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Read Tips from Days 1-30 below. Go hear to read Tips for Days 31 and beyond.
Day 1
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX – Exercise 1
Get Back to Peace with the Navajo Beauty Way
Exit Ritual
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Welcome to Magic in Your Mailbox, the 21-day magical e-course. In today’s exercise, we feature the Navajo Beauty Way, a powerful yet magically simple ritual to help you reach inner peace. The Beauty Way has many forms, and was once used by the Navajos to maintain their spiritual connection as they were being moved from their native lands to reservations. Enjoy this truly beautiful ritual, and look for the next installment of Magic in Your Mailbox tomorrow!
P.S. If you have questions or comments about any of the Magic in Your Mailbox exercises, don’t hesitate to email us at info@shamanschool.com. All fully formulated and relevant questions will be answered publicly once or twice a week in an email that goes out to the entire list (so we can all learn as a group).
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
The Navajo Beauty Way Exit Ritual is a quick and easy way to get reconnected with your inner peace and serenity. Deep inside, you are always peaceful, happy and serene - sometimes you just don't know how to access that part of yourself.
The Navajos used several forms of the Beauty Way to help them stay connected with their cultural identity when they were being moved onto reservations. The Exit Ritual is a contact and greeting ritual that reconnects us to powers and beings. People call powers and beings by all kinds of different names: Universe, God, Higher Power, Angels, Totem Spirits, etc. It doesn't matter what view you take, just know that there are Beings that exist all around us who cannot wait to help you out!
Connecting us with powers and beings is useful because they can help us get back into that feeling of peace and serenity. They exist at a higher level than we do, so it's often easier for us to ask them for help rather than trying to do it all ourselves. The Exit Ritual also realigns our chi or life force, which can become distorted from working and living in buildings with strong electromagnetic fields.
To do the Exit Ritual, follow this procedure every time you leave an enclosed space such as a car, building or house:
1. Extend your focus up into the sky and say aloud, "Sky Above." The reason we extend our focus first is that the Exit Ritual is a form of asking favor from powers and beings so it is appropriate that we go to them rather than asking them to come to us. In ritual, when we have carefully prepared sacred space, we can invite them in and then bid them farewell.
2. While keeping your awareness above, extend your focus into the earth and say aloud, "And Earth Below."
3. Then, keeping awareness of both above and below, say aloud, "I Greet You."
4. Wait a moment and see what happens. Be alert for acknowledgement or response in one of these three ways:
- From within you, such as a realization, a change of attitude or belief, a new awareness.
- Changes in your environment, such as a sudden breeze, a change in the color of the sky, a bird or animal suddenly appearing visually or vocally, or a tree or shrub suddenly becoming vividly visible.
- A response from Sky and/or Earth: a special message for you, an answer to a question, or guidance and new directions.
5. What happens may happen in just that moment, or it may happen throughout the day. It may change the quality of your day, your awareness...whatever you notice. You may also want to use hand gestures: Arms raised in a upward facing V for "Sky Father" and arms down in a downward facing V for "Earth Mother."
6. If you have questions or comments about what you experience, we invite you to share them with us by writing to info@shamanschool.com
"The Navajo Beauty Way is an incredible ritual that keeps me
connected to heaven and earth. Whenever I'm having a bad day, I can
go out and do the ritual to restart my day. It helps me remember
that I'm a human being, not a human doing." - B. H.
Day 2
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 2
Remembering To Do the Exit Ritual
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Greetings Magical Practitioners!
Wow, we've only had one installment of Magic in Your Mailbox and the response has been tremendous. I'm gathering the list of questions and will be putting out a response email in the next day or so. Thanks to everyone for your insightful and thoughtful questions.
This is the second installment of Magic in Your Mailbox. You'll notice that it again focuses on the Navajo Beauty Way. In this series we look at many different aspects of a magical exercise. This is important because it gives you the chance to fully explore the power of a ritual or exercise instead of just trying it for a day and moving on. This is also reflective of the Basic Magic Course, where we delve deeply into magical topics and help students develop real magical expertise.
As always, you can learn more about Basic Magic here: http://tinyurl.com/basicmagic
And, keep those questions coming. Most of all, have fun and enjoy a truly magical day!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
Remembering to do the Exit Ritual can be the one of the hardest
parts of this beautiful ritual of contact with powers and beings.
Benjamin Franklin said that it took at least 21 days to form a new
habit and many spiritual teachings emphasize 40 days as the amount
of time needed to imbed something into your experience. So, if you
are feeling frustrated by your own forgetfulness, take a breath and
relax. We all forget in the beginning.
To help yourself remember you might buy a pack of sticky notes and
post remembers to yourself on your doors (so that you see them as
you go outside) and on the rearview mirror of your car. These will
prompt you to remember.
Also, if you find yourself driving in your car and realize that you
have forgotten to do the Exit Ritual pull your car over to the side
of the road and stop. Take the time, then and there, to get out of
your car and do it. Once you have to stop your car a few times
you'll begin to remember!
Good luck and keep up the effort -- the rewards are worth all the
effort!
Sky Above [extend attention into sky]
And Earth Below [extend attention into earth, keeping it in sky also]
I Greet You. [keep attention in both sky and earth]
[Pause a minute after saying this]
"I'm amazed at the powerful 'pull' I felt from the sky and the earth as I did this exercise. I've never felt that kind of power before. I don't have a clue what it means, but I can't wait to practice this ritual some more. I've tried many magical rituals, but this is by far the most real response I have received." - Sandy S.
Day 3
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX – Exercise 3
I'm Embarrassed To Do This Ritual
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Greetings Magical Practitioners!
Well, it’s Day Three of Magic in Your Mailbox and the response has been wonderful. Scroll down to read today’s exploration of magic. Further down, I’ve chosen a selection of questions to answer about this e-series, ranging from the deeply magical to the technical. Keep those great questions coming as we can all learn from them!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
The embarrassment factor…we all have it. Do you find yourself
embarrassed to do the Exit Ritual when you are in public? Does it
seem like people will think you are strange if you pause in a
grocery store parking lot and appear to be talking to no one? Most
of us have felt embarrassed at some point or another about this.
Chances are, though, that most people are so busy hurrying through
their day and buried in their own thoughts that they won't even
notice what you're doing. However, if you do feel embarrassed here
are a few things you can do to make this ritual easier:
- Subvocalize the Greeting - still say the greeting, but speak it
softly and quietly so that no one else can hear it. It is important
that you speak the greeting aloud, but you can say it so quietly
that only you will hear it.
- Keep Your Eyes Open and Look Ahead: The instructions for the
ritual say to extend your awareness or attention into the sky and
earth. You don't have to put your eyes there by looking up or down.
If you feel more comfortable, keep your eyes open and looking
naturally ahead while you do the greeting, extending only your
attention up and down not your gaze. You will appear as if you are
thinking of something or remembering something.
Even if someone does stare at you or think you're strange, you won't
be any worse for the wear. If you feel uncomfortable doing the
ritual when you are with other people or in public, start out doing
it where you feel comfortable, then gradually step outside your
comfort zone. Stepping outside your comfort zone with the Exit
Ritual will help you be more comfortable taking risks in all other
areas of your life.
Remember, you're not alone. There are hundreds of people all over
the world doing this exercise, learning to get over their
embarrassment - and getting all the gifts that come with this
ritual. Keep going!
Sky Above [extend attention into sky]
And Earth Below [extend attention into earth, keeping it in sky also]
I Greet You. [keep attention in both sky and earth]
[Pause a minute after saying this]
Magic in Your Mailbox Questions and Answers
>> Question 1 <<
Thanks for the magic practice. Why every time I practice Magic even if is the Navajo Beauty Way I get problem with my Car. I fear to practice. When will this end and how Will I know this inconvenience is over? Kamau
>> Answer <<
Dear Kamau,
What you experience is not unusual. You are facing what we call “The Inconvenience Factor,” which can be fairly typical of magic practice. Here’s exactly what we tell our students of Basic Magic about the Inconvenience Factor, many of whom experience the same kinds of problems as you describe:
“It has been our observation, through the teaching of many classes, that the student of magic inevitably comes up against the “inconvenience factor” when beginning the study of magic. In other words, at some point early in your magical training, it’s likely that taking the time to do magic (whether it means doing homework or attending class or applying what you’ve learned in class to your life) will be highly inconvenient. It will require you to make many small and some radical changes in your life. For some people, it manifests in the inability to get to class because of a sudden bout of phone or car trouble, relatives unexpectedly coming to visit, work hours becoming radically increased, or unforeseen travel. For others, family or career demands suddenly become “too much” and “something must give.” For others, some drastic event occurs in their life.
“All those who have pushed through the inconvenience and finished the course have found their lives radically improved, no matter the temporarily inconvenient conditions in which they found themselves. You will have to make the choice of which is more important – magic or convenience. In making your choice, remember this: while magic may be highly inconvenient, when applied properly, it can greatly reduce the level of struggle and increase the level of joy in your life.
“At the beginning of your magical journey you will be able to straddle the two worlds, mundane and magical, sometimes choosing mundane convenience and sometimes choosing magic. However, as you progress in your studies and your intention and will grow in strength and force, the two worlds will diverge more and more. At some point, you will need to make a choice between the two worlds – magical or mundane? You will know when you have reached that point. “
Kamau … I hope that helps! Alan
>> Question 2 <<
I work on a ship and am often unable to see land. Does that matter when I'm addressing the earth during the exit ritual or do I need to reach for the earth under the water? Mykael
>> Answer <<
Dear Mykael,
Good question. On a ship, you can either extend your focus way deeper, to reach the Earth below, or you can address “Ocean Below.” Many tribal traditions focus on Ocean, or Oshun, rather than Earth, so choose whichever works better for you!
In Magic, Alan
>> Question 3 <<
I was just wondering what "extending your focus" meant and how you do it. Rob
>> Answer <<
Hi Rob,
Extending your focus means putting your attention either above you or below you, depending on whether you are addressing Sky or Earth. Some people find that actually looking up above at the Sky or down below at the Earth helps them extend their focus up or down. Try that and see if it helps you with extending your focus. In Magic, Alan
>> Question 4 <<
This magic seems to simple to do me much good. I’m in a real jam in my life – I’ve lost my job and my husband – and I was hoping for some way powerful magic to get me out of this rut I’m stuck in. Why do you start with such a simple exercise? Natalie
>> Answer <<
Dear Natalie,
This is a wonderful question, and one that many people wonder about. The reason that we start you off with the Navajo Beauty Way is that this ritual acts as an introduction to Sky and Earth beings. In magic, you can’t always rely on your own power to achieve things. You will often need to call on allies and magical helpers. Doing the Beauty Way daily helps you establish a relationship with allies in Sky and Earth. Once this relationship is established, you can ask them for help. In fact, you can start doing that right now, if you like. You can do the greeting, and then add a request. For instance, you might say:
Sky Above
And Earth Below
I Greet You
And I ask your help with [state your request].
Thank you in advance.
It’s important to always thank magical allies for their help in advance, as appreciation is one of the most powerful forces in magic. Enjoy the magic that manifests! Alan
Day 4
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 5
Consistency is the Key in the Navajo Beauty Way
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Magic is in the Air!
Some of you are having a great time with the Navajo Beauty Way Exit
Ritual, which is great. For instance, here's a positive experience
from Autumn. She writes:
"Thank you for teaching us the "Exit Ritual": I love it! I do it
every morning as I go out the door to work. I feel it opens me up to
the universe/planet, ready to receive all the blessings it has to
offer. But I do not call it the "Exit Ritual." I call it the "Good
Morning Ritual." It is my way of waking and greeting the morning.
Normally I am a very withdrawn, reclusive, solitary type, but this
Good Morning Ritual opens up my heart to the universe and I find
myself talking to birds, trees etc as I go to work. I am open, ready
and receptive to all the universe has to offer. Thank you for teaching
this. I look forward to learning more."
You're welcome, Autumn! And, in fact, you've hit on a keynote about
the Navajo Beauty Way -- there are actually three parts. The Exit
Ritual, which you do every time you leave an enclosed space, is only
one form of the Beauty Way. There are also Day Greetings and Day
Endings, which you do at the beginning and end of every single day.
There is also the Walking Litany, which is like a walking spell.
Perhaps we'll teach those forms later in the course, although we've
got so much magic lined up that we'll have to see where we can squeeze
them in.
What do you all think? Should we add the Day Greetings and Endings
plus the Walking Litany to the end of this email course? Sound off and
let us know! For now, enjoy this magical tidbit to keep you mixing up
the magic!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Remember with the Exit Ritual, you are greeting the sky and the
earth. What happens when you greet a person on a regular basis in a
friendly and caring way? You develop a relationship! That's exactly
what you are doing here - developing a working relationship with the
sky and earth. Why would you want to develop a relationship with
them? Because they can be incredible allies for your life
situations. Once you have developed a deeper relationship with them,
you can begin to ask for their help whether you need a new job, more
income, a life partner or peace of mind. You can also get specific
answers or guidance from sky or earth by asking them after the
ritual. It's an esoteric law that we can rarely fully solve our own
problems by ourselves - it's much easier to seek help from deities
or higher beings who are able to handle these issues much more
easily.
It's tempting in our busy lives to skip this ritual because it can
seem inconvenient when we are in a hurry, but when you look at the
long term benefits of being consistent and developing a working
relationship with sky and earth, it makes the ritual easier to do on
a consistent basis.
Hopefully, now that you understand you are really communicating
personally with live beings who can and want to help you in your
daily life, the Exit Ritual won't be just another item on a to do
list. It becomes more of a live, daily interaction with good friends!
Sky Above
And Earth Below
I Greet You.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Weekend Special: 10% Discount Off Esoteric School Ebooks
=============================================
It's going to be a great magical weekend … especially of you take
advantage of the special 10% discount off all Esoteric School ebooks.
This discount is available only to "Magic in Your Mailbox"
subscribers, and is valid through Sunday, August 16. Enter the code
MYIM to get your discount. Browse the ebooks here:
http://tinyurl.com/magic-ebooks
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Day 5
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 5
Consistency is the Key in the Navajo Beauty Way
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Magic is in the Air!
Some of you are having a great time with the Navajo Beauty Way Exit
Ritual, which is great. For instance, here's a positive experience
from Autumn. She writes:
"Thank you for teaching us the "Exit Ritual": I love it! I do it
every morning as I go out the door to work. I feel it opens me up to
the universe/planet, ready to receive all the blessings it has to
offer. But I do not call it the "Exit Ritual." I call it the "Good
Morning Ritual." It is my way of waking and greeting the morning.
Normally I am a very withdrawn, reclusive, solitary type, but this
Good Morning Ritual opens up my heart to the universe and I find
myself talking to birds, trees etc as I go to work. I am open, ready
and receptive to all the universe has to offer. Thank you for teaching
this. I look forward to learning more."
You're welcome, Autumn! And, in fact, you've hit on a keynote about
the Navajo Beauty Way - there are actually three parts. The Exit
Ritual, which you do every time you leave an enclosed space, is only
one form of the Beauty Way. There are also Day Greetings and Day
Endings, which you do at the beginning and end of every single day.
There is also the Walking Litany, which is like a walking spell.
Perhaps we'll teach those forms later in the course, although we've
got so much magic lined up that we'll have to see where we can squeeze
them in.
What do you all think? Should we add the Day Greetings and Endings
plus the Walking Litany to the end of this email course? Sound off and
let us know! For now, enjoy this magical tidbit to keep you mixing up
the magic!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Remember with the Exit Ritual, you are greeting the sky and the
earth. What happens when you greet a person on a regular basis in a
friendly and caring way? You develop a relationship! That's exactly
what you are doing here - developing a working relationship with the
sky and earth. Why would you want to develop a relationship with
them? Because they can be incredible allies for your life
situations. Once you have developed a deeper relationship with them,
you can begin to ask for their help whether you need a new job, more
income, a life partner or peace of mind. You can also get specific
answers or guidance from sky or earth by asking them after the
ritual. It's an esoteric law that we can rarely fully solve our own
problems by ourselves - it's much easier to seek help from deities
or higher beings who are able to handle these issues much more
easily.
It's tempting in our busy lives to skip this ritual because it can
seem inconvenient when we are in a hurry, but when you look at the
long term benefits of being consistent and developing a working
relationship with sky and earth, it makes the ritual easier to do on
a consistent basis.
Hopefully, now that you understand you are really communicating
personally with live beings who can and want to help you in your
daily life, the Exit Ritual won't be just another item on a to do
list. It becomes more of a live, daily interaction with good friends!
Sky Above
And Earth Below
I Greet You.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Weekend Special: 10% Discount Off Esoteric School Ebooks
=============================================
It's going to be a great magical weekend ... especially of you take
advantage of the special 10% discount off all Esoteric School ebooks.
This discount is available only to "Magic in Your Mailbox"
subscribers, and is valid through Sunday, August 16. Enter the code
MYIM to get your discount. Browse the ebooks here:
http://tinyurl.com/magic-ebooks
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Day 6
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 6
Start Your Day Over with the Exit Ritual
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Hello Magic in Your Mailbox Magicians!
I love the enthusiastic responses people are sending in about this
"Magic in Your Mailbox" series. Wow!
First, based on the flood of emails I've received, I'll definitely be
adding instructions on the Navajo Beauty Way Day Greetings and Endings
plus Walking Litany to the end of this series. I'm so pleased ... the
more we connect magically to powers and beings, the more magic that
exists in the world. And the more magic that exists in the world, the
easier it is for all of us to manifest magically. It's definitely a
win-win for everyone.
Second, I want to thank Andrew Koehn for sending in his magical
results from using the Navajo Beauty Way. Now that's magic in the
making, and it happens for everyone who is truly consistent and
mindful in using this ritual. Scroll to the bottom of this email to
read his full report!
Finally, I encourage all of you to not only use today's tip to bring
more magic into your life, but also to explore some of our other
magical resources:
Blog
Articles
Ezine
Online Store
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We all have those days when we get up on the wrong side of the bed
and the whole day just plummets downhill from there. On days like
these, it seems like nothing goes right, no matter how hard we try.
It seems like there's nothing we can do.
Well, guess what? There is something you can do. You can start your
day over with the Exit Ritual. If you find yourself having a bad
day, take five minutes to walk outside and to the Exit Ritual. Then
just stand there for a minute or two and let the peace and serenity
of the moment wash over and through you. Sky and earth, with their
vastness of being and presence, will gift you with sudden peace and
the start of a whole new day. For them, our entire day, all 24 hours
of it, is simply a single breath. When we ask them to help us start
out day over, it's the equivalent of asking them to just take
another breath. Not a big deal at all!
You can also do the Exit Ritual after any traumatic or stressful
situation. It will literally help you get your feet back on the
ground. You will get radiance and joy from the sky, and solidity and
strength from the earth. If you are with a bunch of people and don't
want to be obvious, you can act like you are taking a moment to stop
and tie your shoe. You don't have to be standing to do the ritual -
just extend your awareness into sky and earth. Have fun with this
one and watch how bad days magically transform into great ones!
Sky Above
And Earth Below
I Greet You.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mr. Joel,
I am Andrew Koehn. I've been using the Navajo Beauty Way Exit Ritual
since you introduced us to it. It's a fantastic form of spontaneous
magical spirituality! I really like the kind of magic that can be
applied and used on the fly as needed without extensive preparation.
My focus is strong and I apply it when I do the Exit Ritual. The
results I've had this week with it are pretty phenomenal. I'll share
some of it with you.
Before beginning the use of the Exit Ritual, I had performed two
rituals of my own - one for clearing of my life path so provisions of
wealth and prosperity will enter and one for the actual blessings of
prosperity and wealth for my family and I. Together with the Exit
Ritual I have been using since, I now have a very strong lead back
into a previous position I held that pays quite well with good
benefits and brings me job satisfaction. The very next day, I was
able to quickly and easily leave a very poor and dissatisfying job I
had just begun in order to make the transition a simple one. So these
are awesome results from several magical processes, including the Exit
Ritual, that I have been powerfully focused upon.
With regard to the responses from Sky and Earth that I have received
while performing the Exit Ritual, the first time I did it, I was
walking into my dissatisfying job in the morning and received a fresh,
spicy and earthy aroma (I relate this to both Earth and Sky) and then
quickly a bird perched up on a parking lot sign and then flew across
my path from my right to my left while singing (Sky, again). I felt
uplifted by this and removed from the dissatisfaction. Really it was
a refocusing of my attention that was occurring.
So I offer you many personal thanks. With the Exit Ritual, you are
giving something that is very useful if those who receive it practice
it with a combination of determined focus and genuine openness to it's
immediate effectiveness.
Additionally, I have a strong sense the Day Greetings, Day Endings and
the Walking Litany will be equally powerful and welcome additions to
the magical spirituality each person enjoying Magic in Your Mailbox is
developing. So, please do include them at the end of it. You have my
support to do so and a ready anticipation to put them to use.
Much Thanks,
Andrew Koehn
Day 7
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 7
Are You Getting It Yet?
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
"Is this all the magic I get?"
I love it! That's a comment from a "Magic in Your Mailbox" reader.
It's pretty similar to some of the comments that I get from people who
access our no-cost articles, blog posts, self-tests, and other magical
resources. It's a good question. After all, we all want to practice
magic, right? So why start with something as innocuous and simple as
the Navajo Beauty Way?
The fact of the matter is that most magic is simple ... or at least it
starts out that way. The building blocks for a Tarot spell start with
learning the basics about the four elements of Air, Fire, Water, and
Earth. You can't use these elements to change your life magically
unless you know the magical power of each element (learn more about
these elements here: http://tinyurl.com/magicelements).
The same goes for the Navajo Beauty Way. Yes, it IS a simple ritual,
but that doesn't mean it's not magically powerful (as many of you have
already noticed). Doing the Exit Ritual also hooks you up with some of
the most powerful magical beings in the hierarchy. Now that you've
been contacting them every day for 7 days, you have a relationship
with them. That means you can ask for help. That means you can start
working with weather. That means you can start bringing outside powers
to bear in your life. Make sense?
A few days ago we asked for and got plenty of rain for our parched
fields. That magical result comes from having a long-established
relationship with sky, earth, and the winds of the four directions.
Wanting to do powerful magic from the get-go without learning the
basics is like participating in a "get rich quick" scheme in business:
it rarely works. That's why our Basic Magic Course takes 32 weeks to
complete. That's also why new students do 21 days of preparatory
material (the same material you are getting with "Magic in Your
Mailbox") before they even start the course. Learning the world of
magic takes time to do right. And as with everything, when you pay
into your magical practice, it will definitely pay you back!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You've been doing the Exit Ritual for a while now. Are you beginning
to feel the difference that it can make in your life? If you don't
believe your senses or if you feel doubt creeping in about your
experience, do a little experiment and see for yourself. Stop doing
the Exit Ritual for 7 days and see what life is like. Then do it
again for 7 days on a very consistent basis. See if you can taste
the difference between the two experiences.
One of the key things to gain from your experience with the Exit
Ritual is that we are not alone and are not expected to make a
success out of life by ourselves. Sky and earth stand ready to help
us whenever we ask -- if we take the time to develop a working and
harmonious relationship with them. They are never offended when we
feel too busy or embarrassed to greet them. They wait patiently for
us, watching our personal growth and development. When we finally do
see what potent allies they are for us, they are ready to help. The
door is always open with these beings, so don't feel bad if you
haven't reached the point yet where you can greet them on a
consistent basis. Just keep working on it. In fact, if you really
want to see the power of their help, ask them to help you remember
to do the ritual and to get over your embarrassment about doing it!
One additional benefit of doing the ritual that was mentioned in the
first email is the health benefit. We are constantly surrounded by
electromagnetic fields which disturb our life force that emanate
from computers, TVs, radios, microwaves and the electrical grid that
powers our homes and offices. The Exit Ritual, because it causes us
to extend both up and down, realigns our life force and chi,
restoring healthy balance to our energies. We find that the Exit
Ritual usually works better than aspirin for all kinds of ailments
in body, mind and spirit!
However much or little you choose to make use of this ritual, just
remember that it's there for you whenever you need a little magic in
your life. Have fun with this and enjoy!
Sky Above
And Earth Below
I Greet You.
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 8
Creating Sacred Space with the Sun Candle
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Take a deep breath ...
Today we start a new topic in our "Magic in Your Mailbox" series: the
sun candle. This magical ritual is one of my favorites and, despite
its simplicity, I use it all the time. The sun candle magic ritual is
a wonderful way to create sacred space, clear junky energies, lift
your mood, and fluff your aura. It's good magic!
So enjoy.
Also, scroll to the bottom of the email to read a couple of insightful
and timely questions from "Magic in Your Mailbox" readers. These
questions reflect a lot of the energy coursing around the world these
days, and so are especially important.
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Have you ever felt the need to cleanse your space of negative or
unhealthy energies? It's useful to clear your living space of
unharmonious energies as regularly as you clean your house of dust.
The Sun Candle is a simple and easy way to create sacred space.
You will need a pure yellow candle (a bright yellow that is not too
orange) and wooden or paper matches. You can find pure yellow
candles at most grocery stores in the section with the religious
candles (in glass containers).
You will also need to know which direction is South. To create
sacred space with the Sun Candle, you will need to "charge" it, or
program it to do so. Here's how:
- Stand or sit in the South facing North with the Sun Candle in
front of you
- Light the candle using wooden or paper matches (do NOT use a
lighter)
- Wait until the candle flame is steady and tall
- Hold your hands up to and around the flame, focusing your
attention on the candle and flame.
- Say the charge verse below in a voice of command (a strong,
powerful voice)
Child of Wonder,
Child of Flame,
Nourish My Spirit,
And Protect My Aim!
If there are other people in the room with you, you can change the
"My" to "Our" and the word "Spirit" to "Spirits." Leave the candle
burning in the room for at least 30 minutes (be sure the candle is
on a protected surface such as a plate and is not a fire hazard).
At the end of 30 minutes or when you feel ready, blow out the flame
(don't snuff it). Spend a moment or two in the area to see if you
can detect a difference in the level and quality of energy. The area
should feel lighter, more harmonious and/or more peaceful to you.
Have fun creating sacred space!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> Question 1 <<
Dear Alan,
I am in danger of losing my job, my husband has had to move to a
different state to get a job, and our bills are stacking up. I've been
doing the Navajo Beauty Way every single day and it makes me feel
better. I definitely feel less anxious and scared, but I don't see a
lot of magic happening in my job, my bills, or my family life. It
sucks! I think I need stronger magic than this. Can you please send me
some stronger spells or rituals?
Thanks,
Amanda
>> Answer <<
Dear Amanda,
What you are going through is not unusual. It's definitely a rocky
economic time and everyone has to take steps to adapt. I understand
your desire for "stronger" magic, and at the same time I have to tell
you that you are currently doing some of the strongest magic there is
by doing the Exit Ritual.
Why? Your experience says it all. You say, "I definitely feel less
anxious and scared." The fact that you can feel a definite shift in
your state is the most powerful magic there is. Your thoughts and
emotions are the key to changing your situation. Feeling less anxious
today means that your situation will be better tomorrow.
There is a magical principle that says, "A small change in the present
creates a larger change in the future." In other words, feeling a
little less scared today means your future will be brighter tomorrow.
I know this advice can feel like being handed a set of "floaties" in
the face of the sinking Titanic, but trust me. The magic works. It
really does. I've seen how people taking baby magical steps every day
have totally transformed their lives in a very short period of time.
So keep doing the Exit Ritual, and now add the sun candle to your
magical repertoire, and watch your life change. Look for the changes
and you will find them!
In Magic, Alan
>> Question 2 <<
I can't believe doing the Exit Ritual is so hard. The ritual itself is
easy, but all day long I'm mostly rushing from place to place, and I
don't have time to do it. Do you have any suggestions for me? I'd
really like to have some more magic in my life, I just can't seem to
make it happen. -Bobbi
>> Answer <<
Hi Bobbi,
What you're experiencing isn't unusual. The pace of life (and the
energy driving it) is speeding up all over the globe, so more people
are rushing around faster than ever. But that doesn't mean that you
can't stop to make time for this ritual.
If you think about it, what you're really saying when you say you
don't have time to do the Exit Ritual is that you don't have time for
magic in your life. Magic will always come into our lives when we ask,
but it can't get in if we don't leave space for it. We have to make
time and space in our lives for magic.
Here's what worked for me years ago: whenever I got in my car without
doing the Exit Ritual, I would always pull over (somewhere safe) and
get out and do the ritual, right then and there. It was definitely
inconvenient (I was a few minutes late everywhere), but it signaled to
the Universe that I was serious about inviting magic into my life. And
the magic showed up ... everywhere. Doing magic when it's inconvenient
is sometimes the most powerful act you can perform. Hope that helps,
Bobbi. Alan
Day 9
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 9
Clearing Multiple Rooms with the Sun Candle
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Today you get to expand your sun candle ritual to include multiple
rooms. After all, you'll probably want to clear more than one room in
your house, and this is a great way to move from room to room without
completely restarting the ritual each time.
Also, we've got two great questions at the bottom of the email so be
sure to scroll down and read those. They deal with the idea of sacred
space and what to do if your sun candle won't stay lit!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Do you have more than one room that you want to clear of bad vibes?
If you want to clear them all at once, you will need multiple
candles. Light and charge a candle in each room, then blow them out
after 30 minutes.
If you want to clear them one by one, you can light and charge the
candle in one room and let it burn for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes
carry the candle into the next room you want to clear, and charge it
again without blowing it out. You can clear your entire house this
way.
If there is a room that feels particularly bad, you may want to let
the candle burn for more than 30 minutes. Sometimes letting it burn
for 1-2 hours is necessary to clear the room. Use your judgment and
"feel" to help you determine when the candle has done its work. If
the candle flame sputters or is dampened (burns very low) when you
light it or after it's charged the room probably has enough negative
energy that you'll need to let the candle burn for longer. Happy
clearing!
Child of Wonder,
Child of Flame,
Nourish My Spirit,
And Protect My Aim!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> Question 1 <<
Hi is Mykael from the ship again. I actually have 2 questions. The
first one is about the exit ritual. When I've been in sight of land I
do it twice once for earth once for water but it occurred to me that
I'm greeting the sky twice when I do that. I was wondering if I'm
showing a kind of favoritism by doing that and I was wondering if I
should be focusing on just water or earth.
The other question is about the sun candle ritual. On this ship I
share a cabin with another person. So I was wondering if it was ok to
do the ritual here because the cabin is neither mine and I share the
space with another person whose belief system is not like mine and may
be offended if he knew what I was doing.
Thanks for your time. Mykael
>> Answer <<
Great questions, Mykael. OK, in answer to your first questions, powers
and beings don't really have problems with favoritism so feel free to
do the Exit Ritual twice, as you have been doing. Most powers and
beings feel "the more the merrier," so greeting the sky twice is just
great. As for your second question, your sacred space is the space
around you, regardless of whether you "own" the space or you share it
with other people. An interesting side note is that if your cabin mate
has negative energy, burning the sun candle will tend to either change
his mood or get him out of the cabin in a hurry! Enjoy! Alan
>> Question 2 <<
Whenever I light my sun candle in a particular room in my house, the
flame flickers and flickers and never really settles down. Once it
even went out! There's no draft in the room so I don't understand why
it is acting so crazy. What does this mean? Amish
>> Answer <<
Hi Amish. What the sun candle is showing you is that the room is
filled with a lot of negative energy, and the sun candle is working on
clearing it. If you are having difficulty keeping the candle lit or
getting the flame to stabilize, cup your hands around the flame and
flow energy to the candle. In essence, "feed" the candle flame with a
little bit of energy and attention. You should notice the flame
settling down after a minute or two. Give that a try and let me know
how it works. In Magic, Alan
Day 10
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 10
Sun Candle Energy Boost
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Mmmm ... brrrr ... it's starting to get very chilly in the mornings
here in Colorado, and using the sun candle is a perfect way to wake up
and face the day. Today's tip shows you how you can use the sun candle
to perk yourself up when you wake up groggy ... or on the wrong side
of the bed!
Also, we've got some great answers to some fabulous questions below,
so be sure to read all the way to the bottom of the message, and keep
those insightful questions about magic and mystery coming!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Do you ever get up in the morning and feel groggy rather than
refreshed? Perhaps you were nervous about the coming day and didn't
sleep well? If you feel tired in the morning and need an energy
boost you can use your Sun Candle. Just light and charge the Sun
Candle in the room where you will spend the most time preparing for
your day. Alternatively, you can carry the candle with you
(especially if it's in a glass container) from room to room as you
get ready. As you charge the candle, hold the intention that the Sun
Candle will boost your energy.
If you're feeling particularly groggy and just charging the candle
isn't giving you as much energy as you feel you need you can also
put your hands around the candle, near the flame, and pull in Sun
Yellow energy from the candle, not the flame. Sun Yellow energy
nourishes the spirit and provides energy. Don't think about how to
pull the energy in through your hands and up your arms, just intend
it. Energy from a candle is very radiative and flows outward easily.
Pull for 15 or 30 seconds then stop and see how you feel. Don't pull
too much because some people have a tendency to convert Sun Yellow
energy into Yellow Orange energy, which is the energy of anxiety and
nervousness.
The next time you feel groggy or not quite awake, try using the Sun
Candle in addition to a hot shower!
Child of Wonder,
Child of Flame,
Nourish My Spirit,
And Protect My Aim!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> Question 1 <<
Hi Alan - I'm enjoying the exit ritual and have noticed that there is
something different in how I see the clouds and leaves on trees. They
seem sharper or closer. Don't know if it is my imagination or just
magic. Here is my question ... I've been studying astrology for 2
decades and have started doing chart readings for people this year.
We all have Saturn and Uranus opposing each other somewhere in our
charts until July 2010, which can be very stressful energy at times.
Do you believe that magic can overcome or help deal with planetary
transits and energy aspects? Thanks for your insight. Amy
>> Answer <<
Hi Amy! Glad you are enjoying the Exit Ritual, especially on the level
of sensation. Have you ever heard the saying, "Be where your hands
are?" That means to be present to sensation, which always exists in
the now-and the present is a precious gift. Sounds like you are
achieving that with the Exit Ritual.
In answer to your question, I've used astrology for many years and my
experience shows me that magic can definitely help with transits and
other energy aspects. Awareness of the transit, which you have, is the
first step. Knowing when a transit is occurring, and the lesson behind
the transit helps you be aware of the fundamental shift that is at
hand. If you adjust your life accordingly beforehand, the transit
won't be as stressful. In fact, sometimes you'll hardly notice it. In
addition, using the sun candle and Exit Ritual will give you the boost
you need to see more clearly, detach from certain influences, and make
a clean shift without stress. Hope that makes sense! In Magic, Alan
>> Question 2 <<
Hi, guys! I have a question I'd like your take on, please. What do
you think is going on when good and effective results are had
following a magician's magic for those ends and then said magician
becomes aware that others (who are Protestant Christians) have been
praying for him in these ways, too? I have my own notion of what's
going on here, but wanted another insight, as well, in order to
understand it all even better. Thanks for taking a little time to
answer me back. I appreciate it. Andrew Koehn
>> Answer <<
Good question Andrew. A magician uses all the energies available to
him to achieve his aims. A good magician never uses his own energy but
pulls in and channels energy from the Universe. For instance, if you
wanted to put up an energetic shield (something students learn in
infinite variety in Basic Magic), you would draw energy from the world
around you into your body, and then project it outward as beam of
energy from your wand or athame. The same is true for spellwork and
other magical acts.
Suppose you have cast a spell with good results, and then discovered
that others have been praying for you (as mentioned above). My
experience shows me that a strong magic spell will subsume all useful
energies (such as that of prayer) to achieve its own ends while
deflecting energies that detract. If you're wondering whether you
could have achieved the same positive results without the prayer of
others, the answer is this: if the spell were well-constructed, it
would be able to find all the necessary energy to achieve the aim
(prayer or no prayer). I don't know whether you're talking about a
spell or meditation or other kind of ritual, but the same holds true
for other forms of magic as well! In Magic, Alan
Day 11
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 11
Keeping Your Space Sacred
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Today's "Magic in Your Mailbox" tip is awesome if you want to have a
party. This tip shows you how to use the Sun Candle to keep junky
energies out of your house no matter who you invite to your party.
It's a perfect idea going into the weekend ... so enjoy the magic!
Also, check out the positive experience one of our readers is having
with this magic ritual!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Using the Sun Candle is a great idea if you have invited people to
your house who normally produce negative or unpleasant energy. Maybe
you are having a party and your spouse has invited some friends you
feel are noisy and obnoxious. One way to keep your space clear is to
first clear every room in your house using the Sun Candle, then burn
a charged candle during the entire party.
To most people the Sun Candle looks just like an ordinary candle, so
burning it won't attract much attention. Burn the Sun Candle in
every room affected by the party. This will act as a sort of shield,
or psychic teflon, to prevent junky energies from settling into your
house. Once the party is over, you may want to let the candles burn
for another 15-20 minutes before blowing them out just to make sure
all the energies have been cleared.
As you can probably tell from this week's tips, having a good supply
of Sun Candles is useful. If you're going to use Sun Candles
frequently buy either the large pillar candles or the religious type
candles in the glass containers (make sure there is nothing on the
glass such as writing or pictures). It's OK if the center of the
candle is white and the outside is yellow - the color of the outside
of the candle determines its effect. Have fun shopping for Sun
Candles!
Child of Wonder,
Child of Flame,
Nourish My Spirit,
And Protect My Aim!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Alan,
I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate what you are doing
for all of us with this class. I would like to share my first
experience with charging my yellow candle and get your insights on it.
After lighting the candle it went immediately to a tall steady flame,
this very much delighted me because I already had the strong feeling
that there were no negative energies in the room. After following your
instructions and saying the charge verse, I experienced a rush of
energy coming in through the back of my head and down my neck. As the
feeling subsided I had a very warm and connected perspective of the
whole experience. I have had this experience and feeling before in my
life and can only say that when it happens I know I have made the
right choices. Thanks so much for your wisdom and support.
Dave
Day 12
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 12
Charging the Sun Candle for Another Person
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Good Morning to the Magical Community!
It's a clear crisp beautiful day here in Colorado and we're off to
stir up some mustang magic by going to De Beque Wild Horse Days, a
kind of street fair in a town not far from us. The event will support
the mustangs (we've adopted 5 in the past and we'll keep on adopting)
and we're going up to have fun and see if we can do some magic to help
out a mustang or a person or ...?
In case you've been wanting to do some magic to help another person,
check out today's tip, which tells you how to charge the Sun Candle to
help out another person. Follow the instructions to send some happy
Sun Yellow energy to another person ... after all, who couldn't use a
little magic in their life? And remember, what goes around comes
around. Any happy magic you send out comes back to you ten-fold or
more. We see if all over the place. Enjoy!!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Does someone in your life need a little boost, or even a big boost?
You can charge and burn the Sun Candle for someone else even if they
don't live anywhere near you. Remember that the Sun Candle produces
energy that nourishes the spirit so it's particularly good for
people who feel depressed or low or for people who may be dying. Sun
Yellow energy is the only energy that gives people greater ability
to make choices.
To charge the candle for someone else, stand in the South facing
North with your candle in front of you as usual. After lighting the
candle with a paper or wooden match, change the charge verse to
reflect the name of the person you want to help. For instance, if
you wanted to help a person named Amy you would use this charge
verse:
Child of Wonder
Child of Flame
Nourish Amy's Spirit
And Protect Her Aim.
You can burn your candle for this person daily if that would be
useful. Location isn't a barrier for energy so even if the person is
halfway across the world the Sun Yellow energy will get to them.
Good luck with this!
Day 13
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 13
Burn the Sun Candle for All Day Support
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Good morning!
Are you enjoying the magic in this email series yet? Lots of people
are. We are getting some incredible feedback from people who are
paying into their magical practice ... and have it pay them back right
away. There are two pertinent magical principles that come to mind at
this juncture:
1. This is a "pay as you go" Universe, which means that karma is, if
not instant, at least fairly quick. This means that when you pay into
your magical practice by doing magic rituals consistently and with a
willing heart, it starts paying you back right away.
2. In magic, a small change in the present yields a larger change in
the future. This means that even if your magical practice is only
paying you back with small signs and symbols today, the size and force
of the payback will soon increase. That is, of course, supposing that
you pay attention to these magical effects, thank the Universe for
sending them, and stay open for more!
Hope this keeps those of you who are zooming along fast enjoying the
process, and helps those of you who feel the magical effects are "too
little, too late" move to a more magical and positive place!
I've included questions posed by three great people below ... and my
answers. Got questions about these rituals? Don't be afraid to ask.
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Do you have a day of arduous work or effort coming up? Are you
packing up and moving your house or meeting with people all day? If
so, you can burn your Sun Candle all day to give you energy and
support all day long.
Light and charge your candle as usual, then put it in a safe place
where you can check on it regularly. For instance, if you are
working at home you might want to put the candle on a plate and put
both plate and candle in your kitchen sink, which is fireproof. Just
make sure there's nothing flammable around the candle and be sure to
check on it every hour or so.
Many people who do bodywork such as massage, Reiki or energy healing
burn the Sun Candle all day to keep themselves clear of other
people's energies. Some burn the candle right in the room where they
are working to help both themselves and their clients.
The Sun Candle can seem small and insignificant compared to all the
big things we have to attend to each day but never underestimate the
power of Sun Yellow. When you study magic at a deeper level you will
see that energy drives the world, not physical action. More
importantly, the quality of energy that you project into the world
determines the types of events and people you will encounter. The
more you are filled with Sun Yellow, the more you will attract
uplifting and bright events and people!
Child of Wonder
Child of Flame
Nourish Amy's Spirit
And Protect Her Aim.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> Question 1 <<
Hi Alan, Thanks for answering my previous question. I wanted to share
this experience. I was driving to Subway for lunch marveling at how
the clouds seem so much closer and different to me. I got out of the
car and was about to start the exit ritual when 9 to 12 ravens came
flying overhead and began circling above me and the Subway building.
I just stopped and stared in amazement. It was magical! And I was
the only one that saw this. People were coming and going and never
looked up. After about two or three minutes of the show, I said thank
you to them and went in the building. When I came out, they were all
gone. I feel like there was a message in there. Any thoughts? - Amy
>> Answer <<
Hi Amy ... I love it! Of course, the Raven is my personal totem, so
your experience brings me special personal joy. It's a real tribute
that so many Ravens gathered in a conclave to honor you. It's also not
surprising that no one else noticed them. It was, of course, a special
message for you. Raven has always been honored as the bringer of
magic. When Ravens appear, the messages are related to stepping into
magic, raising yourself to a new level of consciousness, healing and
healing forces, ceremonial magic, and the Great Mystery. It may also
be that Raven is meant to be one of your power totems. If so, it's
likely you'll be seeing a lot more of them in the future. You can read
more about Raven in the Medicine Cards book, or you can simply wait
and see what else Raven has to say to you. In any case, feel honored!
In Magic, Alan
>> Question 2 <<
I have recently begun the Sky Above, Earth Below greeting every
morning--for three days now. I do it as I am walking from my car to
my job. Each time I do it, there is this one particularly noisy crow
who seems to greet me from the trees. I also feel subtle shifts of
energy from the trees around me, which reminds me of the groaning of
the Ents in LOTR. Very subtle, but I feel it. I will continue to do
this and let you know if anything further develops. Coyote Woman
Dreaming/Carol
>> Answer <<
Ahh yes, Carol, the Crow. Crow is like Raven, but different, and many
people who see one also see the other. Crow is the keeper of Law, both
magical law and man's laws and personal law. When Crow shows up, I
always think of personal integrity, or my personal Rules of the Road.
Crow often appears to mavericks ... are you a maverick? If so, don't
be afraid to be who you are. Crow is also the shapeshifter, which is
useful for mavericks when they want to blend in. Crow is a little bit
of the trickster, being capable of bending laws, so it calls on us to
be aware of our own personal code, how it relates to universal code,
and whether we are walking a virtuous path according to our own code.
Hope that helps ... and stay in mystery to see what magic comes! Alan
>> Question 3<<
What would happen if I were to charge a white candle instead of a sun
yellow candle and burn it? Also does it matter if the candle is
scented or not? Many thanks - Rob
>> Answer <<
Hi Rob: Yes, it does matter if you burn a white candle instead of a
sun yellow one. Colors have very specific magical properties. Sun
Yellow, a Fire color, nourishes Spirit energy without giving you the
jitters (yellow orange) or inflammation (red orange). White is one of
the colors of the element Air, and it tends to apply to thought,
communication, thinking, and so forth. So burning a white candle will
give you a different effect. You can certainly burn a white candle and
see what effects it produces, but don't use the charge verse that goes
with the Sun Candle because it does not apply to white candles. Magic
is a precision science and using the right verse for the right purpose
is important. Regarding scent, I tend to use unscented candles as
scent also has its own effect. The effect may not be negative, just
unintended. Being that magic is the art of creating constants out of a
sea of variables, it's best to eliminate as many variables as
possible. We often use scent to anoint candles for spells, for
instance, for very specific purposes. Make sense? In Magic, Alan
Day 14
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 14
Making the Sun Candle Part of Your Life
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Magic is in your mailbox ... and everywhere else. People have been
seeing Raven and Crow everywhere, and experiencing magic in the oddest
of places! So today's tip is about bringing the magic of the Sun
Candle into every nook and cranny of your life. It's fun, it's
fabulous, and it's so simple. See how many ways you can bring magic
into your life today, and if you get ideas to add to our list, drop me
a line!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You've had several weeks to experience the incredible magic of the
Sun Candle, now it's up to you to make it part of your life. It's
tempting to think of the practice of magic as a hobby or something
fun you do on the side but if you really make magic a part of your
daily life you will see some incredible differences.
Many of the challenges that are in your life today will move on and
you will be working with a whole new set of life circumstances that
are infinitely more pleasing. All of these changes can be the simple
result of using a little magic everyday. More importantly, it's good
to remember that you have all of these new tools in your toolbox
when life presents its many challenges.
Want to know all the different ways you can use the Sun Candle?
Here's a short list to get you started:
- Clearing your house of negative energies and creating sacred space
- Lifting your spirits
- Lifting someone else's spirits
- Giving yourself a much-needed energy boost
- As an aid to meditation
- As an aid to studying and clear thinking
- Preventing negative energies from settling into your clear space
- Creating harmony in a group of discordant people
- Offering healing energy to someone going through hard times
- Attracting positive events and outcomes
Have fun using your own experience to add to this list!
Child of Wonder
Child of Flame
Nourish Amy's Spirit
And Protect Her Aim.
Day 15
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 15
Consistency: a Key Spiritual Principle for
Success
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
The power of magic that exists in the world today is overwhelming. The
number of people who are deeply interested in participating in a
magical journey is amazing. The depth of the people who truly want to
experience magic in every part of their lives rather than just going
for "the quick fix" is stunning.
Just read the questions and comments at the end of this issue of
"Magic in Your Mailbox." Thanks to all of you who have been reading
these tips, doing magic, connecting with magical experiences, and
sharing your stories and questions with us. Every magical act you
perform not only increases your personal power, but expands the
presence of magic in the world.
This is why I co-founded the school and why I continue to teach
classes ... not so much because I need to teach you about magic, but
because I cherish the constant reminder that magic exists and is
easily within reach for those who will stretch, even just a little.
You give me that reminder. It doesn't take a lot to bring magic into
your lives, and I love walking the magical path with every single
person who desires to call in the magic.
Basic Magic is starting September 2. We've got students signed up for
the class who are ready to delve deep into the magical mysteries. We
would like you, if you feel called, to join us. It's a wonderful
magical mystery tour that is a unique experience not to be found
anywhere else on the planet. If you've got questions about this
32-week teleconference, drop me a line. I'll answer. If you just want
to read more about it, I invite you to browse here:
http://tinyurl.com/basicmagic
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No matter what you want to achieve in life consistency is a key
principle that will help you succeed. Most of us are familiar with
the lack of consistency, otherwise known as the "yo-yo" principle.
You only have to go through one round of the "New Year's Resolution"
game to know what that feels like. Unless you are a very unusual
person, finding the motivation to be consistent over a long period
of time can be difficult.
In the moment of setting a goal or a resolution, you feel absolutely
convinced of your ability to achieve the goal. Or aren't you at
least excited at the prospect of having the goal completed? Most of
us are. But then what happens? Life happens. We are asked to work
overtime, the kids are sick, the car breaks down - you can fill in
the blank from your own life experiences. When we finally recover
from the many twists and turns life throws at us, we realize that
hours, days or weeks have passed since we paid any attention to our
goals. More importantly, we may end up working so hard at life that
we either don't have the energy to put toward our aims or we feel
justified in "taking a break" and not doing any more work.
Many of us are also faced with the "all or nothing" syndrome. We may
hold very high expectations about how much we will accomplish and if
we can't meet our very high standards we may decide that it isn't
worth doing at all. In the moment of creating the aim we are often
carried by a very strong desire, which allows us to see very far
into a projected future and imagine all the things we might
accomplish. Seeing far or having a strong vision is a strong asset -
but we have to remember that seeing and doing are two different
things. We don't have to get it all done today!
Studies have shown that it takes 21, 30 or 40 days (depending on
which study) to break a habit and create a new one in its place.
Magically speaking, we say that it takes 30 or 40 days of
consistency to manifest a desired outcome.
How consistent are you in your life? Today, look at the various
areas in your life and check how consistent you are. Could you be
more consistent? If so, in the next tip we'll give you a nifty
little exercise that will help you get there!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> Comment <<
Hi Alan - Thank you for the magical wisdom!! I have been trying to do
the Exit ritual faithfully, and not succeeding terribly well, but two
times when I have done it and really connected Mother Nature has
rewarded me for my efforts. The first time a giant grasshopper
appeared on my living room window. I have never seen one like it
before and I have lived here my whole life. I thanked it for coming
and eventually it left. The second time a deer showed up in my
backyard and just plopped down and stayed there for about 1/2 and
hour. I went outside after it got up to see if I could get closer to
it. It was already in the bushes but turned back to look at me. I
definitely see these visits as signs that the Universe is listening!!
Regards, Georgia
>> Answer <<
Hi Georgia - Good for you! Keep focusing on your desire to do the Exit
Ritual and it will eventually happen. Today's tip about consistency is
tailor-made for you! As you can see, doing the Exit Ritual even twice
has manifested magical results. Aleister Crowley used to say that when
we asked for something, the whole of the Universe rushed in to
deliver. Why? Because so few people ask. Even fewer people ask
consistently. So I applaud your efforts and encourage renewed
attention on your part. Have you looked up the spiritual meaning of
Grasshopper and Deer? They most likely have specific messages personal
to you. Might be worth checking out! In Magic, Alan
>> Question 1 <<
Hi Alan -- Thank you for the time and effort put into these lessons.
Love seeing the perspective you bring to the rituals! Technical
question regarding the Sun Candle Ritual. We're given two ways to
clear the negative energies:
1.) ... (to) clear them all at once... Light and charge a candle in
each room, then blow them out after 30 minutes.
2.) If you want to clear them one by one, you can light and charge
the candle in one room and let it burn for 30 minutes. After 30
minutes carry the candle into the next room you want to clear, and
charge it again without blowing it out.
In some Rituals, it's better to get rid of and even destroy the Ritual
Candle after use. Is this the case for the Sun Candle Ritual or
because we can "re-charge" the candle(s), is it okay to re-use
it/them? ENJOY the day! - Robin
>> Answer 1 <<
Hi Robin - That's an astute question. You are correct that in some
rituals it is useful to get rid of or "break" the candle. However,
this is usually the case for candles used to take things down or break
things down. In the case of the Sun Candle this isn't necessary. The
Sun Candle is used to channel Sun Yellow energy, and just serves as a
simple energetic conduit. Since it's charged with a specific verse and
the candle flame is radiative rather than receptive, the candle won't
take on any junky energies. Thus no need to destroy or get rid of the
candle. Enjoy, Alan
>> Comment <<
Dear RavenWindStar (aka: Alan Joel), I can't begin to tell you how
very much I appreciate your emails of encouragement. Day by day, I
feel my life becoming more focused.
My Mother was extremely wise and patient, she taught me to live
Nature's Way, many very old rituals that became an everyday way of
life for me. Unfortunately, my road of life has been very long and
lonely. I had forgotten so much wisdom taught to me. I thank you for
bringing me back in touch to such beauty.
May I share something with you? Several years ago, the community in
which I live retired their canine police officer. A friend told me
this beautiful dog was going to be "put down" due to his age of nine
years. I was furious and voiced my concern in no uncertain terms.
After being asked if I would take on the responsibility of his care, I
agreed. To make a long story short. Canine Police Officer Bo came to
share my Condo and became Mister Bo. As we went for our daily walks,
Butterfly's would perch on the end of his nose or his back, Birds
would circle us or hop ahead of us for much of the walk. Children
would run out of their homes to give him a big hug. Everyone and
everything loved Mister Bo.
I treasured every moment of this wise, intelligent dogs life for the
three and a half years he shared my life. Three days after his death,
on a Sunday morning I heard the loudest racket outside and stepped
outside onto my porch to be greeted by hundreds of birds of every
kind you can think of. Grouped together by kind, row after row along
all the Condo roof tops, along the wires, along branches of the trees,
tiny little cactus wrens perched on my railing and a huge covey of
quail on the ground around a circle of Bunnies all in position with
their little noses facing out. I have never seen anything like it
before in my life. Then there was silence... after a long pause they
started to raise their bird songs in the most beautiful concert to
their lost friend. I sat on the porch and let the tears fall, what a
wonderful cleansing and release from such sadness in my heart. They
each took their turn then would fly off, group by group. There were
even hawks, not the least aggressive. How in the world did they manage
to give me this concert? I have never heard of such a thing, if I had
not seen and heard it for myself, I would never have believed it.
Thank you for showing me the path back to peace and harmony, I feel
that I have been wandering a waste land for several years now. In
peace and love, Eliz. Paxton
>> Answer <<
Dear Eliz - Thank you for sharing your wonderful magical experiences
with us. It's my genuine pleasure to have taken part in a portion of
your magical journey. It sounds like you have a lot of magical force
in you, and the Universe always responds to that. That you took the
time to write up your experiences and share it says something about
you and your place in the magical worlds. Thank you for that ...In
Magic, Alan
Day 16
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 16
The Consistency Exercise
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
In real estate, the key words are "location, location, location."
In magic, the key words are "consistency, consistency, consistency."
It's simple. It's true. It's one of the most powerful and overlooked
keys to magic. Consistency in using magic rituals, in looking for the
magic in life, and in keeping the craft alive in your life ... that's
one of the most powerful things you can do to really bring on the
magic. In the analogy of the turtle and the hare, I've seen the turtle
win every time. The hare is a fast learner, takes to magic easily, and
grasps all the concepts with ease. The turtle is slow, needs quite a
bit of repetition, and asks a lot of questions. Acceptance is a not
the automatic response for the turtle.
But ... once the turtle learns a magical ritual and accepts the value
of it, she will use it over and over, every single day, with extreme
consistency. And the results are stunning, easily outstripping the
results obtained by the hare. The hare does fast magic, gets quick
results, but rarely attains permanent beneficial change. The turtle
takes tiny magical baby steps, but over time slowly changes, improving
every day for the better. She develops long, deep, and lasting
relationships with powers and beings through daily rituals and
greetings, so that when she asks for help, it arrives like a
thunderstorm over a parched desert.
It's all about consistency and little magical rituals. Eventually,
yes, there may be a time when we want to do a Great Work in magic, but
a Great Work will always fail unless it is built on the solid bedrock
of magical understanding. So, in case you haven't figured it out yet,
today's tip is a little exercise to help you be more consistent, in
daily life and in magic! This magical exercise is both simple and more
difficult than you might think to achieve. Enjoy!
And for the turtles out there who want magic to last a lifetime,
there's Basic Magic:
http://tinyurl.com/basicmagic
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So how can you become more consistent in your life? With practice!
The Consistency Exercise is a simple but highly effective way to get
started. Here's what you do:
1. Choose something very simple to do on a daily basis. For
instance, choose to make a mark on a sheet of paper, touch your
forefinger to your nose or say a word. When we say simple, we mean
SIMPLE!
2. Choose a precise time that you will do this exercise each day.
Think about when you will be most likely to remember. In other
words, don't choose the middle of the day if you're constantly in
meetings during your workday. Make this as simple as possible.
3. Do your chosen task at the chosen time every day for 40 days in a
row.
4. IF YOU MISS your chosen time, begin again at Day 1. For instance,
if you've done the exercise at your chosen time for 32 days and then
miss your time, the next day is Day 1 again.
Ready? Go!
Day 17
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 17
Size Does Matter in Magic (and Smaller is Better)
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com/
info@shamanschool.com
Simplicity is the key to success in the Consistency Exercise. Believe
me, I've tried this exercise with all kinds of tasks, both simple and
complex. I've fared far better with the simple ones, especially in the
beginning.
In the interests of keeping things basic, I will keep this message
short, encourage you to keep your chosen Consistency Exercise task
simple, and hope you enjoy the magic!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
By now you should have chosen your task and time for the Consistency
Exercise. If you feel tempted to choose any task besides the
simplest, don't. Size does matter in this exercise and smaller is
better.
Why is it important to choose a very simple task? Because you want
to set yourself up to complete this exercise, not to fail. Life will
throw enough curve balls your way to foul up this exercise - you
don't need to add to the chaos by choosing a complicated one.
So if the need for bravado or machismo is pushing you to choose a
complex task, resist the urge. Complete your 40 days with the simple
task before you move on to more complex ones!
Day 18
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 18
Alarm Clocks, Sticky Notes
and Pagers Allowed
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
So what do you do if magic makes your life worse, not better? It
happens ...
... and it's something that I definitely want to address. We've have
three separate emails the last couple of days from "Magic in Your
Mailbox" participants telling us that in some ways their life has
gotten worse, not better. Here's one from Andrea Smith:
"Dear Alan, I love the magic that you are teaching us through this
email course, and I have received some very positive signs and changes
from these magic rituals. My lost dog came home after three days of
being gone, which was great, except that he has never gotten lost
before. Also, I've had more minor disagreements with people than I can
ever remember, and I'm just generally grumpy. Isn't magic supposed to
make my life better, not worse? Seems like everything is bumpier. I'm
not sure I can make it through 40 days of this Consistency Exercise. A
little help?"
Well, Andrea, your experience isn't unusual. Aside from the
inconvenience factor, which we've addressed in earlier issues of this
email series, I've seen people have a bumpy ride when they really
start doing magic on a consistent basis. This bumpy-grumpy ride is
kind of like a healing crisis, if you will.
With your body, a healing crisis is where you feel worse for a while,
as your body releases toxins and negative energies that are causing
illness. With magic, the healing crisis clarifies your life situations
for you, so that you can see which parts are useful, and which are
not. You can then release the parts that are not useful. We call it
"uncover, discover, and discard."
So if you're doing magic and you hit a bunch of bumps in the road,
start looking for what needs to be released in your life. Also, since
you now have a relationship with Sky and Earth, you may want to ask
for help from them to smooth out the ride a bit. Enjoy the ride, bumps
and all, because the magic's always happening, whether it's
comfortable or not. And the payoff? It's a sure thing. Trust it!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
By now you should have chosen your task and time for the Consistency
Exercise. If you feel tempted to choose any task besides the
simplest, don't. Size does matter in this exercise and smaller is
better.
Why is it important to choose a very simple task? Because you want
to set yourself up to complete this exercise, not to fail. Life will
throw enough curve balls your way to foul up this exercise - you
don't need to add to the chaos by choosing a complicated one.
So if the need for bravado or machismo is pushing you to choose a
complex task, resist the urge. Complete your 40 days with the simple
task before you move on to more complex ones!
Day 19
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 19
Plan for Resistance in Magic
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
Good Morning Magical Practitioners!
Wow, I can't believe that we are on exercise 19 today ... that's two
away from the end of this 21-day series. The response from this
magical community has been amazing, and it's been a true pleasure to
interact with all of you. Of course, as promised at the end of this
series we'll add a few extra exercises on the Walking Litany and Day
Greetings/Endings, all of which are other forms of the Beauty Way.
Today's tip talks about how you can plan for that bumpy ride we
discussed yesterday. If you plan for resistance ... expect it ... then
you learn to become very clever and devious in your magical practice.
You'll find that you can amaze yourself in how you overcome the
resistance that shows up in your path.
And even if you don't manage to overcome all the resistance, it's no
biggie. Tomorrow we talk about the value of making mistakes in magic
... so stay tuned!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ahhh, yes. That lovely part of any manifestation process -
resistance. Unless you are a highly unusual person you will face
resistance in completing this exercise. Resistance is a natural part
of the process. In this case, resistance is anything that keeps you
from completing your 40 days in a row.
What can you do to get around the resistance? Plan for it. Know that
it will appear. Expect it. Devise ways to get around the resistance
before it hits. For instance, if you have chosen an early time to do
your exercise, such as 5 AM, what types of resistance might occur?
You might forget to set your alarm the night before. You might not
hear the alarm in the morning. You may hear the alarm but forget
that you need to do your task. You might hear the alarm and know
that you need to do the task but be too tired to care. All of these
are possible forms of resistance.
You know yourself better than anyone else. Look at your habit
patterns and map out possible ways that resistance might show up in
your life around this exercise. At the beginning or end of each day
spend some quiet time imagining the resistance. How will it feel to
wake up groggy and tired at 5 AM? What thoughts, if any, might run
through your mind? How might you react? Go through all your possible
reactions. Now, add a new response into the scenario. Imagine how it
will be to wake up groggy and tired and remember your exercise. How
will you feel when you've actually done the exercise despite being
tired? Add all of this into your imagined scenario.
As a result of this quiet time, you'll be much more likely to
complete the exercise in the morning. This is called making a future
memory and it can help you with anything in your life, not just the
Consistency Exercise. Have fun with this one!
Day 20
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 20
Mistakes Are Required in Magic!
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
A little magic goes a long way ...
Today's tip talks about how difficult it is to be consistent,
something that the Consistency Exercise shows you. One thing most
people don't know, though, is that every time you make a mistake in
the Consistency Exercise and have to start over, you have still gained
something. Whenever you have the consistency to tackle the exercise
again, you pay into a magical bank account ... you pay into that place
in life that is related to patience, persistence, compassion,
allowing, attraction ... all those parts of magic that people seem to
have such difficulty working with.
So ... I hope you make a lot of mistakes with the Consistency Exercise and keep at it. Tomorrow I'll answer some great questions that have come in and then we'll segue our way into the other parts of the Navajo Beauty Way!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Are you good at making mistakes? Are you good at laughing at
yourself when you make mistakes? We hope so because making mistakes
is a required part of this process. If you want to develop
consistency you have to be willing to move past your mistakes with
grace and humor.
Just to let you in on a little secret, many high level students of
the Esoteric School have worked with this exercise with less than
stunning initial results. It took some of them as long as a year to
get to 40 days. In the beginning some of them could not string more
than 2 days together at a time. Feel better?
Since no one else even knows that you're doing the Consistency
Exercise, it's a good place to practice making mistakes. After all,
if you could do it all perfectly you wouldn't need to do this
exercise, right?
Here's the other thing that's neat about this exercise: it shows you
how difficult it is to be consistent. After all, if you can't be
consistent at making a mark on a sheet of paper how can you be
consistent at anything else? Realizing how difficult it is to be
consistent will keep you from beating up on yourself. It will also
give you a better idea of what it takes to apply consistent effort
to anything. The next time you set out to achieve something big
you'll have a little more experience under your belt about how to be
consistent. This little exercise gives you experience that you can
spend everywhere in your life.
Day 21
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 21
The More the Merrier
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
"What are all these animals saying to me?"
That's a great question from one of our readers (thanks for sending
your question, Alana!). Like many of you, Alana has been surrounded by
animals of all kinds, bringing her all kinds of messages. Many of you
have heard from crows, ravens, spiders, hummingbirds, bluebirds,
bears, coyotes, badgers, bald eagles, and even (in one case) a lone
skunk.
It's easy to go nuts trying to understand the messages from these
planetary messengers, but don't! Instead, try this exercise we often
pose to our students: "If you had to imagine what the animal is trying
to say to you, what would it be?" Accept the first answer that comes
to mind, which is more than likely correct.
You may have to sit with the answer for a while, to determine what it
means. For instance, one of our students interpreted a message from
Raven as, "The weather is changing." Being in upstate New York, the
weather is indeed changing from summer to fall, but a straight weather
forecast seemed somewhat insignificant. Upon reflection, she realized
that the Raven meant, "The climate is changing," as it applied to her
life situation. She has indeed been doing magic toward a major life
change, and the Raven was informing her that a change was indeed
coming!
Check the bottom of the message for another question and answer about
animal totems. It's good magical stuff. Also, many of you will enjoy
this Raven poem written by one of our "Magic in Your Mailbox"
participants, David Wodkte:
7/9/2008
Dark
Wings
Whisper
A secret
Magic in the wood
From the Great Mystery: Raven
Check out David's messages from various totem spirits at
www.earth-service.com.
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don't want to do this exercise by yourself? We don't blame you.
These kinds of exercises are always more fun AND more effective when
you do them with other people. When many people are focused on the
same thing at the same time the results are always better.
If you're having trouble getting anywhere with the Consistency
Exercise gather a group of people so you can all work on it
together. You might want to form an email group or agree to meet
once a week to compare results. You can laugh with each other about
the difficulty of this absurd little exercise. When you do this
exercise with other people you'll be more likely to see the humor in
the situation.
None of these exercises are meant to put added strain in your life.
They are meant to change the way you see life. Keep a light touch on
all of these exercises - you'll get better results that way. Getting
frustrated or angry won't get you anywhere but laughing will get you
just about anywhere you want to go!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> Question 1 <<
You mentioned a couple of days ago that crow and raven have been
appearing to people and that was a good sign. At my home town crows
fly in flocks of hundreds I've always had them around me. It always
seemed that I was going in the same direction as they were flying.
Even when I was over seas if they weren't actually crows there have
always been birds around that were very similar to crows but sense I
started this lesson I've only seen one raven it makes me sad I miss
them. Maybe it's the area I'm at but I don't think so is there a
possible reason they've left me?
On the plus side though spiders seem to have taken the crows place I'm
seeing them EVERYWHERE! None of them are ones I've seen before there
all ferocious and graceful and beautiful in there own way. I find them
oddly comforting and spend a lot of time talking to them. They
actually seem to respond to my words. Is there something about spiders
I should know? And a fox. I saw it as we were going up a river she was
in broad daylight! I've never seen a wild fox before it was awesome.
Thanks for your time, Mykael
>> Answer <<
Hello Mykael ... not to worry. I suspect that different animals have
shown up in your life since you have started this course because you
are ready to receive new messages. I know you travel aboard ship to
different places, so certainly different locales could have different
wildlife ... I'm interested in the fact that the many birds that used
to surround you have been replaced by land-based animals, like spiders
and the fox. Interesting ... perhaps you are ready to have more
messages from Earth rather than Sky? Sky is radiative while Earth is
receptive. Interesting... and spiders are considered by some native
tribes to be the wisest of all animal totems, being weavers of
creativity, creators of patterns, and spinners of fate. Give you any
ideas? You might also check out David Wodtke's site mentioned above
... he has quite a bit on Fox. In Magic, Alan
Day 22
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 22
A New Twist on the Navajo Beauty Way:
Day Greetings and Endings
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
Most of you have been doing the Exit Ritual form of the Navajo Beauty
Way for 21 days now ... and reporting some fairly spectacular results.
By popular demand, we're now going to introduce you to another form of
the Beauty Way - Day Greetings and Day Endings.
As the names imply, Day Greetings and Endings are done at the
beginning and end of the day. While the Exit Ritual introduced you to
Sky and Earth, the Day Greetings and Endings will now introduce you to
each of the four directions: East, South, West, and North.
Today's tip starts you off with the direction East. We'll do one
direction at a time so that the ritual doesn't become overwhelming.
Since your day has probably already started, feel free to do the Day
Endings this evening, and start your day tomorrow with the Day
Greetings. Dive right in and enjoy the magic!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You can do Day Greetings either the first time you go out in the
morning, or you can make a special trip out in the morning. Many
magical practitioners like to make a special trip outside first thing
in the morning to do Day Greetings-it starts the day off on a magical
footing and creates sacred space.
To do your Day Greeting, face east, extend your arms out in front of
you, palms facing each other, extend your awareness as far as you can
into the East and say:
Winds of Knowledge
I Bid You Good Morning.
In the evening before bed, do a Day Ending in a similar fashion:
Winds of Knowledge
I Bid You Good Night.
After doing either your Day Greeting or Day Ending, you may want to
pause and see what messages you receive back from the East. The East
is associated with the magical element Air, as well as knowledge,
enlightenment, thought, and communication. Remember that the Navajo
Beauty Way is a contact ritual, so by doing Day Greetings and Endings
you are making contact with the powers and beings of that direction
(in this case East). Therefore, don't be surprised if you receive
messages and communication in response to your ritual!
Also, if you find your day getting rocky or out of control, you can
always restart your day by doing your Day Greeting - even if it's in
the middle of the day, and even if you've already done it!
Day 23
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 23
Day Greetings and Day Endings: Did You Get a
Response?
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
Good Morning!
It is bright, cold, and clear hear in Colorado ... another beautiful
day in paradise! Today we talk more about the Day Greetings and
Endings, and how these are contact rituals. The goal today is to focus
on receiving a response from these rituals since they are contact
rituals. So read on, enjoy, and have a ball receiving all kinds of
messages from powers and beings! Also, more on birds below ...
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As with the Navajo Beauty Exit Ritual, the Day Greetings and Endings
are contact rituals. That means that when you extend your focus and
greet the direction (in this case East), you should receive a response
back from the direction.
The response may be nothing more than a sense of presence or
acknowledgement. Sometimes the response is a message, a greeting, or
an answer to a question that you have posed. Sometimes the response
comes in the form of an emotion or sensation. If you are not getting a
response, pause for longer after the greeting and wait. It may take a
while for the response to penetrate your mental chatter. Know that a
response is always forthcoming.
Day Greetings and Endings are extremely important not only for you, as
a magical practitioner, but for the planet as well. According to the
Hopi tribe, our role as humans is to "sound a joyous note to Creator's
ear." How do we sound that joyous note? By being happy, certainly, but
also by taking time out of our busy day to greet these unseen powers
and beings. These powers and beings (of the different directions, Sky,
and Earth) are now virtually unknown by the human race, and yet they
are the ones responsible for keeping the planet in orbit, for
governing nature and animal life, for keeping the hierarchy
functioning, and for all manner of other tasks of which we are totally
unaware.
In a day and age where we are very concerned about where our planet is
headed, it is more important than ever to establish a strong,
communicative, working relationship with these powers and beings. It
is only by working with these powers and beings that we can strongly
affect our planetary situation. Only by humans communicating with
these powers and beings can we establish a strong coalition between
humans and the other beings on this planet to preserve harmony and
improve our living situation.
So as you do your Exit Rituals, Day Greetings, and Day Endings, be
aware of the importance of these rituals. Be aware of any response:
the response may have significant meaning for you and for all of
humanity. By doing the Beauty Way you are joining a very small but
important inner circle of humanity that is keeping the lines of
communication open around the planet with beings seen and unseen.
As you do these rituals, feel free to ask for help for your own
personal situation while at the same time being aware of requests from
the directions, Sky, and Earth.
As a reminder, to do your Day Greeting, face east, extend your arms
out in front of you, palms facing each other, extend your awareness as
far as you can into the East and say:
Winds of Knowledge
I Bid You Good Morning.
In the evening before bed, do a Day Ending in a similar fashion:
Winds of Knowledge
I Bid You Good Night.
We'll add greetings to the other directions soon!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> Question <<
Hi Alan, Its Rosanne here, I am one of your mailbox students. I have a
few questions regarding a number of events involving birds. On one
occasion I was feeding the seagull, one of the birds was being greedy,
I said to stop as it could choke, just as I finished the word choke,
the bird was choking and flew away.
I was walking to my work one day when suddenly, I did not know where
to put my feet as it looks like I was further away up from the ground,
at the same time I could hear a bird screaming at the top of its
voice, the sound was coming from the left so I looked to see what was
going on and the bird was directly looking at me. It took about 15
steps before I got my normal sight back, it was as if I was looking
through round fish ball.
Another time, it was 4:30 in the morning when I heard a hard knowing
on my window, I thought I had over slept and was late for work and
thought that it was neighbor who was knocking on the window. When I
looked at the clock, it was only 4:30 in the morning and I don't start
until 5:30. When I opened the curtain, to my surprise it was a
seagull, using its beak - knocking on the window as hard as it could.
It was so busy with its task that it not noticed that I was looking at
it so I knock on the window too and it flew away.
Another time, I was walking to my car, when again a seagull screaming
at the top of its voice, I was tired that morning and was feeling
grumpy, so I said shut or I'll shut you up myself. Again, just as I
finished the shut up the bird when quite almost as if it was scared of
what I said.
I also saw 3 different species of bird, looks like they talking about
something important, birds of difference species don't usually mix The
last event, I always pray when I wake up, again seagull start
screaming at the top of its voice, for some reason, I said that I was
awake, I am sure that the bird said, "I know."
What does these all mean?
I look forward to hearing from you soon, Rosanna
>> Answer <<
Hello Rosanna,
What interesting events you have in your life, and a seemingly very
strong connection with seagulls and other birds. As you can probably
already sense from your experiences, you communicate with ease with
birds. Birds are excellent communicators, being strongly affiliated
with the magical element Air, which corresponds to thinking, speaking,
and communicating. You are also likely very high in the Air element as
far as your constitutional make-up, which means you are excellent at
communication, especially psychic communication.
It seems like you have already answered most of your own questions
about the birds. The events clearly show the birds communicating with
you, you receiving the message, and sending a message back to the
birds. The birds hear and respond. With regard to some of the
communications that seem less clear, I would suggest you go back and
"replay" the event in your mind. Ask the bird, "What are you trying to
tell me?" and see what response you get. As with most of these
exercises in imagination, the first answer you get is most likely the
correct one. I'd be pleased to hear what response you gain from this
exercise.
As you have a strong affinity for birds, you may also want to check
out this link:
http://www.starstuffs.com/animal_totems/dictionary_of_birds.htm
In Magic, Alan
Day 24
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 24
Day Greetings and Day Endings: Adding Another
Direction
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
It's time to add a new dimension ... and a new direction to the Day
Greetings and Day Endings. Now, in addition to greeting the direction
East each morning and evening, you will be greeting the South as well.
Enjoy!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
P.S. If you missed the last installments of Magic in Your Mailbox, you
can read them by clicking the link below. We've gotten so many
requests to keep subscription for this series open that we have for
now.
http://www.shamanschool.com/magicmailbox/previous.html
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Now as you do your Day Greeting, face East, extend your arms out in
front of you, palms facing each other, extend your awareness as far as
you can into the East and say:
Winds of Knowledge
I Bid You Good Morning.
Next, turn to face the South. Extend your arms out in front of you,
with your palms facing the ground, and extend your awareness as far as
you can into the South. Say
Winds of Power
I Bid You Good Morning.
Wait for a response from each direction before moving on.
In the evening before bed, do a Day Ending in a similar fashion:
(facing East)
Winds of Knowledge
I Bid You Good Night.
(facing South)
Winds of Power
I Bid You Good Night.
The South is associated with the magical element Fire, which has to do
with will, action, life-force, vitality, and enthusiasm. What kinds of
responses might you expect to get from the Winds of Power?
Day 25
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 25
Day Greetings and Day Endings: Sending Requests
for Help to the Right Direction
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
Good Afternoon Readers!
Apologies for getting this out to you so late in the day ... I've been
busy consulting with Raven about extending the reach of Magic in Your
Mailbox to include some spell work. True, it would be spell work in
baby steps ... little spells that anyone could do with ingredients
that you could buy at your local supermarket, but also super good,
super fun spell work.
So would you guys be up for that? Would you be interested in moving
into a little no-cost spell work in this email series? The only catch
is this: to be able to spend the kind of time necessary to teach these
basic spells, I would need your help to expand this group. Raven has
asked me to extend magical knowledge to more people in the world today
... more people need magic more than ever today, and "The more the
merrier" is true when it comes to magic. To do spell work, I would
need your help growing this group to at least 5 times its current
size.
Do you have 5 friends who might be interested in participating in
Magic in Your Mailbox with you? Will you bring them to the group so we
can do the spell work together? If so, drop me a line and tell me who
you are inviting to the group. Once you've invited your five friends
and they have signed up for this course, drop me a further line and
tell me what kinds of spell work topics you (and they) are interested
in learning. We'll see what we can kinds of fabulous spell work we can
fit into this email format.
I'm excited about this, how about you? Now, onto the tip for today's
"Magic in Your Mailbox"!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If you haven't realized by now, the winds of different directions have
different characteristics and are responsible for different aspects of
magic. For instance, Winds of Knowledge (in the East) are associated
with the magical element Air. That means they are associated with
thinking, planning, communicating, speaking, and enlightenment. These
are all Air-related aspects.
Winds of Power (in the South), on the other hand, are associated with
the magical element Fire. This means they are associated with will,
action, desire, doing, enthusiasm, and so forth.
So what does all of this mean to you as a magical practitioner? It
means that if you have a special request for help, you should direct
that request to the direction that is most closely associated to the
kind of help that you need. If you need help communicating with
someone in your life (or communicating with a departed Spirit), the
ask the Winds of Knowledge (in the East) for help. On the other hand,
if you need get some action going in your business, it would be more
appropriate to address your request to the South.
Make sense?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> Question 1 <<
Dear Alan, I have been having real difficulty remembering to do my Day
Endings. The Day Greetings are no problem, but I seem to not be able
to remember to go out at night and do the Day Endings. In a way, this
is representative of my life. A lot of times I can't finish things.
The same thing is happening with the Day Endings and it's making me
crazy. Do you have any suggestions for me? Susan
>> Answer <<
Dear Susan, The fact that you have noticed a parallel between your
inability to do your Day Endings and your inability to complete tasks
in your life means that you have pretty keen powers of observation. It
also presents a perfect opportunity for you to attack both problems at
once. There is a magical principle that says, "As above, so below."
That means that whatever happens at one level in your life must also
happen at all other levels. The idea of tackling "completion" for your
entire life may seem quite impossible, especially if you have a track
record for not completing things. On the other hand, how simple would
it be to focus on just completing Day Endings every night for a week?
That sounds pretty simple, right? The neat thing is that because of
the "As above, so below" principle, if you do manage to do your Day
Endings consistently, you'll find that completing other things in your
life will suddenly become a whole lot easier. Try it and see ...
you'll be amazed!
>> Question 2 <<
Dear Alan, Yesterday, 1st of September, my husband said that the
people in India were praying for rain as they are having extreme dry
weather condition. So I ask the sky, earth and they moon to grant the
people's prayers and give them rain, I think I did said with harm to
none, I cant be sure. Their prayers were answered last night, as my
husband told me this morning, but it was a very heavy rain which cause
flooding and a 3 year old child has died. I am very heart broken and
just want to cry so I told my husband not to tell me anything, i.e.
like people needing help, what I don't know can't hurt me. question
is who am I. My Grandad said I am someone special that even the devil
is scared of me, so much so that he wanted dead or go his side, while
I was a child, I am an adult now. things happens, I am not sure of
things so sometimes, I try things just so see what is special about
me, and they happen, ie. clouds go away and sun comes shining when I
ask. I need lights to this things, I don't understand. I hope you
can help. Rosanna
>> Answer <<
Dear Rosanna, It's good to ask who you are and what your effect on the
world might be ... especially your magical effect. I have had a
similar experience. When Yellowstone National Park was on fire in the
1980s, I tried to direct a storm over the park only to find out that
dousing the fire was contrary to the Earth's (Grandmother's) wishes.
As a result, the storm didn't turn quite as fast as it needed to rain
over Yellowstone. Instead, it dropped a furious cloudburst just south
of the area ... coincidentally on the family ranch of my magic
teacher, George Dew. Boy did I ever get yelled at for that. Weather
working can be a tricky business. It sounds as though you have a
powerful connection with powers and beings, allies who are willing to
help you manifest your will. My suggestion would be to develop a more
communicative relationship with powers and beings. Learn to ask
questions before taking action or implementing your will. Discover
whether something is meant to happen (as in the case of Yellowstone)
or not. People die on this planet everyday. Do not focus on the
3-year-old child. Instead, focus on your relationship with powers and
beings, and hearing the answers they send to your questions. I know
it's difficult when you are working with a strong will, but the Navajo
Beauty Way is the perfect place to start developing a closer
relationship with allies who can help guide your powers! In Magic,
Alan
Day 26
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX – Exercise 26
Day Greetings and Day Endings: Adding the West
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
Greetings to the Magic Makers!
We took a long weekend over Labor Day and didn’t send out Magic in Your Mailbox, but we’re back, with some great new magical insights and … drum roll … a question for you:
“What is your earliest memory?”
I ask this because it’s relevant to today’s “Magic in Your Mailbox,” which focuses on Day Greetings and Endings to the West. Magically, the West is related to emotions, compassion, feelings, and the element water. The West is also, when combined with fire from the South, related to inspiration.
To me, the West has always been one the more magical directions because emotions are the language of Spirit, and my experience shows me that we do magic primarily with our Spirits, less so with our minds, and sometimes with our bodies.
Spirit is our instrument of magic, and so I return to the question, “What is your earliest memory?” Stop a moment and focus on that. Focus on what you felt like back then, at the time of your earliest memory. If it isn’t a pleasant memory, then find the first pleasant memory to focus on.
Why do I ask this question? I ask because as I observe the turmoil the world is experiencing today, I feel a great split in human population. There are those who are growing more mechanical and losing touch with the magic in the world, and those who are growing more conscious, and, in a sense, more innocent. It takes a certain amount of innocence to be magical in our turbulent world, and going back to a very early memory helps us connect with that innocence.
Going back to our earliest memories puts us in touch with a time when our Spirits were dominant, and our minds were subservient. We experienced Spirit to Spirit connections with other beings (that’s why babies often stare into space – they are interacting with beings that adults can no longer see), and Spirit to body connections. Both of these connections are harder to experience as adults.
All of this is just a long way of saying that when you do your Day Greetings and Endings to the West, see if you can connect at some Spirit or emotional level with who you are and what you are meant to experience at this time in your life, and in the life of humanity in general.
Oh yes, and before I forget, thanks to all of you who have responded to my outreach about bringing friends to “Magic in Your Mailbox.” It seems that many of you have joined this list precisely because magical friends are so difficult to find. I had not thought of this, as I am surrounded by a magical community … and so for now, let’s play it by ear. Let’s complete the Day Greetings and Day Endings, and move on to the Walking Litany. Then we shall see where our magical interaction takes us. By all means keep sending your comments, questions, insights, experiences, and interactions with magic. I love them all and cherish the interaction with people near and far!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I’ll answer them in upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Today we add the direction West to our Day Greetings and Day Endings. The West is a wonderful, magical direction, associated with the element water, and corresponding to emotions and compassion. Keep your heart open to messages from the West, because most likely they will be directed at Spirit and not mind.
To greet the West, add this to your Day Greetings or Endings:
Winds of Feeling,
I Bid You Good Morning/Night.
Enjoy!
Day 27
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 27
The West Brings Emotion to the Human Race
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
Good Morning!
We've got some great questions at the end of today's tip, so be sure
to scroll down and read them. You guys are coming up with questions
that are important to ask, and I'm glad you're asking them because
magic is a precision science. If you want the results, you have to
"take your time, think it through, and do it right," as George Dew, my
magic teacher, used to say! So enjoy the questions, play with the
magic in today's tip, and generally have a blast. It's a beautiful day
in the magical neighborhood!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Did you know that various races in the Universe (on other planets)
have died off due to lack of emotion and compassion? This is true of
the Martians, and other beings on other planets as well.
Did you also know that we, the human race, are in danger of going in
that same direction? As a race, we are more mechanical than ever, and
we feel less than we used to. We access our emotions less than we used
to. If we felt our emotions more, as a race, we would not be so
inclined toward war and other forms of violence. Interesting, isn't
it?
It's particularly important to hold this in focus as you greet the
West because the powers and beings in the West (the Old Ones and the
Winds) are the ones responsible for emotions, caring, compassion,
love, and so forth.
Thus when we greet the powers and beings in the West, we become a
channel for bringing emotions and feelings back into the world. We
infuse the human race with more emotion, and we become one factor that
decreases the chances of catastrophic events like pole shifts and
tsunamis. These catastrophic events are methods Grandmother (Earth)
uses to cleanse and correct the ailments on the planet, one of which
is violence. When we decrease the tendency toward violence by
increasing human contact with emotions, we decrease the chance of
catastrophic events.
Pretty powerful, no? Pretty neat, too, that such a simple yet elegant
ritual could do so much. This is also why the more people join in and
participate in the Beauty Way, the more the vibration of the human
race is raised. So consider yourself a beneficiary of the human race
today, as you do you Day Greetings and Endings!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>> Question 1 <<
Alan, My name is Ana and I've been doing the magic from your emails
very religiously. At the beginning, I felt very happy doing these
rituals and my life got smoother. But now my life is suddenly going
crazy. I've had some fights with friends, I missed the bus several
times, and I can't seem to get anything right. Can you please tell me
why the magic isn't working anymore? Thank you, Ana.
>> Answer <<
Hi Ana, I understand your concern and I'm not surprised your life has
gotten a bit derailed lately. What you may or may not know is that
Mercury has gone retrograde, which is an astrological phenomenon.
During Mercury retrograde, it's very difficult to coordinate and
orchestrate various parts of your life. It's not a good time to start
new endeavors in your life, but it is an excellent time to wrap up old
business. Don't be concerned if things just don't seem to be going
well during this time. Just focus on clearing up old business and
doing as much magic as you can. The more you do the Beauty Way the
easier Mercury retrograde is to handle. Mercury will stay in
retrograde until September 29, so hang in there until then. Remember
that you can always "restart" your day by doing the Day Greeting at
any time. If you're having a bad day, just restart it! In Magic, Alan
>> Question 2 <<
Hi Alan, I was wondering why you are being so open about putting this
magic out in public and for free. I've been part of a coven for a long
time and have always been told that this magic should be kept secret
and not shared with the public. I was interested in what you had to
offer, which is why I joined the Mailbox group, but I'm concerned that
this magic shouldn't be spread around the way you are doing it. This
allows anyone who isn't qualified to practice magic. Yours, Bonnie
>> Answer <<
Hi Bonnie, I had to smile when I read your question because this was
the very same question that was posed to my teacher, George Dew, when
he started teaching his students. The Wiccans were quite angry with
him. People often get angry with me as well for sharing this
information, but I have found that this information is
self-protecting. It doesn't attract people who are not "qualified" (as
you say) to partake of it. Or it backfires on people who try to use it
for non-useful purposes. In the day and age of the internet, this
information will get out, no matter how you try to stop it. It is my
experience that the more people who practice basic magic rituals, the
better the world becomes. I have never seen magic that doesn't carry
its own karma, so magic used for ill purposes automatically bounces
back on the sender. It is a "pay as you go" Universe, and no bad deed
goes unpunished, just as no good deed goes unrewarded. The Universe is
infinitely "fair." I know it's not enough to satisfy many magical
practitioners, but that's OK. Variety and contrast are what make the
world go 'round! Thanks for sharing your concern. In Magic, Alan
Day 28
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 28
Asking the West to Help Stabilize Emotions
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
Good Morning!
First this morning I want to address the question that several of you
have asked: what are the hand positions for greeting the different
positions? Sorry about that lack of information. I know I gave it out
for the direction East, in which you extend both arms in front of you,
parallel to the ground, palms facing each other.
When you greet the South, both arms are extended in front of you,
parallel to the ground, with palms turned down toward the ground. When
you greet the West, it's the same except the palms are turned upward,
toward the sky. Finally, even though we haven't started greeting the
North yet, when you do greet the North you put your arms out in front
of you, parallel to the ground, with palms facing in front of you
(you'll be looking at the backs of your hands). Thanks for the
reminder, guys!
Now then, onto today's tip, which deals with stabilizing our emotions
... enjoy!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Many magical practitioners are feeling turbulent emotions these days,
and are having a hard time dealing with it. People write me about the
fact that their emotions are bubbling over, and that they feel crazy.
So what's going on here? What is the cause of all of this discomfort?
Magically, since emotions are associated with the element water,
here's a way to think about it. If your emotions are dormant, then
they are like a still pond: quiet, deep, and undisturbed. The water
isn't circulating, so you don't have much access to them, but you
aren't bothered by them. This has been the state of our emotions (for
most of us) until now.
Now consider what happens when these emotions get awakened: the water
starts moving, bubbling, and boiling. That can be kind of disturbing,
unless you are ready for it. But what if the water were simply
flowing, as in a fast-moving stream, instead of bubbling in place?
Wouldn't that be a lot more productive and useful, not to mention
comfortable? That's what happens when we start using our emotions in
conducive way. For instance, when you feel compassion for another your
emotions flow like a stream, versus when you get mad and explode with
anger ... in that case your "water" boils over and you get
unreasonable action.
As I wrote about yesterday, magical practitioners are being called to
become channels for emotion flowing into this planet. This can feel
uncomfortable, especially if those emotions have not been accessed for
a long time.
So, if you are experiencing these turbulent emotions then all you have
to do is ask for help. As you do your Day Greetings and Endings to the
West, ask the Winds of the West to help you stabilize your emotions
and "move your water" in a useful way, such as with inspiration,
passion, and empathy. You are being a channel for humanity so it's
only fair that you should have a little help! Don't be afraid to ask
for it.
Day 29
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 29
Adding the North to Day Greetings and Endings
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
Good Morning Merry Magicians,
First off, let me apologize for not getting yesterday's "Magic in Your
Mailbox" issue out to you. We had a day of minor accidents here on the
farm (not surprising with Mercury in retrograde), and I got stung by a
bunch of hornets, which put me out of action for the day. But, I hope
everyone has been having fun with the Day Greetings and Endings (you
are, by the looks of the comments I'm getting)! That's great.
Today we're going to add the North to our Day Greetings and Endings. I
can't tell you how thrilled I am that so many of you are participating
in this Beauty Way ritual and bringing higher vibrations to the
planet.
Before we dive in, though, I want to address a question that has come
up several times in this series. Alice Sommers sent me this question
via email, which I feel addresses the essence of the question that
many of you have expressed. Alice writes:
"Dear Alan, I've been having a wonderful experience with the rituals
in this email series. I've been wondering why I'm getting such
positive results from doing these simple rituals when I've never had
much luck doing magic before. I almost didn't join Magic in Your
Mailbox because I was afraid that it would be the same thing of no
results. This time around I have had lots of visits from animals, seen
amazing things happen with the weather, had friends over to the house
asking if I had recently cleaned the house after I burnt the sun
candle. I'm frankly amazed but not sure why. I don't mean to sound
ungrateful, I'm just wondering, what makes this time so different?
Thanks for any help, Alice."
Well said, Alice. You're not alone. Quite a few people have been
recently asking the same questions you ask in your email. Let me see
if I can list some reasons that you are having a different and more
positive experience than you have in the past:
1. Sheer Numbers: You are doing the ritual with a whole group of
people, and many people doing the same ritual is more powerful than
one individual doing a magic ritual. It's the difference between a
rushing stream and a single drop of water.
2. Proven Magic Rituals: The rituals in "Magic in Your Mailbox" have
been used by a lot of magical practitioners, so we know they work.
You're not being asked to do any rituals that have not produced
positive results for many people.
3. Simple Consistency: You'll notice that we focus on the same ritual
for a week at a time, or longer. This gives you a chance to really
integrate the ritual into your daily life. Most people try a ritual
for a few days, and then give up. By doing the ritual every single day
(or as often as you can remember), you build magical force inside
yourself, which attracts positive results.
Hope that helps, Alice. You are wondering about the right things, and
never be afraid the question the magic that you are bringing into your
life. Magic is a precision science and you, as a magical practitioner,
are here to research that science. If you are not sure about the
validity or possible consequences of a magical ritual, by all means
ask questions, do research, and find out for yourself why a ritual is
done in the manner prescribed. If something doesn't make sense to you,
keep digging until you find the answers you seek. Don't give up 5
minutes before the miracle, as they say!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Today we add the direction North to our Day Greetings and Endings.
North is the direction associated with strength, manifestation,
practical matters of "how-to," and the element earth. Note that while
South is the direction of power, North is the direction of strength.
When you combine South and North, you get the well-known phrase of
"the irresistible force meets the immovable object." In other words,
the power of the South is kinetic, or moving, force. The strength of
the North has the permanence of the immovable object.
If you need help creating permanence in your life, ask the North for
help. The North is also great for practical advice and pragmatic
guidance. You might think of the North as the direction of the
"spiritual handyman." Kind of neat!
To greet the North, face North and put your arms straight out in front
of you, with your palms up and facing north. Your fingertips will
point toward the sky and you will be looking at the backs of your
hands.
Winds of Strength
I bid you Good Morning / Good Night
As always, wait for a response from the North for a moment or two
after your greeting. I always hear a grumbling reply, the sort you
might get from a gnome, who is the elemental associated with North.
And, as usual, you can request help from the North after you complete
your greeting and have waited for a response. Enjoy!
Day 30
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 30
Adding the Sky and Earth to Day Greetings and Endings
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
Blessings to All of You!
I just went out and greeted the day, and the Winds of the four
directions are so pleased that they are developing relationships with
so many of you! It's wonderful and I am so glad that the more and more
interrelationships are being formed between humans and powers and
beings. Today we add Sky and Earth to our Day Greetings to complete
this 6-direction greeting.
Before I jump into how we do that, I want to address a question sent
in by Jill Reynard, who asks, "I know we can ask for help from the
winds when we do our day greetings and endings, but why should they
want to help us? What's in it for them?"
That's a very well put and cogent question. A relevant one as well.
The magical answer to that, Jill, is this universal principle: "The
higher is always dependent on the lower."
What does that mean? It means that powers and beings further up the
hierarchy from us are dependent on us, and need to keep us alive,
healthy, and happy if they themselves are to thrive. Thus, when we
need and ask for help, they are more than happy to deliver.
If this seems confusing to you, consider the same magical principle as
applied to yourself. What would "the higher is dependent on the lower"
look like when applied to your body? Well, can your body exist and
thrive if your cells were dying? No. What about if your organs were
failing. Nope. What about if your circulatory system shut down? Not
that either. So your body is dependent on its lower components, like
cells and organs, to live and thrive.
Consider what happens when your cells need help. Let's say they are
running short of water. To them, inside your body, it feels like a
drought. So they send out a call for help: "We need water down here!"
Your brain receives that message as a signal of thirst, and you
respond by drinking water. That water is delivered to your cells, and
it seems as if a miraculous thunderstorm has rained down during an
intense drought. What a miracle! And yet, all you did was drink some
water. Now if you did not drink water, your cells would eventually
die, and so would you. So you cannot live without your cells, nor can
your cells live without you. If your body is in good working order, it
automatically responds to calls for water by drinking some water.
Simple, right?
The same thing happens when you go out and talk to powers and beings
using the Exit Ritual, Day Greetings and Day Endings. When you ask for
help, it's the same thing as your cells asking for water. Powers and
beings respond and magic happens. Powers and beings need us to thrive
if they are to thrive, so the symbiotic system keeps going around,
magically. Pretty cool, right? I never get tired of the way this
Universe works!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
P.S. If you missed the last installments of Magic in Your Mailbox, you
can read them by clicking the link below. We've gotten so many
requests to keep subscription for this series open that we have for
now.
http://www.shamanschool.com/magicmailbox/previous.html
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Today we add greetings to the Sky and Earth to our Day Greetings and
Endings. This is simple. After you have greeted all four directions
(East, South, West, and North), turn so that you are again facing
East. This is the position from which you will greet Sky and Earth.
To greet the sky, raise your arms straight up and slightly outward,
fingertips pointing to the sky, palms facing each other. Your arms
will form a V-shape. In this position, extend your awareness to the
sky and do this greeting:
Sky Above
I Bid You Good Morning
Wait few moments for a response. Then reverse your arms so that they
are now pointing in a downward V, fingertips pointing down, arms
straight down and slightly away from your body. Again, your palms are
facing each other (or in toward your body). In this position, extend
your awareness down into the earth and do this greeting:
Earth Below
I Bid You Good Morning
Repeat the same greetings for your Day Endings, using Good Night
instead of Good Morning. Enjoy, as you are now doing the complete Day
Greeting and Ending form of the Navajo Beauty Way!
Day 31
======================================
MAGIC IN YOUR MAILBOX - Exercise 31
What's the Difference Between Exit Rituals and
Day Greetings and Endings?
======================================
Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic
http://www.shamanschool.com
http://shamanmagic.blogspot.com
info@shamanschool.com
Happy Morning to All!
We had a wonderful series of thunderstorms last night and I sat up
late communing with the storm spirits, of whom I have grown rather
fond despite their occasional brusque attitudes. I enjoy communicating
with storm spirits, as well as other nature spirits, because it keeps
my lines of communication clear and clutter-free. That's what you're
doing, too, when you use the Navajo Beauty Way.
Today's tip isn't so much of a tip. It's a series of questions for
you, the magical researcher, to investigate, ponder, and consider. As
magicians, your work isn't just to do rituals as they are given, but
also to investigate the whys and wherefores behind the rituals. So I
invite you to dive right in, devour the questions with your full
attention, and be prepared to amaze yourself with your answers!
Ready? Go!
In Magic,
RavenWindStar (a.k.a. Alan Joel)
>> Got Questions? <<
Email them to me at info@shamanschool.com and I'll answer them in
upcoming installments of Magic in Your Mailbox!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Now that you are doing both the Day Greetings and Endings and the Exit
Ritual, ask yourself the question, "What is the difference between
these two forms of the Navajo Beauty Way?" How do Day Greetings and
Endings differ from the Exit Ritual?
As you recall, there are three forms of the Beauty Way:
- Exit Ritual
- Day Greetings and Endings
- Walking Litany
We'll cover the Walking Litany next, but before we do that it's
important to understand that each of three forms of the Beauty Way
serves a different purpose. Each has a different effect.
Now that you have been doing two of the forms of the Beauty Way for a
while, can you sense the difference between the two? Can you
differentiate the effects of one from another? Can you think of
reasons the Navajos would have created three separate forms of this
ritual? Remember that the Navajos used the Beauty Way when they were
being forced from their native lands onto reservations.
If you are totally clueless, that's all right. Ask the Winds of the
four directions or Sky Above and Earth Below. Perhaps they can shed
some light on the issue. Ponder these questions a while, and then drop
me a line and let me know your thoughts. I'd love to know what you
come up with.
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