Witch Activism

When Contemporary Paganism made its way to the United States it took on an interesting development from other movements that were going on at the time. Now, I am not strictly talking about British Traditional Wicca (BTW), Traditional Initiatory Witchcraft (TIW), Dedicatory Religious Witchcraft (DRW), Traditional Witchcraft (TW), American Druidism, British Druidry, or any other form. I am speaking about the pan-trends that underline the overarching movement of Contemporary Paganism. Essentially, early forms of Contemporary Paganism in the United States were affected by various other social trends within the larger society in which they operated. It should not be surprising that social institutions have influence upon one another within society.

Anyone with a bit of familiarity with the evolution of American Contemporary Paganism can attest to the fact that the Feminist and Environmentalist Movements helped to shape the popular approaches in the execution of their practices.

If not, then just flip through the book, “The Spiral Dance” by Starhawk, which very well shows the early influences. This close relationship between activism and the American streams of Contemporary Neo-Paganism are still strong today. Simply take a quick moment and think about the LGBT social movements, especially in regards to marriage, and the nearly one-sided support given by the majority of the community. No, it’s not complete support, but most are in favor of all forms of social equality regardless of sexual preference. This is a result of the relationship between the two social movements and is not necessarily inherent to Contemporary Paganism; opinions abound.

The practice of Witchcraft, for most forms, says very little on these subjects. Instead of actual specific praxis outlining the inclusion of these trends, it is the interpretation of morality as defined within the Craft that is the basis for this. Though Contemporary Neo-Paganism has no universal standard for ethics, the Wiccan Rede has left the nest of BTW where it originated, and is most commonly cited as the moral standard within the community.

However, it should be noted that it is in NO way universal. Some forms of Witchcraft have other standards and may out right reject the Rede. Many Druid Orders have as their standard a list of virtues that attempt to foster instead. Likewise, Recostructionists in all their forms all vary. However, at the end of the day the vast majority defer to the ideal of the Rede; in that if something causes no harm then it is permissible, and that all else is the responsibility of the individual to determine.

If we take a further moment and reflect upon the ideals and virtues that American society tends to advance as the standard of the American way, such as, “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” as outlined it the United States Constitution, it can easily be deduced, sociologically speaking, on how and why these movements found themselves easily intermingling. There are of course no right or wrong answers; only answers.

Thoughts?

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

"Lost in a thicket bare-footed upon a thorned path."

Everyday is Beltane

The Sun chases the Moon in an eternal dance of life and death. We are born, wane, and descend into the Land of the Pale Folk. Just as the Sun hunts the embrace of the Queen of Heaven, so too are we on the path ever growing closer to Her. This cycle of longing was born forth when the Sun’s rays first shone upon the face of the Moon. The longing is a primal one, a need formed in the heart before our first words escaped our lips. From that moment onward, every action has slowly filled the cauldron that bridges the path to Kingship.

All throughout Contemporary Neo-Pagandom, minds are turned towards the theme of courtship, marriage, and sex as Beltane rites, group and solitaire alike, are enacted in celebration of the joyous reminder that today is about the continuation and fulfillment of life. Today, the Wheel turns and we pass the threshold that is reminiscent of all the times that our Hearts were/will be filled in the glory of life.

Our salvation from the delusion that the Self is separate is granted in the moment of Unity as the Crown of Sovereignty is placed upon the brow. It is at the Crossroads of the Center that this wholeness joins with the Self and there is no self created division. The Lady of the Moon is the ruler of the Inner Sacred Landscape which is traveled, and it is through marrying the Land that She bestows the Antlered Crown. At this moment, we wed the Land and realize that polarity is a spectrum and we are both the Reigning King and the beckon of the Lady whom alluded, teased, and awaited our Union.

Happy Beltane!

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

"Lost in a thicket bare-footed upon a thorned path."

North

Our Lady Severity is the sting of trail and it is suffering to learn that are her loom. Interestingly enough she, from my experience, rules the Northern Province as the Crowned Queen of the Underworld, the Hag, Grandmother Midnight, the Crone, and the list goes on.

The winds of her breath that change and mold her will unto the mill are varied by current. Of the various elements mapped to the quarter it is Fire that is not seen. Most common is Earth, the dry and cold of bitter winter manifest from the womb of deep dark caverns. Visit another line and you may find that Air is the chill of the north, most common where Alchemical influence is naught for it is most defiantly not warm and wet, but the herald of death, winter, our shadow, and night. The absence of Fire is ruled by the ice of Water, chilling to the bone and freezing the air and land alike and so for a few it is the cold and wet of Water that forms the thrown of the black pillar.

Regardless though it is the lack of Fire, the light, warmth, and growth brought by the south, the land of the Sun, that is common. It is he that warms the flow of life otherwise frozen. Remember one alone blinds burning with brilliance and the other is barren freezing with cold.

Boidh se!
-Spanish Moss

"Lost in a thicket bare-footed upon a thorned path."

Dedication

Yesterday, I received an email that got me reflecting about dedication as a rite of passage into the Wica. This may not be the most precise of statements since the Dedicant isn’t exactly dedicating into the Wica but more to the path towards Initiation.

With an array of Traditions this rite is in no way universally a part of the path towards immersion into the current, for that matter it is not even standardized within the Traditions that do use it. Since not all lineages, let alone Traditions, use an Outer Court it can make dedication seem an unwarranted addition to the ritual anthology. Dedication, however, grew out of a need that developed with the introduction of the Outer Court structure.

In the earlier days of Wica, one did not linger in an Outer Court but often after a few meetings with a Coven they were initiated and begin their life as Wica. Gardner amongst others was rather in a hurry to spread the Old Craft. There are some lineages and Traditions that still start a young Witch’s training after First though not with the same leniency, with candidates spending a time (whether or not it is the traditional year and a day depends upon the line and Tradition) associated with the Coven before initiation. It is my understanding that with Ed Fitch’s writing of a Gardnerian Outer Court Book of Shadows and the desire for Covens to provide some training to their Acolytes awaiting initiation that the concept of an Outer Court was formed.

With Acolytes training with a Coven a year and a day out before initiation there became a gap in the passage of thresholds that before had been carried out by initiation to First, there was no recognition of lighting the fire beneath the cauldron of birth.

Initiation is acceptance into the Wica. The womb of the cauldron births forth the Witch. This is a monumental moment in the life of a Witch. It is not the only one though. There will be and are other initiations both internal and external. Symbolically it is when the Witch is woven from the red thread of tradition.

Dedication is the descent into the caverns of the womb. It is when the cunning fire is lit and the spiritual brew set, for a year and a day it must be tended and prepared. All the difficulties of tending a spiritual concoction are the same as if someone tried to keep a cauldron cooking (outdoors) for a year and a day. There will be bad weather, problems of ingredients, distractions, the support of friends and family, and many more both seen and unseen. More importantly it is at Dedication when the Acolyte affirms before the Lord and Lady and the Coven/Tradition their intent do the work necessary.

It is common for Dedicants to receive some sort of gift, token, or other tangible recognition of their commitment. It is symbolic of inner commitment; of all the trails, challenges, and personal work. It tells the story of our path and shows where we have come from and where we are going for it has been along for the ride from the moment we heralded our name to the witnessed.

Dedication for those that under go it is meaningful and an important recognition upon the path towards becoming one of the Wica. There is work to be done and out of the shadows things will be stirred but perseverance will put one foot in front of the other down this winding path.

Boidh se!
-Spanish Moss

"Lost in a thicket bare-footed upon a thorned path."

Antlered Risting

Seven tines
By: ME

Before me a fire burns, with warmth upon my face.
To my left the wind blows, bringing every breath.
To my right stone endures, giving strength in bone.
Behind me the sea, that is the blood past.
Below me the moon reflects, with a calm of the mind.
Above me the sky, that is a crown upon my head.
Here I am the land, it is the flesh made me.

Gate of the Castles

The Lords of Outer Space, the Silent Masters, the Hidden Orders! They are the Silent Guardians at the Moat between time and space. These spirits are the Keepers of the gates to the provinces and rulers of the winds there upon. Every Tradition born grows about it an attraction, an attraction to spirits of the like. As the collective mind grows it finds in the outer reaching spaces its allies in work. Thus Guardians are tied, familiar spirits born, and Watchers are given names and shape a face.

Boidh se!
-Spanish Moss

"Lost in a thicket bare-footed upon a thorned path."

Samhain

Take a moment and rest, it has been a long year. The time has come and
the veil has grown thin. The mist between the worlds permeates the air.

Perhaps you will find yourself sitting beneath a fairy tree drifting
into sleep with dreams of times past, slipping through to the twilight
realms. With the moon shrouded and cloaked in clouds above will you
notice the stag of white? More importantly, will you give chase? Hunt
the deep woods and crooked trail across this land, your inner
spiritual landscape.

When you have found yourself led to a door before a hollowed hill will
you knock? Or continue not realizing the hunt has been won? With the
creek of rusty hinges enter the company of the pale folk, the inner
halls, and the hill of the Sidhe. Here is the isle of the fated past,
the underworld road.

Ride upon the waves of an inner sea as you voyage to lands unseen.
What encounters does your adventure bring? Through storm and turmoil
journey and remember the eye of the storm is the calmest, at least
until the trial has passed for now.

Perchance you may awake from the storm with a maiden beckoning from
ashore. With an approach she may back away into the tangled thicket
showing the way, one way that is. In a clearing you find a cauldron
stewing and bubbling with a brew. All your hopes, dreams, faults, and
actions past simmer here. It is time to stop and knee before the altar
of truth, gaze therein and see what elixir you have made. Thus you may
sip of the knowledge of truth.

Blessed Samhain!

Boidh se!
-Spanish Moss

"Lost in a thicket bare-footed upon a thorned path."