First Degree Lesson 1, Part 2
PRACTICE
Through magic we influence or control the things around us, therefore it is wise to use magic only to make these things better. The ancient rule of Wicca is "Do As You Will, But Harm None." Magic is a great power, and can be a great responsibility, and you do well to use it wisely. Everything you do comes back to you, through KARMA. Every action you take, in time you will also experience from the receiving end. So that when you do something good for another, you are also doing something good for yourself, as you will eventually experience the same good as a recipient. But if you do harm, that same harm you ultimately do to yourself. This is very important to understand and remember. You should bear it in mind in every aspect of your life, including the magic you practice. To do harm is not only wrong in itself, but ultimately hurts the doer.
Moreover most Wiccans believe in the LAW OF THREE, that is to say that what you do comes back to you not only once, but multiple times. Some Wiccans believe that the number Three in the Threefold Law is meant to be taken literally -that the Karma of our actions returns to us exactly three times. In the Correllian Tradition we consider the number Three to be symbolic of plurality in general, rather than a specific number of times. Thus in Correllian terms the Law of Three means that you will experience the Karma of your actions as many times as necessary to learn the necessary lesson.
Always ask yourself "How would I feel if I were on the receiving end?" before you do anything that effects another, because in fact you will in time receive it back, for all things return to their source. But so long as you work with a pure heart and good intent, Karma will be your benefactor.
Magic and Psychism are words that describe two aspects of the same process - connecting to the higher self. The word psychic comes from the Greek Psyche (pro.; SI-kee) meaning soul or spirit, i.e.; the higher self. In magic we use this connection actively, to create a certain response in the world. In PSYCHISM we use the same connection passively, to receive information about the world. We also use the word psychic to describe the exercises we use to develop both these skills.
Magic is worked from the higher self. Everything that helps you to connect with your higher self helps magic. Regular meditation and psychic exercises are a valuable tool to strengthen that connection. The connection is like a muscle, and grows stronger with use. The more you do -even if at first you do not see success- the better you will get, and the easier it will be. Persistence is important.
In it’s opening stages the most important thing about magic is to concentrate -focus as much energy as you can into what you are doing. This is rather like wishing very, very hard. This level of concentration is always an aspect of magic, but later it will seem automatic and will not take such effort.
If you are visualizing, try to see what you are visualizing as clearly as possible. Make the image as concrete and three dimensional as you can. Visualization is one of the strongest aids to concentration.
Whatever magical working you are undertaking, by whatever method, try to put your whole being into it. The more of yourself you can put into the work, the more energy you can focus into it, the greater the effect it will have.
PSYCHIC HYGIENE
One of the most important aspects of magical working, which is equally important in every magical act you ever perform, is psychic hygiene. Psychic hygiene prevents energy from becoming blocked in your body, which can make it difficult to use energy properly. Every time you do a magical work you raise energy -that is you focus and direct energy. When you have finished you will still have excess energy left in your body, which must be released. You might think that retaining this excess energy would be good, but it is not - it clogs up and causes problems. Too much of this excess energy can cause serious problems. So always practice good psychic hygiene.
You can sometimes tell if you have excess energy after a ritual or magical working if you find yourself feeling lightheaded, or off balance, or disoriented. Sometimes also it will manifest as a feeling of hyperactivity, an inability to be still - literally a feeling of excess energy. But even if you feel nothing unusual, you may still have excess energy and make it a point to clear and release as a matter of course.
Another word for clearing and releasing excess energy is GROUNDING. You will find complete instructions for releasing in the EXERCISES section of this lesson. Make sure to read them.
Psychic hygiene is always important when you do magic or psychic work. You should cleanse and release both before you begin, and especially after you finish. But this is not the only time it’s important. Many people on a magical path tend to pick up energy from others -usually emotional energy. Such a people may find themselves picking up another person’s emotions, mood, or tension level, without knowing it. The same techniques of psychic hygiene can be used to release such "pick-ups" as well. Moreover, because we tend to pick up from others in this way, it is important to practice PSYCHIC SHIELDING. Psychic shielding basically strengthens your own boundaries, so that you do not pick up any energy you don’t want. It’s good to practice psychic shielding regularly, even daily, as it helps to keep the AURA strong.
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