I’ve been thinking about the process of meditation and how daily practice brings about my devotion to practice more.  Whenever my meditations fall by the wayside due to an overly busy schedule or illness that prevents me from the daily practice, I notice that my thinking becomes less clear, and my activities become less meaningful.  There is something very special about those precious few minutes in Silent meditation within The Great Mystery that fills my life meaning.
 
The Druidic Path is an Inner Journey.  This is why little can be written about the actual journey itself, and probably why so little is known to the outside world about the Druidic Path.
 
We learn to peel away the layers of ego and discover a new definition of “Who Am I?”   We learn to control our thinking and make other choices than our old damaging emotional knee-jerk responses.  We learn to peel away false beliefs we’ve learned that cover our original “Core Being” where we are all connected to the Source.  The more we learn about “Source Energy” the more we develop the ability to work with the Power that lies down deep at the center of our being and become true “Sorcerers”, using Source energy to manifest our desires.  The more we peel off the outer layers of ego and false beliefs the more the beauty of that inner light shines through, and the more easily do our desires manifest.

Occult Knowledge

This is what the ancient’s called “Occult” knowledge.  Occult means hidden, and where better to hide our connection to the Source of all knowledge than deep within ourselves at the core of our being. This makes the practice of Druidic Craft an inner journey that is unique for each practitioner.  
 
I often wonder about the true purpose of magical practice.  We learn to enter a place called “The Silence” in our meditations, and are told we speak to “The Great Mystery”.  It all sounds wonderful, but nothing seems to happen (consciously) during this practice, but Oh so much actually takes place!
 
Is magical ability really the “carrot” that keeps us returning to “The Great Mystery” for more?  Are we granted the manifestation of our desires to keep us coming back to the Silence for more instruction in Wisdom? 
 
We first practice the Druidic technique because we’re taught to do so.  However, after our first successful manifestation, we keep coming back to “The Silence” time after time to speak to “The Great Mystery” and in the process of our practice of mental magic, we learn much more than we bargained for.  A new awareness overcomes the practitioner, and life takes on new meaning, circumstances begin to make sense and we begin to see our spiritual Path unfolding right before our eyes within the circumstances of our daily lives.  We discover that a magical transformation has taken place within our perspective as if the veil is lifted.  We “see” more clearly, and understand more deeply.  Meditation truly gives us experience with “The Great Mystery”.

The Daily Practice of Magic
 
The more we practice the technique the more our Mental Teachers can teach us awareness and whisper their secrets to us that we find revealed in mysterious ways during our waking hours.  The practice of Magic, then, also brings us wisdom, as we learn to communicate in the Mental World.  The insights, visions and revelations are a "high" like no other, and it keeps us returning to our meditations for more.

I often wonder if the magical attainment of our goals is the reward we receive for visiting The Great Mystery, because while we are there we’re given much more than we bargained for that teaches me Wisdom through my own personal experiences.  Therefore, the more we practice Mental Magic, the more Wisdom we are given in the process.  It seems that many think that ceremonial magic is ALL THERE IS to the practice of magic.  If that is the case, then you are missing the most beautiful part!
 
Do you make time to meditate and enter the Silence of The Great Mystery every day?  

How badly do YOU want access to Occult Wisdom?  
 
It’s worth thinking about…

I hear the train off in the distance rumbling along and think of the engineer who’s probably been up for quite a while since he’s already carrying a load of ore to who knows where…  I wonder what it is that gets him up in the morning?  Is he doing something that he loves, or is he working just to make a pay check?  

What a big difference there is between doing what you think you Should, and doing what you Want to do.  Doing what you think you Should can be a real pain!  However, doing what you Want to do (even if it’s what you think you should) can transform that drudgery into joy.

For example, I can do the dishes as I should because I’m afraid of what the neighbors will think if I don’t, or I can do the dishes because I love my family and want them to be healthy.  I will still do the dishes – but what’s my motivation – what am I thinking while I’m doing this task?

Dr. Emoto’s experiments with thought projected into water clearly shows the effect our thoughts have.  If thought can change the molecular structure of gray/brown river water into beautiful crystalline structures, then does our Thinking also color the results of other experiences we have?

For instance, I can cook a well remembered supper recipe without really thinking about it.  While I’m doing this routine thing I can choose my thoughts.  If I choose to think about a bad experience, I begin to feel bad and think negative thoughts.  What does this do to the supper I’m cooking?

I’ve heard friends say they can never cook like grandma did, even if they use the same recipe.  Maybe grandma knew that the secret was in her loving thoughts while she performed this labor of love!

Whatever we Think while we’re doing something not only colors the experience, but it also colors the results.

What happens to the events in your life when you do the things you think you should, but don’t want to and therefore don’t enjoy?  Are they, then, also colored with these negative thoughts?

If the Law of Attraction tells us that “like attracts like” in the mental world of thought, then what are we drawing into our lives with negative thoughts?

“The most detrimental thing that anyone can do to themselves is to do something that they believe they shouldn't be doing. All kinds of people take action without having aligned the energy with the action. And that's the only reason anything ever goes wrong for anybody, you see.”
~ Abraham-Hicks

There are so many ways to look at things.  If you can find a way to think positively about the chore you are doing, then this new perspective instantly transforms the way you feel about this experience.  

Thinking positively, appreciating what you have, and enjoying the service you do for others, sends out a vibration that attracts more of these positive things into your life.

If I want to keep the things I appreciate in my life, then it follows that thinking positively about them, expressing gratitude by remembering my blessings, sends out a vibration that not only keeps these things I love and enjoy in my life, but also attracts more of the same to me.

“Once you have created a thing, in order to maintain it, or to continue it, you must continue to want it - or give attention to it - otherwise it will drift out of your experience.”
~ Abraham-Hicks

Finding a way to think positively about everything I do, keeps me happy to get out of bed in the morning because I am excited about discovering more to be thankful for!

If I am devoted to having the Law of Attraction working for me, then I will be careful to think positive, appreciative thoughts whenever I can.

Are you doing what you “want” to do, or are you doing what you think you “should” do?  

If you are devoted to making your life better, are you letting the Law of Attraction work for YOU?

It’s worth thinking about…

This morning I awoke to the lovely sound of a cricket chirping happily just outside my window.  As I listened, my awareness expanded so that I could hear the cicadas at the edge of the forest along with a variety of birds announcing that morning had come.

Every day, without fail, this morning chorus begins, and it occurred to me that these creatures of Nature are expressing their delight with the new day and their unceasing devotion to begin again.

What is it that keeps them going?  What is it that wakes them up and makes them sing their songs?  

Are they acting this way because of “instinct”?  All dogs, for instance turn ‘round and ‘round before laying down even though the tall grasses of the wilderness are far from them as they rest on the carpeted floor.  All cats bury their business to hide their scent from their prey even if they are house-cats and have never seen the outdoors.  Scientists tells us this is “instinct”, but what is that?  

The Druidic philosophy says that this instinctual behavior is a product of the group mind of their species.  The dog learns that turning around mashes the grass into a comfortable bed.  It becomes part of his cellular memory and soon off-spring are also turning around before lying down, even though they may about to lye down on the floor of your house.  Likewise, the cat learns that hunting is more successful when their scent is hidden by burying their droppings.  This survival technique is passed down to their off-spring and so on, all a part of their instinct, cellular memory, learned behavior or group mind.

I’ve been taught that it is only the group mind of Mankind that allows “Choice”.  Instinctually we know that procreation is good, and will keep the race alive, but we have our choice to have children or not.  We usually act after making a decision about whether we will go with our instinct or not.  

If we listen to and are guided by our feelings then we soon learn that we want to repeat what feels good, and want to avoid what feels bad.  This is our guidance system at work.  This guidance from our feelings comes to us as a result of our connection with our higher mind, or inner being and is sometimes referred to as our soul.

Our “choice” then is to our either think and act in alignment with our inner being, our higher mind, or not.  Quieting the mind so that we can receive these inner feelings is what meditation is all about.

If I am devoted to listening carefully to my own inner guidance system, then learning to practice quieting the mind in meditation becomes important to me.

When I follow my own inner guidance I may not follow the well worn path of so many others.  I may walk to a different beat, listening to a different drummer, and follow where my heart leads me.

What is it that keeps ME going?  What is it that awakens me to the excitement of a new day?

For me, it is the excitement of learning to sing my own song… to be who I am… and the devotion to learning more about who that is.

•    Are you aware of how much you change every day?  
•    Do you know who you are, today?  
•    Are you devoted to finding out?

It’s worth thinking about…

VIRGO: “I ANALYZE”
2nd Decan Influence: “DEVOTION”

September 3rd - September 13th

Virgo teaches us about Service.  Devotion to the Service of others as well as to what Serves us best is part of this learning process. Devotion means loyalty or faithfulness and this the Virgo possesses in abundance.  Once the Analysis is done, all factors Discriminated, and a course set, the Virgo people go an unswerving way - Devoted.

During this decan we all feel this call to find a cause to express our Devotion in the Service of others.

Loyalty and faithfulness may refer not only to what we Vow to Do, but to what we determine to Stay Away From as well.  In short, it is as useless to try to push a Virgo onto a rejected path, as it is to try to deter them from a chosen one.  

We all feel this silent call to show our Devotion to what we have chosen as our path during this decan.  This may make us seem a bit stubborn at times but someone who knows where he is going and sticks to it is wise, don't you think?
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For more on the lessons of VIRGO see: http://druidcraft.us/astrology.htm
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The influence of Devotion is all about testing our loyalty or faithfulness.  Once the Analysis is done, all factors Discriminated, and a course set, the Virgo people go an unswerving way - Devoted. During this decan we all feel this call to find a cause to express our Devotion in the Service of others.

Here were are back in the hurricane season, and already I’ve been praying for some dear friends who have been caught in hurricanes – though in different parts of the world.  There have been folks pouring into Arkansas to escape the latest hurricane, but there's not much escape here either as the eye of Gustov seems to be going right over us.

Devotion to a cause is something I was happy to see taking place in conjunction with the hurricane Katrina disaster here in the USA a few years ago.  The TV news programs only show the chaotic, sensational aspects of the disaster, but here in my little community of Arkansas just north of Louisiana, there were many refugees from both Mississippi and Louisiana.  Friends and families of loved ones housed disaster victims.  Churches, church camps, and the community center here opened their doors to the stranded folks, providing sleeping arrangements, clothes, food, and yes, even entertainment.  

What better place to be stranded than where there is music every night around the courthouse square!  It always delightfully surprises me when I see folks pulling together to help those in need.  Devotion to a cause is a powerful thing.  There is much good that comes out of disaster.

“There's no disaster that can't become a blessing, and no blessing that can't become a disaster.”
~ Richard Bach (b.1936) American Writer, author of 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull'

When a person does an act of kindness he receives an increase in his serotonin level which science tells us produces a good feeling and enhances his immune system.  Not only does the doer of this act get this health benefit, but the receiver of this kindness also experiences a rise in serotonin and a boost to his immune system!  How marvelous this is!

Kindness pays off.  It makes the giver and receiver feel good and also enhances their immune system.  More than this, however, it also has this effect on anyone Seeing this act of kindness.  Just the mere experience of observing this act of kindness also makes the observer feel good by increasing their serotonin level and boosting their immune system!  This would be good to know even if we were only playing a virtual reality game – which I guess we really are – in this nursery school called Earth.

It’s always a delight surprise to see folks pulling together to help those in need.  Devotion to a cause is truly a powerful thing!  
 
During this 10-day influence of Devotion it’s a good time to ask yourself… To What am I Devoted?  

•    Is kindness important to you?  

•    If you found a good deed to do everyday would you feel better?  

•    Is it important to you to better yourself by helping humanity?  

•    Would the world be a better place if it was?

It’s worth thinking about…