It’s a tough world and I have a couple practices I use to relax my mind, connect with body and remember I’m not an atomized, ego-driven individual. I do a 10 min daily meditation in the morning, just a lit candle at my altar, breathing and repeating a mantra. On my work days when I’m up early I practice the Middle Pillar and Quabalistic Cross rituals in my back yard before work. Finally my partner and I perform a weekly prosperity/gratitude ritual, decking out our kitchen table with candles and icons of our patron deities and getting all gnostic-mindset’y. It’s fun and makes me feel cool. What are some practices y’all use to connect with whatever “Big Out There” you prefer to engage with?
I do a small candle-burning ritual to "recenter" when I feel like I'm gonna have a mental break. I'll use a knife to carve a symbol into the side of a candle (symbol matches my tattoo, establishes a personal connection between me and the candle.) The candle is placed on the open windowsill and I meditate for as long as the candle is lit. This keeps me engaged with the world while I meditate, I have to be aware of the wind and alert to the smell of a snuffed candle. I just need to cut out the sprinkly metaphysical shit sometimes, spend some time with just myself and earth to keep my head right.
another post reminded me of the serenity prayer which doesn't really need god in it to make sense. I haven't thought of it much lately, but it was nice to remember when I knew I had to do something and it was a reminder that it was something I could do. in a way, it's more of a mantra than a prayer.
I must have the patience to accept the things I cannot change; the strength to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference
When I was a kid, my ma taught me the Litany Against Fear from Dune, cuz she is a big sci-fi nerd :p
You sound cool OP.
I sometimes do 10-15 minutes of meditation in a sortof zazen style, focused only on the breath with no mantra. Makes me feel a lot more connected to my body and the world, really calms my nervous system too.
mmm mostly just regular ol' meditation in the afternoon when i get off work, i've kinda been slacking off lately so i really need to get back in the habit of doing it anytime i notice that i'm wasting time on my phone.
I’m listening to a podcast n the dude talks about how this sOcIeTy is designed to activate the sympathetic, fight or flight, nervous system, and we live in a near constant state of anxiety. Meditation and such helps activate the parasympathetic, rest and rejuvenate, nervous system.
Great post, a daily meditation and energy work practice is a great way of helping oneself.
I usually do some yoga pose based meditation, full lotus, hero pose, horse stance and utilize focus on breathe in conjunction with the physical engagement to enter into no-mind / mindfulness.
As well as energy work like grounding, centering as well as some energy building techniques I've designed as I dont care for the energetic influence of big lodge stuff like golden dawn, wicca, reiki and the like but I beleive that hierarchical structures in spirituality also channel energy upwards to a priest/priestess which ain't my thing.
I use a framework of the energetic body based on the three cauldron theory but I also utilize qabbalism, tarot, crystals, and tools anchored with intent & energy (chalice, anthama, broom, wand) in spells I write.
Last bit is I use automatic drawing to design sigils with entities so that I may invoke them. Sounds super silly but ive had so many amazing experiences the past 3 years doing this as well as noticble improvement in my life.
Thanks!
Hell yeah! I’ve done some spell craft and sigil craft over the years and results have been interesting to say the least!
I pray to a woman god because men have enough advantages, Jehovah/Yahweh/Jesus doesn't get to be be god too.
