Tag: Mother goddess

Great Lady Brid, Goddess of Eire

Great Lady Brid, Goddess of Eire

by Darrion

Goddess of smith-craft, gift us with the joyful sound of the hammer and anvil as the craftsman hammers on the metal heated in the forge of Your hearth and heart, warm us in this cold and dark time period with Your love and creative spirit.

Goddess of healing, gift us with Your gentleness, wisdom and love for all who seek Your healing energy, allow us to tap that well of intuition, spirit and knowledge; as we open our hearts to assist others on their healing journeys, guide our hands and hearts.

Goddess of poetry, gift us with Your lightheartedness and playful spirit, grant us with that creative spark, open our vision so we may be aware of and use this energy to tap the wealth of our inner awareness, and allow me the strength to step aside and allow You
to guide my pen.

Goddess of fertility, gift us with the strength of the union of Goddess and God, take the firmness of the God and bury it deeply in the mound of the hill of Tara, fertilizing the earth and preparing her for the planting season to come.

Goddess of inner vision, prophecy and divination, gift us with that inner gaze and awareness, so that we may devote ourselves to unending service in joy and love to serve the Great Mother,
clan and tribe.

THE NEW BOOK OF THE LAW

THE NEW BOOK OF THE LAW

[sources: The Book of The Law, The Old Laws for the Old Religion, The
Great Book of the Law, The Dragon Law]
 
Preface: In my years of teaching and running a group, I have always had
a dissatisfaction with the popular “Book of the Law” available to most
Seekers. I felt it to be too archaic in its wording and perspective —
and while it was valuable in the Burning Times, it simply does not deal
with the concerns and needs of “modern-day” Witches.  Over the years I
became familiar with several other sets of Laws.  Each of these had many
good points, yet they also had their disadvantages as well.
 
Recently, I decided to do something daring — I took the four different
versions of the Laws which I had, and combined and reworked them.  I
deleted what was no longer pertinent or meaningful, rewording others to
make them clearer and more understandable, as well as throwing in a few
new ones which I felt had been lacking.

I believe that what has evolved out of this work is a set of Laws which
are readable, usable, and most importantly, pertinent to the needs of
today’s Witches and Neo-Pagans.  It is with these thoughts and hopes
that I would like to share them with you.  If you should find merit or
worth in them, then I will feel as though I have accomplished something.
The material in this booklet  has not been copyrighted, so you may
reproduce the Laws for students or  friends, or reprint them in your
publication.  It is my sincere hope that the New Book of the Law will be
of use to the Craft Community.
 
                                    Blessed Be,  Lady Galadriel

PART ONE
 
1. The Laws were created to give our lives form and order, that all
might be  balanced throughout all of the planes.  In truth there are two
sets of laws which govern us — one sets forth the ways of the Wiccan,
and the other the ways  of the Universe.  Both are important, both should
be observed with respect and  treated with honor.  The Laws were shaped
and molded to teach us, to advise us,  and to counsel us in our time of
mortal life on earth.
 
2. Honor the Gods, for They are the channels and the manifestation of
the Source.  Honor yourself, for this force also lies within you.  Love
the Gods as  They love you, and by loving yourself and your brothers and
sisters, so the  Gods shall honor you. As the love and joy of a man and
a woman [or “lover and beloved” — LAH]  flowers and grows when nurtured
with respect, and cultivated with understanding  and honor, so should
you love the Gods.
 
3. The Goddess is the Great Mother, and the God is the Great Father, and
we are  Their children; and we shall worship Them, for They are the
rulers of the Universe, and all that is therein.  Therefore, O Children
of the Gods, try Them  not, nor attempt to test Them, for They shall
show you that he Ways of the  Craft are not to be belittled or mocked.
 
4. Let the Power of the Craft flow from you only in love — or not at
all.  For  it has always been known that the energy webs which we weave
and maintain shall  eventually return to encircle their creator.  Thus
our works become either the  net which entagles and binds us, or th eweb
of light by which we find the Gods.
 
5. Let the Rites of the Wicca be a way for the children of the Gods to
be as  One — for Power only flows when unified.  Always should you
revere the Earth, and heal and tend Her, for She is our life, our
Mothership, on which we navigate the dark currents of space.
 
6. When you reap the harvests of your lands, then you shall not reap one
corner  of the field, nor glean the herb gardens, or the fallen fruits
of the orchards.   These you shall offer to the Earth Mother, in direct
return, or through  offerings made to your Circle, or to sustain its
Priests and Priestesses.
 
7. Always be proud to be of the Wicca, but do not allow your pride to
become  vanity — for those who are conceited are a stubling block at
the door of the Temple, and they shall be cast adrift, to swim within
their own vanity.

8. Observe and listen, reserving your judgement, for until all the
silver is  weighed, who can know the worth thereof?
 
9. As like breeds like, even more so does good beget love and joy.  Your
life  will be full of love and joy if you are joyful and happy.
 
10. Your teachers are the servants of the Gods, and they shall plant the
seeds of knowledge within the minds of their students, and they shall
use their power  for the good of the Wicca.  Yet it is each individual’s
duty to tend the seeds  which are planted, and to make the final
harvest.  Those who misuse the power  and the trust of the teacher’s
position shall have to answer to the Lords of  Karma, and adjust the
balance accordingly.
 
11. The Temples of the Gods, which are Their abode on Earth, shall
belong to  all Their children, and each Circle shall be as a special
family.  Do naught against any Temple or any family of the Wicca, lest
you do that thing unto the Gods, and against yourself.
 
12. You must not be a teller of tales amongst the children of the
Goddess, and you must hold no malice or evil thoughts towards others of
the Wicca.
 
13. You should not lie, nor give false testimony before your Elders, or
those  who are of the Wicca — for liars are fools, and a menace unto
themselves, and to the Wicca.  Be truthful in all your works and deeds,
especially within the Circle, for what you say within the presence of
the Gods becomes manifest.
 
14. You must not put stumbling blocks in the way of those who do not
follow the  Path of the Wicca.  You must make no unrighteous judgements
of their ways, and  you should aid them with an attitude of love when it
is asked for. Yet ever  should you keep the Counsel of the Elders, and
reveal naught to others of where  our Circles may be, nor may you reveal
our ways without the consent of the  Priestess.
 
15. When you make a vow to the Lord or the Lady, or you swear an oath to
another of the Wicca, then you must do all that has come forth from your
mouth,  for a covenant with the Gods, or with the Wicca, is your Honor,
and woe to  those who care not for the fetters they attach to their
souls by not keeping  their word.
 
16.  The Great Mother and Father would not have their children suffer
the indignities of oppressors for their sake, for what is within the
hearts of Their children is dear and true to Them.  The Ancient and
Mighty Ones shall cause the balance to be made for those who desecrate
the Lord and Lady, Their  temples, or Their creations.

17. Never shall you use Magick, nor the Craft, to cause harm, for this
is misuse of the Power, and it is not to be condoned.  To cause the
death of another through the Craft is to require the death of the Self
in sacrifice.

18. Never betray any of the brethren, nor the lore of our people, for
you are  all servants of the Gods, and must live by the virtues of love,
honor and wisdom.  Let truth, loyalty and honor be your creed.  Let them
be your guides, tempered by love and wisdom.
 
19. The Order of the Gods shall you keep, and within Their Circles shall
you  walk.  You should not say “I believe” when you doubt, nor claim to
obey the Lord and Lady’s word when you never enter into the Temple.  You
must not profess with your lips that which is not in your heart.
 
20. Do not use the names of the Gods in negative or evil ways, for They
love  and cherish Their children above all others.  All others They
love, even those who know them not.  Yet those who hate and curse in
Their name shall have the Mighty Ones take the measure of their worth.
 
21. In any disputes between the children of the Goddess, no one may
invoke any laws but those of the Craft, or any tribunal but that of
Priestess, Priest, and  Elders.
 
22. No one of the Wicca may do anything which will endagner the Craft,
nor  bring any of the Wicca into conflict with the Law of the Land, or
with any of  our persecutors.
 
23. Your magickal tools are channels to that which is most precious and
pure  within you.  Do not cheapen them by haggling their price when you
acquire them.
 
24. Never accept money for the use of the Power.  It is sorcerors and
charlatans who accept money for their spells and prayers.  If you accept
no money, you will be free from the temptation to use the Craft for evil
or unworthy causes.
 
25. You shall never take unduly from any human, animal or elemental that
which is not yours to take — for if you steal from another, in the end
you will have  to sacrifice something dearer to you in order to attain
the balance.
 
26. Show honor to all people, that they may look up to you, and respect
you,  and their eyes shall become a mirror for your soul.
 
27. Those who are of the Wicca shall not own slaves, for one person may
not own  the spirit of another, for only the Great Mother and Father own
our souls.  Nor  shall you take as a pledge any person’s life, for to do
so is to take upon  yourself both a mill and a millstone.
 
28. If a stranger sojourns with you, you shall do them no wrong; they
shall be as one of the Circle, born amongst ye, and you shall deal with
them as you would yourself.
 
29. Just weights and just balances shall be given by you, and just value
shall you give, and thereby receive threefold.
 
30. Your altars shall be kept clean, pure and holy, and all that is
brought into the Temple or the Circle shall be cleansed and blessed, for
the joy of the  Gods, and of the Wicca.

31. A clean mind should have a clean body.  You should keep your body,
your clothes, and your house clean, in honor of the Mother, who gives
these things  to you.
 
32. Let none die without honor, without love, without respect, unless
their actions have decreed otherwise.
 
33. You should not couple together if it shall cause pain, jealousy or
deprivation to another by doing so.  Union for malice or evil reasons
such as these upsets the balance, and the Lords of the Universe shall
make adjustments accordingly.
 
34. Let those who would love, and would be as one, and bear child, be
handfasted.  For the sharing of love in this manner is beauteous, and
love’s union in the energy of the Gods, and the heritage of the child.
It is important for children to know and to identify with those who
brought them here.
 
35. The Law of the Goddess is that none of the Wicca shall take and wed
someone  who they do not love, whether it is to harm another, or for
some form of  material gain.
 
36. Remember that your children are Goddess-spawned, and are free
spirits.  You  do not own nor control them.  They are your brethren,
come to visit for a while, that they may share in the vision of your
love and wisdom. Let each parent realize that although they may teach
and guide with love, the child shall also teach the parent, and aid them
in their growth and lesson
 
37. The etheric web and energy vortexes of the earth are in constant
flux and motion to adjust to the needs of the planet.  The sacred trust
of the Wicca is to create and to maintain centers of light and
knowledge, using the magick of the divine spark within us to focus and
channel the forces of the Universal fire.  And these are the channels
established between the worlds of the stars and the realms of the earth,
bringing in and regulating the spirit flames which energize and activate
all life forms.  Thus we tend and guard the threads of creation, and we
weave the patterns of life and manifestation in an ever-evolving
tapestry.

38. Never use your heritage or position for self-glorification or gain.
Respect your magick and our ways.  We must always recognize that while
others may look to us to lead them, they too are our guides.
 
39. Keep yor body strong, your mind keen, and your purpose pure, for
within your being you shall channel the Power, and it needs to be strong
and pure. And these are the keys to the path of Oneness, and to
communication with the Gods.  Yet first you must learn to speak to Them
in such a manner as They can comprehend you.  For the children of the
Wicca must aid the Gods, and work with Them, otherwise the Gods cannot
aid and work with you.  Ever remember that the Priest and Priestess are
the living representatives of the God and Goddess Forces, and likewise
that all humans carry these forces within them, though they may lie
dormant and unawakened.
 
40. As the Great Mother and Father come unto one another and create with
the pure vibration of Love-Wisdom, so should you strive to make your
Temple pure in vibration, and thus a fitting place wherein you may
invite the Gods.  Thus, your Circle should always be duly purified and
cast, and likewise, those who would use the gateways and travel the
Circle between the earth and other realms should also be duly prepared
and purified.
 
41. The Goddess hath said, “I shall not carry thee, yet neither shall I
hinder thee, nor keep thee from having the same opportunities as all of
my children. Thou art free, yet thou shalt not be coddled like babes in
the storm.  If thou hast true devotion within thee, then all obstacles
may be overcome.”
 
42. The laggard is but half a person — and though half is better than
none, the whole is twice as good as the half.  Those who do not work, or
who lack the will and desire to learn the ways of the Gods, unto them is
said, “The Ancient and Mighty Ones shall not keep thee within their
house, if ye learneth not.”
 
43. A sanctuary you shall make unto the Gods, that They may dwell
amongst you. And you shall fashion it to the best of your ability,
according to all tha your Elders shall show you, and pure energy shall
you place therein.
 
44. An altar shall you make to unto the Lady, and you shall make due
reverence unto Her, for every place where She is exalted, She will come
to you and bless you.  And you shall fashion your altar out of wood or
stone, and burn incense and candles thereon, at the proper times, in
observance of her ways.

45. You should set aside at least one day during each moon unto the
Goddess, and on these days you shall do Her work; and on those days She
shall renew Her children and bless them.
 
46. Learn to build your own Temple, and to craft your own sacred Circle,
and all the tools that are used therein — for to be a person of the
Craft is to be a person of consequence.
 
47. Let each of you inscribe your own record of our ways and teachings.
For the course of each Wiccan should be charted, that the patterns of
their life-web may be made known and utilized.  Let each Wiccan start
their Book of Light with the teachings and lore of their tradition, yet
let it also contain the rites and ways of each individual, which are the
harvest of each child of the Wicca, to use the wisdom of their heritage
as the seeds of their own wisdom.  Thus shall our lore and knowledge
continue to grow and unfold, like a beautiful flower.
 
48. It is right to study and to understand the sigils, statues and
stories of the Gods, for they shall guide your thoughts to Them, and
They shall hear them.  Yet you must ever remember that you worship not
the sign nor the statue, but the Gods which inspired them.
 
49. If your Circle owns any land, let all guard it, and help to keep it
clean. Let all justly guard all monies of the Circle, as well as the
rights and property of all members of the Circle.
 
50. If any Wiccan truly labors, then it is right that they should have
their just pay.  This is not considered the taking of money for the Art,
but good and honest work.  Yet if any Wiccan works willingly for the
good of the Craft, or for their brothers and sisters without pay, then
it is to their greatest honor.
 
51. If any Wiccan should deny themselves some pleasure or material
indulgence in order to do service in the Circle, this person shall be
blessed and remembered.  For those who give for the greater good of all
shall have their spirit uplifted.
 
52. Know also that if you gift the Lady’s Priests and Priestesses, or
Her Circles, this is an offering made unto the Mother Herself, for a
true Priest or Priestess strives always to do Her work, and to be of
service to Her children, so to honor and respect them is to honor and
respect the Queen of All.
 
53. And the offerings which are considered the most pleasing to the Gods
are these: the fruits of the orchards the scents of the trees and herbs
the metals of the earth the waters of the earth the flowers of the
meadows and the milk of all mothers. Yet offerings of labor or money are
honest too, and these will also be accepted — moreso if you work with
love in your heart, for always there is work to be done for the Gods,
and service to be given to the children of the Wicca.

54. If your offerings are made to restore the balance, it must by of a
nature that it not offensive to the Gods.  It must be of value, yet
given with a free heart.  Thus shall the harmony be restored.  If your
offerings are given with a heart filled with love and devotion, or are
of service to the Gods, or to the Craft, then shall you receive
blessings manifold.
 
55. And when you make an offering unto the Gods, you should offer it
thru the most proper medium, at the proper times, and in such a manner
as to make it acceptable.  Any and all remains of the rituals shall be
consumed in the fire, or buried within the Earth, as a way of returning
to the Source all that we use in the observance of our ways, thus
ensuring the continuity of the cycle.
 
56. All may use the Craft to help and aid them, or for the advantage of
their Circle, or the Craft — yet only if you are sure that you harm
none. Let each Wiccan and Circle always debate these matters at length.
Only if all be satisfied that none be harmed in any way, may the Art
then be used. If it is not possible to achieve your ends one way, then
perhaps the goal may be achieved by actng in a different way, so as to
harm none.
 
57. Throughout the world it has been many a year since Wiccans have been
burned.  Yet misuse of the Power might raise the persecutions once
again. So never break the Laws, however much you might be tempted, and
never consent to their being broken.  And if you know they are being
broken, then you must work strongly against it.
 
58. In days of old it was decided by the Mighty Ones who came before us
that the Art might be used to restrain others from harming the Craft or
its children, yet only after great consultation with all members of the
Circle, and only then to deflect or to constrain them.
 
59. And such were the ways of the Lady that She brought us forth in joy,
and such were the Ways of the Lord that His reign gave all life
pleasure. Offer love in your worship and all shall be joyous in beauty.
 
60. In the dimly remembered dawn of ages past, the Wicca were truly
free. Then, in Atlantis came the Age of the Misuse of Power, followed by
the Ages of Persecution and Suffering.  Thus the people of the Wicca hid
themselves and cloaked their knowlege, and wove veils of secrecy and
silence.  And this is how the Ways of the Wicca have been preserved
through the time of darkness. Yet much of the ways of our people were
lost to the ignorance of others.
 
61. Yet the cycle spirals ever on — and the Age of the Earth Mother
once again draws nigh.  We must be strong — one with our birthright,
and one with our Gods, if we are to bring forth the balance.  Those who
would harm us, or attempt to enslave us, we must overcome — yet only
through light and love, and never through violence or the evil of chaos.
And through our efforts the time of our people will come into being once
more.  In the times which lie ahead, there lies much work to be done, so
that once more the cycles of life are drawn to the path of light, and
the balance acheived through the power of love.
 
62. In order to bring the ways of Light and Love and Life to the peoples
of the Earth, our secrets are slowly becoming secrets no more, and it is
good that this is so — for the age of shadow and secrecy is passing.
Yet the sharing of our ways needs always to be guided by wisdom and by
love.  Let our rites and our mysteries be kept sacred.  Let no one
defile our worship or our heritage.  For the defilement of our ways is
an honor loss to self, and for the Craft.
 
63. Let each High Priestess govern her Circle with justice and Love, and
with the help and advice of the Elders and the High Priest, always
heeding the messages of the Gods when they come.
 
64. Ever remember that although the Priest is the force with which the
Circle is built, the Priestess is the ruler therein — for it is through
her that the Goddess created the world, and all things therein.
 
65. The High Priestess will heed all complaints of all Pagans and
Wiccans, and strive to settle any differences between them with reason
and with justice.
 
66. Let each Circle of Light decide how it shall be known — whether by
earthly name or magickal one.  For each child of the Wicca knows best
the safety or dangers of their homeland.
 
67. Let each Circle or Temple maintain and dedicate unto the Goddess and
the God all the things that are required for Their rituals, for what is
blessed in the name of the Gods rightly belongs to Them, and the Priest
and Priestess shall be the caretakers thereof.

68. Anyone of the circle who is of sufficient rank, and wishes to form a
new Circle, shall tell the High Priestess and the Elders of their
intentions. Members of the old Circle may join the new Circle when it is
formed, but if they do so they must leave the other Circle, unless
otherwise instructed.  For it is the Old Law that each Wiccan may join
the Circle of their choice, yet their energy should not be divided
between two or more Temples.
 
69. The Elders of the old and new Circles shall meet in peace and with
respect, to decide the level of interaction and connection between the
Circles.  Yet it is known that the splitting of a Circle often means
strife. So only if it is truly in a spirit of peace and harmony should
the Circles meet for the celebration of the Great Festivals.
 
70. None shall enter the Circle that have a sickness or an ailment which
may be passed on to the Lady’s other children — for to do so causes
harm to yourself, as well as to the others of the Circle.  Rather should
the Healers go unto the sick one, that through the love of the Gods they
shall be made well and whole once more.
 
71. It has been judged lawful that if any of the Craft need a house, or
land, and none will sell, to incline someone’s mind so as to be willing
to sell, providing it harms none and the full price is paid without
haggling.
 
72. In the matter of quarrels or disputes between the members of the
Circle, the High Priestess shall convene the Council, and inquire into
the matter. The Council shall hear each person privately, and then both
together.  And they shall decide justly, not favoring one side nor the
other.
 
73. If an agreeable resolution cannot be reached, then that Wiccan must
leave the Circle, for a Circle of Light cannot be properly formed where
there is disagreement and discord.  And when a Circle is not properly
formed, the energy within is either dissipated, or turns ugly, festering
like a hidden sore.  So let them leave, but only with love in their
hearts and yours, for even though your paths may diverge, you are still
all children of the Wicca, and there must be no violence between us.
Bear no grudges, hold no thoughts of vengeance, for this will rot away
the foundation of your power.
 
74. It has ever been recognized that there are some people who can never
agree to work under any others.  At the same time there are also people
who cannot rule justly.  To those who must ever be chief there is but
one answer: “Void this Circle, and seek another one, or if ye be of
sufficient rank, then form a Circle of your own.”  To those who cannot
rule justly, the answer shall be “Those who cannot bear your rule will
leave you.”  For none may come to Circle with those with whom they are
at variance, for to do so angers the Gods, and hinders the Craft.

75. Those that do wrong without knowlege shall be held innocent; those
that do wrong through carelessness shall be judged lacking in wisdom,
and dealt with according to the nature of the transgression.  Those who
do wrong with deliberation and forethought shall be thrice punished, and
the Lords of Karma shall lay low their pride.
 
76. Each person must make a balance for their words and actions, and the
judgements of the Elders should incline to try to make good come from
the injustice or wrong-doing.  Many are the ways to restore the balance,
so let the judgements of the Elders and the Priestess be in keeping with
this.
 
77. Do not turn aside those who seek the ways of the Wicca for the want
of an offering or the lack of a robe.  You are the servants of the Gods,
and the servants of Their people, and those that seek for the Gods you
must aid in their quest.
 
78. Of those who would inquire as to the ways of the Goddess, or who
wish to become of the Wicca, ye shall search their hearts, and even into
their spirits you shall look, as you are able.  For the Wicca do not
look to acquire mere numbers.  Let none be turned away if their hearts
are true, and their desire earnest.
 
79. The hidden children are like the strings of a harp: each one may
give a clear note, and when gathered together in sympathy and accord,
they shall give rise to a beautiful symphony.  Yet when struck without
reason or thought, these notes may cause discord or disharmony.
Therefore the Gods decree to Their Teachers and Priests that all must be
taught to master their harp, and to pluck their strings with care, that
they cause no discord or imbalance.
 
80. Choose the Priests and Teachers of the Wicca with diligence and with
care. The qualities that you should search for within them are Faith,
Belief, Knowledge, Ability, Patience, Leadership, Humility, and a loving
nature — for they must lead and teach the children of the Goddess, and
will thereby have the power to do great good, or to cause great
imbalance.
 
81. In practice it should be that the greatest of the Priests and
Priestesses should guide the rituals within each of the Temples of the
Old Gods, and truly you should be content with the advice and guidance
given by them.  Yet ever it should be given so that it is clear and
understandable, for within the Temple each of the Wicca is free, and
thus they should be able to recognize and to understand our ways and
their implications.  And those who cannot explain the inner workings, or
give just cause and reason for their decisions, may be questioned, or
the wisdom of the advice weighed.

82. Let the Priestess and Priest lead as long as they are able, and
their leadership be wise and strong, and to the benefit of the Wicca.
Yet if their health is ill-favored, or if the next generation needs to
try their hand, then let them have the vision and the wisdom to step
away from their position, and pass the duties of the Circle t o another.
Let them not become overly attached to the office, nor too fond of the
power.

83. If a Priestess or a Priest should tire of their duties and charges,
then they may step down, but only after having trained and acknowledged
a successor.  If a Priest or Priestess deserts their Circle, then they
have lost the right to ever lead again within this life, so great a
trust they have broken.  If they should return to the Circle within one
turn of the Wheel, and are judged to have true atonement in their
hearts, new insight and growth, then they may be forgiven, and allowed
to return to the Circle, yet they shall worship only, and hold no office
or title.  Leadership is a sacred commitment and an honor, and they have
shown that they cannot be trusted with such responsibility.
 
84. Any Priestess, Priest, or Elder who consents to a breach of the Laws
regarding the use of the Craft to cause harm to others must immediately
be relieved of their office, for it is the lives of the children of the
Goddess which they endanger, as well as the honor of the Craft.
 
85. The High Priestess may take a Sabbatical from her Circle, if her
personal life and duties require it, for up to a year and a day.  During
that time, the Maiden shall act as High Priestess.  If the High
Priestess does not return at the end of a year and a day, then the
Initiates of the Circle shall name a new Priestess.  Unless there is
good reason to the contrary, the person who has done the work of the
Priestess should reap the reward.  If someone else is named, then the
Maiden should continue in that office.
 
86. Each Priestess and Priest shall choose their own consorts, yet let
them be wise in the learning of our people, and thus others shall abide
by the wisdom of their choice.  Yet if the Circle feels the decision is
ill-advised, or that they cannot abide and work in honor and trust with
that consort, then they may request a gathering of all concernted to
meet and to talk, and to resolve the balance with love and honor.  For
only those who are pure and strong, keen and wise, patient and loving,
can effectively and properly carry out the duties of a Keeper of the
Circle.

87. Those of the Priesthood shall not neglect their mates, or their
children, or their house, nor anything which is in their possession; nor
shall the sick and the needy be neglected for the sake of the Circle.
Therefore let them adjust the one thing against the other, that neither
should suffer, and that which is given by the Gods is treated with love
and respect.
 
88. Long ago, at the time of Creation, it was deemed that the female
should hold the power of life-giving.  And such was the male force drawn
to the love and beauty of the Creation of life, that he surrenders unto
her keeping the force of his powers in the furtherance of life.  Yet the
Priestess must always remember that the fuel of the flames which light
the fires within her Temple comes from the Priest.  Thus she must use
the force wisely, and only with love, and she must honor and respect he
who is the activator of the Life Force.
 
HERE ENDS THE NEW BOOK OF THE LAW.
 
Published by: The Grove of the Unicorn PO Box 13384 Atlanta, GA  30324
 
Ordering Information: Send Legal size SASE A small contribution towards
printing/handling costs will be appreciated.
——————————————————————————
To this I would add only one more admonishment, based on my own
experience: It is as important not to take oneself, one’s power, and
one’s Craft too seriously as it is not to take them too lightly.
Moderation in all things, including moderation.  And remember that all
acts of love and pleasure are the rites of the Goddess, and this
includes HAVING FUN.
 
B*B Leigh Ann

The Law

The Law

We are of the Old Ways, among those who walk with the Goddess and God and receive Their love.

Keep the Sabbats and Esbats to the best of your abilities, for to do otherwise
is to lessen your connection with the Goddess and God.

Harm none. This, the oldest law, is not open to interpretation or change.

Shed not blood in ritual; the Goddess and God need not blood to be duly
worshipped.

Those of our ways are kind to all creatures, for hurtful thoughts are quiet
draining and aren’t worth the loss of energy.

Misery is self-created; so, too, is joy, so create joy and disdain misery and
unhappiness. And this is within your power. So harm not.

Teach only what you know, to the best of your ability, to those students who
you choose, but teach not to those who would use your instructions for
destruction or control. Also, teach not to boost pride, forever remember: She
who teaches out of love shall be enfolded in the arms of the Goddess and God.

Ever remember that if you would be of our way, keep the law close to your
heart, for it is the nature of the Wicca to keep the Law.

If ever the need arises, any law may be changed or discarded, and new laws
written to replace them, so long as the new laws don’t break the oldest law of
all: Harm None.

Blessings of the Goddess and God on us all.

(* Wicca – S. Cunningham)

The Top 5 Things Your Local Witch Wants You to Know

The Top 5 Things Your Local Witch Wants You to Know

Author: Holly Risingstar

I am a fairly ordinary woman. I’m in my early thirties; I have a Master’s Degree in Counseling Services; I work with families in crisis. I’ve got two kids, a husband, and family nearby; I love the arts, shopping, beadwork, travel, and photography. I’m addicted to the Grey’s Anatomy and Heroes. I drive a black Honda that has seen better days. I wish gas prices would go down. I’m in desperate need of a haircut.

Oh, and did I mention, I’m a witch?

No, really.

I was born into a nominally Jewish family and had five years’ worth of Hebrew school growing up, but it never felt right to me. I never felt connected, spiritually, to God. By the time I was hitting my teens, I had started to read more and more about the occult, and finally came across Scott Cunningham’s book Wicca: a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (considered by many to be the best introductory book on Wicca there is). Finally, I Got It. Something inside me knew this was my path, where I was supposed to be and what I was supposed to be doing. I’ve been Wiccan for 17 years now, and I’ve never looked back.

Wicca is an earth-based, non-Judeo-Christian religion. The modern form was created from various pieces of pagan religion by Gerald Gardner in the 1930s, but from there has exploded into a rainbow of traditions, each with its own particular blend of magic, faith, and morals. Wicca is a legally recognized religion in the U.S and you can even have it imprinted on your dog tags in the Armed Forces. It is often cited as being the fastest-growing religion in the country.

When asked to write this piece on Wicca, I considered carefully what I might want to say. Should I launch into a defense of my beliefs? Normalize Wicca with other religions? Simply compare and contrast? Deliver an anecdotal “Day in the Life of a Witch” kind of thing?

I settled on this:

THE TOP FIVE THINGS YOUR LOCAL WITCH WOULD WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT WICCA

1.We are not Satanists.

You heard it here first! Wicca does not subscribe to a Judeo-Christian belief in God; therefore, we don’t believe in a Devil, Hell, or Heaven. Wiccans revere nature and treat the Mother Earth with great respect. Many (though not all) of us believe in some aspect of the Goddess; many also believe in some form of the God, Her consort.

The most common belief system involves the Triple Goddess; a Mother Goddess, symbolized by the moon, who watches over mothers and children, family and all matters pertaining to that phase of a woman’s life; a Maiden Goddess, who reigns over joy, youth, vitality, freedom, and so on; and a Crone Goddess, who holds the secrets of magic and is the Guardian of the Crossroads (in other words, a death-related Goddess. Not one who causes death, mind, but who assists those who are in this stage of existence.)

Often the Goddess has a God consort, symbolized by the Sun, who is her lover and assists her with Creation of all things. Often he is associated with forests, certain animals, and a vast variety of human experiences ranging from sex to war to creativity. One of the great joys of Wicca is the ability to choose which Goddesses and Gods have meaning and connection for you – though they’ve been known to choose the practitioner!

2.We have one law – An It Harm None, So Mote It Be.

Which means don’t harm anyone, including yourself. Sounds fairly simple, right? Not so easy. It’s a tough moral code to live by. We cannot, in good conscience, take revenge, cause harm, or cause another person problems on purpose. No killing, no stealing, respecting other human beings – sound familiar?

3.You probably know one of us.

Wiccans (and pagans of all flavors) are everywhere. We come from all walks of life; nurses, doctors, teachers, lawyers, convenience store clerks, computer programmers, business owners, you name it. We are not necessarily the odd chick down the street with the long hippie skirts and twelve cats. . .ok, well, she might be one of us.

We have our share of hippies, vegans, Goths, and assorted subcultures. But you won’t necessarily know us just looking at us – most people I tell about my religious leanings are surprised. As a co-worker (and devout Christian) recently said to me, “I was so surprised that you are – you know, what you are. I kept saying, “How can Holly be a heathen? She’s so nice!”

4.Yes, we do cast spells.

It’s very similar to praying. Spell casting simply means using rituals to help bring about a desired outcome; no more, no less. A conscientious witch never casts on another human being without that person’s consent and full knowledge, and she won’t do it for money, if she’s the real deal. Witches try never to violate another person’s free will. There are no big flashes like in the movies; I can’t fly, float, or make things disappear (though there’s a shot if I put it on my desk!), and lightning has certainly never flown out of my fingertips.

What I can do is help protect, heal, bring about some occurrences (like employment or good legal results), marry couples and bless children, and things of that nature. I do not hex, curse, or cause harm through magic. It’s not cool with the Goddess.

5.You may have participated in a Wiccan or Pagan tradition.

We have holidays, creation myths, and rituals just like any other religion.

Wiccans generally celebrate eight high holidays: Samhain (pronounced so-when) on October 31st is one of them. That jack o’lantern on your porch? Started out as turnips, decorated to keep away evil spirits. Next comes Yule, the Winter Solstice, on December 21st – and if you have a Christmas tree, know that it started as the use of evergreen to symbolize life and rebirth in Roman and Druidic rituals.

Following are Candlemas on February 2nd, which celebrates the lambing of the ewes and the returning spring; Litha, the spring equinox, on March 21st; Beltane on May 1st, which celebrates life, generativity, and is where the Maypole comes from (you are dancing around a phallus to make the fields fruitful, folks!) Next, the Summer Solstice on June 21st, then Lammas on August 2nd, which celebrates the height of summer.

Lastly we have Mabon, the autumnal equinox, which ends the cycle of growth and prepares us for Samhain and the winter to come. We also celebrate and worship on the night of the full moon; we may also celebrate life events like births, weddings, maturation of our children, and death. In this way we remain close to the cycles of the earth, never forgetting who we are and what is happening in the world around us.

Wicca and Paganism are rapidly becoming mainstreamed. Your local bookstore probably has a decent-sized section on Metaphysical Studies, and you’ll find plenty on the religion there.

We have our own magazines, hundreds of websites, bumper stickers, T-shirts, music, and so on. Being Wiccan or Pagan does not necessarily mean we’re strange; it means that we have a different belief system than the general American public.

If you run across a Wiccan or a Pagan, don’t be afraid to ask us questions. We won’t come to you, but if you ask we’re generally happy to share what we know with others. Most witches are delighted to have a chance to combat the stereotyping and misconceptions the public has of us.

When we part, Wiccans often say, “Blessed Be.” And so I’ll leave you with a Blessed Be – merry met, merry part, and merry meet again.


Footnotes:
Previously published in a Mensa newsletter.

Daily Feng Shui Tip for December 20

Tuesday, December 20, 2011
 

According to most traditional or customary holiday calendars, this is the day that we are advised to start burning the Yule log. This log represents the ancient energies of rebirth while also symbolizing the return of another solstice and, of course, the Sun. According to ages old customs, we are encouraged to start that fire at dusk in order to welcome shining light into our own lives that will last the whole of the coming year. If burning a log isn’t feasible for you, then at least light the way for a fortune-filled year with a red, orange or yellow candle. Use a sharp object to carve an image of the Sun into the side of the candle and get clear on your wishes for the coming year. Create an intention about what areas of your life you’d like to see more enlightened, or where you would like to experience a rebirth, and then, burn, baby, burn!

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Gift at Yule Ritual Work

Gift at Yule

by Lady MoonWolfe
revised 2004

Close your eyes and relax
Breathe deeply.
Let your breathing become slow, deep, easy. Relax and continue breathing deeply and gently, breathe in and exhale and as we exhale we enter the time of the greatest darkness.
It is the time of the longest night, the dark of the cold universe between the stars and planets, the dark of the sea, and the dark of the womb.

Wrap this darkness gently about you like a comfortable blanket. Float gently now in its depths.
As you open your eyes you see a path in front of you, laid in cobble stones, topped with silver glitter.
It is dark, and though it is dark, you realize that which surrounds you is not the empty, but like the womb, full of life. Fill the energy of the dark.
As you look at the outline of the forest of trees, you notice that the path is lined with oaks, firs and pines. Each one decorated with mistletoe, wreaths, and candy canes.

It is dark in front of you, and as you begin your journey down the path, taking your first step upon the cobble stones you can feel the chill wind blowing. You can feel the ground hard and cold beneath your feet. Continuing walking one step in front of the other, one by one until you have reached the end of the path and are standing within a mighty forest
You look up and see the stars, but there is no Moon. Patiently you wait. You hear a sound behind you, and turn to look over your shoulder

You now realize that you are standing upon the edge of a clearing; as its center burns a fire, and an old man is seated before it. He is wearing tattered animal skins, and has long ragged hair which blows about in the wind. On the far side of the clearing you see the mouth of a cave, and standing before it is the mighty figure of the Horned God.

You turn back around and look through the trees, looking towards the eastern horizon, for tonight is the longest night. The dark time before the Sun is reborn at the Winter Solstice, and you wait patiently for the first rays of the newborn Sun. You noticed that the fire has changed into a single Oak tree, standing tall, and decorated with all the trimmings. As you step forward you feel the increase in the love and warmth around you and within you, and notice that the energy within gives birth to the smallest spark imaginable, the spark of life.
See that spark now as it glows, watch that spark now, and watch it grows. Glowing brighter and brighter, it grows into a flame. As you look at the flame, its light fills you with warmth and love

As you feel increased love and warmth within you, the intensity of the flame slowly diminishes and as it does, in its place, slowly is the outline of a present. This gift becomes more solid, until you can see its form clearly and see that it is wrapped in a glistening filament of light. This gift has your name on it, inscribed in the glistening material. Look at your present, what color is your name written in? What shape is it? How big is it? What color is it’s wrappings?
Experience it fully. Accept it. Accept your gift with joy. Feel the heart warm with the love with which this gift is given to you.

And now, from your heart, send out gratitude for this gift; send out thanks for this gift to the Goddess, to our Great Mother, to the Universe. To the Goddess who is the Universe, both the dark and the light. Send out your thanks for this gift. Now if you wish, find a place to keep this gift, a place to put this gift, so you can keep it with you during our ritual now and if you wish take it with you when you leave the circle.

As you stand you can fill the soft, wet touch of the first fallen snow across your cheeks. Winter grips the land as a cold wind blows through the forest. You walk away from the clearing, and as you leave the forest, you turn and see that it is no more than a shadow behind you. Before you, is a world which you know well, it is the world in which we live, and now it is time to return.
The Other world is real, and you may return at any time. Life will not fail, the Sun will return again, remembering your gift given to you. You continue to walk, bringing your special gift with you, be fully present in our circle, Move your body , open your eyes, and come back to this place and time..

MoonWolfe is 52 years young. I am a registered Healer of the Art of Reiki. I am currently working on saving the dolphins in captivity. I drum to heal Mother Earth.

The Yule Log

The Yule Log

by Lila

The tradition of the Yule logs dates back millennia. The origin of the word Yule seems to originate from the Anglo Saxon word for sun and light. People used to burn a yule log on the Winter Solstice in December. The Winter Solstice is the day of the year with the shortest amount of daylight. Yule is celebrated by fire, which provides a dual role of warmth and keeping evil spirits away. Many people thought that evil spirits were more likely to wander the earth on the longest night of the year. All night bonfires and hearth fires kept evil at bay and provided gathering places for folks to share feasts and stories.

Winter Solstice marks the sun’s victory over darkness; the days would now grow longer. The cinders from the burnt log were thought to protect homes from lightning and the evil powers of the devil. The ashes were also sprinkled on the surrounding fields to ensure good luck for the coming year’s harvest. The largest remaining part of the log was kept safe to kindle next year’s fire.

The Yule log has waned in popularity with the advent of electric heaters and wood stoves. With no access to a hearth, fireplace or fire pit, modern folks are losing a sacred tradition. Today, we may still partake of the Yule Log tradition by creating a smaller version as a table ornament, embellished with greenery and candles, or the popular Yule log cake. As we eat a slice, we can imagine taking in the protective properties of the log.

Many enjoy the practice of lighting the Yule Log. If you choose to burn one, select a log and carve or chalk upon it a figure of the Sun (a rayed disc) or the Horned God (a horned circle). Set it alight in the fireplace at dusk, on Yule. This is a graphic representation of the rebirth of the God within the sacred fire of the Mother Goddess. As the log burns, visualize the Sun shining within it and think of the coming warmer days. Traditionally, a portion of the Yule Log is saved to be used in lighting next year’s log. This piece is kept throughout the year to protect the home.

Whether you are burning a log or creating a centrepiece, different woods may be used to produce different effects:
Aspen: invokes understanding of the grand design
Birch: signifies new beginnings
Holly: inspires visions and reveals past lives
Oak: brings healing, strength, and wisdom, symbol of the Oak king, the New year
Pine: signifies prosperity and growth
Willow: invokes the Goddess to achieve desires
Decorate your log with the any of the following items:
bright green needles of fir represents the birth of the new year
dark green needles of yew represent death of the waning year
vines of ivy or birch branches represent the Goddess
sprigs of holly with red berries represent the Holly king of the dying year
As you light the Yule log chant the following:

As the yule log is kindled
so is the new year begun
as it has been down through the ages
an unending cycle of birth, death, and rebirth
every ending is a new beginning
May the Yule log burn
May all good enter here
May there be wheat for bread
and vats full of wine
(or may we never hunger may we never thirst)

When the log has almost completely burned, collect a small piece of the Yule log (dip in a bucket of water to ensure it is completely out) wrap carefully and keep somewhere in the home for safety and protection.

collect some of the cold ashes and store in a glass bottle. The ash can be used for spells of protection and amulets. The remainder of the Yule ash can be scattered over fields or gardens to ensure fertility in the spring.

Pauline Campanelli; Wheel of the Year

Lila is an initiate in The Sacred Three Goddess school. She lives on a mountain in beautiful British Columbia with her husband, four cats, two ferrets and other varied critters of nature. She spends her time communing with the Faerie folk and long walks by the river.

Solar Creatrix

Solar Creatrix
By Mama Donna Henes

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day, the longest night of the year, the culmination of the gradual withdrawal of the sun. By mid fall, there is no denying the apparent disappearance of solar light. It is most definitely getting darker and darker. And the rays of light are becoming ever more indirect, their energy and warmth barely reaching us below. Their glow is weak and wan, a diluted wash. Insipid. Depressing. All season long, the sun continues on its wayward course away from us, slithering ever further south. Further and further away from us. Until we are left standing here alone in the dark.

Wrapped in the dark womb of the weather, it is not difficult to imagine the terrifying prospect of the permanent demise of the sun and the consequent loss of light, the loss of heat. The loss of life. Without the comfort of the familiar cyclical pattern, the approach of each winter with its attendant chiaroscuro would be agonizing. The tension intensified by the chill.

With the death of the sun, the world would be cast back to the state that it occupied before creation, the classical concept of chaos. The black void. The Great Uterine Darkness. It is from this elemental ether that the old creatrix goddesses are said to have brought forth all that is. Tantric sages refer to this as the condition of the Great Goddess in Her aspect of “Dark formlessness when there was neither the creation nor the sun, the moon, the planets, and the Earth, and when the darkness was enveloped in the Darkness, the Mother, the Formless One, Maha-Kali, the Great Power, was. . .The Absolute.”

This sacred spark of creative potential that is contained within the primordial womb is one of humanity’s oldest concepts. The visual symbol which represents it, a dot enclosed within the circle, is also extremely ancient. Still in common use today, it is the astronomical notation for the sun.

Among the most archaic images of the sun is the brilliant radiance that clothes the Great Goddess. The great Mother of the pre-Islamic peoples of Southern Arabia was the sun, Atthar, or Al-Ilat. In Mesopotamia, She was called Arinna, Queen of Heaven. The Vikings named Her Sol, the old Germanic tribes, Sunna, the Celts, Sul or Sulis. The Goddess Sun was known among the societies of Siberia and North America.

She is Sun Sister to the Inuit, Sun Woman to the Australian Arunta, Akewa to the Toba of Argentina The sun has retained its archaic feminine gender in Northern Europe and Arab nations as well as in Japan. To this day, members of the Japanese royal family trace their shining descent to Amaterasu Omikami, the Heaven Illuminating Goddess.

According to legend, Amaterasu withdrew into a cave to hide from the irritating antics of Her bothersome brother, Susu-wo-no, the Storm God. Her action plunged the world into darkness and the people panicked. They begged, beseeched, implored the Sun Goddess to come back, but to no avail. At last, on the Winter Solstice, Alarming Woman, a sacred clown, succeeded in charming, teasing and finally yanking Her out, as if from an earthy birth canal, and reinstating Her on Her rightful celestial throne.

Other cultures see the Goddess not as the sun Herself, but as the mother of the sun. The bringer forth, the protector and controller, the guiding light of the sun and its cycles. According to Maori myth, the sun dies each night and returns to the cave/womb of the deep to bathe in the maternal uterine waters of life from which he is re-born each morning. The Hindu Fire God, Agni, is described as “He who swells in the mother.”

It is on the Winter Solstice, the day when the light begins to lengthen and re-gain power, that the archetypal Great Mother gave birth to the sun who is Her son. The great Egyptian Mother Goddess, Isis, gave birth to Her son Horus, the Sun God, on the Winter Solstice. On the same day, Leta gave birth to the bright, shining Apollo and Demeter, and the Great Mother Earth Goddess, bore Dionysus. The shortest day was also the birthday of the Invincible Sun in Rome, Dies Natalis Invictis Solis, as well as that of Mithra, the Persian god of light and guardian against evil.

Christ, too, is a luminous son, the latest descendant of the ancient matriarchal mystery of the nativity of the sun/son. Since the gospel does not mention the exact date of his birth it was not celebrated by the early church. It seems clear that when the church, in the fourth century AD, adopted December 25 as his birthday, it was in order to transfer the heathen devotions honoring the birth of the sun to him who was called “the sun of righteousness.”

The return of the retreating sun, which retrieves us from the dark of night, the pitch of winter, is a microcosmic recreation of the origination of the universe, the first birth of the sun. The Winter Solstice is an anniversary celebration of creation. Since the earliest of human times, it has been both natural and necessary for folks to join together in the warmth and glow of community in order to welcome the return of light to a world that is surrounded by dark. And through the imitative gesture of lighting fires, like so many solar birthday candles, we do our annual part to rekindle the spirit of hope in our hearts.

*****************************************************
DONNA HENES, Urban Shaman, has been a contemporary ceremonialist for 30+ years. Mama Donna, as she is affectionately known, is the author of four books and a CD. She writes a weekly column for UPI (United Press International) Religion & Spirituality Forum and publishes the highly acclaimed quarterly journal, Always In Season: Living in Sync with the Cycles.
In addition to teaching and lecturing worldwide, she maintains a ceremonial center, spirit shop, ritual practice and consultancy in Exotic Brooklyn, New York, Mama Donna’s Tea Garden And Healing Haven, where she works with individuals and groups to create personally relevant rituals for all of life’s transitions.

 

Get in Tune With the Moon

Get in Tune With the Moon

Author: Jess

The modern age has led us to believe that we are better than nature. We have calendars that help us count the days and clocks to tell time for us. There is just one problem with that: it’s incorrect. How is it that our months have different numbers of days? Or that we have to adjust our calendar every four years to make up for our current systems inadequacies?

These are simple issues that all lead back to our ancestors and how their primeval ways were sometimes more advanced than our own. Humans of the past followed the moon’s cycle, a simple and natural way to connect with our planet and its time.

Following the moon’s cycle can help people to better understand their own internal clocks, especially women. There is a reason that the female body has a twenty-eight day cycle, and that females have such a passionate range of emotions.

The moon has much more power over us than a lot of people seem to believe. But we Pagans have a leg up on most people in that department. We acknowledge the moon and its stages along with the Goddess. So how much do we really connect with our beliefs in that regard? The moon helps women’s bodies change, sways our emotions, and even allows us to experience more enlightenment when the time is right.

No one can argue against the moon’s connection with women’s bodies. We wax and wane along with this bright beacon in the night’s sky. At our fullest we are fertile and I have met many a man who finds women more attractive during this time. It’s only natural.

Unfortunately, nowadays many women take oral contraceptives. And with good reason, of course. The world is overpopulated, and having a child is a big responsibility. But by masking our natural connection with the moon, women hinder the bonds with the Mother Goddess. That makes it harder to feel at peace with oneself.

My husband and I learned this when I stopped taking birth control pills to conceive our first child. Since then I have been much more in tune with my body, nature, and the Gods. After my daughter was born, I did the natural thing and breastfed her. While doing so I did not have my cycle. Its nature’s way of allowing your current baby the nourishment and care it needs.
Now that my daughter is a toddler and weaned, I do not wish to get back on any form of hormonal birth control. Since I have been off of the pill I have had less mood swings, and am much more in tune with my body. And there are so many other options of non-hormonal birth control.

Our hormones drive us to do what is natural, especially women. So when healthy women are taking unnatural doses of these chemicals to keep from getting pregnant, they alter their natural behaviors. This is not to say that I am against birth control in any way, but I have found that there are so many options out there that hormonal options are not always best.

Now that I am no longer on the pill I feel more connected to my body, and have found that following the moon’s cycle prepares me for what is coming next. I am more aware of when my mood may be more sensitive than others. And my husband is thankful that he can follow the moon in order to better understand how I may be feeling.

Next, there is no doubt that people have more energy when the moon is waxing, and that surge of energy is often able to contribute to success as opposed to the new moon stage, when a lot of people often feel drained or downtrodden.

I call this nature’s way of forcing us to slow down and take it easy. But many people fight these feelings in our fast paced society, creating adverse effects like depression or anger issues. A lot of us experience pressure to do better in the workplace or at school. But you cannot do more when you are feeling like less of a person.

Then there is the last and most intriguing of the moon’s direct effect on people. When we adhere to the moon’s cycle, it is possible to reach higher heights. Certain meditations are best done at specific days and times that coincide with the moon’s stage that best suits the practice.
This is where the gods come in. Being that the moon represents the Goddess and the sun represents the God, these spiritual high times are when the presence of the gods can be felt at a stronger and more intimate level. Nature is our direct link to the gods.

And nature’s clock is the sun and the moon; there is no sleep button, no loud buzzing alarm to set. Taking the time to listen to the moon and perform rituals and spells accordingly will help your practices be more effective. This is also more helpful in finding enlightenment or even simple piece of mind.

The full moon has always been the greatest time to have an out of body experience for myself. And when mastered, a knowledgeable spirit can glance into the Summerlands. There is so much more to life than what the technological world offers. Sure technology is great if used as just another tool, but the natural world is much more substantial.

Connecting with nature and understanding the moon helps people to live better lives. It allows us to be more conscious of the world around us and inside of us, just as following the sun helps people to draw on the elements. And by following the different stages of the moon, humans can better understand each other.

Men can better understand why women may be a bit more emotional during certain times and to be more understanding when emotions run a bit hot. Whereas women can be more in tune with their bodies, their emotions, and we can all experience more enlightenment. Following the moon’s cycle helps people to have a better grasp on the world around them. You don’t need a computer to tell you that.

Grounding, Centering and Balance

Grounding, Centering and Balance

Author: Nita

Over the years I have told people hundreds of times to ground their energies, center their energies, and balance their elements. It is supposed to be taught everywhere and be common knowledge. Yet most people do not know how to do this properly. I have had an experience recently that has proven how important this is in life. It is important to relax, unwind, and do many things. I will give a few simple methods.

Grounding:

Grounding is essential to clearing out negativity when you have an off day or during the day when you feel spacey or not quite here. It is especially important with all of the exercises everyone does to elevate himself or herself. We live on this earth and when you elevate yourself with out grounding any energy can be picked up because the person is wide open.

Method 1- Grounding and Centering:

Stand with your feet apart and your hands in the air. Place your feet different distances until you feel comfortable and balanced. There is a point in your solar plexus that centers you. It completes the circuit so to speak where you can ground yourself properly.

Raise your arms in the air and see yourself as reaching all the way into heaven. Next put energy spikes through out your feet and visualizes the spikes reaching to the center of the earth. Pull the golden energies down from above and have the energies fill every molecule, cell, and part of your energies. Push all energies that are not colored gold out through your feet into the center of the earth. Pull your spikes back up to the earth around you and circulate the gold energy around you in circles until you feel cleansed and purged of all energies that are not in harmony with your higher self.

Say-“I ask my higher self to help me to center, ground, and purge and cleanse all energies that are not for my higher good. So be it.”

After you are done, picture yourself buckling a gold belt around yourself and say may I be sealed and safe from all energies not for my higher good.

This method will help with illnesses or any sort of energies that push you off center. They will ease up any psychic attacks or problems occurring with energy fluctuations.

Method 2- Grounding and Centering:

Go to a relaxing place such as a park or into your back yard. Pick out a tree that seems friendly to you that you like. I always like oaks and willows but different people respond to different types of trees.

Go to the tree and hug the tree, and try to energetically feel the tree. You can do this a couple of different ways. I like trying to join with the tree until I feel tingly energies in my hand from feeling the life of the tree flowing into me. We have minor chakras in the hands, which can receive energies, and the experience is great for developing your ability to feel energy changes. If you feel rejection or not friendly energies then you should move to a different tree.

If you are a pagan you might do this prayer:

“I ask that the Divine Mother of Creation link me to the spirit of this tree. May I have all my negativity drawn into the tree to fertilize it and to release me to grow strong and powerful. May all the energies of life be drawn into me to help me be happy, healthy and grounded to the earth through the energies of life. May I be centered, and accepting of all challenges that will bring knowledge, change and joy in my life. So Be it.”

Angelic Version:

“I ask that the divine Father Adonai link me to the angels of trees and creation. May I have all my negativity drawn into the tree to fertilize it and to release me to grow strong and powerful. May all of the energies of life be drawn into me to help me to be happy, healthy and grounded to the earth. May I also be grounded to the divine Father Adonai and all his shapes so that I will know his will, accept my challenges and enjoy my life. May I be centered and grounded in the divine energy of creation and the creator.”

I always tell people to modify my prayers in any way that they wish to do so. It will make them work better for each person and their belief system. I have found that if you are severely ungrounded where the normal exercises do not seem to help it is essential that you ground. I have helped many people with problems that did exercises that pushed them into the upper planes too quickly.

If you have life problems that have not healed, have been abused, or other issues it will stick you open and in an unbalanced and ungrounded state. To close the levels down is not easy. I received such a huge burst of grace in one of my cases for the work I did to help a whole country. It unbalanced me because I have been a person who has been abused through out my entire life. I knew nothing they said was right or true and would ignore vicious cruel people. Yet it hit my soul with the way they treated me and made it so I was held back. I had worked on major abuse but not the cruelties that insecure people do to make others feel just as bad as they do.

I tried to explain to the people I was around that I was trying to ground. All the bad habits you hear mentioned are grounding. People who say that humans do not need to eat meat may be incorrect in that there are many times meat is useful and grounding is one of them. Beer with the herb hops in it is grounding also. You pray over the food and ask it to ground you so you can exist on this earth.

The next thing is sex. Sex is grounding and ties you to this earth. I mentioned this to the people and you would think I was suggesting that I run around and pull men’s pants off. They had been studying Indian methods with gurus and all of that was about evolving to where they do not reincarnate. They were taught celibacy was the only way to do that in this life.

It made me realize that most people only know what they read and then they filter it through their own opinions and it comes out warped. Sex is not evil or it would not be created to bring people into existence. Lust might not be good if it is all you do and do not care about the person. Yet healthy love and sex is not wrong. If you were to be put under medications because you could not deal with reality or have sex, which would you chose? I would choose sex without thought on that question. Love is never wrong and just loving someone can keep you going in cruel upsetting circumstances more than anything else in this world.

The question is what works for you. I found that what works for me is charity, kindness, unconditional love for the divine, and prayer. I have never worked to evolve but to do a good job to please the divine. I found out years ago each of us has our own path and cannot judge anyone else’s path.

So recognize your priorities and do whichever ones work for you as long as you do not overdo anything. Excess is more of the enemy to evolving than anything else. You are meant to live on this earth and learn not to cut yourself off and just work for evolving.

Method 3-Balance:

I always ask for help from either specific angels or my higher self.

I ask that Archangel Michael help me to balance myself. May the elements of air, fire, water, earth and spirit be balanced in my body, mind and soul and on all levels of spirit. May the energies of the divine be balanced and place me in complete equilibrium. May I be grounded, centered, balanced and focused to live today and every day in the light of the divine.

You can ask the Divine Mother or any other form of the divine that you worship and have as what makes your spirit sing to do this for you. I hope that these methods will be helpful to you. I know that staying in balance has helped me many times in the stressful situations that I get into doing work for others who are suffering.

A Tree Blessing Charm for Happy Homes

A Tree Blessing Charm for Happy Homes

 
This charm will work for any tree that you plant on your property; just adjust the opening line accordingly. The best time to plant a tree is the waning moon phase. Once the tree is planted, enchant the tree for healthy growth and to encourage it to add its magick to your home—and don’t forget to keep it water.
 
The magnolia brings fortitude and fidelity,
Little tree, send happiness and harmony to me.
Grow strong, straight and true where you now stand,
Your magick spreads out across my land.

Mother Holle’s Cleansing Bath

Mother Holle’s Cleansing Bath

Mother Holle, Germanic Queen of Witches, leads the Wild Hunt. These herbs are traditionally gathered on Midsummer’s Eve and used for intensive cleansings between winter solstice and January 6th.
Blend the following herbs:
Avens
Chamomile
Elder
Elecampane
Heartsease
Mint
Mugwort
Mullein
Saint John’s Wort
Southernwood
Vervain
Yarrow
Sage
Make an infusion by pouring boiling water over the herbs. Let it steep, then strain and add to the bath. For maximum spiritual cleansing and happiness, float heartease(wild pansy) blossoms in the water.

Candle Cleansing and Consecration

Candle Cleansing and Consecration

 

Cleansing a candle removes any psychic debris or residual energy, think of a cleansing as a spiritual ‘reset’ button.

You can cleanse a candle using any of the following methods:

Pass it through incense smoke
Allow it to bath in the light of the moon overnight
Bury the candle in sea salt, and leave it for a day

Consecration is when you reprogram the tool, in other words – you tell the item what it’s purpose is:

Hold your projective (writing) hand over the candle and imagine that white light is beaming from your palm, and into the candle – say the following:
“I consecrate you, candle of wax,
to cleanse you and purify you,
so that you may serve me in my magickal workings.
In the name of the Mother Goddess and Father God
you are consecrated.”

After this you need to charge it, hold the candle with both hands, and say:

“I charge you by the power of the Ancients: the Goddess and the God
by the powers of the Sun, the Moon and the Stars
by the elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth
May you serve me well.
So Mote it Be.”

The candle is now ready for use.

 

Pagan Magic

Candle Cleansing and Consecration

Candle Cleansing and Consecration  
Cleansing a candle removes any psychic debris or residual energy, think of a cleansing as a spiritual ‘reset’ button.

You can cleanse a candle using any of the following methods:

Pass it through incense smoke
Allow it to bath in the light of the moon overnight
Bury the candle in sea salt, and leave it for a day

Consecration is when you reprogram the tool, in other words – you tell the item what it’s purpose is:

Hold your projective (writing) hand over the candle and imagine that white light is beaming from your palm, and into the candle – say the following:
“I consecrate you, candle of wax,
to cleanse you and purify you,
so that you may serve me in my magickal workings.
In the name of the Mother Goddess and Father God
you are consecrated.”

After this you need to charge it, hold the candle with both hands, and say:

“I charge you by the power of the Ancients: the Goddess and the God
by the powers of the Sun, the Moon and the Stars
by the elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth
May you serve me well.
So Mote it Be.”

The candle is now ready for use.

 

Pagan Magick

PROTECTION SPELL

PROTECTION
God and Goddess of the skies, Please respond to my cries.
Lift me up in your strong arms, Away from those who seek to harm.
Shield me from the awful rage, That shall face me day to day.
Help me be strong in what I do, And help my heart remain true.
Give me strength to face each day, And the hardships before me lain.
Let those who I love love me in return, And everyday let me learn.
I bid you both my spirit keep, While I’m awake and asleep.
So mote it be!

Spell – A- Day – Season of Rest Spell

Spell – A- Day – Season of Rest Spell

 
As the year winds down, we come into a season of rest and regeneration. The leaves are falling; the dark hours are growing longer, and the light is waning. Earth sleeps now beneath our feet. It is at this time that the Hunter comes. Orion, rising in the eastern sky, strides out of the twilight to stand guard over the slumbering world. You may greet him with words like these:
 
See the Hunter in the sky,
Silent watcher drawing nigh.
Long the vigil he must keep
As he guards us in our sleep.
Hunter, hear the thanks we sing,
Till we part again in spring.
 
This charm also works for instilling courage any time of night during the dark part of the year.
.
By: Elizabeth Barrette

Pagans: Loved, Yet Misunderstood

Pagans: Loved, Yet Misunderstood

Author: Davina Sullivan

“We are loved, yet misunderstood.”

Within the last few months, I have recently explained to my friends and family that I am a Pagan, and more than proud to say so. I have been asked so many questions sense then, it’s unbelievable. However, I’m glad that they asked because I’ve realized that many people in general has such a high misunderstanding, that we Pagan’s are judged unfairly. I have the opportunity to be able to help others understand and not judge us based on the word of others.

I was raised in a Baptist family, therefore, a great many of my relatives were upset, confused, hurt, or a combination of all three. My mother particularly, believed that being a Pagan was the devil’s way of tricking us into worshipping him, specifically because of the pentagram. I calmly explained to her that yes, the five-point star originated from the Pagan religion. After, that same star also became the Star of Bethlehem, which represents Jesus’ birth and carnation in the Christian religion. The bible explains this in the book of Matthews in chapter two. Lastly, Satanists took the five-point star and turned it upside down to claim as their own.

The image of the devil was the most difficult questions to answer. Even though I had explained that the image of Satan also originated from a Greek God, the Horned God named Pan. He has horns as well as hooves and carries a flute. That is where Satan’s image originated. Many didn’t want to hear my explanations or did not believe it to be so. Of course, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. I only talk of the questions that people ask.

Another explanation that was quite interesting to give was the use of magic. I was asked questions such as, “How do you do magic?” “Why do you think magic is real?” “Don’t you think that God is the only one that can bring magic?” There was one question that I found very surprising, which was, “Will you teach me to do magic?”

When I was asked how to do magic, I simply explained that magic is just channeling what is already there. You are working as one with the elements of the earth to bring the God’s and Goddesses into your heart and soul to walk together into the Divine. This also brought questions about. However, I truly believe that no one can answer what the Divine is but you, and only when you feel it.

Those that has asked me why I believe magic to be real, this was the easiest explanation of all. Every time I answer this question, I smile and reply, “Because I’ve felt it. I’ve been there. I’ve become one with magic and have become one with The Divine.” Some are confused at this point, but the answer to this specific question is something only you can answer for yourself.

Many were respectful, many horrified at my response to God being the only one that can bring magic into my life. I respect those that live by the bible and God’s word. Though, I truly feel the connection with the Pagan God’s and Goddesses. My personal Goddess, Isis, has brought a light and a great sense of fulfillment into my life. I call upon her often and the magic that I have done and experienced is unexplainable. For someone who does not believe magic to be true, it will sound like nonsense to them. Until they experience magic for themselves and can answer that same question for me, there is nothing that I could say to them about working with Earth Mother to do magic.

There was one person and one person only who asked me to teach her magic. She is a very good friend of mine. I explained a few basics of my religion, and explained to her that being a witch and learning of magic by doing your own personal studies and research is the first step. Being a witch is something to be taken very seriously and to understand every aspect of everything or any spell before attempting to actually performing one. I also explained that I have seen those dabble in black magic, and that is something that will bring you sorrow and pain in the long run. ‘An ye’ harm none, do as ye’ will.’ I most defiantly expressed how important it is to keep the Three Fold Law in mind.

The purpose for me writing this paper is to express to anyone that is willing to listen that you should always be proud of who and what you are. It has taken me 24 years to find my path because it is sometimes difficult to step away from what you are so accustomed to and be able to search for your true self.

Religion, regardless of what it may be is a big part of every one person’s life. To lie and hide from your self is the most painful lie that anyone could tell. To be a witch is hard, it is difficult, it can be stressful and it can seem almost impossible to be accepted by society at times. In today’s world, yes, we need to be in society in some way, shape or form. Just remember, we are no better, nor are we any worse than any other person that may walk this glorious earth. Paganism is rejected by many, but accepted and loved by so many more. We have support and family to help us through these times.

Today, we have the wonderful world of technology! Take advantage of it. Witchvox.com is only the start. Wiccantogether.com is a lot like a myspace.com page for Wiccans. There’s plenty of ways on the Internet, not to mention the people around you that you have no idea are even there to help you.

I cannot express enough how strongly I believe that there are many that are afraid to be their true selves because of societies opinions of our religion. Be strong, stand tall, and be proud of who you are. Please, help, love and support those who need us.

In conclusion, we are loved, yet misunderstood. This is not our fault; this is our pride. I’m more than willing to help those who are misunderstood to understand. No matter the outcome may be, I am who I am. I’m being true to myself, and that is what is most important in my opinion.

Shielding Method 1: Pagan Grid of Protection

Shielding Method 1: Pagan Grid of Protection

Author: Nita

I want to share a protection method for those who practice a religion that is not oriented towards angels. I hope this will be a big help for people who are learning how to shield themselves from harmful energies and vibrations.

I have felt that many people who begin in magic pick up what others think, and do not understand their abilities and talents. The most difficult talent is being an empath where others feelings are sent to you. Many people have problems because they do not know the difference between their emotions and others.

I hope this shielding method helps everyone to keep balanced, centered and grounded. Blessed Be.

Arianhod, Goddess of Heaven, I ask that you send a grid of energy that nothing harmful may pass. May I be defended from the East, in the realm of air by your beauty and might. May this day go well with no slander, communication problems, misunderstandings, quarrels or arguments. May your mighty shield deflect all energies of air meant to harm me or cause discord and may I be sealed and contained from all harm through the element of air. Let me be protected in my body, mind, and soul. May all the positive spirits, Gods, Goddesses of air and the east bring the positive effects of wisdom, thought, and communications to be glorified this day in service to the light and goodness of life.

Lugh, God of the light, may your innovations, defense, and fiery nature defend me from all harm through the element of fire and the direction of the South. I ask that a grid of energy be sent to me so I will be protected from all accidents, war, terrorism, acts of violence or cruelty, May all energies of fire meant to harm me or cause discord, hatred and jealousy be deflected by your mighty shield of energy and may you add this grid around the grid of air so I may be protected from all combinations of fire, and air this day. May I also be protected from all harm through the direction of east and south or any combination of those directions and elements. Let me be protected in my body, mind and higher self. May all the positive spirits, Gods, and Goddesses of the south and east bring the positive effects of fire and air to be glorified this day in service to the light and goodness of life.

Morrigan, Lady of the Lake, may you send an invincible grid of the element of water to surround the elemental shields and grids of air and earth. May nothing use the emotions, thoughts, fears, and upset that can be sent through the element of water and west against me. May no combinations of air, fire, and water harm me or influence me negatively in any way.

May no harm come through the directions of East, South, and West or any combinations of these directions and elements. May I be protected in my body, mind and soul. May all of the positive sprits, Gods, Goddesses of Air, fire and water bring the positive effects of these elements to be glorified this day in service to the light and goodness of life.

Danu, Mother Goddess of all, may I be shielded from all harm from the North and through the element of earth by your might and loving protection being sent to me in an invincible grid of protection that goes around the grids of air, fire and water. May it protect me from all harm through the elements of air, fire, water and earth. May no single element or combination of elements be able to harm me in any fashion.

May I be freed of poverty, problems through metal and wood, inertia, and any other harm that links to the negative powers of the earth and the north. May all of the positive spirits, Gods, Goddesses, bring the positive effects of the elements of air, fire, water, and earth to be glorified this day in service to the light and Goodness of Life.

I ask that this grid be sealed by all the Gods and Goddess with an impenetrable energy shield so that no harm may come to me in any way. Be it simple energies of life or others emotions, harmful magic, or evil spirits, ghosts, hexes, curses or harm. Nothing shall past these shields. Nothing may use the energies of spirit, life, or elements against me. The Gods and Goddesses protect me and keep me safe this day and every day.

Face each direction and say:

Arianhod seal the grids completely from the East and the element of Air.
Lugh seal the grids completely from the direction of South and the element of fire.
Morrigan seal the grids completely from the direction of West and the element of water.
Danu seal the grids completely from the direction of North and the element of Earth.

Say this shielding spell every day. It will keep you safe and help you to build your energies and have a permanently strong shield of safety and protection.

You may substitute any Gods or Goddesses from any practice with these Gods and Goddesses. This method will seal the elements and directions that should keep you safe and well.

I know the basics for any grid of protection using the elements and the directions is to pick God’s and Goddesses that correspond to those directions and abilities. Ones of Earth for earth, water for water, air for air, and fire for fire. You then can assign them to the directions or find if they are present or known to defend a certain element or direction.

It means that any pantheon of Gods or Goddesses can be used for these methods. The sealing of the directions and elements is useful in most forms of magic. It will contain and seal off the direction the person who is sending the negative magic is living in or doing their magic in a certain area.

The elements are important because all of them cover every method that can be used to harm others. Earth is the elements of spell casting equipment. Air is the element of the spoken word and spirit connections. Fire is the light of the fire or candle. Water is any liquids or oils. So all of the elements combined to seal the person and protect them are very powerful. It can also be used on vehicles, houses, and places of business to protect everything that needs to be protected from harm.

I always encourage people to improvise and add in sentences or variations that fit their needs. Inspiration is important but always write down what you said and what you do. It is the only way to be sure that your method worked and to verify the results.

A Witch’s Cauldron

A Witch’s Cauldron

Primary element: Water

The three-legged iron cauldron really comes into its own as an outdoor natural magickal tool. If you have a small one, it can also fit in your altar room to the northwest of the altar as it is a tool of earth and water (and also of fire, if a candle is set in it).

The cauldron is a symbol of Cerridwen, the Celtic mother Goddess, whose cauldron brought rebirth and transformation. It was originally a household cooking pot hung over black ranges and open fires in many lands and so is a reassuring and stable tool.

Tree Magick

Sacred and magickal trees are found in the religions and mythology of almost every culture. Trees form the link between earth and sky, because they have their roots in soil and their branches in the air and were originally regarded in creative form of the Earth Mother.

In early forms of religion, people believed that trees were themselves deities, a belief that gradually gave way to the idea that the spirits of deities or nature essences live within the tree. In Japan, temples have been built around sacred trees for more than two thousand years. Here it is believed that Mononoke, the magickal life force, is concentrated in trees and rocks.The Japanese Cryptomeria and the evergreen Sakaki trees are especially rich in this force and are often used for building sacred shrine. The tree itself is incorporated into the central pillar so the indwelling power of the nature deity might bless the site.

In parts of Sweden until quite recently, a guardian tree, often Elm, Ash or Lime, was planted close to farms or small settlements and it was forbidden to take even a leaf from this tree. Pregnant women used to embrace the tree to ensure an easy delivery.

Trees have also been associated from Africa o Eastern Europe with the spirits of fertility, who regulated rain, sunshine and good harvest. In Germany and France, in some agricultural areas,  large leafy branch or even a whole tree, decorated with corn ears or the last corn sheaf, adorns the last wagon of the harvest. It was traditionally set on the roof of the farmhouse or barn for a year to ensure future good harvest.

In India, sacred trees are still visited in order to ask for blessings, especially for fertility, from the indwelling spirit or deity:  food and flowers are left at the tree shrine and offering ribbons are tied to the tree.

The Celtic Druids worshipped not in temples, but in groves of trees. These natural sites may have predated the Celts by thousands of years; and still in Wales, Brittany and Cornwall the trees are hung with ribbons, trinkets and petitions for healing and blessings.