Sunday, July 24, 2011

Beyond the Seasons

  In the same vein as yesterdays post, I've been pondering the evolution of the Craft. When I first started to study modern witchcraft, an extremely heavy emphasis was placed on seasonal celebration. The purpose behind these solar and lunar holy days was to reconnect the practitioner with the cycles of the Earth. The need for such a reconnection becomes more and more obvious every day. However, I think to be a fulfilling spiritual path, Paganism needs more than ritual celebrations.
  To address the deeper hunger for meaning within this apparently chaotic universe, back-to-the-land era practices have to be expanded and deepened. The self-exploratory work that begins in meditation has to become something more. In honoring the cosmos outside of ourselves, we should be reminded to give equal honor to the limitless cosmos within our own consciousness.
  Believe me, I like the rites of Beltane just as much as the next witch. Becoming aware of the way Gaia changes throughout the Wheel of the Year has been instrumental to my building a stronger connection with her. But this can't be the only goal of our faith. Activism, self-actualization, and the realization of our own deity    are just as important.
  Those same cycles occur in each of us. After all, as above so below, as within so without. The next time you check the moon phase, or plan a ritual for Lugh, think about how those same changes manifest in your life. How does your body alter? Your emotions? How is the connection between yourself and the divine shifting? The Wheel of the Year mimics the revolutions of the Wheels of our Souls. Or perhaps it's the other way around. Who knows?

6 comments:

  1. As we progress further and further into the 2100s CE, we ironically are going to be compelled to take ourselves back to the land in a more intense and serious way than we ever anticipated. Our survival now depends on our ability to ground ourselves in our ancient traditions and reclaim our elements of earth, fire, air and water

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  2. To quote your article (my favorite portion thereof): "To address the deeper hunger for meaning within this apparently chaotic universe, back-to-the-land era practices have to be expanded and deepened. The self-exploratory work that begins in meditation has to become something more. In honoring the cosmos outside of ourselves, we should be reminded to give equal honor to the limitless cosmos within our own consciousness."

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  3. Hey thanks for your viewpoint! I agree, regrounding is totally necessary, and it has to be coupled with evolution as a spiritual tradition.

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  5. (Sorry I made a big typo, had to edit. :)

    I try not to let media and my sensitivity to the vibe they [the news] like to put out about the environment and the earth get me all hyped up and out of synch. It can get me to the point where I'm fretting about the problems of the world. It's a sensitivity.

    Your words and the comments by Daniel remind me that we can achieve this connection through the acts that bring us into cyclical harmony with the natural world. Gardening is a good one. I mean I live in a loft in Downtown Los Angeles, but I still have my herbs and plants. With the herbs I have seed to harvest. I must honor the seasons (as light as we have them here), work with the plants, learn to communicate with it.

    Ritually I think I'd like to try a lunar cycle of meditation. We're heading towards the new moon! Good time to start. :)

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  6. I liked your post, it reminded me of discussions I've recently had with my partner and with the pagan group we celebrate the holidays with. They are all asking for more, both celebrations, togetherness, and generally things to keep us connecting with one another and the community around us. Thanks again for posting this, I hope to hear more of your experiences.

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