Grimoires

The Elementals

• the five elements
• placements
• properties and correspondences
• personality correspondences

Properties of Duality

• deity relationships
• duality
• laws of duality
• deity graph

The Phases of the Moon
The Wheel of the Year

• solar festivals
• lunar festivals
• the wheel of life

Ethics

• personal Creed
• a Wiccan Code of Conduct

Pagan Time Line

Wiccan Traditions

Pagan Traditions

World Teachings

Pagan Personalities

Personality Test

Qualities of a Good Teacher

Finding A Name

My Name

Glossary

Matter to Energy Correspondences

Fire

Associations: banishing, exorcism, strength, lust, employment, protection, change, legal matters, courage, anger, breaking curses, fidelity, astral travel

Items: candle, hearths, athames, swords, wand, iron, red or orange stones, pike, claymore, matches, flint, ashes, torch, bracelet, solar disk, broom, gold, spear, lariat, scourge, whip

Magic: candle, astral travel, sex magick

Water

Associations: romance, psychic powers, astral travel, dreams, meditation (calmness), healing, spiritual pursuits, childbirth, death, rebirth, spirit contact

Items: cup, cauldron, bowl, pitcher, goblet, ring, barrel, trident, cool liquid, wine cask, silver, convex shield, tea kettle, sea shells, paint brushes, bolline, sickle

Magic: cleansing, healing

Air

Associations: travel, intellectual pursuits, communication, spiritual awakening, music

Items: staff, trident, stang, wand, feather, incense, sling, claymore, pike, single-headed axe, dagger, spear, javelin, earrings, broom, wind instruments, scourge, whip, broach, smudge stick, letter opener, pen/pencil, fan, smooking pipe, copper, arrow

Magic: visualization, divination

Earth

Associations: fertility, magick for home and animals, prosperity, healing, grounding

Items: disk, carved wood block (bearing pentacle), hammer, stones, clay, bowl of soil, salt, sand, double-headed axe, shield, wheel, necklace, club, roots, drum, bronze, bow, mallet

Magic: knots, grounding

Spirit

Associations: centering, binding, uniting

Items: pentagram, candle, cords, binding objects

Elemental Placements

Traditional
(complimenters)

Use: rituals and traditional uses

earth
water center air
fire

Nordic
(opposites)

Use: balance of opposites, personal energy work, psychological

air
water center fire
earth

Divine
(providers)

Use: connection with masculine (God) and feminine (Goddess) energies

air
water center earth
fire

Properties and Correspondences

Personality Correspondences

Deity Relationships

Duality

Laws of Duality

• All things are converse properties of one infinite reality
• Everthing changes; all beginnings lead to an end and vice versa
• All opposites are complimentary and every condition has an opposite.
• No two things are identical
• The extreme of any condition will evenutally lead to its opposite.
• Nothing is solely male or female.

Deity Graph

Dark of the Moon

The time when the Moon stops waning and begins waxing.

This is the time for quiet and looking inward. Magick during this time focuses on celebrating the Child and the mystery of life. The Dark of the Moon is also a good time for scrying and other methods of divination.

New Moon
(Child)

The time of the New Moon (the first two or three days the new crescent is visible)

This is a good time for celebrating new beginings or doing magick which involves growth (starting a diet, beginning a new course of study, etc.).

Waxing Moon
(Maiden)

As the Moon grows in light, the energies of growth come with her.

The day of the Full Moon and the day or two just before the calendar day of the Full Moon are the best times for doing Magick for bringing something to you (a new job, prosperity, good luck, etc.).

Full Moon
(Mother)

The Full Moon is the best time for consecrating tools, charging jewelry, working magick to bring something to you, and raising energy for Earth or other Healing. Waning Moon (Crone)

The Waning Moon

The Waning Moon, especially the days just before the Dark of the Moon are best for doing magick for removing something from your life (bad habits, stress, etc.)

Solar Festivals

Samhain

• date: october 31
• season: fall-winter quarter
• colors: black, white, orange
• celebration: the god dies, the goddess mourns
• activity: remember those who have passed on

Yule

• date: december 22
• season: winter solstice
• colors: white, red, green
• celebration: the god (sun) is reborn
• activity: carve a sun symbol on a Yule log and burn it, all night vigil for sunrise

Imbolc

• date: february 1
• season: winter-spring quarter
• colors: purple, white, yellow
• celebration: the goddess recovers, the god child is consecrated
• activity: light every candle in the house

Ostara

• date: march 21
• season: spring equinox
• colors: yellow, green, blue
• celebration: the god-child becomes an adult
• activity: take a celebratory walk in the country, chocolate ritual

Beltane

• date: May 1
• season: spring-summer quarter
• colors: green, yellow, red
• celebration: the god desires the goddess, they wed and consummate
• activity: join two things together in a ritual marriage

Litha

• date: June 21
• season: summer solstice
• colors: red, yellow, blue
• celebration: the goddess becomes pregnant
• activity: leap over a fire for protection, observe sunset

Lughnasadh

• date: august 1
• season: summer-autumn quarter
• colors: brown, blue, red
• celebration: the god matures
• activity: plant a seed, fast for 24 hours and remember the hungry

Mabon

• date: september 22
• season: autumn equinox
• colors: blue, yellow, orange
• celebration: the god grows old and weak, seeks wisdom
• activity: collect dried plants

Lunar Festivals

The Wheel of Life

Child

• Age: one to thirteen
• Moon phase: new (1st quarter)
• Season: late winter
• Characteristics: the young child sees the world as full of mystery and adventure

Maiden/ Suitor

• Age: fourteen to twenty-seven
• Moon phase: 2nd quarter
• Season: spring
• Characteristics: the maiden comes to know herself and seeks to join in union with others and the special other.

Mother/ Father

• Age: twenty-eight to forty one
• Moon phase: full (3rd quarter)
• Season: summer
• Characteristics: the mother accepts responsibility and offers care, love, and protection to others.

Crone/ Sage

• Age: forty-two to fifty five
• Moon phase: 4th quarter
• Season: autumn
• Characteristics: the crone reflects back on a long life. This is the time to determine what legacy the person will leave to the world and a time to pass on wisdom and experience to others.

Queen/ King

• Age: fifty-six on
• Season: winter
• Characteristics: the ancient returns to the spirit she had as a child. Free of responsibilities, she takes this final chance to live life fully while preparing for the next journey.

Personal Creed

Before creation, a presence existed and yet exists. Self-contained, formless, mateless. It is the Child-to-be. it is the one nameless unknowable thing of no-thing. Perhaps it should be called “the fullness of life.” Seeking itself, the One divided. When the One became two there developed a balance of opposites - two forces in constant motion opposing yet a part of each other. These are the forces of the gods. The God is the active principle while the Goddess is the retro-active principle. Both balance each other and are held in place by the Center - the One. From the God and Goddess developed the mystic Child - the life force in all its many forms. It is this force which exists to make the one conscious of itself. These three together form the sacred trinity that is the essence of all things. The presence of the three emanates out to the four quadrants: North, South, East and West diversifying into the four stages of matter to energy: solid (Earth), liquid (Water), gas (Air), and energy (Fire). In life forms, these quadrants are represented as the four aspects: physical (Earth), spiritual (Water), mental (Air), and emotional (Fire). A well balanced person must acknowledge all four of these aspects while remaining fixed to the center of the self and the universe - the fifth aspect. These four aspects anchored by the Center emanate out wider and wider until the corners begin to round, returning the five, four, three, and two to the original one. Thus, the great circle of life becomes whole.

Wiccan Code of Conduct

• An If It Harm None, Do As Thy Will
  • Strive not to harm (physically, emotionally, or spiritually) either others or yourself but act to live joyfully and reverently in accordance with your higher self to the mutual benefit of all.
• Ye Reap What Ye Sow
  • When a seed is planted, let it bear fruit. Return kindness with kindness. Remember the Three-fold Law.
• Thy Spoken Word is thy Soul
  • Keep sacred your word and your oaths.
• Thou art thy Mother’s Steward
  • Respect Nature and strive to live in harmony with her.
• Thou art Steward of thy Mother’s Children
  • Do not kill except for food or protection. Aid those beings that need aid when you are able.
• Thou art Steward of Thyself
  • Belittle the beliefs of no other but be true to your own. Honor and respect yourself.
• Observe Thee ye Wheels
  • Observe the sacred times, festivals, and cycles. Learn from the cycles of nature
• Live Ye in Harmony
  • Strive to live in peace even with those with whom you disagree.

   

possible pre-Celtic influences

BCE

• 2500 Mystery cults develop in Minoa.
• 2000 Greek Civilization inherits mystery cults from the Minoans.
• 700 Romans absorb Greek and Etruscan practices.
• 600 Fairy images appear in Etruscan art
• 525 Pythagoras establishes mystery school in Southern Italy
• 400 Celts invade northern Italy
• 322 Alexander the Great conquers Egypt
• 155 Critolaus formally introduces Greek philosophy in Rome
• 50 Romans carry mystery teachings into Gaul
• 30 Rome conquers Egypt

CE

• 43 Romans carry mystery teachings into Britain
• 150 Celts conquered by the Romans who spread mystery teachings to the Celt farmers
• 410 Romans withdraw from Britain. Romanicized Celtic religion spread throughout Britain
• 600 First written mystery texts including Taliesin early pagan sources
• 1533 AgrippaÕs three books of occult philosophy
• 1600 First modern (dedicated to ritual) Masonic lodges in Scotland
• 1736 Witchcraft Act enacted in England + ascribed punishments to those claiming to work magic
• 1824 Vagrancy Act enacted in England + outlawed any acts of divination or similar
• 1896 The Key to the Mysteries & Transcendental Magic Eliphas Levi
  • english translations of earlier (1860) works in French
  • used the term “occult” as meaning secret knowledge
  • pentagram as symbol of microcosm, hexagram as macrocosm
  • use of four elementals
  • use of invoking and banishing pentagrams
• 1875 HP Blavatsky founds Theosophical Society in New York
  • brings together concepts of eastern and western mysticism
  • claims that all religions have some elements of the whole truth
• 1877 Isis Unveiled H.P. Blavatsky
• 1881 The Occult World A. P. Sinnett
• 1884 founding of the Hermetic Society
  • advocated temples rather than lodges
  • use of the four quarters related to directions and watchtowers
  • use of working tools: chalice, sword, scourge
• 1888 The Secret Doctrine H. P. Blavatsky
• 1888 Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn founded
• 1897 Aradia Charles Godfrey Leland
  • advocates the celebration of Diana on the full moon
  • use of cakes and ale
• 1903 Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion Jane Ellen Harrison
  • related mother, maiden, and an unnamed third to moon phases
• 1904 Book of the Law Aleister Crowley
• 1921 The Witch Cult in Western Europe Margaret Murray
  • stated theory of ancient goddess traditions
  • covens of thirteen people
  • celebrations of four sabbats
• 1922 The Golden Bough (abridged and updated version) Sir James Frazer
  • proposed ancient belief in a dying god related to cycles of vegetation
• 1929 Magick in Theory and Practice Aleister Crowley
  • inverted pentagram as matter over spirit
  • used tools: oil, bell, censer, book of spells
  • introduced word magick to distinguish from sleight of hand
• 1947 Gardner (1884 - 1964) and Crowley meet

Modern Wicca

• 1947 Gardner and Dafo starts New Forest Coven, England
• 1948 The White Goddess Robert Graves + fictional work that discussed the triple goddess and completing HarrisonÕs triple aspects with the word crone
• 1949 High MagicÕs Aid Gerald Gardner
  • use of athame
  • the Book of Shadows
  • made women an equal part of ceremonies
  • celebrated 8 sabbats
• 1951 repeal of English Witchcraft and Vagrancy Laws
• 1954 Witchcraft Today Gerald Gardner
• 1965 Alexander Sanders first coven publishes their Book of Shadows
  • coven emphasizes more high magic in ritual
• 1966 “Regency” founded by followers of Robert Cochrane
  • use of black robes
  • eliminated the scourge
  • outside rituals
  • air=west, south=fire, west=water, north=earth
• 1971 What Witches Do Farrars
  • comprehensive disussion and rituals of Gardnerian tradition
• 1975 An ABC of Witchcraft Past and Present and Natural Magic Doreen Valiente
  • made self-initiation possible
  • emphasized correspondence with nature
  • magic could be used for good by anyone
• 1979 Spiral Dance Starhawk
  • related magic in terms of psychology
  • energy is the essence of magic
  • principles of karma applied to magic
  • the gods are real forces from human energies
• 1979 Drawing Down The Moon Margot Adler
  • discussed pagan history but with an eye toward Wicca as a modern development
• 1980 The Holy Book of Women’s Mysteries Z Budapest
  • introduced feminist viewpoint to witchcraft
• 1988 Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner Scott Cunnigham
  • brought Valiente’s approach to solitary witchcraft to America

  Wiccan Traditions

   

  Gardnerian

  Organized by Gerald Gardner in England in the 1950's. One of the first to attempt to codify what was perceived as ancient practices into a single system and then publish the system. They follow a highly structured route in ceremony and practices.

  Alexandrian

  Founded in England during the 1960's, by Alex Sanders. The rituals are modified from the Gardnerian tradition.

  Celtic

  The use of Celtic/Druidic pantheon mixed with a little ritual Gardnerian, and heavily stressing the elements, nature and the Ancient Ones. They had a vast knowledge of and respect for the healing and magickal qualities of plants and stones, flowers, trees, elemental spirits, the little people, gnomes and fairies.

  Celedonii

  Formally known as the Hecatine Tradition, this denomination of the Craft is Scottish in origin, and still preserves the unique festivals of the Scots. Ceremonial (High Magick Followers of the Tradition uses a great deal of Ceremonial magick in their practices. Detailed rituals with a flavor of Egyptian magick are sometimes a favorite, or they may use the Qabbalistic magick.

  Dianic

  First pinpointed by Margaret Murry in 1921 in the "The Witch cult in Western Europe," this term appears to include a mixture of various traditions. In recent years the focus has been on the Goddess, and has been pegged as the "feminist" movement of the Craft.

  Eclectic

  It is where a individual does not follow any particular tradition, denomination, sect or magickal practice. They learn and study from many magickal systems and apply to themselves what appears to work best.

  Hereditary

  One who can trace the Craft through their family tree and who has been taught the Old Religion by a relative who was living at the same time.

  Kitchen
  (Hedge or Green)

  One who practices by hearth and home using natural elements and tools in practice. Rituals tend to be uncomplicated and spontaneous.

  Pictish
  (Faery)

  Scottish Witchcraft that attunes itself to all aspects of nature: animal, vegetable,and mineral. It is a solitary form of the Craft and mainly magickal in nature based on belief in Òthe little people.Ó

  Seax-Wica

  Founded by Raymond Buckland in 1973. Although of Saxon basis, it was authored by Raymond himself without breaking his original Gardnerian oath.

  Solitary
  (natural)

  One who practices alone, regardless of tradition, denomination, or sect.

  Strega

  Follows a tradition seated in Italy that began around 1353 with a woman called Aradia; based on the book of the same name.

  Teutonic
  (Nordic)

  From ancient time the Teutons have been recognized as a group of people who speak the Germanic group of languages. Culturally, this included the English, Dutch, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish peoples.

  Pagan Tradititions

  Druid

  Based on traditions of the British Isles

  Thelema

  Ceremonial Magick based on the work of Aleister Crowley

  Shamanism

  Practices based on Native traditions such as the Native Americans. Shamans practice crossing between the material and the spirit world in order to heal others.

  Cultural

  Uses symbols and pantheons from particular pagan cultures of the past such as Egyptian, Greek, Roman, etc.

  Asatru

  Strict followers of Scandinavian and Norse Mythology

  Orisha

  African tradition using special spirits called Orishas

  Golden Dawn

  Follows the practices set out by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

  Voudon

  Popular in Haiti. A combination of Orisha and other African traditions with a heavy emphasis on spirit magick.

Yellow - quiet, reserved, loyal, interested in finding new ways to get things done, analytical, detached, thoughtful, ambitious

Orange - serious, hard-working, spontaneous, resolute, sees things through, good public speaker, can be easily bored, critical, can be worrisome

Red - warm-hearted, couragious, popular, very physical, helps others, fun-loving, very sexual, energetic and driven

Brown - practical, adventurous, provider and protector, enjoys performing, enjoys group activities and sport, works well with others, strong leader, assertive, organized

Green - down to earth, enjoys the outdoors, likes using tools, enjoys gardening, likes firm and consistent foundations in life, is forthright, materialistic, conventional, faithful, often strict

Black - independent, loyal, good writer, adaptable, laid back, day-dreamer, interested in social justice, enjoys crafts, ethical, enjoys security, can be withdrawn, secretive

Purple - creative thinker, likes new ideas, non-conformist, quiet and reserved, intuitive and thoughtful, has strong values, acts independently, inventive, may be rigid and distant, emotional

Blue - cool and calm, relaxed, a dreamer, reserved, intuitive, good listener, artistic, family oriented, sensitive, romantic

White - (center) extremely well balanced, resourceful, good at many things

The Pagan Personality Test

1. Are you:

2. Do you enjoy:

3. Do you prefer to:

4. Do you tend to:

5. Do you tend to:

6. Do you tend to:

7. Would you say you are:

8. If you have extra money do you usually:

9. Are you more often lead by your:

10. Is it more important to you to:

11. Are you better at:

12. Do you prefer:

13. Do you tend to:

14. Do you tend to:

15. Is it better to:

16. Do you prefer:

17. Which would you rather be:

18. Would you rather

19. Would you rather be:

20. Would you rather be:

21. Are you better described as:

22. Do you prefer:

23. When forced with a difficult question you would rather:

24. Would you rather:

25. On a nice day, would you rather:

26. On a nice day, would you rather:

Scoring: Count the number of As and Bs. Score the greater of the two.
If the As are greater, mark the remaining number on the water side.
If the Bs are greater, mark the remaining number on the fire side.

Count the number of Cs and Ds. Score the greater of the two.