TWS: Elements Path

[Tana]

I did feel like something was missing from the act of casting, but I'm not sure what.

Since I was not there I can't help much with what was missing.
When I cast a circle I call on my allies, I have kinda quarter totems, this usually changes energy at once. Just providing a space otoh, I'm not sure, if I would feel much with that.



When I create a circle, I call on the powers. When I don't create a circle, I work within my own auric field. So there is a difference. Sorry, I am rambling, I can't find the right words atm.

[FierFlye]

Since I was not there I can't help much with what was missing.

I suspect part of the problem was that there was no point to the working other than practicing. I've often heard the act of casting a circle for ritual compared to making dinner. "In order to boil water you have to use a pot". Basically all I was doing was taking out the pot and putting it on the stove and then putting it away again. I didn't put in any water or noodles. So it felt kind of silly and pointless. BUT, that is okay, because my intent was just to practice those steps in preparation for later ritual.

[Jenett]

I suspect part of the problem was that there was no point to the working other than practicing. I've often heard the act of casting a circle for ritual compared to making dinner. "In order to boil water you have to use a pot". Basically all I was doing was taking out the pot and putting it on the stove and then putting it away again. I didn't put in any water or noodles. So it felt kind of silly and pointless. BUT, that is okay, because my intent was just to practice those steps in preparation for later ritual.

It's possible to feel energy just from the circle cast - but I think it's a lot harder out of context (both out of context of a ritual, or out of context with a larger practice.)

I've thrown up a circle (just the circle, none of the prep steps, none of the following stuff like calling quarters or inviting deities) as a demo before for various people, and the weight of all the other similar circles I've been in gets carried with that working, so it's much easier to feel.

(I also have a much longer and highly opinionated theory about how proper circle construction needs to be rooted into every part of the working, which is mostly not relevant here.)

[Morag]

1. The book suggests that what we've lost is our connection with nature. Bad history and myths of lost matriarchal societies aside, how do you feel about that statement? Do you agree or disagree? If you agree, how has it been lost?

Simple answer: I do agree. I feel we've lost our connection by forgetting that we are a part of nature, not apart from it. When we forget our connection to nature, to the earth, we cannot interact with it easily. Even if we spend all the time in the world learning the cycles of nature or memorizing plant names and medicinal uses, if we don't see ourselves as part of the great cycle, we'll never really connect with it.

Everything is interconected. But we can't truly know that until we include ourselves into "everything." So it's about unlearning what the master narrative has taught for so long.

2. Do you feel that creating sacred space is a necessary or helpful part of personal ritual? What is your definition of sacred space?

Yes. I actually find that sacred space is just important for me to live, really.

Example: I let a friend stay in my place for a week while I was out of town, visiting my boyfriend. When I got home, the energy of my place felt completely wrong. I felt...as if it had been invaded and taken advantage of. (This is mostly because my friend has horrible manners as a guest, but also because his energies had disrupted the energies of the house for a week.) I wasn't comfortable to sleep or even do anything until I'd burned some sage and cleansed the place energetically; I was upset and frenetic.

My house is sacred. I don't let certain people in because of their energies. This is where I sleep, eat, read, write, and can just be myself. It's sacred space for the act of being me.

So when it comes to ritual, yes, I believe setting up sacred space is important, if only because it's so important to everything else I do in my life. My definition of sacred space is being in a place where you feel safe. Whatever that means to you is individual. For me I feel very safe in the woods, and some cemeteries (not all, however -- some have energies that really want me dead).

3. How do you feel about the ideas of Talking Self, Younger Self, and Deep Self? Are these useful metaphors to you?

They're not metaphors to me; they're an example of the Threefold Soul. However, in this example I see them as going down to reach divinity instead of reaching up (as with Sticky One, Shining Body, and Sacred Dove, the Triple Soul talked about in T. Thorn Coyle's Evolutionary Witchcraft). When I worked with Thorn's Triple Soul, the Sacred Dove sat above me, opening up to the sky. When I imagine the Threefold Soul talked about in Starhawk's work, Deep Self is down in the earth.

Neither is better than the other; I think working with each just opens one up to different sorts of divine energies.

4. How do you feel about working with the elements? Do you feel more connected with one over the others?

In order of my connectedness with the elements: Earth, Fire, Water, Air.

I chose to work with the Elements Path because when I went to Witchcamp, I didn't take that course -- I'm happy with the course I took, but I feel that my education is lacking in not having taken it. I felt I needed to get in deeper touch with the elements so I could move onto things like the Iron Pentacle. I need to do deep healing, but something is telling me I need to go back to basics first.

So I'm glad the first chapter started with Air, because I have troubles with that element. I've now opened myself to the dawn twice, and I'm hoping to do it again tomorrow. (Yay winter dawn times.) After I feel in touch with Air/dawn/east, I'll work on Fire/south/noon, then Water/sunset/west, then Earth/midnight/north.

I'm going to be practicing casting circles and inviting the elements, too.

5. How do you feel about the exercises? Do you plan to do them? Are there ones that do not seem useful or relevant? Once you have done them, how did it go? Was it helpful? Did you learn or feel anything?

Yep. I've been doing the directions exercise. Working on dawn/east. I definitely felt something deep and amazing. It was like I could see all the words in the universe, and knew each of them intimately.

6. Which parts of the chapter did you struggle the most with? Which parts were easy?

I actually didn't struggle with any parts of chapter 1, but I also didn't read the Inner Path or Outer Path bits. I noticed something as I flipped to chapter 2 about working with Ancestors, and I foresee that will be a challenge for me.

Most of the stuff in the Elements Path part of Chapter 1 are basic Reclaiming things, which I'm already familiar with. It's as I'm getting into the later chapters that I'm finding stuff I haven't done, or that I'm not familiar with, and those things may present challenges.

[SatSekhem]

1. The book suggests that what we've lost is our connection with nature. Bad history and myths of lost matriarchal societies aside, how do you feel about that statement? Do you agree or disagree? If you agree, how has it been lost?

I do happen to agree. I think the losing has a lot to do with the commentary about the patriarchal society taking over. I don't think that's it entirely, though.

I think a lot of it, also, has to do with the Church, which I don't consider to be an aspect of the patriarchal society. I've always seen the Church as its own entity that has patriarchal leanings, but isn't due entirely to the patrilineal lifestyles that developed after matrilineal societies fell.

I appreciate and enjoy the fact that the Church was a strong influence in these peoples' lives and that it kept society together. I also appreciate that it kept a lot of ancient principles, myths, and other information. However, I feel that in its ruthless lust for power, we lost a lot of the connection with nature. It became wrong and illegal, so to speak, to commune with animals and plant life. Wise women were denigrated and treated wrongly. The lust for power that enveloped the Church, I feel, is the main cause to this loss.

I haven't gotten to the rest of the sacred space section or the parts after this, so I'll wait to answer the next questions until I get there.

[SatSekhem]

2. Do you feel that creating sacred space is a necessary or helpful part of personal ritual? What is your definition of sacred space?

Yes. I believe that creating sacred space is necessary. It is the act of creating sacred space that allows the mundane life that we live to fall away. It is the act of creating space, specifically the centering and grounding part but also the actual creation itself, that helps to put us into the proper mindset (Younger Self) to create the will to change things.

My definition of sacred space... Hm. It's a calming environment with laughter and joy. It is also a serious place where hard work is performed. It's kind of like a cubicle in a large company, but instead of it being like everybody else's cubicle... The walls are neon orange and neon pink. There are pictures of my friends and family all over the walls; my son dominates along with pictures of the Hubby and my two best friends. There are statues of unicorns (I collect 'em, so I've got a lot) and the hand towel that says 'magic wand' on it on the desk. Instead of a computer, there is a large cauldron, with a boline and athame beside it. There are scores of herbs surrounding the cauldron and magical symbols everywhere. In the very, very corner, there is an altar. This is a daily altar to the elements, but the place where the magic is worked.

3. How do you feel about the ideas of Talking Self, Younger Self, and Deep Self? Are these useful metaphors to you?

I think that they hit the nail on the head; it makes a shit-ton of sense. And yes, the metaphors are useful.

4. How do you feel about working with the elements? Do you feel more connected with one over the others?

I think it will be nice to 'get to know' the elements since I've never done that before. I've called on them before and used them to cast my fledgling circles prior to the now, but I've never really, really worked with them. If I have an affinity, it would probably be fire. They tell me I'm a fiery kind of gal.

5. How do you feel about the exercises? Do you plan to do them? Are there ones that do not seem useful or relevant? Once you have done them, how did it go? Was it helpful? Did you learn or feel anything?

I like the fact that there are exercises in the book. It's more like a do-it-yourself workbook that you got in school, which is great. I've always had a hard time "working with the class," going too fast in some areas and too slow in others. I plan on doing them... to an extent.

It's not that any of them didn't seem useful or relevant, but in the way that they are taught. I've mentioned all over this website now that I have issues with grounding, specifically. It's a visualization issue and the more I try, the more frustrated I get because it's not working out the way the book says it should. So, while yes, I do plan on trying to center/ground myself to the point where I can do effortlessly, I don't think utilizing the exercise in the book is a good idea. The other exercises seemed okay.

I haven't done them yet since, you know, quiet time is a precious commodity around here. XD

6. Which parts of the chapter did you struggle the most with? Which parts were easy?

I struggled the most with the grounding. The easiest part was the discussion of the partitions of the Self; I got the metaphor easily and agreed. Another would be the breathing exercises since I had already started to do some because of Jenett's website.

[herenow]

What we really lost is not the connection. It's the awareness. The understanding.

Though I’m unfamiliar with the book I’d like to comment on the quote above.

I believe that statement is an important ‘key’ in our understanding of the way things work.

[Shadow]

Discuss topics and experiences specific to the Elements Path of The Twelve Wild Swans here.

Some things to get us started:

1. The book suggests that what we've lost is our connection with nature. Bad history and myths of lost matriarchal societies aside, how do you feel about that statement? Do you agree or disagree? If you agree, how has it been lost?

I agree to some extent. I try to get outdoors in the area I live in but I know next to nothing about the plants that grow here or the animals that are native to my area.

2. Do you feel that creating sacred space is a necessary or helpful part of personal ritual? What is your definition of sacred space?

I have tried the circle casting exercise a couple of times and, to be honest, it does nothing for me. I don't really feel a difference when creating sacred space than when not and am not comfortable with this exercise at all. This may be because, as I live alone, I already view my space as sacred. It is my space, somewhere I can take myself away from the realities of the outside world and just be me.

3. How do you feel about the ideas of Talking Self, Younger Self, and Deep Self? Are these useful metaphors to you?

I like this idea. It is straight-forward and easy for me to understand.

4. How do you feel about working with the elements? Do you feel more connected with one over the others?

I find element work one of the easier things to connect with and it is something I enjoy. At the moment I have a strong connection to Air, Fire and Water but next to no connection with Earth.

5. How do you feel about the exercises? Do you plan to do them? Are there ones that do not seem useful or relevant? Once you have done them, how did it go? Was it helpful? Did you learn or feel anything?

The original plan was to attempt all the exercises but now I am not sure if all of them are relevant to my spiritual journey. I am going to attempt the ones that speak to me on some level and skip the rest.

6. Which parts of the chapter did you struggle the most with? Which parts were easy

I didn't struggle with this chapter if I am honest, except for the circle casting. I have also rushed through the other chapters and am currently on chapter 4. I think I may finish the Element path and go straight in to working on the Inner path