Snow moon when the frost blooms
and grips the land in its vice
water like glass and frozen grass
with glittering flowers of ice.
Wolf moon when the gale looms
a hunter that bites to the bone
silent and dark, freezing and stark
the earth's as hard as a stone.
Budding moon growth in the gloom
shoots thrusting up to the light
warmth from the cold, new from the old
winter is losing the fight.
Thursday 25 February 2010
Sunday 14 February 2010
Research Project 7
For this one I have to write about the Summer and Winter Solstices. I made a start on the Summer Solstice as a page for my Scrapbook of Shadows but I only did a couple of paragraphs:
The Summer Solstice occurs between the 20th and 23rd of June, it various each year due to the earth's wobble on it's axis. The word solstice comes from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). This is because during the year the sun rises and sets along the horizon at a slightly different position each day; from the Winter Solstice to the Summer Solstice the sun progresses north along the horizon, then at the Summer Solstice it begins to journey south again, hence the appearance of the sun standing still on the horizon at the two Solstices.
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year and is also known as Midsummer or Litha. Midsummer is not a specifically Pagan term, it is used to refer to any number of celebrations held in June, the most well known of which, in the Christian calendar, is the the feast of Saint John the Baptist. Quite a number of modern Pagans refer to this solstice as Litha which is thought to derive from the Anglo Saxon name of the month roughly corresponding to June and July as noted by Bede. The two months were called "se Ærra Liþa" and "se Æfterra Liþa," the early Litha month and the later Litha month, however this name wasn't used by Pagans of Old.
I shall have to expand on them before the deadline and add something about the Winter Solstice.
The Summer Solstice occurs between the 20th and 23rd of June, it various each year due to the earth's wobble on it's axis. The word solstice comes from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). This is because during the year the sun rises and sets along the horizon at a slightly different position each day; from the Winter Solstice to the Summer Solstice the sun progresses north along the horizon, then at the Summer Solstice it begins to journey south again, hence the appearance of the sun standing still on the horizon at the two Solstices.
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year and is also known as Midsummer or Litha. Midsummer is not a specifically Pagan term, it is used to refer to any number of celebrations held in June, the most well known of which, in the Christian calendar, is the the feast of Saint John the Baptist. Quite a number of modern Pagans refer to this solstice as Litha which is thought to derive from the Anglo Saxon name of the month roughly corresponding to June and July as noted by Bede. The two months were called "se Ærra Liþa" and "se Æfterra Liþa," the early Litha month and the later Litha month, however this name wasn't used by Pagans of Old.
I shall have to expand on them before the deadline and add something about the Winter Solstice.
This one isn't copied!
I've been through my various on line blogs and the folders on my computer, I think I've managed to copy everything of any importance over here. I still have stuff in my physical Books of Shadows but as I'll have to type that out manually I think I'll leave that until later.
Now I can chat randomly!
Now I can chat randomly!
Beltane 2008
Friday 18th April 2008
Matthew wants to participate in a ritual with me, to see what it's like in preparation for our handfasting. So I'm going to prepare a kind of script I think, something for him to read through to familiarise himself with and for me to possibly practice too! Me not being very organised. It will have to be fairly simple and not too long winded. Also Matthew doesn't want to do too much at first, so I'll ease him into it gently.
I think it makes sense to purify the circle with the elements first of all, (do I cleanse the elements first? Or not bother?) then to cast the circle with the athame, then to invite the elements and lord and lady. Then to raise energy somehow: chanting? Meditating? Then time to do the actual purpose of the ritual. Which shall be....? Then to bless the food and drink (great rite) then to partake of food and drink and chat relax. Then to thank the lord and lady for presence. Then to thank the elements and dismiss them with wand. Then to open circle with the athame. Ta da! All done :)
Set up altar:
New candles in holders, incense block ready to be lit and incense next to it with spoon too.
A suitable pot of compost and some Sweetpea seeds, preferably dwarf variety. Bamboo frame already made up to fit the pot, possibly already attached to the pot. To be done in the morning so the Sun wheel can be made to fit it as a brace.
Lighter, scissors candle snuffer. All tools laid out, cd in player if wanted, pillows on the floor for sitting on. Salt in the dish. Water in the bowl.
Food of some kind and drink too.
Light the charcoal block.
Put incense on the block and light the candles. Put cd on if wish.
Stand and hold each other while meditating, roots into the earth.
Put athame to water and cleanse it of negativity
Put athame to salt and consecrate it in preparation for ritual use.
Put a pinch of salt into the water and stir it with the athame.
Go around the circle with the incense “I cleanse this circle with fire and air that it may be free of negativity”
Go around the circle with the water “I cleanse this circle with earth and water that it may be free of negativity”
Go around with the athame “I cast this circle that it may be a place between the worlds”
“The circle is cast!”
With the wand go to the east and welcome the element of air, inspiration etc
then to the south and welcome fire
then to the west and water
then north and earth
Then to the centre and welcome Goddess and God
Sit down on the pillows and talk about what Beltaine represents while planting the seeds in the pot, describing how they are wishes for the future, we are planting the seeds of ideas.. for example I would like to plant a seed for creativity, may it grow in my life. A seed for peace my it grow for my family, a seed for the people to wake up and stop using the world like a dump etc. So wishes for me, for loved ones, for strangers, for the world.
Explain how energy raising works, remind Tthew of how we started with roots going into the earth, bring his mind back to those roots as we're sitting and ask him to imagine that those roots are sucking up energy from the earth, that it's filling his body with light of his choice.
When ready, Matthew can start drumming gently and I will sing, in that way we can raise energy.
When ready we'll direct the energy into the pot.
Then we'll have a chat to say what's happening next or to discuss what's just happened.
Then we'll get the food, chalice and athame. I'll use the athame to bless the food then pass it to Tthew.
Matthew can have the athame, I'll have the chalice.
“The athame is to the male”
“As the chalice is to the female”
“When joined in union they represent the Great Rite from which all life comes and which is therefore the ultimate sacred act.”
Then we eat and drink and chat and relax.
Then we thank the Lord and Lady for their presence
Then starting in the north, thank and thank earth
Then west and thank water
Then south and thank fire
Then east and thank air
Then starting in the north, going widdershins to west, south and east, open the circle with the athame.
Then hold each other and let the roots retract.
The End.
Well we did the ritual and it was really fun, :) even though it was slightly nerve raking! The drumming was excellent, Matthew's really good at that. The singing went well except I made Matthew stop by singing with him, correcting the tune, I felt awful for that. The planting was good, we enjoyed that, each seed represented a wish for the future. We planted Sweet Pea Seeds a variety called High Scent which unsurprisingly claims to have a strongly scented bloom. We planted them in a terracotta pot with a pyramid of canes, around which we wound three coloured ribbons, white red and pink. Men and Women, semen and blood.
Matthew wants to participate in a ritual with me, to see what it's like in preparation for our handfasting. So I'm going to prepare a kind of script I think, something for him to read through to familiarise himself with and for me to possibly practice too! Me not being very organised. It will have to be fairly simple and not too long winded. Also Matthew doesn't want to do too much at first, so I'll ease him into it gently.
I think it makes sense to purify the circle with the elements first of all, (do I cleanse the elements first? Or not bother?) then to cast the circle with the athame, then to invite the elements and lord and lady. Then to raise energy somehow: chanting? Meditating? Then time to do the actual purpose of the ritual. Which shall be....? Then to bless the food and drink (great rite) then to partake of food and drink and chat relax. Then to thank the lord and lady for presence. Then to thank the elements and dismiss them with wand. Then to open circle with the athame. Ta da! All done :)
Set up altar:
New candles in holders, incense block ready to be lit and incense next to it with spoon too.
A suitable pot of compost and some Sweetpea seeds, preferably dwarf variety. Bamboo frame already made up to fit the pot, possibly already attached to the pot. To be done in the morning so the Sun wheel can be made to fit it as a brace.
Lighter, scissors candle snuffer. All tools laid out, cd in player if wanted, pillows on the floor for sitting on. Salt in the dish. Water in the bowl.
Food of some kind and drink too.
Light the charcoal block.
Put incense on the block and light the candles. Put cd on if wish.
Stand and hold each other while meditating, roots into the earth.
Put athame to water and cleanse it of negativity
Put athame to salt and consecrate it in preparation for ritual use.
Put a pinch of salt into the water and stir it with the athame.
Go around the circle with the incense “I cleanse this circle with fire and air that it may be free of negativity”
Go around the circle with the water “I cleanse this circle with earth and water that it may be free of negativity”
Go around with the athame “I cast this circle that it may be a place between the worlds”
“The circle is cast!”
With the wand go to the east and welcome the element of air, inspiration etc
then to the south and welcome fire
then to the west and water
then north and earth
Then to the centre and welcome Goddess and God
Sit down on the pillows and talk about what Beltaine represents while planting the seeds in the pot, describing how they are wishes for the future, we are planting the seeds of ideas.. for example I would like to plant a seed for creativity, may it grow in my life. A seed for peace my it grow for my family, a seed for the people to wake up and stop using the world like a dump etc. So wishes for me, for loved ones, for strangers, for the world.
Explain how energy raising works, remind Tthew of how we started with roots going into the earth, bring his mind back to those roots as we're sitting and ask him to imagine that those roots are sucking up energy from the earth, that it's filling his body with light of his choice.
When ready, Matthew can start drumming gently and I will sing, in that way we can raise energy.
When ready we'll direct the energy into the pot.
Then we'll have a chat to say what's happening next or to discuss what's just happened.
Then we'll get the food, chalice and athame. I'll use the athame to bless the food then pass it to Tthew.
Matthew can have the athame, I'll have the chalice.
“The athame is to the male”
“As the chalice is to the female”
“When joined in union they represent the Great Rite from which all life comes and which is therefore the ultimate sacred act.”
Then we eat and drink and chat and relax.
Then we thank the Lord and Lady for their presence
Then starting in the north, thank and thank earth
Then west and thank water
Then south and thank fire
Then east and thank air
Then starting in the north, going widdershins to west, south and east, open the circle with the athame.
Then hold each other and let the roots retract.
The End.
Well we did the ritual and it was really fun, :) even though it was slightly nerve raking! The drumming was excellent, Matthew's really good at that. The singing went well except I made Matthew stop by singing with him, correcting the tune, I felt awful for that. The planting was good, we enjoyed that, each seed represented a wish for the future. We planted Sweet Pea Seeds a variety called High Scent which unsurprisingly claims to have a strongly scented bloom. We planted them in a terracotta pot with a pyramid of canes, around which we wound three coloured ribbons, white red and pink. Men and Women, semen and blood.
Charge of the God 12th July 2005
Light the fire, beat the drum, feel the heart beat, let it come.
He is the wild, the tangled forest.
The fright of the dear and the fall of the tree.
He's the stink of the beast, the blood on the ground,
The chase and the hunter, the snarl of the hound.
Come with me, cry with me, run with me, die with me,
Freeing your spirit for the Lord of the Dance.
He is the night, the secret hour.
The cry of the wolf and the hoot of the owl.
He's the silence of midnight, the horns of the moon.
The creeping of insects, the shadows and gloom.
Filling you, scaring you, thrilling you, daring you,
Freeing your spirit for the Lord of the Dance.
He is the daylight, the shining sun.
The gold of the corn and the warmth of the air.
He's the ripening fruit, the life in the earth.
The giver and taker of love and of mirth.
Live with me, see with me, give with me, be with me,
Freeing your spirit for the Lord of the Dance.
Light the fire, beat the drum, feel the heart beat, let it come.
Written by me on 12th July 2005
He is the wild, the tangled forest.
The fright of the dear and the fall of the tree.
He's the stink of the beast, the blood on the ground,
The chase and the hunter, the snarl of the hound.
Come with me, cry with me, run with me, die with me,
Freeing your spirit for the Lord of the Dance.
He is the night, the secret hour.
The cry of the wolf and the hoot of the owl.
He's the silence of midnight, the horns of the moon.
The creeping of insects, the shadows and gloom.
Filling you, scaring you, thrilling you, daring you,
Freeing your spirit for the Lord of the Dance.
He is the daylight, the shining sun.
The gold of the corn and the warmth of the air.
He's the ripening fruit, the life in the earth.
The giver and taker of love and of mirth.
Live with me, see with me, give with me, be with me,
Freeing your spirit for the Lord of the Dance.
Light the fire, beat the drum, feel the heart beat, let it come.
Written by me on 12th July 2005
Charge of the Goddess 10th July 2005
Listen for the voice of the Silent Goddess,
She who speaks within you.
She who was Sulis. She who was Coventina and Nemetona,
She who was known by many other names
Now forgotten by the Children of Albion.
When you have need, come before me without bias.
I am there in the face of the Moon,
In the Dance of the Stars and the Cycle of the Year.
Know that you may see me in all things
But if you cannot find me within yourself
You will never find me without.
Heed the words I whisper to you,
Words of wisdom long past.
I shall bring forth memories, both old and new
Though you are bound to uncover their meaning alone.
Before me be your True Self unhindered and unjudged;
Free to dance, to sing, to make love and music,
To weep, to wail, to cry oaths and keep silence.
Know yourself as I know you
And stay true to what you find.
I am the circle of existence.
I am the gentle rain, the raging storm;
The bringer and taker of life.
I am all the joys and pains of living,
Revel in the privilege of this sacred venture
and learn from it all in my Honour
I am your Eternal Mother
I am Your Eternal Child.
Written by me 10th July 2005, based on Doreen Valiente's Charge of the Goddess
She who speaks within you.
She who was Sulis. She who was Coventina and Nemetona,
She who was known by many other names
Now forgotten by the Children of Albion.
When you have need, come before me without bias.
I am there in the face of the Moon,
In the Dance of the Stars and the Cycle of the Year.
Know that you may see me in all things
But if you cannot find me within yourself
You will never find me without.
Heed the words I whisper to you,
Words of wisdom long past.
I shall bring forth memories, both old and new
Though you are bound to uncover their meaning alone.
Before me be your True Self unhindered and unjudged;
Free to dance, to sing, to make love and music,
To weep, to wail, to cry oaths and keep silence.
Know yourself as I know you
And stay true to what you find.
I am the circle of existence.
I am the gentle rain, the raging storm;
The bringer and taker of life.
I am all the joys and pains of living,
Revel in the privilege of this sacred venture
and learn from it all in my Honour
I am your Eternal Mother
I am Your Eternal Child.
Written by me 10th July 2005, based on Doreen Valiente's Charge of the Goddess
Beltane Poem- In the Greenwood
Blossom drifts down from the trees
and caught upon the gentle breeze,
spirals through the honeyed air,
a storm of petals that declare
the Wheel has turned again today
and chased the winter chill away
and in the greenwood, hearts entwine
amongst the flowers, love divine.
Round the May pole dancers spin
gaily weaving summer in.
For Beltane brings the lover's tryst,
the fertile earth, the Goddess kissed
so plants spring forth from seed and grain
and life itself is born again
and in the greenwood, hearts entwine
amongst the flowers, love divine.
When darkness falls the balefire burns
and merrymakers take their turns
to leap the flames with wild delight,
in echo of an ancient rite,
to rid themselves of all that's bane
and wish for all they hope to gain
and in the greenwood, hearts entwine
amongst the flowers, love divine.
and caught upon the gentle breeze,
spirals through the honeyed air,
a storm of petals that declare
the Wheel has turned again today
and chased the winter chill away
and in the greenwood, hearts entwine
amongst the flowers, love divine.
Round the May pole dancers spin
gaily weaving summer in.
For Beltane brings the lover's tryst,
the fertile earth, the Goddess kissed
so plants spring forth from seed and grain
and life itself is born again
and in the greenwood, hearts entwine
amongst the flowers, love divine.
When darkness falls the balefire burns
and merrymakers take their turns
to leap the flames with wild delight,
in echo of an ancient rite,
to rid themselves of all that's bane
and wish for all they hope to gain
and in the greenwood, hearts entwine
amongst the flowers, love divine.
Quarter Calls
I have decided!!! It is such a weight off my mind Very Happy It is also such a lovely relaxing feeling... peaceful Smile
I am of Celtic stock, my Father was Scottish my Mother is English so I've always felt at home with Celtic/British mythology, it's probably why I never really got on with the idea of the Greek Anemoi, so to that end I have finally chosen animals sacred to the Celts.. with a slight twist seeing as how cats aren't traditionally sacred to them, but they are to me Smile
For Earth: The Stag, lord of the forest. Whenever I see a forest, especially when I'm being driven past one on the motorway, I always envision a stag keeping pace with me through the trees, hooves pounding the earth...
For Air: The Wren, king of the birds. They are so secretive, so small and.. I feel a thrill whenever I catch a glimpse of one in the hedgerow. I absolutely love the tale of how the wren was dubbed king of the birds, apparently there was a competition to see how high the birds could fly, whoever went the highest would be crowned, everyone thought it would be the strong eagle, he flew towards the sun until he could go no higher and called down to the rest of the birds, however at that moment the sneaky wren leaped out of his hiding place amongst the eagle's feathers and flew even higher. A cunning little bird!
For Fire: The Cat, the slightly untraditional choice, to me they are creatures of fire, of the sun. They are never happier than when they are lounging in the midday sun, roasting themselves silly. There is a Celtic myth where the hero Maelduin ends up on the Island of the Cat, treasure is everywhere and against Maelduin's will his foster brother tries to steel a necklace but he is instantly turned to ash by the "fiery paw of the wondrous cat."
For Water: The Otter, I grew up listening to the story of Tarka the Otter and therefore learned to love them. They are fluid and playful just like the rivers and seas they live in. They have strong familial bonds, emotional ties that can cause them to mourn for a long time if their mate predeceases them. They embody water to me.
So yes, I am decided :)
The East:
I call upon the Cunning Wren
You who beat the eagle when
You tricked him with your artful scheme
You whose eyes with wisdom gleam
Guardian of the sacred East
Power of the wind released
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight.
The South:
I call upon the lithesome cat
Soul of fiery passion that
Inspires us to creative heights,
peeks of rage and deep delights
Guardian of the sacred South
Power of the heart and mouth
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight.
The West:
I call upon the playful Otter
Wise and sleekit water wanderer
Intuition and emotion,
Gifts from out the moonlit ocean
Guardian of the sacred West
Power of the sea expressed
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight.
The North:
I call upon the Noble Stag
Lord of glen and mountain crag
Crowned with antlers, proud you stand
known of old throughout the land
Guardian of the sacred North
Power of the earth called forth
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight.
I am of Celtic stock, my Father was Scottish my Mother is English so I've always felt at home with Celtic/British mythology, it's probably why I never really got on with the idea of the Greek Anemoi, so to that end I have finally chosen animals sacred to the Celts.. with a slight twist seeing as how cats aren't traditionally sacred to them, but they are to me Smile
For Earth: The Stag, lord of the forest. Whenever I see a forest, especially when I'm being driven past one on the motorway, I always envision a stag keeping pace with me through the trees, hooves pounding the earth...
For Air: The Wren, king of the birds. They are so secretive, so small and.. I feel a thrill whenever I catch a glimpse of one in the hedgerow. I absolutely love the tale of how the wren was dubbed king of the birds, apparently there was a competition to see how high the birds could fly, whoever went the highest would be crowned, everyone thought it would be the strong eagle, he flew towards the sun until he could go no higher and called down to the rest of the birds, however at that moment the sneaky wren leaped out of his hiding place amongst the eagle's feathers and flew even higher. A cunning little bird!
For Fire: The Cat, the slightly untraditional choice, to me they are creatures of fire, of the sun. They are never happier than when they are lounging in the midday sun, roasting themselves silly. There is a Celtic myth where the hero Maelduin ends up on the Island of the Cat, treasure is everywhere and against Maelduin's will his foster brother tries to steel a necklace but he is instantly turned to ash by the "fiery paw of the wondrous cat."
For Water: The Otter, I grew up listening to the story of Tarka the Otter and therefore learned to love them. They are fluid and playful just like the rivers and seas they live in. They have strong familial bonds, emotional ties that can cause them to mourn for a long time if their mate predeceases them. They embody water to me.
So yes, I am decided :)
The East:
I call upon the Cunning Wren
You who beat the eagle when
You tricked him with your artful scheme
You whose eyes with wisdom gleam
Guardian of the sacred East
Power of the wind released
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight.
The South:
I call upon the lithesome cat
Soul of fiery passion that
Inspires us to creative heights,
peeks of rage and deep delights
Guardian of the sacred South
Power of the heart and mouth
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight.
The West:
I call upon the playful Otter
Wise and sleekit water wanderer
Intuition and emotion,
Gifts from out the moonlit ocean
Guardian of the sacred West
Power of the sea expressed
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight.
The North:
I call upon the Noble Stag
Lord of glen and mountain crag
Crowned with antlers, proud you stand
known of old throughout the land
Guardian of the sacred North
Power of the earth called forth
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight.
Prayer for Calm- November 18, 2008
Well today I didn't seem to have a problem with composing on the spot, I had a nasty fright with an unexpected and unwanted guest which left me a bit shaken up. I went to the Sacred Altar forum and wrote a short prayer:
I pray for peace and quiet of mind
Let the knots in me unwind
Send me rest and send me calm
Sooth me with your gentle balm
Help me find a place inside
Where I can drift upon the tide.
It helped, once I was done writing it my knots had gone Smile
I pray for peace and quiet of mind
Let the knots in me unwind
Send me rest and send me calm
Sooth me with your gentle balm
Help me find a place inside
Where I can drift upon the tide.
It helped, once I was done writing it my knots had gone Smile
Book Blessing
With blithesome heart and open mind,
in this volume you will find gathered mysteries,
new and old, knowledge worth it's weight in gold.
Written here by my fair hand,
with good intentions I have planned
to pass this lore on down to you,
friends and strangers all to view.
May the effort I have taken
in these pages cause to waken,
in all who read them, understanding.
Let them feel their mind expanding.
By Earth and Water, Fire and Air,
Lord and Lady hear my prayer;
what is written on these pages,
let them stand the weight of ages.
in this volume you will find gathered mysteries,
new and old, knowledge worth it's weight in gold.
Written here by my fair hand,
with good intentions I have planned
to pass this lore on down to you,
friends and strangers all to view.
May the effort I have taken
in these pages cause to waken,
in all who read them, understanding.
Let them feel their mind expanding.
By Earth and Water, Fire and Air,
Lord and Lady hear my prayer;
what is written on these pages,
let them stand the weight of ages.
Wheel of the Year Poem
I wrote this some time ago planning on using it as a chant in conjunction with beads
The as yet Unnamed Poem
Earth brings stability and strength from the North
Magic and mystery my song calls them forth
Air brings clarity and wit from the East
The power of the tempest that yearns for release
Fire brings passion from the South
A raging inferno, a kiss on the mouth
Water brings intuition from the West
Of springs and of pools of healing and rest
Spirit brings me closer to the heart of my being
Through the centre of the circle, felt without seeing.
The Goddess brings the world to life
She's mother daughter sister wife
The Maiden brings the silver crescent
Flirtatious and free, the wild adolescent
The Mother brings the brimful moon
Full and fertile, she is woman in bloom
The Crone brings out the moon's dark guise
She's the aged matriarch, respected and wise.
The God brings life unto the Mother
He's father husband son and brother
The Green Man brings the forest wild
The maypole dance, the heathen child
The Oak king brings the waxing year
Summers warmth is nearly here
The Holly King brings the years remission
Winter wins the competition
Imbolc brings the ice and snow
Plants and trees begin to grow
Ostara brings the spring time flowers
Day and night have equal hours.
Beltane brings the lover's tryst
The fertile earth, the Goddess kissed
Litha brings the longest day
The reigning sun lights our way
Lammas brings the corn and grain
The dying king gives up his reign
Mabon brings the autumn haze
equinoctial shorter days
Samhain brings the final harvest
Lay a place for an absent guest
Yule brings the longest night
The sun reborn at dawns first light.
The as yet Unnamed Poem
Earth brings stability and strength from the North
Magic and mystery my song calls them forth
Air brings clarity and wit from the East
The power of the tempest that yearns for release
Fire brings passion from the South
A raging inferno, a kiss on the mouth
Water brings intuition from the West
Of springs and of pools of healing and rest
Spirit brings me closer to the heart of my being
Through the centre of the circle, felt without seeing.
The Goddess brings the world to life
She's mother daughter sister wife
The Maiden brings the silver crescent
Flirtatious and free, the wild adolescent
The Mother brings the brimful moon
Full and fertile, she is woman in bloom
The Crone brings out the moon's dark guise
She's the aged matriarch, respected and wise.
The God brings life unto the Mother
He's father husband son and brother
The Green Man brings the forest wild
The maypole dance, the heathen child
The Oak king brings the waxing year
Summers warmth is nearly here
The Holly King brings the years remission
Winter wins the competition
Imbolc brings the ice and snow
Plants and trees begin to grow
Ostara brings the spring time flowers
Day and night have equal hours.
Beltane brings the lover's tryst
The fertile earth, the Goddess kissed
Litha brings the longest day
The reigning sun lights our way
Lammas brings the corn and grain
The dying king gives up his reign
Mabon brings the autumn haze
equinoctial shorter days
Samhain brings the final harvest
Lay a place for an absent guest
Yule brings the longest night
The sun reborn at dawns first light.
The Tree Meditation May 04, 2008
I first started meditating when I was at boarding school, way before I knew anything about Wicca, we had a rather hippy teacher who lived in the flat attached to our House and at the weekends she'd sometimes hold group meditations in one of the small piano rooms just off the common room. She'd turn all the lights out and light a candle for us to concentrate on while we listened to Enya's album Watermark. It was great! Since then I've always had a penchant for it but, as I mentioned in my previous post, I lack discipline. I've never held down a strict regime of meditation practice, never finding the time, preferring to watch TV... you name it I've used it as an excuse!
To aid my lazy self I have recorded the Tree meditation from Lesson One and set it to various tracks from Watermark using a bit of nifty software on my computer. I've left myself adequate time to do all the things required of the meditation and overall it lasts about 15 minutes. I've put this on my ipod so all I need do is plug it into my head and go for it! I find that it really helps as all I have to do is listen to the instructions. However, I don't plan on doing it for any other meditations as I don't want it to become a crutch.
I've done The Tree three of four times this week, I sometimes find it hard to find time to meditate as getting time to myself can be difficult. I'm working on it though and I find that just before going to sleep is a good time for me. I'm not the type who falls asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, far from it so I've not yet fallen asleep during a meditation even though I do it lying down. However it does help to relax me and therefore sleep better overall.
The first time I had many lovely images the most memorable of which was seeing a golden mirror image of the Tree (an oak) projecting down into the earth as it's root system. Feeding the energy from the sun into the earth so that the whole planet glowed with a soft light. Every tree, every plant had it's own little glowing root system, even the grass... even a daisy, it was beautiful; seeing how the earth gets her energy from a kind of photosynthesis.
The second time as well as experiencing the same images as the first, I saw myself becoming part of the tree by turning into a part of it rather than being absorbed, my skin turned to bark and my legs became gnarled roots.
The third time I looked more like a green woman, my face made out of leaves with skin like bark as before.
Every time so far my body has become one with the Tree and... my spirit I suppose went up into the tree as if I was standing inside the trunk; arms held out above me, hands reaching up to the leaves and feet, toes pointed, going down to the roots.
To aid my lazy self I have recorded the Tree meditation from Lesson One and set it to various tracks from Watermark using a bit of nifty software on my computer. I've left myself adequate time to do all the things required of the meditation and overall it lasts about 15 minutes. I've put this on my ipod so all I need do is plug it into my head and go for it! I find that it really helps as all I have to do is listen to the instructions. However, I don't plan on doing it for any other meditations as I don't want it to become a crutch.
I've done The Tree three of four times this week, I sometimes find it hard to find time to meditate as getting time to myself can be difficult. I'm working on it though and I find that just before going to sleep is a good time for me. I'm not the type who falls asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, far from it so I've not yet fallen asleep during a meditation even though I do it lying down. However it does help to relax me and therefore sleep better overall.
The first time I had many lovely images the most memorable of which was seeing a golden mirror image of the Tree (an oak) projecting down into the earth as it's root system. Feeding the energy from the sun into the earth so that the whole planet glowed with a soft light. Every tree, every plant had it's own little glowing root system, even the grass... even a daisy, it was beautiful; seeing how the earth gets her energy from a kind of photosynthesis.
The second time as well as experiencing the same images as the first, I saw myself becoming part of the tree by turning into a part of it rather than being absorbed, my skin turned to bark and my legs became gnarled roots.
The third time I looked more like a green woman, my face made out of leaves with skin like bark as before.
Every time so far my body has become one with the Tree and... my spirit I suppose went up into the tree as if I was standing inside the trunk; arms held out above me, hands reaching up to the leaves and feet, toes pointed, going down to the roots.
Full Moon Ritual September 03, 2009
This evening I did a full moon ritual, it's not technically full till tomorrow but that's only the calendar's opinion ;)
I opened the circle using the one I wrote, it's in here somewhere, and I used an incense blend from Elen Hawke's In The Circle; lavender, sandalwood and rose petals. I dried some white rose petals earlier in the year and lavender grows in our garden too... not sure I could grow sandalwood though :P
After opening the circle I did an unplanned meditation, I lay back and relaxed...
...I woke in my inner meadow, a place I know well, my feet were dangling in the shallow stream and the stars twinkled up above while the bright moon cast silver shadows all around. I stood up and took in the view, soon I became aware of a trail of people, dressed in white, threading through the trees nearby. I joined them, excitement thrilled in the air, and hushed laughter echoed through the trees. We came out to a clearing where the stone circle stands in moonlit glory. We formed a circle within the stones and the dance began... the men stood firm, banging long staffs before them as they sang:
Hoof and horn, hoof and horn
All that dies will be reborn
The women wore small silver bells and we danced and twirled while they tinkled, winding in and out of the men, our dresses and hair streaming out behind us as we sang the harmony:
We are the flow, we are the ebb
We are the weavers, we are the web.
Round and round we danced, punctuated by the stomp of the men's staves... in the centre of the circle, next to the fire a glistening woman took form and I was drawn to her. She was a Mother, pregnant and beautiful, at once blonde with stars in her hair and then raven black so the stars shone like jewels, her complexion shifted to encompass all the colours of woman... we spoke about motherhood, how it is now beginning to appeal to me, I know I want children but I'm not yet ready. This time last year I still wasn't sure about the child issue but now I am. I need to be able to look after myself properly first! I discussed my fears and feelings with the Goddess and when I was ready she sent me gently back to my circle...
Carefully I came back to myself and moved on to the next part of the ritual which I had taken from Marie Bruce's Witch's Almanac. I took two stones, one dark and one light. Two pieces of paper, one white, one black and a black pen and gold pen. On the white paper with the black pen I wrote down all those things in my life I wish to decrease and on the black paper with gold pen, all those things I want to increase. Once done I folded the papers in half and put either side of my altar, the white stone on the black paper, the dark stone on the white. They will stay there for three days at which point I will burn the papers and bury the dark stone, the white one will remain on my altar as a reminder.
I thanked the lord and lady and closed the circle. I came here immediately after clearing up and am now sitting under a contented cat who couldn't get in earlier, she's fallen asleep on my chest and is probably dribbling on my arm *happy sigh* I love my cat :)
On an another note, whenever I pick up my athame these days I get a shiver of delight-like feelings.. it's only since I cleansed it at beltane... this is a good sign yes?
I opened the circle using the one I wrote, it's in here somewhere, and I used an incense blend from Elen Hawke's In The Circle; lavender, sandalwood and rose petals. I dried some white rose petals earlier in the year and lavender grows in our garden too... not sure I could grow sandalwood though :P
After opening the circle I did an unplanned meditation, I lay back and relaxed...
...I woke in my inner meadow, a place I know well, my feet were dangling in the shallow stream and the stars twinkled up above while the bright moon cast silver shadows all around. I stood up and took in the view, soon I became aware of a trail of people, dressed in white, threading through the trees nearby. I joined them, excitement thrilled in the air, and hushed laughter echoed through the trees. We came out to a clearing where the stone circle stands in moonlit glory. We formed a circle within the stones and the dance began... the men stood firm, banging long staffs before them as they sang:
Hoof and horn, hoof and horn
All that dies will be reborn
The women wore small silver bells and we danced and twirled while they tinkled, winding in and out of the men, our dresses and hair streaming out behind us as we sang the harmony:
We are the flow, we are the ebb
We are the weavers, we are the web.
Round and round we danced, punctuated by the stomp of the men's staves... in the centre of the circle, next to the fire a glistening woman took form and I was drawn to her. She was a Mother, pregnant and beautiful, at once blonde with stars in her hair and then raven black so the stars shone like jewels, her complexion shifted to encompass all the colours of woman... we spoke about motherhood, how it is now beginning to appeal to me, I know I want children but I'm not yet ready. This time last year I still wasn't sure about the child issue but now I am. I need to be able to look after myself properly first! I discussed my fears and feelings with the Goddess and when I was ready she sent me gently back to my circle...
Carefully I came back to myself and moved on to the next part of the ritual which I had taken from Marie Bruce's Witch's Almanac. I took two stones, one dark and one light. Two pieces of paper, one white, one black and a black pen and gold pen. On the white paper with the black pen I wrote down all those things in my life I wish to decrease and on the black paper with gold pen, all those things I want to increase. Once done I folded the papers in half and put either side of my altar, the white stone on the black paper, the dark stone on the white. They will stay there for three days at which point I will burn the papers and bury the dark stone, the white one will remain on my altar as a reminder.
I thanked the lord and lady and closed the circle. I came here immediately after clearing up and am now sitting under a contented cat who couldn't get in earlier, she's fallen asleep on my chest and is probably dribbling on my arm *happy sigh* I love my cat :)
On an another note, whenever I pick up my athame these days I get a shiver of delight-like feelings.. it's only since I cleansed it at beltane... this is a good sign yes?
Saturday 13 February 2010
Lesson 7 Exercise - Herbal Sachets
This evening I made some herbal sachets as prompted by the exercise in whatever lesson it is I'm doing now. *checks* Ah! Lesson 7 ;) I didn't just relay on the information given in the lesson though, I used Cunningham's book of Incenses oils and brews as well.
I decided on three, one for me, one for my fiancé and one for my Mother.
For my Mum I decided on a Happiness sachet for she has been under the weather of late.
For the pouch I chose a combination of colours, light pink for love and light blue for happiness. Two four inch squares set at right angles to each other so they formed a star shape. I then used a mug to draw a circle in the middle and cut little slits all around it so I could insert a ribbon (pink) and use it as a drawstring.
For the filling I chose:
Lavender
Saffron
Rose (oil)
Vanilla pod
Geranium (oil)
Jasmine (oil)
I wanted it to be sweet and floral as that's what mum likes.
Matthew wanted something to help him with concentrating so I chose a piece of yellow felt and a yellow ribbon. I wanted it to be fresh and zesty.
For the filling I chose:
Lavender
Lemongrass
Lemon Verbena
Peppermint (oil)
Lemon (zest)
Lemon (oil)
Copal
For myself, I wanted something to boost my sexual energy as the antidepressants I'm on have knocked it for six.
I chose a hot pink piece of felt and an orange ribbon. I wanted it warm and sweetly spicy.
For the filling I chose:
Corrinader leaf
Cumin (ground)
Ginger root
Cinnamon (ground)
Clove (whole)
Cardamom pod
Saffron
Orange (zest)
Vanilla pod
Patchouly (oil)
Jasmine (oil)
Dragon's blood
Copal
I wanted a complex fragrance with lots of sweet base notes.
I then charged the pouches by holding them and speaking with Sulis, asking for her blessing.
I decided on three, one for me, one for my fiancé and one for my Mother.
For my Mum I decided on a Happiness sachet for she has been under the weather of late.
For the pouch I chose a combination of colours, light pink for love and light blue for happiness. Two four inch squares set at right angles to each other so they formed a star shape. I then used a mug to draw a circle in the middle and cut little slits all around it so I could insert a ribbon (pink) and use it as a drawstring.
For the filling I chose:
Lavender
Saffron
Rose (oil)
Vanilla pod
Geranium (oil)
Jasmine (oil)
I wanted it to be sweet and floral as that's what mum likes.
Matthew wanted something to help him with concentrating so I chose a piece of yellow felt and a yellow ribbon. I wanted it to be fresh and zesty.
For the filling I chose:
Lavender
Lemongrass
Lemon Verbena
Peppermint (oil)
Lemon (zest)
Lemon (oil)
Copal
For myself, I wanted something to boost my sexual energy as the antidepressants I'm on have knocked it for six.
I chose a hot pink piece of felt and an orange ribbon. I wanted it warm and sweetly spicy.
For the filling I chose:
Corrinader leaf
Cumin (ground)
Ginger root
Cinnamon (ground)
Clove (whole)
Cardamom pod
Saffron
Orange (zest)
Vanilla pod
Patchouly (oil)
Jasmine (oil)
Dragon's blood
Copal
I wanted a complex fragrance with lots of sweet base notes.
I then charged the pouches by holding them and speaking with Sulis, asking for her blessing.
Imbolc 2010
I wasn't really sure what to do today, we've been doing a lot of work in the house recently, putting in a fireplace and moving the room around to compensate for it. We've knocked through the bricked in fireplace, chipped off the crappy old plaster, replastered, laid a hearth of poured concrete, laid a load of slate floor tiles to make it look nice again, used smaller slate tiles to go up wither side of the fireplace and grouted it all in. Today I took charge of Mum's aquarium, moving it across the room, fiddling with the substrate, adding plants etc etc. So in essence I've spring cleaned the fish tank! The rest of the day was spent moving around the furniture, tidying up etc.
I hadn't planned anything for an Imbolc ritual, just too busy! I do have some bulbs out in the garden ready to use in a spring flower arrangement but 8:30 at night was a little too late to turn it into a ritual. Instead I realised I finally had time for a shower and that was when inspiration struck. Before my shower I gathered together a few bits and pieces, some tea lights, some olive oil, jasmine oil, and an invisible floating candle kit. On my altar I placed my pentacle, then around the edge placed the eight tea lights and my medium shallow chalice making for a total of nine. In the chalice went some water then a layer of olive oil mixed with jasmine then on top of that the invisible wick holding thingy (basically a plastic disk with air pockets in it to make it float and channels to allow oil to reach the wick held in a little pinch in the plastic) I also placed a small statue of Sulis in the centre of the circle and put a small charm at her feet. Then I went to shower.
When I got back I put on a relaxing cd (Medieval Baebes), lit some stick incense, grounded and centred. I called the quarters in a very relaxed way, sitting before my altar I lit a coloured candle for each without getting up and circling round. Then I sprinkled water and salt and cast the circle with my athame by swinging it (slowly!) around my body creating a very small, intimate circle. After which I invited the lord and lady to join me. I spoke a little about the season and what it meant to me then I began to light the nine candles each one lit in honour of something; 1: the season of Imbolc, 2: the plants that are growing, 3: the animals who feel the change, 4: the lord and lady, whatever be their names, who guided me to this path, 5: my family, 6: my love, 7: my self, 8: my friends both past and yet to come, and 9: I can't remember.
Then came a prayer for Sulis, I can't remember what I said but it involved honouring her, thanking her, dedicating the small statue to her and asking for her blessing. I then meditated going to my usual inner world of a clearing in a forest. It was dark, lit by the mostly full moon and glittering with frost, here and there snow drops and green shoots poked through the grass. A rabbit watched me from the undergrowth and an owl from one of the trees. I followed a path through the wood and came to a new place, a hot pool in a clearing, steam was curling up from the green water. I removed my clothes and slipped into the water, delightfully warm in the freezing night. There I met Sulis, she sat in the pool opposite me and we spoke of various things. I asked her about a magical name I had been considering. It means water smith. I had already thought of the watery associations of emotions, fluidity, and tranquillity but she reminded me that water is also hard, hard as ice. It is strong as tsunami and patient, water will eventually prove stronger than stone. As for the next part of the name "smith" well apart from the obvious blacksmith the word also applies to other professions such as wordsmith etc also the archaic meaning is "artist." Sulis reminded me that everything I do is art, I try every craft and am gifted in that most crafts I try I seem to be quite good at, I use my art as a form of worship too. It is a fitting name for now.
After the meditation I thanked the lord and lady and the quarter guardians then took down the circle and wrote my new name in my BoS. I have not yet decided whether I will share the name with anyone else... for now it is between me and Sulis. :)
***
The day after my Imbolc ritual, I was at work (I'm a bookseller) and I decided to look for a book that mentions Sulis, after flicking through the index pages of a few titles I found there were two possibilities, one turned out to just be full of correspondences such as Earth and Health with lists of Goddess names underneath, not what I was looking for. The other had full pages on each Goddess, I randomly flipped it open.... right to Sulis! I got that tingly feeling and knew it was a gentle nudge in the right direction. Needless to say I bought the book!
That same evening I went to the local Pagan Moot where we had another Imbolc ritual in the pub garden. At the moot the subject of magical names came up, the coincidental nature of this made me feel comfortable discussing my recent acquisition of a name though I still only used the translation "Water Smith" It was a good conversation.
It was only this morning that it felt right to tell someone my name. I was browsing a magical names thread on this forum in bed before work and my fiancé cuddled up to me. I thought to myself if he asks me "do you have a magical name" I'll be able to tell him. A split second later he said those exact words and it suddenly felt so right. We discussed it and he agreed it suited me, he was pleased for me! :D
I hadn't planned anything for an Imbolc ritual, just too busy! I do have some bulbs out in the garden ready to use in a spring flower arrangement but 8:30 at night was a little too late to turn it into a ritual. Instead I realised I finally had time for a shower and that was when inspiration struck. Before my shower I gathered together a few bits and pieces, some tea lights, some olive oil, jasmine oil, and an invisible floating candle kit. On my altar I placed my pentacle, then around the edge placed the eight tea lights and my medium shallow chalice making for a total of nine. In the chalice went some water then a layer of olive oil mixed with jasmine then on top of that the invisible wick holding thingy (basically a plastic disk with air pockets in it to make it float and channels to allow oil to reach the wick held in a little pinch in the plastic) I also placed a small statue of Sulis in the centre of the circle and put a small charm at her feet. Then I went to shower.
When I got back I put on a relaxing cd (Medieval Baebes), lit some stick incense, grounded and centred. I called the quarters in a very relaxed way, sitting before my altar I lit a coloured candle for each without getting up and circling round. Then I sprinkled water and salt and cast the circle with my athame by swinging it (slowly!) around my body creating a very small, intimate circle. After which I invited the lord and lady to join me. I spoke a little about the season and what it meant to me then I began to light the nine candles each one lit in honour of something; 1: the season of Imbolc, 2: the plants that are growing, 3: the animals who feel the change, 4: the lord and lady, whatever be their names, who guided me to this path, 5: my family, 6: my love, 7: my self, 8: my friends both past and yet to come, and 9: I can't remember.
Then came a prayer for Sulis, I can't remember what I said but it involved honouring her, thanking her, dedicating the small statue to her and asking for her blessing. I then meditated going to my usual inner world of a clearing in a forest. It was dark, lit by the mostly full moon and glittering with frost, here and there snow drops and green shoots poked through the grass. A rabbit watched me from the undergrowth and an owl from one of the trees. I followed a path through the wood and came to a new place, a hot pool in a clearing, steam was curling up from the green water. I removed my clothes and slipped into the water, delightfully warm in the freezing night. There I met Sulis, she sat in the pool opposite me and we spoke of various things. I asked her about a magical name I had been considering. It means water smith. I had already thought of the watery associations of emotions, fluidity, and tranquillity but she reminded me that water is also hard, hard as ice. It is strong as tsunami and patient, water will eventually prove stronger than stone. As for the next part of the name "smith" well apart from the obvious blacksmith the word also applies to other professions such as wordsmith etc also the archaic meaning is "artist." Sulis reminded me that everything I do is art, I try every craft and am gifted in that most crafts I try I seem to be quite good at, I use my art as a form of worship too. It is a fitting name for now.
After the meditation I thanked the lord and lady and the quarter guardians then took down the circle and wrote my new name in my BoS. I have not yet decided whether I will share the name with anyone else... for now it is between me and Sulis. :)
***
The day after my Imbolc ritual, I was at work (I'm a bookseller) and I decided to look for a book that mentions Sulis, after flicking through the index pages of a few titles I found there were two possibilities, one turned out to just be full of correspondences such as Earth and Health with lists of Goddess names underneath, not what I was looking for. The other had full pages on each Goddess, I randomly flipped it open.... right to Sulis! I got that tingly feeling and knew it was a gentle nudge in the right direction. Needless to say I bought the book!
That same evening I went to the local Pagan Moot where we had another Imbolc ritual in the pub garden. At the moot the subject of magical names came up, the coincidental nature of this made me feel comfortable discussing my recent acquisition of a name though I still only used the translation "Water Smith" It was a good conversation.
It was only this morning that it felt right to tell someone my name. I was browsing a magical names thread on this forum in bed before work and my fiancé cuddled up to me. I thought to myself if he asks me "do you have a magical name" I'll be able to tell him. A split second later he said those exact words and it suddenly felt so right. We discussed it and he agreed it suited me, he was pleased for me! :D
Research Project 6 Lean about the Moon
I was born under a waning crescent moon nearly 29 years ago. When the moon was full again my Father took me outside and held me up to her as a welcome to the world. I can only imagine now what my weeks-old self must have thought, the cool summer night air on my tiny body, my new Father's hands cradling me and above... would I have seen that speck of silver light? Would I have known that the Goddess was smiling down on me, that she had marked me as one of her own? I can but wonder...
Before I learnt that the moon was a satellite of our planet, I knew it only as something beautiful and mysterious. Everything looks different by moonlight, washed of colour but bright in contrast. It has always been one of my favourite sights and there have been times when I've done nothing but sit and stare at her, watching her slide slowly through the gap in my curtains until she's eclipsed by the fabric and disappears. Then of course came school where I found out where the moon came from, how before time was, the planet that would be earth was struck with such force as to almost liquefy the rock and sent some of it spinning back out into space where it coalesced into a ball that became caught in our gravitational field. Ever since then it has slowly drifted away from us, a hair's breadth further away every day, roughly one and a half inches a year. You'd think that would mean that one day the Earth would lose its satellite but long before the Moon could break free of our orbit, the Sun would have consumed us both. For now the moon is roughly 238,897 miles away.
The moon has come to represent many things to many people, hardly surprising as it's one of the most obvious celestial bodies in our sky. Most people in the Western World have heard of the Man in the Moon, a nursery tale as valid as the moon being made out of cheese. But in the past numerous cultures saw the man in the moon as someone who was banished there for their wrongdoings, either a boy who disrespected his elders and was made to forever carry his burden of sticks on the moon, or to Christians, Cain sentenced to travel around the earth for all eternity. Not all cultures see a man though, for some it's a woman, for others, it's a rabbit, most notably in China and Japan but also here in prehistoric Britain where the moon gazing hare was an important religious symbol often associated with Astarte.
In the West it is often assumed that the moon is a purely feminine symbol when it comes to deity but traditionally (at least in the Germanic territories) the moon was viewed as masculine. Mona is the Anglo-Saxon moon god who drives a chariot across the sky (Mani in the Norse pantheon), his female counterpart is Sunne who also rides a chariot. Throughout the world there are a mixture of male and female moon deities, Nanna (m) of ancient Sumeria, Chang-O (f) of China, Tsukuyomi (m) of Japan, Anumati (f) of India and Thoth (m) of ancient Egypt. More well known even in secular society are the Eurasian Goddesses of the moon such as Artemis, Hecate and Selene of Greece and Diana and Luna of Rome. In modern Paganism the most obvious feminine lunar symbol is that of the triple Goddess as Maiden, Mother and Crone. In this we can see the three phases of womanhood, pre-fertile, fertile and post-fertile at its most basic. However, this doesn't just apply to women, men too have their feminine aspects in the form of their anima.
All over the world it is believed that the moon controls us to either a lesser or greater extent. It is a scientific fact that the gravitational pull of the moon effects the tides, and there is speculation that it controls other things too. It is here though that we delve into the murky realms of pseudoscience. There have been any number of psychological experiments both for and against the theory that the full moon can for example increase the number of psychotic episodes seen in mental institutions, or haemorrhages during operations. This latter theory can put some surgeons off performing non-essential surgery at the full moon even though there is little evidence to support such a claim. The former theory is one that has been long held as fact, the word "lunatic" betrays the length of time people have truly believed that Luna was able to send people mad. As far as anecdotal evidence goes I am firmly behind the belief that the moon can control the fertility cycle of a woman. I also believe that one's emotions can be effected by the phases of the moon.
A number of scientific studies seem to prove that the various schools of gardening that use the moon to dictate planting/harvesting habits really do work. Gardener's almanacs often show the phases of the moon for this very purpose. This isn't a new theory, it is as old as agriculture itself, every full moon of the year has a name that links it with the cycle of planting, harvesting and life in general. For example, the month during which I am writing, is known as the Wolf Moon (January). In medieval England wolves still roamed the country and the bitter month of January would have been a time when hungry wolves would be more likely to attack humans for food.
The moon has been a big influence on my life, for a start, I'm Cancerian! Even before I became aware of paganism I knew the moon was special. So captivating, so beautiful... I remember seeing a halo around the moon for the first time; I was in Wales returning to the Halls of Residence at University having just seen the film The Wicker Man at the Pagan Soc, I was caught breathless by the sight of the full moon ringed by a large silver corona, it was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen and even though she has been proved to be a ball of rock, even though we have landed on her, played golf on her... for me it does nothing to dispel the magic of our Lady Luna.
Research Project 5 Create a Ritual
Ritual to Get Rid of Bad Habits and Increase Will Power
To be performed in a room that has been freshly cleaned, tidied and cleansed.
On the Altar are:
Athame
Wand
Chalice & fruit juice
Pentacle & rich esbat biscuits
Cauldron half filled with water
Salt and Water containers
Incense holders
Incense burner
Two black candles
Two pink candles
Eucalyptus oil
Rose Oil
Banishing Incense
Drawing Incense
Binding bracelets
Candles for illumination
Lighter
Also have available:
Drum
Singing bowl
Set up the altar, then take a shower using the method detailed on p21-22.
Ritual Shower
"Break the Habit herbal rinse" - Scot Cunningham
[copy right material, sorry you'll have to buy the book!]
For the actual shower have ready the infusion and the Eucalyptus rinse [also copy right!], also a trug (clean!) Wash as normal then sit on the chair (we have a wet room with shower chair, no bath) place feet in the trug, fill it with hot water from the shower and add the herbal infusion. Take a few calming breaths then ladle the trug water over yourself while concentrating on it absorbing all desires for the bad habit. When ready fold the trug down so the water empties away completely, taking the needs with it. When it has all gone, shower off the residue left on your skin then as a final rinse use the Eucalyptus infusion. Dry off with a clean towel.
Once dry the ritual can begin.
Cast the Circle
Light the altar candles and charcoal tab
Close your eyes and take a long slow breath in through the nose letting it fill your lungs completely then pause briefly before exhaling. Pause again before taking another breath and continue in this way for a little while, feeling yourself relax.
When ready use the athame to cleanse the water:
"I cleanse this water of all bane
Of pollution and of pain"
Then to bless the salt:
"I bless this salt that it be fain
To cleanse this circle here arcane"
Put a pinch of salt into the water and stir it then go sunwise around the cicle, starting in the east, sprinkling water as you go then over yourself as well. Next put a pinch of the banishing incense on the charcoal tab and take it around the cicle, east to west and again, when done, waft some over yourself as well. Lastly use the athame to cast the circle east to west.
Calling the Quarters
In the east use the athame to perform an invoking pentacle:
"I call upon the cunning Wren
You who beat the eagle when
You tricked him with your artful scheme
You whose eyes with wisdom gleam
Guardian of the sacred East
Power of the wind released
I ask you please to guard my rite"
And to the south:
"I call upon the lithesome Cat
Soul of firey passion that
Inspires us to creative heights
Peaks of rage and deep delights
Guardian of the sacred South
Power of the heart and mouth
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight."
And to the West:
"I call upon the playful Otter
Wise and sleekit water wanderer
Intuition and emotion
Gifts from out the moonlit ocean
Guardian of the sacred West
Power of the sea expressed
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight."
And to the North:
"I call upon the noble Stag
Lord of glen and mountain crag
Crowned with antlers proud you stand
Known of old throughout the land
Guardian of the sacred North
Power of the earth called forth
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight."
The Circle is cast.
Use whatever percussive instruments you wish to raise energy while singing:
"Earth my body
Water my blood
Air my breath and
Fire my spirit"
When ready invite the Lord and Lady, hold up the wand and say....
(here I made it up on the spot and can no longer remember what I said)
State the purpose of the ritual:
"We wish to rid ourselves of our bad habits and negative patterns and we wish to increase our self esteem and will power. To that end we will dedicate our bracelets and use them to bind ourselves to a more healthy lifestyle. This is our intention."
More banishing incense on the burner
Use the eucalyptus oil to anoint the black candles from the centre out to each end. While doing so think of all the bad habits etc you wissh to be rid of. Hold the candle and pour it all into it
"As I light this candle here
So I recognise my fear
As the flame consumes the wax
So the fear that binds me cracks
As the candle flame is drowned
Sol I'll find myself unbound"
Chant for as long as wanted.
Fix the candle to the bottom of the cauldron so the water comes half way up the candle. Then light them and repeat the spell.
Scrape the remains of the banishing incense off the tab and replace it eith the drawing incense. Chand and/or drum to raise energy.
Use the rose oil to anoint the pink candles from the ends to the centre. While doing so concentrate on drawing on positive images.
Hold the candle and chant:
"As I light this candle here
So my fortune I will steer
As the candle starts to burn
So my luck will start to turn
As the wax begins to run
So my healing has begun"
Fix the candles into the holders and light them, repeat the spell with conviction.
Chant and/or drum to raise energy.
Take up the bracelets and cleanse them through the four elements. Hold them and visualise all the good traits, all the ideals we hold, our good intentions, our aspirations and fill the bracelets with that energy.
Wrap the bracelet round your wrist and partially tie it.
"On the charm are runes that bind
Strength and peace to heart and mind
Through the stones the magic flows
With it my intention grows
By the knot that seals the spell
So I bind my will as well."
Tie the knot securely when you have chanted enough. Really visualise the intent when you tie the knowt.
It is now time to partake of food and drink.
Break a biscuit and offer it to your partner with the words:
"You are my Lord/Lady
May you never hunger"
Wait for your partner to repeat the offer then offer the chalice with the words:
"You are my Lord/Lady
May you never thirst"
~~~~~ RELAX! ~~~~~
It is now time to open the circle.
Thank the Lord and Lady for their presence.
Banish the elements as usual and feel the circle fade.
To be performed in a room that has been freshly cleaned, tidied and cleansed.
On the Altar are:
Athame
Wand
Chalice & fruit juice
Pentacle & rich esbat biscuits
Cauldron half filled with water
Salt and Water containers
Incense holders
Incense burner
Two black candles
Two pink candles
Eucalyptus oil
Rose Oil
Banishing Incense
Drawing Incense
Binding bracelets
Candles for illumination
Lighter
Also have available:
Drum
Singing bowl
Set up the altar, then take a shower using the method detailed on p21-22.
Ritual Shower
"Break the Habit herbal rinse" - Scot Cunningham
[copy right material, sorry you'll have to buy the book!]
For the actual shower have ready the infusion and the Eucalyptus rinse [also copy right!], also a trug (clean!) Wash as normal then sit on the chair (we have a wet room with shower chair, no bath) place feet in the trug, fill it with hot water from the shower and add the herbal infusion. Take a few calming breaths then ladle the trug water over yourself while concentrating on it absorbing all desires for the bad habit. When ready fold the trug down so the water empties away completely, taking the needs with it. When it has all gone, shower off the residue left on your skin then as a final rinse use the Eucalyptus infusion. Dry off with a clean towel.
Once dry the ritual can begin.
Cast the Circle
Light the altar candles and charcoal tab
Close your eyes and take a long slow breath in through the nose letting it fill your lungs completely then pause briefly before exhaling. Pause again before taking another breath and continue in this way for a little while, feeling yourself relax.
When ready use the athame to cleanse the water:
"I cleanse this water of all bane
Of pollution and of pain"
Then to bless the salt:
"I bless this salt that it be fain
To cleanse this circle here arcane"
Put a pinch of salt into the water and stir it then go sunwise around the cicle, starting in the east, sprinkling water as you go then over yourself as well. Next put a pinch of the banishing incense on the charcoal tab and take it around the cicle, east to west and again, when done, waft some over yourself as well. Lastly use the athame to cast the circle east to west.
Calling the Quarters
In the east use the athame to perform an invoking pentacle:
"I call upon the cunning Wren
You who beat the eagle when
You tricked him with your artful scheme
You whose eyes with wisdom gleam
Guardian of the sacred East
Power of the wind released
I ask you please to guard my rite"
And to the south:
"I call upon the lithesome Cat
Soul of firey passion that
Inspires us to creative heights
Peaks of rage and deep delights
Guardian of the sacred South
Power of the heart and mouth
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight."
And to the West:
"I call upon the playful Otter
Wise and sleekit water wanderer
Intuition and emotion
Gifts from out the moonlit ocean
Guardian of the sacred West
Power of the sea expressed
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight."
And to the North:
"I call upon the noble Stag
Lord of glen and mountain crag
Crowned with antlers proud you stand
Known of old throughout the land
Guardian of the sacred North
Power of the earth called forth
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight."
The Circle is cast.
Use whatever percussive instruments you wish to raise energy while singing:
"Earth my body
Water my blood
Air my breath and
Fire my spirit"
When ready invite the Lord and Lady, hold up the wand and say....
(here I made it up on the spot and can no longer remember what I said)
State the purpose of the ritual:
"We wish to rid ourselves of our bad habits and negative patterns and we wish to increase our self esteem and will power. To that end we will dedicate our bracelets and use them to bind ourselves to a more healthy lifestyle. This is our intention."
More banishing incense on the burner
Use the eucalyptus oil to anoint the black candles from the centre out to each end. While doing so think of all the bad habits etc you wissh to be rid of. Hold the candle and pour it all into it
"As I light this candle here
So I recognise my fear
As the flame consumes the wax
So the fear that binds me cracks
As the candle flame is drowned
Sol I'll find myself unbound"
Chant for as long as wanted.
Fix the candle to the bottom of the cauldron so the water comes half way up the candle. Then light them and repeat the spell.
Scrape the remains of the banishing incense off the tab and replace it eith the drawing incense. Chand and/or drum to raise energy.
Use the rose oil to anoint the pink candles from the ends to the centre. While doing so concentrate on drawing on positive images.
Hold the candle and chant:
"As I light this candle here
So my fortune I will steer
As the candle starts to burn
So my luck will start to turn
As the wax begins to run
So my healing has begun"
Fix the candles into the holders and light them, repeat the spell with conviction.
Chant and/or drum to raise energy.
Take up the bracelets and cleanse them through the four elements. Hold them and visualise all the good traits, all the ideals we hold, our good intentions, our aspirations and fill the bracelets with that energy.
Wrap the bracelet round your wrist and partially tie it.
"On the charm are runes that bind
Strength and peace to heart and mind
Through the stones the magic flows
With it my intention grows
By the knot that seals the spell
So I bind my will as well."
Tie the knot securely when you have chanted enough. Really visualise the intent when you tie the knowt.
It is now time to partake of food and drink.
Break a biscuit and offer it to your partner with the words:
"You are my Lord/Lady
May you never hunger"
Wait for your partner to repeat the offer then offer the chalice with the words:
"You are my Lord/Lady
May you never thirst"
~~~~~ RELAX! ~~~~~
It is now time to open the circle.
Thank the Lord and Lady for their presence.
Banish the elements as usual and feel the circle fade.
Research Project 4 Concerning Tools
NB This is a compilation of many posts so it may lack continuity
I have decided to follow the suggestion in the course and list my tools and how I made them so that it might help others to do similar. This is a work in progress and since I'm awaiting the arrival of someone I'll post the photos for now and I'll edit later to add the detail.
Athame:
I bought this athame at Glastonbury a while ago... well I bought most of it there, it used to look like this:
The black handle is made of plastic unfortunately and although I loved the blade I didn't use it because the handle didn't.. fit me is the best way of putting it. So I took a stanly knife to it. I carefully cut away the plastic and then knocked the pommel off with a hammer. All I was left with was the blade, guard and tang. I tried to remove the guard but couldn't.
Anyway, we have a hornbeam tree/bush in the garden and after it's annul trim I set to work on a piece of branch. Using the stanly knife I carved it into a new handle. Hornbeam is [i]hard[/i]! I sanded it down with increasingly fine sandpaper then oiled and sanded it again. I used a drill to make a hole large enough for the tang, did I mention Hornbeam is hard? I then fixed it with melted beeswax. I plan to burn a design onto the handle when I eventually get a pyrographer's tool.
Edit
An update on my athame:
As it is a tool associated with the Lord I drew upon mine a vision of the Green Man...
Wand:
I made this wand a couple of years ago. I had been looking for a suitable piece of wood for a while and one day when walking through Savernake Forest I finally found a piece. I had just about given up and was walking back to the car when I saw it, a small beech branch was lying on the path, fresh leaves still on it and it felt as if I had just dropped it there by mistake. I think it's important to get this feeling across properly, I didn't think "Ooh that would be good, I'll take it"... it felt like it was already mine and I'd lost it... and forgotten about it until I saw it on the ground.
When I got it home I stripped off the bark, I originally planned to leave the handle covered in bark but it didn't work out:
So I stripped the rest off as well then carved holes for the various crystals I wanted to embed in it:
Because I associate the wand with fire I chose fiery crystals; sunstone and amber (ok not a crystal :P ):
I fixed them in using melted beeswax again, the same method I used for the fixing the tip.
I trimmed the end of the wand so it mirrored the angle of the crystal, smoky quarts to match the fire theme ;) then I stuck it on with beeswax and while the wax was still soft, bound it with suede thong.
I also added small citrine beads to the bends:
Chalice:
Er... I didn't actually make this! Charity shops are gooooooooooood!
Pentacle:
I found this plain terracotta glazed plate in a charity shop and immediately saw the potential. I drew out a design then transferred it to the plate using carbon paper, so done I used a dremmel to grind off the glaze over the carbon marks. The inscription reads "With wonder do I think on thee oh Goddess of the Green Earth"
Edit
I recently made myself a new pentacle, I found round board at Oxfam the other week and realised I could pyrograph it, this has now been done and I am ready to consecrate it on Sunday during my full moon ritual so it's ready for the big ritual!
Here it is:
Consecration of Tools
Have ready the Athame, Wand, Chalice and Pentacle to be consecrated in that order. Have lit some incense and nine tealights, and have ready a dish of water and one of salt. Also have some food and drink to hand.
Pass the athame through the incense smoke and say:
"I consecrate you with air"
Pass it over the flames and say:
"I consecrate you with fire"
Sprinkle it with water and say:
"I consecrate you with water"
Sprinkle it with salt and say:
"I consecrate you with earth"
Now hold the athame to you and imbue it with your energy and love. So done, say:
"May you serve me in rituals of sun and moon, in rites of seasonal celebration and as the Wheel turns. I dedicate you to work between the worlds in the service of the Goddess and God"
Go to the east, hold up the athame and say:
"May you be filled with clarity and wisdom"
Move to the south and say
"May you be filled with passion and inspiration"
Move to the west and say:
"May you be filled with intuition and compassion"
Move to the north and say:
"May you be filled with strength and feracity"
Return the athame to the altar and repeat the process with the wand, chalice and pentacle. Once all the tools have been consecrated, fill the chalice with drink and put some food on the pentacle.
Place the tip of the athame into the chalice and bless the liquid within, then place the tip of the wand against the food and bless it too.
(These blessings are to be spontaneous and I chose to involve all the tools so they could be used immediately after consecration, thus binding them physically as well as spiritually)
For this Beltane have some plain paper available and something to draw with. Spend time during the feast to sketch designs for the athame handle so it can be burnt on later.. when I eventually get a pyrographer's tool.
The Beltane Poem
Blossom drifts down from the trees
and caught upon the gentle breeze,
spirals through the honeyed air,
a storm of petals that declare
the Wheel has turned again today
and chased the winter chill away
and in the greenwood, hearts entwine
amongst the flowers, love divine.
Round the May pole dancers spin
gaily weaving summer in.
For Beltane brings the lover's tryst,
the fertile earth, the Goddess kissed
so plants spring forth from seed and grain
and life itself is born again
and in the greenwood, hearts entwine
amongst the flowers, love divine.
When darkness falls the balefire burns
and merrymakers take their turns
to leap the flames with wild delight,
in echo of an ancient rite,
to rid themselves of all that's bane
and wish for all they hope to gain
and in the greenwood, hearts entwine
amongst the flowers, love divine.
I have decided to follow the suggestion in the course and list my tools and how I made them so that it might help others to do similar. This is a work in progress and since I'm awaiting the arrival of someone I'll post the photos for now and I'll edit later to add the detail.
Athame:
I bought this athame at Glastonbury a while ago... well I bought most of it there, it used to look like this:
The black handle is made of plastic unfortunately and although I loved the blade I didn't use it because the handle didn't.. fit me is the best way of putting it. So I took a stanly knife to it. I carefully cut away the plastic and then knocked the pommel off with a hammer. All I was left with was the blade, guard and tang. I tried to remove the guard but couldn't.
Anyway, we have a hornbeam tree/bush in the garden and after it's annul trim I set to work on a piece of branch. Using the stanly knife I carved it into a new handle. Hornbeam is [i]hard[/i]! I sanded it down with increasingly fine sandpaper then oiled and sanded it again. I used a drill to make a hole large enough for the tang, did I mention Hornbeam is hard? I then fixed it with melted beeswax. I plan to burn a design onto the handle when I eventually get a pyrographer's tool.
Edit
An update on my athame:
As it is a tool associated with the Lord I drew upon mine a vision of the Green Man...
Wand:
I made this wand a couple of years ago. I had been looking for a suitable piece of wood for a while and one day when walking through Savernake Forest I finally found a piece. I had just about given up and was walking back to the car when I saw it, a small beech branch was lying on the path, fresh leaves still on it and it felt as if I had just dropped it there by mistake. I think it's important to get this feeling across properly, I didn't think "Ooh that would be good, I'll take it"... it felt like it was already mine and I'd lost it... and forgotten about it until I saw it on the ground.
When I got it home I stripped off the bark, I originally planned to leave the handle covered in bark but it didn't work out:
So I stripped the rest off as well then carved holes for the various crystals I wanted to embed in it:
Because I associate the wand with fire I chose fiery crystals; sunstone and amber (ok not a crystal :P ):
I fixed them in using melted beeswax again, the same method I used for the fixing the tip.
I trimmed the end of the wand so it mirrored the angle of the crystal, smoky quarts to match the fire theme ;) then I stuck it on with beeswax and while the wax was still soft, bound it with suede thong.
I also added small citrine beads to the bends:
Chalice:
Er... I didn't actually make this! Charity shops are gooooooooooood!
Pentacle:
I found this plain terracotta glazed plate in a charity shop and immediately saw the potential. I drew out a design then transferred it to the plate using carbon paper, so done I used a dremmel to grind off the glaze over the carbon marks. The inscription reads "With wonder do I think on thee oh Goddess of the Green Earth"
Edit
I recently made myself a new pentacle, I found round board at Oxfam the other week and realised I could pyrograph it, this has now been done and I am ready to consecrate it on Sunday during my full moon ritual so it's ready for the big ritual!
Here it is:
Consecration of Tools
Have ready the Athame, Wand, Chalice and Pentacle to be consecrated in that order. Have lit some incense and nine tealights, and have ready a dish of water and one of salt. Also have some food and drink to hand.
Pass the athame through the incense smoke and say:
"I consecrate you with air"
Pass it over the flames and say:
"I consecrate you with fire"
Sprinkle it with water and say:
"I consecrate you with water"
Sprinkle it with salt and say:
"I consecrate you with earth"
Now hold the athame to you and imbue it with your energy and love. So done, say:
"May you serve me in rituals of sun and moon, in rites of seasonal celebration and as the Wheel turns. I dedicate you to work between the worlds in the service of the Goddess and God"
Go to the east, hold up the athame and say:
"May you be filled with clarity and wisdom"
Move to the south and say
"May you be filled with passion and inspiration"
Move to the west and say:
"May you be filled with intuition and compassion"
Move to the north and say:
"May you be filled with strength and feracity"
Return the athame to the altar and repeat the process with the wand, chalice and pentacle. Once all the tools have been consecrated, fill the chalice with drink and put some food on the pentacle.
Place the tip of the athame into the chalice and bless the liquid within, then place the tip of the wand against the food and bless it too.
(These blessings are to be spontaneous and I chose to involve all the tools so they could be used immediately after consecration, thus binding them physically as well as spiritually)
For this Beltane have some plain paper available and something to draw with. Spend time during the feast to sketch designs for the athame handle so it can be burnt on later.. when I eventually get a pyrographer's tool.
The Beltane Poem
Blossom drifts down from the trees
and caught upon the gentle breeze,
spirals through the honeyed air,
a storm of petals that declare
the Wheel has turned again today
and chased the winter chill away
and in the greenwood, hearts entwine
amongst the flowers, love divine.
Round the May pole dancers spin
gaily weaving summer in.
For Beltane brings the lover's tryst,
the fertile earth, the Goddess kissed
so plants spring forth from seed and grain
and life itself is born again
and in the greenwood, hearts entwine
amongst the flowers, love divine.
When darkness falls the balefire burns
and merrymakers take their turns
to leap the flames with wild delight,
in echo of an ancient rite,
to rid themselves of all that's bane
and wish for all they hope to gain
and in the greenwood, hearts entwine
amongst the flowers, love divine.
Research Project 3
I, like others, have decided to write my own version of the Opening of the Temple, I've been meaning to for years and this lesson was the perfect nudge in the right direction. Questions and comments are always welcome :)
So here it is:
Part One - Casting the Circle
Light the altar candles, quarter candles and incense.
Close your eyes and take a long slow breath in through the nose letting it fill your lungs completely then pause briefly before exhaling. Pause again before taking another breath and continue in this way for a little while, feeling yourself relax.
Take up the athame and place the tip into the water in the chalice, visualising energy flowing down through the blade.
"I cleanse this water of all bane
of pollution and of pain"
Then place the tip of the athame into the pot of salt and visualise more energy flowing through the blade.
"I bless this salt that it be fain
to cleanse this circle here arcane"
So done, use the point of the athame to transfer a pinch worth of salt into the chalice and stir it.
Starting at the altar in the East, take up the athame again and proceed sunwise around the circle visualising a line of coloured energy trailing behind the outstretched blade.
Now take up the chalice and go around the circle again, sprinkling the salted water along the way, visualising the elements of earth and water cleansing the circle, then sprinkle some of the water over yourself.
Next take the censer around the circle and visualise the elements of fire and air cleansing it, then waft the smoke over yourself.
Part Two - Invoking the Guardians
Starting in the East, use the athame to perform the invoking pentagram above the yellow candle while visualising the element of air. See a wren flutter into view
"I call upon the Cunning Wren
You who beat the eagle when
You tricked him with your artful scheme
You whose eyes with wisdom gleam
Guardian of the sacred East
Power of the wind released
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight"
Move sunwise to the South, use the athame to perform the invoking pentagram above the red candle visualising the element of fire, see a sand coloured cat saunter into view
"I call upon the lithesome cat
Soul of fiery passion that
Inspires us to creative heights,
peeks of rage and deep delights
Guardian of the sacred South
Power of the heart and mouth
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight"
Move sunwise to the West, use the athame to perform the invoking pentagram above the blue candle while visualising the element of water, see an otter swim into view
"I call upon the playful Otter
Wise and sleekit water wanderer
Intuition and emotion,
Gifts from out the moonlit ocean
Guardian of the sacred West
Power of the sea expressed
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight"
Move sunwise to the North, use the athame to perform the invoking pentagram above the green candle while visualising the element of earth, see a stag stride into view
"I call upon the Noble Stag
Lord of glen and mountain crag
Crowned with antlers, proud you stand
known of old throughout the land
Guardian of the sacred North
Power of the earth called forth
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight"
Return sunwise to the East and replace the athame on the altar.
Part Three: Inviting the Gods
Take up the wand and stand facing the centre of the circle, raising the wand on high invite the Goddess, visualise her arriving as you chant:
"Goddess of the silver crescent
Shining lady luminescent
Starlight veils your silken hair
Moonlight forms the robes you wear
Cast your glory down on me
Join my circle, hear my plea!"
Stay facing the centre of the circle and invite the God, again visualise him arriving as you chant:
"Lord of the Forest, Lord of the Sun
Here me now my plea's begun
Lord of the Dance, Lord of the Wild
Hear the voice of this Pagan child
Lord of the Hunt, Lord of the Sky
Join my circle, hear my cry!"
Return to the altar and replace the wand.
The rite can begin.
Taking Down the Temple
Stand in the centre of the circle and thank the God and Goddess for their attendance and visualise them departing. Say something off the top of your head appropriate to the theme of the ritual.
Go to the North and thank the guardian,
"Guardian of the sacred North
Power of the earth called forth
Go back now to where you dwell
I bid you thanks and fond farewell"
Perform the banishing pentagram then extinguish the candle and see the stag walk away. Move sunwise to the East
Thank the guardian
"Guardian of the sacred East
Power of the wind released
Go back now to where you dwell
I bid you thanks and fond farewell"
Perform the banishing pentagram then extinguish the candle and see the wren take flight. Move sunwise to the South
Thank the guardian
"Guardian of the sacred South
Power of the heart and mouth
Go back now to where you dwell
I bid you thanks and fond farewell"
Perform the banishing pentagram then extinguish the candle and see the cat move away with a flick of its tail. Move sunwise to the South
Thank the guardian
"Guardian of the sacred West
Power of the sea expressed
Go back now to where you dwell
I bid you thanks and fond farewell"
Perform the banishing pentagram then extinguish the candle and see the otter swim away.
Return to the altar, and feel the circle fade.
The rite is ended.
So here it is:
Part One - Casting the Circle
Light the altar candles, quarter candles and incense.
Close your eyes and take a long slow breath in through the nose letting it fill your lungs completely then pause briefly before exhaling. Pause again before taking another breath and continue in this way for a little while, feeling yourself relax.
Take up the athame and place the tip into the water in the chalice, visualising energy flowing down through the blade.
"I cleanse this water of all bane
of pollution and of pain"
Then place the tip of the athame into the pot of salt and visualise more energy flowing through the blade.
"I bless this salt that it be fain
to cleanse this circle here arcane"
So done, use the point of the athame to transfer a pinch worth of salt into the chalice and stir it.
Starting at the altar in the East, take up the athame again and proceed sunwise around the circle visualising a line of coloured energy trailing behind the outstretched blade.
Now take up the chalice and go around the circle again, sprinkling the salted water along the way, visualising the elements of earth and water cleansing the circle, then sprinkle some of the water over yourself.
Next take the censer around the circle and visualise the elements of fire and air cleansing it, then waft the smoke over yourself.
Part Two - Invoking the Guardians
Starting in the East, use the athame to perform the invoking pentagram above the yellow candle while visualising the element of air. See a wren flutter into view
"I call upon the Cunning Wren
You who beat the eagle when
You tricked him with your artful scheme
You whose eyes with wisdom gleam
Guardian of the sacred East
Power of the wind released
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight"
Move sunwise to the South, use the athame to perform the invoking pentagram above the red candle visualising the element of fire, see a sand coloured cat saunter into view
"I call upon the lithesome cat
Soul of fiery passion that
Inspires us to creative heights,
peeks of rage and deep delights
Guardian of the sacred South
Power of the heart and mouth
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight"
Move sunwise to the West, use the athame to perform the invoking pentagram above the blue candle while visualising the element of water, see an otter swim into view
"I call upon the playful Otter
Wise and sleekit water wanderer
Intuition and emotion,
Gifts from out the moonlit ocean
Guardian of the sacred West
Power of the sea expressed
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight"
Move sunwise to the North, use the athame to perform the invoking pentagram above the green candle while visualising the element of earth, see a stag stride into view
"I call upon the Noble Stag
Lord of glen and mountain crag
Crowned with antlers, proud you stand
known of old throughout the land
Guardian of the sacred North
Power of the earth called forth
I ask you please to guard my rite
And all that passes here tonight"
Return sunwise to the East and replace the athame on the altar.
Part Three: Inviting the Gods
Take up the wand and stand facing the centre of the circle, raising the wand on high invite the Goddess, visualise her arriving as you chant:
"Goddess of the silver crescent
Shining lady luminescent
Starlight veils your silken hair
Moonlight forms the robes you wear
Cast your glory down on me
Join my circle, hear my plea!"
Stay facing the centre of the circle and invite the God, again visualise him arriving as you chant:
"Lord of the Forest, Lord of the Sun
Here me now my plea's begun
Lord of the Dance, Lord of the Wild
Hear the voice of this Pagan child
Lord of the Hunt, Lord of the Sky
Join my circle, hear my cry!"
Return to the altar and replace the wand.
The rite can begin.
Taking Down the Temple
Stand in the centre of the circle and thank the God and Goddess for their attendance and visualise them departing. Say something off the top of your head appropriate to the theme of the ritual.
Go to the North and thank the guardian,
"Guardian of the sacred North
Power of the earth called forth
Go back now to where you dwell
I bid you thanks and fond farewell"
Perform the banishing pentagram then extinguish the candle and see the stag walk away. Move sunwise to the East
Thank the guardian
"Guardian of the sacred East
Power of the wind released
Go back now to where you dwell
I bid you thanks and fond farewell"
Perform the banishing pentagram then extinguish the candle and see the wren take flight. Move sunwise to the South
Thank the guardian
"Guardian of the sacred South
Power of the heart and mouth
Go back now to where you dwell
I bid you thanks and fond farewell"
Perform the banishing pentagram then extinguish the candle and see the cat move away with a flick of its tail. Move sunwise to the South
Thank the guardian
"Guardian of the sacred West
Power of the sea expressed
Go back now to where you dwell
I bid you thanks and fond farewell"
Perform the banishing pentagram then extinguish the candle and see the otter swim away.
Return to the altar, and feel the circle fade.
The rite is ended.
Research Project 2bii Learn about a Goddess
I've been researching her for a while now, and there isn't a lot to find. Usually one liners that aren't much help I shall write what I know... She was the patron Goddess of the healing thermal spring in what is now Bath in Western England. It's the only one we have in Britain and to the ancient inhabitants it must indeed have been a miracle. Imagine.. a hot bath in such a climate as Britain's. She is also thought to be connected to springs in general.
There are references elsewhere to Suleviae which is thought of as the plural of Sulis, these were found in Bath, Cirencester, Colchester and places in Gaul. The latin dedications found were to the: Sulevian Mothers (Matribus Suleviae), the Sulevian Goddess (Deae Sulevae), the Sulevian Goddesses (Sulevis deabus) and the Sulevian sisters (Sulevis Sororibus). This suggests that Sulis was seen in a triple aspect on occasion. What the three aspects presided over I know not.
When the Romans came to Bath they equated her with their Minerva and so Sulis too became associated with knowledge, medicine and the arts. The interesting thing was that she became Sulis-Minerva not Minerva-Sulis as was usual for other Romanised Celtic deities. So the Romans must have respected Sulis a hell of a lot. (Probably the lure of a warm bath again, these people coming from hotter climes :P )
Before the Romans she was probably known as Sul, the origins of the name have been argued to be from the Irish word Suil for Eye or Gap, so she may have had connections with the underworld which is especially fitting as entrances to the underworld were often seen as springs. There is also evidence that her name sprang from the proto-celtic words for beneficial water-flow, again fitting as her spring is said to have healing properties. At her temple in Bath there is evidence of the kinds of things people prayed to her for, there are examples of curses inscribed on lead tablets, asking her to visit revenge on thieves etc. But there are also talismans such as carved ivory breasts which were possibly gifts of thanks from happy mothers for a plentiful supply of milk or an offering requesting it.
I went to Bath last year and I highly recommend other people to go too. Despite the crowds of people it was quite still and peaceful, I really enjoyed it :) When I got back home I incorporated a meditation on Sulis into my Imbolc ritual which I shall now recount:
I started my meditation and saw myself at Aquae Sulis. I stepped down into the bath and lay back letting the hot water support my body, feeling my hair float out behind me. I stayed like that for several minutes, just relaxing. Then I swam to the edge and got out. I walked, naked and dripping through to the sacred pool and sat cross legged by the edge. I asked Sulis if she would appear for me, then I waited, content with whatever would happen. Suddenly a woman burst out of the waters, her hair was the red of the ore deposits and eyes green as the pool with skin like ivory. She held out her hands and drew me into the water, then further down until everything was green and warm and dark. In the womb of the earth. It was very relaxing, the kind of muscle soothing heat from a hot bath. She held me down there and her hair fanned out around us. It felt very calm and nice. She seemed to speak to me though not using words. Suggesting I look into hands on healing and essential oils.. touching. After a while of being in that state she took me back up to the surface and I found myself back on the edge of the pool. She disappeared back under the water. I walked out of the temple and as I walked there was no temple, it was warm mud beneath my feet, the air was cool and there were clouds of steam emanating from the swampy land. Animals were there, insects... the mud felt nice between my toes. Then I woke up.
The impression I was left with was a very nurturing feeling, a motherly love, protective and fiercely gentle. It was only a couple of days after my meditation that a work colleague introduced me to a healing technique involving touching known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and I've always thought of it as a sign of acknowledgement from Sulis. Lately when I think of her, her skin has been green like the water and it inspired me to draw a goddess picture with Sulis as the main aspect. The masks represent other deities.
Also, a view of Bath:
There are references elsewhere to Suleviae which is thought of as the plural of Sulis, these were found in Bath, Cirencester, Colchester and places in Gaul. The latin dedications found were to the: Sulevian Mothers (Matribus Suleviae), the Sulevian Goddess (Deae Sulevae), the Sulevian Goddesses (Sulevis deabus) and the Sulevian sisters (Sulevis Sororibus). This suggests that Sulis was seen in a triple aspect on occasion. What the three aspects presided over I know not.
When the Romans came to Bath they equated her with their Minerva and so Sulis too became associated with knowledge, medicine and the arts. The interesting thing was that she became Sulis-Minerva not Minerva-Sulis as was usual for other Romanised Celtic deities. So the Romans must have respected Sulis a hell of a lot. (Probably the lure of a warm bath again, these people coming from hotter climes :P )
Before the Romans she was probably known as Sul, the origins of the name have been argued to be from the Irish word Suil for Eye or Gap, so she may have had connections with the underworld which is especially fitting as entrances to the underworld were often seen as springs. There is also evidence that her name sprang from the proto-celtic words for beneficial water-flow, again fitting as her spring is said to have healing properties. At her temple in Bath there is evidence of the kinds of things people prayed to her for, there are examples of curses inscribed on lead tablets, asking her to visit revenge on thieves etc. But there are also talismans such as carved ivory breasts which were possibly gifts of thanks from happy mothers for a plentiful supply of milk or an offering requesting it.
I went to Bath last year and I highly recommend other people to go too. Despite the crowds of people it was quite still and peaceful, I really enjoyed it :) When I got back home I incorporated a meditation on Sulis into my Imbolc ritual which I shall now recount:
I started my meditation and saw myself at Aquae Sulis. I stepped down into the bath and lay back letting the hot water support my body, feeling my hair float out behind me. I stayed like that for several minutes, just relaxing. Then I swam to the edge and got out. I walked, naked and dripping through to the sacred pool and sat cross legged by the edge. I asked Sulis if she would appear for me, then I waited, content with whatever would happen. Suddenly a woman burst out of the waters, her hair was the red of the ore deposits and eyes green as the pool with skin like ivory. She held out her hands and drew me into the water, then further down until everything was green and warm and dark. In the womb of the earth. It was very relaxing, the kind of muscle soothing heat from a hot bath. She held me down there and her hair fanned out around us. It felt very calm and nice. She seemed to speak to me though not using words. Suggesting I look into hands on healing and essential oils.. touching. After a while of being in that state she took me back up to the surface and I found myself back on the edge of the pool. She disappeared back under the water. I walked out of the temple and as I walked there was no temple, it was warm mud beneath my feet, the air was cool and there were clouds of steam emanating from the swampy land. Animals were there, insects... the mud felt nice between my toes. Then I woke up.
The impression I was left with was a very nurturing feeling, a motherly love, protective and fiercely gentle. It was only a couple of days after my meditation that a work colleague introduced me to a healing technique involving touching known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and I've always thought of it as a sign of acknowledgement from Sulis. Lately when I think of her, her skin has been green like the water and it inspired me to draw a goddess picture with Sulis as the main aspect. The masks represent other deities.
Also, a view of Bath:
Research Project 2bi Learn about a Goddess
It has been a while since I chose Brigantia as the subject of my second research project, to tell the truth I'm a few months behind so I cannot now remember what caused me to choose her. However over the absent months she has stayed in my mind and, having gone back to the notes I made, I now feel ready to reveal what I have learned about her. I think I shall start off by quoting An t-Athair Sean O'Quinn,
“It is an exercise in futility to try and separate the historical Christian Brighid from the Goddess since clearly the two are so interwoven.” 1
The same is true of the Goddesses Brigantia and Brighid if indeed they are entirely separate entities in the first place and not simply the same Goddess with two names. The latter may well be the case as most of the hits I get when researching Brigantia on-line are from lists of alternative names for Brighid but there are a few mentions of Brigantia on her own. She is documented as being the tutelary Goddess of the Brigantes tribe of Northern England and there is some speculation that various rivers throughout Britain are named after her, for example the rivers Braint and Brent although Professor Ronald Hutton suggests this may be a coincidence. 2
Brigantia is associated with water on inscriptions found at Brampton, Cumberland and Irthington in Yorkshire where she is called deae Nymphae Brigantiae meaning the Nymph Goddess Brigantiae, the plural of Brigantia suggesting she was worshipped as a multiplicity, a further link with Brighid perhaps. In Northumberland Brigantia is linked with Jupiter, the only time she is documented as having a consort. It is thought that her original consort was a warrior sky god of some sort and a part of me wonders if it was Taranis, purely because of the coincidence of my choosing the pair as research subjects! 3
There are a few correlations between Brigantia, Victoria and Minerva in their aspects of Goddesses of war, as in the picture above of the Birrens Altar, Brigantia has been depicted wearing similar attire to Minerva, in this picture she is shown holding a spear and a globe, symbols associated with victory, she is also invoked in Greetland as Victoria. In the carving she is also shown wearing a crown similar in style to battlements indicating that her worshippers may have viewed her as a protector of their territory, this in turn suggests she may have had Mother Goddess aspects during times of peace. It has also been suggested that Brigantia has healing aspects, possibly due to her association with water, leading the Romans to equate her with Minerva.
So as you can see there are many mysteries about Brigantia, I feel that she is a very similar Goddess to Brighid, if not Brighid by another name! I wont go into the many attributes of Brighid here as they have been covered by numerous people already but I get the feeling that to a certain extent they could be applied to Brigantia as well. I do plan to meditate on her and see if that helps clarify things for me.
1: http://brighid.org.uk/goddess.html [Image kindly borrowed from this site]
2: The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles, Ronald Hutton, Blackwell, 2000
3: http://www.celtnet.org.uk/gods_b/brigantia.html
4: http://www.celtnet.org.uk/gods_b/brigantia.html
Reseach Project 2a Learn about a God
I have decided to research Taranis, the Celtic Thunder God. I have looked at various books in my collection and several websites and found that although there is quite a lot available about him not all of it agrees! I will therefore have to trust my own interpretation with a little help from Taranis of course.
According to the Celtic Encyclopedia by Harry Mountain, Taranis was also known as Daran, Tannus, Taran, Tima and Torann. Hutton also associates him with the Anglo Saxon Thunor. The word “taran” still means “thunder” in modern Welsh and Breton. Throughout my research Taranis has been given many symbols, the most agreed upon is the Wheel and Lightening Bolt. Other symbols include the Hammer, Oak Club, the Spiral, the Dogs of Taranis, the Bull and surprisingly the humble Wren. I have only found one reference to this seemingly strange association, according to the Druid Animal Oracle by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm the wren's nest is supposed to be protected by lightening. If someone tries to interfere with the nest, steal the eggs or chicks they would return home to find it had been struck by lightning and their hands would shrivel up. The wren was therefore sacred to the thunder god Taranis who often inhabited oak trees. R.J Stewart in The Way of Merlin also associates Taranis, along with other lightening gods, with the oak tree perhaps because of its propensity to be struck by lightening.
Another description I have not found elsewhere portrays Taranis as a good-humoured god who thundered across the sky after drinking too much mead! Conversely he could also be a furious god who smote those he deemed needed punishment but he was generally seen as slow to anger. It quite surprised me to read the next part where the author mentioned that Taranis was commonly seen riding a chariot drawn by horses, the hooves of which would add to the thunder. In a semi meditation before reading this, I had envisaged Taranis as an older man with flaming red hair and beard riding a horse drawn chariot. The wheels of the chariot were sparking on their axles and the horses were providing the thunder. I think he was holding a hammer which at the same time was also a lightening bolt.
Taranis is generally seen as a Gaulish god of about the 6th century BCE, but Mountain thinks he may well have cropped up in Scotland in the Outer Hebrides. He believes that the Isle of Taransay gets its name from him. It is very likely that Taranis spread throughout Britain along the trade routes crossing the Celtic lands but Mountain suggests he could be linked to an older Pictish or Unetice god. Mountain also describes the sacrifices made in honour of Taranis as well as Teutates and Esus. He says that each god was offered a different kind of sacrifice and the tripple death of stabbing, burning and drowning (or strangulation) was dedicated to all of them and held special significance as it involved three of the four elements. Taranis, he says, was offered sacrifices which had been placed in wooden cages and then burned alive. It is true that some bog bodies discovered in Britain do seem to have been killed three times in a ritualistic manner.
I believe this view of Taranis, Teutates and Esus has come from the Roman writer Lucan who famously wrote: “...and those Gauls who propitiate with human sacrifices the merciless gods Teutas, Esus and Taranis - at whose alters the visitany shudders because they are as awe-inspiring as those of the Scythian Diana.” Lucan, Pharsalia I, 422-465.
According to Ronald Hutton, in his book The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles, Roman authors were often misleading when it came to describing Celtic gods. Lucan only mentions Teutates, Esus and Taranis, implying that they are the most important Gaulish gods but he fails to mention any of the hundreds of other gods they worshipped. Despite their implied importance Taranis has only been found mentioned in seven inscriptions, Teutates wasn't a separate god, rather a title for any protective god of a tribe and Esus has only been found mentioned in one inscription. Hutton therefore concludes that Lucan's “famous passage may now be considered worse than useless.” (p156)
Along with other sources, Hutton is of the opinion that the Romans identified Taranis with their own thunder god Jupiter. This was apparently common, any sky god they came across was fair game for assimilation. There have been many representations of Jupiter in Britain holding a wheel, the Celts associated the wheel with the sky, either representing the rotating wheel of the stars or the sun and Taranis is almost always portrayed holding a wheel. It is therefore logical to assume that when Taranis was melded with Jupiter, Jupiter took on one of Taranis's sacred objects. However there is no conclusive evidence that the Romans dubbed him Jupiter-Taranis as they often did with other Celtic assimilations.
There were a couple of other details that I have not found elsewhere and am not sure what to think of them. One website states that Taranis is also known the Grey Goose of War and is the consort of Epona, the Grey Mare of Gaul. I've not come across him being associated with Epona anywhere else. This site also says that he is very fair with blue eyes, wild hair and beard and wears blue, grey and white tunics and a mantle. This may be from a meditation of course.
Now for the section where I delve into the purely speculative. I think I first heard the name Taranis when reading Asterix as a child, the name kind of resonated for me and settled in the back of my mind where it stayed, unregarded until the other night when we had a tremendous thunder storm at 2 o'clock in the morning. I had been wondering which god to research as part of lesson two and while watching the storm Taranis popped into my mind. I have always loved storms. My earliest memories of them are running with my Father too and from the shed at the end of the garden while my Mother watched in terror from the kitchen door. It was fantastic! The noise... the rain.. I remember the lightening was orange and the sky almost purple. Since childhood I have felt energised by storms. I love the way they humble the human race, I revel in how small I feel when the sky itself is being rent asunder by the sheer power of the storm. It's exhilarating! I see Taranis as being part of this joy, delighting in the noise and speed, the thrill of it all... letting loose... I think I shall enjoy getting to know Taranis.
References:
http://www.draeconin.com/welsh/database/gods.htm
http://www.advancenet.net/jscole/wren.htm
http://www.whats-your-sign.com/celtic-gods-and-goddesses.html
http://www.kernunnos.com/deities/Taranis.shtml
http://www.geocities.com/webofshadows/taranis.html
Celtic Encyclopedia, Harry Mountain
The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles, Ronald Hutton, Blackwell, 2000
Celtic Traditions: Druids, Faeries, and Wiccan Rituals, Sirona Knight, Citadel Press, 2000
Illustrated Encyclopedia Classical Mythology, Arthur Cotterell, Hermes House, 2000
First Research Project - Lean About a Wiccan Tradition
I have decided to research Seax Wicca, I was looking through a list of Traditions on The Witch's Voice and was drawn to this one partly because I know nothing about it and partly because I happen to live in Essex and the triple Seax is our county emblem. Essex has a lot of important Saxon archaeology and the famous Battle of Maldon took place here too. So obviously it's something that piques my interest.
Seax Wicca was founded by Englishman Raymond Buckland in America during the 1970s. He had been a part of a Gardnarian Coven but became disillusioned with some of the pomp and circumstance and holier-than-thou attitudes inherent in Gardnarian Wicca as he experienced it. So he left and in order not to break his vows of secrecy he created a new tradition based on Saxon beliefs. He has made it clear though that he is not trying to recreate authentic Saxon religion.
Seax Wicca differs from traditional Gardnarian in a lot of key ways. I think the most important difference is that Seax Wicca does not have a degree system or set of initiatory systems. In fact there is only the one initiation and that can even be a self initiation. Before initiation individuals are known as Ceorl (pronounced Cawl) and then afterwards as Gesith (Yehsith) at which stage they are seen as equal to the rest of the group. Nor is there an oath of secrecy, the closest thing is the creed “Love is the law, Love is the bond” On initiation members also swear: “As this libation drains from the horn, so shall all blood drain from by body if I should do ought to hurt the God and Goddess or those in kinship with their love.”
Another major difference is that the High Priest and Priestess are elected democratically either both at once or at different times of the year, the reason for which I'll go into later. As well as the High Priest and High Priestess there are two other positions, these two unique to Seax Wicca, that of Thegn (pronounced Thane) who acts as Coven guardian, or steward. They are in charge of giving the call to come to ritual and stage managing the rituals themselves, they use the spear as a sign of office. The second unique position is that of Scribe who controls all the coven paperwork and records.
Seax Wiccans worship Woden and Freya (Woden isn't to be confused with Odin) neither of which are more important than the other. Uniquely to the Seax tradition the Lord is seen as ruler of the winter half of the year and the Lady as ruler of the Summer half which is why the High Priest and Priestess are sometimes elected at different times of the year, Priest in winter and Priestess in Summer.
One of the most extraordinary things about Seax Wicca, if considered from a Gardnarian point of view, is the way in which they treat their athames, which they call Seaxes. The seax is used not only to direct energy but to cut things in the physical plane as well. In fact they believe that the more they use the seax, even for mundane jobs, the better as it becomes more imbued with the individual's energy.
In this tradition magic is known as Galdra and divination as Hwata. Runes are favoured as are the Saxon Wands, a selection of different length sticks which are cast over a single stick known as the Wittan wand. The way in which they fall is how the wands are interpreted.
Today Seax Wicca is still practised in America as well as the UK and further a field. The main book detailing the tradition is The Tree by Raymond Buckland.
Seax Wicca was founded by Englishman Raymond Buckland in America during the 1970s. He had been a part of a Gardnarian Coven but became disillusioned with some of the pomp and circumstance and holier-than-thou attitudes inherent in Gardnarian Wicca as he experienced it. So he left and in order not to break his vows of secrecy he created a new tradition based on Saxon beliefs. He has made it clear though that he is not trying to recreate authentic Saxon religion.
Seax Wicca differs from traditional Gardnarian in a lot of key ways. I think the most important difference is that Seax Wicca does not have a degree system or set of initiatory systems. In fact there is only the one initiation and that can even be a self initiation. Before initiation individuals are known as Ceorl (pronounced Cawl) and then afterwards as Gesith (Yehsith) at which stage they are seen as equal to the rest of the group. Nor is there an oath of secrecy, the closest thing is the creed “Love is the law, Love is the bond” On initiation members also swear: “As this libation drains from the horn, so shall all blood drain from by body if I should do ought to hurt the God and Goddess or those in kinship with their love.”
Another major difference is that the High Priest and Priestess are elected democratically either both at once or at different times of the year, the reason for which I'll go into later. As well as the High Priest and High Priestess there are two other positions, these two unique to Seax Wicca, that of Thegn (pronounced Thane) who acts as Coven guardian, or steward. They are in charge of giving the call to come to ritual and stage managing the rituals themselves, they use the spear as a sign of office. The second unique position is that of Scribe who controls all the coven paperwork and records.
Seax Wiccans worship Woden and Freya (Woden isn't to be confused with Odin) neither of which are more important than the other. Uniquely to the Seax tradition the Lord is seen as ruler of the winter half of the year and the Lady as ruler of the Summer half which is why the High Priest and Priestess are sometimes elected at different times of the year, Priest in winter and Priestess in Summer.
One of the most extraordinary things about Seax Wicca, if considered from a Gardnarian point of view, is the way in which they treat their athames, which they call Seaxes. The seax is used not only to direct energy but to cut things in the physical plane as well. In fact they believe that the more they use the seax, even for mundane jobs, the better as it becomes more imbued with the individual's energy.
In this tradition magic is known as Galdra and divination as Hwata. Runes are favoured as are the Saxon Wands, a selection of different length sticks which are cast over a single stick known as the Wittan wand. The way in which they fall is how the wands are interpreted.
Today Seax Wicca is still practised in America as well as the UK and further a field. The main book detailing the tradition is The Tree by Raymond Buckland.
Explanation
The first few posts on here are going to be copied from my posts on Magicka School and a couple of other places as well. I want somewhere to put them all together as at the moment I have bits and pieces of information, research, poetry etc all over the place!
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