Initiation or Not?

 You don't have to be initiated to a Witch. If you ca relate to the following statements you can clearly and honestly call yourself a Witch.

1. You have a fascination with the earth all it's mysterious powers. 

2. You see the earth and all it's creatures as sacred

3. You feel at home with animals, plants and trees.

4. You feel that you are able to change things with a thought, and wave of  your hand or with a word.

5. You tend to maintain better relationships with animals and plants than you do with people.

6. Every time you see a full moon you stop and take in it's beauty - or you become awe struck by it's beauty.

7. You have respect for instea of fear of spirits or fae folk.

8. You prefer to follow the rules of nature more than man made rules.

9. You thirst for knowledge of ancient cultures.

10. Myths, legends, tales and stories from elders enthrall you. 

11. You know the earth holds undiscovered mysteries and are determined to discover them. 

12. The ultimate question of life, death and rebirth facinates you.

13. You feel drawn to , or keep finding yourself looking into different forms of paganism. 

These are not the end all be all signs that are a Witch. But if you examine each statement and take a day or two with each one you may begin to understand your feelings better and from there you can decide if the term Witch is for you. 

Witchcraft, Paganism, & Wicca

 I was just asked by a new student what the difference is between Witchcraft and Wicca.     

So, all Wiccans are Witches, but not all Witches are Wiccan. All Wiccans are Pagan, but not all Pagans are Wiccan, and some Witches are Pagans but not all - and some Pagans practice Witchcraft, while others choose a different path.

Witchcraft, Paganism & Wicca
As you learn more about magical living and modern spirituality you are going to see these terms a lot. Understand these terms are not all the same. Separating the three terms is not as easy as you might imagine. 

Confusing? It can be, so here are my thoughts on each of them. 

Wicca: is a tradition of Witchcraft that was first founded by Gerald Gardner in the 1950's. It is believed that he created the basic principles of Wicca and taught them to his initiates.  It is believed (by me at least) that Wicca is not the same form of Witchcraft that was practiced by our ancestors. Some still use the terms interchangeably though. 

Witchcraft, can be defined as traditions and rituals, magick, spellcasting, and connecting with nature while using tools such as herbs and crystals for personal growth and healing, some of which have been passed down from ancestors.

Paganism is an umbrella term that encompasses many of the earth based religions, and Wicca and Witchcraft both fall under that term, even though not all Pagan are Wiccan. 

All are earth based, spiritual paths that teach and practice basic principals of honoring nature, minding your actions, and spiritualism/magick of some form. 

There's a great website that I found that can help with your learning here.

I welcome any questions or comments on this subject. I love hearing from others their take on these things. 

Core beliefs of Wicca

There's an old saying that if you ask any ten Wiccans about their spiritual beliefs, you'll get at least fifteen different answers. 

Wicca as a religion was introduced by Gerald Gardner in the 1950's (here's a great Biography of him) and was based on his experiences and studies of indigenous cultures magic rituals (or something like that).  His tradition was oathbound, initiatory and secret, as in only select people were invited. In the end splinter groups began forming and new traditions were established.  

Core beliefs of Wicca

While not exclusive to every tradition, the following beliefs are some of the core tenets found in most Wiccan systems.
Divine in nature: they believe that the divine is present in nature, so nature should be honored and respected. 

Karma and Afterlife: the idea of karma and the afterlife being revisited upon us in the next life is prominent in Wicca. The law of three is also a core belief, it in my opinion is a warning from older Wiccans to the newer ones to mind their actions and words. It's said as what you put out will come back to you three fold. 

Ancestry: many Wiccans believe their ancestors are watching over them and will commune with the spirit world for guidance and help. 

Holidays: are based on the turning of the earth and the cycle of the seasons, Wicca has eight major Sabbats, or days of power, that are celebrated. There are also monthly celebrations called Esbats which are monthly meetings held on the full moon, commonly done for initiations and healing rituals. 

Personal responsibility: everyone is responsible for their own actions (this is where the law of three warning comes in) whether magical or mundane, you must be willing to accept the consequences good or bad of your behavior. 

Harm none: is a common theme in many Wiccan traditions. It's also common theme many other traditions as well. Harm none, while interpreted differently by each tradition actually follows the concept that no harm should be intentionally done to another individual. 

Respect for other beliefs: Wiccans generally avoid discussing other beliefs, and when the subject is brought up they will respect the other beliefs and not be derogatory or rude about it. Wiccan practitioners recognize that others must find their own spiritual path without coercion. 

Witch podcst

I know a lady who has been a practicing witch for many uears. She is doing a podcast with a friend of hers, and while I'm trying to catch up on them I thought I'd share its existance with everyone. 

I have listened to quite a few so far and I am going back through them and taking notes to post here because the make such good points. 

If you haven't listened to it yet you should try it.  It's called Crones of the wild wastelands.

I'll have to get permission to mention their names here, since I don't think they use their full names on the podcast so stay tuned.

How the Pope stole Christmas

 

Historians say that early Christian leaders like Pope Gregory the Great were 

responsible for appropriating pagan traditions and using them for Christian holidays.

Inspired by past blogs the ULC has written about pagan traditions being co-opted by Christian missionaries, ULC Minister Cindy Armstrong submitted the following guest sermon as a commentary on the history of the Christmas season. All ULC Ministers are invited to contribute their own sermons for consideration/publication. To submit a sermon, please email it to sermons@ulc.org.

Once in ol’ England, both ancient and vast,

Lived folks with traditions, long held and steadfast.

They danced and they sang when winter was nigh,

Under the stars, beneath the cold sky.

The solstice was coming, the shortest of days,

They prepared for the feast in so many ways.

With holly and ivy, they decked every hall,

And a Yule log was burned, a tree once so tall.

But just West of Rome, sat a man robed in white,

Pope Greg, in his Vatican… was his hat too tight?

For he pondered and prayed with his furrowed brow,

"How can we bring these pagans to vow? VOW! VOW! VOW! VOW!

"To our faith, to our fold, in the Christ Child believe,

And their old pagan ways they must surely leave."

So he plotted and planned, found a few saints to send,

“We must change their tradition, Saturnalia must end!

Shouting, "Let us take over this pagan delight,

And make it about the Holy Birth Night.

We'll infuse their rituals with our good Christian grace,

And Christ's Mass will slowly take the solstice's place."

So it happened o’er time, to the pagans' surprise,

Their meals and their dances became Christianized.

Their feasting was now for the Christ Child's birth,

And their parties lost some of their ol’ heathen mirth.

Where Odin once rode ‘cross the sky on Sleipnir,

Soon Saint Nicholas would soar, with eight tiny reindeer.

All the mistletoe, holly, ham, trees, and wassails,

Would all stick around, though the Pope’s plan prevails.

For the people adapted, they bent and they swayed,

But the essence of joy in their hearts, it still stayed.

They embraced the new faith, yet remembered the old,

In the stories they recounted, both spirited and bold.

Pope Greg had succeeded, but maybe not as he planned,

For the spirit of solstice in their hearts still fanned.

The magic of yule, it forever remained,

Hiding inside the message that Christmas contained.

And so, my dear reader, has our tale closed?

Is babe Jesus the victor, to reign unopposed?

Or could his day be stolen out from under his manger?

As Jeff Bezos circles… is “Christmas” still in danger?

Perhaps the real lesson is that the season’s so large,

That there is no need to leave just one group in charge.

For the joy and the love, in each heart does reside,

No matter the reason, or the faith that's applied.

We hold one goal in common, or at least we should,

And that dream is just: to do that which is good.

So we’ll wrap up our poem, though last but not least:

Who sitting here will carve the roast beast?

Yule Songs

I have some variations of the Xmas songs you're hearing on the radio these days. Not sure where I got them from so if you know please let me know and I'll give credit.

Silent Night

Silent night, Solstice night

All is calm, all is bright,

Nature slumbers in forest and glen

Till springtime she wakens again. 

Sleeping spirits grow strong!

Sleeping spirits grow strong!

Silent night, Solstice night

Silver moon shining bright

Snowfall blankets the slumbering earth

Yule fires welcome the Sun's rebirth

Hark the light is reborn!

Silent night Solstice night

Quiet rest till the light

Turning ever the rolling wheel

Brings the spring to comfort and heal

Rest your spirit in peace!

Rest your spirit in peace!

Lady Moon Shines Softly
(O Little Town of Bethlehem)

Lady moon shines softly down

To light the earth below, 

As we, her children gather here 

Around the yule fires glow.

We wait for morning's dawning, 

First light of holy birth,

Our Lady turns the wheel of life, 

Her son returns to earth. 

With Joy we'll greet his dawning, 

A new year has begun,

With increased light is bright new hope

Reborn in every one.

We wait for morning's dawning, 

First light of holy birth,

Our Lady turns the wheel of life, 

Her Son returns to earth 

Good Rest, Ye Merry Gentle Folk

Good rest, ye merry gentle folk

Let nothing you dismay

Remember that the sun returns

Upon this Solstice day

The growing dark is ended now

And spring is on its way

Chorus

O' tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

O' tidings of comfort and joy

The winter's worst still lies ahead, 

Fierce tempest, snow and rain.

Beneath the blanket on the ground

The spark of life remains.

The suns warm rays caress the seeds 

To raise life's songs again.

Chorus

O' tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

O' tidings of comfort and joy

So rest ye merry gentle folk

Let nothing you dismay

Remember that the sun's reborn 

Upon this solstice day

To cheer us all with warmth and light 

And summer's golden rays. 

Chorus

O' tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

O' tidings of comfort and joy

Joy To The World

Joy to the World the light is reborn

Let earth her gladness sing let every heart 

rejoice in light

(Chorus)

And earth and nature sing

And earth and nature sing

And earth, and earth and nature sing

Joy to the world the light has come

Let earth receive the Sun

Let every heart prepare for warmth

(Chorus)

And earth and nature sing

And earth and nature sing

And earth, and earth and nature sing

We light the yule fire to call the sun

The sun brings light and life

Let every voice sing out in praise

(Chorus)

And earth and nature sing

And earth and nature sing

And earth, and earth and nature sing

Book of Shadows

 I just want to put a note here about your book of shadows. Which in some peoples opinions should be the first thing you do when beginning you're pagan journey. Honestly, it wasn't my first thing, it didn't come until after I'd read several books and talked to a whole coven of people about it. Basically I was doing research about whether I wanted to take my spiritual journey into paganism. Turns out it suited me much better than any of the mainstream religions did. 

Anyway, your book of shadows, it can be anything you have really. I first used a loose leaf notebook and that was perfect as I was able to arrange my pages the way I wanted them. I still use that book all the time but mostly for spells, rituals, chants and things like that. 

I have a few other books I use one is leather bound and holds all my research notes, things about my chosen deities. Things about Sabbats and the Wheel of the Year. It does have some spells, and rituals, chants and recipes that I wanted to keep. But this is also my journal. Where I jot down things that are personal to me in my pagan journey. 

I have another that I use as well, I call it my Kitchen Witchery book. I keep recipes that I use here. Things like how to make dry shampoo, or how to make some potpourri. It's full of a variety of recipes I have found useful. 

So what I'm saying is your BOS is your own. Make it from whatever you want, or have on hand. No need to spend lots of money on an ornate book. I do strongly suggest using the loose leaf method at first, it's so helpful.