{"id":1852,"date":"2013-11-28T08:00:07","date_gmt":"2013-11-28T08:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/asenseofplace\/?p=1852"},"modified":"2013-11-28T16:49:33","modified_gmt":"2013-11-28T16:49:33","slug":"urban-witchcraft-communication-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/asenseofplace\/2013\/11\/urban-witchcraft-communication-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Urban Witchcraft: The Power of Words"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There was a time, not so long ago, when information was shared by word of mouth.\u00a0 Most of us were illiterate.\u00a0 That word has such a nasty taste in the mouth now, doesn\u2019t it?<\/em>\u00a0 It conjures all sorts of images, from gross ignorance to the cruel acts committed by those same ignorant individuals.\u00a0 I don\u2019t like those conjurings, so I\u2019m going to make-up my own reference phrase (which may have been thought of already by scholars who also ponder such things<\/em>).\u00a0\u00a0 Let\u2019s begin again\u2026<\/p>\n

There was a time, not so long ago, when information was shared orally, when we were all Other minded, and animatedly literate.\u00a0 We saw the world in pictures: a tapestry of sound, vision, taste, texture, all woven into a unified, and sacred, whole.\u00a0 During this time, my vocal sounds blended and joined the vocal sounds of the Other animals that lived around me, along with the verbal sounds of the environmental Other: the wind, the trees, the water.<\/p>\n

All auditory stimulation combined to communicate something to those who listened.<\/strong><\/p>\n

My ancient ancestress would have been acutely aware of the water listening to her.\u00a0 The rain that fell outside the house heard her mumblings and hummings and murmurs and sighs.\u00a0 The water paid attention, and knew.\u00a0 The trees also.\u00a0 They looked in at her, through the door opening, and heard her speak words out-loud to herself, or to her children.\u00a0 They listened, and knew.\u00a0 Oh, how careful was she in what she said.\u00a0 How deliberate was her choice of word and phrase.\u00a0 All of the animate, living World heard her.\u00a0 What would they think?\u00a0 What might they do?<\/em><\/p>\n

During this time of animate literacy, information was shared from human to human by way of Story.\u00a0 These beautiful mnemonic techniques, used to pass important knowledge, allowed for abundant creativity and ingenuity.\u00a0 Shared around a toasty fire, over a hearty meal, they were comforting entertainment and essential reminders.\u00a0 Most of the world\u2019s indigenous population told these sacred stories\u2014which very often involved warnings and wisdom about the natural world\u2014during the winter.\u00a0 It may seem they were told during winter for purely pragmatic purpose.\u00a0 What else was there to do?\u00a0 It was dark and cold and we were all indoors, under a skin flap or in a wood hut.<\/p>\n

Ah\u2026but why else might winter have been the time to share stories about the living world?<\/strong><\/p>\n

That world was asleep!\u00a0 The tree who peeks her knowing eyes into my hut during summer, sleeps deep within her trunk in winter.\u00a0 She does not hear the warnings shared about her nuts and leaves, thus the humans do not offend her.\u00a0 She rests, and we respect her by not gossiping within ear shot!\u00a0 Yes\u2026 I like that notion.<\/em><\/p>\n

So, we communicate in order to share valuable information, to pass on customs, express affection, request help, process emotional pain, and pass the time.\u00a0\u00a0 All those are important reasons to communicate but it seems what I want to say has nothing to do with that; rather, I seem concerned with the power of our communication.\u00a0 Namely, why it is vitally important to use words respectfully.\u00a0 As a witch, I work with the natural world as both part and parcel.\u00a0 I am the natural world.\u00a0 I am one with it, and I am a component of it.\u00a0 Just as I hear the Grackle whistle, perched high in our native Pecan, she likewise, hears me.\u00a0 Just as I hear the south wind sing through the corridors of living buildings in downtown Austin, he likewise, hears me.<\/p>\n

Mutual respect and strong relationship are important to my work and life as a witch, and as a human.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

I need a harmonious relationship with the elements, and all other-than-human-persons.\u00a0 What in the world would the north wind think if she heard me bad-mouthing her?<\/em>\u00a0 My word!\u00a0 She wouldn\u2019t be any more desirous of working with me than I would if I heard a friend gossiping behind my back!\u00a0 And let\u2019s not forget the rain!\u00a0 He eventually winds his way back to the ocean, and I certainly would not wish to offend Her!\u00a0 A wise witch minds her words and communicates to ALL beings with respect and courtesy, never speaking more than is needed, and remembering the wisdom of the ancestors: some secrets are best woven into Story and those Stories are best shared when the world sleeps<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 ssssshhhhh<\/em><\/p>\n

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Many Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving this week by gathering with loved ones to feast, and express their gratitude for health and good food. There are many stories about this cultural festival, and it is important we consider the words we use to discuss it. In fact, the words we use to communicate, and the implications those words may have, are especially consequental for the witch. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1296,"featured_media":1853,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[91,92,18,148,151,19,40,15,79,468],"tags":[469,473,7,8,20,1895,9,283],"class_list":["post-1852","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-austin-united-states","category-cities-sacred-spaces","category-connection-2","category-earth","category-experiential","category-how-to-build-it","category-sacred-spaces","category-texas","category-united-states","category-witchcraft-2","tag-faery-tradition","tag-feri-tradition","tag-pagan","tag-paganism","tag-place","tag-texas","tag-urban","tag-witchcraft"],"yoast_head":"\nUrban Witchcraft: The Power of Words<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Many Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving this week by gathering with loved ones to feast, and express their gratitude for health and good food. 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