Strengths and weaknesses
White Sophia
This is a cross-post from my column in CNT Times, thought you might be interested :)
Walk in the Light
White Sophia
From the witch's armchair
In the craft, we all have different strengths and weaknesses in what we can do. This is because we are all at different stages on our journey in this life, as well as at different places on our soul's journey since first incarnating. One of life's little tricks is learning how to work to your strengths (and others') and develop your weaknesses.
The first step is identifying what you are and aren't good at. The craft requires focus, organization, knowledge, skill, willpower and dedication. No-one has perfected all of these things, and don't let them tell you otherwise! But most of us are good at some of these, and can 'make do' on the others.
Focus. Magic requires focus, or it doesn't know where to go - the energy has to be directed. Are you able to keep working on a particular project until it's finished, or do you get distracted easily? A project may be preparing a sabbath ritual or a spell (by yourself or with others), or practicing a new meditation or method of divination etc. People who can focus easily can often push a project forward more quickly, but also run the risk of continually being asked how to do things, and being given more to do than they can handle. The key word here is 'no!', in the sense of 'no, I can't keep taking on more responsibility'. We need to balance our practice of the craft with our other commitments, in particular work and family. On the flip side, if you have difficulty focusing, then look hard at what's motivating you - are you really doing this for you? Are there fun parts that will really reward the hard work and boring bits? Are there people who can help you stay motivated?
Organization. The best way to give your magic focus is to be organized. You need to know when sabbaths are coming up, and plan rituals ahead of time so they run smoothly. Many people find it difficult to be organized, especially witches, because we're used to listening to the Universe, not just watching the clock, and the Universe loves to do things in its own time. The easiest way to be organized is to prioritize what you want to do - break it down into a list and tackle one thing at a time, being practical about how long things take and how much you can get done. But keep your plans flexible - those who are super organized can run the risk of missing unexpected opportunities that don't fit in with their schedule, and these are usually the most valuable sources of inspiration.
Knowledge and skill. We can't cast a spell if we don't know how! Education should be a lifelong goal for any witch, though the way we learn usually evolves from direct teaching, to learning to listen to what the Universe is teaching us. Books are a great start, but nothing beats learning from a qualified and skilled teacher. And there's no point in having knowledge if you don't use it! Practicing your skills is just as important as learning them in the first place. Our connection with deity is strengthened when we practice the craft, and weakened if we neglect it. Once we have gained knowledge of the craft, it is our duty to pass it on, and to help others where we can. Trying to do spellwork without good knowledge of the craft is dangerous, to yourself and to others, but learning opportunities are becoming more and more available.
Willpower and dedication. Without the strong desire to complete a task, it won't happen. This is tied in with ability to focus, but is also the strength to keep going, to stay committed to the task. Sometimes we make a decision, but then start to doubt ourselves, and find reasons why it won't work. Others find it hard to let go or change direction when things aren't working out. By keeping your goals simple and breaking them down into little steps, they become much more achievable, and easier to keep going with. From time to time, look back at how far you've come and use this to energize to take the next step. By re-evaluating how we're going, we can also ensure we're still on the right track.
And finally, utilize the resources around you! Your fellow temple members and elders, your spirit guides, and deity are all there to help you move through the hard parts, and celebrate the successes, on your journey.
Sent from my iPhone