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 Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 6:51 am
After years of deliberation and experimentation with many different religions (and a lot of time in study of Hinduism in particular), I've decided it's time to make a decision. For reference to those who have helped me in the past, I was formerly known as ecko-san.
I could draw this retelling of my experiences out for pages and pages, but the point is this: I've never felt anything like I felt during my experiences with ritual. Nothing got my energy pumping, nothing hooked my incentive to keep going, nothing made me feel like I belonged and was wanted like that. That's just a simple fact, and I don't really feel as though I have a reason to look around anymore.
Here's my concern: Coming into the craft without anyone at least telling me what to read and what to avoid is terrifying! Anyone can write a book, and everyone seems to have their own ideas concerning witchcraft. It's very easy to get on the wrong path and be misled by these people, and I shudder to remember the days when I thought I was Wiccan... I can't think you enough, Sanguina. You might not remember, but you were the one who set me straight.
I'm currently reading Gardner's Witchcraft Today, which seemed like a safe enough bet as it's more of an anthropological study than much else. What else should I get my hands on, and whose books should I glare at in bookstores?
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Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 7:03 am
My other main concern is the validity of solitary practice. I don't really have any sort of group to work with, and even if I did I am really not alright with the sexual aspect that seems ever-present within Witchcraft in general. People can do what they want, but I'm actually married and the idea of being with anyone else does not appeal to me. More than that, I flat refuse. It's not that I disapprove of others doing this, I'm a very open-minded and tolerant person. It's just that for me, this is a deal breaker.
Now from what it seems, usually when this is involved in ritual, it's couples and not typically strangers who do this. This is also a problem, as my wife has her own views and beliefs and while she supports my religious exploration whole-heartedly and enjoys talking with me about it, she's not really interested in joining in. Not only that, we're both in college and we're not too psyched about making the behbehz just yet. sweatdrop
I understand the purpose of this is to raise energy and I suppose to represent the strong themes of fertility, but it seems to me that I can raise energy just fine by other means and represent fertility well enough without that as well.
Here's the skinny (I love old-time slang!) : Is it acceptible to not only avoid the intercourse portion of rites, but also focus on solitary practice?
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Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:00 am
You are completely welcome.
The issue you seem to have come across is that there are many many different kinds of religious witchcraft. Not all witchcraft is Pagan, and within the past millennium most religious witches would have been Christian (albiet probably incorporating quite a few folk beliefs). As such:
~ Many forms of religious witchcraft do not incorporate the touching of genitals etc in ritual. It's not particularly common, in fact I'm not sure it occurs much outside of Wicca and the religions it strongly influences.
~ The sexual aspect that does occur isn't, like, full-on sex except in the case of the Great Rite. I don't think much else that occurs would really qualify as "being with anyone else", but of course ymmv. Suffice it to say, it doesn't happen often.
~ Not all forms of religious witchcraft are practised in groups. Most religious witches are solitary practitioners. Some religions will be better practised in covens, some require it, some require it after a certain point (Feri comes to mind) and others are best practised alone.
~ Not all forms of religious witchcraft are overly concerned specifically with fertility. Some are, others aren't. If this isn't your bag, keep searching until you find one that works for you.
~ Witchcraft is many things, rather than one thing. It's different from practitioner to practitioner, from tradition to tradition, from culture to culture. How you practise may also change quite a bit over time; if you compare Cunningham's early element spellbook with his later one, the changes in his practice are pretty evident.
Now, as a person wading into the world of books, it may help to have a basic idea of the sort of path you want to forge. Aside from general 101 books, most stuff tends to be specific regarding particular religions or aspects of witchcraft. It may be that general 101 books are the place you want to start, and that's fine. If so, it's important to note that the bulk of these books are very vaguely influenced by Wicca, and as such will involve a watered-down quasi-ceremonial ritual base, will typically be soft polytheistic and will generally refer to at least one god and one goddess. They also tend to have more spells then is particularly necessary.
From the general 101 field, I would recommend:
~ Cunningham's "Living Wicca": not Wicca, of course, but it has some interesting ideas regarding forming your own ideas regarding ritual and a personal witchcraft tradition and better information on ritual than most 101 books have. As an aside, Cunningham's trad of witchcraft is often referred to as "Standing Stone" and may or may not be a decent fit for you.
~ The first half of Yasmine Galenorn's "Embracing the Moon", but not the second half which sort of loses all momentum and degenerates into this morass of misappropriation. The first half is good, though, it has some decent exercises and some decent ideas.
I can't think of others right now. I'll chuck more up later.
So, when trying to look for books to help flavour your path, or when looking for a path to adopt, there are particular questions you should ask yourself so people can help point out books that might be more useful to you personally than the rest. For example, if ceremonial ritual interests you, Deborah Lipp's "Elements of Ritual" might be your sort of thing.
So!
~ What ritual style do you prefer?
~ Are there any palaeo-Pagan cultures that particularly interest you?
~ How would you describe your beliefs regarding deities? (Ditheism, atheism, pantheism etc.)
~ Are there any particular symbols, elements or folk traditions that you have come across that you particularly like or are drawn to?
~ What aspects of life (or nature or the universe) would you most prefer to focus on? Wicca, for example, is fertility-focused. Reclaiming is female and story-telling oriented.
~ What in your current or past practise is the most appealing, the most successful and the most spiritually moving?
Overall, as a person forming her own religious witchcraft, I have this to say... It is very difficult, there are few books past a certain level that are useful, appealing or interesting, and after a point you have to get into things like general folklore, history and comparative theology and so on. I've started buying up this or that 101 book that appeals and reading it to see whether theres anything that inspires me, or a piece or two that really clicks with my worldview. This can be frustrating, so I've started reviewing them also wink I've not gotten very far. I'm refining my "ABC of Witchcraft" by Valiente at the moment. (A very good book aside from the occasional poor history, very much recommended regardless of which direction you end up going in, hunt yourself down a copy.) Valiente in general is a very good author aside from her blind spot when it comes to Murray.
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Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 2:36 pm
Wow, quick response! Thank you! 3nodding
~ What ritual style do you prefer?
My sources for ritual performance have been a little spotty, so I haven't really developed a consistent style. I do feel from experience that I hold the circle in high regard, as a function to section of the workspace and confine the energy for my own work. Details of the circle and methods of casting it are very sketchy with me, however. I have read several methods, one of which involves a necessary diameter of 9ft, with two more surrouding circles. The first is six inches out from the circumference of the 9ft, then the other 6 inches out from the first. I'm not sure what this represents, however.
I've also been told the importance of paying respects to the four corners, beginning with the East corner representing the direction of our origins and ending with the North corner in respect to where our paradise may lie. I enjoy this, though still lack some understanding of how and why this is done.
Afterward, I greet the deities and all forces present, and encourage them to stay and sit with me a while so long as they are benevolent. Elsewise, I order them out.
After this is done, I may have some prepared writing I read to them, perhaps make an offering, or just talk about what is happening in my life. I feel that the space inside the circle is a sacred space between this world and the next, and I feel comfortable and close to the entities around me.
Once I enjoy this time together, I'll perform any spellwork I have prepared perhaps to request help on some aspect of my life, or just support on a current issue.
Afterward, I dismiss the four corners (with some trepidation, as I said I'm still unsure who I'm dismissing or if I'm doing this correctly) and open the circle, then clean everything up.
~ Are there any palaeo-Pagan cultures that particularly interest you?
It's hard to say, I haven't been drawn to any particular culture or region. It would be cool I think to stick with traditional Irish traditions as my biological family is very recent to the US and I'm nearly full Irish. The idea of keeping to my roots makes me happy, I suppose. It just seems appropriate to me.
~ How would you describe your beliefs regarding deities? (Ditheism, atheism, pantheism etc.)
This is something ever-changing as I test and experience other faiths, which has caused me to feel an inclination to believe that there's a bit of truth in each pantheon and that most of these deities do exist in their own way. I'm not too sure, though, about anything in particular.
I do feel strongly polytheistic, however, even if that means soft polytheism. It resonates very strongly in me that I don't believe there is just one deity, and I want to stick to that.
~ Are there any particular symbols, elements or folk traditions that you have come across that you particularly like or are drawn to?
I also don't have too much inclination toward much here, though I do feel that the Pentacle is a powerful symbol. It's representation of the five elements (this is what I've been taught the symbol stands for, anyway) feels very balanced, and secure. I'd like to keep it in my faith.
~ What aspects of life (or nature or the universe) would you most prefer to focus on? Wicca, for example, is fertility-focused. Reclaiming is female and story-telling oriented.
Contentment with life despite it's tossing and turning is something I value highly, but I'm sure that's something that everyone values as well so I suppose I should be more specific. The most important aspect of my life is my bond with my wife. We share everything, and always have. We don't have a lot of super-close friends (we don't have a lot of consistent free time, so it's hard to plan hang outs with people), and we're really each other's best friend. What I want most out of life is to make incredible, unforgetable memories together, to see the world together, and just live life together.
As for whether I prefer male or female dominance, I really don't care. Sexism is something I've never understood, so if the tradition I end up with is heavy with female significance, that doesn't bother me one bit.
~ What in your current or past practise is the most appealing, the most successful and the most spiritually moving?
I just really enjoy the bond with the entities present, and feeling as though I'm genuinely pleasing such great spirits, deities, whathaveyou. The time spent just interacting and existing for a little while in a closer manner with such power while in the circle makes me very happy. I feel close to the earth underneath me, and close to the cycle of life. It helps me feel better about death and what may lie beyond.
Something I've become aware of over the years is that I believe I may have some clairvoyant abilities. Sometimes I'll feel very strongly that something is around me and oftentimes I get details in my head about whoever or whatever they are that come from nowhere. I also will sometimes pick up on auras from objects, especially in places like Goodwill. My wife and I love costuming and are pretty active in cosplay (we're not weaboos, I promise, lol) I've had instances where I would find objects there and just get strange feelings about them, sometimes feeling strong compulsions just not to touch or look at them.
If this is actually legitimate, I'd like to perhaps develop that in a safe way. There is a paranormal society near where we live that I know is in need of a psychic, and if I can develop these abilities enough to help people with them, then I think it's worth it. I'm just not clear about how to do this, and it doesn't seem safe to just experiment with it.
How do you feel about Gardner's work in general? Witchcraft Today so far is pretty much just an anthropological heap of comprehensive research, and I feel like it's giving me a good foundation. However, as much of this information is new to me, I don't have much in the way of knowing its validity.
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Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:28 pm
"Witchcraft Today" is about Wicca, so it's not really relevant to you. It's interesting, but aside from a historical standpoint and understanding where some ENPs derive their ideas from, it's not actually applicable to you.
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Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:11 am
I feel like a b*****d: Link
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Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:26 pm
He's dead. He's not gonna complain.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 6:24 am
I s'pose not, it just makes me feel a little guilty.
Still, I download music all the time, so... Eh. I justify that though by saying they're already filthy rich and it makes me roll my eyes when these multimillionaires come on television or internet ad looking all sad because they aren't able to afford that tricked out Benz they want for Christmas, or whatever the case may be because people download their music.
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