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[niankhsekhmet.livejournal.com]

Israel Regardie often suggested within his books that those undertaking the mystical pathways of magical practice, should seriously, and quite literally have their heads examined. What he meant by this, was to have their mental capacity and temperament toward the Art assessed professionally. I used to scoff at that idea, but the more I spend time in and among people who are self professed magicians, witches, alchemists, visionaries, shamen and medicine peoples - the more I am convinced this is not a bad course of action. I would also add to Regardie's cautions about having the proper mental capacities and temperament to be able to handle the various disciplines within magical practice that those who approach plant allies - particularly visionary and magical plant allies especially examine their motivations and discipline for doing so.

Mankind does not live in a vacuum, and every living thing, whether it is animal, vegetable or mineral has a particular signature, or to use the very tired term that the new age has commandeered, it has a vibration. I personally think that our plant allies also have a consciousness. Some of them are beautiful spirits, some are liars - some tricksters like the Coyote in the guise of foliage and flower. None of this passes judgement at those who look at a plant and see little more than a green thing that is without consciousness. Some, even our governments, use the term 'noxious weeds" when refering to some of the allies, and yet their rich contiributions are missed.

Comments

[jamesbaxter.livejournal.com]

Very eloquently spoken, I have always felt this way concerning the other forms of beings on our planet for as long as I am able to remember into the past. If this knowledge were taught to more of our children, perhaps, the time would come when we would walk a little gentler upon the body of our mother. People are clamoring for intersection with 'alien' life, while missing or ignoring the fact that we are surrounded by innumerable lifeforms which we treat as mere fodder for useage. What makes these people think that we will be able to communicate to forms from another world any easier than to the ones which we walk upon each and every day.
I also agree with your first paragraph, one only has to 'make the rounds' in the various 'rivers of thought' to quickly come to that understanding. I have always been 'blessed or cursed' (depending on one's outlook) with being able to see and do unusual things. Now that I am half-way through my fifth decade on this planet, I've learned to approach that part of myself with the utmost caution and much prayer and reverence. I've found that being a 'tool' for the great unknown brings great responsibility to the bearer. It is something that I've never quite gotten used to or have ever been comfortable with when that time comes that the mantle decends upon my shoulders.