Tag: Pagan

The Symbolism of the Stag

Mabon is the season in which the harvest is being gathered. It’s also the time in which the hunt often begins — deer and other animals are killed during the autumn in many parts of the world. In some Pagan and Wiccan traditions, the deer is highly symbolic, and takes on many aspects of the God during the harvest season.

For many Wiccans, the antlers of the stag are associated directly with the fertility of the God. The Horned God, in his many incarnations, often appears wearing a headdress of antlers. In some depictions, the horns grow directly from his head. Early Paleolithic cave art shows men wearing antlers on their heads, so it would appear that the horn or antler has long been a symbol of worship in some form or another. In Egyptian legend, many gods appear to wear a pair of horns on their head.

In some Pagan paths, there is a correlation between the shape of a pair of horns and the crescent moon. The image of a stag with a full moon between his antlers represents both the male (the antlers) and the female (the moon) aspects of the Divine.

Mabon is the time, in many areas, when hunting season begins. While many Pagans are opposed to hunting, others feel that they can hunt for food as our ancestors did. For many Pagans, equally as important as the idea of caring about animals is the concept of responsible wildlife management. The fact is, in some areas, wild animals such as whitetail deer, antelope, and others have reached the status of nuisance animal. .

In some Wiccan traditions, a popular Mabon chant to sing is entitled simply, Hoof and Horn.

Your Rune for September 16 is Uruz

 

Your Rune For Today

Uruz       

Uruz is the Rune of harmony, order and inner strength. Often it marks endings and beginnings of periods in our lives. Uruz  also symbolizes your ability to tackle new challenges by confronting them with the powers that lie within you. Opportunities probably abound for you right now.

　The Witches Rune

　The Witches Rune

The Witches Rune is a poetic dedication.

Darksome night and shining moon, East, then south, then west, then north,
Hearken to the witches’ rune:
Here I come to call thee forth.
Earth and water, air and fire,
Wand and pentacle and sword,
Work you unto my desire,
Hearken ye unto my word.
Cords and censer, scourage and knife,
Powers of the witch’s blade
Waken all ye unto life,
Come ye as the charm is made.
Queen of heaven, Queen of hell,
Horned hunter of the night,
Lend your power unto my spell
And work my will by magic rite.
By all the power of land and sea,
By all the might of moon and sun,
As I do will, so mote it be:
Chant this spell, and be it done.
Eko, Eko, Azarak,
Eko, Eko, Zamilak,
Eko, Eko, Artemis,
Eko, Eko, Herne.

What is the Witches Rune?

The Witches Rune is used during Wiccan Rituals as a way to raise energy. The Rune is chanted by all the Witches, sometimes whilst they are dancing in a circle, they will repeat the Rune until the person leading the ritual, often the HPS or HP indicates that they stop.

Usually when the HPS indicates the energy has reached the required level all the Coveners will drop to the ground as the HPS or HP shouts ‘down’ and then directs the energy raised towards the intended purpose.

Good Monday Afternoon, dear ones!

I hope you are having a terrific day. Mine, HA! The contractors that are putting in the fiber optic lines are BACK! And that means my cable, phone, lights and everything has been down for three hours. I have to go to the doctor later on this afternoon for my blood pressure. So I am going calm down, breath, calm down, breath! Hell it will be 200/180 the rate I am going. But I am trying to relax. I calmed down and answered all of the comments that were waiting for me. Which I found very relaxing, thank you for writing it helped me.

I did run across one comment that hit me like a ton of brick. I feel like the subject needs to be addressed. The comment was in regards to an article that was put on the blog about the Wiccan Rede. The author of the comment was giving the article hell because he/she interrupted it as throwing the Rede out the window and doing what you wanted to. I went and read the article myself. I caught it right off the bat, the article was written by a Witch not a Wiccan. I have said this time and time again but…….A True Witch does not recognize the Rede. The Witch answers to know one but herself. She does as she likes and she suffers the results of her actions. It is in a Witch’s heart to know right from wrong.  Some do, some don’t. Let me rephrase that, they do but they do what they please. A Witch is a free spirit, very free. That article was written by a Witch, I hope that does comfort the reader’s mind.

Now, one more thing while I am chatting. I would like to talk about White Magick and Black Magick. You know there is no color in magick. I know this and you know this, but some of the people that aren’t witches that visit the blog, don’t. I do hope they read this today. There is no Black or White Magick! Magick exists! We have the ability to use it and we do. It is our intent when we conjure up a spell or ritual that determines the color of magick. Let’s me explain it this way, pretend magick is a balloon out floating in the air. Nothing special, just an average balloon. There are thousands of them, they all look alike. I go and pick one of those average balloons out. Now let’s say my intention with the balloon is something nasty. Like I am going to let the air out of it and pop someone in the head with it. Well that balloon just became dark/black because it is going to do my bidding. And my bidding is not good at all. Now let’s say, I go get another balloon and pick it out. This time all I want to do is hold it and watch it float in the air. I have nothing but good intentions with this balloon. So it is a white/good balloon. Do you see what I am saying? I know it is a funny example, balloons and magick.  But basically the principle is the same. We have all these spells and rituals at our disposal. When we pick one up, we know what we intend to do with it before we ever touch it. That spell is just laying there waiting on us to tell it what to do, to do our bidding. We are the ones that make the spells and rituals, black, gray, or white. It is with our will and intention, that we do this.

Well now that I have all that off my chest, I guess I will put a few things on the blog before I go to the doctor. At least blogging is relaxing for me. I have one of the girl’s wanting to put a blood pressure cuff on my arm while I am typing. I am going to get the broom and sweep her out the door if she don’t quit, lol! But I am going to run for now and get something done, who knows what, but something.

I hope you have a great day. Wish me luck at the doctor’s office.

Luv & Hugs,

Lady A

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Ten Ways to Celebrate Mabon

Ten Ways to Celebrate Mabon

Mabon is the time of the autumn equinox, and the harvest is winding down. The fields are nearly bare, because the crops have been stored for the coming winter. Mabon is a time when we take a few moments to honor the changing seasons, and celebrate the second harvest. On or around September 21, for many Pagan and Wiccan traditions it is a time of giving thanks for the things we have, whether it is abundant crops or other blessings. It is also a time of balance and reflection, following the theme of equal hours light and dark. Here are some ways you and your family can celebrate this day of bounty and abundance.

Mabon is a time of balance, when there are equal hours of darkness and light, and that can affect people in different ways. For some, it’s a season to honor the darker aspects of the goddess, calling upon that which is devoid of light. For others, it’s a time of thankfulness, of gratitude for the abundance we have at the season of harvest. Because this is, for many people, a time of high energy, there is sometimes a feeling of restlessness in the air, a sense that something is just a bit “off”. If you’re feeling a bit spiritually lopsided, with a simple meditation you can restore a little balance into your life. You can also try a ritual to bring balance and harmony to your home.

Hold a Food Drive

Many Pagans and Wiccans count Mabon as a time of thanks and blessings– and because of that, it seems like a good time to give to those less fortunate than ourselves. If you find yourself blessed with abundance at Mabon, why not give to those who aren’t? Invite friends over for the feast, but ask each of them to bring a canned food, dry goods, or other non-perishable items? Donate the collected bounty to a local food bank or homeless shelter.

Apples are the perfect symbol of the Mabon season. Long connected to wisdom and magic, there are so many wonderful things you can do with an apple. Find an orchard near you, and spend a day with your family. As you pick the apples, give thanks to Pomona goddess of fruit trees. Be sure to only pick what you’re going to use — if you can, gather plenty to take home and preserve for the coming winter months. Take your apples home and use them in rituals, for divination, and for delicious recipes that your family can enjoy all season long.

Count Your Blessings

Mabon is a time of giving thanks, but sometimes we take our fortune for granted. Sit down and make a gratitude list Write down things that you are thankful for. An attitude of gratefulness helps bring more abundance our way — what are things you’re glad you have in your life? Maybe it’s the small things, like “I’m glad I have my cat Peaches” or “I’m glad my car is running.” Maybe it’s something bigger, like “I’m thankful I have a warm home and food to eat” or “I’m thankful people love me even when I’m cranky.” Keep your list some place you can see it, and add to it when the mood strikes you.

Honor The Darkness

Without darkness, there is no light. Without night, there can be no day. Despite a basic human need to overlook the dark, there are many positive aspects to embracing the dark side, if it’s just for a short time. After all, it was Demeter’s love for her daughter Persephone that led her to wander the world, mourning for six months at a time, bringing us the death of the soil each fall. In some paths, Mabon is the time of year that celebrates the crone aspect of a triune goddess. Celebrate a ritual that honors that aspect of the Goddess which we may not always find comforting or appealing, but which we must always be willing to acknowledge. Call upon the gods and goddesses of the dark night, and ask for their blessings this time of year.

Get Back to Nature

Fall is here, and that means the weather is bearable once more. The nights are becoming crisp and cool, and there’s a chill in the air. Take your family on a nature walk, and enjoy the changing sights and sounds of the outdoors. Listen for geese honking in the sky above you, check the trees for changing in the colors of the leaves, and watch the ground for dropped items like acorns, nuts, and seed pods. If you live in an area that doesn’t have any restrictions on removing natural items from park property, take a small bag with you and fill it up with the things you discover along the way. Bring your goodies home for your family’s alter. If you are prohibited from removing natural items, fill your bag with trash and clean up the outdoors!

Tell Timeless Stories

In many cultures, fall was a time of celebration and gathering. It was the season in which friends and relatives would come from far and near to get together before the cold winter kept them apart for months at a time. Part of this custom was storytelling. Learn the harvest tales of your ancestors or of the people indigenous to the area in which you live. A common theme in these stories is the cycle of death and rebirth, as seen in the planting season. Learn about the stories of Osiris, Mithras, Dionysius, Odin and other deities who have died and then restored to life.

Raise some Energy

It’s not uncommon for Pagans and Wiccans to make remarks regarding the “energy” of an experience or event. If you’re having friends or family over to celebrate Mabon with you, you can raise group energy by working together. A great way to do this is with a drum or music circle. Invite everyone to bring drums, rattles, bells, or other instruments. Those who don’t have an instrument can clap their hands. Begin in a slow, regular rhythm, gradually increasing the tempo until it reaches a rapid pace. End the drumming at a pre-arranged signal, and you’ll be able to feel that energy wash over the group in waves. Another way of raising group energy is chanting, or with dance. With enough people, you can hold a Spiral Dance.

Celebrate Hearth & Home

As autumn rolls in, we know we’ll be spending more time indoors in just a few months. Take some time to do a fall version of spring cleaning. Physically clean your home from top to bottom, and then do a ritual smudging. Use sage or sweetgrass, or asperge with consecrated water as you go through your home and bless each room. Decorate your home with symbols of the harvest season, and set up a family mabon alter. Put sickles, scythes and bales of hay around the yard. Collect colorful autumn leaves, gourds and fallen twigs and place them in decorative baskets in your house. If you have any repairs that need to be done, do them now so you don’t have to worry about them over the winter. Throw out or give away anything that’s no longer of use.

Welcome the Gods of the Vine

Grapes are everywhere, so it’s no surprise that the Mabon season is a popular time to celebrate winemaking, and deities connected to the growth of the vine. Whether you see him as Bacchus, Dionysus, the Green Man, or some other vegetative god, the god of the vine is a key archetype in harvest celebrations. Take a tour of a local winery and see what it is they do this time of year. Better yet, try your hand atmaking your own wine! If you’re not into wine, that’s okay — you can still enjoy the bounty of grapes, and use their leaves and vines for recipes and craft projects . However you celebrate these deities of vine and vegetation, you may want to leave a small offering of thanks as you reap the benefits of the grape harvest.

Lighten Up – Top Ten Cheesy Pick-Up Lines For Pagans

Top Ten Cheesy Pick-Up Lines For Pagans

10. Hey babe, what’s your sign? What’s it’s ascendant? What is your planet alignment in Venus during Cancer’s revolving around the Fourth House?

9. Read any good Llewellyn Books lately?

8. Would you like to come over to my place and widdershens?

7. Haven’t I seen you someplace before in another life?

6. Yes, I’m handfasted, but that’s not “technically” marriage.

5. So, do you draw down the moon here often?

4. What’s a nymph Goddess like you doing in a place like this?

3. You have the prettiest third eye I’ve ever seen.

2. You’re feet must be tired because you’ve been Spiral Dancing in my mind “all” night long.

And the Number One Cheesy Pick-Up Line for Pagans to Use at Gatherings is:

1. Is that a May Pole in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

The Witches’ Daily Affirmation

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”

Wiccan Chat

Preparing and Casting the Circle

Preparing and Casting the Circle

Though it sounds simple, preparing the circle for a ritual can be a long, laborious process with little thanks given by the people that come to the circle. The witch in charge of setting up the space for a circle must decide what they think is necessary and make adjustments on the fly for missing things. They must listen to the discussion on what will be done at that circle and find what is needed, often digging up scraps from here and there to get everything. The leaders of the circle in particular, will generally bring any special items that will be required, but the things that are more common fall to whomever is doing the ritual preparation.

If a witch works as a solitary, then she is responsible for everything. This, of course, is made simpler by the fact that she disturbs no one if she forgets something and has to go get it. Preparation for circle includes such things as vacuuming the carpet if the floor is carpeted and sweeping it if it is not, setting up the altar and cleaning out any items that were not cleaned out after the last circle, setting up the charcoal for the incense and lighting it just before circle so that it is hot when needed. She needs to check that there is a pitcher of juice or wine available if a feast is being done, that there is good ventilation and sufficient heat in the room, and that everyone is ready to go before the circle starts.

There should be enough time before a ritual starts for people to sit together in silence to attune to one another, allowing the mundane world to slip away and adjust to a sacred way of thinking. Shirking on this is shirking on the preparation of a ritual, as it is very important that a group work together as a coherent whole.

Once the preparations and meditations are done, it is time to cast the circle. This can be done in many different ways. Several are presented below to give the student a choice and different ways to do this. The actual techniques do not matter so much as the intent and desire. It is a way to trigger the mind into working in a different manner than it is accustomed to working. As a student becomes more practiced and able to cast stronger and better circles, they will notice the way their minds shift focus from mundane to the sacred as they create their space. They will also begin to experiment with different ways of casting a circle. When this happens, they have learned a critical step to becoming a witch.

Your Rune for August 29 is Naudhiz


Your Rune For Today

Naudhiz       

Naudhiz may foretell needs unmet and friction in relationships. You may be in a time where you should be very careful in whatever endeavor you take on. Also it may be that you are about to learn some of life’s hard lessons and come out the other side of this period a stronger being.

Something I love and had to share this morning

I ran across this graphic, which I haven’t seen for a long time. I love it and I had to share it with you. Perhaps I had to share it because of the mood I am in or because it is the truth. I consider myself a Witch of the Old Ways.

The time has come for us to let the world know the truth about our Religion. Remember what our ancestors sacrificed. We cannot let their sacrifices die in vain. We have to let the world know the truth and beauty about our Religion. We have to let the world know about the Goddess and Her beauty and Her Love. And most of all about the beauty of Her Religion and what it has to offer to everyone. We are not evil. We never were. We were victims. But we refuse to be victims anymore. The time has come for us to take a stand. Let the truth be known to all.

Let the world know, we are Witches. We are a proud Race of People. We have a rich heritage. We have a wonderful Religion. Hear Us! Listen and learn the truth. It is time that we take Witchcraft to itself rightful place in the 21st century. Witchcraft has to be brought back up to the mainstream Religions. It is our calling to do this. We must do this, for our Ancestors and our Goddess.

I am a Witch and I am very proud to be one!

 

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Daily OM for August 28 – A Special Goodnight

A Special Goodnight

Creating a Nightly Ritual

by Madisyn Taylor

Bedtime can be a perfect time for a nighttime ritual of sending love to the world and finding gratitude for your day.

At the end of the day, as the sweet, dark stillness of night beckons us to lay down our bones and rest, we find ourselves at a clear transition point: Behind us lies the previous day and all that has come before; ahead of us, dawn heralds the unfolding of all that is yet to be. While many of us have morning rituals that connect us with our center and help us to set intentions, we may want to explore the magic and power of nighttime ritual as well. It holds for us a beautiful chance for self-appreciation and blessing. Before you go to bed each night, you can send gratitude, compassion, and healing to the being you have been up until this moment. And you can send lightness and love into the future for the one you are in the process of becoming.

Though simple, this action honors the journey you have taken thus far, while opening you to the wonderful possibilities still ahead. When you consciously engage with your own evolution this way, you may find that your sleep gets sweeter, filling your night with a deeper sense of trust and relaxation. As you rest, you can surrender to these peaceful hours, knowing that the road behind you has been seen and acknowledged with respect and kindness, while the path ahead now holds your own benevolence and well wishes.

This bedtime ritual empowers you as the only one who can determine the meaning of your own past and the hopefulness of your future. By setting this special time aside each night, you can begin to orient yourself on your path of growing. It allows you to let the past have its place, to trust that the future is taken care of, and to simply rest yourself in the graceful arms of the present moment.

Elemental Correspondence

Elemental Correspondence

Traditional Witches do not have set correspondences as Wiccans do, and often the element that is resident in a directional spot in ritual will change based on where the Witch is holding their ritual. Traditional Witches take this practice from that of their Ancestors. Early Europeans believed that the Gods and spirits inhabited the land itself rather than being part of a separate world. When people in older times traveled they would take the spirits of their Gods and Ancestors with them. When they would do any sort of magickal work or pray to their Gods they would align themselves according the relation of where they were to their Homeland or Homeland of their Gods since this is where they felt that they truly resided. In order to do this, the Witch would look upon the North Star, the traveler’s star, and use that as their point of reference. If the Witch happens to be in the Homeland, then the correspondences are no longer needed. This is still done today, where as in Wicca the directions are often predetermined based on the Wiccan tradition one is practicing with.

Your Rune For August 22 is Naudhiz


Your Rune For Today

Naudhiz       

Naudhiz may foretell needs unmet and friction in relationships. You may be in a time where you should be very careful in whatever endeavor you take on. Also it may be that you are about to learn some of life’s hard lessons and come out the other side of this period a stronger being.

The Wicca Book of Days for August 21 – Guaranteeing Grain

The Wicca Book of Days for August 21

Guaranteeing Grain

The Consualia, a festival dedicated to the Roman granary God Consus, was celebrated on August 21 in ancient times, in the hope of securing divine protection for the just-threshed harvest. On the Consualia, sacrifices made by the flamen Quirinalis (priest of Quirinus) were offered to Consus at his Maximus, where an underground altar was dedicated to him. Above ground, races were held, while some equines were garlanded and given the day off, for Consus was furthermore equated with Neptune Equester (“Equestrian Neptune”).

A Historical Healer

The Persian physician and philosopher Ibn Sina (980 – 1037), or Avicenna, is said to have been born on this day in Uzbekistan. Avicenna’s The Canon of Medicine was an important reference work for European healers. Read more about this great man’s theories today.

Calendar of the Moon for August 20

Calendar of the Moon

20 Coll/Metageitnion

Nemetona’s Day

Color: Green
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon cloth of green lay twigs from each of the trees of the Sacred Grove, a knife, a cup of milk, and a cup of animal blood mixed with wine.
Offerings: Plant trees, especially the ones of the Sacred Grove.
Daily Meal: Vegetarian.

Invocation to Nemetona

Lady of the Sacred Grove
Whose footprints mark the soft moss
Wherever gather the trees of the Sacred Grove.
Silver are your words as the birch,
Bright is your smile as the berries of rowan,
Tall is your height as the ash,
Hot is your frown like the ashes of alder,
Graceful is your walk as the willow,
Cruel is your blade as the thorn,
Strong is your grasp as the oak,
Sharp is your prick like the holly,
Hard is your shell like the hazel,
Sweet is your mouth as the grapevine,
Twisted is your hair like the ivy,
Eerie is your song as the reed,
Wise is your touch as the elder.
Long ago, they came to you,
Goddess of the grove, Lady of leaf and blood,
And your blade took their short lives
And added it to those of the long-lived trees,
Whose Earth this was first.
So we give you blood today, Lady,
That you shall understand, even now,
That we do not forget your gifts.

Song: Song of the Trees

(All shall come forth to the altar, and the cups shall be taken up and carried outside in procession, until all are standing and singing under the trees. Then shall the libations be poured out onto the Earth.)

 

[Pagan Book of Hours]

Deity of the Day for August 14 is Ogmios

Ogmios

by Micha F. Lindemans
The Celtic patron god of scholars and personification of eloquence and persuasiveness. It is he who invented the runic language of the Druids. Ogmius escorts souls on their journey to the after-live. He is represented as an old man, with a bald head, and dressed in a lion skin. His attributes are a bow and stick. He was worshipped in Gaul (Celtic France). His Irish counterpart is Ogma.

Our Inclusiveness Is Our Strength

Our Inclusiveness Is Our Strength

Author:   Carissa Stormbringer 

If I had to pick one thing that I love most about Pagan culture, it would be the fact that we allow diversity of opinion and practice. I get amused at how much it shocks people when they see a pentacle around my neck. I don’t fit the stereotype of a Witch that most people have in their mind. What people don’t seem to realize is that there isn’t just one type of Pagan. We’re a mixture of people from all different backgrounds and walks of life. I’m a middle-aged, professional woman, and one of my best friends in the Pagan community is a college-aged Goth. I’ve circled with feminists, gays and lesbians, Marines, Shamans, Jewish Mystics, Esoteric Christians, Police Officers…all kinds of people. I’ve seen Druidic rituals, Shamanistic rituals, Wiccan rituals. I’ve heard Hebrew, Cherokee, Enochian, and Greek spoken in rituals, and I speak Latin in my own. The rituals of different Pagan paths are all different, but each is a beauty to behold. I walk away from every Sabbat with a new piece of knowledge under my belt. There is always something to learn from each new path I encounter. We’re all on different roads, but our destination is exactly the same. We are all holding hands as we walk through this life. Every one of us is an important part of the whole, and each of us has something good to contribute.

We are thinkers as well as mystics. We question, we ponder, and we allow our fellows to do the same. Some of my very best friends are people who I don’t agree with on a lot of issues. Why? Because I realize that a difference of opinion should never interfere with loving another human being. If I have to treat someone bad in order to make myself feel good about the path I’m on, then I’m no more than a sadist using religion to try and get away with causing others pain. Most Pagans I have met agree with this whole heartedly, and more importantly, they practice it! At any given festival, you’ll see so many different people around the fire, and in circle so many different rituals. It’s truly a wonderful feeling to see all these different people be together in love and unity. We’re all unique, but we walk through this world with our hands joined.

I know that tolerance isn’t always easy, and we Pagans are no more or less human than any other faith community. We make an effort, however, to make everyone feel welcome. We do not publicly exclude any positive path, nor do we say that there is only one way to worship the Divine. True spirituality isn’t about controlling others. It’s about having a sincere, heartfelt connection with Divinity. As a whole, we realize that people need to build this connection in their own way. What works for me isn’t going to work for another Pagan. I will not stand by and tell anyone that they must worship in exactly the way that I do, or they are evil. The very thought it ludicrous to me, as it is to most other Pagans as well. We believe that all people should be free to express their spirituality in whatever way appeals to them. This elevates the human spirit, and allows for future change if we are faced with new facts about the Universe. We can sit and talk with one another, circle together, and appreciate what each path has to offer. This is a far cry from the exclusiveness of fundamentalist Christianity.

I’ve studied many mystical things from many different paths. All of them are beautiful. I love Runes for their power, eclectic water spells for their beauty, ceremonial rites for their attention to detail, and Shamanic journeys for the amazing insight they give. Each path I learn about has something wonderful to teach me. It pains me deeply that anyone would deny another human being the right to explore the spiritual realm and make up their own minds about things. In my opinion, those who do this are committing a gross crime against their fellow man. I don’t want to live in a world where there are no choices, no freedom of thought, no room for growth and change. This isn’t what the Lady meant for us. She meant for each of us to come to Her and the Lord in our own special way. The form your worship takes doesn’t matter. As long as you are sincere and do no harm to innocent people, you will be accepted with open arms into the Pagan community. We will let you be who you are. We will not try to own you. You can think, question, and be treated with respect and dignity in our fold. You can see Deity in whatever form you please. I think our inclusiveness is truly the shining jewel we possess as a community. By the Lady’s grace, I hope we never lose it.

It’s a big Universe out there. If we are going to someday accept beings that will likely be very different than us, we must first learn to accept our fellow man. Tolerance starts here, with us, in our community. I’m very proud of the acceptance and inclusiveness I see in the Pagan community. This is one reason why our faith is growing in leaps and bounds. People are hungry for what we have to offer. They’re tired of being told what to think and how to worship. They’re tired of the dogma, the disrespect of women, and the narrow-mindedness of most mainstream religions. People want choices, not chains! They want a relationship with Deity and common sense morality, not repressive rules and psychological tyranny. Intolerance has hurt our world in so many ways. It has cost countless innocent lives in religious wars and persecutions, and time after time it has been used as a political tool by corrupt leaders and greedy clergy. It’s time to put this monster to rest, my friends. It’s done too much damage to be allowed to live any longer. May we all share this world together in peace, and may the Lady’s blessing be upon us all, regardless of our spiritual path.

Magickal Thinking For Everyday Living – Finding Your Personal Goddess

Find Your Personal Goddess

For The Solitary Witch

If you walk your path alone, here is a ritual you can use to try and find the name of your personal Goddess. Of course, it can also be used by Witches who usually practice in a group; just pick a night when you will be by yourself instead of with your coven or circle.  Since you are in search of the Goddess, the best night to do this ritual is on a Full Moon – outside, if you can manage it. But inside works too, if you can’t be out under the moonlight.

You will need:  a quiet, dimly lit space (if you are outside, a bonfire is nice, but completely optional);  rhythmic music (preferably without words)  or a drum; a large white or silver candle to represent the Goddess ( a candle in a woman’s shape is nice, but any good-sized candle will do); a large bowl filled with pure water; a slip of blank paper or parchment; a pen; and a sage smudge stick or any purifying incense.

Prepare you space by setting the bowl on a level surface (the ground, an altar, or a low table).  Place the candle behind the bowl and inscribe it with your name if you wish; if you have a magickal name, use that. If you are using prerecorded music, start it now. Place the slip of paper in front of the bowl along with the pen.

Light the sage or incense and waft it around the space and around yourself to clear and cleanse your energy. Then sit or stand in front of the bowl and light the candle. Breathe slowly and deeply, feeling the light of the Moon coming down from the sky and into your body. If you will be drumming, start now. As you drum or listen to the beat of the music, think about the thythm of your heart. Feel that rhythm expand to fill the area around you, just as it did whe you were in your mother’s womb. Then, you could feel her heartbeat, too. As you listen to the drum beats, hear the beating of the Great Mother’s heart surrounding you.

You may enter into a light trance state, or you may just be relaxed and tuned in to the energy around you; either one is fine. Go with the beat as long as you want, and send out your desire to learn the identity of your personal Goddess. Close your eyes and send that yearning out with all your heart, opening yourself to an answer.

When you are ready, open your eyes and look into the bowl. Can you see her? Do you see the form of a maiden, a mother, or a crone?  Do you see birds or animals or symbols? You may even see her face or hear her name echoing in the music. If you need quiet now, turn off the music. Pick up the pen and paper and write down her name without thinking about it. You might be surprised what will come to you.

If you don’t get a clear answer right away, try putting the blank piece of paper under your pillow that night, with the intention of dreaming of her. In the morning, pull out the paper and write down whichever name pops into your mind first, while you are still half asleep. (Be sure to leave the pen by your bed.)

Don’t be discourage if the ritual doesn’t work. Perhaps the time isn’t right for you to know, or you are torn between two paths and the Goddess is waiting for you to make the choice that will lead to her.

Excerpt from

Llewellyn’s 2012 Magical Almanac,

Practical Magic for Everyday Living

Find Your Personal Goddess

For The Solitary Witch

By Deborah Blake

The Wicca Book of Days for August 12 – Aset Webenut

The Wicca Book of Days for August 12

Aset Webenut

 

The great Egyptian Goddess Isis (who was also known as Aset the Bright) was honored on August 12 thousands of years ago by means of a festival of lights called the Aset Webenut, or, in Greek, the Lychnapsia. The Lychnapsia commemorated Isis’s frantic search for the body of her husband Osiris, whom their brother Set had murdered and cast into the Nile, as she roamed the earth holding aloft a flaming torch in an attempt to see in the pitch darkness. Thus torchlight lit up the night as devotees re-enacted her search and a boat bearing her likeness was paraded through the streets.

 

The Allusive Ankh

 

Fill your home with candlelight tonight as you recall the story of Isis and Osiris. You may also wish to wear or carry an amulet in the form of an ankh, the ancient Egyptian symbol of immortality that combines the oval that signifies Isis and the T-cross that represents Osiris.

TO GET THE SIGHT

TO GET THE SIGHT
by: Janet and Stewart Farrar

Sight cometh to different people in divers ways; ’tis seldom it cometh
naturally, but it can be induced in many ways. Deep and prolonged meditation may
do it, but only if you are a natural, and usually prolonged fasting is
necessary. Of old the monks and nuns obtained visions by long vigils, combined
with fasting and flagellation til blood came; other mortifications of the flesh
were practiced which resulted in visions.

In the East ’tis tried with various tortures whilst sitting in a cramped
position, which retarded the flow of blood; these tortures, long and continued,
gave good results.

In the Art, we are taught an easier way, that is, to intensify the imagination,
at the same time controlling the blood supply, and this may best be done by
using the ritual.

Incense is good to propitiate the spirits, also to induce relaxation to the
aspirant and to help build up the atmosphere which is necessary for
suggestibility. Myrrh, Gum Mastic, Aromatic Rush Roots, Cinnamon Bark, Musk,
Juniper, Sandalwood and Ambergris, in combination, are all good, but the best of
all is Patchouli.

The circle being formed, and everything properly prepared, the aspirant should
first bind and take his tutor into the circle, invoke suitable spirits for the
operation, dance round till giddy, meanwhile invoking and announcing the object
of the work, then he should use the flagellum. Then the tutor should in turn
bind the aspirant – but very lightly, so as not to cause discomfort – but enough
to retard the blood slightly. Again they should dance round, then at the Altar
the tutor should use the flagellum with light, steady, slow and monotonous
strokes. It is very important that the pupil should see the strokes coming, as
this has the effect of passing, and helps greatly to stimulate the imagination.
It is important that the strokes be not hard, the object being to do no more
than draw the blood to that part and away from the brain; this, with the light
binding, slowing down the circulation of the blood, and the passes, soon induce
a drowsy stupor. The tutor should watch for this, and as soon as the aspirant
speaks or sleeps the flagellum should cease. The tutor should also watch that
the pupil becomes not cold, and if the pupil struggles or seems distressed he
should at once be awakened.

Be not discouraged if no results come at the first experiment – results usually
occur after two or three attempts. It will be found that after two or three
attempts or experiments results will come, and soon more quickly; also soon much
of the ritual may be shortened, but never forget to invoke the Goddess or to
form the circle, and for good results ’tis ever better to do too much ritual
rather than do too little at first.

It has been found that this practice doth often cause a fondness between
aspirant and tutor, and it is a cause of better results if this be so. If for
any reason it is undesirable there be any great fondness between aspirant and
tutor this may easily be avoided by both parties from the onset, by firmly
resolving in their minds that if any fondness ensues it shall be that of a
brother and sister, or parent and child, and it is for this reason that a man
may only be taught by a woman and a woman by a man, and that man and man or
woman and woman should never attempt these practices together, and may all
the curses of the Mighty Ones be on any who make such an attempt.

Remember, the circle properly constructed is ever necessary to prevent the power
released being dissipated; it is also a barrier against any disturbing or
mischievous forces; for to obtain good results you must be free from all
disturbances.

Remember, darkness, points of light gleaming amid the surrounding dark, incense
and the steady passes by a white arm, are not as stage effects but rather they
are mechanical instruments which serve to start the suggestion which later
unlocks the knowledge that it is possible to obtain the divine ecstasy, and so
attain to knowledge and communication with the Divine Goddess. When once you
have attained this, ritual is needless, as you may attain the state of ecstasy
at will, but ’til then or, if having obtained or attained it yourself, you wish
to bring a companion to that state of joy, ritual is best.