Magickal Correspondences
November 10, 2007
by Jeffrey Pierce
This week was short on blogs, due mostly to the death of a well-liked co-worker in my office. I didn't know the individual well, but his passing left ripples throughout our workplace in his wake. My cubicle doubles as a therapist's couch and I had friends and co-workers who travelled in the deceased's circles leaning on me throughout the week. Rather than sitting with a keyboard, I curled up with good friends and helped them through a difficult time.
Since I do my best to write about where I am on my path, I'll be offering an article on death, dying, mourning, and letting go in two weeks. I'm publishing larger pieces on Tuesdays and this coming week brings the next lesson in
The First Cycle, a piece called, "How to Craft a Ritual," so the article on the transition between this life and the next will have to wait a bit.
Every other Saturday, I'll also be offering a new installment of
All Around Us. The latest view through a shaman's eyes is currently online.
Now on to your email.
This was an unusual week as I know everyone who sent me email. There were a couple of letters from folks that I know of only by their email address and signature, but there were also a couple of voices from the past - my good friend Ishaia (who is working on an inspirational book project) and Gabriella, one of the sweetest souls I've ever had the blessing of meeting in the offline world, a dear friend of mine from my East Coast days.
You don't really think about milestones when you've been on a certain spiritual path for a time. For instance, I was a teacher and remember debating the pros and cons of The Craft, a Hollywood thriller about witchcraft, with other leaders in the community. That was eleven years ago. Scott Cunningham's passing left a hole in the pagan world almost fifteen years ago. And when Gabriella and I met, she had yet to be married and neither she nor I had children.
Gabriella watches "Avatar" (a television show mentioned in last week's Magickal Correspondences) with her husband and daughter. It's a pleasure that a number of folks in the pagan community enjoy. In both my inbox and online world I heard a common refrain - the show teaches a lot of spiritual and magickal concepts without the trappings of religion. Gabriella writes that her husband and daughter, "have fun doing the beginning introductions of the elements with the special moves!" Her daughter is also "an earthbender" like Sparrow. It was great hearing from you, yes I'm still writing (I'm working on my sixth novel and looking for a new agent), and congrats on the wonderful family.
Mel, who seems to regularly pop up in my inbox, enjoyed the article "
The Biggest Secret in the Craft" that posted on Tuesday. She was especially fond of the bowl of oatmeal analogy I used in the article to explain part of the concept of divinity. "You are really good at putting things in a way that pretty much anyone can understand." That comes from having discussions Bear and Sparrow about condoms, the reasons why the United States entered World War II, the role of multi-national corporations in our nation's continuing involvement in Iraq, condoms, and menstruation - and that's just in the last month! When you figure out how to explain quantum mechanics to a four year old, the rest comes easy. Thank you for the kind words regarding my writing. I promise to keep the analogies coming.
Victoria wrote a very thoughtful email, opening with, "I just wanted to send my heartfelt gratitude and thanks for all the lessons I have learned from reading your articles. I love the new path you’ve taken with your writing. I am always greedily awaiting the next issue."
She continued asking, "I was wondering if you were going to write more specifically how to begin the process of teaching children the old ways and how to embrace their talents in a positive manner. Especially since mine are so young (4 and 2). If not, could you refer me to some good resources to use?" Actually, I'll be doing exactly that. Teaching children will be a regular feature appearing in September 2008. Unfortunately, I can't offer you any resources. It's rare that I read any books on spirituality, magick or mysticism that were written less than sixty years ago. Does anyone have any resources that they rely on that I can pass on?
May this email find you and yours well and filled with joy.
In peace and light,
Jeffrey Pierce
www.oldways.com