which the initiate should remember The praises and prayer of the Good Mind to the Lord And the joy which he shall see in the light who has remembered them well.

2. Hear with your ears that which is the sovereign good With a clear mind look upon the two sides Between which each man must choose for himself, Watchful beforehand that the great test may be accomplished in our favour.

3. Now at the beginning the twin spirits have declared their nature The better and the evil, In thought and world and deed. And between the two The wise ones choose well, not so the foolish.

4. And when these two spirits came together, In the beginning they established life and non-life, And that at the last the worst experience should be for the wicked, But for the righteous one the Best Mind.

5. Of these two spirits, the evil one chose to do the worst things But the most Holy spirit, clothed in the most steadfast heavens Joined himself unto Righteousness; And thus did all those who delight to please the Wise Lord by honest deeds.

6. Between the two, the false gods also did not choose rightly For while they pondered they were beset by error So that they chose the Worst Mind. Then did they hasten to join themselves until Fury, That they might by it deprave the existence of man.

7. And to him came Devotion, together with Dominion, Good Mind and Righteousness; She gave perpetuity of body and the breath of life, That he may be thine apart from them, As the first by the retributions through the metal.

8. And when their punishment shall come to these sinners, Then, 0 Wise One, shall thy Dominion, with the Good Mind, Be granted to those who have delivered Evil into the hands of the Righteousness, 0 Lord!

9. And may we be those that renew this existence! 0 Wise One, and you other Lords, and Righteousness, bring your alliance. That thoughts may gather where wisdom is faint.

10. Then shall Evil cease to flourish, While those who have acquired good fame Shall reap the promised reward In the blessed dwelling of the Good Mind, of the Wise One, and of Righteousness.

11. If you, 0 Men, understand the commandments which the Wise One has given, Well-being and suffering-long torment for the wicked and salvation for the righteousAll shall hereafter be for the best.

-Gatha: Yasna 30. Translation by Jacques Duchesne-Guillemin, in his The Hymns of Zarathustra (London: 1952), pp. 102-107.

Give Thanks to Mother Earth (Pawnee Tribe, Oklahoma)

Behold! Our Mother Earth is lying here. Behold! She giveth her fruitfulness. Truly, her power gives she us. Give thanks to Mother Earth who lieth here.

Behold on Mother Earth the growing fields! Behold the promise of her fruitfulness! Truly her power gives she us. Give thanks to Mother Earth who lieth here.

Behold on Mother Earth the spreading trees! Behold the promise of her fruitfulness! Truly, her power gives she us. Give thanks to Mother Earth who lieth here. We see on Mother Earth the running streams; We see the promise of her fruitfulness. Truly, her power gives she us. Our thanks to Mother Earth who lieth here!

-Alice C. Fletcher, "The Hako: A Pawnee Ceremony," in Twenty-Second Annual Report, part 2, Bureau of American Ethnology (Washington, DC: 1904), p. 334.

The Golden Rule (Multi-Faith)

Buddhism-Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. -Udana-Varga 5,1

Christianity-All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. -Matthew 7:1

Confucianism-Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against you, either in the family or in the state. -Analects 12:2

Hinduism-This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you. -Mahabharata 5,1517

Islam-No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. -Sunnah

Judaism-What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. -Talmud, Shabbat 3id

Taoism-Regard your neighbor's gain as your gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss. -Tai Shang Kan Yin P'ien

Wicca-An' ye harm none, do what ye will. -The Wiccan Rede, Book of Shadows

Zoroastrianism-That nature alone is good which refrains from doing another whatsoever is not good for itself. -Dadisten-I-dinik, 94,5

The Hermetic Principles (Hermetic-Ceremonial Magic)

The Principle of Mentalism-Everything in existence is "creations of THE ALL" or thoughts in the divine mind. We are all one in the divine.

The Principle of Correspondence-'As above, so below." Patterns repeat themselves on all scales imaginable. Microcosms and macrocosms are maps of each other. The inner and outer worlds are intimately connected.

The Principle of Polarity-"Everything is dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites." One of the active forces of the universe is the attraction and repulsion between the sets of poles.

The Principle of Vibration-"Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates." With the discovery of the atom, science has proved this principle beyond a shadow of a doubt.

The Principle of Gender-"Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine principles." Everything and everyone contains a mixture of feminine attributes and masculine attributes.

The Principle of Rhythm-"Everything flows in and out; everything has its tides." The universe works in cycles and patterns that repeat themselves, like the cycles of nature and the stars.

The Principle of Cause and Effect-"Every cause has its effect; every effect has its cause." This law is similar to our modern belief that "every action has an equal and opposite reaction." Everything occurring has an effect on everything else. Events occurring now are the effects of previous causes.

Hymn to Isis

In all Her great and wonderful works She was a wiser magician and more excellent than any other God.

-Thebes, Egypt, fourteenth century BC. From Merlin Stone's When God Was a Woman.

The Initiates in the Orphic-Pythagorean Brotherhood Are Taught the Road to the Lower World

(From the Funerary Gold Plates from Petelia, South Italy, fourth-third century BC): Thou shalt find to the left of the House of Hades a spring, And by the side thereof standing a white cypress. To this spring approach not near. But thou shalt find another, from the Lake of Memory Cold water flowing forth, and there are guardians before it. Say, "I am a child of Earth and starry heaven; But my race is of Heaven (alone). This ye know yourselves. But I am parched with thirst and I perish. Give me quickly The cold water flowing forth from the Lake of Memory." And of themselves they will give thee to drink of the holy spring. And there after among the other heroes thou shalt have lordship.

(Plate from Eleuthernai in Crete, second century BC): I am parched with thirst and I perish-Nay, drink of me (or, but give me to drink of) The ever-flowering spring on the right, where the cypress is. Who art thou? ... Whence art though? I am the son of Earth and starry Heaven.

(Plate from Thurii, South Italy, fourth-third century BC): But so soon as the spirit hath left the light of the sun, Go to the right as far as one should go, being right wary in all things Hail, thou who has suffered the suffering. This thou hadst never suffered before. Thou art become god from man. A kid thou art fallen into milk. Hail, hail to thee journeying in the right hand road. By holy meadows and groves of Persephone.

(Three more tablets from Thurii, roughly fourth-third century BC): I come from the pure, pure Queen of those below And Eukles and Eubuleus, and other Gods and Daemons: For I also avow that I am of your blessed race. And I have paid the penalty for deeds unrighteous, Whether it be that Fate laid me low or the gods immortal Or ... with star-flung thunderbolt. I have flow out of the sorrowful, weary circle I have passed with swift feet to the diadem desired I have sunk beneath the bosom of the Mistress, The Queen of the underworld. And now I come suppliant to holy Peresphoneia That her grace she send men to the seats of the Hallowed. Happy and blessed one, though shalt be god instead of mortal. A kid I have fallen into milk.

-Translation by W. K. C. Gurthrie, in his Orpheus and Greek Religion (London: 1935), pp. 172-173.

Kalama Sutra (Buddhist)

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in traditions simply because they have been handed down for generations. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything merely on authority of your teachers and elders. But when, after observation and analysis, you find anything that agrees with reason, and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

The Laws of the Magus (The Powers of the Sphinx or the Witch's Pyramid)

To Know To Will To Dare To Keep Silent

Lord's Prayer/Our Father (Christian)

Our Father, who art in heaven: hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Man's Soul Identified Both with Osiris and with Nature (Egyptian)

Whether I live or die I am Osiris, I enter in and reappear through you, I decay in you, I grow in you, I fall down in you, I fall upon my side The gods are living in me for I live and grow in the corn that sustains the Honoured Ones. I cover the earth, whether I live or die I am Barley. I am not destroyed. I have entered the Order, I rely upon the Order, I become Master of the Order, I emerge in the Order, I make my form distinct, I am the Lore of the Chennet (granary of Memphis?) I have entered into the Order, I have reached its limits ...

-Coffin Texts 330. Translation by R. T. Rundle Clark, in his Myth and Symbol in Ancient Egypt (London: 1959), p. 142.

Namokar Mantra (Jainist)

Namo Arihantanam: I bow to the Arahantas, the perfected human beings, Godmen. Namo Siddhanam: I bow to the Siddhas, liberated bodiless souls, God. Namo Aariyanam: I bow to the Acharyas, the masters and heads of congregations. Namo Uvajjhayanam: I bow to the Upadhyayas, the spiritual teachers. Namo Loe Savva Sahunam: I bow to all the spiritual practitioners in the universe, Sadhus. Eso Panch Namoyaro: This fivefold obeisance mantra, Savva Pavappanasano: Destroys all sins and obstacles, Mangalanam cha Savvesin: And of all auspicious repetitions, Padhamam Havai Mangalam: Is the first and foremost.

Navajo Prayer (Native American)

I will be happy forever. Nothing will hinder me. I walk with beauty before me. I walk with beauty behind me. I walk with beauty above me. I walk with beauty around me. My words will be beautiful.

Nicene Creed (Catholic)

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism

Right Understanding Right Thought Right Speech Right Action Right Livelihood Right Effort

Right Mindfulness Right Concentration

Prayers of the Dervishes (Sufi)

I have naught but my destitution To plead for me with Thee. And in my poverty I put forward that destitution as my plea. I have no power save to knock at Thy door, And if I be turned away, at what door shall I knock? Of on whom shall I call, crying his name, If Thy generosity is refused to Thy destitute one? Far be it from Thy generosity to drive the disobedient one to despair. Generosity is more freehanded than that. In lowly wretchedness I have come to Thy door, Knowing that degradation there find help. In full abandon I put my trust in Thee, Stretching out my hands to Thee, a pleading beggar.

-Attributed to Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani or Abuyad al-Tijani

The Prayer of St. Francis (Christian)

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. 0, Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Psalm 23 (Judeo-Christian)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Reiki Principles (Reiki)

Just for today, I will be grateful. Just for today, I will not anger. Just for today, I will not worry. Just for today, I will do my work honestly. Just for today, I will respect all life.

The Revival of Osiris (Egyptian)

Hail to you, 0 Knowing One! Geb has created you anew, The Divine Company has brought you forth anew! Horus is satisfied for his father, Atum is satisfied for his offspring. The gods of East and West are satisfied with this great event which has come to pass through the action of the Divine Progeny. Ah Osiris! See! Behold! Osiris! Hear! Attend! Ah! Osiris! Lift yourself upon your side! Carry out what I ordain! O Hater of Sleep! 0 Torpid One! Rise up, you that were cast down in Nedit! Take your breath with Happiness in Pe! Receive your scepter in Heliopolis! This is Horus (speaking), he has ordained action for his father, He had shown himself master of the storm, He has countered the blustering of Seth, So that he (Seth) must bare youFor it is he that must carry him who is (again) complete!

-From the Pyramid of Wenis; this is one of the earliest texts from Osirian rituals. Translation by R. T. Rundle Clark, in his Myth and Symbol in Ancient Egypt (London: 1959), p. 111.

Shin Paishi

Humbly, I approach the kami in prayer. I pray to the kami of Tsubaki Grand Shrine; speaking with reverent heart, I present offerings and prayers. I come in humility and with great respect. -Kakema kumo kahikoki -Tsubaki 0 Kami yashiro No omae o orogami matsurite -Kashikomi kashikomi mo maosaku

I beseech all the kami to accept these offerings that are brought with Gratitude for the blessings and the noble teachings That have been bestowed upon me -O kamitachi no hiroki atsuki mi megumi o katajikenami matsuri -Takaki totoki misohie no mani mani To the divine, exalted kami, I humbly offer my prayers. Teach me to live with a pure and sincere heart. Grant me perseverance and that my heart be genuine, childlike, and true. Grant that I stay on the path of sincerity and truth. Grant that I be strong and diligent at my deeds. -Sumera mikoto o aogi matsuri naoki tadashiki magokoro mochite -Makoto no michi ni tago koto naku -Oimotsu waza ni nage mashime tamai Grant good health to my family; give them strength in spirit, mind, and body. Grant that I may benefit and serve all mankind. With awe and reverence, I humbly speak these words. -le kado takaku mi sukoyaka ni -Yo no tame hito no tame ni tsuku sashime to -Kashikomi kashikomi mo maosu

-Shinto sacred prayer from Shinto Norito: A Book of Prayers

Sufi Verse

Come, come, whoever you are. Worshiper, Wanderer, Lover of Leaving; Ours is not a caravan of despair. Though you have broken your vows a thousand times ... Come, come again, come.

-Often attributed to Mevlana Rumi, Sufi philosopher and poet

The Song of Amergin (Irish Celtic)

I am the wind that blows across the sea; I am a wave of the deep; I am the roar of the ocean; I am the stag of seven battles; I am a hawk on the cliff; I am a ray of sunlight; I am the greenest of plants; I am the wild boar; I am a salmon in the river; I am a lake on the plain; I am the word of knowledge; I am the point of a spear; I am the lure beyond the ends of the earth; I can shift my shape like a god.

-From the Book of Invasions

Song of Solomon (Jewish)

Chapter 1

The song of songs, which is Solomon's. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers; we will be glad and rejoice in thee; we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. I am black, but comely, 0 ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept. Tell me, 0 thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? If thou know not, 0 thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents. I have compared thee, 0 my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots. Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold. We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver. While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes. Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

Chapter 2

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me. I charge you, 0 ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

Chapter 3

By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. I charge you, 0 ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant? Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel. They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night. King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem. Go forth, 0 ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.

Chapter 4

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks. Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee. Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards. Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! Thy lips, 0 my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon. A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. Awake, 0 north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

Chapter 5

I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, 0 friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, 0 beloved. I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me. I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love. What is thy beloved more than another beloved, 0 thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, 0 daughters of Jerusalem.

Chapter 6

Whither is thy beloved gone, 0 thou fairest among women? Whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee. My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies. Thou art beautiful, 0 my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners. Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead. Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them. As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks. There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners? I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished and the pomegranates budded. Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib. Return, return, 0 Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.

Chapter 7

How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, 0 prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins. Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus. Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries. How fair and how pleasant art thou, 0 love, for delights! This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes. I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples; And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak. I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, 0 my beloved.

Chapter 8

O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised. I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate. His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. I charge you, 0 daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee. Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour. Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, 0 Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred. Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it. Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

The Ten Commandments (Judeo-Christian)

1. I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

5. Honor thy father and thy mother.

6. Thou shalt not kill.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8. Thou shalt not steal.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.

-From Exodus 20: 1-17

Thelemic Principles

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. (AL, 1:40) Love is the law, love under will. (AL, 1:57) The word of the law is Thelema. (AL, 1:39)

There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt. (AL, II1:60) Every man and every woman is a star. (AL, 1:3)

-The Book of the Law (Liber Al vet Legis)

To Walk the Red Road (Native American)

The Red Road is a circle of people standing hand in hand, people in this world, people between people in the Spirit world. star people, animal people, stone people, river people, tree people ... The Sacred Hoop. To walk the Red Road is to know sacrifice, suffering. It is to understand humility. It is the ability to stand naked before God in all things for your wrong doings, for your lack of strength, for your dis-compassionate way, for your arrogance-because to walk the Red Road, you always know you can do better. And you know, when you do good things, it is through the Creator, and you are grateful. To walk the Red Road is to know you stand on equal ground with all living things. It is to know that because you were born human, it gives you superiority over nothing. It is to know that every creation carries a Spirit, and the river knows more than you do, the mountains know more than you do, the stone people know more than you do, the trees know more than you do, the wind is wiser than you are, and animal people carry wisdom. You can learn from every one of them, because they have something you don't: They are void of evil thoughts. They wish vengeance on no one, they seek Justice. To walk the Red Road is to know your Ancestors, to call to them for assistance ... It is to know that there is good medicine, and there is bad medicine ... It is to know that Evil exists, but is cowardly as it is often in disguise. It is to know there are evil spirits who are in constant watch for a way to gain strength for themselves at the expense of you. To walk the Red Road, you have less fear of being wrong, because you know that life is a journey, a continuous circle, a sacred hoop. Mistakes will be made, and mistakes can be corrected if you will be humble, for if you cannot be humble, you will never know when you have made a mistake. If you walk the Red Road, you know that every sorrow leads to a better understanding, every horror cannot be explained, but can offer growth. To walk the Red Road is to look for beauty in all things. To walk the Red Road is to know you will one day cross to the Spirit World, and you will not be afraid ...

-Author unknown

Vishnu, The Cosmic God

You are everything, earth, water, fire, air and space, The subtle world, the Nature-of-All (pradhana), And the Person who stands forever aloof.

O Self of all beings! From the Creator (Brahma) to the blade of grass All is your body, visible and invisible, Divided by space and time.

We worship you as Brahma, the Immense Being, the first shape, Who sprang from the lotus of your navel to create the worlds.

We, the gods, worship you in our selves, We, the King of Heaven, the Sun, the Lord of Tears, The Indweller, the wing gods of agriculture, The Lord of Wind, the offering, who are all your shapes While you are our Selves.

We worship you in your demonic shapes, deceitful and stupid, Wild in their passions, suspicious of wisdom.

We worship you in the genni, the yakshas, With their narrow minds obdurate to knowledge, Their blunt faculties covetous of the objects of worlds.

O Supreme Man! We bow to your fearful evil shapes Which wander at night, cruel and deceitful.

O Giver-of-Rewards (Junardana)! We worship you as the Eternal Law Whence virtuous men, who dwell in the heaven, Obtain the blissful fruit of their just deeds. We bow to the Realized (Siddhas) who are your shapes of joy; Free from contacts, they enter and move within all things.

O Remover-of-Sorrow (Hari)! We bow to you the serpent shapes, Lustful and cruel, whose forked tongues know no mercy.

O Pervader! We worship you as knowledge In the peaceful form of the seers, Faultless, free from sin.

O Dweller in the lotus of the Heart! We bow to you As the self of Time which at the end of the ages, Infallibly devours all beings.

We worship you as the Lord of Tears, Who dances at the time of destruction, Having devoured gods and men alike.

O Giver of Rewards! We worship your human shape Bound by the twenty-eight incapacities (badha), Ruled by the powers of darkness.

We bow to you as vegetable life (mukhya rupa), By which the world subsists and which-six in kind, Trees, [creepers, bushes, plants, herbs, and bamboo]Supports the sacrificial rites.

O Universal Self! We bow to you under that elemental shape Gods and living beings, ether and the elements, Sound and all the qualities. O Transcendent Self! We bow to you as the Cause of causes, Beyond Nature (pradhana) and intellect. O All-powerful (Bhagavan)! We bow to your shape Which the seers alone perceive and in which is found No white nor other color, no length nor other dimension No density no other quality.

Purer than purity it stands Beyond the sphere of quality We bow to you, the birthless, the indestructible, Outside who there is but nothingness.

You are the ever-present within all things, As the intrinsic principles of all. We bow to you, resplendent Indweller (Vasudeva)! The seed of all that is! You stand changeless, unsullied. The Supreme stage is your core, the Universe your shape. You are the unborn, Eternal.

-Vishnu Purana, 3, 17, 14-34. Translation by Alain Danielou, in his Hindu Polytheism (New York: Bollingen Series LXXIII, 1964), pp. 367-368.

The Wiccan Rede (Wiccan)

Bide the Wiccan Laws we must In perfect Love and perfect Trust Live and let live, Fairly take and fairly give. Cast the Circle thrice about To keep the evil spirits out. To bind the spell every time Let the spell be spake in rhyme Soft of eye and light of touch, Speak little, listen much. Deosil go by the waxing moon, Changing out the Witches' rune. Widdershins go by the waning moon, Chanting out the baneful rune. When the lady's moon is new, Kiss thy hand to her, times two. When the moon rides at Her peak, Then your heart's desire seek. Heed the North wind's mighty gale, Lock the door and drop the sail. When the wind comes from the South, Love will kiss thee on the mouth. When the wind blows from the East, Expect the new and set the feast. When the wind blows from the West, Departed souls will have no rest. When the West wind blows o'er thee Departed spirits restless be. Nine woods into the cauldron go, Burn them fast and burn them slow. Elder be your Lady's tree, Burn it not or cursed ye'll be. When the Wheel begins to turn, Let the Beltane fires burn. When the Wheel has turned to Yule, Light the log and the Horned One rules Heed ye Flower, Bush and Tree, By the Lady, Blessed Be. Where the rippling waters go, Cast a stone and truth ye'11 know. When ye have a need, Hearken not to other's greed. With a fool no season spend, Nor be counted as his friend. Merry meet, Merry part, Bright the cheeks and warm the heart. Mind the Threefold Law ye should, Three times bad and three times good. When misfortune is enow, Wear the Blue Star on the brow True in love ever be, Unless thy Lover's false to thee. Eight words to the Wiccan Rede fulfill And ye harm none, do what ye will.

CjLOSSAIIY

acupressure: Similar to acupuncture, but instead of using needles it uses slight pressure on special points on the body, to alter the energy system of the person and create health and provide relief from pain.

acupuncture: A form of traditional Chinese medicine that uses needles placed at various points on the body, along energy lines known as meridians, to realign the energy flow, or "chi" flow, and remove energy blockages from the system. Acupuncture can be used to treat physical and emotional illnesses, relieve pain, and even as a preventive measure.

aeromancy: A style of divination based on the atmospheric conditions, cloud patterns, and the weather.

affirmations: Repeated statements designed to form new patterns within the mind and change the consciousness and reality of the user of the affirmations. Such statements are usually present tense, not future tense, and formed in a "positive" manner, rather than negating that which you don't want. For example, you would use the affirmation "I am prosperous" rather than "I will be prosperous" or "I am not poor."

air: The mental principle, associated with thought, communication, memory, language, and writing, as well as the principles of life and truth. Air is warm and moist.

Ajna chakra: The third eye or brow chakra, usually colored indigo or purple, related to the principles of psychic vision and inner sight. The name translates to "command" or "authority."

akashic records: Refers to the sum total information of the past, present, and future, said to be recorded in the "akasha," or spirit energy, around the planet and/or universe. Some psychics are said to be able to "read" the akashic records through their visions, to tell people information about their past, past lives, and potential futures.

aliens: E.T.'s, or Extra-Terrestrials, are common images in New Age metaphysics. Some people believe in the physical existence of beings from other planets and star systems in flying ships, while others feel they are a mask or metaphor for celestial spirits and nonphysical beings. The E.T's are presenting themselves in a way in which our modern scientific and fantasy-oriented society can relate to them, as many of the traditional mythologies they could use to interface with humans, such as those involving faeries or angels, are not as popular in our culture. The lore of alien abductions and of past faery abductions are strikingly similar.

alpha: The first letter in the Greek alphabet, symbol of the beginning. Also a state of consciousness below the normal waking state, where intuition, magic, and psychic experiences can occur, usually measured at eight to thirteen cycles per second in brain-wave activity.

amulet: A magical charm that is traditionally used to ward off unwanted influences. An amulet can also refer to a magical charm that is of a geometric or symbolic design, set as jewelry.

Anahata chakra: The heart chakra, related to the principles of love, empathy, harmony, and healing. Its name refers to the "unstruck" sound of the heart, the vibration of love, and is associated with the hexagram.

angels: Divine intermediaries between humankind and the creator source. The word angel is often translated as "messenger." The best-known classical depictions of angels are found in the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, but the concept of angels does not belong to any one tradition. Practitioners of many traditions, including ceremonial magic and Wicca, call upon angels.

animism: Animism generally refers to the belief that everything is alive, everything has a consciousness, or spirit/soul. Many consider modern Neo-Paganism to be an animist tradition.

Aquarius: The eleventh sign of the zodiac. A fixed air sign known as the water bearer.

Aries: The first sign of the zodiac. A cardinal fire sign depicted as a ram.

aromatherapy: The art and science of working with essential oils of plants to heal others physically, mentally, and emotionally. Through a distillation process, the volatile oils of a plant, which contain a strong scent, are extracted. The body responds to these scents, alone and in combination, to create healing on all levels. Some oils have benefit when applied to the skin, though most essential oils, being concentrated chemicals, need to be diluted in a carrier oil, or nonvolatile oil. Such treatments can be used in conjunction with massage.

ascended master: An enlightened being who has freed him- or herself from the wheel of rebirth, yet forgoes union with the source of all creation to remain behind in an ethereal state beyond the physical to act as a healer, guide, and teacher to those still in the wheel of rebirth. Often equated with a saint in the Christian traditions, or bodhisattva in the Eastern traditions.

ashram: In the physical world, an ashram usually refers to the dwelling of a Hindu sage or teacher, often remote and secluded. Students often reside at the ashram as well, to receive instruction and cloister themselves from the outside world in a religious retreat. Sometimes the term refers to the population of the retreat. In modern times, many believe the ascended masters have "astral" ashrams on the nonphysical planes, where disciples come to learn in dreams and meditations.

asteroids: A number of smaller solid bodies within the solar system existing in a band between Mars and Jupiter. Modern astrologers figure many of the asteroids into astrological chart interpretation. The best-known ones are Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta.

astral travel: The process of projecting your consciousness away from your physical body, often described as sending out your astral body, or double, to a location in either the physical world or a spiritual world. Astral travel to a physical destination is often known as remote viewing, or mental projection, while it is called journeying or pathworking when the destination is on the spiritual plane.

astrological ages: A period of Earth's cycle roughly 2,166 years long, marked by the sidereal zodiac sign the Sun occupies at the vernal equinox. Each sign confers its lessons, qualities, and challenges upon the Earth for that 2,000-year period.

Atlantis: A fabled island nation in the Atlantic Ocean that sunk beneath the waves. Reported in Plato's writing, and a common theme in many mythologies, it was revived in the works of Edgar Cayce and Madame Blavatsky. Some feel Atlantis is a literal place lost beneath the ocean to someday be rediscovered, while others feel it is a metaphor for the fabled perfect kingdom all cultures aspire to create.

augury: Divination usually based on the behavior and movement of animals.

aura: The energy field that surrounds and interpenetrates the human body. Those skilled psychically to perceive the aura can use the information in the aura to reveal the person's health, mood, and even past lives.

avatar: A deity who is said to incarnate as a human being.

Ayurveda: The indigenous medical system found in India, based on the philosophies of Hinduism. Ayurveda is a holistic treatment that does not discount surgery and medicines, but advocates changes in diet, exercise such as yoga, and herbs. The key principle of Ayurveda is living a life that promotes balance on all levels. Bodies are described in combinations of three doshas, three archetypal forces consisting of combinations of the five elements. By eating right for your dosha mixture, as well as engaging in the proper activities, you create health.

belly chakra: Also known as the navel chakra, sacral chakra, or spleen chakra. The orange energy center in the lower abdomen related to a person's sense of trust, intimacy, and intuition.

Beltane: One of the four Celtic fire festivals, and one of the eight Wheel of the Year holidays. Celebrated in May, usually on May 1, when the Sun is in Taurus, Beltane is a festival of fire, light, dancing, purification, and sexuality.

beta: The level of normal waking consciousness in brain-wave activity, measured at thirteen to sixteen cycles per second.

birth chart: The astrological chart cast for the moment of a person's birth. In astrological terms, it is a "picture" of the sky when and where the person was born. The birth chart, also know as the natal chart, is the seed of the lessons, challenges, and skills a person brings into this life that will unfold as his or her life develops.

black magic: Traditionally a term used for magic that intentionally harms others.

bodywork: Holistic therapies that work on manipulation of the body and its tissues, but also affect the mind, emotions, and spirit. Massage, in its various forms, is considered the primary form of bodywork.

brow chakra: The third eye or Ajna chakra, responsible for psychic vision. Usually depicted as indigo or purple.

Cabala: Usually refers to a Christian version of the Hebrew Kabalah.

Cancer: The fifth sign of the zodiac. A cardinal water sign symbolized by the crab.

candle magic: A spell where you place your intention into a candle through will, visualization, speaking, and/or formal ritual, and then light the candle to release the energy of your intention to manifest as a reality.

Capricorn: The ninth sign of the zodiac. A cardinal earth sign symbolized by the goat or the goat-fish.

cardinal: The initiating or generating principle. The force of beginnings.

centering: The act of aligning yourself with your core, to help you focus on a mystical task at hand, or to orient yourself back to the physical world after ritual and meditation. Often used in conjunction with grounding.

ceremony: Another term for ritual. Some use ceremony to denote a group ritual. Others use the term ceremony for rituals of high magic, as in the term ceremonial magician.

chakra: An energy center aligned with a level of consciousness and a place within the physical body. Chakras can be thought of as spiritual organs that process energy like our physical organs process food and waste. Seven main energy centers exist, running up the spine from the base to the crown.

channeling: The act of connecting to a nonphysical entity and mediating between that entity and either your own human consciousness or that of another person. Channeling is often called mediumship. One who performs channeling is called a channel or channeler. A channel can experience channeling consciously, psychically interpreting and repeating back messages, or through trance, where the entity in question "takes over" the physical body. Each form has its benefits and drawbacks.

charm: A magical tool created for a specific purpose, to manifest a specific intention or spell. Charms usually come in the form of an amulet or talisman.

chela: A term for a spiritual disciple.

chi: The Chinese term for vital life energy.

Chiron: A "planetoid" orbiting between Saturn and Uranus. Astrologers have worked with the archetype of the "wounded healer" and the myth of Chiron the centaur to understand how this body works in the art and science of astrology.

clairaudience: A term for psychic "hearing" or interpreting psychic information through the sense of hearing. A clairaudient "hears" messages, guides, spirits, or an inner guiding voice. Though this voice is usually internal, some feel it is so real they swear they actually hear it with their physical ears, even though no one else can hear it.

clairsentience: A term for psychic "knowing" or interpreting psychic information as a gutlevel feeling, or simply knowing information without a visual or auditory experience.

clairvoyance: A term for psychic "seeing" or interpreting psychic information through the sense of sight. A clairvoyant usually receives information as internal pictures through the mind's eye, though some see visions while their eyes are wide open. Those who can "see" auras, energy, and spirits are clairvoyant.

cleansing: The process of removing any unwanted energies or vibrations, from yourself, an object, or an environment. Incense, herbs, sounds, prayers, chants, intentions, and visualizations can be used in a cleansing.

color magic: Using the unique properties of each color in ritual and magic. Each color corresponds to a different range of experiences and effects. Colors can be visualized, or used with tools that are colored to match the desired effect. Color correspondence systems can vary from tradition to tradition.

cord magic: The use of cords and strings, braided and knotted, as a focus for magical intention.

creative visualization: The process of visualizing whatever you desire to manifest in your reality to make it manifest in the physical world. While in a meditative state, "see" in your mind's eye exactly what you want. Use all your senses-see it, hear it, feel it, smell it, taste it, and touch it. Make the image as real as possible, and imagine it in the present tense. Don't think of it coming in the future; imagine it being fully present now. This process is a foundation of many magical traditions that has been brought to mainstream attention.

crown chakra: The seventh chakra, located at the top of the head or, some say, slightly above it. Usually depicted as violet or dazzling white, the crown relates to our spiritual nature and connection with the creative source.

crystal: Any mineral used for metaphysical purposes, usually as a meditation aid, charm, or healing instrument. Technically, a crystal refers to a mineral that has a crystalline struc ture, such as quartz, but many in the metaphysical world use the term crystal for any mineral associated with metaphysical properties.

crystallomancy: Divination by crystals. Scrying is a form of crystallomancy.

deities: Divine beings of the Pagan mythologies. Each deity embodies one or more aspects of creation, usually paralleling what modern psychology would call an archetype.

delta: The deepest level of brain-wave activity, measuring at four or less cycles per second. Delta is the place of deep sleep, coma, and the deepest trance work.

demon: In classical Christian mythology, a demon is a fallen angel consigned to Hell. In other systems, it is a being that corresponds to the lowest of emotions and desires. Others view demons simply as nonhuman entities, not predisposed with good will toward the human realm.

deva: A deva is a Hindu term originally relating to the "little gods," but in modern times it has come to denote a spirit related to the nature realm, acting as the architect and holding the patterns of some aspect of nature, such as a species of flower or tree. A deva also can be related to an area, such as a mountain, park, or valley. The smaller devas in the larger area make up the "body" of the larger deva.

dharma: In Western terms, your dharma basically refers to fulfilling your life purpose. It is your proper actions and your duty, and can be equated with your magical will, true will, or the creator's "plan" for your life. Dharma is not destiny; it doesn't simply happen. You must be open to it, and choose to make it happen. In various Eastern traditions, dharma has other, specific cultural meanings and connotations.

divination: To divine literally means to align with divinity, and in this case it means to align with divinity to get guidance, usually about the future. Divination can be done without tools, though traditionally it uses some form of oracle system. Tarot, runes, crystal scrying, and horary astrology are all forms of divination.

Divine Mind: Another term from the Hermetic tradition for the great creator or divine spirit.

djinn: In Western magic, a djinn is usually a manifestation of a fire elemental. In Middle Eastern lore, it is a being that is neither wholly spiritual nor physical, and considered a lower spirit when compared to angelic beings.

dogma: The official teachings and doctrines of a religious institution usually set out authoritatively as fact for those belonging to that tradition.

dowsing: Divination using a pendulum or divining rods.

dowsing rod: Another term for divining rods. Usually dowsing rods are made of metal, and in the shape of an L. The shorter end is placed in a tube, often cardboard, and the tube is held, so the wire can move freely. A pair of rods is used and the practitioner interprets the movement of the rods, as they cross or separate, to determine the energy present. Dowsing rods are used to find Earth energy lines, water, and the human aura.

dragon: Some equate dragons with spiritual entities associated with the land, as Earth energy lines in the East are referred to as dragon lines. In the West, they seem to be an amalgam of the four traditional elements: earth, with their body, and their affinity for treasure; water, for their serpentine nature; air, for their wings; and fire, with their breath. Some believe elemental spirits that master all four elements go on to become dragon spirits, and act as guardians and keepers of the Earth mysteries.

earth: The physical principle, associated with the physical world, security, finances, and health, as well as the principles of law and sovereignty. Earth is cold and dry.

elemental: A being that embodies one of the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water.

elemental guardians: Elemental beings of greater power who can be called upon to guard and guide the four elemental gateways of a ritual. Often referred to as the watchtowers. Some think of the elemental guardians as the four archangels of the elements, while others call upon the traditional "kings" of the elements. Other traditions call upon animal guides or deities as the guardians and guides of the elements.

energy healing: The use of vital life force, directed by the practitioner to any areas of afflicted health within another person. The energy is used to increase vitality, balance energy, and remove stagnant energy. Reiki, magnified healing, and pranic healing are all forms of energy healing.

enneagram: A system of understanding human nature and personality, based upon the graphic images of a nine-pointed star, each point corresponding to a different set of traits. The tradition comes out of Sufi philosophy and was developed by George Gurd- jieff and others in the twentieth century.

Enochian: A system of angelic magic introduced to the modern world through the working of the Elizabethan magicians John Dee and Edward Kelly. Enochian magic consists of various symbols in a new alphabet, and grids spelling out the names of various Enochian angels. The system was adopted by the Golden Dawn and integrated into its material as well as the works of Aleister Crowley.

equinoxes: The two solar holidays in the spring and fall, indicating equal times of day and night.

ESP: Extra-Sensory Perception. A term covering all psychic abilities, including clairaudience, clairvoyance, and clairsentience, as well remote viewing, telepathy, and divination.

evocation: The process of summoning a spirit. Differs from invocation because you are summoning a spirit to manifest, not summoning it into your body. In some magical traditions, spirits are evoked into a triangle drawn on the floor.

faeries: Otherworldly beings strongly associated with the natural realm. Though some use the term faery for a nature spirit or deva, traditional myths associate faeries with the underworld legends, and the ancestors, depicting them in human stature or even larger, as well as diminutive Tinkerbell-style faeries.

faith healing: A form of spiritual healing that works not through ritual, visualization, spiritual guides, or energy work, but through sheer faith and belief in the divine, and the healer who is acting as the conduit for the divine.

familiar: A term of Witchcraft applied to a helping spirit for a Witch. Many modern Witches use the term familiar to refer to an animal totem spirit, or a physical animal, a pet, with whom they have a spiritual bond.

fire: The energetic principle, associated with identity, intensity, passion, and drive, as well as the principles of light and will. Fire is warm and dry.

fire festival: The four Celtic festivals of the Wheel of the Year, primarily based in agricultural, rather than solar, symbolism. Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lammas are the four fire festivals. Each takes place when the Sun is in one of the fixed astrological signs.

First Matter: The fifth element before manifesting through the other four elements. The primal creative energy.

fixed: The structuring or organizing principle. The force of sustaining.

flower essences: Vibrational remedies consisting of a dilute solution of a flower soaked in water and preserved with a small amount of alcohol, vinegar, or glycerin. Regular small doses of the liquid create energetic changes in the mind, body, and spirit of the recipient. Each flower has its own remedy, or pattern of consciousness that it heals and balances.

Gabriel: Archangel associated with the direction of west and the element of water, as well as the Moon and the sephira Yesod. Gabriel has been translated as "man of God," "hero of God," or "might of God." He is often seen as the messenger of God, announcing news to those on Earth.

Gaia Hypothesis: Modern scientific hypothesis proposed by James Lovelock, stating that the Earth, in its entirety with its various species and systems, is a living organism.

gematria: A system of Qabalistic numerology. The meanings of words and scripture are studied based on the numeric value of each word. Each Hebrew letter is associated with a number. The numbers are added together, and that word or phrase is compared with other words or phrases of a similar numeric value. Sometimes these equations are remarkably insightful, while others tend to upset the orthodox understanding of scripture. For example, the Hebrew numeric value for "serpent," as in the serpent in the Garden of Eden, is the same as the numeric value for "messiah." Even more controversially, it links the term "Holy of Holies" with the Woman of Whoredom, the archdemon of prostitution.

Gemini: The third sign of the zodiac. A mutable air sign symbolized by the twins.

geomancy: Using shapes on the earth, or an earthlike substance, as a focus for divination.

ghost: The spirit or soul of a being who has physically died but whose soul has not transitioned to the next realm and remains bound to the physical world. Some ghosts appear conscious and aware. Others appear to be echoes, shells, or recordings of the people they formerly were, suggesting that perhaps their souls passed on, but some aspect of their remaining energy bodies remains in the world in an unquiet state.

God: A term of the great creator or divine spirit in patriarchal, monotheistic traditions. In many dualistic traditions that recognize both genders as divinity, it refers to the masculine aspect of the divine.

God Position: A ritual position found in forms Wicca, Witchcraft, and ceremonial magic where the feet are held close together and the arms are crossed over the chest, forming a position reminiscent of an Egyptian sarcophagus. It is also symbolic of the god Osiris and suggests the image of the skull and crossbones. This position is often assumed as a reflection on the work of the ritual.

Goddess: The feminine component of the creative spirit. Some feminist traditions use Goddess to refer to all aspects of the creator, as patriarchal traditions use God. Popularly embodied in modern traditions as a triple goddess-maiden, mother, and crone.

Goddess Position: A ritual position found in forms of Wicca, Witchcraft, and ceremonial magic where the feet are placed shoulder-width apart and the arms are held stretched up, much like a crescent moon or horns. Some forms have the arms straight out, holding the body in the five-pointed star, or pentagram, position. This position is often assumed to release and send out energy for the ritual.

gods: In polytheistic traditions, refers to a multitude of beings that are aspects of the divine spirit. Each of these gods rules over one or more attributes of creation, life, and consciousness.

gray magic: In systems that delineate between white and black magic, gray magic is a blend between the two. It is magic that creates change in the physical world, but is not purposely done to create harm. According to this tradition, most forms of magic, healing, and prayer would be considered gray magic. Many traditions of magic do not use the terms black, white, and gray.

Great Spirit: Another term from the Native American traditions for the great creator or divine spirit.

grounding: The process of being fully present in the physical body. Grounding also refers to releasing excess energy, similar to when a lighting rod grounds electricity harmlessly into the Earth. After ritual or spiritual work, one often needs to ground the excess energy to be fully present in the physical plane.

healing: The process of bringing a person, animal, plant, location, community, or planet into a harmonious balance. Healing can occur on both the physical and energetic levels. In forms of spiritual or energetic healing, the healing must occur first on the energetic level, and the body can later follow suit and return to balance. To the spiritual healing practitioner, Western medicine, which addresses the physical first, is not wrong, but on a holistic level the rest of the being's needs must also be addressed. If the injury or physical symptoms are suppressed without addressing the mental, emotional, or spiritual components of the illness, then it will reoccur or another illness will manifest.

heart chakra: The central chakra found at the sternum. Linking the upper and lower chakras, the heart chakra governs our ability to feel love and empathy. It is usually pictured as green, green with pink, or, in some traditions, red.

herb: Any plant that is used for medicine, magic, or cooking. Each plant has many different properties, and the leaves, flowers, seeds, stems, roots, bark, and oils can be harvested and used. Many herbs are considered weeds by more traditional gardeners.

Hermetic: Refers to traditions associated with the Greek god Hermes, or Hermes Trismegistus, as well as the Egyptian Thoth. Typically refers to modern Western ceremonial magic and alchemy.

hologram: A three-dimensional construct of life created through the interference pattern of two lasers. Each piece of holographic film contains the entire image. If you rip the film in half and shine the laser through it, you get two smaller, complete images, rather than two halves of a whole. A hologram is a symbol for the nature of the universe, where everything contains information on everything else, like the holographic film, demonstrating the idea `As above, so below."

homeopathy: A modern system of alternative medicine based upon the ancient principle of "like cures like." Minimal, diluted doses of substances, often containing no active ingredients, are used to create healing, often in pellet or solution form. For example, in regular doses, onion creates symptoms of watery eyes. A homeopathic dose of onion is said to cure watery eyes. Though associated with modern medicine, homeopathy is a very controversial practice from the medical community's point of view, though users of the system often swear by it and the improved health they gain from it. There is a lack of clinical evidence of homeopathy, and many skeptics believe it to be a remnant of alchemy, and not a science, yet proponents say that the effects work on many different levels, including mental and emotional health, which are not easily measured in terms of clinical lab results. Homeopathy has led to the modern use of flower essences, also drawing upon older, alchemical principles.

house: In astrology, one of the twelve divisions of the sky. Each house represents an area of your life. Six houses are above the horizon, and six houses are below the horizon. Astrological signs and planets occupy the houses, and the signs and planets in a house affect that "area" of your life.

hydromancy: Hydromancy is also called water scrying. You can use the reflective surface of still water as a scrying mirror. In fact, this is often the Witch's favorite medium of all. The still water can be in the ritual chalice, under the full Moon, or in any still body of water. When done in sacred springs, ponds, or wells, it is called pegomancy.

I Ching: A Chinese form of divination based on sixty-four hexagram shapes, each with a different symbolic meaning. Based on the ancient Chinese text known as the Book of Changes.

Imbolc: A Celtic fire festival usually celebrated on February 2, sacred to the goddess Brid, or Bridget. It is a holiday of awakening the Earth, marked by candlelight. Another name for this celebration in a more Christian context is Candlemas.

initiation: Initiation means "to begin" and in a metaphysical context usually indicates a ceremony that inducts you into a particular path or tradition. Like a graduation ceremony, it indicates a completion of a level of learning, and the beginning of using that knowledge. In terms of spiritual initiation, it is an event, either a visionary experience or a trial of life, that tests you and results in a spiritual awakening or transformation.

institutions: In a spiritual context, institutions are organizations, structures, and groups that hold spiritual information and usually have a system of training for spiritual dedicants and often the general populace. Within each institution is usually a rich mystical tradition that is not often seen by the outside world. The traditional churches, brotherhoods, and other organizations of power can be seen as institutions.

invocation: The process of bringing a spirit, god, or entity into yourself. Some define invocation as the process of calling entities within the ritual magic circle, and evocation as the process of summoning spirits outside of the circle into manifestation. Others define invocation as literally bringing a spirit into your body. Trance channelers, certain mediums, and magical priests and priestesses who Draw Down the God/dess (Wiccan) or Assume the Godform (ceremonial magic) are performing invocation.

Jupiter: A large planet that orbits between Mars and Saturn. It a considered a lucky planet, the "greater benefic." Spiritually Jupiter represents the forces of expansion and has been used for the expansion of good fortune as well as consciousness. Jupiter corresponds to Chesed on the Tree of Life, the sephira of mercy and higher love, depicted as a benevolent king on a throne.

Kabalah: Usually refers to the Jewish system of mysticism. Sometimes spelled Kaballah. Kabalah is also spelled Cabala and Qabalah, referring to Christian and Hermetic branches of mysticism that have adopted and adapted traditional Jewish material.

karma: Karma usually translates to act, action, or deed, and refers to a cosmic principle of cause and effect. Karma is the sum of one's deeds, from this life and past lives, and the repercussions of those actions. The concept comes from Hinduism, and the term has been adopted in both Eastern and Western traditions, ranging from Buddhism to Wicca. Though many Western traditions equate it with reward and punishment from the divine, that is not true in the strictest interpretation. It is more of a universal law rather than a moral law. It is similar to the physical laws of the universe, but operates first in the spiritual dimensions. Some think of it as destiny, but karma can be changed by your actions in the present. The concept is found in many traditions, and is often summed up with the statement "You shall reap what you have sown." Though many seek "good" karma, the most profound teachings on karma urge us to balance all karma, good or bad, and act from our dharma.

ki: Life force energy. Ki, the term used in Japan, lends its name to the energy healing system of Japanese origin known as Reiki. The same energy is known as chi in China.

kundalini: In Hindu lore, an energy usually described as a coiled serpent residing at the base of the spine. The kundalini can become active and rise up the spine, moving through the chakras. Much fear-based lore exists regarding the accidental or improper awakening of the kundalini energy causing madness or physical illness, though most people in a mystic tradition experience the awakening of this energy with no serious problems. It is the energy of awareness, and brings up issues that need to be healed and resolved, but this process is part of the mystic's path.

Lammas: One of the four Celtic fire festivals, usually celebrated on August 1. Lammas, also known as Lughnassadh, is a celebration of the first harvest and the cutting of the grain, as well as the sacrifice of the solar or agricultural god embodied by the grain. Irish traditions hold this day sacred to the god Lugh, and his mother, Tailtiu.

left-hand path: The left-hand path often refers to a path of evil by practitioners who identify with a right-hand path. Originally, it likely referred to a tradition of feminine mysteries, tantra, or rituals that circle in a counterclockwise direction. Some associate this term with modern traditions of Satanism. Ideologically, left-hand paths differentiate themselves from right-hand paths as paths that do not seek undifferentiated union with the divine or seek to escape the material world, but seek to be "like" the divine and emulate divinity by remaining distinct and individual.

Lemuria: According to myth and channeled material, Lemuria was a fabled motherland continent found in the Pacific or Indian Ocean. It was a culture contemporary with Atlantis, yet it preceded Atlantis and sank beneath the waves before the eventual demise of Atlantis. Many believe the Lemurian culture, also known as the land of Mu, was more feminine, intuitive, and spiritual than the cultures that followed it. Some believe the inhabitants were not altogether human as we know humanity today, or were not entirely physical, but consisted of dense etheric bodies of energy, not matter. The modern origin of the name Lemuria is the lemur, a primate that comes in a variety of forms. Lemurs live in Madagascar, but also have been found in parts of Africa, India, and Malaya. Esotericists believe the lemur to be a remnant from the Lemurian civilization, as its wide migration would have been assisted by a large continent.

Leo: The fifth sign of the zodiac. A fixed fire sign symbolized by a lion.

Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram: Also known as the LBRP, it is a ritual of the Golden Dawn and its various offshoots that clears a space of all lower and unwanted energies by calling forth beams of light to emulate the structure of the Tree of Life within the human body, drawing a circle of blue light, with four banishing pentagrams, and invoking the four archangels for protection.

letters of power: Any letters, words, or names used by a mystic for a specific purpose. Certain languages, such as Hebrew and Sanskrit, are said to have magical power inherent in their structure. You can use these words and phrases to create change in yourself and the environment. Some believe that the words and letters themselves have inherent power, while others believe it is the proper execution of drawing the letters and/or speaking with words, with the proper, focused intent of the practitioner, that actually empowers the letters.

ley lines: Modern mystics define ley lines as the lines of Earth energy running all around the planet and seemingly converging at many ancient sacred sites. These lines are compared to the acupuncture meridians of the human body. The original meaning of ley line didn't refer to an energy path, but to a walking path used by ancient people. Neither definition is widely accepted by the scientific community.

Libra: The seventh zodiac sign. A cardinal air sign symbolized by the scales.

Litha: A Neo-Pagan term for Midsummer or the summer solstice. A celebration of the Sun's peak in power, and often honoring the faery folk. At this time, the Sun is moving from the sign Gemini to Cancer.

lithomancy: A system of divination using stones-precious, semiprecious, or mundaneeach with a symbolic meaning.

lodge: A group of magicians, usually in the Western mystery traditions, who practice together regularly and may have a permanent meeting space for their works. Similar in idea, if not in structure, to a Witch's coven. Masonic structure also uses the lodge system, and many speculate about its influence on magicians and Witches in their own hierarchies.

Logos: A Greek term meaning "word," used originally to refer to the logical guiding force of the universe, comparable to the concept of the Tao in Asia or AUM in India. In later Greek periods it referred to an individual's own logic, reason, and soul self, in a form of spiritual anatomy. Today we might think of it as the higher self. The Logos referred to the Word of God from the Old Testament, capable of creation, and was later associated with Jesus Christ. Theosophists use the term Logos more in alignment with the original use, referring to various "octaves" of this guiding force, such as the Planetary Logos, Solar Logos, and Galactic Logos.

lower world: In a shamanic cosmology, the interior world that is a place for the ancestors, faeries, healing, chthonic deities, and trials and tests. The lower world is not a place of evil, but a place of power that reflects your own emotions to you.

Lughnassadh: The Irish name for the celebration of Lammas.

Mabon: The modern Neo-Pagan term for the autumnal equinox. Also the name of the Welsh child god, son of the mother goddess Modron.

mage: One who practices magic. Derived from the Old Persian term magus, and the plural form, magi.

magic: Defined as the "art and science of causing change in conformity with your Will," drawing upon the work of magician Aleister Crowley, who highly influenced the modern magician's concept of magic. It is the process of projecting an intention to the universe, usually through ritual, and having the universe respond and manifest that intention. Magic creates change, in both the inner and outer worlds. Most consider magic the study of the science of nature, and our relationship with it, rather than supernatural forces.

magician: One who practices the spiritual discipline of magic. Sometimes spelled magick- ian in the modern era.

magic circle: A basic ritual performed with many variations by both Witches and magicians. The circle is a type of boundary to create sacred space, contain energy, and block out unwanted forces during a ritual, celebration, or spell casting.

magus: A term often used synonymously with mage or magician. The plural form is magi. Sometimes used to denote a specific higher rank in a traditional school of magic.

Major Arcana: Twenty-two cards found in the tarot, denoting the major life experiences and spiritual initiations. They correspond with the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet, the connecting paths on the Tree of Life, and the signs and planets of astrology.

mana: A term for vital life force from the Hawaiian traditions.

mandala: In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, it refers to a circle used for ritual and meditation. Usually the circle is designed in an artistic pattern, symbolizing the universe and filled with patterns of various deities and sacred symbols.

Manipura: The traditional name for the solar plexus chakra, associated with a "city of gems." The solar plexus rules the sense of power and self-image, and is traditionally colored yellow, though some older systems use the color gray.

mantra: A word that is repeated over and over again, silently in the mind or chanted out loud, to act as a focus for meditation. Many believe that mantras from certain spiritual languages, such as Sanskrit, have inherent power in their vibration when spoken aloud or thought about, and the use of such a mantra will confer its power or blessing upon the user.

Mars: The planet associated with will, drive, and force in astrology and magic. Mars is named after the Roman war god.

medicine: Modern terminology defines medicine as a pharmaceutical designed to aid healing or suppress symptoms. From a spiritual context, medicine is anything that aids the recipient on the path of wholeness and healing. Working with the spirits of animals, plants, and stones is often referred to as animal medicine, plant medicine, and stone medicine, respectively, because the spirit is offering its healing qualities to the recipient.

meditation: The process of contemplation through quieting and focusing the mind. Many traditions of meditation exist, and there is no one right way. Eastern forms of meditation focus on mantras, yantras, and breathing techniques. Western forms focus on guided imagery and directing thought toward a specific goal or symbol.

mediumship: The ability to mediate between the spirit world and the human world. A medium, often used synonymously with the term channel, acts as a conduit for a spirit or nonphysical entity seeking to communicate with those in the physical world. Some define a channel as one who interfaces with nonphysical entities, ascended masters, and angels, while a medium speaks with humans who have departed from the physical plane.

mental travel: The psychic skill of sending out your mental awareness to another physical location, also known as remote viewing, or to a nonphysical location, referred to as journeying or pathworking. A traveler can then recall details and experiences of the mental travel destination upon awakening from the meditative state used to induce the journey. Many make the distinction between mental travel, astral travel, spirit travel, and soul travel, believing each term refers to a different portion of your consciousness being projected outward and traveling. In practical application, each has the same end result, though the idea of one type of travel might appeal to the practitioner and make the internal process of projection and traveling easier.

Mercury: The planet associated with communication, memory, and mental processes. Named after the Roman god Mercury and often equated with the Greek Hermes. In alchemy, the mutable, adaptable, receptive principle, associated with quicksilver, the Moon, and water, is named Mercury.

metal: In the Chinese elemental system, metal is the symbol for the element known as air in the West.

metaphysics: A general term used for the philosophical study of the universe and humankind's role in it that is concerned with realities beyond the scope of the physical sciences. Both ancient and New Age philosophies can be considered forms of metaphysics. Metaphysics technically differs from religion, for there is no requirement of belief or any strict dogma, but a system of related ideas and concepts the metaphysician is encouraged to explore. Many mystic traditions could be considered both a metaphysical path and a religion.

Metatron: A very popular angel from the Western mystery tradition. Usually called an archangel in modern lore, depending on the system, though Metatron has also been considered a seraph, cherub, or one of the Chaioth Ha Qadesh, the Holy Living Creatures. He is said to be the highest of all the angels, sitting at the throne right next to God and responsible for the functioning of creation. He is said to be the tallest of all beings, with thirty-six wings and countless eyes. Metatron is sometimes credited with giving the Kabalah to humanity. Some think the prophet Enoch ascended and became Metatron, or merged with Metatron.

Michael: One of the most popular archangels of the Western traditions. Associated with the direction of south and the element of fire, Michael is said to be the keeper of the flaming sword or flaming spear, which he uses to protect and heal humankind. He is the archetype of the divine warrior. His name is usually translated to mean "who is like God." Astrologically he has been associated with the planets Mercury and the Sun. Some see Michael as one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, of the angelic beings.

middle world: In shamanic practice, the middle world is the world of humanity and nature. It is the world of physical shape and form, as well as time and cycles. It stands between the upper world of heavenly spirits and enlightenment and the lower world of transformation and healing. Most people consciously exist only in the middle world. The middle world is identified with the human mind and persona, while the lower world is associated with instinct and intuition and the higher world with the divine self.

Minor Arcana: The four suites of the tarot deck, including the ace through ten of the pentacles, wands, swords, and cups, as well as the four court cards of each suite. The Minor Arcana is said to represent the more day-to-day process of the individual with the ordinary challenges and blessings of life, while the Major Arcana represents the more profound challenges and transformations.

monotheism: The belief in one divinity, as opposed to polytheism, which is the belief in multiple divinities. Some religions claim monotheism but have polytheistic aspects. Catholicism is monotheistic, but sees divinity manifest in a trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It also includes a range of intermediary spirits, in the form of saints and angels.

Moon: In astrology, the planet associated with the emotional self and intuition. Technically not a planet, but a luminary, astrologers and magical practitioners often refer to the Moon as a planet. In forms of Witchcraft and Goddess worship, the Moon is seen as a manifestation of the divine feminine, and often embodies the Triple Goddess, with the maiden as the waxing crescent Moon, the mother as the full Moon, and the crone as the waning to dark Moon. The tides of the Moon, its waxing and waning light, as well as the astrological sign the Moon currently occupies, have a profound effect upon humankind and human magic, as the Moon is the celestial body closest to the Earth. Though smaller than the Sun, from our perspective the sphere of the Moon is as big as the Sun, and carries similar weight in our consciousness.

Mu: Another name for Lemuria. Some believe Mu is the older version of Lemuria, or represents the first age of Lemuria.

Muladhara: Also known as the root or base chakra. Found at the base of the spine and typically colored red. Muladhara also means foundation.

muscle testing: Also known as applied kinesiology, muscle testing finds wisdom in the strength or weakness of the physical body. Typically a substance's suitability for an individual is tested against the individual's physical strength, often by pushing down on the arm extended out horizontally from the body. Those substances, including vitamins, herbs, and crystals, that make the individual stronger test positive and are good for the person's health. Those that make the individual weaker test negative and are not conducive to health. Muscle testing has been adapted in a variety of ways, including self-muscle testing done with the fingers, or muscle testing to communicate with your body's wisdom, or spirit guides, to receive a yes or no answer to questions you have on a variety of healing and spiritual topics.

mutable: The adaptable or dissolving principle in astrology. The force to change or destroy in order to create something new.

mythical creatures: A variety of animals not found in the physical world, including unicorns, dragons, and griffons. Though they don't exist in a biological sense, they are very real in the spiritual worlds, appearing over and over again in popular mythologies and practitioners' experiences. These creatures can act as both guides and antagonists to the mystical practitioner.

natal chart: An astrology chart detailing the location of the planets and signs on the day and at the time you were born, as viewed from the location where you were born. Also known as a birth chart. The natal chart is said to contain the potential life patterns and traits of a person.

nature spirit: A nonphysical entity closely related to an aspect of nature, from plants and trees to rocks, mountains, and bodies of water.

Neptune: The Roman sea god. The planet that rules inspiration, escapism, and unconditional love in Western astrology.

New Age: A term used to describe the next astrological age, the Age of Aquarius, starting roughly near the year 2000 and lasting approximately 2,000 years.

Northern tradition: Any pagan tradition based on the Germanic tribes, including the Norse and Saxons. A term used to differentiate these traditions from many other modern NeoPagan practices, particularly Wicca. The term heathen is often preferred to the term Pagan as a general category for the Northern traditions.

numen: A term for life force, often used synonymously with prana.

numerology: Using a system of numbers, primarily for birth dates, names, and addresses, to see the archetypal influence of the number on a person, place, or situation.

od: Another term for life force, or vital energy.

ogham: A Celtic system based on tree symbolism. Though many modern writers cite it as an ancient calendar and zodiac, it was most likely a symbol system for memorization, divination, and magic.

OM: A Hindu chant that has become popular in many New Age circles and rituals. OM, or more appropriately AUM, is said to be the sound of creation. The three distinct sounds A-U-M stand for the trinity of powers responsible for the generation, sustenance, and dissolution of the universe.

omega: The last letter of the Greek alphabet, and symbol of the end.

oneiromancy: A form of divination in which answers come through dreams and dream interpretation.

orgone: A name for subtle life force energy, according to the teachings of Wilhelm Reich.

ornithomancy: Receiving psychic information from the flight, sound, and appearance of birds. A form of augury.

Ostara: One of the four solar holidays and one of the eight Wheel of the Year holidays in the modern Pagan calendar. At this time, the Sun is moving from Pisces to Aries, signaling the beginning of spring and the resurrection of the land.

Ouija board: A divination board used with a planchette, to speak with spirits. The board contains sections for yes, no, and the letters and numbers of the modern alphabet. The spirit is said to direct the planchette to spell out answers to questions posed. Usually sold as a children's game.

Paganism: From the Latin, referring to country dwellers. Reclaimed in the modern era to refer to practitioners of nature-based spirituality.

palmistry: A method of divination using the lines and shapes on the palm of the hand.

pathworking: A visual meditative journey using archetypal symbols and images. Drawn from the Tree of Life, as the various paths connect the ten states of consciousness. Technically a pathworking refers to a meditation based on the imagery of these paths, but in modern use it can refer to any guided imagery meditation.

petition spell: A written intention of what you seek to manifest through magic, usually read during the course of a ritual and burned, to release the intention.

pendulum: A weight on the end of a length of string or chain. The pendulum is used to divine answers, usually yes or no, by watching the motion of the weight as it is suspended from the string.

pentacle: A five-pointed star in a circle. Also refers to the five-pointed star in a circle in a three-dimensional form, such as a ritual tool or piece of jewelry.

pentagram: A five-pointed star. Each point is representative of one of the five elements. Also refers to a flat or drawn version of the five-pointed star, whereas a pentacle is the three-dimensional ritual-tool version of the five-pointed star.

Pisces: The twelfth sign of the zodiac. A mutable water sign depicted by two fish.

planets: The moving bodies of the solar system. In astrology and astrological magic, both the Sun and the Moon, from the perspective of the Earth, are considered magical planets, though technically they are luminaries and not planets in the astronomical sense. Each planet is said to "rule" a different area of life and correspond to a different facet of magic and spirituality.

Pluto: The outermost planet recognized by modern astrologers. Pluto is named after the god of death and the underworld in Roman myth, and the planet rules changes, transformations, and the higher will.

poltergeist: A psychic manifestation of an apparent entity with the ability to move small objects, quite often many at the same time, in a violent or chaotic manner. Some think of a poltergeist as a haunting of a deceased person. Others see it as the manifestation of the unconscious psychic ability of a prepubescent or pubescent teen.

polytheism: The belief in many divinities, usually associated with Paganism and tribal religions. Many traditions claim to be polytheistic, but have monotheistic associations. Many tribal and Pagan traditions believe in the divine expression of many gods, yet also acknowledge the one force connecting all things.

power animal: Also known as a totem animal. An animal spirit that acts as the spiritual, and sometimes physical, guardian, teacher, and guide to one in a shamanic tradition. Many believe the concepts of the Witch's familiar rose out of the shamanic animal practices of Europe. In some traditions, any one person is guided by numerous animal spirits, but one or two are of primary importance. The key concepts of an animal, known as its teachings, or "medicine," are either embodied by the individual or are experiences the individual is asked to learn and master in this lifetime.

positive thinking: The use of directed thought to change your life for the better. Positive thinking is related to the use of affirmations.

prana: A term for life force energy in the Hindu traditions.

priest/priestess: One who spiritually ministers to others. In Wicca, Witches are considered priestesses and priests of the Old Religion, serving the gods. Many modern mystics identify with the priests and priestesses of the ancient Pagan world. In a modern magical context, a priest/ess is anyone who moves energy through intention and ritual.

psyche: A Greek term often used in reference to the soul, though modern use associates it with the mind.

psychic: The ability to communicate with your "soul" through visual, verbal, and nonsen- sory means, to receive information not normally received through the physical and linear senses.

psychic healing: The use of techniques involving subtle energy, visualization, will, affirmation, and ritual to create a beneficial change in the physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual health of an individual or community.

psychic surgery: A technique used to remove psychic or subtle energy "blockages" from the energy body-to remove unwanted forces, including physical illness and disease, from the body. This technique does not involve actually cutting the physical body.

psychic travel: Projection of your conscious awareness beyond the physical body, giving you the ability to perceive distant places in the physical world, but also travel to various nonphysical dimensions of reality.

psychometry: A technique to receive information by reading the "vibrations" of an object. The reader holds an object and tunes in to it to receive psychic impressions. This information can come visually (literally or symbolically), or it can be a simple sense of knowing.

pyromancy: The act of divination through fire. Gazing deeply into a fire for images, many practitioners of pyromancy see nothing, but say the fire speaks to them of the future. The flame can be from a candle, or a larger flame. Most Witches prefer a fire of sacred woods and herbs, often burning in a cauldron. Woods often include oak, pine, ash, willow, and hawthorn, to name a few, but I prefer to use whatever is available and then throw some vervain or other psychic herbs into the pyre. You can also divine from the smoke of a sacred fire, or from incense. Certain forms of divination also use as their medium various objects melted in the fire, or the ash and embers from the end of the fire.

Qabala: Usually refers to the Hermetic or magical tradition drawing from the Jewish Kabalah.

Qabalistic Cross: An exercise in ceremonial magic based upon the Qabala that draws a beam of divine light from the heavens through the body into the Earth, and through the right shoulder and the chest, and out the left shoulder, creating a cross of light through the body. The imagery and words that go along with this ritual are akin to the Sign of the Cross. The Qabalistic Cross is the first part of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.

Qlipoth: The sephiroth of the reverse of the Tree of Life, sometimes known as the Tree of Death. Qlipoth is often translated as "shells."

quarters: The four directions of the compass, associated with the four traditional elements of earth, fire, air, and water in many cultures.

quartz: Crystallized silicon dioxide. One of the most common minerals used for spiritual purposes in both ancient and modern times. Quartz crystals form six-sided points, which are double-terminated or single-terminated, depending on the growing conditions of the crystal when it formed. Depending on other minerals present, or other factors in its formation, quartz can become rose quartz, smoky quartz, rutilated quartz, tourmilated quartz, amethyst, and citrine. Quartz is known for its ability to amplify psychic and magical energy, and is used extensively in healing.

quintessence: The fifth element, the sum of earth, air, fire, and water, yet greater than the sum of its parts.

rabbi: A minister in the Jewish tradition.

Raphael: One of the better known archangels of the Western traditions. Associated with the direction of east and the element of air, Raphael is said to be the divine physician and healer, often pictured carrying the Greek caduceus. His name is usually translated as "God is healing." Astrologically, he is associated with both the Sun and Mercury in Qabalistic magic.

rays: A system of esoteric study based in the tradition of Theosophy and the writings of Alice Bailey. The divine energy is seen reflected through a spectrum of seven rays. The primary rays are red, blue, and yellow, like the primary colors. The remaining four rays are said to emanate from the yellow ray, and are green, orange, indigo, and violet. Each ray has a variety of correspondences and functions in mysticism and spiritual development. Each is said to be ruled by a Cohen, or special ascended master, who oversees its function, as well as by an archangel associated with its power. Positive and negative attributes have been given to each ray, and a system of esoteric psychology is built around working with those attributes. The ray system has highly influenced the modern New Age movement, but traces of it can also be found in certain forms of ceremonial magic. Some believe it to be the true secret science of Tibet, though the majority of material on it is based on modern channeled works.

Reiki: Reiki translates to "universal life force." The Japanese term for vital life energy is ki, the second syllable of the word Reiki. Reiki is a system of energy healing including both distant and hands-on techniques and originating in Japan. Training is passed on in a lineage-based attunement, or initiation, system.

remote viewing: Another term for what many call astral travel or psychic travel, but when specifically applied to viewing physical locations, usually in the present, though the technique can be adapted to see into the past, and potentially into the future.

right-hand path: The right-hand path, in the most simplistic definition, refers to the practice of "good" or spiritual magic. It can also refer to the male mysteries, traditions of asceticism and renunciation of the world, and rituals done in alignment with the Sun and clockwise motion. Ideologically, a practitioner of a right-hand path seeks union with the divine, rather than individual immortality, though the lines between left- and right-hand paths are not always clearly defined.

ritual: Any series of repeated actions designed to help the practitioner alter consciousness and communicate with the inner self or powers of the universe. Ritual actions are done with intention, and the repetition often helps the action build in power.

root chakra: The first chakra found at the base of the spine and sometimes referred to as the base chakra. The root chakra rules our ability to be rooted in the world, to survive and thrive in the material plane, feeling pleasure and taking care of our most basic needs. Usually depicted as red.

runes: A magical symbol system found in Teutonic magic, primarily associated with the Norse god Odin. Runes are not only symbols, but each character stands for a letter, a song or sound when spoken, and a mystery of life, an archetypal force as understood by the Northern tradition. Runes can be used in magic to manifest change, worn as an amulet or talisman, or used for divination. Several different rune systems exist, most notably the Elder Futhark and Younger Futhark.

Sagittarius: The ninth sign of the zodiac. A mutable fire sign depicted as a centaur, archer, or horse.

Sahasrara: The crown chakra, found at the top of the head, usually depicted as dazzling white or violet. The name means "thousand-petalled," referring to the infinite lotus shape of the crown chakra.

salt: In alchemy, the fixed principle giving rise to form and structure. Physical salt is also a ritual item used to cleanse, purify, and protect.

Samhain: One of the four Celtic fire festivals, and one of the eight Wheel of the Year holidays. Celebrated in October or November, usually on October 31, when the Sun is in Scorpio, Samhain is a festival of the ancestors, death, and regeneration. Considered to be the New Year of the Witch's calendar.

Saturn: The last of the traditional ancient planets, associated with endings, limitations, bindings, karma, lessons, and death. Saturn is named after the Roman god whose Greek correspondent is Chronos, the god of the harvest and time, carrying a sickle.

Scorpio: The eighth sign of the zodiac. A fixed water sign that is depicted as the scorpion, but also has associations with the snake, the eagle, and the phoenix. A sign of transformation.

scrying: The use of clairvoyance projected into a medium or tool of some sort. By focusing on a surface such as a crystal, crystal ball, black mirror, or pool of water, the user facilitates the ability to use clairvoyant abilities, "seeing" images in the surface that will answer the user's questions about a given topic. The answers are often symbolic in nature, and not direct or clear.

Shakti: In Hindu cosmology, both a goddess and the symbol of the feminine creative principle. Paired with the god Shiva.

shamanic surgery: Sometimes referred to as psychic surgery, a ritualized process of removing the energy, or "spirit," of an illness, to promote rapid healing.

Shiva: In Hindu cosmology, both a god and the symbol for the male creative principle. Paired with the goddess Shakti.

sigil: A magical symbol that acts as a vehicle for a specific intention. Traditional and modern sigils exist. Often they are generated through the use of planetary squares, or numbered squares whose numerology resonates with a specific planet. Others are created by fusing together several different symbols and letters.

smudging: The spreading of a sacred smoke, often sage, over a ritual tool or person, or throughout an area, to cleanse that area of unwanted and unhealthy energies.

solar plexus chakra: The third chakra located above the navel and below the heart, usually depicted as yellow in color. The solar plexus is the center of will, power, self-esteem, and control.

solstice: Solar alignment when the Sun reaches its peak in power (summer solstice), creating the longest day of the year, or when the Sun reaches its lowest point (winter solstice), creating the shortest day of the year.

sortilege: Methods of divination performed by drawing lots, or set symbols, such as tarot cards or runes.

soul travel: Another term for psychic projection, but denoting that one feels the astral body or mind is not the aspect that is traveling, but the soul is the energetic component that is traveling to other locations.

spell: A specific act of magic. A ritual with a specific intention.

spirit: The fifth element, known as quintessence, akasha, or ether. The sum of all the four elements (earth, water, fire, air), from which they originate and to which they return. The sustaining and animating force behind the four elements.

spirit guides: Nonphysical beings that act as guides, teachers, and friends to those who are physically incarnated.

spirit healing: The process of healing through the relationship the healer has with nonphysical entities; healing using the energy of these beings.

spirits: Nonphysical entities.

stone: Solid minerals that are often used in ritual and healing. The stone signifies the element of earth, and various stones, particularly quartz, are used in crystal healing sessions.

subtle bodies: The energetic bodies that form the templates for the physical body.

sulfur: In alchemy, the cardinal or volatile principle necessary in creation. Associated with the Sun and fire.

Sun: The center of our solar system. In astrology, the Sun is considered a planet, and rules the personality, ego, sense of self, and the person an individual is learning to be in this lifetime. In many Pagan traditions, the Sun is seen as the masculine force and the God, paired with the feminine Moon.

Svadhisthana: The second chakra, or belly/navel chakra, usually depicted as orange, though some traditions say vermillion. This energy center rules our instinct, our base emotion and sense of trust and intimacy. Svadhisthana is the dwelling place of the self.

symbol: Any object or glyph that stands for something else. In magic and ritual, most objects and tools symbolize universal forces and powers. Various written images are used in magic to symbolize forces. It is important to note that not only do such tools symbolize forces, but when properly consecrated, they act as gateways to the very forces they symbolize.

sympathetic magic: A technique in magic in which a small symbolic ritual action mimics the larger real-world event you desire to manifest. The smaller ritual is said to be in "sympathy," or resonating, with the forces necessary to manifest the larger event. A ritual in which water is poured onto the ground to produce rain could be an act of sympathetic magic.

talisman: A magical charm carried, worn as jewelry, or hung in a specific place to fulfill an intention. Certain schools of magic identify a talisman as a charm that draws forces to you, such as a money talisman or good luck talisman. Charms that send forces away are known as amulets. Other schools of thought differentiate the two terms, with talismans being charms that are more three-dimensional and contain various items (such as a bag with herbs, stones, and hair; a metal capsule filled with resin; or a glass bottle with a liquid), and amulets being flatter, with geometric symbols etched into them.

tantra: Technically, the tantras refer to sacred texts of the Hindu traditions, with teachings covering a wide range of topics, but to many, the term tantra has become equated with the sexual teachings of the East. Such practices use sexuality as a form of worship and devotion to the divine and as a path to enlightenment by controlling the flow of sexual energy in awakening the various chakra energy centers. In the West, such sexual tantric practices are known as sex magic.

tarot: A deck of seventy-eight cards used for divination, meditation, and personal spiritual development. The deck is divided into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana, describing major life experiences and minor, day-to-day experiences, respectively. The Minor Arcana is divided into four suites-pentacles, cups, swords, and wands, representing the elements of earth, water, air, and fire. Each suite has ten numbered cards and four court cards. Modern lore relates the tarot cards to the Qabalistic Tree of Life.

tattwas: Symbols of the five elements in the Eastern traditions. Used in ceremonial magic as "portals" to the elemental realms during psychic journeys and meditations. Though compatible with Western elemental traditions, the tattwas use different shapes and colors for each of the elements than what is commonly accepted in most forms of Western magic.

Taurus: The second sign of the zodiac. A fixed earth sign depicted as a bull or a cow. A sign of stability.

tea leaf reading: A form of divination in which the reader looks into a cup, bowl, or saucer of tea leaves soaked in tea to see images and symbols formed by the tea leaves themselves or on the tea's surface. The person for whom the diviner is reading usually sips the tea, to connect the two. This form of divination is also known as tasseography.

Tetragrammaton: The four letters of the unpronounceable name of God from the various Qabalistic traditions. YHVH is often how it is spelled in the Latin alphabet. The letters stand for fire, water, air, and earth, and the first and third are masculine and the second and fourth are feminine. They are related to the kings, queens, knights, and pages in the tarot. From a Qabalistic point of view, God the creator is both male and female, and works through all four elements, dispelling the notion in Hebrew mysticism that God is solely God the Father. The simpler father image is used for those who do not study Qabalistic mysticism.

theology: The study and teachings of a religion; its faith, practice, and particularly its experience of the divine.

theta: The measure of brain waves from four to nine cycles per second, experienced as a place of deep journey and meditation when consciously induced, or sleep when unconscious.

third eye: Another term for the brow chakra, the center of psychic vision.

throat chakra: The energy center found at the base of the throat, ruling the ability to communicate, which includes both speaking and listening. It is usually depicted as blue.

totem: A term used for an animal spirit that guides and protects you. Also known as a power animal.

Tree of Life: The main glyph of the various Qabalistic teachings. Though found in many variations over the centuries, modern traditions have greatly standardized its shape and correspondences. It consists of ten circles, representing the ten sephiroth of consciousness, linked with twenty-two lines, representing the twenty-two paths or processes to reach those levels of consciousness.

tutelary spirit: A spiritual entity that acts as a teacher. Such spirits can be totem animals, spirit guides, angels, or other beings with the knowledge and ability to transfer that knowledge to a mystic.

upper world: In shamanic cosmology, the realm above, also known as the overworld or sky realm, is the home to enlightened beings, sky spirits, and stellar spirits. Symbolically, it is the place of the superconsciousness and the divine self.

Uranus: The first of the "new" planets in astrology outside the orbit of Saturn. Uranus represents the breaking away from constraints, new and unorthodox ideas, divine inspiration, revolution in thought and action, and swift and sudden change. Though named after the Greek sky god, some feel the archetype of Prometheus fits this planet better. Uranus now rules the sign of Aquarius, alone, or some say jointly with Saturn.

Uriel: One of the four main archangels of the Western traditions. Associated with the direction of north and the element of earth. Uriel is associated both with the Earth in fertility and the earth as the receiver of the body. Some images have Uriel, also spelled Ariel, associated with the angel of death. Though angels are considered androgynous, out of the four, Uriel has the most feminine associations. Her name is usually translated as "Fire of God" and much of her more orthodox imagery from scripture is not always in alignment with the images of ceremonial magic. Some associate Uriel with the planet Uranus, electricity, inspiration, and the hidden sphere of Da'ath on the Tree of Life.

veil: A term for the barrier separating the physical world from the spiritual world. The veil is said to be lifted, parted, or passed when doing spiritual work.

Venus: The planet between Mercury and Earth that is associated with attraction, social interaction, and romance in astrology and magic. The planet is named after the Roman goddess of love, Venus. As the morning star and evening star, shining brightest in the sky, Venus has had associations with many love and fertility goddesses, including Aphrodite, Astarte, Ishtar, and Inanna, as well as the fallen angel figure of Lucifer.

vibrational remedies: An umbrella term for all liquid remedies based not on chemical principles but energetic principles. They include flower essences and gem elixirs, as well as new remedies made through experiments with the vibration of a location, colored gels and colored glass, music, and toning. Some would consider homeopathic remedies vibrational in nature as well.

Virgo: The sixth sign of the zodiac. A mutable earth sign represented by the maiden, virgin, or corn maiden. The harvest is the true symbol of Virgo. A sign of discernment and service.

Vishuddi: The traditional name of the throat chakra, ruling the powers of communication and traditionally colored blue. Vishuddi means pure.

vision quest: A Native American ritual to aid one in seeking a "vision," a divine message to direct one's life. Some vision quests reveal power animals as allies, while others provide a vision to guide your life. Traditional techniques include isolation in nature, within a preordained boundary where nothing from the outside world is taken in, as well as fasting and prayer, while undergoing the quest. Quests can last from one to four days. Some use natural substances to help induce a vision. Often the seeker will experience a feeling of insanity or a strong desire to leave before the quest is done. This is not a ritual to do alone, or without an experienced guide or teacher. In the Lakota culture, it is known as Crying for a Vision, or Hanblecheyapi.

visualization: The process of using your imagination, your inner sight, to perceive a mental image of anything you desire. The skills of visualization are developed through guided meditation and the use of magic.

vortex: An energetic center, usually perceived as a swirling motion, like a whirlpool. The chakras within the body are described as vortexes. Sacred sites in nature are also said to be vortexes of energy, comparable to chakra points on the planet itself. Places such as Sedona, Arizona, are known for their sacred vortex sites.

watchtowers: The powers of the four directions, related to the four elements. Many cultures have imagery of the four directions holding up the sky or holding together the Earth. The beings of the watchtowers are sometimes described as archangels (particularly Uriel, Raphael, Michael, and Gabriel), elemental kings, or animal totems.

watcher: A term used for the beings of the watchtowers. Often refers to a race of fallen angels said to teach humanity the arts of magic, astrology, and civilization.

water: The emotional principle, associated with feeling, empathy, healing, spirits, and the ancestors, as well as the principles of love and compassion. Water is cold and moist.

wax divination: Known as carromancy or ceromancy, wax divination is a technique used to find shapes and meaning in melting wax. Usually the wax of a candle is melted and dripped into water, and the shapes it forms are interpreted by the reader.

Wheel of the Year: A cycle of eight holidays based on a variety of ancient Pagan sources, including the four Celtic fire festivals, based on agricultural images and the four solar holidays, two solstices, and two equinoxes. The Wheel of the Year tells the story of the Goddess and God expressed in the seasons and cycles of the Sun and Earth.

white magic: Most refer to white magic as "good" magic aiding others, and in alignment with the divine. For ceremonial magicians, white magic usually refers to any magical operation to help the practitioner connect with the higher self and then the divine source. In this system, any magic that creates a physical change, even healing or protection, is considered gray magic, not white.

Wiccan: A modern term for a practitioner of Wicca. Some use Wiccan and Witch interchangeably, while others do not.

Witch: A practitioner of the art, science, and religion of Witchcraft. Some make a distinction between the word Witch and Wiccan, and some do not. In the United States, many people use the term Wiccan to denote a practitioner of the religion, while a Witch is considered one who practices the art and craft. In the United Kingdom, a Wiccan often refers to one initiated into a formal tradition, such as Gardnerian Wicca, while an uninitiated practitioner of the art is known as a Witch.

Witch's mark: During the persecutions of Witches and those suspected of Witchcraft, an unusual birthmark was said to be evidence of a Witch making a compact with the devil. Some believe that many of those involved in actual esoteric practices and orders (as most people persecuted as Witches were not truly Witches) would receive a ritual initiation mark, burn, or tattoo to mark the new Witch apart from others.

wood: In the Chinese elemental system, wood is the symbol for the element known in the West as spirit.

words of power: Words in various languages, ranging from Sanskrit to Hebrew, Gaelic, and Enochian, that are associated with various mystical effects. By thinking, saying, or chanting the words of power, one can create an inner change, or outer change. Mantras are often considered words of power.

yang: In Chinese mysticism, the projective, masculine energy.

yantra: A mandala or visual focus used in meditation. One directs the gaze at the yantra during meditation to bring the mind to stillness.

yin: In Chinese mysticism, the receptive, feminine energy.

yogi: A practitioner of one of the various forms of yoga.

Yule: Also known as the winter solstice, one of the four solar holidays and one of the eight Wheel of the Year holidays in the modern Pagan calendar. Yule is the celebration of the birth of the young sun God, who grows to maturity as the light increases until the summer solstice.

zodiac: Usually translated to mean the "wheel of animals" and referring to the twelve signs used in astrology. The sidereal zodiac refers to the actual constellations of stars, while the tropical zodiac refers to the space around the Earth, aligned with the seasonal shifts.

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Online Resources

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Table of Contents

List of Exercises

List of Charts and Figures

Introduction

One: The Powers of Creation

The Power of Two 11

The Trinity

Two: The Elements

The Quintessence

Chinese Elements

Three: Vital Energies

Life Force

Energy Centers 41

Four: Subtle Anatomy

Five: The Worlds Beyond

The Spiritual Dimensions

The Shamanic World Tree 67

The Elemental Worlds

The Seven Layers of Reality 70

The Tree of Life

Six: Entities of Spirit

Spirits

Spirit Talk 86

Seven: Sacred Space, Sacred Time

Feng Shui

Sacred Timekeeping

Astrology 102

Astrological Ages 116

Eight: Going Within

Nine: Developing Intuition

Psychic Ability

Divination 143

Ten: Psychic Development

Psychic Travel

Dreams 162

Eleven: Magic

Spells 174

The Magic Circle 182

Twelve: Healing

Psychic Healing

Faith Healing 195

Healing Rituals 196

Part Five: Exploring the Paths

Thirteen: Mystic Traditions

East and West 202

Institutions 203

Initiation 204

Spiritual Names 206

Secrecy 207

Fourteen: The Paths up the Mountain

Ascension 212