(no subject)

[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.