Petal's Pages The Archives at Witch Basket A Place to Gather and Celebrate Your Spirit A Place for Pagans Wiccans Witches and All Spiritual Peoples

Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith, of the Agape International Spiritual Center, could not have presented it better when he said, "energy flows where attention goes" in the movie/documentary The Secret.

I too believe that "energy flows where attention goes". For example, I have chosen to focus on increasing choices in the career/work part of my life. As a result, several new opportunities are beginning to open up for me. I believe that whenever we desire to manifest a change in an important part of our life (e.g., change careers, improve health, grow love, etc.), if we put our energies into it - both physical and mental - we can bring about those changes. We can certainly control what we do, and we can SHAPE the outside world as well, even if we cannot control it.

Start with something small, if you don't believe me. Pick a part of your life that you would like to see change for the better in some small way. Maybe it could be as simple as allowing yourself 20 minutes per day to "de-stress" and thus improve your physical and emotional well-being. So, here are some ways you could approach manifesting that personal time. These could include (both in physical and mental practices):

1. Getting up 20 minutes earlier in the morning, moving into a quiet and dark room, sitting cross-legged and repeating a comfortable phrase quietly and gently over and over in your mind, such as: Everything I do today will deliver peace to me and mine.

2. NOT eating lunch at your desk and instead taking a sandwich and a book outside to the park to eat and read for 20 minutes.

4. Add in some mental energy intention. Repeat this phrase out loud whenever you get the chance during the day, every day: I easily find 20 minutes every day to take for myself and "de-stress".

5. Write down that same phrase and tape it to your mirror, your car's sun visor, the inside of the back of your fridge on the wall, inside the coat closet door, wherever you might find yourself looking casually and thus be reminded that your intention is to take 20 minutes for yourself every day.

6. Sometimes, telling people what you do can add power to it. For example, you could say to your friend: I am so happy that I have created 20 minutes for myself every day that are completely mine to "de-stress".

So, those are just some specific examples of adding energy to what you want to manifest for yourself through both physical and mental intentions. As you practice manifesting small changes in your life, you will increase your skill and ability and then begin to make even bigger changes!

Well, there you have it! As always I hope you are well, experiencing a Magickal and Spiritual life, and manifesting wonderful changes in your life - whenever you want to!

“Words are things,” I would state. “Words are not ‘things’”, he would respond with equal confidence. “They are just words.” But yet if thoughts are made up of words, and thoughts are things, than are not words “things”? Therefore, the words we think or say, are some thing.

So in this article, I propose: what we think we are, so we believe we are, and therefore, so we become.

Our thoughts can certainly define who we are. This should come as no surprise to anyone. If any reader today looks back to high school or junior high and has ever experienced the cut of a peer’s vicious tongue, then that person can identify with the power (in this case, negative) of words. Conversely, those who have received kind praise from peers, family, or others held in high esteem, can also attest to the power of words.

What we believe to be true, generally is – at least for ourselves. If we choose to dwell in miserable thoughts, we will be miserable. When we choose to seek out joy in our lives, we will often discover ways to happiness. This does not mean that we will never face tragedy in our otherwise contented lives, but that when we actively decide to look for the positive in this world, we will generally find it.

Consider the “Eyore” that we most of us have known at some point in our lives. This person is forever under a dark cloud; the silver lining is never in sight. And not surprisingly, they always seem to have a lot of troubles to navigate.

Now think about that “ray of sunshine” most of us have been fortunate enough to meet once or twice (hopefully more!) in our lives. This person smiles often, usually cares for others, focuses on the positive, and is always ready to offer encouragement or support. Who do you believe enjoys life more? Who would you rather be around?

Taking that example to an extreme, consider that amazing person you know who is battling some horrible reality such as cancer, yet spends a good part of his or her time volunteering to make other peoples’ lives better. Attitude, dear reader, is everything.

So what are your thoughts? What are you thinking right now? Do you think that I am full of bunk? That my words are too simple, trite, or “the stuff that all that touchy-feely nonsense” is made of? Well, maybe that is what you believe, and who am I to tell you that you are wrong? You are in charge of your own reality, after all, and if you believe my words are trite, then they are for you. But what about the other readers, those of you who stop and consider people you know who are full of negative thoughts and end up usually unhappy with their lives? And what about the readers who remember a friend, coworker, or passing acquaintance who always seemed to see the bright side of any situation and wasn’t afraid to admit that “life is good”? Am I completely off the mark?

Attitude makes up so much of our lives, and certainly what we think about ourselves and our world manifests in our lives, lives in our speech, and fills – or depletes – our self worth.

Telling you to develop a good attitude, by the way, is not completely altruistic. I’m not solely concerned for your well-being alone. While I wish you the best, I also understand that that more positive your thoughts, the better your actions. The better you behave, the more positive energy you send out into the world – the world in which we all live.

Imagine if we all did that: worked hard to send out good energy through positive and kind actions and gentle thoughts. I would imagine a gentler, kinder world. But I’m not asking you to heal the world. Just start with yourself. And from there, the rest happens naturally.

Often I have been asked why I practice as a Solitary and if I have always celebrated alone. The answer to the second question is yes. While I have invited a select few to join me in a special celebration or a ritual, I have actively chosen to study, practice my Craft, and develop my Spirituality as a solitary seeker.

However, answering the first question is not as simple. Why do I choose the solitary path? I suppose the easiest reason I could give is that I prefer to have the Divine “all to myself” when I celebrate a Full Moon or mark the seasons with a special ritual. By choosing to engage in my practice alone, I am free to design my own celebration, ad lib when the mood strikes me, and focus on growing my own Spirituality.

Still, there are moments in which I would enjoy the fellowship of like-minded practitioners, those also sharing a similar path who would be happy to join me in the Circle, bringing their own unique vision of Divinity. True, there have been moments of sudden longing, specifically when I yearn for the companionship of women, coming together, sharing the same steps, building a sphere of energy that grows and brings to light the Divine that resides in all of us.

For quite a long time, that opportunity eluded me. I simply resigned myself to an understanding that if I chose to exclude others from my Spiritual practice, then I would also have to accept that I would not have the opportunity to share in the unique experience of a group celebration.

Then one day, I found myself with a friend in a beginners’ belly dance class. It was challenging, fun, and… Spiritual! I am not sure exactly when the realization came upon me, but after several classes, concentrating on keeping the beat, I took a moment to look deep into the mirrored wall and surveyed the diverse group of women moving in unison. I watched how we followed the teacher, our Priestess – if you will indulge me – intent on learning each move, carrying ourselves with grace, while naturally revealing that spark of Divinity that resides in each one of us. The energy, fueled by our laughter and encouragement, was tangible. It was there in that room I discovered as a solitary that I still could find ways to ritually celebrate with others while retaining my own private path. While I did not know the religious or spiritual beliefs of the other women, I could certainly share in the collective desire to practice this very divine dance in the company of women.

Once this realization came to me, I then saw the opportunity in my yoga practice, and reached out to find a class that focused on the Divinity within. Now, at the end of each yoga session, the teacher invites us all – male and female – to form a circle in which we raise our hands, palms towards our neighbors, yet not touching. We breathe deep, and then exhale the powerful Aum, each participant feeling the energy stretching from our neighbor’s hands, combining with our own. It is truly an exercise in experiencing one another’s singular Divinity.

I may prefer to walk my chosen path as a Solitary Practitioner, but certainly, there is something powerful about moving in unison with others or focusing on the same pose, each practitioner intent on his or her movement, the bend of the arm, a turn of the head, taking a step in the rhythm… For those of us who will continue to travel joyously along the Solitary Path, we DO have opportunities to experience the group’s journey. A creative Spirit will certainly find a way to do so.

With best blessings to all seekers…

I believe that for many of us, there is something special about having a secret – at least the good kind. You know what I mean: the one that makes you smile and fills you with excitement whenever you think about it. Having a secret that is completely yours can be a fun and singular experience that we don’t often have the pleasure of experiencing in today’s world of “reality shows”, talk shows, YouTube, tabloids, etc., where everything imaginable is exposed. More and more, our privacy seems to be limited to our unspoken thoughts.

It’s no secret (pun intended) that many who call themselves Wiccan, or a Witch, practice their Craft in secret. And for a lot of practitioners, unfortunately, it is something they must do to protect their jobs, their families, or even for their own physical safety. Recently a message appeared on my blog from someone complimenting my online store. He or she mentioned that when they had their own home, they would be “free” to practice. The message was quite sobering. Forcing one’s Spirit into silence can be devastating.

Yet, there is another kind of silence that can be embraced when practicing your Craft. This is a positive form of silence, the joyful secret that we carry with us. And it isn’t merely silencing your tongue before you babble out a story about a spell you’ve cast. It isn’t just about zipping it shut before blurting out: I’m a Witch! The silence I am describing is when you actively choose to practice your Craft quietly, unnoticed. It’s when you choose to concentrate on your relationship with Divinity, instead of proclaiming that you worship a Goddess in a predominantly male deity-oriented Western culture. It is when you choose to sit at a table with people who practice a different faith, and acknowledge their legitimacy without launching into a defense of your own Spiritual practices.

Daring to be silent is certainly not limited to Wicca, or limited to any other particular religion for that matter. For example, in the Christian Bible, Jesus instructs his followers to not stand out in the open and pray for show, but to do so unseen from any other human eyes, and to connect truly with God in private (Matthew Chapter 6, verses 5-6). While “My Goddess Gave Birth to Your God” bumper stickers are certainly yours for the posting, entering into a “one-on-one” with the Goddess some evening when you are all alone sitting outside watching fireflies and keeping those moments private in your heart are probably worth more.

Of course sharing your chosen Path with others to educate them on your Spiritual practices or standing up for yourself is certainly very important. I am able to write this article and submit it for publication because of courageous men and women who actively lived their Spiritual Path and Craft out in the open, and those who went even further and fought for the legal right to worship in the way that many of us do.

Yet I return to the message that if you choose to make the journey quietly and without fanfare, that’s ok too. You are not required to announce your beliefs when you enter the coffee shop or your office. Daring to be silent allows you to listen – to listen and learn about the world around you, the people who share this planet with you, and how your own practice melds and molds along with everyone else. It allows you to further learn about yourself, and how you want to live your Craft. After all, once you share a secret, you no longer have control over who will hear it.

Daring to be silent allows you to have something that is completely your own, untouched by all but the Divine that resides within you, and in this world, your own personal unknown is most precious.

I do not remember the first moment when I met the Goddess, the flash of realization that came to me when I understood that my daydreams were not just products of childhood afternoons, but that communing with the Feminine Divine was not only real, it was completely natural.

It was in those early days that I remember spending time in meditation, sitting with the Goddess, talking about my hopes, my needs, and all my desires. She was patient, assisting me when I called upon Her for help, providing new solutions for old problems, quieting my tongue before it rattled off words that my mind thought better of, or even offering comfort when I was ill and did not know where to turn. She taught me that no matter my own personal pain, the sun would rise in the morning and I would have a new day before me to either tolerate or greet.

It seems that many people have a tendency to seek the Divine, regardless of preferred form, when there is something to be overcome, something to survive, whether it be sickness, a loss of a loved one from this physical world, or even heartache.

I am no different. I have little doubt that my discovery of the Goddess happened because I was seeking something more in my life. What I had wasn’t enough; it wasn’t satisfying. And there, without judgment, stood the Goddess. Fortunately in my experience, She is happy to welcome all of Her children regardless of the path taken to reach Her.

When I experienced my spiritual awakening, I began to study Wicca, searching primarily as a solitary practitioner and occasionally finding other like-minded persons who were traveling in the same general spiritual direction. Most of the knowledge I received was from books, yet my core was beginning to form from something outside the pages of a trusted literary work, or even a conversation with an experienced practitioner. The foundation for my own spiritual journey was being laid by the Goddess Herself. It was the Goddess growing inside me who gave me strength when I was afraid. It was Her Divinity that soothed me during months of painful transition when divorce disrupted my life. It was the strength of the Feminine Divine that drove me forward to finish my education and move to a new city in which I knew only one other.

And then, without so much as a thank you or goodbye, I turned on my heel and walked away from the Goddess. I harbored no ill will toward Her, and I didn’t stop believing in Her Existence – “somewhere”. I was just simply done engaging in any form of practice that celebrated Her Being.

As I said before, we humans turn to our “higher powers”, our “gods”, “the Divine”, our Goddess, when we are in dire straits. Help! we call. Goddess, please help me! I have lost my job. My mother is very sick. The love of my life has turned away from me. Please help me get through this. I don’t know what to do. And there She is, ready to not only give comfort, but provide clarity when we ourselves are ready to see. We may choose to walk away from the Goddess, but She does not abandon us.

Yet, the purpose of this article is not “discovering” the Goddess, but “rediscovering” Her. You see, there is no need to wait for a difficult or tragic moment to return to the arms of the Mother. In fact, She happily receives those children journeying back to Her, bringing tales of joy instead of tears of woe. Even better for us, the load is lighter when one returns to the Goddess without shoulders hung heavy with heartache or worry. The road is easier to navigate, the season allows easy travel, and the way is familiar.

Rediscovering the Goddess takes many forms. For me, it has been a return to study, and a return to prayer and practice, while incorporating my spirituality into my everyday life through my work. I now talk with the Goddess when I am driving to work in the morning, riding on the back of a motorcycle in summer, and before I fall asleep at night. True, I do still call on the Goddess when I just can’t see my way, but my return to the Goddess takes place during the most secure and happy time I have ever experienced in my life. I feel that I am rediscovering the Goddess as a woman, and not discovering Her as the child I once was.

Rediscovery of the Goddess is a marvelous journey. You walk with surer feet, your anticipation of a relationship with the Goddess grows, and whatever those means you use for yourself to connect with Her Divine energy, becomes an act of pleasure, not obligation. As the path grows wide and you reach your destination, the Goddess always welcomes you home. She listens to your stories and revels in your happiness. There is no payment to be made for your absence. You are a daughter of the Goddess, and that alone is good enough.