tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317916601345230382024-03-24T03:10:11.047-04:00American Folkloric WitchcraftLaureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-61469314888030343872021-01-20T04:00:00.000-05:002021-01-20T04:00:59.224-05:00Archived Here ... but the Work Continues<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HuoxOzZC1IZqYxJpoMzqV17WlnAvXREewT8WRE-0h7COQAt6oFkdGmRlbbtExv8kYvkUct76aQ8Ze0o1d7vU0OK6NkIIleYNPAJ1Nk6xkADBq_GdWmrlkJk53rtnwFj6FV2uSTqqklNe/s2048/Dance_of_Death_%2528CCLXIIIIv%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1747" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HuoxOzZC1IZqYxJpoMzqV17WlnAvXREewT8WRE-0h7COQAt6oFkdGmRlbbtExv8kYvkUct76aQ8Ze0o1d7vU0OK6NkIIleYNPAJ1Nk6xkADBq_GdWmrlkJk53rtnwFj6FV2uSTqqklNe/s320/Dance_of_Death_%2528CCLXIIIIv%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />This beloved and useful blog has been stale for some time. There hasn't been truly fresh content here since 2015 or so -- about the time Natalie/Glaux and I (Laurelei) divorced. Most of the posts since then have been corrections of attribution, revisions of problematic pieces, and only the occasional new addition to the body of knowledge we started together. <p></p><p>I explained on our "<a href="https://afwcraft.blogspot.com/p/about-afw.html" target="_blank">About</a>" page that we were archiving this blog, but I'm not sure how many folks check that out. With the launch of my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPh4YtQMY0STtde_Qi1Eo-w" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> in May 2020, this blog, this work is getting more visibility again, and I don't want it to seem ... forsaken. It hasn't been, exactly. </p><p>More accurately, perhaps, the WORK continues, but this particular blog needed to come to a close. It had been a collaboration between two life-mates who couldn't share a life -- or magical space (or even cyber space) -- any longer. However, each in our way, we have continued forward with the work of the Spiral Castle Tradition.</p><p>Right, "Spiral Castle Tradition" is what we called ourselves, our Trad. "American Folkloric Witchcraft" was more an umbrella term that we coined (back in 2011, when we started this blog) for what SCT was doing. In some ways, the two terms became synonymous for us, but it turns out, American Folkloric Witchcraft has taken on a life and meaning of its own in the decade since we first started using the phrase. (How freaking cool is that?! ... And also: a decade? Dang.)</p><p>At the time of this writing, Natalie is working fairly privately. She founded and led <a href="http://crossroadscoven.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Crossroads Coven</a> for a number of years, and their blog has a few new writings in the AFW corpus worth checking out -- in addition to having re-posted much of the content of this blog. (If she reaches out to me and wants projects/contacts updated here, I will happily do so. However, I'm not going to impinge her privacy by suggesting where you might find her, if she's not broadcasting.)</p><p>As for me, I still have the direction of the "home coven" -- Coven Caer Sidhe, and I started a blog for <a href="https://spiralcastletrad.wordpress.com/blog/" target="_blank">Spiral Castle Trad</a> to continue the work that was begun here -- pulling only from my own writings from this blog, and adding some new. I'll admit: I'm not as far along with the writing as I would like. (So many reasons for that, but it feels self-indulgent to dig into them here, so I'll refrain.) I'm still creating my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/bladeandbroom/" target="_blank">massive Book of Shadows collection</a> on Etsy. I mentioned the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPh4YtQMY0STtde_Qi1Eo-w" target="_blank">Blade & Broom YouTube</a> above -- which I'm really enjoying! I also maintain a bit of a blog for <a href="http://bladeandbroom.com/blog.html" target="_blank">Blade & Broom</a> (though I'm much more consistent with the videos than I am with the blog, at this point)! I'm working on the <a href="https://spiralcastletrad.wordpress.com/red-thread-academy/" target="_blank">Red Thread Academy's Foundation</a> (Year 1) course, which will be available soon, and I'm also nearly finished with the 2nd novel in the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FH28ZC0" target="_blank">Witches' Rune</a> series. I'm also accepting submissions for <a href="http://asteriabooks.blogspot.com/2020/09/witches-key-to-goetic-familiars.html" target="_blank">The Witches' Key to Goetic Familiars</a> -- while I revise and expand my previous work, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0985773421" target="_blank">The Witches' Key to the Legion</a>. (This is to say nothing of my Aphrodite-inspired work, which is ALSO still moving forward, because that's how it is! The <a href="http://laureleiblack.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Laurelei Black blog</a> is sluggish as cold molasses, as well, but I'm working on a new book based on the cowrie divination system I've developed, and I'm regularly holding space for Her.) Finally, I'm on the verge of launching a Patreon page. (No link for that yet. But visit <a href="http://linktr.ee/laureleiblack">linktr.ee/laureleiblack</a> anytime to see my most current projects and get in touch with me in the ways that interest you.)</p><p><br /></p><p>So, friends, that's that. I do not anticipate there being any new posts for this blog. Only updates on this post and/or the About page to keep contacts current. If you're looking for content directly related to what we've produced here for so long, come check out what's happening at <a href="https://spiralcastletrad.wordpress.com/blog/" target="_blank">Spiral Castle Trad</a> -- and let me know what topics you'd like to see covered! </p><p><br /></p>Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-44547318388981065082019-03-28T16:19:00.000-04:002019-03-28T16:19:21.260-04:00The Evil Eye (updated)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Many cultures all over the world share a common belief in a type of curse or hex that is transmitted (usually) unwittingly through a glare or glance in which the caster is filled with envy, praise, or covetousness. It can also be transmitted, intentionally or unintentionally, by people with green or blue eyes — which is why protective charms to ward against this curse are so often blue, green, or turquoise.<br />
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The evil eye is also called the invidious eye, the envious eye, ayin ha'ra (Hebrew), malocchio (Italian), mal ojo (Spanish), jettatore (Sicilian), the stink eye (Hawaiian), nazar (Turkish), and bla band (Farsi).<br />
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While the eye itself is a receptive sensory organ, the power of the evil eye is insidious in its ability to send curses outward in a projective manner often unbeknownst to the own doing the cursing. In a traditional context, the person who sends the curse does not necessarily intend the afflicted target any harm. They simply admire and covet what they don’t already have. For this reason, mothers in cultures where a belief in the evil eye is prevalent might respond, “Oh, but he’s got dirt on him,” when told their baby is beautiful. Without saying something seemingly “mean,” the child might attract the evil eye and become sick — or even die!<br />
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Perils related to the evil eye include wasting, illness, blight, injury, plain bad luck, and possibly death.<br />
Charms against the evil eye are sometimes also simply called “the evil eye” and take the shape of a blue, green, or turquoise circle banded in white to represent the eye. Various hand gestures and horns (with their phallic connotations) are also reputed to ward against the evil eye. Eyes, hands, and horns have all been fashioned into jewelry, charms, and art that can be displayed on bodies, in homes, and in vehicles to offer the most possible protection against the threat of this malevolent glare.<br />
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Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-13335218328237892692019-03-28T16:05:00.000-04:002019-03-28T16:06:04.367-04:00Meeting at the Crossroads (updated)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxCghnoD4fqhhQpCsgLQV9Vi-Zlj8BQexWdSbpWbcsHrU3uLcxImxHHIOB3110AafgxdsDGehM-FLAONnVsHn_L0qLs7blKlvuXK7iNAr0aVXThL-TDOulFtfupQPuzkQRFB3AiItEDpv/s1600/devil-black-book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="494" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxCghnoD4fqhhQpCsgLQV9Vi-Zlj8BQexWdSbpWbcsHrU3uLcxImxHHIOB3110AafgxdsDGehM-FLAONnVsHn_L0qLs7blKlvuXK7iNAr0aVXThL-TDOulFtfupQPuzkQRFB3AiItEDpv/s320/devil-black-book.jpg" width="320" /></a>Liminal places are those locales that can be described as neither here nor there, and since time immemorial, they have been considered the very best places to meet the Witchfather (or Witchmother) and perform spells. Liminal spaces might be include the mouth of a cave (neither in the belly of the earth, nor upon the land’s breast), at the seashore (neither in the ocean, nor upon dry land), at a doorway (neither inside the house, nor yet outside its bounds). But the liminal place that has fired the imagination and bred some of the most enduring folklore is that of the crossroads — the place where two or more roads come together and the traveler can stand for a moment in true limbo, on their way to anywhere.<br />
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It is in this place of balance, of limitless possibility, of undiscovered potential that magic and initiation are possible. The Seeker of the Mysteries has access to all that Is, Was, and Will Be.<br />
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Cultures from all over the globe have expressed this concept in a myriad of ways. Some embrace it, and some fear it. The Keeper of these Mysteries is most often viewed as a devil, demon, whore, or hag, but sometimes they are known as the Master, Light Bearer, Psychopomp, Key Holder. (Sometimes they are both loved and feared, for the Mysteries that illuminate and set the soul aflame can also consume one with madness if not grounded and tempered.) Hekate and Hermes both held this role in ancient Greece. In Africa (and African-diaspora) religions we see Legba/Elegua (and several others) as well as Pomba Gira. Odin was honored at crossroads in parts of Denmark and elsewhere in the Norse world.<br />
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Folklore holds that rulers, dancers, musicians, artists, and merchants — just to name a few — have all made deals with the Devil at the crossroads to increase their talents, fame, power, and fortune. Perhaps the truer tale is that these intrepid (or desperate) seekers quested for mastery of their natural gifts. They may have come away changed by their initiation, startled by the Keeper they encountered there, but their work was fueled by Cunning Fire after they had gone down to those crossroads.<br />
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Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-91662566345570851302018-06-28T00:11:00.001-04:002018-06-28T01:04:37.384-04:00Oath Stone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are several types of stones that are important to Cunning Folk. With Tubal Cain being such a central figure within the lines of the Craft that have influenced this Tradition, however, it is no surprise that the Oath Stone upon which we take our vows and form our sacred blood bonds is his anvil.<br />
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I feel that it is most honest here to point out that this point of symbolism comes less from specific lore or myth as handed down from others, and more from mythopoesis -- that poetic sense of symbolic elements fitting together and clicking into place.<br />
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This is a piece of American Folkloric Witchcraft that came first from the Clan of the Laughing Dragon, the coven I (Laurelei) was trained in as a young Witch. There, the anvil wasn’t the Oath Stone. We had no such stone. Our oaths were taken upon a Sword (and all vows, including coven bonds, were still made in blood). But the anvil was used in every single ritual that we performed as a way to call upon Tubal Cain, the Forge Master. We struck the hammer to the anvil three times, each time pausing to call his name. It was powerful. It still gives me chills when I call to him this way.<br />
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When my son was about 5-years-old, I was away from home and the anvil was sitting at its place (when not in ritual use) at our family’s hearth. He picked up the hammer and started striking, which brought his father running from the other room. He stopped the boy and asked him what he thought he was doing, intending to scold him for disrespecting this sacred tool. My son, not missing a beat, looked his father in the eyes and said in a voice filled with reverence, “Daddy, this is how we talk to God.”<br />
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This IS how we talk to God. Through our blood. Through Tubal Cain’s blood. Through the heartbeat that is pounded out in the rhythm of the hammer strokes.<br />
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The symbolism of the forge is powerful, alchemical, mystical. The anvil is the foundation of Stone. The forge is the transformational Flame. The bellows are the Breath. The quench is the Sea (both womb and tomb).<br />
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Ours is a path of the Mysteries of Life and Death and all that lies Between. It is Creation and Destruction. Destroying in order to Create. Mixing Fire and Water to temper the steel and make it stronger. Knowing how and when to do that in the right proportion.<br />
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And the anvil is the rock, the hard place on which this great work happens. It is the altar on which we are pounded and shaped (at our own request!) into something useful, something beautiful, something dangerous.<br />
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The earliest anvil’s were actual stones, of course, and a great many cultures have had ceremonies involving oathing and coronation stones. The Lia Fail (Stone of Destiny) and Jacob’s Pillow are two well-known coronation stones upon which dynasties of monarchs took vows to serve God and country. Furthermore, the custom has long-existed in Celtic countries for couples to make their wedding vows upon an oathing stone.<br />
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Within this Tradition, the Anvil as the Oath Stone sits at the base of the Stang when the Compass is drawn, along with the Cauldron. </div>
Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-23879424910717704662017-08-01T18:23:00.000-04:002017-08-01T18:23:11.659-04:00Making a Ritual Shield<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The shield is the weapon of the Southern Gate -- of Earth and Goda. It is the weapon of ThisWorld. It is a defensive weapon, used to guard against and deflect the dangers and assaults of day-to-day reality. It also represents the ways in which the physical realm affords certain protections and defenses against the slings and attacks of the other magical realities. <br /><br /><br />A simple shield is very easy to make and really adds to the protective, defensive magic of your home and magical space. Once it is finished, place it in a prominent location to guard your home or altar. When laying the compass for ritual, the Shield would be placed in the South.<br /><br /><b>Building the Shield</b><br /><br />Materials:<br /><br />o Wooden round (a pre-made table top works beautifully)<br />o Heavy duty felt (available by the yard at fabric stores) – need enough to cover front of wooden piece<br />o Leather – enough to cover the face of your shield plus have an extra two inches all around; buy it pre-dyed or dye it according to your tastes<br />o Furniture tacks – to keep leather from slipping across the wood; also for creating a design; any style of furniture tacks works<br />o Cabinet handle – one that you can screw/nail from the front side of the handle (counter-sinking a nail or screw from the back will be difficult before you buil the shield and impossible afterward)<br />o Pencil<br />o Scissors<br />o Measuring tape or ruler<br />o Hammer<br />o Staple gun with staples<br /><br />Steps:<br /><br />1. As with any magical crafting project, you should create the targe in sacred space. Wear your cords and call the Grove, complete with any Deities whose energy you would like to include in your shield.<br />2. Place the leather face down on your worktable. Put the wooden round on top of the leather and trace the shape plus 2 inches all the way around. Cut the leather and set it aside.<br />3. Do the same with the felt, except cut just shy of 2 inches. You’ll want the leather to cover the felt completely.<br />4. Place the leather face down again on the worktable. Put the felt on top of it, followed by the wooden round.<br />5. Fold the leather and felt over the wooden base at the top-most point of the circle. Staple it in place on the back of the shield. Do the same at the bottom, making sure that the fabric and leather are snug but not too tightly stretched.<br />6. Repeat the folding and stapling at the two sides, and then work your way around the entire circle. Remember to staple one side and follow it up with its exact opposite. This will keep the leather and fabric even and smooth.<br />7. You’ll end up with staples all around the backside of the shield, holding the leather in place.<br />8. Next, use the furniture tacks to tack down the leather on the front of the shield. You can make a simple circle of tacks along the outer edge of the flat circle, or tacks the outer rim of the shield. Another option is to incorporate a personal design, using the tacks, on the face of the shield. Any of these options will serve the same primary function – keeping your leather snug and secure.<br />9. Affix your handle onto the back of the shield in place that will be comfortable when you are holding it.<br />10. Use a strap of leather (or fur, if you want) to create a strap for your forearm. This will help your shield wear comfortably when you have need to hold it.<br />11. Finish by placing your sigil and/or bindrune on the back of the shield, if you have one.<br />12. Dedicate it to magical use after the Shield is complete by cleansing and consecrating the shield using your preferred method. It would be wise to call on Goda, Horse, Swan, Apple Tree, and the Southern Gate to empower this weapon.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Incorporating a Design</b><br /><br />It isn’t entirely necessary to fashion a design onto your shield, though it certainly adds to the personal connection between Witch and Weapon. You can draw the design in pencil onto the leather, or use a paper pattern that you nail onto the shield and then remove once the design is complete.<br /><br />If you do put a design on the shield with tacks, do it at Step 8.<br /><br />You may also paint a design onto the leather, but be sure to do two things in this case. First, be sure to use some tacks around the edges to secure the leather. And second, use a sealant to preserve the painted design. It will flake off of the leather, otherwise.<br /><br /><br /><br />Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-52597912135133252042017-08-01T18:03:00.000-04:002017-08-01T18:06:44.619-04:00Airts -- The Southern Gate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Southern Gate – Airt of Earth</b></span><br />
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<b>Values: </b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Growth, Experience,
Authority, Money, Physicality, Security, Nourishment</span><br />
<b>Colors:</b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Brown, russet, black,
green</span><br />
<b>Symbols:</b> Square, stone, <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">cornucopia, scythe,
salt, </span>cart, plate, Gnomes<br />
<b>Tools: </b>The casting bowl, patens/pentacles, horns<br />
<b>Weapons:</b> Shield (Targe)<br />
<b>Totems</b>: Swan, Horse & Apple Tree<br />
<b>Musical Instruments:</b> Drums<br />
<b>Times:</b> Lammas/Lughnasadh, Noon, Summer, Coming of Age<br />
<b>Places:</b> Fields, mountains, valleys, canyons, deserts, forests, gardens<br />
<b>Zodiac: </b>Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo<br />
<b>Sense:</b> Touch<br />
<b>Power:</b> To Keep Silent<br />
<b>Process:</b> Brushing Hair/Skin, Grounding, Eating, Burying, Binding<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You can visualize the Gates (the portals to each of the four cardinal
directions) in anyway you like; but I like visualizing a 2-legged dolmen or even the sort of wooden gate that is common on ranches. <br />
<br />
The Southern Gate is very much associated with the mortal realm,
consciousness, and consensus reality. It is the gateway to the Greenworld, the magic of this plane that we inhabit. It is a noon-time, bright day, midst-of-summer's abundance place.<br />
<br />
Because it is representative of consensus reality, some people might mistakenly assume that nothing is secret, hidden, or mysterious through the Southern Gate. This is an illusion, though, and one of the challenges in coming to truly know this place. For it is also the realm of the Good Neighbors -- the Little Folk, the Fey.<br />
<br />
Goda is the Queen of Elphame, riding forth from her Barrow. She is the White Goddess upon her white Horse. She is the Lady of Sacrifice, linking her earthen power to the first Harvest -- the Red Day of Lammas. She is the Sovereignty Goddess with whom the King must conjoin in order to rule, and it is under Her auspices that the King's life is taken in order to feed the land and the people.<br />
<br />
On our Year Wheel, the Southern Gate is open and most easily accessed at Lammas, and the three totems that sit here are all intimately linked with Sovereignty and Self-Mastery. <br />
<br />
This is a time for reaping the first harvest, playing games, and settling into the work of approaching Autumn.Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-55430545781673260462016-12-03T16:41:00.000-05:002016-12-03T16:41:03.600-05:00Meditation: Visiting the White Goddess at Lammas , Goda<i>Our tradition uses guided meditation to help impress certain symbols
on our members' consciousness. Below is our Lammas meditation.
It takes place at the Southern Gate of the compass, the place of earth and noontide . It is the home of the White Goddess, whom we know as Goda.
To use this meditation let yourself
relax comfortably
and picture yourself drifting downward and inward to the third realm,
the lower realm. The third realm is a place of darkness and mystery.
Let yourself sink down into the third realm and rest there peacefully.</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Meditation: Visiting the White Goddess, <i>Goda</i></b><i></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
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You open your eyes to see bright sun glinting through a leafy
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You rise and look to the south, across the deep green corn
field that stands just outside of the little woods. The corn is high, but you
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The corn is taller than you, now that you are trying to find
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You continue through the cornfield, following the straight
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lane. An unbridled horse stops in the path and looks over its shoulder at you.
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side and neck. Then, surprisingly, it bows low for you to mount it, which you
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Seated upon the horse, you can see ahead on the path much
more clearly than you had even from the forest’s edge. You certainly see much
more than you did amidst the cornstalks. The path you were taking would lead
through a grove of trees before climbing the hillock that you had set as your
destination. A glimmer of sparkling water told you there was a stream or pond
near the hill, as well.</div>
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Riding this horse will bring you to your destination faster,
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the journey. You take some time to touch the horse’s short, bristled hair and
feel its massive muscles moving under your legs. You smell its sweat mixed with
the perfume of summer field and the approaching orchard. You see the vibrant
and varied shades of green, laid with a foundation of deep brown and accented
with colorful flowers and birds in the distance. </div>
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Soon, you are within the boundary of the Apple orchard. The
trees are old, thick and twisted. The branches are full of both fragrant
blossoms and ripe fruit. The horse bites an apple from one of the trees, and
you pluck one, as well. You bite into it. The skin is firm and the flesh is
juicy and sweet.</div>
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The land slopes upward and the path spirals around the hill.
The horse bows again, and you dismount. You walk the path together. The orchard
hugs the base of the hill on one side, but as you come around to the other side
of the small Tor, you see that a stream caresses that edge. The two swans you
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When you have almost reached the top of the hill, you see a
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The horse whinnies and stamps one hoof into the ground,
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You see a pentagram carved into one of the rocks along with the Apple tree rune,
a horse, and a swan.</div>
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A woman is singing and laughing somewhere beyond the two stones,
and you step up and through. Once you are over the hump of the hill, you
clearly see the woman whose voice you heard. She is voluptuous and beautiful,
her body curving and ripe and delicious. She dances naked in the sunshine, her
hair loose around her shoulders. Round wooden platter filled with fruits and
grains surround her – some set on the ground, others on large rocks. A few
round wooden discs are sitting on their sides, with heraldic designs and family
emblems painted on them in vibrant colors. You recognize some of these symbolic
devices.</div>
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The woman stops singing and dancing, but laughter is in her
voice and the air around her seems to shimmer as she greets you. “You’ve had a
taste of Elphame. Would you stay for the sacrificial feast?” She holds a red-handled
blade toward you. </div>
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“This place is Life Overflowing. Every living thing revels
and quakes in the awesome rush that is this bounty. The beauty and love and
life and joy that are here for all to claim with both hands are splendorous
magics, and ones that are so easily overlooked and undervalued.” (Pause.) She holds
one of the discs up as a shield. “Guard what is yours.” Taking another shield that
is filled with food, she gestures for you to take what you want. “And be
generous with the bounty of Love and Life and Beauty and Joy that are given to
you.” She give you a round shield of your own, and a design appears on it.
(Pause.)</div>
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“Life comes from Life. These bodies bring forth life while
they live, and yet again when they perish and rot.” She smiles, lifting her
arms. “There are deep Mysteries that lie hidden in their nakedness beneath the
noon-time sun. Search them out.” She pulls you into an embrace and speaks a
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You thank her, and she releases you, turning back to her
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to the stones.</div>
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You pass out of the standing stones and wind back down the
Tor, led once more by the horse. You hear the swans leave their stream as you
leave the orchard. You cross the cornfield and bid the horse farewell. Sitting
down again in the warm forest floor, you close your eyes and breathe deeply,
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Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-10377153491505064002016-12-03T14:47:00.000-05:002016-12-03T14:49:57.819-05:00Meditation: Visiting the Black Goddess at Imbolc<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
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<i>Our tradition uses guided meditation to help impress certain symbols
on our members' consciousness. Below is our Imbolc meditation.
It takes place at the Northern Gate of the compass, the place of air and midnight. It is the home of the Black Goddess, whom we know as Kolyo. To use this meditation let yourself
relax comfortably
and picture yourself drifting downward and inward to the third realm,
the lower realm. The third realm is a place of darkness and mystery.
Let yourself sink down into the third realm and rest there peacefully.</i></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Meditation: Visiting the Black Goddess, Kolyo</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvx0o3cn1QhF0QvnHV6S2Yp9hBqTfsnt6TJu_qQjhedJDqXSYSLZRvak5tLItq4EGd9aZY1eb_jrRkyIsIm5L9esKl7kWIRNtAuas2C-RyuNXBRTtiwDOgROyAPG-0xcvr-j6LL9H1Aiw/s1600/kolyo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvx0o3cn1QhF0QvnHV6S2Yp9hBqTfsnt6TJu_qQjhedJDqXSYSLZRvak5tLItq4EGd9aZY1eb_jrRkyIsIm5L9esKl7kWIRNtAuas2C-RyuNXBRTtiwDOgROyAPG-0xcvr-j6LL9H1Aiw/s320/kolyo.jpg" width="228" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
You awaken in the darkness on a windy, snow-covered plain.
The frozen ground crunches beneath your hands and feet as you rise and look to
the North, trying to make out the shape of the gate you know must lie ahead in
the darkness. A gust of icy wind greets you, making your eyes water.</div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
The plain is nearly barren in all directions, with the
exception of a naked Willow tree, its branches sparkling in the cold, clear
starlight. You walk carefully through the frozen landscape, having made the
tree your first goal. </div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
When you arrive under the drooping branches, you find a staff
leaning against the trunk. You examine the markings and decorations on the
staff and then continue along your northward path, now utilizing the staff for
greater stability on the sometimes treacherous and slippery earth.</div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
A movement in the shadows catches your eye and you turn your
head just as it reaches your side and brushes your leg. The cat stands for a moment,
its back arched and looking up the path you are walking before lifting its face
to look at you. It meows. You reach down to touch the friendly animal, but it bolts
forward, just out of your reach. It meows again and takes a few steps forward.
You follow, and the cat picks up the pace, jogging on its silent, padded paws.</div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
A night bird swooshes very close to your head, startling you.
You can see the faintest paleness of its wings, but you can hear no evidence of
it, even as you watch it fly ahead. Far away, you think you hear the hoot of
barred owl.</div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
Looming ahead of you is a stony archway – two large rock
pillars capped by a third massive stone. A dolman. Beyond this strange gate,
you see nothing but more of the same night-covered and frozen plain. You could
easily walk around this dolman door, but instead, you walk right up to it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cat rubs its side against one of the pillars,
and you can see that the owl has perched on top. The dolman is covered with
strange markings and symbols carved into the stones. Some are unfamiliar to
you, but others have deep meaning in your mind. (Pause.) You see an owl with
large eyes carved into one of the rocks along with the Willow tree rune and a cat.</div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
Your ears perceive a whistled tune as you pass beyond the
arch, and your eyes search the darkness for the one who is blowing the eerie
music. You can see so little that you must trust to your hearing instead, and
you follow the sound until you are aware of a small, darkly-cloaked figure
standing just a few yards away. You are close enough now to hear her breathing.</div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
The small figure holds up her hand in warning. “Come closer,
Child. But be wary of your footing.” You walk forward more slowly, using your
staff to judge the safety of each step. As you breech those last few yards
between you and Her, you are aware of a wind that seems to come from the
ground, and you realize that you are standing together at the edge of a steep
and treacherous cliff. You brace yourself and know that you are secure, even at
this height.</div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
Turning your attention to Cloaked One, you can see very
little of her face, as it is shrouded in both her hood and the darkness of the
night. Her out-held hand is gloved. You cannot clearly see the color of her
hair, although you can see an interplay of light and dark in the strands. She
holds a staff, and sometimes it seems she leans upon it. At other times, it seems
like a weapon she is holding at martial ease.</div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
Her voice is clear and ageless. </div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
She speaks to you. “This is a place of knowledge, of wisdom,
and of strategy. It is a place of contemplation, a place of counsel. It can be
bitterly cold here, and the Truth that you seek can be both illusory and
fleeting.” (Pause.) She hangs a lantern from the end of your staff and lights
the wick. “But knowledge and thought are not always cold comforts. They can be
the light one needs on the darkest nights of the soul.”</div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
She lashes a sharpened metal tip onto her staff, transforming
it into a spear. She pulls a single arrow from the quiver at her side, removing
the arrowhead and feathers. She holds the newly fashioned wand in one hand and holds
up a single finger of the other. “Weapons are tools wielded for either attack
or defense. But they are just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tools</i>.
The most useful tools can be used in both peace and war.” She pokes you with
her finger. “And the greatest tools are the ones that lie within.” She gives
you the wand, grasping your hand for a moment and whispering a message only for
you. (Long pause.)</div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
You thank her, and after a moment more of looking at you, she
turns back to look over the cliff. Knowing that the time has come to leave, you
turn and walk back through the darkness.</div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
You pass out of the dolman and cross the plain, led once more
by the cat and owl. You pass under the Willow tree, returning the staff that
you borrowed. Sitting down again in the frozen field, you close your eyes and
breathe deeply, coming back to yourself. </div>
Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-34625822988847499992016-11-20T13:50:00.001-05:002016-11-20T13:50:33.951-05:00Destiny and Doom in the CraeftOne of our earliest articles, <a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/2011/06/witch-marks-witch-blood-and-kuthun.html" target="_blank">Witch Marks, Witch Blood, and the Kuthune</a>, has been a perennial <br />
favorite of blog visitors since Glaux first wrote it in 2011. In it, she talks about the history and folklore of the magical inheritance or birthright -- the idea that some Witches are descended from other Witches and will pass aspects of their power onto their descendants, much as they received power from their ancestors.<br />
<br />
There are two really salient points that I think are often overlooked in Glaux's article, judging from some of the comments and questions we receive. Both points are stated very clearly, though, and I think they bear repeating.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOYLjRZjsFpZFjcQeXYDFai7w9zKDnQ6vpRpNN_Z1qh3J-uoQNcYBXoN_24j6W7xjTlb18BiqZbPW8ZEpi5TjrMtbyZjamYS6htNj0P81dQ0xeiw5tKu1AthjBqNqjLnupbbHXgDxHkHl/s1600/Toad+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOYLjRZjsFpZFjcQeXYDFai7w9zKDnQ6vpRpNN_Z1qh3J-uoQNcYBXoN_24j6W7xjTlb18BiqZbPW8ZEpi5TjrMtbyZjamYS6htNj0P81dQ0xeiw5tKu1AthjBqNqjLnupbbHXgDxHkHl/s320/Toad+2.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Witch Marks" by Gemma Gary</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
1. The concept that Witches inherit their power through bloodlines and have a physical birthmark of this lineage is a <u><b>folkloric </b></u>concept that does not bear out in every case. You can absolutely be a witch without having any known witches in your family tree. You can also be a red-head with three nipples and a goat-hoof birthmark on your inner thigh and not be a Witch at all.<br />
<br />
2. Witches today most often form a blood bond and take a mark at their initiations. We take blood oaths to our covens and to the Witchfather himself. We tattoo ourselves so that the bond is visible to those who know its meaning.<br />
<br />
Witchcraft is a CRAFT. Says so right on the label. It is a work, an action. Whatever may be in your blood is meaningless if you allow it to lie dormant. Yes, you may be a direct descendant of Isobel Gowdy or Alice Kyteler or Sarah Goode. You may even be able to prove it through birth, death, and marriage certificates. (Not likely, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.) You could also be a direct descendant of Charlemagne, but that does not make you Emperor.<br />
<br />
If you are descended from Witches, be proud ... and do something worthy of them. Do not wait for witchy things to happen to you. Find your power and learn to use it. I promise that it will not come exploding out of you the way it does for young witches and wizards on television or in the movies -- when you reach a certain birthday or when a particular family member dies and "inherit their power." Your power is yours alone, as are your action. They can be influenced by family and friends, but it is you who must walk the Crooked Path if you ever want to know what secrets lie at the heart of the forest (or upon the empty fields at night).<br />
<br />
If you have no idea if you carry the Blood of Qayin, don't fret, my love. He will give it to you himself. And he will mark you in a way that makes sense to both you and him. This, after all, is what those medieval witch-hunters had assumed anyway. The lore in those trial records claims that the mark isn't a "birth" mark per se, but a mark placed upon the body of the Witch after she made a compact with the Devil -- usually by drinking a concoction made of blood, wine, and herbs.<br />
<br />
Along these lines, I had someone recently write to me with questions about their possible "great destiny within Witchcraft." I am not trying to embarrass this person, but I want to use (part of) this correspondence as an instructive moment for others, if possible. I see so many people hoping that there is something inherently magical and special within them that marks them for greatness. To them, I say, "There may be some gift inside you. But YOU will have to do the hard work of digging it out, clearing away the dirt, polishing that gem, and finding a way to share it with the world."<br />
<br />
This particular person wrote with the following inquiry: <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<i>Some people think I have a huge Wicca destiny due to my
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I replied with the following: <i><br /></i></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">Traditionally (historically),
there was no set “date” for Samhain. There have been three different ways for
figuring up the date, to my knowledge. Samhain is the final harvest, and it
happened before the cold weather claimed the crops that had been left in the
field too long. Many rural Pagans simply used weather signs or local signs as
their markers for Samhain. The Druids (who were the priestly class of the
Celts), marked Samhain astrologically – when the sun reaches 15* Scorpio (which
usually puts Samhain between Nov 4 and 7) – as this would have been the midway
point between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice. And now,
contemporarily, we use a set date based on the Julian calendar (which was the
calendar of the Church).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">Given that Samhain has many more
years of history as a floating holiday, it’s hard to see a birthday of 10-31-69
as particularly indicative of being marked for destiny within the Craft. It’s
like being born on Easter (a floating holiday in the Christian tradition.) It’s
cool, and it can have a lot of personal meaning to someone whose faith and
spiritual experience are rooted in the folklore of that religion. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">As for your birthday being a
“big deal” – it truly isn’t within the Craft, other than as a cool
curiosity. However, your birthday is absolutely a big deal in the astrological
influences in your life. As is your birth time and place. If you haven’t
already done so, I would recommend checking out a free birth chart generator
like the one at <a href="http://www.alabde.com/freechart">www.alabde.com/freechart</a>.
Every member of my coven is expected to be familiar with their stars. We ALL
have a destiny, and we all have energetic patterns. Astrology is a great way to
unlock some of the secrets of your life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">Truthfully, nobody is marked for
greatness within any branch of the Craft unless they choose to walk this path.
Wicca, Stregha, Rootwork, or Traditional. This can be a grueling, ordeal-based
path. On a mundane level, we can (and do sometimes) lose our jobs because we
are Witches, lose our children because we are Witches, lose our families
because we are Witches. Glaux and I both lost jobs (good jobs) in the name of
the Craft. I have friends who have fought court battles over the right to
parent their children within this religion. One won that battle. Another is
still fighting with tooth and claw just to have basic rights to SEE her kids on
a reasonable basis. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">This isn’t a path where you can
go shopping to see which one has the highest potential for bringing you power
and glory. If those are what you crave, you will likely not find either here
within the Craft – in any branch of it. The Power comes from within. Glory
isn’t something worth seeking. Not for Witches. Not as a Witch. It’s bad for
our health. (There are plenty of famous Witches these days, but most of them
are famous in their Trade – not their Craft.) </span></div>
Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-88376366260420090902016-11-20T11:00:00.000-05:002016-11-20T13:51:17.823-05:00Pardon Our Dust ... A Blog Re-NewedOn May 30, 2011 (three or so years into our practice of this path), Glaux posted this blog's first post <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16zl6apGWj2ZPBDzPEcGv1dvqe9XHJK3AhtWMO_BokUoXBCUifB2s7s24vpxCH0iKRNLAZCvXLT5InenDp9wVbYJAVPnr2WWeyje7aFxI1WoJH5OhSWQIceFukVCVDoLKYYMqPZ8KdUlh/s1600/broom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16zl6apGWj2ZPBDzPEcGv1dvqe9XHJK3AhtWMO_BokUoXBCUifB2s7s24vpxCH0iKRNLAZCvXLT5InenDp9wVbYJAVPnr2WWeyje7aFxI1WoJH5OhSWQIceFukVCVDoLKYYMqPZ8KdUlh/s320/broom.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
-- "Everything Old is New Again." We published hot and heavy in the first 12 months of the blog's existence, striving to share what we had come to experience of the American Folkloric Witchcraft tradition in a way that coincided with the Wheel of the Year. We both maintained long to-do lists of articles to write and topics to explore, and we talked almost daily about witchcraft and this path. Glaux posted a lot of articles on my behalf -- things I had written as part of the foundational materials to our work, blog articles for my other blogs that were applicable to this work. It was messy, but it didn't matter. We loved each other, and it didn't matter who posted what.<br />
<br />
We wrote almost all of the articles in the first 18 months of the blogs existence, and then we turned our attention inward. We had more work to do -- with our coven, with the festival grounds (Camp Midian) of which we were/are founders and part owners, and with our relationship. Glaux and I got married on June 25, 2014 -- the day same-sex marriage became legal in Indiana.<br />
<br />
It's not my intention to share too much about our relationship. We've both been open online about the love we have always had for each other, and we've also both been upfront about our struggles (together and independently) with mood disorders. Within a year of our wedding, Glaux and I were separated, mainly in an effort to find healthier ways of managing these disorders. We divorced shortly thereafter, and Glaux returned to exploring some other paths of magick and occultism (that we both share in common) while I continued to focus my efforts on American Folkloric Witchcraft with the help of the coven we founded -- Coven Caer Sidhe.<br />
<br />
Very recently (Samhain of 2016, in fact), Glaux and I sat down and discussed the current state of the AFW trad (as we know it, through those we have personally initiated), and we are committed to maintaining a working partnership, moving forward in parallel (or at least complementary) ways within the Trad, and sharing more of our collective insight through this blog. <br />
<br />
In an effort to sort through the blog and properly assign authorship to the pieces that are here, I'll be deleting some posts and re-posting them in my name. Glaux's original work will remain in her name. And new material is going to be added, as the covens (yes, we have at least three working covens now) continue to explore American folk magick. We're also inviting some of our well-studied members to post as authors to this blog.<br />
<br />
It may get a little messy around here for the next couple of months while the dust settles, and you may see some posts that you've seen before, if you're an avid follower of the blog. We trust that you'll get what you need, and we encourage comments, questions, and feedback all along the way. Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-81010308726812267872016-10-27T19:47:00.001-04:002016-10-27T19:47:43.245-04:00September Totems: ChickenIn our tradition we divide the year not only by eight solar and
agricultural holidays, but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve
months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth
month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different
totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other
flying creature), and a tree. September's totems are Pig, Vine, and
Chicken.<br />
<br />
The totemic associations are as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>Swine </b>(<i>Torc/Muc</i>) – hunt, search, nourishment, putting up a fight<br />
<b>Vine </b>(<i>Muin</i>) – prophesy, prediction, rebirth, and omens<br />
<b>Chicken </b>(<i>Cearc</i>) - fertility, battle, sexuality, watchfulness<br />
<br />
September is a month of sacrifice, blood, and feasting. All of the totemic beings for this month are associated with food (vine = wine), and they have an underlying association with death and rebirth. Their blood is
the "sea of blood" that surrounds the Castle Perilous, and theirs is
the blood/wine of the Holy Grail that is the treasure of this Castle.<br />
<br />
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<h3>
Chicken </h3>
<br />
Fowl have been domesticated for over 8000
years and have a long history with man as a provider of both meat and eggs.
They originated in Thailand and Vietnam and were descended from a wild bird
species called the red jungle fowl.<br />
<br />
Chickens are diurnal creatures, and while the crowing of a rooster is synonymous with daybreak, any farmer will be happy to tell you that his roosters crow all day long.<br />
<br />
Chickens are very social and have complex hierarchies within their groups. Pair bonding is unheard of,. Yet despite this
abundant promiscuity, there is tremendous territoriality and rivalry
between two roosters as to who gets to mate with whom. The same
applies for the hens. Both hens and roosters will get quite aggressive in
defending their exclusive right to mate with whomever they deem "best." These
aggressive qualities can be violent in the extreme, and farmers have to take precautions to keep adult roosters away from each other, least one kill the other.<br />
<br />
This aggression has been exploited by the sport known as "cock-fighting." Indeed, etymologically, the use of the terms "cock" and "cocky" to describe an arrogant and aggressive male -- or his penis -- is due to the proud strutting and arching confidence of the rooster.<br />
<br />
It is no wonder that the rooster has been seen as a mythical symbol of courage throughout many
civilizations in the world. The Romans associated chickens with Mars,
the god of war, owing to this aggressive
and territorial behavior.In Greek myth, Ares (Mars)
took advantage of the rooster's watchfulness and aggression by setting
him as a guard to watch over Aphrodite while she slept, that none might
disturb her.<br />
<br />
The "mother hen" is a different sort of archetype associated with this fowl. Brooding and clucking over her young, the female chicken is a significantly maternal animal, particularly associated with the fecundity of spring -- although, in fairness, hens lay eggs all year round. She is the quintessential "nesting mother," though even she has a dark and cold side. Chickens, like pigs, are known to eat practically any organic thing that is put before them. It is common practice to feed baked and ground eggshells back to the chickens who produced them. Sometimes, though, the hens start eating their own eggs (often due to accidentally puncturing one, mistakenly eating it, and then developing a habit).<br />
<br />
Cerridwen, who is the Silver Queen of the
Castle Perilous, transformed into a hen to devour Gwion Bach when he
became a grain of corn to escape her. Cerridwen later gave birth to the
bard Taliesin, who was Gwion reborn. Because Cerridwen is both the
great sow and the devouring hen, these two animals are sacred to her and
the month that she reigns over in our tradition.Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-78742219284738527282016-10-27T18:54:00.000-04:002016-10-27T18:54:42.803-04:00The Red Meal: The HousleIt is a common part of many religious traditions to partake in a small, sacrificial meal at the end of the rite or ceremony. We, too, participate in a Eucharistic tradition of imbibing en-spirited wine and consuming en-spirited grain as representations of sacrifice needed for the magic we have performed. <br />
<br />
In many witchcraft traditions, this meal is called "Cakes and Ale" or "Cakes and Wine." We call it the Housle, or Red Meal, and base it in part on a
ritual created by fellow walker of the crooked path, Robin Artisson. <br />
<br />
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Here follows our own rite of the Housle.<br />
<br />
<b>Preparation</b><br />
<br />
When
the compass is first laid, place the following items in the Castle Perilous (southwest corner):
Dark bread in a bowl (or lipped dish) and Red Wine in Silver Quaich or
Chalice. In the Spiral Castle (center, near the stang) will be placed
the Red Knife.<br />
<br />
<b>Ritual</b><br />
<br />
1. The sacrificial meal is brought from Castle Perilous to the Spiral Castle by the Witch. <br />
2. Tread the Mill widdershins three times while singing the Housle Song. (see below)<br />
3. Say, <i><b>“For our Ancestors, our Gods, and Ourselves, we do this.”</b></i><br />
4. Bless the bread by saying: <i><b>“Here is bread, flesh of the Earth, blessed to give us life and strength. I consecrate it in the name of the Old Ones.”</b></i><br />
5. Kill the bread by saying:<b><i> “I take its life and give it to Them.”</i></b> Cut it with the red knife.<br />
6. Bless the wine by saying:<b><i> “Here is wine, blood of the Earth, blessed to give us joy and abundance. I consecrate it in the name of the Old Ones.”</i></b><br />
7. Kill the wine by saying: <i><b>“I take its life and give it to Them.”</b></i> Slide the knife over the top of the quaich/chalice to cut its throat.<br />
8. Each person eats and drinks of the Meal, making whatever personal offerings they like into the bowl.<br />
9.
The remainder of the wine is poured into the bread bowl, and each
person dips their finger in and anoints themselves. This can also be
used for blessing tools, etc.<br />
10. The Meal is either given to the ground now (if outside) or later (if inside) with the following Declaration:<br />
<i><b>“As some is taken, so is this given<br />
By the sons and daughters of the family of the Old Faith.<br />
I give it to the Ground.<br />
I give it to the Old Ones<br />
That above and below will become one.<br />
For what is taken is truly given,<br />
And what is given is truly taken.<br />
The day and night are wed<br />
As the living and the dead.<br />
Here is shown a Mystery.”</b></i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Housle Song</b><br />
<i>To the tune of Greensleeves</i><br />
<br />
To Housle now we walk the wheel<br />
We kill tonight the blood red meal<br />
A leftward tread of magic's mill<br />
To feed the Gods and work our Will.<br />
<br />
Red! Red is the wine we drink!<br />
Red! Red are the cords we wear!<br />
Red! Red is the blood of God!<br />
And red is the shade of the Housle. <br />
<br />
In October of 2013, three of us recorded ourselves singing the chant and<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBPtptln8mM" target="_blank"> posted it to YouTube</a>. </div>
Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-9013596092135031682016-10-22T12:49:00.000-04:002016-10-22T12:49:06.394-04:00The LBRP for AFW WitchesIn the late winter and early spring of 2013, Glaux and I began adapting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_banishing_ritual_of_the_pentagram">Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram</a> for use within the American Folkloric Witchcraft model. With the help of our coven sister, the Pythia, we wrote the ritual below and published it on this site on 3/25/2013.<br />
<br />
Our variation of the LBRP is influenced by Aleister Crowley's <a href="http://www.themagickalreview.org/classics/liber_0025.php">Star Ruby</a>
ritual (itself an adaptation of the LBRP). It uses forms of the Red God (the Witchfather) and the Black and White Goddess (the Witchmother) in place of the traditional
Hebrew names of God. It also replaces the Archangel guardians with the
four Watchtowers or Arthurian Castles that are incorporated into this Tradition.<br />
<br />
The purpose of the
LBRP is to banish all undesired or unwanted forces from oneself and the local area
and to create Sacred Space. Many magicians practice the LBRP as a daily magical
exercise to discipline the mind and create internal and external peace.<br />
<br />
We offered this variation three and a half years ago (as of the time of this update). I have to admit that while we really enjoyed creating this ritual as an intellectual exercise, and we got good results when using it before ritual to banish negative energies, neither of us made it a daily practice (at least not for long).<br />
<br />
Have any of our readers used this ritual consistently? What have your results been? Share your experiences in the comments below. If anyone wants to join me for some magical experiments related to this ritual, share a comment or write to me at <a href="mailto:laurelei@asteriabooks.com">laurelei@asteriabooks.com</a>. I'm going to make the AFW-LBRP part of my morning routine before I go to work this autumn and winter to see what sort of results I get. I'll post an update in the late winter or early spring about my results. It is also my hope to film a video of me or one of the members of Coven Caer Sidhe performing this ritual.<br />
<br />
Also, as a note for readers who have followed the blog and are familiar with this ritual already, I have corrected some of the Latin in the text below. My apologies for the errors in the earlier version. <br />
<br />
<h3>
The Qabbalistic Cross </h3>
<br />
Imagine a ball of light above
your head. Reach up with your right hand and grab the light. When
you touch yourself with that hand, part of the light will go into you. <br />
Touch your forehead as you say “<i><b>Corona</b></i>" (Crown). Let it fill with the light. <br />
Touch your pelvis at the pubic bone and say “<i><b>Serpens</b></i>" (Serpent). Let it fill with light. <br />
Touch your right shoulder and say “<i><b>Clementia</b></i>" (Mercy). Let it fill with light. <br />
Touch your left shoulder and say “<i><b>Severitas</b></i>" (Severity). Let it fill with light. <br />
Hold your hands in prayer over your heart and say “<i><b>Benedictiones</b></i>" (Blessings). Let it fill with light. <br />
Feel your whole body fill with the cross of light. <br />
<br />
<h3>
The Pentagrams </h3>
<br />
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Face
East. Before you in the air, draw a giant pentagram using your right
index finger (or if you prefer use the whole hand) in the direction
shown in the illustration. Imagine that pentagram shining in front
of you. Take a step forward with your left foot.
Just the left. Leave your right one where it is. The size of the step
will be determined by your space. At the same time that you step forward,
thrust your open hands, side by side, palms downwards, into the
pentagram, as if you are diving in. This is called the "Sign of the
Enterer." As you enter the pentagram you will say one of the names of the
Witch God or Goddess.<br />
<br />
Here, at the first pentagram you will <u>shout </u>“<i><b>Lucifer</b></i>."
Lucifer is the Light-Bringer, the Lord of Illumination of the World and
the Mind. He is called in the East as the bright aspect of <a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/search/label/Tubal%20Cain">Tubal Cain</a>, and the lord of elemental Fire. Lucifer is called with a jubilant shout to celebrate the rising of the sun in the East.<br />
<br />
Step back with your left foot so it is once again beside your right
foot. Touch your right index finger to your lips like you are making the
“Shhh, no talking" gesture. Point your right index finger to the center
of the pentagram and make a quarter turn to your right. As you do so,
draw an imaginary arc of white light around to the next direction.<br />
<br />
Draw a pentagram in South. Enter the pentagram while <u>singing </u>“<i><b>Goda</b></i>." Goda is the <a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/search/label/White%20Goddess">White Goddess</a>,
the Queen of the Seelie Court and Lady of Death-in-Life. She rules
the Southern quadrant, the place of elemental Earth. Her name is sung
for she is the Lady who shall "have music wherever She goes."<br />
<br />
Make the “shhh" gesture and turn to the right, drawing an arc.<br />
<br />
Draw a pentagram in West. Enter the pentagram <u>intoning </u>“<i><b>Azazel</b></i>" in a low voice. Azazel is the Lord of the West, the place of elemental Water. He is <a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/search/label/Tubal%20Cain">Tubal Cain</a>
in his aspect as the Lord of the Dead, and is both the angel who taught
magic to the daughters of man and the angel who collects our souls for
their great rest. The West is the place where the sun goes to die, and
it is to the West that we all must travel upon death. Azazel's name is
intoned in a low voice of mourning and respect.<br />
<br />
Make the “shhh" gesture and turn to the right, drawing an arc.<br />
<br />
Draw a pentagram in North. Enter the pentagram <u>whispering </u>“<i><b>Kolyo</b></i>". Kolyo is the <a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/search/label/Black%20Goddess">Black Goddess</a>,
the Weaver of Fate and the Lady of Life-in-Death. She rules the North,
which is the home of elemental Air. Her name is whispered for she is
an ancient mystery.<br />
<br />
Make the “shhh" gesture and turn to the right, drawing an arc. This final arc connects all four pentagrams into a single circle.<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Watchtowers </h3>
<br />
You are now standing in the center of
a circle of white light. At each quarter there is a giant, glowing pentagram. Now we post a watchtower between each pentagram. Face the southeast and open up
your arms. Stretch out like you are a cross: feet together, arms out at
shoulder height. Call the watchtowers to their posts. Stand in the cross
position and say:<br />
<br />
“<i><b>Before me stands the Castle
of Stone. Behind me stands the Castle of Glass. On my right stands the
Castle Perilous. On my left stands the Castle of Revelry.</b></i>"<br />
<br />
These are four of the great castles of myth and legend. <a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/search/label/castle%20of%20stone">The Castle of Stone</a> is Caer Bannog, the <a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/search/label/glass%20castle">Castle of Glass</a> is Glastonbury, the <a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/search/label/castle%20perilous">Castle Perilous</a> is the silvery Grail Castle, and the <a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/search/label/castle%20of%20revelry">Castle of Revelry</a> is the Golden Castle of the Beacon of Awen. <br />
<br />
Spread your feet and lift your arms to stand in pentagram-position and say: “<i><b>Around
me flame the pentagrams. Above me shines a six-rayed star, and below me
spins a three-armed triskle. I stand within the Spiral Castle. I am
the World Tree.</b></i>" This declaration places you in all <a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/search/label/three%20realms">three realms</a>, and allows you to traverse shamanic space. It states that you are the World Tree, and that you ride the <a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/search/label/stang">stang</a> to other realms.<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Qabbalistic Cross (Closing)</h3>
<br />
Now repeat the Qabbalistic Cross as you began.<br />
Imagine a ball of light above
your head. Reach up with your right hand and grab the light. When
you touch yourself with that hand, part of the light will go into you. <br />
Touch your forehead as you say “<i><b>Corona</b></i>" (Crown). Let it fill with the light. <br />
Touch your pelvis at the pubic bone and say “<i><b>Serpens</b></i>" (Serpent). Let it fill with light. <br />
Touch your right shoulder and say “<i><b>Clementia</b></i>" (Mercy). Let it fill with light. <br />
Touch your left shoulder and say “<i><b>Severitas</b></i>" (Severity). Let it fill with light. <br />
Hold your hands in prayer over your heart and say “<i><b>Benedictiones</b></i>" (Blessings). Let it fill with light. <br />
Feel your whole body fill with the cross of light. Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-57627443545225056372016-10-22T11:10:00.000-04:002016-10-22T11:10:14.458-04:00The Three Realms<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmRdEw5icfDrXjoLjBGTYD5eg8AmtXQ5PmoC-AC4MjKhY9Es8yhYdiJk0xIP2gYu64PdZV9KLVHzWIf51DGmrP-fUHT1YbmEHlgm-fbL27-FA8d9Ib2kRT9AQgdaX7BP20kb2Z-7m5q4/s1600/triskele.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPoVQZYSuxGypbdPl3VHMtY_wf3ZZPDreLhSeAYYTgrdim_-hoAbRZ2k_qHyUk-cQ5qGPztN7L09VTycTgbGgaFfCWw4TEzoEZVXnlyXNm7ZrYSwvFtv0dXRJWZH7cQvwpWGfj5iODeTf/s1600/triple+spiral.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPoVQZYSuxGypbdPl3VHMtY_wf3ZZPDreLhSeAYYTgrdim_-hoAbRZ2k_qHyUk-cQ5qGPztN7L09VTycTgbGgaFfCWw4TEzoEZVXnlyXNm7ZrYSwvFtv0dXRJWZH7cQvwpWGfj5iODeTf/s1600/triple+spiral.jpg" /></a><i>Sky, land, and sea,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Three-in-one, one-in-three.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>~Celtic prayer</i></b></div>
<br />
In
most traditional cultures, people have viewed both the outer world and
the inner planes are corollary concepts, where the macrocosm is a
reflection of the microcosm, and vice versa. A great many of these
cultures, including the ones from which the American Folkloric Tradition
draws spiritual nourishment, see the Universe (both the inner and outer
planes) as divided into three distinct realms of experience, wisdom,
healing, and magic.<br />
<br />
Worldwide, the Three Realms can be
said to incorporate an Upper Realm (heavenly, celestial sphere), a
Middle Realm (earthly, terrestrial sphere), and a Lower Realm (infernal,
underworldly sphere). The beneficence or maleficence associated with these realms is dependent on the culture. Each has its own dangers and its own rewards. Each is inhabitant by its own sort of people, guarded by its own warriors, and ruled by its own leaders.<br />
<br />
American folkloric practices draw most heavily from Celtic lore and Druidic practice. The Upper Realm is called Ceugent (<i>ky-gent</i>)
and is an airy sphere of intellect, ideas,and future-sight. The Middle
Realm is earthy Gwyned, which is the here and now, consensus reality.
The Lower Realm is called Abred, and it is a watery realm of the
subconscious, emotion, memory, and the past.<br />
<br />
These realms are accessed spiritually through the use of shamanic trance techniques that generally incorporate the image of a World Tree or a Holy Mountain. Both of these images represent a concept called the Axis Mundi, the cross of the world. It is a nearly universally perceived spiritual and energetic construct. Carl Jung described this phenomena as the Collective Unconscious. It is also called the Consciousness Unit. However we define or describe it, shamans and witches have been going to the Tree or the Mountain since time immemorial to tap into the wisdom, insight, and healing that can be found within.<br />
<br />
For purposes of spiritual travel (or "witch flight"), we use the image of the Spiral Castle (Caer Sidhe)
spinning around to open its gate to the different points of the wheel of
the year. Its spire reaches up to the North Star, and its caverns are
home to the great forge and the cauldron. The pole is symbolized
literally in our circles by the raising of the stang. By its virtue we
can "ride" the stang to any place in the realms, though we may also use
our own personal riding-pole, or gandreigh, to do so. Read more about the <a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/2011/10/stang-on-hill-or-world-tree-or-spiral.html" target="_blank">Stang and World Tree here</a>.<br />
<br />
Here are some associations for each of the three realms.<br />
<br />
<b>First Realm</b> <br />
Ceugent<br />
Upperworld, Upper Realm<br />
Realm of Sky, Wind, Otherworld<br />
Struggle and enlightenment<br />
Preservation: the undying realm, absence of decay<br />
Birth, beginnings<br />
The mind<br />
Breath<br />
Expansion/expansiveness<br />
Perspective<br />
Movement, setting in motion (beginning)<br />
First arm of the Triskle<br />
Spire of the Spiral Castle<br />
Entry through flight or climbing<br />
Metacognition<br />
Black Knife/Athame<br />
<br />
<b>Second Realm </b><br />
Gwyned<br />
Earth world, Center world, Realm of Land, Middle Earth<br />
Day-to-day struggles and concerns<br />
Consensus reality, the here and now<br />
Physicality<br />
Living bones and flesh<br />
Harsh realities<br />
Progress, action, doing<br />
Going through something<br />
Middles<br />
Limits and limitations (perceived and real)<br />
Second arm of Triskle<br />
Place of the Doorway of the Spiral Castle (and the Tor on which the Castle sits)<br />
No entry needed (already in this realm)<br />
Manipulation of perception/changing one's reality/glamory<br />
Consciousness<br />
White Knife/Kerfane-Bolline<br />
<br />
<b>Third Realm </b><br />
Abred<br />
Underworld, Realm of the Sea<br />
Barrows, carins, caves<br />
Initiation/Dragon chamber beneath the Tor of the Castle<br />
Deep mystery<br />
Truth beyond substance or thought<br />
Emotion<br />
Healing the soul<br />
Rest<br />
Death and preparation<br />
Empathy<br />
Blood, birth fluids, menses, semen, sweat<br />
Oceans, lakes, ponds, pools<br />
Inner self<br />
Subliminal, Unconscious, Subconcious<br />
Entry through caves, wells, etc.<br />
Springs and wells bring energy/life from the third realm to the second<br />
Third leg of Triskle<br />
Red Knife/ShelgLaureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-80370152358651455652016-10-22T10:27:00.000-04:002016-10-22T10:27:09.649-04:00June Totems: StagIn our tradition we divide the year not only by eight solar and
agricultural holidays, but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve
months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth
month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different
totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other
flying creature), and a tree.<br />
<br />
June's totems are the
Stag, the Robin, and the Oak. These symbols are each associated with the
Oak King who falls in battle at Midsummer which is mid-June. Also we
associate Midsummer with Cernnunos, who we honor as the Oak King, Lord
of the Castle of Stone.<br />
<br />
The totemic associations are as follows:<br />
<br />
Stag – nobility, culling the herd, call to adventure, pride, grace; <i>Damh</i> <br />
Oak – security, steadfastness, primeval vigor, doorway, strength; <i>Duir</i><br />
Robin – growth, territoriality, fire; <i>Spideog</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Stag</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgap1NLxCkiy-1988oziKj-D9ChdRq40S8Ua-3XQk8SB9q0qf1Jsa9UnY4qEtSlcoxoA3YxJ5pDKYh1aG6erHvmZQyosyXumb1RdD67vwoeTBKj38SSPB9l0bwHfiSM4WPLlm51jSjdJzo/s1600/celtic-stag.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgap1NLxCkiy-1988oziKj-D9ChdRq40S8Ua-3XQk8SB9q0qf1Jsa9UnY4qEtSlcoxoA3YxJ5pDKYh1aG6erHvmZQyosyXumb1RdD67vwoeTBKj38SSPB9l0bwHfiSM4WPLlm51jSjdJzo/s1600/celtic-stag.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The
Stag is the male aspect of the deer. As such, some discussion of the
qualities of deer in general is helpful to understand Stag. Deer are
associated with gentleness, innocence and a luring to new adventure.
They are very adaptable, and they are native to every continent except
Australia.<br />
<br />
Many legends exist in which deer lure
hunters and/or kings into the forest for adventures. One prominent
example of this is the story of Gawain and the White Hart. Gawain
followed the Hart willingly, though the pursuit ended in an unpleasant
realization of Gawain’s own shortcomings. However, by following
willingly and facing his darker nature, Gawain was able to confront his
rage and learn to control it, making him one of the best Knights of the
Round Table.<br />
<br />
The Stag is a symbol of pride and
independence. He is an example of grace, majesty, integrity, poise and
dignity. These are indeed kingly qualities, so it is no wonder that
there is a deer referred to as King Stag. In fact, this King Stag is
associated in many ways with the Lord of the Wild Hunt, as both are
responsible for protecting the herd and culling it of weaknesses. <br />
<br />
The
Stag is one of the five Oldest Animals in Welsh tradition. He leads a
willing seeker deeper into the Mysteries and into the Otherworld. He is a
guardian of the gateway between this plane and the Otherworld and
delivers messages from that realm.<br />
<br />
The Stag’s antlers
are made of bone and shed every year for 5 years. (In some species, both
the male and female have antlers). The antlers start to grow in early
summer and are fully developed by rutting time (late Autumn). The Stag
sheds antlers around Imbolc (before birth of young). The antlers are
protective by nature, and they also represent higher levels of
attunement.<br />
<br />
The Stag is a symbol of fertility and rampant sexuality, which is also related to the Lord of the Hunt and the Horned Gods.<br />
<br />
Mankind
has honored the power of Stag for centuries. Images of Shamans dressed
in antlers and deer skins are often found in folklore and legend. A
famous example of this is the Gundestrup Cauldron, on which we find the
most familiar image of Cernunnos as an Antlered Man. To this day, we
dress in antlers and skins to portray the power and dignity of the Stag.<br />
<br />
You can learn more about our tradition's<a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/p/wheel-of-year.html"> wheel of the year through this link</a>.Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-26473315005642547572016-10-22T10:26:00.000-04:002016-10-22T10:26:19.577-04:00June Totems: OakIn our tradition we divide the year not only by eight solar and
agricultural holidays, but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve
months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth
month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different
totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other
flying creature), and a tree.<br />
<br />
June's totems are the
Stag, the Robin, and the Oak. These symbols are each associated with the
Oak King who falls in battle at Midsummer which is mid-June. Also we
associate Midsummer with Cernnunos, who we honor as the Oak King, Lord
of the Castle of Stone.<br />
<br />
The totemic associations are as follows:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/2011/05/june-totems.html">Stag</a> – nobility, culling the herd, call to adventure, pride, grace; <i>Damh</i><br />
Oak – security, steadfastness, primeval vigor, doorway, strength; <i>Duir</i><br />
Robin – growth, territoriality, fire; <i>Spideog</i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Oak</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOdoFz6iTEpUCvXuEQVkuWcKDkAmYhlbLh3WnjgmY3pmmYdEKbKLeQ3rlQ4EUzpXLn9JD08dCcki2V0FSVZqALNR7ygxcy_vVcQWZvb79OzH5KT6K5CfTPP8Cjdyo35JQNG-GokGhPmg/s1600/angeloaktree001.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOdoFz6iTEpUCvXuEQVkuWcKDkAmYhlbLh3WnjgmY3pmmYdEKbKLeQ3rlQ4EUzpXLn9JD08dCcki2V0FSVZqALNR7ygxcy_vVcQWZvb79OzH5KT6K5CfTPP8Cjdyo35JQNG-GokGhPmg/s320/angeloaktree001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The
Oak is the King of the Trees. Ancient Celts observed the oak's massive
growth and impressive expanse. They took this as a clear sign that the
oak was to be honored for its endurance, and noble presence. Wearing oak
leaves was a sign of special status among many ancient European
peoples. <br />
<br />
There are accounts that trace the name
"druid" to duir, the Celtic term for the oak. The actual translation of
duir is "door" and lore indicates that Witches can access the ethereal
planes of higher thought by using the oak as a door into magical places.
<br />
<br />
The oak is a tree of protection and strength. It has a
high tannin content that makes it resistant to fungus. The wood of the
oak is used in making doors and boats.<br />
<br />
Druids met in
oak groves and ate their acorns to ingest the ancient knowledge
contained in them. Because of their expansive growth, oak trees often
attract lightning strikes, which confer greater mystical power to them.
Mistletoe grows best on the Oak and is the most sacred herb of the
Druids.<br />
<br />
The oak is associated with security,
steadfastness and primeval vigor. The elemental association with the Oak
is fire, and the gender association is masculine.<br />
<br />
You can learn more about our tradition's<a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/p/wheel-of-year.html"> wheel of the year through this link</a>. <br />
<br />
Links:<br />
<a href="http://www.controverscial.com/Oak.htm">Controverscial "In Worship of Trees": Oak</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak">Wikipedia: Oak</a><br />
<a href="http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/p/OakAndAcorn.htm%20">About: Oak Symbolism</a>Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-38300258403301802802016-10-22T10:23:00.003-04:002016-10-22T10:23:55.808-04:00August Totems: HorseIn our tradition we divide the year not only by eight solar and
agricultural holidays, but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve
months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth
month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different
totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other
flying creature), and a tree. August's totems are Horse, Apple, and
Swan.<br />
<br />
The totemic associations are as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>Horse </b><i>(Each)</i> – travel, power, freedom, civilization<br />
<b>Apple </b><i>(Quert)</i> – beauty, choices, love, inspiration<br />
<b>Swan </b><i>(Eala)</i> - shape-shifting, love, grace, beauty<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Horse </b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQky3XK3sUD7hkW-t3DBBWmYVpZQm9Ne6wTYv7EaCgJRwaIOFB9hkZ5Jskg616KqJAbLIGR48g2t7t6ONNa_8YMEYMvOHOsf3stUwlBUOmJMhyphenhyphen1pMY24r6Lx8YmqRyZgWSTJJ4Dhzjfs/s1600/horse.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQky3XK3sUD7hkW-t3DBBWmYVpZQm9Ne6wTYv7EaCgJRwaIOFB9hkZ5Jskg616KqJAbLIGR48g2t7t6ONNa_8YMEYMvOHOsf3stUwlBUOmJMhyphenhyphen1pMY24r6Lx8YmqRyZgWSTJJ4Dhzjfs/s320/horse.jpg" width="218" /></a><br />
<br />
The
Horse is associated with the female Divine, the land, and travel both
on the inner and outer planes. It is connected to the Sun and is a
symbol of sexual desired. Furthermore, it is associated with power and
freedom, divination, the spread of civilization, birth. Wind and sea
foam often signify the power of the Horse.<br />
<br />
The Horse’s
skills for hauling, hunting and battle have made it an animal that has
been a true partner to mankind in many respects. It has been connected
to head hunting due to the fact that warriors would frequently hang the
severed heads of defeated opponents about the necks of the horses. Horse
gear and/or parts, like the teeth, as well as whole horses were often
interred with their masters upon the human’s death. Horse bones found in
the foundations of houses to bring good luck, like horse shoes today.
These findings indicate a long history of the Horse in connection to the
burial rites of the Celts and other cultures.<br />
<br />
Epona,
Rhiannon and Macha are all Celtic Horse-Goddesses. In some images a Mare
holds a key to the Underworld or Otherworld. Rhiannon is seen riding
out of the Otherworld on a white horse. A common activity at Samhain and
Beltane is the riding hobbyhorses. The Horse is often a phantom
creature or provoker of nightmares, who get their name from her, as Mare
is an Irish Goddess.<br />
<br />
The Horse is associated with
freedom because it allows us to move without restriction from place to
place. However, this freedom often comes without proper restraints,
which can lead to trouble for the rider. The connection to freedom is
also echoed in the poets’ tendencies to liken horse-riding to flying.<br />
<br />
Sovereignty
is another aspect of the Horse. In Ireland the kings performed a
symbolic marriage with the horse to secure their rule and connection to
the land. The Horse was then slaughtered, its blood spilling upon the
ground, and its meat eaten by those in attendance. This is a version of
the Sacred Marriage.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/p/wheel-of-year.html">You can learn more about our tradition's wheel of the year through this link.</a>Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-16617931614449595112016-10-22T10:22:00.002-04:002016-10-22T10:22:50.118-04:00August Totems: AppleIn our tradition we divide the year not only by eight solar and
agricultural holidays, but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve
months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth
month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different
totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other
flying creature), and a tree. August's totems are Horse, Apple, and
Swan.<br />
<br />
The totemic associations are as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>Horse </b><i>(Each)</i> – travel, power, freedom, civilization<br />
<b>Apple<i> </i></b><i>(Quert)</i> – beauty, choices, love, inspiration<br />
<b>Swan<i> </i></b><i>(Eala)</i> - shape-shifting, love, grace, beauty<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Apple</b></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvHRb45mTh_5PyNlfYg3PwfeVaBWy0vMb3FyfDnak0WUxtBnkMLoTazr-e1aoyE7GQ0Lgw6-ucDk_-xgvGcuMmYnXiuz0GbtxskdD92yIRTGfDHDgwZ47-njpL2h2GhV1ZtSB_a7-wEE/s1600/apples.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvHRb45mTh_5PyNlfYg3PwfeVaBWy0vMb3FyfDnak0WUxtBnkMLoTazr-e1aoyE7GQ0Lgw6-ucDk_-xgvGcuMmYnXiuz0GbtxskdD92yIRTGfDHDgwZ47-njpL2h2GhV1ZtSB_a7-wEE/s320/apples.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
The
Apple is a deciduous tree. The wild crab-apple is Britain’s only
indigenous type. It is related to the rose family, along with Hawthorn,
and so it develops thorns from spurs on its branches. It has gnarled
trunks, often growing at crazy angles to “hide” amongst other trees.
It’s leaves are almost heart-shaped, and its blossoms are deep pink with
a scent similar to honeysuckle, which attracts bees. Some types of
Apple trees can hold fruit on the branches throughout the winter.<br />
<br />
This
tree represents the choice between similar and equally attractive
things. It is one of the “Seven Chieftain Trees” of the Celts. It’s
fruit and bark are used in tanning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yqM3dPxTnY5-WHJvIF4XFlsyReImEN1Q1X_3TOVC6DqwGJYUQxfGs1wvkE7PLwKQpcez4A1NShQL3RI-QsswblYSfMDC9Ee9ZkZzF3qpGg7_6vck7_U8tUB2vRBUP7p5HPusFt2A4Wo/s1600/cut-apple.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yqM3dPxTnY5-WHJvIF4XFlsyReImEN1Q1X_3TOVC6DqwGJYUQxfGs1wvkE7PLwKQpcez4A1NShQL3RI-QsswblYSfMDC9Ee9ZkZzF3qpGg7_6vck7_U8tUB2vRBUP7p5HPusFt2A4Wo/s200/cut-apple.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The
Apple is associated with love spells, likely due to its associations
with Aphrodite. The “Gardens of the Hesperides” contained an especially
sacred apple tree that granted immortality. The Hesperides ,nine
beautiful maidens, representatives of Aphrodite, guarded this tree, and a
serpent was coiled at its roots. The Greeks sometimes saw the sun as a
crimson apple sinking into the sea, being replaced by Hesperus (Venus)
the ‘star’ sacred to Aphrodite. An apple cut open crosswise reveals the
sign of the pentagram, a symbol also associated with Aphrodite, due
partially to the fact that the planet Venus, the heavenly embodiment of
the Goddess, cut a perfect pentagram in the sky over the course of four
years. The Apple’s association with Aphrodite is further strengthened by
the golden apple, engraved with the words “For the Fairest,” that was
awarded to her by Paris and which resulted in the beginning of the
Trojan War.<br />
<br />
The Apple has long been sacred to the
Celts, as well. One of its sacred islands, Avalon, is named the “Isle of
Apples.” Old apple trees are more likely than other types of trees to
host mistletoe, making them sacred to Druids. Merlin also had a sacred
apple orchard. Apple cider was said to be the most sacred drink of the
Druids.Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-24277420316921614152016-10-22T10:21:00.000-04:002016-10-22T10:21:35.479-04:00July Totems: HoundIn our tradition we divide the year not only by eight solar and
agricultural holidays, but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve
months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth
month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different
totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other
flying creature), and a tree. July's totems are the Hound, the Eagle,
and the Elm. <br />
<br />
The totemic associations are as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>Hound </b>(<i>Cu</i>) – loyalty, protection, guidance<br />
<b>Elm </b>(<i>Lemh</i>) - elves, light, purification, wisdom<br />
<b>Eagle </b>(<i>Iolair</i>) – light, renewal, loyalty, intelligence, courage<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqL3clQdkU2WRp5gaXWxA8ZHE4Y1-YRhF9fIPAVKx4LeOrnroJ6Dd8bnkUGUTNWVtxsaLFp4xi7i49Nllh3bD6JLcnF6VsOhfwdWjULg6Wzn4I0DJr9KMea6gNr3Fm4QVeb2-EYClevK8/s1600/dog.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqL3clQdkU2WRp5gaXWxA8ZHE4Y1-YRhF9fIPAVKx4LeOrnroJ6Dd8bnkUGUTNWVtxsaLFp4xi7i49Nllh3bD6JLcnF6VsOhfwdWjULg6Wzn4I0DJr9KMea6gNr3Fm4QVeb2-EYClevK8/s320/dog.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Hound</span></b></div>
<br />
The
Dog is animal of faithfulness, protection, guidance, loyalty and
warning. It is an excellent companion and work-mate. Dogs have been used
for herding, hunting and sporting for thousands of years, and several
types are bred to accentuate these qualities.<br />
<br />
In India,
Dog is a symbol of all cast systems, indicating the small becoming
great. In Greece, Dog is seen as a companion and a guardian to the
places of the dead.<br />
<br />
This association between Dog and
places of dead is also evident in Celtic tradition. The Dog is seen as a
Guardian of the Mysteries who fiercely defends that which we hold
sacred. Dogs have often been guardians of animals, livestock, homes and
people. However, they have also been guardians of road, crossroads and
gateways, which links them with Mysteries and Underworld entrances. In
fact, there is a phantom, Black Dog who presages death or patrols
ancient places of transit. It is generally known as the Barghest, Black
Shuck, Black Shag, Gytrash, Kludde, Shriker, Padfoot, Hooter, and other
names. The Black Dog acts in his role to protect and guide the soul of
the dead into the Underworld. Totemic hounds can also lead the living
through difficult journeys into the Unconscious.<br />
<br />
Fairy
Dogs, variously known as the Cŵn Annwn, Gabriel Ratchets, or Yell
Hounds, were the companions of Gwynn ap Nudd, Lord of the Wild Hunt.
They are said to be white with red ears and sometimes have a spectral
greenish glow. Their barking was likened to the sound of geese honking
in the night sky, and it was said that whomever witnessed their passage
would soon join them in the Underworld. According to Welsh folklore,
their growling is loudest when they are at a distance, and as they draw
nearer, it grows softer and softer.<br />
<br />
The term Cu (Dog)
was given to many chiefs, warriors, heroes and champions in Celtic lore.
For example, Cu-Chulainn’s name means the Hound of Chulainn. Even
certain kings were honored in this way. There were also many heroes who
were accompanied by a Dog: Bran, Lugh, King Arthur, Tristan,
Cu-Chulainn, and Fionn MacCumhaill (Bran and Sgeolan). <br />
<br />
You can learn more about our tradition's<a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/p/wheel-of-year.html"> wheel of the year through this link</a>.Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-73244636840642598602016-10-22T10:18:00.001-04:002016-10-22T10:18:24.210-04:00September Totems: SwineIn our tradition we divide the year not only by eight solar and
agricultural holidays, but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve
months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth
month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different
totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other
flying creature), and a tree. August's totems are Swine, Vine, and Hawk.<br />
<br />
The totemic associations are as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>Swine</b> (<i>Torc/Muc</i>) – hunt, search, nourishment, putting up a fight<br />
<b>Vine </b>(<i>Muin</i>) – prophesy, prediction and omens<br />
<b>Hawk </b>(<i>Seabhac</i>) - visions, guardianship, messenger<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Boar</span></b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_Y9_92m1yvrlOA_b61nMW5vCZVS4tQ5u0IYxRpwVxcovhLpnQ-N6t2jcG_y-h5UTkZ7agN4rd4Lg9XBdgUJj_ccngkAVFD2t8ejQvrS3X23TPxq42-izofJEv9dx7HkSCPYbKjvanb8/s1600/boar.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_Y9_92m1yvrlOA_b61nMW5vCZVS4tQ5u0IYxRpwVxcovhLpnQ-N6t2jcG_y-h5UTkZ7agN4rd4Lg9XBdgUJj_ccngkAVFD2t8ejQvrS3X23TPxq42-izofJEv9dx7HkSCPYbKjvanb8/s1600/boar.jpg" /></a>The
Boar is as symbol of the Warrior spirit, leadership, and direction. It
is wild and powerful. The Boar calls you into forest to discover a
secret about yourself. The Boar has a raw power that can be very
destructive, but can be channeled.<br />
<br />
There are ritual boar paths in Wales, Cornwall, Ireland and Scotland. These paths exist in the Inner Realms, too.<br />
<br />
The
Boar’s tusks and comb are significant and are frequently mentioned in
lore. Furthermore, combs and mirrors depicted beside boars in Scottish
rock-carvings. This animal’s image was often used as emblem on helmets
and mouthpiece of battle-horns to terrify enemies and on swords and
bronze shields to protect the warrior.<br />
<br />
It is a secretly
(inwardly) feminine symbol that is connected with healing as well as
destruction. In Scotland, women would give birth at the Boar Stone, with
their bare feet on the stone to absorb its power. In Celtic terms,
hunting and healing seen as connected.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sow</b></span><br />
<br />
The
sow is a symbol of nourishment, as swine are a particularly potent food
source. Indeed, it is said that "everything but the oink" is used as
food. Just as the sow gives life as food, so does she take life away.
Any pig farmer can attest to the practice of sows eating their own
piglets after birth. The sow is therefore symbolic of the Goddess who
is death-in-life and life-in-death.<br />
<br />
The sow is
especially associated with Cerridwen, whose name is sometimes translated
as "white sow", making her association with September particularly
potent.Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-23756414952504105052016-10-22T10:17:00.000-04:002016-10-22T10:17:15.760-04:00September Totems: VineIn our tradition we divide the year not only by eight solar and
agricultural holidays, but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve
months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth
month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different
totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other
flying creature), and a tree. September's totems are Swine, Vine, and
Hawk.<br />
<br />
The totemic associations are as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>Swine </b>(<i>Torc/Muc</i>) – hunt, search, nourishment, putting up a fight<br />
<b>Vine </b>(<i>Muin</i>) – prophesy, prediction and omens<br />
<b>Hawk </b>(<i>Seabhac</i>) - visions, guardianship, messenger<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cF5MMnaZ8qw2VPYnsO6wvYRsJjFMz-Ws_ZlAdItKvd8WvaAtzhrlNXBOS-kKefz7tnPeZFYwsVFUx5EpAthS9RCz3C75Zm7eQWv8XDD2ywTFuhK3vjsj2OzONbZrGBY7038oNg5vyl0/s1600/Grapevine.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cF5MMnaZ8qw2VPYnsO6wvYRsJjFMz-Ws_ZlAdItKvd8WvaAtzhrlNXBOS-kKefz7tnPeZFYwsVFUx5EpAthS9RCz3C75Zm7eQWv8XDD2ywTFuhK3vjsj2OzONbZrGBY7038oNg5vyl0/s320/Grapevine.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
September's tree is the humble grapevine. While not actually a "tree," this sacred wood stands firmly
amongst the grove of totemic trees. The fermented juice of the grape is
wine, which appears in almost every Indo-European mythos at some point.
From the sacred drink of the God Dionysos to the many aspects of wine
in the life of Jesus, wine has played a part in most religious systems.<br />
<br />
The
vine is a symbol of prophecy and is the sacred wood of the harvest
festivals, which celebrates the cutting and offering of fruits. The vine
is also symbolic of the shedding of inhibitions, just as wine releases
us from our everyday constraints. The adage "In Vino Veritas", In
wine truth, applies here and the vine often uncovers repressed truths
and hidden information.<br />
<br />
The vine stands for the release
of prophecy, predictions and omens. Grapevines are used to make
baskets, wreaths and magical tools. Wine is used in the Red Meal, or <a href="http://afwcraft.blogspot.com/2011/06/housle.html">housle</a>, and in the flying potion of our tradition.Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-57856526751683872222016-10-22T10:04:00.000-04:002016-10-22T10:04:02.807-04:00October Totems: HazelIn our tradition we divide the year not only by eight solar and
agricultural holidays, but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve
months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth
month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different
totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other
flying creature), and a tree. October's totems are Salmon, Hazel, and
Lapwing.<br />
<br />
The totemic associations are as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>Salmon </b>– (<i>Bradan</i>) oldest animal; wisdom, knowledge, inspiration<br />
<b>Hazel </b>– (<i>Coll</i>) wisdom, intuition, creativity, divination, the source<br />
<b>Lapwing</b> – (<i>Curracag</i>) resourcefulness, distraction, wisdom, divination<br />
<br />
<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Hazel</span></b><br />
<br />
The
Hazel is deciduous and grows to the height of a small tree/large shrub –
12-20 feet tall. Hazels are plentiful in copses, oak woods, and
hedgerows, and they thrive in damp places near ponds and streams. Their
bark is smooth and light brown with lighter brown specks that are the
pores of the tree. They have tough, elastic stems and slightly
heart-shaped, asymmetrical leaves.<br />
<br />
Hazel’s magical
associations include fertility, wisdom, marriage, divination, healing,
protection, intuition, dowsing wands, individuality, finding the hidden,
luck and wishes. Hazel’s atmosphere brings exhilaration and
inspiration, and it has been called the ‘Poet’s Tree.’ It has
associations with faerie lore and entrance into faerie realms. It is
aligned with the element of Air and with the feminine.<br />
<br />
Hazel
is one of the “Seven Chieftain Trees” of the Celts, and the unnecessary
felling of hazel trees brought the death penalty in Ireland.<br />
<br />
The
Hazel is considered to be the Tree of knowledge for the Celts. Its nuts
are ultimate receptacles of wisdom. Hazelnuts were considered the food
of the Gods.<br />
<br />
Hazel was used in combination with other
woods (oak, apple and willow) for various magical purposes, and it has
associations with love divinations and love wands (possibly due to the
shape of the leaves).<br />
<br />
Because it is plentiful near water, Hazel is associated with wells and springs. For example, nine hazels
of “poetic art” surrounded Connla’s Well, the destination and home of
the first salmon. Magically speaking, silver snakes and silvery fish
dart around its roots, which signifies swift energy. Hazel brings speed
through the air and water.<br />
<br />
In Cornwall, it was used for
dowsing (to find water, ley lines, thieves, murderers and treasure). In
France, it was used for beating the bounds (to define the boundaries
and make sure they didn’t fall into a state of neglect). In Wales, twigs
were made into wishing caps.<br />
<br />
Hazel’s healing qualities
were used to cure fevers, diarrhea, and excessive menstrual flow. The
kernels were used for clearing cough and head congestion. The nuts were
used in divination rituals, especially concerning love. <br />
<br />
Hazel
wands or rods bring poetic and magical inspiration. They can also be
used as “talking sticks” for order in large group discussions. The
Druids also believed they could achieve invisibility from hazel rods
fashioned in a certain manner.Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-26845581833800616272016-10-22T10:03:00.000-04:002016-10-22T10:03:07.946-04:00October Totems: SalmonIn our tradition we divide the year not only by eight solar and
agricultural holidays, but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve
months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth
month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different
totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other
flying creature), and a tree. October's totems are Salmon, Hazel, and
Lapwing.<br />
<br />
The totemic associations are as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>Salmon </b>– (<i>Bradan</i>) oldest animal; wisdom, knowledge, inspiration<br />
<b>Hazel </b>– (<i>Coll</i>) wisdom, intuition, creativity, divination, the source<br />
<b>Lapwing </b>– (<i>Curracag</i>) resourcefulness, distraction, wisdom, divination<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Salmon</span></b><br />
<br />
The
Salmon is the “Oldest Animal” in Welsh mythology and is critical in the
search for Mabon. Salmon is a symbol of wisdom, inspiration and
rejuvenation.<br />
<br />
The Salmon will return to place of its
own birth to mate (often with great difficulty) and is, therefore, a
reminder that we need to journey back to our own beginnings to find
wisdom. The Druid quest is for wisdom and knowledge, leading eventually
to the Oldest Animal. <br />
<br />
It swims in the well of wisdom
(Connla’s Well) at the source of all life, a sacred pool that has 9
hazel trees growing around it. Fionn MacCumhaill received the wisdom of
the salmon when he was cooking the fish for someone else. The juice
splashed on his hand, and he got the knowledge of the fish when he
sucked the burned spot.Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-87301910329279221382016-10-22T10:01:00.002-04:002016-10-22T10:01:56.583-04:00Samhain Totems: CraneIn our tradition we divide the year not only by eight solar and
agricultural holidays, but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve
months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth
month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different
totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other
flying creature), and a tree. Samhain's totems are Toad, Elder, and
Crane<br />
<br />
The totemic associations are as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>Toad </b>– (<i>Buaf</i>) transformation, inner visions, death and rebirth, hidden power and beauty<br />
<b>Elder </b>(<i>Ruis</i>) – death and rebirth, change and transition<br />
<b>Crane </b>– (<i>Corr</i>) longevity, remembrance, past lives, secret knowledge, patience<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Crane</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
The
Crane is an ancient and powerful symbol to many cultures. To the
Chinese, it is a solar symbol, one of justice. It is also a modern
symbol of wildlife conservation (and a deeper spiritual practice, too,
of recovering what is becoming extinct within the self). The Crane
represents longevity and creation through focus. In Celtic lore, Cranes
are often associated with the Underworld and are thought to be heralds
of war and death.<br />
<br />
Cranes are protective/secretive
parents. They lay two eggs, but raise only one, which gives them the
connection to focus and undivided attention. They are also associated
with perseverance due to the fact that they will stand for hours looking
into the water and waiting for the right time to strike at fish. The
Crane can help us to concentrate without distractions. They also
represent longevity of life span. There is a crane, for instance, on the
island Inis Kea who has been there since the beginning of the world,
and it will stay there until the world’s end.<br />
<br />
The Crane
symbolizes “secret knowledge” which is represented by the Ogham script
of the Celts. This form of text is said to be based on the shapes of
the Crane’s legs as they fly, and one can say that learning the secret
knowledge of the Crane is learning to read the “book of nature.” The
phrase “Crane Knowledge” indicates the knowledge of the Ogham alphabet,
but it also implies an understanding of the world that goes deeper and
has connections to many Realms – including past-life knowledge,
predicting rain storms, etc.<br />
<br />
The Crane bag is the
Druid’s medicine bag (in which he carried his Koelbren lots – or carved
Ogham staves). The Crane Bag is a symbol of the fetal sac or womb and
has connections to the things we carry from one life to another. Certain
Gods are said to have carried a Crane Bag. Manannan’s contained his own
shirt, a strip from a whale’s back, the King of Scotland’s shears, the
King of Lochlain’s helmet, the bones of Assail’s swine and Goibne’s
smith-hook.<br />
<br />
The Crane is often a guide to the
Underworld, whether at the time of death or during an inner journey.
These birds are often shown in groups of threes. For instance, three
cranes protect entrance to Annwn, three cranes appear on a bull’s back
in several drawings, and three cranes guard Midhir’s castle.
Furthermore, cranes are said to dance and fly in circles (and are,
therefore, said to be the basis of the triskele symbol).Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131791660134523038.post-47736812778062933462016-10-22T09:59:00.000-04:002016-10-22T09:59:21.267-04:00November Totems: RowanIn our tradition we divide the year not only by eight solar and
agricultural holidays, but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve
months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth
month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different
totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other
flying creature), and a tree. November's totems are Rowan, Raven, and
Fox.<br />
<br />
The totemic associations are as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Fox </b>– (<i>Sionnach</i>) trickster, invisibility, shape-shifting, diplomacy, wildness</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Rowan </b>– (<i>Luis</i>) protection against enchantment, psychic power, self-control</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Raven </b>– (<i>Bran</i>) underworld messenger, shape-shifting, trickster, initiation, protection</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Rowan</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
Rowan is sometimes referred to as the “Tree of Life” or the “Lady of
the Mountain,” this tree is thought to protect against enchantment. The
wood of this tree was often used for rune staves (sticks which are
engraved with the Ogham or runs and used as a divinatory tool) and as a
divining rod for metal.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Also
used as a generally protective talisman, the branches of the Rowan Tree
are hung over the doors of houses and barns to protect the inhabitants.
It is planted in cemeteries in Wales to guard over the spirits of the
dead. Babies’ cradles are often made of Rowan wood, as it is thought to
keep death and harm away from the young. Some references claim that
Rowan wood protects one from the Faery.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
Rowan berry has a pentagram in its center and is red in color. A
necklace strung of the berries is said to protect the wearer from harm.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Rowan
indicates an ability to contain control of your senses, provides
protection from harm and a protection when engaged in battle. The
element associated with the Rowan is Fire, and its gender association is
male.<br />
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Laureleihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16533181448249888912noreply@blogger.com0