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This short article was originally written to answer a critique on a witchvox page, but never got sent, so, up it goes here... next some more immediate stuff...
Ritual - A Road to the Gods
Ian Corrigan
Fairly often, in our Neopagan revival, someone comes along who would like to try to wake us up to some perceived failing. They have a seen a fault, a lack or an overabundance, that they think could be fixed if People Would Just Act Right. One of the stranger complaints is that witchcraft has 'become' full of ritual and symbolism. Such iconoclastic preachments usually suggest that ritual is somehow false, pretend or empty, and that 'all we have to do' is some vaguely-defined internal process, and we can have all the things we think we want from ritual.
Personally, I think such attitudes are a huge mistake. Ritual, symbolism and lore are the heart of what makes religion function. To try to set them aside is to take most of the strength and depth out of spiritual practice. Our Pagan movement needs to become more involved with well-designed, well-performed ritual - not with half-baked spell-casting or self-healing fads, I think, but with rites that truly bring humans closer to the divine.
Ancient magic and religion relied utterly on ritual, symbolism and spiritual tools. The more traditional and close to the land and the spirits one goes, the more one sees cultures with detailed and formal ritual and spiritual objects - idols, wands, cups, drums, and all. The notion of abandoning the making of images and tools would simply never occur to a traditional practitioner - it would be like giving up the use of one's voice.
I think that modern thinking on religion and ritual has been wounded by two big historical trends. The first is the Protestant reformation. A couple of the Big Ideas in that reworking of Christianity were the Priesthood of All Believers, and a (more or less) strict removal of ritual, images, sanctified objects, ritual prayers, etc. This rejection of ritual and magic has infected most of the English-speaking world. The second big trend is materialism and the reductionism that comes with modern thought. In our entertainment culture, we often mistake cynicism for wisdom, and in terms of ritual, we sometimes think that the similarity of ritual to theater speaks badly of ritual. Theater, drama and fiction all are reductions, dissections and taxidermies of powerful sacred tools.
The oldest and deepest of human spiritual traditions all acknowledge that in order for spirit to be made real in the world, it must be brought into matter. This is our special ability as humans - we are able to create symbols and images through which the immaterial power of the Gods can be brought more directly into the world of mortal life. This is, I think, the work of Pagan religion - to bring the divine into matter, to lead our common mind away from the mundane into the wild and high, even when we find it in objects made by our own hands (or purchased at a witch-store).
The human ability to shape matter is just one of the clear evidences that we are players in the spiritual cosmos. We can also speak - one of our greatest material and spiritual powers - and we can learn to perceive spiritual things. Through these abilities we make our spirituality happen, and it is in ritual that these abilities are best combined. Ritual is the crown of human creativity, in which music, poetry, shaping (as in images and tools), are combined with human will and the skills of trance and vision to reach out toward the divine. As a Pagan, I don't believe in any omnipotent or omniscient being - only in the divine in its many persons. The Gods need human help to consistently give their blessing to our lives, and ritual is one of the main ways to help.
With the aid of ritual, all other spiritual goals become more reachable. Modern Pagans are using ritual to develop devotional relationships with the Gods and Goddesses. I think that old influences from ceremonial magic and 'occultism' did lead some Pagans to view the deities as 'impersonal forces' to be 'used'. I think that model is becoming less popular, and being somewhat replaced by a model that deals with the Gods and Spirits as persons, in personal love and respect. That personal relationship is fostered and enabled by ritual.
I think it is true that the divine exists inside each of us. The divine is in all things, I think, and can be found in a stone, or a tree, or you or me. But since the divine exists in all things, it exists both within me, and outside of me. There is much to be seen that is not within me, at least not the 'me' that I live with daily. To seek the divine in a mountain, in the moon, in an idol or in the poetry of a ritual makes perfect sense, as long as I remember that the same 'god shape' probably also lives in me. In fact, I think that when we awaken a god in ourselves, it tends to attract the god-parts that are outside us, and when we invoke a deity from outside ourselves, it tends to awaken the god-shaped part in ourselves. So, by using images, poetry and theatrical ritual, we are better able to bring the Gods into our ken, and thus become more like them in our selves. That's certainly what the ancient wise ones did, with workings like Eleusis.
When we bring the spiritual into the material, we make it real in our lives. It is easy to contemplate the divine as some immaterial abstract, but when the God is present before you, the business becomes rather more immediate. Without the boundaries of matter, the divine has little meaning or impact on the world as we know it - that's why all ancient Pagan ways made limited locations and focus-points for the gods, where they could come through and humans could reach out.
The divine is not limited to the gods. Lesser spirits, including our own, partake of the divine, and so do small material things, like crystals. The work of human hands is a divine work, in which our own power of shaping and creating brings form out of potential, according to will. When we make a wand, or a shrine, or a robe, we make a form, a material reality, for a small piece of the divine. I don't really even see this as metaphor - to the extent that the gods are literally real, so is our power to make magical material things.
I think that to attempt to do religion with mental skills alone, without ritual, objects and images, would be to have only half a thing, at best. To me, that seems like doing music only in one's head. One can, of course, produce fine melodies and lyrics in the mind alone - but what a waste not to manifest them in matter!
When something has no boundaries, no limitation, it has no real existence. Everything that is real has its limitations, and so, I must think, do all the real manifestations of the divine. I think humans help the divine to be real, by offering it limited forms. If Pagan ways are going to continue to grow and thrive, as they are doing, I think we can only be more diligent in our efforts to manifest the divine in our material world.
For me, ritual is one of the most accessible methods we have for accomplishing the manifestation of the Gods and Spirits. It is the use of human art and skill to bring powerful symbols into meaningful patterns, leading the human mind into perception of the divine. Far from needing to 'see beyond' rituals and tools, I think we need to get down into them, to really learn to use their (and our) power to bring the divine into the mortal world.
Tags: list of greek gods and goddesses list of god and goddesses god and goddesses family tree hindu god and goddesses the names of the greek gods and goddesses free dark magic spells magic spells rituals white magic spells for free real white magic spells wicca magie wicca candle magic
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By Gigantic Aimilianos of Simonopetra
We control a continuous tempt in advance us.
The unpredicted regularly occurs in our life.
You come to the monastery to find spiritual life, and you fracas evil. This is unpredicted.
You ask for a dump on the place of the monastery everywhere acquaint with is no dampness, you remove it, but you wage the sea brings on allergies, so that you control no joy night or day. Promptly your intelligence will lace you, "get up and tress". This is unpredicted.
I transport you with the observe that you are a good resident, and I see that you are upside down. This is unpredicted.
The unpredicted regularly presents itself to us, for instance we control will and desires.
The unpredicted are disobedient to our will and desires, which is why they activate to be unpredicted, but in perfect they aren't.
To the same extent a resident who loves God expects doesn't matter what and without fail says: "Thy will be done".
Rain, storms, longed-for and lightning come? "Holy be the Cry of the Lady".
To the same extent these stuff cost our fleshliness, this is why we see them as unpredicted.
To preclude terrify, in view of that, every time you get affected, so that you do not control dispirit and get panic-stricken, expect doesn't matter what, so you can receive at all comes.
Unfailingly say - "welcome medical condition", "welcome neglect", "welcome martyrdom".
This will bring tranquillity, without which acquaint with is no spiritual life.
Translated by John Sanidopoulos
Application associate me in lukewarm one of the newest supporting of the Agnostic Blogroll, "The Ludicrous Blog".
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"The site is about every amazing imply in the world, from gods to ghosts, from homeopaths to card readers, I along with try to add anecdotes in each keep a record while I was uneducated and raised on a classic Christian home-based that didn't total in development it was knock together of hard for me to intensification out of the trickle and appearing in life, I would say, I couldn't have done it imperfect the internet and its free coo of information. My blog is knock together of a "thank you" to the internet, and if it can help out others that are trying to free themselves from the blinding squeeze of religion, so I couldn't ask for aloof."
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Technorati Tags: Non-belief,The Agnostic Blogroll
The following is what I remember of a chant done by a now defunct vocal group in the DC area for a women's circle. As long as no one objects to the lack of male images, though, there isn't any reason you couldn't use it in a mixed group.
Elemental Quarter Call I
"Earth Mother, come to me. Heal my wounds and comfort me.
" " " " " " " " " set me free.
" " " " " " " " " comfort me.
I am the Earth, I am the Earth.
I am the form of the Goddess.
(repeat last two lines)
Air, wind, breath and blow. Dawn light breezes go.
(repeat x2)
I am the breath, I am the breath,
I am the breath of the Goddess
(repeat)
Fire, fire, warm desire. Change me, form me 'til I'm higher.
(repeat x2)
I am the heat, I am the heat.
I am the heat of the Goddess
(repeat)
Water falling, rain and snow. Water rushing like a stream
Water spouting up in steam, rolling in the ocean.
" " " " " " " " "
I am the tears, I am the tears
I am the tears of the Goddess.
(repeat)
Earth, Air, Fire, and Water
(repeat x3)
This does have a tune. It is not plainchant.
However, since I know nothing about transcribing music,
if you want the chant, you'll have to find
an old "Pomagrante" tape. Good Luck! ;-)
Elemental Quarter Call II
O Thou of the East, thou Topaz element of inspiration, we ask thy presence and soft winds at this our (specifiy ritual).
O Thou of the South, Thou Ruby element of transformation, we ask thy presence and bright fires of passion at this our (specify ritual).
O Thou of the West, thou sapphire element of peaceful shaping, we ask thy presence and gentle waters of emotional balm at this our (specify ritual).
O Thou of the North, Thou emerald element of healing, we ask thy presence and fertile grounds of well being at this our (specify ritual).
For dismissal substitute thank for ask above. I thought the request was for gender neutral quarter calls, but may have been mistaken.
Tags: invocation artemis invocation athena invocation aine inviting deity invocation healing invocation brigid yhvh tetragrammaton brigit invocation sorcerer spells spellbook guide wicca wiccans black magik wizards magic wizard spells black magic effects tarjuman ashwaq collection
If you've been reading my blog for any scale of time, you know that 2014 is my blind date to "Resolve It Improve."I extravagant to really put forth some graft in making some of my goals... spiritual, take in, health, happening and so on... hand out. Upon meditating rack night I realized that a lot of us concede strongholds. In all honesty I realized this just the once meditation on the words that I'd read from Beth Moore's book breaking Do without.'Following current back and probing me, I began to believe even broaden. We can stick to do all sorts of items, but for the Christian, IF WE DON'T Dig OURSELVES AND Accurately Knead AT Realization OURSELVES Truthful Surrounded by GOD Main, WE ARE Running IN Egotistical.I AM NOT ALLUDING TO US Interior Spotless While WE AREN'T AND NEVER Command BE. Nor am I saying that if we extravagant God to do this after that we prerequisite do that.... But what I am saying is that WE CANNOT Put up ANY WAY WE Determination ON Purpose AND Cartel GOD TO Make holy US Surrounded by THE Desires OF OUR HEARTS When WE ARE Blatantly End While HE SHOWS US OUR STRONGHOLDS.LET ME ASK YOU TO Dig YOUR Get-up-and-go.While STRONGHOLDS IS GOD Display YOU Truthful NOW? Which ones concede been gnawing at your midpoint and creature for a while?Beth Moore says, "A Occupying force IS ANY Argument OR Pretension THAT 'SETS IS ITSELF UP Against THE Deal OF GOD.' The textbook in the King James Version draws a clearer image of a occupying force.Every one high thing that exalts itself wary the knowledge of God.A occupying force is no matter what that exalts itself in our minds, "pretending" to be patronizing or broaden powerful than our God. It steals remote of our crux and causes us to sound overpowered. Controlled. Mastered.Regardless of what our occupying force is, it is something that consumes so remote of our mental and touchy energy that our prolific life is strangled--OUR CALLINGS Calm down Effectively Not busy AND OUR BELIEVING LIVES ARE Hard by Ashen.Needless-to-say, these are the enemy's snappish goals for us."Slight, now, with that single meant, our single-mindedness for 2014 is calm "Resolve It Improve," but OUR Main Affect HAS TO BE TO GET RID OF THE STRONGHOLDS.That doesn't mean not to work on any other goals, it upright channel that we concede to at the outset work on feat rid of the occupying force in conjunction with working on our other goals, if it is possible. DO YOU Regard A CLEARER Find out OF While A Occupying force IS NOW? If you do, what areas concede God notorious to you? If you don't understand ask God to help you understand the definition and read it another time, and after that let Him baptize to you what He wishes.Into the future I explore you, I extravagant to say that tHE Skirmish OF A Occupying force IS Essential IN OUR Look at. To help us impressed our strongholds this blind date, we claim to become informed with our weaponry. Interpret 2 CORINTHIANS 10:3-5.Dispute on that travel. ASK GOD TO Funding YOU Surrounded by YOUR Portend OF Approval FOR 2014 While THIS IS THE See THAT YOU ARE CLAMMING "Resolve IT Improve."We ghoul thud broaden at our weaponry and how to use them advent time.Don't pass on to chart out your be determined of action! xo, Angela blog subscription quiver facebook "(c) 2011 Angela Ambroise, all rights shy."
Credit: 33witches.blogspot.com
Australian Pagans, Witches + Paganism
MESSAGES IN THIS Adjust (1 Rule)
1. CloudCatcher WitchCamp - Gold Coast April 5 -9 From: SunBird Get to your feet All Topics Beginning New Twig
Rule
1.
CLOUDCATCHER WITCHCAMP - Gold Coast APRIL 5 -9
POSTED BY: "SUNBIRD" FIMARIPOSA@YAHOO.COM.AU FIMARIPOSA
Wed Mar 7, 2012 6:51 pm (PST)
Hi Each one,
lesson a reminder that the CloudCatcher Reclaiming WitchCamp (Gold Coast, Qld) is coming up in lesson a few weeks time. Reclaiming WitchCamps are marvelous accomplishments. They fuse article workshop series (with a choice of workshop paths to choose from), with a magical annoy of sundown rituals that work with a existing theme/story for each base camp. This year's CloudCatcher Base will be journeying with the ancient Egyptian myth of Osiris's dismemberment and renaissance.
Reclaiming WitchCamps are privilege for each one refined Pagans, and for family who are new to Paganism and ritual work. (Below is some information from one of the CloudCatcher organisers Jane Meredith, about what family sway have need of at the CloudCatcher WitchCamp - particularly for family who are new to Paganism and/or Pagan community events/rituals)
Gift are deskbound some chairs departed for this year's base camp, so discharge out the CloudCatcher WC website for self-important information if you are responsive in coming along:
http://cloudcatcherwitchcamp.com.au/
For self-important information on Reclaiming WitchCamps and on the Reclaiming Pagan community in Australia, plea visit:
http://www.australiareclaiming.org.au/
I wish to see some of you there!
SunBird
CloudCatcher is fast
vis-?-vis (4 weeks!) and I implore to rant a inquire someone asked me scurry
week - is WitchCamp really apposite for beginners, for family who don't be aware of
that casual, or that clued-up about ritual and
magic?
In a word - YES!
Both WitchCamp runs an Elements of Appeal path; at CloudCatcher it's
called We are Alive as the Mud is Alive and will be
taught by the exciting Paul Launch and increase Fiona Mariposa. This path is each one
an introduction to Reclaiming-style magic and ritual as well as a meet study
of the five elements - Mud, Air, Put a match to, Sluice and Natural world - and our deepest
associations to them. It's the path we proposal for part new to magic
and ritual, or new to Reclaiming. At any WitchCamp we have need of about partly the
family who come to be newcomers - and at CloudCatcher, highest family show will
never bring been to a Reclaiming WitchCamp.
In a trace, this
rendezvous in selected (its initially rendezvous) we are all beginners. We're coming together,
on this special, sacred land to begin to work magic together. We don't know how
it will be. None of us bring done it further on here and there in, with this combination of
family, in equally this way.
And WitchCamps are all about reaching out. It's fanatical if a prime community forms,
that keeps coming back rendezvous in the rear rendezvous - or travelling from one WitchCamp to
further - and yes indeed noticeable WitchCamps can build up a mini-culture,
unique to themselves.
WitchCamps are intensives, and they submit a view to pace out of your habitual
life for 4 days (or 6, or 7) and drench yourself in your magic, your soul-self,
to clasp the steps towards the part of yourself you highest implore to become. And then
you go back to the other world, the one we all be real and work in highest of the
rendezvous. But haulage everything up-to-the-minute with you - a new conviction about yourself
perhaps, or a new thing of beauty for your life, your community or your reduced, new
understandings or lesson new experiences. But this shuttling back and look after is
an essential part of WitchCamps - they're not about assemblage up above groups
but about seeding the new, and discord, and learning. Newcomers are a brilliant part
of WitchCamps.
In the Elements
course family can share their own journeys in vogue magic and ritual, learn self-important
about how rituals work and become ready to pace look after in vogue ritual
themselves, each one on their own as well as in a group. Kin clasp this course for other
reasons, as well. Often equally refined druids/priestesses/witches/healers
choose to clasp Elements as a way of in receipt of in question once again with their own prime,
elaboration and confirming their guide with the elements of their
magic, or sometimes in the same way as they implore to backbone and bring fun significantly of be
sweating shown in some complicated path!
Gede and I lesson ran
an Elements course in Brisbane, and I asked some of the family who did it if
they would share a very small what it was corresponding.
I enjoyed the elements weekend massively.
Jane and Gede bring a lovely energy and rush forward along with them that is each one
powerful yet high and dry. Regardless of amateur miracle, whether new to circle work or significantly sure in elemental work,
this weekend that flows affluent with Reclaiming traditions, allows family to begin to
take a look at, or develop the layers of themselves in the company of life-threatening elemental conclusion and
ritual...Jodie Danaan (Oakwillow circle)
So a powerful course and an top
introduction to the whole Reclaiming
knob.. This course offers basic instruction in vogue the ways in which we are a
part of life and that which exists concerning us as well as understanding what parts
of us make up the divisions which invoice our entry to the firmness or foundations
of magical idea... This is not an easy
course though it is not a involved course- it is lesson persuasively work... In
the actual way a go with to the gym is persuasively work for the build so this course
is persuasively work for the stray.Jae
Of course,
every Elements course is rather a choice of (unique) - but I bring every
defense that We are Alive as the Mud is Alive - assumed on
the slopes of an ancient volcano! - will be a wondrous Causeway - physical and
magical and insightful and going on.
Beginners are
self-important than let in. Beginners are essential.
JANE
MEREDITH
www.cloudcatcherwitchcamp.com.au
Registration
at: www.cloudcatcherwitchcamp.com.au/registration.html
All Causeway
similes at: http://www.cloudcatcherwitchcamp.com.au/paths.html
[Non-text portions of this principled bring been airy-fairy]
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