At Patheos Star and Snake Brandy Williams reconnects with Thelemic community at Babalon Rising. Read more
At Patheos Star and Snake Brandy Williams reconnects with Thelemic community at Babalon Rising. Read more
I’m not a big fan of surprise. I’ve developed a particular dislike of surprises in initiations. I define initiation as a ritual that inducts the candidate into something new. In magical communities initiations connect the candidate with a group or an organization. They can also impart an energy. For example Tantric initiations can unlock the energy of a particular mantra. Somehow we’ve developed the idea that an initiation has to be a surprise to be effective. We shouldn’t know what’s... Read more
I am a Witch and a magician. There are more of us than you might expect. Witchcraft and ceremonial magic are compatible and complementary. The Original Connection Witches my age generally know something about ceremonial magic. When I became a Witch information about practice was scarce – I personally own every book before 1975 that talked about how to actually do Witchcraft. When we ran out of other things to study we picked up Israel Regardie’s books about Golden Dawn... Read more
Dr. Megan Rose shares her personal story and how she came to write about spirit marriage. Read more
When I resigned from Ordo Templi Orientis I promised myself I would keep all my initiatory oaths. Well, I said, except for one. After two years of saying that to myself I realized it was bothering me. Why that one? It was the one that would have prevented me from leaving – if I was going to resign I had to break it. The thing is, I had been thinking it was untenable from the moment I first gave it... Read more
Have you got your copy of the Big Purple yet? Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Ceremonial Magick is subtitled “A Comprehensive Guide to the Western Mystery Tradition”. Complete and comprehensive are accurate descriptors of this massive book. It’s meant to be a reference for public and private libraries everywhere. I find myself referring to it even more frequently than I expected. Each of the eleven chapters or “Books” takes on one of the major topics in the field. They really are... Read more
We often talk about how to find the right path or make a group but we don’t often talk about leaving one. Magical people gather in all kinds of groups: covens, circles, groves, lodges, fraternities, churches, schools, associations. When we join a group we form relationships with the people in it as well as the group as a whole. Leaving the group means ending one or all of those relationships. This can take as much preparation and processing as ending... Read more
I owe Charles Leland an apology. He’s arguably the grandfather of Witchcraft. Read more
I got to sit on a panel this week sharing tips for beginners, specifically new Witches but including anyone on the magical path. The panel was hosted by Krista Schwimmer and Michael Wamback of Sixth Sense Society. Panelists included Jacki Smith of Coventry Creations and Sandra Inman of Mystery Witch School. We spent two hours sharing how we got started on the path, how we use magical tools, what issues came up for us when we started and what we’re... Read more
There’s a sweet scent in the north woods. It’s Beltane and everything is blooming, the currants, the little wild roses, the rhododendrons. The wheel is turning and it’s cause for celebration! Warm winds and sweet flowers are a welcome blessing. The winter rain comes down so hard and cold here that it’s impossible to meet outside, and since outside is the only place that’s been safe to meet, winter has been isolating. Spring means seeing someone besides my family pod.... Read more
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