Chat Host:

MERRY MEET AND WELCOME TO WICCA 101!
Tonight's class topic is "Effective Magic" and is being offered by Azrael.
As a courtesy to our host, please keep all greetings, farewells and side conversations in IM until class is over.
Likewise, please hold all questions and comments until discussion is called for by our host.
Disrupters will be warned once by the Chat Host. If disruptive behavior persists their exclusion will be called for.
When an exclusion is called, all are asked to do so WITHOUT comment either to or about the excludee.
In case of disaster {g} could one or two of you who plan on attending the entire class please log as back up?
With that, Azrael, you have the floor!

AZRAEL:

To begin, I hope we can all agree that in Witchcraft our spells, rituals, rites, and ceremonies are holy workings..

Cathbad:

Is that a question?

AZRAEL:

and if we look at the word "holy" it sounds a lot like "whole", and I hope we can also agree that for a working to be holy it has to be whole and complete!

ViragoWitch:

was that a rhetorical question?

AZRAEL:

Sort of but you can answer if you'd like =)

PAniteowl:

:::nod:::

Cathbad:

::shrugs::

ViragoWitch:

agreed

Azzie:

yes, agreed

AZRAEL:

It's plainly obvious, everything is either mental physical, or spiritual, or a combination of those, and in order for a working to be successful, it must be whole and have all three of those aspects present. The best example of magick we've all felt which has those three aspects, is watching television. However ordinary that might seem, when we truly enjoy a show, we do it in all three of those aspects.

When a person sits down, (physical), focuses their attention on the television (mental) but if they're not into the "spirit" of what they're doing then it's just not successful. They might see the football game, know the score, but if they're not doing that emotionally/spiritually as well. Then they don't feel the excitement of the game

WiseWitch:

Can I ask a question?

AZRAEL:

Yes please do =)

WiseWitch:

Well, it's not clear to me how watching TV, even if all 3 aspects are involved, makes for effective magic. For me, effective magic has effect on the external world, not just internal. And I see TV as not having external impact.

AZRAEL:

The point is more the fact that you're entirely into what you're doing, rather than specifically on the TV.

WiseWitch:

Okay, I see it as an altered state of consciousness, but...

AZRAEL:

You have to be entirely into the working, just as you get entirely into a football game. Rather than sitting there being detached.

PAniteowl:

Az... what you are saying is that you must be entirely involved in order to get full response to the workings?

AZRAEL:

Yes, in my opinion, you have to be entirely involved in a working for it to be more successful. I don't think you can get the results you want, if you're not focused on what you're doing

PAniteowl:

agreed

Chat Host:

well, that makes sense to me

AZRAEL:

okay, is that part clear enough? =)

PAniteowl:

yep

Chat Host:

clear to me

Wolfmoon:

sure is

AZRAEL:

With magick, even with simple candle spells, it's very important that you're in the spirit of the working you're performing. If you're performing a healing ritual, it's important, your thoughts are focused on healing, and the ritual you're doing is for healing, and you are feeling the healing energy spiritually. I think it would be less effective, if you're performing a ritual for healing, while thinking about a new job, or thinking using the wrong materials. For successful magick, it's also very helpful, if we're whole ourselves, before performing, instead of being physically ill, full of mental confusion, or just spiritually depressed...

PAniteowl:

Az... you are talking about a specific result, for which you must plan ahead, as opposed to spontaneous act of magick, right?

AZRAEL:

Well spontaneous, or planned, I'd think the whole ritual would have to be for the same purpose. I think it's vest if you wait until you're healthier, or have sorted out the problems you had in your mind that were creating the confusion, or waiting until you're no longer depressed before you continue with a working, unless of course it's an emergency

WiseWitch:

Az, it sounds like you're saying "only do magick when you don't have great need of doing magic!

AZRAEL:

no that's not what I mean at all. If you have a great need, then of course you should perform...

Lyll:

May I add something?

AZRAEL:

But if you're physically ill, of course perform a working for health... but I wouldn't suggest planning on a working for a new job, while you're battling pneumonia or a flu.

Sure Lyll

Lyll:

Thanks, I think that the idea is to perform magick consistently, so that when the times approach where one is not well, physically or spiritually, the appropriate measures have already been taken

AZRAEL:

That's a very good idea Lyll, thanks =)

Lyll:

For myself, I do a worship on the average of once a week to ensure that my bases are covered

LordCearnach:

Sounds almost Xian in premise....{g}

{=== sarcastic hooligan

AZRAEL:

That sounds like a very good idea =) making sure that we're prepared for the other things we'll have to do.

Lyll:

That depends on your point of view, I love my religion and have no problem with devotion to it, LordCearnach

LordCearnach:

It was meant purely in jest, Lyll....

AZRAEL:

a trap we really have to be careful not to fall into, is the monotonous trap of being used to what we're doing...

WiseWitch:

I think LordC was talking about the 'once a week' idea, divorced from need or moons or other natural cues.

Lyll:

Not a problem

LordCearnach:

Aye, WW...very perceptive, as e'er....{s}

Lyll:

I believe in the use of the seasons and moons, but, I tend to use them to perform greater rites of magick

Lyll:

My worships are in the form of meditation to offer energy, on holidays I tend to offer the herbs, oils and the like

LordCearnach:

Forgive my boldness, but it would seem that only two are actively taking part thus?

Azzie:

because we are supposed to be listening, not talking...

ViragoWitch:

apparently so.

Lyll:

I simply interjected based upon the comments made, sorry if I offended anyone

LordCearnach:

Hmmm.....who would've thought that possible?

ViragoWitch:

want me to take over until she returns and y'all can worship at my feet? {vbg}

LordCearnach:

Do we need an official excuse, Virago? {g}

CyberDaemon:

would worship at VW feet any time

Azzie:

what keeps our teacher from speaking?{G}

ViragoWitch:

::blushing:: thanks.... Now, where were we? Azrael?

CyberDaemon:

bad students

LordCearnach:

{=== praying they're clean and well-groomed, at the least {g}

Azzie:

{--teacher's pet! LOL

CyberDaemon:

need hall monitor

AZRAEL:

Okay, just a sec

WiseWitch:

Hall monitor got bumped [g]

ViragoWitch:

folks? can we at least be good little pagans and get back to topic? and hopefully, the hall monitor will be back shortly

LordCearnach:

If I'm to blame, my apologies...

Azzie:

always count on VW to get us back on track {G}

CyberDaemon:

while the chat's away.......

ViragoWitch:

MMA chatty. i've been making them behave

LordCearnach:

Ceal Failte, Her Chatness...

Chat Host:

{g}

AZRAEL:

Something else you might want to try while performing a working is making the area you're in seem more natural, putting cloths over furniture, or televisions to eliminate distractions. And if that doesn't work for you, then the worst possible result is you have to take a few cloths down. and you're not forced to try it again =) During each working, before you begin, all the tools you'll be using should be cleansed and put in the place you'll be using them. It'll definitely take the mood away if you begin a working and you have to run to the bedroom to get your tarot cards which you left lost somewhere in a drawer.

Chants, gestures, and ritual phrases should be memorized before hand too. Even though you can readily read them out of a notebook page, it can be more effective if you have only to grab the words out of your mind, open your mouth and speak

And that concludes what I have to say tonight. any comments or questions?

Chat Host:

I missed the whole class!

Lyll:

Az, how long have you been practicing magick? Just curious.

Azzie:

now we should have a discussion...

AZRAEL:

about 6 years, but I've only been practicing Wicca for less than a year.

WiseWitch:

What of bathing before magick?

Lyll:

What did you do before, it I may ask

PAniteowl:

Az.. just a comment... I don't practice a specific rit... I call from within when performing

ViragoWitch:

good question, WW. i was about to ask.

AZRAEL:

It was another form of spiritualism. rather than Wicca.

Lyll:

Oh

AZRAEL:

WW, I'd agree with bathing before magick. the bathing can be magickal in itself. and hold a great deal of symbolism

Azzie:

WW, bathing before a ritual is always a good idea =)

Lyll:

WW, I've found that a ritual bath of herbs combined with meditation, before ritual is deeply centering

Azzie:

when I'm done with bathing before a ritual, I get out the special oils and anoint myself, so to speak...

Chat Host:

ok does anyone have anything further to discuss about Azrael's class??

CyberDaemon:

nope

Azzie:

there has to be something...{G}

Chat Host:

Azrael, any parting comments?

AZRAEL:

nope, none at all.

PAniteowl:

Sorry Az, but I really don't discuss Magick in open forum {G}

ViragoWitch:

I'll take the 5th amendment

PAniteowl:

heheheh

coyote:

LOL virago

Lyll:

Azzie, you're not leaving are you?

AZRAEL:

That's okay, I didn't ask anyone to discuss it in open forum.

Lyll:

What wouldn't you not want to discuss concerning magick here?

Chat Host:

well Azrael, thank you for your offering

AZRAEL:

You're welcome Morrigan =)

Chat Host:

I enjoyed the specs, even if I didn't get a chance to hear the whole class

ViragoWitch:

LOL chatty

PAniteowl:

IMHO, Az showed good sense in presenting an aspect of the craft without stepping on any toes {G}... Thanks Az

CyberDaemon:

Az, thank you for sharing your time with us

ViragoWitch:

aye, thanks... sorry i missed much of it, though

Chat Host:

I thought so too PA

Lyll:

Yes, thanks Az

AZRAEL:

You're welcome.

Azzie:

Az, you've done a wonderful job... you've now been accepted into our secret society{G}

AZRAEL:

Well, thank you very much =)

AZRAEL: