Archive for Lesson Two

Goddess’s of death and rebirth

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Death is one of the most feared aspects of human existence and also inevitable. Every religious belief will have an aspect of rebirth or at least a sort of life after death. Whether that is a simple, your go to heaven or hell, the Elysian Fields; or Tartarus or more in-depth beliefs such as Karma and reincarnated, these are personal viewpoints and all are valid and part of your own mythologies reinforced by your beliefs and understandings. When we look at the Goddess (and gods) of death or those connected to it the fall into several basic roles, The Ruler or the judge of the dead such as Hel (Norse), The guides Hecate (Greek) and those that return the dead to back to life such as Meng Po (Chinese). The goddess’s of death are often depicted as crones or demons (Christian iconology) and are feared by many. Those that dedicate their lives to these goddess’s will often refer to their goddess as the Dark Mother. The dark mother is seen as a high honour as this is the mother who shows her love in a firm handed way, the disciplinarian, the one that see your potential and will not let you slip. But at the same time she offers such rewards and secretes of deeper magicks. The dark mothers are difficult to petition due to the fact that they do not appear to those that they consider to be unworthy or whose offerings are considered not good enough. For those they considered worthy they will

Eclectic Spiritual ethics

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Spiritual ethics are basically a set of rules which help you connect spiritually to the god(s) / dess(s) the higher self , the creative intelligent, ancestor spirits, elements, higher begins etc which for this section will be referred to as “Spirit” Now from a formal standpoint spiritual relates to the “spirit!” Now how you personally see “Spirit” will depend upon your path or religious up bringing. For some spirit will mean the “soul” others the “divine” and for others it could be a mix between the two or something in between. So when we look at spiritual ethics we are not looking at the “spirit” or trying to define what “spirit” is as the definition of “spirit” is a personal one. We are looking at the way we interact and relate to “spirit”. Again our path and upbringing will influence how we interact with “spirit” for some it may be in silence others in loud parties and dance two extremes, which archives the same goal, a connection with “spirit”. Now a group that connects through silence will never be able understand the techniques required to connect using loud parties and vice versa as each group with have a different viewpoint. Now as a person you have a set of ethics when it comes to connecting with “spirit” these ethics are handed down from “a spiritual leader” i.e. Jesus, Buddha, Gardener etc who have instructed you how to connect with “spirit”. Now as eclectic witches we often have a mix of spiritual ideals from many spiritual

Creating coven ethics

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Starting any coven can be a difficult thing for any pagan but for the true eclectic it can be very difficult. The reason for this is an eclectic understands that things that should not work together do! Having mixed mythologies and practices are personal so it can be difficult to explain to others the significance, this is one of the main reasons the eclectic remains solitary. Although over the years I have run eclectic covens, which are more like working groups and moots which developed. I have found that when these groups meet and connect and share information the group dynamic changes from a coven that meets for worship or feasting to a group where practices merge and learning is shared in an inclusive enviroment. These covens does not work like a Wiccan coven there is no high priestess or priest no elder keeping things in check it works more as a council where the leader for next meeting is chosen leaders would be chosen in rota new members being added to the list. Whoever is in charge for that meeting chooses the topic of discussion they will either give a talk or write a ritual that includes everyone. For the main Sabbats (and not all paths follow the Wiccan wheel of the year so some groups have other main rites added to the wheel.) meeting are normally a few days before or after the event to allow member to have their own personal rites. These Sabbat meetings would normally follow a simple outline a

Getting Specific about Magical Ethics

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THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC: Getting Specific about Magical Ethics Sometimes a cliché just wears out. It loses meaning or, worse, begins to say things we never meant. I think it’s time to retire the phrase “black magic.” Saying” black” when we mean “evil” is nasty nonsense. In the first place, it reinforces the racist stereotypes that corrupt our society. And that’s not all. Whenever we say “black” instead of “bad,” we repeat again the big lie that darkness is wrong. It isn’t, as people who profess to love Nature should know. Darkness can mean the inside of the womb, and the seed germinating within the Earth, and the chaos that gives rise to all truly new beginnings. In our myths, the one who goes down to the underworld returns with the treasure? Even death, to the Wiccan understanding, is well-earned rest and comfort, and a preparation for new birth. Using “black” to mean” bad” is a blasphemy against the Crone. But even if we no longer speak of magic as “black” or “white,” we still need to think and speak about the ethics of magic. Although black is not evil, some actions are evil. It simply is not true that anything a person is strong enough or skilled enough to do is OK, nor should doing what we will ever be the whole of the law for us. We need a clear and specific vocabulary that enables us to choose wisely what we will do. We need to replace the word “black,” not simply to

Group Ethics

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Over the last few weeks their seems to me some tension within the facebook Pagan community(s) which needs defusing I am not sure of how to do a mass internet group(s) healing but have been watching what has been going on which has delayed the ethics lessons because although I have seen this behaviour in off line groups and moots which have been resolved through healing and chatting over issues in an adult format with the online communities you don’t get the one to one. The main reason for this is that many people including myself have an online personality (ok mine closer to real self than most) but some use their online personality as ego trip “I know best” mentality while other just wish to share and learn like a child with innocence. When starting a group online or off you need to set a basic set of core ethics what you wish to grow. The best way to start this off is a mission statement a statement that contains your goals and aspirations. This mission statement should be available for all to see and read and by agreeing to the principles of the mission people can sign up / join your group. I have found that a mission statement is just as effective if not more so than a list of do and don’ts. My personal bug bear is that many online groups no matter how well meaning become very cliquey or are self promoting, all pagans wish to share we are good

Wiccan Ethics And The Wiccan Rede

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Part I: What Sayeth The Rede? The “archaically worded” construction “An it harm none, do what ye will,” rendered into modern English is literally, “if it doesn’t harm anyone, do what you want.” Many modern Wiccans “reverse” the construction, however, taking the first part and putting it after the second to read: “Do what ye will an it harm none,” or in modern English “Do what you want if it doesn’t harm anyone.” Many people give the word “an” or “if” a value of “so long as” – which is acceptable substitution, because it doesn’t alter the meaning of the Rede itself. However they then proceed to read “so long as” as “only if,” and that is *completely different*, because the Rede has ceased to be a “wise counsel” [anyone checked the meaning of "rede" in the dictionary lately?] and become an injunction: prohibitive commandment, rather than permissive advice. In other words, the original archaic construction actually says “if it is not going to hurt anyone, it is ok to do” – this is *not* the same as “if it hurts anyone it is *not* ok to do.” What is the significance of the change? A larger one than you might see, at first glance. The “actual construction Rede,” or AC Rede, says it is ok to do something that won’t harm anyone, but it *does not say anything* about those things which do cause harm, except to set an ethical standard of harmlessness as the criteria to judge by. The “modern reconstruction Rede” or

Personal Ethics

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eth·ics a. A set of principles of right conduct. b. A theory or a system of moral values As a person we are shaped by our environment from childhood we are taught what is right and wrong, as we grow we adjust our actions so they fall inline with our beliefs, environments and law. Since our Morals and ethics are a creation of what we learn we can often see the behaviour and actions of others to be morally and ethically wrong we then start to consider ourselves morally superior than other. When we consider our morally superior we can bend our own morals to prove other wrong, which diminish us a person and a race. A great example of this is the Christians who have a range of commandments one of which is not to kill, but during their history they have killed and killed again and again even in the 21st century they still kill in the name of their god because they see their actions to be divine and justified. Now all of know that murder is wrong and we should not do it but we all no matter how much a pacifist we are, there are circumstances in which we would kill, normally in the defence of others or ourselves. We choice to ignore our moral and social ethics so we can justify our actions. As pagans and witches we also have a dark past in which we killed in the name of our gods even today we still retain the

The Moon and her guises

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  Lunar deities can be male or female and these deities can also change to become solar deities and vice versa. For me the moon is a visual representation of the female aspect of the Devine and not “The” or “A” goddess but all goddess’s: the total female aspect.? There are physical representations of “woman” in the moon cycle 29.53 days (29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes) very close to a woman menstrual cycle. Also the  [wikipedia]phases of the moon [/wikipedia] resembles the life cycles with in womanhood, aging,  [wikipedia]pregnancy [/wikipedia] and  [wikipedia]menopause [/wikipedia] and all aspects of life.? The Phase of the moon can also be attuned to the seasons and spell casting as well as your own life. It is a good idea to keep a moon diary and make note of your moods, your menstrual cycle or your own internal cycle. Below is how I see the phases of the moon as a solitary practitioner I have to attune myself to myself for magickal working while groups attune to the group energy each group or person will have their own view of the moon and every single one is a correct view.? The New Moon? For me the new is the beginning and the end it contains all the hidden mysteries of woman and all the worst aspects of woman the side that when evoked is feared.? First Quarter? For me this aspect relates to the maiden aspect of the goddess because of the new possibilities and the sense of growth and understanding and the potential of new

A Code Of Ethics for Teachers of the Wicca or witchcraft

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All initiations, previous experience and group affiliations to be made known to your students. Before beginning training tell your student you don’t know everything about the subject, but are willing to refer them on to another person if you don’t have the personal expertise. Tell your student of your personal beliefs, teaching what you know but also emphasising Paganism is about personal spirituality and that they must find their own truth. Students should be of legal age (i.e. 18) or have parental permission. This does not exclude passing on basic information of religious beliefs to minors. All theoretical information should be supported by ritual demonstration. All lessons must be prepared by reading up on the area to be taught about, decide how you’re going to present this information for the easiest understanding of the individual student and make notes to be given to the student. There is to be a nominal fee for teaching to cover ritual supplies and fluctuates depending on the student. It is at the discretion of the teacher if they choose to loan books or give supplies from their personal collection. All teachers must continue their own education also. It is impossible to know everything. Do not proselytise. All students must seek out their teacher. You do not take on more than 4 students at a time per mentor. Students can be taught on an individual basis or in a teaching circle. Students should be told if the training would not lead to initiation. You respect the confidentiality of your own

Cyber Cauldron facebook code of ethics

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The cyber cauldron facebook page is a community and not a group closed or open, information is provided freely. My mission statement is – Cyber Cauldron will be a place supported by the website www.cybercauldron.co.uk  where information some handed down from myself Draco or from other free sources to provide you with insights ritual, meditations, spells and advice along with many other topics to help you develop your pagan life . You may use the CC facebook page to pose questions ask advice or request information or just read the daily posts to that end We Cyber cauldron and the admin of the facebook page promise to Help you find what you seek. Be polite Be open to new ideas Respect your pagan beliefs Continue to provide information freely Develop a school for eclectic witchcraft Have a sense of humour And where possible have someone always online (admin for fb page always wanted) In return for this I ask all member to agree in principle to Respect other members Do not insult or belittle another’s viewpoint or belief Share information where possible (any new group, link or idea) No matter your degree or training someone will know more so never flout your educations as an end to discussion Report to admin (Draco) any issues you have about this community My brightest blessing and many thanks for joining this page I hope to keep it a friendly informative source for all pagans no matter their path   Draco Visit our Facebook Page and join the community