Fallacy Of Ghosts Dreams And Omens With Stories Of Witchcraft Life In Death And Monomania

Book: Fallacy Of Ghosts Dreams And Omens With Stories Of Witchcraft Life In Death And Monomania by Charles Ollier

Publisher: C. Ollier Publication date: 1848 Subjects: Occultism Supernatural Ghosts Dreams Hallucinations and illusions History / General Juvenile Fiction / Horror

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Charles Ollier - Fallacy Of Ghosts Dreams And Omens With Stories Of Witchcraft Life In Death And Monomania

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.

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Witchcraft Mythologies And Persecutions

Book: Witchcraft Mythologies And Persecutions by Gabor Klaniczay

Witchcraft Mythologies and Persecutions (Volume III Of Series "Demons, Spirits, Witches")
This third, concluding volume of the series publishes 14 studies and the transcription of a round-table discussion on Carlo Ginzburg’s Ecstasies. The themes of the previous two volumes, Communicating with the Spirits, and Christian Demonology and Popular Mythology, are further expanded here both as regards their interdisciplinary approach and the wide range of regional comparisons. While the emphasis of the second volume was on current popular belief and folklore as seen in the context of the historical sources on demonology, this volume approaches its subject from the point of view of historical anthropology. The greatest recent advances of witchcraft research occurred recently in two fields: (1) deciphering the variety of myths and the complexity of historical processes which lead to the formation of the witches’ Sabbath, (2) the micro-historical analysis of the social, religious, legal and cultural milieu where witchcraft accusations and persecutions developed. These two themes are completed by some further insights into the folklore of the concerned regions which still carries the traces of the traumatic historical memories of witchcraft persecutions.

Contents
Introduction by Gabor Klaniczay and Eva Pocs Mythologies Martine Ostorero, The Concept of the Witches’ Sabbath in the Alpine Region (1430–1440) Text and Context; Round-table discussion on Ecstasies by Carlo Ginzburg (with the participation of Wolfgang Behringer, Carlo Ginzburg, Gustav Henningsen, Gabor Klaniczay, Giovanni Pizza and Eva Pocs) Gabor Klaniczay: Learned Systems and Popular Narratives of Vision and Bewitchment; Adelina Angusheva: Late Medieval Witch Mythologies in the Balkans; Per Sorlin: Child-Witches and the Construction of the Witches' Sabbath: The Swedish Blakulla Story; Legal mechanisms, social contexts Peter Toth G.: River Ordeal–Trial by Water–Swimming of Witches: Procedures of Ordeal in Witchcraft Trials; Ildiko Kristof: How to Make a (Legal) Pact with the Devil? Legal Customs and Literacy in Witch Confessions in Early Modern Hungary; Anna Brzezinska: Healing at the Jagiellonian Court; Polina Melik Simonian: Following the Traces of Xenophobia in Muscovite Witchcraft Investigation Records; Judit Kis-Halas: Trial of an Honest Citizen, Nagybanya 1704–5: The social and cultural context of witchcraft accusations - a tentative microanalysis; Daniel Ryan: Boundaries and Transgressions: Witchcraft and Community Conflict in Estonia During the Late Nineteenth Century; Witchcraft and folklore Francisco Vaz da Silva, Extraordinary Children, Werewolves and Witches in Portuguese Folk-Tradition; Ulo Valk, Reflections of Folk Belief and Legends at the Witch Trials of Estonia; Iveta Todorova-Pirgova: Witches and Priests in the Bulgarian Village: Past and Present; Mirjam Mencej: Witchcraft in Eastern Slovenia

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My Quest For The Magic Divine

Where does one begin the quest for the Ultimate? More importantly, when can one finally end it in fulfillment? I have struggled with these questions for all my relatively short life. I have always felt as though some transcendent force were tapping me on the shoulder, demanding my attention. Yet whenever I looked over my shoulder nothing tangible was there to greet me. What could I do, what path could I follow, that would lead me to the mysterious entity who so earnestly desired an audience with me?

I was born and raised in something of a Bible-Belt area. Churches of one type or another dominated the countryside. The different world religions, as far as I could discern, were Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, and Catholic. We even had Mennonite and Amish in the general area. It was a veritable smorgasbord of Christian denominations and none of them ever satisfied me. I simply could not feel a connection to the Divine under their auspices. Spending my Sunday morning sitting in a pew, singing hymns to some executed carpenter from another time and place was not my idea of worship. Christ may have been an exceptional man in his day, but to me he was as dead as Julius Caesar.

Thus it was I ruled out Christianity as the vehicle that could deliver me to the Divine. From there it was a logical step to further exclude Judaism and Islam; they both pledged fealty to the same God as the Christians, a God whom I always considered too distant and aloof to worship. With the Middle East religions offering no inspiration, I studied the ancient wisdoms of the Far East. I found them much more invigorating and broad minded than Monotheism, but I still could not internalize their beliefs as my own. Buddhism tried teaching me that my own sense of uniqueness was an illusion, something I simply could not accept. Hinduism was colorful but not very focused, offering the believer far too many deities to choose as a patron. Taoism and Confucianism were on the whole fine philosophies, but they offered no insight on the Divine force that I still felt earnestly tapping me on the shoulder.

I was a year out of college and still left without a spiritual clue. It was then, however, that the Neopagan craze began penetrating into even my remote neck of the woods. I would walk into any bookstore and the New Age section was constantly expanding. I would surf the web for information on religion and eventually bump into a Wicca site. I decided to ascertain for myself just what all the fuss was about. At first it seemed kooky; people were trying to resurrect witchcraft and ancient nature worship? Surely this was the work of people with too much free time and too many acid trips.

The more I read, however, the more I became enthralled. I always loved noting the beauty of nature around me since my earliest years. The sun, moon and stars were ever-constant companions in my life in a way God had not been. What better deity could one have then Mother Earth herself, with nature and all the creatures that dwell within as her universal church? Here, finally, was a religion I could appreciate. Nature is something I need no external inspiration in revering; it comes naturally. Neopaganism, unlike most religions, embraces modern existence with all its recent discoveries in science, psychology, and social ethics. When I discovered this, I could safely say that I had found the worldview I had been seeking. I had come home.

Whatever happened to the man tapping me at my shoulder? That was the most startling discovery of all. I had been looking for some external force I thought had been hiding from me, which I would meet only after some arduous journey. Instead I have discovered the Divine is all around me, it is inside of me. It encompasses all of creation. It was always there right in front of me, trying to say hello. I was prepared to take the journey of a thousand miles to meet my maker; now I am learning to swim in an endless ocean of creation.

Does Neopaganism satiate all my cravings for understanding and happiness? Does it provide me with all the answers to the questions I have been asking for years? No, it does not. However, what Neopaganism does offer me is a light to guide my way as I continue to progress on my spiritual journey. It is one huge leap in the right direction. Neopaganism may not be the end of my quest for the Divine, but it is, at long last, a worthy beginning.

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Magical Tools Used In The Wicca Religion

In the neopagan religion of Wicca, a range of magical tools are used in ritual practice. Each of these tools has different uses and associations, and are used primarily to direct energies. They are used at an altar, inside a magic circle.

In traditional Gardnerian Wicca, the tools are often divided into personal tools, which are for use by, and owned by, an individual Wiccan, and coven tools, used collectively by the coven. This practice may derive partly from Masonic traditions (such as the use of the Square and Compasses), from which Wicca draws some material, and partly from the rituals of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The latter made much use of material from Medieval Grimoires such as the Key of Solomon, which has many illustrations of magical tools and instructions for their preparation. In Wicca, ritual tools are used during rituals which both honour the deities, and work magic. The general idea is that the tool directs psychic energies to perform a certain action.

Wiccan tools are usually only used by their owner (or, in the case of coven tools, by the coven as a group), to ensure that they only carry their owner's spiritual vibrations.

In Gardnerian Wicca, as layed down by Gerald Gardner, someone who had been initiated in the 1st degree had to create (or, alternately purchase and then engrave) their own ritual tools. One of the requirements for being initiated for the 2nd degree is that the Wiccan had to name all of the ritual tools and explain what their purpose and associations were.

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Historical And Literary Studies Pagan Jewish And Christian

Book: Historical And Literary Studies Pagan Jewish And Christian by Adolph Von Menzel

Bruce M Metzger is one of the best and brightest stars in biblical scholarship. Why hasn't someone reissued all his books?

This one is especially valuable for the chapter titled "When Did Scribes Begin To Use Writing Desks?" No, I am not kidding. This is actually chock full of important information, especially for anyone interested in Christian studies.

Let me explain. Ever read any of the Jesus-was-a-myth books? One of the standard charges these writers make is that there are very few examples of anyone quoting from the gospels or Paul's letters until quite late. Why?

As it turns out, there are very, very few quotations of any kind, in any kind of writing, secular or Christian. And the reason is simple enough: the papyrus roll. First, it was simply difficult to find the text you wanted in a papyrus roll.

The second reason is the way a papyrus roll was read. And that brings me back to Metzger's very absorbing and detailed explanation of what we know about how readers and scribes used papyrus rolls. From every picture we have, as well as from descriptions, it appears rolls were not read at desks. Ever. Instead, a man would sit cross-legged on the ground, or else hold the rolls in one hand while he read.

No wonder exact quotes were rare until the codex came into use.

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Adolph Von Menzel - Historical And Literary Studies Pagan Jewish And Christian

Pagan Spells Mix Of Spells

Book: Pagan Spells Mix Of Spells by Al Selden Leif

Spells are simply rituals used to perform magic. As discussed in Using Magic, the particular ritual is only part of what makes magic work. It can, however, be a very important part. rituals help to focus your mind on your goals. Certain items can help to focus the mind in particular directions. By combining particular rituals with particular objects, you can virtually force your mind to focus in the direction you desire.

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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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The Complete Idiots Guide To Paganism

Book: The Complete Idiots Guide To Paganism by Carl Mccolman

You-re no idiot, of course. But finding the perfect expression of your spirituality can prove long and challenging. You might already be attracted to paganism, but considering the variety of traditions and paths that fall in this category, you-ll need a spiritual guide.Seek no further! Whether you-re interested in following the pagan path or just curious to know more, The Complete Idiot-s Guide- to paganism will enlighten you on this fascinating array of nature-based beliefs and practices. In this Complete Idiot-s Guide-, you-ll learn about: * The basic principles of shamanism, druidism, Wicca, and more. * How to deepen your connection to the Goddess, the God, and nature. * The fundamentals of meditation, magic, divination, and spiritual healing. * Tips on incorporating pagan rituals into your modern lifestyle.

A lot of the Idiot's Guides that I have read are really misnamed, because they contain a lot of valuable information about the subject and presented in terms that anyone can understand. I loved this book because it explains virtually every aspect of Paganism. The explanations and descriptions of various Pagan practices, ideals, Sabbats, rituals are kept brief as befits an introductory book. And yet, even after having a handful of other intoductory Pagan books, I found myself learning facts here that I hadn't known about before. The author sticks to the "Pagan philosophy" of "Harm no one" in describing Paganism.

Among topics discussed? Besides the various Pagan Sabbats and pagan ideals, there are chapters devoted to Shamans, Druids, Wicca, the "Spirit World" and the Pagan elements of fire, air, water, and earth. There are four chapters that discuss Pagan rituals and I found the author's claim that we already do rituals in our lives (high school and college graduation, marriage and funerals, for example) very true. I never would have thought about that. There's also several chapters devoted to "Pagan magic," which help to demystify it. The book's last few chapters offer advice on "living the Pagan lifestyle," and there's an extensive list of recommended reading at the book's end. One could spend months reading through the list of books alone if one wanted to.

The more I read about Paganism, the more I realize other religions over the centuries have liberally borrowed its customs and holidays. For anyone wishing to join this path or those already on it seeking to learn more, this book is a wonderful introduction.

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Solitary Wicca For Life Complete Guide To Mastering The Craft On Your Own

Book: Solitary Wicca For Life Complete Guide To Mastering The Craft On Your Own by Arin Murphy Hiscock

If you prefer a solitary approach to worship and Witchcraft, this is the book for you. You need sound guidance and tools as you work alone to deepen your knowledge and strengthen your abilities.

Author Arin Murphy-Hiscock provides you with everything you need to take your spiritual practice to the next level. Solitary Wicca for Life encourages you to reach beyond the ordinary and create a unique path of worship, using techniques that go further than other texts:

- Advanced Circle Casting-advanced techniques and applications, plus methods for creating sacred space when a circle isn't necessary
- Enriching Ritual-tools and techniques that bring new depth to personal practice, including sacred drama, masks, ritual garb, and symbols
- Crafting Liturgy-Wiccan ritual defined stage by stage, as well as guidelines for writing invocations, prayers, meditations, and personalized rituals for esbats, sabbats, rites of passage, and more
- Drawing Down Deities-invoking deities for guidance, communion, worship, etc.
- Growing as a Solitary Wiccan-the means by which you'll enhance your spiritual growth and reach out to the world at large.

Solitary Wicca for Life is the essential reference handbook you need to reach deeper, go farther, and strengthen your solitary path-one day at a time.

I read lots of Wicca 101 books, especially those that seem to be aimed at the Solitary Practitioner. With many of them, I will find some points that I think the average solitary practitioner may relate to, or that someone, somewhere, will relate to. Many times, however, the material does not "click" with my own personal beliefs, or they do not take the "Traditional Path" when it comes to Wicca, but rather they are "Wiccanish". This is OK for someone else, but not necessarily for me. But I do not judge by my standards alone, but rather the viewpoint that everyone needs material that will relate to them personally.

Reading this book, however, there was more material here that I found I agreed with, related to and found to be "Traditional" with a Solitary spin than other books of this kind. And this, to me, was a big plus.

Ms. Murphy-Hiscock has taken Wicca back to the roots and explores adaptation to the Solitary way of practice. This is a Wicca 101 book, so it makes a good first handbook for the average new Solitary practitioner and yet, it provides some material that the advanced practitioner may want to review because of its accuracy, to augment their Wiccan practice, to add elements of the Traditional or just because it is well written and has much to ponder and contemplate.

I especially enjoyed her overview of Wicca Origins, and her separation of Traditional Wicca from the Eclectic practices that Wicca has evolved into. She covers well the Tenets of Wicca, discusses common metaphors and myths and separates some of the more widely accepted but none the less mistaken beliefs and practices that have crept into modern Wicca. She gives you a good idea of how to go back to the beginning, re-examine the issues and maybe take away a better representation of what it is that Wicca is really all about.

Arin Murphy-Hiscock has been a practicing Wiccan for ten years, five of those years as a solitary practitioner. She is the series editor of the For Life series and the author of Power Spellcraft for Life: The Art of Crafting and Casting for Positive Change. She lives in Montreal, Canada.

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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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The Enemies Of Our Enemies

Book: The Enemies Of Our Enemies by Isaac Bonewits

From:THE DRUIDS PROGRESS, Report #7. The DRUIDS PROGRESS is published seminannually (Gods Willing) and is sent primarily to the subscribing members of ADF. For Further information write: ADF, PO Box 9420, Newark, DE, USA 19714 (include a SASE). All Items acredited to "the Archdruid" have been written by and are (C) 1990 by P.E.I. Bonewits. All items created by other parties are (C) 1990 by them. All opinions expressed, save those specifically attributed to the Board of Trustees, are the opnions of the individuals expressing them and are Not official ADF policy.

Reprint Procedure: Neopagan, Druidic, Midievalist and all cultural publications may reprint any material written by P.E.I. Bonewits, but his copyright notice must appear in full. If more than 250 words are excerpeted, one cent per word should be donated to ADF.

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Salem Witchcraft And Cotton Mather A Reply

Book: Salem Witchcraft And Cotton Mather A Reply by Charles Wentworth Upham

Charles Wentworth Upham (1802-1875) was a member of the Massachusetts State House of Representatives in the 19th century. He was the cousin of George Baxter Upham and Jabez Upham. A classmate and former friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Upham was an opponent of the burgeoning Transcendentalism movement and later engineered for Nathaniel Hawthorne to be dismissed from his job at the Salem custom house. He also arranged for Jones Very to be institutionalized at McClean Asylum. Senator Charles Sumner once referred to Upham as "that smooth, smiling, oily man of God." His works include: Life, Explorations and Public Services of John Charles Fremont (1856), Salem witchcraft (1867) and Salem Witchcraft and Cotton Mather: A Reply (1869).

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Chelmsford Witches

Book: Chelmsford Witches by Frank Luttmer

The Examination and Confession of Certain Witches at Chelmsford in the County of Essex, before the Queen Majesty's Judges, the 26th day of July Anno 1566 (London, 1566)

The examination of them with their confession before Doctor Cole and Master Foscue at the same Assize verbatum as near as could be gathered, and first of Elizabeth Francis who said as here followeth.

First she learned this art of witchcraft at the age of twelve years of her grandmother whose name was Eve of Hatfield Peverell deceased. Item when she taught it her, she counselled her to renounce God and his word, and to give of her blood to Satan (as she termed it) which she delivered her in the likeness of a white spotted Cat, and taught her to feed the said Cat with bread and milk and she did so, also she taught her to call it by name of Satan and keep it in a basket.

When this mother Eve had given her the Cat Satan, then this Elizabeth desired first of the said cat (calling it Satan) that she might be rich and to have goods, and he promised her she should, asking her what she would have, and she said sheep for this cat spake to her as she confessed in a strange hollow voice, (but such as she understood by use) and this Cat forthwith brought sheep into her pasture to thenumber of twenty-eight black and white, which continued with her for a time, but in the end did all wear away she knew not how.

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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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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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Using The Seven Pins In Candle Magick

In Hoodoo and Voodoo, use of the seven-day candle, or "7 day vigil candle" is commonplace. The seven day candles are used in difficult cases and cases where concentrated energy is needed. The candle is burned over a period of seven days whereby the practitioner pays attention to revealing and divinatory signs from the candle.

To use your pins with a candle, you start with
a regular offeratory or large candle and seven pins of the seven colors. The candle is divided into seven equal parts by sticking the pins into the candle at seven equal intervals. The seventh pin goes into the top or bottom of the candle. Make sure the pins go all the way in the candle. Take a piece of parchament paper (best to start with a rather large piece of paper) and write down seven wishes. Fold the paper at a 90 degree angle and write your full name over your wish, then fold again and write your name again, proceeding with this process seven times. Dress your candle with the appropriate oil and place the folded paper under the candle. The candle is burned for seven nights, with the flame pinched out each time a pin falls. Save all of the pins and when the last needle falls, stick the pins into the paper so that it looks like the one in the picture. According to the law of attraction, bury the paper, pins and leftoverwax under your doorstep to attract your wishes to you. If your wishes are of the repelling type, throw the ritual remains in a crossroads, graveyard, or in a moving stream or river.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Tuesday Lobsang Rampa - The Thirteenth Candle
Julian Wilde - Grimoire Of Chaos Magick
Thomas Moore - Candle Magick For Love
Ophiel - The Art Practice Of Caballa Magic

Winter Solstice

In astronomy and [astrology]], the winter solstice is the moment when the earth is in a point of its orbit at which the northern or southern hemisphere is most inclined away from the sun. This causes the sun to appear at its farthest below the celestial equator when viewed from earth. Solstice is a Latin borrowing and means "sun stand," referring to the appearance that the sun's noontime elevation change stops its progress, either northerly or southerly.

The date of the winter solstice is the date with the shortest day and the longest night of the year. In the northern hemisphere, this date usually falls on December 21/December 22 on the common calendar, while it falls on June 21/June 22 in the southern hemisphere. These dates are also the dates of the summer solstice in the opposing hemisphere. At the summer solstice, the hemisphere is inclined towards the sun, and it appears to be at its farthest above the celestial equator.

In some reckonings, the winter solstice is the first day of winter. In the Chinese calendar, for example, the winter solstice is called dong zhi (winter's arrival) and is regarded in certain Chinese areas as an equally, if not more, important Jie Chia compared to the Chinese New Year.

In other reckonings, the winter solstice is midwinter. In Ireland, the solstices and equinoxes all occur at about midpoint in each season. For example, winter begins on November 1, and ends on January 31.

The winter solstice is the time when the Germanic festival of Yule was celebrated; it is celebrated today as a Neopagan Sabbat. Many cultures celebrate or celebrated a holiday near (within a few days) the winter solstice; examples of these include Yalda, Saturnalia, Christmas, and Hanukkah.

Books You Might Enjoy:

Morwyn - The Golden Dawn
Melita Denning - The Aurum Solis
Aleister Crowley - White Stains
Aleister Crowley - Ethyl Oxide
Aleister Crowley - Magick

Goddess Initiation

Book: Goddess Initiation by Franceska De Grandis

veryone possesses the spiritual, psychic, and worldly potential of a Goddess or God. In this breakthrough book, Francesca De Grandis brings years of experience as a shamanic counselor and traditional spiritual healer to reveal how you can cultivate and celebrate the secret, magical side of your nature. This month-to-month program of many practical exercises, rituals, and prayers will help you:

- Discover your innate wisdom
- Heal inner blocks to happiness and meaningful action in your life
- Achieve your goals and feel energized, strong, and capable
- Unleash creativity and passion for living
- Celebrate a vibrant and healthy sexuality

Based on traditional Celtic culture and the author's own successful and unique Third Road teaching, this enriching journey deep into the heart of shamanism and Goddess Spirituality will appeal to all seekers, not just Wiccans. A lyrical sourcebook of rituals, spells, mysticism, and mirth, Goddess Initiation is designed for everyone who wants to integrate commonsense Spirituatity -- and a bit of Faerie dust! -- into their everyday lives.

Download Franceska De Grandis's eBook: Goddess Initiation

Downloadable books (free):

Anonymous - Confessio Fraternitatis
Max Heindel - Ancient And Modern Initiation
Franceska De Grandis - Goddess Initiation

Wicca Sacred Time

Sacred time within wicca is established by the cycles of the sun and the moon. Lunar cycles occur every 29 to 30 days, while a solar cycle occurs over the course of a year. The key events in a lunar cycle include the new moon and the full moon. Many wiccan solitaries and groups perform rituals on the nights of the new and full moons, seeing those dates as particularly propitious for venerating the goddess as identified with the moon. Because the duration of menstrual cycles often is equivalent to the lunar month, many wiccans understand the phases of the moon as symbolically attuned to the "phases" of the menstrual cycle. Thus, the full moon represents ovulation, and signifies a time of fecundity, creativity, and active engagement with the world; the new moon represents menstruation, and therefore is associated with rest and withdrawal from worldly activities for a time of reflection and renewal. Wiccan ceremonies can take these associations into account, with new moon rituals being more contemplative and full moon ceremonies more ecstatic or celebratory.

The solar cycle as observed by many Wiccan groups involves eight holidays, collectively known as "the Wheel of the Year." These holidays include the solstices, the equinoxes, and four seasonal agricultural festivals with roots in British and Irish mythology. The wheel of the year includes these festivals:

* Samhain, traditionally celebrated on or near October 31
* Yule, the winter solstice
* Imbolc, traditionally celebrated on or near February 1
* Ostara, the spring equinox
* Beltane, traditionally celebrated on or near May 1
* Litha, the summer solstice
* Lughnasadh, traditionally celebrated on or near August 1
* Mabon, the fall equinox

Several of these festivals have alternative names, sometimes from folkloric or even Christian sources: thus Samhain is also known as Hallowmas or Hallowe'en; Imbolc as Candlemas; Lughnasadh as Lammas; and Mabon as Michaelmas.

Like the lunar cycle, the wheel of year is rich with symbolism and mythology. Some traditions weave throughout the eight holidays a running narrative about the birth, life, and eventual death of the goddess, who over the course of the year is impregnated by her consort and gives birth to a sacred child. Another narrative associated with the wheel of the year involves a never-ending cycle of conflict between two mythic kings - the Oak King and the Holly King - who continually defeat each other at each solstice, the Oak King triumphing in the summer while the Holly King emerges victorious each winter.

Books You Might Enjoy:

John Dee - The Rosie Crucian Secrets
Michael Sharp - The Great Awakening
Frater Achad - Liber 31
Stephen William Hawking - Space And Time Warps
Aj Drew - Wicca Spellcraft For Men