What's Your Method Of Centering/grounding/shielding?, Sorry if this is in the wrong section. Options

Hi guys,
I was wondering, how do you do it? Visualization? Ritual? Both or neither? What thoughts/images do you have while doing so?

Blessed be,
~Rae ♪

This thread has been really insightful and really really interesting, I'm curious about a lot of this.

When you feel this way about the objective you are trying to achieve with magic, then you have enough energy for efficient magic. Less than this doesn't mean that nothing will ever happen - but magic is not just getting whT you want, but also doing so effectively and efficiently.

I used to be basically addicted to the energy that magick draws, and for a few years I'd actually be in a semi-astral state, moving about. Every gesture sprouted energy, every movement shifted things. One thing that confuses me, is in that state, I could cast a hurricane's worth of magick without tangible want, it just ripped through everything?

The desire you mention seems to be a bit dangerous, compared to honing focus, as opposed to desire. Once you can slip somebody into that state, you can easily lead them anywhere.

Being grounded means that your energy is stable and rooted in a solid 'stance'. When you are grounded you are less subject to the ebb and flow of energy that constantly buffets all of us all the time. Being grounded, you can be more certain that your wants or desires are real, and your own, and not just reactions to your energetic environment.

Grounding and centering has its uses, but in regards to casting, what does it bring. I understand it brings a certain objectivity, but you lose a massive amount of power when you're on the ground, and not guiding currents.

Just another question. Does grounding generally suggest that you're physically grounded, or just energetically grounded. Most if not all of my casting is done in astral projection.

I used to be basically addicted to the energy that magick draws, and for a few years I'd actually be in a semi-astral state, moving about. Every gesture sprouted energy, every movement shifted things. One thing that confuses me, is in that state, I could cast a hurricane's worth of magick without tangible want, it just ripped through everything?

Is that so? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bigwink.gif) The wind blows and blows and blows, and the man holds tightly to his jacket. The sun shines kindly upon him, and he takes it off to enjoy the warmth.

The desire you mention seems to be a bit dangerous, compared to honing focus, as opposed to desire. Once you can slip somebody into that state, you can easily lead them anywhere.
Grounding and centering has its uses, but in regards to casting, what does it bring. I understand it brings a certain objectivity, but you lose a massive amount of power when you're on the ground, and not guiding currents.

Don't underestimate the amount of focus that it takes to discover the primal source of desire. Ultimately, the journey into one's own wellspring of desire becomes not a process of discovering only what those primal desires are, but of desire itself, as a natural force of its own. It manifests in us human beings a certain way...

Focus is a different part of the equation, but focus is inert without desire. It's a lens without light - just shapely glass. Focus with what? Focus on what? If you hone only focus, then you are able to be very focused, but not much else. One pointedness only applies to magic when you are directing something at that point. It's a fine meditation tool however.

Just another question. Does grounding generally suggest that you're physically grounded, or just energetically grounded. Most if not all of my casting is done in astral projection.

Depends on where you are grounding into. The earth, your 'point of origin', the unchanging eternity behind the universe, etc. The point is only that you are not 'shiftable' - you can't push on something in a zero-g environment effectively. Both you and the thing you push will move in opposite directions. If, however, you are tethered to something solid, with a gravitationally significant mass, then only the thing you push will move. The principle of having a firm 'foundation' is one of the most ancient premises of magical practice, universal to basically every tradition. Probably with good reason, though, if you know a better way...

I would agree with you, but desire's manifestation is the most lethal,and arguably the most useful part of any individual. Instead of subverting the intention of the individual, just simply direct the means at which the individual acts, and you an adorably idiotic energizer bunny.

Desire is the root of all suffering.

Desire is the root of all life.

All life is suffering.

How we suffer and what we do with it is up to us. You can rule your own desires. Only a small percentage of the population will ever be consumed with desire to some lethal extent - zealotry, biggotry, vengeance, etc. Most people will ignore their desires in some process of self-sacrifice. Others desire pure and good things.

The second sentence doesn't make sense to me. I'm not sure what you mean by all that.

peace

Desire is the root of all suffering.

Desire is the root of all life.

All life is suffering.

How we suffer and what we do with it is up to us. You can rule your own desires. Only a small percentage of the population will ever be consumed with desire to some lethal extent - zealotry, biggotry, vengeance, etc. Most people will ignore their desires in some process of self-sacrifice. Others desire pure and good things.

The second sentence doesn't make sense to me. I'm not sure what you mean by all that.

peace

We all suffer, but wouldn't the entire point of life be to see past yourself and see the bigger picture?

In ways we can 'rule' our desires, I think. We can decide whether or not to act on our impuleses, but we can control what we secretly want (though wants would come and go, desires not so much, right?). The desire for the things in life (objects, people, causes) would be kind of the 'will to live'. Is that what you sort of mean?