Tag: Wicca

What is Wicca

What is Wicca

 

Wicca is a nature-based religion that believes in multiple deities. Most Wiccans worship both a God and a Goddess aspect of the One Deity. There are different aspects of the God and the Goddess as well, so many pantheons are worshipped in Wicca. Wiccans work to bring back the ancient pagan religions, mostly of European origin. There are hundreds of Traditions of Wicca, such as Celtic, Egyptian, Greek, Italian, Norse, Welsh, and Dianic. Wiccans either work in groups (called covens) or they work alone (solitary). This is all dependant on the witch. There is no centralized authority in Wicca, such as a governing church. Witches are left to themselves to maintain their ethics and morals.

Wiccan Ethics

Wiccan Ethics

 

1. Harm none through your actions, words, or decisions (including yourself).
2. Do not cast magick to harm another. Do not cast magick on another without their consent.
3. Heal the Earth, for she is our mother.
4. Whatever energy you send out returns to you threefold. Therefore, attempt to always do positive things or your actions will cause you great problems.
5. Celebrate the Sabbats in the Wheel of the Year and the Esbats at the New and Full moon to honor the gods.
6. Never berate another’s religion, for it is not our place to question how a deity may show itself to another.
7. Never reveal who is a witch without their permission.
8. Do not take Wicca lightly. To “dabble” is to show dishonor to the beliefs of Wicca and to show the public that the religion is worthless.
9. Honor the Elders of the Craft, for they possess knowledge far beyond yours.
10. Treat knowledge as a sacred gift. Look for it in all things, both good and bad. Learn from mistakes as well as successes.
11. Keep within your Book of Shadows your magickal learnings.
12. Never speak ill of those who are witches, for they are your brethren at all times.
13. Work magick where you will be undisturbed by others who do not know of it. Do not teach magick to those who would not treat it respectfully.

How the Internet Changed Paganism

How the Internet Changed Paganism

Author: Vivienne
The Internet is a wonderful tool used by numerous people worldwide. Although some might not admit it, most people rely on the Internet for most things that they do. Now, how does this relate to Paganism, one might ask? Well it seems that the Internet has made information on Paganism and the various traditions that it encompasses (i.e. Druidism, Wicca, etc) more accessible to people now a days. There are many articles on Paganism available to read on the Internet (not all are good but there are many informative pieces out there) .

If it weren’t for the wonder that is the world wide Internet, I probably would not be on the spiritual path that I am today- I cannot say that for sure but it is improbable. To be honest, I can’t quite remember exactly how I ended up typing “Wicca” into the Google search engine on my laptop computer. However, what I do know is that for some reason I did and it led me to reading various articles on the religion, that I now call my own. It led me to discover that there is a spiritual path that seems to encompass basically everything that I believe- in terms of what the divine is. It felt to me like I finally had found the spiritual path that I was meant to be on. Many people will understand what I am saying by this; that something which had been missing was finally filled. In fact, Wicca helped me become a better person and Paganism in general, is something that I find myself feeling extremely passionate about.

Now, I am a very music oriented person and immediately after making my little “discovery”, if you will, I went to YouTube and listened to various Pagan chants. It was the reassurance that I needed to go out and buy a few books on Paganism in general and Wicca specifically. Now, my story may seem a bit off topic, but I assure you it is perfectly relevant. The point I am trying to make it that through the Internet I had found Paganism- without the Internet I probably wouldn’t have. I even learned much of what I know from Pagan Podcasts, which I listened to on iTunes.

I do not consider myself what some would refer to as a Techno Pagan, to be honest, however I do believe that technology heavily contributed to my finding my current spiritual path; and I do not doubt for one second that many others would have similar stories to mine. So this may be a bit repetitive, for I mentioned it in various forms throughout this article, but I am very grateful that the Internet helped lead me to my Pagan spiritual path.

Some people may argue that the Internet making information on Paganism more accessible to be a negative thing; that it is becoming too “mainstream” because of how easily people can learn about it through the Internet. However, I strongly disagree with the people who say that, sure it is their opinion and they have a right to it but it is something that I will argue with- because quite frankly I disagree with it.

For one thing, just because something is mainstream doesn’t necessarily make it a bad thing at all. Sure some people may find that Paganism being a bit mysterious adds to its appeal. However, it is my belief that it also leads to some of the problems that people who do not consider themselves Pagan have with the spiritual path that we choose to follow. It is fair to say that generally people are afraid of what they don’t understand or what they don’t know. For example, most people are afraid of death because there is no one can definitively say what the afterlife is like, furthermore if there is even an afterlife. Sure we have many guesses about what comes after death but we never will really know. Therefore many people are afraid of death.

My analogy can apply to Paganism as well; some may see it as something that is to be feared and that it is something evil when in truth it’s not. But when something is shrouded in mystery then it is easier for people to be ignorant about not just Paganism, but anything in general. So basically what I am trying to say is that information about Paganism becoming more accessible to anyone isn’t a bad thing at all and in fact it is probably a good thing. If people at least have an idea of what something truly is, then it is probable that people will not jump to ignorant assumptions so much.

So basically, I think the Internet’s impact on Paganism in general has potential to be quite positive. In fact, I think it actually already is quite positive. Not only does it give basic information on our beliefs it also can help unite the Pagan community. Think about it, the Internet’s principle purpose is communication.

Even this article that I am writing is a form of communication using the Internet. I am communicating to you, the readers, my opinion on the matter of the Internet’s impact on paganism. Not only does the Internet help unite the Pagan community through *Witchvox (for example) , but other websites are helpful in allowing us the ability to communicate with one another.

Sites such as forums help us get to know about other members of the Pagan community as well as allow us to discuss and debate different issues and the like within our community. As well as communication, the Internet makes life easier for those of us who choose to remain “in the broom closet” do so. The web allows us to purchase things such as books, music, and tools for ritual, etcetera through the Internet. It allows those people anonymity that they may not have if they had to go to a Witch shop. Speaking of which- not everyone has a Pagan store where they live which is another way in which the Internet positively affects Paganism.

Any tools and such that one may need who do not happen to have a Witch shop where they live, have the ability to purchase whatever they might need through the internet. So in conclusion, the Internet has enabled us as Pagans to do so much. Communication, anonymity, and access to information being only some of the positive impacts that the Internet has made on Paganism.

Sure, one could argue that there may be some negatives when it comes to Paganism and the Internet. However, I ask you to ask yourself, is the Internet really making more of a negative impact on the Pagan community than a positive one? I certainly think not.

Footnotes:
Inciting a Riot Podcast- Hosted by Firelyte

Daily Devotional Practises

Daily Devotional Practises

Author: Mr Araújo
For as long as I have been chatting online with other Pagans, I have been told stories of how life was somewhat sad without the presence of a religion with which a person can identify itself. I believe that this must be the case of nearly everybody here at The Witches’ Voice and it happens to be my case, of course. This is going to be an essay that explains my point of view on my own practices and how they came to be.

When one first decides to take the first step and enter the Craft, it is hard to avoid the temptation of jumping headfirst to the Initiation Ceremony. Although I have not discussed this with anyone else, I imagine that it might be quite true. After I decided that Wicca was a good Path for me, I immediately began searching online for its history and I was shocked – nearly all of the “founders” and their “heirs” belonged to covens and from what I could tell, their knowledge seemed so vast.

“How will I ever be as good as them?” I thought, worried that Gerald Gardner’s, Doreen Valiente’s, Raymond Buckland’s, Dayonis’ (amongst many others) legacy would be doomed in my hands. Whatever could I do not to venture off, far away from Wicca? And, most importantly, from the God and the Goddess?

First of all, I did a small Dedication ceremony – which was my very first ritual, in fact. I then began to focus very hard on my study of the Craft and I chose my sources very carefully. After I had read some of writings of the Founding Fathers and Mothers of Wicca, I decided to study earlier Pagan rituals.

Eventually my studies, beliefs and emotions led me to instituting my own set of devotional practices that filled in the blank left by the joy of the previous Sabbath and the yearning for the next one (I have never had the chance of safely celebrating an Esbat) . And so I began to wonder, yet again, if others did the same. But since I didn’t know of any other Pagan, let alone a Wiccan, I kept going. Today I know quite a few Pagans and most like to frequently keep in touch with the Gods, one way or another.

Yet, there are those – I have never met them, but I have been told that they are out there – who only celebrate the Sabbaths and Esbats and probably exclude any other contact with the divine. Forgive me for sounding too full of myself, but I don’t know how they do it. Perhaps it’s because they celebrate 20 or 21 rituals per year and that satisfies them – whilst I only have an average of 6 or 7, since I’ve never managed to celebrate Yule and I sometimes can’t celebrate Ostara or Mabon.

Personally, I feel a need, a thirst and a hunger to be in almost constant contact with the Gods! I’m not a religious fanatic, but ever since I discovered Wicca, I can’t have enough of the joy that is Their presence wherever I am.

So what are my daily rituals? To me, they aren’t very orthodox, since I am quite fond of my European background and heritage, but my research led me to the Ancient Egyptian practices. In case you’re familiar with them, yes, you’re right – I’ve adapted some of their rituals to my little “tradition”. Basically, I try to recognize the God and the Goddess in Their different aspects as the day goes by, and so I’ve adapted and made up small rituals for each aspect – devoid of almost all previous Egyptian symbolism.

When I wake up, I thank the Goddess for having protected me during my slumber. When I’m done with my morning routine, I go outside and greet the Sun Child and ask for His energy throughout the morning. If I happen to pass by my town’s river, I greet the Maiden; if I don’t, I do it in the bathroom (yes, that’s right) .

Once it’s time for lunch, I pray to the Sun Father for his strength, outside. If I have a patch of earth close to where I am, I drop by and give thanks to the Earth Mother for the meal I will enjoy in a few moments from then.

Finally, at dusk, I say my goodbye to the Elder God and give thanks for His gifts. At night, I greet the Goddess in whichever aspect She has taken, according to the Moon’s phase, of course – this can be considered a mini-Esbat, in fact. When I have the time, I actually gift the God and Goddess with offerings and I might use a Sacred Circle.

I know there are still other aspects of the Gods, but I doubt I could ever make up a ritual for each and every one of them and insert them into my daily routine. I also take some time to take care of my plants and to go to one of my town’s parks, where I enjoy the silent company of the trees.

I’ve never encountered anyone else who has such a need for daily devotions, or any website that details how they can be performed. That might be because they’re personal and intimate things that you simply don’t do if you’re not into them. Perhaps they can only be found after some research and introspection, but I bet most can find a personal little niche – be it praying, making offerings, meditating…

However I consider this to be an interesting subject, since Wicca has been evolving for many decades and its current diversity is overwhelming, even if we don’t take the unknown Traditions that have sprouted all over the world into consideration. Wicca began with just four Sabbaths and the Esbats; then, another four Sabbaths were added. Wiccaning, funeral, marriage and divorce rites followed.

Are daily devotions the next addition? Only time, the Wiccans, and the Gods will tell.

Merry meet and merry part, until we happily meet again!

Blessed be!

Finding My Way To Wicca

Finding My Way To Wicca

Author: Elle Sea

Like most kids, I grew up Christian. Even as a child, religion was a big part of my life. I went to church on Sundays and went to an additional church group (Awanas) each Thursday night after dance class. I knew that all the “bad guys” went to Hell and that the “good guys” went to Heaven to live with God and His angels. I wanted to study the bible and be a good girl, so I could go live with God and the angels too.

I became the model student in Awana. I always remembered verses from the bible that no one else could remember. The preacher was very kind to me and he was like a father to me, in a way (I never knew and still don’t know my father, so it was a big deal to me) . He told me all about Heaven and that I was going to go live with the angels and God too. He said that all Christians would be saved, that God loved them and he would forgive all their sins. But, he never said one word about anyone in the other religions. At the time, this didn’t trouble me. He is a good man, and I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by not talking about the other religions. The point is that I didn’t think of them either. Some part of me, deep inside, didn’t care, because my family would all be going to Heaven, as they are mostly Christian (I don’t know any that aren’t, excluding myself and my mother) .

I, of course, believed every word he said. A relative worked in Awanas too, because he lived near the church. I loved talking to him. I also loved being able to go and see kids my age. They were all nice and we would hang out and mess around before we had to go in church and study. We became close friends.

Eventually, I started to lose faith in what the preacher said. I no longer craved his approval, as I had when I was young. Although I didn’t realize it the time, I stopped believing in God and worrying about going to Hell.

Then, one night, my mother gave me an article about Wicca. I’ve always loved learning about religions and mythology. She knew someone that was Pagan and thought I’d think it was cool. She never really meant for me to learn (and, not in the least, to start believing) it. Things about Wicca just simply drew me in. I’d never been so curious in my life, not that I could remember, anyway.

So I began to learn more about Wicca. I was young then, too, but I was at the stage where I went to the computer when I wanted to learn something. I went to a couple websites and became even more intrigued. My mom then bought me a few books about Wicca. I devoured the first one faster than when I’d read Harry Potter, one of my favorites, so this was saying something.

The more I learned of Wicca, the more interested I became. Of course, this was the same with some of the other religions I’ve studied. I want to know as much as possible. But, still, there seemed to be something different. Something that made me want to know everything that I could, and then some more. It didn’t seem strange to me. It still doesn’t, it felt natural to me.

Automatically, I felt a deep connection to the Goddess. Maybe it was just that she was a woman, someone I could relate to. Or maybe it was because that I could more easily picture a mother than a father, as I don’t know what one is like. Whatever it was, I knew that She was special. So one night, I sent a prayer to her.

It wasn’t really a prayer, exactly. I just spoke to her like I would to a normal person. Like I would to my mother, with whom I share a very close relationship. I’d like to say that I felt a spiritual awakening or something, but I didn’t. It wasn’t any different than talking to someone who wasn’t really there. I eventually lost hope that She was even real.

Then, more than a week later, I was pushed to talk to her again. Somewhere, deep inside, I knew She was there. The first time hadn’t been like that. It had been something I wanted to experiment with. This time, I knew that She would listen. I felt it, knew it. From what I learned, I thought the best place would be outside, in nature, surrounded my earth.

So I spoke quietly to her. As time went on, I became more confident that She would listen. It was different than the first time. It was like talking to someone, just to get it off your chest, but still knowing that they sincerely wanted to hear you out, to know what you had to say. That may be a bad way to explain it, but that’s the only way I can think of.

Time flew by and I studied for a year and a day. Then, I did a horrible self-initiation. When I’d thought I’d messed it all up and was about to forget it, I changed my mind. I decided it didn’t matter whether I had a big ceremony or whatever; it was just that I believed in the Goddess and God enough to try. So I finished my ridiculous initiation with some strips of pride still intact.

I think that, more than anything, made me feel better. I have been studying Wicca ever since, and still am. Wicca has helped me feel more in tune with nature. Plus, I feel more confident within myself. I care less about what people think and more about how I feel about myself. Altogether, Wicca did some really good things for me. I know that whatever I do, the Lord and Lady will be there beside me to guide me through it. To me, this is a comforting thought.

Blessed be. ) O (

Understanding Celtic Magick

Understanding Celtic Magick

 
To the Celtic peoples, magick was as common as breathing. It was not something set aside for special occasions anymore than was their beautiful twisting artwork. Like their intricate designs that decorated even ordinary utensils, magick was a part of everyday life.
 
The Celts had no difficulty reconciling materialism and spiritual insights because they clearly understood that each is present in the other, that matter is only solidified spirit. Today, we have trouble accepting that magickal law. Our minds have been bombarded by prejudiced opinions until we have become programmed to believe a blend of the material and spiritual is impossible. We have been taught an error: that to be spiritual one cannot be materialistic. In defining materialistic I mean concerned with material well-being, not controlled by material things. By continuing to believe this lie, we place ourselves within a tightly-bound area that prohibits us from manifesting by magick, what we need in our lives.
 
Ritual magick removes this programming sometimes with drastic effect in an unprepared person. The practice of magick will quickly bring out the hidden side of any magician. That is why it is so important for a magician to really, truthfully, know him or herself and exercise self discipline.
 
RItual magick is merely the taking of energy from another plane of existence and weaving that energy, by specific thoughts, words, and practices, into a desired physical form or result in this plane of existence. The whole idea of magick is to contact various energy pools that exists in a dimension other than our own. Magicians do this deliberately because these energies add a vast amount of power to the energy for manifestation. that we hold within ourselves. The prime purpose of ritual is to create a change, and we cannot do that without the combination of these energies. We need the assistance of those energy pools, which can be called gods, deities and elementals.

Everything used during ritual is a symbol of an energy that exists on another plane. Whether or not the magician properly connects with that specific energy and believes he or she can work magick depends upon how well he or she understands its representative symbol which is used on this plane or world. Study of, and meditation on, ritual symbols is an important part of training.
 
In order to bring through the energy of the gods or energy pools, the magician must set up a circuit of communication along which that power can flow. This is done by ritual use of symbols, ritual itself, visualization and meditation. To keep the incoming power from dissipating before being directed toward a particular goal, rituals are performed with a cast and consecrated circle. This provides a neutral energy area which will not siphon off or dissipate the incoming energy.
 
To correctly contact the appropriate energy pool, the magician uses as many symbols as possible that represent a specific deity power. For example, he or she will choose a color, incense, plant, stones, and statue or picture to help his or her visualization.
 
The ability to visualize is extremely important, as the magician must invoke, or call into him or herself, a godform (also called an archetypal energy pool). However, you must realize that you can never invoke the entire power of such an archetypal being into your physical body. Trying to do that would destroy your physical form. That much potent energy simply can never be contained within such a limited mundane structure as the human body. You would not try to use a 440 volt line when a 110 volts is called for. It is rare that total inflow of energy is ever achieved. The gods and magickal laws prohibit this from ordinarily happening.
 
Also be aware that if you consistently call upon one particular deity power to the exclusion of all others, you will eventually begin to manifest characteristics of that energy pool within your personality. If this is done correctly in order to gain positive results, these changes will become an important part of your magickal personality. If not, they can cause changes of a negative kind.


At the end of each ritual, the godform or power is dismissed so that it can manifest the desire formed during the ritual. This enables the magician to gain the manifestation for which the ritual was done and also to be able to function in the physical world again. To continue holding the power after the ritual is completed would make it impossible for you to live a normal life.
 
Ritual magick helps to open the doors to your creative mind and the subconscious. To effectively do magick one must get the creative side of the mind, or right brain, to operate uninhibited by the analytical left brain. This is accomplished by consistent routine of visualization and meditation.
 
The dominant left brain generally maintains control. It is closely connected with the conscious mind and deals totally with what is calls reality or this world. It is the side of the brain that makes us feel guilty and criticizes us for things we do or do not do.
 
The creative right brain pertains entirely to what we call imagination, or other worlds. It is artistic, visualizing. It is the powerful belief formed in this are of the mind that contacts the deity energy pools and creates manifestation.
 
One of the first things a magician must do is reprogram his or her subconscious mind to eliminate all the old messages of failure and dissatisfaction that are recorded there. From infancy we are programmed by everyone around us with words and actions that express displeasure or approval. Unfortunately, this programming continues throughout life. Therefore, it is important to choose friends carefully at all ages so that the ideas of limitations and failures are kept to a minimum. This programming can be changed into positive actions by the use of certain techniques during meditation.
 
The right brain and the subconscious mind perform best when presented with symbols, since symbology is the language of the creative mind. During ritual, the left brain is lulled into a sense of control by the chants, tools, candles and movements; all tangible, logical things. The left brain becomes so involved that it forgets to monitor the right brain. As the same time these tools and activities become symbols to the right brain for use in its creative work.
 
Emotion is important in ritual magick. Not fluctuating emotions, but controlled emotions. The more emotionally involved you are during spellwork, the more effective the manifestation. There must be a strong desire in order for a manifestation to take place.


Repetition also plays an important part in manifestation and ritual work. Certain numbers hold mystical power; these numbers are 3, 5, 7, and 9. The ancient Celts were well aware of the significance of repetition and numbers. By repeating rituals or spellwork 3, 5, 7, or 9 times consecutively, the creative activity of the right brain and subconscious mind is reinforced. Repetition becomes the pleasure-pain motivator that influences the creative mind to bring forth the desired manifestation.
 
The number thirteen is very ancient, and is the prime number of importance among the WIccan religion. Traditionally, the seventh son of a seventh son, or the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, was said to be born witch or magician. There is also an old belief that certain years in a person’s life are years of great importance or destiny. These were considered by the odd numbers of 3. 5. 7. and 9.
 
Among the Celts and Druids, the number three was of great significance. It was considered the balance between two extremes. The Druids even expressed their lore in triads. The Druidic symbol was the Tribann, or the Three Rays of Light. The shamrock symbolized this belief, long before St. Patrick used it to explain the Christian doctrine.
 
The importance of numbers is also shown in the relationship between certain numbers and the planets: Sun, 1 and 4; Moon, 2 and 7; Jupiter, 3; Mercury, 5; Venus, 6; Saturn, 8; and Mars, 9.
 
To effectively work magick, you must believe you can cause things to happen, that you have the power within you to change your life. Until you can reprogram your subconscious mind to believe this, manifestations will take longer to come into being.
 
To begin the changes needed to really believe you can do magick, you must begin by working on your hidden or inner self. You must change bad habits: negative thoughts of yourself, lying, cheating, stealing, broken promises, addictive habits. As you start to create changes in the inner self, you will find that magickal results flow more freely. Your life will manifest health, happiness and prosperity.
 
Some schools of magickal thought will tell you that doing magick for yourself is selfish and wrong. This is an erroneous idea held over from Judeo Christian beliefs and has nothing whatsoever to do with ritual magick and spellworking. The truth is, if you cannot manifest for yourself, you have little chance of manifesting for others.
 
This brings us to one great rule of morality in magick: Do what you will if you harm no being. You never really benefit by deliberately harming another creature through magick. The eventual backlash of karma is not worth the risk. However, one must also look at the opposite side, what happens if evil is left to flourish? In Wicca it is believed that allowing a wrong or evil to exist unhampered is harmful to everybody.
 
There are many ways to solve a problem with troublesome people through the use of positive magick. By no means should you be a doormat when it comes to protecting yourself and your loved ones. Be creative in doing protective spellwork. Brainstorm on paper, if necessary, until you are certain you are aware of all the options, have not limited yourself or destructively harmed others. It is essential to think through your reasons for doing magick.
 
The “Four Powers of the Magus (Magician)” is a very old teaching in magick. It is: to know, to dare, to will, to be silent. To know means to gain the knowledge to do ritual magick; to dare to practice it; to will the manifestation; and to keep silent about what you are doing. The last part is especially important. Talking about magick diffuses its energy flow. Silence also keeps unsympathetic people from directing negative thought towards your effort. People who talk about their magickal operations never ahieve real magick. I firmly believe that a copy of the Four Powers and the Wiccan law of morality should be in every ritual room.
 
The ancient Latin names for the Four Powers of the Magus were: noscere, audere, velle and tacere. It was believed that to be balanced, all these powers had to be present in the magician. There is also a correspondence between the Four Powers and the Four Elements. Noscere(know) corresponds to Air; audere(dare) to Water; velle(will) to Fire; and tacere(silence) to Earth. A fifth power ire(to progress or evolve) corresponds to Spirit.
 
The Celts knew the powers of the Moon phases and used them. In fact, their calendar was based on the lunar year. It is traditional that spellworking for the decrease or removal of problems takes place from after the Full Moon until the New Moon, with the day or night of the New Moon being strongest. Spellworking for increase, growth and gain takes place from after the New Moon until the Full Moon with they or night of the Full Moon being the most powerful.
 
It is logical that the Moon should affect your body and emotions just as it affects the tides of the Earth. After all, most of the human body is made up of water or liquids. The type of energy from the phases of the Moon conceivably will be reflected in your bodies. It is better for magick to work with the flow of Moon energy than against it.
 
Celtic magick basically works with and employs the powers of planetary and natural energies. It is a magick that is in harmony with our planet, indded with our very being. It is a magick that can change your life.
 
 
“Celtic Magic”
D. J. Conway

Circle Casting

Circle Casting

Why do we cast a circle? We cast a circle for protection from what may be attracted to what we are doing. There are times when spirits that do not wish us to succeed will be drawn by the power that we raise during a circle. Sometimes it is beneficial to cast a circle to lay down a boundary between the ill will that pagans sometimes encounter as they walk on their path. The circle itself is a reminder that we are now in a different time and space, and that this space is special.

The circle is a container as well. It is used to hold the energy that is raised until it is time to release it to whatever end we are working towards. If it was not there, the energy that we raised would have to be directed into a container rather than letting it swirl around in the one that has already been created. It is far easier to tell if there has been enough energy raised when you are moving directly through it than it is to tell if there is enough in the container.

Finally, the circle exists as a link to the people that have cast circles and gathered together in the past, and a link to those that will cast them in the future. It is a continuation of a chain that has evolved over thousands of years, passing information on and down throughout the ages. While there are very few religions that can trace their roots back into antiquity, it is undeniable that there are traces of those religions left, and that there are rites and ideas that have been passed down from one person to another throughout those long years. The circle is our way of trying to connect to those times gone by and it is our legacy to our children and their children for years to come.

Whether your circle has a physical boundary, a boundary of thought, or whether it is simply a grove of trees that is circular, the ideas are still there. The circle is a construct of the mind, an idea that passes between groups. It is the idea of a scares space and sacred time.

Why do we do ritual? Ritual is a way of trying to connect to something that is greater than the self. It is a link to other people and other beings; a link to times past and future. When people come together to celebrate their idea of the sacred, it is a sharing of something that is intangible and profound. It is a way to experience the divine that surrounds us in nature and is a part of ourselves that is not always understood. Ritual is a time for joy to be expressed in the celebration of the seasons and a time for sorry to be shared in the cycles of life that take our friends and loved ones from us and a time for everything in between.

It seems almost innate for people to come together to share this idea of the sacred. While the idea of what sacred is varies from people to people, there are very few cultures that do not espouse some version of the ideas of the sacred being a time set apart from secular life. Many cultures choose to make the goals of the two similar, thus ensuring that both are successful. Religion, it would seem, is something that is almost an inborn need of humans, a way of processing the things that we do not understand and of being able to celebrate them.

Why do we place the elements of ritual in a particular order? The simple answer is that it makes it easy for more than one person to follow what is happening when there is a common order to what is being done. The not so simple answer is that there is a logical progression from start to end to rituals that allow people to perform their rites in the simplest and easiest manner possible, allowing more people to participate.

Paganism is a group of religions that tends to frown on a centralized religious structure, and so it is important that more people be able to perform these rituals. Simplicity and structure gives the ability of those who do not wish to spend years mastering the smallest component of a ritual to participate as well. Common sense also plays a part in the order of a ritual. For most people, it makes sense to cast a circle and cut it off from the world outside before inviting the gods and elements as it is somewhat rude to make them stand around and wait, or call them and then cut them off from the ritual as you cast your circle. Some, however, find that it makes more sense to cleanse and purify the area, bring everyone in, and then cast the circle and invite the gods. Still others call the gods first and then cast the circle. As with anything, each person must decide what works best for them and why.

Where do we place things in a ritual? When thinking about where to place an event in a ritual, it is necessary to examine that event to find out what the results might be, or the reason that it is being done. If you are going to Draw Down the Moon (Call a Goddess into a person), then you need to consider just how tiring this is going to be for that person. Will they want to run and jump around to raise energy after? Is the Goddess likely to want that sort of thing?

If a person were going to do a drawing down for a God and Goddess, doing that before the Great Rite would make sense as it is a rite that takes the opposites of male and female and uses that polarity to make the rite that much stronger. Ritual creation takes the ability to think about the small details such as this and form them into a larger, successful whole.

How do we know when it is right to do something and when it is not? Start to decide this by thinking of the outcome of the ritual. What is the purpose that you are getting together for? If you are doing a healing, it would be good to invite gods that have that particular aspect. If you are doing a binding or a deconsecration, choose gods that deal with endings. If you are celebrating Beltaine, a fertility holiday, don’t invoke a Crone goddess who is past her fertile years.

The yardstick that any witch must use in creating a ritual is “Does it make sense to do it this way?” If it does not make sense, then find a different way of doing the event that does. There is no limit to what can be done with ritual. There is no right or wrong way to do a ritual. If it does not make sense to call the quarters, then don’t. Because something has always been done need not mean that it should always be done. Similarly, don’t throw out tradition unless it makes sense to do so.

Copyright © 2000, Jet Blackthorn

Elemental Banishing

Elemental Banishing

 
Elemental banishing is a little more complex way to clean an area of the negative influences that reside there. It should only be done within a cast circle. This is an ideal way to prepare a new living space before you move in. It will take away any remnants of the old tenants that were there before you and let you move into a fresh, new space.
 
Cast a circle as you normally would. Before you call the elements to attend, take your athame to the west side of the circle and face outwards. Draw a banishing pentagram (point downward towards the earth) and then re-center the athame into the middle of it. Push the athame slowly outward while pushing outward with your own energy, ordering, “Go, or be cast into the depths of the flood!”
 
Move to the south and repeat your actions, saying, “Go, or be cast into the flames!”

Move to the east and pause to gather yourself and close the circle before drawing the final pentagram and saying, “Go, or be rent by the grinding earthquakes!”

Move to the north and repeat your actions, saying, “Go, or be torn apart by the whirlwind!”

Turn back into the center and yell, “I (we) banish you! I banish you! I banish you! BEGONE!” while clapping and clattering and making a great deal of noise.

At this point, you can proceed with the rest of the ritual that has been planned, starting with invoking the elements to bless the circle

 

Cakes and Wine

Cakes and Wine

 
A pair of people generally does this. Any two people that work well together, regardless of gender or sexual orientation can do it. It can also be done by one person if they work solitary. The example that follows is done by a man and a woman simply because that is the way that I am most familiar with and feel the most empathy with. I encourage you to play with different combinations to see what works best for you. Each one will feel different.
 
The people that are blessing the cakes and wine should go to the altar and kneel there. The woman picks up her athame and hands the cup to the man. He places it between them as the woman raises the blade above the cup, held in both hands. Then both center themselves and connect with each other before proceeding.
 
Woman: Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices.
Man: And let my worship be in the heart that brings bounty to the earth.
Woman: Let there be Honor and Humility within you.
Man: Let there be Beauty and Strength within you.
Woman: Let there be Power and Compassion within you.
Man: Let there be Mirth and Reverence within you.
 
Woman: As the Lance is to Man,
Man: And the Grail is to Woman,
Woman: Let each find themselves whole in the other.
Man: For there is nothing greater in this world
Together: (As priestess lowers the athame into the cup) Than when the two are made one in Truth and their bounty is poured out upon the earth. (Priest and Priestess kiss to bless the union.)
 
If there is more than one cup to be passed, and this is recommended with large groups, split the blessed wine into all of them, leaving a bit as an offering and add more wine to fill the other cups. Leave a small amount of extra wine to bless the bread. The priest takes one of the cups and holds it for the priestess to drink, and then she returns the blessing by holding the cup for him. He should then go the south and begin his cup passing moonwise (N, W, S, E, N). The priestess will stay in the north and start her cup around as well, in order to let people take in the blessings of the gods. The cup should be passed with a hug or a kiss and a “Blessed be.”
 
The priest should then come back to the north and pick up the bread, kneeling again by the priestess. They should wait for the cups to go halfway around so that everyone has had a chance to share the cup. When it has, she should pick up the original cup and dip her fingers into the wine, sprinkling some over the bread that the priest is holding. He tears the bread in half, handing her one half, then tears off a smaller piece and gives her a kiss saying “Blessed be” before placing the bread into her mouth. She does the same, and then moves to the south to start her half going around sunwise. She tears off a piece and gives a kiss and “Blessed Be” before giving the bread to the next person and them placing the smaller piece in their mouth. In the north, the priest does the same.
 
Once the bread has gone around, the cups and bread are continually passed, after breaking off a small piece of the bread for the Gods for an offering, until they are gone. Discussion of the ritual so far, past rituals, struggles of the past months and general conversation takes place. If there is to be an actual feast, it is brought out now and people can go get their own plates of food, making sure to place a small offering on the offering plate.
 
The offering plate and cup should be dumped out onto the earth somewhere out of the way after the ritual. Never dump one onto concrete. Running river water, if available is also a good choice for returning the offering to the earth. Many covens take up a collection at this time for food drives and charities by leaving out a collection plate and letting people donate as they can.

Altars

Altars

 
Set up and maintain at least one small ritual altar, an altar for a particular deity, or an elemental altar in addition to the Ancestor shrine you are maintaining. Play with various combinations, organizations, and contents in order to find what is most suitable to your way of working. Do you need a different kind of altar for religious celebrations that you do when you are working a spell? What are the differences? What are the similarities? Are there objects that you must have on any kind of altar that you work with? Create, play with, and maintain this altar for at least 3 months. If you are not satisfied with it in that time, keep trying to achieve what you think is the perfect altar for you.

Sacred Clothing

Sacred Clothing

 
Many practitioners will not enter or use their sacred space unless they are cloaked in a special garment created by their own hands and consecrated for spiritual use. This robe is unique and special to each person who desires to honor their beliefs in this fashion. A cloak can be consecrated for specific purposes. So you can have more than one cloak, depending on what type of ritual you will be conducting in your sacred space.
Self clothing isn’t the only garments you want to consider for your space. An altar cloth is also called for. You can use more than one cloth in varying colors and patterns, depending on the work at hand. But consider the use of the cloth before you cover the altar. If you are going to be mixing herbs, or creating spiritual objects such as handmade candles, smudge sticks or spiritual tools, then you want the cloth to be inexpensive and practical. If however, you are conducting a ritual to celebrate a holiday, then you might use a more formal cloth, anything from crushed velvet to black satin.
The cloth should reflect your personality, your beliefs and one that you feel comfortable with using. A male Witch for instance, may not use Victorian lace when casting spells for compassion, healing or love. Rather he might use something that strikes an essence of romance in his heart such as red silk. Whatever you chose to use, the cloth should be large enough to cover the entire altar and fit the work at hand.

Creating A Magickal Circle

Creating A Magickal Circle

 

Your Spiritual Space


A magik circle is a space where a Witch will conduct rituals and ceremonies. It is the gateway between worlds, spirutal and physical realms come together and allow you to communicate with spirit, conduct spiritual work, rituals, ceremonies and castings.

As with everything in the spiritual essence of the world, even a circle has a few guidelines that need to be followed. The circle is not to be broken by someone stepping into this space unless a gateway has been prepared for them to enter. Nor should a Witch step outside the cirlce during a ritual unless a door way has been prepared.

A circle is used to draw a visionary broundry that protects a Witch from outside forces while conducting spiritual work. Many witches use visions of blue flames or divine white protection to create this boundry.

Others choose to create this circle in the physical sense as well. Either by drawing a circle on the floor in a permanent means, or by using a nine-foot cord made from natural fibers that can be easily placed and removed as needed. Sand, salt or herbs can also be used to draw the circle.

When you have selected the area to place your circle, you should Clear and Cleanse the energies before you draw the circle. Many Witches will place a broom at the doorway of the circle as a tool that designates the entry point of the witch or someone else who will be called into this space for work. The broom is also a symbol of a spiritual barrier to keep out unwanted energies from entering your sacred space.

To draw a doorway, a Witch should use a wand or athame to cut a “hole” in the energy field. Many Witches will use incense to close the doorway, using the smoke to symbolize the divine energy field.

Once your work is complete, you must close the circle and ensure the energy has been properly shut down. Leaving an open gate is not only disrespectful to the forces that assisted you, but also dangerous for you and your home. Closing the circle is as simple as 1-2-3.

  1. Thank the guides, teachers, God/Goddess that you called or who came into the circle to offer assistance during your work.
  2. Imagine the energy around the circle lowering around you, toning down and fading so to speak.
  3. Finally, clear the space with a blessing and ask the energies to close the gate. If the circle was a temporary fixture, then remove it and store it appropriately.

Casting a Formal Circle for a Group or Solitary

Casting a Formal Circle for a Group or Solitary

If there is a limited amount of space within the circle, it is often easier to cast the circle and admit the participants after creating the space. There are pros and cons of doing it this way, mainly having to do with making the participants feel excluded from part of the ritual. In order to avoid this, it is important to have them focus on the people or person casting the circle and adding their energy to what is going on. If you choose to have them within the circle, it is best to have them kneel at the boundary and cast the circle just behind them and over their heads, having them focus on the casting.

With this particular method, you can have one, two, or three people cast the circle, splitting the parts up as you desire. In a large group, splitting up the jobs in this manner helps everyone to participate when there are a limited number of things to do. Any of the parts of the ritual can be split up this way, but some will work better than others. Having more than one person cast the circle is a nice way for a group to maintain the bonds of working together.

When everyone is prepared and quiet, the person casting the circle should move to the altar and touch the pentacle with his or her athame. If the altar is set in the north, all that they need to do now is to visualize energy coming from the pentacle and walk the edge of the circle until they return to the starting point again. Once the caster is there, they should touch the pentacle with the athame again to seal the circle and then visualize pulling the edges of the boundary around to form a sphere above and below. This can also be done by actually using the athame to cast by starting at the pentacle and pushing the energy up over the heads of everyone, around, down through the floor, and back to the pentacle.

If the altar is elsewhere in the circle, the person touches the athame to the pentacle to perform a connection to it and then walks to the east to begin casting. They proceed to the south and then the west and then finally to the north before returning to the east. At that point, they can return to the altar and finish sealing the circle.

NOTE: Circles may be cast in either direction, depending on the work being done. Clockwise (N, E, S, W) tends to be the most common. This sunwise direction is used to invoke and bless. It is useful when the ritual has an outward focus. Moonwise circles (N, W, S, and E) tend to be used for banishing or rituals that focus inward or on the self.

Once the circle is cast, the next person should bless the salt and water to use for purification. Tip three pinches of salt into the water and stir it three times moonwise saying, “By the powers of Life, Death, and Rebirth.” Take this water and go to the east, sprinkling it around the edges of the circle, walking in the opposite direction of the circle caster. Once you have moved all the way around the circle, and if the people are within the circle, sprinkle each of them saying “Be washed clean.” (Make certain that you have someone do this for you, as well.) If they are not in the circle, place the salt water on the altar for later use.

The third person (Or the first, if you are only having two perform this) will bless the incense to consecrate and fill the circle. Place some of the loose powder incense on the hot coal (or light a stick incense) and draw a pentagram over the burning saying, “Blessed be the union of fire and air, the breath of the Gods.” Walk around the edge of the circle with the incense in the direction that it was cast in, slowly, and call the Ancestors to come and witness your circle.

Finally, the fourth person (or number two) moves to the center of the circle and declares that this is sacred time and sacred space. The circle exists outside of our normal time and reality. The shift from mundane to sacred should now be complete and should be a tangible feeling for everyone. The air may look or feel different, or the people may experience a shift in consciousness.

At this point, if you have cast the circle with the people outside, it is time to let them into the circle. The person who cast the circle will take their athame and cut a doorway into the boundary. This is done by inserting the tip of the athame into the circle at the level of the floor and cutting along it to make a wide enough entry for people to pass through. Then they cut upwards to the height of the people outside the circle. They should arch the top and then cut down the other side and across to meet the original point on the floor.

The person who blessed the salt water will switch places with the caster and stand in the doorway before each person as they enter, sprinkling to cleanse them. The caster will hug the person and pull or spin them over the threshold of the circle, bringing them in as a part of the company that will perform the ritual.

Once everyone is inside the circle, the caster will “erase” the doorway by placing the tip of the knife to the floor again and move it upwards, “sealing” the circle again. The “door” should be removed exactly opposite of how it was placed. When you are finished, there should be no trace of a break left in the circle wall. If you can see one, mend it with your own energy and close the break.

Copyright © 2000, Jet Blackthorn

Grounding Energy and Releasing What Was Called

Grounding Energy and Releasing What Was Called

 
Before you end a circle, it is important to leave everyone feeling refreshed and the space in its original state. When rituals are long and complex or there is a great deal of energy raised, quite often there will be energy left that wasn’t used, both in the participants and the circle itself. Grounding this extra energy prevents it from escaping to run into an unsuspecting person when they visit the space next and allows the participants to center themselves again and prevent having jittery nerves or suffering from an inability to rest or sleep.
 
Take time to have everyone sit in a circle with his or her palms pressed to the floor. Visualize the extra energy passing into the hands and out into the earth, only keeping enough to be balanced and centered. The leaders of the ritual should then gather up all the excess energy free in the room and send it down into the earth as well. Everyone present should, at the end of the ritual, have a sense of wholeness within themselves.
 
Once this is accomplished, releasing the Gods and elements with the participant’s thanks can begin. Usually, proceeding in reverse order of calling is appropriate. When the Gods and elements are release, they should be thanked and told that they may stay as long as they are needed and they will be welcomed by all present again.

What are Gods?

 
Many a hotly debated discussions have taken place over the years about what Gods are and whether it is important to believe in them as actual beings or if it is only necessary to understand that they represent psychopomps in our psyche that describe a part of ourselves or the world around us. There may never be a definitive answer found to this question, since each and every witch approaches the idea of the divine from a different point. To make one grand decision for everyone would be the height of hubris. Be that as it may, the Gods do hold power over and around us through both of these paths.
 
They can unlock the power that we hold within ourselves so that we can use it readily and easily by letting that aspect of ourselves be free. Additionally, they can exist in nature and the world around us to add more power to our own. What matters is that we ally ourselves wisely with those deities or archetypes that work best for us. If you are uncomfortable with a particular deity, trying to work with that one will most likely thwart what you are trying to accomplish.
 
Sometimes it is necessary to work through that discomfort, however. For example, many pagans and witches have difficulty working with the Christian God. There is great power, though, in being able to do so. When you learn how to deal with this discomfort, you have learned to stop letting it control you.
 
In the Craft, the state of mind that you do something in can have a large impact on the results of what you are attempting to do. A spell can be given a completely opposite direction to take if you do not focus on exactly what it is that you want and let yourself become distracted by other random thoughts. This is why clarity of mind and purpose is so necessary to witchcraft.

In a nutshell, Gods are whatever you believe them to be. Before you scream in frustration, take a deep breath and read on. Looking across the world’s religions, there are a whole host of beliefs about what Gods are. Christianity believes that there is one God, and only one God, all others being false idols, and that God is removed from the world, existing on high and watching us all.

Buddhism does not believe in Gods. Instead, they believe that a person can achieve enlightenment and cease their earthly existence and move on to something better. Many tribal religions revere more than one God, choosing instead to put the divine into the natural world and unexplained things and naming them Gods.

In my studies, I have found that there are five main beliefs that religions, or most of them, fall into; Atheism, Monotheism, Duothesim, Polythiesm, and Pantheism. Starting with the easiest, atheism is the belief that there is no God or that man himself is God. Some branches of Satanism fall into this category, as well as many pagans of varied “religious” beliefs, including some types of Wicca, that see the human as the pinnacle of existence, and most people who believe that there is no God, including man.

Monotheism, then, is the belief that there is one God, or the worship of one God despite recognizing the existence of others. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all fall into this category, as do people who follow one particular God such as Gaia or Set. Closely related to Monotheism is the belief of Duotheism. A person who practices duothesim is a follower of two deities, most often a male-female pairing. Most Wiccans fall into this category or blend this with polytheism or pantheism.

Polytheism, as one might expect, is the worship of many Gods, each individual and separate. Tribal religions from around the world fall into this category as well as many pagans that are followers of the Norse paths. Finally, pantheism is the belief that all Gods are one God who has many faces so that man might understand the divine. Pantheism can also be expressed duotheistically by the belief that all Gods are one God and all Goddesses are one Goddess, both of whom wear many faces.

We still do not know, however, what Gods are. Within all of these categories, there are further subdivisions, most with no clear cut name, that allow a closer look at what gods are. The first group to look at is the people that believe that gods are literal entities. With this belief, worship is much more likely to be of an offertory nature, invoking the gods and asking them to intercede and help on the petitioner’s behalf. Most of the world’s dominant religions follow this belief, though they are scattered throughout the five types of theistic belief.

The second group believes that Gods may be literal entities, but they really aren’t sure and so they are not really going to worry about it, besides, who wants to offend a God if they’re wrong? For these people, worship is a little less offertory, though there are still offerings made. They tend to be more geared towards nature and the earth than any of the others, with the belief that the divine is in everything around them.

The second group believes that Gods may be literal entities, but they really aren’t sure and so they are not really going to worry about it, besides, who wants to offend a God if they’re wrong? For these people, worship is a little less offertory, though there are still offerings made. They tend to be more geared towards nature and the earth than any of the others, with the belief that the divine is in everything around them.

There are many other types of beliefs that are not covered here, as to what the Gods are or are not, but this give you, as a student, a place to start and discover for yourself what they mean to you and how you will interact with them. You may find, as you study and learn more, that your ideas of what the Gods are changes from time to time. This happens to almost everyone at one time or another, and is nothing to become distraught about. It is all a part of the riddle of the Gods, and they expect it.

 

Welcome To The WOTC’s Magickal Deprived Weekend

Welcome friends, fellow practitioners and the curious to our “Magickal Deprived” Weekend! We all get caught up in the daily grim of life. We want to rush to a blog to find our horoscopes and perhaps a daily tarot or rune. But we forget what we are really all about, that is the MAGICK! The magick that draws us to these blogs, the magick that makes us want to know what is going to happen today. Will we have the power to change the fates? In our busy lives, unless you are a seasoned practitioner, you can forget items and ingredients that go into a spell. In fact, you can even forget spells.

This weekend, I am going to take you by the hand and whisk you off into my magickal world. A world full of mystery, potions, tinctures, ointments, spells, the Ancient Ways of teaching and most of all MAGICK! Hopefully on your journey with me, you will pick up some new ideas and also become refreshed and ready to conquer the world. Witches are to help better mankind, nature and our environment. We all work together, we can make this one hell of a beautiful world for our children.

But first, this witch has to hop on her broom and fly to Illinois to see my daughter and grandchild. Look over the information that is already posted. When I get back we will take a journey into what makes a witch, some tincture and ointment recipes and some old Celtic spells that are very useful for today. Have a great day and enjoy! Till then…….

Love to all,

Lady A

New Moon Esbats – Gemini

New Moon Esbats

 

GEMINI
 
Basic energy: Intellect, awareness, agility, adaptability, multi-tasking.
 
Zodiac color association: Orange.
 
Primary element: Air
 
Suggested magickal operations: Rituals and spells for any type of learning or research. Spells to finish the old and move on to the new, to help you juggle the many projects you are working on at once without failing or for finding a new car or new job. Spells for any of the mental arts, including meditation,learning a divination tool, pathworking, and telepathy. Magick for learning to understand and deal with siblings.

Avoid: Trying to pack too many magickal operations into one ritual.

Be careful: Of self-denial.

New Moon Esbats – Taurus

New Moon Esbats

 
 
TAURUS
 
Basic energy: Stability, peace, affection, responsiveness, saving, artistic ability, devotion, harmony.
 
Zodiac color association: Red-orange.

Primary element: Earth
 
Suggested magickal operations: Rituals and spells for prosperity, saving money, holding on to something you already have (like a grade point average), building and keeping harmony in the home, investing time and money in a project, long-term goal planning, spells for people you love, spells for long-term healing, meditations for peace.
 
Avoid: Missing a good opportunity.
 
Be careful: Of your own stubbornness.

New Moon Esbats – Libra

New Moon Esbats

 
 
LIBRA
Basic energy: Beauty, love, sociability, cooperation, originality, courtesy, responsiveness

Zodiac color association: Emerald

Primary element: Air
 
Suggest magickal operations: Rituals and spells for sharing the arts (music, painting, dance, writing) where you seek the approval of others. Spells for love, friendship, and romance, and for conflict mediation. Spells to ensure you are treated fairly, to enjoy beauty and to learn to cooperate with others. Spells to improve communication between yourself and a teacher or parent. Partnerships of any kind.

Protective Charm Bag

Protective Charm Bag 

 

Garlic is a great protective herb. Besides its supposed properties of keeping away vampires and the roaming undead, a clove of garlic comes in handy for kitchen magick. For this kitchen charm, use a four-inch squre of black fabric and about six to eight inches of black ribbon. Place the clove of garlic for protection and purification in the center of the fabric. Add a pinch of salt to break up any negativity you feel may be surrounding you or the situation.

 

Gather up each edge of the square, name them for each of the four Elements. After you gather the corners together, tie the bag closed with the ribbbon. Take a careful look at this kitchen charm, the directions are all laid out for you.

 

By the powers of earth (pick up one corner)

 

And air (gather the second quarter)

 

And fire (pick up the third)

 

And water (and the last corner)

 

I create this Witch’s protective charm.
(tie the fabric closed with the ribbon)

 

Grant me safety and shield me from all harm. 

 

Remember to seal this charm with the closing line.

 

By all the powers of three times three,

 

As I will it, then so shall it be.

 

You may keep the charm bag on your person or tucked away in the most-used room of your home to boost your magickal household protections.