Many occultists, especially those on the darker left hand side often shy away from the term "faith" believing that it implies knee-bending and servitude of a higher power. But one could just as easily say that it refers not to the service of a higher power, but simply whether or not you believe that supernatural beings exist and whether or not they are relevant to your magickal practice. In the end magick is really just quantum physics. Do you really need a higher power to practice quantum physics? Absolutely not. Nevertheless magico-religious traditions are were abundant throughout the ancient world, and they remain so even today. Is there anything wrong with them? Well, that depends on the specific case in point. Many of these traditions do a very good job of keeping the practice highly personal and keep organization and attempts to gain influence on outsiders to a minimum. In this case I can see very little wrong with a such a practice. The times when religion (and indeed magick) become most dangerous is when they organize in attempts to gain power and control over events outside of their immediate necessity, such as with the Jehova's Witnesses which I have metioned before who bang on my door early on a Saturday morning when I'm trying to catch up on my sleep. In which case I recommend answering the door immediately after placing an alka selter tab under your tongue (it will begin to foam quickly), then begin screaming jibberish and convulsing wildly toward them. Their visit will be short lived and you will most likely be marked off their missions list. If the followers of such practices are able to resist such arrogance then I really can't find much fault with them other than the inevitable disagreements I may have with their practices or systems of belief.
On a personal note I should say that I am a pantheist, and faith really comes in to play on a quite infrequent basis. Pantheism states in it's basic concept that God/dess is equivalent to the forces of nature, both light and dark, good and evil (should one bother with such fluid concepts), known and unknown; as well as it's tangible objects, Earth, Air, Fire, Water...the rivers, oceans, streams, trees, grass, the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, the planets etc. Some see this as a copout. A way of a avoiding the ultimate question of whether or not God/dess exists. But for myself, it is also a sincerely held belief. I have no need for a literal higher power. The personas given to the forces of nature; the god/esses of any given pantheon throughout the world I see as archetypes, another term that has gained a dirty reputation in recent years (though usually not from darker sided practices). In my mind archetypes do NOT degrade the standing of any specific entity in question, but rather lend a more realistic nature to them. Most rational people would agree that literal beings with the head of an aligator, the breasts of a woman, the genitals of a man, and the legs of an octopus are highly unlikely. I'm not aware of any such being that is actually claimed to exist, I say this only to make a point while not disparaging any specfically indentifiable deity. There are many deities known throughout the world with animalistic as well as humanoid traits and their literal existences are highly doubtful. But the energies, emotions, and events that they represent are very real. I believe that these deities ARE REAL, yes I said it, THEY ARE REAL. The only difference I have with the hard theists in this regard is the existence of their mythological appearance.
So then what of the apparitions that many members of the occult claim to have had? Whether many wish to admit it or not the occult is a highly psychological game and if you have a deep-seeded investment in a certain being appearing a certain way they will most likely take that form. Even those of us who do not believe in the literal existence of anthropomorphic beings have this attachment and have experienced these same apparitions. It's not so much that they really do exist in that form as it is that in our own mind they do and this is the most sympathetic way to assure the sorcerer/ess that they are indeed present. As an example I will say this...in my own practice, I have called upon magickal forces with the idea of an upright of reversed pentagram in mind depending on the working at hand. Without fail that pentagram always appears in the crystal ball as soon as I begin to scry it. The same can be said for the dead. In general terms I always see the dead in my mind as old victorian style photos, and without fail they appear to me in such a manner. To practice magick is to implement the powers of your own mind, and if your mind has a certain dispoistion you will most likely see the powers you call upon in this way whatever that may be.
AVE SATANAS!
AVE HECATE!
AMBROGIO
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
X-mas in the Devil's Name
So if you know anything at all about Pagan occultism you know very well that X-mas is nothing more than a cheap rip off of the Winter Solstice celebrations that occur on or around December 21 of every year. In ancient cultures this is the night when the sun was renewed (how ironic that the xians believe the "son" is born on December 25. It lends further irony that most scholars and archeologists believe that Jesus, if he ever existed at all, was most likely born at some point much closer to the Vernal Equinox than the Winter Solstice.
It's always fascinated me that Pagan traditions are always given the Devil's name until the church bastardizes them and makes them "christ-like". For all of their belly-aching about the "evil blasphemers" they have certainly done more than their fair share in the past. But having said that who really cares? We know the true meaning of this season, and modern Pagans of all stripes should have no inhibitions about celebrating this holiday. Of course we are allowed to skip the midnight mass, and the nativity scenes, and the seemingly endless auto-play of "Joy to the World".
But once you omit the insulting xian trappings the holiday season is PURE PAGAN! The ever green, the holly, the candles, the gift, the good food, the good drinks...Even Santa Claus can be seen in a Pagan light...Santa is the Holly King (Duh!) and each of the eight reindeer represent one of the Fire Festivals (Sabbats).
I remember as a child I always loved the statues of "Santa" dress in long (usually red, green, or gold) robes with a holly wreath on his head. Every year I would ask if we could buy one to decorate the house, and every year he would say no...it's not what X-mas is all about. Little did I know at the time that this was actually a depiction of Kris Kringle (whom we know as the Holly King"). It's strange for me to look back on my life and remember the natural attraction that I had to certain things as a child, and now as a grown man realize that they were Pagan even though it was unbenownst to me at the time. In doing so it's really no wonder that I have ended up where I am today...a member of the Tribe of the Damned. :-)
So what is the call of the night on Yuletide's Night? Well by now you may know that I have a love for alcohol, and one thing that I remember very well from last Yule (despite the good drinks) is the Glogg! If you haven't tried it before, and you're any kind of drinker at all you have to try it! It is delicious (although potent, but what's the point if not?). Glogg is a traditional Scandinavian Yule/Xmas spiced wine. Granted I'm a drinker and finished off most of it (the rest of the coven members weren't big drinkers) but we all found it delightful. And since it is served hot it's great for the cold winter's night we are celebrating! So here will give you the recipe that we used last year:
One bottled red wine (I use a sweet wine personally)
Half a liter vodka or brandy (for those of us in america this is about 2/3 of a fifth sized bottle)
2-4 teaspoons ground cinnamon (or to taste)
One orange peel
One cup granulated sugar
five whole cloves
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup alomonds
Mix all ingredients in a large pot or crock pot and simmer for 30-60 minutes. DO NOT BOIL!
NOTE: Sissies may want to omit the vodka/brandy hehehe.
Others who prefer a stronger drink may want to add more, but I assure you the mixture is quite strong as is!
Yuletide should be a celebration! It is a celebration of polarities, this is the longest and darkest night of the year, yet we are celebrating the return of the sun and it's waxing strength from now until the Summer Solstice. Tonight the darkness is of heavy focus for those of us (myself included) who have a darker nature. This is the longest night of the year, and the one night that sympathetically offers the most dark energy available on any given night. With that said, in an effort to balance you practice one should not shy away from at least acknowledging the coming sunlight. Personally, I have always had a certain degree of personal and psychological turmoil during the lighter months. And in recent years I have tried to curb that by embracing the lighter side (to a degree) as well. It does help if you are of a darker nature and find yourself on edge when darker hours are scare to try and celebrate and enjoy yourself during the lighter months, however this is not to say that it is always easy. This is all the more reason to savor the dark engery available at Yuletide, you may need it in the months to come.
The Yule season is only just beginning, and I will have more suggestions as time goes on, but for now I'll leave you with this.
Ave Satanas!
Ambrogio
It's always fascinated me that Pagan traditions are always given the Devil's name until the church bastardizes them and makes them "christ-like". For all of their belly-aching about the "evil blasphemers" they have certainly done more than their fair share in the past. But having said that who really cares? We know the true meaning of this season, and modern Pagans of all stripes should have no inhibitions about celebrating this holiday. Of course we are allowed to skip the midnight mass, and the nativity scenes, and the seemingly endless auto-play of "Joy to the World".
But once you omit the insulting xian trappings the holiday season is PURE PAGAN! The ever green, the holly, the candles, the gift, the good food, the good drinks...Even Santa Claus can be seen in a Pagan light...Santa is the Holly King (Duh!) and each of the eight reindeer represent one of the Fire Festivals (Sabbats).
I remember as a child I always loved the statues of "Santa" dress in long (usually red, green, or gold) robes with a holly wreath on his head. Every year I would ask if we could buy one to decorate the house, and every year he would say no...it's not what X-mas is all about. Little did I know at the time that this was actually a depiction of Kris Kringle (whom we know as the Holly King"). It's strange for me to look back on my life and remember the natural attraction that I had to certain things as a child, and now as a grown man realize that they were Pagan even though it was unbenownst to me at the time. In doing so it's really no wonder that I have ended up where I am today...a member of the Tribe of the Damned. :-)
So what is the call of the night on Yuletide's Night? Well by now you may know that I have a love for alcohol, and one thing that I remember very well from last Yule (despite the good drinks) is the Glogg! If you haven't tried it before, and you're any kind of drinker at all you have to try it! It is delicious (although potent, but what's the point if not?). Glogg is a traditional Scandinavian Yule/Xmas spiced wine. Granted I'm a drinker and finished off most of it (the rest of the coven members weren't big drinkers) but we all found it delightful. And since it is served hot it's great for the cold winter's night we are celebrating! So here will give you the recipe that we used last year:
One bottled red wine (I use a sweet wine personally)
Half a liter vodka or brandy (for those of us in america this is about 2/3 of a fifth sized bottle)
2-4 teaspoons ground cinnamon (or to taste)
One orange peel
One cup granulated sugar
five whole cloves
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup alomonds
Mix all ingredients in a large pot or crock pot and simmer for 30-60 minutes. DO NOT BOIL!
NOTE: Sissies may want to omit the vodka/brandy hehehe.
Others who prefer a stronger drink may want to add more, but I assure you the mixture is quite strong as is!
Yuletide should be a celebration! It is a celebration of polarities, this is the longest and darkest night of the year, yet we are celebrating the return of the sun and it's waxing strength from now until the Summer Solstice. Tonight the darkness is of heavy focus for those of us (myself included) who have a darker nature. This is the longest night of the year, and the one night that sympathetically offers the most dark energy available on any given night. With that said, in an effort to balance you practice one should not shy away from at least acknowledging the coming sunlight. Personally, I have always had a certain degree of personal and psychological turmoil during the lighter months. And in recent years I have tried to curb that by embracing the lighter side (to a degree) as well. It does help if you are of a darker nature and find yourself on edge when darker hours are scare to try and celebrate and enjoy yourself during the lighter months, however this is not to say that it is always easy. This is all the more reason to savor the dark engery available at Yuletide, you may need it in the months to come.
The Yule season is only just beginning, and I will have more suggestions as time goes on, but for now I'll leave you with this.
Ave Satanas!
Ambrogio
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The Devil Incarnate
So who is the Devil? An archetype? A symbol? An actual living god? For me the answer never has been so black and white, one or the other, yes or no. I believe that the Devil IS an archetype, but that he also exists in a literal sense. The reason for the distinction is because I draw the line before uttering the word "god", at least in the literal sense. I often use the word loosely for lack of a better term when describing any number of ancient entities. But when it comes to a specific definition I feel the need to set certain boundaries. As a panthiest I believe that nature is god (again in the loose sense) and god is nature. So in the loose sense you could indeed refer to the Devil as a god...much like his styles "His Infernal Majesty", "Prince of the Powers of the Air", etc. But in literal interpretation I'll put it like this...The Devil is what many mystics refer to as "the All" that being everything encompassed inside and outside of this world. An infinite body that sustains everything in the cosmos, and the balance that must be present for it all to coninue on. He is viewed in a way that is much more in harmony with nature than that of other religions and spiritualities in that he is much more a wild beast, than a spiritual parent. In other words he embodies man's natural inclinations (and indeed that of the universe) rather than restricting them, setting limits, and establishing criteria for personal conduct.
The Devil is the first revolutionary, the first to rebel against the establishment for our eternal quest for freedom, knowledge, and empowerment. While I do not view the Hebrew god as a literal being or anything else other than an obstacle to our continued advancement and evolution, I am not exactly referring to Yahweh when I say "the establishment". I'm speaking more of his fan club. It could just as easily be the fan club of Ahura Mazda, the basic equivalent of the Hebraic god in pre-islamic Persia. The adversary of Ahura Mazda (known as Satan in the jewish/christian/and islamic contexts) is known as Ahriman or Angra Mainyu as he is referred to in the Zend Avesta. And his minions are referred to as Deavas (demons in the hebraic contexts). The purpose behind mentioning this very ancient text is to show that the Devil regardless of name or likeness has existed well beyond the history of the christian church, and that Adversarial Spirituality is NOT just the inverse of Abrahamic faiths that many suggest it is today.
Getting back to the point...the fan club of Yahweh/Ahura Mazda to be exact. They are the establishment in which the Devil revolts against. The Devil did not create any of us...he is a sustaining power in the universe, NOT the creating power. Creation is left to natural process and evolution. The All (the Devil) does not intervene in human or natural affairs specifically called upon. He is not a busy-body unlike the other false deities described amongst white-lighters.
For the purposes of time, space, and personal convience, I will spare you all the rest of the detail I could go into about who, what, when, where, and why the Devil is...you can go elsewhere for that at this point, the resources are numerous. This latest entry is about not the Devil Himself...but the Devil Incarnate. And who is the Devil Incarnate? While the basic principles are that which is described above, if you are looking for specific entities this largely depends on your gender and you personal inclinations. For myself (being male, and largely male focused in my practice) the aspects are: Satan, Lucifer, Belial, Leviatan, Set, Pan, Ahriman, Hades/Pluto, Cernunnos, and Baphomet.
For women such aspects include Lilith, Hecate, Az-Jeh, Ihstar, Astarte, Astaroth, Ereshkigal, Persephone (though not in her lighter form as Kore), and the Whore of Babylon. In the feminine aspect Baphomet is also acknowledged as he is portrayed with both male and female traits, but is often used to a lesser extent in the demonic feminine practice as he is generally thought of as male.
When you take gender and personal affections/inclinations into consideration you can look at the entities described above (both male and female) and get an idea of the Devil Incarnate. The Devil Incarnate is the entities above manifesting themselves in human men and women. However, the balance amongst these entities being incarnated into a human person is not strictly limited to ones physical gender! Men should not fear absorbing and incarnating themselves into a feminine aspect of the Devil if they are so inclined. This inclination does not necessarily suggest effeminate qualities, or insult his masculinity. It merely affirms that certain aspects of his person are more in line with qualities assocaited with entities in the feminine aspect...this includes nuturing, psychic tendencies, preference to lunar energies verses solar energies etc. Let it be clear that while certain aspects are referred to with specific gender qualities the Adversary in ANY form is neither male nor female! The aspects are personifications which simply refer to the qualities of specific aspect in question. Active aspects are male, passive aspects are female. Neither is superior to the other. Let me say that again...NEITHER IS SUPERIOR TO THE OTHER! While we have our personal preferences they are equal. AND TRULY EQUAL...this is not lip service equality, this actual equality. We all have masculine and feminine qualities of the Devil to a greater or lesser degree, and they are both regarded with same amount of affection and respect PERIOD...regardless of masculine or feminine focus in your personal practice. If you reject one you reject both!
On a personal note, tonight I performed a rite to become the Devil Incarnate. The specific rite is copyrighted so I will not give the specific text or procedures here, but I will tell you that the rite was ecstatic, invigorating, and energizing, and I highly recommend performing similar rites on a regular basis. And I do suggest repeating a Devil Incarnate rite as part of regular nightly rituals. It certainly doesn't hurt anything and they are fucking fun so why not?!
If you are unfamiliar with rituals to incarnate yourself as the Devil I suggest reading "The Demonic Bible" by Tsirk Susej. I may not agree with everything he has to say, but the rituals are great and provide excellent inspiration for writing your own rituals tailored to you own needs and beliefs.
AVE SATANAS!
AMBROGIO
The Devil is the first revolutionary, the first to rebel against the establishment for our eternal quest for freedom, knowledge, and empowerment. While I do not view the Hebrew god as a literal being or anything else other than an obstacle to our continued advancement and evolution, I am not exactly referring to Yahweh when I say "the establishment". I'm speaking more of his fan club. It could just as easily be the fan club of Ahura Mazda, the basic equivalent of the Hebraic god in pre-islamic Persia. The adversary of Ahura Mazda (known as Satan in the jewish/christian/and islamic contexts) is known as Ahriman or Angra Mainyu as he is referred to in the Zend Avesta. And his minions are referred to as Deavas (demons in the hebraic contexts). The purpose behind mentioning this very ancient text is to show that the Devil regardless of name or likeness has existed well beyond the history of the christian church, and that Adversarial Spirituality is NOT just the inverse of Abrahamic faiths that many suggest it is today.
Getting back to the point...the fan club of Yahweh/Ahura Mazda to be exact. They are the establishment in which the Devil revolts against. The Devil did not create any of us...he is a sustaining power in the universe, NOT the creating power. Creation is left to natural process and evolution. The All (the Devil) does not intervene in human or natural affairs specifically called upon. He is not a busy-body unlike the other false deities described amongst white-lighters.
For the purposes of time, space, and personal convience, I will spare you all the rest of the detail I could go into about who, what, when, where, and why the Devil is...you can go elsewhere for that at this point, the resources are numerous. This latest entry is about not the Devil Himself...but the Devil Incarnate. And who is the Devil Incarnate? While the basic principles are that which is described above, if you are looking for specific entities this largely depends on your gender and you personal inclinations. For myself (being male, and largely male focused in my practice) the aspects are: Satan, Lucifer, Belial, Leviatan, Set, Pan, Ahriman, Hades/Pluto, Cernunnos, and Baphomet.
For women such aspects include Lilith, Hecate, Az-Jeh, Ihstar, Astarte, Astaroth, Ereshkigal, Persephone (though not in her lighter form as Kore), and the Whore of Babylon. In the feminine aspect Baphomet is also acknowledged as he is portrayed with both male and female traits, but is often used to a lesser extent in the demonic feminine practice as he is generally thought of as male.
When you take gender and personal affections/inclinations into consideration you can look at the entities described above (both male and female) and get an idea of the Devil Incarnate. The Devil Incarnate is the entities above manifesting themselves in human men and women. However, the balance amongst these entities being incarnated into a human person is not strictly limited to ones physical gender! Men should not fear absorbing and incarnating themselves into a feminine aspect of the Devil if they are so inclined. This inclination does not necessarily suggest effeminate qualities, or insult his masculinity. It merely affirms that certain aspects of his person are more in line with qualities assocaited with entities in the feminine aspect...this includes nuturing, psychic tendencies, preference to lunar energies verses solar energies etc. Let it be clear that while certain aspects are referred to with specific gender qualities the Adversary in ANY form is neither male nor female! The aspects are personifications which simply refer to the qualities of specific aspect in question. Active aspects are male, passive aspects are female. Neither is superior to the other. Let me say that again...NEITHER IS SUPERIOR TO THE OTHER! While we have our personal preferences they are equal. AND TRULY EQUAL...this is not lip service equality, this actual equality. We all have masculine and feminine qualities of the Devil to a greater or lesser degree, and they are both regarded with same amount of affection and respect PERIOD...regardless of masculine or feminine focus in your personal practice. If you reject one you reject both!
On a personal note, tonight I performed a rite to become the Devil Incarnate. The specific rite is copyrighted so I will not give the specific text or procedures here, but I will tell you that the rite was ecstatic, invigorating, and energizing, and I highly recommend performing similar rites on a regular basis. And I do suggest repeating a Devil Incarnate rite as part of regular nightly rituals. It certainly doesn't hurt anything and they are fucking fun so why not?!
If you are unfamiliar with rituals to incarnate yourself as the Devil I suggest reading "The Demonic Bible" by Tsirk Susej. I may not agree with everything he has to say, but the rituals are great and provide excellent inspiration for writing your own rituals tailored to you own needs and beliefs.
AVE SATANAS!
AMBROGIO
Sunday, November 13, 2011
In Honor to Lucifer...
I bleed in the river,
Late autumn has come,
The swansong for the sun,
A flame drowning in mortem.
The leaves wither away, deep red and orange,
And Lucifer saith "Death kills me not"
For light hath begun me, and darkness shall keep me,
The grave shall uphold me, lift me up to the heights of the heavens.
If I shall be gone, the Earth be without,
And the Earth is without, yet I am still here.
My horns stand proud and strong here still,
And Death I fear here not!
The Angel of Light I stand before you,
Yet the Angel of Death is as I appear,
I am Lucifer and Azreal both,
The Lord of the Living and Lord of the Dead.
Who shall therefore, discourage my being?
For I am the life you love, and the death whom you fear.
Whom amongst you shall dare to deny me; Lord of life, and the realm of the dead?
At Midsummer's peak you praise me and worhsip,
Yet from Samhain there on you cower in fear.
How dare you acclaim me in that which is comfort,
Yet seek to abandon me upon shedding a tear?
For I see the weakness, your heart-blinding fear
And I slew it about, and kill what is dear!
Are you yet of feeble mind, and cannot behold the mystery?
I am life and I am death for all throughout your history.
Therefore seek me above and below,
My light rises high above heaven's glow
Yet still my feet sink far below,
To the depths of hell you soon shall know...
In honor of Lucifer,
Ambrogio Notte
As an added bonus I present a song...both dark and beautiful by Cradle of Filth entitled Nymphetamine Fix.
Late autumn has come,
The swansong for the sun,
A flame drowning in mortem.
The leaves wither away, deep red and orange,
And Lucifer saith "Death kills me not"
For light hath begun me, and darkness shall keep me,
The grave shall uphold me, lift me up to the heights of the heavens.
If I shall be gone, the Earth be without,
And the Earth is without, yet I am still here.
My horns stand proud and strong here still,
And Death I fear here not!
The Angel of Light I stand before you,
Yet the Angel of Death is as I appear,
I am Lucifer and Azreal both,
The Lord of the Living and Lord of the Dead.
Who shall therefore, discourage my being?
For I am the life you love, and the death whom you fear.
Whom amongst you shall dare to deny me; Lord of life, and the realm of the dead?
At Midsummer's peak you praise me and worhsip,
Yet from Samhain there on you cower in fear.
How dare you acclaim me in that which is comfort,
Yet seek to abandon me upon shedding a tear?
For I see the weakness, your heart-blinding fear
And I slew it about, and kill what is dear!
Are you yet of feeble mind, and cannot behold the mystery?
I am life and I am death for all throughout your history.
Therefore seek me above and below,
My light rises high above heaven's glow
Yet still my feet sink far below,
To the depths of hell you soon shall know...
In honor of Lucifer,
Ambrogio Notte
As an added bonus I present a song...both dark and beautiful by Cradle of Filth entitled Nymphetamine Fix.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The Night of Pluto Cometh!
Most people here in the West know Pluto only as our former AND most distant planet in the solar system we have today. It is not uncommon knowledge, but still less well known that Pluto was the Roman equivalent to Hades, the Greek god of the Underworld. And tonight, Scorpio 10, 2011 (November 10) is his night. The Night of Pluto. The Night of Pluto refers to the full moon of Scorpio (November) this would be the FIRST full moon if on the off chance their is a BLUE moon of Scorpio. Just to be clear this is the full moon OF Scorpio and NOT the full moon IN Scorpio. In this case Scorpio refers to the period according the our modern calendar that is known as October 23 thru November 21. The Night of Pluto is the first full moon after Samhain. You should take note that THIS YEAR that is the Moon of Scorpio, but this is not necessarily the case in all years. But such an explaination could get complicated and for that reason I'll just leave it at that for now. The Samhain festival rarely goes beyond Scorpio 5th in any tradition, but in many ways the full moon of Scorpio can be seen as a continuation of the Samhain festivities and it brings finality to it. The Night of Pluto is a celebration of death (and thus the dead) and darkness. We have fallen to the depths of the dark season at this point, and while it won't peak for well over a month yet (Capricorn 21 - or December 21, again this is referring to the date THIS YEAR) we are undeinably treading in the season of death. Winter is on it's way, and in many locations has already come. For example we have already had snow in Iowa this year! This doesn't happen every year, but we Iowans are hearty and we can handle it! But in any case winter has come or is coming and Pluto is there to greet him...in fact, Pluto IS him! Winter is the season to death and the Underworld and Pluto is the god of the Underworld...do the math. This is the first of usually three, but possibly four full moons (although this is rare) where the god of death is at his peak from a lunar perspective. These full moons usually occur in the months of Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, and Aquarius, although they RARELY if ever occur in all four. Typically they will occur in just three of the four mentioned months (sun signs).
It is significant to recognize that the energies of the moon follow the path of the sun, and in this way Luciferianism/Paganism may be seen as patriarchial and not matriarchial (although neither is wrong)!! There are many partiarchial aspects to Paganism that are sorely neglected because of the Xian abuse of patriarchy in the past. But, DON'T MAKE THE DARK GOD PAY FOR YAHWEH'S SHORTCOMINGS!
In celebrating the Night of Pluto I suggest drawing down the moon. Remember that while the Moon is thought of as a mostly feminine body there are always it opposites at work as well. So whether you are feminine exlusive, masculine exclusive, or some variation of the two the Moon (just as the Sun) DOES NOT diminish in power or in value! The main thing on the Night of Pluto is to observe in some way. Even if your specific focus is on a god or a goddess...masculine or feminine, make sure you observe and set at place for the other side (male or female depending on your own focus) if you choose to focus on either the god or goddess side in particular. Whether you are simply observing the Night of Pluto, drawing down the moon, or casting a spell for your own (or another's) gain, balance should be essential. Focusing on one or the other is not only disrespectful to the opposite aspect, but it will inevitably throw you off balance and lead to obession. And neither imbalance nor obsession is ever desireable!
Personally, I always include Nanna in my Full Moon rituals. Nanna is one of the very few male lunar deities to be associated with the moon in any aspect let alone the full aspect. Thus he has a very powerful energy, particularly for men who seek the lunar mysteries.
And just a reminder to always remember...
If you look closely to the heart of the Moon in full, you will see the eyes of the grandest things. The eyes of a wolf, or a bear on a mountain who howls and yearns for the dreams of Akasha…
With trance like gaze I look upon you and see the mystery of a million years;
I cry unto the wolf, and hold sight unto the bear…
They hold for me a billion answers to one hundred thousand questions…
Where do I stand? I cry unto the wolf…
And why am I here? I call unto the bear…
The primitives of the Moon are close here at hand, and the times of the earth keep spinning…
For what is here beyond your gaze, and I am adept to your children? Or am I a speck in your majestic eyes with no scale, no need, no wonder?
Darkest Blessings,
Ambrogio Notte
It is significant to recognize that the energies of the moon follow the path of the sun, and in this way Luciferianism/Paganism may be seen as patriarchial and not matriarchial (although neither is wrong)!! There are many partiarchial aspects to Paganism that are sorely neglected because of the Xian abuse of patriarchy in the past. But, DON'T MAKE THE DARK GOD PAY FOR YAHWEH'S SHORTCOMINGS!
In celebrating the Night of Pluto I suggest drawing down the moon. Remember that while the Moon is thought of as a mostly feminine body there are always it opposites at work as well. So whether you are feminine exlusive, masculine exclusive, or some variation of the two the Moon (just as the Sun) DOES NOT diminish in power or in value! The main thing on the Night of Pluto is to observe in some way. Even if your specific focus is on a god or a goddess...masculine or feminine, make sure you observe and set at place for the other side (male or female depending on your own focus) if you choose to focus on either the god or goddess side in particular. Whether you are simply observing the Night of Pluto, drawing down the moon, or casting a spell for your own (or another's) gain, balance should be essential. Focusing on one or the other is not only disrespectful to the opposite aspect, but it will inevitably throw you off balance and lead to obession. And neither imbalance nor obsession is ever desireable!
Personally, I always include Nanna in my Full Moon rituals. Nanna is one of the very few male lunar deities to be associated with the moon in any aspect let alone the full aspect. Thus he has a very powerful energy, particularly for men who seek the lunar mysteries.
And just a reminder to always remember...
If you look closely to the heart of the Moon in full, you will see the eyes of the grandest things. The eyes of a wolf, or a bear on a mountain who howls and yearns for the dreams of Akasha…
With trance like gaze I look upon you and see the mystery of a million years;
I cry unto the wolf, and hold sight unto the bear…
They hold for me a billion answers to one hundred thousand questions…
Where do I stand? I cry unto the wolf…
And why am I here? I call unto the bear…
The primitives of the Moon are close here at hand, and the times of the earth keep spinning…
For what is here beyond your gaze, and I am adept to your children? Or am I a speck in your majestic eyes with no scale, no need, no wonder?
Darkest Blessings,
Ambrogio Notte
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The Pyramid Dilemma
Any witch or warlock worth his or her salt is perfectly aware of The Witches Pyramid. This is alternatively know as The Four Cornerstones of Witchcraft or The Four Cornerstones of Magick depending on the specific tradtions of the sorcorer in question.
For those who are unaware it poses the question how you found this sight to begin with, but I digress and will give you a brief overview here.
TO KNOW: This is the first level of the Witches Pyramid. It refers to the knowledge of you desires. In short what you want.
TO DARE: This is the second level of the Pyramid. It refers to the gumption that is necesary to perform the work necessary to achieve your desires. In short...DARE TO DO IT!
TO WILL: This is the third level of the Pyramid. It refers to the personal will that must be applied to any magickal working to make it happen. In short, you have to want it, desire it, and never let anything convince or even suggest to you that it will not happen. And this brings us to the fourth and final level of the Pyramid...
TO BE SILENT: This is the fourth level of the Pyramid and it refers to having a flar for secrecy as it concerns your magickal practice. In short, SHUT THE FUCK UP!
And this is where the Dilemma presents itself...
Just how far in keeping your fat trap shut should you go? I personally take it to an extreme. With the exception of this blog I speak very little about my occult workings. The majority of people that I associate with on a day to day basis have no idea that I am a warlock, a Luciferian, or know which side is above and which side is below, or what the fuck that could possibly mean to begin with. And that is the point, mystery is essential to witchcraft, and how the hell is it going to remain mysterious if you run off at the mouth about it like some annoying Jehovah's Witness that I despise for banging on my door at 8 am on my day off while I'm trying to catch up on my fucking sleep?!
Having said that, why is mystery essential? Well it's not that the procedures itself should be secret, if that were the case then we are all suffiently screwed already and might as well throw in the towel. Information on witchcraft has NEVER been more accessible (with the possible exception of antiquity) than it is now. The reason for this mystery and secrecy is necessary because if you are open about your own personal workings it will then open them up to scrutiny, and thus the possibility that the will may be shaken. If this happens then you can rest assured that your magick will not work, and if it does then it was bound to happen with or without any magick at all.
Further, with all of that said now as well there is another question. Should you be open to scrutiny at all? The answer to this is a resounding YES! The point behind any magickal working is transformation and personal advancement. If you are closed to new ideas then the only possible outcome is utter stagnation! So here is the real dilemma, and I must confess I don't have a real and definitive answer for this...how far is too far? Where do you draw the line when it comes to your secrecy? If you stay completely and totally silent (as I often do) then you rarely run the risk of you will being shaken and you afford yourself the luxury of observing those who surround you unobstructed by various assumptions they may have of you if they knew of you work. On the other hand this intense secrecy will inhibit your ability to get close to anyone as well as their ability to get close to you. This may work out just fine if you intend to be a hermit for your entire life, but what if your like most of us and desire at least some incling of a relationship with those who surround you? While some of us are more hermit-like than others, very few of us wish to be entirely devoid of personal relationships of any kind with other human beings. And to take it a bit further as our personalities, tastes, and desires change we may want relationships with new people while maintaining (or perhaps abandoning) those that we already have. So where should we draw the line? The best answer that I can give to this question is that we should try to find some semblance of moderation. I feel that it is always best to aire on the side of caution in these matters, so I generally start out slow. Try to get a feel for the individual (or group) in question and an idea of where they stand on such topics. If you get the immediate impression that they are unreceptive or perhaps even hostile to anything even remotely "new age" or "occult" then you're probably best off to leave well enough alone and move on. If on the other hand they appear to be at least somewhat open minded then you can test the waters further. I dont recommend coming out right off the bat with "I'm a warlock!" Or witch as the case maybe. While this may be workable with someone you can simply drop from your life without further hassle, it tends to get a little messy if, for example, they are a co-worker or someone else you must maintain at least some minor form of relationship or civility with over the medium or long term.
So first things first...start off slow, and I do mean SLOW...even corny and cliche if necessary. Ask them their sun sign. If they start freaking out about the forces of devildom, then you probably know not to take things any further and drop them from the radar immediately. But many people are more than willing to discuss this, even though it has become one of the worst pick up lines EVER! Whatever you do just don't tell them you're a perfect match! The point here is to subtly bring up the occult and get feel for where they are and then proceed from there.
Ultimately you must decide how, when, and where to proceed. It is a tricky question and one that you should never take lightly. Given the toxic attitudes that many people have towards the occult a heavy dose of caution is always best. It may not be ideal, but sadly it is often the best that we can do.
Darkest Blessings,
Ambrogio
For those who are unaware it poses the question how you found this sight to begin with, but I digress and will give you a brief overview here.
TO KNOW: This is the first level of the Witches Pyramid. It refers to the knowledge of you desires. In short what you want.
TO DARE: This is the second level of the Pyramid. It refers to the gumption that is necesary to perform the work necessary to achieve your desires. In short...DARE TO DO IT!
TO WILL: This is the third level of the Pyramid. It refers to the personal will that must be applied to any magickal working to make it happen. In short, you have to want it, desire it, and never let anything convince or even suggest to you that it will not happen. And this brings us to the fourth and final level of the Pyramid...
TO BE SILENT: This is the fourth level of the Pyramid and it refers to having a flar for secrecy as it concerns your magickal practice. In short, SHUT THE FUCK UP!
And this is where the Dilemma presents itself...
Just how far in keeping your fat trap shut should you go? I personally take it to an extreme. With the exception of this blog I speak very little about my occult workings. The majority of people that I associate with on a day to day basis have no idea that I am a warlock, a Luciferian, or know which side is above and which side is below, or what the fuck that could possibly mean to begin with. And that is the point, mystery is essential to witchcraft, and how the hell is it going to remain mysterious if you run off at the mouth about it like some annoying Jehovah's Witness that I despise for banging on my door at 8 am on my day off while I'm trying to catch up on my fucking sleep?!
Having said that, why is mystery essential? Well it's not that the procedures itself should be secret, if that were the case then we are all suffiently screwed already and might as well throw in the towel. Information on witchcraft has NEVER been more accessible (with the possible exception of antiquity) than it is now. The reason for this mystery and secrecy is necessary because if you are open about your own personal workings it will then open them up to scrutiny, and thus the possibility that the will may be shaken. If this happens then you can rest assured that your magick will not work, and if it does then it was bound to happen with or without any magick at all.
Further, with all of that said now as well there is another question. Should you be open to scrutiny at all? The answer to this is a resounding YES! The point behind any magickal working is transformation and personal advancement. If you are closed to new ideas then the only possible outcome is utter stagnation! So here is the real dilemma, and I must confess I don't have a real and definitive answer for this...how far is too far? Where do you draw the line when it comes to your secrecy? If you stay completely and totally silent (as I often do) then you rarely run the risk of you will being shaken and you afford yourself the luxury of observing those who surround you unobstructed by various assumptions they may have of you if they knew of you work. On the other hand this intense secrecy will inhibit your ability to get close to anyone as well as their ability to get close to you. This may work out just fine if you intend to be a hermit for your entire life, but what if your like most of us and desire at least some incling of a relationship with those who surround you? While some of us are more hermit-like than others, very few of us wish to be entirely devoid of personal relationships of any kind with other human beings. And to take it a bit further as our personalities, tastes, and desires change we may want relationships with new people while maintaining (or perhaps abandoning) those that we already have. So where should we draw the line? The best answer that I can give to this question is that we should try to find some semblance of moderation. I feel that it is always best to aire on the side of caution in these matters, so I generally start out slow. Try to get a feel for the individual (or group) in question and an idea of where they stand on such topics. If you get the immediate impression that they are unreceptive or perhaps even hostile to anything even remotely "new age" or "occult" then you're probably best off to leave well enough alone and move on. If on the other hand they appear to be at least somewhat open minded then you can test the waters further. I dont recommend coming out right off the bat with "I'm a warlock!" Or witch as the case maybe. While this may be workable with someone you can simply drop from your life without further hassle, it tends to get a little messy if, for example, they are a co-worker or someone else you must maintain at least some minor form of relationship or civility with over the medium or long term.
So first things first...start off slow, and I do mean SLOW...even corny and cliche if necessary. Ask them their sun sign. If they start freaking out about the forces of devildom, then you probably know not to take things any further and drop them from the radar immediately. But many people are more than willing to discuss this, even though it has become one of the worst pick up lines EVER! Whatever you do just don't tell them you're a perfect match! The point here is to subtly bring up the occult and get feel for where they are and then proceed from there.
Ultimately you must decide how, when, and where to proceed. It is a tricky question and one that you should never take lightly. Given the toxic attitudes that many people have towards the occult a heavy dose of caution is always best. It may not be ideal, but sadly it is often the best that we can do.
Darkest Blessings,
Ambrogio
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Heartbeat of the Earth
Even at this time of death in the Northern Hemisphere the Earth is still alive...can you hear the heartbeat?
Listen closely in the barron forest and you will hear his breath,
Listen closely to the wolf that howls upon the snowfallen peak,
Here you will hear his voice,
Listen closely in the moonlit snow and you will hear his hoof fall as he dances with his lover.
He brought the leaves their sunkissed glow on the wings of Demeter's Autumn.
His blood fell fresh upon the Earth and bid it's light farewell,
He fell deep and dark from the heights of the Sun to bring Demeter's Harvest.
His light falls fast beneath the horizon to bring Demeter's Slumber.
With chill he stills the garden's growth, with snow and blow he succumbs to demise.
In abborhent shades he gives his kiss in honor of the ghastly dead...their spirit alive, yet their flesh decayed.
But with the promise to rise again as the Prince, the Father, and the Elder.
Listen deep and listen close, for his spirit never ends. As it shall be the light shall grow, and ever more in awesome glow...
Darkest Blessings,
Ambrogio Notte
Listen closely in the barron forest and you will hear his breath,
Listen closely to the wolf that howls upon the snowfallen peak,
Here you will hear his voice,
Listen closely in the moonlit snow and you will hear his hoof fall as he dances with his lover.
He brought the leaves their sunkissed glow on the wings of Demeter's Autumn.
His blood fell fresh upon the Earth and bid it's light farewell,
He fell deep and dark from the heights of the Sun to bring Demeter's Harvest.
His light falls fast beneath the horizon to bring Demeter's Slumber.
With chill he stills the garden's growth, with snow and blow he succumbs to demise.
In abborhent shades he gives his kiss in honor of the ghastly dead...their spirit alive, yet their flesh decayed.
But with the promise to rise again as the Prince, the Father, and the Elder.
Listen deep and listen close, for his spirit never ends. As it shall be the light shall grow, and ever more in awesome glow...
Darkest Blessings,
Ambrogio Notte
Monday, October 31, 2011
HAPPY FUCKING SAMHAIN!!!!!
So it's finally here, the night that witch and warlock alike look forward to all year long! Tonight is Samhain Night! I want to take this moment to wish you all a Happy Samhain, Halloween, All Hallows Eve, Day of the Dead, or whatever version of the hallowed night you observe!
On that note my ritual for the evening has already ended, even though I am sure many of you have yet to even get started. I guess my problem with late night Samhain rituals is that I also like to celebrate the dead through actual celebrating, not just somber rememberances in the ritual chamber. And as with any good celebration alcohol is most definately involved...now if you plan to invoke Dionysus or another wine or merriment god/dess drunkeness (depending on intent) is often appropriate. Hell, depending on the circumstance it may even be insulting if you do not! But with that said I don't know many circles who see wine and merriment deities as appropriate attendees to Samhain rituals.
When I first started my Samhain planning in late August I thought that the direction I would take would be through the Black Supper of Cain. The supper is a monumental sacrament in my own version (and I suspect others) of Luciferian practice. It evokes the spirit of Cain. Not necessarily Cain himself...depending on ones personal beliefs Cain may be seen as a spirit too high in the demonic hierarchy to evoke, and I am certainly one of them. Cain is the Witch Father, and the first of Witchblood and such an evocation is usually reserved for lower level demonic spirits. I see Cain as an elder on the Crooked Path, and thus a higher level of respect is due. So in this case evoking the SPIRIT...that is the mind, spirit, and attributes, of Cain is more appropriate than attempting to evoke Cain himself. But the essence of the Black Supper is nontheless of a profound nature and only to be undertaken on the most high of days or occasions. This doesn't mean that they need to be necessarily POSITIVE per se (although they usually are) but merely of extreme importance. It consists of red meat cooked to medium, medium rare, or even rare. The idea here is to have red blood still present in the meat prepared symbolic of the blood of Abel, who is Cain's sacrifice to the path of Lucifer and in fact his own initiatory act before beginning his journey through the desert under the guidance of Lucifer/Samael to meet his mother, Lilith, at her cave in the wilderness. The beverage served is usually wine, beer, or whiskey depending on personal or group preference. This is seen as the elixer of life as it is called, with the intent of heightening the emotions and the passions of the working at hand. The point here is not to acheive drunkeness (although it is not prohibited under the correct circumstances as you will see) but to indulge in the pleasures of flesh and liberation. Besides the red meat and whatever elixer is chosen other foods may be served, and if it is being observed as an actual meal it is not only an option but a necessesity.
Aside from the logistics of the Black Supper the actual intent can take one of two forms, and as stated above it must be of the utmost importance. The first of the two forms is that of self-advancement. It usually takes the form of a death/rebirth ritual, wedding, funeral, birthing rite (the equivalent of a Wiccaning or christening in other traditions), or other such rite of passage. The second is less serious in nature but no less importance, which is that of an atmosphere of revelry and indulge. Simply put...one SWEET ASS FUCKING PARTY with spiritual and religious aspects included. Indulgence in physical pleasures is indeed a hallmark of Luciferian practices and is thus an event worthy of the Black Supper of Cain. However, I feel it necessary to suggest that if you choose the later form of the supper you should take care to only observe it on major holidays such as Walpurgisnacht or Samhain (or any other sabbat or full moon). If you use it at anytime as an easy excuse for a good party then it tends to lose it's significance quite quickly!
Having said all of this it is not the way that this Samhain turned out for me. Samhain was actually quite strange for me up until the ritual, and even then I assume that most would probably consider it quite strange during it as well...then again who asked them? The Black Supper did not happen...in fact the ritual was rather spur of the moment. After forming the space it really just formulated itself from there and all plans were thrown out the window. The spirits of the dead were of course present, including those that I consider "members of my tribe" not necessarily relatives or even personal friends (although some were). Members of you tribe include those historical figures, noted people on your own spiritual path or one similar to it who have passed on, celebrities, authors etc. whom you may not have known personally but have nevertheless had a profound affect on your life or who you are as a person. Anton LaVey, the victims of the Salem Witch Trials/Burning Times, and Matthew Shepard were among the notables present with me this evening. This ritual also saw the demise of Raven Brimstone (my former aspect) and the birth of Ambrogio Notte (my present aspect). Granted I have been signing my last few blogs as Ambrogio it is this night that signifies his offical coming into being, as was always intended. The last few signatures we merely in the spirit not unlike an expecting mother who may sign a christmas card with her name, her husband's name, and that of her unborn child. Know that with this post it is the man in the flesh wishing you the darkest (and best) Samhain of your life! And while I'm at it here is one of my favorite Samhain songs...
AMBROGIO NOTTE
On that note my ritual for the evening has already ended, even though I am sure many of you have yet to even get started. I guess my problem with late night Samhain rituals is that I also like to celebrate the dead through actual celebrating, not just somber rememberances in the ritual chamber. And as with any good celebration alcohol is most definately involved...now if you plan to invoke Dionysus or another wine or merriment god/dess drunkeness (depending on intent) is often appropriate. Hell, depending on the circumstance it may even be insulting if you do not! But with that said I don't know many circles who see wine and merriment deities as appropriate attendees to Samhain rituals.
When I first started my Samhain planning in late August I thought that the direction I would take would be through the Black Supper of Cain. The supper is a monumental sacrament in my own version (and I suspect others) of Luciferian practice. It evokes the spirit of Cain. Not necessarily Cain himself...depending on ones personal beliefs Cain may be seen as a spirit too high in the demonic hierarchy to evoke, and I am certainly one of them. Cain is the Witch Father, and the first of Witchblood and such an evocation is usually reserved for lower level demonic spirits. I see Cain as an elder on the Crooked Path, and thus a higher level of respect is due. So in this case evoking the SPIRIT...that is the mind, spirit, and attributes, of Cain is more appropriate than attempting to evoke Cain himself. But the essence of the Black Supper is nontheless of a profound nature and only to be undertaken on the most high of days or occasions. This doesn't mean that they need to be necessarily POSITIVE per se (although they usually are) but merely of extreme importance. It consists of red meat cooked to medium, medium rare, or even rare. The idea here is to have red blood still present in the meat prepared symbolic of the blood of Abel, who is Cain's sacrifice to the path of Lucifer and in fact his own initiatory act before beginning his journey through the desert under the guidance of Lucifer/Samael to meet his mother, Lilith, at her cave in the wilderness. The beverage served is usually wine, beer, or whiskey depending on personal or group preference. This is seen as the elixer of life as it is called, with the intent of heightening the emotions and the passions of the working at hand. The point here is not to acheive drunkeness (although it is not prohibited under the correct circumstances as you will see) but to indulge in the pleasures of flesh and liberation. Besides the red meat and whatever elixer is chosen other foods may be served, and if it is being observed as an actual meal it is not only an option but a necessesity.
Aside from the logistics of the Black Supper the actual intent can take one of two forms, and as stated above it must be of the utmost importance. The first of the two forms is that of self-advancement. It usually takes the form of a death/rebirth ritual, wedding, funeral, birthing rite (the equivalent of a Wiccaning or christening in other traditions), or other such rite of passage. The second is less serious in nature but no less importance, which is that of an atmosphere of revelry and indulge. Simply put...one SWEET ASS FUCKING PARTY with spiritual and religious aspects included. Indulgence in physical pleasures is indeed a hallmark of Luciferian practices and is thus an event worthy of the Black Supper of Cain. However, I feel it necessary to suggest that if you choose the later form of the supper you should take care to only observe it on major holidays such as Walpurgisnacht or Samhain (or any other sabbat or full moon). If you use it at anytime as an easy excuse for a good party then it tends to lose it's significance quite quickly!
Having said all of this it is not the way that this Samhain turned out for me. Samhain was actually quite strange for me up until the ritual, and even then I assume that most would probably consider it quite strange during it as well...then again who asked them? The Black Supper did not happen...in fact the ritual was rather spur of the moment. After forming the space it really just formulated itself from there and all plans were thrown out the window. The spirits of the dead were of course present, including those that I consider "members of my tribe" not necessarily relatives or even personal friends (although some were). Members of you tribe include those historical figures, noted people on your own spiritual path or one similar to it who have passed on, celebrities, authors etc. whom you may not have known personally but have nevertheless had a profound affect on your life or who you are as a person. Anton LaVey, the victims of the Salem Witch Trials/Burning Times, and Matthew Shepard were among the notables present with me this evening. This ritual also saw the demise of Raven Brimstone (my former aspect) and the birth of Ambrogio Notte (my present aspect). Granted I have been signing my last few blogs as Ambrogio it is this night that signifies his offical coming into being, as was always intended. The last few signatures we merely in the spirit not unlike an expecting mother who may sign a christmas card with her name, her husband's name, and that of her unborn child. Know that with this post it is the man in the flesh wishing you the darkest (and best) Samhain of your life! And while I'm at it here is one of my favorite Samhain songs...
AMBROGIO NOTTE
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Suggestions for Samhain preparations and ritual
If any of you are like me you have a nasty habit of putting things off at the last minute. And if on October 29 you are still looking for suggestions for your Samhain gathering, you definitively suffer from the same condition. Having said that I do have many suggestions that I would like to share with you. The first is COFFIN DUST. What is coffin dust? It's a lovely Samhain incense (or anytime incense) used to evoke the energies of death, rebirth, and transformation. What could be better to have billowing from you censer on Samhain? The recipe I created myself, and here it is:
2 parts black arts powder/incense (if using powder be sure none of the ingredients are toxic!!)
2 parts ground clove
2 parts ground cinnamon
1 part ground sage
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and then stir will a toothpick or even then end of a used incense stick if necessary, until well blended. When properly blended the resulting coffin dust should resembled dirt...what better look for a death incense? The resulting scent is surprisingly please for an incense of it's kind.
Besides it's use at Samhain, this is a great incense for all dark workings. Those practitioners of the black arts, Luciferianism, Dark Wicca, or gothic/nocturnal traditions will find this to be an excellent purification incense to cleanse the ritual chamber, altar, or temple.
In my own personal practice I often use this during the Dark God/Goddess Chant, which is precisely the "Witches Chant" by Inkkubbus Sukkubbus with the god/dess forms names changed. If you are unfamiliar with the Witches Chant you can find it here:
The names for the Dark God Chant are Iakchos, Anubis, Thanatos, Hades, Setesh, Anrga Mainyu, Nanna
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The names for the Dark Goddess Chant are Lilith, Ereshkigal, Persephone, Hecate, Cerridwyn, Kali, Inanna
These names fit in quite easily with the rhythm of the Witches Chant, although emphasis on the sylables may need to be adjusted to fit the names that are used. They can be used for invocations, meditations, or simply as a devotional in your daily practice. My own personal suggestion is that even if you are not a dark-sided practitioner of the mystic arts that you at least use these names (or the names of other dark gods) during the period from Mabon (autmnal equinox) to Ostara (Vernal Equinox) in honor the the dark ones who rule during this time period.
The Samhain season, which I personally define as anytime after Mabon through November first is a time when for better or worse the gods of darkness, the dead, and in fact demons are at their peak. Many will run screaming when they hear the word demon, either for fear of the "evil" the bring or the idea that they have no place in witchcraft and only reside in fantasy or in the deulsions of bible thumpers. But keep in mind that many modern day demons where at one time pagan gods...not to mention the fact that like it or not they have been given a much more pleasing face as demons to the darker amongst us. It may be a hard pill to swallow, but in this case the Xians actually did us a favor. I'm not suggesting that you buy into the ridiculous doom and gloom given to these beings by the church, only that you relish the gloriously hideous faces that they gave them. It is also helpful to keep in mind that most of the attributes given to demons are that of magick, knowledge/divination, lust, weaponry, strength etc. Who in their right mind has a problem with any of this other than the knee-benders? So with all this in mind why not dedicate your Samhain proceedings and space to your favorite dark gods/demons? Of course they will be present at the ritual itself, but why not dedicate any actions you take during this season to them? To do so will allow these entities to get to know you and your nature, it will also cause them to view you in a better light. After all, especially in the case of demons, they do not look upon you with immediate benevolency. This is something that must be earned! It's not that they immediately look upon you with malice, but rather with utter indifference. The rewards of turning this tide in your favor can be quite astonishing and benefical to you.
In terms of sacrifice, this is a great way to place yourself in league with the dark ones, and the demonic spirits. But what do you sacrifice? This largely depends on to whom the sacrifice is made. Many different spirits have many different preferences. Demons are especially fond of blood and sexual fluid. They are also fond of incense which brings us back to the coffin dust...if blood and sexual fluid are not in your personal taste the coffin dust is a great subsitute, although I personally prefer blood. Now, before you think this nothing more than the ravings of a madman consider this...first of all, the blood in question shall be YOUR OWN, not that of an innocent animal or some poor young child you slaughter upon your altar! Let me be perfectly clear here so that there is not one of those silly misunderstandings that should have never taken place to begin with: THE BLOOD SHALL BE YOUR OWN, AND IT SHALL BE OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL WILL! NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS! GOT IT? Sorry, I'm not yelling at you (which all caps often suggests) I am only making myself perfectly clear. You know how crazy some people can get the second you mention something as innocent as spilling human blood upon an altar! It is also aignificant to consider the amount of blood that will be used. This is approximately 5-6 drops, enough to be considerable and yet not overly gruesome. If you're a bleeder nothing more than a sterile lancet will be necessary. If not, then a parring knife or razor blade should suffice. It is important to keep in mind that you not cut anywhere that a major artery or vein is located. I find the heel of the palm to be a good location for this.
If you prefer sexual fluid to blood then there are a few different options for this sacrifice. You can acheive this through sexual intercourse obviously, as well as oral intercouse. The trick here is at the moment of climax you visualize the entity(ies) to whom you will the sacrifice to be made. The other option is to recite the name(s) of the entity either silently if you must be discreet, or verbally with intense passion if you have a sympathetic partner. The other option is this: You may acheive the sacrifice of sexual fluid through the visualization of sexually arousing images during masturbation so long as you are also able to keep in mind the intent of the working. This sort of metaphsyical multi-tasking can be difficult for some at first, but practice makes perfect. The worst that can happen is an an ecstatic orgasm...an how "aweful" that would be, right?Just remember that if you get lost in your passion and are unable to focus then that is all you have acheived...an ecstatic orgasm.
In previous Samhain rituals I have honoring the victims of the Salem Witch Trials. While it is granted that most of the victims were nothing more than devote Puritan they (as well as other victims of the Burning Times) ultimately paved the way for repeal of anti-witchcraft laws in the 19th and 20th centuries. Whether we agree with their personal real life convictions or not it was ultimately benefical to us as witches and warlocks so it only seems polite and appropriate.
The bottom line is this...your Samhain ritual should focus on the dark gods, demons, deceased loved ones or individuals you have admired, as well as honoring the spirit of the earth in it's death throes. Anything that you personally associate with these things is perfectly acceptable. Personal aesthetic is very important and indeed paramount to the observation of ANY Samhain ritual. Be creative, and allow your personal energies and inclinations to guide you and you will have a memorable holiday!
SAMHAIN BLESSINGS!
AMBROGIO NOTTE
2 parts black arts powder/incense (if using powder be sure none of the ingredients are toxic!!)
2 parts ground clove
2 parts ground cinnamon
1 part ground sage
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and then stir will a toothpick or even then end of a used incense stick if necessary, until well blended. When properly blended the resulting coffin dust should resembled dirt...what better look for a death incense? The resulting scent is surprisingly please for an incense of it's kind.
Besides it's use at Samhain, this is a great incense for all dark workings. Those practitioners of the black arts, Luciferianism, Dark Wicca, or gothic/nocturnal traditions will find this to be an excellent purification incense to cleanse the ritual chamber, altar, or temple.
In my own personal practice I often use this during the Dark God/Goddess Chant, which is precisely the "Witches Chant" by Inkkubbus Sukkubbus with the god/dess forms names changed. If you are unfamiliar with the Witches Chant you can find it here:
The names for the Dark God Chant are Iakchos, Anubis, Thanatos, Hades, Setesh, Anrga Mainyu, Nanna
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The names for the Dark Goddess Chant are Lilith, Ereshkigal, Persephone, Hecate, Cerridwyn, Kali, Inanna
These names fit in quite easily with the rhythm of the Witches Chant, although emphasis on the sylables may need to be adjusted to fit the names that are used. They can be used for invocations, meditations, or simply as a devotional in your daily practice. My own personal suggestion is that even if you are not a dark-sided practitioner of the mystic arts that you at least use these names (or the names of other dark gods) during the period from Mabon (autmnal equinox) to Ostara (Vernal Equinox) in honor the the dark ones who rule during this time period.
The Samhain season, which I personally define as anytime after Mabon through November first is a time when for better or worse the gods of darkness, the dead, and in fact demons are at their peak. Many will run screaming when they hear the word demon, either for fear of the "evil" the bring or the idea that they have no place in witchcraft and only reside in fantasy or in the deulsions of bible thumpers. But keep in mind that many modern day demons where at one time pagan gods...not to mention the fact that like it or not they have been given a much more pleasing face as demons to the darker amongst us. It may be a hard pill to swallow, but in this case the Xians actually did us a favor. I'm not suggesting that you buy into the ridiculous doom and gloom given to these beings by the church, only that you relish the gloriously hideous faces that they gave them. It is also helpful to keep in mind that most of the attributes given to demons are that of magick, knowledge/divination, lust, weaponry, strength etc. Who in their right mind has a problem with any of this other than the knee-benders? So with all this in mind why not dedicate your Samhain proceedings and space to your favorite dark gods/demons? Of course they will be present at the ritual itself, but why not dedicate any actions you take during this season to them? To do so will allow these entities to get to know you and your nature, it will also cause them to view you in a better light. After all, especially in the case of demons, they do not look upon you with immediate benevolency. This is something that must be earned! It's not that they immediately look upon you with malice, but rather with utter indifference. The rewards of turning this tide in your favor can be quite astonishing and benefical to you.
In terms of sacrifice, this is a great way to place yourself in league with the dark ones, and the demonic spirits. But what do you sacrifice? This largely depends on to whom the sacrifice is made. Many different spirits have many different preferences. Demons are especially fond of blood and sexual fluid. They are also fond of incense which brings us back to the coffin dust...if blood and sexual fluid are not in your personal taste the coffin dust is a great subsitute, although I personally prefer blood. Now, before you think this nothing more than the ravings of a madman consider this...first of all, the blood in question shall be YOUR OWN, not that of an innocent animal or some poor young child you slaughter upon your altar! Let me be perfectly clear here so that there is not one of those silly misunderstandings that should have never taken place to begin with: THE BLOOD SHALL BE YOUR OWN, AND IT SHALL BE OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL WILL! NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS! GOT IT? Sorry, I'm not yelling at you (which all caps often suggests) I am only making myself perfectly clear. You know how crazy some people can get the second you mention something as innocent as spilling human blood upon an altar! It is also aignificant to consider the amount of blood that will be used. This is approximately 5-6 drops, enough to be considerable and yet not overly gruesome. If you're a bleeder nothing more than a sterile lancet will be necessary. If not, then a parring knife or razor blade should suffice. It is important to keep in mind that you not cut anywhere that a major artery or vein is located. I find the heel of the palm to be a good location for this.
If you prefer sexual fluid to blood then there are a few different options for this sacrifice. You can acheive this through sexual intercourse obviously, as well as oral intercouse. The trick here is at the moment of climax you visualize the entity(ies) to whom you will the sacrifice to be made. The other option is to recite the name(s) of the entity either silently if you must be discreet, or verbally with intense passion if you have a sympathetic partner. The other option is this: You may acheive the sacrifice of sexual fluid through the visualization of sexually arousing images during masturbation so long as you are also able to keep in mind the intent of the working. This sort of metaphsyical multi-tasking can be difficult for some at first, but practice makes perfect. The worst that can happen is an an ecstatic orgasm...an how "aweful" that would be, right?Just remember that if you get lost in your passion and are unable to focus then that is all you have acheived...an ecstatic orgasm.
In previous Samhain rituals I have honoring the victims of the Salem Witch Trials. While it is granted that most of the victims were nothing more than devote Puritan they (as well as other victims of the Burning Times) ultimately paved the way for repeal of anti-witchcraft laws in the 19th and 20th centuries. Whether we agree with their personal real life convictions or not it was ultimately benefical to us as witches and warlocks so it only seems polite and appropriate.
The bottom line is this...your Samhain ritual should focus on the dark gods, demons, deceased loved ones or individuals you have admired, as well as honoring the spirit of the earth in it's death throes. Anything that you personally associate with these things is perfectly acceptable. Personal aesthetic is very important and indeed paramount to the observation of ANY Samhain ritual. Be creative, and allow your personal energies and inclinations to guide you and you will have a memorable holiday!
SAMHAIN BLESSINGS!
AMBROGIO NOTTE
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Post-mortem reflections on The Circle of Shadows; Birth of the Halo of Serpents
When the Circle of Shadows was concieved in early October of last year neither I has high priest, nor any of the other members had any idea where it would go. And now with nearly six months passing since it's last meeting, and in the spirit of Samhain I am now ready to offically declare our diminutive coven dead. Not unlike a corpse decays encased in it's coffin under the cold damp earth the Circle of Shadows has become nothing more than skeletal remains of what it once was. Members came and went, and then after the Walpurgisnacht ritual it honestly ceased to exist. Personal tensions grew between current members and honestly between present as well as past members that I personal remained friends with, but others did not. Which in turn caused more tensions between those of us who were in current participation.
As I look back on the six months that The Circle of Shadows was active, I can say complete confidence that there is nothing about the experience that I regret. I was certainly memorable, and I will carry the things I learned from it for a very long time to come. But in hindsight I can see in many ways that the Circle of Shadows was destined to be short lived. The diversity of it's members suggest that now. Many were much more light-sided than I am. And most, with the exception of myself and two others were strictly Wiccan/Neo-pagan. Whereas I had a more Luciferian twist to my practice, and the others didn't really define themselves but they certainly had a darker nature. This alone can cause conflict not only with the construction and the logistics of a ritual, but also with the compatibility of the energies created by the participants.
This also led to personality differences, and left unresolved or without care taken to avoid conflict they will almost cetainly lead to tension in the coven dynamic. On the whole, the Circle of Shadows was definitely a postive experience for me and I can only hope that the same can be said for everyone else who participated.
On that note, there have obviously been many changes to the blog. I will now tend to focus on the more Luciferian and traditional elements of my own practice and experiences, as well as random thoughts and ideas as they come to me. I have also retitled the blog as "The Halo of Serpents". I think it's time to change things up a little bit, and I'm going to do my best to make that happen. I also plan to make a sincere effort to post and update things on a more regular basis as they have been sorely lacking over the last year or better.
HAPPY SAMHAIN TO YOU ALL!
Ambrogio Notte
As I look back on the six months that The Circle of Shadows was active, I can say complete confidence that there is nothing about the experience that I regret. I was certainly memorable, and I will carry the things I learned from it for a very long time to come. But in hindsight I can see in many ways that the Circle of Shadows was destined to be short lived. The diversity of it's members suggest that now. Many were much more light-sided than I am. And most, with the exception of myself and two others were strictly Wiccan/Neo-pagan. Whereas I had a more Luciferian twist to my practice, and the others didn't really define themselves but they certainly had a darker nature. This alone can cause conflict not only with the construction and the logistics of a ritual, but also with the compatibility of the energies created by the participants.
This also led to personality differences, and left unresolved or without care taken to avoid conflict they will almost cetainly lead to tension in the coven dynamic. On the whole, the Circle of Shadows was definitely a postive experience for me and I can only hope that the same can be said for everyone else who participated.
On that note, there have obviously been many changes to the blog. I will now tend to focus on the more Luciferian and traditional elements of my own practice and experiences, as well as random thoughts and ideas as they come to me. I have also retitled the blog as "The Halo of Serpents". I think it's time to change things up a little bit, and I'm going to do my best to make that happen. I also plan to make a sincere effort to post and update things on a more regular basis as they have been sorely lacking over the last year or better.
HAPPY SAMHAIN TO YOU ALL!
Ambrogio Notte
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
In the last six months the Circle of Shadows has already evloved into something I never saw coming. We are now down to just three core members after starting out with 5 members and five more observers and congregents. Looking back it's not really all that surprising, it's obvious to see who was the most committed in the coven and who was not and so I'm not dumbfounded, but I thought there was perhaps a chance the we should grow and learn together in the numbers which we began. But it was not to be, and for that I would say that I am grateful. I am now in Taurus of 2011, entering my eighth year of practice and in that time I can say I have gain enormous knowledge, but it never ceases to amaze me how much there is that I still do not know. Even given my much broader knowledge and expeirences it still at times may seem as though a novice may possess more knowledge than I in a particularly given aspect of the craft.
I see this as a sort of cosmic slap in the face saying "YES! You may have more I power but don't get too damned cocky, asshole!"
On November 7. 2010 the Circle of Shadows performed and grand experiment, an experiment that results in the changing, and I believe ADVANCING face of the coven which we now see six months later. This experiment was a belated but still rather effective Samhain ritual which honored the spirit of our ancestors; both personal and spiritual. Everyone seemed to get along great and while different levels of experience and know-how did seem to create an asthetic issue the magickal and spiritual purpose of such a gathering seemed to survive. We honored the dead in the Salem Witch Trials as a group, and then affterwards took a few moments to contemplate the loss of our own spiritual/tribal ancestors, and the contributions and sacrifices they made to pave our way. We also cast Samhain Affirmations into the ritual fire. These affirmations are a much more serious and highly individualized ritual with spiritual connotations, as opposed to the modern tradition of a New Year's Resolution. If this were to be a personal testament I would specify the enormous effects that my own personal Samhain Affirmation has had on me over the last six months, but it is not and I will not.
Out of the three gatherings that the Circle of Shadows has thus far overseen, the Yule Ritual of 2010 is the only one to have taken place precisely on the holiday itself. Our High Priestess made a wonderful meal that she will probably never forgive me for abstaining from due to the glorious "Glog" that was served before dinner. However I can always remind her that it was HER not I who dropped the Yule log directly on to fragile glass chalices and could have caused a near calamity which was thankfully avoided. It was on this night that each participant created a clay sigil that was empowered with it own specific and personal intent. Speaking for myself, the sigil that I created has become a powerful central point of my own personal altar ever since then.
The Ostara Ritual may have honestly been the most profound experience of the Circle of Shadows to date. While it did consist only of the three members I previously spoke of I also presided of the Rebirthing Ritual of the other two members as High Priest. It was an honor that they would entrust me with such a profound rite, and I personally felt that it turned out rather well. During the ritual itself we heard thunder and saw a flash or two of lightening which obviously added to the asthetic nature of the undertarking. But afterwards we stepped outside and witness the magnificient storm clouds that had formed directly overhead. And whether you give, inspired, supernatural, spiritual, or even just nature credence to this event it is extraordinarily powerful nonetheless.
As of this day (May 4, 2011) we are still putting the finishing touches on our Walpurgisnacht ritual which is to be observed on May 17 under the full Moon. In accordance with our "fashionably late" style it has a sort of belated Walpurisnacht/Taurus Moon ritual flavor to it. But I have no doubt that it will be equally as gratifying as I have found all of the other coven gatherings to have been. And so six months out I have to say...not bad, not bad at all! :-)
I see this as a sort of cosmic slap in the face saying "YES! You may have more I power but don't get too damned cocky, asshole!"
On November 7. 2010 the Circle of Shadows performed and grand experiment, an experiment that results in the changing, and I believe ADVANCING face of the coven which we now see six months later. This experiment was a belated but still rather effective Samhain ritual which honored the spirit of our ancestors; both personal and spiritual. Everyone seemed to get along great and while different levels of experience and know-how did seem to create an asthetic issue the magickal and spiritual purpose of such a gathering seemed to survive. We honored the dead in the Salem Witch Trials as a group, and then affterwards took a few moments to contemplate the loss of our own spiritual/tribal ancestors, and the contributions and sacrifices they made to pave our way. We also cast Samhain Affirmations into the ritual fire. These affirmations are a much more serious and highly individualized ritual with spiritual connotations, as opposed to the modern tradition of a New Year's Resolution. If this were to be a personal testament I would specify the enormous effects that my own personal Samhain Affirmation has had on me over the last six months, but it is not and I will not.
Out of the three gatherings that the Circle of Shadows has thus far overseen, the Yule Ritual of 2010 is the only one to have taken place precisely on the holiday itself. Our High Priestess made a wonderful meal that she will probably never forgive me for abstaining from due to the glorious "Glog" that was served before dinner. However I can always remind her that it was HER not I who dropped the Yule log directly on to fragile glass chalices and could have caused a near calamity which was thankfully avoided. It was on this night that each participant created a clay sigil that was empowered with it own specific and personal intent. Speaking for myself, the sigil that I created has become a powerful central point of my own personal altar ever since then.
The Ostara Ritual may have honestly been the most profound experience of the Circle of Shadows to date. While it did consist only of the three members I previously spoke of I also presided of the Rebirthing Ritual of the other two members as High Priest. It was an honor that they would entrust me with such a profound rite, and I personally felt that it turned out rather well. During the ritual itself we heard thunder and saw a flash or two of lightening which obviously added to the asthetic nature of the undertarking. But afterwards we stepped outside and witness the magnificient storm clouds that had formed directly overhead. And whether you give, inspired, supernatural, spiritual, or even just nature credence to this event it is extraordinarily powerful nonetheless.
As of this day (May 4, 2011) we are still putting the finishing touches on our Walpurgisnacht ritual which is to be observed on May 17 under the full Moon. In accordance with our "fashionably late" style it has a sort of belated Walpurisnacht/Taurus Moon ritual flavor to it. But I have no doubt that it will be equally as gratifying as I have found all of the other coven gatherings to have been. And so six months out I have to say...not bad, not bad at all! :-)
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Voice of the Winter Nights
Here in the depths of winter a gentle but harrowing voice calls to you.
As the wind blows through barron trees you hear the voice of Hecate.
The bare limb branches speak to you by power of Earth, and force of Air.
A blanket of snow reflects the Moon, and here she also calls.
Her cold breath stings in bitter widom, that which howls upon the ear.
The solice of this winter night gives hail unto the Crone.
The Sun of soon we celebrate, tonight we hail the Moon.
And thus tonight the Hounds of Hecate emerge to us as Cerberus,
Our eathern death is here in depth, but soon the Sun shall be renewed.
And here in death the Moon has waned, and in it shadows fall.
The mask of Hecate, Anubis, and Anu still lingers under fallen snow.
The spirits of Hades sparkle in the night with love from consort Persephone.
Here within the Witches rise and power flows from within.
The rhythm of Earth in wisdom and art,
Merry ye meet, and Merry ye part.
HAIL HECATE!
HAIL HADES!
HAIL PERSEPHONE!
HAIL CERBERUS!
HAIL ANUBIS!
HAIL ANU!
In Nominee de nostri Satanas Luciferi Excelsil...
Raven Brimstone
As the wind blows through barron trees you hear the voice of Hecate.
The bare limb branches speak to you by power of Earth, and force of Air.
A blanket of snow reflects the Moon, and here she also calls.
Her cold breath stings in bitter widom, that which howls upon the ear.
The solice of this winter night gives hail unto the Crone.
The Sun of soon we celebrate, tonight we hail the Moon.
And thus tonight the Hounds of Hecate emerge to us as Cerberus,
Our eathern death is here in depth, but soon the Sun shall be renewed.
And here in death the Moon has waned, and in it shadows fall.
The mask of Hecate, Anubis, and Anu still lingers under fallen snow.
The spirits of Hades sparkle in the night with love from consort Persephone.
Here within the Witches rise and power flows from within.
The rhythm of Earth in wisdom and art,
Merry ye meet, and Merry ye part.
HAIL HECATE!
HAIL HADES!
HAIL PERSEPHONE!
HAIL CERBERUS!
HAIL ANUBIS!
HAIL ANU!
In Nominee de nostri Satanas Luciferi Excelsil...
Raven Brimstone
Thursday, December 9, 2010
How to "blend" a Coven Ritual
I have only been the High Preist of a coven for a couple months now. And if you take into consideration the fact that our first offical rital only took place on November 7, 2010 then you reduce that experience down to barely more than one month. But I do have six years of personal experience in the craft, and in that time I have grown a lot. However, most literature I have found on covens from established authors and "experts" have suggested that covens must have a near PERFECT chemistry with one another for the coven to be worthwhile in their endeavors. To me, this has begged the question.."is this even possible?" Unless your members are just mindless drones and have no opinions, thoughts, or beliefs of their own how do individuals come together as a group in perfect harmony? How are there never any differences? The simple answer for this is that the coven exists for a few meetings and then disbands, as is often the case. But what if you what to establish a more long term organization? Well, then it seems to me that you have to be willing to compromise. As long as your compromise is not so outlandish that it goes against every aspect of one or more members beliefs, what is the harm in blending the thoughts and ideas of all members to reach a reasonable consensus and keep in mind the real meaning of why you are gathering together?
AND WHAT IS THE REAL MEANING? The real meaning of gathering together as a coven is..or at least should be, the acknowledgement of the holiday (sabbat, esbat, or other significant date or occasion and what it means in the broader scheme of things.) NOT to get into petty differences over deities, names, dogmas, or the degree of darkness and light they contain. If you are creative enough you can always find a compromise that will suit all. There are no shortage of "all purpose" ritual outlines out there that you can use and modify to the needs of your own coven.
With a little blood, sweat, tears, and above all CREATIVITY...you can construct a ritual that will suit all members very well.
I titled this blog as a "how to" without giving much in the way of "how to" instruction, and this is intentional. It is not necessary and yet maybe very well impossible to give coherent how to instruction for properly "blending" a coven ritual. This will be up to you and your other members. Only you know the needs of your specific coven...and that's where the creativity comes in.
Om Sarva Buddha Dakini, Hri Mama Sakta Soha!
Mortecai
AND WHAT IS THE REAL MEANING? The real meaning of gathering together as a coven is..or at least should be, the acknowledgement of the holiday (sabbat, esbat, or other significant date or occasion and what it means in the broader scheme of things.) NOT to get into petty differences over deities, names, dogmas, or the degree of darkness and light they contain. If you are creative enough you can always find a compromise that will suit all. There are no shortage of "all purpose" ritual outlines out there that you can use and modify to the needs of your own coven.
With a little blood, sweat, tears, and above all CREATIVITY...you can construct a ritual that will suit all members very well.
I titled this blog as a "how to" without giving much in the way of "how to" instruction, and this is intentional. It is not necessary and yet maybe very well impossible to give coherent how to instruction for properly "blending" a coven ritual. This will be up to you and your other members. Only you know the needs of your specific coven...and that's where the creativity comes in.
Om Sarva Buddha Dakini, Hri Mama Sakta Soha!
Mortecai
Friday, December 3, 2010
The Coven Ritual for Yuletide 2010 (Cernunnos and the Crone)
So, over the past couple of weeks I and few friends of mine have been working on a ritual for this Yuletide season, which falls on December 21, 2010 and also falls on the night of the Full Moon. It will be a very special night since it falls on the rare occaison (though certainly not unheard of) that a Witches Sabbat and Esbat (moon ritual) fall on the same night.
I think one of the great things about our coven so far is that we have managed to put our personal ideas, differences, and preferences aside and just focus on the celebration of the pagan holidays. Our rituals have been generic enough to suit all members, yet they also retain their meaning at the same time. The coven I am now calling the "Circle of Shadows" first met formally on November 7, 2010, the purpose was the observence of Samhain 2010 which actually took place one week prior to our formal observence due to the illness of a member. Upon the conclusion of this meeting we all seemed to feel that this organized grotto of witchcraft was indeed worth pursuing. I think we all feel as though the ritual itself could have been better, but given the lack of preparation (only a couple of weeks) hindered how effective the ritual could have been.
With my personal preferences of more dark sided occultism, and the preferences of other members for a lighter side to such things I feel that we have (in most cases thus far) blended both ideas (and those in between) well. And we all seem to get along with one another very well and have a chemistry that is still developing at this point, but still ever present none the less.
As the high priest at our Samhain meeting and now the High Priest of our Yuletide meeting, we seem to have many obstacles to work through. But yet this Yuletide is the darkest night of the year and thus very mportant to myself. And it is very important to the other members, each for different reasons but we each are able to to afford the the other members thier own importance and celebrate the REBIRTH OF THE SUN. Which is, after all the most important aspect of this holiday!
Om, Sarva Buddha Dakini, Hri Mama Sakta Soha...
Happy Yuletide to all!
Raven Brimstone
I think one of the great things about our coven so far is that we have managed to put our personal ideas, differences, and preferences aside and just focus on the celebration of the pagan holidays. Our rituals have been generic enough to suit all members, yet they also retain their meaning at the same time. The coven I am now calling the "Circle of Shadows" first met formally on November 7, 2010, the purpose was the observence of Samhain 2010 which actually took place one week prior to our formal observence due to the illness of a member. Upon the conclusion of this meeting we all seemed to feel that this organized grotto of witchcraft was indeed worth pursuing. I think we all feel as though the ritual itself could have been better, but given the lack of preparation (only a couple of weeks) hindered how effective the ritual could have been.
With my personal preferences of more dark sided occultism, and the preferences of other members for a lighter side to such things I feel that we have (in most cases thus far) blended both ideas (and those in between) well. And we all seem to get along with one another very well and have a chemistry that is still developing at this point, but still ever present none the less.
As the high priest at our Samhain meeting and now the High Priest of our Yuletide meeting, we seem to have many obstacles to work through. But yet this Yuletide is the darkest night of the year and thus very mportant to myself. And it is very important to the other members, each for different reasons but we each are able to to afford the the other members thier own importance and celebrate the REBIRTH OF THE SUN. Which is, after all the most important aspect of this holiday!
Om, Sarva Buddha Dakini, Hri Mama Sakta Soha...
Happy Yuletide to all!
Raven Brimstone
Sunday, October 31, 2010
With Roses for the Dead, on this Samhain Night
So we have finally made it to the end of another year, and I thought what better way to come back to this blog than on the Celtic New Year; the Night of Death and transformation. This night is a powerful one, and I have no doubt moving forward the dead (ancestors) should play a powerful role on any night, not just Samhain (although it is VERY important).
Tonight, just as many witches and warlocks around the world I honored the spirits of the dead, and the ancestors of my tribe. So who/what is my tribe? Well, think about who your own tribe is...who in your family or circle of friends has passed through the gates of the Underworld? In a sense, if you assume that everyone you assiocate with has endured more than one lifetime, you could theoretically say that this pretty much covers everyone in your life. On the other hand we all know at least one person who is so immature that they must certainly be on their first life, EVERYONE learns more in one life than this person! ...Then again maybe not, everyone learns at their own pace. But you get my point. Also consider which historical figures you indentify with. Do you admire a certain President/Head of State in your native country, or another country? A political figure? Philosipher? Artist? Poet? Musican? Anyone else? If so, chances are they are a part of your tribe. In simple terms your tribe is any man, woman, or child who has had a considerable impact on your life whether you knew them in the flesh or not. For that matter any guardians (personal patrons or agents of protection), gods/goddesses, spirits or entities whom you indentify with on a personal or spiritual level are also members of your tribe. When faced with this most people realize that their tribe is much larger than they originally assumed upon first hearing "tribe" ..it need not be only family members.
My own personal tribe consists of a wide range of people whom I knew in life and those I have no recollection of in life. However, many witches, warlocks, and occultists believe that anyone you associate with is someone you have associated with and made a pact with in the Underworld or on some level of the Spirit World.
Tonight we open the Gates of the Underworld. We all do this with regard to our own pantheon, our own beliefs, and where our own spirit and those of our tribe guide us. This is a matter of personal perspective, and even those who are members of a coven should have their own personal system that works best for their own practice outside of coven workings. For me this ranged from Cain - the first of witchblood. Judas...who is in my mind a mythical figure and a symbol of rebellion and liberation from the present religious dogma; that of Abrahamic origin. Also included in my own tribe are Anton Szandor LaVey..who to my own experience is a modern day symobol of previously said rebellion and liberation. I also include my departed family members, and many others who are gone that I have admired (and still do). These include Gerald Gardner (The Father of Wicca), Scott Cunningham (Promient author and practitioner of Wicca/Witchcraft), the victims of the Salem Witch Trials, victims of hate crimes such as Matthew Shepard, prominent figures in science such as Newton, Darwin, and Albert Einstein, as well as departed political figures such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Abraham Lincoln. All the ancestors of my tribe are equally important for one reason or another, and all of them are honored on this night whether their names are specifically spoken or referred to in a general group for whom I light a sared candle in their honor, and in the name of Santisima Meurte (St. Death).
In the past few moments, at just after 11 pm on this Samhain night, a departed cousin of mine is weighing heavily on my mind. I never really knew him in life, but I became very familiar with him in death. He was a rather nice looking guy, though his face was totally unfamiliar to me. But in looking at him then as well as now I can see him as one of my kindred. Some in my family suspect he committed suicide, and others say he died in a tragic gun accident. Whatever the truth is (I suspect suicide) I can see a part of him in myself. In my past and even my current struggles I can see how some are driven to suicide. I don't consider myself capable of such a thing, but it has crossed my mind at previous points in my life. Right now, I can't help but feel that this cousin (Ryan) has come through the veil between life and death in order to convey some sort of message to me. Under normal circumstances I might not feel this way, but on Samhain when one of the members of your tribe comes fourth unexpectedly you don't question it...at least not until you have further information. My goal will be to try to communicate with him through the next several days and try to get a feel for why he is visiting me at this point.
I also feel that I have confirmation tonight that "Frank" is indeed my guardian angel. He came to me tonight, completely unexpectedly and the message seemed fairly clear...he was letting me know that he is there for me, and that he is here to protect me.
The circle that was cast tonight was especially meaningful in this sense because it was so unexpected (as was the visit from Ryan), I feel that Frank is most certainly one of the dead, and a member of my tribe. And the visit from Ryan also tells me that my blood ancestors may have more to tell me..more for me to learn than I had previously thought.
This is why I feel I may have been led to a new experience this Samhain. ...The path of the dead...the path of the ancestors...those of us who seek knowledge, experience, and wisdom from those who have gone before us...as well as those aspects of ourselves from previous lives, and previous experiences via our own deaths both symbolic, and literal.
I feel it just to make the ancestors of my tribe permenant fixtures of my altar and my practice. They have much knowledge to give, and much wisdom to tell. I feel that I must also again make clear that members of your tribe can be aspects of the self from previous lifetimes. Get to know your past self and what it has for you to learn from.
In Honor of the Holy Dead, Our Dear Departed Loved Ones and in the name of St. Death, "Santisima Meurte", We Thank you for your love, and we thank you for your sacrifice...
MERRY YE MEET AND MERRY YE PART, UNTIL WE MERRY MEET AGAIN and Blessed Be!
In Holy Death,
Raven (Mortecai)
Tonight, just as many witches and warlocks around the world I honored the spirits of the dead, and the ancestors of my tribe. So who/what is my tribe? Well, think about who your own tribe is...who in your family or circle of friends has passed through the gates of the Underworld? In a sense, if you assume that everyone you assiocate with has endured more than one lifetime, you could theoretically say that this pretty much covers everyone in your life. On the other hand we all know at least one person who is so immature that they must certainly be on their first life, EVERYONE learns more in one life than this person! ...Then again maybe not, everyone learns at their own pace. But you get my point. Also consider which historical figures you indentify with. Do you admire a certain President/Head of State in your native country, or another country? A political figure? Philosipher? Artist? Poet? Musican? Anyone else? If so, chances are they are a part of your tribe. In simple terms your tribe is any man, woman, or child who has had a considerable impact on your life whether you knew them in the flesh or not. For that matter any guardians (personal patrons or agents of protection), gods/goddesses, spirits or entities whom you indentify with on a personal or spiritual level are also members of your tribe. When faced with this most people realize that their tribe is much larger than they originally assumed upon first hearing "tribe" ..it need not be only family members.
My own personal tribe consists of a wide range of people whom I knew in life and those I have no recollection of in life. However, many witches, warlocks, and occultists believe that anyone you associate with is someone you have associated with and made a pact with in the Underworld or on some level of the Spirit World.
Tonight we open the Gates of the Underworld. We all do this with regard to our own pantheon, our own beliefs, and where our own spirit and those of our tribe guide us. This is a matter of personal perspective, and even those who are members of a coven should have their own personal system that works best for their own practice outside of coven workings. For me this ranged from Cain - the first of witchblood. Judas...who is in my mind a mythical figure and a symbol of rebellion and liberation from the present religious dogma; that of Abrahamic origin. Also included in my own tribe are Anton Szandor LaVey..who to my own experience is a modern day symobol of previously said rebellion and liberation. I also include my departed family members, and many others who are gone that I have admired (and still do). These include Gerald Gardner (The Father of Wicca), Scott Cunningham (Promient author and practitioner of Wicca/Witchcraft), the victims of the Salem Witch Trials, victims of hate crimes such as Matthew Shepard, prominent figures in science such as Newton, Darwin, and Albert Einstein, as well as departed political figures such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Abraham Lincoln. All the ancestors of my tribe are equally important for one reason or another, and all of them are honored on this night whether their names are specifically spoken or referred to in a general group for whom I light a sared candle in their honor, and in the name of Santisima Meurte (St. Death).
In the past few moments, at just after 11 pm on this Samhain night, a departed cousin of mine is weighing heavily on my mind. I never really knew him in life, but I became very familiar with him in death. He was a rather nice looking guy, though his face was totally unfamiliar to me. But in looking at him then as well as now I can see him as one of my kindred. Some in my family suspect he committed suicide, and others say he died in a tragic gun accident. Whatever the truth is (I suspect suicide) I can see a part of him in myself. In my past and even my current struggles I can see how some are driven to suicide. I don't consider myself capable of such a thing, but it has crossed my mind at previous points in my life. Right now, I can't help but feel that this cousin (Ryan) has come through the veil between life and death in order to convey some sort of message to me. Under normal circumstances I might not feel this way, but on Samhain when one of the members of your tribe comes fourth unexpectedly you don't question it...at least not until you have further information. My goal will be to try to communicate with him through the next several days and try to get a feel for why he is visiting me at this point.
I also feel that I have confirmation tonight that "Frank" is indeed my guardian angel. He came to me tonight, completely unexpectedly and the message seemed fairly clear...he was letting me know that he is there for me, and that he is here to protect me.
The circle that was cast tonight was especially meaningful in this sense because it was so unexpected (as was the visit from Ryan), I feel that Frank is most certainly one of the dead, and a member of my tribe. And the visit from Ryan also tells me that my blood ancestors may have more to tell me..more for me to learn than I had previously thought.
This is why I feel I may have been led to a new experience this Samhain. ...The path of the dead...the path of the ancestors...those of us who seek knowledge, experience, and wisdom from those who have gone before us...as well as those aspects of ourselves from previous lives, and previous experiences via our own deaths both symbolic, and literal.
I feel it just to make the ancestors of my tribe permenant fixtures of my altar and my practice. They have much knowledge to give, and much wisdom to tell. I feel that I must also again make clear that members of your tribe can be aspects of the self from previous lifetimes. Get to know your past self and what it has for you to learn from.
In Honor of the Holy Dead, Our Dear Departed Loved Ones and in the name of St. Death, "Santisima Meurte", We Thank you for your love, and we thank you for your sacrifice...
MERRY YE MEET AND MERRY YE PART, UNTIL WE MERRY MEET AGAIN and Blessed Be!
In Holy Death,
Raven (Mortecai)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
A Thirst for Fantasy
It is my firm believe that human beings need fantasy. It seems that it is essential to our physical, mental, and emotional well being. For myself this has been a huge problem in finding a definition as to the path it is that I follow...or perhaps a better way to put this is the path that I master, or will master in time.
Fantasy is abound in many occult traditions. Unfortunately, in most of the mainstream these fantasies are taken as literal interpretations of a supernatural being. And I say literal meaning that most see this fantasy as a living and external force that is seperate from concious human experience. That is to say that most often it is a humiliating and self-degrading process of worshipping something outside of ourselves.
Unfortunately, the more bearable atheistic philosophies that do not require self degredation disregard fantasy as "self deceit." However, fantasy and a desire to NOT decieve yourself need not be mutually exclusive. And this can be found in pantheism. Pantheists, generally speaking, do not fool themselves into believing that there is a personal god who cares about them or the direction of their lives. However, this does not exclude the possibility for adherence to mythology as a personal aesthetic.
For myself, a study and use of mythology to bring yourself closer to the forces of magick, power, and spirituality are essential to development on whichever path it is you chose for yourself. And I find this in the Luciferian writings of Michael W. Ford. While god is a nonexistent force, and a non-issue for myself, the fantasy found within this is much needed assist to spiritual development. That is to say that the myths, although not literally true, provide a much needed aid to connecting with the spiritual and some might say "supernatural" or subconcious as aspects of the self.
My point here is to encourage those who are non-theistic to NOT ignore mythology and fantasy merely because you find it intellectually dishonest. For I (as a non-believer) have found it extremely useful in my attempts to connect with the subconcious. While some may have no use for mythology and fantasy I believe that most of us still marvel at the "fairytales" of old, and there is indeed something magickal about them that can be quite useful to even the most logical among us!
DO NOT FEAR FANTASY simply because it is abused by the more ignorant as a tool of slavery! It can be quite liberating as well when appropriately interpreted by the intelligent mind!
Darkest Regards in Adversarial Light!
Mortecai
Fantasy is abound in many occult traditions. Unfortunately, in most of the mainstream these fantasies are taken as literal interpretations of a supernatural being. And I say literal meaning that most see this fantasy as a living and external force that is seperate from concious human experience. That is to say that most often it is a humiliating and self-degrading process of worshipping something outside of ourselves.
Unfortunately, the more bearable atheistic philosophies that do not require self degredation disregard fantasy as "self deceit." However, fantasy and a desire to NOT decieve yourself need not be mutually exclusive. And this can be found in pantheism. Pantheists, generally speaking, do not fool themselves into believing that there is a personal god who cares about them or the direction of their lives. However, this does not exclude the possibility for adherence to mythology as a personal aesthetic.
For myself, a study and use of mythology to bring yourself closer to the forces of magick, power, and spirituality are essential to development on whichever path it is you chose for yourself. And I find this in the Luciferian writings of Michael W. Ford. While god is a nonexistent force, and a non-issue for myself, the fantasy found within this is much needed assist to spiritual development. That is to say that the myths, although not literally true, provide a much needed aid to connecting with the spiritual and some might say "supernatural" or subconcious as aspects of the self.
My point here is to encourage those who are non-theistic to NOT ignore mythology and fantasy merely because you find it intellectually dishonest. For I (as a non-believer) have found it extremely useful in my attempts to connect with the subconcious. While some may have no use for mythology and fantasy I believe that most of us still marvel at the "fairytales" of old, and there is indeed something magickal about them that can be quite useful to even the most logical among us!
DO NOT FEAR FANTASY simply because it is abused by the more ignorant as a tool of slavery! It can be quite liberating as well when appropriately interpreted by the intelligent mind!
Darkest Regards in Adversarial Light!
Mortecai
The Heart of Lilith
Most occultists regard Lilith as a demon or disregard her entirely, and thanks to the whitewashing of the occult over the past century she is feared by most. However those of us who prefer to explore and decide for ourselves have little problem with venturing into the so called "demonic" side of the abyss. Many hold a negative view of the demonic, however there is nothing inherently evil about demonic entities. In fact most demons were either regarded as god/dess-like or angelic by preceeding traditions and villified by proceeding traditions. This is quite honestly a viscious cycle, and when the next revolution comes the gods of today will be tomorrows demons. This is ironic as most occult deities are considered evil by today's mainstream religions.
In the Luciferian path, a path which I grow fonder of by the day, regard Lilith as the Mother of Demons, the first vampire, the mother of Cain (the first Satanist), and the mother of the path itself. Feminist traditions regard her as a liberating force for the feminine that they view as being held back by the masculine. This is also ironic as the feminine in most occult traditions (at least in modern times) is hardly held back or suppressed.
Lilith is the consort of the Fallen Angel; Samael, Lucifer, and Satan. She is the feminine aspect of the Adversary; a dark, vampiric, and highly sexual force. Many of the Christian and Jewish myths of Lilith are embraced by Luciferians as well, because what is considered "evil" by these two traditions are celebrated by Luciferians and other adherents of the left hand path.
To quote directly from the Adversarial Doctrine, in The Bible of the Adversary, by Magus Michael W. Ford...
LILITH represents the wisdom and instinctual power of both woman and man, that the feminine is the motivator of all life.
LILITH represents independence and freedom of spirit.
LILITH represents sexual liberation and the desire to seek what you wish with responsibility and regard to the law.
LILITH represents the thirst for continued existence in time, the immortality of the spirit beyond flesh.
LILITH represents the darkness surrounding the light of Godhood, the bearing flame of her mate, Samael.
Having read this you can see why most of these things are an "adversarial" doctrine. Lilith does not demand obedience except that which is found within the self. Like Hecate, Lilith is a mother figure of the Satanist/Luciferian. But within our dark tradition there is no commandment that says thou shalt OBEY thy mother. HONOR, should not be confused with obedience. It makes no sense to dishonor Lilith (or Hecate for that matter) as she is an aspect of the self, and it could be said that a cardinal "sin" of the left hand path is to dishonor the self; the GODHOOD of the self. However, within self godhood there is no room for obedience to anyone other than the self. This is not to say that you cannot be a theist and still be a self-god/dess. But it is important to remember that all magick begins within the self. If magick is not within you, then it ceases to exist in the first place. This also corresponds with the philosophy of Anton LaVey, which, to paraphrase says to acknowledge the power of magick if it has worked for you, and if you don't then you will lose all that you have gained. The bottom line here is to BE TRUE TO YOUSELF and to no other! This is at The Heart of Lilith!
Command the forces of darkness as god, but also respect them; place yourself in league with them. These are powerful forces within yourself that are not to be toyed with! If you play with them and do not properly repsect them THEY WILL DEVOUR YOU! Disrespecting yourself is at the core of all self destruction! For if you meet your destruction with Lilith it is NOT an external demon that has destroyed you, it is the darker aspects of yourself which you were not prepared to face that have destroyed you!
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
In my experience with Lilith you should not be surprised to experience full or semi sexual arousal in her presence. As previously stated she is an extremely powerful and sexual force. For myself, arousal or at least a distinct "stirring" within the genitals lets me know that she is present. I can only assume that this would be true in the case of others who choose to work with her as well.
However, at times, aside from the pure sexual and seductive nature of her essence there are other signs to look for as well. Being the Mother of Demons, and of the path itself it would not be unusual to expect a sense of saftey, assurance, or nuturing with Lilith if you are a kindred. But again, as I hate to put a positive "spin" on everything, bear in mind that Lilith has been known to devour her young. If you are not prepared to face your own darkside you would be well advised to leave well enough alone and move on to other things!
HAIL LILITH!
Mortecai
In the Luciferian path, a path which I grow fonder of by the day, regard Lilith as the Mother of Demons, the first vampire, the mother of Cain (the first Satanist), and the mother of the path itself. Feminist traditions regard her as a liberating force for the feminine that they view as being held back by the masculine. This is also ironic as the feminine in most occult traditions (at least in modern times) is hardly held back or suppressed.
Lilith is the consort of the Fallen Angel; Samael, Lucifer, and Satan. She is the feminine aspect of the Adversary; a dark, vampiric, and highly sexual force. Many of the Christian and Jewish myths of Lilith are embraced by Luciferians as well, because what is considered "evil" by these two traditions are celebrated by Luciferians and other adherents of the left hand path.
To quote directly from the Adversarial Doctrine, in The Bible of the Adversary, by Magus Michael W. Ford...
LILITH represents the wisdom and instinctual power of both woman and man, that the feminine is the motivator of all life.
LILITH represents independence and freedom of spirit.
LILITH represents sexual liberation and the desire to seek what you wish with responsibility and regard to the law.
LILITH represents the thirst for continued existence in time, the immortality of the spirit beyond flesh.
LILITH represents the darkness surrounding the light of Godhood, the bearing flame of her mate, Samael.
Having read this you can see why most of these things are an "adversarial" doctrine. Lilith does not demand obedience except that which is found within the self. Like Hecate, Lilith is a mother figure of the Satanist/Luciferian. But within our dark tradition there is no commandment that says thou shalt OBEY thy mother. HONOR, should not be confused with obedience. It makes no sense to dishonor Lilith (or Hecate for that matter) as she is an aspect of the self, and it could be said that a cardinal "sin" of the left hand path is to dishonor the self; the GODHOOD of the self. However, within self godhood there is no room for obedience to anyone other than the self. This is not to say that you cannot be a theist and still be a self-god/dess. But it is important to remember that all magick begins within the self. If magick is not within you, then it ceases to exist in the first place. This also corresponds with the philosophy of Anton LaVey, which, to paraphrase says to acknowledge the power of magick if it has worked for you, and if you don't then you will lose all that you have gained. The bottom line here is to BE TRUE TO YOUSELF and to no other! This is at The Heart of Lilith!
Command the forces of darkness as god, but also respect them; place yourself in league with them. These are powerful forces within yourself that are not to be toyed with! If you play with them and do not properly repsect them THEY WILL DEVOUR YOU! Disrespecting yourself is at the core of all self destruction! For if you meet your destruction with Lilith it is NOT an external demon that has destroyed you, it is the darker aspects of yourself which you were not prepared to face that have destroyed you!
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
In my experience with Lilith you should not be surprised to experience full or semi sexual arousal in her presence. As previously stated she is an extremely powerful and sexual force. For myself, arousal or at least a distinct "stirring" within the genitals lets me know that she is present. I can only assume that this would be true in the case of others who choose to work with her as well.
However, at times, aside from the pure sexual and seductive nature of her essence there are other signs to look for as well. Being the Mother of Demons, and of the path itself it would not be unusual to expect a sense of saftey, assurance, or nuturing with Lilith if you are a kindred. But again, as I hate to put a positive "spin" on everything, bear in mind that Lilith has been known to devour her young. If you are not prepared to face your own darkside you would be well advised to leave well enough alone and move on to other things!
HAIL LILITH!
Mortecai
Friday, December 18, 2009
The Art of Divination
Tarot? Scrying? Witches Runes? Dream interpretation? These are just a few examples of the many different methods that can be used for divinatory purposes. So why is divination important? I have found that regular (or even sporadic) practice of my personal favorites (tarot reading, mirror scrying) can not only be useful in gaining insight or inspiration in a particular matter whether it be personal, professional, magickal, or mundane. But aside from that it also helps develop your intution in general, as well as the level of trust you have in your own instincts. Both can be very useful in occult matters, and I highly recommend you experiment with one or more forms of divinatory work. If you tend to be a bit absent-minded (like myself) you may find it useful in relocating all those little things that you always seem to misplace! :-)
A WORD OF WARNING!!
No, the demons of prophetic power will not haunt and torment you for eternity after you've awakened them from their ancient slumber. BUT...the best advice I can give you when making an inquiry...MAKE SURE YOU WANT TO KNOW THE ANSWER!! Keep in mind that if it's something that is stressing you out, and something that you most likely cannot do anything about is it really worth knowing about ahead of time? Why torture yourself with the knowledge of some impending doom that you can do nothing about? Having said that, it is also worth keeping in mind that most things are not etched in stone. Most often divinatory work will only give you a general idea of where things are headed if they continue on their current path. Also keep in mind that results often require interpretation...just because you get a bad result doesn't necessarily mean it was wrong, perhaps you just misinterpreted. But you should get better at it with practice.
YOU ARE NOT NOSTRADOMUS!!
We can argue all day as to the accuracy of Nostradomus' predictions, but assuming you think that he was a great prophet all I can say is, don't expect those results in your own practice. Attaining such great powers, if even humanly possible, takes time, dedication, and practice! Start small, and work your way up if you so choose.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?
This depends greatly on the individual and the method used. Don't expect to have profound visions in your first attempt at scrying. Don't expect to be able to look at tarot cards and instantly know what they on your first few sessions.
When scrying you may recieve results in many different ways...for example you may see visions of an upcoming event, you may see symbols that require interpretation, you may hear an (almost) audible voice speaking to you (as I did with Hecate), or you may get nothing but mere thoughts. If they do come in the form of thoughts the ones of use will seem alien to you, almost as if they are not your own.
IN REGARDS TO THE TAROT
For tarot reading, I (and many well known occult experts and authors) recommend that you use a deck that "speaks" to you. I prefer The Gothic Tarot by Joseph Vargo, it is a rather dark sided deck with ghosts, vampires, gargoyles, dark angels etc. No matter what deck you chose be sure that it is one that suits you. I.E. if you didn't clap when Tinkerbell died, it's best not to use a deck of faeries and so on.
One of the advantages to using a deck that "speaks" to you as opposed to ones that don't is that you will have little use for the little booklet that comes with it. If the deck speaks to you, it should be quite obvious what the cards mean in a given spread for a given inquiry. With in just a few sessions with regular use you should begin to get a general idea of what many of the cards symbolize to you. However it is a good idea to keep in mind that just as with events, advice, and predictions derived from the cards, the meanings of the cards themselves are not etched in stone either. Keep an open mind and an open heart; be receptive to what they are trying to tell you!
When shuffling your deck be focusing on the matter at hand either in your mind, or say a mantra out loud that seems relevent to you. And continue shuffling until the deck feels "right" to you (you'll know when it does).
In regards to the other possible methods for divination (runes, automatic writing, astrology etc.) you would be better off to seek out another source as I have never used any of the three. However, if you would like more information on scrying I recommend reading "Nocturnal Witchcraft" and "Gothic Grimoire" by Konstantinos. While not exclusively about scrying, and some of the philosophy is a little "fluffy bunny-ish" for my taste (albeit a black bunny) there is a very good chapter on scrying as well as excellent exercises to assist you in jump starting your abilities. They are definately worth checking out in my opinion. Besides that, if you are a darker Pagan you are sure to find other things of interest in these books as well regardless of your philosohpical leanings.
Darkest Regards,
Raven
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Hecate: Matron Goddess of Nightkind
For those of us who choose to walk along a path of shadows Hecate is well known. Indeed, Hecate is well known to most witches and warlocks be they seeks of light, or stalkers of night.
There is much wisdom to be had in Hecate in spiritual matters, and much power to be had in magickal matters. But perhaps the most gratifying of Hecate's qualities is the solice and comfort she can provide for us nightkind. Last night, while scrying my portal and chanting her invocation I could hear her speaking to me almost as if she were leaning over my should and gently whispering words of comfort. Given this has been a trying time, and one of serious rebirth and rediscovery of things that once mattered to me this could not have come at a better time. It was as if I were being welcome back into the either of night after a long journey, and I have to say it is as if I never left.
I won't get much into the myths of Ancient Greece regarding Hecate as this is my view: Ancient myths are just that, ANCIENT MYTHS. While you are certainly free to browse through them and decide for yourself, I find the best way to get to know these entities is to commune with them through meditation, scrying, ritual, spirit boards etc. Myths can give you a general idea of the thoughtforms surrounding Hecate, or any other mythological being but trust your intution and your instincts. Rarely (if ever) will you find a being deliberately out to decieve you.
As one of Nightkind it is not surprising that I would find myself attracted to the essence of Hecate. Although some have a stigma that comes of her sometimes fearsome image, you need not be afraid. Darkness is the way of the universe. It has no source, it just is..and therefore it can be neither good nor evil. Good/Evil only come into play when you consider the actions, motivations, and morals (or lack thereof) regarding the practitioner. And even then this can be a highly subjective matter (one man's demons are another man's angels so to speak). But these are just MY opinions, and MY impressions. What will Hecate bring to you? Maybe you should find out...perhaps...tonight.
Darkest Regards,
Raven
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