Blessed Hallows Eve: Walking the Underworld Road

When I started this blog, I decided I would keep up with it for no less than six months. I started at Beltane and tonight is Hallows Eve. It feels good to set and then meet a goal.

Please find below something I wrote several years ago for Samhain; I thought I would share.

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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 kneel 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."

Singing to the Directions: A Morning Devotional

This morning on the way to work, I did something I have not done in a long time; I sang to the directions. Growing up this is how I learned to ritually call to the four quarters; not by invoking or summoning. Which there is nothing wrong with at all, in fact I generally use a traditional invocation.

For those that don’t know, I grew up attending a Contemporary Pagan Church; specifically the Church of Rhiannon out of Middle Georgia. My Uncle was one of the founding members and my Dad became involved when I was very young. It is only in my adulthood that I have begun to understand how their practice, and the slight differences therein, has shaped the manner of my own practice. Let’s just say that CoR developed about itself lore and praxis that beget its own perspective, that although clearly Contemporary Pagan it could not be classified within the sphere of Wicca, Druidry, or any other similar path.  

In CoR’s standard ritual liturgy, they sang to the four directions. From about the age of nine until I left home years later, this was the way I saw the directional provinces related to. The method was simple; turn towards the east and sing the appropriate call, they used the same four mini-songs every time, and then the Thegn, Gate Guardian and Keeper of the Veil, would sound their horn, or conch, to open the gateway to that realm, repeat in the south, west, and north. The singing was not an invocation, it asked nothing of the powers of the direction, but only called to them and sang who they were. This singing was about getting the attention of the direction, revering said powers, and attuning oneself to them; a joining of unity unto them.

It is not something that I do very often, but I did it this morning. I didn’t plan it or even think about. I simply noticed the sun cresting the eastern horizon and began to sing the old CoR calls. It felt good, it felt right. Mayhaps (Maybe + Perhaps) I will make this a part of my morning devotional.

For those that have never done this, I encourage you to try, write a short three or four line verse about the energies of each direction and then sing it with abandon to each of the directions, while focusing upon nothing but allowing the song to connect the two.

Happy singing!

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

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

Full Moon Tonight: Delving Inward

Tonight is a Full Moon. As such, I always go through a mental check list of the various influences upon any particular moon. I also start thinking about what my Esbat rite will consist of later. Of these two, I am going to list out the various things that come to mind, and I’m going to practice the fourth word of the Witch for the second.

There are four things that come to mind:

According to the Beth-Luis-Fearn Calendar as developed by CoR and promulgated throughout the internet via some of their lore listed within Beth-Luis-Nion calendar information posted by the Faerie Faith folk out of Georgia tonight is the Full Moon of Ruis. This Moon Month is associated with the sea as the tomb/womb of death and rebirth. It is the only Moon on the calendar that does not have a set length from Full Moon to Full Moon. Instead, the Ruis Moon begins at the 13^th Full Moon from the calculated first back in November and ends at Samhain. This year the Ruis Moon month is three days long, a number associated with the three phases of the moon. Ruis is the period of descent into the tomb whereby the Lady will pass through the gates unto Her throne, ending at Samhain.

The next thing I thought of is that according to traditional lore associated with the full moon, and can be found in farmer’s almanacs, is that tonight is the Blood Moon. The Blood Moon is named so for two reasons. The first is that at this time of year with the field harvest done there was more time for the hunting of various animals before having to hunker down in doors. The Blood Moon is the blood of the hunt; so interesting associations there with the lore of Ruis and Samhain. It is also the moon by which farmers mark the culling of the herds; where old animals, animals not likely to survive the winter, and any needed for feeding people during winter were slaughtered. This traditional slaughter is the final harvest of the year. I am sure everyone can easily see why this moon is called the Blood Moon.

The next thing I thought of is that this Full Moon falls on a Monday which is magickally associated with the planetary powers of the moon. The moon is associated with the Underworld, rivers and other bodies of water, the mind in psychic function, mystery, silence, and the inner secrets of existence.

Additionally, tonight is the ninth day within the sign of Scorpio. Nine is numerologically associated with the moon, our Lady as Maiden, intuition, and the balance between logic and symbolic. The sign of Scorpio is a water sign, which puts it in the realm of emotions and the inward self, and is ruled by Pluto. Interestingly the planet (or once planet if you prefer) is named after an Underworld God: Pluto. This planet is about the relationship between personal and non-personal power and our ability to deal with severe change such as that brought on by death and/or birth. Scorpio itself is a very passionate sign, it’s kind of emotion is all about intensity.

There you have it; the lore and influences around tonight’s full moon. Happy Esbating!

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

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

Washed in Blessings: Allowing the Light to be a Crown

My dreams are talking to me again and telling me things; but that is what happens when you foster such work. Just for kicks, below is a quick telling of the events of the dream followed by a quick interpretation. Oh, and maybe even a practical practice.

I was in brown robes standing/bowing in front of my altar in my Temple Room; all of the candles were lit and incense smoke was nicely wafting across it. A light then washed over me from the central candle, ye one from which the rest are lit, and as it touched my crown, the top of the head, I was instantly bald. At which point in the dream I was told, either by my own thoughts, just an understanding, or an ominous voice, that this was the manner in which an individual is given a name. Queue alarm clock. BAAAAAHN BAAAAAHN BAAAAAHN *snooze* #repeat until absolute last minute#

For and foremost the dream relates an initiatory death and rebirth. The shaving of one’s head in most religious traditions is a symbol of the severing of ego, the waking self that is tied to this particular lifetime and not the eternally reborn Self. That this death comes from the central spark is also interesting, it is foretelling of the process of undergoing said practice. It is at this point, when the all divine light enters the crown, which is a link to the unity of all, that is the point or level at which the individual is not but exists universally and is named so as that which is, the individual identity is replaced by the spark of the Godhead. So that is the message that came before I stepped upon the waking road this morning.

The whole dream reminds me of a practice common in several different religions; Hinduism comes to mind but I know it exists in other paths as well, they just have decided to hide from my conscious eye at the moment. It is a technique or practice of anointing oneself in the blessings of a flame that has had the spark of a God or Goddess seated into it. Essentially what is done is that the Deity or Divine is invoked at an altar before a symbol of such with a lit candle. The candle in this instance is both the fire and vessel, as it becomes the throne unto which the Deity sits. At which point any prayers are said and the hands are held over the flame as if to warm them. Once the palms have the warmth of the flame and Divine essence upon them, the palms are turns towards the individual and brought up to the forehead; they should be lightly cupped with the fingers tips reaching up towards the crown. In this motion the warmth of blessings, which can be felt on the palms, is brought to the third eye and crown allowing it to wash over the individual.

What lessons have your dreams brought you?

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

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

Feasting with the Dead: How to Dumb Supper this Hallows

My family and I have been involved in yearly Dumb Suppers for about a decade, and I individually have attended a variation of one for since my adultancy (it’s a word now!). Dumb Suppers are an old tradition that very quickly engrained itself into the customs of Witchcraft and the lore of honoring, remembering, and working with the ancestors.

It is particularly common around Hallow’s for two very obvious reasons. The first is that a large portion, albeit nowhere near all, of Witchcraft lore for working with the ancestors is tied to that time of the year; and the second is directly related to why most of our lore is tied to that time of the year: the veil between the realms is thinnest, thus reaching across in either direction becomes easier for either Witch or the Mighty Dead.

So what exactly is a Dumb Supper? In short, it is eating a meal with those that have departed; whose essence that does not perpetuate from life to life dwells in the Isles of Annwyn. Even shorter, ya’ are eating with ya’ dead loved ones and they with you.

Now there are a lot of ways to go about a Dumb Supper. I know that I have seen several variations with different folk, Traditions, and Covens. As a result, here is a basic format of a Dumb Supper liturgy:

-Set up a dinner table with places for all attending and one extra seat for the Ancestors.

-The place for the Ancestors should have pictures and other things that remind us of them, a small glass of water, a white place mat (if they are used), and a black candle.

-Serve everyone their food, to include the Ancestors. Make note to add no salt to the food given to the Ancestors. You want them to attend, right? Good! Then don’t give them salt.

-Everyone takes their seats.

-Invocations are given for our Lady and our Lord to bless and witness the meal.

-The Keeper of the Veil is asked to open a gateway between the worlds. As a note of practice, the glass of water is the focal point of where this occurs.

-Once the Veil has been opened, light the black candle and have everyone call the names of their departed to come and eat with them.

-The host tolls a small bell three times. From this point until the end of the rite, no one speaks.

-Everyone eats in silence and reflects upon their Ancestors. If people choose to place offerings, silently, on the Ancestor plate they may. Tobacco, whiskey, and anything that a particular Ancestor being honored was fond of in life all make appropriate offerings. Also if they would like to open communication, they can silently ask a question of their Ancestors and draw a tarot card from a deck, or other divinatory method.

-When everyone appears to be done eating/crying, the host for the evening will ring the bell three times. They will then thank the Ancestors for attending, put out the black candle, and ask the Keeper to close the veil.

-Our Lady and our Lord are thanked.

-Everyone retires to another room and chats and otherwise engages in things more merry.

The Seat of the Mighty Dead is honored in silent merriment at the feast of the heart.

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

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

Lessons of Disengagement

I have had to learn a hard lesson as of late. It is one that has been difficult, because when something that has given such love and beauty to one’s life is perceived to be attacked, misrepresented, or distained the inclination is to respond, if not negatively then in an attempt to correct. Neither one of these is acceptable. Each path must make its own way.

Their path is not my concern. Certainly the proponents of these very different ideas of the purpose behind practices we have in common, particularly those that originate in Traditional Wicca, follow a valid Craft of their own. They are Witches, just a different kind of Witch. Our paths long ago diverged from one another and that is okay. We hold ourselves up and we hold them up, each is valid in its own right without needing the other for a stamp of approval. Let’s just not claim to speak for anyone not on our path in sweeping all inclusive proclamations, because to do so is to misrepresent a path not one’s own from a position without knowledge of the essence of that path. This does not mean that one cannot, or should not, share the beauty that has been found in their own spiritual journey. There is much that can be gained there; if each path is allowed to speak for itself.

Acceptance and tolerance of other’s paths is something I have long ago learned, it is central to the Contemporary Pagan paradigm; however, sometimes life likes to return us on the wheel to a different angle and nuance.

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

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

The Center of Devotion: The Home Altar

A foundational aspect of my own practice, and the practice of many Witches, is the central use of a home altar in the praxis. Anytime I encounter someone that doesn’t have a permanent altar setup in their home I am taken aback for a moment. This is not to say there is anything wrong with their expression of their path, just that I find it peculiar.

Growing up all the adult Contemporary Pagans I knew, Druids and Witches alike, had altars in the home that acted as the center of their spiritual devotion. This particular list isn’t long, not from the lack of people having altars but because as a child and later as a teenager there were not too many homes of adult practitioners into which I was privy. Most of my interaction with the greater community took place through CoR.  The list includes my Uncle, whose altar is the first I ever recall having seen, my Dad had an altar setup, and the Priestess of CoR. As an adult, every Traditionalist I know has an altar or more, and off the top of my head I can think of three households that have Temple rooms; other than my own. This is why I have a hard time grok’ing when this isn’t the cast.

I set up my first altar in my early teens. I set it up for the simple fact that as a devotee I believed that having an altar was a part of the normal practice of my religion. I have an at least one, usually several, for different Gods and Goddesses, ever since. For that matter, I even have an entire room designated as the Temple, which has little else other than a large altar, and some supply cabinets for the operation of the Temple. In addition to the main one in the Temple, I have a small one in the bedroom, my wife has a multitier altar in the kitchen area for her hearth workings, and there is a small one in the kitchen for family offerings during family meals (which are nightly).

An individual’s altar is their spiritual center of the household, it is the hearth. As a devotional religion the altar is our sacred center, the navel, the axis mundi, that is the conduit at which an individual works in their relationship with our Lady and our Lord. The home is the Temple and its spiritual center is the altar. It is for this reason that many altars are setup in the kitchen or living room. Here is an earlier post I made about the center of the home.

I am of the opinion, and I am sure there are individuals that can and will argue otherwise, that erecting, maintaining, and regular devotional rites at an in-home altar are essential in the religious nature of Witchcraft, and the greater Contemporary Pagan practice.

How important is your altar in your daily spiritual life?

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

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