The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

WHAT A WITCH SHOULD KNOW
00:31 Nov 12 2007
Times Read: 985

A brief syllabus for the practice of Magick.

By Mama Rose.

(A complete Syllabus for Sylvan Wicca, complete with exercises, is available from Circle of Winter.) None of what follows is about the religion of Wicca; it is about the practice of Witchcraft. One may follow the religion (which is described by other people, elsewhere) and still not be a Witch, a practitioner of magic and priest/ess of the Gods. A different, shorter, and older version of this is called Thirteen Goals for Witches. These musings on the whole question by Morgan Ley are also of value.

Like Greek for Christian priests, these are the tools of our Craft. This is what I learned, and what I believe.



The first set of things prepare the mind.



know how to meditate

This is the art of stilling the jumble of thoughts that distract a person from hir purpose. In order to work magick a person must know exactly what it is that s/he desires to occur. A person must have a single clear thought. Meditation clears the playing field of all other desires.

be ruthless about knowing one's self and one's own psychology

Because a person needs to know exactly what it is that s/he wants to accomplish, s/he must know what s/he really wants, and why. Most of us hold completely contradictory desires on many issues. A great deal of time and energy can be wasted, for example, on trying to achieve high public office when a person doesn't really want the responsibility but DOES want the approval of hir parent.



know how to be flexible

Because we live in a chaotic and shifting world, trying to take rules from one spot to another will only result, finally, in standing with Canute before the waves -- and lacking even his sense of humor about the situation.

Imagine the child's song "Twinkle, twinkle, little star." Without a doubt you can imagine it for a single voice, or two voices.

Now imagine it being played by a flute.

Now, imagine it being set for an orchestra.

Try it as jazz. And as Zydeco.

This is the kind of flexibility that must be brought to the practice of magic, if it is to be effective and meaningful.

know how to ground and center one's self

~To ground is to link a person's own energy field and sense of self to that of the Universe. In a sense it is like an electrical ground: there is a safe place for excess energy to flow to, preventing burnout and/or irritability. In another sense, it also duplicates an electrical outlet, providing a much larger pool of energy from which to draw than the resources of a person's own body. This obviously helps prevent or lessen exhaustion.

~To center is to stabilize on a person's own axis: to perceive one's own self AND one's own body, and bring the two into parallel congruence. To be less formal, this is the act of stopping the lopsiding of the aura, smoothing down all the peaks and pulling everything back to the center. It is done with perception and imagination: perceive how one really feels, and then firmly imagine that coming back into balance. Experience has shown that magick works better when the magician is centered.



know how to shield

Shielding is the act of protecting the soul from outside influences. It is done after grounding and centering, and there are several techniques. One is to imagine a solid ball in a person's core. I like silver; others work with swirling color, or no color. The ball is then expanded and hollowed, passing through the body of the person until it surrounds hir. In its expansion, it pushes out all outside influence with it. The person then imagines a locking device -- I use a knot being tied, others use a padlock clicking shut, some use a door closing -- which, when locked, holds the shield in place until the person takes it down. This is a solid shield. There are other types.

The second set of things prepare for the actual working of magick.



be well-grounded in interpersonal ethics

Starting from the Three-fold Law -- everything a person does returns to hir three-fold -- and from the Wiccan Rede -- Harm none, and do what thou wilt -- it is necessary to develop a sense of what is proper between people, and why, BEFORE one goes into what is proper to work for magically, and why. Knowing before one begins whether or not one's purpose will exact a cost, and what manner of cost it will exact, goes a long way toward eliminating unexpected headaches. Among other things.



be well-grounded in interpersonal and interspecies politeness.

This also goes back to the Wiccan Rede: rudeness harms other people, and thus (by the threefold law) harms the rude person. Courtesy toward all is a good way to begin; courtesy toward fellow practitioners is necessary; and courtesy to non-humans is vital. Immediate non-humans to consider are the Elements and the Goddess and the God; less obvious are place-spirits, household spirits, and the resident spirits in each separate thing; most spectacular are those non-humans inaccurately called demons, or Big Black Nasty Dark Things (tm), or, by me, Critters. Knowing politeness gives one more, not fewer, options in dealing with all of them.

know how to raise energy

Energy is necessary for all magickal workings, and can come from within the person, from the Universe, from music or dance or chanting, from sex, or from other sources. A person raises energy preparatory to channeling it into a working.

know how to move energy

Channeling the energy a person has just raised is the most obvious method and purpose of moving energy; another method and purpose is to imagine it passing around you as water passes around a ship, so as not to be caught in it; a third is to comb it with your fingers over a person's body, in order to smooth out tangles in that person's own energy field. There are, of course, many other methods and purposes.



know how to ground energy

Here's where a person uses hir ground to the Universe. The purpose is to dump excess or tainted energy that would not or no longer be useful where it currently is. The method is to imagine that energy running down one's body into the earth, or up into the stars. I personally like putting my hands on the ground and letting it flow that way. I do have an objection to "dissipating" it into the air, as people may pass through and pick it up accidently. Grounded to Earth or to Stars, the energy gets cleaned and re-used.

know the Elements and their symbolisms

Earth, Air, Fire and Water are the four Elements, deriving from and supporting the fifth Element, Spirit. Each has its own symbol, its own area of governance, its own direction, its own proper Dieties. Working with the Elements and their symbology helps keep us physical as well as mental, and reminds us of the overwhelming importance of the Universe.

be aware of the Laws of Magic.

Energy does flow in certain routes, and these routes seems to be fairly well agreed-upon cross-culturally.

know a few Names of the Goddess and of the God

Each Name of the Goddess reflects a different facet of Her, as each Name of the God reflects a different facet of Him, as the God and the Goddess both reflect different facets of the Universe -- and not necessarily the only two, either. Because this is true, and because we work only with a little bit at a time, knowing the Names of the Goddess and the God that reflect the area in which we are currently working helps us focus our attention more closely on what we're doing.



know how to establish a circle

A circle is a magical working space. It acts like a shield, so that you can work without your personal shields in a larger space. I once developed, with an enquirer, the analogy that shields are like a suit of armor, while a circle is like a defended room. My circles consist of these elements (always moving clockwise):

· a circle around the area in which I plan to work, drawn three times (once for each face of the Goddess) with a blade or a wand or my own body

· sprinkling the circumference with salt water

· spreading the smoke of incense around the circle

· carrying a candle around the circle

· invoking the elements, each at their own Watchtower,

· invoking the Goddess and lighting Her candle

· invoking the God and lighting His candle



know how to create ritual

Rituals are recipes for transforming reality in accordance with will. Not every situation will be covered in a cook-book or grimoire, nor should any existing recipe be used without altering it in accordance with the situation. Knowing the basic elements that go into a ritual, and the ways they vary according to circumstance, allows a Witch to have a suitable ritual for any occasion resident within hir own head.

be able to deal with the manifestations of each Element with respect

(i.e., what you do with Fire when you're done with it, and how you deal with stones.)

This goes back to politeness. Remember that everything one uses and invokes is NOT a servant, but an ally.



know some basic normal individual psychology and some basic normal group psychology (NOT abnormal: that's for specialists)

This is necessary for creating good ritual: what effects are desired, and how best can one achieve them? It depends on how the person to be affected reacts, and on how the group working together interacts. It is also, and more importantly, necessary for maintaining a working group.

The next set of things are background skills.

Witches have traditionally been the interceders between humans and both the spiritual and the physical world. These skills are the tools for doing that.

know at least one divinatory system

Divination, at its heart, is a map of influences. Some such influences are psychological, some are Fateful, some are physical. Divination can help to determine whether a ritual is necessary, and, if so, of what sort; it can help determine the motivations of all the people involved, and so helps as a counseling tool by itself; it can help warn of consequences in time to prepare for them or to avert them; and so forth.

know the processes for dealing with herbs in both a magical and a medical sense

The magical derives from and interacts with the medical. If one knows how to prepare an infusion, an extraction, and a poultice, and how to prepare a charm bag, a dream pillow, and a bath scrub, s/he can make a more long-term intercession for hirself or for others. S/he also will make more of a linkage to hir roots, which is good for grounding and centering.

know a little first aid

We were the first, and in some places the only, line of defence against death from wounds and sickness. This links with the herb work, and for the same reason. But the following is very obvious and basic.

· Be able to keep calm in the presence of blood

· Know how to clean and bandage a wound

· Know when and how to call for help.

Anything more one learns how to do is all to the good; but at least know this much.



The last set are the scholarly skills.

These are necessary in this time because of the fact that we live in the midst of other religions and thought-systems, some of which are hostile to us, others of which are ignorant of us, and many of which have things to teach us.

be able to tell the difference between myth and libel

Myths are teaching stories, told to illustrate or illuminate a situation. Unfortunately, both our enemies and we ourselves have developed "myths" which lie about the actions and the motivations of the others, not from evilness, but from anger, from lack of knowledge, and from misapprehensions. In order to work for harmony, however chaotic or ordered, we must be able to recognize the difference no matter who speaks it, and challenge it. When we challenge on behalf of ourselves, we gain strength; when we challenge on behalf of others, we gain allies and harmony.



study a little history of religion and a little history of nations.

This interacts with the "myth" necessity, above, by replacing some myth with 'historical fact.' It also teaches how and why tolerance and intolerance occur, and that certain things are the result of law and not nature. As we understand how the Web is woven, we can act more surely within the Web.

be aware of current scientific thought concerning energy.

This last acts to train our own skills in working with energy. The work that is currently being done, especially with Chaos Theory, validates what we have been doing; at the same time it teaches us the pattern of it in a larger sense.

To be a Witch is to commit to learning forever; to commit to acting for the best we can perceive; to be a force for the Gods in the world, and a force for the world with the Gods.

This is how I learned it, and this is what I hold to.

The Candle Separation Spell

This is to be used in separating two people from each other. It can only be done by one (or more) of the two people involved.

Supplies:

two candles

2 feet of red thread, string, or yarn

an implement with which to write on the candles

either a cookie sheet, or another method of ensuring that the candles do not drip wax and / or fire all over the working surface

at least three days in which to work

(optional) signature scents for both of you

(optional) hair, nail clippings, or threads from clothes from both of you

[note:] If you can get hold of the Male and Female candles, use those. They can often be found in occult book stores, botanicas, and (sometimes) Catholic religious supplies stores (I dunno, so don't ask me.)

[note:] If possible, use candles which mimic your appropriate skin colors. If not, use white (it's a neutral color for these purposes.)



Preparation:

Make each candle a symbolic representation of one of you. Write the full name of the person being symbolized on it. Write their birthdays, their favorite foods, the names of their parents or significant other humans. If possible, embed scraps of the hair and nails. If possible, annoint the candle with the signature scent. If you can carve, alter the candle to resemble the person more closely.

Spell:

Tie one end of the red string to the bottom part of one candle; the other end to the bottom part of the other candle. Twist both candles until the string is taut and the candles are together. Light the candles.

Say:

"We are bound, but we shall be free. I move from thee; Thou movest from me."

Unwind the thread to half its length; move the candles so that they are @one foot apart. Let them burn down 1/3 of the way; extinguish them.

The next night, light the candles; repeat the rhyme; and move the candles to the far end on the thread. Let them burn down an additional 1/3. Extinguish them.

The last night, light the candles, and say:

"We were bound, but we are free; blessings on you apart from me."

Cut the thread, move the candles an additional foot apart, and let them burn completely out.



Cheese Banishing

Jul 20, 1994 14:23 from Deeg

If we are still on the subject of binding spells, I've got one you may enjoy. Toast a piece of bread. Write the name of the person or event which you wish to see stopped on the toast with mustard (granted, you have to like mustard to use this spell). Cover the mustard with thinly sliced cheddar cheese (oh yeah you have to like cheese also). Put toast in microwave for 30 seconds to one minute (the bombardment of the toast with microwave radiation will destroy any bad feelings or ambient interfering magic). Remove toast when done and eat (by eating the toast you are accepting the consequences of the spell and affirming the tri-fold law).

I learned this spell from my mother (a radical fundy christian) who didn't even know she was performing magic.

The Chili Shield

found on ISCABBS

Aug 18, 1998 08:10 from Querida

Good morning! I just read in my local papaer (of all places) a spell for keeping touchy-feely people from invading your space. I found it hilarious, personally, and thought I would share it with you guys.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Christman of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

Using a safety pin, fasten one dried chili pepper to the inside of your jacket.

Then say,

"Hot to smell. Hot to touch. Be nice to me, but not to much. Hug me hard and you will burn. Kiss me and your face will turn."

Then you turn around 3 times and say, "This is my space. Keep your place!"

For the good of all, so mote it be. :)

leaves a bunch of dried chili peppers on the altar

SPELL FOR SMOOTHER INTERNET CONNECTIONS

MATERIAL COMPONENTS: none (though it doesn't hurt to get something to represent the gods Mercury and Ganesh, like pictures or herbs)

If you're having trouble linking into your provider, sit back and let the program begin the connection process. Visualize a smoothly running brook and say the following:

Smooth as running water flows,

So this Internet connection goes.

Mercury and Ganesh.

Ganesh and Mercury.

Lend your power.

So mote it be!

As you say this, visualize a colorless flow of energy between you and the machine. Usually by the time you do this two or three times, you'll end up with a smooth connection no matter how much trouble you had before.



COMPUTER POSSESSION??

Computer acting up and your virus scanner says your bug-free? Consider that you may have an infestation of another kind. I had this very same problem and couldn't figure out why installs were going bad with random errors and the top-of-the-line equipment was glitching as if it were 20 year old scrap. No viruses and everything hooked up properly, too. I was stumped until I came into my office in the dark one night to get something. I saw this large, amorphous black THING zoom past my face and vanish into the area surrounding the computer. It was then that I realized that we had a ghost in the machine so to speak. I thought about that with some skepticism at first. A few days later, a friend of mine mentioned the fact that the Internet, to which I am connected on a daily basis, is a very powerful source of innovative, diverse energies. Therefore, it makes the perfect feeding ground for discriminating negative spirit and curious positive spirit alike.



So in order to solve all of our magazine's computer problems, my Assistant Editor and I decided to perform a banishing/protection ritual before attempting to set the system straight for the 5th time. We mixed every oil we had with protection, cleansing and/or banishing powers into one rather potent batch of blended oil (with jojoba as a base). We smudged the machine and all of its accessories and asked the Lord and Lady to aid us in clearing all negative forces from the tools we use to spread their wisdom. We also invoked the spirit of Armadillo (Protection) to guard the equipment and offered some tobacco. We used the oil to inscribe a pentacle on each component of the setup (careful to keep it away from the open vents and crevices). Next, we taped two pieces of parchment with warding sigils and a brief written spell to each side of the computer's tower (the parchment and sides of the tower were also anointed with oil pentacles). We offered some sandalwood incense for all other spirits who wished to aid us in our task.



As a final precaution, we sealed all entries to the room and the machine (including the plate where the phone lines come in and the air conditioner) with a pentacle inscribed with the oil. So far, the plague of problems seems to have ceased and all systems are operational. Sure, it looks a little odd to visitors to have the runes and sigils hanging on the tower, but I think it adds a unique flair to our office.

************************************



Connection Cutting

Jul 19, 1994 15:11 from Obsidian

Another method that I use an awful lot is to do a visualization (if you can) of yourself a a column of light, with many branches to other people. Find that branch to this person, and gently cut it off. At the same time, replace the empty hole with healthy energy, as nature abhors a vacuum, and the connection will probably try to reassert itself. It's a bit of psychic surgery that works for me. And best of luck to you!



Deconstruction Visualization

Jul 18, 1994 15:27 from Hellblazer

When a person's image intrudes into your thoughts as you shield, you can try one of two things- (many things, actually, but I'm only going to suggest two) mentally "paint over" hir image, or "deconstruct" it, removing colors, so that s/he becomes a black and white outline, then details, so s/he becomes a cartoon, then erase it entirely.

Now that I think about it, that deconstruction wouldn't do too badly as a meditation on seperating an influence from your life totally...

Freezer Jar

Jul 20, 1994 01:17 from Shimmer

Well, while we are adding binding spells, one that work very well for me ... astonishingly well in fact ... was writing the persons name on a piece of paper, concentrating on stopping the negativity and sticking it in a jar of water to put in the freezer. It worked immediately for me (I couldn't tell then but when I look back on it it was almost instantaneous.) Also it is really simple and you don't have to keep the jar in your fridge forever. Just until the negativity is gone . . .

Blessed Be



Methods of Defense

Dion Fortune

"There are two types of practical psychic work which may be used separately or in combination, The latter method, in my opinion, giving by far the best results, .... [T]he meditative method consists of meditation upon abstract qualities such as peaces harmony...and the love of God.. . .The other method, . . .consists of invocation of external potencies and employment of formal methods of the focusing of their force. This method has many graduations. . . from the simplest prayer which calls upon Christ with the sign of the Cross to the most elaborate rituals of exorcism with bell, book and candle.

The essence of the system lies in the attempt to dissect out from the general force of good the particular aspect of energy that is needed and the use of some symbol to act as the magical vehicle of that force upon the plane of form. If we realize that the use of forms and symbols is merely a psychological device to enable the mind to get a grip on the intangible, we sahll not fall into the error of superstitious observances. A superstition is defined as the blind use of of a form whose significance has been forgotten. [Next paragraph cites the value of meditation as a method of self control]

[...]



We must also bear in mind that just as potent drug is efectaul in the hands of the expert but dangerous in the hands of an amatuer so do the more potent occult formulae need special equipment for their use.. . . The exocist has to achieve three things; he must repair the patient's aura, clear the atmosphere of his environment, and break his contact with the forces that are causing the the trouble. These three things are interdependant and not one of them is first or last.

[...]

The first thing to do when dealing with an occult attack is to make a temporary clearence of the atmosphere and so gain a breathing-space in which to reform the shattered ranks. this is more readily performed by a ritual than by unaided willpower. Any act performed with intention becomes a rite. . . . [If] we...take a bath with a view to ritual cleanliness. . . its efficacy will extend beyond the physical plane.

Water is a means of purification. It is used in the rite of baptism by the Church and in the preparation of the lace by the occultist about to perform a ceremony. [notes salt that has also been consecrated should be added to the "holy" water] [S]alt is the emblem of the element earth. it is also a crystaline substance,. . . and holds etheric magnetism better than anything else. Water on the other hand, is the emblem of the psychic sphere. It is an excellent plan, when trying to break an undesirable psychic contact, to emmerse oneself in a bath of water that has been especially consecrated for the purpose; re-dressing in new or at least clean clothing afterwards.

The following prayers may be used for the blessing of the salt and water:



(Pointing the first and second figures at the salt) I exorcise thee creature of salt by the living God (+) by the holy God (+) by the omnipotent God (+) that thou mayst be purified of all evil influences in the Name of Adonai, Who is Lord of Angels and of men.

(Extending the hand over the salt) Creature of earth, adore thy Creator. In the Name of God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of Jesus Christ his son, our Saviour, I consecrate thee (+) to the service of God, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

(Pointing the first and second fingers over the water) I exorcise thee creature of water by the living God (+) by the holy God (+) by the omnipotent God (+) that thou mayst be purified of all evil influences in the Name of Elohim Saboath, Who is Lord of Angels and of men.

(Extending the hand over the water) Creature of water, adore thy Creator. In the Name of God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of Jesus Christ his son, our Saviour, I consecrate thee (+) to the service of God, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

(Casting the salt into the water) We pray Thee, O god, Lord of the Heaven and Earth, and all that in them is both visible and inviisble, that thou mayest stretch forth the right hand of the Power upon those creatures of the elements and hallow them in thy Holy Name. Grant that this salt may make for health of body and this water for health of the soul, and that there may be banished from this palce where trhey are used every power of adversity and every illusion and artifice of evil, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen

The water thus consecrated may be used as a bath, or for the making the sign of the cross upon the forehead, or for sprinkling about the place. When using it, the following prayer may be employed:



In the Name which is above every other name and in the power of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, I exorcise all influences and seeds of evil; I lay upon them the spell chains and cast into the outer darkness that they may not troulbe the servants of God"

{Dion Fortune continues to teach both meditation --for healing the aura, and banishment for breaking the contacts but this is getting long.}

For note, the last bit about casting into the outer darkness is a spell or curse that wiccans consider to be harmful and therefore immoral to perform on creatures -- including demons. See Rose's post for an alternate and gentle method.

A Conversation on the "Demonic"

Between a student who had been plagued by a Critter, and her Teacher (who happened to be Mama Rose herself.)



It's been obvious all along that these beings are nonhuman, and they would seem to be intelligent -- are they?

Yes, they are intelligent, but their perceptions are different than ours. Except for the people who move deliberately into their frame of reference, they perceive us as energy patterns, some of which bind them, some of which they can, in turn, bind; some of which they can consume. It did not perceive you as an intelligent creature until you spoke to it. The Critter magician says that, under the circumstances, it was very careful with you; it could have eaten you all up in a single gulp (and they have been known to do so); instead, it was careful to let you recover in between. Imagine how island folks regard dolphins, and you get some little sense of how they regard us.

I am puzzled about how I should feel toward this thing. (...)I am upset that this *happened*. I mean, this is *ridiculous* --



Yes, it is ridiculous. And yes, you should (sic) feel upset. Or helplessly amused at it. This is exactly the reason that I am so very opposed to people "calling up demons" for any reason whatsoever. They don't know how to deal with them, and they don't know how to feed them, and the things have to scrabble for an existance as best they can.

I *know* victims of abuse tend to attract further abuse, but, I mean, it's almost *funny*. How often does this *happen*?

As often as the abused person is a) of a magical talent, and b) producing sufficient power. In fact, [the Student's friend] probably has a few scavengers hanging around her; but since she produces energy through anger rather than through pain, she is less likely to notice them. And would probably be shocked to find that she has them, and that the instances of her needing to be angry have something behind them.

Is it likely that whatever is wrong at the New Age bookstore is another of these things, or is that something different? There is definitely *something* the matter there. Is there any way I could find out what -- or should I just mind my own business, since they don't seem to be worried about it?

There is a group of people who are very strong in the New Age Movement that my sort scornfully calls "White Lighters" because they are unable to see, or, even when appropriate, to appreciate, any sort of darkness. The folks there may be blissfully unaware of it. What I would like you to do is to observe it: knowing that there is "something wrong", accept that and feel for further distinctions. Is it sad? Angry? Hungry? Malicious? Fearful? Does it change with time? If you can get any distictions of this nature, we will have one set of information. If you get NO feelings like this, we will know something else entirely. We shouldn't be hasty, but we WILL act.



Basic Information:

· Critters are life-forms which are not only not human, they are of neither this planet nor even this sphere of existance. They inhabit a wholly different set of spheres, which occasionally overlap ours at places.

· Spells or rituals which act to "raise demons," "call up the forces of Darkness," or "bind the Servants of the Devil," in reality -- since neither the Devil nor Demons actually exist, as such -- act to kidnap and trap beings from these other spheres. Because the magicians who try this act on the assumption that these beings are naturally evil, they rarely provide basic nourishment for them, let alone treat them with any sort of respect. When the magician accidently breaks the containment circle -- which ALWAYS happens -- the Critter has the right, via the Three-Fold Law, to consume the energy of the magician.

· How a loose Critter behaves depends on what version of our life-forms it corresponds to. It may

1. be intelligent, and go about providing for its needs, trying to determine exactly where it is, and planning what to do next;

2. be an herbivore, and attack what it perceives as a danger, but not consume such things;

3. be a carnivore, and hunt.





And there's no guarantee that any given intelligence is any more kind or moral than any given human intelligence -- or any less.

· Critters eat energy. Energy is produced by a great many means, but the most easily available is the energy produced by emotions. When intelligent Critters act to reproduce the emotional energy they found before, they generally have no clue that emotional energy comes from intelligent beings. Some of them, but not most of them, still wouldn't care.

· Energy produced by the darker emotions is the strongest and most readily available; however, it is also poisonous. Imagine having only sprouting potatoes to eat, and being hungry eough to eat all of the potato.

· If you choose, you may make a ball of energy - make sure you separate it cleanly from yourself - and give it to a Critter as a present. It will probably still be defensive (quite understandably), but may begin to contemplate the concept that you, specifically, might not be out to hurt it. Such a ball of energy may well be the first nonpoisonous food the Critter has had in months. Or longer.

· There is a Critter Magician in Chicago who will act as a Gate to send Critters home, if they choose to go. If you have found a Critter, you may try to send it to Chicago. Here is the method.



1. Draw a protective circle for yourself.

2. Light a white candle.

3. Envision the city of Chicago, with a tall beacon light shining out of it.

4. Envision a tie between your candle and the beacon.

5. Envision the Critter as clearly as you can: where it normally is, what it feels like to you: call it up in your mind.

6. When you have the attention of the Critter, invite it to go to Chicago. Let it know that comfort and vast quantities of food await it there, and a chance to go home.

7. Leave the candle burning for at least a solid hour; longer if possible. It can sometimes take a while to get to Chicago.

8. Then douse your circle in the usual way.

Salt Water Purge

As usual, you need to provide yourself with some time alone, and some quiet, or non-invasive sound.

You also need

· A good-sized bowl

· water to fill it at least half-way

· three hands-full of salt

· a box of tissues (recommended)

Fill the bowl with the water. If blessing is your style (as it is mine) bless the water -- and also the salt, separately. Then, a handful at a time, dump the salt into the water, stirring it counter-clockwise: yes, widdershins.

Now: sit and feel the anger, the rage, the sorrow, the fear inside you. Feel it physically; perceive where in your body it is located.

A bit at a time, pull up those emotions, and push them out of your third eye -- the spot on your forehead just above and between your eyebrows.

Feel for some more emotion, bring it up, and push it out. Take your time. Be thorough. Allow yourself to make noise, if your body wants to do that: moan, growl, cry, grunt; you may find yourself retching: the sounds need to leave you along with the emotions. Pour it all into the salt water.

Blow your nose as needed.

Keep going until you cannot feel any more emotions lurking in your body: until you feel quite hollow.

Now: sit back. Let your roots go down into the Earth; open the top of your head to the Universe. Fill yourself with the energy of the Earth, with starlight or moonlight or sunlight.

Thank the bowl of salt water, and dump it into running water: a sink with the water already on, or a toilet.

Now blow your nose (again), and go out and do what needs to be done.

Blessed be,

--Mama Rose

Witch's Bottles

Jul 18, 1994 21:23 from Zaphod

Get a good stout mayo jar. Clear your mind as much as possible, bath it in white light, and bless it. After it has been blessed, start to fill it with whatever nasties come to mind. Throw rusty nails into and let the nails carry your anger with them. Throw the smashed earings into it, and let it carry your grief. Fill it full of things that upset you and symbolize you anger and hatred of this person.



Then seal it shut, with your anger inside, forever. Put it someplace safe from ever being opened. It's magically a Toxic Dump, handle it as iff it were toxic waste. I seal mine with wax.

Jul 18, 1994 21:44 from The Morrigan

some of the witches jars I know of also fill it part way with your own urine to symbolize the exiting of waste element of the ritual...and then you bury it in a place that you believe will remain untouched for a very, very. very long time.

Jul 18, 1994 21:46 from Maharet

What happened if it's opened? Sorry if this is babblish but it's my only question. What theoretically happens if a witch's jar is found and opened?

Jul 18, 1994 21:50 from The Morrigan

it lets the negativity back out...it's also used as a general protection device, and with this use, you remain protected as long as the jar is undisturbed...now, you could keep checking on your jar peridocially, or, like some, make a new one every year or so just to make sure...you can never be "too" protected form negativity :)

Jul 18, 1994 23:48 from Hellblazer

Witch bottles, as protection, were often filled with nails or broken glass, and urine, blood, or water (I suppose vinegar would also work, but I haven't heard of it's being "traditional"), the thought being that spirits passing by the bottle would be harmed by its contents. Such bottles were often buried under doorways or hearths, places little likely to be disturbed while the house stood.



Moon Lore





Phases Signs and Months

Moon Magick

Working with the phases of the Moon. From the Dragonwood folk.

Phases of the Moon

More specific information. From Raven Dance's Working Witch site.

Moon Magick!

Theory of moon magick, together with the phases. From Enchanted Encounters.

Lunar Magick and Moon signs

Uses of the phases of the moon, eclipses, eclipses, blue moons, and moon void-of-course; plus the moon in the signs. From Avalon: Nymue's Wicca Page. Lunar Magick...

Uses of the Moon in each of the Zodiacal signs. From Harlin

Moon Signs

More on the Moon in the Zodiacal Signs. From Raven Dance's Working Witch site.

Moon Lore

Uses of each of the calendrical Moons. From Avalon: Nymue's Wicca Page.

Fishing by the Moon

A tested and confirmed method.

Planting by the Moon

Traditional method.

An Early Moon Phase Calendar

Carved on a bone.

Planets and Days Planetary Hours

The other planets as well

From Harlin

The Days of the Week

Magickal uses of each day. From Raven Dance's Working Witch site. Planetary Hours

Instructions for calculating the planetary hours. Includes a link to the chart for the planetary hours themselves. From Raven Dance's Working Witch site.

Days and Hours

Another description of the magickal uses of each day and hour, with the planetary hours chart. From Enchanted Encounters.

Ephemeris

Magickal Calendar

Lunar ephemeris for 1998. From Raven Dance's Working Witch site.

A Magickal Calendar

Current through July, 1998. Lunar ephemeris with color, incense, and festivals. From Sun Dragon Wicca Page

Magickal Calendar

Good and bad days through 1998 for amulets, brews, candles, meditations, herbs, and rituals. From Cyberwitch.





RE-THINKING THE WATCHTOWERS

or 13 Reasons Air Should Be In The North

by Mike Nichols



INTRODUCTION

It all started 20 years ago. I was 16 years old then, and a recent initiate to the religion of Wicca. Like most neophytes, I was eager to begin work on my Book of Shadows, the traditional manuscript liturgical book kept by most practicing Witches. I copied down rituals, spells, recipes, poems, and tables of correspondences from every source I could lay hands on. Those generally fell into two broad catagories: published works, such as the many books available on Witchcraft and magic; and unpublished works, mainly other Witches' Books of Shadows.

Twenty years ago, most of us were 'traditonal' enough to copy everything by hand. (Today, photocopying and even computer modem transfers are becoming de riguer.) Always, we were admonished to copy 'every dot and comma', making an exact transcription of the original, since any variation in the ceremony might cause major problems for the magician. Seldom, if ever, did anyone pause to consider where these rituals came from in the first place, or who composed them. Most of us, alas, did not know and did not care. It was enough just to follow the rubrics and do the rituals as prescribed.

But something brought me to an abrupt halt in my copying frenzy. I had dutifully copied rituals from different sources, and suddenly realized they contained conflicting elements. I found myself comparing the two versions, wondering which one was 'right', 'correct', 'authentic', 'original', 'older', etc. This gave rise to the more general questions about where a ritual came from in the first place. Who created it? Was it created by one person or many? Was it ever altered in transmission? If so, was it by accident or intent? Do we know? Is there ever any way to find out? How did a particular ritual get into a Coven's Book of Shadows? From another, older, Book of Shadows? Or from a published source? If so, where did the author of the published work get it?

I had barely scratched the surface, and yet I could already see that the questions being raised were very complex. (Now, all these years later, I am more convinced than ever of the daunting complexity of Neo-Pagan liturgical history. And I am equally convinced of the great importance of this topic for a thorough understanding of modern Witchcraft. It may well be a mare's nest, but imagine the value it will have to future Craft historians. And you are unconditionally guaranteed to see me fly into a passionate tirade whenever I'm confronted with such banal over-simplifications as 'Crowley is the REAL author of the Third Degree initiation,' or 'Everyone KNOWS Gardner INVENTED modern Witchcraft.')

CONFLICTING TRADITIONS

The first time I noticed conflicting ritual elements was when I was invited as a guest to attend another Coven's esbat celebration. When the time came to 'invoke the Watchtowers' (a ritual salutation to the four directions), I was amazed to learn that this group associated the element of Earth with the North. My own Coven equated North with Air. How odd, I thought. Where'd they get that? The High Priestess told me it had been copied out of a number of published sources. Further, she said she had never seen it listed any other way. I raced home and began tearing books from my own library shelves. And sure enough! Practically every book I consulted gave the following assoications as standard: North = Earth, East = Air, South = Fire, West = Water.

Then where the heck did I get the idea that Air belonged in the North? After much thought, I remembered having copied my own elemental/directional associations from another Witch's Book of Shadows, her Book representing (so she claimed) an old Welsh tradition. Perhaps I'd copied it down wrong? A quick long-distance phone call put my mind at ease on that score. (When I asked her where she'd gotten it, she said she THOUGHT it was from an even older Book of Shadows, but she wasn't certain.)

By now, I felt miffed that my own traditon seemed to be at variance with most published sources. Still, my own rituals didn't seem to be adversely affected. Nor were those of my fellow Coven members, all of whom put Air in the North. Further, over the years I had amassed lots of associations and correspondences that seemed to REQUIRE Air to be in the North. The very thought of Air in the East offended both my sense of reason and my gut-level mythic sensibilities. There are good REASONS to place Air in the North. And the whole mythological superstructure would collapse if Air were in the East, instead. If this is so, then why do most published sources place Earth in the North and Air in the East?

RITUAL TAMPERING

Suddenly, I felt sure I knew the reason! Somewhere along the line, someone had deliberately tampered with the information! Such tampering is a long and venerable practice within certain branches of magic. In Western culture, it is most typically seen among Hermetic, Cabalistic and 'ceremonial' magic lodges. It is common among such groups that, when publishing their rituals for public consumption, they will publish versions that are INCOMPLETE and/or deliberately ALTERED in some way from the authentic practice. This prevents someone who is NOT a member of the group from simply buying a book, and performing the rituals, without benefit of formal training. It is only when you are initiated into the lodge that you will be given the COMPLETE and/or CORRECTED versions of their rituals. This is how such groups guard their secrets. (And it is a telling postscript that many scholars now believe modern Witchcraft to have 'borrowed' its directional/elemental correspondences from ceremonial magic sources! What a laugh if this was Crowley's last best joke on his friend Gerald Gardner!)

I remember the first time I became aware of such deliberate ritual tampering. A friend of mine had been making a study of the so-called 'planetary squares', talismans that look like magic squares consisting of a grid of numbers in some cryptic order. There are seven such squares -- one for each of the 'old' planets. While making this study, he began coloring the grids (more for his own pleasure than anything else), making colorful mini-mosaics, using first two colors, then three, then four, and on up to the total number of squares in the grid. Six of the planetary squares yeilded pleasing patterns of color. Then there was the Sun square! Against all expectation, the colors were a random jumble, with no patterns emerging. Thus, he began his quest for the CORRECTED Sun square. And I became convinced of the reality of ritual tampering.

THE WATCHTOWERS

All that remains, then, is for me to assemble all the arguments in favor of the Air-in-the-North model, which I have now come to believe is the CORRECTED system of correspondences. The remainder of this article will be devoted to those arguments, each with its own name and number:

1. AIRTS: This is perhaps the strongest argument. In Celtic countries, the four elemental/directional associations are refered to as the 'four airts'. And it is a known fact that this tradition associates Air with North. While it is true that some writers, familiar with ceremonial magic (like William Sharp and Doreen Valiente), have given 'tampered' versions of the airts, it is a telling point that folklorists working directly with native oral traditions (like Alexander Carmichael and F. Marion McNeil) invariably report the Air/North connection.

2. PARALLEL CULTURES: Although arguing from parallel cultures may not be as convincing, it is still instructive to examine other magical aboriginal cultures in the Western hemisphere. For example, the vast majority of Native American tribes (themselves no slouches in the area of magic!) place Air in the North, which they symbolize by the Eagle. (Aboriginal cultures lying south of the equator typically have different associations, for reasons I will discuss next.)

3. GEOPHYSICAL: If one accepts the insular British origins of elemental directions, then one must imagine living in the British Isles. To the West is the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean (i.e. water). To the East, the bulk of the European land mass (earth). South has always been the direction of fire because, as one travels south (toward the equator), it gets warmer. Which leaves North as the region of air, home of the icy winds of winter. (These last two associations would be reversed for cultures in the southern hemisphere, for whom north is the direction of the warm equitorial region, and south is the land of ice.)

4. HYPERBORIAN: In fact, an ancient name for the British Isles was 'Hyperboria', which litterally means 'behind the north wind', thus associating north and wind (air) once more. The inhabitants were themselves called 'Hyperborians', and the phrase 'at the back of the north wind' (the title of one of George MacDonald's faery romances) is still current. Of all the winds of the compass, it is unquestionably the north wind (Boreas), bringer of winter, which is perceived as the strongest and most influential (cf. Robert Grave's goddess fantasy 'Watch the North Wind Rise'). You don't hear too much about the other three cardinal winds.

5. SEASONAL: Many occultists associate the four seasons with the four cardinal points, as well. Hence, winter = north, spring = east, summer = south, and autumn = west. (To be precise, it is the solstice and equinox points which align with the cardinal points.) Again, in most folklore, winter is associated with air and wind, as the icy blasts that usher in the season. In spring, it is the earth which arrests our attention, with its sudden riot of blooms and greenery. Again, south relates to summer, the hottest season (fire), and west relates to autumn.

6. DIURNAL: Occultists also often associate the cardinal points of a single day to the four compass points. Thus, midnight = north, sunrise = east, noon = south, and sunset = west. (Please note that we are talking about TRUE midnight and TRUE noon here, the points halfway between sunset and sunrise, and between sunrise and sunset, respectively.) These associate nicely with the seasonal attributes just discussed. It is easy to see why sunrise should equate to east, and sunset to west. And, once again, from the prespective of the British Isles, the sun rises over land (earth) and sets over the ocean (water). South is related to noon because it is the moment of greatest heat (fire). Leaving the 'invisible' element of air to be associated with the sun's invisibility, at midnight.

7. MYTHOLOGICAL: In Celtic mythology, north is invariably associated with air. The pre-Christian Irish gods and goddesses, the Tuatha De Danann, were 'airy' faeries (later versions came equiped with wings, relating them to sylphs). The Book of Conquests states their original home was in the north, 'at the back of the north wind'. And when they came to Ireland, they came in ships, THROUGH THE UPPER AIR (!), settling on the mountain tops. (It has always struck me as odd that some modern writers see mountains as a symbol of earth. The crucial symbolism of the mountain is its height, rising into the air, touching the sky. Virtually all Eastern traditions associate mountains, favorite abodes of gurus, with air. A CAVE would be a better symbol of earth than a mountain.) In Welsh mythology, too, Math the Ancient, chief god of Gwynedd (or NORTH Wales), is specifically associated with wind, which can carry people's thoughts to him.

8. YIN/YANG: Many occultists believe that the four elements have yin/yang connections. Both air and fire are seen as masculine, while earth and water are seen as feminine. If air is associated with the north point of the magic circle, and earth is east, then one achieves a yin/yang alternation as one circumnambulates the circle. As one passes the cardinal points of east, south, west, and north, one passes feminine, masculine, feminine, masculine energies. This alternating flux of plus/minus, push/pull, masculine/feminine, is the very pulse of the universe, considered of great importance by most occultists. That it was equally important to our ancestors is evidenced by standing stones in the British Isles. At sites like the Kennet Avenue of Braga, the tall, slender, masculine, phallic stones alternate precisely with the shorter, diamond-shaped yoni stones.

9. GENERATOR: This argument flows out of the previous one. Practicing magicians often think of the magic circle as a kind of psychic generator. Witches in particular like to perform circle dances to 'raise the cone of power'. Hand in hand, and alternating man and woman, they dance clockwise (deosil) around the circle, moving faster and faster until the power is released. This model has an uncanny resemblance to an electrical generator, as man and woman alternately pass each of the four 'poles' of the magic circle. These poles themselves MUST alternate between plus and minus if power is to be raised. This means that if the masculine fire is in the south, then the masculine air MUST be in the north. If the feminine water is in the west, then the feminine earth MUST be in the east. If any adjacent pair were switched, the generator would stop dead.

10. MASCULINE/FEMININE AXIS: When you look at a typical map, north (the cardinal direction) is at the top. Any north-south road is a vertical line, and any east-west road is a horizonatal line. Likewise, a 'map' of a magic circle makes the vertical north-south axis masculine (with air and fire), while the horizontal east-west axis is feminine (earth and water). This makes logical sense. When we look at the horizon of the earth, we see a horizontal line. Water also seeks a horizontal plane. Feminine elements, considered 'passive', have a natural tendency to 'lay down'. Fire, on the other hand, alway assumes an erect or vertical position. Air, too, can rise upward, as earth and water cannot. Masculine elements, being 'active', have a natural tendency to 'stand up'.

11. ALTAR TOOLS: In modern Witchcraft, there are four principal altar tools, the same four tools shown on the Tarot card, the Magician. They also correspond to the four Tarot suits, the four ancient treasures of Ireland, and the four 'hallows' of Arthurian legend. And, like the four elements, two of them are feminine and two of them are masculine. The pentacle is a shallow dish inscribed with a pentagram, representing earth, and is here placed in the east. The womb-shaped chalice, symbolizing water, is placed in the west. They form the horizontal feminine axis. The phallic-shaped wand, representing fire, is placed in the south. And the equally phallic-shaped athame is placed in the north. They form the vertical masculine axis. (The gender associations of cup and blade are especially emphasized in the ritual blessing of wine.)

12. AXIS SYMBOLISM: In nearly every culture, the vertical line is a symbol of yang, or masculine energy. The horizontal line is yin, feminine energy. When the vertical masculine line penetrates the horizontal feminine line, forming the ancient Pagan symbol of the equal-armed cross, it becomes a symbol of life, and life-force. Place a circle around it or on it, and you have a circle-cross or 'Celtic' cross, symbol of everlasting life. (Please note the importance of the EQUAL-armed cross. If one arm is longer or shorter, then the four elements are out of balance. The Christian or 'Roman' cross, for example, has an extended southern arm. And many historians have commented on Christianity's excess of 'fire' or zeal. Some versions actually show a shortened northern arm, indicating a dearth of 'air' or intellectual qualities.)

13. ASTROLOGICAL: The astrological year is divided into four equal quadrants, each beginning at a solstice or equinox. And each quandrant is governed by one of the four elements. Which element can be discovered by examining the exact MID-POINT of the quadrant. For example, the first quadrant, beginning at the winter solstice (north) is governed by air, which rules 15 degrees Aquarius, sybolized by the Man or Spirit. The second quadrant, beginning at the spring equinox (east) is governed by earth, which rules 15 degrees Taurus, the Bull. The third quadrant, beginning at the summer solstice (south) is governed by fire, which rules 15 degrees Leo, the Lion. And the fourth quadrant, beginning at the fall equinox (west) is governed by water, which rules 15 degrees Scorpio, here symbolized by the Eagle. Thus, north, east, south and west correspond to air, earth, fire, and water, and to man, bull, lion, and eagle, respectively. If the last four symbols seem familiar, it is because they represent the four elemental power points of the astrological year, and their symbols appear in the four corners of the Tarot cards, the World and the Wheel of Fortune. (The same figures were later adopted by Christians as symbols of the four gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.)

If those are the arguments in favor of Air-in-the-North, where are the counter-arguments in favor of Earth-in-the-North? Surprisingly, I've heard very few. The most common by far is 'But we've always done it this way.' Not too convincing. However, no matter HOW persuasive my arguments may be, many have countered that magic doesn't lend itself to rational arguments. It's what FEELS right that counts. True. And there's no denying that many practitioners do just fine with earth in the north. Granted. Still, if they've never tried it the other way, how would they really know?

My challenge to my fellow practitioners then is this: give Air-in-the-North a shot. Just try it on for size. See what it feels like. And not for just a single ritual. It'll take several tries just to overcome your habitual ritual mindset. And nothing is as habitual as ritual! So in order to give this a fair shake, you'll have to do a whole series of rituals with air in the north. And go into it with an open mind. Like all magic, if you decide ahead of time it won't work, it won't. Then, once you've tried it, compare it to your old method. Ask yourself what's different, if it worked any better, and why or why not. And let me know. I'd enjoy hearing about your experiences.

From the slumbering eye:

· Feminine........................Masculine

· 5-point star (pt up)........5-point star (pt down)

· . Nowhere....................o Everywhere

· Liberation.....................Security

· Black............................White

· Darkness......................Light

· Self-oriented.................self-oriented

· Mystisicm.....................Science

· Way.............................path

· intuitive.........................intellectual

· emotion........................logic

· love..............................reason

· compassion.................detachment

· Perfect Love................Perfect Trust

· essence........................form

· Valley..........................Mountain

· Dragon.........................Unicorn

· Moon..........................Sun

· Space.........................Time

· Spiritual.......................Material

· Bhakti-yoga................Jnana-yoga

· Mind...........................Body

· Subconsciousness.......Consciousness



An Analysis of association from the "Purification and Balancing of the Elements" handout. [From my Gardnerian teachers]

Element: Fire Earth Water Air Ether

Quarter: South North West East Center(here)

Tool: Athame Pentacle Chalice Wand Cord

Qtr.Candle: Red Green Dk.Blu Yellow Silver

Ch.Candle: Yellow Red Orange Green Violet

Chakra: Solar-Plexus Perineum SexOrg Heart Forehead/ctr

Idea: Will Grd/Mtl Sex/Desire Luv/Emo Vision/Wisdm>

Visualiztn: BrtRedTria RedCube OrangeSphere GreenSemCirc VioletPent



Experimental Symbolic Association-scheme



[Bliss] [Lmnts] [Chakras] [Paths] [Activity/ekstasis]

Wisdom E(i)ther Forehead/ctr Raja-Yoga Liberation

Knwldg Air Throat Jnana-Yoga Meditation

Love Water Heart Bhakti-Yoga Dedication

Power Fire Diaphragm Karma-Yoga Creation

Joy Earth Testes/Ovaries Tantra-Yoga Relaxation

Earth

passion - experience of divine Passion IS Joy

Fire

will - experience of divine Will IS Power

Water

emotion - experience of divine Emotion IS Love

Air

intellect - experience of divine Intellect IS Knowledge

Ether

consciousness - experience of divine consciousness IS Wisdom (Wicce?)





Table of correspondence for me:

Element: Earth Fire Water Air Ether

Quarter: North South West East Center

Psi-Rlm: Passion Will Emotion Intelligence Consciousness

Chakra: Bas/Sex Solar-Plexus Heart Throat Third-Eye

Yoga: Tantra Karma Bhakti Jnana Raja

Action: Relax Create Dedicate Meditate Liberate

Color: Black Red Blue Yellow White

Ekstsis: Joy Power Love Knwldg Wisdom

Symbol: Square Tringle Heart Spiral Pentacle





Air

· East (Airt)

· Spring - Dawn

· Noscere: to know

· Crimson / Swords / The Sword

· Gemini Libra Aquarius

· Waxing moon; little finger

· Eagle; John; the priesthood

· Michael

Fire

· South (Deas)

· Summer - Noon

· Velle: to will

· White / Wands / The Spear

· Aries Leo Sagittarius

· Full moon; ring finger

· Lion; Mark; military & nobility

· Ariel



Top





Water

· West (Iar)

· Autumn - Twilight

· Audere: to dare

· Grey / Cups / The Cauldron

· Cancer Scorpio Pisces

· Waning moon; index finger

· Man; Matthew; commerce

· Raphael

Earth

· North (Tuath)

· Winter - Night

· Tacere: to be silent

· Black / Pentacles / The Stone

· Taurus Virgo Capricorn

· New moon; middle finger

· Bull; Luke; agriculture

· Gabriel

Shamash: the Sun; a

Sin: the Moon; an old man

Nergal: the midsummer Sun, war, the chase, the dead, pestilence; a lion

Ningirsu: an eagle

THE ELEMENTS

The Elements have been a part of man's ancient and arcane lore since its inseption in pre-historic times. Different traditions associate them with various things. The following list of correspondences comes from Starhawk's "The Spiral Dance."



Top





Air

· Direction: East.

· Rules: The mind, all mental, intuitive and psychic work, knowledge, abstract learning, theory, windswept hills, plains, windy beaches, high mountain peaks, high towers, wind and breath.

· Time: Dawn.

· Season: Spring.

· Colors: White, bright yellow, crimson, blue-white.

· Zodiac: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius.

· Tools: Athame, sword, censer.

· Spirits: Sylphs, ruled by King Paralda.

· Angel: Michael.

· Wind: Eurus.

· Sense: Smell.

· Jewel: Topaz.

· Incense: Galbanum.

· Plants: Frankencense, myrrh, pansy, primrose, vervain, violet, yarrow.

· Tree: Aspen.

· Animals: Birds.

· Goddesses: Aradia, Arianrhod, Cardea, Nuit, Urania.

· Gods: Enlil, Khephera, Mercury, Shu, Thoth.

Fire

· Direction: South.

· Rules: Energy, spirit, heat, flame, blood, sap, life, will, healing and destroying, purification, bonfires, hearth fires, candle flames, sun, deserts, volcanoes, eruptions, explosions.

· Time: Noon.

· Season: Summer.

· Colors: Red, gold, crimson, orange, white (the sun's noon light).

· Zodiac: Aries, Leo, Saggitarius.

· Tools: Censer, wand.

· Spirits: Salamanders, ruled by King Djin.

· Angel: Ariel.

· Wind: Notus.

· Sense: Sight.

· Jewel: Fire Opal.

· Incense: Olibanum.

· Plants: Garlic, hibiscus, mustard, nettle, onion, red peppers, red poppies.

· Tree: Almond, in flower.

· Animals: Fire-breathing dragons, lions, horses (when their hooves strike sparks).

· Goddesses: Brigit, Hestia, Pele, Vesta.

· Gods: Agni, Hephaestus, Horus, Vulcan.



Top





Water

· Direction: West.

· Rules: Emotions, feelings, love, courage, daring, sorrow, the ocean, the tides, lakes, pools, streams, and rivers, springs and wells, intuition, the unconscious mind, the womb, generation, fertility.

· Time: Twilight.

· Season: Autumn.

· Colors: Blue, blue-green, green, gray, indigo, black.

· Zodiac: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.

· Tools: Cup.

· Spirits: Undines, ruled by King Niksa.

· Angel: Raphael.

· Wind: Zephyrus.

· Sense: Taste.

· Jewel: Aquamarine.

· Incense: Myrrh.

· Plants: Ferns, lotus, mosses, rushes, seaweed, water lillies, and all water plants.

· Tree: Willow.

· Animals: Dragons (as serpents), dolphins and porpoises, fish, seals and sea mammals, water-dwelling snakes, all water creatures and sea birds.

· Goddesses: Aphrodite, Isis, Mariamne, Mari, Tiamat.

· Gods: Dylan, Ea, Llyr, Manannan, Osiris, Neptune, Poseidon.



Top





Earth

· Direction: North.

· Rules: The body, growth, nature, sustenance, material gain, money, creativity, birth, death, silence, chasms, caves, caverns, groves, fields, rocks, standing stones, mountains, crystal, jewels, metal.

· Time: Midnight.

· Season: Winter.

· Colors: Black, brown, green, white.

· Zodiac: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn.

· Tools: Pentacle.

· Spirits: Gnomes, ruled by King Ghob.

· Angel: Gabriel.

· Wind: Boreas, Ophion.

· Sense: Touch.

· Jewel: Rock crystal, salt.

· Incense: Storax.

· Plants: Comfrey, ivy, grains: barley, oats, corn, rice, rye, wheat.

· Tree: Oak.

· Animals: Cow or bull, bison, snakes (earth-dwelling), stag.

· Goddesses: Ceres, Demeter, Geae, Mah, Nephthys, Persephone, Prithivi, Rhea, Rhiannon.

· Gods: Adonis, Athos, Arawn, Cernunnos, Dionysus, Marduk, Pan, Tammuz.



Top





SPIRIT/ETHER

· Direction: Center and circumference, throughout and about.

· Rules: Transcendence, tranformation, change, everywhere and nowhere, within and without, the void, immanence.

· Time: Beyond time, all time is one.

· Season: The turning wheel.

· Colors: Clear, white, black.

· Tools: Cauldron.

· Sense: Hearing.

· Plant: Mistletoe.

· Tree: The flowering almond.

· Animal: Sphinx.

· Goddesses: Isis, the Secret Name of the Goddess, Shekinah.

· Gods: Akasha, IAO, JHVH.



EXERCISES





On this page I discuss some basic techniques I think they should teach every child in school the way they teach "physical fitness," because we all have energy bodies as well as physical ones, and they need care and maintenance just like the physical ones. These techniques are also basic to doing any sort of magical work or energetic healing work.

First, I'll talk about the anatomy of energy bodies, then about

2. Grounding,

3. Centering,

4. Shielding,

5. Cleansing the aura.



ANATOMY

In the last fifty years, since the work of Einstein, physics has been telling us that matter as we know it is actually another form of energy. The molecules we thought were solid are made up of "particles" that are actually vibrations. So our bodies are actually bundles of vibrating energies, and a great deal less solid than we think.

In fact, there is growing proof that the mystics have been correct for all these years, and we do have "subtle bodies" made up of energy patterns around our physical bodies. These energy bodies act as templates for the growth and development of our physical bodies. The subtle bodies are much less dense than the physical body, and so are much more likely to be affected by the energy forms we call emotions and thoughts.

The theory is that dis-ease actually starts in the subtle bodies with disharmonious thought forms and emotional patterns. If these patterns persist over time, they cause blocks or areas of contracted energy in the subtle bodies. If these energy blocks are not released, they can eventually start to effect the flow and function in the denser energy forms that are our physical bodies.

Dr. William Tiller, a professor and researcher at the Stanford Department of Material Science, offers the following model:



FUNCTION STRUCTURE POSITIVE TIME-SPACE ENERGIES (PHYSICAL BODY) NEGATIVE TIME-SPACE ENERGIES (THE ETHERIC BODY) MIND SPIRIT DIVINE



An important aspect of this model is that the flows of effect are all bidirectional; spirit effects our physical body, but the physical body also effects spirit. It is true that as we connect to the Divine and let that awareness effect our thoughts and emotions, we will eventually heal our bodies. It is also true that we need to look after our bodies if we want to avoid allowing the dense energies of dis-ease to effect our spirits. Healing can start at any part of the system, from spirit to structure, but it needs to penetrate all the layers in order to be permanent.

The denser the energy form, the longer it takes to change negative patterns. Therefore, one must be aware that emotional release, while wonderful in terms of helping us feel better about ourselves, can take a long time to manifest as release of disease processes in the physical body. Thus, it could be several months before your good work on your thought patterns will result in an easing of your aches and pains. Regular bodywork can speed the process.

There are many different ways of referring to the layers of the aura. Most suggest that there is a thin layer next to the body called the "Etheric Double," which is the energetic map of the physical body. The next layer is the "Emotional Body." The next layer is the "Mental Body," which according to some authors has sub-layers. The outermost layer is the "Spirit Body." If you are gifted with the ability to see auras, you might want to read a great deal more about this; I'm just covering basics here. Barbara Brennan's books, "Hands of Light" and "Light Emerging" are excellent on this.

The chakra system is a system of nodes of energy that span all the layers of the energy bodies and connect them with the physical body. At these points, translation between the layers is faster. There are seven major chakras, which happen to correspond to the points on the body where the major hormonal glands are located. Treating these points and keeping the chakras healthy is vital to healing the system.

There are also "minor" chakras on the soles of the feet, at the knees, and on the palms of the hands. These are energy vortices as well, but they are not associated with endocrine glands so they have less of an impact on physical health. The palm chakras tend to be very strong and open in those who do hands-on healing work. Healthy foot chakras are necessary for grounding.

There are many ways of working with the Chakras, and I don't want to turn this into a treatise on Chakra work. Generally, visualising their colour glowing brightly in their location and/or placing appropriate stones on them, and/or toning, and/or working with appropriate affirmations will all contribute to their health. This information can be accessed by clicking on the names as they appear below:

The Chakras





CROWN CHAKRA

THIRD EYE



THROAT CHAKRA



HEART CHAKRA



SOLAR PLEXUS

NAVEL CHAKRA

ROOT CHAKRA







GROUNDING

This is a way of extending your energy body down into the Earth to keep yourself solidly rooted there. A physicist thinks of a grounding cord as a way of grounding out excessive energy surges, and certainly your energetic grounding cord provides a way of letting go of any energy you don't need any more. Your grounding cord allows you to bleed off extra energy, and also allows you to dispose of any energy you have picked up from an external source.

Many people like to think of their grounding cords as their "roots". Like a root system, your grounding cord stabilises you, so that whatever happens in the world around you, you aren't carried away. You remain stable in the calm, cool energy of the Earth. Plants also use roots to gather the moisture and nutrients they need from the soil; I will teach you how to pull in the nurturing energy of Mother Earth through your grounding cord.

Being grounded helps you stay solidly in your body. When you are strongly connected with the body of Mother Earth, you are more aware of the sensations and energy flows in your own body and all the details of the world around you. This helps you respond to the world in a more immediate and appropriate way. You stay in the present moment, letting the past be and trusting that the future will be even better. This skill is vital for healing or magic, and even more so for healthy living.

Once you learn how to ground, you will want to use this skill consistently in day to day life. When you start to feel stress, worry, anger, hopelessness, or any other emotion that erodes your peace, get your body grounded and breathe in the healing Earth energy. Breathe out whatever may be excessive in your emotional response to the situation. You will start to feel calm and in control. Then you will most likely be gifted with a greater degree of clarity about your situation.

So, here is a meditation that may help you learn how this state feels:

Sit in a chair with your feet flat against the floor. Let your spine be straight and comfortable. If you want to lean against the back of the chair, do so. Take a moment to complete any small readjustments to make yourself perfectly comfortable, and close your eyes.

And gently let your attention come to your breathing. No need to change your breathing in any way, just become aware of it. Become aware of the air entering your nose and travelling down into your chest. Be aware of the slight pause before you breathe out. In. Pause and out. Be aware of the muscles that work as you draw in the air, and how they relax as you let the air out. Easily and effortlessly. Gradually your breathing becomes deeper and more even as you relax into it. Breathe in relaxation, and let any concerns that you don't need to pay attention to now seep away with your out-breath. In, relaxing; and out, releasing. Enjoy this rhythm for a few moments.

Now let your awareness feel where your body touches the chair. Feel where the weight is lighter and where it is heavier. And bring your awareness to the point where your buttocks are firmest on the chair. Feel that connection to the chair, and let your breathing focus on that spot, drawing your breath deep to that point of connection, and feeling as if the outbreath seeps out through that spot. Breathe in. Deep, deep breath right to the chair. And out, straight through your body and seeping through the chair and down below it toward the floor. In, and out.

And as you breath deep and deeper, let your connection to the floor deepen, so that some intangible part of you is sinking deep and deeper through the floor and the foundations to connect with the earth below your house. Even if it doesn't sound rational, why not pretend for a minute that it can happen, and just allow it to happen. Easily and effortlessly. Breathing deep, through this connection right down into the earth, and then push that air out, into the soil. Letting the connection grow further and deeper. Feel the nourishing coolness of the soil. Sense the roots of the trees around your root, and greet them if you wish....

Further and deeper, through the soil, down through the rocks underneath, down through the bedrock. As far down as you feel comfortable going. And feel that part of your being that you have extended deep into the earth go straight through to the core of the planet, to the heart of Mother Earth. Feel your connection with Her heart and enjoy it. This is sometimes called a grounding cord.

And be aware that energy can travel through this connection. Ask the Mother to send you her love, and let it flow up through your grounding through the earth...and the floor...and into your body. And let it flood your whole being. And know that this love is always there for you whenever you care to ask for it. As abundant and free-flowing as the air we breathe, so too is the love of the Mother. You can't take more than your share because the supply is infinite. Let it fill your whole being. Let your being shine.

Once you have felt this feeling, you can make the connection more quickly by focussing on your breathing to bring yourself into your body, and then extending your grounding cord through the floor and deep into the Earth.

Some quick ways to ground include:

Take off your shoes and socks and stand on bare earth or grass. Feel the earth under your feet and feel your energy body sinking into the earth. Breathe right down into the earth so that it begins to feel like an extension of your body.

When it's too cold or wet for bare feet outdoors, or when you're too ungrounded to be able to visualise, try this. Take off your shoes and walk across a room in super-slow motion. V...e...r...y... s...l...o...w...l...y . Concentrate on feeling all the shifting of the muscles, bones, and tendons in your feet and legs as you ever so slowly move and change your balance. It should take 3-5 minutes to walk across a 20 foot room. About halfway across, start focussing on the downward flow of energy from your feet to the Earth, and on Her upward energy flow supporting your weight. You will be grounded by the time you reach the other side.

Pet a cat.

Have a real good belly-laugh.

Sing the deepest note you can...feel it vibrate deep in your belly and pelvis. Imagine the sound extending deep into the earth...and see if you can sing a little deeper....

Work with stones: many suggest obsidian, black tourmaline, or tiger eye, but any rock can help you reconnect with the earth.

Once you know how to ground, you can often do so in 2-3 deep breaths. Just feel that downward flow of energy as you breathe out, like a special type of gravity is pulling your energy body into deep connection with Mother Earth. On the inbreath, feel Her energy coming up to you.

A quick way to confirm that you are grounded is to balance on one leg. If you are properly grounded, this should be easy, and you should be able to move the other leg around in the air without losing your balance.

Whenever you consciously ground and clear your own energy field, you will come back to the present moment, conscious of your own truth rather than another's, and able to face the world around you with greater clarity. Blessings of the Earth to you!



CENTERING

Some people suggest centering to help you with whatever visualisation you wish to do to ground. Others suggest grounding first. The bottom line is that if you are hopelessly ungrounded, you probably won't be able to center too well. Use one of the more physical techniques to get grounded and then center.

Centering is bringing all your mental processes into the center of your head. It is necessary to do this in order to have the focus necessary to meditate, visualise, or do magic or healing.

To center, let your awareness come to a point in the very center of your head. Put one finger directly between your eyebrows and another at the base of your skull in the cleft at the top of your neck. Imagine a point halfway between your two fingers. See or feel a golden light glowing there. Breathe in and see or feel it glow a little brighter. Focus on the light, breathing quietly until your thoughts quiet and the light is all you are aware of.

At any time when you are working, if your thoughts seem to get scattered you can quiet and center them by taking a few deep breaths while focussed on this light in the middle of your head.

A note about visualisation. There is a lot written about visualisation in healing and magical texts. Most people can learn to do it to some extent if they work on it. But every one of us is different, and some people will have more success using sound or body sensation to accomplish these basic energy tasks. This is why I often give techniques that use sensation as well as visualisation. If the techniques I suggest don't work for you, please look in other places. Most books on energy work or magic cover these basic tasks and some will be more visual or sensory...you should be able to find something that works for you.

If your strongest sense is hearing...try to find a note of a pitch that will resonate in that level of your head that I described. Entone that note a few times, allowing the vibration to fill your head, and let it become all you are aware of.

It is actually both interesting and healthy to center in other parts of your body at some times. Many yoga and martial arts techniques train people to center in their "center of gravity." This is around the navel, usually a little higher for men and a little lower for women because of how their body weight is distributed. Focussing here allows the practitioner to shift her weight without losing balance, and keeps one very centered in the body. It is a wonderful feeling to center all your awareness in your heart at times; this is especially useful when doing healing work or before making love.



Shielding

This is a process of defining your personal space in such a way that any energy that is not for your highest good will either not be able to enter, or be reflected, or slide off, or be destroyed when it comes in contact with your aura.

I have no conscious experience with what people call "demons" or "curses," so I don't really believe in organised attacks of evil. But it is certainly possible to pick up anger, fear, shame, or depression from other people, and these are well worth protecting yourself against.

The first step is to become aware of the boundaries of your aura. You may need a friend who is experienced in feeling auras to help you with this the first time if you tend to have an overly expanded aura. Some people have auras that are tight to their body, closed in to protect them. Others have auras that are expanded over many feet around them, diffuse and open to whomever comes along. The former state doesn't allow for a wide range of experience and feelings. The latter allows any and every bit of emotional expression around you to get in to you.

Most people can feel the innermost layer of the aura. The more sensitive you are, the more layers you can feel. Try this....

Rub your hands together until they are warm and tingly. Then put them out facing one another, a little wider than shoulder width apart. Bring them together slowly, and at some point you will feel a resistance, a springiness . Bring them closer together and see if you encounter this feeling again. This is what it will feel like when you encounter a layer of someone's aura. So try it on yourself. Rub your hands together again to wake up the palm chakras, and then start at arm's reach and move your hand inward, facing flat toward your body, until you detect that same feeling of resistance. You you'll probably feel the layer 1-3 inches out, and may feel layers about 8-12 inches out, or even 2-3 feet out.

Ideally you want to function with your aura about two-three feet in all directions around you. If you are meditating in a safe space, you might want to expand it to fit the room. If you are in a place crowded with strangers, you might want to pull it in close, especially if there are intense emotions around. Once you are aware of where its boundaries are, practice pulling it in and letting it out. See what is comfortable. You also want to try to keep it an even distance around you. Many people are pulled in in back and expanded in front. Play with it, now that you can.

So, there are many ways to reinforce the outside of your aura to protect yourself. Many people like to put a silver coat on the outside to reflect whatever comes their way like a mirror. The other most popular shielding is to wrap the aura with white light; the advantage of this is that it will let in anything that is of a similar or higher vibration to the quality of light used, but reflect the rest.

Some people like to use light of different colours, often blue or violet; blue emanates a quality of confidence and peace that repels negative energy, and violet is the highest spiritual vibration, with the capacity to transform lower vibrations to higher ones. When there is a lot of negative energy around me, I will use three layers, white, blue, and violet. The advantage I see to this is that rather than reflecting negative energies to others who might be less able to deal with them, it transforms them.

One technique many people use is to visualise a rose out in front of them to absorb any negative energies. Many people have symbols that are sacred to them which they draw around themselves, or draw and expand so that they can step into them. Some Reiki practitioners work with the Reiki symbols this way.

Another technique many people use is to visualise a ring of fire around them. This could be the regular red-orange fire, a white-hot fire, or a violet flame.



Aura Cleansing

There are many ways to cleanse any unwanted energies in your aura. Some of these are physical acts like smudging or showering. Some are visualisations . When we speak of cleansing the aura, we are not implying that it is "dirty," but one can over time, especially when dealing with other people through the course of a day, pick up bits of their energy and emotions. These may be positive or negative, but they are not yours, and can effect your ability to stay grounded and centered in your truth.

A favourite technique is to burn some sacred herb or incense and let the smoke waft through your aura, carrying any impurities away. Sage is used commonly, both by Native healers and shamans and by witches. Some other herbs used in cleansing incenses are Hyssop, Cedar, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and Lemon.

Water, of course, is purifying. It can be sprinkled into the aura or one could take a shower...with hot water or rain water! One may want to use saltwater or water with herbs infused in it, or water with essential oils in it. One may use a sprig of a herb with cleansing properties as an asperger to sprinkle the water upon oneself; favourite herbs for this are Hyssop and Rosemary. One can also visualise a shower...and make the water droplets golden, white, rainbows or any other colour that seems appropriate . Sitting in a bath, feeling negative energies seep out the pores also works; it's fun to imagine the dark energies swirling down the drain as the tub empties.

Of course, light can cleanse your aura, too. Letting white or gold light flow in through your crown, through your aura and body, and down your grounding cord will remove any unwanted energies.

It can be interesting and useful to spend some time imagining mists, smokes, rains, and lights of different colours filling your aura. How does a golden rain make you feel? What about a green mist? Or a purple smoke? Or a glowing red light? If you experiment in this way, note the colours that feel good for you, and go back to them for a while before you close.

One can cleanse the aura using nothing more elaborate than breath, just using the outbreath to send any unwanted energies through the grounding cord . This is fast and subtle, so it can be used anywhere, anytime.

The aforementioned violet flame is another effective way to cleanse the aura of negative energies. It transmutes such energies to a higher vibration.

After the aura is cleansed, fill it with your own energy. This is usually a mixture of Earth energy pulled in through the grounding cord and Universal energy pulled in through the crown. Mix the two in the core of your being, and let this energy pour out your crown to fill your aura. Let it shine bright. This is you.

In general, an aura-hygiene program should be part of your routine on rising and retiring, just like washing your face or brushing your teeth. As a minimum, it would include grounding, centering, shielding, and running energy through your aura to cleanse it. Most people like to follow this with a period of meditation, and finish by ensuring the grounding and shielding are still strong.

Of course, you can utilise any of these processes in an elaborate form before ritual, or in a simple and subtle form at any time in the day when you feel scattered or besieged, or when you are about to start any sort of process with other people. You can't control how other people react to anything you say or do, but you can control how their reactions effect you. If you are grounded, you won't be swayed unduly by their reactions. If you are centered, you will be able to respond in a clear and focussed way. If you are well shielded, anything that is negative won't get into your being and make you want to react. If your aura isn't cluttered with other people's energy, your response will be based in your own Truth, not a whole lot of responses you have been taught by others.

Taking control of your energy body is the first step to taking authority in your own mind and emotions. It is one of the first steps to claiming your power as a healer or worker of magic, or indeed as a individual.

Blessed Be.

A Discussion of Grounding

This is the experience of several different people on ISCA concerning grounding and/or centering.--Mama Rose



Jun 5, 1994 11:43 from Olen

grounding...when a person can sit for a while and reflect on one idea without interuption this for me is a way of grounding...sometimes grounding can take on a connecting with the earth...reaching down to touch and press against the soil of the earth...a connection occurs ...the here and now becomes more prevalent so basically a grounding is a centering of the awareness...whereas we always have a small amount of awareness searching for satisfaction...grounding is a means of being accepting of all that is...and some sort of ritual can aid this beautiful state of mind...I enjoy the hands to earth ritual...spells introduced in this forum enhance grounding as well

Jun 6, 1994 00:26 from Engine Injun

OK...responding to two inquiries: Grounding and Auras.

GROUNDING

Castalyst's view is similar to mine: It is essentially a way to 'bring yourself home' as I like to say. Depending upon your intent or nature, you may 'ground' to any of the elements (5 for me). My nature combines mostly earth and fire. However, it isn't always apropriate to light a candle, or pull out my zippo to produce a flame to ground and focus with. (Comments about the zippo for flame can be sent to my Mail> and I'll explain there.) My prefered method of SERIOUS grounding, when I need to cleanse myself involves some visualization. (Grounding itself, is essentially mediation ... focusing your energies to relax yourself. As with anything, use whatever works for you.) Here's where my slight druidic tendancies come out: I put myself in a grassy field, or on a knoll. Then I begin a slow transformation into a tree...skin darkening and hardening...arms stretching up and becoming boughs...feet slipping into the earth becoming roots. As I continue to grow up/down and out, the leaves bud and grow, and from my center, I send down a tap root...to completely connect myself to the earth. By the time I'm finished, in my mind, I am a Great Oak...and am quite relaxed and re-energized with the healing energies I work with most.



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Jun 6, 1994 07:40 from Wesa

Olen... You're describing _centering_, another very powerful meditation technique, and IMO the more difficult of the two (grounding and centering). Grounding involves connection with the earth, often to cleanse one's personal energy. Centering is the process/act/etc. of finding one's center of internal balance. (wish I was better at it.. grumble, grumble, gripe, gripe) :)

bows

ribbons

--wesa, cherokee kitten

un 7, 1994 16:59 from Domenic

With all due respect for the numerous differences available in paganism and magickal practice, I'd like to attempt a clarification of grounding for the questioner. The most usual use for it is to drain excess energy away from participants in a magickal working. To my knowledge this is almost always done to earth. Trying to ground to fire would probably be like sticking your finger in a light socket or sitting on a stove burner... [...]

Jun 7, 1994 17:28 Mama from Rose

I would elaborate on that a little, Domenic: grounding assists in the flow of power in several ways: it allows the flowing of additional power from an outside source (the Earth, or the Universe), which is limited by the channel- ourselves; it allows the drain-off of excess energies after use which otherwise might give the practitioner a bad case of nerves, or something; and it gives the practitioner a feeling of solidity, or connectedness, or rootedness, so that s/he does not get light-headed during practice.



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Jun 8, 1994 17:40 from Otter Pop

[...]

Speaking of grounding to other elements, I usually "ground" to Water. For me, the perfect image to channel my thoughts into calm and peace and let excess energy drain away is that of sinking into a pool of water. Mentally, I look up at the blue sky and crisp white clouds above me, take in the living green colors of sunlight shining through the leaves all around the pool, and let myself exhale. I drift down from the warm surface water, my eyes still open to watch the silver bubbles rolling upward, and sink into quietness, through the thermocline into the cool bottom layers where I hang in dim stillness. There is water all around us, high in the air and deep within the Earth; its flow is the lifebeat of the planet's pulse; ocean depths are deeper than mountains are tall. Become the flow....

looks around, blinking Nothing like getting lost in your own words, is there? grin I use Earth to ground to as well, if I'm doing something like cloudbusting or trying to raise a wind: it's the best anchor there is. As always, use what works best for you.

Jun 8, 1994 18:00 from Sultan Mike

grounding:

hmm. i always pictured myself like a tree, branches reaching to the father and absorbing all the energy in the area, my roots dug deep and firmly into the mother, who gives me life, releasing all my energy to her. kinda like a tube fer excess energy (grounding to rid the area of excess energy after working magick)

meditative grounding:

i don't know, i just kinda focus on my yellow chakra, the one right below the heart - whatever it is called. focus on breathing or on a mantra, that seems to center my self fairly well. 8)

peace

sm

Jun 9, 1994 05:12 from The Elflord

Grounding>

In my case, I've tried Earth, and it's quite effective (as again pointed out, it depends on which element each person "aligns"/"tends" towards), but for the record, I lay flat out on the ground, and picture myself "rot"/merge/"root" into the ground. I have not much chance to try out water, but it should be good (no rivers within distance). btw, anyone actually "ground" to Air/Fire? (curious)

Aura> Not too experienced, but yes, trees DO have auras.. (Feel your own, lie on a tree, and you can feel it "different").

Anyway, Sigh, back to study..(darn exams! Grin)

BB,

The Elflord

Jun 9, 1994 16:03 from Sugilax

Sigh This may sound a bit odd to some of you, but when I DO ground, which isn't very often, I actually tune in mainly to Air, believe it or not. I simply stand in as large an open area as I can find, away from as much city-noise as possible. I stretch my arms out to the sides and relax. I feel the wind in my face, then against my skin, then it passes through me, carrying away all the energy that I have pent up and no longer wish to contain, good or bad. Usually, it takes away only as much as I want, then I simply lower my arms and stop.



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Anyone else have any such experience with wind? Or is this completely nuts?

May the light illumine your path. . .

Jun 9, 1994 16:12 from Mama Rose

That's really interesting, Sugilax; For a long time I had problems with multiple voices running in my head (you know, like the voice of Conscience, only contradictory?), and was unable to calm down sufficiently even to meditate until Public Radio began playing Music From the Hearts of Space. I think it degenerated later, but early on there was a particular piece which made me think of an isolated tower on a plain by an ocean, in moonlight; I was standing in the top story, which had open windows on all sides, and the gentle wind and the moonlight came through, and calmed down my brain. It was that same sensation of having the wind gently blow through me and carry away the buzzy bits.

Jun 9, 1994 16:17 from Sugilax

So it's not just me. . . That's a good thing. The main difference is, I think, that I use it to dump ENERGY as well as stress, love, hate, anger, intense joy, when it's too much for me. . . I don't feel bad about releasing it to the wind, simply because I dump good emotions and energies along with all the negative energies I release. Also, moonlight and the sounds of rain or the ocean, even by themselves have a WONDERFULLY calming effect on me. Danger of that is that I usually get nostalgic, then mushy, then emotional. . . Basically, not the way to go during a party or something. . . Grin

Jun 9, 1994 18:27 from Domenic

[...]

---->Mama Rose

:) Thanks for the addition. Very true, of course. I was mainly concerned about the grounding to fire idea which I don't think would be a good idea for beginners. I tend to think of part of what you said as more in terms of the centering process but it all blends together. I kind of like the idea of grounding to water that was put forth... it could be interesting. 'Grounding' or 'connecting' to fire might also be useful as an energy supplier. Hmmm... the concept of grounding fire to water comes to mind... Tea, anyone? :-))))

----> Otter Pop

Love your imagery. Reference works on the Great Rite come to mind with an amazing lack of speed. I think you were mainly concerned with relating it to a same-sex equivalent? That may not be technically a Great Rite but don't let that stop you. As you say, whatever works for you.

[...]

Jun 9, 1994 23:26 from Scorpius

First some thoughts on grounding>

I seem to have a relatively close bond with each of the three elements -- oops, thats "four" -- Spirit I try not to touch because I feel that it's too directly connected with people, and I do not want my manipulations to affect inocent bystanders. I find that I have to ground myself periodically or I start feeling really isolated -- almost lonely; like some part of me is missing. I seem to have this way of thinking in which my emotions are separated into extent and intensity. For example I can be slightly happy, but it will be the predominant emotion because its intensity overshadows all other emotions. Or I can be extremely sad, but have that emotion suppressed by other, more intense emotions. When I ground for energy transferal I try to change only the intensity of the emotion, not the extent of it. If I were extremely depressed, I would try to remove some of the energy which is fueling my depression, but I try not to transfer any of the actual depression to the element(s). Likewise, if I am trying to increase pleasant or productive power, I try not to take away from those energies from the element(s) I am working with. In general I try to give more than I take. IMO the elements are not simple filtering systems into which we but the old energy and draw forth the clean.



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As far as which element I use. I am told that salt water works quite well (preferably naturally salty water) also mineral waters and hotsprings. All of these have some connection with other elements. While I have never tryed grounding in them, they do "feel" right. I like to use strong winds, especially those created by storms -- this combines air, water, and fire. Fast flowing, freshwater springs are also quite good; I can never get quite the same effect from standing water such as a lake or large pool might provide. Earth, of course, provides a rather good connection (the farther from polution, the better). But fire is a rather perculiar one for me. I seem to be able to use fire in almost any surrounding and nearly any source from candle to camp fire to sunset. I probably have the easiest time getting rid of energy and receiving energy from fire, but at the same time I have almost no control over the energy exchange. Fire leaves me more relaxed while the other elements leave me with a feeling of exhilaration. Though I think that one of the most powerful bonds I ever formed for grounding was in a forest enshrouded in fog. I have read that fire is my element (perhaps this is related to my experiences wit it).

[...] Shadows color the dark, Scorpius.

May 14, 1997 09:48 from Jolie

How to ground and center: Right off the top of my head, I can think of three methods that I've used somewhat consistently. I may come across more as I start typing though.



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First method (because it's easiest to describe): I've been studying various forms of T'ai Chi for a little over a year now. Not only will it improve your ability to ground and center but also your ability to sense and move energy. The form T'ai Chi Chih inserts a "graceful conclusion" after each type of move. Feet are generally heels not quite together with toes at a 45 degree angle. Hands are at chest level, palms down. The hands then press down while you exhale, pushing energy to the dan tien (your center of gravity and of energy; it's slightly below your navel and inside your body, not on the outside). It's a good quick way to ground if the situation is not too tense and you're not too far gone already. Will it work if you try to do it without learning t'ai chi? I would think probably eventually it will, but it's going to be much easier if you learn a form. Check with your local community college or park district. A lot of times they have classes at a pretty reasonable rate.

Second method (the first one I learned): This is based a lot on Starhawk's Tree of Life grounding exercise. I usually do this one standing, taking a few moments to calm my breathing before beginning. I imagine myself a tree, my physical body being the core of the trunk. Then I feel roots going down into the ground. First the smaller, shallow roots that intertwine with the roots of the grass and smallest plants. I imagine what it would be like to be growing quick and lush, but not being incredibly long-lived. Then I notice slightly larger roots that mingle at the level of slightly bigger plants, such as bushes, and small trees. I think of what it would be like to be a bush, getting pruned all the time. I remember what it was like to be a small tree (or a child, if you will). Then I notice even larger roots that mingle with those of my sisters and brothers, my peers. In a group situation, this involves becoming aware of those with me. When I'm alone, I remember those who are in some way linked to my need to ground and/or those I particularly cherish that I feel bonds to beyond the physical reality of their presence. Finally, I notice a big strong root that reaches clear into the center of the earth. This is the tap root; the root that draws from the Source. (And yes, I know "real" trees don't really have roots that stretch down into lava, but it's a useful image for me.) I draw energy up through this root, passing the smaller roots on the way up, up through the trunk, and then I notice that I have branches. Right now, branches with tiny new green leaves; in the summer, branches with lush foliage; in the fall, beautiful leaves that will soon be gone; and in winter, perhaps icicles or maybe just dancing bare in the wind. I feel the sun and the wind and the rain on my branches and leaves and recall that these too lend me energy. Once again, if I'm in a group, I imagine my branches intertwining with those with me. I also try to take some time at this point to scan my body for any tension/discomfort/what have you. After this, I take whatever energy I now have that I don't need and send it back down and out through the roots, maintaining a connection with the source though.

I have an affinity with trees, so this method works especially well for me, unless it's winter. In winter, the whole visualization slows down for me and doesn't work as well. I've tried being an evergreen instead of a deciduous tree then, but I haven't quite mastered that yet. Any comments/suggestions along this line are more than welcome.



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The third method (the one I learned most recently): This one I learned from my t'ai chi instructor. I'm not sure where he got it or what it might be based on. This one is probably more oriented towards centering than the other two I described. Again, take a moment or two to close your eyes and quiet your breathing. Then, feel your contact with the ground (feet if you're standing). While inhaling, draw energy up from the earth into your center. While exhaling, let the energy flow, like water, into your toes, filling them up.

(Actually, I visualize it more like that weird, silvery, hematite looking morphing stuff from the Terminator movies, but I don't know what that's called.) Inhale again, drawing up energy, and let it spill again as you exhale, filling your feet. Continue in this pattern, until your whole body is filled. You can go as fast or as slow with this as you need to, filling smaller or larger divisions of your body. When you've filled your whole body, take a moment or two to just breathe deeply, feeling what it is like to be completely within your body.

I like this one because I tend to spend way too much time ignoring my body. A lot of exercises that I've learned involve being smaller than yourself (finding the "spark" that is your center) or being larger than yourself (like the tree I described earlier). This method forces you to just be your own size and really be in your body, which was an exciting (and kind of a "Duh!") moment for me.

May 14, 1997 15:43 from Dallina

here are some excerises my husband had me do for grounding

first of all lay onthe ground (outside in a park or something) and let your energy flow into the earth....after awhile you can hear the earth's "heart beat" and it feels as if yuou are laying on top of the whole world.

another one is creating a "string" connected to the earth....when you need to ground either hold or connect the "string" to part of your body and allow the energy to flow from you through the "string" and into the earth.

this one is a little more complicated ....cup your hands together and create an energy ball between them (you will prbably feel your hands grow warm..i used to make these and use them to relax tense muscles on ppl) when you have a good solid ball made ..play with it....juggle it and try to control the energy..make it dance around andsuch.....then when you are done let it absororb into the earth.



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Sep 17, 1997 23:18 from Arachne

Grounding and Centering:

I firmly believe that we do this pretty much naturally, if left to our own devices... When I was in college and tended to see my friends spinning out of control, the easiest way to ground them was to feed them some sort of heavy food (Taco Bell was our favorite, cheep and usually pretty quick)... That's probably the biggest reason for the simple feast after a Wiccan ritual... to ground off all the excess energy...

Sometimes, however, we find that simply grabbing a bite to eat doesn't do the trick... so, here are some basic grounding and centering techinques...

Not much is really written about Grounding and Centering... Essentially, the process is about focus. According to Robin Wood, in her book When, Why ... If:

Grounding and centering: the process of connecting oneself to the earth (grounding) and aligning one's own energy flow (centering). It is absolutely necessary to Ground and Center before one does any work at all involving energy or power. If you don't you are likely to have a simply horrific headache, at the very least. You may also faint dead away, or become quite ill.

This is not the place where I can teach you this; and it's one of the areas where it really helps to have a live teacher. There are several books that can walk you through it (try _The Spiral Dance_ by Starhawk), and some tapes and so on. But please, please, don't try doing Magic until you have mastered this.



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I've noticed that a great many experienced practitioners can't explain HOW they ground and center, they JUST DO. I suspect part of it is that no one really explained it to them... In trying to write this I refered back to the notes I took while studying with MY teacher... He taught me about history, he taught me about Satanism and the confusion many people feel about our religion considering their preconcieved notions, and he taught me about the sabbats and about casting circles, and about meditation... and towards the end of the part about meditation, burried in a dark almost forgotten corner, was a section about psychic self defense ("read Dion Fortune's book on the subject and let me know if you have any questions.") and a tiny footnote about "Oh, yeah, and you should be grounded and centered before you attempt this stuff."

About 2 years after my teacher and I parted company (not on the best of terms) I signed up for a Wicca 101 course online. I still have all of those lessons, printed up and bound. In the info on meditation is a note that the first meditation exercise is a good way to ground and center. I will summarize that now...

Imagine that you are a tree, feel your feet in contact with the earth, allow yourself to feel as though your feet are sinking into the earth, becoming roots, splitting and branching reaching deeper and deeper into the soil... imagine that the upper part of your body has become your branches, your leaves, feel the air on them, the caress of the breeze... as you inhale feel the energy entering the upper portion of your body, feel light bouncing off your leaves energizing you. As you exhale, feel the energy flowing out of your body, through your feet, through your roots, into the earth itself... keep breathing, feeling the energy cycling through you, flowing in through your branches and your leaves and out through your roots and the soil.

The real purpose of grounding and centering is focus... if you can't get focused you can't hope to develop any control... When I was learning I found that the metaphor of the potter's wheel worked for me... If you are at all familiar with ceramics and the process of throwing pots, you wedge and knead the clay to get the air out and make it ready, then you throw it onto the wheel head. I have never met anyone who could throw a ball of clay dead center on the head of the wheel, so the next step (and the hardest part of throwing on the wheel) is to make the ball of clay perfectly centered. You apply pressure from the top and the side at the same time, pushing and molding, guiding the clay to the center of the wheel. If the clay isn't properly centered you can't throw a good pot, the pot will wobble and as you shape the pot the spinning of the wheel will tear it apart... taking the extra time in the beginning to make sure that the clay is well centered saves you a lot of wasted time and often a really big mess.



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yet another grounding and centering technique that I've found helpful is to imagine that you are standing in the rain. Feel the rain falling onto your skin, your face, your sholders, your arms, your head... feel the water running over you and as it flows over you, energy flows through you... focus on the feeling of the water as it washes over you, down your arms and legs, cleansing you... feel the sensation of the energy, flowing within you much like the water flows over you, feel it flow, from your head, down your arms, down your body, down your legs and into the ground beneath your feet.

If none of these illustrations seems to help, I'm not really sure what to say. The only other thing I can think of is the use of Mandalas. Being very visually oriented I find these to be wonderful tools and focal points... Go to the library, there are some wonderful books with illustrations of Mandalas... Find one, or several, that appeals to you. Make photocopies, you can colour them by hand if that is what you'd like, and use them as focal points... meditate and explore the image in front of you... they are often symetrical and tend to radiate from a central point, imagine yourself going into the Mandala, entering that center point and seeing what lays beyond it...

While this last example is not (in itself) a grounding and centering techinique, in order to do the meditations you will need to ground and center (a process which, I believe I said earlier was/is something that comes naturally to us) When you have finished the meditation, make a note of how you feel. If the meditation has felt successful to you, you will have a refrence point for grounding and centering in the future... With practice you can use a Mandala meditation without having the image in front of you... you will more or less memorize one, or be able to mentally create one, that you can picture in your mind at any time.



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Beltaine Fires

Early March is the traditional time to begin gathering wood for the Beltane Fire. A good Beltane Fire is made from nine different kinds of wood, consisting of three pieces of each kind.

A good combination of woods are:

· Birch - representing the Goddess or female principle.

· Oak - symbolizing the God or male principle.

· Rowan, or mountain ash - as the Tree of Life. A taste of its fruit stays hunger. Add Rowan for life.

· Willow - as the tree of death. Sacred to Hecate, add willow as a celebration of death.

· Hawthorn - tree of purification. Sacred to faeries, add hawthorn for purity.

· Hazel - tree of wisdom. Add hazel to gain wisdow.

· Apple - tree of love. Add apple wood for the magic of love.

· Vine - tree of joy. It's juice capable of altering consciousness. Add vine for joy.

· Fir - tree of immortality. Add fir to your Beltane fire for rebirth.

Ritual Format

by Mama Rose

Here is the formula for designing a ritual:

1. Describe the situation to be dealt with. Define its parameters; be as honest as your subconscious will allow in stating the reasons for the situation, the paybacks from the situation, and what the situation will change to.

2. Define your specific goal within the situation. Required.

3. Define the symbolic parameters to be used: will you work on the physical level, the emotional level, or the mental level; will you use the Laws of Contagion or the Laws of Similarity; will you work with music, with dance, with poetry, with herbs, with oils, with candles, with string, with bread, with dirt?

4. Describe the path to be built between the situation as it stands and the situation to be achieved, using the Laws and the level and the methods chosen.

5. Gather or create the materials to be used. Set aside space and time. Practice a little, if necessary.

6. Perform the ritual.

7. Ground the excess energy.

8. Prepare to deal with the consequences.

I. An Introduction to Ritual Work

Ritual is an important part of religious life to people the world over. The value of ritual is connecting with the Great Mystery: be it Deity, the Force in nature, the spiritual worlds, or even the simple rhythms of the turning seasons.

Keeping this in mind the first goal of Ritual-writing should be to establish the Goal of the Ritual --- and to keep that goal foremost in the ritual.

The most satisfying rituals by far are the ones which never stray too far from their established goal and ritual format. Keep it simple and to the point ! Going off on tangents, or spending the majority of the time setting up Sacred Space bores the participants and detracts from the very reason the ritual is being performed !

Rituals help us connect with the Great Mysteries of existence, but these Mysteries exist whether we perform rituals or not. Keep in mind that rituals exist for us foremost, just as a television is a gateway for us to connect with the world --- oh, the world will exist anyway, the news programs shown in our living room will be there whether we turn on the set or not, but the television itself helps us to connect. And likewise, our viewing keeps the shows on the air. But, by ourselves, they do not rely on our individual televisions. So also it is in religion: the gods will still be there, whether we dance in circle or not. Rather, the circle is our forum to connect with them.

By following a few simple guidelines, a ritual can be created for any need in a very satisfying manner. Be warned: Rituals should never be thrown together lightly -- with little thought. A good ritual takes some work, but the more you put into it, the more satisfying it will be.

Rituals come in two flavors: public and private. As their names suggest, private rituals are those we do individually, and public rituals involve many persons. But it gets a bit trickier than that.

Private rituals are those we do on the individual level --- there can be more people around during them, but each person does their own ritual. For example, the daily routine of praying towards Mecca several times a day is a private ritual each Muslim performs to attune him/herself to the sanctity of that holy city.

Public rituals can involve any where from one person on. One person may perform a ritual designed to help the entire community, while the community may actually stand outside the Sacred Space of the ritual.

The kinds of rituals are just as varied. Thanks to the Wiccan tradition, we in the Pagan Community are familiar with magickal rituals, be they offensive/defensive or propitiatory in nature. But there are also non-magickal rituals, such as celebrations, beginning/ending rituals (i.e. weddings, funerals and the like), connecting rituals, and so forth. For every important religious event (even the tiniest) there can be a ritual.

Rituals have many major components. The area where the ritual takes place is the Sacred Space.



Now, lets touch on the construction of ritual. Rituals work in three simple ways:

· first Sacred Space is cleared and any invocations are made

· then the Main Body of the ritual is performed

· finally the Sacred Space is closed.

Now, with all these things in mind let us continue onward. As you form your rituals remember one very important thing: rituals exist for us, that it is we who are most touched by ritual, regardless of how the deities appreciate our sacrifices and good behavior.

II. Planning the Ritual: Setting Goals

The first thing to consider is the Goal of the ritual. This may be as simple as celebrating a holiday or turning point in the season or worshipping a particular deity, or as complex as working weather Magick or performing defensive Magick. Whatever the Goal is it's important to keep it in mind when setting up the ritual. Also, remember that it is not always necessary to raise Energy / Magick. Try to keep it simple, not impressive.

Some things to remember in your ritual is whether to make it public or private, and just how many people will be in this ritual anyway? This will help in deciding the tone of the ritual. Small groups of people who are comfortable together can have less serious (but just as effective) rituals. The reason I bring this up is that humor can have a very powerful and positive effect on your ritual, because laughing and happy people tend to put more into ritual and also to get more out of it. That's what is called having a good time!

Another good question is to think about which deity or deities to invite. If your ritual is in honor of a particular deity, then this may be very simple. If your ritual is directed toward forces in nature, or nature itself, you may want to omit any references to deity by names. Anything in between should be handled as you believe best depending on which god/desses will help with your Ritual Goal and which one(s) you work best with. Keep in mind that in magickal rituals it is not a good idea to mix pantheons (for example, inviting Thor and Hecate for tea and cakes).

Speaking of magick, you should decide whether this ritual will use magick-raising or not. In a Ceremonial Magick ritual the answer is unequivocally "Yes!" In many rituals it may not be necessary. In fact, in many it may prove counterproductive. Even in some Ceremonial Magick-based Traditions it is not always necessary. Raising Energy / Magick is the act of using the elemental energy / the Force / the Aura / the Holy Spirit / whatever-you-want-to-call-it which is present in all things in a manner which is focused (at the personal level) and directed. If no goal is specified for this Energy it may dissipate naturally. However, when a good number of people are present and this Energy is raised, and if it is not focused on the Community level, it may become wildly chaotic. Weather phenomena, sudden faintings, even sickness can be the result. That is why Energy-raising is generally not a good idea for ritual use unless it is prescribed by your Ritual Goal or Ritual Tradition.

[Goals such as defensive magick and weather-working are examples where it works well --- the more people in the Ritual Space the more energy raised, but the fewer people the easier it is to control: try setting a limit to the number of people involved in a Magickal Ritual, particularly if heavy-Magick is necessary]

Remember: don't raise Magick if you don't have to. Unnecessarily-raised (and often unfocused and ungrounded) Energy is a dangerous thing. Often, once the Circle is opened the remaining Energy begins to influence the weather. How many storms have we seen after heavy-magick rituals ? Don't do it unless you are experienced, you know what you are doing, and your participants know what they are doing and what the goals of the Magick-raising are.

Now, off my soapbox, to the good news: if a ritual does not require Magick then why Cast a Circle? A Magickal Circle is necessary to help control the generation of Energy and its focusing and use. If there is no Energy being raised (at least not much more than exists naturally in a group of people celebrating) then a Circle need not be Cast --- in fact, it may prove detrimental for a simple reason. A well-Cast Circle is a barrier which keeps chaotic Energies out, yet allows Energy inside it to flow about unhindered.

Therefore, since Energies produced naturally do not work together, if you place them inside an Energy Bubble and they continue to be raised through natural interactions of people they may become wildly chaotic. Hmmm ....... We're back to the hail and thunderstorm hypothesis noted above.

As a general rule: if you're practicing Magick then Cast a Circle, if not then don't Cast a Circle. Decisions, decisions . . .

You can involve your audience in a number of ways besides -raising. Try songs, readings (not too long), chants, ask questions, allow people to respond in one-or-two sentence answers (be careful: pagans love to talk --- don't we ?), dancing, as participants in a drama or story, etc. Make them a necessary part of the ritual.

Anyway, for whatever ritual you are performing, the altar, or lack thereof, is of first consideration. For some rituals, depending on the Tradition, the altar may stand in a particular quarter of the Ritual Area. Others may wish it at the center or even outside the main Ritual Space. Still other rituals may work well with no physical altar at all, instead using the whole world as the ritual focus.

An important consideration is this: an altar is nothing more than a platform or space upon which reside items important for the ritual Goal. The size of the altar will depend on the number of items needed for the ritual. For a Ceremonial Magick ritual this may become heavily laden with Magickal tools and god images, not to mention candles and incenses. Others may simply have an altar with a single god image (if any), a drinking horn, and a libation bowl. For aesthetics a table cloth of color coordinated with the Goal is a good idea. [Consult your Ritual's Tradition's color code: for many a simple Color Magick guide book will suffice]



As for the facing of the altar: I find that this also will depend on the particular Tradition the ritual is performed for. If there is no preference for your Tradition, pick one you are most comfortable with, or pick one at random. That, at least, will show some creativity and eclecticism on your part!

III. Building the Ritual:

And now a few words about Ritual Setup. First, find a good spot for the ritual. Outdoor is nice, secluded outdoor is even better, and an outdoor wooded secluded clearing is even better, but not if it's raining. Always have an indoor alternative if an outdoor ritual is desired. And remember that outdoor is not always practical or necessary. Go with what feels right. Keep in mind a setting which reflects the Goal and which will also be practical for your participants. And, I can't say this enough: Keep it Simple !

When setting up the Altar keep these things in mind: the Goal, the participants, and if you're outdoor remember that candles and incenses are favorite playthings of wind spirits (investing in a simple glass hurricane to surround your candles is a wise choice, particularly with tapers). Your tablecloth may blow in the wind, too. Small rocks near the edge of the table / platform can help. And speaking of the tablecloth: if you simplify your altar significantly it may be possible to simply wrap all your items in your tablecloth, thus making a quick and simple altar setup and takedown !

Generally, once the altar is set and you have gathered all your participants it is a good idea to do a "pregame discussion" with them. Let them know what is going on. Let them know briefly what kind of behavior is acceptable and what is not: some rituals have a great deal of flexibility and spontaneity while others are more rigid. Remember that these things are set by your goal: a formal ritual is more helpful for some goals and an informal one is good for others.

Part - A: Clearing Sacred Space

Now you can set up your Sacred Space. Do it individually, have a member of the group do it, or become inventive and have the entire group do it. Again, the Goal will decide what works best here. If there is a High Priest/ess s/he may wish to do it alone or together.

Once, in a semi-formal ritual I experimented with a Circle cast from the elements of Water and Air --- a "Hurricane" I called it. In practice it was quite a bit thicker than I wanted, still it was a nice cleansing barrier between the world and the Sacred Space. It even became a bit funny when one of the participants conjured up a goldfish to swim in it. [several of us adept at seeing this thing confirmed that it was called forth correctly]

The message is that creativity and responsibility go hand in hand for Circle Casting. Carefully consider what your Goal is, what you are used to working with, what you think will work best in this situation, who your participants are, and then think through how your casting will work --- step by step. If done correctly, this will provide a sense of relaxation and focus for your group. The clearing of Sacred Space can be as simple or complex as desired, but bear in mind that it is not the main part of the Ritual and, therefore, should not drag on too long. I'm sure we have all been in those long drawn out Circle-Castings where every being, spirit, watchtower, element, and so forth were called forth to where, by the time we reached the heart of the ritual, we had forgotten its purpose [so, too, did the ritual's creators it would seem]. Bear in mind that if Magick is not necessary in the ritual, then there is no need to Cast a Circle, Call Quarters, Summon, Stir, or in any way Invoke "Circle-Guardians". A simple clearing of Sacred Space, or even a declaration of "Where we stand is Sacred Ground" will suffice.

Briefly, clearing Sacred Space for non-Magickal purposes can be as "brief" as desired. The shape of the Sacred Space should be determined by the ritual's Tradition or the ritual's author / leader. Someone may stand at the center and banish negativity (banishing incenses help here as well), or s/he may walk the perimeter of the Sacred Space, or draw a line along the border of the Sacred Space with a stick or athame, or there may be no act performed at all --- merely a declaration the "this is Sacred Space". The point is that whatever method is used to make the Ritual Area Holy should be simple, brief, and should be symbolic or obvious to the participants.

Next, once you are working on "Sacred Ground", any gods / goddesses / androgynous/asexual deities, spirits, whatever should be Invoked. If your ritual does not require deities (or at least, "named" deities), you may consider deleting the Invocation bit altogether. Regarding rituals revolving around the turning of the seasons, pick deities with which you are comfortable, and who have a connection with the holiday you are celebrating. Actually, when done as a celebration only, I have found that gods and goddesses of various pantheons seem to get along well. The discretion should be made by the ritual leader: some persons prefer to keep the pantheons separate in every ritual.

In any case, keep the Invocations simple, but reverent. Nothing can spoil a ritual more than a half-hearted or joking Invocation, or one which drags on for fifteen minutes. ("What was that Goddess' name again ?") And try to be respectful. Personally, I find it distasteful and rude to "summon, stir, and call forth" the deity. I prefer to "ask that they be present" for our ritual.

Part - B: Main Body of the Ritual

Now we get to the main part of our ritual. This should reflect the Goal as outlined previously. In fact, this is where ritual planning actually begins. The structure of the ritual should come from here. One thing which seems to work well is to have the entire ritual focus upon one big thing which represents the Ritual Goal (magick-raising, ritual drama, a sermon, a nature walk, and so forth) and to build everything toward this, doing this thing last. The whole ritual builds to a climax, like a good book, and then tapers off quickly before everybody gets tired and bored.

An important question in the this part is: How do we complete the Goal we had in mind for this ritual? This is where creativity comes in. The true mark of a successful ritual lies in its ability to motivate its participants.

Be creative. Try new things. But avoid unnecessary silliness. There is a fine line somewhere between a new and different ritual and a strange, whacky stage play. Be creative, but keep with the level of seriousness you want the ritual to contain.

Involve your Audience. Simply watching a priest talking to or about a god is fine, but so is sleep, which is what your participants will do if not sufficiently motivated. Many rituals allow their participants to sing, dance, or chant, but find that the best real involvement is in raising Energy --- for any purpose.

As for the choice of "bells and whistles" (otherwise known as participation-keepers), choose songs, chants, readings, whatever which demonstrate at least an aspect of your Goal. Also, you may want to choose ones that everyone knows or, if you have the time, teach them something new. You may want to add a play, a story-telling / myth-reading, or some other way to act out the focus of the Goal. In fact a good "passion-play" regarding the changing of the seasons (how about Inanna's descent into the underworld?) is a great way to involve your group. Keep them involved !

Remember: rituals exist to involve us with the universe, not vice-versa.

Part - C: Closing Sacred Space

At the end, the god/dess Farewells should be a mirror image of the Invocations, just for symmetry's sake. This is not a requirement, but we humans need a sense of balance in our ritual lives. An interesting corollary is the thought of doing a ritual based on the un-balanced nature of the modern world, therefore avoiding all references to symmetry. In any case, there should be no need to put the Farewells after the Sacred Space is gone. That would be like tearing down a Cathedral and then saying "Amen" at the end of your last prayer!

You may also wish to "erase" the Sacred Space in the reverse manner to the way it was created. Bear in mind that there is a great deal of freedom of choice here. In some Ceremonial Magick Circles, the Circle-guardians are Banished, and so forth in the reverse order of the way the Circle began (except for "inviting" the chaotic forces back to the space --- which were banished in the first place !). Others simply cut the Circle open: "The Circle is open, but unbroken ..." In a non-magickal Circle a simple statement "The Circle / Sacred Space is released" will do.

IV. The Role of the Group:

Very simply, a good rule of thumb to keep your ritual interesting is to remember: "there are other people here !" No ritual is more boring than the one watched from the outside, from the inside. Everyone must feel themselves to be a vital part of the ritual. Now, consider your Goal and consider a good way to do this with the number of people you have. Songs are great for large groups, as are chants. Smaller groups may consider readings and dramas, or sharings. But the main rule is, as always: Keep it simple and to the point !" Keep your group involved and wake them up from time to time.

Adding Drama, Dancers, Professional Music, and Props can greatly add to the satisfaction of your ritual. But, [see if you can tell what I'm going to say here] Don't over-do it ! Make sure that, if it's elaborate, it is well-rehearsed. Don't let yourself be surprised by people laughing at a thrown-together disaster. Make sure it is well-controlled (I hate that word, but in ritual it can keep things in balance). Add some nice touches but don't over-do it. Keep it simple.

The "extra things" added to a ritual can make it more exciting and memorable for your participants. As previously discussed, many rituals feature songs, chants, testimonies, readings, and so forth. These are best used when they focus on the Goal of the ritual (or a related goal). The big thing is to keep them to the point and use them to keep the group involved. Just, keep these things to a minimum and don't let them overshadow the ritual.

Another tool for ritual participation is the simple feast. This is widely used in pagan circles, probably because eating is something all pagans enjoy. We tend to do it every time we get together, haven't you noticed? In any case, enjoy the feast. This is a time when pagans get together for enjoyment.

Try not to make the feast too serious; have fun with it. Choose a ritual food and beverage which in some way represents the Goal. On Ostara, jelly beans do fine. An assortment of breads works well as Samhain. Cookies at Yule.

The possibilities are endless. The point is: enjoy the feast. Make it a merry time !

V. Expanding the Ritual Form:

Now, suppose you want to perform a pagan extravaganza, or a gathering, or --- whatever --- all in ritual form. You have the tools available in the rest of this guide --- just expand them ! At any extravaganza or gathering you can use a simple opening ritual to work as an Opening to the much larger Gathering Ritual. The workshops and main ritual(s) become the Main Body of the Gathering Ritual, and the closing ritual becomes the Closing part of the Gathering Ritual. All a Gathering or an extravaganza is a ritual on a grander scale. And no one says that a big ritual can't be composed of smaller rituals --- on the contrary, big rituals are always composed of smaller rituals.

Well, now you can plan rituals for a variety of purposes. The guidelines above are taken not only from pagan rituals, but from the general religious world at large. All religions of the world rely on rituals to bring humans to the level of the gods. They are a bridge linking the worlds.

Remember in your own rituals that you are building this bridge --- you are fulfilling a divine purpose ! Design your rituals as best you can for your group.

MOON MANNERS: ETIQUETTE FOR GROUP RITUALS

and glossary of common terms

by Kylinn

ALCOHOL, DRUGS -

There are many different views about these substances. As a general rule, don't use them either before or during the ritual, save them for after. In any case never bring anything illegal with you; this is to protect you and the community as well. If you are sponsoring the ritual please remember to have a non-alcoholic alternative for children, recovering alcoholics, and any other non-drinkers in the ritual. It is not cute to secretly spike the cider or punch - do not do it.

BAREFOOT -

Not necessarily always required in circle, but polite. This is because in some traditions one goes unshod in respect of sacred space; and besides being respectful of others' beliefs, you're less likely to accidentally hurt someone by stepping on their toes if you're not wearing shoes either. (This only applies to indoor rituals.)

BROOM CLOSET -

Please be aware that some people have serious reasons to be sensitive about being known as pagans. Never mention that someone was at a ritual or is a pagan w/o their permission; this is just like outing a gay person, and can be just as devastating. Many of us cannot afford to be open about our religious preferences; never let out this or other personal information about another without their ok. Remember the 12-step saying, "Who you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here."

CLOCKWISE/DEOSIL -

Unless specifically instructed otherwise, always move around the circle in a clockwise direction (E-S-W-N-E) Even if this has only symbolic meaning for you it is quite serious for others, who may be upset if you move counterclockwise (widdershins).



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CONFIDENTIALITY -

See also "broom closet". The ritual is a private religious event and unless you are specifically told that the ritual is "open" all information pertaining thereto should be held in confidence. This especially includes the place, and people involved. DON'T leave a written invitation where others can see it. DON'T give such details to friends, family or others; even if the one you speak to is cool, someone they mention it to may not be. Remember the old WW II adage, "Loose lips sink ships".

DRUMS -

and other musical instruments may be ritual tools (or just very special) so don't handle other people's drums, rattles, etc. without their permission. (See "ritual tools".)

ENTERING -

Sometimes it can take a while for everyone to process through all the gates (qv). This extra entrance time should be taken as a gift to more fully center and prepare oneself. Remember that the ritual is supposed to be outside of time - chill out and take the time to just be where you are. Please do not distract others by talking, etc. during the procession.

FOOD -

We usually have a potluck (mostly snacks and quick stuff) after the ritual. If you can contribute something, it is appreciated; if you can't, it is understood. Please remember to take your pots and cooking utensils with you when you leave; don't leave dirty dishes for others to take care of.

GATES -

We usually have 2-7 "gates" leading into the ritual area. The gates may involve invoking one or more of the elements (air/fire, etc.) or some other aspect (spring, summer) and having those passing listen to a brief speech, and/or touching or being sprinkled with something representing the element or thing being invoked, and/or answering a ritual challenge.

The gates have a twofold purpose: 1. mystically, to cleanse you before you enter the sacred space; and 2. psychologically, to let you take a few minutes to mentally prepare to enter into the sacred and to separate the ritual from everyday life.



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GROUNDING -

Draining off excess energy and re-connecting with oneself. One way is sink to the floor, place one's hands on the ground, and visualize the extra energy flowing into the earth. One who doesn't ground after much excitement (like SPM) may have difficulty "coming down to Earth" and getting to sleep later, and may even feel "hyper" for days. One should usually be energized by a good ritual, but not be bouncing off the walls afterward!

GUESTS -

If you wish to bring a guest to a community ritual, you should first get the permission of the people putting the ritual on. Please make sure your guest understands about confidentiality.

Guests who are nonpagans or new pagans have special needs. Make sure that you talk to them well before the ritual about what they'll be seeing there.

Explain the theme of the ritual, make sure they understand what will be expected of them, and take some time to verbally walk them through a ritual.

And remember, once you and they are at the ritual, stay close to your guests and make sure they're ok. Introduce them around. Lend them a drum or a rattle if they're uncomfortable dancing. Talk to them afterwards and let them discuss the experience with you. Oh, yes, and teach them about grounding if they don't already know how; they'll probably need it.

HOMOPHOBIA -

Fear/hatred of gay people. Homophobia (like other kinds of intolerance) should not be brought into the ritual circle.

HP/HPS -

High Priest/High Priestess.

HO! -

Affirmative (yes, right on, great, a-men; lit.: "you said it!")



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LEAVING -

If you have to leave the ritual area before the end, whether to go to the bathroom or for another reason, please make sure you cut a gate in the circle (or get someone to do so for you) and consciously exit and re-enter the sacred area. This keeps the energy in the circle intact.

MONEY -

We pay when we rent space, and if we send written notices that costs money for reproduction and mailing, so please kick in a couple of dollars to help with the costs if you can.

RITUAL FIRE -

The ritual fire is sacred. Please do not throw litter into it or light cigarettes with it. (Note: libations aren't litter.)

RITUAL TOOLS -

For many pagans their ritual tools are very special items which, in some cases, may never have been touched by any other person. If you see anything interesting lying around or on the alter, make sure to ask permission before handling it.

ROBES -

Nice if you have them but not really required; loose, casual clothing or medieval-style garb is also common.

SACRED SPACE -

Ritual is sacred space for celebrations, love, and trust; it is not a big party. Please refrain from conversations and smoking during the ritual.



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SKYCLAD -

Nude; community rituals are not usually done skyclad. If some people decide to strip in a summer ritual, you may join them or not, depending on how comfortable you feel - the choice is yours. Remember that among pagans nudity is not an invitation to have sex; do not mistake the one for the other.

SPECIAL NEEDS -

If you or your guest have any special needs such as dietary restrictions or physical limitations, please inform the person in charge before the ritual, so that accommodations can be made.

SPM -

Spontaneous Pagan Mayhem; ie, drumming and dancing. SPM has come to be the form of energy-raising in our open rituals. (Organizers, be warned - people expect their SPM fix.)

SPONTANEITY -

Spontaneity can be a great thing. However, the people who put their energy into planning the ritual appreciate it if we relax and enjoy the energy flow as they have envisioned it. If you didn't plan it, please do not change what is happening. (Chants, etc.)

SWEATLODGES -

Sweatlodges are communal sacred space; do not use them as a place to have sex. Please leave them neat when you depart.

TOUCHING -

Many pagans can be touchy-feelly in a loving, caring sort of way. This can be immensely comforting; however, each of us has a different level of comfort with the extent of touching. If you are uncomfortable with how someone else is touching you please don't hesitate to communicate your feelings. Conversely, those who on the giving side of embraces, etc. should be sensitive to the feelings and reactions others. Communication is vital.



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WATCHES -

Frowned upon in ritual by some because the circle is supposed to be outside of regular time and space. (And, of course, it's rude to keep checking the time.) Best to leave these in pockets.

WELCOMING -

We are all responsible for the image of this community. If you see someone you don't know, please make an effort to welcome them.



PAGAN MANNERS

OR

Are There Any Dead Animals in The Soup?

by Grey Cat, Members Advocate



I can hear the outraged screams already. there are people out there who believe that the very idea of "Pagan Manners" is a conflict in terms; that "manners" are outdated, dishonest and hypocritical. Well, think again. Manners constitute the only successful technique ever discovered by humankind to enable groups and individuals, holding moderately disparate views, customs or beliefs, to get along together. There are things more improtant than manners; but, without manners, its unlikely that a discussion will ever go to them.

Pagan manners are fairly simple and have nothing to do with which fork you use or how to word an invitation. They have to do with respect for others' feelings and beliefs. They most specifically have to do with recognition of the fact that you should "judge not the path of your brother or sister for their path is sacred." Manners are also the only way of attempting to grant everyone the personal space which each of us needs. There have been a number of attempts to write down a list of "thou shalts" and "thou shalt nots" which will cover Pagan life. Here are several tries made by four different people:



MY OWN OPINIONS, by Grey Cat

1. Never assume that you are invited to a ritual or a nonpublic gathering just because your friend is invited. Have your friend call the group doing the event and ASK! (or call yourself).

2. When participating in a ritual led by a group of which you are not a member, ask ahead of time what will be done. SHould there be something in the explanation, or in the set-up of the ritual area which bothers you, just quietly don't participate in the ritual.

3. Ask the person(s) officiating at a ritual before you place anything in the ritual area; wear clothing or tools which might be considered unusual; or add private energy workings to the ritual being done.

4. Never just walk out of a cast ritual circle. Ask someone in the group sponsering the ritual to cit you a door if your eally and truly absolutely have to leave.

5. Don't make comments on the ritual, its leaders or the amount or quality of the energy raised during the ritual unless such opinions are asked for by the leaders. Save it for your friends, privately, after the ritual is over.

6. Vegetarians, Vegans, Strict Carnivores, Diabetics, and any others with very strong food preferences: no one minds your asking quietly and politely "Which dishes have meat (sugar, spices, hot pepper, etc.) in them?" When planning a meal for mized Pagan/Wiccan groups, it is strongly suggested that at least some of the dishes be vegetarian, sugar-free, relatively non-spicey etc. At all times, within and without the ritual context, always provide an alternative to alcholic beverages.

7. While many people have become far less secrative about their membership in a Pagan group, it is never, EVER, permissible to "blow someones cover". Do not ever call a friend or acquaintence by their Pagan name or mention their membership in a mundane situation. It is also bad manners - and a symptom of social climbing - to call an individual by his/her mundane name in a Pagan situation. It always reminds me of an extra calling John Wayne "The Duke" at a local bar.

8. Whether you drink, take drugs or indulge in other similar behavior is completely your own business. It is always wrong to urge such behavior on any other individual. The majority of serious Pagan groups absolutely do NOT allow anyone under the influence of drugs or alchol to participate in ritual. Do not be offended of you are turned away for this reason. If you are taking a psycho-active drug for a medical reason it is very wise to check with the ritual elader(s) so they will understand and can advise you if they feel the ritual might be harmful to you.

9. Just because most Pagans/Wiccans are udner 40 and in reasonably good physical condition, never assume that everyone is. Rituals and gatherings should be planned so that those with physical problems are not barred totally from participation. Particularly in ritual, be aware that many more people than you might think are "mobility disabled." Group ritual should take place in an accessable area and some thought should be given to designating a safe place for those not taking part in dancing to stand or sit. Please be alert to anyone to whom help would be welcome. Help them to find a campsite which minimizes walking - to the ritual area, to the privys, to the eating area - whatever. Help them pitch their camp. Don't make them feel unwlecome - most handicapped people have worked extra hard on their magickal skills and may be able to add a great deal to the power in ritual and to the success of the gathering.

10. When at any sort of gathering, please be thoughtful. Particularly please observe true quiet after midnight. No one minds if you and others want to stay up all night talking or whatever. Everyone else minds a great deal if you stay up talking and laughing loudly and/or drumming. Thoise hosting a gathering should take the responsibility of keeping the noise level very low in at least some of the sleeping areas - and designating it as a quiet area.

11. Do not allow yourself to get the idea that you know the One True, Right and Only Path! Even if you really do have the conviction that what someone else is doing is "wrong", "incorrect", "Left-hand path" or whatever, just don't talk about it. It is perfectly permissible to refrain from participating in the activities of those with whom you cannot feel comfortable. It is not acceptable to express the idea that they "shouldn't" be doing it. This is not to say that if you know of criminal behavior on the part of a so-called Pagan/Wiccan group you should not report it. We must also be responsible for cleaning up our own act.

Paganism is glorified by its diversity. Please do not allow yourself to express judgement by categories. Whether or not you like or dislike blacks, Indians, Homsexuals, women, men, or whatever, keep it to yourself! If you really and truly cannot feel comfortable taking part in a ritual which isn't conducted according to the tradition you follow or if you cannot be pleasant in company mixed with groups you disapprove of, please just stay home.



PAGAN/CRAFT ETIQUETTE by Soapbox Sam

Listed below are not hard and fast rules, but some helpful guidelines for those who would function smoothly in a craft/Pagan environment.

1. Should you write to someone for information, always enclose an SASE (Self-addressed, Stamped Envelope). Many of us receive several inquiries a day. Sometimes just answering them, much less having to pay the postage and buy envelopes, is a time-consuming, expensive task!

2. Should your inquiry be about Pagan/Craft folks in your area, tell about yourself, and how you came to have our names and wrote to is - after all the Inquisition is alive and sick here in the heart of the Bible Belt. Do not expect names and addresses unless they are already "public". Most of us, even the "public" Pagan/Craft folks prefer to meet people slowly and carefully over a cup of coffee in a public place, before we start introducing you to our groups and our friends. Why should we risk when you have risked nothing? ((Sometimes I get mail that simply has a name and address on it and demand that I send the latest copy of my newsletter or the names and addresses/phone numbers of all Craft people in the writer's areas. One man sent me a letter raising hell because he has (according to him) sent me $0.33 in the mail and was waiting on the copy of my newsletter "I owed him"! Sadly, this type of letter is more common than not... his letter and 33 cents, is ever sent, was never recveived. Do I really have to explain to grown mature adults about sending money through the mails???))

3. If you are invited to a gathering or festival, whether by written or oral invitation, before you invite others, get permission. Because of space, or other considerations, the number of people that can be accommodated might be limited, or certain individuals or groups may not be welcome because of personality conflicts and resulting disharmony. Also, if a weekend gathering is scheduled and you can only arrive for the ritual and then must leave, aske if that is OK... sometimes the ritual is the climax of the entire gathering, rather than an event in itself; in that case to show up only for the ritual not having been part of the entire event is to 'take-away' from the meaning of thw hole for those who were there!

4. Always inquire what you should bring to any gathering. If you have received an official invitation, you should have been told. But, assume nothing! Ask if you need to bring food, robes, candles, drinks, eating utensils (forks, cups, plates, etc). It is unreasonable and rude to assume that an invitation to a gathering means that people just like yourselves, will expect you to come and eat their food, use their utensils and leave a mess for them to clean up after you have gone. If you cannot take food, then at least offer the gathering sponsers a cash donation to help defray their cost. If you can't stay to help clean up afterwards, at elast be considerate enough to get your own refuse to a garbage container.

5. To be invitred to participate in another's ritual is NOT your right, but rather a priviledge and an honor. If you are unfamiliar with their tradition, common courtesy demands that you at least inquire about enough information to participate in a spositive fashion, and most certainly, make no assumptions about adding anything to the circle or placing your "special' crystals, totems, whatever in the circle or at a specific place within the circle without getting permission. Also, do not remove anything from a circle even should you feel it doesn't belong, without explaining why and getting permission.

6. It should not have to be said, but then neither should any of the above: If these Pagan/Craft rituals have no meaning in your life, and if you have just come for the fellowship, then enjoy the fellowship and please do not attend the ritual. The circle is a significant part of our entire way of life, not a reenactment of some past event just for the sake of the pageantry. When we can, we are pleased to share it with you, and we do so in Love and Light with Peace and Laughter.



IDEAS FROM MERLIN THE ENCHANTER

1. Be Yourself... if you worry about what others think, then you won't think for yourself... and if you don't think for yourself, you may as well be dead!

2. Allow all others to be themselves... just because Joe Blow from kokomo has blue candles on his altar and you use only white ones, that doesn't mean he is the son of Satan. We must each one be allowed our own Pagan path in freedom, for if we cannot do that, then we have no freedom!

3. Let's stop all the silliness of who is and is not a Witch, and what one must do to be a witch.

4. Don't ask for someone's opinions unless you really want it! More Witch wars are started because someone asked for another's views and didn't like the answer they got!

5. Add a dose of good humor (the worst Witches are the ones that take everything so S-E-R-I-O-U-S-L-Y!)



IDEAS FROM BEKET ASER EDITHSDATTER

It is necessary that we learn to be just plain adult about working together - or even, just existing on the same planet.

1. If you can't tolerate any slightest deviation from your own tradition, do not take part in public or cross-cultural rituals or gatherings.

2. If you have ideas of what should be in the ritual; or what should not - go to the planning meeting and express your opinions.

3. If you delegate a task to someone else - you have made it their job. The only thing you have to say is "Thank you". When and how they do it is their buisness so long as it is done at the moment it is required.

4. Appoint somebody to keep notes of the planning meetings - as things are said, not afterwards, or, inevitably, there will be disagreements about the ground rules.

5. Gossip : There are a few situations wherein it is legitimate to pass on "gossip". the following suggestions are not all inclusive but may serve to give guidelines for judging:

1. When a major life change definately is occuring to someone with whom you and the person to whom you pass on the information - frequently work.

2. When you are acting as resource to help someone decrease a situation of disagreement.

3. When you really plan to take positive avtion to alleviate the situation the gossip refers to.

4. (This situation really does not occur all that often.) When warning someone about an individual whose practices are definately undesirable for a reason other than that you don't like them.

5. When you have truly accurate information to counteract damaging and inaccurate rumor.

6. . When examining a situation to decide whether or not you, yourself, are under psychic attack, be sure to ask yourself if it couldn't be because being under attack makes you feel important.

7. Within the group or group structure, the High Priest and or High Priestess are generally entitled to your respect and a certain amount of deference. If they really, really don't know as much as you do, perhaps it is time that you take a fond and friendly leave of them/him/her and begin a group of your own.

Obviously, group or group affairs are appropriate subjects for discussion amoung all the memebrs, and the HP/S definately should be willing to listen to reasonable suggestions. However, you joined the group in order to learn from its eladers; a year or two of study probably doesn't qualify you to suddenly object to all their teachings, methods, and beliefs. Above all, it is inappropriate to try to stir up the whole group and "take over" the group. The leaders have put a good deal of time, patience, thought and teaching into building the group and giving it a good name - if you want to be Witch Queen of the Universe, start your own group from scratch and try to become good enough to earn status yourself. The goal is not big groups, it is the best possible groups.

For group leaders: They need to be grown-up enough to know that every disagreement isn't necessarily a personal attack. They need to develop leadership skills to avoid confrontation and inflexibility. They need to know how to lead without dominating and they need an intense interest in the health of the group. The HP/S needs to listen to the ideas of the members and to use their ideas whenever posssible. They should be able to explain rationally why certain ideas cannot be used.

Pagan Ethics: The Goddess made me do it!

by Magdalena Merovingia



"The Goddess made me do it"; think of how absurd that statement really sounds to a Pagan. After all we generally subscribe to a belief system that supports both immanent and internalized Deity and, to use a theologically technical term, is panentheistic -- we and the Deity are mutually dependent on one another. That is, what we do has a direct effect upon the Deity. If our actions are honorable and ethical the Deity is enhanced by us, and likewise, if our actions are dishonorable and unethical the Deity is correspondingly impoverished.





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So if we can't take the easy way out and pass the buck entirely to the Lady and wash our hands of it then what do we do? What is it that really guides our behavior in the world? Many would say the Wiccan Rede: An it harm none, do as thou wilt. But is that really sufficient in and of itself? It is my opinion that the Rede, while making a clear cut statement, is very very broad and quite abstract in nature. While most of us would wholeheartedly embrace the Rede as a guide for our behavior we would also do well to supplement it with a more specific and well- thought-out code of ethics. This code, if intelligently constructed, could serve multiple purposes. One, it could give us more concrete ideas about the concept of harm and suggest appropriate Pagan responses. As such it would become a helpful tool for its user(s) in navigating this wild experience we call life. Another good reason for having a code of ethics (and following it) is it gives us credibility in the broader society as an ethical people. Our ethics is one area where we can truly distinguish ourselves from various "satanic" cults and other groups who engage in the various "dark" arts. Having to make this distinction has been with people for a long time. Almost two thousand years ago, Jesus is credited with saying that "by the fruits of their labor you shall know them." We would do well to heed these wise words even today and let our actions speak justly for themselves. Let us now take a closer look at this issue of ethics, that elusive, subjective concept that supposedly makes us "civilized".



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ethics, n.;

1. the discipline dealing with what is good and bad or right and wrong or with moral duty and obligation;

2. a: a group of moral principles or set of values; b: a particular theory or system of moral values; c: the principles of conduct governing an individual or a profession; standards of behavior;

3. character or the ideals of character manifested by a race or people.

When we look at this definition we see that the concept of ethics is formed around the concepts of morality, behavior and character. So when we talk about Pagan ethics one thing we are talking about is the moral and behavioral aspects of the Pagan weltanschauung. On a personal level we are examining our behavior towards each other and towards everyone else, human and non-human, with whom we interact during the course of our lives. We are also examining how we define and implement our moral duties and obligations towards ourselves and towards others. This is not an easy task. Morality and standards of behavior are very subjective by nature and differ quite substantially from culture to culture and even from person to person within the same culture.



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At the group level we can talk about our "professional" ethics, the ethics of magick or the ethics of ritual practice for example. While still retaining a definite individual and very personal aspect to them (especially in solitary practice), there is often a broader sphere of influence involved that reaches beyond the self to include others either directly or indirectly. While still difficult these are somewhat easier to define as we can come together as a group and decide what principles and standards we are going to adhere to ourselves and hold each other accountable to also.



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And then there is the "global" aspect of ethics -- the character or ideals of character manifested by a race or people. This is the aspect of ethics that defines us as either "good" or "bad" as a people. And this is where the majority of misinformation and misunderstandings exist between our actual identity and the identity imposed upon us by stereotypical definitions of "witch" and "witchcraft" so pervasive in our current society. It is at this interface between actuality and indoctrinated fantasy that the rubber really meets the road. If we are to be successful in changing these definitions and the hatred and hostility they breed on a global level we must each on a daily basis strive to our highest ideals of morality and character in every aspect of our lives. Only by presenting a continuing and consistent presence as an ethical and responsible people collectively will those old ideas finally fall with time, as they must when actual human experience doesn't support and verify expectations. All too often we are thought of first as "a witch", the stereotype, and then secondly, and usually only when they come to know us, as John or Jane Doepagan, a real person.



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So let's take a closer look at these intertwined concepts of morality, behavior, and character that appear to define ethics. Morality often appears to have a divine component to it that pure legality does not. Many people think of morality in terms of "God's" law, as opposed to legality which is "man's" law. This is the position of orthodox Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. God defines morality and humans obey. And each of these tradition's sacred texts, the Bible, the Torah, and the Qur'an respectively, are where one finds the specifics. Avi Sagi and Daniel Stateman, in an article for the Journal of Religious Ethics, write: "Since human beings are limited in their moral understanding and in their ability to pursue a moral activity in light of this understanding only unconditional obedience to God can ensure right moral behavior." And R. Zevi Hirsch Levin, from that same journal, explicitly claims "that without religion we have neither morality nor virtue. Morality is determined by the Torah rather than by independent rational considerations." In both of these examples humanity is absolved from any personal responsibility in determining ethical and moral behavior beyond obedience to God or to God's word. This is not a functional paradigm in the Pagan world, where we find neither a sacred text to defer to, nor do we find God "out there" somewhere in an objective position independent from ourselves.



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Buddhism, a non-theistic tradition, provides us with an example of ethical and moral behavior without tying it to a concept of God or divinity. The basic Buddhist position can be stated in two parts: first, do not harm others and second, help others. Others includes not only other humans but all sentient life. Some Buddhists schools of thought place more emphasis on the second part, helping others, than other schools do, but all emphasize the non harming aspect. To get more specific, the Buddhist teaching of moral discipline includes the avoidance of the ten non-virtuous actions involving body, speech, and mind. The non-virtuous actions involving the body are killing, stealing, and engaging in sexual misconduct. Each of these things is very specifically defined. The non-virtuous actions involving speech are lying, harmful speech, divisive speech (meant to bring division between people), and gossip or idle speech. The non-virtuous actions involving the mind are harmful intent, ignorance (active repudiation of the central tenets of Buddhism), and coveting or desiring the wealth or possessions of another. From the Buddhist perspective it is imperative that one follow these if one is to succeed in attaining enlightenment. The strict mental discipline and meditation practices are not sufficient for it is believed that any gains realized through these practices are offset by the karma incurred from one's engaging in non-virtuous behavior. Here we see a swing of the pendulum entirely the other way. Humanity is now held fully accountable for determining ethical and moral behavior. Even if one chooses to just follow the moral codes of Buddhism, there is still a fundamental difference. The Buddhist canon was developed utilizing human logic and reasoning whereas the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic canons are generally considered to be "revelations" from God.



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By combining these two concepts, the existence of and interaction with Deity and a deep respect and consideration for all forms of life we can start to form a foundation for Pagan ethics. Starhawk appeals to the immanence of the Goddess in the world and in all forms of life as her foundation for ethics and ethical behavior. She says: "Love for life in all its forms is the basic ethic of Witchcraft. Witches are bound to honor and respect all living things, and to serve the life force. While the Craft recognizes that life feeds on life and that we must kill in order to survive, life is never taken needlessly, never squandered or wasted. Serving the life force means working to preserve the diversity of natural life, to prevent the poisoning of the environment and the destruction of species." While not as explicit as the Buddhists' ten non-virtuous actions, this still gives us something concrete that we can work with. It connects ethics and morality to behaviors that support life.



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If you think about it many of the things that most people, Pagan and non-Pagan alike, find morally objectionable often involve the lessening or taking of life. Such things as murder, rape, and incest are often thought of as moral crimes before being considered legal crimes. Robert Merrihew Adams, a Christian scholar, presents us with the idea of the morally horrible. He says, "It is not a consciousness of a command or requirement laid on us by anyone, but a feeling about the actions themselves and their consequences. We feel there are certain things it would be horrible to do even if there were no authoritative rule or social pressure against them and even if they were not forbidden by God. ... Our primary feelings about such deeds are not about violation of a rule or requirement, but about what is done to the victims." Mr. Adams appears to be appealing to a basic sense of goodness within humanity and a confidence that that goodness will prevail.



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Unfortunately this basic goodness doesn't appear to prevail enough or be cohesive enough for our society to function without a legal code. So let's take a look at ethics and morality and their relationship to the legal system. I find it interesting to note that we are faced with a primarily modern and primarily Western phenomena here -- the separation of "church" and its corresponding morality from "state" with its corresponding legal code. Historically societies have always combined these. What was generally agreed upon as moral was also legal. The legal code reflected the lived beliefs of the culture which it served. People didn't live separate "religious" lives independently from their "secular" lives, they just lived. In fact there are cultures today who's languages do not contain a word equivalent to our word "religion." In Sanskrit, Hindi, and Tamil you find words for "law," "duty," "custom," "worship," "spiritual discipline," or "the way" but not "religion." These concepts organically incorporate all the things modern Western culture often separates out as being specifically "religious." However in America today, especially as Neo-Pagans, we do not have the luxury of having the "state" automatically define our ethics for us and have that be adequate.



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Most of us have heard the phrase "morals are above the law," but what does that really mean? If we think about it we come to the conclusion that this is a real issue for Pagans living under legal systems that perpetuate policies of destruction and hierarchies of domination that are at odds with the tenets of our belief system. So the question is, how do we respond? The Mennonites, a totally pacifist people whose tradition originated in Holland in the 1500's, have lived with this conflict for centuries. One of the deeply held tenets of their faith is the immorality of war and their response to living in lands where war became reality was to relocate whole communities across national borders rather than allow their young and able-bodied men to supply the ranks. While this was a viable option in years past it is not as attractive today in a globally diverse and increasingly populated world. Consequently there will be some of us who will feel a moral obligation to work for political change, either within or from without the system we are situated in. Others will not, preferring instead to take the position that as long as they are not personally affected in a substantial way they have more to offer the community by focusing their energies in other areas.



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Now this brings us face to face with the issue of authority. So what is authoritative to us? Most of us would say that the words of the Lady, whether spoken by a priestess at a "drawing down" or heard by our inner ears in meditation, carry a sense of authority. Many of us invest a certain amount of authority in those who are proficient in the psychic arts such as tarot readers and astrologers. We also tend to invest a lot of authority in our clergy and our elders, which is frequently an appropriate and wise thing to do as they often have much in the way of hard-earned experience to offer us.



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While each of these has an appropriate place in our decision-making processes, we are still ultimately individually responsible for our choice of actions and the consequences that come of them. Therefore our ultimate authority must come from within our own selves, from our own internal authority. Like the song says: "My skin, my bones, my heretic heart are my authority."



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So what exactly are our responsibilities in exercising our internal authority? For one, we have a responsibility to be always aware of our connection to Deity and to be constantly monitoring that connection for "static". Carlos Castaneda refers to this phenomena as the "trickery of the spirit" or "dusting the connecting link to intent." We have to struggle with developing ways of sorting out what is real from what is imagination, fantasy, and wishful thinking. When accepting and acting on the advice of others we have a responsibility to understand and internalize that information lest we fall prey to finger pointing if things develop in unexpected and unwanted ways. And we have a responsibility to be aware of the social and legal environments of the situation and to weigh these factors in. Only when we are reasonably convinced that we have done all these things can we say that we have exercised our internal authority in a morally responsible manner.



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So how might we approach formulating and documenting our own code of ethics or a code for our coven or group? First and foremost it's important to critically think about these things. One way to tackle this is to take a top down approach. First consider the broadest of Wiccan ethical concepts, the Wiccan Rede -- an it harm none, do as thou wilt. Keep this in mind as the overriding principle as you develop more of the specifics. Also keep in mind that what you eventually come up with needs to both address the central concerns of Paganism and be a practical and useful tool for those who will seek to use it.



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With these in mind you might start by considering our societal norms and legal laws. Examine these to see if there is anything that falls within this general category that needs to be explicitly addressed. For example, my coven had a line in its code that said you couldn't do anything illegal. This generated quite a lively discussion over whether speeding was ethical (vs. legal) and what that meant with respect to "an it harm none." But in general this would be where such things as our behavior towards the environment and the earth would be addressed. This is also where you might address pacifistic issues, if you identify yourself as such, and what choices you wish to make regarding pacifistic activities when they clash with the law. Likewise with abortion and other issues where laws may infringe upon the Pagan tenet of full sanctity and control of one's own body. This aspect of your code should in no way be taken lightly and developed arbitrarily with little thought. Anytime you choose to go against the legal system you are not only putting yourself at risk, but you are also putting the community at risk by association. But we each have limits as to just how far our personal mocenrality and integrity can be pushed before we act. It behooves not only us personally but our broader community as well to have a clue beforehand as to where that boundary is and what we think is the best course of action when that boundary is breached. This is where the effort put into critical thinking and communal dialogue can pay off, because there are a variety of responses to this situation and none of them are necessarily "right" for everyone in the group.



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Next you might consider overall practices and generally held beliefs specific to the Pagan community. What are the community's generally acceptable behavior norms, especially where they aren't addressed by the legal code? This would be the place to address things like the appropriate uses of magick, will, and intent and the wielding of power for example, or the appropriate expressions of our sexuality within the context of the community. It might also be appropriate to include a code governing hexes and curses.



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And finally you might consider what coven specifics and personal agendas might need addressing. This could include group agreements regarding skyclad work and more specific expressions of sexuality. It could also include the groups' agreements regarding smoking and the use or prohibition of drugs for non-medical reasons.

And when you have done all this, keep in mind that what you have produced is a living document that is meant to change over time as you and your group change. And also keep in mind that what you have produced is a code of ethics, not a legal code. You cannot enforce them the way you would hard rules or legal laws. You can only offer them as a gift to your community with the hope that someone will find them helpful on their journey to a better life.



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A Coven Code of Ethics

While attending ritual or other coven functions you agree to:

· Relate to others with general politeness, manners, and common courtesy as befitting any gathering of friends.

· Abide by any formal rules, covenants, or guidelines adopted by the coven.

· Enter the circle "in perfect love and perfect trust." Settle any differences with other participants beforehand or don't participate. If it is impossible to settle the differences all parties involved must be able to truly set the issue aside and relate to one another "in perfect love and perfect trust" while in sacred space.

· Try to distinguish between having psychological issues come up and truly being in a compromising position regarding beliefs and values. If you feel you are compromising your integrity by further participation quietly ask the maiden to cut a door in the circle and quietly leave. If something comes up for you that has been triggered by the ritual, speak up so those in charge can address the situation in an appropriate manner.

· Commit to thinking for yourself and not just blindly accepting everything said or done.



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In general you agree to:

· Follow the Wiccan Rede: An it harm none, do as thou wilt.

· Make a reasonable effort to consider the difference between will and whim and to consider that harm is not always easily pinpointed.

· Commit to opposing patriarchal oppression and strive to counteract it in positive, non-violent ways. Consciously choose to wield "power with" and "power within" and not "power over."

· Observe the legal code of your cultural location except when by doing so you are violating your personal integrity and morality in such a manner that cannot be overlooked or justified and you have considered the effects of your decision on the coven and the broader community and you consciously choose to take full responsibility for those effects.

· Commit to learning the ways of magick and the Craft that work for you and to apply what you have learned to the best of your ability with intent for the highest good of all according to the free will of all.

· Never work magick or offer prayers on behalf of another without their knowledge and consent.

· Commit to respecting the environment and working towards its recovery.

· Promise to maintain a policy of non-discrimination based on race, age, gender, occupation, physical ability, or sexual orientation.

· Promise to maintain a policy of non-discrimination based on religion as appropriate. Maintain an awareness of Wicca as a religion and the legal and social repercussions of religious discrimination both toward Wiccans and by Wiccans. Be aware of your own biases in this area and walk this line very carefully.

· Commit to remaining open-minded in your contacts with organized religion and seek to "take what you need and leave the rest" realizing that opportunities for encounters with Deity are limited only by yourself.

· Refrain from "Christian bashing" or arbitrarily condemning other religions or religious peoples.

· Refrain from graphic or offensive sexual behavior in public or semi-public situations and maintain an awareness of the changing definitions of graphic and offensive in varied situations.

· Commit to taking responsibility for all aspects of your life, physical, psychological, and spiritual.

· Commit to taking responsibility for your own psychological healing and to overcome the internalized effects of social programming in accordance with Wiccan teachings.

· Commit to the spiritual path and to continued growth and learning.

· Encourage fun, beauty, and play in your personal life and in the lives of others in accordance with Wiccan teachings. ¶

Flying Ointment Recipe #1

· 1 part Dittany of Crete

· 1 part Cinquefoil

· 1 part Mugwort

· 1 part Parsley

Gently heat 4 parts shortening over low heat until liquified. Watch that it doesn't burn. Add 1 part dried herbal mixture, blend with a wooden spoon until thoroughly mixed, and continue heating until the shortening has extracted the scent. You should be able to smell it in the air.

Strain through cheesecloth into a heat-proof container, such as a canning jar. Add 1/2 teaspoon of tincture of benzoin (available at most drugstores) to each pint of ointment as a natural preservative. Store in a cool, dark place, such as the refrigerator. Ointments should last for weeks or months. If it turns moldly, discard and lay in a fresh batch.

Flying Ointment Recipe #2

· 2 drops Sandalwood oil

· 1 drop Jasmine oil

· 1 drop Benzoin oil

· 1 drop Mace oil

Use unbleached beeswax if possible, if not use what you can find. Chip it with a large, sharp knife so that you can pack it into a measuring cup.

Place 1/4 cup or so of beeswax into the top of a double boiler (such as a coffee can set in a larger pot of water). Add about 1/4 cup of olive, hazelnut, sesame, or some other vegetable oil.

Stir with a wooden spoon until the wax has melted into the oil. Remove from heat and let cool very slightly, until it has just begun to thicken. (This step is taken so that the hot wax won't evaporate the oils.) Now add the mixed oils to the wax.

Stir thoroughly with a wooden spoon and pour into a heat-proof container. Label and store in the usual way.

Once the ointment is made and has cooled in its jar, empower it with its particular magickal need. This vital step, remember, directs the energy within the ointment, readying it for your ritual use.

Anoint the pulse points, the underarms, the soles of the feet, the groin, the palms of your hands, and any other area with a large quantity of sweat glands. Start your astral projection ritual and away you go.

AN INVISIBILITY SPELL

printed in The Circle Network News

Winter 93/94, Vol.15: Number 4

author: Mara Ravensong Bluewater

Below is a tried and true recipe for an invisiblity manifesting preparation. Although it is presented as a powder, to be strewn, burned, or carried, the herbs given could just as well be concocted into a potion, oil, or tincture, but please, always remember ETHICS, ETHICS, ETHICS!!!

Invisibility Powder

At Dark Moon, in a mortar and pestle, grind together:

· 1 part Fern leaf, dried

· 1 part Poppy seeds

Add

· 2 parts Slippery Elm powder

· 1 part Myrrh

· 1 part Marjoram, dried

· 3 parts Dillweed, fresh if possible

Grind all together, mixing well.

Add 9 drops almond tincture (almond cooking extract is great.) with enough spring water to make everything barely moist, and mix in well.

Place in a ceramic bowl, spreading as thinly as possible, and dry themixture over low heat, stirring it occasionally, until it seems lightly browned. Pour back into mortar, and grind again, enchanting:

Things Seen, and Things Not Seen:

Let me walk here in between.

When finely powdered, store in a clear glass container. It will keep its power for years. Sprinkle, just a little bit, on yourself, objects, or in a place to be made invisible.

Collected by Sultan Mike:

Try that on your athame!

peace and love and Good Happiness Stuff!

Mike

please remember the Wiccan Rede!



Invisibility Spell

Feb 2, 1994 08:52 from Stormchaser

I have another invisiblility 'spell' This is one i use all the time and it very effective. I am not into all the grinding of powders etc..

for you: relax and become concous of every part of your body. Feel your skin. relax and feel the photons of light hitting your skin, a rain of warmth over your entire body. Now start repeating to yourself. "Light pass through and around me, nobody will see me. Light pass throught and around me ..." and as you chant (out loud or in your head) feel the rain of photons passing around and through you untill you dont feel them any more. Bang you are effectively hidden. I have done this in class then raised my hand to answer questions and have the teacher look streaght at me and say "You mean nobody will even try" and people looking for me look right past me. I will say that the invisibility is fairly fragile meaning that if you make yourself noticed people will notice.

I assume that you could do a similar things for other objects. I have never actually tried it but I believe it would work

-Stormchaser



For all of you who think they cannot learn how to meditate, I will teach you how to do it....and without contorting your body into lotus positions...or chanting!

Meditation utilizes a natural "state of mind" that your brain produces. When a person is in a meditative state, the brain is predominately producing alpha brainwaves. You produce this brainwave naturally, and many times throughout the day and night. It's not some magical state of being that only an elite group can accomplish.

Therefore, meditation simply is the ability to bring oneself to that brainwave pattern on purpose. Quite honestly, much of the terminology we use in metaphsysics (and hypnosis particularly) is incorrect. When we say, get into a mediative state, that's really not quite the case. You aren't really going anywhere.

Oh, I know some people in the field may disagree with me. However, in my opinion some of jargon we use actually inhibits some people. They believe when they are trying to meditate just don't have any feeling of going anywhere. And because they don't, they automatically assume they haven't attained the state of meditation.

A common question from the neophyte is: `How do I know when I get there?' There isn't some alarm that goes off when you are "in" an alpha state. People will ask, `How do I know if I'm deep enough?' Again, that's not quite right as far as terminology. It's not being deeper. What you are trying to achieve is being less aware of outside stimuli. The point is to be focused on a few things, going inward.

Now, if I used the term, concentrate on one thing, people might try too hard. It's really just paying less attention to what's going on in the outside world, and thinking about "one"p; thing. By "one" thing I mean to focus on a topic, a mantra, an image, a thought...whatever works for you.

Focusing on say an image (on let's pick on the ol' lotus petal) isn't some ritualistic secret. It's purpose is to make you pay less attention to the busy outside world that's clamoring for your attention. If you are busy thinking about a lotus petal - you aren't thinking about doing your laundry, washing the car, etc.

Now while you are doing this...you'll tend to automatically slip into an alpha state! So, you really don't have to try so darn hard to get there! Remember - all it is is being less concerened with lots of things, but gently concentrating on a few (or one thing(s). In doing so...voila...you naturally go to alpha.

Most of you daydream, right? Well, daydreaming is an alpha state and you get there just fine! But boy....stick a term like meditate and it becomes instantly harder! It doesn't have to be! When you started right at the edge of daydreaming you weren't in a "deep" alpha state...but as you got into that daydream...you got deeper into alpha.

The same thing is true for meditation. Just start focusing and you'll naturally go into an alpha state and you'll be there.

Okay...the next hard part for the novice. Just when you think you're in a nice meditative state....bingo...up comes a thought, `did I pay the phone bill this month?', `did I feed the cat?' This is also very normal for a beginner, and happens to experienced meditators as well at times.

First of all, your brain probably isn't used to being guided when in an alpha state. It's been very used to being the executive producer and director of your daydreams. YOU probably aren't used to directing your daydreams (after all daydreams and the meditative state are the same brainwave pattern.) So you have a double whammy of not having discipline over your thought processes in alpha, and your brain.....well your brain is acting like a spoiled brat!

Well, perhaps I'm being a little too harsh on your poor brain here...but the point is - this really is a normal reaction. Even people who are very experienced in meditation can have trouble "holding" a meditative state when stressed. (and this is the very time when it's best to work at it, as meditating is the very thing that will help alleviate stress).

Be prepared for your mind to wander. You may even fall asleep. If you are working to learn meditation to work with "active" meditation techniques where you need to keep focused on a scripted image (i.e. positive manifestation, goal setting, etc.) it just takes a bit of gentle discipline. When your mind wanders...just acknowledge that it has wandered and bring it back to the image you want.

When I'm having difficulties keeping focused, I'll go as far as reasoning with my brain. If while meditating, my mind keeps producing thoughts of "did you do this, did you do that", I'll mentally tell myself, "okay, I'll pay attention to that when I'm done. But right now I need to take the time for this" (meditating). I will take the time for [that] in a short while. Sound like I'm reasoning with a small child? Pretty darn close! It works...what can I tell you?

I think one of the most important things I've learned in my years of metaphysical studies is that, if it works...use it. What ever way you find works for you, is the right way for you. There is no one and only right way.

Many disciplines or books seem to tell us that if you don't do it their way, it's not going to work or be correct. I say..."bull do-do!!!". (G version here....) Who says so?

I certainly can meditate without contorting my body in a lotus position. Heck, I can't even do that in a wide awake state! It works without counting down (or up) in some precise, prescribed script. Well, neither do you. Meditation is a natural human activity, so use the techniques I give you as a guide Feel comfortable about changing things to suit you, add things, subtract others. Make it your way...because it is.



There are basically, two forms of meditation. Passive meditation and active meditation.

Passive Meditation

Passive meditation is just that. In fact, if you use the term, meditate - people conjure up pictures of people sitting in lotus positions emptying their minds. (I don't know about you...but telling me to empty my mind will automatically make millions of thoughts spring into my head!)

Seriously, passive meditation is very useful. It reduces stress, and can give us that sorely needed quiet time. There have been many studies that have shown that passive meditation can lower blood pressure, reduce fatigue, and give an all over general feeling of well-being.

Okay...so how do you DO it?

First, a good way to start is pick a time and a place where you aren't going to be disturbed. (you deserve some time to yourself!) Sit comfortably. Yes...you CAN lie down...just be aware that it's easier to fall asleep when lying down. Wearing comfortable clothing helps. If you're squeezing yourself into those tight jeans, it's going to be difficult to breathe and relax.

If it helps you, put on some soothing music low in the background. You don't have to dim the lights, but it might be less distracting to have a lower light level. It's a great idea to unplug the phone. (never fails to ring in MY house when I meditate if I don't).

From this point there are many different ways to "get" to alpha. Remember, the point is to pay less attention to things going on around you and be more focused in inner thoughts/things. So, pick something you'd like to concentrate on. Images are good focus points. Even if you don't visualize exceptionally clearly. Some good images might be:

· A puffy white cloud

· A candle flame (this works especially well if you light an actual candle, look at it, and then close your eyes while picturing how the flame looked)

· A scenic vista (the beach, a mountaintop, a lake or stream, etc.)

· A flower

The only rule here is to pick something you'd like. Change it each time you meditate if you want or keep it the same. If you'd prefer...don't use images...you can use sound. It's what works for you, right?

As you picture that image you'll naturally slip into an alpha state. Voila...you are meditating.

Active Meditation

Active meditation is nothing more than staying mentally alert while being in an alpha state. When we first start working with meditation, we usually are kind of slow-thinking. However, with a bit of practice, you can learn to be more and more mentally active while producing alpha brainwaves.

What good does this do you? A lot! You can learn to visualize goals, and work on manifestation techniques. You can learn to improve memory, work on improving sports performance, and many other things.

With active meditation, instead of picturing a static image, you picture a series of scenes. You would mentally run a "motion picture". You may also incorporate a dialog in your head to go along with the scene. The more of the senses you are able to place into the scene (visual, auditory, emotional, kinestetic, smell) the stronger the impression. With practice, you will be able to "hold" the theme of the meditation, actively participating in it's direction and production...all while producing alpha brainwaves.

You are, in effect, doing this already when you daydream. Most of us are having movie-type scenery being played out while tuning out what is going on around us. In active meditation, it's the same principle...except YOU are directing the action and writing the script.

As with passive meditation, it's common and natural for you to get sidetracked. You might start meditating working on a goal to quit smoking, then all of a sudden you find yourself deep into a daydream about cleaning out your car. Simply, and gently, guide yourself back to the images of the goal you were working on. After working with active meditation for a while, you'll soon be able to hold your theme or goal for longer periods of time.

Amulet against depression

Specifically for depression involving money and parents. By Mama Rose

In a green silk scrap of cloth put

· Amythest

· Rose Quartz

· Lavender

· Five-Finger Grass

· Fluorite

· If possible, put a piece of the person's hair in it as well. (fingernails or toenails also are good.)

Charge it under a waningn moon with the following rhyme:

Pain drain,

Losses lessen,

Bills paid,

Parents easing.

(repeat, under a waning moon, until charged.)

When the moon passes new, if you still haven't given it to the person, add an additional charge:

Joy come,

Heart heal,

Bounty abounds,

Parents happy.

And also pick up a rubbing stone of either rose quartz or fluorite or amythest for the person's pocket.



Emotional Bank

by Mama Rose

For storing potentially overwhelming emotions from a foreseen event, until it's possible to deal with them.

Go outside and look for a rock. It has to be both small enough and big enough to hold easily (to squeeze easily), it has to be strong -- not subject either to crumbling or to flaking -- and it has to feel friendly. Feel free to inquire of your candidates whether they are willing to become emotional banks for you.

Draw a standard circle. Pagans may want to invoke Athena or Bridget and Hermes or Ganesh; Christians might enjoy invoking St. Peter and possibly Mary Magdalene for this one, as folks who would definitely under- stand! (As helpers and process-overseers.) Purify. Raise power and channel it into the rock, with some such phrase as "What I can't handle, take from me, until such time as I request it back." Think of the rock's gaining the ability and capacity to absorb your overflow emotions from you at your request; of its gaining the ability to contain them for as long as needed; of its ability to sort out the emotions by what belongs with what; and of its gaining the ability to return them to you, in the quantities you request, at the time you request them. Tie these abilities into it with a mentally tied knot. Open the circle. Release the Gods or Saints, if you invoked them.

Place the rock where you can see it and talk to it the rest of the week. Tell it what's going on, what you're asking it to do and why, the kinds of things it can expect -- trust your insticts on this. What you're doing is solidifying your relationship with the rock as an ally.



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When the time comes, take the rock with you in an easily reached place; I would prefer a pocket, but whatever won't embarrass you. As you begin to feel full of emotion, take hold of the rock. Start moving the excess emotion down into the rock. Maintain your comfort level: don't feel obliged to become overwhelmed before starting. Should the emotion resist moving, speak to it and promise to feel it at some later date, when you can pay proper attention to it. That should reassure it enough to move. Move the emotion in the same way you move energy.

A few days after the event, get your comfort critters, whether an animal companion or a stuffed toy or your favorite record, and a box of tissues. Draw a standard circle around your bed, and ask the rock for a single set of the emotions. Feel them, acknowledge them, then tell them what you are doing to deal with the situation which caused them, and let them flow away at their own pace. Be prepared to weep strenuously, or shriek, or pound something. You are safe within the circle: nothing can get at you to make it worse, so indulge.

Don't try to deal with more than one set in a day's time; and you might even want to space it at one-a-week. Keep checking with your rock on how much is left to go. It'll let you know when it is done.

When the rock is empty again, set it in full moonlight for several nights to clear it; then keep it for your altar as the stone for north. When you might need it again, both of you will already know what to do!



Construction and Use of Ancient Greek Poppets



I. General

This essay addresses the use and construction of ancient Greek poppets (ritual effigies, "voodoo dolls"); it is based primarily on "Binding and Burying the Forces of Evil," by Christopher Faraone, which is cited in full at the end of this essay. In ancient Greek such a ritual image was usually called a Kolossos, a word of uncertain origin, which can refer to an effigy of any kind. The Greek use of these effigies dates from at least the fourth century BCE and is similar to their use throughout the Mediterranean, although of course there are regional differences. One distinguishing characteristic of the Greek use of Kolossoi is that it is primarily defensive; it is generally aimed at containing a hostile force, rather than destroying it.



II. Purpose

The general purpose of Kolossoi is to bind some Subject, but the binding can be applied to various kinds of beings for various purposes. First, bindings may be applied to deities, which cannot be destroyed, but may be restrained. Sometimes they are used to restrain a dangerous deity, who may cause harm or is believed to be favoring your enemies. Thus Ares, as God of slaughter and death on battlefield, may be bound to bring safety in battle, or to decrease the probability of war.

Protective deities also may be bound to restrain Them from leaving. Thus the Athenians had their "wingless Victory" - wingless to keep Her from leaving the city. This may also be the sense in Pandora's paradoxical trapping of Hope in the jar after she has released all the evils in the world; we will see that Kolossoi are often bound in jars or pots. Ares is sometimes bound in this way as a protector, and, in the absence of an inscription, it may be difficult to tell whether He is being bound as a hostile or a friendly force. Perhaps He may be bound in both aspects at the same time: constrained to stay here to protect us and prevented from going to the enemy's side. We also have Kolossoi depicting Hephaistos, for He is a God of both binding and unbinding (recall the story of how He trapped Ares and Aphrodite in bed). (See 14.Diabolos in the Pythagorean Tarot for more on Hephaistos as God of Binding and Unbinding.)

Second, Kolossoi can also be used to restrain ghosts and other Hikesioi Apaktoi (hostile visitants). Again, they cannot be killed (since they are already dead), but they can be bound. For ghosts especially, the binding ceremony may follow funerary customs, and so help to ensure that the ghost is properly laid and departs for the Land of the Dead.

Third, Kolossoi are used to restrain mortal enemies. Such might either be a Goes (Sorcerer), who has sent an Eidolon or Phasma (Phantom) against someone, or it might be a mundane enemy (e.g. in a lawsuit). In cases where the antagonist is unknown, a pair of Kolossoi, one male and one female, are used. Where there are a number of enemies (e.g. a family or an army), three Kolossoi are typically used, on the principal of pars pro toto (a part for the whole). Finally, Kolossoi might be used to bind the partners of an oath.

In passing, we may mention Erotic Kolossoi, which are generally intended to bind someone in love, to constrain them to be faithful, or to restrain a rival. They are large topic, and will not be discussed further in this essay, although most of the same principles apply to their construction and use (see Winkler 1991).

One important defensive use of Kolossoi is the protection of boundaries, for which purpose they may be buried in a wall or at a fence-line or other boundary. Kolossoi are used for both public and private defense. I have already indicated how they might be used to protect a temple or other building; the public might also use them to ward off an invading enemy. Private use would typically be to protect an individuals and their families.

In some cases, where permanent protection is required, the Kolossos is regularly rebound. An example of this is the yearly binding of Ares for the protection of the city of Syedra; He is unbound once a year during a period of general license analogous to the Saturnalia. (This may be symbolized in the story in Book 5 of the Iliad, where Ares is bound in a cauldron for thirteen lunar months.) Other deities regularly bound for the protection of the state include Artemis, Dionysos, Hera, and Athena.

In other cases the Kolossos is constructed and consecrated for a particular crisis. It is bound and buried once (as described later) but, especially if it was successful, may receive a regular (e.g. monthly or yearly) sacrifice thereafter.



III. Construction

I will turn now to the construction of Kolossoi. They may be made of metal (e.g. bronze, wood, silver or lead; the latter being the most common metal), wood, clay, wax or similar malleable materials. The image is not normally realistic, since it does not depend on similarity of appearance to become connected with its Subject; that is accomplished by other means (described below). Typically the figure is nude, and often there is exaggeration of the genitals, feet or other parts; this accords with the general principle of using shocking or obscene images to ward off the evil eye and other dangers (e.g., the sign of the fig and phallic amulets).

Generally some parts of the figure are twisted backward, to indicate the incapacitation of the Subject. Often the head is twisted backward, or at least extremely far to the left, to cause confusion. It is also common for the feet to be backward, and sometimes the arms or the entire torso. In some cases the Kolossos is made with these parts backward, but usually they are made normally and then twisted around.

The figure is often pierced with nails or needles (13 is a popular number), typically made of iron or bronze, though animal fangs and other materials may be used. Each nail or needle transfixes some part of the body representing a faculty, which it thereby paralyzes, but without destroying it. For example, nails through the eyes, ears and mouth paralyze cognitive faculties, while one through the heart might restrain will, and nails through the limbs cause paralysis or loss of strength.

The Kolossos may be further mutilated to restrain the enemy; for example the head may be hacked off and buried separately from the body (to prevent them being rejoined), or the effigy may be burned, melted, crushed, trampled under foot, etc. (These aggressive measures are not normally used for laying ghosts; instead the Kolossos is given funeral rites. A ghost is normally called by name for three days or thrice in one day to summon it home for burial.)

Hellenistic Kolossos from Delos

In addition to being transfixed, the figure is normally bound. For example, the arms may be bound (usually behind the back), the legs may be bound, and sometimes the arms are bound to the legs. There may be a collar around the neck, or a binding around the mouth (which could hold a nail or peg in it). Sometimes the Kolossos is bound to another object, such as an erotic amulet.

A number of materials may be used for binding, including lead bands, bronze wires, nails and iron chains (for large Kolossoi). The figure may even bind itself, for example with the right hand over its mouth (perhaps holding in a nail) and the left over its anus.

The Kolossos is identified with its Subject by either incantation or inscription, most often by both. The Subject (deity, ghost, person) is mentioned by name if its name is known, often including a patronymic or mentioning the Subject's mother, e.g., "NN whom NN bore" ("NN" stands for a name). The Subject's name is usually inscribed on the left side of the Kolossos, most often on the hip, leg or arm; the name may also be written in red ink. The name is often accompanied with a binding formula (described below).

The Kolossos also may be identified with its Subject by embedding in it Ousia (Substances): stuff connected with the Subject, for example, a bit of hair, fingernail parings or a bit of clothing, might be embedded in the navel of a wax figure. Finally, a wax or clay Kolossos might be molded around a papyrus containing a spell mentioning the Subject's name.

The Kolossoi are really of a kind with the Defixiones or Katadesmoi (so-called "Cursing Tablets"), since a Kolossos may be made nearly flat to better accommodate names and spells. Thus we may have Kolossoi in the form of lead tablets or sheets bearing inscriptions, perhaps with inscribed pictures of the Subject(s) bound by hostile spirits. Such lead sheets, or equivalent papyri, can be folded or rolled, and are often pierced with a nail (hence, defixio from defigo, to fix down) to achieve the binding.



IV. Katadesmoi (Binding Formulas)

In addition to an identification of the Kolossos with its Subject, there is often some formula of binding, which may be inscribed on the Kolossos, spoken above it, or both; it may take several forms of greater of less elaborateness. Inscriptions may be written backwards, to increase the Subject's confusion. The spoken spell is usually accompanied by ritual actions, such as the mutilation, piercing or binding of the figure; further, the Defigens (Binder) may touch the ground while invoking chthonic deities, or raise his or her hands to celestial deities.

In the simplest case, the Defigens simply declares,

I hereby bind NN!

Alternately, the binding may be expressed as a wish:

May NN be defeated!

Let NN be restrained!

The spell may take the form of a prayer to some deities to restrain the subject; often the Subject is handed over or committed to the deity (as though being put under arrest) - a wise thing to do, since then responsibility for the binding resides with the Gods. Although any God or Goddess might be petitioned, it is particularly appropriate to appeal to Hermes Katokhes (Restrainer) in the consecration. Other deities called on for binding are Hermes Khthonios, Ge, Hecate (Khthonia) and Persephone. For example,

O Hermes Katokhos, restrain NN!

I commit NN to the Gods,

to Ge, Hecate and Persephone!

I bind NN, born of NN,

in Your presence, Hermes Katokhos.

May s/he be restrained

in hand and foot and body!

Finally, by the magical principal of Similia Similibus (Similars for Similars), the incantation may call for the Subject to be bound analogically by the binding of the effigy. For example, a simple binding is:

I hereby bind NN in leaden bonds!

Analogies may be invoked with the material of the Kolossos or its disposition:

As this lead is cold and powerless,

also cold and powerless is NN,

cold in knowledge, thinking, memory!

His soul, his mind, his tongue, his plans:

let all these things be twisted round!

For a Kolossos buried in a graveyard:

As the dead are powerless and still,

just so powerless and still will NN be,

his feet and hands and body!

Here is a typical formula for binding the partners of an oath:

Just as this image melts and flows away,

Let he who breaks this promise likewise melt,

And perish all his seed and property!

This is a typical formula for boundary protection:

As long as savage Ares lies within the ground,

So long in this our land will foemen not be found!

The power of the spell is increased by the use of repetition and meter; also, multiple deities may be invoked and more of Their epithets or offices listed.



V. Disposition

Kolossoi in their containers (from a grave in Ceramicus)

Sometimes the Kolossos is ritually destroyed, but for binding the more common disposition involves confinement and burial. First the Kolossos is usually confined tightly in a lead box with a tight cover, or wrapped in a sheet of lead, or placed in a copper of bronze cauldron or box. Often the container is inscribed, on the inside or the outside, with names, spells, bands, and/or bound figures. These may also be written and drawn on papyrus, which is then used to wrap the Kolossos. In some cases the Kolossos in its container is placed in a clay pot, to further constrain it. Finally, you must dispose of the Kolossos and its container(s). They may be thrown into deep water, such as a well or the ocean, or more commonly buried, for example, in a graveyard, a sanctuary or uncultivated land; both earth and water are paths to the chthonic deities. Such disposition also makes it less likely that the Subject will find the Kolossos and thereby loose the binding (see next).



VI. Unbinding

It will be worthwhile to say a few words about removing bindings. In general only the Defigens or the Gods he or she invoked are capable of dissolving the bonds. The best option for the Subject is to pray and sacrifice to the Gods, either to Those who have bound him or her, or, if They are not known, to all deities. The binding is also released if either the Defigens or Subject can find the Kolossos and systematically unbind it (i.e., remove bands and nails, turn the head and limbs around the right way).



Wiccan Protection Ball

By D.J. Conway

edited by Mama Rose

Witch balls have been around for centuries, but is is nearly impossible (and very costly) to buy one.

These silvery balls were once common fixtures in windows, particularly in England, where they were said to repel evil thoughts and curses. Most Pagans don't feel they can spend several hundred dollars to purchase such a ball, even if they could find one, but there is no reason you can't make one.

You will need

· a clear glass ball or Yule ornament with an opening in one end. If the glass ball has some kind of design, choose one you like or one you can change with further decoration.

· a bottle of silver paint (found in hobby stores)

· a few drops of frankincense or patchouli oil

· a spool of red thread

· a pair of scissors.

Cover your working space with newspaper to protect against spills. Take the metal cap off the ornament. Carefully pour a little of the silver paint inside the ball and swish it around until the inside is completely covered with the silver. Set it aside to dry.

When the paint is totally dry, cut the red thread into three-inch lengths. Carefully poke this thread into the open end of the ball. Continue cutting and putting the thread into the ball untill the ball is nearly full. Put in a few drops of oil. Then put the end back on the ornament. If it has no end, seal it with candle wax.

When you hang the protection ball, chant:

Symbol of the Moon, symbol of the Lady divine,

Reject all negativity, defend this home (car), me and mine.

[or similar chant.] This protection ball can be hung in the window of your home or in your car. Any negative thoughts or ill-wishes directed against you are reflected back to the sender. You can also decorate the outside with appropriate designs. You can put them onto wreaths or make them part of a dried flower arrangement. Programmed for protection, these little Witch balls do a very good job







The Pythagorean Pentacle

by Apollonios Sophistes

© 1996, revised 1999



· Historical Background

· Labeling the Pentagram

· Pythagorean Interpretations

o The Elements

o The Organic Cycle

o The Tetractys

o The Letter Forms

o The Planets

o The Four Functions and the Self

o The Alchemical Great Work

o Colors

o The Directions

· The Dual Pentagram

· References

· Notes



Historical Background

Pentagram on reverse of a small bronze coin (AE10) from Pitane, Mysia, 4th-3rd cent. BCE. Letters around the pentagram spell (PITAN).

The pentagram and hexagram were both used for protection in ancient Greece (V cent. BCE). In Babylon, five-, six- and seven-rayed stars were all used. The pentagram appears in the earliest writing of Mesopotamia (precuneiform pictographic writing), c. 3000 BCE, as the Sumerian sign UB. Its meaning in the cuneiform period (by 2600 BCE) seems to be a Heavenly Quarter and also the four directions (forward, backward, left, right); the fifth direction was "above." The four directions corresponded to the planets Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and Saturn, with Venus the Queen of Heaven (Schekina) above. These are the "Smaller Planets" (omitting Sun and Moon). Ishtar (Venus) was represented by the Eight-rayed Star (Elam). See De Vogel (App. A) and Black & Green (s.v. Star).

Pythagoras may have become acquainted with the Pentagram during his sojourns in Egypt and Babylon (perhaps 554-533 BCE); in any case the Pythagoreans used it as a sign of recognition (Iambl., Vita Pyth. XXXIII). They called the Pentagram (Hugieia), which is usually translated "Health," but has more the sense of Soundness or Wholeness, and, more generally, any Divine Blessing (LSJ s.v. hugieia, Suppl. s.v. hugieia). (Hugieia comes from the same Indo-European root as gives us "quick" [i.e. living], "viva," "vital," "bios" [life], "zôê" [life] and "azoth." It has been traditionally associated with "vigor", "vigil" and the Latin words "vegetus" [lively, vigorous] and "vegeo" [to quicken], which come from the same Indo-European root as "Wicca" and "Witch.") The Pentagram was still used to mean "Hugieia" in Paracelsus' time (c.1493-1541). The Pythagoreans also used "Be sound / whole / blessed!" (, Hugiaine!) as their greeting or password (Scholia in Aristoph., Nubes 609; Lucian, Pro lapsu 5). In fact Bonner (p. 177) notes that "Hugieia" is a fairly common inscription on amulets, and that Perdrizet thinks it and similar inscriptions are Oriental in origin (although the word is Greek). Hugieia (Hygeia) is also, of course, the Goddess of Health, called Salus by the Romans; She is the daughter of the God Aesculapius.



Labeling the Pentagram

The Pythagoreans apparently labeled the points or angles of the Pentagram with the Greek letters (UGIEIA). Allman (p. 26) shows them on the points arranged counterclockwise from the top thus: (U-G-I-EI-A). The fact that (UGIEIA) has six letters is an inconvenience, and Allman observes that the Pythagoreans wrote upsilon, gamma, iota, theta, alpha at the points, perhaps because an adjacent epsilon and iota () look something like a theta (). Chasles (1875, p. 478-479) likewise lists these five letters, quoting Alstedius (Encyc. univ., 1620) and Kircher (Arithmologia, 1665).

Looking at the figure in Agrippa's De occulta philosophia (Lib. III, cap. xxi) we see an upright pentagram surrounded by two rings; between the rings and aligned with the angles between the pentagram's points are Greek letters reading clockwise: (UGI?A). The mysterious fourth letter is not entirely clear in my edition of Agrippa (Brill, 1992), but its appearance is consistent with a common medieval abbreviation for EI or ei (which looks vaguely like a theta, but more like a dollar sign made without lifting the pen).

Vincenzo Cartari's Le Imagini degli Dei degli Antichi (Venezia 1609, Padova 1626) shows a Pythagorean signet ring bearing an upright pentagram labeled with both Hugieia and Salus. The Greek letters (UGEIA) are clockwise in the points, beginning with the upper-left arm. The Roman letters SALUS are clockwise in the angles, beginning with the lower-left angle (Latin Salus has the same meaning as Hugieia).

So, although we can conclude that the Pythagoreans labeled the Pentagram with the letters (U-G-I-EI-A), sometimes we find them clockwise, sometimes counterclockwise, and either placed on the points starting at the top (Alstedius, Kircher), or in the angles starting at the top right (Agrippa). Since the historical evidence for the placement is late and inconsistent, I have developed a Pythagorean Pentacle that embodies many important alchemical, magical and astrological relationships; indeed, it functions as a sort of alchemical computer. The pentagram is inscribed in a pentagon with the letters U, G, I, EI (or Th), A written clockwise on the points beginning in the lower left point:

I

G EI

U A







Pythagorean Interpretations

· The Elements

· The Organic Cycle

· The Tetractys

· The Letter Forms

· The Planets

· The Four Functions and the Self

· The Alchemical Great Work

· Colors

· The Directions



The Elements

The letters labeling the corners of the Pentacle are the first letters of Greek words for the Elements:



(U) (Hudor) Water

(G) (Gaia) Earth

(I) (Idea) Form/Idea, or (Hieron) a divine, holy thing

(EI) (Heile) Sun's Warmth or (Th) (Therma) Heat

(A) (Aer) Air

Though the Theta may be explained as a joined Epsilon and Iota, we see here an alternative explanation, for either is an abbreviation for the Fiery Element. Notice how the pattern of the letters, (UG/I/EIA) or UG/I/ThA), matches the arch structure of the Pentacle; interestingly the Greek word Hugieia () has a high-tone (acute) accent on the Iota (corresponding to Spirit), which seems appropriate.

This seems to be the only arrangement of the Elements on the Pentagram that generates (UGIEIA) or (UGIThA) - let alone both - from plausible Element names. Also I should note that the above Element names are the usual ones that appear, for example, in Aristotle, except Fire, where Pur is used; however Empedocles (who discovered the Four Elements) uses Eelios = Sun, which is described as Thermos, for Fire (DK 31B 21; see also Kirk, Raven & Schofield 292-3). Also, although Aristotle uses Aither for the Fifth Element (Quintessence), Plato clearly associates it with the World of Forms (Ideai). I think Hieron (a holy, divine thing) is also appropriate for the Quintessence (which resides in the Celestial Sphere).

To see what's going on more clearly, you might want to draw a Pentagram with a circumscribed Pentagon. It will be helpful later if you draw the Pentagram and Pentagon in contrasting colors. The lower trapezoid of the figure is then a (distorted) Square of Opposition representing the Four Mundane Elements Earth-Water-Air-Fire. Spirit stands above these, forming a pyramid over them.

First observe that the Pentacle embodies the Physical Order of the Elements; if we stay on the Mundane level we have Earth-Water-Air-Fire, and we can make it a cycle counterclockwise (as in the Alchemical Circulation) by returning from Fire to Earth across the horizontal beam of the Pentagram. Likewise, the Pentacle includes the Extended Physical Order (the Metaphysical Order), which includes the ascent to Spirit: Earth-Water-Air-Fire-Spirit by a counterclockwise circuit. Of course we get the descent Spirit-Fire-Air-Water-Earth by going clockwise.



The Organic Cycle

Aristotle (e.g. De caelo 268b11-296a32; De gen. & corr. 329a24-331a6) showed that the properties of the Four Elements are caused by the Four Qualities or Powers, Wet, Hot, Dry and Cold. Thus Earth=Dry+Cold, Water=Cold+Wet, Air=Wet+Hot, Fire=Hot+Dry. The Four Qualities comprise two Dualities: Hot/Cold (active) and Dry/Wet (passive), usually displayed in a Square of Opposition, thus:

Cold

Wet Dry

Hot

The Four Qualities fall into a Natural Order, which might be called the Organic Order: Wet, Hot, Dry, Cold (the preceding circle counterclockwise). I won't repeat the explanations (see Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos I.4-8, 10, 17, II.3), but here are some of the correspondences:



Quality Age Season Moon

Wet Child Spring 1st Q.

Hot Youth Summer 2nd Q.

Dry Maturity Autumn 3rd Q.

Cold Old Age Winter 4th Q.

Note that this makes the Cold/Wet transition of the Cycle a key Transition Point: (1) it represents the Dark of the Moon, (2) the traditional start of the year (Vernal Eq.), and (3) reincarnation (the passage from death back into birth). (See The Ancient Greek Esoteric Doctrine of the Elements for more on the qualities and their correspondences.)

Since the Qualities are shared by pairs of elements, they actually fall on the lines of the Pythagorean Pentacle. For example, Wet corresponds to the line connecting Water (U) and Air (A). If we look at the Pentacle as a Pyramid, the four lines around the base represent the Four Powers in their mundane manifestation. The four sides rising above them toward the apex (corresponding to Spirit) represent the elevation or aetherialization of the Powers (at the apex they all become identical; this is the alchemical Quintessence; see "The Rotation of the Elements," Caduceus, Vol. 1, No. 4).

Although the Powers properly belong on the lines between the points, it is often convenient to place them on the points, thus identifying them with the Elements. Aristotle showed that one of the two Powers constituting an Element is dominant (the first of the two given in the equations above), so Earth is predominantly Dry, Water is Cold, Air is Wet and Fire is Hot. These correspondences may not be entirely obvious (and other philosophers, such as the Stoics, have done them differently), but overall they work best, especially for alchemy. When we apply them we get the following correspondences for the points of the Pentagram:



Letter Element Power Age Season Moon

A Air Wet Child Spring 1st Q.

EI Fire Hot Youth Summer 2nd Q.

G Earth Dry Maturity Autumn 3rd Q.

U Water Cold Old Age Winter 4th Q.



I Spirit Divine Death Terror Time New Moon

The four elemental correspondences are the most common used through the Renaissance. The Fifth Element can be included as shown. (The "Terror Time" refers to the unnamed and unnumbered days between the years.) One might expect I=Death to fall on the Pentacle between U=Oldage and A=Child, but it does not; perhaps this is because the ascent to Spirit can occur from any stage of life. There is a different analysis, based directly on the elements rather than the qualities, which does put Death in the expected place.



The Tetractys

The Tetractys, the sequence I-II-III-IIII, which together add to the Decad, was another holy symbol of the Pythagoreans, usually written:

* I

* * or I I

* * * I I I

* * * * I I I I

The second-century Neoplatonist Theon (Math. Chrem. Platon. Anag. II.xxxviii) gives a set of correspondences to the Tetractys, based on the properties of the first four numbers. For example, they are correspond to the Elements in order of decreasing subtlety: 1=Fire, 2=Air, 3=Water, 4=Earth. This is also the order of the Mundane Spheres, from outside to inside (aetherial fire above the damp lower air, above the water, held by the earth).

The first four numbers also represent processes of growth or development. For example,



Num. Elem. Lifestage Season

1 Fire Child Spring

2 Air Youth Summer

3 Water Maturity Autumn

4 Earth Old Age Winter



5/0 Spirit Death Terror Time

Here the emphasis is on Development (especially toward greater stability, gravity), whereas in the Organic Cycle it is on the periodic return of the seasons. Nevertheless, the Fifth Element naturally completes the cycle. As indicated, Spirit may be also considered the "zeroth" element, coming before Fire.



The Letter Forms

The Greek letters labeling the Pentagram encode the developmental sequence of the Elements in their forms:



1 (EI) Fire five strokes

2 (A) Air four strokes (with broken crossbar)*

3 (U) Water three strokes

4 (G) Earth two strokes

5 (I) Spirit one stroke



The Planets

Ptolemy defines the Qualities of the Five Minor Planets as follows: Venus is predominantly Wet and assigned to Air; Jupiter is Hot and assigned to Fire, Mars is Dry and assigned to Earth, Saturn is Cold and assigned to Water. Mercury is neutral in itself, but can combine with the other planets, so we assign it to Spirit. Thus we have:

Mercury

Mars Jupiter

Saturn Venus

According to Ptolemy the two Planets on the right (Jupiter, Venus) are beneficent, the two on the left (Mars, Saturn) are malevolent; Mercury is neutral.

In Babylonian astrological tablets dating back to at least the fourth century BCE, the Minor Planets are assigned to Signs of the Zodiac in the order Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, etc. (Rochberg-Halton). That is, they are assigned according to the descending cycle of elements: Fire, Air, Water, Earth. Therefore, Jupiter is Lord of the Aries-Leo-Sagittarius triplicity, Venus of Taurus-Virgo-Capricorn, Saturn of Gemini-Libra-Aquarius and Mars of Cancer-Scorpio-Pisces. The Fixed Signs of these triplicities correspond to the Seasons, as already enumerated: Air-Taurus-Spring-Wet, Fire-Leo-Summer-Hot, Earth-Scorpio-Autumn-Dry, Water-Aquarius-Winter-Cold. (These are not the elemental association now current in astrology, which apparently derive from Vetius Valens' Anthologia, although they are consistent with Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos; both date from the 2nd. cent. CE.)

The Greater Lamps, the Sun and Moon, do not have a place on the Pentagram, but stand above it, the Moon on the left and the Sun on the right. They govern the two Shamanic Paths: The Left-hand Path is the Way of the Moon, which descends to the Underworld by means of the element Earth and the Water below it (i.e. the Abyss). The Right-hand Path is the Way of the Sun, which ascends to the Heavens by means of the elements Air and the Fire above it (the Celestial Fire). Both Paths are valid and appropriate according to circumstances. (See Opsopaus' "Olympic Lesser Banishing Ritual," Caduceus vol. 1, no. 1, and references therein for more on the two Paths.)



The Four Functions and the Self

Four Gods are conventionally associated with the Mundane Elements in the obvious way: Jupiter (Fire), Juno (Air), Neptune (Water), Ceres (Earth).

The Four Powers are associated naturally with Jung's Four Functions: Feeling (Wet) opposite Thinking (Dry), Intuition (Hot) opposite Sensation (Cold); the Transcendent Self (Spirit) stands above them all. The Wet/Dry functions are "evaluative," the Hot/Cold are "experiential." Four Gods correspond to the Four Functions: Venus (Feeling, love), Minerva (Thinking, wisdom), Jupiter (Intuition, the "bolt from the blue"), Neptune (Sensation, lord of the earth/physical reality). Thus we have:



Element Deities Function Power Planet

Spirit Mercury Self Divine Mercury

Fire Jupiter Intuition Hot Jupiter

Air Hera, Aphrodite Feeling Wet Venus

Water Neptune Sensation Cold Saturn

Earth Ceres, Minerva Thinking Dry Mars

The Four Functions correspond to the suits of the Minor Arcana by way of the Powers: Intuition-Hot-Wands (Jupiter), Feeling-Wet-Cups (Juno, Venus), Sensation-Cold-Pentacles (Neptune, Saturn), Thinking-Dry-Swords (Minerva, Mars). The Transcendental Self corresponds to the Major Arcana (the Archetypal Realm), associated with Mercury (the Magician), the Psychopomp (Soul-guide) who shows us the way between the worlds. (See The Pythagorean Tarot for more.)



The Alchemical Great Work

In accord with the Organic Cycle, the points of the Pentagram correspond to the Stages of the Great Work in Alchemy. The first stage is Nigredo (Blackening), corresponding to Water-Cold-Winter-Saturn; it is the stage which causes the dissolution of old structures and their reduction to Prima Materia (Prime Matter). The next stage is Albedo (Whitening), corresponding to Air-Wet-Spring-Venus; it is the purification stage, in which the Prima Materia is cleansed so that it is devoid of all properties and can accept the Tincture. Next is Citrinitas (Yellowing), corresponding to Fire-Hot-Summer-Jupiter; it is the stage in which the Prima Materia receives the fiery Golden Tincture. Finally we have the Rubedo (Reddening), corresponding to Earth-Dry-Autumn-Mars; it is a paradoxical stage, for it is associated with Ios or Venenum, the Venomous Potion. It can be the highest stage of the Alchemical Process, the Iosis (becoming reddish-purple) in which the Philosophers Stone is produced, which has an excess of the Tincture, and so can transmute other matter. However, it can also be a stage of excess, the Adustio (Rusting or Browning) which destroys the Work accomplished (returning it to dry, inanimate matter), whose only use is as the raw material for another Nigredo. This is why the ascent to the Quintessence occurs between the Citrinitas and the Rubedo. In a proper rotation the substance will be progressively elevated until it reaches the Quintessence at the apex of the Pyramid. (See 10.Fortune in the Pythagorean Tarot for more on the rotation.)



Colors

In addition to the colors associated with the Elements and Powers by virtue of Alchemy (Water/Cold=Black, Air/Wet=White, Fire/Hot=Yellow, Earth/Dry=Red), there are also secondary colors, Green for Air/Wet and Blue for Water/Cold. First, Green is strongly associated with Venus-Spring-Wet-Air. Venus's epithet, "the Cyprian" derives from Cypris, Her home, as do the word "copper," "cuprous," etc. Further, Green is the complementary to Red, which is the color of Mars who stands opposite to Venus on the Mundane Plane (as the Red of Autumn opposes the Green of Spring). Second, Blue is associated with Saturn-Winter-Cold-Water, for Blue is complementary to Yellow, which is the color of Jupiter, who stands opposite Saturn (as the sunny Yellow of Summer opposes the icy Blue of Winter).



The Directions

The points of the Pentagram correspond to the Four Directions and Up. Unfortunately, there are many ways the directions can be assigned. The assignment most commonly used in the Renaissance makes Water=West, Air=South, Fire=East, Earth=North, which makes the perspective from above toward the Northeast. Another approach, adopted by Ashmole, is to assign them on the basis of the Organic Cycle and the motion of the Sun (Air=Wet=Morning=East, Fire=Hot=Midday=South, Earth=Dry=Evening=West, Water=Cold=Night=North). (With these assignments our perspective is below the Pyramid looking toward the Northeast.) Ptolemy assigns them on the basis of the Four Winds and their Qualities (which gives Water=Cold=North, Air=Wet=West, Fire=Hot=South, Earth=Dry=East). (With these assignments our perspective is above the Pyramid looking toward the Southeast, the sacred direction of the Etruscans.)

Tip: If you work in Wiccan or Golden Dawn traditions, with their directional associations (East-Air, South-Fire, West-Water, North-Earth), but don't want to get the alchemical structure of the elements garbled, then use the Ptolemaic assignments. Instead of Air, think Dry East Wind; instead of Fire, Hot South Wind; instead of Water, Wet West Wind; instead of Earth, Cold North Wind. That is, you will be working in terms of the Powers, which have the correct oppositional structure, rather than the Elements, which don't.



The Dual Pentagram

This brings us to an interesting property of the Pythagorean Pentacle (the Pentagram with circumscribed Pentagon). In mathematical terminology the Pentagram is dual to the Pentagon (one is like the other turned inside-out). To see this draw a black Pentagram in a red Pentagon, and a red Pentagram in a black Pentagon; each Pentacle is the dual of the other. For example, if we number the first Pentagon clockwise around its corners, and next trace the lines of its Pentagram and transfer the numbers counterclockwise to the corners of the second Pentagon, then our Pentacles will be labeled:

1 1

5 2 4 3

4 3 2 5

The second Pentacle has the Even Numbers, which according to Pythagorean theory are Feminine, on the left, and the Masculine Numbers on the right; since according to the Pythagoreans 1 is Androgynous (cf. Hermes Duplex), it is appropriate that it is in the middle.

Now label the Pythagorean Pentacle with the Elements as described above; I will call this the Elemental Pentacle. Next trace the lines of the Elemental Pentagram in Counterclockwise Order (Spirit, Water, Fire, Earth, Air) and lay out these elements in Clockwise Order around the corners of the second Pentagon; they will be arranged as follows:

Spirit

Air Water

Earth Fire

The resulting Dual Pentacle is interesting for a number of reasons. First observe that the Elements are arranged in the familiar Wiccan/Golden Dawn format, so henceforth I will call this the Golden Dawn Pentacle. Because this is the dual of the Elemental Pentacle, tracing the Golden Dawn Pentagram in Invoking Order (Spirit, Fire, Air, Water, Earth) corresponds to circumscribing the Elemental Pentagon in (descending) Physical order (Spirit, Fire, Air, Water, Earth). Tracing it from upper-right to lower-left (Spirit Banishing for Passives) spells out U/G/I/EI/A.

As is well known, Plato associates the Five Elements with the Five Platonic Solids (Tim. 55c-65c), and Kepler made a similar association between the Planets and the Platonic Solids. So let's lay out the Platonic Solids around the Golden Dawn Pentacle; I'll abbreviate the Solids by their number of faces:



4 Tetrahedron Fire

6 Cube Earth

8 Octahedron Air

12 Dodecahedron Spirit

20 Icosahedron Water

This is the result:

12

8 20

6 4

Notice that the Platonic Solids fall around the circumference in increasing order of number of faces. Since the Elemental Pentagram is its dual, we know that it can also produce the series 4, 6, 8, 12, 20 (by tracing the Pentagram).

So the Golden Dawn Pentacle also has some interesting Correspondences, though it loses the Directional and Organic Cycles and especially the Square of Opposition, which I think is fundamental and essential. Needless to say, they can be profound Mandalas for meditation if fully labeled with color-coded Correspondences.



Pop Quiz!



1. Trace the water you drink from precipitation to the tap.

2. What sort of soil is predominant where you live?

3. Name five edible native plants in your region and the seasons that they are available.

4. How long is the outdoor growing season in your zone?

5. What was the total precipitation in your area last year?

6. Name five birds that can be found in your area. Which are migratory?

7. How has the land in your area been used by humans, over the last two centuries?

8. Where does your garbage ultimately go?

9. From what direction do winter storms come in your region?

10. What primary geological events or processes shaped the land where you live?

11. What species have become extinct in your area?

12. When do the deer rut in your area? When are their young born?

13. What spring wildflowers are the first to bloom each year? Which trees?

14. Name five grasses in your area. Are any of them native?

15. What are the major plant associations in your region?

16. How recently was the Moon full? What phase is she in now?

17. What kind of energy do you primarily use? Where does it come from?

18. Where is there wilderness in your bioregion?

19. What are the primary sources of pollution in your area?

20. What are the major natural sounds you are aware of in a particular season?



Free hint #1: go outside, wander around, and look.

Free hint #2: your local library really IS the gate to all worlds! Spend some time investigating; ask for some help.

Goddess
00:29 Nov 12 2007
Times Read: 986

Athena



We all have some "Being" that we look to; either for inspiration or for comfort. Athena is mine. In all her incarnations, and all her forms, She is the Goddess I follow and aspire to. I thought She would be pleased if I tried to recreate Her history for others. This "biography" will the first in a series of the Gods and Goddesses of mythology and religion. The Gods have many names and aspects, and sometimes we look to the Old Ones for the name of the concept we see. I have chosen Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, and look to the old myths for stories of her. I don't know if I will ever arrive at the end of the whole listing of the Gods, but I figure I have my whole lifetime to do so. May the Bright Wisdom of the grey-eyed Goddess be bestowed upon you.

Athena is one of the twelve main Gods of the Greek pantheon. She is one of the daughters of Zeus, and sprang from his head fully grown and in full armour when his head was split from a fierce headache. According to myth, the Titans Gaia and Uranus warned Zeus that if the Titan Metis (a goddess Titan of wisdom) carried Zeus' child to term, the child would depose Zeus as the King of the Gods. To prevent this, he swallowed Metis and her unborn child. Several days later he had a truly horrible headache and had Hephaestus (the craftsman God) split Zeus' head with an axe. From this wound sprang Athena, the new Goddess of Wisdom and War. So according to myth, Athena techniclly has no mother, but there are some legends that Metis is still alive (although inside Zeus)and continued to give Zeus marvelous advise, which is why He became so wise.

Athena is also one of the Virgin Goddesses, and when in this aspect takes the name Athena Parthenos (which means virgin). The Parthenon in Athens is a magnificent marble temple dedicated to her virgin aspect, and contains many wonderful frescos and freizes about her major celebration, the Panathenaea. Unfortunatly, many of the ancient religious practices were lost due to the passage of time and the fact that complete silence was demanded of the participants, so not much of what transpired at her celebrations is known.

Athena is also known as the Patron Goddess of Crafts, and is credited with creating the horse bridle, the trumpet, the flute, the pot, the plow, the ship, the chariot, and most importantly, the spinning wheel. Spinning and weaving are Hers, and skilled weavers are coveted. From this comes the story of the vain Arachne and how spiders came about. But the one thing she was most noted for was the creation of the Olive tree.

When Posiden and Athena were contesting to see who would become the patron god of what was to become Athens, Zeus decided that they should each create something of value to determine the winner. Posiden cast down His trident, and where it landed, a spring of water was created guaranteing fresh water for the Greeks and sea passage. Athena took a seed and planted it. It sprang to full life as the olive tree, creating wealth and food for the Greeks. It was determined that the olive was the winner, and the new city was named Athens, after the winner. Ever after, Posiden became the chief foe of the Athenians, and they were always careful to not upset the wrathfull God of the Sea further.

Athena is also the Goddess of War. Unlike Ares, She is revered for Her determination to end conflict with wisdom and peaceful means. She was never bloodthirsty like He was, but preached temperance and wisdom on the battlefield. She played a predominate part in the Trojan War, and protects the brave and honorable. Zeus trusts only Her to hold His formadable weapon, the thunderbolt.

Traditionally, Athena is portrayed with an owl, Her bird of wisdom, and with the golden aegis on her breast. (The aegis is the head of Medusa who Perseus killed with Athena and Hermes help). She is nearly always clothed with a helmet and spear, and occasionally with a golden shield. She protects heros, and craftsmen call Her their own. The olive branch is sacred to her, along with the owl and dove. All crafts proclaim Her praise.



Artemis



Artemis is one of the twelve main Gods of Olympus. She was born, along with her twin Apollo, on the island of Delios. Her father is Zeus and her mother was the human woman Leto. With her silver arrows, She is the huntress of the Gods and one of their protectors. She protects the wild areas of the world, and once on the hunt, cannot be shaken. She can be ruthless and cold, yet is protective of children and childbirth. Her arrows never miss, and are said to carry disease and death. When a woman dies in childbirth, it is said the woman was shot by one of Artemis' arrows. She is sometimes the claimer of small children, but with compassion. She protects women, but during the Battle of Troy, the Greeks could not depart until a woman was sacrificed to Her. In some accounts, the victim was rescued by Her at the last moment, leaving a stag in the girls place. She is associated with the moon, as has become entwined with Luna (another goddess of the moon)

She is often represented as a young woman. She carries a bow and arrow, and is most often barefoot. Her breast is often left uncovered, and there are several carvings which show her with many breasts to remind us that She is associated with childbirth. The Laurel is sacred to her, along with the bear and stag.

Hera

Hera is the daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. She was born on the island of Samos and raised in Arcadia by the Four Seasons. She is the twin of Zeus, who was to become Her husband. After defeating Cronus, Zeus searched for Hera to persuade Her to join with Him. Spurning His love, She was tricked and raped by Him. Shamed into marriage, She then proceeded to harry and harass all His soon to follow lovers.

Hera is one of the Ancient Ones. She originated in the Hellenic peoples before the Greeks, and was the Great Mother. She has been represented as one of the Great Mothers in as many variations as there were Greek states. In Rome, She was adopted as Juno, wife of Jupiter. Her main roles are protector of women, marriage and childbirth; but wives are Her speciality. She has taken a bad rap for Her ruthless actions towards Her husbands' lovers, but that is Her role...protecting the honor of the wife.

Every year Hera bathes in the mystical spring Canathus, renewing Her virginity. Never traveling alone, She is accompanied by Iris, goddess of the Rainbow. Hera can bestow the power of prophecy to Her chosen ones, and protects Her followers with a fierce protectivness.

Hera is portrayed as a mature beautiful woman. She is often wearing a crown and Peplos (Grecian clothing). The peacock and cow are sacred to Her. Her favorite city is Argos, and the cuckoo and pomegranate are Her symbols.



Kali

Kali is the dynamic female aspect to the static male aspect of Shiva. She is one of the Dark Goddessess of legend, and is most often portrayed in Her terrifying and dark aspect. With black and shrunken skin, blood dripping from Her mouth and wearing corpses as jewelery, Her whole demeaner is meant to terrify us. She appears as a vengeful malevolant goddess, yet in actuality She is the loving mother, through which death and rebirth occurs.

Kali is a protector of women. Female abuse is forbidden to Her followers. In many stories She devours Her followers to allow their rebirth. She is often worshiped during the dark aspects of the moon, and is a fierce goddess to follow. She loves all Her children equally, and protects them with a fierce devotion.

Kali is often represented with black and shrunken skin, blood drips from Her fanged mouth, a girdle of severed arms is around Her waist and a necklace of skulls is around Her neck. She is often dancing on the body of Her husband, Shiva, and is often showen eating His intesines. There are softer portrayels of Her, carrying flowers and having normal skin coloring, but the dark aspect is the most seen. Facing Her means facing death...and beyond.





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Persephone

Persephone is the daugher of Zeus and Demeter. One day, as She was gathering flowers in a field, Hades saw Her and fell in love with Her. He abducted Her and carryed Her to His underworld home, where He forced marriage upon Her. Demeter, Her mother, was beside Herself and wandered the world looking for Her daughter. In Her grief, She did not allow the crops to grow and mankind starved. Zeus finally intervened and ordered Hades to return Persephone to Her mother, but Hades tricked Persephone into eating pomegranate seeds. Eating in the relm of the dead meant you could not return to the living. Seeing mankind starving, for Demeter refused to allow the crops to grow, Zeus ruled that Persephone remain 6 months above ground and 6 months below. Hence, She became the personification of Spring, since when She returns to the world, Her mother allows the crops to begin growing.

Persephone is one of the darker aspects of the Goddess. One calls upon Her during the Dark moon for fortune-telling. Because She does return from the dead, She is also an aspect of reincarnation. She has beaten Death.

Persephone is the Queen of the Dead and is often portrayed on a throne wearing a crown. The Pomegranate is usually with Her, and She is often carrying flowers.



Hecate

Hecate started as a benign early Greek Goddess who was adopted by the Romans as the formidable Goddess of Ghosts, the dead, and the crossroads. When the Titans ruled the world, She was given a portion, and even Zeus had Her keep what was Hers. Zeus calls upon Hecate whenever man makes a sacrifice or prayer for favor, and She is known to shower riches upon those She favors. In battle, She gives victory and riches to whom she pleases, and takes it away just as fast. At sea, She gives big catches to fishermen and on land can increase the farmers herds. Or take all the above away if She wants. She is a Goddess of the underworld, and when Persephone was abducted, only Hecate saw. Garlic is Her sacred plant, and is offered at crossroads where the petitioner leaves the plant, and cannot look back. She walks at night, Her three faces see everything, and Her companion is Hecuba, a Trojan woman who was terribly wronged and reincarnated as Hecate's black bitches. Hecate is the patron of Witches and is honored on the full moon.

Considering how powerful Hecate is believed to be, I found very little about Her. Most of that was verrrrrrrry verrrrrrry respectful! Be so advised!











Isis

Daugher of Geb and Nut, Isis was born in the swamps of Egypt. Twin of Nephthys, sister of Set, and sister and wife of Osiris, Isis evolved from a modest Goddess to the most powerful Goddess of Egypt. Even Cleopatra (being a female pharoh) claimed to be Isis's reincarnation. Isis is credited with teaching women to grind corn, spin flax and weave cloth while teaching man how to heal and become accustomed with married life. She presides over motherhood, maritial devotions, healing of the sick, protector and guardian of the dead, and is believed to be the most powerful magician on Earth. She speaks all the words of power (Egyptions believed "how" the words were pronounced was as important as just "saying" the words), having tricked Ra into revealing His secret name. She created a poisonous snake which bit Ra's ankle, and fearing death, He told Isis His secret name. This allowed Her to perform all forms of magick.

While married to Osiris, She was responsible for bringing Him back from the dead when Set murdered Him. She found all the pieces of Osiris' body, and using Her consideral magick, She brought Him back to life. Now She presides with Him in the relm of the dead.

From Osiris, Isis concieved Horus. Hiding in the papyrus swamps at Khemmis, She gave birth. Because She protected Horus to His adulthood (and His being the first Pharoh of Egypt), She became known as the protector of the Pharohs.

Isis is often depicted in several different ways. In human form, She is often crowned with an empty throne (symbolizing Osiris death and Her rule) or with cow horns encircling a sun disk. Sometimes She is pictured as a kite over Osiris' mummified body, or is seated while suckling the infant Horus. The Lotus is sacred to Her, and Her symbols include the tat(?), knot or buckle, and the sustrum (a rattle). The star Sirius is named for Her, and Her latin epithat is "Stella Maris"--Star of the Sea.



Mary

This seems like such an incorrect place to place a Christian entity (I mean, heck! Why would a Pagan bother?), but I have quite a lot of respect for Mary. Many come down hard upon this female figure in Christian faith, but I have found her to be one of the greatest of women figures within Christianity.

While studying the Romanesque era, I came upon great paintings of that timespan, and realized that Mary was truely a significant figure. She said "yes" to her god and gave birth to the son of god. That is one heck of a burden to place on a young woman, not to mention an unwed mother to boot. She could have been put to death by stoning, yet chose to follow the call of her god. Pretty impressive. She had to have done an excellent job raising the child since Jesus turned out to be a good citizen of his community. He was a rebel, but I bet he learned that from Mary! In Romanesqe art, Mary was raised to the same stature as Jesus. In fact, the church condoned artwork that showed Jesus crowning Mary as Queen of Heaven and making her his equal. Too bad this aspect has been downplayed in todays society. I bet more women would stay within the church if they realized they had a really powerful woman on their side. The kicker is...Mary redeemed womankind! No longer would women be condemned for Eve's stupid apple. Again, this was downplayed and pretty much removed from Christian thinking. Too bad. Here was this pious woman, made Queen of Heaven and Jesus' equal, who redeems womankind for the church (all sanctioned by the church!!!), and what happens? The church (who would not exist without her!) demotes her to just a symbol for quiet and meek women to follow. Sad...

Mary was the perfect mother. She always had time to listen to the children of Earth. Even if god was too busy (what a thought!), Mary never was. She could even interceed on humanities behalf! Talk about power! Imagine having the ear of the almighty himself! Dressed in white and blue, her image alone causes calmness and comfort, and many people pray to her for help. Her rosary has even been reborn into the Pagan rosary, and I bet Her prayer is better known than the Lord's Prayer. All in all, a truely remarkable and glorious woman.

Hail Mary!

Full of Grace

The lord is with thee

Blessed art thou among women

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, mother of god, pray for us sinners

Now, and at the hour of our death

Amen

Bast



With origins hazy at best, Bast is regarded as one of the oldest Egyptian Gods and may predate Egypt all-together. In Her earliest representation, She was Pasht/Mafdet, a feline Goddess who killed a demon with Her claws. Somewhere later on She was split into gentle Bast and fearsome Sekhmet (Her sister). It was believed this was done so the Pharohs would feel less "manly" for calling upon such a powerful Goddess...and She was powerful. She was Ra's avenger, sent to uphold His will and extract His vengence. She was one of the "Eyes of Ra" and a protector of the Pharohs.

It was not until 1000 BCE that She was represented as the domestic cat, and since then has never been represented in totally human form. She still retains the fierce desert cat form and is shown as the lion on the imperial scepter. She is the Goddess of music, joy, dance, sex, the moon, fertility and revilry; and has been associated with the Greek Goddess Artemis. She presides over healing and magick and can protect Her followers from evil enchantments. Her sacred city was Bubastis, and housed the greatest Egyptian temple. On Her holy days, there were the greatest festivities in Egypt.

Bast is usually shown as the seated house cat, but wearing golden earrings and other jewelery. In Her half-human form, she carries the Utchat (the all-seeing eye) and the Ankh or a papyrus wand. She is also shown carrying a sistrum and having kittens playing at Her feet. Cats, women and children are sacred to Her.



Aphrodite



Goddess of Love

Aphrodite is the beautifil Greek Goddess of Love. The Romans adopted Her as Venus, but Her cult never stopped there and continues to this day. There are two legends of Her birth: one being She was the daughter of Zeus and Dione and the other (and much more popular) being She was created when Cronus cut off the genitals of Uranus. When the genitals fell into the sea, a great foam arose and lovely Aphrodite stepped out from it and floated to the shores of Cyprus: forever more regarded as Her island of love.

When Aphrodite arrived at Olympus to claim Her rightful place, She was given the lame God Hephaestus as Her husband. Aphrodite soon tired of Him and turned to the much more exciting Ares, God of War, as Her lover and had several children by Him. As such, She became the overseer of lust, illicet and married sex, love (forbidden as well as accepted) and was often portraid as punishing those mortals who refused to Heed Her call, even when it could destroy nations or marriages. She was the winner of the Golden Apple that caused the Trojan War, and Her son Eros has been often blamed for love affairs that should never have happened.

Aphrodite has Her roots in old fertility religions dating back to Innana and Astarte. When the Greek religions created their religion, they adopted/absorbed this fertility image and softened Her image for the male dominated society. To assist Her in Her love duties, She was in possession of a girdle/belt that caused whomever She wanted to fall in love with Her. She feels no remorse for causing love among mortals, and takes great pleasure in tormenting those who fail to respond.

Aphrodite is the most beautiful of the Goddesses. She is often shown nude, either alone, with Her son Eros, or with dolphins. Apples, the ancient symbol of fertility is sacred to Her, along with the swan, dolphin, myrtle, dove and cinnamon.



Lilith

Lilith was the first proponant of feminine equality. According to tradional Judeo/Christian stories, She was created from the same dust as Adam and demanded that he acknowledge Her as his equal. Needless to say, Adam decided he wanted a more moldable bedmate and complained to God about his new bride. She was henceforth banished and religated to the depths of demonhood.

Lilith started Her life within the Sumerian parthenon. There are few representations of Her, but they all show that She was regarded as a kind and loving Goddess of beasts and kings. Her name crops up in a couple of Bible books, mostly in passing, and she becomes transformed into the Mother of Demons and Slayer of Children. It would rock the basic foundations of Judeo/Christian belief that woman was created out of the same dust as man (and therefore be his complete equal), so those who wrote the Bible (men) made sure that the first Eve was demonized and that the gullible second Eve would would become the womanly standard.

Lilith is often portraid nude, with long flowing hair, and has a distinctly sexual overture. She often is in the company of animals and may have some animal features of Her own. She is more of a darker aspect of the Maiden, yet represents the fullest independance of Women...both sexually and gender-wise.



Freya

Daughter of the Vanier God, Njord, Freya is the twin sister of the Golden God Freyr. Beautiful beyond belief, She is the origin of the word "treasure", and many great epics are written of Gods trying to win Her hand in mariage. She is not a virginal Goddess, and older stories exist of Her mariage to a God named Od. Upon His death, She cried tears of gold. These tears of gold dropped into the sea, and became the sacred stone of amber. After the great war of the Gods, Freya and Freyr went to live with the Aesir Gods to preserve the peace.

Known as "The Lady", Freya is the Queen of the Valkyries. These warrior women chose who among those slain on the battlefield will go on to Asgard. Freya chooses the first half with the rest going to Odin. Those chosen by Her retire to Her great Hall...Sessrumnir. She is the creater of the shamanic magick Seidhr, which She taught to Odin. This magick was mostly reserved for women, and while some men practiced it, these men dressed as women. With the advent of Christianity, all women who practiced this art were massacred so that to this day, we do not know what the Seidhr rites were. It is believed Freya is a carryover of an older Maternal religion who was worked into the patriarchal system. Since women of the Norse culture were the equals of the men, it is not suprising that Freya is a very independant Goddess, capable of determining Her own fate.

Freya is the Goddess of sex and magick. Warrior Goddess aside, She is also a Goddess of birth, sensuality, poetry and honor. She owns a feather coat so She can fly between worlds, and the great necklace Brisingamen for which She slept with four dwarfs. She travels in a chariot drawn by cats and it is believed that Friday is named for Her.

Freya is often portrayed in armor, often in Her chariot. She is a beautiful woman in Her prime. Amber, cats and love matters are sacred to Her.



Brigid

If the Celts had any Goddess above all, it would be Brigid. Goddess of wisdom and healing, it was She that looks into every cradle and protects the children sleeping therein. She is a daughter of the Dagda, and is a special patron of poets, smiths and healers. She is regarded as a triple Goddess: of Inspiration, Smithcraft and Healing, and those who follow any of these three aspects regard themselves as under the greatest of protections. She is also a patron of warfare and Her soldiers were called the Brigands.

There are many legends surrounding Her, not the least of which is who She married. In one legend She is married to Bres (half-Fomorian ruler of the Children of the Danu) and They have a son, Ruadan. Ruadan is killed at the second battle of Magh Tuireadh, and Brigid goes to the battlefield to mourn him. Her keening wail is the first "caoine" or keeing lament heard in Ireland, and the tradition contiued up until this century. She is also the patron of sacred fires and wells, and it is not uncommon to find either dotting the Irish landscape. Even with the coming of Christianity, the Christians could not remove Her entirely so converted Her to St. Brigit, the handmaiden or nurse of Christ. She was held in greater esteem than even Mary, and was said to be able to decree who the Irish kings would be. All other sites related to Her were converted to Christian monestaries or convents with nuns now tending Her sacred flame. At Kildare is Her most holy of flames, tended by 19 virgins or later, 19 nuns. The flame was extinguished in the 13th century only to be rekindled in the 20th.

Brigid is generally regarded as the Maiden aspect of the Great Goddess although is just as often regared as being the Mother. She is often associated with Imbolc and shown as a mature woman in perhaps Her thirties. Poets, healers and goldsmiths are sacred to Her.



Demeter



Demeter is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea and therefore the sister of Zeus. It was Her daugher Core/Persephane that was abducted by Hades and Demeter's mourning over the loss of Her daugher brought winter and starvation to the people. Only by Her daughter's return in the Spring would the crops be allowed to sprout and grow, and so the farmers sacrificed often in Her honor. The Eleusinian Mysteries centered around Her and Core, and while very little is known what happened at these rites, it is assumend they centered around women and fertility.

Demeter is often shown as a mature woman carrying ears of corn, wheat or a torch. Her chariot was pulled by winged dragons, and during the spring, Core or Persephane might be with Her. The harvest and fertility were sacred to Her.



Epona

Epona is the Celtic Goddess of Horses and is often called "Great Mare" or "The Great Mare". Her worship goes back so far that where She came from is lost in the mists of Time. Worship probably originated in the Gaul territories but was majorly spread by the Roman Calvery. Rome was so impressed by the horsemanship of the Celts that Epona was not only adopted "As Is" but had an official holy on the Roman calander (December 18th).

Because She is associated with horses, many of Her attributes are derived from horses: prosperity, fertility, inspiration and death. There are many many representations of Her, sculpture, freizes, poetry and even faerie tales and Mother Goose. Was Godiva's ride a throwback to Epona's worship and did Mother Goose save a small tidbit of Epona lore in the line: 'Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross, to see a fine lady on a white horse, with rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, she shall have music wherever she goes'

Irish kings used to have a birthing ceremony where they were born of Her white mare representation before they could claim their throne. It was often believed that She would visit the mortal realm on a white horse, but no matter how slowly She walked, no man could catch up to Her. In ancient days the king was represented as being married to the Goddess, and She was said to ride with you upon your travels to the afterlife.

Epona is mostly represented with horses, either riding or standing next to them. Occasionally she is showen with dogs and/or three birds, said to be able to bring the dead back to life and end pain and suffering, a cornucopia, goblet and sheafs of corn.



The Fates

Is there really such a thing as "Free Will" in this life, or is everything already ordained by the Goddess Fate? Yes? No? Fate is not the same Fortune, who is another Goddess much beloved by the Romans. Fate is almost too large a concept for even a Goddess, but many do follow Her. This page details the Greek Fates, the Moirai.

The Fates are often described as being the three daughters of Zeus and either Themis or Nox. They are in charge of the good and evils that can come about in Man's life, but at the same time even They cannot change what They have woven. The Past is unchanging, the Present in flux and the Future unknown.

The Fates are a triple Goddess combination that represents mankinds life: Youth, Middle-Age, Death. Often They are represented at being the consumate weaver, spending Their days weaving the tapestry of life. Each Man and Woman is but a thread that is connected to others by either sheer luck or good fortune. Fate's three aspects are: Clotho, who gathers the substance of life; Lachesis, who weaves the threads; and Atropo, who cuts the life's thread with magickal shears. Because these aspects are a direct reflection of Their duties, the three are commonly shown as different ages, Clotho is a young maiden, Lachesis is a mother figure, and Atropo is the wizened grandmother.

Fate can be represented by three separate entities or even one Goddess with three heads. Nothing is hidden from Them and all things are ruled by Them. Even Time must one day be ended, even as it is always born anew. You cannot cheat Fate, but you can try to choose what colour your thread will be. Bucking the system can result in Nemesis, Goddess of retribution, coming to smooth out the snarls.

Fate has many representations, not the least being a Goddess with three heads. She is often showen as a mature woman, knowing and seeing. Weaving and spiders are sacred to Her.



Hestia



Hestia is the daughter of Chronos and Rheas, and is the Greek virgin Goddess of the hearth, family, peace and "family values". Her personality has never been fully formulated, but She is regarded as being even more important than the twelve Olympians. All households had a family hearth dedicated to Her, and each new family additon was walked around the fire so She could "see" the newest member and grant him/her protection. The main public building in a given city had a perperpetual hearth dedicated to Her, from which embers were used to kindle new perpetual fires in any colonies the city founded. All sacrifices and prayers are to begin and end with Her.

Acts of hospitality were her domain along with charity and good-will. Because She was always more of a "concept", there are almost no representations of Her. Temples dedicated to Her were round, to symbolize the hearth, and all other temples had fires dedicated to Her name.

Gods
00:28 Nov 12 2007
Times Read: 987

Apollo

God of Truth and Music

Apollo is one of the twelve major Gods of Olympus. He is the son of Zeus and Leto. Zeus fell in love with the mortal girl Leto, and to protect her from Hera's jealousy, He changed Leto into a swawn. It was all for naught, because Hera found out and punished the poor mortal women with nine days of labor. Leto gave birth on the island of Delios (the only land that would allow Leto to set foot upon it) to Apollo and his twin sister Artemis. From birth, Apollo becomes one of the more powerful of the Gods. He carries the golden arrows, and His sister carries the silver. His arrows never miss and can hit any target from any distance. He is the patron of archers, and many would dedicate their bows while in His temples. His arrows could carry plague and death, but He is also the God of Medicine (it is said that He gave Hermes the staff of healing). Apollo is one of the Harsher Gods, given to revenge and unbending truth. He does not lie and that is probably the main reason He is regarded as the God of Prophesy.

On Delios today are the remains of one of Apollos greatest temples...The Oracle of Delphi. Here is where all of civilized Greece and beyond came to have the oracle Pythia answer their questions. The woman was seated over a crack in the earth and allowed to breathe the noxious fumes which caused her to go into a trance-like state and babble out seemingly nonsence words. The priests in the temple interpreted the words into a prophesy that were regarded as coming from the God Himself. One women, Cassandra, was a princess of Troy who resisted Apollos' advances. He cursed her with telling true prophesies that no one would believe. Hence, when the Greeks gave Troy the wooden horse and she told the people it was a trick; no one listened to her and Troy fell.

After the Fifth century BC, it became the belief that it was Apollo who rode the golden chariot acorss the sky when actually it was Helios (the Sun God). Apollo is also the God of music. He is known for the creation and playing of the lyre, and is the Patron God of musicians. He is also acknowedged with victory, and the leaves of his plant (the laurel) has become a well known symbol of the victor and victory. Story has it he became enthralled with a beautiful river nymph named Daphne and chased her through the woods. Just as she was about to be caught, she called upon her father (the River God) to protect her, and He changed her into a laurel tree. Not to be denied, Apollo took some of her leaves and wove them into a crown for His head so He would always be near her.

Apollo is often depicted as a nude or semi-clothed youth of extreme beauty. He is often carrying either a lute or His arrows. Sometimes He is seen with His brother Bacchas (The God of the Vine and Wine). The Laurel tree is sacred to Him.



Hermes

Five minutes after birth, the first thing Hermes did was steal Apollo's favorite herd of cattle. Not a bad start for the patron god of thieves. He is also the laughing God, prone to tricks and pranks. He guides the dead to their final resting place, but can occasionally return them to the land of the living. He guides Persephone home every spring, and once gave Hercules a round trip. He is the messanger God, carrying a golden staff which puts men to sleep, and wonderful winged golden sandles, that allow him to fly faster than thought itself.

Sheperds worship him, calling on Him to guard their sheep. It is He who is credited with creating the lyre, and it is believed by some that He is the father of Pan. Prior to the Trojan War, it was He who guided Athena, Hera and Aphrodite to be judged by Paris, which set off decades of war.

He is the patron God of thieves, shepards, travelers and treaties. He is portrayed as a beautiful youth, occasionally as a babe next to Apollo, His favorite brother. He wears the travelers hat, winged sandles, and a snake entwined staff.



Pan

Pan is the cheerful God of mountains and rocky peaks. He is half-man and half-goat, and His parental origins tend to change (although Hermes is most often regarded as His father). He is one of the lesser Gods, and is the patron of shepards and goatherds. He is a merry God and is seen in the company of Nymphs and The Mother of the Gods (as well as the Charities). He favors the land of Arcadia (His birthplace) and often stays there. His worship in Greece started with His appearing to Athenian ambassadors in Sparta and agreeing to cause the Persians to flee if the Athenians would accept Him. They agreed and built Him a temple on the Acropolis.

Pan is said to have given the gift of prophesy to Apollo, and has competed against Apollo's lute. Pan lost, but that never seemed to bother Him, and He continues to play on. His pipes are the Arcadian Nymph Syrinx, who fled from His intentions. He pursued, and She transformed Herself into marsh reeds. In regret, He cut down the reeds and created the Pan Flute. His name is the origin of our word "panic". It seems He was known to create scary noises at night and frighten people with His appearance.

Thor

In Norse mythology, Thor is the God of Thunder. He is pictured as a tall red-haired and red-bearded man wearing a magickal belt and his wonderous hammer "Mjolnir". His eyes blaze with the power of lightning, and he rides a glorious chariot (pulled by two goats...Toothgrinder and Toothgnasher) so powerful, that it cannot cross the Rainbow Bridge into Asgard. Thor must walk on foot to enter Odin's great hall.

It is believed Thor is the child of Odin and Jord (the Earth Mother..also listed as Gaea), and is in charge of weather, both fair and violent, and his weapon is the thunderbolt/hammer of Mjolnir. The hammer was created by the dwarf "Bok", and never misses its mark when thrown. After hitting its target, Mjolnir returns to the owners hand, and can only be handled by Thor Himself. He also possesses a belt which can double His strength, and wears special iron gloves so He can handle Mjolnir's power.

Thor is married to Sif, and His tower in Asgard is called "Himinbiorg". His relm is Thruthheim (Land of Strength), and His hall is called "Bilskinir". Thursday is named for Him.

Thor is a God of the common man. He is associated with the harvest and fertility and believed to have a greater benevolent interest in the affairs of man. Oaths made in His name were always kept, since He looked poorly on oathbreakers and as such was considered a God of Justice. Items associated with thunder were accredited to Him, such as whetstones or axeheads, and His followers would leave offerings of animals, food or precious metals in His honour. It is believed that human sacrifices of criminals would be offered, but there is not too much evidence on this.

At Ragnarok, the Final Great Battle at the End of the World, Thor is to kill the great serpent Jormungand, but will die from the great snakes' poisonous breath.

The Cult of Thor is widespread, even today, and His hammer is His greatest symbol. It is used to represent oaths, marriage and births, and is most often found as a pendant or necklace. The Oak is sacred to Him as well as the goat and bear.

Asklepios



Asklepios is one of the few Greek mortals who were made into Gods. He is given the parantage of Apollo and the nymph Coronis. Raised by Cheiron the Centaur, He was taught the healing herbs and their ways. Fearing Asklepios would make mankind immortal, Zeus killed Him with a thunderbolt.

His cult originated in Thessaly, but He was not represented as an God until Post-Homeric times. In the Ilyiad, Homer refers to Asklepios as a great healer among men, but not a immortal. Corinth is one of the known cities that has a shrine dedicated to Him. The sick went to His temples for health and healing. The petitioners were treated to massages and mineral baths, and slept in the sacred hall called the "abaton". The God was supposed to appear, either in person or in the form of His sacred animals...the snake and the dog. The Priests were oftentimes healers themselves, and accepted offerings on the God's behalf. Those who were healed often left votives in the form of the anatomy that was healed (such as a leg or finger). All healing was left to the God, the priests did not take part in anything.

Asklepios is represented as a bearded man in his prime, and is holding a staff with a snake entwined about it. Originally the staff belonged to Hermes, the messanger God, but it was given to Asklepios. Today, this staff is the symbol of healing and medicine.

Zeus

Before the twelve Olympians, there were the Titans. These were great beings created by Gaea (Goddess of the Earth) and Her consorts. The leader of the Titans was Cronus and He ruled for many years until a prophesy said that any child of Cronus that lived would overthrow His kingdom. Fearing the worst, any child He and His wife Rhea had, Cronus would eat alive. Tiring of having Her children killed, when Zeus was born Rhea hid Him and gave Cronus a rock wrapped in cloth. True to the prophesy, Zeus rebelled against the Titans and They were banished to Tartarus. Once the Titans were removed from power, Zeus and His two brothers Hades and Poseidon, drew lots for power. Zeus won and became the Supreme God, Hades drew the underworld and Poseidon became ruler of the sea.

Because He rules the Sky, Zeus became a God of justice and was capable of seeing any wrong done by mankind. It was He that bound Prometheus to the rock for daring to help mankind, and it was He that demanded Pandora's Box be created. He could be vengeful, but was involved in all aspects of ancient life. He is known to be a lover of women, both Goddesses and mortal, and fathered many children. Metis (Goddess of Wisdom)was His first wife. He swallowed Her, proceeded to have a horrendous headache, and when His head was split open Athena was revealed. Themis was His next wife and with Her, He produced the Fates and Seasons. Mnemosyne was the Goddess of Memory, and toghether They produced the Muses. His third wife was Hera, His sister, that He tricked and raped so She would have to marry Him. She was always jealous of His affairs, and harrassed any conquests She could.

Zeus is portraid as an older man, with a flowing beard and long hair. He is often seated on a throne and carries His symbol, the Thunderbolt. This thunderbolt was all-powerful and never missed. It's power was so great that only He or one He deemed worthy could use it. Athena was His favorite so She was allowed to carry it and occasionally use it.

Hephaestus

Hephaestus is the lame God of the forge. This gentle God started His life when His mother, Hera, decided that She could create a child without Zeus' help. The end result was a being that Zeus cast off Mount Olympus in disgust, only to have Hephaestus survive. Forever lame and disfigured, Hephaestus works at His forge: created the lightning bolts for Zeus and creating wonderful and magickal items for the Gods to enjoy.

He was married to the beautiful Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, but She was unfaithful to Him. He took great pride in exposing Her affair with Ares, only to be denied justice when She declaired that this is what the Goddess of Love was supposed to do. His forges are supposedly located under the mountains/volcanos Etna and Vesuvious, and when the earth shakes, the locals say that He is hard at work creating new wonders.

Hephaestus is shown as a lame man with powerful arms and upper torso. He often has a hammer and anvil close by. Gold and silver are attributed to Him. The island of Lemnos is sacred to Him as well as blacksmiths and those of the forge.

Odin

Odin is the Father of the Norse Gods. Through Him, the others came into being (except Loki who comes from the giants) and to Him go all the great warriors who die on the battle field. His great hall, Valhalla, is where warriors would gather to train for Ragnorok while eating of the eternal boar and be served by the valient Valkeries. Every morning He would send out His ravens Hugin and Munin to gather the daily news so He could meditate upon it.

He possesed the great spear Gungnir which would never miss its mark and the ring Draupner which created nine copies of itself every day. This ring is what Odin placed upon Baldor's burial mound, and is to be returned by Baldor upon His return from the dead. Sleipner is the great eight legged horse that is faster than the wind and can travel to the relms of the dead and back.

Odin is regarded as the Father of thought and wisdom, and is credited with the finding of the sacred runes. He hung Himself from the great world tree Yggdrasil for nine days and plucked the now visible runes from the water below. Giving up His eye, He now tends the great well of wisdom Mimir, which is located at one of the roots of Yddraisil and this well is actually the head of a wise God/Giant that knows the future. Odin goes everyday to consult with Mimir, and knows that on the day of Ragnorok this great source of wisom will fail.

Odin's wife is the beautiful Goddess Frigga (not to be confused with Freya) and loves to walk among mortals in middle-earth. At Ragnorok He is destined to kill the great wolf Fenris, but will die by Fenris at the same time. He is the great leader of warriors, and half of all warriors come to His great hall (The other half claimed by Freya). He is the hanged God, and those who petition Him by sacrificing their lives by hanging themselves are especially favored. Oaths are sacred to Him, and oath-breakers can expect terrible retributions.

Odin is portraid as an older man with only one eye and wearing a battered hat and traveler's cloak. He is often accompanied by Thor or Loki and often travels on His horse Sleipner.

Balder



The most beloved of the Gods, Balder is often described as "the Glorious". He is associated with the sun, song, life, love, singing, bards and other happy things in life. He is the second son of Odin and Frigg and often accompanied His beloved brother Thor on travels and escades. His wife is Nanna and together they had one child. What Balder is most known for, however, is His part in the beginning of Ragnorok.

Balder was having nightmares and consulted Odin. Odin in turn consulted an ancient seeress who told Odin that Balder would be killed by His blind brother Hoder. In response, Frigg asked all the plants, animals, rocks and poisons of the earth to swear to never hurt Balder. All promised except the small mistleto who was too young to make such a promise. Thor created games of throwing dangerous items at Balder just to see how Balder never was hurt. Loki became jealous and changed His form into an old woman and visited Frigg. In the course of conversation, Loki discovered that the mistleto never promised to not hurt Baldor, and Loki crafted a small arrow of the wood. Hoder was standing nearby, unable to participate due to His blindness, and Loki again disguised Himself and tricked Hoder into throwing the arrow. Balder fell down dead, pierced through the heart, and was buried with much pomp and circumstance.

With much sorrow, Frigg sent another down to Hel to see if Balder could be freed. The condition set was that everything on earth and Asgard had to cry for Him, and if not, then He could not come back. All over the Earth, everything mourned except one old giantess called "Dry-Eyed" who took great pleasure in not crying for Balder. This giantess was actually Loki, and caused Loki to be bound underground until Ragnorok.

Balder remains in Hel, and will stay there until after Ragnorok when He will arise to help re-establish Asgard and the middle-earth.

Freyr

Freyr is the twin brother of Freya, and while She was the warrior Goddess He was the God of Peace. His translated name means "Lord" or "God". He is the God of weather and fertility, and the believed progenitor of the Swedish royal family.

One day He sat upon Odin's throne at Hlidskialf, and spied the beautiful giantess Gerd. Falling madly in love with her, He sent his shield bearer Skirnir to win Her hand in marriage. Only by promising to give up His great magickal sword was Freyr able to win Her hand. Because He gave up His sword, Freyr is doomed to die by the fire giant Surt at Ragnarok.

Freyr also owns the great ship Skidbladnir, which can sail on land, sea or air, can fit all the Gods, and yet fold to fit into a pocket. His chariot is drawn by two boars, Gullinbursti and Slidrugtanni. The golden boar Gullinbursti was made by the dwarfs and He could ride it through the air. God of the sun and bountiful crops, He is called upon to grant a fertile marriage. He represents masculine lust, and is regarded as the most beautiful of the male Gods.

The deer, horse and boar are sacred to Him. As late as 1200c.e. there was a statue of Him at a temple in Uppsala in Sweden that was known for the size of its phallas.

Poseidon

Child of Cronus and Rhea, Poseidon is the brother of Zeus, and One of the six original Olympians. After the conquest of Cronus and the Titans; Zeus, Hades and Poseidon drew lots to see who would control what sphere of the world, and Poseidon drew the seas and oceans. An unfaithful lover, He fathered children by many women, Goddesses included, and was rumored to the father of the Naids (goddesses of the ocean). It was He who competed with Athena for the Naming of Athens, and since He never forgot a grudge, became a feared enemy of Greek sailors.

Poseidon is regared as an ancient God, precursor of the Olympians. He was worshiped by Egyptians and peoples of the Cyclidic Islands alike. He is said to have created the horse in order to win Demeter's charms, but came so enraptured by His creation, that He proceeded to forget Her.

Poseidon rides in either a golden chariot pulled by horses or rides the waves in a chariot drawn by dolphins. He is often shown carrying His trident. He is ruler of oceans and seas and as the "Earth Shaker" is regarded as responsible for earthquakes, hurricanes and typhoons.

Hades

Oldest son of Rhea and Cronus, Hades drew the lot of the underwold. He is a solomn God, fair but unnerving. Unliked by the other Gods, He is allowed into Olympus, but not made very welcome. Once a mortal enters into His world, they are not allowed to leave, and take up residence in either the Elysian Fields where the faithful spent their days eating and making merry , or the Fields of Asphodel full of drudgery and boredom. Because precious metals and crops seemed to come from His land, He became associated with them, and it was He who stole the young Persphanie from Her mother, Demeter.

Because what happened after death was a mystery, Greeks feared Him, and any oath taken in His name was very carefully given. His name was feared to listen to, and was therefore given a new name: Pluto, giver of wealth.

Anubis



Anubis is one of the most ancient of Egyptian Gods. Worship of Him has been documented as far back as to the most ancient of temples. Presiding over mummification, it was He who put the dead's heart on the scale to be judged. Originally He was the God of Death until the popularity of Osiris ended up shifting to the one who Guided the dead to judgement. His main place of worship is Heliopolis, or the City of the Dogs. In some of the oldest stories, His mother is Nephthys, who abandoned Him in the wilderness. Isis came and found Him, raising Him as Her own son. Out of love and respect, Anubis is now Her and Osiris's fierce protector.

Anubis is the Egyptian God of the dead and mummification. He is also the patron of embalming, poisons and medicine which came about when He helped Isis restore Osirus after Set cut apart and scattered Osirus' body. During the mummificatio procedure, He oversees the "opening of the mouth". He guides the dead to the final judgement in the underworld. He is both loved and feared; loved for His gentleness and feared for the unknowingness of death.

He is shown as a man with the head of a black jackal, the black signifiying His position as God of the dead. A black and white blood spotted ox hide and Canis Major are His symbols.

Vishnu



Vishnu is one of the three gods of the Trimurti. Vishnu is the Hindu God of protection and maintenance. He is all merciful and rushes to protect those who follow Him. He balances right and wrong and is regarded as the preserver of the universe.

He is shown being the colour blue and with four arms. The arms hold either chakra, a conch, lotus or a gadha. On the physical plane He represents the mental element, on the on the mental plane He is intelligence, and on the Earthly plane He is the sun. He is regarded as the second phase of a person's life, adulthood and responsibilites. He has come to Earth in nine known forms, or avatara, and is believed to have one form yet to fill. These avatars were Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Varaha (boar ), Nara-simha (man-lion), Vamana (dwarf), Parashurama (a powerful warrior), Rama, Krishna, Buddha and (the yet unknown) Kalki (white horse).

Mixing It Up: Rooms Of The House
20:52 Nov 07 2007
Times Read: 993




By: DragonHawk





Once you have accepted the fact that many different views have come together to form

Earth Spirituality, it becomes time to break through the outer circle.



While all practitioners tend to come together in the "house" of Paganism and Earth

Spirituality, they seperate again very quickly. Think of Earth Spirituality as being a large

house. This house is composed of many different rooms, and while you live in the house,

you may spend most of your time in just one of the rooms. While the house is "Earth

Spirituality", the rooms are different beliefs within the Earth Spirituality. These rooms can

be gathered into the classifications of covens, groups, and solitaries.



First, let us look at the three different ways to practice. All Earth Spirituality

practitioners are either solitary, in a coven, or in a group. The data that we have

reviewed suggests that about 75% or more of all practitioners are solitary or in a group,

while the remaining 25% or less belong to a formal coven.



For a quick and general reference, here are the basic definations:



1)

The Coven Setting - Traditionally, many believe that a coven was made

- up of 13 Witches. They gathered together to celebrate life, practice

spellcrafting, and preform rituals. In this day and age, the number of

practitioners in a coven is not followed as much. The main focus of a

coven is the gathering of Witches with the same beliefs and spellcrafting

techniques. They typically gather on full moons and sabbats. A well run

coven is isually very structured and typically contains set rules of conduct.



2)

Groups - Groups are, in general, less structured covens. While groups

tend to operate much like a coven, their members usually have many

different beliefs and they usually consider themselves solitaries rather than

coven members. Groups will usually use this diversity in beliefs to their

benefit by furthering member studying and member awareness of different

methods. Also, unlike covens, members are usually allowed to be

members of other groups, covens, or organizations. Groups are rapidly

gaining popularity in Earth Spirituality.



3)

Solitaries - Practitioners who study and practice Earth Spirituality alone,

are called solitaries. Solitaries are not members of a coven, but they could

be members of a group. Due to the diversity that lies with-in Earth

Spirituality, many practitioners find more of a comfort being a solitary

rather than limiting their learning to a single coven's beliefs.







If you are a beginner in the "Craft, do not worry about choosing which category to fall

into. As a general rule, we would suggest that you spend atleast two years or more as a

solitary before entering into any sort of coven setting.



So now we have diverse Earth Spirituality that contains three different practicing

methods, but that is not it. Making up the covens, groups and solitaries, there are many

different areas of study. These different areas of study, or focal points, are usually called

traditions, or triads for short. For example, there are Celtic Covens and Celtic

Solitaries, Shamanic Covens and Shamanic Solitaries, Gardenarian Covens and

Gardenarian Solitaries, and so on. Virtually no one Earth Spirituality practitioner is

exactly the same as another.



The beauty of Earth Spirituality is only enhanced by the differences in views. To listen to

another's views is a fascinating experience. Again, whether you agree with them or not,

is beside the point. Keep the mind open !





Chapter Recap and Lesson - The three different praticing methods, coven, group,

solitary, are made up of a countless number of different beliefs, or traditions. Your

personal beliefs will eventually guide you to the segment of Earth Spirituality that best fits

you. There is certainly no need to rush into any decisions that could limit your learning

experience.



We suggest that you spend two years or more as a solitary before you decide to commit

to any one coven or tradition. If you fail to wait, you may be unable to make a qualified

decision about what areas of study apply to your needs.

Spirituality: The Pyramid Structure
20:49 Nov 07 2007
Times Read: 995








By: DragonHawk





We have developed a diagram and spiritual layout called the "Pyramid Structure of

Earth Spirituality". We have developed this to try and give an easily understandable view

of the beliefs of many Earth Spirituality Practioners . Directly below you will find the

drawing of the pyramid and its 5 levels, in addition to descriptions of the levels.





General Pyramid Structure





Level 1- Top -

Consists of pure

creative life-force

energy.

Level 2 - The God and

Goddess

Level 3 - "spelcialized"

Gods and Goddess

from different

pantheons.

Level 4 - Spirtitual

leaders, power animals

Level 5 - Earth

Spirituality Practitioners,

plants, crystals.





Now, let us enter the detailed survey of Pyramid levels:



Level One (topmost) - This is the pure creative life-force energy that esists

everywhere. It resides in everything that you can see and even things that you cannot

(air). Even inanimate objects, such as gemstones and lamp post, are filled with this

energy. The energy has no sex, is neither good nor bad, and has no pysical

characteristics. This is the most powerful "deity" in the universe, but it is unthinking. It is

rather strange to think about, but this energy can do nothing on its own - it must be

accessed and used by one of the lower levels to be affective. (note that all lower levels,

including the God and Goddess, are composed of this energy and use it on a daily basis)



Level Two - The God and the Goddess are a "physical" form of the life-force energy.

At this level, the energy takes on a somewhat physical appearance, gains sexual

differences, and is thinking, BUT is still neither good nor bad. Obviously the God is male

and contains all male-related energies, while the Goddess is female and contains all

female-related energies. They rule in tandem having equal power. The God and the

Goddess are neither good nor bad ... they simply manipulate energy and anser requests

without much regard to the human terms "good and bad".



Level Three - This level is composed of "specialized" Gods and Goddesses. There are

hundreds, if not thousands, of different dieties existing at this level. For example: the

Goddess Isis, Brigid, Yhi, and the Gods Shiva, Eros, Diancecht all exist at this level. All

of the Gods and Goddesses at level 3 specialize in certain "fields" of energies. For

example; The Goddess Venus is well know as a Goddess of Love and Lust, the God

Diancecht is associated with healing, and the Goddess Selene is a Greek full-moon

Goddess. These Gods and Goddess have pysical differences, sexual differences, are

thinking, and CAN specialized in "good" energy or "bad" energy (like revenge). Some

believe that these Gods and Goddesses once existed on Earth as mortals who went up

through the ranks to spiritual leaders and then to the level of specialized God/Goddess.

These Gods and Goddesses can be contacted through ritual when you desire the form

of energy that they embody and control.



Level Four - This spiritual level is composed of many different things that are just

above the "average" human. For example, most spiritual leaders, powerful spellcasters,

TRUE psycics, and legendary spiritual authors are at this level. They understand and

manipulate the energies a little better than the average practitioner and we may seek

these people out when we need help or guidance. Most people in this level are living or

have left behind written words for us. For the ones that are no longer living on this plane,

they may exist at this level as Spirit Guides. Note also that we have included animal

guides, animal spirits, and the like at this level as they show excellent manipulation of

energy to be able to guide or "speak" to us.



Level Five - This is the level that contains roughly everything else that is not included in

the above levels. All regular Earth Spirituality practitioners are in this level and they can

access the energies of all levels above them. This level includes most all wild animals and

house pets in addition to trees and plants. Please note also that most inanimate objects

are at this level also, including gemstones and ritual tools, and. They are made up of

specific, creative, "life-force" energies. Some might put inanimate objects in a sixth level,

but we disagree with this, stating the belief that humans lack the right to manipulate or

truely control an inamimate object for their personal pleasure.





Keep in mind that all levels are affected by and a part of all levels that appear above it.

It is a power structure in which level one (1) is the most powerful. For example, Earth

Spirituality Practioners (level 5) are a part of and are affected by Life -force energy

(level 1), the God and the Goddess (level 2), specialized Gods and Goddesses (level 3),

and spiritual leaders (level 4). It is also safe to say that the God and Goddess (level 2)

are affected by, are a part-of, utilize, and must respect the life-force energy (level 1), but

are NOT affected by levels 3,4, and 5.



The "Age Old Debate" and the "Pyramid Structure of Spirituality"



1)

Pagans - By definition, Pagans tend to enter the pyramid at level 1. This

means that they work mostly with the creative, life-force energy rather

than accessing a God or Goddess. They will tend to work with level 1,

level 4, and level 5. To a "pure" Pagan, this energy is the ultimate diety

and they find that working directly with it is in their best interests. Also

note, that they tend to believe that adding physical artibutes to the energy

in a Goddly manner (such as in level 2 and 3) is not needed and

unproductive.



2)

Wiccans - By definition, most all Wiccans tend to enter the pyramid at

level 2. They do not deny that the energy exists, but rather find it more

productive to work with a diety that can control the energy. Most of the

time, they will work with all levels accept directly with level one. This is

not to say that they do not cannel or manipulate energy, but rather do it

with the aid of a deity or object that exists in levels 2 - 5.



3)

Witches - unlike the above two, where the Witch enters the pyramid is

not defined by the term Witch. A Witch is simply one who spellcasts.

They may enter and access any level of the pyramid based upon their

personal beliefs.







In a spell or a ritual, a practitioner may access and request help from all 5 levels at once.

For example, in a spell for healing, the altar may contain herbs (level 5), a practitioner

may request the strength of a power animal (level 4), "summon" the aid of a healing God

(level 3), give thanks to the God and Goddess (level 2), and finally manipulate present

energies to help the healing (level 1).



On an interesting side-note, lets plug common Christianity into the Pyramid Structure.

Christianity would come in at level 2, BUT their level 2 commonly includes only one

male God. Also, their level 2 would be, actually, level 1, as they do not believe in a form

of creative energy like Earth Spiritualist do. Hence, many Christians do not have a use

for plants, gemstones, or animal guides in their rituals. On another note, Christians tend

to only work with one level at a time and put most of their faith into the one level.

Wiccan terms in alphabetical order
20:47 Nov 07 2007
Times Read: 996

A



amulet



Something that is worn for protection, usually jewelry.



ankh



Egyptian symbol of life. It looks like a cross with a loop at the top.



athame



Ceremonial knife, used in magic and rituals.



B



Book of Shadows



A witch's handwritten book of spells and magical information.



bruja / brujo



Spanish for witch. (j is pronounced like h)



C



charm



A magical object, action, or incantation that effects magic (charms for ...) or averts

evil or danger (charms against ...).



coming out of the broom closet



Living openly as a witch.



correspondences



Everything is connected and correspondences are the links. Knowledge of these

associations is used to effect magic.



coven



A group of 13 (or less) witches who practice and worship together. They are lead by

a High Priest/ess, and traditionally convene at full moon.



the Craft



Witchcraft; the practice of Magic.



Croning



A ceremony held to mark a woman's transition from Mother to Crone, the final

phase of a woman's life.



crystallomancy



Divination by crystals, usually a crystal ball.



D



divination



Any practice that reveals the future or unknown things. Tarot cards, runes and

crystal balls are all used in divination.



E



eclectic



A witch who worships in more than one mythological tradition.



Esbat



Witches celebrate four Esbats (Lesser Sabbats) during the year: Spring Equinox,

Summer Solstice, Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice.



F



faery



Alternative spelling for fairy, to distinguish it as a belief system.



familiar



An animal, usually a cat, with whom a witch establishes a special psychic/magical

relationship. Familiars offer help, companionship, protection, and usually

unconditional love as well.



flying ointment



A paste, usually containing herbs, that is applied to the skin to aid in astral

projection.



G



Gardnerian



Of or relating to Gerald Gardner, who is credited with reviving Wicca in modern

times



grimoire



Book of Shadows



granny woman



A female shaman, usually of the Appalachian Mountain region of the U.S.



H



Hidden Children



Witches, who must often keep their religion secret, are the hidden children of the

Goddess.



High Priest/ess



A witch who leads a coven.



HP



High Priest



HPS



High Priestess



K



karma



That which is carried over from previous lives. Karma can be good or bad,

according to what sort of lives you have lead.



M



mage



Someone who is adept at magic, but not a witch.



magick



We sometimes spell magic this way to distinguish it from prestidigitation.



mojo



Magic



mojo bag



A small bag that is worn around th neck. A mojo bag usually contains charms or

talismans.



N



necromancy



Divination via the spirits of the dead.



P



pentacle



A 5-pointed star inside a circle.



pentagram



A pentacle that is drawn, painted or printed.



R



reincarnation



Transmigration of the Soul; rebirth in another body after death.



S



Sabbat



Witches celebrate four Greater Sabbats:



February 2: Candlemas or Imbolc

April 30: Beltaine or May Eve

July 31: Lughnasadh or Lammas Eve

October 31: Halloween or Samhain



scrying



Divination by means of gazing into water or a bowl of black ink.



shaman



A priest and medicine man, usually of Native American or Siberian peoples.

Shamanic practice includes magic, healing and divination.



shamanka



Female shaman.



shapeshifting



The shamanic practice, often aided by drugs, of mentally assuming animal form.



sigil



A paper talisman.



skyclad



Nude. Some traditions insist on skyclad worship.



sorcerer / sorceress



A person who practices black magic, usually by aid of malevolent spirits.



solitary



A witch who practices alone, without a coven.



Summerlands



The place where we rest after death, between incarnations.



T



talisman



A magical object. A talisman is usually made or carved at an astrological moment

suitable to its purpose.



W



white witch



A witch who only practices white magic.



widdershins



Counter-clockwise



witch doctor



African shaman



wizard



Someone who practices magic but is not a witch.



Y



Yule



A 12-day celebration that lasts from Winter Solstice to New Year.