Tools of the Trade Part 3!

Now, we’ve, discussed the many things that CAN go on an altar. This is, by no means a definitive final list! An altar, ESPECIALLY your own must, be a reflection of who you are, and what you do.

Today we can talk of what very well may be the last 3 things you could put there.

A Chalice.

Miriam Webster defines a chalice as such
chalice: a drinking cup, or vessel

It’s that simple! It’s also bee described to be as a”Footed Cup”. Meaning, that it looks like a goblet. A Cup on a stem, with a wide base.

What could it be used for? Well, in a ceremonial sense, it’s meant to hold liquid to be shared, wine, grape juice or even mead. Sometimes cold, clean water. Some spell work, and opening and closing a circle (we will discuss casting the corners and circle work in another post!)

In other work its simply an offering.

A Chalice can be an ornately gold chased, and decorated. It could simply be a clay or wooden cup that you feel attached to. I’ve even seen some use real animal horn drinking horns on their altars. What pleases you?

Wow. The next one is rather huge! And open to MUCH debate!

Deity representation.

Let’s say you’re Altar is built to worship Brigid the threefold Goddess of Smithing in the Celtic Pantheon. What could you use to show your love for her? Someone might use a piece of pig iron, to show that work is going to begin. Perhaps you’ve crafted that iron into a passel of arrowheads. You could choose the best one you’ve done, and leave that on altar as thanks to her and her guidance. You may even have a statue, or a picture, or, as she IS the threefold Goddess, a poem extoling her many virtues!

When it comes to a representation of your personal Deity, It is, again, what pleases you? A stone you found when you promised to worship your deity? Is it Book that explains your path? YOU choose. Ask your deity, and listen closely.

I kind of have been making small hints as to the last topic. Offerings. What does one offer on an Altar? Well, in my opinion, it’s what matters to you. It could be seasonal. Many folk offer food and colours and decorations that symbolize the Sabbat they are celebrating. (Sabbat is just another name for one of the eight possible holidays many celebrate. More on those, another time!)
Other furnish an Altar with a request. Food, and incense when asking their deity for help, to be eaten and burned AFTER the request has been granted.
An offering should be carefully considered, from the heart, and mean something special to YOU for your style of worship. I cannot tell you what to offer, but I can suggest that there is the WHOLE world wide web to research upon! If there is a particular occasion, then I can almost promise that someone has written about it. On the Web, or a book! Use your research resources.

That’s it! This and the last 2 other posts are a good start to what an altar is, and what one can put on one. In the end, I am no expert. This is where my path has led me to. I hope what I’ve learned has answered some questions for you. AS well, I do hope that ive raised your curiosity and you look more for yourself!
Any questions?

Merry Meet,
Merry Part!

Part 2 of Tools of the Trade

In my last post we were coming together to speak of just what is and what is on an altar! I hope you looked back, and did some research of your own, because all of this is my personal experiences, and many man people call Wiccan a “Solitary Path”

We spoke of the basics. The Athame, or ritual knife. The Altar itself, and Candles.

Well, this day we shall continue our exploration, join me, please!

Salt: There are innumerable types of salt. From table salt, plain old iodized sodium chloride. Himalayan Pink rock salt. Hawaiian red salt. Kosher sea salt. The list is almost endless!

Personally, I like Kosher sea salt. It feels comfortable in between my fingers, and holds a shape you pour it onto, and is easy to pick up and scatter with a mere pinch.
I mentioned that salt is protective. It is said that many “Spirits” or “Otherworldly Beings” cannot pass over a line drawn of salt. So, no few practitioners surround themselves in a closed circle of salt before they start their spell work. Others “salt” the thresholds of their dedicated spaces. To salt your thresholds is to pour a line of salt from door post to door post, or across your window sill. As you do so, concentrate on closing a door. In doing so, you define a place for yourself, and any others you choose to join you. In that place, you know your safe, because you stopped anything you don’t want from coming in. As well, salt is used to neutralize things. A rune set, left buried in dry salt may have no negativity in it. A ring, or crystal, left buried in salt, or, even just left on a bed of salt, may be cleansed as well. In a pinch, a light mist of salt water might be used if you are allergic to the smoke that some purifying incenses give off.

See? Salt has many uses other than just seasoning your popcorn!

Cauldron:

The Merriam-Webster Online dictionary defines cauldron as thus: a large kettle or boiler.

I know you’ve seen Cauldrons in popular movies that display the antics of young witches and wizards. For others, our first meeting with a cauldron is due to Halloween myths involving long nosed green and warty witches stirring up trouble in the from of some sort of potion or spell. Or even Shakespeare himself with his blasted heath and his “Double, double toil and trouble; / Fire burn and cauldron bubble”

Simply, a cauldron is a pot to prepare things in. That MAY be a potion, but it could be a tasty stew! As well, it might contain a concoction of oils that you are blending to protect yourself or another. Ceremonially, It is a place to focus your intent when crafting something that needs to be cooked. As a kitchen witch? It might very well be a favoured pot, or bowl. Mine, personally is a 3 legged cast iron model. I like it, and when I saw it the first time I felt good and could see myself using it for a long time. Look into your own! You don’t need to buy one, find what feels good when you practice.

rods, staves, wands:

These devices are relatively similar in nature, but vary in appearance and effect. Wands are the smallest of these, usually being about 1 ft (30 Cm) long and narrow. Rods are the next largest, about 3 ft (About a Meter)long and 3⁄4 in thick (just under 2 cm). Staves are the largest, usually being 6 ft long (182 cm) and about 2 in (5 cm) thick. Wands and rods can be made of wood, metal, ivory, or any combination of these materials

I find that each one is best used depending on its intended purpose. A wand is personal, and easy to manipulate through waving, inscribing words or pictures in the air. A rod is best used to pass around a circle, for ceremonial magic. Whilst a staff can be used to draw upon the ground, and as a badge of office.

Look at this! In learning with me, we are building your altar! We are not done, but as you read, you can see the use of each item. You don’t need all of this to worship! Much of this is just a way to focus your intent. In later posts, I will describe different altars in different faiths.
There is still more to come about Altars!

Merry Meet, Merry Part!

What are the Tools of the trade?

So, you’ve done it. Your altar is cleansed. You have your Athame. Your cauldron. Your lit red, green, and white candles. Your rod, and staff and wand! Your chalice is full of mead, and your brazier is burning low with banked coals of the sacred woods. Your got your shell top FILLED with a good, fragrant and smoking, smudge! And, well and a day, look! You’ve even sealed each of your thresholds with salt! Now look at you, aren’t you just the prepared Pagan?

If you were like me, most of the preceding paragraph made NO sense!  Athame? Smudge? And WHATS with that salt business? Cauldron? Sacred woods?

It all seems to be something that is too much. Do I, as a Wiccan, or even more simply, a Pagan, NEED all of those things to “Worship properly”?

Simple answer?

No.

Complicated answer?

No, but all of these things, properly explained, do assist in focus for some.

Maybe I can help define some of these words, and show you that they are just that words. Words cloaked in frightening ignorance. So, lets bring each one to light, and see them for the beauty they can be, yes?

Let’s start simply. What is an Altar?

The Mirriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as such

Altar- a usually raised structure or place on which sacrifices are offered or incense is burned in worship

That’s it! Simply a place where YOU choose to do your worship. A kitchen table, a marble slab (if you have one) an ornately carved box, or simply a table in a quiet corner!

Candles. Many of us know they come in many shapes. Tall, short, rotund, thin. They can be made from many materials. Bees wax, vegetable wax, soy wax. And they come in the colours of the rainbow!

Many people who follow a Pagan path use candles for ritualistic purposes and Spell work. I’ll not go into great depth about candle magic. Because that deserves an entry all its own! I will, however, encourage you to do your own reading on candle working, and candle magic. At its simplest though, sometimes candles just look pretty on your altar. And there’s nothing wrong with that!

Athame?

Collins Dictionary defines it as follows: Athame- a Wiccan’s ceremonial knife, usually with a black handle, used in rituals rather than for cutting or carving

There are many, MANY vehement arguments about your sacred knife. For that’s what an Athame is, simply. A Sacred knife.

Kitchen witches might use a trusted, comfortable, Chef’s knife. While a Hedge witch may use a sickle. You might be crafty enough to make your OWN blade, and that would make it truly your own!

Should it be sharp? After all, it’s just ceremonial. THIS is where the arguments come in. Some believe, that, by its nature a knife is meant to be sharp. Others, citing the ceremony fact, feel that your knife is meant as a symbol.

There are a few different paths that ask for 2 knives. One black hafted for ceremonial use. To “cut” in the air spell, or to “Sever” imagined bonds.

The other knife is white hafted. This knife is kept for practical purposes. Cutting herbs, rope or thread during spell working, and even drawing a bit of blood, if that’s your path.

In my humble opinion, it’s YOUR knife. It’s sacred to YOU! Sharp or not, ceremony or not, what feels right in your hand? In your heart?

As well, if you follow a particular path, ask the elders on that path, or ask your teacher. They will have their own opinions.

There are many more things to speak of. Other tools that might go on your personal altar. And, I will talk of these in another post.

But, please, if you have a question, email me, or ask it in the comments section.

As before

And so again

Merry meet, and merry part my Wandering friends!

So, its been asked of me. "Whats a pagan? Is it the same as a witch?" While I've not been asked this in THIS way, I have tried to define this in an earlier post. Lets see if I can say it another way.

Interesting question that. lets explore the meanings of words together, shall we?
Several sites here on the internet say this..

Pagan: a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions.
Now, the big 3, I have found, is Christianity, Judasim, and Islam
 Notice how there is not "witch" in there? 
So, to be a pagan means you follow a spritual path not of teh big 3. You could be a Shaman. A Witch. A Druid. 
I cant imagine how many more things you could be. All under the umbrella term of "Pagan"
For reference, I will also define what I said above, just for disscusion purposes. 

Shamanism: 1. The animistic religion of certain peoples of northern Asia in which mediation between the visible and spirit worlds is effected by shamans.

2. A similar religion or set of beliefs, especially among certain Native American peoples.

 

Wiccan:the religious cult of modern witchcraft, esp. an initiatory tradition founded in England in the mid 20th century and claiming its origins in pre-Christian pagan religions.

 

Druidism: A member of an order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain who appear in Welsh and Irish legend as prophets and sorcerers. 

 

Now you know! There is a saying I have heard tossed around ."All Wiccans are Pagans, but not all Pagans are Wiccans."

Being informed is a good thing! Now you kniow, and can tell teh difference! 

As well, there are 1000's of variations on the above definitions, as many of these paths are intensely personal. Please, respect another choice.

Now, my purpose here is NOT to say your definitons  are wrong! But, instead, to spark debate. If you disagree, all well and good, but explain to me WHY you disagree.  

Remember, here, on this blog, we want to get to the roots of things. The beginings as it were, so lets see where this takes us. 

 Log in another time, and we can talk about the upcoming holidays! yes! I said Holidays! 

 

Defining the Sprial Dance

It is time. Time for the “Plain Language” portion of The Plain language Pagan! Time to explain certain words and concepts, as I understand them! I will use many and sundry internet dictionaries and the like, as well as books. Yes, let’s all collectively gasp at that word. “Books” real, holdable, rich smelling, needing to use your eyes, Books! I do read them!

Without further ado, let’s get into our first phrase.

Spiral Dance:

Wikipedia defines it as follows;

The spiral dance usually involves a drumming group and a chant or song in addition to the dancers. All members present hold hands and follow a leader in a counter-clockwise motion using a grapevine step. As the leader comes near closing the circle, he or she whips around and begins moving clockwise while facing the rest of the dancers. By continuing this formation, every dancer in the line will eventually be face to face with every other dancer.

In some close-knit circles, where people are comfortable with the idea, a kiss is given to each person at the moment they pass each other in the dance. In some cases kissing may be discouraged upon during large or public rituals, due to disruptions of the rhythm of the dance.

Rather neat sounding, yes?

Wiktionary defines it thus: spiral dance (Noun)-A neo-pagan group dance emphasizing community and rebirth

Community, and rebirth? Those are something to consider!

A dance where you love, and respect one another. A dance where you want to see the best of someone in hopes they succeed, and want the same for you?

The 3 dances I have been in were all that is described. A sense of fun, well being, and belonging! After a long ceremony, that feeling is rather uplifting! You can even stumble, and the fact that you are holding hands means that you will not fall. It means that you are supported!

Now, you know what Spiral Dance means, and can read more for yourself!

Tell me, do you have words or phrases that others have used you’d like defined? Ask me to define them here! I will try, and then, we can learn together!

Merry meet!

Merry Part!

Merry Meet Again!

Some 19 years ago, I was first introduced to Wicca in all its varying forms. I am not saying that introduction, that open Writ, is correct. More, I am saying that it has coloured how I see Wicca today.

I make no claims that my views are correct. Its just what I saw. 
Back then, I didn't know what I was seeing, but I saw several distinct groupings. 

A bit of back story here, before I go into much more detail. See, I lived, at that time, in a university town. I knew that different spiritual paths and religions existed, but I didn't know their names. So, it was a shock and surprise when a then close friend asked if I wanted to go to a Samhain (pronounced "sow-in)open writ. It was explained to me at that time that it was a autumn festival that celebrated the seasons changes, and that it also honored ancestors. If I chose to go, I would be asked to respect others beliefs, and to bring a gift in the form of a harvest food. If at all possible, if I could make it with my own hands, it would be better, more honorable.(harvest food being something of a seasonal food, fresh baked whole gain bread, corn anything, or apples in some form) I brought some homemade cornbread.)
My hostess, or perhaps, I might call her a guide now, was pleased with my offering.


At the university grounds there exists a fair sized lake that students can use as longs as its not destructive, or disruptive to others. The organizers of this event had even gotten permission to have a fire. There was a picnic table covered in pies, cakes, bread loaves, casserole dishes, and the like.
It was around this time that I saw that there were groups. Mind you, there were many people that wandered and spoke to the different groups, generally being gregarious, but the groups stood out to me. Here is where I risk offending people.


I didn’t know, at that time, that many Wiccans identify, sometimes VERY strongly with a particular branch, or path of Wicca. Akin, I would say to the many different forms of Christian worship. In that many believe in a higher Power. But disagree on HOW to worship.
 I will describe them, in no particular order. I saw a group of very excited men, wearing clothing in muted, but many colours. All in, I was assured, what was natural fibers. Cotton, linen, and such. They were happy, and talkative, and very huggy with each other. They were, almost to a one, Gay. I found out later that this was important to them.
I have since learned that they considered themselves male followers of the Dianic Wiccan Tradition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianic_Wicca)
Now, some distance away, I saw another group. They were glaring at the all-male group, in a rather insulted, and angry fashion. They consisted of all females. They were dressed in denim, leather, combat boots, and metal studs. They all had rather punkish styled hair, spiked, and mohawked. There was a sense of shared pain, and solidarity about them. A closeness, that I found appealing.
I learned that they were an all-Woman Dianic group. As well, they were angry because they believed (or so I was angrily told by them at the time) that there should never be an all-male Dianic group, and that there was, was, to them offensive.
Next, I saw a rather handsome, stately older man. Tall, in a long handmade broadcloth robe. Almost leonine in bearing and face, silver and white hair swept back, and proud looking. He was surrounded by a handful of very pretty, very giggly young woman. I noticed that all of the ladies in question were in robes similar to his in cut, but of a more translucent material, and cut low in the neck, to show, it seemed, more cleavage.
Again, there was a sense of power to the group of them. Not so much as individuals, more the group together was powerful.
I have been since told that this group was Gardnerian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardnerian_Wicca)
Not far from them was another group of Woman. Wearing comfortable, plain clothes, almost all handmade looking.  They were shoving, jostling each other, tickling, and generally being touchy feely with one another. While I got a sense of great affection, if not love, it was universally a family feeling. This was my first experience with a close knit Coven. They happily told me that they had been so for about 5 years. And my working Craft together, it had brought them closer and made them sisters.
Incidentally, from them is where I got my habit of calling magic and spellwork, crafting, and craftwork, alternately. Thank you Ladies! I hope that somehow one of you reads this, and you are all still sisters!
Lastly, A group that I am…hesitant to speak of. Mainly because I don’t fully understand exactly what I feel, to this day even!
7 of them, all approximately the same age, 30ish, and wearing nothing special, jeans turtle necks, boots running shoes. Nothing noteworthy. However, all had rather spectacular pendant necklaces. Palm sized made out of metal. A black or dark metal. They all stood there, taking in what others were doing, hands in pockets, seemingly relaxed and confident.
They all gave off, quite simply, power. Waves of it.
I have since learned that they might very well be called Feri.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feri_Tradition)
At that point, the Circle was called, and closed. Blessings were offered all around, food was offered. Anyone who had a ancestor they wanted to honor was asked to come forward and do so. After many came forward, much thanks was offered, and the circle was opened. Our hosts asked all to link hands and proceeded to lead us all in a joyous spiral dance!
After the dance, we all sat down to talk socialize and enjoy that freely offered food!
Just so you all know words like “opening and closing the circle” and “Spiral Dance” I will explain in further posts! Don’t worry! I’ll not abandon you in fancy words!
As I sit here, I smile, cheek achingly wide at the memory. Those first observations I took into myself, on that night, have stuck with me. I have seen many differences in how some worship, but It always seems to come back to those initial observations.
I am in NO WAY saying that these are the only way, or the correct ways. I have been told, and seen in myself, that Wicca, in its many and varied forms can be a solitary path. If that is what feeds your soul, and honors you, then by all means pursue that!
Can any of you remember what it was like for you, that first experience?
Merry Meet,
Merry Part,
Merry meet again!