Approaching Spirit Work with Enthusiasm and Dedication, Part II

Part II

How do we become dedicants? How do we again become enthused by our gods, our practice, our spirituality as a whole?

These are questions I've been pondering the last few months. They were sparked by a fellow member of the seidr group I belong to, and I have been considering them in a deeply personal way as well as with regard to the group. After Friday 17 April, our group will be shifting gears, and I want to bring some thoughtful discussion points to the conversation, as well as any suggestions I begin to implement into my own practice. And while everyone's approach to their spiritual work is different, I feel that the following points are fairly universal.

I believe one must ask oneself the question: how much time/energy do I have to invest in my spirit work? Spirituality is a part of ones lifestyle, but the maintenance required as well as preparing for holy tides can take time and effort, though, they can also be simple and spontaneous. If one is a member of a working group (be it a coven, or hearth, hof, tuath, tribe, grove, a study group, or a group which serves the community), it can be easy to over-commit oneself when this assessment hasn't been made. (I recently heard someone refer to their hands as "helium hands," suggesting the connection between mindful response and reactionary response had been lost, or that the habit of volunteering oneself for tasks is formed for deeper reasons within the self, not necessarily out of genuine desire to assist.) It's difficult to say no, especially when a friend or fellow group member is requesting aid. Most of us genuinely want to help our fellows, but it is no help to ourselves to give all our energy away, unless that process invigorates or enthuses us. Most of us, however, neglect ourselves, give or sacrifice too much. In Heathenry, the idea of giving is thought of as an exchange. The concept of "a gift for a gift" is often neglected within group structure, but as with all things, if the end result of the work is not joy, one should consider whether the result is worth the work.

The question of how much time or energy one is willing to give to their spirit work is one that is best asked in solitude. It is one that will require long deep thought, meditation, and a close, critical look at self. There are many sub-parts to the initial question, one will find, and they are equally important. For example, the first thing I thought of when I asked the question of myself was, "What in my life is important to me? Which of those are spiritual? Which are mundane? Are any both?" Another secondary question might be, "What do I need to encourage/experience in my life in order to feel more spiritual?" Giving to ones spiritual community might be high on that list, or, finding a greater understanding of self, ones gods or spirits, or deeper relationships within the family group; there are many possibilities. But asking this question, and the many more it will generate, are imperative to understanding how one will fulfill their role as a dedicatant to their spirit work.

Where in your life do you find passion? This does not have to be sexual passion, though sensual experiences--those experienced through touch, taste, sight, scent, or sound--might encompass all of ones passions. Do you have particular strengths or talents, and might they be applied to your spirit work? I am a writer, a vocalist, a musician and a poet. I best accomplish my spiritual work through these means. Others are very talented at tending the ill or dying, others bringing life into the world. These are opportunities where ones spiritual and mundane lives can overlap.

The next questions are about space. Most of us have a sacred space--an altar, hoarg, hearth, or other place of worship--where we make offering, either of gifts or of ourselves before our gods or ancestors. We may also pray or begin journey work from this anchoring place. If this sacred space does not exist, a place where you can go for contemplation, meditation, solace, I would ask why not. Ones reasons are ones own, and having an established space is neither necessary nor imperative. I find, however, that it does help me to establish a mindset for beginning my work. If a permanent physical space is not possible, one might consider creating some prayer beads, a talisman, something physical and portable that one can handle when entering into spirit work. Soon, merely touching the beads or wood or stone will bring about the mindspace desired for spirit work.

For those of us working in a group, we need to ask ourselves whether or not the group setting is conducive to spirit work. Often, group meetings move away from their purpose as the membership become more familiar and friendly with one and other, and, while this is not a terrible thing, it can be a distraction from the groups purpose. The space in which a group meets should be sacred. There are always opportunities for socializing before and after meetings, but the meeting itself is not the place for grumbling about one's workweek or discussing a favorite television program. Leaders of such groups might consider calling a meeting to order, either by doing just that, in Robert's Rules fashion, or, by engaging in a shared focusing and centering to create space for the groups spirit work. The seidh group recently began doing this and I think it works very well, uniting us in the space of a common goal. Each group is different, and leadership should assess their groups dynamic to decide what will work, or, ask the group what they might want to do to get focused before getting to work. (Re-reading this, I think it sounds so serious, but I don't think that necessarily needs to be the case. Just as spirit work is both serious and exciting, even fun, so can these exercises and group meetings.) What works best, however, is the membership coming to the meeting ready for focused work. Anything done within the group additionally only promotes this focus.

I am of the belief that if one is not prepared to do the work required within the group space, either before a single meeting, or a few successive meetings, one should make the responsible decision not to attend. For me there is nothing worse than showing up for a group meeting ready and enthused about the work then have someone spend the entire evening complaining about how terrible their day was at work, or how boring the topic is, or a hundred other truly distracting things. Complaining doesn't change what is, what was, or what will be. If one is attempting to solicit advice from friends about a certain situation, do this before, but preferably after the meeting. This may sound crass, but negativity is contagious, and I've seen more than one group fail because of this.

Deciding on what work to do is just as important as any of the above questions. Inevitably, working within a group opens up a lot of opportunities for shared processes and additional energy and resources to put towards a goal. But often, one of the most challenging things about working in a group can be deciding on what tasks to focus those energies. Compromise is key. Good leadership and each individuals' good use of judgment can make deciding on a goal painless. Individual members of a group should also be doing spirit work on their own, and in the event that ones suggestion is not taken on as all or part of a group goal, one should be willing to work at the goal oneself, in ones own time.

These are merely first steps on the path to becoming an enthused spirit worker, or reclaiming the lost feeling from when one first began their practice. Part III of this entry will discuss some elementary skills whose practice will keep the spirit worker enthused, brushing the dust off and polishing up what have become routine cycles and making them enjoyable again. Some of my suggestions might seem simple, rudimentary, or even remedial, but remembering why we do what we do, why we desire to honor our gods and ourselves through our work takes getting to the roots, revealing our basic spiritual skeleton vital to our practice.