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PRACTICAL WORK 2

During parts of the following exercises you may access some fairly strong feelings, so before you begin it is a good idea to make sure you are prepared to deal with these and are able to bring yourself back to ‘normal’. In the Craft we sometimes call this returning to ourselves ‘grounding’ or ‘earthing’, and it is something which should take place after any kind of meditation, as well as any form of magical working. Probably the best way to ground yourself is to have a warm drink and something to eat, preferably sweet, to replenish your physical energy as well. Alternatives include briskly rubbing your arms and legs with your hands, or fairly strenuous but tedious physical activity such as doing the vacuuming!

Dealing with strong emotions can be somewhat harder, and often it is best to allow them to work themselves through; if you feel like crying then do so, if you feel anger then go and pummel a pillow or cushion, and so on. Because these exercises can arouse strong feelings you may want to ensure that you will have privacy both during and afterwards. Part of the object is to learn how to handle your feelings, so please don’t try to suppress them. On the other hand, many people find that they have no residual effects after the experiences, and this, too, is perfectly normal. As with the preceding exercises only try to deal with one Element on any one day and write it up as soon as you can.

Air – In some respects, deliberately bringing the Element of Air, and thought, to the fore is the hardest to achieve; as it is hard to think, and think about how you are thinking, at the same time. Because of this here is a selection of exercises you can choose from:

 Imagine you are going away for a few days. Try to choose somewhere particular but which you have not visited before. Take a pen and paper and make a list of everything you think you might need to take with you. Plan for every situation, event and weather you can sensibly imagine happening. Be as detailed and thorough as you possibly can. When your list is finished, make a second list, this time assuming you can only take one very small bag. When both are complete, compare the way you felt whilst compiling each.

 In your head, calculate the number of seconds in a year or, if you find this easy, the number of seconds you have been alive.

 Imagine a conversation with someone you know fairly well, but make it about a subject neither of you knows a lot about. Try to imagine what each of you will say, and make it last for at least ten minutes.

Afterwards, consider how it felt to be strictly focused on mental activity: were you at all aware of your body, or other aspects of yourself?

Fire – If you have a real fire then this is best, otherwise place several candles in front of a mirror so that you can see lots of flames. Do make sure that they are in secure holders and not likely to set the room on fire! Now recall a time when you were really very angry – anger is often the easiest passion to recall. Think through the whole situation from the first things that upset you until you can really feel the anger rising up inside of you. Once you are truly angry, stop for a moment and think about how your whole body and mind feel. You may find that you are shaking, sweating or have other physical symptoms. If another person was the cause of this anger, ask yourself how you would feel about working a healing spell for that person right now. Once you have explored the sensations, either work through the feeling or let it subside naturally. Make notes on the build-up of feelings, how you felt when they were at their most powerful and how you felt as they were released or subsided.

Water – To explore your emotions do both parts of this exercise: In the first part run yourself a deep, pleasantly warm bath. Make sure that you have a specially warm and fluffy towel to hand for afterwards, and a box of tissues within reach just in case. Once you are in the water think back to an event which was particularly sad; perhaps the loss of a pet, or the break-up of a relationship. Again, allow yourself to really experience the feelings that made up the emotion. Write this up fully as before.

Do the second part on a separate occasion: Choose a humorous book to read or film to watch, making sure it is something which will really make you laugh out loud; often this will be something you are already familiar with. Alternatively, recall a really funny situation that happened to you, or which you have heard about. Allow the humour to build, and afterwards give thought to how you felt. When you write this up, compare it with experiencing sadness and see what, if anything, you feel the build-up of the two emotions have in common, and what is different about each. Also compare the way they leave you feeling once they have subsided.

Earth – This exercise is one which may take several attempts to complete, as lots of people fall asleep when first trying. It is, however, something you might like to repeat many times as it is very relaxing. Prepare for bed in the usual way: if you are in a relationship you may need to have an early night when your partner will join you later. Lie on your back with no pillows under your head. Try to ensure you are lying

straight with your feet slightly apart and your arms beside you but not touching your sides. Focus on your breath until you are breathing slowly and evenly in through your nose and out through your mouth. Now, starting with one foot, move one toe at a time, then stretch and flex the foot. Do the same with the other foot. If you can’t actually move your toes one at a time, do your best. Now flex the ankles one at a time, then rotate them. Going slowly up your body, bend and flex each muscle group or joint as best you can. Continue right up to moving your neck, chin, mouth, eyes, eyelids and eyebrows. If you are still awake, repeat the process in reverse. When you have finished, your whole body should feel completely relaxed. Lie there for a few moments and think about how each part of your body felt before, during and after you moved it. Imagine your mind travelling through all the parts and try to see them in your imagination. Ask yourself how they really feel: are there any aches, pains or discomforts? Which parts feel good, which don’t? The following day, and only after you have written up the first part, stand naked in front of a mirror and make a point of looking at all the parts of your body. Compare how you feel about the way each looks, with how they actually felt in the movement exercise.

The above exercises allow you to explore your feelings in association with the Elements in an experimental way, but this is somewhat artificial as it relates to feelings you have deliberately summoned and, to a certain extent, controlled. In daily life things are not usually quite so straightforward. During the course of any one day you will go through a lot of different feelings; some quite mild, some stronger. You will also have mixes of feelings; for example, someone makes you a bit angry (Fire), but because you are not allowed to show that, you also feel frustrated (Water). It is important that you learn to recognize the more subtle feelings, and their different combinations, as this enables you to take the appropriate corrective action before starting magical work. To gain a better understanding of how the Elements affect you it is a good idea to keep a record of your feelings for a short while.

PRACTICAL WORK 3

The Element Diary – For at least one week, keep a detailed record of your feelings, linking them with their associated Elements. Make entries for first thing on waking, mid-morning, lunchtime, midafternoon, early evening, and last thing at night. You may also find it helpful to note any triggers you can identify which may have brought on these feelings.

After just a week of this you will already have a far greater understanding of the ways the Elements work in your life. You will also find that you start to have far more control over the ways you react to people and events around you. One of the effects of this is that you can begin to avoid situations, and sometimes even the people, which affect you badly. The next stage is to begin to find ways of effectively dealing with your feelings. Not by suppressing them but by balancing them.

The first step towards this is to find simple, easy to recall images which, for you, instantly identify each Element. For some people this means remembering the Elements as they actually experienced them in nature, for others it can be visualizing the colours. I have a series of mental ‘video clips’; time-lapse images of clouds rushing across the sky, a volcano erupting, waves crashing on the shore, and a cliff face I used to visit often. Whatever your personal triggers, when you recall them they should immediately invoke each Element totally; in terms of all the senses, as well as the internal feelings of each. If you don’t already have a series of memorable images then spend some time working on them. One Witch I know spent time creating abstract pictures of each. She made these pictures close to the Elements in nature; on a hill, in the sun, by a stream and in the garden surrounded by freshly turned earth. Whilst drawing her pictures she focused on all the aspects of each Element, revisiting the feelings, sights, sounds, smells, etc of each, and she dedicated them to each Element. The effort she put into these images was well worth it, as every time she wants to recall them they come easily to mind. Another, who is a singer, worked on finding musical tones which bring the Elements immediately to mind. Once you have decided which form is best for you, practise it regularly until you can recall each Element fully whenever you want.

After this you will need to identify ways of sending them away with equal ease. For a mental picture you might imagine a particular Element fading until it is no longer visible, or see it being covered by a coat of ‘paint’ which causes it to disappear. Sounds can be imagined as getting quieter, and so on.

PRACTICAL WORK 4

Find and develop mental images which bring to mind each of the Elements in turn. Keep practising until you can hold the images of all the Elements at the same time. Don’t expect to actually ‘see’ all four at the same time, but you should be able to maintain the feeling that they are all present. When you are able to bring them all to mind with ease, and hold them in your mind at the same time, then work on a way of sending each away, just as effectively.

Once you have mastered this, you can start to apply this technique to balance the Elements within. Continue using your Element Diary, but this time, every time you note a feeling, take a moment to recall each of your Elemental images in order. Whatever your feelings, bring to mind your images of Air, Fire, Water and Earth in that order. When you have all four in mind, revisit the images, but this time make each fade in your mind. Remember to note down how effective this was in reducing your feelings and balancing the Elements within.

It is very unusual for this technique to be effective straight away, and most Witches find that they have to practise over and over to achieve it fully. Moreover, there may well be times when your feelings are so strong that you find the exercise almost impossible to carry out. Don’t worry, this does not mean you have failed, but it does indicate that there are times when our feelings are so strong that it would not be a good idea to work magic. In fact, you should not attempt to work magic if you cannot achieve a balance in the Elements, as this will directly affect the results of your spell. If you are angry, even if it is unrelated to the spell you are working, then Fire will be in the ascendant and you may not give enough thought to constructing your spell. Likewise, if you are ill you may not be able to judge your Elemental balance accurately, let alone achieve focus and control.

Getting to grips with the Elements within can be used to give an insight into the ways others behave, and how they may react to life. If you observe those around you, you can often tell which Element(s) is (are) influencing their actions, and in some people which Elements they allow to control most of their lives. Some people are so Air-based that their life is all thinking and planning, with little actually getting done. These are the people you find need constant reminders and are not very practical. With others it may be Water, and they lurch from one emotional crisis to another. Fiery people are impulsive and often start many things, finishing few of them. Earth-based individuals are often practical but can seem cool and unemotional. This is one of the ways that those who are interested in Astrology use to guess the ‘star sign’ of people they meet, as all the signs are linked to the four Elements. Gemini, Libra and Aquarius are Air signs. Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are Fire signs. Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are Water. Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are Earth. However, in Astrology, as in the real world, few people are that uncomplicated, so they will often be influenced by more than one Element at a time, and can have different influences at different times. The observation and understanding of those around us is one of the key skills of the Witch, as it helps us to choose the best kinds of spell to achieve the desired effect.

PRACTICAL WORK 5

Give some thought to those around you. Which Elements are they most closely associated with? Try not to make it obvious that you are studying them; it will make them uncomfortable around you and is a good way to spoil relationships! Also, give some thought as to how this might affect the way you deal with them. For example, if you are seeking a favour from someone who is very Air-based, then it might be best to give a well thought out reason why they should help. But if they are Water-based then you could consider giving emotional reasons, and so on. If you experiment in this way, remember to make notes both before and after to see if your assessment of others is effective, and to help you develop your skills.

Of course, the effects of the Elements are not just limited to people; everything in the world is linked either to them or by them. Remember, they link to the times of day, the seasons, and even the ages of mankind. Hence, you can feel, and use, their influences in everything you do. If you need to plan something, then you might want to invoke Air. Conversely, if you are in need of rest, then you might want to bring Earth influences into your life.

In the Craft, the Elements are the corner-stones of the Circle, as well as of any magic or spells we may work. The Circle is on the one hand our Sacred Space, as a church or temple might be in other beliefs. But it is more than just a place to work. Its creation actually contributes directly to the actions which take place within it, as well as having specific purposes connected to the working of magic. It provides a protected area for all magical workings, where other, possibly negative energies, or just distractions, cannot enter. It contains the magical energy we raise to make the magic work, until the time when we release it to send it to its destination. Above all, it actually brings together the five Elements in such a way that we can add their energies from around us to those that we bring from within ourselves.

CREATING THE SACRED SPACE

Whether you are one person working alone, or a group, it is worth learning how to create the Sacred Space in a fairly formal way first, in order to understand how it works. First, an area, whether indoors or out, needs to be cleared, so that you can easily move around in it. It need not be large, but should have enough space to comfortably fit the person or people working within it, as well as any tools and equipment they may want or need to use. The traditional Circle is nine feet in diameter, but you may not have the luxury of that much room. The space will usually contain an Altar, which may be simply a table or surface onto which you put the things you will be using. If you are working indoors, this will include items to represent each of the Elements; incense for Air, a candle for Fire, a dish of water for Water and salt for Earth. The Goddess and the God may be represented by images, candles or other items. Visual links of this kind are more important in group working than they are when you work on your own, as everyone has to be focused on the same thing at the same time. If you are working magic which is going to centre around candles, a talisman or other physical objects, then these too should be on the Altar so that you do not later need to leave the Sacred Space to fetch anything. First, stand in the East of your area, facing the East, and holding firmly in your mind the image of Air that you developed earlier, call on the Element saying:

‘I call upon the Element of Air, to join with me here in the Circle.’ When you can actually feel the presence of Air, say: ‘Blessed Be.’

Now move to the South of the area and repeat the process and words for the Element of Fire. In the West call upon Water, and in the North call upon Earth. In many groups the words will be accompanied by drawing the invoking pentagram, the five-pointed star, of each Element in the Air. Remain facing the North and call upon the Goddess and the God saying:

‘I do call upon the Goddess and the God to join with me in these my Rites.’

Visualize them coming from the North to be with you and when you feel their presence say:

‘Blessed Be.’

If you have preferred deity forms then you can name and visualize these; there is more on this later in the book. Lastly, move to the North-East of the Circle and with the forefinger of your strong hand draw a circle in the air around the outer boundary of the Circle. As you do so, visualize an electric blue light creating a circle which becomes a sphere containing the whole circle, and say:

‘I do cast this Circle as a place of containment and protection. A place between the worlds and a time outside of time.’

Make sure that you overlap the start and finish points of the circle and then say:

‘Blessed Be.’

Note that you should always move Deosil; that is clockwise, when creating and working in the Circle.

Your Sacred Space is now complete and ready for you to perform whichever magical action you need. Usually, this will include raising energy, the spell or magic, and celebrating the Rite of Wine and Cakes, all of which are covered later in this book. At the end of magical working you then need to dismiss the Elements and thank the Goddess and the God.

Again, start in the East of your area, facing the East, and holding firmly in your mind the image of Air that you developed earlier, call on the Element saying:

‘I give thanks to the Element of Air, for joining with me here in the Circle. Hale and farewell.’

Let the image fade in the way you practised earlier, and when you feel it has departed, say:

‘Blessed Be.’

Now move to the South of the area and repeat the process and words for the Element of Fire. In the West dismiss Water, and in the North, Earth. In many groups the words will be accompanied by drawing the banishing pentagram of each Element. Remain facing the North and call upon the Goddess and the God, saying:

‘I give thanks to the Goddess and the God for being present here with me in these my Rites. Hale and farewell.’

Visualize them returning to the North and say:

‘Blessed Be.’

Lastly, move to the North-East of the Circle and with the forefinger of your strong hand draw a circle in the air around the outer boundary of the Circle. This time visualize the electric blue sphere fading and dissipating, and say:

‘I remove this Circle and return this place as it was before.’

Make sure that you overlap the start and finish points of the circle and then say:

‘Blessed Be.’

You can also return the area, perhaps replacing furniture and so on, to its original state. Lastly, have something to eat and drink to ground yourself, and write up your journal, leaving space for any outcomes to be added later.

Learning and practising this way of creating, and later removing, the Sacred Space is a good way of finding out how it feels, even though you may choose to use a less formal way for most of your magical working. Obviously, not all spells can wait until you have the time and space for a formal circle. Sometimes you may have an urgent need to work magic when you are not at home, or alone, and you can hardly start clearing an area and reciting invocations in a busy public place! On these occasions you can work completely within your head, summoning each Element, inviting the Goddess and the God, and drawing the Circle, all without moving or speaking aloud. There is more on this later.