The Circle Within Creating A Wiccan Spiritual Tradition

Book: The Circle Within Creating A Wiccan Spiritual Tradition by Dianne Sylvan

The Circle Within is your guide to creating a personal Spiritual Practice for daily life. The first section is a thoughtful examination of Wiccan ethics and philosophy that explores how to truly live Wicca. The second section includes devotional prayers and rituals that provide inspiration for group or solitary practice.

Topics include: cultivating an ongoing personal relationship with deity, ethics and standards of behavior, concepts of sacred space, elements of a daily practice, tuning into the Wheel of the Year and the elements, and creating meaningful personal rituals. Move beyond the basics of Wicca and enter the sacred space of the circle within.

I've never written a review for Amazon.com, but had to do one for this book. I came across Dianne's website some time ago & was intrigued with her way of looking at Wicca. When I found out she'd published a book, I tracked it down & was even more profoundly moved by her observations. This is a woman who will make you THINK. There are many books I've read About Witchcraft & Wicca. Plenty of info on tools, quarter calls, the gods/goddesses, etc. But I found something missing in most of them. The most basic, essential thing of all: relationship with the Divine & how it affects your life on a very basic level. There were times during this book where I had to stop & say, "YES! YES!" Cheers for Ms. Sylvan for having the heart & drive to write this book & get it out to the public.

Also, I have to say that the litergy in this book is some of the most beautiful I have ever read. The chapter titled "The Book of Moonlight" is going to be used often in my practices.

Dianne Sylvan (Austin, TX) has been a practicing Wiccan since the age of sixteen. She is co-founder and President of Blessedways, a Wiccan educational and spiritual organization based out of Central Texas. Through Blessedways she teaches classes on Wicca, the Runes, spiritual magic, and ecstatic dance.

In addition to her books, Dianne's work has appeared in Circle Magazine, NewWitch magazine, and the Llewellyn Wicca Almanac and Witches' Calendar; she has also been interviewed by the Wiccan Pagan Times. More of her articles on living Wiccan spirituality can be found on her website, Dancing Down the Moon.

Buy Dianne Sylvan's book: The Circle Within Creating A Wiccan Spiritual Tradition

Downloadable books (free):

Michael Ford - Luciferian Witchcraft An Introduction
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Anonymous - Thelema A New Spiritual Tradition For A New Age

The Witchcraft Trial In Moscow

Book: The Witchcraft Trial In Moscow by Friedrich Adler

I predict that Behind the Moscow Trial will stand not only as a brilliant attempt to clarify the conftirm status of this particular trial, but also as a land in intelligent political pamphleteering in the American labor and revolutionary movement. I know of no other such w^ork w^ritten by an American in my time to match it for clarity, force, intelligence, and logic (JAMES T. FARRELL.)

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Magical Revival Occultism And The Culture Of Regeneration In Britain 1880 To 1929

Book: Magical Revival Occultism And The Culture Of Regeneration In Britain 1880 To 1929 by Jennifer Walters

This thesis is a cultural study of the Magical Revival that occurred in Britain, 1880-1929. Magical Revival denotes a period in the history of occultism, and the cultural history of Britain, during which an upsurge in interest in occult and magical ideas is marked by the emergence of newly-formed societies dedicated to the exploration of the occult, and into its bearing on life. Organisations discussed are the Theosophical Society, the Golden Dawn, and the less well known Astrum Argentum. ‘Magical Revival’ has further significance as the principal, but overlooked, aim of those societies and individuals was regeneration.

Scholarship on late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century occultism is influenced by a longstanding preference for the esoteric over the exoteric aspects of occultism. It has tended to emphasise themes of abstraction, the psychological, and the esoteric, and has promulgated a view of occultism as static and impervious. From the outset, however, this thesis argues that approaching the Magical Revival from the purview of the esoteric is limiting, and that it screens its own significant themes and affinities with mainstream culture. It suggests that what needs to be prepared is a study which reads occultism with a close attention to its own terms of engagement and description. This is the aim of this thesis.

The thesis offers a way of reading the occult activity of the period that privileges its exotericism. It seeks to pursue the links between an identifiable culture of occultism and conventional cultural discourses and activities towards an understanding of the movement as one actively constituting itself and producing, rather than obscuring, knowledge in relation to the social and cultural moment from which it arose. The occult topics and tendencies identified include evolution; Ceremonial Magic and astral travel; the body in occultism; and the nature of the occult experience. Others include the life and medical sciences; the philosophy of religion; and physical culture. The following questions underpin the thesis: In what ways did the Magical Revival connect with contemporary concerns? What does its activities, written records, literary and other material productions reveal about the nature of those connections? What does a closer attention to the textual and lived culture of the Magical Revival contribute to existing understanding of its place in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century culture?

In answering those questions the thesis proposes that, in its systematic identification and addressing of cultural and social needs, general and specific, the Magical Revival should be viewed as closer to the social mainstream than is presently appreciated. Moreover, that the occultists’ efforts towards individual and cultural regeneration, take place within a broader cultural movement away from social thought dominated by degeneration, towards thinking directed towards regeneration.

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Jennifer Walters - Magical Revival Occultism And The Culture Of Regeneration In Britain 1880 To 1929

Pagan Christianity Exploring The Roots Of Our Church Practices

Book: Pagan Christianity Exploring The Roots Of Our Church Practices by Frank Viola

Have you ever wondered why we Christians do what we do for church every Sunday morning? Why do we "dress up" for church? Why does the pastor preach a sermon each week? Why do we have pews, steeples, choirs, and seminaries? This volume reveals the startling truth: most of what Christians do in present-day churches is not rooted in the New Testament, but in pagan culture and rituals developed long after the death of the apostles. Coauthors Frank Viola and George Barna support their thesis with compelling historical evidence in the first-ever book to document the full story of modern Christian church practices.

"Frank Viola and George Barna have teamed up to create an intelligent, readable, and yet challenging work about the historical roots of the many unbiblical modern church practices that hinder Christian growth in quality and church growth in quantity. Anyone who reads Pagan Christianity with an open mind and heart will never see the church the same way again. May those with newly-gained spiritual eyes not stop there, but go on to do something about it."
Rad Zdero, Ph.D., Author of "The Global House Church Movement" and Editor of "Nexus: The World House Church Movement Reader."

"Frank has done a masterful job both researching and then weaving together the threads that have made modern church practices what they are - pagan substitutes for authentic church life. One nice thing about PAGAN CHRISTIANITY is that it provides the history behind a perception that many of us Christians share: The way the modern Western church does things has little to do with the organic life we see in the New Testament. The difference is so great sometimes that one wonders how one could possibly have transmuted into the other."
Hal Miller, author of "Christian Community: Biblical or Optional?"

"This is an important book which demonstrates that many of the practical aspects of contemporary church life, ministry and structure have little or no biblical basis and are, in fact, inspired by a wide variety of non Christian patterns and ideas most of which are inimical to Christian life and growth. Many readers will find this book challenging in the extreme but all who are concerned with the future of the church should read it."
Dave Norrington, Lecturer of religious studies at Blackpool and the Fylde College, author of "To Preach or Not to Preach."

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Welcome To Occult Community

The “occult” community is an almost meaningless term denoting the vast numbers of Neo-Pagans, traditional “practitioners,” ceremonial magicians, root workers, card readers, Vitki, Bokurs, exorcists, Brujas, Witches, Warlocks and all the other people who delve into the practice of magic. As America in particular and the West in general has become more accepting of these practices they have become almost mainstream and indeed in the case of Wicca, crystal workings and other practices they have become less part of the “occult’ and more a part of the watered down “New Age” movement that is the bane of true practitioners.

For the past few years I have seen that proficiency in magical practice, familiarity with the literature of the occult and the ability to discern legitimate rituals and techniques from online role playing and media inspired fads disturbingly rare. Today’s “Witch” is more likely to be familiar with organic vegan recipes than the recipe for making the love philters. Today’s Magician will be more apt to sulkily skip dinner and rail on the Internet about a person who has crossed them than resort to the infamous Black Fast. More people have read Twilight in our so-called community than have read Elizabeth Butler’s excellent introduction to the history of Western Magicians Ritual Magic.

When you do find people who claim to have actually practiced some form of the Art you’ll get wild tales of lightning bolts, levitation, or long-winded explanations about how “everything you do” is magic. And that’s if they believe at all; I’ve had more than one self-described Witch tell me rituals and spells didn’t work.

There was a time, my friends, when that Fraternity of Night called to a select few who, through painstaking research, long hours of studying and experimentation and the will to follow the path least tread, accumulate a few jealously guarded and (more importantly) effective spells that ended up scribbled in a journal and perhaps, if we were lucky, passed to trusted friends. But our own secretive nature and elitist mentality has created several new generations of unguided, unfocused and uninformed practitioners who do little but imperil themselves and those around them. For all our complaints it is we older generations, smug and separate, who have created the New Age by not being involved in it. Spell and Ritual is my small way of making up for the lack of leadership many of us have shown.

This will not be a place for moralizing, political debate or personal attacks. Spell and Ritual will only deal with the mechanics of magic and the literature you should be familiar with. Some of what we will be posting will be academic in origin, as this is an essential piece of a practitioner’s education which many people have missed out on. One cannot understand Necromancy, for example, if you are unfamiliar with the long history of Necromancy in Western civilization which is mainly preserved by classical scholars.

Spell and Ritual will not tolerate racism, sexism or any other -ism. There has been a movement among some young Witches to claim the African diaspora traditions (like Voodoo, Santeria, etc) are “evil” and there is quite a bit of bigotry experienced by Christian practitioners of the Arts. This is not acceptable here. Likewise, since I was very young, there has been considerable pressure put on male Witches (even non-Wiccans) to refrain from using the term Warlock. I myself prefer the term but this will not be open for debate. How people describe themselves and their practice will be respected here. That includes those that practice the Left Hand Path. We are not here to debate what is right and wrong, only what does and does not work.

Spell and Ritual is in the process of actively soliciting spells and rituals that people can verify as working, and we are glad to promote books, services, or Web sites that will be of interest to practitioners.

As a quick aside, I have always found the use of “Magick” instead of magic a bit pretentious. It irks me, but if you must, feel free.

This site will be, I hope, a resource for everyone. Please leave your politics and pettiness at the door and use this site to discuss and learn the Mysteries.

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When You Are Become A Witch

Technically, the first time you cast a spell of any kind you are a witch. This, in some aspects, is not too different than driving a car. For example, if you get behind the wheel of a car, start it, and hit the gas pedal, you are technically driving. Therefore you are a driver, regardless if you are a licensed driver or not. magick without study and practice can be like driving without a license. You would, technically, be a witch. Of course, like driving without knowing what you're doing, you can cause a lot more trouble than you suspect very quickly.

In this next section, I will be referring to Pagans in general. Remember, wiccans are Pagans, but not all Pagans are Wiccans.

Gods can be a tricky subject... But let me see if I can break it down a bit. Again, the beliefs I'm about to tell you apply to a large portion if Pagans, but not all.

The most basic god is the totality of everything. And I do mean everything. All mater, all concept, every single molecule, electron, thought and essence... "Everything that is." The totality includes us, and we are a part of it. It would not be the same without each and every person, and no person would be without being part of everything else. This brings us to the idea that we are really one with our world, each other, our pets, even our keyboard, the stars, everything. Also, being part of this totality is much of the basis of Magick. But we'll get to that later.

Ok, so we, as individuals, are part of a larger sum... In fact the entire Universe. The Universe may, or may not have a purpose (divine will). In fact, it'd be rather difficult to ever know if it did, because of the absolutely mind boggling expanse of the Universe. Nevertheless, some people claim to know what the Universe is up to (but I sure don't).

Now, because of the difficulty in talking about day to day things in context of absolutely everything, this concept is not used much except for in theological discussion, or in some magickal works. The human mind has a habit of breaking things up into smaller pieces to be handled.

From here, gods are pretty much open, honestly. A god is what you use to symbolize emotions or concepts when you need to concentrate on something. If you feel you are going to go into combat, you would concentrate on Mars (for example) to help prepare you for what lay ahead.

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A Historical Account Of The Belief In Witchcraft In Scotland

Book: A Historical Account Of The Belief In Witchcraft In Scotland by Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe

1884. Found in this volume is a historical account of witchcraft in Scotland, with chapters delineating various time periods up to AD 1465 through AD 1724. It is an introduction tracing the legends of wizardry and spectral appearances to the earliest periods of Scottish history. It is the best chronological and historical account of such matters in Scotland, and being strictly a monograph, independent from Law's "Memorialls" which Mr. Sharpe edited.

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A Charm To Gain Advantage Over A Stronger Person

This is a charm from The Long Lost Friend, the grimoire of Christian/Pennsylvania Dutch magic first appearing in the 1820s. It’s author, John George Hohman (or Hoffman depending on the publisher), was said to himself be a healer and folk-magic practitioner. Until recently the book was found mainly in religious stores that serviced Santeria or Voodoo practitioners. The book regained it’s popularity with occult publishing houses (no doubt because it’s exempt from copyright laws) and there are several versions of various quality available. I have heard good things about this Kindle edition.

This charm is an incantation used before confronting someone bigger than you if things may get physical. It needs no preparation or special tools except a practitioner who is in practice and can generate the energy and focus necessary for any magical operation. It’s aimed at a man in the book, but I suppose it will work just as well on a big, intimidating woman.

I (N.N.) breathe upon thee. Three Drops of blood I take from thee: the first out of thy heart, the other out of thy liver and the third out of thy vital powers; and in this I deprive thee of thy strength and manliness.

Hbbi Massa danti Lantien. I. I. I.

I copied this out of an old edition (Fulton religious Supplies) I’ve had for years and there may be slight variations in other editions. I have always assumed the final ‘I’s” were just spoken as it sounds, but some people have said it should be pronounced more like “EEEE” and others say it is a closing where a Christian may cross themselves. In most manuals the printers put a cross at the end of charms where you were expected to “cross” yourself but I suppose it’s possible this was a print mistake. But neither argument has ever swayed me. Do what feels right.

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Some Things To Look For And Avoid In Wiccan Covern

Here are some things to look for:

* People you can respect, trust and love.
* Good people. How could anyone be spiritual without being at least honest and kind?
* Authentic people - people who seem to live in accordance with the values they espouse. If they claim to be able to teach you Nature spirituality, do they live lightly on the Earth? If they claim to be able to teach you magic, do they seem to be grounded, centered and empowered?
* Competent people - people who seem knowledgeable and skilled, people who are organized, who keep their appointments and are well-prepared for their classes.
* People who listen. People who ask the kinds of questions that encourage you to explore your own spirituality and your own ideas and feelings about traditional lore. People who are genuinely open to learning from their students, as well as teaching them.
* People who will respect your confidences. People who will neither gossip nor use information you share to manipulate or hurt you.

and some things to avoid:

* Authoritarians - stay away from anyone who tries to censor your reading or to isolate you from family or friends. Beware of those who get irritated when you ask challenging questions. Be even more wary of anyone who, when you ask a difficult question, either ridicules you or patronizes you ("let your elders worry about that one, dear, your job right now is just to learn what we teach."). If anybody tries to forbid you to express your opinions in the presence of your elders, run screaming out the door. (all these things have happened)
* Sexual predators - unfortunately a few of these creeps infest every religion. If somebody tells you that your magical or spiritual advancement depends on your giving them what they want, first spit in their eye, then get away fast.
* Hypocrites - those who say they love Mother Earth, and live carelessly and wastefully, those who say they love the Goddess and dominate or abuse human women, those who claim to be Spirit-led while their behavior is ego-driven.
* Exploiters - but they're not instantly identifiable. Any coven might ask students to take a turn bringing consumable supplies like candles or cookies. Teaching covens may have monetary expenses, such as photocopying or rental for a meeting room -- and it's entirely reasonable for them to charge dues and cover their costs from the common purse thus created. There is some debate in our community about whether a Craft teacher should accept payment for their time and work. This is a matter of opinion, but you can be sure that a teacher who takes payment is not practicing Traditional Witchcraft.
It's also fair for a teacher or coven to ask you to do your share of set-up and clean-up, or of ongoing coven projects. But if some coven leader expects you to work free in their profit- making business, or act as their domestic servant, run screaming out the door.
* People who order you to go against your values. Again, this involves some subtle issues. One of the major goals of spiritual development is to learn to hear the still, small inner voice. But some of our inner directives are actually cultural or familial programming. These prescriptions and prescriptions may also be wise, or they may be limiting, or actually evil (consider racial prejudice). They often drown out the voice of authentic Spirit. The best teachers will gently challenge their students to override outworn programming, but never to go against core values. The issue of readiness is also important. If you try to override even the nastiest old programming before you are ready, you might cause a painful backlash. This psychological trauma can actually retard your progress. Beware of insensitive autocrats who try to force all their students into the same Procrustean bed. Don't ever let anybody pressure into doing anything - in or out of Circle - that you believe is wrong. In ritual, we speak to our deepest minds, establishing the moods and motivations that shape our lives. Don't ever do in token what you would not do in truth.

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The Trial

Doubt. The very word knows us. The very word is reminiscence to all who walk the Wild Path. Doubt is our common trial and sometimes the end of our path. It destroys and cripples those who are weakened to it and fall to its shadow. Doubt can prevail if we are not strong and I assure you each and everyone of us will be exposed to its tyranny. The challenge from the Gods to test our strength, our magick and our power and will of our own mind. I have experienced this Doubt, I almost let it overwhelm me and at times I did. At times I sobbed and my sides heaved. At times the Doubt would consume my thoughts, I was sick and depressed and it continued to stop me on my path.

I started to Doubt after Yule, the Winter Solstice. After the coven I am involved with celebrated the rebirth of the God, the Sun Child and comforted the tired Goddess. It was the beginning of Winter in the Southern Hemisphere and I returned home after the Shortest Night and I shared a prayer with the Goddess. I asked her to bring me my obstacle if I was ready and I guess she heard me loud and clear and thought I was ready. Two weeks later I discovered an entity had found its way into my home so I did a ritual to dispel it. At the end of this Ritual I opened the Circle and asked the Mother to take me to bed and bid me goodnight. She was holding a golden child in her arms and she kissed my forehead and smiled mysteriously as I switched off the light and went to sleep. The next morning I felt something stir within me, I felt a power that I was yet to discover would be a great enemy.

Through the days, the weeks and the months that followed I prayed, I self-sacrificed, made offerings, cast spells, performed rituals to try to take this Doubt away from me. I consulted both my cowan friends and pagan friends, but nothing did the trick. I felt as if I was at the foot of a large tower in the middle of a desert. That there was no one with me, I was forsaken in a land I did not know - abandoned. I wept and plead to the God and Goddess that they would take it away, but the Tower was ever-standing. However some days I thought it had finally disappeared and some days I thought it would never end, it waxed and waned in its power over me. One afternoon I found myself on my bed next to my altar crying and dowsing for an answer, asking the pendulum if it would ever end. It always said yes, but I was always unsure. This Doubt gives you internal scars. Brands that will stay with you, almost like a war wound. However, in this period it was odd that I still performed at my peak. I was great in my power and energy, sometimes I would ignore the Doubt and tell it to go away in obscene tongue. This is how I got rid of it, one way or another.

A good friend of mine, a wiccan from Sydney told me to ignore the Doubt. I took that advice but I guess I misinterpreted it. I began to use my inner-voice and shout at it, screaming at, revealing my pain. It began to wax in power and I discovered this was not the right thing to do and so I reassessed my friend's wisdom. I was to absolutely ignore it, pretend as if it never existed and it began to work. I felt the Doubt begin to disperse within me, receding to the Universe from whence it came. I pushed it further and soon enough I discovered that I was over it, it returned in strokes and still haunts me in seconds but ultimately it has gone. It would go to haunt another, wreak its pain and suffering on another of the Wild Path. Take them and strike them down as their trial and this is my adivce to you.

However much you cry, however much you wish to leave your path, however much you are set on the idea the world has turned its back on you. This is not true. It is you who has turned you back on the world if you allow the Doubt to take you. Your path will support you, the Gods will hold you when you weep as their child. Do not depend on their help. They are ruthless and disappointing as a family and as such you are created in their own image. Use this knowledge to defeat the power that hinders you. Take of my words and seek the Doubt before it seeks you. Be done with it so and hold you head high. You are a God, you govern your own fate. Use your divine hand to chase the Doubt away. Never let it be your God, for that is fake. It assumes the identity. Know this however my friends.
"As Darkness consumes the Land and the Sea
Hold to your friends and family
Hold to the Goddess, the Mother of All
Hold to the God, Pan's wild call
Seek unto other, the pain that is shared
To know, to keep silent, to will and to dare!"

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Pagan Herbs By Use

Book: Pagan Herbs By Use by Al Selden Leif

Herbs are used extensively in doing magick. In this book you’ll learn about Using Herbs in Your magick Making, Herbs properties and Their Magickal Uses.

Herbs are used in many religions – such as in Christianity (myrrh (Commiphora myrrha), ague root (Aletris farinosa) and frankincense (Boswellia spp)) and in the partially Christianized Anglo-Saxon pagan Nine Herbs Charm. In Hinduism a form of Basil called Tulsi is worshipped as a Goddess for its medicinal value since the Vedic times. Many Hindus have a Tulsi plant in front of their houses.

Drugs and plants with psychoactive substances have been used world wide as entheogens to induce spiritual experiences. An example of this are the shamans in Siberia who used herbs and fungi such as the fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria).

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Correlian Wicca

Book: Correlian Wicca by Anonymous

WHAT WILL YOU GET FROM THESE LESSONS

What is all this witchcraft stuff, anyway? Does being a witch mean you can point your finger and make things happen? Does it mean you can learn to fly on a broom and turn people into toads? Well, not quite. Witchcraft, or WICCA, is a religion. Wicca is not primarily about magic, though it does use it. Wicca is about your place in the Universe and your evolution as a spiritual being. Wicca is about moving forward on your personal spiritual journey - about learning, growing, and becoming the most you can be.

If you complete this course of 12 lessons, you will be eligible for initiation into the First Degree of Correllian Wicca. The First Degree is the lowest level of initiatory membership in a WICCAN TRADITION. Wicca is composed of many traditions most -but not all- of which recognize each others initiations. If you choose to take the First Degree initiation -and you are not obligated toyou will become a member of the Correllian tradition. The Correllian tradition is a synchretic and highly philosophical tradition of Wicca, which stresses the inherent unity of all Pagan traditions and the synchronicity of all spiritual paths. We believe that Deity is in all things, therefore all paths can lead to Deity.

Wicca is not an exclusive religion. Because we believe all paths lead to Deity, we do not believe that one must belong to any given faith or tradition to be a good person or to grow spiritually. Nor is it necessary to belong to only one. Being a Correllian initiate does not mean you can not also be an Isian, Druidic, or Dianic initiate as well -or any other tradition you might wish to study or join. You must however respect our tradition as a member and follow Correllian practices in Correllian temples -but what you do other places is your own business. Your private beliefs and conscience are your own business and we have no desire to dictate them to you. Wicca is about learning to make your own choices, and the Wiccan traditions exist to provide a framework in which to learn and grow. Wicca seeks to open your thinking, not to limit it.

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Hypnotism Mesmerism And The New Witchcraft

Book: Hypnotism Mesmerism And The New Witchcraft by Ernest Abraham Hart

The papers here brought together have recently appeared in the 'Nineteenth Century' and the 'British Medical Journal' and are reprinted by permission. They are published to meet the wishes of some who have suggested to me that it might prove useful and acceptable that they should be collected into a small volume, and thus become more available for current reference than they would otherwise have been. They were so favourably received at the time of publication, that I may venture to hope it is not presumptuous to give them this more permanent shape. Nothing has been written in the way of criticism which seemed to me at all substantial, or to call for any modification of the text; so that while I can hardly hope that their somewhat aggressive tone will pass altogether without disapproval from a certain school of psychical researchers, yet I may venture to think that they will now, as they did when first published, meet with general acceptance from the medical and scientific world, and that they will serve a useful purpose in dissipating some popular errors and a good deal of pseudo-scientific superstition, superimposed on a slender basis of physiological and pathological phenomena. They may be of some service, also, in unmasking a prevalent system of imposture which had imposed upon a good many journalists and men of literary culture.

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Highland Superstitions Connected With The Druids Fairies Witchcraft

Book: Highland Superstitions Connected With The Druids Fairies Witchcraft by Alexander Macgregor

The following pages on "Highland Superstitions" by the late Rev. Alexander Macpregor,' M.A., Inverness, first appeared as a series of Articles in Volume II. of the Celtic Magazine, and subsequently as an appendix to the second, third, and fourth editions of " The Prophecies of the Brahan Seer." They were published separately for the first time in 1891, and now reprinted, 1901.

This is lamentable that mankind in all ages of the world have been prone to the most degrading superstitions. The enlightened ages of antiquity were no more exenipi from them than the most ignorant We know from the Bible how difficult it was to restrain the Jews from the most idolatrous and superstitious observances, and to confine them to the worship of the only living and true God, This remarkable tendency of the Hebrew nation was caused, in all likelihood, by their sojourning for the loi^ period of 400 years among the Egyptians, whose system of religion was a mass of idolatrous observances. They had a number of ideal gods, to whom they erected temples of prodigious size and architectural splendour. Their principal deities, were Osiris and Isis, whom they considered typical of the sun and moon. But they had a great variety of other deities, animals of all kinds — (hence the golden calf of the Hebrews), the dog, the wclf, the hawk, the stork, the cat, and several other creatures. They also adored their great river, the Nile, personifying it in the crocodile, to which they erected temples and appointed priests to serve at their altars. The Egyptians also believed in dreams, lucky and unlucky days, charms, omens, and magic — in short, they were grossly superstitious !

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Alexander Macgregor - Highland Superstitions Connected With The Druids Fairies Witchcraft

Yule Celebrations In Great Britain

Yule or Yule-tide is a winter festival that was initially celebrated by the historical Germanic peoples as a pagan religious festival, though it was later absorbed into, and equated with, the Christian festival of Christmas. The festival was originally celebrated from late December to early January on a date determined by the lunar Germanic calendar. The festival was placed on December 25 when the Christian calendar (Julian calendar) was adopted. Some historians claim that the celebration is connected to the Wild Hunt or was influenced by Saturnalia, the Roman winter festival.

Terms with an etymological equivalent to “Yule” are still used in the Nordic Countries for the Christian Christmas, but also for other religious holidays of the season. In modern times this has gradually led to a more secular tradition under the same name as Christmas. Yule is also used to a lesser extent in English-speaking countries to refer to Christmas. Customs such as the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, Yule singing, and others stem from Yule. In modern times, Yule is observed as a cultural festival and also with religious rites by some Christians and by some Neopagans.

In Britain and other parts of the British Influenced world, the modern Yule or Yuletide is more commonly associated with Christmas (along with Christmastide) which generally supplanted it around the 11th century other than in North East England where it remained the usual word (and had the variants of yel and yul), possibly being reinforced by the Norse influence (see Danelaw) on that region. It was revived in regular use in standard English during the 19th century however the name Yule log was recorded earlier in the 17th century.

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Watchtowers Spirits Elementals Guardians Or You Name It

In the tradition of the Church of Wicca, we call elementals in the four directions. To those we have added grandfather Sky, Mother Earth, and the Center. The Gardnerian tradition calls lords of the watchtowers. When we first heard this, we thought it was chauvinistic; to be quite honest, we still don't understand it. We don't know what a psychic watchtower is.

Nor do we understand people who think of themselves as Celtic calling such entitites as Raphael, Asasael, Gabrial, Michael ... and the rest of that set -- straight from Hebrew tradition. That's like saying 'Amen' when you could say 'So let it be.' But be that as it may. . . .

I hear that some groups are now calling 'guardians of the watchtowers.' We think that this being gender non-specific (inclusive) and being more in tune with what we are doing makes more sense.

But why just call guardians? If we are going to call guardians, why don't we give those guardians some attributes? Of course, that gets us back into thinking about the eastern blue sylphs (if you think air belongs in the east); about the southern fiery salamanders (if you think fire belongs in the south); about western watery undines (if you think water belongs in the west); and about Northern earth gnomes (if you think earth belongs in the north). Or you can quite happily switch north and west. Se we of the Church of Wicca put the worker gnomes in the west and the watery undines in the north -- which we personally are comfortable with. Anyone for a schism?

When we construct a circle, aren't we asking for the presence of guardians? We are not demanding the presence of a god-ess force. But we could select a deity for each of the directions and reverently ask for the protection of that deity while we work. If we want protection, should we then use the most powerful deity we can for each of the diretions? Perhaps a god from one panteon and a Goddess from another pantheon.

If all this confuses you, it confuses us too. If we could define some basic ideas about what we are trying to do, then maybe we could develop some underlying guidelines about what it is we are doing. Then we could decide what is most appropriate to call and to dismiss.

As usual, we invite your comments. We are not trying to offend anyone or scorn their tradition, so please be constructive. Our hope is that we all may arrive at a shared understanding of what we are doing. If you know a better way and the reasons behind it, please share that better way with the community at large.

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Pagan Scriptures

Book: Pagan Scriptures by Charles Baize

We would like to take this opportunity to make available to all who wish a copy of Pagan Scriptures. Nolan and I have spent three years writing and researching this book, we have copyrighted it and are making it available free of charge to anyone who requests a copy. You may read it onscreen or send it to your printer. This seems to be the fastest and easiest way to reach many people. People who have already read the Manuscript have responded with positive comments which makes us feel that putting Together Pagan Scriptures has been well worth the effort.

Bright Blessings, Charles & Nolan

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Candle Magic A Coveted Collection Of Spells Rituals And Magical Paradigms

Book: Candle Magic A Coveted Collection Of Spells Rituals And Magical Paradigms by Phillip Cooper

An excellent book full of nice candle rituals to perform. Some may not be to others likings there are some spells in here that do not follow the witches rede but there are some in every book right? I recommend this to anyone who already has a range of herbs etc as many rituals in this book require them. I've learned that when researching the subject of magic I cannot accept one book as The Way. My advice is that if you read this book, read others on the same subject and come to your own conclusions. The reason I'm saying this is that I've been doing Candle Magic without "the magic sphere" or many other things suggested in this book, and it's been working just fine.

As the author of this book stresses, it's all in the subconscious -- and I firmly believe the subconcious responds in a unique way to each individual with a few shared common rules (which are pointed out in this book). Cooper spends pages and pages mapping out imagery that he feels you should use. I say use your own as long as you are aware of the rules of handling your subconcious.

But that doesn't mean I hate the book. Actually I love it. I really love it when Cooper throws some modern Wicca-type nonsense right out the window. This needs to be done more often. I see where some reviewers are bristling at what he's done here, and it's not hard to see why because he ridicules some fondly cherished Wicca-type beliefs that are, as the rest of us know, nice but not necessary at best, and downright silly at worst. In that sense, in a market where the words "Wicca" and "witch" are being increasingly confused with one another, this book is invaluable.

I see total beginners as being intimidated by this book, however, and that's another reason I strongly suggest reading not just one, but several books on this subject before making up your mind on how to proceed. Cooper has a POV as specific as those of the Wiccans, and it's just as valid -- maybe even more so because it's solidly based in history and scholarship.

Like I said, my basic rule is, learn all the POVs (points of view) you can, then set out on your own. This book is recommended for its POV.

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Lesser Banishing Ritual Of The Pentagram

This ritual will surround and protect you with the power of the Almighty aspects of God and his Archangels. This ritual should be done every day in the morning and at the end of the day. Try not to do it right before bed , because it will energize you to where you won't be able to go to sleep. This ritual is exactly what it says... it banishes all spirits or influences good or bad that may be around you. It gives you an open channel to God with no interference! When you do this you are in the presence of God! So treat it with respect. After a period of time you will notice a difference in your life. You will have that Glow! It strengthens your Aura so that you are like a shinning sun. This ritual is also one of the first ones you would do after conjuring a spirit or using the Ouija board.

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Wicca Magic

Is wicca magick Real? Magick is not only real, it's the only thing that is! wicca magick is just one form of the mysterious and infinite Creative Power of the Universe. Life is full of real magick. But we've been trained not to notice it, even when it's right in front of our noses. Making Magick is your birthright - a personal gift from the Divine. Learn how magick works and how to work magick, and nothing can stop you from creating the life you dream of. Helping you understand how real magick works, and how to make it work for you, is the purpose of this article.

Magick is another word for transformation, creation, and manifestation. Wicca magick is a tool we use to act on the subtle - or energy, or quantum - level of reality. The quantum level is the causal realm. It is the subtle influences at the quantum level that decide which way reality will go. So if you want to manifest something into ordinary reality, you start by stimulating the quantum realm to favour that potentiality. That is real magick in action. Science has known since early in the last century that the material world is made up not of matter, but of energy. And while matter is fairly stable, energy is very fluid. So it is difficult to build a house or job or lover with your bare hands if the causal realm hasn't already foreseen these things, but it is much easier to create an energy wave that will lead to a house or job or lover coming to you. (Of course, you still will need to use your body to manifest them.) That's what real magick is all about. In magick we transform our reality, and ourselves, to match our choices. And of course, Wicca Magick is a key component to the Wiccan religion.

Working magick is what witch craft is all about. What would Wicca be without Magick? In fact, the standard explanation for the origins of the words witch and Wicca is that they are derived from "wic," which means to shape or bend. (As in wicker furniture.) While anything claiming to be historical is doubtful, the fact that we explain the word this way tells us a lot about Wicca - that its essence is transformation. Magick is at the heart of Wicca.

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