🕺 Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - Magick of Movement

[BryWisteria]

Merry meet!

Thank you once again to all those who joined in for last week’s Weekly Witchy Challenge - Catch-Up

The challenge clock has started once again- so get ready to move, as we are off with challenge #181!

The theme for this week’s challenge is one that will hopefully get you on your feet and is…

The Magick of Movement
A Witch’s Exercise in… Exercise!

We all know that exercise is important for mental and physical health, but did you also know that exercise can be a beneficial part of a spiritual practice as well?

From getting our blood flowing and releasing positive-feeling endorphins to helping us spend more time surrounded by nature and the elements, exercise in its various forms can be a big part of a witch’s well-rounded lifestyle

In the famous spiritual book The Spiral Dance, exercise is listed as the first of three daily witch exercises recommended for beginners.

@Francisco

As a basic, daily discipline, Starhawk recommends three things:

1. Regular Exercise

The first is regular physical exercise. Too much mental and spiritual work that is not balanced by physical exercise can drain you.

Everyone and their bodies are unique, and there’s no one singular form of exercise that works for everyone. Luckily, from high-intensity sports to very gentle walking meditation or sitting tai-chi, there are many possibilities when it comes to exploring the magick of movement

So, what types of exercise do you find most useful and invigorating for you and your magickal life?

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This week’s challenge is all about the magick of movement - how you choose to take on this theme is up to you!

So are you ready? Because it’s…

CHALLENGE TIME!

Picture from Canva

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STEP 1 : Magick in Movement

This challenge is all about the magick of movement - but as always, how you choose to take on this theme is up to you!

Still not sure where to begin? To help you get started, here are a few ways in which a witch might approach this challenge.

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Dance Magick

From the tango to belly dance, tap dance and so many more- all types of dances whether choreographed or free flow involve a connection between mind and body, as well as increased awareness of your body and the earth.

• Witches Dance
• Modern Music in Spells
• music - all discussions tagged “music” in the forum

For more inspiration, check out the entries shared by fellow coven members in the previous Music Magick challenge

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Walking Meditations

This form of meditation focuses on both the mind and the body. Relaxing and soothing while also engaging, it is a great method of meditation for those who find it difficult to sit or remain still.

Walking Meditation for Restless Energy

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Other Meditative Movements & Exercises

Yoga, stretching, tai-chi, and more- there are many gentle, meditative exercises that a witch can use to both aid in their spiritual journey as well as tend to their health. These activities can be good for the body, mind, and soul.

• Psi Ball & Other Energy Work
• Ashtanga Yoga or Yoga of Eight Limbs
• Yoga/Tai Chi to connect with spiritual side
• Recommendation: Yoga with Adriene
• Yoga Witchcraft?

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Sports & Martial Arts as Energy Work

Although the right path not for everyone, high-intensity exercises such as Karate, Taekwondo, long-distance running, sports, and others can provide a huge boost of adrenaline and power. They can help with control, increase strength, and build determination and commitment.

@BryWisteria

Those who practice martial arts such as Karate, Naginata, Taekwondo, Tai Chi or others may be used to certain ceremonies and rituals that take place before, during, and after practice and matches. These sometimes involve energy exercises- such as the energy ball in Qi Gong, or power-gathering Kiai shout in Karate . Some martial arts also involve meditations for grounding and centering

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… And More!

The suggestions above are just a few ideas to help kickstart your creativity- if you feel called to explore the magick of movement in another way, you are welcome to do so!

As always, all witches are encouraged to embrace their own unique practice with how they explore the challenge theme

Irina Akulenko - "Justice" from "Tarot - Fantasy Belly Dance" DVD - WorldDanceNewYork.com

Video: “Justice” From Tarot - Fantasy Belly Dance by Irina Akulenko

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STEP 2 : Share Your Experience

Click here for a note about challenge inclusivity

Everyone is welcome to join the challenge by practicing magick in line with the current theme. For lurkers and those who don’t feel comfortable sharing, it is absolutely okay to follow along with the challenge but keep your entry personal. Feel free to join in spirit and do what feels most comfortable for you!

That being said, please know that if you would like to receive a prize and a public shout-out, it is required that you share your experience.

Getting Your Credit

In order for your entry to be counted, all you have to do is write/share about your experience and label it as your challenge entry. There is a lot of chatting here (which is awesome- chatting and discussion are very welcome!) so please clearly write that it is your entry so I know to count it!

Where Should I Share My Entry?

Click here to learn where to share your challenge entry

You are welcome to post it right here- just click “reply” to this post and write your experience in the text box that pops up!

Alternatively, you could create a new post in the forum (this is good for when you have a lot to share and/or would like to discuss aspects of your entry not related to the current theme)

Note : If you do choose to create a new thread, please add the “challenge-entry” tag and/or add a hyperlink back to this post so that it can be easily found- thank you!

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Deadline

This challenge will close in 6 DAYS

To join in, please share your experience by:

Tuesday, February 6 at 7:00 AM EDT (Eastern US Time)
2024-02-06T12:00:00Z

(Note that the time zone is ET- if you don’t see your time displayed above, you can use this time zone calculator to check for your time zone!)

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Prizes

For their efforts, all participants will receive a special shout-out and a small prize!

Acknowledgments will be given in a Props and Presents Post that will appear in the forums on Tuesday.

After the challenge closes, you are still very welcome to post but please be aware that no additional prizes will be given. This discussion will remain open for about a week after the challenge finishes.

Picture from Canva

A warm reminder that the challenges are designed to be very open- everyone is encouraged to participate in a way that honors and reflects their unique practice

If you have any doubts about if something is acceptable to post or say, please double-check with the Forum FAQ and/or reach out to your friendly Moderator Team.

And for those new to challenges- welcome! Know that the goal of these activities is to help you further diversify and strengthen your abilities and to bring together the Spells8 forum family to inspire and support one another in creative ways

Picture from Canva

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Get up and get going- it’s time to move!
To shake off your worries and get in the grove
For whether focused or free, you’re in control-
Unlock body and mind, and embrace your soul!

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Blessed Be!

[DreamWithin]

Oooh, I already know exactly what I’m going to do! I’ve been wanting to try a chakra cleansing yoga routine, this should get me off my behind and actually doing it instead of just thinking about it

[MeganB]

This comes at such a great time because I just recommitted myself to an exercise routine! Now, I just have to figure out how to make it a bit more magical.

[Kasandra]

Hmm… I’m thinking of doing a little different this year for Imbolc and doing a spring-like dance.

[Mystique]

Love this! I always exercise daily, but have been thinking about getting back into meditation yoga! Great time to start it!

[crystal59]

This is so perfect I need to incorporate more exercise into my Dailey routine I’ve been thinking about it a lot so this challenge came at the right time I’m so excited about it.

[starborn]

Y’all tryna get me back into leading that Witches Dance idea, aren’t you?

I’m kidding. But I might consider that for it, anyway.

@Sivonnah You ready to laugh at my attempt?

[crystal59]

That’s a really pretty profile photo of you @starborn.

[john1]

Wolfshäger Hexenbrut Walpurgis Wolfshagen im Harz

This is my entry:

Can be a witch dance also. Here you go

I also did martial arts when I was younger and I still practice it to this day

[crystal59]

I think it’s originally a gypsy tribal dance witches love to do

[starborn]

@crystal59 Aww, thank you.

@john1 Hah. That’s the dance I was talking about.

[john1]

I love watching them and the song is good to

[john1]

I think you should do that witch dance record yourself and post it here

I can send you the link of them teaching the dance

[starborn]

That’s the plan. There’s a whole thread about it, including a list of willing participants and guide videos, here:

Witches Dance

I thought the Spells8 coven might get a kick out of this It’s the Witches Dance - both in action and a second instruction video Awesome Witches Dance video one: [Wolfshäger Hexenbrut Walpurgis Wolfshagen im Harz] Awesome Witches Dance video two: [Witches dancing] How-to video one: [Witches Dance (modified) Instruction and Demo. Beaches & Boots Charity Wicked Witch Walk About] How-to video two: [Witches Dance Complete Instruction Video] Hope …

[john1]

I love the history of this dance as well the witch dancing with the devil I read that somewhere about the dance

[BlueAngelite]

Nice challenge! I’m thinking of my entry with both walking meditation, dog tracking, and yoga the three that are up there… still considering. But in my spell work I’ve been focusing on manifesting successful dog tracking and I’ve been working towards a title with my dog, so I might describe our “exercise” towards that.

[Sivonnah]

@starborn my thoughts exactly @john1 I may give in a whirl in my fancy wheelchair and my homemade besom! A bunch of us were going to do it and record it!

[BlueAngelite]

Challenge Entry: Magick of Movement

For this entry I decided to focus on the magick of movement in DOG TRACKING.
Dog Tracking is a sport that I do with my Dutch Shepherd dog, Luna.

It is a weird sport because it essentially requires the dog to “find a ghost”.

Tracking – American Kennel Club

A person lays a track by walking in a field or urban area and leaving their scent behind naturally (did you know you leave your scent behind every time you walk through a place?) and leave items (usually gloves or socks with their scent on it) at the beginning, along the trail, and at the end. Then they leave the area for a couple of hours, and the track/scent ages. Then the dog and their handler (Luna and I) come on to the scene and basically have to find the scent, retrace the person’s actual steps (the ghost), and find the articles. The handler (a.k.a. me) is “blind” meaning you do not know where the person stepped or turned or where the track is, so it can be very disorienting and confusing. The dog in this sport has the advantage, with their nose being able to smell extremely well.

Tracking Dog Demonstration

[A lot of people confuse tracking with search and rescue (SAR). SAR is different because at the end you are actually finding a lost or hurt person and you are on a team of people who are deployed to rescue them. My dog and I are not saving anyone. We do this as a sport. We may enter a trial to get an AKC title, or not. We do this for fun and exercise on the side, similar to how other dog people might practice obedience or agility.]

It is a workout I can tell you that much because my dog is extremely athletic and pulls a great deal on lead and in her harness when she is on the track and sure of it. It gets so extreme that I have been pulled off my feet in a field! I just have to dig my feet in and put both hands on the line. I have a 30ft long line and a strong harness on her. Luna is driven to find the scent. But at first I was very unsure of myself and my dog and ended up “lost” in fields turning in circles and extremely disoriented. I’ve been working with my dog now for three years both in classes and on our own, and learned to trust my dog more, and read her body cues. I can look up a little bit more and take in my surroundings in nature, instead of constantly being worried that I will end up face first in the mud.

Some things I’ve learned from dog tracking that also relate to magick:

• sometimes you need to give up some control and “trust your dog”

• look up and visualize your surroundings in nature once in a while

• slow down and take a break when you or your dog need it

I am working towards a Tracking Dog title with Luna so wish us luck!

[john1]

That’s so kool can’t wait to see it @Sivonnah

[Shadeweaver]

Dogs are amazing. I had 2 coon hounds and used to go hunting with a friend that had 2 of his own. So after working 12-14 hrs on the dairy farm, we would go out and walk sometimes 15 miles or more in the woods in the dark and follow the long bays of some good hounds. Things we do in our youth… wonderful nights… exhausting nites…