The Olympics and the Gods

It is common knowledge that the Olympics originate with the ancient Greeks. Now normally, I am not a sports fan, too much overly aggressive competition and blind support for your local team for my tastes. The Olympics, however, fall into another category for me.

Whereas I know that all the various countries involved have a lot invested in their teams and there is a lot of rivalry, I don’t see the Olympics as a competition in which anyone can win. To me, it is about pure athleticism, mastery of the self and senses, and the journey for physical magnificence. I know all of that can still sound a lot like the same reason I don’t watch normal sports, but there is another vital difference.

In my eyes, whether intended or not, it is about the imitation of the Gods. By seeking to exist on the same level of physical prowess, even if it’s not actually possible save for the point in which we both occupy, is a form of worship and offering of devote recognition of the divine connection between the Gods and our own physical selves. By doing that which the Gods do, we bring the two closer, the false space between thee and me is made less. This is what I see in the Olympics. I see men and women whose lives have been devoted to one of the three levels of beings, the physical, and by laying that life of work upon the field before their peers with little gain, what is suppose to be little gain anyway, other than to see where the measure of that life of effort falls, is an act of devotion and imitation that few can pull off.

Keeping all that in mind, I love me some Olympics.

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

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

Keep What is Yours

Just a short musing today.

Own the journey for it is yours. Every step taken is done so by none other. The foot prints left upon the soil of the path’s past tell where only one has been. It is your life, live it, and take responsibility for it. Be your own witness, and your own judge.

The same applies to magick. The magick spun originates with intent and should be owned for it is that of weaver. Live a magickal life, wield creation, and allow it to shape the very most inner being into a thing of wonder.

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

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

Transforming Our Now

Not everything about being a Witch is about magick. Well, depending upon the use of the word. Some magick is about trying to pay the bills or heal a loved one. Then again, some magick is about the spiritual journey and the process of traveling the road of life. The Witch is still shaping the world in accordance with their Will; but the Heart, Mind, and Body are the affected. One of the hardest skills to acquire as a new Witch is the ability to immerse severity and difficulty into the moment, the cauldron of transformation, and to step forth upon the next moment anew. Let’s face it, life isn’t always easy. Everyone has some form of stress and difficulty in which they must deal with.

The degree of life’s severity isn’t really something that can be compared either. Each of us can experience the same situation and it will have very different impacts upon those individuals. Let us not denounce the struggles of others out of the egotistical belief that our own strife is somehow greater and of more worth. Take the competition out of who is having the worst day/moment/etc. There is no need to compare, just empathize and help to hold one another up.

Any moment is the point of transformation, a shift from one state to another. It is the goal as a Witch to foster this change in such a way that it is one of growth and inner transformation. It is the eternal seeking to be like the alchemist of old; to transform the lead of our Being into gold. We are the ones responsible for our lives and as such what we make of it is our own. We are the shapers and weavers of our lives; we are like the smith at the forge, the Witch stirring their cauldron brew.

Only by knowing every aspect of their being is a Witch able to foster change and improve the Self as a whole. This is not just merely a spiritual mastery of the Self, but also a physical and mental/emotional mastery by which the Witch comes to know the world about them. In doing so, it is important not to delude oneself with illusion or to cloud the truth of ourselves from our own being.

There are many parts of life that are outside of our control. They will be what they are, and will not be changed. The past cannot be undone. By dwelling upon the irreversibly done and allowing regret to shape the now, those temporary mistakes of the past reign over the sovereignty of the Self. Acceptance of what has been fated to the past is crucial if a Witch is to live in the now, and wield the power of change in accordance with their Will. Just as the Craft begins and ends here, so does change. Here is where the Witch walks the path, wherever here is.

Self transformation is no easy task, it requires years of work. There will be challenges and trials that must be overcome. The most difficult of which arise, will be self-imposed. If lessons are to be gained, no matter the severity of the trial the Witch must have dedication and perseverance.

Long-term transformation is accomplished bit by bit. By making positive change a continued reality in the moment, thus the Witch succeeds. That is the trick. The events of a badly begun morning cannot be undone, but the reaction, attitude, and actions can be. These are the tools of the Self by which the Witch applies the magick of change and rebirth unto their own eternity.

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

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

Gatekeepers

I don’t usually spend a lot of time thinking about Gatekeepers. I have a relationship with a number of Beings that fulfill that role for me in my Craft, my magick, my worship, and within the ritual use of all of those. Now please note that I am speaking from the perspective of magick in regards to this blog, some of which applies to the other three but not everything. To clarify, Gatekeepers have specific functions; primarily to open and close specific doorways to their corresponding sphere of influence within the Witchcraft cosmology, if they have been provided with the appropriate ‘key’ and set of symbols. I hope that made sense to everyone.

Sometimes though, a relationship with specific Beings whereby their functions are established is not part of the process at hand. This is not a commonality for Traditional practice. These groups of people have already developed a relationship and understanding with a variety of entities. I have nothing against solitary practice. In fact, all Traditionalists have their own individual practice in addition to the praxis of the group with whom they work. The use of Gatekeepers becomes an issue when various Entities are provided with keys to doors without an accompanying set of additional functions. In a newly established working relationship, these functions need to be made clear.

If an individual is working alone and not within the boundaries of a set methodology, before the name of some Spirit/Ancestor/Angel/Deity/etc is called upon to bring forth or open the pathway to a particular plane/directional providence/realm/etc then that entity needs to have had a rapport developed prior to then with that individual. During that establishment, the role of that Being must be laid out along with the specifics of their guardian functions, and most importantly accepted by that Being. Imagine the havoc that could ensue if during the first time having been called forth a Deity* is made demands of, given access to the ritual space, perhaps even being insulted by in-their-eyes being reduced to the role of a porter, and has no intention of complying, playing nice, or refraining from making the insult upon their mantle known.

There are many scenarios that could play out. Perhaps the Elemental Spirit, just as an example, called decides to open the door as asked and additionally just lets anything from their plane mosey on through. Why have guardians if they don’t do anything? This is particularly problematic when someone who does not know better picks up a how-to-book and uses established methods to open channels. Usually nothing happens. Sometimes though, the gate opens and without further ado, what comes through the gate comes. Someone can say all day, “I honor thee East, spirit of ___, and ask for your wisdom,” in relative safety and without fear, pretty much as often as they would like. This is not the same as calling a specific entity within a magickal circle to open a particular doorway by which the Witch can access that sphere and gain its influence upon their working.

Additionally, sometimes the roles of Gatekeeper and Guardian are separate. Even if this is the case, my advice stands. Get to know the Beings whom will be your ally in the Arte before they are called to fulfill that position. If you aren’t doing that level of magick, don’t be too concerned. Lighting a few candles does not require for a portal to a specific influence to be opened. But if a name is used, even in normal worship and ritual, know what you are asking of whom. For example, asking the King of the Djinn to teach you the lessons of Fire will bring much to the table, not all of which is gentle or desireable. It would not take much additional work to set up parameters of these lessons when entering that relationship.

So what got me thinking about all this? Driving to work did. I work on a military base and this morning, no ID check, the guards at the gates were just waving everyone through. Thinking this a bit absurd, I voiced the thought by saying, “What is the point of having guards if they don’t do anything?” This turned my thought to the more metaphysical and this post is the result thereof.

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

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

*Please have a good reason for asking a Deity to be a Gatekeeper. Some Gods or Goddesses, such a Manannan mac Lir work naturally in this capacity, others, such as Loki, do not.

Some Thoughts

I wrote the following yesterday, but did not post it. I wanted to think about it some more first. So please enjoy yesterday's post.

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This morning as I watch the Sun rise, I have many, and I do mean many, thoughts to occupy. If truth be told, I have had little sleep. I have also spent the last hour or so simply trying to decide whether or not I will say anything at all, let alone what to say. I am an introvert by nature and of the mindset that a blog is not the place to discuss such. On the other hand, this blog has become a place for me to lay my thoughts out upon.

Instead of digging into the core of the matter, I am going to briefly, very briefly, talk about two pieces of Witchcraft lore that come to mind, which are providing me with much to consider at the moment. I do not think either of these will be new to any of my readers.

The Four Words of a Witch are: To Know, To Will, To Dare, and To Keep Silent. There is a lot of meaning there if you look for it. On the surface they are the four basic virtues needed in order to be successful at magick. Needless to say, they apply beyond the realm of magick. One must know what to do and how to do it, have the willpower to act, the courage to act, and act diligently, owning the action, and without betraying it.

The second are a few words of Robert Cochrane, “Do not what you desire – do what is necessary.” Ah, yes, that. The first time I read those words as a newly initiated First Degree, they boggled me, but not anymore.

Hopefully, others will find something in these concepts, which will help them when they need it.

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

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

Hospitality

My apologies, this blog is partially my venting and musing.

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Hospitality as an act of devotion and worship has been important to me for several years. I open my home, go out of my way to ensure my guests are without want, and ask very little in return. A recent visitor has forced me to rethink much, and the limits and merits of such.

Depending upon my level of knowing and interaction with people will determine just how I respond to treating them as guests. Everyone, regardless, will be offered food and drink. It may not be much, but something will be offered. The better I know someone though, gets them more of a ‘make yourself at home’ approach. You will still be offered food and drink, but will also be extended the offer of ‘help yourself.’ This is not something that is given lightly. If those words come out of my mouth, a great deal of trust is being put forth. These nuances of hospitality are not something that normally need to be explained to someone.

Treating my guests well and trying to ensure that they leave happy and content is an act of imitation. I recognize sacredness in the Being of each person. I worship my Gods and Goddesses and further give them honor through the imitation of this worship by extending offerings of food, drink, place, and kinship unto those I have welcomed into my hearth.

Recently the doors of my home were opened to a guest, a relative by marriage whom I have had very little interaction with. Our hospitality was offered in the spirit of them being family and in need. They are not someone I know well or would treat in the same way as a very close and dear friend. Simply put, I barely know them. Apparently the basic offerings of ‘can we get your something to eat or drink’ turned into ‘please make yourself at home and eat or drink anything you want regardless of whether it has been offered.’ I could list several things is which I feel this person overstepped their welcome with.

Needless to say, I was not happy then or now with their stay. I feel as if my hospitality was not just accepted but taken advantage of, and I have spent the last couple of days re-evaluating a lot of things. Normally people are familiar with the nuances of where the line has been drawn in the sand of welcome. So I must conclude, either they have no concept of what it means to be a good guest, assumed because we are family that they do not apply, or just didn’t care.

Due to family circumstances at the moment, this person will be in our area, in need of a place to stay, about once a month for the next year or so. I am torn. I want to offer a place to stay and the basic offering of ensuring they are feed. Likewise, I want to deadbolt the door and booby-trap the lawn.

If they are to continue to be welcomed, then an understanding must be reached. Returning to the idea of treating guests in imitation, I may have found the answer. Though my practice is polytheistic and I have and continue to work with multiple Gods and Goddesses, I have not made all Gods and Goddesses welcome. In fact, I have expressly made it clear that some of them are not welcome. If I can tell a God or Goddess that I realize they are divine and still not offer them a place at my hearth, then I can do the same to other Beings.

I have not figured out an approach to take yet. I do know that I am willing to open my doors in the spirit of helping family, but only if they can learn some basic manners in regards to being a guest; I will not have my hospitality desecrated, for it is sacred, and I do not have to quarter such.

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

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

Athame Crafting Update

After finishing the blade blank for my athame that I am working on I turned my attention towards two things. What to do for the handle and the cross-guard? The Cross-guard answer came easily, but that blog will be later, when I actually get around to working on that portion. The handle on the other hand was a bit more difficult. I spent a lot of time mulling over what I wanted to do, let alone how that would be accomplished.

As a Traditionalist, a large portion of my being really wanted to craft a handle that was both black and has the Tradition’s symbols upon it. I thought of many different ways of doing this. The one that I kept returning to was the idea of buying an ebony dowel, cutting and shaping it, burning the sigils in place, and filling the grooves with gold based paint. I probably thought of a dozen or so other different ideas. However, every time I thought I had decided on what I would do, my mind would picture the athame with an antler handle, not black with sigils in any form what so ever. I finally decided to entertain the idea of an antler handle and now I know that the handle will be antler. I will not forgo the sigils completely, whereas I will not carve or otherwise mark them onto the athame, there is a magickal technique for transferring the essence of a magickal sigil into something without actually marking it. I’ll be doing that.

The next big question to answer was where to get a good piece of antler? I decided to look all over the internet. Alas it was not to be. Either all the pieces of antler that I found looked like crap, like they wouldn’t work for my idea, or were very very expensive. I had almost given up on the idea for using antler when I decided that I knew two people who might have some. One was a hunter and the not. I asked the other first.

I have a friend that is a Rootworker, Witch, and Eternal Harvest Initatie, whom amongst other things is good naturally called the ‘Pagan Picker.’ Why? Cause he goes picking but not for anitiques, but Pagan stuff. Needless to say, he is pretty good at it. Anyway I decided to ask him if he happened to have a piece of crown antler, and furthermore if he would be willing to barter for it. I received a resounding yes. He had a dozen or so specimens; sent me picks, and was more than willing to accept a trade of sorts.

Another friend, and Brother in the Arte, makes use of Master Candles in the conjure work he does. He first told me about this practice, I dunno, maybe a little over a year ago. Anyway, I now utilize Master Candles in my Crafting. Now, I never bothered to ask his methods for creating. I just came up with my own process of blessing, dressing, and making based on a combination of Hoodoo and Ceremonial Magick. Long story short, I developed a means of linking planetary powers to the materia with a conditionary trigger, so that the power flows whenever the flame is lit. No invoking involved, and the power will transfer anytime something it lit from that candle. I offered to barter one such Master Candle for the antler. The Pagan Picker was more than willing to oblige.

At least now I know what the handle will be made from. Since blogger has not been agreeing with my adding pictures for some reason, here are some links to outside hosted pictures:

Jupiter Master Candle that was requested in barter.

Antler picture.

Boidh se!

-Spanish Moss

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