MAGIC AND HEALING THE EARTH

MAGIC AND HEALING THE EARTH

by Larry Cornett

2450 W 6 St, Apt Up S, Cleveland OH 44113

Magic is defined by Isaac Bonewits (in Real Magic) to be " A general term for arts, sciences, philosophies and technologies concerned with:

(1) Understanding and using altered states of consciousness within which it is possible to have access to and control over one's psychic talents, and

(2) The uses and/or abuses of those psychic talents to change interior and/or exterior realities.

There are many explanations of how magic works. Quantum mechanics and associated theories of consciousness, as well as many spiritual philosophies, indicate that matter, energy, and life itself are manifestations of non-localized, unified, underlying strata. The underlying strata are described as waves of probability in quantum mechanics. These waves continue forever, and there is no clear boundary between one wave and another. These waves can act at a distance. By unifying one's consciousness with such underlying strata, one can achieve states of consciousness in which one can obtain and send information and influence events, often through synchronicity. It can cause circumstances to come together at the right time and under the right circumstances for mundane action to be extremely effective, and can sensitize people to those circumstances.

Magic is a form of meditation and prayer, and many magical techniques can be fun. However, it is also hard work and can be exhausting and/or ineffective if proper technique is not used. It is important to know what you are doing and to be proficient at the internal aspects of magical technique to get good results. A good place to begin learning proper technique is to read The Spiral Dance by Starhawk and work with the exercises within it, especially the tree meditation, so that one is focusing universal energy rather than mostly using one's own energy when magical work requiring the use of significant amounts of power is called for. Other good books such as Positive Magic by Miriam Weinstein cover the ethical considerations, as well as some basic spellcraft and divinatory techniques). Learning from other practitioners is also useful. Many covens provide individual or group training. One can also learn much by attending magical discussion groups, workshops and rituals, and by using the internet.

Personally, I usually work magic in a Wiccan circle or a Wahole medicine circle (a type of Shamanic circle taught by a Cherokee Medicine Man). I also sometimes work with ADF in their format. Many neopagans work with deities as allies and partners in rituals, invoking ones whose actions and interests relate directly to the purpose of the ritual. For example, in the mid 1980s many magical groups in a network called Moonweb worked with Athena and her Owl in rituals for the protection of the old growth forest and the Grey Spotted Owl. Shortly after the rituals, the owl was placed on the endangered species list, and its old growth forest habitat given government protection.

In addition, many Wiccan Shamanic groups and Shamans work with Power Animals and other spirit allies found during Shamanic journeying (explorations of planes of consciousness using techniques such as drumming and/or guided visualizations to access to such levels). In addition, we work with Nature Spirits in natural power spots when possible. A nature spirit is the living consciousness, or group mind of an ecosystem or a living entity (such as a tree spirit or Diva).

In a ritual in the mid 1980s, the Consolidated Edison Company of New York's Air Pollution permit renewal applications (that I was responsible for) were taken to a natural power spot for a ritual with the first ADF Druid Gove (which worked with nature spirits as previously defined). Spirits that were interested in helping those fighting acid rain then were contacted, invoked and invited to use the permits as a vehicle. Those permits throbbed with power when they were sent to the New York Department of Environmental Protection the next day. The State of New York passed some of the strongest acid rain legislation and turned down Con Edison's new application to burn high sulfur coal shortly afterwards.

At a Washington DC area Spring Equinox rite, coven members, CAW members, and Druids ritually introduced three new saplings to an old, previously unhappy, maple tree and to other trees on private land; and planted them at receptive power spots. The unhappy tree used to have kind of a swampy vibe, until witches (who worked earth healing magic at a nearby power spot), found out that it missed the forest, and offered to help -- after which its vibe was something like a Klingon Warrior. The vibe that the maple tree let out during and for weeks after the tree planting was powerfully and totally ecstatic.

When I was doing soil and water sampling at a Virginia Superfund Site (a former tear gas factory contaminated with naphthalene, arsenic and cyanide – the chemicals used to make tear gas), the landscape looked like a moonscape, except for a few patches that were overgrown with bushes, etc. One of the live patches was a power spot, and I (in Level C gear -- which looks like a space suit with a gas mask) contacted the nature spirits and asked for advice and help. I got a vision of the contaminated landscape turned into stone. When I returned to the office to write a feasibility study on alternative actions to clean up the place, unsolicited brochures from companies that do in-situ solidification and from companies that destroy cyanides were waiting for me in the mail. The alternative selected was to add hydrogen peroxide to the contaminated soil (turning the cyanides to carbon monoxide and heating the soil sufficiently to drive off the naphthalene, which was collected) followed by mixing the soil in situ with concrete and water to turn it into stone (and de-mobilize the arsenic). The cost was much lower and it had much less environmental impact than incineration – the main technically feasible alternative treatment.

CHANTS FOR EARTH HEALING

Traditional Hopi:

The Earth is our mother; we must take care of her

The Earth is our mother; we must take care of her.