“Flowing endlessly, Magick is the energy that makes it all happen. Zen is the raft that lets you float on the top, and not get tossed and soaked by the waves. Spells are the rudder that steers you toward your goal.”
That whole business of "detachment from desire" really bothered me when I was first learning about zen. I was younger then, more impulse-driven, more "hormonal", and I relished my desires. As far as I was concerned, desire was the juice of life, and I wanted to squeeze every drop!
I've mellowed a bit with age, and I've learned the value of the "detachment" that is sought in zen. My years of meditation have shown me how to create a space between stimulus and response. That means that I can get a better grasp of a situation, and decide how to act with a clear mind, rather than based on emotional urges. The call for detachment means not getting myself so emotionally hyped up about something that I get in my own way.
In fact, "detachment" is a component in successful spells. How many times have you heard "do your spells, then forget about it"? Once you've set your magick in motion, you can "detach" from it, and stop obsessing about the outcome. You can relax.
My spirituality has been informed by insights offered by many spiritual traditions. Zen has added an essential quality to my witchcraft. Zen has offered me the tools of quiet examination and contemplation which has enabled me to see more clearly and focus my energy wisely. Instead of being knocked about by shifting desires, I can focus my attention on outcomes that really matter. I’ve found both peace and abundance by operating from that place of stillness and serenity.
Zen witchcraft... why not?
~Flame RavenHawk
February 7, 2008