Paganism for Prisoners, by Awyn Dawn

Paganism for

Prisoners

© Victoria Jordan

About the Author Awyn Dawn is a Pagan high priestess who has been working with spiritual seekers for nearly ten years. After being incarcerated and overcoming her own life challenges, Awyn dedicated herself to the Pagan path and now teaches others in the Colorado prison system.

Awyn is Reiki II-attuned and has a BS in Integrative Health Care from MSU-Denver. She is a member of the Society of Authors and the International Women’s Writing Guild.

Llewellyn Publications • Woodbury, Minnesota

Paganism for Prisoners: Connecting to the Magic Within © 2021 by Awyn Dawn. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First Edition First Printing, 2021 Cover design by Kevin R. Brown Interior illustrations by the Llewellyn Art Department Llewellyn Publications is a registered trademark of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data (Pending) ISBN: 978-0-7387-6786-4 Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business transactions between our authors and the public.

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I dedicate this book to Martin and Carridwen of Alexandria Temple, for being there for me when I was at my lowest point and for staying by my side as I came into my own.

Without your years of dedicated service to the Colorado prison system, I would not have found my own way to service. Friends, teachers, and guides …

I owe you both more than I can ever repay.

I dedicate this book to my students for inspiring me.

You teach me as much as I teach you, truly you do.

And I dedicate this book to my mom, for always encouraging me to find my own path and for loving me, even when I couldn’t love myself.

Contents

Disclaimer xi Foreword by Christopher Penczak xiii Introduction 1 Lesson 1: The Power of Words and the Power of Silence 9 Lesson 2: The Gods and Goddesses 25 Lesson 3: Elements and Elementals 41 Lesson 4: Tools 63 Lesson 5: Rituals and Devotions 81 Lesson 6: Wheel of the Year 97 Lesson 7: The Moon 121 Lesson 8: Divination and Your Intuition 133 Lesson 9: Familiars and Animal Magic 155 Lesson 10: Afterlife and Death 173 Lesson 11: Ethics in Magic and Life 185 Lesson 12: Know Thyself 203 Lesson 13: Manifesting Change 217 Conclusion 247 Resources 251 Recommended Reading 263 Bibliography 265 Index 271

Disclaimer Common sense is a virtue, one which you should utilize at every given opportunity. The words expressed in this book are based off the experiences of the author. If there is a suggestion provided that will get you in trouble at your facility, then don’t do it. This book is only a guide. Remember, we are each responsible for our own choices. Nothing in this book is an order. Even if direction and instruction are provided, it is up to you to determine if you can and should do it.

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Foreword

By Christopher Penczak

The snow began to lightly fall as I prepared to go to the Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility, to celebrate Imbolc with a group of inmates. Though the drive was three hours through the mountains, it wasn’t snowing heavy enough for anything to be cancelled, as New Englanders are used to it, so I got in my car and nervously started my journey.

While the Temple of Witchcraft had its own pen pal program for inmates, which had started when I began answering author mail from correctional institutions, this was our first in-person visit. The minister who ran the pen pal program got a request from the chaplain serving in the Berlin, New Hampshire, facility and at the last minute decided not to go into the prison. I understand. It was a scary prospect filled with so many unknowns. The idea of prison ministry was never discussed with me when I was training to be a High Priest of Witchcraft. But I felt honor bound that a commitment for our tradition was made, and as a founder, I couldn’t expect anyone else to do something I was unwilling to do, so I accepted the invite on his behalf and prepared myself for the unknown.

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Usually one goes through mandated orientation and training, but since I was a last-minute fill-in, the chaplain waived that criteria in order to not cancel the planned event; the training could, and did, occur in the future. The chaplain met me at the front desk, signed me in, and took me through those big sliding electric gates to meet the Pagan men of the facility. And I began a journey that lasted over eight years, being nothing what I expected and deeply rewarding for me. You cannot do this work and not be changed by it.

I found myself surrounded by a group of knowledgeable, deep, yet struggling practitioners of Paganism. In that first gathering of thirteen men, all of them identified as Pagan in general, but with a range of personal interests, practices, and experiences that made it quite hard to find a cohesive whole. Many were deeply interested in Norse practices. We had two who were Egyptian-oriented.

Someone practicing Voodoo was in the group because it was much closer to what they practiced than any of the other religious denominations. We had a Sumerian devotee, a self-described Buddheo-Wiccan, an Alexandrian Wicca initiate, and Gnostic Luciferian Witches whom everyone else assumed were Satanists with a fancy name until I validated the reality and theology of Gnostic Luciferianism. Diverse doesn’t even begin to describe their interests.

As we continued, the group swelled to over thirty practitioners of various Pagan paths. I noticed that the default among many of the new members was that they knew they were not Christian and identified with older ideas and faiths, but had nothing more than reading to guide them. Many found Paganism while in prison and had few opportunities to put it into practice. While they were free to practice solitarily, they didn’t know where to begin. Some could debate anything I presented at the level of a scholar, citing sources and being incredibly well-read, but when it came to putting occult

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theory to practice, I realized the split between knowledge and wisdom, and the core issue was how to put into action what you learned from a book that wasn’t written from the perspective of an inmate. That was where I could help.

One of my most profound experiences was at our first outdoor ritual. To my utter amazement, the administration approved not only an outdoor ritual for our third Beltane, but a fire as well.

There was a secluded spot with a separate gate not far from the outdoor recreational area where we had permission to be, away from the other men who were not practitioners. Prior to getting there, some of the men were allowed to dig a small fire pit and wood was brought to burn. The grass had not been mowed, and while it was in the shadow of the prison for much of the day, an image that was not lost on me or the men, there was enough light for a patch of tiny strawberries to grow. Some wild plants were growing among the grass, all Witches’ weeds—celandine, common nightshade, mugwort, and tansy. We talked about the plant spirit medicine of these green allies, particularly the strawberry, who teaches us hope, and to keep reaching for the next thing even when we are discouraged. What a wonderful medicine to have in circle with us.

As the chaplain opened the gate and respectfully watched from the other side of the fence, the men asked if they could take off their shoes. Having no idea if that was authorized, I turned to the chaplain, who asked, “Is it a religious requirement?” I stammered, “Well, no, you don’t have to …” And he asked again with a gleam in his eye, “Is it a religious requirement?” This time I responded with, “Ideally we are to be in direct contact with the earth unless a safety concern or medical condition prohibits it.” And he gave permission for the men to take off their shoes and socks. Their eyes lit up. Suddenly they transformed, shape-shifting before me into little

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boys playing outside. While the reality of where I was and what we were doing never really left, for a moment I all but forgot and got lost in the magic of playing.

The deep poetic ritual I had planned around the fire got tossed away as our ritual became a two-hour journey of walking in the grass, as one of the men in the group told me that it was the first time in twelve years he had walked barefoot on grass. We talked about the magic of the plant spirits, and then sang some songs around the fire, but in truth, I got the lesson, the insight on something I take for granted being so treasured and transformative for these men. The barefoot walk was arguably the most magical thing we did my entire time there. We continued the rituals outdoors, rain or shine, bare earth or snow-covered, and each time, there was at least one new person placing his feet on the ground for the very first time and awaking with wonder.

So for a number of years we celebrated the Pagan sabbats together, having meals, class time, and ritual time in one long day together for each sabbat with the full support of the prison and the chaplain. I was amazed at how supportive they were. That is not always the case, I’ve found in talking to others who engage in prison ministry. Yet it was hard to bring disparate people together, even with them all identifying as Pagan. We used some of my own books, but they are rooted in the identity of the Witch, and not everyone there identified as a Witch, but the broader Pagan. Each smaller group within the larger Pagan group tried to pursue studies particular to their interests and cultural roots, but didn’t have a foundation to come together when we did ritual, and only coming up for the sabbats made it hard to establish a regular practice with guidance. People got distracted and discouraged. I wished we had something written from the perspective of someone who understood the experience of being in the prison. While I had more and

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more understanding and empathy as we shared, I certainly didn’t have the direct experience and couldn’t speak on that level to these men. Mandated state training to go into the prisons is more about safety for the volunteer, and not necessarily understanding how to effectively empathize and communicate with those inside.

Nothing can prepare you for doing this ministry, though Paganism for Prisoners is a great first step. Though written for those inside of the prisons, it is also written with the instructors in mind, be they inside or outside of the facility. I wish I had had something like this when I began my ministry into prisons. While no one book can prepare you for every situation, Awyn Dawn gives you a very privileged perspective into the life and spirituality of the practice for those in a correctional institution. This book provides a strong foundation applicable to many paths and people on a Pagan path, but emphasizes spiritual development and personal evolution. While magic is not avoided, it is the magic within that is emphasized. The deeper magical tools of language, listening, silence, choice, reflection, and relationship are put before the necessity of the altar and ritual tools, as they should be. Placed before the reader is the guide for those seeking to go within. If you are in a correctional facility, let Awyn be your guide on the path through this work. And if you are volunteering and seeking to help those who are, this book will help you better understand how to approach in service.

Introduction Witchcraft saved my life, quite literally. I spent nearly a decade of my adult life living in active addiction. There was no substance I was unwilling to try, as long as it kept me from having to face what lived inside me. As frequently happens with this type of lifestyle, I found myself behind prison bars. It was here, away from the noise of the world, that I first began to actively look for my spiritual side.

I knew, even then, that I was Pagan, for I had come across books on Paganism and the words within resonated with me. But I was not living in a manner befitting my witchy self. I was lost and had been for a long time. Now, looking back, I see my time in prison as a period when I got to reset the switch on my life. During periods of lockdown I found myself resuming my search for the gods I had never stopped believing in. I was fortunate enough to be at a prison that had several books on Wicca. I read them all. Not only did I read them all, but I meticulously copied spells, symbols, phrases, anything I thought would be useful, into the little blue books I could buy on canteen. This hobby of mine kept me from getting into situations that could have lost me earned time.

There were two Wiccan chaplains who came into the Department of Corrections (DOC) on a regular basis, Martin and Carridwen. They were always willing to meet with any inmate, regardless 1

2 Introduction

of their faith, and provide anything from birth charts to tarot card readings to a shoulder to cry on. Little did I know they would later play an even bigger role in my life than they did while I was in DOC. When I got out on parole, I was hungry to know more about the Pagan path. I was lucky in that I found a class and a high priestess who would teach me and put me on my own path of priestesshood. I studied with her for several years and completed the advance coursework. Putting this amount of focus into my spiritual life made parole not so difficult. I was learning how to be accountable, honest, patient, and the beauty of making small sacrifices to the gods.

After completing the introductory “year-and-a-day” class, another student and myself were tasked with leading that class, which we did for a few years. This was the first time in my life I had done anything selflessly. Each week, my coteacher and I went to a coffee shop and passed on the information that our high priestess had given to us. She always told us that teaching was one of the skills that a high priestess would need. Having so many students depend on me to be there gave me motivation to not mess up on parole. These were an amazing few years.

It is not uncommon for students to “outgrow” and drift apart from their teachers and be given another task by the gods. This is what happened to me. Shortly after I parted ways with my high priestess, I became reacquainted with the DOC chaplains Martin and Carridwen. I had been off parole for three years and about a month. This put me just over the minimum time off-paper to be eligible to volunteer in the prisons. My new purpose was clear.

It was not long after I got the okay from both women’s facilities that one of the chaplains, Chaplain Martin, passed over into the next life. Since then, Carridwen and I have been going into

Introduction 3

DOC on a regular basis. Each month, there is a new lesson for me to teach the inmates and new things for me to learn from them.

This is one of the tasks the gods have given me, and it has become a great source of joy in my life. I truly cannot say how amazing it is to see the faces of these women light up. They are having their spirits fed. For some of them, it is the first time.

The program has grown over the years. And, true to the spirit embodied by the chaplains, I welcome those of any faith to attend, as long as they remain respectful. So, right alongside those who identify as Northwest European Pagan are those who call themselves Asatru or Druid or those who walk the Native American paths, and even those who are unsure or who are curious Christians.

The credit is really not mine, though. I am simply a vessel who tries to honor the voice of the gods and goddesses. I am trying to lead by example and show those who are serving time that no one has to go back to prison. And, that it is possible to have a strong spiritual practice no matter where you are or what your life’s circumstances are. Not all of you reading this book will be Pagan.

Not all my students are Pagan. But maybe there is something in here, some words, a concept, or a thought process, that can help you find your path.

So, as you read, remember: spirituality is like a salad bar. If you don’t like olives, don’t put them on your salad. If something in this book doesn’t resonate for you, then perhaps it is not for you. That is okay. I encourage all my students, as I encourage each of you, to question and to read everything. Never take one person’s word or viewpoint as “the only way,” not even mine. This book is based on the areas I’m knowledgeable about, but it should not be the only book you get information from.

4 Introduction

It is my hope that this book will someday encourage others to volunteer their time in jails/prisons/institutions and to give the gift of magic to those who are open to receiving it. In the meantime, let this book serve as a foundation upon which a working relationship with the Divine can be forged. You may notice that the lessons have “homework” or exercises at the end. While these are optional, they are designed to help you learn and integrate the lesson that has been covered. It is highly recommended that you at least try them. The point of this book is to help you find a spiritual path that works for you. The lessons presented here are with that focus in mind.

Remember to use your common sense and take responsibility for your actions. If I offer a suggestion in this book that will get you in trouble at your facility, then don’t do it. This book is only a guide and nothing in it is an order. It is up to you to determine if you can and should use the practices in this book.

This book is not intended to be the only book you ever read.

In fact, I recommend reading everything that seems even slightly fascinating and putting it through your own BS filter. If something feels true to your spirit, it probably is. The inverse is also true. If you read something in any book that doesn’t feel like it’s true, then I encourage you to question it. Research it. Contemplate and meditate on it until you feel your truth resonate within.

It is strongly suggested that you keep a notebook for the sole purpose of writing magical things in. It can be stuff you learn while reading this book, impressions from the universe, your own thoughts, whatever you like. But it should not be used for anything other than magical knowledge. This will effectively serve as your first (or new) Book of Shadows.

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One last note: In this book I tend to use the word Pagan, because in Colorado DOC the spiritual grouping for Wiccans, Pagans, Witches, Asatru, Druids, etc. is North West European Pagan (NWEP). When I use the term Pagan, please assume inclusiveness. Same thing when I talk of Goddess and God; if you are more comfortable with another term, mentally insert it as you read. Paganism is a living, breathing, changing, and growing set of faiths. This book is merely a guide that, hopefully, will inspire you to grow, change, live, and breathe, in your own life.

For those of you who will be using this book as a teaching tool in DOC (or elsewhere), you’ll notice that there are thirteen lessons in this book. This is designed to allow one lesson per month and thus span the length of a year-and-a-day, the traditional length of time to study before initiation. However, some of the chapters are quite lengthy. It is up to your discretion if you want to split chapters up into multiple lessons.

You may also notice that there are some areas where the lessons stay at a surface level. My intent with this book is to give a solid framework for Paganism as a spiritual path. This means that I cannot devote page after page to certain aspects of Paganism which could, on their own, fill a whole book. I invite you to bring in your own experience. If you are an expert in herb lore or astrology, then bring in your experience. This book is meant to be a starting point. Where anyone goes from here is up to them.

The earlier chapters are basics and foundational, but as the chapters progress, they become more introspective. In my experience teaching, I have found that it is easier for students to understand the headier topics if they first have an idea of what their spiritual path looks like. I have put this book in the order it is in to provide a smooth transition from one chapter to the next and

6 Introduction

to work up to the deeper topics. Reading the room is important.

If your students are not grasping the idea of sabbats, that is okay; devote some more time to this lesson. If they can’t get enough knowledge about the gods, incorporate this into your lessons.

Each class is stand-alone, so if the population you are working with has students who will sometimes attend and sometimes not, just know that they will hear the lessons they are meant to hear.

Something you may notice as well is that there are almost no spells in this book. Were they forgotten? No. They were intentionally left out. The reason is twofold. First, not all Pagans are Witches or Wiccan. This book is meant to help the incarcerated population develop a spiritual path. Spells are great and all, but knowing the gods, ancestors, and/or spirits of the land is a big part of what walking the path means.

The second reason relates to the first: As difficult as it can be to be locked up, there is plenty of time for introspection and to grow, change, and to embrace who you are becoming. This is one of the very few benefits to incarceration: time. Paganism for Prisoners focuses on introspective work. This is what helped me when I was incarcerated and kept me from going back. Knowing how to cast a job spell would have done me little good on the inside.

The topic of spells is not avoided altogether, though. The section on ethics provides some very important information, and the last chapter talks about protection. Magic is in everything. Spells are but one way to utilize magic. Here, we learn that magic is truly within.

It is my hope that this book will encourage more volunteers to teach a year-and-a-day-style course to inmates. Very few things in my life have been as rewarding as seeing the someone’s face when the lightbulb goes off and you can tell they have just learned to see something in a new light. Do not be scared if you have never

Introduction 7

volunteered in jails or prisons. Take precautions, stick to the training provided by the facility, and have boundaries, but do not fear.

I have met some of the most attentive and magically-minded individuals in my volunteer work, men and women who are thirsty and eager to learn about what they already feel within.

Thank you for reading.

Lesson 1

The Power of Words and the Power of Silence The words “soft of eye an’ light of touch, speak little, listen much” are part of the Rede of the Wiccae, written by Lady Gwen Thompson.1 We live in a society now where so many people are struggling to find their voice. What this gives us is a society full of people who often try to scream over one another. Truthfully, though, the louder someone shouts, the less they have to say. In the classes I teach, when I want to bring the group back to focus, I don’t do it by shouting, I do it by whispering. This forces people to gather in close and really focus. It forces them to listen.

There is a beauty to being able to listen to others and hear what others are saying, instead of waiting for your chance to speak. One way to practice this skill is to repeat back what people say. Don’t get discouraged if this takes time to learn. Like any skill, active listening requires practice. In fact, regardless of whether you’re Pagan, Heathen, Witch, Asatru, Druidic, etc., be prepared to put effort into your practice. There is no magic spell that suddenly 1. Patti Wigington, “What Is the Wiccan Rede?,” Learn Religions, last updated December 23, 2018, https://www.learnreligions.com/the-wiccan -rede-2562601.

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grants a person perfect clarity. It is progress, not perfection, that you should strive for. Try to be a little better today than you were yesterday, and you’ll be surprised how far you get.

The ability to appreciate silence is one of the most important tools a person can have. But it is by far one of the hardest to master. I have made it lesson one because until you learn to still yourself and listen, you cannot hear anything, not the lessons of the gods, not the suggestions of those who have walked before you, nor can you hear your own instinct telling you which way to go.

I remember a time in my life when silence was very uncomfortable for me. I was so locked away in my sadness that even a moment with my own thoughts seemed to be agony. But here’s the thing: if you don’t learn to silence your mind and be comfortable there, you will never be able to hear the voice of the Goddess nor will you be able to appreciate the opinion of another. Learning to be okay in the silence is called having serenity.

Without silence, you can’t hear your own thoughts on a matter. And that is dangerous in a world where everyone wants to bend your ear and sway your opinions. If you are sitting in a cell right now, there is a good chance that you have been convinced a bad idea was a good one at least once in your life. Learning how to make your own decisions is a tool that shouldn’t be underestimated. Holding boundaries and appreciating the beauty of the word no can be a challenge. But once you learn it, it is life-changing.

Words Carry Power Most people fling words around carelessly, not recognizing that words have an epic amount of power. Once you understand this, you should always try to be mindful with what you say. What you say and think and the actions you take affect what you get

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back. It is the principle of like attracts like. Words are energy, just as thoughts are. Since energy can neither be created nor destroyed, words spoken essentially live forever. They can never be taken back.

Here are some of the most overused words of power: Love: Saying, “I love you,” is one of the most powerful statements you can make. Love is stronger than hate, but the words are just as impossible to take back. Too many people do not understand the true meaning of love or all the different types of love that exist. They confuse one for another or use this word too quickly. It is a wonderful thing to let family and friends know that you love them, as often as possible. This is a different type of love. But when you say you love a person you met three days ago, you should examine that and put it through a truth filter.

Hate: How many times have you said, “I hate such and such food/ color/movie/etc.” Hate is an extreme loathing. It means to despise something with all your being. Think about whether you dislike it or whether it is worthy of a feeling with such intensity.

I promise: Your word should be your bond; this is especially true if you are a Witch, Asatru, Pagan, or just want to be a good person. This is not always cut-and-dry, and sometimes life happens.

But if you promise to do something (or not to do something), you should do whatever is needed to keep your promise unless it puts you or another in danger. This also encourages you to be mindful of the promises that you make.

I’m sorry: What could possibly be wrong with an apology? Nothing is wrong with apologizing for your actions. Just be mindful that when you overuse “I’m sorry,” you are telling yourself and the universe that you are a sorry person. It becomes a self-fulfilling

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prophecy if not used with care. Use “I apologize” instead. Also, it is possible that you have told loved ones, “I’m sorry,” so many times that now the words have become meaningless. In this instance, remember that actions speak.

Lying: Little by little, lies build up. Some people get so accustomed to lying that the truth becomes hard to find. Frequently, those who lie forget which lies they have told to which people. I have often been asked, “What if I’m lying to preserve someone’s feelings?” My answer to that is that each of you is responsible for making your own choices. And there is no blanket answer for each situation. I find that even if you are being honest with someone, you can do it in a way that still honors their feelings.

For example, I once had a young woman who wanted to be a writer ask me to look over her work. Well, it was full of grammatical errors, poor sentence structure, and there was no linear delineation to the story. I told her that if she wanted to write, she should first take a class to improve her English skills. I was honest with her, preserved her feelings, and gave her advice she could actually benefit from. If she had submitted it to a publisher as it was, it would have been immediately rejected. As a society, we have become far too comfortable with living in the “beautiful lie.” If you want to change and not go back to the cycle that got you incarcerated, then I suggest learning to respect the “ugly truth.”

The Discomfort of Silence Complete and absolute silence can only be achieved a few ways.

Even in the middle of nowhere there are crickets, there is wind rustling leaves, birds chirping, so many little sounds that present themselves to those who are silent enough to hear them. There are

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very few ways to get complete silence. Of these, sensory deprivation tanks are the most well-known. In a sensory deprivation tank, all five senses are silent.

Since you are unlikely to have access to a sensory deprivation tank while incarcerated, learning to be silent among the noise will serve you well. You can’t control the external noise. Luckily, silence does not just refer to external silence but internal silence as well. Having the ability to be alone with your own thoughts is a key stepping-stone. It is also a step many people are resistant to.

You must overcome this resistance!

I would wager that it’s not the lack of sound that is so uncomfortable. It is the fact that without external distractions, we are each forced to spend time with ourselves. Sometimes there is a side to us that we don’t want to see. This is especially true if you have a substance abuse history. I get it. I do. But we’re going to get to the Self soon enough. That is where the discussion of ego selves will happen. For now, just try to be comfortable in your own skin for a few minutes a day. Try for a little bit of serenity.

The Beauty of Silence Chances are you know more than you think you do but have never found that out because you never learned how to listen to your higher-self. You are not alone. This is a very common problem in the world, especially in the United States.

Silence is incredibly powerful because it helps us realize what we know and what we don’t know and that the more we learn, the more there is to learn. Learning happens when we are quiet enough to hear.

In silence, we can think more clearly, become more focused.

This means you can put your energy where it needs to go (such as magical workings, finding a job, getting enough rest, taking classes

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that will give you job skills, etc.). With practice, you will be able to find your inner stillness, even in a crowded and noisy room. Some call this grounding.

Silence goes hand-in-hand with patience. The gods do things at their own pace. Time, as we know it, is a human-made concept.

When you do get to the point of doing spell work, keep this in mind. Don’t say, “Grant this to me Tuesday.” Instead, replace Tuesday with a phrase such as “without hassle or delay.” While you are locked up, you have the choice to be patient and gain acceptance.

Or, you can drive yourself crazy by trying to control the uncontrollable situation. You are where you are so that you can learn lessons. So, learn them.

A common lesson many of us must learn is to silence the ego.

Think about a time when you should have let something go, could have let something go, but had to get the last word in. Did you end up wishing you could take it back? Did it serve any purpose?

All this did was feed the ego. In this book, I am hoping to help you learn how to feed your higher-self so you do not have to go back to prison.

It should be noted that silence does not mean that you have to be a pushover. There is always a time and place and a way to use your voice. You should stand up for yourself, but you should not seek a fight. This is sometimes a fine line. To this day, I find myself asking, “Is it worth it?” And now that I have learned to enjoy serenity, it is one of the things I value most in my life. It simply isn’t worth it to give up my peace. If you become okay with letting idiots be idiots, you’ll be a lot happier in life.

Other Ways to Apply Silence One of the lessons of magic is to keep silent. We do not talk about the meat and potatoes of ritual, especially initiations, because they

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should be fresh to newcomers. My first time with the gods in circle was amazing and truly spiritual. Not knowing what would happen meant that I got to go in without skewed perceptions or expectations and simply got to experience it. If someone has simple questions, you can answer them, or you can invite them to attend if they are willing to come with an open mind.

Practitioners of magic also don’t discuss active spell work because it is like letting air out of a balloon. Even those who are supportive may unintentionally poke a hole in our balloon. Those who are not supportive or who have malicious intent could rip the balloon in half. One exception I have found is discussing spell work and how to accomplish a goal with other like-minded individuals.

However, it’s best to wait until the spell has run its course before it is discussed, especially if you are taking on a teaching role.

We do not proselytize; all paths lead up the mountain. Simply because someone has a different belief system does not make one of you right and the other person wrong. All spiritual viewpoints are valid and should therefore be respected. However, we can discuss our beliefs with those who are seekers. I make it a point to not answer questions for those who are only asking them to be obnoxious. But I will answer questions for those with a serious inquiry, or I will encourage them to find the answers within themselves.

When it comes to standing for something you believe in, such as women’s rights, environmental activism, and so on, do not keep silent. Ever! But protest or speak out in a right way, without violence, without throwing a fit, and always with dignity. Remember, you might be the first or the only Pagan a person has ever met.

Stand with honor.

Pagans take the high road. It is one of the ways we honor the gods. Sometimes it sucks. And sometimes it is very hard. This

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means there will be moments when you must swallow your pride.

This means you must be okay with yourself.

Effective Communication Misunderstandings and misinterpretations are common when people don’t actively listen to one another. Listen and hear what others are saying instead of waiting for your chance to speak. By waiting, listening, thinking, then responding, you can avoid thinking you know what someone is going to say.

Ways to Become a Better Communicator • Sit in silence for five minutes per day.

• Actively listen. This includes having forward-facing body posture, uncrossed hands, and making occasional eye contact. It can also be helpful to repeat back what a person has just told you.

• Think about what you want your message to convey.

Tone and body language are every bit as important as words.

• Be aware of differences and willing to meet on common ground. When speaking to someone from a different background, keep gender, culture, and socioeconomic differences in mind.

• Be able to let stuff go. Know that it is fine to disagree.

• Think before you speak. Carefully consider your answer.

Meditation Meditation is one of the tools that helps you learn to calm your mind, which, in turn, helps you control your actions and emotions. It also helps with visual concentration and focus. If you ever

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want to work successful magic, visualization and focus will be very important. Aside from magical and mental advantages, studies indicate that meditation has many physiological benefits such as stress reduction, lowering blood pressure, boosting immune function, and helping with sleep. Those who practice regular meditation will attest that there are many other benefits that are not yet scientifically documented. So, while you are locked down for count or whatever, use twenty minutes to do something that improves your quality of life. You may be surprised what you gain from meditating regularly.

Position The first position for meditation that will usually come to mind is the lotus position. This is legs crossed over each other so that the soles of one’s feet are resting above the thigh. The hands will usually rest near the knee. In this position, the back is straight and the eyes are closed. This is a great position for meditation, but it is not the only position you can use. Ideally, you want to have your back straight and body relaxed so you’re not scrunching up your organs.

Your clothes should fit comfortably and not inhibit your breathing. Before you begin, check in with your body to see if any areas feel uncomfortable. If there are any uncomfortable spots, take a moment to adjust.

In my years of doing meditation, I have practiced in the lotus position, lying on my back, relaxing in a bathtub, being outside, inside, sometimes during the day and sometimes during the night. I have some positions and times that I prefer, but I figured out which ones by practicing. It should also be noted that pulling weeds or gardening can be meditative. For some people, they are able to clear their mind best when going for a long drive or when

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singing in the shower. If you don’t try different things, you’ll never know what works and what doesn’t.

In other chapters I talk about altered states of consciousness.

This is the basis for meditation. You are creating the opportunity for your conscious mind to speak to your higher mind. It’s like this: our conscious mind deals with the day-to-day things and our subconscious mind deals with the more spiritual aspects. Let’s say that you are driving down the street and you see that the light is about to turn red, so you slow down and stop. This was conscious mind activity. The woman walking out of the store on your right, the puppy in its front yard, and the group of pigeons on the fence— these aren’t noticed by your conscious mind. But they are noticed by your subconscious.

You may be asking yourself why. Well, without turning this chapter into a Psych 101 class, just know that if we consciously noticed everything all the time, we would be overloaded with stimuli. This narrowing of what we pay attention to is an evolutionary survival mechanism. The conscious mind likes to speak in things like words and numbers, whereas the subconscious likes to speak in symbolic methods (dreams, for example). This means that they do not always understand each other. Meditation is a way that we bring the knowledge of the subconscious to the conscious; meditation helps them speak to each other.

Types of Meditation

Guided Meditation This is a type of meditation that many people start with. It can be very helpful if you have a hard time meditating. A person will guide you through the imagery. This can be done in person or on a recording. Guided meditations can be done even while you’re

The Power of Words and the Power of Silence 19

locked up. You and a partner, or a group of people, can take turns leading the meditation while the other enters into meditation.

Free-Form Meditation While guided meditations can be a great starting point, especially if you haven’t meditated before, they can be limiting. For example, instead of focusing on what your internal voice is saying, you tend to focus on the speaker. Also, guided meditations require another person or a device. Free-form meditation can be done anywhere, at almost any time (depending on your skill level).

Free-form meditations allow you to work on yourself in a deeper context. You start off by getting comfortable and closing your eyes. Next comes intentional breathing. Breathe in for a count of seven, hold for five, breathe out for the same count you used to inhale, then hold. Repeat this process.

The way I do this is a bit different from how I’ve heard others do it. I give myself a starting point, usually a field, a tree, a beach, something like that, and sometimes an intent. Then, I just kind of see what happens. Sometimes I end up in front of an old tree with an opening that begs to be entered. Other times I’ll go for a swim under the ocean.

When you are first starting off, I recommend working on clearing your mind of all mundane things. This will be covered in the next part. You can also try this method by focusing on a word (make it a positive one) and letting that word take you where it wants to.

Clear Mind You will start this meditation the same way you would start the free-form meditation, getting comfortable, closing your eyes, and breathing. But with this meditation, when a thought trickles

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in, you shoo it away. This is much harder than it sounds. I would emphasize here that you should avoid getting frustrated if you cannot do this. There are monks who strive to do this for years and still do not perfect it. It is a training exercise for your mind.

Chanting Chanting is common in Eastern and Western practices. While there are some great prewritten chants you can use, this is also a good opportunity to write your own. The chant should be simple enough that you can memorize it, and it should have a smooth cadence. It will be repeated over and over until a meditative state is reached.

Drumming The steady beat of a drum, clapping hands, or the snapping of fingers helps move you out of your conscious mind. To work properly, the beat should be simple and steady. Drumming is one of the techniques I use to enter an altered state. Even if all you have is your hands and your lap, you can use this technique.

Active/Activity A simple but physically demanding activity is still one of the best ways to enter a meditative state that I have ever found. Cleaning is a big one. Many people, when working out a problem, will take on their bathroom or kitchen with cleaning products and a sponge only to find that their subconscious mind was allowed to bring an answer to the forefront of their mind. Running is another good one; just one foot in front of the other. To work, it should be something that you can do on autopilot. Some other examples include jigsaw puzzles, driving, coloring, or drawing.

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Body Scan This is a relatively simple check-in with yourself. One by one, you draw your attention to the various areas of your body—toes, knees, lower back, upper back, neck, forehead, fingers, you get the idea—and ask each one how it is feeling. Which areas are achy?

Feeling good? Sore? Cool? Warm? These sensations give you indications about what is going on in your body and how to take care of it. You can also do this internally with areas such as your throat, stomach, lungs, etc.

Intuition Intuition is neither meditation nor something that exists outside of yourself. It is something that every single person has. Anyone who says they don’t have intuition usually doesn’t know how to listen to it, can’t become silent enough to hear it, or has gotten in the habit of ignoring it. I’m sure almost everyone had a time when they had a gut feeling that they should or should not do something; maybe it was avoiding a situation where things inevitably turned bad. Our intuition exists to protect us. Learning to follow its advice will pay off in countless ways. In the lesson on silence given earlier, there are exercises that will help you learn to listen to silence the noise and listen to your inner-self. Learning to trust your intuition takes time and patience. But soon, that voice, which is sometimes only a whisper, will guide you to make better choices and lead you away from danger.

Grounding and Centering If you only learn one spiritual practice, it should be grounding and centering. This is how you connect to the earth. It is how you get yourself into the right mental space to do magic. And it can also

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help with emotion regulation in the mundane world. Whether you stick to a spiritual practice, delve deeply into the world of magic, or just need a way to keep yourself from spinning out of control, grounding and centering is a skill you will use a lot.

Here is a basic exercise that can be found in one variation or another in many locations because it is simple and effective. First, get comfortable, close your eyes, and do the intentional breathing discussed earlier in this chapter. Once you are relaxed, you are going to visualize yourself standing in the middle of a field. Next, draw attention to your feet. Try to focus on the energy field around your feet, your “energy feet.” Maybe they tingle. Maybe they glow.

Once you find them, send them into the ground beneath you, knowing that they are still connected to the whole of your being.

Send your energy feet below the floor, through the crust of the earth and down through the mantle, crossing the water table. Send your energy feet deep into the core of the earth until you reach the hot, molten core. Once your energy feet are here, begin to pull up the fiery core of the earth back toward your body, much the same way a tree pulls water up from its roots.

When you have pulled the glowing core up to the bottoms of your feet, pay attention to how they feel. Are they warmer? Do they tingle? Are they a different color in your mind’s eye? Make a mental note, then pull the glowing energy of the earth’s core into the rest of your body. As it fills you, see your body glowing with a light. Pull this light into your feet, your shins, upper thighs, and keep moving up your body. Save your arms for last. When your body is glowing with energy, send it out into your arms and down to your fingertips.

Maybe your body is tingling at this point; that is okay. That means you are connected to the earth. The next part is where you will center. Visualize this energy heading toward your own core,

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your solar plexus, a point just below your sternum. You will likely notice that some of the energy will stay in your head, arms, or other body parts. Your body will keep what it needs. When you feel your energy gathered in your solar plexus, you will extend your arms above your head and the energy that is no longer needed will “rain” down back into the earth. Some people like to physically put their hands on the ground to aid the process.

At the end, you will have a cycle of light, from the earth, through your body, with a supply in your solar plexus, then out through your hands and back into the earth. You are part of this cycle. Now, bring your attention back to that field you started in.

Focus on your breath. Then your physical body. Then focus on the room you are in. When you feel you are present, open your eyes.

It is recommended that you journal about this experience and eat a snack. The energy stored in your solar plexus remains and keeps you connected to the earth, grounded. After you practice for a while, you will notice it goes quicker. Eventually you will be able to ground simply by thinking about it. In the meantime, try to pick a time when you won’t be disturbed. Anyone who sees you will simply think you are sleeping, when really you are connecting to the earth and her sacred energies.

Exercises This is optional but recommended to help you internalize the lesson. You get out of magic what you put into it. Remember, this is for you; no one ever has to see this. It is only for you, unless you choose otherwise.

• Practice meditation (daily is best) for about fifteen minutes a day. Practicing three to four days a week will also

24 Lesson 1

make a difference. This is a great thing to do during lockdown times.

• Examine the Wiccan Rede and write a couple paragraphs about what it means to you.

• Practice the ways to become a better communicator (listed earlier in this chapter).

• Be conscious of the words you use for an hour, a day, a week (any increment of time is fine, but you should challenge yourself ). Did you notice changes in the responses you received? If so, what were they?

• Make a list of words of power that weren’t included in this lesson. Examine how they are misused.

• Listen for different channels of sound. Maybe you hear the heater and your roommate snoring and a bird outside. Try to listen to only one channel of sound, then another.

• Practice different types of meditation.

• Write your own mediation.

• Practice grounding and centering.

Body, Mind & Spirit / Paganism

Find Peace, Clarity, and the Divine On the Inside While being incarcerated for her struggles with drug addiction, Awyn Dawn began to actively look for her spiritual side—and she found it in Paganism. By developing a profound relationship with the gods, Awyn gained greater clarity and a deep sense of peace. You can too with help from this empowering guide to starting and strengthening your spiritual practice.

Providing dozens of easy-to-use exercises, Paganism for Prisoners shows you how to embrace Pagan teachings and learn from deities, ancestors, and spirits. Explore the power of meditation, self-reflection, rituals, and devotions. Meet the gods and goddesses of Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, and other pantheons. You’ll also discover the power of the elements, the moon, the Wheel of the Year, and your own intuition. With this book, you’ll manifest extraordinary change within yourself.

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Includes a foreword by Christopher Penczak, author of the bestselling Temple of Witchcraft series

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Awyn Dawn is a Pagan high priestess, Department of Corrections volunteer, tarot reader, and energy healer. She holds a BS in Integrative Health Care and wrote Paganism for Prisoners after rediscovering her spirituality in prison. She lives in Denver, Colorado.

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