Dancing Down the Moon

Ways of Prayer, part 3 - Spiritual Soundtracks

Considering I can't sing worth a damn and don't play any musical instruments, music is surprisingly vital to my path.  I am our coven ritual DJ; I've been known to spend hours trying to combine just the right pieces to capture the mood I want to convey for our Circles.  As I've said before, I consider my iPod a magical tool.  I think of music the way I think of incense:  one wisp of scent, one verse, can completely change your state of mind, taking you from screaming rage to peace in a matter of minutes. 

I've already posted a list of music that I use in ritual, as well as some suggestions of music for ecstatic dance (one of my absolute favorite ways of prayer); there’s another category of songs, however, I find equally important. 

Ways of Prayer, part 2 - Goddess Breath

This morning I'd like to offer a practice I discovered very recently: the Goddess Breath.

First I'd like to comment that it's odd, and lovely, how the universe aligns to bring you somewhere. 

One day you think idly to yourself, "I wonder if I should learn more about ducks?" From that moment, ducks are suddenly everywhere--you hear songs about them on the radio, someone yells "Duck!" at you as you're walking down the street just before a piano hits you from ten stories, someone gives your child a stuffed duck…you're lousy with ducks.  Being too mystically savvy to believe it mere coincidence, you take up duckology, and before you know it you have become a black belt in duck-fu, and life is full of beauty and opportunity.  (And bread, because ducks love bread.)

Lately the gods have conspired to lead me to some very interesting places in my practice--all because I was willing to open the door and step outside myself.

Ways of Prayer, part 1 - Mala Meditation

Mercury retrograde has officially slapped my ass and named me its new love-toy.  Out of four attempts at insightful and intelligent blog posts this week, all four have ended in muddled, frustrated failure.  Oy. You’ll note that my one post of substance was actually written a year ago. 

Rather than trying to delve into the depths of any particular spiritual concept, then, I thought I would share my latest mystical love affair: mala meditation.  I hope this will be the first of several posts about global ways of prayer that can be adapted (with, of course, utmost respect to their cultures of origin, and the appropriate homework done beforehand) to Pagan practice.