Heaven and Earth

In many ways I know little of which I speak! The Western Way is a magical path that I feel has been calling me for some time, yet I’ve been in something of a haze of confusion as I’ve been looking for a way forward. Sure, I’ve read Dion Fortune, yet at the same time I have been sure that there has been something missing in my search. I was reminded today of a quote from Dion Fortune’s book “The Goat Foot God”. Hugh Paston says:

I don’t want anything spiritual, it isn’t my line, I had an overdose of it at Oxford. What I want is that something vital which I feel to be somewhere in the universe, which I know I need, and which I can’t lay my hand on

And for me, this is my quest. I want to make and experience that true connection with the One Divine Life and for this connection to change me and those I come into contact with. What I want is spiritual in the sense that I hunger for the inner courts of reality and not the outer courts of theatre. I don’t want pretence, show, theatre, costume and pseudo-glamour, I want all that stripped away in order to get hold of that which is real and to truly experience Them in my being. I think one of the reasons I have been silent here for so long is that I have been disillusioned with the peddling of spirituality, and whilst I know that each and every one of us has a living to make, there is something cheapening about it when it is peddled by people who have simply read the right books but experienced little. And reality has to be what it is all about.

I am conscious that I am setting out my store, and in a way I already feel the pressure of that, but by the same token one does not become an initiate of the Mysteries by attending a weekend workshop, I know that this is about commitment, dedication, spiritual practice, meditation and sacrifice. Key themes that have been with me for some time. So what I am talking about here is a process rather than an event, and one that I have control over.

As I stood on Glastonbury Tor yesterday I became aware of two things:

1. That I was deeply connected to Earth, at the same time I was aware that through this connection I was drawing up fire from the very centre of Earth and this fire became the centre of me

2. That I was connected to the Stars and celestial light radiated from my head and poured into my head.

These two things are the power of connection and to, at the moment, show the first steps on what I am understanding as the Western Mystery Tradition. There are two things running parallel: the deep connection to Earth with roots firmly planted in the ways and traditions of my ancestors, whilst at the same time reaching to the heavens and experiencing that deep connection with the One Divine Life. Here is a perfect union and one cannot be had without the other, the meeting of heaven and earth. This is something that I need to explore, as there is something about bring the reality of this into the Now – into my daily experience.

And here is an issue that trips me up again and again – bringing all of this into my daily working life. I’ve not cracked that as yet. On a daily basis I still see things that upset and offend me in terms of how people are treated and their humanity walked over, and increasingly, I find this impossible to accept. The actions of others have the detrimental affects upon the not only the careers of others, but also violates their human dignity, and somehow I am expected to support this in the name of progressing the organisation. This I find increasingly impossible. I feel that 2010 will be a time where, drawing on the fire that burns within me and the inspiration of my Gods I will be speaking not only my truth, but the truth, into these situations. Courage and strength, two words that were given to me by a Facebook friend yesterday, will be key in tackling this . . . and I will need them by the bucket load! It is stuff like this work situation that I allow to block my spiritual progress. I feel that it almost robs me of something. Instead I need to turn it around, and pour in to this spiritual void that is work, something of me. My true self.

I want to step away from Heaven and Earth as simply concepts, so that their reality radiates within and from me so that change is engendered, both for me, and for those who experience me in various ways as I go about my life.

Heaven and Earth

Turning the tarot again this morning I was presented with The Star and The Lord. Again, two cards that are opposite to each other. The Star speaking of the celestial realms, The Lord speaking of the mysteries and wonders of Earth. Here. once again, the message of balance continues.

As a magickal being I am of both and in both. I journey from this realm to the heavens, to the highest star, and I indeed am A Star. Equally I travel to the Underworld, the place of death, of preparation and rebirth, the place of transformation, the place of wonder. The realm of Gwynn ap Nudd, where souls are prepared for rebirth, the land of Cerridwen, who stirs the cauldron of transformation. This path is a threefold path, and like the World Tree, my branches travel deep into the Underworld, my branches stretch to the furthest star, yet I live this life in this world, bringing into my physical reality the blessings of the other worlds.

Sitting at Glastonbury Tor Saturday evening I was reminded that Gwynn ap Nudd is reputed to have his home there. When I sit there I often connection with that strong transformational energy, the energy of Avalon. The winds of Avalon herald change, that thing that we as humans often shy away from, that thing that challenges us to the core, often uncomfortable, yet growth is always the result. Change seems to be happening in almost every aspect of my life at the moment.

This world is full of wonder and beauty. It's not a world from which to escape, it's not evil and one is not contaminated by 'being of this world.' It's not a 'sinful' place. This world has so much to teach me, there are so many lessons that my spirit needs to learn, and this is why I have incarnated in this time and place. I am here, in this place and at this time for a reason, so it's not about a hunger to escape, but pure wonder of the magnificence of this place and joy at all I have to learn. Earth and the creatures of Earth, the Little People, have much to tell and show me and I learn from Divinity made manifest in nature. I'm here, but I tread lightly, learning what I need to learn and experience in this vehicle, for as long as I need.

The Gods clearly have lots to teach me in this regard - the lesson of balance, of being in this world and learning the lessons of this world, whilst at the same time knowing that spiritual reality extends far beyond the limitations of the physical realm, far beyond the limitations of the natural senses. My living is in the middle world, yet my experience is more than that, and I draw on all experiences and I bring those blessings into the physical reality of this world. At the same time there is a training for the natural senses to learn - concentration, for example, and focus. My wandering, chattering, noisy mind has much to learn in this respect! All too often I seem to be in a place of continual distraction!

The Star heralds hope - literally light in my darkness, and aspects of my life feel a little dark right now, as I mentioned last week. There is hope, the hand of Goddess, held in Her embrace, and nurtured by the Lord of Nature. This light isn't a weak thing, it's a strong, radiant, powerful light, bring warmth and protection and throwing light upon a confused path at times. And this hope, this true 'love and light' I draw down from above, into my experience, into my reality, and into the reality of those who cross my path. This is part of the calling of the Hedge Witch.

So the Star of the heavens, the Lord of this Earth - seemingly opposites, yet I am to assimilate their gifts and blessings into this one life, this one experience. It's one more aspect of the wonder of Perfect Balance.