Author Archives: JanCarol

Moon Magick

Triple Goddess Moon Drum

The New Moon Rises at Sunrise
The Waxing Half Moon Rises at Noon
The Full Moon Rises at Sunset
The waning Half Moon Rises at Midnight
– Traditional Saying, Source Unknown

When I learned this for the first time I began to understand better the cycles of life, and the cycles of magick.

The New Moon, the dark moon, is never seen. Not only is it not in the sky – it is on the other side of the planet at night. As it gently waxes it can be seen setting in the west at sunset, or rising in the east just before dawn.

The New Moon is darkness, potential, and the empty space at the bottom of a breath. This is the time to decide what your course will be with the waxing moon. It is a time of waiting, of receiving.

Like the night before a journey, there is nothing more to be done. You know what path you will start out on in the morning, with the first glimmer of moon.

As time passes, that moon sets later, and is fuller. You can sometimes see it in the daytime, too. It’s sweet to watch a waxing moon as she grows every day, and lingers in the sky a bit longer after sunset.

The Waxing is a time to Learn and Grow and expand. You put your energy into the Path you Chose at the Dark Moon. You feed and nourish the plants, the seeds you have planted begin to wax with the moon (yes, many successful gardeners still plant by the moon phases).

One night, at sunset, the sun will be setting in the west, and the Moon rising in the East. This is the Full Moon. It can also been seen at dawn, when the Moon sets, and the Sun rises. These dusk and dawn moments are a special sacred time of balance between the solar and lunar, the day and night, the male and female, the rational and intuitive – the yin and yang. When these elements are balanced, gateways into deeper consciousness and awareness take place.

The Full Moon is the ripeness of the fruit, the work of the harvest, the gathering of your labours. What you started on the New Moon, comes to pass. Larger projects may require several moons of building and growing (and waning – that’s coming up).

When you see her overhead at night, appreciate the fullness and the beauty and feel the pull on your waters, your strength, your intuition, your dreams, full at this time of the moon. This is a time of energy and activity. Howl your joy at what you have accomplished!

Then comes the time of Waning. This is a time to draw in, re-evaluate, plan, introvert. In order for the waves to come in, they must first go out. Let go. Float, and let your intuition and creativity guide you to what you need next. Evaluate where you have been, and meditate on where you want to go next.

The Waning half rises at midnight, and can also be seen setting around noon. By the time of day, you can tell whether a moon is waning or waxing (though, ideally, once you start to work this Magick, you will always feel it, and not need to check the clock).

Are you ready again for the Dark?

* * *

These cycles of Light and Dark are also true for the Sun, but on a longer time frame.
Feel the waxing and the waning of light and dark, the Moon guides intuition, the Sun guides logic and rationality.

I have finally added the Sun back into my Practice, seeing the fast-wheeling of the moon, and the gentle arcs of the Sun.

There are thirteen moons to a Sun (roughly, with the difference being “Saturnalia,” now celebrated as Christmas). What can you build in a year of Moons?

The Mystery

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Bryce Canyon

So often in our lives we struggle with Truth.

So many people are so certain about the truth. This post is inspired by a street preacher who harasses gays, Muslims, anyone who doesn’t fit his version of Truth. He is so uncomfortable with anything outside his vision of reality, that anything “Other” is relegated to “sin” and “hell.” And he is certain.

One of the miracles of life, is that there is no certainty. I have visions and ideas about how I view and approach the world, but there are always things which do not fit my paradigm, or, indeed, any paradigm currently known. Like Dark Matter, it fits in the maths equations, but we really don’t know what it is.

Or psychic phenomenon, or intuitive guidance. We can theorise and postulate as to how it works, but really? It’s a Mystery.

Some of the Native American tribes actually use that as the name for God: The Great Mystery.

There is always more to be learned, always more to be integrated, and always a higher vibration to aspire to.

If we are certain, then we have created boxes and boundaries, and growth stops. It is only when we recognise that we do not know that we begin to learn.

“He who thinks he knows, doesn’t know. He who knows that he doesn’t know, knows.” – Joseph Campbell

The Mystery is a navigation point like a compass.

“I don’t know that – I will go there and learn.”

or,

“I’m uncomfortable with that, I must find out why.”

or even,

“This terrifies me, that means it is something I must pursue.”

In pursuing the Mystery, we learn and grow.

In Honoring the Mystery, that there is always more Beyond us, we accept the Sacred.

More Lessons from a Coffee Tree

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I was meditating with my Coffee Tree friend, and it showed me a Medicine Wheel – a simple cross that it was making with its branches.

I laughed and said, “You’re struggling in the East” – and the Tree said, “We all do the Best we Can.”

I thought about how challenging it can be to visualise or draw freehand a perfect Medicine Wheel. Yes, the tree was right, and when I check in with my Spirit and my Relationship to the Earth, Water, Fire, and Air – it’s never in perfect balance. There are excesses of emotion, or deficiencies of passion, gaps and surpluses. It’s a Life’s Work to keep the Medicine Wheel in balance and wholeness.

Pay attention to your work with the Medicine Wheel. Just this week I was doing my prayers to the Four Directions, Above, Below and Within to create a Medicine Wheel, but caught myself calling to Sky Father when I meant to be calling Earth. This mistake is a clue about my struggle to manifest. Maybe I want God to do the manifesting for me (when it is really my own Work). Perhaps you forgot a detail – what was that in the East again? I encourage everyone to draw the Medicine Wheel, to visualise it, to pray with it, to make your prayers in the fullness of the Four Winds and the qualities of Being that they represent.

Then the Tree said, “Look at me! The Good Red Road!”

Carl Jung Medicine Wheel (Red Book)

I looked, and saw that the vertical stem is the Good Red Road, the path of straight and narrow, of Guidance from Heaven.

I’ve heard American Indians speak of “The Good Red Road,” and I’ve looked at the Medicine Wheel and scratched my head, wondering – what is this road?

The Tree showed me that in the East, the Sun Rises, and we are Born. We travel our lives from East to West, as the Sun does, and age during the journey. This is why in many traditions the Ancestors dwell in the West. Irish Celts call the Island that lies West of the Sunset Tir Na Nog, or “Land of the Young;” in Native British traditions, it’s the Summer Isle.

So as we travel from baby to old age – we are guided by the good Red Road. There are a number of diversions, and there are areas we excel in. If the Road of Life is 100 miles long, maybe your strongest connection to the Vertical Stave will be at 25 miles. Perhaps you will achieve connection and excellence at 70 miles. Some travel those miles in just a few short years – some of us are fortunate enough to have decades to travel those miles. Some may be able to stay connected to Heaven and Earth throughout their lives, perhaps some will be lost most of the Journey from Birth to Death.

Medicine Wheel Life Lines

This brought to mind an image of 1000 people, walking from East to West, and all of the peaks and valleys of their lives. We all travel our lives, working on the Lessons we’ve been given.

The Vertical Stave is the guiding star, the upright posture, the spine with Infinity at top (Heaven) and bottom (Earth). Taiji is the dance between Heaven and Earth (yin / yang). Wuji is the Wholeness of the balance.

You need to stand up straight, to be strong in order to perceive the horizon (the horizontal Path of Life on the Medicine Wheel). A tree strives, nourishing its roots in the Earth, reaching towards heaven. Not all trees are straight and tall, nor are all humans.

But we each walk the Path that is before us.

Plant Medicine

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Shaman Explorations – Baby Pineapple

There are many people who believe that Plant Medicine only happens when you drink mysterious brews in the Rainforest of South America.

What I have learned is that there are three Great Medicines. Plant Medicine, Animal Medicine, and Stone Medicine. These Medicines are an integral part of our daily life. Animal Medicine is frequently how we harmonise and gain support in the Lower World. It, and Stone Medicine are topics for another time.

But Plant Medicine?

Let’s look at it on the Medicine Wheel.

Air – We love the beauty of flowers and their fragrant perfumes. We use trees to put our ideas into writing, with pencils and books. We inhale steam and smoke. I participate in Air Plant Medicine every time I hold a Pipe Ceremony (smoke). We smudge with sage and sweetgrass, and purify ourselves. We wear perfumes, and fill our homes with aromatherapy. All of this is Plant Medicine.

Fire – We keep ourselves warm by burning plants, and the warmth of lights at night is from plants. Coal is made up of plants, and wood has been used for cooking and heating fuel for millennia. Fire is also involved in smoking and smudging. This, too is all Plant Medicine.

Water – One of my favourite Plant Medicines! Making tea! We drink the plants in coffee and tea. We savour succulent fruits such as mangoes and citrus, and make orange juice and lemon juice. We cook with the plants. Spices in our foods (different spices might be in different places on the Medicine Wheel – chilli’s might be fiery, peppermint more watery, while paprika might be considered more earthy) provide flavour to our cooking.

Earth – Possibly the most widely used form of Plant Medicine. All of our vegetables, leafy greens, roots, fruits, stalks, grains, lentils – we get so much nourishment for our body from the Plants and their Medicine. Each plant has different qualities – the pineapple produces bromelain, an aid to digestion and a healer of burns. Each plant has a different profile of vitamins and minerals (Yes, that’s Stone Medicine, too), aminos and enzymes to help humans be healthier. Each plant has its own Medicine which is particular to it – whether it is the leaves of the kale, or the roots of the beet.

There is a reason why all religions have a pause of Gratitude before eating a meal. Not only does it aid digestion, but gives us an opportunity to be mindful of the beautiful Plant Medicine that we are about to merge with. You are what you eat!

We all use Plant Medicine every day.

Take some time to appreciate the Plant Medicine in your life.

Shaman Explorations – Pineapple Aug 2018

Gratitude Lessons from a Coffee Tree

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Shaman Explorations – Coffee Tree (Robusta)

I was meditating with my friend, the Coffee Tree, and filled with deep Gratitude for this little place in my garden. This Coffee Tree had commanded me to clear a space for it, so that it could thrive in sunlight without competition from other plants, and so we did. It then commanded me to prune it to make it strong. It is now my prayer and drum space.

This little tree (its hard life is about 20 years old, now has about 4 babies around it, creating a little plantation of family) has gifted me with a place of peace, safety and growth, and I am so Grateful.

“Yes!” said the little tree, “Gratitude! I am your prayer of Gratitude for your garden, your neighbourhood, your community! By tending Me, you are tending and caring for your world, and putting out your little ‘spell of attraction’ for the Worlds to behold and respond to. It will Respond! So Shall It Be!”

It showed me a Rune, the first Rune, Fehu, which you can see in the branches of the tree above.

ShamanExplorations – Fehu in Gratitude

Fehu traditionally means “cattle,” or “portable wealth.” As discussed in “The Secret,” it is the Power of sending out the energy to gain what you need/want. But up until this time with the tree, it always felt like wishing, or even demanding or commanding the forces of nature.

As you make this shape with your body, you send out the energy and Will to create what you Desire.

But the Little Tree taught me that the fuel for this is not force of Will, of bending the Worlds to your Desire, or of commanding the Worlds to meet your needs..

It is fuelled by Gratitude. By saying “Thank You,” and opening your heart to the possibility that what you need is already created. It is created in that moment you express and experience Gratitude.

This is why Gratitude is one of the most powerful forces in the Worlds!

I’ve been working on this lesson for many years. In the Tarot, it is seen as the Strength Card, here represented as Power:

Daughters of the Moon Tarot – Artist Ffiona Morgan / Colourist JanCarol

She gains the Strength of the Lion – not by overpowering it, but by charming it, loving it, showing it Grace and Gratitude.

This Power creates support, and the Lion will be her Ally and strengthen her Journey.

It is a deeper power to gain this strength by Charm, Beauty, Attraction – and Gratitude, than it would ever be to “tame” the lion by discipline, power-over, fear, or force.

When our Journey Circle was started, I put this energy of Attraction into a drawing by Ekabhumi Charles Ellik’s version of the Durga Yantra (From “The Shakti Coloring Book”):

Durga Yantra – artist Ekabhumi Charles Ellik, colourist JanCarol

The science of Yantra harnesses geometric colour formulas for attracting archetypal, psychological and subtle aspects of universal flow to raise vibration: in your consciousness, and in the world around you as you reflect the world.

This Yantra is for charming obstacles with love and affection, and protecting family and all within your Circle or under your care.

Durga, too, attracts and charms her way to Power and Strength, and is often portrayed riding a Tiger, gentled by Her Love. I am revisiting this Yantra to infuse it with the deep Gratitude taught by the Coffee Tree.

The Coffee Tree and me – we are sending out peace, love and Gratitude to attract to us what we need to live, learn, and grow. We will use this energy to expand and spread the peace, love and Gratitude to our garden, our neighbours, our Work and our community. There is a feeling of Wholeness and Strength in the depths of my Heart.

And I am so Grateful!

Three Worlds of Shamanic Journeys

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Carl Jung Red Book 84

One of the Teachings which cannot be repeated enough – is this: What are the qualities and differences of the Three Worlds that we visit in Shamanic States?

In The Lower World, you access your more primitive self, and the support it gives you, body, emotions, thoughts, and actions. To get to the Lower World, you start out travelling the Middle World until you find a hole, and enter the hole – it may be uncomfortable but the tunnel will open up into the Lower World. When it opens up, you know you are there. Many times the information received in the Lower World is non-verbal, or may take the form of colours, sounds, feelings, or tactile sensations. It is helpful to have someone who is skilled in Non-Ordinary Consciousness to interpret the experiences there.

Here is where you meet your Animal Helpers (which may become Medicine, Ally, or Power Animal as you develop relationships with them). Remember the formula for Animal Helpers: “Are you my Helper?” and “Thank you, what may I give you?” These Helpers support your walk in the Middle World, your daily life, and offer you insights into your native abilities and powers. They also offer the strength to help with Upper World journeys, and Power to manifest adjustments in the Middle World.

Floral Tribute in local Park

The Middle World is the Realm that overlaps with your daily life. It is the Realm of current existence, but it is also the Dreamtime. According to Aboriginals, the Dreamtime is always in a State of Creation. The Middle World gives you access to the Spiritual influences on your present, your daily life. Experiences in the Middle World can include Ancestors, and this is the place where Healing is done. For example, a Reiki Master manipulates energy flow in the Middle World in order to open your own body to healing. This is also the place where you can gain psychic information by seeing the energy of a situation: if there is a difficult puzzle or challenge, journeying to the Middle World can help you see the energetics of the relationship or situation, and possible remedies to help the situation. With skill and the support of your Helper Animals, you can manipulate the energies during the Journey – offering gifts, love and light, or shifting a pattern in order to remedy conflict or difficult challenges.

So the Middle World has psychic, empathic/emotional, and Ancestral Powers. It can be used for Remote Viewing (seeing things in a distant place), Astral Travel, and Energetic Awareness, and is useful in gaining practical knowledge and information. Additionally, if you have a pressing matter in the Lower and Upper Worlds, you may receive Visitations from those worlds – animals from the Lower World, and Guides from the Upper World.

Orange Sky by Nancy Settle

The Upper World is often challenging to achieve, and I don’t recommend it for beginners. It is immensely helpful to be supported by the Animal Powers of the Lower World before attempting the Upper World. To go to the Upper World, you must climb, rise or fly up. You will find a Barrier – this Barrier is different for everyone – some say it is like cellophane or gelatine, others see it as dense light or darkness, still others have experienced it as intense sound. Passing through the Barrier, you will know you are in the Upper World. (note: it is possible to fly out into space and miss the Barrier – this is still Astral Travel in the Middle World, and is not the Upper World.)

In the Upper World you will receive Teachings from Guides & Guardians, Angels and even Divine Beings. Again, it is different for everyone, but the Teachings received here are often verbal, and do not need interpretation. The Messages are often direct (though they may be cryptic and require years of living to unravel the puzzle), and an Energetic Transfer or Upgrade from the Guide to the Shaman may take place.

Carl Jung – Map of Human Consciousness

Travel is not restricted to these Worlds, there are sometimes surprises. But many of the Worlds (or Realities) that you visit are likely to be a subcategory of one of these Three Worlds.

Anytime you are dipping into an altered state of consciousness, you are accessing your subconscious (called “The Personal Unconscious” in Jung’s diagram above), the culture that created that subconscious, and the Collective Unconsciousness behind the culture. This is where Archetypes are found, and they are frequently common to many humans of varied culture and background.

This is where the deep Insights take place – and they may come from Middle, Lower and Upper world.

Why Daily Practice?

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Carl Jung Red Book Mandala

We like to believe that working and tending our homes and families is enough. Truly, it is a monumental and life’s work.

But if you don’t tend to yourself, your family, work & home will suffer.

Yoga teacher Shiva Rea speaks of the Practice as the dance with your Soul.

Only you can meditate, only you can practice your yoga, only you can create your artwork, only you can make your music, only you can sing your songs, dance your dance, knit, quilt, sew – whatever your Practice is. This is not something that you “have to do,” that you drag your feet as you approach the Practice – it is something that will uplift you and give you more than you offer it.

It is your very Soul, and the opportunity to dance with that place of G-d within you.

I don’t care what your practice is. It might be balancing a spoon on your nose, it might be time spent with your dog. But it’s not just “time alone,” it needs to be something that builds upon itself, that has the potential to spiral up into skill and mastery. If it is time spent with your dog, how does that deepen and grow? (hint: the daily walk is a chore and possibly an escape – unless you add the element of Practice to it) I used to train dogs, and the time spent training them was good for me, too – we both learned and grew. So your Practice is not just sitting with a cup of tea in the afternoon – unless you are striving to make that tea time better in quality with each session.

Let’s say that a cup of tea in the afternoon is your Practice. Can you bless the tea or give thanks, meditate on the people who made this tea possible for you, before you start steeping? How clean is the water? Feel the connection between the water and your own body. Exactly how hot is the water? Are the boiling bubbles “shrimp eyes” (for green tea) or “fish eyes” (for black)? What do you do while the tea is steeping? Is this a time to check in with your body, take a deep breath and let go of your thoughts? Perhaps you want to spend this time in your heart centre, cherishing the things that you love, and opening and expanding to forgiveness, kindness, and love. (hint: this is not a time for thinking-thinking-thinking or problem solving – those are just rumination, and you don’t need to Practice that!) Okay, your tea is steeped – have you blessed the cup which will contain the tea? Do you bless yourself as you take the tea in? How about some gratitude for this moment in time, this simple and nourishing thing? Tea can be a rich and deep spiritual practice, if you open yourself to the Mindfulness of the moment.

This turns your daily cuppa into a Daily Practice, and as you gain mastery, a Daily Ceremony. As you Practice your tea, the quality of the practice and the time spent with your soul will reward you.

The reason we Practice is threefold.

First, to demonstrate our commitment to dancing with our Soul.
Second, to actually dance with our Soul, and
Third, to learn and grow as the soul teaches us through the Practice.

I don’t care what your Practice is, but your Soul wants to communicate with you. Are you giving it the opportunity?

Perhaps your practice can be incorporated in the tending of your life – the way you cook a meal, or expressing gratitude (Grace) before eating. Maybe your practice is something carved out just for you and your Soul – like juggling, balancing spoons on your nose, arts & crafts, yoga, tai chi, sitting meditation – or a daily cup of tea! The simplest of Practices – like just sitting and listening to a piece of music – not doing anything but listening – can reap great inner rewards. Regardless of what your Practice is, it is essential to your Growth as a Human Being.

What daily practice will you commit to? At first, make a small commitment: I will do this for a week. A week is long enough to start seeing the benefits. What about a month? What about every possible day for the rest of your life? There are exceptions, this isn’t about austerity, it’s about the pleasure of Dancing with your Soul.

What daily practice will you commit to?

Bush Turkey, Sun Warrior

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I learned a lesson from a juvenile bush turkey.

We have a bush turkey mound, with an adult male tending the eggs. It’s nearing the end of its useful life, but we have juvenile bush turkeys still hanging around the yard.

It’s like having a flock of dinosaurs wandering the property. Only – they are not like a flock, they are very individual and solitary. These fierce animals seek out insects and seeds, and compete with each other for resources. The adult will chase the young ones away, and watching their behaviour has been like observing an ancient mystery.

The Turkey is the giveaway bird, providing graciously his meat and feathers, eggs, and in the case of the Australian bush turkey, leaving a huge fertile compost mound for the garden.

I am happy watching the turkeys as they hunt their beetles and worms as they forage on our wooded property. I was meditating in the garden when I saw a young turkey fiercely walking around seeking nourishment. I marvelled at this ancient creature of instinct, and delighted in watching him, when –

He flopped over on his side!

Was he okay? I held my breath. He was on his side, just beyond clear sight – I could see his speckled breast. When I saw it, I realised that, on this cloudy day, he was in a ray of sunlight, pointing his breast to the sun.

Then, just as I was ready to release my breath, he jumped up and went back to his fierce survey of his domain. The sun went back behind the clouds.

He took a 2 minute sunbath, exposing his belly. I’m thrilled that he felt safe enough to do that – I’m also thrilled that he reminded me how important the sun is to our energy. His brain isn’t very big, but his instincts were true – we all need the sun for energy.

And he reminded me – with his giveaway medicine – that self-care includes many things, and is essential to our growth, health and life.

Everything is Training

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In Shamanism, everything is training.

You may think that it only involves Journeying, or meditating, or yoga.

But you can be practicing shamanism as you work on your art – drawing, painting, knitting, sewing, writing, tending children, cooking, dancing, communicating.

Someone asked me in class the other night, “Who drums for you?” and sadly, I don’t have a drummer right now. But that does not preclude my shamanic practice.

I dance with altered states before I fall asleep at night. I try and hold on to those theta moments before I drop off into delta sleep. I open my inner eyes to whatever unfolds in those moments. I pause before getting out of bed to relish the dreams that were given me.

I close my eyes and I see paths, or rainbow-like arcs, mandalas, combinations of circles, squares, triangles, braids and the medicine wheel. I don’t always understand the message of these visions, but they are like confirmation that I am still learning and growing.

What about walking? Exercising? Cleaning? Eating? Playing games? Talking?

It’s all shamanism.

When we clean, we are also cleaning our spiritual selves. If you breathe and pay attention while you are cleaning – wiping that counter, clearing your thoughts, being mindful to the little life beneath your cloth – you can participate in it as a spiritual practice.

When you walk, are you lost in your own thoughts, wool-gathering? Or do you look to the sky, and see a bird – what bird is it that crossed your path today? Or a butterfly? A grasshopper? Become mindful of the world around you, and simple walking can be a practice.

Even wool-gathering can be a sort of shamanic practice – lose yourself so that you may find yourself again.

Exercising can be a practice, as you move your bones and joints, pay attention to how your inner world is responding to your activity. Enjoy the feel of flexing muscles, strong breathing, heart beating, joints bending, and participate in the joy of using your body.

Eating is a sacred act – do you give thanks for the food you partake of? It is about to become a part of you! Be grateful and honor the food you absorb for your life!

Play is also training of the highest order. Are you passionate about your play? (this can be sport, or games, or playing with children – or acting like children!) Do you play fair? What is your response when something unfair happens? What are the rules? Do you respect others? Watch the game unfold, and you are learning and growing. I believe that play and playfulness are underestimated in our society – we learn best when it is fun, and you help to structure your brain as you learn rules and fair play. You learn to control your emotions when things don’t go your way. The Game of Life is what we are training for – and play, games, playfulness are great ways to train!

Talking and communicating is a high practice, too. Are you speaking good and true things? Are you kind to others? Are you learning to understand the other person? Can you see a point of view other than your own?

Anytime you engage your awareness, you are practicing shamanism.

Asking instead of Telling

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Shaman Explorations – New Zealand Roses

When I go to my acupuncturist, I am sometimes in a lot of pain. She talks to me about what acupuncture is like in China (it’s much more intense), and she tells me that she likes to “ask” my body instead of “telling” it what to do.

This applies to yoga, too. When you are in a difficult position, do you tell your body – commanding it to take a certain shape or form? Or do you ask it, gently reminding it of what you want, and request that you work together?

Starhawk speaks of “Power Over” (command) versus “Power With” (cooperation). The Ra Material speaks of “Service to Self” versus “Service to Others.” Yoga and Buddhism teach of Ahimsa, non-violence. If I understand correctly, one need only be 51% pure when asking, but needs to be 99% pure when telling. Telling is harder work, and more dangerous.

While studying Carlos Casteneda, I learned that he has developed a warrior’s protocol for elevating the human to higher levels of being, called Tensegrity. I have not studied it in depth, but have watched a few videos of it, and I was surprised at how it is TELLING, COMMANDING, not asking for these energetic upgrades.

I have also seen this pumping of energy in many modern kundalini practices, driving the energy through the centres, even when they may not be ready or able to handle the energy. Wouldn’t it be better to ask, instead of tell?

In our polluted and blind society, it may seem necessary to take it to these more intense levels – “shredding” energy balls and grasping and grabbing as much energy as possible.

But the traditions of Tai Chi, Chi Gung, and martial arts have no need to grasp or shred. There are huge gains and benefits to simply asking. Hold the energy ball, bring it into your lower dantien – there is no need to shred it before “ingesting” it. Your body will take what it needs. Ask, not tell.

This is one of the differences I see between Wizardly or “ceremonial magick” practices and Earth magick. The Wizard commands the spirit to appear, confines the spirit to a circle of his Will, and demands that the Spirit fulfill his request – whether that is teaching, or a command to perform a deed. Wizards create gates, telling instead of asking, to travel the worlds. It is the commanding, the telling, that makes Wizardly practices more dangerous, and involves greater ego. To achieve goals by this method requires 99% purity and dedication to the practice. It is so much easier to ask than tell.

This is also true of nearly all shamanic practices as well.

You don’t demand that you go on a Journey; you ask. You don’t tell your Guardians help you, you ask. You don’t command the Medicine Wheel – you invite it.

You don’t insist that your Helpers appear, you ask for their presence. You offer gratitude when they do appear. This gentle practice helps prevent us from becoming warped and selfish.

The entire multiverse is about relationship. Treat your body as a friend, and it will be your friend. Welcome your Helpers, your Journeys, even your Medicine Wheel as friends.

There is no need to force the rose to bloom. Isn’t the rose more beautiful when it opens naturally? Ask, not tell.