Leading pagan author, Lexa Roséan advises on magick, witchcraft, spells, & other occult matters. Here's how it works...If you have a magickal Q, leave a comment or email it. Please ask Q's that can help others too. For more personal psychic help, Lexa is also available for private consultation.
I am a huge fan. I have read all your books! I am looking for a way to decrease all the negativity and increase the positive in my life. I like to think that I am a good person, and I continue to get caught in the negative energy of others. I am looking for a powerful way to change this for myself and those I love.
Thanks Kristi
Hey Kristi
Funny enuf, I'm in a bit of a funk now as I find the time to reply to your email. You know it's often difficult to escape the negativity in life. From others and mostly from within ourselves. I think one of the most powerful ways to change this is to pass through the negativity for when we ignore it, or pretend it isn't there, it grows even larger. If you find yourself getting "caught" in the negativity of others, that probably means you are holding on to their negativity. In the words of Jesus: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you." (Matthew 5:44) Hard as that may sound Babe, you've got to let go of things and keep movin!
In the Wicca, the journey through the abyss is part of the second degree initiation in which we learn about the dark side of human nature. We must pass through the abyss in order to re emerge in the light.
In the Kabbalah, one of the 72 names of G-d is meditated upon to eliminate negativity. The name is read (or scanned) from right to left and the letters are: AYIN LAMED MEM עלם
In the mystical Sufi tradtion, there are 99 names of The Almighty (Allah) and the Name As-Salam is chanted or invoked to give peace and immunity from all negativity and distress.
In the Wicca, we shield by using mirroring techniques to ward off the negativity of others. Salt water baths are taken or smudging is done with sage to clear negativity from our own auras and homes.
Last but not least - I offer up the song (below) because I believe it offers just about the best magickal advice around. Always remember to ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE!!!
I am having some problems finding a coven or group of pagans and witches to work with. I checked out some open circles but I got a really weird vibe.Honestly there seem to be a lot of creeps out there. There was one group that had too simple an approach for me and another that was way too complicated for my tastes. I also spent a good amount of time with another group as an outer court (uninitiated member) only to find out that they had no intentions of sharing true mysteries and initiating me. I guess I should count my blessings because at least I live in a big city and there are lots of choices. I have a country cousin and she has little to no options but on the other hand, she's surrounded by nature and the goddess and can easily tune in on her own. I was hoping you might have a spell or some good advice to help me find my way. How will I know which group to work with and do you know of something I can do to lead me to the right coven for me.
thanks and blessed be The Seeker Camel Watch
Dear Seeker I posted this film from today's news just as a reminder that the thirst for the waters of enlightenment are REAL and the well so dry that we can even see the physical manifestations of it. Unfortunately, like you, the camels of today's world are also thirsting. They are thirsting for water as you are thirsting for the words and teachings of the Goddess. And the way things are going environmentally, even your cousin may soon have serious problems getting in touch with Mother Nature. I ask that you say some prayers (along with all the other readers) for the Camels in Afghanistan. I ask you to do this because the magick I offer up as a solution to your dilemma, involves the energies of this amazing creature.
In the Tarot, the wisdom and secret teachings of Wicca are represented by the High Priestess card. The High Priestess is also the one who leads the coven and reveals the mysteries.
The Gimel meditation is based in Kabbalah and helps to align you with the energies of the High Priestess card. It brings personal revelation and reveals your own internal store of wisdom as well as revealing the teachings of the Goddess. If you wish to become an initiated witch or a High Priestess yourself, do the Gimel meditation three times within the 28 day lunar cycle. Begin on the new moon, repeat on the full moon, and once again on the dark moon.
The third Hebrew letter, Gimel (ג), is assigned to the High Priestess. Gimel (or Gamal) means Camel; a strange, mysterious and exotic creature like the Priestess. The Camel also has somewhat of a bad reputation, and is said to be obstinate and bad tempered. Similar things are said about the Lesbian, the Feminist, or any woman who cuts her own way in the world without a man.
The Camel is more positively regarded for its ability to hold on to nourishment. Unlike the horse, it is able to store nutrients in the body and survive long arduous journeys through the desert without eating or drinking. The High Priestess represents the preservation of the old religion or goddess cults. She stored the ‘fat’ or knowledge of the goddess and delivered Her ways safely through the barren wasteland of patriarchal dominance.
How is it that so much information survived about Goddess worship even though the Church Fathers spent over 500 years (13th to 18th Centuries) trying to eradicate witches?! The High Priestess is the "herstory" of women secretly stored in the belly of time. Like the Camel, who provides its own sustenance when no external source is available; the pagan soul essentially lived off an internal spiritual hump after their temples were destroyed. Although the last witch burning of the Inquisition took place at the end of the 18th Century, it was not until 1951 that the Witchcraft Laws were repealed in England, making it legal for witches to practice and speak openly about their faith. That’s an awful long time to go without ‘water’!
The most interesting feature of the camel besides its hump is the cleft in the upper lip. Kabbalistic lore speaks of an angel who presses a finger to all human newborns as they enter the birth canal. By making an indentation in the upper lip, the infant forgets all knowledge of previous lives. The Camel, with its exaggerated cleft reminds us of how the wisdom of the generations is guarded. (And the thirsty Camels of Afghanistan remind us that we must guard the material wellbeing of Mother Earth as the Patriarchy continues its dominance and rape of Her land and forestry. We must guard well as mankind is not content to destroy the spiritual wealth of the Goddess but is hellbent on devastating her physical treasures as well.)
Here is the Ritual for the Gimel:
Gimel shares the same numerical value as the word Chochmah meaning "Wisdom". This is the most valued possession of the Priestess. To make yourself worthy of guarding her mysteries, press your index finger against the cleft of your upper lip and vibrate the word "Chochmah".
The Ch’s must produce a guttural sound as if you were clearing phlegm from the throat and getting ready to spit. Camels are known for their treacherous spitting, but spit is actually a sacred form of magick.
Saliva, blood, semen, and vaginal secretions are all used in sympathetic magickal rituals to create links between the practitioner of the spell and the person upon whom the magic is being worked. Its magical use is mentioned in the Koran, Pliny of ancient Rome wrote that spit could heal a wound, ancient Semitic tribes spit on the ground to ward off evil. Hopi Indians spit to rid the mind of negative thoughts, and in Scotland and America, pacts are sealed with spit. Almost every culture around the world has ritualistic folklore about spitting. The common themes are both the bringing of good luck and the warding off of bad vibes.
As you ‘spit’ wisdom (or Chochmah) out of your mouth, ask that you be led down a good path in your quest for knowledge of the occult. There are many unsavory characters operating under the guise of Wicca. Ask that you be steered clear of those that abuse the craft. Ask that you be led towards a loving, wise, and empowering coven. So Mote it Be.
Thanks for the kind-words at my blog. I have a question about the tarot: do you think there is a connection in their origin to the Cathars/Gnostics? Best wishes for the holidays! warm regards, Matt Janovic
Dear Matt
I believe there are definite ties between the Cathars/Gnostics with regard to the development, study, and design of the Tarot.
We know that some of the most illustrious modern occult figures such as Dr. William Wynn Westcott and MacGregor Mathers (Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn), Aleister Crowley (Ordo Templi Orientis), Arthur Edward Waite (Fellowship of the Rosy Cross), and my favorite guide and teacher, Paul Foster Case (Builders of the Adytum/B.O.T.A.), dedicated their work and lives to connecting the dots and retracing the mystical origins of the tarot cards. These roots include ancient Hermetic, Kabbalistic (both Christian and Jewish), Rosicrucian, Masonic, and Gnostic teachings.
The closest direct connection I have found between the Tarot and the Gnostic/Cathars comes from a work entitled Occult and Mystical Freemasonry (1643 - 1943) MARTINISM History and Doctrine by Robert Ambelain. Ambelain includes a discourse on an esoteric signature used by the occultist Martinez de Pasqually which is referred to as "figure four":
"This mysterious sign figures frequently among the inscriptions discovered by O. Rohn in the grottoes of the Aude region, in the heart of the legendary region of the Albigensian see, in the grottoes of Ornolac, most notably of Lambrives. These inscriptions were attributed by all the examiners to the Cathars who took refuge in these caverns. When the Cathars, gnostic survival in the Middle Ages apparently disappeared, the same "figure four" was then adopted by another great society of thought, which we have named the Agla. Agla was an esoteric society in the Renaissance period, grouping together apprentices, companions and masters of Guilds associated with Books, librarians, engravers, printers, stationers, and book-binders, as well as card makers who created the first playing cards and the first Tarots."
It is interesting to note that the Cathar/Gnostic mysticism and teachings were deeply rooted in France and the oldest surviving deck, the Paris Tarot, is housed in the Bibiothéque Nationale in Paris. I doubt this is a coincidence.
Thank you for your most intelligent question and may the Gods and Goddesses of Fortune and Wisdom bless you with illumination, enlightenment, and prosperity in the New Year! In Lux Lexa
Dear Lexa, I read your post last week about the Cosmic Trigger and I also came across the same information on some other blogs. Well, I tried last Tuesday to think only positive thoughts and when the negative ones came creeping in, I pushed them down. At the end of the day, it was like a dam burst and all the rotten stuff I could possibly imagine was front and center in my brain. I often have this problem when I meditate or do visualizations and of course I was pretty distraught that it happened on that special day. Any advice, please! What can I do to correct this? Also, did I blow it? Will there be another chance for me to get my thoughts right in the future? many thanks Heady la Merde
Dear Heady believe it or not, your problem is not uncommon. Many people do not do well with creative visualization and are advised to use other forms of magick such as affirmations or symbol meditation. A common problem with visualizations and affirmations is that folks often give up on them. It is not enough to do a visualization or say an affirmation 3 or 10 times and then wonder why it didn't work. Especially when you have 10 years of negative affirmations or bad movies playing in your head. You have to constantly repeat the positive statements or good images and give your brain some time to accept these in place of the negative ones. If you're used to seeing the downside, it's not enough to try just once to see the upside. And pushing those bad thoughts down will only make them stronger. It would be better to let all those thoughts come up front and center so you can clean all that "shit" out of your head instead of sweeping them under the carpet. So relax - it's all ok. You actually did a good job last week by letting your demons come up to the surface so you could get a good look at them. In it's own way, this is a very positive and healing visualization. Once you have confronted and banished these thoughts, you can try again to replace them with positive thoughts or visualizations.
According to the Zohar, this week deals with cleaning up toxic waste from our environments. The Kabbalah Center uses one of the 72 Names of G-d to help with this work. The three Hebrew letters of this name are Mem-Vav-Mem and should be meditated upon for spiritual cleansing.
מום
Some people do better with looking at images or sacred symbols as this frees the mind of negative thought patterns and helps to bypass the demon gatekeepers and unlock the doors to the creative unconscious and spiritual realms. My brother and Priest, Ruby, who lives in Israel, has also sent me this sacred symbol that was divinely given to him during the Cosmic Trigger. He was asking for certain wonderful things to manifest in his life and like you, he had trouble going with the flow of his visualizations because his subconscious was filled with negating thoughts. He asked spirit for help and this is what the spirit showed him. He has given permission to share it here. This is a very powerful seal and I have already experienced great results in using it in meditation.
Ruby explains the symbolism as follows:
the subconscious is represented by the moon
(female, dreams, imagination) But it’s a new moon and therefore open to new beginnings. The moon lies beneath and is therefore compelled to bow down to the sun, (the sun is the desire, the conscious, the male) They are both inside a triangle which represents power and attraction. And surrounded by the Oroboros or serpent swallowing its tail (for protection, and alchemical transformation of the psyche). You can write or draw symbols inside it to represent what you want. You can also carve this seal onto white or yellow candles and anoint with frankincense oil. Frankincense is one of the best essential oils for working with transforming the unconscious and breaking bad patterns and habits. The seal can be drawn on parchment paper and the four corners rubbed with frankincense oil and then placed next to your head at night. It is suggested to open your eyes in the middle of the night to look at it and to affirm that your subconscious is bending over to your desire. Work with this seal repeatedly and it will bring you what you need!
There is no reason why we should not open ourselves to a better world both personally and globally. And remember Heady, that "thinking does not always make it so"! I hope this information makes you feel better about your magick and your life and according to Misson 1017, October 17 was just the first of many trigger events coming in the next 7 years. So you will have many more chances to get it right. blessings and MERDE! Lexa
