The Book of Shadows of Everything You Can Imagine

Book Blessing

 

Hearken as the witch's word,
Calls to All, a gulf to ford,
Bridge the vast realities,
An it harm none, do as you please.

Elements protect and guard this book,
From wondering eyes and prying looks,
And fill it with thine ancient power,
In this right and ready hour.

Powers of North, the East below,
Help me to live, to learn to grow,
Lend your strength and stability,
To practice the Craft, and with love be free.

Powers of East, the Wind, the Sky,
Watch over these pages with thine eye,
Your wisdom and knowledge, for these I do ask,
That this book be worthy - the Craft and it's task.

Powers of South, Fire and the Hearth,
Help these Shadows to prove their worth,
Infuse them with your healing and passion,
So only good comes from the Work tyhat is fashioned.

Powers of West, the Water, the Sea,
Change and growth are granted thee,
Bless these pages with all you know,
That righteous readers mat learn and grow.

And to the unschooled eye that see,
Confusing words and sophistry,
Lead them from these sacred pages,
And bless their passage thru the ages.

For free will of all,
And harm none,
As I have willed it,
It is now done.

So mote it be!

Rules and Beliefs

1. We practace rites to attune ourselves with the natural rythem of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal quarters and cross-quarters.

2. We reconize that our intelligence gives us a uniqe responsibility tword out enviroment. We seek to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.

3. We acknoledge a depth of power far greater than ordinary, it is sometimes called "supernatural," but we see it as lying within that which is naturally poential to all.

4. We conceive of the Creative Power in the Universe as manifesting through polarity — as masculine and feminine — and that this same creative Power lives in all people, and functions through the interaction of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive of the other. We value sexuality as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of Life, and as one of the sources of energies used in magickal practice and religious worship.

5. We reconize outer worlds and inner, or psychological worlds —sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collectivie Unconscious, the Inner Planes, ect. — and we see in the interaction of these two dimenstions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fufillment.

6. We do not reconize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who do teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and aknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.

7. We see religion, magick, and wisdom-in-living as being united in the way one veiws the world and lives within it — a world veiw and philosophy of life, which we identify as  Whitchcraft or the Wiccan Way.

8. Calling oneself a "Witch" does not make a Witch — but neither does heredity itself, or the collecting of titles, degrees, and initations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within him/herself that make llfe posible in order to live wisely and well, without harm to others, and in harmony with Nature.

9. We aknowledge that it is the affirmation and fufillment of life, in a continuation of evolution and develoupment of consciousness, that gives meaning to the Universe we know, and to our personal role within it.

10. Our only animosity towrd Christianity, or tword any other religion or philosophy-of-life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to "the one true right and only way" and have saught to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practicesand belief.

11. As American Witches, we are not treatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the orgins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions. we are concerned with our present, and our future.

12. We do not accept the concept of "apsolute evil," nor do we worship any entity known as "Satan" or "the Devil" as defined by Christians Tradition. We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor do we accept the concept that personal benefits can only be derived by denial to another.

13. We work within Nature for that which is contributory to our helth and well-being.

Favorite Quotes

Friendship is like peeing yourself; everyone can see it, but only you get that warm feeling it brings.

The man who smiles when things go wrong has though of someone to blame it on.

Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all it's pupils...

Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyways.

The adverage woman rather have beatuy then brains, because the adverage man can see better then he can think.

Smile, it makes people wonder what you are up to.

STUPID = Smart, Talented, Unique, Person, In, Demand

Magickal Alphabet

Egyptian: 

 

 

 

 

Theban: 

 

 

 

 

Angelic: 

 

Astral Projection

Astral prjection has been scientifically categorized as an OBE (Out of Body Experience). Astratl projection is the practice of acually projection your energy body away from your physical one. This "Body of light" is connected to the physical body by a silver cord that does not detach until the death of the physical form.

An OBE most commonly occurs during the sleep cycle, but can happen during meditation. Daydreaming provides an additional vehicel for astral projection.

How Do You Know If You Have Experienced an OBE?

The following sensations can be to OBE's:

1. The sensation of floating above your body, seeing the acual physical form below you and either actually "seeing" or being aware of the silver cord. This usualy occurs in that twilight time time we associate between full wakefulness and the acual sleep cycle.

2. Experiencinig a "wooshing" sansation as you awaken from sleep. Sights flash by swiftly as you resurface into the body.

3. The inability ot move limbes — a type of temporary paralysis when you are barley awake. This passes quickly, but can produce a disconerting type of inner hysteria if you are not expecting it.

4. An especially vivid dream where people, places, and things appear larger than life or extreamly colorful. Oftan you will be unfamiliar with both the places and the people involved.

OBE's are natural but not always remembered occurrence. Everyone travles at some time in their life in the astral plane. However, perople who ordinarily feel that they must be consciously in control of every aspect of their liveshave difficulty going into an OBE state without the dream as a vehicle. This is not a terrible thing. It just means that they have to releace their fears of not being in control.

Many phychiatrists and other therapeutic counselors now use the OBE in moving the indivisual tword total mental health. Those difficulties worked out in the OBE state tend to cut normal couonceling time by months, sometimes even years. The counseler, by allowing the "higher self" of the indivisual to take over much of the process. is able to retain an undevoled status, thereby becoming more effective in treating the client/patient.

Sleeping Like the Dead

Ever hear the expression "sleeping like the dead"? When one is in such a deep state that they can not be roused easily, or at all, they are most likey on an astral journey. Therefore, this statement is aply used. The body is physically in the bed but the body of light, with the conscious mind contained in it, is on vacation. This is why it is so difficult to awaken an indavisual in this state. They are unconsciously quite confortable with astral projection, and do not see the immediate need to return ot consciousness just bacause you want them to.

There are three ways to approach astral projection and recap its beifits: the dream state, the meditation state, and bi-location.

The Dream State

Before you go to sleep each night, program your mind telling yourself you will recall your astral travels. It may take two or three weeks before you are able to have very good recall, but don't rush it. The rememberations will come. If it takes longer, try writing some affermations each day to reinforce your night time message. Nightly meditation will also be of great assistance. Don't forget to keep that note pad and pen by the bed to record your travles.

The better you recall, the better control you will have over the expiriences that occur in the dream state. Eventually, you can plan were you wish to go, what you wish to accomplish, and who you would like to meet.

The Meditation State

Experiencing astral projection in the state of meditation leaves you with more conscious control over the OBE. You can choose any body possition you desire; however, more success may be acheved through the prone position (as this is what both your body and unconsious mind are used to when OBE's are accomplished in the dream state). However, if you feel more conforable sitting up, by all means, do it!

You should have a good meditation system that you are familiar with. If you have difficulty with eather meditation or the ascent to astral travel, you may wish to purchace cassette tapes currently on the market that assist in this procedure, or are straight, soft music.

Everyone is capeable of consious astral projection, just as everyone is capeable of preforming magick. The only barrier erected is the indavisual's personal fear of the unknown and the false assumption that they will not be in control.

Procedures for Conscious Astral Travel

First, ensure that you will not be disterbed. This is a definite prerequisite for any type of magickal or astral activity. Take several deep breths and relax your body. Open each of the seven chakre vortexes, then the vortexes in the hands and feet. Surround the body with the blue light of protection. Imagine a golden light pulsating within your body. This is your light body. Let it rise from your physical body, retqaining your physical structure. Move your consciousness into the light body and imagine that your physical body is safe and will remain that way, fully functioning, until you return. Since you think it — it is so.

At this point, you may proceed in one of the two ways. You can travel around the room and become confortable with becoming astral, or you can go directly into either the astral or physical plane.

Some indavisuals prefer not to look at their physical bodies because they fear the body has ceased into function, which is not the case — but the sight can immediately pull you right back into that body in the bat of a physical eyelash, with your heart beating like crazy.

This brings up a very important point. Indavisuals with heart trouble should not cosciously attempt an OBE, as it alters respiration and heartbeat. If you are terrorized by the thought of astral projection, do not force yourself to practace it. Perhaps your fear will lessen at a later date and you will be more comfortable with the skill. If you have a history of heart trouble or respiratory disease, I do not suggest consciously attempting an OBE. I mentioned earlier that you can travel in two dimensions, the earth one and the astral. You may be comfortable working more in one then the other. Working in the astral is called vision questing and is the route that many shamans follow.

What Purpose Can Astral Travel Serve?

Like any other skill, it will provide what you allow it to provide. Some seek only a vacation experience; to visit places either were the body can not either afford, or physically go. Others seek knoledge that cannot be found elsewere. There are people who arrange meetings in the astral or in the physical plane while in the OBE state. Later, they compare notes. Some individuals merely use it for experimental purposes.

When you return from your excursions in the astral, you may wish to hovcer first around your body, or join it immediately. If the physical body is disturbed during an OBE you will return to your body with that "whoosh" sensation. Sometimes the environment will speed past you in a blur. Don't worry about it, it is a fantastic experience.

I would also like to mention that you have what is called an "ocular voice" when in the astral. It is strong, piercing vibration that you can use to protect yoyurself if you feel threatened. On this plane it comes out like a silly croak, but on the astral it can cut any unwanted entity to pieces.