| Candle Magick Conundrums? Posted Wednesday, April 06, 2005 by Randall |
I want to do a simple little ritual ... I've read up on it, I think it is something I can manage without wreaking havoc upon the free world -- but I have a conundrum: what kind of candle do I use?
Everything I've read says that it :
* should be a virgin candle -- check, I understand that.
* needs to be dressed -- OK, I think I get that, check
* should be a color representative of the ritual -- Right, check.
* ought to be either consumed or destroyed post ritual -- check, right-o
* can be any kind of candle I want -- NOT CHECK, dude - ANTI-Check
So, here's my problem. What kind of candle will last long enough for the ritual but not have so much left unburnt that I feel like a wax-schmuck for getting rid of it? How fast does a candle burn? What if it runs out before I'm done? Should it be unscented? (I mean, I'd hate to have conflicting scents running around in my ritual room.) Does it MEAN something significant if I have a candle in a particular shape? I mean, do I really WANT a cat shaped candle? Or a crescent shaped candle? Or a candle shaped like an upside-down Buddha with dragons on his feet? Where does one get little gold candles or little blue candles? Do I need to get a "ritual prosperity candle" or can I just use the lovely little green taper that we couldn't find at Christmas?
| Righteous Judgement? Posted Tuesday, April 05, 2005 by Randall |
A LOT of old religions have either a god or a whole passel of them dedicated to fixing the balance by smacking the crap out of wrongdoers. The Egyptians have Sekhmet, the Greeks .. well, they all take turns... and if I knew more about other religions, I'd probably be able to remember more examples.
So, what place does righteous judgement have in your religion? Is it the province of the gods, or are we sometimes called to smack the crap out of wrongdoers ourselves? How do you integrate this with the rest of your moral code?
| If Religions Disappear? Posted Tuesday, April 05, 2005 by Randall |
Here's an idea I was batting around with some friends. It is weird, but go with it, just a hypothetical that has been fun to play with:
We wake up tomorrow, and there's NO religion. Nada, zip, nothing'. No Christian Bible, no Talmud, no Koran, No sacred writings/scriptures of any kind. No archaeological evidence or any human memory of any religion either. Nothing.
How long would it take religion (of any type) to be created? What kinds of religion would be the first to surface?
Would Bob notice that every time he washed his car, it rained... so in drought situations a car-washing cult would come about? (We have gotten into a lot of cause and effect arguments)
So...any ideas?
| Visualization and Magic Posted Tuesday, April 05, 2005 by Randall |
I've recently been reading some non-magical books talk about visualization, and it got me thinking:
Do you use visualization in your magical practice? If you do, how do you visualize? Do you actually see what you're visualizing, like you would if your eyes were open? Or do you imagine/feel/etc. what you're visualizing? Do you think there's a difference between controlled daydreaming/imaginations and the visualization you use?
What techniques did you use, if any, to strengthen your visualization skills? (No need to explain in detail...I already have plenty of examples from books, lol.)
| An Era Ends: Pope John Paul II Dead At 84 Posted Saturday, April 02, 2005 by Randall |
AP (via Yahoo) reports: "John Paul II, who led the Roman Catholic Church for 26 years and helped topple communism in Europe while becoming the most-traveled pope, died Saturday night in his Vatican apartment after a long public struggle against debilitating illness. He was 84."
While John Paul II was very traditionalist in his interpretation of Catholic doctrine, he was a very popular Pope both among Catholics and non-Catholics. Many non-Catholics appreciated his apologies for wrongs the church had committed over the centuries. Share your memories and comments in this thread.
| Those Troublesome Monks Posted Thursday, March 31, 2005 by Randall |
I'm wondering if any Recons run into the suspicions that Christian Monks fiddled with your primary source materials from other Recons or from the academic sources you consult?
I have to admit I've never really seen it come up with the Greek Recons, but it seems I run into it pretty frequently from people who follow the Celts or who use Llewellyn books as their only source.
| Spending Money On Your Religion? Posted Thursday, March 31, 2005 by Randall |
What does your path say about spending money in regards to your religion/religious practices?
I mean we all know that the $900 'mystickalle' wand with the 9 carat diamond on the end isn't going to magically make you a witch(or whatever) but there are certainly some things that I've spent some serious money on for my practice.
Now these expenditures, for me at least, aren't required but they are things that I see as signs of respect for my deities that I am happy to scrimp and save to give in honor of them. I'm a firm believer of never buying anything for practice that I will be unhappy about the amount of money I have spent(I feel it lends a negative energy to the item if you resent it's cost.) But on the other hand I think that, when you can afford it, getting beautiful and sometimes expensive things with which to use in worship/ritual/whatever is a sign of respect.
That doesn't mean, of course, that if Witch A could only afford to spend $50 on her tools and Witch B could afford $150 on her tools that Witch B is a better witch or is showing more respect. 'From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs' right? I guess it's like donating. If someone who is poor donates $100 to a cause and someone who is rich donates $100 to a cause - well who donated more.
I mean I know it's not required, I don't think money or the expense of something is the end all be all... but on the other hand, I think there is an amount of respect tied in with the amount you are willing to spend in reference to the amount you can spend for your worship.
Does that make any sense? What does everyone else think?
| Magical and Ritual Tools? Posted Thursday, March 31, 2005 by Randall |
I have some questions about magical and ritual tools (and thank you to everyone who's been so patient in answering all my questions!).
What sort of tools do you use most in your spells and rituals, and which ones would you recommend for essential basics for a beginner like me?
I notice that many rituals, altars and circles call for lit candles to represent the Goddess and God. In my dorm we're not allowed to light candles in our rooms. Is it okay to just have unlit candles, or is there some other substitute that might be more appropriate?
Finally, are there any online stores or mail-order catalogs with reasonably priced magical tools and materials?
| Goal of Your Religious Path? Posted Saturday, March 26, 2005 by Randall |
What is the ultimate goal of your religious path? If you don't necessary consider yourself "religious" is there a universal goal, like for the good of the universe type stuff, or is it simply for the good of self improvement?
I am considering creating a written record of what I do and feel. I know my goals have changed over the years, and I no longer believe as I use to. So I really am curious of what your current views are, not what they use to be or what they changed from.
| Indoors or Outdoors? Posted Saturday, March 26, 2005 by Randall |
Do you perform your rituals indoors or outdoors or both? Which do you prefer, and why? And most importantly, does the content/outline of the ritual change if you do it outdoors instead of indoors or vice versa?
I'm asking because last night's Full Moon was my first outdoors ritual in a long while (for obvious weather reasons). The sensations I got were all different, the things I wanted to do, and say, and chant, and pray for, were all different, so I've been wondering.