Merry Meet one and all and welcome to the Litha edition of Cauldrons & Broomsticks.
We hope this issue of Cauldrons & Broomsticks finds you well. The Beltane spring cleaning is now over and done and the Weavings websites have been given a bit of a facelift and new look. So you now find us sitting back and enjoy the healing rays of the summer sun. Although care needs to be taken not to stay out in it too long as, with all things powerful, overdoing it can cause more harm than good. The word, Litha is taken from the Saxon tradition, being the opposite of Yule and is celebrated on the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. It is also known as Midsummer Nights Eve, Alban Heruin (Druidic). On this Sabbat light and life are at their most abundant. Many Ancient monuments are aligned with the Sun at this point in the Wheel of the Year, the most famous being Stonehenge in England, though there are many more all over the world. If you would like to find out more about Litha, then you can read more in the article on our main pages (click this link!) . We have also included a link to a pdf version of The Kingdon of Faerie by Geoffrey Hodson - you will find the link at the top of our homepage (www.weavings.co.uk)
We will be leaving out a bit of milk and honey for the faeries. And the girls will build a faery pavilion. A kind of apology for me having to mow all their toadstools that sprung up in the back garden! Garnet and and I will do our private ritual together and we have group gathering at the local beach on Saturday night - ritual followed by drumming into the early hours of the morning.
Whatever you do this Litha, may you have fun, find peace and be filled with the strength of the sun at its zenith.
Blessings
Magi & Garnet
The Astral Light
The astral can be considered as the energy double of the material. It is, in one sense, the stuff of which dreams are made. The substance from which their images are made is the astral light, which is the energy of Yesod on the Tree of Life. It is the same substance which gives light and life to anything you imagine, whether visually or using the other senses.
The astral light, which is equivalent to the astral plane, is the realm of astral projection or travel. Astral projection works through the combination of will and imagination, creating the required and appropriate images. These 'come to life' in the astral light of Yesod. Although the quality of feeling about it may be different, the images created in visual imagination, day-dreams, night-dreams, guided fantasy or directed day-dreaming are all - in terms of their relevance and their substance - identical with the images of astral travelling.
Various groups over the whole history of humankind have concentrated their energies, imagination and will on various symbols or symbolic systems - both mystical and magickal in emphasis - and have created 'permanent' astral planes; that is, places where the astral light has been imprinted with the symbols of a certain belief. For example, on the astral plane, various sub-plans may be found: an alchemical plane, a Tibetan plane, a Christian plane, a fairy plane, a Celtic plane and so. Wile there are more collective than individual in character, it is through Yesod that an individual may contact these planes.
The astral plane is an intermediate and invisible level of reality between the physical plane and higher, more divine realms. It is the common boundary between the individual and noumenal reality. A non-physical level of existence that is the basis of the physical plane. Astral travelling is the practice of travelling out of the physical in the astral planes. It is the transference of consciousness from the physical to the astral body, in a way that the practitioner perceives and moves about on the astral plane in a body of light, while the physical body remains inert. By using astral projection, the magician enters this world and interacts with angels, elementals and other beings. Astral projection in the Golden Dawn tradition can be described as a form of self-hypnosis that uses symbols as doorways in order to cause change in consciousness. From these higher levels of consciousness the magician often tries to see the underlying cause of things
People in Magick - Alex Sanders
Alex Sanders (June 6, 1926 - April 30, 1988), born Orrell Alexander Carter, was the founder of the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca.
Sanders' first contact with Gardenerian Wicca was in the early 1960s, through correspondence and meetings with Patricia Crowther. In September 1962, he succeeded in convincing the Manchester Evening News to run a front-page article on Wicca. This publicity had several unfortunate side-effects for Sanders, including the loss of his job (due to evidence provided in the article that he had violated the policy of the library at which he was employed) and estrangement from the Crowthers. Soon afterwards, he joined a Gardnerian coven led by Pat Kopanski, which dissolved just over a year later.
Alex Sanders claimed to have been initiated by his grandmother in 1933. He created the Alexandrian Wicca, whose principal proponents are Janet and Stewart Fararr. Their books set forth most, if not all, of the tradition. Contrary to popular belief, the name Alexandrian refers not to Alex Sanders, but to Ancient Alexandria. By 1965, Sanders had formed his own coven with fPaul King and Maxine Morris. Sanders married Morris in December of that year, in one of the earliest examples of what would become the common Wiccan ceremony of handfasting. The ceremony received extensive press coverage. (This marriage would later dissolve between 1972 and 1973.)
In June of 1967, Alex and Maxine Sanders moved to London, where they became well-known in the city's alternative scene, providing introductory talks on witchcraft on a weekly basis.
In 1969, June Johns published a biography of Sanders entitled King of the Witches, based on Sanders' own testimony. Sanders also provided much of the material for the book What Witches Do, published later that same year by Stewart Farrar. Stewart and his wife Janet were members of Sanders' coven and two of his most enthusiastic followers. It was Stewart who came up with the popular name of "Alexandrian" for the tradition of Wicca founded by Sanders.
Alexandrian Wicca is arguably more welcoming to homosexual and bisexual individuals than Gardnerian Wicca, which has a heavy emphasis on gender polarity. In most ways though, the Alexandrian Tradition is very close to Gardnerian with a few minor changes; one of the most obvious ones being that the Alexandrians use the athame as a symbol for the element of fire and the wand as a symbol for air. Most of the rituals are very formal and heavily indebted to ceremonial magick. It is also a polarized tradition and the sexuality of that female/male polarity is emphasized. The ritual cycle deals mostly with the division of the year between the Holly King and the Oak King and several ritual dramas deal with the dying/resurrected God theme. As with Gardnerians, the High Priestess is supposedly the highest authority.
The Wheel of the Year in Australia
by Sapphire Jade
The following traditional story of the Goddess and God has been adapted from the book “Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia” By Lynne Hume Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1997.
In November the Goddess leads the young God into sexual initiation. The young God then grows and becomes the scorching heat of December. In a powerful rite they are transformed; the God self- immolates but His ashes fall onto the ground, creating bushfires. He is the flame and the ash and she as Earth becomes scorched and parched and takes on the Crone aspect.
In January the Goddess is the Dark Goddess and the God is the Lord of Shadows. She is the death bringer through heat. In February, flash floods are added to the violent of the drought. The God grows while waiting for the rain. In March, the Goddess reaches a transition and looks at new beginnings. The Maiden emerges from the shadow of the Crone, bringing healing rains which nurture the Earth and engender potential for life. Seeds Germinate. She flirts with the life spirit who is the God locked in the Underworld. He captures her and takes her into His realm of dreams. This Lord of Shadows initiates her into the Mysteries and in May she begins to learn the power of self- knowledge.
In May until June She becomes the Queen of the Underworld and they are in balance and harmony and release creative energy into the world. Unfurling leaves of new plants are enriched by the now fertile Earth.
In July and August she teaches the young God the mysteries of the world and in September they play in the green woods. She assumes the cloak of Mother Earth and He is the young Forest Lord. In October, spring is in full bloom and they explore their sexuality. In November they come together in the Great Rite (sexual union) and the circle continues.
This traditional story puts into perspective the role of the Goddess and God within the continent of Australia. It is a country plagued with bushfires, floods, drought and cyclones. Many bushfires in Australia are the effect of lightening and other natural events. However bushfires are an important part of the ecology of Australia as they encourage new growth of native plants. The effects of bushfire can be devastating resulting in the loss of property, life, livestock, crops and native animals. It is estimated that between 20 – 50% of bushfires are the result of accidental or deliberate acts. The simple act of throw a cigarette butt out the window can lead to disastrous effects for the community. The Aboriginal people understood the importance of bushfires to their native land. It is only due to European settlement that the full impact of Bushfires is felt. Before European settlement there were not any crops or livestock or buildings and towns for a bushfire to destroy. It is important to understand the importance of bushfires and a flood when following the Pagan path in Australia, without an understanding of there places in the natural ecology it is easy to get caught up in the “how the goddess could let this happen” frame of mind. There are enough incidences that happen in the world through the actions of man kind that are more frightening then any bushfire.
On the surface the Wheel of the Year is similar in both southern and northern hemispheres. The sabbats celebrate the cycles of sowing and reaping, the pass from winter to spring, then from summer to autumn. There is however a six month difference in the seasons between the two hemispheres. While the Southern hemisphere is celebrating summer the northern hemisphere is celebrating winter. To some people it seems ludicrous to celebrate Imbolc in the middle of summer. It is up to the individual person to decide what is right for them. The choices are simple
1) Follow the traditional dates of the Northern Hemisphere
2) Follow the Solstice and Equinox festivals seasonally, but the 4 Greater Sabbats as they do in the northern hemisphere
3) Follow the 8 sabbats of the ancient festivals in accordance to the seasons in the Southern hemisphere
4) Abandon the traditional dates altogether and observe the seasons accordingly to that of the indigenous people.
I personally have chosen the 3rd option and this choice has lead to a greater need to become in tune with the environment around me, seek more native items for my altar and open my eyes to the beauty that is around me. When preparing for the sabbats I take the time to explore nature, take walks along the beach and walks in the native scrub that surrounds the city. Stop and appreciate the natural wonders around me. Observe the beauty of the sun rising in the east and setting in the west and the rare mornings the sun and the moon are both visible in the sky.
Celebrating Sabbats in Australia
2006 Equinox, Solstice & Cross-Quarter Moments
Samhain
May 6th | Imbolc
August 8th | Beltane
November 7th | Lughnasad
February 4th |
Yule
June 22nd | Ostara
September 23rd | Summer Solstice
December 22nd | Mabon
March 21st |
Source: http://www.archaeoastronomy.com/2006.shtml
Although there is very little written about how to celebrate the Sabbats within the Southern Hemisphere, it is greatly accepted that the meanings and traditions behind these sabbats are the same as what is celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere. This is greatly because it is within the Northern Hemisphere that the traditions historically begun. When the first convicts migrated to Australia they also brought their beliefs and value structures. Australia is still a member of the Commonwealth and although there has been a push for Australia to become a Republic, we still celebrate the official birthday of the Queen. It is because of our British lineage that many Australians still practise paganism as they do in the Northern Hemisphere. Our ancestry has British and European lineage and our celebration of the Sabbats pays tribute to that lineage.
The celebration of the Sabbats is a personal experience and we all celebrate them in different ways. How the sabbats are celebrated in Australia is in some ways no different then the Northern Hemisphere. The principles are the same, but each celebration is adapted to the personal needs of the person(s) participating in the ritual.
Scott Cunningham in his publication “Living Wicca; A further guide for the solitary practitioner” sets out a plan to create your own tradition’s Sabbats Rituals. I suggest this is a good guideline to developing your own traditions in whichever path you choose.
Sources and recommended reading
“Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia” By Lynne Hume Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1997.
“Practising the Witch’s Craft; Real Magic under a Southern Sky” By Douglas Ezzy: Griffin Press, Australia, 2003
Internet references:
Temple of the Dark Moon http://www.ace.net.au/darkmoon/index1.htm
Pagan Awareness Network http://www.paganawareness.net.au/fullmoon.html
(A note on the above internet references, they haven’t been updated for over a year but still are good resources for information on Paganism in Australia.)
Four-Play: A Review of Deborah Lipp’s The Way of Four
by Calypso
I had terrible trouble writing this review. Yes, I did. This is a book that sets out to help you deepen your sense of your elemental make-up and help you achieve elemental balance in your life. It takes a serious approach to the subject matter, but it’s a lot of fun along the way: it’s packed with exercises, meditations, quizzes, even decorating suggestions. I had a great time with it.
And yet I found myself writing a review which seemed dry and overly academic and kind of boring, which didn’t seem to capture the spirit of the book at all.
And then I remembered that, according to the results of Lipp’s quizzes, my own personality is most strongly dominated by Air. “The Air person thinks before he [sic] feels,” says Lipp, “and sometimes thinks instead of feeling.”
In the spirit of trying to feel more and think less, I can categorically state that I love Deborah Lipp’s work.
(Now for the dry and academic parts.)
Lipp begins with an in-depth look at the elements and their current occult associations, and gives a history of elemental associations in spiritual practice, from Bronze-age Europe to Hinduism to Greek philosophy. The overview is brief, but well researched and interesting. She then moves on to the use of the elements in Wiccan philosophy, and explains the theory of both the Elementals and the Guardians, with appropriate caveats and caution. She is also one of the few Pagan authors I’ve ever read who has taken the time to explain what a Watchtower is – and she is also one of the few who counsels leaving out the mention of the Watchtowers if you’re not using an Enochian system of magic. This is one of the reasons I love Lipp’s writing – while she emphasizes the validity of solitary and Eclectic paths, she is also very concerned with promoting coherence in spiritual practice, and she frequently advises against the token inclusion of material in ritual if the student doesn’t fully know what it’s about.
That said, I’d like to reiterate that this book is a lot of fun. Lipp includes a number of quizzes to determine your elemental make-up and how it manifests itself in your life – your personal style (including jewellery and perfumes!), your relationships, and your job. She also suggests exercises and meditations both for getting to know the elements better and for bringing elemental balance into your life. Some are tough, some are practical, others are inspiring. All are unusual: she doesn’t simply go for the obvious (swimming for water, exploring caves for earth) but explains the purpose of each exercise and what you should take from it. My favourite is the exercise “Becoming Balanced” in which she has readers check off a list of their most positive qualities corresponding to each element – for example, “I am creative” is listed under Fire, and “I am generous” under Water – and then uses these positive qualities as affirmations to address negative personality traits. For example, she assigns “stubbornness” to Earth, and addresses it with a meditation and chant made up of positive affirmations that relate to Air: “I am unconventional” and “I think things through.”
A later chapter, “The Elements in Daily Life” suggests pragmatic ways in which the elements can be brought into your (you guessed it) everyday life: through home décor, clothing, and beauty treatments (which, she emphasizes, she recommends for men as well as women). I was a little skeptical about the inclusion of beauty treatments at first, but again, Lipp sets herself apart from more superficial Pagan writers like Fiona Horne by not only explaining her reasoning for including cosmetic recipes and treatments, but by also recounting her own thought process in developing them. “As in previous sections,” she says, “we are looking at the elements here in two ways. First, how is the treatment given; that is, does the treatment itself partake of the nature of Air, Fire, Water or Earth (or some combination)? Second, what are the elemental associations of a treatment’s ingredients?” This kind of detail, which permeates the whole book, is really helpful if you’re a beginner, as it outlines the kind of thing you need to think about in order to develop your own treatments and exercises.
Lipp’s thoughtful approach and careful research make The Way of Four a valuable workbook, and anyone who’s ever enjoyed a magazine quiz (and really, who hasn’t?) will love the structure of her approach to self-discovery. The book is packed with information, and the focus is firmly on self-development rather than insta-spells. As in The Elements of Ritual, Lipp focuses on fully examining a single aspect of Pagan spirituality in depth; she explains her ideas clearly and invites her readers to think them through along with her. I am really looking forward to reading more of Lipp’s work.
But then, I’m an Air person, and I like that sort of thing. :)
In the News
KFC = Klearing Forest for Chickens
Greenpeace reveals the Colonel's secret recipe - chicken fed on soya straight from the heart of the Amazon.
source: http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/forests/
As we revealed in early April, McDonald's have been implicated in the clearance of the Amazon rainforest to grow soya for animal feed and, thanks to the thousands of emails and letters you sent, they're talking to us about how they can get out of the Amazon.
KFC, however, are a different story. Using a secret recipe of illegal deforestation, land clearing and slavery, KFC continue to buy chickens from their suppliers that have been fed on soya from the Amazon.
KFC is part of Yum! Brands Inc., the world'slargest restaurant chain which also includes Pizza Hut and other fast food companies. Greenpeace recently wrote to Yum! Brands, Inc. regarding the destruction of the Amazon, but the company claimed its soya is grown in other parts of Brazil. Yet Greenpeace has traced its supply chain and found that some comes from facilities that use soya grown in the Amazon rainforest.
So the name might be different but the story is the same. In the last three years 70,000 sq km of Amazon rainforest has been destroyed - that's an area of forest the size of six football pitches every minute. Much of this destruction has been driven by the soya industry.
The chicken you eat at KFC is fed on soya grown in deforested areas of the Amazon basin and exported into Europe. To coincide with the company's annual general meeting in Kentucky today, on Wednesday Greenpeace unfurled a 300 sq m banner in an area of the rainforest cleared for soya cultivation with the legend "KFC Amazon Criminal" and demanded that KFC stop trashing the Amazon for fast food.
Get active
If you think that KFC isn't quite so finger lickin' good any more, tell them what you think about their role in rainforest destruction. Email David Fitzjohn, KFC's Managing Director for Europe, to demand that KFC stop selling chicken fed on Amazon soya because fast food shouldn't cost the Earth.
Tell KFC to stop trashing the Amazon
If you were expecting to take action against McDonald's, we've put that on hold as they're currently working on how they can stop using Amazon soya. In the meantime, tell the Colonel what you think about what he's doing to the rainforest.
New Greenpeace research has shown that KFC are partners in forest crime that is creating a trail of destruction right into the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The chicken they sell is fed on soya grown in areas of the Amazon that have been illegally cleared. This means that every time you buy chicken from KFC, you're taking a bite out of the Amazon.
We want KFC to tell their suppliers they will not buy animals that have been reared on soya that comes from the Amazon rainforest. Please email David Fitzjohn, KFC's Managing Director for Europe, and tell him to stop trashing the Amazon
Greek gods prepare for comeback
The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1767802,00.html
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It has taken almost 2,000 years, but those who worship the 12 gods of ancient Greece have finally triumphed. An Athens court has ordered that the adulation of Zeus, Hera, Hermes, Athena and co is to be unbanned, paving the way for a comeback of pagans on Mount Olympus. The followers, who say they "defend the genuine traditions, religion and ethos" of the ancients by adhering to a pre-Christian polytheistic culture, are poised to take their battle to the temples of Greece.
"What we want, now, is for the government to fully recognise our religion," Vasillis Tsantilas told the Guardian. "We will petition the Greek parliament, and the EU if that fails, for access to worship in places like the Acropolis, for permission to have our own cemeteries and, where necessary, to re-bury the [ancient] bones of the dead.
About 98% of Greeks are Orthodox Christian, and all other religions except Judaism and Islam had been banned.
Yet the pagans say as many as 2,000 Greeks have signed up to their movement. Mr Tsantilas, 42, a computer scientist who came to paganism after toying with Buddhism, Taoism and Islam, said worshippers perceived the ancient gods as the "personification of the divine".
But Greece's powerful Orthodox Church takes a less charitable view, accusing the worshippers of idolatry and "poisonous New Age practices".
Father Eustathios Kollas, who presides over the community of Greek priests, said: "They are a handful of miserable resuscitators of a degenerate dead religion who wish to return to the monstrous dark delusions of the past."
