From: walkea@vccnorthb.its.rpi.edu (Alexander Walker) Subject: Daily Life and the Solitary Practice Date: 14 Oct 1993 04:26:58 GMT Ignore this if you read it on alt.magick, I got a good response from it when I posted it there so I thought I'd cross post it here for those interested who don't subscribe to that group. Remember: this was originally written for ceremonial magicians, if your true blue Pagan, mentally substitute Pagan for ceremonial magicians and your Deep Self for the HGA. Notice: I wrote this essay for newcomers to magick and browsers of this channel. It contains some things that have helped me in the past years on the path. A person desiring to practice magick that either doesn't have the luxury or the desire to join an organization and/or gain personal instruction can still learn this art/science safely and effectively. The only limits are the excuses that come from daily life that neither afford time nor resources to practice any sort of spiritual living. Studying, work, and stress always seem to conspire together to disallow anything but a mundane and embittered outlook on life. For those solitary practitioners (and perhaps those who aren't can gain something from this) who find time and resources hinderances in their practice, I have found some things that have been a great help to me: [1] Never allow excuses. If you make an excuse to skip practicing no matter how dire the circumstances, it can and will degrade into a slump. [2] If time truly is short, simple daily practices such as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram can be done imagining the temple, the tools and the garb [3] If you have to do the above often, schedule a time at least once or twice a week where the ritual is in full garb. [4] In class or at work, practice one's asana. I don't mean any fancy contorted positions, rather simply being aware of one's posture, keeping the spine erect, both feet flat, your mind attentive (i.e. not day dreaming), and your breath simple and regular. [5] Practice the adorations described in Liber Resh vel Helios or as re-presented in Donald Kraig's "Eleven Lessons in the High Magickal Arts". They are excellent reminders during the day for keeping focused on the Great Work. [6] If you can, try to love everything and everyone you come in contact with remembering not to condemn, paraphrasing my favorite liber, for how do you know that you would be any different given the same conditions (many of which you could never know not being that person/group). [7] If 6 is too difficult to do on a truly sincere level, try simply appreciating everything's and everyone's place in the scales and balance of the universe. [8] Train your will by making oaths (starting small at first). Ones I've used are not eating any junk food for one week, not arguing with so-and-so no matter what they say for 24-hours,etc,etc. Creativity helps here (and truly everywhere). [9] Affirm daily that the goal of all these practices and more that you are doing are nothing less than the Great Work. And that the enlightenment and spiritual development that hard work in these areas make available are truly the only things in existence that really matter when you boil everything down. Meditation, consuming fewer chemicals, and reading about magick, religion, philosophy, and other topics from many different points of view are also great assets to the solitary ceremonial magician. Remember, in the last analysis, your path is between you and you (you and your True self, your Holy Guardian Angel) and though others can suggest helpful things, its your responsibility to enlighten yourself. Blessed Be, May all attain, Love is the Law, Live without Restriction, Alex Walker