I found this blog entry on another wiccan website, www.wiccantogerhter.com, that I frequent. It was written by Zia Soulseer and with her permission I am going to share the blog entry with you. I am also going to explain below it why I decided to share it and how what she said can help you become a great practicing witch! BTW, it is entitled "My thoughts on Magic".
"My Thoughts on Magic
First off I got to say;
I believe that people should treat others the way they want to be treated. I don't believe in the 3 fold law. We don't know for sure how things work but IMO magic is all about belief and intent. So if you intend to hurt someone and you believe that it will come back 3 fold then it will.
What I personally practice;
I practice sympathetic magic. Sympathetic magic is an anthropological term used to describe magic that uses one object to effect an other, like a poppet for example. I work with the elements to represent the object/Goal that I wish to effect. I love working and finding elemental connections. I also came up with a concept I call Split Elements. Each element has a part of the others in it in some form. I look for that part and use it to enhance my spells. It makes sympathetic magic easier.
I assign elements to the four corners but not set in stone. I invoke the Elements depending on my surroundings or the winds. I do not just cast my circle Diosil and starting in the east or north, it depends on what I am doing it would also depend on which side of the hemisphere I am on. My spells are also not set in stone, I alter them according to the time, day, season, purpose. Different herbs do the same things but they are associated with different aspects of existence. I also do most of my rituals in my inner temple which has everything I need.
My thoughts on Magic;
Simple or complicated it does not matter; As long as you have Belief in your Will, Will in your Intent and Intent in your Belief.
I feel that Focus is also a big part of magic. I meditate to focus but to me meditation does not have to be done while sitting. I actually see walking through the forest or even spacing out while walking down the street as a way to trigger your subconscious and reach a meditative state. Much in the same way as walking a labyrinth helps people reach an altered state, Fasting or going on a long hike. Another example is Grounding and Centering before a ritual, that is also a meditative type exercise that aids in spell casting.
I feel that a full meditative state in not needed; but taking a moment to clear the mind just enough to focus on your objective is needed. If not then you are just sending out random energy. Which I am not saying is a good or bad idea because I feel we do that naturally to an extent.
Sometimes that random energy we naturally and unknowingly send out might have a goal that we do not realize consciously but we have a plan subconsciously. I think this can even lead to jinxing yourself if you are thinking negatively.
Therefore I think it is the act of Focusing that Energy towards a clear goal with our Belief, Will and Intent that makes it go from something we naturally and unknowingly do to Magic and spell casting.
Even ritual is a good way to focus and trigger parts of your subconscious.
If a ritual and praying to Gods helps you to focus and works to get you to have faith in yourself and your own spells then it will work. If you have faith they will work without a ritual or Gods they will work. If you think you need energy from the moon then you need energy from the moon. If you belief in drawing energy from the source then you draw energy from the source. If you work magic in your inner temple like myself then outside influences are of no importance. I create the ideal situation for my spell within myself.
Since I believe that we are part of the source and that all energy, everything including atoms and life is connected it is easy to work magic on anything that has energy and everything is energy. Space or Distance is not an issue since the source is in all and space is not really empty. By working on one "object" in my inner temple, I can effect another object no matter how far.
Associations as tools;
I feel that associations can be used as a tool to help trigger your subconscious self and also to help you fine connections more easily. For a spell to work it is also important that the associations are important and meaningful to you.
Examples of what I mean:
Obsidian is for protection...I wonder why that is? How did that come to be associated with that? Maybe because obsidian was used for arrow heads and knives which are tools used for protection and to hunt. Maybe because it is black, a color associated with the darkness of the womb and the dark womb of the earth (A black cave or Fertile and rich soil) therefore you are protected like a baby in it's mothers womb, able to grow and develop in a safe place away from the harsh world.
Lava rocks are power, destructive and creative. Why is that? Maybe because a volcano is powerful and it destroys and then creates new land. It could be seen as a symbol of the womb. Of the mother earth giving birth to new land and then of how we are returned to the womb of the mother at death only to be reborn. Maybe even as a symbol of the female cycle. Which creates a place for life and then breaks it down and destroys it in a crimson flow only to repeat it again. (Obsidian is a sort of lava Rock BTW)
Amethyst is associated with psychic abilities. Why? Maybe because it is associated with the 3rd eye. Why? Is it because Amethyst is indigo like the color of the 3rd eye Chakra? Why is the 3rd eye chakra indigo? Maybe because it is the color of the night sky, usually associated with the stars and the universe. As a way to help us see the universe within and without.
The night as a time when our other senses become stronger and work harder to see into the world around us. The night is when we see the stars and the stars were used to show future astrological events and then later used to try and predict our own personal futures.
Indigo is also connected to the spirit. Maybe because spirits are associated with the night. A time when our spirits travel or leave our bodies for good not just when we are asleep. When we are returned to the darkness of the earth and then ascend to the darkness of the heavens. Just a thought
That is what I mean by consider the reasons why something has those associations. Don't just read it in a chart or a book and take it as is. Use it more as a guide to help you think about the connections and maybe even form ones that are more personal to yourself.
Ritual as a tool
I think some sort of ritual (simple or complicated) can be used as a tool that can help prepare your conscious and subconscious self. I have a ritual I do before I meditate and "travel" to my inner temple. Though I can reach this state while hiking, dreaming or when I get lost in dance or swimming. I am a very lucid dreamer so it is easy to travel there.
Binding ,Spells and Hexes
Binding and Hexing spells are all in the mind IMHO. I can never be bound or Hexed because my Will to be unbound and protected is stronger.
I feel that if a person is bound or Hexed it is because they allow themselves to be bound consciously or subconsciously. Usually out of guilt or a feeling of inferiority or even a feeling of superiority. Maybe even as a way to have some sort of twisted connection with a person. A person thinking they are bound or hexed could also be a way to feel important. Some one actually took the time to bind or hex you. That sort of goes a long with the Superiority or Twisted Connection example.
Some examples are like "I am bound to her." or "This person is evil and I can prove it because they hexed me." or "A whole coven had to bound me because I am to powerful".
I think if a person is able to be bound or hexed then they have no control over their Will, Focus and Mind; and they should not be practicing magic.
I personally don't waste my time trying to bind or hex a person. I see everything as a learning experience either for them, myself or both. In fact I don't even really cast beneficial spells that much either. For that very reason.
I see the negative as challenges to over come and to learn from. I still do case spells and such but I do not stop with the magical. I also try to work at these from a mundane angle.
Magic and Psychology;
I see the two going hand in hand, since magic is an act of the mind. There is a lot a person can learn about magic by studying psychology and vice versa. A simple example is the act of suggestion. Try saying "Remember to do _____" in stead of "Don't forget to do ______". You are implanting and focusing on the suggestion of REMEMBER with the Intent of doing ______. You are Willing yourself to remember and you have a belief that suggestion will work on you or on the person you are suggesting it to. That was a very simple example.
Other thoughts;
Magic, Anthropology, Etymology, Science, Numerology, Oneirology, Psychology, Philosophy, Theology and all other sub categories. I think these can be blended together in various ways and work together nicely to have a more well rounded learning experience.
Any other thoughts?
I would love to hear others opinions on this subject. Or write a blog and link it to me below. If you already have one then please post a link. I would love to read it :)"
My (WaterLily) thoughts and why I decided to share this blog entry:
Zia was absolutely right when she said "magic is about belief and intent" you have to know what you want (the intent of the spell) and believe in your magick for it to work. You can't just toss stuff into the universe because you just feel like it and expect your gonna get it.
What also made me interested in sharing this with you is that she is showing you what my goal is on this website. To show practitioners (new) of the craft that nothing you read HAS to become your practice! One of the beauties of the craft and one of the things I greatly appreciate and love about this religion is my ability to design my own practice to fit my needs, lifestyle, and personal budget. Zia's personal practice is unique to her yet it works!
Another thing about Zia's practice and what I would like for you all to understand is that you should know why YOU do what you do in your practice! If you choose to put your goddess statue on the right instead of the left know why. Not so that you can defend yourself from other and their opinions, but so that when you are ready to share your personal practice with people that matter to you, you can articulate why you made every decision. With that being said if you do something based on a book make sure the author says why he/she does it the way they do, from that make sure you agree with what they have said before you follow in their foot steps. I also like how she goes into details about items used in her practice and reasoning in her own way why each item is matched with their correspondences. You should do the same in your practice as well! For example when you use cinnamon for a love spell know why and a good reason isn't "Well, because Ellen Dugan said to and she is my favorite author!". Following blindly behind your favorite authors only hinders your magickal experience.
I also applaud Zia for the fact that she is well on her way to become a great practitioner! I say this because like myself she associates her magickal practice with topics that aren't at all magickal YET helps her to further her magickal knowledge and experience. I honestly believe EVERY MAGICKAL PRACTITIONER should do the same. If you are interested in herbology learn about botany, or how to make natural remedies, or skincare from herbs. Investigate gardening techniques and stuff like. If you are interested in alchemy learn a little chemisty. Expand your mundane knowledge to make your magickal practices extraordinary!
I hope you enjoyed the read as much as I did! Also if you are interested in having an entry placed on the website email me using the contact us page above! I would love to get some more writings to place on the site!
Brightest Blessings,
WaterLily Pixie