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Pagans have a long history of violence not only the fact that human and animal sacrifice where used but even today in the more enlightened times human sacrifice is heard of. The last being this year (2010) in April where a human Head and torso was found in A temple of Kali near Chotomakdampur village in the western district of Birbhuma in West Bengal India

Although many Western pagans and neo pagan groups would not consider a human sacrifice as part of their rituals as they see it as being against the Goddess wishes some tribal polytheistic religions still use animal sacrifice as part of their practice.

Now we all know that during our history (at least 50,000 years of history) across the world that human sacrifices where commonplace as way of appeasing the Gods. Even many of today’s rituals and festivals are link to sacrifices which would of in times past required animals to be slaughter as a minimal offering and this would escalate to humans if crops failed repeatedly or other hardships where faced.

During this time in our history no one was excused from being sacrificed kings and leaders would be scarified to. Even Christianity has a dark past when it comes to blood scarifies the Old Testament is littered with account animal and human sacrifice.

This link with human and animal sacrifice is often glossed over and is not spoke about much today and where possible is dismissed as history of primitive cultures and has no relevance today days pagan which then brings up the debate on blood in rites and rituals.

As we all know that blood and fluids from the body can be used for very powerful magicks and at the same time we have a moral obligation if not a ethical belief that the use of such materials is against the wishes of the divine as all life is sacred to the Goddess and God although there are some goddess and gods who appreciate blood and sacrifice Kali for one (and she is not the only one by far).

This idea of using blood in ritual has always caused much debate among pagans some are completely against the idea where other say a single drop from a pinprick is as much as you need.

Personally the idea of blood in rituals or spells is something that has always baffled me I have spells that require a personal connection to be made for example a healing or cursing poppet will work much better if it contains something that belongs to the person being heal (note this can be a piece of cloth from clothing right up to part of the person themselves ie hair, nail, clippings, spit or blood (blood being the most powerful connection)) which is given freely (for cursing (dark magicks) can be taken or stolen). Or the most common blood ritual that I have taken part in, the ritual of brotherhood commonly known as blood brothers or Blood oath where two people blood is mixed making them the same family. There are even less common blood rituals that I have been involved in which many would not even consider to be a blood rite Tattooing is a blood rite I have a number of tattoos which include pentagrams, god and goddess symbols and the caduceus as these are draw on to the body blood flows and the connection is made in the same way the blood brother rite works the blood and the ink mixing becoming one.

Now I now many Wiccan’s who believe that blood use in spells and rituals is wrong and at the same time have numerous pagan style tattoos and would not even consider them to be apart of a blood rite (but there are some people that you can even argue with as they think they know best).

And I have already said that blood rites baffle me I feel that any rite where the goal is to spill blood is totally wrong but at the same time there are blood rites like blood brothers and tattoos which I have been involved in, so it seem that I am some what hypocritical of blood in rites, but the use of blood is a very tricky subject as it is not black and white. A blood oath (blood brothers etc) is a promise that is bound by ones own essence yes other bodily fluids can be used but have less of an impact, it is common or was common practice to spit on you hand before shaking hand to seal a deal.

If I was to put a limit on how much blood should be used in a ritual or spell I would have to say a single drop from a pin prick was more than sufficient as it is a symbolic gesture of your life energy that is being offered and the important word in all of that is YOUR. You should never offer someone else blood as sacrifice or be part of any ritual where blood of another is spilt in the name of the divine or even offer Your blood to the divine as an offering as this is wrong and against the divine.

A blood rite is for binding YOUR energy to another person (blood brothers) or object (personal talisman or amulet tattoo) and no more and where possible other bodily fluids should replace blood. I can see no reason why blood should be used in any rite apart from Blood Oaths (no more than a single drop is needed) and Tattooing; personal talismans can be consecrated using other bodily fluids.

Other Bodily fluids that can be used: -

Tears – to be used in talisman and amulets to prevent hurt, lose or pain

Sweat – to be used in talismans for hard work and success

Saliva – general replacement for blood and used in protection amulets

Urine – used in bottle spells and charms such as the witches bottle for protection

Semen / vaginal fluid any love charm or spell also for fertility

Menstruation blood only woman  (not for use in blood oaths as it is seen as impure) used the same way as urine

Warning

Blood buying prescription drugs online must never be consumed EVER and you should be wary of blood born diseases, which can be transmitted through contact or can become air born. Never offer blood as sacrifice even your own it to precious.

Final thoughts-

I can only think of two rites where blood is important and both these rites are life time commitments only when you are sure that you are prepared to commit to a life long connection to a person or tattoo should you agree to be involved in a blood rite as the bond you make will remain for your whole physical life and in the case of a blood oath will last for all future life too

As an Individual you will need to make up your own mind about blood in rites and rituals do not be coerced into doing something you do not feel is right morally or ethically

If you know that another will be harmed or is in danger you have an obligation to contact the local police department and inform them even if you are oath bound to say nothing.

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Related articles

• Sacrifice Pumpkins, Not Buffalo, During Nepal’s Dashain Festival (animals.change.org)
• Killing for ‘Mother’ Kali (time.com)
• What’s Witchcraft? 6 Misconceptions about Wiccans (livescience.com)

Originally posted 2010-10-15 12:34:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Timing – Full Moon, or when war breaks out

Introduction: This is not a ceremony for peace. Unfortunately, it seems that peace isn’t a viable option, and our warriors and the warriors that are allied with us will go on the war path to engage the enemy. In days of old, the Chiricahua Teneh invoked the energies of White Painted Woman before going into battle. White Painted Woman was not only the Maiden aspect of the Goddess, but also the one who taught First Man and First Woman, Her children, the skills of battle. It is She who will be addressed the most in this ceremony.

Preparations: Set up the shields (or candles: Black in the East, White in the South, Yellow in the West and Royal Blue in the North) at the four cardinal points, with the aid of a compass if possible. The Altar is set up a little to the West of the center, for the sake of the spirits of the warriors that have gone before. The altar cloth should be Desert Camo, to bring to mind the uniforms of the warriors now poised for battle. Two tan candles and a brown Maiden candle should be burning on the altar, but there should be no other adornments save for the usual tools. This is a solemn occasion. If robes are worn, they should be desert tan or Desert Camo. If you can get hold of them, the traditional Kaffiyeh scarves can be worn around the neck or as a belt for your athames. (for circles with both a High Priestess and a High Priest, the “F” in parentheses refers to what should be spoken by the HPS, the “M” in parentheses means that which should be spoken by the HP.)

Part One: Establishing The Sacred Grounds

OFFICIANT (F): To all present, I bid you Ho’n'dah (welcome). Welcome to the sacred ground, the place where the world is made one the special place, the place where we can remember ourselves.

PARTICIPANTS: Ho’n'dah! Welcome!

OFFICIANT (M): We come in a time of crisis, in a time when our brothers and sisters have taken up arms against the enemy. The Pagans of old have seen the war times again and again, and have when needful fought valiantly and victoriously. It is time again to ask the Lady of War, the One Who taught us the arts of battle in the first place, for Her protection and for the blessings of quick and decisive victory!

PARTICIPANTS: Enju! Let it be so!

OFFICIANT (F): Let us make the circle and make the ceremony.

Drummer starts a slow (60-70 bpm) beat. The Officiant(s) and the(ir) Acolyte walk to the intended perimeter of the circle, just in front of the eastern shield. The Officiant (F) is given the Smudge Stick by the Acolyte. She smudges the Eastern Quarter, saying:

OFFICIANT (F): Harmful ones of the East, Gan’n of the Eastern Mountains, stay away from this sacred ground leave and not return.

The process is repeated at the Southern quarter.

OFFICIANT (F): Harmful ones of the South, Gan’n of the Fiery Southern Mountains, stay away from this sacred ground leave and not return.

The process is repeated at the Western quarter.

OFFICIANT (F): Harmful ones of the West, Spirits of unquiet dead and those conjured by the sorcerers of the Enemy, Gan’n of the Western Mountains, stay away from this sacred ground leave and not return.

The process is completed at the Northern quarter.

OFFICIANT (F): Harmful ones of the North, Thunder people of evil intent, Gan’n of the Northern Mountains, stay away from this sacred ground leave and not return.

The Officiant (F) then passes the smudge stick back to the Acolyte (or Male Officiant) who smudges hi/rself then smudges all participants. S/he then takes the smudge stick back to the altar, placing it in its bowl. The Acolyte takes the pouch of sacred meal off the altar, to bring it to the Officiant

The Acolyte and Officiant(s) then walk to the Eastern Quarter. The Officiant(F) throws a pinch of corn meal in the direction of the East, then says:

OFFICIANT(F): Spirit keepers of the East, direction of the Sun’s rebirth, kindly ones of Air, come, see, and join in the ceremony!

PARTICIPANTS: Blessed Be!

The process is repeated at the South.

OFFICIANT(F): Spirit keepers of the South, direction of the Sun’s repose, kindly ones of Fire, come, see, and join in the ceremony!

The process is repeated at the West.

OFFICIANT(F): Spirit keepers of the West, direction of the Sun’s setting, brave warriors who have fallen in battle, blessed, mighty, good and brave ancestors, kindly ones of Water, come, see and join in our ceremony!

The process is completed at the North.

OFFICIANT(F): Spirit keepers of the North, direction of the Sun’s zenith, kindly ones of the Soil, come, see, and join in our ceremony!

The Officiant(s) then walk back to the East. The Acolyte joins them. The Officiant(F) unsheathes her athame, points it to the sky, and says:

OFFICIANT(F): Great Sky Father, Sun Father, Killer of Enemies, Lord of Battle, Lord of the Hunt, Rain Lord, Eternal Hero, Father, Grandfather, we welcome you to the Circle of Light, on this night when we ask your blessing on the Warriors of our Nation. Come bless us, come comfort us, come strengthen us, come enlighten us, come, see, and join in the ceremony!

ALL: Hail, Sky Father! Hail, Lord of Battle! Come bless us, come comfort us, come strengthen us, come enlighten us, come, see, and join in the ceremony! Ho’n'dah! Blessed Be!

(The male officiant unsheathes his athame, then) The Officiant(M) then says:

OFFICIANT(M): Great Mother, White Painted Woman, She Who taught the Pagans puissance at arms, She who gives victory to Her beloved People, Mother of Limitless Space, Mother of the Silver Moon, Corn Mother, Grandmother Wisdom, we your children welcome you to the Circle of Light, on this night when we ask your blessing on the Warriors of our Nation. Come bless us, come comfort us, come strengthen us, come enlighten us, come, see and join in the ceremony!

ALL: Hail, White Painted Woman! Hail, Bringer of Victory! Hail, Maiden of Battle, She of Unlimited Strength! Come bless us, come comfort us, come strengthen us, come enlighten us, come, see and join in the ceremony! Ho’n'dah! Blessed Be!

(The Male Officiant then sheaths his athame then) The Officiant(s) and the Acolyte then walks the circle around four times Deosil, once for each of the four directions. The Officiant(f) traces the circle in the air with the athame three times, then scatters more corn meal on the next pass. The rounds begin and end in the Eastern Quarter. The Officiant(s) and the Acolyte complete the rounds, then stand at attention at the Eastern Quarter.

OFFICIANT(F): Four times the circle is drawn. It is good, and unbroken. It is the boundary between Ordinary and Non-ordinary, between sacred and more sacred still. I have done this! Enju!

ALL: Enju! Blessed be!

The circle is completed. No-one is to leave it abruptly, but at a suitable lull one who has need can cut themselves out. Children and animals are excluded from these requirements.

The Circle Is Broken

OFFICIANT(F): It is time to break the circle. We have joined here to lend our support to our Warriors, as Pagans have done in war times past. It is time to dismiss the Spirit Keepers, the great ones, who have kept guard over this sacred spot.

The Officiant(s) face East.

OFFICIANT(S): Spirit keepers of the East, from the direction of the Sun’s rebirth, kindly ones of the Air, we bid you farewell. Blessed be.

The Officiant(s) face North.

OFFICIANT(S): Spirit keepers of the North, from the direction of the sun’s Zenith, kindly ones of the Soil, we bid you farewell. Blessed be.

The Officiant(s) face West.

OFFICIANT(S): Spirit keepers of the West, from the direction of the sun’s setting, blessed, mighty, good and brave ancestors, kindly ones of watet, we bid you farewell. Blessed be.

The Officiant(s) face South.

OFFICIANT(S): Spirit keepers of the South, from the direction of the sun’s repose, kindly ones of fire, we bid you farewell. Blessed be.

The Officiant(s) return to face East.

Great Mother, Noble Father, Beautiful Lady, Mighty Lord, we thank you for your presence and blessings here. Go if you must, but stay if you can. Blessed Be.

The circle is then “sunken” by all assembled into the soil, to give the energy released within to the Earth for healing if the ritual is done outdoors. If indoors, the circle is broken by the Officiant(s) walking the circle around four times Widdershins to disperse it.

Minerva Chihacou White Puma Pasekngavit 1/14/1991

Originally posted 2011-06-03 09:59:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The ancients took great care to remember their dead, considering it an act of impiety to neglect the graves of their ancestors. Below is a suggested modern form of this observance.

Traditional dates for such rites include the monthly day of Hekate, when house sweepings are deposited on the grave (Garland, The Greek Way of Death, p. 40); the anniversary of the person’s death; the Genesia, a general remembrance day for the dead; and at any time when the living need the aid of the departed.

Bringing offerings of olive oil and wine, approach the grave reverently and say:

Hermes, guide of those who move between the realms of the living and the dead, guide my steps and ferry my prayers to the halls of the Most Hospitable One and to the ears of my dear departed [name relationship: parent, child, spouse, friend, etc.]

Pour the oil and the wine onto the grave and say:

Dear departed [name relationship], you have taken your seat in the halls of Queen Persephone and her lord, among all those who have left this mortal realm. May you have a place of honor there! May you enjoy hospitality and ease!

Now hear me, beloved one. Know that your [name your relationship to the departed: son/daughter/spouse, etc.] has not let your memory fade, nor will [he / her] ever neglect [his / her] duty! May these offerings strengthen you and bring you gladness, as you brought strength and gladness to my life. Do not forget those of us who still walk under the sun, beloved one, and lend us your wisdom still. [If you feel a need for guidance in some aspect of your life, mention it here.]

Fleet-footed Hermes, carry these words to Haides and bring me an omen.

Await an omen; it may take the form of a person, animal, natural phenomenon–such as a sudden wind or shower–or as a kledon, a spoken word that seems particularly appropriate to your concern. The omen may come immediately, or at a later time, so keep watch for it.

copyright 2000 by Andrew Campbell.

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Originally posted 2010-10-22 08:09:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Introduction

Each plant, animal, rock, or other entity has a spirit (consciousness resonance matrix). These spirits can join together in a hive-mind as a spirit of an area. Nature spirits include real biological intelligences, are psychically powerful, and much less abstract and controllable than the Elementals that many magical people who perform all of their rituals indoors are familiar with. They can be extremely powerful allies. It is possible to sense nature spirits, to determine if they are receptive to a ritual planned, and to have them actively participate in magical workings, if they are.

Some Effects of Working with Nature Spirits

Spectacular physical manifestations can happen when working with nature spirits in the wild. I have personally seen actual foxfire mark the boundaries of a magic circle at a location that was identified as a receptive power spot and attuned to a planned ritual the day before. I have seen more than one site attuned for ritual be dry and comfortable, with a round hole in the clouds overhead, on days that were cold and rainy at other locations. Birds have joined in rituals, flying around the circle when energy is being raised; and insects, birds and animals have also joined in chants. In addition, the wind may respond to invocations. Generally these spectacular manifestations happen unexpectedly.

With or without such manifestations, nature spirits often will channel tremendous amounts of power into the magic being performed. It is suggested that you do not consciously try for specific manifestations. Let Nature channel her power into the magic in her own way. If approached with respect, nature may give you many pleasant surprises.

Spectacular physical manifestations are not a necessary sign of success. If you need a spectacular manifestation and nature spirits know this, you will get it. The best success in magic is on the inner plane and more subtle than such manifestations. This success involves beneficial transformations in consciousness that last and helpful chains of synchronicity in your life. In addition, working with Nature Spirits can also bring a deep sense of partnership with Nature, and bring new levels of attunement.

Nature spirit attunement to find suitable power spots and to get the help of friendly nature spirits that are performed several hours to several days before the main ritual get the best results. This gives Nature time to gather her children and to prepare to actively participate in the main ritual.

What Not To Do

If nature spirits are approached with disrespect, by attempting to command rather than listening to them and inviting them to work with you, nature spirits may flee, rebel, or attack. I once attended a ritual by some pseudo-Crowlyites who attempted to perform the “Ritual of the Barbarous Names” at a power spot in a forest and then to extend the circle several hundred yards in all directions.

While the forest in general had loud insect and frog noises, the area at which the ritual took place got quiet immediately when the main ritualist declared that all spirits were subject unto him. The vibes from nature could best be characterized as “Oh yea, Mother…!” One participant was quickly possessed by an angry spirit and kept repeating “You killed my children, your children will never live in peace.” When the priestess stepped out of the boundaries of the original circle, she was attacked by bees; and bees covered the Book of the Law. Magicians should know better than to attempt to command spirits whose true names they do not know!

Calling Nature Spirits

To make the most out of working magical ritual in the wild, one should find power spots where nature spirits are receptive to the ritual planned and approach the spirits with respect, as equals. In my experience, the most effective power spots for working with the living intelligences of nature are located in wild areas with diverse active ecologies.

When entering a wild area to find a site for a ritual, find a place that feels good. Then do the following, either individually or, if in a group, as a guided meditation.

o Relax while standing upright and focus on your breathing.  Breathe deep breaths from the diaphragm.  Breathe together if  in a group.  - Feel the wind and let it relax you and awaken your spirit    within, as your deep breathing takes you into non-ordinary    reality.  - Picture in your mind's eye a light inside you.  As you    breathe, feel the light expand, purify and energize you  - as    it expands to fill your aura.  - Feel yourself glowing, balanced, purified and full of power.  - Connect with your inner self (your higher self) and feel your    intuitive self operating.o Feel yourself as:  - The wind, full of life and intelligence, communicating with    all round.  - The Sunlight, warm, alive, channeling the power to    communicate with nature and energizing all around.  - Water, emotional, intuitive, refreshing and connected with    nature.  - The Earth, and note how your physical body is able to wander    while remaining part of Mother Earth.o Focus on your spiritual self, and  - Note the light within and feel it as love,  - Expand the light and love beyond the immediate aura of your    body to the surrounding area - where you will go to find a    power spot.o Telepathically (by thinking while channeling the love and light  energy) send out signals to nature spirits to emerge and be  aware of your presence.  - Say why you have come and invite them to join in sharing,    mutual celebration, and  the work you intend.  - Visualize the light and love energy you are channeling    extending out and merging with the light from distant places.  - Feel the power of the Earth flowing up through your body and    feet.  - Feel the power from the sky, and channel this power also to    further energize the carrier signal of light and love for    communicating with nature.  - Visualize the light expanding and merging.  - Continue to send out telepathic signals.o Now go deeper.  - Close your eyes, sit on the Earth, and feel your connection    while you channel more light and love.  - Continue modulating the light and love with your thoughts -    inviting receptive spirits to join with you and make    themselves known.  - If in a group, someone should start playing a drum at a rate    of about one beat per second, and you should listen to the    drum and let the drum take you deeper.  - Affirm that you are a nature magician, a medicine person, who    knows and communicates with nature.  Let this part of    yourself emerge to full consciousness.  Let the drum and the    connection to your inner self awaken that part of yourself    that naturally communicates with other life forms.  Let it    awak n your telepathic sense.  - Continue sending telepathic signals to nature.  - When you feel ready and an inner urge to begin, open your    eyes a crack and look around while continuing to channel love    and light and telepathically calling for a response.  - You may see light coming from certain areas that are    receptive.  You may get other signals, such as a feeling of    power or love returning in a certain direction.  Perhaps the    type of response to this work will be unexpected; follow your    intuition in interpreting it.  - You may test your connection by communicating (mentally)    instructions for signals for yes/no responses (such as light    getting brighter for less and darker for no) and then    mentally ask questions and observe the responses.o When you have found an areas that seems to be responsive and  receptive, begin walking to the area, while beaming love  energy.  Extend your aura to the area and sense the energy.

Entering a Power Spot

o Before entering a power spot, ask permission to enter.  If the  response is good, enter; if not, locate another more receptive  area.  o When entering the power spot, look around.  Perhaps the  responsive energy will be concentrated around some singularity  (a bush, a tree, a specific branch, a moss covered rock, or  other entity that stands out).  Perhaps the energy will be more  general.  Use your intuition and feedback from the spirits to  guide your actions.o If it feels right, send out a signal that you would like to  touch the singularity (or the ground) for better communication.  If the response is good, approach beaming love energy, touch or  hug the singularity (or the ground).  o Treat the spirits as you would other Pagans you meet for the  first time - be sensitive, open, and listen.

Deepening Communication with Nature Spirits

o Now that you have made contact with spirits that seem  receptive, deepen the communication.  - Breathe deep breaths from the diaphragm, and with each    breath, feel more refreshed.  - Now imagine that your spine is the trunk of a tree; and, from    its base, roots extend deep into the Earth.  Deep into the    rich moist Earth.  - With every breath, feel the roots extending deeper,  - Feel the energy deep within the Earth and within the waters    of the Earth.  Feel your roots absorbing nourishment from the    Earth and from its waters.  - Now feel the energy rising.  Feel the moist, warm energy    rising.  - Feel it bursting up from the Earth and rising up your spine,    like sap rises in a tree.  - Now imagine that you have branches, branches that sweep up    and then bend down towards the Earth, like the limbs of a    willow.  - Feel the branches extending and interweaving with your    surroundings.  - Feel the warm, moist energy of the Earth flowing through your    branches.  As it flows, feel your mind being purified,    centered, and connected to the Earth.  - Feel the power from the Earth flowing through your branches    and then down back to the Earth, like a fountain.  - Note how your branches absorb energy from the air.  Also,    feel them receiving light (fire) from the sky.  - Feel the energy from above penetrating deep through your body    into the Earth.  - Feel the warmth of the Earth rising also.  - Feel the energy circulating.o Notice how your branches intertwine with the branches and  energy fields of your surroundings.  - Notice how your roots also intertwine.  - Feel the energy dancing between you and your surroundings.  - Notice how you and the life around you are rooted in the    same Earth, breathing the same air, receiving the same fire,    drinking the same water,  sharing the same underlying    essence.  You are one with the magical grove.o Telepathically mention the time in the past when nature spirits  and people communicated regularly and the need to establish  such communication now. o Test your connection by asking questions and observing the  responses.

Working with Nature Spirits

o Explain to the spirits the purpose of your coming to them and  the nature of the ritual you plan.  o If the spirits you contacted are receptive:  - Explain to them the details of the ritual and invite them to    provide ideas.  - Listen, you may receive suggestions on how to improve the    ritual.  Such suggestions may come in the form of hunches,    visions, or answers to yes/no questions using pre arranged    signals, or in other ways.  - Ask what the best place to perform the ritual is.  - You may see light or get other psychic signals leading you    to other sites, or you may be at one of them.  - Before you leave the power spot, tell the spirit you have    contacted when you plan to return to do the ritual    (visualizing the associated lunar and solar aspects can help    with this communication).  - Invite them to join in the ritual when you return and to    bring their friends.  - Ask if it would be best to return silently, with drums, with    chanting, or with some other form of approach.  - You can also ask the spirits to provide guidance for working    in balance and to provide a teacher to provide further    guidance.o Before you leave the power spot,  - Thank the spirits,  - Channel love energy,  - Trigger your memory of the experience, and  - If it feels right, leave an offering of tobacco, or beer and    honey poured on the ground (or other suitable material).o  Leave in peace and love.o Proceed to other sites that were indicated by the spirits,  doing similar meditations at each site.  o If you need something, like a staff, a Maypole, or a wand, you  can also ask where you can find it and follow the guidance you  receive (not slavishly, but as you would guidance from another  Pagan).o Before leaving the general area in which you found power spots  and contacted nature spirits,  - Channel love energy towards the receptive sites you found,  - Thank the spirits of the land,  - Pull back your roots and branches,  - Ground any excess energy into the Earth (placing ones hands    on the Earth, breathing in any excess energy  and channeling    the energy down your arms, while visualizing and feeling the    energy going into the Earth), and  - Leave in peace and love.  o Naturally, you should leave the area at least as clean, and  preferably cleaner, than you found it. o If you work with techniques of Wicca or Ceremonial Magic, you  may find that by casting a circle, calling the Elements, the  Goddess, the Gods, and the local nature spirits while you are  at receptive sites, you may be able to greatly increase  communication.o Through the use of drums and other power raising techniques, it  is even possible to energize receptive nature spirits.  The  results can be very interesting.  If with a coven, such circles  can be done as part of a group attunement to a power spot you  have located.o If you do not get good feelings in response to your explanation  of the ritual and are unable to come up with a ritual that  gives good responses, do not try to force a good response.  You  would only be fooling yourself.  - Thank the spirits for their attention.  - Ask them why they are not receptive (if they are    communicative).  - Trigger your memory.  - Pull back your "roots and branches," return any excess    energy you feel into the Earth. -  If it feels appropriate, leave an offering of tobacco or    other appropriate material, out of respect for the spirits.  - Move to a more receptive site.  o If it is hard to find a site that is really receptive, you  should also:  - Consider any impressions you got of why the nature spirits    weren't receptive in the area you were in, and re-think your    plans for a ritual, as necessary and appropriate.  - It may also be appropriate to look for another general area    in which to find a suitable power site that is receptive to    the work planned.

What to Do When Returning

It can be very powerful to purify and center yourself and to attune to the spirits of the land using the technique previously described for calling nature spirits immediately upon returning to the site.

Then approach the site ritually using the previously arranged technique. You should have the details worked out with the Spirits of the land. A procession through or past receptive power spots, inviting nature spirits to join and proceeding to the central power spot for the main ritual, can be especially effective.

Be sure to invoke the nature spirits, to ask them for their help during the ritual, and to thank them at the end.

When consecrating space in the wild, or casting a circle, do not set up the perimeter as a barrier to all outside forces; it should be a beacon to attract friendly nature spirits, a container for holding magical power, and a barrier to spirits who it isn’t right to be with.

One thing that is fun and worthwhile in nature is to bring instruments, such as a rattle, a flute and/or a drum, to tune in to nature’s sounds, and to make music in time to nature’s sounds. You may be able to get some very interesting back and fourth exchanges of music going with selected creatures of the wild, and get into an amazing jam session.

Acknowledgements

There are other ways of working with nature spirits. This is one approach. The author thanks Selena Fox for teaching the basic guided meditation technique for locating and contacting nature spirits at a tranceworking session sponsored by the Chameleon Club (part of the Association for Consciousness Exploration) in 1981, Isaac Bonewitz for the outline of the expanded tree meditation, and Carlos Castenada, Black Eagle, Pasha, the Goddess, the Gods, and various nature spirits for teaching the rest of the good methods.

Most of this article is an expansion of an article by the author titled “Finding a Sacred Grove for Druid Initiation” by Larry Cornett, published in The Druid’s Progress and in Amaranth Anthology.

by Larry Cornett

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Originally posted 2011-02-24 03:39:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Each year at this time we look at our bank statements and our lives and start to make plans to improve them. The main problem is we try to do so much so quickly that we set ourselves up for failure.

How many of us have made New Years resolutions we such big hopes of success, giving up smoking, going to the gym, losing weight etc. we make these resolutions in the hope that our lives will improve. We tend to focus on our failings or our negative aspects rather than our successes or our positive aspects.

When we focus on our negatives we look in to a deep dark pit “the abyss” which has a way of making us focus on our inner demons but as Friedrich Neitzsche said “Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”

The problem with trying to change our negative aspects is that our focus is on the surface issues rather than the deeper root cause of the problems. Each of our bad habits has a deeper cause, which can take years of therapy to resolve. The issue is when we attempt to fix our flaws we tend to focus on the flaw not the cause.

This happen not just in our daily lives but also in our magickal working when someone is sick we try to cure the illness or bring relief often forgetting that the illness is only a symptom of a deeper issue.

Our flaws are symptoms of deeper issues, and only by dealing with the root issues can we truly change the surface flaws successfully. By focusing on the symptom (smoking, lack of exercise, over eating etc.) we don’t deal with the root cause, which causes us to fail in the end.

Our flaws are like weeds in the gardens of our lives unless you kill the root then the weeds will grow back stronger and stronger. So when we are truly ready to tackle our flaws they are much harder to destroy.    

For those that have chosen to life a magical life whether that Wiccan, Pagan, Witch or any other path we have chosen to live a life that is always growing developing and changing outwardly and inwardly until we have learnt to understand ourselves and the world around us.

We always have the option to cast a spell to help us but that is cheating true change comes from within and not from without. The use of magicks can be just as addictive as any drug.

Magick is a gift but we can become very reliant on it causing us to –

1 forgetting to deal with the root cause of problems and only dealing with the symptoms

2 believe that we are powerful enough to change the natural order of the world to our will

3 and worst of all we know what is best.

Now as we stand on the edge of 2010 and 2011 preparing to make our resolutions take some time to think about what you would like to change about yourself and follow this short ritual  

Set up altar
1 candle colour to suit goal and 1 brown one
Needle or scribe to write on candle

Open the circle as normal

Scribe on to coloured candle what you want to change and light and say

I want change
I desire Change
Help me find the way to succeed in making a lasting change.

Now quietly think about the thing you wanted to change when you first started doing or not doing it. What where the reasons you started.

Now scribe all the reasons why you do or not do the thing you want to change on the brown candle. Place the candle in front of you and close your eyes.

Use your normal process for visualisation and see your self, standing in a pretty garden look at all the flowers and plants and see the beauty.

Walk around and look closely at the flowers and plants and the lawn and you will see that it not as perfect as it first seemed the small weeds and moss in the grass, the weeds tucked in between the flowers and bushes. Keep walking around until you find a weed that symbolises the thing you want to change. You will know which one kneel down in front of the weed and start to dig it out with your hands.

Insure that you get every root and see the words you have wrote on the candle on the roots place the roots and soil in a pile before you. Shape into a candle shape focus on candle shape and make it real and pick it up (pick up real candle) and hold it in your hands and say.

The prescription drugs online without a prescription roots of my flaw, is now in my hands and I chose to remove this from my life.

Slowly come out of you visualization still holding the candle and place candle on the altar and light saying-

I have the root cause I know why I (do / don’t)_________ now I choose to change the root cause not the symptom (light the candle) the root will now burn away and as it does the symptom will fade and I will be free of this problem.

End ritual as normal and leave both candles to burn always

NB only by thinking of the cause of your failing can you truly face them and defeat them   

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Originally posted 2011-04-20 04:38:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Our homes are sacred spaces too, just as we use the guardians, watchtowers or elements to protect our circles many witches and pagans will use wards to protect their homes. These wards are used to protect from outside forces but the problem with this is that in this modern time of electronics and closer social connections and communication we end up inviting so much negativity into our homes and make it welcome negating any protection our wards could provide.

As a witch I am very attuned to the energy of my home may be more so then some as I write from home spend nearly everyday of the week sitting at my desk or I move 3 feet and sit on the sofa my whole world is contained inside my home (BTW I do go out shopping or to eat or spend time with friends). I have always insured my home as a positive flow of energy not sure if it feng shui but I know what feels right and I have often had friends remark about how welcoming and relaxed my home is.

Now I know that since I am very in tune with my environment my environment is also in tune with me so when I get hacked off or sad or ill or any negative emotions my home takes on that energy. Once my mood has change and positivist begins to flow once more.

Now I am not the sort of person who likes clean line and everything in it place I am more pile of books notes and plenty of knick-knacks around sort of person my home is a home not a museum it to be lived in and shared. I have a routine every Sabbat I clean the house, top to bottom in preparation for my rituals and to renew my wards.

But for nearly six months I have had a well of negativity surround me many of my friends have been going through financial difficulties, their has also been a large number of people how has passed away and a few more on their way, my self like everyone else has their own daily trials and tribulations.

Now I said I sit at my desk most of the time either to write, check out what mates are up to on facebook, email my friends and respond to them and chat on the phone I often joke that when I die they will have to bury me in a chair shaped coffin as I spend so much time here.

Now with all the negativity around me I would be on the phone having my friends tell me that their life was going to hell or blar blar has just passed, Watching friends fight and break up on facebook my desk area was becoming a negative energy dump which I was not aware of.

As this energy began to build slowly the changes I began to feel where very slight so much so they where accepted as normal everyday negative feeling and was not bothered by them. I only noticed the negative energy after I started to feel very unwell and decided that I needed some time away. So I basically got up checked email and stats and would take myself off out after a few days of taking sometime to myself I was happy to return back to writing and facebook but as I sat down I could feel a heaviness I began to focus on the negativity it was like a swirling grey slowly moving tornado centred over the area I would sit in.

I did the normal thing and got the smudge stick out and cleansed my desk did a few chants and blessed my working area that worked for about a week and then it came back. Slowly at first the bang it was back to fall force and I needed time away from PC once more.

I was sitting watching the energy from the sofa and decided that I had to do something I had to work out what it was I new it was a negative force but what was feeding  it. I had to work out first if it was fixed in place or connected to something so I moved the room around placing the desk in the window. Now with everything in its new place I checked to see if the energy vortex moved to.

The energy vortex remained in its same place ok so it a fixed one I could now deal with that I smudged once more and then did a cleansing ritual and it was gone.

A few months later it came back once more over my desk so I saved time and moved desk again and smudged and cleansed space again. But this got me thinking what had caused the issues to arise once more.

Fearing it was something to do with my feeling about writing or my PC I did a working that Hermes was the focus of. It all suddenly fell into place through the telephone, PC and TV I gave a root for unwanted energies to enter but not dissipate

That became contained a small local energy vortex which was being feed by out side communication.

There was no way I could kill off all negative communication since there is so much negativity about. I could see that this was going to become an issue now the desk has been moved once more I know that to insure a happy environment some things has to be done.

I have sat and though about this issue and realised that with out creating a circle physically I had created one on a mental level. My PC is on a cheap desk with printer and phone and Munch the gerbil in the corner of my living room but I refer to it as the OFFICE making it separate from the rest of the room (a world within a world). I can be so dumb sometimes that I did not see that I had created a sacred space where my main focus is to write about living a pagan life and share some of my insights and knowledge in a non formal way. Of course a shield would have been created just on a mental level which over time would have been made solid. Which was then being filled with the negative feelings of friends, the news, Facebook etc

This made it easy to solve! Each day start the day with an open of my workspace and when finished close the workspace and dissipate the energy nothing to formal just “time to start work” and “done finished that enough for today” is enough.

This has now got me thinking of how many other circles have been created around my home that I have been unaware of.

Now I know that many people may have the same feelings when it comes to sitting at a PC and I also know that from psychology That PC can help create social exclusion as more people communicate digitally rather than in person, leaving some feeling isolated and depressed. I am sure that much of those feelings are due to the fact that we spend so much time in front of PC and Laptops that we create our own personal bubbles that we fill with our feelings that encompasses the cyber world we just need to remember to release the energies we store.

After reading this you may realise that there are spaces that get you down it may be your work place if you do see if you have by mistake or without knowing created a bubble that’s containing your and others negativity the disperse it and see if things start to improve!

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Originally posted 2010-10-26 12:22:10. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Whenever ye have need of anything,

once in the month and better it be when the moon is full,

then shall ye assemble in some secret place,

and adore the spirit of me,

who am Queen of all witches.

There shall ye assemble,

ye who are fain to learn all sorcery,

yet have not won its deepest secrets;

to these will I teach all things that are as yet unknown.

And ye shall be free from slavery;

and as a sign that ye be truly free,

you shall be naked in your rites;

and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love,

all in my praise.

For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit,

and mine also is joy on earth;

for my law is love unto all beings.

Keep pure your highest ideals;

strive ever towards them,

let nothing stop you or turn you aside.

For mine is the secret door which

opens upon the Land of Youth,

and mine is the cup of the wine of life,

and the Cauldron of Cerridwen,

which is the Holy Vessel of Immortality.

I am the gracious Goddess,

who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man.

Upon earth,

I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal;

and beyond death,

I give peace, and freedom,

and reunion with those who have gone before.

Nor do I demand sacrifice;

for behold, I am the Mother of all living,

and my love is poured out upon the Earth.

I am the beauty of the green earth,

and the white moon among the stars,

and the mystery of the waters,

and the desire of the heart of man.

Call unto thy soul, arise, and come unto me.

For I am the soul of Nature,

who gives life to the Universe.

From me all things proceed,

and unto me all things must return;

and before my face, beloved of gods and of men,

let thine innermost divine self be enfolded,

in the rapture of the infinite.

Let my worship be within the heart that rejoicest,

for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals.

Therefore, let there be beauty and strength,

power and compassion, honor and humility,

mirth and reverence within you.

And thou who thinketh to seek for me,

know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not,

unless thou knoweth the mystery;

that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee,

thou wilt never find it without thee.

For behold, I have been with thee from the beginning;

and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

Written by Doreen Valiente

Originally posted 2010-06-25 16:12:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Materials required: On the altar there are brown candles; a Tootsie Roll (the great big one – as the athame;) a large glass with milk in it, (the chalice;) A small dish of Nestle’s Quik and a spoon; a small dish of chocolate sprinkles; a plate of cupcakes and some Yoo-Hoo along with a goblet.

CLEANSE THE SACRED SPACE:

(Take the small bowl of chocolate sprinkles)

Chocolate sprinkles where thou art cast
No calories in thy presence last.
Let no fat adhere to me,
And as I will So Mote It BE!

Nestle’s Quik where thou art cast
Turn this milk to chocolate, fast.
Let all good things come to me,
And make my milk all chocolatey!

CAST THE CIRCLE (using a tootsie roll):

CALL THE QUARTERS:

Mousse of the East, Fluffy one!
Great prince of the palace of dessert.
Be present, we pray thee,
And guard this circle from all moochers
Approaching from the East.

Fondue of the South, Molten One!
Great prince of the palace of decadence.
Be present we pray thee,
And guard this circle from all diets
Approaching from the south.

Cocoa of the west, Satisfying One!
Great prince of the palace of thirst.
Be present we pray thee,
And guard this circle from all carob
Approaching from the West.

Rocky Road of the North, Cold one!
Great prince of the palace of crunchy.
Be present we pray thee,
And guard this circle from all cheap imitations
Approaching from the North.

MAIN RITUAL:

HANDMAIDEN (Henceforth known as the Swiss Miss):
Listen to the words of the Mother of Chocolate; who was of old called; Godiva, Ethel M, Sara Lee, Nestle, Mrs. See, and by many other names:

HPS:
Whenever you have one of those cravings, once in a while and better it be when your checkbook is full, then shall you assemble in a great public place and bring offerings of money to the spirit of Me, who is Queen of all Goodies.

In the Mall shall you assemble, you who have eaten all your chocolate and are hungry for more. To you I shall bring Good Things for your tongue.

And you shall be free from depression, and as a sign that you are truly free, you shall have chocolate smears on your cheeks, and you shall munch, nosh, snack, feast, and make yummy noises, all in my presence. For mine is the ecstasy of phenylalanine (FEEN-EL-AL-A-NEEN), and mine also is Joy on Earth, yea, even into High Orbit, for my law is “Melts in your mouth, not in your hand.”

Keep clean your fingers, carry Wet Ones always, let none stop you or turn you aside. For mine is the secret that opens your mouth, and mine is the taste that puts a smile on your lips and comfy, padding pounds on your hips.

I am the Gracious Goddess who gives the gift of joy unto the tummies of men and women. Upon earth, I give knowledge of all things delicious, and beyond death……..well, I can’t do much there. Sorry about that.

I demand only your money in sacrifice; for behold, chocolate is a business, and you have to pay for those truffles before you eat them.

SWISS MISS:
Hear now the words of the Goodie Goddess, she in the dust of whose feet are the cheap imitations, whose body graces candy racks and finer stores everywhere:

HPS:
I, who am the beauty of chocolate chips, and the satisfying softness of big bars, the mystery of how they get the filling inside of truffles, and fill the hearts of all but Philistines with desire, call unto thy soul to arise and come unto me. For I am the soul of candy; from me do all confections spring, and unto me all of you shall return, again…..and again……….and again………………and again

Before my smeared face, beloved of Women and Men, thine innermost divine self shall be enfolded in the rapture of overdose.

Let my taste be within thy mouth that rejoices. For behold, all acts of yumminess and pleasure are my rituals. Therefore let there be gooeyness and mess, crispness and crackling, big slabs and bite size pieces, peanut butter and chocolate covered cherries all within you.

And you who think to seek me, know that your seeking and yearning shall avail you not unless you know the Mystery; “We will sell no chocolate until you pay for it.”

For behold; I have been with you since you were just a baby, and I am that which is attained at nearly any shop in the land.

Messed Be.

SWISS MISS:
Hear now the words of the Chocolate God, who was of old called Ghirardelli, Milton Snavely Hershey, Bosco, Fudgesicle, and by many other names.

HP:
I am the strength of the candy rack, and the piece that fell on the floor, but looks like it might not have gotten too dirty, and the deepest bitterness of dark chocolate. No matter how you try to resist the call of chocolate, I will hunt you out and I will become your sacred prey. I am the warmth of hot cocoa in the dead of winter, and the call of the road that leads you to that really expensive Godiva store downtown.

I give you, my creatures, the fire of love of chocolate, the power of jaw strength to bite off a piece of that frozen Milky Way bar, and the shelter of Haagen Daz when that big date didn’t work out. You are dear to me, and I instill in you my power; the power of a piece of chocolate that you had forgotten you had hidden, and the power of vision and magickal sight with which you can spot a candy counter a mile away.

By the powers of the half melted bar in the glorious sun, I charge you; by the darkest depths of the bottom of the cocoa pot and the lingering smell of bittersweet chocolate, I charge you; and by the beauty of a perfectly swirled vanilla butter cream, I charge you:

Follow your heart and your instinct, wherever they lead you. The wealth in your pocket can buy you treats that a Mayan king would envy. Take joy in that first bite of lecithin emulsified cocoa, and in the last satisfying slurp of Yoo-Hoo. Yet you must be wary of deceit. Eat not of that which is called “Baking Chocolate,” for it is vile and bitter.

Lastly, always remember to leave some chocolate behind you. Be not greedy, but let yourself be known as a connoisseur. Leave a little for someone else.

I am with you always, just over your shoulder, or around the next corner. I am the Lord of Chocolate, and when you have reached the end of your hoard, I will never be farther away from you than that 7-Eleven on the corner. I am the spirit of the Wild Child; the Inner Child who can never get quite enough. If you are a true chocolate lover, then your soul and mine are intertwined.

CUPCAKES & YOO-HOO:

(The blessing of the Yoo-Hoo)

HP:
Be it known that milk chocolate is not better than dark chocolate.

HPS:
Nor is dark chocolate better than milk chocolate.

HP:
For both are better than the falsely named ‘white chocolate,’

HPS:
And neither one is carob.

HP:
As the frosting is to the cupcake,

HPS:
So the creamy nougat is to the Milky Way Bar.

BOTH:
And when they are eaten, they are yummy in truth, for there is no greater snack in all the world than one made of chocolate.

(The blessing of the cupcakes)

HP:
Frosting is keen,

HPS:
And the filling is neat.

BOTH:
Great Goddess! Let’s eat!

Feasting and drinking (chocolate liqueur, if possible,) music and dance.

Dismiss Quarters.

HPS:
Oh, ye mighty goodies of the ______,
We thank you for attending our rites and guarding our circle
And ere you depart for your sweet and sticky realms,
We say unto you, “N-E-S-T-L-E-S, Nestles makes the very best.”

ALL:
“Chooooc-laaate.”

(After all quarters have been dismissed, give a final, satisfying belch at the East.)

Close circle.

Originally posted 2011-05-12 16:40:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

An often forgotten ritual but has a great importance in modern witchcraft since much of modern neopagan witchcraft has stemmed from Wicca. Many of the traditions and practices have been adapted to suit the new and emerging paths and although much emphasis still remains with the goddess that God aspect that has emerged much more than a consult.

Although Wicca considers the duality of the divine duty equal power still lies with the high priestess and often overlooked ritual is the drawing down of the sun. This is a ritual, done by the high priest, although I have heard of high priestess is performing the ritual with some fascinating results to say the least.

The drawing down the Sun ritual can be found inside the covers of the witches Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar below is a selection of text and the ritual from this book.

Since Wicca is a goddess orientated religion, laying particular stress on the gift of the goddess (intuitive and psychic facilities) because of the nature of its work. The complimentary process of invoking the spirit of the guard into the high priest occurs less often. The high priest does invoke the God aspect on the half of the whole Coven, during the opening ritual by means of the great God Cernunnos invocation; and in the

Imbolc, spring Equinox. Midsummer, autumn Equinox, Samhain and Yule Festival rites, their high priestess invokes the spirit of the god into the high priest either specifically or by implication. But we have found that there are occasions when it is fitting that this invocation should have a weight and solemnity comparable with the drawing down of the moon. For example, there are times when the work in hand calls for an emphasis on balance of polarity between priestess and priest-on their gift of the goddess and the gift of the God in perfect harmony.

For those who have felt the need for such a rite. We offer the following-for which drawings down the sun seemed the natural title. Doreen Valiente thinks that there may once have been a ritual for this purpose in the craft, but it has been lost over the years.

Because the high priestess, representing the goddess is always in charge of the circle, we suggest that drawing down the moon should always precede drawing down the time the high priest then invokes the God aspect in the name of the goddess.

The preparation.

No particular preparation is needed for this ritual-except that the covenant possesses is a high priest crown, he should be wearing it.

The ritual

At the end of drawing down the moon after the high priestess words, “. Here, I charge you in this sign “, the high priestess and high priest change places, moving deosil , so that he stands with his back to the altar and she faces him from the centre of the circle.

The high priest picks up his Athame from the altar and holds it His right-hand over his left breast points upwards.

The high priestess gives him a five-fold kiss, as follows:

Blessed it be thy feet that have brought thee in these ways – kissing his right foot and then they’re left.

Blessed be thy knees that shall kneel at the sacred altar – kissing his right knee and then a left foot.

Blessed be thy phallus with out which we would not be – kissing him just above the pubic hair.

The high priest spread his arms to be the blessed position, still holding his Athame in his right-hand point upwards.

The high priestess continues,

blessed be thy breast, formed in strength-kissing his right breast, then the left will stop.

Blessed be thy lips that shall utter the sacred names. They embrace, length for length, and with feet touching and kiss each other on the mouth.

The high priestess steps back, a pace and kneels s. She invokes:

Deep calls on high, the goddess on the God,

On him who is the flame that quickens her;

That he and she may seize the silver reins

And ride as one the twin horse chariots.

Let the hammer strike the anvil,

Let the lightening touch earth,

Let the lance ensoul the Grail,

Let the magic come to birth,

She touches with the right forefinger is throats left in hip right breast left breast right hip, and throat again (thus forming their invoking pentagram of fire). She then spread their hands outwards, palms forward. Meanwhile, she continues to invoke;

In her name. Do I invoke thee,

Mighty father of us all-

Lugh Pan, Belin, Herne, Cernunnos-

Come in answer to my call!

Descend; I pray thee, in thy servant and priest.

The high priestess stands and takes a step backwards. The high priest makes the invoking pentagram of fire towards her with his Athame, saying. Let there be light!

Click to enlarge direction from which to draw pentagrams

Originally posted 2011-05-12 15:10:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The following text was an addendum to some Wiccan friends of mine written in 1986. It followed a fairly standard instruction in the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, with which they were not familiar. We were feeling out some linking techniques leading to a proposed joint ritual involving several Wiccans and two ceremonial qabalists (one Thelemite – i.e. myself, and another). While events conspired to torpedo this project, some interesting ideas came along on both sides. The goal was a set of brief rituals meaningful to both traditions which we could practice individually, thus building up a group current prior to the date of the proposed rite (Samhain of that year). Herewith my notes on “The Wiccan Pentagram” ritual which evolved during this project. My primary source of God Forms was Paul Huson’s MASTERING WITCHCRAFT which was my main source of information on Wicca at the time (I’ve done considerable study elsewhere since).

Non-Solar Symbolism

A ritual can be modified in many ways, to refit it for a different set of symbols, for example. I have taken the liberty of doing some research into alternate symbols for the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram since I know that you work a lunar-feminine current (Wicca) whereas I use more solar-masculine symbols in my current (Thelemite). The Qabalistic Cross This might be used as is, though you could use the English if you don’t feel that the Hebrew is relevant. I am sure you recognize the words as being similar to the end of the Lord’s Prayer in the King James Version: ‘Unto thee, the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, forever! Amen.’ I would point out that this formula was around a long time before Christ, much less the translators of the Standard Revised Version of the Bible. If you dislike such a specifically Christian form, it may be replaced with the words KETHER (KEH-THER), MALKUTH, GEBURAH, GEDULAH (or Crown, Kingdom, Power, Mercy), the spheres of occult energy that you are invoking with the Q-Cross. The mental images remain the same. You could even avoid these Hebrew symbols entirely, using Names and formulae more suitable to raising the cone of power, which is what you are doing here in Wiccan terms. See the ‘Wiccan Cross,’ below.

The principle is:

Invoke strongly the Buy Drugs Without Prescription presence of the Supreme Creative Principle as you conceive it (or in your case, Her) to be. Your Name for the Goddess as Creatrix would be most suitable.

Draw down power from this Godhead and project it through your body into the Earth. Invoke strongly the Supreme symbol of Creation in your Tradition: maybe the God – as Son of the Goddess and Lord of the Trees, and as John Barleycorn, the ever- born and dying One.

Establish on your right side the Active Principle – Yang – the Projective Energy of the Universe. A God image, I should think.

Establish on your left side the Passive Principle – Yin – the Receiving Energy of the Universe. A Goddess force I feel.

Strongly visualize yourself at the center of these axes between the Infinities. This centers you at the middle of the Sacred Space to be created – the still point at the center of the universe.

The Pentagrams

Again, the pentagram should be used. This symbol is universal to many, many systems of magick, including Wicca, as you know. The five-pointed star has supreme power over the Elements: Spirit, Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. It drives off negative influences and attracts positive ones. It is an essential part of the rite and there is no symbol that can take its place as effectively.

The Names

I prefer using the Hebrew God-Names as is. In this connection they express formulae that govern the Elements and are no more religious than E=MC squared. However, there are equivalent Wiccan God-Names, which I describe in the next section, as substitutes for the Archangels. The use of the same Names to activate the stars and to invoke the Elemental force is quite in keeping with the Wiccan tradition, which does not use the same hierarchical system of God-Name, Archangel, Angel, Ruler, Spirit, etc. that Qabalism does.

The Archangelic Invocation

Instead of the Hebrew Archangels I described, you could use Wiccan Deities to invoke the ‘pure’ form of the Elements.

AIR-EAST: The Air image in Wicca seems to be masculine and relates to Herne, the Black Man, the messenger of the Gods, or the Sky Gods: Odin, or Lug as the rising Sun God. The God can be imagined as riding through the night sky, at the head of the Wild Hunt, or rising above the branches of the world-ash. Instead of the Sword given to Raphael, the God might carry a staff, or spear, or wand, which is attributed to Air in most Wiccan traditions.

FIRE-SOUTH: The Fire image is definitely masculine and relates to the Horned God: Cernunnos, Lucifer, call Him what you will. He stands in the hot light of the noonday sun, radiating fiery energy. He would bear an Athame or sword, which is the weapon of Fire in most Wiccan styles.

WATER-WEST: The Water image is the Maiden, the mistress of the Moon and the Tides: Aradia, Artemis, Venus rising from the waves. Her image is lit by the silver light of the moon, upon a tranquil reach of water or the foaming sea. She might hold the chalice, symbol of water (alternatively, the cauldron might be envisioned).

EARTH-NORTH: The Goddess in Her aspect as Earth Mother is here: Hertha, Habondia, Demeter. She stands beneath the golden, life-giving sun surrounded by the fruits of the Earth. Before her, a platter flows with good things of the Earth, for the disk/shield/platter is the pentacle, magick instrument of Earth. These are only bare sketches of the magickal images that a witch might use to replace the Qabalistic images of the traditional pentagram ritual. I offer them for what they are worth.

A few points to note:

the phases of the sun used in the Archangelic images (East:Dawn; South:Noon; West:Sunset; North:Midnight) are not the same, nor are they as important to Wicca. Instead, the poles of day and night are established: Night for the East-West axis and Day for the North-South axis.

the male-female poles are established with the masculine images (Herne and Cernunnos) attributed to the active Elements (Air and Fire) and the feminine images (Aradia and Habondia) to the passive Elements (Water and Earth). Note that one figure of each gender stands in light, and one in darkness. This male- female/positive-negative/active-passive polarity is central to virtually all systems of magick, e.g. the yin/yang symbol in oriental systems. I may be betraying solar-phallic tendencies by these assignments, and you may want to use different attributions: The Maiden can be Air and the Mother switch to Water, with the Hunter moving into Earth, for example. Heck, the dual God Forms should perhaps be invoked in each quarter. e.g. Venus/Adonis imagery in East or South, Hertha/Herne in West, etc.

The Star Of David

The last line of the Invocation refers to a ‘six-rayed star’ and the mental work calls for imagining a Star of David. This is not a specifically Jewish symbol in this context. The six-pointed star, or hexagram, is the Qabalistic symbol par excellence of initiation and spiritual illumination. The upward-pointing triangle represents the aspiration of the magician to the Gods, and the downward-pointing triangle represents the divine power, flowing down to the world. These meet at the moment of magick and the interlaced triangles forming the hexagram symbolize the power of this meeting. Should you prefer not to use the Star of David, you can replace the mental image with any symbol showing the meeting of your soul and the power of the Goddess. This can even be a private symbol, one that is meaningful only to you. Alternatively, you can just envision the sphere of white light from the Q-Cross, as a symbol of divine power. Replace the words about the ‘six-rayed star’ with some descriptive form: ‘the seal of the Goddess,’ or ‘the sign of my Awakening,’ or simply ‘the light Divine.’

WICCAN PENTAGRAM RITUAL

Rubric [This is a form of the rite incorporating the changes in symbolism discussed above]

WICCAN CROSS: Face East. Touch forehead. Say IO EVOE HERTHA (‘Blessed be Hertha,’ or other Name by which you worship the Goddess as Creatrix) Touch solar plexus or genitals. Say IO EVOE CERNUNNOS (‘Blessed be Cernunnos,’ or other name by which you worship the Horned God as the Earth) Touch right shoulder. Say EKO EKO AZARAK (‘Hail, hail force of fire’) Touch left shoulder. Say EKO EKO AMELAK (‘Hail, hail to the glory’) Extend arms in form of a cross. Say IO EVOE (‘Blessed be.’) Clasp hands upon breast and say ‘So mote it be.’

CIRCLE OF PROTECTION: Trace pentagram in East. Say HERNE. Trace circle of protection until facing South. Trace pentagram in South. Say CERNUNNOS. Trace circle of protection until facing West. Trace pentagram in West. Say ARADIA. Trace circle of protection until facing North. Trace pentagram in North. Say HABONDIA. Finish tracing circle, closing it in the East.

INVOCATION OF THE GREAT GODS: Return to center of circle and face East. Extend arms in form of a cross. Chant:

Before me HERNE The Huntsman

Behind me ARADIA The Maiden

On my right hand CERNUNNOS, the Horned God

On my left hand HABONDIA, the Great Mother

About me flame the pentagrams

And above me shines the light of the Goddess.

Repeat the Wiccan Cross. Rather than performing this in the rather measured cadences of Qabalistic Ritual, a form of dancing and chanting more pleasing to the God-forms of Wicca might profitably be devised.

by Paul Hume

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Originally posted 2011-02-07 08:39:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter