Cornerstones of your Craft

[feranaja]

For those here who do practise some sort of Witchcraft, what would you consider the cornerstones of your Path? I mean both in terms of practise and theology... what are the basic ideas and riutals or practises that define what you do and you consder most essential?

For me, I'd say, that attunement with nature is the most fundamental concept and the observation of both lunar and solar festivals the outward expression...herbalism, astrology, divination and spellcraft can all be practised without the context of the sabbats and esbats, of course, but pulling all of these practises together under the umbrella of The Wheel is definitive, for me.
But apart from the rituals, I'd place a high import on lifestyle habits and studies that support the whole attunement concept: for me this has meant as much actual nature study as I can cram in - birding, learning about local flora and fauna, and astronomy; it's also meant trying to attune my phsyical body to an optimal way of life on the planet - recycling composting minimizing wasteful habits, and eating responsibly for both my own health and the world around me - and of course, caring for non human beings, understanding them learning their ways.

Attunement is a way of life for me and the Festivals honour this...I love them, actually - but if I had to give up one or the other, I'd definitely stop the riutal and concentrate on the underlying themes.

Thats the first thing I think of when I consider my Craft...more so than my polytheism and contact with divinity, which in reality I think of as more connected to my "High Magick" life.. I suppose its fair to say I think of my Craft as how I live in the world around me, but my CM is about innerwork..yet they are so connected.

What about you?

fera

[Talkingfox]

I've not been doing much formal ritual these days, just small personal ones to honor the spirits of place.

For me the fundamentals come in the seemingly small tasks of everyday. What I try to achieve is a mindfulness in what I do no matter how outwardly banal.
I think the gist of it would be living with intent. With mindfulness I have a better chance of being "awake" enough to catch subtleties of connection in seemingly unrelated things.
The rest is art, eat, sleep...lather , rinse, repeat. :)

[m1thr0s]

The rest is art, eat, sleep...lather , rinse, repeat. :)doh...I keep forgetting to rinse! No wonder I'm always covered in lather...:eek:

m1thr0s

[MythMath]

So you're not rabid, then...?

[Sibylle]

I think the main thing is that your craft is not separate from everyday life. It is the essence of everyday life. It is how you live and how you work. You are what you do. This is a great conflict, in today's American society, at least for me. I'm in total disagreement with the ways of American capitalism. I think it is really filthy, although I am not opposed to capitalism done properly.

You are what you do. You have the opportunity to live as you see fit, which takes creativity and flexibility, especially if you are naturally opposed to the ways of society.

My craft is simply living. My way, in a society that is contrary to my values at the core. I do manage to do it, and relatively well.

[feranaja]

No one has mentioned spellcraft or magic... we can all agree on the lifestyle aspects, what about magic? Are spells a part of your Craft, or something you've left behind?
fera

[Sibylle]

I think rituals, spells and prayer in whatever form go with the territory of this lifetime. I don't know that they ever could be left behind, even in a more perfect world. Maybe they would take a different direction - like that of maintenance.

[YsetEternal]

I have to agree with Sibylle, though at times i find i need not perform ritual any longer, my thoughts seem to do it on their own.

[Radiant Star]

I have tried a couple of spells, they seemed to work but its definitely not a cornerstone of anything I do.

A spell for me would be a last resort, an emergency measure when all else failed. The only times this has happened has been for others when they were in a really tight spot, but otherwise, no deal.

[feranaja]

hhmm, seems we are all pretty much lined up here. I did a lot of spells when I was starting out, I was sort of obsessed with seeing what I could accomplish and I also needed to prove to myself that magick works (anyone relate to this part?) Later on I started studying CM more indepth and practised only rituals related to that path - the LBRP, Rose CRoss, various Pathworkings. I havent done an actual spell per se in ages. Sometimes I build a simple ritual based on a so-called spell but when I do any low magic it's usually spontaneous and theurgical in nature - I try to ask for/influence very little, actually. I do more work on balancing my own psyche and moving toward understanding that anything...

Those early days were fun though I have to admit it!The innocence and the silliness, I have to laugh when I rememebr it.
fera