Tips for Living Wicca: Meditate (part 12 of '13 Goals of a Witch)

Continuing with this series of Scott Cunningham's '13 Goals of a Witch':

XII: Meditate

There we are -- the 'm' word. I'm sure many of you are fine with that and nodding along... and others are cringing. Some common sentiments are:

- I hate meditation
- I can't meditate
- Meditation is hard and I never do it right
- I can never find the time to meditate
- I don't think I really need to meditate to practice the Craft, do I?

Some people have this big idea of what meditation is-- like this state of pure, deep trance, where your mind is entirely clear, you're aware of nothing. you're still as a stone, etc. 

Yeah, that's probably your problem-- you have unrealistic ideas about meditation, and then you're putting all these unrealistic expectations on yourself to live up to these unrealistic ideas. Meditation is really not as complex as it sometimes sounds-- when you are 'zoned out' watching TV, driving, drawing, polishing the silver or fully engaged in any particular task, etc., you are meditating. When you are reflecting or sitting in quiet contemplation, you are meditating. When you get lost in fantasies, you are meditating.

If you're adept at the Craft, but claim you don't meditate, you probably do meditate-- just not in a deliberate way that you recognize as meditation. There are different types of meditation: basic, transcendental, mindful, moving, creative visualization, etc. Ideally you should find the one that works for you. 

But this isn't an entry on how to meditate; it's an entry considering why Witches should meditate... and that answer is, it is to your benefit to have control over your  mind and states of consciousness to practice Witchcraft effectively, and meditation helps you do that.

Of course, if you believe Witchcraft is nothing but throwing the right ingredients together and saying special words, then this probably won't make sense to you-- you believe the power of the Craft is external. But most practitioners believe the power is from within-- that everything has energy, and it is the Witch's responsibility to use her mind to draw, raise and direct energy. The Witch also needs to transform the inner landscape to prepare herself (or himself) for achieving the goal, and meditation helps your mind learn to change that perspective more quickly and thoroughly.

My Tip for You Today: what else? Meditate.

If you already actively practice meditation, expand your practice by trying different techniques. If you are not actively practicing, begin to do so now-- or give it another shot. If you don't understand or know much about meditating, start learning. 

Meditation is one of those things that has benefits that may seem small to non-existent at first, but the more you build it the more benefits you realize you get out of it. So there is no time like the present to work on this practice in your Craft. 

Do you meditate?