Spellcasting (2)

 

Magic is the art (not the science) of causing change in conformity with will.

How does it work?

A practitioner of magic works on two levels, psychological and metaphysical.

On the psychological level, magic works because the person who is the object of a spell believes in its efficacy. The witch's conscious mind and and will act upon her own unconscious mind or that of another, using the symbolic language that the unconcious mind best understands.

The unconscious mind is selective in its attention, and liguistically unsophisticated.

To tell yourself, as you go into a difficult situation, that "there is nothing to be afraid of" may have no effect at the unconscious level where your fears are rooted. In fact, there is even a possibilty that your unconscious mind will notice the word "afraid," and nothing more, so that your fear is compounded rather than diminished.

However, if instead you find a way to construct an image of courage and confidence, using non-linguistic symbols that the unconscious mind will notice and comprehend,  your conscious will can exercise more power over your unconconscious sources of your emotions and behavior.

On the metaphysical level, we who practice magic believe that it works because of the way material and spiritual realities co-exist and interact.

When we cast a spell, we go between the worlds to effect changes on a spiritual place that transcends the individual personality.

This change is then be "brought through," or manifest on the physical plane, by an operation that we call "binding the spell."

A witch generally works on the psychological and metaphysical levels simultaneously. For the purposes of practical magical work, there is usually no need to belabor the distinction.

Midsummer: The Air Tide Ebbs

 Image from http://deskarati.com/2012/05/12/pre-historic-science/

Midsummer marks the time when the air tide turns and begins to ebb. The air tide began to flow at Beltane. The season past has been one of change; things have been in transition, and there has been an element of chance in everything as some seedlings took root and others were stillborn.  With the turning of the air tide, the season of ripening begins.  Now we know which of the seeds of time have taken root and will grow.  It is a time for dedication, patience and awareness.  The work of the coming season will be watering and weeding, watching and protecting that which has taken root.

The turning of this tide is best observed in a circle of stones made in the old manner, out of doors, when the sun is high in the sky.

Take with you a stone to establish you’re altar, and a little water or oil to use for anointing.  Find a clear place in the sunlight.

Lay out a Circle by marking the four directions with stones around your central altar stone. As you do so, invite Spirits from the four directions to guard your Circle.

Welcome the God as King of high summer; as you invoke Him, feel the Sun enter you through the crown of your head, crowning the God within you.

Speak to the God who is both within you and in the sky above, voicing your intentions for the coming season.

Using the oil anoint both feet, saying, “Let my feet go in Your ways.”  

Anoint both hands saying, “Let my hands do Your work.”

Anoint your third eye, saying, “Let me see the way before me.”

Sit or kneel in silent meditation for awhile.

Give thanks to the God and the Guardians.

Open the Circle by walking widdershins (counter-clockwise), and kicking the stones outwards.

  

Midsummer Hymn

(Sung to the tune of the Gaelic song "Samradh, Samradh")

Summer, Summer, milk of the heifers,
We have brought the Summer in
Golden Summer, Wind and Water,
We have brought the Summer in,

Hail to the God, who brings us His blessing,
Hail to the sun a-rising high
Hail to Him now in his hour of crowning,
Hail to the King who’s born to die.

Summer, Summer milk of the heifers
He has brought the summer in
Sowed the corn and wisely tended
He has brought the summer in.

Hail to the bridegroom, love of our Lady,
Hail to the plow that tilled the ground
Praise to him now for all he’s given
Bringer of life to wear the crown.

Summer, Summer milk of the heifers
He has brought the summer in
Sowed the corn and wisely tended
He has brought the summer in.

Summer, Summer, milk of the heifers,
We have brought the Summer in
Golden Summer, Wind and Water,
We have brought the Summer in.

The Air Tide Flows

This season, between Beltane and Midsummer, is called the Time of Change--possibly because Beltane is one of the two hinges of the year that herald dramatic changes in energy and conditions.

The crops are sown, and now the fragile seedlings must take root and grow. The fields must be weeded and watered, relatively light work if diligently done. But now, the outcome of the past season's sowing depends on the vagaries of chance; the weather, the whims of marauding birds, forest creatures, otherworld spirits.

The veils between the worlds that opened at Beltane still remain thin. Connections are loose. All things are possible. The Lady and Lord, wholly absorbed with each other, leave their children to shift for themselves.

The time is more auspicious for divining than for sorcery. The lot-casting methods--the runes, Tarot, geomancy, the I Ching--will be the most effective ones.

The Fire Tide Ebbs

The ebbing Fire Tide, from the Spring Equinox to Beltane, brings the Time of Planting.

It is a busy time, requiring community effort, planning, and hope.

The Lady at this season is the the mature Maiden, guiding the work of the hands and the laying of strategies and plans.The Young God, still unmated and untamed, rules the Green Wood. His energy rushes through the homestead now and again, without warning, bringing both joyful laughter and lapses of judgement.

It is a powerful time for magic, ever more so as May Eve draws nearer. Work to awaken creative powers, and to lay the groundwork for life changes.

Fire Tide

At Candlemas the Fire Tide flows, and this season until the Spring Equinox is called the Time of Change. In this time the God born at Yule grows to manhood, and that mystery of change informs all others. It is a time of great creative power, when all projects of art and making, will and change, are carried forth on their most auspicious tide.

Spellcasting

It's a pretty sure bet that humans have been casting spells for as long as humans have existed. It is just the comparatively recent religions, including modern science, that have chosen to take a dim view of it.

Working magic was regarded first as the impious use of evil powers, and later as a deluded resort to imaginary powers. In fact, it is neither. 

Magic stems from very real and morally neutral powers inherent in the human soul. We cast spells for the same reasons we use tools and language, create art and social institutions. 

We are a species peculiarly prone to symbolic thought, and we are driven to exert change on the the world around us, for good or for ill. Magic is just one of many ways that those traits manifest themselves.