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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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~
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~
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Divination Spell
Best Time: Waxing Moon
Fill a cauldron half-full of water and place it on a table where you can see comfortably into it while seated. Light 2 purple candles and a good divination incense; a combination of mugwort and wormwood work well. Arrange the candles so their light does not shine into the water in your eyes. Focus your attention on the bottom of the cauldron, your hands placed lightly on either side. Breathe gently into the water and say:
Cauldron, reveal to me that which I seek
Great Mother, open my inner eye that I may truly see.
Empty your mind as much as possible; remian relaxed while looking deep into the cauldron waters. The answer may come in images in the water, pictures in your mind and strong bursts of "knowing".
~Source Unknown~
1 cup water
3 teaspoons dried Mugwort(to contact our inner wisdom)
1/4 cup dried oatstraw (comfort)
1 cinnamon stick, 2 to 3 inches long (flavour)
Maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar
Use this brew not too often and with care. Mugwort is a powerful herb.
Boil the water, then add to a teapot into which the Mugwort, oatstraw, and cinnamon stick have been placed. Steep for at least 15 minutes. Strain and pour into a dark colored mug, preferably black. Sweeten with maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar, if desired. Sit comfortably in your Power Place with your mug. Sniff your Scrying Brew, feeling the steam, warm as breath on your face.
Take a sip and savor the earthy taste. As you sip, become aware of your breathing. Is it shallow or deep, quick or slow? As you drink, be with your breath without attempting to change it. When the tea is nearly gone, gradually turn your attention to the surface of the liquid remaining in your mug. Gaze at it without much effort, simply letting yourself be with the mug and the tea. The disk where tea meets air may look silvery if it catches a light's reflection. As you look, pay some dreamy attention to the thoughts that flash through your mind like fish. What are they?
All over the world, people are scrying and dreaming tonight. What images do you see? Take as much time as you can. You may want to leave the remainder of the tea in its mug on your kitchen altar as an offering for you long-forgotten kindred who knew how to perform this ancient ritual.
~Source Unknown~
The 2009 Indy Masquerade Ball is coming March 7th! Dinner & Ball tickets are $50 and Ball tickets are $35. Visit GaiaWorks, Inc. for more information. You can purchase your tickets there, or at the following locations:
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ICAN
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Make your own sacred water by adding one part of the following herb mixture to four parts water in a large, clear bottle or jar:
rose petals
jasmine
hyssop
Stir in three teaspoons of sea salt.
Begin your waters during the third quarter of the moon. Sit the mixture in a sunny spot where it will be undisturbed until the last night of the fourth quarter of the waning moon. (9-16 days, depending on when you start).
If the water gets low, add one-half to three-fourths cups water. When it has "percolated" sufficiently (it will look like tea), strain off the herbs and save in a jar for divination.If using clear water, drop a crystal or shell into the bowl. This will aid in your focus.
Scry as usual.
~Source Unknown~
Black salt is generally used in protection spells and hex-breaking. To make your own, follow the recipe below:
1 part rue
1 part sea salt
pinch of graveyard dirt.
In a pan or cauldron heat the rue until it is charred. Make sure to supervise closely and work in a well-ventilated area. Let cool.
In a mortar and pestle, grind the rue, sea salt and graveyard dirt until completely blended. Consecrate according to your path. Store in an airtight container.
If a hex has been cast against you or your family, make an infusion from the bark of the plant known as the Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpuracea) then let it cool.
Dip the fingertip of your right index finger into the infusion and then use it to trace the symbol of a cross on your forehead and/or those of the family members afflicted by the hex. As this is done, shout the work "Wahoo!" seven times.
According to occult tradition, the hex will be instantly broken.
WARNING: Do not drink the infusion as Wahoo is regarded as poisonous.
This is the ointment that was supposedly used in the old days by witches to fly on brooms but what it does is makes you hallucinate and get high and is probably lethal. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS!
Cinquefoil
Parsley
Aconite
Belladonna
Hemlock
Cowbane
5 parts mugwort
2 parts parsley
1 part catnip
1 part orris root powder
3 drops jasmine oil
pinch of valerian root
Crush the herbs and mix them into a natural, unscented oil. Apply to body before attempting astral projection.
Note: Always be cautious when using mugwort. It is a powerful herb which must be used both carefully and sparingly.
~Source Unknown~
Symbolic of chastity and also an emblem of the sword or of the word of God. Tradition commonly presents it as a white horse with a single horn sprouting from its forehead, but according to esoteric belief it has a white body, a red head and blue eyes. Legend has it that it is tireless when pursued yet falls meekly to the ground when it is approached by a virgin.
This seems to suggest that it is symbolic of sublimated sex. In China, the animal known as Ch'i-lin is identified by some writers with the unicorn, whereas there are others who dispute this because it has two horns.
It is an attribute of high-ranking army officers and an emblem of uprightness and high birth. Its skin is of five colors red, yellow, blue, white and black; its cry is like the sound of bells. In legend it is reputed to live for a thousand years and to be the noblest of animals. Jung in his work on the relationships between psychology and alchemy, has studied a great many aspects of this faboulous animal, concluding that broadly speaking, it has no one definite symbolic character but rather many different variants embracing single-horned animals, both real and fabulous, such as the sword-fish or certain types of dragon.
He notes that the unicorn is at times transmuted into a white dove, offering the explanation that on the one hand it is related to primordial monsters while on the other it represents the virile, pure and penetrating force of the spiritus mercurialis. He quotes the remark of Honorius of Autun in his Speculum de Mysteriis Ecclesiae, as follows; "The very fierce animal with only one horn is called unicorn. In order to catch it, a virgin is put in a field; the animal then comes to her and is caught, because it lies down on her lap. Christ is represented by this animal, and his invincible strength by its horn. He, who lay down in the womb of the Virgin, has been caight by the hunters; that is to say, he was found in human shape by thise who loved him.' However, in Anitquity the unicorn appears on occasion with certain evil characteristics.
The Physiologus Graecus comments that it is in "an animal fleet of foot, single-horned and harbouring ill will towards men". As Jung has observed, the Church does not recognize this negative side of the unicorn. On the other hand, the alchemists made use of its ambivalent implications in order to symbolize the Monstrum Hermaphroditum.
In this world, the Goddess is seen in the moon, the light that shines in darkness, the rain bringer, mover of the tides, Mistress of mysteries. And as the moon waxes and wanes, and walks three nights of its cycle in darkness, so, it is said, the Goddess once spent three nights in the Kingdom of Death.
For in love She ever seeks Her other Self, and once, in the winter of the year, when He had disappeared from the green earth, She followed Him and came at last to the gates beyond which the living do not go.
The Guardian of the Gate challenged Her, and She stripped Herself of Her clothing and jewels, for nothing may be brought into that land. For love, She was bound as all who enter there must be and brought before Death Himself.
He loved Her, and knelt at Her feet, laying before Her His sword and crown, and gave Her the fivefold kiss, and said,"Do not return to the living world, but stay here with Me, and have peace and rest and comfort."
But She answered, "Why do you cause all things I love and delight in to die and wither away?"
"Lady," He said, "It is the fate of all that lives to die. Everything passes; all fades away. I bring comfort and consolation to those who pass the gates, that they may grow young again. But You are My heart's desire -- return not, but stay here with Me."
And She remained with Him three days and three nights, and at the end of the third night She took up His crown, and it became a circlet that She placed around Her neck, saying:"Here is the circle of rebirth. Through You all passes out of life, but through Me all may be born again. Everything passes; everything changes. Even death is not eternal. Mine is the mystery of the womb, that is the cauldron of rebirth. Enter into Me and know Me, and You will be free of all fear. For as life is but a journey into death, so death is but a passage back to life, and in Me the circle is ever turning."
In love, He entered into Her, and so was reborn into life. Yet is He known as Lord of Shadows, the comforter and consoler, opener of the gates, King of the Land of Youth, the giver of peace and rest. But She is the gracious mother of all life; from Her all things proceed and to Her they return again. In Her are the mysteries of death and birth; in Her is the fulfillment of all love.
~Source Unknown~
*Traditional Craft Myth
The origin of the word Dragon is from the Greek Drakoni, which means "the seeing one". Thus Dragons are associated with the ability to see or perceive phenomenon, particularly above and beyond the normal range of perception open to mere mortals. Thus they represent the unknown within each of us and within each of our lives.
Often symbols of greed or lust, Dragons can represent unresolved personality conflicts within our psyche. They can represent the dark side of our souls. Like the far side of the Moon, our souls aren't dark because they are evil, but because they are challenging us to explore, become illuminated and achieve a fuller understanding of our lives and destinies.
In astrology, the symbol of the Dragon is extremely important in a natal chart. The Dragon's Head or North Node, as it is known, represents the karmic equation of this lifetime, the sets of lessons which we as spirit beings have each elected to come down here to earth again to learn. The Dragon's Head is not a planet or a fixed star, but a mathematical point formed by the intersection of the Moon's orbit across the apparent path of the Sun through the zodiac. The Dragon's Tail or Southerly point of intersection represents the baggage we bring with us from previous incarnations.
The Dragon constellation lies immediately above the North Pole. Due to precession of the equinoxes, the most northerly point has shifted from Alpha Draconis, which was the pole star at the time of the building of the Great Pyramid at Cheops, and is now Gamma Draconis. The pyramids were built to bring down cosmic energy from this constellation, and radiate the energy across the earthly dimension.
The shifting of the zodiac signs and the shifting of the constellation Draconis synchronize with evolutionary changes in the spiritual direction and level of humanity. Thus the Dragon represents our evolutionary path as beings, with as many twists and turns in our history as we can see in the body of the Dragon itself.
In Greek mythology, Hercules overcame the Hydra, the monster with nine heads. Jason and his argonauts overcame the Dragon of Colchis to be able to steal the Golden Fleece. In Norse mythology, Thor slew the Great Dragon whose body stretched around the world, striking the beast upon its head with his war hammer. Siegfried slew Fafnir the Dragon in The Ring of the Nibelungs, an opera composed by Wagner, who drew on his source from ancient Teutonic and Icelandic legends.
The Christians adopted the symbol of the Dragon as a symbol of evil, sometimes representing the Pope, sometimes Martin Luther, depending on inclination, but always as a symbol of 'the other side' which they feared and did not understand. The Vikings adopted the Dragon as their symbol, carving a Dragon's head onto the bow of their ships.
In many legends Dragons are represented as robbers and abductors of women. In Greek mythology, it is Perseus who rescues Andromeda from being chained to the rock. In many other folk tales, it is the Dragon which steals light, water, or some other element. On the other hand, Dragons have also long been regarded as guardians and custodians. In the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh, we have the Great Serpent which lies coiled at the base of the Tree of Life.
In the ancient school of mysticism known as the Qabbala, we come across pictures in which the Great Serpent coils around the Tree of Life, a glyph in which the planets, zodiac signs, and Major Arcana are laid out as a map through which the Path to Enlightenment is shown. In this system, the Serpent is a symbol of Wisdom. As it moves through the branches of this Great Tree and crosses over each of the paths, it shows us how we may bring about our own spiritual evolution. Initially, its movement through the Tree causes us to confront our own psychological weak spots or blind spots. When we have reconciled those contradictions, we then follow its upward movement and thus balance our spiritual energies on a higher plane. We continue our ascent by being aligned with the mighy creative powers of the universe.
The Dragon is there to tease us, to provoke us, to stimulate us to a higher plane of being, to force us to look within. Above all, the Dragon is a symbol of our need for mystery and magic in a modern world.
The Year 2000, the first year in the next millennia, is the Year of the Dragon. This is deeply symbolic, because we as a race of beings will be very much at a crossroads in terms of our evolution as a species. Are we going to continue in our same ways, collectively or individually? Or are we going to take a quantum leap of faith and consciousness which the Dragon, standing at the corner of this point in human history, is there to suggest we take?
ABALONE:
General use. Use to contain empowered herbs, stones, and other magical uses.
CLAM SHELLS:
Used for purification and love. A small clam shell may be etched with a rune and made into a potent talisman.
CONCHES:
Love magic.
CONE SHELLS:Used in protective spell crafts.
COWRIES:
Cowries are specific tools of prosperity and money; many cultures once used them as money. Some contemporary religions associate cowries with goddesses and with female mysteries. In this respect, they're fine for enhancing spirituality.
LEFT HANDED WHELKS:
Use for making dramatic, positive changes in your life.
LIMPETS:Courage, confidence, physical strength.
MOON SHELLS:
Psychic awareness, purification, and peace.
OLIVE SHELLS:
Healing.
OYSTERS:
Love and good fortune.
TOOTH SHELLS:
Money.
SAND DOLLARS:
Wisdom
SCALLOPS:
Useful for spells involving travel and movement.
Every man and woman is made up of a complex system of needs, desires, emotions, and perceptions that thrive on being acknowledged. When these are not acknowledged, not fulfilled, there is often unrecognized pain or tension. The force of this repression has a powerful influence not only on the mind, but the body as well, contributing to illnesses and emotional distress. Primal screaming helps people to dig deep within themselves, to re-live and to release the pain and tension long held inside. The act of screaming, which has the power to carry us back to our emotional roots, can offer a means to experience, and finally express, the deep rooted source of discomfort. The aftermath holds only the memory, not the suffering.
Primal screaming is simple and can be done alone, by anyone, inside or outside. Each individuals primal experience is different because our memories differ. You can begin by focusing on a particular negative memory or experience, and bring forth the feelings that resulted. As your emotions guide you, you may want to scream loudly, or simply cry out. The physical action of screaming can release further pain and tension; negative experiences, possibly forgotten, might rise to the surface. Acknowledging this long-buried discomfort in a personal way frees your emotions from the shackles of negativity, and opens the door to a wondrous range of positive emotions, self-awareness, and contentment. At the same time, emotional trauma can have an intense effect on hormonal balance, the immune system, and other systems of the body. During primal screaming, the release of the core distress can be liberating for the body as well as the spirit, and physical symptoms can be relieved!
Through primal screaming, it is possible to connect with parts of oneself that have gone unrecognized for many years and to access feelings and memories that have been long hidden. Society often demands that we quiet our negative reactions, rendering it invisible and unacknowledged. Primal screaming is an outlet that can heal the soul, helping negative feelings give way to genuine emotional freedom.
For more information, visit Primaltherapy.com
We all have those times that we do a spell and for some reason something just isn't right. There's something that we haven't done correctly or we were so overcome with emotions that we forgot something entirely. Here is a small list of suggestions of things that you can do and check to make sure that things are in order.
MOON CYCLES
Keep track of what moon cycle we're in when you're going to do a spell. To some people this is a technicality when actually it is very important. How can you ask for the help of natures forces when you aren't working with her?
WATCH YOUR CANDLES!
Are you blowing out your candles? If you are this may be your problem. Wither snuff them out or allow them to burn themselves out. Candle snuffers are fairly inexpensive and are completely invaluable if you are squeamish about putting a flame out with your fingers. The thing here to remember is that by blowing out the candles you are mixing fire and air magic. Fire magic brings energy, passion and power whereas air magic brings peace, tranquility and calmness. The complete opposite. So together they cross out each other, hence, crossing out your spell. Also use a lighter to light the candles and not matches. Matches contain sulphur which is used in banishing spells.
FOR THE GOOD OF ALL
Remember the Rede and the three fold law. And don't forget that everything you do, both good and bad will come back to you times three. If for any reason you are unsure if it is for the good of all, don't do it. End spells by saying "if it be for the good of all, so mote it be". This protects you and all involved if the spell isn't meant for the good of all.
MEDITATE DAILY
Meditation is good for stress release, relaxation and connecting with your higher self. These are all things that are key to effective spell casting. If you can't relax, you can't concentrate. And if you can't concentrate on what you are doing, the spell isn't going to work. It's also advised to meditate before any castings. You can also ask the God and Goddess for assistance and guidance with any spell working problems that you are having while you meditate. Keep a journal of your meditations and see your progress.
HAVE CONFIDENCE
You need to have faith in what it is that you are doing. Have faith in your abilities. Otherwise it's not going to work. You're sending out negative thought energies by thinking that you messed up or that it isn't going to work. This mixes with what you put out there and hinders the positive energies from taking form.
ALWAYS WORK WITH THE MAGIC CIRCLE
Cast a circle for every magical work you do whether it's a simple candle spell, divination, whatever. You are calling spirits and energies for assistance and without any form of protection you can possibly have negative things enter your work too. Look at the circle as a security blanket for magic.
CLOCKWISE!!
Movements within the magic circle should always be in a clockwise motion. This includes casting, dancing and what ever other moving you will be doing. When uncasting the circle go counterclockwise.
Quartz Crystal - When you place a quartz crystal around your pets neck, not only will it increase his immunities, stimulate his thyroid, and decrease respiratory problems; it is also an excellent training stone. Quartz crystal amplifies communication between human and animals, and strengthens mental clarity. This stone increases capabilities of learning from one's master and teacher.
Rose Quartz - Use a rose quartz for your pet when it has been wounded, or recently undergone surgery. If your pet is aloof, lonely or isolated, rose quartz will help him/her learn the powers of love and gentleness. As well, if you are inviting a new pet into a full household, this stone will help spread the love equally, and facilitate harmony with all your animals.
Sirens, crying beauty to bewitch men coasting by; woe to the innocent who hears that sound!...
The Sirens will sing his mind away on their sweet meadow lolling.
There are bones of dead men rotting in a pile beside them and flayed skins shrivel around the spot.
In my skin, she is there; ink and blood paint her into everything I am, while she gazes from behind me, murmuring curses we would kill to hear.
She is veil of death, womb of blood, mystery of the abyss. At her feet, the dead and the alive succumb to her song, to her flood of blood and sea and to her ever open wound. In the past, we bled for the vision quest, blood streaming down thighs as, in groups, we gathered to exchange stories, to collect premonitions.
Between our legs were Chaos, Night, Revenge. In other histories, we bled impurity, our womb had teeth. The word hysteria rose out of the theory that our wombs moved freely around our internal organs and caused insanity. The female blood and flesh were meant to be feared, reduced, denied, and now, synthetically perfumed.
To some, the woman was associated with water - unconsciousness, mystery, depth, and sensuality. She held the power to bring drought and flood and to use her voice to condemn, cast spells and judgment, to make blind or reveal.
Listen! the swish of the blood,
The sirens down the bloodpaths of the night,
Bone tapping on the bone, nerve-nets,
Singing under the breath of sleep.
She gave the moon, and thereby, gave dreams - in some cultures, she was forbidden to sleep during menstruation, for her dreams were considered altered by psychic powers too violent to be allowed to speak through her. Elsewhere, it was this violence that was sought after in the bleeding woman - dreams became means of divination. She became the moon, the triple-moon goddess, the maiden, mother, and crone. Her blood entailed descent, as in Persephone and the crossing of the threshold of womanhood in her descent to Hades. The pomegranate she ate from was womb, seed, and blood. The Furies, born from the blood of castrated Uranus, black-clothed avengers of crime, especially crimes of blood. Their names are Allecto (neverending), Megaera (envious anger), and Tisiphone (retaliation).
The bleeding cycle was used to gauge time, for the woman's blood is bound to the moon and the tides of the sea. Said Kali, "I AM Time, ever inclined to destroy the worlds and annihilate all and anything that is not worthy of keeping." Here we unveil the Fates, born of night, symbolic of ancient forms of Justice. Triple-goddesses still, they spin, measure, and cut the thread of life. Whatsoever they will, be it annihilation or poetry, must come into being, must be born out of chaos and blood. The woman's blood and flesh as life giver and life taker is prevalent in the paradoxes that so imbue the history of blood.
The blood that flowed from Medusa's decapitated head fell on the desert, and there engendered snakes. The Gorgon's remaining blood was caught in vials by Athena - it had such power that a single droplet from the left side could raise the dead, and the same amount from the right could instantly kill.
To mark themselves with the power of menstrual blood, women have historically made signs on their bodies to recreate the creative power, bringing warnings, protection, repellence, attraction, and religious significance. The teaching of menstrual principles to men and the use of blood as a signal or sign or status was heightened by the use of slashing - the women could create blood at will, through cutting. The sight of blood on another woman's thigh could start a woman bleeding, so slashing, for some people, was a method of synchrony. Women found that they could have menstrual signals visible on their faces and other parts of their bodies even when they were not in the dangerous state of menstruation. Among native tribes, chin tattooing was primarily a mark of the female status achieved at menarche. Among some people, tattooed lines continued down the neck onto the breasts or stomach. In addition to using tattoos for ritual purposes, people marked their mouths and bodies with bits of special carved wood and shell. They were pushed through holes punctured in the skin, ears, nose, septum, or embedded in the flesh of the menstruant.
All of the openings of the face were, by extension, vaginas in need of protection. Protective ornaments have also been embedded around, and between, the eyes. Scarification was also used to adorn and protect. Her body was a writing tablet before writing, covered with information. Her face, breasts, abdomen, and back would be decoratively scarred as well.
Invoker of wound and mystery, the body of the woman is the immaculate witness to time, vengeance, creation and destruction. The blood that floods down her skin is the siren song of mystery religions, violence, the impenetrable thread that binds sex and death. In chaos she invokes shadows - the word made flesh - the rapture of the curse, the bouquet of the underworld, the eyes that bleed.
~Source Unknown~
