From: walkea@vccnorthb.its.rpi.edu (Alexander Walker)
Subject: Daily Life and the Solitary Practice
Date: 14 Oct 1993 04:26:58 GMT

Ignore this if you read it on alt.magick, I got a good response from
it when I posted it there so I thought I'd cross post it here for
those interested who don't subscribe to that group.

Remember: this was originally written for ceremonial magicians, if
your true blue Pagan, mentally substitute Pagan for ceremonial
magicians and your Deep Self for the HGA.

Notice: I wrote this essay for newcomers to magick and browsers of
this channel. It contains some things that have helped me in the past
years on the path.

	A person desiring to practice magick that either doesn't have
the luxury or the desire to join an organization and/or gain personal
instruction can still learn this art/science safely and effectively.
The only limits are the excuses that come from daily life that neither
afford time nor resources to practice any sort of spiritual living.
Studying, work, and stress always seem to conspire together to
disallow anything but a mundane and embittered outlook on life.  For
those solitary practitioners (and perhaps those who aren't can gain
something from this) who find time and resources hinderances in their
practice, I have found some things that have been a great help to me:
	
	[1]	Never allow excuses.  If you make an excuse to skip 
		practicing no matter how dire the circumstances, it 
		can and will degrade into a slump.  

	[2]	If time truly is short, simple daily practices such
		as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram can 
		be done imagining the temple, the tools and the garb
		
	[3]	If you have to do the above often, schedule a time 
		at least once or twice a week where the ritual is in
		full garb.

	[4]	In class or at work, practice one's asana.  I don't
		mean any fancy contorted positions, rather simply 
		being aware of one's posture, keeping the spine erect,
		both feet flat, your mind attentive (i.e. not day 
		dreaming), and your breath simple and regular.

	[5]	Practice the adorations described in Liber Resh vel Helios
		or as re-presented in Donald Kraig's "Eleven Lessons
		in the High Magickal Arts".  They are excellent reminders
		during the day for keeping focused on the Great Work.

	[6] 	If you can, try to love everything and everyone you
		come in contact with remembering not to condemn, 
		paraphrasing my favorite liber, for how do you know 
		that you would be any different given the same 
		conditions (many of which you could never know not 
		being that person/group).

	[7]	If 6 is too difficult to do on a truly sincere level,
		try simply appreciating everything's and everyone's 
		place in the scales and balance of the universe. 	 

	[8]	Train your will by making oaths (starting small at
		first). Ones I've used are not eating any junk food
		for one week,  not arguing with so-and-so no matter
		what they say for 24-hours,etc,etc. Creativity helps
		here (and truly everywhere).

	[9]	Affirm daily that the goal of all these practices and 
		more that you are doing are nothing less than the Great
		Work.  And that the enlightenment and spiritual 
		development that hard work in these areas make available
		are truly the only things in existence that really matter
		when you boil everything down.

	Meditation, consuming fewer chemicals, and reading about
magick, religion, philosophy, and other topics from many different
points of view are also great assets to the solitary ceremonial
magician.  Remember, in the last analysis, your path is between you
and you (you and your True self, your Holy Guardian Angel) and though
others can suggest helpful things, its your responsibility to
enlighten yourself.

Blessed Be, May all attain, Love is the Law, 

Live without Restriction,

Alex Walker