And
then there’s magic in the form of energy that
we raise in ritual to manifest our intentions into the
physical realm. While these forms of magic are different
from one another, they are interconnected in such a
way that supports the integration of our spiritual and
everyday lives.
Universal
Pagan: Your new book, A Year of Ritual: Sabbats
& Esbats for Solitaries & Covens is slated for
release in September. Can you tell us a little about
it?
Sandra
Kynes: It was developed as an eclectic sourcebook
for people at all levels. I’ve found that at some
point when putting rituals together, you may run into
the situation of being short on time (especially if
you are asked to fill in for someone at the last minute),
or the muse is simply not cooperating. In these situations
I have turned to my previous rituals to pull pieces
from here and there to shape them into something new.
Although this book is a collection of rituals that are
“ready to go”, I envision people also using
it as a springboard to brainstorm their own rituals,
or using parts of the rituals for a mix and match of
components. I have always enjoyed ritual for the creative
aspect of putting one together as well as the experience
of progressing along my personal spiritual path. It’s
also very poignant to help others get in touch with
their deeper selves; this is my way of serving the Pagan
community.
As
a sourcebook it contains background material for each
ritual, an introduction to ritual in general as well
as the Sabbats and the Esbats. I’ve also included
a brief guide for creating your own rituals. One of
the full moon rituals is a special tribute to one of
my favorite authors, J.R.R. Tolkien. What I stress,
though, is that while the book provides ideas, words
and direction for ritual, the most important part must
be supplied by the reader/user. When approaching ritual,
people must bring faith in their own beliefs. Without
this vital ingredient, ritual is only a performance.
The book provides a framework for personal truth, but
it’s a structure to which people must add their
daily devotions.
Universal
Pagan: As far as ritual is concerned, do you
think its best to use ones you've written on your own?
Sandra
Kynes: I personally prefer to write my own,
but then again I’m a writer, and I’ve studied
history and theatre, which certainly helps to add dimension
and scope. In the past when I’ve worked with a
group they were similar in background so there were
a lot of creative juices flowing. Then several years
ago when I was leading a Pagan group I discovered that
not everyone is a bard. And that’s okay; it doesn’t
mean that others don’t feel what I feel in ritual,
or appreciate crafted ritual components. It’s
simply not their calling. We all have our strengths
and talents. If everyone were the same it would be a
rather boring world. People need to determine which
way is best for them where ritual is concerned.
Universal
Pagan: You have another book, already in publication,
Gemstone Feng Shui. Can you tell us a bit about it?
Sandra
Kynes: Feng shui is about the energy that surrounds
us, and using it to create change in our lives. Gemstone
feng shui is an alternative set of methods that utilize
crystals and gemstones exclusively. However, it can
be combined with a traditional feng shui practice. At
its core, feng shui is a way to balance the dynamic
forces of the natural world. Gemstones and crystals
are perfect for this work because they are created by
the earth’s powerful processes. The earth itself
is dynamic and constantly changing, and as a result,
gemstones embody the energy of the elemental cycles
of creation and destruction that are utilized in feng
shui. Understanding the interaction of elemental energies
and how they relate to your personal environment can
provide you with a powerful tool to counteract negativity
and invite change into your life.
Universal
Pagan: How did you come to put the power of
gemstones and feng shui together?
Sandra
Kynes: I like exploring different methods for
working with energy, which is how I also got into yoga.
I found feng shui fascinating, but in the beginning
it was a struggle because many of the accoutrements
weren’t right for me. I was almost on the verge
of giving up trying to work with energy in this way
when I realized that I had been unconsciously practicing
a sort of feng shui with gemstones and crystals. When
I began to correlate the properties of the stones with
the feng shui Lo Shu grid (also called the Magic Square),
things began to happen.
Universal
Pagan: Can you give us some starter tips on
incorporating the two into our own lives?
Sandra
Kynes: There are several ways of using gemstone
feng shui. The elemental method applies the power of
the elements by using gemstones that invoke their energy
because of the manner through which they were created.
For example, peridot is found in volcanic rock and represents
fire. It can be placed wherever you need to increase
the power of fire and its associated aspects.
The
color method raises the power of a direction by employing
a stone with the color associated with it. For example,
northwest is represented by the color gray. Using moonstone
amplifies the energy of this direction and its related
life aspects.
Using
birthstones adds a personal dimension when building
healthy energy, especially if your birth month corresponds
with the direction or element with which you are working.
For example, if you were born in December, the corresponding
direction is north. Black spinel and opal can be used
to enhance your connection with north as well as the
element water.
That
said, I also advise people to not limit themselves to
pretty gemstones and crystals. Stones that you find
along the beach or in the woods are just as powerful
and there is usually a reason that you become attracted
to them.
Universal
Pagan: You went on a pilgrimage to Ireland.
Did you bring back any discoveries on a spiritual level
you would care to share with us?
Sandra
Kynes: It’s funny, I lived in Europe
for six years, but this was my first visit to Ireland.
It is truly a magical place that beckons you to explore
your deeper self while remaining open to the ancient
spirits of the land. I think that a strong sense of
place and spirit can exist anywhere because the sacred
exists everywhere. I looked at going on pilgrimage as
a personal myth unfolding. This kind of journey is a
time to reach into your soul and history, and to weave
the past and present together in order to understand
the circumstances of this lifetime.
One thing I noticed on pilgrimage was how time seemed
to flow differently. I would have thought that the long
and full days would have flown by as usually happens
during a good holiday. This was truly a time of being
betwixt and between. It was similar to how I remember
childhood with days stretching long and no need to hurry
– time was not rushing away from me.
A
pilgrimage changes a person; of course, that’s
part of what it’s about. Before leaving Ireland
I could already feel transformation occurring at a deep
level. Having set foot on that land, the land of my
ancestors, a land that is so spiritual and enchanted,
I will forever see through different eyes. My awareness
has expanded and my soul deepened. The beauty and peace
I found there is something I shall always carry with
me. I can close my eyes and see the meadows or windswept
rocks and feel the magic and spirit beneath my feet
and in my bones. Now I know how the old magic feels
and it will help deepen mine. In general, the journey
was a confirmation that I’m on the path that is
right for me.
Coming
back into everyday life is the tricky part because I
find it necessary to be vigilant in order to hold onto
the sensations and emotions I experienced in Ireland.
It’s important to take time to sit in front of
my altar and close my eyes and remember, and reach out
to the motherland with my energy and soul. I think this
is an issue whether or not you go on a pilgrimage. In
the first question about magic I said how it’s
part of everyday life; you have to make it part of your
mundane doings, which can be a struggle at times. In
the long run the effort is extremely rewarding.
Universal
Pagan: What is your favorite altarpiece?
Sandra
Kynes: This is difficult because my altar evolves.
Right now it’s loaded with things I brought back
from Ireland. Regardless of how I have my altar set
up, I always place an acorn on it. (For that matter,
I almost always carry one with me.) The oak is an incredible
tree both visually and energetically. The area where
I like to hike (my beloved woods) is mainly oak and
beech, but there is also a small oak grove on the forest
boundary (betwixt and between) where I spend a lot of
time. To me, the acorn symbolizes continuity and the
cycle of life/death/rebirth and the turning seasons.
It is so small and yet it holds great potential for
what can be, without promising whether or not this will
come to pass. It reminds me that the way ahead is always
uncertain, but faith and spirit make me unafraid.
Universal
Pagan: Who are your favorite Pagan authors?
Sandra
Kynes: I answer this with the authors who have
had the greatest impact on my spirituality; not all
of them are Pagan. Greywind, an English druid, and Philip
Carr-Gomm, the head of my order, both write in such
a way that makes you ponder and examine your beliefs.
It’s important to continually ask questions of
yourself and they help me do that. Because I like to
study myth and history, which provides depth and meaning
to my spirituality, I turn to the work of Jean Markale,
a philosopher, poet, historian and above all good storyteller,
and Peter Berresford Ellis, a Celtic scholar, whose
translations are beautiful. This may be a surprise,
but John O’Donohue, a Catholic scholar, is a writer
I turn to for soulful inspiration. He writes about Celtic
(and includes the present-day Irish) spirituality in
a way that transcends any Christian or Pagan patina.
Universal
Pagan: What’s next for you?
Sandra
Kynes: I have always been enamored with trees,
and I’ve recently finished a book on accessing
and using tree energy. The manuscript is with my publisher,
Llewellyn, but there’s no publish date yet. Two
other books are in their infancy. I also continue to
write short pieces for Llewellyn’s Magical Almanac
under the name of Sedwyn.
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