A little bit of shifting

[Mocari]

Hmmmm
It's me again, trying to give you guys/girls a headegg
(Let me know if it worked out :p <- I love this smiley)

When doing magic, one of the first things to do is to shift conciousness. Sounds great, but how to do it, how do you know when you have reached a higher level of conciousness and wether it was a succesfull shifting? Does it just 'happen', or does one need to push a shifting?

And are there any special exercises for shifting conciousness next to my concentration, visualisation, mind clearing, relaxation (ow yeah!) and other exercises?

[Haedis]

hmm some of these you may not want to do. you can enter trance like state through drugs, drumming, chanting, dance, ritualized pain, thirst, and/or hunger, etc. other than that you mentioned all the ones that I know. But I'm still rather new to all this so I havent studied topics like trance induction that much.

For me the shifting is something that I usually dont have to force to happen. If I'm in an environment that just LOOKS set up for a magickal working then all I have to do is relaxation and I'm basically set. But if I'm in my livingroom or something I need to work harder at it because I keep being reminded of mundane things. If that is the case then I usually chant to enter the altered state.

[Haedis]

*re-reads original post and realizes that "trance" was not mentioned* uh...in any case it still applies.

[Tammy Sullivan]

Have you found any keys? A key is a trigger that helps you to shift. My biggest key is lighting incense, the aroma does the trick. You will know you have shifted if you are ever startled out of meditating, it takes a few minutes to ground after that. Also something I do if I am having a hard time shifting is place amythest on my third eye area. It really kicks in quick! Most have personal keys and mine may not work for you, but it is worth a shot. Maybe others can post the keys they use here as well??

[jelly.belly]

I don't really have any, but amethyst on your third eye? I'll try that! :)

[Mocari]

Ow, Major thanx for the replies. I think I'll skip the drugs and the pain part, Haedis :p ..
I got amethyst here. In fact, it is the only stone I got here.
Worth a shot. You're the best!! :D

[Lavender]

I find yoga works best for me. Usually half an hour would be good. It opens up your mind and clears your thoughts for meditation and magic.

[cherrywind]

Yep, incense does a lot for me too, frankinsense and myrrh or sandlewood especially, although it isn't necessary. I find focusing on my breathing helps a lot, and it always does the trick. Also, focusing on one thing, say a tarot card or an animal or something like that, can also greatly help. I've always found it just happens, and if you push it, that'll only make it more difficult. It's something that has to come to you.

Knowing when you've shifted consciousness is a bit different for every person. Personally, I get kind of light headed, but not the kind where you feel like you're going to faint, I just feel really really light (if that makes sense ;)). And as Greta said, it'll take you a few minutes to ground after you've shifted consciousness.

Here are a few links to some other threads that might help you out:
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=622&highlight=altered+state
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14065&highlight=magic+meditation

[Myst]

Be careful with the amethyst, my friend gets headaches from it even being in the room since it's so focusing and strong. She shifts consciousness often through sewing and working crafts.

I do it by meditation, or just by casting a circle and grounding, or even sometimes I think by programming because it's relaxing. Sometimes I think reading does that for me too :)

At first you may not notice so much - after awhile you'll realize you feel different when you've shifted. It's hard to explain. You might feel spiritually lighter, calmer, or just "more magical". Some people wear a special robe or jewelry to help them shift into it - just wearing it reminds them it's time to shift over to magical stuff.

[Lavender]

Anything that's repetitive works for me too. Knitting, weaving, spinning. It's one way of holding the magic in the item you're creating. The magic becomes part of the object.

[Russ Welch]

relax is the frist thing if you can do that them your half way there
then focus on what u want to shift to
its really easy dont push tust your instinks
iam sure you have done it already
stop thinking to much tust your self

good luck

[Mocari]

Trust myself?
outch, that's going to be difficult:)

[Eeluna]

For me, it's breathing--deep, rythmic breathing. I close my eyes and focus on my breath, and it's like my mind reaches for something--I don't grasp for it but let it come naturally. Sometimes it happens very quickly and easily. Other times it's more difficult, but you really can't force it. I've also reached it through chanting and dancing, but I think the breathing is an integral part of those also.

[MidnightSun]

For me it's most definately fire. When we have a big fire going I just feel different. Like I told my little sister the other day...she put the fire out all of a sudden without warning me. It literally startled me.

[Tammy Sullivan]

so Mocari, any luck??

[Mocari]

Thanx thanx thanx thanx thanx!!
Ow so sorry I didn't really have the chance to reply sooner!!
I tried a few of the tips above (supersweet of you) and they all improved it (especially some fire and the breathing), although I really prefer practising magic with as little keys as possible.

Because I have been taught to ground immediately, I probably didn't feel any of the side-effects of shifting, at least not much of it anyway. I'll try no grounding once, just to see if it works.

You (all of you) are the sweetest!! Best friends to have

[Three Feather]

Any rythmic beat works for me...do you have a metranome? Did I spell that right? I used to use one...it ticks out basic rythms. Alot of music students have them. Or in the alternative. A simple flame works for me also. Just staring at the flicker. When I have reached an altered state I usually get the chills...yes good old fashioned goosebumps. Sometimes the hair on the back of my neck raises too. We all have different experiences. You will know. A good indicator is when the internal dialogue stops. Its suddenly quiet in your mind. Just peace. The sound of nothing. Good luck to you!!!

[Flar's Freyja]

All of the above are excellent suggestions and I've used many of them. For me, just preparing to meditate or do a ritual can help me ease into that shift. I usually start with a bath, incense, candles, etc. and visualize myself being cleansed and open to guidance and magick. Setting up the altar and casting circle also helps me make that shift from the mundane to the magickal. The focus required during the process is what seems to help me shift gears and consciousness.

[jelly.belly]

Originally posted by Three Feather
Any rythmic beat works for me...do you have a metranome? Did I spell that right? I used to use one...it ticks out basic rythms. Alot of music students have them. Or in the alternative. A simple flame works for me also. Just staring at the flicker. When I have reached an altered state I usually get the chills...yes good old fashioned goosebumps. Sometimes the hair on the back of my neck raises too. We all have different experiences. You will know. A good indicator is when the internal dialogue stops. Its suddenly quiet in your mind. Just peace. The sound of nothing. Good luck to you!!!

Ì don't know why i havent thought of that earlier!!! I do the same thing, usually when my aunt comes by, she reads a little tarot for me and my mom, and we always light a candle for the readings. So when she's reading for my mom, I always start staring at the candle's flicker and I have these chills too! It's like the world around me just disappears! :)