Wicca Wiccan

Question:

Also, I’d appreciate hearing about different ways to cast a circle.

I was taught (and have come to firmly believe through my own experience) that there are several reasons for casting a very formal circle, especially when doing group work.  Those reasons are:  The repeated, ritual process becomes a powerful technique for altering conciousness (some traditions call this engaging younger self); that repeated ritual action builds a powerful "complex" on the astral plane which can be tapped instantly when needed.; that a complete, well cast circle (which is acutually a sphere in our tradition) contains the energy raised for magical work until it is purposefully directed for ritual purpose; and last but not least, it protects from unwanted intrusions which may or may not be malignent in nature.  Although the specifics of our tradition’s circle cast are part of that tradition, the common elements of good circles I have experienced have been as follows: 1. Cleanse and ritually charge all items to be used in circle (this has to be done only once if same items are used each time) and set up altar. 2. Cleansing and auric balancing of primariy casters of the circle..   3. Cleanse the area to be used with all four elements and ritual sweeping. 4.  Laying foundation – define the perimeter of the circle to be cast with sword or wand 5.  Building walls – using athame or wand (if no ritual tools may be done with projective hand with middle finger and forefinger) project an elemental pentagram at appropriate direction (these assignments vary from tradition to tradition) visualizing a vibrating energy form and then with a continual line of blue or white light flame (or energy shield) continue deosil to the next quarter point, draw the appropriate elemental pentagram, as described before, continue energy line to next quarter, until you have all four quarter pentagrams and return line and connect it to first pentagrams.  Different traditions start in different places – many start in the East.   6.  Visualize the energy wall continuing up and down and curving to meet itself until it forms a complete sphere. 7.  Bring in group participants through a door cut widdershins in the circle (in many traditions, this is when the ritual challenge is given and responded to) in our circle the HP/HPs is responsible to check and gently balance each individual.  Then close the door with deosil seal. 8.  Charge the quarters with fire and air, earth and water 7.  Define the work to be done if not done before circle to atune the group 9.  Call the quarters/elements (some traditions also call "spirit/ether") we consisder this the God/Goddess in union. 10.  Invoke or Evoke the Goddess and God 11. Proceed to work or celebrate. 12.  Dismiss elementals to go on their way and harm none 13.  Thank the God and Goddess for their attendance, release them to go if they will/ stay if they might. 14.  Open the circle/sphere Although this may seem cumbersome at first, with practice it is smooth, rapid and very powerful tool for altering the conciousness of not only the P/Ps but all participants.   Once this level of specific technique is well established, it may be tapped by simple recall and the circle cast instantaneously for personal work, etc.  We find that the process is helpful with group work to alighn energy, alter conciousness.  Hope this is interesting to you…. and note this is what works in my experience,,,, not recommended dogma (or catma as may be the case).  BB AmberIsis

Response:

Can some of us true Wiccans start some intersting threads and make this newsgroup so boring to the Satanists that they leave us alone?  We’ve been gone from the net for a few months and can’t believe how this newsgroup has degenerated from an honest discussion of Wiccan rituals, magic and philosophy to these morons discussing Satanism.   Donner Ironoak and Aurora Dawn

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Deborah writes,         Well, I can certainly second that.  I used to come here often.  No so anymore.  I like to learn and one of the best ways I can think of is to share.  So, I do, little as I might know, new as I am.  I will even sometimes poke fun at some of the total bigots out there.  But I find so much out there, some days it doesn’t seem worth the effort.         Although, I can also sometimes understand understand how annoyed people get. I seem to be more upset by things that seem milder than what others come out with.  Usually, I respond to something pretty flame free.  Not yesterday.  The posts that I am most bothered by are the "stereotype" ones.  Yesterday it was one stating that all non-Christians were Pagans.  Such remarks seem to me, the ones that piss everybody off.  Especially atheists and Eastern religions.  It is just SO annoying to hear that.  So, I let fly!  Got it all out and even spell-checked.  Then, when I tried to post I couldn’t.  The post I tried to respond to was cross-posted to at least 5 other newsgroups.  My university account won’t let you post to more than six.  I suspect that sometimes the Goddess works in strange ways! But, I am sure glad she did!  I really don’t want to engage in battles of wits with some of these individuals.  Especially since some of the are not equipped for such battles.         It doesn’t really help you learn a lot either.          April & Steve Willis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – make this newsgroup so boring to the Satanists that they leave us alone?  We’ve been gone from the net for a few months and can’t believe how this newsgroup has degenerated from an honest discussion of Wiccan rituals, magic and philosophy to these morons discussing Satanism.   Donner Ironoak and Aurora Dawn

Response:

HOW I SEXED THE GODDESS AND SAVED THE WORLD (or just another one of those post-modern, neo-pagan, tantric apocalypses) copyright 1996 Jim Davis It was a time of despair and of hope. I was standing alone in the midst of an endless plain; vast steppes as far as the eye could see. The grass and weeds were dry and brittle as felt by the soles of my bare feet. There was no wind, the sky obscured. Then I looked out again and saw the far-off cities in flames. The fires of death danced along every horizon. Bellowing black smoke from a million Mt. Saint Helens choked the skies. It was then that I knew that death was near. Strange thoughts come to mind contemplating one’s death. Scenes from "Slaughter House Five" came back; I remembered how the fire storms sucked the oxygen from the air to feed the fires. So I expected to be asphyxiated. Since I could not possible save myself, as the whole world was being engulfed in flame, I started chanting the sutra of Kuan Yin, She who regards the cries of the World. Chanting I watched as the world burned. No life could be seen; no animals nor insects fleeing for their lives. No birds trying to soar to safety. It was at that time it occurred to me that death had already conquered and I was to be its last victim. Everything was dead. If I died there would be nothing to be reborn as, so this would be the last death. Fear turned into sadness; my tears rained down upon the parched earth. Then the world itself began to shake. In the distance a gong sounded three times. The earth began to rise. I backed away as a large flat top mound of earth rose out of the ground to tower high above me. And I could barely see its summit. In front there was a single staircase to the top, steep like the temples of the Aztecs and Mayans, I felt a compulsion to climb. As I reached the top my heart was racing, and I thought I was going to pass out. I staggered and fell forward. Getting back up I beheld a vision. It was the goddess of the earth. She stood standing skyclad with the forces of nature swirling about her. She commanded me to approach. I became Eros. We embraced in sexual passion, making love for several hours; it was the union of earth and sky. Then suddenly she was gone. I became the widow’s son. The world continued to burn as I lay exhausted. I then heard a great noise and looked up to see a large mechanical dragon flying in my direction. It was red and black in color making loud clanking noises as it flapped its iron clad wings. Every once and while it spat out flames setting the ground on fire. I stood up to watch, to await the wonders to come. The flames of death rapidly approached from all directions, and the dragon came down upon me. I died. As I found myself drifting towards the lights of death’s bardo, I looked down below and saw the dragon collapsing upon the mound. Exploding by the fires of its own creation, its body scattering into infinite directions. Dying without a consciousness, it had no lights to go towards. It was finished. And the earth died. And I went to the lights of the deities. I became nature’s god. Coming into new consciousness, I broke through the lights to ride the thunderclouds of Kali-yuga. I saw the earth below, dead because of what the people did to it. Anger arose without limit; I exploded in create fury. I rained down the waters upon the earth; my semen united with the body of the goddess. Anger subsiding I looked again below. There I saw a green plant sprouting out of the earth. Shouting out against death; I made a charge against the dark god of chaos: "Death, where now is your victory!"

Response:

: Can some of us true Wiccans start some intersting threads and : make this newsgroup so boring to the Satanists that they leave : us alone?  We’ve been gone from the net for a few months and : can’t believe how this newsgroup has degenerated from an honest : discussion of Wiccan rituals, magic and philosophy to these : morons discussing Satanism.   : Donner Ironoak and Aurora Dawn         I think these things go in cycles, and it is         time for this cycle to turn.  Go for it!         – Daniel —

Response:

 Can some of us true Wiccans start some intersting threads and  make this newsgroup so boring to the Satanists that they leave  us alone?  We’ve been gone from the net for a few months and  can’t believe how this newsgroup has degenerated from an honest  discussion of Wiccan rituals, magic and philosophy to these  morons discussing Satanism.    Donner Ironoak and Aurora Dawn

Usenet newsgroups always have the problems of "invaders" messing with their contents, especially in religious subjects, and very especially in non-Christian subjects. Still, time to get back to Wicca. I’d be interested to hear what rituals others use.   Mine are very simple – a candle, some incense, a small figurine, and lots of feeling.   Also, I’d appreciate hearing about different ways to cast a circle. I’m book-taught so am pretty raw at this stuff.  Nevertheless, I do feel the presence of the Goddess when I do my rituals and just about anytime during the day when I think about Her. -Claidhmr

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