Lesson Four: Symbolism

One of the most powerful tools we can use in our ritual work is

symbolism. If you

haven't worked with symbols, the easiest way to think of them is as an

object which

creates an emotional or instinctive response within us. Symbols can take

a thousand

different forms, ranging from your favorite Rune and the meaning it

holds, to a

childhood photograph that represents your family to you, to a stone which

immediately

brings to mind the place you found it in.

As a Witch, anything we can hold in our mind contains an energy that we

can call

upon, that we can add to our rite. If you'll think back to my morning

shave, I chose a

memory for each element, a symbolic representation of that element's

energy. By

recalling that memory into my mind, I was able to call upon the power it

was connected

to, to recreate the energy it held in each cupped handful of water.

We'll go into symbolism in more depth later on in this guide, but for

now, the best way

to begin exploring it is to follow your instincts and simply apply it. As

I tell all my

students, "Learn to follow your heart - it won't lead you astray."

Exercise Four: Symbolism

Gather symbols that represent the things that you're hoping to find

on

your spiritual path. These can take any form you choose. There are

no

limitations here, only the leading of your heart. When you have

brought these

things together, sit quietly and hold each in your hands, letting it

speak to you.

Just relax and let the images come into your mind. Take as long as

you like.

When you've gone through the items, one by one, pick a place in your

home to

set a few of them. Arrange them however you feel is best. Try not to

follow any

preconceived ideas of spacing or balance, but simply place them

where it seems

right.

Over the next few days, stop before your collection once or twice a

day and

think about the things they represent. In your spare moments,

consider each

dream you're hoping to reach on your spiritual path, each part of

you that you

desire to bring to life. As you stop before your collection, think

of these things

and how the symbolism in each item speaks to you.

Write down your feelings, your thoughts, and your insight about each

object.

Feel free to add to the list of observations as the days slowly

pass. Don't be

surprised if your feelings about an item change, if you feel led to

change their

order, or if you take an item away or add something new to the

collection. But

each time you do, write it down and consider why your connection to

an object

has changed, why its symbolism has altered. You may learn more about

yourself from this simple exercise than you would have at first

thought

possible.

This exercise has two basic purposes behind it. First of all it gives you

an arena to practice

working with symbols and visualization. This is an important step in

learning to move and

wield magickal energy. The same processes with which you connect an

emotion or

memory to an object will be called upon in the ritual and spellwork we

will do later on in

this guide.

The second purpose behind it is to begin teaching you to learn on your

own. You will

naturally outgrow every teacher, every guide, every path if you allow

yourself to do so.

The only instructor you won't outgrow is life. Life will continually

surprise you. As you

grow, your insights will change, your perspective will shift, and you

will see the world

through new eyes. By considering the "why" behind your choices, behind

the decision to

place objects in a certain way or to change the object you have chosen,

you will begin to

find answers to questions you didn't know to ask. As you write down your

response, you

may be surprised as to what you learn about yourself. But that is one of

the reasons why

there is nothing to memorize in this course, that you simply follow your

own impressions,

instincts, and intuition. This isn't a process of learning how to be like

me, to follow in my

footsteps. This is about finding your own way, the path that is right for

you and the life

which gives you the most joy. And symbolism is one of the tools with

which you'll begin

to explore that life and claim it as your own.

The First Cycle course is written by Graelan Wintertide

and is © 1999 All Rights Reserved