I am often asked which Wiccan path I follow, and there are many paths indeed to choose from!
I am a solitary practitioner, meaning I do not have any formal affiliation with a coven or tradition, although I very much enjoy my many encounters and exchanges with other practitioners of Wicca, Paganism, Druidry and Shamanism.
All these traditions revere nature and celebrate both the mystery of the spiritual realms, and the beauty of the natural world, with joy and playfulness. All of these paths have something to teach us. For me it is the lack of dogma and freedom to sense directly the power of certain rituals, spells and customs that make spiritual exploration so inspiring.
The beautiful area in which I live, Suffolk, England was a stronghold of the Anglo Saxons who had a remarkable and evocative system of beliefs and ritual, described beautifully by Brian Bates in his book The Way of Wyrd. Reading this book felt like coming home. I am quite sure that every region of the world has its mysteries and traditions that can inspire and enthrall!
I have every respect for established traditions such as Gardnerian and Fairy Wicca, however I personally feel at home with my own eclectic tradition, based on my instincts, simplicity, along with the use of magical herbs colors, ritual tools and symbols. Take a look at, adapt and develop the ideas on these pages. Learn some of the basic techniques, such as using Wiccan Incense and Wiccan Candle Magic, and then explore and discover for yourself!
To all those who are inspired by, curious about, or committed to any of these traditions: enjoy the creativity of trusting your own instincts, while of course respecting any traditional wisdom that is available to you. Be playful, explore. And when you do strike a seam of power, show reverence and respect. You will know what to do.
Some people have an instinctive, almost childlike awareness of their power animal, finding their spirit guide is as simple as asking a child what is your favorite animal? Others benefit from exercises such as this Meditation to Find your Animal Spirit Guide. Neither way is better, and as humanity becomes more consciously aware of their spiritual nature, no doubt people will find new ways to bond with the animal realm.
Deepening the bond with a Totem Animal
Again, we may look to childhood for some ideas on how to commune with our animal spirit guide. Why not decorate your home with images and even soft toys of your favorite creature? With such an enormously wide range of plush stuffed animals now available you are sure to find yours available somewhere!
There is no restriction! The diversity of beautiful, curious and mysterious creatures is reflected in the wide range of spirit guides to humans. But some creatures are well known to many Shamen, and I offer guidance to those who have recently come to know their power animal, or who seek to deepen an existing bond:
The loyal Wolf Spirit Guide is a wonderful companion in challenging situations.
The graceful Horse Totem Animal paradoxically both sociable and indepdendent.
The divine Eagle Power Animal offers a magical bridge to spiritual realms.
Whether aware of it or not, we all have a strong bond with nature and her creatures, and developing a relationship with our totem animal spirit guide is a delightful way to deepen and enhance this natural link.
Visiting the reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village of West Stow is a wonderfully evocative experience, imagining these fearless people feasting, drinking and enjoying the magical tales of travelling storytellers. But to learn that their spirituality was very closely related to shamanic traditions, involving fantastic imagery which inspired Tolkien’s Middle Earth was a wonderful discovery. The historical Anglo-Saxons were far from being barbarians!
The Shamanic Mazzeris of Corsica
I was fortunate enough to spend some time studying in Corsica, the Mediterranean island known as the Ile de Beauté, the beautiful isle in French. The beauty of the island is surpassed only by the genuine welcome that I received from the charming Corsicans, a people who have retained their traditional culture in a way I have only very rarely encountered elsewhere in Europe, the Maramures Mountains of Romania http://romania-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/marmures being the only other example that springs to mind. I am reading Dorothy Carrington’s book The Dream Hunters about the contemporary mazzeris, the death-prophesiers of Corsica, a strange phenomenon that has many parallels with shamanism. I will write more when I have finished her book!
Bee Shamanism still Practised Today
And closer still to my home in England, and the present time. Could anything have prepared me for reading Simon Buxton’s extraordinary book The Shamanic Way of the Bee, describing an unbelievably ancient Shamanic Tradition that has survived in England, and around the world, until the present day? Of course, as my own experiences of inner worlds develops, I am less surprised that these traditions exist, but I am always enchanted to read that people all the way around the world have known of and worked with the wonders of parallel shamanic realms since time immemorial, and continue to do so to the present day.
Midsummer has passed, and my celebrations of the Festival of the Summer Solstice fade pleasantly into memory. Each new season, each new Wiccan Sabbat brings the perfect way to celebrate what is happening in nature, and in myself.
Fall is a Time of Reflection for Wiccans and Pagans
Appreciating each season as it arrives, and the gentle anticipation of what is to come, is one of the joys of gardening, Wicca and Paganism. For me the three are all inextricably linked. In this season of summer’s bounty and a little more reflection, we look forward to the late summer, fall or autumn, and Yule and the winter solstice. Just a little of me begins to anticipate the midwinter festivities as soon as midsummer has passed!
Wiccans Prepare for the Season of Inner Work
Before the opulent celebrations of the Winter Solstice lie two Wiccan Sabbats or Festivals, each with its own beautiful seasonal character and mood. The Festival of Lughnasadh or Lammas marks the very beginning of the harvest, the start of the gathering in of the abundance and energy of the earth as the days shorten and our attention turns inwards. The completion of the harvest is celebrated at the Fall Equinox, the Sabbat of Mabon. This potent time marks the culmination of the activity of the summer, and the ascendance of our inner lives as the days shorten at their fastest rate.
One of the highlights of the Wiccan year is the forerunner of Halloween, Samhain. A time for magic and renewal, make Samhain extra special with these Wicca Samhain Magic Spells and Rituals.
I wish you peace and happiness at this time of plenty and activity, along with the gentle anticipation of more reflective and quieter time to come.
Whether you are a newcomer to Wicca/Paganism, or have been a magical practitioner for a number of years, no doubt you’ll be aware of the wide range of witch supplies that are available both online and in high street stores.
Put off by over-prescriptive Wiccan Magic
When I first discovered Wicca I read a very prescriptive book (I don’t remember the title!) that listed all the tools that you must buy before even considering performing magick spells. And the exotic rituals that you had to perform, including burying your ritual knife, the athame, at a crossroads at full moon (as I recall…) Frankly, this put me right off, I gave the book away, and I forgot about Wicca for a number of years. Perhaps I lacked the self discipline, or motivation? But I felt there was more to it than this. Surely Paganism and Wicca draw on the natural world, and on our own intuitions, more that on formulaic rituals and a bottomless wallet?
Mysterious Pagan Sites were the Key
Over the years, I found myself attracted to many beautiful, mystical sites in the UK and continental Europe. Some highlights include the extraordinary stone circle at Avebury, the mysterious Isle of Avalon (modern day Glastonbury), and the enchanting Foret de Broceliande in Brittany France.
Each of these places of power has street of stores selling Wiccan and Pagan supplies. Somehow, in this context, I could make more sense of the purpose of these tools. Wiccan and Pagan stores are, in general, run by sincere people who I am sure could make far more money in other walks of life. I would overhear heated discussions on the relative merits of one athame over another, and excited reports on the local Pagan gatherings.
Making Sense of Magickal Tools
I was drawn to certain crystals, and began to read about their powers. More importantly I began to sense that they had properties that cannot be explained by conventional science. Now I’m a straight down the line science graduate, and I had been working as an engineer for many years. For a long time I described myself as an “interested skeptic”. But, over the years, the interest waxed and the skepticism waned. In my next articles and blog posts I’ll explore how to get started with Wicca and Paganism, my views on how to deepen your practice, and how to trust your instincts on what tools to make, or buy, to perform effective rituals.
As time went on, other magickal tools began to make sense. A Wiccan Chalice for drinking milk at Imbolc, cider at Midsummer, an incense burner and charcoal disks, a selection of beautiful candles and candle holders. A Wiccan Pentacle to lend focus and grounding to my spells. And, in parallel, I gained the confidence to adapt spells and rituals so that I felt more comfortable. My ceremonies became far simpler, more heartfelt and by turns, spontaneous.
