Spirited (5 page)

At this level, we begin to make connections. We swap ideas with others of like mind, attend social meetings, and—if the situation permits—seek out or form our own groups to learn about Magick and Pagan spirituality together. This is when we begin to understand the extent and seriousness of the path and at some stage begin to rethink and reevaluate our motives and reasons for walking the path. We know that at any time we are free to leave, respecting and honouring the time we have spent there, taking the experiences and feelings with us to cultivate our progression elsewhere in the future.

It is when we begin to stretch that we truly know our limits. New situations and experiences rival our previous ones and impose new barricades. The challenge of the Pagan path is, of course, leaping these barricades, and if they are too high, having the courage to take the long route all the way around. This heralds new life, and we have emerged from a shrivelled cocoon, frail but full of vitality and energy.

Kim is an eighteen-year-old Pagan currently living in Queensland. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, writing, and pixel-dolling. Kim speaks of the events that changed her perception of life:

I don't exactly remember the first time I decided I was officially Pagan. Over a period of about eight or nine months, I went from not caring about religion, to Christo-Wiccan, to Wiccan, to Christian, and then to Pagan. I never really understood anything about Wicca; I believed that
Charmed
was a completely accurate portrayal. Then I was asked to attend a local Christian youth group, and after just three weeks I committed. In retrospect, it was a crazy act, but at the time I felt like I connected with Christianity. I had a very Christian upbringing; my grandparents are strict Catholics and my mother is of a more alternative Catholic persuasion, so I guess I felt like it would be the right choice to follow in their footsteps. The feeling I got knowing that there was someone out there, someone that loved me who could make things happen, was incredible. But then things started to change. Through this amazing faith, I started to look at the world in a different light. I started to disagree with the teachings, wondering why amazing, unexplainable things happened. Then I spoke to two of my friends who were Wiccan. I couldn't give up Christianity entirely, so I became what the girls called “Christo-Wiccan.” Meanwhile, I was becoming more and more uncomfortable within my youth group and eventually stopped going. I also started doubting the authenticity of the thing I knew as Wicca. I mean, I couldn't stop time like the girls on
Charmed
, so I started looking into it more deeply and discovered something incredible.

The first time I ever met other serious Pagans in my town, I was so scared. It was at a Mabon ritual held by the local teen group, and I didn't know what to expect or how many other people would come. It turned out that only one other turned up, but I still had a great time.

I remember that first Mabon ritual well. As a person, I don't ever really get embarrassed, but this was one of those rare occasions. There were several silences with me just standing there wanting to crawl into a hole and never darken anyone's doorstep again. The ritual itself was foreign to me, but it felt so strangely right. I related to what was happening, felt at peace and complete, and I knew that this was the way to go. It's a cliché, but there was something there that day which changed my life forever. I started to see life itself as a radiant existence, and I can honestly say that my whole outlook has changed.

Despite all the trial and error I've gone through and the challenges that are certain to come, I'm sure that this is what I'm meant to be, this is who I am—and nothing can ever change that. Finally, I've found my home.

Realising the Revelation

It has probably been at least three or four years down the track since you first started practicing Witchcraft. Now, when you look out the window, things appear to you differently or perhaps as they always have, though now you have a deeper, more intimate understanding of why, as if every single thing has a secret it keeps and is vibrating with brilliant energy. You have learnt, perhaps, that the greatest confider is the darkness itself. The earth is sacred to you, and you eat the fruits of the harvest, acknowledging the hard work of farmers and Mother Earth's yield. You feel strong, yet still vulnerable to the petty problems people get their feet stuck in constantly.

When alone in your room in the quiet of the night, you are sometimes hit by a surge of nostalgia. Memories and experiences flow through you and lift you up. You look at your past years and smile secretly. So much has happened to you. You have seen and done things some people may never have the chance to see or do. At moments like this, you know that this has always been your path—your fate. You realise that you have always been a Witch, and this knowledge shakes you like the rogue, crescent waves of the sea.

It can mean a lot for people in this commercialised world to find spiritual meaning and to go so far as to be confident and mature enough within oneself to have the ability to change your own life.

We forever dwell in the present and should do. For it is in the present that we are able to affect the future and to understand the past. Life flows; it is not linear, or static. It changes and evolves according to those who are living. We steer our own lives, we choose which roads to take and which exits to turn off. But we cannot forget the map we are all given at the start of our journeys. This is our destiny. However, it is up to us which way we take. In the end, all roads lead to Rome. Drive well, my friends!

Jarrah is a twenty-two-year-old Witch and an initiate and priest of the Coven of the WildWood. He is a writer who flows with the Awen—the poetic life force—of his ancestors:

He asks me to speak of awakening; I smile and curl back into dreaming. When did I first awaken to myself as a Witch? I remember the stirring: hearing words like
Wicca
, reading with fascination and recognition the ancient mythologies and seeing the sensationalised representations in popular media. I can remember yawning, drawing deep on the books at the library. I browsed the 'net for information on everything from Ouija boards to Tarot, goddesses, herbs, astral travelling, spellcraft, and Jungian psychology. I stretched into the Nature I lived amongst—from the mountains, forests, fields, and waterways of my rural childhood to the animals, plants, and the flow of the weather. But I now remember, before then, my unaffected and innate childhood; I can now recall singing as I spiralled deosil around an ancient tree, giving my thanks for its wisdom and guardianship. I remember speaking to animals that I had crafted from the intangible light of a half-dreamed otherness, calling upon their aid; gazing at the moon in a sleepless night and being held in a truth that a child has no need to question. I remember this from my childhood, before I fell asleep.

In awakening as a Witch, we learn to embrace paradox. We tread a path that somehow takes us to the extreme clarity of reason and at the same time immerses us in the dreamed truth of the Mystery. Waking up means we discover ourselves at the beginning of a path, and it also means we discover we were always at the end. This moment of awakening is eternal. We were always here, at the beginning and end of all desire, us, the Seekers of the Mystery. We who turn inwards and in doing so find all that is without; we realise in the rising of the day that we have been here before and will be here again. We accept the paradox of the element of spirit: that it precedes all other elements while it is no more than the consequence of their existence. We accept that we Witches are of this element, the cyclical paradox of transcendence and immanence, the falling and rising and the constantly sustained.

Welcome back, brothers and sisters, may you always stand here at the beginning as you release the preconception of an end.

[contents]

As a Pagan youth, you are most probably still living at home and with your parents. You may be an only child, and then again you may have siblings. Whatever your situation, it is most likely a unique one owing to a number of varying factors, and just like Harry Potter, 4 Privet Drive is not always that far away.

This is the reality of the Pagan youth, and though we may yearn for the days of our independence and freedom, we have to endure several years of living under our parents' roof. With this comes great limitation to our spiritual practice. You may find it hard to establish and define your boundaries. Your bedroom door may as well not exist as your mum seems to barge in at any given moment, disrupting your rituals and meditations. Your younger siblings may be causing pandemonium right outside your bedroom window. Unfortunately, the above and more are the things we inevitably have to face as young Pagans.

Family is an ever-changing concept. As little as ten years ago,
family
was the word used to describe what is now termed the
nuclear
family
—mother, father, and children. Today, however, there are a multitude of varying situations that encompass the vast concept of family. There are now single-parent families, same-sex partnered families, extended families, and the list goes on. Whatever your situation is, you will undoubtedly come to the crossroads more than once when it comes to expressing your spirituality at home. This chapter can be used to create a better environment for concentration and focus and to work out family disputes on the grounds of your spiritual path. Remember, respect is an essential when it comes to families and living peacefully within them. It all starts with you.

Sacred Space

Sacred space is an important concept to the Pagan. We all need a secret, personal place to seek refuge and retreat from the routine and structure of daily life. We all need a place where we may be ourselves and unwind and calm down and recuperate from the many problems and obstacles we face in life. This is our sacred space—a place of privacy, silence, peace, and beauty, where our bodies may instantly relax and our heartbeat attune to the natural flow that underpins the chaotic strain of the average existence. Living at home with a family can often inhibit any chances of establishing and defining your own personal territory. Unless you have the house to yourself, it can be fairly difficult to find a refuge where you will be undisturbed for a period of time.

In the past, Pagans have worshipped in groves, temples, and stone circles. Whatever the sacred space, it was generally a natural area of significance in terms of lines of power, local deities, faerie and spirit lore, or sacred geometry. As the deities of the ancient Pagans were generally local spirits known through oral myths and stories, certain places nearby the community were seen as sacred to that particular deity. Many sacred spaces were conceptualised through shapes, especially circles. Stonehenge in Salisbury, England, is just one example.

As Pagans, we understand and honour the earth and all of Nature as sacred and imbued with the universal life force, Magick. All places are therefore sacred. However, through centuries of environmental damage and exploitation, many places on earth now seem empty and devoid of life. Fortunately, not all of Nature has been exploited, and there are many natural places that are dotted evenly between housing and shopping centres in urban settlements. Then again, you may be completely comfortable in the confines of brick or wood, and your bedroom may be adequate enough for your Craft.

Sacred space is defined by the interaction and relationship felt between the place and yourself. If you feel uncomfortable or edgy in a certain park or district, do not seek to forge a friendship with that energy. Use your intuition and be honest with your feelings.

Once you have found your sacred space, you can begin by familiarising yourself with the area and attuning to the energy frequencies. The following is an easy-to-do exercise that requires nothing but yourself and your sacred space.

Sacred Space Meditation

Begin by finding a position you are comfortable in. The ideal meditative position is to be sitting up, either on a chair or cross-legged. Lying down often confuses your inner vision, and if you draw too far into your meditation, you may even fall asleep. Personally, I find it easier to kneel.

Now focus on your breathing. Breathe deeply though your nose, letting the air move down into your abdomen, and allow your stomach to push out to its extent. Now hold your breath for four counts and release, allowing an even exhalation of the breath.

Feel yourself centred and aligned and open to the energy all around you. Do not hurry yourself or push for something to happen; simply enjoy the peace you have and remain patient. Soon enough you will receive impressions on the energy in your sacred space. It may not be a distinct feeling; it may be something subtle—perhaps it may even remind you of an event or stage in your life. If the energy here is compatible with your own, allow yourself to psychically poke around the space. Extend your consciousness outside of your physical being and explore. Get to know the place well.

Once you feel you understand the energy of your sacred space and have bonded long enough with the area, slowly return your focus to your breathing and gently reawaken your body through physical movement. Wiggle your toes and fingers, roll your neck, stretch your arms, and attune to your worldly senses. Now slowly stand up and explore the area physically. Make sure you are aware of any hidey-holes within the place, or any identifying marks that will help you return to your place if need be. Once this is done, you may leave the area and silently or loudly affirm that you will return.

The rest is up to you. You may desire to formally consecrate the space for the work of Magick, or perhaps you may simply begin to work there and allow a relationship to evolve from scratch. Whatever you decide, make sure you treat your sacred space in a respectful manner. If the time comes when you wish to introduce your sacred space to a fellow Pagan or close friend, make sure you ask your space beforehand. Through the connections formed between the location and yourself, a sentience will build that will respond both negatively and positively to each action, intention, and emotion you bring to it.

Sacred space may not suit your lifestyle. Perhaps you move around a lot and simply cannot expend the time and energy needed to form a relationship with the surrounding area. For other Pagans, it may be that they need variety within their spirituality to keep things fresh. In any case, keep your mind open to new experiences and opportunities.

Interior Design

In connection with your sacred space, you may like to decorate the area with greenery and flowers. You can hang ribbons, lanterns, and wreaths about the place, and if circumstance permits, secure votive or pillar candles in various spots around your space.

Physical offerings and devotions are a pleasant additive to your personal sacred space as they help to reconnect your senses with the archaic customs of ancient Pagans who have always honoured their gods through gifts of food and liquid, otherwise known as sacraments or libations. Offerings also help to reaffirm the faith of the individual and to act as symbols of focus for meditation and prayer.

Pagan traditions generally have certain rituals of blessing and consecration of food and drink, which is then offered to the gods. Generally after the bulk of the ritual is finished, the rite of cakes and ale takes place, and whatever food and drink is available is consecrated and eaten. In most cases, after the circle is opened, the remaining leftovers are offered to the gods and crumbled or poured onto the ground as a sign of respect for the earth. Beyond this, the act of creating and decorating devotional offerings is often neglected by the average Pagan.

Making a Wreath

A common offering among Pagans who practice routine devotion today is the wreath, which is simple, beautiful, and easy to make. All you need is a garden vine of some description (e.g., ivy), a sink or portable tub, scissors, and plenty of patience!

Gather enough ivy to make the amount of wreaths you want, and then soak the vines in a sink or tub full of lukewarm water, removing clods of dirt and roots. After the vines have been soaked properly (and not for too long!), find a sunny spot to dry the ivy. After a few minutes, cut the vine to lengths of twice the circumference of your head. Wrap the length of ivy around your head, ensuring the fit is not too tight and not too loose, overlapping the ends. Entwine the overlapping vine firmly around the foundation of the wreath, remembering to bend the final tips of the vine back and over the ivy.

If you want, you can add complementary flowers to the wreath by threading in the stems. You can wear wreaths during rituals and leave them as offerings after you have left your sacred space. Ivy is a versatile plant that you can also use to decorate your Craft tools.

Banners and flags are another evocative way of furnishing your sacred space. Simply take a suitable piece of white or lightly coloured material, and paint the desired symbol/s on it. Depending on the construct of your sacred space, you can use either curtain rods or branches to suspend the banners. In an inside space, you can print out images of symbols or traditional Pagan litany and verse and laminate them to attach to your walls.

There are a multitude of things you can do to induce the right kind of feel in your sacred space, always keeping in mind your obligation to keep natural places free of litter, foreign toxins, and clutter.

Pagan Peace-Building

People are by nature the most argumentative and emotional beings on this planet. Simple comments, phrases, and words spark passionate and fiery reactions that result in physical or verbal retorts. War is just one of the examples that prove humanity is a species built on the primal desire to feel bigger and better than others. War is an endless entourage of exaggerated and repetitive claims of “I am right, you are wrong! So you can all follow me or else!” Many wars, both past and present, are founded on the eternal disputes experienced between religious groups. Religion happens to be one of the most controversial topics dividing the world. Differences in belief are unnerving for many, and that difference is what Pagans cherish.

Being Pagan in a predominantly Abrahamic world
7
is something that many Pagans have had to struggle with over the last few decades. Our federal laws are founded on the ethical and dogmatic principles of the Christian faith. Whether or not your parents are religious, they live in a community whose generic moral outlook is governed by Christian values. Many young Pagans I encounter live with parents who hold conservative views. This causes much anxiety on the Pagan's part concerning whether to be open about their spirituality. Sometimes the virtue of keeping your trap shut is the most convenient and stress-free choice in the long run.

When the time comes that you have mustered up enough courage to confront your parents about the truth, I suggest you do not worry so much about how they react but about how you convey the truth to them. Take some time to yourself to understand how you feel about Paganism, how it has changed your life and how you have developed and matured alongside your involvement with it. Make sure that you have the basic blueprint of what you will discuss with your parents, remembering to always be tolerant, understanding, and firm. Backing down and submitting to your parents' every whim and command does not display a sense of independence or confidence. Part of being Pagan is acknowledging that you alone have the right to choose your own path to spiritual fulfilment; no one else should be able to pressure you into believing or experiencing something you do not.

Family friction and disputes are inevitable for many young Pagans who have opened up about their beliefs. Parents may often feel anger, fear, resentment, and disappointment when it comes to their own child choosing the path of Paganism. They may feel that they have failed to uphold their duty to raise you in a safe and stable environment. You may represent all that is wrong and sinful in the world to them. However, if you do experience any of the above, understand that your parents only want what is best for you, and their fear of losing you does not necessarily lie in their animosity towards your spirituality but in the tendency to keep you innocent as long as possible. Parents forget far too often that today's generation of youth is far more cosmopolitan than any before. We are continuously exposed to a world of diversity, war, and individuality. Pondering one's sexuality, identity, and beliefs is a constant struggle for many young people today. Essentially, youth is seen as a period of growth, development, and rebellion. Your family may dismiss your spirituality as a phase you will outgrow; unfortunately, this is where many of the problems begin.