The Threads That Bind Us

Please note that this year's Witches' Ball has been cancelled due to insufficient ticket sales. We are sorry for the inconvenience and we hope to reintroduce the event next year! Ticket refunds, for those who have purchased one, are available at The Threads That Bind Us.

Blessed be,

Sable

A few weeks ago, I had an idea.

I have been producing a podcast called The Medium, the Witch & the Shaman, which is a panel discussion format in which we gather and talk about spiritual and metaphysical topics. We invite people from out of town to participate via Skype. And I thought: what would happen if we got a panel together of Pagan leaders, authors and elders to discuss things of particular interest to Pagans? With the technology and low expense of Skype, we could reasonably gather anyone from anywhere! And I thought, I have quite a few such people as contacts on my Facebook. Why don't I send them an email about it?

It took me a couple of weeks to work up the nerve, but I thought to myself, Well, all they can say is no, right? And what happens if they say yes? So I sent the email. And the response was overwhelming! I was truly honoured and amazed by the interesting people - people whom I deeply respect and admire - who were willing to be a part of this project!

I didn't want to limit myself to just contacting famous Pagans; though there were quite a few I found on Facebook who are famous. My criteria was that I felt that everyone invited to be a part of the panel has contributed to the Pagan movement or culture in a significant way. Either they have contributed to our literature, our music and culture, our scholarship, connecting us, researching us, teaching our Paths to others, organizing and leading, speaking out for our rights, or pioneering new fields. I also wanted people who have been practicing their chosen Paths for a long time and who have made it a part of their way of life. I have been very fortunate! These amazing people span a variety of Pagan Paths and traditions, and they come from all over the world and all walks of life. They are willing to fight prejudice, instruct the stubborn, and herd cats. They might be known worldwide, or as icons in their own communities, but they are all "Pathfinders;" they have blazed trails for the rest of us, and helped us all to find our own Paths.

I felt it was important to bring these people together because I believe that Pagan networking and communication is essential to the future of Paganism. We have a lot of differences; the truth is, we are really a bunch of disparate faiths with some similar traits and concerns, and bringing us together is no different than bringing together any other multifaith gathering. But it is even more important that we come together, because we are minority faiths in a culture that does not understand us, and the only way that we are going to thrive is to unite as much as we are able. We are challenged by this because we are, by definition, individualists, and our spiritualities are very personal and diverse; and rather than viewing this as a threat, we choose to celebrate our diversity. It doesn't give us a lot of common ground. But we need to find what we can.

We will be gathering next weekend to work out the bugs and maybe introduce ourselves and make a pilot podcast, and I am very excited! Keep up with this blog for more information!

I also invite you to sign up for our website (which, for those who are following us on Facebook, is at http://paganpathfinders.webs.com) to check out the list of our panelistis, or participate in the Forums and join the conversation! And I can't wait to see what will happen!

Blessed be,

Starting in February, I will be offering my "Eight Paths of Power" series once again. These classes have been well received by people in the community and I think they have something valuable to offer any Pagan, Witch or practitioner of magickal arts. I have been actively practicing magick for a long time and this is the result of my work. I will be offering this series in Vernon, Kelowna, and Nanaimo; please contact me for details about the Nanaimo dates.

Here's my write-up that I have put in my brochure:

The Eight Paths of Power:

Also known as the "Eightfold Way," are a series of 8 different techniques used in Wicca to perform magick. As detailed in Gardner's Book of Shadows, they are:

• Meditation or Concentration. Called for short, "Intent".

• Trance, projection of the Astral.

• Rites, Chants, Spells, Runes, Charms, etc.

• Incense, Drugs, Wine, etc. "Intoxicants".

• The Dance, and kindred practices.

• Blood control (the Cords), Breath Control, and kindred practices.

• The Scourge.

• The Great Rite.

Each of the 8 Paths will be instructed in a 6 hour intensive workshop.

Intent

The first and most important element in creating magick is forming your Intent. This clearly focuses your magickal efforts towards a specific goal. All magick (Power of Intention, Law of Attraction, or whatever name you want to call it) flows from the essential ability to focus your Intent. This intensive workshop will include:

• Visualization skills

• Concentration exercises

• Meditation exercises

• How to learn your True Will

• How to beat the “I Can’ts” and “That’s Impossibles!”

• How to clearly request what you actually want from the Universe - and get it!

~ February 6 (Vernon,) February 13 (Kelowna) ~

Trance

Inducing a trance state, an altered state of consciousness, is where most major experiences of magick, mysticism, and psychic ability begin. T intensive workshop in Trance, including:

• Definition of a trance state and how it works

• Examination of altered states of consciousness

• Examination of levels of trance

• How to induce trance states

• How to access psychic ability from a trance state

• Lucid dreaming and shamanic work

• Preparation for mediumship and Drawing Down the Moon or Sun

• Accessing different levels of reality and astral projection

~ March 13 (Vernon,) March 27 (Kelowna) ~

Rites, Chants, Spells, Runes & Charms

This is the most familiar form of Witch’s magick; what people usually think of when they hear the word “Witchcraft.” This intensive workshop in The Craft will include:

• Basic elements of ritual writing

• The art of spell construction

• The Witches’ Rune and its meaning

• Magickal correspondence tables to aid in your spellcraft

• How to use time to aid your magickal Work

• Commonly used chants in group ritual

• The bardic art of memorization

• Archetypes and their relevance to magick

• A study of symbolism and metaphor

• Accessing your creative abilities to create rituals, chants, songs, charms and spells

~ May 7 (Vernon,) May 29 (Kelowna) ~

Intoxicants

Intoxicants have been used throughout history to induce trance and create magick. This intensive workshop in the safe use of these substances will include:

• The safe use of incense in magick

• Particular uses for particular incenses

• The safe use of herbs and spices to induce altered states, psychic abilities, and certain physical effects (such as aphrodisiacs)

• The effect of various commonly-used drugs (marijuana, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine) on your spirit, aura, and psychic senses

• The effect of various prescription drugs on magick

• Safe recipes for magickally-oriented Intoxicants

~ June 12 (Vernon,) June 26 (Kelowna) ~

Dance & Sacred Movement

Dancing is among the most ancient methods by which power was raised and gods were worshipped. This intensive workshop in Dance and Sacred Movement will include:

• Basic yoga poses and movements for meditation

• The Five Tibetans or Five Rites

• How to use dancing to raise and direct energy

• Symbolic dance to represent forces of nature, totems and spirits

• Basic belly dancing as sacred art

• Ecstatic dance as worship of the Divine

• Circle dances commonly used in Wiccan ritual

• How to perform (and lead) a Spiral Dance

All levels of physical ability are welcome! Please wear loose and comfortable clothing.

~ July 17 (Vernon,) July 24 (Kelowna) ~

Blood and Breath Control

Mystics from ancient times have used the breath and blood flow to induce meditative states. Lady Sable Aradia will instruct you in an intensive workshop in the use of these techniques, including:

• The importance of proper breathing

• Basic Pranayama and Yogic Breathing

• Introduction to the chakras and chakra breathing exercises

• Postures to alter blood flow

• Basic biofeedback techniques

• Binding and sensory deprivation as meditation methods

• The Breath of Fire to raise energy

No one will be asked to participate in anything that makes her uncomfortable or puts her at risk.

 ~ September 11 (Vernon,) October 9 (Kelowna) ~

The Scourge

The Scourge is the most misunderstood and controversial magickal technique used in Wicca. More than just a tool, it is a symbol of suffering as a path to enlightenment. This workshop will include:

• A discussion and debate as to the necessity of pain and suffering

• A discussion of near death experiences, disability and Rites of Passage, and how they awaken shamanic power

• Examining how your times of suffering have improved your character and personal power

• Ritual to release limiting attachments

• Guided meditation to meet and come to terms with your Shadow Self

• Creating minor discomfort to induce trance states

• The traditional, proper technique of Scourging in Wicca and why it works.

~ October 16 (Vernon,) October 23 (Kelowna) ~

The Great Rite

The Great Rite, or Sacred Marriage, is an ancient and powerful magickal technique to commune with the Divine. Lady Sable Aradia will instruct you in an intensive workshop on all aspects of the Great Rite, including:

• The theory behind the Great Rite

• Balancing polarities of yin and yang energy

• Sex magick theory and a discussion of how to practice it

• A moving meditation to honour the Divine forces of Creation

• Tantric breathing exercises

• Drawing Down the Moon and Sun

• Performing a Symbolic Great Rite and how to perform an actual Great Rite

~ November 27 (Vernon,) December 4 (Kelowna) ~

I am offering these classes to CWABC members at $25 each; $50 each for non-CWABC members. If you register for all the classes by January 31st, you will get all eight classes at $150 (members) or $300 (non-members,) which is basically getting two free classes! I hope you will consider checking them out. Vernon classes will be here at the shop, and the Kelowna classes will likely be at Quality Greens or Alternative Pathways. I will have more information closer to the date. Please email me for details using the Contact Me button or page.

Blessed be,

In the Psychic Development class that I am currently doing with Lois, we were directed to do an exercise in automatic writing. I haven't had any experience with automatic writing, so I asked for "the idiot's explanation" for how to do it. Lois' Guide explained it as "just like Drawing Down the Moon; you have to get yourself out of the way, and then instead of using your vocal apparatus, you use your hands." I had that eureka moment; that made perfect sense to me! "Yeah!" I thought to myself, "I can do that!"

We agreed that we would commune with Gaia, as an entity (Deity) that we all would be happy to work with (two Witches, a Shaman, and a Spiritualist.) We then did a meditation to focus our awareness, and understanding things from this perspective, I went within and found that connection fairly quickly. I then sat down in front of the computer, closed my eyes, and listened as Gaia dictated the following:

I weep for the wounding you cause to yourselves! I struggle to reach out to you. You do not know your own power; you are brilliant, perfect, passionate and free. The chains that bind you are the ones of your own making. They are illusions. They are only as real as you permit them to be. How can you not hear the cry of your brothers and sisters, with whom you share this earth? Why do you deny yourselves, and allow yourselves to live in fear? Reach beyond these things! You do not have to be taught how to feel the love/pain/passion of the creatures you share this place, this body of Mine, with. You just need to remember.

Take a moment now and reach out, reach like you did when you were a child. First, take your arms to the sky. Look into the sun and the clouds above you. Watch the clouds rolling past, gently shifting and changing. Do you remember what it was to feel you could touch the sky? Reach out with your arms, and your awareness, and then when you have floated through the clouds long enough to lose yourself in them, just do it! You can fly. Like the transformation of Arthur when he learned to be a Druid, you can transcend the limits of your physical form and soar with the birds, sail on the clouds, touch the Macrocosm that is the Star Goddess or Father Sky. Let your heart lift you into that free space. Here, there is no time and no space; there is only you and your heart.

And now, can you see the other hearts that share this space/time with you? When you realize that you are not constrained by matter, you know that you can do anything, be anything, connect to everything and all. You are luminous beings of light and stars and love. Release your limitations and inhibitions and just BE.

Now, look to My body beneath you. Do you see Me? No, you see lights, and cities, and fields, but where are My wild places where you can reach Me? Hidden in the street lights and the concrete and the smog. But My loves, I am still here. And now, some of you are beginning to awaken to that knowledge.

Sit very still, or lie still, with your body touching Mine. Lay on grass or rock or sand; do not lay on the floor. Stretch your arms out now and touch Me! I am real, and solid, and like you I have a body. Mine is just bigger, and slower. The cycles of your life are echoes in the cycles of My seasons. It’s just slower for Me. To My eyes, you are all flickering brief candles, passing in and out of the world like winking starlights. But you are part of My body, just like each organ and tissue that you have in your bodies. So understand, you are not a cancer or a blight, as some have said. You are meant to be here at this moment in time/space. You are like a baby growing in My womb, and you are taking over My resources and draining My energy, and you are growing faster than I am ready for, but you are just infants, zygotes, growing and changing and dividing and determining who you are.

All you have to do to complete this cycle is finish your growth, change, and Awaken! Stop resisting the birth pangs; you have no choice to be born. If you do not, both of us will die. Awaken, accept that change is necessary and that there will be growing pains, and know that I always love you and I am waiting to catch you in My arms, when your consciousness is awake enough to speak to Me at last.

I felt the need to share Gaia's message and so I'm posting it here. I will also be posting this on the new the Medium, the Witch, and the Shaman website, where you will also find Vicky's message from Gaia.

Blessed be,

The planets have been called upon for hundreds, even thousands of years, for their magickal properties. Some of this has come down to us through astrology, but some of it remains strictly the providence of magicians, Witches and other Will-workers. At the request of my students from the Wise Woman festival, I’d like to offer this brief article about some of those traditional associations and properties, so that you can call upon them in your magick and your everyday life!

The Sun (Sunday): Health, prosperity, leadership, success, protection, joy, ego, fathers, husbands. Metal – gold; Herbs – St. John’s Wort, saffron, chamomile, marigold, mistletoe, rosemary, chicory, High John the Conqueror; Scents – cedar, clove, cinnamon, frankincense, juniper, marigold, rosemary, rue.

The Moon (Monday): Emotions, intuition, healing, women’s mysteries, art & music, beauty, psychic abilities, subconscious, protection, spirituality, dreams, wives, mothers. Metal – silver; Herbs – white rose, birch, chickweed, cleavers, willow, yarrow, mugwort, wormwood; Scents – coconut, eucalyptus, gardenia, jasmine, lemon, lotus, myrrh, sandalwood, ylang ylang.

Mercury (Wednesday): Travel, learning, higher education, communication, expression, writing, healing, alchemy. Metals – mercury, electrum; Herbs – caraway, dill, fennel, hazel, spearmint, lemon balm, marjoram, parsley, lavender; Scents – bayberry, lavender, lemongrass, spearmint, clary sage.

Venus (Friday): Lovers, love, pleasure, desire, beauty, women, women’s health, hedonism. Metal – copper; Herbs – Elder, cypress, daisy, foxglove, ivy, violet, vervain, plantain, thyme, sorrel, rose, apple, strawberry, alder, tansy, marshmallow, primrose, evening primrose; Scents – African violet, apple, cherry, rose, jasmine, lilac, patchouli, vanilla, ylang ylang.

Earth: Money, health, home, safety, healing, strength. Metals – all; Herbs – Betony, dittany of Crete, moss, cedar, spruce, patchouli; Scents – Patchouli, niaouli, cypress, myrrh.

Mars (Tuesday): Physical energy, war, lust, victory, cutting & surgery, soldiers, strength, courage, law, accomplishing goals, men. Metal – iron; Herbs – basil, thistle, holly, pepper (all varieties); Scents – carnation, ginger, peppermint, pine, dragon’s blood.

Jupiter (Thursday): Religion, philosophy, expansion, luck, business, attracting more of what you have. Metal – tin; Herbs – milk thistle, agrimony, sage, balm, hyssop, borage, cinquefoil, nutmeg, oak; Scents – Sage, sandalwood, nutmeg, lime, anise, clove.

Saturn (Saturday): Structure, form, reality, limits, tests, obstacles, resistance, endings, hard work, real estate, karma, age, death, bones. Metal – lead; Herbs – Mullein, comfrey, nightshade, hemlock, henbane, hemp, knapweed, mandrake; Scents – Black orchid, iris, myrrh, black pepper, opium poppy, patchouli, violet.

Uranus: Astrology, technology, inventions, innovation, counselling, originality, sudden events. Metals – zinc, magnetite, uranium; Herbs – Allspice, clove, ginseng, linseed, nutmeg, lobelia, peppermint, pine, wormwood; Scents – Peppermint, clove, nutmeg, pine.

Neptune: Mysticism, music, imagination, dance, illusion, Dionysian pleasures (drugs, sex, alcohol, etc.), sleep. Metals – platinum, cobalt, neptunium; Herbs – Most drugs & poisons, belladonna, opium poppies, valerian, coffee, chamomile, coltsfoot; Scents – gardenia, opium, hemp, wine, honeysuckle.

Pluto: Investigation, the Underworld, insurance, wealth, loans, transformation, death. Metals – tungsten, bismuth, plutonium; Herbs – Galangal, pennyroyal, pomegranate, narcissus, musk; Scents – Galangal, musk, petitgrain.

Blessed be,

Reprinted from the website of "Witches & Pagans Magazine" by permission:

It has been my experience that many people get involved in Wicca because they like the lack of rules. We don’t have a lot of “Thou shalt nots.” All we have is the Witch’s1 Rede, they say. But there are many unspoken rules of ethics that we think of as being essentially “Wiccan.” Why? Where do they come from?

The answer should be self-evident but often isn’t. What is the one piece of liturgy that Wiccans really have? The answer is the Charge of the Goddess.

Most modern Wiccans treat this prose as a lovely way to invoke the Goddess. It does work well that way. But consider the original meaning of the word “charge”. It is a command, a responsibility laid upon someone, an exhortation, a duty, an injunction, or being entrusted with someone’s care. It is a series of rules!

In order to illustrate this, and illustrate how this piece of liturgy defines our Wiccan ethics, the remainder of this article will be concerned with breaking down the Charge into its component elements and paraphrasing them in a less poetic fashion. I will present both Doreen Valiente’s version and Starhawk’s version, since both are utilized among different Wiccan traditions. Though there are other versions, these are the most commonly known. There are also some slight differences (some elements present in one version may not be present in the other,) and so these differences need to be addressed as well.

I. The Names of the Goddess

Valiente:

Listen to the words of the Great Mother;

she who of old was also called among men

Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine,

Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Cybele, Arianrhod,

Isis, Dana, Bride and by many other names:

Starhawk:

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, Who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arionrhod, Brigid, and by many other names:

The Goddess says, first and foremost, “Listen!” I don’t believe that this is merely a poetic way of beginning the charge; I believe She’s telling us to listen!

Many of the same Goddesses appear in both versions of the Charge. The goddesses common to both versions are: Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Arianrhod (different spellings,) and Bride/Brighid. Just among these goddesses there is diversity: maidens, mothers, and crones. (The additions to this list probably reflects the taste of the authors.)

This list of goddesses included in both versions, have messages that the Lady (or at least, those inspired by Her to write this prose) wants us to pay attention to. We can also gather that we should accept a balance of forces – life and death; Maiden, Mother and Crone; intellect and passion; love and war.

In both cases, the Goddess is named “Great Mother ... and by many other names” and therein comes the Wiccan belief in the One Goddess being present in all goddesses. But it also acknowledges that these individual Goddesses are separate beings with their own individual areas of concern, otherwise why mention them separately at all?

By listing Them together, the authors are also asserting that all these goddesses are equally worthy of our respect. I would think that it would be important, then; if we follow a goddess Who is not mentioned in this passage of the Charge, we should make sure to include Her when we recite it.

II. Gathering Together

Valiente:

Whenever ye have need of anything,

once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full,

then shall ye assemble in some secret place

and adore the spirit of me,

who am Queen of all Witcheries.

Starhawk:

Whenever you have need of anything, once a month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me Who is Queen of all the Wise.

Our Goddess is less demanding than some gods we know (who demands a gathering at least once a week!) but She still requires that we gather together. She continues, “Better it be when the moon is full.” Why?

Most Witches know that magick brought to fruition on the full moon has the power of the waxing moon behind it. Maybe it’s just because the Full Moon has always captured the imagination of humankind, and everything looks more magickal under Her light.

The Goddess also says, “You should gather in a secret place.” Once a month, She wants us to gather away from the public eye. I believe this is because much of a Witch’s work is mystical in nature and should be a personal, private thing, shared only to those who are willing to understand. I also believe that the Inner Work (the mysticism) is necessary before you can presume to do the Outer Work.

The Lady also says, “You shall adore Me, who is the Queen!” That means that we need to worship and respect Her, not demand things of Her like a servant. She’s bigger than us, and we need to keep that in mind. If She directs us to do something that we don’t understand, we just have to remember that She is the one who commands us. Note that She says “adore,” not “fear” — we don’t need to fear the Goddess. I believe that means that She also loves us, because love has to work in two directions in order to be real love. This is a very important distinction.

III. Sorcery & Magical Training

Valiente:

There shall ye assemble,

ye who are fain to learn all sorcery,

yet have not won its deepest secrets;

to these will I teach things that are yet unknown.

Starhawk:

Starhawk has no equivalent section.

Which Charge do you follow? This is the first really significant difference between these two charges: in Valiente's version, you are commanded to learn magick. If you choose to follow Starhawk’s Charge, there is no requirement to learn (or do) magick. So if you are someone who follows the Wiccan faith but you don’t practice magick, you shouldn’t follow Valiente’s Charge, because it is quite clear here that magickal training is expected. It also states that unless you have “won its deepest secrets” (and anyone who thinks they have is, in my opinion, suffering from High Priestess Disease,) you need to always keep learning.

IV. Freedom from oppression — and clothes (or maybe just bling).

Valiente:

And ye shall be free from slavery;

and as a sign that ye be really free,

ye shall be naked in your rites;

and ye shall dance, sing, feast,

make music and love,

all in my praise.

For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit,

and mine also is joy on earth;

for my law is love unto all beings.

Starhawk:

You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked in your rites.

Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My Presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy on earth.

For My law is love is unto all beings.

Ah, some of my favorite verses!

The Goddess says, “You shall be free from slavery.” This is a good reason to believe that Wicca is a countercultural movement. In order to be free, we have to think for ourselves, and we should also abhor slavery and try to fight it.

She also commands that we shall “be naked in our rites.” At one time, all Wiccans took this to mean skyclad (clothes-free) practice, but most of us have since adopted ritual robes instead. I suppose the question is, what did She mean by “naked?” The obvious answer is, of course, “without clothing” but it can also mean unadorned. So what does that suggest about our custom of wearing cool Witch bling and fancy amber and jet necklaces? I think the idea is to remember that we are all equals before the Goddess.

Next, we are exhorted to “sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in Her presence/praise.”

So, She wants us to make a joyous noise, to sample freely of the fruits of life, to offer up celebratory and joyful movement, to create art, and to love. No sitting on hard pews being quiet for us! She wants us to be noisy! She wants us to shout with joy! She wants us to love freely and without guilt!

This was a very important realization for me, because I tend to be a serious person by nature. To emphasize this message, She goes on to remind us that Hers is the “ecstasy of the spirit,” and “joy on earth;” meaning that She is the one who grants these things, and that is Her realm.

Last, the Lady announces that “Her law is love unto all beings.” That includes the jerk who cut you off in traffic, the miserable boss who is riding you for no good reason, the irritating cousin you would rather not admit that you know, that dog next door that won’t shut up at 3 a.m., mosquitoes and wasps and spiders and snakes and beetles too. All beings. Period.

V. Striving

Valiente:

Keep pure your highest ideal;

strive ever towards it;

let naught stop you or turn you aside.

Starhawk:

Starhawk writes no equivalent passage.

I think this passage doesn’t require much interpretation. The Goddess wants us to hold to our highest ideal (note that She said, “your highest ideal,” not “My highest ideal,” to always work to achieve it, and not to allow anyone to dissuade us from it or distract us from it. Those who are familiar with the work of Aleister Crowley’s work will recognize this as a clear command to focus on, and work consistently to achieve, our True Wills!

VI. Youth and Immortality

Valiente:

For mine is the secret door

which opens upon the Land of Youth,

and mine is the cup of the wine of life,

and the Cauldron of Cerridwen,

which is the Holy Grail of immortality.

Starhawk:

Mine is the secret that opens the door of youth, and Mine is the cup of wine of life that is the cauldron of Cerridwen, that is the holy grail of immortality.

There is a fine distinction here, again, that needs mentioning between the two Charges. Valiente refers to the “secret door which opens upon the Land of Youth,” and Starhawk refers to the “secret that opens the door of youth.” This distinction represents a difference between Gardnerian Wicca and Reclaiming Wicca. For the Gardnerians (Valiente’s tradition,) the Land of Youth is the Summerlands, where we go when we die and our beauty and youth is restored; the process of earning entry into the Summerlands is an occult mystery. For the Reclaiming Witches, the “fountain of youth” is a state that can be reached by anyone of any age through the Secrets of the Goddess. For Doreen Valiente, the Goddess asks us to seek the Summerlands through occult practice, while for Starhawk, the Goddess wants us to seek inner youth and bring that freshness to our everyday lives, regardless of our age.

Either interpretation fits into the rest of the passage, in which the Lady claims the mysteries of Life, Death, and Rebirth as Her own. “The cup of the wine of life” can be seen both as the joy of Life celebrated and as the Mother’s womb. The Cauldron of Cerridwen is the cauldron of transformation, in which we all are slain and reborn in a new form; the tomb that is also a womb. By claiming these mysteries, the Goddess tells us not to fear death, but to accept it as part of the process of life. She tells us to remember that all things come in cycles. She reminds us that no matter how difficult things are, this, too, shall pass.

VII: Life After Death

Valiente:

I am the Gracious Goddess,

who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man.

Upon earth, I give the knowledge of the

spirit eternal;

and beyond death, I give peace and freedom

and reunion with those who have gone before.

Starhawk:

I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal, and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before.

The Lady says, “If you’re in touch with My mysteries, then you should know that the spirit is eternal. When you die, I will give you peace, and freedom, and I will see that you are reunited with those you love whom you have lost.”

What form this reunion takes is up for debate in the Wiccan community. Some non-theist Wiccans believe that there is no life after death; others believe that we are all reunited in a collective race consciousness; while still others (myself among them) believe that our spirit continues and we get to hang out with the cool people we love and miss in a world very similar to this one. (Except that since it’s the Land of Youth, we all get to be at our physical prime again!)

VIII: The Mother of All Living

Valiente:

Nor do I demand aught in sacrifice;

for behold,

I am the Mother of all living,

and my love is poured out upon the earth.

Starhawk:

Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things and My love is poured out upon the earth.

So, our Goddess does not ask for us to sacrifice anything. I believe this also means that She doesn’t want any martyr complexes.

I think there is a difference, however, in that if we freely offer Her a sacrifice, She will be pleased to accept it. At every Esbat I offer Her the first portion of the wine and the feast; at every harvest, I offer Her the first portion of my carrots, grapes, pumpkins and so forth. I offer it freely in gratitude for what I have received. I feel She’s happy to have it and appreciates the offer. But, She doesn’t demand it!

She goes on to remind us that She is the Mother of all living things and She loves all of them. Note, too, that She makes sure to clarify by telling us that Her “love is poured out upon the earth,” that this includes plants and spirit-beings as well. I think this may be the seed of Pagan environmentalism, which accepts all living things as the Great Mother’s creation.

IX: The Star Goddess

Valiente:

Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess;

she in the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven,

and whose body encircles the Universe.

Starhawk:

Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of Whose feet are the hosts of Heaven, whose body encircles the universe:

Who is the Star Goddess? Well, this is the Great Cosmic Goddess, of Whom all Goddesses are but a part. Either the dust of Her feet are the hosts of heaven (a.k.a. the gods,) or those hosts of heaven are in the dust of Her feet. I take that to mean that they are merely a part of Her greater whole. And since Her “body encircles the universe,” She encompasses all of us and we are contained within Her. I can’t help but make that “eat my dust!” connection as well. She is far beyond the hosts of heaven (the gods;) She leaves them in Her dust. So this is the Goddess of the gods that we are listening to now! I don’t know if I can effectively communicate in this short space how truly profound this statement is if you consider it. So, the Great Creatrix wants to tell us something. Maybe we should listen!

X. The Soul of Nature

Valiente:

I who am the beauty of the green earth,

and the white Moon among the stars,

and the mystery of the waters,

and the desire of the heart of man,

call unto thy soul.

Arise, and come unto me.

For I am the soul of nature, who gives life

to the universe.

From me all things proceed,

and unto me all things must return;

Starhawk:

I Who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return.

The Creatrix identifies Herself with the earth, the moon, and the mysterious waters. The earth, moon and waters all change; cycling through seasons, phases and tides. They have been here long before us and they will be here long after we are gone. They are cradles of life, but they also have phases of death and darkness, ebb and flow.

The first lesson here is to accept change and transformation, to appreciate the beauty in the world around us, and to spend time observing that world. The second lesson is that She wants us to look to the natural world for the sacred. She tells us that She is “the beauty of the green earth.” Again, Pagan environmentalism is reinforced. If the earth is sacred, and our Goddess is there, we must, must care for it and treat it with reverence and respect!

XI. The Rapture of the Infinite

Valiente:

and before my face, beloved of Gods and of men,

let thine innermost divine self be enfolded

in the rapture of the infinite.

Starhawk:

Starhawk again writes no equivalent.

Valiente’s Goddess tells us that in Her presence, we are loved by the Gods and by humanity. She reminds us that our innermost self is divine and she asks us to “be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite.” In this simple phrase She reminds us to appreciate that profound divine eternal mystery hinted at in the earth, moon and sky, and ocean, but She also encourages us to seek that mystical state of enlightenment that is impossible to describe if you have not experienced it; that state of religious ecstasy that some call nirvana, some call satori, and the Witches call “Drawing Down the Moon.”

XII. All Acts of Love & Pleasure

Valiente:

Let my worship be within the heart that rejoiceth;

for behold,

all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals.

Starhawk:

Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices,

for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are

My rituals.

The Goddess commands us to worship Her with joy, and explicitly endorses that one of the most sacred acts of ritual and worship that we can offer to the Lady is to celebrate love and pleasure. Sexuality becomes sacred! This is the foundation for why many Wiccans and Pagans do not constrain their relationships to heterosexual monogamy. What this section means, exactly, is much discussed in our community. Some more traditional Wiccans believe that the balance of male and female is preferred, but many others accept many alternate forms of sexuality. When you take this proclaimation together with the self-acceptance and appreciation of nakedness earlier in the Charge, it makes for a very liberating sexuality in which shame and embarrassment should never play a part. But take note: because sexuality is sacred anything that cheapens that experience insults an act which should remain sacred, and hence, is blasphemy.

XIII: Wiccan Virtues

Valiente:

And therefore let there be beauty and strength,

power and compassion, honour and humility,

mirth and reverence within you.

Starhawk:

Let there be beauty and strength, power and

compassion, honor and humility, mirth and

reverence within you.

This passage describes a set of Wiccan Virtues, and it is the most ethically explicit part of the Charge. Note it is a list of virtues, not of sins — we are exhorted to embody these virtues, not to avoid disobedience of a set of rules. Note the balance emphasized here; the Goddess wants beauty and strength, not beauty or strength; power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence. When Wiccans speak of finding balance, I think it is these qualities we are especially trying to balance within our own characters.

XIV: Finding the Goddess Within

Valiente:

And thou who thinkest to seek for me,

know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not

unless thou knowest the mystery;

that if that which thou seekest

thee findest not within thee,

thou wilt never find it without thee.

Starhawk:

And you who seek to know Me, know that the

seeking and yearning will avail you not,

unless you know the Mystery: for if that

which you seek, you find not within yourself,

you will never find it without.

To me, this is the most profound passage in the Charge: the Goddess tells us not to waste time looking to others for our validation and for the mysteries that are Hers, but to look within. So for anyone looking for a great Wiccan guru to teach you how to find the Goddess; well, cut that out! A good Wiccan teacher will try to show you how to find those answers for yourself. The Goddess also reminds us that changing what is within changes what is without. If you want to change your world, change your perspective, and be the change you would see in the world. “As above, so below.”

XV: The Beginning and the End

Valiente:

For behold,

I have been with thee from the beginning;

and I am that which is attained

at the end of desire.

Starhawk:

For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am That which is attained at

the end of desire.

In Her last statement, the Lady reminds us that She will be with us at the beginning and the end, and She has always been with us, and She is what we ultimately seek. For me, that’s a pretty comforting thought.

The Charge of the Goddess is a very profound ethical code as well as a statement of theology and cosmology. If you include it with the Witch’s Rede and the Threefold Law, Wicca is full of ethical direction! I hope this has helped to clarify some of it, and even if you don’t agree with my interpretations then I hope I have inspired you to give some extra thought to yours!

References:

www.dictionary.com

Starhawk, “The Charge of the Goddess,” from The Spiral Dance, 1975, 2010.

Valiente, Doreen, “The Charge of the Goddess,” from The Gardnerian Book of Shadows, reprinted at www.sacred-texts.com, 1957, 2007.

1. Author’s Note: By habit and because it is traditional in our practice, I may use “Witch” and “Wiccan” interchangeably. However, it is my belief that the two are not necessarily synonymous. “Wicca” is the religion and “Witch” is the practice. I believe you can be a “Witch,” who practices the art of magick, and not be a “Wiccan” in your beliefs, and I know a few “Wiccans” who believe in the faith and ethics that do not practice magick and are therefore not “Witches.” This article concerns Wiccan belief, not the beliefs of all Witches, and I have tried to make that differentiation clear. For the record, I am a Witch who happens to embrace the Wiccan faith.

Successful magick is founded on four basic principles. These valuable skills are known as the “Four Powers of the Magus” or the “Witches’ Pyramid.” Each of them is based in one of the Four Elements:

Air (East) Noscere “To Know”

Knowledge is the first key to successful magick. You have to know what you are doing and how to do it. You have to know how to express your desires clearly in a way that the Universe will comprehend what you are asking for. You need to know that you will never know everything and seeking knowledge is a lifetime’s quest. You also need to know yourself!

Fire (South) Audere “To Dare”

Magick is an act of courage. It takes a great deal of courage to ask the Universe for what you want/need, and expect to get it! We are told our whole lives that magick is impossible, or if it is (such as in the form of miracles,) that we are not worthy. You must, if you wish to succeed at magick, dare to ask, and dare to receive as well! You must also dare to proceed even if you feel that your knowledge is less than perfect. How can anyone, including the Divine, know what you need unless you ask for it?

Water (West) Velle “To Will”

Focusing your Will is essential. In order to do this, you have to be able to know what your Will actually is! Then, you have to be able to concentrate that Will to manifest your desires, without getting in your own way. Since focusing your Will is both a conscious and an unconscious exercise, you must learn to master your subconscious mind through visualization, meditation, and self-exploration, maybe even therapy. You must not allow obstacles to stop you. As Doreen Valiente said, “Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let none stop you or turn you aside.”

Earth (North) Tacere “To Keep Silent”

Once it was believed that speaking about your magick reduced its power. Certainly, exposing your desires to others who may have desires that conflict with yours will cause interference, and exposing magick to those who doubt it means that your Will with have to contest with their doubt as well as your own! For this reason I don’t tend to speak about my magick until it has been achieved. Also, bragging, boasting or threatening others is ill-advised, and the true Magus/Witch recognizes that speech itself is a form of magick. Don’t wish harm on to others or spread gossip, and be careful what you wish for; you just might get it!

Spirit (Centre) Ire "To Go"

Together, the Four Powers create the ability "to go"; that is, to go forth with magick that moves and acts (though some systems do not include this fifth element, especially the traditional ones based in ceremonial magick, though it is implied.) If you Know what you need to do, Dare to do it, Will it into existence, and Keep Silent so that no one can interfere with your desire, and your magick will flow freely without any additional effort on your part, and you will achieve your magickal goals!

Blessed be,

True Will should spring, a fountain of Light, from within, and flow unchecked, seething with Love, into the Ocean of Life.

- Aleister Crowley, “Little Essays Towards Truth”

With Midsummer fast approaching, I am reminded that this is the traditional time for most herb gathering.  Witches tend to believe that herbs gathered on the Summer Solstice have the most magickal power.  I am sure that the practical reason for this is that the herbs are at the fullness of their growth right now, and therefore contain the best possible combination of their healing properties.  It has been warm for long enough now that most of the plants are fully developed, but the heat and dryness has not leached those healing properties and natural juices from them.

Like anything in nature, this isn't a firm rule.  I am refering only to the majority of plants, especially anything where the leaf is the relevant part, or the flower and the flower is in full bloom.  Plants I have been gathering include sage, chamomile, rose petals, marigolds, red raspberry leaves, plantain, and most culinary herbs (like the oregano and basil I have growing in my garden.)  If the plant typically blooms earlier and it's the flower you want (like, perhaps, violets,) you will obviously have to gather the flowers at the time in which they bloom!  Some herbs, like the feverfew and the mullein, have not reached their full growth yet and so I should wait until they do.  The lavender flowers have yet to bloom, so I must wait for those, but I have gathered some leaf to use in sage bundles.  Gather fresh flowers by "deadheading" the plant before the flower is actually withered; it may make your plant look less pretty, but withered and wilted flowers have less of their herbal healing properties.

Roots, on the other hand, are best gathered in the spring and fall, when the plant has either yet to expend its energy creating big leaves and stalks, or when the plant has given up on that effort and is now concentrating on making strong roots to survive the winter.  So dandelion roots, for example, are best acquired when you can see the distinct leaves in your lawn, but before the flower blooms (which actually is a good excuse to go weeding, when you think about it.)  This is also true of plants in which you want the rhizomes (like oregon grape.)

Occasionally, certain plants get a sudden "boost" of healing properties and/or flavour when the first frost comes.  Rosehips and grapes are common examples of this, but wormwood, mugwort and mullein are also so affected (which is probably why they are associated with Crone goddesses and Samhain.)

In the case of some plants, it's the buds you want, like balm of gilead, so you must gather those when the buds are out but before they open.  And from some you want seeds, fruits or nuts; late summer to early fall is the obvious best time to find those.  Make sure you gather them before they fall from the tree to ensure a minimum of mold and rot.

Some plants you can continue to gather in the winter, like any evergreen leaf, and anything in which you want the sap (the maple tree is perhaps the most obvious, but you can also gather bits of pine sap to make incense.)  Also, many mosses and parasitic plants continue to grow throughout the year (like Irish moss, Old Man's Beard, and the famous mistletoe.)

Wood can be harvested almost any time of year, but please try to avoid it in the spring when the sap is flowing, because you may harm or even kill the tree.  Some Witches will tell you never to cut a tree, but only take any deadfall or already cut pieces.  I don't think this is entirely practical; obviously avoid harm whenever possible, but some projects require wood to be green and then dry in order to work.  Just don't destroy the tree and take the wood respectfully and with an eye to not harming the tree, and if a dead stick will do, don't take a live one.

Always gather plants at the fullness of their growth, before withering and decay has set in.  Gather plants, especially ones taken for magick, with mindfulness and purity of intent.  Do not decimate a whole sagebush to make sage bundles; this would be very disrespectful and likely offend the spirit of the plant, making it ineffective for its intention of clearing energy.  Don't rip up the whole chamomile plant if you can avoid it, just pull off some flowers.  Ask the plant's permission and whenever possible, leave an offering.  (Some people have very strong ideas of what constitutes a proper offering.  Something intended to lend a plant spiritual energy, that is not toxic to it, is generally appropriate in my opinion.  I often leave pure water, or milk and honey for the fey spirits of a tree.)  Also, do not gather plants in the rain or excessive damp because it encourages mold growth, or in the excessive heat because it withers the plant and leeches its healing properties.

Many Witches use a dedicated tool - often a white-handled knife, or white-handled knife with a curved blade - called a bolline to gather herbs. In some traditions, these knives are made entirely of wood to avoid offending a plant's faerie spirit and not harm the spiritual energy of the plant. I find that sometimes you need a metal blade to cut through things like huge mullein stalks or dig up burdock roots! But select your bolline according to your preference and consecrate it to the task of sacred harvesting. I have a larger bolline that was handmade by my friend that is shaped roughly like a small khopesh with a bear's jawbone as its hilt, and what I call my "working bolline," which is a small white-handled jackknife with a curved blade that I keep in my purse for those spontaneous wildcrafting moments.

Herbs intended to be used fresh should be used immediately.  Herbs intended for drying can be hung upside down in a place that is not directly exposed to the sun (which, again, will leech healing properties) or damp (which will cause mold.)  You can also cut them up and put them in a food dehydrator or maybe even a sun-drying rack (generally a better option for small flowers like chamomile and lavender, or fruits and their peels, which are thick and damp and usually mold and rot before drying if you just leave them to their own devices.)

Herbs intended for tinctures are actually best dried and then placed in the alcohol, because drying concentrates the active ingredients, but oil infusions are better with fresh herbs because oil has a more difficult time taking the healing properties from a plant.  Make sure you cover the plant completely with oil or alcohol to prevent mold from taking hold.  You can even freeze fresh herbs in freeaer bags and they will maintain most of their healing and flavouring properties for up to about six months.

Always store your dried herbs, tinctures, oil infusions, ointments, and so forth in a cool and dry place out of direct sunlight.  This includes your kitchen spices!  Also, replace them whenever possible each year.  They will lose their healing properties (and flavour) with each passing year.  Keep them in a closed and sealed container to prevent infestation by insects or rodents.

Last, but not least, remember that anything left on the field or in your herb garden after Samhain traditionally belongs to the Fair Folk, and I certainly would not incur their wrath by stealing their share!  So make sure all your harvesting, except what winter gathering you intend to do in wild places, is completed by then.

Happy gathering!

Blessed be,

An aura is the three-dimensional energy field that surrounds the bodies of all beings and things. The healthier you are, and/or the more you work to develop your healing abilities and your spirituality, the further the aura will extend out from your body. We don't really understand the nature of the aura. Some believe it is a separate "emotional body" that exists in the same space as our "physical body." Some believe it is a representation of our spirit, and others believe that it is a representation of our life-force. Probably it is all of the above and neither.

How to read the Aura

Find a place where there isn't any harsh light. Focus on one part of your body, preferably your hand. Relax and concentrate on your hand lines. If you’re relaxed enough, you’ll first see a shade, either dark or light, surrounding your hand. Eventually you will notice a single colour on the edges of your peripheral vision, which is likely to be the predominent colour in your aura or a reflection of any powerful moods you may be experiencing while you do this exercise. With time you might be able to see several colours.

Auras can be seen physically, or sensed psychically. One way to see someone's aura is to have the subject stand in front of a white background. If you look at the person for a while you’ll see some sort of wavy lines of energies, and also maybe a couple of aura colours. Try the following exercise:

Stand in front of a mirror at a distance of about half a meter, with a wall of neutral colour some distance behind you. Alternatively, get a friend to stand about 1 meter away from you and 2 meters from a neutral wall. Dim the lights. Relax, and breathe deeply and evenly. Focus your eyes on the wall behind the head.

Gently sway your body from side to side (or tell your friend to if looking at someone else). As you stare past the outline of the head, you should be able to see an envelope of light - that's the aura! Keep trying if you are unsuccessful immediately. Like anything else, it takes practice.

Another thing to note is that not all of us sense things best with our eyes. Some of us are very tactile, others are auditory, and still others are olfactory. I "feel" auras, and subtle changes in them that indicate problems, much more easily than I "see" them. Others might "hear" vibration or ringing, something like a finger on a wine glass or a singing bowl. Others might "smell" pleasant or unpleasant odours that they associate with feelings and memories. None of these is superior to any other! Remember that in any case, this is your sixth sense that you are using to perceive the aura, and any effect, be it visual, auditory, or whatever, is your mind's interpretation of that sixth sense. Don't be discouraged if you find one method difficult; learn to work with the information you are receiving.

Common Aura Colours

The following is a list of aura colours that are associated with various physical, mental, emotional and spiritual states.

• Red: The colour of strength, passion, impulsiveness and will.

• Orange: colour of affection, kindness, and creativity. The muddier shades denote vanity, while golden orange represents self-control. Muddier colours may also indicate kidney or bowel troubles.

• Yellow: Mental activity, optimism, perfectionism, responsibility, sometimes shyness.

• Green: The colour of sympathy and reliability. The person may be an effective healer and is likely deeply concerned about the well-being of others. Dark shades of green however indicate one who is jealous or hesitant.

• Blue: The colour of calm, and spiritual and material contentment. May sometimes represent a tendency to moodiness and depression.

• Indigo/Violet: The colours of the seeker who has inborn psychic and intuitive abilities. Darker shades may show that the person often feels misjudged and misunderstood. May indicate heart or stomach trouble.

• Black: The colour of self-protection. The person is good at ‘wearing masks’.

• Pink: A compassionate person who is fond of the arts. Darker shades of pink may point to immaturity and irresponsibility.

• White: Purity and honesty. A colour associated with spiritually evolved persons.

• Silver: The person might be pregnant or is going to be soon! However, this is not always so. Seeing this may indicate a person who is allowing great creativity in their life. I often see shades of silver when one is Drawing Down the Moon.

• Gold: I tend to see this colour when someone is Drawing Down the Sun.  I suppose that's probably why it is associated with spiritual enlightenment and "God" energy.

Sometimes you experience the interplay of an outside energy field upon your aura.

You can tell this is happening to you in the following circumstances:

• When you are around some people and you feel ‘drained’ and weak.

• When you feel there is someone staring at you intensely.

• When you have an instant liking or disliking for someone you’ve just met.

• When you sense someone’s presence before you saw this person.

Generally if you find it intrusive, there are methods of "psychic self-defense" that you can undertake to protect yourself. The simplest one is to cover your heart chakra. The typical method of doing this is to cross your arms across your chest, but this body language is sometimes interpreted as hostility so it may not be appropriate. You will sometimes see me protecting my heart chakra in the store by leaning on the counter with my hands on my chin and my arms in front of me. I find this creates a pose that implies that I am listening, without allowing the person I am speaking to to drain my energy. You may also find it helpful to protect your base chakra, which you can do by crossing your legs. Even crossing them at the ankles is helpful, and you can do that standing or sitting without most people taking offense.

Blessed be,

Cord Magick (knot magick) is simply doing magick by making knots in a cord!

When doing cord magick, it is important to choose the right color. Generally you use a red, white or black cord, but use whatever colour feels appropriate or suits the symbolism of your purpose. Most of the time you dispose of the cord once you are done with it because it order to use it again, you would have to untie the knots which could release the spell. I like to toss my cords (biodegradable) into rivers and streams, letting the running water release the bound energy.

The knots are done in the following manner:

1------6------4------7------3------8------5------9------2

In other words, you tie the first knot, at the very end of the cord, then go to the other end of the cord to tie the second knot, then the center for the third knot, between the first and third knots for the fourth knot, between the second and third knots for the fifth knot, and so on.

An example of a rune spoken while tying the knots:

By knot of one, this spell's begun

By knot of two, my words are true

By knot of three, it comes to be

By knot of four, power in store

By knot of five, this spell's alive

By knot of six, this spell is fixed

By knot of seven, the answer's given

By knot of eight, I meld with fate

By knot of nine, the thing is mine!

Blessed be,