Merry Meet! I was wondering if you do not use your magick for a long period of time, would you use it? You see, I have been busy with school for a long while (Junior year: college choices, SATs, studying, theatre, ect.) In this complicated process of my life, I have missed a few sabbats, esbats, and worshiping. I haven't practiced in almost a year. Something about me also feels different. Like I don't have any power. It's hard to explain, but I don't feel connected with the earth anymore. It's very uncomfortable to me. I've been trying to connect with nature again, but it never works! Can anyone give me some sort of explanation? I don't know what to do anymore, and I don't feel like myself. I feel almost dead. If anyone can help me get my connection back or give me any sort of information at all, it would be fantastic, and very much appreciated! I thank you in advance, and Blessed Be!
Shortly, Witchcraft works because of the ability of the practitioner to raise, focus, and send forth energy for a purpose. The language doesn't matter at all and it could be argued that if the practitioner uses language unfamiliar to her/him it might actually impede the process.
If you're talking about the ability to raise energy, direct it, or generally use magic (including the different form), you will always have this ability since everyone happens to be born with with many predispositions that may lead a person to practice magic and use it as something they've always been able to do while all the needed was the proper practice. You will always obtain internal and external energy and by the practice of energy manipulation, you will get somewhere to begin with. You won't lose the ability to manipulate you energy even though you can get to be less skilled due to a break from spirituality, but as I said both external energy and internal energy will be always obtained by you and surrounded around you...
I believe that you get this feeling simply because you fogot about many forms of magic that you've done before. As far as I'm concerned this feeling is totally natural and everyone who has taken a serious break from any particular subject gets to feel it that way. You haven't "lost" any ability you had associated with being able to perform and exploit magic and it's various forms, while you did lose the skills you've got through out the time you dedicated your time for practicing magic and it's different forms. Hence all you need is a good practice and a friendly reminder which will help you get back your easy use of magic.
Take your time to explore the different forms again, and I'm sure that soon or later you won't feel that way anymore.
When we are children we are able to easly tap into magickal power because first we believe with ease and wonder. Like Alice in Wonderland. As a child these ideas are not impossable for us. But as we age and we get caught up in the adult aspects of our lives we forget how to dream and imagine and lose ourselves in the wonders of an open mind and free spirit. This can cause us to lose focus and lost touch with our powers and the natural flow of the universe. It is during times like these that most people scheduel a time of recommiting and rededication to get back into tune with that part of ourselves and get back into the flow of things. That is what I would recommend for you when you have a free moment. I am already in collage and I don't get all the things done that I want to get done and I do these things and have found that my connection is still there just waiting for me to come back to it like an old friend.
Resonating with energy would be a good route to start with, then working with the flow around you until you are comfortable with raising, tapping into, and directing the flow of energy.
I was Wiccan before (didn't feel particularly close the Lady and the Lord, so I coulnd't call myself one) and have missed Sabbats and Esbats due to work. school, or home life. Honestly, there is no doctrine that says you absolutely have to or something bad will happen, so that's okay (so long as you're comfortable with you're spirituality). To be totally honest, everyone goes through these phases of taking a break from spirituality.
Wicca isn't so much about casting, as it is spirituality that's incorperated in your daily life. You live it in your beliefs, you dispositions, and activities.
Re: Use it Before You Lose it By: blackbeldam / Novice
Post # 5 Nov 25, 2012
I don't consider magic a religion, a vocation, a hobby, or even really a skill. I consider it a philosophy.
Magic is, in the words of Richard Cavendish, "a titanic attempt to exalt the stature of man; to put man in the place which religious thought usually reserves for God." A belief in magic is the belief that you, by force of will alone, can exert control over fate - yours, and other people's as well.
It's a creed of radical self-empowerment, one that implores its practitioners not to settle complacently within the limited sphere of their knowledge, but to always be searching for the subtle cues that indicate where the threads of fate are woven, and how best you may pluck them.
Often this translates into extensive reading, studying, note-taking and practice, all of which can allocate resources (such as time, money and energy) away from what's practically important. So start small. Pick one book related to magical study - perhaps something covering the basics, just to refresh your memory - and set aside one hour a day to do nothing but read it. Or, better yet, dedicate that hour to meditation and energy play practice. One hour a day quickly adds up, and in no time you'll be back in your element.
Re: Use it Before You Lose it By: WhiteRav3n / Knowledgeable
Post # 6 Nov 25, 2012
You do not "lose it" by not casting. Many magick practioners choose not to cast a ritual or proper spell for months if not years. It is when you lose touch with the connection to nature, your focus, and the control over mind/emotions that you can "lose it". You need to reconnect to yourself and to nature and it will all come back to you. Meditate, go for walks among the trees or along a lake, take time to just breathe and exist in the present. You really should never miss the sabbats. They are there to remind you of certain aspects of life that should be reflected on. They help you to remain connected to nature and life on a wholesome level. You don't need to do anything fancy or even a ritual (half the times I don't practice ritual on sabbats) you just need to take some time to reflect on what it means and how that aspect effects your life. I personally reflect on it all day and take some time in the evening to talk about it with friends or family. It's as simple as that.
In addition to... Most of what was said above. I think a good cleansing is in order. A nice long salt bath with a candle. A sage smudge. Smoke in every corner going widdershins (counterclockwise) for cleansing. And actual "smudgeing" from left to right, above all doorways and windows, made from some ashes and the blackened butt of your smudge stick and a hard drying, sticky catalyst, such as honey or tree sap, for protection. Pretty basic but i hope it helped.
Also. You may want to brush up on a.p., finding a spirit guide, grounding and centering, and casting a circle. You can find working excercises on the site by typing the terms into the searchbar.
