The Magickal Power of Hitting "Reset"

While many people engage in the ritual of New Year's Resolutions, very few people actually take the time to stop the rhythm of their daily lives to hit the magickal "Reset" button. In tribal times, people used ceremonies to release the old and welcome the new--usually during or the equinox. In modern times, however, these times have become simply holidays, time off from work and time for family. While holidays can often mean family time, which can resemble tribal ceremonial gatherings, unfortunately the family members rarely participate in activities that are intended during gatherings... to release the old and welcome the new.

Modern Magickal Ceremonies
Depending on the people with whom you gather during the holidays, conducting modern magickal ceremonies can either be done as a group or on your own. Both group and solo ceremonies can be equally effective. Many students in our classes conduct group ceremonies, often but not always at the solstice of equinox. While the solstice and equinox are indeed powerful times of the year to conduct ceremonies, if it is not possible to conduct a ceremony during those times of year, any time will do. The goal is to take the time to stop the daily routine of our lives and spend a certain period of time purposefully releasing the old from the past season (or seasons), and welcome the new for the coming season.

There are many powerful reasons to take the time to conduct such magickal ceremonies, including:

• releasing old beliefs that no longer serve you
• processing events from the recent far past that you have not yet resolved so you can put the events and information in the proper place in your consciousness
• releasing people and relationships in your life that no longer serve you, and which may cost you energy to maintain
• allowing the new ideas, emotions, directions, guidance, and spiritual power from your spirit guides, totems, and other higher beings to enter your consciousness
• gaining new perspectives on your life, including possible new options for career, health, money, love, family, and more
• expanding the spaces in between the daily actions of your life to allow the magick to seep into your life and take its place in your life

There are many other benefits to spending time designing and participating ceremonies. One major benefit is that you probably won't catch any major flus or colds going around. While catching a cold does often have to do with being in proximity of others who are sick, practitioners who take the time during the change of season to celebrate with ceremony tend not to get sick.

Because there are no ceremonial periods integrated into modern everyday life, the body, mind, and Spirit often have no recourse for creating a magickal period of celebration other than illness. If you think about it, getting sick forces us to slow down, take time to rest, and avoid going to work. While lying flat on your back due to illness isn't the most pleasant way to release the old, sickness does get the job done. The old is released through all the somewhat unpleasant aspects of sickness, as well as through sleep and dreams and even the images and dreams associated with fevers. Being sick for a period of time gives us a different perspective on our lives. We move slower, think less, feel more sensation, and have the time to consider the various aspects of our lives that we usually never have the time to do.

As we begin to recover from our illness, we feel a new sense of vibrant energy. We enjoy the return of our normal vibrant energy--something we tend to take for granted on a daily basis. Recovery from illness can make us more appreciative of various aspects of our lives. If you journal, you will see the difference in your perspective in your life, as brought about by sickness.

So while getting sick is certainly one way to release the old and bring in the new, wouldn't taking just a few hours to participate in a ceremony be much more fun?

Simple Magical Ceremonies
While many of our students do create and participate in ceremonies rich in content and filled with people, this is not a necessity. To celebrate the release of the old and the arrival of the new in your life, you can do something as simple as inviting a few friends over for a drumming ceremony. If you prefer to fly solo, consider some of these simple options:

Sun Candle: Gather a bright yellow candle (no red or orange undertones) along with wooden or paper matches plus a plate. Gather pen and paper. Divide the paper into two columns. On one side list all the aspects of your life that you would like to release (the old). On the other side of the list, write all the new aspects that you would like to invite into your life during the coming season. Find a quiet place where you can be undisturbed for at least an hour. Gather all your materials and sit in the South facing North with your materials in front of you. Light the Sun Candle with the matches. When the candle has a strong and steady flame (called a working flame), place your list on the plate and put the candle on top of the plate. In a voice of command, say the following verse:

Child of Wonder
Child of Flame
Nourish My Spirit
And Protect My Aim

Sit quietly until you feel complete. If you like, meditate by staring at the candle flame. Or simply envision the energy of the old leaving your life as the energy of the new enters, Feel free to repeat this simple ritual for several days in a row if you like.

Announce Your Reset to the Universe: Another simple way to release the old and welcome the new is to make your list, as in the previous exercise, and then announce your intentions to the Universe. Once you have made your list, find a place outside where you feel comfortable speaking to the Winds, Sky, and Earth. Start by facing East. In a voice of command, speak the following: "Winds of Knowledge, With Beauty I Greet You. I ask your help in releasing the old from my life and welcoming the new into my life. I thank you in advance for your help." Turn clockwise and face the South. Address each direction as follows:

o South: Winds of Power
o West: Winds of Feeling
o North: Wind of Strength
o Sky (face East and put attention upward): Sky Father
o Earth (face east and put attention downward): Earth Mother

Hibernate: If doing either of the two exercises above seems to be too much, then simply do as many of the creatures in Nature do... hibernate. Whether you need to request that your family not disturb you or you simply need to spend the night in a hotel, take a day or two to simply sleep, eat, rest, read, relax and rejuvenate as you like. You will be amazed at how following the simple guidance from your body will recharge your batteries in a hurry!

Another way to get your new year off to a new start is to join in the magic with others. We are currently offering you the opportunity to try out our classes for free. The only payment we'll ask for is that after each set of classes, you provide some sort of testimonial or way of passing the magick forward to others. For more details on this special offer just email us at info@shamanschool.com and we'll send you the details and a coupon code to purchase the Magical Element Air classes at no cost to you to get you started. In this new year let magic help you let go of the old and invite in the new.

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Spellwork Troubleshooting

So you've launched your spell. You've done everything you can think of. You've done checkup Tarot readings on your Directors and Limiters (what you want your spell to do and not do) as well as on your verses. You have cleansed the area and launched your spell.

Then... nothing. You do a checkup Tarot reading on your spell and you see that it is stalled out. What could have gone wrong? Unfortunately, in the world of spellwork, unless you are using a spell that has already been proven to work under multiple circumstances, a lot of things can go wrong. So we've written a short little troubleshooting guide that might help you out. Check your spellwork against the list and see if any of the items apply to you. If so, don't fret. Many times you just need to relaunch your spell under the right conditions and all will go according to plan!

Spellwork Issue #1: The Moon
As you may know, many spells are tied into the timing of the lunar calendar. The moon is an important part of many types of spellwork, so timing the launching of your spell according to the waxing and waning of the moon is important. Just as the moon affects the tides all around the globe, the moon is often the moving factor behind a spell. The key to working with the moon is simple:

1. If you want your spell to build and grow and become larger, time your spell launch for when the moon is waxing.
2. If you want your spell to diminish a problem or cause an issue to shrink until it disappears, then launch your spell when the moon is waning.

If you plan to launch your spell several times (which is sometimes appropriate), then always relaunch your spell according to the previously given rules.

Spellwork Issue #2: Using the Appropriate Magickal Elements
Depending on whether your spell is meant to work on the level of thoughts and communication, action, emotion, or manifestation, the appropriate use of the four magickal elements is very important. The following list should give you a quick idea of which elements should be included in your spell, from the color of candles you might choose to the sound used in your spell verses. Candle carvings representing the appropriate elements may also come into play, as may the spiritual beings you call upon as you cast your spell:

• Air: thoughts, communication, planning, speaking, logic, expression, writing

• Fire: action, movement, kinetic (as opposed to potential) energy, anger, heat, neural energy, blood energy

• Water: emotions, the language of Spirit, buried traumatic issues from past lifetimes

• Earth: manifestation, practical ideas, construction, putting physical things together in a way that works

Now that you know which elements are associated with which parts of spellwork, you can review your spell to see whether you included the appropriate focus on elements. This is simply a quick peek at the elements. There is an entire deep art associated with the icons, colors, Tarot cards, sounds (for litanies and chants), and other factors for each element. If you are interested in this type of deep learning, consider our Basic Magic Level 1 course or element short courses and be sure to check out our special course offer at the end of this article.

Spellwork Issue #3: Using the Right Type of Spell
Just as you would not use a garden spade to dig a space for the foundation of a building, you would not use a backhoe to dig a hole in which to plant a small garden flower. Spellwork has the same kind of "scale" issues. If you want to tackle a truly large problem, such as a Bill that is to appear before the U.S. Senate, you will need a backhoe-sized spell to influence such a large issue. This type of spell would most likely be a room-sized Tarot spell cast by an entire group of people. On the other hand, if you want to cast a spell to get a better job, you will need a spell slightly larger than a garden spade, more of a full shovel. This might fall into the category of a Sun Candle spell or a "come along" spell with a keyed plate and magnet. If your spell isn't working, consider whether the spell you cast is of an appropriate scale for the issue you want to tackle.

Special Offer to Help You Start Your Magickal Journey
Hold onto your hats as we're about to blow you away with an offer you can't beat with a stick (or a wand)! We invite you to help spread magick across the globe and start on your own journey into magickal learning for FREE! How does this work? Just email us at info@shamanschool.com and tell us you want to take the course on the Magickal Element Air (which is the first 3 classes of our Basic Magic course). We will email you back a coupon code to use to gain access to this course for free. The course will give you access to online audio files, text book, videos, and class exercises. What's the catch? At the end of these 3 classes, we will ask that you help spread the magick to others by writing a testimonial, leaving a blog comment, commenting on our Facebook page, leaving a review on Amazon for one of our Kindle books, or something that will help encourage others to consider bringing magick to their lives. In return, we will then give you access to the next few classes in Basic Magic, the Fire Element, for free. We are prepared to continue this all the way through at least 10 classes; all at no cost to you other than to help spread the word to others. Why would we do this? We want to give you the chance to see if the type of teaching we offer resonates with you and how better to do that than actually experiencing classes for yourself. We are looking to connect with serious students of magick and feel this process will bring us together with those seeking the type of knowledge we have to offer. The more of us doing magickal acts, the higher the level of consciousness that exists and the more our planet can benefit. It's that simple. 

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How to Do Meditation: The Walking Meditation

We have all heard of the many benefits of mediation for physical, mental and spiritual health, but are you one of those who are not sure how to do mediation or have trouble doing a sitting meditation? Very active or fire element personalities often find sitting meditation very difficult and frustrating. If you are one of these people and have been searching for how to do meditation in a way that works for you, look no further. We have the answer for you straight from our first Kindle book Learn How to Do Witchcraft Rituals and Spells with Your Bare Hands – a walking meditation.

The Walking Meditation
This meditation allows you to connect with the Universe and higher powers and beings, share your thoughts and receive feedback without ever having to sit down. The more often you engage in this practice, as with any type of meditation practice, the more benefit you will receive. We recommend this become a daily ritual for you and doing it around the same time of day each day will create a more consistent connection with higher powers… like creating a scheduled daily appointment.
Here’s how you do it:

• Choose an amount of time you will walk for or a distance you will walk.

• When you begin walking, talk to your totems, guides, angels, the Universe or any higher beings about whatever is on your mind, what you need or what you want. You will do the talking for the first half of the walk.
   
• Halfway through the walk, stop talking and begin listening and watching for signs of feedback from the powers you have been talking to. Feel your feelings, be aware of body sensations, listen to the sounds around you, smell the smells around you and really see the sights around you. Absorb all these things totally.
   
• That’s it! You have now joined the world of meditation.

Yes, it’s just that easy and walking meditation is truly one of the ways of how to do meditation. If you have struggled with non-moving meditations, using the walking meditation will help you finally see how your life will be enriched through meditation. If sitting meditation just doesn’t work for you, you owe it to yourself to start exploring moving meditation and reaping the benefits.


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Basic Magic: Tribal Traditions for a Modern World

From before the written history of this incarnation of Planet Earth, magick has been taught as a tribal tradition, a dialog of learning. Only in this way is true magick passed from one planetary citizen to another--as a thing alive with power, force, and access to all that is within the Universe and its Laws.

To be sure magick can be learned from books and online courses. Many do so every day through our books, ebooks, and online courses. But true advancement in magick comes from verbal dialog, feedback from others on the same path, and the experience of magick as a tradition full of life, change, and the miraculous.

Magick, Miracles, and the Modern World
For magick to be a thing alive as a powerful force in the world, it must be adaptable to every change in modern society. In a world where the "thumb tribe" texts incessantly, where there is never enough time to slow down and "be"... how and where can magick and the miraculous exist?

Magick has always been a force that exists in the "in between"--in the small cracks and spaces in our lives, flowing silently into our lives when we least expect it, in the small lucid period between wakefulness and sleep.

And so magick and the miraculous easily slip into the "in betweens" in the modern world. Despite all the smart phones and game boxes and inability to "unplug" in today's society, magick always finds a way. Magick still exists as a tribal tradition filled with learning of how to use and play with the miraculous. Magick is still a lively tradition of discussion and experimentation and social dialog. Magick is still an oral tradition, but adapted to the modern world.

In today's world, magick must meet the needs of the digital tribe. Still taught as a tribal tradition, the modern version of this tradition combines high tech with high touch. Magick in the modern world still brings the miraculous down to Earth, and raises our levels of being to higher planes.

Magick as a Living Tradition
Taught as a tribal tradition, magick cannot be fully experienced for the ardent student by books and self-study alone. Thus we have created a modern tribal tradition where magick is a living thing, and the knowledge is transmitted through a mix of online self-study and regular lively dialog and feedback, in the best tribal tradition of oral teaching.

Join the Tribe
How can you learn magick as a living tradition, adapted to modern life? Simple. Join the modern tribe of magick and experience the miraculous for yourself. The modern tribe of practicing magicians is spread across the globe, connected by invisible yet powerful computerized and networked lines. The magickal knowledge lives in the cloud, accessed anytime and anywhere by members of the tribe. The tribe gathers weekly via teleconference to discuss, bounce ideas, exchange experiences, and learn through the oral tradition of teaching.

The Mechanics of the Tribe
To be a member of the tribe is simple. Anyone is welcome into the tribe who agrees to abide by the Rules of the Road, as inspired by our teacher, Reverend George Dew. To become a member of the tribe is simple:

• Access full multimedia course materials from the 30 week Basic Magic course online
• Study and learn at your own pace
• Bring your experiences, questions, ideas, and thirst for magickal knowledge to a weekly teleconference, Skype session, and online chat. It does not matter where you are in the course. Join the teleconferences and/or chats from day one or anytime you wish. Some students will be further along in the course material, while you may be ahead of others in your learning. It does not matter. Sharing amongst the members of the tribe, as guided by oral teachings, enriches everyone.
• Exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn via the oral tribal tradition from G. Alan Joel, co-founder of the Esoteric School. Alan will guide you through the course material, wherever you are, at whatever step you need help.
• Access teleconference sessions from the past via recorded audio files posted in the Tribe's cloud storage system
• Pay US$69 per month to access materials and participate in the chats and teleconference weekly. A minimum commitment of three months is required up front. After that, you may come and go from the Tribe as your life allows, stopping and starting your membership as needed, and simply paying US$69 each month that you are active in the Tribe.

Extra or Customized Help

• If you need specific help with a specific problem, such as writing and designing a spell beyond the scope of the materials offered online, special services are available for spellwork, Tarot readings, divinations, and other customized help.
• Most one-on-one work of this kind is offered at the rate of US$90 per hour, but is flexible depending on need, scope of work, etc.

Special Offer
Be among the first 11 members to join the Tribe and receive three months of access to all online materials, teleconferences, and chats for the price of two months (US$138).  You will also receive a free paperback copy of G. Alan Joel's book Witchcraft Spell Book: The Complete Guide of Witchcraft Rituals & Spells for Beginners.

Join the Tribe by Clicking Here to fill out the registration form and then by going HERE to make registration payment.


Be sure to provide your mailing address to receive your paperback book, provide a valid email address, and use the coupon code chfree at checkout to get your first 3 months for the price of 2 months (discount will show up after applying coupon at checkout). After the first 11 members signup the code will no longer work, so signup now. You will then receive an email within 48 hours with instructions on how to access the online portion, teleconference, and chats for the course. Join us by continuing the tribal tradition of magical practice and discover all the wonders real magic can bring to your life.

A Simple Magickal Litany to "Cut the Cord"

If you have something in your life that is really bothering you, you can use the simple magickal litany in this article to "cut the cord" from that problem. Whether you are dealing with a sticky and unhealthy relationship that keeps pulling you in like the tar baby or have difficulty letting go of some compulsive thoughts, this might be just what you need to untangle yourself from the problem.

The beauty of this magickal chant is that it is effective no matter if the problem is within you or is an external person or force. For instance, if you have spent years telling yourself that you are "stupid" and you can't seem to escape the effects of that self-programming, this litany is just what you need.  The directions below are for doing the chant while in a sacred circle. We recommend that you do the chant using the following directions first. Later, if you are still bothered by the problem, you can either repeat the entire process, or you can simply use the litany if you don't have time to do the full procedure.

How to Do the Disconnect Litany
The disconnect litany is a wonderful and simply magickal solution to distance yourself from problems and issues that are particularly chronic in your life. The following instructions will guide you through the full procedure for doing this disconnect litany.

To do the full disconnect litany, you will need:

• wooden or paper matches
• a compass to find the four cardinal directions
• a bright yellow pillar candle (no orange or red undertones)
• a sage stick, dried so it burns easily, and a plate or bowl to catch the ashes as the stick burns
• a printed version of the disconnect litany (copy from the following instructions)

Once you have gathered your materials, you are now ready to proceed with the disconnect litany using the following instructions:

1. Using your compass outdoors (compasses do not work accurately indoors), locate the four directions of East, South, West, and North.

2. Move back inside your house and clear an area at least 5 to 10 feet in diameter. Mark the four cardinal directions, either in your mind or with sticky notes on the floor.

3. Gather all your materials and sit in the South facing North, with your materials in front of you.

4. Light the candle with the wooden or paper matches. Wait until the candle has a tall working flame. Then cup your hands around the flame and say aloud in a voice of command:
"Child of Wonder, Child of Flame, Nourish my Spirit, and Protect my Aim!"
Wait a few moments for the energy of the charge verse to fill the space.

5. Light your sage stick from the yellow candle. Once the sage stick is burning, stand up, carrying the burning sage stick over your plate or bowl to catch the ashes. Walk in a clockwise direction around the circle. Allow the sage smoke to create a "perimeter" around the circle. Once you have walked completely around the circle and are back in the South, move to the center of the circle.

6. Place your burning sage stick in the bowl or plate. Bring the rest of your materials and situate yourself so you are facing East with your materials in front of you.

7. Looking outside the circle to the East, "mock up" the person or thing from which you want to disconnect. If that is another person who keeps bringing you back into an unhealthy relationship, mock up that person standing outside the circle. If you want to disconnect from compulsive thoughts, see those thoughts written in neon hanging in the air outside your circle. If you want to break from an unhealthy habit, mock up a version of yourself outside the circle in the act of the unhealthy habit.

8. Once you have a clear and strong mock up, say the following litany in a voice of command:
"I am neither your creature nor your get,
To be ruled by your whim or your let,
I will go my own way by night or by day,
To serve my own purposes yet!"

9. As you say the litany, see the mocked up energy forms outside your circle shrinking and disappearing in a puff of smoke. You may have to repeat the disconnect litany several times before you achieve the full effect.

10. Once you are done, walk around your circle clockwise once more and see if you notice a difference in the energy.

11. During your day, if you feel the reappearance of whatever you disconnected from, repeat the disconnect litany. You can sit inside your car and see the mock up outside your car. Repeat the litany three times.

12. When you have time, repeat the full procedure with the candle and sage stick. Repeat as many times as needed. You will be surprised to notice the change in your life if you are persistent in using the litany.

As you go through your day, remember that you are entitled to your sacred space. Whether it is unwanted thoughts or people invading your space does not matter. You have the right as a planetary citizen to be free of anything unwanted in your sacred space. The disconnect litany is one of the easiest ways to clear your sacred space. Learn more about your rights to protect your sacred space in our Learn How to Do Witchcraft Rituals and Spells with Your Bare Hands Kindle book.

Image courtesy of  vectorolie / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


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Magickal First Aid for Burns

Burns on the skin are a fact of life for almost anyone who cooks, works on automobiles, uses a curling iron, or even heats up lunch in a microwave oven. Burns are painful because they are immediate, intense, and can cause long-term irritation if not tended to quickly.

Three Magickal First Aid Techniques
Magickally, burns are the result of excess Fire energy. Self-evident, right? What is not self-evident are effective means at immediately relieving the pain from a burn by getting the Fire energy away from the injured area. There are three first aid techniques that may or may not seem immediately intuitive, especially if you are the one suffering from the burn. The good news is that with practice these techniques can become second nature so that you can help yourself or another burn victim quickly and efficiently.

Magickal Healing Technique #1: Push It Out
When burned, most people shake the burned area. For instance, if a person gets burned on a finger, the most intuitive response is to shake the whole hand in an attempt to "shake out" the pain. Shaking the hand is the right idea but won't get the job done. What you really need to do to actually move the concentrated Fire energy away from the burned area is to push the Fire energy out into some large grounded electrical item, such as a refrigerator.

The technique is simple. The magickal color associated with a burn is the bright red-orange color you see in traffic cones and on traffic warning signs. Your goal is to push that color energy out of the burned spot and into the refrigerator. The refrigerator makes a perfect receiver for this energy because it is large, metal, and grounded, so it can easily take the Fire energy out of your system without shorting out. Suppose you burned your hand. Put the affected area of your hand on a large clear area on the front of the refrigerator. Push the bright red orange energy out of the burned area and into the refrigerator. Don't think about how to do this exercise, just do it. See the energy gradually flowing out away from the affected area and into the refrigerator. Keep "pushing" the energy out of your hand and into the refrigerator in an active way. See the energy repeatedly dissipating until it is gone. Once you no longer "see" (with your mind's eye) any red orange energy in the affected area, remove your hand from the refrigerator. The burned area should feel cooler and less painful. You may have to repeat this exercise a few times over the next several hours, but this has proven to be a quickly effective solution at preventing burns from remaining painful or leaving scars.

Magickal Healing Technique #2: Pull It In
This technique is far more counter-intuitive than the first magickal approach. While it makes perfect sense to push the offending Fire energy out of your body, you can also relieve the pain in the burned area by drawing the Fire energy into your body which dissipates the concentrated red orange Fire energy over a larger area--your entire body. Returning to the example where you have burned your hand, you can "yank" the red orange Fire energy up your arm and push it through as much of your body as possible. This will immediately alleviate the severe pain associated with a burn.

The next step is to move that energy out of your body. Follow the same instructions as in the healing technique given above. This time, though, you may want to lay on the ground and put your bare feet on the refrigerator. Body flows are from inner to outer, and from top to bottom. Since the Fire energy is now located all over your body, the best way to get it out is to respect body flows and push it downward and out through your feet. Once you feel that you have completely cleared your body of "excess" Fire energy caused by the burn, remove your feet from the refrigerator. Don't be surprised if you feel a little cold afterward. Sometimes Fire energy flows faster than you imagine, so keep track of your temperature as you get rid of the excess Fire energy.

Magickal Healing Technique #3: Let Water Carry It Away
This last technique is based on the idea that the magickal element Water can carry Fire energy. It is not the best conductor of Fire energy, but in an emergency, cold flowing water can provide welcome relief on a number of levels. Suppose again that you have burned your hand. With this technique, immediately run cold water over the affected area. See the red orange Fire energy being pulled out by the water and flowing away down the drain. You can help the process by pushing the excess Fire energy into the flowing water. As you do, repeat this litany in a voice of command until you feel that all the excess Fire energy has been cleared:

"All the Fire and all the Pain,
All Tension and all the Strain,
Now Flow with Water Down the Drain!"

As with the two techniques above, repeat the litany until you feel the excess Fire energy is gone. You can stop and check how your burned hand feels. If you still sense excess Fire energy, keep going. If not, you have successfully taken care of your burn with this magickal first aid technique. If you later feel the pain returning, you can repeat any of the three magickal techniques--whichever works best for you--to remove any lingering Fire energy. You can learn more magickal healing techniques for just about anything that ails you in our Energy Healing for Self and Others ebook.

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Accident Prone? The Universe May Be Sending You a Message

Have you hit a patch in your life where you just seem to be accident prone? Maybe you keep tripping and falling, hitting your shoulder on a door frame, or getting into a number of small fender benders. Many of these "incidences" can be blamed on astrological events such as Mercury Retrograde. But if you find yourself or your family experiencing more strange accidental events that can't be so easily explained, maybe the Universe is trying to tell you something.

Accidents as Messages from the Universe
Karma is generally interpreted as "What goes around comes around." There are many theories as to whether one's personal karma is spread over a number of lifetimes or is simply limited to this lifetime. Our teacher, George Dew of the Church of Seven Arrows, always believed that karma is a "pay as you go" system in this Universe. That is, whatever you do will be reflected back to you very quickly, and certainly within this lifetime. This doesn't necessarily negate the idea that karma from past lives can appear in this lifetime to be paid. At the same time, there are two reasons that karma may come around very quickly"

1. Aquarian Age: As we move further into the Aquarian Age, everything happens more quickly. The result of any spellwork will manifest with greater speed. Karma will also come around fast and furious, and either pay out or require one to pay in.

2. Magickal Practitioners: If you are practitioner, then karma also moves faster in your life. Those with magickal force and power have a greater effect on the world and Universe, and also have a greater responsibility. Thus any negative or positive karma created by your practice will come around more quickly than for the average citizen.

Having said all that, the question then becomes, "What do these accidents mean?" George Dew, in his Rules of the Road (the Universal Laws that govern magickal practice), noted that accidents are often the Universe's way of providing the magickal practitioner with "feedback" about his or her actions. The feedback can be about breaking any of the Rules of the Road. In addition, there are several minor rules in particular that many practitioners are prone to ignore.

- Vanity: Using magickal abilities to "show off" or be noticed

- Cost: Charging too much for magickal services (in general, services should cost the same as any other professional--such as a lawyer or accountant--would charge)

- Using Complex Spells by Others Without Proper Checking: While it's perfectly fine to use spells written by others, especially simple rituals and spells that have little chance of creating a lot of karma, using complex spells and rituals created by others without first doing some divination to ensure the spell is "safe" can cause the Universe to send you one accident after another until you take down the spell. At the Esoteric School, all spells and rituals offered have been checked against Rules of the Road to prevent negative feedback.

- Binding or Coercion: Magick is neither good nor bad. Magick simply is a force that can be used in many ways, depending on the practitioner. If magickal force is used to bind or coerce another (a love spell that binds a certain person into a relationship is the perfect example) the Universe will not hesitate to bind you in a similar manner. If the binding causes another person to lose their personal freedom, the Universe will reflect that back to you tenfold, and quickly. Prepare for not just small accidents, but one that may limit your freedom for many years to come (as in being sent to prison, losing the use of one's body, and so forth).  Double check all spell work to be sure that it does not limit another's free will or choice.

How to Stop the Accidents
The best way to stop the Universal "messages" disguised as accidents is to locate the source of the problem. Review any magickal work you have done recently. Check your actions against the Rules of the Road (get the full list HERE). Use divination methods such as Tarot, pendulum, question circles, scrying, or the Firebowl to locate the cause of such Universal feedback.

Once you have determined the cause of the problem, move to immediately clean up the mess. If you have cast a spell that is causing negative feedback, take the spell down immediately. If you have been charging more than is reasonable for your services, either offer refunds or pay it forward by doing some pro bono magick. Whatever the cause, stop the magickal force or behavior that is causing the trouble. You will find that the Universe will stop harassing you with "accidents" just as quickly as it caused them.

If you take down a spell or stop a behavior that you feel is causing the Universal messages, but accidents keep happening, continue to use methods of divination until you find the source. The Spirit of Owl is always good at digging up hidden issues. Angels can be hired to help. A Sun Candle can disperse negative energy and help you see the issues more clearly. Whatever the cause, don't stop investigating until you find the answer, since you will not enjoy the continuing accidents from the Universe. You'll find these and plenty of other magical help in our Witchcraft Spell Book: The Complete Guide of Witchcraft Rituals & Spells for Beginners.

The good news is that the Universe is just and fair. As soon as you take care of the offending issue, the Universe will also stop offending you with accidents. The Universe is among the most perfect of mirrors for our own actions and behaviors.


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5 Basics of Effective Magickal Spell Work

When people hear the phrase "Spell Work" they often think of Harry Potter and his gang casting spells with their wands, or other similar movie references. In truth, spell work has very little to do with magick wands or the number of witches participating in such an event. Casting spells off the top of your head with your magick wand usually doesn't produce more than a headache. In this article, we will review the 5 basic steps of magickal spell work. These steps are practical, simple, and easily accomplished by practitioners of any level. To learn even more about simple beginning spells take a look at our Kindle book, The Complete Guide of Witchcraft Rituals & Spells for Beginners.

Step #1: Choose the Type of Spell
The first step to performing a magickal spell that actually accomplishes your aim is to choose the type of spell you will use. Pairing the right type of spell with the effect you want to magickally create in the world is very important.  Trying to use a simple single candle spell to change events on a global scale is not likely to be effective. At the same time, designing a complex Tarot spell to tweak a small aspect of your business would be overkill. The spell would probably accomplish the aim, but you would spend far more time and energy than necessary to affect such a small part of your world. So choosing the right type of spell is the key to starting off on the right foot.

Before you can choose the most appropriate type of spell, you first need to define the aim of your spell. What do you want your spell to achieve? Write the aim of your spell in one sentence. Depending on the complexity of or degree of change you want your spell to create, choose the appropriate type of spell. Though there is a huge variety of spells available, the most common types of spell used in present time include:

1.    Sun Candle spells
2.    single candle spells with appropriate carvings
3.    simulacra spells (often better known as voodoo)
4.    walking litany spells
5.    multiple candle spells
6.    Tarot spells
7.    circle ritual spells
8.    black mirror spells

Sun Candle, single candle, simulacra, and walking litany spells are the easiest to perform, and can be done with very few ingredients and just a little preparation. The more complex spells--multiple candle, Tarot, and circle ritual spells--require a great deal more planning, preparation, and caution. Most practitioners can accomplish the majority of daily needs with the first four simple spells. The last four types of spell require the ability to do a variety of Tarot readings to analyze the situation, prepare and check on verses and other spell requirements, the ability to set up a full cast circle, plus the ability to safely open and close a black mirror, and more. The best way to begin with spell work is to start with the first four types of spells. Once you have mastered these four types of spells, learning the last four types of complex spells will be a natural next step.

Step #2: Write Directors and Limiters
In the beginning, we suggest you start with simple aims for your spell, as well as simple spell types. Once you have chosen the type of spell you desire, the next step is to write Directors and Limiters. In the simplest of terms. Directors and Limiters specify what you want and do not want your spell to do, achieve, and more. For instance, if the spell is about your money situation, you would create Directors (what you want your spell to do) that will specify the range of money that you would like to come into your life. If you work with specific Spirit beings, you would also request their help in your list of Directors. In your Limiters, you might want to specify that the money that comes into your life be from a free and legal source. One novice spell caster neglected to add this specific Limiter to her list, and ended up earning very good money (as specified in her Directors) in her job. The only catch was that the job was with a Mob operation, hence illegal. Creating very specific Directors and Limiters is crucial to the effectiveness of your spell. For instance, with money spells, you may also want to have a Limiter that states that your spell will not cause untimley death or loss of property to anyone... without this Limiter your spell may bring you the money you desire through an inheritance, at the expense of a family member's untimely death. In short, Directors and Limiters are the magickal way of specifying the who, what, when, and how of your spell.

Once you have a solid and specific list of Directors and Limiters, you may want to write verses to accompany your Directors and Limiters.  Verses are lyrical or poetic versions of your Directors and Limiters, and can be used in conjunction with your Directors and Limiters to strengthen your spell. For instance, with a Sun Candle spell, you may decide to place your Directors and Limiters between a magickal Plate or Pantacle and the Sun Candle. As you light the Sun Candle each day, keep the Directors and Limiters under the candle while you read your verses aloud in a voice of command. Taking the time to write verses and read them daily (often for 40 days at a time) sends a strong signal to the Universe. While verses are not strictly necessary, the lyrical vocalization of your spell on a daily basis roots your spell deeper in your psyche, and attracts that which you desire into your life more quickly.

Step #3: Check Your Directors and Limiters Plus Verses
Even if you write what seems to be perfect Directors and Limiters plus verses, it is always a good idea to check your results with a Question Circle. A Question Circle allows you to check whether any of your Directors or Limiters will achieve the intended results of your spell. A Question Circle will also help you check your verses. The Four Directions, along with Sky, Earth, and any specific Spirit guides who help you, can offer all kinds of lyrical inspiration, not to mention what is excessive or missing from your Directors and Limiters.

To do a Question Circle you will need to gather a Sun Yellow Candle that can easily be carried from place to place, wooden or paper matches to light the candle, a pen, and paper, plus your spell aim, Directors, Limiters, and verses. After you gather your materials, proceed with the Question Circle using the following directions.

1. Locate the directions north, south, east and west. If you are unsure of the cardinal directions, go outside with a compass and take readings of the directions. Be sure to use your compass outside as there is too much electromagnetic energy inside a house to give you accurate readings.

2. Find a space in your house that is 5 to 10 feet in diameter, moving whatever furniture necessary.

3. Gather your materials, and then enter the circle from the East and walk clockwise to the South. Once you reach the South side of your circle, sit facing the outside of the circle with your Sun Candle and materials in front of you.

4. Light your candle with the wooden or paper matches (no lighters), cup your hands around the flame of the candle. Once the candle has a tall active "working flame," charge or program the candle by saying the following verse aloud in a voice of command: "Child of wonder, child of flame, nourish my spirit and protect my aim."

5. Now bring your candle and materials to the East side of the circle, walking clockwise to reach the East. Sit facing the outside of the circle, again placing your candle and materials before you.

6. Take a few moments to calm and quiet your body and mind. Then say aloud in a voice of command, "Please show me what changes I may need to make in my choice of spell type, my Directors and Limiters, and verses to create the most effective spell for my aim."

7. Sit quietly and allow the answer to come. Be prepared as each direction on the Medicine Wheel often has much to offer. Keep writing until the flow of information stops.

8. Bring your candle and materials clockwise to the South. Sit facing the outside of the circle, and then follow the same steps as outlined previously to ask the South for guidance on your spell. Repeat with the directions West and North.

9. Finally, return to the center of your circle and sit facing East. Ask the same questions of "Sky Above" and "Earth Below." If you have specific Spirit guides, ask them this question at this time.

10. Once you have received all the information flowing to you, thank all of the directions and any Spirit guides. Blow out your Sun Candle.

11. Take some time to read through the answers from each direction of Spirit guide. It may take a few days for all of the information to fall into logical order. Allow the information to percolate for the next few days. Alter your spell type, Directors and Limiters, and verses as guided by your Question Circle. Then move onto the next step.

Step #4: Record Results and Launch Your Spell
Once you have tweaked and updated your spell type, Directors and Limiters, and verses as needed, record every aspect of your spell in a Book of Shadows. A Book of Shadows is a sacred magickal book in which you record every spell you ever launch. A Book of Shadows can be as simple as a spiral bound notebook, or as complex as a deeply embossed leather book with parchment paper. Many people place the symbol of the pantacle (star inside a circle) on both covers of their Book of Shadows to protect the contents.

In your Book of Shadows, write the date and time you launch your spell, along with the spell type, Directors and Limiters, verses, and any other details. For instance, if you use a single candle spell, you may have carved symbols onto the candle. Record each of these symbols as well. If you choose to read your spell verses aloud with your candle lit on a daily basis, record each time and date of each reading. Finally, jot down any signs and guidance you receive regarding your spell or the progress of your spell.

Step #5: Checkup on Your Spell
There are as many ways of checking on the progress of your spell as there are types of spells. For beginners, use the Question Circle method to check on your spell. Instead of asking how you can change your spell verses or type to better achieve your spell's aim, in Question Circle ask how your spell is progressing, and whether you need to take any action steps. Sometimes adding an extra daily mantra or walking litany add a great deal of force to your spell. Very infrequently, some spells go awry and need to be taken down. In the case of a simple candle spell, all you need to do is break the candle you used in half. Bury both halves in the Earth for a moon cycle. This will "take down" your spell and reverse any damage the spell may have caused. For the most part, the Question Circle will simply provide reassurance or offer additional suggestions to boost your spell's power. Feel free to check on your spell as often as once a week.

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Magically Reaching for Inspiration

Do you ever wonder why inspiration sometimes just comes to you but other times you can't find it on a bet? And do you ever notice how when you are inspired everything is easier? Work is easier, play is more fun, and magic is more accessible. The question then becomes, "How can we be more inspired more of the time?" Are there magical means for reaching the muses of inspiration?

To ferret out the answers to these questions we first have to know something about inspiration. What is it? We can sometimes identify the situations in which inspiration strikes us -- like during a red-hot brainstorming session or the runner's high after a good long jog or even while singing in the shower. Inspiration and solutions to life problems simply come to us in these situations.

What these situations share in common is the level of our energetic vibration. At times like these our energy is buzzing at a very high and very refined level. The vibration of inspiration is also a high frequency, so when we get that "runner's high" we are a match for the energy of inspiration. In other words, the key to getting inspired is to get happy or energetically high.

Dianetics founder L. Ron Hubbard cataloged our various emotions into what he called the Tone Scale. From this scale you can see how different emotional states are ranked in terms of energetic vibration, from Apathy to Enthusiasm, with Enthusiasm being at the top end of the scale. Here is a partial list that you can use as a reference:

4.0 ENTHUSIASM (Cheerfulness) A lighthearted soul with a free mind. Flexible. A winner.
3.5 INTEREST (Amusement) Actively interested in subjects related to survival. Doing well.
3.0 CONSERVATISM (Contentment) The conformist. Don't rock the boat. Resists change. Not too many problems.
2.5 BOREDOM The spectator. All the world is a stage and he's the audience. Neither contented nor discontented. He endures things. Purposeless. Careless. Not threatening. Not helpful.
1.8 PAIN Touchy, irritable, scattered. Striking at source of pain.
1.5 ANGER Chronic distemper. Blames. Holds grudges. Threatens. Demands obedience.
0.5 GRIEF The whiner. Collects grievances and old mementos. Dwells in the past. Feels betrayed. Everything painful.
0.05 APATHY Given up. Turned off. Suicidal. Addict, alcohol, gambler. Fatalistic. May pretend he's found "peace."

You can see how tones like Pain and Anger would be far from the high pure energy of inspiration while tones like Enthusiasm and Interest would be a match. Now that we know something about the energetic vibration of inspiration, the aim becomes getting ourselves into the tones of Interest or Enthusiasm.

Too hard, you say? Rest easy. Here are simple ways for raising the level of your vibration:

– EAT IT: For those on the run, sometimes ingesting high vibration foods is the best way to get your energy to that high fast rate because you are what you eat. Organic foods or foods prepared with loving care have higher vibrations than ordinary food. AFA bluegreen algae is one of purest foods with very high vibrations. Learn more or order online here:
http://www.prosperity-abounds.com/order.html

– COLOR IT: Wearing Sky Blue or Water Blue can help you more easily access the energy of inspiration. These colors nourish the Spirit and the emotions and can support a high emotional state throughout the day.

– LISTEN TO IT: Listening to inspiring music or a great speaker can help. We recommend the monthly CD program from Abraham-Hicks. Get a free sample by going to their website (http://www.abraham-hicks.com).

– BREATHE IT IN: Our experience shows that breathing deeply and consciously can help you feel good. That's one of the reasons that esoteric teachings have long recommended breathing exercises.

Enjoy these simple methods for helping yourself feel good. Remember, with magic it's never too late to have a happy childhood no matter what age you are!


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Magick to the Rescue Part 7: Lost? Find Your Way with Magickal Bread Crumbs

Earlier in this series Magick to the Rescue:
Part 1 
Part 2 
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

The Esoteric School receives frequent requests from people asking for guidance and answers along this life journey, be it answers to questions about career and family or guidance on Spirit paths. While many schools of magickal or esoteric teaching tend to charge high prices for such services, the Esoteric School is more about offering many different wants for the "every man and every woman" to find their own answers through simple magickal rituals and options. Through our blog and newsletters, our article library, and inexpensive self-paced courses, our goal is to allow as many people to bring magick into their lives as possible.

Of course, if you feel lost in your life then browsing through our online article library can seem a big overwhelming task. Knowing where to begin in your use of magick can be as important as the use of magick itself. The following section offers five different ways you can discover answers and find your way on your path magickally, step-by-step... or if you are into fairy tales, bread crumb by bread crumb. If and when you feel lost, scan through the following list and find the option that attracts your attention. Your attention--and your intention--will get you started in the direction you need to go. Then all you need to do is follow the first bread crumb to the next, and the next, and the next... and before you know it you will be striding with confidence down a pathway lit with magickal help and guidance!

Magickal Solution #1: Follow the First Answer You Hear
Whether you are completely lost and have no idea what you want in your life, or you are just a little muddled about your next step to reach your goal, the Universe is always happy to deliver answers to you instantly. Many students have tried this approach with surprisingly positive results. The Universe will answer any question you ask deliberately with an immediate answer.

The steps to this ritual are simple. Simply say to yourself or out loud in a voice of command: "Universe please provide me an answer to the question I will ask. I will follow the first answer I hear, trusting that you know exactly what I want and will not lead me astray. [Ask your question here]." You don't have to use these exact words, but follow the intent of the words and phrases, and announce to the Universe that you want and need guidance to a certain question. The question could be as big as a new direction for your career and as small as to whether you have a cup of coffee in the morning.

The key is to follow the first answer that the Universe provides, which will be the first answer you hear. You might hear the answer as a voice in your mind (and even in your own voice). You might hear a snippet of a conversation from a passing group of strangers. A song lyric may possess the answer you seek. The important thing is to take and follow the FIRST answer you hear. The answer may seem crazy at the moment or not in sync with your question, but just use your best judgment as to how to use that answer. You will be amazed at the results. At the next crossroads on your path, ask the Universe the next question. This will lead you from bread crumb to bread crumb until you find your way along your path. More importantly, you will have developed a relationship of trust with the Universe. You will have greater trust with each answer you receive, and proceed with ever greater confidence!

Magickal Solution #2: Pick a Card, Any Card
Just as a magician doing stage magic might invite you to pick a card, any card, and then guess the card without looking at it, the Universe also invites you to pick a card to find answers to questions you seek. Only there's no smoke or mirrors when you play the "pick a card" game with the Universe... just the answers you seek. You can use Medicine Cards, Angel Cards, Tarot Cards, Sacred Path Cards... whichever set of cards calls to you.

First, ask your question to the Universe, either out loud or in your mind. Next, pick up your deck of choice and shuffle the deck until the mix feels "right" to you. Then fan out the cards on a table and choose a card. Or cut the deck and take the top card. Or use any method you like. Just remain consistent in your approach.

This card is your "theme of the day" as well as the answer to your question. Most of these decks come with books that explain the meaning of each card, often with each card having two different meanings depending on whether the card is upright or reversed. Choose your card, note its position (upright or reversed) and then read the meaning of the card. As with all the methods offered in this article, follow the advice offered by the card as best you can. Most of the time the answer will mesh neatly with the question. If not, hold the answer in mind as you go about your day. Chances are that the meaning of the card will appear more clear as the day goes on. If not, sleep on it and see what your dreams tell you about the card. Answers may trickle through your mind and consciousness in the most amusing and interesting ways.

Magickal Solution #3: Create Your Own Method
Ancient proverbs, wise gurus, and other spiritual teachers have often said that we know what is best for ourselves, and that the answers we seek can be found within our own hearts. If this be true, one of the neatest magickal ways to gain answers is to create your own method for the Universe to deliver answers. One person took seven different books, opened each book to a random page, and underlined a word or phrase. She then arranged the seven books in an ordered stack. Finally, she opened each book to the page she had marked and wrote down the word or phrase. The combined words and phrases from the seven books made up her "answer" from the Universe. Invariably, though there were missing words, the message was quite complete and readable. More importantly, the message made perfect sense to the person. She continues to use this method to this day to gain the answers she seeks. Other people have asked people they encounter what's happening in their lives. The answers may be deep or shallow (depending on whether the people were strangers or friends), and the answers have always shed light on the asking person's situation. The person may have had to "dig" or "decipher" the meaning, the answer was always there to find.

Magickal Solution #4: Reach Out and Touch Someone
This method is similar to the one just previously discussed. Only, this time, instead of asking a bunch of different people you encounter about what is happening in their lives, you reach out to a person with whom you have not had contact for a very long time. Perhaps a friend who was also a neighbor moved away and you lost contact over the years. Or maybe you changed jobs, and you now move in different social circles. Dig back through your old contacts and see if one jumps out at you. If so, then ask the Universe your question and request that the answer come from the conversation with the person with whom you are about to speak. Then pick up the phone and reach out to that person. However you go about choosing a person from your distant past, the Universe will find a way to send the answers you seek humming across the telephone wires or into the internet chats. The Universe encompasses all methods of technology, new and old.

Magickal Solution #4: Astrocartography
Those who have been members of 12-step programs have probably often heard that "geographic moves" won't solve life problems since "everywhere you go there you are." It is true that we carry ourselves and unique personality quirks with us wherever we go. At the same time, it is also magickally true that there are different places on Planet Earth that are more or less beneficial to us in a variety of ways. Some places are better for our health, while other places are better for finances or relationships. Spiritual development can be easier in certain locations, while our careers may flourish in yet other locations. Some locations have multiple benefits with few drawbacks.

Astrocartography, which is the science of mapping our astrology onto a global map, can help us find the best places for certain areas of our lives. Astrocartography can help us locate "power places" for various aspects of our lives. Many sites on the internet offer this service, and the cost is inexpensive. Some sites offer you readings on three places around the globe, while other sites offer you a global reading, which tells you where different lines from your astrological chart cross on the globe, and offering pros and cons for each location. If you are looking for a new and interesting method of finding magickal answers to your questions, consider browsing around astrocartography sites to see if they pique your interest!

Magickal Solution #5: The Good Old Coin Flip
The Universe is just as happy to offer answers through complex rituals such as Question Circles as it is through simple methods such as flipping a coin. If you are looking for a simple "Yes or No" answer, sometimes flipping a coin is the way to go. One of our students uses the coin flip for the most important decisions in his life. And guess what? The answers have never led him anywhere other than where he wanted to go. You, of course, may not be ready to put major life decisions in the result of a simple coin flip. Instead, start small. Prepare your coin by holding it in your dominant hand and flowing energy into the coin until the coin feels warm, energized, or charged. Decide which side of the coin means "Yes" and which side means "No." Also decide how you will flip your coin. Will you flip the coin with one hand, catch it in the same hand and then place the coin over top of your other hand? Or will you simply catch the coin in the same hand and see which side faces up? As with all of these magickal "bread crumb" methods, choose a method for your magickal work, and then consistently use this method every single time. Now you are ready. Ask the Universe your question, again aloud or in your mind, and flip your coin. Note the answer and go with it.

Even if the answer seems contradictory to what you expected, follow the answer that appears. Along with following a consistent magickal procedure, trusting and following the answers provided by the Universe will help you develop a strong relationship of trust with the Universe. If you second-guess every answer you receive through these methods, then you might as well seek the help of a counselor or business coach. All of the previous methods, like much of the magick we teach, is aimed at helping you develop your own personal relationship with the Universe, without the need to seek the help of a magickal practitioner. While there is certainly a time and place for seeking guidance and help from others, how much more magickal would your life be if you could directly ask the Universe for the answers you seek? Wouldn't life be so much more magickal, more fun, and more miraculous?


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Magick to the Rescue Part 6: Accept Where You Are

Earlier in this series Magick to the Rescue:
Part 1 
Part 2 
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Most of the time we humans tend to think that we are in control of our lives. And for the most part the Universe (substitute the name of the Higher Being closest to you) allows us to have that illusion of control. And then just when we think we have our lives just how we want them (or not), those pesky higher beings sweep in and change our lives, often quite drastically. The results can be devastating. Sometimes we end up with debt up to our ears because a law was passed in a country halfway around the world. Other times some sort of freedom is taken away from us, be it the bars of a jail or the loss of freedom of movement due to paralysis of the body. Yet other times a person we love is taken from us.

No matter what drastic event has occurred in your life, you are left high and dry in a very sudden way. The landscape looks bleak. You probably feel shell-shocked with no idea how to proceed, or even what to do when you get out of bed each day.

Magick to the Rescue: Accept Where You Are
Magick can help you get out of life's messes with amazing speed and miraculous results. But before you can move on, you first have to accept where you are. Using magick to change your life is very similar to looking at those giant map kiosks at the mall that show the location of each store and restaurant. But the map cannot help you in the slightest until you find the bright red arrow or dot that says, "You are here."

So whatever drastic or tragic life event has happened, find the place inside yourself that says, "I am here. This is what has happened to me, and I accept that, for now, my life is x, y, and z." Be as factual in your description of your current life situation as you can. Avoid using negative adjectives. For instance, if you have accumulated a lot of debt, instead of saying, "I have such an enormously shameful amount of debt," use a statement that is more factual, such as, "The current amount of debt to my name is $x." Thus you are not shaming, blaming, or complaining about the debt, but are simply stating that the debt associated with your name is x amount. Notice how the statement also did not say, "My debt is x, y, and z." While it is true that you are the one who will have to pay back the debt, you don't really want to claim it the way you claim your favorite little black dress or your best set of golf clubs. The goal is to accept the level of debt without adding greater personal attachment to it.

Magick to the Rescue: Create a Practical Plan and Test It!
When confronted with a drastic life change, the idea of creating a practical plan can seem ridiculous. After all, there is panicking to attend to, who has time to create a practical plan? You do. And you must. If you don't create a practical plan to hoist yourself out of hot water, who will?

Luckily, magick can also help you with the practical. The process is a simple combination of a number of rituals. Ready? Good. You will need a bright yellow candle, paper or wooden matches, a pen, and paper. Here's how you use your magick to create a practical plan to get you out of hot water, bit by bit:

1. Give you and your Spirit Guides a spiritual boost by charging a Sun Candle (this is a mini candle spell). Get a bright yellow candle (no orange overtones), preferably in glass for safety. Sit in the South facing North with your candle in front of you. Use your paper or wooden matches to light your candle. When the flame becomes tall and strong, cup your hands around the flame, and then say in a voice of command:

"Child of Wonder
Child of Flame
Nourish My Spirit
And Protect My Aim!"

2. Now set the candle to the side, send up a short prayer of thanks and request for help to the higher (if you like), and pick up your pen and paper. Think about your current life "problem or situation" and spend no more than five minutes writing a list of practical action steps that might improve your life situation. Write anything and everything that comes to mind, whether or not the idea seems useful, practical, distasteful, or impossible. Simply write. Don't think. Allow ideas to flow through the pen from higher beings onto paper. Consider your writing channeling rather than thinking. Allow the higher beings you invited into your sacred space with the Sun Candle and your request for help to flow their creativity and ideas through your pen and onto the paper.


3. Once you have completed your writing, you will now dowse your list to determine which items are meant for present use, which ideas will come in handy later, and which items you may never use. To begin, start with your non-dominant hand. Touch the tip of the index finger and thumb of that hand together so the fingers form an "O". Ensure that the other fingers are pointing slightly up so that they don't interfere with the space inside the "O" shape. Now put the index finger of your dominant hand in the center of the "O" formed by the fingers of your non-dominant hand. Say in a voice of command, "Show me Yes!" Then with force use the index finger of your dominant hand to try to break the bond of the fingers forming the "O" shape. If you are successful, then each time you are able to break the bond of the fingers forming the "O", the answer to the question you ask during dowsing is "Yes." Now repeat procedure this time saying, "Show me No!" The opposite action should occur. If the fingers parted for "Yes," they should hold together for "No." Practice this a few times so you are clear about the signals for "Yes" and "No."


Don't worry if you get conflicting signals at first. Simply practice the "Yes" and "No" a few times and use the most common results for "Yes" and "No." For instance, if the fingers part most of the time for "Yes," then this becomes your signal for the answer "Yes," and closed finger means "No." Don't spend a lot of time worrying about this step. Just get a feeling for the signal for each answer, and then move on to the next step.

4. In this step you will combine the list you wrote with finger-testing. For each item on the list, ask the following questions:

"Is this item likely to be useful in solving my life situation [describe your life situation in a few words] at all in the future?"

"Will this item be useful in solving my life situation [describe it using the same words] either in the present or in the near future, [state a time from such as "three to six months from today"]?"

"Will this item be useful in solving my life situation [describe it using the same words] in the far future, [state a logical time frame such as "six more months from today"]?"

Jot down the Yes/No answers for all three questions for each action item or possible solution you listed.


5. Rewrite your list into three separate lists, separated by whether the item on your list will be helpful in the present or near future, helpful in the far future, or not helpful at all.  Don't throw away the list of items that are ostensibly "not helpful at all" because the future is always changing. A decision or action you take now or in a few weeks could move an item from one list to another.

6. Now place just the list of items that your dowsing deemed useful for the present and near future. Using the same finger-testing method, ask yourself:

"Are there other ideas or solutions that would be helpful to me now or in the [state your time frame for "near future" here] that are not yet on this list?"

If the answer is "Yes," then ask an angel to help you complete your list. Say aloud or internally,

"I would like to request the help of an angel of Sun Yellow, Water Blue, Grass Green, and Sky Blue who specializes in [state the problem for which you want the angel's help]..." 

 [pause here for a few seconds to allow the angel to appear]...

"Angel of Sun Yellow, Water Blue, Grass Green, and Sky Blue who specializes in [state the problem for which you want the angel's help], I would like to request your help in completing this list of items that will help me in the present and near future so that I can move forward in my life and solve this particular problem. I thank you in advance for your help!"

Always thank higher beings in advance for their help. It is a show of good faith and is also a polite way to interact with higher beings. Then be prepared with pen and paper handy because chances are high that the angel will absolutely flood you with information, ideas, strategies, tactics, and insights that will amaze you! Once the flow of information has stopped, thank the angel again for the help--again, appreciation is valuable and much loved by higher beings, not to mention the only form of payment they require.


7. Finally, take your newly expanded list of ideas and actions that can help you tackle your sticky life problem in the present and near future. Arrange the list chronologically based on importance and timing. You can put some items concurrently if you feel that working on both items in parallel will help. Finally, if you want to double check your list, use finger testing to ask whether each item is in the correct order. If not, use finger testing to check whether the item should be moved up or down the list, and how far.

Once complete, you now have an action of plan for moving through, around, over, under, or simply beyond the curve ball that life has thrown into your life. You no longer need to feel stuck, helpless, hopeless, or angry about your life. Take comfort in the fact that even though your hands did the writing and finger testing, angels and higher beings were guiding your pen and your fingers every step of the way.

One final piece of advice: magickally, we say, "a small change in the present produces a larger change in the future." That means that acting on even one of the seemingly insignificant items on your list could result in a much bigger change in your future. The future is never fixed but is always dependent on the present. The moral of the story is to check your "present" and "future" and "never" lists frequently to see if items need to be added, removed, shifted in position, or moved to a different list. Your fingers will always steer you in the right magickal direction! To learn more about communicating with higher beings and using divination, check out our Psychic Development ebook.


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Magick to the Rescue Part 5: Stuck or Trapped? How to Think Magickally

See earlier articles in this series:
Part 1 
Part 2 
Part 3
Part 4

Who among us has not been stuck or trapped in a situation that seems impossible to resolve? We wonder how we have managed to paint ourselves into a corner... and if even we figure that out, we still can't find the solution. No worries! It's magick to the rescue. One of the best characteristics of using magick while living in the ordinary world is that magick exists on a higher level. That means that seemingly impossible problems are totally solvable by using magick.

With magick, there is always a solution, provided you think magickally. One of the best ways to check whether your mind is stuck on the hamster wheel of the "impossible" side of the problem, or whether you're using a more magickal approach is to go around the Medicine Wheel and check in with the four directions.

Winds of the East
On the Medicine Wheel, the direction East is about thinking, communicating, breathing, meditating, enlightenment, planning, and so on. Magickally, one key thought that comes from the Winds of the East is:

"Nothing is impossible with magick. Everything is possible with magick"

If you find yourself down in the dumps, go outside, face the direction East, and say aloud in a voice of command, "Winds of the East, please help me remember today that nothing is impossible with magick, and that everything is possible with magick. Thank you in advance for your help."

Pay attention to whether you continue to have hopeless thoughts, or whether new ideas, fresh outlooks, and changed perspectives come your way. Thank the Winds of the East again (using the same procedure) in the evening before you go to bed. Appreciation and gratitude are the best spiritual coin for higher beings who assist us.

Winds of the South
On the Medicine Wheel the direction South is about action, motivation, courage, movement, desire, and so forth. The magickal phrase that is often paired with the Winds of the South is:

"There are no wrong actions when guided by magick. Action is movement, and movement is life. The more alive you are, the more magickal your being becomes."

As with the Winds of the East, you can ask for help using the same procedure whenever you feel the Winds of the South can be helpful. Call on the Winds of the South when you feel stuck, frustrated. unmotivated, fearful of taking action, or unsure of the next step. Face South rather than East, and use the same approach given previously. As with the Winds of the East, thank the Winds of the South ahead of time, and again at the end of the day. As you move through your day, notice whether you feel more motivated, moved to action, and less fearful about taking a misstep. If so, the Winds of the South are working in your life.

Winds of the West
The Winds of the West, on the Medicine Wheel, stand for feelings, emotions, passions (especially when combined with the fiery energy of the Winds of the South), and the language of Spirit. The key phrase for the Winds of the West is:

"When I listen to my feelings I am guided by my Higher Spirit. All is well and will continue to be well so long as I follow the guidance of my Higher Spirit."

Magickally, you are not your body. You are a Spirit who has a body and a mind. Your Spirit lives in both the ordinary world and the Spirit realms. As such, your Spirit has access to more information about the lessons you are to learn this lifetime, the goals you set for yourself this lifetime, the experiences you hoped to have this lifetime, and more. Thus, listening to the guidance of your Higher Spirit via your emotions is an excellent way to navigate your way through life. Use the same ritual given previously to ask for help from the Winds of the West.

Winds of the North
Strength and perseverance are the hallmarks of the Winds of the North. While the Winds of the South represent the fiery essence of power, the staunch Winds of the North represent the strength to endure life's hardships and suffering. The key phrase used with the Winds of the North is:

"I have the strength to endure all that is in my life as I await the results of the workings of Spirit, magick, the Universe, and all higher beings I have asked to help. Higher help always comes to me, and until then I have the strength to endure."

When life seems unfair, or sorting your way through life's problems seems to be taking an interminable amount of time, ask the Winds of the North to bolster your strength and endurance. The Winds of the North can make staunch allies when the going gets tough.

Why Magick Does Not Work Immediately
One of the most common misconceptions about magick is that it can and will "instantly" fix life's problems, large or small. Magick is not an instant parlor trick. Rather, magick is a living energy that we beings tap into for all the attributes listed in this article: knowledge, power, guidance from Spirit, and the strength to endure.

Magick CAN and DOES solve those problems that are seemingly impossible to solve with ordinary means. At the same time, magick is neither instant nor free. While anyone is free to tap into the giant wave of magick that exists on this planet and throughout this Universe, magick requires payment in knowledge, learning, skill, power, appreciation, and practice. Those who practice magick on a daily basis will gain in force on an exponential level. Those who simply dabble with magick will gain magickal help in small increments, but will not be able to cobble together enough force to perform the more complicated and powerful magickal rituals.

Magick is a living force in our world, just as any part of Mother Nature is a living, breathing force. One of the most important goals of practicing magick is to develop a strong and unshakable relationship with the different spirits, guides, totems, guardians, and beings on the Hierarchy of magickal creatures in this Universe. Just as any banker who is a total stranger may lend you a small amount of money for some enterprise, a personal banker who has come to know and trust you will not hesitate to lend you much larger sums of money based mostly on trust and mutual respect. The same is true of the magickal beings in the Universe. Trust and respect are built over time through the diligent practice and working of magick on a daily basis.

The motto of the story is this: Magick will always come to your rescue if you so allow. The degree of help you gain from the forces of magick is dependent on the depth of your relationship with these forces. Like any good relationship, your relationship with the living power that is magick--and the specific magickal beings in the Universe--must be cultivated and tended to over time. Such relationships are developed, deepened, and woven tightly day by day, magickal act by magickal act. This, then, is how one truly thinks as a practitioner of magick. If you are ready to start on a magickal path, our Witchcraft Spell Book: The Complete Guide of Witchcraft Rituals & Spells for Beginners Kindle book can help you begin. See all our Kindle books and magickal ebooks.