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What Is Wicca?
 
Wicca, pronounced "wick-ah", is a modern religion, based upon the ancient
Western European, pre-Christian shamanic traditions. It is fertility,
earth-based and nature oriented; Wiccans recognize and worship during the
change of the seasons and the full and new moons. Wicca is a pagan religion,
which means it is not Judeo-Christian in origin. Pagan simply means "not of
the city" or "country-dweller" and should not be thought of as a negative
term. Wicca is a unique religion in that it has certain guidelines, but no
dogmas, doctrines or set of rules. This can be confusing for new
practitioners, because Wiccan practices are derived from within, are personal
and individual and are not mandated by any one person, hierarchy, or "Bible".
Many people brought up in an organized religion are not used to such an open
and free belief system. It takes time to become comfortable in developing
your religious practices from your personal experiences and knowledge, but
therein lies the beauty of Wicca.

Individuality is an honored trait for Wiccans, therefore, Wicca is not a
"cohesive" religion. One can practice either with a coven or as a solitary,
and they can worship in their own individual way. Also, some people who
belong to covens may branch out and form their own coven. This is totally
acceptable and it allows for a greater sharing of beliefs and of the
establishment of new ideas and practices. Although Wiccan practices are
unique to the individual or coven, most Wiccans have more in common with
other Wiccans than they do differences.

There are many different traditions of Wicca as well. Here is a list of them:

ALEXANDRIAN TRADITION

This tradition is not considered to be Celtic, however, many Celtic
traditions incorporate aspects of the Kabbalistic rites in the Alexandrian
Tradition.

ANGLO-SAXON TRADITION

This is an English tradition which combines the practices of the Southern
Teutons and the Celts.

ARTHURIAN TRADITION

This is one of the more well-known traditions. As the name implies, this
tradition is based on Arthurian Legends from Cornwall and Wales.

ASATRU

The Norse and Celtic ways are followed by the practitioners of Asatru.

BRITISH TRADITIONAL

This is a mix of Celtic and Gardnerian traditions and beliefs, however, there
is not a lot of structure.

CALEDONII TRADITION

This tradition preserves the Scottish festivals. It originated in Scotland
and was formally known as the Hecatine Tradition.

CELTIC TRADITION

This broad tradition originated in Celtic Gaul, Western and Northern England,
Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Brittany and the Isle of Man.

CYMRI TRADITION

Pronounced KIM-ree or KEEM-ree, this tradition is the principle Pagan
tradition of Wales. It is influenced in part by the Arthurian legends.

DEBOREAN TRADITION

An American eclectic tradition which attempts to reconstruct Wicca as it was
before The Burning Times or the European witch craze.

DIANIC TRADITION

Sometimes said to be the feminist movement of the Craft, this tradition
focuses mainly on the Goddess.

DRUIDIC TRADITIONS

This tradition is based on the rituals, rites, magick and practices of the
Celtic priestly class, the Druids.

EIREANNACH TRADITION

Pronounced AIR-un-n'yock, this name is a catch-all of many Irish-influenced
traditions.

FAERY TRADITION

The origins of this tradition come from the myths and legends of the Tuatha
De Danann, the deities who are now known as "Faery Folk". This tradition
focuses heavily on the environment.

FAMILY TRADITIONS

Traditions which are passed down through families are known as "Family
Traditions". Some are secretive, others openly practice their Celtic Pagan
beliefs, often times mixed with mainstream religious beliefs.

FENNIAN TRADITION

This tradition is based on the Fianna, Fionn MacCumhal's warriors.

GAELIC TRADITION

A generic description, sometimes applied to the Celtic traditions of Ireland
and Scotland.

GARDNERIAN TRADITION

Founded by Gerald Gardner in the 1950's, this tradition generally has a very
structured systems.

IRISH TRADITION

Another generic term used to describe traditions native to Ireland.

MANX TRADITION

An Irish tradition deeply connected with the mystical Isle of Man. Manann Mac
Llyr, God of the Sea and Fand, a Faery Queen are the principal deities.

NORDIC TRADITION

This tradition dates back to ancient times, following the belief systems of
the Teutons.

NORTH ISLES TRADITION

This tradition was heavily influenced by the Norse and is prominent in the
Orkney and Shetland Islands of Scotland. To this day, many ancient Nordic
celebrations are still held.

OBOD

This acronym stands for the Celtic English Druidic tradition, Order of Bard,
Ovates and Druids.

PECTI-WITA

Pecti-Wita is a solitary tradition influenced by the Picts, a pre-Celtic
people who warred with the Celts.

SEAX-WICA

Organized by Raymond Buckland in 1973, this tradition is influenced by Saxon
traditions and beliefs.

STREGA

Originated in Italy, this beautiful practice began in 1383 with a woman named
Aradia.

Keep in mind however that these are not ALL the traditions out there, and
there is nothing wrong with mixing traditions together to make your practice
personally you.
 
The law
The Law
by Scott Cunningham

We are of the Old Ways, among those who walk with the Goddess and God
and
receive Their love.

Keep the Sabbats and Esbats to the best of your abilities, for to do
otherwise is to lessen your connection with the Goddess and God.

Harm none. This, the oldest law, is not open to interpretation or
change.

Shed not blood in ritual; the Goddess and God need not blood to be
duly
worshipped.

Those of our ways are kind to all creatures, for hurtful thoughts are
quite
draining and aren't worth the loss of energy.

Misery is self-created; so, too, is joy, so create joy and disdain
misery and
unhappiness. And this is within your power. So harm not.

Teach only what you know, to the best of your ability, to those
students who
you choose, but teach not to those who would use your instructions for
destruction or control. Also, teach not to boost pride, forever
remember: She
who teaches out of love shall be enfolded in the arms of the Goddess
and God.

Ever remember that if you would be of our way, keep the law close to
your
heart, for it is the nature of the Wicca to keep the Law.

If ever the need arises, any law may be changed or discarded, and new
laws
written to replace them, so long as the new laws don't break the
oldest law
of all: Harm None.

Blessings of the Goddess and God on us all.


So you want to be a witch?

So you want to be a Witch?

What is all this witchcraft stuff, anyway?

Does being a witch mean you can point your finger and make things happen?
Does it mean you can learn to fly on a broom and turn people into toads?

Well, not quite.

Witchcraft, or WICCA, is a religion. Wicca is not primarily about magic,
though it does use it. Wicca is about your place in the Universe and your
evolution as a spiritual being. Wicca is about moving forward on your
personal spiritual journey - about learning, growing, and becoming the most
you can be.

Wicca is a religion. Wicca is a way of understanding and interacting with
Deity and the Universe. It is a life-affirming path of growth and expansion.

Wicca is based on reverence for Nature and Her cycles, respect for the Earth
and all Her creatures. Wicca reveres the natural forces of the Universe and
sees them reflected in the world around us, and in every person and thing.

Wicca has great reverence for Deity, Who for us has both a Mother and a
Father aspect. Wiccans approach Deity through many names and forms, both
masculine and feminine, drawn from all over the world and from every age. We
often compare Deity to a diamond with many facets; each name or image for
Deity is like one facet on the diamond. Each facet may be considered
separately and all are beautiful in themselves, but all are aspects of the
single stone.

Wicca believes that Deity comes to each person in the way that is best
understood by that person, and that this is different for different people.
Wicca believes that the relationship between a person and Deity is highly
individual, personal, and subjective. Not everyone will have the same
understanding of Deity, because not everyone is in the same place, or able to
understand from the same level or perspective. Because of this no one has a
right to judge another person's relationship with Deity, because each person
is different.

This is why we respect all the names and forms that have been used to honor
Deity through the centuries - Deity needs them all in order to come to all
people in the way they can best understand.

The most common way for Wiccans to approach Deity is in the form of the
TRIPLE GODDESS, Whose three-forms are Maiden, Mother, and Crone, and Whose
symbol is the Moon. Her consort is THE GOD, Who rules the cycles of the solar
year and is called among other things Lord of the Dance. His symbol is the
Sun. They are viewed as Polarities, opposing but complimentary powers, like
the Eastern concept of Yin and Yang.

Wicca has a very strong moral base. By “moral” we mean treating each other
in an honorable and loving manner. Wicca has only one law which all
traditions agree on; DO AS YOU WILL, BUT HARM NONE. In other words how you
dress and who you sleep with is not our business - those issues are not what
we mean by “morality.” But a moral person doesn't hurt other people, and
this is the criteria for all moral action; “Am I harming anyone?” If you
are, you are acting wrongly.

Wicca is a Pagan, or Native, religion. The word Pagan means “from the
countryside” and reflects the fact that Pagans follow indigenous, native
religions rather than the Book religions. Pagan religions are built up over
millennia as a result of peoples observations and experiences - they are
living, growing religions which can and do change when change is needed.
Pagan religions revere the natural forces and cycles of life, and it is from
observation and interaction with these that their beliefs developed.

Wicca is wholly unrelated to the Book religions; Judaism, Christianity,
Islam, and Satanism. The Book religions are all descended from the
supposedly historical bargain between Abraham and Jehovah, which is recorded
in their Bible. The Book religions all share common elements; belief in a
final Day of Judgment, in a jealous and vengeful God, in the basic sinfulness
of humanity (called Original Sin), the superiority of the male sex, and the
idea of Hell; a place of eternal torture. Most of all the Book religions
believe in the infallibility of their Book, the Bible (and its related books
the Talmud, the Q’uran, the Satanic Bible). Though these books were written
by humans, the Book religions claim they were written by God - this is the
hallmark of the Book religions. Absolutely NONE of these ideas are shared by
Wicca. The Book religions have a totally separate origin from the Pagan
religions, and a very different history.

In studying Wicca you must understand that you are not just learning some
interesting things about magic and Pagan religion, you are undertaking a
spiritual journey. If you apply the things you are taught and persevere in
your studies, it will change you on the deepest levels of your being; you
will learn about parts of yourself that you may never have known existed
(your Higher Self, your Astral body, your Chakras and your aura, to name only
a few), master psychic skills you've only read about or seen in movies
(clairvoyance, divination, psychometry and many more) and, learn how to use
magic to take control of your very Destiny. You will develop strengths you
do not now know that you have, and you will in time face your deepest fears;
and vanquish them.

Wicca is a path of transformation and growth which will challenge you and
lead you to a renewed and enriched existence. Of course you donut
necessarily get all of this just from reading. You have to do the work, and
you need to continue your studies beyond just the basics to master all this.

Wicca is not an exclusive religion. Because we believe all paths lead to
Deity, we do not believe that one must belong to any given faith or tradition
to be a good person or to grow spiritually. Nor is it necessary to belong to
only one. Your private beliefs and conscience are your own business. Wicca
is about learning to make your own choices, and the Wiccan traditions exist
to provide a framework in which to learn and grow. Wicca seeks to open your
thinking, not to limit it.

You want to be a Wiccan?

To be a Wiccan is to move at one with Deity.

To be a Wiccan is to honor Nature and all that is in Her. To acknowledge the
life in all things, and be in harmony with it.

To be a Wiccan is to work with the seen and the unseen. To learn the magical
secrets of stones, of plants, and animals - to speak to the faeries and the
spirits and to hear their replies.

To be a Wiccan is to use every tool available to grow, to learn, to become
the best that you can be. To use magic, meditation, and ritual to overcome
all limitations, all fears, all imperfections, and to move always in harmony
with Deity, always to the good, always in accordance with your highest self.

This is what it is to be a Wiccan.

The truth about witchcraft

The Truth About Witchcraft
 
1. Who here thinks they are a Witch? Well, aside from the atrocious grammar,
this question is rather silly. For most of us, Witch is a religious identity,
so asking if we "think" we are Witches is much like asking if someone
"thinks" they are a Baptist, or a Methodist, etc. If someone tells you that
they practice the religion of Witchcraft, they are a Witch.

2. Who here has the most power? Where do you get your power from? Witchcraft
isn't about power. It's about the Gods, and service to Them. When questioners
speak of power, what they generally mean is magick, not Witchcraft, though
they do not realize it. We'll get to the topic of magick in a few minutes.

3. Prove to me that you are a Witch. I no more need 'prove' that I am a witch
than you need prove you are a Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, etc.
Witchcraft is a belief system, a religion like any other. It is simply what I
believe, and it therefore requires no more proof than the statement "I am an
Episcopalian" or "I am a Mormon" would.

4. Are you a good Witch or a bad Witch? There are good Witches and bad
Witches just as there are good Christians and bad Christians. Witches are
people just like everyone else. To me, a "bad" Witch is an inept one, rather
like a Christian who breaks the 10 Commandments is a "bad" Christian.

5. Are you guys like those girls in the movie The Craft? Who was that Manot
guy? No, we are nothing like those children. The only thing in that film
which was remotely portrayed in an accurate manner was the theory of the Law
of Three, where it was explained to the girls that what they sent out returns
to them threefold. The rest, including the "deity" they attempted to invoke
was Hollywood fiction. And by the way, the only "glamour spell" we know of
that changes hair color involves invoking Miss Clairol, or the Goddess
L'Oreal and an application of the sacred peroxide. Or a trip to a really good
hairstylist and a major outlay of cash!

6. So you guys worship Satan, right? Satan is a Judeo-Christian-Zoroastrian
concept which holds no meaning for Witches. There is no Satan in our deity
structure, which predates the idea of Satan. Witches do not believe in Hell,
Satan, or generally speaking, the concept of an absolute evil (except of
course my ex-husband, but that's a story for another day).

7. So you don't believe in God? What do you believe in? Well, not the
Christian concept of God. Most Witches are polytheistic or pantheistic, and
believe in an immanent form of Deity. I believe that the Divine is too large
for humans to grasp all at once, so we tend to break it down into something
we can more easily understand. For Christians, this is the Trinity, or Jesus
and God (and for some, Mary). Most Witches worship the Divine in its Twin
Aspects of God and Goddess. We see the God and Goddess as archetypal
representations of the polarities of the Divine. Many of us break this down
still further, by working with the aspects of Deity from one pantheon or
another, such as Greek gods or Celtic, or Egyptian, etc. Some Witches work
more with one polarity or the other. Dianic Witches, for example, tend to
work only with the Goddess. All these aspects, or faces of the Divine
represent the same Source. That force in the Universe is the same Source that
is worshipped by other faiths, including the Christian faiths. We believe
that force manifests in myriad ways, and that all names for it are equally
valid. By that respect, we all worship the same Source. Witchcraft is an
earth-based nature religion. We recognize the hand of the Divine in the
Universe around us, the trees, the wind, the sea, all of it. We see the
interconnectedness of all things in the Universe. All of the Web of Life
reflects the beauty and power of the Divine. There are strong likenesses
between this ideology and the belief system of Native Americans, in fact many
indigenous peoples hold similar attitudes and beliefs. Witchcraft is also
highly an individualistic and experiential pathway. We do not march in
lockstep with one another. There is no hierarchy, no "Head Witch" as it were.
If you ask ten Witches a question about what they believe or how to practice,
you are likely to get a number of different responses. We are very
unorganized (as opposed to disorganized); in fact it is often said that
organizing Witches is rather like trying to herd cats.

8. What do Witches believe happens after you die? Witches tend to be more
concerned about the here and now, but many of us believe in reincarnation in
one form or another. I believe that between lives, we rest and plan for the
next, choosing circumstances to be born into which will provide us with the
greatest opportunity for growth and spiritual development. Some Witches call
the place we rest between lives the Summerland. This does not mean that I
think your life is all planned out ahead of time, rather that you determine a
few key factors based on the lessons you are trying to learn. For instance,
you choose to be born into a poor family, or a rich one, or you choose to be
born able-bodied or not, etc. What you do with those circumstances once you
get here is up to you.

9. What do Witches do? Well, as you can see from the preceding, we worship.
We also raise families, hold down jobs, shop (I am particularly good at
that), have hobbies, pay bills, just like other people. What most people
really mean when they ask this question is "tell me about magick."

10. What is magick, and why do you spell it that way? We spell magick with a
k to differentiate it from stage magic, the kind illusionists do. Magick is
the focused and directed application of energy to a specific purpose. It's
that simple. The energy used is generally either personal energy (which can
be draining if you are not careful) or that Universal energy which is part of
the Divine. Witches are not the only people who can do magick, anyone can
learn how. Magick carries serious lessons about responsibility however, and
is not to be trifled with. What you send out into the Universe returns to
you. Most Witches recognize the Threefold Law. The Law of Three states that
what you send out returns to you three times, like a pendulum set in motion.
The three part tends to be metaphorical, but the principle is the same
regardless of the number of times it kicks back at you...in my case it is
often 4.6 rather than 3! Some feel that the intensity of the magickal working
determines the number of times it returns. This is Natural Law and
unavoidable. It's like gravity...it just is. When you do magick you are
responsible for all possible consequences of your actions, whether or not you
intended or foresaw those consequences. This is why many of the wisest
Witches rarely practice formal magick. It carries serious karmic weight, and
is reserved for those times when more mundane means have been exhausted, and
when the practitioner is willing to accept the responsibility for whatever
results the magick creates.

11. Do you practice black magick? Magick is inherently neutral. It has no
color. The intent of the magickal practitioner "colors" the magick. Negative
or manipulative magick is that which is generally understood to be "black"
(though some Witches say black magick is that which uses personal energy, and
white that which uses earth energy - remember I told you 10 Witches, many
responses!). When you think about the Threefold Law, you realize how
self-defeating negative magick is. I's is not very intelligent to send out
negative energy, since you will get it back harder than you sent it.
Fortunately, stupid people are not too adept magickally (it takes brains and
skill), so by and large those who claim to run around casting "evil spells"
on people are laughably inept. Never conjure up what you can't conjure down.
And remember that if you conjure it up, you clean it up!

12. What exactly IS a spell? Spells are merely a projection of intention and
desire, a form of concentrated prayer...with props. The props are a focus and
have little inherent power. Working at a specific phase of the moon which is
conducive to your aims, or working with herbs which have some relation to
what you are attempting can help you to focus and concentrate the energy, but
magick, as I stated before, is all mental. You do not "need" props or
external aids to cast a spell, the magick is in you!

13. What about love spells?? Love spells are the magickal equivalent of rape.
They are about removing the free will of another; that is control, not love.
They are manipulative and very negative magick. Do you want someone to love
you, or a spell? Love spells definitely would fall under the category of
"black" magick, and carry a very heavy price. I have never seen one work the
way it was intended, and I have seen a lot of people hurt by them. No matter
what the temptation, where love spells are concerned, just say no!

14. What is Wicca? Wicca is a modern interpretation of Witchcraft, based on
the work of Gerald Gardner, et. al. Gardner took pieces of an older tradition
and mixed them with aspects of ceremonial magick. Today Wicca is a lively and
growing group of traditions in the Craft, though not, by far, the only
traditions. Many Wiccans today also combine some New Age concepts and
practices into their belief system.

15. Are male Witches called Warlocks? Not most of them! Male witches are
called witches. The word warlock comes from waer loga which means
oath-breaker, or traitor, and is therefore considered an insult by most
witches. There are a few traditions within the Craft which use this term for
male practitioners (again, many Witches, many answers), but on the whole you
would be a lot safer referring to male Witches as Witches. After all, we do
not use two different terms for practitioners of other faiths. We do not
refer to Catholics and Catholicesses, or Presbyterians and Presbyterianettes!

16. Can you be a Christian and a Witch too?? This is a very controversial
question in the Craft community. It all depends on how you define the word
Witch. If you define it as a magickal practitioner without reference to
religion, certainly. If you define it as a religion, and you use God, Jesus
and Mary as your deities, I suppose, though I personally have trouble
reconciling the Witch's concept of personal responsibility with that of a
Divine Savior. I do know people for whom this works, however, and they call
themselves Christian Witches. If it works for them, that is all that matters.
The point of spirituality is communion with the Divine; it's a very personal
journey and no one else can determine how the Divine should or does manifest
to someone else.

17. Do you have to be born a Witch or can you become one? You can be born
into a family which practices the religion of Witchcraft, but that no more
makes you a Witch than being born into a family of Methodists makes you a
Methodist. I was born into such a family; still I had to study hard and
choose the faith I wanted to follow. This is again one of those questions
that tends to use the word Witch interchangeably with the idea of magick. One
can be born with a flair for magick, like one can be born with a gift for
music. Not everyone can be a concert pianist, but we can all learn to play
the piano. Those raised in families with old roots in the magickal practices
tend to be aware of those gifts and to have them nurtured at an earlier age
than other people, but those gifts can be developed in anyone. I will say
that like musical gifts runs in some families, magickal talent can also be
handed down, but just like a musical family needs to offer the child the
opportunity to develop his or her gift, without hard work and commitment the
magickal gifts will not develop to their potential. Whether you are born to a
magickal family, or come to the path later, the same hard work and commitment
is required.


Thirteen Goals of a witch

Thirteen Goals of a Witch

I. Know yourself
II. Know your craft
III. Learn
IV. Apply knowledge to wisdom
V. Achieve balance.
VI. Keep your words in good order
VII. Keep your thoughts in good order
VIII. Celebrate life
IX. Attune with the cycles of the earth
X. Breathe and eat correctly
XI. Exercise the body
XII. Meditate
XIII. Honor the Goddess and God
 
 
A witch's personal manifesto
 
 
A WITCH'S PERSONAL MANIFESTO

I demand these things as a Witch:

- I must pursue my Highest Ideals
- I must strive to elevate my ethics
- I must be as good as my word
- I must demand integrity of myself
- I must be willing to suffer for my religion
- I must willingly embrace discipline
- I must develop financial responsibility and independence
- I must be able to pay my bills
- I must pay attention to my diet & intake of food
- I must LIVE the Hermetic Principle
- I must respect the astral
- I must approach ritual with great care
- I must see ritual work as a disciplined art form
- I must consider seriously the ramifications of reincarnation
- I must conserve fuels
- I must recycle whenever possible
- I must not litter, not even a cigarette butt
- I must avoid negative energy, even within my own thoughts
- I must avoid placing blame for any of the events in my life
- I must take responsibility for my ill health
- I must take myself seriously
- I must have humor
- I must live with my eyes open and my feet grounded

I demand these things of myself as a member of the Wiccan Community:

- I must support the work of making Wicca a respected religion
- I must expect financial accountability from those groups to which I donate
monies
- I must stop the mockery of other religions (including anti-Christian
sentiment sometimes found in modern Paganism)
- I must not support religious plagiarism (such as the teaching of shamanism
by those who have never experienced the wilderness nor studied from a real
shaman)
- I must be respectful of all other's ritual forms
- I must separate myths and reality in our history and in our future
- I must work to contribute towards a reputable public image of Wicca
- I must protest against pagans who use shock tactics in dealing with the
public
- I must upgrade standards of Wiccan education
- I must support serious research of our religious heritage
- I must demand quality in pagan literature, newsletters and books
- I must support the assembling of libraries
- I must not be a religious isolationist and I must work to remove pagan
ghetto mentalities from our communities
- I must demand provocative, challenging workshops over entertainment
- I must share my knowledge and skills
- I must make Initiations increasingly difficult, challenging and rewarding
- I must consider the amount of education other religions expect of their
clergy when planning Wiccan training
- I must be willing to network
- I must remain in contact with pagans in other places

I demand these things of myself as a Priest/ess:

- I must prepare for the deaths and burials of our peoples
- I must provide for the future of my consecrated tools beyond my physical
death
- I must work towards the establishment of legal ministries
- I must provide for children and their education
- I must provide for the survival of my Tradition

I demand these things of myself as a Wiccan citizen:

- I must promote community service, being of help to all peoples regardless
of their beliefs
- I must be willing to be political
- I must be a knowledgeable, active voter
- I must respect and utilize the system
- I must find value in the political system in which I live or work actively
to promote change
- I must be aware of the world perspective
- I must extend myself to world poverty and hunger

 
Using candle magick
USING CANDLE MAGICK

Here are four simple ways to use candle magick:

NUMBER ONE

The first involves writing a wish, desire, etc on a fresh, clean piece of paper and setting it alight in the flame of the candle. Keep the ashes to give to one of the elements and let the candle burn out on it's own. Take the time to meditate while the candle burns (don't leave the candle unattended unless you are sure it is absolutely safe!)


NUMBER TWO

The second is much the same as the first but this time instead of burning the paper in the flame, fold it up and place it underneath the candle. Once again let the candle burn out then place the paper in a safe place until your wish, or desire is fulfilled then thank the Gods and give it to one of the elements.


NUMBER THREE

The third is a way to use candles as a way of representing and communicating with others. Use a candle in a colour which you feel represents them. For example if you wish to send a message to a boy or girl you liked you might use red for them representing desire. Try using a silver candle between the two as silver is the colour for spiritual messages.


NUMBER FOUR

The fourth involves transferring your own energy through physical contact with the candle. Hold the candle between your palms and, as you visualise your goal, feel your energy streaming through your hands and into the candle. Light the candle and visualise your energy glowing from the flame and moving away to perform your will.
 
 
On conflicts, grudges, anger, and spirituality
 
 
 
On Conflicts, Grudges, Anger, and Spirituality
by Lady Gwenolyn Fae


Many things happen in our lives that denote change. A common example is just a disagreement between people. Another is a relationship ending and a new one beginning. No matter what the conflicting situation, anger is a common emotion. It is easy to conjure and slow to dispel. It usually stems from a condition of pride that has been injured and our perception of what "someone else did to hurt me." Many times, this is the case: someone did set out to hurt feelings, or meddle in a positive situation for someone, usually because of their own insecurities about themselves. Sometimes it is just the situation we've put ourselves in and haven't taken responsibility for our own actions. All humans are guilty of both of the above situations, even if just a minor occurrence.

One of the best things about Paganism is that you do have a choice. Even when the situation involves the law, you do still have a choice - either follow the law or not. It's your choice, based on what results you want. When it comes to our spirituality, we have a choice. We can be casual about it, knowing

it will always be there when needed, or we can actively stay connected to deity through words and actions, showing reverence and love towards the entity you believe has given you this life to live. Again, depending on the results you want with your life, you make a choice.

I have a term that I use to describe our display of emotions and rash actions to those emotions that stem from a conflicting situation. I call it the

"human condition." This is separate from our spiritual life, in the way that we, as humans, tend to completely ignore our spirituality when we feel we have been wronged by another human being. All the lessons, studying, faith and beliefs tend to fly right out the door when emotions start running hot. We are right and no one is going to tell us that we aren't. We are in control of our lives and no one can tell us how to live it. I love that person and his or her actions hurt me all the time, so I'm going to act out and make them stop, or I'm going to do something to hurt them back.

WHOA!

This is where our lessons, studying, faith and beliefs need to rule US. Our convictions and faith in any religion, especially in Paganism, should be the foundation of our soul. These guidelines in our faith are to help us live through these situations in our lives. And there are others out there that can share or help with the burden, but your deity is not going to put these people in a position to help you, unless you take the time to honor and love the one who allows you to have these strengths and put faith in a being that is higher, stronger, wiser, and smarter than you are.

Our lives are not the Jerry Springer show and our paths will be crossing from time to time - letting go of a grudge, asking forgiveness of that person or even forgiving yourself will enrich you and help you tackle the intersection you are struggling to get through.

Here is a suggested sequence of events to participate in to get through anger or a potentially explosive situation.
1. Stop the words from coming out of your mouth before you say something that will make the situation worse.
2. Let that person know that they hurt you and tell them you need time to find out how and why it hurts so you can discuss it with a level head later on. Let that person know that you do value their friendship (this is why you feel so hurt - because you care how they treat you and how you treat them) and because of that you need this time and hope they will do the same. This is when you don't let your emotions get the best of you.
3. Find a healthy way to express the anger or hurt away from that
person.
4. DON'T become an emotional vampire - enlisting other's emotions and offers of friendships to drag into your situation. If you need some emotional help, the place to turn is a spiritual counselor, a clergy member, or your deity. Healing has to happen here for everyone; sucking energy from others will harm them.
5. Meditate and ask your deity to help you find a way to work through the problem and let go of the anger. Open up and allow deity to flow through your soul. This is also a time to question your motives and explore whether there may have been something you did or said that caused the other person to react the way they did. Accepting fault in ourselves opens the road to change and growth.

6. Give it TIME - the answers may come to you soon or it may take
months...no matter how much time passes, all parties involved will have time to let go of anger. Time does heal all wounds, but don't think that your absence will make you grow apart as friends and that it is irreparable. If that person was truly a friend, it will all work out, no matter how long it takes.
7. When you've received an answer and feel ready, approach that person and let them know the growth you've attained through the experience and that you would like to get together to see if the friendship can be salvaged. If they aren't able or willing to do so, then you have a decision to make and probably some sadness to get through, as well. It is all part of change in your life and you have to learn from it, as well as find a positive way to work around it. If they are no longer a friend, you'll need to find ways to keep this new hurt of rejection from allowing an outburst, as well. Hateful feelings will only serve to hurt you. Use it as a learning experience. Recognize that their unwillingness to be cordial is their problem, not yours.
8. Always be kind and cordial to that person in the future. Never bring up the problem or conflict in current disagreements. It should be water under the bridge as far as you are concerned. You should have a much better opinion of yourself than to be rude to anyone, even if they haven't been so nice to you. Who knows? Your open and outward actions that prove that you are refusing to hold animosity towards them might just make them realize how silly it all was and patch up the friendship in the long run. If not, then it is their loss, not yours.
 
9. Know that you have your priorities straight and hold hope for that person to let go of the grudge and have a positive learning experience from it someday. (Even if you just hope it once, you've shown yourself that you can let go of the anger.)

Always remember that it is OKAY to be angry, it is the way you deal with it that makes all the difference on your path. The above steps work and they are steps that follow a Pagan guideline of belief and faith. Acting out and having a desire to "get back" at another for the hurt they have caused, whether it is a break up in a relationship or a deliberate action to hurt you, will only prove to them that you want to stoop down to their level and continue engaging in emotions that can have an end result of destruction.

Here are some examples of unacceptable expressions of anger:
1. Writing them a nasty letter and sending it to them (write one if you have to, but discard it without sending) .
2. Talking badly about them to others.
3. Telling their parents how rotten they were. (When did they get
involved in the conflict? They don't need to know.)
4. Making it the responsibility of all your common friends to know every little detail.
5. Being an emotional vampire to others to make you feel better. You
only want to draw energy and strength from someone who is willing and able to give it; taking it from someone is harmful and will only be harmful to you. In either situation, it is borrowed strength and does not come from you and your connections with your deity. True healing strength is what comes from within, given to you explicitly as a blessing and gift to signify growth.
6. Trying to destroy the other person's friendships.
7. Trying to fix other people's problems and ignoring your own.
These are just a few of the examples that I've been a part of or have observed, mostly during my first and second marriages and divorces, some in the more recent past.

When working in a job or career, we run into all kinds of people that we may not get along with, but we have to work with anyway, so learning how to incorporate your faith and beliefs into your daily relationships can only help, not hinder.

When Pagans in a group situation have a common goal, but have a hard time working together because of current or past conflicts, it is time for those people involved to make some hard decisions in their lives.

Here are some questions to ponder when making a decision on how or whether to work with that person in the future:
1. What is my priority in wanting to work on this interest? Is it my
spirituality, my relationship with the people involved, or just a way to feel like I belong?
2. Do I want to continue holding myself back by holding a grudge?
3. How do I work through these feelings?
4. Do I want to work through these feelings?
5. Can I work with this person without bringing up the past conflicts when we have a difference of opinion on a current project?
6. Can I compromise?
7. In what ways can I compromise?
8. Is my spirituality important enough to me to get past all this and move forward?
9. Have I gotten past the problem and can I be sociable or friendly with this person?

10. If I haven't gotten past this yet, is it important enough for me to find something else to be involved in? Is there a different project that that person is not working on that I can do instead?
11. Can I change the situation? If not, what can I do to make this a
positive experience for me and make the right decision?
There are some members in all groups whose lives have "gotten in the way, " so to speak. Relationships have blossomed, friendships have fallen apart. Close friendships have endured, and some relationships have not. First and foremost, for a group to be successful in its combined efforts, everyone should be comfortable and trustful with others in the group. That is a given. Somehow this can always be achieved. Sometimes it takes a tremendous amount of self-control, forgiveness and simply moving on with life.
 
One thing we know about being Pagan is that change is inevitable. Things will change. As a Pagan, we must go with the flow and find the best way to work with the change - alter plans, find another way, etc. And more often than not, change given to us is the proverbial crossroads in which you will find a spiritual growth spurt - all part of creation's plan to teach us a lesson. I know I've been smacked upside the head numerous times by my deity and told to grow up!

The human condition likes to get in the way a lot and conflicts between people will arise. This is the point where you need to make a decision. And it is your decision to make. The purpose of the group is to move forward with goals and work together. If for any reason you find it impossible to work with a particular member there are some decisions that you have to make. Priorities will need to be straightened out and your spirituality needs to come into play.

It will not be the group's role to straighten out a situation. Boundaries and rules have been set up for the group to be successful and those boundaries and rules must be respected. It is your decision whether or not to follow them, it is your responsibility to act like an adult and decide what the outcome will be.

As you know, emotions are not bad, and you do have a right to feel a certain way, but holding onto something negative can only breed negativity. As a Pagan, you deserve much better than that. Make it happen.

With Love, Peace, and Goddess' Fondest Blessings!
 
 
The star of life

The Star of Life

A Historical and spiritual history of the Pentagram
by Sharynne NicMacha

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Imagine the perfect apple, ripe and bursting with life. Sliced in half, it reveals a beautiful five-point symmetry-a star formed by the seeds inside. In fact, each of these five seeds may be seen to contain a symbolism of its own mirroring the spiritual aspects of this universal symbol: idea, sustenance, life, secret knowledge and the hidden mysteries within the earth. Why has this beautiful and potent emblem, the five-pointed star or pentagram, become such a misunderstood and stigmatized symbol in these times of re-emerging enlightenment?

In the tale of Adam and Eve, the apple signified hidden knowledge which was forbidden to human kind. Other early cultures encouraged holy and learned persons in their search for divine wisdom. For example, the Vedas state that the universe and ourselves are One, and that by realizing this and tapping into that Universal energy and state, we achieve wholeness and bliss. These concepts were known to many ancient civilizations. For most of the western culture, sacred knowledge was designated as the right of the One Deity only., It was considered heretical to study the Divine workings of the Universe. The apple signified that which we should not attempt to know, and many attempts over the centuries to obtain knowledge of the Universe (and therefore, ourselves) were suppressed. The pentagram in its modern guise as the pentacle was also a target of this subjugation.

For modern-day Pagans, the Pentacle contains many wonderful layers of symbolism. The five points symbolize the four directions with the fifth point as the sanctity of Spirit, within and without. The circle around the star symbolizes unity and wholeness. It represents the quest for Divine Knowledge, a concept which is ancient in origin and universal in scope from the earliest written ritual texts in Babylonia, to the Celts, to the Native American traditions. Similar to other figures which are made of a single unbroken line, this symbol is used to mark off magical enclosures or ritual areas, especially when used for invocation of deities or spirit.

The pentagram is one of the most powerful and popular symbols used by many Neo-Pagans, including those involved in Wicca and Ceremonial Magic. In working magic, Pagans may draw the shape of the pentagram in the air with the athame, or sacred blade, sometimes in the four directions as part of the ritual. A physical pentacle in the form of a flat disc is often the a main feature of the altar and is a widely used ritual tool. The symbol is used to decorate magickal tools or items such as a chalice, cauldron, or the handle of the athame itself. For some it represents feminine energy relating to the Goddess and may be used to bind elemental spirits of the earth as well as to hold consecrated objects such as herbs, amulets and crystals. The spoken or chanted text of a spell or invocation may be repeated five times to help insure its effectiveness. (3, 5, 7, 9 and 13 being some of the most commonly used repetitions in this context). The pentacle is worn both ornamentally and symbolically by many Pagans for protection and to signify that they are involved in the world of magick and divine wisdom.

It is interesting to note that five-fold symmetries are rarely found in non-organic life forms but are uniquely inherent to life, as in the form of the human hand, a starfish, flowers, plants and many other living things. This pattern of five exists even down to a molecular level. Five, therefore, embodies the form and formation of life, the very essence of life.

The pentagram is a very widespread sacred symbol used since ancient times in many areas including Egypt, India, Persia and Greece. Almost all cultures had a five-fold symbol, which was very important to their religious and spiritual life. The sacred nature of five, the important nature of "five-ness" is amply attested to in Celtic tradition from which much of modern Paganism is derived. Five appears in numerous Celtic contexts: Ireland had five great roads, five provinces and five paths of the law. The fairy folk counted by fives, and the mythological figures wore five fold cloaks.

In the ancient Irish tale, "Cormac's Cup of Gold", the hero "saw a royal fortress with four houses in it, and a bright well with nine ancient hazels growing over it. In the well, were five salmon who ate the nuts that dropped from the purple hazels, and sent the husks floating down the five streams that flowed therefrom. The sound of the streams was the sweetest music...The spring was the Well of Knowledge, and the five streams the five senses through which knowledge is obtained. No one will have knowledge who drinks not a draught out of the well itself or out of the streams. Those who are skilled in many arts drink from both the well and the streams."

In another part of the world, around 500 B.C.E.(Before Current Era) lived Pythagoras, an unparalleled scholar, teacher and leader renowned for his knowledge of arithmetic, music, government and sacred geometry. He tapped into the divine mysteries, and, like the ancient Celts, (and many Neo-Pagans) learned from and existed comfortably between both worlds.

Pythagoras set up a school where he taught many people, both male and female, who flocked to him in pursuit of divine knowledge. Unfortunately, the school was suppressed in a brutal fashion for political reasons. After this, his followers and the knowledge itself were forced underground, Pythagoreans considered the five-pointed star to be a symbol of life and of the divine human. Therefore, it became the secret sign of the pythagorean followers, "so that they may know each other,"

The Pythagorean schools continued on in secret and from this line of descent came the Gnostic and Hermetic Mystery Schools (which contained both men and women and were Christian to varying degrees), as well as the Masonic Guilds, expert stone-masons initiated into Mystery Schools learning which included sacred geometry. Even though the Church considered the Masons to be quite heretical, they hired them to build the most sacred structures in Europe- the great cathedrals-many of which contained pentagonal or five-fold symmetries. Parallel with Masonic culture were the alchemists of medieval Europe, scientists, philosophers and magicians, both male and female, who studied the mysteries of the Universe. These societies held onto this five-fold symbol which kept its positive, ancient attributes and signified hidden, luminous knowledge.

This ancient wisdom lived on underground through the mystery schools and other sources and continued throughout the Middle Ages up until modern times. However, because this Divine knowledge threatened the authority and power of the Church, those who pursued it and the symbols they used were severely persecuted.

The star of life, which had been a symbol of divine illumination, became stigmatized as a sign of heretical thought and eventually as something evil. These negative attributes were further reinforced by the use of the upside down pentagram by some satanic cults who are probably more "Anti-Christians" than "Pagans". as their beliefs are not those of most Neo-Pagan groups. Modern media continues to distort the meaning of the pentagram by showing it in both its upright and inverted position, yet portraying all who use it as evil.

In spite of this difficulty history, the symbol has survived, and continues to be used by those who uphold the search for divine knowledge. The sacred pentagram maintains its many wonderful and magickal ancient attributes and is still the symbol of life it has always been.

Sharynne NicMacha is a Pagan of Celtic descent and teaches workshops in beginning and Celtic paganism and music. She sings with the Moors, a pagan rock duo.

Note: Special thanks to Scott Dakota for his input and assistance in areas oif his expertise, including Pythagoras, sacred geometry, music of the spheres and Ancient Sumeria. Beannachdan!


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THE ELEMENTAL PENTACLE


The Pentacle, the most famous symbol of Witchcraft is a bold and fascinating statement about our place in the Universe. When the pentacle is drawn or written, the image created is called a pentagram. The pentagram represents an ancient concept that can be found in philosophical thought in both East and West. Although over 8,000 years old, the image of the pentagram is applicable in our modern world. The pentagram tells us that we have the ability to bring Spirit to Earth; this applies to every area of practical day-to-day living, as well as spiritual thought. The ability of bringing Spirit to Earth is what makes us whole.

In Craft rituals, the pentacle is a round disk inscribed with a pentagram and placed upon on the altar. The disk can be made of many different materials.

In more dangerous times, the pentacle was crafted from disposable materials such as clay or dough. To be caught in possession of a pentacle in those days could very well endanger your life.

Nowadays, pentacles are crafted in metals such as copper, brass, silver or gold. Many Witches make their own from stained glass or by etching stones or wood. The pentacle can also be personalized by adding appropriate astrological symbols, runes and other sigils (magical symbols) that have special meaning to the practitioner.

Many Witches wear a pentacle pendant or ring as a sign of their religion or as an amulet or talisman. The pentacle crafted from silver represents Moon energy and psychic forces. The same symbol made in gold represents the Sun energies of power and strength. Many pentacles come with embedded stones which can represent birth months or a particular energy that the wearer wants to attract.

During magical operations, the pentagram can be drawn in the air by the athame or sword. When drawn a certain way, it is used to either invoke or banish energies. Used on the altar, it becomes a focal point to draw in and send out the intentions of the spell or working. The simplest spells of this kind are those involving candle magic. A candle of the appropriate color is charged and place on the pentacle.

Traditionally, each of the five angles has been attributed to the five metaphysical elements of the ancients:

EARTH: (lower left hand corner) represents stability and physical endurance.
FIRE: (lower right hand corner) represents courage and daring.
WATER: (upper right hand corner) represents emotions and intuition.
AIR: (upper left hand corner) represents intelligence and the arts.
SPIRIT: (at the topmost point) represents the All and the Divine.

The Circle around the star represents the God-Goddess; it refracts and reflects all light, bringing to the wearer total intelligence, universal wisdom and protection.

The origins of the pentagram go back to remotest historical antiquity. As far back as pre-Babylonian Sumer, it has been venerated by many civilizations. To the Jewish peoples, it symbolically designated the Pentateauch, the Five Books of Moses It has survived under a variety of titles, such as "The Druid's Root" and "The Witches Star".

To the followers of Pythagoras, it was called "The Pentalpha" being composed of five interlaced A's or Alphas. The Alpha being the first word of the alphabet, we can perhaps view it as showing forth unity in the midst of multiplicity. The individual as part of the Whole.

To ceremonial magicians, the points can represent various elemental energies, spirits or deities.

It is the ruling of the higher mind over the lower elements of our being. It signals the awakening of cosmic consciousness and the beginnings of our own human psyche moving beyond the realms of physical form and the perceptions limited to the five senses. It allows the infinite possibilities that exist within the Universe and frees us to explore and to grow.

This becomes a graphic portrayal of Spirit ruling over the five elements. When the pentagram is placed within a circle, it's energy is focused and directed. The pentagram upright, to those of spiritual perception, represents the redemption of Spirit from matter by ruling over it.

Used inverted, with the top point pointed downward, it represents a second or third degree status in some traditional groups. Many of these groups have since substituted a triangle form for the same degrees because of the association of the inverted form of the pentacle with Satanism and black magic.

The number five is attributed to the influence of Mars. Thus some Witches think of the five pointed star within the circle as force or power contained and controlled by divine wisdom.


 
The magickal assocations of incense
 
 
The Magickal Assocations of Incense

Love
amber, copal, gerdenia, jasmine, lavender, patchouli, rose,  strawberry,
violet, china rain

Healing
carnation, cedar, cypress, eucalyptus, gardenia, lavender,  myrrh,
rosemary, sandalwood, opium 
Luck
strawberry, violet 
Energy Stimulation
wild cherry, mountain pine, cinnamon, rosemary 
Consecration
myrrh, frankincence 
Protection
bayberry, carnation, coconut, dragon's blood, lotus,  sandalwood,
juniper, violet 
Purification
cedar, cinnamon, citronella, copal, eucalyptus,  sage,frankincence,
china rain, mountain pine 
Prosperity/Success
ginger, musk 
Peace
gardenia 
Empowerment
ginger 
Psychic Powers
honeysuckle, vanilla 
Uncrossing
cedar, myrrh 
Sex
dragon's blood, musk, rose, vanilla 
Wisdom
sage 
Happiness
amber 
Spirituality
sandalwood 
Money
bergamot, cinnamon, honeysuckle, jasmine 
Friendship
sweet pea 
Dreams
opium, jasmine 
To Ward off Evil
citronella, lilac 
Insomnia
orange blossom, rain forest
 
 
The kichen witch
The Kitchen Witch
by Chel4Earth

Look up Kitchen Witch on any search engine and what you are likely to find is
a page of recipes, instead of what a Kitchen Witch is. They are the hardest
to define and the ones who appear most normal. The Kitchen Witch is one of
those paths that is best not overly defined. For the instant that you begin
to get a good squeeze on it, it will simply disappear. What I mean by this is
that Kitchen Witchery is very individualistic. So much so it can be said that
it isn't a tradition in as much as it is a classification for a particular
style of Witch. This means that the following will only hold for the
majority of Kitchen Witches, but not for all.

The home is the hearth of her temple. The Kitchen Witch practices the art
of practicality. Her art can be taken into any field, and applied to any
person. The Kitchen Witch's practical arts deal with the betterment of the
soul and the nourishment of the body. Her tools are often found to be common
ordinary house implements: spatula, wooden spoons, knives, bowls, etc.

The Kitchen Witch believes that microwaves and other such conveniences are
unworthy of their time, as they require no personal time and effort (energy)
from the person handling the food. Kitchen Witches often like to do things
from scratch when it comes to cooking. However, cooking is not all they do.
Most try to maintain a garden and save the produce through methods such as
canning. They enjoy making poltices and lotions and other body niceties to
give to their guests. Making people comfortable and happy is one of their
main goals. Their Craft builds their home and their community. They have
running a home down to a fine art. They know all the shortcuts and tips and
tricks for making home a wonderful place to be.
 
 
Where is your sacred space?
Where is Your Sacred Space?

There is a term that is used by those who are awakening to soul realities, a term that speaks of infinite and expansive possibilities. It is a term that is often used as one searches and moves ever closer to that inner