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 Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:00 am
Each week we will have a new topic to discuss, and a list of past discussions. Answer the question asked to the best of your ability, and discuss your view with others. Enjoy!
Edit:
If you have some discussion questions you would like to see posted here lt me know
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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:01 am
To the one that I serve Current Topic: as of 11-09-09 The soul and reincarnation revisted week 1: 1: What is the soul? 2: What is the purpose of the soul?
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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:02 am
Past topics: February 18th 2008 The use of tools in your practice: What tools do you use? What elements do they represent? What haven't you used and would like to use? February 25th 2008 Divination: What system do you want to learn more about? Would you create your own system? What do you use regularly and why? How did you learn how to use it? Are there any systems you don't agree with/think about and why? March 3rd 2008 Otherworld: Have you visited the "other worlds"? Why would you go to the "other worlds"? What have you learned about the "Other worlds"? March 11th 2008 The elements: What element do you think you relate to the most? Have you worked with any of the elementals? What element are you the most uncomfortable with and why? March 17th 2008 Books: What has been the most influential book on your practice? Is there any book you wish you'd never read? What would you include in a book? What do you use from books? March 24th 2008 Wheel of the year: What are the "accepted" sabats? Explain what sabats you follow and why What are the most important Esbats in your practice? What culture do you draw these myths from? Are their other "holidays' That you participate in? What is an esbat to you? How many esbas do you perform a year and when? April 14th 2008 Meditation: What is meditation to you? Is meditation different than astral travel? How often do you meditate? Why do you meditate? If you have difficulty doing meditation, why do you think that is? How do you get into a meditative state? What haven't you tried that other people have tried? Do you feel meditation is an important skill for pagans, or the population in general? April 23rd 2008 Animal and Spirit Communication: Do you believe that you can communicate long distance with animals that are living? If so why? Have you tried spiritual communication with animals? Do you have any lost loved pets that you want to communicate with? Do you believe in animal reincarnation? Are there specific skills that you think you would use for animal spirit communication? Do you think you can use the same skills to speak with animal spirits as well as nature spirits or other spirits? How do these spirits communicate with you-thoughts, words, emotion, images? Mixture? Why would one communicate with these spirits? Spirits are elusive creatures-does respect play a part in their communication? How do you think this animal/spirit communication works? May 18th 2008 5-18-08 Book of Shadows: How would you define a book of shadows? What do you think belongs in one? Do you keep a book of shadows? If you keep a book of shadows, why is having one important to you? If you don't, why don't you use one? If you have one, how is it kept? A classic, hand-bound book? Three ring notebook? Digital database? What sort of material is in your own book of shadows, if you have one? Of that material, what content is most important to you or most near and dear to you? What are your thoughts on sharing books of shadows with others? Should they be kept hidden like a private journal or shared for others to learn from? June 16th 2008 Spirit guides and lessons: What was the first guide who came to you? What did they teach you? In working with them, have they continues to work with you, or have some of them left? What is the most important part of your relationship with your guides? Do you consider them friends as well as teachers? Why or why not? What do you have to offer your guides and companions? August 14th 2009 Ritual structure: Do your rituals have a specific structure? What sorts of things are in your typical ritual? How often do you perform rituals? What is the difference between a ritual and a spell? August 25 2009 Magic: Do you practice magic? How do you define magic? Do your use rituals for magic or can they be simple? Are prayers a form of magic? September 1st 2009 Existential questions: Why are we here? Where do we come from? Do we have free will? Is there divinity? What happens after death? September 7th 2009 Deities and Mythology: How do you define deity? Do you believe in many deities? What are your thoughts on the Lore concerning those deities? Is the Mythology of your path key to your understanding of the deities? Do your myths play a role in your Sabbats? Do deities outside of your pantheon exist? If so can you worship deities other than the deities specific to your path? Is Nature an expression of deity or is Nature divine by it's self? Does everything have a spark of the divine in them (animism)? September 14th 2009 Ritual, worship, and more Are all the rituals you perform related to worship, or are some working rituals? Is prayer a part of your worship? How do you define worship? Do you give offerings/sacrifices for the Gods you worship in rituals? Can Prayers be written in any format, do do they need to follow a specific format? Does ancestral veneration play a part in your worship? Can you worship your Gods any time, or do you only worship them on the sabbats? Is meditation a part of your worship? Why or why not? Do you worship your deities with out ritual? September 21st 2009 9-21-09 Ancestral Worship/Veneration, Animisim, and more 1: Do you believe that ancestors have power to aid us or curse us? 2: What are your views on spirit being found in all objects or living things? 3: Do either of the above questions play a part in your theology? 4: How would one commune with ancestors? How would one commune with spirits of nature? 5: Do you give these spirits (ancestors and land spirits) offerings in a different manner than you give offerings to Gods? 6: Are there any sabbats specifically for the ancestors, or land spirits? September 28th 2009 9-28-09 The soul and spirit: 1: Do you believe in the spirit? 2: Do you believe in the soul? 3: What is the spirit? 4: What is the soul? 5: Why do we have a spirit or a soul or both? 6: Where do we go after we die? 7: Do you believe in reincarnation? If so why do we reincarnate? 8: Is the soul immortal? 9: Is the spirit or soul our direct link with the divine? October 5th 2009 Esbats 1: What do you define as an Esbat? 2: When do you celerbrate an Esbat? 3: Why do you hold Esbats? 4: Are Esbat Rituals Different from Sabbat Rituals? 5: Are Esbats just for worship or are they also working rituals? 6: Can Esbats just be celebratory, or do they always have a working aspect? October 12 2009 Spells What are spells, define them? Have you ever done any 'practice' spells? What is you're feeling on stopping a spell right after you've raised the energy? Do you believe a spell can be stopped? How would you go about experimenting [in any shape form] in spell work? October 16th 2009 Aliens: 1: Do you believe in alien life? 2: Do you think it's possible that the Gods of the past are actualy alien life forms? 3: Does the possibility of alien life have any impact on your path? October 24th 2009 Otherworlds: 1: Do you believe in multiple worlds/planes of existance? 2: Do these worlds interact with our own? 3: Have you traveled to the other worlds? November 3rd 2009 The afterlife: 1: What afterlife do you believe in or if you don't believe in one what do you think happens after death? 2: Is there more than one afterlife? To the one that I serve To the one that I serve I will give my all I will give my all
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:04 pm
What tools do you use:
I have a lot of tools. I am a very ceremonial witch/pagan. I almost always use my athame (which needs a cleaning and recharge-but will have to wait till spring). I actually bought it when I was working at a Ren Faire for my character to have. Back then most every one had a knife on them at all times.
I used to have a feather, but because I didn't take good care of it, it got destroyed and thrown out. I learned my lesson on taking care of your magical tools. Oh well. I can get a new one when I go back to that shop again.
I have my cauldron that I got 2 years ago at the local Pagan Pride Day. Right now I use it for many different things. Holding my offering till I can return it to nature, smothering out my smudge stick, burning spells and sigils, and holding materials. I'd like to learn other uses for it, so I'm open.
I have 2 censers. My Pentacle serves as a cone censer and stick incense holder. I also have a mental censer that has chains so I can swing and carry it around my circle with me. I need a new one though because the chain is loose and I can't fix it.
I have my wand that I'm making. It's oak and going to be topped with a quartz crystal. I got the wand branch from a tree. It had already fallen off the tree, but I still asked for permission to use it. It's going to be beautiful once I finish it.
I have my 2 chalices which basically holds the liquid offering for the deities and is used in the Great Rite when I perform it. I use the small one for deity and the large one for myself and my partner.
I have my drum and maracas that I use when raising energy and in worship. The Maracas were a gift from my parents on their trip to the Caribbean. The drum is just a small hand drum. I'm thinking about getting some small bongos though. God I love them.
Finally I have my mortar and pestal. It does need to be replaces as even after washing it has absorbed the smell of the other herbs that have been mixed in there. I use it for my incense and herbal infusions (IE Tea)
On occasion I have been known to use my flute as an instrument of magic. Though it's not one of my primary tools. I also would consider my candles, herbs, and smudge stick as tools, but not in my primary focus.
What elements do they represent?:
Earth:
Drums
Wand
Herbs
gems
Pentacle
Fire:
Candles
Athame
Mortar &Pestal
Air:
Feather
Flute
Censer
Incense
Water:
Chalice
Cauldron
Perfume
Sea Shell
Spirit:
Bell
What haven't you used and would like to use:
I'd like to get a Bolleen. I'd also like to get a sea shell and more herbs. I want to experiment with instruments and herbal concoctions for altered states. Some times I use sex as a tool, and I want to explore that.
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:24 pm
What tools do you use?
Hmmm where do I start. I own an athame (two actually), a bolline, a wand, a small cauldron, a censer, several incense and oil burners though the main oil burner is a dragon shaped one and the main incense burner a faerie one Um.... a smudge fan made from pheasant feathers....more feathers than you can shake a good sized stick at um....dragon candle sticks chalice, goblet and pentacle inscibed plate a pentacle two drums, one is hide the other synthetic, candles a huuuuge box of herbs and resins a huge dragon bowl chocked full of crystals (my entire collection) Ack I suppose I shouldn't give an entire list of my inventory.
What elements do they represent?
with the actual tools as opposed to spell components and such.
Earth:
pentacle, plate, gem bowl, salt bowl,
Water:
cauldron, chalice, goblet
Fire: candle sticks, athames
Air:
smudge fun, oil & incense burners, censer
I don't assosiate my bolline and drums as being connected to any element in particular. I also don't have everything on my alter at any given time, the items on the altar change given the circumstances
What haven't you used and would like to use?
I want to try my censer out as i've been given a lot of grain insence and have had nothing to burn it in. Otherwise I'm quite happy using what I have and there isn't really anything that has caught my eye and I've wanted to try
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Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:20 pm
What tools do you use?
This and that. The items I use most are out on my altar. Things to burn candles and incense with. Some containers that store other things like jewelry and rocks. A wand. Some other things are stowed nearby; a fan, a blade, a cauldron, a mortar and pestle. A bunch of oils. A bunch of incense. Some dried herbs.
For me, the wand is just an all-purpose energy directing tool. I don't associate it with any particular element. It mostly acts as a conduit and amplifier for my own energy, so I suppose use-wise that would make it Fire. Substance-wise, the materials it is crafted out of would be both Earthy and Airy, with a tad bit of Water because of how it was put together. So the wand is just the wand. It makes circles and calls quarters. whee
I sort of divide elemental tools into two categories. The ceremonial ones aren't at all literal manifestations of their element. For those, for now I decided on this pattern:
Air = fan
Fire = blade
Earth = cauldron
Water = singing bowl
There's a logic behind all of these, but I won't go into that here. I usually like more direct substances. Air for Air (made visible, sometimes, by smoke or captured by a balloon), fire for Fire, stones for Earth, water for Water.
What haven't you used and would like to use?
I sort of abandoned a while ago the idea of having a specific set of things I'm 'supposed' to use. There are certain substances I'd like to incorporate more, though. Herbs. More herbs. Right now I don't have a good place to store a bunch of dried herbs though, so I only have a few staples. I have it in mind to work with the various rocks and minerals more also since I have a gigantic collection of them. Those are the two biggies in terms of what would conventionally be considered a tool or component.
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:28 pm
Starlock Water. What haven't you used and would like to use?I sort of abandoned a while ago the idea of having a specific set of things I'm 'supposed' to use. There are certain substances I'd like to incorporate more, though. Herbs. More herbs. Right now I don't have a good place to store a bunch of dried herbs though, so I only have a few staples. I have it in mind to work with the various rocks and minerals more also since I have a gigantic collection of them. Those are the two biggies in terms of what would conventionally be considered a tool or component. I think the only reason you would have a specific required set of tools is if you followed a specific tradition. I know Wicca has a set system of tools that are used in specific ways. Other than that use what works for you.
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:42 pm
What system do you want to learn more about?
Honestly I feel like I am a "natural" psychic. It seems to me that no matter what I try it comes easily to me. With that said I really want to learn more about tea leaf reading and scrying. They seem to be more obstract and intence. For that reason they intrique me.
Would you create your own system?
I've thought about it. Some times I think that symbol divination might be interesting. I mean the Yin-Yang would represent the balance of male and female energies. I might work on that now that I think about it more often.
What do you use regularly and why?
I'm very eclectic in the divination systems I use. Some times I use Tarot, some times I use playing cards (Cartomancy). Other times I'll use one of my 5 native American based decks. The only thing I don't use a lot of are my runes or my Russian G~ based cards. Mostly because my primary focys has been on playing card divination.
How did you learn how to use it?
I'm still learning actually. I always seem to learn something new with every reading I do. Right now I'm really working on playing card divination because it's been in my family. I basically take each card and meditate on it for a few moments. Then I record what images come to my mind. Some times it's close to what "traditional" or books say, and others it's a ways off. It doesn't matter. All that matters is that I have one to work on and I try my best.
Are there any systems you don't agree with/think about and why?
Really the only form of divination I don't fully accept is "pure" mediumship. I mean I understand that you can contact spirits, but having that be your only form of divination with out verification on who/what your talking to, it's easy to just use what you think works right.
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DragonicFlames Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:20 pm
What tools do you use?
I use a lot of different things. I use a blue glass as my chalice as my symbol for water, incense as my symbol for air, a candle (of various colors that correspond with what I'm doing) as a my symbol for fire, and the corresponding plant life and rocks (if I have rocks that correspond) as my symbol for earth. And that's basically it. Charity calls it being folks, I call it being literal with my symbols rather than being abstract. The impression that was made on me through the various years of researching different things in witchcraft was that these are the things that should be used in spellwork or ritual or what have you that you've intended. Sure like everyone else, I've read the whole athame, cauldron, and wand bit, but like I said I'm a little more literal with my symbols. My Chalice holds only water, I don't use anything other than water, though from what I've heard from Estar (or at least this was a while ago) some people put their offerings/liquor in the chalice. Not really into it, though. XD <3
What elements do they represent?
Opps, answered that one in the other one. XD Got ahead of myself. razz
What haven't you used and would like to use?
I don't really have set clothing/corresponding color set for the different kinds of spells. I don't know if I'd like to use them or if they'd just bother me. But it would be interesting to try them out. xD <3
What system do you want to learn more about?
Tea Leave Readings and Palmistry would be interesting.
Would you create your own system?
Not unless the older systems aren't working for me. But so far, they are working just great so I don't worry with creating my own system. I'm also kind of like if I do create my own system it might be looked down upon other divination users because it's not ancient or it's not well tested. You know?
What do you use regularly and why?
I use tarot regularly, if you can call it regularly. I really don't have a set time or practice for tarot. I use it when I feel the urge/need to use it. I also like my rune set, unfortunately, they are completely wrong and aren't runes. But the descriptions of what would happen if you casted them fit perfectly and haven't been wrong -yet. xD
How did you learn how to use it?
I learned it over the internet. Actually I printed something off a website and then went with that. Then several years later I read the An Illustrated Guide to the Tarot by Jonathan Dee, which opened my eyes to why I need a standard deck instead of my own homemade ones because there is a little more symbolism behind the tarots than I knew about previously. xD
Are there any systems you don't agree with/think about and why?
There are many things in "witchcraft" (I used quotes because I don't believe all of it is witchcraft as others may claim) that I don't agree with. As for divination systems, possibly numerology, I've never been a fan of numbers and working with them. But I think it probably does work, but I just don't like to do it. Other than that, I really can't think of any other system. xD
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Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 2:40 pm
What system do you want to learn more about?
The Ogham
Would you create your own system?
I don't know, because I wouldn't know where to start
What do you use regularly and why?
My Runes - The Elder Futhark + one blank rune, because I just couldn't get on with using tarot cards and runes are easier to hide amongst my belongings than tarot cards. I also felt drawn towards them more than any other system, never really intended to learn the runes until a nice stone set that were for sale called out to me to take them home with me.
How did you learn how to use it?
I mixture between reading books, self taught and being taught by a very crazy friend of mine
Are there any systems you don't agree with/think about and why?
Ummm.......I'll get back to you on that.
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:59 pm
Have you visited the "other worlds"?
I may or may not have visited the other worlds before. It's hard to tell. Some times I think I'm some where else, and others I question myself. It does seem though that I have had some experience with the "other worlds" and the like.
Why would you go to the "other worlds"?
If and when I do travel into the spirit worlds I do it for a number of reasons. Some times just to communicate with spirits, and others to go inside myself and face my past. Mostly it has to do with advice on my path and in many cases healing.
There are many reasons to go. Every person must find their own, and their own way there. It's not like any one answer about the spirit worlds is better than another. We really can't know what the Spirit worlds are like 100%. That's part of the fun of going there.
What have you learned about the "Other worlds"?
There are many different "other worlds" and some are more intricate than others. The only thing that I can say for sure is that in the other worlds anything is possible. Some times I see myself as a mystical creature off to meet with some spirit. others I'm myself.
What you get out of the other worlds is going to be dependent upon what you put into it. The more sincere you are, the better chance you have of getting spirits to visit you and lend you their wisdom.
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:00 pm
Ooops... I'm behind.
What system do you want to learn more about?
I have it in the back of my mind to learn more of the history of Tarot (well, more thoroughly researched than current). There's a butload of material on this system out there and visiting other perspectives would be interesting also.
Would you create your own system?
Possibly. I already tend to customize how I do Tarot readings and the teacup I use for tasseomancy is also customized for its own sort of system. I might in the future construct better animal, plant, and mineral divination sets because the sets out there all seem to be not... quite what I have in mind. Maybe I just haven't found any good ones yet. It's not a high priority on my list of things to do at this time, in large part because building it requires a very strong foundation in the content to be put on the cards/stones/woodchunks. Don't quite have that background yet to be able to do a really good job of it.
What do you use regularly and why?
Mostly just Tarot. It's quick, simple, easy, and I seem to have a knack for it without even trying to. All self-taught at this time, though listening to Tarot podcasts obviously provides me with a lot of educational material in terms of card symbolism.
Have you visited the "other worlds"?
Yes'm.
Why would you go to the "other worlds"?
Main reason? Because it's a hell of a lot of fun.
Seriously.
Oh yeah. And I guess you learn things too as an added bonus. blaugh
What have you learned about the "Other worlds"?
To pick one thing (so as to not make this response absurdly long) let's say... 'Other' isn't always as 'other' as it seems.
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:58 am
What element do you think you relate to the most?
This is actually a very difficult question considering I try to maintain a balance of all the elements in my life and personality. Astrologically I'm a water sign. I am very emotional, and fluid. Most of the time I can change from one way of thinking and living to another easily.
I'm also like fire. When I am passionate about something it stays. There always seems to be some sort of fire burning inside my heart. Plus I also have a very fire like temper. For some reason I think Mars was very active when I was conceived.
Right now I tend to think a lot, and to me that's related to air. Plus my Dragon companion has an affinity for the element of air. So now that he is in the picture, my intellectual side is starting to become prominent. In some ways I am an "air head".
I'm also starting to get fairly practical. Which is earth based. In many ways I am like a tree. I can bend with the wind, but I stay strong and sturdy. Yet this is the element I have the hardest time with.
So as you can see I have a hard time picking just one element to work on and with. Right now as I sit here writing this though, I'd have to say I'm probably strongest in my air and water elements. Emotion, thought, and intuition on them both.
Have you worked with any of the elementals?
Lately my full moon rituals have been working with different elements and elementals to gain balance and healing. I did have an interaction with the spirit of my healing candle in January. When I made an offering of cinnamon I saw the flame "jump" for joy. So I know a spirit of some sort was defiantly there.
What element are you the most uncomfortable with and why?
For some reason Earth is the only element I am uncertain about. It's almost like that part of me is scared. Maybe it's because in many ways Earth deals with motherhood and twice in my life I had my mother taken away from me. The only other thing I can think about is that I lack a lot of stability in my life right now. Things are chaotic, and defiantly not earth like.
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:36 pm
What element do you think you relate to the most?
I don't really 'relate' to one more than the other, per se. It depends somewhat on whether or not you're talking the more essential qualities of the elements or their closest physical manifestations in our world. For the former, I actually have more of an obsession with storms, specifically lightning, which has been described as celestial fire or airy fire. Not surprising at all considering my natal chart is strongly Fire and Air to about equal degrees. For the latter... ah, I won't get into that. It's technical. whee
Have you worked with any of the elementals?
I have not worked with the conventional concept of 'elementals' in part because I have not gotten to discerning their origination. The typical elemental imagery of sylphs, salamanders, gnomes and undines actually strikes me as very un-elemental in a sense. It feels much too anthropomorphized. Too far removed from the essence of what the elements actually are. But then, working with the elements in pure in certain contexts is a really stupid idea. I found that out the hard way. xd
What element are you the most uncomfortable with and why?
None, really. Though (laughs) speaking to the experience I was referencing above, I feel uncomfortable with ALL of them in the context of attempting to journey to an elemental plane. Like, the pure elemental planes. Not a visualized dreamscape like rendition consisting of things that correspond to that element. Pure pure. In pure pure, 'uncomfortable' is most likely an understatement given that in pure pure, you and reality as you know it doesn't and cannot exist. Uncomfortable, but not unbearable, especially since I learned some really interesting things doing it. If you resist the urge to panic, though, you'll probably be okay.
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Sanguina Cruenta Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:47 am
Otherworld:
Have you visited the "other worlds"?
A couple.
Why would you go to the "other worlds"?
Fun and profit to speak with friends, guides and deities.
What have you learned about the "Other worlds"?
Parts are very similar to Midgard. There is a form of overlap in certain places... you might refer to them as places where "the veil is weak" or similar.
Elements:
What element do you think you relate to the most?
Typically, air. I do adore storms and there's a weird sort of thing I have with fire, a sort of wariness but the knowledge that one day I'm really going to have to know how to work with it.
Have you worked with any of the elementals?
I'm with Starlock. I don't really get the "elementals" thing. If I knew more about where the concept came from I might be more open to it. But I'd much rather work with the elements than the elementals. I've never met any, and don't have any particular desire. As starlock said, it's a bit too anthropomorphic.
What element are you the most uncomfortable with and why?
I don't get water as well as I should, and I hope water is patient with me. But again, there's something with fire. It doesn't make me nervous or frightened, but I am particularly wary.
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