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Wednesday 27 December 2006

The Moon Magic

The Moon Magic Cover The moon, along with its phases and energies and symbols, possess a strong influence over all rites of magick in witchcraft, from times of old to present day. To perform successful magick, it is somewhat important to always work in harmony with the moon and her different phases.

New Moon: The new moon is a time for healing and growth. This is a great time for new projects and ideas. It appears as a crescent moon.

Waxing Moon: This is when the moon is growing from the crescent moon to the full moon, this phase lasts for 14 days and is symbolic of all new things. New beginnings in love, work, school, health and ideas. The waxing moon corresponds to the Maiden (also warrior and virgin) aspect of the Triple Goddess, and is the proper time for performing rituals in honor of her. It is also the appropriate time to perform spells and rituals involving all forms of growth, strengthening, and the increasing of things such as love, good luck, money, health, etc...

Full Moon: This phase lasts for 6 days, 3 days before the full moon and 3 days after the full moon. The energy of a full moon increases a witch's psychic powers, so therefore the full moon is said to be the most favorable time of all to perform Divinations as well as spells and rituals that can increase psychic abilities and induce dreams that can tell the future and the unknown.
The full moon corresponds to the Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess, making it a very powerful phase for working with all forms of fertility magick. The moon has been associated with female fertility since the earliest of times and it was once believed that if a woman desired children, she could simply sleep under the silvery white light of a full moon and become magickally impregnated by a moonbeam. Full moons also enhance the power of spells that involve sensuality, creativity and nurturing.

Waning Moon: This is when the moon is shrinking from full to new, this phase lasts for 14 days. The waxing moon corresponds to the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess and is the proper lunar phase in which to honor her. This is also the correct time to reverse spells, decrease, banish and destroy things such as diseases, addictions and bad luck.
Crone honoring rites are traditionally performed at this time as this is the time of the month when the powers are at their greatest. The Crone represents maturity of wisdom, Spiritual Peace, a time of endings that are leading to new beginnings and death that brings forth new life.

Dark Moon: The Dark Moon occurs three days before the New moon. It is not visible in the sky, hence its name. Traditionally, no magick is performed at this time.

Downloadable books (free):

Melita Denning - The Foundations Of High Magick
Joseph Ennemoser - The History Of Magic Vol 2
Arthur Edward Waite - The Book Of Ceremonial Magic
Daniel Defoe - A System Of Magic

Thursday 21 December 2006

Basic Principles Of The Craft

Basic Principles Of The Craft Cover

Book: Basic Principles Of The Craft by Anonymous

The Craft (Witchcraft - NOT to be confused with Satanism. A true witch has nothing to do with this, even though there are some Satanists who (unrightfully) call themselves "Witch".) contains a large number of groups with bonds to each other, for the most part, which are looser than those you will find between Christian churches. Each has it's own traditions, it's own beliefs, it's own panthion, etc. So just WHAT is it that, overall, a Witch believes in? The American Council of Witches was formed to determine what it was that all Witches have in common, belief-wise. In the early 1970's, a paper was released with their findings, and gives a good overall picture of it. The following is the text of that paper.

Download Anonymous's eBook: Basic Principles Of The Craft

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Reginald Scot - The Discoverie Of Witchcraft
Greg Wotton - Basic Theories On Sex Magic
Anonymous - Basic Technologies Of Witchcraft
Anonymous - Basic Principles Of The Craft

Saturday 16 December 2006

Magic And Mystery A Popular History

Magic And Mystery A Popular History Cover

Book: Magic And Mystery A Popular History by Alfred Thompson

Superstition in a nation depends very much upon climate, temperament, religion, and occupation. Notions entertained of supernatural beings or things, though generally based upon one broad feature common to all countries, differ so essentially respecting the form, character, habits, and powers of these beings that they appear to have been drawn from sources widely removed. The advance of knowledge and the truths of evolution have almost convinced us that belief in the supernatural (unrevealed) is nothing but the creation of the human brain, impressed upon the imagination of our Ancestors at periods when such impressions were likely to be strong and permanent, and transmitted within the ironbound certainty of the laws of heredity. Legends have forever been beheld through different prejudices and impressions. They have constantly changed with the media and vistas through which they have been viewed. Hence their different shape, character, and attributes in different countries, and the frequent absence of rational analogy with respect to them even in the same.

Download Alfred Thompson's eBook: Magic And Mystery A Popular History

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

George Moir - Magic And Witchcraft
Carroll Runyon - Magick And Hypnosis
Alfred Thompson - Magic And Mystery A Popular History

Wednesday 6 December 2006

Grimoire For The Green Witch A Complete Book Of Shadows

Grimoire For The Green Witch A Complete Book Of Shadows Cover

Book: Grimoire For The Green Witch A Complete Book Of Shadows by Ann Moura

The author of the popular Green Witchcraft series presents her personal Book of Shadows, designed for you to use just as she uses it-as a working guide to ritual, spells, and divination. This ready-made, authentic grimoire is based on family tradition and actual magical experience, and is easily adaptable to any tradition of Witchcraft.

This is an excellent compendium of basic (non-Gardnerian, non-trad) wiccan/ witch ritual, theology and symbology. I believe it will be especially helpful for solitary (that is, not aligned with a coven or other group) pagans who are further along their paths than absolute beginners - people who need access to well-organized, non-fluffy material to bolster their personal practice. It would probably be a bit overwhelming for beginners, but that's not a bad thing as there are already too many beginning pagan books and not enough intermediate and advanced.

One of the most attractive qualities about Moura's writing is that she makes no extravagent claims of ancient lineage and she doesn't attempt to distort history to fit her version of the Craft; many Llewellyn books in the past have been rendered nearly useless by this tendency. The material is offered as neutrally as can be, and therefore it is easily adaptable for an individual's tastes and beliefs.

Is it just me, or is the overall quality of pagan books going up recently? Kudos to Llewellyn for finally putting out a quality witchcraft reference!
Grimoire for the Green Witch offers a treasury of magical information- rituals for Esbats and Sabbats, correspondences, circle-casting techniques, sigils, symbols, recitations, spells, teas, oils, baths, and divinations. Every aspect of Craft practice is addressed, from the purely magical to the personally spiritual. It is a distillation of Green practice, with room for growth and new inspiration.

It is extremely thorough, well written as a ritual and spell book, and NOT a teaching book at all. If you are looking for a teaching book, get "Green Witchcraft III." This is the compilation of all the rituals and magical work from her earlier books, all written out and put into one manual. They are easy to find, easy to follow, flow together very well, and she includes a ton of extra information so it is right at your fingertips. No more hunting around and thinking "Where did I read that??" You will LOVE this book!

Born in 1947 and raised in a family oral tradition of at least three generations, Ann Moura began writing about her heritage as a Green Witch in 1993 when her mother passed away. Her maternal heritage is Brazilian/Celtic-Iberian through her mother and grandmother. From them she learned folk magics and Craft concepts that included Rules of Conduct, spiritism, herbal spells, candle magics, reincarnation belief, calling upon the Elementals, and working with “The Power.”Ann holds both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in History and writes from the perspective of her personal experience and family training. Her books are sold internationally in English, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and Russian. Ann is the author of Green Witchcraft: Folk Magic, Fairy Lore, & Herb Craft, Green Witchcraft II: Balancing Light & Shadow, Green Witchcraft III: The Manual, Green Magic: The Sacred Connection to Nature, Grimoire for the Green Witch: A Complete Book of Shadows, and Tarot for the Green Witch.

Find Ann Moura's book in amazon.com:
Grimoire For The Green Witch A Complete Book Of Shadows

Tags: zohar zuta  lectures witchcraft comprising  obeahs witchcraft  pact illuminnates  translation maleficarum  haute magie doctrine  

Sunday 3 December 2006

Solitary Witch The Ultimate Book Of Shadows For The New Generation

Solitary Witch The Ultimate Book Of Shadows For The New Generation Cover

Book: Solitary Witch The Ultimate Book Of Shadows For The New Generation by Silver Ravenwolf

INDEED! This is the ULTIMATE book of shadows! This book has everything a teen Witch could want and need between two covers: a magickal cookbook, encyclopedia, dictionary, and grimoire. It relates specifically to today's young adults and their concerns, yet is grounded in the magickal work of centuries past. This is an encyclopedia/dictionary of terms, ideas, celebrations, rituals and witchcraft in the Tradition of Silver Ravenwolf. She has put together a massive handbook for those who follow her path, and it is just a huge undertaking on her part.

The book is put together in five parts, covering 'Shadows of Religion & Mystery', 'Shadows of Objects and Tools', 'Shadows of Expertise & Proficiency', 'Shadows of Magick & Enchantment' and 'Shadows of Magick and Real Life'. Each section covers elements of the craft and discusses them in modern terms.

Information is arranged alphabetically and divided into five distinct categories: (1) Shadows of Religion and Mystery, (2) Shadows of Objects, (3) Shadows of Expertise and Proficiency, (4) Shadows of Magick and Enchantment, and (5) Shadows of Daily Life. It is organized so readers can skip over the parts they already know, or read each section in alphabetical order.

This is Silver Ravenwolf's Tradition and her version of the Craft. "Cakes and Ale" are described as "Communion" and Angels are included in "Spirit Guides". All the material echoes her previous works and is meant for the individual who follows this particular path.

Her approach in this huge work is to provide the Solitary practitioner with reference material to help them along on their spiritual journey. She has gone into great detail, amassing a huge volume of work. The work includes a good table of contents, a bibliography, and is indexed.

It is comprehensive, in depth and gives one profound insight into The Craft. Silver writes with her usual humor, sincerity and groundedness. As a purveyor of many different "Books of Shadows", and other Pagan and Wiccan authors, I give this one a A++. She goes into depth on many, mnay subjects related to the Craft. It is deep, yet understandable and not at all "wu-wu." The only thing I can't understand is why people think it's mainly for the younger generation. I'm 51 and very well read and I found this masterpiece truly enlightening!

Silver RavenWolf (Pennsylvania) is a nationally recognized leader and elder of Wicca, and through her writing has been instrumental in guiding the future of one of the fastest-growing faiths in America today. The author of seventeen books, she has been interviewed by The New York Times, Newsweek Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal, and her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Bust Magazine, the Baltimore Sun, the St. Petersburg Times, the National Review, Publishers Weekly, Body & Soul Magazine, and Teen Lit Magazine. Her many titles include the bestselling Solitary Witch, Teen Witch, To Ride A Silver Broomstick, To Stir A Magick Cauldron, To Light A Sacred Flame, American Folk Magick, Angels: Companions in Magick, Silver’s Spells for Prosperity, Silver's Spells for Protection, Silver's Spells for Love, Halloween, and the Witches’ Night Out teen fiction series.

Many thanks, kudos and blessings to Silver for helping us all on our individual and sometimes lonely paths!

Buy Silver Ravenwolf's book: Solitary Witch The Ultimate Book Of Shadows For The New Generation

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Michal Jerabek - The Book Of Enoch Vol V The Epistle Of Enoch
Solomonic Grimoires - Lemegeton Ii The Lesser Key Of Solomon Theurgia Goetia
Sekhet Sophia - The Alexandrian Book Of Shadows
Pamela Ball - The Ultimate Book Of Spells.pdf
Michael Ford - The Witch Cult Of Zos Vel Thanatos

Monday 20 November 2006

The Pagan Book Of Days A Guide To The Festivals Traditions And Sacred Days Of The Year

The Pagan Book Of Days A Guide To The Festivals Traditions And Sacred Days Of The Year Cover

Book: The Pagan Book Of Days A Guide To The Festivals Traditions And Sacred Days Of The Year by Nigel Pennick

How absolutely fascinating. Two reviewers rate this book lower that they would have if the author had been of their religious preference for that reason alone and consider the author's religious preference a 'drawback'. No denial of the source of these "Christian" holidays, just lower ratings. Mr Pennick's brilliant-as-usual scholarship and fact-finding are of no consequence, just that unsurmountable fact that his religious preference isn't their own. Oddly, both reviewers are from California and both misspell Halloween in the same way, making me speculate that they are in fact the same person....

Beautiful tapping into Celtic, Roman, Egyptian, and other cultural traditions, Nigel Pennick explores the individual significance of almost every day of the year. Pennick reveals some of the mechanics, such as moon phases and equinoxes, underlying many important holidays, and he breaks the year into seasons, months, and even hours, offering a peek into the importance of even the smaller divisions of the year.

Nigel Pennick has produced a stunning little calendar filled with facts, annecdotes, and information useful to all. Extensively researched, cunningly illustrated, the Pagan Book of Days is bound to delight Pagans, scholars, the curious, and the general reader equally. A slim volume, it provokes thought by merely presenting a few simple facts. The curious will go on, the knowledgeable will smile in recognition, and the others will have gained a bit of lore they previously didn't have. (Did you know the grotto at Lourdes was a pagan shrine before the miracle of the "Blessed Mother's" appearance?)

Frankly, if more non-pagans read books of this sort and came to the stunning realization that the vast majority of their holidays were 'borrowed' from pre-Christian European beliefs and rituals, then we pagans would possibly experience less hostility and labeling of 'devil-worshipper' (my hopes however aren't high). Mr Pennick has authored another fine book that will educate readers without resorting to petty attacks upon the religious preferences of others, just good solid scholarship and the presentation of facts in an engaging text and accompanied by delightful illustrations. A fine job!

Find Nigel Pennick's book in amazon.com:
The Pagan Book Of Days A Guide To The Festivals Traditions And Sacred Days Of The Year

Suggested ebooks:

Tim Hartridge - Witches Workshop Handbook A Short Guide To Participation In The Workshop Part I
Michael De Molinos - The Spiritual Guide The Rich Treasure Of Internal Peace
Sharynne Nicmacha - The Star Of Life A Historical And Spiritual History Of The Pentagram

Wednesday 15 November 2006

The Censer

The Censer Cover
The censer, or incense burner, represents the element of Air. It can be a big, swinging metal contraption like those used in churches or it can be as simple as a small wooden one. You can use both the stick holders and the metal ones for powdered incense. If you can't find a suitable censer, a bowl filled with sand, salt or kitty litter works fine. The sand or salt absorbs the heat from the charcoal, or incense sticks or cones can be pushed into it. I find that incense greatly increases my concentration and is especially useful in meditations

Free e-books (can be downloaded):

Howard Phillips Lovecraft - The Temple
Howard Phillips Lovecraft - The Outsider
Howard Phillips Lovecraft - The Tree

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Sunday 12 November 2006

What The Wiccan Rede Means To Me

What The Wiccan Rede Means To Me Cover
The word Rede comes from Old English and it means a guide or advice. The Wiccan Rede is the principle by which many Wiccans live their lives, but it is not an immutable cosmic law, rather it is a guide by which to live, if you so choose. Humans are born with the gift of free will, and all have the freedom of choice in how they exercise that will.

The exact origin of the Wiccan Rede is uncertain. According to Gerald Gardner, the Rede is derived from the legendary Good King Paulsole, who declared, “Do what you like, so long as you harm no one.” and apparently was adhered to by a successive generation of witches. It has also been claimed that the Rede has its origin, at least in part, in the writings of Aleister Crowley, Lady Gwen Thompson, Francois Rabelais, and many others---though these claims have been disputed. Suffice it to say, the origin of the Rede cannot be clearly defined.

The Wiccan Rede has been a somewhat controversial subject among Wiccans, Witches, and Pagans. Some have theorized that the Rede’s true purpose was to assist in making modern witchcraft more acceptable to the public. Because the Rede is a concept that was generally believed to have been written by a living person rather than a strict commandment from a deity, it is not generally given the same weight as laws in other religions, such as the Ten Commandments.

Generally, witches do not believe that they should use their powers to interfere with another’s free will. They believe that it is unethical to use magick to harm or manipulate others in any way. Many witches believe that the Rede prevents them from casting spells on others without that person’s permission---even healing spells. This interpretation seems extreme, for it means that spells should not be cast against wrong doers—a witch could make no effort to stop a rapist, or murderer magickally because they would be interfering with that person’s free will. Conservative witches argue that they can instead cast spells to protect victims. Often witches get around the issue by casting binding spells, that is, spells aimed to prevent evil.

In the old craft laws, witches were taught that they could not attack another person maliciously; however, they have every right to protect and defend themselves if the necessity arose and to do so in a manner that they feel would most efficiently get the job done. Some witches practice cursing or other manipulative spells when they feel that it is warranted, but they do so with the knowledge that they must accept the consequences of their actions and keep quiet about their work. The poetic version of the Wiccan Rede states, in part, “Live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.” To me this means that in the course of my life, that I should attempt to be fair with others and exercise patience as well as to resolve my problems with others on a mundane level, but should the time come when I feel the need to use magick against another individual, then I should let the punishment fit the crime.

For example, as much as we want to murder that person who cuts us off in traffic and exceeds the speed limit endangering others on the road that would be over-kill. However, in this instance it wouldn’t be uncalled for to magically ensure that that person gets detained by the authorities, their license suspended, or at the very least, get ticketed.

Another area of concern in magick circles is that of casting love spells. Generally speaking, casting spells to bring “an appropriate lover” to yourself are considered not harmful, as you are asking the universe to send someone to you who is compatible and who would be accepting of your attention and interest and who would return your affection in kind. However, many witches feel that casting spells to cause a specific person to fall in love with you to be inappropriate and a violation of the Wiccan Rede. However, it is my belief that casting a love spell is no more manipulative than having good hygiene, wearing enticing cologne, dressing to accentuate your physical form, or even flirting! In the same manner, casting a spell to get a specific job is no more wrong than dressing the part and presenting yourself as having the right attitude and qualifications for that job.

The Wiccan Rede is often cited along with the Threefold Law. Whereas the Rede provides us with a guide for living an ethical life, the Threefold Law represents the consequences of straying from the Rede. The Threefold Law says that an action is not returned in equal measure, but rather will be magnified three times, which defies the laws of physics. I personally do not believe in the Threefold Law, in this respect. Wicca, as a religion which draws its teachings from nature itself, should therefore reflect the law of nature. Science tells us that every action has an equal or opposite reaction. An object propelled upwards will descend at the same rate of speed at which it climbed. Therefore, I believe that “what is sent, comes back” in equal measure.

In summation, I believe that the Wiccan Rede to be an idealistic guide to the way in which a person can live their life. As humans, we have free will and we will not always exercise that will in accordance with the Wiccan Rede. The Wiccan Rede empowers me to find and pursue my true will, and it is not an excuse for inaction, or to be the world’s dormat. I believe that magick is a means to an end and that it is no more manipulative than other means that are used by those who do not use magick. I believe in treating people with fairness and consideration and in attempting to resolve my problems with others on a mundane level before resorting to magick. I have the right to protect and defend myself from harm, and I have a choice in how I will protect myself. When I choose to invoke the forces of magick against those that have or have attempted to bring my harm, or who are a threat to me and my well being, I choose to let the punishment fit the crime. If I violate the Rede, I do so with the knowledge that what I send out will eventually return to be in equal measure, not magnified thrice over. And this is what the Wiccan Rede means to me.

Free e-books (can be downloaded):

Howard Phillips Lovecraft - What The Moon Brings
Anonymous - What Is Wicca Article 2

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Sunday 29 October 2006

Pagan And Christian Creeds Their Origin And Meaning

Pagan And Christian Creeds Their Origin And Meaning Cover

Book: Pagan And Christian Creeds Their Origin And Meaning by Edward Carpenter

This book provides a systematic and logical approach to the origins of religion. Many common themes are shown to exist between Christianity and earlier Pagan religions that go back in time centuries before Christianity itself. Carpenter makes an effort to get to the very roots of religion in this book. He's trying to uncover where our religious concepts first originated, and reveals an evolutionary sequence which starts with phallic and procreative cults as having the earliest known impact. Following this came a cult of magic, much along the lines of Frazier's The Golden Bough, where spirits and earth divinities were worshipped. Lastly, came the belief in actual God-figures that came down from heaven. A big part of early religion also concerns the Consciousness of man, which Carpenter divides into three stages. Simple consciousness was when man's mind was instinctive and similar to that of the animal, followed by self consciousness which is generally found today. Lastly, and most importantly, Carpenter mentions a third type of consciousness found in many of the rites and beliefs of ancient religions, but which we seem to have lost today. He considers this form of consciousness "unnamed," but provides an Appendix on the doctrines of the Upanishads which, he says, at least gives us an idea Concerning this third stage of consciousness and the mental attitude required. Only here, in this higher stage that we've been striving for, are the real facts of the inner life found.

Edward Carpenter (1844-1929) was a well-regarded English poet and scholar. He studied at Brighton College and then entered Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Carpenter was close friend to E. M. Forster and Laurence Houseman and was a member of The Fabian Society.

Download Edward Carpenter's eBook: Pagan And Christian Creeds Their Origin And Meaning

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Hargrave Jennings - The Rosicrucians Their Rites And Mysteries
Rowan Moonstone - Pagan History The Origins Of Halloween
Joanne Pearson - Wicca And The Christian Heritage Ritual Sex And Magic
Rodolfo Amadeo Lanciani - Pagan And Christian Rome
Edward Carpenter - Pagan And Christian Creeds Their Origin And Meaning

Friday 27 October 2006

A Collection Of Rare And Curious Tracts On Witchcraft And The Second Sight

A Collection Of Rare And Curious Tracts On Witchcraft And The Second Sight Cover

Book: A Collection Of Rare And Curious Tracts On Witchcraft And The Second Sight by David Webster

This volume according to John Ferguson in his "Bibliographical Notes on the Witchcraft Literature of Scotland" (Edinburgh, 1896-97) "is one of the best of the reprints of Rare Witchcraft tracts." (See Lea, note p.1331).

Contains:

- An Original essay on witchcraft
- News from Scotland declaring the damnable life of Doctor Fian a notable sorcerer
- Account of the foregoing transactions extracted from Sir James Melvil"s memoires
- Extracts from King James"s Daemonology
- An Answer of a letter from a gentleman in fiefe
- An Account of a horrid and barbarous murder
- A Just reproof to the false reports and unjust calumnies, in the foregoing letters
- A Copy of the indictment of the witches at Borrowstouness
- The Confessions of Helen Taylor in Eyemouth
- The Disposition of Memie Halaburtoun
- The declaration of John Kincaid
- The Trial of William Coke and Alison Dick, for witchcraft
- Minutes and proceedings of the session of Torryburn, in Fifeshire, concerning witchcraft
- A Discourse concerning second sight.

Download David Webster's eBook: A Collection Of Rare And Curious Tracts On Witchcraft And The Second Sight

Downloadable books (free):

Raisa Maria Toivo - Women At Stake Interpretations Of Women Role In Witchcraft And Witch Hunts
John Knott - Medicine And Witchcraft In The Days Of Sir Thomas Browne
John Stearne - A Confirmation And Discovery Of Witchcraft Ocr Version
David Webster - A Collection Of Rare And Curious Tracts On Witchcraft And The Second Sight

Monday 2 October 2006

Controlled By The Calendar The Pagan Origins Of Our Major Holidays

Controlled By The Calendar The Pagan Origins Of Our Major Holidays Cover

Book: Controlled By The Calendar The Pagan Origins Of Our Major Holidays by David Allen Rivera

The definitive book on the pagan origins of our major holidays, and how the
observance of them may be robbing you of spiritual fulfillment.

Contents of Book:

- How It All Started
- Valentine's Day– Is It A Christian Observance Or A Pagan Celebration?
- Easter– What Do Bunnies and Eggs Have To Do With Jesus
- Helloween– Halloween Unmasked
- Christmas Unwrapped– It's Not Cool To Yule
- Conclusion

Download David Allen Rivera's eBook: Controlled By The Calendar The Pagan Origins Of Our Major Holidays

Suggested ebooks:

George Robert Stowe Mead - Echoes From The Gnosis Vol I The Gnosis Of The Mind
David Allen Rivera - Controlled By The Calendar The Pagan Origins Of Our Major Holidays

Friday 29 September 2006

Banishing Ritual Of The Hexagram

Banishing Ritual Of The Hexagram Cover
1- Perform the Relaxation Ritual (RR) and the LBRP.
2- Face the east, your hands out to your sides and say "NRI Yud, Nun, Raish, Yud." This is the sign of Osiris slain.
3- Form an "L", look at your left hand, bow your head and say: "L. The sign of the mournings of Isis."
4- Form a "V", put your head back, look up and say: "V. The sign of Typhon and Apophis."
5- Form an "X", bow your head and say: "X. The sign of Osiris risen."
6- Form all three letters saying: "L. V. X. LUX". When you say the word "light" in the next sentence, you should spread your arms and look forward. Ten re-cross them as before and bow your head while saying meaningfully: "The light…of the Cross."
7- Return to your first position, arms out to your sides, looking forward. Say: "Virgo, Isis, mighty Mother, Scorpoi, Apophis, Destroyer. Sol, Osiris, Slain and Risen."
8- Slowly raise your arms into the "V" position again while slowly raising your head. As you do this, say: "Isis, Apophis, Osiris..."
9- By the time your hands reach the "V" position, you should be looking up. Vibrate: IAO (Pronounced: EEEEE – AAAAAHHHHH – OOOOOHHHHH).
10- take a few moments to revel in the light (LVX). Now, visualize the light drawing over your entire body. From you head, down to your feet. Say: "Let the Divine Light Descend." FEEL IT!!!
11- Go to the east, make a Hexagram of Fire in gold flame. Point to the center of the top triangles baseline and vibrate: "Ararita."
12- Carry a white line to the south. Make a Hexagram of Earth, point to the center and vibrate: "Araita."
13- Continue to the west carrying the white line. Make a Hexagram of Air, point to the common lines center and vibrate: "Ararita."
14- Continue to the north, carrying the white line. Make a Hexagram of Water, Vibrate: "Ararita."
15- Complete the circle and repeat the Kabalistic Cross from the LBRP.

Free e-books (can be downloaded):

Anonymous - The Supreme Banishing Ritual Of The Pentagram
Benjamin Rowe - A Ritual Of The Heptagram
Order Of The Golden Dawn - Lesser Banishing Ritual Of The Pentagram

Tags: after life  bewitched bothered  oils magic  moon magick  gardenerian wicca  samhain lore  religious mutt  wiccan scourge  analysis church religion  chaos magick  loagaeth mysteriorum sanctus  hermetics course instruction  science numerology hidden  

Wednesday 6 September 2006

The Founders Of Wicca In The United States

The Founders Of Wicca In The United States Cover Who are Gavin and Yvonne Frost?

Gavin Frost, BSc, PhD, DD

A Scorpio. After earning his doctorate in physics and mathematics from London University, Gavin entered the aerospace industry. It finally took him to Southern California, where he and Yvonne met in about 1966. Yvonne was a member of Mensa, the high IQ society, and a graduate of Fullerton JC.

When a shared interest in the occult and in alternative Spiritual Paths brought them together, they moved to St. Louis, MO, where they founded the Church and School of Wicca in 1968. At that time they started an occult Correspondence school teaching Witchcraft as a spiritual path, along with astral travel, sorcery, astrology, and psychic healing through the mails to a worldwide student body. The church earned its religious tax-exempt status in 1972. With the publication of The Witch's Bible and later The Magic Power of Witchcraft, the student body grew. They taught thousands of students the fundamentals of their Spiritual Philosophy.

Eventually the Church developed branch covens and churches across the United States. The actions of some of those covens led to a rigorous IRS investigation of the Church and the Frosts. The Frosts successfully proved that the Church was indeed a valid one. A further consequence of the investigations was a prisoner case and the federal appeals court ruling which again validated the Church and School (Dettmer v. Landon as referred to elsewhere on the site).

Although officially the Frosts are semi-retired, they continue to write books and to lecture at various pagan gatherings around the nation. Each year at Hallowe'en they can guarantee dozens of radio interviews and several TV appearances. This furthers the general population's interest in Wicca and de-demonizes it.

They have always been cutting-edge philosophers and have made no bones about sexual activity within covens. Their candor has alienated many "plastic" pagans and caused the Frosts to be controversial within the new-age metaphysical subculture. That controversy itself has generated many students coming to criticize who are then surprisingly convinced by what we teach rather than having their criticism find a base with what we teach.

Accomplishments

Founders of Wicca as a religion.
First articulators of a Wiccan spiritual philosophy.
Winning of federal recognition from both the IRS and federal appeals courts for the new religion of Wicca.
Authors of twenty-seven books articulating the spiritual beliefs of Wicca.
Teaching Wiccan beliefs to their tens of thousands of students worldwide.

Downloadable books (free):

Max Heindel - The Message Of The Stars
Julia Phillips - History Of Wicca In England
Margaret Alice Murray - The God Of The Witches
Samuel Gardner Drake - Annals Of Witchcraft In New England And Elsewhere In The United States
Hargrave Jennings - The Rosicrucians Their Rites And Mysteries

Tuesday 29 August 2006

Dictionary Of The Forgotten Ones

Dictionary Of The Forgotten Ones Cover

Book: Dictionary Of The Forgotten Ones by Anonymous

Rumour has it that the Forgotten Ones, the Faceless Ones ah la the Titans, breached human consciousness in the Twentieth Century. Various reasons could get given for this which would include the splitting of the atom, the development of nuclear science, our own evolutionary development or even the peculiarities of a double aeonic current (Horus/Maat) that some Practitioners of magic might consider in operation. These primal forces variously named The Forgotten Ones, the Elder Gods, the Great Old Ones, or the Ancient Ones, once got defined by the artist-magician Allen Holub as: "...The raw unnamed energies existing since the icy cold of the fabric of space emerged from nought. They pre-date the coming of space itself, and of time, from the aethers, although it can be said that they represent the process of formation itself..." "Outside the Circles of Time" K. Grant.

In an unpublished document entitled "The Keys of Aaton" a speaker notes the following: "...Mark well what I have said, for comes a day When dark things held in harness are revealed By Man's own curiosity, and blood Is multiplied with new and deadly fears. The Faceless Ones unlocked are not put out With weaponry or words that of a time Created access, yet we thread a door Beneath the nightmare with the Spinners' Line..."

The names of the Ancient Ones and the Elder Gods, the primal forces, have come from a variety of sources: notably from Chaldean, Sumerian, Assyrian, African and Egyptian, and from the realms of dream and vision and imagination. In the twentieth century, the fantasy writer H. P. Lovecraft provided material that eventually got researched by The Order of the Seven Rays in Haiti. Other writers have included Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, August Derleth and Robert Bloch.

This document makes the attempt to list some of the names and concepts associated with these most ancient primal forces albeit that this seems only the tip of a cosmic iceberg reaching through infinities. No differentiation gets made between the Elder Gods and the Ancient Ones, or the Great Old Ones, no bias towards better or worse. Perhaps these forces should ultimately get seen as beyond human comp rehension because we have limits and they do not. This dictionary also includes some created "demonic" forms associated with these Forgotten Ones, as well as terms that should provide insights into this realm of chaos.

Download Anonymous's eBook: Dictionary Of The Forgotten Ones

Downloadable books (free):

Chantepie De La Saussaye - The Religion Of The Teutons
Anonymous - Meditation Of The Four Magickal Weapons
Alfta Odinnsen - Alfta Dictionary Of Northern Lore
Michael Jordan - Dictionary Of Gods And Goddesses
Anonymous - Dictionary Of The Forgotten Ones

Sunday 27 August 2006

The Witch Tools 4 Jewerly

The Witch Tools 4 Jewerly Cover
Most Craft jewelry is made of silver because silver is considered to be sacred to the Goddess and is the metal astrologically representing the Moon. Although decorative, the jewelry also serves as symbolic protection, as in talismans and amulets, and for ritual purposes to focus energy. For this reason most Witches consecrate their jewelry before they wear it. Parapsychological experiments have shown siver to be an excellent conductor of psychic energies.

Necklace – usually a pentacle. Various grimoires, or books of spells make mention of necklaces with magickal properties. Some are quite simple, composed of seashells, acorns, seeds, and wood. Others are made of blue glass beads (of the sort worn even today thoughout the
Middle East as protection against the Evil Eye). Still others contain crescent moons, which are symbols of Diana, the goddess most often associated with the witch cult. It is customary for women witches to wear necklaces of some kind in Circle. Most men also wear talismans or pendants . These represent the ‘cycle of re-birth’.

The traditional priestess’s necklace is made with amber and/or jet. Apart from the amber-and-jet, the necklace can be anything that is felt to be suitable; for a woman, any favourite necklace, particularly if it is an a colour that fits the particular work or perhaps a Goddess symbol; for a man, a solar or Horned God symbol.

Pentagrams, ankhs, Eye of Horus, astrological signs, Yin-Yang symbols, etc. will also do.

Rings – a pentacle ring, etc.

Cuffs – (Bracelets) are given at Degree initiations (in some Traditions)

Crowns – are used only by High Priest and High Priestess and are symbolic of the deities. Modern witches often speak of witch crowns, made of a thin band of silver with a silver crescent moon at the front. In certain covens, the member known as the queen of the witches wears this (as well as the garter) to show her rank.

Watches – NO WATCHES!!

Garter – Used by the High Priestess only. It is worn on the upper left leg. Has one or more silver buckles on it. It is green and can be made from snake skin and lined with blue velvet. The garter as a symbol of shamanistic powers may go back to paleolithic times, for dancers who .seem. to be wearing garters are seen in cave paintings. Margaret Murray speculates that such apparently diverse things as the bride’s garter, the fairy garter conveying magickal poewers, and the Order of the Garter have a common heritage. If garters were symbols of magickal powers in prehistoric times, by medieval times they had also come to represent exalted worldly status. Perhaps the garter symbolized rank in the ancient witch cult, and mythic significance has led it to figure as a magickal amulet in all those
legends and fairy tles. Some writers specify that the garter be green leather, buckled in silver and lined with blue silk. Green is the fairy colour, associated with Robin Hood, the Green Man, and wood sprites. When a High Priestess has had another coven hive off from her own, she is entitled to add a second buckle to her garter and an additional buckle for each new one that hives off.

Girdle – is a wide belt worn by the High Priestess. It is set with specific healing stones.

Ankle Bracelet – worn on the right ankle is the symbol of a female elder.
Necklace of 40 Acorns – is worn by a third degree female witch, in some traditions.

***

Bibliography

Complete Book of Witchcraft - Buckland, Raymond; Llewellyn; 1987
Magic, An Occult Primer - Conway, David; Mayflower; 1972
What Witches Do - Farrar, Stewart; Pheonix; 1983
A Witches Bible Compleat - Farrar, Janet & Stewart; Magickal Childe; 1984
The Symbolic Weapons of Ritual Magic - Highfield, A.C.; Aquarian; 1983
Mastering Witchcraft - Huson, Paul ; Putnam; 1970
Witches - Jong, Erica; Granada Publishing; 1982
An ABC of Witchcraft - Past and Present - Valiente, Doreen;
Pheonix Publishing Co.; 1981
Positive Magic - Weinstein, Marion; Phoenix Publishing Co.; 1981

Books in PDF format to read:

Marion Crawford - The Witch Of Prague
John Musick - The Witch Of Salem

Tags: books on spirituality   magical occultism 1880  scented abdullah  john david chambers  complete maleficarum  

Sunday 13 August 2006

How To Put Up A Sleep Circle

How To Put Up A Sleep Circle Cover
Face the direction of the head of the bed. (Say it is at the North) With your fingers trace a Pentagram in the air. Turn to the East and repeat. Same with South and West. Using your mind, set each Pentagram in flames. With your fingers, trace a flaming line from each Pentagram, until you have four Pentagrams and a circle glowing around you. Connect North to South circling over and under you. Same with East and West. You are now enclosed in a globe of Pentagrams and lines that are glowing. This circle can be set up just around
your bed, or can be extended to include your house and property. It will dissipate by dawn and you can walk through it without causing problems if necessary (like to go to the bathroom).

This ritual is great for a lot of things besides just going to sleep :). It's a particularly powerful form of banishing/cleansing ritual both for an area and yourself.

Sleep circle:

Fifteen years' worth of students doing psychic stuff out there -- not a single one harmed while sleeping in a circle. Several were troubled when they forgot or neglected to circle the bed, tho...

Oh, for those of you severely into doggerel, it goes:

Conjure circle round the bed
Where I lay my weary head
That in its gold and silver light
I will spend a peaceful night.
So Mote It Be.

Free e-books (can be downloaded):

John Yarker - The Anglo Saxon Chronicle
Edward Smedley - The Occult Sciences
William Frederick Poole - Cotton Mather And Salem Witchcraft

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Ritual Of Casting Sacred Circle

Ritual Of Casting Sacred Circle Cover
Many times we are asked, "how do you cast a circle?" There are so many different ways that this can be done. Differs from each Tradition to the next. Even within our own Avaloian Tradition we make improvisions on this.

The main factor is to cast a sacred space. A space that separates this world from the other. A space that we ourselves make holy. And that is what is important. A space that you set aside from all else, to glorify and exalt. For you are the one casting, cleansing, purifying, and setting it aside from all else.

Before you cast, one should make sure of the intent of casting. Ask yourself why you are doing it. Once you have this the gathering is made easier. If you are doing this with a group of people One must be chosen to be the Lord or Lady. The Lord or Lady usually has one person who waits them. This is not to say the Lord or Lady is higher than they, but the fact that they shall be the God/dess incarnate. You may also do this solitary. Depending on the amount tending.

The Lord/Lady has the sword brought to them. All else are standing outside where the circle is to be cast. The Lord/Lady takes the sword and walk deosil (clockwise) around the space to be cast. The wait has a small bell with them. Beginning at the East, the sword, in a non-threatening manner, is raised. The wait rings the bell. All fill fall silent. Moving clockwise the Lord/Lady salute each direction. If there are four novices present each will stand to the directions as the Lord/Lady passes.

Lord/Lady: Let all those that wish to partake enter ye now ! (the bell is rung)

Everyone enters by stepping forward (no actual circle has been cast yet)

Wait: My Lord/Lady all those that wish to partake in this Magickal Rite are now present. I pray you, cast the Sacred Circle.

Lord/Lady: What thou doth sees makes here this night, shall be forever within this circle. So Mote It Be!

(When anyone speaks the So Mote It Be or Blessed Be, all shall repeat it)

Again at the East, the Lord/Lady takes the sword and draws within the ground or upon the floor the circle saying as the pass...

"I draw this magick circle let no evil or ill will cross its mark."

Once the Lord/Lady has reached the East again, They take the sword and place it upon the shoulders of the novice, and says..."be thou the guardian of this gate... I call I summon I stir oh ye spirits of Air, come forth now I pray thee and witness our Rite. So Mote It Be !" The Guardian answers: I am he/she the guardian, no evil or ill will shall pass by me, My Lord/Lady.

The Wait rings the bell

The Lord/Lady goes to each quarter and perform the same, on each guardian. The Wait will ring the bell as each guardian answers. Once the quarters are called the Lord/Lady goes to the center of the circle as the Wait performs the cleansing of the circle with salt and water.

Incense can be used instead of salt and water mixture. The Lord/Lady summons the spirit of the Great Lady and the Great Lord by saying....

Great Lady witness now your children who stand before you in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.

Standing East, with the censer the Lord/Lady says.... Great Maiden Come To Us.....
All repeat....
Standing South, with the torch or candle the Lord/Lady says....Great Mother Come To Us....

All repeat...

Standing West, with chalice of wine or water, the Lord/Lady says...Ancient Queen of Wisdom Come To Us....

All repeat...

Standing North, with the salt, the Lord/Lady says....Brother Come To Us...

All Repeat...

Drumming, rattles, any form of music making can be added to this. As you can take note there really isn't any particular God or Goddess called, this is the Avaloian Tradition. All Gods are one God, all Goddesses are one Goddess.

So there is the very basic beginnings of Magical Workings... you can take it from here..... Do What Thou Wilt, Save Harm None, Shall Be the Whole.

Bright Blessing...
Lord OberRon
Knight of the Sacred Light

Free e-books (can be downloaded):

Prentiss Tucker - In The Land Of The Living Dead
John Yarker - The Anglo Saxon Chronicle
Eliphas Levi - The Magic Ritual Of The Sanctum Regnum

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Wednesday 26 July 2006

History Of Western Magic

History Of Western Magic Cover

Book: History Of Western Magic by Borce Gjorgjievski

This short account (since a longer one would take many volumes) of the western traditions of Magic and Spirituality is intended to show a continuous development line of an uninterrupted magical thought in the Western World. We start five thousand years in the past when our ancestors just started to build the first cities (and built them well), and we end in the twentieth century with the techno-shamanism of the new cults. This story is about what happened in between ...

Download Borce Gjorgjievski's eBook: History Of Western Magic

Suggested ebooks:

Howard Phillips Lovecraft - History Of The Necronomicon
Borce Gjorgjievski - History Of Western Magic

Saturday 8 July 2006

Difficulties Combining Wicca And Christianity

Difficulties Combining Wicca And Christianity Cover The core difficulty -- beliefs in deity:

Merging the conflicting beliefs about deity found in two religions is often the main problem area in creating a syncretistic religion:

* Christian beliefs: Most contemporary Christians regard themselves as monotheists even as many Muslims and Jews regard Christians as polytheists. Christians believe in the Trinity: one deity composed of three persons: the Father God, his Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

The Bible, literally interpreted, describes "Wisdom" as a type of female Goddess who was also present at the creation of the universe. However, although she appears in many locations of the Bible, she does not play a significant role in most modern Christian faith groups.

* Wiccan belief: Wiccans believe in a duo theistic deity structure: a Goddess and a God. Further, the Goddess is viewed as having three aspects: Maiden, Mother and Crone, representing sexuality, fertility and wisdom.

At first glance, the beliefs of Wicca and Christianity concerning deity appear to be hopelessly in conflict. But some Wiccans have been able to harmonize Christian and Wiccan elements into a concept of a single deity or godhead with multiple aspects.

Other problems -- particularly among conservative Protestants:

Most Conservative Christians reject the concept that a Wiccan can be a Christian. 1 Some of the problem areas are:

* As noted in this section's menu under "quotes," many Christians believe that the Bible condemns Witchcraft. However, the practices that biblical passages -- in the original Hebrew and Greek -- condemn are actually:
o Females engaged in evil forms of sorcery that harm or kill people and/or animals, and
o Murderers who kill people through the use of poison.
Both practices are forbidden to Wiccans who are required by their Wiccan Rede to do no harm. Unfortunately, the terms "Witch" and "Witchcraft" have at least 18 different meanings. Some refer to evil harmful elements; others to a gentle, earth-based spiritual path. There is no general consensus of the meaning of the term "Witch" or "Witchcraft."

* Many conservative Christians define a Christian quite specifically. They include only an individual who has repented of their sins, trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and accepted certain core traditional Christian teachings. (e.g. the Trinity, Incarnation, resurrection of Jesus, virgin birth, heaven, hell, sin, salvation, original sin, the existence of Satan as a living entity, etc.) Many of these teachings are incompatible with Wiccan theology.

* Many conservative Christian denominations teach that women should not be in a position of power over a man, either in church, at work, or at home. Such a belief is totally at variance with Wiccan beliefs who generally believe in sexual equality and equal roles for males, females and intersexuals.

* Many, probably most, conservatives from a wide range of religions believe that homosexuality is an unnatural, abnormal, chosen, changeable and intrinsically sinful behavior no matter what the couple's relationship.

Most Wiccans disagree with these beliefs, and accept the findings of human sexuality researchers that a homosexual orientation is normal and natural for a minority of adults. Further, researchers have found that a sexual orientation is not chosen and - for almost all or all adults -- cannot be changed. Some regard a sexual practice as sinful if only it is unsafe, manipulative, coercive, or against a persons basic sexual orientation -- whether they have a heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual orientation.

* Many conservative Christians believe that various forms of divination are an integral part of Wicca. Since the Bible contains passages condemning many of the divination techniques which were in use in ancient times, they conclude that there is no room for Wiccan belief within Christianity.

They overlook that some forms of divination were condoned by the Bible. One was even used by temple priests. Also, while it is true that some Wiccans engage in divination, not all do. Divination is not part of the core theology of Wicca.

* Wiccans would have to abandon many traditional biblical teachings in order to consider themselves to be Christian. However, millions of Americans already reject major portions of the Bible, and still regard themselves as Christians. For example, progressive Christians generally reject certain themes and stories in the Bible as being profoundly immoral and not representing the Will of God. These might include: genocide, human slavery, transferring guilt and punishment from the guilty to the innocent, burning some hookers alive, whipping children with a rod, raping female prisoners of war, execution of non-virgin brides, executing people who work on the Sabbath, executing sexually active persons with a homosexual orientation, executing religious minorities, etc.

It is clear that a person cannot develop a synchronistic religion out of elements of Wicca and Christianity without first rejecting much of the content of the Bible and many historical Christian beliefs. This would exclude them from the conservative Christian fold in the same way that liberal Christians are considered to be non-Christian or sub-Christian by many religious conservatives.
A positive note: liberal Christians may accept a Christian/Wiccan syncretistic religion:

Among progressive Christians, the term Christian has generally been defined much more broadly. For example, some believers might accept as a Christian any person who holds Jesus in reverence, views him as the greatest of prophets, and tries to follow his teachings. Many Wiccans, other Neopagans, Humanists, Unitarian Universalists are able to harmonize their beliefs and practices with this definition.

Downloadable books (free):

Adolph Von Menzel - Historical And Literary Studies Pagan Jewish And Christian
Gordon Ireland - Faq On Wicca And Witchcraft And More
George Gifford - A Dialogue Concerning Witches And Witchcraftes
Al Selden Leif - 6 Questions On Wicca And Paganism

Saturday 24 June 2006

The Malleus Maleficarum Or The Witch Hammer

The Malleus Maleficarum Or The Witch Hammer Cover

Book: The Malleus Maleficarum Or The Witch Hammer by Heinrich Kramer

The Malleus Maleficarum (The Witch Hammer), first published in 1486, is arguably one of the most infamous books ever written, due primarily to its position and regard during the Middle Ages. It served as a guidebook for
Inquisitors during the Inquisition, and was designed to aid them in the identification, prosecution, and dispatching of Witches. It set forth, as well, many of the modern misconceptions and fears concerning witches and the
influence of witchcraft. The questions, definitions, and accusations it set forth in regard to witches, which were reinforced by its use during the Inquisition, came to be widely regarded as irrefutable truth. Those beliefs are held
even today by a majority of Christians in regard to practitioners of the modern “revived” religion of Witchcraft, or Wicca. And while the Malleus itself is largely unknown in modern times, its effects have proved long lasting.

At the time of the writing of The Malleus Maleficarum, there were many voices within the Christian community (scholars and theologians) who doubted the existence of witches and largely regarded such belief as mere superstition. The authors of the Malleus addressed those voices in no uncertain terms, stating: “Whether the Belief that there are such Beings as Witches is so Essential a Part of the Catholic Faith that Obstinacy to maintain the Opposite Opinion manifestly savours of Heresy.” The immediate, and lasting, popularity of the Malleus essentially silenced those voices. It made very real the threat of one being branded a heretic, simply by virtue of one's questioning of the existence of witches and, thus, the validity of the Inquisition. It set into the general Christian consciousness, for all time, a belief in the existence of witches as a real and valid threat to the Christian world. It is a belief which is held to this day.

Download Heinrich Kramer's eBook: The Malleus Maleficarum Or The Witch Hammer

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Pyotr Demianovich Ouspenskii - The Symbolism Of The Tarot
Anonymous - The Laws For Witches
Montague Summers - Malleus Maleficarum
Heinrich Kramer - The Malleus Maleficarum Or The Witch Hammer

Friday 23 June 2006

The Well Read Witch

The Well Read Witch Cover

Book: The Well Read Witch by Carl Mccolman

Here's help for anyone with a sincere interest in wiccan ways find the best books to read. With reviews of over four hundred books, this will be an essential handbook for anyone interested in reading about the magical world of Witchcraft-as well as related topics of interest to any Wiccan practitioner.

Informative introductory chapters provide a basic overview of Wiccan spirituality, as well as a thoughtful look at the role of the written word in this originally oral tradition. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced wiccan books are included, as are general books on paganism, magic, and Celtic spirituality. The author reviews books related to topics such as herbalism, mythology, environmentalism, psychic development, spiritual healing, and raising a family in the Wiccan tradition. All in all, the books highlighted make up a lifetime's worth of reading, for both beginning and seasoned Witches, as well as anyone else with an interest in nature spirituality.

Carl McColman has attempted to assemble a basic list of books which belong in the magickal library of every Wiccan or other modern witch. While he has included some books that I would have left out, and he has left out books that I would have included, on the whole, I would say that he has succeeded in his aim. I had always considered my personal magickal library to be fairly complete (absent those hard-to-locate or out-of-print books currently on my 'want' list,) but McColman's book suggested a number of other works I had not previously thought I needed to have on my shelves.

The book is divided into a number of sections and chapters. The initial section is introudctory: in it McColman discusses why he assembled the book, and how he perceives the importance of books to modern magickal practice. He also includes a chapter on how to read and think critically: a skill which these days seems to receive all too little emphasis in the Craft community. The meat of the book are the 31 chapters wherein McColman makes recommendations about specific books. The books he recommends are listed by title and by the author's name, and each listing is acompnied by one or two paragraphs explaining why McColman thinks the book important. The initial chapters cover introductory, intermediate, and advanced works on Wicca and paganism. These are then followed by chapters on a wide range of more specific topics. The last two chapters include a chapter on how to locate out-of-print books, and a chapter about useful Wiccan and pagan sites on the World-Wide Web. (In all honesty, it should be noted here that your reviewer is the High Priest of a coven whose Web site is listed in the book. Your reviewer discovered this fact only AFTER he had purchased the book.) The book ends with a complete listing of all of the books recommended, ordered alphabetically by author with full bibliographical information, and an index.

On the whole, I would recommend McColman's book as a good starting point for anyone seeking to assemble a serious magickal library.

Buy Carl Mccolman's book: The Well Read Witch

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Alfred Elton Van Vogt - The Witch
Anonymous - The Laws For Witches
Carl Mccolman - The Well Read Witch

Wednesday 21 June 2006

Spirited Taking Paganism Beyond The Circle

Spirited Taking Paganism Beyond The Circle Cover

Book: Spirited Taking Paganism Beyond The Circle by Gede Parma

Spirited is unlike any other Pagan or Wiccan book that I have read. I started reading with the mindset that it was going to be just like any other Pagan philosophy book. But I was wrong. Gede Parma writes Spirited with the intention that young Pagans (although I recommend this book for Pagans of all ages) can carry their spirituality wherever they go, and they should do so with pride. Packed with helpful hints and ideas, I recommend Spirited to any Pagan, young or old, advanced or beginning in their spiritual journey. This book is worth reading, keeping, and passing on.

Everyone has their own opinion and mine on this one is that it's fantastic! I'm a 21-year-old who tends to get bored with "text-book" like material. This wasn't like that at all. It kept my attention. I like how Gede put in Stories From other people. I may not be a teen anymore, but I still liked the book anyway.

Refreshingly real and practical, Spirited gets straight to the heart of Pagan living and Pagan spirituality today. Featuring real-life stories and first-hand experiences from the author and other young Pagans who've actually been there, this book gives you insight into the philosophy and spirituality of current Pagan rituals and practices. You'll get crucial advice on Witchcraft, spellcraft ethics, modern magic spells, coven and solitary work, magic theory and practice, dealing with Discrimination and negativity, and incorporating your spiritual beliefs into all the important areas of your life: Love,Sexuality,Family,Friends,School,Work.

Gede Parma (Australia) has been an active member of his local Pagan Community for years. He is an initiated priest of the WildWood Tradition of Witchcraft, a healer and seer, and a keen student of natural health and medicine. He is the descendant of diviners and spiritual healers and is of Balinese-Celtic heritage.

Buy Gede Parma's book: Spirited Taking Paganism Beyond The Circle

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Rabbi Michael Laitman - Attaining The Worlds Beyond
Peter Henry Emerson - Welsh Fairy Tales And Other Stories
Shri Gurudev Mahendranath - Notes On Pagan India
Anonymous - Satanic Pagan Calendars
Richard Roy - 13 Questions On Paganism And Wicca

Monday 5 June 2006

Wicca In History

Wicca In History Cover
Wiccans have been persecuted throughout the ages, as well as thousands of innocent people. The Salem Witch Trials were arguably the most well-known trials concerning witchcraft. So many innocent people died due to fear of the unknown. And why the dreadful fear of witchery? Power. People are afraid of someone having power over their lives. Yet witchcraft is not a religion based on power, nor does it try to seize control over or turn other people.

Witches and accused witches were persecuted for hundreds of years, until, in 1951, the law in England was rewritten because of a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald B. Gardner. While employed as a civil servant, he decided to declare his religious preference – Witchcraft. He demonstrated a ritual to the Parliament and explained the nature of his worship so they would realise that his religion was not about demons, destruction and sacrifice. Wicca was portrayed in its nature: the peaceful worship of the Goddess and the Horned God, equality in all living things. The Parliament declared Witchcraft a legal religion. In 1953, Gerald B. Gardner petitioned his right to coven, and that right was also declared legal.

Books in PDF format to read:

Anonymous - Witchcraft Dictionary
Gerald Gardner - Witchcraft Today

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