Natural Witchery (5 page)

[contents]

Chapter 2

For whereas the mind works in possibilities,
the intuitions work in actualities, and when
you intuitively desire, that is possible to you.
Whereas what you mentally or “consciously” desire
is nine times out of ten impossible; hitch your wagon to a star, or you will just stay where you are.

D. H. Lawrence

Embracing Your Intuition

Now that you have this information, you can get a better understanding of your own unique psychic gifts. It will help you to understand your abilities and talents if you validate and document them as you go along. If you ignore your intuition and your psychic abilities, they will sulk or won't “speak” to you at all, making it much harder for you to coax them back out. Get a little notebook and jot down your psychic experiences, and then follow them up with a quick note so you can keep track of how things turned out. Validating the experiences is key; it also helps you figure things out.

For example, for years I would have soft, fuzzy dreams of a baby girl who would crawl through a room where I was sitting. She would babble at me, smile, and then crawl away. I would leap up to chase after her while she giggled at me and crawled even faster. As soon as I'd get close enough to scoop her up, I would wake up from the dream.

When my kids were small, that dream scared me to death. I wrongly assumed, at first, that it meant I was pregnant again (three kids were plenty for my husband and me). Then, after a while, I realized that every time I had this dream, it was simply a way of telling me it was about someone else—that another baby was on its way to a close friend or family member—which took the stress right out of the experience, let me tell you!

At last count, we are up to sixteen nieces and nephews. So over the years she has shown up a lot in my dreams, whether the baby is a boy or girl. Now I know whenever I have this dream that within a week we usually receive some happy news.

Only once has this dream changed on me. That one time in the dream, as I went to scoop her up, instead of waking up I found the baby sitting in front of me, spelling out the name “Elizabeth” in alphabet blocks. Then I woke up, surprised and startled at the new twist on my familiar dream. I stayed quiet about that new information, wrote it down in my dream journal, and waited. Sure enough, a new nephew and then a niece arrived within a year—and my niece's parents announced, after she was born, that her middle name would be Elizabeth.

Remember, for the most part, that psychic impressions are quiet and subtle. So don't worry about them. The only time they are loud or full blast is if the message is vitally important or you are in danger. If for some reason you experience this, then pay attention, and be smart and safe. Think of those psychic warnings like signposts on a road. Pay attention and make the appropriate detours, if necessary. Forewarned is forearmed. Be aware and pay attention. Work the exercises that were listed earlier in this chapter, and have fun! Use the journal pages in this book to start a dream journal, and see what you learn. Figure out where your talents lie, and then add this knowledge to the magick you already practice.

In our next chapter, we will discover the psychic tides and energies of the moon. This will provide you with even more opportunities to crank up the volume on your own individual style of magick. Just imagine all of the new ways you'll be able to think about your Witchcraft and natural magick! Once you start down this intuitive path, it will quite naturally lead you straight to your own inner wisdom. Go ahead, embrace your psychic abilities—and let's add another wonderful dimension to your natural witchery.

Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth . . .

Joseph Addison

The Psychic Cycles of the Moon

No other natural object has been more venerated throughout time than our closest companion in the sky, the moon. Moon mythology stretches far back into our history, and every country and culture has its own legends and tales about lunar deities. For Witches, the ever-changing moon symbolizes the Triple Goddess in her aspects of Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Our mystical and mysterious moon has a feminine power that is associated with intuition, magick, and psychic themes.

In ancient times, the moon was important to the people for a number of reasons. First and most obviously, it was a source of light in the night sky. The moon was also a time keeper, as the ancient people counted the moon's cycles, making the first calendar of sorts. The moon also regulated the ocean's tides and the migratory movement of the earth's creatures.

All people are affected by the moon—women in particular, due to the obvious connections between the moon's phases and their menstrual cycles and fertility. Men also are influenced by the moon, but they need to pay attention to these subtle changes. In years past, this was a much more basic and “earthy” connection, as the moon was utilized in the ancient peoples' calculations and plans as hunters and gatherers. The men carefully watched the full moons come and go, noting the seasonal changes and the movement of the animals. The knowledge of the most opportune time to plant and to harvest crops, as well as the most favorable time to fish and hunt, was an integral part of their mysteries.

Learning how to work with the intuitive energies of the moon today helps us to attune with the rhythm of natural energy within our own lives. In truth, all the cycles of the moon generate their own type of psychic energy and magick, for lunar energies are both feminine and receptive. Make no mistake, whether you are male or female, they do influence your moods, psychic abilities, magick, and your life. This is important to realize, since psychic powers are receptive in nature—and by that I mean you receive the images and impressions. When you work in accord with these lunar tides, you draw in Goddess energy. This lunar power attracts and pulls in; receptive energy is magnetic, as it draws whatever it desires to itself.

The Goddess and the power of the moon are popular topics of discussion among Witches, Pagans, and magick users. However, many folks sort of miss the forest for the trees when it comes to the Goddess, magick, and the moon. So, before you roll your eyes and let out an aggrieved sigh, thinking that I'm going to launch into a basic Wicca 101 topic that you already know … hold on for a second. There is further information to be gained on this subject other than just the typical correspondences of “Maiden: waxing moon; Mother: full moon; and Crone: waning moon.” When was the last time you
really
paid attention to how the phases of the moon affected both your intuition and your psychic sensitivity?

As the moon is a natural representation for the Goddess, you may want to pause and reconsider all the various moon phases and the psychic energies that they bring into your spellcasting. Both the Goddess and the moon are ever-changing. They have many aspects or faces and myriad lessons to reveal. I suggest you take a walk outside at night and spend some time under the moon's transforming light. Open up your heart and expand your psychic abilities. Allow your intuition to lead you, and the illumination of the Goddess will shine down on you.

Lady Moon, Lady Moon, where are you roving?

A Children's Song

Drawing Down the Moon

The act of drawing down the moon is a powerful psychic and magickal experience. By focusing on the light of the full moon, you are actually drawing the Goddess into your own body. Again, realize that lunar energy is intuitive, magnetic, and receptive. This is a force of nature, and tapping into this power is a transformative experience. This type of empowerment needs to be felt, and it's going to be different for each individual.

I have heard this process explained and intellectualized to death, but the truth is this is a silent ritual. It requires no tools or props other than yourself and the full moon. Learning to draw down the moon is an intuitive and personal experience that marks a significant step of your journey. This is an important part of natural witchery, for now you are beginning to make your magick both intuitive and personal.

No words are needed while you draw down the moon. If you'd like to say a few words in greeting before you get started, go right ahead. Typically I look up, smile at the moon, and say, “Hello, Goddess.” Seems to me that a simple and heartfelt greeting is much more eloquent than fumbling around trying desperately to remember that lengthy, dramatic poem you memorized. The Goddess does not require melodrama. Just be yourself, and follow your own insights. The following steps for the process are straightforward ones, and as we've seen, simple is usually the best.

• Step outside and stand under the light of the full moon. Too basic for you? Hmm, you'd be surprised. You have to get outside for this one, folks.
  
• Ground and center yourself. Imagine that your feet are like the roots of a tree, and sink them down into the earth. Visualize that any stress or anger you may be carrying is draining away to be absorbed back harmlessly into the earth. Now see that the earth is in turn sending you revitalizing energy. Raise up your arms, and stretch out your fingers. Take a nice deep cleansing breath and blow it out slowly.
  
• Next, you may stand with your hands loosely at your sides, holding your hands palms up. I have seen people dramatically throw their arms out wide and embrace the night sky. Go with whatever position feels more natural to you. If you are concerned that someone (like a curious neighbor) may be watching, then just keep your arms down and stand in a relaxed pose.
  
• Now open up your chakras. Just as we practiced in the previous chapter, light up those seven energy centers, stretch out your psychic feelings, and open yourself up to the Goddess and her illumination.
  
• Tip up your face to the light of the moon, and envision pulling some of that luminosity and power down and inside of yourself. Give yourself a few moments, and feel the difference that it makes. For example, if you feel down and self-conscious, you will likely stand taller and be more confident after drawing down the moon. If you feel overwhelmed and stressed out, you'll notice that your shoulders will relax, and you will feel more at peace when you are finished. You may feel a shivery and tingling connection with other Witches from all over the world. Or you may feel a comforting warmth surrounding you, like an astral hug, telling you that She is looking down on you and smiling. Enjoy the sensations for a while.
  
• Take a deep breath, and let it out slowly. Now zip your chakras closed with a quick arm motion from your mid-thigh area to over the top of your head. Ground and center again. Relax.
  
• Whisper a “thank you” to the Goddess. Return indoors.
  
• If you'd like, take notes and write down in your journal or Book of Shadows what you experienced. (Also, I'll let you in on a little secret: the various full moons throughout the year do carry different energies. The harvest moon feels electric and mysterious, while a winter full moon seems wise and silent; a summer full moon has a lazy, mellow quality as compared to the energy and excitement of a spring full moon. Keep track and note what differences you personally experience.)