Tag: Wicca

The Wicca Book Of Days for February 16 – Raphael to the Rescue!

The Wicca Book of Days for February 16th

Raphael to the Rescue!

If you are ailing and feel that you could do with some angelic first aid, calling on Raphael would be especially efficacious, for the element of air corresponds to this Archangel, as it does to Aquarius, the zodiacal sign that rules this February day. Raphael, whose magick color is sky blue, is furthermore considered to be the Guardian of the East and the angelic entity that presides over Spring. Said to have miraculous powers of healing (the Apocrypha relates how he restored the blind Tobit’s sight with fish gall). Raphael is also regarded as a patron Saint of physicians, pharmacists, and apothecaries.

“A Bolt from the Blue”

If you have a set of Tarot cards, look hard at the major-arcana card of the Lightning-struck Tower (XVI) on this sixteenth day of February. You may increasingly gain the sense that spiritual illumination can shatter your defenses like a thunderbolt from the blue, or that turmoil is on the cards.

The Dark Side Of The Air Witch

The Dark Side Of The Air Witch

Do not threaten an Air Witch or what she holds dear, as she is fiercely protective. When she feels threatened, she goes into overdrive and absolutely will not rest until the threat is destroyed completely. She rarely practices defensive magick, preferring instead to allow those who dare to attack face their karmic backlash instead, as she is always willing to accept hers. She can be manipulative in this manner and may not even realize it.

Usually well versed in destructive magick, the Air Witch takes all acts of magick deadly seriously. She insists that a simple blessing carries the same power behind it as a two-hour ritual. When angered, the emotion simply has to run its course, and that course can be decidedly ugly. Just as air feeds fire, the Air Witch feeds her own inner fire when she is angry. She stews and will not move beyond her anger until she is ready. Once she is, it is much easier for her to simply remove the influence from her life entirely. She will cut people out of her life without a second thought.

The Path Of The Air Witch (Part 4)

The Path Of The Air Witch

(Part 4)

Water rules creation, earth rules rebirth, and air rules the cross over a threshold-in other words, the gates of death. The Air Witch has a decidedly dark side and a complex character. Her focus is more on the death side of nature, due to her realm, which includes death, along with sustaining life. You can only survive a few minutes without air, but if you breathe the wrong air, such as poisonous gas, you will die immediately. Air brings disease, death and destruction side by side with life.

The Air Witch is very insightful in the realm of past-life discovery, because time itself belongs to her element as well.

At the same time, air cannot create or re-create life on its own. An Air Witch needs her sister element earth to recycle her winds (through plant life) and water and fire to aid growth. Air Witches may have trouble in the areas relating to menstruation and reproduction. Other potential health problems include spinal conditions or a bad back, asthma, or hearing loss.

Air rules the mental processes and Air Witches often have a few problems in that area. They are frequently nervous, jittery types, prone to panic attacks. In nature, we find crosswinds, tornadoes and hurricanes it seems that wind itself has an insane pattern. The Air Witch is the same. When angered or hurt, she can easily cross the line into the realm of madness. She may entertain notions of revenge, but since she changes her mind constantly, she rarely sees them through. The windy Air Witch is easily depressed and is known to go into a funk over the smallest of things. However, she rarely stays down for long.

The winds are important to the element of air, but they are not the element itself. However, the two are inseparable. The element of air encircles the globe; it is the atmosphere. Every sunrise and sunset takes place in its domain. In this manner we discover how the Air Witch connects to the earthly elements-she incarnates the aura of them, the same way the atmosphere is the aura of the planet. Often, the Air Witch is the catalyst needed to create a change. She is mysterious nd unpredictable.

~~ Conclusion ~~

 Source:

“The Elemental Witch”

Author: Tammy Sullivan

The Path Of The Air Witch (Part 3)

The Path Of The Air Witch

(Part 3)

The Air Witch has a hard time showing the proper respect due to others in authoritative positions, because she does not see anyone as superior to her. She is strong and fiercely independent. Due to the placement of her element, she can also be very derisive in her humor when it is pointed at herself. She does not take herself too seriously and finds much to laugh about. Compliments thrill her, but expression of thanks tend to embarrass her. She is usually very social and has a wide network of friends. Happy and upbeat as a rule, she can allow herself to become depressed when she does not meet her goals. She is very hard on herself.

The Air Witch can be highly superstitious. She accepts that not all things exist within the scope of the human senses. Within the realm of air ie the keys to invisibility, sound, thinking, communication, creativity, weather, the dead, and ghosts, just to name a few. It is no wonder that the Air Witch seems to operate  on a different level-she does. Considering the multitude of things she hosts in her space, she is usually adept at reading signs and omens. The Air Witch is well schooled in sky divination and portents or harbingers of luck.

The Air Witch specializes magickally in spirits, ghosts, invisible beings, travel, inspiration, dreams, wishes, creativity and changes. She often has a special affinity for Quija, pendulums, and storm and weather magick. She tends to be unconventional and does things that are considered taboo among many Witches, such as blowing out her candles, using items that don’t biodegrade, and so on.

Whereas the Water Witch has a talent for divination and the intuitive arts, the Air Witch has a talent for necromancy and clairaudience. The Air Witch is usually well trained in aromatherapy, meditation and pain-management breathing techniques.

(continued at The Path Of The Air Witch, Part 4)

The Path Of The Air Witch (Part 2)

The Path Of The Air Witch

(Part 2)

If you are friends with an Air Witch, prepare to be inspired. She wants her friends and loved ones to achieve their desired level of success just as badly as they do. The Air Witch gives herself to her friends selflessly. However, once betrayed, she will never trust that person again. The Air Witch is all about movement and she refuses to get caught in other people’s hand-ups. She is not one to give second chances. Because of her willingness to please, and the fact that she strives to make all things just, she may actually say that she will grant someone a second chance and then try to, but rarely can she do it in her heart. Once trust is gone for her, it is gone. She moves on.

The Air Witch is optimistic and energetic. She always starts off strong, even if her efforts dwindle later. It is the same in all areas of her life. Her first magick is the strongest, and she usually instinctually knows her element instantly. The only part of her life where this factor does not enter into the equation is in the case of first love. Once a relationship is over for her, it is over. The Air Witch does not live in the past, but in the present. The love she has now is the only one that matters.

The Air Witch can maintain her stamina to complete a project if she perceives it to be a challenge. Telling an Air Witch that she can’t do something is a sure way to see to it that she does. However, if she guesses that she is being manipulated in this fashion, she will erupt into a tantrum. She despises manipulative games and tends to see through them quickly, due to her own manipulative nature.

Because the air blankets the Earth and water, the Air Witch frequently has a large ego. She sees herself as above others and counts on her sister elements  to keep this ego in check. A key lesson for the windy ones is learning that they are not the only creatures that count. However, this position also grants the Air Witch the ability to see all sides of a situation. She is very just.

(continued on The Path Of The Air Witch, Part 3)

The Path Of The Air Witch (Part 1)

The Path Of The Air Witch

The path of the Air Witch is one of constant mental stimulation and expression. As poets, writers, actors, and dreamers, Air Witches walk the line of creativity. The wind is the soliloquy of life; every thought and sound transports itself through the air.

Seen as flaky and airheaded by some, the strength of the Air Witch lies in her intelligence, not her common-sense. She walks around with her head in the clouds. Too often she suffers from “foot in mouth” disease. She seems to have an uncanny knack for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Uncomfortable with silence, the Air Witch is content to chatter on aimlessly. She is well-known for making people laugh and smile, even when she is on their last nerve.

A key strength of the master of the wind is her flexibility. The Air Witch always allows room to change her mind and to bend with the wind. She considers that she is never fully “done”; she is a work in progress. Just as you cannot capture the wind, you cannot pin down an  Air Witch to one viewpoint for too long. She refuses to stagnate by accepting anything to be true all of the time. She is inquisitive, bubbly, and bright, and can inspire others to reach higher, try harder, and give a goal their best shot. Air Witches make wonderful cheerleaders.

On the flip side, the happy-go-lucky Air Witch is not one you want to anger. Her fury rouses quickly, and she usually possesses a nasty temper. An Air Witch will not mince words with you-she will cut straight to the bone. Once her outburst is over, she is usually no longer mad. Five minutes after her tantrum, she has no idea why anyone is angry with her.

Due to her flighty nature, the Air Witch has an easy time letting go of the past. She can overcome the most tragic of life’s situations. She will be changed, but she will quickly move on. She is truly like the wind. Because of this, she tends to make bad judgments. She does not always think things through fully before taking action.

The Air Witch thrives on change and new beginnings. Nothing  will excite her more than moving to a new location, getting a new job, meeting new people, or going on a vacation. She often changes her style throughout her lifetime, including favorite colors, textures, and even foods.

Her thirst for knowledge is unquenchable and tends to get her in trouble. She keeps an open mind and is willing to see alternate viewpoints. The Air Witch is known to incorporate many different belief systems into her own personal view.

Among the many quirks of Air Witches, claustrophobia rates unusually high in their ranks. The Air Witch cannot stand the thought of being trapped in a place with limited air. Scuba diving or the like is a rare activity for an Air Witch, as she fears suffocation above all else.

The Air Witch’s home is normally very clean. She can be extremely picky about dirt and dust. However, when entering the home of an Air Witch, you are apt to find many projects in various stages just sitting around waiting for her to complete them. The windy Air Witch does not always have the stamina needed to complete what she starts. It makes perfect sense to her to do the laundry and then fold it and stack it, without ever putting it away. She is easily distracted.

The home of an Air Witch is usually neutral-toned and light, with many windows. She frequently will have an abundance of houseplants and overstocked cabinets filled with convenience foods and sugary junk. It’s no wonder Air Witches have weak teeth, as they usually have an inexhaustible sweet tooth.

(continued to “The Path Of The Air Witch, Part 2)

Points of Interests – Salem Witch Museum

Salem (MA) Witch Museum

Photo by Ron Cogswell

Words such as these struck terror into the hearts of Salem townspeople in the early spring of 1692 as hysterical young girls called out names.

By summer, 180 people had been accused and imprisoned – defenseless against accusations of witchcraft in a society driven by superstition and fear. The court, formed to try the victims, acted quickly. Bridget Bishop was tried on June 2 and hanged on June 10 thereby setting the precedent for a summer of executions.

The Salem Witch Museum brings you there, back to Salem 1692. Visitors are given a dramatic history lesson using stage sets with life-size figures, lighting and a narration – an overview of the Witch Trials of 1692.

Our new exhibit, Witches: Evolving Perceptions, examines the stereotypical witch, aspects of witchcraft in the 17th century, modern witchcraft and the phenomenon of witch hunts.

Question: Would you visit this Museum?

The Wicca Book of Days for Feb. 12 – Sunny Sowelu

The Wicca Book of Days for February 12th

Sunny Sowelu

Today marks the start of the runic half-month of Sowelu (which may also be spelled Sowilo or Sowulo, and is sometimes called Sigil), whose last day will fall on February 26. This rune represents the sun, which has been growing ever brighter since December’s winter solstice, and has been shining a little longer each day, too. Scholars of the runes generally link Sowelu with Baldur, the “Shining One,” or the “good God” of Norse myth, who was murdered through the trickery of Loki, Odin’s foster brother . Symbolically, Sowelu can be interpreted as denoting such positive, dynamic concepts as enlightenment, strength of will, soar energy and victory.

“Here Comes The Sun!”

If you have been feeling a little down turn to clary sage to lift your spirits. Either take it in the form of an herbal supplement or tea, or heat 5 to 10 drops of the aromatherapy oil in a vaporizer.

The Wicca Book of Days for February 11 – Our Lady Of Lourdes

The Wicca Book of Days for Saturday, February 11th

Our Lady of Lourdes

February 11 marks the date, in 1858, on which a young French girl, Bernadette Soubiroux (1844-79), first saw a vision of the Virgin Mary in the hollow of a rock in Lourdes. During her apparitions to Bernadette, “The Immaculate Conception” instructed her to drink from the spring that sprang forth, and to build a church near the grotto of Massabielle. Since then, millions have visited Lourdes and have drunk, or bathed in, its spring water in the hope of being cured of various ailments and diseases, and many miracles have indeed been reported. In 1907, Pope Pius X officially named February 1 the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes.

 

The Water Of Life

Goddesses of every culture have always been linked with fresh water. Collect a jug of spring water to use in your rituals if you can, otherwise, pour some water into a bowl and then set it outside to absorb the moon’s rays.

What is Progressive Witchcraft?

What is Progressive Witchcraft?

By Terminus

“We do not see our ‘trainees’ as empty vessels, waiting to be filled up, but as individuals with a wealth of experience and ideas which they can contribute to the craft. (Rainbird, 1993)

The use of the term progressive arose from a discussion between Ariadne Rainbird and Tam Campbell in London in the late 1980s (*3) They were discussing the evolution of Wicca, and the fact that it had moved on over the decades, beyond the labels of “Gardnerian” or “Alexandrian”. They clearly stated that the term was being used to describe a trend, not a tradition, and that any coven that was eclectic in its approach and not limiting itself to the Book of Shadows was being progressive.

In 1991 Ariadne Rainbird formed a network for covens who subscribed to a more eclectic view of Wiccan practice, called the Progressive Wiccan network (*1). This network included covens in Wales, England, Germany and Canada. 1991 also saw the first Grand Sabbat, at Lughnasadh, with around 30 witches from six different covens meeting up to camp out in the wilds of South Wales and celebrate together. This tradition was to continue for some years, developing into an annual weekly gathering in Cornwall for members of different covens to work together.

In 1992 David Rankine became the editor of the magazine Dragon’s Brew, which became the magazine of the Progressive Wiccan movement. Dragon’s Brew was created by Chris Breen in 1990, originally as the house magazine for the Silver Wheel Coven (*1).

To quote from the magazine (1992):

“Progressive Wicca is a movement which spans the traditions and emphasises networking, closeness to nature, personal growth and co-operative development. Personal experience of other paths is welcomed and integrated into covens, and we do not slavishly follow a Book of Shadows, as we see Wicca as an ever growing religion and the Book of Shadows changes and grows with each new Witch.” (*1)

Contact details for a number of covens were given in the back of each issue of the magazine. The editorial stance of the magazine was actively supportive of environmental protection, detailing protests, distributing leaflets and supporting organisations like Dragon (eco-magick environmental network) and Friends of the Earth Cymru in their actions. Campaigns like the ones to save Oxleas Wood and Twyford Down were covered, as well as events in other parts of the world, like proposed wolf culling in Canada, tiger conservation in India, and anti-nuclear testing by the French in the Pacific. (*1)

Dragon’s Brew ran quarterly until 1997, with a circulation of several hundred copies, and covered a wide range of subjects, from chakras and kundalini to Enochian magick and running effective open rituals. Different pantheons were also explored, including the Welsh, Greek, Sumerian and Egyptian. A number of prominent academics also contributed to the magazine, which received articles from distinguished figures such as Professor Ronald Hutton and the Egyptologist Terry DuQuesne. (*1)

By 1994 Progressive Witchcraft was widely known throughout Europe. David Rankine gave a number of talks at events like the Talking Stick Meet the Groups conference in 1994, and at various University Pagan Societies. The growth of the movement was acknowledged by Michael Jordan, who gave it a sizeable entry in his 1996 book Witches: An Encyclopaedia of Paganism and Magic. (*3)

To avoid some disharmony caused by the term “Progressive” in the Wiccan community the term was changed from “Progressive Wicca” to Progressive Witchcraft in 1993, as was demonstrated by the cover of Dragon’s Brew (*1). In combination with this Ariadne Rainbird and David Rankine set up the Progressive Witchcraft Foundation, to deal with enquiries about Progressive Witchcraft, and also ran workshops under the banner of Silver Wheel with other coven members on a variety of related subjects.

In 1994 Ariadne Rainbird and David Rankine started running correspondence courses on natural magick based on much of the (non-oathbound) Progressive Witchcraft material. This material was to form the basis for their book Magick Without Peers: A Course in Progressive Witchcraft for the Solitary Practitioner, published by Capall Bann in 1997. (*2)

Reference Material

————————-

(*1) Dragon’s Brew, a Magazine of Magick, Paganism & Progressive Witchcraft, (1992 -1997)

(*2) Magick Without Peers, A Course in Progressive Witchcraft. Capall Bann 1997

(*3) Witches, An Encyclopaedia of Paganism and Magic; Michael Jordon, 1996

Patchwork of Magic, Julia Day, Capall Bann, 1995

(*4) Talking Stick Magical Directory, 1993

This article was written by Terminus, 2000 and provided for free distribution.

————————————————————–