Living Temple Pt. 2: Living Temple

First off, welcome to the first post under the new brand of "Crossroads of Sorcery". I have some exciting things planned for this new brand so please stay tuned. Now without further adieu....

I want to present a brief exercise for connecting with your entire altar room or working space.

Sit in a straight back chair and use your preferred method of relaxation and reaching an altered state. Once you feel relaxed enough begin breath and deeply until you reach a natural rhythm. Once you reach a good rhythm begin to focus your internal flow of energy into a central point within your body (i.e. heart chakra or whatever works for you). With each inhale envision the energy flowing into that central point as if through a series of small astral veins. Continue this process until you feel comfortable that your internal "universe" has been drawn to that point.

Once you are ready to continue, on an exhale extend your energy from that center point into your altar before you. See it as a tendril of energy reaching from your heart chakra and into the the altar. Continue a cycle of deep breathing until you feel confident that this connection has been established. Once you are ready to continue, on an exhale begin to draw energy into yourself from the altar via the tendril. As you continue your breathing cycle keep drawing energy from the altar using the tendril and directing it toward your center. Feel the altar as a center piece of the working space and draw energy from the entire room into yourself. Eventually try to feel the room and your connection to it. As you inhale feel the room contract, and then expand on the exhale. It's energy is your energy, your will is it's will. You and the temple merge as one organism where each altar, fetish, talisman, and tool becomes an organ with it's own function and purpose. Take some time and meditate on this.

You can end that exercise there or take it one step further by extending this organism out to the universe. Continue your breathing and extend a stream of energy downward through your feet and deep into the earth. When I do this I focus on connecting with the underworld of my ancestors and the Chthonic forces. I then draw that energy in through three breathing cycles directing it up the spine and back toward my heart chakra. Then extend that energy up the spine out through the top of the head and into the cosmos. Draw that cosmic energy into your center for at least 3 breathing cycles. Now direct that new mix of energy to cycle back through the rest of your energy body and also send it pulsing and shining outward from your temple in all directions. The more times you practice this the quicker it becomes to perform. I do this every Monday. If anyone tries this out I would love to hear from you.

The Living Temple Pt. 1: Your Living Altar

This morning I was doing a weekly upkeep of both may ancestral and main working altars. One major part of the upkeep for my working altar is feeding it, that's right I said feeding. I do this by sprinkling fresh water, and rum on it to nourish the spirits that gather around and empower it. After my sabbatical I fed the altar for the first time in months and felt the altar spring back to life and radiate energy. I was then promptly scolded by the spirits on my responsibilities as a sorcerer with tending the temple being the most important.

It got me to thinking about how some view the altar. Many see it as a place where sacred and consecrated things are set upon, but not as sacred in itself. It is a magical tool in it's on right without a doubt. Each sorcerer's altar will begin to take on a life and vibe all it's on over time that is a reflection and extension of the worker. It is certainly a bond a relationship that deserves respect from the magician. Of course here I am focusing on the personal altar, but I feel the same about altars set up for other reasons, be it prosperity or dedicated to a patron or deity.

The next time you sit in front of your altar, lay hands on it. Connect, commune, and listen to it. You just might learn something.

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