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The Nature of Our Way
A Story of Creation
--From: Flamming Arrow Gathering Circle
Aradia: Gospel of the Witches
FOREVER AND A DAY
The Story of A Flower

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The Nature of our Way by Scott Cunningham, Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner, 1988 As often as possible, hold the rites in forests, by the seashore, on deserted mountaintops or near tranquil lakes. If this is impossible, a garden or some chamber shall suffice, if it is readied with fumes or Flowers. Seek out wisdom in books, rare manuscripts and cryptic poems if you will, but seek it out also in simple stones and fragile herbs and in cries of wild birds. Listen to the whisperings of the wind and the roar of water if you would discover magic, for it is here that the old secrets are preserved. Books contain words; Trees contain energies and wisdom books never dreamt of. Ever remember that the Old Ways are constantly revealing themselves. Therefore be as the river willow that bends and sways with the wind. That which remains changeless shall outlive its spirit but that which evolves and grows will shine for centuries. There can be no monopoly on wisdom. Therefore share what you will of our ways with others who seek them, but hide mystic lore from the eyes of those who would destroy, for to do otherwise increases their destruction. Mock not the rituals or spells of another, for who can say yours are greater in power or wisdom? Ensure that your actions are honorable, for all that you do shall return to you three fold, good or bane. Be wary of one who would dominate you, who would control and manipulate your workings and reverences. True reverence for the Goddess and God occurs within. Look with suspicion on anyone who would twist worship from for their own gain and glory, but welcome those priestesses and priests who are suffused with Love. Honor all living things, for we are of the bird, the fish, the bee. Destroy not life save it be to preserve you own. And this is the nature of our way. Aradia: Gospel of the Witches by Charles G. Leland, 1899 This is a rather unfortunate document that is often cited by Wiccans, and that I've only begun to study. A large part of the Charge of the Goddess is based on a passage from Aradia: When I shall have departed from this world, Whenever ye have need of anything, Once in the month, and when the moon is full, Ye shall assemble in some desert place, Or in a forest all together join To adore the potent spirit of your queen, My mother, great Diana. She who fain Would learn all sorcery yet has not won Its deepest secrets, then my mother will Teach her, in truth all things as yet unknown. And ye shall all be freed from slavery, And so ye shall be free in everything; And as the sign that ye are truly free, Ye shall be naked in your rites, both men And women also: this shall last until The last of your oppressors shall be dead;1 Leland claims to have gotten his information in Aradia from an Italian strega, or practitioner of witchcraft. Aradia is the daughter of siblings Diana and Lucifer, sent to earth by her mother to teach magic to the witches. While Wiccans use this as further evidence of surviving pagan religion, Aradia is heavily laden with very Christian images: frequent mentions to Cain, the citing of Lucifer as her father, meals in which food is consecrated as the body and blood of Diana, Aradia described as a "female Messiah". In addition, the ideas laid down in Aradia are not those any self-respecting Wiccan would want associated with them, reading more like the accusations of the old witch-hunters: And thou shalt be the first of witches known; And thou shalt be the first of all I' the world; And thou shalt teach the art of poisoning, Of poisoning those who are great lords of all; Yea, thou shalt make them die in their palaces; And thou shalt bind the oppressor's soul (with power); And when ye find a peasant who is rich, Then ye shall teach the witch, your pupil, how To ruin all his crops with tempests dire, With lightning and with thunder (terrible), And with the hail and wind... And when a priest shall do you injury By his benedictions, ye shall do to him Double the harm, and do it in the name of me, Diana, Queen of witches all! And when the priests or the nobility shall say to you that you should put your faith In the Father, Son, and Mary, then reply; "Your God, the Father, and Maria are Three devils..." "For the true God the Father is not yours; For I have come to sweep away the bad The men of evil, all will I destroy!"2 If such a group ever existed, they should have no association with Wicca. We cannot credibly pick certain pieces from Aradia and tout it as something slightly short of gospel, then insist the rest is inconsequential. A Story of Creation From: Flamming Arrow Gathering Circle Now, one day the creator was sitting and watching the children play. He saw the joy and the youthfulness they display. He saw the beauty of their surroundings, and the fresh fragrance of the Trees and the Flowers. He heard the happy songs of the Birds, and saw the blue of the Sky. He saw their beauty, and the sunlight as it shone from their hair. These were wonderful things. But the Creator realized that all of these things would change. He knew that these children would all grow old and gray, and their skin would winkle. The beautiful women would someday grow fat and ugly, and their beautiful black hair will turn gray. The leaves would turn brown and die, and the beautiful flowers that smelled so fresh would fade. Creator’s heart grew sad and troubled. It was autumn, and the times would be hard. As Creator watched the women grind cornmeal, He decided to do something that would capture some of these wonderful things that He saw. He decided that He must make something that everyone would enjoy, that would lift their hearts and spirits. So, He took out his bag of Creation and began to gather some things together. He took some blue from the Sky, and some whiteness from the cornmeal. He gathered some spots of sunlight, and the blackness of a beautiful woman’s hair. He took the yellow of the fallen leaves, and the green of pine needles. He gathered the red, purple and the orange from the flowers. As He gathered these things, He put them into his bag. And, last, He put the songs of the song birds in the bag. When He had finished gathering these things together, He called the children together. He told them to open the bag and there would be a surprise for them. SO they opened the bag, and out flew hundreds of beautiful butterflies! They flew all around the gleeful children, and lit on their heads. They fluttered around, and sipped the nectar from many flowers. The hearts of the children and the adults soared. Never before had they seen such wonderful happy things. They began to sing their songs as they flew. But a jealous song bird lit on Creators Shoulder and scolded him. He said, Its not right to give our songs to these pretty things! You told us when you made us that each bird would have his own song. These pretty things have all the colors of the rainbow already. Must they take our songs too? Creator said, You are right. I made one song for each bird, and I must not give them away to any other. So butterflies were made silent, and they are still silent to this day. But their beauty brightens the day of all People, and brings out songs from their hearts. The Beginning FOREVER AND A DAY By: Aleister Crowley Once darkness slept... a blanket thrown over him by Sweet sunlight’s advancing smile. She cast a glow on yesterdays old thoughts And planted new seeds for next loves unfolding But the new seeds wouldn’t push through the dead and dying Until the last of the old growth was cleared away Let me give you forever and a day And make your winter into spring And be the one of which you sing My love to warm your heart and make you strong My lips to kiss away December’s coldest song Sweet sunlight caressed her darkness Touching gently the rough edges of his sorrow Coaxing him from sleep. She left the golden shoes for the guardian of the fight They met in a brief moment of bliss As she placed a silver kiss Upon the velvet night And made way for his embrace I will love you forever and a day. Until the sky falls away. Until new life has sprung from out the dying earth And mankind’s unkindness has shown rebirth. However long it takes... I will stay at your side. For the long sleep without you... has no dreams inside. The Story of A Flower Contributed By ApacheMagic In the season of the wild strawberries I came from the earth as a flower High on a hill above my village, with only The Eagle, the Buffalo, the Bear, and the Butterfly To watch the petals of my spirit unfold. The Eagle spoke first. He said: Sister, you will never have wings like me, Except in the pathways of your dreams, Yet you will fly to the top of the sky Because I give you Courage. The Buffalo spoke next. He said: Sister, you will never survive a long time like me, Except on the trail of your memories, Yet you will see a thousand winters go by Because I give you the Gift of Endurance. The Bear spoke next. He said: Sister, you will never know the secrets Of the Four-Legged Animals, since you are only a flower, Yet the knowledge of all creatures is yours Because I give you the Gift of Wisdom. The Butterfly spoke next. She said: Sister, you believe you are very important, Because the creatures have given their gifts to you, Yet here on this hill you will always be at home Because I give you the Gift of Humility. So I have lived for many seasons, Among the Eagle, the Buffalo, the Bear, and the Butterfly, Watching the birds go by, speaking to rain and sky. My colors have been the colors of the rainbow. My beauty has given joy to all who see me. To bloom even when there is no rain Requires the Courage of the Eagle. To last through the heavy snows of winter Requires the Endurance of the Buffalo. To understand the importance of all seasons Requires the Wisdom of the Bear. But to rejoice when my blossoms die Requires only the Butterfly's Humility.