Cyber Cauldron

Where Magick come to life

The Wiccan Rede

rede wicca 714593 250x3001 The Wiccan RedeBide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady’s moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart’s desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God‘s
insight.   Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady’s tree burn it not or cursed you’ll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it’s now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it’s height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you’ll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you’ll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

“An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will

Authour could not be truly confirmed

 The Wiccan Rede

Originally posted 2010-07-12 16:21:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Beltane Solitary Ritual

maypole 300x2251 Beltane Solitary RitualThis ritual is originally from Wiccan Path by Rae Beth and is a lovely ritual for solitary wiccans, and great for the newbie I found that it lack the passion of Beltaine so for the less subdued of you I have made adjustment to the original text. Now I have used this ritual before so the adaptations are not new to me. For the beginner and for some people the idea of sex and sexuality can be a difficult subject to talk about when it comes to ritual.

The one thing that you need to keep in mind is Beltane marks the union of the two deities, bringing new life to the earth and the keyword is UNION, which does mean sexual relations. We as pagan do not fear sex but embrace it’s a natural act. The reason I have included the adaptations is that it shows how you can take a very good ritual and without to much work make it personal or more in tune with the festival / Sabbat

Preparation

Before this ritual you should, spend some time, creating a wand. The wand should be 13 inches long and about half an inch thick. The tip of the wand should be carved into the shape of a phallus. Although it is acceptable to just use a branch with the bark peeled off.

The wood should either be Oak or Hazel (remember. Do not take the word from a living tree).

The wand should be placed on your alter a long, with a prepared dish of earth.

The Ritual

Cast the Circle and invoke the Lady (goddess) and the Lord (god). After the invocation, dance and chant to raise power for magical activities and then earth the power into an unlit candle, placed inside the cauldron, at the centre of the circle. Chant the following (or make up your own!):

Beltane!
I dance with delight
on Beltane’s night.
All senses freeing,
I dance for being.
The flower and the flame
of love’s own rite
shall blossom. Sun
embrace Earth, bright.

Light the candle to the Sun. This is the Beltane fire, our modern substitute for the hilltop bonfires of our ancestors. The Bel fire is an invocation to the Sun God to bring blessing and protection for the coming year. This is sacred fire with healing and purifying properties. As you light the candle, be aware of its power and significance. Say:

I light this candle to the Sun.

Now take up a dish of earth. Bless it in the name of the Goddess.

Lay your hands upon it and say:

I bless, consecrate, and set apart this earth, in the name of the Triple Goddess. May this be sacred earth, set apart for magick. For earth is of the Goddess, being her sacred body.

Remember that the Goddess is not only of the Moon, but also of the Earth and of the farthest stars. She is the Triple Goddess of the Circle of Rebirth, the Mother of All Life. Decorate the dish of earth with flowers.

Now, take a wooden wand and oil it with vegetable oil ( good quality oil something you have just bought for ritual *). Bless it in the name of the Lord of the Day, the youthful, ardent one, the Lord of Life, the God of the greenwood. Pass it swiftly through the candle flame, the Bel fire, so that it becomes magically imbued, ‘charged’, with power. Place the wand upon the dish of earth, saying as you hold it there: [1]

As the wand is to the earth,

so the male is to the female

and the Sun to our blossoming world.

Joined, they bring happiness.

May the God of Life give ___ {something you want, for example, peace on Earth}

May the Goddess bring it forth! [end 1]

Sit quietly for a while, and picture the blossoming of what you have desired in life. The spells and invocations of all of us, all working on themes like these, must eventually bear fruit, because life is on the side of peace. Leave the earth and wand upon the alter.

Walk deosil three times around the circle, and then spiral into the centre. Go evenly, with grace, meditatively. Sit beside the candle flame, allowing yourself to feel peaceful. Gaze into the flame.

The next part is different depending on whether you are man or woman.

For a Woman: visualize a red rosebud in your womb. Always your womb is the source of your creative power, whether you are pregnant with a child, an idea, a work of art or an intention. Close your eyes and picture the light from the candle streaming into your womb so that the rosebud blooms, unfolds. Hold the image for a while, feeling the silkiness, smelling the scent, the freshness, seeing the colour of the fully open rose within you. Feel the strength and power of your own fully blossomed capabilities. Say: [2]

I am woman,
strong to conceive and to create,
to give birth and to tend.

As I am daughter of the Goddess,
and blessed by the God, may I ___

{here name what you wish to bring forth in life. For example bring healing to others or write my book whatever matters to you}[end 2]

Feel the strength and creative force within your womb, the centre of your being. See the power being channelled, flowing into the desire you have just voiced. Open your eyes. Always, the rose is within you.

For a Man: Visualize a bright flame. This burns within your sexual centre, a point at the base of the stomach, just above the pubic hairline. It is your own male strength and energy which may rise through your body to be released as giving, fertilizing power, in any form, or may be the potency which impregnates, creating a physical child. It is the force which blesses and bestows, a healing and creative energy, like the shining Sun. Visualize also that you are sitting in a garden and that a rose tree is in front of you, the roses in bud. Say:

[3] man,
and in my passion is beauty,
in my warmth is life.
As I am son of the Goddess,
and blessed by the God,
I offer my strength and vitality to ____

{name the area of life, the place, activity, or commitment you choose}[end 3]

Visualize the light streaming from you to a rose upon the tree causing it to unfold, to blossom. Your flame is lowered by this effort. Much has gone out of you, the flame sinks down. Wait and watch, until a pink light streams from the rose towards your body. At its touch, just above the pubic hairline the flame resurges. It burns higher and stronger than before. Open your eyes. The flame is always within you.

* if your going to use the adapted words keep in mind that the wand is going to be a phallus and a representation of the god so add a little sexual feeling to the oiling

Adaptation to wording

[1] Place the wand in earth (like when you place Athame in the chalice) , saying as you hold it there: as the wand is to the male and to the phallus the earth is the virgina and the womb may the seed create life. And let this life be {something you want, for example, peace on Earth} let the goddess grow it and let the god protect it and give it is strength.

[2], I am she woman born of woman, woman born of Goddess I am here to create and to nurture I am a mother with or without children, and the maiden, carefree and fertile and crone the endless possibility I have the power to create to bring life and with the will of the goddess and the blessing of the God. I choose to create {here name what you wish to bring forth in life. For example bring healing to others or write my book whatever matters to you}

[3] I am he born of woman from the seed of a man growing inside her nurtured and loved and taught the roles of man. The wildness of nature is reflected in my youth, as a man I am the warrior and protector to defend the ones I love in my age I will learn compassion and wisdom I am a child of the goddess and the God. I am my father’s son. I give to you, my strength and my virility {name the area of life, the place, activity, or commitment you choose}

Originally posted 2011-04-26 10:00:44. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The Wiccan-Shaman-Druid Song

humor 150x150 The Wiccan Shaman Druid SongI’m a Wiccan-Shaman-Druid,
I am new age through and through.
Decked in crystals from my head to toe,
With feathers and pyramids, too.
My spirit-guide is from Atlantis.
He’s a Zen-Aztec guru.
Come and spend the weekend with us,
For two thousand dollars
You’ll be a Wiccan-Shaman too.

I’m an Elvis-Loki-Viking.
I channel Ashley Montague.
In a former life I was a gypsy clerk,
Bull fighter, and troubadour, too.
I know five Illuminati,
They’re a strange and motley crew.
There’s a priest from ancient China,
He lives in my basement.
He is an Elvis-Viking too.

My coven is part Rosicrucian,
Mixed with some Theosophy.
Add in some stuff from the Golden Dawn,
`Cause Crowley’s just all right with me.
I’ve got twelve initiations,
I’ve seen all there is too see.
And watch out for those strange Co-Mason-Santaria-Druids,
They’ll cement your chickens to a tree.

I’ve got a pipe ceremony,
Adapted from the O.T.O.
I use a sweatlodge for my Beltane rites,
The Maypole is just there for show.
I have got a glass athame,
With batteries to make it glow.
It’s just great for calling quarters
In my new tradition:
The Lynn Andrews-Buckland-Starhawk Grove.

(Tune: I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy)

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 The Wiccan Shaman Druid Song

Originally posted 2011-03-08 08:00:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Are You a TechnoPagan?

humor 208x300 Are You a TechnoPagan?You may be a TechnoPagan if…

If your athame has a SCSI interface…

If your OBE’s begin with a netsplit…

If your priest robes conceal a pocket protector…

If you calculate the phases of the moon with Windows ‘XP / Vista or 7…

If your altar has a keyboard…

If drawing down a circle is a POST (power on self test)…

If you call the Watch Towers on your cell-tell…

If you do most of your correspondence by email and sign off with Blessed Be…

If you don’t call it a ritual, you call it a Macro…

If you end a circle with Ctl-Alt-Del…

If you have ever attached ribbons to a May Pole using a staple gun…

If you invite the God and Goddess to come online…

If you keep a Disk of Shadows (with encrypted backups)…

If you participate in online rituals more than you do FTF…

If you refer to eclectic ritual as cross-platforming…

If your Beltane ritual includes more than one news group…

If your candles have batteries…

If your cauldron is a crock-pot…

If your deities include Murphy and Gates…

If your drumming is done on a CD player (pre-recorded)…

If your herbs are always mail-ordered (express, overnight)…

If your idea of a great retreat has a Computer City, electricity, and a TV nearby…

If your incense is by Glade…

If your magic wand is a light pen…

If your magical name, email address, and online name are all the same…

If your magical writing is done in binary code or C++…

If your pentacle is made of computer chips…

If your technician compains about the wax and incense ash on your motherboard…

If, instead of asking what tradition someone comes from, you ask what operating system they run…

If your Yule ritual involves defragmentation…

If your coven is spread over a 12,000 sq. mi. area…

If your Book of Shadows has a 6-digit version number…

If you refer to deities using 3-letter acronyms (ODN, LKI, THR)…

If you do cord magick with ethernet…

If you ritually down your server for Samhain…

If your altar cloth is a mouse pad…

If, when your quarter candles burn out, the UPS backup system kicks in…

If erecting the temple entails formatting more than 4 disks…

If casteing the circle changes an (int) to a (float)…

If your Star Trek screen-saver signals when your meditation period is over…

If your Beltane ritual includes more than one news group…

If passing the cakes and ale entails using a /me command…

If your search for truth involves regular expressions…

If your familiar is a computer mouse…

If you draw down the moon using a light-pen…

If your cone of power has a surge suppressor…

If your tarot cards multi-task…

If your daemons collect news for you…

If your crystal ball has a horizontal-hold control…

If you refer to solitary practice as a stand alone…

If you tap into the collective unconscious using Netscape…

If your favorite deity has a homepage…

If the address of your covenstead begins with http://…

and finally, if your circle is a token ring…

Well, you just might be a TechnoPagan!

 Are You a TechnoPagan?

Originally posted 2011-05-10 17:01:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

May Wine

maypole 150x150 May Winefrom “Dancing with the Sun” by Jasmine Yalenorn
1 cup sweet woodruff
2 bottles rose’ wine
4 dozen rose petal ice cubes
1 quart strawberries
1 quart chopped peaches
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup white rum
2 bottles champagne
1 bottle white wine
1 liter lemon-lime soda
Two weeks before serving: clean woodruff and pack into one bottle of wine. Cork and let sit.
The day before serving: make four dozen ice cubes by placing rose petals in the compartments before adding water. Freeze until solid.
Hull and wash the strawberries. Slice. Mix peaches and strawberries. Add sugar and rum. Marinate overnight.
An hour before serving: Strain woodruff out of wine and discard leaves. Mix champagne, all remaining wine, lemon-lime soda, and fruit in a large bowl. Stir.
Add ice cubes 15 minutes before serving. Serves 20.

Originally posted 2011-04-20 08:56:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

May Day Beltane and Bile

p lg belenos 150x1501 May Day Beltane and BileBeltane (AKA Lá Bealtaine, Bealltainn, Beltain, Beltaine, Boaltinn, Boaldyn, Belotenia, Gŵyl Galan Mai) is the Celtic fire festival that either marks the mid point between spring and summer or for others the first day of summer.

The name Beltane means ‘fires of Bel’. The god bel is also known as Belen, Belenus, Belinus, Bellinus, Bélénos, Belennos, Belenos, Bel, Bilé: Is The Celtic god of light and healing, “Bel” means “shining one,” or in Irish Gaelic, the name “bile” translates to “sacred tree.” It is thought that the waters of Danu, the Irish All-Mother goddess, fed the oak and produced their son, The Dagda. As the Welsh Beli, he is the father of Arianrhod by Don.

Patron of sheep and cattle, Bel’s festival is Beltane, one of two main Celtic fire festivals. Beltane celebrates the return of life and fertility to the world — marking the beginning of summer and the growing season. Taking place on Sunset April 30, Beltane also is sometimes referred to as “Cetsamhain” which means “opposite Samhain.” The word “Beltaine” literally means “bright” or “brilliant fire,” and refers to the bonfire lit by a presiding Druid in honour of Bile.

“Some believe this deity is the equivalent of Belatucadros, the consort of Belisama, another patroness of light, fire, the forge and crafts. Belatucadros, whose name means “fair shining one” or possibly “the fair slayer,” is the god of destruction and war and transports the dead to Danu’s “divine waters.” Celtic deities often reign over seemingly contradictory themes. In the case of Belatucadros, death was simply a pathway to rebirth in the Other world, thus linking the two themes together. However, according to Ross’s Pagan Celtic Britain, historically the worship of Belatucadros among the Celts was confined only the north-western region of Britain and has never been associated with the festival of Beltane, healing or with a consort (pg. 235).

It has been suggested that the mythological king, Beli Mawr, in the story of Lludd and Llefelys in The Mabinogion, is a folk memory of this god. In Irish mythology, the great undertakings of the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Milesians — the original supernatural inhabitants of Eiru and their human conquerors, respectively — began at Beltane. The Milesians were led by Amairgen, son of Mil, in folklore reputed to be the first Druid[1]

Since this is a pagan festival we have to acknowledge that this festival would mark a significant event in the year and the life of our ancient pagan brothers and sisters so again their thoughts of the future influenced the ritual. So it was a time for selecting a mate for the future and appeasing the god so that life stock and food would be plentiful.

This festival is a fire festival so many rituals involved the use of fire Cattle were often passed between two fires and the properties of the flame and the smoke were seen to ensure the fertility of the herd and young men and women would collect blossoms in the woods and lighting fires in the evening this was often a courting ritual which lead to marriage that same night or at very least during the coming year.

Today many Pagans believe that at Beltane the God (to whom the Goddess gave birth at the Winter Solstice) achieves the strength and maturity to court and become lover to the Goddess. So although what happens in the fields has lost its significance for most Pagans today, the creation of fertility is still an important issue.

Beltane has always been seen as one of the most visually sexually rituals with fires and Maypoles and it openness to sex and fertility.

The may pole was introduced to Britain and the Celts and it original use has been lost but it practice survived Christianisation, albeit losing any original meaning that it had. While some see it as a phallic symbol and representation of the male aspect of the deity other see it as a community symbol, which entwined people together. In Britain and Ireland, the maypole was found primarily in England and in areas of Wales, Hutton, Ronald (1996). The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Page 233Scotland and Ireland, which were under English influence. As the historian Ronald Hutton remarked, “there is no real evidence to indicate when [the maypole] first arrived in the British Isles,”[2] although the earliest recorded evidence comes from a Welsh poem written by Gryffydd ap Adda ap Dafydd in the mid-14th century, in which he described how people used a tall birch pole at Llanidloes, central Wales.[2] Literary evidence for maypole use across much of Britain increases in later decades, and “by the period 1350-1400 the custom was well established across southern Britain, in town and country and in both Welsh-speaking and English-speaking areas.”

1 Bile by Lisa Spindler http://www.pantheon.org/articles/b/bile.html

2 Hutton, Ronald (1996). The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Page 233

 May Day Beltane and Bile

The wheel has turned full circle

wheel of the year The wheel has turned full circleNow we have travel through all the major Sabbats and returned back at Beltaine. A year ago I launched the Cyber Cauldron with the hopes and dreams of earning enough money to survive as well as provide some information on witchcraft and paganism, which was informative and fun, a great start for the newbie.

This journey allowed me the time to reflect on the things I have learned over the years. As well as giving more time with my goddess and sort out the person I really want to be. I have face new discoveries and have learned much about what it is to be a true pagan and a witch and have become friends with some very wonderful people.

So as we close this year we will have to decide what to do next. Now the one thing that was always difficult was making the Cyber Cauldron a success but my view of what a success was at the time based on income, number of Facebook fans any thing that could be quantified “In a real sense”. So much so that as I looked to the figures I would get depressed and frustrated and begin to feel a failure. I would see other pages and site grow and grow some where total rubbish people claiming to be hereditary witches or claming to teach witchcraft in 5 easy steps and beat myself up on why I was not doing as well.

So I decided to give the site up at the end of the year and close it down and made the announcement. I felt total relief that it was going to end… then I had people saying that wanted the Cyber Cauldron to stay so I agreed that I would keep the cyber cauldron going in one form or another.

So over the next few months I have wondered how I was going to continue to keep Cyber Cauldron going so I knew that I could not afford to keep it running and so it was just going to be a facebook page, but I could see that that would not last for long as no-one truly interacts with the page.

So I choose to give up a luxury and use the money I saved to keep the Cyber Cauldron alive. But I had to work out how I was going to run the next year. So now we have the foundation of information on paths and god’s and goddess’s and a wealth of knowledge form which to draw from for ideas. The Cyber Cauldron will become an online school for eclectic paganism. Starting at the next new moon June 1(time of new moon 21:03) we will start the first of 13 lessons along the path of eclectic paganism.

Each lesson will start on the new moon with an introduction to what is going to be covered. Quizzes will be given so you can see how well you are doing I hope you will all enjoy the new format of The Cyber Cauldron.

If you have any suggestions or ideas please feel free to contact me via the contact us page or through our facebook page

 The wheel has turned full circle

Originally posted 2011-05-04 10:47:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

What is Wicca?

dianic wicca 150x1505 What is Wicca?Wicca is an earth-based Spiritual path, based on reviving the ancient pagan religions of pre-Christian Europe. Wiccan’s have a strong belief in the forms and forces of nature and that the divine source exists on all planes and is both male and female. Wiccan’s see aspects of life and nature as being sacred.

Wiccan’s will attempt to attune themselves to natural rhythms of nature and cycle of life so they can communicate with the divine form. Wiccan’s will use rituals and rites, which are a mix between ancient text and modern ceremonies as well as shamanic practices to achieve this commune with the divine force.

For Wiccan’s the divine form / force is divided in to two parts the two parts are considered to be equal and opposite (up-down / left-right / good bad / summer-winter etc.). These two halves created the balance in the universe and manifest as a Goddess(s) and God(s). By manifesting the power in two deities (Goddess and God), the natural balance of opposites, cause and effect are retained, e.g. Summer/winter, light/ dark, life and death etc   

Although Wiccan’s may name their deities Wiccan’s believe that all goddess’s are but one goddess and all gods are but one god. The reason a Wiccan will call on a deity by name is to focus the aspect or nature of the persona that that aspect of the divine portrays. Wiccan’s believe that with the will of the divine and through magickal workings such as spells and rituals you can bend the unlimited source of energy to your will and desire.

The Wiccan path has no leaders, No laws saying what is right and wrong, No real religious text such as The Bible,The Qur’an ,The Torah,The Vedas ,The Book of Mormon ,The Guru Granth Sahib ,The Avesta ,The Zhuan Falun etc although there are hundreds of books on wicca.

Wiccan fall basically into two groups the Hedge Witch, which is a solitary practitioner, and those that belong to a formal group or coven. Covens normally consist of 13 member and they are normally presided over by a High Priest and Priestess who have had may years of experience and are respected as an Elder and teacher of the craft.

All Wiccans adhere to one overriding ethical precept as stated in the “Wiccan Rede”:

“Though it harm none, Do what thy wilt”.

For a more detailed view of this rule please read “And it Harm None

And to insure that Wiccan’s work ethically and with an understanding that their actions have a consequence the have “The Three-Fold Law“.

Which basically is what you send out will return three-fold three times good three times bad. This means that a Wiccan has to be responsible for their own actions and how the actions affect other people because of the backlash they will receive for causing harm

Wiccan’s celebrate 8 major rituals each year called “Sabbats

There are 4 major and 4 minor Sabbats. The major Sabbats include: Imbolc (February 2nd), Beltane (April 30th), Lughnasadh (August 1st) and Samhain (October 31st), while the minor Sabbats are: Ostara (Spring Equinox, March 21st), Litha (Summer Solstice, June 21st), Madon (Autumn Equinox, September 21st), and Yule (Winter Solstice, December 21st).

The Sabbats are solar rituals marking the points of the sun’s yearly cycle, and make up half of the Wiccan ritual year. The other half is made up with “Esbats“, the Full Moon celebrations. There are 13 full moons each year symbolizing the goddess, wisdom and the inner self of the individual.

Anybody can be a Wiccan or Study Wicca and many people do. Since Wicca is a very personal and practical religion it can be moulded to suit an individuals needs spiritually and personally.

There are many different branches with in the Wiccan religion all with different rituals and rite but they all share the basic structure Wicca and Wicca is only one of many Pagan paths, And the one thing all these traditions share, is an overriding reverence for life, nature, and the environment, as seen through the Goddess and God.

 What is Wicca?

Beltane Eve

beltain2 300x199 Beltane Eve An excerpt from Beltane Eve – by Jill M Earlam / Dragonlady © 2007

As the fires of Beltane were lit on the heath, next to the forest, there were cheers and the happy sound of people enjoying themselves, eating and drinking and waiting in breathless anticipation of the God and Goddess, who would surely come to bless this Beltane celebration.

Delphi stood smiling, watching the children dance around the maypole, screaming and laughing with delight as they held the ribbons, weaving in and out of each other making that age old pattern, beginning again the dance of creation even though none of them knew what tonight would bring.

She stood at the edge of the forest, a little way from the people, who were beginning to feel the effects of the drink and the dancing and as the youngsters were taken home by their sisters old enough to celebrate the day but not quite old enough to join in the rituals, which came later.

Delphi could feel Janus calling her and slipped between the trees. It was dark within the confines of the forest but she could still see the fires burning brightly and the full moon was just visible, her beams split by the branches of the tall trees. Her heart was pounding in her chest, she could feel his presence; he was very close. She turned around as she felt his touch. He was there, standing before her in his white robe, his face hidden. As he pulled back the hood of his robe she could see he wore the silver circlet, with the blue crystal in the centre. The stone was of the deepest blue and seemed to glow brighter, matching his eyes, as he smiled gently at her. He looked like a god standing there before her; tall, long silver blonde hair and fathomless blue eyes. She felt as if she was drowning as she gazed into the depths of those eyes; it was like looking into the deepest lake and seeing your own reflection. Janus took her hand and kissed it before drawing her gently into his arms. As she felt the strength and firmness of his body against hers, through the robe he wore, she sighed with pleasure to be back in his arms.

“How I have missed you, my love.” His whispered words made her shiver with anticipated pleasure and he held her tightly.

They stood together, arms around each other totally oblivious to all that was going on just beyond the edge of the trees. He released her and she turned her face up to look at him and as she did, his lips came down to meet hers, gently at first, a feather touch barely there until her hand touched his cheek and she felt his breathing quicken. He reluctantly took his mouth off hers and spoke into her ear, “Let us go to our place, my love. I want to love you.”

As they reached the opening in the forest, as one they dropped to the floor, lying on a bed of soft mossy grass only feet away from the edge of the pool, which sparkled in the moonlight.

“I love you so much” her whispered words were muffled as once again, his lips found hers, kissing her with such passion. His fingers started to unfasten the bodice of her dress and his hands slipped inside, caressing her back. He slipped the dress off her shoulders and his lips caressed her neck, moving down to take one of her erect nipples between his lips while he gently rolled the other one between his fingers. She arched her back as he took the dress off her; his hands were hot, gently urgent as his caresses moved between her legs to stroke that mound, covered in soft dark hair. As he gently traced those lips with his fingers, she opened her legs to allow him to touch her and as his fingers found that sensitive little place, she moaned with pleasure. “You are so beautiful” he spoke quietly to her as she implored him, “let me love you”

Her hands reached up and she undid the tie on his robe. As it fell open she saw he was naked underneath and she caressed his firm body with her hands, flicking her tongue over his nipples, dropping butterfly kisses along his chest and stomach, stopping only to take hold of his manhood, her fingers caressing up and down, feeling him grow at her touch.

He was so hard and ready for her, he could bear it no longer and he gently entered her, his erect shaft finding its way inside her, their bodies becoming one as their lips met again in the sweetest kiss. Slowly and sensually they moved together, their breathing quickening as waves of desire and love washed over them.

She heard the animal come crashing through the forest. He stopped and pawed the ground; he was so near she could almost feel his breath.

She was close, so close to reaching ecstasy and felt the hardness and strength of Janus inside her as they moved as one, his breathing fast and shallow, whispering words of love in her ear. She felt him tense, his body arching as he cried out her name releasing his seed inside her and as she held his shuddering body she felt the waves of pleasure washing over her. And at that moment, although neither of them knew it, the child was conceived. Their bodies trembled with released passion and love as they lay holding each other, neither one wanting to move lest they break the spell.

The stag still watched as if hypnotised and as they looked back at him, (wondering what he was going to do), his outline wavered and before them stood Herne, tall and powerful. Before they had a chance to get to their feet and cover their nakedness, from between the trees She appeared – beautiful in her flowing blue gown, dark hair falling down past her waist with a silver triple moon circlet on her forehead. She smiled at them and as she went to Herne, they spoke without words. By this time Delphi and Janus were on their knees, their heads bowed towards this great god and goddess.

She spoke to them in a voice full of tenderness, “stand up my dears, do not be afraid.” They stood before Herne and the Goddess heads still bowed. She was trembling in fear because as High Priestess to the Goddess she should not be with a mortal man. Yet the Goddess was smiling at her, look on her face, which seemed almost to suggest forgiveness.

Janus threw himself at Herne’s feet in such terror crying, “Please don’t hurt her; forgive her. Punish me instead. I love her so much.” He lay prostrate on the ground, his shoulders shaking as tears coursed down his cheek. Delphi wanted to run to him, but did not dare move, until she felt the Goddess give her a little push and she looked at her and smiled, “Go to him, don’t leave him to cry alone.” Even Herne was smiling down at her as she threw herself on the floor by the side of Janus and took his face in her hands and as she saw the look of such abject sorrow on his face, her tears began to fall. They held each other, just sitting waiting for the wrath of Herne to descend on them.

Then Herne spoke, “We have been watching you for some time now and know just how long you have fought against this love you feel. We know you have not deliberately sought to deceive us and for that we will not punish you.” The Goddess spoke, saying, “We see the love and devotion you have for each other and who are we to come between you? when we both have felt that utter misery of being without the one you love. You deserve each other and of course there is now the child to think of too.”

As She spoke these words, Herne closed the gap between them and put His arms around Her and gently touched Her lips with His. The forest stirred, the Moon came out from behind a cloud and a sun flared into being, high in the cosmos.

Delphi suddenly realised just what the Goddess had said – she was with child.

“You shall be released from your Priestess duties but you may remain with the other Priestesses as long you as you wish, showing them the way and deciding who shall succeed you as High Priestess. I shall make sure all know it is my decision and all will be well. It is meant to be, the child inside you has shown me that.”

At the Goddess’s words, Delphi got to her feet and kneeled before her and took her hand. “I don’t know how to thank you. I have no words but if you can see my heart you know how I am feeling right now.” She kissed the hand of the Goddess who smiled down at her. Janus stood and bowed his head before the mighty Herne, whose voice reverberated through the forest as he spoke. “Look after her and your unborn child, there are those who will attempt to destroy what you have – do not let them. Love each other the way we love and you will survive through the ages. You shall continue as Druid and sing the songs and tell the tales of the Bards but I shall speak to your master and tell him. If you ever need us, come into the forest and call and we shall come.”

As Herne spoke these words, the Goddess came to him and slipped her hand into his and they turned and walked away through the trees, leaving Delphi and Janus.

 Beltane Eve

Originally posted 2011-04-30 10:59:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Imbolc, Imbolg or Oimelc

imbolc BrigitsCross 150x150 Imbolc, Imbolg or OimelcTraditional starts sunset on 1st February Imbolc is a Celtic fire festival and marks the mid point between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.

Imbolc (pronounced ‘im’olk’ also known as Oimelc) comes from an Irish word that was originally thought to mean ‘in the belly’ although many people translate it as ‘ewe’s milk’ (oi-melc).

Imbolc marks the beginning of spring a time of the spring lambs and the earth showing the first signs of new life and promise and would mark the change over from the winter goddess and the summer goddess depending on the weather.

Depending on local climate, the transfer of power between the winter goddess and the summer goddess is celebrated any time between Là Fhèill Brìghde (February 1) at the earliest, Latha na Cailliche (March 25), or Bealltainn (May 1) at the latest, and the local festivals marking the arrival of the first signs of spring may be named after either the Cailleach or Brìghde.

Since Imbolc is a reclaimed festival and much of it original history has been lost and or absorbed many of the original Celtic links to Cailleach or Brìghde have been replaced by links to the goddess Brighid the Celtic goddess who was converted to Christianity.

Since this time of the year shows the aspects of rebirth many ancient cultures celebrated it The Romans with Lupercalia, the Egyptians with the Feast of Nut, the Christians with Candelmas etc but since Gerald Gardener Wheel of the Year many pagans use Imbolc and the associated mythologies created or adapted by Gardener to mark this time of the year.

But for early pagans whose lives depended on the weather and their winter stores Imbolc was an important time many of the celebrations where focused on the return of spring and bounty of future harvest, Fertility of the maiden replacing the baroness of the crone.

This time of hope of spring arriving was celebrated by weather prognostication there is even an early version of Groundhog Day Used by the Celts according to the Carmina Gadelica, if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens then spring was on it way. An old Gaelic proverb states-

Thig an nathair as an toll
Là donn Brìde,
Ged robh trì troighean dhen t-sneachd
Air leac an làir.

Translation –

“The serpent will come from the hole
On the brown Day of Bride,
Though there should be three feet of snow
On the flat surface of the ground.”

Imbolc is the day the Cailleach — the hag of Gaelic tradition — gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter. Legend has it that if she intends to make the winter last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood. Therefore, people are generally relieved if Imbolc is a day of foul weather, as it means the Cailleach is asleep and winter is almost over.

In it most basic form Imbolc is the end of winter and beginning of spring but as our ancestors knew things don’t always follow a calendar so some give and take over the start of spring is allowed so the hope that spring was on it way is more important.

Common activities for Imbolc include feasting with dairy being an important part of the feast, lighting fires to warm the ground, weather prognostication, making corn dollies, Bridget’s cross, and cleaning.

Also known as: Candlemass, Imbolg, Bride’s Day, Oimelc, and Brid’s Day

Date: February 1st or 2nd

Symbols: Candles, Brides, Grain Dolly, Burrowing Animals, Ewes

Colors: White, Silver, and Pale Yellow

Deities: Virgin or Child Goddesses, Gods as Young Men or Boys

Herbs: Basil, Bay, Benzoin, and celandine may be burned; Angelica, myrrh, yellow and white flowers may be used as altar decorations.

 Imbolc, Imbolg or Oimelc