I have been thinking about what I could do to improve my service to the online community.
Be more supportive.
I am subscribed to a lot of youtube channels and follow a lot of blogs, but I need to express my support more by leaving comments that help people feel appreciated.
Don't get irritated.
It's easy to get annoyed by things people say in comments or videos or other frustrating things they do. It's easy to get into arguments with people and start bickering over stupid things. I must not let anyone embroil me in their drama.
Be copyright aware.
I had a conversation with someone, well actually several conversations with several people, about copyright lately. I have used photos and artwork in my videos, with the belief that this constitutes "fair use" or "fair dealing" of copyrighted material for non-profit educational purposes. However I'm not entirely sure about the legalities and I want to promote copyright awareness as much as I can. This is why I want to remake my old videos to a higher standard, especially as youtube has changed its policy when it comes to music, and youtube seems to be revoking permission to use a lot of the music tracks that I set to my videos.
Don't preach.
I really want to avoid coming across as "preaching" and let people know that they are free to come to their own conclusions. Wicca is not an authoritarian religion, every coven and every solitary witch makes their own decisions. I must be mindful of stating "this is my personal opinion only" rather than dictate what people should believe.
Practice Magic
I want to focus more on using magic to help others through the internet, by giving instructions on my blog or in videos. As Gerald Gardner said, magic is really just hypnotism. I want to concentrate more on hypnotherapy and guided meditation as a magical practice of inner transformation. I also want to help people understand the practical skills they need to work magic in their own lives. I have a very naturalistic understanding of magic, not as a supernatural ability, but as a psychic ability.
Get Psychic
Psychic ability has nothing to do with the supernatural, from my perspective, "psychic" simply refers to the "psyche" which means "consciousness". We are conscious beings, therefore we have psychic abilities, and understanding the way our own psyche works is key to living a more productive and fulfilling life. I want to make more videos and/or blog posts about psychology, particularly Jungian or analytical psychology.
Offer Study Aids
When I first started making videos, I made them in "lesson" formats, intended to be followed chronologically. After a while I realise people weren't likely to follow the lessons in the order I produced them. What people appreciated most was references and recommendations for good books or websites that could help them understand more. With a lot of my videos I didn't have the time to include as many details or recommend books. I think the best way to study is to learn through activities, not just by sitting and listening/reading. I want to offer more constructive tips for people who are interesting in studying. I have been thinking about making my youtube channel and blog like a kind of "school" that people can choose to particpate in, with "homework" tasks that will benefit them. I don't want to be handing out certificates or grading people's work, I think study should be more self motivated. I can't tell people what they must do, I can only offer advice, and they can follow that advice if they feel it would be helpful for them.
A massive wooden head with snapping jaw mechanism, real horns and hair. Photo from 1883-1891. The Dorset Ooser has possible connections to the horned costumes sometimes worn by participants in English Mummers plays. The etymology of Ooser is also disputed, with various possibilities available, but I think it's most likely the same as the Oss, a snapping skull paraded around during midwinter. The pronunciation is very similar, and it's simply a way of saying "horse" without pronouncing the h. These teeth-gnashing heads are also known as 'obby 'oss or hobby horse. One use of the Dorset Ooser was to strike fear into villagers who were perceived as shameful. Usually the target was an unruly wife who had disobeyed her husband by raising her voice, scolding him, beating him, or cheating on him. A woman who was perceived as a bad wife was forced to ride backwards on a donkey or horse while the angry Ooser snapped his jaw at her and a crowd of villagers beat their...
Last year I posted an advert on witchvox calling for local people who would be interested in starting a new coven. Interest has been slowly and steadily growing. I currently have a potential coven of 10 ladies. I'm excited in a nervous kind of way. I am not the most socially confident person. The thought of meeting strangers is quite terrifying. I don't know how many of the potential witches are really up for trying this. I always assume that out of all who express an interest, only half will follow through. Since last year I had a good feeling about May, that this would be the time for new projects. I've proposed a coven meeting in May and so far three individuals have said they would like to meet up. What I worry about is being able to meet everyone's needs, because I want the coven to work for everyone. I want clear communication, this is the most important thing, that we are able to share our ideas. I don't like the idea of a coven where a select leadership...
The partial lunar eclipse happened when the moon was low in the sky, and there was a fair amount of cloud here. But after the eclipse, the clouds cleared and the moon rose over the rooftops. I had a bonfire lit and locally picked herbs to burn. Key words for this full moon were: - Compassion - Vulnerability - Imagination - Sensitivity - Avoidance - Procrastination Questions and Considerations: The power of imagination and intuition. How can we follow our hearts and live a compassionate lifestyle? This is a time of great sensitivity toward the emotions of others, and a yearning to give comfort to anyone who needs it. This willingness to help can grow to feel like a great burden. This can lead a sensitive person to hide away from the world because they feel overwhelmed by the work that needs to be done. In this case, we really need to take care of ourselves, to become emotionally stable and focused on practical goals. The key is to find some small way that you can use your beautiful...
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts )O(