Out of Time, Out of Space, A World of My Own

Often I have heard Elders say, "He is beyond his time," or "He is not of his time." Keep in mind, that I am not only referring to myself, but to other great thinkers of our time. I don't think people really understand how out of touch I am with the present moment. I am not the average person. I don't watch the news. I don't buy the latest gadgets, phones, and cars. The last time I watched the news was the election, and before that was nearly a year prior. I had my old phone for almost 6 years until it died on me. My car I put in a ditch one fateful winter night, and was a model from 2010. My car I have now is from 1994 and runs very well.

Instead of buying the latest and greatest, I utilize the old and forgotten. (It generally serves it's purpose better than anything new.) This mentality has drifted into my life in several ways. Firstly, classical music is my life. If I were to listen to anything I would choose Air on G over my favorite country song. Of course music selections are usually dependent upon my mood. Secondly, I yearn for a time completely different than the trappings of modern day society. I would rather have my words captured in a journal, than on the internet. Clearly, I am adapting. The lazy repose on the veranda on summer day with a mint julep would please me greatly. I will leave my reader to get lost in the romanticized fantasies of simpler life. That's what they end up becoming anyways, dreams and fantasies.

I am not of this time and I am not before my time. As a matter of fact, I don't feel I belong in any one space in time. I look at the world as objectively as possible, and I am criticized for being judgmental, unyielding, and cynical. When I offer collaborative solutions, based on fact and assessment, I am met with resistance, because feelings were not involved. Where do I belong and how do I get there? People say, that I need to find a 'like minded crowd.' To my chagrin, these thinkers are becoming the minority, with the rise of self entitlement and political correctness.

Perhaps, I shall just create my own world. In my world, the 'man cave' would be a library with men drinking brandy, smoking pipes, and discussing intellectual subjects. Useful work, would once again be prized and cherished. I would celebrate it like Ford Madox Brown in his painting, "Work" in 1852. The finer things, like proper speech, culture, and etiquette would be venerated. In my world, I would feel at peace. People would just let others live peaceably, and one would support the other. My world would be a place of classical refinement, knowledge, and civility. Perhaps I am stuck in a past, of which I am not aware?

What To Do When You Have Lost Your Mojo!

Many times in life we helpless, lost, and even a stranger to ourselves. In the magickal community we may feel this more so then the 'average' person. We spend a lot of our time helping others as well as building and maintaining our practice as witches or magicians. We have all been there when we feel Universe or even our own magick has failed us. We have all been the victim of some sort of spiritual attack or at the mercy of some malevolent energy. These events if allowed to play themselves out are enough to destroy our spirit and make succumb to darker energies.



How do we know we are subject to these things? Well, witchcraft rule 101, if you dabble in the magickal arts you get a target painted on you right away. This sounds very Hollywood, but the fact of the matter is that witchcraft and magick all makes us susceptible. How can that be in a path full of light and love? You are entering a world of total balance, that's all that needs to be explained. Without the darkness there is no light. Magick and witchcraft represent something not only to magickal and nonmagickal folks, but also to spiritual entities light and dark. It represents and is power. This is the power of the mind, a strong mind, which begets a strong and powerful spirit. The empowerment to control ones own life, identity and power. Dark people and their energy 'salivate' at the prospect of taking out someone so filled with light. Manipulating the mind of a witch to think they have lost their mojo, are cursed, or otherwise ruined is the ultimate manipulation. It is the total destruction of their mind, their spirit, and finally their power.



Now, not everyone is cursed or has bad energy influencing them. Some bad luck is simply due to poor decision making. However all this can come as a package. Even if all of this hasn't happened what do you do when you feel you are losing your spunk, out of energy, lost in spirit, or lost to yourself? I have chosen 4 surefire ways to help you get your mojo back and a little food for thought!

• Get a psychic reading or energy healing.

A reading or energy healing is a good way to get to the root cause of the problem. It will give you some great insight into the energy patterns and even the future. There are many readers and healers out there. Choose one that in your price range and you makes you feel comfortable. If you are reading for yourself, take caution and remember to separate yourself completely from the situation and the energy. Be open to what the cards are telling you, not what you're expecting or hoping for them to say. 

Energy healing with Reiki is very helpful and cleansing. I get reiki done often especially when I am feeling disconnected. Your reiki master may be able to give you insight on which chakras to focus your attention on. They may also give you good techniques for clearing the aura and the charkras as well. You are energy and it is operating in the energy around you...all that wear and tear needs to be healed at some point. 

• Rive; Clean up your altar, sacred space, environments, and energy.

Clean up your space! Remove stale energy. Roll up your sleeves and get into the nooks and crannies of your house, office, car, bedroom, and closets. Clean them up physically and follow up with one or a combination of sage, dragons blood, and lemon grass incense. When I do this I like to do a deep cleaning of the house. Then I close all the windows and doors and let the place get full of smoke. When your about to choke on the smoke that's when I open the door. I tell you it looks like a Cheech and Chong movie when I do this. Let me tell you though everything is so much better. 

Witches dust off the altars, clean the statues and throw out the old incense sticks. All this stuff collects and causes more negative energy.

• Rededicate yourself to your practice and your goals life.

Go through your goals and projects and evaluate their effectiveness. Figure out what is working and what isn't not serving a purpose. Perhaps there is something or someone that needs to be put on the back burner. This is difficult process for some people because you have to be honest with yourself. During this time you can also rededicate yourself to your spiritual practices and your deities. This will remind of you where you have come from and where you want to end up in the long run. Finally it will refresh you and give you a 'new lease on life.' It will make you feel like you do every new years with a clean slate. See you don't need New Year's Eve to feel this way! :)

• Construct or refresh your protective wards, shields, and talismans.

Always, always, always be ready and able to refresh your protective shields, wards, and amulets. Maybe it's time to make a new one or develop a new visualization of protection. I like to think of an animal that makes me feel protected and safe. I work on visualizing that animal daily. Then I start practicing the name of the animal and conjuring that visualization in my head. Once I know I can conjure that picture with just a word I am ready. I can use that to project protection even in the middle of an argument and no one is the wiser. I recommend to my students to refresh shields weekly and talismans bi-monthly as needed or sooner if they break. If the talisman breaks it has done it's job of protecting you.

• Food for thought: Remember the Craft, witchcraft, Wicca, it's not something your going to get overnight. It is a practice and one that develops based on the amount of time you put into it. Yes, being a witch is a chore, but a fun one! Lastly, keep in mind that when you are needing protecting the magickal walls and barriers are not put in place for you to hide behind. They are there to protect you so you have a moment to strategically plan your next move. Witches are warriors! 

http://pathofthespirit.weebly.com

2016 In Focus- Astrology Events

2016 Quick Synopsis

Boy oh BOY what a year do we have ahead of us astrologically! This year is going to make you feel limitless and restricted at times! The key players this year are all the big giants! Mercury retrogrades 4 times this year. (Big deal he always retrogrades, worry about the giants). Venus on the other hand, the goddess of love and beauty stays direct all year! This is going to be a highly spiritual year for most, but above all for everyone a testament to the building of character and personal resilience. Navigate the sea of energy with care! Take caution where needed and catch the wind in your sails to keep you moving. 

Jupiter makes to positive aspects with Pluto this year. This is energy that allows you to create win/win outcomes in your life. Dedicate yourself to a goal and follow through. Act in accord with your intentions and you will see them flourish with this energy!

Saturn and Neptune have some unpleasant aspects this year. They are opposing forces in the universe. Saturn is the creature of structure, limitations, and boundaries. Neptune on the other hand, is the dreamer, the actor in the theatre, the dreamy fantasy land that has no need for what Saturn has to offer. These aspects this year will be important regarding priorities. Keep a level head at these times and fight the urge to run off into a fantasy land. Neptune isn't all bad, he does give us the ability to go to our dream space to breathe and collect our faculties. The temptation is to stay there. Keep that discerning Saturnalian energy with you, so that you don't get sucked into procrastination and dramatics. 

The months of March - June are going to be a particularly trying time for many people. Don't take petty arguments personally at this time, but don't get shafted or backed into a corner. There is a fine line between egoism and humility. Don't be surprised if spiritual matters are amplified at this time. During shifting energies it's always good to have a strategy to keep centered. You may feel the greatest urge to fly higher than ever. Remember the reverse can be true as well. 

Mars goes retrograde every 2 years. So when his effects come they come swiftly. This retrograde is probably not the best time to launch new projects; instead refine old ones or shut down ones that are failing. Question your direction and ultimately WHERE you're directing your energies. 

The above was a brief synopsis of the coming year, 2016. As the year progresses I will go into further detail. Below you will the big events of this year. I have set them up by month chronologically. This way we are able to see everything that happens chronologically and can plan accordingly! What an intense year this is going to be!

-Lord Auriael-

Prince of Swords

3rd Degree High Priest of the Craft/Witch

January

1. Mercury Retrograde: 5th-26th in Capricorn
2. Jupiter Retrograde: 7 Jan - 9 May in Virgo

February 

1. Jupiter Retrograde

March

1. Jupiter Retrograde
2. Total Solar Eclipse: 8th in Pisces (Supermoon, New Moon).
3. Jupiter creates positive aspect with Pluto: 16 March
4. Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: 23rd in Libra
5. Saturn Retrograde: 26 March -13 August in Sagittarius.

April

1. Jupiter and Saturn Retrograde
2. Mars Retrograde: 17 April begins in Sagittarius, dips into Scorpio on 28 May, direct 29 June.
3. Pluto Retrograde: 18 April - 26 September in Capricorn.
4. Mercury Retrograde: 28 April -22 May in Taurus.

May

1. Jupiter Direct: 9 May in Virgo
2. Pluto, Mars, Saturn Retrograde
3. Mercury Direct: 22 May
4.  Mars Retrograde enters Scorpio on 28 May 

June

1. Pluto, Saturn Retrograde
2. Saturn Square Neptune: 17 June
3. Jupiter makes positive aspect with Pluto again 26 June.
4. Mars Direct: 29 June in Scorpio

July

1. Pluto and Saturn Retrograde
2. Uranus Retrograde: 29 July-29 December in Aries

August

1. Pluto and Uranus Retrograde
2. Saturn Direct: 13 August in Sagittarius
3. Mercury Retrograde: 30 August - 21 September in Virgo

September

1. Annular Solar Eclipse: 1 September in Virgo
2. Saturn Squares Neptune: 10 September
3. Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: 16 September in Pisces.
4. Pluto, Mercury, and Uranus Retrograde.
5. Mercury Direct: 21 September in Virgo.
6. Pluto Direct: 26 September in Capricorn

October

1. Aries Full Moon (Supermoon) 15 October.
2. Uranus Retrograde.

November

1. Taurus Full Moon (Supermoon) 14 November.
2. Uranus Retrograde.

December

1. Gemini Full Moon (Supermoon) 13 December.
2. Mercury Retrograde: 19 December -8 January 2017 in Capricorn.
3. Uranus Retrograde
4. Uranus Direct 29 December.