The Wiccan Rede

One of the most often quoted "laws of Wicca," a variation of the Wiccan Rede appeared in the writings of Gerald Gardner.

A similar rule is found in the work of Aleister Crowley around the turn of the century, in which he advised his readers, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the Law, love under Will."

One version was made famous by Doreen Valiente in the early 1960s, and in 1974 a lengthier version, by Lady Gwen Thompson, was published in the Green Egg, a Pagan magazine. Thompson credited her grandmother, Adriana Porter, with the original work. Although there is no scholarly evidence for this claim, the work remains one of the most popular writings in Wicca today.

Thompson's version reads as follows:

 The Rede of the Wiccae

Being known as the counsel of the Wise Ones:

 Bide the Wiccan laws ye must,

 in perfect love and perfect trust.

 Live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.

Cast the Circle thrice about

 to keep the evil spirits out.

 

To bind the spell every time,

 let the spell be spake in rhyme.

 Soft of eye and light of touch,

 speak little, listen much.

Deosil go by the waxing Moon,

 sing and dance the Wiccan rune.

Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,

 and the Werewolf howls by the dread Wolfsbane.

 

When the Lady's Moon is new,

 kiss thy hand to Her times two.

 When the Moon rides at Her peak

 then your heart's desire seek.

 Heed the Northwind's mighty gale;

 lock the door and drop the sail.

 

When the wind comes from the South,

 love will kiss thee on the mouth.

 When the wind blows from the East,

 expect the new and set the feast.

 When the West wind blows o'er thee,

 departed spirits restless be.

 

Nine woods in the Cauldron go,

 burn them quick a' burn them slow.

Elder be ye Lady's tree;

 burn it not or cursed ye'll be.

 When the Wheel begins to turn,

 let the Beltane fires burn.

 When the Wheel has turned at Yule,

 light the log and let Pan rule.

 

Heed ye flower bush and tree,

 by the Lady Bless'd Be.

 Where the rippling waters go

 cast a stone and truth ye'll know.

 When find that ye have need,

 hearken not to others' greed.

 With the fool no season spend

 or be counted as his friend.

 

Merry meet and merry part,

 bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

 Mind the Threefold Law ye should,

 three times bad and three times good.

 When misfortune is enow,

 wear the Blue Star on thy brow.

 True in love ever be

 unless thy lover's false to thee.

 Eight words ye Wiccan Rede fulfill:

 An' it harm none, do what ye will.

 

reblogged

-The Crafty Witch

Eclectic Wicca

Eclectic Wicca is an all-purpose term applied to NeoWiccan traditions that don't fit into any specific definitive category. Many solitary Wiccans follow an eclectic path, but there are also covens that consider themselves eclectic. A coven or individual may use the term "eclectic" for a variety of reasons. For example:

• A group or solitary may use a blend of beliefs and practices from several different pantheons and traditions.

• A group could be an offshoot of an established tradition of Wicca, such as Gardnerian or Alexandrian, but with modifications to their practice that make them no longer that original tradition.

• An individual may be creating his or her own tradition of beliefs and practices, and because this system can't be defined as something else, it can be defined as eclectic.

• A solitary may be practicing what he or she has learned from publicly available sources on Wicca, but not be using oathbound, initiatory material, and so recognizes that his or her practice is eclectic.

Because there is often disagreement about who is Wiccan and who isn't, there can be confusion regarding existing lineaged Wiccan traditions, and newer eclectic traditions. Some would say that only those lineaged covens are permitted to call themselves Wiccan, and that anyone who claims to be eclectic is, by definition, not Wiccan but Neowiccan. Bear in mind that the term Neowiccan simply means someone who practices a newer form of Wicca, and is not meant to be derogatory or insulting.

reblogged
-The Crafty Witch

What is NeoWicca?

Sometimes you may see the word "NeoWicca" used at About Pagan/Wiccan. It's one that appears often in discussions about modern Pagan religions, so let's look at why it's being utilized.

The term NeoWicca (which essentially means "new Wicca") is typically used when we want to distinguish between the two original traditional forms of Wicca (Gardnerian and Alexandrian) and all other forms of Wicca. Many people would argue that anything other than a Gardnerian or Alexandrian tradition is, by default, NeoWicca.

Much of the publicly available material labeled as Wicca in books and on websites is in fact considered NeoWiccan, simply because Gardnerian and Alexandrian material is generally oathbound, and is not made available for public consumption. In addition, to be a Gardnerian or Alexandrian Wiccan, you must be initiated - you cannot self-initiate or dedicate as a Gardnerian or Alexandrian; you have to be part of an established coven. The concept of lineage is also important in these two forms of traditional Wicca.

In general, someone who follows an eclectic path of magical practice, in which they incorporate practices and beliefs from a variety of different systems, would be considered NeoWiccan. Keep in mind that the term NeoWicca is not meant to imply any inferiority to these two original traditions, simply that a NeoWiccan is practicing something newer and therefore different than an Alexandrian or Gardnerian.

Many NeoWiccans adhere to the Wiccan Rede and the law of threefold return. These two prinicples are not typically found in Pagan paths that are not Wiccan.

reblogged
-The Crafty Witch

Sybil Leek's Six Tenets of Witchcraft (6 of 6)

Knowledge

Finally, there is the tenet of knowledge. Without knowledge, there is no growth, no chance to evolve. While we may read books and take classes, true learning also comes from life experience. To truly advance on a spiritual plane, we must accept the fact that we don't know everything there is to know, and that we must always continue to learn, both in this lifetime and in the next. Once we stop learning, we stagnate as a spiritual being.

A final note: It is important to remember that, much like other guidelines found in modern Pagan religions, this list does not apply to every path. Not all witches adhere to these tenets. If you are an eclectic practitioner, you may want to look at this list and see how it can be applied to your own belief system.

 Reblogged From author *Pattie Willington

- The Crafty Witch

Sybil Leek's Six Tenets of Witchcraft (5 of 6)

Tolerance

Tolerance may be one of the least acted-upon principles of many modern belief systems. While many people espouse the virtue of tolerance, many refuse to be so, making blanket statements about people whose religion doesn’t coincide with our own. To tolerate someone else's belief doesn’t mean to put up with it begrudgingly; instead it means to accept their right to choose differently from us. We are all human beings, and all connected to the Divine; this factor makes us part of the cosmic whole. When in fact we look at the concept of "do no harm" -- and this includes with our words as well as our actions -- we must refrain from doing harm not because a rule tells us so, but because it's the right thing to do. After all, what goes around comes around.

 

 Reblogged From author *Pattie Willington

- The Crafty Witch

Celtic Tree Month of Ash Begins (tomorrow)

In the Norse eddas, Yggdrasil, the world tree, was an Ash. The spear of Odin was made from the branch of this tree, which is also known by the Celtic name Nion, pronounced knee-un. This is one of three trees sacred to the Druids (Ash, Oak and Thorn), and this is a good month to do magic that focuses on the inner self.

Associated with ocean rituals, magical potency, prophetic dreams and spiritual journeys, the Ash can be used for making magical (and mundane) tools -- these are said to be more productive than tools made from other wood. If you place Ash berries in a cradle, it protects the child from being taken away as a changeling by mischievous Fae.

Quickening Moon (Full Moon) & Happy Valentines Day

In February, the nights are cold and we begin to feel a bit of cabin fever. We're tired of being cooped up in the house, and there's a part of us that's just longing for a bit of warmth. This is the season of Imbolc, the days when we know that if we can just hold on for a few more weeks, we might get lucky and see little green shoots peeking out through the snow and slush.

 

Correspondences:

•Colors: Purple and blue

•Gemstones: Rose quartz, amethyst, jasper

•Trees: Rowan, Myrtle

•Gods: Brighid, Aphrodite, Juno, Mars

•Herbs: Hyssop, sage, myrrh

•Element: Fire

 

This is a month when new life is beginning, but still lies dormant. Pregnant animals, due in the spring, begin to feel the quickening of their unborn young. The earth itself is quickening, as seeds and bulbs far beneath the soil begin their journey towards the light. We know these things are coming -- and we know also that this is a good month to make plans for the future. We can dream and hope, and set goals for ourselves. Accept responsibility for mistakes you've made in the past, and move on. Magical workings this month should focus on personal achievements and advancement.

Also Known As: Hunger Moon, Ice Moon


-The Crafty Witch

The Crafty Witch

Origins of the Gardnerian Path

Gerald Gardner launched Wicca shortly after the end of World War II, and went public with his coven following the repeal of England’s Witchcraft Laws in the early 1950s. There is a good deal of debate within the Wiccan community about whether the Gardnerian path is the only “true” Wiccan tradition, but the point remains that it was certainly the first. Gardnerian covens require initiation, and work on a degree system. Much of their information is initiatory and oathbound, which means it can never be shared with those outside the coven.

Gardnerian Wicca in the Public Eye:

Gardner was an educated folklorist and occultist, and claimed to have been initiated himself into a coven of New Forest witches by a woman named Dorothy Clutterbuck. When England repealed the last of its witchcraft laws in 1951, Gardner went public with his coven, much to the consternation of many other witches in England. His active courting of publicity led to a rift between him and Valiente, who had been one of his High Priestesses. Gardner formed a series of covens throughout England prior to his death in 1964.

Gardner's Work Comes to America:

In 1963, Gardner initiated Raymond Buckland, who then flew back to his home in the United States and formed the first Gardnerian coven in America. Gardnerian Wiccans in America trace their lineage to Gardner through Buckland.

Because Gardnerian Wicca is a mystery tradition, its members do not generally advertise or actively recruit new members. In addition, public information about their specific practices and rituals is very difficult to find.

Reblogged

-The Crafty Witch

Sybil Leek's Six Tenets of Witchcraft (4 of 6)

Humility

When we stand before the gods, we know that we are imperfect, and they know this too -- and yet they still manage to tolerate us and guide us. We are flawed, and yet we often try to be the best person we can. This paradox, then, is an example of humility. It is the knowledge that while we may be mere lowly mortals, we are deserving of love and happiness and opportunity -- and the chance to make the world a better place, not only for ourselves but for others. As part of this process, we must love ourselves, because if we don't, who will?

 Reblogged From author *Pattie Willington

- The Crafty Witch

Sybil Leek's Six Tenets of Witchcraft (3 of 6)

Trust

 A key part of many NeoWiccan paths today is the concept of perfect love and perfect trust. To someone who is spiritually whole, trust is a many-layered principle. It not only means trust in those around us, but also in our gods and in ourselves. Trust is not blind, but it does involve faith. For example, we may know that the gods walk with us and guide us; we trust them to do so because of past experience, not because someone has told us to believe this. Trust is being willing to close your eyes and fall, knowing that the person waiting to catch you will do so.

 

Original author *Pattie Willington

 

-The Crafty Witch

Sybil Leek's Six Tenets of Witchcraft (2 of 6)

Harmony

 Harmony is something we must give ourselves. It is not something others can attain for us, nor is it something that we can gain without effort. It is a gift to our soul, from our soul. How do we interact with others? Do we allow the shortcomings of the people in our life to negatively affect us? Are we forever blaming other people, and making excuses instead of finding reasons? If we are, then we are lacking harmony and must re-evaluate our life, and our perception of what things are. To truly find harmony, we have to stop looking around us and begin looking inside us. To this effect, harmony must work hand in hand with the concept of balance.

 

original author *Patti Willington

 

- The Crafty Witch

 

 

Sybil Leek's Six Tenets of Witchcraft (1 of 6)

In some forms of traditional witchcraft, there are six basic tenets. These simple principles are guidelines meant to help practitioners lead positive and spiritually fulfilling lives. Although they vary somewhat from one tradition to the next, they are nearly always similar in spirit and intent. This list, which was created by author Sybil Leek as an outline of tenets of faith, includes balance, harmony, trust, humility, tolerance, and learning. While not universal to all belief systems, these tenets can be a valuable tool for self-discovery.

Balance

Balance is found in all things. We find it in nature all the time. If balance can exist in the natural world, surely we can find it within ourselves. Our physical selves, our emotional state, and our spiritual plane… by finding the right balance of these three parts of our lives, we can live as better human beings. When our balance is thrown off, that's when we begin to suffer. Too much of anything sends us off-kilter -- for example, someone who takes on too much emotional baggage will begin to feel physically unwell. A person who is not having their spiritual needs met is likely to be emotionally fragile. Without balance, it is nearly impossible for us to be a well-rounded person.

 

Original author *Patti Wigington

 

-The Crafty Witch

Special Blog Today - To My Mom

Let me just start out by saying I know I don't posts blogs on Monday but today is a special occasion. I just wanted to wish a very Happy Birthday to my Mom.  We don't always see eye to eye or get along all the time but she does love me threw thick and thin and made me the person I am today. I love you Mom, Happy Birthday.

Love Kelly