This ritual was written because my mother died and i needed a personal way to express myself through what i believe

the funny thing was that that i passed this ritual to none pagan relatives along with a single died red rose (you work out where it's place in this ritual belongs) who found that reading the ritual before placing the rose in a special place an aunt place hers on the grave of her dog found great sence of understanding

to my friends sorry that not been around but i think this explains i love you all

 

draco

Requiem for Mum (solitary)..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Play moon on dark water (kate West – Elements of Chant)

 "I stand here alone before you my Goddess in both  sadness and joy. Sad because a chapter has closed, yet joyful, because, by the closing, a new  chapter begins.

I am here to mark the passing of my   mother, for whom this incarnation is ended. I am here to commend her to the care and blessing of the God and Goddess whom I served, that she may rest, free from illusion or regret, until the time comes for her rebirth into this world. And knowing that this will be so, we know too that the sadness is nothing and the joy is all."

Mum thing where never always good for us their where time when we let each other down I realize now that life must be lived fully and each day must treated as it last.

The sadness I feel that you are no longer here is hard to bare the regrets I hold in my heart have become a heavy weight.

I am joyful that you are no longer in pain and you have returned to the arms of the goddess.

I will never forget you and will hold your memory dear.

I also stand here before Goddess and her consult and swear to keep the promise you asked me to keep(peronal oath).

Play Eva Cassidy Danny Boy

"I call to thee, Ama, dark, sterile Mother; you to whom all life must return when its time comes, Dark Mother of stillness and rest, before whom men tremble because they understand you not. I call to you, Ceridwyn of the Cauldron, Dark Lady of Wisdom, whom men fear because your wisdom towers above their own.

I one of, the hidden children of the Goddess, know that there is nothing to fear in your embrace, which none escape; that when we step into your darkness, as all must, it is but to step again into the light.

Therefore, in love, and without fear, I commend to thee, myMother. Take her, guard her, guide her; admit her to the peace of the Summerlands which stand between life and life. And know, as you know all things, that omy love goes with Her."

I take my cauldron and hold it above and say:-

This is the symbol of life and death: ( I place the cauldron back on the altar)

The dozen red rose I bought the day my mum die and dried are then held above and say:

This is a symbol of my mother something of beauty cut down in it prime.

I remove the petals and place them in the cauldron -

I place the stems around the cauldron forming star of david.

I place some other personal items in to the cauldron spending sometime thinking of my mother.

 I then bind the stems into a solid star of david and hold it above and say:-

As with all things die something always remains this is a symbol of the loss I feel the thorns are a symbol of the pain I feel.

Chant Hoof and Horn

"then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to the Goddess who gave it."

The Cauldron and star are, offered to the Lords of the Watchtowers of  the West (Lords of Death and Initiation), and then to the Lords of the Watchtowers of the East (Lords of Rebirth). The cauldron is left in the East. (Contents are used later in garden)

 "We call to thee, Aima, bright, fertile Mother; you who are the womb of rebirth, from whom all life proceeds, and at whose flowing breast all are nourished. We call to thee, Arianrhod of the Silver Wheel, bright Lady of Springtime and all things new.

We commend to you, …., my mother. Take her, guard her, guide her; bring her in the fullness of time to a new birth and a new life. And grant that in this new life he may be loved again, as we have loved her."

 "Let us now, as the Lady teaches, share the loving feast of Wine & Cakes and as we do so, let us remember ….. And with this communion, we place my mother in the hands of the Goddess."

 (The wine & cakes are consecrated, the Legend read.)

Legend of the Descent of Inanna

In ancient times, our Lord, the Horned One, was (as he still is) the Consoler, the Comforter. But men knew him as the Dread Lord of Shadows, lonely, stern and just. But our Lady the Goddess would solve all mysteries, even the mystery of death, and so she journeyed to the Underworld. The Guardian of the Portals challenged her…

 "Strip off your garments, lay aside your jewels, for naught may you bring with you into this our land."

So she laid down her garments and her jewels and was bound, as all living must be who enter the realms of Death, the Mighty One.

Such was her beauty that Death himself knelt, and laid his sword and crown at her feet… and kissed her feet, saying,

 "Blessed Be thy feet that have brought thee in these ways. Abide with me, but let me place my cold hands on your heart." And she replied,"I love thee not. Why do you cause all things that I love and take delight in, to fade and die?"

 "Lady," replied Death, "it is age and fate, against which I am helpless. Age causes all things to wither, but when men die at the end of time, I give them rest and peace and strength, so that they may return. But you, you are lovely; return not, abide with me."

But she answered, "I love thee not."

 "Then," said Death, "if you will not receive my hands on your heart, you must kneel to Death's scourge."

 "It is fate – better so" she said and she knelt. And Death scourged her tenderly. And she cried, "I know the pangs of love!"

And Death raised her and said, "Blessed Be". And he gave her the Fivefold Kiss, saying, "Thus only may you attain to joy and knowledge."

And he taught her all his mysteries, and gave her the necklace which is the circle of rebirth.

And she taught him the mystery of the sacred cup, which is the cauldron of rebirth.

And they loved, and were one. For there be three great mysteries in the life of man, and magic controls them all. To fulfil love, you must return again at the same time and in the same place as the loved ones, and you must meet, and know, and remember, and love them again.

But to be reborn you must die, and be made ready for a new body. And to die, you must be born; and without love, you may not be born.

And our Goddess ever inclines to love and mirth, and happiness; and she guards and cherishes her children in life, and in death she teaches the way to her communion. And even in this world she teaches them the mystery of the Magic Circle, which is placed between the worlds of men and of the Gods.

Blessed Be.

The Release

 "That which belongs to Air has returned to the East,

The wheel turns and Spring is over.

That which belongs to Fire has returned to the South,

The wheel turns and Summer has flown.

                        That which belongs to Water has returned to the West,

                        The wheel turns and Autumn passes.

                        That which belongs to Earth has returned to the North,

                        The wheel turns, the Winter has ended.

That which belongs to Spirit has returned to the Old Ones,

The wheel turns and Cauldron awaits.

That which belongs to fellowship and love –

That which belongs to Circle –

Remains with us.

Nothing is final, no farewell is the last.

The wheel turns,

And we, who tread the dance which never ends,

Will share the gifts of food and wine again."

Close

A tea light candle and place in the cauldron

And say:-

let that light guide her way to the Summerlands, where he may rest in peace until you all meet again.

Blessed Be.

Last Part

Music is played some of my mums favorite songs while Altar is clear cauldron and star are left in place until tea light burns out Music is turned off.

And I say:-

This was done for my mum and it is now time to start the new chapter this star will be a symbol that what remains are the memories of past.

The cauldron then picked up and lid put on and I say:-

This is a symbol of life and death and rebirth and the continuing cycle of life (and lid put) now it is symbol of the after life, its mystery of the after life the hidden a mystery a life in the womb.

I then take the cauldron in to the garden remove the lid and say this is the symbol of birth and rebirth the contents are then pour on to the garden and say.

What was symbols now becomes real these items will age and decay give way to new life and change this the cycle of life there is no escape.

By excepting this I except the death of my mother and allow her to withdraw

People agree that Witches know about herbs and healing and that they "tell fortunes," or perform divination. What is divination? It is more than just "telling fortunes." Divination at its most basic is used to tell the past, present, or future through indirect means, either using a focus or with pure psychic talents. It is used to obtain information about a person or situation though psychic means.

Why was divination originally developed? In the old days (before telephones or TV) there might be months between word from loved ones who were away from home. Divination was a way of keeping tabs on them that didn't depend on mail or messengers. If your livelihood depended on a king who lived far away, divination made sense when there was no other way of determining what that king was thinking and doing. If you were a priest, you might use divination to determine what the Gods wanted. Divination and divine have the same root, diva, which is Hindu for God. Some feel the ability to do divination is a divine gift, and should be used properly and reverently or it might be withdrawn.

With cell phones and pagers nobody is ever really out of touch today. Still, divination can give insights into people's actions and motivations. It can also help explain why things might have happened as they did. It can help shed light upon the future, but you have to remember the immortal words of that great sage Yoda, "Always in motion the future is. Careful you have to be."

Divination can be used to help a person in the great work: the continuing work of perfecting the self, with self-examination as the means for achieving it. Using divination as a personal psychological self-help tool (using modern terminology) can give a person insight into their own motivations and thoughts, and help gain perspective. Like those computer psychologist self-help programs that just mirror what is put in, a good reading will mirror a person's thoughts back, reinforce what has been done, and help the diviner extrapolate about the future.

To a small extent everyone practices divination. "If you go outside without your coat, you'll get sick." Witches have just made a franchise out of it, and, because practice makes perfect, they are more accomplished at it than most. Having psychic ability helps also, though it is not necessary. There are computer programs that will tell your fortune. For those who have used them, they can be frighteningly accurate. Nobody can claim computers have psychic ability. They aren't even sentient. (Yet.)

So why bother trying to do divination yourself if computers can do it for you? Computers may be accurate but they are impersonal, and a fair portion of a good reading is counseling, listening, and plain old-fashioned advice. That may sound boring, but there it is. Before psychologists and the self-help industry were invented, people often went to the local wise woman for advice and maybe a few herbs. The need for guidance and counsel from an outside source is universal. That's why fortune tellers of some type have been present in most every culture on Earth -- people want it, and there's some sort of a living to be made from it.

Divination is fun. The entertainment factor is very strong for many who get readings. Some readers are more than willing to work in that context. Others fell it demeans the reading and trivializes their skills and results. It's a matter of personal preference.

Divination can forge a link with the psychic and spiritual realms. One can feel a bit closer to the divine, however one views it. One can certainly get a feeling there is some intelligence taking interest in what happens on this small blue ball when one gets an accurate and insightful reading.

SOME TYPES OF DIVINATION

How many ways are there to do divination? There is literally no limit, from the more familiar tarot cards, astrology, runes, numerology, palmistry, handwriting analysis (some dispute this is divination) to the more obscure scrying, augury, phrenology, physiognomy, bibliomancy and the ever popular Magic Eight Ball (don't knock it, it works). There are many methods to choose from.

SCRYING

Scrying is divination by using some outside focus, like water, a crystal ball, or fire. With scrying the focus is usually bright or shimmery. The reader concentrates and "sees" images, and interprets those images, often in the same way as dreams are interpreted.

AUGURY

Augury is very ancient. It is watching and listening to birds and interpreting their movements and sounds. Augury was also used by the Romans to describe divination by entrails. They would sacrifice an animal and open it up to read the intestines, liver, heart and other organs. Eventually the animal would be gutted and dressed, and ready to roast as payment for the priests who did the divination. What a coincidence! It's a living.

PHRENOLOGY

Phrenology is a form of divination popular in Britain in the 1800s. It predicts character using the bumps on the head. There were machines made around 1900 that did phrenology. They had lots of wires that pressed against the head and, by measuring bumps, made a printout of the person's character. This was a specialized early type of computer.

PHYSIOGNOMY

A physiognomist reads faces by the form and placement of features. This form of divination was popular in ancient China, and is sometimes used in concert with phrenology.

BIBLIOMANCY

Bibliomancy is one of the few divinatory methods acceptable to conservative religious authorities. To divine using this method you first think of a question. Then hold your Bible closed, close your eyes, let the book fall open, and put you finger on a page. Whatever verse your finger falls on is the answer to your question. Some Puritan sects regularly practiced bibliomancy, reasoning that the Bible was the word of God, and therefore the advice came from God.

One can use many objects to tell fortunes, like dice, dominoes, cards, and mah jong tiles. One can use natural things, such as birds, flowers (he loves me, he loves me not), clouds, and wind. Some claim meteorology is a sophisticated and narrow form of divination. They even call it predicting the weather. Meteorologists have about 50 percent accuracy (by their own admission), which is really pretty low, but they have organized it better, cloaked it in higher mathematics, and they use more sophisticated technology. Have you ever watched radar? It can be used as a focus for scrying also. Maybe that's how they do it.

Some Witches make money by telling fortunes. You can encounter them at psychic fairs and parties. Some Witches only tell fortunes for themselves and close friends and would never dream of charging for their services. Some Witches use divination as a tool to help others, much like a counselor or clergy. It's an individual choice.

Divination is a practice almost as old as civilization, maybe older. Tortoise shells with patterns of cracks dating to 7000 BCE* and earlier have been found in China. Some feel these are the precursors to the I Ching. They were certainly used for divination -- take a tortoise shell and a hot poker, think of your question and place the point of the hot poker against the tortoise shell. Whatever cracks are made are your answer, but presumably you need some sort of priest to interpret the answers. And yes, divination seems to have developed contemporaneously with a priestly class. The tortoise shell divinatory method wasn't ecologically sound for the turtle, but it illustrates how people will use whatever is at hand in order to try to tell the future. Divination is an ancient practice that still thrives in our modern world

From as far back as the days of the legendary lost city of Atlantis, through the ancient Mayan and Hebrew civilizations, and including Far Eastern and Native American cultures, crystals and gemstones have been used both in spiritual rituals and as aids to physical healing.

Today the practice of using stones and crystals continues. Not only with the aboriginal shamans of Australia who use stones to commune with spirits, but with ordinary people across the world who claim extraordinary results.

How do crystals work? No one seems to know for sure. Tales tell that they were first used in Atlantis. Crystals became important to the people of that civilization who believed in their capacity to store and amplify any power source fed into them - physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual.

Practitioners of modern-day crystal therapy believe that the stones' ability to work as conductors allow them to focus energy via a person's thoughts to stimulate healing - both physical and non-physical.

However, in addition to medical controversy as to their efficacy, the use of crystals for healing is not an exact science. There is plenty of information available to describe which crystals and gemstones are good for treating certain ailments or for the prevention of certain conditions. The problem is that much of it appears contradictory.

Still, thousands of people world-wide swear by the use of crystals for a variety of mental, emotional, and physical problems. There are numerous claims that they aid such in diverse areas as harmonious relationships, allergies, and spiritual awakening. Crystals are used in meditation and spiritual ceremonies, laid on the body during types of massage or bodywork, when a person is resting, or placed in drinking or bathing waters. It is claimed that an odd number of facets on the stone aid in healing, while an even number of facets create the best energizers. Red, yellow, and orange stones are said to produce energy, clear and aquamarine stones are healers, and lavender and blue-violet stones create calming effects. Here is a list of commonly known crystals and their reputed benefits. Please note that this information is not intended to replace any licensed medical or psychological treatment.

No guarantee is made towards validity, and the use of any crystals for the claims listed below is at your own risk.
AGATE: A variety of chalcedony. Tones and strengthens body/mind. Imparts a sense of strength and courage. Facilitates ability to discern truth and accept circumstances. Grounding but energetic. Powerful healer.
AMBER: Fossilized resin from prehistoric pine trees. Exerts positive influence on endocrine system, spleen, heart. Healing, soothing, harmonizing. Electrically alive with solidified golden light. Stabilizes kundalini awakening. Activates altruistic nature. Spiritualizes the intellect.
AMETHYST: Headaches, eyes, scalp, hair, pituitary gland, balancing blood sugar. Psychic abilities, imagery. Purify and transmute negativity. Reduce anger, impatience, and nightmares. Spiritually uplifting.
AQUAMARINE: Heart, immune system, thymus, lymph nodes. Calming, uplifting, flexibility, innocence, joy, creativity, communication, self-knowledge, confidence, purpose. Releasing anxiety, fear, and restlessness.
ADVENTURINE (Green): A variety of quartz. Purifies mental, emotional and etheric bodies. Aids in releasing anxiety and fear. Stimulates muscle tissue. Strengthens blood. Emotional tranquility, positive attitudes towards life. Brings one into alignment with their center. Independence, health, well being.
AZURITE: Enhances flow of energy through nervous system (because of copper content). Helps body utilize oxygen. Strengthens blood. Facilitates clear meditation. Cuts through illusion. Enhances psychic abilities. Initiates transformation. Cleanses mental body. Inspiration, creativity, intuition.
BLOOD STONE: A variety of chalcedony. Strengthens and oxygenates bloodstream. Enhances physical/mental vitality. Strengthens heart, spleen, bone marrow. Aids in balancing iron deficiencies. Reduces emotional /mental stress. Powerful physical healer. Stimulates movement of kundalini. Links root chakra with heart. Inner guidance, altruism, idealism. A highly evolved mineral.
CALCITE: Aids kidneys, pancreas, spleen. Balances male/female polarities. Alleviates fear, reduces stress. Emotionally balancing. Grounds excess energy. Increases capacity for astral projection. Joy, lightness.
CARNELIAN: Circulatory system, kidneys, stimulate appetite, emotions, sexuality, physical energy, celebration, reproductive system, menstrual cramps, arthritis, kidneys, gall bladder, pancreas. Confidence, assertiveness, drive.
CHRYSOCOLLA: Aids in preventing ulcers, digestive problems, arthritic conditions. Strengthens lung and thyroid -.land. Enhances metabolism. Excellent for female disorders. Alleviates fears, guilt, tension. Helps clear subconscious imbalances. Activates feminine qualities. Amplifies throat chakra- creative expression, power, communication. Joy, emotional balance.
CITRINE: Acid indigestion, food disorders, allergies. Cleansing spleen, kidneys, liver, urinary system, intestines. Mental and emotional clarity, problem-solving, memory, willpower, optimism, confidence, self-discipline. Reducing anxiety, fear, and depression.
DIAMOND: Increase personal clarity, trust, confidence. Amplify thoughts, attitudes, strengths and weaknesses: Prosperity, generosity, love, spirituality.
DIOPTASE: Strengthens cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Excellent aid for ulcers, nervous stomach, heart troubles, blood pressure. Vitalizes, balances, tones body/mind. Emotional stability. Peace of mind. Excellent for use with healing and affirmations. Abundance, prosperity, progress, health, well being.
EMERALD: Respiratory system, heart, lymph nodes, blood, thymus, balance blood sugar, childbirth, eyesight. Strengthen heart chakra for abundance, growth, peace, harmony, patience, love, monogamy, honesty. Lift depression and insomnia.
FLUORITE: Strengthens teeth and bones. Improves absorption of vital nutrients. Beneficial for the blood vessels and spleen. Grounds excess energy. Excellent for advancement of mind, greater concentration, meditation. Helps one grasp higher, more abstract concepts. Facilitates inter-dimensional communication. Powerful healer.
GARNET: Strengthens, purifies, vitalizes and regenerates bodily systems, especially the bloodstream. Has strong affinity with root chakra, helping to harmonize the potent forces of kundalini. Stimulates pituitary gland. Aligns subtle bodies. Love, compassion. Enhances imagination.
HEMATITE: Has positive effect upon bloodstream. Activates spleen. Increases resistance to stress. Helps circulate oxygen throughout body. Strengthens physical/etheric bodies. Energizing, vitalizing. Enhances personal magnetism, optimism, will, courage. Slightly grounding. Powerful stone for those attracted to it.
HERKIMER DIAMOND: A type of quartz crystal. Cleanses subtle bodies. Reduces stress. Balances and purifies energy within body/mind. Similar qualities as clear quartz. Powerful amplifier. Enhances inner vision. Increases awareness of dreams. Stores thought forms and information.
JADE: Heart, thymus, immune, kidney and cleansing blood, nervous system. Courage, knowledge, justice, compassion, emotional balance, humility, generosity, harmony, wealth, longevity.
JASPER (All Colors): A variety of chalcedony. Strengthens liver, gallbladder, bladder. Powerful healer: main impact on physical body. Represents earth element.
KUNZITE (Pink Spodumene): High lithium content makes kunzite beneficial to individuals with addictive behavior. Strengthens cardiovascular system. Aids manic depression. Excellent balancer for physical/emotional/mental bodies. Powerful stone for opening/healing heart. Helps one surrender to higher self. Enhances self-esteem. Tolerance, acceptance. Soothing, calming.
LAPIS: Anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, shyness, nervous system, speech, hearing, pituitary, inflammation, pain. Mind expansion, intuition, creativity, spiritual connection. Organize, quiet the mind.
MALACHITE: Aids function of pancreas and spleen. Reduces stress and tension. Aids tissue regeneration. Strengthens heart, circulatory system, pineal and pituitary glands. Aids sleep. Vitalizing for body and mind. Reveals subconscious blocks. Excellent balancer on all levels.
MOLDAVITE: A deep green silica based tectite (meteorite) that fell to Earth 15 million years ago. Aids alignment with higher self. Balancing and healing for physical body/mind. Aids in channeling extraterrestrial and inter-dimensional. sources.
MOONSTONE: Has healing affinity with stomach, spleen, pancreas, pituitary gland. Unblocks lymphatic system. Relieves anxiety and stress. Aids in berthing process, helps females problems. Emotional balancer; helps lessen tendency to over-react emotionally. Flexibility in attitudes. Aligns emotions with higher self.
OBSIDIAN: Beneficially influence stomach and intestines. Connects mind and emotions. Slightly masculine energy. Ground spiritual energy into physical plane. Absorbs and disperses negativity. Reduces stress. Helps clear subconscious blocks. Brings an understanding of silence and "the void." Detachment, but with wisdom and love. Powerful healer for those attuned to it.
ONYX: A variety of chalcedony. Relieves stress. Balances male/female polarities. Strengthens bone marrow. Aids detachment. Enhances emotional balance and self-control. Higher inspiration.
OPAL: Stimulates pineal and pituitary glands. Aids eyesight. Emotional balancer. Enhances intuition. The full spectrum of colors resonates with all chakras. Helps connection with highest aspects of being.
PERIDOT (Olivine): Balances glandular system. Aids tissue regeneration. Has beneficial influence on heart, pancreas, spleen, liver, adrenals. Purifies body. Enhances bloodstream. Overall balancer and tonic for body/mind. Aligns subtle bodies. Increases intuitive awareness. Reduces stress. Stimulates mind. Accelerates personal growth, opens new doors of opportunity.
PYRITE: Aids digestion, improves circulation. Strengthens and oxygenates blood. Enhances brain functions. Influences a more positive outlook on life. Enhances emotional body, strengthens will. Helps one's ability to work with others harmoniously. Practicality.
QUARTZ CRYSTAL (Clear): Enhances the crystalline properties of blood, body and mind. Activates and enhances pineal and pituitary glands. Emotional balancer. Stimulates brain functions. Amplifies thought forms. Full spectrum energy activates all levels of consciousness. Dispels negativity in one's energy field and in environment. Receives, activates, stores, transmits, and amplifies energy. Excellent for meditation. Enhances inter-dimensional communication with higher self and spirit guides.
RHODOCHROSITE: Aids spleen, kidneys, heart, pituitary gland and circulation of blood. Enhances memory and intellectual power. Emotional balancer. Helps heal emotional wounds and traumas. Aligns subtle bodies. Red/pink color helps to blend courage/will/passion aspects of lower chakras with loving expression of heart. Divine love
ROSE QUARTZ: Aids kidney and circulatory system. Increases fertility. Eases sexual/emotional imbalances. Helps clear stored anger, resentment, guilt, fear, jealousy. Reduces stress and tension, cools hot temper. Enhances self confidence and creativity. Aids development of forgiveness, compassion, love.
RUBY: Aids regeneration of physical/spiritual heart. Enhances circulation. Vitalizes blood and entire body/mind system. Strengthens immunity. Activates sluggish or dormant conditions on physical/spiritual levels. Refines lower passions. Courage, integrity, selflessness, vice, joy, spiritual devotion, power, leadership. Helps banish sense of limitation.
SAPPHIRE: Strengthens heart and kidneys. Activates pituitary gland, there by aiding entire glandular system. Aligns body/mind/spirit. Stimulates psychic abilities, clarity and inspiration. Creative expression, loyalty, love. Aids connection with higher self/spirit guides. Strengthens will. Expands cosmic awareness. Dispels confusion. Excellent for meditation.
SMOKY QUARTZ: Strengthens adrenals, kidneys, pancreas. Increases fertility, balances sexual energy. Aids depression. Mildly sedative and relaxing. Initiates movement of kundalini. Dissipates subconscious blocks and negativity on all levels. Grounding, centering. Excellent for meditation. Enhances dream awareness and channeling abilities.
SODALITE: Aids pancreas, balances the endocrine system, strengthens metabolism and lymphatic system. Balances male/female polarities. Alleviates fear. Slightly sedative, grounding. Clears the mind. Cuts through density and illusion, bringing clarity and truth. Enhances communication and creative expression. The qualities are similar to Lapis Lazuli.
SUGILITE (Royal Azel): Enhances functions of pineal, pituitary and adrenal glands. Activates and balances brain hemispheres. Strengthens heart. Aids physical healing and purification of bodily systems. Emotional balancer, reduces stress. Brings higher spiritual awareness into physical reality. Enhances sensitivity. Strong protective qualities. Excellent for meditation. Enhancing channeling abilities.
TIGER EYE Variety of chalcedony (quartz): Beneficial for spleen, pancreas, digestive organs, colon. Emotional balancer. Enhances connection with personal power and will. Grounding, centering. Helps soften stubbornness. Enhances clear perception and insight. Slightly masculine energy.
TOPAZ: Tissue regeneration. Strengthens liver, gallbladder, spleen, digestive organs, nervous systems. Detoxifies body. Warming, awakening, inspiring. Abundance. Chakras: navel, crown. Blue topaz- tissue regeneration. Strengthens thyroid gland, enhances metabolism. Emotional balance. Cooling, soothing, peace, tranquility. Creativity, self-expression. Enhances psychic perception, communication with higher self/spirit guides.
TOURMALINE (All Colors): Aids balance of endocrine system. Aids sleep. Strengthens, vitalizes mind/body. Activates and enhances crystalline properties of body/mind. Aligns subtle bodies. Dispels fear and negative conditions. Strong protective influence. Concentration, inspiration. Enhances sensitivity and understanding-. Powerful healer, highly electromagnetic.
TURQUOISE: Tones, strengthens entire body. Tissue regeneration. Aids circulation, lungs, respiratory system. Aligns chakras. Enhances meditation. Creative expression, peace of mind, emotional balance, communication, friendship, loyalty.

All crystals and gemstones "vibrate" on their own individual frequency. In that respect they are similar to us human beings.
We have all had the experience of meeting a perfect stranger for the very first time and either liking that person immediately or feeling an antipathy towards them - without in any way being able to explain our feelings or emotions.
To fall in perfect love is a beautiful and wondrous experience - the coming together of two minds, two spirits and two physical bodies, both "vibrating" on the same beautiful frequency!
Crystals and gemstones should be chosen in exactly the same way. It is so very important that the stones which we choose and use should "vibrate" on a frequency as close as possible to our own.

Finding your birth number. To find your birth number, first add up the day month and year figures of your date of birth. For example April 24, 1977 would be 4 + 2 + 4 + 1 + 9 + 7 + 7 = 34, to get to a single # add 3 + 4 = 7, so my # would be 7

Finding your name number:
If you want to find your name number, write down the most commonly used form of your name (not necessarily your full name) and convert the letters using one of these tables, the table without the #9 is considered to be an older system:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
A B C D E F G H I
J K L M N O P Q R
S T U V W X Y Z
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
A B C D E U O F
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
I K G M H V Z P
Q R L T N W
J S X
Y

Meanings of Numbers
1 - One is the beginning, the One also the Sun. People with this number have great leadership qualities, sometimes with enough success, dominance and aggression to be ruthless. So its a powerful number. User your power carefully and others will look up to you. Use it carelessly and you may be guilty of being self-centered and tyrannical. This number equates with the Magician. Your best days are the 1st, 10th, 19th and 28th, especially when one of them falls on a Sunday (although Monday is almost as luck for you) Your best colors are brown and yellow and your lucky stones are topaz and amber.
2 - The Moon is associated with the number two. It is a feminine number, gentle and intuitive, more concerned with thought than action. Compatibility is great with one people. Twos are inventive and articulate. Beware of indecisiveness, a lack of self-confidence and deceit. Your best days are the 2nd, 11th, 20th and 29th and any Monday. Your colors are green, cream and white and your stones are jade, pearl and moonstone. Your tarot card is The High Priestess
3 - Three is a creative number, its people tending to be disciplined and successful. Jupiter is the guiding planet. The best days of the month are the 3rd, 12th, 21st or 30th, with Thursdays particularly good. Your relationships will be especially fruitful with other threes. Beware of a tendency towards bossiness. Your colors are in the mauve, violet and purple range. Your stone is amethyst. Your tarot card is the Empress
4 - Because four is a square and thus a complete number, representing the seasons, people born under its influence may be square (in the sense of dull), earthbound and unimaginative. These are also people who seem to delight in being rebellious, taking an opposite view to everyone else. Making friends is difficult so if this applies to you, you must be aware of feeling too lonely and isolated. Your lucky days are the 4th, 13th, 22nd and 31st, you are represented by the planet Uranus, and Sunday is your best day. Bright blue and grey are your colors are sapphire is your stone. Your tarot card is the Emperor
5 - Symbolized by Mercury, five is the number of the senses. Its people are mercurial - impulsive, unpredictable, active, eloquent and ever-changing. Sensual pleasure is important here (from the five senses). Number five people have the knack of making friends easily with anybody (especially other fives). Your greatest flaws are being highly strung and hating routine or restrictions. Your lucky days are the 5th, 14th, and 22nd and Wednesdays. Most lighter colors suit you and your stone is the diamond. Your tarot card is the Hierophant
6 - The emotions are important with six, because of the influence of Venus. The love represented is more romantic or family love than sexual. It is a 'perfect' number because its the sum of its factors (1, 2 and 3). Number six people tend to be reliable, domestic and fond of beauty. If you are a six you know that you can also be obstinate. But even so you will be very popular, making many friends. You have many lucky days: 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, 27th and 30th, as well as any Friday. You can wear any shade of blue or pink. Your lucky stones are turquoise and emerald and your tarot card is the Lovers.
7 - Most significant of all the numbers, seven is generally thought of as lucky because there have been so many famous groups of seven or of its multiples: the days of the week, phases of the Moon, notes of the musical scale, colors of the spectrum, the seven original fixed stars, the seven graces, the seven virtues and, from the Bible, seven days of creation, even trumpets, seven plagues, seven seas and many more. Its great mysticism is summed up in the belief that a seventh son will possess enormous magical powers. So the number is regarded as highly spiritual and philosophical. Its people are intuitive, perhaps psychic, and not interested in material wealth. If you are a seven person, you have great associations with water, your planet being Neptune, so you will tend to love travel, especially on the sea. You often have power over others, but must avoid being too introverted Your originality can make you a good writer, poet or painter. The 7th, 16th and 25th are your lucky days, together with any monday. Your best color is green and your stone is moss-agate. The associated tarot card is the Chariot
8 - Eight is a strange and contradictory number in which there are echoes of the rebelliousness of four. Governed by Saturn, number eight people must suffer sorrow along with any success. If you are an eight person, you possess great will power and individually, yet you are always misunderstood, partly as a result of hiding your strong feelings beneath a cold exterior. You must try to be more open, less intense, and strive to make friends. Your best days are Saturdays and the 8th, 17th and 26th days of the month. Dark colors suit you best, in the range of dark grey, black, dark blue and purple. Your stone is amethyst, a dark sapphire or even a black pearl. Your tarot card is Strength, and strength is what you need to triumph over such an unlucky number as eight.
9 - A number as sacred as seven, nine is numerologically the ultimate because when multiplied by any other number it reproduces itself (ex 3x9=27, then 2+7=9) It has Biblical connections (a trinity of trinities) represents the nine months of pregnancy, the nine spheres of ancient cosmology and the nine lives of a cat. Nines are active, determined, fighters (the influence of their planet Mars), accident-prone, quarrelsome and impulsive. They get on well with threes and sixes. If you are a nine, your lucky days are the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 21st, 24th, 27th and 30th, also Tuesdays. Your colors are ruby, garnet and bloodstone. Your tarot card is the Hermit

In the names of the Lord and Lady

Whoever beareth this letter upon

The self shall not dread the enemy

Nor be overcome,

Nor suffer injury,

Nor misfortune, nor fear flood,

Fire, weapon, chemicals, poison,

Nor be affected in way by self same, nor be captured, face torture,

Nor fear weather or war, nor suffer mental acuity.

Whoever beareth this letter will be filled with strength, mental acuity, protection, and love

They shall sense unseen dangers and respond accordingly.

They shall persevere where other fall, they shall return home victorious and live a full and active life

 

So mote it be

Gathered From Many Different Sources

The pentagram has long been associated with mystery and magic. It is the simplest form of star shape that can be drawn unicursally, with a single line, hence it is sometimes called the Endless Knot. Other names are the Goblin's Cross, the Pentalpha, the Witch's Foot, the Devil's Star and the Seal of Solomon (more correctly attributed to the hexagram).

It has long been believed to be a potent protection against evil and demons, hence a symbol of safety, and was sometimes worn as an amulet for happy homecoming. The old folk-song : "Green Grow the Rushes, O!" refers to the use of the pentagram above doors and windows in the line: " Five is the symbol at your door."

The potency and associations of the pentagram have evolved throughout history. Today it is an ubiquitous symbol of Neo-Pagans with much depth of magickal and symbolic meaning.

The Pentagram Through History

The pentagram symbol today is ascribed many meanings and deep significance, though much of this is very recent. However, it has been used throughout history and in many contexts:

The earliest known use of the pentagram dates back to around the Uruk period around 3500BC at Ur of the Chaldees in Ancient Mesopotamia where it was found on potsherds together with other signs of the period associated with the earliest known developments of written language. In later periods of Mesopotamian art, the pentagram was used in royal inscriptions and was symbolic of imperial power extending out to "the four corners of the world". Amongst the Hebrews, the symbol was ascribed to Truth and to the five books of the Pentateuch. It is sometimes, incorrectly, called the Seal of Solomon (see Hexagram) though its usage was in parallel with the hexagram. In Ancient Greece, it was called the Pentalpha, being geometrically composed of five A's. Unlike earlier civilizations, the Greeks did not generally attribute other symbolic meanings to the letters of their alphabet, but certain symbols became connected with Greek letter shapes or positions (eg Gammadion, Alpha-Omega). The geometry of the pentagram and its metaphysical associations were explored by the Pythagoreans (after Pythagoras 586-506BC) who considered it an emblem of perfection. Together with other discovered knowledge of geometric figures and proportion, it passed down into post-Hellenic art where the golden proportion may be seen in the designs of some temples.

Early Christians attributed the pentagram to the Five Wounds of Christ and from then until medieval times, it was a lesser-used Christian symbol. Prior to the time of the Inquisition, there were no evil associations to the pentagram. Rather its form implied Truth, Religious Mysticism and the work of The Creator. The Emperor Constantine I who, after gaining the help of the Christian church in his military and religious takeover of the Roman Empire in 312 AD, used the pentagram, together with the chi-rho symbol (a symbolic form of cross) in his seal and amulet.

However, it was the cross (a symbol of suffering) rather than the pentagram (a symbol of truth) that was used as a symbol by the Church which subsequently came to power and who's manifest destiny was to usurp the supreme power of the Roman Empire.

The annual church feast of Epiphany, celebrating the visit of the three Magi to the infant Jesus as well as the Church's mission to bring truth to the Gentiles had as its symbol the pentagram, (although in present times the symbol has been changed to a five-pointed star in reaction to the Neo-Pagan use of the pentagram).

In the legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the pentagram was Sir Gawain's glyph, inscribed in gold on his shield, symbolizing the five knightly virtues - generosity, courtesy, chastity, chivalry and piety.

In Medieval times, the Endless Knot was a symbol of Truth and was a protection against demons. It was used as an amulet of personal protection and to guard windows and doors. The pentagram with one point upwards symbolized summer; with two points upwards, it was a sign for winter.

During the long period of the Inquisition, there was much promulgation of lies and accusations in the interests of orthodoxy and elimination of heresy. The Church lapsed into a long period of the very diabolism it sought to oppose. The pentagram was seen to symbolize a Goat's Head or the Devil in the form of Baphomet and it was Baphomet whom the Inquisition accused the Templars of worshipping.

The Dominicans of the Inquisition moved their attention from the Christian heretics to the Pagan Witches, to those who only paid lip- service to Christianity but still followed an Old Religion and to the wise- ones amongst them. In the purge on Witches, other horned Gods such as Pan became equated with the Devil (a Christian concept) and the pentagram, the folk symbol of security, for the first time in history, was equated with evil and was called the Witch's Foot.

The Old Religion and its symbols went underground, in fear of the Church's persecution, and there it stayed, gradually withering, for centuries.

After The Inquisition

In the foundation of Hermeticism, in hidden societies of craftsmen and scholarly men, away from the eyes of the Church and its paranoia, the proto-science of alchemy developed along with its occult philosophy and cryptical symbolism. Graphical and geometric symbolism became very important and the period of the Renaissance emerged.

The concept of the microcosmic world of Man as analogous to the macrocosm, the greater universe of spirit and elemental matter became a part of traditional western occult teaching, as it had long been in eastern philosophies, As Above, So Below. The pentagram, the 'Star of the Microcosm', symbolized Man within the microcosm, representing in analogy the Macrocosmic universe.

The upright pentagram bears some resemblance to the shape of man with his legs and arms outstretched. In Tycho Brahe's Calendarium Naturale Magicum Perpetuum (1582) occurs a pentagram with human body imposed and the Hebrew for YHSVH associated with the elements. An illustration attributed to Brae's contemporary Agrippa (Henry Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim) is of similar proportion and shows the five planets and the moon, at the center point, the genitalia. Other illustrations of the period by Robert Fludd and Leonardo da Vinci show geometric relationships of man to the universe.

Later, the pentagram came to be symbolic of the relationship of the head to the four limbs and hence of the pure concentrated essence of anything (or the spirit) to the four traditional elements of matter, earth, water, air and fire - spirit is The Quintessence.

In Freemasonry, Man as Microprosopus was and is associated with the five-pointed Pentalpha. The symbol was used, interlaced and upright for the sitting Master of the Lodge. The geometric properties and structure of the Endless Knot were appreciated and symbolically incorporated into the 72 degree angle of the compasses, the Masonic emblem of virtue and duty. The origins of freemasonry are lost in the depths of history, obscured by the traditional Craft secrecy of the order, but there are signs throughout history of the associations of craftsmanship and ritual and symbolism that have remained known only to a few, and the history of the pentagram has remained occluded in the same kind of mystery. The women's branch of freemasonry uses the five pointed Eastern Star with two points up as its emblem. Each point commemorates a heroine of biblical lore.

No known graphical illustration associating the pentagram with evil appears until the nineteenth century. Eliphaz Levi Zahed (actually the pen name of Alphonse Louis Constant, a defrocked French Catholic Abbé) illustrates the upright pentagram of microcosmic man beside an inverted pentagram with the goat's head of Baphomet. It is this illustration and juxtaposition that has led to the concept of different orientations of the pentagram being good and evil.

Against the rationalism of the 18th century came a reaction in the 19th century with the growth of a new mysticism owing much to the Holy Qabalah, the ancient oral tradition of Judaism relating the cosmogony of God and the universe and the moral and occult truths of their relationship to Man. It is not so much a religion as a system of understanding based upon symbolism and the numerical and alphabetical interrelationships of words and concepts, the Gematria.

The Golden Dawn did much to advance and disseminate the roots of modern Hermetic Qabalah around the world in its time of strength (from 1888 to around the start of the First World War), and through the writings and work of a number of its adepts and adherents have come some of the most important ideas of today's Qabalist philosophy and magick.

In the 1940's Gerald Gardner adopted the pentagram with two points upward as the sigil of second degree initiation in the newly emergent, Neo-Pagan rituals of Witchcraft, later to become known as Wicca. The one-point upward pentagram together with the upright triangle symbolized third degree initiation. (A point downwards triangle is the symbol of First Degree Initiates)

Today

It was not until the late 1960's that the pentagram again became an amuletic symbol to be worn. Co-incidentally with the rise of popular interest in Witchcraft and Wicca and the publication of many books (including several novels) on the subject, there was a reaction to the Church.

In its extreme, one aspect of that reaction was in the establishment of the satanic cult - The Church of Satan - by Anton LaVay. For its emblem, this cult adopted the inverted pentagram after the Baphomet image of Eliphas Levi. The reaction of the Christian church was to condemn as evil all who took the pentalpha as a symbol and even to condemn the symbol itself, much as had been the post-war attitude to the swastika.

The distinction between the point-upwards and point-downwards pentagram forms became accentuated in the minds of Pagans and led to the concepts of white Witchcraft and black. Those who took on board the strong personal ethical code of Wicca, the Wiccan Rede of "An it harm none, do what you will" did not wish to be tarred with the same brush as the Satanists who's philosophy is one of the domination of the spirit by the physical body - the priority of matter and physical existence.

Hence, despite the use and the different meaning of the inverted pentagram as a symbol of Gardnerian initiation, other Wiccans, notably in the USA where the fundamentalist Christians are particularly aggressive to those who do not share their beliefs, are against any usage of the symbol. It is sad to say that even the use of the upright pentagram gives rise to social discrimination against Pagans in some communities.

Otherwise, the pentagram or pentacle has become firmly established as a common Neo-Pagan and Wiccan symbol, acquiring many aspects of mystique and associations that are today often considered to be ancient folk-lore !

The antiquity of the pentagram is certain; its meanings and associations have evolved and richened throughout its history. Its use within modern Neo-Paganism as a group symbol is as important as the cross has been in the history of Christianity and it is in the ubiquity and the attributed meanings of the symbol that its potency lies rather than in its antiquity. From the Earth aware attitudes and respect of life of modern Pagans has already come the movement towards protecting and conserving the ecology and resources of our planet. Perhaps they will see the dawn of a real new age of hope or perhaps just the end of an age of humanity.

I came across a very interesting article from Shaman's Drum which was reprinted for Vision Quest Bookstore. I will attempt to convey the gist of it, along with my views, as a student of the Ways of the Teneh, about it. Smudging is a way of using the smoke from burning herbs as a way to cleanse the body, an object, or a given area of negative influences. I myself use smudging to "cleanse" crystals before using them in jewelry projects I may do, and for protecting my home from some recent "bad vibe"-producing events. (Landlord troubles!) I imagine that the skillful use of the proper herbs could help in warding and banishing ceremonies as well, if used properly and with reverence. The three most used plant material for smudging are sage of all types, cedar, and sweetgrass.

Sage

There are two major genii and several varieties of each genus of Sage that are used for smudging. Salvia, or the herb sage used for cooking, comes in two major varieties: S. Officinalis, commonly known as Garden Sage, and S. Apiana, commonly known as White Sage. Salvia varieties have long been acknowledged as healing herbs, reflected in the fact that its genus name comes from the Latin root word salvare, which is the verb "to heal" or "to save." Artemisia is the genus commonly considered "Sagebrush", and is more common in the wilds out here in California. There are two major varieties to the Artemisia genus: A. Californica, or Common Sagebrush, and A. Vulgaris, or Mugwort. There are many other varieties of both Salvia and Artemisia, and all are effective in smudging. Sage is burned in smudging ceremonies to drive out evil spirits, negative thoughts and feelings, and to keep Gan'n (negative entities) away from areas where ceremonials take place. In the Plains Sweatlodge, the floor of the structure is strewn with sage leaves for the participants to rub on their bodies during the sweat. Sage is also used in keeping sacred objects like pipes or Peyote wands safe from negative influence. In the Sioux nation, the Sacred Pipe is kept in a bundle with sage boughs. I would think special crystals could be so protected this way as well.

Cedar

True cedar is of the Thuja and Libocedrus genii. Some Junipers (Juniperus genus) are also called "cedar", thus complicating things some. Some Juniper varieties ARE cleansing herbs, especially J. Monosperma, or Desert White Cedar. But for smudging, the best is Western Red Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) and California Incense Cedar (Libocedrus descurrens). Cedar is burnt while praying to the Great Spirit (Usen', the Source--also known to Plains nations as Wakan Tanka) in meditation, and also to bless a house before moving in as is the tradition in the Northwest and Western Canada. It works both as a purifier and as a way to attract good energy in your direction. It is usually available in herb stores in chipped form, which must be sprinkled over a charcoal in a brazier. I like a piece of charcoaled mesquite for this purpose, rather than the commercial charcoal cake.

Sweetgrass

Very important to the Sioux and Cherokee nations, its botanical name is Hierochloe Oderata. In these tribes, the sweetgrass is braided like hair braids. It could be burnt by lighting the end of it, or (more economically) by shaving little bits of it onto charcoal in a brazier. Again, use charcoaled Mesquite (I believe it comes packaged for barbecue use under the brand name "Red Arrow") to burn it, not pressed charcoal tablets. Sweetgrass is burnt after smudging with sage, to welcome in good influences after the bad had been driven out. Sweetgrass is very rare today, and traditional Plains people have been attempting to protect the last of it. Myself, I believe that Cedar, which is not endangered, can safely be used this way. Also Pinon pine needles (used more frequently by the Southwest Teneh, like the Navajo and Apache as well as the Pueblo people and the Zuni) and Copal (used by the Yaqui and in ancient times by the Azteca and the Maya) have similar effect. The three mentioned here are readily available either through gathering yourself or, in the case of copal resin, from any good herb shop.

Using Smudging

Burn clippings of the herb in a brazier...not a shell as some "new age" shamanic circles do...it is an insult to White Painted Woman (The Goddess) to do this, especially with the abalone shell which is especially sacred to Her. If the herb is bundled in a "wand", you can also light the end of the wand that isn't woody and use that. I like the latter way. Direct the smoke with your hands or with a Peyote (feather) wand over the person or thing you wish to smudge. If you can see auras, look for discolored places in the aura and direct the healing smoke towards those places on the patient's body. For cleansing a house, first offer cedar smoke to the four directions outside the house. Then, take a sage bough and go throughout the inside of the house, making sure the smoke penetrates every nook and cranny of the house. It might help also, if you have a power animal, to visualize your animal doing these things, to also dance your animal, and if you have a power song, to sing that too. Then finally, run through the house with a white candle that is well protected, to "light up" the house. Careful not to burn it down when you do it!!!

Final Thoughts

Smudging should be done with care, with reverence, and in an attitude of love. Show your respect and honor to the plants that Usen' has given us for our healing, and they will return the favor by keeping us well and free from disease and negative energy. Aloe Vera plants, though not to be burnt, are good for the cleansing angle as well. Keep one or more potted Aloe Veras in the house (modern varieties are too tender to plant in anything but full shade outside) in organic (wood or ceramic, never plastic or metal) pots. To honor the plant when you transplant it, sprinkle the roots with corn meal and smudge it with cedar once it is transplanted. The spirit of Aloe Vera is a good protective spirit, and if you burn yourself, can also be used to heal your skin. Be sure to ask the plant's permission before cutting part of the leaf off for the healing juice. If you don't, the protective power of the plant will cease, and you will be left with but an inert house plant...and perhaps some bad karma to boot. Hi-dicho, it is finished....ENJU!

by Michelle Chihacou White Puma Klein-Hass --> END CONTENT -->

Introduction

It all started 20 years ago. I was 16 years old then, and a recent initiate to the religion of Wicca. Like most neophytes, I was eager to begin work on my Book of Shadows, the traditional manuscript liturgical book kept by most practicing Witches. I copied down rituals, spells, recipes, poems, and tables of correspondences from every source I could lay hands on. Those generally fell into two broad categories: published works, such as the many books available on Witchcraft and magic; and unpublished works, mainly other Witches' Books of Shadows.

Twenty years ago, most of us were 'traditional' enough to copy everything by hand. (Today, photocopying and even computer modem transfers are becoming de riguer.) Always, we were admonished to copy 'every dot and comma', making an exact transcription of the original, since any variation in the ceremony might cause major problems for the magician. Seldom, if ever, did anyone pause to consider where these rituals came from in the first place, or who composed them. Most of us, alas, did not know and did not care. It was enough just to follow the rubrics and do the rituals as prescribed.

But something brought me to an abrupt halt in my copying frenzy. I had dutifully copied rituals from different sources, and suddenly realized they contained conflicting elements. I found myself comparing the two versions, wondering which one was 'right', 'correct', 'authentic', 'original', 'older', etc. This gave rise to the more general questions about where a ritual came from in the first place. Who created it? Was it created by one person or many? Was it ever altered in transmission? If so, was it by accident or intent? Do we know? Is there ever any way to find out? How did a particular ritual get into a Coven's Book of Shadows? From another, older, Book of Shadows? Or from a published source? If so, where did the author of the published work get it?

I had barely scratched the surface, and yet I could already see that the questions being raised were very complex. (Now, all these years later, I am more convinced than ever of the daunting complexity of Neo-Pagan liturgical history. And I am equally convinced of the great importance of this topic for a thorough understanding of modern Witchcraft. It may well be a mare's nest, but imagine the value it will have to future Craft historians. And you are unconditionally guaranteed to see me fly into a passionate tirade whenever I'm confronted with such banal over-simplifications as 'Crowley is the real author of the Third Degree initiation,' or 'Everyone knows Gardner invented modern Witchcraft.')

Conflicting Traditions

The first time I noticed conflicting ritual elements was when I was invited as a guest to attend another Coven's esbat celebration. When the time came to 'invoke the Watchtowers' (a ritual salutation to the four directions), I was amazed to learn that this group associated the element of Earth with the North. My own Coven equated North with Air. How odd, I thought. Where'd they get that? The High Priestess told me it had been copied out of a number of published sources. Further, she said she had never seen it listed any other way. I raced home and began tearing books from my own library shelves. And sure enough! Practically every book I consulted gave the following associations as standard: North = Earth, East = Air, South = Fire, West = Water.

Then where the heck did I get the idea that Air belonged in the North? After much thought, I remembered having copied my own elemental/directional associations from another Witch's Book of Shadows, her Book representing (so she claimed) an old Welsh tradition. Perhaps I'd copied it down wrong? A quick long-distance phone call put my mind at ease on that score. (When I asked her where she'd gotten it, she said she thought it was from an even older Book of Shadows, but she wasn't certain.)

By now, I felt miffed that my own tradition seemed to be at variance with most published sources. Still, my own rituals didn't seem to be adversely affected. Nor were those of my fellow Coven members, all of whom put Air in the North. Further, over the years I had amassed lots of associations and correspondences that seemed to require Air to be in the North. The very thought of Air in the East offended both my sense of reason and my gut-level mythic sensibilities. There are good reasons to place Air in the North. And the whole mythological superstructure would collapse if Air were in the East, instead. If this is so, then why do most published sources place Earth in the North and Air in the East?

Ritual Tampering

Suddenly, I felt sure I knew the reason! Somewhere along the line, someone had deliberately tampered with the information! Such tampering is a long and venerable practice within certain branches of magic. In Western culture, it is most typically seen among Hermetic, Cabalistic and 'ceremonial' magic lodges. It is common among such groups that, when publishing their rituals for public consumption, they will publish versions that are incomplete and/or deliberately altered in some way from the authentic practice. This prevents someone who is not a member of the group from simply buying a book, and performing the rituals, without benefit of formal training. It is only when you are initiated into the lodge that you will be given the complete and/or corrected versions of their rituals. This is how such groups guard their secrets. (And it is a telling postscript that many scholars now believe modern Witchcraft to have 'borrowed' its directional/elemental correspondences from ceremonial magic sources! What a laugh if this was Crowley's last best joke on his friend Gerald Gardner!)

I remember the first time I became aware of such deliberate ritual tampering. A friend of mine had been making a study of the so-called 'planetary squares', talismans that look like magic squares consisting of a grid of numbers in some cryptic order. There are seven such squares -- one for each of the 'old' planets. While making this study, he began coloring the grids (more for his own pleasure than anything else), making colorful mini-mosaics, using first two colors, then three, then four, and on up to the total number of squares in the grid. Six of the planetary squares yielded pleasing patterns of color. Then there was the Sun square! Against all expectation, the colors were a random jumble, with no patterns emerging. Thus, he began his quest for the corrected Sun square. And I became convinced of the reality of ritual tampering.

The Watchtowers

All that remains, then, is for me to assemble all the arguments in favor of the Air-in-the-North model, which I have now come to believe is the corrected system of correspondences. The remainder of this article will be devoted to those arguments, each with its own name and number:

1. Airts: This is perhaps the strongest argument. In Celtic countries, the four elemental/directional associations are referred to as the 'four airts'. And it is a known fact that this tradition associates Air with North. While it is true that some writers, familiar with ceremonial magic (like William Sharp and Doreen Valiente), have given 'tampered' versions of the airts, it is a telling point that folklorists working directly with native oral traditions (like Alexander Carmichael and F. Marion McNeil) invariably report the Air/North connection.

2. Parallel Cultures: Although arguing from parallel cultures may not be as convincing, it is still instructive to examine other magical aboriginal cultures in the Western hemisphere. For example, the vast majority of Native American tribes (themselves no slouches in the area of magic!) place Air in the North, which they symbolize by the Eagle. (Aboriginal cultures lying south of the equator typically have different associations, for reasons I will discuss next.)

3. Geophysical: If one accepts the insular British origins of elemental directions, then one must imagine living in the British Isles. To the West is the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean (i.e. water). To the East, the bulk of the European land mass (earth). South has always been the direction of fire because, as one travels south (toward the equator), it gets warmer. Which leaves North as the region of air, home of the icy winds of winter. (These last two associations would be reversed for cultures in the southern hemisphere, for whom north is the direction of the warm equatorial region, and south is the land of ice.)

4. Hyperborean: In fact, an ancient name for the British Isles was 'Hyperboria', which literally means 'behind the north wind', thus associating north and wind (air) once more. The inhabitants were themselves called 'Hyperborians', and the phrase 'at the back of the north wind' (the title of one of George MacDonald's faery romances) is still current. Of all the winds of the compass, it is unquestionably the north wind (Boreas), bringer of winter, which is perceived as the strongest and most influential (cf. Robert Grave's goddess fantasy 'Watch the North Wind Rise'). You don't hear too much about the other three cardinal winds.

5. Seasonal: Many occultists associate the four seasons with the four cardinal points, as well. Hence, winter = north, spring = east, summer = south, and autumn = west. (To be precise, it is the solstice and equinox points which align with the cardinal points.) Again, in most folklore, winter is associated with air and wind, as the icy blasts that usher in the season. In spring, it is the earth which arrests our attention, with its sudden riot of blooms and greenery. Again, south relates to summer, the hottest season (fire), and west relates to autumn.

6. Diurnal: Occultists also often associate the cardinal points of a single day to the four compass points. Thus, midnight = north, sunrise = east, noon = south, and sunset = west. (Please note that we are talking about true midnight and true noon here, the points halfway between sunset and sunrise, and between sunrise and sunset, respectively.) These associate nicely with the seasonal attributes just discussed. It is easy to see why sunrise should equate to east, and sunset to west. And, once again, from the perspective of the British Isles, the sun rises over land (earth) and sets over the ocean (water). South is related to noon because it is the moment of greatest heat (fire). Leaving the 'invisible' element of air to be associated with the sun's invisibility, at midnight.

7. Mythological: In Celtic mythology, north is invariably associated with air. The pre-Christian Irish gods and goddesses, the Tuatha De Danann, were 'airy' faeries (later versions came equipped with wings, relating them to sylphs). The Book of Conquests states their original home was in the north, 'at the back of the north wind'. And when they came to Ireland, they came in ships, through the upper air (!), settling on the mountain tops. (It has always struck me as odd that some modern writers see mountains as a symbol of earth. The crucial symbolism of the mountain is its height, rising into the air, touching the sky. Virtually all Eastern traditions associate mountains, favorite abodes of gurus, with air. A cave would be a better symbol of earth than a mountain.) In Welsh mythology, too, Math the Ancient, chief god of Gwynedd (or North Wales), is specifically associated with wind, which can carry people's thoughts to him.

8. Yin/Yang: Many occultists believe that the four elements have yin/yang connections. Both air and fire are seen as masculine, while earth and water are seen as feminine. If air is associated with the north point of the magic circle, and earth is east, then one achieves a yin/yang alternation as one circumambulates the circle. As one passes the cardinal points of east, south, west, and north, one passes feminine, masculine, feminine, masculine energies. This alternating flux of plus/minus, push/pull, masculine/feminine, is the very pulse of the universe, considered of great importance by most occultists. That it was equally important to our ancestors is evidenced by standing stones in the British Isles. At sites like the Kennet Avenue of Braga, the tall, slender, masculine, phallic stones alternate precisely with the shorter, diamond-shaped yoni stones.

9. Generator: This argument flows out of the previous one. Practicing magicians often think of the magic circle as a kind of psychic generator. Witches in particular like to perform circle dances to 'raise the cone of power'. Hand in hand, and alternating man and woman, they dance clockwise (deosil) around the circle, moving faster and faster until the power is released. This model has an uncanny resemblance to an electrical generator, as man and woman alternately pass each of the four 'poles' of the magic circle. These poles themselves must alternate between plus and minus if power is to be raised. This means that if the masculine fire is in the south, then the masculine air must be in the north. If the feminine water is in the west, then the feminine earth must be in the east. If any adjacent pair were switched, the generator would stop dead.

10. Masculine/Feminine Axis: When you look at a typical map, north (the cardinal direction) is at the top. Any north-south road is a vertical line, and any east-west road is a horizontal line. Likewise, a 'map' of a magic circle makes the vertical north-south axis masculine (with air and fire), while the horizontal east-west axis is feminine (earth and water). This makes logical sense. When we look at the horizon of the earth, we see a horizontal line. Water also seeks a horizontal plane. Feminine elements, considered 'passive', have a natural tendency to 'lay down'. Fire, on the other hand, always assumes an erect or vertical position. Air, too, can rise upward, as earth and water cannot. Masculine elements, being 'active', have a natural tendency to 'stand up'.

11. Altar Tools: In modern Witchcraft, there are four principal altar tools, the same four tools shown on the Tarot card, the Magician. They also correspond to the four Tarot suits, the four ancient treasures of Ireland, and the four 'hallows' of Arthurian legend. And, like the four elements, two of them are feminine and two of them are masculine. The pentacle is a shallow dish inscribed with a pentagram, representing earth, and is here placed in the east. The womb-shaped chalice, symbolizing water, is placed in the west. They form the horizontal feminine axis. The phallic-shaped wand, representing fire, is placed in the south. And the equally phallic-shaped athame is placed in the north. They form the vertical masculine axis. (The gender associations of cup and blade are especially emphasized in the ritual blessing of wine.)

12. Axis Symbolism: In nearly every culture, the vertical line is a symbol of yang, or masculine energy. The horizontal line is yin, feminine energy. When the vertical masculine line penetrates the horizontal feminine line, forming the ancient Pagan symbol of the equal-armed cross, it becomes a symbol of life, and life-force. Place a circle around it or on it, and you have a circle-cross or 'Celtic' cross, symbol of everlasting life. (Please note the importance of the equal-armed cross. If one arm is longer or shorter, then the four elements are out of balance. The Christian or 'Roman' cross, for example, has an extended southern arm. And many historians have commented on Christianity's excess of 'fire' or zeal. Some versions actually show a shortened northern arm, indicating a dearth of 'air' or intellectual qualities.)

13. Astrological: The astrological year is divided into four equal quadrants, each beginning at a solstice or equinox. And each quadrant is governed by one of the four elements. Which element can be discovered by examining the exact mid-point of the quadrant. For example, the first quadrant, beginning at the winter solstice (north) is governed by air, which rules 15 degrees Aquarius, symbolized by the Man or Spirit. The second quadrant, beginning at the spring equinox (east) is governed by earth, which rules 15 degrees Taurus, the Bull. The third quadrant, beginning at the summer solstice (south) is governed by fire, which rules 15 degrees Leo, the Lion. And the fourth quadrant, beginning at the fall equinox (west) is governed by water, which rules 15 degrees Scorpio, here symbolized by the Eagle. Thus, north, east, south and west correspond to air, earth, fire, and water, and to man, bull, lion, and eagle, respectively. If the last four symbols seem familiar, it is because they represent the four elemental power points of the astrological year, and their symbols appear in the four corners of the Tarot cards, the World and the Wheel of Fortune. (The same figures were later adopted by Christians as symbols of the four gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.)

If those are the arguments in favor of Air-in-the-North, where are the counter-arguments in favor of Earth-in-the-North? Surprisingly, I've heard very few. The most common by far is 'But we've always done it this way.' Not too convincing. However, no matter how persuasive my arguments may be, many have countered that magic doesn't lend itself to rational arguments. It's what feels right that counts. True. And there's no denying that many practitioners do just fine with earth in the north. Granted. Still, if they've never tried it the other way, how would they really know?

My challenge to my fellow practitioners then is this: give Air-in-the-North a shot. Just try it on for size. See what it feels like. And not for just a single ritual. It'll take several tries just to overcome your habitual ritual mindset. And nothing is as habitual as ritual! So in order to give this a fair shake, you'll have to do a whole series of rituals with air in the north. And go into it with an open mind. Like all magic, if you decide ahead of time it won't work, it won't. Then, once you've tried it, compare it to your old method. Ask yourself what's different, if it worked any better, and why or why not. And let me know. I'd enjoy hearing about your experiences.

 

Document Copyright © 1986, 1998 by Mike Nichols

This document can be re-published only as long as no information is lost or changed, credit is given to the author, and it is provided or used without cost to others.

Other uses of this document must be approved in writing by Mike Nichols

A guide on what to expect

There is a lot more information about a variety of Pagan paths (Wicca, Witchcraft, Druidry, Shamanism, Heathenry, Asatru, Hedgewitchcraft etc) around now than there used to be. People are more public, at least in print, than was the case even 10 or 15 years ago. You can learn a great deal second-hand, from books, magazines and the internet, but when you decide you want to meet real live Pagans, what should you do and what can you expect from them?

You may want to join a group in the hope of learning how to perform rituals, or divination or forms of magic. Many experienced Pagans are happy to help new seekers along the way and share some of their knowledge. However, no one 'owes' a new seeker anything. Remember, Pagan spirituality is personal and no one in the Pagan community has a 'duty' to share spirituality in the way that a priest or minister of a conventional religion might be seen to have that kind of duty. Most Pagans are seekers all their lives, at some points they feel they have insights to share, at others they may be more introspective, working at things privately and not wishing to discuss them.

Ways to meet other Pagans

1) Moots – advertised regular gatherings usually in Pubs or organisers' houses

2) Through the Internet: egroups on yahoo or other web-based forums.

3) Pagan conferences, camps and other semi-public events often include open rituals in which anyone attending can participate.

4) Local contact lists run by the PF or other reputable Pagan organisations.

Please note: Most Pagans celebrate their spirituality privately, and are so loosely organised that they don't have any 'neutral territory' that belongs to the group. Groups meet and celebrate in people's homes or on private land. You wouldn't expect your neighbour across the road to invite you to a family party or let you invite yourself, just because you were interested in their habits or traditions, and it isn't reasonable to expect any Pagan group to invite you to a celebration without coming to know you first.

This is where pub moots come in.

Pub Moot Advice

Pubs are public places where you can meet strangers for the first time, and are able to decide exactly how much you wish to share about yourself and how much you don't. It is useful, both for the new seeker, and for the experienced Pagan, to be able to form an impression of each other, and then gradually talk about more detailed stuff if you are comfortable with each other.

Most pub moots advertised give a contact phone number. Ring them up and have a chat before you go along, so that the organisers will look out for you, and tell you how to recognise them if they haven't got a specific room booked.

Use as much common sense as you would at any other gathering of folk you don't know.

- Have your own transport home sorted before you go - know public transport times and details in advance if you aren't driving yourself or being picked up by a friend or family.

- Don't give anyone your address and phone number details or any other personal information unless you feel absolutely comfortable about doing so. (Pagans can be great folk, but they are still strangers to you.)

- If possible, go with a friend, or arrange to meet the organiser for a chat before you go to the moot for the first time. If it is possible, most moot organisers will do what they can to help you.

- Don't let yourself feel pressured to go to a private address at any point.

- Anybody who seems overly interested in sex or nudity, is probably a prat - just as they are at work, a club, a party or a disco.

- Overt sexism (in jokes or language) is also generally a bad sign, though there is a more relaxed attitude towards sexuality generally within the Pagan community.

- Don't give out personal information you may know about others at the pub moot to anyone without their express permission.

At most pub moots there are people following different Pagan paths, there are likely to be some folk who work in groups as well as folk who work alone. There can be Witches, Druids, Shamans, Heathens, ceremonial magicians, healers, diviners, astrologers, or people who are more interested in ecological aspects of being Pagan than in magical ones, and people who aren't sure exactly what they are looking for yet. You may not actually find someone whose Paganism matches yours, but most Pagans are interested in other spiritual outlooks and you can enjoy a good discussion even if you don't agree.

Egroup Advice

Much the same as pub moot advice, but also remember that you are only perceiving others through the words they choose, and they may have spent a long time deciding how they want to express something – you don't even have body language to go on.

Not everyone on an email list or web forum may be telling the truth about themselves, even in terms of age, gender or locality.

Camp Advice

A great deal of Pagan activity and socialising takes place during the summer months, in outdoor camps. This is because the vast majority of Pagans care very deeply about the earth and nature, and some experience their religion entirely through that relationship. One of the best ways to get to know Pagans is to spend a weekend in a camp with others. Path-specific organisations may arrange their own camps, and you can obtain some links from the PF website to these organisations and look for announcements. Most organisations try to keep the price low and that sometimes means that the amenities on Pagan camps are fairly basic, with those attending being expected to take part in camp tasks, such as erecting a marquee, digging a latrine or a firepit, or helping strike camp. You will be expected to bring your own tent, cooking etc equipment and supplies. You will also find that some camps tolerate singing or drumming or other noisy activities until the early hours of the morning, while others observe a curfew. If these things matter to you, it is best to find out in advance what sort of behaviour is tolerated at any camp you wish to attend!

Warning:

There are a few extremists in the Pagan scene, and there are a few folk who think that the 'sensational' aspects of following a Pagan path are worth pursuing as ends in themselves. There have also been folk who have joined Pagan groups or gone to pub moots simply to gather information for the purposes of 'outing' in the press, the folk they meet. These are the sad realities of life. So if the folk you meet are a bit cagey about telling you about themselves at first, be patient, they need to assure themselves you are a genuine seeker. Likewise, be sceptical yourself. Listen to your intuition. Ask a lot of questions, but the best advice is be patient - finding Pagan friends (like finding any other kind of friend) takes time, but is really worth it!

Looking for Groups following Specific Paths

Learn as much as you can about various paths if you want to work in a group, not specifics of ritual or spellcraft - but why a person chooses that Pagan path before you try to join a group. By knowing these basics, even if it is just in theory, you show any prospective group that you are serious, have thought this through and are willing to learn.

Magical/Ritual groups (Groves, Hearths or Covens) are closely knit working groups who celebrate their spirituality, and sometimes practice magic, together. To enter one involves a commitment to the spiritual path, but also a commitment to the people involved. Every person in a group brings a different energy and dynamic to that group, so most groups are very, very careful about changing an existing dynamic by including anyone new. Most often, people will not even say whether or not they are in a magical working group. This is part of the ethos of privacy and protection for one's self and others.

So if you want to work in a magical group, first you have to meet the folk. They need to come to know you well enough to see if you would fit into their group, and you need to come to know them well enough to be certain you are comfortable with them and trust them. This takes a lot of time. Ethical folk will take this process slowly and in social contexts a long time before suggesting sharing anything magical. Be very, very wary of anyone who invites you to a ritual on first meeting, unless they make it clear that it is an open ritual, usually a seasonal celebration, and you can ask others at the moot about the ritual and the folk.

It will help if you decide beforehand what you want from a magical group. What are you interested in doing? What are you not interested in doing? Feel free to ask questions, while bearing in mind that there will be some matters members will not discuss with an outsider. You might ask: What will be expected of me as a member - and ask yourself if these are commitments you can willingly fulfill? Is the group hierarchical, fully democratic, or somewhere in between? Does it follow a particular pantheon and mythos (Egyptian, Celtic, Greek, Norse, Saxon etc.) and do these call to your heart? Does the group ever work skyclad (naked)? Is entry to the group by formal initiation, and if so, can you take the oaths involved with honour and sincerity? No genuine group will consider formally inviting you to join their group – through initiation or any other process – until they're certain that you are right for them and they are right for you. Don't try to rush things. It is far better, and more honourable, to spend years making certain of what is right for you, than to plunge headlong into things you don't understand and haven't thought through.

Joining the PF will give you contacts which may lead to entry to a magical group. There are training courses in many paths available, and there are networks of groups who are prepared to make contact with seekers (see the contact advertisements in PF District Newsletters or Pagan Dawn). None of this can guarentee anything. It only means that the folk involved are prepared to either write to you or talk to you about your spirituality, what you are looking for, what you already know, to see if they think their style of practice would suit you. If for any reason they don't think you are right for each other that may be an end to the contact. This isn't a reflection on you, it is simply an acknowledgement of the dynamic between you and them, there is no "fault" on either side.

All the various Pagan paths are still minority spiritual paths and always will be, so with the best of intentions there simply may not be any folk near you who can guide your learning or share ritual or celebration with you.

© PF Scotland & Ireland, P.O. Box 14251, Anstruther KY10 3YA May 2005

Reprint of http://www.paganfed.org leaftlet

These are the words of the Goddess:

Whenever ye have need of anything and once in a month, and better it be when the Moon is full, then shall ye assemble in a magical place and adore the spirit of me, who am Queen of all Witches. There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all witchery, yet have not won its deepest secrets; to these will be thought, and taught things that are yet unknown.

Ye shall be free from bondage; ye shall dance, sing , feast, make music and love all in my praise. For mine is the ecstacy of the spirit, and mine is also joy on earth; for my law is love unto all beings.

Keep pure your highest ideals; strive ever towards them; let naught 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 Grail of Immortality.

I am the Gracious Goddess, who gives the gift of joy unto the hearts of men. Upon earth I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal; and beyond death , I give peace and freedom, and reunions 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 upon the earth.

I, who am the green earth, and the white Moon, the mystery of the waters and the desire of the spirit, call unto your soul. Arise and come unto me.

Let my worship be within the heart, for behold all acts of love are my rituals. Therefore, let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honour and humility, mirth and reverence within you.

And you who think to seek for me, know thy seeking will avail thee not, unless thou knowest the mystery; if that which thou seek thou find 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.

So speaks the Goddess.