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Click Here to Read Part One 

....In preparation for Part Two of the Inner Temple, spend some time thinking about the types of meditation and/or pathworkings you may have already experienced. Knowing what you know now, how would you classify those experiences? Which category would they fall more naturally in to? And, if they were pathworkings are you aware of the underlying keys and the discipline selected (Astrology, Qabalah, Tarot, etc..). This reflection will open you further to the work of creating your Inner Temple as you become more receptive to the keys you are setting within yourself...."

Pachamama entreats us to
restore her clean waters,
allow the singing of the birds
to bring peace to her skies,
renew cosmic harmonies
on our sacred land.

excerpt © Marcia Starck 2012

We all live in our own stories, and it is central to magickal practice that where we put our energy helps manifest out lives.  How we see ourselves and our actions becomes a script, a thought pattern that influences our lives.  Sometimes these stories are beneficial.  They give us inspiration and a goals to achieve.  Other times, thought patterns of failure or helplessness can hold us back.  

Often, the source of these thought patterns comes from literature, film, and pop culture.  Characters from story provide something to compare our lives to.  Witness the multiple quizzes that circulate social media promising to tell us which Harry Potter, Star Wars, or Game of Thrones character we “really are.”  Users eat these quizzes up, perhaps showing some internal need to identify with someone else’s story.

So often, when I volunteer to lead a ceremony or a class, I haven’t a clue of what the group activity should actually be. In the time leading up to it, inspiration seems to come in little puffs.

I really like creative activity in any group setting. Recently, I had a puff of inspiration in preparation for a women’s ritual I conducted in New York City this summer. It worked well, but had a couple of hitches.

The Modern Witch #13daysofmagic challenge is off to a great start and I have already seen some really amazing photos. This morning the timer on my phone reminded me that it was time to fulfill my daily challenge; doing magic for the sake of doing magic. I had thought I would have some great list of spells prepared to perform each day but I haven’t had the time to create such a list. As I stared at my phone I had no clue what I was going to do.

I decided this was a great time to go back to basics and meditate on it. Because I had no big plan I decided to ask myself a very selfish question. What do I need? Usually when I am doing magic it’s for a client or for a member of my community. I do little things here and there through out the day but I never really cast a spell for my own enjoyment. What did I need? I needed to manifest my personal goals like finishing a book and adding to my spiritual repertoire. Without hesitation I went to my book of shadows and found a manifestation spell I wrote a few years back. My first #13daysofmagic challenge photo is a manifestation spell for witches who are ready to get a little selfish.

This Lady and I have been wrestling for quite some time. Now that I have her on the canvas, I have to chuckle at the struggle to finally manifest Her. It turns out to be the point of our journey, the reminder that there is always a struggle, a labor of love, to create that which you desire.

You see, the muse came to me this time as Ixchel, but I did not know that until the very end. She is a moon goddess in the ancient Mayan culture, and as such, possesses the triple aspects of maiden, mother and crone. She controls the tides and is known as a midwife and healer. Pretty standard stuff. But I was to learn more.

As I deeply value thriving in the connection with All Things, I make an effort to live that truth. There's no one way or right way, and when you're a cyclic person, that fact becomes evident right away.