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magic

Let’s Spell it Out

Boudicca Andarta February, 2010

The Cauldron of Inspiration with Brigit, the Lady of the Sacred Flame

February begins with a Sabbat that is usually celebrated on February 2nd.  Although it has many names, it is usually referred to as Imbolc or Imbolg (pronounced em-bowlg or immol’g) meaning “in the belly” (being pregnant with life) or Oimelc (pronounced oy-melk) meaning “ewe’s milk” (nourishing life).  Other names for this day are Disting-tid (Norse), Laa’l Breeshay (Isle of Mann), and Candlemas (Saxon; “mas” meaning “feast”, not a Catholic word).  As this is the day of Brigit, be she goddess or saint, this day is also called White Brigit’s Day, Feast Day of Saint Brigit (Irish) or Feast Day of Saint Blaise (an Armenian saint that has a King arthur connection and may be the goddess Brigit in disguise).

Brigit is the Goddess of Inspiration and the Lady of the Sacred Flame.  As a goddess, she is usually referred to as Brigit, but after her demotion to sainthood, she was usually called Brigid.  Brigit has many other names, but to keep things simple, I will continue to refer to her as Brigit here.  Although her holiday falls at a time of the year where both light and warmth are waxing, her day is about the light, not the heat.  This is expressed through candlelight, torchlight or firelight.

Fire has been considered sacred for thousands of years and the practice of tending it goes back to the Greeks and continued on to “Saint Brigid” and her “nuns”.  Brigit’s lineage can be traced back to other goddesses with fire associations such as Juna, Minerva, artemis/Diana, Tanit (Lucifer or Lucia, the Son of the Morningstar Venus, not the Christian “Satan”), Hecate (they both have crossroads connections) and Hestia (Greek) or Vesta (Roman).

The Name Hestia or Vesta means “dwelling place”, as in the womb of the goddess, the cauldron or Holy Grail Cup, as she is the mother of the Sun God.  Although her name came to mean “fire”, “Hestia” means “ a house” or “a dwelling” as it is derived from the word “hes” or “hese”, meaning “shelter”, “to protect” or “to show mercy”.  Hestia to the Greeks and then after her Roman “adoption” as Vesta, was the goddess of domestic life and it was believe that she resided in every household, the reason for her shrines.  She was also sometimes called Ashta, another name meaning “fire” and she was referred to the Goddess of Fire.

Fire was so sacred to the Greeks and Romans that select women were chosen to tend the sacred flame in temples built to Hestia/Vesta.  In the time of the Romans, these were called Vestal Virgins.  This practice was also found throughout history in other parts of the globe, sometimes because of the Collective Consciousness and sometimes from Roman occupation.

“In Scandinavia, the priestesses of Freya, who were generally kings’ daughters,

whose duty it was to watch the sacred fire, and who were bound to perpetual virginity,

were just an order of nuns.  In Athens there were virgins maintained at the public expense,

who were strictly bound to single life.  In Pagan Rome, the Vestal virgins,

who had the same duty to perform as the priestesses of Freya, occupied a similar position.

Even in Peru, during the reign of the Incas, the same system prevailed,

and showed so remarkable an analogy, as to indicate that the Vestals of Rome,

the nuns of the Papacy, and the Holy Virgins of Peru, must have sprung form a common origin.  These were young maidens dedicated to the service of the deity,

who at a tender age were taken form their homes, and introduced into convents,

where they were placed under the care of certain elderly matrons, mamaconas,

who had grown grey within their walls.  It was their duty to watch over the sacred fire. ”

From “The Two Babylons

Why were these young ladies, their occupation and the fire held in such high esteem?

“The fire of Vesta was regarded as one of the grand safeguards of the (Roman) empire.

(It) was kept with the most jealous care by the Vestal Virgins, who, for their charge of it,

were honored with the highest honors.”

From “The Two Babylons

So ingrained into the people’s psyche the importance of this sacred fire, that even after Paganism was outlawed in Rome, the temples survived and the practices remained.

“The “great serpent of fire” was cast out, when by the decree of Gratian,

Paganism throughout the Roman Empire was abolished-when the fires of Vesta

were extinguished, and the revenues of the Vestal virgins were confiscated…

How strong was the hold that Paganism had in the Imperial city,

even after the fires of Vesta was extinguished,

and state support was withdrawn from the Vestals;

but the Emperor yet spared the statues of the gods which were exposed to public view;

four hundred and twenty four temples or chapels

still remained to satisfy the devotion of the people.”

From “The Two Babylons

Brigit was no different than Vesta; history repeated itself, the fires were to be extinguished as they were in Rome, but the flames would burn on.  Even after her “demotion” to sainthood, Brigit simply chose to evolve to survive.  She became the first nun in Ireland and created a small community of seven virgins at Croghan Hill.  Later it was said that she moved to a new location, into a cell at the base of an oak tree (oaks being sacred to the Druids).  This tiny community grew into a nunnery and monastery, the famous center of learning at Kildare; or “cill-dare”, meaning “oak-cell”.  Seven nuns grew to be 19 that tended Brigit’s flame and many daughter convents peppered Ireland from this original one.

In her goddess aspect, before her demotion, Brigit also had a cauldron (that she may have obtained form her father) and one of the jobs of what would become “nuns” was to tend to the flame beneath it.  In many of his books, Raven Grimassi makes the case that many of the practices of the Celts actually come from the Greeks and Romans, and this is also one of them.  The Greeks had nine muses, who among other things inspired humans, and Brigit originally had nine fire attendants and one of her powers as a goddess is to inspire humans.  Brigit can do many things, but for the purposes of this spell, we will tap into the power of the Sacred Flame of inspiration.

THE SPELL

If possible, perform this spell either at your hearth, but if you don’t have one, you can simply substitute your kitchen stove (the modern-day equivalent).  Preferably perform this spell either on or as close to February 2nd as you can.

Supplies

  • Candle (color of your choice, to correspond with your need)
  • Cauldron/fire-safe bowl

Either create Sacred Space or cast a Magick Circle in the manner of your own tradition.

Call to Brigit with this or another evocation:

“On this day of waxing light

Longer days and shorter nights

I call to Brigit, Goddess White

On this day of Your powers’ height.”

Candlelight

Light the candle after placing it inside the cauldron and say:

“As I light this candle fire

Lady of the Flame, please inspire.”

Inspiration

In your own words, speak to Brigit about the subject that requires her aid in inspiration.  Perhaps like a Muse, she can inspire you to find a solution to a life-problem that is blocking you from moving forward.  Perhaps she can lead you to a solution that will destroy your negative situation in a blaze of glory.  Although this article has focused on Brigit in her flame aspect, she is also associated with sacred wells and streams, so perhaps Brigit could teach you to move like water; finding the path of least resistance or to crack a giant boulder simply by freezing within the cracks.  If you have writer’s block or another kind or artistic block, ask Brigit to help you to move past it.  Whatever your situation may be, simply pour your heart out to Brigit and ask for her help in finding the best outcome for all involved.

Meditation

Mediate now on the light in the darkness, the candle in the cauldron, the life within the womb.  With Her inspiration, you can plant a seed to grow in the coming season.  During meditation, Brigit may give you the answer to which you seek.  If not, do not worry, She may use a dream to get the message to you or you may get the message from a chance encounter in your daily life, so be vigilant as to what messages are coming your way.

To thank the Goddess Brigit:

When finished, if you feel so inclined, in gratitude to Brigit for Her help, you may wish to tend her flame as others have and still do.  If this is not for you, please consider making a donation in Her honor.  Although I didn’t cover it much here in this article, Brigit’s cauldron fed many and she was known for providing for those in need.  You could do the same by making a food donation to either your local food bank or to the local animal shelter.  Don’t worry if you have to make it a small donation due to your current state of finances if that is an issue for you; Brigit will see what is in your heart.  After all, She is the flame that burns within all of our hearts.

Sources:

Candlemas: Feast of Flames by Amber K and Azrael Arynn K

The Two Babylons or the Papal Worship Proved to be the Worship of Nimrod and his Wife by the late Rev. Alexander Hislop

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Pagan Theology

Porphyry January, 2010

Magic:  Made up Explanations

Before I got busy and started to talk about other things I was working on a series of columns devoted to understanding magic.  The question that I am trying to answer is “how does magic work?”  In a previous column I developed a typology for how you might go about answering that question, with explanations dividing up into three categories:  systematic, individual, and theistic.  Systematic explanations develop some sort of system that, if followed, results in magic.  This ranges from science, to sort of science, to just plain made up systems.  Individual and theistic explanations appeal to something other than a system, like yourself or your Gods, to explain how magic works.   Of course most real-world magical practices syncretically combine all three approaches.  I guess they assume that if you throw enough stuff at the problem you will solve it through the sheer number of arguments.

In the last few columns on this subject I talked about scientific and sort-of-scientific explanations.  Neither of those systems are sufficient to explain why magic works.  At the most basic level you cannot take the structure and methods of science and use it to describe something that does not follow the same laws of evidence and cause and affect that science requires.  Fuzzing up science as a way to explaining magic just results in bad science, and no really effective explanation.  If we are serious about explaining magic we’re going to have to do better than misapplying science, or applying misunderstood science.

The most common way to explain how magic works gets around this problem completely.  You just make up a new system, and new set of “supernatural laws” that you must conform to in order for science to work.  Magic doesn’t have to worry about science and its requirements because it does not follow the laws of nature.  Supernatural systems incorporate their own set of rules for cause and effect, rules that don’t apply in normal situations.  Because these rules are separate from the natural systems that science deals with, the whole problem of rules of evidence and consensus can be avoided.  Of course the temptation still exists to start making empirical claims using supernatural laws, which inevitably runs afoul of the traffic cops of science who are just waiting to bust you when you make claims that can be objectively validated.

In order to understand what I will call, for lack of a better term, supernatural systems, you have to understand the long history of magic in the Western Occult tradition.  To be honest I don’t have the knowledge, skills, or time to review the long trajectory of magic in the West.  Nor do you probably have the time to read it all.  Instead I’ll make some broad generalizations and historical summaries.

Magic in the western tradition can be divided up into several interconnected systems.  Broadly speaking these are the Hermetic, grimoire or Kabala influenced magic, and angelic or deistic magic.  The oldest [1] attributed system is Hermeticism.  Hermetic magic is based on the writings of Hermes Trismegistrus, a notional mage of Egyptian origin [2].  The Corpus Heremeticum lays out the basic ideas of the elements (earth, air, fire, water), “as above, so below” or the idea that the macrocosm is reflected in the microcosm [3].  This has formed the basis of much of the Western magical practice, and has followed through to today in many of our magical practices.

In the Middle Ages the Hermetic system combined with the Jewish mystical system, the Kabala, and various other varieties of magic [4] to establish a set of procedures, correspondences, and theories that formed the grimoire tradition.  Grimoires were all the rage in the Middle Ages and slightly thereafter, and they have had a profound affect on modern Witchcraft and folk magical practices.  Grimoires were books created by magicians or those associated with the Church and contained a variety of activities involving invoking angels and daemons, correspondences, astrological information, and charms and spells.  At a time when books were rare, and reading mostly controlled by a few, the idea of a special book that could hold the secrets to control of fate was a powerful tool.  Grimoires were used by court and other magicians affiliated with the church (many of whom were not prosecuted by the church due to their standing in the community) and by local Cunning Men and other folk-magicians.  A Cunning Man could make a good living with a Grimoire and a rudimentary reading ability [5].  The concepts and correspondences in the grimoires eventually made their way into folk traditions of witchcraft, and come down to us through Gardner and others in our modern magical systems.

During and after the Renaissance there were a variety of individuals that attempted to bring together material from the Hermetic, folk, and grimoire traditions into comprehensive systems.  Examples include Eliphas Levi’s willpower focused system, Waite’s Golden Dawn system, Crowley’s Thelema, and others.  Underlying all of these systems is the desire for a unified, complete, magical system that brings together past information into a more effective and comprehensive practice.  In addition these systems represent a migration away from the more practical folk and grimoire systems where the primary goal was to change the world, and now the focus was increasingly on inner change within the practitioner.

The two key things I want to highlight in all this rather gratuitous historical discussion is that two themes in the history of ritual magic stand out.  The first is a desire for a system, something that provides an overall construct that explains how you do the magic and why it works (angels, celestial mechanics, or individual will).  This movement from magic’s origins as a folk and philosophical explanation of the world to a formalized system of rules and ideas occurred over the entire history of Western civilization.  But it really got started in the Renaissance and 18th century Enlightenment as science began threatening both magic and religion as a way of understanding the world.  Eventually this trend peaked in the modern day Golden Dawn and Thelema traditions.

The second theme is the tension between “low” or folk magic and “high” ritual magic.  Ritual magic with its origins in neo-Platonism and Hermetics was historically an intellectual pursuit of the elite.  Folk magic was more of an everyday practice, related to blessings and curses well removed from the high-minded philosophy of the ritualists.  This tension was present in the earliest practice of magic.  Greek and Roman Hermetic and neo-Platonic forms of magic focused on enlightenment, while at the same time ordinary citizens were scripting spells and curses on tablets to drop into wells.

Both of these trends are really about the distinction between the metaphysical and the empirical.  Folk magic tends to be focused on the practical, with the spiritual intruding simply through the use of religious imagery [6].  Ritual magic tends to be the opposite, with great emphasis placed on the spiritual progress of the magician, with the practical effects as secondary outcomes.  Likewise the desire for a system has taken magical practice away from the more empirical place it occupied during the Middle Ages, into a more Platonic practice that is focused on systems of progressive magical enlightenment.

This, of course, does not mean that practical systems don’t exist, what we are talking about are general trends and paths, not every byway and cul-de-sac that is out there.  In fact neo-Pagan Witchcraft often combines both enlightenment and practice, and is a representation of a modern, practical, magical system.  We are ignoring modern neo-Pagan magical practices mainly because their theoretical underpinnings are either derived from ritual magic, or fall into one of the other categories we have discussed or will discuss in other columns.

What this means is that explanations also follow this same trend, with a division between explanations having either a practical, empirical, basis, or a metaphysical one.   When it comes to explaining why magic works these two trends can be seen as either assuming some sort of casual equation (this then that) or providing an allegorical path to enlightenment.

The casual proposition is pretty straightforward:  if something happens then it causes another result.  The simplest casual rule is the Hermetic “as above, so below” or that the microcosm is related to the macrocosm.  Ignoring for a minute exactly how you would empirically verify this, what is important is the fact that an empirical claim is made.  The law of magic as laid down implies something will happen in the physical world as a result of my relation to the unseen work and the actions I take to establish that relationship.

This, of course, opens the entire argument to empirical verification.  This has been the bane of astrology where astrological claims have been attacked several different ways by astronomy and the scientific community [7].  I choose astrology because there is a straightforward application of “this then that” when it comes to astrology, and astrological correspondences make up an important component of some forms of ritual magic.  In this case making up a rule set is kind of like creating an alternative science.  Unfortunately because the original science does a pretty good job of evaluating evidence and describing how the world works, you end up with having to play by the same set of rules that science does.  Again, if you claim that your system actually works in the real world, you set yourself up for empirical verification, which almost always results in tears.

Because of the problem of empirical verification, the allegorical interpretation of the systems is superficially attractive. If what is really happening when you follow the rules of magic is spiritual progress, then empirical verification becomes moot (unless you’re a psychologist).  This focus on internal transformation has led to a strong link between magic and psychology in Jung and others.  If “as above, so below” really refers to spiritual enlightenment, then the work done through the magical system is really designed to draw down the enlightenment that exists “above” into the human spirit that is practicing the magic.

Just as astrology is the poster child for the empirical approach, alchemy is a good example of the allegorical approach.  While alchemy started off as a quasi-philosophical pursuit with the Greeks, it quickly became divided between those who pursued the practical application (i.e. chemists) and those that pursued the inner transformation.  It is not surprising that the practical application of transmutation and change in matter branched off and became an accepted science; after all it worked in a reproducible, empirical, sense and could be codified into a scientific discipline.  The mystical and occult aspects of alchemy retained the inner work, because that was less susceptible to being adopted by science.   In the inner work of alchemy it is not the materials that are being changed, but rather the practitioner who is seeking to refine their inner essence or soul.  Just like the Masonic tradition, the perfection and purification of the individual is the end objective, not a practical working in the world.

There are many systems in addition to alchemy that pursue the inner path toward occult enlightenment.  The Golden Dawn and Thelema (OTO and A:A:) traditions all practice different versions of the inner path, or theurgy, the uniting of the magician with the divine [8].  The argument that the primary focus of magic is inner enlightenment or unification of the magician with a supernatural power or spirit is the first example we have seen that avoids the problem of empirical verification.  If magic only has effects on the individual and their inner psychology and spiritual development then no one can challenge its validity.  Except perhaps those who try it and fail to seen any improvement in their condition.

Now I am setting up a bit of an extreme argument here, claiming that the inner working is the only purpose of magic is not a claim made by most magical traditions, even the decidedly Gnostic ones.  As I said at the beginning of the article most traditions are syncretic, using a wide range of arguments and justifications for their magical workings.  However figuring out how magic works when all of the arguments are being made at the same time is like trying to figure out your favorite color from a bucket of black paint.  They’re all in there, but it’s hard to see any one of them.

The problem that I have with an exclusively inner argument is that it is unsatisfying in its lack of distinction between magic and religion.  If magic becomes a system of practice, particularly group practice, which brings about gnosis or the realization of a higher reality, then it begins to look a lot like many religions.  Only with better stuff, fancier rituals, and the threat that some of the practical stuff might actually work.   This argument also leads along the lines of magic being a type of prayer, or a way to connect with the divine.

The loss of distinction between magic and religion begins to make magic a meaningless appendage to religion.  If magical practice is wholly theurgic, or linked to a union with the divine, then magic becomes particular to the Gods and Goddesses, or spirits, involved in its practice.  No longer is magic a universal practice independent of religion: the practical craft to religion’s high art.  Rather it in itself becomes dependent on spirits or the divine for its success.  Thus magic becomes more or less a narcissistic, self-focused, brand of religion.  I say “narcissistic” because the focus of the workings tends to be on gnosis, not social justice or charity [9].

This line of magical working is not wrong or somehow invalid.  Rather I am claiming that any argument that does not somehow tie magic to practical outcomes loses what it is that makes magic unique.  Magic is not only connection with the divine, but also the affect of our actions, will, and intentions on the world.  Without a claim that the world has changed, magic loses its unique character.  It simply becomes yet another path to enlightenment like Yoga, Kabala, or Christian spiritual practices [10].

No matter how you look at it, systemic explanations for magic working boil down to “because I said so.”  The ones that establish practical laws of magic that parallel science fail in their explanation because scientific laws actually do explain how things work, and magical ones don’t.  Indeed in the past magical laws that actually did work, like alchemy, went on to be adopted by science and transitioned from a magical practice to a scientific one.  Systematic explanations of inner change in the magician amount to either a slightly different type of religion, or a set of rules for enhanced mental and psychological functioning.  These make magic into something else, either a religion or a mental discipline, cutting magic off from its relationship to the real world.

All of the explanations that we have covered so far have been rules based.  Either using the rule set we call science to explain how magic works, or some form of hybrid or constructed rules set.  None of these explanations have been satisfying, they have not given us something that cannot either be attacked from an empiricist or theological viewpoint.  They haven’t really explained anything, only asked us to trust that the rules we are using do apply, and that they do what the practitioners claim that they do.  There must be something better.  But finding it means we must thread our way between the rocks of science and the shoals of religion.  However unless we are able to do that, magic will simply disappear into one or the other practice.

In the next couple of columns on this subject we will move from rules based explanations to those that claim magic works by either tying into to the divine powers, or our own internal will.   We will abandon our focus on systems as a way for magic to work, instead looking at things like the intent and focus of the practitioner as ways to find firm footing for magical practice away from either religion or science.

[1]  One thing you have to be very careful about is confusing attribution with reality in the history of magic.  While there may be many claims for ancestry going back to the “original” sorcerer King Solomon, in reality the idea of Solomon as occult magician may have been introduced at a much later date.  Just like you can’t really use scientific analysis to understand magic, its difficult to use historical analysis to explain how magic has developed.  Also, I’m interested in systems here, not necessarily the history of magic.

[2]  He is also seen as the combination of the Greek and Egyptian Gods Hermes and Thoth.

[3]  And thus establishing one of the first and most essential rules for magic.

[4] For example Arabic, folk and traditional, and angelic magic.  There are few really good histories of ritual magic.  They either focus on individuals, or they focus on academic issues such as the relationship between the development of science and magic.  There are few that actually focus on magic as an object in itself, tracing the ideas and concepts in a serious scholarly way.  In fact the best, and shortest, description of magical history as a history of magical ideas, is the introductions to Stephen Skinner’s books.  While he is focused on ritual magic, the history of ritual magic is really the history of magic theory up till modern times.  Stephen Skinner.  The Complete Magician’s Tables, Llewellyn, 2006 and Stephen Skinner and David Rankine.  Practical Angel Magic of Dr. John Dee’s Enochian Tables, Golden Hoard, 2006.  If you have any interest in magic the Complete Magician’s Tables is a must-have.

[5] See, for example, Owen Davies.  Cunning-Folk Popular Magic in English History, Hambledon and London, 2003.

[6]  Remember the vast majority of magical practitioners in the West, for the vast majority of recorded history, have been Christian and practicing a magic steeped in Christian metaphor and culture.  Invoking Pagan deities in a magical context either occurs in ancient or modern neo-Pagan practice.  Unless you count the use of Pagan deities as stand-ins for Christian daemons.

[7]  In addition to the straightforward attack of “you predict this, it doesn’t happen” it can also be attacked through the calculation of forces and influences on individuals and systems.  It turns out the overall force exerted by planets and other bodies is miniscule (other than the moon where there is some evidence for influence on behavior), so the burden is places on astrologers to come up with a way in which planets and other objects could actually influence behavior.  Something they have not been able to do without making something up.  While this doesn’t mean that astrology is invalid, it does mean that they have not been able to prove it is valid to the satisfaction of the scientific community.

[8]  Golden Dawn: http://www.hermeticgoldendawn.org/ OTO: http://www.oto-usa.org/ Thelema (A:A:): http://www.ordoaa.org/

[9]  Nothing wrong with that, but I will point out that the most popular religious teachings very much focus on issues of poverty, social justice, charity, and how we treat others.  While enlightenment and justice may be separated, there are a whole lot of religious teachings that suggest they shouldn’t.

[10]  Which goes a long way to explaining why various Gnostic or mystical practices became increasingly popular as science began to assert itself in the Renaissance and Enlightenment.

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Let’s Spell it Out

Boudicca Andarta January, 2010

Removing Obstacles with Ganesha

LordGanesh Lets Spell it Out

Ganesha is an Indian God with the body of a man and the head of an elephant. The God of wisdom and prudence, he is sometimes called Ganapati, Ganesa or Gajani and he is known as the God of Scribes and Merchants as well as the Lord of Obstacles.

For the purposes of January, we will use Ganesha to help us make wise decisions for the coming year (it is the time to make New Year’s Resolutions after all!) as well as to help to clear the obstacles that lie in the way of getting our goals accomplished.  But before we get to work, let’s take a longer look at Ganesha.

Ganesha has an interesting “parentage”.  I say this because Shiva is his father, but it seems that Shiva had no part in his creation.  Ganesha’s mother is Parvati and there are two legends that explain how she brought him to life.  One is where she used flakes of her skin and the other is where she formed Ganesha form her sweat mixed with dust.  Although now he is depicted with an elephant’s head, this was not how Parvati originally created him.

Ganesha is the only Indian god with an elephant’s head and the story behind this is an interesting one.  Or should I say “three” as there are three legends as to how Ganesha’s head was replaced by that of an elephant’s.  Sometimes he is depicted as having up to five elephant heads, but this is usually not the case.  Ganesha rides a rat and he also has one trunk and four arms holding a shell, a mace, a discuss and a water-lily.  But back to how he got his head…

Both of these legends basically start out the same.  Parvati, Ganesha’s mother, appointed him to be the guardian of the gate to her abode, most notably when she was taking a bath.  Like a good son, Ganesha took his job very seriously and when Parvati said she wanted to see no one,  he turned everyone away, including his father Shiva.  As you can imagine, Shiva didn’t want to be told “no” by his son, but Ganesha flatly refused.  Now, here is where the story starts to waver.  Shiva either lost his temper and accidentally decapitated him, or, he lost his temper and he ordered the decapitation himself.  Regardless as to which version of the story you hear, Parvati was furious by what Shiva did to her son/servant.  In one story, Parvati told Shiva that she wanted nothing to do with him until the situation was rectified, and in the other version, she took actions into her own hands.  In the fist version, Shiva relented to his wife and he said that Ganesha could have the head of the first animal to pass by, which happened to be an elephant.  In the second version, Parvati was the one to secured the head form the first passing creature.  Either way, Ganesha ended up with an elephant’s head.  In the third account, after creating him, Parvati took Ganesha to the other gods to show him off.  Sani (Saturn), didn’t seem to be impressed and burned his head to ashes and it was the compassionate Vishnu that saved him by providing the elephant’s head.  Maybe this is how Ganesha came to be known as the god to call upon when needing to overcome obstacles.

Beloved by the Hindu people, Ganesha is the benign deity to invoke to overcome your difficulties, before going on a journey, moving into new house or starting a new business.  You can see how he can be a great ally when starting new beginnings, especially at the New-Year.  But don’t feel as though you can only call upon him at this time as Ganesha is also the god of wisdom, art, guarding households and fertility (he may have originated as the local forest deity which is a “yaksa”).  Representing both force and cunning; Ganesha rules over good luck, successful enterprises, worldly success and prosperity, writing, literature and books, beginnings and journeys, peace, building and taming dangerous forces.

In India, there are little statues of Ganesha everywhere as he remains one of the most popular Hindu deities.  You can see how popular he is due to his frequent appearances in other deity’s temples.  Sometimes his sculptures are painted red but his offerings are always flowers and dishes of rice.  When worshipped during his August festival, it is said that your wishes will come true.

You to can tap into his wisdom and compassion to set your New Year’s intentions off to the right start.  To get started, you can set up your altar with Sandalwood incense, a bouquet of fresh flowers, a red candle, a bowl of rice and a statue or picture of Ganesha (you can substitute a picture of an elephant if you are lacking a picture of Ganesha).  You will also need a pen and a piece of paper to make out your “wish list” for the coming year.  You can choose to either create Sacred Space or cast a Magick Circle in the manner or your tradition, whichever works better for you.

Place the statute/picture of Ganesha upon your altar and say:

“Ganesha, both man and elephant,

God of scribes and merchants;

Tonight I call upon your prudence

So I start my year with success.”

Now place the offerings of rice flowers before the picture/statue and say:

“Tonight I make a list of goals,

And I ask you to remove all obstacles;

Please grant me financial fertility,

So I know prosperity.”

Light the incense and the red candle and say:

“Lord of Obstacles, share your wisdom

So I can make wise decisions.

As my prayers rise, please light my way

As I step onto this journey.”

Now for the work on your part.  Get out the pen and paper and if you haven’t already prepared a list, brainstorm now as to what you want to bring into your life this coming year.  Also make sure to list what things are obstacles to reaching your goals, especially the things that you will do to sabotage your own success.  Ask yourself what needs to be guarded, where you need to apply force, which situations require cunning, where you can start new beginnings and what areas of your life need more peace.  Make a plan as to how to “stay on track” throughout the year to ensure your prosperity and happiness.

To close your spell, in your own words ask Ganesha to stay with you on your journey and then thank him for his help.  If possible, let the candle burn out and then bury the leaving on your property.  Dispose of the rice in the morning (after the essence has been removed).  Replace the flowers when needed and whenever you feel the need, light another stuck of incense and ask Ganesha for an extra “boost” of wisdom when things get “sticky”.

SOURCES:

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)O( Jaunuary Moon Report )O(

Mi Kali D. January, 2010

)O(  Jaunuary Moon Report  )O(

moon )O( Jaunuary Moon Report )O(


Been looking up, the moon she’s so bright
She’s so white, she’s so clean
I’m telling you, she’s everything.
-PJ Harvey

January Moon Phases

Full Moon:

JAN 29 10:18 pm*

Full moons occur from fourteen to seventeen-and-a-half days after the new moon. Full moons are prime time for rituals for prophecy, protection, divination. Any workings that needs extra power, such as help finding a new job or healing for serious conditions, can be done now. Also, full moons aide work for love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money, divination, and dreams. It is said that full moon magic is like a white candle — all purpose.
Full moon magic can be conjured during the 3 days prior to the rise of the full moon, the night of the full moon and during the 3 days after.

“Traditional belief in the moon’s influence on accidents, crime, and destruction is backed by tales from police, firefighters and ambulence drivers, as well as several controversial scientific studes. We are adviced to take more care of our belongings, our homes, and even our lives at the time of the full moon.”    -Tom Folley

Last Quarter:

JAN  7  2:39 am*

Between the full moon and the dark moon is the period of waning moon. The waning moon is best used for banishing and rejecting those things that influence us in a negative way. Negative emotions, diseases, ailments, and bad habits can all be let go and special spells for clearing can be performed at this time. Saging your home is a great idea during this time.

From three-and-a-half to ten-and-a-half days after the full moon.The waning moon is used for banishing magic, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity.

New Dark  Moon:

JAN 14 11:11 pm*

The new moon is for starting new ventures, new beginnings. Also a good time for love and romance, health or job hunting, anything that is for personal growth, healing and blessing of new projects or ventures. The new moon is also a good time to cleanse and consecrate new tools and objects you wish to use during rituals, ceremonies or an up coming festival or something you just obtained. Some people call the new moon the dark moon and the terms are often interchangeably used.

New moon workings can be done from the day of the new moon to three-and-a-half days after.

First Quarter:

JAN 23  2:53 am*

The first quarter, called the waxing moon is best used for attraction and constructive magic, love spells, wealth, success, courage, friendship, luck, and healing energy.

Between the new and full moon from seven to fourteen days is a period of the waxing moon.

Please Note:

*Moon Phases (above) are at Pacific Standard Time

*Moon in Signs (below)  are at Eastern Time

January Full Moon  Names and Traditions *

Full Wolf Moon,  January Amid the cold and deep snows of midwinter, the wolf packs howled hungrily outside Indian villages. Thus, the name for January’s full Moon. Sometimes it was also referred to as the Old Moon, or the Moon After Yule. Some called it the Full Snow Moon, (but most tribes applied that name to the next Moon.)  It is also refered to as: Quiet Moon, Cold Moon, Chaste Moon, Disting Moon, Moon of Little Winter.

Some facts about the January Moon:
The Full Moon of January honored Ch’ang-O, Chinese goddess of the bedchamber and protector of children.

Ch’ang O

“Ch’ang Ô is the Chinese moon goddess, the younger sister of the Water Spirit. Her husband Shên I, the “Excellent Archer”, was given the drug of immortality by the gods. Ch’ang Ô discovered the pill which Her husband had hidden. Not knowing what it was, but seduced by its delicious fragrance, She ate it. Suddenly She found She could fly. Just then Shên I came home, and realizing what She had done, She fled from Him, up into the sky, until finally She reached the Moon–a glowing white sphere, very cold, with no life save a forest of cinnamon trees. Here She made Her new home.

Her husband in the meantime had come to realize that Ch’ang Ô’s destiny was to be the Goddess of the Moon, as His was to be God of the Sun. He was made immortal also, and given a great house on the surface of the Sun. When He came to visit Cha’ng Ô on the Moon She was afraid at first, but He explained He was no longer angry with Her, and They were reconciled. He built Her a palace of cinnamon-wood and precious stones, and is said to visit Her on the fifteenth day of each month, when the Moon is full.

Some say She was transformed into a three-legged toad, the three legs representing the three ten-day phases of the Moon.

Ch’ang Ô is often depicted with a hare, and the Hare of the Moon can still be seen traced on the surface of the full Moon. She represents the source of yin, the female principle, as Her husband symbolizes yang, the masculine.” -Information about Chango, and artwork by Thalia Took

The New Year in China begins on the first day of the New Moon when the Sun is in Aquarius. This can be as early as January 21 and no later than February 19.
The word January comes from the Roman name for this month; it was named after the god Janus, who had two faces. This deity ruled over beginnings and, endings, the past and the future. Since January is reckoned as the first month of a new year, this connection with the god Janus is appropriate. It is an excellent time to work on putting aside the old and outdated in one’s personal life and making plans for new and better conditions.

)O( Important Events

In addition to the New Moon on January 15th, there is also a solar eclipse on that date.

Other events in January:
Jan. 1: Celebration of the Seven Deities of Luck in Japan and the goddess Fortuna in Rome.

Jan. 2: The Birth of the goddess Inanna in ancient Sumeria.

Inanna

Inanna, which means “Queen of Heaven”, is the Sumerian Great Goddess and forerunner of the Babylonian Ishtar, with whom She shares similar legends. Sumer was a culture located in what is now the southern half of Iraq, between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, known as the “Cradle of Civilization”. It was one of the earliest civilizations on this Earth.

Inanna is the First Daughter of the Moon, and the Star of Morning and Evening. Like Anat and Aphrodite (who is believed to have a Phoenician origin) She is linked to the planet Venus and is a love-goddess.

Her wedding to the Shepard Dumuzi was celebrated on the first day of the new year as a sacred marriage rite, and Her legends show Her to be a woman of powerful sexuality.

Inanna’s descent to the Underworld is similar to the journey of the later goddess Ishtar, with some important differences–Inanna goes to the Underworld to learn of the wisdom of death and rebirth. To be released from Death She must choose a substitute, and offers up Dumuzi, who in Her absence has not mourned. With Dumuzi gone, His sister Geshtinanna, Goddess of Wine, went frantically searching and eventually a bargain was struck: Dumuzi would remain half the year in the Underworld, and Geshtinanna would take His place in the Land of the Dead for the rest of the year.

Inanna in a reading indicates a passionate and overwhelming love that demands all of the beloved, whether a child, lover, or a passion such as music or painting. This love needs to be tempered with compassion and forgiveness or it may hurtle itself to a destructive end.

Titles: Honored Counsellor, Ornament of Heaven, Holy Priestess of Heaven, Supreme Among the Heavenly Gods

-Information about Inanna, and artwork by Thalia Took


Jan. 5-6: Night-time ritual to honor Kore; held in the Koreion in Alexandria. The fifth day of the first month was the birthday of the Chinese god of wealth, Tsai Shen,or Ts’ai-Shen.

Kore

Kore was just a girl when She was abducted by the God of the Dead, Hades (”The Invisible”), and dragged down into the Underworld to be His wife. Her mother Demeter was consumed with grief and searched for nine days, but no one would tell Her anything: for Kore had been abducted with the approval of Zeus, ruler of the Gods, who was the girl’s own father. Finally Helios–who as Sun God sees all–told Demeter what had happened. In anger and despair, She rejected the world of the Gods and wandered among mankind. In Her sorrow, She also withheld Her gifts of fertility so that no crops grew. At this Zeus finally gave in and commanded Hades to release Her daughter.

However when Kore was returned to Demeter, it was found She had eaten a few pomegranate seeds while in the Underworld, binding Her there. As a compromise it was allowed that Kore would spend one third of the year in the Land of the Dead, and two-thirds with Her mother on the Earth. This produces the seasons–for when Kore is away from Her mother, dark winter descends as the Earth sorrows; but When Her daughter is returned to Her, the flowers spring forth in joy.

Kore and Demeter are thought of as two faces of the same goddess, and with Persephone, Kore’s name as Queen of the Underworld, they make up the classic Triple Goddess–Kore (whose name means simply “The Maiden”), Demeter (”Earth/Barley Mother”) and Persephone (”Destroyer of Light”), the Crone or Death-goddess. Within Herself, the Goddess (and Woman) contains the whole cycle of life, from birth to death to rebirth.

An early form of Demeter/Kore as Underworld goddess is the horse-headed black goddess Melaina. Persephone is also sometimes called the daughter of the Underworld river Styx, and mother of Dionysos.

The journey of the Great Goddess through death and rebirth formed the basis of the famed cult of the Eleusinian Mysteries, initiatory rites to the Goddess held in the Greek city of Eleusis that were said to have been founded by the Goddess Herself. Over time the Mysteries became very popular and were considered a highly ethical ritual to take part in that promised eternal life after death. The mystery of Nature’s death and rebirth told through the tale of Demeter and Kore is a women’s mystery that was recognized as humanity’s mystery.

In a reading this card indicates that the situation is more complex than originally thought. Large patterns and cycles are at play here; it may help to keep in mind that things are cyclical and will come around. It can also represent finding your power in a bad situation–after Kore was carried off against Her will to the Underworld, She became its Queen.

Alternate names: Core, Cora, Persephone, Persephoneia, Persephassa

-Information about Kore, and artwork by Thalia Took


Jan. 6: Celtic day of the Three-Fold Goddesses: Maid, Mother, Crone.
Jan.10: Day of Freyja, the Norse Mother Goddess.
Jan.12: Besant Panchami, or Dawat Puja, the Festival of Sarasvati in India or on the closest New Crescent Moon. In Rome, the Compitalia to celebrate the Lares, household gods.
Jan.18: The Theogamia of Hera, a women’s festival for all aspects of this goddess.
Jan.20: In Bulgaria, the Baba Den, or Grandmother’s Day for the goddess Baba Den, or Baba Yaga. In China, a day of the Kitchen God.

Jan.24: In Hungary, the Blessing of the Candle of the Happy Women, a ceremony of purification honoring Fire goddesses.
Jan.27: The Paganalia, a day of the Earth Mother in Rome.

“The moon never beams without bringing me dreams…”- Edgar Allen Poe

Moon In Signs

Moon phases are crucial to magickal workings but there is another valuable tool in the Moon’s magickal arsenal, Moon in zodiac signs. We know the Moon sets the emotional mood for the day, and using those subtle changes to your advantage can change a result from ‘fuzzy or vague’ to ‘perfect!’ To understand how this works, you need to understand how the Moon travels. Simply, it is the astrological sign the Moon travels through and it is something that should be considered when planning magickal workings, or  even mundane tasts. As the Moon’s phases gives off different energies, so too do the astrological signs she visits.  To figure out how the Moon in any particular sign will effect you, consider the nature of the sign the Moon is visiting.  For example,  if the Moon is in Virgo, it would be a great time to tend to details, tidying up, being efficient, make plans, but watch out for anxiety about what could go wrong, overthinking an issue etc.,

January

Last Aspect                                                           Moon Enters New Sign

Date       Time                                                        Date                                           Sign                                         Time

1                10:43 am                                                 1                                                  Leo                                           9:41 pm

3                 4:55 pm                                                   3                                                 Virgo                                         9:52 pm

5                 12:25 pm                                                5                                                  Libra                                         11:58 pm

8                 1:07 am                                                   8                                                 Scorpio                                     5:00 am

10               10:02 am                                               10                                               Sagittarius                                1:10 pm

12               9:43 pm                                                  12                                               Capricorn                                  11:54 pm

15              4:02 am                                                   15                                                Aquarius                                    12:17 pm

17              3:22 pm                                                   18                                                Pisces                                          1:17am

20              1:06 am                                                    20                                                Aries                                           1:36 pm

22               2:46 pm                                                   22                                                Taurus                                        11:39 pm

24               10:03 pm                                                 25                                                Gemini                                        6:11 am

27               1:32 am                                                    27                                                 Cancer                                       9:01 am

28               11:49 pm                                                29                                                  Leo                                              9:10 am

31               1:27 am                                                   31                                                  Virgo                                          8:23 am

Moon Void-of-Course

In about 28 days the Moon circles the Earth and she moves through each zodiac sign in two and a half days as you can see from the chart above. Because she moves one degree in two-two and a half hours her influence is short lived.  Though from the point where she reaches her highest degree within a sign to the point where she is reaching the next sign, it is called ‘void-of-course.’ It’s best to think of this short time period, as ‘dead time’ because plans usually don’t work properly. These are the times when we uncharacteristically exercize poor judgement because actions initiated during this time period aren’t given the full picture. But, all is not lost, this is a good time for just reflecting, not acting. If you are a person that likes to periodically ‘put things off’ well this is a great time for that. You can think about what to do when the Moon is right for it!

January V/C times

Date       Time

1                7:43 am

3                1:55 pm

5                9:25 am

7                10:07 pm

8                 1:07 am  *

10               7:02 am

12              6:43 pm

15              1:02 am

17              12:22 pm

19              10:06 pm

20              1:06 am

22             11:46 an

24              7:03 pm

26              10:32 pm

27              7:12 pm

28              8:49 pm

30              10:27 pm

31              1:27 am *

* These are Eastern Time because only Eastern Time is inicated for v/c moon, all others are set to Pacific Time Zone.

“Double double toil and trouble…” Macbeth

)O( Moon Magic Tip:

If you find that you need to do some spell work and the moon phase doesn’t fit, and you don’t have time to wait…rework your spell.  For example, if you are looking for a new love in your life and the moon is in wane, work a spell for getting rid of lonliness etc.,

References:

http://www.griffithobs.org/skyfiles/skymoonphases2010.html

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.php

http://lunaf.com/english/moon-phases/lunar-calendar-2010/01/16/

http://astrology.about.com/od/themoon/a/FollowingMoon.htm

http://www.thaliatook.com/AMGG/chango.html

The Moon Through the Zodiac Following the Lunar Waves By Molly Hall, About.com Guide

Everyday Moon Magic by Dorothy Morrison

Moon Magick by D.J. Conway

The Book of the Moon by Tom Folley

2010 Llewellyn’s Moon Sign Book

Llewellyn’s 2010 Daily Planetary Guide

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Rites and Rituals

John Conlin January, 2010

Embracing the Wolf Moon

wolf moon big Rites and Rituals

For me, every full Moon represents an opportunity to peer into an aspect of nature and try to find the spiritual relevance for the path I seek to walk.  There are many names given to the full Moons of each month and I believe that each of us must decide which best fits the place we live. In doing so, remember to acknowledge the memories of the past, while maintaining an awareness of the present and casting an eye toward the future. This month, January, I am going to share how I celebrate and understand the Wolf Moon, through my ritual.

I set my altar basically the same for each full moon. I use three candles to form a triangle. There is one to honor the Goddess, one for the God and the third candle to signify the energies joining to create a full moon. Along with the objects I’ve chosen to represent the elements, I will place a few items, small statues and photographs that visually remind the Circle of the wolf. In addition, I include an incense of pine or cedar, something that is able to conjure the deep dark of a forest, an anointing oil of similar design and an ambient music source that contains wolf sounds. If you are unable to find oil you like, try using a small branch from a conifer.  I find that when you include items that pull the senses more deeply into the ritual, the mind more easily follows and stands open within the sacred space. There are many gods and goddesses who are connected with wolves among the different pantheons, too many to mention here, so I suggest that each person does a little research to discover the deities who best relate to their own individual path.  The rituals I lead always begin with a breathing exercise with everyone standing around the altar. Once we have all relaxed and stepped away from the mundane, I start the circle cast. Most reading this probably have a circle cast, so I will not go into detail about the cast that I use. However if there is any interest in learning another one or any questions regarding casting circle, perhaps I can address this in a future column. This is a good place I think, for me to say how honored I feel to be asked to share how I experience this world and to share a little about myself. I am blessed to live in a place, with my wife and our two wolf dogs, where the Earth still sings loud and clear. Here in the forest, I am allowed to witness the cycles of nature. It is a place where salmon come to create anew and are granted release from their long promise. It is a place where a raging river reminds me that change is the only constant, while ancient trees stand patient and wise. Most important though, it is a place that whispers to the spirit, of the magick that exists in just a single breath of fresh air.

Once the Circle is cast, the space is cleansed, purified and sealed, the calls to the Watchers of the Quarters are made. The female and male leading the ritual then call to the Goddess and to the God and in turn light the appropriate candle. Together they hold a large wooden match, igniting it within the God’s flame while saying,” the God shines his light”. Then while moving the lit match into the Goddesses’ flame they say,” the Goddess captures and enchants the light”. Finally they light the full Moon candle saying,” and this night, bathes the world in her light and love”.  When this is completed and the altar is aglow it is time to speak of the meaning and the direction for the ritual. I feel it is important to give those in the Circle a basic framework so they can be at ease with me leading them into a meditative state. For this moon I let them know that we will be thinking about the significance the energies and spirit of the wolf may hold for each of us. Next I will light the incense and begin passing the wolf photographs around the Circle. As everyone is looking at the pictures and connecting in some way to the wolf, I make my way around the Circle to anoint their foreheads and say, ”I connect you to the Earth”. Once anointed each person takes a comfortable seat, within the Circle, closes their eyes and listens. The music begins, a lone wolf howls and I remember when,….

in the midst of a cold winter’s night we huddled together in fear of the wolf. He was a hunter, a walker of shadow, silent and ghostly he would come. Out of the darkness, from where the forest held its secrets and I dared not venture, the wolf crossed into my world.  I sat by the fire, fighting the sleep that called to me tirelessly and felt my heart beat ever faster as the howls grew closer.

Now I have taken much of the land for myself and seemingly conquered the night. I am safe, warm, dry and fed, yet I feel that there is something missing. It is not a thing I have forgotten to gather, but instead something I have lost. Perhaps my quest for dominance has quelled too much, the mysteries of life and I have allowed complacency to overshadow ancient fears that once raced my blood.

I have come full circle and now, as I peer into nature, I can realize what the wolf was always willing to teach me. To embrace the dark of night in the same way I do the light of day, to step away from the fire’s light and trust my eyes to see within the shadows and to remember that I am still a part of the wolf’s world. There is a haunting honesty I can hear in their calls, a cry out to remember that we feel something more, something that we need, to feed our spirit.

After I share these thoughts with out loud with the Circle, I tell everyone to continue with their own journey and I let the music finish. When it is done I give them a few minutes of quiet before gently bringing everyone back to the Circle. We share cakes and ale in some form, honor the Goddess and the God, release the Watchers, then begin to close our Circle. Once the Circle is been opened, we go outside to make an offering and give back some of our energies to the Earth.

Goddess of all that is, within and beyond all that I comprehend,

Maiden of magick, Mother and Crone of Earth and Moon,

I stand beneath you and I am complete,

a precious moment in between.

When I am more than just a man (or woman)

and nothing less than what I dream.

A glimpse of that which always holds true,

of the life that flows through me from you.

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Ask Your Mama

Mama Donna Henes January, 2010

Are you cyclically confused? In a ceremonial quandary? Completely clueless? Wonder no more.

Ask Your Mama™

The What, When, Where, Why, How, and Who of

Ceremony & Spirituality

by

©Mama Donna Henes, Urban Shaman

A Question of Spell Casting

Dear Mama Donna,

This has been a nightmare year for me. One terrible thing after another has been happening. My whacko neighbor keeps hinting that she has put a spell on me. Things have been so incredibly horrendous that I am beginning to believe her. I am totally spooked. Can you put the spell back onto her?

-Helpless in Brooklyn

Dear (Not-So) Helpless,

No, no, a thousand times no!

Your question is one that I receive fairly often, and the answer is always, “Absolutely Not.” Ritual magic is not meant to manipulate others, but to tranceform one’s self. We all need to assume personal response-ability for our own thoughts and actions, our point of view, our path.

There is plenty that you can do for yourself to alleviate, mitigate, make sense of, and maybe even completely alter your current situation — from the inside out. And I would be glad to work with you to that end.

We could purify you from the all the pain and disappointments you have been suffering. We could cleanse you of your paranoia and sense of persecution and defeat. We could begin to repair and enrich your sense of center, of confidence, esteem, and autonomy. We could ceremonially re-claim the sovereign power over yourself that you have given away to this person.

We could work to exercise your will — the will to will your will — to maintain a positive and self-nurturing mode of living. We could create affirmations, blessings, amulets, altars, prayers, protections, and ceremonies for you so that you feel completely safe and free from negative influences — especially your own. We could find creative ways to identify, focus, dedicate, manifest, and project your desire and hopeful intentions for meaningful change.

But we cannot work on your neighbor, or anyone else, without her awareness and permission. We cannot, without consequence, interfere with someone else’s fate. If it gives you any comfort, remember that all things that go around, have a tendency to ultimately come around — all in the course of the cycles and without any interfering help from us!

If she is indeed sending you hateful energy, that is on her, as they say. What you need to deal with is: What is on you?? If, after consideration, you truly want to cast a spell on someone, there are individual (not necessarily representative) unscrupulous practitioners* of every stripe and persuasion who will perform any spell you want for as much money as they can squeeze from your desperation. But then, that is on you.

You mention feeling helpless. We are all helpless to a certain degree in this life. Things happen. Shit happens. Bad things happen to good people every second of every day. Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to rise to whatever the occasion in the finest way that we can. To adapt. To expand. To evolve. To grow. To know. To thrive. Cause and effect, guilt and blame are completely beside the spiritual point.

We can choose to accept adversity as a life lesson — not a punishment, mind you — but as an instructor. A very scary, mean one whom we will never forget. A strict disciplinarian with a sick sense of humor and a wooden ruler. The hardest of times teach us the most about our essential selves; and if all those old wives are right, what doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. Who ever said it was going to be easy, anyway?

The ability of making the best of things is probably our most noble and powerfully human attribute. When life serves us lemons, we can, like Dolly Parton, make lemonade. Or lemon meringue pie. Or lemon furniture polish. Or we can paint lemons, or compose lemon odes, raps, sonatas, arias. Sing the sad songs of lemons. Meditate on lemons, keep a lemon journal, or take a lemon bath.

We can work on developing the trust that everything that happens, happens for the ultimate good. Karma, Fate, Tao, Dharma, synchronicity, serendipity, don’t march in a straight line. The patterns of connection aren’t necessarily clear or obvious or immediate. But in this complex web of a universe of ours, one thing ultimately does lead to another, and it is at our discretion what to do when it does.

Yours for every positive possibility,

Mama Donna

* Certainly most practitioners are well intentioned and completely ethical. But there are always exceptions. As always, use your judgment and trust your instincts.

**Send your questions about seasons, cycles, celebrations, ceremonies and spirit to Mama Donna at: CityShaman@aol.com

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Sexual Magick **Adult Content**

Olen Rush January, 2010

The Dark Feminine as presented in a classical Persian and Arabic Romance Story.

The “Story of Laylah and Mayjun” is a Middle Eastern Tale that has many forms. This most interesting of Middle Eastern Love Stories was known throughout the World and actually provided the basis for Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, as well as being the inspiration for Eric Clapton’s songs “Laylah” and “I am yours”.

This Story is a concealed Mystery teaching on the Divine Feminine and it begins with the fact that “Laylah” means “Night” in virtually all of the Semetic languages.

So, we begin to see upon further examination of the primary characters, that “Laylah” is in many ways a representation of the “Dark Mother”; of the Night, the Moon in its Dark Phase, and the Sun at its lowest point during the Winter Solstice.

Now “Mayjun” actually means “Madness”. He represents the “World in Right Action”; particularly the repressive and overly moralistic Islamic World of that time. It is quite interesting that in this case the “World in Right Action” is named Mayjnun or “Madness”. This is the Bright Solar Male principle.

Some have referred to this story as the Story of “Madness for the Night” or “Laylah and the Madman”.

It is the story of someone who really is “Madly in Love”. It is also the Story of the separation of Sun and Moon that occurs during the “periods” of greatest darkness, and the least amount of Light. In this region of the World, there was a reversal in Celestial Government that occurred at the changes of season. Blessings and Curses were reversed. Saints were cursed and villains were honoured. It was considered that a drop of Menstrual blood from the Demonic entity Lillith poisoned the waters and made them toxic at these specific points in time. Often Orgiastic festivals were conducted, particularly during the Spring Equinox.

This story begins with Sayyid, a wealthy and powerful man without an heir to his legacy. He prays and beseeches Allah to emend this situation, and he is granted a magnificent son, who is named Qays. Qays was tremendously captivating to the eye. It is said that his beauty “grew in its perfection”. As a ray of light penetrates the water, so the jewel of love shone through the veil of his body.”

When Qays reaches school age he meets his fate (kismet)… Laylah. Her hair as dark as her name, her beauty as perfect as Qay’s, it was love at first sight. Yet, this took place in a culture where men and women are still kept separate, and most marriages are still arranged. Otherwise most interactions between sexes were forbidden. This is a tale of the forbidden, a tale of darkness and madness.

Laylah and Qays were so in love, that it could not be hidden. In such a restrictive environment, it was inevitable that it would be noticed. As people talked and rumors spread, Qays, out of his deep affection for Laylah, refrains from seeing her.

To protect her Chastity and her reputation, Laylah’s tribe denies her the right to even see or contact Qays at all. Qays falls into despair, and Madness (Mayjnun) becomes his name. However he also becomes “a poet, the harp of his love and of his pain”. He is in love with that which is by all sense of “Right Action” forbidden to him.

Mayjnun flees to the Wilds, he loses his self there, becomes unkempt, beast-like, and unable to distinguish between good and evil.

He travels with Sayyid to Mecca to seek Divine intervention and hopefully free his self from this Madness. Then, his countenance changes and Mayjnun hammers the Kaaba with blows while crying out “…none of my days shall ever be free of this pain. Let me love, oh my God, love for love’s sake, and make my love a hundred times as great as it was and is!”

Now, Mayjnun begins to wander. He is described as a “Drunken Lion”. He is ever reciting Ballads of Laylah’s great Beauty and of his Love and Feelings for her. As he wanders Mayjnun pours his heart into words of great love and power, and even greater melancholy, in his woeful separation from that which is forbidden to him. These are words are so tender, so magnificently beautiful, and touching that throughout the land his words are recorded.

As others begin to recite these poems of Mayjnun’s great despair, Laylah hears these odes and ballads, and holds her feelings inside, for none could know that these words were of her… these things were forbidden. “…She lived between the water of her tears and the fire of her love,… Yet her lover’s voice reached her. Was he not a poet? No tent curtain was woven so closely as to keep out his poems. Every child from the bazaar was singing his verses; every passer-by was humming one of his love-songs, bringing Laylah a message from her beloved …”

Is this not the requirement in worship to Laylah (the Night) before the Mystic Rites can ever be performed?

As she reminisces and experiences her own longing for Mayjnun (note: longing for the “Madness” of Love), Laylah begins to write out responses to the poems she is hearing and casts them to the winds. This procedure, almost therapeutic in nature, became a small release from her sadness. She refuses any and all suitors and broods endlessly in her despair.

Well, these notes were found and a rash person, desirous of hearing these poems from the lips of the Madness of Love itself (i.e. Mayjnun), brought these letters to Mayjnun to gain just such a favor. Thus a forbidden correspondence was taken up between the two separated and chaste lovers. They are “drunk with passion…”

This is the connection, the messenger of mutual Longing, Passion, Lust is the only medium that can transcend the “world of Right Action” and bring Night and Day together.

This makes the forced marriage of Laylah to another, by her own family a tremendous blow to them both… but particularly to Mayjnun.

So great was Laylah’s husband’s love for her, that he agreed to a chaste marriage. Laylah in turn honoured him with her faithfulness.

Mayjnun retreats to the Wilderness; the wild animals love him and sit in attendance to the recital of his miseries. He expresses thanks to the Divine for the Purity his Soul has attained, and expresses his need for Divine Grace. Mayjnun then experiences a dream wherein he sees a Tree arise in the barren desert from which a bird is roused, and which flying over him lets fall a precious diadem onto his head.

Later in life, Sayyid arranges a meeting between the two; they must stand ten paces apart. Here, in this heart wrenching scene, Mayjnun recites his poetry to Laylah one last time, and they depart in tears.

He refuses the Spiritual advancement normally associated with such fidelity, nobility, and right action. Instead, Mayjnun never releases himself from his love for the Night (Laylah); for that which is forbidden. Then Laylah’s husband passes away and she allows herself to openly mourn her love for Mayjnun. Her heart is unable to bear the realization of her tragic sacrifice, and Laylah dies. Mayjnun hearing of her fate dies upon his lamentations at the site of her tomb.

Sayyid is taking up to Paradise in a dream and sees Mayjnun (Madness) as the “World in Right Action”, and Laylah as the “Moon among Idols” (i.e. in its “Darkness”). However, they are now joined together forever in Paradise.

When he awakens from the dream he realizes “… Commit yourself to love’s sanctuary and at once find freedom from your ego. Fly in love as an arrow towards its target. Love loosens the knots of being, love is liberation from the vortex of egotism. In love, every cup of sorrow which bites into the soul gives it new life. Many a draft bitter as poison has become in love delicious. . . . However agonizing the experience, if it is for love it is well.”

When one is exposed to the lessons of the Dark Erotic Feminine it becomes apparent that the “World in Right Action” is unable to approach near to her in her Beauty, and Forbiddeness. Thus, there is a degree of diminution of the Male Ego that must occur in such Rites. This is, in fact, represented by the Moon’s loss of the reflected Light of the Sun as its dark “Period” occurs. Yet, the true “Desire” of the Dark of Night is to the very “Madness”, the Lust or “Ojas” that is the connection between them.

So, the Male at this time must “Die” to the perception of “Right Action” as defined by the Laws of the World. The death of the “World in Right Action” allows the Male to elevate a normally forbidden action to a Celestial Paradise beyond the concepts of “Permitted” and “Forbidden”. Only in this manner is he allowed the Eternal Communion of her embrace, both in Darkness and in Light.

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Nite Rites

Aurora December, 2009

“Triumph Over Troubles Rite”

We have all experienced times when we are overcome with worry or doubt about something very important to us. This rite is designed to help you move through your worry and start working on a solution.

Supplies

Bowl of water

Bowl of salt

Worry stone

Worry dolls (5)

Pentacle paten

2 small pieces of mirror

Mica and unakite

Strand of silver cord

Two white candles

Incense burner, trivet, and charcoal tablet

Incense of your choice

Chalice with drink

Plate with food

Offering bowl

Altar Set-up

Gather all the materials and place on the altar. The two white candles should be across from each other, as they represent the God and the Goddess.  The God-side of the altar should be on the left and also include the bowl of salt and the plate of food for the offering. The incense burner with charcoal tablet should be on top of the trivet and placed on the left side of the altar. The pentacle paten should be in the middle of the altar. The right side of the altar should have the bowl of water, incense, and chalice with beverage. The offering bowl, silver cord, two mirrors, mica, unakite, worry dolls, and worry stone should be off to the side of the altar.

Rite

Ground and center yourself in your traditional way. Cast a sacred circle and call the powers of the Elements to balance your circle. Light the charcoal tablet and add some incense to it. Light the God and Goddess candles and invite them into your circle to offer their support for your workings tonight.

Hold the mica out in front of you and state your worry out loud into the stone. Encase the mica between the two pieces of mirror and tie them all together with the silver cord. Place the bundle on top of the pentacle paten on the altar. Place the unakite on top of the bundle.  Repeat the following:

    I am captive no more in a place of nowhere,
    Lingering aimlessly in my self-pity and despair.
    I am taking control and lead from this day forth,
    Finding strength within myself – the original source.

Place one of the worry dolls at each of the five points of the pentagram surrounding the bundle. Pick up the dolls, one-by-one starting this the top point and moving widdershins, and state to each doll one thing that you can do to help you move past this worry.  When you are done, say:

    The will, the voice, and the movement are mine.
    I will carry onward as I design,
    New hope and new paths I walk on from here,
    Banishing doubt, worry, sadness and fear.

Pick up the worry stone and hold out in front of you. Repeat:

But if new worries creep into my daily life,

And I find myself consumed in ongoing strife,

I will keep this token by my side,

And hold it close by so to it I can confide.

Dip the worry stone in the bowl of salt, pass it carefully through the smoke of the incense, and then dip it into the water. Then, carefully pass it over the flames of the God and Goddess candles.

In the name of the Mighty Ones,

This token is blessed.

May it serve its’ purpose well,

Doubt, fear and worry it will quell.

Make an offering of drink and food in honor of the God and Goddess. Thank them for the presence. Dismiss the Elements and open the sacred circle. This rite has ended.

Notes

When the issue is resolved, break the mica into two parts and bury them in the ground separately.

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Let’s Spell it Out

Aurora December, 2009

Making Positive Changes with Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom

December 16th is set aside on the Greco-Roman calendar for the goddesses Sophia and Sapientia.  You may notice the word “sapiens” in the name Sapientia, as this is the Roman Latin word for “wisdom”.  This is why we humans are called “Homo Sapiens”.

But the Romans “stole” this goddess from the Greeks, and to them she was called Sophia, the Goddess of Wisdom.  This Greek principle was actually adopted by the Gnostic Christians and she was the primordial female force in the cosmos.  She was sometimes called Pistis Sophia because Sophia descended from the “goddess” Pistis (which means “faith”) who was one of the rulers before the cosmos was even created.  Because of her Christian “roots”, Sophia was widely worshipped during this time of early Christian influence.

According to the Gnostic Christian writers of the time, who were a blend of Judaic, ancient near-Eastern and Greek philosophies, Sophia is described as a primeval element of light.  She as Pistis was one of the Archons (“rulers”), the primordial celestial deities of the universe and the creators of mankind.  In the war between light and dark, Pistis Sophia was the challenger to the primordial “shadow” that became chaos.  She also acts as a mediator between the immortal Archons and humans, or “Homo Sapiens”.

THE SPELL

This is the time of year when we look forward to the Mid-Winter Solstice.  Even though it is the shortest day and longest night, we know that every day after will bring more and more light as we approach the warmth of Spring.  One week after the Mid-Winter Solstice we plan to celebrate the time of Janus, where the month of January gets its name, the time of looking ahead and making resolutions and looking back and analyzing what lessons we have learned over the past year.

You can use the power of Sophia to bring back the light in your life, to make wise decisions and to set goals for the coming year.  For this spell, you only need a candle (color of your choice, white is ideal), a pen, a piece of paper, a calendar and your will to take control of your future.

Gather these items and call to Sophia:

“At this time of the waning light,

Awaiting the rebirth of the sun;

I call to the primeval element of light,

Pistis Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom.”

Light the candle and say:

“I light this candle in honor of You,

To attune with your brilliance.

In this coming year of new,

Please guide my pans with intelligence.”

Now get out your pen and paper.

Look over the past year and ask yourself what lessons you learned (“mistakes” are learning experiences after all!) and what changes you need to make so that the coming year runs more smoothly.  Brainstorm and make a list of goals that you would like to achieve for yourself.  Next, figure out what you need to do to accomplish those goals.  Now, put these items in order of importance.  Spread them out over the span of the entire year if you need to.  Don’t try to makeover your entire life in a couple of weeks.  Be honest with yourself and take baby steps if you have a lot to get done.  “One thing at a time” as they say.

Then, get out your calendar for next year.  Write in brightly colored marker when you will tackle each thing on your list.  When working on things that you wish to attract to you, place these things on the parts of the calendar where the moon is waxing.  Conversely, when working on things to rid from your life, place these “to-do’s” at the time of the Waning Moon.  It’s also a good idea to not make any plans during the time of Mercury Retrograde or when the moon is Void-of-Course as you may get frustrated because these plans will likely not get off the ground.  Again, spread your work out and allow yourself plenty of time to get it all done.  Slow and steady is just fine.

Whew!  That was a lot of work, but, you didn’t do it alone, you had the help of a goddess.  Make sure to giver Sophia your thanks.

“Pistis Sophia, my thanks to You,

For guiding this work I do.

For the good of all and harm to none,

So say I, so shall it be done!”

The next step is to tap into the faith aspect of Pistis Sophia.  You have to have faith in yourself that you will make these positive changes.  Keep in mind that others may not have the same faith in you as you have in yourself, so you may want to keep this your little secret.  Their negative “jabs” may just get you to quit, so don’t give them the opportunity!  Just keep plugging away, and you’ll get your “to-do” list crossed off in no time.  If you feel like something on your list is too tough, simply light a candle and call to Sophia to help you puzzle it out.  Also, to keep the faith, support your physical actions with visualization ad affirmations.  If things don’t play out as you have planned, that’s OK, just reformulate your plan and keep at it.  Don’t ever give up on yourself!

Sources:

Yule:  A Celebration of Light and Warmth by Dorothy Morrison

Encyclopedia of the Gods by Michael Jordan

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The Witch’s Cupboard

Mary DAlba December, 2009

Mistletoe

Mistletoe (Viscum album –European Mistletoe; Phoradendron leucarpum and P. flavescens – Oak Mistletoe/American Mistletoe ) is also known as All Heal, Birdlime, Devil’s Fuge, Donnerbesen, European Mistletoe, Golden Bough, Holy Wood, Lignam sanctae crucis, Misseltoe, Thunderbesem, Witches Broom and Wood of the Cross.   It is known as all purpose or “All Heal” herb by the Druids.  Mistletoe is found in Winter Holiday season and can be found in Europe and the United States.   Also, Mistletoe is a parasite and only grows on a host plant.  So if you decide to grow Mistletoe, make sure to grow it with a plant that you would not be upset if it weakens or dies because Mistletoe absorbs the nutrients from the host plant.   

WARNING:  Mistletoe, including the berries, can be poisonous and should not be picked, ingested or used unless studied thoroughly with an herbalist.

In ancient times, the Druids revered Mistletoe because they believed it was the “all-heal” herb because of its miraculous healing qualities.  They also felt it shared its qualities with the powerful Oak because it could be found growing on the Oak Tree, which they also revered.  During the Winter Season, it was cut with a golden sickle and not allowed to touch the ground.  It was then wrapped in white cloth and offered to the Gods. Magically, it was used for protection purposes against any misfortune, lightening, fire, disease, and bad luck.   Lore tells us that it was placed in children’s cribs to protect babies from being stolen by fairies and replaced with changelings.

Here is some more lore about Mistletoe: Laying Mistletoe near the bedroom door (or placing it under a pillow or hanging it on a headboard) helps to promote restful sleep and pleasant dreams.   To banish evil, burn Mistletoe.  Women can carry Mistletoe to help with conception.  And, of course, we all know the lore of kissing your loved one under mistletoe.   The tradition is that if you kiss your loved one under the mistletoe, you’ll stay in love.  Mistletoe is also known to be the patron herb for locksmiths because Mistletoe is thought to open things that are locked.   If you’re trying to ward off sickness, a ring of carved Mistletoe wood will ward off sickness.   Also, it is said if you’re trying to cure a wound, carry Mistletoe and it will heal quickly.  (Do not apply herb to the wound.) Mistletoe was also the herb that killed Baldor.  Baldor was the courageous and good hearted son of Odin and Frigga.  The only way he could be killed was with the dart of Mistletoe.  Loki, the God of mischief and destruction, could not stand that something could not be destroyed so he disguises himself and has Frigga tell him the secret of how Baldor could be killed.  Loki finds a Mistletoe dart and throws it at Baldor, killing him.  It is thought that this myth illustrates rebirth and transformation because Baldor is so pure, when he dies, the age of purity dies with him, only to be reborn when the world itself is reborn.  Also, this is why Mistletoe is used for protection amulets and spells because it is said to invoke Baldor, where nothing dark or evil can exist.

Remember, this is not a substitution for medical advice so always check with a medical professional to make sure working with herbs or oils are safe for you.

Keywords for Mistletoe

Magickal Uses/Spells:  Protection, Love, Hunting, Fertility, Healthy, Exorcism, Fidelity, immortality and as an aphrodisiac

Deities:  Apollo, Freya, Frigga, Venus, Odin, Baldor

Planet:  Sun, Jupiter

Sign:  Leo

Gender:  Masculine

Element:  Air

Tarot Correspondence:   Tower, Knights, Sixes

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