Shelle Wrote:

Trying,
SeeShelle

Markus Replied:

Markus,
You always just amaze me with your insite. Yes, if you'd like you can add them. I have been printing out all our letters so I can re-read them and think things through. This letter will take a little studying though.

:) Great, get to understand them, but don't be afraid to say "This doesn't work for me" and change it around a little bit. Then, after you've changed it, see how it fits and go from there. Or you can change it and ask me, then change it more... fluidity is a part of life, there's no such thing as a stable thought.

First my idea of the meaning of witch, right at this moment, and the way I feel, is that of a feeling, a knowledge, an acceptance of oneself. When you finally accept yourself, all will fall in it's place.

Excellently well said! You've hit the nail on the head, once you know yourself the balance is there (for the most part) and then it just has to be accurately translated into action, which will be doing what you think is best. Further, outside the shallow "what is best," you will know Why you are doing it and why you've decided to after weighing the possible consequences and alternatives. Understand that at times this means not being nice. You should understand that part of yourself already, being the best person you know how may at some point entail causing harm to another. (I could give you endless descriptions of biased circumstances for when something like this might occur, but I count you as one of those intelligent enough to know it to be true and not require ridiculous examples.)

I think the power of the mind is unlimited. My problem is finding mine, accepting it for what it is, and willing it to work with myself to do good.

Well, I don't think you have a problem in the "willing to work" area. :) And I don't believe you should let the "finding" problem get to you either. Most humans use less than 8% or so of their minds capabilities... kinda makes you wonder what the other 90% can do, and if you work at it (as you have been), we'll unlock a little more. Chin up :)

The empathic thing hit right on the button, I call it reading people. Sounds simple but, I always say I know, when this sense comes about. It's really strange, but people put on such airs sometimes, but it doesn't fool me too often.

OUTSTANDING!!! "Reading people" or "Feeling People" is exactly the term my family uses! And yes, it is simple, but why make it difficult if it doesn't have to be? My Kindred's Credo is: SIMPLIFY! If I don't understand exactly why I do it and what happens as a result, I cut it out, because it has not use.

his girl at work really tries to let people think she's head-strong, a real bit*h. But I have found out better. Don't get me wrong, I can't do this with everybody, and sometimes I'm wrong, but I do feel it!

Yes you can. This can be done to everyone, at varying degrees. Some folks have strong shields (yes, real shields) that prevent another from reading them, but being that this is a Craft application and the number of folks in the world are not using magick, your chances of finding a block are slim. Keep working at it, you'll find that it becomes easier with practice. Also, how does it register when you read someone? Images? Thoughts? Emotions? some other way?

our letter today just seems to open up more questions, they always do. But ya know the more I study, think, and read, the more my guts feel like they are going to explode. I mean that in a good way. After the last note about the empathic thing, I looked it up on the internet. Found a page that claimed that an empathic was a person that didn't feel like they belonged sorta. Someone searching for something or somewhere or someone. Looking for someone like them. This fits me too, kinda like something more is there but nobody understands.

*shaking head* Not feeling like you belong has nothing to do with Empathy (other than you can relate to someone who is going through the same sensation of not fitting in) and apparently who ever wrote that information has not a clue. Reading a person IS empathy, judging their innerself by what you feel when you are near them -- this usually comes through in emotions, since, though sometimes we try so very hard not to be, humans are emotional creatures.

Markus, Do you do actual spells and stuff?

Yes.

I keep trying the candle thing and have started trying to get a pencil to move, just a fraction, but nothing.

Get a pencil to move?? You've been watching those movies again havent' you?! :) You're not going to get the pencil to move (not now anyway)... a candle is do-able because it is fluid and already in motion, all you have to do is influence it. With a pencil you are fighting all the physical laws... magick is not supernatural, neither are you. Just like you can't knock over a building with your pinky, you aren't going to fight gravity, intermolecular forces, static attraction, adhesion, and a number of other physical forces with an ability you haven't even begun developing yet. Patience, you can do the candle, I have faith in you, have faith in yourself.

Is there a chant or and action, or a mental picture I should be working on to help. It feels like my mind is going to blow but nothing happens.

Actually, that's not such a bad idea... the chant I mean, as for the mental picture, just see the flame leaning to the side. Remember, it will not be a drastic U-TURN! You are looking for a slight lean to the left or right (which ever way you wish to have it go) If you think a chant will help you, feel free to invent one. There really is no "Wrong" way to do this (well, a few, but only people who think like 2nd graders would do them, you ain't one of them). A simple 3 or 4 word chant, whispered under your breath so as not to disturb the flame with your breath, may indeed help you! Give it a try, keep it simple. Let me know what you come up with.

How do I hone this tool I want to use?

Practice. Period. Rome wasn't burnt in a day.... errrrr... something like that.

Where do I find my tool. Will it ever work?

Yes, it will work, stick with it hun. I can feel your frustration, but an easy achievement isn't much of an acheivement.

Can this girl-friend of yours actually make things happen? Can you give me some examples of her starting.

She's getting there... her experimentations are usually on her own, she's a bit timid (though she won't admit it) when it comes to trying new things, so she only shares are successes with me. She's worked on the spell for traffic lights and dabbled with Tarot cards, that's about it so far. Just recently has she gotten over her discomfort with Craft so she is only a few months ahead of you in working at it. Remember, there are folks out there that have been at it for a life time and they still have difficulty in some areas! The idea is to find what you are good at and stick with it, building the ability to its fullest... A master of one thing is a failure at another, a failure at nothing is master of none.

I'm getting just a little discouraged. If it helps any, I'm pretty good at visualizing and I dream in color. Had a real terrible dream the other day and I hope it doesn't mean something terrible is fixing on happening!

:) No, I'm sure it was just a bad dream not a prophecy or anything. There's another question for you. How do dreams play a role in everyday life? Are they just active imaginations or more?

Anyway, that's another letter. Take care Markus! You and Yours.

Always trying. :) Do the same, hun.

Peace,
Markus