Into The Green: Basic Skills

Certain techniques – many of which are common not only to Pagan systems but other systems as well – can help you to maintain a sense of self, explore your options, and keep you from feeling overwhelmed. They are simply the basic abilities needed to deal with the people, concepts, and challenges you encounter while searching for your spiritual path.

Grounding is a form of energy balance; you connect yourself to a stable outside energy source so that you have neither too much nor too little energy held in yourself. Most people ground down, into the Earth. Centering is an internal process in which you collect your energy. Grounding puts the amount in balance; centering puts it in the right place. This makes it difficult to "push you around" by any means. Shielding is just what it sounds like: creating a barrier so that unwanted influences cannot affect you. This helps keep outside irritants, such as other people’s emotions or the unpleasant past of a historical site, from making you feel uncomfortable.

In meditation, you seek to calm your mind and achieve a state of restful tranquility. Some people prefer to use meditation only to relax, while others find it an ideal state for solving problems, exploring choices, or contemplating new concepts. Visualization takes place inside your mind and forms the basis of many spells. It involves imagining something intensely through all your senses, not just sight. Together, all these skills keep you safe and balanced, while allowing you to work changes through magic.

Not everyone learns these skills with equal speed or aptitude. For some, they come easily, automatically, without effort; for others, they require much practice and remain a long-term challenge. Nor do they all necessarily go together – one skill may develop into full strength overnight while others elude you for years. However, all of these skills are things you can learn; no matter how well or poorly you do, practice can improve your abilities. Believe in yourself. Thus, you acquire extra "handles" on reality, inner and outer. Even if the magic side of Paganism doesn’t interest you, these skills are worth your while to learn: exploring spiritualities can feel like being turned upside down and shaken till the change falls out of your pockets. It helps to have a stable base from which to work.