Messages In This Digest (24 Messages)

1a.: Re: Advanced Books on Wicca/Witchcraft

Posted by: "Fran Wolfe-Johnson" tygermoonfoxx@gmail.com tygermoonfoxx

Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:14 am (PDT)

IMO, you ought not to confine yourself to JUST specific witchcraft and
'how-to' type books. A spiritually growing priest or priestess should read
from numerous sources, not just those in his or her field of
comfort/knowledge.

Here's my list (and some of you will be cursing my name by the time you're
done with it):

The Golden Ass
The Golden Bough by James Frazer
Shamanism by Mircea Eliade
The New Complete Works of Josephus
An ABC of Witchcraft Past and Present by Doreen Valiente
Witchcraft from the Inside by Gerald Gardner
A Witch's Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar
The Witch's God by Janet and Stewart Farrar
The Witch's Goddess by Janet and Stewart Farrar
Aradia: a Gospel of Witches by Charles Leland
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
The Meaning of Witchcraft by Gerald B Gardner
Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler (get the 2006 edition, in spite of the
fact that it's often recommended to beginners this is NOT beginner material
at all!)
Real Magic by Isaac Bonewits
Magick in Theory and Practice by Aleister Crowley
Magick Without Tears by Aleister Crowley
The Rise of Magic in Early Medieval Europe by Valerie Irene Jane Flint
Crafting and the Use of Ritual Tools by Eleanor and Philip Harris
Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton
Covencraft by Amber K
Witchcraft and Magic in 16th and 17th century Europe by Geoffrey Scarre
Origins of Modern Witchcraft by Anne Moura
The God of Witches by Margaret Murray
The Golden Dawn by Mircea Eliade
The Devil in Massachusetts: A Modern Inquiry into the Salem Witchcraft
Trials by Marion Lena Starkey
Urban Pagan by Patricia Telesco
Witch, Wicce, Mother Goose: the Rise and Fall of Witch Hunts in Europe and
North America by Robert Thurston
Rebirth of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente
Witchcraft in History and Mythology by Richard Marshall
Pagans & Christians: The Personal Spiritual Experience by Gus diZerega
The Barbarian Conversion: from Paganism to Christianity by Richard Fletcher

I've other recommendations but it would depend on your specific areas of
interest. I'm taught, in our Tradition, that a priest or priestess NEVER
knows it all and can always study something new. When you reach the stage
that you've got the basics down, IMO, you should be focusing more in depth
on the history --- why, how, where, when --- so you can better understand
the things you learned by rote. In other words, you know that they work and
you know certain things are important. It's now time to find out where they
came from, why they work as they do, and how you can adapt them further to
meet your needs and the needs of any studying with you. That is also why I
include quite a few historical works (there are more mentioned in "Drawing
Down the Moon", she's got an extensive bibliography covering just about any
aspect of paganism you could possibly think about). My personal studies
also include anthropology texts, linguistics, and archaeology so that when I
do adapt something, I can understand better the source from which I'm taking
it. I'm afraid my list does reflect the fact that I learned in a Tradition
but I refuse to be ashamed of that; there are few enough now who can still
claim that.

--
"Whenever the pressure of our complex city life thins my blood and numbs
my brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I hear the coyote wailing to
the yellow dawn, my cares fall from me - I am happy."

-- Hamlin Garland

Fran Wolfe-Johnson (WalkerTXKitty)
FoxHeart Acres, FL

http://www.myhappytrails.net

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1b.: Re: Advanced Books on Wicca/Witchcraft

Posted by: "Janine Gary" j9fairiegoddess@yahoo.com j9fairiegoddess

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:03 am (PDT)

Fran,
I have to agree with you. I was taught the same in my former group. I always enjoy learning new interests/magick. But I do like to know why and how... May I copy your book list? I already have some of what is on your list. Thankyou for sharing this as well.

BB Always,
SidheViolet

From: Fran Wolfe-Johnson <tygermoonfoxx@gmail.com>
To: 13Witches@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 8:14 AM
Subject: Re: [13Witches] Advanced Books on Wicca/Witchcraft

IMO, you ought not to confine yourself to JUST specific witchcraft and 'how-to' type books. A spiritually growing priest or priestess should read from numerous sources, not just those in his or her field of comfort/knowledge.

Here's my list (and some of you will be cursing my name by the time you're done with it):

The Golden Ass
The Golden Bough by James Frazer
Shamanism by Mircea Eliade
The New Complete Works of Josephus
An ABC of Witchcraft Past and Present by Doreen Valiente
Witchcraft from the Inside by Gerald Gardner
A Witch's Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar
The Witch's God by Janet and Stewart Farrar
The Witch's Goddess by Janet and Stewart Farrar
Aradia: a Gospel of Witches by Charles Leland
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
The Meaning of Witchcraft by Gerald B Gardner
Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler (get the 2006 edition, in spite of the fact that it's often recommended to beginners this is NOT beginner material at all!)
Real Magic by Isaac Bonewits
Magick in Theory and Practice by Aleister Crowley
Magick Without Tears by Aleister Crowley
The Rise of Magic in Early Medieval Europe by Valerie Irene Jane Flint
Crafting and the Use of Ritual Tools by Eleanor and Philip Harris
Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton
Covencraft by Amber K
Witchcraft and Magic in 16th and 17th century Europe by Geoffrey Scarre
Origins of Modern Witchcraft by Anne Moura
The God of Witches by Margaret Murray
The Golden Dawn by Mircea Eliade
The Devil in Massachusetts: A Modern Inquiry into the Salem Witchcraft Trials by Marion Lena Starkey
Urban Pagan by Patricia Telesco
Witch, Wicce, Mother Goose: the Rise and Fall of Witch Hunts in Europe and North America by Robert Thurston
Rebirth of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente
Witchcraft in History and Mythology by Richard Marshall
Pagans & Christians: The Personal Spiritual Experience by Gus diZerega
The Barbarian Conversion: from Paganism to Christianity by Richard Fletcher

I've other recommendations but it would depend on your specific areas of interest. I'm taught, in our Tradition, that a priest or priestess NEVER knows it all and can always study something new. When you reach the stage that you've got the basics down, IMO, you should be focusing more in depth on the history --- why, how, where, when --- so you can better understand the things you learned by rote. In other words, you know that they work and you know certain things are important. It's now time to find out where they came from, why they work as they do, and how you can adapt them further to meet your needs and the needs of any studying with you. That is also why I include quite a few historical works (there are more mentioned in "Drawing Down the Moon", she's got an extensive bibliography covering just about any aspect of paganism you could possibly think about). My personal studies also include anthropology texts, linguistics, and archaeology so
that when I do adapt something, I can understand better the source from which I'm taking it. I'm afraid my list does reflect the fact that I learned in a Tradition but I refuse to be ashamed of that; there are few enough now who can still claim that.

--
"Whenever the pressure of our complex city life thins my blood and numbs my brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I hear the coyote wailing to the yellow dawn, my cares fall from me - I am happy."

-- Hamlin Garland

Fran Wolfe-Johnson (WalkerTXKitty)
FoxHeart Acres, FL

http://www.myhappytrails.net

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2.: (no subject)

Posted by: "Lesley Peterson" tattooedwitch_iam@yahoo.com.au tattooedwitch_iam

Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:59 am (PDT)

http://wellnesscentreuk.com/google.php

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3a.: Spam

Posted by: "Cindy" newyearsbaby67@yahoo.com newyearsbaby67

Mon Jul 25, 2011 12:50 pm (PDT)

I believe someone hacked my yahoo account recently. I apologize and hopefully have fixed the problem on my end.

BB,
Artemis

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4.: (no subject)

Posted by: "Lesley Peterson" tattooedwitch_iam@yahoo.com.au tattooedwitch_iam

Mon Jul 25, 2011 1:31 pm (PDT)

http://prescriptiongiant.com/google.php

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5.: email hacked

Posted by: "Ann Jefferies" blueunicorn4@hotmail.com annjefferies

Mon Jul 25, 2011 2:09 pm (PDT)

Please ignore any messages containing links sent from this address, afraid the email addres has been hacked and sending spam to eveyone on my address listApologies

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6.: **Tarot Tuesday**, 7/26/2011, 12:00 am

Posted by: "13Witches@yahoogroups.com" 13Witches@yahoogroups.com

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:03 pm (PDT)

Reminder from: 13Witches Yahoo! Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/13Witches/cal

**Tarot Tuesday**
Tuesday July 26, 2011
All Day
(This event repeats every week.)

Notes:
It's Tarot Tuesday. Post any questions or articles regarding Tarot or divination.

All Rights Reserved
Copyright � 2011
Yahoo! Inc.
http://www.yahoo.com

Privacy Policy:
http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy/us

Terms of Service:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

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7a.: Re: My Website

Posted by: "Lady Scorpio" ladyscorpio0088@yahoo.com ladyscorpio0088

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:26 pm (PDT)

LOL, no worries. I am nuts enough for DH, so I don't get all hyped up over
conspiracy theories. By the way, a HUGE thank you to everyone who checked out
my site! I've gotten over 157 views, so I am very excited and hyper! This is my
very first time ever having a website, so I'm very happy. I'm hoping to have
some more articles up soon by the way, so keep stopping by.

BB
Ladyscorpio

stay away from the chemtrail/conspiracy/Illuminati NWO nuts lol.......

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8.: Fascinated by Nature

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:32 pm (PDT)

Living in Season: Fascinated by Nature

In what ways do plants in their myriad forms enter our mental and spiritual lives? Charles Lewis
I love the word fascination with its associations of witchcraft and snakes. It probably derives from words for spell and enchantment and was originally used to describe the gaze of witches and snakes which cast a spell that rendered the subject unable to move or resist. Its more common meaning of "to delight" or "to attract" was first recorded in 1815.
Fascination is the richly resonant word used by environmental psychologists, Rachel and Steven Kaplan in their report on the results of their nine-year study for the U.S. Forest Service about the effects of nature on human beings.
The Kaplans chose "fascination" to describe a phenomenon experienced by people in the natural world. They define it as "involuntary attention." One is struck by the object and perhaps transformed as by Moses and the burning bush or Paul on the road to Damascus. (These examples are mine but I love the notion that fascination could result in a spiritual epiphany so I'm playing with it.)
The Kaplans describe the positive effect of fascination on brains that have grown weary from circling over familiar paths, on people who walk through their world (as I did before I began my year-long project of learning about the plants in my neighborhood) unconscious.
Fascination breaks the pattern. It refreshes the brain's ability to process information. It transports us out of our usual routine. It opens space for new thoughts, a break for reflection or simply relaxation.
I first learned about the Kaplans and their research in the pages of Richard Louv's awesome and enlightening book, The Nature Principle. Louv is perhaps best known for his book about nature and children: Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. This more recent book talks about the effects of nature deprivation on adults.
Louv begins the book by writing about a pivotal experience in nature and how it affected him. He was with his wife on a trip to New Mexico and they had just arrived at the place they would be staying. He sat outside, looking over a field and noticed a single cottonwood tree by the river,
…its branches and upper leaves waving in a slow rhythm above all the others. An hour, perhaps more, went by. Tension crawled up and out of me. It seemed to twist in the air above the green field. Then it was gone. And something better took its place.
Twenty-four years later, I often think about the cottonwood at the river's edge, and similar moments of inexplicable wonder, times when I received from nature just what I needed: an elusive it for which I have no name.
The Kaplans would define this as a "soft fascination," a term they use to describe clouds in the sky or leaves rustling in a breeze. (I couldn't find, in my limited search of the Google version of their book, The Experience of Nature, a definition of hard fascination—perhaps that is the gaze of the basilisk, or the sight of a spider).
I just got back from my annual yoga retreat, taught by Denise Benitez at Sleeping Lady Resort in Leavenworth, where my friend, Gabriella, was thrilled to re-experience a remembered joy from the year before: the shadows caused by the sunlight filtered through rustling alder leaves on her eyelids as she lay on her mat with her eyes closed. A perfect definition of a soft fascination.
The Kaplans developed a theory which is called Attention Restoration Theory. They believe that we are often called by our busy lives to direct our attention but that after doing that for a long period of time, we develop what they call "directed attention fatigue." That is the time when it is useful to be "fascinated,' which would put you into a state of effortless attention. And as a result of that refreshing pause, you would experience restored attention, able to look at things (your life, your project) refreshed and renewed.
I wonder how "effortless attention" or "fascination" is different from Flow as defined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, which is experienced when one is engaged in a project which completely absorbs your attention. Some of the components of flow, as defined by Csikszentmihalyi are similar to fascination: the feeling of joy, the loss of self-consciousness, a distorted sense of time, a lack of bodily awareness, absorption into the activity. But others are not, as flow is thought of as engagement in a task, and usually involves a goal, some challenge and some mastery—in this way, it is more like directed attention.
After I returned from the plant communication workshop I described in the last newsletter, I had an interesting encounter with another tree, which I now consider an experience of fascination.I was walking to work, my daily opportunity to connect with the plants in my neighborhood, when suddenly a cedar tree stopped me in my tracks. I say it stopped me in my tracks because it was a tree I had passed many times before and never particularly noticed. But this time something about it struck me. I stopped and began petting the tree branches and murmuring to it, which is my way of relating to plants.
And then, after a few minutes, I realized I had forgotten to go to the bank. It was an important errand since I had a check I needed to deposit. I returned to the bank (which was several blocks back) and then came back, by way of the cedar tree, and thanked it for the reminder. At first, I viewed this as an example of a tree speaking to me (though I did wonder why a cedar tree would bother to remind me to go to the bank). Now I also view it as an example of fascination. My attention which was distracted was refreshed by the tree and I remembered the errand I had forgotten.
Have you ever been fascinated by a tree or plant? If not, I hope you have the opportunity to do so this summer.

from www.livinginseason.com

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WhisperingWitches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MagickalMeals/
http://groups.yahoo/group/NightshaydesNews

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9.1.: Aromatherapy Tip

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:34 pm (PDT)

Have you ever considered how many germs reside on the handle of the
typical grocery store shopping cart?
Why not take some tea tree or lavender spray and wipe
those carts off for yourself.

2 oz spray bottles with distilled water or other unscented base spray
6 drops Lavender
Shake gently before use
It may not be much to worry about -- until your baby, who's riding
in a cart's child seat, decides to use it for a teething bar, that
is. Here is a clever solution for this and other situations.

BABY BAR BARRIER

I see babies in market shopping carts holding the bar with their
little hands and then sticking their hands in their mouths. Take an
empty paper-towel roll and cut it lengthwise with scissors.
Before putting baby in the cart, put the cut side of the roll over
the bar so that baby has a clean area to hold onto.

from www.aromathyme.com

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WhisperingWitches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MagickalMeals/
http://groups.yahoo/group/NightshaydesNews

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10.1.: Cool Website of the Day

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:42 pm (PDT)

Obsidian's Dictionary of Pantheons

http://web.raex.com/~obsidian/PanIndex.html

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WhisperingWitches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MagickalMeals/
http://groups.yahoo/group/NightshaydesNews

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10.2.: Cool Website of the Day

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:54 pm (PDT)

Time Traveler's Guide to Victorian England

If you are curious about Victorian England, here's a timeline that takes you from June 20, 1837, when Victoria became queen through her death on January 22, 1901. The site is designed to give you the opportunity to investigate each timeline division at your own pace and interest level, whether it be just the highlights or more in-depth study, from 'The Basics,' to 'Industrial Might' and several sections in between. The 'Further Afield' section will give you a period by period overview of England's relation with the rest of the world and cover the whole of the British Empire and other world happenings. One interesting note: in 1888, women feared Jack the Ripper but in truth more women died from disease than at the hands of this serial killer. Patients under a doctor's care had only a 50 per cent better survival rate than those who received no treatment. How far medical science has come!

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WhisperingWitches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MagickalMeals/
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11a.: The Stone Jar

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:54 pm (PDT)

The Stone Jar - a home protection charm

Gather several small stones of various colors. If possible, choose some
stones from the beach, some from rivers, some from deserts, and some
from mountains. This isn't necessary, of course, so use what you can
find.

Obtain an earthenware jar, a crock, or some other clay pot. You'll need
enough stones to fill it. Hold one of the stones in your projective
hand. Visualize the stone emitting protective energies.

As you visualize, say these or similar words:

'Stone from the mountain,
Stone from the well;
Stone from the desert,
Charge now my spent'

Place the stone into the pot, saying these or similar words:

'Into the pot I place this stone
To guard my hearth,
my houses my home.'

Repeat the entire procedure with each stone. This will take some time,
depending on the size of the jar that you've chosen.

When the jar is full, place it {uncovered} somewhere in your home, while
saying:

'Pot of stones,
Guard this place;
Send all ill
Far apace!
Send it back
'Neath the ground;
Bury it;
It is bound!'

'So mote it be!'

from: Scott Cunningham

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WhisperingWitches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MagickalMeals/
http://groups.yahoo/group/NightshaydesNews

=

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12a.: Medication Blessing

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:55 pm (PDT)

Medication Blessing

Before taking your medication, hold it in your hand and imagine a steady,
blue light surrounding your medication and infusing it with extra power. See
the energy of the blue light enter your body as you swallow your medication.
See the light expand throughout your body and then concentrate its power
where it is most needed. Take your medication as directed.

by Therese Francis

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/13Witches/
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13.: Why Mr. Rogers Wore a Sweater

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:55 pm (PDT)

I Never Would Have Guessed

WHY MR. ROGERS WORE
A SWEATER

Captain Kangaroo passed away on January 23, 2004 at age 76 , which is odd,
because he always looked to be 76. (DOB: 6/27/27 )
His death reminded me of the following story.

Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin,
is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4-star generals at
Arlington National Cemetery His marker gives his name,
rank (PVT) and service (USMC). Nothing else.
Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time,
why the heck does he rate burial with these guys?
Well, following is the amazing answer:

I always liked Lee Marvin, but didn't know the extent
of his Corps experiences.

In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country
in the armed forces often in rear echelon posts where they
were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform
for the cameras in war bond promotions,
Lee Marvin was a genuine hero.
He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima There is only one
higher Naval award... the Medal Of Honor!

If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man,
he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery.

Dialog from "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson":
His guest was Lee Marvin....
Johnny said,"Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware
that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima ..
and that during the course of that action you earned
the Navy Cross and were severely wounded."

"Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the bottom and they gave me
the Cross for securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi.
Bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys getting
shot hauling you down. But, Johnny, at Iwo , I served under
the bravest man I ever knew... We both got the Cross the same day,
but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison.
That dumb guy actually stood up on Red beach and directed his
troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach..
Bullets flying by, with mortar rounds landing everywhere and he
stood there as the main target of gunfire so that he could get his
men to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because
his men's safety was more important than his own life.

That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought
me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and
passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said,
"Where'd they get you Lee?" "Well Bob....
if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!"

Johnny, I'm not lying, Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man
I ever knew.
The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan.
You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo."

On another note, there was this man
(who passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is
another of those you would least suspect of being anything
but what he now portrays to our youth.

But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat-proven in

Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. After the war Mr. Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and therefore a pacifist. Vowing to never harm another human and also dedicating the rest of his life to trying to help lead children on the right path in life... He hid away the tattoos and his past life and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm..

America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did; they quietly go about their day-to-day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy.
Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst.
Often, they are the ones you'd least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happened.

Take the time to thank anyone that has fought for our freedom. With encouragement they could be the next Captain Kangaroo or Mr. Rogers..

He wore a long-sleeved sweater on TV, to cover the many
tattoos on his forearm and biceps.
He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat,
able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/13Witches/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WhisperingWitches/
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14a.: Invocation to Isis

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:55 pm (PDT)

Invocation to Isis

The following was preceded by a recitation of some of Aset's titles from
the Pyramid Texts:

We come before You in this time,
To honour You according to ancient tradition,
To ask for Your blessing on our endeavours,
Our hopes, our dreams, our desires.
Look kindly upon us, Beloved Isis.
We come from different paths,
Different beliefs,
Different races,
Different lifestyles,
But we are brought together by our love for You,
You Who are God and Mother of God.

You Who are Great of Magic, look into our hearts,
If we are not already pure, transform us,
May Your holy tears wash away all impurity,
And heal the seeds of illness among us.
May Your breast milk feed and nourish us,
Even unto Ma'at.

Show us the way, O Radiant One,
Lead us from that path which deceives us.
May the requests we lay at Your feet be just,
May they cause harm to no one,
For if they are not just they shall not succeed.
Bless our endeavours, Mother Isis,
As You bless us now -
We who are here before You in love and respect.

Composed for the IACRS Isis Navigatum on March 3, 2002, in Venice, CA
By Senyt-menu

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/13Witches/
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15a.: The Natural Way to Psychic Self-Defense

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:56 pm (PDT)

The Natural Way to Psychic Self-Defense

Invisible forces are all around us. They exist as a spiritual part of nature, and make a deep and lasting impression on our psyches or subconscious minds, even though we cannot always perceive their existence. Unusual or unfamiliar energies are not necessarily evil in and of themselves. Still, because invisible forces tend to shape-shift according to the physical, emotional, and mental constructs of our ordinary world, they are not always pleasant or even vaguely hospitable to us when we happen to fall under their spell.

The Nature of Psychic Attack

We are protected from disruptive psychic influences because we commonly dwell in a state of mindful oblivion, a byproduct of the routine frenzy produced by our fast-paced, high-tech society. However, the unseen remains alive and well in the persons, places, and things we encounter every day, and we are psychically affected by it nonetheless.

During our daily travels, we may meet individuals who embrace a woe-is-me attitude, are prone to attracting the darker side of life, or who are deliberately handling these forces in an unscrupulous manner. Occasionally we may enter office buildings, homes, or wilderness areas that are tainted by emotional discord or haunted by malevolent spirits, or we may touch items that hold the gloomy impressions of unfortunate past events.

There are times when we may bring the more challenging elements of the invisible world upon ourselves. This occurs when our magical inclinations lead us out of our depths of knowledge and understanding, or when we inadvertently fall victim to a vulnerable chink in our emotional armor. Now, with radio, television, and the addition of computer interaction, we may even reach out and touch the unseen in cyberspace!

All of the above are examples of situations that bring us into contact with invisible forces that overwhelm the psyche, and trigger the instinctual, uncontrollable fear-reaction known as psychic attack.

Primal Fear

The primal part of the back brain, called the medulla oblongata, is responsible for automatic bodily functions such as breathing, substance assimilation, digestion, elimination, and various involuntary physical movements. It is the control center for the central nervous system, which is also in charge of our habitual emotional responses. When we feel threatened, anxious, or fearful, the primal brain reacts by stimulating a bio-chemical called "flight or fight." Neurotransmitters release a rush of adrenaline into the bloodstream, which then floods the vessels of the back brain. As a result, we may experience any number of uncomfortable physical and emotional sensations: heart palpitations, cold sweats, hot flashes, numbness, shock, anger, fear, sadness, panic, feelings of dissociation, and even thoughts of impending death.

Obviously these are legitimate, natural responses to real-life crises--violent crime, accidents, relocation, childbirth, divorce, disease, or the passing of a loved one. However, an encounter with hostile, invisible forces can produce the exact same symptoms, with one exception: it is difficult to explain to the average person with little knowledge of the esoteric side of life that you are experiencing these symptoms for no apparent reason.

First, rule out any material causes in a logical, systematic manner. Alcohol and substance abuse, physical, emotional, or mental conditions, stress, or a predilection to hysteria or panic must all be taken into consideration when attempting to make an honest diagnosis. Next, see the following checklist to determine that what you are experiencing is the real thing:

*Strange dreams or nightmares, sometimes accompanied by night sweats, the sensation of weight upon the chest or body, or actual physical bruising upon waking up.

*A hallucinogenic home environment, including "breathing" or undulating walls and furnishings. Unusual pet-related antics, like seeing the family dog or cat repeatedly stare at a particular spot on the ceiling or in the corner of a room, chasing invisible objects, or manifesting sudden fearful behavior such as cringing and shaking.

*An atmosphere filled with dread, fear, and oppression, or cold spots in sunny or warm areas of the house.

*Marked nervous exhaustion leading to extreme physical weakness, loss of appetite, insomnia, and possible mental/emotional breakdown.

*Evil odors that come and go, slime marks on the floors, walls or countertops, or unidentifiable footprints in odd places, leading to and going nowhere.

*Noise and other sound materializations, including ringing bells, creaks, clicks, whispers, laughter, singing, or moans.

*Inexplicable fire outbreaks, moving objects, and appliances or lights that turn on and off by themselves.

*Shiny floating balls of light, sometimes carrying a distorted face or image in their midst, or shadowy figures standing in doorways or passing through walls.

Your first inclination might be to take flight and head for the hills upon experiencing these eerie occurrences. However, it is far better to stand your ground and fight for your right to peace and privacy. Whether the psychic attack is a result of human interference, mischievous spirits, elemental astral forces, disconnected thought-forms of your own creation, or a magical experiment gone wrong, you are being violated by an intruder and you must treat the unwelcome invasion as such.

Every culture and spiritual tradition has a unique way of dealing with the phenomena of psychic attack, but what if you are a novice magical practitioner, or simply an open-minded person who happens upon an unruly hidden force? If you can't get help from someone with experience, no one will believe you, or you dare not tell anyone for fear they'll think you're crazy, following are ten natural psychic self-defense methods that really work.

1. Discontinue your association with any person, place, or thing that may be suspect in causing the attack.

2. Head for the nearest herb shop and load up on St. John's Wort, valerian root, kava kava, and an amino acid called GABA. All of these natural remedies will calm your nerves, allow you to get some rest, think clearly, and stop you from being afraid.

3. Go into a wilderness area and find a hilltop clearing encircled by trees. This type of landscape brings you closer to the higher spiritual realms, and provides you with a naturally protective magic circle. Lie on the earth in the center of the circle and listen to the sounds of nature. Watch the clouds drift across the sky, feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, and the vast energy of the earth beneath you. Stay there until you feel centered and grounded. Repeat as necessary.

4. Clean your house from top to bottom, including drawers, closets, and storage areas. Throw or give away anything you have not used in a year.

5. Light up your life. Replace low wattage bulbs with halogen lights. Open the curtains and let the sun shine in.

6. Keep moving. Hiking, running, biking, walking, swimming, and dancing are all activities that express life and uplift your spirits.

7. Breathe. Fear cannot exist where there is breath.

8. Drink purified water, eight glasses a day and then some. Add one cup of sea salt and one cup of baking soda to your bath water. Soak twice a day.

9. Make a phone call to the perpetrator of the attack if it is a living person and you are relatively certain of his or her identity. Tell them that you are aware of what they are doing, and demand that they stop or you will report them to the proper authorities. Dark magicians and their ilk usually prefer to work in secrecy, so blow out their circuits by blowing their cover, and return the attack to its sender in the process.

10. Help those in need, take comfort in prayer to your personal gods, and call out to the universe for aid.
by Marguerite Elsbeth,

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

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16a.: Using the Void-of-Course Moon--Part 1

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:57 pm (PDT)

Using The Void-of-Course Moon--Part 1

Many of the ancient wise ones practiced a rudimentary form of astrology which only dealt with the Moon. This may seem limiting, but there is a wealth of information about the day-to-day affairs of the world which can be explored by just using the Moon as she moves through her phases and the signs of the zodiac, and makes aspects tot he other planets.

When people start working with lunar energies, they generally start by following the Moon as she moves from sign to sign, and learning about the influences that shift as she changes signs every few days. A person may also start planning activities according to the phase of the Moon, starting projects at or after the New Moon, watching them come to fruition at Full, using the waning phases to evaluate and wrap up, and finally ending the project as the Moon becomes dark again.

Eventually, the interested person will come across the term void-of-course Moon, or the indicator v/c or voc. This is a special condition of the Moon, which occurs for varying amounts of time as the Moon moves from one sign to the next and makes aspects to the other planets. The Moon is considered void-of-course immediately after it has made its last major aspect to a planet within a sign. It ceases to be void when it enters the next sign. If used, these void periods can be a very effective way to get the cosmic energies to make life go more in your favor. This article will explain what voids do to the ebb and flow of everyday life, how to identify when the Moon is void-of-course.

These techniques have little or nothing to do with your personal natal astrological chart. These conditions exist in the world at large and affect everyone more or less the same way. Some people are more sensitive, and some are more aware of the influences than others, but the influences are there for anyone to use. These techniques should not be used in interpreting a natal chart. This type of astrology predates natal (birth chart) astrology, and is some of the oldest arcane knowledge that has been passed down to us through the ages. The systems have been refined and augmented as time passed, and some of these techniques are more modern than others. this specialized branch of astrology, known as horary and electional astrology, is usually practiced today apart from natal astrology (which is the most popular astrology the average person is familiar with from horoscope columns).

How To Use the Void-of-Course

Among the many things the Moon rules is the masses, people in groups, daily routine, habits, instincts and personal patterns. It is the unconscious, and also the unconscious things we do to get through life. Unless you are just learning to drive, driving a car is pretty automatic for most of us, as long as conditions aren't normal. It's the same with all those things we do in a day, brushing our teeth, taking a shower, making coffee, walking to the bus--everything we would consider normal and routine. These little tasks, which might not seem so important or interesting, are what make the ebb and flow of daily life, and we tend only to take notice of them when they don't go as we are used to, whenever our routine is broken. This is where the void Moon can come into play.

Well, now we know that the Moon experiences these cosmic break times, but how does that affect the populace at large? The Moon, which rules daily routines, is on break, and so are we, so to speak. Watch and see how the ebb and flow of life changes as the Moon moves fro sign to sign. Things that were very important from one day are pushed aside as new ideas and concerns move to the forefront of consciousness. There is an actual shifting of gears when the Moon changes signs. But, like a manual transmission car, there has to be a time when things are in neutral, so to speak, so the gears can be changes. That is the void Moon.

The upshot of it all is that there are things that just don't go well when the moon is void, and actually some things that turn out better.

During a void Moon, you should not sign a contract, make plans, close a deal, or start a project. Basically anything which you want to have a concrete real-world result should not be started, signed, or sealed. If you do, these things will never get off the ground, never materialize, have to be redone, or have so many problems and setbacks as to be useless anyhow. False starts and errors abound and judgment is more fallible.

If you leave on a trip (some say arrive at your destination), on a void Moon, be prepared to take what happens. Plans will be altered, itineraries go out the window, and new and strange experiences will manifest. This is fun for a vacation, but bad for a business trip. During voids, business moves meet with unexpected difficulties.

Objects bought during a void Moon either never get used, are "not right" in some way, or you don't find what you were looking for in the first place. You can go grocery shopping, but just stick to the basics--don't look for special items or try new ones. You either won't find them or they will never get eaten and probably will have to be thrown out. Expect to forget some absolutely essential everyday item (like milk or bread), and be sure to carefully count your change and look at the cash register receipt. Silly little mistakes are more common during void Moons. Delay and frustration run higher than normal.

If you have to work on a void Moon, stick to routine and don't try strange new stuff. If you make plans on a void Moon (or some say, plan to met during a void Moon), expect to have mutual misunderstandings. You might show up at the place you agreed but at the wrong time, or your friend might how up at the right time, but in the wrong place. People are more likely to get lost no matter how accurate the directions or how familiar they might be with the neighborhood. You may also discover those strange, interesting out-of-the-way laces you would never ordinarily go. Just be sure to write down the location so you can remember where it is if you ever want to return.

Void Moon time is when you lose objects which are in plain sight. You literally don't see them. You may put something away and forget where it is afterwards, so it becomes effectively lost. Cheer up. You may find it again during another void Moon.

During a void Moon, you can have a conversation, or read something and then totally forget about it later. Save the trashy romances for this time, since you probably won't be able to get any effective work done. You could do dishes, or laundry, or clean house during a void Moon, but you might not finish due to interruptions or distractions. Staying on a diet can be tough, and you are more prone to rationalize cheating. Resolve and willpower in general are a little less strong. There is a feeling of, "what they don't know won't hurt them," or "if nobody knows, then I can get away with it." If you do succumb to temptation, you may have to pay the piper once the Moon moves into the next sign.

On the other hand, if you want to drop a bombshell, and yet have fewer repercussions in the long run, during the void-of-course Moon is the time to do it. Here is a real example. Remember President Reagan, the "Teflon President," who never got blamed for any of the bad stuff? Well, he was very careful to schedule those presidential news conferences where he would answer the hard questions about nasty controversial stuff during void Moons. There would be questions and discussion, yet the next day nothing would ever really be said in the paper or on TV. The topic was just dropped, forgotten, or glossed over, and nobody ever really notices. The void Moon was Reagan's Teflon. Even in August 1988, when Nancy Reagan admitted at the Republican National Convention on live TV with Dan Rather that the Reagans used astrology, it was during a void Moon, and nobody really noticed or cared. (This is the stuff that causes astrologers to tear out their hair). Of course, when President Reagan had something wonderful to say which would make him look good and he wanted people to notice, he was very careful to make sure the Moon was not void, so he would receive maximum notice and credit. He also used other astrological tricks that helped, but the biggest and easiest was the void Moon.

Void Moons are the best for subjective, spiritual, non-material concerns; prayer, yoga, play, parties, psychotherapy, sleep, and meditation. Take a warm bubble bath, listen to music, and relax. Decision-making turns out to be non-realistic. Creativity takes unplanned directions, detours, and improvisations. Routine and habit can proceed smoothly, but may need adjustment later (when the Moon is no longer void). ESP is more active, (though not necessarily more accurate).

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

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The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

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17a.: Ancestral Paths

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:57 pm (PDT)

Ancestral Paths

All over the world, mysterious roads and paths run in perfectly
straight lines--sometimes plowing through difficult terrain when easier land lies just to one side, or going up and over mesas and mountains instead of around them. What is their purpose, and why were they constructed with such utter disregard for the practicalities of road-building?

An Englishman named Alfred Watkins, who believed he had discovered straight-line paths dotting the English landscape and connecting the old stone circles in a grand design, called them "ley lines." He theorized that they were the roads of ancient merchants. Other British researchers have concluded that they are energy paths, linking the sacred sites of ancient Britain, or perhaps even serving as roadways for UFOs.

There are straight-line roads on the European continent as well, and
these have given us a hint as to their ultimate meaning. In Holland, such roads were once known as "pathways of the dead," and often led to cemeteries. It was once a common European belief that the souls of the dead traveled along straight lines--as when that procession of spirits called the Wild Hunt came swooping through the villages, causing joy to some and terror to others, dancing through the sky to the North Star, as well as upon the earth. Those who followed the Wild Hunt, the medieval Witches, also traveled in straight lines--up a chimney or riding on a broomstick--to join their departed friends.

No wonder that Chinese geomancers or feng shui men prefer curved
lines to straight ones! According to them, straight lines on the landscape are "spirit paths," or "ghost paths," and ordinary mortals are better off staying out of the way.

This belief in "spirit paths" is nearly universal. In Peru, the
straight-line roads are called "ceques," and they all head to "huacas," the shrines of the mountain gods. Who are the mountain gods? They are the deified ancestors of the people. At one time, they were all mortal. Just as European witches who followed the Wild Hunt traveled in straight lines, so also do Peruvian shamans when they "fly" on waves of energy to visit the mountain spirits.

In the Mayan country, magnificent roads made of white stone once
connected different cities and shrines. They were called "Sac Be," which simply means "white road," or not so simply--for the Milky Way, which led to the North Star, or realm of departed souls, was also known as Sac Be.

In New Mexico, straight-line roads lead from various Ansazi ruins to the most magnificent ruins of all--the mysterious cities of Chaco Canyon. Though there are no legends that hark back to the distant days of the Chaco Empire, the Hopi Indians say that the straight-line roads are "ancestor paths," used for ritual rather than for practical purposes.

Rather than embodying the magic of a single culture or people, the
straight-line roads are part of a common human heritage that
resonates with some of the oldest spiritual beliefs of all--reverence for the spirits of our ancestors, and a willingness to walk with them on the North Star Road.
by Ken Johnson,

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

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18.: The Four Elements--A Druid Ritual

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:57 pm (PDT)

The Four Elements
A Centering Meditation

(Similar to the Two Powers Meditation of ADF, or the Light Body Meditation of OBOD)

(This meditation may be done as part of the Tuatha de Brighid Basic Clanfolk Ritual outline, Ash, Oak, and Fir; as part of any other Druid rite; or alone, as a rite in itself. It is shown here as a full rite. If used as part of another rite, use only the Oak or Offering phase.)

Ash
Arriving Phase
Light candles and incense as you wish, but there should be an unlit candle in the Center, as well as the Incense, some stones or earth, and a bowl of water. These symbolize the Four Elements.

Enter from the East. Circle sunwise to the West, and sit facing Eastward toward the Center. Be silent.

Light the Candle in the Center, sound a musical note, and say a prayer of Beginnings.

Go to the East and say, May there be Peace in the East.

Go to the South and say, May there be Peace in the South.

Go to the West and say, May there be Peace in the West.

Go to the North and say, May there be Peace in the North.

Draw a Circle with your finger or wand or staff, sunwise, from the North back around to the North again.

Go to the Center, visualize Peace throughout the Earth, and the Circle within which you stand. Say, May there be Peace in this Circle, and throughout the whole Earth.

Sit where you are comfortable within the Circle, and be silent.

When you are ready . . .

Oak
The Offering Phase

The Four Elements Meditation
(In all cases, the wording is a suggestion. Say something like . . . )

Earth beneath me, Sustainer of Life;
Air around me, Inspiring all Life;
Fire of Stars above me, Empowerment of Life;
Water within me, Refreshing of Life.

(Adepts will be able to enter into Centering on the Elements with these words alone.
A fuller meditation follows for those who desire it.)

Earth

Take the stones or dirt in your hand if you wish, or picture it with your Otherworld sight. Sit quietly, become aware of your breathing, and your body. Become aware of your Grove around you. Feel the ground under you, and become aware of the Earth. Image a tap root extending from your body down into the ground, into the rich, fertile Earth, through stones and roots, through Earth creatures and bedrock. Feel your rootedness in the Earth. Be one with the Earth.

Say something like: May the stability, richness, and fertility of the Earth be always a part of my being.

When you are ready . . .

Air

Take the incense holder in your hand, if you wish, or picture it with your Otherworld sight. Smell the incense smoke rising around you. Breathe deeply and feel the Air enter your body. If you are outdoors, feel the breeze blowing across your skin. (If you are inside, you may wish to use a small fan so that you can feel the Air moving about you.) Let your awareness begin in your lungs, and emerge from your nose and mouth to spread outward from your body in a dome. Sense the Air all around you. Extend your awareness farther, through clouds, through flying birds, and be aware of the Air that envelopes you and all the Earth. Be one with the Air.

Say something like: May the Life-giving purity of the Air inspire me, enrich my blood, and be always a part of my being.

When you are ready . . .

Fire

Take the candle in your hand, if you wish, or picture it with your Otherworld sight. Feel the warmth of the flame as it glows before you. Imagine the Stars overhead, or, if you prefer, the Sun. Imagine Sun or Star directly overhead, beaming light and warmth through the Heavens toward Earth, toward you where you sit. Down, down through the atmosphere, the beam travels, the energy-giving, living power of Fire. Imagine it entering your head and illuminating the brain cavity. Your brow begins to glow, as your head is filled with Light. Fire in your eyes is a sign to the World of your inspiration. Imagine the Light traveling down further, to your heart, Fire of Love; to your stomach, Fire of Metabolism; to your loins, Fire of Creation. Feel your oneness with Fire.

Say something like: May the empowering energy of the Fires of the Universe ever be a part of my being.

When you are ready . . .

Water

Take the bowl of Water in your hands, if you wish, or picture it with your Otherworld sight. Dip your fingers in it. Feel the cool wetness. Raise it to your lips and drink, a deep drink. Feel the cool wetness as it goes down your throat and enters your stomach. If you are carefully aware, you can feel it begin to radiate out through you bodyís tissues. Feel the coolness as it spreads through your cells. Be aware of the water that makes up most of your body. Let your memory go back to the womb-water from whence these waters came, and further back to the sea water from which your ancestors emerged. Feel the currents and tides your bodily fluids. Be at one with Water.

Say something like: May the cleansing and refreshing power of Water ever be a part of my being.

Resolution

Sit in silence. Feel the Elements surrounding you. Be in balance between and among them.

When you are ready, if you wish, perhaps repeat the opening prayer, or other words . . .

Earth beneath me, Sustainer of Life;
Air around me, Inspiring all Life;
Fire of Stars above me, Empowerment of Life;
Water within me, Refreshing of Life.

Fir
Farewelling Phase
Open your eyes, and return to your natural sight

Thank the Elements

Beginning with the North and going counter-Sunwise to each Direction, say Light and Life to the Northî (West, South, Eastî)

Undo the Circle, going counter-Sunwise

Sound a musical signal

The Rite is concluded

OakWyse
Copyright 1998
May be reproduced without alteration, with this notice

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

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19.: The Problem of 'Advanced' Wicca

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:58 pm (PDT)

The Problem of "Advanced" Wicca

A complaint I hear often—and have made myself—is that there are not enough books out there on "advanced" Wicca. There are dozens of beginner books, many of which are unnecessary repetitions of what authors like Cunningham and RavenWolf have already written.
Whatever you may think of their work, they were forerunners of the current 101 book craze, which unfortunately is still going on. They and a few others were here first, and everyone after has been writing variations on the themes they set down. I have seen precious few voices that are genuinely unique since the 90s—and even fewer attempting to teach anything besides the standard "Chapter 1 – Why Wiccans aren't Satanists; Chapter 2 – How to Cast a Circle; Chapter 3 – Here's some correspondences; Chapter 4 – Why you shouldn't cast love spells."

You could easily lay the blame for this at the feet of publishers, who are first and foremost businesses that have to stay afloat just like any other businesses. Most of the presses that are willing to put out Pagan books are small, and don't have much in the way of a marketing budget—they have to put their energy in to what will keep their doors open, and in a way, the glut of crappy 101 books is what enables authors like myself who don't write for beginners to do what we do. Publishing is a cutthroat business, and even very successful authors in this genre aren't exactly rolling in dough, unless they have the time and capital to become their own publicists and spend 365 days a year selling themselves.
In my opinion, however, the lack of "advanced" literature isn't really a commercial issue. What most people who complain about the dearth of Wicca 201 books don't seem to realize is that writing about advanced Wicca is damn near impossible, because nobody can really pin down what advanced Wicca is.
Why not? Well, for starters, ask any ten Wiccans who have been around for more than five years what the most important aspects of their practice are, and you'll get ten very different sets of answers. Wicca as a religion is not that complicated. You learn the essentials, like how to cast a Circle, what the holidays are, what the tools are, and after that, then what? You deepen your understanding of those things, and then you branch out, adding different subjects and techniques that you consider vital to your own personal practice. You find ways to integrate your spirituality into your daily life.
Beyond Wicca 101, many people begin to specialize. What one person finds meaningful will not be all that appealing to another. Some want to learn to lead group rituals and teach; some don't. Some decide to focus their practice on healing and become massage therapists, herbalists, midwives; some lean toward a more shamanic approach and learn about trance dance, drumming, and astral journeying. Some want to learn more about ceremonial magick. Some would rather learn about plants and make things grow.
How, then, do authors cover all of this? Past the beginner stage, there are so many possible directions, how do you write a book that effectively describes all of them?
You don't, really. If you look at the books that are already out there on advanced Wicca, most seem to have one thing in common: they are all over the place. Many seem to be a random collection of essays on divergent topics that the reader may or may not care about.
I don't believe for a second that every Wiccan out there reads Tarot, casts Runes, does Reiki, drums, dances, studies Kabballah, communes with the Faeries, brews herbal tinctures, heals with crystals, deciphers hieroglyphics, memorizes pantheons, draws astrological charts, and bakes a mean souffle. When on Earth would they sleep?
None of these topics are essentially Wiccan; they come from all sorts of cultures and traditions. I have no problem with eclecticism in and of itself, but the fact is, when most authors sit down to write about advanced Wicca, they have to write about everything but Wicca.
Those subjects that are Wicca-specific, or can be approached from our worldview, are the sort of ideas that require much more in-depth treatment than most authors are willing to give. I hate to say it, but a distressing percentage of our authors have become slaves to quantity, putting out multiple books year after year, often in order to keep from having to get a day job. The result is a serious decline in quality between their early work and their later work. Even the best writer can't keep up that kind of pace without phoning it in after a while.
There have been great strides in what is available out there for those who are past the 101 stage, but by its very nature, advanced Wicca is not likely to fill the shelves any time soon the way the beginner material does. In the past five years there have been more books printed addressing our relationship with Deity; creating ritual; bringing spirituality into one's daily life; looking more deeply into ethics; and exploring the Elements.
I have noticed that, while there are many books about Wicca, there are not many on how to live as a Wiccan. Compare the titles in the Pagan section of a bookstore with those on Christianity, or Christian living; there is a book for Christians on just about every aspect of life. There are even Christian diet books. (Are You Eating With Me, Jesus?)
How many books have you seen on how to live as a Wiccan when life sucks? How to face life's worst moments and most difficult challenges? Where are the books on surviving grief, abuse, and loss and still maintaining your faith as a Wiccan? How to bring your entire life in alignment with your values, and how Wicca influences those values, or should? How, if everything is sacred, every choice we make from what to eat to what shoes to buy is an expression of our spiritual beliefs?
While time and experience will lead a great many practitioners to explore these ideas on their own, many people never consider how life's curveballs can shake their faith until it actually happens, and having learned no coping mechanisms and having no tools, they find themselves without a rudder. We can't assume that everyone will mature at the same rate or without any help. Even the most spiritually adept people I know will seek out a book for comfort or advice when they find themselves dealing with something new.
I believe that the void in our literature when it comes to these subjects is in part due to Wicca's relative immaturity as a religion. We are a young faith based on very old ideas, but if we want to survive, if we want Wicca to exist in a hundred years, we are going to have to stop focusing so much on the easy stuff and the white-light-and-bunny-farts and face the dark, the difficult, and the scary. Our literature is going to have to do the same.
Books are still hugely influential for most of us, as the number of potential students still grossly outdistances the number of qualified human teachers. It is a bit scary to think that authors are in large part in charge of the evolution of our religion, but books are the primary avenue by which new people find the path. If books form the backbone of many people's early education, and those books are largely superficial and don't go beyond "this Deity goes with love, that Deity goes with prosperity," what kind of future do we have?
As an author, I consider it an honor to be a part of the future of my religion. As a woman there aren't just a whole lot of denominations out there I could have a direct influence on like I can Wicca. This is a huge responsibility, and one I wish more authors really took to heart. When it comes to guiding people past the 101 stage, we could be doing so much more, and I hope that we will; such a shift will take time, and it will take courage.
Wicca is not just about choosing a divinatory tool or finding your power animal. It's about living the path, having sanctity and purpose infuse your every cell—it's about being Wiccan from balls to bones.
Of course, I don't really expect to see Wicca: from Balls to Bones on the shelves any time soon.
It is kind of catchy, though.

http://diannesylvan.typepad.com/dancing_down_the_moon/2006/10/the_problem_of_.html

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

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20.1.: Elder's Meditation of the Day

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:59 pm (PDT)

Elder's Meditation of the Day

"...the greatest strength is in gentleness."

-- Leon Shenandoah, ONONDAGA

Our Elders have taught us many lessons about becoming a Warrior and how to think and act like one. We have been told about the power of gentleness. We have been told about the power of the stillness. Physical power is about effort. Mental power is the opposite. It's about being effortless or less any effort. Gentleness is one of the greatest attributes of the Warrior and one of the greatest mental powers. It takes a lot of love to be gentle. Gentleness is not an ego word. Gentleness is the weapon of the Great Spirit.

My Creator, today I will be gentle with myself and with others. I will listen to the whisper of my heart and learn the power of being gentle.
from www.whitebison.org

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WhisperingWitches/
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21.1.: Today's Quote

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:59 pm (PDT)

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/13Witches/
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22a.: Troubling Tarot Cards

Posted by: "Lady Nightshayde" LadyNightshayde9@aol.com nightshayde99

Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:00 pm (PDT)

Troubling Tarot Cards

Glance through most tarot decks and you will see certain cards that are a
little unnerving: The Devil, The Tower, the Three of Swords. No one likes
to see these cards show up in a reading because they remind us that life has
challenges. Plans go astray and problems develop--even when we're prepared.
What's the best way to approach such troubling cards?

First, recognize that no card is good or bad in itself. Each one simply
represents an energy or influence that can affect your life. You can decide
whether that influence is helpful or not.

Sometimes what seems to be unpleasant may actually turn out to be positive.
You could draw the Five of Cups in a reading about a job prospect and think,
"How discouraging!" Two weeks later, an even better job offer comes your
way. The "lost" opportunity left you free to accept the new one.

In a similar way, positive cards can sometimes be unfavorable. Once the Star
appeared in a reading about an unsavory incident. This card was the only
bright spot in the reading and seemed out of place. In fact, it represented
a false "sweetness and light" that was being used to mask the nastiness. You
can't always take a card at face value.

Troubling cards often serve as warnings. When driving, we're glad to see a
pothole ahead of time so we can swerve to avoid it. Unpleasant cards can
tell us when something is less than ideal so we can take action to change it.
The Devil, for example, can help you recognize when you are letting yourself
be controlled or manipulated. The Five of Pentacles can signal a brief spell
of hard times so you can prepare.

In fact, a troubling card can be welcome for this very reason. Usually we
know when something is wrong in a situation. We sense a problem is brewing,
even if we can't put our finger on it. If you think you're being betrayed
and draw the Three of Swords, the problem is literally on the table. You can
see exactly what you're dealing with.

What steps should you take when you see a disappointing card? First, check
your assumptions. Ask yourself what you truly want. Does this card capture
something you've been feeling, but didn't know you felt? Does it point out a
possibility you hadn't considered? Use this card to help you evaluate your
situation. You may decide to make changes, or just keep going as you are.
In either case, you will gain clarity and understanding.

Remind yourself that a discouraging card doesn't mean your situation is
hopeless. A pothole won't keep you from getting to your destination. You
may just have to take a different route.

Look to the other cards in the reading for insight. No trouble exists in
isolation. The other cards will give you clues about what to do. You may
recognize someone who can help in an unexpected court card. The Tower may
suggest your environment is unstable, but the other cards show your inner
reserves of love and strength.

The position of a card is important. An unsettling card in the past
certainly has a different meaning than one in the future. In one position,
the Nine of Swords may reflect your own feelings of sadness, in another
position, those of someone else--a different matter altogether!

Troubling cards are most difficult to accept as the outcome. They seem to
imply that a situation will turn out badly no matter what, but this is not
the case. Your future is never fixed. The cards show only the most likely
outcome given that all the influences in and around you continue as they are.
Simply dong a reading creates change!

You always have the power to alter your circumstances if you choose. A tarot
reading gives you the guidance you need to become more aware of your life and
its direction. All the cards in a tarot deck have something meaningful to
say. These beautiful symbols of energy--positive and negative--help us make
choices that enrich our lives.
by Joan Bunning,
copyright 1999

The light of a hundred stars cannot equal the light of the Moon.

Love Each Day,
Lady Nightshayde

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marți, 26 iulie 2011

[13Witches] Digest Number 7507

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