From: Mr. Spock Area: MagickNet To: Talin Nightshadow 20 Apr 92 22:46:16 Subject: Thanks UpdReq Talin Nightshadow, Thank you for a very informative letter. Are you also "practicing" as a solitary or have you been involved in group activities? I think what makes it hard for me is that the only guiding help I have comes from books and what I feel is right for me. I realize that this is the whole point of the "pagan" beliefs but I still feel there is something I am missing by not even at least observing some basic ritual or ceremonies as performed by someone more practiced in the art. I am a more solitary type person and do not really seek to become a member of a group or coven but feel my own practice would be better served if I had an idea or inkling that I was on the right track. It may be that because I am still grapling with the after effects of old beliefs I don't feel that I am truly a Wiccan. As you pointed out it is up to me to work things out within myself and my beliefs. Perhaps when the time comes all will seem clear and self-evident and these nagging doubts will be dispelled. I am very thankful for this forum as it has finally allowed me to contact others of like mind to exchange ideas and simply to bounce thoughts off them. Again, thank you Talin and may you have success in all you endeavor to do. Blessed be, Mr. Spock 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Lord Aslan Area: MagickNet To: Myerra 21 Apr 92 15:13:40 Subject: Re: GREETINGS UpdReq I definitely got your message, Myerra. I have been involved with Wicca since 1981 or if you want to go back further, I did a paper on comparitive religions in 1978. Did you know that there is over 150 different religions in the U.S.A. and every one of them is constitutional recognized as such. That's a lot of religions considering most of them are protestant. Talk about scary, each group has a tendancy to believe that if you don't believe as they do, you're damned to HELL. I have known some christians that were extremely forceful with their opinions. I just lett it flow by and pay very little attention to them, exccept to get i. into philosophical discussions. Take it easy and I hope to talk to you again soon. Blessed Be. Lord Aslan 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Lord Aslan Area: MagickNet To: Myerra 21 Apr 92 16:46:46 Subject: P.S. UpdReq By the way, I live in Houston, Tx. I live with 2 women, 4 children(3 are mine), 2 cats and a tank of fish. We have rather interesting times with this houseful. We try to enjoy ourselves and expand our horizons without drugs that are so prevalent nowadays. We study martial arts, meditation and other forms of conscious expansion. The ladies are trying to find better jobs; me, I'm a security guard for a research lab and I am also looking for better things. The job pays the bills right now though, so I don't argue. Take care again and Blessed Be. Lord Aslan 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Black Tiger Area: MagickNet To: Gerald Del Campo 20 Apr 92 15:26:14 Subject: Re: A New Face UpdReq Thanx for the Greets! It's nice to see everyone in such an agreeable mood on this echo. Obviously Farrell has been doing a good job with the riff-raff. I'm glad to meet all of y'all and hope to contribute here as much as possible. If anyone is down here in the Houston area send me some mail and we'll get together! Thanx........ Black Tiger ... Ummm.... anyone for a pig-roast? 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Black Tiger Area: MagickNet To: Lord Aslan 20 Apr 92 15:34:52 Subject: Re: Greetings UpdReq Lord Aslan! Hiya! All the rain in Texas is great, just look at all the pagans sprouting into this echo! Nice to see another Texas node in effect. Well, welcome to the net! .... Black Tiger ... Philosophy is proportional to mead consumption! 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: John Shaman Area: MagickNet To: Camille Lockyer 20 Apr 92 01:42:10 Subject: Vortex UpdReq CL> > I thought the idea (with the athame) was to allow it to CL> > retain energies CL> > and get stronger, also using it as a sort of "storehouse" of CL> > energy in CL> > case of need, when there isn't time to BUILD energy? CL> The energy comes from you, not the Athame, it will always hold CL>some residual or signature energy however. It is supposed to be magnetized CL>with a load stone, which makes it easier to project through. Hm. I was told that it could act as a kind of "battery." Supposed to be magnetized with a loadstone, eh? I've never heard of that practice. What tradition(s) does that come from? (I'm Kingstone-Majestic) CL> Your energy for doing a circle should be drawn down through CL>your third eye or crown chakra, fill you and run down your arms and CL>be projected through the athame. This energy is real and CL>can be seen and felt, you do not have to use an athame, CL>wand, sword to draw your circle. This follows my teachings, also. CL>A circle or invockations can be preformed with your fingers, in effect CL>you should be able to cast a circle and do a ritual without anything but, CL>you. Don't become over dependant on tools, what happens if you lose them? Also follows what I've been taught, as well as my personal feelings on the subject. In fact, so far I have had problems working with tools, preferring to use my hands (the original tools) . CL> I've picked up sticks to use as a wand for casting a spur of CL>the moment circle, as long as you sprinkle them with some salt water to CL>purify them before use. I own two swords, one good atame, two wands CL>the latter made by myself and still can and do cast circles without them. I have no sword, my athame is ok, but not, I feel, my final one, and I have one wand of olive wood that I made myself. No staff as yet, either, though I feel that this might be my main tool, once I've made it. * OLX 2.1 TD * Proofread carefully to see if you any words out. 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Balanone Area: MagickNet To: Taliesin 16 Apr 92 05:24:10 Subject: Re: Vortex UpdReq On 12 Apr 92 23:01:08, Taliesin posted a message to Camille Lockyer concerning "Re: Vortex"... CL>If you are sending energies out to someone, in a healing ritual CL>they are already on their way by the time you are ready to CL>close the circle. Or held in a contact device such as a CL>candle or crystal. T> So, would it still be necessary to "ground out", if the energies are T> sent out? CL> Energies left ungrounded can be dangerous, ... T> Now I'm confused. If the energies are raised for a purpose, why must T> those energies be dispersed rather than allowed to go forth & do the T> work they were raised to do? Or is the energy raised and the T> "structure" used to raise it separate things altogether, and it's the T> "structure" (casting the circle, etc.) that needs to be earthed? T> Never did quite understand why the Guardians of the Quarters always T> had to go away at the circle's closing, instead of sticking around T> until the working was accomplished. Maybe this is why...? Taliesin, The answers you would receive to your questions within the Temple of Set are very much different than those you would get from most Pagans. We consider the energies raised by magical activities to be machinery set in motion, and no useful purpose is served by taking that machinery apart. But then, we usually don't even bother with the formation of a circle, finding same to be unnecessary to the construction of our magical machinery. Balanone PP ... He who dies with the most taglines wins! 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Balanone Area: MagickNet To: Paul Seymour 16 Apr 92 05:34:44 Subject: Re: Vortex UpdReq On 12 Apr 92 22:36:03, Paul Seymour posted a message to Taliesin concerning "Vortex", in response to Taliesin's discussion with Camille ... > CL> At the end of each circle, banish or give leave to depart > CL>all that has come in answer to your summons and all that has come > CL>not in answer to your summons. Also ground or "earth" the energies that > CL>have been raised. T> That's something I've never quite understood. If "grounding" T> the raised energy is a means of dispersing it, why would you want to? PS> There is always "surplus" energy to dispose of, even after PS> directing the "cone". A mage walks between the two worlds of ideation PS> and manifestation and modulates the energy exchange between them. PS> However, some of this energy will "rub off" on the mage; the amount PS> varying in inverse proportion to his/her ability to stay "Centered". PS> It is this energy (that which "rubbed off") that needs to be PS> "grounded". Paul, my own experience is different. I find that the /amount/ of energy that "rubs off" on me during such activity remains fairly constant, with the cohesiveness of that energy depending upon my ability to be Centered during the activity. The less Centered I was, the more random that energy which adheres. Either way, I find no need to ground that energy. Instead, I find that by "ingesting" (absorbing) that energy within, I can increase my own magical powers, increasing my ability to Center and/or to be productive the next time around. We seem to be agreed that a period of psychological recovery is needed after an intense magical working, but how we view our activities during that recovery time differs. Balanone PP ... I used to know everything, but I've since forgotten most of it. 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Balanone Area: MagickNet To: Brenna 16 Apr 92 05:42:12 Subject: Re: Vortex UpdReq On 13 Apr 92 07:58:35, Brenna posted a message to Danny Harris concerning "Re: Vortex"... -=> Quoting Danny Harris to Camille Lockyer <=- DH> Ok to ground I usually just lie down on the ground, catch my breath DH> and think calming thoughts is there a better way to do this? B> One of the concepts behind grounding is to be able to do it at any B> time in any place. I think it would be rather hard to lie down and B> catch your breath in the middle of say a shopping mall. Well at least B> you would get funny looks anyway. There is usually no "Better" way to B> do these things only different ways. The best way is the one that feels B> most comfortable and useful to you in the end. Thanks for your comments, since it is important that magicians be able to do what we need to do anywhere, and any time. I myself don't "ground" as most Pagans would define it. When I find myself unsettled, I breathe deep as if starting meditation, reach out to pull in magical / spiritual energy, and build myself up as if beginning ritual. This results in my being more Awake, Aware, and Centered than any other method I've tried. Balanone PP ... If at first you don't succeed, skydiving isn't for you! 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: Glenn Sieb Area: MagickNet To: Theseus 22 Apr 92 20:10:44 Subject: Re: POEM Sent UpdReq That was beautiful, Thes.... Didn't know you were a poet, as well as a thespian.. ;} HUGS B*B Glenn ... Greetings from Bag End, Harrison, New Jersey 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: William Hunter Area: MagickNet To: Vitriol 22 Apr 92 22:50:34 Subject: Re: Amerind struggles Sent UpdReq Yes, please do send me some materials on current struggles. My cynicism aobut the human condition can't be any worse than it is already eh? My despair arises from the thought that oppressed groups, such as the amerinds, would be gleefully stomping whites into the mud if they themselves had the numbers and technology that the whites had when they came here. Who to help? Everyone I guess. Peace. WSH 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718 From: William Hunter Area: MagickNet To: Tim Maroney 22 Apr 92 22:53:08 Subject: thanks Sent UpdReq You are sincerely welcome. CARPE OMNI HEKATE 718499927771849992777184999277718499927771849992777184999277718