Llewellyn's 2012 Witches' Companion by Llewellyn (i wanna iguana read aloud .TXT) 📕

So, again, how do we get real job skills? Taking a job in your chosen field at the entry level is one way. But not all of us live in areas where entry-level jobs are available. Part-time job opportunities are pretty full in my area, as people take whatever jobs they can get in order to earn some kind of paycheck or get in the door of a company they hope will hire them when the job market improves.

But what about the rest of us?

I am going to open a magical door here and make a suggestion that may sound off the wall, but will be a big bonus on your resume if you decide to do it: volunteer.

No matter what you are studying in school, there is an opportunity to volunteer, usually right in your own neighborhood, that will give you an edge in so many ways.

Yes, I know—no pay. Are you receiving an unemployment check right now? Do you have one or two mornings or afternoons a week to give back to your community? That’s all it takes to find your way into a place of opportunity to do something that will impress potential employers.

Are you interested in health services? Volunteer at your local hospital. Are you interested in agriculture or horticulture? Volunteer at your local botanical society. Interested in computer programming or IT? Find one of the local 501(c)(3) organizations that offer IT Volunteer/Internships to local college students. Interested in retail? Volunteer in a store associated with a hospital or any kind of shop attached to a charitable organization. Interested in helping young men or women? Volunteer in a youth organization. There’s the Red Cross, the United Way, HIV support organizations, cancer hospices, women’s shelters, soup kitchens, public schools, libraries, and children’s services. There are secretarial and clerical duties that need to be done for these organizations, as well as educational programs that need volunteers to do outreach to the communities.

Again, these are volunteer positions, which means they offer no pay. But let’s examine the benefits: You will be in or near a field you want to work in. You will get on-the-job training. You will often receive verification for the hours you put in, which means you can put this on your resume as experience. And your future employer will be very impressed that you were dedicated enough to give your time and skills to a worthwhile project.

There are grants, scholarships, funding, training, experience, and opportunity out there if you will just take some time to work the magick. Be as diligent at working up a plan and sticking to it as you are with laying out your ritual items. Prepare for the process like you were writing spellwork. Follow through as if Deity were walking beside you with their hand on your shoulder, guiding you through this maze to your final destination.

The final part of working magick is validation. And I can validate this process because it has worked for me and for others. It worked so well that I sponsor a Volunteer Internship Program in my organization for aspiring IT students at the local college. The experience benefits both the students and the organization.

Examine this article and see if there is something that sparks your imagination, see if the magick calls you. Put your feet on a magical path to getting yourself out of this bad economy rut and into something that will benefit you for the rest of your magical life. Make some magick for yourself.

Boudica is reviews editor and co-owner of The Wiccan/Pagan Times and owner of The Zodiac Bistro, both online publications. A former New Yorker, she now resides with her husband and eight cats in Ohio.

Illustrator: Rik Olson

Making the Most

of the Moments

Jenett Silver

We all have them—those times when the list of things we want to do is far longer than our resources allow. Sometimes, it’s for the best possible reason: we’re planning a wedding, having a child, starting school, buying a home, or some other wonderful but big project. At other times, it’s for less pleasant reasons: our own health problems, the death of a loved one, the needs of a family member, or long hours at work. It can be easy to feel too overwhelmed for magical practice at the exact time when we most need and want support from our religious and magical work.

What’s even harder is that a change in one part of life often triggers change in other parts. A schedule change may affect when we can see our friends or what events we can attend. Someone who is facing constant exhaustion may need to adjust their meditation practice or how they handle their own energy work. Someone who is the caretaker for a loved one may not have much uninterrupted time for rituals.

Challenges also change how we see ourselves. Someone who does a lot of writing, reading, or creative work can find it hard to adapt if they can’t concentrate or focus for long. Someone who loves larger group events can be just as upset if their health, available time, or energy limit their attendance. Some people find that health issues or medications change how they perceive and work with magical energy. If we’ve been active in our community, we might also worry about what others will think of us if we don’t continue to take on a particular task or attend all the same events. We may be forced to take a break from a group or practice we truly enjoy.

The good news is that we can choose how we face our busy challenges by choosing to use all the tools available to us—including magic and ritual—to help ourselves through the hard times, and to help make sure we remain focused on what we truly care about and need. This article outlines ways to help ourselves do just that, as well as ways to