Category: Our History

Goddess Knowledge – Eagle Woman

Despite the fact that the life-giving and death-wielding Bird Goddess is one of the oldest representations of the goddess, eagles have usually been linked with the masculine, with a few exceptions (the Sphinx of Egypt had the wings of an eagle, and the Aztec goddess Cihuacoatl was also called Eagle Woman). This Eagle Woman shows a new marriage of the feminine and the eagle. SHe represents all an eagle stands for: spirit, valor, majesty, renewal, accuracy of sight, spiritual aim, and the ability to soar to the heights. She also holds in her hands a vessel, the traditional symbol for the feminine, for that which receives, contains, and nourishes. Here both sets of values are joined, emblematic of a different combinations of strengths that are part of women-born.

Eagle Woman is a joyful affirmation of our ability to break out of millennia-old stereotypes and find new definition the embraces our entire continuum of being alive. She teaches the women can express qualities of the eagle while continuing to contain and nurture.

For more information about the Goddess Eagle Woman please click on this link: Informaton about Eagle Woman

To see images of Eagle WOmen please click on this link: Images of Eagle Woman

Today We Are Talking Love Magick with Mike Nichols

CHARMED, I’M SURE:
The Ethics of Love Spells

‘Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.’
— Bertrand Russell

To gain the love of someone: On a night of the full moon, walk to a spot beneath your beloved’s bedroom window, and whisper his/her name three times to the nightwind.
–Ozark love spell
It seems to be an immutable law of nature. You are interviewed by a local radio or TV station, or in some local newspaper. The topic of the interview is Witchcraft or Paganism, and you spend the better part of an hour brilliantly articulating your beliefs, your devotion to Goddess and nature, the difference between Witchcraft and Satanism, and generally enlightening the public at large. The next day, you are flooded with calls. Is it people complimenting you on such a splendid interview? No. People wanting to find out more about the religion of Wicca? Huh-uh. People who are even vaguely interested in what you had to say??? Nope. Who is it? It’s people asking you to do a love spell for them!

This used to drive me nuts. I’d take a deep breath and patiently explain (for the thousandth time) why I won’t even do love spells for myself, let alone anyone else. This generally resulted in my caller becoming either angry or defensive, but seldom more enlightened. ‘But don’t you DO magic?’, they ask. ‘Only occasionally,’ I answer. ‘And aren’t most magic spells love spells?’, they persist. That was the line I really hated, because I knew they were right! At least, if you look at the table of contents of most books on magic, you’ll find more love spells than any other kind. This seems as true for the medieval grimoire as for the modern drugstore paperback.

Why? Why so many books containing so many love spells? Why such an emphasis on a kind of magic that I, personally, have always considered very negative? And to make matters even more confusing, the books that do take the trouble of dividing spells between ‘positve’ and ‘negative’ magic invariably list love spells under the first heading. After all, they would argue, love is a good thing. There can never be too much of it. Therefore, any spell that brings about love must be a GOOD spell. Never mind that the spell puts a straightjacket on another’s free will, and then drops it in cement for good measure.

And that is why I had always assumed love magic to be negative magic. Years ago, one of the first things I learned as a novice Witch was something called the Witch’s Rede, a kind of ‘golden rule’ in traditional Witchcraft. It states, ‘An it harm none, do what thou will.’ One uses this rede as a kind of ethical litmus test for a spell. If the spell brings harm to someone — anyone (including yourself!) — then don’t do it! Unfortunately, this rule contains a loophole big enough to fly a broom through. It’s commonly expressed, ‘Oh, this won’t HARM them; it’s really for their own good.’ When you hear someone say that, take cover, because something especially nasty is about to happen.

That’s why I had to develop my own version of the Witch’s Rede. Mine says that if a spell harms anyone, OR LIMITS THEIR FREEDOM OF THOUGHT OR ACTION IN ANY WAY, then consider it negative, and don’t do it. Pretty strict, you say? Perhaps. But there’s another law in Witchcraft called the Law of Threefold Return. This says that whatever power you send out, eventually comes back to you three times more powerful. So I take no chances. And love spells, of the typical make-Bobby-love-me type, definitely have an impact on another’s free will.

So why are they so common? It’s taken me years to make peace with this, but I think I finally understand. The plain truth is that most of us NEED love. Without it, our lives are empty and miserable. After our basic survival needs have been met, we must have affection and companionship for a full life. And if it will not come of its own accord, some of us may be tempted to FORCE it to come. And nothing can be as painful as loving someone who doesn’t love you back. Consequently, the most common, garden-variety spell in the world is the love spell.

Is there ever a way to do a love spell and yet stay within the parameters of the Witch’s Rede? Possibly. Some teachers have argued that if a spell doesn’t attempt to attract a SPECIFIC person into your life, but rather attempts to attract the RIGHT person, whomever that may be, then it is not negative magic. Even so, one should make sure that the spell finds people who are ‘right’ for each other — so that neither is harmed, and both are made happy.

Is there ever an excuse for the make-Bobby-love-me type of spell? Without endorsing this viewpoint, I must admit that the most cogent argument in its favor is the following: Whenever you fall in love with someone, you do everything in your power to impress them. You dress nicer, are more attentive, witty, and charming. And at the same time, you unconsciously set in motion some very powerful psychic forces. If you’ve ever walked into a room where someone has a crush on you, you know what I mean. You can FEEL it. Proponents of this school say that a love spell only takes the forces that are ALREADY there — MUST be there if you’re in love — and channels them more efficiently.

But the energy would be there just the same, whether or not you use a spell to focus it.

I won’t attempt to decide this one for you. People must arrive at their own set of ethics through their own considerations. However, I would call to your attention all the cautionary tales in folk magic about love spells gone awry. Also, if a love spell has been employed to join two people who are not naturally compatible, then one must keep pumping energy into the spell. And when one finally tires of this (and one will, because it is hard work!) then the spell will unravel amidst an emotional and psychic hurricane that will make the stormiest divorces seem calm by comparison. Not a pretty picture.

It should be noted that many spells that pass themselves off as love spells are, in reality, sex spells. Not that there’s anything surprising in that, since our most basic needs usually include sex. But I think we should be clear from the outset what kind of spell it is. And the same ethical standards used for love spells can often be applied to sex spells. Last year, the very quotable Isaac Bonewits, author of ‘Real Magic’, taught a sex magic class here at the Magick Lantern, and he tossed out the following rule of thumb: Decide what the mundane equivalent of your spell would be, and ask yourself if you could be arrested for it. For example, some spells are like sending a letter to your beloved in the mail, whereas other spells are tantamount to abduction. The former is perfectly legal and normal, whereas the latter is felonious.

One mitigating factor in your decisions may be the particular tradition of magic you follow. For example, I’ve often noticed that practitioners of Voudoun (Voodoo) and Santeria seem much more focused on the wants and needs of day-to-day living than on the abstruse ethical considerations we’ve been examining here. That’s not a value judgement — just an observation. For example, most followers of Wicca STILL don’t know how to react when a Santerian priest spills the blood of a chicken during a ritual — other than to feel pretty queasy. The ethics of one culture is not always the same as another.

And speaking of cultural traditions, another consideration is how a culture views love and sex. It has often been pointed out that in our predominant culture, love and sex are seen in very possessive terms, where the beloved is regarded as one’s personal property. If the spell uses this approach, treating a person as an object, jealously attempting to cut off all other relationships, then the ethics are seriously in doubt. However, if the spell takes a more open approach to love and sex, not attempting to limit a person’s other relationships in any way, then perhaps it is more defensible. Perhaps. Still, it might be wise to ask, Is this the kind of spell I’d want someone to cast on me?

Love spells. Whether to do them or not. If you are a practitioner of magic, I dare say you will one day be faced with the choice. If you haven’t yet, it is only a matter of time. And if the answer is yes, then which spells are ethical and which aren’t? Then you, and only you, will have to decide whether ‘All’s fair in love and war’, or whether there are other, higher, metaphysical considerations.

Document Copyright © 1988, 1998 by Mike Nichols

This document can be re-published only as long as no information is lost or changed, credit is given to the author, and it is provided or used without cost to others. Other uses of this document must be approved in writing by Mike Nichols. Revised: Thursday, April 2, 1998 c.e.

Wiccan Adoration

Star
Wiccan Adoration

One does not read about the Wicca.
One does not study about the Craft of the Wise.
The knowledge I will teach is not idle.
You can only learn this knowledge if you use it — if you put it to work.
This study is only for those who have a willingness to learn
Each of you has expressed a desire to learn.
Each of you has shown talent at being magickal — at making things happen.
If you are to learn the Craft, you must swear that you will work all your Magick in Perfect Love.
Work negative magick and you are not one of us.
You must work at growing positive, even if it requires change.
Each of you has shown that you are capable of making changes in the self, in order that your Magick be more positive.
Each of you has learned that change allows you to be happier.
To learn the Craft of Wicca, you must make changes.
Each of you has done this, and it is joyous and beautiful of you, and it is this happiness we share.
At this level of your training, you must maintain secrecy.
If your friends, your family, your lovers were truly ready for this knowledge, they would be here — now.
But if they are not; that is proof that they are not yet ready.
Speak no Magick to those who know less than you, unless you are prepared to tell all of us that you are a teacher of the Craft.
A true teacher does not teach teh Craft until s/he has completed the training.
If those we are with are in positive Craft Traditions, we can speak to our peers and to those more wise than ourselves.
Each of you has your own timing.
You learn at your own rate.
Should you leave this study, there is no sorrow, only joy at the love we have shared.
Each of you has shown the ability to work together to raise good, positive energy.
Each of you knows how to help and to share.
Each of you will learn to trust each other.
You must have with me Perfect Trust.
If you do not trust me as your Mentor, I cannot teach you.
And I give you Perfect Trust.
If you swear to trust me, it is because I swear that I trust you.
You have not arrived here by chance.
You have displayed a desire to learn.
You have displayed a talent at Magick.
This Magick is to heal, to help; it only works in Perfect Love.
You are here because you have shown us that you are learning to work in Perfect Love.
It is the only way to happiness; and you are here because you are growing in happiness.
You are learning to unlock joy.
Each of you is capable of becoming a teacher — to learn the Craft of Wicca and to share that knowledge.
Each of you must grow into becoming a teacher.
Each of you has taken the Path of being willing to learn, the Path of wanting to learn.
Each of you is growing.
Each of you is creative.
Each of you is special to the Magick of the Universe.
Each of you perceives the Magick of the Universe as a balance of Yin and Yang, of masculine and feminine, of God and Goddess.
Each of you recognizes the feminine and masculine within the self.
Each of you has been told this knowledge is only for those who seek to become of the Wicca.
Each of you is here because it is felt by the Wise, by the Wicca, that you are capable of knowing stronger Magick than you have thus far conceived of.
By being here, now, you have demonstrated a desire to take this Path.
You have already begun.
You are here because you have shown love to the World.
Because you, also, are Wise.
The Wicca means the Wise: The Wise Ones.
We meet together to talk as wise people and celebrate our happiness.
All of us, even your teachers, are pursuing wisdom and we all follow the Laws.
To complete this study, to follow this Path into Initiation means you will be ready to celebrate the Wisdom you have attained, to celebrate in ritual the knowledge that you are Magick;
To share with us wine and happiness, words of beauty and laughter…

By the time you complete this course of study you will be a Priest/ess and an Initiated Child of the God and the Goddess.

A WITCHES MANIFESTO

Merry Meet

A WITCHES MANIFESTO

Adapted from The Wiccan Bardo by Paul Beyerl)

 

I DEMAND THESE THINGS OF MYSELF AS A WITCH:

 

I must pursue my highest ideals

I must aspire to the highest of ethics

I must demand integrity of myself

I must always keep my word

 

I must cultivate self-discipline

I must LIVE the Hermetic Principle

 

I must seriously contemplate the ramifications of Reincarnation & Karma

 

I must respect the astral realms

I must approach ritual with reverence and care

I must respect ritual work as an act of love and beauty.

 

I must take sole responsibility for all the events and circumstances in my life, in the knowledge that I have created them all for my own development.

I must strive to cultivate a sense of humour and of humility.

I must avoid all negativity, firstly in my thinking and as a consequence, in my life.

  

I must live in harmony with the Earth Goddess – Gaia.

I must cultivate a global perspective.

I must serve my community, both locally and globally, being of help to all people.

 

I must be willing to defend my religion.

I must provide for the safe future of my ritual tools, should I be taken by death

To be a Witch 

Wiccan

To be a Witch

To be a witch is to love and be loved.
To be a witch is to know everything, and nothing at all.
To be a witch is to move amongst the stars while staying on earth.
To be a witch is to change the world around you, and yourself.
To be a witch is to share and give, while receiving all the while.
To be a witch is to dance and sing, and hold hands with the universe.
To be a witch is to honor the gods, and yourself.
To be a witch is to be magick, not just perform it.
To be a witch is to be honorable, or nothing at all.
To be a witch is to accept others who are not.
To be a witch is to know what you feel is right and good.
To be a witch is to harm none.
To be a witch is to know the ways of old.
To be a witch is to see beyond the barriers.
To be a witch is to follow the moon.
To be a witch is to be one with the gods.
To be a witch is to study and to learn.
To be a witch is to be the teacher and the student.
To be a witch is to acknowledge the truth.
To be a witch is to live with the earth, not just on it.
To be a witch is to be truly free!

–Ziller

THE WITCHES’ REDE OF CHIVALRY

Gothic

THE WITCHES’ REDE OF CHIVALRY

Insofar as The Craft Of The Wise is the most ancient and most honourable creed of humankind, it behoves all who would be witches to act in ways that give respect to the Old Gods and Goddesses, to their brothers and sisters of The Craft, and to themselves

Chivalry is a high code of honour, which is of most ancient Pagan origin and must be lived by all who follow the Old Ways.

Know well that thoughts and intent put forth will wax strong on many planes of existence and return, bringing into creation that which has been sent forth. For this reason the adept must exercise discipline over his or her thoughts. Remember, ” as you sow, so shall you harvest”

It is only by preparing our minds to be as Gods that we may one day unite with the Godhead.

“This above all … to thine own self be true…”

A witch’s word must have the validity of a signed and witnessed document. It is only by developing such mental discipline that great power may be controlled and directed

It is well to refrain from speaking ill of others for not all truths of the matter may be known

Pass not unverified words about another. For the most part hearsay is a thing of falsehoods

Be honest with others. Have them know that honesty is likewise expected of them

The fury of the moment plays havoc with the truth. Strive always to keep your head

Harm not another. Think always of the consequences of your actions

Dignity, a gracious manner, and a good humour are much to be admired

As a witch you wield much power. Therefore exercise much discretion in its use

Courage and honour endure forever.

Offer friendship only to those worthy of it. To associate with younger souls will only pull you down

Those who follow the mysteries must be above reproach in the eyes of the world

Keep pride in thyself. Seek perfection in body and in mind

We Are Running Late, So Let’s Get Started With The Witches’ Affirmation

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Witches Affirmation

A witch is…
One who has power over her/his own life
One who makes his/her own rules, but can abide by the rules of Nature
One who refuses to submit to self-denial
One who recognizes no authority with greater esteem than her/his own, who is loyal to self
One who is untamed and tamed
One who transforms energy for the good of all
One who can be passionate about her/his ideals and values as they are changing
One who is explosive, whose intensity is like volcanoes, floods, winds, and fire
One who is disorderly and orderly
One who is ecstatic
One who alters reality
One who says, “I am a witch” aloud three times

“I am a witch”
“I am a witch”
“I am a witch”

Goddess Knowledge – Pele

Pele is the fiery Hawaiian volcano goddess. The daughter of the earth goddess Haimea, Pele came to Hawaii on a boat. Killed in a fight with her sister, the ocean, sho took refuge in the glowing cauldron of Mount Kilauea (this is the volcano that had the major eruption in July 2018 – a link will be below) where she receives the souls of the dead and regenerates them with fire. In a tempestuous relationship with Kamapua`a the ferocious pig god,  she is portrayed as a jealous goddess, her rages manifesting as volcanic eruptions. Revered by Hawaiians even today, she carries the force of the volcano, with its molten lava flow, which even in destrud=ction creates new land. Pele stands for the molten, fierce aspect of life that is unable to do anything halfway. She reminds us that even in the midst of fiery eruption there s creation and new life.

More Information About Pele

Images Of Pele

More Information on Pele’s Home – Mount Kilauea, Hawaii

Can Men Be Wiccan?

The more you read about Wicca and Paganism, the more you may feel that contemporary writings are geared towards female practitioners. Does this mean that Wicca is limited to only women, or than men can’t be Wiccan? Not at all!

Why Paganism Appeals to Women

In fact, Wicca — and other forms of Pagan belief — are not limited to one gender or the other. And if you’re reading this and you’re one of the people who is telling the menfolk they can’t be Wiccan or Pagan, please just stop it right now.

Although the exact percentages aren’t clear, you’ll find that statistically, many more women are drawn to Pagan religions than men, including but not limited to Wicca. Go to any Pagan event, and chances are good that the population is going to skew more towards the ladies than the gents. Why is this? It’s often because Pagan religions, including Wicca, embrace the sacred feminine alongside the power of the masculine. There’s a duality, a polarity in Pagan religions that’s not often found in mainstream faiths. For women, particularly those who were raised in a monotheistic, patriarchal religion, this can be a welcome and empowering change — especially since leadership roles are available equally to women in Pagan spiritual paths.

Also, remember that many Pagan religions were originally fertility religions. Wicca itself certainly is, and some sub-branches of reconstructionist faiths are as well. By its very nature, a fertility cult confers high status upon the feminine.

What About the Menfolk?

So what does this mean in terms of the guys in the community? Does it mean they aren’t welcome in modern Paganism? Hardly. Most traditions of Paganism have room for both the male and the female, often side by side and equal. Although there are some groups that honor only a goddess and not a god, far more are dedicated to both a god and goddess, or in some cases, multiple deities of both genders.

If a ritual looks as though it was written with a female practitioner in mind, consider a couple of possibilities. Is it one that needs to have feminine language in it, such as a rite honoring mothers? Or is it simply that the person who wrote it was female, and so it’s got feminine language in it, but is still something that could be adapted to a masculine perspective? For instance, in the Self Dedication Ritual on this site, one section reads as follows: …

To read the rest of the article by Patti Wigington please click on this link: Male Witches

ELEMENTS: WATER

ELEMENTS: WATER

ASTROLOGY.COM

The element of Water is associated with the signs Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces, and it also rules the Fourth, Eighth and Twelfth Houses. Watery descriptions are well suited to this element: fluid, flowing, wavering. These terms can easily apply to an individual’s emotions — the realm where Water most powerfully exerts its influence.

Water signs are intuitive and sensitive, and they feel more intensely than the rest. They are emotional and nurturing, and like a river, they run deep. How things feel is what matters to these folks, and they base their actions on sense, rather than on logic or intellect. Water is also about compassion and understanding, since the receptive talents of these individuals are remarkably high. Water sign people can take in the feelings of others, process them, and put forth a plan or solution that will be conscientious to all.

Those graced by Water love to take their sense of the world and translate it into the artistic. They desire aesthetic beauty — and for everyone to be happy as a result of that beauty. Much like still water can become stagnant, however, an inactive Water sign person is not at their best. Water signs feel most fulfilled when they are helping others, and they do so in an enchanting, considerate and even romantic way.

The flip side of this dreamy Water world is the tendency of these individuals to brood. Water signs are susceptible to mood swings, and at their worst, they could become self-indulgent, controlling and hostage to a fantasy world. This also brings up the ability of these folks to see things more clearly than others. Call it psychic, if you will.

Water Signs are emotional, empathetic, receptive and feel things deeply. Alternately calm like the sea or possessing the force of torrential rain, the emotions brought forth by this element are plentiful, indeed.

Paul Gilmore

ELEMENTS: FIRE

ELEMENTS: FIRE

The element of Fire is associated with the signs Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, and it also rules the First, Fifth and Ninth Houses. As one would expect, those graced by Fire are fiery, indeed. They are enthusiastic and sometimes larger than life. Just like a fire that is left untended, however, Fire signs can burn out of control — so it’s best to tend those embers.

A Fire sign is also an indicator of creativity. This element manifests itself in creative and unique ways, and those in its glow are wonderfully courageous and lively spirits. Those influenced by a Fire sign are self-sufficient, spontaneous and possess a tremendous zest for life.

It also stands to reason that a combustible Fire signer would be ardent in the game of love. Yes, these are the sexiest signs of the zodiac, knowing they are the cat’s meow and climbing ever higher in the name of love. To their credit, those touched by Fire are often an inspiration to others, certainly for their adherence to solid moral and religious ideals.

If there’s a flip side to the element of Fire, it can be that those who bear its will can be overly strident in getting their way. Call them bossy, even. These folks can come across rather forcefully. Selfishness and an overdeveloped ego can also be seen as part of a fiery individual’s shadowy side.

Fire signs are strong, self-assured, creative and fun. When they get too hot to touch, though, it may be a good idea to stand back!

Andrew Walton

ELEMENTS: AIR

ELEMENTS: AIR

The element of Air is attached to the signs Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. It also rules the Third, Seventh and Eleventh Houses. It is rarefied air which usually surrounds those graced by this Element, as this is the marker of the intellectual. Airy people are smart thinkers and handle abstract reasoning well. They love to analyze, synthesize and probe. Do you have a dilemma? Hand it over to an Air sign and watch them go to work.

Air Signs are also about communication. These individuals want to get the word out, and it’s not likely to be fluff. They are alert, curious and perceptive. The world as seen by an Air sign will be an interesting one, as their analysis and subsequent explanation (hopefully in terms we can understand) will indicate. Those influenced by Air are inventive and clever. They see all sides of the equation and are able to glean the best approach. Balance is important to these airy folk.

So, are Air signers fresh as a summer breeze, or are they howling like the wind? Probably both, depending on when you catch them. While these folks are often calm and collected, they can turn cold if their equilibrium is upset. A word to the wise: There’s little upside in baiting an Air sign.

Another plus with Air is that it manifests itself in a most humane way. Those influenced by Air can truly wear another’s shoes, as it were. They are objective, cooperative and really want to help make a better world. There’s no prejudice with these folks — just a bright and shiny idealism that can accomplish much.

Air Signs are communicative, intellectual, clever and fair. They can blow hot and cold, though, so beware of a chilly draft!

Sebastien Gabriel

ELEMENTS: EARTH

ELEMENTS: EARTH

The element of Earth is attached to the signs Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, and it also rules the Second, Sixth and Seventh Houses. All the earthy metaphors are appropriate here: salt of the Earth, feet firmly planted on the ground and so forth. Those graced by an Earth sign in their horoscope are practical, grounded and dependable. These folks don’t take big risks; rather, they much prefer a sure thing.

Much like the elements are considered the building blocks in nature, Earth signs are the builders of the zodiac. To these signs, creation is a tangible proposition. Whether it’s building jobs or a home, or creating comfortable rooms within that home through the acquisition of possessions, Earth signers are all about what is solid around us. Those influenced by this element feel best once they have accumulated a goodly number of worldly possessions. The risk inherent in this, however, is that these individuals may become greedy and far too materialistic.

The element of Earth also confers a sense of duty, responsibility and reliability to those in its sphere. These are the people you can count on to be there when you need them. Those influenced by Earth also tend toward caution and conservatism, in both desire and approach. That said, they are sensualists, certainly in that they appreciate a good meal and fine wine better than anyone else.

The logical mind of an Earth Signer is always appreciated. In keeping with this measured approach, these folks also display considerable recuperative powers. On the flip side of things, however, those supported by Earth may be so caught up in their objectives that they might overlook the feelings of others. It is a big picture, after all, but these folks may be more concerned with the finish line than the journey they are taking.

Earth signs are dependable, practical and conservative, yet fairly materialistic. They have their feet on the ground but their eyes on the prize.

Let’s Talk Witch: The Male Witch – A Guide to Wicca for Men

The Male Witch – A Guide to Wicca for Men

Wicca can sometimes feel like a religion that is only practiced by women. By being one of the few religions which celebrates female deities, it does attract a higher proportion of women than other religions. However that does not mean it is a women only religion. In this article you will discover an introduction to Wicca, written specifically for men who want to learn more.

Introduction to Wicca

If you are new to Wicca, then you may be questioning exactly what Wicca is. Wicca is a form of modern paganism, which worships both a God and Goddess. For a brief introduction to Wicca, read this. If you are unclear of the definitions of Wicca, paganism and witchcraft read this article.

Most religions are patriarchal, but Wicca is different as there is a duality. Wicca is a religion that celebrates a female divinity as an equal and perhaps greater primary to the god. Traditionally the Goddess and the Horned God were seen as equals, however in newer Wiccan traditions the Goddess is often thought of as the greater god.

However both forms of divinity are celebrated and it celebrates the link between the God and the Goddess. Wicca exists because of the Goddess and the God, so who can bring the God energy better than men?

The Horned God

The Horned God is the other half of the divine couple. He is the masculine side of divinity. His horns or antlers can represent fertility or the hunt. He can represent courage, sacrifice or protection. He is also represented as the Sun God, the Sacrificed God or the Vegetation God. He is the god of fertility and fields, and has a more grounded, practical energy than the Triple Goddess.

The Divine Masculine

The divine masculine represents an ideal of masculine energy. Divine masculine doesn’t just refer to the male gender, it refers to masculine qualities which anyone can celebrate. The divine masculine comprises of a group of archetypal energies; the God, King, Priest, Warrior, Lover and Sage.

If I am a male witch, does that make me a warlock? No. A male witch is still called a witch. The term Warlock refers to an oath breaker and is a disrespectful term.

Why are many LGBT men into Wicca? Wicca is a religion which attracts LGBT men. This could be as they do not feel as welcome in male-divinity focused or Christian religions.

Should I join a Coven? That is your personal choice. Men are the minority in Wicca. If you are looking for a coven to join, then find one where you feel welcome as a man. Speak to the priestess of the coven and ask them how they worship the God and Goddess.

There are many covens who see themselves as a goddess tradition and celebrate the goddess, or an aspect of the triple Goddess as the maiden, mother and crone. However there are some groups who worship the sacred masculine God. As with the sacred feminine, the masculine relies on a series of archetypes. Some groups only honour the Goddess, some honour multiple deities of both sexes.

If you are practising as a solitary practitioner, this is less of an issue as you can make your own decisions regarding worshiping. If you don’t want to join a coven you can still connect with other Wiccans. There are many online forums and social media groups and many social gatherings. Look out for festivals and events celebrating the sabbats. There are many online websites especially for male witches.

What shall I tell my family?

Not everyone will understand or want to understand Wicca. As a religion it is often mistaken for being devil worship, and conjures up in peoples minds the image of a wart covered woman putting animal parts in a cauldron. You can choose to keep your practice and beliefs to yourself for as long as you want. When you tell people, it is best to think about explaining to them what Wicca is and what a Witch is. Tell them about what you belief in and why, and how you practice. Make sure to tell them what Wicca isn’t as well, to help them learn and to overcome any concerns.

Famous Male Witches in History

There are several famous male witches throughout history. Below is an introduction to a few of them:

Gerald Gardner also known as Scire, was an English Wiccan and squire who founded the tradition of Gardenerian Wicca. Gardenerian Wiccans organise into covens which are led by a Wiccan High Priestess and Priest of their choice. They honour both male and female deities.

Orrel Alexander Sanders was an English occultist and High Priest who founded the Alexandrian Wicca during the 1960’s. He has been nicknamed the King of the Witches. Alexandrian Wicca places an emphasis on the Sabbat rituals and emphasises gender polarity.

There are many well known male witches who are alive today including Raven Grimassi who has written over a dozen books on witchcraft and Neopaganism, Gavin Bone who is an author and lecturer in the fields of Wicca and magic, and Raymond Buckland who is an author and Wiccan priest.

 

Read more: https://wiccanspells.info/wiccan-pagan-articles/the-male-witch-a-guide-to-wicca-for-men/

 

RETRIBUTION/BETWEEN LIVES

RETRIBUTION

Along with reincarnation go thoughts of Karma.

Karma is usually thought of as a reward-and-punishment system stretching throughout all lifetimes: if you do evil in one life you will have to pay for it in the next. However, it seems that there is always talk of “karmic debts” and “karmic punishments” but seldom of “karmic rewards”. The Witchcraft view seems to make more sense.

First of all there is a Wiccan belief in retribution within each life. In other words, rather than being rewarded and punished after death, for what you have done in life (the traditional Christian view), Witches believe that you get your rewards and punishments during this lifetime, according to how you live it. Do good and you will get back good. But do evil and evil
will return. More than that, though, it is a three-fold retribution. Do good and you will get back three times the good; do evil and you will receive three times the evil. Obviously there is here no inducement for you to ever harm anyone. Of course it is not a literal threefold return. If you were to punch someone in the eye, it does not mean that you will get punched in the eye yourself three times. No. But, sometime in the future, you may “just happen” to break a leg … something which might be considered three times as bad as being punched in the eye.

In the Witchcraft belief, then, one lifetime’s experiences are not dependent on the previous one’s. For example, if you suffer physical abuse in this life, it does not necessarily mean that you were an abuser in your previous life. It is possible you were, yes. But it is just as possible that you were not but are going to be in the next life. In other words, it is a case of experiencing all things—being both the abuser and the abusee, but one is not necessarily dependent on the other. Several lifetimes could even take place between the one experience and its apparent correlative.

Just because you have chosen a particular lifetime and are to undergo the set experiences does not mean that you can just sit back and say “Everything is preordained. I’m just along for the ride.” The God and the Goddess will make sure that you do get all the particular experiences but your job is to progress; to strive your hardest towards perfection. YOU CREATE YOUR OWN REALITY. Whatever you want, you can achieve. But always remember the Wiccan Rede: “An’ it harm none, do what thou wilt.”

 

Whenever possible, help those less fortunate than yourself. By “help” I do not mean “interfere”. Help can be given by simply offering advice; by showing compassion; even, sometimes, by actually refusing direct assistance. For, in this latter case, it is sometimes of the greatest help and to the other’s benefit to make them give a little more effort: to make them think for
themselves.

 

BETWEEN LIVES

The length of time spent between lives may vary, depending on your study of the lessons learned and their integration with previous lessons; also on the necessary preparation for the next “semester”.

 

While between lives you might also become involved in helping some other spirit here on earth. Just as there is development and advancement in this life, so there is in “the between times”. You may have heard of such things as “Guardian Angels” and “Spirit Guides” and wondered if they really exist. In a sense they do. It means that a spirit is always watching over a less developed spirit here on earth. Since time does not exist in the between-times (it is a human-made concept, for the sake of reference only) then to watch over an earth-bound spirit for its whole earthly lifetime would not actually hinder the watcher’s progress. In fact, it would add to it in the sense of gaining “student-teacher” experience.

Witches always hope that they will be reborn in the next life with those they have known and loved in this one. From psychic experiences, etc., it seems that this is often the case. Many times a couple will stay together throughout a number of lifetimes, in different relationship
roles (e.g. lovers; husband-wife; brother-sister; mother-daughter).

Source

Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft