Traditional vs. Modern

I'm very much a traditional witch. The path of a hedge witch is a traditional one after all. However, times are always changing and with it new modern versions of the paths of witchcraft. Even Wicca is really modern in comparison to old school witchcraft from hundreds of years ago. By spirituality beliefs, I am Wiccan....therefore, I understand how modern is good as well.

But are there times when one is better than the other? In my opinion, yes. When one is learning I believe they should study all the traditional pieces first to build their basis from, as not all that is modern information is reliable. Today, there is so much fiction mixed in that it can make it hard to see the true world of metaphysics and magick. This is especially true for the younger generations who don't have access to creditable sources due to funds, being a minor, or lack of guidance from an experienced elder.

I can remember being a newbie myself all those 15 years ago. I was new to divination, spell craft, the astral realms, and etc. It was overwhelming. Once I thought I had one thing figured out, I then thought I knew it all. Of course, I quickly learned I wasn't as smart as I thought. Experience and knowledge really are everything....and I lacked on all of that. After a short bit, I learned to admit my ignorance. After all, I lacked good sources. The internet back in those days had very little information and books had to be approved by my mother before purchase.

Today the internet has many new sources, but sadly little are creditable. It is much easier to find more modern fluff than anything traditional unless you actually know what to be searching for. This makes it so much harder for anyone to get a good grip of what is realistic in practices such as astral traveling, shape shifting, familiar/fetch work, energy work/healing, elements....the list goes on. Almost everything I see being posted on forums by the younger generations is filled with fictional stories and role play game information (D&D, Whitewolf, etc). Therefore, when it comes to studying, I'd say traditional is best.

Now, once one has learned all the traditional information....do they have to practice that way? No, of course not! I don't myself, but it is the foundation to everything, including all the modern versions of practices, beliefs and theories. Nothing today doesn't stem from the ways of old. They are traditional for a reason: They known to work or be true. Hundreds of years of knowledge can't be all incorrect even for modern times, can it? Okay, sure sacrificing a goat might not bring rain....but the idea behind it is still valid as offerings of some kind do seem to have an effect. The same is even applied to mythical beings like the elementals, fae folk or even dragons. To work with them, one must know their history to truly know the creatures. Fairies aren't all like Tinker Bell, that is for sure, and it would be unfortunate to make that mistake as it could become a dangerous situation quite quickly.

When it comes to spirituality, not just magickal practices, I really enjoy the modern (non-fluffy) changes. Like simple quarter callings vs full on summoning of the watchtowers....nice change and easier to cast circle. Setting up an altar as you desire instead of using all the older set up standards of what goes where...much better as it creates a better spiritual connection for me. Being able to use my smart phone to do black mirror scrying on the go? Looks much less strange to have. Having a drumming cd to journey versus actually having someone drum next to me? I love my drumming mp3's and my bionary beats app. Using a deck of cards to tell animal totems instead of complicated meditation/astral methods makes things much easier there too.

Where do I cross the lines for modern?

When it starts to go beyond common sense or within the realms of the possible. Now, I know that general witchcraft and energy workings seem like they should go beyond science, but it simply isn't true. We just don't know all the rules yet to our universe but I do know that a lot of quantum physics beliefs and theories do seem to explain a lot of what we call magick. Even shape shifting is possible under quantum physics and is taught as so by modern shamans but according to it you still can't say...grow wings to be like an angel due to the lack of the extra atoms you would need to make that feasible. Or the popular term of Otherkin being used for those claiming to have souls of mythical beings or animals. While I do believe one lives many lives with reincarnation, a soul is a blank slate.....it doesn't have any one true form that if carries from one life to the next. This is where I say traditional teachings need to be shown back into light. Even if they choose to ignore it....it still must be understood before making a final judgement. Otherwise one's sources could all be based on fantasy novels and role play games without ever knowing it. Fluffies no longer know they are fluffy due to corrupted information claiming to be "modern" techniques and legit information online.

That bothers me more than anything for I have seen so many with real potential give up from lack of results due to all this "modern" twists. Those who fight for these topics of misinformation and keep it going, have never cracked open a true book on metaphysics or witchcraft....some even insisting traditional is old and outdated in order to defend their fantasy beliefs. However, the traditional gave way to those beliefs. Traditional practices are what lay behind your modern techniques and even were used in research of popular role play game systems. Traditional information is only becoming dead because some refuse to go beyond being ignorant and commit themselves to actual study.


....so yes, I'm a traditional lover. But that doesn't make it better than modern. Things always change with time. Some people would prefer not to work with graveyard dirt, having a wand exactly the length of their elbow to their fingertips, having all the traditional tools, going skyclad or in a robe, be able to read theban script, using crazy herb mixtures to induce shape shifting....etc. I can't blame them. But common sense is key and in this world of magic and myth....tradition is still important. It might always be used....but we can't let it die out from that which is modern.

Never Ending Learning

I truly believe that one can never stop learning and never should stop. I've met many in the metaphysical realms that get to a comfortable place of knowledge, then seem to just refrain from going farther. There is always something farther and new to learn. Even if the learning comes from personal experimentation and deciphering the experience. One reason I personally keep a journal or book of shadows. I enjoy learning and I fear the day I stop that my life will become a bore. Learning is what life is about. It might not always be book knowledge in this manner but life is full of lessons yet to be learned. The only thing that keeps us from moving forward and gaining new insight is closing your mind to new information. I don't believe in sin, but if I had to say something was a sin....then that would be it.  

Life Endings and Beginnings

After arriving home from spending time with my family over the holiday of mother's day, I heard some concerning shrieking coming from  in my woods. (Did I mention I moved back into the country?) I went to investigate as whatever creature was making this sound was in much distress. After a couple of minutes of searching in the woods, I found crows throwing a fit above me and something flapping about at the base of a tree on the other side of my stream. I crossed it carefully to discover a dying wookpecker. A pileated woodpecker to be exact. He was thrashing about and I realized something was wrong with his neck or spine. He couldn't move his head properly and I knew that wasn't good as no amount of reiki would help up. All I could do was calm him down by talking with him. He died a few minutes later in my hands. I said a small prayer for him and left him be for nature to take it's course with him.

This event got me to wondering about the meaning of the woodpecker. According to Ted Andrews the woodpecker is a symbol of a time of new rhythms and new beginnings. Making it a time for building for the future in the manner that is best for you. I'm not sure how this applies to a witnessing this beautiful bird ending it's life's journey, but it is appropriate for me. How?

Well, it only seems fitting to announce on Mother's Day, that I am expecting a little one myself. Due date has been set for January 1st by my midwife. Oh, how the journey of life is always changing, right?

Voices of America

Tonight the votes are counted and a decision is made on who will run America for the next four years. I'm always over joyed to see so many people get active in their right to vote as an American, after all not all countries get this freedom, but I must say the anger and fear can become too much.

Every election seems to have less and less of intellectual discussions or debates, but instead increasing numbers of  arguments involving hatred. If I didn't know any better, I would be very afraid of this fact. However, I understand this comes from deeply rooted fears that are normally not recognized by the individuals. I, myself, have this problem at times when dealing with politics. Due to this fact, I have learned to just not discuss the topics of politics with those around me.

This does not mean I am unpassionate about my position of beliefs involving my country, but I know that getting involved in the overly emotional arguments will not generally cause another to see my point of view. If however, I do find a mature adult that can go beyond the fears and anger to actually engage in a worthy conversation on political matters, I am completely up for the discussion! But I do view the best way to state my political opinions to be in the voting booth with my ballet.

My only hope is that one day the people of my country will learn how to deal with their fears and make this time of change less stressful and more civilized. I wish this too for the future candidates who go up for vote.

Knooking

I've always loved older fashioned womanly hobbies like cross stitching, sewing, crochet, knitting and needlepoint. I was never able to do any of these hobbies until about three years ago. I guess when I was younger I managed to always find a way to not end up learning the skills required to do these hobbies, but I sure did day dream of doing them and all the projects I would one day complete.

However, I never got into knitting. It could be partly due to the fact I learned crochet first and was introduced to crochet at the young age of 8. Even though I learned to chain with a crochet hook at that age, I didn't learn to make projects until a few years ago, but I was used to holding a crochet hook versus a set of knitting needles.

I gave knitting a try once I had learned crochet and completed all the suggested projects in the instructional book I had purchased. The knitting book made it appear to be as easy as crochet, but I could never learn to knit to save my life. Well, if saving my life involved being in the wilderness alone with a body of water then I could knit a wonderful fish net as that is all my knitting efforts turned out to be like. I gave up until this week.

While wandering the isles of Wal-Mart's craft section I found books for a special crochet hook called a Knook. I ended up picking up a starter kit for it and found it very interesting. It is a crochet hook that has a handle which comes to a point. On the end with the point it has a hole through it creating a type of sewing needle appearance. You place a thread through the hole that later acts as your second knitting needle with your crochet hook being your first.

Using this Knook, I was actually able to knit a small project. This was the first time my knitting didn't have great similarities to a fishing net. I was quite proud of this since knitting has been on my To-Do List for some time now. I'm still no master of knooking, but I have found it much easier to learn than traditional knitting. Hopefully with time, I will be able to knit quickly and problem free using the Knook tools.

Purchasing a Knook from Amazon 

This month I have decided to revisit the good old Thirteen Goals of a Witch. Reasoning for this event has is linked toward my sister who decided to partake in a 28 Day Challenge on eating healthier by giving up processed foods as best she can. I decided to take her up on the task and joined her challenge.

So this would relate to goal number ten.

To me this challenge is more than just avoiding unhealthy foods. It is about detoxing my body of junk that doesn't serve me as well as detoxing my spirit. I've always believed that my body and spirit were linked in a way that isn't always noticeable. Witches generally seem to understand this link as it can be seen in ritual and meditation. If one is unhealthy, it makes the workings harder to accomplish. So this challenge is a way to eat more correctly for both my body, mind and spirit. 

For me this challenge doesn't end in twenty eight days, but will be partly carried over into my regular eating lifestyle. This is something I have been meaning to do for quite some time, but just had not found the right time to integrate into my eating habits. I think the Divine has been slowly moving me into this direction and I have no reason not to go forward with it.

Fasting

Fasting has always been viewed as a spiritual action. It is going beyond your body's normal wants and abstaining from its daily diet. It is about freeing yourself from the demands of your body allowing you to realize that you are more than just your physical form. It is about clearing out your system of harmful toxins that are found in so much of what we consume that build up within us and slow us down. It is about learning self discipline and control of what we place within our bodies. These are just some of the reasons that I have chosen to fast this weekend.

I have fasted before in the past doing only one and two day fasts. I'm guessing that my long exposure to antibiotics has caused me to return to this method as of late. This would be due to recent feelings of being tired, depleted and ill. My body is no longer working in a manner that I could enjoy and decided it was time to take act. Fasting does indeed jump start the healing process after all.

My bone infection that I suffer from does not allow me to do a traditional water only fast. Instead, I have had to  take part in what is referred  to as a modified fast. This simply means that I have allowed myself small amounts of fruit, vegetables and juices. Now because I am on antibiotics daily, I have also allowed myself one small meal at the end of each day I fast. It consists of brown rice with cooked vegetables.

I am only doing it for the weekend at this time, but I plan to repeat this pattern in another week or so. It is a practice I would like to have back into my life to aid in my healing and my spiritual life. 

When I fast, I always end up adding in spiritual concepts. I will take extra time meditating, praying and focusing on my spiritual path. It really starts a rejuvenation within my soul when I do this while fasting in a way that no other method can compare for me. It allows me the chance to look at my life and my path with new insight and passion. 

If you haven't ever tried the practice of fasting, I highly recommend it. Figure out what method is best for you as there are several forms of modified fasts and each one meeting different needs. Once you have it planned out, the only thing left to do is try it. Take it one day at a time and slowly work up to more than one day at a time. I promise you won't regret the experience.