--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Started by: Mel Sent: 21/02/2001 13:58 9 Replies
i know there have been a few problems with conflicting views about beliefs lately, so i don't want to bring them up here.

i just wondered when your beliefs stemmed from, how they have progressed since that time, and, where they are now.

at the moment i am having problems defining mine and am hoping other peoples opinions will help me to put them into words.

mel

Add reply Delete replies First Previous 1-9 of 9 Next Last

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Star Sent: 21/02/2001 15:13 1 of 9
Merry Meet,
Well my belief started because I was exploring religion and have always believed in magic. I am also a natural tree hugger! Paganism made sence to me, I believe in the power of nature and in balance etc. I persued this by steeping myself in every book on the subject I could find. I love to read. After a year of reading I felt incensed to do something. (I had previously held off feeling I did not have the knowledge to control what I may cause). And so my practising began. I call myself a Kitchen witch because most of my work centres around the Kitchen, but also an eclectic witch because I do not follow any particular school, just go with what feels right, take the best for me from each. I dont know if this will help at all, where are you feeling lost? I know we would love to help guide you to anywhere you want to be.
Love n light Star

From: Mel Sent: 21/02/2001 15:39 2 of 9
you have it!

i think i am afraid to try rituals and spells for 2 reasons, incase i do something and it goes wrong. and on the other hand i am afraid that i will be wrong and nothing will happen at all.

i am reluctant to try things at home as i have 2 children and you become paranoid about their safety as a parent. we only live in a 2 up 2 down so i have no personal space to do things, also our garden is not exactly private.

i would also call myself a kitchen/eclectic witch as most of what i do at the moment involves remedies etc.

with glad relief
mel

From: Star Sent: 21/02/2001 15:48 3 of 9
Mel, I would suggest start with some small rituals, you dont really need to lay out lots of dangerous paraphanalia. You can cast a circle just by waving some incense in a circle around your head and call on the guardians of the watch towers to protect it. The point of casting the circle is that you can keep anything you invoke contained within the circle. And you do not release anything dangerous as long as you earth your circle afterwards. Do not be worried that nothing will happen at all. If you are focussing your energies it will increase them, it will have some effect on the area you are working on even if not noticable effect. As I said start small, it is all good practice if nothing else. Love n light Star

From: Mel Sent: 21/02/2001 16:36 4 of 9
thanks, i thought that a circle was supposed to keep things out.
what do you mean by earthing the circle afterwards?

mel

From: Dionne Sent: 21/02/2001 20:24 5 of 9
Hi Mel!

The beliefs I have now, are the same one's I've had all my life...I just never realised they were Pagan beliefs until a couple of years ago.

So when I realised this, is when I started learning more about it....the more I learn, the more I feel it's what I've always been...but..you can never learn enough...so I'll keep on reading & talkin to peeps!

blessings...

Dionne

From: Silverspirit Sent: 22/02/2001 11:23 6 of 9
Mel,

I'm no expert but here's a suggestion for your question about circles...

Circles cast by ceremonial magicians are supposed to keep things out, it's because they mess around with calling up nasty scary things and they want to protect themselves... but wiccans etc. cast a circle to contain the energy they raise for spells and stop it dissipating before they've had chance to use it... it also makes a sacred space for them away from the normal world, in which to honour the Goddess or who/whatever else they follow...kind of like a portable temple... they don't generally need to protect themselves from anything if what they do is in the name of love and the wiccan rede and all that stuff! You can cast a circle specifically for protection if you feel in danger from something though - like around your house to protect it from burglars perhaps.

But anyway, you need to earth (or ground) yourself and your circle when you've finished, which means to send the energy back into the Earth,or away into the world to do good things etc. If you don't lots of residual energy will still be around and it can make you feel out of sorts, all that energy sitting around with nothing to do is not such a good idea... Most books that are halfway decent will tell you how to ground, (Scott Cunningham's "Wicca, a guide for the solitary practitioner" has nice simple ones on pages 103-4) but if not, one nice simple way that doesn't need any "props" is to pull the circle's energy back into yourself with your receptive hand, then place your hands to the ground and send the energy into Earth - maybe with the intention of helping to heal it from all that nasty pollution!

Hope this helps and you didn't mind me adding my two pennorth!

Love and chocolate cake,

Silver

From: Silverspirit Sent: 22/02/2001 11:24 7 of 9
why is it whenever I post something it changes font size halfway through????

From: Dionne Sent: 22/02/2001 19:53 8 of 9
That'll be the msn gremlins!!!

From: Star Sent: 23/02/2001 15:44 9 of 9
Mel, you asked me about earthing your circle afterwards. Basically exactly what Silver said but I found a nice little chant that might help you.

Before you leave your circle stand with your palms up and then turn them slowly down, as you do so say "Circle open - but unbroken, power down, to the ground" Don't forget to thank the guardians before you step out.

I got this from a book I think, unfortunately I can't remember which one to attribute it. But my thanks to the writer as I always use this to ground the power.

Hope this enlightens you a little more.

Love and blessings
Star