The sun continues to shine day in and out. The rain continues to fall. Seasons come and go. Births occur and so do deaths. Flowers bloom. Tsunamis strike. All in the world and in nature goes on about its business without the slightest pause. Nature does not care that there are clocks to be minded and deadlines to be met. She does not mind that there are jammed freeways and grocery store lines. She continues her cycles, unperturbed by the concerns magnified by the human mind: bills to pay, unsatisfying jobs, difficult relationships, anxiety, stress. These are not things born of the universally impartial cycles of nature, but rather, they evolve from the limits of our human consciousness. When faced with the limits of a lifetime, one naturally begins to ask where one might encounter freedom and empowerment, the natural movement of the seasons. We commonly feel separated from the cycles of nature, living within the context of the societies we've created. Nonetheless, following nature's lead becomes a critical practice for one who wishes to enter into a life of sanity and spiritual empowerment. Since Wiccans look to nature as a spiritual guidepost, it is easy to see that the empowered state flows from alignment with nature. Much of our important work, therefore, focuses on seasonal passages. Power for Wiccans comes from aligning with the more neutral cycles of nature--merging with the larger, more impartial consciousness of the universe. The Wiccan accomplishes this task through mindfully attending to seasonal rites and observances. Through this, one begins to recognize one's place within the the world, within nature. "Problems" that once seemed prominent ease their grip and their control over us. Over time, we come to understand that the world simply is as it is, right here, right now. In shaping this understanding, we slowly return to our human nature, and the cares that once seemed so prominent simply become one aspect of a larger whole.
How is it possible that we find ourselves in a frame of mind where other people's words offend us? Simply put, we buy into our own opinions, our own thoughts and ideas--our "storylines" of ourselves. We have created many stories about who we are and how things got to be the way they are. These stories often go unexamined and unquestioned. If this goes on long enough, we can begin to lose our way in life. The words of other people (who are also individuals who have "storylines," but that do not match up with our own stories) can cause us to experience extreme reactions. Hate, greed and ignorance are the usual byproducts of stories that clash. But what is most important in an empowered life is living outside of the storyline, letting go of words and stories that we use as crutches. It is important for us to get out of our heads and truly experience the world and each other--just as we are. Is it truly possible to hear someone else's opinion, to bear witness to the unfolding of someone else's storyline, without this "self" (whatever that may be) interfering with its own defenses, needs, wants or fears? How deeply can we listen to other people without allowing our own "reactions" to take over? How willing are we to see the perspective of someone else? I propose that this very deep work is necessary for the power of the Wiccan to truly unfold. By silently witnessing, keeping the mind still enough for someone else's words to enter through our "armor," we gradually begin to recognize (and tap into) our underlying interconnectedness, which is the source of our spiritual potential, our magical power. Spend time today actively listening to another person. When this encounter is complete, explore the following questions: What can I learn from this encounter? How might this spiritually empower me?
This quote brings to mind a trip to Avebury I took when I was in my twenties. I believed that I was going to a place that was "sacred," and that because of my pilgrimage I would somehow change. Perhaps I believed that such a trip would make me more "powerful" or more "spiritual." Imagine my disappointment when I left Avebury on that brisk spring day, feeling just as ordinary as when I arrived. It wasn't until much
later in my life that I realized that it wasn't going to be Avebury,
Stonehenge, Macho Pichu or any other place in the world that would
change me. There is no substantial change that occurs from the
outside in. The scenery of our lives changes continually, but what we carry
inside--in our minds and hearts--is what may really need changing. The "spiritual" places are right here, beneath our feet, in every moment of life. The task of Wiccans is to open their eyes enough to see clearly.
What is truth? Truth, like magic, power and spiritual practice cannot easily be caught in words. These are the things of experience. Words are in and of themselves limitations. They may point to some spiritual truth, but in the end it is your own experience that defines your truth, your magic and your power. In Wicca there is very little to believe in. There is only that which you can experience. A taste, a touch from a loved one, a vivid sight or sound all draw attention to your presence in the here and now. It is right here and right now where the divine resides. Honor your experiences--all of them--and you honor the divine.
How do we live our lives with the kind wisdom that William James suggests in this quote? In a lifetime plagued by fears, confusion and doubts, it may feel like a daunting task. The key to the kind of everyday wisdom that James suggests comes from knowing where we must maintain our attention. Shall we maintain a focus on what seems to be out of our control, or shall we handle what is before us in this very moment? Shall we hang on to old feelings, anger, sadness, hostility, or shall we release ourselves to whatever each moment is bringing us? The manner in which we maintain our daily focus reflects upon our effectiveness in the world and upon our spiritual power. As Wiccans, we work to create magic. The processes of magic are those of changing consciousness. When we lose the ability to "overlook" the things outside of our immediate sphere of influence we lose magic, we become rigid and cannot change consciousness. Ultimately in this position we lose power. Conversely, if we gain the ability to deeply look at what is central to our full participation in each moment we become empowered.
When we move beyond the realm of intellectualizing and we open to the experiential understanding that we are truly made up of the universe (in all of its manifestations), all of the possibilities stand before us. Truly, we are made up of dung and of stars. We are made up of flowers and mud, earth and sky, sun and moon. We are made up of each other. Once we are able to see life from this magical vantage point, existence takes on new meaning. This is the moment when power and magic truly become the substance of our everyday lives. In fact, it is in that moment of experiential realization that we understand that power and magic have been a part of our lives from the beginning. These were never things that needed seeking.
Direct experience of the moment takes us away from our thoughts about the moment. When we experience, we don't make postulations or plans. We don't hope and we don't worry when we are deeply immersed in experience. In that state of deep connection to the moment, we find that we are --without any gaps whatsoever-- that moment itself. In that state, we find that we cannot separate ourselves from our surroundings. When we are able to come to this mystic realization, we open to self-transformation. That is when we open to magic. In this magical, experiential state of awareness, we are one with the Gods. We are magic itself.
Believers have it all wrong. I do not advocate a belief in Wicca. That is because whenever we enter the state of belief, we take a position of "knowing," of certainty. Once we adopt the state of knowing, we have imposed limitations upon ourselves. It is those limits that case us to become rigid, and ultimately "ridiculous." When we rely on "knowing" our lives become a sort of tragic-comedy. We become the sad clown standing in the midst of a life that is falling apart--all because of our clinging to outdated "knowing."
What is it that you know that you must now release to not knowing?
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