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Journey
SO, YOU WANNA BE A WITCH, EH????
Well, sit right here, by my side,
and I'll tell you the secrets of the tide ...
And just get comfy, honey child,
While I speak of nature, free and wild.
But, you don't have a cloak, or pointed hat??
Bah!! and Piffle!! ..
What's with that?
The Witch is worn within the soul,
not donned for occasions, or kept in a bowl.
When you think of witches, you tremble at magic?
Oh, silly girl, that is indeed tragic!
Well, take a deep breath, and hold tight to my hand,
and together we'll dream to the edge of the land.
Where forest and sky kiss the edge of the waters,
Where spirits as we, claim a kinship with daughters
of elements born before words are remembered, and feelings,
and thoughts are no longer hindered.
Tis the every day things, that witches are 'ware of,
The Sun and the Moon, and the wee tiny cherub,
who tugs at our heart strings and drives us to madness,
yet gives us such joy, and fills us with gladness.
A soft gentle rain, nudging buds to full flower.
Hurricane! Twister! .. Such terrible power!
Candles, and hearth fire, warming and scented.
Forests ablaze! .. Volcanic stacks vented!
A mantle of snow, both preserves and gives pleasure.
Avalanche! Iceberg!! ..
So full of treasure.
The Warmth of the Sun, bringing Life we so cherish.
Bleak desert landscape.
Burnt tundra... we perish.
Now open your eyes, and look closely at me.
You came her so fearful, now what do you see?
A kindly old woman? An evil old hag?
A cloak of maturity? A dirty old rag?
Both sides of the coin.
Light and dark we encompass
Good and evil abide, and still walk among us.
So be very sure, that a Witch you will be ...
for we own it ALL ...
you and me .... you and me.
Blessed Be ...
The Witch
The dictionary meaning for witch = 'n. woman supposed to have dealings with Devil of evil spirits; old hag.' I don't think so!
A witch is a person male or female, who practices the craft, and believes in the spirit, God and Goddess (or Lord and Lady) and who uses the spirits power for a number of things. Also witches 'supposedly' dress in black, wear long black necklaces around their necks, have lot's of big silver rings and bracelets, and have black hair with lot's of black make on a pale powdered face, with long black skirts and knee high boots.
We've all heard it. Hmmm, I don't wear knee high boots, nor do I wear lots of jewelry. You can never tell who's a witch or not. Not by just looking at them! Who knows, your neighbour might be a witch, or someone you know from work or school. You also have the old one, the little old lady with black skirt, and pointy black hat and a broomstick in one hand and a wand in her other hand. I've never seen one of these except in movies! Witches can be subject to a lot of jokes because that is the image that people think about when they hear the word 'Witch'.
Luckily the people who practice the craft know the truth and I'm writing this to let others know the truth too! Witches are usually seen as females too while in the 'real' world here males can have just as much power as a female and they too are known as witches, not as warlords or warlocks! The term 'Witch' isn't male or female, its both.
Drawing Down the Moon
by Zenith Simon
To many, the powerful rite of Drawing Down the Moon belongs exclusively to a Wiccan ritual and it is also rebuffed as some shoddy rite inserted with a favour to reflect the practices of Thessalian witches who 'called down the moon'. The context of the 'drawing of the moon' in the ancient past and today is different, yet, I should say Drawing down the Moon is one of the most inspiring and evocative ritual, and it is a universal rite.
Ritual possession has an important part to play in modern Pagans' life because it unlocks our rigid mind and thrust us beyond what is to us, sensible. We're often so confined in our daily routine, lack courage to suspend disbelief as well as lack of faith and hope to do so. We often forget that magic and science complement each other and are no opposing schools. For this the more important ritual possession should enter our lives. It's difficult to reason, actually, how ritual possession works. I have once thought hard about it, whether the Divine actually takes control of the person's body or is it an internal awakening as it is well expressed in 'Thou art God/dess'. I thought about it for quite sometime and said to myself, why the heck, give it a try... being as brave as Aidan Kelly in his first 'witch sabbat's experimental ritual' I ventured forth and ask for the Gods to bless this rite. The experiences were enriching and no doubt has changed me. To draw down the moon, you don't necessarily need to assemble in a group or memorize Doreen Valiente's 'Charge of the Goddess', nor do you need a priest to invoke with a phallic wand. Drawing down the moon, comes from within. It comes from the intention of surrendering yourselves to the arms of the Goddess. Giving yourself with humility, with love and reverence, it is the ultimate surrender of your being to the Divine, a sacrifice indeed to attain such blessings from the Gods. There are other cultures and religions that use ritual possession as a form of inspiration. The Vodou uses drums and beats to invoke Lwas (Ancestral Spirits/Demi-Gods), the Taoist uses gong and chant. Many other cultures has similiar ritual but different ways to carry it out. Even the Pentacostalians encourage speaking in tongues! Ritual possession not only gives us insight and wisdom, it connects us with the Divine. It unites us, giving us a chance to know the power in the Divine as well as the ability latent in us. It gives us the comfort and security that we're part of the Gods, well expressed in the old Egyptian adage 'There is no part of us which is not of the Gods'. Besides, ritual possession affirms our communication and relationship with the Divine. And if there are more of us going through such joyous rite, I'm sure we'll have less wars and conflicts around. Here I do introduce a short ritual for those intending to seek inspiration and communication with the Gods. The most important factor of all is the intent. If the intent is good, then be not afraid for no evil spirits may do harm towards you. I would also like to affirm that this is not a joke ritual, it's a sacred rite to receive knowledge from the Gods as well as establishing a relationship with Them. Please note that the ritual is entirely improvised for those who intend to experience ritual possession.
Take your athame and circumambulate three times deosil while saying,
"The star is bright,
oh feeble ancient light,
shine on us tonight,
by the Shining one's Might!"
You may then sit down or remain standing, asperge yourself with the consecrated water and then say,
"Great Mother, Great star of life,
Cosmic Might, ancient provider,
descend apace, unto me... I ask you...
perfect your love, perfect your trust,
your daughter call unto thee.
Descend into the body, blest holy
since the beginning of time!"
You may either dance a frenzy dance, calling the Great names of the Goddess or sit down and reflect. Soon, there may be a shift of consciousness. Let the Goddess take hold of you, surrender and She shall impart wisdom unto you.
It is not difficult to perform the rite. Often, I believe sincerity is the key component of an effective communication with the Gods. Another crucial factor is also the willingness to surrender oneself to the Gods. It all boils down to the intent of the practitioner.
What Makes A Witch?
by Dianis Lucien (D. W. Piper)
What makes a Witch?
Some people insist that "Only a Witch can make a Witch." In other words, to become a Witch, one must be Initiated by a Witch, who was in turn Initiated by a Witch, who was in their turn Initiated by a Witch..... But who Initiated the first Witch?
Other folks say, "Only the Gods can make a Witch." In other words, regardless of whether or not any human ceremony is performed, true Initiation comes only from the Gods. A ritual of Initation - whether performed by an Initiator or group, or by oneself - serves only either to attempt to trigger that process, or to acknowledge and recognize that process as having occurred.
Still other folk appear to believe that one can make oneself a Witch, simply by declaring "I am a Witch." And then there are those silly folk who have been heard to declare things like "Of course I'm a Third Degree High Priestess! I've been circling for six months, and I've read all but three chapters of StarHawk's Spiral Dance!" -- and are outraged when they are not accorded the recognition they believe they are due.
I hold to:
"A Witch is born, not made; or if a Witch is to be made, then tears must be spilt before the Moon can be Drawn. For the Lady chooses whom She Will to be Her Lovers, and She rends Her Servants apart before finally making them Wise."
[For anyone interested, this is my reworking of someone's reworking of two separate statements originally written by "Robert Cochrane" of The Regency (Britain) and 1734 (America) fame - or is it infamy?] And how do I interpret that statement?
A Witch is born;
It is necessary to "make" - to awaken, to actualize and bring into manifestation - that which was born within one;
"To learn it is necessary to suffer and be purified...";
Only the Gods can make a Witch because the Goddess is the Source of the Initiatory Current, and She can, and will, bestow that Current when, and upon whom, She chooses. For priesthood is a vocation, and it is She who calls us: "Arise! And come unto Me!"
Initiation is essential to becoming a Witch. While I think the term "self-Initiation" is a misnomer, nevertheless it is possible to attune oneself to the Initiatory Current, and thereby become Initiated - not into any particular lineage or family, of course, since nobody can adopt themselves into someone else's family, but into "Wicca".
However, it takes a considerable amount of work, study, and effort to attune oneself to the Current - and it takes being Proper Person enough to be able to know what is wheat, and what is chaff, out of the publically-available material to properly prepare onself to attune to the correct frequency - to tap into the proper Initiatory Current.
So I still hold to "only a Witch can make a Witch" - although there are those for whom both instances of the word "Witch" refer to the same individual; and I also still hold to "only the Gods can make a Witch" for the Lady chooses whom She Will.... And I also hold to "declaring 'I am a Witch'" because it is we, each of us individually, who must answer Her Call - and accept that possibility, and bring it into manifestation.
Becoming a Witch
These steps will take at least two years if you do them correctly.
STEP ONE - discovering your path Read and study. Read everything you can get your hands on. You need to read anything that will tell you more about the beliefs of witchcraft, magazines, books and web pages. While studying there are other forms of the craft that help. (nature) For example you could go hiking or go camping. Sunbathe, moonbathe, watch animals etc. This step should take you at least 2 months.
STEP TWO - defining your path In a notebook, folder or journal start writing down some reasons why the craft is for you. What does being a witch mean to you? What do you hope to achieve? How do you visualize the God and Goddess? What does the Divine mean to you? Be honest. This notebook will become your book of shadows.
STEP THREE - Exploring magic Magic is simply raising and channeling energy that is found in yourself, nature and the divine. Before you begin working with magic you need to understand what it is. You also need to know the basic structure of a ritual, casting circles, calling quarters, invoking the God/dess, raising and directing energy, grounding and centering and closing the circle. Know the moon phases. Learn to feel how the moon effects your body. Keep records of all you have learned in your book of shadows. This step will probably take you about another couple of months.
STEP FOUR - learning to focus Now you should start working on meditation and visualization exercises to increase your concentration. Learn to be calm. You can start out by meditating at least 3 times a week for about five minutes. You should do this for at least a month. Remember to keep a record in your book of shadows.
STEP FIVE - working with magic Now you can begin some basic spell work. Start with a full moon ritual or a new moon ritual. Every witch should write her own spells.
STEP SIX - self dedication After you have been studying for at least five or six months on meditating and working with magic it is time to perform a self dedication ritual. Design it however you want. A self dedication ritual means you are dedicating yourself to the craft.
STEP SEVEN - the year between dedication and initiation You can initiate yourself when you feel you are ready. The year you spend between your self dedication and your initiation you should spend celebrating the Sabbats, meditation, practicing your spellwork and studying. Use this time to learn about different forms of divination, such as Tarot or Runes, and different forms of healing, such as herbalism. Make sure you are recording in your book of shadows.
STEP EIGHT - Networking You should spend a solitary year study after self dedication before a witch considers joining a coven or a circle. This gives you a full year to celebrate the cycle of Sabbats.
STEP NINE - Initiation An initiation should be something that's meaningful to you. The ritual should be written only by you. A coven initiation is a means of bonding a group together. Initiation into the craft should always be a solitary ritual.
You still have to learn and practice. If you truly want to be a witch be prepared to spend the rest of your life studying and learning about this religion.
THE WITCH
YOU KNOW HER.
SHE BECKONS YOU WITH ONE CROOKED FINGER.
IN THE OTHER HAND, SHE HOLDS A POISONED APPLE. fROM THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL OF NIGHTMARES, FROM THE BACK OF THE INHABITED CLOSET WHERE THE MOTHBALLS BREATHE AND THE DUST DANCES, FROM BEHIND THE WALL SHE WALKED THROUGH, FROM INSIDE THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE SHE BUILT WITH HER RECIPES AND SPELLS, SHE WARNS YOU OF THAT FAIRY TALE WORLD WCHICH INTERCONNECTS WITH OURS IN SECRET, UNEXPECTED PLACES.
YOU MAY, UNWITTINGLY, FALL IN.
SHE IS THE WITCH.
YOU KNOW HER, YET YOU DO NOT KNOW HER. SHE HAS BEEN WITH YOU ALWAYS, YET SHE ELUDES YOU. SHE IS YOUR MOTHER, YOUR SISTER, YOUR INNERMOST SELF. YOU LOVE HER AND YOU FEAR HER. YOU HASTE HER BUT ARE DRAWN TO HER. SHE IS MORE BEAUTIFUL AND MORE UGLIER THAN YOU DREAM. SHE IS A CHIMERA, YET SHE IS REAL. SHE LOVES YOU.
SHE CONTROLS LOVE, DEATH, FERTILITY, AND THE WEATHER-BUT SHE WILL NOT SHARE HER POWER WITH YOU FOR LESS THAN THE PLEDGE OF YOUR MORTAL LIFE.
SHE IS THE WITCH.
YOU WISH YOU WERE SHE.
WHAT IS MY DEFINITION OF A WITCH?
ARE YOU ONE?
A WITCH IS ONE WHO ATTRACTS AND MANIPULATES UNSEEN FORCES.
SHE GAINS ENERGY FROM STORMS, SHE KNOWS ANOTHER WITCH AT SITE.
SHE IS POWERFUL ALONE, YET AWESOME WITH A COVEN.
SHE FEELS COLORS.
SHE PREDICTS.
SHE IS WITCH.
WHAT IS THE WITCHES HERITAGE?
HER GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT ANCESTRESS IS ISHTAR-DIANA, DEMETER. HER FATHER IS MAN. HER MIDWIFE, HIS FEARS. HER EXECUTIONER, HIS FEARS. HER MALIGNANT POWER, HIS FEARS. HER HEALING POWER, HER OWN.
LET US SHINE THE LIGHT ON HER AWHILE..LET US MAKE HER STAY.
The Law of the Power
The Power shall not be used to bring harm, to injure or control others. But if the need rises, the Power shall be used to protect your life or the lives of others.
The Power is used only as need dictates.
The Power can be used for your own gain, as long as by doing so you harm none.
It is unwise to accept money for the use of the Power, for it quickly controls its taker. Be not as those of other religions.
Use not the Power for prideful gain, for such cheapens the mysteries of Wicca & magick.
Ever remember that the Power is the sacred gift of the Goddess & God, & should never be misused or abused.
And this is the law of the Power.
Misconceptions about Witches
Witches do not do evil - They believe that doing evil and harm is against all ethical and moral laws. Furthermore, Witchcraft tells us "An ye harm none (not even yourself), do what ye will."
Witches DO NOT worship Satan - Simply put: He's Their Boy... NOT Ours! Witches do not have a Satan/Devil or any all-evil deity in their religious structure. Witchcraft is a religion that underscores polarity and views the God and the Goddess as equal entities.
A Male Witch is not a Warlock - The word Warlock is a Scottish word meaning "oath breaker", and became a term designating a male Witch during the "burning times". A Male Witch is simply that.
Witches wear clothing of every color and every style - Many Witches do choose to wear black clothing or ritual robes. The color black is the culmination of all vibrational rates of light on the material plane. Black absorbs light, information and helps Witches be more receptive to psychic impressions and energies.
Witches come from every socio-economic and ethnic background - Many Witches are professional people holding positions of responsibility such as Doctors, Nurses, Police Officers, Teachers etc. Witchcraft does not discriminate against color or ethnic origin and does view everything as equal in the eyes of the Goddess and the God.
Witches do use Spells - A spell is a thought, a projection, or a prayer. Other religions use prayer, meditation, projection and ritual to produce an intended result. The word "spell" does not imply doing evil or harm. Witches do use Magic Wands - Often you see the use of magic wands in children's cartoons and movies making the idea seem frivolous. In actuality they are used in healing for directing energy.
Witches do use Witchcraft as a science, an art and a religion - They use their knowledge and magic in harmony with the Universe and Nature around them.
The word "Witch" has a deep and rich history - As defined by the English Oxford dictionary "Witchcraft" is a Celtic (pronounced Kell-tick) word meaning the wise, good people. "Wicce" (wick-kay) designates a female Witch whereas "Wicca" (wick-kah) designates a male Witch.
In the religion of Witchcraft we view the pentacle as an amulet and a symbol for protection - The five-pointed star represents the human body and the earth. In combination, the star surrounded by the circle represents the human body encompassed by the protection of the Goddess/God force. The pentacle is the symbol for Universal Wisdom.
Witches do concern themselves with ecology - They have never forgotten this basic fact: the world is not our enemy. Neither is it inert, dumb matter. The earth and all living things share the same life-force. They are composed of patterns of intelligence, of knowledge, and of divinity. all life is a web. We are woven into it as sisters and brothers of All. Witches need to be grounded in both worlds and awake to their responsibilities for both worlds. It is only by being responsible human beings that we can be responsible Witches and only responsible Witches will survive.
Blessed be...Rowan of the Glen
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