Poetic Journeys – Beneath the Surface
Forgotten over the years Pushed to the back of minds weighed down with mundane concerns He waits in solitude for the day When someone may remember, and keep him company A chill wind blows from the north Reminding one who lives along the shore Of someone she held dear in time long past Yet the thought is more a whisper than a shout He feels the pain of being a promise broken Yet still he abides behind the veil A soul immortal cannot die But can be buried by the wretchedness of anguish borne alone He looks down upon the sea below his vantage point And longs to be free ...
Cunning Woman: Mother Demdike and Her Legacy
In 1612, in one of the most meticulously documented witch trials in English history, seven women and two men from Pendle Forest in Lancashire, Northern England were executed. In court clerk Thomas Potts’s account of the proceedings, The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster, published in 1613, he pays particular attention to the one alleged witch who escaped justice by dying in prison before she could come to trial. She was Elizabeth Southerns, more commonly known by her nickname, Old Demdike. According to Potts, she was the ringleader, the one who initiated all the others into witchcraft. ...
The Sweat Lodge: Ancient Shamanism in the Modern Age
Not long ago I had the chance to participate in my first sweat lodge. I thought it might be useful to set down my impressions of the experience, for others who have never undergone it but who are curious as to what is involved, or may be thinking about undertaking the ordeal for themselves. The sweat lodge is an ancient part of shamanism that is widespread around the world in various forms. It was the ritualized spiritual custom for many of the native peoples of North America. A modern secular derivative of the practice is the Scandinavian sauna. In the sweat ...
Further Thoughts After the Women’s Voices in Magick Panel at Pantheacon 2010
At the most recent Pantheacon, I was honored to participate in a panel of authors who contributed to Immanion Press’s recent Women’s Voices in Magick anthology. It was a real treat to be able to take part in a lively conversation on the state of contemporary occultism with women from a diverse range of magical communities. Celtic Reconstruction, Thelema, Chaos and experimental magic were among the stated approaches used by such notable occultists as Erynn Rowan Laurie, Kat Sanborn, Amy Hale, Lupa, and Jaymi Elford. Despite the disparity in our training and in the communities and Gods we choose to ...
The Key to Evocation: Zodiacal Decans
Matrix of Possibilities There are many ways to perform the operation of theurgy and the evocation of spirits. Most of those who practice this kind of magical operation work through one or more of the many available grimoires. However, there are other ways to perform this operation that have little to do with the old grimoires; yet these other methods require the invention of a completely alternative magical technology. A practitioner is generally stuck between using existing information and available materials or creating something entirely new. The path that I took was to create a new methodology for invocation and evocation; ...
Beyond the Veil – Book Excerpt: Daughters of the Witching Hill
She was a very old woman, about the age of Foure-score yeares, and had been a Witch for fiftie yeares. Shee dwelt in the Forrest of Pendle, a vast place, fitte for her profession: What shee committed in her time, no man knows. . . Shee was a generall agent for the Devill in all these partes: no man escaped her, or her Furies. — Thomas Potts, The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the County of Lancaster, 1613 1 1610 See us gathered here, three women stood at Richard Baldwin’s gate. I bide with my daughter, Liza of the squint-eye, and with my granddaughter, ...
Are Egregores People?
In the recent case of Citizens United versus the Federal Election Commission, the United States Supreme Court narrowly ruled the First Amendment protection for freedom of speech extends to organizations and corporations who wish to fund political advertisements. By way of disclaimer, I deeply disagree with the Supreme Court's decision upon this controversial point, and by the conclusion of this essay I'm sure the attentive reader should be able to tease out my reasons for opposing the supposed (emphasis on "supposed") expansion of First Amendment rights. Still, my main interest here concerns the occult implications of this decision, and especially ...
News
An Explanation
I mentioned a News post or two ago that I had been fielding personal crises. They have escalated now to the point that my work here has suffered, and I think for that I owe you an explanation. To be blunt, my daughter has severe emotional issues. She’s... [Read more...]
6
Summer Issue Will Be Late
I’ve been dealing with significant personal issues in the past few weeks, and they’ve really cut into my time the last few days. Since I’m doing the magazine editing and coding alone (other than some help today from co-admin Caliedo),... [Read more...]
1
Read More Articles in NewsFeatured This Issue
Poetic Journeys – Beneath the Surface
Forgotten over the years Pushed to the back of minds weighed down with mundane concerns He waits in solitude for the day When someone may remember, and keep him company A chill wind blows from the north Reminding one who lives along the shore Of... [Read more...]
1
Cunning Woman: Mother Demdike and Her Legacy
In 1612, in one of the most meticulously documented witch trials in English history, seven women and two men from Pendle Forest in Lancashire, Northern England were executed. In court clerk Thomas Potts’s account of the proceedings, The Wonderfull... [Read more...]
10
The Sweat Lodge: Ancient Shamanism in the Modern Age
Not long ago I had the chance to participate in my first sweat lodge. I thought it might be useful to set down my impressions of the experience, for others who have never undergone it but who are curious as to what is involved, or may be thinking... [Read more...]
0
Further Thoughts After the Women’s Voices in Magick Panel at Pantheacon 2010
At the most recent Pantheacon, I was honored to participate in a panel of authors who contributed to Immanion Press’s recent Women’s Voices in Magick anthology. It was a real treat to be able to take part in a lively conversation on the state... [Read more...]
19
The Key to Evocation: Zodiacal Decans
Matrix of Possibilities There are many ways to perform the operation of theurgy and the evocation of spirits. Most of those who practice this kind of magical operation work through one or more of the many available grimoires. However, there are other... [Read more...]
0
Beyond the Veil – Book Excerpt: Daughters of the Witching Hill
She was a very old woman, about the age of Foure-score yeares, and had been a Witch for fiftie yeares. Shee dwelt in the Forrest of Pendle, a vast place, fitte for her profession: What shee committed in her time, no man knows. . . Shee was a generall... [Read more...]
3
Are Egregores People?
In the recent case of Citizens United versus the Federal Election Commission, the United States Supreme Court narrowly ruled the First Amendment protection for freedom of speech extends to organizations and corporations who wish to fund political... [Read more...]
1
Columns
Faith and Healing in Paganism – Anatomy of the Spirit
It might seem strange to discuss something as nebulous as “spirit” with such a formal word as “anatomy.” But rest assured that the word is appropriate and necessary. I use the word spirit here to refer to spirits as parts of living beings,... [Read more...]
1
The Study of Magic: The Universality of Platonism: Two Universal Laws
All magical practices, western or eastern, from tribal incantations to dudes drawing magic circles in their mom’s basement, every jot, tittle, and trickle of magic boils down finally to two fundamental laws: similarity and contagion. Cognitive... [Read more...]
1
Faith and Healing in Paganism
This is the first in a series of articles in my column “Faith and Healing in Paganism.” I must say that I am eager to see where the discussion will go, and I hope you can share some of my excitement along the way. The focus of this column... [Read more...]
1
Read More Articles in ColumnsMagick
Divided for Love’s Sake – Reconnection and Commitment
It is sadly true that in many pagan and magical communities, individuals who have much to gain from working together are spending too much time and energy in pointless arguments, paranoia and hostility. We’ve all seen it — the “witch... [Read more...]
3
Cunning Woman: Mother Demdike and Her Legacy
In 1612, in one of the most meticulously documented witch trials in English history, seven women and two men from Pendle Forest in Lancashire, Northern England were executed. In court clerk Thomas Potts’s account of the proceedings, The... [Read more...]
10
The Key to Evocation: Zodiacal Decans
Matrix of Possibilities There are many ways to perform the operation of theurgy and the evocation of spirits. Most of those who practice this kind of magical operation work through one or more of the many available grimoires. However, there... [Read more...]
0
Fear: The Practice Killer
Once upon a time, I was speaking with a friend online about some aspects of shamanic work, and the old axiom of “keeping silent” came up as a topic relevant for both us. Sometimes the things we see or experience in our Work can... [Read more...]
2
Differing Models
The diversity of esoteric exercises and rituals fill volumes, the variety systems of magickal practice is known and accepted, and yet that there is more than one way to look at what magick “is” and how it “works” seems... [Read more...]
0
Read More Articles in MagickMysticism
Chaos in the Crèche
To the COREz cru, and to Robert Anton Wilson, R.I.P. ALL HAIL ERIS! Back when we were whippersnapper wizards, knee high to an incubus, the feared and fabulous Churche of Random Ethicz (COREz) convened in desolate spots and dirty squats for ancient... [Read more...]
1
When Spirits Come to Call
It’s late, I’m tired, and my body is creaking from the day’s work. I sit down on the edge of my bed, stretch and feel my back crack. I look up and there is a see-through old man, standing, with tears in his eyes. He wears a button up white... [Read more...]
0
Sacred Sexuality and Spiritual Identity
Sexuality, while it should be a topic of freer thinking in the pagan community, is still viewed with great suspicion in many of our circles, covens, and pagan philosophies. In fact, it has become a very sensitive topic, bringing out suspicion, fear... [Read more...]
3
The Sweat Lodge: Ancient Shamanism in the Modern Age
Not long ago I had the chance to participate in my first sweat lodge. I thought it might be useful to set down my impressions of the experience, for others who have never undergone it but who are curious as to what is involved, or may be thinking... [Read more...]
0
Guttershaman 7 – Of “Avatar” and Otherkin…
. . . stories dramatize ideas and truths that we all intuitively recognize. Although these stories are not exactly ‘true,’ they nonetheless offer a kind of Truth that is more compelling than hard facts. — Rabbi Cary Friedman, Wisdom... [Read more...]
1
Read More Articles in MysticismCulture
Poetic Journeys – Beneath the Surface
Forgotten over the years Pushed to the back of minds weighed down with mundane concerns He waits in solitude for the day When someone may remember, and keep him company A chill wind blows from the north Reminding one who lives along the shore Of... [Read more...]
1
Poetic Journeys: The Gnostic
on an Easter long ago the Dark Night of the Soul the self crucified on the cross of Ego “Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani?” It is Finished! the stone, Restriction, rolled away by Will light beamed forth from within it was I who arose bearing... [Read more...]
0
Further Thoughts After the Women’s Voices in Magick Panel at Pantheacon 2010
At the most recent Pantheacon, I was honored to participate in a panel of authors who contributed to Immanion Press’s recent Women’s Voices in Magick anthology. It was a real treat to be able to take part in a lively conversation on the state... [Read more...]
19
Beyond the Veil – Book Excerpt: Daughters of the Witching Hill
She was a very old woman, about the age of Foure-score yeares, and had been a Witch for fiftie yeares. Shee dwelt in the Forrest of Pendle, a vast place, fitte for her profession: What shee committed in her time, no man knows. . . Shee was a generall... [Read more...]
3
Poetic Journeys – Bless My Space
Bless my space, O Lord! North, south, east, west; My Lord brings me all things blessed. East, west, south, north; All shadow, our God’s life drives forth. South, north, west, east; Angels draw us to the bridal feast. West, east, north,... [Read more...]
0
Poetic Journeys – ROTA: The Wheel of Aeons
Then, when thou knowest first the Wheel of Destiny complete, mayest thou perceive THAT Will which moved it first. (There is no first or last.)” — #78, The Book of Lies, By To Mega Therion 0. No breath, no time Neither darkness nor light No... [Read more...]
0
Read More Articles in CultureReviews
Book Review: The Flowering Rod
Kenny Klein The Flowering Rod: Men and Their Role in Paganism Megalithica Books (January 30, 2009) ISBN: 978-1905713288 200 pages Reviewer: Soli Much discussion still comes from the role of women in neopaganism, and the fact that they... [Read more...]
2
Read More Articles in Reviews-
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