Sacred Plants of the Winter Solstice

Sacred plants of the Winter Solstice


Holly

Symbolizing: Old Solar Year; Waning Sun; Protection; Good Luck
Forms: boughs over portals, wreaths
Divinities: Holly King; Old Nick; Saturn; Bacchus; Wood Spirits; Holly Boys
Traditions: Roman, Celtic, English, Christian


Mistletoe

Symbolizing: Peace, Prosperity, Healing, Wellness, Fertility, Rest, Protection
Forms: boughs, amulet sprigs above doorways, kissing balls
Divinities: Oak Spirit; Frigga and Balder
Traditions: Celtic, Teutonic


Ivy

Symbolizing: Fidelity, Protection, Healing, Marriage, Victory, Honor, Good Luck
Forms: crowns, wreaths, garlands
Divinities: Dionysius; Bacchus; Great Goddess; Ivy Girls
Traditions: Greek, Roman, English, Christian


Frankincense

Symbolizing: Sun, Purification, Consecration, Protection, Spiritual Illumination
Forms: incense, oils
Divinities: Sun Gods, Ra at Dawn, Bel
Traditions: Babalyonian, Assyrian, Egyptian, Jewish, Greek, Roman, Christian


Myrrh

Symbolizing: Healing, Death and Afterlife, Purification, Inner Peace
Forms: incense, oils
Divinities: Isis, Ra at Midday
Traditions: Egyptian, Jewish, Christian


Wheat

Symbolizing: Sustenance, Abundance, Fertility, Good Luck
Forms: grain, straw figures and symbols, cookies, cakes, breads
Divinities: Earth Goddesses; Saturn & Ops; Goat Spirit; Fairy Folk
Traditions: Roman, Celtic, Scots, Teutonic, Swedish, Christian

Sweet Potato & Apple Bake

INGREDIENTS:
1 large (1/4 lb) sweet potato
3 medium Golden Delicious apples
1 teaspoons lemon juice
1 large leek
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
1/4 cups apple juice
2 tablespoons unseasoned bread crumbs
1 tablespoon brown sugar

DIRECTIONS:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Peel and thinly slice sweet potato.
Peel, core, and cut apples into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place
apples in bowl and add water to cover; add lemon Juice. Trim
off top of leek 1 inch above white; discard top and root end.
Cut leek lengthwise in half and clean well under running cold
water. Thlnly slice leek crosswise. Drain apples well; pat
dry. Grease 1 1/2-quart casserole with 1 table- spoon butter.

Place one third of apples in bottom of casserole; top with
one third of leek slices and one third of sweet potato.
Season with salt and pepper. Repeat to make 2 more layers.
Dot top of casserole with 2 tablespoons butter; pour apple
juice over all. Cover tightly with lid or aluminum foil and
bake 45 minutes. Meanwhile, to make topping, in small sauce-
pan, melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter; stir in bread
crumbs and brown sugar until well combined. Uncover casserole
and sprinkle with topping. Bake uncovered 10 to 15 minutes
longer or until potato slices are tender. Serve immediately.

Yield: 6 Servings

~Source Unknown~

Posset

Posset

2 slices stale bread
Salt
Grated nutmeg
1 dessertspoon castor sugar
1 pint (500ml) milk
1 tablespoon brandy or a measure of ale
Trim off and discard the crusts of the bread and cut the slices into small pieces. Place in a bowl and add a pinch of salt, a pinch of nutmeg and the sugar. Heat the milk (do not boil) and pour over the bread. Cover and leave for 15 minutes. Add the brandy or ale and mix thoroughly.

~Unknown Source~

Lamb's Wool

Lambs Wool

4 pints (2 litres) ale
2 pints (1 litre) white wine
1 grated nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon demerara sugar
Roasted crab apples
Heat ale and wine together. When hot add the spices and the sugar. Allow the sugar to dissolve and serve in a deep bowl and float the roasted apples on top.


~Unknown Source~

Invisible Ink

Got a secret spell or private information in your grimoire that you'd like to safeguard? Try using invisible ink!

Use vinegar, lemon or onion juice and a quill to write your private message. Once it dries, you will be able to read it by holding the page up to a light source, such as a candle.

Rose Ink

1 oz. bottle of red, blue or black ink
small decorative bottle
small glass funnel
20 drops unscented vodka
4 drops rose essential oil

Pour the ink into the decorative bottle, using the glass funnel. Mix the vodka and essential oil together in a glass measuring cup. Slowly add this mixture to the ink. Screw the top on tightly and gently shake.

Rose ink comes in handy for love magic!

Deflecting Jar

If you break a mirror, collect all the pieces and put them in a glass jar. Sit the jar on you window sill - the shards deflect the bad luck away from the house.

Herbal Witches Cleansing Bottle

To make an herbal cleansing bottle, pour a layer of sand in a large clear bottle.
Add layers of dried herbs, one at a time: first rosemary; then lemon peel, sage, cedar, black peppercorns, lavender, dill, bay leaf, and rowan.

When the bottle is full, focus cleansing protective energy into the herbs and sand, and see a golden light radiating from the bottle. Visualize the herbs driving away negative influences. Cork and seal the bottle with white wax.

Using a permanent marker, draw the Algiz rune on one side of the bottle, and on the other side draw a pentagram. Set the bottle near your front or back door, and every six months, uncap. Pour herbs out into the woods or your compost heap, and thoroughly wash and dry the bottle before filling it with a new round of herbs.

~Source Unknown~

Truth Revealed Spell

Moon and tide save help me now,
I seek the truth here not yet found,
For underneath the fog there lies,
New possibilities for I,
So let this night be unlike others,
And let the noble show their colors,
And let the meek and cowards run,
For now the moon seeks out her sun,
And by the power that is three,
So as I will it, so mote it be.


~Source Unknown~

A Pagan Prayer

Water, Fire, Air, and Earth,
Womb to life, death to rebirth.
Our Great Wheel of the seasons turns,
The mortal heart forever yearns.
The sacred Sabbat candle burns,
Within our souls its light sojourns.
We all are children of the Goddess
and to Her we shall return:
Womb to life, death to rebirth,
Water, Fire, Air, and Earth.


~Source Unknown~

The Witches Creed

Hear now the words of the witches,
The secrets we hid in the night,
When dark was our destiny's pathway,
That now we bring forth into light.

Mysterious water and fire,
The earth and the wide-ranging air,
By hidden quintessence we know them,
And will and keep silent and dare.

The birth and rebirth of all nature,
The passing of winter and spring,
We share with the life universal,
Rejoice in the magical ring.

Four times in the year the Great Sabbat
Returns, and the witches are seen
At Lammas and Candlemas dancing,
On May Eve and old Hallowe'en.

When daytime and night-time are equal,
When sun is at greatest and least,
The four Lesser Sabbats are summoned,
And Witches gather in feast.

Thirteen silver moons in a year are,
Thirteen is the coven's array.
Thirteen times at Esbat make merry,
For each golden year and a day.

The power that was passed down the age,
Each time between woman and man,
Each century unto the other,
Ere time and the ages began.

When drawn is the magical circle,
By sword or athame of power,
Its compass between two worlds lies,
In land of the shades for that hour.

This world has no right then to know it,
And world of beyond will tell naught.
The oldest of Gods are invoked there,
The Great Work of magic is wrought.

For the two are mystical pillars,
That stand at the gate of the shrine,
And two are the powers of nature,
The forms and the forces divine.

The dark and the light in succession,
The opposites each unto each,
Shown forth as a God and a Goddess:
Of this our ancestors teach.

By night he's the wild wind's rider,
The Horn'd One, the Lord of the Shades.
By day he's the King of the Woodland,
The dweller in green forest glades.

She is youthful or old as she pleases,
She sails the torn clouds in her barque,
The bright silver lady of midnight,
The crone who weaves spells in the dark.

The master and mistress of magic,
That dwell in the deeps of the mind,
Immortal and ever-renewing,
With power to free or to bind.

So drink the good wine to the Old Gods,
And Dance and make love in their praise,
Till Elphame's fair land shall receive us
In peace at the end of our days.

And Do What You Will be the challenge,
So be it Love that harms none,
For this is the only commandment.
By Magic of old, be it done!

~Source Unknown~

The Witches Rune

The Witches Rune is used during Wiccan Rituals as a way to raise energy. The Rune is chanted by all the Witches, sometimes whilst they are dancing in a circle, they will repeat the Rune until the person leading the ritual, often the HPS or HP indicates that they stop.
Usually when the HPS indicates the energy has reached the required level all the Coveners will drop to the ground as the HPS or HP shouts 'down' and then directs the energy raised towards the intended purpose:

East then South, West then North, hear!

Come! I call thee forth!
By all the powers of land and sea,

Be obedient unto me.

Wand and Pentacle and Sword,

Hearken ye unto my word.

Cords and Censer, Scourge and Knife,

Waken all ye into life.

Powers of the Witches' Blade,

Come ye as the charge is made.

Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell,

Send your aid unto the spell.

Horned Hunter of the night,

Work my will by magic rite.
By all the powers of land and sea,

As I do say "So mote it be."

By all the might of Moon and Sun,

As i do will, it shall be done.

EKO EKO AZARAK,

EKO EKO ZOMELEK,

EKO EKO ARADIA,

EKO EKO CERNUNNOS,

BEZABI, LACHA, BACHABABA.

LAMACH, CAHI, ACHABABA,

KARRELOS, CAHI, ACHABABA,

LAMACH LAMACH BACHAROUS,

CARBAHAJI, SABALYOS, BARYLOS.

LAZOS, ATHAME, CALYOLAS,

SAMAHAC, ET FAMYOLAS,HARRAHYA!

Black Moon

A Black Moon occurs when there are two dark cycles of the moon in any given calendar month. It is believed that the second dark moon of a time of great power within the spiritual world and any magick worked during this time is especially powerful.

Voodoo Love Perfume

Add cinnamon, sugar, a gardenia, and a small piece of coral to your favorite perfume to turn it into a Voodoo love perfume.

Seasonal Altar Adornments & Foods

Yule
Decorate Altar with evergreens (pin, rosemary, bay, juniper, and cedar) and Dried leaves. Appropriate Foods include nuts, apples, pears, cakes of caraway's soaks in cider, pork. Serve Wassail,hibiscus, or ginger tea to drink.

Imbolc
Decorate Altar with White flower (representing snowflake), or snow in a crystal container. Orange candle anointed with musk, cinnamon,frankincense, or rosemary oil. Appropriate Foods include all dairy foods. Sour cream dishes. spicy, full-bodied foods in honour of the Sun. Curries and all dishes made with peppers, onions, leeks,
shallots, garlic, or chives. Spiced wines and dishes containing raisins - all foods symbolic of the Sun - are traditional.

Ostara
Decorate Altar with Flowers, buds, and blossoms; cauldron filled with spring water. Appropriate Foods include seeds (sunflower, pumpkin,sesame seeds) pine nuts. Sprouts; leafy, green vegetables. Flower dishes such as stuffed nasturtiums or carnation cupcakes. Fake carnation cupcakes: make spice cupcakes. Frost with pink frosting and place a fresh carnation petal on top of each cupcake. Stuffed
Nasturtium blossoms: stuff the blossoms with a mixture of cream cheese, chopped nuts, chives, and watercress.

Beltane
Decorate Altar area with a small, potted tree inside the Circle. Make flower garland, string of beads, or small bags filled with flowers to hang from the tree in honour of the marriage of god and goddess. Appropriate Foods include dairy and dishes such as marigold custard and vanilla ice cream. Oatmeal cakes.

Litha
Decorate Altar with an herbal petition packet made up of herbs such as lavender, camomile, St. John's wort, vervain, or any other Midsummer herbs. All troubles, problems, and woe should be pored into this herb pouch, and then tied with a red string; to be thrown into the fire during the rite. Appropriate Foods include fresh fruits.

Lughnasadh
Decorate Altar with sheaves of wheat, barley or oats, fruit and breads, perhaps a loaf fashioned in the figure of the Sun or a man to represent the God. Corn dollies, symbolic of the Goddess, can be present as well. Appropriate Foods include bread, blackberries and all berries, acorns (leached of their poisons first), crab apples,
all grains and locally ripe produce. A cake is sometimes baked, and cider is used in place of wine.

Mabon
Decorate Altar with acorns, oak sprigs, pine and cypress cones, ears of corn, wheat stalks and other fruits and nuts. Basket with dried leaves of various colours and kinds. Appropriate Foods include the second harvest's gleanings: grains, fruit, and vegetables (especially corn). Cornbread is traditional, as are beans and baked squash.

Samhain
Decorate Altar with apples, pomegranates, pumpkins, squashes and other late autumn fruits. Autumn flowers like marigolds and mums. Appropriate Foods include beets, turnips, apples, corn, nuts,gingerbread, cider, mulled wines and pumpkin dishes are appropriate,as are meat dishes.

The Celtic Commandments

Give thou thine heart to the wild magic,
To the Lord and the Lady of Nature,
Beyond any consideration of this world.
Do not covet large or small,
Do not despise weakling or poor,
Semblance of evil allow not near thee,
Never give nor earn thou shame.
The Ancient Harmonies are given thee,
Understand them early and prove,
Be one with the power of the elements,
Put behind thee dishonour and lies.
Be loyal to the Lord of the Wild Wood,
Be true to the Lady of the Stars,
Be true to thine own self besides,
True to the magic of Nature above all else.
Do not thou curse anyone,
Lest thou threefold cursed shouldst be,
And shouldst thou travel ocean and earth,
Follow the very step of the ancient trackways.

~Source Unknown~

Planets & Their Spiritual Keys

SUN: { Spiritual Key: HARMONY }

He who constructs. The life giver. The Sun will burn away all impurities. It is the great leverer. Brings humility to one's enemies, clears away depression, aids in building up self confidence. Will give recognition and put you in the spotlight.

JUPITER: { Spiritual Key: MERCURY }

He who expands this planet is for all work dealing with
increase, rewards, abundance, tolerance, justice, joviality, extravagance, luck, gambling, idealism, wisdom, the ability to grow mentally.

MOON: { Spiritual Key: NURTURING }

She who mothers. Protectress from psychic and physical harm. Ruler of all hidden mysteries, and women's mysteries. Carries precedence over the tides of the oceans. Rules the home and keeps it together. For opening psychic doorways as well as protection.

MERCURY: { Spiritual Key: INTELLECT }

He who communicates, creator of languages, Tarot, and Magick. Analyzer opens doors, mobility, perception, success, the messenger of the Gods. He is a clever trickster so be sure of what you require.

VENUS: { Spiritual Key LOVE }

She who allures. The ruler of cash flow through the house of Taurus, and beauty and art through Libra. Her expressions are pleasure, art, music, beauty and affection. Mellow, peace making and sociable are Her harmonious actions.

MARS: { Spiritual Key DYNAMIC }

He who gives energy. Mars is the awakener and provides the drive for desire, initiative, adventure, war, and all projects that lack these qualities. Physical energy for healing is expressed through Mars.

SATURN: { Spiritual Key: WISDOM }

He who endures. The teacher, unrelenting, discipline, the Karmic balance through Libra. Introspection, perseverance, working out of Karma in the process of evolution, crystalization. Rules business and its foundation.

URANUS: { Spiritual Key: The AWAKNER }

He who perceives the present Spiritual consciousness. The Seat of intuition and altruism. Extremes and sudden change. Uranus destroys the constricting influence and crystalizations of Saturn. It displaces and overthrows the established attitudes which have outlived their usefulness. Revolutionary, original, erratic, eccentrics. It is related to intuitive knowledge.

NEPTUNE: { Spiritual Key: FAITH }

He who is the absolute consciousness. A higher vibration of Venus, it is receptive, passive and nebulous. Brings spiritual strength and opens psychic doors. Astral entities, artistic, creative from the Astral Realm.

PLUTO: { Spiritual Key: REGENERATION }

The higher octave of Mars even though its orbit is not in tune with the rest of the Solar system. Pluto's orbit covers the masses and has been a symbol of cleansing, healing, catharsis through destruction, disintegration and elimination.

Dream Walking Spell

To use this spell you will need to focus your energy for about one hour before you go to sleep. You should focus them on the person whose dreams you wish to enter. For a lot of people I suggest meditation, to focus their energies. Once you've done this, say the following before you fall asleep.

"By the eye of the moon let enter the realm of the time and allow me to open its doors so I may see the ideas of another."

Be careful with this spell because a lot of my friends used this spell and thought they were seeing some bodies true feelings and started to torment them about it so remember the difference between fantasy and truth.

By: devlinboshnaka

Egyptian Dream Scrying

EGYPTIAN DREAM SCRYING

Egyptian dream scrying may be traced back thousands of years. The
method used by the Egyptians was recorded in the Greek magical papyri
which were written between 200 B.C. to 500 A.D.

In preparing to use the Egyptian dream scrying method you must not
speak to anyone on the evening you plan to scy. You should remain in
silence after the setting of the sun.

Do not consume alcohol on that day or engage in sex. You must refrain
from consuming food for up to four hours before the scrying.

After having a warm bath you anoint your temples with olive oil. You
will need an oil lamp which must not be coloured red or bear any
inscription.

Write on a short narrow strip of white linen with ink mixed with myrrh
the name of the dream God and the purpose for the dream scrying. Twist
the linen strip into a wick and insert into the oil of the lamp.

Place the lamp on a table beside your bed. Using the ink draw the
image of the dream God upon your left palm.

You must decide which God or Goddess you wish to use. Thoth was well
used with the Egyptians.

Light your lamp. Kneel before the lamp.

Concentrating on the image on your left hand recite the following
invocation : Thoth I invoke, blessed power of dreams divine, Angel of
future fates, swift wings are thine, Great source of oracles to human
kind, When stealing soft, and whispering to the mind, Through sleep's
sweet silence and the gloom of night, Thy power awake the sight, To
silent souls the will of heaven relates, And silently reveals their
future fates.

You need to concentrate on your question you wish to know the answer
to. Around your left hand wrap a piece of black linen about four
inches wide and about thirty inches long.

The black cloth is called "black" of Isis. Blow out the flame of the lamp.

Now go to bed, clear your mind and go to sleep. Have a tape recorder
beside your bed so that when you awaken you may recrd your dreams
while still fresh in your mind.

You will find that the dream will come to you in a voice that is clear
and powerfull rather than in dream images. Sometimes the message is
sent in cryptic form so take your time in working out the answer.

http://www.paralumun.com/egyptdream.htm

Facial/General Astringent

I just made a fantastic facial and general purpose astringent, so I thought I would share. Not only does it clean and disinfect your skin, but it's wonderfully tingly and it reminded me a little of the Bonne Bell 10-o-6 astringent I used in high school. Anyone else remember that?

Ingredients:

10oz. rubbing alcohol*
2 oz. purified, distilled, spring or reverse osmosis water
15 drops Tea Tree oil

Shake well to blend ingredients, and then shake well before use. Your skin will feel fresh, clean and incredibly soft after using this astringent.


*I just waited until I used up about 1/6th of the bottle, and then added the remaining ingredients into the original bottle.

Bright Blessings,
)O( Rhiannon )O(

Quit Smoking Spell

Ingredients:

3 small amethyst
3 large amethyst
Black wax
Candle Wick
Double boiler (an old pot and a coffee can work just as well)
Glass candle mold or candle mold
Patchouli oil

On the night of a full moon (preferably) or during the Waning Moon, make a quit-smoking gemstone candle. Empower three or more small pieces of amethyst and three or more large pieces of amethyst with the power to remove your addiction to cigarettes. Now make a black candle (this can be done easily by melting those cute little black six-inch household candles over low heat, and then pouring the melted wax into a glass container (which you have prepared with metal tab and wick).

Now add the three or more small pieces of amethyst to the melted wax in the glass container. You may also wish to add an appropriate oil, such as Patchouli, to the melted wax, to give it added power. Allow the candle to cool. You may wish to reserve a small amount of wax to "top off" the candle in case it caves in while cooling.

Once the candle is ready, you may begin the spell.

Place the candle on your altar and ring it with the three large pieces of amethyst. Light the candle and gaze into its flame. Visualize yourself being free from the addiction to cigarettes. Visualize your cravings dissipating. Visualize the toxins in your body being removed. Hold this visualization for as long as possible. Now allow the candle to burn down completely. You may wish to repeat this spell for added strength. You may make more candles, or simply use a black candle, ringed with amethyst stones. When the Waxing Moon period begins, this spell may be reinforced by empowering your amethyst stones with the power to keep you free from cigarettes and using them to circle a white candle. You may also wish to carry one of your amethyst stones with you to strengthen your magickal intention. When a craving starts, simply take the stone out of your pocket and rub it until the craving stops.

Remember that magick tends to build upon itself...it grows stronger with repetition...don't be discouraged if you have to repeat this spell several times...

~Source Unknown~

Calming Mojo Bag

Calming Bag (for anyone who needs added peace in their life)

*purple cloth
*black cord (for binding negative energy
*pinch of lavender (dried or fresh)*a few dried chamomlie flowers

It is best to make this charm bag on a Wednesday or Saturday.



http://www.geocities.com/medeaaa/MojoSpells.html

Various Fertility Charms

Listed below are various charms to use and/or carry to help promote fertility.

*Carry a bag full of hazel nuts to ensure your own fertility.

*Other herbs to ensure fertility are basil, hazel, poppy, cucumber, apple, pomegranate, acorns, myrtle, and all other nuts.

*Men should carry a piece of mandrake root to ensure their won fertility and sexual prowess, while the jasmine flower does the same for women. The first seven herbs listed above can be added to food and take internally to ensure proper fertility, or they can be introduced into
sachets, as can acorns, myrtle and nuts.

*Bull Amulet ~ To increase fertility in women and men, wear a bull shaped amulet, or place on under the bed before making love.

*Fish Amulet ~ An amulet shaped like a pair of fish and made of gold or mother-of-pearl will increase fertility and virility, bring prosperity and offer you protection from people you hate or who have evil intentions.

*Goat Amulet ~ The symbol of the goat {sacred to Aphrodite and the Horned God} increases fertility when worn or carried as an amulet, and is especially favorable for those born under the sign of Capricorn.

*Ram Amulet ~ An amulet in the shape of a ram will increase fertility in women.

*Unicorn Amulet ~ The unicorn is a ancient symbol of chastity and protection, and it is fabled born was said to be used in medireview times as an amulet to detect poisons in the food or drinks of kings, queens, pontiffs and popes. To promote fertility or increase sexual magnetism,
wear any type of jewelry shaped like a unicorn.

Celtic Deities

With current trends toward the resurrection and reconstruction of the old religions, it would be possible to spend weeks writing about the various deities of each culture. There are many excellent texts available where you may study these in depth. It is important to note that modern day Wiccans, Pagans and Witches generally focus on the major aspect of The One, Goddess and God without breaking deity down into the many subsets shown here.

ANGUS MAC OG (Makohk) ((Ireland)) *God* One of the Tuatha De Danann. God of youth, love and beauty.

ANU (An-oo) / ANANN / DANA / DANA-ANA ((Ireland)) *Goddess* Mother Earth, Goddess of fertility, prosperity, comfort.

ARAWN (Ar-awn) ((Wales)) *God* God of the underground kingdom of the dead. Revenge, terror and war.

ARIANRHOD (Ari-an-rod) ((Wales)) Goddess Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess. Honored at the full moon, beauty, fertility, reincarnation.

BADB (Bibe) / BADHBH / BADB CATHA ((Ireland)) *Goddess* Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess in Ireland. Associated with the cauldron, crows and ravens. Life, wisdom, inspiration and enlightenment.

BANBA ((Ireland)) *Goddess* Part of a triad with Fotia and Eriu. They used magick to repel invaders.

BEL /BELENUS / BELINUS / BELENOS / BELIMAWR ((Ireland)) *God* Closely connected to the Druids. Science, healing, hot springs, fire, success, prosperity, purification, crops, vegetation, fertility. A sun and fire god.

BLODEUWEDD (blod-oo-eeth) / BLODWIN / BLANCHEFLOR ((Wales)) *Goddess* The maiden form of the Triple Goddess. Goddess of the earth in bloom, flowers, wisdom, lunar mysteries, initiations.

BOANN (Boo-an) / BOANNAN / BOYNE ((Ireland)) *Goddess* Goddess of the river Boyne; mother of Angus mac Og.

BRAN THE BLESSED / BENEDIGEIDFRAN (Bran) ((Wales)) *God* God of prophecy, the arts, leaders, war, the sun, music, writing.

BRANWEN (Bran-oo-en) ((Wales)) *Goddess* Goddess of love and beauty.

BRIGIT (Breet) / BRID (Breed) / BRIG / BRIGID / BRIGHID ((Ireland, Wales, Spain, France)) *goddess* Associated with Imbloc. Goddess of fire, fertility, the hearth, all feminine arts and crafts and martial arts. Healing, physicians, agriculture, inspiration, learning, poetry, divination, prophecy, smithcraft, animal husbandry, love, witchcraft, occult knowledge.

CERNUNNOS (Ker-noo-nos) / CERNOWAIN / CERNENUS / HERNE THE HUNTER ((Known to all Celtic areas in one form or another)) *God* God of nature and all wild things. Virility, fertility, animals, physical love, nature, woodlands, reincarnation, crossroads, wealth, commerce, warriors.

CERRIDWEN / CARIDWEN / CERIDWEN ((Wales)) *Goddess* Goddess of nature. Death, fertility, regeneration, inspiration, magick, astrology, herbs, science, poetry, spells, knowledge.

CREIDDYLAD / CREUDYLAD / CORDELLIA ((Wales)) *Goddess* Connected with Beltane, often called the May Queen. Goddess of summer flowers, love.

THE CRONE ((Known in all Celtic regions)) *Goddess* One aspect of the Triple Goddess. She represents old age or death, winter, the end of all things, the waning moon, post-menstrual phases of women's lives. All destruction that precedes regeneration through her cauldron of rebirth.

THE DAGDA ((Ireland)) *God* Protection, warriors, knowledge, magick, fire, prophecy, weather, reincarnation, the arts, initiation, the sun, healing, regeneration, prosperity and plenty, music, the harp.

DANU / DANANN / DANA (Thana) ((Ireland)) *Goddess* Probably the same as Anu. Mother of the Gods, Great Mother, Moon Goddess. Patroness of wizards, rivers, water, wells, prosperity and plenty, magick wisdom.

DIANCECHT (Dian-ket) / DIAN CECHT ((Ireland)) *God* Physician-magician of the Tuatha. God of healing, medicine, regeneration, magick, silver working.

DON / DOMNU (Dom-noo) ((Ireland and Wales)) *God* Ruler of the land of the dead and entrances to the otherworld. Control of the elements, eloquence.

DRUANTIA ((All Celtic regions)) *Goddess* Mother of the tree calendar. Fertility, passion, sexual activities, trees, protection, knowledge, creativity.

DYLAN ((Wales)) *God* God of the sea.

ELAINE ((Wales)) *Goddess* Maiden aspect of the Goddess.

EPONA ((Britain, Gaul)) *Goddess* Goddess of fertility, maternity, protectress of horses, horse breeding, prosperity, dogs, healing springs, crops.

ERIU (Err-i-oo) / ERIN ((Ireland)) *Goddess* One of three queens of the Tuatha Da Danann.

FLIDAIS ((Ireland)) *Goddess* Goddess of forests, woodlands and wild things.

GOIBNIU / GOFANNON / GOVANNON (Gov-ann-on) ((Ireland and Wales)) *God* God of blacksmiths, weapon makers, jewelry making, brewing, fire, metalworking.

GREAT FATHER ((All Celtic regions)) *God* The Lord. The horned god, lord of winter, harvest, land of the dead, the sky, animals, mountains, lust, powers of destruction and regeneration. The male aspect of creation.

GREAT MOTHER ((All Celtic regions)) *Goddess* The Lady. The female aspect of creation, goddess of fertility, the moon, summer, flowers, love, healing.

THE GREEN MAN ((All Celtic regions)) *God* See Cernunnos. A horned deity of trees and green growing things of earth. God of the woodlands.

GWYDION (Gwi-dee-on) ((Wales)) *God* Greatest of the enchanters, warrior-magician. Illusion, changes, magick, the sky, healing.

GWYNN AP NUDD (Gwin ap Neethe) ((Wales)) *God* King of the fairies and the underworld.

GWYTHYR (Gwee-theer) ((Wales)) *God* Opposite of Gwynn ap Nudd. King of the upper world.

HERNE THE HUNTER ((All Celtic regions)) *God* See Cernunnos, The Horned God, and Green Man.

THE HORNED GOD ((All Celtic regions)) *God* Lord of the wild hunt. The masculine, active side of nature. Earth father, growing things, wild animals, alertness, fertility, desire, physical love, agriculture, flocks, brewing.

LLYR (Thleer) / LEAR / LIR (Hlir) ((Ireland and Wales)) *God* God of the sea and water.

LUGH (loo or loog) ((Ireland)) *God* God of skills. Druid, physician, smithing, war, magick, commerce, reincarnation, lightning, water, arts and crafts, manual arts, journeys, martial arts, poets, musicians, historians, sorcerers, healing, revenge, initiation, prophecy.

MACHA (Maax-ah) ((Ireland)) *Goddess* Protectress in war as in peace, goddess of war and death. Cunning, sheer physical force, sexuality, fertility, dominance over men.

MANANNAN MAC LIR (Mannan-awn maklir) ((Ireland and Wales)) *God* God of the sea, navigators, storms, weather at sea, fertility, sailing, weather forecasting, magick, arts, merchants and commerce, rebirth.

MARGAWSE ((Wales)) *Goddess* Mother aspect of the Goddess.

MATH MATHONWY (Math math-on-oo-ee) ((Wales)) *God* God of sorcery, magick, enchantment.

MERLIN / MERDDIN / MYRDDIN (Meer-din) ((Wales and Britain)) *God* Great sorcerer, Druid, magician. Illusion, shape-shifting, herbs, healing, woodlands, nature, protection, counseling, prophecy, divination, psychic abilities, foreseeing, crystal reading, tarot, magick, rituals, spells, incantations, artisans and smiths.

THE MORRIGU (Moor-rig-oo) / MORRIGAN (Mor-ee-gan) / MORRIGHAN / MORGAN (Moor-gan) ((Ireland, Wales, and Britain)) *Goddess* Supreme war goddess. Queen of phantoms and demons, shape-shifter. The crone aspect of the goddess, great white goddess. Patroness of priestesses and witches. Revenge, night, magick, prophecy.

NUADA / NUDD/ NODONS ((Ireland and Wales)) *God* Similar to Neptune. God of the water, oceans, fishing, the sun, sailing.

OGMA / OGHMA / OGMIOS ((Ireland)) *God* Similar to Hercules.

PWYLL ((Wales)) *God* Ruler of the underworld.

RHIANNON (Hri-an-non) ((Wales)) *Goddess* The great Queen. Goddess of birds and horses. Enchantments, fertility and the underworld.

SCATHACH / SCOTA/ SCATHA ((Ireland)) *Goddess* The shadowy one. Goddess in the destroyer aspect. A warrior woman and prophetess who lived in Albion (Scotland), probably on the Isle of Skye and taught the martial arts. Patroness of blacksmiths, healing, magick, prophecy, martials arts.

TALIESIN (Tal-i-ess-in) ((Wales)) *God* God of the bards. Poetry, wisdom, wizards, music, knowledge, magick.

WHITE LADY ((All Celtic regions)) *Goddess* Associated with the Crone aspect of the Goddess. Dryad of death, destruction, annihilation.

Red for Love

The Gypsies say that to find anything red means luck in love. If you find a piece of red thread, red wool, a red button, or whatever, pick it up and carry it with you for luck. It serves as an amulet.

As you stoop to pick it up, think of the person you love and say:

Red is my blood
And red is my heart.
Lucky in love;
Never keep us apart.

The Dance of the Four Directions

The Dance of the Four Directions is a Native American way to become centered and balanced. The graceful and beautiful dance is from the Plains tradition and can be used to prepare yourself for deep work in the spiritual realms.

It helps you discover an important concept: you are the center of your universe.

The name of the dance is taken from the four mudane points of the compass: north, east, south, and west. Each direction has a certain property, certain symbolism.

North: the place of old age, the night, winter, earth, green or black, bear or buffalo

East: childhood, morning, springtime, air, white or yellow, an eagle or butterfly

South: adulthood, midday, summer, water, blue, a frog

West: middle age, evening, autumn, fire, red or orange, thunderbird

Additionally, there are the directions up, representing the heavens or the Great Spirit; down, referring to the earth or the Divine Mother; and center, which is the center of our own being, to visualize this, you might imagine that you are the center of compass, suspended between heaven and earth.

You are dancing in the heart of your universe, your feet anchored in the earth, with your head in the heavens, bringing in the energy along the horizontal points of the compass, and pulling this energy into your own heart.

It is a powerful image. To tap into the power of the four directions, simply align yourself with particular direction and ask it what you want to know. Each of the directions has many values, many symbols, which vary according to different cultures and customs. Those suggested are only a beginning.

The Dance

Always turn clockwise, or sunwise. Begin by facing whatever compass direction you wish to work with first. For this example, we'll start with West. The starting posting is a relaxed stance with your feet about six inches apart.

During the dance your feet will occupy an area about one and a half feet square. One foot will always remain in its half of that small space as the other foot steps out to greet the proper direction in sequence. Your hands and eyes will draw in the energy of the direction as your feet returns to its starting position.

Your hands are pulling in the energy of the direction, bring that energy into your heart. When you pull your hands in, cupped to hold the energy, bring your fingertips to your body until they touch the area of the thymus.

The exact location is not critical; if you wish to measure, it is approximately two hand-widths below your thyroid gland (located in the voice-box area of your throat). As your hands touch your chest, follow them with eyes to bring in even more energy. It may help to visualize a flowing light filling your hands, and in turn, filling your heart.

Step 1: From the starting position, step forward to the west with your right foot as far as is comfortable. Keep your left foot stationary (although the left heel will lift automatically as you step forward). When you step forward, push out with your hands from the leven of your heart, palms upward. As you bring your right foot back in line with the left, the starting position, turn your softly cupped hands back toward you and bring them back to touch your chest. As you do this, consciously feel the energy you are drawing into your heart or Anahata.

Step 2: With your feet in the starting position, twist your body a bit to your right and step our directly to the north with your right foot. Push your hands out as before, from the level of your heart, palms upward. As you bring your right foot back in line with the left bring the energy of the north to your Anahata. Create the sensation of vitalizing energy entering your chest area.

Step 3: From the starting position twist your body slightly to the left and step our directly to the south with your left foot. Draw the energy from out of the south into your Anahata as before.

Step 4: From the starting position, taking up your right foot, twist your torso completely around and step directly behind you with the right foot so you are facing the east. Your left foot remains in its starting position. Draw the energy of the east to your Anahata with your hands, as you lift your right foot and twist back around to return to the starting direction.

Step 5: From the starting position, draw energy from the east by lifting your left foot and twisting your torso, this time to the left so that you can step directly behind you. Your right foot remains stationary this time. Draw in the energy of the east to your Anahata as you move your left foot and turn to place it back in the starting position.

Bad Habit Charm

A Charm to Break a Troublesome Habit

You must take an white egg, and, through small holes made in each end, blow forth the contents from the shell. Plug up one hole with a little softened beeswax, then fill the shell, using a fine funnel, with sour red wine. Carefully seal the second hole with more wax, and in red ink write upon the surface of the shell the name of that plaguing compulsion you would be rid of. Take this egg in secret to a place where great rocks cover the ground. Stand there and say these words:

Halls of blood where life has fled
Walls of bone that close me round
I break thy reign, thy yoke I shed
I cast thy powers to the ground

Hurl the egg against a rock so that it shall burst into fragments and the contents be spilt upon the Earth. Then gather up the broken bits of shell, take them home, and grind them to a powder in a mortar. This charmed dust should be kept within a small jar, a pinch of it to be placed upon the tongue and swallowed whenever further treacherous temptations may appear.

~Source Unknown~

Splitting Clouds

In many parts of the world, one of the first lessons that a Shaman was taught is Weather working. Learning to control the weather is an integral part of a Shaman's training. A shaman was expected to call in the rains when needed, and if he couldn't, then he wouldn't get much respect.


Here is a technique called Splitting Clouds...It's really a very simple technique and most people can do it after a little practice. Go outside and pick out a cloud. Stare at it and take slow deep breaths. Do not force the breath, just allow it to be deep and natural. Now send out from your Third Eye (area in the forehead and between the eyebrows) a beam of white light to cloud. Visualize (with eyes open) the cloud splitting into two, and mentally command/will ill it to do so.


It may take a few seconds or minutes, but if this technique is done properly, the cloud will usually split. Once you have learned how to do this, you are well on your way to becoming a weather worker.

~Source Unknown~

Messages from the Animals

A Message Animal Totem is usually bringing you a self growth or spiritual message - like a wake up call or slap in the face. It will usually be a very unusual experience making it very powerful at that time and very impactual.

What animal surprised or startled you today?
What animal that you don't usually see, have you seen a couple of times today?
What animal entranced you today?

If you only answered one question then this is a message you should consider. If you answered the same animal to two question then this animal is your Message Totem with a very important message. Heed it's word quickly for the message is for now and today.

~Source Unknown~

Third Eye Amulet

Amulet for Opening and Balancing the Third Eye
(Brow) Chakra

Materials:

4x4" Indigo colored cloth OR 3x5" Indigo drawstring pouch.
A small piece of Lapis Lazuli OR Blue Sodalite.
A small piece of Moonstone.
White yarn, twine or string.

Instructions:

Place the stones in your power hand.

Sit comfortably and do whatever meditation exercise you do that helps you ground and center.
Once centered visualize a beam of indigo colored energy radiating from your spiritual core and flowing from your center, down your arm to the palm of your hand and into the lapis lazuli or blue sodalite.

Once you feel the energy is into the stone, visualize a beam of white energy radiating from your spiritual core and flowing from your center, down you arm to the palm of your hand and into the moonstone.

Now focus on the energized stones in your palm and visualize the two color energies mixing and swirling together until they have become a pale shade of indigo.

Keeping this visualization of the colors swirling and mixing and moving, place them in the center of the cloth.

Visualize the colors flowing over and through the cloth, completely surrounding it.

Now gather the corners of the cloth to the center, making a small pouch. Bind the tops with the white yarn or string, leaving enough ends so that you can wear the amulet as a necklace if you so choose.

Place the amulet in your power hand and chant the following words, until you feel that the amulet is empowered.

"My third eye is opened and balanced.
I accept the gift of awareness.
I am able to see past illusion."

Place the amulet around your neck or in your pocket.

~Source Unknown~

Perceiving the Infinite: Using Your Psychic Gifts

Psychic experiences are a natural part of our everyday lives. People often have difficulty accepting that they have been blessed with psychic abilities because without a frame of reference it is almost impossible to identify an extrasensory experience and to distinguish psychic sights, sounds, and sensations from the projects of the unconscious mind. To some extent, every human being on the planet is clairvoyant, clairaudient, and clairsentient, although most people discover that they are naturally adept at one more than the others. When you trust in and take steps to hone your innate clairvoyance, clairaudience, and clairsentience, you will enter a new realm of being in which the universe, your higher self, and your spirit guides lovingly conduct you toward a more aware existence.

Clairvoyance, or clear seeing, is the ability to see with the mind's eye. An individual who has honed their clairvoyant abilities may be able to see in their mind's eye events in a remote location; to witness incidents that have yet to occur; or to perceive shapes, colors, and other images that are physically invisible. Clairaudience, which means clear listening, is the ability to hear sounds not physically audible. A person with the gift of clairaudience perceives psychic information as auditory resonance and may hear angelic voices, music, or other sounds. A clairsentient, or clear feeling, individual is able to sense physical, emotional, and spiritual energy in the form of seemingly unearthly scents, touches, and movements. Each of these psychic abilities can manifest themselves within us voluntarily or involuntarily. It is natural for us to have these abilities; we need only practice.

Developing your psychic talents is a matter of releasing your fear of seeing, hearing, or feeling inexplicable or disquieting stimulus. Before you attempt to consciously tap into your gifts, ground yourself to anchor your mind in the present to disconnect from any involuntary psychic experiences you may be having. Concentrate on your intuitive responses to the world around you and notice any sights, sounds, or feelings that enter your mind. If you trust your perceptions, you'll discover that each psychic impression you receive will be in some way relevant to your experience-even when that relevance may not be immediately recognizable.

Psychic Boost

Unexplained instincts and psychic awareness can be strengthened with magick. It only takes a few minutes a day to practice this spell, but it has great strength.

Sit quietly alone, relaxing your mind and body completely by listening to the sound of your breathing and heartbeat. Lightly touch the center of your forehead with your
fingertips and imagine there is an opening which is emitting a shaft of white light.

Repeat these words: "My thoughts are as strong as the rays of the sunlight. My vision is clear and I have second sight. "

~Source Unknown~

Congrats

Congratulations to Bonnie D. - who was chosen as the winner for Casa Eclectica's free tarot reading!

Floral Liqueur

What you will need:

4 cups vodka or brandy
1-cup sugar
1 - 2 cups flowers

Directions:
Place lightly bruised petals in a jar with vodka or brandy and steep for two days. Then, add sugar and steep for two weeks, shaking vigorously once or twice a day to let sugar dissolve. Strain and filter into clean decanter.

Ideas:
Rose, carnation, lavendar and mint
Orange zest and mint
Ginger and pear
Peaches and lemon verbena
Raspberry and lemon balm
Use a dry white wine

Absinthe

Absinthe has been banned from this country and many others due to the fact that it causes hallucinations; not to mention that wormwood is a poison. If you are concerned about the wormwood, don't add it.

Ingredients:
1 pint vodka
2 tsp. crumbled wormwood (dried)
2 tsp. anise seed
1/2 tsp. fennel seed
4 cardamom pods
1 tsp. marjoram
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
2 tsp. chopped angelica root
1 2/3 cups sugar syrup

Preparation:
Place vodka in a large jar with a tight fitting lid. Add wormwood and shake well; steep for 48 hours and strain out. Crush seeds and pods in mortar. Add them and all remaining herbs to vodka and steep in a warm place for 1 week. Filter and sweeten. Pour into a bottle and enjoy a piece of history.

Suggestion:
Pour a half glass of water into a half glass of Absinthe for authenticity.

Note: This drink will be very bitter even with the sugar syrup in it. Wormwood is a bitter herb. The drink will be brown.

Druidic Tea: Willow Moon

Willow Moon:

Matters of the Otherworld; healing, love, water magick, feminine mysteries.

2 parts willow bark
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 part dried apples
pinch of rosemary

NOTE: Please be very, VERY careful when taking these teas! These are powerful herbs, meant to be used by more or less experienced herbalists and witches. To use, put in a tea ball and steep for 5 or 6 minutes.

Druidic Tea: Vine Moon

Vine Moon:

Earth, sex magick, overcoming difficulties.

1 part blackberry
1 part dandelion
splash of grape juice
pinch of hibiscus

Do not take blackberry during first or second trimester of pregnancy.

NOTE: Please be very, VERY careful when taking these teas! These are powerful herbs, meant to be used by more or less experienced herbalists and witches. To use, put in a tea ball and steep for 5 or 6 minutes.

Druidic Tea: Reed Moon

Reed Moon:

Fertility, love, protection.

1 part red clover
1 part hyssop
1 part boneset
pinch of slippery elm

Boneset is toxic in large doses or if taken over long period of time.

NOTE: Please be very, VERY careful when taking these teas! These are powerful herbs, meant to be used by more or less experienced herbalists and witches. To use, put in a tea ball and steep for 5 or 6 minutes.

Druidic Tea: Oak Moon

Oak Moon:

Lust, strength, energy, endurance, fertility, fire magick, male mysteries.

1 1/2 parts white oak bark
1/2 part mint
1/2 part orange peel
pinch of cinnamon/nutmeg

NOTE: Please be very, VERY careful when taking these teas! These are powerful herbs, meant to be used by more or less experienced herbalists and witches. To use, put in a tea ball and steep for 5 or 6 minutes.

Druidic Tea: Ivy Moon

Ivy Moon:

Healing, cooperation, binding.

1 part mullein
1/4 part wintermint
1/2 part barberry

NOTE: Please be very, VERY careful when taking these teas! These are powerful herbs, meant to be used by more or less experienced herbalists and witches. To use, put in a tea ball and steep for 5 or 6 minutes.

Druidic Tea: Holly Moon

Holly Moon:

Matters of animals; magick, prophecy.

1 part kelp
1/2 part rose petals
1/2 part raspberry
pinch of yarrow

Do not use kelp during pregnancy, as it can cause miscarriage. DO NOT use kelp if you have a thyroid problem. Do not take raspberry during first or second trimester of pregnancy.

NOTE: Please be very, VERY careful when taking these teas! These are powerful herbs, meant to be used by more or less experienced herbalists and witches. To use, put in a tea ball and steep for 5 or 6 minutes.

Druidic Tea: Hazel Moon

Hazel Moon:

Manifestations, protection, healing, fertility.

1 parts ginseng
1/2 part mugwort
pinch of savory
splash of any non-citrus juice

Note: Mugwort is a hallucinogen and toxic in large amounts. Use with caution, and as always, have a healthy respect for what the Goddess gives.

NOTE: Please be very, VERY careful when taking these teas! These are powerful herbs, meant to be used by more or less experienced herbalists and witches. To use, put in a tea ball and steep for 5 or 6 minutes.

Druidic Tea: Hawthorn Moon

Hawthorn Moon:

Peace, sleep, dreams, prosperity, happiness.

1 part hawthorn
1 part catnip
1/2 part rue
1/2 part champagne

Do not use rue during pregnancy, as it can cause miscarriage. It can cause sensitivity to the sun and is toxic in moderate to large amounts.

NOTE: Please be very, VERY careful when taking these teas! These are powerful herbs, meant to be used by more or less experienced herbalists and witches. To use, put in a tea ball and steep for 5 or 6 minutes.

Druidic Tea: Elder Moon

Elder Moon:

Exorcism, prosperity, astral travel, finding faeries.

1 part ginko
1 part mugwort
1 part valerian
1 part spearment
pinch of anise/anise extract
pinch of allspice

Valerian is a sedative, and shouldn't be taken in large amounts. (Also attracts cats like catnip, so keep it in a safe container if you don't want it to get chewed up)

NOTE: Please be very, VERY careful when taking these teas! These are powerful herbs, meant to be used by more or less experienced herbalists and witches. To use, put in a tea ball and steep for 5 or 6 minutes.

Druidic Tea: Birch Moon

Birch Moon:

Matters of beginnings and children; purification.

3 parts ginger
1 part lemongrass
pinch of dill
splash of lemon juice

NOTE: Please be very, VERY careful when taking these teas! These are powerful herbs, meant to be used by more or less experienced herbalists and witches. To use, put in a tea ball and steep for 5 or 6 minutes.

Druidic Tea: Ash Moon

Ash Moon:

Matters of the intellect; magick, healing.
2 parts angelica
1/2 part sage
1/2 part black cohosh
pinch of rosemary

Do not use black cohosh during pregnancy, as it can cause miscarriage. Black cohosh is a sedative and not to be taken in large amounts.

NOTE: Please be very, VERY careful when taking these teas! These are powerful herbs, meant to be used by more or less experienced herbalists and witches. To use, put in a tea ball and steep for 5 or 6 minutes.

Pagan Pathways: Witchcraft

Most Wiccans call themselves Witches but not all witches practice Wicca. There are many, many witches who consider Witchcraft and Wicca to be totally separate religions.

"Witchcraft is a broad term used to describe many faiths. Also known as "wise craft" or "craft of the wise", Witchcraft is a peaceful, nature-based faith or path. Practitioners of Witchcraft or "witches" are often accused of devil worship due to the prevalence of misconceptions within the general public.

The witch was usually a midwife, healer, herbalist and/or wise-woman or man who fashioned their way of living around nature and the seasons. Most witches were skilled in the use of herbs and were quite adept at healing those that were ill. Today, modern witches seek the vast knowledge of the ancient wise women and men to return to a nature-focused way of life."

Pagan Pathways: Wicca

pronounced "wick-ah", is a modern religion, based upon the ancient Western European, pre-Christian shamanic traditions. It is fertility, earth-based and nature oriented; Wiccans recognize and worship during the change of the seasons and the full and new moons. Wicca is a pagan religion, which means it is not Judeo-Christian in origin. Pagan simply means "not of the city" or "country-dweller" and should not be thought of as a negative term.

Wicca is unique in that it has no dogmas, docterines or set of rules. This can be confusing for new practitioners, because Wiccan practices are derived from within, are personal and individual and are not mandated by any one person, hierarchy, or "Bible". Many people brought up in an organized religion are not used to such an open and free belief system. It takes time to become comfortable in developing your religious practices from your personal experiences and knowledge, but therein lies the beauty of Wicca. Individuality is an honored trait for Wiccans, therefore, Wicca is not a "cohesive" religion. One can practice either with a coven or as a solitary, and they can worship in their own individual way. Also, some people who belong to covens may branch out and form their own coven. This is totally acceptable and it allows for a greater sharing of beliefs and of the establishment of new ideas and practices. Although Wiccan practices are unique to the individual or coven, most Wiccans have more in common with other Wiccans than they do differences.

Wiccans live, worship and celebrate by the changing seasons and lunar cycles. The year is cyclical, it is like a wheel, revolving from season to season and year to year, hence the name "Wheel of the Year". Every year, there are eight Wiccan "holidays" known as Sabbats and there are 12 - 13 Esbats "lunar holy days" consisting of the new and full moons.

Pagan Pathways: Stregheria

Stregheria is the Craft of the Italian Witches. It's an ancient system, steeped with history that dates back to the 14th century. We are the descendants of an ancient people who used moonlore, nature, symbolisms, and Spirits (Faery) to work their magick. Stregheria resembles Wicca in that both systems are Goddess based. Both Stregheria and many Wiccan traditions accept the duality of both a female and male God. In Stregheria the Goddess is known as Tana and the God as Tanus. Diane and Dianus represent the Moon goddess and god respectively. Many of the Goddesses and Gods are known by different names in different traditions. Stregheria and Wicca celebrate many of the same rites or Festivals even though the names are not the same and sometimes they occur on a slightly diffferent date.

The reference to the 14th Century is a reference to the teachings of Aradia and to the Stregheria tradition. It is not meant to say that Stregheria is a product of the 14th Century or that all Streghe in Italy follow the same tradition founded by Aradia in the 14th Century. Stregheria in Italy goes back way before pre-christian times and there are many Streghe in Italy and the US who follow traditions that have nothing to do with Aradia de Toscano. Stregheria has many differences from Wicca. Their festa's for example follow a slightly different mythos from that of Wicca.

The Watchers called Grigori, are called to guard the ritual circle and to witness the ritual. Strega also recognizes a third person, Aradia. She came to be known as the Holy Strega, a spiritual teacher and wise woman. The message of Aradia, called the Covenant, offered her followers the path to freedom and personal empowerment. Aradia also taught that the traditional powers of a witch would belong to any who adhered to the way of the Old Religion. Aradia called these Gifts and Beliefs. The Charge of Aradia is the message she left her followers. Aradia was their teacher and the founder of the Triad Clans of Italy. There are many Streghe in Italy who are not of the Triad Clans and do not follow the teachings of Aradia.

Pagan Pathways: Kitchen Witch

You will hear this term every once in a while. Basically, this type is one who practices by hearth and home, dealing with the practical side of religion, magick, the earth, and the elements. There are some who groan loudly at this type of terminology, viewing it as degrading or simply inappropriate. Just remember that the Old Religion started somewhere, and most likely the kitchen (or cookfire) was the hub of many charms, spells, healings, and celebrations. After all, where does everyone congregate during the holidays? Grandma's kitchen has always produced magickal memories for humanity; visions of Mother making that something special for a sick child still holds true today for many of us.

Pagan Pathways: Hedge Witch

A hedgewitch is a tradition within a tradition that is somewhat shamanic in nature, for lack of a better term. There are many different titles that those who follow this inner tradition are called: Hedge-Rider, Hedgewitch, Night Travellers, Myrk-Riders, Gandreidh, Badbh (name of a Goddess as well as a title), and Walkers on the Wind. These are the ones who engage in spirit flight, and journey into the Other World. It is this inner tradition which utilizes such things as flying salves and potions in order to gain access to the Other World. There are certain pre-requisites which must be met before one can learn this particular tradition, however.

A hedgewitch is able to go into the Other World, and call back the souls of those who are about to die. They can, in this capacity, be very powerful healers. They are also able to speak with those who have passed beyond. One of the rituals by which a hedgewitch can cross over into the Otherworld is called the "Ritual of the Raven."A bird of one kind or another is usually associated with the hedge traditions. Two of the most commonly associated birds are the raven and the goose.A mention should be made that the hedge signified the boundary of the village, and thus the boundary of the known world. Not all cultures had hedges, though. Some had stone wall, or earthen works. Regardless, this term is adopted as a way to commonly identify these traditions.

It should be emphasized that not all Witches follow this inner tradition.

Pagan Pathways: Green Witchcraft

The central Green element of all Craft expression is the Goddess as undying, threefold, and associated with the earth, the moon, and the living (sacred) waters, and the God as undying, threefold, and associated with the earth, the sun, and the sky. As God of grain and solar phases, he is also the willing sacrifice who "dies"and is "reborn" in the Goddess in the yearly cycle of the seasons. God the Gatherer, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is that concept of the Trinity dating back some 30,000 years to Shiva as the Threefold God. He is both the seed and the eternal energy of life.'

Green' is a somewhat generic term for the elements that can be found in herbal, natural, traditional, or family traditional Witchcraft, and it has great flexibility and variety. The Green elements can be adapted to those Ceremonial aspects you find appealing, and it forms the foundationlevel of the Odinist tradition (which is very restrictive on what elements are acceptable - Kabbalah and Tarot not being used, as an example.)

The key to the Green facet of Withccraft is to be attuned to nature and the natural forces surrounding you.

Pagan Pathways: Greco-Roman

Hellenic Neopagans worship the Gods and Goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome. Although some followers are Greek or of Greek descent, many come from other ethnic backgrounds, yet all consider themselves Hellenic (or Graeco-Roman) Neopagans.

Pagan Pathways: N.R.O.O.G.D

The New Reformed Orthodox Order Of The Golden Dawn is a Wiccan tradition that began 1967 with a group of friends who were students at San Francisco State College. They were given an assignment to created and perform a ritual, and they decided to perform a Witches' Sabbat using the printed sources available at the time, primarily Robert Graves, Margaret Murray, and Gerald Gardner. After doing the ritual several times and feeling the effects of it, they decided to create NROOGD. The name is a play on the attitudes they had toward what they were doing and upon their spiritual antecedents. The tradition worships a triple-aspect Goddess and various forms of the God derived from ancient Greek and British mythology. Covens are autonomous, but share a common liturgy and recognize one another's initiates. There is no central authority nor spokesperson for the tradition.

There are covens currently active in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as several in the Pacific Northwest and on the East Coast. Covens in the Bay area cooperate to host open sabbats, as well as in-gathering for initiates every six months.

Pagan Pathways: Golden Dawn

The Golden Dawn system of magic is not a religion, although religious imagery and spiritual concepts play an important role in its work. The Golden Dawn was designed by its founders to be an Hermetic Society dedicated to the philosophical, spiritual, and psychic evolution of humanity. It was also designed to be a school and a repository of knowledge, where students learned the principles of occult science and the various elements of western philosophy and magic. Tolerance for all religious beliefs was stressed, and symbolism used within the G:.D:. came from a variety of religious sources. Today, people from many diverse religious paths consider themselves practicing Golden Dawn magicians--including Neopagans, Gnostics, Jews, and Christians.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. There is now established in the world a New Order of the Golden Dawn. It is a Magical-Religious-Scientific Order dedicated to the teachings of Aleister Crowley. The principal function of the New Order is to assist in the initiation of aspirants into the Magical Life of Thelema. It is a Magical Order of the New Aeon wherein men and women, by the essential aids of Science and Religion, can participate in the Great Work of Thelema.

Pagan Pathways: Gnosticism

Gnosticism is a concept of spiritual experience which has its roots in many religious practices and is not restricted to Christianity. It is also found in the Kabbalah of Judaism, the philosophy of NeoPlatonism, and in modern Iraq a small sect of peasants called Mandaeans (their word for 'knowers') still survives today. It is a belief system which considers the 'spiritual' world to be the real world and this material world but a product of the negative use of that spirituality. This is an obvious oversimplification and I ask your kind indulgence.

The word "gnosis" is derived from the Greek language, and means "knowledge of an intuitive nature; the intuitive comprehension of spiritual truths." Gnosis is a knowledge that cannot be arrived at through books or lectures, but rather through one's own direct experience of reality. Gnosis is often referred to as knowledge of the heart, in contrast to knowledge that is obtained through the use of the intellect.

The Gnostic teachings contain systems and exercises through which every aspect of the teachings can be personally verified by each individual. Gnosis is not just theoretical, but one hundred percent practical. Through direct experience we surpass the boundaries of belief and disbelief, since both lead to ignorance. Rather than believing or disbelieving, accepting or rejecting, the Gnostic personally verifies in a direct manner the validity of the concepts he or she is studying. This personal verification leads to true knowledge and comprehension, not merely an intellectual or theoretical understanding of the teachings. Through Gnosis one personally learns to experience reality directly, quell the battle between doubt and belief, and comes to KNOW the inner TRUTH."

The word "Gnostic" means one who knows or one who has acquaintance. A Gnostic is one who holds and believes in a special knowledge or awareness of their self. It would be more accurate to state that a Gnostic is acquainted with their "True Self"-- a term used by ancient Gnostics to describe the divine spirit within themselves. This spirit is actually a portion of the True God -- not the creator but a God that exists beyond creation.

Pagan Pathways: Egyptian-Isian-Kemetic

The resurrection the Ancient Egyptian Religion in one form or another. Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian life. Egyptian religion was based on polytheism, or the worship of many deities, except for during the reign of Akenaton.

The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and goddesses. Some, such as Amun, were worshipped throughout the whole country, while others had only a local following.

Often gods and goddesses were represented as part human and part animal.

Pagan Pathways: Discordianism

The Discordian or Erisian movement is described as a Non-Prophet Irreligious Disorganization and has claimed The Erisian revelation is not a complicated put-on disguised as a new religion, but a new religion disguised as a complicated put-on. It all started with the Principia Discordia, or How I Found the Goddess and What I Did to Her When I Found Her, a collection of articles and ideas compiled by Greg Hill (Malaclypse the Young-er). The central theme is Chaos is every bit as important as Order as illustrated in the story of The curse of Greyface.

Humor is central to Discordianism, but Discordianism should not be dismissed as a joke. Profound experiences frequently accompany the practice or Erisinaism. It is a perceptual game, one which demonstrates that the absurd is just as valid as the mundane and chaos is just as valid as order. It frees the practitioner from the order games (that most have forgotten are games) to play games with order or games with chaos, or both. The effects of Discordianism upon an individual can be far-reaching and amazingly liberating.

Discordianism may, or may not, be a religion. It has a book and a set of rules, and could be treated as a way of spiritual guidance, but for many people it's a reason to use a silly psuedonym and put a lot of weird stuff on the Web. For some people, these two definitions are not contradictory.Discordia and Eris both relate to the Greco-Roman goddess of Chaos, who left a golden apple with the inscription To the Prettiest in Olympus. This began an argument that eventually caused the Trojan War

Pagan Pathways: Church of All Worlds

Founded in 1962, and legally incorporated in 1968, CAW has a good claim on being the oldest legally incorporated Neo-Pagan organization in American. Taking much of its early inspiration from Robert A. Heinlein's 1961 science fiction novel, Stranger in a Strange Land, CAW now sees its mission as evolving a network of information, mythology, and experience to awaken the divine within and to provide a context and stimulus for reawakening Gaia, and to create a tribal community that will be dedicated to the responsible stewardship of the Earth and evolution of consciousness.

The Church of All Worlds is dedicated to healing the separation between mind and body, men and women, civilization and Nature, Heaven and Earth. It presents public rituals, festivals, and other events, and there are more than fifty local CAW chapters or "nests". It also publishes Green Egg, runs a teaching branch, Lifeways, and ecology branch, Forever Forests, and a research branch, The Ecosophical Research Association, which investigates myth and legend and how they relate to today's world.

Pagan Pathways: Ceremonial Magick

Followers of this Tradition uses a great deal of ceremonial magick in their practices. Detailed rituals with a flavor of Egyptian magick are sometimes a favorite, or they may use the Quabbalistic magick

Pagan Pathways: Celtic Traditionalism

This may not be a familiar term to many people, it consists of trying to reconstruct the beliefs and practices of the original Celtic people, as opposed to Druidic learnings, this tradition focuses more on the beliefs of the average Celtic man or woman.

Pagan Pathways: Asatru

Some Odinists consider themselves to be Ásatrú, while others do not, nor are all Ásatrúar Odinists. Ásatrú is a polytheistic religion and the gods and/or goddesses that one chooses to worship or dedicate to among the Elder gods is a matter of individual choice and conscience. Odinism is included in the presentation of Ásatrú although not considered to be exactly the same thing.

Heathen is another term that you will come across and refers to religious groups which are based on Northern European pre-Christian Pagan beliefs while Paganism is an even more general term.

Asatru is the modern rebirth of the pre-Christian indigenous faith of the Norse peoples -- the ancestors of the Norwegians, Danes, Swedes, and Icelanders. This faith honored many Gods and Godesses, some of whose names are still familiar to us today, such as Thor, Odin and Freyja. The indigenous faith of Scandinavia, upon which Asatru is based, fell into shadow after the year 1100, with the advent of Christianity in Northern Europe.

The modern Asatru faith practiced by Gladsheim is part of a revival which began in 1973, when the Asatru Free Assembly was founded in the United States. The same year, Asatru was granted official recognition in Iceland, becoming the second recognized faith in that country, alongside the Lutheran Church.

Wiccan Traditions: Wiccan Shamanism

Wiccan Shamanism was founded by Selena Fox in the 1980's. Ecumenical and multicultural focus. Combination of Wicca, humanistic psychology and a variety of shamanistic practices from around the world. Emphasis on healing. Uses traditional shamanistic techniques to change consciousness, such as drumming and ecstatic dancing.

Wiccan Traditions: Welsh Witchcraft

Welsh Witchcraft is a broad umbrella term for those who worship the old Welsh deities and practice Faerie magick. The largest association of Welsh traditions in the US (and probably in the world) is the Association of the Cymry. Some of the member covens are Wiccan, some are not. Most notably, the Church of Y Tylwyth Teg (the founding group of Cymry) is a legally incorporated Church based in Georgia which teaches Welsh Witchcraft as an ecstatic, mostly shamanic tradition and works heavily with the Faerie realms.

Wiccan Traditions: Stregheria

Stregheria is the form of witchcraft native to Italy; there are several distinct traditions sharing common roots in various parts of Italy. Also called "La Vecchia Religione," Stregheria is a nature-based religion. It's followers worship the forces of Nature, personified by gods and goddesses.

The witches of La Vecchia Religione are called Streghe (plural), with the title Strega (for a female) and Stregone (for a male).

Stregheria is rooted in the folk religion of the Latins (the Romans being one Latin people) and the Etruscans.

In the Aradian tradition, taught by Raven Grimassi in Ways of the Strega, the pantheon is different from the urban gods of the Romans, though some of those deities were shared with the Latins and the Etruscans. The most notable is Diana, whose worship was focused at a temple at Lake Nemi in the Alban Hills.

There are also other traditions of Stregheria in Italy, who may worship the urban gods of the Romans.

Wiccan Traditions: Stregheria

Stregheria is the form of witchcraft native to Italy; there are several distinct traditions sharing common roots in various parts of Italy. Also called "La Vecchia Religione," Stregheria is a nature-based religion. It's followers worship the forces of Nature, personified by gods and goddesses.

The witches of La Vecchia Religione are called Streghe (plural), with the title Strega (for a female) and Stregone (for a male).

Stregheria is rooted in the folk religion of the Latins (the Romans being one Latin people) and the Etruscans.

In the Aradian tradition, taught by Raven Grimassi in Ways of the Strega, the pantheon is different from the urban gods of the Romans, though some of those deities were shared with the Latins and the Etruscans. The most notable is Diana, whose worship was focused at a temple at Lake Nemi in the Alban Hills.

There are also other traditions of Stregheria in Italy, who may worship the urban gods of the Romans.

Wiccan Traditions: Shamanic Witchcraft

This term refers to practices associated with those of tribal shamans in traditional Pagan cultures throughout the world. A shaman combines the roles of healer, priest(ess), diviner, magician, teacher and spirit guide, utilizing altered states of consciousness to produce and control psychic phenomena and travel to and from the spirit realm.

Followers of this path believe that historical Witchcraft was the shamanic practice of European Pagans; and Medieval Witches actually functioned more as village shamans than as priests and priestesses of the "Old Religion."

Shamanic Witchcraft emphasizes serving the wider community through rituals, herbalism, spellcraft, healings, counseling, rites of passage, handfastings, Mystery initiations, etc.

The distinguishing element of Shamanic Witchcraft is the knowledge and sacramental use of psychotropic plants to effect transitions between worlds. The theory and practice of Shamanic Witchcraft has permeated widely though out many other established Traditions.

Wiccan Traditions: Seax-Wicca

Founded by Raymond Buckland in 1973 and based on Saxon traditions and mythology. Covens are led by a Priest and Priestess and may determine for themselves whether to work robed or skyclad. Rituals are open, and decisions are made democratically.

Wiccan Traditions: Minoan Sisterhood

The Sisterhood was founded by Lady Miw in Manhattan during the mid-1970's. Unlike its counterpart, the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood is not for homosexuals only. Covens are female-only, however. This Tradition claims newly acclaimed author Phyllis Curott as one its initiates.

Wiccan Traditions: Minoan Brotherhood

A Gay Men's tradition of Wicca established in New York by the late Lord Gwydion (Eddie Buczynski) in the mid - 1970's, at the same time as the Minoan Sisterhood was being established by Lady Miw, also in New York.

The Brotherhood remains exclusively a venue for Gay men to explore a traditional ritual Wicca, one which can foster a similar, though Gay, sexual mysticism and sense of personal empowerment as in some British traditions of Wicca.

As the founder was a Gardnerian initiate, the rituals are roughly Gardnerian, with changes to accommodate a different core mythology and ritual custom. Imagery and deities are those of Ancient Crete and Mycenae. Working tools and their uses are virtually identical to those of British traditional Wicca.

Wiccan Traditions: Georgian Wicca

If one word could best describe the Georgian Tradition, it would be 'eclectic. Even though the material provided to students was nominally Alexandrian, there was never any imperative to follow that path blindly. George Patterson (the tradition's founder) always said 'If it works use it, if it doesn't, don't'. The newsletter was always full of contributions from people of many traditions.

Wiccan Traditions: Gardnerian Wicca

This is a closed initiatory Tradition which was founded in England in 1953 by Gerald Gardner and further developed by Doreen Valiente and others. Gardner was allegedly initiated into a coven of Witches in the New Forest region of England in 1939 by a High Priestess named 'Old Dorothy' Clutterbuck.

In 1949 he wrote High Magic's Aid, a novel about medieval Witchcraft in which quite a bit of the Craft as practiced by the coven was used. In 1951 the last of the English laws against Witchcraft were repealed (primarily due to to the pressure of Spiritualists) and Gardner published Witchcraft Today, which set forth a version of rituals and traditions of that coven.

Gardner gave his Tradition a ritual framework strongly influenced by Freemasonry and Crowleyan ceremonial magic, as well as traditional folk magic and Tantric Hinduism. The Tradition was brought to the USA in 1965 by Raymond & Rosemary Buckland, who were initiated in 1964 by the Gardner's High Priestess, Lady Olwen. Since his "outing," it has been argued that whether he was initiated into an ancient coven or not, most of the Gardnerian system is not ancient at all (see Origins of Wicca). Rather, Gardner created his system from his work with ceremonial magick and Aleister Crowley, studies of the OTO and Golden Dawn, and literature by writers such as Charles Leland, Robert Graves, and Margaret Murray.

Nevertheless, he is responsible for bringing witchcraft back out of the broom closet and gave birth to the modern form we call "Wicca." Gardnerian covens are always headed by a High Priestess and have three degrees of initiation closely paralleling the Masonic degrees. Worship is centered on the Goddess and the Horned God. The tradition emphasizes polarity in all things, fertility, and the cycle of birth-death-rebirth. Eight seasonal Sabbats are observed, and the Wiccan Rede is the guiding principle. Power is raised through scourging and sex magick ("The Great Rite"), as well as meditation, chanting, astral projection, dancing, wine and cords. Designed for group/coven work, through solitary workings have been created. Covens work skyclad.

Wiccan Traditions: Feri Wicca

Victor and Cora Anderson are the original teachers of the Feri Tradition. Victor is universally recognized as the Grand Master of his order of Feri. He was initiated in 1926 by a priestess from Africa. He is also one of the last genuine Kahuna. His book of poetry, Thorns of the Bloodrose, is considered a contemporary Pagan classic. I

n 1959, Victor initiated the late Gwydion Pendderwen (age 13 at the time), who later became a leading voice in the Feri Tradition. Gwydion concentrated on the Welsh Celtic aspects; whereas Victor and Cora still practice the tradition as it was originally, with Huna and African diasporic influences, primarily Dahomean-Haitian.

Starhawk was also trained in the Feri tradition and draws on it heavily in her Reclaiming system.

The Feri Tradition honors the Goddess and Her son, brother and lover (The Divine Twins) as the primary creative forces in the universe. The Gods are seen as real spirit beings like ourselves, not merely aspects of our psyche. It is an ecstatic, rather than fertility tradition, emphasizing on polytheism, practical magic, self-development and theurgy.

Strong emphasis is placed on sensual experience and awareness, including sexual mysticism, which is not limited to heterosexual expression.

Wiccan Traditions: Faery Wicca vs. Faery Witchcraft

A loose association of covens and solitaires who have a respect for the Faerie Folk in common. This type of Wicca works with the fey in a fairly traditional Celtic Wicca frame.

Faerie Witchcraft, on the other hand, is also a loose association of people who practice Faerie magick and work with the Faerie realm, but do not use a Wiccan format and are more shamanic/ecstatic in nature.

Many Faerie Witches also consider themselves Welsh Witches (see Welsh Witchcraft).

Wiccan Traditions: Eclectic Wicca

Eclectic Wicca refers to groups and individuals not following any one particular Tradition or mythos, but incorporating elements of several, according to the training, preferences and experiences of the practitioners. Deities from several pantheons may be invoked, sometimes even in the same ritual, particularly when a working is being created for a specific cause. In such a case, Eclectics may call upon an assortment of Love Goddesses, etc. from many different cultures. This is the fastest growing branch of Wicca today, due to the large number of books available and the shortage of traditional covens who have room for new students or enough elders willing to hive off.

Wiccan Traditions: Dianic Wicca

There are two distinct branches of Dianic Wicca: The first Dianic coven in the U.S. was formed in the late '60s by Margan McFarland and Mark Roberts, in Dallas, Texas. This branch gives primacy to the Goddess in its theology, but honors the Horned God as Her beloved Consort. Covens include both women and men. This branch is sometimes called 'Old Dianic,' and there are still covens of this tradition specially in Texas. Other covens that are similar in theology but not directly descended from the McFarland/Roberts line are sprinkled around the country.

The other branch, Feminist Dianic Witchcraft, focuses exclusively on the Goddess and consists of women-only covens, often with a strong lesbian presence. These tend to be loosely structured and non-hierarchial, using consensus decision making and simple, creative, experimental ritual. They are politically feminist groups, usually very supportive, personal and emotionally intimate. For both branches rituals are eclectic; some are derived from Gardnerian and Faery traditions, while others have been created anew. Emphasis is on rediscovering and reclaiming female power and divinity, consciousnes-raising, and combining politics with spirituality.

Wiccan Traditions: Ceremonial Wicca

Ceremonial Wicca uses a great deal of Ceremonial Magick in practices; mostly derived from the works of Aleister Crowley. Detailed rituals with a flavor of Egyptian magick are popular, as are Qabalistic ritual forms.

Wiccan Traditions: Church of Wicca

The Church of Wicca was founded by Gavin and Yvonne Frost. They offer correspondence courses in their brand of Wicca, which is sometimes called Celtic Wicca (not to be confused with the varied groups who practice their own forms of Celtic-flavored Wicca).

Until recently, this tradition was notorious for its more monotheistic view of deity and its exclusion of the Goddess. The Church of Wicca has just recently begun including a Goddess in their deity structure, but is very patriarchal as Wiccan traditions go.

The Church of Wicca terms itself "Baptist Wicca."

Wiccan Traditions: Celtic Wicca

This "tradition" really covers a number of individual traditions which follow the Celtic pantheons and holiday system. Each path is unique and stand alone, or could meld with another and still be part of the Celtic tradition. It is primarily derived from the ancient pre-Christian Celtic religions of Gaul and the British Isles.

As it is practiced today, most of the Celtic paths are part of the Neo-Pagan revival, focusing on Nature and healing with group and individual rituals that honor the Ancient Shining Ones and the Earth. Most are very eclectic, and hold to the Celtic myths, divinities, magic and rituals. Celtic paths are some of the more popular traditions.

Wiccan Traditions: British Traditional Wicca

The term "British Traditional" refers to a variety of traditions which originated in the British Isles and which have certain characteristics in common. There is a mix of Celtic and Gardnerian beliefs, mostly based on the Farrar studies.

Worship of the God and Goddess is balanced, covens are co-ed, and there is a degree system. The New Wiccan Church is a federation of British Traditions (Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Mohisian, and Central Valley Wicca-Kingstone, Majestic Order and Silver Crescent). NWC is dedicated to preserving initiatory Craft.

Wiccan Traditions: Blue Star Wicca

Founded in 1976 Norristown, PA by Frank Dufner ("the Wizard") and Tzipora Katz, who later moved to Manhattan where they trained and initiated a number of people. Blue Star's early rituals were based on Alexandrian and Greco-Roman Traditions.

After Frank and Tzipora's divorce, in the early 1980's, Kenny Klein became high priest, steering the Tradition towards a more traditional British form, discarding Alexandrian and ceremonial rituals and replacing them with British Isles folkloric Craft practices.

Wiccan Traditions: Aquarian Tabernacle Church

An American Tradition of Wicca based on English Traditional Wicca. It is focused on service to the larger Wiccan and Pagan community through open worship gatherings. ATC was founded in 1979 by Pierre "Pete Pathfinder" Davis. The church is based in Index, WA, where it owns a Retreat House as well as an outdoor sanctuary with a ring of standing menhirs set in an old growth cedar forest.

The ATC is a fully tax exempt legal Wiccan church in the USA, Canada and Australia, with approximately 30 congregations in these countries as of 1997. ATC provides regular, open worship circles and also sponsors several annual festivals.

Wiccan Traditions: Amethystian Wicca

Founded in 1968 by Lady Amethyst. The tradition is rooted in the Order of the Garter, Order of the Royal Oak. Amethystian Wiccan is traditional with lots of Hermetic beliefs; dedicated to preserving old traditions while growing into a new generation of enlightened ones. This tradition teaches by example in daily life, at home and at work, as well as when among our own. Known through work and deeds. This traditions believes in a strict code of ethics exemplified by one's actions and abides by the Wiccan Rede.

Wiccan Traditions: Algard Wicca

Mary Nesnick, an American initiate in Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions, founded this 'new' tradition. It brings together both Gardnerian and Alexandrian teachings under a single banner.

Wiccan Traditions: Alexandrian

Alexandrian Wicca Founded in England during the 1960's by Alexander Sanders, self-proclaimed "King of the Witches." An offshoot of Gardnerian, Alexandrian covens focus strongly upon training, emphasizing on areas more generally associated with ceremonial magic, such as Qabalah, Angelic Magic and Enochian.

The typical Alexandrian coven has a hierarchical structure, and generally meets weekly, or at least on Full Moons, New Moons and Sabbats. Rituals are usually done skyclad.

Though Alex Sanders claimed to have been initiated by his grandmother into the Craft as a toddler, it is said that he in fact began training with a Gardnerian coven and then left, but not before copying as much of the Gardnerian Book of Shadows as possible. This is a common explanation for the many similarities between the two traditions.

Janet and Stewart Farrar were originally initiated as Alexandrians but spent a good part of their publishing career trying to recombine the two.

A Pagan Woman's 13 Affirmations

1. I honor the energy of *birch*, for a new beginning. I am able to change myself as I will to do. So mote it be!

2. I honor the energy of *rowan* for protection against evil enchantment.I will not hobble myself with the chains of past failures. So mote it be!

3. I honor the energy of *alder*, for the protection of my inner oracle. Iwill listen to the voice of the Goddess Within. So mote it be!

4. I honor the energy of *willow*, for the lunar rhythms within me as a woman. I will recognize and heed my own body's cycles. So mote it be!

5. I honor the energy of *ash*, the magician's staff. I will recognize that "as above, so below," I play a part in the larger scheme of things. I will link my inner and outer worlds. So mote it be!

6. I honor the energy of *hawthorn* for cleansing and restraint. I will choose what I place within my body, and empty myself of all that violates my personal well-being. So mote it be!

7. I honor the energy of *oak*, the doorway to the mysteries. I will call upon the strength of the Horned One when I feel in need of protection. So mote it be!

8. I honor the energy of *holly*, spear of the warrior. I will not remain passive and victimized, but will choose to fight for my own freedom. So mote it be!

9. I honor the energy of *hazel*, the tree of wisdom. I will heed my own inner intuitions, and will be wise and informed in my choices. So mote itbe!

10. I honor the energy of *vine*, the tree of conviviality and celebration. I will love myself and will celebrate life, not seeing the choices I make as deprivations but gifts. So mote it be!

11. I honor the energy of *ivy*, the spiral to center. I will do all that I do because of my own inner desires. I will listen to myself, and will remain balanced and centered while I do this work. So mote it be!

12. I honor the energy of *reed*, the tool of the hunt. I will take direct action when necessary to protect myself, including the "killing" of old patterns, friendships and associations which harm me. So mote it be!

13. I honor the energy of *elder* which sees the end from the beginning. Throughout many lifetimes I have been here. I have the knowledge that I have changed myself again and again. I will start from where I am now, and continue to persist in my path. I will succeed. So mote it be!

~Source Unknown~

The Chant to Cast a Spell

O ancient ones of heaven, earth and sea,
We chant the coven spell, thus shall it be!
To music of the night-wind blowing free,
We chant the coven spell, thus shall it be!
The owl hoots within the hollow tree,
The black cat runs by night silently,
The toad beneath the stone dwells secretly,
We chant the coven spell, thus shall it be!
To moon that draws the tides of air and sea,
We chant the coven spell, thus shall it be!
To God that bides beneath the greenwood tree,
We chant the coven spell, thus shall it be!
By witches' garter bound about the knee,
By staff and cauldron and all powers that be,
We will the thing in our minds we see,
We chant the coven spell, thus shall it be!

(Pause to let the power grow..........)

The Spell is flowing like the sea,
The spell is growing like the tree,
Like flame that burns and blazes free.
We chant the spell, thus shall it be!
We chant the spell, thus shall it be!
We chant the spell, thus shall it be!
IT IS!

~Source Unknown~

Tasseography

Tea cup reading is a simple and entertaining form of divination. It allows great play of the imagination and so-called hunches. The reader has to interpret the shapes and forms that are made by tea leaves that remain after the tea has been drunk.

A white cup is preferred, but any undecorated pastel cup will do. The cup must be very wide at the top, the sides must slant, and the bottom not too small.

Use China tea or a very good grade of tea that has a minimum of tea dust. Tea should be brewed in a teapot without a strainer so as to pour sufficient leaves into the cup for a reading.

The person whose fortune is to be read has to drink the tea leaving a little in the bottom of the cup. With the left hand, take hold of the handle and slowly move the cup around from left to right, three times. This should distribute the tea leaves around the sides of the cup, sometimes reaching the rim, and still have a few on the bottom.

Time is determined by the parts of the cup. The rim represents the present or things that may happen within a few days or weeks. The sides predict the future. The bottom predicts the very distant future.

The leaves, stems, and tea dust take on various forms around the inside of the cup, and these are called symbols. They denote fortunate or adverse happenings.

The handle of the cup represents the house or surroundings of the consultant; therefore the closer a symbol is in relation to the handle, or house, the sooner the event may take place.

Numbers represent time such as minutes, hours, days or weeks, depending upon the relativity of the other symbols.

Letters of the alphabet mean people such as relatives, friends or associates. The closer to the handle, the more importance. Dots formed by little specs indicate a journey. Larger dots, money gained through extra effort.

Wavy lines, uncertainty. Straight lines, plans must follow a pattern or definite course.

Clear symbols are considered very lucky. Poorly outlined, indecision or obstacles that hinder progress, or contentment. Stars and triangles...fortunate. Circles...success. Squares...protective.

Stitchomancy

Stichomancy is a rather obscure form of divination that uses random words from a book. It's also called bibliomancy.

Pick a sizable book from your bookshelf (Pagan or otherwise) and close your eyes. Think about something you will be facing today and concentrate on it for a moment. Keeping your eyes closed, open the book and flip to a random page. Place your finger on it and see what word you've chosen. If you've struck a spot that is just white space or you got a useless word like "the", try it again. Keep this word in your mind during the day and see how (or if) itapplies to the situation you were thinking about.

Hydromancy

There are many ways of finding omens with the use of water. The appearance of a spring or pond, ripples on the surface caused by wind, rain etc. for example.

Hydromancy is divination based on the movements of water after a stone or piece of wood has been thrown into it. To find answers to specific questions a person would ask their question and count the circular ripples caused by throwing a stone into water or watching the ripples caused by a rain drop. An even number of ripples would mean a positive answer, an uneven number a negative one. The direction in which a piece of wood floated on still water also held it's own messages.

Nightstand Tag

My fellow blogger from Lizzie's Logic tagged me for a great game - Nightstand Tag. I snapped a quick pic of my nightstand, where my laptop takes up residence; along with my fiance's spaceship telephone and an ashtray.

Like Liz, I'm fairly new to the blogging scene, so I don't have a lot of friends; but, I've selected a few blogs that I follow and I've tagged them for this game:

What Mommies Need

Plus Size Mommy

Prissy Green

The Herb Gardener

Stir The Cauldron


So, please join in on the fun - what's on your nightstand?

Review: Abaxion.com

If you've never visited Abaxion for your ritual and magical supplies, you're missing a great one-stop mystical shopping experience. I window shopped the online superstore for years, oohing and aahing over new additions and seductive sale items - just wishing that life would get less expensive so I could afford to buy something new.

I managed to scrape together a few bucks of "me money" a few months ago, so I made a B-line to Abaxion; intent on purchasing a not-yet-obtained magical essential - a pentacle pendant.

I had thirty bucks and a mission. So, I dug in.

The site is well-organized, with an easy to navigate user interface and a categorized product directory on the main page. The selection is comprehensive and the prices are awesome. If I was rich, I'd drop a fortune there. But, alas ... for a poor little witch like me, the pendant would be today's only luxury.

Abaxion's selection of pentacle pendants is staggering - from simple, straightforward pentacles to open pentacles to everything in between - even a leather dog collar with a pentacle tag. Definitely something to compliment every style.

After an hour, I had narrowed my choices down to three - the Daily Wear, Deluxe Pentacle Coven or the Raven. But, it was when I ogled the small "new" icon on the page and clicked the Spirit Cat Pentacle that I fell in love and knew - beyond the shadow of a doubt - that I had to have it. Not only was it the simple pentacle that I wanted, but there was the added bonus of the cat.

I love cats!

I quickly added the pendant to my card and proceeded to the checkout. Shipping was $7.99, which was a little discouraging on my shoestring budget, but I reminded myseld that I deserved this gift and completed my order. I received a prompt and courteous confirmation of my order, with an itemized invoice.

I received the pendant in the mail within two weeks, and it was even more stunning than in the picture. The Spirit Cat Pentacle is a bold and sturdy piece that measures in at just about an inch; beautifully crafted and highly-polished. I wore this piece to Pagan Pride Day and everyone was just knocked out by it! If you're looking for a unique and impressive pentacle that pays homage to the divine feline, look no further than Abaxion.