It's been a long time since I posted anything here - I apologize, especially if anyone has sent a message or anything like that. The truth is, I am not that crazy about MySpace, but I do recognize it's usefulness as a networking tool so I will do my best to update here more frequently.
Meanwhile, Chalice of Living Stars will have a new series starting in March....here's the info:

Living Wicca Series 2009

Each workshop will be from 1PM - 3:30 PM. Workshops will be held at the West Chester Wellness Center, 828 Paoli Pike, West Chester, PA 19380, unless otherwise noted. Donation of $5.00 requested to assist with space rental costs.
March 15, Week One: Creating Sacred Space
In this workshop, students will gain hands on experience in creating sacred space and calling the Four Sacred Directions. We will talk about the many ways different cultures have established sacred space and defined what it means to be in sacred space.
March 22, Week Two: Invocation
Who are the Gods and Goddesses you wish to invite to your circle? What is the meaning of invocation? What are some of the whys and wherefores of calling in particular deities? As in the Cast and Call workshop, students will gain hands on experience in invoking the Gods.
April 5, Week Three: The Many Meanings of Initiation
In this workshop, we will discuss the trials, tribulations, pitfalls, and joys of the initiatory path. We will talk about the different approaches to initiation and why or why not one might wish to be a seeker on this path.
April 12, Week Four: African Gods and Goddesses
The continent of Africa is one of the most wondrous places in the world: a place where nearly all temperate zones exist, and where diverse peoples of diverse spiritual and ethnic backgrounds have co-existed for thousands of years. In this class, we will explore the deities of West Africa, their symbols and rituals, and ways in which they have crossed the Atlantic.
April 19, Week Five: Isis, Lady of Magick: A Workshop and Ritual
Isis was a great Goddess of Egypt, but her fame and worship was widespread during the Pre-Christian era, and went beyond the boundaries of Egypt. Isis is a Goddess of many attributes: a Goddess of Love, of Motherhood, of Magick, as well as possessing a Trickster aspect. If she takes you under her Patronage, you are blessed indeed. In the workshop portion of this class, we will explore the history and mythology of Isis, and in the ritual portion, we will encounter the magick of Isis.
May 3, Week Six: Beltaine Ritual
To Be held at Ridley Creek State Park. More information to follow shortly as to which pavilion we will be using.
May 10, Week Seven: Bringing Celtic Myth Into Your Life
An overview of the celtic pantheon and myth cycles focusing on how those stories are relevant in our lives as magickal people.
May 24, Week Eight: Deities of the Baltic Region
Discover these little known deities worshipped in and around Russia and the Baltic
June 7, Week Nine: Full Moon Ritual:
To be held at Ridley Creek State Park. More information to follow shortly as to which pavilion we will be using.
June 14, Week Ten: Healing with Stones and Colors
In this class, we will explore the meanings of color and specifically how color relates to the energies emitted by rocks, crystals, and semi-precious stones.

Just a reminder! Chalice of Living Stars will be hosting a Tarot class as part of its Wicca 101 series. We meet at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, 501 S. Main Street, West Chester, PA, at 7PM. If you are coming, please bring a deck of Tarot cards. I do have extras for those who may not own a deck.

Bright Blessings!

A Fundraiser For The New Alexandrian Library Project
www.sacredwheel.org/nal.html
Spring Magick Will Be A Day Of Workshops Culminating With The Cernunnos Ritual
Saturday April 19, 2008
Held At
Pebble Hill Interfaith Church
320 Edison-Furlong Road
Doylestown, PA 18901
www.sacredwheel.org/events.html
sacredwheel@sacredwheel.org

Spring Magick will have three workshop time slots with a lunch break (on your own/bring a bag lunch).
During each of time slot you may choose from one of two topics. There will also be an additional class devoted to Cernunnos and the ritual after the Spring Magick programming. The teachers are coven leaders and elders of the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel.
 
The Cernunnos ritual is a deeply moving experience that is
one of the most loved of our public rituals. The teachers for Spring Magick are Elders and High Priest/ess/es from the Assembly Of The Sacred Wheel. This is a fundraiser for the New Alexandrian Library Project.
 
The registration fee for Spring Magick is S65. A reduced rate is available for students. There will be registration at the door but we strongly suggest you pre-register. You may attend the Cernunnos ritual without attending Spring Magick but you are encouraged to do both.
 
Schedule:
Workshop Details Available Online Shortly
Registration: 9:30 am - 10:00 am • Classes: 10:00 am - 5:45 pm • Cernnunos: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Partial List Of Workshops & Teachers:
Helena Domenic- The Many Meanings Of Initiation
Ivo Domínguez, Jr.- Alternatives To The Quarter Cast Circle
Robin Fennelly- Awakening the Energetic Self
Jennifer Graham- A Personal Look At Psychopomp/Last-Stage Doula Work
Carm Riggs- Magickal Herbalism
Michael G. Smith- Osiris, Set, & Horus: The Eternal Cycle
You may register for Spring Magick online through PayPal or through the mail by sending your
contact information and a check payable to The New Alexandrian Library to:
Spring Magick c/o New Alexandrian Library
14914 Deer Forest Rd.,
Georgetown, DE 19947

Just a reminder! Chalice of the Living Stars Winter Solstice
celebration and ritual will be taking place on Monday, December 17th
at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester. Gather at 7:00. Ritual
to begin at 7:30. Ritual garb is encouraged, but not necessary.

Come celebrate the Turning of the Wheel of the Year with a visit to
the Castle of Arianrhod !

If you have questions, please email: livingstars@sacredwheel.org.

Below are listed events for Chalice of the Living Stars, a coven in
formation.

All events are scheduled to take place at The Unitarian Fellowship of
West Chester, located at 501 S. High Street , West Chester , PA
(unless otherwise noted). All events will begin promptly at 7:00. A
$5.00 donation is requested for assistance with room rental.

2007
Dec 17: Winter Solstice Ritual

2008
Jan 07: Introduction To and History of Wicca

Jan 14: Wheel of the Year: Sabbats and Esbats

Jan 21: Patrons and Pantheons

Jan 28: Divination and Psychic Development

Feb 04: Healing and Ethics

NOTE: No class on Feb 11

Feb 18: Ritual Construction

Feb 25: Spells and Magick

Mar 03: Stones and Crystals

Mar 10: Tarot

Mar 17: Basic Qabala

Mar 24: History and Structure of the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel

Mar 31: Assembly Castings

Apr 07: Aspecting

Apr 19: Spring Magick & Ritual for the Stag God Cernunnos
Greenshire Arts Consortium, Quakertown , PA

Aug 24: Dover Pagan Pride Day, Dover , DE

Nov 8 - 9: Autumn Magick, Seelie Court , Georgetown , DE

For information on directions and parking at the Unitarian Fellowship
of West Chester, please visit: http://www.ufwc.org/uupark.htm

I'm super behind in getting this up - sorry everyone!! I wanted to edit it some more, but never got around to it.......so any weird wording or typos, please forgive.....

 

Spellwork is something that many Wiccans do – after all, don't witches cast spells? Isn't that what we're supposed to do? Spell casting is of course, a choice, but many people consider a definite part of and a perk to being Wiccan. Spell casting can be a way of exerting control over one's life, and can be extremely empowering. There are many approaches to spellwork, and an infinite amount of possibilities in approach and execution. Although there are many books on spells with pre-written spells, to my mind, there is nothing quite so satisfying as writing something yourself, tailor made to your own needs.

Just like with writing rituals, when doing spell workings, your intent must be clear and well-crafted. And just like writing rituals, the first step for spell crafting is to craft your intent. Think it through carefully: what do you want? Why do you want it? As you are thinking about it, also be aware of ethics – will your desires get in the way of someone else's will? We're Wiccan, the Rede always applies. Another thing to determine is if you really feel you need to do magick around your desires. You also want to consider at the very least doing the real world work to back up your magickal efforts – if you are doing magick to find a job, then make sure you are actually also SEEKING one. The Goddess will not drop an employer on your doorstep.

Love spells are an area that can be especially tricky. Doing a love spell on a particular person is never a good thing – it interferes with that individual's will. (One might also abide by the caveat, "Be care of what you ask for, you may get it.") Instead of aiming for a particular individual, you might try writing down a list of all the qualities you would seek in the ideal partner, and organize your spell around attracting that kind of individual you wish to attract. I have always found love spells also work much better when not trying to go for a particular person – that pesky free will thing just gets in the way.

There are a variety of props you may use or need for your spell…or you may need none at all. Marion Weinstein speaks of crafting "words of power" in order to achieve one's goals. A spoken spell is something you can speak aloud in ritual, alone or in the presence of a group. Weinstein's book, Positive Magic, provides an excellent framework for crafting a spoken spell. You can also combine spoken spells with creating a talisman, amulet, "mojo bag," or candle magick, Tarot cards, etc, depending on what your needs are.

I especially like Marion Weinstein's approach, which takes a variety of factors into account, including free will and non-manipulation of other people. She lays out the following principles for creating Words of Power in her book, Positive Magic:

1. For the Good of All: To truly be positive practitioners of Magic, all magick we practice must be for the Good of All. No suffering on anyone's part need be involved. Remember the Charge of the Goddess states, "Nor do I ask for sacrifice."

2. The Universe as Macrocosm: The Universe is seen as the source of all life, and we are part of it. We can all tap into the power inherent in the Universe as members of the Universe.

3. The Microcosm: This is each of us – we all are manifestations of the power of the Universe. The old Hermetic axiom holds true: As above, so below.  We are each God, We are each Goddess.

4. The Law of Cause and Effect: Words of Power are the CAUSE, and the results of those Words of Power are the EFFECT. We are working with the unseen realm to create the cause, and the effect manifests in the physical realm, or world of form.

5. Free Will: By stating "For the Free Will of All" in your working, you are eliminating the possibility of your work being manipulative.

6. Infinity: The concept of non-limitation. So many of us operate believing in a kind of poverty principle – there is not enough to go around. This goes against the Universe, which is infinite, and wants to give us what we ask for. When you include the principle of Infinity in your Words of Power, you are also leaving room for possibilities you may not have even thought of yet.

7. The Concept of Form and Essence: You may not yet be able to specify exactly what you want, but you know the feeling of what you want. This feeling is the key – you state what the essence of what you are working is, and the Universe will pick the very best form. As Weinstein says, "Be open to the flexibility of form – not for compromise, but for fulfillment."

8. Transformation: What is magic for if not transformation? Words of Power enable us to change our perceptions and ways of thinking – when we are able to do that, we are able to create change in our lives.

9. Love: The Universe loves us so much, it wants to give us what we ask for. We also need to remember Self love – we are part of that Universe and need to remember our right to respect, love and nurture ourselves. When we are able to do this, we are able to share love more freely.

10. The Now: Occult work must be done in the present tense: the eternals do not have the same concept of time as we humans. All time is happening now, but for humans it is linear. Always work on thinking in the present tense when doing magic.

Once you understand the principles behind Words of Power, you can then compose words of power. For the purposes of the working we are doing in class, we will work towards the goal of fulfillment so that the Words of Power we say together will all be the same. Once you are working alone, you may wish to compose words of power specific to your particular goal, and do another small rite with those words.

The example Weinstein gives in her book is as follows:

1. There is One Power.
2. And this Power is perfect fulfillment.
3. And I ________ am a perfect manifestation of this power.
4. Therefore, perfect fulfillment is mine, here and now,
5. For the good of all,
6. And according to Free Will.
7. And so it Must Be.

There are a variety of variations you might follow. For example, you might wish to acknowledge your own patrons. Weinstein recommends doing this in step one, stating, "There is One Power,  which is Isis and Osiris, and which is perfect fulfillment." You might wish to add qualifiers, such as "With perfect ease" or "with perfect timing" to your statement. Once you have your statement completed, you may proceed with whatever steps you wish to take – chanting over stones/candles to empower them with your spell, carving runes into your candles to embed your intent in them, etc..

Deciding what tools to use may involve thinking about the kinds of colors associated with what it is you are trying to achieve. Money spells would utilize green. Love spells use red, or pink. There are many correspondence charts available to help you determine the kinds of tools you can use to assist you. If you wish to use Tarot cards, you might want to lay out the cards in the perfect reading with the perfect outcome you desire for your spell. Numbers have meaning, so you may wish to incorporate numbers into your spell via either the number of candles used, the number of days you light a candle, etc..

Many people also like to consider the time in which they are doing a spell. There are a number of correspondence charts that discuss the significance of each day magickally – which God/dess rules that day, which hour of the day is ruled by which planet, and so on. If this seems too complicated, you may prefer to consider the phase of the Moon – waxing or waning, or Full. If the Moon is waxing, it is a good time to ask for blessings, prosperity, an increase in whatever you desire. If the Moon is waxing, it is a good time for banishing. If you are looking for a job and the Moon happens to be waxing, then do a spell to banish poverty. Be creative, there is no end to ways to work with magick.

If you are astrologically inclined, you may want to purchase one an ephemeris or a yearly astrological calendar so that you can be informed of planetary alignments through out the year. Astrology can be very beneficial to doing spellwork and magick in general. Using astrological/planetary glyphs can also be part of your spellwork. Glyphs can be drawn on all kinds of objects – candles, stones, etc..

Once again, because we are Wiccan, casting spells is different from what might happen in the case of a non-spiritual individual trying to accomplish their goals. Some paths do not attach spiritual significance to doing spell work – if you believe it will work, it will work, so the belief goes. However, our spirituality works for us, not against us. We can ask for a little help from our friends – our Patron Gods and Goddesses. You may even wish to establish an affinity with a particular God or Goddess for a particular purpose. If you are asking them for something, then you should certainly pay some attention to them and find out information about them and establish a relationship before asking. As part of the spell-casting process, you can do ritual and ask for your desires formally in circle.

Here are some different examples of spells I have created, or created with the help of friends.

I was fearing for my employment at the university where I work. Things were unstable and budgets were being cut. I didn't want my salary to be cut, but I also didn't want anyone to lose a job because I was keeping mine. I took my contract from the previous semester, which had been signed by several University officials, and placed it in a special bag. I found two blue stones. Blue corresponds to the sphere of Chesed in the Qabala, and also to the concept of MERCY. I visualized my continued employment, lots of students filling my classes, and lots of other faculty and students roaming the campus. I inscribed the stones with the glyph for Jupiter – the planet of plenty –essentially asking the Gods to ensure that there would be an abundance of money to go around and all of us would keep our jobs and prosper. I'm in my fourth year of teaching here, so I believe all is well.

Here's a spell for dealing with some difficult neighbors.

I was living in a neighborhood with lots of unruly, although mostly harmless children. They were a bit snotty, and had parents who didn't pay attention to them. My rear view mirror had been knocked off of my car in an accident, and before I could afford to have it repaired, I was duct-taping it onto my car. Every day, I'd go out to the car and find the kids had torn off the duct-tape. The next time I duct taped up my mirror, I inscribed the glyph for Saturn (a planet having to do with restriction and restraint) onto the tape in clove oil. When I next came out to my car, I found that the kids had tried to undo the tape, but had failed.

In creating a spell for yourself, I recommend to first meditate on your purpose. Be as clear and specific as possible. Janet and Stewart tell a story of casting a spell asking for money, and waking up the next day to find Monopoly money strewn across their front lawn. Be specific about how you wish to receive money – what kind of currency! Once you have your purpose in mind, decide how you feel it is best to proceed. Do you want to create an amulet? Use candles of a specific color for your purpose? Do you want to use a specific stone or crystal and charge it with your purpose and then carry it on your person until your goal is achieved?

SAMPLE SPELL WORKING FOR THIS CLASS:

For this class, we will be doing a working to charge whatever items we choose with our purpose. We will be working as a group to raise energy and to infuse our items with that energy. We will follow the steps laid out by Marion Weinstein to craft our intent, and then determine the tools we wish to use for that intent. We will stand in circle and chant the words over our various power objects. You may then take your object home with you and do whatever more specific working you like with it.

 

Chalice of Living Stars

 

A coven in formation

 

Announces

A Course in Wicca 101

Chalice of Living Stars, a new coven in the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel, will be hosting a 13-week Wicca 101 class, to be held in ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />West Chester, PA.  We will kick off the classes with a Winter Solstice celebration on Monday, December 17, 2007, 7:00 PM.

 Classes will begin on Monday, January 7^th, from 7:00 – 9:00 at the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester, and continue for 12 additional Mondays. Topics to be covered include: History of Wicca, The Elements and Quarters, Sabbats and Esbats, Patrons and Pantheons, Psychic Development and Divination, Healing and Ethics, Ritual Construction, and Spell Construction. $5.00 donation requested to assist with room rental costs.

For more information, please contact: LivingStars@sacredwheel.org.

Creating your own rituals may seem difficult and awkward at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to write your very own rituals using this format and adapting it to your needs. There are books available that have pre-written rituals you may use, and while there is nothing wrong with this, writing rituals of your own design, that are tailored exactly to your needs is extremely satisfying and educational. Most Wiccan rituals follow a particular pattern, which is easy to follow. Once you are familiar with the process, you can change or deviate from the pattern in the way that works best for you.

As mentioned, most rituals follow the pattern outlined below. Ultimately, the first step before writing a ritual is deciding what kind of ritual you want to do. Will this be a celebratory ritual? A ritual being done for a magickal working? Be very clear about what you wish to accomplish, and try to keep your intent focused as well. Having too many goals in one ritual can muddy the outcome for all of the goals. This is all very important, but before getting into the particulars of deciding how and when and what to write for your ritual, we'll begin by looking at these steps.

Set Up and Preparation of Ritual Space

This entails whatever you need to make the space ready, whatever needs to be on your altar, whatever 'props' are needed. Are you creating your own incense for this rite? What color candles will you be using? If you are inclined towards wearing ritual robes while working, you may wish at this point to get dressed. Anything you need to do to set up the physical part of the ritual goes here.

Purification

This can be as simple or elaborate as you like.  The idea behind this step is to set aside mundane concerns and prepare to enter the circle. How much you want to be purified depends on how much detail goes into this step. You can go so far as to prepare a ritual bath for yourself, complete with scented bath salts and/or oils, or it can be as simple as using salt water to sprinkle one's self and using incense prior to entering sacred space. How many people are present may also make a difference in this step. Purification baths seem to work best for initiations (and only the initiate takes the purification bath, while everyone else gets ready) or for solitary rituals. At large gatherings, we do what we call the "Car Wash " style purification. One person stands on either side of the entry way to the circle – one with salt water, the other with either incense or smudge stick. As entrants come through the gate, they are sprinkled lightly with water and smudged with incense.

Another alternative is something called a Drum Wash. When done properly, this can have a profound effect. It is most effective when there is more than one drummer, preferably with an even number of people who can stand on either side of the opening of the circle. The drummers play a simple rhythm and participants process between them into the circle. As participants pass through, they can feel they powerful beat of the drums around them, clearing out the energy.

Cast the Circle and Calling the Quarters

This is where the actual ritual begins. Once the circle is cast, and the quarters are called, no one should leave the circle unless they "cut" themselves out (or are led out by whatever protocol is being used). There are a number of ways in which this can be accomplished, and a number of patterns followed by various Wiccan groups. The main idea is to cast a circle of energy to keep good energy in, bad energy out. Most Wiccan rituals do not involve invocation of frightening things that must be kept at bay, nor things that must be kept out of the circle. For most of us, casting the circle and calling the Quarters is about establishing sacred space, regardless of the space we are in.

Many Wiccan circles cast the circle first, by either tracing the energy around the circle (around the participants, keeping them IN the circle), starting from the East, and then ending in the East. At this point, they would call the Quarters. In the Assembly, we draw the circle as we call the Quarters, essentially tracing the line of energy from Quarter to Quarter.

Some people never call the Quarters, however in the Assembly, we call the Quarters each time we do ritual. The idea is to have all four of the sacred elements present as well as Spirit, which is present in the circle.

Here are some examples of circle castings:

Circle Casting 1

This is one of the easiest ways to cast a circle, and also encourages participants to be aware of one another and each other's energies. (We did this in my Brownie troop – little did my Brownie leader know she was contributing to the Paganism of a minor)! The person standing in the East begins the circle by squeezing the hand of the person next to her left. They in turn squeeze the hand of the person next to them, and so on, until the squeeze makes its way back to the first person in the East. The circle is cast. This can be done even more formally, with each person stating aloud, "I cast this circle hand to hand" before taking the hand of the person next to them until all are holding hands.

Circle Casting 2

This is the most traditional method used, and the one you will find in most books on Wicca. Beginning in the East, take your athame, and trace a line on the ground (not literally – stand, and direct your athame toward the ground), moving to the South, the West, the North, and then back to the East. As you do so, visualize a line of blue flame rising to make a perfect circle. The line of blue flame is important – it is that which will keep the energies of your circle intact.

Calling the Quarters

There are a number of ways in which to call the Quarters. Some groups actually command them to come to their circle, while others simply invite. We are not Enochian magicians nor Chaos magicians trying to summon demons and other entities to our command. We are Wiccans, so we can invite the Elemental energies to join us, and they are always glad to take part.

There are a number of commonly used wordings to invite the Quarters, some of which are listed below….

"I summon, stir, and call you up, creatures of the East…."

"Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, Powers of Air….."

How you choose to call the Quarters depends entirely on you. You will want to either work with Quarter calls someone else has written, or you may write your own. As always, writing your own creates your own personal stamp on the ritual, making it more effective for YOU. You will want to familiarize yourself fully with the Quarters, and the attributions for each one to see what you wish to incorporate into your calls. For more information on circle casting and quarter calling, I heartily recommend Ivo Dominguez' Castings to aid you in creating sacred space.

Once the circle is cast, and the Quarters are called, it is common for all to come together, holding hands in circle to say, "The Circle is cast. We are between the worlds in a time that is not a time and a place that is not a place. We are in sacred space. Blessed Be."

Statement of Intent

This is the part of the ritual where you make your intent clear to the Gods, to the Seen and Unseen. For group rituals, this has the benefit of reminding everyone why they are there, and can provide additional insight into the event. For example, if you are celebrating the Spring Equinox, this can be a good time to tell stories of the mythology of that particular season. Most of all, this is a part of the ritual where you make yourself clear, and in magick, it is best to be direct and specific.

The clearer your statement of intent, the more likely you will accomplish whatever your ritual goals may be. If you intend to do a magical working in sacred space, here is a time where you can declare what you are working towards. Again, you want to be specific. Words have power, and stating what you want is a good way of ensuring that your intent is clear.

Invocation of Deity

Hopefully by this time, you've given some thought to our prior discussion on Patrons and Pantheons and have an idea of the Gods/Goddesses you wish to work with. The deity or deities you invoke can be your own personal patrons, or they may be deities that are appropriate to your purpose, for example if you are doing a healing ritual, you may wish to call upon a deity of healing. As mentioned in the discussion on patrons and pantheons, try to stick with one pantheon per ritual. Diversity is great, but it works better in the workplace or school than in the magical circle. Having said that, you may wish to decide to call a deity of each gender to the circle. In the Assembly, we are interested in balance, so we always call both a god and goddess. If it is possible, and apropos to the ritual intent, we also try to ensure that the deities invoked are one anothers' consorts.

 

Raising Energy or Consciousness

This is the part of the ritual where energy is raised to help accomplish whatever your stated goal in the Statement of Intent was. One of the things you might read about in books about Wicca is "raising the Cone of Power." The Cone of Power is essentially the energy that is raised by the circle, and then sent up and out to accomplish the ritual's stated goals.

Energy can be raised in a variety of ways. Most groups seem to prefer to do it using chant. Chant is easy, requires no equipment except the human voice, and most chants are easily learned. Choose a chant that you or your group can easily learn and sing – often simple chants with only a few lines are best. Everyone chants while holding the goal in mind, visualizing the energy building as a cone of power in the center of the circle. Chanting can go on for quite some time as the energy builds, and it is okay to harmonize, change the chant up a little, vary things so long as the energy continues to build. Some groups hold hands which they will raise slowly, a bit at a time, until everyone's hands are in the center of the circle. When the chanting reaches a peak, the hands and the energy are released.

Another way of raising energy is through drumming. Drumming is like chanting – easy to do, and great for those who prefer not to sing! (Some of us, myself included, can not sing and drum at the same time. I guess this is the magical equivalent of not being able to walk and chew gum at the same time). Drumming is a very powerful means of raising energy, as evidenced by books and albums in recent years from people like Mickey Hart, Gabrielle Roth, and Dead Can Dance.

Ecstatic dance can also be a means of raising energy. I have seen ecstatic dance most often used in combination with drumming and/or chanting, or other musical instruments in circle. It can be a wondrous to see people in a circle, whirling and spinning about, raising the energy.

Guided meditation can be a way to raise energy, but the kind of energy raised is not as powerful as the energy raised through chanting or drumming. One person can lead the group in a visualization in which they "see" the energy building and send it out towards its intended goal. This is a much quieter way of raising energy – most useful for situations in which one does not want to stir up alarm, such as in an apartment – or for providing healing with a sick person present.

Grounding and Centering

            After raising all that energy, it is absolutely necessary to ground and center properly afterwards. Yes, raising energy feels great, and sometimes you can get something of a buzz from it. However, energy that is not grounded becomes stale and can cause uncomfortable side effects later. Some people speak of a "Third Eye Headache." This is almost like hangover, in that one feels the effects the morning after! If you work to build grounding and centering into your circle, you can circumvent this problem. Sometimes people who are newer to the craft are unaware of the need to ground, and having a moment in the ritual when everyone can do this is a good idea.        Grounding can be done simply in visualizing one's self as a tree, with roots stretching far into the Mother Earth. Some people like to take it a step further and actually touch the earth. Nearly anything physical you can do will help to ground you, such as washing your hands or eating, which brings us to the next step….

Cake and Ale

            In this part of the ritual, participants partake of food and drink. Apart from the benefit of helping everyone to ground, this also allows members to share a little time with each other in sacred space. Now is the time when participants can share visions they had, or feelings they experienced in ritual.

The cakes and ale themselves are kept fairly simple. They may be reflective of the season, for example particular spices or herbs might be used that go with the holiday, it just requires a little research. Sometimes alcohol might be used for the ale – it could be mead or wine – or not, depending on the needs of the group.

The cakes and ale are blessed prior to sharing, and in our tradition, we pass them around the circle to one another, saying "May you never hunger," as we pass the food to the next person, and "May you never thirst," as we pass the ale to the next person. Do be careful that this portion of the ritual does not get too out of hand or go on too long. Energy can dissipate if there is too much joking and sharing before you are ready to dismiss the circle and officially end the ritual. Keep it simple.

Dismissal

            This is the part of the ritual where any deities invoked are thanked for their presence, and the Quarters are thanked and dismissed. It is important to dismiss the circle for much the same reason that it is a good idea to ground and center. An undismissed circle can create stale energy, and although most of the energies associated with Wicca are fairly mild, you really do not want stale energy hanging around because it may attract unwanted spirits.

            Dismissal can be as simple or elaborate as needed. Some people simply go to each Quarter and say, "Hail and Farewell," while others use dismissals with more detail. Once the circle has ended, nearly every magickal group I have encountered says, "The circle is open, but unbroken, merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!"

The Fine Art of Crafting Ritual Intent

            So….what will your ritual be all about? Being certain of this is the most important part of crafting rituals. As always, keep your intent focused and keep it simple. Trying to have too many goals in one ritual will muddy the energy, and nothing will be accomplished. If you want to do a ritual for psychic insight, then that should be your sole focus. Work on gathering information that will be specific to your intent. For example, if you are doing a rite of healing (as mentioned earlier), call upon deities specific to healing. As always, work with deities within the same pantheon who are compatible with one another. When you write your Quarter calls, you can ask for the kinds of healing energies each Element might provide.  If you are doing a ritual for a particular holiday, research what kinds of myths you may wish to enact within the ritual space. In some cases, the energy for a ritual might be raised during the enactment of a myth. (For example, if Persephone is coming out of the Underworld for a Spring Equinox ritual, you could chant songs to welcome her back).

            As with all things magickal, practice is the key to learning. Often in Wicca, learning to write good ritual is a trial and error process. We often learn what doesn't work by what falls flat in the rituals we have written. The key is not to let it get you down, but to learn from mistakes and keep trying. There is nothing more satisfying then celebrating ritual with good friends and covenmates!

Healing is both a science and an art, although many in the medical profession would disagree with me. If we are to take a purely dictionary definition of healing, we might find something along the lines of, "Healing is the process by which the cells in the body regenerate and repair to reduce the size of a damaged or necrotic area." The approach that Wiccans often take is a bit more holistic, that is, placing an emphasis on the whole person – spiritual, emotional, and mental - as well as physical.

 

 

There are a number of approaches one might take to healing as a Wiccan. I always recommend seeing a medical practitioner (an MD or Osteopath) in addition to whatever holistic steps you might take. These approaches include, but are not limited to: hands-on healing (which includes Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, and faith healing); using the Chakras, Herbs and Homeopathic Remedies; Aromatherapy; acupuncture; Chinese medicine; seeing auras; and healing with crystals and stones. Sometimes one may want to combine these approaches, and one may find that certain approaches work better than others for certain illnesses.

I personally believe that, just as with divination, being able to heighten one's senses is crucial to healing. Having what Barbara Ann Brennan calls "High Sense Perception" in her book, Hands On Healing, aids in determining the source and cause of illness. Illness can be perceived in the body itself, but for some illnesses that are more psychosomatic, being able to perceive human energy fields is just as important. Continuing studies in meditation and exercises to increase psychic awareness are of great value and should be expanded upon if one wishes to become a healer. (As I've mentioned before, meditation really IS the key to opening one's perception and really is the foundation of all magickal training). In many ways, Seers and Healers must be linked to one another, and possess skills of both modalities in order to be successful.

I want to pause here to talk about my own personal feelings about healing. I am sad to point out that many books seem to place the blame for illness on the sick person. Although I absolutely believe that we create our own reality and are responsible for what happens to us, blaming a cancer victim for their illness is certainly not constructive. Instead, we should ask ourselves, "What is the deeper source of the illness? What does it mean to the person who is ill? What can be learned from this illness?" Illness is generally caused by imbalance, it is important to determine what the imbalance is and what caused it. It is absolutely possible for a person to make themselves ill – but the deeper question is how this happened, and to not place blame upon them for their own suffering.

Teaching ethics really goes hand in hand with any teachings on healing. Along with this, I recommend that anyone who wants to seriously pursue a healing practice receive training of some kind in counseling, as well as knowledge of another modality such as working with herbs and nutrition. Receiving professional technical training not only raises your credibility, it increases your knowledge and your ability to help rather than to harm. As always, I also recommend suggesting that clients seek advice from a medical professional as well.

Another aspect of ethics is that of choice. Has the person in question actually requested healing? Many times people are asked to pray for someone who is ill without knowing if that person has requested it for themselves. This may seem like splitting hairs – after all, shouldn't we pray/send energy/etc for the benefit of the person who is suffering? This is perhaps the most difficult aspect of healing for many people. If someone is requesting healing from a third party, it is hard to know whether that individual requested the healing themselves unless we have additional information or know both parties well. In some circles, a healing is not performed unless the person who is ill states verbally that they wish to be healed.

As a healer, you may wish to write your own code of ethics – it is essential to know what is important to you ethically, and to be able to communicate that to any of the people you may serve.

Below is an example of a Code of Ethics. This one is from the Integrated Wellness and Life Coaching Website (http://www.icoachlife.com/default.asp):

Code of Ethics

1. I agree to respect my clients' opinions and religious beliefs, and offer them an area to relax and be themselves without judgement.  I honor their path or life experiences.

2. I agree to keep confidential any private information discussed with me by my clients.

3. I agree that one can only truly heal themselves and that as an energy healer I am providing the means for them to attain this goal more easily and naturally; my goal is self-empowerment

4. I agree to provide my clients with a comfortable, supportive and professional setting.

5. I agree to inform my clients orally of all techniques that are involved before any healing sessions begin, and modify the session if they express being uncomfortable (physically or emotionally).

6. I agree to inform clients that energy or holistic healing is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological attention.  Clients need to consult with their doctor as to modifing perscriptions if they feel better or their symptoms change.

7. I do not "examine" or "diagnose" my clients, or "recommend" or "advise" "treatments" or "cures"; I instead look for "imbalances" or "energy blockages" and help to "correct" these situations to allow the natural healing process to occur.  This corresponds with my spiritual belief that we all have the ability to heal ourselves as we open to life force.

8. I agree to take my own health and well-being into account and treat my mind, body, and spirit with love and respect.

9. I agree to make my living honestly and respect every living being, and especially the Earth.  The client owes me nothing but the payment they make as an exchange of energy.

Further along the line of ethics, to become a healer, one must go through testing and training to ensure that he or she is ready to handle the power, energy, and clarity that he or she is developing in his or her energy field. The healer must be healthy his or herself, and must do whatever work is necessary to become healthy to begin the work. Seeking assistance from trainer healers, nutritionists, and energy workers is invaluable along this line. A healer needs practice receiving guidance before being qualified to pass it on to others.

Auras and Chakras

The human aura is not one single mass surrounding the human body – it is often perceived in layers, although it is much more complex than that. These layers are sometimes called "bodies" (as in subtle bodies) which often interpenetrate and surround each other in successive layers. There are some systems that outline seven specific layers which correlate more or less to the seven chakras system. There are a number of exercises one can do to see auras, one of which we did in the last Wicca 101 class. We will explore ways in which to perceive energy here, which I gleaned from Barbara Ann Brennan's Hands of Light.

Exercise 1 (works with a group):

Stand in a circle and hold hands. Allow your energy to flow around the circle. Can you feel which way it is going? Does your neighbor feel it in the same way? Now, stop the flow of energy (without physically doing anything). Now, let the energy flow again. Can you feel the difference? Which do you like better?

Exercise 2 (with a partner):

Now, partner up and face your partner, touching palms. Let energy flow out of your palms. Can you feel which way the energy is flowing? Now, send energy with your left hand, receive with your right hand. Reverse. Now stop. Try pushing energy with both hands at once. Now, suck in energy with both hands at once. How does it feel?

Push, pull, and sop are three basic ways in which to manipulate energy for healing.

Exercise 3 (to be done alone):

Rub your hands together vigorously. Feel the heat and friction. Now, hold your hands a few inches from one another. Can you still feel the energy? Keep pulling your hands farther and farther apart to see how the energy feels. You may feel subtle changes as you move away from and into the different layers of your aura.

Understanding the Chakras will help you to understand the different layers of your aura. Each chakra is aligned with a particular part of your physical body and your subtle bodies. The Chakra system is an ancient Indian system which dates back to Paleolithic times. Chakra means "circle" or "wheel" in Sanskrit. The Chakras are circles of energy in the body where energy can focus. There are a number of systems that work with the Chakras, often giving different numbers of Chakras, but the most common number that most people work with is seven. These seven chakras correspond roughly to the glandular system.  The energy that wakes up and rises through the body is called "Kundalini." The Goddess Kundalini is a snake who sleeps at the Root Chakra. When Kundalini awakes, she rises through the Chakras, and they vibrate and awaken abilities that can be harnessed.

I do not suggest attempting to awaken your own Kundalini unless you are a skilled Tantric yogi. Unless you know what you are doing, this is a very dangerous practice. One of the results of awakening Kundalini energy is severe physical manifestations that can cause all kinds of medical problems. Sometimes a severe physical or emotional trauma can cause the Kundalini to spontaneously wake up. If this happens to you, seek help from both holistic and western healing practices. Having said that, rising Kundalini allows the soul to leave the physical body. This can be likened to certain shamanic abilities. It is possible to work with the chakras and use them in magical and healing practice safely.

Why use the Chakras? One of the reasons Wicca turns to systems like the Chakras or Reiki or Qabala is that thanks to the Burning Times, many of our own Western magical systems have been wiped out or forgotten. The East brings to us traditions that have been held sacred, and by respectfully adapting them, we can enhance and further our own knowledge and systems.

There are some indications that at one time there was a Western Chakra system (under a different name, of course). Paracelsus refers to 'star' centers in the body, and the Rosicrucians also make references which can be interpreted to mean chakras.

Each chakra is represented by a lotus, each lotus having a different color and number of petals. Each Chakra has a Sanskrit name, although I will be referring to the Chakras by their Western names for simplicity's sake. (An excellent book on the Chakras is Anodea Judith's Wheels of Life, which contains wonderful and complete information on each Chakra). When in full operation and completely balanced, the chakras spin. Each chakra is represented as a sound, and one way of working with balancing the chakras is by vibrating each of the sounds in turn. Most people, when beginning to work with the chakras, can begin by visualizing them as radiating outwards, and then begin to spin them as they gain experience. Interestingly, women are said to be naturals at working with the chakras because of our menstrual cycles and ability to bear children. We all hold experiences in our chakras, and by working with them, we can work through old patterns and release them.

A note about the location of the chakras: men generally feel their chakras to the back of their bodies, and women in the front. You will see how this plays out in our discussion.

 

The Root Chakra is also called the Base Chakra, Muladhara in Sanskrit. This chakra is associated with the element of earth and the color red. The sound vibrated to this chakra is "oo." It has four petals and is associated with the gonads. The sense of smell and reproductive organs are also connected to this chakra. It is the seat of the Sleeping Kundalini and the libido – more than sexual energy, it is LIFE energy. Men will feel this chakra at the base of the spine and women at the perineum of the pubic bone. It corresponds to money and work, to bounty or the lack thereof. It is here where we feel our survival issues.

The Sacral, or Naval, or Sex Chakra is located just below the naval. It is orange in color and associated with the spleen, the element of water, and sense of taste. The orange lotus representing this chakra has six petals and the corresponding sound is "oh." The Sanskrit word is Svadisthana. This chakra has to do with body centeredness and strength. It relates to the womb and to the forces of attraction. This is where we respond to psychic calls, a storehouse for visual and emotional images that come from without. It is a good idea to clean is out regularly. It is more 'animal' than the root chakra.

The Solar Plexus, or power chakra, is located above the naval at the solar plexus. It is yellow in color, associated with the adrenal gland, has 24 petals, and vibrates to the sound, "AWW." The Sanskrit name is Manipura. It is associated with the element of fire. Here is the sense of sight and the development of inner visionary skills. It is the center of self-confidence. Tension held here relates to the pressure you either put on yourself or that others put on you. Here are the drives, passions, impulses, and the freedom to act. Negatively, it can mean using power over others.

The first three chakras make up the three-fold personality, relating to the three worlds: body (physical), feelings (desire), and ego (mental).

The Heart Chakra is also known in the Sanskrit as Anahata. It is associated with the color green, the thymus gland, the element of air, and its lotus has 12 petals. The sound associated with the Heart Chakra is "AAah." The Heart Chakra is the synthesis between three higher states – the transpersonal and transcendental. This is the seat of compassion and the sense of touch. This chakra shares an affinity with the Solar Plexus – both are associated with emotions. Raw emotions are found in the Solar Plexus and more subtle emotions such as altruism and unconditional love would be found in the Heart Chakra. This is the mediating center for the heart and body. Working with this chakra allows a more conscious approach to life – bonding without manipulation.

The Throat Chakra is located at the larynx and is known in Sanskrit as Vihuddha. Its color is blue, it is associated with the thyroid, and vibrates to the sound of "Eh." It is associated with the element of Ether. The Throat Chakra is the gateway to the subtle realms through which communication may be received. This is the chakra activated for channeling and where creativity is manifested. It is where we "burn" karma – those of us who work on ourselves may have frequent throat ailments. The unconscious sexuality of the sacral chakra can be transmitted here, making one more aware of sexual attractions and taking responsibility for sexual energy.

The Third Eye or Brow Chakra is known in Sanskrit as Ajna. Its color is Indigo and it is associated with the pituitary gland. It relates to all of the mental faculties and the sound "Ihh." Its lotus has 96 petals. This chakra is the place from which the subtle energies of non-physical realms are contacted and mediated. It is the place of telepathy and the "window of the soul" which can be receptive or active. In this culture, men need to learn to surrender and women need to learn the ability to wield power. It is important that this chakra work with the heart chakra in order to keep one's self from using psychic power to manipulate others.

The Crown Chakra, known in Sanskrit as Sahasrara is located at the fontanel and is associated with the color violet and the sound "eee." It is associated with the pineal gland, and its lotus has 1000 petals which open to the Divine. Intuition and the ability to perceive direct insight into the true nature of reality are found here. This is the place where spiritual unity is experienced. It is ultimately beyond our rational understanding.

There is also an eighth chakra which is referred to (we use it in the Assembly for aspecting, our technique for Divine Embodiment) as the Transpersonal Chakra. This chakra goes even further beyond our rational understanding and lies just above the head. Its color is white, its sound is "Aum,"  and it is associated with all of the glands. This is our connection to the Higher Self.

Here are some exercises for working with and balancing the Chakras:

Exercise 1

Sit in the lotus position or lie down. Whichever you choose, your back, head, and neck must be straight. Place your attention on your lower back, ABOVE the tailbone – do NOT go to the tailbone! Bring the energy from the lower back to the spine, then channel it out the front of the body through the naval chakra. Don't' force the energy – just be aware. Bring the energy back to the spine up and out the solar plexus chakra. Be aware of any change in the vibrational quality of the energies. Bring the energy back to the spine up and out the heart chakra. Again, be aware of any blockages or changes – just don't get stuck there. Just be aware of what you experience. Go back to the spine and bring the energy out of the throat chakra, again remaining aware. Go again back to the spine and bring the energy out of the third eye. Go back to the spine and up and out the crown chakra. Allow the energy coming out of your crown chakra to mix with the energy of your transpersonal chakra. Feel the energy pour up and out and then cascade down like a fountain over your body. Feel your body being bathed in this energy.

Exercise 2

Sit in the lotus position or lie down. One at a time, you will be strongly visualizing the color of each chakra and intoning the sound of that sound in turn.

Root                Red                 Oooo

Naval              Orange             Ohhh

Solar Plexus    Yellow             Awww

Heart               Green              Ahhhh

Throat              Blue                 Ehhh

Third Eye        Indigo             Ihhh

Crown             Violet              Eeeee

Transpersonal  White              Aummm

Conclusion

As we have seen, working with the Chakras can greatly aid with healing. Working with auric fields and energies help us to balance our own energies and to provide assistance to those who need healing. The purpose of this workshop is not to necessarily provide complete training in healing, but to provide enough of a taste of it to see if it is a calling for you. Whether or not you choose to be a healer, this information is helpful to anyone who is seeking balance in their own life and energies. If you are interesting in pursuing healing as a vocation, please seek an experienced teacher to guide you in that journey.