The
term “Voluntary Simplicity” refers to a conscious choice of lifestyle in which
one focuses not on gaining more, but strives to find the threshold of “enough”
in order to feel content. Sociological studies have demonstrated that for most
people there is a threshold of security attained through material goods and
income level at which point most individuals feel content. Raise their level of
wealth even slightly above this threshold, and surprisingly, contentment gives
way to anxiety, pressure, depression, doubt, and misery. A greater number of
people worldwide are awakening to this concept that abundance exists in a
delicate balance, and that while having too little to survive contributes to
emotional stress, so does having too much!
The
movement toward consciously choosing less material gain beyond a point of basic
comfort is not new and can be traced back as far as ancient times when Greek
philosopher Diogenes, credited as the “First Cynic,” openly rejected a life of
hard work in pursuit of more “stuff” and instead, chose to live as he saw a
truly free man to exist- without strings attached to the burden of material
goods and the toil required to make, keep and maintain them. While not everyone
would want to follow Diogenes or even more modern examples like Thoreau,
seeking simplicity has become a popular way to de-clutter not just the home,
but life itself.
Historical
surges of simple lifestyle movements have often held some form of moral or
religious connection as well: one may think of the Amish for example, shunning
both the excesses of modern luxuries and also being detached from the stress
brought about by email, cell phones, cars etc. For Wiccan practitioners
however, the value of “voluntary simplicity” resonates just as much as for
followers of monotheistic religions. In fact it is a fundamental part of Wiccan
belief to strive for balance, avoid excess and live in harmony with nature
rather than seeking to dominate one’s environment.
This
is not to say that acquiring income, assets and material goods makes one
“un-Wiccan.” There are as many different facets of the Wiccan religion as there
are practitioners. However if you are looking for a way to tone down the
pressures in your life, simplify your needs, and reconnect to the voice of the
Goddess in nature who may have recently been drowned out by the roar of emails,
faxes, summer homes, car repairs and other noises of the “rat race;” exploring
Voluntary Simplicity can be a great way to reconnect with your physical,
emotional, and spiritual needs- and for once, tune out the rest!
Keep It Simple
Starting
small is important to any lifestyle change, especially one that runs counter to
most of what our culture has promoted in the form of upward mobility. Turning
off the “more” switch and finding the “enough” factor requires one to tune in
to a form of intuition. As a Wiccan, you are no stranger to intuition. You look
for it in perceptions, synchronicity, and sensations in the body. You seek
inner guidance in dreams and mediation and you know that there is a more subtle
and deeper voice than that of the never-resting ego that rules the “more”
button. Breaking away from the “more” race and sitting in the contemplative
silence of the present moment is an art that Wiccans no doubt engage in to
support many of their ritual and spiritual practices. Why not use the same
process to silence the voices of advertising, the compulsive draw to obtain and
improve, upgrade and climb the ladder, settling instead into the comfort of
experiencing what already surrounds you?
Start slow: use the following steps to explore
ways to incorporate Voluntary Simplicity concepts as part of your Wiccan
lifestyle. There are various degrees to which people engage in the simple
lifestyle and not all forms will work for you. The goal is not to undercut
things you value or engage in martyrdom or self deprivation. The goal is to
simplify, and to be more conscious around material and financial decisions: to
“fairly take and fairly give,” a little more mindfully. Try the following experiments to scale down
your lifestyle, the Wiccan way!
Fairly Give - We all know the joy of donating
no longer used goods and clothing to a worthwhile charity. Don’t save this
habit for seasonal or special occasions, make it more of a habit! Set aside a
box to fill with items you have not used in 6 months, or things you only think
about when you see them (and still don’t use even when you think about them).
Don’t panic, you don’t have to donate them for another 3 months. In that three
month time if you run to the box to retrieve and use something, take it back
out and put it away. If you haven’t used it in the three months, it is time to
bless someone else who needs it by making a donation.
Let’s Make A Deal - Help humanity, the Earth, and
yourself! Make a deal with yourself and your family that each day that you drive
the car you will find something in the home to donate to a charity. Yes it sounds extreme and that is why it is a
challenge. Remind yourself that the act of driving takes a toll on yourself and
the Earth, and so by donating to those in need you are balancing the scale,
taking and giving, and perhaps being more conscious of your choices to drive or
find alternative transportation. Still too overwhelmed by the thought of daily
donations? How about aligning special days with donations such as the new and full
moons, Sabbats, and other cyclical markers aligned with the Wiccan faith?
Separation Anxiety - Learn to separate the objects you
hold on to from the emotions attached. Wiccans know full well that all objects
carry energy, but also that energy can be summoned from a distance. It might
take many tries to let go of some clutter because of fond memories attached to
the objects even though they weren’t and likely wouldn’t be in use for a long
time. The acknowledgment that memories and conscious thought do not disappear
with the release of an object made it easier to finally let go of a significant
amount of clutter.
There
is a good feeling in knowing that someone in need will benefit from items held
hostage by nostalgia. As Wiccans we transcend time and space barriers to
practice meditation, astral travel, and Magick, therefore we can remind
ourselves that we don’t need tokens of fond times to re-experience them. Some
people even prefer to take a picture of the items to trigger memory and then
donate the item itself. Go at your own pace. The important thing is to keep
what you value but allow yourself to release what no longer serves you. This
can even be done as a ritual and akin to a cleansing process. Remind yourself
that by releasing what you don’t need you are opening up room for new abundance
to come your way.
Induce a Black Out - Plan a day during the week and
stage a black out. Turn off and unplug any items that are not essential for
support of life in the home. You may choose to keep the fridge plugged in but
the computers, clocks, TV’s, radios etc. must go- just for one day. You may be
amazed at the level of connection you find with nature and loved ones, and the
sense of recharging after a fast from the electronic world. For an added
challenge, try fasting from the cell phone and iPod as well.
Air Your Clean Laundry - At 91 years old, my grandmother
has never had a clothes dryer. The act of hanging laundry rather than using a
dryer not only helps the Earth and preserves the clothing itself, but is also a
great way to commune with the elements and interact with nature.
Take Time Out - Invest in quiet time every day.
Meditating, sitting or walking in nature, all of the latter actions make it
essential to unplug and to tune out the mundane world. Whether you can only
spare 5 minutes or an hour, treat yourself to this luxury and you will quickly
feel the difference.
Eat Your Leftovers - Open up your creative streak and
make Magick in the kitchen. Americans waste a horrendous amount of food every
day. This is not only bad Karma, it hurts Mother Earth. Recycling is not just
for bottles and cans, but applies to reusing parts of meals that are still good
for one, or even 3 days, or ideally until they are gone. Being more conscious
about portions also helps avoid wasting food. There is no reason a meal has to
stay the same day after day. Have fun creating new dishes and combinations
using last night’s leftovers. You can even make a game out of having family and
loved ones guess what’s in the stew, casserole, salad, or stir fry!
These
are just some basic ideas to help scale down your life to reconnect and find
serenity. By sharing these experiments
with friends you may be amazed at how your introduction to a simpler life both
alleviates stress and opens up doors to explore a life of freedom, abundance
and excitement!
Article
by: Angela Kaufman. Angela is a
Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the
co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal? She is a professional tarot reader. For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.
