Posts Tagged ‘wicca’

Posted on April 26, 2009 - by Andrew

Pendle Witch Camp replaces Shamania for 2009

Summer solstice in Pendle this year will feature the Pendle Witch Camp but not a Shamania Festival.

The Pendle Witch Camp is due to be held in the field adjacent to last year’s event. Last year the events took place at Brown House Farm which is just off Giburn Old Road and this year it will be at Blacko.

The Pendle Witch Camp in 2009 will be significantly quieter than the Shamania festival of 2008. There will be no activities which require Pendle Council granting a license although organisers have not yet suggested they were facing difficulties in obtaining licenses.

There will be neither amplified music nor around-the-clock events but the Witch Camp will feature acoustic music and it is expected many of the attendees of the three day event will remain active throughout the night.

This year the Pendle Witch Camp will run over the weekend of June 19th to the 22nd. Solstice this year will be at 5:45am on the 21st.

Adrian Lord, who will be helping to coordinate the Pendle Witch Camp, also announced that Shamania will enter suspended animation until 2010 at the earliest.

Writing on the Shamania website, he noted; “Having organised 3 Shamania Festivals, each one being slightly bigger and wetter, than its predecessor; I’m looking forward to a year without all the responsibility, and hoping to do some dancing myself.”

In Pure Spirit

Have you been to either Shamania or the Pendle Witch Camp before? What was it like? Would you recommend it?

Do you think Pendle Council may have been reluctant to grant licenses this year?

Posted on January 31, 2009 - by Andrew

Valentine’s presents for a Wiccan girlfriend

It’s a debate. If your girlfriend or boyfriend is Wiccan and not Christian do you treat them with something for Valentine’s Day?

Many people would argue that a Valentine’s Day gift is a nice and thoughtful gesture irrespective of religion. Others may note that the modern Valentine’s day is a reinvention fueled by the greeting card companies and that the feastday of Saint Valentine was removed from the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints in 1969 simply because nothing other than a burial location is known of Saint Valentine.

Here at In Pure Spirit we think the 14th of February is a good day to buy a little gift for someone you care a lot for. It doesn’t have to be called a Valentine’s Day gift.

All six gift suggestions in this post come from Pentagon Direct. That’s because we have a special discount offer to share with our readers.

Discount Code: Enter VDAY09 at check out for a 5% discount. This is valid until the 16th of February 2009.

Aroma Mini Duck Set – Banana, Apple and Blueberry

Cute! Designed by Bud these bath ducks are enhanced with lovely spells. The banana scent is used to encourage wisdom and positivity, the apple scent enhances that love connection and the blueberry assists balance and calm.

Crystal Bag Holder

These are strange looking devices are actually extremely useful. The flat crystal head is balanced on the tabletop, which allows the metal arm to reach under the table and become a hook for your bag.

This means you can sit down at a table in the pub or restaurant and keep your back safe and sound beside you. There’s no need to put the bad on the dirty ground either.

Leather Pandora’s Box

A sneaky idea! This box may look like a book – just the sort of large tome that some people like to collect – but it is actually a hideaway for secret items.

Home Spa Lights

This is a classic gift. The spa lights turn any bathroom into a relaxing and calming spa sanctuary.

These spa lights are not floating tea lights (less fire hazard) but are powered by AAA batteries. They’ll shine for 120 hours and light from a button push.

The spa lights are sold in sets of two.

Sky Glow Flying Lantern

An ancient and impressive gift. Flying lanterns are nearly 2000 years old and an invention of the ancient Chinese.

These Khom Lay fill fly for up to 20 minutes once their fuel block is lit.

Wild Hibiscus Flowers

Hibiscus is commonly used by Wiccans in incense form as part of love rituals. As a tea it is said to help reduce blood pressure, aid the removal of toxins and has a reputation as good hangover remedy. For Valentine’s Day we are suggesting an alternative use of Hibiscus – simply pop the flowers into a Champagne flute and enjoy the wonderfully sweet syrup of the edible flower.

Posted on January 14, 2009 - by Andrew

Tree calendar – Celtic adaptation

Sadly very little information about the ancient Celts has survived and what we know is pieced together from fragments, second hand and bias sources.

It is believed that the ancient Celtics followed a lunar calendar. As a result the ancient calendar would have had 12 months one year and 13 the next.

The Celtic Tree Month calendar is an adaption that allows modern Wicca to benefit from fixed dates mapped to the Gregorian year while still being close to traditional ways.

• Birch Moon – December 24 to January 20
• Rowan Moon – January 21 to February 17
• Ash Moon  February 18 to March 17
• Alder Moon – March 18 to April 14
• Willow Moon – April 15 to May 12
• Hawthorn Moon – May 13 to June 9
• Oak Moon – June 10 to July 7
• Holly Moon – July 8 to August 4
• Hazel Moon – August 5 to September 1
• Vine Moon – September 2 to September 29
• Ivy Moon – September 30 to October 27
• Reed Moon – October 28 to December 23
• Elder Moon – November 25 to December 23

In Pure Spirit

Do you follow the Tree Calendar? Just how sure can we be of any practise which claims to be based solidly on Celtic tradition?

Posted on January 13, 2009 - by Andrew

Ghosts in the mortuary and witches in Liverpool’s Central Library?

Liverpool’s Central Library is a complex set of buildings, some of which are grade II listed and others due for demolition and replacement.  The library’s eldest building is the William Brown Library and Museum, which was extended in 1879 to the Picton Reading Room and then the Hornby Library in 1906.

Central Library is part of the William Brown Street conservation area. This area includes the unusual St John’s Gardens and St John’s Church.

St John’s Church was designed by Thomas Litoller and construction started in 1767 in an area which was once used as the general burial ground of a small mortuary chapel. St George’s Hall‘s west elevation backs against the Church.

St John’s Gardens was conceived as an area to display art to the public. As such it contains a number of monuments; Balfour Monument, Regimental Monument, Gladstone Memorial, Nugent Monument, Lester Monument, Forwood Monument and the Rathbone Monument.

Witches and witchcraft

The father of modern day Wicca Gerald Gardner was born in Liverpool. Gardner (1884 to February 12th, 1964) authored the famous Witchcraft Today, a book which help revive public attention in Wicca and Witchcraft in 1954.

In his life Gardner used the craft name Scire, acted as High Priest of the Bricket Wood coven and met Aleister Crowley who announced Gardner as being able to perform the rites of the Ordo Templi Orientis.

Gerald Gardner travelled often and did not stay in Liverpool, however, perhaps because of his association with the city and the gothic appearance of St John’s Gardens and the Central Library the area has been associated with witchcraft.  Locals sometimes speak of a history of rites or rituals occurring in the gardens or from inside Central Library itself.

Hauntings

Central Library is believed to be haunted. The Picton Stacks, a separate building from the main area, actually contains an isolation ward and mortuary.

Visitors to the William Brown Library have reported the feeling of menace originating from unusually dark shadows towards the corners of the room.

A black cat with glowing eyes is sometimes seen in the International Room and the sounds of cat screeching are occasionally heard late at night throughout the library. Whereas cats screech all the time and the reflective nature of their eyes often result in a glow like appearance some occult commentators have noted the connection between witches and demonic familiars which often take on a cat-like appearance.

The names Sal or Sally have been reported by more than one psychic while in the library. One theory links the name to a missing librarian, murder and possible demonology.

The mortuary is, of course, strongly associated with death and deaths. Stories of demonic rats or ghosts remaining near the autopsy slab remain are often shared by visitors to the historic building.

Most Haunted Live visited Central Library in 2009. The program coincided with the 45th anniversary of Gerald Gardner’s death.

In Pure Spirit

Have you been to either Central Library in Liverpool or St John’s Gardens? Did you sense anything while you where there?

People continue to confuse Wicca and witchcraft. Do you think this will change any time soon and do programs like Most Haunted help the situation?

The information in this article is commonly available online or from books like Haunted Liverpool*.

Diclaimer: Links marked with a star* are revenue links and go towards hosting and admin costs.

Posted on January 13, 2009 - by Andrew

What is an athame?

An athame is a double-edged dagger used in Wiccan ceremonies.

The athame traditionally has a black handle, a sharp point and the double-edge.

The knife is one of many tools used in Wiccan rituals is used to channel energy and is not intended for physical cutting. Athames tend not even to be used to cut herbs, flowers, wax or other components sometimes used in rituals as the white-handled boline knife is used instead.

The athame is associated with the elements of air and fire. The blade is masculine in nature and sometimes paired with the feminine chalice. The act of placing the shaft of the blade in the cup of the chalice can be used to represent the act of intercourse.

Some academics suggest that Gerald Gardner introduce of the modern athame can be attributed to French version of the Key of Solomon and Grillot de Givry’s Witchcraft, Magic and Alchemy (1931).

In Pure Spirit

Do you own an athame? What does it mean to you?

Posted on January 3, 2009 - by Andrew

Herbal baths and Wicca

Rituals and mediation are often best done while refreshed, clean and calm. It is common place for baths to be taken before any such activity and it is especially common the herbs and incense to be used.

Once the herbs have infused the warm bath waters they easily transfer onto the body. The following list suggests which herbs are most appropriate for rituals and meditations.

For Peace

Chamomile, hops, lavender, peppermint and rose.

For Energy

Heather, lemon balm, rosemary and savory.

For Comforting

Chamomile, lavender, marigold, mint, raspberry leaves and rosemary.

For Relaxation

Chamomile, heather, jasmine flower and lemon balm.

In Pure Spirit

How important do you find a nice long bath before a ritual, spell or meditation? Which herbs would you recommend?

Posted on January 1, 2009 - by Andrew

Poster: The Coven

The Coven

Who thinks witches are scary now?

In Pure Spirit

This photograph was uploaded to Flickr under Creative Commons by vige.

Posted on December 27, 2008 - by Andrew

Herbs for incense and candle magick

It is common for wicca to use herbs for incense or for candle magick. Charcoal blocks can also be used but the following list has a particular emphasis on herbs commonly used for candle magick.

Warning: Wormwood fumes are poisonous so if you have to use wormwood then do so in an area with good ventilation and have someone check on you.

Balance

Basil, chamomile, comfrey, mullein and woodruff.

Blessing / Conseration

Chamomile, dianthus, elder flowers, fennel, mint, oats, rosemary, rue and vervain.

Cleansing / Purification

Avens, betony, benoin, burdock, clove, byssop, lavender, mullein, parsely, rosemary, thyme, vervain, wormwood and yarrow.

Creativity

Vervain.

Courage

Mullein and rosemary.

Divination

Bay, cinquefoil, marigold, moonwort, mugwort, mullein, orange peel, thyme, woodruff, wormwood and yarrow.

Encourage changes

Linden, purple heather and woodruff.

Energy / Power / Strength

Cinquefoil, elder flower, fennel, St. John’s Wort and vervain.

Fortune / Justice

Bay, bergamot, cinquefoil, lemon balm, orange peel, star anise, vervain, violet and woodruff.

Happiness / Peace

Jasmine, lavender, rosemary and vervain.

Healing

Cinquefoil, comfrey, coriander, hops, lavender, lemon balm, mullein, mustard, rosemary, rue, sage, St. John’s Wort, tansy and thyme.

Love

Avens, cardamon, dill flowers, ginger, lavender, linden leaves, marigold, moonwort, mustard seed, orange peel, vervain, vetivert, wormwood and yarrow.

Meditation

Acacia and chamomile.

Money

Basil, bergamot, chamomie, clove, dill seeds, mint, moonwort, nutmeg, oats and vetivert.

Protection / Defense

Betony, birch, burdock, cumin, dianthus, dill leaves, fennel, fern, marjoram, mint, mugwort, mullein, mustard, parsely, rosemary, rue, sage, vervain, white heather, woodruff, wormwood and yarrow.

Psychic Awareness

Bay, betony, burdock, cinnamon, elder flower, lavender, mace, marigold, star anise and woodruff.

Releasing Negativity

Betony, clove, hyssop, mugwort, rosemary, St. John’s Wort, thyme, vervain, vertivert and yarrow.

Sealing / Sending Positive Energy

Wormwood.

Spirit Contact / Blessings

Lilac, purple heather, mint and Soloman’s Seal.

Strength / Willpower

Rosemary and St. John’s Wort.

Wisdom

Sage.

In Pure Spirit

Which herbs do you use in your rituals? Leave a comment and let us know. Please be safe and remember the dangerous of wormwood.

Posted on December 25, 2008 - by Andrew

Yule

The tradition of Yule pre-dates Christianity. It is now celebrated on December the 25th by many but on December 21st or 22nd on the solstice by some Wicca.

Yule is a celebration and a feast which marks the darkest point of the winter and the returning of the light.

The word Yule may come from the word Yoole which, in turn, derives from the Old English geōla. It may also come from the Old Norse word Jōl for a 12 day feast which Christian missionaries later turned into Christmas.

Yule on the solstice heralds the rebirth of the Oak King on the longest night. It represents not just rebirth but planning for the future.

One type of Yule log would be a large log given or harvested but never bought that was taken into the house, decorated and lit. Decorations would traditionally be greenery, reds and gold colours with a dusting of flour. The log is then doused in cider and lit from the smouldering remains of last year’s yule log. After 12 days the log would be ceremonially doused.

Today, a more common form of Yule log is one which holds three candles. The first candle should be green, red or white to represent the season. The second candle should be green, gold or black to represent the Sun God and the third candle should be white, red or black to represent the Great Goddess.

Dagda and Brighid are deities most suited to Yule. Dagda’s cauldron is symbolic of provision and warmth. Brighid’s work to teach the smiths the techniques of metal work and fire tending is associated with the light returning from the darkness and the rebirth.

In Pure Spirit

We would like to wish every visitor a happy Yule for this year and the next. Please share your thoughts; what does Yule mean to you?

Posted on November 17, 2008 - by Andrew

The eight sabbats – Wheel of the Year

Modern Wiccan draws the eight sabbats of the Wheel of the Year from the remains of older pagan calendars and research into the traditional ways. Sabbats are distinct from esbats. Esbasts are normally coven meetings or smaller celebrations.

Samhain

Last/Blood Harvest, Anchestor Night, Feast of the Dead, Noson Calan Gaeaf

The return of the Dark.

Date: 31 Oct-2 November

Yule

Cuidle, Alban Arthan, Winter Rite

Death and rebirth

Date: 19-23 December (the winter solstice)

Candlemas

Imbolc, Oimelc, Brigit’s Day, Brigantia

The return of the Light

Date: 1-2 February

Vernal Equinox

Ostara, Lady Day, Earrach, Alban Eilir, Festival of Trees

Light and Dark in balance

Date: 20-23 March (the spring equinox)

Beltane

Beltaine, May Day

The beginning of summer

Date: 1 May

Litha

Midsummer, Samradh, Alban Hefin, Aerra Litha, Mother Night

The Longest Day

Date: 19-23 June (the summer solstice)

Lammas

Lunghnasadh, First Harvest, Bread Harvest, Festival of First Fruits

Season of plenty

Date: 1-2 August

Autumnal Equinox

Mabon, Foghar, Alban Elfed, Harvest Home Fruit Harvest, Wine Harvest

The second harvest

Date: 19-23 September (the autumn equinox)

In Pure Spirit

What do the sabbats mean to you? Have you celebrated any of them?