There is a big difference between thinking positively and believing that we have the ability to change our reality. You can most certainly think you can … but do you really believe you have the ability to do so? This is the difference between positive thinking and making magick. Magick is the art of manipulating Will, emotions and energy in order to bring about change within an individual’s reality whether it is around them or within them. This is certainly more than just thinking positively about something and expecting it to change. The individual is required to be invested in creating the energetic shift to occur with their Will. Thinking positively won’t change anything on its own but it can help raise an individual’s vibration by shifting their point of view to those things that make them feel better.
As witches we use magick for all sorts of intentions: gaining wealth, nurturing interpersonal relationships, advancing careers, protection,
As witches we use magick for all sorts of intentions: gaining wealth, nurturing interpersonal relationships, advancing careers, protection,
and illness or medical conditions, but in order for our magick to manifest we must believe in our abilities to do so otherwise it is a waste of our time and energy. If we decide to use witchcraft to cast a spell to heal us of a medical condition or illness that we have been diagnosed with, do we believe we can change it? Or do we embrace the diagnosis and think, “I have ( _ medical condition _ ), the doctors have diagnosed it. I am a witch with ( _ medical condition _ ) and that’s just the way it is.” Or do we think, “Well, ( _ medical condition _ ) isn’t going to hinder me. It’s just a condition and conditions can change and this one will!” The difference is evident between the two statements. If the first witch decides to cast a spell it will fail to manifest. A shift in perception will never occur; as there is no belief in the witch’s own ability to create the change that he or she thought they desired, while the second witch has potential for manifesting the desired change in his or her own condition.
Sometimes the resistance to change is because we allow the condition or circumstance to define who we are. We adopt words, deeds, and perceptions because of the diagnosis, the name or the label we have accepted, whether it was given to us or we chose it for ourselves. Now, while I am a witch who believes that words and names hold power, I also resolutely believe that it is important to first understand what we are naming before we name it. Once we name something we give power to it and that is where the danger of becoming rigid and entrenched in what that name, label or diagnosis represents. This can be a benefit as well as a restriction.
Sometimes the resistance in belief that we experience is due to the fact that we are comparing ourselves to others with the same condition or those who are experiencing a similar situation to us, however this does not benefit us in any way. Comparing ourselves to others only hinders us with doubt, which is a manifestation of fear. It is truly futile to try and compare conditions, situations, circumstances or people. Not two individuals are the same (including identical twins). You and I are different people. We have different life experiences, which give us unique perspectives, which will affect our magickal practice differently. Comparing my life with yours, my practice with yours, my abilities with yours, my intentions with yours, my condition with yours … is all unproductive. The benefit lies in concentrating on your own point of focus. What are you thinking? What are you reading? Observing? Saying? Writing? Thinking? Feeling? Doing? Are all these things in alignment with your intention or Will?
Where is your point of focus? Are you dwelling on what once was or what could be in the future? These points of focus aren’t now. Magick will not manifest if we are not focused on this moment. It is truly important for the witch to understand that time is an illusion and that everything is occurring now. Magick is possible because we are able to manipulate the fluctuating energies of now. If we are focused on what has already occurred our concentration is distracted by disappointments or sorrows of what has already happened. If we are focused on tomorrow we are distracted by anxiety and anticipation of what yet will happen. To create the change that we desire we should be focused on being present now.
Similar to comparing ourselves to other people is the concern about people’s perceptions of us. This is never a benefit to our Craft or us as human beings. “To be silent” from The Witch’s Pyramid is the key to this situation. If we keep silent and do not share our magickal workings with others until a manifestation has been witnessed then our magick will not be influenced and we will not be vulnerable to their criticisms (beneficial or destructive). We will then be certain that it was our desires that were manifested just as we cast them forth. Worrying about how other people perceive us isn’t helpful to our overall state of being. It is impossible to force anyone to perceive anything that they are not willing to perceive. If an individual wants to see you as “an agent of Satan” – then that is what they will see regardless of what you say or do. If another person wants to see you as “a prophet of God” – then that is what they will see regardless of what you say or do. Yes, you can influence them by your words and deeds because we are all connected energetically, but they can most certainly resist your influence with their own Will.
It is most important for the witch to be authentic with him or herself. Live your life to please you because trying to please everyone else is impossible. Each individual experiences reality in their own way through their own perspective and you have no direct control over that. If the thought that there are people who are judging you negatively or who don’t like what you say or do ignites negative feelings within you and pushes you to outbursts of emotion perhaps this is an indication for self-evaluation: Why are you so upset by other people’s perceptions? What does it really matter how they you? Are you being honest with yourself? Are you living your life authentically? Are your words and deeds aligned with your True Will? Are you being sincere in your relationship with God Herself?
Individuals who are honest with themselves, who live life authentically and aligned with their True Will while maintaining a sincere relationship with God Herself are not bothered by other people’s judgments. It doesn’t matter to them how society reacts to them. Yes, there may be a reactionary sting, but it doesn’t linger because they know they are who they are regardless of society’s judgments. These individuals like themselves. They love themselves. They do not allow other people to define who they are. They define themselves.
An individual can define himself or herself by creating personal boundaries and establishing what their preferences are within their life experience. Each of us started doing this when we were old enough to indicate “no”. Our parent or caretaker wanted us to have something that we preferred not to and we clearly indicated, “no” with a turn of our head or knocking the thing away from us. It was then that we established our first boundary, which we continued to do as we matured. This is an ongoing process that continues throughout our life experience but as adults we may forget that we are not only separate individuals, but also are one interconnected energy so any boundary we create could lead to separation and isolation, which is why compassion is required. Creating boundaries while being compassionate involves the ability to balance personal power with the knowledge that we are all expressions of and manifestations of God Herself and that whatever I do or say will affect others. An illustration of this is as follows:
I cancel my plans with you, while I may have my reasons for doing so and I choose to do this for my over-all well being, I still apologize to you, not for my decision to cancel but for the inconvenience I may have caused you. I understand and acknowledge that my cancellation affects you as well. Perhaps you’ve put personal time and effort into what we had planned and now because I have canceled, it changes your plans. If I do not recognize and take personal responsibility for my actions in canceling with you, I am showing a lack of compassion, consideration, and the understanding and awareness of oneness.
Sometimes we can fool ourselves into believing that we are setting up boundaries to benefit ourselves, but I find that sometimes these boundaries are being built up out of fear. It would be beneficial for our overall well-being if we took time to uncover what that underlying fear is. I have seen honesty as well as love used as a weapon of fear. It is saddening and unfortunate but we are able to trick ourselves into believing that these things originate from love when they are actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Next time you find yourself believing that positive thinking alone will change your current circumstances I urge you to reconsider and do some self-evaluation. Thinking alone won’t change them; it also takes the power of the Witch.
Sometimes the resistance to change is because we allow the condition or circumstance to define who we are. We adopt words, deeds, and perceptions because of the diagnosis, the name or the label we have accepted, whether it was given to us or we chose it for ourselves. Now, while I am a witch who believes that words and names hold power, I also resolutely believe that it is important to first understand what we are naming before we name it. Once we name something we give power to it and that is where the danger of becoming rigid and entrenched in what that name, label or diagnosis represents. This can be a benefit as well as a restriction.
Sometimes the resistance in belief that we experience is due to the fact that we are comparing ourselves to others with the same condition or those who are experiencing a similar situation to us, however this does not benefit us in any way. Comparing ourselves to others only hinders us with doubt, which is a manifestation of fear. It is truly futile to try and compare conditions, situations, circumstances or people. Not two individuals are the same (including identical twins). You and I are different people. We have different life experiences, which give us unique perspectives, which will affect our magickal practice differently. Comparing my life with yours, my practice with yours, my abilities with yours, my intentions with yours, my condition with yours … is all unproductive. The benefit lies in concentrating on your own point of focus. What are you thinking? What are you reading? Observing? Saying? Writing? Thinking? Feeling? Doing? Are all these things in alignment with your intention or Will?
Where is your point of focus? Are you dwelling on what once was or what could be in the future? These points of focus aren’t now. Magick will not manifest if we are not focused on this moment. It is truly important for the witch to understand that time is an illusion and that everything is occurring now. Magick is possible because we are able to manipulate the fluctuating energies of now. If we are focused on what has already occurred our concentration is distracted by disappointments or sorrows of what has already happened. If we are focused on tomorrow we are distracted by anxiety and anticipation of what yet will happen. To create the change that we desire we should be focused on being present now.
Similar to comparing ourselves to other people is the concern about people’s perceptions of us. This is never a benefit to our Craft or us as human beings. “To be silent” from The Witch’s Pyramid is the key to this situation. If we keep silent and do not share our magickal workings with others until a manifestation has been witnessed then our magick will not be influenced and we will not be vulnerable to their criticisms (beneficial or destructive). We will then be certain that it was our desires that were manifested just as we cast them forth. Worrying about how other people perceive us isn’t helpful to our overall state of being. It is impossible to force anyone to perceive anything that they are not willing to perceive. If an individual wants to see you as “an agent of Satan” – then that is what they will see regardless of what you say or do. If another person wants to see you as “a prophet of God” – then that is what they will see regardless of what you say or do. Yes, you can influence them by your words and deeds because we are all connected energetically, but they can most certainly resist your influence with their own Will.
It is most important for the witch to be authentic with him or herself. Live your life to please you because trying to please everyone else is impossible. Each individual experiences reality in their own way through their own perspective and you have no direct control over that. If the thought that there are people who are judging you negatively or who don’t like what you say or do ignites negative feelings within you and pushes you to outbursts of emotion perhaps this is an indication for self-evaluation: Why are you so upset by other people’s perceptions? What does it really matter how they you? Are you being honest with yourself? Are you living your life authentically? Are your words and deeds aligned with your True Will? Are you being sincere in your relationship with God Herself?
Individuals who are honest with themselves, who live life authentically and aligned with their True Will while maintaining a sincere relationship with God Herself are not bothered by other people’s judgments. It doesn’t matter to them how society reacts to them. Yes, there may be a reactionary sting, but it doesn’t linger because they know they are who they are regardless of society’s judgments. These individuals like themselves. They love themselves. They do not allow other people to define who they are. They define themselves.
An individual can define himself or herself by creating personal boundaries and establishing what their preferences are within their life experience. Each of us started doing this when we were old enough to indicate “no”. Our parent or caretaker wanted us to have something that we preferred not to and we clearly indicated, “no” with a turn of our head or knocking the thing away from us. It was then that we established our first boundary, which we continued to do as we matured. This is an ongoing process that continues throughout our life experience but as adults we may forget that we are not only separate individuals, but also are one interconnected energy so any boundary we create could lead to separation and isolation, which is why compassion is required. Creating boundaries while being compassionate involves the ability to balance personal power with the knowledge that we are all expressions of and manifestations of God Herself and that whatever I do or say will affect others. An illustration of this is as follows:
I cancel my plans with you, while I may have my reasons for doing so and I choose to do this for my over-all well being, I still apologize to you, not for my decision to cancel but for the inconvenience I may have caused you. I understand and acknowledge that my cancellation affects you as well. Perhaps you’ve put personal time and effort into what we had planned and now because I have canceled, it changes your plans. If I do not recognize and take personal responsibility for my actions in canceling with you, I am showing a lack of compassion, consideration, and the understanding and awareness of oneness.
Sometimes we can fool ourselves into believing that we are setting up boundaries to benefit ourselves, but I find that sometimes these boundaries are being built up out of fear. It would be beneficial for our overall well-being if we took time to uncover what that underlying fear is. I have seen honesty as well as love used as a weapon of fear. It is saddening and unfortunate but we are able to trick ourselves into believing that these things originate from love when they are actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Next time you find yourself believing that positive thinking alone will change your current circumstances I urge you to reconsider and do some self-evaluation. Thinking alone won’t change them; it also takes the power of the Witch.
RSS Feed
