Cyber Cauldron

There are 5 basic pagan degrees, corresponding to the elemental path towards unity towards the Godhead. Adding to this is the neophyte degree, corresponding to the time the neo-pagan begins to study The Path until the time of his or her initiation. The circle is open to the neophyte but they may not participate in the Eucharist, initiations, or major festivals.

The 5 Degrees are –

First degree – Earth

Second Degree – Air

Third Degree – Fire

Forth Degree – Water

Fifth Degree – Akasha or Spirit

The degrees correspond with the four basic magickal types of man- the thinking, the feeling, the sensing and the intuitional.

1. Thinking Man (Fire) this type classifies, analyses, synthesizes, argues from premise to conclusion, and traces the reason for this and that.
2. Feeling Man (Water) This type also makes judgements, but in a totally different way. He is not concerned with reason, but with the values. The standard by which he / she measures us not logic but worth. “This I like” they say, “That I do not. This is good. This is bad. This is morally right. This is morally wrong”.
3. Sensation Man (Earth) This type, like the intuitional type, works by perception, but works entirely in the field of facts, and nothing but facts. It (perception) sees what is and what is not. Its weakness is that it cannot conceive of any other way in which one may look at life.
4. Intuitional Man (Air) This type, like the Sensation man, works by perception, but in this case the perception is of something beyond the facts – the imponderable, the intangible important impossibilities, the events beyond the horizon and the shape of things to come.

Spiritual Man is a man / woman who has mastered all facets of the other four aspects. It is true that within ourselves exist all these qualities, but it is the spiritual man who has brought them to the surface, and integrated them into his / her personality, able to command their usage at will.

There are colours assigned to the five degrees. Robes, cords, clothing at festivals and other coordinated items should be the colour of the degree. If black robes are chosen, and they are recommended because of general usage, then Lamens [1], and other items of accent, should be of the colour of the degree.

The Colours of the Degree

Earth – Yellow

Air – Blue

Fire – Red

Water – Silver

Spirit – Black or Indigo

The traditional Tattwa [2] symbols are associated with the degrees: Earth- Square, Air – Circle or Disc, Fire – Triangle, Water – Crescent (points up) and Spirit – Egg shaped.

During the time in the first degree, the pagan must learn what his / her life path is to be and how to keep themselves upon it. It is the degree of the purification of the mind and the body. He / she must set himself / herself on the road of self-understanding and correct all habits and faults that obstruct him /her from uniting with nature as represented in ritual. He / she must harmonise the qualities with in himself / herself so communication is possible with cosmic forces. This is no easy task. For many it is a period of introspection, and for this reason no time is set for the first degree. He / she is expected to know the mythology and to understand it inner meaning to himself / herself, but also to other as the myth apply to humanity as a whole.

Symbols and tools are to be understood, constructed, and used.

Much of the work described above is work that is directed to the inner self, and once the centres are open to power, the motion is set, and the inner self gains much from ritual and from greater outer universe using psychic methods removed from seemingly “actual” work. However, the path must first open directly by the worker, and it is to this that the first degree is dedicated.

[1]Lamen is a general term for a magical pendant worn around the neck so that it hangs upon the breast over the heart.

[2] Tattwa are geometric images From India. they are symbols that can be used in mandala.

Source – A Book of Pagan Rituals – Samuel Weiser inc

Related articles

• European paganism (vmohanty.com)
• Pagan Symbols & Meanings (brighthub.com)
• 2011 Pagan and Wiccan Celebration Calendar (christophersmark.wordpress.com)

Originally posted 2011-02-23 14:24:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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