Another Trad near and dear to my heart!
Ar Afalon Tradition
History:
Launched in May 2001, Ar Afalon and the Avalonian Institute of Magickal Arts are the creations of four close friends - ny'Raia, Seraphina Spellweaver, Calliéan and Amanda Rain. What began as a series of online discussions about Arthurian Myths and Avalonian Mysteries has evolved into a tradition and college based on the concept of awakening to our true selves.
Traditionally, Avalon is seen as a sanctuary for Goddess worship exclusive to women and women's mysteries. The Elders, however, have developed a different viewpoint that encompasses the Pagan belief in the polarity and equality of the God and Goddess. After countless hours, days and months of intense research and study, the Elders of Ar Afalon have unearthed evidence and theories that clearly point to this equality, beginning with the belief that Avalon is Annwn, the home of the God Afallach, father to the nine sister Goddesses who tended a pearl-rimmed cauldron, which we believe to be the forerunner of the Chalice or Holy Grail.
The Elders of Ar Afalon have a history of study and experience in the Pagan ways of worship, living and spiritual growth. As a result each Elder brings her own special gifts, talents and skills to Ar Afalon and the AIMA. Each gift has been lovingly tended and integrated into the college and tradition so that students may drink from a deep well of knowledge, craft and spirituality. While the tradition and institute are based on the Arthurian Myths and Avalonian Mysteries, they are not limited to these subjects. In addition to these subjects, the AIMA includes ancient Celtic lore, metaphysical principles and Paganism as it is practiced today.
Core Beliefs:
In one supreme divine power, from which the entire universe sprang. Because the human mind cannot comprehend this supreme power we, as a race, have humanized or "anthropomorphized" this Divine source, causing It to take on forms which are more accessible to us - the God and the Goddess.
The ancients saw the Divine within all of nature - the Earth, the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, the plants the animals and humans themselves. From these close observations it became clear that all life on the planet, and possibly in the Universe, was and is created by the union of male and female. Therefore, the ancients surmised, the Divine must also be comprised of male and female and they began to worship both Gods and Goddesses. In the beginning it was clear that through pregnancy and childbirth, the woman was the creator of life and She was revered above the Gods. Over time, as the male role in procreation became evident, the Gods were elevated in status and stood next too the Goddess as Her equal. Within Ar Afalon we also worship the God and Goddess as equals, neither above the other.
That it is possible and necessary to communicate with the Divine on a regular basis. Within the tradition of Ar Afalon, developing a deep, personal relationship with the Divine is the primary method for achieving spiritual growth. Without this relationship, rituals, magick and other spiritual practices have no meaning, bring no comfort and do not serve in the quest to awaken to our true selves.
That every Soul is connected, be they here on this Earth or elsewhere in the Universe.
In the Collective Consciousness: If we are interconnected and utilize this unconscious power, we have the ability to alter the world around us. Scientists have utilized a method of monitoring global consciousness and have ascertained a response in their readings of mass consciousness and have also had results in random number generations, over long periods of time, revealing that the consciousness can direct its influence across time and space. This is directly in line with the centuries-old mystic teachings.
In Reincarnation: A soul incarnates into various bodies through many lifetimes in the hopes of gaining more knowledge and furthering its development. This is not always the case, though. Sometimes, through poor choices made through our free will, we may "slip back" in our overall development.
The lessons to be learned through living in a physical body include, but are not limited too:
How to remain connected to the Otherworld while living in the physical realm, not allowing society to take from us those things that our *real* selves know to be true.
How to live a life that is not based in fear.
To realize (or remember) the connection we all have to one another, and that what we do to, or for, others, we do to ourselves. This has a positive as well as a negative aspect. When we hurt others, we hurt ourselves. When we help others, we help ourselves. When we love others unconditionally, we love ourselves unconditionally.
To learn that we are something more than just this physical body and that we are powerful within our own right. We have only to learn the utilization of that power. This is only a small part of the lesson to be learned, though. The other part is to learn how to use those powers for the good of all, taking into consideration the lesson that what one does to or for others, she/he does to or for her/himself.
To learn that the physical toys are nice and make the time we spend here pleasant, but those toys aren't the point of being here. The only thing that we can take with us is the love we have shared with others.
That it helps to know what we have encountered prior to our present incarnation. It is much like a puzzle: Find enough pieces of it and you can put it all together to form an entire picture.
That Soul recall varies from incarnation to incarnation. One needs only to be knowledgeable in the ways of interpreting the clues she/he is given.
That our dreams are a way for the Divine and our guardians to communicate with us, if one is knowledgeable in interpreting them. It is also possible that they are a way for our Spirit Self to communicate with our Conscious Self. Again, we just have to learn to interpret them.
That Divine messages can also come to us through our everyday interactions with others. Sometimes, when the Divine or our Guardians have been unable to get through to us another way, for any number of reasons, they try to send messages to us through others, or to others through us...we just have to be aware of such occurrences.
That there are multiple layers of reality; that the Otherworld exists parallel to our own and that there is a dimension or "veil" separating that world from this world; that it's possible to cross that "veil" with one's mind - all one has to do is learn how.
Ar Afalon also embraces the Eastern belief in Karma. What you put out you get back. Whether Karmic retribution is equal to what was sent or amplified in intensity depends on the perspective of the believer. Karmic results may be instantaneous or delayed, and may possibly occur in a future lifetime.
Ways of Worship:
We believe that the purpose of worship is to connect with the Divine, with the spirit(s) of the land, and with each other. In the case of Sabbat and Esbat celebrations we will also employ the energies inherent to that period and the associated mythology. We will use guided meditations to achieve the mindset necessary for communion with the Divine.
We encourage members to limit the tools, regalia and ceremony used for worship and ritual so they may be free to focus on the spiritual aspects of worship. The Elders prefer to use candles and incense only for meditation and prayer.
The goal of Ar Afalon is to rediscover the spiritual knowledge and practices of our Celtic ancestors and as such we will focus on the history and mythology of the Irish, the Welsh and the Scots. We will use the Arthurian/Avalonian mythos as a base and while we may "borrow" working spiritual ideas from other paths, we will endeavor to examine and translate these ideas from a Celtic/Arthurian perspective.
Holidays:
Ar Afalon observes the Eight Pagan Sabbats of Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Mid-Summer (Litha), Lughnasadh and Mabon. In addition, we will also observe the thirteen Lunar Esbats.
Standards of Conduct:
A tribe is a community of souls who share common experiences, bloodlines, knowledge, spiritual beliefs and language. In the ancient Celtic world, bloodlines where a deciding factor, but it was quite common for non-related individuals to be adopted into a tribe and given full rights and privileges of all tribal members. It will be uncommon for a member or student of Ar Afalon and its school, the Avalonian Institute of Magickal Arts, to be related by blood. Therefore, all members and students will be accepted on the basis of sincerity, integrity, scholarship and accomplishment.
To insure the continuity and prosperity of the tribe, a certain level of conduct will be expected of all members. The following rules will be followed, without exception to rank or privilege.
Worship
We honor the God and Goddess within Ar Afalon, favoring neither above the other. Personal patron deities may be chosen by each member of the tribe for use in personal rituals, devotions and seasonal, solar and lunar festivals (also known as Sabbats and Esbats). However, as Ar Afalon is based on Celtic knowledge and wisdom as well as the Arthurian mythos, all students will be required to work with deities associated as closely as possible with the ancient Celtic peoples. Egyptian, Italian, Roman and Greek deities will not be used within the tradition of Ar Afalon as their energies and functions are not compatible with our teachings and beliefs.
All members are expected to worship and interact with their chosen deities, or those deities recommended by the faculty of the AIMA, on a regular basis. Without the guidance and aid of the God and Goddess, we are mere mortals floundering through the waters of life. With their counsel and blessings we can accomplish anything.
Stewardship and Service to the Earth
Members of the tribe of Ar Afalon are considered stewards of our great Mother Earth and as such are expected to make reasonable efforts toward protecting and caring for our world. Service is defined as regular participation, to the extent possible, in programs and activities that protect, nourish and replenish the Earth. Examples include but are not limited to participation in environmental clean-up projects, regular donations to reputable environmental organizations, personal efforts in recycling and conservation, the use of natural products and organic foods, and of course, magickal and spiritual Earth-healing practices.
Minors
For ethical and legal reasons, all members of Ar Afalon and the AIMA must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application. While we believe minors between the ages of 13 and 18 are capable of successfully learning and living as Pagans, we are also quite aware that too often minors are studying without the consent or approval of their parents. This frequently causes conflict and distress within the home that invariably has a deleterious effect on the student's ability to learn and grow. The founders hope to one day make available a program of activities and study for younger seekers, but until that time we must decline any application presented by a minor.
Exceptions will joyfully be made for members in good standing who wish to enroll their minor children. The application must be presented by the adult parent or legal guardian and it will be understood that the parent will be solely responsible for the minors' conduct and adherence to the tribal laws.
Bloodshed
While ancient Pagans of all cultures practiced blood sacrifice within a religious context, the members of Ar Afalon will not, under any circumstances, shed the blood of any living being during the performance of ritual or magick. In addition, it will be clearly understood that physically injuring another living being for any reason, other than in the performance of his/her duties as an officer of the law, a member of the military, or as a licensed physician, is not acceptable in the eyes of the tribe. An additional exception will always been made in cases of self-defense as described within the context of the law. Should a member find him/herself or a loved one in a situation where immediate physical danger is likely, he/she is encouraged to use any means available to disable or deter the attacker.
Should a member be found to have caused malicious and deliberate physical harm to another living being, members of the animal kingdom included, without just and due cause, as stated in the exceptions above, the member will be immediately and irrevocably banned from the tribe.
Harming Others
Magick is a powerful gift and skill that can be learned and used to the great benefit of the individual, the Earth and mankind in general. However, within the tribe of Ar Afalon, magick will never be used to deliberately cause harm to another living being. The deities, spiritual guides, the Fae or any other supernatural being will never be invoked for the purpose of causing harm to another living being.
Members are expected and taught to approach an altar with a heart free from guilt, anger, hatred, jealousy, or fear. To perform a sacred act with these emotions within you may cause inadvertent harm to another, including yourself and your loved ones. Always examine your heart, mind and soul prior to performing a ritual or magickal working, and if you should find you harbor ill will toward another, take the time to perform a cleansing and/or forgiveness meditation and ritual. Do so as many times as needed before returning to your altar. This is particularly true if you are performing protection, binding or banishing spells.
Protection of Self and Loved Ones
It is completely acceptable to use magick and/or prayer for the protection of yourself and your loved ones. However, members are expected to use great care in performing these types of magickal workings as inadvertent harm may come to those you wish to protect. Always use the least amount of "force" needed to accomplish your goal. Always approach your altar with the intent of accomplishing the greatest good for all involved. Prior to performing your spell, ensure you have taken all possible steps within a mundane context and have no other choice but to use magick. For instance, have the police been called? Have you spoken with the person in question? Have you spoken with a lawyer? A spiritual advisor? If the police or other "authority" is unable to help you with your problem, you may be able to help them. Consider a spell that brings the wrongdoer to justice rather than simply diverting his/her attention from you and yours. In this way, any future victims will be spared as well.
In the event a member is unsure of whether or not to perform an act of protection, the member has the option of presenting the dilemma to the tribe for counsel and judgment. However, in so doing, the member must agree to abide by the decision of the tribe and accept any assistance the tribe deems necessary for the successful completion of the magickal working.
Healing
Members who are accomplished in the healing arts are encouraged to use their skills to benefit others. Indeed, it is believed that Witchcraft was originally called the craft of the wise and was primarily used for healing. All members are encouraged, but not required, to develop a healing skill of their choice. Herbal medicine is a traditional skill for Witches as are various forms of psychic or energy healing.
However, magickal healing should never be performed without the patient's consent and without first confirming the patient has already consulted a licensed medical practitioner. It is against the law to practice medicine without a license or to falsely present oneself as a licensed medical practitioner. All members are expected to be familiar with these laws and to operate within their parameters.
Compensation
It is forbidden to require, or accept if offered, monetary compensation in exchange for any type of magickal working. Members may accept compensation in exchange for items of a religious or magickal nature, provided these items are not used during the course of a magickal working on the customer's behalf. If a member performs a magickal working for another person, any items, tools or supplies required will be provided free of charge.
Members may provide magickal or spiritual lessons at a reasonable fee. However, if the member is not on the faculty of the AIMA, is providing lessons to non-members, or is not specifically authorized, in writing, to teach the principles, skills and tenets of Ar Afalon and the AIMA, the member may contact the Elders for permission to use said materials.
Chivalry
Our beliefs in a chivalrous order and our adherence to those beliefs can be further explored here:
http://www.chronique.com/Library/Chivalry/code.htm.Book of Spirit (or Book of Wisdom, Book of Knowledge, Book of Words, etc.)
The ancient Celts forbade the writing down of any spiritual laws or tenets. As a result most of the earliest literature, beliefs, and customs are lost to us forever. While Ar Afalon and the AIMA endeavor to espouse ancient Celtic ways to the extent possible, in this area we will deliberately differ. All members will be expected to create and keep a personal Book of Spirit (BOS). In addition, the Elders of Ar Afalon will keep a BOS for the tribe.
Role of Clergy:
Within Ar Afalon there is no formal clergy at all - our "clergy" are frequently teachers, group leaders and composers and have various roles within their community. Clergy may act as healers or arbitrators in disputes, depending on the community in which they participate.
Within the community, clergy are generally acclaimed by the group or local community they serve. They may also be acclaimed for their work and contributions to the overall Ar Afalon community through their contribution to the tradition, their writings and their mentoring within the tradition.
Orders:
Ar Afalon Orders are groups of men and women delving into the Arthurian/Avalonian Tradition. There is at least one person in each order who has finished the 100 Triads, and who is able to take on other Seekers. Each Order is fully affiliated with Ar Afalon, abides by the bylaws of Ar Afalon and practices within the realms of the Arthurian/Avalonian Tradition.
Order of the Undying Sun, Ar Afalon
- Los Angeles, Ca (Founding Order)
Order of the Sacred Mists, Ar Afalon
- Texas
Order of Northern Lights, Ar Afalon
- Canada
Organization of Groups:
The ranks/titles listed below are personal levels of achievement within Ar Afalon. There is no overall structure followed by all, or even a majority of, Ar Afalon practitioners. The only rule governing the creation or practice of groups aside from the general principles and ethical considerations of the tradition itself is that there will be at least 100 miles between each group.
Levels of Achievement within Ar Afalon
Seeker - Individuals participating in the Introductory Courses
Apprentice - Individuals participating in the 100 series triads
Page - Individuals participating in the 200 series triads
Squire - Individuals participating in the 300 series triads
Knight - Alumni within the AIMA
Knight/Dame Companion - A Knight within any the Branches within the Order of Annwn.
Companion of the Golden Bough - A Knight that upon completion of all quests and admittance to the three initial Branches of the Order has petitioned to the Council and has been admitted to the Golden Bough.
Knight/Dame Commander of the Golden Bough - A leader of the Order within the Golden Bough and a member of the Council. In order for an individual to achieve this level, she/he must demonstrate a sincere commitment and dedication to Ar Afalon through significant deeds and contributions to the tribe, as well as extensive knowledge of the tradition itself. Approval for advancement to this level is reviewed and "awarded" to the individual by the Council.
***copied in part from witchvox.com***
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