-Lesson 1-



Instructor: Noekh Valmiere



Beast Tongue; The ancient language of the Garou from old Gaian times before the modern era. Beast Tongue is very rarely, if ever spoken in today's world, yet those who remain from the old world remember its intrigue and beauty, and speak Gaia's language yet still. This language was once spoken by every creature who walked upon Gaia's beauty, yet the language died away as the humans began to appear. They drove us from our homes, and even from our own cultures as many a tribe were swayed by the glittering promise of the vile cities. Today, I will begin my instruction of this old language in hopes that one day, my clan, and many more shall once again speak the olden language of Gaia, and please her with its melodics. We begin with how to pronounce the vowels.



This language is similar to the human "Spanish" in that we roll our "R"'s. Many words have been taken from Beast Tongue, and placed into many other languages. We will discuss cognates at a later spot within this lesson.



A - ah



E - eh



I - ee



O - oh



U - oo



For example, when a Garou bids another "goodnight" we say, Pah'ashal.



Pah' (pah) 'ashal (ah-shawl) - The apostrophe is so one may breathe between each piece of the word structure. You will notice that the word "Pah'ashal" does not sound how it looks in modern humanized "english". The vowels in our language have been elongated, causing this. Try pronouncing it again, until you believe you have it right. This is, again, the original language spoken by every creature until man came along. When learning this language, it is best to be somewhere quiet, meditative, or perhaps dark. Try meditating, and asking for Gaia's assistance, and she will gladly offer. Next, we will learn a few basic words, as I do not wish this tutorial to be too difficult for my beginner students.



Good Morning - Lah'ashal



Good Afternoon - Kah'ashal



Good Evening - Rai'ashal



Good Night - Pah'ashal



These are the basic greetings. Next we have more basic words as examples. You will learn more words, and better sentence structure in Lesson 2.



Hello - Leiux (pronounced Lay-shoo-ee)



Goodbye - Shei'ahal (pronounced shay-ahawl)



Today - Jehangli (pronounced Jay-hong-glee)



Tomorrow - Jang'hun (pronounced Jong-hu-oon)



Tonight - Xangsuin (pronounced Zhong-soo-een)



These are some examples of basic words. Next we will go over colors:



Red - R'eiad (pronounced Ray-eye-odd; remember to roll your R's)



Blue - Bai'hun (pronounced Buy-hu-oon)



Yellow - Jang'sten (pronounced yong-sten)



Orange - Oroi (pronounced Or-o-ee)



Purple - Pah'hun (pronounced Pah-hu-oon)



Green - Earta (pronounced air-ta)



Indigo - Ikbala (pronounced eek-ball-ah)



Black - Naght (pronounced like "knocked")



White - Weita (pronounced wee-eh-ta)



Silver - Sibur (pronounced see-burr)



Copper - Copei (pronounced co-pie)



Gold - Gola (pronounced go-la)



Tawny - Taydra (pronounced tie-draw)



Brown - Buruo (pronounced boo-rou)



-Try your hand at pronouncing these words on your own first. Cover the right hand column of pronunciations with a sheet of paper. When you are finished, see if you're right! If not, practice makes perfect, so keep practicing! Beast Tongue is a difficult language at first, and may seem daunting, but don't get frustrated; just keep at it!-



You will notice if you glance at the colors and their matching Beast Tongue words, that many are cognates. Cognates are words in a language that sound the same as their english counterpart...or basically, Beast Tongue counterpart in this instance. Garous were the first to create any spoken language, so any language today has been known to derive from our language. Many of the words SOUND similiar, however, they are not spelled the same if you will look and take note.



Next we will try basic sentences, including greetings, questions, and dismissals! I will only be including a few for the time being, as I do not wish to overwhelm my students. Try your hand at these!



-Greetings-



-How are you? - Maka'heish dakal ahk?



-Hope you're doing well. - Loi ahkar laesh mah.



-I fare well. - Mah paeish weiole



-Hey! (English Slang) - Leish!



-Good Morning - Lah'ashal



-Good Afternoon - Kah'ashal



-Good Evening - Rai'ashal



-Good Night - Pah'ashal



-Questions-



-Who is that? - Woi osh tah?



-Who are you? - Woi lakt ahk?



-Can you help me? - Carn ahk quin ah?



-Where is the bathroom? - Wakii osh ehn bolak'ha?



-What is this? - Weil'ah osh keio?



-What is your name? - Weil'ah osh ahkar nahm?



-Dismissals-



-Good Morning - Lah'ashal



-Good Afternoon - Kah'ashal



-Good Evening - Rai'ashal



-Good Night - Pah'ashal



-Goodbye - Shei'ahal



-You may go. - Ahk ahlam fleir.



-Leave us/me now. - Kah'asha zha/oht roui.



-Me, Myself, and I-



When learning a new language, one must stop and think that talking about themselves or others can very difficult if the right word isn't found. I will be going in-depth to help you learn how to speak properly to others, and about yourself. We will be going over plurals, singles, and a few phrases used in situations where other people are addressed, including formalities. When I say formal, I do not simply mean to your pack alphas, but this may also be a way of showing respect to an elder, a teacher, or an upholder of the law....anyone you'd wish to be respectful to. However, if it is a fight you're wishing to seek, use the informal on your pack leaders, and you would surely die, or be banished. Please try your best, my students, to uphold the honor of our language and our kind.



(*Note - sometimes, but not always, 'ashal is an add-on meaning something is plural..however, in most cases it tends to be a part of a word signifying the sentence/word has been placed properly*)



I - Mah



I (formal) - Maht



Myself - Mah'akho



Me - Mui



My - Mish



You (informal) - Ahk



Your (informal) - Ahkar



You're (informal) - Ahktoi



Yourself/selves (informal) - Ahk'ashal



You (formal) - Aht



Your (formal) - Ahtar



You're (formal) - Aht'ashal



Yourself/selves (formal) - Aht'ashal



We - Boh



Us - Crea



Them - Treo



They - Theika



Their - Thraie (pronounced thra-yay)



They're - Thea (pronounced th-aya)



Our - boshta



More times than not, when you're speaking to alphas of your pack, you will address them formally as "My Lady", "My Lord", or "Sire/Highness" if they are royalty such as within the Silver Fangs. There are also formalities in speaking such words. Allow me to show you a few.



My Lady - Mish Leid (pronounced meesh-layed)



My Lord - Mish Kalh (pronounced meesh-call)



Sire - Sidre (pronounced see-der)



Highness - Ahrkal (pronounced Ar-call)



Whew! With all this discussion, don't you think you'd like to start a conversation and get your new skills off the ground? I sure would if I was my student! We're going to begin this next section slowly by learning each other's names! Let's begin! (Again, pay attention, and try to find the cognates! This will help you learn some Beast Tongue words MUCH quicker and easier! Also, please remember the formal and informal versions of you, me, and I)



-What is your name? - Weil'ah osh ahkar nahm?



-My name is (your name) - Mish nahm osh (your name)



-What are their names? - Weil'ah lakt Thraie nahmesh?



-Our name/s are (name/s) - Boshta nahmesh lakt (name/s)



-Their names are (name/s) - Thraie nahmesh lakt (name/s)



If you get the chance, please practice these words in repitition or perhaps practice speaking with a partner! This is the end of lesson 1. The next lesson will includes lots more, so be prepared! Have fun, and shei'ahal!

Introduction



October 31 -- November Eve -- Samhain



The night lengthens and we work with the positive aspects of darkness

in the increasing star- and moonlight. Many Craft traditions,

following the ancient Celts, consider this the eve of the New Year

(as day begins with sundown, so the year begins with the first day of

Winter). It is one night when the barriers between the worlds of life

and death are uncertain, allowing the ancestors to walk among the

living, welcomed and feasted by their kin, bestowing the Otherworld's

blessings. We may focus within ourselves to look "through the glass

darkly", developing our divination and psychic skills.



December 21 -- Winter Solstice -- Yule



The sun is at its nadir, the year's longest night. We internalize and

synthesize the outward-directed activities of the previous summer

months. Some covens hold a Festival of Light to commemorate the

Goddess as Mother giving birth to the Sun God. Others celebrate the

victory of the Lord of Light over the Lord of Darkness as the turning

point from which the days will lengthen. The name "Yule" derives from

the Norse word for "wheel", and many of our customs (like those of

the Christian holiday) derive from Norse and Celtic Pagan practices

(the Yule log, the tree, the custom of Wassailing, et al).



January 31 -- February Eve -- Imbolc (Oimelc) or Brigid



As the days' lengthening becomes perceptible, many candles are lit to

hasten the warming of the earth and emphasize the reviving of

life. "Imbolc" is from Old Irish, and may mean "in the belly", and

Oimelc, "ewe's milk", as this is the lambing time. It is the holiday

of the Celtic Fire Goddess Brigid, whose threefold nature rules

smithcraft, poetry/inspiration, and healing. Brigid's fire is a

symbolic transformation offering healing, visions, and tempering.

Februum is a Latin word meaning purification -- naming the month of

cleansing. The thaw releases waters (Brigid is also a goddess of holy

wells) -- all that was hindered is let flow at this season.



March 21 -- Vernal Equinox -- Ostara



Day and night are equal as Spring begins to enliven the environment

with new growth and more newborn animals. Many people feel "reborn"

after the long nights and coldness of winter. The Germanic Goddess

Ostara or Eostre (Goddess of the Dawn), after whom Easter is named,

is the tutelary deity of this holiday. It is she, as herald of the

sun, who announces the triumphal return of life to the earth. Witches

in the Greek tradition celebrate the return from Hades of Demeter's

daughter Persephone; Witches in the Celtic tradition see in the

blossoms the passing of Olwen, in whose footprints flowers bloom. The

enigmatic egg, laid by the regenerating snake or the heavenly bird,

is a powerful symbol of the emergence of life out of apparent death

or absence of life.



April 30 -- May Eve -- Beltaine



As the weather heats up and the plant world burgeons, an exuberant

mood prevails. Folk dance around the Maypole, emblem of fertility

(the name "May" comes from a Norse word meaning "to shoot out new

growth"). May 1st was the midpoint of a five-day Roman festival to

Flora, Goddess of Flowers. The name "Beltaine" means "Bel's Fires";

in Celtic lands, cattle were driven between bonfires to bless them,

and people leaped the fires for luck. The association in Germany of

May Eve with Witches' gatherings is a memory of pre-Christian

tradition. "Wild" water (dew, flowing streams or ocean water) is

collected as a basis for healing drinks and potions for the year to

come.



June 21 -- Summer Solstice -- Litha or Midsummer



On this day, the noon of the year and the longest day, light and life

are abundant. We focus outward, experiencing the joys of plenty,

tasting the first fruits of the season. In some traditions the sacred

marriage of the Goddess and God is celebrated (in others, this is

attributed to the springtime holidays). Rhea, the Mountain Mother of

Crete, has breathed out all creation. It is also the festival of the

Chinese Goddess of Light, Li.



July 31 -- August Eve -- Lughnasadh or Lammas



This festival has two aspects. First, it is one of the Celtic fire

festivals, honoring the Celtic culture-bringer and Solar God Lugh

(Lleu to the Welsh, Lugus to the Gauls). In Ireland, races and games

were held in his name and that of his mother, Tailtiu (these may have

been funeral games). The second aspect is Lammas, the Saxon Feast of

Bread, at which the first of the grain harvest is consumed in ritual

loaves. These aspects are not too dissimilar, as the shamanic death

and transformation of Lleu can be compared to that of the Barley God,

known from the folksong "John Barleycorn". This time is also sacred

to the Greek Goddess of the Moon and the Hunt, Artemis.



September 21 -- Autumnal Equinox -- Mabon or Harvest Home



This day sees light and dark in balance again, before the descent to

the dark times. A harvest festival is held, thanking the Goddess for

giving us enough sustenance to feed us through the winter. Harvest

festivals of many types still occur today in farming country, and

Thanksgiving is an echo of these.



In this way the Wheel turns, bringing us back to Samhain where we

began our cycle. Many of the festival days coincide with holidays of

the Jewish and Christian calendars. This is no accident; these points

in the year were important community celebrations, and were kept

largely intact although they were rededicated to the Christian God or

a saint. The names may have changed, but the old Pagan practices

still show through.



blessed be



Merry meet, Merry part, and merry meet again

Historical Roots to Modern Practice



The roots of the religion called Wicca, or Witchcraft, are very old,

coming down to us through a variety of channels worldwide. Although

any general statement about our practices will have exceptions, the

following will attempt to present a basic foundation for

understanding. Some of the old practices were lost when indigenous

religions encountered militant Christianity and were forced to go

underground for survival. The ancient mystery religions were lost

when the practice of the rites was stopped and the old oral

traditions were no longer available. Parents transmitted their

traditions to their children, with parts being lost and new parts

created in succeeding generations. These survivals, along with

research into the old ways, provide a rich foundation for modern

practice. Other factors contributing to the revival of the Craft are

archaeological and anthropological studies of the religious practices

of non-Christian cultures, the works of the Golden Dawn and other

metaphysical orders, and the liberalization of anti-Witchcraft laws.



Modern Witches hold rituals according to the turning of the seasons,

the tides of the moon, and personal needs. Most rituals are performed

in a ritual space marked by a circle. We do not build church

buildings to create this sacred, ritual space -- all Earth is sacred

and in touch with the Goddess and so any place, indoors or out, may

be consecrated for ritual use. Outdoor spaces tend to be used from

Ostara to Lammas, indoor spaces from Samhain to Imbolc.



The Circle



Within this sacred circle, two main activities occur: celebration,

and the practice of magic. Celebration is most important at the major

seasonal holy days, the Sabbats. At these times, the myths of that

particular holiday are enacted in ritual drama, and dancing, singing,

feasting, and revelry are all part of the festivities. On these

occasions we celebrate our oneness with life on Earth, as well as

assimilating on the deepest level myths and archetypes which map and

assist our own life-passages.



Magic is more often performed at smaller gatherings, called Esbats,

which coincide with the phases of the moon. Types of magic practiced

include psychic healing sessions, the focus and direction of energy

to achieve positive results, and work toward the individual spiritual

development of the coven members. Magic is an art which requires

adherence to certain principles, and a conscious direction of will

toward the desired end. We believe it to be an attribute of magic

that results toward which the will is directed return to the sender

threefold. Therefore, Witches are very conscientious in their use of

magic.



When the celebration, teaching, or magical work is finished, the

blessing of the Goddess (and God) is called into food and drink which

are shared by all. The circle is opened, and the space is no longer

consecrated.



The Tools of a Witch



To create the circle, and in the working of magic, we use tools to

facilitate a frame of mind in which the psychic state necessary for

this kind of work can be achieved. The tools are part of a complete

and self-consistent symbolic system which is agreed upon by the

participants and provides them with a "map" for entry into unfamiliar

psychic spaces. Such a system, like a map, is arbitrary and

not "true" in an absolute sense; it is a guide to a state which is

ineffable and can be most clearly reached through the arts (poetry,

music, dance, drama) and "starlight" vision.



A primary tool, which is owned by most Witches, is an athame or

ritual knife. The athame is charged with the energy of the owner and

is used as a pointer to define space (such as casting a sacred

circle) and as a conductor of the owner's will and energy.



Other important tools are the symbols on the altar which denote

the "Aristotelian" Elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water (some "maps"

include Spirit). A pentagram or pentacle (a five-pointed star

sometimes surrounded by a circle) is often used to symbolize Earth

and its properties -- stability, material wealth, the body, and

practical affairs. Alternatively, a small dish of salt or soil can be

used to symbolize the Earth Element. A thurible (or censer) or a bell

can be used to symbolize Air and its properties -- communications,

vitality, intellect and understanding. (A sword or wand may be used

to symbolize Air or Fire, and many "maps" disagree on with which

element the sword or wand should be associated.) A candle or small

pot of fire may symbolize the element of Fire and its properties --

will, transmutation, life-force, and power. A chalice of water is

used to symbolize the element of Water and its properties --

cleansing, regeneration, and emotion. In the traditions which include

the element of Spirit, an ankh or quartz crystal is used to symbolize

Spirit and its properties -- perfection, summation, balance,

illumination and eternity.



There are many other minor tools which are used for some specific

purposes within magical workings, but the tools described above are

the basic ones used in the practice of Witchcraft, and many of the

minor tools are extrapolations of the basic ones (e.g. the broom of

the wand, the sword of the athame, the cauldron of the cup, etc.)



Personal Development



Since these tools are merely the conductors of personal energies, as

copper is a conductor for electrical energy, most covens provide at

least some degree of training in psychic skills and healing practices

to strengthen each member's ability to participate in the religious

activities. Each individual decides what level of such training is

useful for them. We see psychic abilities as a natural human

potential, and are dedicated to developing this as well as all of our

positive human potentials.

Q. What form does the practice of Witchcraft take?



The form and context vary from group to group and between each

ritual, and may run the gamut from elaborate ceremony to spontaneous

ritual to simple meditation. Generally the practice is to consecrate

a sacred space, the "circle" and then work magic and worship the

Goddesses and Gods within it according to the forms agreed upon by

that particular group of Witches.



Q. How do you see the Goddess?



As the immanent life force, as Mother Nature, the Earth, the Cosmos,

the interconnectedness of all life.



Q. Do all Witches practice their religion the same way?



Yes and no. Wicca is a highly individual religion. Moreover, the

number of different sects within the Craft may give the impression

that no two groups practice the same way. Though practices may vary,

most traditions have many similarities, such as the working of magic

and a respect for nature. Most Witches find enough common ground for

mutual support and productive networking throughout the Craft

community.



Q. Is Witchcraft a "cult"?



No. A cult is generally taken as a gathering of people who owe blind

allegiance to one charismatic leader who ostensibly

represents "truth". They indulge in "extravagant homage or adoration"

(Webster's Dictionary), usually of their leader, thus trading the

ability to think for themselves for "salvation" and a sense of

belonging. This is the antithesis of the Witchcraft experience. Most

Witches come to the Craft through reading and communing with nature

and later finding like-minded groups. Witches tend to be highly

individualistic.



Q. Do Witches have a "Bible"?



No. A bible is supposedly the word of a deity revealed through a

prophet, or more generally, "a book containing the sacred writings of

any religion" (Webster's Dictionary). Witchcraft is a Pagan folk-

religion of personal experience rather than transmitted revelation. A

Witch may keep a "Book of Shadows" which is more like an individual's

workbook or journal -- meaningful to the person who keeps it --

containing rituals, discoveries, spells, poetry, herb lore, etc.

Covens may keep a similar group book. There is no one document taken

by all Wiccans as authoritative, as in Judaism, Christianity, or

Islam.



Q. Do Witches cast spells?



Some do and some don't. Since a commonly-held belief is that what is

sent out is returned to the sender threefold, Witches tend to be very

careful with spells. A spell is a formula, or series of steps, to

direct the will to a desired end. Energy is drawn from the earth,

concentrated, and sent out into the world. It is believed that with

proper training and intent, human minds and hearts are fully capable

of performing all the magic and miracles they are ever likely to

need, through the use of natural psychic power.



Q. Do Witches fly on brooms?



No. Brooms were (in rural Europe) and sometimes still are ridden

astride in ceremonies. In one such ceremony, people ran through the

fields astride a broom to coax the grain to grow, or participants

would leap over a broom, telling the grain to grow to the height of

the highest leaping. Uninformed observations of such ceremonies could

lead to tales of flying on brooms.



Q. Do Witches worship the Devil?



No. The concept of "the devil", a personification of a supreme spirit

of evil and unrighteousness, is a creation of Middle Eastern thought

which is fundamental to some religions of that region, including

Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Islam. Worship of this being

as "Satan" is a practice of profaning Christian symbolism and is thus

a Christian heresy rather than a Pagan religion. The gods of Wicca

are in no way connected with Satanic practice. Most Witches do not

even believe Satan exists, and certainly do not worship him.

Historically, the gods of an older religion are often branded as the

devils of a newer one in order to promote conversion.



Q. Are Witches only women?



No, but in this country women do predominate in the Craft overall (in

Britain, men predominate). Some traditions have only women

practitioners, just as others have only men. Most traditions admit

both. Men are also called "Witches", and most take exception to being

called "Warlocks".



Q. With the bad mental image people get at the mention of Witch and

Witchcraft, why do you still use these names?



Virtually every religion can look back into the dark corners of

history and find a period when it was held in disrepute. Some

religions were accused of crimes through ignorance and malice (e.g.

Medieval Christians were sure that Jews ate Christian babies). Other

religions face prejudice because their practices are different from

those of their accusers (e.g. the Mormons for their polygamy). Others

defame each other for being on the opposite side of some power

struggle -- consider the many incidents from the Crusades through the

Inquisition to current affairs in nations such as Ireland or Iran.

Just because a group was or is persecuted and maligned is not a

reason for it to change its name. The practices of prejudice and

scapegoating seem to be universal human pastimes, and we have had our

share of being victimized.



Q. How can someone find out more about Witchcraft?



Wicca is not a missionary religion and does not proselytize. One must

seek rather than be sought after. There are excellent books

available, and many Witches teach classes or facilitate discussion

groups. In this way, people may connect with a like-minded coven or

form a study group of their own. There are also many good

periodicals, networks, and national and regional festivals through

which a seeker can make contact with the larger Craft community. The

Covenant of the Goddess is one such group fulfilling all of these

functions.

Wicca, or Witchcraft, is an earth religion -- a re-linking (re-ligio)

with the life-force of nature, both on this planet and in the stars

and space beyond. In city apartments, in suburban backyards, in

country glades, groups of women and men meet on the new and full

moons and at festival times to raise energy and put themselves in

tune with these natural forces. They honor the old Goddesses and

Gods, including the Triple Goddess of the waxing, full, and waning

moon, and the Horned God of the sun and animal life, as

visualizations of immanent nature.



Our religion is not a series of precepts or beliefs, rather we

believe that we each have within ourselves the capacity to reach out

and experience the mystery -- that feeling of ineffable oneness with

all Life. Those who wish to experience this transcendence must work,

and create, and participate in their individual religious lives. For

this reason, our congregations, called covens, are small groups which

give room for each individual to contribute to the efforts of the

group by self-knowledge and creative experimentation within the

agreed-upon group structure or tradition.



There are many traditions or sects within the Craft. Different groups

take their inspiration from the pre-Christian religions of certain

ethnic groups (e.g. Celtic, Greek, Norse, Finno-Ugric); in the

liturgical works of some modern Witch poet or scholar (e.g. Gerald

Gardner, Z Budapest, Alex Sanders, Starhawk); or by seeking within

themselves for inspiration and direction. Many feminists have turned

to Wicca and the role of priestess for healing and strength after the

patriarchal oppression and lack of voice for women in the major world

religions.



There are many paths to spiritual growth. Wicca is a participatory

revelation, a celebratory action leading to greater understanding of

oneself and the universe. We believe there is much to learn by

studying our past, through myth, through ritual drama, through poetry

and music, through love and through living in harmony with the

Earth.

Introduction of the Craft

history, definitions, tools, meanings,



Definitions (Added on by members of a Yahoo Group)



Occult

Occluded or hidden/secret; the study of secret or hidden knowledge.

Secret societies include the Rosicrucians and certain fraternal

orders.



Earth Religion

a religion whose main tenet is that the worshipper is in harmony with

the Earth and with all life. Such religions oppose the idea that the

world is a resource to be subdued and exploited.



Pagan

a practitioner of an Earth Religion; from the Latin paganus, a

country dweller.



Neo-Paganism

a modern Earth Religion which borrows and adapts from the best of pre-

Christian Pagan religions, sometimes with additions from contemporary

religious thinkers.



Witchcraft

a practice, a way of life that can be coupled with any type of religion or philosophy, including but not limited to Wicca, Christianity, Jewish faith, Buddhism, paganism, protestant, etc. You have a religion and practice the craft! Some witches do not follow a religion and also call apon Spirit other then dieties



Wicca

a magical religion with many diverse traditions derived from various

cultural sources around which covens and individual practitioners

base their practices. Modern Witchcraft traditions include:



Alexandrian

Celtic

Circle

Dianic

Faery

Gardnerian

Georgian

Isian

NECTW

NROOGD

Reclaiming

Shamanic

and others.



The Craft

another name for Witchcraft.



Coven

a congregation of Witches, usually limited to 13 members or less.



Witch

one who worships the Goddess, and sometimes also Her Consort, the

God; practices magic; and considers her/himself to be following the

spiritual path of Witchcraft.



Magic

a conscious direction of will to accomplish a goal.



Sabbat

one of the eight seasonal festivals equally spaced during the year,

celebrated by individuals and covens of Witches.



Esbat

monthly meeting of a coven, usually held at full moon. There are

about 13 full moons each year. Some groups also meet at the dark of

the moon.

by Rowan Fairgrove

with chants borrowed from many sources for which my thanks!



The purpose of this ritual is to recognize that work needs to be done to bring human life into harmony with the rest of life of life on earth and to pledge ourselves as Earth Stewards..



Acknowledge those who circle with us by doing a spiral dance:



We walk together the ancient path,

Harmony be among us all

We dance together the sacred dance

Magic be among us all (Rowan Fairgrove)



Cast a circle, participants echo the Priestess:



We acknowledge that this ground is sacred ground

We bring our love and trust within

We affirm our place within the Circle of Life



continue with circle casting in usual manner.



The working:



Take a piece of yarn.. Begin to tie knots in it. The knots may be simple or elaborate, but leave enough string to tie together at the end.



Priestess says: "As you chant, see the world as a network of connected systems. Breathe the air that comes from the top of the world, the tundra clean and free. Feel the living fire of an great cat's power, the blaze of the butterfly's wing. Taste the rain on the leaves at the tops of the trees and the deep power of the Pacific Ocean. Feel the delicate structure of the soil across meadow and forest and field. We are connected and we all rely upon each other.



Chant: (v1 Michael Thorn & v2 Starhawk)



Tying the Cord, Renewing the Earth;

We are Her Children, bringing Rebirth.



We are the Flow and we are the Ebb;

We are the Weavers, we are the Web.



Tie the cord to another cord, creating a symbol of the total web of life and Gaia. Priestess says: "As you join your cords, see yourself standing guard over all of the regions of the Earth. See yourself with others, protecting the verdant rainforest, the fragile tundra, the rolling plains, the upthrust mountains as you would protect yourself. See the streams and rivers running clear, the smog dissipating from the sky, the smoke of factories flow clean, the ozone layer healed, the rain once more nourish rather than burn when it falls." Begin chanting:



The earth, the water the fire, the air

Return, return, return, return (Starhawk)



Once the web has been completed, the globe is passed around while recite the One World Earth Pledge in unison:



I pledge to protect the Earth

And to respect the Web of Life upon it,

and to honor the dignity

of every member of the global family

One planet, one people, one world in harmony

With peace, justice and freedom for all.



When the circuit is complete, the globe is put in the center and the web wrapped over it. The spiral is danced, sending energy to the web of life and the unity of all beings.



For we are the stewards of the Mother Earth

And we the ancient arts sustain

We are the shield, we are the blade,

We are the Witches come again (Leigh Ann Hussey)



When the drop has been made, the final chance is sung: (Starhawk/Ann Hill)



When we are gone, they will remain

Wind and rock, Fire and rain

They will remain when we return

The wind will blow and the fire will burn



Cakes and juice are blessed and shared; and the circle is lifted.



© Rowan Fairgrove 1995

I have been on the Internet for about 10 years now, No wait it over ten. Wow time flies when your having fun. Well when I first started I had no clue what I was doing. I started off on AOhelL and did not really surf the net all I really did is talk and role-play on their site. Well about a year went by and I found out MSN was cheaper and I started using them and it was for the same thing chatting and role-playing. Time passed and I ended up at a Furry site I was looking for a picture to use for a character and I started to read up on what a Furry was and I then found out that I have been a Furry a long time because I not only love animals but I have always envision myself as some sort of animal. I was having problems because I don't have just one animal persona, I have about 10. My first and most beloved is "Litha" she is a demonic cat, she is the first I started her in story form over 20 years now and maybe one day I will sit and write it ALL out. She has mysticcal powers and metamorphing abilities. My second persona or fursona is Kangetsu or White Wolf, she is my werewolf or Garou. For her I have done a lot of research into Garous and how they are played out in the game "White Wolf." I used that info for her base but I have never used her in the game or even played it. Gabby or Gabriella la Coneja is my rabbit fursona, she is my sexy side with her I am more free about my sexually and my submissive side, she is new and I dont have much on her. Then comes Abyss aka The Lady of the Dark Abyss, now she started out a full role-play character but I have fallen for her, she is a demonic horse with rams horns and bats wings, one day I would like to have some one draw her in her Anthro form I have a few but I want more LOL. Well that is all for now but I will write more on this and I might list the others ~evil laugh~

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