SO, IT'S ALL OVER...

I see I missed a piece of shiny stuff - and here I thought I put all the Yule stuff away...

Oh well, that's easily taken care of.  I look around now and the place looks so much larger, so ... empty.  Even though the top of the piano now sports a different arrangement (including a perpetual live Yule pine  tree, the absence of the larger tree and all the greenery has opened up the room.

And with all those decorations being put away, we have come to the end of another Yule/Christmas/New Year's holiday season.  In a way I'm very happy - mainly because I don't have to see and hear all those commercials any more, or hear what a wonderful season it was for retailers.  I'm also happy that the TV programming is going back almost normal.  Yeah, I know, it's a weird thing.

But there is something about the whole mid-winter that I find very magickal and exciting.  I love the lights, the shining tinsel, all the well-wishing

BIRTH OF A NEW BOOK

What have I gotten myself into!? 

These words reverberated in my brain more than once as I sat here, morning after morning. The blank screen just blinked at me without the magical outpouring of wise words. No, that was left up to me to conjure forth. Slowly, one word at a time, they appeared. Other mornings I felt as though I was taking dictation from another source, so easily did the words come to me. Still, "What have I gotten myself into!?" would wail out more often than not
. 
For years, I had wanted to write a book. In one form or another, writing has been a huge part of my life, starting with my journals in my teen years, and continuing through my adult life. Business writing became a must in the course of my jobs, and I became very skilled in putting together all sorts of brochures, programs and reports. In the early 1980's, I began working on a science-fiction novel, which I almost finished, before I realized that it would always remain a wonderful exercise in all things pertaining to putting a novel together. Short stories, articles, poetry and essays - these all poured out of me, and many were published in various magazines and books. 

Eventually, I became a Wiccan High Priestess, and this opened up a whole new outlet for writing - construction of rituals, which involve invocations and chants, essays on things I have learned and been inspired by, and most of all, dreams! It was during this time that I began to dream very vivid dreams, and began to keep a very detailed accounts of them. 
This brings us to this book I have finally written from beginning to end. Points of the Pentagram was inspired by these dreams and meditation visions that I have been experiencing on a regular basis. I asked myself at one time, "what if it's nothing more than an overactive imagination?" The answer came just as quickly, "So what if it is? Does it make all these experiences any less real?" 

And so I dived in and wrote from my heart, from my soul, and from my spiritual connection to the Divine. It is my wish that these words will also inspire you, the readers, to spread your wings and fly outside the comfort zone! 

'Points of the Pentagram' is an autobiographical journey I've been on for many years.  Specifically, it deals with my visions and dreams as they take me around the Elements of Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit. I'm excited, terrified as I now wait for the books to arrive.  

DREAMWALKING

This is a place I have never been in before – it is night, the sky is a deep royal blue and filled with white diamond stars.  I do not see the Sister Moon.  The ground is a vibrant orange-red, and is a desert marked with huge rock formations that form a surreal landscape.  These rock formations have been honed by the wind to resemble statues, some squat and round, others lean and tall.  Against the starlit dark sky, these become alive, denizens of the desert.  It feels neither too warm nor too cold, and is too constant to feel natural, although it is very natural indeed, while the winds are light, stirring up the red dirt into small dust devils that settle just as quickly.

Now I see that there are two other men there, one very young, barely out of his teens.  His companion is an older man just entering his middle age span of life.  Both are attired in North American Native garb – buckskin, furs, and homespun garments, jewellery of turquoise, shells and agate, head dresses of feathers.  They have drums and rattles and woven blankets which they spread on the red ground, and wave me to come closer. 

I do so without hesitation, because I know I’ve been called here, and I recognize this now as a place in the spiritual realm, what their vision of The Great Spirit would be.  Speaking to me without speaking, they tell me that they need to work in opening a temporal gate, because some people are trapped behind that barrier.  I nod my understanding, and wait for further instructions.  The men strip their clothing off, leaving only their footwear, loincloths and jewellery on.  The younger one takes up a drum and begins to walk the circle drumming.  The older man lies down on the blanket and motions me to lie down with him.  I do not hesitate, and do so immediately.  He instructs me, again without words, that we must now enter into our Dreamwalker state, and travel across the temporal wall to create the doorway from there.

He holds me tightly, and I am very, very aware of his chiseled hard body spooning next to me, but I turn away from such thoughts and set my intent in concert with his, as we both, entwined more intimately than in sexual bond, let our spirits fly.

The world blurs around me, and although it is still the same, it is somewhat different.  I recognize this as “seeing it from the other side”.  I find a native rattle trimmed with buffalo hair in my hand suddenly, and am jolted with a sense of honour that this confers to me.  I feel humbled and elated, silently thanking the Powers for this blessing, and knowing that I know what to do, begin to beat a counterpoint rhythm to the drumming I still hear as a pulse of my blood.  My Dreamwalker partner is now dancing to the beats, his feet barely stirring the dust.  Our work is separate yet as one… the beats of rattle, drum and dance … our hearts beat as one… as one… one…

… and now we’re back, with about a half-dozen other people around us.  The drumming still continues, as the younger man circles the space and we Dreamwalkers get up off the blanket.  I suddenly feel annoyed, because one of the women with curly blond hair, starts talking non-stop.  The other people appear to be too dazed to say anything, while she keeps chattering as though she never stopped even during her entrapment.  All the people rescued are dressed in 19^th century clothing, and I get a sense that what has happened transversed across all time, and somehow threw it out of balance.  These are mysteries I do not understand, knowing only that we succeeded in our mission.

My elders are now getting dressed again, and I approach them to return the rattle, but they tell me it’s now mine, as thanks for the work I did with them.  Again, I feel deeply humbled and honoured, as I bow my thanks.

We are instructed to stand in a tight group.  The spectacular royal blue sky and burning red sands fade around us, and I drift gently towards wakefulness…  

WEEKEND IN THE ASTRAL

This summer was not an easy one for me so far.  It showed me that I could not go camping any more, which meant I was not able to attend WiccanFest, and I realized that I missed such an outing.  So when I received an invitation to attend a weekend in London involved in a workshop exploring Astral Travel, I jumped at the chance.  I passed the invitation to my friend, Mary Ann, and she too was very excited to take a break from “life”.

We left on Friday, which was the hottest day of the year.  With temperatures shattering records, soaring into the mid 40’s with the humidex, it proved very difficult for me but stoically made my way to the Aldershot train station.  Fast forward to London, and we were eventually picked up by Kim, one of the organizers and someone I met two years ago at WiccanFest .  Since we were early, she kindly opened up her home to us, until it was time to head out to the venue.

Mary Ann and I speculated as to how our accommodations will turn out.  We imagined that it would be very much like a utilitarian university dorm room, with a wooden plank supporting a foam pad for a bed.  And then we drove up to this beautiful Tudor-style house, nestled deep In the university property, surrounded by trees, lawns and even a forest in the back!  I noticed details like the dark-stained oak beams, showing the axe marks, the diamond-paned windows, the solid oak door with iron bound hinges, and… and… AIR CONDITIONERS!!

Inside the house carried through the theme.  The floor was hardwood, secured with wooden pegs and laid out in a beautiful pattern, a huge living room where we were going to meet, an elegant dining room, and our bedroom, oh, my gods, the bedroom was huge, with two double beds, desks, and dressers, a dressing room with more closets and shelves, and a bathroom that was almost as large as the bedroom, complete with a tub and walk-in shower.  And an AIR CONDITIONER all to ourselves!! 

Friday was an afternoon and evening of just getting settled and acquainted with all the participants.  Sadly, in spite of the comfort and coolness of the room, I did not sleep well, but still managed to have a very strong dream, which I wrote down quickly while we all gathered for breakfast.  Over cereal, eggs, toast, bagles, strawberries, bananas, yogurt, etc., not to mention pots of coffee and tea, we got fueled up for the morning session.

T. Thorne Coyle – she was the magnet that drew us all to this spot.  A beautiful person, wise soul, wonderful teacher and an overall joyous presence.  Starting the morning session with drumming, singing, dancing, invocations and gratitude praise, she then spoke of inward and outward journeys of the spirit. 

Deep meditation, deeper journey…

Drumming, singing…

Prayers, praise,

Dancing, sinking into bottomless silence…

Weeping, confessions…

Pouring out of the soul, comfort and encouragement…

How can I possibly describe the intensity of such exploration, both personal and group incorporate, of journeys we made together and individually.

Questions, concerns…

Answers, discussions…

Crayons, oil pastels…

Writing, drawing…

Visualizing, manifesting…

And so it continued.  Lunch was a welcome break – we needed to refuel and ground, then back for the afternoon session…

Out of body, etheric body…

Internal, external flights…

More words, thoughts….

Spirits, souls intertwined,

Grief and joy…

Teaching, listening...

Flying, grounding…

Supper – time to take a deep breath and ground again.  We all relaxed, visited, evaluated, laughed, and finally went our different ways – some to the Sun Festival, some to the planetarium or the labyrinth.  There was lots to do, and lots to explore, but I passed it all up, because what I needed most at that point was solitude and sleep.  Solitude to start digesting all the day’s exercises, and sleep, because by then I was about 40 hours without solid sleep.

Sunday morning, I got up before anyone else, except for the person who started the coffee brewing – I never did find out who that was.  I made myself a large mug of tea and went out onto the patio to enjoy the beauty of the green grounds and the forest at my back.  The horrible heat broke, so the air was cool and fragrant with the living green and filled with the songs of birds.  I saw squirrils, and so hoped to see a fox.  I was told that there is a rather large population of foxes there, but sadly, none showed up for a visit.  I had to be content with seeing one in my dream.

People started to filter down stairs, and soon I was busy setting out the breakfast stuff, and then eating, and once again we gathered in the living room ready to take on the next challenges.  The morning was spent in building our Astral Temples, and painstakingly setting paths, keys, gateways and intent – ah yes, Intent!  - to all our work.

More drumming and dancing…

More singing and chanting…

More flights of soul and spirit…

And finally, it was over. 

What!?  Where did it all go?  Wait – bring it all back!!  It can’t be time to go home yet!!  And yet, and yet… yeah, I had to admit that I was feeling somewhat overwhelmed.  It was indeed time to head home, to sleep in my own bed and begin digesting the huge amount of teaching, inspiration, of input and output.  Fast forward, to home, to my own little cocoon. 

Slept for 12 hours…

And now feel ready to start processing and practicing what I have learned. 

It was a perfect weekend, one that has enriched me in so many ways, and one that will continue to enrich my spirit for every day.  It was life-altering, and forced me to grow in unexpected ways.

Thank you, my deepest thanks to Thorne, for travelling so far to share your wisdom with us.  Thank you, Kim, for being our chauffer, and for opening up your Goddess Grotto to us.  Thank you, to the organizing committee for putting all of this together.  Thank you to Brough House for hosting the event, and to all the people behind the scenes that made this possible.  Thank you to all who attended – you have enriched my life in ways I can never express adequately.

Thank you, Goddess, for bringing me in contact with these wonderful people.

Thank you, Nagas, for intertwining yourselves into my life.

Thank you…! 

G IS FOR GODDESSES AND GODS

A number of years ago, shortly after I my first initiation, I was having a conversation with a friend who is a hard-core skeptic.  He tried not to smirk at my new-found path, and I tried to contain my adoration for the Gods from spilling out too much.  Neither of us succeeded.

Not for the first time – or the last – I was told of how religion has come to be and how useless it is.  He told me of how ancient men responded to a thunder storm, and how frightening it must have been to them to see the lightning flash across the sky and the thunder roll through the clouds.  And how in fear and defiance, they raised their spears and sticks heavenward, shaking them, throwing them towards the powers they did not understand.

And in that instant, I was flung back, back through history, back through the ages and civilizations, to that point in time when there were no cities, no buildings, no roads.  Back to the time when only wilderness covered this earth and these first forbearers, the first ancestors of our ancestors walked the earth in small familial tribes.  And I saw that first thunderstorm that frightened them so.

It was an instance of great enlightenment and awakening, for I realized how significant it was, that first instance, that mankind’s first encounter with something larger and unmistakably beyond them.  That recognition of the Great Spirit!! 

That recognition could only have come, because mankind itself was endowed with the same Spirit!

People all over the world went on to develop civilizations, each with their own views, each with their own Gods and Goddesses, each building monuments and pyramids of great structures to honour these invisible but incredibly alive Deities, each thinking they were the only ones who have seen Them truly.  Somewhere along the line, these views of the Divine caused schisms and divisions, and in an effort to protect their views, their ways of seeing the Gods, wars ensued.

From my vantage point, in the next instance, I saw things differently – each civilization, each ethnic group of people saw the Divine exactly as they were supposed to see it.  The Divine is simply too large, too universal, too cosmic to see as a unified force.  Whether one sees the Gods and Goddesses through the eyes of the Hindu, Egyptian, Buddhist, or Norse, whether Jewish, or Christian, what people see here are just splinters of the Godhead.  Further, these splinters are sub-divided and every human, whether a believer or not, carries this spiritual fragments and it is by these, the earliest of mankind was able to recognize that Gods exist.  Each culture is like a facet within the great diamond which is the Divine Godhead.  Facets of a diamond do not fight with each other – they glow with their own unique spiritual light, even as each culture, and each person within each culture is supposed to shine with his and hers own unique spiritual light.  Together, we all create a mosaic of light and wonder that reflects the Light and Wonder of the already eternally established spiritual realms of the Gods.

Ours is a very small planet spinning around a star of no great significance in the skies, and yet, we have here a life form called human beings.  Around this planet is an aura, a spiritual cloud to which we all are connected, not only to each other and every other person on this world, and to the Divine power, regardless of how it chooses to reveal itself to us! 

F IS FOR FLOW

Life is a river that flows within all

Flows smoothly, flows relentlessly,

Flows through and about

Life is a river of energy and spirit

Flowing towards and in everyone

Flows – there is no stopping it

Flows – you cannot avoid it

Or sidestep it

Or run away from it.

Flowing from you is an endless stream

Of thoughts and emotions, will and spirit

Flowing from others is a constant torrent

Of thoughts and emotions, will and spirit

Flowing, colliding, mingling,

Contributing, dividing, touching

The flow of life emanating from

Each and every life and spirit

On earth and the universe!

Flow the red stream from the bodies of women

Flow the white stream from the bodies of men

Flow the gush of water that brings forth new life

Flow of Spirit that ends the earthly journey

Flow of Spirit to Spirit

Flow from Divine to Mortal

And Mortal back to Divine

Flow, flow, flow eternal

D IS FOR DEFINITIONS

Another "D" article:

Recently I posted a Facebook status saying that I’m far more a Priestess than a Witch, and that I deal with the Spiritual rather than the Supernatural.  Here I would like to explore the definitions more closely.

It’s taken me a long time to understand the differences in these definitions.  It confused me.  Right from the start of my Pagan path, I adopted the term “Witch”, and ran with it.  Then after initiations, I added “Priestess” to that.  Were they different aspects of the same thing?  Were they the same?  No, they’re not the same, although they overlap, and it took me until just earlier this year to discover the difference.

When I do “witchy” things, as I did yesterday in blending all the different herbs and flower petals, it is with the focus of creating alchemical changes in engeries, for the specific purpose of achieving certain goals.  It’s working spells and magickal manifestations. Cooking is one of the greatest acts of Witchery I can think of, because it takes ingredients from different sources, and combines them in a way that creates a meal which delights all senses.  Witches are, for the most part, skilled in working with herbs and crystals, brewing of tinctures and oils, differentiating and working with the energy forces that are all around us, mostly for the purposes of healing.  Witchy stuff doesn’t need to have anything to do with the Divine.  Witchcraft is something that can be done and engaged in without bringing any element of worship and service into it.

As a Priestess, my main focus is in serving the Goddesses and Gods.  I am always conscious of my connection to the Divine.  In meditations, I open myself up to whatever They are wanting to tell me.  I research the pantheons from around the world, because I want to know  more of how the Goddess, in particular, manifests Herself globally.  I conduct rituals of honour and devotion.  Often, I get direct instructions as to how to conduct these rituals, and found that in doing so, the Gods bring about the greatest blessings to those who participate in these rituals with me. 

Witchy stuff plays a big part in my Priestess duties.  I am inspired to use herbs, crystals, stones and candles in different ways during rituals.  So the two go hand in hand, sometimes so seamlessly that the two aspects appear as to be one.  This is me – even when I do “witchy” stuff, it’s always with view of how it  can be incorporated into a ritual of worship.

And this is how I define “Witch” and “Priestess”.

Now to go on to Spiritual and Supernatural – my definition of “Spiritual” is simple:  My spirit is connected now and forever to the great universal Spirit of which we are all part.  I am acutely aware of this part of myself and it is through this means conduit that I am linked to the Godhead which contains all the Aspects we know as Gods and Goddesses.

I do not have the ability to see auras, or see ghosts and spirits.  I do not sense any kinds of spirits, good or bad, and I have never been bothered by things that go bump in the night.  I have no idea as to what all this means, because that’s not what I pay attention to.  These are external forces that may or may not exist, and in my life, I have no desire to know one way or another.  I am not someone who can read minds, exercise telepathy, or receive messages from those who have passed on.  And I absolutely have no interest to delve into any study of demons, minions of hell, the devil or Satan.  None of these have any place at all in my life, since I prefer to align myself with the light of the Gods.  This all belongs to the realm of the Supernatural, and is of no use to me.

And that in the simplest terms, is how I define what I am!

E IS FOR ELEMENTS

E IS FOR ELEMENTS

Most pagan and Wiccan rituals involve the calling of the Quarters.  These are the compass points of East, South, West and North, also known as The Elements – Air, Fire, Water and Earth, which in turn are based on many ancient philosophies and spiritual paths.  Buddhists, Hindu, Ancient Babylonians and Greeks all worked with what was considered the basis of life in these Elements.

Over time, these Elements have acquired a number of correspondencies, or meanings.  Although depending on the Tradition these may change somewhat, the most common correspondencies  are composed of the  following (all right, I must confess that I unashamedly stolen it from someone who had already worked it all out – you gotta love the world wide web!):

 AIR
Direction: East
  Rules: The mind, all mental, intuitive and psychic work, knowledge, abstract learning, theory, windswept hills, plains, windy beaches, high mountain peaks, high towers, wind and breath.
  Time: Dawn
  Season: Spring
  Colors: White, bright yellow, crimson, blue-white.
  Zodiac: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius.
  Tools: Wand, Incense, Creative Visualization (Some traditions align the Athame and Sword with Air but most Celtic traditions align them with Fire).
  Spirits: Sylphs, Zephyrs and Fairies who inhabit the world of trees, flowers, winds, breezes, mountains. Ruled by King Paralda.
  Angel: Michael
  Wind: Eurus
  Sense: Smell
  Jewel: Topaz
  Incense: Galbanum.
  Plants: Frankincense, myrrh, pansy, primrose, vervain, violet, yarrow.
  Tree: Aspen.
  Animals: Birds.
  Goddesses: Aradia, Arianrhod, Cardea, Nuit, Urania.
  Gods: Enlil, Khephera, Mercury, Shu, Thoth.
  Ritual Work: Dawn, Sunrise, Spring, Knowledge, Inspiration, Hearing, Harmony, Herbal Knowledge, Plant Growth, Intellect, Thought, Ideas, Travel, Freedom, Revealing the Truth, Finding Lost Things, movement, Psychic Abilities


 
  FIRE
  Direction: South.
  Rules: Energy, spirit, heat, flame, blood, sap, life, will, healing and destroying, purification, bonfires, hearth fires, candle flames, sun, deserts, volcanoes, eruptions, explosions.
  Time: Noon.
  Season: Summer.
  Colors: Red, gold, crimson, orange, white (the sun's noon light).
  Zodiac: Aries, Leo, Saggitarius.
  Tools: Dagger/Athame, Lamp or Candles, Censer, Burned Herbs or Requests on Paper (some traditions align the Wand with fire, but most Celtic ones align it with Air).
  Spirits: Salamanders, Firedrakes, the consciousness of flames; Ruled by King Djin.
  Angel: Ariel.
  Wind: Notus.
  Sense: Sight.
  Jewel: Fire Opal.
  Incense: Olibanum.
  Plants: Garlic, hibiscus, mustard, nettle, onion, red peppers, red poppies.
  Tree: Almond, in flower.
  Animals: Fire-breathing dragons, lions, horses (when their hooves strike sparks).
  Goddesses: Brigit, Hestia, Pele, Vesta.
  Gods: Agni, Hephaestus, Horus, Vulcan.
  Ritual Work: Summer, Noon, Freedom, Change, Sight, Perception, Vision, Illumination, Learning, Love, Will, Passion, Sexuality, Energy, Authority, Healing, Destruction, Purification

WATER
  Direction: West.
  Rules: Emotions, feelings, love, courage, daring, sorrow, the ocean, the tides, lakes, pools, streams, and rivers, springs and wells, intuition, the unconscious mind, the womb, generation, fertility.
  Time: Twilight.
  Season: Autumn.
  Colors: Blue, blue-green, green, gray, indigo, black.
  Zodiac: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.
  Tools: Cup, Cauldron, Goblet, Mirrors, The Sea.
  Spirits: Undines, Nymphs, Mermaids and Mermen who live in the sea, lakes, streams, and springs, and Fairies of the lakes, ponds and streams; Ruled by King Niksa or Necksa.
  Angel: Raphael.
  Wind: Zephyrus.
  Sense: Taste.
  Jewel: Aquamarine.
  Incense: Myrrh.
  Plants: Ferns, lotus, mosses, rushes, seaweed, water lilies, and all water plants.
  Tree: Willow.
  Animals: Dragons (as serpents), dolphins and porpoises, fish, seals and sea mammals, water-dwelling snakes, all water creatures and sea birds.
  Goddesses: Aphrodite, Isis, Mariamne, Mari, Tiamat.
  Gods: Dylan, Ea, Llyr, Manannan, Osiris, Neptune, Poseidon.
  Ritual Work: Fall, Sunset, Plants, Healing, Emotions, Taste, Smell, Absorbing, Communion with the Spiritual, Purification, The Subconsious mind, Love, Emotions, Pleasure, Friendships, Marriage, Fertility, Happiness, Sleep, Dreams, The Psychic


  EARTH
  Direction:     North
  Rules: The body, growth, nature, sustenance, material gain, money, creativity, birth, death, silence, chasms, caves, caverns, groves, fields, rocks, standing stones, mountains, crystal, jewels, metal.
  Time: Midnight
  Season: Winter
  Colors: Black, brown, green, white
  Zodiac: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
  Tools: Pentacle/Pentagram, Salt, Images, Stones, Gems, Trees, Gem Magick
  Spirits: Gnomes, Dwarfs and Trolls who inhabit the interior of the Earth and are the consciousness of precious gems, minerals and the Earth herself.  Ruled by King Ghob, Gob or Ghom.
  Angel: Gabriel
  Wind: Boreas, Ophion
  Sense: Touch
  Jewel: Rock crystal, salt
  Incense: Storax
  Plants: Comfrey, ivoy, grains: barley, oats, corn, rice, rye, wheat.
  Tree: Oak
  Animals: Cow or bull, bison, snakes (earth-dwelling), stag
  Goddesses: Ceres, Demeter, Gaia, Mah, Nephthys, Persophone, Prithivi, Rhea, Rhiannon
  Gods: Adonis, Athos, Arawn, Cernunnos, Dionysus, Marduk, Pan, Tammuz
  Ritual Work: Night, Midnight, Winter, Riches, Treasures, Surrenering of self-will, Touch, Empathy, Incorporation, Business, Prosperity, Employment, Stability, Success, Fertility, Money.
 

Night, Midnight, WInter, Riches, Treasures, Surrendering of self-will, Touch, Empathy, Incorporation, Business, Prosperity, Employment, Stability, Success, Fertility, Money


  SPIRIT/ETHER
  Direction:     Center and circumference, throughout and about.
  Rules: Transcendence, transformation, change, everywhere and nowhere, within and without, the void, immanence.
  Time: Beyond time, all time is one.
  Season: Beyond time, all time is one.
  Colors: Clear, white, black
  Tools: Cauldron
  Sense: Hearing
  Plant: Mistletoe
  Tree: The flowering almond
  Animal: Sphinx
  Goddesses: Isis, the Secret Name of the Goddess, Shekinah
  Gods: Akasha, IAO, JHVH


“Oh, wait!” you say, “What is this about the Fifth Element – Spirit?  Where did that come from?”  Yes, is that too.  In fact, there are actually seven directions.  In addition to East, South, West, North, there is also Above, Below and Within.  This is known as The Quabalistic Cross, but for the purposes of this article we’ll stick with the Five.  Most pagans wear a pentacle/pentagram, the five-pointed star, which incorporates these Five Elements into one compact and beautiful symbol.

In my studies of the Elements, I have undergone a series of rituals – four rituals a year for three years - which were designed to have Elementals, creatures from these Realms, to bond with me in service.  While the first and third year were okay, it was during the second year rituals that each of these Elementals were made manifest to me… not quite physically, but in a way that I was actually able to see and interact with all of them in turn.  To this day, I can distinguish that gust of wind which is my Air Sylph, a drop of water which is my Water Undine, the flicker of the candle which is my companion from the Fire Realm and most of all, I see my Gnome in every hedge and tree trunk, for he comes to me in the form of The Green Man.  They all have names, individual personalities, and appearances.

In rituals, the Quarters are called and invoked for witness, protection, and blessing of the proceedings.  The energies of all four Elements are woven into the Circle, doorways opened by which these Elements join us in ceremony and lend their aid.  On the altar these Elements are represented by Incense, Red Candle, Water and Salt.  The Spirit can be represented by a Goddess and God candle and appropriate statuary of deities.


One of the ways of invoking the Elements is by chanting.  Here are a few chants that are in popular use:

1. Earth is my body
Water my blood
Air is my breath
And Fire my spirit.

2. Air I am
Fire I am
Water, Earth and Spirit I am

3. The Earth, The Air, The Fire, the Water
Return, return, return, return


At one time, I was working on a ritual that involved herbs, and each of these had to correspond to the Elements.  What is listed and normally assigned did not work for me.  The main priority facing me was that I had to use herbs that I could easily find in the local grocery store.  After much thought and meditation, I came out with the following:


Blessed be, oh Creature of Sage
Blessed be, sweet child of the Air
Be you empowered in this rite
To give my wisdom connection to the Divine
And abundance of inspiration
As you are cut, your virtue is released –
So Mote it Be!!


Blessed be, oh Creature of Ginger
Blessed be, aromatic Child of Fire
Be you empowered in this rite
To give my wisdom keen sharpness
And clear understanding.
As you are cut, your virtue is released –
So Mote it Be!!

Blessed be, oh Creature of Mint
Blessed be, refreshing Child of Water
Be you empowered in this rite
To give my wisdom calm rationality
And gentle reasoning.
As you are cut, your virtue is released –
So Mote it Be!!

Blessed be, oh Creature of Parsley
Blessed be, green Child of the Earth
Be you empowered in this rite
To give my wisdom solid grounding
And continuous growth
As you are cut, your virtue is released –
So Mote it Be!!

I IS FOR INTITIATION

This article is a bit out of order, but I felt deeply moved to write and post it today:

Probably no other subject in pagan circles incites so many feelings as “Initiation”.  I discovered this after my 2^nd degree initiation into a very established Tradition that hails back to the beginning of modern Wicca.  So caught up was I in the process that it wasn’t until almost a year after that I realized exactly what it was I was making vows to/about.

I am no longer part of that Tradition, but am practicing a far more eclectic form of paganism.  Nevertheless, I am a High Priestess – nothing can take that away from me but the Gods!  As such, I have come to realize that there was a huge need to re-define Initiations for people who feel drawn to serve the Gods in a more formal way, but do not belong to any formal Traditions.  These needs and desires need to be recognized and acknowledged.

In doing so, I do not wish to disrespect what Traditions have established.  And in doing so, I  have, as Priestess, come to the conclusion that Initiations are necessary regardless of lack of formal Traditional training.   Something happens during this Ritual, something deep and alchemical that opens the Spirit and Heart to the Divine Godhead.  And I for one do not wish to see so many deserving people struggling for internal acceptance for the lack of external acceptance, and will, whenever needed, assist them in reaching their goals and potential.  It may not be seen as “official” by some people but what matters here is that the Initiates will move forward.

Lack of such eclectic elevations means that more of these people resort to doing a self-dedication and self-initiation.  In my eyes, they are no less serving the Gods than ones that have undergone full coven training in established Traditions.  In my experience, this amounts to putting down as unworthy those whose hearts are deemed worthy in the sight of the God and Goddess.

Initiations are, as I said before, very important ceremonies.  All over the world, in all sorts of cultures, initiations at all levels are being performed.  These ceremonies bring young people into adulthood, couples into marriage, acknowledge and celebrate accomplishments through education and employment.  Lack of such ceremonies creates girls who are very scared of their own powers and left with painful self-images; boys who really don’t know how to be men; women who fear their cronehood and men who are unsure of their place in the world.  Some tribal initiations may seem cruel and frightening by today’s standards.  Children are made to endure pain, solitary quests, or public displays that may seem humiliating, such as young girls undergoing puberty walking through the centre of the village bare-breasted, but in each of those cases, the adults have undergone the same procedures and are there to train and prepare the young ones.  It is true that even in some cases, initiations may have even killed – if one survives the test, one is then worthy of initiation.  Each culture developed these ceremonies and they all have strong significance in the collective consciousness of the people.  It is not up to us to judge them as “wrong” or “cruel”.

Nevertheless and fortunately, in our society today, we do not have such drastic trials.  In fact, perhaps we have gone too far the opposite way, saying that none of these are important.  Or there is a notion that if one has been trained in a certain Tradition, that is the only way for initiations to be done.  Here I am speaking only for myself with all due respect – others may not feel comfortable in a Circle setting, but are just as worthy of being brought into Priesthood because of their love for the Goddess and God, and their willingness and desire to serve Them.

In a day, I shall be elevating a friend to the status of Priestess.  It will be an eclectic ceremony that’s designed especially for her.  I have worked with her at length, listened to her, corresponded with her, watched her create the most amazing tools of devotion, and judge her worthy of such Initiation ritual.  Her heart has been ready, and it is my deepest and humblest privilege in bringing her to the thrones of her Gods.  She may not be recognized as a Priestess by the Traditional Wiccans, and so be it.  I for one would rather be guilty of doing this and be found out wrong, than not proceeding with the ceremony and be guilty of holding a very worthy person back.  I feel it is my duty, as much as it will be hers some day.  It will not be an initiation into any Tradition, but one that directly links her to the Gods. 

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity the Gods have placed before me.  Tomorrow, another Priestess will walk among us, and my heart will rejoice at her strength and service.

D IS FOR DIVINATION

It is common practice in pagan circles to learn one or more methods of divination.  The most common methods involve Tarot, Runes, and Astrology.  Divination is used to see beyond our normal scope of vision and perception, and to gain some insight into not only future events, but to also establish some guidance in daily life.  It’s also a means of watching for and interpreting certain omens.

The word first appeared in the 14^th century and meant “the power of foreseeing, prediction, to be inspired by a god”.  However, long before the word appeared into usage, the practice of divination was used all over the world.  Some forms appear pretty gruesome, such as studying the entrails of freshly slaughtered animals.  The ancient Greeks practiced divination through Oracles, who were said to have a direct connection to the Gods, and whatever they spoke was heard as direct words of the Gods.  They also had Seers, who were set the task of interpreting the signs – a much less direct contact with the Gods, but Seers were used with far more frequency than Oracles due to their being more available to the people.

There are a few religions around the world that prohibit divination, citing that it’s a doorway for evil spirits to enter.  Christianity is one of these.  However, this seems to be contrary to what the Bible actually has written in it.  We have people like Jacob, Joseph, Daniel and John who are famous for dreaming prophetic dreams and being able to interpret dreams of others.  There are prophets who foretold future events.  Inspiration is a form of divination that uses no tool other than an open mind and heart.  Everyone had their “Aha!” moments where a certain chain of events or thinking would result in clarity beyond normal insight. 

Most other cultures and spiritual paths accept divination as a part of their life.  The Chinese have a very complex and well developed divination procedures.  They have developed astrology right alongside of astronomy.  In addition to the more familiar zodiac used today, people follow the Oriental zodiac, all of which are based on animals.  Dates, seasons, elements all play a great role in everything from choosing names for the newborn to all manner of wedding plans.  Feng Shui, Kau Cim, and Bazi are a few other forms of divination that is used in the East.

I could have (and maybe will) make this article as “D IS FOR DEMONS”, and explore that aspect of the spiritual world, but for now what I’ll say about Divination and Demons – any act of divination is to be preceded by a cleansing and creating a Sacred Circle.  I always do this, ask for protection and guidance, and dedicate the procedure to a higher good and purpose.  I also light a candle and incense.  To me divination is a sacred ritual, as much as any Sabbat or Esbat may be, as much as a wedding or memorial service would be.  Once the Circle is cast, I don’t give any more thought (not that I did before I cast it)  things that are evil, harmful, or go bump in the night.

In divination, one attempts to look beyond what we see at the moment.  Our lives are lived so that we know what went on in the past and what is going on at the present.  The future is always shrouded, because to us it hasn’t happened yet.  Divination is a process by which we try to see beyond this wall.  In most cases, we’re really not trying to see the future, but get some guidelines in how to proceed, especially in tricky or difficult situations.  It usually confirms what the one questioning already knows, or at least suspects. 

For me, the main tool I use is Tarot cards.  At times, I get an image in a dream that resembles a Tarot card – at that stage, I pull out that card from all the decks and study them.  Even though it’s the same card, different decks have a way of telling the story with subtle differences, especially in the Major Arcana.  In these instances, as well as in readings, I suddenly begin to see stories as the card are laid out.  Oh, I admit that I still have to refer to the book, but then I figure that’s what it’s there for, and it’s the end result that counts. 

And divination, for all that it’s a sacred act, can and should be one of fun – I can think of at least one night when the Red Tent got together and did the Living Tarot Oracle that had us rolling with laughter, while we all indulged in some fine food and drink.  

BELTAIN MUSINGS

I sat this morning and gazed at the small square which shows the mountain.  It is now green with all sorts of shades, from dark emerald to a thin light haze of the late-budding leaves.  In some places the branches peek through, and even under the cloudy skies, these show up gilt with a faint golden glow.  I know there is a road cut into this mountain, but now I do not see the cars travelling up and down its slope.  Instead, I concentrate on the riot of growth that sprouts joyously towards the emerging warmth and sun.

Sadly, to me, this hails a time of struggle.  The Sun becomes stronger and while most life revels in the golden rays of Ra, I suffer in His outpourings.  I’m torn – I love to see the abundance of growth as it reaches towards the All-Father, I love the knowledge that all the crops revel in the shimmering heat and gentle rains, that all life awakens in heedless fecundity.  But I also cringe from how weak all this heat makes me feel, sapping me of energy.  Nevertheless, this summer I want to open myself to this, to spend some time embracing this all pervasive and, dare I say it, penetrating presence.  I feel there are lessons to be learned here that only now I am ready to enter into.

Thus my seeds are planted within my heart.  Thus begins the patient wait, weeding, watering and care of these seeds – seeds that will lead me into deeper understanding, greater compassion, greater energy to do what I’m meant to do.

Beltain – The Lord gathers His Lady into His arms.  The Lady goes willingly and with delight to Her Lord.  And together they continue the great dance of Fertility anew, a dance that will sustain all living creatures upon the Earth. 

Beltain - Let the rainbow of flowers in their endless shades, hues and colours, shapes and sizes, gird the Earth in a living garland!

Beltain – the Cycle continues. 

And nothing we humans do or don’t do can stop the Great Cosmic Dance!!

C IS FOR CHANTING

There are some spiritual practices that are universal.  Chanting is one of these.  It is a means of focusing energy, intent and outcome into existence.  Chanting can be a simple vocalization on one or two notes, repetition of a simple set of words. Some chanting can take a form of longer prayers that use the same words over and over. 

Chanting is used all over the world by all spiritual paths – Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, and all pagan traditions.  The chants are often paired with prayer beads, as in the Roman Catholic “Rosary”, and by Buddhist monks.  “The Lord’s Prayer” is a chant that is used universally in the Christian rituals.   

One of the loveliest chants is simply opening your throat and vocalizing a series of notes.  When a group of people do this, the result is one of beautiful harmonization since such singing tends to blend all voices into one.  It also tends to turn the participants’ gazes inward, into their hearts and spirits, thus opening each person towards the presence of the Divine.  It is a prayer in its purest form, wordless yet utilizing the Divine language.  Chanting pours the heart out, straight from spirit to Spirit and back again.  It disengages the mental, more critical, faculties and communicates your deepest petitions and worship in the most direct fashion.

“Enchanted”.  “Enchantment”.  We use these words to describe something beautiful and mysterious, and also something that has become transformed by some sort of magic, either for good or for ill.  Take a closer look at the words, and you’ll see that the root here is “Chant” – transformation by chanting.  When I chant, I initially visualize the sound and words creating a vortex of power that is then disbursed to wherever that power is needed.  The visualization does not last long, because within a few seconds, I simply lose myself in the sound, which continues to do the work it is sent out to do.  Anyone remember the chant of the Three Witches from Macbeth –  “double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn and caldron bubble”?

Aside from the vocalization chant, words can and are often used.  In the pagan circles, there are many chants that have already been written and are used constantly, but you can easily make up your own chants.  How about, “Love, joy, peace, health”?  Or “Blessings and Light”?  Of course there are chants that are already in existence.  Here is one of them:

We All Come From the Goddess

We all come from the Goddess, and to her we shall return

Like a drop of rain flowing to the ocean.

REPEAT

Isis, Astrate, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Innana!

REPEAT

We all come from the Horned God, and to him we shall return

Like a spark of flame rising to the heavens.

REPEAT

Hoof and horn, hoof and horn, all that dies shall be reborn

Corn and grain corn and grain, all that falls shall rise again!

REPAEAT

The Goddess is alive and magick is afoot!

The Goddess is alive and magick is afoot!

RETURN TO THE BEGINING

Or how about this one:

The Earth, The Air, The Fire, The Water

The Earth, The Air, The Fire, The Water

Return, Return, Return, Return (2X)

Ah Ay, Ah Ay, Ah Ay, Ah Ay

I Ohh, I Ohh, I Ohh, I Ohh (2X)

Many more such chants can be found at the following link:

http://www.sanfords.net/Pagan_Humor_and_Thoughts/chants.htm

Another way of working with chanting is to have the leader speak certain words, while all chant a repeating response.  Here is a chant that I wrote a while back for an animal protection ritual:

Thus far and no further

   (Thus far and no further)

We permit this no more

  (Thus far and no further – repeat this after every line)

Disregard to the Earth is now stopped!

All Life is declared Sacred

Our Circle you shall not pass

Forests, reseeded, Waters, made pure

Air, unpolluted, Lives, all respected

By the Great Mother’s Love

Do we now this decree

By the All-Father’s Power

Do we now this proclaim

The wanton destruction is stopped

And you go Thus far and no Further!!

Instruction:  “Thus far and no further” continues to be repeated and chanted until the Officiates declare the Power released.

May you ever stay Echanted!!

B IS FOR BOLINE

The boline is the companion blade to the athame.  Whereas in today’s pagan practices, the athame is used only to channel energy in casting the circle and during the Athame and Chalice Grand Rite, the boline is used for more practical purposes.  It is used to harvest and chop up herbs, cut rope, slice fruit or bread – anywhere where a cutting tool is needed in a ritual setting.

Traditionally it is a white handled knife, with a curved blade, resembling a scythe.  However, sometimes that curved blade presents some difficulties and is not very practical, so straight blades with white handles are also used by many Pagans today. 

Personally, I love the boline with the curved blade.  It reminds me of the crescent moon and I have come to think of it as being the Feminine Energy tool.  There have been times when I used it to cast a circle, during those rituals when only the Sacred Feminine was called for.  The handle on my boline is made of wood and has a number of sacred symbols etched into it.  I also used to have a white-handled steak knife which I used as a boline, for those times where it was easier to use a straight blade rather than the curved one.  Recently, that handle cracked and broke, and I am looking for a replacement now.

My research into the name, Boline, has not yielded too much information.  The most I found was in Wikipedia, which says the following:

Many of the bolines advertised in on-line 'magick shops' have a characteristic crescent shape, and are described as being for harvesting herbs. This crescent shape is reminiscent of the sickle described in the Key of Solomon, a medieval grimoire which is one of the sources for modern Wicca^[4].. Confusingly, an Italian version of the Key of Solomon has a hook-shaped knife called an artauo (a possible root for athame) and a straight, needle-shaped blade called a bolino. When the name 'boline' was first used to describe the crescent-shaped blade is not clear. In The Book of Ceremonial Magicpublished by Arthur Edward Waite in 1911, Waite references a number of early works on magic which mention the bolline or sickle, saying "Among the necessary properties mentioned by the Book of True Black Magic are the sword, the staff, the rod, the lancet, the arctrave or hook, the bolline or sickle, the needle, the ponaird, a white-handled knife and another knife, with a black handle, used to describe the circle. The most important to make is that called the bolline....".^[5]

(This “Key of Solomon” looks interesting.  I will make sure to research it in more detail and will write on it when I reach the letter K.)

A IS FOR ATHAME

I have decided to do a series of blog articles.  The series will go through the alphabet to write something about Wicca, Paganism and Witchcraft.  Here is the first one:

Look up any definition of this strange word, athame, and you will find the same definition – a magickal tool which is used to channel energy when casting a circle.  It is also listed as one of the most important tools in the witch’s collection.

It is customary for me to look beyond the common definition.  As such, I delve into the history, the entomology, cultural and traditional uses, and any other background that I can find about the subject at hand.  Today, I am going to look at this most common and valuable tool of the Craft – the Athame.

The Athame is a ritual blade used by pagans.  Like in all things pagan, some traditions hold very rigid ideas as to what this blade should be like – double-edged, black handle, blunted edge, point broken off, often adorned with magickal sigils, while others more eclectic groups regard any sort of blade suitable, regardless of the handle colour.  Only one distinct pagan subsection rejects the athame – the Dianic, because this tool is very male in nature.  At least, some Dianics do.  These ladies are happy to use other means of casting circles – with a different blade called a Boline, with their finger, with flower petels, herbs, or feathers.

The Athame has a number of correspondencies – as mentioned above, it carries the male energy with it.  It corresponds with the Swords suit in Tarot and depending on who you talk to, will align with either Air (the Mind), or with Fire (the Will). 

As I started researching all of this, I was struck by one very important fact – it’s difficult to pin down where exactly the word “Athame” comes from!  One source cites that the original term was Latin “artavus” meaning “quill knife”, a small knife used to sharpen quills that were used as pens.  This was first found in the oldest manuscripts of the Key of Solomon.  Another term is Arabic  al thame or adh- dhame.  Yet another source suggests that it may have come from the French, Attame, meaning “to cut”.  In my search, I even found one suggestion that perhaps it’s a made-up word, meant to keep the witchcraft practices a secret during the times of persecution.  Somehow, this doesn’t ring right with me, because if that is the case, why not disguise the other terms?  Why not “make-up” words for Cup, Water, Candle, Bell, etc.?  Why not just say “knife”, since this is a commonplace tool found in every kitchen?  No, to me this just speaks of a different origin, but one that we can no longer identify any longer.

In the same vain, I found it difficult to find out exactly when the athame has gained such wide-spread pagan usage.  Historically, there is no doubt that blades of all sorts were used in ceremonies and rituals from antiquity.  One of my favourite ceremonial blades is the Malaysian “Kriss”, which has a beautiful, elegant wavy blade.  In fact long before I became acquainted with the pagan version of this tool, I adopted the Kriss in my SCA Coat of Arms, just because I loved that design so much.  In most cases, the blade was used in sacrifice, both human and animal.  We also know that a knife is very important in the Jewish ceremony of circumcision.  The bible speaks of angels with fiery swords.  Swords were used to represent the Christian cross, and in this way became ritual blades, as knights contemplated and prayed during their vigils.  The Arthurian tales all revolve around that enchanted blade, Excalibur. 

It is important to also remember that our ancestors were not so much concerned, or even acquainted  with the “Harm None” rede.  They were fierce folk, who killed animals for food and people in battle.  Knives and swords were always at the ready.  The idea of carrying a knife of blunted edge and broken point would have been very impractical and ludicrous.  In today’s culture, we shy away from the thought of drawing blood, and I for one am very happy to oblige.  What we now cite as “The Charge of the Goddess” tells us that the Goddess requires no sacrifice any longer, so obviously the Athame is no longer to be used to draw blood any longer.  However, it is a good idea to never forget the beginnings of this tool/weapon!

Today’s usage of the ritual blade gained popularity and established itself in our hearts and minds from the beginnings of modern-day Wicca, as established by Gerald Gardener.  Although his dogmatic laws have been played around with, changed, and adapted since then, whether the athame has a black handle or not, whether it’s made of steel, stone, copper or tin, a blade of one type or another is used universally wherever covens gather and wherever solitaries kneel before their altars.  Further, In Wiccan rituals today, the Athame is teamed up with the Chalice – and the meaning cannot be more clear.  This is representative of the sexual act – the penis and the vagina – the Lord and Lady coming together in ultimate Love.  A far cry from the life-taking sacrifice, it has become a symbol of abundance, fertility and Life.

Think also of how that blade came to be.  Stones high in metal had to be heated, the metal, now a liquid, is bled out of them and will then be shaped, and tempered.  That blade would be beaten and folded, heated and while red hot, beaten again until it’s no longer brittle, but strong, able to bend with pressure without breaking.  This analogy iis carried into a person’s life, as that is what the our spirits undergo, as we are put through the pressures of life, are bounced between trials and tribulations.  We feel that we are folded and beaten, suffer and finally, emerge tempered and strong.  The Atheme is also of our symbol of such spiritual alchemy.

Regardless of the inability to find the definitive origin, the Athame has established itself as one of the important tools of most pagans.  My research into this has brought forth an unexpected and a totally delightful realization – I have just witnessed in my mind’s eye the evolution of a myth!  I have watched the fluid and organic growth of a tool that is now so commonplace!

In my own journey, I have acquired a number of blades that I’ve used for the purpose of channeling energy.  My first blade was a small silver letter-opener.  That was followed by a tri-bladed golden coloured ritual Tibetan knife.  Finally, I acquired a nice double-edged leaf blade in an ornate metal sheath of gold inset with dark blue glass, and this is the one I use most consistently in rituals.  I also have a lovely slender stiletto with a dragon design, and a curved golden blade whose hilt is inset with turquoise stones.  It is my hope that I will eventually acquire a dirk (a Scottish blade) as well as my favourite Kriss.  In a pinch, with no blade in sight, I know I can simply point my hand outward, extend my index finger, and channel the universal energy in this way.

One last point – with me declaring myself as Dianic lately, how is it that I love this male symbol so much?  Well, it’s my own thoughts only, but I have made my choice of not working with a Priest any more.  I do not deny the male half exists, nor do I deny that part of the Divine Godhead which carries with it the male energies – the Gods.  I will continue to invoke Them, and to serve Them as needed.  I love my male friends, my sons, my father, my brother, nephews and grand-nephews and grandsons.  I simply choose not to work with a Priest any longer, and that is based on some rather unpleasant experiences.  Also, I have become more and more aware of the injustices women still face in this world and to concentrate my efforts to bringing the Sacred Feminine into greater focus.

OSTARA MUSINGS

I sit between my altars this morning; to the left of me stands Persephone, rising out of the cold, dark Hades, rising amid the soft yellow flowers, crystals, and eggs containing the new life of spring.  To my right, is a fairy altar, complete with the Green Man and Lady Gaia. 

But the most important symbol standing by Persephone is the set of scales.  This is the time of Balance, of Equality.  Day and Night are of equal length.  Tomorrow, that will all begin to shift.    

But just for today, there is Balance.

It is a time for me to stand at the fulcrum, not tipping too much one way or another.  And so I imagine myself, balanced in the centre.  To the left of me is darkness of night – a place of rest and intersection, a pace of cold winter where seeds lie dormant but already stirring with latent life.  It is a place of silvery shadows cast by the Moon.  To my right is the light of day – a place of vibrant golden warmth as the Sun grows into His power and season. 

And I, in the middle am suffused in the light of both my Goddess and God, holding the beauty and potency of both.

This day I examine the seeds of my emotions – all emotions!  For I am a creature within which lies anger and frustration, jealousy and hatred as well as love, joy, delight and encouragement.  Do I need to let out the destructive forces to burn away the stubble of last year’s unwanted weeds?  Or do I with gentleness replace these weeds with new seeds?  Both are equally valid in their own way, and it is not for me to deny what dwells within me, only to learn how to use it.

Today I examine the shadows my life has encountered and has cast on others.  Shadows are very much needed our lives, for seeing things in pure black or pure white are equally as blinding.  We need the blending of Light and Dark to give us perspective and define the shapes, the peaks and valleys in our daily lives.  Are my shadows soft?  Do they illuminate as much as they conceal?  Or do they slice with the sharpness of a dagger?  Sometimes that’s needed too.  Do I have the discernment in knowing how to use both?

Today I examine the physical state of my life too.  In order to allow for new growth, it is necessary to balance it out with the burning away, of purging.  The blades of the plough dig deep into the soil, heedless of whether it slices bug or root, in order to ready the furrows for new plantings.  What do I need to purge and get rid of?

Be it planting a new garden, awakening to new inspiration, or perhaps realizing that the seeds of last year didn’t quite get acted upon, that those ideas need to now be nurtured into existence – all this needs to be considered at this time of Vernal Equinox.  Balance, I see, will extend into the rest of the year, as the scales will tip further and further the balance will come in another way.  Around the world, we will see a shift – longer days here, shorter days elsewhere.  Planting here, reaping there. The seeds I see here are not only the seeds we throw into the ground, but also the seeds we plant within our souls and spirits. 

Oestara, that beautiful Germanic Maiden Goddess, brings to us proof that life continues, with the joyous multiplying of life.  Persephone is no longer bound underground, but bursts forth in hope.  Demeter in Her gladness gives us abundance. 

Shining Lugh warms the skies with golden radiance.  Sol Invictus pours His rays of life upon us.  Jesus has risen from the grave – Hallelujia!!

And soon, when the Scales of Balance will tip just a bit further, The God will come for his beloved Goddess with a jubilant shout of love, as together they will join in that eternal dance of fertility.

But for now, I stand on the fulcrum, and keep the balance of letting go the old and anticipation of the new; of watching the shadows coalesce upon me from both the Moon and the Sun, the passing darkness and the emerging light, between the Goddess and God, and I rejoice and give thanks for all!!