Chapter Six of the Red Witch Tradition
The Rede of Three
Silverstar Red Crow © 1998/2007
Ever mind the rule of Three
Three times what thou givest returns to thee.
This lesson well, thou must learn,
Thee only gets what thou dost earn!
To understand the Rede of Three, we must understand the process of creation itself. In numerology ONE (1) stands for the principle of the creative spark that generates life. TWO (2) stands for the principle of nurturing the spark so that life can form and grow. THREE (3) stands for the principle of manifestation, i.e., once the spark has become form and begins to grow, it needs to birth itself from the protective covering that has nurtured it in order to become an independent life form, free from constriction. This 3-fold process is the basis of Magick, the transformation of energy into form. Or, in other words, first one establishes a goal, clearly defining the need; this is INTENTION. Secondly, a time is determined that will be best suited to put the goal into action. This is RITUAL. Thirdly, one must have the patience to step out of the way of the workings of the universe and wait for the birthing of the goal. This is MANIFESTATION. Intention-Ritual-Manifestation is the Trinity of logic that is behind all magickal thought and practice.
It is important to understand that each step must be defined thoroughly, and to understand that once a thought form, backed with intention, is placed into the universe, there is no turning back! One can not undo magickal workings, good or bane. As practitioners of magickal thought, we must be patient and depend on the nature of our work, letting it unfold within the natural patterns of cycles. To practice a magickal lifestyle successfully, one must realize the power of individual thought and desire. Unconsciously, through the dream-state (whether in full sleep or day-dreaming) or by unfocused lust or desire, we have the ability to manifest a wide range of things in our lives. What on the surface may appear to be coincidence or accident, is indeed the workings of our unfocused energies. “Thoughts are things” is not a light-hearted joke.
We as individuals have an enormous impact on the world at large. Consider for a moment a random event such as a train derailment. Several years ago there was a string of human errors causing railway disasters in this country, errors due to fatigue and/or drug and alcohol abuse. As further illustration, allow me to paint a hypothetical picture… A rail engineer begins to dislike the railroad company to the point of swearing aloud each time the alarm clock goes off. The engineer wanted to quit this job so badly, that each day began with a string of curses against the company. Believing there was no escape, due to large debts and a growing family to care for, the engineer could not think of any alternatives. One day, seemingly just like another, the rail engineer climbed into the compartment, turned the dials of the warmed engine and started the usual run. But, as thoughts seeped in of how monotonous this job had become, the engineer’s eyes closed and a slow moving dream began to unfold. That day proved to be very different from other days—not only was the engineer’s life lost, but many other lives as well, causing the company to lose large amounts of money, and forcing them out of business. Cursing the company every day finally manifested itself. This was no accident!
To restate the point made above, when one is performing a repetitious action with focus, regardless if it is conscious or unconscious, one is performing ritual. Once a thought, in the form of a demand, desire, prayer or spell, is unleashed into the universe, a boomerang is created that grows with the force that fed it, until it returns to the initiator, transformed. Most often, a desire that is sent out during the New Moon will return before the next New Moon. The same is true for Full Moon work. The Dark Moon is an exception because the hidden forces (whether psychic, dream or Karmic) behind the subject are 3 times greater than usual. The Dark Moon is the phase of The Moon just before the New Moon. Consequently, it has stored the accumulated energy of the previous month, which is waiting to be released on the New Moon. This is the reason many Witches do not practice magick during the Dark Moon. The Rede of Three during this time is multiplied by three, making any returns of Dark Moon energy 9 TIMES GREATER than what was sent out. This increase in energy can be very helpful, though, especially when one is working with the subconscious mind. But, never under estimate natural, raw power, either in Nature or within yourself! And be ever vigilant to the thoughts and desires that you are sending into the universe. You might be doing more harm than you realize!
The next vital step in understanding the Trinity of logic and especially the power of MANIFESTATION is to take complete and utter responsibility for one’s thoughts, deeds and actions. This is easier said than done and is not achieved overnight. Few of us are masters of our universes. But, we must take certain steps towards that end, in order to achieve a working sense of the balance of energy required to successfully live a magickal life. More often than not, “Things” are not done to us. We choose to accept patterns into our lives in order to deal with life’s complexities, including finding a niche for ourselves and understanding interpersonal relationships. We must open ourselves to the possibilities of our powers of choice that create our life blueprints, before we can develop the skills to change them.
If one is motivated to change the world, to make it a better place to raise a family, for example, one must be willing to change one’s self first. Start by taking a deep breath and a look within; take a long, in-depth personal inventory of your life. Decide what you need to change to make yourself responsible for your own actions and to be constructive with your time; do this by yourself, for yourself! At this point, you might judge yourself as being selfish; you are. However, it is “Constructive-Selfishness”. You are learning to be an efficient manager of your life. By putting your life in good order, you are not only changing yourself, you are impacting the planet and changing the world! Isn’t that what recycling is all about, being efficient, thoughtful and directive? Magick works in the same manner. If you want to change a situation, you must start with yourself.
For instance, if you are having difficulty with a co-worker and you want that person removed from your life, perhaps the first step is to remove yourself. Obviously, there’s an underlying problem that is causing unrest to occur. Take an in-depth look inside yourself for answers and perspective. Write out a list of pros and cons for staying or leaving. Make a list of your options. I realize this train of thought sounds more like psychology than magick, but, in truth, good magick is good psychology. By being aware of your surroundings, staying in touch with your emotions, knowing your options and by being empathetic; you are practicing magick.
Magick is working in symmetry with the Natural World. If you include other people in your spellwork without their permission (whether you believe it is for their “Greatest Good” or not), you are practicing magick irresponsibly. This behavior is unacceptable. Our minds are incredible gifts, as well as tools. Do not be afraid to exercise your mind, analyzing any frustrating or confusing situation from every possible angle. Magick is not an easy way out, you must know your problem before you act. A Witch can live an entire life without casting a spell, just as a police officer who never draws a gun.
Everyone has a certain amount of choice in this life. For example, whether to be positive or negative is definitely a choice. But, what you might consider to be a positive action could be deceiving you. Let’s look at the workplace for another illustration. Your best friend is struggling at work with constant negativity and stress. Out of empathy, you decide to cast a spell to remove the stressful situation. You study the subject, you procure the correct herbs for removing obstacles, you decide on a phase of The Moon and the proper day and hour, you gather the right tools. Everything looks wonderful; you are doing a good deed after all, or are you? Do not forget to obtain permission. Although the situation is stressful, assuming that your friend truly wants to be out of the situation is arrogant and manipulative. Any act that is planned without permission becomes an act of manipulation. Using manipulation is an act of negativity! Without a full disclosure and without permission, you are committing an offense, primarily and profoundly against yourself, as well as your friend; you are not being HONEST. Consequently, you are doing harm, going against the basic tenet of the Red Witch Tradition. Take it a step further, your friend is indeed suffering, but he is learning the skill of saying NO. He’s been emotionally paralyzed and unable to evolve out of his dilemmas because of his inability to take a stand for himself or for a cause. Have you now robbed him of that lesson, due to your manipulations and misplaced care? What initially seemed to be an act of kindness has become a mess. Think very carefully before you jump at the opportunity to do spellwork, of any kind. You must develop the skill to look at every subject from many different angles. Once you have honed this skill, be prepared to work on this for your entire life, you might realize that taking no action is the right action.
Manipulation can be a serious offense, particularly if it is cloaked as misguided concern. Not too long ago I was involved with a person who was committed to what they called “the white road”. The white road is a state of mind attained to help oneself and the world, including all of Her creatures, live a life of positive serenity and personal perfection. This person truly believed in filling a desperate need for a world fit with disaster, devastation and negativity. Comfortable and financially equipped to spend countless hours networking, this one played as an intermediary for people. Without permission, the one on the “white road” helped form alliances; put together meetings of people who would not normally meet, arranged parties, and seemingly advanced the careers of needy metaphysical people. This person had a long history of manipulating the world for positive reward; many years were spent in this arena. Suddenly, during a rare moment alone, during meditation, this person was confronted by such negative force that it materialized as what appeared to be a “Spirit Shaman” (in this person’s own words), dedicated to destruction. The spiritual battle waged for 9 physically active hours. Without a resolve, the apparition finally faded, postponing more action until another meeting. The person was bedridden for several days from the devastation of the occurrence. I do not know if this person realized the personal responsibility involved for the battle; the Shaman being a manifestation of her Higher Mind. The person did, however, refrain from pursuing such a public life and retreated to do more internal work.
This account reminds us to be more aware of our deeds, whether private or public, especially when dealing with other people. We must strive for personal balance, take responsibility for our feelings and be conscious of positive ways to channel them, without unnecessarily involving others.
TRINITIES
The number 3 represents the backbone of magickal work, the most usable force in the universe. In the Zodiac, the 3rd House is ruled by Gemini, The Twins, which represents BALANCE. This symbolizes the acts of reading and writing, of communicating with others in a direct and clear fashion. Many Goddesses are symbolized by trinities of balance consisting of Maiden, Mother and Crone, like Hecate, while others have 3 jobs or talents that serve humankind, like Diana or Brigid. The God has 3 faces, the young God as Sun King, the mature God as Green Man or Grain God and the older God as the Horned God of Death and Resurrection. The Magick Circle is most commonly 9’ in diameter, or 3 x 3. Visualize the Goddess flowing into you through your left arm and the God flowing into you through your right arm, receptive and assertive energy in one balanced receptacle. Divine energy is manifest in you, the 3rd element. Other important balances of three include the following:
BLACK = WHITE = GRAY =
The Goddess The God Balance = Love
Receptive Assertive Growth = Wisdom
Yin Yang Evolution = Knowledge
Self Others Choice = The Law
“Negative” “Positive” Power = Power
Underworld Sky
Womb Birth
CONCEPTION/GROWTH/BIRTH BIRTH/MATURITY/DEATH
MAIDEN/MOTHER/CRONE FATHER/SON/HOLY GHOST
ASTRAL/MENTAL/ETHERIC ID/EGO/SUPER EGO
SUN/ASCENDANT/MOON IDENTITY/EGO/PERSONALITY
BODY/MIND/SOUL
SEXISM AND THE NEW AGE
We are bombarded by choices of belief structures and religions, from every imaginable place on Earth, some claiming to originate “off” the planet. From the informal New Age Movement to formalized western religion, people are exploring avenues of thought through the blending of many religions and universal folk-lore practices, many of which have been denied in years past. Seekers are reaching for understanding and finding disciplines filled with mystery and promise in such various forms as Shamanism, Tai Chi, Zen, Sweat Lodges, Angels. Many of these disciplines blend East and West, using the tools of our ancestors and neighbors. But, a note of caution regarding this movement; it is not wise to shift from one system to another without mastering skills, or to disregard one’s own ancestry (there is true power in the notion of genetic memory, see Chapter 4). And, finally, one of the most disturbing cautions, it is not wise to become obsessed with the notion of Ascension. It seems common place these days to desire not only communion with aliens, but to try to buy a ride home with them. Life on Earth, for many, has become tiresome, negative and boring; for some, the physical world has become a dark, cold place, a place from which to escape. This is certainly not a Pagan view of life.
In contrast, the essence of Paganism is to embrace the great gifts of both the Goddess and the God; the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. To be Pagan is to immerse our entire beings into the warm, dark Earth; feel Her nurturing, Her protection, to the extent that our 5 senses naturally expand. Thus, our essence is allowed to evolve, to go deeper within. We purpose to find the perplexing answers of the Universe in Nature, in our hearts, in our senses; discovering that we are all One with Nature, eternally connected to one another in the All. The ultimate end of the journey takes us into the All; just so we can do it all again...
People who are obsessed with Ascension, with going home to a distant star, are in fact practicing sexism. Sexism is manifest by harnessing the power of the subjugation of the senses. This carries with it the ideal of transmuting receptive (considered to be feminine, which then implies negative) energies into the Divine (considered to be masculine, or positive). Often, this obsession forfeits dark, intense color for pastels, which results in a rejection of black as a legitimate color. And when black is regarded as a non-color, as the absence of light, the conclusion is a personification of dark, which translates into the negative, the fear, the confrontation, and ultimately, the evil.
To illustrate this relationship between viewing the feminine as negative and the masculine as positive, consider the sexism common to Asia. For example, mass female infanticide in China, bride-burning in India, female circumcision in Pakistan (and in many other countries) are all accepted practices. These practices can only be legitimized by the syndrome of accepting that the female, by nature, is inferior, that she represents negativity, blackness, passivity, receptivity. It is strange that receptivity is considered to be a negative attribute by some; perhaps it is because we have become so fearful of our receptive energies, that we believe we (or our dark sides) are “naturally evil’.
In stark contrast to this negative view of the feminine, women’s natures are in fact nurturing, life-giving, awe-inspiring! It is time to embrace our Shadow Selves and discover what wonderful lessons they want to teach us. There is comfort in the dark; darkness is not negativity. Think of yourself at the base of a huge oak tree. The branches go forever, shading great areas of soil from the harsh rays of mid-day sun. Feel the base of the roots, reaching deep into the Earth. Now, visualize yourself following the course of those roots, deeper into the rich black soil. You are now totally immersed in the blackness of the soil; there is no light, but you are warmed by the constant moderate, balanced temperature. You are not afraid, feeling the grandeur of the tree itself. This is the cloak of blackness, the essence of the Divine Feminine: protective, life-affirming, receptive.
If we look at Humans as intrinsically neutral, rather than good or evil; we have a beginning point for growth and acceptance of all Humans, regardless of gender, race or belief structure. Survival teaches us to live; discernment teaches us to think. Love teaches us to accept; wisdom teaches us to evolve. All of these qualities teach us to bend. RESPECT TRADITION, QUESTION AUTHORITY!
Assignments
Purchase a large spiral bound notebook and designate it for Magickal purposes only. Find separator tabs so you can create new chapters when needed. Label the first three chapters as “Questions”, “Feelings” and “Visions” respectively. Each time you have a question, which I hope is often, enter it in the designated chapter. Follow the same procedure for “Feelings” and “Visions”. Every night before retiring, check your list of questions to identify which ones have been answered today. Make a notation after each entry. It is amazing how life has the habit of answering the most perplexing questions in everyday situations. As mentioned earlier, if we find ourselves struggling for answers, we can ask our Higher Mind and the Goddess and the God to continue to play out dramas in our everyday lives, so the answers will flow. In addition, we can request the Spirit World to guide us in our dreams.
Reading List
FICTION:
Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood. Houghton Mifflin Company,
NON-FICTION:
Casting the Circle, A Woman’s Book of Ritual by Diane Stein. The Crossing Press, 1996.
The Rede of Three
Silverstar Red Crow © 1998/2007
Ever mind the rule of Three
Three times what thou givest returns to thee.
This lesson well, thou must learn,
Thee only gets what thou dost earn!
To understand the Rede of Three, we must understand the process of creation itself. In numerology ONE (1) stands for the principle of the creative spark that generates life. TWO (2) stands for the principle of nurturing the spark so that life can form and grow. THREE (3) stands for the principle of manifestation, i.e., once the spark has become form and begins to grow, it needs to birth itself from the protective covering that has nurtured it in order to become an independent life form, free from constriction. This 3-fold process is the basis of Magick, the transformation of energy into form. Or, in other words, first one establishes a goal, clearly defining the need; this is INTENTION. Secondly, a time is determined that will be best suited to put the goal into action. This is RITUAL. Thirdly, one must have the patience to step out of the way of the workings of the universe and wait for the birthing of the goal. This is MANIFESTATION. Intention-Ritual-Manifestation is the Trinity of logic that is behind all magickal thought and practice.
It is important to understand that each step must be defined thoroughly, and to understand that once a thought form, backed with intention, is placed into the universe, there is no turning back! One can not undo magickal workings, good or bane. As practitioners of magickal thought, we must be patient and depend on the nature of our work, letting it unfold within the natural patterns of cycles. To practice a magickal lifestyle successfully, one must realize the power of individual thought and desire. Unconsciously, through the dream-state (whether in full sleep or day-dreaming) or by unfocused lust or desire, we have the ability to manifest a wide range of things in our lives. What on the surface may appear to be coincidence or accident, is indeed the workings of our unfocused energies. “Thoughts are things” is not a light-hearted joke.
We as individuals have an enormous impact on the world at large. Consider for a moment a random event such as a train derailment. Several years ago there was a string of human errors causing railway disasters in this country, errors due to fatigue and/or drug and alcohol abuse. As further illustration, allow me to paint a hypothetical picture… A rail engineer begins to dislike the railroad company to the point of swearing aloud each time the alarm clock goes off. The engineer wanted to quit this job so badly, that each day began with a string of curses against the company. Believing there was no escape, due to large debts and a growing family to care for, the engineer could not think of any alternatives. One day, seemingly just like another, the rail engineer climbed into the compartment, turned the dials of the warmed engine and started the usual run. But, as thoughts seeped in of how monotonous this job had become, the engineer’s eyes closed and a slow moving dream began to unfold. That day proved to be very different from other days—not only was the engineer’s life lost, but many other lives as well, causing the company to lose large amounts of money, and forcing them out of business. Cursing the company every day finally manifested itself. This was no accident!
To restate the point made above, when one is performing a repetitious action with focus, regardless if it is conscious or unconscious, one is performing ritual. Once a thought, in the form of a demand, desire, prayer or spell, is unleashed into the universe, a boomerang is created that grows with the force that fed it, until it returns to the initiator, transformed. Most often, a desire that is sent out during the New Moon will return before the next New Moon. The same is true for Full Moon work. The Dark Moon is an exception because the hidden forces (whether psychic, dream or Karmic) behind the subject are 3 times greater than usual. The Dark Moon is the phase of The Moon just before the New Moon. Consequently, it has stored the accumulated energy of the previous month, which is waiting to be released on the New Moon. This is the reason many Witches do not practice magick during the Dark Moon. The Rede of Three during this time is multiplied by three, making any returns of Dark Moon energy 9 TIMES GREATER than what was sent out. This increase in energy can be very helpful, though, especially when one is working with the subconscious mind. But, never under estimate natural, raw power, either in Nature or within yourself! And be ever vigilant to the thoughts and desires that you are sending into the universe. You might be doing more harm than you realize!
The next vital step in understanding the Trinity of logic and especially the power of MANIFESTATION is to take complete and utter responsibility for one’s thoughts, deeds and actions. This is easier said than done and is not achieved overnight. Few of us are masters of our universes. But, we must take certain steps towards that end, in order to achieve a working sense of the balance of energy required to successfully live a magickal life. More often than not, “Things” are not done to us. We choose to accept patterns into our lives in order to deal with life’s complexities, including finding a niche for ourselves and understanding interpersonal relationships. We must open ourselves to the possibilities of our powers of choice that create our life blueprints, before we can develop the skills to change them.
If one is motivated to change the world, to make it a better place to raise a family, for example, one must be willing to change one’s self first. Start by taking a deep breath and a look within; take a long, in-depth personal inventory of your life. Decide what you need to change to make yourself responsible for your own actions and to be constructive with your time; do this by yourself, for yourself! At this point, you might judge yourself as being selfish; you are. However, it is “Constructive-Selfishness”. You are learning to be an efficient manager of your life. By putting your life in good order, you are not only changing yourself, you are impacting the planet and changing the world! Isn’t that what recycling is all about, being efficient, thoughtful and directive? Magick works in the same manner. If you want to change a situation, you must start with yourself.
For instance, if you are having difficulty with a co-worker and you want that person removed from your life, perhaps the first step is to remove yourself. Obviously, there’s an underlying problem that is causing unrest to occur. Take an in-depth look inside yourself for answers and perspective. Write out a list of pros and cons for staying or leaving. Make a list of your options. I realize this train of thought sounds more like psychology than magick, but, in truth, good magick is good psychology. By being aware of your surroundings, staying in touch with your emotions, knowing your options and by being empathetic; you are practicing magick.
Magick is working in symmetry with the Natural World. If you include other people in your spellwork without their permission (whether you believe it is for their “Greatest Good” or not), you are practicing magick irresponsibly. This behavior is unacceptable. Our minds are incredible gifts, as well as tools. Do not be afraid to exercise your mind, analyzing any frustrating or confusing situation from every possible angle. Magick is not an easy way out, you must know your problem before you act. A Witch can live an entire life without casting a spell, just as a police officer who never draws a gun.
Everyone has a certain amount of choice in this life. For example, whether to be positive or negative is definitely a choice. But, what you might consider to be a positive action could be deceiving you. Let’s look at the workplace for another illustration. Your best friend is struggling at work with constant negativity and stress. Out of empathy, you decide to cast a spell to remove the stressful situation. You study the subject, you procure the correct herbs for removing obstacles, you decide on a phase of The Moon and the proper day and hour, you gather the right tools. Everything looks wonderful; you are doing a good deed after all, or are you? Do not forget to obtain permission. Although the situation is stressful, assuming that your friend truly wants to be out of the situation is arrogant and manipulative. Any act that is planned without permission becomes an act of manipulation. Using manipulation is an act of negativity! Without a full disclosure and without permission, you are committing an offense, primarily and profoundly against yourself, as well as your friend; you are not being HONEST. Consequently, you are doing harm, going against the basic tenet of the Red Witch Tradition. Take it a step further, your friend is indeed suffering, but he is learning the skill of saying NO. He’s been emotionally paralyzed and unable to evolve out of his dilemmas because of his inability to take a stand for himself or for a cause. Have you now robbed him of that lesson, due to your manipulations and misplaced care? What initially seemed to be an act of kindness has become a mess. Think very carefully before you jump at the opportunity to do spellwork, of any kind. You must develop the skill to look at every subject from many different angles. Once you have honed this skill, be prepared to work on this for your entire life, you might realize that taking no action is the right action.
Manipulation can be a serious offense, particularly if it is cloaked as misguided concern. Not too long ago I was involved with a person who was committed to what they called “the white road”. The white road is a state of mind attained to help oneself and the world, including all of Her creatures, live a life of positive serenity and personal perfection. This person truly believed in filling a desperate need for a world fit with disaster, devastation and negativity. Comfortable and financially equipped to spend countless hours networking, this one played as an intermediary for people. Without permission, the one on the “white road” helped form alliances; put together meetings of people who would not normally meet, arranged parties, and seemingly advanced the careers of needy metaphysical people. This person had a long history of manipulating the world for positive reward; many years were spent in this arena. Suddenly, during a rare moment alone, during meditation, this person was confronted by such negative force that it materialized as what appeared to be a “Spirit Shaman” (in this person’s own words), dedicated to destruction. The spiritual battle waged for 9 physically active hours. Without a resolve, the apparition finally faded, postponing more action until another meeting. The person was bedridden for several days from the devastation of the occurrence. I do not know if this person realized the personal responsibility involved for the battle; the Shaman being a manifestation of her Higher Mind. The person did, however, refrain from pursuing such a public life and retreated to do more internal work.
This account reminds us to be more aware of our deeds, whether private or public, especially when dealing with other people. We must strive for personal balance, take responsibility for our feelings and be conscious of positive ways to channel them, without unnecessarily involving others.
TRINITIES
The number 3 represents the backbone of magickal work, the most usable force in the universe. In the Zodiac, the 3rd House is ruled by Gemini, The Twins, which represents BALANCE. This symbolizes the acts of reading and writing, of communicating with others in a direct and clear fashion. Many Goddesses are symbolized by trinities of balance consisting of Maiden, Mother and Crone, like Hecate, while others have 3 jobs or talents that serve humankind, like Diana or Brigid. The God has 3 faces, the young God as Sun King, the mature God as Green Man or Grain God and the older God as the Horned God of Death and Resurrection. The Magick Circle is most commonly 9’ in diameter, or 3 x 3. Visualize the Goddess flowing into you through your left arm and the God flowing into you through your right arm, receptive and assertive energy in one balanced receptacle. Divine energy is manifest in you, the 3rd element. Other important balances of three include the following:
BLACK = WHITE = GRAY =
The Goddess The God Balance = Love
Receptive Assertive Growth = Wisdom
Yin Yang Evolution = Knowledge
Self Others Choice = The Law
“Negative” “Positive” Power = Power
Underworld Sky
Womb Birth
CONCEPTION/GROWTH/BIRTH BIRTH/MATURITY/DEATH
MAIDEN/MOTHER/CRONE FATHER/SON/HOLY GHOST
ASTRAL/MENTAL/ETHERIC ID/EGO/SUPER EGO
SUN/ASCENDANT/MOON IDENTITY/EGO/PERSONALITY
BODY/MIND/SOUL
SEXISM AND THE NEW AGE
We are bombarded by choices of belief structures and religions, from every imaginable place on Earth, some claiming to originate “off” the planet. From the informal New Age Movement to formalized western religion, people are exploring avenues of thought through the blending of many religions and universal folk-lore practices, many of which have been denied in years past. Seekers are reaching for understanding and finding disciplines filled with mystery and promise in such various forms as Shamanism, Tai Chi, Zen, Sweat Lodges, Angels. Many of these disciplines blend East and West, using the tools of our ancestors and neighbors. But, a note of caution regarding this movement; it is not wise to shift from one system to another without mastering skills, or to disregard one’s own ancestry (there is true power in the notion of genetic memory, see Chapter 4). And, finally, one of the most disturbing cautions, it is not wise to become obsessed with the notion of Ascension. It seems common place these days to desire not only communion with aliens, but to try to buy a ride home with them. Life on Earth, for many, has become tiresome, negative and boring; for some, the physical world has become a dark, cold place, a place from which to escape. This is certainly not a Pagan view of life.
In contrast, the essence of Paganism is to embrace the great gifts of both the Goddess and the God; the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. To be Pagan is to immerse our entire beings into the warm, dark Earth; feel Her nurturing, Her protection, to the extent that our 5 senses naturally expand. Thus, our essence is allowed to evolve, to go deeper within. We purpose to find the perplexing answers of the Universe in Nature, in our hearts, in our senses; discovering that we are all One with Nature, eternally connected to one another in the All. The ultimate end of the journey takes us into the All; just so we can do it all again...
People who are obsessed with Ascension, with going home to a distant star, are in fact practicing sexism. Sexism is manifest by harnessing the power of the subjugation of the senses. This carries with it the ideal of transmuting receptive (considered to be feminine, which then implies negative) energies into the Divine (considered to be masculine, or positive). Often, this obsession forfeits dark, intense color for pastels, which results in a rejection of black as a legitimate color. And when black is regarded as a non-color, as the absence of light, the conclusion is a personification of dark, which translates into the negative, the fear, the confrontation, and ultimately, the evil.
To illustrate this relationship between viewing the feminine as negative and the masculine as positive, consider the sexism common to Asia. For example, mass female infanticide in China, bride-burning in India, female circumcision in Pakistan (and in many other countries) are all accepted practices. These practices can only be legitimized by the syndrome of accepting that the female, by nature, is inferior, that she represents negativity, blackness, passivity, receptivity. It is strange that receptivity is considered to be a negative attribute by some; perhaps it is because we have become so fearful of our receptive energies, that we believe we (or our dark sides) are “naturally evil’.
In stark contrast to this negative view of the feminine, women’s natures are in fact nurturing, life-giving, awe-inspiring! It is time to embrace our Shadow Selves and discover what wonderful lessons they want to teach us. There is comfort in the dark; darkness is not negativity. Think of yourself at the base of a huge oak tree. The branches go forever, shading great areas of soil from the harsh rays of mid-day sun. Feel the base of the roots, reaching deep into the Earth. Now, visualize yourself following the course of those roots, deeper into the rich black soil. You are now totally immersed in the blackness of the soil; there is no light, but you are warmed by the constant moderate, balanced temperature. You are not afraid, feeling the grandeur of the tree itself. This is the cloak of blackness, the essence of the Divine Feminine: protective, life-affirming, receptive.
If we look at Humans as intrinsically neutral, rather than good or evil; we have a beginning point for growth and acceptance of all Humans, regardless of gender, race or belief structure. Survival teaches us to live; discernment teaches us to think. Love teaches us to accept; wisdom teaches us to evolve. All of these qualities teach us to bend. RESPECT TRADITION, QUESTION AUTHORITY!
Assignments
Purchase a large spiral bound notebook and designate it for Magickal purposes only. Find separator tabs so you can create new chapters when needed. Label the first three chapters as “Questions”, “Feelings” and “Visions” respectively. Each time you have a question, which I hope is often, enter it in the designated chapter. Follow the same procedure for “Feelings” and “Visions”. Every night before retiring, check your list of questions to identify which ones have been answered today. Make a notation after each entry. It is amazing how life has the habit of answering the most perplexing questions in everyday situations. As mentioned earlier, if we find ourselves struggling for answers, we can ask our Higher Mind and the Goddess and the God to continue to play out dramas in our everyday lives, so the answers will flow. In addition, we can request the Spirit World to guide us in our dreams.
Reading List
FICTION:
Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood. Houghton Mifflin Company,
NON-FICTION:
Casting the Circle, A Woman’s Book of Ritual by Diane Stein. The Crossing Press, 1996.
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Portland
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