This is A little something that I found on My computer Book of Shadows ftom 2003. It is straight to the point. Blessed Be, Nyanah
The Will of a Witch
One of the many facets of being a practicing witch that you seldom see discussed anymore on any pagan media outlet is that of willpower. There are a lot of "just add water spells" and paths in the pagan community these days that do very little in aiding students with the development of their willpower.
I really don't understand how or why the great pagan thinkers and authors of the day seem to "forget" this little detail of spell working and life in general. Instead we are told "do this and it will work" but they leave out the fact that just going through the motions isn't enough. Anyone can dance but not everyone can "feel" the music as they dance and act upon the feeling rather that the instruction manual of instant witch-crafting.
It's not such a hard add in to everyday life. So why omit it? We can get lots of books and read emotionless techniques on how to do this and that but they all too often fail to tell you how to actually apply the practices of witchcraft to everyday life. So I'll do it for them.
Life is the sparing circle of the Will. The events that take place in that circle are little more than practice for the Will. The Will should be seen as a muscle and every event of every day should have at least some hint of practicing that muscle in it. All you have to do is learn to be aware of your Will. To make note of the fact that your actions and thoughts have power and it is because of those thoughts and actions that your life plays out as it does for better or ill.
When you decide to do something you do it. There is no such thing as "trying to do it". You either do it or you don't. The "trying" part is your Will in motion. Before and after that motion takes place then your not doing anything at all.
Spell work holds to the same general idea. You have to set your Will into motion. And the actions of your Will and the wake behind it is part of what we call "magic". See your Will power as a boat and the world we live in as an ocean. The water is the essence of magic. It is the metaphysical web that allows us to see the action of our Will. Our decisions make waves and ripples. Our Will is the wind that sets our decisions into motion and the product of it all is change.
Magic, in part, is the power to create change without physical or verbal motion. Now those people who are in dire need of content to fill up a book or web site will tell you that you have to go through all this ritual and invocation to practice magic. There not going to tell you "Think and do!" because then they wouldn't have enough content to put together a pamphlet let alone a book.
They surely wont tell you that the stronger the Will the stronger the witch. You really don't get to see that until you run into someone who's very presence can't be denied. Who's Will is so overbearing that they can not be ignored. These people can sometimes be very intimidating. Especially to the book witch who just can't figure out how the hell they do it without all the ritual, bells, and whistles.
What makes a witch great it a developed Will and the knowledge to go with it. There are tons of people around who will set there and blow smoke up your ass boasting of their abilities. And they might just have the Will but with a little discussion you find that they don't have the brains. That's like having a motor but not boat to put it on. It's useless! And so is just about everything they have to offer. It's all cannon fodder.
The price to pay for having willpower and brains to match is the interpretation that the willpower and knowledge is based on ego. The frustration of ego comes from those who talk about it but don't be about it. It does get exhausting when you run into someone who does little more than comment and argue points but never make points of their own.
You will be seen as egotistical and there will be a whole section of people who simply do not like you. Not because you are wrong in one way or another but for the simple fact that you have achieved a level of being that they are somehow unable to reach.
You will have folks who fall back to their years of practice. Those who are quick to point out that they have been a witch for X amount of years which only proves that they are not trendy witches. Witchcraft for them is not the flavor of the week it's a lifestyle. But years of practice does not hold up to years of growth and achievement. The practice is not the test. It's just practice.
In all that time and all that practice they forgot to work on their Will. And in making that mistake they find that all that time means very little and they have never really gotten anywhere. Which is why a young pup like me who has only been in practice for half that time can hold my weight with the "elders" and folks who should know a hell of a lot more than me. I skip the practice and ace the tests. Then I hand out cheat sheets and get hammered for it.
This we can see as magical "training". Anyone can call themselves a witch. Just like anyone can call themselves a martial artist. But if you don't practice and go through the training than your nothing but a fake and sooner or later someone is going to come along and expect you to back your boasts. If you can't then your going to get embarrassed or even hurt really quick.
Your power is in your Will. So are your limitations.
I was finally able to get my camera to download my pictures finally. I have pictures of my new baby on my page for those of you who want to see him. Here is a little baclground on my fur babies. Shelby was born in Sept 2000. She has the sweetest personallity except around other people. She is a Mama's girl. Spanky was given to me as a Yule Present from Lavender Dragonfly{Jole} in 2007. He has a mean streak let me tell you. He is a conversation piece all by himself. He is as I say I"Mean Lean Bad Assed Fightin' Kitty Machine". It's hard to believe that this poor baby was in dire straights when Jole had found him. You would never know that by looking at him today. I need to get him some therapy bad. LOL. Salem is 5 weeks old and already down to 81/2 lives left LOL He climbs on everything. He has come a long way from Salem Massechussettes(Hence the name) A friend from work, her daughter lives there and came down to visit and my friend had her go to a pet store to buy Salem for me as a gift. He is something else. What a special surprise to have good friends to give me something that I love and loves me unconditional in return. Shelby was a shelter kitty, a very sad story. She was very sick and her and her brothers and sisters along with her mother had 3 min's to live, I had to threaten the animal control people with the government and news paper/news team, that they gave her to me in promise that I would get her fixed or take the chance to go to jail. I did not care as long as I got her. She was the only one who made it. I think back on that day and wished that I could have saved them all. It hurts me to think of those poor babies in that horrible place. Well Mama duty calls Love you guys Take care and have a Wonderful Week, Love Nyanah
