Outer action with inner meaning

"Pilgrimage is a journey, a ritual, a commemoration, a search for something, perhaps something the pilgrim cannot express in words, perhaps even something the pilgrim does not fully perceive...They speak to the human spirit and even transform the pilgrims." - The Archetype of the Pilgrimage

This week you will be designing your own pilgrimages! The sky, your heart and imagination are the limits! Planning a pilgrimage to Mordor or Hogwarts? Excellent. Visiting your ancestral home? Fantastic. Making a pilgrimage to the Nintendo Headquarters in Kyoto? Do it! Making a pilgrimage to mark letting go of heartbreak? It's time! Feeling the urge to follow in the footsteps of centuries worth of pilgrims on the Camino del Santiago? They await you.

Visit the homework page to download the Pilgrimage pdf that will guide you in putting together your own pilgrimage packet.

Happy travels!

Walking meditatively and walking into the past....

In preparation for our journey into the ritual of pilgrimages next week, this week we tried a walking meditation and a past life regression visualization. Check the tutorials page to read a recap on how to do the walking meditation and check out the homework page for the past life regression visualization. 

Solo Retreat!!

Hello everyone! Just a reminder, this week is solo retreat week!! You will be spending class time (or another time if you are switching things around) to do something that feeds your soul!! Your write up for next week (Week 8) will be about your solo retreats.

Have a wonderful Monday and Veterans Day!!

Seeing the sacred in everyday places

Hi everyone. Apologies for the late post! This past week (Week 5) we looked into sacred patterns that exist in the everyday spaces that surround us (home, work, school). We studied the work of architect Anthony Lawler who says that a "hero's journey" can be found in how all spaces are set up.

We can think of it like this - think of Neo (from the Matrix!), or Buddha, or Jesus Christ - they all led normal lives until they started to have questions - is this all there is to life? Unable to shake the question, they finally decide to embark on a journey to find answers. On their path, they experience many obstacles and challenges, but to keep them on their path they also have moments of insipration and reflection and finally realization. Every building can be seen as a manifestation of this journey. A "gateway" into a home is the decision to embark on a journey, the "path" is the route taken to the point of realization - the "lotus seat" - the place where you go to sit once home. "Steeples" and "Sanctuaries" provide places of inspiration and reflection along the way.

What do the cards say....

Hello Readers!!! The classroom was definitely abuzz today!!! Check the "Homework" page for what this week's assignment and of course the "Tutorials" page will have instructions on how to do what we covered in class today.

Chakra Inventory!

Think of yourself as running on 7 cylinders. When we run on all 7 evenly, we are running smoothly. Of course, some cylinders run more strongly than others. This week for your homework will be to continue the work you began in class and to take a closer look and inventory all 7 of your chakras. 

If you'd like a little tune-up, try the crystal bowl meditation we  tried in class! (Download link has been emailed to everyone)

Happy inventory-ing everyone!!

Hello Psychic cats!!

Great job everyone!!! Remember that you can find instructions on how to repeat the class exercises from today on the "Tutorials" page. A description of the homework can be found at, you guessed it (!), the "Homework" page.

Have a great week everyone!

WELCOME TO MAGIC & RITUAL SB311 for the Fall 2013 Quarter !!!

Time Transfixed by Rene Magritte, 1938

Hello everyone welcome to Magic & Ritual. We're going to have a wonderful 11 weeks together. This website is your one stop shop for all things related to this class.

Please bookmark this site immediately!! http://magicandritual311.blogspot.com

Also all emails related to this class should go to: magicnritual@gmail.com

Here we go!!

(from the syllabus)

Students will learn to dig beyond the surface and as artists unearth and reconnect with their own intuitive language. This class will help students to bring forth their deepest, most creative voice with confidence and joy, while also helping them to live the non-artistic parts of their lives with more imagination and creativity.

Pilgrimage Assignment, Past lives, and Week 9 field trip!!

Hello everyone!! A few key things-

DESIGN YOUR OWN PILGRIMAGE
Your pilgrimage assignment is due not next week, but Week 10. For those of you that missed class, download the class handout here and start designing your pilgrimages!!

PAST LIFE REGRESSION HYPNOSIS MP3
Please check your emails. A link to download an mp3 past life regression hypnosis exercise has been emailed to you. Again, if you try this, please DO NOT do this while driving!!

WEEK 9, SATURDAY, MARCH 9 MEET AT THE VINCENT PRICE MUSEUM
We will meet in front of the museum at 1:30pm. We will be there to check out the exhibition SANCITIFIED as well as participate in a KRYSTAL KRUNCH workshop. 

Vincent Price Art Museum
East Los Angeles College
1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez
Monterey Park, CA 91754   


For driving/parking/public transport directions click here.



 

One reality....Archery in Balboa Park

Hi everyone,

Since everyone seemed very intrigued by Samuel's archery adventure, I'm posting a yelp link giving more information on where/when to go to the archery range in Balboa Park.

And here is a wonderful quote from the book "Zen in the Art of Archery" by Eugen Herrige ~

 "In the case of archery, the hitter and the hit are no longer two opposing objects, but one reality."

WEEK 6: Self directed solo retreat!!! (Do not come to A.I. for class)

Hello everyone!! As mentioned in class, next week, Week 6, Saturday February 16, you will not be coming to school for class. Rather, you will spend these 4 hours in a self-directed solo retreat.

The solo retreat should take place in a place that you consider a sanctuary or an inspiring place. This may be a place you've been meaning to go for a while and just have not had the chance to. This the time!!! It can be most ordinary or most extraordinary. During your time there you may walk around, just sit down...You may write, you may just observe, you may meditate.

Please go by yourself and preferably during this time, turn off your phone.

Enjoy!

Oh and btw, here is the photo of the actress I was talking about in class and her POWER PORTAL DOOR!!!

WELCOME EVERYONE!!!

WELCOME BRAVE ONES TO MAGIC & RITUAL!! WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN AMAZING 11 WEEKS TOGETHER!!

As mentioned in yesterday's class, this website will be our one stop shop for all things Magic & Ritual SB311. Here you'll find what we went over in class, homework assignments, and any announcements.

I've updated some links as of Sunday, Jan 13, 2013 (9:45am) so if there are any of you who already checked out the homework/tutorial pages yesterday, please check again as some things have been updated (mainly the personality test).

Also for those of you who were curious about the hypnosis exercise to help you sleep that Josue shared with us, check it out right above!

And for those of you who were interested in the ZOMBIE lecture at UCLA this Thurs, Jan 17, 7:30pm at the Fowler Museum at UCLA check here : )