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quinta-feira, 24 de novembro de 2016

Using Each of The Four Elements for Oracle Reading. Uso dos Quatro Elementos em Oráculos

Lakeside camp. A nice place with the four elements around. 
by SnowSara


Using Each of The Four Elements for Oracle Reading. 
Uso dos Quatro Elementos na Leitura Oracular


Texto em português disponível para download. Clique aqui: "Uso dos Quatro Elementos na Leitura Oracular"


Here I will talk some about working with the power of the four elements.

To the ancient Greek and most western traditions, there are four elements and they are the prime force in the nature.
They are Fire, Air, Earth and Water.

I used the word “oracle” instead of “divination” to suggest the idea about an oracle to be the active part and do the work while the reader get the results from it. Here, the reader is an observer and able to interact and get the information the oracle present.
For sure reading capabilities and previous oracle works are very desired, like developing your 3rd eye and intuition. Advanced oracle skills are highly desired like other previous training, like meditation and some knowledge of the nature in a shamanic view.
Also, I will use the words “elements” and “elementals” for the same purpose. For example, the salamanders or just “fire”.

I won’t enter at the aspects of working with the elemental’s Kings level nor at other higher spirits who are related to the elements too. Such practices are most related with the practices to work with spirits, their correspondences and areas of acting.
For sure it’s great to use the elemental oracles together with the spirits working. They add a powerful tool and different ways to develop your perception.

So, to the extents I choose for now, I will cite spirits as a part of the work if you choose to add it. But the focus is going for a direct elementals work.
If you choose to call first spirits to rule the operation, that is interesting too.


To add some study suggestions, in the Tarot, the Ace cards means the pure aspects of each elemental energy. Something interesting to study and their following manifestations among the cards. The lower arcana cards (1 to 10) are just the manifesting power of the elements, but accordingly with their numerological aspects too.
So, this is something more for your study about Numerology and also for Qabalah (Gematry). That is very related to the elementals in the ways they manifest their power in the world.
Agrippa is always a good resource for study too.

But while theory is very good to add information and knowledge, this is not an armchair work to be done at your library room.
Using the elements as oracle is a nature work. Remember this. Even at your temple room, you must be able to connect with nature forces.
If you have not some forests to go, even so you may have some park around, gardens, etc. When you open your eyes, you will discover every tree at the street is looking for you and wishing to be seen. The moment you discover this, you never will be alone again. Nature is all around us.

As nature forces, the Elements are the main part of life and have their own spirits too.
At the elemental levels, we found many living beings, the popular names are gnomes, fairies, undines, sylphs, etc. Each country have traditional names for them.
This work is about them. Yes, the fairies, sylphs, gnomes, undines, salamanders. They are the ones working to show you what they have to say.
There are also what is named Genius Loci, the spirits of each place. Frater Rufus Opus wrote some very good material about working with them at the Ritual Offerings book.
See, each place have its own spirits. See the eastern traditions about the Devas, or discovering a mountain or a river are also living beings.

In the book “Toilers of the Sea” from Victor Hugo, at the beginning, Gilliatt the main character, who was someone strange to the village people, comments some like “if the air and water are transparent, why not to be such transparent living ones there?” With time science have discovered many of them too.  A bit of fantasy plus a lot of reality to discover. Glad too often science have just confirmed what occultists know for ages.

The basic idea for Element’s Oracles is first observe they are “life too”, so it is just something like a talk with them.
In other words, it is part of a relationship with the elements you are working with.

This is the best suggestion I can present you about working with an oracle: talk with it, create a respectful relationship with it. With time, this become mutual and you will discover another level of communication with them.

And think what you do for a relationship or to have a date. Uhm? Something so. Prepare and be respectful.
One first practice is to observe how they are beautiful and powerful. 
The moment you opens up for the beauty in the nature, nature himself will opens up for you.

It’s a shamanic idea, one of the oldest source of all magic in the world. An interesting work about the shamanic sources of grimoires magick is presented by Aaron Leitch at “Secrets of the Magickal Grimoires”.

Many native traditional cultures name the elementals as relatives. Mother earth, brother wind, sister water, etc.
This is to recognize they are part of the wide nature as all of us are part of that.
One more reason to repeat: be respectful. This is a main rule we have learned in traditional magic, sorcery, whatever area. Be angels, daemons, nature spirits, whatever.
They share the same living planet and astral dimensions all of us are living.
And many of them are ready to be your friends someway too.
Got this?
A respectful approach and the true desire to learn and to be opened to receive their energies will do wonders.
This is also related to opening your spiritual eye, the 3rd eye vision. There are many ways for that for sure. This is just one more. To be receptive.
And remember this: To say sincere “thanks” it’s a master key too.


General warnings about working with elementals
 
As cited before, people too often think fairies and others are nice, sweet, anything so fluffy to deal with. Just because fantasy tales.
And what happens?
They put many gnomes and fairies’s images at home, burn incense and invite them as guests. Like a party.
And their houses appears like a mystic store at first days. But wait.
Elementals spirits are bi-dimensional beings. There are just so closer of our tri-dimensional world.
And they are like children without rules too.
Such people invite them at home and forget about. Soon things are broken or disappears.
And most people does not realize what is the real source of the troubles! Elementals playing at their houses.
Just children foolish. Think about as many children running at your house like crazy doing all foolish things without any care.
As any other spirit, elementals may be called for work and then dismissed.
Yes, be explicit to tell them to let the place and go back to their own area.
Even if you are doing this with that nice fairies dolls you found at some mystic store. 

This is one more reason we talk to never let an unattended candle.
Get this? The elementals like to walk around. Remember this.
Safety procedures are always needed. Be careful.
Think about this: even if you someday become a master, your workers and disciples still won’t be at same level and you must have an eye on them.

So, if you already learned to invoke the Angels, Kings or any Daemons related to that elemental areas, you always can invoke them to be over and command the operation you are doing and to watch over the elementals beings you are calling to work with.
As told above just for cite, this is possible too and very interesting. 

The idea of calling the pure elementals is also because you will be calling forces who are like children to work. But as any children, they have a long tongue when doing oracles. LOL…


Warning about photos


Photo by objektiiv.ee
In modern times, we have seen many images or such works. I do it sometimes too and some are vey nice.
The most easy to get are photos of fire.
But this is ruled under the same as for any magic working: you must ask permission to register what you are doing.

This is very important to remember. Be respectful!

Never, but never try to register images of any ritual or an elements oracle working without asking explicit permission. So you must be very alert to what kind of reply, some signal about the permission for doing that.
You are working with elementals and spirits, so be sure you will not be hidden trying to do such register. Ok?
Without an explicit permission, be with the traditional film cameras or a digital camera the results may vary just from registering nothing or just confuse images, going to a broken equipment and at some worst cases, you may receive a direct punch from the spirits who may got furious due the lack of discretion.
And a direct punch from such spirits can be anything, like some bad times doing cleanings and banishments going to even something simple, like a small stone jumping against your car’s front glass in the middle of the way. I saw even that. So do not mess with them.


Simple but effective 

To be short, such elementals oracles are simple but need practice while you develop your skills.
As cited before, an elemental oracle is something just like talking with it and to observe to the replies.
But as any spirits working, just to repeat, you must be respectful.
So prepare your oracle with the needed care, do the best you can for each case.
Do the best you can each time.
Temporary needs happens to anyone for sure, just be clear to say and explain this when you open the oracle and show you have a serious compromise to do better as you can.
To be sincere with them will help to make a solid relationship.
And again, a true relationship is what you need to work with the elements oracles.


The Oracles

Repeating once more. You will talk with the elementals and this is working as you open your spiritual vision.
I will comment some about each one, adding more at some due personal preferences.
But we have the same basic working ideas for each element for sure.

And very important: each oracle will present the information a very different point of view.

So think on this: each element have a different time and way in time. The visions you will get are related to that point of view.


A Cauldron Ritual of Fire of mine.


The Fire Oracle

Probably the most popular.
The fire is beautiful and anyone have seen images of witches dancing nude around a fire. A bit of fantasy people have for sure.

The most popular fire oracle I have seen is just to lit a candle and gaze at it.
And too often, I see a lot of newage style comments about guided visualizations and comments about how the flame may move this or that way. The problem is in practice, you won’t be reading many pages of a guided instructions for something that may be simple. No way! In my opinion many of such “instructions” are something near a fantasy mystic delusional delirium.
At maximum, my suggestion is to read that to get some idea, sometime one or other useful phrase may be found as many of such texts are just based or a copy from some source. With some luck, you will find something new to use. 

About using candles for a fire oracle, uhm, Ok, that will work.
May the flame dance or not, do some movements to get your attention.
We have many signals during rituals just coming from the candles. For sure they have a proper use.

But to be sincere, I’m not in love about to use a candle as a fire oracle. It’s so shy… 

See, fire is a strong example of free power. Fire need space to manifest.
Just release the fire and you will see the destruction it may does.
Fire is action.
Do not mess with the fire.

However, for a good fire oracle in my personal opinion is needed a decent size fire.
Please, do not put fire at the entire area.
Just have a decent size fire to last for some 30 minutes or more so the elementals can enjoy the place and do their work.
You may do a bonfire at your backyard or in a safe place in the woods or use a cauldron for it with a cup of alcohol at the cauldron.
If you do not have a witch's iron cauldron, you can use even a cuisine pot, but remember this is just something temporary only.
Be respectful in preparing your work materials, so a cuisine pot can only be used for the time it takes until you to get a better tool, a real iron cauldron or a yard to make a decent campfire.
Remember, use what you can, the best of it. But if you expect for real development you must work to have a proper tool.

Well, that is about having a decent size fire.
Yes, if you want to do a call for the fire elementals, the first is to do a decent size fire.
For sure, does not burn a forest nor your house. Does not be fanatic.
Be sure a very big fire, like a forest or a building burning does not will be good to try to use as an oracle. That is a time when fire get out of control, so do not mess with it!

As a personal choice, I love to do a bonfire at backyard or at some place in nature.
Just think about that as the same you would do while in a camp.
Campfires are great places where friends meet, even got drunk and talk a lot of bullshit.
If you read again the previous phrase, you get one aspect of the fire elementals working: passion. Make people be hot and friendly with others. Campfires are great times for people meeting. Companies would do a lot more if they turn their office meetings into doing campfires with their executives. Not just a barbeque. I say a decent size fire to people be around. But that works also often expose secrets because the fire light and sometimes a lot of alcohol drinking. LOL…
What ancient warriors did while planning or preparing for a fight next day? A campfire. Uhm?

Just to cite a scene at movies, just see Kirk, McCoy and my beloved uncle Spock at the movie “Star Trek V The Final Frontier”. They traveled everywhere into the Galaxy in a starship. But just a campfire did wonders. How far does you have gone when something so near can do wonders?
I add that part just to note they are in a campfire.


That are epic scenes anyways if you like Sci-Fi.  But if you don't like Star Trek, sorry.

So what the idea with the oracle of fire?

Action.
Fire is flow.
Fire is passion.
Fire burn something to turn it into something else (air). Better to remember, smoke is related to the air. And the final result is the earth (ashes).
The fire will show aspects under the vision of “action”, movement. Events happening related to something.
Consecrate your fireplace as you choose and greeting the energies and spirits you may be or not asked to be present too.
A fire oracle is like a happy hour with friends sometimes.
During a bonfire or at the cauldron, I will be drinking a good wine and sharing with the evoked energies.
Let’s the fire become present and flow as it become hotter and moving. Take your time.
If you want, you can invite the fire elementals to present themselves if they want. See this, invite but allow them to choose if they want to be present.
Sometimes the salamanders will appears dancing in the fire and they are very nice flashing there.
It’s interesting to observe as sometimes they will be really present and dance in the flames.
All that is moving. And that is a party.

As you get the fire to be really live, look to the fire and ask it to open for you the oracle of the flames.
Be explicit. Something like:
“I invoke the oracle of flames. May this flames open the gates so I can see all occult things and understand what I want about N.”
Where “N” is the area, person or topic you want to know.
Then just observe the fire and let your mind to be opened to any ideas you got. Sometimes the flames may do some move that catch your attention. Other times, that will flash like images into your head as you develop your intuition and 3rd eye vision.
Watch and allow that to flow.
And keep relaxed. This is not like scrying with fixed eyes, but more like just to pay attention to any scenes the fire will present you and the related ideas you got in your mind.
As I told, you may be even drinking in a feast with the fire.
The oracle images will flash when present something, with time you will learn to pay attention to some specific scene or idea and get the messages you want.
As the images flash, you will remember the fire is action and passion moving, so the replies are in the point of view of fast business, fast action. Too often very direct.

At the end, give thanks for their presence and dismiss them.


Childlike Happiness
Photo: Mark Hobson


The Water Oracle

Another popular oracle as water can be used in many ways.
You may observe the water in a big bowl, a small calm part of a river or lake or a water spring in the middle of some land area. A timid waterfall in a stream can be fantastic if you found a place in nature where the elementals spirits live.
Small areas are better and the water must be calm, except in the case of the example of a very small and calm waterfall. I say, that really small ones, just few foot height and very calm places.
As the fire, water can also become out of control.
A flood for sure is not good to try an oracle reading. Same for the places where the rivers are breaking the earth fast.
And no, is not a good idea to try this practice while you are doing a rafting in the Colorado River.
To be clear, as I did rafting before, is possible to talk with the river and receive some replies during the action, but it’s not the same as an oracle. The river will be talking while a challenge for your senses, it is more a warrior practice to learn to use.
Water is beautiful, fluid.
Water is a direct connection with your emotions.
The water oracle will show you how things appears under the emotional aspects.
The images you will get are very emotional most of times.
While fire is related with action, passion, water is related with feelings.
The fire show just action. Water will show some ideas of the “why” and “for what” just because that is related with how you feel about.

Choose the place, seat to observe.
When you ask to open the oracle of the water, you are also inviting your own emotional areas to be receptive.
How a stream flow? The water flow to reach again a calm state. This is what of to expect of the oracle. A seeking calm point of view. Even more meditative.
When a river run fast or jump in a big fall, that are done to reach a calm point again. And someday, find the sea. So the replies have a different point of view, just from someone who is watching at some distance and present a wide scenario.
Think about this: you feel your head and your foot at same time Ok? The same way, a river at source also is connected with the point where he meet the sea. Uhm? It’s a wide sense.
So between the “why” and the “for what” points, remember the river may have calms and some fast places, waterfalls, etc. happening.
Think as the water from the ocean may take some few days and weeks from the sea to the clouds and rain again into earth. That will start the cycle again to run into the sea. A giant river like the Amazon means just many weeks from the highest mountain until reach the sea again.

And here is interesting to observe and remember. There are the fast times in the life cycle of the water. From the ocean to clouds and back to the earth again in the top of the mountains.
There are rapids, falls and even some swamps where the water get trapped.
This is very related to emotions as cited before.
So the “calm” replies may also add this aspect.
Emotions can vary from happiness, to calm flow, stagnation areas and even to fear.
So even fear is a “calm” aspect of feelings. The most fear, the most vulnerable.
Fear can make someone become rigid.
How is the water in the poles or in the most high mountains? It got frozen. Ice. But even that ice someday will become fluid again. That water just choose to stay for a while, or better, a long time at such places and receive more of the energy such places have. Just think why so many people fall in love to climb and stay there, the high mountains, or at the poles. Emotions got so calm and can be observed at same time others aspects can be worked. Like observe large horizons.
To learn what fear is can make a warrior to become a hero. To go over the fear and act.
But also, fear help to the warrior does not act like a stupid suicidal.
Such images can be very deep at your most ancient memories and show things in a way you will fear or even fall in love with.

At the end, give thanks for their presence and dismiss them.
The water you used you can just throw it at the earth, like a garden to release the energy.


Wind
Photo: BenKrohn - Finland

The Air Oracle

This as the earth, can be a very rare oracle to work.
The Air will work at first on your mind. The ideas level.
What your mind is doing just now?
Stop for a moment and observe what’s really happening inside your head now.
How many different thoughts you can observe at once?
The mind area too often is very busy with a lot of events and ideas and remembering all that is happening at once.
At same time you are doing something, remembering others, plus a lot of images from current and even past events.
Just now your mind is working with this text, but also everything related with the room you are, feelings, body sensations, any sounds sources AND due this, presenting information from your memory related to all that.
Add to this, all subconscious level workings.
Your mind is like a crazy machine doing thousands of works at same time.
Every image, sound, body sensation is being compared to everything your memory have registered searching for some pattern or related topic.
You just look to something before and that brings into your current thoughts an older event?
But that also happens to something you saw times ago. Your mind took that and keep comparing, searching it at the memory files.
Is very common someone to “remember” an event due something that happened times before. In practice, your mind had been working all this time trying to do a match.
Have you think why that happened? Simple, just because the most simple thing you see, listen or think, even a smell, is compared to everything in you memory. That means, millions of events happening and you was not aware. And that can take a long time.
Got worried because all that? No worries, its just what a brain do. And this is a reason we suggest to learn some practice like meditation. To improve your brain and also your soul.

So how to get some oracle in the air?
The air is invisible!
Well, meditation practices works first to make you became just an observer. It’s not just to calm your mind, but to keep aware of that and let your soul fly free. Just to say so.
The replies the air oracle present can appears to be disconnected of other aspects, just appears something blowing in the wind.
The air elements at first are invisible. Or not. Just remember the sky appear to be blue because the sun light. 
You can feel the air due the light or because the wind.
So as the other elements, strong air movements are not safe for trying a reading. Like a hurricane.
But the wind is fresh. Like a calm river or lake.

But when there’s no wind, how to get it?

The oracle of the air is something to be worked usually at open areas.
And better near the nature.
So if you are among oppressive buildings in the city, or a closed room there are few opportunity to the elemental forces be acting without restriction.
They will be there anyway, but that also means you must be really able to get that.
So open areas, even a calm street in town area will be better.
This oracle is a bit different to open.
You may be seat in a nice place in the woods, meditating, or in the beach, or seated in you house’s garden.
This is a best condition. A calm mind and a receptive state.
But due the initiations I had, I observed it will work also anywhere, I say even walking in the street and on need of some information. But see, this is due practical training and even so, not all times a so good work condition and hard to get what is just your mind or a proper reply from the air.

As any oracle, the best is to take a time to do the reading you need.
Have a proper place and time.
As before, use your voice and command to the oracle of the air be opened for you.
The images you will get are direct into your mind level. Like ideas coming from somewhere.
Remember as commented, our brain can even be a crazy machine. You need to learn to calm your mind and be able to separate what is coming outside from your own work.
But as the fire and the water have different ways to present to you, as light or the wet emotional images, the same way the air have some aspects to observe.
The first, is moving. The wind.
A good idea is to have near something to observe, like trees, plants or even the smoke from a source. Their movements may have a meaning during the oracle of the air.
Here you will not be talking with the trees not the fire. Just using part of that to observe what the air is doing.
And for sure, the best of all, is feeling the wind around you.
When you have the pleasure of the wind, you will note how the wind is touching you, gentle or not, trying to move your head to look to some point and get an image from that place.
When you have wind, this happens, he can be like a lover hand touching you and suggesting ideas and some will again, just be flashing into your head.
Sometimes you may even note the wind touching you, but everything around is quiet. No one leaf in the trees are moving. This happened using smoke in a bonfire. I was very closer feeling the wind, but the smoke was straight as if nothing was happening.
Another was a personal reading during a Sabbath, using the wind for this, the person just in front of me had her hair and clothes moving but I felt nothing touching me. The wind was showing what was behind her thoughts and she was forced to confirm everything I told.
Yes, the elements oracles can be used for live readings when you get it.
There are more working with the air oracles.
There are the wind. But if not, you may feel changes in temperature, heat or cold that do not match the place in anyway.
Sometimes on sunny days the hot air moving up makes visible shadows on the ground, like cement, rock or sand, as if they were waves. Note this, too.
Also may happens oppressive conditions, like to be hard to breath.
I cited to dislike using candles for oracles, but once I asked the air oracle and a candle suddenly seemed to have been crushed, the flame almost erased as I asked for confirmation of the mental image I had, then suddenly the candle shone with the air as a confirm. This was a try working with this oracle inside my temple room. Another reason I talk about drastic changes in temperature. But such things happens at open places. Another was in a mountain, a very cold place and the air became hot in a way I had related messages. .
Such changes are physical to show the air is there, but such have to be related to some images or intuition you have at same time.
To say soo, such changes are just like air elementals spirits foolish. They are invisible, but they like to say they are near too.

Be sure to give thanks to the air elements. They are listening everywhere.
At the end, give thanks for their presence and dismiss them. 


Big Rock
Photo: Ruben - Vlc, Catalonia - Spain


The Earth Oracle

The earth is the most brute and the most unknown oracle.
It's the oracle of the big rocks. 
It will put you on the ground. How things in the planet was created and where they go?
This oracle often works on large period’s points of view. Not just immediate needs, but the teachings about your path in life, getting wisdom, understand how things work in a wide time lapse.
While the other elements can have short life cycles, the earth may often means hundred thousand years or even millions of years for just something happens.
This is the oracle of the big rocks.
But few times to be practiced with the small ones.
For sure crystals, or just some mirrors done with a piece of stone are great. But that are used most as divination tool.
With a great luck, one may find a not so big one, uhm, 2-3 foot size to become an oracle. But such one are rare and must be very special, taken direct from the ground and be untouched before. Still, will be like a baby rock. 
For a real oracle purpose, the best are the big ones at distant nature places and as possible, untouched or with rare contact with people so they keep their pure aspects.
Rocks need a long rest time when are disturbed. The good sculptors know they should let the stone rest in nature for a long time when they are moved or worked.
Do not mess with the old ones.
To find the ancient nobles, one must go into the mountains, deserts, cliffs or rocky coastlines.
Such ones are often the working place for initiation rites on ancient paths.
There are places with some sacred rocks who receive offerings due their power. People does not go there to do an offering for a spirit, but for the rock, or even a mountain.
As any other living being, some rocks have more power than others do.
Some ancient traditional groups had some simple practices, like to be closer a specific big rock for a long time. Like for mystic warrior challenges, standing under the sun, without water as long as possible. Or just to be under that big rock without any protection for rain, wind or cold. They are there to listen the rock and receive their ancient wisdom.
The rock is part of that and the seeker is going to get connected with its energy.
To be so closer such big elements is to face the planet most oldest beings.

Sometimes we have some big problem in life like bad memories and regrets. The type we talk about with other people sometimes. A hurt or sadness that needs to be forgotten and this can be very difficult.
If one goes to talk about that at the hair stylist, that's just gossip and receive more gossip in return. Not so much different with most people. They will reply just telling you about their problems and nothing got solved, but just the opposite, that feed the problem with more bad energy.
However, to talk to one of that older big ones rocks, for a last time is a final cut. They will hear what you have to say but contrary to people, they will return only the pure energy of nature, of growth. This same practice also work with big older trees. They are elder ones.
Telling your sorrows to these great natural beings is a way to end a cycle and leave behind something that bothers you greatly.
This is an aspect of the earth oracle. They listen too.
Get this? Any oracle in practice is a two way communication. They listen and reply.
The earth oracle is most suitable for a spiritual seeker. A warrior.
As the other oracles, it may be approached with great respect.
The rock may dislike you and fall over your head. Or make you have a bad step following, and you will jump in a cliff.
To found one, you need to walk in the woods, a coastline, a riverside or at the desert, wherever until meet a proper place. As told before, at distant places.
The work you have to be there is part of your prepare to ask for the oracle.
Seat or stand in front of the rock and stay quiet all the needed time to observe until the rock pay attention to you.
Remember, they have a long life, far away from your common idea about life, before any known modern civilization. Yes, there was many others before. So they don’t pay too much attention to fast events. That can need a long time until you have a message, a vision on the rock surface or even feeling to be moved to see another reality level.
May be you have the opportunity to found a smaller one, as cited before, 2-3 foot size, or even bigger, to adopt and let it rest undisturbed at your backyard for months and years so the stone relax and become an antenna for the inner planet energy.  That’s will be priceless.

When you finish, thanks for their presence and dismiss them.

Cooling off at Lynn Headwaters in North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Photo: Ann Badjura

Some final notes

If you have the opportunity of proper nature places for such workings, sometimes you will observe more than one element to be very near.
For example, you may find a big rock just closer a river. This way, you can invoke the energy of the water to expand your inner vision, and then ask the rock to open the oracle for you. This way you may flow better into the visions of the rock.
Doing the opposite, first asking to the rock to support you and then invoking the oracle of the water will help you to have a ground and not be caught into some emotional aspects that sometimes happens.
Same when you have a place to work with a bonfire, be near the water of the rocks.
Or just the wind you will find moving more near big rock areas or near a river.

Always at finish give thanks and dismiss the energies you invoked.

Always remember for physical safety.
If you are aside a cliff, you may be sure you are grounded before working with the wind.
If you choose the water, also be sure you are fixed at place as even some strange or even stupid accidents may happens if you enter at the water. For example, is not good idea to enter in a lake during the oracle even if the elementals invite you.
Never let an unattended candle. If you finish the work, most of times is Ok to finish the fire.
In the case of a bonfire, you must be sure it is finished and is safe to leave the area. Be careful! Do not start a forest fire!

Do not let any human garbage at the place. That will be very disrespectful to the spirits you called before.

To improve your skills, walk at the nature always as you can.
You will discover nature grow anywhere even in a city.
Learn to be quiet and just observe this way learning about the energy at each place.
With time, you will expand your senses.

.'.

P+ 
16/11/2016

domingo, 17 de julho de 2016

Memory versus Learning





Memory versus Learning


From times to times I meet someone who is very proud to know by head a lot of information.

But how much this is usefull?

This is an article where I do a mix about corporate software development and the occult study areas as I have told for some years, I found my work to be a whole at all.

Ok. If your company dislike because I love to walk at mountains and nature places there's no problem. People have personal lives. And my work as any other professional worker is what I do for life and to help companies growing.But personal interests are not of your business most of times and we observed any skilled talents in the market have other areas of interest to add to their experience and skills.

So we have a lot of information we receive in life, plus all training and experiences. This is what make us reach levels of expertize and being able to solve our work needs.

So there are many levels. Some will do only the basic, others will be able to work alone, others will be able to create and to do. Some others will lead and teach others. And few will reach the "wisdom level".  Each company need all of them.


I fully agree with this quote cited as being from Einstein:
Never memorize something that you can look up.- Albert Einstein"
Here is the comment about at the site Brightdrops:
"This is more true today than it was back in Einstein’s time, because the Internet means you can look just about anything up. That frees the mind from having to memorize useless facts and figures and explore deeper thoughts that require creativity and imagination, two things that Einstein prized above all else. It’s true that even some of the most successful business people followed this strategy. Henry Ford was once questioned about how smart he was and retorted that he could get the answer to any question with just the push of a button, so why did he have to know it?"

My comments:

For sure at school and university and some level exams you need to know for each area, a lot of information. 
And for times ahead, for example, if you chose an area like Medicine. A doctor must know a lot of principles related to so many areas and be able to identify the most symptoms as fast as possible.

One way to do it is often review your study and reread even old books. Our memory is a machine and need be oiled, Ok? So is very good to add new material, but also give a look even at some very basic materials. And as a book lover, I had many old books I reread sometimes.

Uhm, well, that is what we expect from most doctors and the really good ones can do it. 
But not all times. The purpose is to understand the information you get and develop your own expertise.

With time you have to be able to know how to use it. Keep what is important, have the main principles and understand what is needed to develop it.

Even the character Dr. House from the TV series who was really brilliant needed to search for information. 

My "uncle" Mr Spock was so brilliant but many times had researched for information too. Star Trek fans will remember he was too often at the computer researching, but other times at his personal place meditating and working on yourself.



Ok. There are the information needed and at what is needed to know about to deal with it. 


To me, the important is not how much information you can keep at mind ready to call it at once.

The important is if you is able to use it. To know how to use it!

Even some occult orders appears to pay atention to how much information you can have at mind.
What?
Uhm, Ok, for sure the good ones have people skilled to just talk with someone and to be able to see who is who.


But what the difference this have to any professional area?

To me, none.
For companies, a leveled professional must talk with someone skilled for just few minutes for a match. No stupid basic school test as some still does. Most of times that is rude.

Sorry friends at any of such groups as I've been able to talk with any people at any of my work areas in respectful ways at all levels.

What some are looking for? 

I'm sad to comment, I had talked with so many people who work in a way to make sure their companies will broke soon.  They do not look for a wide scene.

Ok, about to know. A simple example: you may know how to do a very nice better barbecue? Great!!! Please, invite me, I'm a very bad at cuisine!

Anyways, I still know the theory about how to make the fire and the meat, but most of you just are better at the cuisine. LOL...


Yes!!! Just because I like a barbecue this in no ways means I have to be so good doing it!

Barbecue done in a typical south Brasil way."Churrasco".

Information is only data. Useless without the expertize for practice. 
A scholar is someone who love research. A scientist, some skilled software developers, a medicine doctor and many others.

And many scholars don't know all that information by head!
Get this? If you visit a scholar at work most for sure you will see a lot of books for reference opened around. Just for curiosity, now I have nine books plus printings and notes around me I'm using this week. Plus usually a dozen tabs opened at the internet browser for references I'm looking for. They will be back to the stand but next day I get more up the tables.
A reason we love libraries!


So well, why I became a writer?

For sure not because I know everything by head!

I use to say I become a writer because I don't like to remember too much things, no matter the expertise I may develop on it. 

And why? Just because I know where I can find the information I need.

I may write about computer development work, a fantastic fiction tale or something about the occult or my experiences on human development. 

What I really need is to know what to do. Dot.

Despite some capability to write since early age, my first formal article came to public only in 1986.

It was a ten pages article for for a local Computerworld journal (The DataNews Journal), about advanced software development of online systems (CICS/VS) for IBM mainframes. A high level technology and was ten pages at first. Wow! Guess how I felt! And the publisher did a lot on the Ads... LOL... 

But how I started that about writing? 
Just doing what I do almost all days since I remember. I always used to read a lot and was saving information and taking notes about my study. 
How many people goes to the bathroom with a 300 pages computer manual or an occult book? I was one since the 70s.  
And there was a lot of big books to study. Not only one, but usually a dozen each with 300-400 pages to read just for one area. And the need for practices few have did. 
Any  coincidence with occult area? Just to cite as you become better at some area, this will help to the others areas too. Need discipline and practice.

Computers to me always was related with the occult. And no mysticims about.  Just is something you need to go deep and try a lot, have errors and learn from that.


Both areas goes deep into realms with a wide knowledge to explore. 
And you can use your imagination to develop a personal method to work.


 
For sure I have a lot of processed information in my brain, but I have no memory about working only by head in life, but always working with all much I was using at time plus the need for references. 

And may be you do not know, astronauts who went to the moon had manuals to use all the time. They was real heros!
I remember to see photos of the Nasa people, all the team, doing trainings seated at the floor, not nice rooms, they was on extreme pressure and have to get the information as soon as possible, and put it in practice.
Just to remember, most of photos you will find about that missions had most seniors professionals, working hard, not only fashion teens as we see at many company profiles.


Apollo astronauts learning to survive in the depths of the Panamanian jungle.
Source: psyched4sport

Learning about the jungle is very related with many practical aspects of business. Are you able to continue despite the worst troubles?


So I found at some time, I had so many information collected to become an article and started to publish. This is how it started. Collecting notes. And I never stopped.


The result from that article was interesting. I received a lot of letters from all major companies in my country while my boss (who had a copy of the journal in his desk) tryed to ignore it because he knew my salary was not so good... (LOL...) and used to recognized me after being called due costumers... I was a big reference in the market that time....  
Funny but true. 

Ok, I was not after his aproval. The first is my own. And a hundreds of good ones had returned too.  


This have happened to my softtware professional area and at the occult areas.

Remember, I use to say I see my work very related to all these areas. Human kind evolution and computers.
Sometime we will have a development level very advanced. Many are just Sci-fi for now. 


I'm not against yours approval of this or that.

A main point if you have a work you know to be true and work for it. 

Not all people will agree with you. 
And many will question what you are doing in all possible ways. 


And the first way I point all times is: I'm not a scholar! I'm a practictioner! 


What your company pay atention for? To know or just only know the current fashion tool? 
To just obbey orders or have oppinions to create and make your company grown?

There's not much difference using tools from centuries or the internet fashion tools. 


You must to know what to look for!

Juan Manuel Fangio
A guy who really knew how to do it.



Sorry people, I won't appears in a chat and be ready to talk by mind an entire text from an old grimoire or whatever on technology. 
Nor I will be able many times to present by head a work about a computer software among dozens I've worked. But I can talk by myself at any time and if I have few hours to get into something new or not it may surprise you.

I work to learn and develop about how to do it at my areas!

I love Juan Manuel Fangio as a big example. 
This guy had not automatic machines. He driven F1 cars in brute. No computers. No fantastic machines. Just a man and the tool he chose.

This guy for life, until dead, received each week visitors, the best pilots of the world, and guess for what? Just because he was knew as being a Master in his work. The most famous pilots came into him to learn and give respect. In practice, he worked his entire life. 

I will repeat this to so company leaders: Juan Manuel Fangio was visited until his dead by people who came to learn with him how to drive. They never was against the tools. 

If you pay atention for the tools only, you are ready to become a looser

Like a company where they only goes after costs. They will broke soon for sure. 

Creativity, being produtive is the first. 
Never, but never about having some information by head. 

You must to know how to use it.. 



Any good pilot will be ready to learn and drive a machine. Get this company managers? A decent professional must know what to do. The tool is only the way we may use.

So I will be able to comment at instant about how things work. 
If I need a phormula, I know where to get it. 
At internet times we have lots of sources. One must be able to filter all bulshit, find the best forums, and for sure, look for the best authors and books. 

When it is some tool I have not worked, I will be ready to recognize what I need to follow on that. 

This is Learning. 

I don't pay a f*ck if someone only know the current computer software tool. This is not so different from dozens I had used in deep for years. 

Remember when Nokia had to admit they lose their creativity near to broke? Hummm?? I had an article in 2009 about intrusions on people life many years before that is a critical reason to loose profesionals. A senior manager commented in public article to prefer hiring a criminal instead a smoker so I had to comment about some human and company aspects. Real talents have a real life. But if your company chose a raper, a murder or any other criminal because dislike someone personal interest, well, pay the price and I really wish that won't affect your family. Or better, remember you have a family. 

And going into the occult, want to learn another Grimoire area? What you need to follow? The Great Art is also named The work of God. This means standarts to follow, discipline, brain work, not became a saint, Ok? 


Why real good creative people does not want to work at your company? 

I suggest you to read this fantastic Aaron Shapiro's article, and it is very up to date to any area where talent is needed: Why Digital Talent Doesn’t Want To Work At Your Company.



And if this is about occult, there are a lot to do, and I will follow that for the needed time.


Memory is good to immediate needs, like the ceremonial rituals you are working for many time. 

But just to know phrases by head never, but never is the same as to know how to deal with that. 

I'm always far aways from the ultimate goal,

But I'm always sure about what I want to do and with some decent idea about how it can be done and most of all, be ready to discover a new way for that!


Want to grow your business? Grow your mind!


P+
17/07/2016
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quarta-feira, 20 de abril de 2016

Extreme Tarot Readings and Some of The Art Behind It

Image source: www.thejohnniechair.com


Extreme Tarot Readings and Some of The Art Behind It


Sometimes I had the opportunity to do what I call "extreme readings".
That are readings on fly, very short, for a lot of people at minimum time.
I say, something like one or two minutes maximum.
I will talk here using the Tarot as a good example. But in practice sometimes I used other oracles, like stones, peanut shells, broken sticks, metallic clips, nails, etc. Well, I developed an ability to read almost anything as an oracle. Someday I will write about how each work really different,  

So I will try to give some information more related to the aspects of doing a good decent reading, whatever the oracle you choose.

To make extreme readings will push your limits to show you really know what are you doing.

For example, you are in a bar, a party, in a park or barbeque with friends, or during a Sabbath,  you have your deck and you start doing readings for people and sudden, they become a lot.
Sometimes that can really became a fury, and many people want listen you.
Trust me. If you never exposed yourself to the public, be prepared for an avalanche of emotional requests, business opinions and with luck, some really very interesting ones. Some of the best people I knew, the ones who really make this a better world, and some of the best students I had I found this way.
And a lot of interference. I wish you already have learned how to work and know to enter in a calm state, focused and not allowing any intrude energy to disturb you. In public places is funny how many spirits you will find trying to make a mess too (read the final comment please). Plus some drunk people. A good time to remember about protection circles and all that stuff. But in such places, your personal protection area must be done silently. Remember this never but never can be a circus show. If you know how to do, you will be able to go unnoticed. This is a good point for you.


In practice, is easy to find people doing minor readings, like 5-10 minutes at many places, like fairs, public events. Many are good readers and many are just learning. In the 90s for a time I used to seat under a big tree in a park and do 5 minutes readings for the people. Was very interesting to know more about people and to do some money.

Lots of tarot (or any Oracle) readers may do short readings sometimes taking 5 to 10 minutes.


Many times I did "extreme readings" (1-2 minutes) even for free, and many do this way. Most of times just happens. Ok. Just remember to cleanup yourself after that. This is a reason to bill something. Even a such short work can bring you some very unpleasant attached energies. As shit may happens during a reading, see my final commentary at end of this text.

Note: I'm commenting about situations for doing extreme readings and how work with that. This is not a service I do as the reader will got tired after a session of extreme reading the same as doing complete readings for all that people. It's a matter of results, not time.


The most important to understand is: this is not a competition, it's not a car race, nor a circus show.
Some people who make public mystic fairs are always after someone to do a show for nothing. This is not the case.

The goal is to do a good reading as you will be improving your skills and yourself to be more able to talk less but with a complete overview.
If you need five minutes it's Ok. May be with time you will need just some seconds, for a direct and clear phrase to answer the client.

Many of us will have such experiences and that are good for training if you are starting.
But some people will expect a lot from you if you are experienced. I say, really a lot. Yes, there are the true interested, but also you will meet opportunists who will give you a lot of headache. So, it's an opportunity to learn to protect yourself.

But what is a short extreme reading as I will comment?
A short reading can be just a phrase, a specific comment, related with the person need. But this have to be complete in my point of view.
And this is my purpose here, to comment some aspects about a doing complete Tarot reading in a minute or two.
See, for "complete reading" in no ways you will talk about the entire life of your client, but the reply must be the needed to the question.


You are ready for a short extreme reading when you can see at once, just a second, all you need, even to talk for a long time with just one card. But I will keep in the 1-2 minutes limit, Ok?


Son of the Sun
Photo by Mathieu Degrotte - France


But what you can see in a "one card reading"?

The reply is simple: You can see all you need related to the question, the why and how, if something is hidden, the for what and even possible incomes.
This start just working with the most basic meaning, the "title" for each card. This is all you need, a simple, basic idea.Then the elements, the numbers, symbols. All that with time become part of your intuition too. And more, the personal wisdom you develop.
And as your skills increase, your capabilities to understand situations, people, companies, this become a phrase, a complete idea you can understand and express.

I always use the "one card reading" in my formal readings too, not just for short readings.
I always ask "whats happening?"
In a short reading, I just get the general idea and talk about that.
But in a formal reading this means I have more time to comment on detail.

So I first use just one card to see what is happening and that is the general line I follow and everything I do later will be related with that card.
As for years I do most readings to distant foreign people, by e-mail, I have more time to write. This is the same for a live reading (when I do). So with time I will talk about the whole scene I see.The result can be some pages plus any other information I see is needed to add. For example, may be what I'm talking about is related to some area so I will add information related to that. Some people don't know how care of himselves and need guidance, and this is what I do more, look who you are and what you need to know to follow on your path. But see, for an extreme reading, I have to get the main aspects and go direct to that and trust me, it's possible to add even guidance on that. This is not a matter of cut words, but learn to be direct.

Some readings may need some extra information, and this is Ok. The "one card" gave the needed information, but the client may have some adventure ahead, a business need, a life change they are on fear to do.  For such cases, I like to put three more cards if I really want to go on some detail already present at the initial card. Usually some variation of the standard "Situation-What to do-Results". Remember this have variations, like "Past-Present-Future", or "Background-Whats happening-what look for".
Each case is different and you must learn to explore such possibilities as needed. Remember, what is the main information from the "one card" to keep on track. That will guide you about how to explore more or not.


Following. I commented you will be receiving a lot of information.

How are your connection with the world of symbols you get?

This apply to any Tarot reading. And for any other Oracle in my opinion.

Each card have a major meaning, and have a lot of symbols drawn on it.
But the real reading comes when you go ahead, use the card as a door to the another realm, the sources of the information you are looking for.
Remember first what is the card title and the ideas related.


The Calender
Art by Mattias Adolfsson - Sweden


Now look about the sources of information:

You will have two kind of information sources coming from the Tarot:
1) The first is what you will see about your client, the person for who you are doing the reading.You will enter at his/her personal realm.
2) The second information is what the Tarot will show you.

Both are present at the card you get. And this can also give you an image at your mind, even a complete movie in a second.
So remember, the Tarot is a connection to his/her private life and will add information/symbols related to what you see.


Please, remember, be respectful. You are entering in the most sacred place: a personal life, so keep your prejudices and personal ideas and interests out!


You must understand, in a reading is the Tarot who will reply. You must process the information, and only when you are able to, comment more about with your study and personal life experience.

But not to judge your client because your personal choices.

What I want to make clear is some of your personal ideas can't interfere with the reading. Your personal preferences, like sports, sex, politics, kind of food, money, prejudices, etc. such conceptions about life style most of times are not the question.This is what charlatans and oportunists do most of times, just try to use the information to cheat or manipulate the client.


Warning: To keep your life apart in no ways means lack of ethics!

Please understand: to help who really want help/evolution is not the same as reply to anyone.
So, you does not have to help criminals or to harm others. I knew many who do this deeply in practice. To help someone to commit a crime make you a criminal too. Dot.

You are free to not reply on such questions. Just say bye.

So lets your reading flow.

Mystic River
Photo by Bill - United States


How to interpret the "one card" or short spread you are doing?  


The Tarot most of times will be very explicit just at the first card. As I told, is a wide image of what is happening.
So we have the card title and a image or just the idea related like in the Minor Arcana.

So that "one card" give you an image. Wish you developed your intuition, your senses are Ok and you are not affected by the environment. This is important when working for really beautiful clients or some famous people, they can be very boring or attractive. LOL...


Developing reading skills will make it s always clear to understand? No. It will not.

Even I recognize one and other time that "one card with the whole image" appears really strange, I say, really have no sense at first look. Yes, sometimes I look that card and I say to myself: "What?" This will happens with you, be sure.
So be humble and use a simple method, that is very useful also to learn more the Tarot. As you feel by experience, ask for one or two cards at once to explain the first one. Easy and simple, just talk to the Tarot "Please, explain the card I received".
When such strange conditions happens, the additional card may show additional hidden aspects you and sometimes the client are unaware or try to hidden. Or will show the question is really different and offer a complete different point of view. There are many possibilities. And yes, some clients will lie to you and you need to be able to go through it.

When doing short readings, people may or not have specific questions. Many just want a "message for this time".
And even when they have specific questions, remember most of them are not really able to express what they want or the question is really wide.
Anyways, you must be able to get the whole scene and interpret it at once.

And here again the idea of a door to the other realm, and there is your client world, with everything you can see (or even think was possible) and all the symbols the card is presenting for you.

Now you have what the client asked (or not), how his/her the private life is about that and the Tarot symbols about the situation.


An important note: Be aware, as you develop your skills and your personal wisdom, one and other time the Tarot may give a short and direct reply to you. Yes, sometimes the reply have nothing with the client, but is a message to your personal point of view, or an advice about something you have to know or change. The deeper you goo, this will happens too. So be prepared for a card with a message like "Use your experience to comment about N" or even "Hey stupid, not this way!". LOL...


So you have all it, let's talk.

First, be respectful. This is a major rule for both sides.

You will have a client who is ready to listen. Others not so ready due personal concerns, family traditions, etc. They need learning.

And some really don't want to listen, whatever you say. The same for opportunists wanting a lot from you. They will suck you the most they can. Do not waste your time with none of these. Really.


It is always important to say the truth. But be calm about this.
For some people, the truth can be a punch in the stomach so try to look around how you can be gentle and at the same time, explain the needed points. 
In this part, not always the Tarot will show you the client is "sensible". You must learn more about people too. 
Anyways, as you make your muscles stronger, you will be Ok when one and other talk bad about you because you "did a bad reading and that was not what they wanted". 

When you are true, it allows people to see you without masks. Are you perfect, without problems like some do for self promotion? Be sure I'm not and I had really a lot of deep good and bad experiences few people had. 

So be clear, who deserve what you do will get it.
You can always talk about the truth, just observe how you do it.



Many Tarot teachers talk about to develop your intuition. Practices like meditation will help a lot. Yes, this is very good and needed.
But you also need to go through the world of the symbols to be able to get the understanding of the scene related with that. Less is more, so work to develop this,

Some magickal areas and religions where they use some kind of oracle call this capability as something like "to receive a ray of light". Uhm, a nice image to describe it.


At the initial years, is common to the reader try to analyze all the symbols in each card. And there are a lot to learn and study. And this can do a lot of mess due too much information.

The Tarot symbols are important to to study, but see all this information as part of a cake you will cook. The result is the cake and you will just taste it without think about all many ingredients and how it was done.
Get this? With time and experience you will start to get the final taste, the meaningful result of the reading.

For example, you can look a picture of people and say at once if it is funny, if they are happy or not and how nice the place is. You does not need to fix your attention to each point of the image. You must learn to see the whole scene.


At the reading you have the client and a scene you received. What comes to your mind first of all?
This first imagery uses to be what is really happening, what you need to know.
For sure, as an instant movie, you can talk a lot about or just take the principal.



But how to get there?

Study, knowing well the basics and the main general aspects for each arcana.

There are many spreads that help you to learn the main: how to ask and how to get the information.
Ready layout spreads helps a lot on this, just because you divide the question in parts that make easier to interpret.
Remember, always you use some kind of spread, say to the Tarot do the reply using such layout.

Then ask about the whole question like "whats happening to X?"

Remember to disconnected from your personal opinions and follow with the reading.



Additional final comments:

Even in a short extreme reading you may get any of the possible interferences or strange events.
As I told, Tarot is like a door to other realms.
And what can happens when you open such door? Intruders!
Yes, even in a simple one card reading you can receive undesired interference, like opportunist spirits.
And more of that, when you open the door for the other person realm, may be he/she is being attacked someway. This mean, such spirits/forces my use the connection you did and come after you.

So remember, at the start is good to enter a relaxed state, do a prayer you choose specifically for such a moment and ask for protection.
At end, give thanks and release any spirits/forces you may had evoked and close your deck.
If needed, after all, do a banishment to assure nothing else is left around.

Extreme readings can be tiresome because of the required concentration. Whatever you choose to do, the best after a session of reading, is to do something to relax, walk, have a time playing music, etc.

Study, practice. Wish you have fun!

P+
20/04/2016

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To High Region
Art by Kirk Quilaquil - United Kingdom


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Leia também: 


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Consultas e atividades com Gilberto Strapazon

Consultas e Trabalhos em Magia - Portuguese text


Readings and Magic Works - English text


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