Hi readers,
I was talking with a friend recently about starting out as a beginner. This friend has a book or two and is curious about where she should start in terms of building a personal practice. I suggested that she start with doing a lot of reading, and working on visualization and meditation.
I would give anyone this advice because it’s crucial in any practice. Especially if one wants to practice magic If you can’t focus or visualize anything the spell you are working may not manifest. Further, this friend also asked about other ways she could bring this practice into her daily life while being a student.
As a student myself I find this to be difficult sometimes especially because I tend to like a more ritualistic approach to magic. However, over the past few years I have adapted to a more spontaneous and simple approach, yet I still make time for ritual. I suggested that she starts with one thing and keep at it. Starting small and building the practice up is more beneficial in my opinion rather than doing something for 20 minutes. I recommend anyone start with 5 minutes or even 10 If they can spare the time. Do as many meditation types as you can either walking, guided, or something else entirely.
As I said in a previous post I used objects to help me focus or sometimes I even used an image of something I’ve seen in my case a sunrise.
If you can’t walk or are limited on time start with a few breathing exercises and use a timer to help stay on track. Just focus on breathing or If you are trying out a visualization do that for a specific period of time with a timer so that you are able to see how long you can hold the image.
When I first started with meditation I did at least 5 or 10 minutes a day at a time that I know I wouldn’t be disturbed or busy. Everyone always has a in between time whether commuting to work or school, waiting for company to arrive, before sleep, or first thing in the morning before anyone is awake. Also, making notes or setting reminders can help especially If you tend to get caught in something. Also, when you want to build more into your practice, I would read your notes or just knowing what’s going on in your life to figure out the right time or when you feel ready. However, I will say that If you are like me and you like some structure or forget you can even put something like meditation in your calendar or planner If you use one in addition to using your phone. Speaking of phones, you can look at any of the different meditation apps or just trying some on YouTube. Got an echo, Google, or other smart device? Try out the skills Alexa has for meditation or use what ever device you have. Most importantly, with anything the more you practice easier it will get. I will be the first to admit that I am not always mindful of this, but I do my best depending on the situation and practice I am learning.
One book that was instrumental in assisting me in my personal practice was The Circle Within by Dianne Sylvan. In my opinion, I believe this book can help anyone even If you don’t practice within a Wiccan framework. Just the discussion on devotion, prayer, and incorporating other practices can be done depending on the path. It is one of the books I recommend to any beginner. I won’t say that I agree with everything she writes but it is worth a read.
For me, I had a personal practice before reading this book, but this book caused me to think about how I could further refine it. Especially, in terms of devotion or further involving in my life.
I began doing more work at my altar, spending more time outside, making offerings more, working magic more even in the simplest of ways with anything I ate, drank such as setting intentions and visualizing as I consumed the item, or something more complex like a ritual at a specific time.
Finally, the best advice I can say to anyone about incorporating these types of practices into your life apart from reading, meditation, visualization, or any other practice is to spend as much time outside as you can. I realize this may not apply to all paths, but I personally believe that nature is a vital component to any magical practice and path within Paganism. How big of a role nature will play will depend on the individual and path. If you are in a climate where you can’t or If you can’t get out for some reason bring nature inside. Use pictures If you can see them, use objects like stones around you in your yard, dirt from your yard, planting indoor plants, or something else. What ever you feel connects you with nature. Paint a natural scene If you are a painter, listen to nature sounds or use chimes, touch a plant or tree, go out on a balcony, or on your porch. Connecting with nature and its seasons is something anyone can do. Starting with everyday connections is a start then you can move onto more complex practices like rituals, spells on specific dates, times, seasons, holidays If it applies to your path, in addition to lunar and solar phases.
These are just some of the ways that anyone can begin building a daily practice with meditation in what ever form it takes and moving into more specific practices.
As always, I hope that this has helped you learn or inspires you to consider ideas no matter what path you walk.
I wish you peace and blessings during this week.
Many Blessings!