Pantheacon - Back to basics? Hardly!

Pantheacon rolled into town this past week and brought with it the usual kaleidoscope of Pagan diversity. Wiccans, Druids, Hoodoo Priestesses, conjurers, mountain folk, sorcerers, wizards, bent-kneed dedicants and this Corporate Pagan from your neighbourhood were all there in their ritual finest. And talking of clothes, we pagans are not afraid of mixing our colours and textures!

But pageantry and spectacle aside, there is serious work that happens at Pantheacon. The theme this year was “back to basics”. Initially, when I read the course description I thought I might skip this year. I read “back to basics” as “craft 101”. It would have been a huge mistake not to go.

I’ve realized recently that “basic” doesn’t mean “beginner”. It means “at the base” or “foundation”. I like to look at that another way and substitute the word “Elemental”.

The vast majority of speakers, presenters and ritual hosts completely understood the semantic subtlety between “basic as beginner” and “basic as elemental and at the core essence of”. On more than one occasion a presenter commented how easy it was for large groups of people to produce a magickal working together with limited instruction. We simply knew how to work together regardless of tradition. The rituals were reduced to the absolute, minimal, elemental and simplistic forms and yet, paradoxically, were all the more complex and profound because of it.

One teacher commented on ritual space and noted that as long as we have breath in our bodies, we have all of the sacred space we need. The elements and Deities are always contained within us and the ability to access them and foster our relationships with them is practically always in abundance.

One ritual I attended consisted of concentric circles. Each person placed their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. Each ring, representing stages of personal and spiritual development, was held by each other person who, in turn, held someone else. I thought of myriad times in my life where a simple touch - to know I was held and supported – would have meant more to me than any circle casting, athame-wielding, corner calling production ever could.

Yet another class focused on the body in prayer. Simple movements combined with a sublime supplication to the Goddess. The movements were inspired by the Sufi Mystics and the repetition created an altered state of consciousness that seemed so familiar and accessible, one buried just below the surface of every day thought.

And one piece of work centered entirely on the breath. I breathed for ninety minutes. Sounds basic, I know, but there was nothing simple about it. Mindful, intentional breathing is complex work. The physical and physiological effort was grueling. The effects of the meditation left many people sobbing uncontrollably. Some were laughing. They had that particularly knowing and almost “I’ve just found IT and it was here all along” tone to their voices that echoes Divine madness. Still others were holding on to each other as if just discovering that the person next to them was actually, truly, indefatigably The Divine.

And I took great pleasure in witnessing simple acts. I was listening to a certain, flamboyant presenter. His story was of a simple, humble tradition. I turned around and saw a good friend of mine smiling from ear to ear. The speaker was using words and phrases from my friend’s home lineage. The look of joy on my circle mate’s face as the words resonated on a level so deep within, was awesome. And I mean “awesome” in its truest form.

Other people shared food, offered rides, tended to the needs of those with them, supported each other in the midst of soul-wrenching work and then reveled in the sheer joy of being Pagans together in such a public way.

Back to basics? Well done Pantheacon. Mischief managed.

Bright Blessing of the Mother,
Gwion

Power Surge

"Well, you can do that because you have the power and authority to get people to do that." A co-worker said that to me recently and it got me thinking about Power. Just what is it and how do I use it? What value do I place on it and what is expected of me because I have it? And what is it that really I have anyway?

For many years I sought Power. I wanted to be in control. I wanted to be the Boss. I wanted to make the big decisions that shaped the direction of the companies I was working for. I viewed Power as the vehicle to putting me in the spotlight, the hot seat, the money seat. Power was something that I needed so that I could show people how important I was. Listen to the song "Big Time" by Peter Gabriel and you'll have a pretty good sense of what Power meant to me.

I've been in a position of some Power, professionally speaking, for a few years now...even more so recently. To be sure, I have the Power to determine company policy, hire and fire folks, promote, demote and all of those lovely duties that come with being an executive.

To some, this kind of Power represents "Power Over". The ability to control others lives by exercising my might over them. Power like that can be seductive and, I believe, ultimately ruinous. My initial concept of Power, while I was "on the way up", was exactly that...my dominion over you because I was more valuable and powerful than you. Not exactly enlightened, eh?

What I didn't realize was the awesome responsibility that comes with that kind of Power. So while others may see me as in charge and Powerful, what they rarely see are the internal wrestling matches I'm having, weighing up the consequences of the decisions I make. Every thought, every minor change, every seemingly insignificant show of Power has ramifications that go on far beyond the scope of a simple decision. So Power then becomes responsibility which is nowhere near as seductive sounding.

I recently realized something else about Power. Like most things it is completely transient and illusory. The Power I do have is funded partly by my hard work or good luck (which I find to be never far apart from one another) and yet it is also granted to me by the other members of the executive team and board members who place a value on what I do. But that power could be taken away from me if I were demoted or let go. What would happen to my Power then? The employees that currently report to me would no longer see me as they do now and my Power would be transferred to someone else. My Power lies then in the name I have, in this case, Senior Vice President. The name conveys the Power, not necessarily the person.

So I examined Power again. If Power is transitory, it is therefore by default, something that can be transferred or conveyed elsewhere. Power is harnessed energy. It can be used or abused. Power can be applied to one situation to produce a result that might not otherwise have happened. That's a fair approximation of the definition of Magick!

I only ever use Magick by choice because I understand that using Magick can have far reaching consequences. So if Power and Magick are synonymous, then I must also be in choice to use Power effectively.

And that leads me to my final understanding of Power. I don't really possess anything that can be labeled as power. Nothing concrete anyway. I derive any and all Power from the simple act of choice. My choices are my Power.

Blessed be

Gwion - The Corporate Pagan

My dad used to tell me that I thought I was the Big I Am

Witch bits...

It has been a bit of time since I posted anything here. The past month has been exciting, busy, hectic and loaded with new energy. The direction of the company is moving rapidly and, for better or worse, it's my job to shepherd/priestess those changes along.

As an easy intro back into the blogging saddle, I thought I'd post a few snippets of conversations I've had or heard recently.

A programmer at work was going through data looking to glean some information and said to me

" Sorry, going through all of these numbers is a bit of a Witch hunt...Oh Geez, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, um...What I meant to say was..."

I let her off the hook after a few awkward moments of stammering around (with a smile).

A newer employee making small talk with me said

"Are you looking forward to Hanukkah this year?"

" oh, I thought you were Jewish. I see that Star of David neckla...oh, it isn't a Star of Da...Oh! Um...What does that mean exactly, Pagan?"

Overheard, one of my favourite employees talking to someone by the water cooler

"No his wife is great. why do you ask?"

"Oh, I was talking with (insert name here) and he said that she was a real witch"

"Ahhh...That she is and so is he!"

It was the totally befuddled look on their face that made this one priceless!

That's it for now!

Blessed be!

Spell work in the office...

I don't often do "official" magick at the office and I've certainly never done magick for anyone. I find it astonishing that once someone gets past the "so you are a real witch?" phase, the "so...I was wondering if you could..." phase begins. Ethically speaking this is a real off-limits area for me and, I hope, for most Pagans. I typically counsel others to delve deeply into their own mysteries and find what lies at the root of their request. Working within their own traditions and beliefs keeps the "Your spell didn't work and now my boyfriend hates me" comments to zero - which is just about the perfect number for my tastes. My spell working is nearly always a personal, private affair or done within the confines of a close-knit group.

Having said all that, I have been undertaking a magickal working though that concerns how I operate within the company I work for. I'm not going to publish any details here, for all of the obvious reasons (note: if you are not sure about the obvious reasons, I highly suggest not doing magick).

As I've mentioned before, the company is in a state of transition and I've been on the forefront of shepherding that transition. The changes are fairly sweeping and the benefit to the company in both the near and far term are quite exciting, however, change invariably comes with a certain amount of fear.

Part of this process at work involves me stepping into a place of considerable power. I've been tasked with re-creating an entire sales system and re-invigorating a sales staff. This is a tall order. The staff that report to me are going to have to believe in the direction I'm taking them in and the folks in the corner offices have to trust me to get us there successfully with as little disruption as possible.

Stepping into one's power sounds tantalizing, and when done well is a magick all unto itself. Ego is connected to power though. There's a chance to become insular, dictatorial and disconnected from the company as a whole. I've no wish to become the "Great I AM" and I've been prone to that in the past (always ending badly, I might add!).

To achieve my aim I have to know where I'm going to, and that's where the magick comes in. Intention is one of the strongest and most potent tools I possess. I know where I want to end up. I can see it clearly. I'm using a considerable amount of personal power to get the project(s) off of the ground but am calling on larger energies to sustain the work through it's completion.

Along with the overall results, I'm hoping to inject compassion and a heightened sense of ethical responsibility into the fabric of the workplace.

We shall see...

Magick in the office, you don't say?

Walk into the non descript building I work in, in the non descript business park it's located in and you might wonder "where in the gods' name is the magick here?"
Most corporate offices I visit are a maze of grey walls and grey cubicles. Not exactly where one thinks to practice magick or see the face of the goddess.
Most Pagans (I use that term generically, feel free to substitute in Wiccans, Druids, Fae Folk or your favourite word of choice!) talk about a connection to nature, the belief that magick is all around at all times, but it can conspicously absent from the sterile office environment.
Now I realize that in some cases that's a matter of practicality. Few of us make our living out of our magickal practices or can have a cauldron bubbling away on top of the file cabinet with the latest herbs picked from the garden hidden under our desks. Far too many still live in areas where being "out of the broom-closet" could jeopardize a career (or worse!).
So, how does one stay in touch with nature and magick in the office environment without being overly obvious about it (carving a giant pentacle in your desk is right out, sorry!)?
One thing that has worked for me is to Surround yourself with the Elements:
Earth: Can you have a plant on your desk? Could you suggest that the HR department purchase plants to hide power outlets or exposed corners in the building? Is there an outdoor, employee patio and if so, could you dress it up with flowers in planter boxes. Taking the time to beautify one's office space or surroundings is not only good for your spirit but can uplift other employees too...and what a better way to contribute to the smooth operation of the business than by inviting some good ol' earth energy to help with grounding. I'm in that process now. My office has a lovely window and a few well-placed plants would go a long way to getting some "life" into the room.
Air: Well, the obvious solution here is to open a window and let the air flow into the work space. Not always practical though and the windows in our building don't open. Pictures of storms, feathers, birds can work well. My favourite way to invite air into the office is to get out of the office! At least once a day I stand in the fresh air (rain or shine) and drink in that glorious energy. And I find laughter to be a great way to bring in the air. Nothing better than a big, healthy guffaw to change the energy on a dull Monday afternoon!
Water: A desk-sized fountain can do the trick here, but think big - can your office take a water feature in the main lobby? What about out in the company courtyard? Even somethng as simple as getting a water cooler to stand around can be a good thing. Fresh, clean water is healthy. Many companies have coffee pots and soda machines but not all of them have available water (that isn't from a tap).
Fire: Have to be careful with this one! Creativity might be the better course of action here! I have a few pictures on my desk top that inspire me. I look at fire as inpiration. A love letter or a card from an admirer might be a good way to remember fire. Standing out in the sun can do it too.
Witches by nature are a creative bunch. Taking the time to "magick" up the office can be a blast. Green offices can go all out by creating gardens, getting rain-water silos going and the like. Even suggesting a company clean up day of a park, freeway section or beach can be a good way to incorporate nature as part of the office culture. If your office/company is open to it there are hundreds of ways to make your office more environmentally friendly. There are hundreds of easy suggestions online such as:
http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife/2007/03/10_ways_to_go_g.html
Just a thought...

Sex in the office?

I was walking with a friend not so long ago. We were discussing sex. My friend made the pronouncement "I don't fuck anymore!" That's not to say that my friend is celibate, far from it I imagine. It was rather more a statement of intention. Their point was that sex had become a sacred act. Now before you start rolling your eyes and thinking, "Oh, I suppose there are always candles and everything is perfect and little birds sing when this person makes the sweet love" hold your horses a minute.

My good friend certainly enjoys a good romp. Although not speaking from personal experience, I imagine sex with this person would run the gamut from soft, tender nurturing love-making to an all out surfeit for the carnal senses. The point here is that they approach the sex they engage in as sacred. I started thinking about the words Sacred Sex and what they actually mean to me.

The "Sex" part was easy enough for me to define, it was the "Sacred" part and the combination of the two words together that really stuck with me. Grab your handy-dandy dictionary and you'll see that "sacred" means Holy, Divine, set apart from the ordinary. The words "sacrifice" and "sacrosanct" have the same root. Putting the words together then, I come up with " a union between partners that is marked off from the ordinary, expected boundaries. Sex as an offering of and to the Divine and to those presently involved, invoked and evoked."

Okay...So, um, how does this relate to the office? Well, my mind works in a strange way. I took this conversation and applied it to the world outside of the bedroom (kitchen table, laundry room - wherever - no judgements here!) to the every day, mundane world of the old nine to five.

I'm in my office 40-50 hours per week. There are only a few people that I spend that kind of time with on a regular basis. The work I do feeds my family and, I believe, it should feed my soul too. And this lead me to another combination of words: Sacred Vocation. Alright, so using the same formula as above what is suggested? Vocation is defined (handy-dandy dictionary again) as:

a particular occupation, business, or profession; calling.

a strong impulse or inclination to follow a particular activity or career.

a divine call to God's service. (for our purposes, let's make this gods'/goddesses' service shall we?)

a function or station in life to which one is called by God/dess.

Do I approach my work as a sacred act, offering myself to it fully? Do I look at my career as a call to service? Some weeks I really do feel that way. If I'm going to do something for an extended period of time, I want it to have some meaning beyond simply toiling for the sake of it. I work hard. I help others earn a great living. I teach sales strategies. I reward hard work in others. I empower or show the people I work with how to empower themselves. That's a good, dare I say, noble endeavour. And I do enjoy what I do.

But then my definition of Sacred Vocation becomes " that, which beyond the ordinary, expected boundaries, I am called to do in service." It's that word called that sticks in my craw. Am I called to do what I do? How would I spend my time differently if I viewed my occupation as a sacred vocation? If I cherished the company as I would cherish a lover, how would I show up differently? Would I allow others to treat my sacred lover as they do. Do I always honour what my job and the entity it becomes as sacred?

And lastly, what would I be doing if this is not my calling?

Thoughts to ponder...

Balance...

I began the week by helping a friend edit an article on Balance, and is often the case, their article got me thinking about the subject. By week's end I found myself completely and utterly out of balance.

I looked at my workload and realized that I'm leaving the office accomplishing almost everything on my to-do list, but I'm not completing each task to satisfaction. The next day, I'm starting in the hole, as it were, and by the end of my day I'm exhausted and frustrated. I've become reactive rather than proactive.

That's really unlike me. There are always projects that I'm juggling, that's business, but I'm an insatiable list maker. I use my white board for daily tasks, weekly goals, monthly projects. I'm usually able to stand in the middle of the storm and work down my lists, but recently it's just not the case.

What happened? Where did the balance go?

First thing I decided to do was focus my attention on the problem. Great! That would restore balance. I'd look at the most pressing projects and knock them out first. I'd re-prioritize the lists. I spent the afternoon drawing up my new plan only to leave the office even more behind (because I'd been planning instead of doing).

Second try at the problem. I started at the top of the list and worked my way down. Locked the door, don't get interrupted and just get back to square one. Great! That would restore the balance. I was late for a meeting and showed up woefully unprepared.

Alright. Focusing on one part of the problem was not the solution. Isolating myself from the realities of the work place was clearly not the answer either. So what lessons are there to draw from magick that could help right this very unbalanced ship?

"And first do no harm". Most pagans are familiar with this phrase. I often think of it to mean doing no harm to "them out there" but it applies to self-harm as well. I have not been kind to myself recently. I have not been eating as well - actually I eat well just not often enough -and without good food to sustain me my energy drops dramatically. I've not been sleeping well. This is due in part to leaving the office late, making my two-hour commute even longer, not relaxing at home and not getting to bed at a reasonable hour.

I've also noticed that I'm forgoing the activities that really make life worth living - sitting with friends, talking with my kids, sitting by an outdoor fire and going for hikes in the glorious hills around my home.

The old saying "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!" has never been truer. And interestingly enough, I know that most successful executives take time to be themselves away from the rigours of the office. I've made it a practice over the years to re-charge my batteries often just by taking a little time for myself once a month (the gods know I have the sick time and vacation time just sitting there!).

Balance doesn't come by shifting my attention from one project to another. Shift your weight on bicycle from side to side and your likely to fall off.

Balance can't come from ignoring problems or the workload. Stuffing the closet full of problems only works for so long and then one day you open the closet and it all comes pouring out.

Balance, I believe, comes from...well, being balanced. There is a time for work and a time for rest and they need to be honoured equally.