Druidcraft: The Magic of Wicca and Druidry

‘The art in this kind of magic is the art of parenting, of learning how to mother and father the idea into the world.

‘Often people get ideas which they give birth to prematurely, and so the project withers and dies because it is not strong enough to survive in the outside world. They should have kept it inside, in their heart and imagination for a little longer – thought it through more, allowed it to develop more.

And all the disasters that can befall a physical pregnancy can also happen to this kind of spiritual or creative pregnancy – you can miscarry at any time, or have a stillbirth.

‘You see, the art of this kind of magic – Making Magic – is completely natural,’ continues Elidir. ‘It is a Magic that follows the same sequence or stages that making a baby follows – first you conceive, then you gestate, then you give birth, then you take care of the newborn baby before you let it go out into the world.

Argue passionately for it and passionately against it. Be prepared to lose the dream and find another. Not every child gets to be born. Don’t think you are always right or that you always know what is best for you or for the world. But, after all this, if your passion is still there and you want to make it happen, take the next step.

Make an altar or sacred place in your house or garden with objects and images that relate to it. Read books about it. Be open to new ideas and feelings about it. Get friends to play devil’s advocate.

‘When the time comes to nourish the seed with thought, go at it sideways. Make a collage of photos, drawings and poems about it.

Don’t keep digging the seed up to see how it’s doing. Focus on something else while feeling happy and confident that the seed is germinating – drink in art and music, poetry and song. Walk in the woods, talk with friends, enjoy being alive.

‘You need to nurse the dream, so don’t try to give birth to it too fast. Dreams need nurturing with rumination, with daydreaming around them. They even need ignoring for a while, so they can grow and incubate in darkness.