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Awakening Spirit: WISE Seminary, First Year Certification for Wiccan Clergy

by Belladonna LaVeau, HPs

326 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-1607; ISBN 1-4120-1229-5; US$23.89, C$27.47, EUR18.63, £12.35

Finally making these long-awaited, transformational classes available to all, Awakening Spirit combines a deeply empowering, personalized experience with a formal curriculum that is balanced, comprehensive and challenging.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts      catalogue info

About the Book Awakening Spirit - WISE Seminary First Year Certification Course for Wiccan Clergy illuminates the shadowy corners of the Wiccan Circle, and awakens the reader to the natural spiritual connectedness that resides within us all. Finally this long awaited, transformational journey of awakening is available to individual seekers and formal students alike, combining a deeply empowering personal experience with a formal curriculum that is balanced, comprehensive and challenging. Belladonna combines her knowledge of metaphysics, astrology, and the healing therapies with her natural talent as a teacher to present the information in a way that speaks to your soul. It is evident that her goal is to empower the reader to progress upon their spiritual path, which makes this exciting book a very valuable tool, which: Activates the power centers in your body, giving you the awareness of how to truly generate power, connect with Deity, and work in concert with divine will. Teaches powerful energetic exercises that train your energy field to react with automatic and immediate magical responses. Reveals the keys to understanding, and using the ancient incantations of circle casting and shares the mystery of magical tools, how they work, how to use them, and what working with them can teach the magical practitioner. Brings awareness of God & Goddess, magic, and sacredness into your everyday reality. The real magic of Awakening Spirit is in the way that Spirit transforms the reader's reality, in concert with the information given. The color, symbols, meditations, exercises and information presented, all work together to appeal to your individual learning style bringing awareness of the spiritual realm into your active consciousness. Anyone who reads this book will feel the energy of Spirit pulsating through it. This is a truly inspired work that enables each seeker to awaken to the presence of Deity in his or her life. Also Included: CD with elemental meditations, and recorded incantations to help with memorization and circle casting. WISE Seminary Certification Course Requirements. Additional graphics, meditations, and visualizations provided on www.wiseseminary.com The WISE Seminary offers a 4 year course to earn a Bachelors of Science in Wiccan Studies. Awakening Spirit is the prelude to the WISE Seminary sophomore course, Empowering the Sacred Self, an intense journey through the eight layers of reality through which Spirit manifests within you. It is a process that clears your consciousness of the obstacles that keep you from merging with the divine, and brings you into harmony with the powers of the Universe. It opens your awareness to your true potential, and gives you the tools to excavate your eternal contract, enabling you to become a vehicle for spirit to work through, as a bridge between the worlds. To find out about upcoming classes, seminars, WISE Seminary orientations, rituals and other author appearances, please check us out online at www.wiseseminary.com

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About the Author Belladonna LaVeau, High Priestess of the Covenant of WISE, Church of Wicca, and author of Awakening Spirit has been an initiate of Wicca and a devoted Priestess of the Goddess since 1989. She is a talented healer, Reiki Master, ordained minister of the Wiccan faith, Navy Veteran and sponsor of WISE Kids, SpiralScouts Circle #56, Peach Tribe.

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Sample Excerpts

TABLE OF CONTENTS

In Service of the Goddess
How to Use This Book
Initial Activation

Chapter 1 - Initial Root Chakra Activation
Relative Truth
Grounding
Religion v/s Spirituality

Chapter 2 - Initial Sacral Chakra Activation
Personal Responsibility & Karma
Sacred Energy
The History of Wicca

Chapter 3 - Initial Will Chakra Activation
Creating Your Reality/Manifesting Your Will
Shielding
Understanding Thought-forms

Chapter 4 - Initial Heart Chakra Activation
Connecting with Your Patron Deities
Channeling
The Power of Myth

Chapter 5 - Initial Throat Chakra Activation
The Human Energy Field
Seeing Auras
The Nature of Disease

Chapter 6 - Initial Third Eye Chakra Activation
Reincarnation, Space, Time & the Eternal Now
Past Life Regression
Utilizing Past Life Information

Chapter 7 - Initial Crown Chakra Activation
The Wheel of the Year

Chapter 8 - Initial Transpersonal Point Activation
The Trials of the Goddess
Lineage and Service
Spells and Magic
Second Activation

Chapter 9 - Second Root Chakra Activation
Creating Your Personal Temple
Clearing Negative Energy & Making Incense
Mars - Warriors

Chapter 10 - Second Sacral Chakra Activation
Sacred Tools
Blessing & Consecrating
Venus - Maidens

Chapter 11 - Second Will Chakra Activation
The Power of the Circle
Casting the Circle
Sun - Oak Kings

Chapter 12 - Second Heart Chakra Activation
The Four Elements
Calling the Quarters
Moon - Mothers

Chapter 13 - Second Throat Chakra Activation
The God & The Goddess
Balance & Polarity
Mercury - Scholars

Chapter 14 - Second Third Eye Chakra Activation
Invoking Deity
Drawing Down the Moon
Saturn - Crones

Chapter 15 - Second Crown Chakra Activation
The Eight Paths of Power
Raising Energy & Directing Power
Jupiter - Holly Kings

Chapter 16 - Second Transpersonal Point Activation
Letting the Magic Work
Cakes & Wine and Banishing
Pluto - Priest Kings
First Year Certification Requirements
About the Cover

INTRODUCTION

How to Use this Book

There is a place where one day we all stand. A threshold when something inside us knows there is more to this life than we had previously thought, but we don't know where to look to find it. It's a place that floods us with the desire to seek answers and truths. It's the call of our spirit, as it awakens from the Piscean slumber that has enchanted us all to sleep and forget.

Now is the time to remember.

Within the pages of this book, you will discover a co-directed journey into spiritual awakening. I say co-directed because somewhere along the pages you will realize that something else is happening. Something beyond the pages you hold in your hand. Spirit creates things; situations, circumstances, challenges and rewards, in conjunction with the journey that personalizes it, transforming your world with the power of your own magic. At some point, usually within the first four Activations, you realize that Goddess is there, nurturing you, loving you, and giving you what you need to wake up, remember, and be consciously One with Her again.

Awakening Spirit empowers and activates the Human Energy Field, so that you can more fully participate in the physical universe as a magical and spiritual being. It spirals around in the appropriate cycles for you to grow and mature magically through a natural process that awakens you to the unseen world of spirit and energy. Similar to the artist that paints the entire picture at once, this process layers thought upon thought and principle upon principle, bringing you astounding awareness while protecting your natural balance. As you integrate cosmic principles, and learn foundational energetics, it clears and matures your chakras, creating an energetic evolutionary transformation that allows you to feel, move, interpret and understand energies and thought-forms in a way you never knew anyone could. It teaches you how and when to use the powers created in your energy centers, and begins opening your being to the possibility of truly walking the sacred path as an incarnation of God/dess.

Raising your awareness nurtures your spirit, educates your mind, cleanses your heart, activates your passions, and stabilizes your world. For those things to happen, change must take place. Those changes start with letting go of the things that weigh you down, cause you grief, fear or sorrow, and prevent you from embracing love.

This process takes time. Change cannot occur too drastically, or it will upset your connection with reality. Therefore it is recommended that you spend one week with each Activation, so that you can work with the energy and fully integrate it into your field. Take your time. Rushing can cause you to miss something important. Pray, meditate, and reread the Chapters. Ask Goddess to help you understand and integrate the information.

Each Activation is set up with corresponding material from three interrelated subjects. This three-dimensional perspective creates an energetic shift in your awareness that awakens the connections within yourself, the universe, and your oneness with Spirit. Each Power Activation builds on the previous work, allowing you to gradually and comfortably grow in power and awareness. Awakening Spirit is the Freshman Course in the WISE Seminary and contains the first two attunements. These attunements allow you to transform your reality and reshape your world from the inside out. As we know in magic, Ôthird time's a charm,' therefore Empowering the Sacred Self, the WISE Seminary Sophomore Course, consists of the Third and Final Master Activation, fully maturing your chakras and enabling you to participate in your spiritual path as a consciously aware, actively empowered, magical being.

Take time to fully understand and work with each principle. Color and meditate on the symbol provided at the beginning of each section. These symbols speak to the subconscious mind and work with the information, meditations, and exercises to help facilitate the energetic activation process. Be creative, and enjoy the process. Pay attention to patterns, cycles, dreams, and feelings. Write down realizations, and epiphanies as they come to you. Every step you take is so sacred to Goddess. Take time to honor your sacredness by recording your path on paper in a personal journal.

There are layers upon layers of understanding within these pages. Part of the fun of this path is making the connections as you unravel the mysteries. It is the same within this book. A first glance will show you a simple awakening. The second and third time you read it you will uncover truths you didn't see previously. Turning to it again and again over the years will refine and tune your perspective to the magical, allowing you to transcend the illusion of a fixed, inalterable reality and giving you the tools to redefine your world. Finding the connecting mysteries of how this information is put together teaches you how to find and connect the mysteries on your path. Seek with an open heart, and let Goddess reveal the answers to you. Refer back to the book whenever you are stuck, pray for understanding as you read these words, and you will be amazed at the answers you will discover between these lines.

The WISE Seminary, College of Wicca, provides you with full-color mandalas, along with graphics, animations, color photos, and sound files that correspond with each chapter. These are complimentary and available for you on-line to use as often as you like at www.wiseseminary.com. But if possible, do spend time coloring the ones in the book. Coloring is relaxing. It suspends the conscious mind, moving you to that 'tween place where magic happens. It takes you back to your childhood, when your mind was open to the world of faerie, and dreams were real. It gives your consciousness something to do, so you can be open to hearing the words of spirit. It reminds you that you can create something very beautiful, even with the simplest of tools. Enjoy your journey.

CHAPTER ONE - Initial Root Chakra Activation

Relative Truth
The Alchemy of Perspective

Red

Many of us have been taught all our lives that truth is absolute fact. "Truth is truth, and you can't change the truth." "The truth shall set you free." And "It's always important to tell the truth." But in Metaphysical studies we find truth to be changeable, and mutable. It is a perception of the facts, based on our views and opinions. We understand that truth is relative to each individual based on how he sees the world, what he believes is real, and what he tells himself about what he believes he has witnessed.

We are convinced that our version of the world is a tangible reality that everyone experiences in the same way. But, what is reality? Reality is your perceptions, feelings, understandings, and beliefs about your day-to-day experiences. Perceptions, feelings, understandings, and beliefs change depending on which facts you feel are most important. Therefore, your reality is based on a truth that is a unique blend of conclusions based on selected facts, and what you have told yourself those facts mean.

Your reality is different from everyone else's. Your reality may mean that the world is an abundant place that always fills your needs. Or, your reality may be that the world is filled with lack and there is never enough. Your reality may have proven to you that men are controlling, self-serving and disrespectful of women. Or, your reality may have proven to you that men are capable of being loving, nurturing, supportive partners. It may seem that your reality is real, tangible, and factual. But in truth, your reality is only your perspective of the world based on conclusions you have drawn from your experiences.

Your expression of reality is nothing more than an illusion that you have created to support the world in the way you believe it to be. If you believe the world is an abundant place, you will look for reasons to support that belief. You will automatically discount any evidence to the contrary. In fact, the evidence may never even enter your field of perception. If you believe that there is not enough to go around, you will look for reasons to support that belief. You will notice every example available to prove that people don't have enough. You will notice the rich and famous person, who just filed for bankruptcy. You will identify with the poor and afflicted. You will unconsciously sabotage your opportunities for prosperity because you believe; the world is not an abundant place, there is not enough for everyone to have plenty, and that you do not deserve to have your needs met.

Embracing this first principle is key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe. Recognizing the illusion of mundane reality is foundational to being able to change it.

Relative truth means that your view of the universe is relative to your prospective, your outlook, what you expect to happen. As well as your perspective, what you tell yourself about what did happen. If you don't like what you are seeing, look at it in a different way. Unless, of course, you don't believe that you can. Then your reality will be that truth is tangible fact that you cannot change, and you will be locked into validating your version of truth. This process feeds your fears and perpetuates stagnation. Without accepting that you have your own truth, you cannot create change. If you cannot create change, there is no point to believing in God, having faith, or even expecting results when you pray.

We see relative truth in action through the beautiful portrayal of humorously conflicting stories cast by our wonderfully talented sitcom writers. I'm relatively sure everyone has seen at least one sitcom, where a person tells her version of the truth, and another person tells his version of the truth. Each person tells a similar story, but changes certain variables in favor of himself and his ego, thus making the other person look as much to blame as possible. This is a very humorous situation, but it's also the root cause of most conflicts. It is daily routine in the lives of humans and the stories they tell themselves about who they are, what they do, and why they do it.

It's easier to see and understand Relative Truth when you see it in action. When you believe something is one way, and someone else sees it completely differently. You should not have to go far to find such an example. Take hair color for instance. Julie's hair is red. No, it's brown. Which one is it? Well, it depends who is looking at it. Apparently it's red to some, and brown to others. Another good example can be found at the movies. When you watch a movie with your significant other and then discuss the meaning. If you watched the movie for the pure entertainment of it, but your significant other saw underlying symbolism that related to an abstract concept, what was the movie really about? Again, it depends on whom you are asking. This demonstrates the concepts of Relative Truth.

Relative Truth literally means that truth is relative. If you believe it, then it is true for you. If your neighbor believes something else then that is true for him. Is either one of you wrong? No, but you could both choose to believe the other is wrong. You could argue your points, and try to convince each other of the validity of your own truth. OR, You could respect each other's truth, honor that every person has a right to their own truth, and accept that every one sees the world differently.

Letting go of your need to force others to agree with your perception of truth, so that you can feel validated and right in your world, frees your mind to think outside the illusion of tangible reality, and restructures your world to a malleable medium with which you can create change.

When you choose to accept that everyone has a right to their own truth, then you can ascend to the next level, and realize that everyone is right in their personal realm of reality. You do not need to validate your truth through any one else's approval, or by making any one else wrong. You can stop building walls between you and those who think differently from you. You can come to accept that we are all connected, and you begin to move back into a state of love with your fellow human beings.

When you no longer have to defend your concepts as true, right, and correct, you are free to listen to the conclusions others have drawn based on their experiences. You can allow the rich variety of understandings to permeate your existence, and enrich your experiences as well. Through the recognition that everyone expresses their reality through their perceptions of their experiences, you no longer need to feel threatened by others expressions of reality. You are free to open your mind to new ideas and concepts. You can connect with the flow of the universe and open yourself to the overwhelming unconditional love of God or Goddess, whichever way you choose to see it.

If it is possible for everyone to be right, then it is also possible for you to be able to change the way you look at something, and therefore completely change your world. When you stop looking for lack, and begin looking for evidence of abundance, you automatically begin to see abundance in your life. By recognizing the abundance you create more abundance, which validates that the universe is an abundant place, and allows you to find comfort and safety in the knowledge that all your needs will be met. This allows you to release your fear, and move into love. Everyone has already established their own concept of what they believe is true. You don't have to accept it. It has already happened. All you need to do is recognize it. Sally believes the leaves are green, and Bill believes the leaves are shades of a bunch of different colors. They are both right. And so is everyone else, about everything else. It is very freeing to realize that you no longer have to argue with someone else. You can make room in your reality for both of you to be right. You can choose unconditional love. You do not need to convince anyone of your reality to make it true for you. You can give yourself and everyone else, permission to think freely. You can let everyone else work out his or her own truth, while you are free to work out yours in whatever way suits you best.

This week, work on freeing your mind of the illusion of absolute truth, by validating the various truths expressed by others, that conflict with your conclusive truth. Confused? That's ok, it's a difficult concept to bridge when all your life you have thought that truth was absolute. Just remember that others have drawn conclusions based on experiences that have been different from yours, not better, not worse, just different. They have different lessons to learn, and their reality is reflecting that for them. You need to only notice the different perspectives, and how that perspective changes the way that persons sees his or her reality.

Grounding
Plugging in to your Power Source

Red

The most important skill for anyone to utilize, especially someone who is actively working with energy, is grounding. The point of grounding is to open a full energy channel that is constant, and abundant. The better you can ground the more energy you can receive and direct. Grounding should be done consciously as much as possible, until you can maintain the energetic connection without needing to consciously focus on it, like breathing.

Grounding allows old, stagnant energy to be replaced by clean, new energy. It is the difference between taking a fresh, new shower and using the same tub of dirty water that you have bathed in every day since you were born.

Grounding is a vital component in keeping us healthy and balanced. You may notice some people, who work with energy, become very sick over time. Grounding is often misunderstood and avoided. People tend to believe that it is only for draining away excess energy. Because the goal of spiritual growth is more energy not less, draining away energy seems undesirable and therefore it is not something at which many people study and become adept.

The physical, mental, and/or emotional strain on a person, who is trying to increase their spiritual awareness, can cause a wide variety of health problems. This is from being exposed to large amounts of energy and not properly recycling it through the earth. It is possible to receive energy from other living things as well as the earth. Some of this energy is beneficial, such as food sources. But using the life source of another living being is undesirable and unhealthy, much like drinking water from a stagnant pond.

Each of us individually generates a finite amount of personal energy. However, when you are grounded, you are connected to the infinite energy of the universe. The only thing that regulates how much energy you can channel is how much you have conditioned your physical vehicle to handle.

The only way to condition your self to channel large amounts of energy is to practice, as often as possible. The more you practice, the more adept you become, the greater your capacity to move energy, the more effective your magic.

*********A word of caution here. You are responsible for the energy you direct and the repercussions of that energy. Be careful, and remember, ALWAYS ACT TO THE BEST AND HIGHEST GOOD OF ALL CONCERNED.

The magical world is a vastly different place from mundane reality. Once you have begun living in the magical realm, you can never totally leave it behind. Therefore, you should respect it, and learn to use your tools in every day situations. If you wait to use them only in a magical setting, you will never become adept enough to truly use them at all.

Magical training is something that should be practiced every moment of every day. A Priest or Priestess should incorporate their knowledge and apply it to the way they live their life, in all its wondrous aspects. Do not save this discipline for meditation or ritual. Do it as much as you possibly can, until you have mastered it and made it a part of you.

There are many different ways to ground. On the following pages, you will find examples and exercises designed to help you ground. Practice these different methods or other methods that appeal to you until grounding has become second nature. Whatever you can imagine, you can create. Trust your imagination, visualize the grounding, and have faith in your abilities. You are your only limitation.

Whenever you feel nervous, upset, agitated, irritated, angry, or any other unpleasant feeling, if you will think to ground you will immediately improve your sense of well being, and be better prepared to deal with any issue at hand.

Earth Visualization
The Tree

Sit up straight, put both your feet on the ground, and breathe deeply. Breathe into your belly, as low as you can. As you focus on deep, rhythmic breathing, begin to imagine that roots are growing out of your feet and creeping down into the earth. Allow the roots to split off from each other, and multiply as they continue reaching deeper into the earth. As the roots continue to establish themselves, envision your body becoming a tree trunk, and grow branches that reach up to the sky. Begin drawing nutrients from the earth through your roots, send it up your trunk and through your branches, to the leaves. Allow the energy to be released from the leaves, fall back to the earth, and be recycled. Allow every part of your being to be energized and enriched through the energy you draw up from the earth.

Fire Visualization
The Lightening Rod

Sit up straight, put both your feet on the ground, and breathe deeply. Breathe into your belly, as low as you can. As you focus on deep, rhythmic breathing, begin to imagine a lightening rod, that runs from above your head, through your spine, and down into the earth. See any energy surges coming your way attracted to the Rod and immediately sent into the ground. Allow any negative energy that you have to also be attracted to the rod and carried away into the earth. If you are moving around you can use this visualization with a ground wire coming out of the base of your spine and trailing behind you.

Water Visualization
The Rain Shower

Sit up straight, put both your feet on the ground, and breathe deeply. Breathe into your belly, as low as you can. As you focus on deep, rhythmic breathing, imagine that you are in a cleansing rain shower. Feel the energy, like water, constantly pouring into your energy field, cleansing your aura of any negative energy, as you are bathed in healing, unconditional love. Feel any negative or excess energy drain away, and release all unhappiness, fear, and unpleasant emotions. Feel your heart lighten, and your mood uplifted. Relax and smile as your aura is cleansed and refreshed to a state of perfect love and perfect trust.

Air Visualization
The Cleansing Breath

Sit up straight, put both your feet on the ground, and breathe deeply, inhale through your nose and exhale through the mouth, blowing the breath away from you. Envision the breath coming into your root chakra at the base of your spine, energizing and cleansing it, as you focus on deep, rhythmic breathing. Visualize breathing in rich, vibrant, red light. When you exhale don't control the color. Allow any negative energy to be released with the breath. Observe the color of the exhaled breath. Blow it far away from you. Continue to breathe in the rich, vibrant, red, until the color you are exhaling is the same color that you are inhaling.

Spirit Visualization
The Abundant Earth

Sit up straight, put both your feet on the ground, and breathe deeply. Breathe into your belly, as low as you can. As you focus on deep, rhythmic breathing, envision your root chakra glowing red. Send a beam of energy from your root chakra, down to the earth. Extend the energy down into the earth's red core, and connect with the power source of the earth. Allow the earth's energy to blend with yours, creating an abundant circular flow of energy into your being. Allow the positive energy to be drawn up into you, energizing and refreshing you. Allow any stagnant, negative energy to be heavy, and fall back to the earth to be recycled.

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Catalogue Information

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