However, today there are multiple religions. So if a religion is not meeting your needs - you will seek another! Those considering Wicca need time to see if it is right for them. You see, Wicca is not one of those religions where you can instantly become a member. Unlike the gods of other religions, God and Goddess for the religion of Wicca have declared a waiting period of one year and one day. This year and a day is questing for the grail. The Lady and Lord have declared this waiting time in the sacred myths of Ceridwen and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Here is Ceridwen's myth: Ceridwen had a son named Avagddu, the most ugly person in the world. To compensate for his unattractiveness, his mother planned to make him a powerful wizard. So according to the instructions in the book of shadows, she used her cauldron of death and rebirth to boil a magical potion of inspiration for her son. So that he would not be abused, because of his ugliness. The book said, the cauldron must boil for a year and a day, and must not cease from boiling even for a moment. At the end of the that time only the first three drops drank from the cauldron would give the power Ceridwen sought for her son. She ordered her two servants Gwion Bach and a blind man named Morda to stir the boiling potion and to keep the fire going. From time to time, Ceridwen would visit the cauldron, making incantations, and put magickal herbs into the potion as the spell book called for. The year and a day past. Early that morning as Gwion was placing wood under the cauldron a bubble burst and three very hot drops fell on Gwion's finger. To relieve the burning pain, Gwion put his finger in his mouth. He received the full power of the potion that the Goddess Ceridwen had made. He realized that he got what was intended for Avagddu and the Goddess would be very angry. So, he fled for his life. Later in the day the Goddess Ceridwen came to the cauldron with her son. She saw that the cauldron was broken open and the magick potion was turned to water. Then she realized her year and a day of work went to the wrong man, and in her rage she took a stick of wood and struck Morda's eye out because she thought it was him. Later she pursued Gwion. Many hours later she caught up to Gwion and when he saw her, he changed into a hare to escape. She became a hound to pursue him. He dived into a river and turned into a salmon, she turned into an otter. He became a bird and she, a hawk. Gwion realized he was not escaping the Goddess so he turned into a grain of wheat, and she turned into a black hen. She scratched for many hours in the grains and finally found him and ate him. Nine months later she gave birth to Gwion as an infant. She built a leather boat and set him in the boat. The boat sailed to the other side of the sea that separates this world from the other. Upon reaching the shore of this world he was found by Elphin and he reared him as his own son. And Elphin called the infant Merlin. This is probability where the "everything she touches changes and everything changes she touches" a Witches favorite chant comes from. Everyone needs to know what they are getting into before they get into it. Most of the newer religions fill you in on the details after your conversion! This year and a day are God and Goddess saying, "get to know me first." Have all the facts and then decide. Yes, the story seems harsh, but it's not really when properly interpreted. If you become a Wiccan be prepared for great changes in your life.
You don't need a Priest or Priestess to become a Wiccan, for it is the Gods that make a Wiccan, not people.
Some people just decide to become a Wiccan, that's fine. But others need a ritual. Any dedication ritual is fine, alone or with a coven.
HANDFASTING: The Wiccan version of a wedding. During the middle ages most folks in Europe were Serfs. Serfs were basically white slaves and couldn't get married in the eyes of the Church or the State. It has been only a few hundred years ago that poor folks could get married at all. In fact, it wasn't until the late 19th century that African-Americans in the U.S. could be married. The handfasting is a ritual to express love between couples.
Many Americans use the phrase tying the knot to describe marriage. Well, tying the knot is exactly what's done during a handfasting. Tying the knot is a phrase that has survived from our Pagan past. A handfasting ritual with tying the knot is recorded in Spencer's Faire Queene.
Another Pagan practice that has survived is the exchange of rings. Nowhere in the bible does it describe the exchange of rings or even a marriage ceremony. But in the Celtic myth the Battle of Moytura the Fomorie King placed a gold ring in the hand of his love. The Romans also exchanged rings.
Ancient Pagan folks didn't marry for life. Marrying for life as the ever increasing divorce rate in the U.S. shows is not realistic. The human body replaces every cell within its body every seven years. That means after seven years the person you fell in love with and married, is now a totally different person. And most folks don't like what their spouse has become, so they get a divorce. The Welsh Triads speak of Arthur's three great Queens, all named Gwenhwyfar as more faithless than the three faithless wives of the Islands of Britain (triad 80). I am not badmouthing women, just showing that even great King Arthur couldn't stay handfasted to one woman for a lifetime! Handfasting for life is possible, but very challenging.
In handfasting the couple will marry for a year and a day. Afterward, divorce is automatic. To stay handfasted the couple must choose to be handfasted again afterward.
The ritual: cast a magick circle and the couple says their pledges to each other. What the pledges say is up to the individual. Then the hands of the couple are tied together and rings exchanged. The rope is kept as a memento.
LIBATION RITUAL: "Come eat my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled," the Goddess Wisdom in Proverbs 9:5. Also know as Cakes and Ale.
AntiWitches have falsely accused the Witch's libation ritual as a mockery of the church's communion. Their own bible proves this accusation false.
About 600 B.C. the bible in Jeremiah 7:18 and 44:19, describe Pagans (Wiccan Celts from Turkey) making cakes for the Goddess, building a bonfire, burning incense, and pouring out of drink offerings. These rituals are still practiced by Witches today and the drink and cakes are our libation.
In Genesis 14:18, a Pagan High Priest named Melchizedek used bread and wine in a ritual to bless Abraham, "The Father of the Jews." This Pagan practice was established at least 2,000 years before Christ established his communion ritual. Also the prechristian religions of Attis, the Eleusinian Mysteries, and Dionysus had they own libation.
In fact, Christ's version of communion is a modification of the Jews' kiddush and was well established before Christ. The kiddush and libation rituals are very similar.
"Then Vulcan drew sweet nectar from the mixing-bowl, and served it round (the circle) among the gods, going from left to right (clockwise); and the blessed gods laughed out a loud applause as they saw him bustling about the heavenly mansion." The Illiad, book 2. The libation should be passed around the circle clockwise from men to woman and woman to man.
The libation ritual is the consumption of food and drink within the magic circle. A prayer is performed over the food and drink before it's consumed. Here's a prayer: Priestess holds grail between her hands and above her head in salute saying: "Mother Nature bless this wine for our drinking. In your names, Mother Nature and Father God, I bless this drink." The Priestess then pours some drink upon the ground. If the ritual is indoors pour into in a bowl called a libation dish. Any bowl will do.
Priest holds plate of food over his head in salute saying: "Horned God of the harvest, bless this food for our consumption. In your names, Mother Nature and Father God, I bless this food." The Priest then places some food on the ground (if outside) or in a libation dish (if inside). Then the food and drink are passed around the circle. Everyone eats and drinks and is merry - general conversation and fun.
After the ritual set the libation dish outside so the fairies can eat and drink too.
THE CHARGE: "I (God) will pour out my spirit upon all flesh (that means everyone regardless of their religion); and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." "O! gently come into my feeble brest." Una addressing the Goddess in The Faerie Queene book 1, canto 9, 6. The charge is also called drawing down the moon or drawing down the sun. "I draw to you, too, moon," the Witch Medea in Ovid's Metamorphoses, book 7. A ritual where Goddess manifests in a woman and God manifests in a man. It's called a charge, because the person becomes "charged" with the Lady or Lord. The history of Pagan religions often record a Preist/ess emulating a God/dess. Christians can understand this process as being filled with the Holy Spirit. "The prophetess at Delphi. . ., entirely gives herself up to a divine spirit . . . , she becomes filled from it with a divine splendor." Iamblichus, Syrian philosopher (about 300 A.D.). The word giddy has survived from our ancient Pagan past, it means one charged by the Gods. Christians called people who were giddy mad because they couldn't or wouldn't comprehend the charge.
Yes, AntiWitches also bad mouth our charge too. They have forgotten or rather ignored Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17-18. All flesh or all people whither Christian or Pagan can experience the charge.
In this ritual Goddess and God usually make a speech. The Goddess Wisdom says, "I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make my words known unto you," Proverbs 1:23. Those performing the charge can have a prepared speech or others prefer to let the Lady and Lord inspire them.
My favorite is the Goddess Wisdom's charge in Proverbs chapter 8 written by Pagan King Solomon.
"Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice [is] to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips [shall be] right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them. They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom [is] better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the Lord [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom: I [am] understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour [are] with me; [yea], durable riches and righteousness. My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him]: and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my door. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death."
Another favorite charge of the Goddess is from The Golden Ass by Roman writer Apuleius of the second century AD.
"I am nature, the universal Mother, mistress of all elements, primordial child of time, sovereign of all things magickal, Queen of the dead, Queen also of the immortals. I am all Gods and Goddesses that are. My consent rules the stars of Heaven, the wholesome sea breezes, the underworld below. Though I am worshipped in many expressions, known by countless names, and worshiped with all manner of different rites, yet the whole round earth honors me. The ancient Phrygians call me Pessinuntica, Mother of the Gods. The Athenians sprung from their own soil, call me Artemis. For the islanders of Cyprus, I am Aphrodite. For the archers of Crete, I am Dictynna. For the three languaged Silicians, Prosperine and for the Eleusinians their Mother of Corn, Demeter. Some know me as Juno, Bellona of the Battles, Hecate, and others as Rhamnubia. Both races of Ethiopians, whose lands the morning sun first shines, and the Egyptians who excel in ancient learning, worship me with ceremonies proper to my divinity. They call me by my true name, the Great Mother."
We find a charge of God from the ancient Celtic myths. Dagda gives a young lady his very long name and his name is translated as: I am man, the wearer of horns. I am big-bellied. I cut away. I am he who farts 3 and boasts. I am a warrior and authority figure. I am the Great Father, he who has sex with women to rebirth the world. I am he who is rejected and dies.
How is the charge performed? Within the magick circle, call God/dess to come upon you and fill you with her/his spirit.
The Apostle Paul speaks against the charge and calls it emulations (actors) in Galations 5:20. Christians have at various times persecuted actors because of this verse. For example, the Puritans closed all theaters in London from 1642 to 1660. The word emulations does mean actors and that they won't get into heaven. It poses a serious problem because many Christian leaders are actors. I think the Christians today have errored in their interpretation and translation of this word. Because early Christianity didn't persecute actors, so it is likely referring to our charge. Also acting may have been invented from our charge ritual.
THE HOUSE BLESSING: "Gods often go into lessor people's houses," Ovid's Metamorphoses, book 5. A ritual to protect a home from danger. Chaucer mentions a house blessing in his Canterbury Tales. The following ritual is for a newly handfasted couple and is from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The Priest and Priestess are charged. They play the role of Oberon and Titania. A person carrying a broom enters the house. All lights should be cut-off. The sweeper sweeps the whole house and at the start of sweeping say: "Now the hungry lion roars, and the wolf behowls the moon; and whilst the heavy worker snores, all with weary task fordone. Now the wasted brands do glow, whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud, puts the wretch that lies in woe in remembrance of a shroud. Now it is the time of night that we fairies, that do run by the triple Hecate's team from the presence of the sun, following darkness like a dream, now are frolic. Not a mouse shall disturb this hallowed house. I am sent with broom before to sweep the dust behind the door."
Priest and Priestess, with all their train enter the house. When all have entered the Priest says: "Through the house give glimmering light." One or two people should light candles and incense. Be sure to carry them into each room! The Priest says: "By the dead and drowsy fire every elf and fairy sprite hop as light as bird from brier. And this ditty, after me, sing and dance it trippingly."
Priestess says: "First, rehearse your song by rote, to each word a warbling note; (everyone sing) hand in hand, with fairy grace, will we sing, and bless this place." The Priest leading the group sings and dances throughout each room in the house.
Priest says: "Now, until the break of day, through this house each fairy stray. To the best bride-bed will we," (go to the bedroom). "Which by us shall blessed be and the children there create ever shall be fortunate. So shall this couple ever true in loving be. And the blots of nature's hand shall not in their descendants stand. Never mole, harelip, nor scar, nor mark prodigious, such as are despised in nativity, shall upon their children be. With this field dew (blessed water) consecrate, every fairy take his gait, and each several chamber bless, through this palace, with sweet peace." (Then sprinkle water throughout the house.) "And the owner of it blest ever shall in safety rest." (Then sprinkle the water on the owners of the home.) "Trip away make no stay. Meet me all by break of day." Priest and Priestess leave the home with all their train.
THE MAY POLE RITUAL: The maypole is the symbol of the Goddess Asherah, a middle eastern Goddess and dates to her time. The Canaanites, who worshiped her danced in circles around her sacred (may) pole.4 The Gundestrup Bowl displays a maypole being carried by soldiers. The Native American equivalent is the Sun Pole. The ritual of the May pole has spread throughout the world.
In 1626, May 1, Thomas Morton, establishes the first English coven in America at Mare Mount. He holds a Beltane celebration complete with maypole, drinking, dancing, and sexual activities.6
While I was assigned to Germany, I visited a German friend on the 1st of May. On that morning, I was awakened by my friend. She told me that the entire city was going to the forest to cut down the may tree. I, of course jumped up, got dressed, and joined the partying parade of hundreds of people frolicking to the forest.
I saw them cut down this very tall tree, strip its branches and bark. Then the men lifted the tree on their shoulders and carried it the town's center. There they tied long ribbons and a ring of flowers on the top of the tree. Then they erected it.
Then the men, women, and children of the town grabbed hold to the long ribbons and danced around the tree. As they danced, the many ribbons were intertwined around the tree. This is the may pole ritual.
What was surprising is this small German town was almost entirely of the new religions. Yet, this may pole, this Pagan practice survived even with intense disapproval of the Church.
The may pole is a sex symbol. The tree is the penis, the ribbon the vagina. As the ribbons wrap around and down the tree, it symbolizes God's penis penetrating Goddess's vagina. The may pole ritual is a magick spell that starts the mating of the animals and plants to bring forth fertility.
ANOINTING: with oil or water is a very ancient practice. In Egypt, a person was anointed with oil before working for the government. The Kings of Israel were anointed with an oil made from human semen. European kings were anointed with oil before ascending the throne. In Old English Wicca, anointing with oil occurs when a person accepts an office within the coven, such as maiden, bard or Priest/ess. Oils also can be used in healing and blessing. Anointing with water (water ritual) is sacred because water comes from the streams and lakes, namely from underground or the underworld.
BURNING INCENSE: A very ancient ritual. The Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Native Americans, and Asians burned incense. Our prayers rise to the Sky Gods on the smoke of the incense. See Psalms 141:2.
JUMPING THE FIRE: "Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candle stick." A Mother Goose Rhyme. Taking a run and jump the fire. For good luck in a relationship, couples may jump the fire while holding hands. About 1451 B.C. the ancient nation of Israel prohibits the practice and it was associated with Witchcraft: "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or daughter to pass through the fire . . . " Deuteronomy 18:10.
Metals in swords and spears were passed through the fire to make them strong. Like attracts like, so the passing of men, women, and children through the fire helps to make them strong too. Besides it's fun.
The Goddess Demeter baths a child in a magickal fire to make him immortal. We Wiccans jump her fire to show we are immortal, for the soul is immortal. THE SEASONAL BATTLE: Often called the battle of summer and winter or the battle between the Holly and Oak Lord. A very ancient ritual, it appears in the Gilgamesh Epic. It is the natural conflict between the Horned Hunter God and the Warrior God. It is inherent in the nature of men to compete, especially for a woman.
This is the Warrior God's rite. For if the warrior had not been a good warrior, our ancestors would have been killed off long ago by invaders. This rite honors the ancient and modern warriors or the military.
This conflict occurs on 1 May. According to an ancient Gaelic legend (500 B.C.) Gwyn ap Nudd (the Warrior God) fights Gwythur ap Greidawl (Hunter God) for Creudylad (Mother Goddess) and wins. This sends Gwyther to the underworld. Where he makes the crops grow, because it's the time of farming. Gwyther is the Adonis of the Greeks who spends part of the year in the underworld.
How is it done? One man is charged with the Warrior God and another the Hunter God and engage in some form of conflict. It could be as simple as arm wrestling, a chess game, or two knights battling it out.
The European jousts and the Pagans plenary may have their origin in the seasonal battle. The most famous of the season battles was Robin Hood's and Little John's staff fight.
WICCANING: The asking of the Gods to protect and bless a child. A Wiccaning is found in the sacred myths of Ogier the Dane and Sleeping Beauty. It is traditional to give a gift to the child because in both story's gifts are given to the child. The new religions developed infant baptism and the baby shower from the Wiccaning.
This is the ritual I used for my daughter, Holly. She was the first child to be Wiccaned in a Department of Defense Chapel facility.
PRIESTESS: "Tonight we welcome a new life into our community." PRIEST: Asks Parent, "What is the name of this child?" PARENT: The name of my child is ______________. PRIEST: Anoint her/him on the forehead with oil saying, "Great Father, I present to you (name of child), may you guide her/him and protect her/him until she/he is old and mature enough to choose what is right for her/himself." PRIESTESS: Anoints her/his forehead with water saying, "Mother Nature before you is your child (name of child), created by your love. I ask for your guidance and protection for her/him. For this we give thanks. Blessed be." PARENT: Present the child to the magickal kingdoms in turn. "Behold magickal folks (fairies, dragons, merfolks, and gnomes ) of the (east, south, west, and north) I present to you (name of child), may you guide her/him and protect her/him until she/he is old and mature enough to choose what is right for her/himself." Magickally speaking a guarding fairy is provided for the child at this time.
A Wiccaning blessing is found in The Three Etains (Celtic myth), with three birth gifts I give the gift of hearing what is not normally heard, seeing what most don't see, and the gift of wise judgment.,p> THE BIRTHDAY PARTY: The celebration of birthdays is not mentioned in the bible. Nor is it a Jewish tradition. The birthday party hat hints at the Pagan origin of the party.
THE GREAT RITE: Climax from the Greek means to ascend to heaven. Orgasm from the Greek means a sacred rite. Sex from the Latin means to divide from this world to another. The origin of these English words shows that sex had a spiritual connection that is almost incomprehensible to Americans today - due to the Christians' hatred of sex.
The rite is also called the sacred marriage, has a long and well established history. The Egyptians had a woman (usually the Queen) that was married to the God Ammon. The Greeks celebrated the marriage of Zeus and Hera each year and a man and a woman enacted this ritual. A Priestess and Priest of the Eleusinian mysteries symbolized Zeus and Demeter with the conception of Kore. Bel in Babylon had a human wife. In Sumer, this rite actually combines the man with God and woman with Goddess.3 The rite can also be performed with the magickal folks, Jeremiah 3:9 records women loving with trees (stock) and stones. These were the spirits of the trees and stones.
The bible in fact gives examples of the great rite see Genesis 6:2, Job 1:1 and Luke 1:34.
In Old English Wicca, this greatly misunderstood rite has nothing to do with ascent to the Priest/esshood, conversion, forming your own coven, or orgies. The great rite is a deeply religious ritual, it's not an orgy of lust, or just a sex act. In fact, it is not even a necessary ritual. It is a religious experience. The great rite is not for everyone nor should it be required.
Sex is not sinful, (in spite of what the Christians say) it is the gift of God/dess and should be enjoyed. Sex is an expression of love. Some Wiccans wish to express their love for the Lady and Lord in the great rite. In this rite, the couple are not just a man and a woman. They are actually the Lady and Lord! The Lady and Lord take possession of the couples' bodies.
Out of the body experiences, dream divination, and even past life regression may occur during the rite. During the rite women often report seeing the Horned God as their lover?
How is it done? Become charged with God/dess or any suitable deity, then make love. Remember during this rite you are not making love with a man or woman, but with God/dess.
The Celtic history of the great rite is to make the plants and crops grow. It is a magick spell to end winter, and to bring fertility to the body of the Great Mother, the earth. This rite is usually accomplished at Beltane.
THE SYMBOLIC GREAT RITE: Also called the grail ritual. Chrestien de Troyes in his Conte del Graal about 1180 AD. Perceval had entered the Castle of Wonders. The grail and a blood dripping lance was brought for his viewing. But Perceval doesn't ask the meaning of the objects. Later in the myth he is chastised by a maiden (Goddess) for not asking. Still later, a hideous woman (Crone Goddess) curses him for not asking.
We of course do ask the meaning! The grail represents the female sex organ, the lance the male's. The blood dripping from the lance is from the broken hymen of the virgin Goddess.
The ritual: A cup (grail) is filled with a red liquid (wine, kool-aid, cherry soda, etc.,) never blood. A lance (sword or knife tip) is placed inside the cup and into the liquid. Symbolizing intercourse between God and Goddess. Remove the knife from the cup and pass the cup around the circle for everyone to drink from. Often combined with cakes and ale.
THE WILD HUNT: ". . . Up the airy mountain, down the rushy glen, we daren't go a hunting for fear of little men. . ." Likely to be the world's oldest ritual. An ancient cave painting (13,000-11,000 B.C.) displays a man wearing deer antlers and running. "Take thou no scorn to wear the horn; It was a crest before thou wast born: Thy father's father wore it, And thy father bore it: The horn, the horn, the lusty horn is not a thing to laugh to scorn," from As You Like It, act IV, scene II, by Shakespeare. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle year 1127, describes a very large wild hunt near the city of Peterborough. Portrayed as a horrible occurrence by the new religions. Anything that's fun is horrible to them, but it is not horrible at all. This rite belongs to the Hunter God and is shared with several Goddesses. It is an honor to the ancient hunters, for if they had not been good hunters our ancestors would have starved to death long ago and we wouldn't be here!
In the Celtic myths: Lord Briccriu held a feast to which he invited all the hero's of Ireland. You see Lord Briccriu liked to make problems between heroes. During the feast he asked who was the champion of all Ireland? Many of the heroes contested for the title. Finally, only three heroes remained, Cuchulainn, Conall of the Victories, and Larry the Triumphant. To find out whom was the champion, a terrible beast (Hunter God) was called from a lake to test the heroes' courage and integrity. The beast's challenge was for the heroes to cut off his head and afterwards he would cut off the hero's head. Conall and Larry wouldn't take up the challenge, but Cuchulainn accepted the challenge. Cuchulainn took a sword and chopped the beasts head right off. The beast arose took his head and left. The next day the beast returned with ax in hand. Cuchulainn placed his head upon the block and the beast swung at his neck, but missed hitting his helmet. Cuchulainn removed his helmet and put his head upon the block. The beast swung again, missed striking his back armor. Cuchulainn then removed his armor and laid his head on the block. The beast swung again striking him on the neck, but the ax bounced off his neck. Cuchulainn arose. The terrible beast then declared that Cuchulainn was the Champion of all Ireland. The moral of this story is if you give your word - you must keep it and be very careful with your oaths and promises. The Hunter God was attempting to get Cuchulainn to break his word, he didn't!
Today the Hunter God doesn't include the chopping off of heads, but he still tests the courage and integrity of men in the ritual of the wild hunt. From the Mabinogion, the Hunter God as Arawn tests a human man, Pwyll in the most tempting of ways. Pwyll is forced to sleep with the most beautiful fairy wife of Arawn for a year and can't touch her - talk about torture!
For many centuries people have reported seeing Hern in Windsor Forest, England. This is either Hern or man accomplishing the wild hunt. In Shakespeare's play, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Falstaff disguised as Herne describes the experience.
"The Windsor bell hath struck twelve; the minute draws on. Now the hot-blooded gods assist me! Remember, Jove, thou wast a bull for thy Europa; love set on thy horns. O powerful love! that in some respects makes a beast a man; in some other a man a beast. You were also, Jupiter, a swan, for the love of Leda. O omnipotent love! how near the god drew to the complexion of a goose! A fault done first in the form of a beast-O Jove, a beastly fault-and then another fault in the semblance of a fowl-think on't, Jove, a foul fault! When gods have hot backs what shall poor men do? For me, I am here a Windsor stag; and the fattest, I think, i' th' forest. Send me a cool rut-time, Jove, or who can blame me to piss my tallow? Who comes here? my doe? Enter MISTRESS FORD and MISTRESS PAGE : MRS. FORD. Sir John! Art thou there, my deer, my male deer. FALSTAFF. My doe with the black scut! Let the sky rain potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of Greensleeves, hail kissing-comfits, and snow eringoes; let there come a tempest of provocation, I will shelter me here. [Embracing her] MRS. FORD. Mistress Page is come with me, sweetheart. FALSTAFF. Divide me like a brib'd buck, each a haunch; I will keep my sides to myself, my shoulders for the fellow of this walk, and my horns I bequeath your husbands. Am I a woodsman, ha? Speak I like Hern the Hunter? Why, now is Cupid a child of conscience; he makes restitution. As I am a true spirit, welcome!"
If this ritual is performed on Soween the participants assist the newly dead souls into the underworld.
Women also can perform the wild hunt. The Celtic Goddess Rhiannon has her hunt in the Mabinogion. Diana the Huntress had her hunt too! According to tradition, the women's hunt is usually done on Imbolic, the same time as Diana's hunt. Ovid in his Metamorphosis, records women worshipping Dionysus with dancing, singing, and wearing fawn skins while running in the forest. Holda, the Germanic Goddess on her wild hunt with the Valkyries would reward or punish farmers for their care of the land and would be a terror to unruly children. Holda's (Mrs. Santa Clause) hunt is accomplished on Winter's Solstice. Hecate leads her wild hunt with her ghostly hounds on Soween.
How is it done? The rite for women is done the same way as for men. Find a forest path that you can run down at night. The length of the path should be a few miles long, but it can be shorter depending on your physical condition. Before you begin the hunt, pray to the Hunter God or Diana to run with you and to test you. Then start running down the path.
You may see "willow o' wisps," and other strange things. Once when I was running, I saw Hern running beside me - I shortly ran into a tree afterwards. Another time I was chased by a female satyr, but I can't write about her, she would get very mad at me.
Any type of clothing is acceptable for the hunt or no clothes at all. According to tradition men will wear deer antlers on their head and women wear fawn skins.
From personal experience and observation men and women after the hunt are usually very sexually excited. It appears this ritual has always had this effect on people for Shakespeare above refers to the highly sexual term kissing-comfits (not comfort) associated with the wild hunt.
The hunt's history dates to the times when people had to hunt for their food. Most Americans buy their food. The wild hunt lets us experience the religious connection our hunter ancestors knew.
Since most are workers and not hunters today. The wild hunt is a magick spell for workers to be successful. Cernunnos (Hunter God) on an ancient relief is seen paying workers in gold after completing the wild hunt. In this case pray to the Hunter God for successful employment before running the hunt.
THE PLENARY: Also known as the joust. These were repeated condemned by the Church. Usually accomplished at the Lughnassadh. In the History of the Kings of Britain, King Arthur held a plenary court to celebrate his European victories. Robin Hood also held a plenary.
A plenary is a series of competitive games: the maiden carry, archery, sword fighting, tug of war, king/queen of the mountain, staff fighting, and such like. Competitors can be both male and female. The male winner is called a Champion. The female winner is called a Fair Champion.
A plenary also involves flirtatious behavior! Observers choose their competitor or champion and root for him/her. Traditionally, the observers should present an item called a "favor" to the champion that they are rooting for. A favor is usually a scarf, pin or bracelet presented to your champion. In past plenarys, I have seen ladies bring up to thirty scarfs, which they gave away to various champions. Incidentally, one lady placed her name and phone number on the scarfs she gave away. This lady was later married to one of her champion knights!
After the competitions are over, a Witches Ball is held and the champions are presented their awards. A ball is a dance where everyone dresses in their finest clothes and party's.
THE FIVE FOLD KISS: is a very popular ritual with American Wicca. To my knowledge it doesn't appear in the sacred lore and appears to be Gardener's invention.
One person kisses various parts of another's body.
Kiss the feet and say, "Blessed be thy feet that have brought thee in these ways." Kiss the knees saying, "Blessed be thy knees that shall kneel at the sacred altar." Kiss above the pubic bone saying, "Blessed be thy womb (female) or phallus (male) without which we would not be." Kiss the chest saying, "Blessed be thy breasts formed in strength (male) or beauty (female)." Kiss the lips saying, "Blessed be thy lips which shall utter the sacred names."
THE DESCENT OF THE GOD/DESS: "I saw Gods ascending out of the earth..." the Witch of Endor, I Samuel 28:13. Apuleius recording his dedication ritual says: "I approached the very gates of death and set one foot on Proserpine's threshold, yet was permitted to return, rapt through all the elements... I entered the presence of the Gods of the underworld and the Gods of the upper-world stood near and worshipped them." From The Golden Ass. Many Wiccans use this ritual as a dedication ritual. American Wicca seems to have only adopted the descent part of the original ritual and excluded the ascension.
We Wiccans know that past lives and reincarnation are a fact of nature. It is the Goddess that crashes the gates of death and steals the souls to be reborn of her into the land of the living.
This ritual has it's origins in the ancient myths of Adonis, Ishtar, Inanna, (Celtic) Snow White, and Persephone.
The descent is usually a Wiccans first skyclad and innitiation ritual.
The Goddess Ishtar loved Tammuz (our horned God), but he died. Ishtar missed Tammuz so much that she determined to enter the Kingdom of Death and rescue her lover. Ishtar entered the seven gates of the underworld (notice the Goddess Wisdom in Proverbs 9:1, "hath hewn out her 7 pillers" and Snow White has 7 dwarfs). At each gate she left one piece of her jewelry or clothing. So at the seventh gate she was naked (you can't take anything with you into the other world except what you have learned). She approached death (sometimes a God or Goddess) and asked why do you kill all things in the world. Death replied, "it is the way of things to grow old and die." Ishtar the said, "Then all those that grow old and die shall be reborn of me into the land of the living and it shall ever be so!" Then she took all the souls death had and returned with them through each of the seven gates to the land of the living. So when we die we know the Goddess shall rebirth us!
Christianity adopted the descent and ascent myth, but it is falling out of favor and now is rarely even mentioned. According to Matthew 27:52-53, just after Christ died on his cross the dead rose from the graves. This mass resurrection didn't happen; if it had certainly the Romans and Jews would have recorded it. St. Paul writing to the Celts mentions the descent/ascent myth by combining the Celts' God Esus with Jesus, "Now he that ascended (who) is it but he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things (animalism)."
I know the Anti-Witches are saying there was no combination of Esus with Jesus! Jesus only ascended to heaven and was set on the right hand of God - not above all heavens. Christ's spirit as Christians will quicky tell you, doesn't fill all things, but Esus does!
This filling of all things is animism. In spite of the above verse, the new religions reject animism. Children, like my daughter when she was 3 years old told me that the wind, rivers, dolls, rocks, puppets, and such like are very much alive. That these inanimate objects can be addressed and they will respond in kind. To really understand the magickal folks one needs to return to this childlike state.
The ritual: Inside the magick circle both men and women start walking around the circle counterclockwise (this is the only time you should walk counter clockwise in the circle). Walk around the circle a total of seven times. At each round remove a piece of jewelry or clothing. At the seventh round you remove the last of your garments and then you have entered the kingdom of death. A person charged with the God/dess then tells the story of the Descent of the God/dess. When the story ends the God/dess (Priest/ess charged with the God/dess) leads everyone clockwise seven times round the circle back to the land of the living.
1 Read Fart Proudly by Benjamin Franklin.
2 Chronicle of America, Chronicle Publications Inc., Suite 311, 105 South Bedfrod Road, Mount Kisco, N.Y. 10549, pp. 69
5 Genesis 49-25.
6 Chronicle of America, Chronicle Publications Inc., Suite 311, 105 South Bedford Road, Mount Kisco, N.Y., 10549, pp.57
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