CHAPTER 9

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Magick and Your Health

p.epshysical, mental, and emotional health are necessary for peak performance in the magickal arts, and a strong and sensitive nervous system is also essential. As Isaac Bonewits explains,

Basically everybody is a walking radio station, broadcasting and receiving—on ultra-long wavelengths of the standard electromagnetic energy spectrum. Anything that will affect the human neural system will modulate the radio waves broadcast and the efficiency of reception for those waves broadcast by others.[1]

Thus anything that debilitates your neural system—or, indeed, any of your systems—weakens your magick. A healthy lifestyle means stronger magick. There are seven key factors that contribute to health. Let’s explore them.

Eating Right

For optimum health, eat plenty of organically grown fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Shop at a whole-foods store if you can, and if you buy food at a standard sort of supermarket, avoid the processed, canned, and packaged items, focusing on fresh produce or frozen foods.

Of course, the ideal would be to set up your own garden. Tending it can be a rich experience that brings you closer to the earth, and you can also be sure that your produce is organic. Harvesting your garden is a delight. Whatever you do not eat right away you can put in the freezer or can. Canning is hard work, but it ensures you a supply of chemical-free veggies and fruit for the winter; if you invite friends over for a canning party, you can make the work seem lighter. Can’t do a garden where you live? Maybe there’s a seasonal farmer’s market in your area.

How you prepare your food is just as important as what you start with. Grains and legumes are at their nutritional best if they are sprouted before grinding or cooking. Your nearest health food store or cooperative may have booklets explaining this simple procedure.

Most foods are best eaten raw, steamed lightly, baked at low temperatures, or heated in a Crock-Pot at the low setting. If you overcook food (and some say that means anything over 200 degrees F), the chemical composition is changed and the food is on its way to becoming pure carbon, which is not very nutritious at all.

A shift toward less meat would be healthful for most people in Western society. Many people avoid vegetarian meals because they have never encountered good ones. The very word “vegetarian” can conjure images of bland heaps of nameless, mushy grains, boiled vegetables identifiable only by their color, or globs of slithery white bean curd floating in an insipid soup.

It does not have to be so, thank Goddess! People “in the know” enjoy such delights as:

But what about all you carnivores out there? Am I suggesting that meat and magick don’t mix? Not necessarily; but we do need to eat more lightly in order to become healthy, and meat at every meal is not a necessity. When meat is eaten, it is best if from wild or organic sources, lean, and served in small portions or as a minor ingredient in soups, stews, and casseroles. Generally speaking, seafood seems to be the most healthful meat—depending on the source—followed by poultry and, lastly, red meat.

There is an ethical concern here as well as a health issue. Animal-rights activists are helping us to understand that many domestic meat animals are raised and slaughtered in crowded, inhumane conditions. We should ask ourselves whether we want to support such practices by continuing to purchase meat from such sources.

On a less sober note, let us consider seasonings. Many modern folks are used to getting all of their food flavor from salt, sugar, or additives like monosodium glutamate (MSG). Consider retraining your taste buds so that the natural flavors of the food are enough, or use spices like oregano, basil, cayenne, and, of course, garlic and onions. For us former salt addicts, there are tasty herbal substitutes that do not contain sodium chloride.

About beverages—we all know of the undesirable effects of sugar and too much caffeine, and that tap water has become increasingly questionable as the groundwater is polluted. To add insult to injury, some researchers are even suggesting that cow’s milk is better designed to feed calves than humans. Fear not! We don’t have to give up liquids, but it’s safest to drink mostly filtered water, herb teas, and occasionally pure fruit juices or “natural” fructose-sweetened soda pop. No coffee? (Legions of ardent worshippers of Caffeina reach for their torches and pitchforks.) Relax: not “no coffee,” just drink it in moderation.

Now, very few people in our supermarket society are going to give up processed foods and drinks altogether. Next time you get behind that big steel cart, however, do stop and read the labels. And think. Your cart doesn’t have to look like the one in front of you, filled with processed, sugared, chemicalized products. Before you buy, ask yourself this question: “Would my ancestors recognize this item as food?” Then fill your cart with the freshest, simplest things you can find.

Changing your eating habits can be very difficult, but you don’t have to do it all at once. Target the worst offenders in your usual diet and cut back on them one at a time. Don’t just remove things from your life—switch to something new, healthful, and delicious. You can do it.

You will feel better physically and emotionally, your family and friends will be glad, and your magick will be more clear and powerful every time you cast the circle.

Clean Air

You may wish to support clean-air legislation and try to avoid areas of factory pollution, heavy vehicle traffic, and gas or chemical fumes. And breathe. Many of us breathe shallowly, using only the upper lungs, due to poor posture, tension, tight clothing, or just bad habits. This starves the brain and body of oxygen. Junk the furniture that makes you sit like a contorted pretzel, stretch out those tight muscles, get a massage or hot bath, throw on some loose clothes, and breathe!

It also helps to practice pranayama, the yogic art of breathing. Various breathing techniques can relax you, energize you, and focus your concentration. A few minutes of practice each day will expand your lungs and make your whole system sing. A couple of examples are given elsewhere in this book—try them!

Regular Exercise

Participate in vigorous aerobic exercise to benefit the lungs and cardiovascular system, and also add a more gentle, stretching/massaging activity for the glands joints, and muscles.

For vigorous activity, you don’t have to play linebacker for the Chicago Bears nor run twelve miles a day. Walking, swimming, or playing volleyball or soccer on a local team are all beneficial. Many people have tried jogging but find it too strenuous; an alternative is race-walking, which combines the best of walking and running.

A wonderful stretching activity is hatha yoga. In the past, many people were put off by the Sanskrit terminology and the grainy black-and-white photos of emaciated men in contorted postures: “the instructor demonstrates the reverse spinal twist with his tongue locked around his left ankle.” But simplified books and classes are now offered that are more understandable to Westerners. Basically, hatha yoga consists of stretching and toning postures and movements combined with breathing techniques, which may be used in a spiritual context or simply to improve health.

Some of the martial arts’ exercises and warm-ups are excellent; I especially recommend exploring tai chi and aikido. In addition, dance classes provide great conditioning, and classes are offered in many areas.

Trying to maintain an exercise program alone, however, can be dull and difficult. If individual self-discipline is a challenge for you, you may need to join a team, gym, or class, or contract with a friend or family member to play, practice, or exercise on a regular basis. With company it’s more fun and much easier to stay motivated.

How long should you exercise each day? Most people should start with a modest effort, such as fifteen minutes a day, and work their way up to a half hour or more daily, with longer workouts at least a couple of times each week.

Natural-Fiber Clothing

Choose clothes of cotton, wool, and/or rayon. The skin is the body’s largest organ, and it needs to breathe. Mail-order companies such as Lands’ End and Deva specialize in natural-fiber clothes. Though they require more care, in some ways, than synthetics, these clothes are worth the effort for the health and comfort they provide. Organic and biodegradable fabrics will someday return to replenish the soil, instead of lingering for millennia as a useless relic of the petroleum industry.

If you choose to wear synthetics, at least save your purchases of them for accessories, special-occasion costumes, and possibly loose outerwear to be worn over inner layers of natural fibers. For everyday wear be kind to your skin, and everything inside it, by using natural material.

And if you are still wearing a smaller size that fit you ten years ago, but you have put on weight—get real, buy clothing in sizes that fit you or are a bit loose. Tight clothing emphasizes that extra weight and makes you look and feel worse. Loosen up your clothes; let your body move and breathe.

Restful Sleep

All of the factors mentioned above will help you sleep better, and don’t skimp on the number of hours your body gets to rest each night. Also, consider making time and a comfortable space for short afternoon catnaps, if they will recharge you. I know this is a terrific challenge for most people with busy schedules, but you should seriously consider it. It is a false economy to push yourself too hard when you are too tired to function efficiently.

What if you have trouble sleeping? First, examine your diet. Do you eat late suppers, large snacks, sugary desserts, or caffeinated beverages shortly before bedtime? If so, change to eating your evening meal earlier and keep it fairly light. Switch to fruit for evening snacks; it is easily digested and cleanses the system rather than clogging it.

Is your room stuffy? Did you sit in front of the television all evening? Is your sleepwear made of an uncomfortable synthetic? The remedies are obvious.

Or is there a problem in your personal or professional life that troubles you? Are you tossing and turning because you can’t put your worries out of your mind? Make a deal with your Deep Mind: resolve to do something constructive about it, then sleep. Get up and do some magick, or write a letter, or find a counselor in the Yellow Pages and resolve to call for an appointment in the morning. Then let go of it. The Japanese, if they receive an unfavorable divination at the temple, hang it on a “trouble tree” in the temple courtyard for the gods to deal with. You might simply visualize placing the problem in the lap of Goddess (or your deity of choice). She can certainly handle it—meaning that you can—and when you are in harmony with her, the whole universe will help. Having done these things, shift your attention to some unrelated project and work on that until you feel drowsy.

Other remedies for sleeplessness include an evening walk, soothing music, a warm bath, subliminal tapes with appropriate messages, a cup of hot catnip or chamomile tea, getting a massage from a partner or friend, self-hypnosis, Bach flower remedies, making love, progressive relaxation of each set of muscles, or a combination of any of these.

If your bed is ancient, lumpy, too hard or soft, or filled with dust and tiny critters, it’s time to start saving for a new one.

If you tend to stay up too late, then when the alarm goes off in the morning, set the alarm again for bedtime. Set it for an hour that will give you eight hours’ rest, then adjust it over the next several days until you wake up refreshed in the morning.

Perhaps the greatest help of all, in the long run, is to make sure you have plenty of physical activity and exercise in your life. This will lead to a more relaxed body and a more cheerful and serene emotional outlook.

Natural Light

A daily dose of sunlight helps the body create important vitamins, especially vitamin D, and natural moonlight can help regulate the menstrual cycle. Inside, use incandescent lights or bulbs that reproduce the natural spectrum—never ordinary fluorescents.

Of course it is very possible to overdo sunlight: too much exposure harms sensitive skin and can even lead to skin cancer. The bronzed surfers and beach bunnies of today may pay a terrible price later, especially if the ozone layer continues to be depleted and we are all exposed to more intense solar radiation.

Seek balance and use common sense. During the summer you will probably get plenty of natural light without really trying. If you live in northerly areas with long, dark winters, you may have to make a special effort during the cold season to get enough sunlight. At this time, lack of sunlight may affect your health and emotional balance. Scientists have suggested that the high suicide rate in some northern countries may stem from depression caused by vitamin deficiencies, which are in turn caused by a shortage of natural light; it’s called “Seasonal Affective Disorder.” So when the winter days are shorter, it becomes important to spend as much time as possible outdoors—at least half an hour a day!

Don’t skimp on the indoor lighting, either. If it’s cold and dark outside, balance this with a blaze of warm light inside. If the electric bill is a concern, ask yourself whether you would rather sit in the gloom or unplug a few of your gadgets and appliances for the sake of increased light.

As much as light is important, so, sometimes, is real darkness. When you sleep, artificial lights, even tiny nightlights, will affect your natural sleep cycle. Spiritually speaking, making friends with the night counters and heals the crazy moral polarity in our culture, which sells the equation:

GOOD = Light, activity, complexity, masculine qualities, etc.

BAD = darkness, stillness, simplicity, feminine qualities, etc.

There is a saying: “Witches are not afraid of the dark.” Well, some are; but most Witches and other magicians face their fear and work with it until they find the beauty and peace that are in the darkness as well as the light.

Love

Study after study has shown that love is a requirement for health, whether it comes from family, friends, lovers, or pets. Creating and maintaining loving relationships is a topic that has filled many books, and we are not going to cover it here in great depth. Nevertheless, here are a few insights that might be helpful.

We all need love, by which I mean caring and emotionally intimate relationships. (Sex is fine as well, but it’s not the most essential ingredient.) And we can all find love. If you haven’t got enough, give some away and watch it return threefold.

A Word About Addictions

There are many kinds of addictions. It’s an addiction if you want it, do it, or buy it all the time, or want too much of it, and if your dependency is harming you or your loved ones. Some people become addicted to substances that are unhealthy in any quantity: tobacco, “hard” drugs, etc. Others rely on things that are fine in moderation, but harmful in large quantities: beer, sugar, chocolate, and so on. Any addiction can interfere with your psychic sensitivity and your ability to communicate with Younger Self and Higher Self (see chapter 5). A wise practitioner once said it this way: “Adepts have the use of everything but are dependent on nothing.”

We live in a society where addictions are promoted, marketed, and pushed at us constantly by the advertising power of giant corporations. True, addiction to illegal drugs is discouraged; but addiction to processed food, sugary beverages, big cars, fancy clothing, expensive cosmetics, and a million other consumer products—well, that’s the American Way.

We all need to ask ourselves: what are we addicted to? We can be addicted to diet sodas, possessions, sex, high-carb snacks, whining, sleep, food in general, nasty gossip, romance novels, television, movies, or collecting china ducks. If it impairs your health or clarity, or if it ties up large amounts of time, energy, or money that could be put to better use, it’s going to hurt your magick and your whole life.

Many of us are kings and queens of denial. The phrases come so easily: “I can quit anytime I want to.” “Well, there are habits that are a lot worse!” “Yes, but I’m under so much stress, and it relaxes me.” “I’ve been good today; I’ll just reward myself a little.” “Well, it’s a free country, and I can do what I want.”

I’ve said things like that, too. Yes, it’s sad and pathetic.

For once, let us stand up, look in the mirror, and say, “Wow, I’m really overboard on this. I’m addicted, and it’s hurting me and my family.” Then act. Join a twelve-step program, get medical help, get counseling, take the plunge, make the shift, stop indulging, stop escaping, work magick to release addictions, get back on track with what’s really important in life. It might be something you can master in a week or it might be a lifelong struggle. It will demand courage and perseverance, but aren’t these the qualities we expect from a magician?

Even magick can become an addiction. The study of magick itself should never become a way to avoid life and its problems. Don’t let the fun and mystery of magick become a hidey-hole where you can escape your problems. Instead, use it to confront them.

Magick is tightly interwoven with a life that is healthy and empowered. A healthy lifestyle leads to stronger magick; and magick, in turn, can help create a healthy lifestyle.

Good nutrition, clean air and water, rest, natural light, exercise, natural clothing, and love; these are basics we all need to thrive, and they are a foundation for working magick.

When seeking teachers, lean toward those who work at health. This does not mean that a magickal teacher has to be Mr. Clean Arteries or Miss Slenderbody to communicate something of value; even great magicians are allowed to have personal healing challenges they have to wrestle with. But they should be aware of these matters and working on them, or else there is something wrong.

If your blood sugar bounces all over, you are filled with addictions and cravings, or you are in pain, fatigued, or dehydrated, then you are not in a good position to perceive, catalyze, or channel power. You may still work magick, but you will certainly not be working the best magick of which you are capable. Anything that weakens your neural system weakens your magick.

With a clean, strong, healthy body and a clear mind, you are more psychically sensitive, more attuned to the power currents of nature, and have better judgment in choosing your goals and magickal techniques. This is one reason why Witches are healers. They are first of all self-healers, and this constant focus on their own health and healing makes them more fit, more alert, more capable at anything they do—including magick.

Exercises Toward Mastery

You can guess where we are headed next. By the numbers:

1: Improve Your Eating Habits

Track what you eat for one week. Choose one thing that you need to cut out or reduce. Decide what you’re going to replace it with so you don’t feel deprived. Enlist the help of friends and family to remind you when you start to stray from the plan. And then do it, with courage and grace and humor: no whining. When you have made that one change, then tackle another.

2: Breathe Clean Air

Assignment: if you work or live in a place with bad air (smoky, stuffy, toxic fumes), change it or get out. Talk to the Safety Director at work, or your landlord, or whomever you need to: be demanding, be insistent, be a pain in the butt. It’s your lungs and your life! If the battle seems hopeless after a few weeks, leave. Go somewhere that you can breathe.

Alternative assignment: if you are fortunate enough to have clean air—or especially if you aren’t—write and call your state and federal representatives: tell them to support clean air legislation.

3: Abdominal Breathing

Loosen your clothing and lie down in a quiet place. After lying still for a few moments, notice how you are breathing. Are your breaths shallow or deep, and when you inhale, does your ribcage move, or your stomach, or both? Now try breathing only from your upper lungs; only your ribcage should move, while your stomach stays still. Next breathe only from your lower lungs: your stomach should lift as the diaphragm muscles push downward, and your chest should be still. Lastly, breathe using all your lung capacity, taking deep breaths, inhaling first in the lower part so your stomach lifts, and then continuing to inhale as your ribcage expands. Exhale deeply, first from the chest, then below, pulling in your stomach. Take several deep, slow, smooth breaths in this way. Then rest and breathe normally again. How do you feel?

4: Up Your Exercise

Nothing fancy, nothing complicated. If you don’t already exercise a half hour each day, then start by either (a) taking a fifteen-minute walk daily; or (b) signing up for any kind of exercise, martial arts, dance, or swim class. Important: after each walk or class, take a few moments to mentally explore your body and how you feel. Notice and appreciate the changes, and you will become more motivated to continue.

5: Quick Wardrobe Makeover

Throw all your clothes on your bed. Yes, all of them. Pick up one item: if it’s too small, or uncomfortable, or made of synthetics (with rare exceptions), stuff it in a bag for a thrift store donation or garage sale. If it’s loose, comfortable, and natural, hang it up or put it in your dresser. Repeat until the pile on the bed is gone. Now, if you don’t have enough clothes left to get through the week, then buy some that fit your new standards.

6: Adjust Your Sleeping

Choose one strategy from this chapter that will help you sleep better. Put it into effect. If you are sleeping poorly and think there is a medical cause, make an appointment with your doctor, now, to discuss the problem.

7: See the Light

Part 1: Think about your day. Do you get at least one-half hour of exposure to natural sunlight each day? If so, great. If you are among the windowless, cubicle-ized, or graveyard-shift set, and have forgotten what real light looks like, adjust your schedule so that you are outdoors (maybe walking?) for that precious thirty minutes.

Part 2: Check your bedroom for artificial light at night: block light from streetlights, digital clocks, or anything but the moon and stars.

8: Find the Love That’s Close at Hand

If you are surrounded by people who love you, well and good—you’re doing something very right! If you are lonely, focus first on the love that’s within reach, not the great romance or perfect partner of your dreams. In other words, look to yourself. Yes, when you can look in the mirror and truly say to the familiar face “I love you,” you will then be in a position to hear that from someone else. Be kind and gentle with yourself, and allow the love to grow. Then look to your friendships; those, too, are loving relationships, just not romantic or sexual ones. What can you do to enhance your present friendships? Next, who is there that you would like as a friend? Invite them for coffee (or tea), and start building that new friendship. Next, is there anyone among your relatives that you like, but have grown apart from? Renew communications with them. Next, do you have an animal companion? That’s a wonderful source of unconditional love, and the animal shelters are filled with loving creatures who would like to share your life. (Don’t go overboard: you don’t want to be the guy with eighteen half-starved dogs or the funny old lady with sixty-seven cats. That would certainly wreck your chances for romance! Quality, not quantity.)

Blesséd be.

To follow this path further, read:

Rituals of Healing: Using Imagery for Health and Wellness by Jeanne
Achterberg, et al. (Bantam Books, 1994)

Purify Your Body: Natural Remedies for Detoxing from Fifty Everyday Situations by Nina L. Diamond (Crown Paperbacks, 1996)

Free Your Breath, Free Your Life: How Conscious Breathing Can Relieve Stress, Increase Vitality, and Help You Live More Fully by Dennis Lewis
(Shambhala, 2004)

Your Personality, Your Health: Connecting Personality with the Human Energy System, Chakras, and Wellness by Carol Ritberger (Hay House, 1998)

Natural Health, Natural Medicine: A Comprehensive Manual for Wellness and Self-Care by Andrew Weil (Houghton Mifflin, 1998)

[1] Isaac Bonewits, Real Magic, 67.