Wiccan Word of the day....

[Chado2423]

OCT. 5th

Since many of you either are Wiccans or are interested in Wiccan Spirituality I have decided to share with you some terms from the Wiccan faith. Occasionally in this thread I will share a Wiccan Word and its basic definition, so check back every so often to see what word I have shared. Also if you would like to contribute and share Wiccan words and/phrases for the benefit of those who would like a not-so aggressive outlook on what Wicca means, then please by all means contribitut to this thread as well.

The word of the day is FAMILIAR

familiar... [noun]

There are many types of familiars, but this thread will discuss the primary two types used by most Wiccans.

Definition One: A living familiar:
A familiar is a living animal spirit that has abided in harmony with the powers of the practicioner. Often these may be considered "pets" by traditional societal terms... however if a Wiccan has more than one pet, it is likely that only one or two of them are considered to be his/her familar. Some view the familiar as a previous human spirit reincarnated into that of the animal, thus veiwing the soul energy of the familiar as older rather than new... Basically, a familiar is a magickal equal animal partner, showing unusual psychic & intelligent qualities with its human counterpart. Wiccans do not typically refer to their familiar as merely a pet. The animal itself or the "magickal" energy of the animal's spirit may often be a part of a Wiccan's ceremonies.


Defintion Two: "Astral familiar"
There are many types of familiars, some more "imaginary" than real, however many Wiccans do have physical, living, breathing animals they relate to on an equal plane. Some wiccans do not view the unseen animal energies as unreal however, and would not consider them imaginary, but rather either the spirit of the deceased, or an animal form of a God or Goddess. The unseen familiars would be termed "astral familiars."

Summary:
Non-pagans sometimes do not understand the companionship and working relationship between Pagans and their familiars, and sometimes fear the very idea of familiars. However, according to Wiccan teaching having a familiar makes one more aware of the connection between humans and all other creatures, and the more intricate connection between all creatures (human and otherwise) and the universal source of spiritual power.

[Chado2423]

OCT 6th

I was up late tonight after preparing my tentative dialogue between my Wiccan associates, so I decided to come back on here and give another word... So The second Wiccan Word of the Day for Oct 6th is

prayer... yep, that's right, the word of the day is "prayer" and not "spell"...

Some people would be surprised to learn that Wiccans often pray in much the same manner that Christians do and don't just sit around casting spells all day. While spells are often a form of ritualized prayer, Wiccans do pray to the God and Goddess (or Great Spirit... God) without the ritualized form. Sometimes they may draw a quick pentagram like a Catholic who may do a Ritualistic Cross... If you ask a Wiccan if they pray, some may say yes and some may say no. This does not mean that one does not pray if they say, no however. This seperation is mainly dealt in semantics and terminology, rather than definitive definitions of words. This is because, in general, many Wiccans do not use the word "pray." When hearing the word "pray", many Wiccans think of formal prayer, such as the Christian Lord's Prayer or Buddhist prayer, for example.

Prayer is also any private conversation with your deity. Some people, Wiccans included, converse with their deities daily, almost as if they were a friend. Other people only speak to their deities when they want to bargain for something, and others still don't talk to them at all. Wiccans also use invocations and evocations as a sort of prayer. Invocations are chants and poems used to appeal to or praise the Lord and Lady, or a specific deity. Sometimes they are improvised, and sometimes pre-written invocations are used. An invocation to the Lord and Lady is usually spoken at the start of a ritual. An evocation is a usually used to call upon power from other sources, such as spirits or from the universe in general. Evocations are most often found in spells, or as part of the casting of the circle for a ritual.

IN AMERICA...

There is often much confusion about Wiccan prayers in governmental settings... The permeance of Judeo-Christian prayers before or after Court Sessions are usually very apparent... The current body of the Supreme Court prays openly on the steps prior to many Court Sessions. It has been said by some that the body of any prayer on any governmental property may actually violate the principle of the seperation of Church and State. So why therefore would Wiccans argue for Wiccan prayer by Respected Wiccan Clergy in governmental agencies? The reason is not so much as the concept of seperation of church and state, but one of equality! It is religious opression in a place where other religions are allowed to stand free. Perhaps the correct route would be to allow no religious prayer on governmental property from any faith group... or perhaps the correct route would be to allow all religions the right to pray on governmental poperty. It is really difficult to say which is right, but if a Christian is allowed to pray freely and to honor his nations ideal of religious freedom, a Wiccan is quite confused why they cannot do the same.

[Angela]

What an interesting topic, and such good timing! Thanks.

Tell us about manipulating symbols -- I find that very interesting.

[Chado2423]

Oct 7th

It is now the Witch's hour... midnight that is... Which makes it the new day! Therefore I can bring you the word of the day.

In response to Angela's Request I have prepared Wiccan word of the day to be... Symbology
(unfortunately I am not entirely sure that this is what she is referring to, so please, Angela correct me if I had been mistaken.)

)0( Symbology (Symbol) [noun, noun]

Symbology is the study of a symbol and its inherent meaning. As individuals and as a nation (or nations) we often-times collectively attach certain meanings to certain symbols. The particular symbol (any symbol) technically has no meaning until we attach a meaning to it. Certain symbols may have one meaning in one context and another meaning in another. For example take this word "sin", these three symbols used together represent contextually in the English language an injustice done against the teachings of God, however the same connection of the same symbols in the Spanish language represent the state of being "without" or "lacking". Think about what you are reading right now. You are reading a system of many symbols whose collective units create a meaning that had been attached to them. Each word is a system of component symbols with meanings that had been attached to them. These symbols are called letters. Each letter represents a sound, and each collective representation of sounds represents a word, and each collective unit of words equals a phrase, and each phrase represents a contextual meaning, meaning that had been attached to the symbols. Wiccans often use symbols in their rituals, or texts as a means to connect with the desire of their intent, whether it be to call upon the Divine and honor Deity, or to invoke a God to help them through granting a request.
But let me take a breather and speak about Energy...
Wiccans believe that everything has components of energy. (Actually I'm pretty sure most scientists do too!) But in Wiccan ideology this is energy that is connection with the web of life, a constant and ever growing universe. And this life force is known as energy (and some call her Spirit.) As a Wiccan casts the ritualistic circle they typically invoke the symbol of the Pentegram or perhaps other symbols depending on their particular tradition. The Wiccan/Pagan Pentegram is a symbol of five aspects of humanity in connection with the Divine in the ever continuous, never ending, circle of life. Upon casting this circle Wiccans believe that they permeate their energy in connection with the force of the true nature of the Divine, and become in one working setting connected to... in tune with... in harmony with... the spiritual forces. This spiritual force is in direct relation to the nature of Spirit, and is indicative of the Spirit Goddess who in Pagan thinking flows through all of nature, all animals, everything and everyone. "And you who seek to know Me, your Goddess, Mother and Queen, know that the seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know [not] the Mystery: for if that which you seek, if you find it not within yourself, you will never find it without from thee." ---The Charge of The Goddess

There are many ways to utilize the properties of symbols, these symbols may be physical representations of aspects of Divinity, or purely envisioned symbols through visualization and imagination. The most common ways to utilize these symbols in Wiccan practices are Consecration, Enchantment, and alchemical manipulation. Consecration is the cleansing of the property... such as casting a circle is cleansing it, to make it a sacred place (and all things are Sacred in Wicca... even YOU!, because everything hath been born from the many aspects of the Divine.) Enchantment is imprinting energy upon an object. As one example of enchantment, common tradition holds that talismans are objects for enchantment, alchemical manipulation in many traditions is still quite a secret study, but... the system mechanics for the enchantment skill and the consecration skill are essentially identical, and the alchemical processes are (technically) just more complicated formulas encompassing one or the other or both skills. It could be said that the scale of progress would be consecration (low), enchantment (medium), and alchemistry (high). Many traditions teach that an item which has been enchanted may never be consecrated, and vice versa, whereas less formal or less dogmatic traditions may teach quite the opposite. Experimentalists within the Wiccan faith may determine which course of action best suits them. (Solitaires may often be considered experimentatlists.) The purpose of these "techniques" however remains somewhat consitent throughout the many sects of the Wiccan faith and often other Pagan traditions as well... the purpose is to connect with the power of will, ultimately it becomes, or some would say should become a system used to connect with one's true purpose, i.e. "the spirit within"! One gypsy Book of Shadows that I had been given to me has the saying "As above so below," but this gypsy also wrote "as within so without." Each symbol used in a religious working, usually has a specific meaning, which may not always be very evident to a casual observer. Just as the bread and wine has symbolic meaning for a Roman Catholic, so do the cakes and ale at Samhein [prounounced Sow-en] (or cookies and juice- he-he) have symbolic meaning for the Wiccan ritual. Some people, especially those in formulized Traditions view symbology as necessary when undertaking magickal workings, however others (including myself), believe that "all this wand waving ritual stuff" is just a stepping stone toward helping a practioner gain a better understanding of the undertaking of connecting with the Divine, not just daily, but moment by moment. Some Wiccans understand the theory that all of life is illusion, and that even the symbols themselves that they identify with are illusitory in a fashion. This is not to say that physicality is not real, but rather that they believe that... that which is real is also unreal. They come to believe that all they need to do is see the thing done, and it is done. More advanced Wiccans understand and/or believe that witchcraft (btw, Wicca and Witchcraft are not synonyms) and even the variety of Pagan faiths or any faith for that matter are merely tools (symbols) to help one's true self find one's true road. This is ultimately what is meant by the phrase "all roads are one!" Many Wiccans understand that the tools of the ritual, and even the practices of "magick" are symbolic of the tools of the Spirit of life tself, and that it is not the tools we need, but rather the Spirit of Life that is needed!! It is not the religion we need, but rather the experience of being, of relating, of living, learning and growing. Wiccans do believe in the usage and energy of the tools, but I personally believe the tools should never be used as Seperate from that which could be created from the pure power of the Spirit.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Today I also just wanted to share a thought for you, irregardless of your religious creed...

"Remember that in certain settings as you set upon your journey through your life you are likely one of the people of your belief system and ideals that other people have met or will ever meet (and more importantly than this, you ARE the only YOU that other people will have met.) Whether it is fair or not, whether it is right or not, the truth is others will more often than not judge you by your conduct. It's a heavy burden to bear, but the reputation of the nature of your TRUE SPIRIT, ultimately rests with you."

If you feel led by Spirit please sign this petetion for a public apology by President George W. Bush on behalf of Wiccans.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/149059200

If you need further information about the reason for the implementation of this petition please private message me.

And once again I share a Traditional Pagan Chant/Song
Audio: Wiccan chants - The Earth The Air The Fire The Water - MarsViolet’s Blog on Vox

[Chado2423]

Oct 8th

Blessings Be... Just in case I don't make it until midnight here... The Wiccan Word of the Day for Oct 8th is...

Samhein (celebrated Oct. 31st) Witchcraft: The Eight Sabbats part 1 of 8 - Find Internet TV

(Did you know that when Pagans celebrate Samhein in the Northern Hemisphere, Beltaine is celebrated in the Southern hemisphere?)

I specifically chose this word, because it is the next Wiccan/Pagan holiday coming up. I don't want to get into a debate about Halloween festivities, but rather to clarify and as accurately as possible define the tradtional meaning of Samhein. Samhein is pronounced one of three ways, the first is Sow-wen, the ow, like the ow in cow. The second is Sah-wen, the ah, like the a in father, and the third is Saven, Like Sah, the ah in father, and ven like ven in oven. By Wiccans and neo-pagans it is never pronounced as "Sam-hayn" unless either jokingly, or mispronounced by a new and unknowledgable initiate. Samhain is said to mark "summer's end" and is one of eight pagan sabbats, or holidays. So next time anyone in your church says anything about Wicca and or Modern Paganism (not to be confused with Biblical paganism which is quite different), you can politely ask them "Did you know that there are eight traditional Wiccan holidays?" They might be aghast when they find out that you might even know them by name. Samhein, being the Wiccan new year. And the other seven holidays are Yule, Imbolc (pronounced Im-balk, like chalk, or Im-bowl-k), Ostara (Oh-star-ah), Beltaine(Bel-tayn) , Midsummer, and Mabon, (may-bone, or May-bon). In all actuality each holiday may have a differing name depending upon the tradtion, but the general concepts and reasons for the holiday remain relatively consistent throughout most pagan and neo-pagan customs.

Samhein is often considered the most important date in the pagan calendar, and it marks the beginning of the spiritual year (although some pagans celebrate the new year at another sabbat, Imbolc) {{and Goddess knows I need a re-birth from my past!!}} Samhain falls halfway between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice on October 31st. Many pagans begin their celebrations at sundown on the 31st, and continue festivities through November 1st and sometimes beyond. (In the southern hemisphere, where summer is just beginning, pagans are celebrating Beltane.) Saimhain is specifically a holiday of Celtic origin. And it can be celebrated by anyone, who wishes to identify with the Celtic views. No Pagan holiday should only be reserved with just Wiccans in mind, instead all Pagan holidays are (at least in theory) open for all who wish to partake and become in tune with the divine.

The reason for the pronunciation confusion with the spelling is because the word is a Gaelic word, and is pronounced in the Gaelic fashion. In order to dispell some of the mis-information you may find on the web, I must make mention that Samhein is not the name of a God... Samhein is the Gaelic word for November. In a particular article in The Watchman Fellowship Inc. they expressed concern about the dangers of inter-religious dialog, and in this article they asserted that "It [Halloween] was at this time of the year that Baal, the Celtic god of Spring and Summer, ended his reign. It was also when the Lord of the Dead, Samhain, began his reign." The conceptual wording and context of these two sentences is rather confusing to anyone who has genuine knowledge of Pagan customs. There is no Celtic God by the name of Samhain. Samhein = Novemember or more accurately "Summer's End" in linguistic translation. And the God worshipped was not a God of The Dead. It is the day a God dies. And theologically He dies at this time every year.

Historically, the Celts had an autumn festival termed the "End of Summer", which was a pastoral and agricultural "fire festival" or feast, when the dead revisited the mortal world, and large communal bonfires would hence be lit to ward off evil spirits. The Festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is generally regarded as 'The Celtic New Year.' It is also termed "The Pagan New Year", "The Wiccan New Year", "The Witches' New Year", "The Night Of The Ancestors". Basically Samhain is an ancient Celtic fire festival marking the final harvest and the end of the ‘light half’ of the year. Traditionally it is believed that the veil between the physical and spirit realms is at its thinnest at Samhain – allowing the spirits of the dead to commune freely with the living. It is a time to not only honor the deceased, but to commune with them... as their spirits live on beyond the veil of this world and the otherworlds. Many Wiccans/Pagans aspire to commune with their friends and family who have passed on... to honor them, and to revere them as Sacred in the here and now in the most proper time to do so.

Modern-day Samhain is the day when many Wiccans believe that their God dies, later to be reborn. Thus, Samhain is not the worship of a God of death; instead it is actually a yearly observance of the death of a God. Wiccans and other pagan faith groups believe that Samhain is the time during which life and death walk hand in hand. On this day, the veil that separates the worlds (our plane of living and the plane of the dead) is at its thinnest. Many things are possible on this holiday. The God has arrived at the edge of life and is conceived as a seed that will be reborn soon. The Goddess in the form of the Crone rules, teaching us lessons and allowing our ancestors to guide us. Samhain is one of the most maligned and least understood holidays by non-pagans. Contrary to the modern media images of vampires, "evil-witchcraft", demons, devils and such, during the season of Halloween, Wiccans believe that this is a time to remember and honor those who have gone before us. Since the veil is indeed thin, this is the ideal holiday to contact ancestors and initiate communication. Because it is the Wiccan "new year" it is also a time to cut away practices and behaviors that inhibit our personal growth, and the Crone aspect of the Mother Goddess is ever present to assist in removing that which is unhealthy from our lives. It is also a time to plan for the future through divination practices, ritualized prayer, or spellcraft... or simply fellowship with family and friends. Appropriate rituals include contacting ancestors within sacred circle, honoring the lives of those who have gone before us, releasing destructive habits, divination activities, and all transformation rituals.

Simplistically, Samhein means "summer's end." The translation into the term November is simply because the names for the months in Celtic tradition had proverbial meanings.. The name of the Month was the phrase "Summer's End." And this term merely referred to the end of one year and the beginning of the new. Translated directly into English it would be Summer's End, but Samhein is also the Gaelic name for the month of November. The term the "Feast of The Dead" is often used in Samhein celebration, and sometimes in certain practices their is the practice of a "false supper" (for lack of knowing the proper term). This is a supper, usually the favorite dish of the ancestor... or ancestors, or someone whom one wishes to identify with, that is not eaten. Some people have the ritual of setting up empty plates. Others have the ritual of actually serving the deceased, but later feeding the food to the creature of the Earth or even preserving it, and passing the left-overs to family and friends (or perhaps even the homeless) the following day Nov. 1.

This is also the time of the year when the Goddess transforms from Mother to Crone. In her Crone form she mourns the death of the God, and honors him by giving the power to be re-birthed. This is symbolic of transitioning from the past of one year, and into the next, when hope can re-born.

And Also A Poem/Song "I'm not An Evil Man" by Crimson Peaceful Wolf

I don't know what you've been told, but I'm not an evil man,
I make mistakes, as any other, just like you do
But I also do that which is pure and holy, loving and true,
The same as any other, just like you do

I don't know what you've been told, but I'm not an evil man
I am here living, as any other, just like you do,
Wishing for a peaceful life, one that is pure and holy and true
The same as any other, just like you do.

I don't know what you've been told, but I'm not an evil man,
I make mistakes, as any other, just like you do
But I also do that which is pure and holy, loving and true,
The same as any other, just like you do


For the first time in American history, a military memorial plaque bearing a Wiccan pentacle has been placed in a veterans cemetery
A Hero Denied
Pagan Elders Dedicate the Pentacle Plaque for Sgt. Stewart
"The Symbol" Song - Pentacle Song

[Rose of Cairo]

Keep them coming, Chado2423, it's very interesting! Thank you

[Chado2423]

OCT. 9th (any links I give or will give are links that I believe are most accurate views of the faith...)

Todays Wiccan word of the day is

Akasha... sometimes misconstrued to mean Spirit, a more accurate interpretation would be Spirit Force, but it is not the Spirit itself, we are really trying to refer to... basically we are referring to the inward, innament nature of Divinity... the force behind all that is spirit. The word Akasha is a Sanskrit word meaning more or less "ether." The Hindus (Hinduism) have five elements. Most Wiccans go along with this veiw. Hence, the pentegram being a symbolic veiw of that belief. Most Wiccans do not believe that Akasha is seperate from matter, but that Akasha is the soul of the matter, the spirit within Nature manifest. I could say this was true of all Wiccans, but it isn't... or is it? The answer to that question isn't a simple answer 'yes' or 'no'. While Wicca is an Earth religion, some would assume that this means Wiccans worhip a material planet. And this is true, right? Well... again it would seem so easy to assume that it is appropiate to think of the elements as real, as a part of us, as foundational. I doubt that any Wiccan would disagree with that notion. But Most Wiccans do not just view the material as seperate from Divinity. Rather the common core belief is that the Universe is both material and spirit, neither seperate from one another. Just as you have a body and soul... so does Spirit have a body and Akasha is the soul of tha spirit, in a manner of speaking. The planets, and the Earth, and all physical forms are specific material respresentations (forms?) of Divinity. Akasha is reffered to as the fifth element in traditional Paganism. It is the spiritual power that permeates the universe. It is the force out of which the other elements form. In Wicca Akasha is commonly accepted as the driving element that the other elements embody. It is the all pervading spiritual ether - the spiritual ether (or Aether); the omnipresent fifth element which embraces the other four- earth, air, fire, and water; and from which they stem. This is the realm of "pattern" or causality, from which the realm the normality and physicality manifests. Some define it as the "other" of the "two worlds" that one walks between when connecting with the force that is beyond the material.

(In the following quotation the term "witch" is slightly misleading.... the word shold be "Wiccans".)

"The five points of the pentagram and pentacle represent Akasha, or Spirit, and teh four Elements, substances that are crucial to all life. In some pentagrams each point is the color of associated with that Element's point. Some witches also veiw the five points as representing the three aspects of the Goddess -- Maiden, Mother, and Crone -- and the two aspects of the God..." -- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft.

Traditionally the color representation of Akasha is either White or Purple. Purple is the color of royalty and white is the color of purity.

Akasha is commonly referred to as the fifth element, the other four being (as many of you already know) Earth, Air, Fire and Water... or some various form therof such as Earth, Wind, Flame, and Ice)... Akasha is the subtle spiritual essence that pervades all of space and time. It is not ether itself, but is an ether-like substance of a spiritual rather than material nature. Essentially, Akasha is to ether what spirit is to physical matter. In ancient writings, such as the Puranas, Akasha is said to operate through sound or vibration. Thus it is identified with the element of Air, and in a spiritual sense with the "breath of god" concept in ancient Hebraic texts. In the book of Genesis of the Bible we read that the "spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters," this is representative of Akasha in action through motion. In Paganism and/or Wicca, Akasha is considered to be an indispensable element of each "magickal" act. This is consistent with the belief that "All is holy..." Even the seemingly unholy aspects of life are forms of the many facets of the Divine. I believe that it is through understanding ALL aspects of Divinity, that we can come to a clear resolution what Spirit really means, but the problem is that we don't commonly seek out the truth.

Akasha emanates the power of spirit to harmonize the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Many ancient myths tell of a time when the chaos was brought into harmony by the intervention of spirit. This is the symbolism of the pentagram, the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water controlled by spirit, the circle being representative of harmony, and Spirit being the directing force (the upper point on the Wiccan pentacle... or the lower point on an inverted pentacle.) In ancient Roman mythology the four elemental winds were the gods Borus, Eurus, Notus, and Zephyrus. Above them was a higher god, Aeoulus, who kept watch over them.

This will be the first time I introduce a spell to you.... This is one of my favorites and it is also one of the easiest, because you don't need any tools, other than yourself and the Earth. It is simply walking the path of the pentacle. To truly understand the pentacle, many Wiccans walk the path of the pentegram. As you walk toward each point think of different areas of your life. Just reflect. Don't try to change anything, just think about where you are in that area in the present time. When you have finished each point, as you walk the outer circle ask God (Goddess, Great Spirit) to bless each of those areas. And when finished recite "And it is so" or "So mote it be" Amen. Some Wiccans will sing the Element Chant, while moving along this path. And there are also Pagan sites where there are real paths in the shape of the pentagram. Wiccans will typically keep the upper point at the Northern position, as vewing North as the direction for both Earth and Spirit.

Thought for the day... "If we had ancestors that set for the way for us... who are we? We are the ancestors of tommorrow... please choose your decedents history wisely!"

Second thought for the day: "Without inter-faith dialouge, how do you expect to be understood or to understand? Without the understanding comes fear, for we fear most that which we do not understand! How can we find peace and love without giving peace and love?" YouTube - Teach the World to Sing

Again another song... (this is just a taste, but I couldn't find the full version for free... this is verse #1.) This song is not about prostylitization... instead it is a call to the Goddess to join Her people during a Rite or gathering... It is an invocation (see prayer above.)
http://www.harmonytribe.org/chantsSH...our_People.mp3

Earth My Body Chant sheet music for piano or Keyboard.
Pagan Chants
Evoca - EvocaTell Lite -- Earth my body sung.

Blessings Be.

p.s. I would have placed this in the previous post, but I just found it today... The SGT Patrick Dana Stewart Memorial, Fallen Wiccan Hero, U.S. Army As the five pointed star is a symbol to us for Spirit, may Sgt. Patrick Stewarts life and death be a symbol of us to honor each other in love and respect each and every day.

[Chado2423]

Oct 10th... Today is not a single word it is a phrase: "An' it harm none, do what ye will..."

The Wiccan Reed/Creed/Commandment: An' it harm none, do what ye will... Spoems - Wiccan Rede

Thought for the day: (in some one else's words this time): "If you think about -- I want you to really think about it -- you think about what Kosovo is all about. People were taught to hate people who were from a different ethnic group than they were, who worshiped God in a different way. They started out by being afraid of them and misunderstanding them. Then, they came to hate them. And then after hating them for a good while, they came to dehumanize them. And once you decide that someone you're looking at is no longer a human being, it's not so hard to justify killing them, or burning them out of house and home, or torturing their children, or doing all the other things you have heard. It all starts -- it all starts with the inability to recognize the inherent dignity and equality of someone who is different from ourselves." --- Former President Bill Clinton

Today I share the Wiccan Commandment... Just one?? That's right! (Let me make mention that simply because ANY religion has any commandment does not necessarily that ALL the followers of said religion constantly abide by it. This is why Wiccans have a mantra that I've heard over and over again... somtimes it becomes a bore to hear it again, but it is never untrue... "...calling one's self a witch does not make a witch." You could substitute the term Wiccan, or Christain or whatever. The point of that mantra is more important to BE a follower of the highest ideals, rather than to simply claim you are. Barrack Obama recently discussed his veiws on not wearing a flag lapel pin. The reason he gave was because he wanted himself to be a symbol of true patriotism. Of course he was attacked for being un-patriotic simply because he refused to wear a pin. IMO this is absurd. He was trying to make the point that it is more important to BE, rather than to APPEAR TO BE. "...calling one's self a patriot does not make a patriot."

But back to the reed... The Wiccan reed is cosidered akin to the ethic of reciprocity taught in many other religious affiliations and some phiolsophical thinking. Judaism/Christianity: "...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.", Leviticus 19:18 Native American Spirituality: "Respect for all life is the foundation."-- The Great Law of Peace. "All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves. All is really One." Black Elk "Do not wrong or hate your neighbor. For it is not he who you wrong, but yourself." Pima proverb. Christianity: "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31, King James Version. Buddhism: "...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353 Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18Confucianism: "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you" Analects 15:23

This commandment in the Wiccan faith is usualy implicitory of The Three Fold Law. In other words the commandment is an implied principle, a guideline referencing the concept of the three-fold law. The Three-fold Law (also called The Law Of Three) is a tenet that states: "ever mind the law of three, what ye send forth comes back to thee times three." There are many variations of this law. The connecting notion between the Law Of Three and The reed is that if one sends forth harm, that that harm will be sent back to him or her multiplied. Often it is believed that this reciprocation takes place in this life-time, whereas others believe they may have karmic debts to pay in the next life-time. If you really think about it this is very similar to the concept of "what you sow ye shall also reap" principle. I don't much about other faiths besides Christianity... so my references to other faiths may be quite limited. The action is the seed, the three-fold return is thr growth of that seed. If you send out negative energy, you receive negative energy multiplied, in Wiccan thought. "Young one, for just a moment sit, quiet, and still. Remember child, for good, for ill, shall be returned us by three times the full moon, or perhaps soon. So, ever mind you do not do harm, so that you will be free to do what ye will." (I dk know the source of this rhyme.) The basic Threefold Law states, simply, "Ever mind the rule of three. Three times what thou givest returns to thee." In everyday English, the Threefold Law might be put as, "What goes around comes around!" Whatever you send out comes back threefold. If you do good, you get good threefold; if you do negative things, you get negative consequences back threefold. Whatever energy you pass on comes back to you three fold. The Threefold Law is simply the Law of Return - whatever you give - good or bad - returns three times as strong. This basically means that whatever energies you put OUT, be it of a positive or negative nature, will RETURN to you threefold, in like kind! Most Wiccans adhere to the principle that The Threefold Law makes us responsible for our own actions because the end result is that what we're doing to the world is exactly we're doing to ourselves! We must always check our motives. We must consider what is on the inside as well as the outside. "The morality of Wicca is based heavily on free will allowing individual freedom with as little interference as possible. There is high level of equality in Wicca with the emphasis on the circle and the lack of any preaching. The concept of a talking stick where everyone has their say is more widespread than dominating leaders. The emphasis is on the creation of harmony by allowing the individual to do their own will but encouraging them to think of the harm done to others by the exercising of this freedom." -- The U.S military Chaplain's Handbook, 1999 version. Aside from the Wiccan Rede and the "three-fold law", Wiccans do not have to subscribe to a fixed ideology so beliefs vary, however the common theme is that Wiccans gain a connection with the divine spirit of mother nature through the celebration of her cycles through the traditional Wheel Of The Year Sabbat calendar. This is done either individually or with other Wiccans. But back to the reed. Some Wiccans are quite repulsed when they hear others explaining any Wiccan belief, because of the previous rule of secrecy. But some modern Wiccans believe that this secrecy IS one of the faults of our ancestors... They believe that only by sharing our beliefs can others understand us, and that if they understand us they are less likely to fear us. It is with that the Long Version of the Witches' Creed had been created... what was once in the shadows is now in the light... The Wiccan Reed

Albeit the reed does not refer to a list of precise systematic guidelines for one to follow, it isn't meant to. Wiccan theology teaches the student to seek out council from Spirit. They believe that each person has personal responsibility in their relationship with Divine.

The word "An" in the reed is not "And", instead it is an archaic version of the word "If"... A modern translation would be something along the lines of "Do what ye will, so long as it harms no one." "If it harm none, do what ye will." I've even heard it go more profound than this and be something like "Do the true will of your spirit, so long as it harms none."

The reason I give definitions here, is because... if anything in learning Wicca is likely to give you problems, it will be the definitions. The problem is many of the terms related to Wicca have multiple meanings. Just as the word "bear" has more than one meaning so do many Wiccan words have more than one meaning depending upon the Tradition. It is no different with the reed. Many Wiccans interpret it differently, just the same way that Christians interpret Biblical verses differently. However, the theme in any Wiccan tradtion is always a connection to the Divine, even if they have differing views of what it means to be Divine.

What counts as harm according to the Wiccan Rede? Unfortunately this isn't a simple answer. Just think about what harm means. What does it really to do harm? If you need shelter, but kill a tree to make logs in order to protect yourself from Nature's harm, is it wrong? After all, you killed a living entity. But simplistically anything that is obviously hurtful or damaging is an obvious answer. If it is not so obvious, Wiccans believe in asking Spirit to guide. Additionally, however, anything that controls or manipulates another is a form of harm in that those actions restrict another's free will and chance to evolve from learning from their own actions.

Summary:
The Wiccan Rede is both a moral directive, and an ethical creed. It defines a structure by which the individual can measure the correctness of behavior as it is defined by the culture. It is also worded in such a way that the interpretation of the constraints is placed firmly in the hands of the practitioner. Therefore, the Olde Religion has as one of its central tenets a requirement of personal responsibility for all its members. This can result in a truly virtuous culture, or one based upon the whims of personal satisfaction and greed, depending entirely upon the character of the culture’s individual components. In this lies the inherent paradox of the Wiccan religion. It is hierarchal in regards to teaching and communal decision-making, but it depends on personal responsibility and ethics to guide the decisions of the individuals.

[Chado2423]

Oct. 12th... "Wiccan Name", "magickal name" (I know I missed a day.)

The ceremonial bestowing of such a name upon the initiate is a part of many initiation ceremonies. Afterward, the new Wiccan is usually exclusively called by this name within the circle. Solitaires may have a self initiated Wiccan (magickal name), used wheen associating with other groups or during ritual only. Magickal names are quite popular among Wiccans; so popular, in fact, that many Wiccans have two or even three such names: a public Craft name (used at Wiccan gatherings, when writing articles, and so on), a secret name (The one bestowed during initiation), and perhaps even a third name which is used only when addressing the Goddess and the God, and more than one tradition may have different names for each group. For many Wiccans, taking a new name is an outward symbol of her or his devotion to Wicca. It's seen as a part of the process of rebirth into the religion. Taking on a Wiccan name is not a necessary component of the overall religion. Some Covens or Traditions may make it necessary (but again it is not necessary to join such a tradition.)

Even if you are not Wiccan it could still be fun to find out what your Wiccan would have been? So, how do you find your magickal name? There are many approaches. Some Wiccans adopt the names of a Goddess or God, in honor of them. Others look into their family's cultural history and choose a name from the associated folklore: a person with British ancestry may opt for a name culled from British folklore. Many contemporary American Wiccans incorporate an animal in their name, such as "Howling Wolf" or "Sweeping Eagle". Flower and plant names (such as Rose, Oak Keeper, Grove, Fir, Ash) are other possibilities. You may also simply make up a name. Many Wiccan names consist of two words that have been put together. Such names are usually quite descriptive. Some famous Wiccan names have been published. Gerald Gardner (one of the people who formed Wicca into the religion as we know it today) publicly used the name Scire. At least one of Doreen Valiente's magickal names was Ameth. A well-known High Priest adopted a public Craft name of Phoenix. Still other popular names include: Morgan, Morgana, Morgaine, Morgraine, Lugh and Arthur (all associated with Celtic mythology);Ariadne, Diana, Hermes, Poseidon, Cassandra, and Triton (Greek and Roman mythology); Selket, Ma'at, Osiris, and other Egyptian names. (Among the most commonly used names are Amber, Phoenix, and Merlin. Calling out one of these names at a Pagan gathering will usually cause many heads to turn.) So there are plenty of possibilities for which to choose. If you decide to use a Wiccan name in ritual, always use it. Use it in prayer. Use it in rituals. Write it, in runes or in English, on your tools. You may even wish to perform some sort of name-adoption ritual. This could consist of casting a circle and invoking the Goddess and God to be present and asking Them to recognize your new name. Use of a Craft name may not give you any additional power, but it's a traditional practice, and many enjoy it. If you want a system to follow you may use the system that Crimson Peaceful Wolf adopted. In his words it is simply a relfection of magick in his heart... the first name, Crimson is the color of the setting sun, secondarily it would be quite magickal to see a Crimson colored wolf. The second word is what his heart seeks, to be a peaceful and at peace. The third word is his spirit guide. Combining these elements together we get Crimson Peaceful Wolf. People choose their craft names for all sorts of different reasons. As long as you are happy with the name that you choose it really doesn't matter whast it is. There is no such thing as a "wrong" craft name, as long as the name you choose is the one that feels right to you. If it is in one adopted to you in Tradition or Coven, you could also choose a Solitary name, if you like. If you are not Wiccan, then just simply see what it might be for fun, if you want to. There are Pagan name generators on the web, but please don't take them too seriously. And as with all things Life itself is as continuing process of growth and change. At some point in time you may feel you have outgrown your choosen craft name. Then you will know it is time to choose a new name and start the next leg of your journey through life. If you are Wiccan, don’t choose your name lightly! Remember it isn’t a race and you don’t need a magical name to be legitimate. Only take on a name when it feels right to do so. Also, it is more important how you live your life and relate to others on this plane, that it is to have any name.

Wiccan Ettiquette: Many Wiccans do not share their Wiccan name with outsiders. Some reserver their magickal name for rituals and as a way of identifying themselves to other Wiccans in the coven. Some Wiccans do not share their names at all, reserving them for direct communication with the deities. It should be made clear that a Wiccan will tell you their wiccan name if they want you to know it. If they don't want you to know it, they won't. It's as simple as that. Its just not very respectful since many Wiccans prefer to keep their name secret and privately use them in certain settings. For instance Silver Raven Wolf uses her Wiccan name publicly. Raymond Buckland is also a public figure in the Wiccan community but does not use his wiccan and magickal name(s) in public. Some people take an entirely different approach: they legally adopt their Wiccan name. Thus, Sally Thompson becomes Amber; Frank Jones, Greywolf. This name may even appear on driver's licenses, leases, and other documents. This legal avenue is inadvisable unless you're completely open about your religion, since such a name will naturally draw attention to its bearer. Though many state that they've chosen to use their new name to the exclusion of the old one purely for spiritual reasons, most are also making a public statement regarding their religion-and not all Wiccans are ready for such a step. Some Wiccans believe you can sometimes receive your name(s) through dreams, visions or special occurrences. By being open to the possibility, it is more likely that you won't miss the sign when it comes. Some Wiccans may adopt a name of a God or Goddess as part of their Wiccan name, such as Lady Astarte Twilight. (Idk if that's a real name, its just an example.) The terms Lord and Lady... Wiccan High Priests and Priestesses are commonly called Lord and Lady. Some covens merely use the archaic version of these terms to mean Sir and Misses, Mr. and Miss. The reverence of such a name is not usually very apparent, and one must not make any assumptions. In other words, don't assume that Lord Jasper Midnight Moon is a High Priest by the name alone.


Wiccan humor for the day (Thought for the day "I think my Higher Self is smarter than I am. I know I should listen to him, but he gets on my nerves, because he always has to be right."

[Dan.Linehan]

These are great, thanks Chado!

[Chado2423]

OCT 14th

(Last night I had a gathering to meet some Pagans in my new location. The meeting went failry well


Today's Wiccan word for Oct 14th is Tradition :

Tradition - A specific way of practicing the Craft. There are many traditions in Wicca. Basically a "Tradition" is thus: a tradition is a group of rituals and procedures that are adhered to by a particular group of Wiccans or Pagans. They pass their tradition on to others, usually within a coven. Examples of Traditions are: Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Dianic, Celtic and Saxon.

Many Wiccans, and other Pagans don't have a tradition and they are referred to as 'eclectic'. An eclectic solitaire is a solitaire who borrows from several traditions, wheras some solitaires adhere to only one. It is not uncommon for either solitary practitioners or covened wiccans to practice an "eclectic" tradition. Ecclectic practice is like a hodge-podge of different influences, made up of practices from various paths, although the solitary "tradition" is not usually referred to under the title of "Tradition. Thus, in the theological usuage of the term, a tradition is a sub-group of beliefs within a broader faith. In Christianity, for instance, things are sometimes said to be in the "Baptist tradition" and similar things. A tradition is not a mere denomination, but the rites and folkways that separate the members from other groups.

There is no tenet to join or not to join a Tradition, Coven or Order, though many seekers do. One reason why Wicca is difficult to put in a little box to define accurately, is because there are many forms of Wicca, it's an extremely diverse religion and each practitioner decides what's right for him or her. The right to choose or not to choose a Tradition ultimately rests with the practictioner.

(Note: IMO it is ill advised to join any system solely based on peer-pressure, or majority rules. Historically we have seen that the majority is not always accurate in morality, and peer-pressure is often very superficial, except in positive peer-pressure instances. We have seen majority rule in society with moral issues, later the majority shifting perspective. We have seen peer-pressure influence entire nations. It is my personal belief that one must not base their judgement solely upon the whims of others, but must determine the best course of action in supreme moral judgement.)

Some Traditions are very rigid in their practice, and practically unwelcoming as they have very strict rules for members, wheras others are more welcoming in one aspect or another. Bear in mind, what I mean by welcoming is not that they do not welcome outsiders, but their practices of welcoming those into their Tradition are very strict. The more strict Traditions may be termed "Oath bound" Traditions, or "Mystery Tradition." The best example of an ecclectic non-solitaire tradition that I know about at this time is the Church of Universalist Eclectic Wicca, (UEW) Church of Universal Eclectic Wicca One of the more "structured" versions is the British Tradition Of Wicca.

Advice of the day: "Don't believe everything you read."

Common Wiccan Beliefs

Blessed Be.

[Chado2423]

Sorry I have posted the Wiccan Word of the Day on Here in a while, I've been rather busy.

Today's Wiccan Word is:

Wiccaning: A Wiccaning is basically a Baptism for a newborn child. It is similar to a Roman Catholic Baptimsm. (No... some of you may be dissapointed but real world Wiccans don't eat babies, but we do annoint them with oil and/or water sometimes.) Furthermore some people belief this is turning the child into a Witch. I'm sorry that rumor got out, but that's all that is, is a rumor. While we do want the child to respect Mother Earth, and while we do want to teach the child the Craft should he so choose to follow it, Wiccanings are not restrictive. Wiccanings are a religious ceremony that are brought about by the Free Will of BOTH parents or guardians. Some religious traditions are strict and only allow biological parents to give their child a Wiccaning. However, statistically this procedure is becoming very rare, and Wiccan Priests and Preistesses are becoming more acceptant of adopted or gardians or god-parents, as long as they come of their own free will and were not coerced into the ritual. Not all Wiccan parents will have their child undergo this ceremony... and not all Wiccan Solitaire parents are able to find to traditions near them to be able to do this. This ceremony is one held with high regard, and if you understand the symbology used, can be a very religious experience simply to observe.

The purpose is to present the Child before the Powers that Be (i.e. The God and The Goddess... and to ask the blessing from Them upon the child.) In this way the ceremony differs little from other faith groups. Some Wiccan groups also present the child before the Elements, The Watchtowers, or The Four Archangels. Yet there is another purpose, and that is to celebrate the existence of new life. It is to celebrate the child's birth, as the child is a symbol of birth and rebirth.

Some authors have mistakingly called a Wiccan Initiation; A Wiccaning. Wiccan Inititians, um... are called "Initiations... just so you know." A Wiccaning is basically a baptism for a child...

A Wiccaning is not a naming ceremony, although a naming ceremony may be a part of a Wiccaning. Unfortunately this has also been misconstrued by Wiccans who were misinformed of the real customs of Witchcraft!!!! (so you look up Wiccaning on the internet you are liable to find the term "Wiccaning" having two different meanings. This is a big no-no to a Witch who follows pre-Gardnerian customs (however it is an easily made mistake, since the Wicca and Witchcraft religions aren't exactly the same thing.) In fact Wiccanings did exist prior to Gerald Gardner, but the terminology was different. Some children are given a Wiccan (aka magickal) name at birth. This is usually based either upon the particular tradition or the will of the parents. Rarely will a child be given a magickal or Wiccan name without parental consent. It is true that some Wiccanings include a name-change.

Some Wiccanings are more complicated than others, and some Wiccanings are more formal than others. Some Wiccanings include "casting a circle" (if you don't know what that means, p.m me.)


But you said this isn't restrictive? Why are you making Witches out of little babies? Well, we aren't making Witches out of babies. The child is taught the ways of the Craft... and as part of this teaching the child is taught about the many different roads, including those that stray far away from Wiccan principles. A Wiccaning is a beautiful ceremony, held to welcome the child into this world and to ask the blessing of the Gods upon them. The main difference between a christening and a Wiccan blessing is that whereas in the former the child is often welcomed into a belief system for life and to an extent tied to it, in the latter the child is accepted until such time as they are old enough to make their own decision as to their faith and choose their own path.

Can non-Wiccans have a Wiccaning to bless their child? Well, believe it or not... YES! Does this mean my baby becomes a witch, or is cursed by the Devil? Heaven's no! It is considered an honor for a Wiccan to bless a non-Wiccan, according to Wiccan customs. Many Wiccans and Witches wish their friends that know about their faith would ask them or their child for a blessing.

(Okay, I know I've read too much propaganda recently, and this is a bit kooky, so I digress.)

If the Wiccan is a Child of A Tradition, the Wiccan child is likely "annointed" in particular areas... (but let me forwarn you... Depending on the Tradition and the will of the parents, the child may be nude or clothed.) It seems more common in modern days for the child to be clothed, however. In such Traditions; the child may be annointed in particular areas of the body, which are symbolic of the nature's of the Deity. (again, if you wish to know the particulars p.m. me.)

What is the spiritual aspect of a Wiccaning?
It is to remind us of the everflowing circle, spiriling of Life. One who has crossed over has returned, or a new soul is born into the world from the Goddess. It is a time to ask for a blessing, but also a time to acknowledge the blessing... the birth of the child is symbolic of our own birth into this world, and how we are rebirthed every day, and rebirthed every moment. The Wiccaning is an acknowledgement appreciation and reverence for the Teachings of the Mother.

Sometimes this ritual is called a "saining" (but I don't know much about that term... sorry.)

When do Wiccanings occur? They can occur at any time of the year, however some Traditions will only hold them during the Esbats. It is not common for a Wiccaning to be performed on a Sabbat, but some Wiccans do prefer Wiccanings to occur on or near Sabbats.

Thought for the day: What's in a name?

(The Next Word: Yule.)