Newborn Wizard

[HolographicJoe]

Greetings magickal friends! I'm a newborn wizard n need of help. I can't mediatate. I've tried for years. I've tried hard. I just can't seem to unlock that part of myself on command. It has unlocked and I've done some great things while conducting the power, but I can't do it on command. Very frustrating. Can anyone help me out?

Thanks, Joe

[Shugo]

First off, no one is born a wizard. Real life isn't like Harry Potter. Everyone has latent magical (the only people I've seen spell magic with a k and or a j are fluffy bunnies who are looked down upon by the larger community) abilities, some are just more pronounced than others. As for calling yourself a wizard, sorry, there's no such thing, there's high magic reffered to as ceremonial magic practiced by Ceremonial Magicians, which takes years of study to learn, but you can't just wave a wand, say some piglatin, and have someone turn to stone. As for meditation, it never comes easily the first time, it takes a great deal of control over ones mind, to silence it for any length of time, and you're just going to need to keep working on it. I will warn you however, that it will never be something you can do "on command", the only people that have acheived that level of control are the Budhist monks in the mountains of Tibet, and they spend their whole life working to acheive that level of control.

[HolographicJoe]

I wasn't born a wizard. I'm not a potterhead. I have no intention of waving a wand and turning anyone to stone. And I am not talking about the first time, I am talking about years of trying with no result. As to being a fluffy bunny, I'll just let that hang.

Thanks for the help.

[Deranged Hermit]

Hi there and welcome to MW! :welcome: I don't really have any advice on meditation, I struggle with it myself. If you do a search of the forums for "meditation", there might be some good info. Good luck!

[HolographicJoe]

Excellent idea. And thanks for the welcome.

Salaam.

[Tullip Troll]

First off, no one is born a wizard. Real life isn't like Harry Potter. Everyone has latent magical (the only people I've seen spell magic with a k and or a j are fluffy bunnies who are looked down upon by the larger community) abilities, some are just more pronounced than others. As for calling yourself a wizard, sorry, there's no such thing, there's high magic reffered to as ceremonial magic practiced by Ceremonial Magicians, which takes years of study to learn, but you can't just wave a wand, say some piglatin, and have someone turn to stone. As for meditation, it never comes easily the first time, it takes a great deal of control over ones mind, to silence it for any length of time, and you're just going to need to keep working on it. I will warn you however, that it will never be something you can do "on command", the only people that have acheived that level of control are the Budhist monks in the mountains of Tibet, and they spend their whole life working to acheive that level of control.


Wow wasn't that a nice welcome...

MheraPai...

Welcome New Born wizard...becareful with how you title yourself...it can give people the wrong ideas...a lot of people here are very well read.

[HolographicJoe]

I still don't understand what I've said to give offense. Wizard is what I aspire to be, new born is what I am. As such, I seek guidance not a public lashing.

Oh well, and thank you for the welcome.

***
That's my story and I'm sticking to it ; )

[Imbrium]

Heh, heh,

If there are 'born again' Christians walking the face of the planet, then there very well can be 'newborn wizards'.

Anyway, I've had the same problem with meditation over the years. Recently, due to time constraints and just sheer desperation, I've tried meditating while lying down, just prior to sleep. The act of trying to relax my body while at the same time not falling asleep, has taken quite a bit of mental effort, but now I've a much better time achieving altered states of consciousness, remembering my dreams, and lucid dreaming. It's unorthadox, but the results have been good, and seem to carry over to my few daytime meditation sessions.

I'd say it's taken about 2 months of work to effectively get into a state of relaxed meditative effort without snoozing, but it's been worth the time.

You can also try guided meditation and hypnosis tapes, to try to train your unconscious into cooperating with you.

Just keep plugging away at it. Something'll give eventually.

[HolographicJoe]

Thanks a lot. Sounds like a good idea, I'll give it a try. Some one also suggested taking a bath first, bath first to relax, ut that will not help me. I'll try your method.

[Garden of Eden]

Welcome to Mystic Wicks...

I find in meditation that music is a great aid, as it gives you at least something to focus on in the backround and will stop those stubborn interrupting thoughts that tend to drift through your conciousness. Something sensual and unobtrusive is best (though for visualations where I know I will be doing anything kinda exciting I usually use something with a drum beat ;)).

I'm afraid I don't really agree with you using the terminology 'wizard'... But of course, I have no idea what path you practice and I cannot judge you as being incorrect. It'd be enlightening to know exactly what path you follow, and why you refer to yourself as a wizard, if you wouldn't mind sharing :D

[HolographicJoe]

I am, above all, a pursuer of knowledge. I don't follow any one path, it's not my nature. I study, take what I find helpful on my quest, and leave the rest behind. I've been creating my own religion since I was a boy building temples out of stones on my bedroom floor.

What's disquieting about "wizard"?

[Garden of Eden]

Nothing... but I wonder do you practice magic and such things? Those who do are by common definition either a witch (whether they be male or female) or a magician (if they deal in the ceremonial aspect). I've honestly never met someone claiming to be a wizard, unless they were purely out for attention..
I would call myself a witch, the fact that I'm female having no bearing on it. If I were male, I would still be a witch... :)

[HolographicJoe]

I do practice magic (owing to my meditation dificulty, with varying success. I've done some great stuff, and other times - nothing. Frustrating.). I'm neither just witch norjust magician, a bit of both, with because I am intersted in both kinds, and other elements as well. Anything that helps in penetrating the universal mysteries is good for me. Except of course the control of others. That does not help at all, but obscures the matter.

And I am not comfortable in the spotlight. = )

Joe

[Shanti]

Patients..thats what comes to mind with the subject of struggling with meditation.

And welcome new wizzard!!!!!!!!!! Glad your here. Dont let anyone scare ya, we all started somewhere!!!! :)

[HolographicJoe]

Thank you! I Went to the biggest meta store in town yesterday and spoke to one of the folks there. She said aslo that patience is the key. If I'm not doing anything wrong and my case is not unusual, I'm satisfied. And thanks again for the welcome.

Joe, with a smile on his face

[fay]

hello there!
meditation doesnt come easily and im just going to repeat what other people have said and what you already know, patience is the key. (does anybody else feel that im kinda pointless? :nyah: )
i agree that music or something would be a good idea as it gives you something to focus on. i find that guided meditations are quite productive sometimes. if you cant or dont feel comfortable having someone else talking you through your meditation, then you can find one and record yourself saying it onto a tape and then play the tape back to yourself. am i making any sense?
blessed be

[Shugo]

I just wanted to apologise for my first post, I was rude unnecessarily. I just tend to get unnerved around people that don't seem to get their information from anywhere but HP (Harry Potter), and movies, which is the impression you first gave me. Partly its because we all work very hard (myself included) to be taken seriously by the rest of the world, and even if a person considers themself a wizard not a magician or witch or one of the more "traditional" titles, it just reinforces everyone's view of the pagan community being stuck in a fantasy world. I in no way was trying to say that your beleifs are wrong however, we are all guided by deity to our paths, and have just as much right to it as the most steadfast traditionalist.

[HolographicJoe]

Thank you very much, apology happily accepted. *pleased and touched*

Let's start over. Hi, I'm Joe, well. met. *Grins and shakes hands*

Cheers!

[HolographicJoe]

Excellent Idea! i'l record something tonight.

[{Tigress}]

First off, welcome! :wave:

As for the problem with meditation, I STILL have an issue with it, and I've been walking a Pagan Path for over 10 years. But, the one thing that seems to help me the most when I just can't "get it together" is to put the task or thought or reason you're wanting to meditate aside and just do some simple grounding, clearing the mind kind of exercises.

I've posted this elsewhere as a meditation that helps with visualization and energy control, but it's one I often still use to help get me focused and in the "mood" to mediate more fully. Visualize yourself on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Beside you on the cliff is a infinite pile of stones of ALL sizes (from a grain of sand to boulders). Find a small stone, pick it up and then throw it as far as you can out into the ocean. Keep working on the same sized stone until you can envision it sailing out over the horizon, lost to view before it hits the water. Then find a bigger stone and repeat the process. :D

For me, once I get fully engrossed in the visualization of my rock throwing escapade, I will then let that scene fade from my mind and can much more easily slip into mediation because my mind is already cleared and I'm more open/sensative to the energies around me.

[Romani Vixen]

Welcome!

What methods have you tried?

I've been struggling with meditation myself. Then in the Meditation thread (here in New Pagans) Aine of the Fay reminded me of meditation beads, meditation chords, etc. I made a chord last night, and ... :D works wonders!

[HolographicJoe]

How does one make and use said items?

[Tzhebee]

Hiya Joey!! :boing: :boing:

Don't feel bad, I can't meditate either...but it's because my brain never goes slower than mach 7. :p

[Romani Vixen]

How does one make and use said items?
I did a chord with embroydery floss. You could also use yarn. Pick colors (for mine I used elemental colors) and braid them. then tie knots at regular intervals.

You can also do one with beads.

to use, just hold the chord and say the word/mantra, move the chord to the next bead/knot and repeat.

[HolographicJoe]

Wizard's rosary. Cool, I'll give it a try.

[FairyMoon]

Welcome welcome ;) Don't forget to start slowly too! If you are like me, this will help you more than just tackling a 30 min session all at once. I had to build my mind muscles because I feel like it is ALWAYS talking. ( it still doesn't shut up all the way) Also, try different types of meditations as well because some will work better for you. For example, I try to aviod meditations where your mind needs to be still. FAT chance. Instead, I'll imagine myself floating on a river or something relaxing and my mental chatter slows down anyways. I think the difference is one is active and one is passive. hth