Sulum Factum Magus

This post picks up on the previous posts on one way of working with your wand. Previously, I have discussed a preliminary exercise involving movement of the attention, which can then be built upon by channelling Earth energy , and Sun Energy. This post carries on with an exercise in which Earth and Solar energies are combined.

Magically speaking, the Great Goddess brings forth new life by taking the seed of the God into her womb, and nurturing it to its fulfillment. This is, to me, the archetypal magical process, and any act of magic mirrors this archetypal magic, and may take power from resonating with it. Thus to bring about some new condition in one’s life or the world in general, is akin to planting the seed within the womb of the Great Mother, and allowing her to bring it to fruition. Thus it is the magical union of Herself and Himself that creates something new in the realms of creation. This magical union may be reflected in work with the magic wand as follows.

Begin as for the circulation of Sun energy, contacting first the Earth Orb, then the Solar Orb, and building with breath and visualisation two spheres at the belly button centre, one red, and one white. Visualise these spheres side by side, with the white solar orb on the left side of your body, and the red Earth orb on your right side. Then practice the circulation of the attention through arms and wand via the throat chakra, as described previously. However now visualise two streams of energy intertwining, one red and one white. The cycle is now for three breaths. On the first breath project the intertwined energy currents from belly through throat, right arm, wand, left arm, throat and back to belly. Each second breath, recharge the red Earth orb at the belly chakra, as previously described, and every third breath recharge the solar orb at the belly chakra.

With practice, you will be able to use one breath to recharge both solar and earth orbs at the belly, and reduce to a two breath cycle. With further practice, the entire cycle can be done in one breath, by lightly holding the attention on the Earth and Solar streams constantly recharging their respective orbs at the belly.

As before, you may gradually increase the distance between the tip of the wand and your left palm, while maintaining the flow of energy.

This exercise should be practiced at least ten minutes a day for three weeks, after mastery of the previous three exercises!

Many people seem to regard the equinoxes as times of balance, where day and night occur in equal proportions. However in my view, this does not describe adequately the energy which comes to a focus at the equinoxes. They symbolize for me a period of rapid change. At the spring equinox the days are getting longer each day, more quickly than at any other time of year. At the autumn equinox, similarly, days are shortening at a greater rate than at any other time. The equinoxes are, above all, times of rapid and dynamic change.

Some people may equate the concept of balance with stillness. Stillness, and stasis, are exactly the opposite of the energies moving at the equinoxes. Stillness and stasis, where change is minimal, are the energies associated with the solstices, winter and summer.

A helpful analogy is the movement of the tides. High tide corresponds to the summer solstice. The current is still, but the water level is high. It’s a nice time to swim in the water. Then, as the tide falls, the current begins to pick up, and the current reaches its peak halfway between high water and low water. This is the autumn equinox, a time of dynamic change and lengthening days. Psychically there is a strong inwardly moving and gathering current, which may be harnessed to inward journeying and introspection. Just as with strong tides in the ocean, it is difficult to swim against this current. One must go with it, or quickly become fatigued.

As the cycle continues, the current slackens until low tide, where the current dies away and the water is still. This corresponds to the winter solstice, where the traditional yule-tide blessing of “Peace on Earth and goodwill towards all” sums up the energy nicely. It is in such stillness that one may nourish the connection with the greater organism that links all on this planet. As the tide turns, the current begins to pick up, and halfway to high tide, the current is at its strongest. This is the spring equinox, with its current of dynamic upward and outward movement, and quickly lengthening days. In the plant world, sprouting and growing are at their peak, in the animal world, mating is going on. Activity is at its height! As the tide continues to come in, the current slows, until again at the summer solstice we have a point of stillness and stasis, a time when many people feel like taking holidays.

Magically speaking, then, I see the equinoxes as times of dynamic change and rapid movement of energy. This energy, outward flowing and disseminating in Spring, and inward gathering in Autumn, may be used and harnessed, but it is unwise, in my opinion, to seek to oppose it. The solstices, I see as times of peace and stillness. While both solstices have this energy of stasis, the winter solstice is a time of stillness at its most contracted, while summer solstice is a time of stillness at its most expanded.

The tides of the ocean are caused by the moon’s gravitational pull attracting the water of the sea. However the tides always lag behind the path of the moon, by different amounts in different places, depending on the local conditions. So high tide is never when the moon is directly overhead, but always some time afterwards.

I believe that the same phenomena may be observed with the solstices and equinoxes, which are determined astrologically by the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. The local energies will have their peak, trough, and periods of greatest change after, not exactly at, the solstices and equinoxes.

So next time you celebrate the equinoxes, spare a thought for the dynamic change and movement of energy that underlies the brief equality of day and night, and perhaps consider how you might harness that magical current to assist you and your loved ones to come to a dynamic balance within yourselves, and within the greater organism of which we are all a part.

Blessed Be

Rob

At the end of 2007, I was lucky enough to spend a few days in Ireland. While there, I took the time to visit the Book of Kells, one of the most famous Irish illuminated manuscripts. It was produced by monastic scribes, who illustrated the manuscript with intricate panels featuring knotwork patterns and stylised mythical creatures. Throughout the manuscript, smaller illustrations adorn letters and margins. I have always been a fan of Celtic knotwork, but my fascination has increased since seeing this intricate work in the original. When I saw a copy of Aiden Meehan’s manual “The Celtic Design Book”, which includes his volume on knotwork, in a Dublin second hand book store, I had to buy it!

Over the Christmas New Year break, I read through it, and began to play with some of the methods that Mr Meehan explains in his book. My fascination has increased, almost to the point of obsession, with the beauty and intricacy of these patterns. One night, after an afternoon drawing knots, as I lay in bed, I couldn’t go to sleep. My mind seemed to be buzzing with knots. When I shut my eyes, I could see knots in my mind’s eye, as clear as if I was standing in an art gallery. There were great panels of them, in astonishing intricasy and symmetrical beauty. Each time I blinked, it seemed, the panel changed to a new marvellous knot creation. I have to say, that I have not seen anything like these knots, unless it were in the Book of Kells itself, and even then, I have my doubts.

Following on from the marvel of this experience, which I found very uplifting, I felt a kind of sadness. I knew immediately that I would never be able to reproduce these beautiful patterns for other people to see. I can hardly remember the exquisite detail myself. However the hall of knots is available for anyone to visit, should you share my fascination. How do you get there – well, I can’t promise anything, but I would recommend staring at a lot of Celtic knots for a long period of time, perhaps easiest if you start drawing them yourself. Get hold of Aiden Meehan’s book, which gives the method for drawing them. And finally, work on opening the inner window, by keeping your attention focussed on the third eye chakra, while visualising a knot. To help you, here is a knot mandala that I have drawn.

To use it, print it out, paste it on to a piece of card, stand it up at eye level an arms length or more away, and stare at it, while breathing evenly, deeply and regularly. As you breath out, place your attention on the image. As you breathe in, place your focussed attention on the third eye chakra. Keep this up for ten minutes or so. Then shut your eyes, and ask to be taken to the hall of knots. Continue to breathe out, with eyes still shut, and visualise your attention uniting with a visualised knot. If the time is right, you may find yourself viewing the panels in the hall of knots. If not, don’t be discouraged, you may need to repeat the exercise many times, before something happens. It all depends on how easily you can move your attention, and open the inner window. If you find such things difficult, then this exercise can be repeated daily for some months to help to acquire these fundamental magical skills.

Let me know how you go!

Blessed Be,

Rob