Witching the Rainbow: An Introduction
A Rainbow Witch is the practitioner of the Joie de Vivre spiritual path. The Joie de Vivre spiritual path is one of creative expression and adventurous exploration. It is a marriage of art and science whose children are joy and love-of-life!
A Rainbow Witch is a multidimensional Artist who sees the world through a creative lens. S/he uses hir emotions and intuitions, hir empathy and hir imagination, to connect hir to the beauty and inspiration of the world. Nature is hir model. Hir magic is contained in hir poetry, hir drawings, hir crafts, hir music, hir rituals, and, ideally, in hir whole life.
“We are ‘artists’; it is logical, then, that we would want to express our artistry and integrity in the very way we design our lives. It doesn’t matter what we do in life; whatever we do can be done artistically. That means that we don’t have to be musicians or sculptors; we can baby-sit, pick up garbage, or wash dishes–it can all be done creatively. It is an attitude that we CHOOSE to cultivate and practice in our lives.”----- by Sheri A. Rosenthal, DPM
A Rainbow Witch is a curious and passionate Scientist who explores the universe in order to learn as much as s/he can about the things that interest hir. S/he seeks knowledge, and that knowledge is hirs when s/he is able to use it, for the good of all, according to free will. That knowledge transforms into wisdom when s/he is able to sift through it and find the true story within.
“Magic is transformation brought about by the use of specific techniques, accomplished in accordance with natural law. The transformation can take place on a personal, group and/or global level. The use of magic can actually change what seem to be unchangeable circumstances. Magic can look dramatic – like a miracle – or it can be so gradual (as is most often the case) that it seems to be happening without any sort of human participation. The reason that magical transformation most often looks so natural is that true magic is natural. Working in accordance with natural law, magic is not really supernatural. It is truly ‘super-duper natural.’”--- by Marion Weinstein, from her book Positive Magic
When Art and Science combine, something new is born! A new perspective opens up. New Energy streams into our world. The Rainbow Witch combines Art and Science in surprising and creative ways. S/he knows that by combining the two, s/he is also resolving the polarities inside hirself, and bringing an ever-more expanded understanding of life into hir world. S/he seeks to embrace life in all its facets, interacting with it with verve, passion, and gentle grace. S/he seeks to understand its movements and respect its secrets.
Joie de vivre (from the French joie, "joy"; de, "of"; vivre, "to live, living"; "the joy of living") is a term sometimes imported into English to express a cheerful enjoyment of life; an exultation of spirit. It was chosen to express the sheer exuberance of a Rainbow Witch when s/he is learning and practicing hir art and science of life and of living.
The colors of the rainbow symbolize the different dimensions that are expressed through the Joie de Vivre path. Each color corresponds to a Chakra or an Energy Band, a connection between the physical body and other dimensions. Colors are combined in both artistic and scientific ways, to make new colors!
In the past, Witches have been called “White” or “Black” depending on what type of magic they practiced. These terms just do not work well in a multi-cultural world! Both “White” and “Black” set up a dichotomy that needlessly leaks energy by opposing them. They also set up a false belief system, whereby “White” equals “good,” and “Black” equals “bad.” In reality, both White and Black have their positive functions. “White” actually includes ALL colors and “Black” absorbs all colors!
“Rainbow” magic includes a myriad of expressions and works. It was inspired by the Native American term “Rainbow Warriors,” by the writings of Isaac Bonewits (especially the book Real Magic), by my Spiritual Guide Saji (who hails from the Pleiades), and by the magic of the Rainbow itself!
The Joie de Vivre path was also founded in order to HEAL the rift between Science and Art in the modern world. Actually, there is no conflict between the two, because each describes a way of experiencing (and perceiving) the world. Science is more left-brained and Art is more right-brained.
Science is not something that burst suddenly onto the scene with the invention of “The Scientific Method.” Science existed as far back as our Ancestors existed! It is a function of human Curiosity, which resides at the center of each human’s mind. The way to awaken it is to ask “Why?” “Why?” is the question that all human children ask. If a human is open to the world, s/he engages with the world….if s/he knows how to open hirself, how to observe, how to investigate, everything tells hir its secrets---trees, rocks, animals, rivers, mountains, fire, sand, sea, the Sun, Stars, Moon, Earth and hir own body!
Our eldest Ancestors used their scientific curiosity and inventiveness to help them survive in their environment, so that their descendants (us!) could thrive! The best and most effective Science, in the long run, is that Science that accords us the joy of living in harmony and balance with All-That-Is.
When we encounter our environment, we also sense the Energy which connects it all. We FEEL Energy and EMOTE Energy. We can also CONTAIN and HOLD Energy. Energy inspires us to Create/Invent! The Passionate Scientist loves hir world and cooperates with it for the good of all. The Passionate Artist creates offerings and openings so that Energy may be exchanged on every level, according to free will.
On the Joie de Vivre path, the diversity of Energy-work is symbolized with the different colors of the Rainbow, as well as White and Black. Rainbow Witches can radiate Energy, reflect Energy, and absorb Energy. At different times, and in different places, we can be Red Witches, Orange Witches, Yellow Witches, Green Witches, Blue Witches, Indigo Witches, Purple Witches…and all the colors in between! We often delight in observing how the colors (energies) interact and dance with each other….inside of us, and outside of us! Colors actually nourish us. Working with colors (including Black and White) teaches us about our own inner being. Expressing our unique Energy includes KNOWING OURSELVES and EXPRESSING THE DIFFERENT FACETS OF OUR BODY, SOUL, MIND, and SPIRIT.
Knowing ourselves includes: knowing our inner feminine and masculine natures (“Anima and Animus”), knowing our relevant past lives, knowing our sacred animal guides, knowing our friends and guides in the spirit world, knowing our body’s wisdoms, knowing our kindred, knowing our community, knowing our guiding stars, etc. Every Rainbow Witch has a “Tool Kit” that consists of knowledge s/he has attained during her life, knowledge has been claimed by hir for hir own use.
My “tool kit” contains (or has contained) certain Oracles that work for me (like Tarot and I Ching), certain stones that resonate with my energy, certain rituals that work for me, certain objects that hold energy that reminds me to be my own best self. Each Witch’s “tool kit” is slightly different, and is not static, although certain “tools” may last throughout the lifetime (or several lifetimes), growing richer and deeper along the way!
We also make offerings of symbolic objects and gestures to each other and to different facets of Nature as Energy Exchange. This is part of our Art. Rainbow Witches often collaborate with each other, and with Friends and Guides in the Spirit World, Animal totems and guides, Plant allies, the Home Planet, the Moon, Stars, Elements, Faeries and Nature Spirits, Affinity groups, or the “Friendly Universe” in general.
The ultimate purpose of the Joie de Vivre path is to live life joyfully, mindfully, and with great love. Our path is the path of the Heart, which is the Center of the Rainbow. The Heart is where Science and Art come together in an ever-renewing, ever-expanding system of magic and discovery.
We work for the good of the Milky Way. We work for the good of all. We work according to free will. Our collaborative (art)work is a labor of love, a grand design, and a great experiment! Our Rainbow is eternal Creativity and eternal engagement with Life, which results in deep peace…the deepest kind of joy.
Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace deep peace
Deep peace of the sleeping stones to you
Deep peace of the wandering wind to you
Deep peace of the flock of stars to you
Deep peace deep peace
Deep peace of the eastern wind to you
Deep peace of the western wind to you
Deep peace of the northern wind to you
Blue wind of the south to you
Pure red of the whirling flame to you
Pure white of the silver moon to you
Pure green of the emerald grass to you
Deep peace deep peace
(Traditional Gaelic Blessing)
--by Peggy Andreas
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