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Cristina Moreno

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“If you are calm and quiet when others are angry, you are doing what is in the best interest of both you and them.”

—

Buddha (Samyutta Nikhaya: 7.1)

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I am at weird crossroads lately in life and thus my return to tumblr. I'd be lying if I said I came here without reason but a lot of it is quite nebulous to me. Nebulous how? I really don't know what my purpose is here except to pass time. I think that's all of us to some degree. I really want to connect to some like minded folks too but I've changed my processes and path quite a bit since I was here last. I am somewhere between paganism/ Buddhism/ and deism. Really I have no idea what's out there but I am doing my best to live a spiritually fulfilling life.

For me that means doing some practices that makes this time on earth mean something other than waiting to die. Polytheism is a weird idea to me at this juncture. Not so much that I am not a polytheist but really my practice is spread between several pantheons and none of them do I take too seriously. I pull from pureland, theravadan and zen Buddhism (namu amida butsu) and dip my toe into kemeticism. Other than that I've dropped my Magick practice as I found it wasn't something I wanted to pursue. What's more important to me is connections. Not lineages, not power, but the interconnectedness of the human species. I don't really care about "nature" as we are part of this term as a species too (I'll leave that to others to champion). That is not to say it isn't important just that I am more interested in other areas.

Buddhism gives me structure and a world view that focuses on the human being and our place in the world. Kemeticism is a pantheon that's near and dear. Within all the religions I stated earlier I practicing with mantra and chanting .

Pure land: Namu Amida Butsu

Theravada: Green Tara's mantra - Om tare tutare ture svaha

Zen: the heart sutra (along with meditation)

Sorry for the unorganized ramble. I probably will post in diary format now and again.

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When daddy disappears sometimes it leaves a hole. Right now this hole seems really apparent. King Gorilla sitting on his head points at this absence and the emotions left in its wake.

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The elements are spirits unto themselves. They are seen as caldrons of limitless power that we cannot safely approach, being some of the goddesses first children. This is not without the help of the spirits that thrive in the elemental power. In order to safely tap into these huge reservoirs one must develop a relationship with these beings. They can be seen as the shield bearers of the power, channeling and helping to those who ask. A practitioner must be like a gardener and tend these relationships by communicating often and using offerings as thanks or petition.

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Imbolc Altar.

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Some pics from last week

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This is why I don’t tell 99% people im bisexual

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So it is my endeavor to become acquainted with Melek Taus / Dian y Glas. I am writing a new mythos based on the Star Goddess and her children but the story of the Blue God is stuck in my brain so the cross over is apparent. But its aimed at folks who are trying to find a place as a pagan and existing as trans. For me seeing some like myself in the mythology is important and empowering.

Really I was inspired by @stormwaterwitch Jeweled Court and gave me the courage to set this in motion.

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How to Deepen Your Craft

Connect with land spirits. This need not be just trees and flowers; urban inventions are a part of the environment too. The land will teach you much, and it is always good to be on safe terms with the ground you walk on. Your surroundings are varied and rich and have seas of depth to them to both love and fear.

Keep in touch with the spirits. Make a habit of connecting with the spirits you know, not just with offerings, but with regular, enlightening contact; bargain with them, talk to them, work with them, know them. You are associated with them because they are important. Let them show that. This alone can make for an enriching experience.

Identify your place in the spirit world — or, know yourself. This can be an analysis of what you most deeply desire, what drives you to do magic, the types of spirits you connect to; what are you suited for? Who are you? What is your fetch like? What are you made of? What do you want out of this? Consider what you are naturally bound to, what you have chosen and been molded into, and what you want to become. Then actually pursue it.

Daily practices. Some people perform banishing rituals, some recite prayers with incense, some do automatic writing, some do awareness/attention practices, some meditate, some scry, others do other things. Find a way to touch this ‘other side’ regularly and feel it. Boredly reading cards or drinking tea doesn’t count. Actually enter the altered magical state we all know and love; stillness meditation and breathing techs work nicely if you don’t want to do anything else.

Practice awareness. There is much more than the surface to just about everything, including yourself. There is a serpent in the ground and there is a mutual darkness in the sky, in the trees, in between your ribs. The world is a web. Look at it closely, and do not forget the body inside of your body; it moves just as much as you do. Not only is this just peaceful to practice, but it will also assist in actual magical work.

Study. Just don’t get stuck in the armchair.

Do not do yourself a disservice by lying to yourself about your progress or effort. You are only stunting your growth to save from the creeping notion that you didn’t do something right. Treat yourself better; accept when you do something questionable and adjust accordingly. You can do this. You owe it to yourself to be honest.

Actually do magic. Design workings, plan them, study them, create changes, record your results, fail, try again, get better. Work with your spirits, work with your soul, heal, hex, cause storms, draw attention to yourself, render yourself invisible; do magic. It’s what you were made to do.

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TL;DR

Nothing makes me angrier than people telling me my witchcraft is only for women when my witchcraft practice literally doesn’t have the concept of “woman” in it.

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Athena By Sara Richard

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From “Thorns of the Blood Rose” by Victor H. Anderson 🥀