I was surprised last night when talking to my Evil Twin: She and I were having a pretty deep discussion about Hermes, Apollo, Dionyos, The Mysteries, etc. I went on the blog here to look up something I had posted about the topic and when I found the post I had in mind, I was shocked! The post I had written barely had mention of the topic. It wasn't exactly a quickie, but it wasn't in depth at all! At least nothing like what I remember it to be.
I started going over random past posts and many of them are nothing like what I remember posting, not even the in-depth ones. Funny tho, I retain the memory of what I was studying at the time. I suppose that's why it feels like my posts have had more substance. It's made me realize how closed I have remained, even in this exercise of putting my voice out there. Looks like I have something to add to next year's resolution!
All of this brings us to this evening's actual topic! Tonight I participated in a yule ritual and was asked to call North as Earth. When I volunteer for parts, It's usually for South- South seems to be the meeting point for me and for others- Fire, Archangel Michael, etc. It's my comfort zone. I was asked to step out of it tonight and since others roll with my out of the way methods and notions it's only right that I do the same!
I figured since my quarters are well ingrained that I really need to focus and bring it if I'm going to do it right and I really wanted to do it well for my friend who was leading the ritual. Despite the close quarters and despite the relatively informal tone of the evening, I brought it. I felt it and I know the others did too. It was lovely to feel the magic from everyone in the room, Despite it not being a "serious" pomp and circumstance ritual, it was indeed magical. If everyone focuses and drops the ego about how they sound or what they look like, or if they did it right, every ritual would be automatically elevated. As in theatre: There are no small parts, only small players! Don't be small!
I'm going back to reviewing posts from the past year and will put up a top 10 list! Let me know if you have any nominations!
Showing posts with label ritual. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ritual. Show all posts
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Out of Darkness, Light!
I came across this nifty article tonight!
Traditional Fires In Winter Solstice In Treviso
Below are a few excerpts. Surf on over and check out the whole piece, it's quick!
Right now I'm sitting in front of our fire, sharing some cake and wine with the family as part of what I blogged about last night. Winter officially arrives 4 hours from now! Back to the celebration!
Traditional Fires In Winter Solstice In Treviso
Below are a few excerpts. Surf on over and check out the whole piece, it's quick!
The origins of panevin, the traditional bonfires in winter solstice, are very old certainly in Veneto - Italy; it, born as rite concerning Fire and Earth, was influenced by the Christian faith afterwards and thus it become a tool to light up the way of Three Wise Men who were got lost.
The panevin celebrated day of winter solstice by fire at first, this event fell on the 25th of December according to Julian calendar and then it coincided later on the day of the birth of Jesus and it was put off after twelve days, at the Epiphany Eve after some centuries.
This traditional bonfire in winter solstice is made by a heap of dry branches, brushwood, firewood and everything which is no more necessary and destined to be burnt; it is eight or ten metres high and it has a circular base with a diameter of three or four metres.
A puppet, being similar to an old lady, is often placed on the top of panevin; this female figure is called “vecia” (“old lady”) and she is guilty of all mishaps and calamities happened in just past year and thus she is burnt.
The persons, being near bonfire, look at the smoke and the sparks carried by wind and they deduce some auspices from this event for the year just begun: if the smoke and the sparks go south or west, blown by a moist wind, the crop’ll be good. If the smoke and the sparks of panevin go north or east, the harvest’ll be poor.
Right now I'm sitting in front of our fire, sharing some cake and wine with the family as part of what I blogged about last night. Winter officially arrives 4 hours from now! Back to the celebration!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Keeping the Home Fires Burning
Happy solstice eve eve!
My ancestors didn't know the precise time of the solstice, so they never had a celebration like the one we host tomorrow night. They're ok with that. It's the growth and expansion of the tradition, and is perfect timing to begin the yearly renewal of our hearth. I'm not getting into a big history lesson tonight (tho I did school someone on facebook today who was going on and on about how Jesus is the reason we exchange presents. False! I politely informed them of their misconception and corrected it with actual facts and moved on...). I'm just going to lay out our homespun ritual:
Rite of the Hearth Fire
(lofty name for a simple ritual!)
We set the logs in the fire place and I dress them with various incense and herbs, a piece of last year's log, and a shot of home made Strega Liqueur.
We call on our deities, our ancestors, the spirits of the land and our Patrons. (Everything said is from the heart. It's not preplanned.)
We have a candle lit from last year's log. I have used it throughout the year to light offering and ritual candles. I use that to light this year's log.
We let that candle burn down while we play music, sing songs, exchange gifts, eat a log cake, play games, toast each other and have fun, literally gathered together at the hearth.
After the candle goes out of its own accord, we light a new candle from the hearth, asking the blessings of the Goddess of the Hearth and for Her divine spark to reside within.
That's the candle we use to light all other candles in the new year.
We continue our merry making until the fire is embers, give our thanks to those who attended and play with our gifties ;)
However you celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful time!
My ancestors didn't know the precise time of the solstice, so they never had a celebration like the one we host tomorrow night. They're ok with that. It's the growth and expansion of the tradition, and is perfect timing to begin the yearly renewal of our hearth. I'm not getting into a big history lesson tonight (tho I did school someone on facebook today who was going on and on about how Jesus is the reason we exchange presents. False! I politely informed them of their misconception and corrected it with actual facts and moved on...). I'm just going to lay out our homespun ritual:
Rite of the Hearth Fire
(lofty name for a simple ritual!)
We set the logs in the fire place and I dress them with various incense and herbs, a piece of last year's log, and a shot of home made Strega Liqueur.
We call on our deities, our ancestors, the spirits of the land and our Patrons. (Everything said is from the heart. It's not preplanned.)
We have a candle lit from last year's log. I have used it throughout the year to light offering and ritual candles. I use that to light this year's log.
We let that candle burn down while we play music, sing songs, exchange gifts, eat a log cake, play games, toast each other and have fun, literally gathered together at the hearth.
After the candle goes out of its own accord, we light a new candle from the hearth, asking the blessings of the Goddess of the Hearth and for Her divine spark to reside within.
That's the candle we use to light all other candles in the new year.
We continue our merry making until the fire is embers, give our thanks to those who attended and play with our gifties ;)
However you celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful time!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The Road Ahead
During my New Moon ritual (which is when the crescent appears. When nothing is visible it's the Dark moon), I asked a question and received an answer I wasn't entirely expecting. I felt a little silly because I should have been expecting it. It was more the form the answer took was unexpected:
The question was related to obstacles to my various goals. I received an image of a thought form of Ganesha stomp-kicking cinder blocks into dust! Right on the heels of that Was Papa Legba at the center of the crossroads, opening the way. On the heels of that was Mercury blowing past, clearing the air. The vision went on, showing many of the forms of my Patron from around the world and across the ages. Some of them I didn't recognize. That just means I have more research to do.
It was an interesting experience to see all of these different deities. Are they all avatars of the same archetypal energy? Are they like siblings- they look alike and are all in the family business, but are separate, independent individuals? Always interesting to contemplate that mystery, but sometimes you just have to get into the water instead of watching the tide roll in.
Tomorrow I plan to walk my labyrinth, meditating on how to open my own way. Part of that vision was meant to convey the idea that each of us has this power- to remove obstacles, to open the way, to guide through the darkness. We first need to remove the obstacles we have placed for ourselves.
I was contemplating all of this as I drove home today. It was a long drive. During one slow part of the trip with some traffic build up on the highway, a red tailed hawk did a slow glide across the road right in fromt of my windshield, eye level with me, and slow enough that I could count the red feathers on the tail. Wow! I took that as a sign that I'm on the right track, er= road. ;)
One obstacle I keep putting in my own way is a lack of sleep. Time to change that!
The question was related to obstacles to my various goals. I received an image of a thought form of Ganesha stomp-kicking cinder blocks into dust! Right on the heels of that Was Papa Legba at the center of the crossroads, opening the way. On the heels of that was Mercury blowing past, clearing the air. The vision went on, showing many of the forms of my Patron from around the world and across the ages. Some of them I didn't recognize. That just means I have more research to do.
It was an interesting experience to see all of these different deities. Are they all avatars of the same archetypal energy? Are they like siblings- they look alike and are all in the family business, but are separate, independent individuals? Always interesting to contemplate that mystery, but sometimes you just have to get into the water instead of watching the tide roll in.
Tomorrow I plan to walk my labyrinth, meditating on how to open my own way. Part of that vision was meant to convey the idea that each of us has this power- to remove obstacles, to open the way, to guide through the darkness. We first need to remove the obstacles we have placed for ourselves.
I was contemplating all of this as I drove home today. It was a long drive. During one slow part of the trip with some traffic build up on the highway, a red tailed hawk did a slow glide across the road right in fromt of my windshield, eye level with me, and slow enough that I could count the red feathers on the tail. Wow! I took that as a sign that I'm on the right track, er= road. ;)
One obstacle I keep putting in my own way is a lack of sleep. Time to change that!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Vocalizing
In the same week I have been to an event where we discussed plans for a completely silent ritual and another to where the attendees were admonished that if they don't shout and scream the chants or names or other participatory bits that they are insulting their ancestors and the deities they're trying to call down.
The former was pitched as an exercise to work on running energy as a group and focusing on intent more than on "doing the pretty" and coming up with a fancy speech for every element of the ritual.
The later was part of a Strega influenced ritual and the other was a voodoo ritual led by the Dragon Ritual Drummers who are amazing! Thankfully, they stopped after each song to give some history on and to introduce the song after. Otherwise we would have had a room filled with tranced out folk. I had to focus to make sure I didn't get rolled by the energy.
I think my patrons and my ancestors understand that sometimes things have to stay silent and at other times I can "lift my voice." That phrase shows the pretty talk for what it can be: An offering. You can make offerings with your voice and not just with singing or poetry recitation. Speaking Their names, both deities and ancestors helps them to manifest on this plane.
So all of this brings me to the question, which I would love some feedback on:
How do you use your voice magically, especially in relation to devotion work and to spell work?
The former was pitched as an exercise to work on running energy as a group and focusing on intent more than on "doing the pretty" and coming up with a fancy speech for every element of the ritual.
The later was part of a Strega influenced ritual and the other was a voodoo ritual led by the Dragon Ritual Drummers who are amazing! Thankfully, they stopped after each song to give some history on and to introduce the song after. Otherwise we would have had a room filled with tranced out folk. I had to focus to make sure I didn't get rolled by the energy.
I think my patrons and my ancestors understand that sometimes things have to stay silent and at other times I can "lift my voice." That phrase shows the pretty talk for what it can be: An offering. You can make offerings with your voice and not just with singing or poetry recitation. Speaking Their names, both deities and ancestors helps them to manifest on this plane.
So all of this brings me to the question, which I would love some feedback on:
How do you use your voice magically, especially in relation to devotion work and to spell work?
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Trust
Italian Witches are some of the most magically paranoid people I know. Everything is as secret as possible. Unless you're seeking help from your magical family, you keep you work to yourself. Having grown up in that environment, it's hard for me to trust others, especially about work I might be doing. When I'm doing a ritual with people I don't know very well, I shield myself. My energy goes out into the pool, gets mixed with the others and sent out towards the intention of the day. But I wouldn't take that in. Or charge my items with it.
Public rituals can be a tricky thing, energy-wise. You don't know who will be there or what energy they will bring to the proverbial table. At an event ritual, like a fair or Pagan Pride day, what you're really counting on, for a successful ritual, is common intent, plus many voices saying the same thing which equals repetition, which equals invocation.
I'm a firm believer that these kind of rituals should be quick, to the point, raise a lot of energy quickly, and have the leaders of the ritual direct it towards the goal. Otherwise the focus is lost quickly and the whole thing degenerates into a theatrical production with no power behind it.
I know that I have been unfocused lately. In the past, it's typically been a joy to blog every day. This week, I'm just not feeling it. Others who work with Mercury in his various forms have told me that they also feel the same way: Two peas in a pod for the longest time, then all of a sudden... He's off and busy taking care of other things. Well, not to say there is nothing there, but it's something I have to actively call up as opposed to the usual being together an in sync. Like when someone you live with is off on a trip; You have to pick up the phone to call them instead of just talking to them across the room. I have been feeling the lack of His presence lately and it has been reflected in my blogging, so apologies for that. I know I need to give myself over to the joy of blogging daily and learning something new and exploring the things I love. I decided that last night and today I came across three different statues of Mercury. He's still around. Right now I just have to pick up the phone.
Speaking of phones... what do you think about technology in ritual? Skyping in? Magic over the phone? ipod as index card you can read in the dark? I'm pondering a post on that!
Public rituals can be a tricky thing, energy-wise. You don't know who will be there or what energy they will bring to the proverbial table. At an event ritual, like a fair or Pagan Pride day, what you're really counting on, for a successful ritual, is common intent, plus many voices saying the same thing which equals repetition, which equals invocation.
I'm a firm believer that these kind of rituals should be quick, to the point, raise a lot of energy quickly, and have the leaders of the ritual direct it towards the goal. Otherwise the focus is lost quickly and the whole thing degenerates into a theatrical production with no power behind it.
I know that I have been unfocused lately. In the past, it's typically been a joy to blog every day. This week, I'm just not feeling it. Others who work with Mercury in his various forms have told me that they also feel the same way: Two peas in a pod for the longest time, then all of a sudden... He's off and busy taking care of other things. Well, not to say there is nothing there, but it's something I have to actively call up as opposed to the usual being together an in sync. Like when someone you live with is off on a trip; You have to pick up the phone to call them instead of just talking to them across the room. I have been feeling the lack of His presence lately and it has been reflected in my blogging, so apologies for that. I know I need to give myself over to the joy of blogging daily and learning something new and exploring the things I love. I decided that last night and today I came across three different statues of Mercury. He's still around. Right now I just have to pick up the phone.
Speaking of phones... what do you think about technology in ritual? Skyping in? Magic over the phone? ipod as index card you can read in the dark? I'm pondering a post on that!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
A Devotional Spell
Dusio and I have once again been conspiring. He's trying to inspire me to post more "low" magic. The blog takes me where it takes me. Tonight tho, I'm starting to get into that groove. So thanks, Dusio. This dovetails nicely with his latest post on devotion and why, I think, I was moved to post it.
While I am not at liberty to post the entire ritual here, I have been given the go ahead to post this part of it; a devotional prayer, invoking Diana as Queen of Witches. It can be used as a novena, it can be used to invoke Her presence and aid in spellwork, to bring Her power in the heavens down into the materials, and to carry the intention of the materials into all realms where they can take effect. You can use this for most work, including healing, revealing, and appealing.*
If it fits your fancy, you can change the first line to Ave Madonna (My Lady). It's important to keep the rhyme, otherwise I'd say use whichever title or name you're most comfortable with. I've posted it in Italian because that's how it was given. If you want a pronunciation guide I suggest translate.google.com. You'll be able to click an icon and have a listen.
Ave Diana!
Angeli si corona.
I tuoi figli ti adoro.
Dammi quello che chiedo.
(your request goes here)
Ti offro fiori,
rose e gigli,
Sotto la luna
le stelle ei pianeti.
Con la mia volontà e il tuo
Questo sarà il mio!
Hail Diana!
Angels crown you,
Your children adore you.
Give me what I ask.
(insert request here)
I offer you flowers,
roses and lilies,
Under the moon,
the stars and the planets.
By my will and thine
This will be mine!
*(revealing = divination, appealing = love or glamor)
While I am not at liberty to post the entire ritual here, I have been given the go ahead to post this part of it; a devotional prayer, invoking Diana as Queen of Witches. It can be used as a novena, it can be used to invoke Her presence and aid in spellwork, to bring Her power in the heavens down into the materials, and to carry the intention of the materials into all realms where they can take effect. You can use this for most work, including healing, revealing, and appealing.*
If it fits your fancy, you can change the first line to Ave Madonna (My Lady). It's important to keep the rhyme, otherwise I'd say use whichever title or name you're most comfortable with. I've posted it in Italian because that's how it was given. If you want a pronunciation guide I suggest translate.google.com. You'll be able to click an icon and have a listen.
Angeli si corona.
I tuoi figli ti adoro.
Dammi quello che chiedo.
(your request goes here)
Ti offro fiori,
rose e gigli,
Sotto la luna
le stelle ei pianeti.
Con la mia volontà e il tuo
Questo sarà il mio!
Hail Diana!
Angels crown you,
Your children adore you.
Give me what I ask.
(insert request here)
I offer you flowers,
roses and lilies,
Under the moon,
the stars and the planets.
By my will and thine
This will be mine!
*(revealing = divination, appealing = love or glamor)
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Witch's Hangover
I've seen this term thrown around facebook in the past few days, largely by folks who misunderstand how the term is used. It does NOT mean a Witch who drank too much around the fire after a ritual. That's just a regular hangover ;)A Witch's Hangover is when one is energetically depleted after intense ritual, spell work or other craft related operations which require vast amounts of metaphysical energy. Did you lead a circle wherein no one sustained the energy except for you? Did you take on a particularly energy intensive part in a ritual or spellcasting? Did you engage in trance or prophecy? Did you raise a lot of energy with the group? Were you the focus for the energy? You might suffer from a Witch's Hangover the next day.
What does it feel like? For me, it's like an actual hangover: I feel very sluggish, retain water, dry mouth and throat, headache and general signs of dehydration.
What do I do? Same thing for a hangover: I drink a LOT of water. B vitamins help me too! I find myself craving potatoes after intense work, a very grounding food.
Around the time of the full moon, some Witches find themselves on what is referred to as The Wild Hunt. Sometimes you can astral travel or journey without advanced planning. When you wake up feeling more tired than when you went to sleep.... could be Witches Hangover!
It's not the same thing as having a headache from too much energy, or the moon affecting the tides of your body. It's certainly not about acting the fool or being a "lunatic" as we know it in the muggle sense of the term. It's the physical consequences of spending a great amount of magical energy.
Yet another analogy: Ever start exercising after you've been dormant for a while? Or have an intense workout despite a regular exercise routine? I'm kinda sore the next day. You too? The same thing is true when you're talking in terms of energy, both for the problem and the solution: You have to grow your magical muscles. Doing that starts with a foundation of daily practice including (at least for me) ritual, meditation, and offerings. The more work you do with energy and with spirit, the stronger you get, the more you can do, and the less likely it is you will suffer a magical hangover.
But wow that last one was a doozy. After Saturday's Nemoralia celebration I was seriously hung over on both Sunday and some of Monday. It was only this morning that I realized where my bumps and bruises are because the general feeling of walking through cotton had finally lifted!
What can I say- when we magically party, we party hard!
I am not recommending the product in the picture, I just think the name is hillarious! And Appropriate!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Frustration
I've heard from other Witches who have called on Diana this weekend. The message is much the same:
She is frustrated. It's time to stop hating on each other and stand up, together, as Her children. Here is what came through for my cousin:
At one point, I felt a wave of anger wash over Her/me. The anger was born of Her frustration at people hiding their gifts, afraid to use them and be out there shining their light- Her light. Knowing you have power and not using it is as bad as misusing that power.
And so we're not all maudlin here in this quickie post, I want to share that yesterday, Apollo made his presence known and he was amused! Since I don't write a script and just let things flow, he stepped in during my circle casting and I was speaking in rhyming couplets the whole way round. I couldn't stop talking like that and had to shut him out! I've talked in iambic pentameter in the past too. The cagey Apollo! heehee
She is frustrated. It's time to stop hating on each other and stand up, together, as Her children. Here is what came through for my cousin:
"It is time to join together and be whole in these times. It is up to us to be leaders and have faith in each other and for the goodness of mankind, because something is about to change."Mio fratello had a more severe warning: Step up or be cut off. He was much more eloquent than that but I don't feel at liberty to share the words, just the basic sentiment. I had a similar feeling. I was told I didn't speak at all during the surprise trance portion of yesterday's ritual, that it was all movement. I'm remembering more now that a day has passed, and I hope to remember even more in another day. I remember bits and pieces, but they're only visuals- snapshots of what happened. Except for one thing:
At one point, I felt a wave of anger wash over Her/me. The anger was born of Her frustration at people hiding their gifts, afraid to use them and be out there shining their light- Her light. Knowing you have power and not using it is as bad as misusing that power.
And so we're not all maudlin here in this quickie post, I want to share that yesterday, Apollo made his presence known and he was amused! Since I don't write a script and just let things flow, he stepped in during my circle casting and I was speaking in rhyming couplets the whole way round. I couldn't stop talking like that and had to shut him out! I've talked in iambic pentameter in the past too. The cagey Apollo! heehee
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Experiencing Technical Difficulties
Oh fer fux sake!
I nearly said that tonight when my fire wouldn't light. Everything was set: Pillars with candles at the quarters, the logs and twigs placed just so in the fire pit, the ritual items, libations and incense all ready....
Lit the candles... check.
Invoked the circle and the guardians... check.
Lit the fire.... not so much.
What happens when you run into technical difficulties? Lighter not working? Forgot something? Candle keeps going out? Incense burns too fast? Smoke is blowing in your face? Offerings fall on the floor? Wine went bad? Someone screws up their part?All of these have happened to me at one point or another. I think that's why it's important to have a sense of humor.
We worked on that fire... I promised I would let the fire burn out by itself (in the past I've helped speed it along. heh.). I used paper for kindling, we chanted, we asked the elementals to help... We tried everything from lighters to matches to placing frankencense strategically to help it catch (sine its a resin it flames up and takes a while to burn). Then after we'd had enough of asking for help, I left the Grove and got a sterno can. I dumped the fuel onto the logs and lit it up. DONE! RAWR! lol It worked for a while- long enough for us to take care of business, then the flames went out and the two remaining logs just glowed and smoldered.
What do you do when things go wrong? Improvise! That's part of the class Evil Twin and I are offering: Improvisation. You need to practice being sharp minded and quick on your feet, before you have to be sharp-minded and quick on your feet.
So back to what to do when things go awry: You do something else, you use a different ingredient, you correct your words, you go back and fix it, you call upon your energy and your allies to correct what needs correction on that plane, or you get practical -if you can- and step out of ritual and get it.
The trick is to do it with minimal drama and attention! I don't mean you have to keep on a poker face, but don't huff and puff and fuss and whine. Take it with the proverbial grain of salt. In addition, keeping a sense of humor, and your wits about you helps. Calling yourself names does not (I've seen this happen on many occasions "Oh I'm an idiot!" has been uttered by more than one person leading a ritual). Sometimes it means you need to do something else. Sometimes it's a message. Sometimes it's a Trickster. Other times? Shit happens. You just have to listen to your intuition and roll with it.
I nearly said that tonight when my fire wouldn't light. Everything was set: Pillars with candles at the quarters, the logs and twigs placed just so in the fire pit, the ritual items, libations and incense all ready....
Lit the candles... check.
Invoked the circle and the guardians... check.
Lit the fire.... not so much.
What happens when you run into technical difficulties? Lighter not working? Forgot something? Candle keeps going out? Incense burns too fast? Smoke is blowing in your face? Offerings fall on the floor? Wine went bad? Someone screws up their part?All of these have happened to me at one point or another. I think that's why it's important to have a sense of humor.
We worked on that fire... I promised I would let the fire burn out by itself (in the past I've helped speed it along. heh.). I used paper for kindling, we chanted, we asked the elementals to help... We tried everything from lighters to matches to placing frankencense strategically to help it catch (sine its a resin it flames up and takes a while to burn). Then after we'd had enough of asking for help, I left the Grove and got a sterno can. I dumped the fuel onto the logs and lit it up. DONE! RAWR! lol It worked for a while- long enough for us to take care of business, then the flames went out and the two remaining logs just glowed and smoldered. What do you do when things go wrong? Improvise! That's part of the class Evil Twin and I are offering: Improvisation. You need to practice being sharp minded and quick on your feet, before you have to be sharp-minded and quick on your feet.
So back to what to do when things go awry: You do something else, you use a different ingredient, you correct your words, you go back and fix it, you call upon your energy and your allies to correct what needs correction on that plane, or you get practical -if you can- and step out of ritual and get it.
The trick is to do it with minimal drama and attention! I don't mean you have to keep on a poker face, but don't huff and puff and fuss and whine. Take it with the proverbial grain of salt. In addition, keeping a sense of humor, and your wits about you helps. Calling yourself names does not (I've seen this happen on many occasions "Oh I'm an idiot!" has been uttered by more than one person leading a ritual). Sometimes it means you need to do something else. Sometimes it's a message. Sometimes it's a Trickster. Other times? Shit happens. You just have to listen to your intuition and roll with it.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Drunk on Moon Shine!
Not the Dukes of Hazzard revenuers-are-comin' kind of moonshine! I did some work tonight, on a technically not-eclipsed-to-me barely waning moon, at sunset. I started in the hour of Mercury and concluded during the hour of the moon. Here's a fun site where you can calculate planetary hours and read more about them.
I didn't write a script. I rarely do unless others are involved and required to do and say certain things at certain times. You learn by doing. When you learn it well enough, you start taking on roles. When you have taken on enough roles enough times, you take the lead. It's like music theory: when you know the notes and the chords, you can create a sweet sounding tune.
I had work to do tonight and wanted to take advantage of the waning moon, the waning sun, and other releasing, removing influences. I opened the space, I called in Guardians, Patrons, Ancestors and the Land Itself. I made offerings of incense, water, and wine. The birds squawked, the dogs barked and the lucciolas lit my way. I was well attended and supported and it rocked. My words were from the heart. My gestures were a mix of old keys and the flow of the moment. I didn't have to plan what to do, I just brought out the ingredients I needed and was guided. When I saw the moon rise over the trees I was awe-struck. I felt like a little child standing there swinging my cauldron of incense. I felt how large the moon is, and the energy and how great She is, how all-encompassing. I felt connected to the core of our practice and I knew there were others out there honoring Her in all of Her forms. ::waves:: I saw you, and you, and.... you were there too! lol
I forgot to eat something afterward because I was so moonstruck that I dashed inside at the last possible minute to get kiddo to bed. Once he was prepped for bed, I took him to look at the moon rising above the trees. He loved it, but it was bad timing because he couldn't fall asleep for a long while after! I'm still bouncing around. I need to ground and to sleep! As fun an adventure as it might be, I don't want to go to sleep this buzzed!
Before I go, I wanted to share part of a fun chat I had with a friend tonight. We were discussing The Foletti and the work of RJ Stewart and Orion Foxwood. I mused that someone should write faery work from the Italian perspective since everything out there seems to be Celtic or Scottish. His reply:
He also waxed eloquent on a few definitions for his readers so I thought to share them with mine:
I've repeated myself enough tonight! I'm off! Time to ground! Here's some Moon Love!
I didn't write a script. I rarely do unless others are involved and required to do and say certain things at certain times. You learn by doing. When you learn it well enough, you start taking on roles. When you have taken on enough roles enough times, you take the lead. It's like music theory: when you know the notes and the chords, you can create a sweet sounding tune.
I had work to do tonight and wanted to take advantage of the waning moon, the waning sun, and other releasing, removing influences. I opened the space, I called in Guardians, Patrons, Ancestors and the Land Itself. I made offerings of incense, water, and wine. The birds squawked, the dogs barked and the lucciolas lit my way. I was well attended and supported and it rocked. My words were from the heart. My gestures were a mix of old keys and the flow of the moment. I didn't have to plan what to do, I just brought out the ingredients I needed and was guided. When I saw the moon rise over the trees I was awe-struck. I felt like a little child standing there swinging my cauldron of incense. I felt how large the moon is, and the energy and how great She is, how all-encompassing. I felt connected to the core of our practice and I knew there were others out there honoring Her in all of Her forms. ::waves:: I saw you, and you, and.... you were there too! lol
I forgot to eat something afterward because I was so moonstruck that I dashed inside at the last possible minute to get kiddo to bed. Once he was prepped for bed, I took him to look at the moon rising above the trees. He loved it, but it was bad timing because he couldn't fall asleep for a long while after! I'm still bouncing around. I need to ground and to sleep! As fun an adventure as it might be, I don't want to go to sleep this buzzed!
Before I go, I wanted to share part of a fun chat I had with a friend tonight. We were discussing The Foletti and the work of RJ Stewart and Orion Foxwood. I mused that someone should write faery work from the Italian perspective since everything out there seems to be Celtic or Scottish. His reply:
I half agree and 1/4 disagree. But that's its own post!
He also waxed eloquent on a few definitions for his readers so I thought to share them with mine:
"Guided meditation: An exercise utilizing the imagination to program the subconcious mind & train the mind in preparation for REAL astral journeys.
Pathworking: Originally, a journey along the paths upon the Tree of Life. Broadened to include journeys centered upon core concepts & set imagery to help students internalize a teaching.
Journeywork: REAL astral work. Journeying is NOT scripted, though it may revolve upon a theme OR a particular area of focus.
Likewise, anyone who says (like Llewelyn books tend to do) that astral work leaves you feeling refreshed when you come to... is a fucking moron. You don't feel perky and happy go lucky! You feel like you are recovering from a jagermeister shot (at least 8) induced hangover AFTER being run over by an SUV."
Word! It's called work for a reason! Unlike the cacasetenze I spoke of the other night, Nemesis is a weaver of words and wise beyond his years. I'm glad to know him and glad to point you to his books. Maybe, if I ask real nice, he might guest blog?
I've repeated myself enough tonight! I'm off! Time to ground! Here's some Moon Love!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Tradition
This post isn't easy for me to write, but since it looks like I'm supposed to (I've avoided it for 2 days and can't anymore), I'm going to limit this to my only complaint and get to reporting. To preface: I am a vegan because I do not kill anything that isn't threatening harm to anyone. I've been a vegan for 15 years this month. With that said, let's talk about the cool part: The following post is about a Sicilian tradition that goes back to at least 500 years, the Tonnara. The entire endeavor is an ancient ritual which survives, barely, to this day.
Blue fin Tuna are caught in a series of nets, which haven't changed since the middle ages, and killed in a cruel, bloody way with spears and knives and other sharp, close range weapons. The practice is so bloody it's called La Mattanza, the slaughter.
A huge trap (called the tonnara) leads the fish into a chamber, called la camera della morte, which has a net floor that can be raised. The fish are then brought to the surface and killed. During this festival, while the tuna are being caught, Tonnarotti sing special songs called scialome which have been passed down for so long that much of the meaning has now been lost.
The residents would head down to the shore or out in accompanying boats and sing as well. Once the fish are lifted up from the water into the net, several men jump in and kill the fish, hence, the mattanza part of the action.
Blue fin tuna has been so overfished that in recent years the mattanza has been canceled or nothing has been caught. I'd be happy about it except that it means there are no more fish left, not that everyone has gone veg. Tonnara is an ancient technique that has apparently been outdone, to everyone's detriment, by Japanese and Korean industrial fleets.
Here is an excerpt from a 2005 paper published in the Journal of Mediterranean studies in 2005:
And that's what it is: Ritual. This isn't the impersonal industrial fishing, or the fish version of bull fighting, as many have derisively called it. The endeavor is out of respect for the fish, and the sea and the community. The sacrifice of life is recognized, much in the way we understand Native American traditions to be.
This video is not for the faint of heart. In the first part you can hear some of the singing and chanting under the wind and chatter of people taking the video.
500 years doesn't seem so ancient. True, but how about 11,000 years?
Blue fin Tuna are caught in a series of nets, which haven't changed since the middle ages, and killed in a cruel, bloody way with spears and knives and other sharp, close range weapons. The practice is so bloody it's called La Mattanza, the slaughter.
A huge trap (called the tonnara) leads the fish into a chamber, called la camera della morte, which has a net floor that can be raised. The fish are then brought to the surface and killed. During this festival, while the tuna are being caught, Tonnarotti sing special songs called scialome which have been passed down for so long that much of the meaning has now been lost.
The residents would head down to the shore or out in accompanying boats and sing as well. Once the fish are lifted up from the water into the net, several men jump in and kill the fish, hence, the mattanza part of the action.
Blue fin tuna has been so overfished that in recent years the mattanza has been canceled or nothing has been caught. I'd be happy about it except that it means there are no more fish left, not that everyone has gone veg. Tonnara is an ancient technique that has apparently been outdone, to everyone's detriment, by Japanese and Korean industrial fleets.
Here is an excerpt from a 2005 paper published in the Journal of Mediterranean studies in 2005:
The first tuna caught is offered to the Madonna. An outdoor altar construction of the Virgin Mary holding a tuna in her arms is facing the sea. Women gather daily at this Madonna of the Tonnaroti to pray for the success of the mattanza (Singer 1999: 64). The tonnaroti revere the Madonna del Rosario in the church of Sant’ Anna. Before deploying the tonnara, a local priest blesses the boats that the fishermen have adorned with bouquets of flowers, and all the other equipment, the sea, the fish in it and the rais as well (Maggio 2000: 97). As we have already seen, religious worship accompanies all stages of the tonnara operation, making it not only a focal point of local economic, social and cultural life, but also of spiritual life. After all entrapped tuna are taken, the tonnaroti jump in the bloody water in a ritual act that, according to anthropologist Serge Collet (personal communication), is symbolic for regeneration and reproduction.Gladiolas, lillies, palm and pictures of the patrons are put at the mouth of the entrance and the rais prays over the whole endeavor. Rais means "lord," as in "lord of the manner" or "Lord and Lady." I think we'd call him the High priest of this ritual.
And that's what it is: Ritual. This isn't the impersonal industrial fishing, or the fish version of bull fighting, as many have derisively called it. The endeavor is out of respect for the fish, and the sea and the community. The sacrifice of life is recognized, much in the way we understand Native American traditions to be.
This video is not for the faint of heart. In the first part you can hear some of the singing and chanting under the wind and chatter of people taking the video.
500 years doesn't seem so ancient. True, but how about 11,000 years?
The Grotta del Genovese, about 6 miles west of Trapani where la mattanza is held, is a cave famous for its paleolithic art. Paleolithic? Yeah. There are scenes, engraved and drawn by hand that show daily life, animals, dancing figures and a scene of tuna being killed. An 11,000 year old confirmation of this ritual:
While exploring the pictures of the art in the cave, I came across this lovely picture and bit of information, confirmed an all official and tourist sites I've read:
"The fourteen idols painted in the cave are well known not only among scientists. Six of them, which remind a little flask or a violin, are round-shaped, with a belly and a bottle-neck in the middle and short arms. The other eight idols have got a cylindrical-shape and short arms too.
The Levanzo's idols are very similar to the stone simulacrums which referrer to the fertility cult, founded in many Neo-Eneolithic sites in the Mediterranean. The little statues founded in Creta, some Greek islands, Spain and Sardinian, are very similar to those founded in Grotta del Genovese. So in Levanzo too they practised the Creatrix Mother cult (Mother God)..."
The Levanzo's idols are very similar to the stone simulacrums which referrer to the fertility cult, founded in many Neo-Eneolithic sites in the Mediterranean. The little statues founded in Creta, some Greek islands, Spain and Sardinian, are very similar to those founded in Grotta del Genovese. So in Levanzo too they practised the Creatrix Mother cult (Mother God)..."
This has been another 3 hour tour. I had planned to be asleep by 10 PM so I could be up by 6 AM and start the day right. I've been reading articles and web sites and you tube and ancient Italian songs, and I think I've picked up more Sicilian tonight than in the past 6 months... Remember way back at the start of this post I said I felt like I was supposed to be writing about this event, even though I didn't want to? I'm glad I did.
It feels like this whole trip was to get me to explore this cave and artifacts. It's the second one I've talked about on the blog and this one has Goddess imagery and had votives as well. Looks like this is only the start of my mission. Now I have to find the songs, the votives, and The Goddess of the Cave. I have found something tonight: A renewed sense of tradition. I don't mean doing something just because it was done before. The unthinking, unquestioning mentality has got to go. If someone had asked what the chanting meant we'd still know all of the words instead of just some. This is a particular tradition I wouldn't personally want to take part in now, but something about it makes me want to defend it against naysayers.
Tradition?
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Cheating
I hate cheat-sheets in ritual. I really do. People get so worried about the words and "getting it right" that you lose any power and the whole endeavor is worthless. I don't think quarter calls should be written and read off an index card. You should know the qualities of that quarter well enough that you can bring up that energy and the words are almost secondary. Actually, words are secondary. You could do a silent circle and still rock out an amazing amount of power if you focused correctly. Words are merely tools. What happens when you have to do something secret in public? Oops. I don't fault those who fall into the trap of feeling like every word chosen must be uttered perfectly. I fault their teachers for making it so important when it's so not.
Someone at the ritual today (not my ritual, not my tradition, did it for community and my good friend) complained that they don't have a certain tool so they can't do something magically that they wanted to. Poppycock. Tools are nice, but not necessary. It's great to have that well-worn wand, and tools can store up energy to help you later, like a magical shortcut, but nothing is "necessary."
I'm going to do a ritual with no tools at all. No candles, no incense, no script, just us. Too bad the people who need it most would be too scared to do it.
I wish everyone, especially those who don't have a specific part in the ritual script, would stop reading along with the ritual like its the Sunday missal. The difference in what we do, or at least what should be a difference, is that we actually participate intimately with the ceremony, we don't just receive passively. We create the ritual together with our energy, we make it happen. No one should be standing around mumbling chants for fear they're not on pitch. We should give ourselves over to The Work with the goal of ecstasy and gnosis and union with the divine in mind.
Have I used cheat sheets before? Sure, when someone has asked me to recite the words they have chosen to have read aloud. If I get it early enough I'll memorize it, but usually it's show up n do it. Is there as much oomph? Of course not, I'm using someone else's words. I never carry the printed out ritual into circle otherwise.
My perfect devotional/celebratory ritual: Everyone fully present, no BS personal agendas, literally giving devotion, giving their energy, building it, making the sum greater than its parts. Otherwise, what's the point?
Someone at the ritual today (not my ritual, not my tradition, did it for community and my good friend) complained that they don't have a certain tool so they can't do something magically that they wanted to. Poppycock. Tools are nice, but not necessary. It's great to have that well-worn wand, and tools can store up energy to help you later, like a magical shortcut, but nothing is "necessary."
I'm going to do a ritual with no tools at all. No candles, no incense, no script, just us. Too bad the people who need it most would be too scared to do it.
I wish everyone, especially those who don't have a specific part in the ritual script, would stop reading along with the ritual like its the Sunday missal. The difference in what we do, or at least what should be a difference, is that we actually participate intimately with the ceremony, we don't just receive passively. We create the ritual together with our energy, we make it happen. No one should be standing around mumbling chants for fear they're not on pitch. We should give ourselves over to The Work with the goal of ecstasy and gnosis and union with the divine in mind.
Have I used cheat sheets before? Sure, when someone has asked me to recite the words they have chosen to have read aloud. If I get it early enough I'll memorize it, but usually it's show up n do it. Is there as much oomph? Of course not, I'm using someone else's words. I never carry the printed out ritual into circle otherwise.
My perfect devotional/celebratory ritual: Everyone fully present, no BS personal agendas, literally giving devotion, giving their energy, building it, making the sum greater than its parts. Otherwise, what's the point?
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Supermoon doesn't mean dropping your pants.
Sorry about the title, I had no idea what to make tonight's subject. It's a potpourri.
Last night I worked on dreaming. I don't mean consciously directed dreaming, but observing my dreams with greater clarity and better recall. Thankfully I had a few minutes to muse about my dreams and to write down and draw some of the things I saw. After I got that written down, I prepped for Opening the Grove! \o/
I was out there at 1 PM starting the work, officially marking the opening as the moon waxed full. Afterward I fried up a batch of zeppole. Since I'm vegan I don't use honey. I used vegan powdered sugar instead. If I need to use a honey-like substance, I use agave. Friends arrived, we set up the space, bring out the columns, tools, chairs and food. I did something simple, something spontaneous and from the heart. It wasn't terribly "ceremonial" or even high energy, but it was intense and persistent, just like my space.
I created 5 altars, one for each direction and one in the center. I work with 4 patrons and had representations and offerings for each. Mercury and Air in the North, Diana and Earth in the east, Dianus and Fire in the South, and Hekate, Water in the West, and a family chalice and a fire pit for my Ancestors. I've posted before about why I associate Air with North.
The offerings: Mercury: Red Bull and chocolate coins, Diana: Roses, Dianus: A golden bough, Hekate, Star Anise and Strega liquore. There was much incense for all, and libating, especially to the land and Ancestors. We even had the Fairies join us. A hawk circled us too!
It wasn't a Strega specific ceremony, I didn't break out in Italian and tarantella around the place. It was about the land and the people who joined me. It was exactly what it should have been. We all went inside after we were done and enjoyed each other's company until the moon rose over the grove. A few of us went back out there to enjoy the moonlight. If it had been warmer we would've been out there all night! I'm still high on the energy and can't wait to carry it into Spring tomorrow!
Last night I worked on dreaming. I don't mean consciously directed dreaming, but observing my dreams with greater clarity and better recall. Thankfully I had a few minutes to muse about my dreams and to write down and draw some of the things I saw. After I got that written down, I prepped for Opening the Grove! \o/
I was out there at 1 PM starting the work, officially marking the opening as the moon waxed full. Afterward I fried up a batch of zeppole. Since I'm vegan I don't use honey. I used vegan powdered sugar instead. If I need to use a honey-like substance, I use agave. Friends arrived, we set up the space, bring out the columns, tools, chairs and food. I did something simple, something spontaneous and from the heart. It wasn't terribly "ceremonial" or even high energy, but it was intense and persistent, just like my space.
I created 5 altars, one for each direction and one in the center. I work with 4 patrons and had representations and offerings for each. Mercury and Air in the North, Diana and Earth in the east, Dianus and Fire in the South, and Hekate, Water in the West, and a family chalice and a fire pit for my Ancestors. I've posted before about why I associate Air with North.
The offerings: Mercury: Red Bull and chocolate coins, Diana: Roses, Dianus: A golden bough, Hekate, Star Anise and Strega liquore. There was much incense for all, and libating, especially to the land and Ancestors. We even had the Fairies join us. A hawk circled us too!
It wasn't a Strega specific ceremony, I didn't break out in Italian and tarantella around the place. It was about the land and the people who joined me. It was exactly what it should have been. We all went inside after we were done and enjoyed each other's company until the moon rose over the grove. A few of us went back out there to enjoy the moonlight. If it had been warmer we would've been out there all night! I'm still high on the energy and can't wait to carry it into Spring tomorrow!
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