Spirited: Taking Paganism Beyond the Circle »

Gede Parma (Australia) has been an active member of his local Pagan community for years. He is an initiated priest of the WildWood Tradition of Witchcraft, a healer and seer, and a keen student of natural health and medicine. He is the descendant of diviners and spiritual healers and is of Balinese-Celtic heritage.

Refreshingly real and practical, Spirited gets straight to the heart of Pagan living and Pagan spirituality today. Featuring real-life stories and first-hand experiences from the author and other young Pagans who've actually been there, this book gives you insight into the philosophy and spirituality of current Pagan rituals and practices. You'll get crucial advice on Witchcraft, spellcraft ethics, modern magic spells, coven and solitary work, magic theory and practice, dealing with discrimination and negativity, and incorporating your spiritual beliefs into all the important areas of your life:

Love • Sexuality • Family Friends • School • Work

Acknowledgments xiii

Preface xv

Introduction xix

Part 1 The Fountain Of Youth

1 The Inner Witch 3

A Witch's Becoming 3

The Natural Witch 5

My Magickal Genealogy 7

The Awakening 12

Realising the Revelation 17

2 Life at 4 Privet Drive 21

Sacred Space 22

Pagan Peace-Building 26

Magick of the Home 30

A Note to the Nomad: Moving On 36

3 Schooling Pagans 39

Peering Pupils: Communication 39

The Wizard's Apprentice: Teacher and Student Relations 46

4 The Pagan Socialite 53

Out & About: The Downtown Pagan 54

The Vineyard Exercise 57

Enchant the Masses! Spells of Glamour 58

Romance & Relationships 62

Sense & Sensuality 64

5 Pagan Community 73

Something Old, Something New: Bridging the Gap 74

The Curse of the Fluffy Bunny: A Social Syndrome 77

Teen Pagan Network 79

Open Circle 85

Pagan Meets: A Note on Cat Herding 88

Part 2 Beyond The Circle

6 Ethical Questions 91

Harm None: Ancient Pagan Creed or Modern Public Insurance? 92

Black and White: A Myth 96

Karmic Confusion 100

Situational Magick 102

Cursing 104

Respect 106

A Note on Will 108

7 The Spell of Witchcraft 109

The Skill of Spellcraft 110

Successful Spellcraft 111

Psychological and Metaphysical Understanding of Spellcraft 112

Ethical Considerations 114

Correspondence: Witch's Code 115

The Power of Belief 119

Need over Trivial Desire 120

Clear Intent and Energy Input 120

The Active Principle 121

Visualisation: Magick Incarnate 122

Magick: The Essence of Life 124

Everyday Magick: The Charms of Life 125

8 Ritualising 127

Reasons for Ritual 128

Personal Preparation: HarnessingSelf-Awareness 133

Purification: Casting the Circle 134

Birthing a Universe: A Philosophy 135

Which Way Is Witch? Elemental Orientation 137

Quick Circle: For the Witch on the Run! 141

Note for the Wayward 142

Ritual Guidelines for the Practical Pagan 142

Gnosis 149

The Drama of Ritual 151

Spontaneous Ritual 155

Rites of Passage 156

9 Divinity 165

Painting the Gods: Defining Deity 166

Pantheism: God Is All and All Is God 167

Polytheism: Legacy of the Pantheon 171

Animism: The Spirit Within 178

Ditheism: God and Goddess 181

The Archetype: A Universal Model 189

Ultimate Consciousness: God and the Self 195

Deity and Youth 197

What I Believe 199

10 Covencraft 201

You and a Coven 202

Forming a Coven 203

Joining a Coven: Things to Do 208

Perfect Love and Perfect Trust 211

11 A Craft of Solitude 215

Tackling Theory: A Guide for the Solitary 216

Nostalgic Rites: Memoirs from the Unconscious 220

Living Paganism: A Spiritual Integration 224

Aspecting the Cunning One: Serving Your Community 230

Shrine of the Ancients 234

12 Evaluating Tradition 239

Pre-Spell Jitters 240

Tools of the Trade 241

The Tools 246

Eclectic Trends 255

13 Into the Future 261

An Era of Change 261

The Greening Crew 265

Obligations: Tomorrow's Leaders 267

Power & Privilege 276

Song of the Youth/Weaving the Web 279

Dance of Life, Song of Youth Ritual 280

Last Words: An Open Letter to the Global Pagan Community 282

Appendix: Recommended Resources 287

Selected Bibliography 293

Index 295