Metaphor failure

The problem with metaphor in ritual is that it won’t work for everyone. During grounding meditations involving visualizing roots reaching deep into the center of the earth, someone (me) might be distracted by imagining roots meeting red-hot magma. During rituals using a fall harvest theme, someone (me) might be distracted thinking about how nature is planting, not harvesting.

I’ve disguised more than one poorly thought-out concept with metaphor, so I understand the urge. They are also tempting to deploy as a substitute for true understanding of the ritual theme, or when deeper knowledge is hard to convey in the ritual context. Metaphors are best used cautiously and only when really necessary.

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Metaphor failure was originally published on We're Made of Mud and Magic

Talk too much; feel too little

I am an over-thinker. Before all things, I plan, I worry, I prepare, and I plan some more. The day before a big trip, I am unstoppable, chaotically creating order. My partner knows to just stay out of my way; he can’t help me, so he might as well let me burn through my anxiety…

Talk too much; feel too little was originally published on We're Made of Mud and Magic

Mushrooms for Mabon?

There seem to be mushrooms popping up all around me right now. The photo above is of a mushroom growing in my front yard. There are several other patches of different mushrooms on my walk to work, my work is selling two different kinds of mushrooms next week, and my in-box contains an invitation to…

Mushrooms for Mabon? was originally published on We're Made of Mud and Magic

Hittin’ it

I was in an exercise class today – a pre-choreographed class known as Pound – and it struck me that a well-run exercise class is a lot like a well-run ritual. I’m a big Pound fan, so I’ve been attending up to three times a week since it launched at my gym back in March.…

Hittin’ it was originally published on We're Made of Mud and Magic

Analyzing the flow

At the Gathering’s hack space discussion group, someone asked the group about what they thought was the minimum requirement for a fulfilling ritual. One participant immediately spoke up with the word “flow”. She feels that a ritual is working when the energy is flowing well. I completely agree with her, but I still feel challenged…

Analyzing the flow was originally published on We're Made of Mud and Magic

The beauty and tragedy of a beating heart

It is raining again in Vancouver. Cherry blossoms are being washed down the streets, and the temperature is back to autumn. This is quite the change from the gorgeous sunshine and early summer weather that so recently blessed us; I think we all have a kind of spiritual whiplash from the back-and-forth. Despite the cold…

The beauty and tragedy of a beating heart was originally published on We're Made of Mud and Magic

Unconventional and public

In the previous post (Spirit of Generosity and Generosity of Spirit), I discussed what both ritual leader and participant have to bring to a public ritual in order for it to be successful. Here, I’d like to get into the nitty-gritty of what it takes to write and lead a successful, unconventional public Pagan ritual.…

Unconventional and public was originally published on We're Made of Mud and Magic

What every ritual needs

When I was still fairly new to running public rituals – back in the early days of the university Pagan students’ association I founded – a more experienced priestess shared with me the three things she had found were essential to successful group rituals: 1. Give participants something to do. 2. Give participants something to…

What every ritual needs was originally published on We're Made of Mud and Magic