The Old Ways are Alive

Back to Nature

Magick, Spells and Rituals

Pagan Altar

The altar is often the focus of religious ceremony, and is usually found at the center of a Wiccan rite. It’s essentially a table used for holding all of the ritual tools, and can also be used as a workspace in spell casting.

An altar is easy to make. If you have a small table that’s not being used for other things, great! Will you be doing a lot of rituals outdoors? Use an old stump or a flat stone. If you’re short on space, such as cramped apartment or dormitory quarters, consider an altar space that can be used for other purposes as well – the top of a dresser, a cedar chest, even a footlocker.

Do you live in an environment in which you’d like to keep your altar private? You may wish to just create a “portable altar” that can be put away when not in use. Find a nice box or bag to keep your tools in, and then get them out when you need them. If you have an altar cloth, it can double as a storage bag – just put all your tools in the middle, bundle them up, and tie it shut like a pouch.

You can have permanent altars that stay up year round, or seasonal ones that you change as the Wheel of the Year turns. It’s not uncommon to meet someone who has more than one altar in their home. A popular theme is the ancestor altar, which includes photos, ashes or heirlooms from deceased family members. Some people enjoy having a nature altar, on which they place interesting items they find while out and about – a rock, a pretty seashell, a chunk of wood that looks appealing. If you have children, it’s not a bad idea to let them have their own altars in their rooms, which they can decorate and re-arrange to suit their own needs. Your altar is as personal as your spiritual path, so use it to hold the things you value.

Tools of the Craft

When people first discover Paganism or Wicca, they often rush to go buy every single magical tool they can find. After all, the books tell us to buy this, that, and the kitchen sink, so you better hustle on over to Ye Local Wytchy Shoppe and get stuff!

But once you get it, what do you DO with it?

It is important to understand that magical tools have an actual purpose, before you go out and grab one. Tools are often representative of one of the four classical elements, which may help you select the tool you need for your purpose.

Most Wiccan and Pagan traditions use the following tools in some capacity.

The wand

Clichéd as it may sound, the wand is one of the most popular magical tools in Wicca, as well as in some ceremonial magic traditions. It has a number of magical purposes. A wand is used for the directing of energy during a ritual. Because it's a phallic symbol it is used to represent male energy, power, and virility. Representative of the element of Air(although in a few traditions it symbolizes Fire), the wand can be used to consecrate a sacred space, or invoke deity. 

The cauldron

The cauldron is a symbol of the Goddess, and it's all about femininity. The cauldron is the womb in which life begins. Although it usually represents the element Water, the cauldron is an interesting tool because it can tie in to all four elements. You place it upon the Earth, heat it with Fire, fill it with Water, and send the steam up into the Air. In Celtic legend, the goddess Cerridwen possessed a cauldron of immortality and inspiration.

In some traditions, a cup or chalice is used in place of a cauldron, and in others the cauldron and cup are used together. A cup is just a small cauldron, and can be made of any material. 

Knife

Often referred to as the athame (pronounced a-tha-may) in Wiccan traditions, the magic knife is not used for cutting but for the directing of energy and manipulation of power. In some branches of Paganism, a sword is used in place of the athame. The traditional athame is double-edged and although the tip is usually pointed, the edges of the blade are often dull. After all, it's a ceremonial knife rather than a practical one. Commonly linked with the element Fire, the athame is a phallic symbol and is often used to represent the God. The athame is used forcasting a circle or for the direction of energy.














Pentacle

Nearly every tradition of Wicca (and many Pagan paths) uses thepentacle as a symbol. Not to be confused with the pentagram (a five-pointed star), the pentacle is a flat piece of wood, metal, clay, or wax inscribed with magical symbols. The most commonly seen symbol, however, is the pentagram itself, which is why the two terms are often confused.

In ceremonial magic, the pentacle is used as a protective talisman. However, in most Wiccan traditions it is seen as representative of the element of Earth, and can be used on the altar as a place to hold items that are going to be ritually consecrated. You can make your own, or buy one commercially.

Broom / Besom

While it comes in handy during a good game of Quidditch, the broom - or besom - is also useful for sweeping a ceremonial area out before ritual. A light sweeping not only cleans the physical space, it also clears out negative energies that may have accumulated in the area since the last cleaning. The broom is a purifier, so it is connected to the element of Water. It is not uncommon to meet witches who have broom collections, and it is fairly easy to make your own besom if you dont wish to buy one. The traditional magical formula includes a bundle ofbirch twigs, a staff of ash or oak, and a binding made from willow wands. 















Censer

The censer is a container used for burning resins and incense on hot charcoal to release the natural energies of the plants, woods and flora and resins.  It can be elaborate, crafted from brass and fitted with  a chain handle allowing the censer to be swung and the incense smoke spread, or it can be something as simple as a ceramic dish.  If ceramics, or natural wood vessels are used as censers, then it's a good idea to line the base with a good layer of sand which will absorb the heat from the burning charcoal, and preventing cracking and breaking.  The sand also gives a good flat surface to support small incense cones or sticks.

Power of Belief

What you believe about yourself and your world determines the kind of experiences you will have and how you will intemperate them.

The ideas you accept as true are your beliefs . Belief acts like a filter through which information passes before it reaches you. The belief filter acts so strongly that it usually allows information you already believe to be true. Contradictory information is either ignored, explained away , or rejected.

What you decide to accept or reject as your beliefs will literally create your world. If you believe you cannot be a certain kind of person , then you wont. If you believe you must only have one type of relationship , then you will never experience others. If you think you cant go to college to learn a new skill, then you never will. If you believe that god is one way, then you will never experience god in another way. If you think certain topics and questions are forbidden , then you will never explore them.

Power of belief mobilizes nations , creates religions, begins and ends wars and defines new civilizations.

What is you vision? What kind of life do you want to lead? What kind of world do you want to create, what kind of beliefs are going to get you there?

Witchcraft Explained

: The Facts*

Witchcraft is often referred to as "the Old Religion" and "Craft of the
Wise." Witchcraft has been present since the beginning of humanity, in many forms, by many names. It was never a defined, organized religion,
particularly not a universal one, but it was everywhere, as it is now. Those
who practice Witchcraft are called Witches, no matter their sex. A very
common misconception is that a warlock is a male Witch. This could not be
further from the truth. Warlock means "oath breaker," and can be applied to
either sex. Basically it is someone who betrays the trust of a coven.

Witches are not evildoers, rather, they are the most moral, most aware and
sensitive people you will ever come across. They realize that every action
has a reaction in every reality and work maintain balance, bringing about
change, being sure not intentionally harm any innocent. Most Traditional
Witches are also familiar with the old saying a Witch who can't curse, can't
heal. What does this mean? To most Witches, it means if someone is harming you, your family or friends, by all means do something about it. Turn the other cheek is not necessarily the best motto when dealing with people whose intent is to harm.

Witches tend to be pantheists---that is they recognize the divine in all
things. Many Witches in some fashion worship the Goddess and the Horned God--depending upon their practices and Tradition, a Witch will have different concepts of deity: general divine energy, ancestral spirits, specific deities, etc. The Horned God is a deity of fertility and festivity, often represented by a man with deer antlers, or a satyr-like being, as artifacts of Pan and Cernunnos depict. One can easily see now where the Christian concept of the devil originated. It is always wise to remember that the gods of the old religions become the devils of the new in many western cultures.

So never have Witches worshipped "the devil" as Christianity portrays. We actually find the idea of personifying evil rather stupid, for if you give something a name, you give it power. Witches, likewise, don't believe in Hell. We cannot believe in an "all-loving" god that would send its own children to damnation, simply because they did not worship him in a certain form. Instead, Witches believe in a transient-like afterlife, sometimes called the Summerlands, as well as reincarnation.

Some Witches utilize magick as a tool and/or some form of spellcraft, following along the lines of "harm none." Magick cannot be defined as "black" or "white,"because of the complexity of the results.

*A note to other Witches who read this quick analysis and explanation and get their besoms lodged in an unhappy place over some parcel located within....get over it. To all others, this is meant to be a general explanation and isn't intended to cover every nuance. Not all Witches hold the same beliefs, so no one can make a statement that covers all Witches completely. I write mainly from my beliefs and experiences, and encourage the reader to do further research in regards to history and anthropology.

http://www.meddevi.com/witchery/witchcraft.html

Wicca Explained

The deities of Wicca are a balance of masculine and feminine, with a God and a Goddess.
The Goddess, also commonly referred to as The Lady or the Triple Goddess, is followed by many people, both Wiccan and otherwise.
She has been an inspiration to many people and many Pagan paths.

Like the Horned God, her true name is revealed to Wiccans after initiation, but this in no way stops people from getting to know her and form a close, personal relationship with her in their own way.


Who is the Triple Goddess?

The Triple Goddess is the divine personification of nature itself.  Her identity has been inspired by many Goddesses throughout history and across many cultures.  She exists as part of the “Great Goddess” tradition that exists in many cultures, from the Celts, to North Africa and even as far away as China and Japan.  In this way she is both an old and new Goddess, given form in modern culture as the Triple Goddess, but at the same time being the embodiment of certain ideas and impressions that have been expressed as part of the human condition for thousands of years and variously expressed through many different Goddesses across the world.

As a Great Goddess she stands as head of her pantheon alongside her Lord, the Horned God.  She is the creatrix that brings the world into being and the womb that gives birth to her divine companion.
She is nature itself, present in all things and as such we may view her as inseparable from the body of the Earth.  She is there in the firmament below us and the sky above us, giving life to everything and changing with the seasons.




Goddess of the Esbat

As the God is connected with the Sun, so the Goddess is embodied by the Moon.  The Moon guides the tides and shows us the silvery light that may guide us through the darkness, just as she may guide each seeker through the Mysteries of her faith.
Each month Wiccans covens gather at meetings which are often called “Esbats”.  These Esbats commonly occur at the Full Moon and are traditionally celebrations of the Goddess, where she herself is called to manifest in person before the coven.

The Goddess is often seen to present herself in three aspects, hence being a Triple Goddess.  These three forms are Maiden, Mother and Crone, the life of woman which is also represented in the changing cycle of the Moon.

http://www.wiccaexplained.350.com/TripleGoddess.htm

Paganism Explained

Paganism explained


The word Pagan refers to a vast and very diverse belief system. The actual Websters first definition of Pagan reads;any person who is not Muslim, Christian, or Jew.
Pagans have been around since man began, when we were hunting and gathering we were also worshiping the goddess and the god. Early man recognized the cyclical nature of our world, and life in general.
Since that early time the beliefs have spread to all cultures and have manifested into a cornucopia of different belief systems. Many are very similar, believing that we are all connected in the circle of life.
It is hard to know where to start, and even harder to know who to listen to and trust. The best place I've found to start is with you. You have to search yourself for answers as to what you want out of religion.
What does your soul say to you? Don't chose the pagan path on a whim of intrigue. It is not a movie, it's a way of life.
You may even want to read up on other religions first, or rediscover the religion you were brought up with.
This will help you see more clearly when, and if, you do decide on a pagan faith. Now the most important thing to remember when beginning the pursuit of paganism is knowledge is power. The more you have the more you'll be able to make sense out of everything.
What I suggest, to begin with, is read, read, and then read some more. Find as much information as you can wrap your brain around! This may seem a bit confusing at first, especially if you've never studied it before, because there is so much.
I suggest starting with simple history of witchcraft, druids, and basic pagan beliefs. Then if you feel it touches you, if it calls to you, then continue on. Then start reading about ritual, celebrations, and expectations. Know that you will never be finished learning about the faith, every day is a lesson.
After you feel you're ready you can try to contact other like minded people in your community.
There are several pagan groups across America. In fact, you'd be surprised just how many of us there are out there. Try seeking outside advice from a long time practitioner of the path you decide upon.Try to remember though that one of the most enlightening things about pagan faith is that you make it your own. There are very few "set rules" to follow. So don't put all your faith into what one witch says.
If you are not a social person you can practice in solitude. There are a great many solitary witches out there, and though they practice alone that are often helpful via email and on the web.
There are a great many resources for finding your pagan path, you simply have to search yourself for the way. I hope this is helpful to you and that you find your way to where ever you need to be. Good luck and Goddess Bless.
Below are some helpful books and websites to start you on your way.
by Tara Doerr

http://www.liberatedthinking.com/data/Info/pagan.html