(360) Sun 21 Feb 88 13:33
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: The 27th Path, Tzaddi, The Moon, The Active or Exciting Intelligence
St:
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@EID:f00e 10556c3a
The Moon, the Presence of God in or Mundane world, glows in
unulant splendour from New to Full to New...
I am as the Moon
Our Light is ever changing
Healing, gathering
The Tzaddik, the Righteous One catches the Splendors of G-d, and
illumines Mundane world as the Moon catches the splendours of the
Sun.
The Moon through his-r aspects runs the world. When the Moon is
unaspected, the cat's away and the mice can play...but in another
octave the Ultimate, the One is there without interferance from the
Moon and wonders can emerge...it is a time to let go and let God
and enjoy when the Moon is Void of Course...it is a time to trust
in the Grand Ultimate and "know that I am God!" for the is now no
mediator between God and Human...not even the Moon.
"The Twenty-seventh Path is the Active or Exciting Intellgence and
it is so called because every existent being recieves its spirit
and motion."
Perhaps every esistent being does recieve its spirit and motion
through the Moon on the 27th path between Netzach and Hod.
---
* Origin: The Terraboard, Minneapolis, MN (Opus 1:282/341)
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(361) Sun 21 Feb 88 13:43
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: The 28th Path, Pices, The Sun, The Natural Intelligence, The Sun
St:
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@EID:d8bd 6d761055
5. The Coordinator
From its earliest beginnings, the Magick Conference has@EID:f00e
10556d76
Pices the last mysterious sign of the zodiac, signifier of the Age
coming to an end, the final sign in the zodiac where the soul is
completed and perfected. The Path from Yesod, the Moon, to
Netzach, Venus...and the mysterious Venus (the Hidden Intelligence)
shows his-r nature and subtle, hidden ways again.
The 28th Path is called the Natural Intelligence: by it is
completed and perfected the nature of all that exists beneath the
Sun.
Once again the sychronistic beauty of this system of attribution
shows its appropriateness: two children playing in the Sun, Who is
mentioned in the Yetziratic Text...two children being purified by
the benign Sun.
From The Stoned Tarot, Hugh Read, 1968
Thirteen sweet Tears of Mercy
Fall from the Sun
To feed the Children
These are the Children of Life and of Light
Coming out of the Earth
They are clumsy and gentle
And sweetly submissive
Deeply dependent on God
The Sun Tears
Surround them
And touch them
And heal them
and nourish them
Fully on Love
Touch me with Sun tears
Touch me, dear God,
Nourish me fully on Love
Notice that as we approach the "end" of the paths we are
approaching what most think of as the beginning and the paths begin
to become more abstract and less personal and mundane. Those who
say Malkuth is the mundane world do not notice what the Yetziratic
verse covering Malkuth says, ITSELF. They listen to what others
say and ignor the words.
---
* Origin: The Terraboard, Minneapolis, MN (Opus 1:282/341)
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(362) Mon 22 Feb 88 17:02
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: The 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd Paths
St:
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@EID:f00e 10568850
"The Twentinineth path is called the Corporeal Intelligence; it
informs every body which is incorporated under all orbs, and it is
the growth thereof."
Judgement covers this Path, with Resh, the Sun: Initiation.
From the Stoned Tarot:
Miracle of patience:
God!
Muttering man...childless man...slack, old, naked man,,,
Crude woman...
Sad child
They raise crude arms to Death: Black Sacophegus
The seek Joy, hiding in Defeat
They are hiding in silent Defeat
Release!
Fail again...grow again...die again...
Faithful, patient, Joyous, Crude, Loving:
God!
The thirtieth path is called the Collective Intelligence, for
thense astrologers, by the judgement of the stars and the heavenly
signs, derive their speculations and the perfection of their
science according to the motions of the the stars"
This path is covered by the World and Tav...and what this path has
to do with astrology I do not know...why the World and Tav...
The Stoned Tarot:
The Two sexted Creature, clothed in Flesh,
Benignly dances on.
Within a Wreath, with Gold beneath
She dances in her mind
Angels in their varied forms
Sadly watch her cance.
They want to see her Faith in God.
She dances in her mind
Touch, dear God, our Flesh with Faith
Touch us with Holy Faith.
Faith is all we need, dear God,
To dance right out of our minds.
Tav indeed!
continued
---
* Origin: The Terraboard, Minneapolis, MN (Opus 1:282/341)
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(363) Mon 22 Feb 88 17:15
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: More Paths
St:
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@EID:f00e 105689fa
...correction...the thirtieth path is covered by shin, sharper
than a serpents tooth...the old ways die hard...
The thirty-first path is called the Perpetual Intelligence. Why
is it so called? Because it guides the sun and the moon according
to their constitution and cases each to gravitate in its respective
orb.
The thirty-first path is covered by the Fool and Tav. What does
the Fool and what does Tav have to do with movement of the sun and
the moon...I don't have the slightest idea. Case says this is the
path of conscious immortality. Sounds good to me! Perhaps a
little alchemy is hidden here.
The thirty-second path is called the Assisting Intelligence,
because it directs all the operation of the seven planets, with
their divisions, and concurs therein.
There is only one Aleph in this system, in Kether. There is only
one Magician in this system, in Kether. The thirty second path,
also called the Administrating Intelligence is void of symbolism,
save that which you choose as you travel the path. Perhaps this is
where Higher Self abides...or where the Holy Spirit whispers in
silence and beauty.
Thank you all for bearing with me in this Mercury Retrograde
operation which I am bringing to a close now amidst physical
confusiong and computer madness. In time to come, I may get this
into a presentable form. Now it is a tattered tree of spontaneous
thoughts based mostly on the text of the Sepher Yetzirah as fond in
A.E. Waite's, The Holy Kabbalah and in Gareth Knights, a Practical
Guide to Qabalistic Symolism.
Blessed Be and 93 93/93
---
* Origin: The Terraboard, Minneapolis, MN (Opus 1:282/341)
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(364) Mon 22 Feb 88 20:08
By: Brad Hicks
To: All
Re: Instructions for Cut-Over to MagickNet *** URGENT ***
St:
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@EID:3db6 a10a1056
If you are on a board whose sysop does not read this echo, please
insure that he or she reads this message. Thank you.
In instituting the changes discussed here recently, I am following
Josh Gordon's advice and killing the MAGICK echo area name. If you
do not follow these instructions, you will have problems, so please
pay attention and ask questions - via crash netmail, as time is
short - if you don't understand any thing that follows.
STEP ONE - MARCH 1ST
"STOP MAKING SENSE"
As soon as feasible after midnight on March 1st, every sysop on the
Magick echo should change this echo to read-only, if not completely
remove it from his or her list of available areas.
There's currently about six-day lag time from the far end of the
net, which is either in net 107 (NY MetroNet) or 106 (Houston).
This will allow the last of the messages in the combined echo,
MAGICK, to reach me by the morning of March 7th.
STEP TWO - MARCH 1ST TO 7TH
"ENTROPY REQUIRES NO MAINTENANCE"
Once you have passed up the last packet for the nodes below you,
there is no sense in polling anyone just to get the MAGICK echo -
as there will be no more packets passed down.
While you are waiting, make sure that you have read and understood
the file MAG-POL.ARC, the contents of which were also posted to
this echo. (Version 1.0 has only cosmetic changes, but is now
available from 1:100/523 except during the netmail hour and a
half-hour or so either side of it.)
Personally, I before I transfer ANY system that polls me (other
than the two hubs) to enter a netmail message to me, from its
sysop: "I have read and will comply with MAG-POL.TXT, version 1.0."
At that time, I will transfer them to the appropriate line in my
AREAS.BBS file. I cannot recommend this too strongly to all
systems which will carry the new echo, because you will (in event
of a worst-case nightmare) be held responsible for the behavior of
nodes downstream of you.
STEP THREE - MARCH 7TH AND 8TH
"LIKE A PHOENIX FROM THE ASHES ..."
I will spend almost all of the day on March 7th performing two tasks.
First of all, I will manually sort the most recent 600 messages in
MAGICK. The best 30 or so (no fixed number, that's just my gut
feeling for how it will work out) will be moved to METAPHYSICAL.
Then, all message threads directly related to the topics of this
echo will be moved to MAGICKNET. The remaining message area will
be renamed MUNDANE.
Then, to insure that we all start from a common point, the seen-by
lines will be removed from all of these messages. That done, I
will perform the first ConfMail Export run on the newly born
MagickNet Echos. By 11pm or so Central Time, I will have crashed
the first packets to AT LEAST the other two hubs, and we will all
be distributing it, touch wood, no later than National Mail Hour on
the morning of March 8th. If you have stopped POLLing your links
in the interim, resume the morning of March 8th (if you are an
unreasonable distance down the topology, you may as well wait until
the 9th or 10th).
And so, no later than March 8th you will need to have removed the
MAGICK echo from your system, and modified your echo control files
to accomodate the new, improved Neopaganism, Witchcraft, and Magick
conference.
- Brad Hicks, 1:100/523
MagickNet Coordinator
--- Sirius 0.50
* Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-389-WYRD * (Opus 1:100/523)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(365) Wed 24 Feb 88 0:06
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: Ribald Ram Rondeau
St:
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@EID:fbfd 105800d5
(written in traditional trouvere metre; part of a projected series
of nine poems, of which 4 are finished, one for each Sabbat, to be
set to madrigal music in 4-5 part harmony...)
The horned Ram runs high and low,
And through the land his influence grows;
The Equinox upon us springs
With swellings and with moistenings,
And pleasant pastime all folk know.
The blacksmith's iron hot doth glow;
The planter's dibbing stick doth sow;
The baker's loaf to th'oven clings.
The horny Ram runs high and low,
And through the land his influence grows;
The Equinox upon us springs!
The milkmaid's churn with cream o'erflows;
The blossom doth attract the nose;
The minstrel's pipe he's fingering.
The ploughboy's joyfully ploughing;
The shepherd's staff to work doth go.
The horned Ram runs high and low,
And through the land his influence grows;
The Equinox upon us springs
With swellings and with moistenings,
And pleasant pastime all folk know.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(366) Thu 25 Feb 88 22:17
By: Ammond Shadowcraft
To: All
Re: Poetry
St:
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@EID:bf7a 1059b225
_The_Cauldron_Chant_
by Ammond ShadowCraft
We form the Circle,
The Circle most round.
We form the Chalice,
The Chalice now found.
We call the Goddess,
to meet the great need.
We call the God,
To plant His fertile seed.
We call the quarters,
which we call four.
We summon the powers,
that contain the force.
We stir the Cauldron,
from which we were born.
We call the Gods,
from whom we were torn.
We say the words,
which lead us round.
We pass the kiss,
with our lovers found.
We face our dreams,
in nights psychic flight.
We face our hopes,
in bright moon of the night.
We face our fears,
on the Dark Lords Horn.
We face our failure,
in the Mothers new planted corn.
We live our lives,
druming and dancing on the meadow.
We confront our Death,
in the dancing moon light shadow.
Our paths run quickly,
on fleet foot and wing.
Our Circle is joyous,
with our Queens and our Kings.
Let our little Circle be happy,
with Bell, Bowl or Bow.
And form now this Circle,
with gracious Love, Joy and Hope.
BLESSED BE
---
* Origin: SMARTNet - WOC'n faster HST (They made me say it!) (Opus
1:128/23)
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(367) Sat 27 Feb 88 2:41
By: John Shklov
To: Rich Harper
Re: Hawaiian Myths
St:
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@EID:e73c 105b1532
Just some loose info re Hawaii/Hawaiian mythology etc...The
Hawaiians of old had no written language so everything had to
memorized and passed down from
teacher to pupil. Comparing chants from different parts of the
pacific show
amazingly little change took place in this word of mouth process.
Some
cultures seperated by thousands of years (carbon-dating gives clues
as to
when migrations took place) have almost identical chants!(recorded
when
whitey came on the scene ) All knowledge was passed this way..as a
result
they were a culture of specialists. Each kahuna specialized in a
specific
aspect of knowledge, be it medicine for healing or for killing or
fishing
methodology or warfare. They believed in a highself a midself and
a low
self much as in Hinduism. Different Gods represented different
aspects of
life and had power over different times of the year and different
activities.
For example Ku, was the God of war and represented the forces of
death.
Lono
represented the agricultural cycles and the power of life and
renewal.
In themind of the Hawaiian these were just two aspects of the same
totality.
Hawaiians had a VERY structured society and a set of rules that
MUST be
obeyed or one risked death or some worse punishment...eyeball
gouging,
torture etc..The upper classes got better food and after many
generations
of superior victuals and intermarriage they became significantly
larger and
stronger. These upper classes ruled by force and superior warfare
skills.
One of the special areas of knowledge that the Alii or upper classes
concentrated upon was the skills and technology of war. They
passed these
skills down to their men children. Women were disfranchised and
although
the bloodlines were passed thru the women they didn't even get to
eat at
the same mat as men.
The Hawaiian mythology got mixed in with western mythology when the
missionryscame to bring their word to the PAGANS. As a result even
today there are
many misconceptions as to what the real beliefs were"pre-contact"as
they
say. For example, heres a funny story that illustrates that fact;
When
Fordandder was interviewing Hawaiians last century he asked who
built"that"
structure and who built "those" walls etc. Tiring of his repeated
queries
the chief answered "oh it was the mana-hune"(litterally translated
it means
the "people with little mana or power") Fordenander seized on this
response
and said "little People", how big were they? were they small? etc
etc....
ignorant xtian missionaries. pleasures right under the noses of
theiribeThe
---
* Origin: Kauai1 - Aloha (Opus 1:12/4)
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(368) Sat 27 Feb 88 2:53
By: John Shklov
To: Rich Harper
Re: Hawaiian Myths-2
St:
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@EID:fabc 105b16b4
The Hawaiian mythology got mixed in with western mythology when the
missionryscame to bring their word to the PAGANS. As a result even
today there are
many misconceptions as to what the real beliefs were"pre-contact"as
they
say. For example, heres a funny story that illustrates that fact;
When
Fordandder was interviewing Hawaiians last century he asked who
built"that"
structure and who built "those" walls etc. Tiring of his repeated
queries
the chief answered "oh it was the mana-hune"(litterally translated
it means
the "people with little mana or power") Fordenander seized on this
response
and said "little People", how big were they? were they small? etc
etc....
he probably was thinking of some western myth such as the
Leprechauns...The
Hawaiians who loved a joke encouraged this foolishness, laughing to
this day
behind his back. Even today we have walls and structures said to
be built
by the "menehunes" and signs that proclaim to the tourists this
legend!
One last tidbit...The Hawaiian language was high developed (perhps
the most
highly developed) in the area of lovemaking. They had words to
describe
every conceivable sexual position and act. The songs they sung had
many layers of meaning with a desciption of a pounding wave or
a dripping leaf
that had explicit meaning with reference to lovemaking as well as its
literal meaning. In this way the pleasure loving PAGANS were able to
sing about and endorse their pleasures right under the noses of their
ignorant xtian missionaries.
---
* Origin: Kauai1 - Aloha (Opus 1:12/4)
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(369) Mon 29 Feb 88 3:53
By: Tim Maroney
To: Ammond Shadowcraft
Re: Re: Reclaiming Lucifer
St:
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@EID:954a 105d1ea7
Good message!
Every known religion supplanted an earlier religion, and usually
some derogatory mythological niche was created for the deities and
spirits of the older religion when this happened. In the case of
Satan, he is a fusion of our old friend the Horned God (especially
in the Pan-form to which he was best known by the Greek-speaking
world) and the Judaic mythic figure of Satan from the book of Job.
But far from the loyal prosecuting attorney of Job, Satan as
formulated to insult pagans was made into an evil nemesis of God,
and the exemplar of what to the pain-worshipping Christians was
"sin", that is, anything ecstatic and joyful. Satan is constantly
telling us to get drunk, pig out on good food, and have sex in the
Christians' accounts, to which my reaction is "Amen".
I think you have put it very well when you say that "Even though
[new pagans] have thrown off the chains of Jehovah they still fear
Lucifer. They cringe at the sound of his name." Over and over we
hear this shallow refrain, that witches are NOT NOT NOT Satanists,
and I think: Why the Hell not? There's more wisdom in any one page
of William Blake's overtly Satanic "Marriage of Heaven and Hell"
than in the whole corpus of Starhawk's work, after all. (But then,
Blake wrote sophisticated and literate poetry, not folk tales, so
few neo-pagans have read him.) What are these people so afraid of?
Not only are neo-pagans NOT NOT NOT Satanists, they are quite
nasty toward anyone who recognizes the deep truth of Satanism. One
widely liked member of this board called me a "neurotic
Christian-lover" for espousing the reading of Blake and Shaw's
Satanic works. Needless to say, no neo-pagan objected.
Within the last month a person interested in invoking Lucifer had
his account removed by one of the sysops, who said the reason was
that "he was extremely abusive"; of course, he didn't mention that
the guy started out polite and only became abusive after the
aforesaid sysop himself sent some
*very* nasty and prejudiced messages to him. Again, zero objection
from
the neo-pagans.
Similar examples abound; but I think things are beginning to
loosen up on this front, thanks to people like yourself, and (I
like to think) because of my continued pounding on the
counter-consensual drum.
Tim
PS. You called for resources; aside from the Blake, there is
Shaw's "The Devil's Disciple", and you might want to check out
Campbell's "Masks of God" for more information on the mythic
disparagement of older deities such as happened to the Titans in
Greek myth and various matriarchal deities. Campbell's sympathies
are clearly with the underdog.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(370) Tue 1 Mar 88 11:54
By: Brad Hicks
To: Rowan Moonstone
Re: Re: Cult Awareness Week
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:3db6 5ece1061
Actually, back around '77 or so Congress almost passed a definition
of a "cult" that was given to them by some religion and philosophy
professor from the Ivy League. By that definition, a cult is any
religion that accepts or solicits converts from any other religion;
the only non-cults are religions (I assume he meant like Judaism or
Catholicism) where you're born into it, raised in it, and expected
to stay.
It was funny as heck to me at the time to see fundamentalist
Christians, members of the Unification Church, and pagans
bombarding Congress with letters, all taking the same side.
But then I've said before that there's about four or so different
phenomena that we only have one word for in English. Religion can
mean roughly the same thing as "culture" - the beliefs that parents
teach their children and have an expectation, reasonable or not,
that the kids will carry that culture on and pass it on to their
kids. On the other hand, religion can mean doctrines and beliefs
that the individual has to think, believe, or "have faith in" - and
by definition, that's individual rather than cultural. On yet
another hand, religion can mean personal relationship with Deity,
with Higher Consciousness - which can be (and in my opinion usually
is) separate from either of the other two. Then there's community
and group work motivated by altruism, which only rarely overlaps
any of the other three. Yet we only have one word for all these
separate phenomena: they're "religion."
The same people who decry the work of Christian missionaries on
Indian reservations ("Cultural imperialism! It'll be the death of
that whole way of life!") defend heartily their right to practice a
way of life, to maintain beliefs, to identify with a religious
culture and to relate to Deity in a way entirely opposed to the way
their parents brought THEM up. Perhaps this doesn't seem odd to
you, but it certainly seems odd to me.
--- Sirius 0.50
* Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-389-WYRD * (Opus 1:100/523)
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(371) Sun 13 Mar 88 13:13
By: Larry Hudson
To: Brad Hicks
Re: Neo-Paganism
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:9b58 106d69ba
This is a response to a response you gave to Curly Howard way back
in Aug of 85 (File called Ritual.Txt
Okay-here's where I am: Always, since I can remember ( in this
life) I have been Pagan.(Other lives, too, but I won't go into these)
I grew up in a very strict, small, Mormon town (to where myu
family, at times, was the only "Heathen" family around) There was
no Pagan structure to our lives - no religious structure at all j-
since growing up, my sisters have chosen their own paths.
I have always isolated myself from others, gone walking in the
hills, and feel the Gods&Goddesses there with a fierceness that was
sometimes frightening. If I let it happen, the "old energy" starts
to rise within me.
My trouble is: when this energy does rise, I don't have any
release for it. I can't control it, and if I let it enter my
physical body, I often get ill because of my lack of training.
I get restless, I can't sleep, and I feel a tightness in my spine.
About 8 yrs ago, my husband and I moved to California to persue
the American Dream.
While there, I encountered yoga & threw myself into it with much
ferver & devotion. My teacher was (or seemed) very uptight and
narrow. He would scorn avenues that were interesting to me )Tantra
of which I know very little; Magick of which he refused even to
speak; and other paths that seemed quite natural as my next step).
The yoga group had a falling out, the teacher quit, and I was left
with carrots dangling in front of me in all directions and no idea
what to do.
The "energy" was once again shut down and life took on the plastic
on-dimension of "dry" times before.
jRecently, I have moved back to that small town in which I grew
with the moon, and the seasons.
I came across the book "Drawing Down the Moon", read it with tears
in my eyes and now the energy is back - with a vengence! I believe
there will come a time (perhaps has already come) when I will no
longer be able to "shut it down."
jThere is definitely something pushing it's way through my psyche
and I don't know what to do! It's making me bonkers - strung tight
like a guitar string.
Things are happening. I got other books. Scott Cunningham's
Natural Magic series. Ed Fitch's Rituals from the Crystal Well.
And the heavy-duty 80 lb. killer, the Golden Dawn.
There are so many things that I know that I know, but I don't
remember how to remember them!
One morning I awoke and knew that I should go to this little
second-hand store to get "my" mirror. I just KNEW. So I walked in
the door and this huge 3 ft round mirror sits and grins right in
fromt of me. So I buy it of course and lug it home. Now what do I
DO with it?
I feel like an amnesiac among people I love. I know I love them -
I just don't remember WHY!
I guess what I want from you is no advice, really but
acknowledgement. Am I bonkers? Does my story match up with any
others you have heard? Does anybody else out there want to comment?
I am virtually alone in this, or so it seems. I've read and read
everything I can get my hands on. I've read authors who say "Do
this, and while you do this, say this..." Other authors who say
"Neo-Pagans do this; they believe this; they are this..."
Basically I feel this to be just more carrot-dangling .
I WANT what you described in your response to Curly, but nobody
will tell me HOW to get it.
This town i'm in is a million light years from anywhere, and it
doesn't look as though we will be leaving anytime in the near future.
I've heard people say ther are Neo-Pagans who work alone. How?
---
* Origin: House Atriedes-(818) 965-7220 HST-JungleLaser (Opus
1:103/602)
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(372) Sat 19 Mar 88 8:22
By: Josh Gordon
To: Draco ...
Re: Re: Crowley
St: Pvt
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 107342c8
D.>One other question which I haven't even begun to try to
understand
D.>yet is the relation between Nuit and Hadit. Think you can
explain
D.>what they represent? Why do they figure so prominenty in the
D.>Book of the Law?
I think of Nuit and Hadit and Ra-Hoor-Khuit (or -Khut?) as
something of a triple-god manifestation of the nature of godhead.
Nuit is she who is adored; she is the power of beauty, and
sensuality, and natural attractiveness, and omnipresent splendor.
Hadit, on the other hand, is the inverse, the adorer, the act of
worship itself; it is Hadit who worships Nuit (and, by extension,
All). RHK is more difficult to fit into this paradigm, but I'm
owrking on it. Perhaps the crowned and conquering child is the
Magical Child of Nuit and Hadit, the precipitate that develops when
the Worshipped and the Worshipper become as one.
It is easy (and common) to meditate on the nature of Nuit. Shakti
is a relatively simple Yoga; to devote oneself to God or Goddess by
adoration is an ancient, noble, and well known path to ones Holy
Guardian Angel (to use the deliberately ridiculous word). It is
more difficult, but equally beneficial, to do the reverse: devote
oneself to Hadit, the worshipper; to become the object of adoration
and of meditation. To do so, one has to accept one's godhood; in
the absence of such acceptance, to be worshipped is to risk madness
(or at least cognitive dissonance).
It would have been very easy (and perhaps more sensible, if this
were an authored book!) for AC to have written in terms of, say,
Geb and Nuit. I would think the imagery of Geb, lying on his back
with his phallus rising to the sky, almost touching the lithe,
arched body of Nuit, would have been very attractive to Crowley. It
is well worth considering just why Nuit and Hadit are there, and
Geb is absent. What is the message in the breaking of ancient
convention?
Ra-Hoor-Khuit needs more consideration, as well. This complex,
combined God is the result of the eclipsing of the pure Ra
worshippers; he is a combination of Ra and Hoor-Khuit. (At the time
RHK was worshipped, Ra worship had virtually disappeared, and
showed up only as one of many combined forms). I understand RHK the
least, and perhaps he deserves the most study. Perhaps he is the
actual chemical process in the Alchymical Marriage of Nuit and
Hadit, rather than the result; perhaps the actual _result_ is you,
the reader, the student.
Consider "The Lovers" as the glyph of the marriage. Then is "Art"
maybe the glyph of the consummation of the marriage; then perhaps
"The Tower" might be the nature of RHK as the reaction itself; then
perhaps, what, "the Universe" is the result?
It's so nice to be a Center of Pestilence. Glad I could help.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(373) Sat 19 Mar 88 8:21
By: Morgana Silverthorn
To: Larry Hudson
Re: Re: Neo-Paganism
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:e7cb 107342b3
Dear Larry, please excuse me for butting in. I am Morgana
Silverthorn, Neo-Pagan, Witch and occasional teacher. While
reading through the messages I notice that you had not received any
replies (I'm sure will receive many) yet I thought I would try to
help. There are many who work alone, some who have always worked
alone and some who now work alone from choice.
I have little insight to offer you about "how to" because each
person's "how to" is slightly different. There is no one single
absolute truth unless it is that there is no one single absolute
truth. As difficult as it may be, the only and best advice I can
offer is keep searching. Read, anything that sounds interesting,
try. And not just once or twice. If it really sounds interesting,
it may not be easy to do. I am still trying to learn "how to's"
that I know I "should" be able to do but can't seem to get the hang
of.
Listen to people, go to lectures, classes etc. Hypnosis, NLP,
Herbcraft, etc. Wander though bookstores and read/thumb through
interesting books. Keep yourself open to the possibilities - it
will come through eventually. gotta run - outta time - Morgana
---
* Origin: TIDMADT: Ex Skilletus Ad WOCum! (703) 370-7054 (Opus
1:109/728)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(374) Sun 20 Mar 88 12:05
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: Aries
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:c712 60ae1074
Slate grey, cold Aries
Bites the Air with solemn grace
In this Nothern place
Of harsh Earth-wisdom
Of hardy old souls
Of new souls reaching for life
The ots are twisting
Little, waiting shivering buds
Waiting for bursting
Ecstacy coming
Hard on in the Sun
Bustling, quivering buds
Hard with slick pleasure
That will grow beyond measure
And burst with great sighs
Between the strong thighs
Of men and women
Grappling for Springtime's passions
(Well, young ones fuck
Old ones dream
Sipping the cream
Out of memories muck!)
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(375) Sun 20 Mar 88 21:25
By: Rowan Moonstone
To: All
Re: We Are one.....
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:99b8 ab321074
Wrote some new verses to the song Cybele taught us in Dallas, and
I wanted to share them with all of you. The original goes
We are one with the infinite sun
Forever and ever and ever ( x 2)
And the wheel of the year goes round and round
And the circle of the wheel goes round( x 2)
We've added the following verses:
We are one with the horses that run
We fly high with the eagles in the sky
We swim free with the fishes in the sea....
The dark moist Earth is the womb of our birth....
The ripples expand from the tough of Her hand.....
The wolf children cry to the moon in the sky..( for Blackwolf)
We've also changed the chorus slightly to go
"And the wheel of the year goes round and round
and the circle of the wheel goes round
And the wheel of the year goes round and round
And the SPIRIT of the wheel goes round."
The ending we're currently singing uses the tune for the verse and
the following words, growing softer as they end
"And my spirit soars with the turning of the wheel forever and
ever and ever....."
--- ConfMail V3.3
* Origin: On The Edge BBS - Only source for MAGICKNET in OKC.
(1:147/4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(376) Sat 26 Mar 88 7:53
By: Geoff Gilpin
To: All
Re: Christmas
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:513d 107a3ea6
Outside:
"Hark the Herald Angels sing,
Glory to the newborn king..."
Then, inside:
"Azael, Baphomet, Chemosh,
you many-headed star, you blinder of fools..."
"Peace on Earth and mercy mild..."
"Lean down and whisper your names,
sit at my table and taste of my spirit..."
"God and sinners reconciled..."
"Lousy brats!"
The man in robes, his concentration broken, came down through the
spheres and pulled the curtain in time to see the last caroller
wandering out of the porch light. "Lousy brats," he said again
as the odor of Chemosh departed. It's tough to be an occultist
in a working class neighborhood.
---
* Origin: Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, WI (414)
735-2513 (Opus 1:139
/640)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(377) Mon 28 Mar 88 12:47
By: Josh Gordon
To: All
Re: Newspaper story on Cult Awareness Week
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 107c65ed
San Francisco Chronicle Monday, March 28, 1988
"Jonestown Resolution Ignites Debate"
by Larry Liebert Chronicle Washington Bureau Chief
Washington--Commemorating the madness of the mass suicides at
Jonestown a decade ago would hardly seem controversial in a capital
where resolutions are passed by the truckload.
But the approaching 10th anniversary of the carnage that took the
lives of 913 people, mostly from the Bay Area, has revived a bitter
debate over the threat from cults and the threat to religious
freedom posed by anticult crusaders.
The seemingly innocuous resolution that has caused conflict in the
halls of Congress would designate a "Cult Awareness Week" this
November to mark the 10th anniversary of the murders and mass
suicides at the Rev. Jim Jones' cult retreat in Guyana.
The House resolution was introduced by Representative Tom Lantos,
D-San Mateo. His predecessor from the Peninsula, Leo Ryan, was
slain as he led a group to investigate Jones' Guyana retreat.
"We're approaching the 10th anniversary of one of the most ghoulish
and nightmarish tragedies of recent years," said Lantos. "I think
it would have been a dereliction of duty on my part not to remind
the nation."
But the fine print in Lantos' resolution has revived a debate
about cults and religious freedom.
The resolution asserts that there are more than 2,500 cults in the
United States, with 1 million to 3 million members subjected to
"mind-control techniques" ranging from "isolation from friends and
family" to "promotion of total dependency on the group and fear of
leaving it."
Such blanket assertions have angered a coalition of critics
ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the Zen master
from Malibu who calls himself Rama.
They charge that the resolution will encourage the coercive
practices of "deprogrammers", who have been known to seize
suspected cult members and pressure them into renouncing their
beliefs. The critics trace the resolution to a group of anticult
crusaders known as the Cult Awareness Network.
"For them to be asking the Congress to denounce 2,500 religious
groups as cults and to make the kind of broad accusations that
resolution makes is clearly an unconstitutional act," said Barry
Lynn, legislative counsel to the American Civil Liberties Union.
"Congress is not in the theology business."
Representatives of the Cult Awareness Network did not return
repeated phone calls. Lantos acknowledged that his staff had worked
on the anti-cult resolution with Ryan's daughter, Patricia, who is
associated with the group.
Now that Lantos' resolution is attracting controversy, the
congressman hinted that he may let it drop without even bringing it
to a House vote. He argued that the resolution has "already
achieved its purpose" by calling attention to the anniversary of
the massacre.
If so, it has also underlined the difficulty of judging when a
religious leader becomes a charlatan and when religious followers
surrender their individuality to a cult.
The most outspoken foe of Lantos' resolution has been Frederick
Lenz, a 38-year-old former English professor who lives in Malibu
and calls himself Zen Master Rama. The ordinarily reclusive
religious leader has been here lobbying for the defeat of the
resolution--and to defend himself against charges that he is just
the sort of cult leader parents should warn their children about.
"Jim Jones was clearly a hustler, charlatan, and madman," said Lenz.
"But that's no excuse to push your own moral and political viewpoint
to interfere with First Amendment rights and engage in illegal
activities.
To make his case, Lenz brought along Jennifer Jacobs, a follower
who says she was kidnapped in an unsuccessful deprogramming attempt.
"They terrified my parents so much that they were willing to put down
$25,000 on the spot to have me kidnaped and psychologically abused,"
said Jacobs. "I was held for 11 days in a seedy motel room in
Seattle, completely against my will."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(378) Thu 31 Mar 88 20:12
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: Hunger
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:c712 a199107f
Well, Spring in Minnesota has a coldness like mid-Western concrete
or railroad tracks that run through the center of Minneapolis or
the Mississippi River with ice that is breaking up. Spring in
Minnesota is hard, the air is hard...Spring slips back into Winter
for two days and then it rains and is bitter cold.
To my right is an Etrscan Sword, one of a kind, I am told. It
leans against the East wall of my bedroom, the hilt crowned by a
sunburst with 24 rays resting on the bottom of a metallic print of
an owl that I bought from a sensitive, hungry asian on Lyndale Ave.
last Fall. I also bought a metallic print of Pegasus from him.
Over the owl print is a page from the Larousse Dictionary of
Mythology with a photo of a statue of Minerva, a coin like thing
with Minerva on it and another coinlike thing with a figure of
Mercury on it. Above that is a very tasty color print photo of a
statue of Minerva that I saw years ago in Bill Heidrick's
pschedelic house in Marin County and loved but was not able to find
a copy of the book until recently. He would not let me tear the
page out of the book at that time...naturally.
The powerful release of energy in the Spring is torrential here in
the upper Midwest. There is something brutal about what happens
when Winter is overr. Winter is brutal enough but when it is
finished it really gets strange.
Over the past week or so I have listened to the Llewellan (wierd,
Welsh word that I could never quite master) tapes by Denning and
Phillips and they have damn near taken over my life. I got them at
Evenstar, a local Pagan bookstore I love quite dearly inspite of
the fact that I have not been able to attract their attention. Oh,
yes...I have indeed attracted their attention, but I am still
looking for a receptive, sane, intelligent and wonderful wicca
circle and have been in such a quiet, inarticulate rage at the
store and the owners that I had not visited Evenstar for about a
year. Well, I walked in, said a few words to the somber,
exqusitely attractive witch who was running the shop. I had not
met her. Poked around. Found eight or nine of these tapes.
Bought them for sixty bucks and went home talking to myself about
spells to sell and things like that. Paranoia is part of my
psyche. (times up!)
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(379) Sat 2 Apr 88 6:59
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: Continued
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:c712 37611082
The paranoid streak in my nature seems to be gentled by these
tapes which are supplying the soul food I have hungered for for
months. I reccomend them to one and all with great enthusiasm.
They are showing me something about the Tree of Life. One can put
anything anywhere on the Tree and it will work. The Tree is a very
flexible geometry. THAT is the key to the Tree. It is the
geometrical form that is the important thing. Whatever one imposes
on the Tree is irrelevant or like frosting on a cake.
The four joined circles, each touching the center of another, on a
line are the important thing. The points of intersection chosen by
whoever it was who first designed the Tree are equally
important...and of course the lines drawn to indicate the paths are
important. Giving names to the Sephiroth, placing Intelligences on
the Paths, Hebrew letters...and then ultimately "pathworkings," or
initiatory, guided imagery trips...all of this is irrelevant to the
purpose of the Tree of Life.
The purpose of all of the added stuff is to fix ever more clearly
and ever more deeply the shape of the Tree which I suspect is some
kind of astral design...astral vehicle that will be deeply etched
in very deep levels of consciousness of those drawn to this
work...whose genuine purpose will be realized at death. I think it
may be a kind of Noah's Ark that is available even now for voyages
through time, space, inner space and timeless space.
The path working is helping me see tsomething of the uses this
dynamic geometry has. As one begins to see the differant
pathworkings that others have applied, each more or less
idiosycratic, one begins to see that anything goes...best it has an
inner consistancy...but any logical story ccan be applied to these
paths. The important thing is that the paths are learned. I
learned them in the early 70's under the canny guidance of Frater
Albertus in Utah. Though I had worked with them myself before that
time, the word to ear teaching went deep within me.
Recently, with a gentleman named Bruce LaHue, I enjoyed a quicky
course in the paths that was both powerful and wierdly
idiosyncratic based mostly on Shining Paths and partly on Mr. LaHue
rather gaudy and livid imagination. Though I paid him his forty
bucks for eight sessions (as many as three paths a session, God
help us all!), I feel a gratitude for his contribution to my
spiritual growth. Inspite of his obsession with gory, exploitation
horror films, he communicated a deep understanding of the
Tree...which just goes to show you.
Inspite of the fact that the course was given in a yuppified
supermarket for occult trivia, there was an initiation of sorts
given and recieved, at least by me. Genuine occult growth takes
place in strange places under even stranger circumstances.
At the moment on this cold, grey spring day...the Saturday between
Good Friday (a special day indeed -- eggs, Frater Albertus was wont
to say, that are laid on Good Friday never spoil -- a fact that
eager alchemy students who lived on farms demonstrated time and
again)...I am going to the local Science Fiction Conferance --
Minicon.
Yesterday, on Good Friday, instead of finding a freshly laid egg,
I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art and purchased a
magnificent figure of Anubis which seems appropriate to the Good
Friday, Black Saturday, Easter sequence. I will take him in spirit
to Minicom, which may well have something to do with Hell where
Jesus spent some time on this day.
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(380) Mon 4 Apr 88 10:02
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: A Buddhist (maybe) Statement that is beautiful:
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:c712 50441084
THIS IS THE GREATEST BLESSING
NOT TO SERVE THE FOOLISH
BUT TO SERVE THE WISE
TO HONOR THOSE WORTHY OF HONOR}i
TO DWELL IN A PLEASANT LAND
WITH RIGHT DESIRES IN THE HEART
TO MAINTAIN SELF CONTROL AND BE PLEASANT OF SPEEK
THAT EVERY WORD MAY BE WELL SPOKEN
TO LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY
TO GIVE HELP TO KINDRED
TO FOLLOW A PEACEFUL CALLING
TO ABHOR AND CEASE FROM EVIL-DOING
NOT TO BE WEAR IN WELL DOING
TO BE LONG-SUFFERING AND MEEK,
TO ASSOCIATE WITH PEACEABLE
Beneath the stroke of life's changes
The mind that shaketh not
Without grief or passion
That is secure:
ON EVERY SIDE THEY ARE INVINCIBLE WHO DO ACTS LIKE THESE
ON EVERY SIDE THEY WALK IN SAFETY
AND THEIRS IS THE GREATEST BLESSING
attributed to Gautama Buddha (Fifth Century B.C.)
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(381) Mon 4 Apr 88 10:44
By: Ammond Shadowcraft
To: All Members
Re: Pagan Christs
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:ca31 10845590
The Sacrifical God man
How did the Christian mythos arise? Where did it come from?
The Christian myth is almost totally Pagan in origin. I
used to
think that anything outside the Judeo/Christian/Moslem Belief
System or
worldview was Pagan. Such is not the case.
The two main features of the CBS are the Eucharist and
Sacrifice of
a God man. These two features were well known and well loved by
Pagan
mystery cults centuries before the Christian Cults intergrated
them
into the Gospels.
The Eucharist goes way back into history and is based upon
the
ritual consumption of the God man. Osiris, Dionysus, Attis and
many
others were ritually consumed. The practice dates back to
prehistory
when a human sacrifice was identified with the God (perhaps a
Vegetative God) and was sacrificed and eaten. Over the ages human
sacrifice was found detestable. Animals were then substituted and
sacrificed as the ritual identifier of the God which was then
followed
by grain offerings, breads shaped into the form of the God,
sometimes
in the shapes of natural items (sun, moon, etc.).
The mythos of the Jewish Christ integrated this practice
into it's
mysteries. There is strong reason for this. For some 200 plus
years
before the time recorded for Jesus the Greeks and their mystery
cults
invaded and changed Israel for all time. A war was instituted to
diminish or wipeout the Hellenizing influence. Part of the
Hellenizing
influence was an effort to update or change the Jewish religion
to
something more applicable to the times. After the Maccabbes War
the
Hellenizing cultist were driven underground; right to the heart
of the
Jewish mystical culture. Hence the Greek influence upon the
myth of
Jesus.
The sacrifice of the God man (Jesus, Attis, Adonis, Osiris)
was a
well known and well loved feature also. In fact it was
necessary to
have a willing sacrifice before a Eucharist could be performed.
When
the sacrifice was not willing the legs and sometimes arms of the
sacrifice were broken to make it look like the sacrifice was
willing
(not struggling against the sacrificers). Jesus was a willing
sacrifice.
---
* Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus
1:128/23)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(382) Mon 4 Apr 88 10:45
By: Ammond Shadowcraft
To: All Members
Re: Pagan Christs, part ii
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:ca31 108455ad
Images of Attis (Tammuz/Dummuzi) were nailed or impaled
upon a pine
tree. The Jews knew this and wrote "Cursed is he who hangs upon a
tree." A goat was substituted for a boy in sacrifice to
Dionysus at
Potniae and a hart for a virgin at Laodicea. King Athamas had
been
called upon to sacrifice his first born son by the Delphic
Oracle,
Melenloas sacrificed two children in Egypt when stayed by
contrary
winds; three Persian boys were offered up at the battle of
Salamis. It
was only in the time of Hadrian that the annual human sacrifice
to Zeus
was abolished at Salamis in Cyprus. The God man Jesus was hung
upon a
tree; he was also the lamb of God. As such the sacrifice and
Eucharist of
the God man Jesus is purely Pagan in origin.
Part of the older Pagan sacrifices was in the King
sacrificing his
only begotten son. Jesus was the only begotten son of the King of
Israel, sacrificed to take away the sins of the world. This
practice
was overturned in the myth of Abraham and Issac when it was found
detestable and injurious to the tribe or kingdom. Yet the God
man Jesus
was sacrificed in the flesh. This was done to appeal to the
underground
Greek mystery cults who had much in common with the Jewish
Christian
Cultist.
"During centuries of this evolution, the Jewish people
tasted many
times the bitterness of despair and the profound doubt
denounced by the
last of the prophets. In periods when many went openly over to
Hellenism, it could not be but the the ancient rites of the
Semitic
race were revived, as some are declared to have been in earlier
times
of trouble. Among the rites of expiation and propititiation,
none stood
traditionally higher than the sacrifice of the king, or the
king's son.
The Jews saw such an act performed for them, as it were, when the
Romans under Anthony, at Herod's wish, scourged, crucified
[lit. bound
to stake], and beheaded Antigonous, the last of the Asmonean
priest
kings in 37 B.C." _Pagan_Christs_ page 44,45 by J. M. Robertson
The mode of sacrifice was predetermined by previous Pagan
doctrine.
The type of sacrifice was also predetermined by Pagan doctrine.
Both
the sacrifice of the king, and the king's son were incorporated
into
the Gospel myth. The God man Jesus is both the King of the Jews
and the
son of God, the king of Israel.
As stated before the sacrifice of the king or king's son
was found
injurious to the state. Before animal and grain sacrifices,
criminals
and prisoners of war were substituted. Yet the criminal had to be
identified with the king. This was done by putting royal robes
on the
sacrifice and parading the sacrifice around, calling it the king.
---
* Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus
1:128/23)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(383) Mon 4 Apr 88 10:46
By: Ammond Shadowcraft
To: All Members
Re: Pagan Christs, part iii
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:ca31 108455ce
"The number three was of mystic significance in many parts
of the
East. The Dravidians of India sacrificed three victims to the
Sun-god.
In western as in eastern Asia, the number three would have its
votaries
in respect of trinitartian concepts as well as the primary
notions of
'the heavens, the earth, and the underworld.' Traditionally,
the Syrian
rite called for a royal victim. The substitution of a criminal
for the
king or kings son was repugnet, however, to the higher doctrine
that
the victim be unblemished. To solve this problem one of the
malefactors
was distinguished from the other criminals by a ritual of
mock-crowning
and robing in the spirit of 'sympathetic magic'. By parading
him as
king, and calling the others what indeed they were, it was
possible to
attain the semblence of a truly august sacrifice."
_Pagan_Christs_, by
J.M. Robertson page 45
There is nothing in this mythos that did not originate in
other
cultures.
"We can only conclude that the death ritual of the
Christian creed
was framed in a pagan environment and embodies some of the most
widespread ideas of Pagan religion. the two aspects in which the
historic Christ is typically presented to his worshipers, those
of his
infancy and death, are typically Pagan." _Pagan_Christs_ by J.M
Roberts, page 52.
What about the man Jesus then? Was he divine? Did he exist?
Is/was
he the Savior?
Most, if not all, of the Christian Belief System is Pagan in
origin. It is indeed hard to force oneself to believe that
Jesus is
the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God when such titles were
readily
copied from Pagan doctrine. Perhaps the only item not borrowed
from
Pagan sources was the Messiah concept. That, of course, was
taken from
the Jewish hysteria of the time. In the siege of Jerusalem in
72 C.E.
there were some 18 Messiahs inside Jerusalem alone. Neither the
God man
Jesus nor the self proclaimed militant messiahs saved
Jerusalem. Such
was the measure of hysterical superstition upon the nation of
Israel.
---
* Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus
1:128/23)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(384) Mon 4 Apr 88 10:47
By: Ammond Shadowcraft
To: All Members
Re: Pagan Christs, part iv
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:ca31 108455f7
"There is not a conception associated with Christ that is not
common to some or all of the Savior cults of antiquity. The title
Savior was given in Judaism to Yahweh; among the Greeks to Zeus,
Heilos, Artemis, Dionysus, Hercales, the Dioscurui, Ceybele and
Aesculapius. It is the essential conception of Osiris. So, too,
Osiris
taketh away sin, is the judge of the dead and of the last
judgment.
Dionysus, the Lord of the UnderWorld and primarily a god of
feasting
('the Son of Man commeth eating and drinking'), comes to be
conceived
as the Soul of the World and the inspirer of chastity and self
purification. [J. M. Robertson may be referring to Attis here.]
From the
Mysteries of Dionysus and Isis comes the proclamation of the easy
'yoke'. Christ not only works the Dionysiac miracle, but calls
himself
the 'true vine.'"
"Like Christ, and like Adonis and Attis, Osiris and
Dionysus also
suffer and die and rise again. To become one with them is the
mystical
passion of their worshippers. They are all alike in that their
mysteries give immortality. From Mithraism Christ takes the
symbolic
keys of heaven and hell and assumes the function of the
virgin-born
Saoshyant, the destroyer of the Evil One. Like Mithra,
Merodach, and
the Egyptian Khousu, he is the Mediator; like Khousu, Horus and
Merodach, he is one of a trinity, like Horus he is grouped with a
Divine Mother; like Khousu he is joined to the Logos; and like
Merodach
he is associated with the Holy Spirit, one of whose symbols is
fire."
"In fundamentals, therefore, Christism is but paganism
reshaped. It
is only the economic and doctrinal evolution of the system--the
first
determined by Jewish practice and Roman environment, the second
by Greek
thought--that constitutes new phenomena in religious history."
_Pagan_
_Christs_ by J.M. Robertson pages 52,53
No religion develops in a vacuum. All religions are
influenced not
only by it's predecessors but by the contemporaries of the time
also.
Such is the nature of Christism yesterday and today.
Now about Jesus the man, did he exist? I think not. All the
teaching of Jesus can be attributed to other sources and
grafted over
the Gospel myth. Nothing he said was substantially different in
any way
from previous sayings. Jesus was not a man but a contrived myth.
---
* Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus
1:128/23)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(385) Mon 4 Apr 88 10:48
By: Ammond Shadowcraft
To: All Members
Re: Pagan Christs, part v
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:ca31 1084561a
"The Christian myth grew by absorbing details from pagan
cults. The
birth story is similar to many nativity myths in the pagan
world. The
Christ had to have a Virgin for a mother. Like the image of the
child-god in the cult of Dionysus, he was pictured in swaddling
clothes
in a basket manger. He was born in a stable like Horus--the
stable
temple of the Virgin Goddess, Isis, Queen of Heaven. Again , like
Dionysus, he turned water into wine, like Aesculapius, he
raised men
from the dead and gave sight to the blind; and like Attis and
Adonis,
he is mourned and rejoiced over by women. His resurrection took
place,
like that of Mithra, from a rock tomb."
The man Jesus did not exist. There are however sources that
speak
of others seeing him. These were secondhand sources. No direct
observations were made. At one time or another we have all had
a vision
of Deity in our minds. Such is the sight of Jesus, a mental
image.
What of the Gospels then? They are passion plays designed
to be
read or acted out in front of an audience. Passion plays were a
common
feature of pagan religion. Looking at the Gospels themselves
one finds
a chopply written, scene by scene, display of the life of the
God man.
Only the important aspects of his life are described. The minor
events
and influences of the life of Jesus are not recorded, which
leaves one
to think that the Gospels are indeed a play.
"When we turn from the reputed teaching of Jesus to the
story of
his career, the presumption is that it has a factual basis is so
slender as to be negligible. The Church found it so difficult
to settle
the date of its alleged founder's birth that the Christian era
was made
to begin some years before the year which chronologists latter
inferred
on the strength of other documents. The nativity was placed at
the
winter solstice, thus coinciding with the birthday of the
Sun-god. And
the date for the crucifiction was made to vary from year to
year to
conform to the astronomical principle which fixed the Jewish
Passover.
[The Passover is moon based, an already familiar pagan method of
cyclic, monthly dating.] In between the birth and death of
Jesus, there
is an almost total absence of information except about the
brief period
of his ministry. Of his life between the ages of twelve and
thirty we
know nothing. There are not even any myths. It is impossible to
establish with any accuracy the duration of the ministry from the
Gospels. According to the tradition it lasted one year, which
suggests
that it was either based on the formula 'the acceptable year of
the
Lord', or on the myth of the Sun-god." _Pagan_Christs_ by J.M.
Robertson, page 68
---
* Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus
1:128/23)
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(386) Wed 6 Apr 88 15:47
By: Ammond Shadowcraft
To: All
Re: Historical Jesus?
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:ca31 10867df6
The Quest for the Historical Jesus
"...It is only in comparitively modern times that the possibility
was
considered that Jesus does not belong to history at all. Those who
come across this idea for the first time are naturally startled by
it. In fact the suspicion that Jesus might be as mythical as other
ancient saviors as Osiris, Mithra and Krishna arose as a result of
a serious effort to discover his real voice and actions. the most
scrupulous of analysis of the texts failed to reveal a convincing
picture of an authentic person."
_Pagan_Christs_, page 63
Well such is what J.M. Robertson claims.
"Modern biblical critics freely admit that some of the Gospel
narritive
must be fiction. We know now that much of it was composed well
after the events it purports to describe. Comparitive religion has
drawn attention to close pagan parallels--to the essential features
of the story--the virgin birth, the sacrifical death and
resurrection. The same is true of the rites of baptism and
sacramental communion. Many critics still feel, however, that these
are accretions which, together with, togehter with the miracles,
can be safely shed without injury to a nucleus if historical fact.
The argue that pagan Gods may have some of the attributes of Jesus,
and although they may have been regarded as law givers and
teachers, they did not leave behind a coherent and profound
teaching. Apollo, Osiris and the rest seem, therefore, to be
obviously mythical, whereas Buddha and Jesus are not. The teachings
of each of the latter, it is felt, bear the unmistakable of a
single, unique mind. Such a doctrine could not have formed itself
spontaneously." _Pagan_Christs_, page 64.
The rite of baptism has already been discussed in this topic.
Robertson
contends that the rite of baptism superceeded the rite of
circumsicion. This makes sense to me. It is much less painful and
physically safer to undergo ritual initiation through baptism by
water than by ritual circumcision. The gentile Christists would
contend for this; and as the Jewish Christists died baptism did
replace circumcision as a physical sign of new spiritual being.
---
* Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus
1:128/23)
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(387) Wed 6 Apr 88 15:49
By: Ammond Shadowcraft
To: All
Re: Historical Jesus, part ii
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:ca31 10867e2b
"We shall consider the case of Buddha later. First let us look at
the main
objections to this view that the existence of a body of teaching
is overwhelming evidence of the existence of an historical teacher.
The earliest Christian documents are ascribed to Paul. These
epistles were written long before the canonical gospels were put
together and accepted by the Church. The older protions, however,
tell us nothing about the life of Jesus. The silence of paul is
remarkable if indeed he was familiar with the Jesuine biography.
Secondly, the unity of teaching, which it is said, would show it to
have been the work of one mind is conspicuously absent. So far from
displaying coherence, the ethical precepts are frequently obscure
and contradictory. So far from being original, many of the sayings
are merely quotations from Hebrew literature, and some have pagan
parallels. As for the Sermon on the Mount, it is no more than a
patchwork of utterances found in the Old Testament."
_Pagan_Christs_ pg. 64
I was suprised to hear that some of the Epistles of Paul are the
earliest
of the Christian writings. Anyone care to point us to an already
typed in dating of the N.T.? Care to type one in? If such is the
case then it is outstanding that as Paul was the first to write
about mystery of the sacrifice of Christ he tells us nothing of the
life of Christ. It's as if he didn't know. Surely he would have
known such details being close to the original twelve. Perhaps he
didn't care, such details being meaningless as the ethics, mystery
and sacrifice of the God man were most important.
It seems the earliest of the gospel forms was lost with Matthew
and Mark
being dependent opon these lost forms. This scans nicely. The
earliest forms were probably the purest of the Jewish Christian
story of the Messiah. As time went by more of the pagan gentile
influence was felt as needed. Various features of the virgin birth
of the God man, the nativity scenes, the Last Supper, the betrayal,
the crucifiction and mysterious ressurection were incoroprated into
the present gospels to appeal to pagan cultist.
Some scholars indicate that Revelations was next inline. This scans
nicely as it presents a supposedly Jewish-Christian eschotology.
When one looks at the symbolism one can see the Mazedian influence
in Revelations. Revelations seems to present a first or second step
in the evolution of the Sacrifice and Resurrection of the God man.
Perhaps a middle step is more appropriate. A middle step between
Jewish Messiah cults and Gentile Savour cults.
---
* Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus
1:128/23)
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(388) Wed 6 Apr 88 15:51
By: Ammond Shadowcraft
To: All
Re: Historical Jesus, part iii
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:ca31 10867e68
It would be monumental to eliminate all supposedly contradictory
and
questionable passages from the Gospels. Fortunately that work has
already been done with some suprising, for me at least, outcomes.
Here's one..
"For over a hundred years German scholars have been struggling to
solve
this problem, and their efforts have been unavailing. In order to
establish some solid textual foundation for the historicity of
Jesus, they have piled hypothesis upon hypothesis with ever new
refinements. The retreat from this hopless task was finally sounded
by the emminent German critic, O. Schmeidel. Afer an exhuastive
search, he was satisfied that he had discovered some texts which
passes the most severe tests and were entirely credible. But in the
whole of the gospels all he could salvage were NINE such texts. Let
us enumerate this forlorn handful of unwounded survivors.
1) Mark XXX.17 [really mark 10.17] f.f. "Why callest me thou
good?" etc. 2) Matt XII.31 f.f. "Blasphemy against the Son of Man
pardonable" 3) Mark III.21 "He is beside himself" 4) Mark XII.32
"Of that hour and day knoweth no man" 5) Mark XV.34, Matt "My God,
My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" etc. 6) Mark VIII.12 "No sign
shall be given this generation." 7) Mark VI.5 "He was able to do no
mighty work there." 8) Mark VIII.14-21 Rebuke to disciples
concerning bread and leaven.." 9) Matt XI.5, Luke VII.22 Passage to
be taken in the sense of spiritual
healing, since it ends with mention of preaching--not a miracle
at all."
_Pagan_Christs_ pgs 64,65.
What was the basis for selecting these texts? Basicly O.
Sshmeiedel felt
that where Jesus speaks simply as a man, making no pretense to
divinity, or to miraculous powers, and where he is presented as
failing to impress his relatives and neighbors with any sense of
his superiority--there the record is entirely credible. I'll have
to quote this because of the logical content...
J.M. Roberts quoting Schmeidel:
"According to Schmidel, these passages represent "the foundation
pillars
for a truly scientific life of Jesus... They prove not only that
in the person of Jesus we have to do with a completely human being,
and that the divine is sought in him only in the form in which it
is capable of being found in a man; THEY ALSO PROVE THAT HE REALLY
DID EXIST, and that the Gospels contain at least SOME ABSOLUTELY
TURSTWORTHY FACTS concerning him.
---
* Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus
1:128/23)
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(389) Wed 6 Apr 88 15:53
By: Ammond Shadowcraft
To: All
Re: Historical Jesus, part iv
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:ca31 10867eb4
This will shock the believer without satisfying the scientific
naturalist. I submit that the propostition I have italicized is
absolutely untenable. On this point may be staked the whole dispute
about the actuality of the gospel Jesus. It simply does not follow
that because a statement is credible it is therefore trustworth or
proved. If it were so, half the characters in fiction could be
"proved" to be real people. Perfectly credible statements are made
about them." _Pagan_Christs_ pgs 64-65.
And I would add that perfectly credible statements are made by
fictional
characters also. It is credible to pronounce that Joe Catholic
said a hundred Hail Marys this morning. Such is a credible
statement concerning Catholics. But is it trustworthy?
Such thinking requires a leap. The leap involves a thought
process that
says what is possible must indeed be true. T.X. Huxley makes this
same mistake. Huxley says that Sauls visit with the Witch of Endor
is entirely probable, so there is no reason not to believe it. It
is probable that I, as a child, fell into a dark hole for 3 days
and nights. History is full of discredited "probablilites".
To finish this section up I'd like to say that what applies to
characters
of fiction must also apply to demigods and characters about whom
there is a fable. Unless it can be shown on independent grounds how
the credible story came to be associated with the fable, we have no
reason to accept one and reject the other. There are instances of
myths being built up on a basis of facutal events, but although
this can be established in modern times, such cases do not enable
us to distinguish between the merely possible and the actual in
ancient tradition. Admittedly there are borderline cases, but even
when these are free from supernaturalism they may often be doubted.
---
* Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus
1:128/23)
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(390) Sat 9 Apr 88 7:35
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: Poems
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:c712 3c7b1089
(I found these poems from another time while prowling through
Chaos!)
THE RAINBOW PROMISE
With quantum leap the light of love illumines every heart
Humans of the world unite in the light of love
Let the light of unity flash love from heart to heart
And blow away the mushroom cloud in waves of living love
Lovers of the world unite in the light of love
Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Moslem, Jew: all you others too
Let the light of unity flash love from heart to heart
And blow away that angry cloud in waves of living love
Let love explode in vaults of banks, in the hearts of thieves
In generals hearts, in lawyers hearts. In our hears
Let the light of unity flash love from heart to heart
And blow away that bitter cloud in waves of living love
In prisons and in hospitals let human love flow free
All races in a rainbow, one great loving symphony
Let the light of unity flash love from heart to heart
And blow away that hatefilled crowd in waves of living love
Let our one great rainbow song of love flow up
Our rich and holy promise to the Living God on High
To let the light of unity flash love from heart to heart
And blow away the mushroom cloud in waves of living love
copywright
by Hugh Read
1983
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(391) Sat 9 Apr 88 7:47
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: Yet another poem out of Chaos
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:c712 3de91089
THE BALLAD OF ALLIGATOR FLATS
...dedicated to Michael...
Old Mose he cried
He sputtered and died
His gas tank dried
And there we sat
In the desert flats
Singing songs to Jesus
Visions danced before our eyes
Silent vultures in the skies
Sang silent songs of one who dies
Where we sat
In the desert flats
Singing songs to Jesus
Old Mike, he sat, grinning wide
Looked to God and Fate defied
His songs decreed the Devil lied
And there we sat
In the Desert flats
Singing songs to Jesus
That devil, fear, stung my heart
Our gas tank dry as a desert fart
My soul has shrunk to a gristly wart
As there we sat
In the desert flats
Singing songs to Jesus
Old Mike, he sung, Water to wine, water to wine
Water to gas would be just fine
So we pissed in the tank, first his then mine
And there we sat
In the desert flats
Singing songs to Jesus
Old Mose he coughed and gripped the tar
Shuddered and sighed ready for war
And lightning flashed on the mountain far
As there we sat
On the desert flats
Singing songs to Jesus
He bucked and reared
I shuddered and feared
By God he started and we put him in gear
No more we sat
On the desert flats
As we sang our songs to Jesus
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)
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(392) Thu 5 May 88 7:50
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: The Book of the Law
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:c712 3e4010a5
Recently, I have had the joy of having Aleister Crowley's, Book of
the Law, opened to me. I want to share some of my thoughts with
you about this. Perhaps these thoughts will turn into a commentary
as I find my way more deeply into the beauties of this book. For
now, I only want to share some of my very subjective responses to
this beautiful little book.
Some years ago through some idiot grace that may be manifesting
her results now, Bill Hiedrick introduced me to Grady McMurtry,
previous Caliph of O.T.O. At that time Grady showed me his signet
ring given him by Crowley. I will never forget the impression of
deep and powerful beauty that I got from that ring. I can see it
now.
The feeling was a green feeling. I sense the same soft, feathery
green feeling as I read The Book of the Law. It is like a delicate
grey mist, or streamers of pale green silk. It is a green feeling.
Green is the color of illumination in Sufi land...some say because
there is so little green in the austere, sun blasted desert. I
heard an Arab wanderer say that the thing that impressed him the
most about Minnesota was that it was so GREEN.
Cairo is an Arab place where green means illumination. The ring
and the book have a green aura for me. Perhaps the Book of the Law
hides a pure light of illuminatin. Perhaps...
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(393) Fri 6 May 88 19:44
By: Hugh Read Of 282/341
To: All
Re: The Pentagram
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:01a6 10a69d92
I invoke Ancient Powers of The Star
The Powers of Five
The Spiral Powers
The Powers of Earth
I invoke the Ancient Powers of Life
Star in the Circle
In the Iron Circle
Quaint, ancient symbol
So ancient, primordial and timeless
Dark symbol of life
On planets bearing life
Deep in DNA
Deeply branded in the Heart of our Earth
Touchstone of Wisdom
Of Ancient Knowledge, NOW,
Living in the stars
I call out through the Circled Iron Star
For my Star Power
Out through the Galaxies
Claiming Dark Powers
---
* Origin: The Terraboard, Minneapolis, MN (Opus 1:282/341)
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(394) Sat 7 May 88 17:58
By: Russ Anderson
To: all
Re: Invocation to Frigg
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 8f4610a7
When this invocation was first used, each person in a healing
circle invoked a healer into (her/him)self. This was my
invocation. The rest of the circle was asked to echo "Join us,
Frigg" as I was saying "Join us. Frigg,". This was my first
attempt at writing an invocation, and it DID work. I hope that it
also works for anyone else who wishes to use it, because it now
feels like time to share it.
Blessed Be
Russ
Frigg, Daughter of Jord, Join us.
Frigg, Daughter of Fiorgyn, Join us.
Frigg, Wife of Odin, Join us.
Frigg, Sister of Thorr, Join us.
Frigg, Mother of Balder, Join us.
Frigg, Mother of Hodr, Join us.
Frigg, Mother of Hermod, Join us.
Frigg, Mother of the gods, Join us.
Frigg, Wise in all fates, Join us.
Frigg, Who will tell no fortunes, Join us.
Frigg, First among the Asynjur, Join us.
Frigg, Queen of Asgard, Join us.
Frigg, Mistress of home and hearth, Join us.
Frigg, Mistress of Eir, Join us.
Frigg, Mistress of healing, Join us.
Frigg, Your servant _______ calls you! Come to me NOW!
This invocation is being reposted as part of a group of
invocations, most of which were patterned on this one. Permission
is granted to use these invocations in your own rituals. I do ask,
however, that I get credit in any copies of those rituals which are
written or distributed.
B*B
Dragonfriend (Russ)
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
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(395) Sat 7 May 88 18:03
By: Russ Anderson
To: all
Re: invocation to Baldr
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 907210a7
"Baldr, Son of Frigg, Join us.
Baldr, Son of Odin, Join us.
Baldr, Husband of Nanna, Join us.
Baldr, Brother of Hodr, Join us.
Baldr, Brother of Hermod, Join us.
Baldr, Father of Forsetti, Join us.
Baldr, Slain by blind Hodr, Join us.
Baldr, Master of Breidablik, Join us.
Baldr, Who is much loved, Join us.
Baldr, Who Thokk alone would not mourn, Join us.
Baldr, The Fairest of the Aesir, Join us.
Baldr, Whose Judgments stand unaltered, Join us.
Baldr, Whose Judgments stand unheeded, Join us.
Baldr, The Wisest of the Aesir, Join us.
Baldr, The Shining One, Join us.
Baldr, Your servant _______ calls you! Come to me NOW!"
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
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(396) Sat 7 May 88 18:04
By: Russ Anderson
To: all
Re: invocation to Freyja
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 909110a7
Freyja, Of the many names, Join us.
Freyja, Of the golden tears, Join us.
Freyja, Daughter of Njord, Join us.
Freyja, Wife of Od, Join us.
Freyja, Sister of Freyr, Join us.
Freyja, Mother of Hnoss, Join us.
Freyja, Claimed by Thrym, Join us.
Freyja, Driver of cats, Join us.
Freyja, Goddess of Fertility, Join us.
Freyja, Who shares the slain with Odin, Join us.
Freyja, Who taught the Aesir Magick, Join us.
Freyja, Lender of Falcons' Flight, Join us.
Freyja, Mistress of Brisingamen, Join us.
Freyja, Mistress of Folkvang, Join us.
Freyja, Mistress of nature, Join us.
Freyja, Your servant _______ calls you! Come to me NOW!
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
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(397) Sat 7 May 88 18:05
By: Russ Anderson
To: all
Re: invocation to Thorr
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 90aa10a7
Thorr, Red-beard, Join us.
Thorr, Son of J�rd, Join us.
Thorr, Brother of Frigg, Join us.
Thorr, Father of M�di, Join us.
Thorr, Father of Magni, Join us.
Thorr, Father of Thr�dr, Join us.
Thorr, Husband of Sif, Join us.
Thorr, J�tunn bane, Join us.
Thorr, Foe of I�rmungandr, Join us.
Thorr, Who bears Marriage Hallower, Join us.
Thorr, Who bears Death Hallower, Join us.
Thorr, Who wields Mj�llnir, Join us.
Thorr, Defender of Asgard, Join us.
Thorr, Thunderer, Join us.
Thorr, Storm Lord, Join us.
Thorr, Your servant _______ calls you! Come to me NOW!
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
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(398) Sat 7 May 88 18:06
By: Russ Anderson
To: all
Re: invocation to Freyr
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 90c510a7
HP: (both do "Freyr" and "Join us.")
"Freyr, Son of Nj�rd, Join us.
Freyr, Husband of Gerdr, Join us.
Freyr, Brother of Freyja, Join us.
Freyr, Father of kings, Join us.
Freyr, Whose sword would fight for itself, Join us.
Freyr, Who gave his sword for Gerdr, Join us.
Freyr, Patron of married couples, Join us.
Freyr, Most beautiful of Gods, Join us.
Freyr, Whose tooth-gift was Alfheimr, Join us.
Freyr, Master of Gullinbursti, Join us.
Freyr, Owner of Skidbladnir, Join us.
Freyr, Slayer of Beli, Join us.
Freyr, Master of Frodi's Peace, Join us.
Freyr, Who directs Man's good fortune, Join us.
Freyr, Who brings fruitful seasons, Join us.
Freyr, Your servant _______ calls you! Come to me NOW!"
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
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(399) Sat 7 May 88 18:07
By: Russ Anderson
To: all
Re: invocation to Herne
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 90e410a7
"Herne, Winter Lord,
We, your children, call to you.
Horned One, Hunter,
We, your children, invite you here.
Woodland Spirit,
We, your children, ask your presence.
Herne, Winter Lord,
We, your children, call to you.
Horned One, Hunter,
We, your children, invite you here.
Woodland Spirit,
We, your children, ask your presence.
Herne, Winter Lord,
We, your children, call to you.
Horned One, Hunter,
We, your children, invite you here.
Woodland Spirit,
We, your children, ask your presence, NOW."
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
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(400) Sat 7 May 88 18:07
By: Russ Anderson
To: all
Re: invocation to Brigit
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 90f810a7
"Brigit, Wise One,
We, your children, call to you.
Lady, Smithy,
We, your children, invite you here.
Triple Goddess,
We, your children, ask your presence.
Brigit, Wise One,
We, your children, call to you.
Lady, Smithy,
We, your children, invite you here.
Triple Goddess,
We, your children, ask your presence.
Brigit, Wise One,
We, your children, call to you.
Lady, Smithy,
We, your children, invite you here.
Triple Goddess,
We, your children, ask your presence, NOW."
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
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(401) Sun 15 May 88 8:49
By: Russ Anderson
To: Meredydd Harper
Re: Re: invocation to Herne
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 462410af
mh> These are lovely, Russ, but they evoke a question:
mh> why is it that it felt comfortable to *demand* that
mh> Freya, Thor, Freyr, and Baldr appear, and yet not
mh> comfortable to do the same with Herne? The tone of
mh> the Herne invocation is *noticeably* gentler.
Meredydd,
Answer 1. I Don't know!
Answer 2, despite the previous, ACCURATE answer, I'll attempt to
speculate.
I don't see those as demands, I see them, rather, as strongly
worded requests. It is a tone that I simply had not seen in them
(we ALL have blind spots). Since I'm not ready to tamper with
success, you may well see other Norse invocations with the same tone.
All of the Norse invocations were built to a pattern set by the
Frigg invocation. (god/dess name, kenning, join us. times 15,
god/dess name, Your servent _____ calls you, Come to me NOW!) This
was my FIRST attempt at writing ANY piece of ritual. But it WORKS
and seems to fit the god/desse/s of that mythos and their
worshipers of old, etc. The Herne and Brigit invocations, along
with a set of quarters invocations, came to me in the space of a
few minutes as I was sitting in the bathroom thinking about what
needed to be done for the Imbolc/Lady day/Brigit/... ritual that a
friend and I were writing (We have half the wheel of the year so
far. They will probably NOT be published as a whole, even here
because Starhawk, Leigh Ann, and Raymond Buckland, at the very
least, might have unfair use of copyrighted material claims. We
drew on all of these sources and more in writing these rituals.
At some future time, I will post the quarter invocations. My
friend wrote 3 of the 4 sets we have (with some minor editing on my
part [she hasn't asked for any changes in my invocations]) and I
have her permission to post them. I feel like I should wait until
we have the whole wheel before posting the quarters invocations. We
have actually been using 5 quarters (NO MATH FLAMES will be
accepted!); Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit/LifeForce - North,
East, South, West, and Center respectivly, and we have been casting
the circle from the appropriate quarter/cross quarter. We are
lighting candles (no invocations) at NE, SE, SW, & NW. At Yule, we
cast from North, at Brigit, from NE, etc. Center is invoked last,
and "dismissed" first.
B*B
Dragonfriend (Russ)
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
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(402) Tue 24 May 88 13:28
By: Brad Hicks
To: All
Re: Book Review: Robert Anton Wilson, _Natural Law_
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:0 229a44b3
A few months ago, I did something that I almost never do. I bought
a book, sight unseen. It was a safe bet, of course, because I'm a
Robert Anton Wilson fan and a completist; I knew for sure that his
book _Natural Law, or, Don't Put a Rubber on Your Willy_ would be
worth the $6.00 it was going to cost me.
I was wrong.
A little history behind this volume: three years ago someone named
L.A. Rollins wrote a book called _The Myth of Natural Rights_ in
which he (apparently) held forth on the extreme Social-Darwinist
argument that there are no "rights" other than those you can grab
and defend. Perhaps you can imagine what members of the
Libertarian Party (as opposed to real libertarians) thought of
this, and true-to-form, Murray Rothbard and George H. Smith wrote
review articles for _New Libertarian_ entitled "On the Duty of
Natural Outlaws to Shut Up" and "Roughing Up Rights," respectively.
Apparently, Robert Anton Wilson wants to side with Rollins against
the rest of the Libertarian Party, so he submitted a lengthy
rebuttal of Rothbard and Smith to _New Libertarian_. And now he's
very, very angry because Samuel Konkin, the editor of _New
Libertarian_, had the unbridled temerity to edit an article
submitted to his own magazine.
Konkin's editing didn't change a word of Wilson's article, by the
way. He merely footnoted it heavily with his own refutation of
Wilson's refutation of Rothbard and Smith's refutations of Rollin's
refutation of the existence of "natural rights." But this has so
deeply angered Wilson that he has blown his article up into a slim
volume (68 pages) and persuaded Loompanics to print it as if it had
validity on its own and free-standing.
So you see, _Natural Law_ is Robert Anton Wilson's refutation of
Samuel Konkin's refutation of Robert Anton Wilson's refutation of
Murray Rothbard's and George Smith's refutations of a book by L.A.
Rollins, which is itself a refutation of the Deist notion of
"natural rights."
If you read the original book and the original articles in _New
Libertarian_ and this issue is one of mind-numbing urgency to you,
then possibly you might think that you can get your $6.00 worth out
of this volume. You're probably wrong. Wilson's argument is far,
far below his standards elsewhere, and consists primarily of
Swiftian ridicule combined with gutter language. (Scarcely a page
goes by without his describing some argument as "Ideal Platonic
Horseshit." This gets very, very tiring.)
Pass this one up. You won't be missing anything.
(Robert Anton Wilson, _NATURAL LAW or Don't Put A Rubber On Your
Willy_. Port Townsend, WA: Loompanics Unlimited, 1987. Trade
paperback, 68 pages, $5.95.)
--- Sirius 0.50
* Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-741-2231 * (Opus 1:100/523)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(403) Tue 24 May 88 6:50
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: The Deva
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:c712 364410b8
When a Deva descends...or rises up
Within a human
A god has come to rest
To nest in a heart
To brood without words over an old soul
Of many lifetimes
Giving quiet power
Beyond that human
Making that life a skillful game of love
Healing and delight
Guided by wise insight
Through shadows and light
What a subtle joy it is to see it
In another's eyes
To feel it in a heart
That has grown so wise
That it knows the tale before it is told
And heals with a smile
Hurts before they are felt
Making us complete
Even imperfections radiate love
Sparks of rainbow light
Twinkle through mistakes
With happy mischief
And we know it is alright...no harm meant
It all rights itself
What wonderful good luck
To have a deva
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(404) Tue 24 May 88 6:57
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: The Deva, II
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:c712 372e10b8
The deva is beautiful and cunning
She gives ecstacy
Unlimited healing
As she does her work
Her implacable power holds terror
That shimmers like ice
In the dry arctic Sun's
Frozen rainbow fields
Her tenderness in curiosity
Relaxes to lust
Of a sly beast of prey
From other dimensions
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(405) Tue 24 May 88 7:10
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: A Special Kind of Healing
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:c712 394010b8
Most non-human in their complications
The other-minded
Learn secrets of healing
To cover their tracks
They feed on pain of human souls dying
Giving them more life
They feed on disease
Letting health increase
Their strange gift is healing for all
Their food is sickness
They gain strength from weakness
Leaving the weak strong
Stronger themselves from eating the weakness
Fungus of the soul
That is a special food
For these strange healers
The mind parasites sapping others strength
Are these healers
Food of immortality
The food of their gods
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(406) Tue 24 May 88 7:19
By: Hugh Read
To: All
Re: Avalokitsvara, or a crystal is not a diamond
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:c712 3a7010b8
The crystal Kuan Yin
Rooted within a human
Quiet ecstacy
That ancient being
Neither man nor a woman
Rainbow ecstacy
Healing other planes
Yielding non-human delight
Clear light ecstacy
The crystal Kuan Yin
Rooted in man or woman
Timeless ecstacy
The crystal Kuan Yin
Rooted within a human
Divine ecstacy
Divine Unity
Within the crystal Kuan Yin
The Crystal Body
The Crystal body
The Crystal Kuan Yin in my heart
Crystal ecstacy
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(407) Sun 29 May 88 1:51
By: J_Random Folksinger
To: all
Re: laws (1 of 8)
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 e7d10bd
YOUR HIGH PRIESTESS
In the Magic Circle, the words, commands, and wishes of the
High Priestess are Law. She is the earthly representative of our
gracious Goddess. She is to be obeyed and respected in all things.
She is our Lady and, above all others, a Queen in the highest
sense of the word. All female coveners will curtsy and say
"Blessed Be" when they come before Her, and all male coveners will
bend their knee and kiss Her on the right cheek and say "Blessed Be".
YOUR HIGH PRIEST
In the Magic Circle, the High Priest is the earthly
representative of the Great God. He commands the respect due a
Magus, Lord Counselor, and father.
THE LAWS
THE LAWS WERE MADE FOR THE WITCHES TO ADVISE THEM IN THEIR
TROUBLES. DO NOT CHANGE THEM LIGHTLY.
1. The Witches should worship the Gods as is their due, and obey
their will. For the worship of the Gods is good for the Witches
even as the worship of the Witches is good for the Gods: For the
Gods love all their Witches.
2. As a man loves a woman more by acquiring more knowledge of
her wants and desires, so should the Witches love the Gods by the
learning (mastering) of them.
3. It is necessary that the Magic Circle, which is the Temple of
the Gods in these times, be case and purified such that it may be a
fitting place for the Gods; and the Witches should be properly
prepared and purified to enter into the presence of the Gods.
4. With love and worship in their hearts the Witches shall raise
power from their bodies (and the elements around them), and they
shall offer this power to the Gods so that the Gods may help their
Witches.
5. The High Priestess shall rule her coven as the representative
of the Goddess, and the High Priest shall support her as the
representative of the God. The High Priestess will choose any
member of the coven to be her High Priest, if he has sufficient
standing in the cover. As the God Himself kissed our Lady's feet,
gave Her the five-fold salute, and offered Her His power because of
Her youth and beauty, Her sweetness and kindness, Her wisdom and
justice, Her humility, gentleness, and generosity, and shared His
power with Her, so therefore the High Priestess should always be
aware that all power comes from Him; it is only lent, to be used
wisely and justly.
6. The greatest virtue of a High Priestess shall be recognition
that youth is necessary to the representative of the Goddess. She
will, therefore, gracefully retire in favor of a younger covener
should the coven so decide in council. The true High Priestess
should realize that gracefully surrendering the pride of place is
one of the greatest virtues, and that thereby she will return to
that pride of place in another life with even greater power and
beauty.
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(408) Sun 29 May 88 1:53
By: J_Random Folksinger
To: all
Re: Laws (2 of 8)
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 eb810bd
7. In the Old Days, when there were many Witches, we were free
and worshipped freely in the greatest temples; but in these times,
we must celebrate our sacred mysteries in secret. Therefore, none
but the Witches is to see our mysteries; no coven shall know the
location of any other coven or who its members are, except the High
Priest, the High Priestess, and the Messenger; and that there shall
be no communication among the covens, except by the Messenger of
the Gods or the Summoner. Only if it is safe may the covens meet in
some safe place for the Great Festivals; and while there, none
shall give their true names or any information about their coven or
its members. This law is made for this reason: no one can tell
our enemies what they do not themselves know.
8. It is ordained that no one shall tell any person not in the
Craft who other Witches are, or give them names, or addresses, or
in any way tell anything that can betray a Witch to their face.
Nor may anyone tell where the covendom or covenstead is, where any
meetings are held, or any other information about the coven unless
directed to do so by the coven in council.
9. If anyone breaks these laws, even under torture, may the
Curse of the God and the Goddess be upon them, so that they may not
be reborn upon the Earth (but shall live forever in the Hell of
the Christians).
10. Let each High Priest and High Priestess govern their coven
with justice and love, with the help and advice of the other and of
the elders of the coven, always heeding the advice of the Messenger
of the Gods if he should arrive. They will heed all the
suggestions of their coveners and strive to settle any differences
among them.
11. It is recognized that there will always be people who will
try to make everybody agree with their ideas: these people are not
necessarily bad --they often have good ideas, and these ideas
should be discussed in council. But if they will not come to
agree with their other coveners, or if they say, "I will not work
with this High Priestess," then the elders will have them leave.
It should be suggested that they might join another coven, or if
they are of sufficient standing they may be encouraged to found
their own coven. For it is better this way, to avoid strife among
the family of Witches.
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(409) Sun 29 May 88 1:55
By: J_Random Folksinger
To: all
Re: laws (3 of 8)
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 efa10bd
12. When using geographic boundaries, whenever anyone of Third
Degree lives more than a league from the covenstead (or are about
to), any of these may found a new coven; indeed, any Witch living
within the covenstead who wishes to form a new coven will inform
the elders of this intention, and immediately move to a new
dwelling beyond the boundaries of known covensteads. Members of any
coven may choose to join the new coven when it is formed, but they
must totally avoid their old coven if they choose this course. The
elders of the old and new covens should meet in peace and love to
determine the boundaries of the covens. Any Witch living outside
of any two covens may choose to join either coven, but never both.
All may meet for the Great Festivals if the elders agree, so long
as they meet in peace and love. Let the elders confer as to the
use of this law when it is not directly applicable. Always be aware
that the splitting of a coven breeds bad feelings; this law was
made chiefly for this reason. And may happier times come!
13. If you would keep a Book (whether it is called a Black Book,
Book of Shadows, Book of Light, or whatever), write it in your own
hand. Let your brothers and sisters in the Craft copy as they will
from your book in their hand, but never let your Book out of your
hands and never keep the writing of another. Every Witch should
keep and guard their own writings, that none may be discovered
through their Book being found in another's possession.
14. Destroy your Book whenever danger threatens, and commit as
many as possible of these Laws to memory. Destroy the writings of
a deceased Witch if they did not have time to do so themselves. If
any of their writings are found, it is clear proof against both the
writer and the holder, for our enemies firmly believe that "one
may not be a Witch alone": their family and all who are known to
be friends may be suspected as Witches. Be responsible with your
writings and you will protect all who love you.
15. If your Book is found on you, it is clear proof against you
alone unless you tell our enemies what you know. You may be taken
and tortured, but keep all thoughts of the Craft from your mind.
If the torture is too much to bear, tell them, "I cannot bear this
torture. I will confess. What do you want me to say?" If they
try to make you talk about the Craft, do not; but if they try to
make you speak of absurd things, such as flying through the air,
consorting with the Christian devil, sacrificing children, or
eating men's flesh, say, "I held an evil dream; I was beside
myself; I was crazed," or words to that effect, to obtain relief
from the torture. Not all magistrates are bad -- if there is any
semblance of an excuse, they may show mercy. If you have confessed
to anything, deny it afterwards: say that you babbled under
torture, or that you don't remember what you said. If you are
condemned, do not be afraid, for the Craft is powerful and your
escape will be aided if you stand fast. If you go steadfast to
the flames, be certain that drugs will reach you and you will feel
nothing of the pain. You will only go to death and what lies beyond
-- the ecstasy of the God and the Goddess. If you betray
anything, however, there is no hope for you in this life or that
which is to come.
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(410) Sun 29 May 88 1:58
By: J_Random Folksinger
To: all
Re: laws (4 of 8)
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 f5210bd
16. To avoid being discovered, choose your working tools to be
ordinary items which you would have around the house. Make your
Pentacles out of wax so that you can break and melt them at once.
Do not keep a sword unless its presence would alarm no one. Have
no signs or names visible on anything: write the signs in ink or
water immediately before consecrating the tool, and wash them off
immediately after. Do not engrave anything, for this will only
help you be discovered. Keep your athame and kerfan (working
knife) among your kitchen knives, and let the colors of the hilts
determine the one from the other and from the other knives. Always
remember that we are the Hidden Children of the Goddess. Never do
anything to disgrace the Craft or Her --never boast, never
threaten, and never say that you wish ill of anyone.
17. It is not forbidden to say, "There is Witchcraft in the
land," for the Christians say so themselves and have made it heresy
not to believe so; but always say, "I know nothing of it here,
though it may be elsewhere." If any person speaks about the Craft
outside of the Circle, say, "Don't speak of such things -- it
frightens me. It is bad luck to talk about such things." Say this
for this reason: the Christians have their spies everywhere.
These spies have been known to talk as if they were drawn to the
Craft and as if they would want to come to our meetings, and they
say such things as, "My fathers and forefathers worshipped the Old
Ones, and my mother; I would like to worship in this way myself."
To all of these, tell them that you do not know what they are
talking about, and that you wish they would stop. But to others,
say, "It's silly to talk about Witches flying around in the air;
they would have to be lighter than feathers or thistle-down.
Besides, everyone knows that Witches are all bleary-eyed old hags;
what fun could they possibly have at their meetings, and why
should I want to participate? And besides, you know we were
taught in school that there are no such things as Witches." Always
make fun of the subject, that we may worship in peace when the
persecution ends: let us all work for that happy time. May the
blessing of the God and the Goddess be upon all who keep this law.
18. If any in the Craft holds any property, let all Witches
guard it and keep it clear and good for the use of the Craft. It
is the further responsibility of all Witches to guard Craft funds
wisely.
19. If any Witch offers a well-made item, it is proper to pay
them for it according to the value of the work; this is not taking
money for the Craft, but payment for honest work -- even the
Christians believe that "the labourer is worth his hire". Still,
if any Witch works willingly for the good of the Craft and will not
accept payment, this shall be to their greater honor.
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(411) Sun 29 May 88 2:00
By: J_Random Folksinger
To: all
Re: laws (5 of 8)
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 100f10bd
20. It is known that a coven may be bound together by sexual
ties, and that this is often not desirable. When it is found that
this is not desirable, the coven should be made up of loving
couples, and there may also be single coveners. In such cases, it
is required that the search for new love be undertaken outside the
coven except when two single coveners find love with each other;
otherwise, it will often cause division in the coven. For while
all acts of love and pleasure are indeed the rituals of our beloved
Goddess, She is not inclined to favor acts which divide her covens
and scatter Her Witches unnecessarily.
21. If there should arise quarrels or disputes among the
Witches, the High Priestess or High Priest shall immediately
convene the elders and inquire into the problem. The elders shall
hear each side separately, and then both together. Their decision
should be just, not siding with one side until the matter is
determined, recognizing that there are people who cannot work under
others, and others who cannot make wise decisions. To those who
must always be in charge, the possible solutions for them are to
void the coven alto-gether, find another coven for them, or for
them to found a new coven (taking with them all who will go). To
those who cannot rule wisely, the solution is that those who
cannot bear the rule will leave the coven. No one can truly
worship the Gods when personal conflicts among the coveners are not
resolved; all who cause strife in the coven must be told, "Go away
from us, for the Craft must ever survive."
22. In the Old Days, we could use the Art against anyone who
treated the Witches badly; but in these times, we must not do so.
Our enemies have invented a burning pit of everlasting fire into
which their God throws everyone who does not worship Him, except
for those few who buy their penance from His priests (for their God
always seems to be in need of money). Even as our Gods need our
aid to make fertility for people and crops, so it is that the God
of the Christians is always needing men to find and destroy us.
Their priests tell them that any man who is helped by us will be
damned to their Hell forever, to the point that men are mad with
the terror of it. But the priests also make them believe that they
may escape this Hell if they give up Witches to be tortured, so
that these men are always thinking, "If I catch only one Witch, I
will escape the fiery pit." For this reason we have our hiding
places, and when no Witches are found, the searchers will say,
"There aren't any Witches, or at least not in this area." But as
soon as one of our oppressors dies or even catches a cold, the cry
will go up that it is "Witches' work", and the hunt will be on
again. And while they may kill ten Christians for every Witch,
they will not care, for they are countless millions while we are
few indeed.
23. THEREFORE, IT IS ORDAINED that none shall use the Art in any
way to harm anyone or even wish them ill. However much they may
injure us, HARM NONE, and may the Christians forget that we exist.
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(412) Sun 29 May 88 2:02
By: J_Random Folksinger
To: all
Re: laws (6 of 8)
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 105110bd
24. These laws are ordained to help us in our difficulties. No
person, no matter how large the injury or injustice they incur, may
use the Art in any way to do evil or harm anyone. But they may use
the Art, after great consul-tation with the elders and fellow
coveners, to keep the Christians and their tools from harming
anyone -- but only to constrain them. To this end, some day men
will say, "That man says he is a mighty persecutor of Witches, but
all we ever see him torture are old women -- we cannot see that
they have hurt anyone, and if they are all such powerful Witches,
why has he not been harmed?" They will see him as an evil person
regardless of his professed beliefs. We know that too many people
have died because someone had a grudge against them, or were
persecuted because another wanted their wealth or because they were
too poor to bribe the witch-hunters. And many have died only for
being old women -- so many that most men now seem to believe that
only old women are Witches. This is to our advantage, for it turns
many suspicious eyes away from us; but we mourn deeply for the old
women. Still, in England and Scotland, it has been hundreds of
years since a Witch "died the death"; be vigilant, for the misuse
of our power might begin the persecutions again. Never break this
law no matter how much you are tempted. Never consent to the
breaking of this law: even a High Priestess who merely consents to
the breaking of this law must be deposed immediately, for it is the
blood of all the Witches that she endangers. DO ONLY GOOD, and then
only when it is safe to do anything at all.
25. Never accept money for the use of the Art, for money always
smudges the receiver. Christians take money for the use of their
arts, and they sell pot-metal charms, pardons, and potions to men
so that they may escape from their sins. Do not act like these
men; as long as you refuse to take money, you will be free from the
temptation to use the Art for evil causes. All may use the Art for
their own advantages, or for the advantage of the Craft, but you
must always be certain that no one will be harmed by its use. Let
the coven debate the use of the Art at length, and only when all
are satisfied that none will be harmed by its use will the use be
allowed. Remember that if you cannot achieve your means in one
fashion, your aim may still be reached through another -- always
harming none.
26. If anyone in the Craft needs a house or land and there is no
one willing to sell to them, you may use the Art to incline an
owner's mind to be willing to sell, provided that the spell does
not harm the owner or the property and that the full value is paid
without haggling. Never bargain or cheapen anything wile living by
the Art.
27. The most important of laws: Do nothing that will endanger
anyone in the Craft or which will bring them into conflict with the
law of the land or any of our persecutors. In this regard, it is
NEVER permissible, in any dispute involving the Craft, to invoke
any laws other than those of the Craft, nor may any tribunals be
held other than one consisting of the High Priestess, the High
Priest, and the elders.
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(413) Sun 29 May 88 2:04
By: J_Random Folksinger
To: all
Re: laws (7 of 8)
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 109110bd
28. The coven is to keep two books on herbalism: one of these
will list the names and uses of all herbs which are cures for ills
or are otherwise good for humans, and all may have access to this
book to learn these things. But keep a separate book with the
names of all poisonous herbs and those used in dark spells, letting
only the elders and other trusted Witches know of these secrets or
even of this book's existence.
29. Remember that the Art is the secret of the Gods and may only
be used in earnest -- never for show, or pride, or personal glory.
The Christians may taunt you saying, "You have no power: Perform
some magic for us, and then we may believe." Do not listen to
them, for the Art is holy and is to be used only in need.
30. It has always been the way of men and women that they should
seek after love, and while no one should be reproved for this, it
may be to the disad-vantage of the Craft sometimes. It has
happened too many times that a High Priestess has found a new love
and run off with him, giving no word to the coven of this. A High
Priestess may resign in full coven at any time, and this
resignation is valid; but if she has not resigned, the coven shall
wait for her to return for a year and a day (for she may return
sooner, having left for love). If she has a deputy, that deputy is
to act as Priestess for as long as the High Priestess is away. If
she returns within this time, all will be as if she had never left;
but if she does not return within this time, a new High Priestess
shall be elected in full coven. Unless there is a good reason to
the contrary, the deputy, having done the work, should reap the
reward and be chose as the new High Priestess. But if another is
chosen, the deputy shall be the maiden and deputy of the new High
Priestess.
31. The High Priest serves at the pleasure of the High
Priestess. If the High Priestess is gone for more than a year and
a day, he shall continue in his office while the deputy serves in
her place. However, once a new High Priestess has been chosen, the
new High Priestess will appoint her own High Priest (and it may be
the current High Priest or not). Neither the prior High Priest nor
his friends may be angry if a new High Priest is chose, for pride
must always give way to harmony in the coven.
32. The Art is sacred: it is the Art of the working of
energies, and it must always be taught inside of the Magic Circle.
It has been found that teaching the Art frequently leads to a
sexual attraction between the teacher and student -- and that this
often improves the result. If for any reason this is not
desirable, it should be avoided at the beginning by both persons
firmly - and verbally - resolving that their relations will be
limited to that of brother and sister, or parent and child. It is
for the reason that shared love often increases the result of
working magic that teaching should always be done from
man-to-woman and from woman-to-man. When a coven is made up of
members of all one sex, the masculine-to-feminine energy exchange
should be adhered to whenever possible. Teaching people about the
Craft, however, may be done whenever and wherever it is safe, so
long as the teacher is knowledgeable, the student is willing, and
the information taught is available publicly or is not a secret of
the Art. No one may charge for teaching, unless it is to cover
such expenses as the cost of the room, books or other printed
materials, refreshments, and so forth.
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(414) Sun 29 May 88 2:06
By: J_Random Folksinger
To: all
Re: laws (8 of 8)
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:d466 10c610bd
33. Order and discipline must be kept within the coven: the
High Priestess of the High Priest should and may punish all faults.
To this end, all in the Craft should receive their correction
willingly. With the culprit kneeling, all in the Circle should be
told of the offense, and the sentence will be pronounced.
Punishment might include the scourge or the recasting of the
Circle, followed by something silly such as several kisses. The
culprit must acknowledge the justice of the punishment by kissing
the scourge upon receiving sentence, and afterward by thanking
everyone for their loving correction.
SO MOTE IT BE!
Note to MagickNet friends and acquaintances: The above is a
combination of what I was taught and what I learned. Many
different sources, including my NeoGardnerian training, two
different sets of Celtic Craft laws, four versions found in print,
and the picked brains of several of my students, went into it.
(J. Random Folksinger)
--- Sirius 0.50
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(415) Fri 17 Jun 88 21:30
By: Mordecai Shapiro
To: Ammond Shadowcraft
Re: Re: Historical Jesus, part iv
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:0ac0 10d1abd6
RECOMMENDED FOR FURTHER READING
Maccoby, Hyam, "The Mythmaker: Paul and the invention of
Christianity" Harper & Row 1986.
-- presents some new historical criticism in the light of
Talmudic scholarship. clear, vivid writing throughout.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(416) Fri 17 Jun 88 21:35
By: Mordecai Shapiro
To: All
Re: Poem
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:0ac0 10d1ac7c
I am the Anticrowley
here to abolish all
necrophile-sycophants
who suck dry marrow
from long-dead bones
and leave fresh sap
of the world-ash to
feed mere fungi, molds,
bacteria, and snails.
Hear me, ye Crowleyan
fans and bigots,
the lowliest creatures of slime
are nobler than you!
For instead of turning shit
to life, you turn the brightest
shining gold to puerile turds
of deadest lead. You spurn
the truth that Man is God
and waste your worship
on a fat old fraud.
I am the Anticrowley
and I am angry that
even the word of Will
is bent by you, not
into a fitting yoke of
discipline, but into links
to forge a chain
to bind yourselves
to another's brain.
I am the Anticrowley.
I peck at the eyes
of Aleister as he dies
in purple ecstasy.
I spit on your
crapulous creed!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(417) Mon 20 Jun 88 10:23
By: Rowan Moonstone
To: Hugh Read
Re: Re: Hawaiian Myths
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:ee8a 52e010d4
Actually, this is the posting for ths chants that Devin did. My sysop
hasn't taken off therestrictions on posting on Mataphysical so the
only way I can get them in is to do it in "reply" mode.
Sorry.
God verses for the "Lady's Branle" on the Gwydion "Songs for the Olde
Religion"
The Hunter's call He leads in Fall
Through leaf and thorny brier.
In winter's cold He guards the hold
And harps beside the fire.
His children sing sweet in the spring
The fields are in His keeping.
He beards the corn that's summer born.
Ale's power lies a'sleeping."
words by Devin Storm
Lady weave Your Circle Chant (Goddess verse given to me by Lady
Phoenix coven of Our Lady of the Inner Sea, Dallas ,Tex. God verse
by Devin Storm, harper to Coven Amber Moon, OKC> OK
Lady weave your circle tight.
Spin a web of glowing light.
Earth and air, fire and water
Bind us to you.
Father in the coming night
Gather in your ancient might.
Sage and warrior,Horned hunter.
Guide us to You.
--- QuickBBS v2.01
* Origin: On The Edge BBS - (405)848-2828 - OKC's only source for
MAGI (1:147/4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(418) Sat 25 Jun 88 0:13
By: L.a. Hussey
To: J_Random Folksinger
Re: The Laws
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:0ac0 10d901b0
I am disturbed and disappointed. "The Christians are our
enemies." "They will torture you to make you talk about the Craft."
"Lie about the Craft." "Covens splitting up makes for bad
feelings."
What depressing garbage. This is the 20th century, and this is
America, this is not Inquisition days. The more we keep secret,
the more the ignorant will assume that we have horrible secrets to
keep. The true secrets of the Gods cannot be given away, because
they cannot be spoken -- they are beyond all language. And as for
bad feelings when covens break up, maybe that is how it is where
you are, but around here, there is rejoicing when one coven becomes
two. Seems to me like my best possible response to your "Laws" is
the following song:
BURNING TIMES
The songs are sung to rouse our anger of martyred Witches gone to
the fires,
But what is served by righteous singing, if all we do is stew in
our ire?
Nine million dead in four hundred years;
More in that time simply died of disease.
Why do we dwell on long past dead
When we are alive in times like these?
(cho)
Rise up, Witches, throw off your masks
And cease crying guilt for ancient crimes.
Earth and all Her children need us
For ALL face now the Burning Times.
In the face of that hostile power, how did the old knowledge stay
alive?
How have we still a Craft to practise? Our ancestors knew how to
fight and survive!
How do we honour our blessed dead?
Slavery threatens us all but few.
We must teach their cunning ways --
EVERYONE needs the skills they knew!
(cho2)
Rise up, Witches, gather your strength,
And let your power spread and climb;
Earth and all Her children need us
For ALL face now the Burning Times.
I will not cast off Science's works -- Witches all forces to Will
can bend;
I'll not accuse for war and waste some patriarchy of faceless men.
Men do not cast the only votes;
Women alone do not demonstrate.
Rather than shut out half the race,
Who if not we will change that state?
(cho2)
I will not blame a Father's Church -- blame and guilt are their
tools, not mine,
And even in the shuls and churches, allies there will I seek, and
find!
I will not answer hate with fear,
Nor with a smug, cheek-turning love.
I will not answer hate with rage;
By strength alone will I not be moved!
(cho2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(419) Sat 25 Jun 88 0:36
By: L.a. Hussey
To: J_Random Folksinger
Re: Burning Times, cont'd
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:0ac0 10d9049d
I will not hide in my sacred grove -- the fact'ries and cities yet
ring me
about;
I will not climb my ivory tower -- the real world exists tho' I
shut it out.
I will not work for Church nor State
Who serve themselves while they serve us lies,
Nor only for my Witchen kin,
But for the family of all alive!
(cho2)
So if rebellion means to fight a State lost sight of why it was
built,
If heresy's to reject a Church that rules with force or fear or
guilt,
Then let us all be rebels proud,
And shameless heretics by creed --
A tyrant's hand subjects the Earth,
More heretic rebels are what She needs!
(cho2)
(copyright 1988, Leigh Ann Hussey)
Did it ever occur to the writers of your antique laws that the
Craft might
actually be WELCOMED by a great number of people? That there
might actually
be more of us than of those who wish us ill? That the only reason
those who
fear us are so active nowadays is because they see us becoming
more and more
welcomed by more people? As I say in another song, "When folk in
sorrow turn
away/ From paths that lead to misery/ And seek new ways for
wholeness' sake/
Then waiting, ready shall we be."
All I can say is, I'm Goddess-glad I'm not in your tradition.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(420) Sat 25 Jun 88 0:38
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: The Darkness
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:0ac0 10d904da
As Pat suggested, I'm posting this here from the Magick
subsection...
From: L.a. Hussey Rec'd
To: Peri Andren Msg #109,
07-Jun-88 14:33
Subject: Re: How do you KNOW ?
No, Hugh is right. Modern Wicca is indeed a life-affirming
religion, and
life-sacrifice of any kind is looked on as repugnant. But it is
unquestionable that old paganism did involve sacrifices of both
animals and
humans.
And completely aside from that, the Goddess is not just the
nurturing Mother.
She is the Black Sow who devours her own young, she is the
scouring wind that
whips away all decay, She is the refiner's fire (to snatch a
phrase from the
Bible). The Craft ain't all sweetness and light, because life
itself is not.
Life lives off of death, as the ancients knew, and that's why She
is Demeter
Enraged, and Erishkegal, and Kali. She is the Crone who has heard
every plea
and throws you in the Cauldron anyway.
We work with symbols and images and archetypes, and these come
from the human
subconscious -- wherein, if we're healthy, dwell all manner of
dark and
uncontrollable forces. The difference between the yogi and the
schizophrenic
is the difference between a swimmer and a drowning person. We all
have our
dark side; the way to sanity is to accept that power and channel
it into
constructive uses, rather than to deny it and close it off
entirely. Shut out
the dark, and you may find it imploding on you, sucking you,
helpless, into
it. Indeed, we are not an ascetic religion, and that means that the
unconscious, the body, the irrational, sensuality, and all the
accompanying
things which Christianity embodied in their Devil, are for us an
important
part of ourselves, to be integrated with and not cut off from the
rational
mind, the intellect, and so forth. At one time, Apollo and
Dionysos (or if
you prefer the Celtic pantheon, Lugh and Cernunnos) were one God.
The
darkness is there, and it is welcoming, not forbidding. We need
no longer
make human sacrifice, but we also need not sacrifice our humanity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(421) Sun 26 Jun 88 9:24
By: Jonathan Miran
To: L.a. Hussey
Re: Expressing our dark side
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:5de8 4b1c10da
To follow up on your commentary, Leigh Ann, We look around this
world and find many people in the grips of acute depression. and
what is depression? It is anger turned inward in a destructive
manner. it is a failure to express our dark side in a useful and
life affirming way. I agree totally with your commentary: The Craft
is a religion of polarities and if we can't express the dark side
we can't express the light.
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Short Line - Denver, Colorado - (303)-969-9510
(1:104/36)
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(422) Tue 28 Jun 88 20:12
By: Laura Creighton
To: Jonathan Miran
Re: what is depression
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dca182
One of my good friends, Chuck Guerigues, has been studying
depression for more than 30 years. He says that it used to be
orthodox belief that all depression was anger turned inward, but
that this view is far too limited. While it is indeed true that
some depression, and perhaps even most depression is anger turned
inwards, there are a significant number of depressed people who are
not angry at all. Certain depression is merely a chemical
inbalance, for instance, and sometimes can even be cured by
proper diet. Others he has treated have experienced a particular
vision of the world as all-suffering, which is powerful enough to
colour their entire experience. Some people he has met are only
depressed because they believe that their depression is caused by
an inner anger which after years of serching they are unable to
find. Some people produce depression out of fear, or joy, or some
other strong emotion which they do not know how to express, or for
some reason do not desire to express. Depression is very complex.
If you are depressed and can't find a reason that you are angry,
don't give up -- this may not be your problem at all.
Sorry if this is too heavy -- you pushed a major button of mine.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(423) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:15
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: New Book of the Law, Preface
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dd01f9
THE NEW BOOK OF THE LAW
[sources: The Book of The Law, The Old Laws for the Old Religion,
The Great
Book of the Law, The Dragon Law]
Preface: In my years of teaching and running a group, I have
always had a dissatisfaction with the popular "Book of the Law"
available to most Seekers. I felt it to be too archaic in its
wording and perspective -- and while it was valuable in the Burning
Times, it simply does not deal with the concerns and needs of
"modern-day" Witches. Over the years I became familiar with
several other sets of Laws. Each of these had many good points,
yet they also had their disadvantages as well.
Recently, I decided to do something daring -- I took the four
different versions of the Laws which I had, and combined and
reworked them. I deleted what was no longer pertinent or
meaningful, rewording others to make them clearer and more
understandable, as well as throwing in a few new ones which I felt
had been lacking.
I believe that what has evolved out of this work is a set of Laws
which are readable, usable, and most importantly, pertinent to the
needs of today's Witches and Neo-Pagans. It is with these thoughts
and hopes that I would like to share them with you. If you should
find merit or worth in them, then I will
feel as though I have accomplished something. The material in this
booklet has not been copyrighted, so you may reproduce the Laws for
students or friends, or reprint them in your publication. It is my
sincere hope that the New Book of the Law will be of use to the
Craft Community.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(424) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:16
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: New Book o' Law 1
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dd0215
PART ONE
1. The Laws were created to give our lives form and order, that
all might be balanced throughout all of the planes. In truth there
are two sets of laws which govern us -- one sets forth the ways of
the Wiccan, an dthe oter the ways
of the Universe. Both are important, both should be observed with
respect and treated with honor. The Laws were shaped and molded to
teach us, to advise us,
and to counsel us in our time of mortal life on earth.
2. Honor the Gods, for They are the channels and the manifestation
of the Source. Honor yourself, for this force also lies within
you. Love the Gods as
They love you, and by loving yourself and your brothers and
sisters, so the Gods shall honor you. As the love and joy of a man
and a woman [or "lover and beloved" -- LAH] flowers and grows when
nurtured with respect, and cultivated with understanding
and honor, so should you love the Gods.
3. The Goddess is the Great Mother, and the God is the Great
Father, and we are
Their children; and we shall worship Them, for They are the rulers
of the Universe, and all that is therein. Therefore, O Children of
the Gods, try Them
not, nor attempt to test Them, for They shall show you that he
Ways of the Craft are not to be belittled or mocked.
4. Let the Power of the Craft flow from you only in love -- or not
at all. For
it has always been known that the energy webs which we weave and
maintain shall
eventually return to encircle their creator. Thus our works
become either the net which entagles and binds us, or th eweb of
light by which we find the Gods.
5. Let the Rites of the Wicca be a way for the children of the
Gods to be as One -- for Power only flows when unified. Always
should you revere the Earth, and heal and tend Her, for She is our
life, our Mothership, on which we navigate the dark currents of
space.
6. When you reap the harvests of your lands, then you shall not
reap one corner
of the field, nor glean the herb gardens, or the fallen fruits of
the orchards.
These you shall offer to the Earth Mother, in direct return, or
through offerings made to your Circle, or to sustain its Priests
and Priestesses.
7. Always be proud to be of the Wicca, but do not allow your pride
to become vanity -- for those who are conceited are a stubling
block at the door of the Temple, and they shall be cast adrift, to
swim within their own vanity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(425) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:21
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: New Book o' Law 2
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dd02a7
8. Observe and listen, reserving your judgement, for until all the
silver is weighed, who can know the worth thereof?
9. As like breeds like, even more so does good beget love and joy.
Your life will be full of love and joy if you are joyful and happy.
10. Your teachers are the servants of the Gods, and they shall
plant the seeds of knowledge within the minds of their students,
and they shall use their power
for the good of the Wicca. Yet it is each individual's duty to
tend the seeds which are planted, and to make the final harvest.
Those who misuse the power and the trust of the teacher's position
shall have to answer to the Lords of Karma, and adjust the balance
accordingly.
11. The Temples of the Gods, which are Their abode on Earth, shall
belong to all Their children, and each Circle shall be as a special
family. Do naught against any Temple or any family of the Wicca,
lest you do that thing unto the Gods, and against yourself.
12. You must not be a teller of tales amongst the children of the
Goddess, and you must hold no malice or evil thoughts towards
others of the Wicca.
13. You should not lie, nor give false testimony before your
Elders, or those who are of the Wicca -- for liars are fools, and a
menace unto themselves, and to the Wicca. Be truthful in all your
works and deeds, especially within the Circle, for what you say
within the presence of the Gods becomes manifest.
14. You must not put stumbling blocks in the way of those who do
not follow the
Path of the Wicca. You must make no unrighteous judgements of
their ways, and you should aid them with an attitude of love when
it is asked for. Yet ever should you keep the Counsel of the
Elders, and reveal naught to others of where
our Circles may be, nor may you reveal our ways without the
consent of the Priestess.
15. When you make a vow to the Lord or the Lady, or you swear an
oath to another of the Wicca, then you must do all that has come
forth from your mouth,
for a covenant with the Gods, or with the Wicca, is your Honor,
and woe to those who care not for the fetters they attach to their
souls by not keeping their word.
16. The Great Mother and Father would not have their children
suffer the indignities of oppressors for their sake, for what is
within the hearts of Their children is dear and true to Them. The
Ancient and Mighty Ones shall cause the balance to be made for
those who desecrate the Lord and Lady, Their temples, or Their
creations.
17. Never shall you use Magick, nor the Craft, to cause harm, for
this is misuse of the Power, and it is not to be condoned. To
cause the death of another through the Craft is to require the
death of the Self in sacrifice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(426) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:22
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: New Book o' Law 3
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dd02c2
18. Never betray any of the brethren, nor the lore of our people,
for you are all servants of the Gods, and must live by the virtues
of love, honor and wisdom. Let truth, loyalty and honor be your
creed. Let them be your guides, tempered by love and wisdom.
19. The Order of the Gods shall you keep, and within Their Circles
shall you walk. You should not say "I believe" when you doubt, nor
claim to obey the Lord and Lady's word when you never enter into
the Temple. You must not profess with your lips that which is not
in your heart.
20. Do not use the names of the Gods in negative or evil ways, for
They love and cherish Their children above all others. All others
They love, even those who know them not. Yet those who hate and
curse in Their name shall have the Mighty Ones take the measure of
their worth.
21. In any disputes between the children of the Goddess, no one
may invoke any laws but those of the Craft, or any tribunal but
that of Priestess, Priest, and
Elders.
22. No one of the Wicca may do anything which will endagner the
Craft, nor bring any of the Wicca into conflict with the Law of the
Land, or with any of our persecutors.
23. Your magickal tools are channels to that which is most
precious and pure within you. Do not cheapen them by haggling
their price when you acquire them.
24. Never accept money for the use of the Power. It is sorcerors
and charlatans who accept money for their spells and prayers. If
you accept no money, you will be free from the temptation to use
the Craft for evil or unworthy causes.
25. You shall never take unduly from any human, animal or
elemental that which is not yours to take -- for if you steal from
another, in the end you will have
to sacrifice something dearer to you in order to attain the balance.
26. Show honor to all people, that they may look up to you, and
respect you, and their eyes shall become a mirror for your soul.
27. Those who are of the Wicca shall not own slaves, for one
person may not own
the spirit of another, for only the Great Mother and Father own
our souls. Nor
shall you take as a pledge any person's life, for to do so is to
take upon yourself both a mill and a millstone.
28. If a stranger sojourns with you, you shall do them no wrong;
they shall be as one of the Circle, born amongst ye, and you shall
deal with them as you would yourself.
29. Just weights and just balances shall be given by you, and just
value shall you give, and thereby receive threefold.
30. Your altars shall be kept clean, pure and holy, and all that
is brought into the Temple or the Circle shall be cleansed and
blessed, for the joy of the
Gods, and of the Wicca.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(427) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:22
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: New Book o' Law 4
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dd02d8
31. A clean mind should have a clean body. You should keep your
body, your clothes, and your house clean, in honor of the Mother,
who gives these things to you.
32. Let none die without honor, without love, without respect,
unless their actions have decreed otherwise.
33. You should not couple together if it shall cause pain,
jealousy or deprivation to another by doing so. Union for malice
or evil reasons such as these upsets the balance, and the Lords of
the Universe shall make adjustments accordingly.
34. Let those who would love, and would be as one, and bear child,
be handfasted. For the sharing of love in this manner is
beauteous, and love's union in the energy of the Gods, and the
heritage of the child. It is important for children to know and to
identify with those who brought them here.
35. The Law of the Goddess is that none of the Wicca shall take
and wed someone
who they do not love, whether it is to harm another, or for some
form of material gain.
36. Remember that your children are Goddess-spawned, and are free
spirits. You
do not own nor control them. They are your brethren, come to
visit for a while, that they may share in the vision of your love
and wisdom. Let each parent realize that although they may teach
and guide with love, the child shall also teach the parent, and aid
them in their growth and lessons.
END OF PART ONE
PART TWO
37. The etheric web and energy vortexes of the earth are in
constant flux and motion to adjust to the needs of the planet. The
sacred trust of the Wicca is to create and to maintain centers of
light and knowledge, using the magick of the divine spark within us
to focus and channel the forces of the Universal fire. And these
are the channels established between the worlds of the stars and
the realms of the earth, bringing in and regulating the spirit
flames which energize and activate all life forms. Thus we tend
and guard the threads of creation, and we weave the patterns of
life and manifestation in an ever-evolving tapestry.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(428) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:23
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: New Book o' Law 5
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dd02ef
38. Never use your heritage or position for self-glorification or
gain. Respect your magick and our ways. We must always recognize
that while others may look to us to lead them, they too are our
guides.
39. Keep yor body strong, your mind keen, and your purpose pure,
for within your being you shall channel the Power, and it needs to
be strong and pure. And these are the keys to the path of Oneness,
and to communication with the Gods. Yet first you must learn to
speak to Them in such a manner as They can comprehend you. For the
children of the Wicca must aid the Gods, and work with Them,
otherwise the Gods cannot aid and work with you. Ever remember
that the Priest and Priestess are the living representatives of the
God and Goddess Forces, and likewise that all humans carry these
forces within them, though they may lie dormant and unawakened.
40. As the Great Mother and Father come unto one another and
create with the pure vibration of Love-Wisdom, so should you strive
to make your Temple pure in vibration, and thus a fitting place
wherein you may invite the Gods. Thus, your Circle should always
be duly purified and cast, and likewise, those who would use the
gateways and travel the Circle between the earth and other realms
should also be duly prepared and purified.
41. The Goddess hath said, "I shall not carry thee, yet neither
shall I hinder thee, nor keep thee from having the same
opportunities as all of my children. Thou art free, yet thou shalt
not be coddled like babes in the storm. If thou hast true devotion
within thee, then all obstacles may be overcome."
42. The laggard is but half a person -- and though half is better
than none, the whole is twice as good as the half. Those who do
not work, or who lack the will and desire to learn the ways of the
Gods, unto them is said, "The Ancient and Mighty Ones shall not
keep thee within their house, if ye learneth not."
43. A sanctuary you shall make unto the Gods, that They may dwell
amongst you. And you shall fashion it to the best of your ability,
according to all tha your Elders shall show you, and pure energy
shall you place therein.
44. An altar shall you make to unto the Lady, and you shall make
due reverence unto Her, for every place where She is exalted, She
will come to you and bless you. And you shall fashion your altar
out of wood or stone, and burn incense and candles thereon, at the
proper times, in observance of her ways.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(429) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:24
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: New Book o' Law 6
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dd030a
45. You should set aside at least one day during each moon unto
the Goddess, and on these days you shall do Her work; and on those
days She shall renew Her children and bless them.
46. Learn to build your own Temple, and to craft your own sacred
Circle, and all the tools that are used therein -- for to be a
person of the Craft is to be a person of consequence.
47. Let each of you inscribe your own record of our ways and
teachings. For the course of each Wiccan should be charted, that
the patterns of their life-web may be made known and utilized. Let
each Wiccan start their Book of Light with the teachings and lore
of their tradition, yet let it also contain the rites and ways of
each individual, which are the harvest of each child of the Wicca,
to use the wisdom of their heritage as the seeds of their own
wisdom. Thus shall our lore and knowledge continue to grow and
unfold, like a beautiful flower.
48. It is right to study and to understand the sigils, statues and
stories of the Gods, for they shall guide your thoughts to Them,
and They shall hear them.
Yet you must ever remember that you worship not the sign nor the
statue, but the Gods which inspired them.
49. If your Circle owns any land, let all guard it, and help to
keep it clean. Let all justly guard all monies of the Circle, as
well as the rights and property of all members of the Circle.
50. If any Wiccan truly labors, then it is right that they should
have their just pay. This is not considered the taking of money
for the Art, but good and honest work. Yet if any Wiccan works
willingly for the good of the Craft, or for their brothers and
sisters without pay, then it is to their greatest honor.
51. If any Wiccan should deny themselves some pleasure or material
indulgence in order to do service in the Circle, this person shall
be blessed and remembered. For those who give for the greater good
of all shall have their spirit uplifted.
52. Know also that if you gift the Lady's Priests and Priestesses,
or Her Circles, this is an offering made unto the Mother Herself,
for a true Priest or Priestess strives always to do Her work, and
to be of service to Her children, so to honor and respect them is
to honor and respect the Queen of All.
53. And the offerings which are considered the most pleasing to
the Gods are these:
the fruits of the orchards
the scents of the trees and herbs
the metals of the earth
the waters of the earth
the flowers of the meadows
and the milk of all mothers.
Yet offerings of labor or money are honest too, and these will
also be accepted
-- moreso if you work with love in your heart, for always there is
work to be
done for the Gods, and service to be given to the children of the
Wicca.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(430) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:25
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: New Book o' Law 7
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dd0326
54. If your offerings are made to restore the balance, it must by
of a nature that it not offensive to the Gods. It must be of
value, yet given with a free heart. Thus shall the harmony be
restored. If your offerings are given with a heart filled with
love and devotion, or are of service to the Gods, or to the Craft,
then shall you receive blessings manifold.
55. And when you make an offering unto the Gods, you should offer
it thru the most proper medium, at the proper times, and in such a
manner as to make it acceptable. Any and all remains of the
rituals shall be consumed in the fire, or buried within the Earth,
as a way of returning to the Source all that we use in the
observance of our ways, thus ensuring the continuity of the cycle.
56. All may use the Craft to help and aid them, or for the
advantage of their Circle, or the Craft -- yet only if you are sure
that you harm none. Let each Wiccan and Circle always debate these
matters at length. Only if all be satisfied that none be harmed in
any way, may the Art then be used. If it is not possible to
achieve your ends one way, then perhaps the goal may be achieved by
actng in a different way, so as to harm none.
57. Throughout the world it has been many a year since Wiccans
have been burned. Yet misuse of the Power might raise the
persecutions once again. So never break the Laws, however much you
might be tempted, and never consent to their being broken. And if
you know they are being broken, then you must work strongly against
it.
58. In days of old it was decided by the Mighty Ones who came
before us that the Art might be used to restrain others from
harming the Craft or its children, yet only after great
consultation with all members of the Circle, and only then to
deflect or to constrain them.
59. And such were the ways of the Lady that She brought us forth
in joy, and such were the Ways of the Lord that His reign gave all
life pleasure. Offer love in your worship and all shall be joyous
in beauty.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(431) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:26
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: New Book o' Law 8
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dd0348
PART THREE
60. In the dimly remembered dawn of ages past, the Wicca were
truly free. Then, in Atlantis came the Age of the Misuse of Power,
followed by the Ages of Persecution and Suffering. Thus the people
of the Wicca hid themselves and cloaked their knowlege, and wove
veils of secrecy and silence. And this is how the Ways of the
Wicca have been preserved through the time of darkness. Yet much
of the ways of our people were lost to the ignorance of others.
61. Yet the cycle spirals ever on -- and the Age of the Earth
Mother once again draws nigh. We must be strong -- one with our
birthright, and one with our Gods, if we are to bring forth the
balance. Those who would harm us, or attempt to enslave us, we
must overcome -- yet only through light and love, and never through
violence or the evil of chaos. And through our efforts the time of
our people will come into being once more. In the times which lie
ahead, there lies much work to be done, so that oncemore the cycles
of life are drawn to the path of light, and the balance acheived
through the power of love.
62. In order to bring the ways of Light and Love and Life to the
peoples of the Earth, our secrets are slowly becoming secrets no
more, and it is good that this is so -- for the age of shadow and
secrecy is passing. Yet the sharing of our ways needs always to be
guided by wisdom and by love. Let our rites and our mysteries be
kept sacred. Let no one defile our worship or our heritage. For
the defilement of our ways is an honor loss to self, and for the
Craft.
63. Let each High Priestess govern her Circle with justice and
Love, and with the help and advice of the Elders and the High
Priest, always heeding the messages of the Gods when they come.
64. Ever remember that although the Priest is the force with which
the Circle is built, the Priestess is the ruler therein -- for it
is through her that the Goddess created the world, and all things
therein.
65. The High Priestess will heed all complaints of all Pagans and
Wiccans, and strive to settle any differences between them with
reason and with justice.
66. Let each Circle of Light decide how it shall be known --
whether by earthly name or magickal one. For each child of the
Wicca knows best the safety or dangers of their homeland.
67. Let each Circle or Temple maintain and dedicate unto the
Goddess and the God all the things that are required for Their
rituals, for what is blessed in the name of the Gods rightly
belongs to Them, and the Priest and Priestess shall be the
caretakers thereof.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(432) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:27
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: New Book o' Law 9
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dd0360
68. Anyone of the circle who is of sufficient rank, and wishes to
form a new Circle, shall tell the High Priestess and the Elders of
their intentions. Members of the old Circle may join the new Circle
when it is formed, but if they do so they must leave the other
Circle, unless otherwise instructed. For it is the Old Law that
each Wiccan may join the Circle of their choice, yet their energy
should not be divided between two or more Temples.
69. The Elders of the old and new Circles shall meet in peace and
with respect, to decide the level of interaction and connection
between the Circles. Yet it is known that the splitting of a
Circle often means strife. So only if it is truly in a spirit of
peace and harmony should the Circles meet for the celebration of
the Great Festivals.
70. None shall enter the Circle that have a sickness or an ailment
which may be passed on to the Lady's other children -- for to do so
causes harm to yourself, as well as to the others of the Circle.
Rather should the Healers go unto the sick one, that through the
love of the Gods they shall be made well and whole once more.
71. It has been judged lawful that if any of the Craft need a
house, or land, and none will sell, to incline someone's mind so as
to be willing to sell, providing it harms none and the full price
is paid without haggling.
72. In the matter of quarrels or disputes between the members of
the Circle, the High Priestess shall convene the Council, and
inquire into the matter. The Council shall hear each person
privately, and then both together. And they shall decide justly,
not favoring one side nor the other.
73. If an agreeable resolution cannot be reached, then that Wiccan
must leave the Circle, for a Circle of Light cannot be properly
formed where there is disagreement and discord. And when a Circle
is not properly formed, the energy within is either dissipated, or
turns ugly, festering like a hidden sore. So let them leave, but
only with love in their hearts and yours, for even though your
paths may diverge, you are still all children of the Wicca, and
there must be no violence between us. Bear no grudges, hold no
thoughts of vengeance, for this will rot away the foundation of
your power.
74. It has ever been recognized that there are some people who can
never agree to work under any others. At the same time there are
also people who cannot rule justly. To those who must ever be
chief there is but one answer: "Void this Circle, and seek another
one, or if ye be of sufficient rank, then form a Circle of your
own." To those who cannot rule justly, the answer shall be
"Those who cannot bear your rule will leave you." For none may
come to Circle
with those with whom they are at variance, for to do so angers the
Gods, and hinders the Craft.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(433) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:27
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: New Book o' Law 10
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dd037a
75. Those that do wrong without knowlege shall be held innocent;
those that do wrong through carelessness shall be judged lacking in
wisdom, and dealt with according to the nature of the
transgression. Those who do wrong with deliberation and
forethought shall be thrice punished, and the Lords of Karma shall
lay low their pride.
76. Each person must make a balance for their words and actions,
and the judgements of the Elders should incline to try to make good
come from the injustice or wrong-doing. Many are the ways to
restore the balance, so let the judgements of the Elders and the
Priestess be in keeping with this.
77. Do not turn aside those who seek the ways of the Wicca for the
want of an offering or the lack of a robe. You are the servants of
the Gods, and the servants of Their people, and those that seek for
the Gods you must aid in their quest.
78. Of those who would inquire as to the ways of the Goddess, or
who wish to become of the Wicca, ye shall search their hearts, and
even into their spirits you shall look, as you are able. For the
Wicca do not look to acquire mere numbers. Let none be turned away
if their hearts are true, and their desire earnest.
79. The hidden children are like the strings of a harp: each one
may give a clear note, and when gathered together in sympathy and
accord, they shall give rise to a beautiful symphony. Yet when
struck without reason or thought, these notes may cause discord or
disharmony. Therefore the Gods decree to Their Teachers and
Priests that all must be taught to master their harp, and to pluck
their strings with care, that they cause no discord or imbalance.
80. Choose the Priests and Teachers of the Wicca with diligence
and with care. The qualities that you should search for within them
are Faith, Belief, Knowledge, Ability, Patience, Leadership,
Humility, and a loving nature -- for they must lead and teach the
children of the Goddess, and will thereby have the power to do
great good, or to cause great imbalance.
81. In practice it should be that the greatest of the Priests and
Priestesses should guide the rituals within each of the Temples of
the Old Gods, and truly you should be content with the advice and
guidance given by them. Yet ever it should be given so that it is
clear and understandable, for within the Temple each of the Wicca
is free, and thus they should be able to recognize and to
understand our ways and their implications. And those who cannot
explain the inner workings, or give just cause and reason for their
decisions, may be questioned, or the wisdom of the advice weighed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(434) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:28
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: New Book o' Law 11
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dd0393
82. Let the Priestess and Priest lead as long as they are able,
and their leader
ship be wise and strong, and to the benefit of the Wicca. Yet if
their health is ill
-favo red, or if the next generation needs to try their hand, then
let them have the v
ision
and the wisdom to step away from their position, and pass the
duties of the Cir
cle t
o another. Let them not become overly attached to the office, nor
too fond of t
he po wer.
83. If a Priestess or a Priest should tire of their duties and
charges, then the
y may
step down, but only after having trained and acknowledged a
successor. If a Pr
iest
or Priestess deserts their Circle, then they have lost the right
to ever lead ag
ain w ithin this life, so great a trust they have broken. If they
should return to th
e Cir cle within one turn of the Wheel, and are judged to have true
atonement in their
hear ts, new insight and growth, then they may be forgiven, and
allowed to return to
the C ircle, yet they shall worship only, and hold no office or
title. Leadership is
a sac red commitment and an honor, and they have shown that they
cannot be trusted wit
h suc h responsibility.
84. Any Priestess, Priest, or Elder who consents to a breach of
the Laws regardi
ng th e use of the Craft to cause harm to others must immediately
be relieved of their
offi ce, for it is the lives of the children of the Goddess which
they endanger, as w
ell a s the honor of the Craft.
85. The High Priestess may take a Sabbatical from her Circle, if
her personal li
fe an d duties require it, for up to a year and a day. During that
time, the Maiden s
hall act as High Priestess. If the High Priestess does not return
at the end of a ye
ar an d a day, then the Initiates of the Circle shall name a new
Priestess. Unless th
ere i s good reason to the contrary, the person who has done the
work of the Priestess
shou ld reap the reward. If someone else is named, then the
Maiden should continue i
n tha t office.
86. Each Priestess and Priest shall choose their own consorts, yet
let them be w
ise i n the learning of our people, and thus others shall abide by
the wisdom of their
choi ce. Yet if the Circle feels the decision is ill-advised, or
that they cannot ab
ide a nd work in honor and trust with that consort, then they may
request a gathering
of al l concernted to meet and to talk, and to resolve the balance
with love and honor
Fo r only those who are pure and strong, keen and wise, patient
and loving, can eff
ectiv ely and properly carry out the duties of a Keeper of the
Circle.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(435) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:29
By: L.a. Hussey
To: All
Re: New Book o' Law 12
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10dd03ac
87. Those of the Priesthood shall not neglect their mates, or
their children, or
thei r house, nor anything which is in their possession; nor shall
the sick and the n
eedy be neglected for the sake of the Circle. Therefore let them
adjust the one thin
g aga inst the other, that neither should suffer, and that which is
given by the Gods
is tr eated with love and respect.
88. Long ago, at the time of Creation, it was deemed that the
female should hold
the power of life-giving. And such was the male force drawn to
the love and beauty
of th e Creation of life, that he surrenders unto her keeping the
force of his powers
in th e furtherance of life. Yet the Priestess must always
remember that the fuel of
the f lames which light the fires within her Temple comes from the
Priest. Thus she m
ust u se the force wisely, and only with love, and she must honor
and respect he who i
s the
activator of the Life Force.
HERE ENDS THE NEW BOOK OF THE LAW.
Published by: The Grove of the Unicorn PO Box 13384 Atlanta, GA
30324
Ordering Information: Send Legal size SASE A small contribution
towards printing/handling costs will be appreciated.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------
To this I would add only one more admonishment, based on my own
experience: It is as important not to take oneself, one's power,
and one's Craft too seriously as it is not to take them too
lightly. Moderation in all things, including moderation. And
remember that all acts of love and pleasure are the rites of the
Goddess, and this includes HAVING FUN.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(436) Thu 30 Jun 88 9:55
By: Josh Gordon
To: All
Re: Liber OZ
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:954a 10de4ef6
Oz:
"the law of
the strong;
this is our law
and the joy
of the world."
AL. II. 21
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."
-AL. I. 40
"thou hast no right but to do thy will. Do that, and no other
shall say nay." - AL. I. 42-3.
"Every man and every woman is a star."--AL. I. 3.
There is no god but man.
1. Man has the right to live by his own law--
to live in the way that he wills to do:
to work as he will:
to play as he will:
to rest as he will;
to die when and how he will.
2. Man has the right to eat what he will:
to drink what he will:
to dwell where he will:
to move as he will on the face of the earth.
3. Man has the right to think what he will:
to speak what he will:
to write what he will:
to draw, paint, carve, etch, mould, build as he will:
to dress as he will:
4. Man has the right to love as he will:
"take your fill and will of love as ye will,
when, where, and with whom ye will."--AL. I. 51.
5. Man has the right to kill those who would thwart these rights.
"the slaves shall serve." -- AL. II. 58
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(437) Fri 1 Jul 88 12:06
By: Brad Hicks
To: All
Re: If You Had Told Me 3 PSGs Ago ...
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:0 22cc6714
IF YOU HAD TOLD ME 3 PSG'S AGO ...
* that there wasn't going to be a ritual fire * that all of the
parties would be over by 2 a.m. * that I'd see a horde of ecstatic
dancers prancing around two candles * that we could lose about half
of our regulars without the population decreasing noticeably * that
there'd be no applause between announcements in the Village Meeting
* that the drumming would all but stop most nights around midnight
* that there'd be seven crowded tracks of programming * that
there'd be no potluck * that we would hear no amplified rock-n-roll
music in the evenings * that we could get about half of the
Gathering to all wear the same uniform (in this case, tie-die) *
that Selena would suggest that a nine-inch plastic Statue of
Liberty would be an adequate substitute for a Solstice ritual
fire--and say it with a straight face * that we'd someday see
people stand in line--to use a microphone, no less--to make
announcements at the Village Meeting * that there'd be only a few
people in SCA garb * that even after midnight, most people would be
sober * that there'd someday be only two people in Ar nDraiocht
Fein uniforms * that we could have a PSG with no bonfires at all *
that there'd be no Variety Show * that we could go a whole week
without seeing glazed eyes and dialated pupils * that there'd be
not one but several flashlight-lit processionals * that we'd see a
member of the staff of a state Governor wearing a spirit bag and
leading a workshop * that almost no one would sing "Give Me That
(Real) Old Time Religion" * that a men's mysteries ritual would be
on the schedule, but not women's mysteries * that we'd have dozens
of small children, but almost no teenagers * that people could and
would walk out of an energized circle in the main evening ritual *
that a computer bulletin board sysop would be considered a "group
leader" for the purpose of the Group Leader's session * that
someone would bring a computer to the PSG--and use it * that the
Med Tent wouldn't be talking about sex all the time--that instead
they'd be talking about when they used to talk about sex * that
almost nobody would be skyclad, most of the time--but that Dennis
would * that we'd have someone selling pyramids and another person
leading a UFO contactee's "support group" * that every member of
the Gathering's security detail would make a point of carrying
swords * that there'd be so little screwing that even Shiva was
only seen coming out of one tent * that the people at the Village
Meeting would all sit facing the same direction instead of in
concentric circles, and that there'd be no arguments during the
Village Meetings, and that they'd end mostly on time * that there'd
be almost no rituals except the ones scheduled for the main,
official evening rituals * that the Summer Solstice wouldn't even
be during the PSG *
.. I WOULD'VE SAID THAT YOU WERE CRAZY.
--- Sirius 0.50
* Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-741-2231 * (Opus 1:100/523)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(438) Thu 7 Jul 88 17:29
By: Brad Hicks
To: All
Re: Welcome to METAPHYSICAL
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:0 22d50619
MAGICKNET, MUNDANE, and METAPHYSICAL are semi-restricted echos.
This message is intended to serve as a periodic reminder of those
rules. It is a =summary=, so for more details please see the file
MAG-POL.TXT or MAG-POL.ARC, which should be available on any BBS
which carries this echo.
DEFINITIONS OF THE ECHOS:
MAGICKNET: This is the normal Neopaganism, Witchcraft & Magick
echo. Newcomers and the casually curious are welcome, and any topic
relevant to Neopaganism, Witchcraft, Magick, the New Age, or Pagan
Rights may be discussed here. Discussions of only marginal
relevance to the topic(s) will be strongly encouraged to move to
MUNDANE.
METAPHYSICAL: Only messages of magazine-article quality should
be posted in Metaphysical. Replies to articles posted in
METAPHYSICAL should be posted in MAGICKNET. Each and every sysop
is responsible for enforcing this rule on their own system, and
users who are not trusted to follow this rule should =not= be
permitted to post to this echo. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should
unvalidated, first-time callers be permitted to post in METAPHYSICAL.
MUNDANE: This echo is a general-purpose chatter channel which
was created so that MAGICKNET echo participants could continue any
conversation that was ruled irrelevant to MAGICKNET.
RULES FOR ALL MAGICKNET ECHOS:
1) All nodes which make these echos available to the public or
which distribute them to other systems =must= carry all three echos.
2) Any node which is carrying these echos legally may distribute
it LOCALLY, but must inform Brad Hicks, at 1:100/523, as soon as
they do so.
3) No node shall distribute these echos outside their local
calling area without first obtaining permission from Brad Hicks, at
1:100/523.
4) No message which is blatantly illegal in content shall be
entered into the MagickNet echos. The only exception will be for
messages regarding legitimate religious practices or beliefs which
are or may be made illegal.
5) No message which is intended to harrass someone because of
their religious beliefs, or to convert them to another religion,
shall be entered into any of the MagickNet echos. No exceptions
will be made to this rule, even in the MUNDANE echo.
6) No message which is irrelevant to the topics of Neopaganism,
Witchcraft, and Magick shall be entered into MAGICKNET or into
METAPHYSICAL. For this rule, a warning will be issued, and in
general the conversation will be permitted to continue in the
MUNDANE echo.
7) No message which contains unnecessary profanity or personal
insults shall be entered into any of the MagickNet echos. Only one
warning will be issued to any violator. This includes messages in
the MUNDANE echo.
ENFORCEMENT
In brief: each sysop is responsible for his or her own users, and
must ensure that users which violate any of the above rules will
not post to MagickNet on that system ever again. If a sysop breaks
these rules, their "feed" for the echo will be instructed to cut
them out. From then on, any system which distributes the echo to
the evicted system will itself be evicted.
LEGAL NODES
Only the following FidoNet nodes are carrying the echo in
accordance with all of the above: 100/523, 104/610, 104/18,
102/744, 107/539, 104/20, 104/93, 104/55, 104/739, 104/904,
109/728, 109/115, 109/712, 363/9, 141/222, 141/375, 322/210,
101/115, 101/196, 101/667, 15/7, 366/221, 366/222, 382/7, 382/1,
382/2, 161/93, 102/862, 103/602, 103/501, 103/507, 103/503,
107/293, 107/416, 161/414, 282/341, 106/117, 124/109, 124/106,
124/214, 137/12, 139/640, 147/4, 163/32, 163/523. If your system
is not included in this list, then contact me AT ONCE.
- J. Brad Hicks, 1:100/523
MagickNet Coordinator
--- Sirius 0.50
* Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-741-2231 * (Opus 1:100/523)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(439) Mon 11 Jul 88 11:48
By: David Rice
To: All
Re: Basic Astrology Precept
St: Pvt
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:1eec 10eb5e0c
The basic precept of Astrology has been summed up with the
phrase
"As Above, So Below." What is displayed in the heavens is said to
be
mimicked on Earth.
Astrologers once believed that the planets, luminaries, and
stars
introduced a force or influence upon earthly creatures and
events.
One may easily imagine a Wise Man (or Woman, aka. the
Essenes)
standing on his palatial balcony in 5,000 B.C.E., gazing intently
up
at the night sky, carefully noting the passage of heavenly
bodies.
These notes would then be compared to the events of the
Kingdom,
realm, of region.
If events of the current period matched previous events, the
Magi
would expect similar planetary configurations in the heavens. If
the
events of the period were original, careful notes would be made
for
future study. These notes would of necessity been closely guarded
and
secret, least they fall into the hands of a rival.
There are accounts of Wise Men (Magi, Astrologer, same thing)
who
gained great power through contrived, controlling predictions
that
were not later born out in reality. These gentlemen and women
usually
lost their heads, but many lost their gonads- quite literally.
Job
security fell to those who new their profession well or could
talk
very fast.
Many religious cults, as cults today, frowned upon
astrology
schools. The students were not conforming to what was
religiously
demanded of them by those in power, and were often hacked to
pieces
for their efforts.
There is a story told by a woman who was "regressed" to a
"past
life," where she was a Astrology student. Those who were in her
group
were all male youths under the tutelage of one purple robed
Teacher.
Late one night while they were going about their business learning
the
Hieros Logoi (sacred accounts), another group who practiced
religious
intolerance decided to do a little butchering the same night.
The astrology students were castrated and left to die.
If this account is true or not, the point is the same: If
they
had spent more time considering earthly events (staying in
the
Present), they may have been able to avoid the horror that
night.
(They might have gone out for pizza instead).
Around the time Rome was being built, those in power thought
it a
good idea to marry off the Goddess (the Triple Lunar Goddess) to
their
Air Gods. With the patriarchy taking power, something had to be
done
to diminish the Goddess in the eyes of mankind, and make
Her
subservient to the Male. Thus the goddess Juno was conceived,
who
would be the "goddess of marriage."
Juno was married off to Zeus, who didn't believe he was bound
to
any marriage vows and liked to frolic in any and all
pastures
available, begetting sons by the score. No other goddess has
been
hurt by marriage more than Juno.
To make the profane act of marriage complete, a new Sign
was
added to the Zodiac. Libra, which is said to rule marriage as well
as
relationships in general, was the twelfth Sign placed in the
popular
Zodiac. The Wise Men (and Women) of this period thus had to
alter
their methods and ways of thinking.
The oldest known astrology "chart" only had eight signs.
House
systems were added later. It was square, and the planetary bodies
had
to be placed precisely on the paper so that a straight edged
graduated
"ruler" could be used to determine aspects. It seems that the
"equal"
or "fixed" house system was the one used.
With the advent of "houses," the astrologer could determine
which
arena of life was to be involved. It seems reasonable that the
number
of houses should match the number of Signs in the Zodiac,
right?
Well, not really. There were usually eight houses used, even when
the
number of Signs grew to twelve.
Today the most popular methods of Astrology use twelve Signs
and
houses, using the Tropical Zodiac in the West, Geocentric
(Earth
centered). There are many variations available. One may
use
Heliocentric (Sun centered) astrology, or use the Sidereal
Zodiac
(which takes into account the precession of the Equinox).
There are many popular houses systems in use today as
well.
Porphyrus (spelling differs) was a poet, astrologer, and scholar
in
ancient times. He came up with a house system called
"Porphyry,"
though I don't know anyone who uses it.
Most astrologers today tend to believe that the heavenly
bodies
do not reach down and push us about. Rather, the planets,
luminaries,
and stars "mimic" Earthly events. Synchronistic in nature,
they
corollate instead of dictate. This hands one's fate back to
the
individual, to augment or squander as one sees fit. The
slight
comfort of Fate has been replaced by responsibility for one's
actions.
A few astrologers still portend death and destruction from
the
"astrological chart." This mode of thinking (a belief pattern
based
on preconceived ideas) is almost extinct. One may stay on the
rail
road tracks, deeming it "fate" has said one must be mashed by
the
train, or one may say "Screw it," and step to the side and let
fate
pass. It is one's right and responsibility to take charge of
one's
life events.
Still, one always has the right to be squashed by one's
"trains."
If you refuse to drink, you are allowed to die of thirst. It's
your
right.
The perceptions of "Fate Versus Free Will" seems to lean
towards
"free will" for the individual in the current astrological
community,
but the question of the "Fate of Nations," and the rulers of
Nations,
is still hotly disputed.
There are arguments that a Nation must follow what is
"Fated,"
and that those closely connected to that Nation are heavily
minified
in their rights to act freely. It is well documented that a Nation
in
trouble always produces a single individual to correct the problem.
Abe Lincoln believed in Fate, and was said to know when he
would
die and how. Did he have the Right to choose? Since he was
closely
connected to the United States and the Civil War, I doubt it.
Kennedy chose to ignore warnings from "psychics," we've been
told
to believe, and ended up slaughtered on national
television,
presumably by the hand of Cuba, Castro. But did he have a choice?
I
believe not.
Someone ponderously, corpulently, grossly into
religious
intolerance mentioned to me that "The One True God destroys
Nations,"
while individuals destroy themselves, I will add. Bending his idea
of
"God" to a non anthropomorphic deity, we could say that "The
Universe"
takes care of nations and leaves the individual to fend for her or
his
self.
Astrology does not predict. It points to probabilities,
not
unequivocal, assured events. Any likely event can be
circumnavigated
if one knows about it first. This is why I believe Astrology to
be
the single most useful tool for taking responsibility for one's life.
The question "Is Astrology valid?" is one that I cannot
answer
competently. It is always best to question everything, and
take
nothing as it is offered (without the arena of astrology as well
as
within). I leave this question to others for exploration.
Document 3 in Astr-4.0
David Rice 7/11/88
unar Goddess) to their
Air Gods. With the patriarchy taking power, something had to be
done
to diminish the
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(440) Mon 11 Jul 88 12:12
By: David Rice
To: All
Re: Is Astrology valid?
St: Pvt
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:1eec 10eb6184
Astrology?
"This is a joke, right?" someone asked me when I showed him
the labels I developed for Astr-4.0. I had said that I planned
on mailing a copy to President Ronald Reagan and Wife. After
assuring him that my many months of hard work on this program was
no joke, I started to wonder.
Is Astrology valid? How in the hell can it be, when no
logical scientific vehicle can be found to account for an alleged
astrological influence? This question has been asked by
thousands of men and women throughout history, with few receiving
an answer they can be comfortable with.
"It's synchronism, like Jung taught," some opinion. "As
Above, so below," others say. "On Earth as it is in Heaven,"
Jesus was said to tell us. Many have offered opinions such as
different dimensions, ethers, subtle radiation, gravity waves,
and propagating vectors. Most look for a physical means by which
to prove astrological influences.
But can astrology be proven as valid? The mind of humankind
often holds onto ideas and beliefs long after they are obsolete
or no longer valid (bigotry, over compensatory defence
mechanisms, religious intolerance, etc.). This tends to
invalidate the argument that "If it wasn't valid Astrology
wouldn't have lasted 5,000 years." Humans have been killing each
other for sport for at least that long, which seems rather
anti-survival, so the age of an event or belief cannot make it a
viable one.
"I know it works. My clients are very satisfied with the
results," is a major argument made for astrology. But valid
though it may be for the individual, it does not offer any means
for proof. Satisfaction cannot be placed on a scale to be
weighed and measured. It only offers subjective opinion at best,
where the mind is fraught with mental gymnastics consciously or
otherwise.
These days there are very many astrologers doing "research."
I put the word between quotes because their methods show a very
poor understanding of scientific inquiry and methodology at best
for the most part. Some "researchers" into astrology often have
"significant results" at times, only to have duplication by
another team fail.
Homosexuality and astrological indicators of homosexuality
has been sought for hundreds of years. There have been many
astrologers who have come up with indicators that "prove" their
method works, only to have their method fail when another
astrologer tries it. (Most astrologers now know that
homosexuality cannot be deduced from the chart, but some still
try.)
Astrology is NOT predictive. An astrologer cannot say "You
have Sun in the XII and Venus in the IX Square Mars in the VI, so
you're going to be fat and bald by age 32."
There is a story told by an astrologer about a client who
came to her for advice. The client had never been to an
astrologer, and expected the astrologer to know all about her
(the client) just by reading her chart. After the client said
several times "Well, can't you tell?" the astrologer called for a
break to give her client a short spill about astrology.
"Astrology cannot tell me that your husband's name was John,
and that he died in the Navy in 1943, and that you have a son
who's in the army over seas, and that your son is getting married
next week. It just isn't possible."
The client looked up at the astrologer and said "But all
that's correct. . . ."
This story may or may not be true. The point is, astrology
is not predictive. It only suggests, and points a direction for
further questing.
Astrology is an art form. As such, the astrologer may make
up her or his own rules, and apply them as she or he sees fit.
What works for one astrologer may not work for another. That's
why there are so many house systems, and even zodiacs! One's
reality is up to one's self, and what one makes of it. There are
no rules to astrology. If you don't like the way something is
done, try something new.
The houses don't have to be numbered counter clockwise. If
you, the astrologer, want the houses to go clockwise, that's
fine. It's up to you. I don't presume to tell an artist to use
the colors and tools I prefer. If you don't want houses, leave
them out. If you don't like Virgo, leave it out too. See what I
mean? Your craft, your rules.
I had written an article called "Asteroids I'd Like To See."
I gave them a name, a suggested meaning, and a suggested
interpretation. "RAMBO" of course meaning that anyone with it on
their Moon likes to sweat a lot and shoot people, preferable
many, many times. "STUPIDITY" is an asteroid whose meaning, no
doubt, you can probably figure out, unless it's on your Sun.
The point? If I had given these made up asteroids
ephemerides of their own, I feel they would be valid in every
chart I draw up! They would be valid for me, and they could take
directions, progressions, etc., and accurately time events.
They might even work in your charts as well, if you like
them. If you didn't like them, and thought they couldn't
possibly "work," they wouldn't. They'd just sit there like an
ink smudge on your chart and refuse to perform.
And this is the heart of why astrology cannot be proven.
Art, as is life and love, is always and forever only in the mind
of humankind. It cannot be measured, sliced, examined, or put
under a microscope. Indeed, it cannot even be taught. Astrology
is an art form, and as such is beyond laws, rules, and
restrictions.
With Astr-4.0 you have the brush and canvas. Please, go
paint.
David Rice
Document 2 Astr-4.0
, subtle radiation, gravity wav
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(441) Sun 10 Jul 88 22:54
By: Josh Gordon
To: All
Re: Re: Tarot Cards
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Original: FROM.....Brad Hicks (100/523)
* Original: TO.......L.a. Hussey (161/93)
* Forwarded by.......OPUS 161/93
@EID:0 22d855d6
LAH> I'd be interested to know what you didn't like.
More than that: my critique. I'm no tarot genius, but I've studied
a bit. Here are my opinions.
[References first: the cards themself are in a MacPaint/ReadMac
file called MAJ-ARC.MAC on WeirdBase. I will primarily compare
them with the Rider-Waite major arcana, but will also make
references to the Fantasy Showcase deck because I like it, and to
the Morgan Robbins deck because this one reminds me of it in spots.]
OVERALL #1: As I see it, you have attempted throughout to update
the standard Tarot symbolism to Neopagan religious symbolism.
Sometimes this works, sometimes I question it. For example, ALL of
the figures in the Major Arcana look young to me, even when it's
not necessarily appropriate (such as the Empress, the Emperor, the
Moon). OK, the Hermit looks old - maybe.
OVERALL #2: Oh, and I like the crescent-moon motif that you worked
into the explicitly feminine cards (The Priestess, The Empress, The
Moon). Why no similar, solar emblem for the explicitly masculine
cards (The Magician, The Emperor, The Hanged Man)?
OVERALL #3: One of the meditation tricks that I picked up from
A.E. Waite is to think of the 22 Major Arcana as a Story, and work
from card to card following the storyline as best you can. I
perceive that this is much harder with your deck. I also note
(without criticism) that your cards don't seem to quite so strictly
follow the Qabalistic attributions - am I wrong? And being mostly
ignorant of QBL, and weak on Astrology, the attributions in the
corners could probably stand commentary and explanation for me.
0) THE FOOL - Quite different! I'd like to hear your explanation
for your choice of that image for that card; I can effortlessly
relate to the idea of, as Kim quoted when she saw it, "The face we
wear to meet the faces we meet," and think it's a valid
contribution as a tarot card: I'm uncertain it belongs in the Major
Arcana and it seems to me unrelated to The Fool. Would you explain
this one further to me?
I) THE MAGICIAN - Nice, in a modern sort of way. Is the similarity
between the Ferris wheel in the background and the Whirling Golden
Wheel of the Morgan Robbins, as a symbol of endless (and
profitless) motion, intentional? By putting the Magician against a
carnival background, are you comparing him to the Prestidigitator,
the OTHER kind of magic? The "balancing the elements" aspect is
kinda nice - is it intentional that they both show a masculine
symbol over, and in suggestive relationship to, a feminine symbol?
Also, what is the symbolism of the snake that is entwined around
this wand? I do like the way you've worked the Cosmic Lemniscate
into the figure, by the way.
II) THE PRIESTESS - Portrayed as a modern female Neopagan Witch. I
have absolutely nothing bad to say about this card. Wonderful!
Oh, minor 1-pixel nit - the athame is one-sided. (BFD, right?)
The two pillars as two kinds of tree (Oak and Ash?) is a subtle
effect, and I can't make up my mind if YOU have made up your mind
to preserve the "temple pillar" symbols of the RW.
III) THE EMPRESS - Portrayed as the Earth Mother. Remarkably like
the (simpler) portrayal in the Fantasy Showcase. I like it.
IV) THE EMPEROR - I take this card to be Herne/Lugh, the solar God
of the Hunt. It makes a nice, pagan pairing to The Empress. But
(first peeve!) you've robbed me of a perfectly functional tarot card!
The standard Emperor has a lot to do with EMPIRE, with monarchical
patriarchal government. One of the things I especially =like=
about my Fantasy Showcase deck is Trump IV, which makes the
death-linked, warlike, and ruthless aspect of Government blatant.
This is an important symbol, and one that is appropriate (and
frequently useful, and sometimes necessary) in many readings. What
=shall= I use for such a symbol in the future?
V) THE PRIEST - I have the same complaint with this card that I
have with The Emperor. The Hierophant in the Rider-Waite to me
represents the sterility (but stability, and power) of ORGANIZED
religion. Again, I like the fact that the Fantasy Showcase makes
this coldness and sterility more blatant; but between them these
two cards symbolize Patriarchy to me.
Of course, I will grant that as displayed, you have an interesting
pantheon of Maiden (The Priestess), Mother (The Empress) and Crone
(The Moon) matching with the Hunter/Warrior (The Emperor), The
Priest, and the Wise Man (The Hermit). But in the process, it
seems to me that you've (a) stripped the Major Arcana of villains
and (b) tangled a lot of inter-card relationships.
VI) THE LOVERS - This may be the best card in the lot. I have
nothing but good to say about this card. I am in Love with The
Lovers.
Oh, now that I think about it, I =do= have a nit to pick - but it's
more appropriate that I cover it under XV, Intemperance.
VII) THE CHARIOT - To me, the Chariot represents relentless
oncoming motion; traditonally the unstoppable force of War. I
cannot for the life of me guess what your Chariot is supposed to
represent.
VIII) STRENGTH - Remember the Cuteness Tarot? That lion looks like
Hello Kitty with a mouth. Strength represents (to cop a familiar
Judeao-Christian symbol) Daniel in the Lion's Den - the triumph of
Harmlessness and Spirituality over the hungry, "powerful" predator.
That lion doesn't look at all like a predator, and to me that robs
Strength of much of its impressiveness. It is pretty, though. Or
are you proposing a whole new symbol for Strength?
IX) THE HERMIT - Traditionally, the Hermit resembles Diogenes
searching endlessly by the light of the Lantern of Truth; endlessly
and hopelessly because the wisdom he accumulates will never be the
Wisdom he seeks. You may go to the Hermit for Wisdom; what you'll
get is wisdom without the capital-W - which is more useful and
real, but still not what you wanted. Sage and wise, at rest
before the Flame of Truth, and surrounded by a powerful and
beautiful aura, your Hermit looks to much to me like someone who
has achieved Capital-W Wisdom. But this may be a matter of taste.
Continued next message ...
--- Sirius 0.50
* Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-741-2231 * (Opus 1:100/523)
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(442) Sun 10 Jul 88 22:56
By: Josh Gordon
To: All
Re: Re: Tarot Cards
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Original: FROM.....Brad Hicks (100/523)
* Original: TO.......L.a. Hussey (161/93)
* Forwarded by.......OPUS 161/93
@EID:0 22d855d8
.. continued from previous message
X) THE WHEEL - From a traditional standpoint, I cannot criticize
this card much. Oh, the three emblematic figures around the
Rider-Waite Wheel seem more PERSONAL to me, but I can learn to
attribute personal ebb and flow to the seasons if I try. Unrelated
question: if you are converting to Neopagan symbolism, why keep the
Four Evangelists? Wouldn't the standard emblems for the elements be
better?
XI) JUSTICE - I love this card. I have nothing bad to say about it
at all. Beautiful, meaningful, appropriate.
XII) THE HANGED [MAN] - I'm afraid I cannot translate the runes
around his head, so I'm sure I'm missing something. Assuming that
this is Odin hanging from Ygdrassil, then perhaps the missing eye
(which I didn't notice until about the eight time I looked at this)
should be more obvious - maybe substitute a straight line for the
empty socket, the represent the eyelids swollen shut? Oh, and
isn't this guy a bit young to be the All-Father?
XIII) DEATH - The Rider-Waite displays Death as the Ultimate
Democrat, taking down King and Priest and Peasant all. This is an
aspect of Death that I can live without, and your Death as the
birth canal (I assume the vulval shape is deliberate?) is very much
in keeping with the traditional teachings on reincarnation. (Shame
I don't really believe in it.)
XIV) TEMPERANCE - Portrayed as Apollo. A bit juiceless, this card
lacks the impact of some of the others. It is, however, perfectly
appropriate.
XV) INTEMPERANCE - In the Rider-Waite, Trump XV is The Devil. I
can understand why you wanted to expunge this symbol (just as I see
why you expunged the Last Judgement, number XX). But I miss the
parallel between this card and V, the Lovers. I also like the
message that the "chains" of Lust are illusionary, that we can slip
them off when Lust is less appropriate than Love. (If you never
noticed this, look at the chains around the necks of the figures
"chained to the Devil" - they're both quite loose, and could be
slipped off easily.) It also made sense numerically for 5 and 15
to be related. On the flip side, your Dionysus makes a similar
parallel/contrast to/with XIV, Temperance/Apollo. There is
complexity here that I will have to meditate on.
XVI) THE TOWER - Simple and direct. Minor nit - the human figures
falling from the top lent identification to the image. Can/will
you work them back in?
XVII) THE STAR - You have portrayed the Star as the intersection of
Sun and Moon. I don't really like that, I think. Feel free to
speak at length in favor of your reinterpretation (it's your deck,
after all), but I much, much prefer the personification of Sirius,
bridging land, sea, and sky in radiant, sexual beauty, as shown in
Rider-Waite and portrayed SO beautifully in the Fantasy Showcase.
XVIII) THE MOON - The Cauldron of Cerydwen is a beautiful lunar
symbol, and I much prefer it to the traditional card.
XIX) THE SUN - I do not understand the symbolism of this card at
all. Could you explain it to me? I'm especially curious why you
didn't use the Yule Child as a straight-forward adaptation,
especially since some of your symbolism (the lemniscate on I, the
pillars on II, and the evangelists on X) are =more= traditional
than need be.
XX) THE PHOENIX - This could stand to be drawn a bit better
(perhaps a more flame-like flame) to make it look a bit less
cartoony, but I like the substitution of this card for The Last
Judgement.
XXI) THE WORLD - As with The Sun, I think I'm missing the point on
this one.
P.S. Nice self-portrait on card III. Is IV supposed to be David?
(Hard to tell with that helmet on.)
--- Sirius 0.50
* Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-741-2231 * (Opus 1:100/523)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(443) Sun 17 Jul 88 8:26
By: Josh Gordon
To: All
Re: Re: Tarot Cards
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Original: FROM.....L.a. Hussey (161/93)
* Original: TO.......Brad Hicks (161/93)
* Forwarded by.......OPUS 161/93
@EID:524a 10f1434e
Good-oh, here are my responses to your critiques, point by point, as
you made them.
First of all, I have one major disclaimer to make. I am not an
artist. I never have been. I possibly never will be. I know my
stuff looks cartoonish sometimes, but that's only because it's the
best I can do at the moment. The Mac has gone a long way toward
liberating my graphic arts, but there's still a long way to go. Any
inadequacies in the artwork, and any problems that arise because of
them (ie the Hermit not looking old, the lion not looking like a
lion)
I would please ask you to indulge.
OVERALL #1: There's no reason why the Emperor or Empress should look
old. Mature, yes, old no. The Hermit does look old (or should); so
does the Moon. Those hollow cheeks and white hair have nothing to
do
with malnutrition. I don't know what you think I could do to make
Odhin any older looking; if he were a really old and decrepit
figure,
I couldn't see him even trying the ordeal on the Tree.
OVERALL #2: Thanks. I knew the Triple Goddess was in the cards
somehow, but never could place the Crone until I realised She was
the
Moon. As for solar symbols for the explicitly masculine cards,
well,
I don't associate the Mage with masculinity for starters. Coyote
(as
the Mage is depicted in the Native American deck) could be male or
female; Mercury was often depicted somewhat androgynously. The sort
of adeptness/artfulness I associate with the Mage is not specific to
men. The Emperor, who is explicitly male, does have the sun on his
breastplate. The Hanged is not a solar card, but more of a
Saturnian
card.
OVERALL #3: I don't read the Majors as a story, so maybe that's part
of the problem. The Majors are archetypal forces, which is why I
reject the "villain" associations for Emperor and Priest -- such
petty
associations have more to do with the Minors than with the energy of
the Majors which is beyond good and evil or any other human moral
categories, including political correctness.
THE FOOL - He's the Tabula Rasa, the blank slate. He could be
either
face, or neither. He's at the beginning of the road (can you pick
out
the tiny direction pointer?); the traditional cliff is off in a
corner, by the way.
THE MAGICIAN - Yeah, you got it. I wanted him to be ambiguous, as
though Coyote or Hermes took on the job of prestidigitator at the
local sideshow -- hence the halo ("Gee, Mabel, 'dja think that guy
may
be a god or something?"). I balanced the tools the way I did
because
it seemed the easiest way to balance them -- they way I would do
it if
I were trying to (and the thame in the cup is indeed supposed to be
suggestive -- look at that grin on his face). I suppose the
pentacle
could have gone on top of the wand (like the plate-spinners do),
but I
just didn't do it that way. The snake around the wand turns the
wand
into a caduceus, which was Hermes' wand.
THE PRIESTESS - Actually, this one was more of an intentional
self-portrait than the Empress (who just turned out that way).
Yeah,
I did intend to preserve the "temple pillars"; as I've been ranting
about lately, I do try to balance dark and light as a priestess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(444) Sun 17 Jul 88 8:31
By: Josh Gordon
To: All
Re: More Tarot Cards
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Original: FROM.....L.a. Hussey (161/93)
* Original: TO.......Brad Hicks (161/93)
* Forwarded by.......OPUS 161/93
@EID:524a 10f143f1
THE EMPRESS - Interesting; the first pregnant Empress I saw was in
the
Sacred Rose deck (by the way, how can you stand to read the Fantasy
Showcase? So many of the cards are way off -- and you think MY
cards
are off!! Ah, well, de gustibus etc etc). It turns out that the
pregnant Empress is traditional, pre-RW (I'll look up the sources if
you want).
THE EMPEROR - I absolutely reject the association of the Emperor
with
patriarchal monarchical government. He is the lightning-catalyst to
the Empress' "primordial soup"; He cannot exist without Her anymore
than She can without Him. Without Her, all his fire makes nothing;
without Him, She is virtual space, potential but not actual (how'dya
think She got pregnant?). Note his phallic staff. And again, my
art
wasn't quite up to this, but the stuff in his other hand is seeds --
he is the inseminating Ram of spring. He's not the Hunter (the
Hunter
comes next), because I don't associate the Hunter with agriculture
(and just plain culture) the way I do the Emperor. Like the
Empress,
that he looks like David is incidental (David shows up for real in
The
Sun). I guess my subconscious was working overtime... <grin>
THE PRIEST - The word "Pontiff" comes from the Latin word,
"Pontifex":
Bridge-builder. The word "Hierophant" is Greek for "Shower of
secret
things". The difference between the Priest and the Priestess is
that
he shows, where she tosses you right into the experience. In
traditional shamanic societies, the Shaman is the bridge between
this
world and the Otherworld, and the one who tells about that journey
to
help others along. Also, the shaman is the caller-up of wild
animals,
the master of beasts, hence the Hunter. There are no equivalent
depictions of female figures in the caves to this one at
Trois-Freres
because the caves are the wombs of the Goddess, teeming with life.
This figure is the one who coaxes them close. But he wears antlers
also; he is both the Hunter and the Prey -- the primary shamanic
experience is that of death.
This is a deck for Witches, Brad. We don't have a sterile,
organised
religion, therefore it is not fitting for that image to be among our
archetypes (the same way it is not fitting for Hell to be a threat
in
our laws). The associations of repression, sterility, severity, and
so on occur in the Minors (mostly among the Swords, interestingly
enough). It's high time we reclaimed the God; the tendancy of the
feminist decks to make the Emperor and the Hierophant villains is
totally unacceptable to me. "Appropriate male energy" (ie, wimpy
and/
or sexless) is not in my vocabulary.
THE LOVERS - Thanks. Hm, I never associated the Lovers with the
Devil
because I see lust as a part of love. More later, at INTEMPERANCE.
THE CHARIOT - It's the statue of Boudica in London. Do you know her
story?
STRENGTH - Notice the woman's eyes. Same as the lion's. It's
Beauty
and the Beast, the harmonious (or inharmonious, depending on
context)
juxtaposition of the beast self (of which we all have one) and the
"human" self. "Harmlessness"? Gimme a break! You complain about
"cuteness" and then you say she's supposed to be "harmless"! Beauty
is far from harmless; she is just as powerful as Beast. But they're
inseperable, which is why the aren't depicted with seperate bodies,
but as two faces in a surrounding mane. Remember that episode of
Star
Trek where Kirk got split up into two personalities? That's the
point
of Strength.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(445) Sun 17 Jul 88 8:40
By: Josh Gordon
To: All
Re: Daughter of Tarot Cards
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Original: FROM.....L.a. Hussey (161/93)
* Original: TO.......Brad Hicks (161/93)
* Forwarded by.......OPUS 161/93
@EID:524a 10f14516
THE HERMIT - I never saw that lamp as Diogenes'. I saw it as the
bodhisattva's lamp, lighting the way for other people. You bet He's
capital-W Wisdom (the Hebrew letter YOD that corresponds to this
card
reminds David of the word "yodeah", meaning "knowledge"; but you
have
to walk through the fire first, the way you have to drink from the
Moon's cauldron before you get Her Wisdom.
THE WHEEL - The tetramorphs apply equally to the four Fixed Zodiacal
signs as they do to the Evangelists (and you'll note I put them near
the appropriate season). The early Celtic church used them in their
imagery way back when, and those folk were a scant step removed from
being Pagans themselves -- how else do you suppose Brigid could have
survived? The seasons suggest the slow, cyclical nature of the
Wheel's turning to me. Joe Campbell, in the PBS series recently,
said
"If you're on the rim of the Wheel, you go up and down; if you're
the
hub of the Wheel, always acting from your own center, you're
unaffected by the turning of the Wheel." All the seasons are
good, to
a person at the hub.
JUSTICE - Thanks! You have no idea how tricky it was to fit the
Anubis image in that little space... I like it better than the
Justice with the sword, because to me Justice is not part of the
outcome. Maat just judges, she doesn't punish or reward. And as I
said a while ago, the person being judged knows the outcome already;
we punish and reward ourselves.
THE HANGED - The runes around his head have no fixed meaning,
they're
just runes. "None gave me bread or drinking horn, and there below I
looked; I took up the runes, screaming I took them; then I fell
back."
("Odhin" means "The Scream") The eye-socket was as clear as I could
make it; I think a straight line would look too much like a wink,
and
the eye swollen shut both inaccurate and difficult to render at that
resolution. Shit, I could have given him an eye patch if I'd wanted
to, but I WANTED that empty socket staring. As for his age, see
above.
Odhin/The Hanged is the canonical image of self-sacrifice for
knowledge.
DEATH - Your problem if you don't believe in reincarnation. But
consider this: what is birth but death to the life we knew in the
womb? What is death?
TEMPERANCE - I associate Apollo with all the things "civilisation"
brings, hence the depiction of him in front of a formal temple and
holding his lyre (as opposed to Dionysos out in the fields with his
bottomless amphora); juiceless is the point. Here's your "sterile
organisation" if you want it; remember that Apollo was as celibate
as
his sister. On the other hand, it isn't repressed sexuality, but
redirected sexuality. Artemis keeps herself unburdened by
children so
she'll never be incapacitated when some other mother needs her
(reminds me of a great aunt I had who chose never to marry and to
become a nurse instead); Athene channels the sexual drive into
creations of the hands and mind rather than the womb. Not all bad;
there are no "bad" cards in the Major Arcana.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(446) Sun 17 Jul 88 8:43
By: Josh Gordon
To: All
Re: Tarot Cards meets Mothra, er, Mother
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Original: FROM.....L.a. Hussey (161/93)
* Original: TO.......Brad Hicks (161/93)
* Forwarded by.......OPUS 161/93
@EID:524a 10f14567
INTEMPERANCE - I prefer not to depict chains at all; the body should
never be looked on as a fetter, however easy to remove. Not to
mention the fact that the Devil as depicted in RW and its clones is
the Christian image, which I reject. Sometimes Intemperance is more
appropriate than Temperance; the dark more appropriate than the
light.
Sensuality, sexuality, and fleshly pleasures were nix for the
ascetic
early Christians (who in typical Semitic fashion were distinguishing
themselves from their neighbours by engaging in opposing practises
--
the Jews forbade "seething a kid in its mother's milk" because that
was a sacrament of another local tribe, the Christians were
ascetic in
opposition to the dissipated Roman pagans, and ate treyf food to be
different from the Jews). Hence the association of Dionysos with
everything evil. I've reclaimed him, is all. Check out the Hurley
"New Tarot", which inspired my making XIV and XV opposites of each
other. BTW, numerology doesn't really enter into my readings at
all,
and I'm seriously thinking of taking out the Hebrew letter
associations (which are the traditional ones, I believe) -- though
it
would somewhat unbalance the top of the card unless I took out the
Astro signs too -- which I just may do for the final version,
since my
Minors don't have either symbol set.
THE TOWER - Nah, I'm not going to put humans in it. Maybe it
would be
more appropriate if I made the tower human-shaped. Here's my
notes on
The Tower: "A carefully built structure is losing its integrity
under
attack. Swift and abrupt change. Sometimes the best defense is no
defense at all, since to put up a shield is to taunt attack."
THE STAR - The image of the woman pouring from jugs has never made
it
for me. Not satisfying at all. The Star is clarity coming out of
obscurity, hope, the sun coming out from behind the moon (remember
the
sun is technically a star too), that flash of enlightenment, the
light
at the end of the tunnel, the sign that the eclipse is over and the
world is not at an end. That's all. There're plenty of other nice
female images in the cards; no need to have gratuitous breasts and
confusing imagery. My imagery is (evidently) just as confusing to
somebody with whom it doesn't resonate, but what the hey.
THE MOON - Thanks again. Like I said, I was pretty pleased to
come up
with this image. The Moon is associated with the sephira of Yesod,
which is called "Treasure House of Images", and that's what
Ceridwen's
Cauldron is for me. The Akashic well, source of dream and vision.
"Gwion tasted of the potent brew, and he gained all knowlege it is
true, and sweet bardsong; but no taste is free! Whoso drinks my
draught belongs to Me. As with him, through water, air and earth,
you
too I'll pursue, consume, and birth..."
THE SUN - C'MON Brad, how long 'dya say you were in this religion?
It's the Oak King and the Holly King. In the older decks, there
were
two children in that garden... The Yule Child is a good idea, which
didn't occur to me when I was presented with the challenging
opportunity to make a silhouette of David and translate it to pixels
(and tiny ones at that). What the hey, I may make an alternate card
-- if Lady Whatserface could do it, so can I, since I don't want to
throw out that image any more than she did the other depictions of
Magus.
THE PHOENIX - Draw me a flame on a Mac. Go ahead. I'm waiting...
At least you recognised them as flames, right?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(447) Sun 17 Jul 88 8:45
By: Josh Gordon
To: All
Re: Tarot Cards meets Mothra's Mother
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Original: FROM.....L.a. Hussey (161/93)
* Original: TO.......Brad Hicks (161/93)
* Forwarded by.......OPUS 161/93
@EID:524a 10f145a2
THE WORLD - Usually drawn as a female dancer. I depict her as the
Star Goddess, holding the Earth. Simple as that; equally apropos to
the traditional interpretation of the card (namely, not at all; what
the hell does a dancing woman have to do with the completion of
cycles? I thought I'd at least put the Earth in there to give the
name of the card some relevance).
It's interesting that as I've been working on this deck, my own
knowlege of the cards has expanded. With many of the other decks,
if
the image doesn't speak to me or I haven't completely figured out
the
associations, they mysteriously don't come up in any of my
readings --
other cards say similar things in context, and I've always been
complimented (sometimes begrudgingly) on the accuracy of my
readings.
I don't do the "You will meet a tall dark handsome stranger and go
on
a long trip" sorts of readings; my angle is more archetypal and
large
scale, and interestingly enough, everybody who's ever asked me to
read
for them has been in some sort of transitional crisis in their
lives.
I find the Tarot real useful in pointing one or more ways out of
such
crises...But meanwhile, the ones that used not to come up are now
appearing...
Thanks for your frankness. I hope my responses make things more
clear. When the deck comes out as a program, the interpretations in
the less obvious cases (or in the ones where I want to make a point,
like INTEMPERANCE) will include a description of the symbolism.
There will be more cards, I hope before the end of the year. But I
have two tapes to compose and record in the same time period, and
the
cards come when I get insights about them. Very little of my
imagery
is RW-esque -- for example, I find that the severity and pain of the
three of swords is more effectively depicted for me by the Morrigan,
Irish triple war-goddess. I'll let you know when it's all done.
The
artwork will certainly be done before the program is written, so
I'll
just send you a disk or something.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(448) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:25
By: Michelle Hass
To: All
Re: Laws: New Circle Pt1
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:2bad 533510f2
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND ETHICS--LIFEWAY SHAMANIC FELLOWSHIP
By Usen's grace, Ho-dah....
1.) PURPOSES:
This is an era of decision. Do we allow ourselves to cut
the
throat of the Mother Who has nourished us as a species
since
we "came down from the trees"? Or do we work to walk in
Beauty and Harmony with Her, and cherish Her, and work to
see Her healed? The resurgence of Shamanism, the primal
Earth Religion of practically all of the Earth's
pre-Agrarian cultures, is an important thing, foretold by
the Paiute prophet Wovoka and in the Hopi Prophecies. It
was said that both the Red Man would return to the Ways of
the Old Ones and that the non-Native would also embrace the
Lifeway. There are non-Natives who respectfully have
chosen
these Ways, and are carrying them on in a reverent way. If
the Lifeway was only given for the Native peoples, it would
die out within our lifetime. There are simply not enough
traditional Elders left.
It has been shown to some of us that Our Mother The Earth
is
not willing to die quietly. She has demonstrated this by
the increase in natural disasters of the past decade, which
continue day by day. The Hopi prophecies state that, when
the "bowl full of ashes" (most interpret this as the
Thermonuclear Bomb) is overturned, that Our Mother shall
rise up in Her righteous anger and destroy humanity. This
prophecy is coming true, although it may yet be reversable.
Perhaps it is we who reverence the Ways and walk in harmony
with Our Mother that may stay Her hand.
The Lifeway Fellowship is here for those who wish to honor
Our Mother and Our Father, Earth and Sky, and to honor The
Giver Of Life, from whence all things flow in the Universe.
Our world-view is primarily allied with that of the
Navajo/Dineh, Apache/Teneh, and Hopi peoples. However we do
not represent ourselves as the keepers of those ways. The
secrets of those Nations are for them alone, unless Usen'
wishes to reveal them to us. Our mission is to help heal
Our Mother, The Earth, and to help each other walk in
closer
harmony with Her. We also exist to provide a way for urban
and sub-urban people to learn and practice the root
Shamanic
techniques that aid us in finding our True Vision and True
Way of Power, and following that Vision and that Way.
We identify ourselves as Pagan (Webster's New World
Dictionary "1. b)...a person who is not a Christian,
Moslem,
or Jew (by faith); heathen. Pagan specifically refers to
one
of the ancient polytheistic (or pantheistic) peoples.") and
as unashamed Pantheists and Polytheists. The Lifeway
is truly a religious commitment. No-one can make a
commitment
to the Lifeway and to the worship of Life Giver, The Earth
Mother and The Sky Father and remain a worshiper of other
Paradigms of the Deity, much as one cannot be a Christian
and worship the Greco-Roman pantheon. However this does
not
imply the condemnation of other Paradigms, nor impel a
duty to
"convert" others.
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(449) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:29
By: Michelle Hass
To: All
Re: Lf Laws:Pt2
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:2bad 53b310f2
We stand by other Pagans who do not share our paradigms,
IE.
Wiccans, Asatruans, Hellenists, and other Shamanic
traditions,
(African and neo-African(Santeria & Voudoun), Australian,
Siberian, Traditional Native American, and Polynesian, to
name
a few) and even though we may disagree with some or all of
their practices and beliefs, they are Brothers, Sisters and
Cousins, and in times of persecution as well as times of
goodwill we must defend them. We may even share in their
open
rituals and allow them to share in our open ceremonials.
But
that which is ours must remain ours, just as that which is
theirs must remain theirs.
2.) THE(A)OLOGY:
As our Fellowship is inherently religious, we must
declare a
The(a)ology. (The strange spelling refers to the fact that
we acknowledge a Goddess as well as a God)
This is summed up very easily. There are three main powers
we worship, Usen' the Life Giver, The Earth Mother, and The
Sky Father. The latter Two are emanations of the First, as
all, including the God and the Goddess, are emanations from
Usen', which is the primaeval First Cause.
Usen': One cannot look upon The Life Giver as either Male
or
Female, for The Life Giver is beyond those distinctions.
Usen', and The Life Giver, are names for this First Cause,
this Force that pervades all and caused all to come into
being. From Usen', the God, Sky Father, and the Goddess,
Earth Mother, emanate, as the lesser Deities emanate from
Them.
The Earth Mother: We live and walk and are sustained from
The Earth Mother, which is our Earth. She is alive, and we
all exist within Her as part of Her structure. Science,
through the Gaea Hypothesis, has finally acknowledged Her
existence, and some even have learnt the lesson that our
duty in this life is to care for and honor Her. This is a
lesson that all must learn, for as long as we despoil Her,
we risk Her wrath. She is expressed through the faces of
White Painted Woman, Who is The Woman Warrior, through Corn
Mother, Who is The Nourishing Mother, and through Spider
Woman, Who is The Wise Woman, The Ancient One, The
Custodian
of Wisdom. Women are acknowledged as being human represent-
atives of The Earth Mother.
The Sky Father: Just as among we Humans, there is both Man
and Woman, so there is no Earth Mother without Sky Father.
Sky Father is the air we breathe, the flame that gives us
warmth and cooks our food, and brings forth the rain that
fertilizes Our Mother and allows Her to provide us with
the crops and animals that sustain us. Sky Father is also
expressed as The Hunter, The Warrior, and First Shaman, and
is also expressed in Killer Of Enemies and The Child Of
Water. He is also present and acknowledged as being present
in every Man.
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(450) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:33
By: Michelle Hass
To: All
Re: Lf Laws:Pt3
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:2bad 542910f2
There are other spirits that exist in the Universe, some
beneficient, some maleficient. But most important is
Usen',
Earth Mother, and Sky Father. By walking in harmony with
the
God(esse)s, one can tell the Good from the Evil, welcoming
in Good, and protecting each other from Evil.
3.)ETHICS:
We have our code of Ethics. It is neither lengthy nor
overly restrictive. We do not include ancient taboos in
this list, such as Mother-In-Law avoidance or the taboo
against Fish, because they may not apply nowadays. If you
wish to not eat fish or to avoid your Mother-In-Law for
religious reasons, it is your perogative. But it is not a
requirement.
1.) If the action does not harm yourself, other people or
intelligent beings, or Our Mother The Earth, you are free
to
do as you wish.
2.) To charge for healings, sweats or ceremonials is
totally
wrong and extremely offensive. Also, to charge excessively
for teaching is equally offensive, but a modest fee
over expenses is allowable. Your conscience is the best
guide, that and the Will of the Deities.
3.) Magick should be limited only to protection of Self and
Loved Ones, and to healing and helping those in need,
provided that permission is given by the patient and that
help other than healing does not interfere with the Will of
others. Magick that is used in a coercive (IE. Love spells)
or destructive (harming or killing magick) way is patently
wrong and is considered Black Magick.
4.) Contact of spirits by any means other than Shamanic
journeying or the Vision Quest is very risky, and
Possession
is a real possibility. The practice of mediumship, or
"channeling" has no place in the Lifeway, and exposes not
only Self but others to danger.
5.) Permission must always be asked of the spirits of
plants
and/or animals before taking them for either sustenance or
for medicine.
6.) One's visions and one's personal ceremonies are one's
own. Personal visions should not be spoken of, but shared
visions are for all of the group.
7.) It is wrong to criticise another within the group or
outside the group. Racism, sexism, xenophobia or general
disrespect of others has no place in the Fellowship.
Individual decisions about lifestyle and other ethical
issues not covered here are an individual's own affair.
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(451) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:36
By: Michelle Hass
To: All
Re: Lf Laws:Pt4
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:2bad 549710f2
4.):GROUP STRUCTURE AND INITIATION PRACTICES
There is only one Initiation, which is the Initiation that
makes one Kin within the group and in the sight of The
Deities. It is given after one has taken their first
Vision
Quest, has found their Power Animal(s) and has met the
Shaman Within. It can only be denied to those who have met
these requirements, is younger than the legal Age Of
Consent
(in most places, 18 years) is not of sound mind, and/or is
under suspicion of being a Law Enforcement Officer or other
person antipathetic to Pagan and/or Shamanic belief
who requests initiation for fraudulent purposes (usually to
infilitrate to either sabotage or publically discredit the
Fellowship) Initiation must not be denied on account of
physical disabilities, blindness, deafness, or sterility,
nor on account of sex, race, nationality, political belief,
or sexual preference.
There are no set offices within the Fellowship. Ideally,
leadership should be by consensus, with true leaders being
temporary and purpose-oriented. Facilitation of rituals
may
be done by any Initiate of the Fellowship. ANYONE WHO
REPRESENTS THEMSELVES AS A HIGH PRIEST/ESS OF THE LIFEWAY
SHAMANIC FELLOWSHIP IS A FRAUD, AND IS DOING SO CONTRARY TO
THIS STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND ETHICS.
Support of the Fellowship is done on a purely voluntary and
mutual basis. No tithe or dues should be assessed unless
they have been agreed upon by all members, initiates and
non-initiates alike.
Membership is extended to all. But initiation is reserved
for those who meet the criteria mentioned above.
Non-initiates can participate in open ceremonials and in
basic workshops, but may be denied participation in certain
ceremonials and advanced workshops.
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(452) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:39
By: Michelle Hass
To: All
Re: Lf Laws:Pt5
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:2bad 54ea10f2
5.) THE QUESTION OF RECOGNIZING SHAMANS
In traditional societies, the title Shaman was not just an
honorific, or recognition of talents. Nor was it the
highest initiatory level in a Shamanic society. The Shaman
was, in most cases, above the Chief in decision-making
power
and was judge, doctor, father-confessor, and intercessor
with the Deities for the tribe. Some Shamanic societies
are
now providing their membership with "Shaman training
seminars" and "Shaman apprenticeships" that can be had for
an exorbitant price. This implies that the cost of being a
Shaman can be paid in money and in a set amount of time.
This is not the case. Many tribes believe that the office
of Shaman is not one that is earned, but one that one is
born into. Certainly, the skills are never something one
is
born with, and this is not merely hereditary. Rather, when
a child is born, the current Shaman would recognize that
the
child had the POTENTIAL of being the next one, and the
child's training would begin when they were considered
ready
by the Shaman. At adulthood, they would be tested. If
they
passed the test, they would become the next Shaman. If
they
failed, usually the test was such that they would either
die
outright, or they would go insane. Many "heroic quest"
tales, and most notably the Arthurian legends have echoes
of
this practice within the ancient Shamanic traditions of
Europe.
But the point that is being made here is that we should not
go back to that sort of way of doing things, because in
this
society it is nigh on impossible. The stand I am offering
here is that recognition as a Shaman can be conferred only
through shared vision, and signs from the Deities. It is
not my place to say what the signs are...it will be obvious
to the Fellowship. I am not Shaman myself, and will not
brook anyone calling me that. This is something I place in
the lap of the Deities to decide. I cannot do anything
more. It is a mockery of those people that can truly be
called Shamans, who are respected, powerful people of
traditional tribes, to do anything less. In any event, to
claim such a title is definately not enough, and is
punishable by withdrawing Fellowship from the one who
claims
to be Shaman falsely.
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(453) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:42
By: Michelle Hass
To: All
Re: Lf Laws: Pt6
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:2bad 555d10f2
6.) FESTIVALS AND WORSHIP DAYS
The festivals are reckoned as they have been for centuries
by most Southwestern tribes, by both the Sun and the Moon.
The seasons begin on the first full moon after a Solstice
or
an Equinox. The Solstices and Equinoxes themselves are
times of celebration as well, and perhaps the period
between
the two (which usually works out to be no more than a week
or so) could be considered a time of Holiday. Lesser
ceremonials are held on New Moons and Full Moons between
the
first Full Moons of the seasons. Optionally certain Pagan
festivals could be celebrated in conjunction with other
groups, but they are not to be adopted as official Lifeway
Fellowship ceremonial days.
There are other ceremonials that are personal in nature,
and
can be held at any time, although synchronizing them with
the Festivals and the New and Full Moons is advisable. They
are Naming, where a newborn child is named in the presence
of the group and their Life-beads given; Coming Of Age,
where the child's physical maturity is acknowledged, and
where, for a short time, they become Child of the Water (if
a boy) or White Painted Woman (if a girl); Initiation,
where
a person becomes a full-fledged member of the group, given
after a person becomes a legal adult; Joining, where a man
and a woman consent to be married; Unjoining, where a man
and woman who are married consent to have the bond
dissolved, which is to be done only after four reconcili-
ation attempts fail or after evidence of marital infidelity
or abuse is given before the group; the Moonlodge, which is
a special sweat for women in their Moon-time; and Release,
where a ceremony for a dead member of the Fellowship is
done
to guide their soul Back Home. Other ceremonials that are
dreamed or envisioned by a person or group are also
encouraged.
7.) SUMMING UP
A few quick ones: One can be either clothed or unclothed at
ceremonies, but it should be known that none of the
Southwestern tribes did ceremonies in the nude. However,
one should disrobe for the sweat lodge, as clothes are not
only uncomfortable within the sweat lodge, but interfere
with the cleansing process of the lodge.
This Statement can be accepted or rejected by individual
groups that federate themselves with Lifeway Fellowship.
But
federation can be denied to those groups who stray too far
from some of the basic guidelines, or do anything that
would
sully the reputation of the Fellowship in general.
Hi-dicho...this is finished.
May these proceeds please Life Giver Usen', and the Mother
and the Father.
ENJU!
Chihacou White-Puma, 1988.
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(454) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:46
By: Michelle Hass
To: All
Re: Lf Laws: Summation And Comments
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:2bad 55d210f2
I hope all of you have found the last few posts edifying, if not
perhaps a little long-winded. I am now in the process of finding
like-minded people to join me in this circle, and although I am the
one putting this together, I do not wish to set myself up as
leader. Starhawk, bless her heart, has spoken many times about the
concept of leaderless groups, and although I think perhaps she
might not extend this to her circle, I wanted to do so myself. I
am an inveterate Anarchist as well as a Shamanic Pagan, and I have
seen enough times where power trips get in the way of things.
However, I do not wish any longer to work Solitary, so I am
offering this possibility to those in the LA area who are
interested in exploring the Shamanic Way and celebrate Earth Mother
and Sky Father in a respectful and reverent way. If one is
interested in what I have here, and want to be a part of it, please
leave me a private message here.
ENJU! Walk in beauty, one and all...Michelle Chihacou White Puma
Klein-Hass.
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(455) Fri 22 Jul 88 10:28
By: Tim Maroney
To: All
Re: Blood on the Wire
St:
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@EID:524a 10f65387
L.A. ANIMAL TORTURE-KILLINGS BLAMED ON SECT
Associated Press
Los Angeles
Animal torture and slayings attributed to devil worshippers
and the Afro-Cuban Santeria religion appear to be increasing in
this area, and authorities are studying the legal question of how
to stop the practices.
The city Board of Animal Regulation has asked for a report on
the matter, board member Arther Margolis said yesterday.
Reed said authorities last fall found six goats bound and kept
in the bathroom of a Culver city home, along with several chickens.
Candles and other religious items suggested Santeria links, and
the owners were charged with animal cruelty.
Margolis, an attorney, hopes the report will lead to
consideration of a law banning animal killing and torture as part
of a religious ceremony. He expects a First Amendment fight to
follow immediately, as it already has in Hialeah, Fla.
That predominantly Hispanic city near Miami passed three laws
in 1987 aimed at the Santeria Church of Lukumi Babalu Ave.,
Florida's first public church of the sect.
The Hialeah laws prohibit sacrifice of animals, including
goats, pigs, cows, poultry, cats or dogs, animals that sect members
slaughter during rituals.
The church sued the city in federal court, alleging that the
laws violate the constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion.
Santeria is a mix of Roman Catholicism, voodoo and African
rituals attributed to a Nigerian tribe.
(Taken without permission from the San Francisco Chronicle,
Friday, July 22, 1988, page A14)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(456) Tue 26 Jul 88 20:54
By: Judy Harrow
To: All
Re: Exegesis on the Wiccan Rede (REDE.TXT)
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:0 22ed5626
EXEGESIS ON THE WICCAN REDE
by Judy Harrow
originally published in HARVEST - Volume 5, Number 3 (Oimelc, 1985)
second publication: THE HIDDEN PATH - Volume X, Number 2 Beltane,
1987)
All religions began with somebody's sudden flashing insight,
enlightenment, a shining vision. Some mystic found the way and the
words to share the vision, and, sharing it, attracted followers.
The followers may repeat those precise and poetic words about the
vision until they congeal into set phrases, fused language,
repeated by rote and without understanding. Cliches begin as great
wisdom - that's why they spread so fast - and end as ritual
phrases, heard but not understood. Living spirituality so easily
hardens to boring religious routine, maintained through guilt and
fear, or habit and social opportunism - any reason but joy.
We come to the Craft with a first generation's joy of
discovery, and a first generation's memory of bored hours of
routine worship in our childhood. Because we have known the
difference, it is our particular challenge to find or make ways to
keep the Craft a living, real experience for our grandchildren and
for the students of our students.
I think the best of these safeguards is already built into the
Craft as we know it, put there by our own good teachers. On our
Path, the mystic experience itself is shared, not just the fruits
of mysticism. We give all our students the techniques, and the
protective/supportive environment that enable almost every one of
them to Draw the Moon and/or Invoke the God. This is an incredibly
radical change from older religions, even older Pagan religions, in
which the only permissible source of inspiration has been to
endlessly reinterpret and reapply the vision of the Founder (the
Bible, the Book of the Law, the Koran, ... ). The practice of
Drawing the Moon is the brilliant crown of the Craft.
But notice how often, in the old myths, every treasure has its
pitfalls? I think I'm beginning to see one of ours. Between the
normal process of original visions clotting into cliche, and our
perpetual flow of new inspiration, we are in danger of losing the
special wisdom of those who founded the modern Craft. I do not
think we should assiduously preserve every precious word. My love
for my own Gardnerian tradition does not blind me to our sexist and
heterosexist roots. And yet, I want us to remain identifiably
Witches and not meld into some homogeneous "New Age" sludge. For
this, I think we need some sort of anchoring in tradition to give
us a sense of identity. Some of the old sayings really do
crystallize great wisdom as well, life-affirming Pagan wisdom that
our culture needs to hear.
So I think it's time for a little creative borrowing from our
neighbors. Christians do something they call "exegesis;" Jews have
a somewhat similar process called "midrash." What it is is
something between interpretation and meditation, a very
concentrated examination of a particular text. The assumption often
is that every single word has meaning (cabalists even look at the
individual letters). Out of this inspired combination of
scholarship and daydream comes the vitality of those paths whose
canon is closed. The contemporary example, of course, is Christian
Liberation Theology, based on a re-visioning of Jesus that would
utterly shock John Calvin.
Although our canon is not closed - and the day it is is the
day I quit -I'm suggesting that we can use a similar process to
renew the life of the older parts of our own still-young heritage.
So, I'd like to try doing some exegesis on an essential
statement of the Craft way of life. Every religion has some sort of
ethic, some guideline for what it means to live in accordance with
this particular mythos, this worldview. Ours, called the Wiccan
Rede, is one of the most elegant statements I've heard of the
principle of situational ethics. Rather than placing the power and
duty to decide about behavior with teachers or rulebooks, the Rede
places it exactly where it belongs, with the actor.
eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
AN IT HARM NONE, DO WHAT YOU WILL.
I'd like to start with the second phrase first, and to take it
almost word by word.
do what YOU will. This is the challenge to self-direction, to
figure out what we want, and not what somebody else wants for us or
from us. All of us are subject to tremendous role expectations and
pressures, coming from our families, our employers, our friends,
society in general. It's easy to just be molded, deceptively easy
to become a compulsive rebel and reflexively do the opposite of
whatever "they" seem to want. Living by the Rede means accepting
the responsibility to assess the results of our actions and to
choose when we will obey, confront or evade the rules.
do what you WILL. This is the challenge to introspection, to know
what we really want beyond the whim of the moment. The classic
example is that of the student who chooses to study for an exam
rather than go to a party, because what she really wants is to be a
doctor. Again, balance is needed. Always going to the library
rather than the movies is the road to burnout, not the road to a
Nobel. What's more, there are others values in life, such as
sensuality, intimacy, spirituality, that get ignored in a
compulsively long-term orientation. So, our responsibility is not
to mechanically follow some rule like "always choose to defer
gratification in your own long-term self interest," but to really
listen within, and to really choose, each time.
DO what you will. This is the challenge to action. Don't wait for
Prince Charming or the revolution. Don't blame your mother or the
system. Make a realistic plan that includes all your assets. Be
sure to include magic, both the deeper insights and wisdoms of
divination and the focusing of will and energy that comes from
active workings. Then take the first steps right now. But, beware
of thoughtless action, which is equally dangerous. For example,
daydreaming is needed, to envision a goal, to project the results
of actions, to check progress against goals, sometimes to revise
goals. Thinking and planning are necessary parts of personal
progress. Action and thought are complementary; neither can replace
the other.
When you really look at it, word by word, it sounds like a
subtle and profound guide for life, does it not? Is it complete?
Shall "do what you will" in fact be "the whole of the law" for us?
I think not. The second phrase of the Rede discusses the individual
out of context. Taken by itself, "DO WHAT YOU WILL" would produce a
nastily competitive society, a "war of each against all" more
bitter than what we now endure. That is, it would if it were
possible. Happily, it's just plain not.
Pagan myth and modern biology alike teach us that our Earth is
one interconnected living sphere, a whole system in which the
actions of each affect all (and this is emphatically not limited to
humankind) through intrinsic, organic feedback paths. As our
technology amplifies the effects of our individual actions, it
becomes increasingly critical to understand that these actions have
consequences beyond the individual; consequences that, by the very
nature of things, come back to the individual as well. Cooperation,
once "merely" an ethical ideal, has become a survival imperative.
Life is relational, contextual. Exclusive focus on the individual
Will is a lie and a deathtrap.
The qualifying "AN IT HARM NONE," draws a Circle around the
individual Will and places each of us firmly within the dual
contexts of the human community and the complex life-form that is
Mother Gaia. The first phrase of the Rede directs us to be aware of
results of our actions projected not only in time, as long-term
personal outcomes, but in space - to consider how actions may
effect our families, co-workers, community, and the life of the
Earth as a whole, and to take those projections into account in our
decisions.
But, like the rest of the Rede, "an it harm none" cannot be
followed unthinkingly. It is simply impossible for creatures who
eat to harm none. Any refusal to decide or act for fear of harming
someone is also a decision and an action, and will create results
of some kind. When you consider that "none" also includes
ourselves, it becomes clear that what we have here is a goal and an
ideal, not a rule.
The Craft, assuming ethical adulthood, offers us no rote
rules. We will always be working on incomplete knowledge. We will
sometimes just plain make mistakes. Life itself, and life-affirming
religion, still demands that we learn, decide, act, and accept the
results.
Judy Harrow
--- Sirius 0.50
* Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-741-2231 * (Opus 1:100/523)
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(457) Tue 2 Aug 88 2:20
By: David Schaal
To: All
Re: natural passages pt. 1
St:
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@EID:c712 128a1102
NATURAL PASSAGE P.O. BOX 33284 Minneapolis, MN 55433
Who are we?
We are a group of people dedicated to reviving the custom of
natural (ecological) burial.
What is "Natural Passage"?
"Natural passage" is a system whereby, after death, the body's
nutrients are given back to the Earth for return to the life cycle.
Why Natural Passage?
Throughout our lives we take sustenance from nature. Our high
technology and standards of creature comfort put considerable
stress on natural resources and nonrenewable energy sources. To
illustrate how grave is this drain on land and resources: the
U.S., with 5% of the world's population, consumes 30% of the
world's resources.
Natural passage is a means by which we can give back some of
what
we have taken, reclaim land for nature, and provide new life from
death.
Why not traditional methods?
Modern burial convention requires that trees be killed, land
be ill
used, energy be wasted, and considerable expense be incurred by
the deceased's family. This system continues our drain on nature
after our deaths.
Local and state laws often require elaborate containment
systems.
these may consist of tightly sealed caskets, cement vaults or
slabs to prevent soil or water contamination from communicable
disease or embalming fluid (formaldehyde). The body's own bacteria
is the only benefactor of this system. Eventually, it too dies.
By the time these high-tech burial canisters decompose, the
resulting matter is nearly inert. No nutritional value remains to
return to the life cycle.
Cremation, though less expensive, fares little better from an
ecological standpoint. It requires vast amounts of energy
(usually taken from nonrenewable sources) and the resulting product
is of little ecological value.
Our Proposal:
Imagine a nature sanctuary, filled with trees, flowers, and
native
wildlife -- living mememorials to those interred beneath the soil.
Work toward these life cemeteries would begin with the
purchase of
unused farm or pasture land. Sack cloth or a simple pine box
would serve as the repository for the deceased. Visitors would be
encourages to donate living plants (rather than cut flowers) to be
transplanted at the burial site. A young tree could be planted in
place of a headstone. New graves would be dug with low impact
machinery so as to minimize damage to surrounding vegetation. When
all the plots have been filled the 'life cemetery' would become a
nature preserve, serving as an eternal monument to the renewal of
life.
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)
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(458) Tue 2 Aug 88 2:22
By: David Schaal
To: All
Re: Natural Passages pt. 2
St:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@EID:c712 12d21102
How will this be accomplished?
First, we need dedicated people to organize a core group and
begin
the necessary paperwork for establishing a legally recognized
non-profit organization.
Next, we will need to increase public awareness and gain general
public support for natural burials. This will be accomplished
through education and advertising. Additionally, we hope to
solicit support from other organizations sympathetic to our cause.
Ecologists, naturalists, animal rights activists, and certain
religious groups might be sources of support.
We must lobby to enact legislation and/or relax laws and
ordinances
so that natural burials will be permissible when the deceased has
not died from communicable disease and the body has not been
embalmed. Additionally, laws requiring the emblaming of bodies
transported over state lines must be relxed.
Finally, we hope to purchase land for 'life cemeteries' to be
maintained and preserved as nature sanctuaries.
How you can help.
Our immediate need is not for money but for people willing to
devote time and energy toward legal research and networking. We
do not know the exact costs that will be incurred for printings,
mailings, and legal paperwork; but we expect they will be minimal.
Only after we have legal recognition do we plan to launch a
contributions campain. Hopefully, most of these contributions can
be put toward the legal battles ahead and toward a fund to purchase
land (while we will gladly accept any monetary contributions toward
defraying printing costs, please understand that, at the present,
they will not be tax-deductable).
If you support the concept of natural passage please fill out
and
return the enclosed form. Understand that this form does not
necessarily mean that you have chosen natural passage, only that
you support the philosophy and would like ti see natural passage as
a legal and viable option for those who prefer it. If you so mark,
your name will be matched with others from your geographic area so
that state chapters may be formed. (Many of the legal obstacles
occur at either the local or state level, so having an active
chapter in each state is imperitive.)
Thank you for your support Natural Passage, P.O. Box 33284,
Minneapolis, MN 55433
--- ConfMail V3.31
* Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)
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(459) Mon 8 Aug 88 11:18
By: Josh Gordon
To: All
Re: Air Force Times article
St:
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@EID:954a 11085a4d
WITCHES, PAGANS CAST ASIDE SHROUD OF SECRECY By Grant Willis Times
Staff Writer from The AIR FORCE TIMES, October 26, 1987
WASHINGTON - Military members who practice witchcraft and
paganism are
emerging from secrecy to demand respect for their civil rights and
increased recognition from the armed services.
In interviews with Air Force Times, military witch and pagan
activists
said they want time off for their major religious holidays. Some
said they want dog tags that state "Pagan" or "Wicca" as their
religious preference. Other pagans and witches said they need
chaplains who understand pre-Christian beliefs and who can help
them form worship groups at remote duty locations.
Signs of the new assertiveness appeared this fall in Europe,
when some
witches and pagans formed a network called the Farwanderer
Military Pagan Fellowship. Air Force SSGt Lorie A. Johnson said
she placed an announcement in European Stars and Stripes to recruit
fellowship members.
"The goal is to let military pagans know they're not alone,"
Johnson
said, and "to show the military that we're not just a bunch of
scattered weirdos."
Johnson is assigned to the 601st Tactical Control Wing at
Sembach AB,
Germany. She said she is a witch, but added that witches prefer
to call themselves Wiccans. Their religion is called Wicca.
Wiccans are considered pagans because they worship several
nature gods
instead of a single god, according to the Army's chaplain
handbook. They also believe in phychic powers and hold rituals
according to lunar cycle. Other pagan groups include Druids, who
base their rituals on solar cycles, and worshippers of the Norse
gods, of the ancient Vikings.
Military witches and pagans have tended to practice their
religion
secretly - so secretly, in fact, that many people outside the
pagan subculture are startled to learn that it exists. Some people
deny that paganism is a religion find pagan rituals offensive.
But the pagans who were interviewed said their religion is
serious and
their problems are real. Those problems include choosing whether
to keep their beliefs a secret from commanders and co-workers,
unwelcome solicitations from people who try to convert them to
Christianity, and harassment by those who erroneously regard pagans
as devil-worshippers.
No one knows how many of the estimated 30,000 to 40,000
pagans in the
United States are military members. In a December, 1986
Department of Defense survey, 10,487 military members marked "other
religion" as their preference instead of choosing one of the 250
faith groups on the questionnaire. That was less than 1 percent of
the 2.1 million who responded.
Officially, the military takes a neutral view of pagan
activity in the
ranks. "We acknowledge their right to exist," said Chaplain (Lt.
Col.) William L. Hugham, a spokesman for the Army chief of
chaplains office at the Pentagon.
A 1984 Department of Defense directive allows any religious
faith group
to apply for recognition as an "ecclesiastical endorsing agent."
This status allows a faith to seek chaplain commissions, among
other things.
Pagan and Wiccan groups are welcome to apply to the Armed
Forces
Chaplains Board for endorsing status, said Chaplain (Col.) John
Mann (USAF), the board's executive director. However, Wiccans and
pagans acknowledge that their groups probably are too loosely
organized to meet DoD criteria.
Even without official recognition, Mann said, military pagans
are
entitled to support from more than 3,400 active-duty Catholic,
Protestant or Jewish chaplains. "The military chaplaincy exists to
provide for the free exercise of religion," he said.
But as long as the armed services don't count pagans,
separately, they
can continue to ignore pagans' needs, Johnson said. The military
also tolerates a climate that makes many pagans afraid to exercise th
their rights openly, said Sgt LaVern Bentz (USArmy), a Wiccan
assigned to the 284th Military Police Company in Frankfurt, Germany.
"You have these commanders who don't want to rock the boat,"
Bentz said.
"So they tend to look at (paganism) as not part of the norm - is
not uniform."
"Then your assignments start getting changed. They put you
on the back
burner somewhere in a nice little office...To me, this is very
wrong."
Bentz, a four-year Army veteran, said he started getting
"rotten" job
assignments after he revealed his beliefs to his previous unit
commander. Then enlisted soldiers stopped listening to what Bentz
said, or jokingly asked if he could cast a good-weather spell for
their next field exercise, he said.
Despite the problems, Bentz said, he managed to get
transferred to a
unit where no one cares that he is a witch. he has since joined
the Farwandere Fellowship and hopes that other pagans will follow.
"Most of them are finally coming out of the closet and
saying: The
military is the pinnacle of what we believe in - freedom of
religion - so why are we afraid to reveal our beliefs?" Bentz said.
But other pagans have chosen to keep a low profile. Jack
(not his real
name), a Navy hospital corpsman second class stationed in the Deep
South, said secrecy protects his family.
"If I were a civilian and things got hot, I could always pick
up and
leave," he said. "Being in the Navy, I can't do that."
Jack said he might consider practicing Wicca openly if he
were stationed
on a ship, because everyone aboard would be subject to Navy
discipline and regulations that protect freedom of religion. On
shore, however, Jack said he feels intimidated by vocal Christian
fundamentalists on and off base. The Klu Klux Klan is still active
in the civilian community, he added.
Jack and his wife did attend a workshop for military pagans
last summer
at Barneveld, Wis. The worship had about eight participants and
was sponsored by Circle Sanctuary, a 10-year old Wiccan church that
claims 15,000 members.
Some pagans find that their religious implements are banned
in barracks,
said J. Gordon Melton, a professor who heads the University of
California at Santa Barbara's Institute for the Study of American
Religion.
For example, Melton said, some bases ban incense because it
is sometimes
used to cover the smell of marijuana. Candles may be considered a
fire hazard. And the Wiccan ritual knife, the atheme, may be
considered an unauthorized weapon.
The estimate of 30,000 to 40,000 pagans in the United States
comes from
Melton's research.
Wiccans and pagans don't try to convert others to their
religion, but
many feel harassed by the well-intentioned efforts of some
Christians to
"save" them from sin, said Kim Rayworth, the wife of an Air Force
major at
Incirlik AB, Turkey. Rayworth said she and her husband have been
Wiccans since 1970.
Last summer, Rayworth said, she woke up one morning to find a
large
wooden cross planted in the front yard of her on-base home. She
could have made a formal complaint to the base commander but chose
to ignore the incident, she said.
A neighbor also tried to hang crosses around Rayworth's
daughter's neck,
Rayworth said.
"At the age of 7, she had accumulated nine crosses from (the)
neighbor," Rayworth said. "I finally told her, 'I don't need your
crosses. Please don't push your religion on my daughter.'"
