Cyber Cauldron

• 
  Fertility Deities of Beltane
  paganwiccan.about.com
  Beltane has been a time of fertility celebration for thousands of years, in innumerable cultures. Learn about some of the different deities that can be honored during this spring Sabbat.
• 
  Beltane History – Celebrating May Day
  paganwiccan.about.com
  Beltane has been celebrated for centuries among agricultural societies — it's the beginning of May, the sign that summer is just around the corner. This fire festival has its roots in fertility rituals that can be traced back to Greco-Roman religions. Learn about traditions of May celebrations from…
• 
  Setting Up Your Beltane Altar – What To Include on Your Beltane Altar
  paganwiccan.about.com
  Okay, so we know that Beltane is a fertility festival… but how do you translate that into altar setup? Here are some tips about how to set up your altar to celebrate the Beltane sabbat.
• 
  Wall Photos
  today (April 27) is the 6th of the of Mounukhion, the date of the Delphinia – the ancient festival honouring Artemis DElphinia and Apollon Delphinios
• 
  Wall Photos
  ~ What is the Celtic Tree Calendar? ~

  The Celtic Tree Calendar is a calendar with thirteen lunar divisions. Most contemporary Pagans use fixed dates for each "month", rather than following the waxing and waning lunar cycle. If this was done, eventually the calendar would fall out of sync with the Gregorian year, because some calendar years have 12 full moons and others have 13. The modern tree calendar is based on a concept that letters in the ancient Celtic Ogham alphabet corresponded to a tree.

  Although you don't have to follow a Celtic path to celebrate the Celtic tree calendar months, you'll find that each of the themes in the Celtic tree months ties strongly to Celtic culture and mythology.

  (Info courtesy of Pagan/Wiccan/About.com and Patti Wigington)

  *The Coven Avalon claims no rights to this artwork, or any on our page. If this work belongs to you and you would like for us to remove it, please contact us and we will certainly do so. Blessings!

• 
  Wall Photos
  Daily Devotion of the Goddess

  Meek and Mild, Strong and Wild,
  I shall be a Goddess Child.
  In the shadowed dark of night,
  Or the glory of the suns bright light.
  Meek and Mild, Strong and Wild,
  I shall be Her Goddess Child.

  Lady Abigail
  Copyright © 08122010

  Art by: Stephanie Pui-Mun

• 
  The Coven Avalon ~ Daily Pagan Recipe
  ~ Triple Goddess Elixir ~

  The Goddess lives all around you. Bottle her up with this ancient remedy, reputed to be at least six thousand years old, from The Yellow Emperor, a healing text from China.

  Triple Goddess Elixir (my name for it) is said to be curative for any problem that a woman encounters. It can dissolve cysts in the ovaries and breasts, regulate menses, ease menopausal symptoms, strengthen the nerves and the heart, and increase serenity as well.

  I love the vinegar on salads. I reserve the tincture for tough cases.

  Make it now, before the motherwort leaves get too bitter and the chickweed goes to seed. Yes, go outside right now and harvest your herbs and make it. Timing is of the essence for the herbalist. And while you’re outside, look up and enjoy these trees of the rose family.

  Susun — www.susunweed.com

  * Triple Goddess Elixir

  Harvest equal parts maidenwort (Stellaria media) [photo 1], motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) [photo 2], and cronewort (Artemisia vulgaris) [photo 3]. Use stalks and leaves of chickweed and motherwort. Use the white roots of the cronewort as well as the leaves.

  Gather your plants [photo 4] and cut into manageable pieces. Fill a jar 1/3 full of the maiden, [photo 5], then 1/3 full of the mother [photo 6], then the final 1/3 with the crone. Add vinegar or 100 proof vodka. [photo 7] Seal, label, and wait six weeks until use.

  The dose is a tablespoonful of vinegar in water or on food; or a dropperful of tincture taken two or three times a day.

  (Photo/recipe/info courtesy of Susan Weed – susanweed.com)

  *The Coven Avalon claims no rights to this artwork, or any on our page. If this work belongs to you and you would like for us to remove it, please contact us and we will certainly do so. Being a non-profit educational site, we operate under the Fair Use rule of the US Copyright Law – please refer to the page information for full details. Blessings!
  Pagan Recipes For Every Taste…

• 
  Wall Photos
  Labyrinth in the Nilgiri Hills of southwest India. This shape has extremely wide expanse. A lot of the surviving South Asian forms are bound up with art illustrating Buddhist jatakas, as those in Europe are with the churches. It also appears in Ethopian manuscripts about the Queen of Sheba, Scandinavian geoglyphs. In Hopi a squared-off form is called Tapu'at: "Mother-Child," clarifying the meaning of cosmic womb, gestation, and portal into the spirit realm
• 
  Wall Photos
  love this one …………………………..Pen

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The quarters or watchtowers are called to attend and protect Wiccan and some other pagan paths, rituals and circles. Each of the quarters represents an element Earth, Air, Fire and water. These elements are often assigned to a compass point the most common version is Earth – North, Air – East, Fire – South and Water – West.

Although the most common version of the quarters is used in most Wiccan groups there are slight variations there can be wider variations for the solitary practitioner as they attune themselves to a location and not a group, example if a witch can see the see the sea from his or her north facing window, mountains in the west it would be very logical for the witch to place the Water quarter in the north and the earth in the west leaving air and fire where they are.

Wherever you place the quarters or watch towers you will need to invoke in the correct way. or the way I was taught, was to visualise the guardian of the watchtower or quarter coming in to form and substance as you chant the an incantation which is used to invite the guardian to stand guard and protect the circle as well as adding the energy to the ritual. The Guardian is then held in place with the corresponding invoking pentagram (see below).

Click to enlarge

Once the ritual is complete the elements and Guardians are released with the banishing pentagram with a thank you for attending.

In Wicca, the invocation of the elements is performed after casting your circle.

As you call the element raise your arms in the blessing position. The elements are usually called starting in the East, place of Air and new beginnings. You then turn deosil (clockwise) to the South to call Fire, then to the West to call Water and to the North to call Earth, finally turning back to the East to complete the circular motion.

The traditional Wiccan way of calling the elements, which is published in many books on Wicca is as follows:

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air; I do summon call and stir you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Fire; I do summon call and stir you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, ye Lords of Water; I do summon call and stir you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, ye Lords of Earth; I do summon call and stir you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle

And the words used to dismiss the elements are :-

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, ye Lords of Earth; I thank you for attending my rite; and ere you depart to your fair and lovely realms, I bid thee Hail and Farewell.

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, ye Lords of Water; I thank you for attending my rite; and ere you Cheap Cialis Online Without Prescription depart to your fair and lovely realms, I bid thee Hail and Farewell.

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Fire; I thank you for attending my rite; and ere you depart to your fair and lovely realms, I bid thee Hail and Farewell.

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air; I thank you for attending my rite; and ere you depart to your fair and lovely realms, I bid thee Hail and Farewell.

Although some groups may have slightly different version and for a solitary witch there is no reason why you can write your own.

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  Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2010 Cyber Caulron

Originally posted 2011-01-28 02:39:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• 
  Agape Satori's photos
  Love Is The Infinite Limitless Potential Which We Call God/Consiousness/All That Is, For Only Within The Realm Of Love Everything Is Possible, Love Creates and Accepts Everything And Thus Everything Is Possible, even Hate, Suffering and Death

  (To Support Agape And His Work Click Here http://www.gofundme.com/Help-Agape-To-Help-Others)

• 
  Ƹ̴Ӂ̴ƷNatural MagickƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ
  Personal magic is released from the body through the protective hand (the one you write with)
  Quotes from Scott Cunningham, Nigel Pennick, Please feel free to share/tag, kindly press the magic "like" button – link if you download
• 
  Ƹ̴Ӂ̴ƷNatural MagickƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ
  Visualization is the steering wheel of magic; it ensures that the energy goes to the proper place
  Quotes from Scott Cunningham, Nigel Pennick, Please feel free to share/tag, kindly press the magic "like" button – link if you download
• 
  Ƹ̴Ӂ̴ƷNatural MagickƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ
  Don’t practise magic to:
  annoy, irritate, harm, or hurt
  bind, influence, control or manipulate
  win love or sexual favours
  sell your spells
  satisfy your ego
  Quotes from Scott Cunningham, Nigel Pennick, Please feel free to share/tag, kindly press the magic "like" button – link if you download
• 
  Ƹ̴Ӂ̴ƷNatural MagickƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ
  In magic, we create images of the needs and banish all images of the problems
  Quotes from Scott Cunningham, Nigel Pennick, Please feel free to share/tag, kindly press the magic "like" button – link if you download
• 
  Ƹ̴Ӂ̴ƷNatural MagickƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ
  Midnight chant
  O stars whirling through the inky round
  O power hiding from the light
  O black curling on the darkened ground
  O secrets biding in the night
  O ebon treasures and the owls sweet cry
  O haunting forces of the deep
  O misty measures of the circling sky
  O daunting courses that you keep
  Come to me with your magic power
  Enfold me with your arcane might
  Be here at this mystic hour
  Quotes from Scott Cunningham, Nigel Pennick, Please feel free to share/tag, kindly press the magic "like" button – link if you download
• 
  Ƹ̴Ӂ̴ƷNatural MagickƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ
  In natural magic we join our magic with the Earths magic
  Quotes from Scott Cunningham, Nigel Pennick, Please feel free to share/tag, kindly press the magic "like" button – link if you download
• 
  Ƹ̴Ӂ̴ƷWitch GiggleƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ
  Please feel free to share/tag, kindly press the magic "like" button – link if you download
• Wishing everyone a great Thursday may this day bring acceptance and new insights…
  Wishing everyone a great Thursday may this day bring acceptance and new insights may your life blossom your friendships grow and you love be eternal Brightest Blessing Draco )o( /|\

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I can remember when I was first starting that I wanted all the best tools but money was an issues so I used to troll around car boot sales, charity shops and flea market trying to find things that I could use for my alter. You will quite surprised on what you can pick up for just a few quid.

Over the years I have replaced all my second had stuff with brand new stuff and some of it is more pretty that practical (who does not have a chalice with a loose liner) but it makes me think what tools do you really need? To be really honest you don’t really need any tools, fingers can replace wands and athames and a chalice can be replaced by cup etc.

You can spend thousands of pounds buying robes; alter statues, wands, athames, Chalices, Crystals to dress your altar,pots and dishes and  cauldrons  and pointless things like hand bound virgin parchment paper leather bound book of shadows but having expensive tools does not make you a good witch or even a competent witch. When building your tools worry more about what feels like than what it looks like, just remember to cleanse second hand items full before use.

So what do you need for a basic alter from my point of view a candle and a joss stick works fine but if want to add more to that then you can. Here are some ideas for low cost replacements to expensive altar equipment.

I have found that I have better rituals with altar equipment that I have created myself they may not be the prettiest but they have all the energy that I poured into them when made them.

A good idea is to join a pottery class and make what you need. Remember that no one has the right to tell you should not put something on your alter create what you feel is right for yourself.

When your first trying out a pagan path there are two very good reasons why you should create your own personal tools rather than buy direct from a catalogue or internet shop, the first is it will help you empower the items with greater ease due to your personal connection the second is paganism is not for everyone and why spend a fortune on something your not going to continue.

There is one thing that never seems to get mentioned in regards to altars and that a tape deck MP3 Player or CD player as music is important in raising energy I will chat about music in rituals in next posting, but insure what ever technology you use to play your music just make sure it is ease to control and that you can pause and play with out to much trouble.

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• Tools Used for Traditional Rituals in Wicca (cybercauldron.co.uk)
• Lammas The First Harvest (cybercauldron.co.uk)
• The Pagan Jesus – Did Jesus Come From Pagan Religions? (cybercauldron.co.uk)

Originally posted 2011-05-12 16:40:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• 
  Inspiring 12
  …•°*”˜
  Earth, Air, Fire Water…..
  I am water…..
  (¯`v´¯) ….♥ Chrissy ♥․´`• ․ ․ . . .`•
  `*.¸.*.♥.✿´´¯`
  ☼•*❤*•°•❥ℒƠѵℯ & Hugz..☆ . ƸӜƷ¸.☆.
  —
• 
  Europe's last pagans
  www.youtube.com
  In ancient times, people of most ethnic groups used to pray like the Mari El pagans do to this day. These people are so loyal to their gods that their belief…
• 
  Wall Photos
  today (April 25) is the fourth of the lunar month, the day to celebrate the Ermou Tetras – Hermes's symbolic monthly birthday

  It is held to commemorate Hermes's 4 Divine gifts to mankind:
  Logos (speech), the art of contest (Agon), the musical scale and geometry

  the fourth of the lunar month is also a day to honour Aphrodite, Eros, Herakles, Poseidon & Apollo

• 
  Wall Photos
  Home Cleaning and Blessings Spell

  Best if done at Dusk, Sunrise or Midnight..

  You’ll need;
  1 Black Candle
  1 White Candle
  Holy Water
  Sage Stick
  Lighter

  Have both candles with you.

  Take the Black candle and start at the front of the house. Walk through the house, Room by Room.
  Then walk out side by your back door.

  As you do so Say…
  Be gone all sadness, all evil, all entity.
  Be gone from here for all eternity.
  Blow out the candle.

  Take the White candle, Light it walk back inside through the back door.
  Walk through the house again, Room by Room.
  Be gone all sadness, all evil, all entity.
  Be gone from here for all eternity.
  Place the White candle in the heart of the house. (This being the Main Room lived in.)

  Now walk through the house again, Using your Sage Smudge, allow the smoke to go into every corner home your home.
  With this holy smoke and fire I bless and cleans this home.

  Now walk through the house again, Using your Holy Water, sprinkle it around the entire house. And every corner home your home and across the indoor and door seals.
  With this Blessed Water and Salt I cleans this home of every fault.

  Now take the white candle and carry it to your front door, Open the door and As you do so Say…

  Welcome love and Welcome light,
  Come into this home tonight.
  For now and ever it shall be,
  This I ask.. So mote it be.

  Lady Abigail
  Copyright © 08012003

  How to make Holy Water
  You can make holy water by mixing sea salt and natural water. 1 teaspoon of sea salt to 1 pint of water, I use rainwater my self.
  Then bless it unto magickal work and the deities you work with.
  Simple and is better than any made by others or gotten in stores. Blessings.
  Lady Abigail

• 
  Wall Photos
  Akasha……..

  O Great Spirit, Akasha, Ancient One
  Bring Your Powerful Spirit On
  Cast Your Circle of Power
  Bind the Elements, Of Their Towers
  Bring Your Ancient Power Forth
  From East, to South, to West, to North
  You Surround, Protect and Combine
  For the Guardians are Thyne
  Blessed are We, that we can Call to You
  May your Strength and Light Shine Through
  Thy Protection You readily Send
  You encircle the Pentagram, End to End
  I Honor Thee, as My Circle I Cast
  I Call the Four, the Power you bring Last
  You Bring Thy Balance and Harmony
  In Love and Light and Blessed Be

  )0(

• 
  Wall Photos
  By the Stars Above
  The Grass Below.
  By the Wind That Stirs
  The Fire That Burns.
  By the Water That Churns
  The Spirit That Yearns.

  Great Mother Goddess
  Great Father God

  Be with us your Children
  This day and every day
  This night and every night
  For We are Thine

  Blessed BE ☽✪☾

• 
  Wall Photos
  I am the Father………

  I am He that Brings you Home
  I am The Stag that through forests Roams
  I am Your Father, and Your Brother
  I am Your Friend, and Your Lover
  I am the Passion born of Fire
  I am the esctasy of Desire
  I am He of Strength and Power
  I am found in the Mountains high Tower
  I am the Corn, blown by the Breeze
  I am the Wind, that rustles the Leaves
  I am the Hunter of the Dark Night
  I Bring you The Sun, I give you Light
  I am the Green Man, The Lord of the Tree
  I Bring My Wisdom and Might unto Thee
  Seek Me in Places Wild and Free
  For I am Thy Father and Love Thee
  Take My Hand in the Darkness Bright
  Let Me Lead You Forth into the Light
  Together through Death, Life and Rebirth
  We will Guard Her Lush Green Earth

  Blessed Be

  )0(

• 
  Wall Photos
  O Great Mother, Sacred Goddess of All
  Hear Me! For unto to Thee I Call
  O Great Father, Sacred God of All
  Hear Me! For unto Thee I Call
  Bestow Your Healing Grace
  Wrap My Sister in Your Warm Embrace
  Send Her Comfort, Strength and Love
  Bestow Your Pure Light from Above!
  Elements! Ancient Ones of Old
  Of Earth and Fire, Of Winds flow Bold
  Of Water, That Flows fast and Free
  Hear Me as I call to Thee!
  From East, to South, to West to North
  Send Your Strengh and Fortitude Forth
  My Sister needs your Healing Power
  Dispatch it forth from thy Tower
  Guardians, Watchers, the Quarters Mark
  Fire send forth thy burning Spark!
  Air, Thy Cleansing Winds so Strong!
  Water, Thy flow, Fast and Long
  Earth, Thy Comfort and Stabilty
  Ease My Sisters Pain and Fragility
  Akasha, Great Spirit that Binds them All
  Hear My Prayer, Hear My Call!
  With the Love of the Lord and Lady Bright
  Hear My Call, Upon this Night
  Through the Strength of the Elements All
  May My Sister stand strong and not Fall
  Wrap Her in Your Warm Embrace
  Bestow Your Love and Healing Grace
  As I do Will, So Mote it BE!

  Blessed Be

  )0(

• 
  Wall Photos
  Beltane Oil

  1/2 dram base oil (Olive Oil)
  1/2 dram Sage oil
  1/2 dram Pennyroyal oil

  (The easiest way to measure is to use equal amounts of each oil.)

  Lady Abigail
  Mix well and bottle.
  Lady Abigail

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• 
  Wall Photos
  ~ A Pagan Smile ~

  Bippity Boppity and Boppity Boo
  I say this lil rhyme sending love out to you
  Though the days are getting colder and the cool wind may blow
  Count on me as a friend, this is what you should know
  Whether Witch or Pagan or Druid or such…
  We are all Earth's children and honor her much
  So take this little smile that I send out to you
  And spread it to others as good Pagans do!

  ~ (c) Leandra
  (9/29/2010)

  *The Coven Avalon claims no rights to this artwork, or any on our page. If this work belongs to you and you would like for us to remove it, please contact us and we will certainly do so. Being a non-profit educational site, we operate under the Fair Use rule of the US Copyright Law – please refer to the page information for full details. Blessings!

• The Fumigation from Storax.

  I call Einodian Hecate, lovely dame,
  Of earthly,…

  The Fumigation from Storax.

  I call Einodian Hecate, lovely dame,
  Of earthly, watery, and celestial frame,
  Sepulchral, in a saffron veil arrayed,
  Pleased with dark ghosts that wander thro' the shade;
  Persian, unconquerable huntress hail!
  The world's key-bearer never doomed to fail;
  On the rough rock to wander thee delights,
  Leader and nurse be present to our rites;
  Propitious grant our just desires success,
  Accept our homage, and the incense bless.

  Translated by Thomas Taylor.*

• 
  Wall Photos
  Daily Devotion of the Goddess
  WITCHES ARE …

  Kind, charitable, understanding, patient, long suffering,
  forbearing, persistent, enduring, tolerant,
  broadminded, accepting, compassionate,
  merciful, non-judgmental and forgiving.
  Blessed be the Witches.

  Lady Abigail
  Copyright © 04212010

• 
  Mark Duval's photos
• 
  Ƹ̴Ӂ̴ƷWitch WitƸ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ
  I'm a good Witch with bad habits
  Please feel free to share/tag, kindly press the magic "like" button – link if you download
• 
  Wall Photos
  Have blessed night dear friends…
  Lady Abigail
• I don’t reject the ideal of a single deity – but the idea of one that take atten…
  I don’t reject the ideal of a single deity – but the idea of one that take attendance baffles me!
• From Mars cruel god of war

  From Mars cruel god of war
  The desire to tie the c…

  From Mars cruel god of war

  From Mars cruel god of war
  The desire to tie the corpse to the chariot
  And drag it around each morning,
  From Mercury the idea to put a stop to that
  And buy the body back.
  Because everything sooner or later becomes a musical
  Or a collectible card or figurine
  Hitler or the Fierce Saladin
  Dracula the Impaler
  All stripped of any awareness of suffering:
  There is no voice in stones
  No word that turns to flesh or blood.
  (At that auction held at Bolaffi,
  Those intriguing heart-shaped or "C" postmarks
  Stamped after their arrival in Florence
  On two letters sent from the field to the family
  Of a student volunteer at Curtatone.)

  By Franco Buffoni Franco Buffoni
  Translated By Geoffrey Brock

  

• From Mars cruel god of war

  From Mars cruel god of war
  The desire to tie the co…

  From Mars cruel god of war

  From Mars cruel god of war
  The desire to tie the corpse to the chariot
  And drag it around each morning,
  From Mercury the idea to put a stop to that
  And buy the body back.
  Because everything sooner or later becomes a musical
  Or a collectible card or figurine
  Hitler or the Fierce Saladin
  Dracula the Impaler
  All stripped of any awareness of suffering:
  There is no voice in stones
  No word that turns to flesh or blood.
  (At that auction held at Bolaffi,
  Those intriguing heart-shaped or "C" postmarks
  Stamped after their arrival in Florence
  On two letters sent from the field to the family
  Of a student volunteer at Curtatone.)

  By Franco Buffoni Franco Buffoni
  Translated By Geoffrey Brock

  

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• lol
  lol

  

• 
  Wiccan Music Chant – We All Come From The Goddess
  www.youtube.com
  In the celebration of The Great Mother Goddess; this is a Wiccan/Pagan chant to honor the Goddess. I did not create this video. ~ Blessed Be ~
• THE SADNESS OF THE MOON by Charles Baudelaire
  THE Moon more indolently dreams to…
  THE SADNESS OF THE MOON by Charles Baudelaire
  THE Moon more indolently dreams to-night
  Than a fair woman on her couch at rest,
  Caressing, with a hand distraught and light,
  Before she sleeps, the contour of her breast.

  Upon her silken avalanche of down,
  Dying she breathes a long and swooning sigh;
  And watches the white visions past her flown,
  Which rise like blossoms to the azure sky.

  And when, at times, wrapped in her languor deep,
  Earthward she lets a furtive tear-drop flow,
  Some pious poet, enemy of sleep,

  Takes in his hollow hand the tear of snow
  Whence gleams of iris and of opal start,
  And hides it from the Sun, deep in his heart.

  

• Merry Moon day may this wet weather not damper your spirits but renew and replen…
  Merry Moon day may this wet weather not damper your spirits but renew and replenish you, let it wash away your fears and troubles, leaving a area for hopes and dreams to grow Brightest Blessings Draco )o( /|\
• 
  Wall Photos
  ~ Pyewacket ~

  Pyewacket was one of the familiar spirits of a witch detected by the "witchfinder general" Matthew Hopkins in March 1644 in the town of Manningtree, Essex, England. Hopkins claimed he spied on the witches as they held their meeting close by his house, and heard them mention the name of a local woman. She was arrested and deprived of sleep for four nights, at the end of which she confessed and called out the names of her familiars, describing the forms in which they should appear. They were:

  * Holt, "who came in like a white kittling"

  * Jarmara, "who came in like a fat Spaniel without any legs at all"

  * Vinegar Tom, "who was like a long-legg'd greyhound, with a head like an Oxe"

  * Sacke and Sugar, "like a black Rabbet"

  * Newes, "like a Polecat"(a Polecat is a type of weasle.)

  * Elemanzer, Pyewacket, Peck in the Crown, Grizzel Greedigut, described as imps

  Hopkins claims he and nine other witnesses saw the first five of these, which appeared in the forms described by the witch. Only the first of these was in the form of a cat; the next two were dogs, and the others were a black rabbit and a polecat – so Pyewacket was, presumably, not a cat's name. As for the other familiars, Hopkins says only that they were such that "no mortall could invent." The incident is described in Hopkins's pamphlet "The Discovery of Witches" (1647).

  In the 1958 film "Bell, Book and Candle", Pyewacket is the name of Gillian Holroyd's Siamese cat/familiar.

  In the 2008 computer game "A Vampyre Story", Pyewacket is the name of the familiar of the (missing, presumed dead) sorceress that used to own the castle where the game begins. She is a large Siamese cat with a marked resemblance to Max of Steve Purcell's Sam & Max, a nod to the fact that many of the people who worked on the game were once employed at Lucasarts.

  Pamela Green, the preeminent British nude model of the 1950s, had a cat called Pyewacket. She was an active member of Spielplatz Naturist Club in Bricket Wood as was Gerald Gardner, who established his first coven there. Ross Nichols, founder of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids used to visit the club as well. In addition Pamela Green had a boat named Pyewacket. In 1960 she featured in a short 8mm film called Witches Brew under the name of Rita Landre.

  (Info courtesy of Wikipedia)
  ** Photo by Sally-Jackson – http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=imp#/d3eg992

  *The Coven Avalon claims no rights to this artwork, or any on our page. If this work belongs to you and you would like for us to remove it, please contact us and we will certainly do so. Being a non-profit educational site, we operate under the Fair Use rule of the US Copyright Law – please refer to the page information for full details. Blessings!

• Sunrise: 5:58 AM BST
  Sunset: 8:19 PM BST
  Length of Day: 14h 20m
  Tomorrow will…
  Sunrise: 5:58 AM BST
  Sunset: 8:19 PM BST
  Length of Day: 14h 20m
  Tomorrow will be 3m 36s longer.
  Moon Rise: 6:45 AM BST
  Moon Set: 10:53 PM BST
  Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent 3% Illuminated
• 
  The world of the druids
  THE DRUIDS came from Britain, according to Caesar. Cæsar merely says, "it is thought (existimatur) that Druidism came to Gaul from Britain." It was a pious opinion, perhaps his own, or one based on the fact that those who wished to perfect themselves in Druidic art went to Britain. This may have been because Britain had been less open to foreign influences than Gaul, and its Druids, unaffected by these, were thought to be more powerful than those of Gaul. Pliny, on the other hand, seems to think that Druidism passed over into Britain from Gaul. After the recent discovery of the ‘temple’ on Orkney, some archaeologists have been debating whether, in the millennia before the Iron Age, Orkney influenced Stonehenge and that the direction of religious trends came from north to south.

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With the announcement From the MoD that there are 100 pagans and 30 Wiccan’s or Druids in the British Armed Forces.

Many Pagan groups are saying that this number is does not truly reflect that actual number of Pagans in the armed forces.

Phil Ryder of the British Druid Network said there are likely more pagans in the armed forces than the figures indicate.

“Druids and followers of Wicca tend not to publicize their beliefs for fear of discrimination. In some areas it’s seen as odd,” he said.

It amazes me that today we are still ashamed of whom we are, and that are afraid of repercussions for being true to ourselves.

I have done it myself put religion nil or just spiritual for the fear of being seen as wacky.

I have also felt the pressure of working in a Christian organisation each and everyday someone trying to make me believe in Jesus Christ sad thing is I think he was a good guy Circle of 13 and performed magick you tell me who has the right view?

So why do we hide our pagan selves are we really ashamed of what we believe or live in fear of what others may do.

I think the true reason is that we don’t have any public role models and we are viewed in the media very badly and often linked with Devil Worship.

School children are still taught that witches are evil or good, not humans practicing a religion.

It about time we changed the view of the pagan, witch and druid at one time we where the centre of the community then we lived on the outsides of the community where we would be visit for help and healing then we where persecuted, murdered and forced into hiding. Its 2010 it about time we stopped hiding and come out of the broom closet.

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Originally posted 2011-05-28 10:41:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• 
  Wall Photos
• Wishing everyone a delightful Sunday may your day be filled with good food, good…
  Wishing everyone a delightful Sunday may your day be filled with good food, good friends, a loving family and may your day be filled with light love and laughter Brightest Blessing Draco )o( /|\
• Helios

  I am the light
  I bring warmth and fire
  I bring light and illumination
  In…

  Helios

  I am the light
  I bring warmth and fire
  I bring light and illumination
  Into the dark corners of the stable

  I bring the glow of fire
  The patterns in the flames
  The muse of dancing shapes
  The scent of wood-smoke
  The sound of crackling embers

  I originate from a spark
  Flint against steel, sun through quartz
  And fed with downy tinder
  I will grow

  Tended with intent
  Nurtured and fed
  I will grow and blaze

  I am the heat that splits the desert rocks
  But also the warmth that draws seeds to flower in the cracks
  I am the blaze that melts the ice
  From the rigid freezer round the heart
  And drips it, dropp by drop
  Into the pool below
  Sending ripples ever outward
  I move mountains to dust
  To fertilise the fields
  And feed the lush oases

  I am Bel, the warrior queen
  Drawing forth life where none exists
  But also frying the weak and stunted
  Courage is my other side
  The fire that leaps
  Where angels fear to tread
  The lightning strike
  That splits the tower
  And frees the captive
  Aethyrs from the dungeon deep.

  But where to find the spark?
  It is a gift from the sun within.
  I am the source,
  The starting point,
  The dot,
  The spark,
  The moment of transformation

  Release me,
  I am the Ace of Wands
  And yours by right

  Tony Beckingham

  

• 
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• Sunrise: 6:00 AM BST
  Sunset: 8:17 PM BST
  Length of Day: 14h 17m
  Tomorrow will…
  Sunrise: 6:00 AM BST
  Sunset: 8:17 PM BST
  Length of Day: 14h 17m
  Tomorrow will be 3m 38s longer.
  Moon Rise: 6:13 AM BST
  Moon Set: 9:54 PM BST
  Moon Phase: New Moon 1% Illuminated

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As I do every morning I wrack my brains for something to write about, sometime it easy and other times it hard. As I was flicking through my notes, Books of shadows and book on Wiccan and other pagan paths nothing came to mind until I looked back at a issues of a magazine I used to produce for one of my groups which had more humour than wisdom which is what we all need some times.

I came across A letter from a teacher to pagan parents which got me thinking about children and paganism I will admit that I am the least qualified to talk on this subject one because I do not have any children of my own and I feel it would be wrong of me to suggest others should bring up their children.

I know that many pagan groups have rules about children at rituals. Some groups believe that children should not be involved, some believe that children should be partially involved and others believe that children should be involved. I can understand why many pagans are fearful of involving children in their ritual. The idea of witchcraft still conjures the idea of devil worship and Satanism, among many professional people for example Child services.

The biggest problem we have as a community is lack of education. Although this has got better over the years. How many children come home to their parents and say, we learned about paganism and Wicca at school today. Not very many I think.

As I have already declared. I don’t have any children of my own, but I do have children of my life, and it surprises me that many of them know nothing of paganism, Wicca or any neopagan paths (this doesn’t include children with pagan parents).

It’s strange to me in the 21st century that children know more about Christianity and Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism than they do about one of the oldest belief systems known to man. I am already picturing my head in their headlines of the first school that puts paganism, on the curriculum.

I can remember when I was at school (catholic school BTW) in the first year of secondary school during a drama lesson. We were asked to break off into groups and create a short play the act it out. We had a choice to do a comedy, romance (difficult in a all boys school) or horror play. The group I was in chose horror, and during the performance of our play. I was required to draw a pentagram on the floor in chalk and mumbled some words (well it was a horror), no big deal at the end of the school day. I was given a letter to take home, inviting my parents to see the headmaster. My mother came to school the next day to see the headmaster. My mother sat and listened to the headmaster ranting on about devil worship, and how it was wrong of me to use that symbol. I think it may have even suggested that I needed professional help. Luckily my mum was not distressed and defended what I had done being that we where acting out a horror play and paid more attention to the fact that I did what was asked not that I drew a magick circle on the stage..

Though this happens, well over 25 years ago, and even today. I see stories in the news about children and teachers being persecuted for their pagan beliefs. Not through bigotry, but through mis-education and misunderstanding.

So I have this real big question, how to include children in paganism with out the fear that someone somewhere will point a finger calling you a devil worshipper and have your children taken into care. The government says that religious education should be for all and that local and national religious groups are responsible for enhancing the understanding of their own faiths. The problem is that religious education, which is predominantly Christian-based (which as we all know has spent the last 2000 years persecuting and converting anyone who does not believe in the one god.) is hostile to pagan belief and to teach Paganism along side Christianity would expose the violence and hatred of other beliefs which is at the heart of Christianity.

The other major issues with teaching paganism is the fact that there are so many different paths and ways of practicing that it is difficult to produce a formal structure for it study one that would suit all paths and beliefs. 

I wonder how many parents ask the question do you teach anything about paganism during RE? I am sure the response would be no we don’t we have no information on the subject. Well this is the point when we should question if you did would you???? If no you should ask why, as a good parent you should want to know if your child is going to be taught by people who think your religion is wrong! If yes the offer to come into the school and talk about you beliefs what you do and why you do it! Many Schools have multi faith days get involved be proud of your beliefs, as adults we reflect our own fears about what others may say or think and if we are afraid to stand up and support or children our children will grow up scared to.

We have moved on a bit, pagan paths are starting to be recognised as “Real” religions Druidry is to become the first pagan practice to be given official recognition as a religion. I am not sure that it will appear on the curriculum anytime soon though.

It will only be through education that we will ever escape the image of the wicked witch and gain the freedom to live our lives without fear of persecution but we must start with the children as the song says “the children are our future teach them well and let them lead the way”.

I know that as parents your Childs education is important to you and you will do the best to insure they are well educated so they can leave school get a job and live a happy life.

But being educated in an environment, which is hostile to your beliefs, does so much unseen damage and I know this from my own childhood, I always new I was gay even though I did not know what it was! When I was a child I just new liked boy and not girls and at school I was taught it was wrong against god and that I would go to hell and this idea that it was wrong stayed with me till I was in my early 30’s even thou I did not belief in Christianity view of the divine, those formative days at school had a major effect on my adulthood. So if at home it ok to be a pagan but at school your children are taught it wrong for what ever reason what unseen damage is being caused? You send you children to school telling them to learn what is right and correct from professional who are trustworthy and know what is right so if they tell you children that paganism is wrong and then the come home and you tell them it right who should they believe?

Spiritual education teaches a person how to live while formal education provides the foundations for a future it only when the two are intertwined that greatness is created.

NB

The BBC reported on Thursday 28 October 2004 that…

• “The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority says pupils should study other faiths alongside Christianity to help foster understanding and respect.”
• “The government-backed framework is not compulsory, which disappoints the Church of England, though it is pleased at the emphasis on RE for all.”
• “Mr Clarke said: “Faith groups must seize this opportunity to develop their own resources that enhance understanding of their faith, and their response to world issues. I support the development of materials that can be used with the framework.”

Related articles

• The death of paganism: how the Roman Empire converted to Christianity (gadling.com)
• Witches use GOP candidate to teach (religion.blogs.cnn.com)

Originally posted 2010-10-14 11:12:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter