Raising Energy

As I was explaining to a friend yesterday, I never know what I will be writing on either of my blogs.  That which compels me is that of which I write.

Today I was doing some introspective soul searching on an issue and it felt right that I should write about raising energy.  Only because I will be doing something this afternoon that will be along the lines of minor nuclear holocaust to break through some blockages...but I digress.

As long as there have been people on this planet, they have used music (loosely defined as using something to make a noise be it rock, tree, hands, etc.) to move them along.  Whether it be a hard drumbeat to move a shaman from one state of consciousness to another, a flute to softly lull a child to sleep or clapping hands in time to words being spoken or sung.

Pagans use a variety of ways to enhance the energy of a group or individual working.  Most common, you will find are percussion instruments (drums, hands, tambourines) or chanting (is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds)  These tend to be the most common because they are the simplest to use, easily portable and something everyone can do.  However, anything that makes noise will do; rattles, hands banging on your lap, a nearby log and a couple of sticks.  

We raise energy for a variety of purposes.  When we cast spells, we need a medium for which the spell to enter the cosmos for its action to take root.  We use the energy we have raised, attach the spell to it and send it out into the cosmos for action.  From there, the spell starts to work and is moved forward with the energy already within the universe.  From a scientific perspective, we know that music, in any form has the ability to change peoples moods so its not surprising that we use music in some form to raise energy.  (Check out this study done in Sweden  http://www.academia.edu/1561576/Emotion_Induction_Through_Music_A_Review_of_the_Musical_Mood_Induction_Procedure )

In many Wiccan circles, we may refer to this raising of energy as a "cone of power".  If one was standing in the middle of a circle, and looked straight up through the center, a cone of energy might look something like this...

Some people can actually see the energy (I can't but I can feel it move up my body) and many of them describe it looking like this.  However, if you "see" it differently, that's OK too!

After then energy is raised, the person in charge, (usually the HP or HPS) will wait until they feel that the energy can't be contained anymore and allow it to move from the circle to the universe and speed it on its way to it's designated purpose.  

So what do we do after we have raised and released the energy? Invariably some of that energy clings to us.  We know that it does because many times people will feel "edgy" "jumpy" or like they just drank a pot of coffee at 9PM at night.  They report trouble sleeping, and sometimes even unusual dream patterns when they finally do fall asleep.

Excess energy must be grounded back to the earth from which is was pulled from.  This can be done in a variety of ways.  Putting your hands on earth or standing on some dirt tends to be very effective for many people.  Eating something is another good way, hence the reason so many groups have potlucks after rituals that involve energy work of some kind. For others, showers or long hot baths in lavender scented water works well too.  If you haven't found the best way for you, experiment with all the ones I have listed and if they don't work reach out to others in the Pagan community for more ideas.  In the end, it only has to work for you and if its' a non-traditional technique, who cares! 

Raising energy is a critical part of working in the Craft.  Learning how to manipulate it, mold it, raise it and give it purpose are skills that you will be using throughout your entire time in the Craft.  Learn it, learn it well and understand that it is all around us.