Magic Monday

[ecosophia]

It's getting on for midnight as I type this, so here we go with a new Magic Monday. This week's classic of Western occultism, since I've been indulging in Ross Nichols' poetry of late, is The Cosmic Shape, published in 1946, which contains his brilliant essay "An Examination of Creative Myth," which discusses the need for nature-myth and ritual as a counterbalance to the artificialities of modern life, and his related Arthurisn poem-cycle "The Cosmic Legend," as well as other poems of his and his fellow poet James Kirkup. He clearly discussed these ideas with his good friend Gerald Gardner; those ideas ended up playing a central role in the creation of Wicca as well as the transformations of 20th-century Druidry. Here's a bit from "The Cosmic Legend": 

I have made my ceremonies; the crisis
comes. None may reproduce, no water flow,
until the sword is from its sheath pulled.
Only I, the medicine-man Gawain, instructing 
at midnight Galahad, the pure one of 
spring -- only I can save you, faithless 
with the fallen leaf. I prove to you,
O my dead people, once again that
I alone am your strength.

In the first ray beating touching on the centre altar-stone
to the eye prepared at vigil-end, the vessel of the sun,
cup and heart, to Galahad. 

Ask me anything about occultism and I'll do my best to answer it. Any question received by midnight Monday Eastern time will get an answer. If you're in a hurry, or suspect you may be the 143,916th person to ask a question, please check out the very rough version 1.0 of The Magic Monday FAQ here.

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With that said, have at it!

***This Magic Monday is now closed -- and yes, this means you.  See you next week!*** 

And don't forget to look up your Pangalactic New Age Soul Signature at CosmicOom.com! 

Comments

Overspending on pagan religious items

[(Anonymous)]

I bought an overly expensive statue of a god. The listing said it was the last one left. It would presumably make things more complicated if I were to return it, so I wouldn't do that.

Do you have any advice, apart from to think more carefully next time?
I bought the statue at the correct hour and day.
I think I did it because I was worried I wasn't giving this god as much attention as another.

If others are interested in the topic, I'd be curious to hear others' experiences with how they decide what and what not to buy in magical and religious items, especially if they are on a budget. This blog seems like a good place, as there are more people who are older and sensible with money - all those recommendations for Dave Ramsey that pop up - and fewer who want to buy all the shiny new things or guilt you into buying their friends' products.

I'm not one of those people who buys lots of pagan paraphernalia, though I did used to overspend on some other things. I have mostly got that under control (rhis would be a good time to re-start an affirmation) but there are occasional slippages. This is only the second god statue I have bought, and I have almost nothing else specifically pagan apart from the statues. There are acandles, a few mythology books and a t-shirt, none of which look unambiguously pagan.

Re: Overspending on pagan religious items

[(Anonymous)]

I usually pray to ask the deity if the item is pleasing, but sometimes I do pendulum divination, asking the deity the same question. If the item is not intended for Someone's shrine, I listen to my intuition to see if it's something I need, if the item itself wants to go with me, or if I'm just having another "ooh, shiny!" moment. I've had to do both recently--I bought a new piece of furniture to serve as a shrine cabinet, and I decided to make my own ogham sticks (cruddy as they will be) instead of buying a pretty premade set. Prayer, of course, for the first item, and reflective listening with the second.

Re: Overspending on pagan religious items

[ecosophia]

Are you sure it was a a bad idea to buy the statue?

Re: Overspending on pagan religious items

[(Anonymous)]

Shortly after posting the question, I seemed to get an initial sign that it might be ok.

However, I am cautious about interpreting it that way. It would not be a good idea to get into the habit of buying items I can't really afford, with the expectation that it'll all work itself out, like the New Age "law of attraction".

Re: Overspending on <strike>pagan religious</strike> items

[(Anonymous)]

Not specific to pagan, or even religious, items, but I think still relevant: when I want something for my garden, machine shop, or ham radio station, I often have "make" or "buy" options. I generally find the "make" option to be more satisfying in the long run, and suspect that this would be doubly true for religious items. If you want a bit of art to focus your attention, consider drawing, painting, or carving it yourself. In that way, it will be more purely "yours", and less associated with the source of funds used to buy it. And you will be changed, because you can't draw (etc.) something without getting a clearer picture in mind of exactly what you want, each line and shade, and your muscles will be forced to respond to your will.

Money can be used (or saved) for many things, including charity, but the time you spend on your art might otherwise dissipate leaving no trace.

Lathechuck

Re: Overspending on <strike>pagan religious</strike> items

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you very much - this is clearly a comment from someone who knows all about being careful with money.

I'm not now at the level of skill of being able to make detailed devotional objects I'd think visually satisfying. However, this has reminded me about printing pictures out from the internet, which can be decorated further, or put as they are in old or cheap frames, something I learned from a friend not long after college.