Yesterday, I was chewed out by one of my family members regarding the fact that I do witchcraft. They went on and on about how I was a weirdo, and that what I believed in made no sense.
Now I respect their opinion about what I do in my life, and I understand their reasons for feeling this way about something they neither understand nor accept. However, just because I am a peaceful, non-confrontational Pagan does not mean that I am going to sit there and allow myself to absorb the negativity they are directing at me, instead of deflecting it away from myself. Yes, what they said did bother me for awhile, but not as much as it would have without my psychic shield. And so this experience got me to thinking about psychic shields and protection,
To me, a psychic shield is not only protection from someone sending out negative energy accidentally, but also for people sending out negative energy around you and towards you. I feel this way because in my life I am constantly surrounded by negative people that happen to clash a lot, most definitely on a daily basis. So being in the middle of this kind of energy all the time not only puts me in a difficult position to go about daily life in, but also makes it very difficult for me to concentrate on meditation, magickal workings, or anything I may be doing, such as writing this blog, for example. Basically, I find it hard to be a spiritual person in everyday life when I am faced with this onslaught of unending negativity all the time. Plus it drains me emotionally to the point where I feel depressed and upset. So I need my psychic shields up and ready at all times.
Now I haven't actually read any books going in depth on the subject. My knowledge of shields comes from the small sections I've read in 101 books on Wicca or Witchcraft, and from some information I've gleaned off the internet. Therefore my expertise in putting up and using shields has come mostly from my own personal experience than techniques I learned from a book.
At first try, I found that my shield did not work as much as I wanted it to. I think I had set my hopes a bit too high for the first try, not to mention that I hadn't practiced enough visualization before putting my shield into action. I would say it took me about two months before my shield became effective enough to truly feel a difference after a negativity attack. Nowadays I have no problem with visualizing my shield, and I can put it up at a moments notice whenever I need to.
I'm not going to say how I visualize my psychic shield because there are so many ways to visualize a psychic shield. Instead, I urge everyone to experiment and find out what works best for them when they are faced with difficult energies. On that note I would like to say that having my shield as protection from negativity has made my life so much better. I don't think I can go back to not using one now. Negativity, for me, is very harsh energy, and my emotional psyche has become very scarred over the years because of it. A psychic shield has become a permanent fixture in my waking hours, and it has definitely made me a stronger person on the inside and outside.
Negativity will always follow someone on a different path and for those of us that are more sensitive to these energies, shields can be a valuable source of protection and comfort.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Do You Mantra?
I do.
As a long-time admirer of Buddhist prayer beads, I started adding mantras to my life over two years ago, almost three now.
My first experience with mantras did not actually involve mantras at all. Originally I fell head over heels in love with Japanese prayer beads. That is what really started it all.
I first saw them at a Japanese Buddhist temple when I was a child.They were so beautiful. Many were made from Swarovski crystal beads with gorgeous tassels hanging from them, and they glittered in the sun like jewels. All the refined women at the temple would have their beads in hand while they offered prayers at the temple, and I wanted to be like that. Stylish and devout. At the time I thought what could be better than that? So my quest to procure these prayer beads began. I finally bought my first mala (the Japanese call them o-juzu) a few years later while in Nagano, Japan. Sadly, they were lost in a move, and I have missed them ever since.
Nearly a decade later I went to China to study abroad, and it was there that my love of Buddhism was totally renewed, and so I bought another mala at a night market. Not as pretty or flashy as my first mala, but there is a refined elegance in wooden malas that crystal malas just can't compare to. So I had a replacement, and that is when I began using my mala for meditation and doing mantras.
To explain, a mantra is a phrase that, through repetition, can calm, motivate, or inspire specific thoughts or intentions. In Buddhism there are many mantras, and for the most part each mantra is attributed to a specific Buddha, Bodhisattva, or deity.
For example, the most famous mantra is "Om Mani Padme Hum". This is the mantra of Avalokitesvara, or his Chinese female counterpart, Guanyin. It is Sanskrit for, "all hail the jewel in the lotus". The 'jewel in the lotus' being the Buddha himself. Even the syllable "Om", which does not stand for a word, can be repeated as a mantra.
I personally do not stick to one mantra all the time during my meditation or relaxation work. I tend to choose one depending on how I feel at that moment.
You can also create your own mantras to suit your practice or meditation. For example, a few months ago I wrote my own mantra to inspire dreams about my tarot readings. I had amazing dreams each time I repeated the mantra before I fell asleep, and have used this mantra many times since.
On a daily basis, saying mantras has become my bedtime ritual. I bring my mala bracelet, or wrist mala, to bed with me and repeat my chosen mantra 108 times (an auspicious number in Buddhism) or until I fall asleep. This nightly practice helps me fall into a deep sleep almost every night, and has also warded off many nights of insomnia.
I have also used mantras during ritual meditations, and as a prayer to certain Buddhist deities.
So I urge everyone, especially those inclined to Buddhist practices, to use mantra in their spiritual practice. It can be greatly beneficial to the mind and the soul of anyone wishing to gain more peace and serenity in their life, or to strengthen their intentions for rituals and spellwork of any kind.
As a long-time admirer of Buddhist prayer beads, I started adding mantras to my life over two years ago, almost three now.
My first experience with mantras did not actually involve mantras at all. Originally I fell head over heels in love with Japanese prayer beads. That is what really started it all.
I first saw them at a Japanese Buddhist temple when I was a child.They were so beautiful. Many were made from Swarovski crystal beads with gorgeous tassels hanging from them, and they glittered in the sun like jewels. All the refined women at the temple would have their beads in hand while they offered prayers at the temple, and I wanted to be like that. Stylish and devout. At the time I thought what could be better than that? So my quest to procure these prayer beads began. I finally bought my first mala (the Japanese call them o-juzu) a few years later while in Nagano, Japan. Sadly, they were lost in a move, and I have missed them ever since.
Nearly a decade later I went to China to study abroad, and it was there that my love of Buddhism was totally renewed, and so I bought another mala at a night market. Not as pretty or flashy as my first mala, but there is a refined elegance in wooden malas that crystal malas just can't compare to. So I had a replacement, and that is when I began using my mala for meditation and doing mantras.
To explain, a mantra is a phrase that, through repetition, can calm, motivate, or inspire specific thoughts or intentions. In Buddhism there are many mantras, and for the most part each mantra is attributed to a specific Buddha, Bodhisattva, or deity.
For example, the most famous mantra is "Om Mani Padme Hum". This is the mantra of Avalokitesvara, or his Chinese female counterpart, Guanyin. It is Sanskrit for, "all hail the jewel in the lotus". The 'jewel in the lotus' being the Buddha himself. Even the syllable "Om", which does not stand for a word, can be repeated as a mantra.
I personally do not stick to one mantra all the time during my meditation or relaxation work. I tend to choose one depending on how I feel at that moment.
You can also create your own mantras to suit your practice or meditation. For example, a few months ago I wrote my own mantra to inspire dreams about my tarot readings. I had amazing dreams each time I repeated the mantra before I fell asleep, and have used this mantra many times since.
On a daily basis, saying mantras has become my bedtime ritual. I bring my mala bracelet, or wrist mala, to bed with me and repeat my chosen mantra 108 times (an auspicious number in Buddhism) or until I fall asleep. This nightly practice helps me fall into a deep sleep almost every night, and has also warded off many nights of insomnia.
I have also used mantras during ritual meditations, and as a prayer to certain Buddhist deities.
So I urge everyone, especially those inclined to Buddhist practices, to use mantra in their spiritual practice. It can be greatly beneficial to the mind and the soul of anyone wishing to gain more peace and serenity in their life, or to strengthen their intentions for rituals and spellwork of any kind.
My Tenets
I believe in the Goddess and God, and that they are both equal and opposites halves of the same whole.
I believe that Buddhism can lead to enlightenment.
I believe in reincarnation.
I believe that love really conquers all.
I believe in equal rights for men and women.
I believe that life was meant for living.
I believe that the Buddhas and the Bodhisattvas can lead us to the right path.
I believe in the power of nature and the healing power of plants.
I believe in the Tao.
I believe in magick.
I believe that Buddhism can lead to enlightenment.
I believe in reincarnation.
I believe that love really conquers all.
I believe in equal rights for men and women.
I believe that life was meant for living.
I believe that the Buddhas and the Bodhisattvas can lead us to the right path.
I believe in the power of nature and the healing power of plants.
I believe in the Tao.
I believe in magick.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Happy Chinese New Year!
I want to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous Chinese New Year 2011.
This year is the Year of the Metal, or Golden, Rabbit. For all those born on a Rabbit year, I urge you to wear red clothing, red coloured jewelry or stones, or even red underwear, as often as you can this year. To the Chinese, the colour red is a very lucky and auspicious colour, so Rabbits should take full advantage to have the luckiest year possible!
This year is the Year of the Metal, or Golden, Rabbit. For all those born on a Rabbit year, I urge you to wear red clothing, red coloured jewelry or stones, or even red underwear, as often as you can this year. To the Chinese, the colour red is a very lucky and auspicious colour, so Rabbits should take full advantage to have the luckiest year possible!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Connecting
Today is Imbolg and sure enough, the heart of winter has come through in full force. An ice storm to top off already too much snow brought my part of the world to a standstill, with no electrical power in my neighbourhood for about four hours or so earlier in the day. So here there I was, thanking the Gods that my eagerness drove me to make my Imbolg candles in advance, which helped a lot in the greyness of the day while we were without power. I also made a honey cake in advance (thanks Charming Pixie Flora!), so I had something sweet to enjoy whilst waiting for the electricity to come back.
As I sat there burning my Archangel Michael candle and eating my cake, I was thinking about two things: February and connections. The two may not seem to be related at first, but I will explain.
The coming of February has brought me closer to so many things, namely the Goddess Brigid, my Book of Shadows, my journal writing(both online and off), my new Youtube channel, and a deepening comfort in my practice. But February is not just for material connections, it is about connecting to people as well. I want it to be about connecting to people, like the pagan community at large. The Youtube pagan community especially, just because they are all so special to me, and have helped me so much in my practice and in finding my true inner spirit. Connecting with people has definitely been something missing in my life for a few years now, because of my moving around and studying abroad, and I really want that back. To be able to communicate with others about my experiences and feelings and inner most thoughts and opinions is important to me. That is also why I created this blog; to connect and be connected.
So as February moves along, so will I with my connections to others, my path, and the coming spring.
As I sat there burning my Archangel Michael candle and eating my cake, I was thinking about two things: February and connections. The two may not seem to be related at first, but I will explain.
The coming of February has brought me closer to so many things, namely the Goddess Brigid, my Book of Shadows, my journal writing(both online and off), my new Youtube channel, and a deepening comfort in my practice. But February is not just for material connections, it is about connecting to people as well. I want it to be about connecting to people, like the pagan community at large. The Youtube pagan community especially, just because they are all so special to me, and have helped me so much in my practice and in finding my true inner spirit. Connecting with people has definitely been something missing in my life for a few years now, because of my moving around and studying abroad, and I really want that back. To be able to communicate with others about my experiences and feelings and inner most thoughts and opinions is important to me. That is also why I created this blog; to connect and be connected.
So as February moves along, so will I with my connections to others, my path, and the coming spring.
Happy Imbolg!
Hi everyone! I wish you all a very blessed Imbolg , and I hope that the weather wherever you are is better than the weather I've had today!
In Brigid's honor I would like to post this blessing called "The Caim of Bride" from brigitsforge.co.uk :
Be the compassing of Bride around me
Keeping me from ill and evil,
Keeping me from death and doom,
From malice and misfortune.
Be the fiery sword of Bride
Defending me from all black swarms.
Be the shield of blessed Bride
Protecting me from all sharp edges.
Be the cloak of gentle Bride
Encircling me.
In Brigid's honor I would like to post this blessing called "The Caim of Bride" from brigitsforge.co.uk :
Be the compassing of Bride around me
Keeping me from ill and evil,
Keeping me from death and doom,
From malice and misfortune.
Be the fiery sword of Bride
Defending me from all black swarms.
Be the shield of blessed Bride
Protecting me from all sharp edges.
Be the cloak of gentle Bride
Encircling me.
Be the compassing of Bride around me,
Keeping me from hurt and harm,
Keeping me from wound and woe,
From darkness and despair.
Keeping me from hurt and harm,
Keeping me from wound and woe,
From darkness and despair.
Be the compassing of Bride around me
This day and every day,
This night and every night.
This day and every day,
This night and every night.
Blessed be!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Runes for the Sabbat
Imbolg, symbolically, is a Sabbat that is a crossroads; a half-way mark between the winter solstice and spring equinox. So Imbolg is the perfect time for divination work to be done.
Now divination-wise, I always head for the Tarot. I love all my Tarot decks, and I have been using them for the last 12 years to give me a little extra guidance in my daily life. Other forms of divination have come into my practice by learning more about Paganism and Wicca. Recently, I have also incorporated Oracle cards (another love), some I-Ching, and pendulum work. All that was left were runes.
Runes. Not so enamoured with those. In the past I was never able to connect with them, despite making my own set as a side project whilst in my high school art class. Yet in some strange way I still want to, if that even makes sense.
So I decided last night that my task until Ostara would be to find out more about the runes and how to use them. Perhaps I could try and incorporate them into my tarot readings, which I have seen certain people do. Using runes along with the tarot might make learning about them easier, because I can use them within a medium that I am well-versed in and already comfortable in using
I actually have a few books about runes from my first foray into Wicca many, many years ago, so I will certainly be reading those again.
Now divination-wise, I always head for the Tarot. I love all my Tarot decks, and I have been using them for the last 12 years to give me a little extra guidance in my daily life. Other forms of divination have come into my practice by learning more about Paganism and Wicca. Recently, I have also incorporated Oracle cards (another love), some I-Ching, and pendulum work. All that was left were runes.
Runes. Not so enamoured with those. In the past I was never able to connect with them, despite making my own set as a side project whilst in my high school art class. Yet in some strange way I still want to, if that even makes sense.
So I decided last night that my task until Ostara would be to find out more about the runes and how to use them. Perhaps I could try and incorporate them into my tarot readings, which I have seen certain people do. Using runes along with the tarot might make learning about them easier, because I can use them within a medium that I am well-versed in and already comfortable in using
I actually have a few books about runes from my first foray into Wicca many, many years ago, so I will certainly be reading those again.
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