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?