13 Goals of a Witch by Scott Cunningham

1. Know yourself
2. Know your Craft (Wicca)
3. Learn
4. Apply knowledge with wisdom
5. Achieve balance
6. Keep your words in good order
7. Keep your thoughts in good order
8. Celebrate life
9. Attune with the cycles of the Earth
10. Breathe and eat correctly
11. Exercise the body
12. Meditate
13. Honor the Goddess and God

The Living Rede

A lifetime of learning I’ve set to these pages,
Some learned from fools, and some learned from sages.
This tome contains musings: some wisdom, some rant.
Some will find truth here, some won’t and some can’t.
If your eyes fall upon this page, it’s meant for you,
For the Universe offers what you’re meant to do.
The Secret of Magic quite often astounds:
There isn’t a Secret! Just look all around!
The Trees teach you lessons the Willow that bends.
The challenge for you: learn the message it sends.
By Example and Symbol the Universe speaks.
It may happen quickly or take many weeks.
Be aware what you notice it needs your attention
If you’re going to hear what it’s trying to mention.
For the Universe rarely speaks loudly and clearly,
But it speaks all the time if you listen sincerely.
You’re here for a reason to heal, teach and learn.
The better you listen, the more growth you’ll earn.
The goal, it would seem, is reunion with Spirit.
Learn lessons while here, don’t run from, don’t fear it.
Though we travel our own paths, our lives interlace.
We must all grow together - this isn’t a race.
So be mindful of others, and help when you can,
A bird, tree or pebble, a woman or man.
Material, Ether and Astral involved,
Work them correctly, your problems be solved.
Magic is simple, has rules, like Mundane,
Push or pull with your Heart and direct with your Brain.
The Emotions you raise will determine its power.
The more you project, that much sooner its hour.
The Thoughts that you hold in your mind as you cast
Tell the power its job – where to go and its task.
If your thoughts falter or change while you work,
Your focus is lessened - your power will fork.
Dual aspects to work with, the God and the Goddess,
Called Yang and called Yin – the names matter not, honest!
Yang feels like anger – you feel in your chest.
It jumps to the hand and for quick work is best.
Yin is much softer – it’s felt at the womb.
The power of Love and the peace of a tomb.
Yang is aggressive – Male “Get It Done Now!”
If you’re in a hurry, Yang does it, and how!
Yin is more subtle, for delicate tasks.
If you’re working with love, it’s the one you should ask.
All genders have both, their intensities varied,
And strong you will be with both energies married.
Be Humble and True, though, whatever your power.
Sometimes you’re the lightning, sometimes you’re The Tower.
The Cards hold no magic, the Runes have no secret
That’s not found within you – if only you’ll seek it.
Negative or Positive? Sometimes you must give.
The Antelope dies so the Lion may live.
Remember, when tragedy breaks down your door:
Whatever you lose, you will gain so much more.
I know it sounds hard, when loss brings pain and sorrow,
But you will know joy again – next year, or tomorrow.
One thing that I’ve found, and I hope you will heed:
Ask not what you want from life. Ask what you need.
Ask what you want and it may come to you,
But ask what you need: What you came here to do.
This far through my Rede you have stayed and have read.
Down paths much like mine you are likely to tread.
I welcome you, joyful, a companion to walk,
For someone to listen to, someone to talk.
These pages are yours to accept or critique.
May your road straight to Spirit unfold at your feet.
Stay if you will, here, or leave if you must.
Blessed Be, One and All. Perfect Love. Perfect Trust.

A Free Service of www.aPath.org
Copyright © 2004
Free Distribution Permitted when this notice is present.

The Witch's Cry

Behold the Witch...as strong as any man.
Know the Witch...as she walks upon the land.
Respect the Witch...her powers to beguile.
Admire the Witch...her understanding smile.
Honor the Witch...as pure as Mother's love.
Applaud the Witch...as destiny she moves.
Acclaim the Witch...as the future she designs.
Envy the Witch...her patience over time.
Regard the Witch...her inspiration deep.
Commend the Witch...her family she keeps.
Approve the Witch...as standard she upholds.
Revere the Witch...her faith and will, extol.
Appreciate the Witch...as nature she appraises.
Eulogize the Witch...as children she raises.
Venerate the Witch...for she keeps the ancient lores.
Become the Witch...and these values will be yours…

The Witch Alone- Scott Cunningham

Beyond the town, beneath the moon
Beside the standing stone
There lives a woman, fair of faith
We call the witch alone
She sings to sun and moon and stars
And gathers herbs and weeds
With which she fashions ancient charms
And other magic deeds
She worships not at altars built
By hands of mortal men
But in the misty glade
Beyond the farthest glen
What need has she of flashing swords
Of crystals glowing bright
Of censors and of colored cords
That grace the wiccan rite?
Her tools are fashioned from the earth
And wind and fire and rain
Her rites are dances wild and free
That call the gods amain
When spring and summer pass to fall
And twilight fills her eyes
She'll lie upon the browning grass
And smile as she dies
For though she leaves her mortal shell
Of flesh and blood and bone
She knows she does not die but lives
On, as the witch alone.…

Goddess Grace

I am the Goddess of a thousand names and infinite capacity. All Her gifts are mine. All Her powers reside in me.

I am Athena of Greece. Like my totem the owl, I am wise for I see and hear everything around and within me. Like the oak, I am strong for the olive of peace is sacred to me.

I am Bast, cat goddess of Egypt. I am graceful, flexible, playful, and affectionate. I radiate the warmth and light of the glorious sun.

I am Cerridwen of Wales. My magic cauldron contains food for the soul, an inexhaustible source of wisdom and inspiration. The more I give, the more I receive.

I am Diana, Roman goddess of the ever-changing moon. I am a protectress of women and children, a guardian of the wild. I focus my aim on my heart's desire and draw it to me.

I am Ereshkigal, Assyro-Babylonian goddess of the underworld, Queen of the Great Below. I shed dead skin to grow. Deep powers of renewal are mine.

I am Freya, Well-beloved Nordic Lady. I survey the beauty of my world in joyous flight. I celebrate and honor the bonds between friends and lovers.

I am Gaia, Greek Earth Mother. Grounded and centered in the rhythms and patterns of chaos, I emerge to create my universe.

I am Hecate of Greece. Triple Goddess of the crossroads of choice. I balance my powers of thought and my emotion. I choose the path I walk. The torch of my reason is illumined by my brilliant intuition.

I am Isis, Egyptian Queen of the World. I offer healing and transformation to all in need. I hold the power to shape my world.

I am Jagad-Yoni, Hindu universal yoni, womb of the world. I am the gatekeeper of the next generation. I choose the life that emerges through me. I use my power wisely.

I am Kwan-Yin of Buddhist China, goddess of compassion. I hear and comfort the wounds of the world. I welcome children and teach the magic of change.

I am Liban, Irish mermaid goddess. I revel in the healing power of pleasure. Quench your thirst at my sacred well.

I am Maat of Egypt. Truth, justice and law are the natural order of my universe. Harmony arises as I attune to my divine will.

I am Nu-Kua, Chinese dragon-tailed creaturess. I restore the cosmic equilibrium. I form community among women and men, connecting in equality of love and respect.

I am Old Spider goddess of Micronesia. I created the moon, the sea, the sky, the sun, and the earth from a single clamshell. All the vast and varied universe is present in the smallest forms of life. As above, so below. As within, so without.

I am Pele, Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes. My fiery energy erupts from my core to create new worlds. I flow easily over obstacles in my path.

I am Qedeshet of Syria. I balance lightly on the lion I ride. Laughter lifts me from the pull of gravity. The lotus blossoms I hold and the serpents I carry symbolize the life and health I bring.

I am Rhiannon, horsewoman, Divine Queen of Wales. My steady pace is swift and smooth. I travel freely through the world, safe, serene and secure. My winged friends can wake the dead, and lull the living to sleep.

I am Sedna of the Eskimos. Know and honor me through my animals. Bears, whales, and seals, all creatures of the land and sea are part of me. We share the right to be.

I am Tiamat of Babylon, primordial sea-serpent. I am the great mother womb who brought forth the earth and the heavens. I dive deep into the watery unconscious to find the treasures buried there.

I am Uttu, Chaldean-Sumerian goddess of weaving and vegetation. I offer shelter and nourishment to all who know me. We weed and clothe each other through our work.

I am Vasudhara, Hindu goddess of abundance. My six arms hold everything you need and offer it to you. Earth Water Fire Air Center Spirit Purpose Love Passion Wisdom Here Now.

I am White Woman of Honduras. I descend from heaven to build my temple on earth and return as a glorious bird. I honor and express my true spirit. My beauty is beyond compare.

I am Xochiquetzal, Aztec goddess of flowers, love spinning, weaving, singing and dancing. I am an Original Woman. I delight in sharing my many gifts.

I am Yemaya, Nigerian Fish Mother, Brazilian Voodoo mermaid. Lakes, rivers and oceans are my home. The waters of life belong to me. We cleanse and sustain each other.

I am Zoc, Gnostic Acon of Life. Mother of All Living.

I am the embodiment of growth and vitality.

I am unique life energy.

I am the Goddess of a thousand names and infinite capacity. All Her gifts are mine. All Her powers reside in me.

We are the Goddess of a thousand names and infinite capacity. All Her gifts are mine. All Her powers reside in me.

You are the Goddess of a thousand names and infinite capacity. All Her gifts are thine. All Her powers reside in thee

Song of the Goddess

I am the Great Mother, worshiped by all creation and existent prior to their consciousness.
I am the primal female force, boundless and eternal.
I am the chaste Goddess of the Moon, the Lady of all Magic.
The winds and moving leaves sing my name.
I wear the crescent Moon upon my brow and my feet rest among the starry heavens.
I am mysteries yet unsolved, a path newly set upon.
I am a field untouched by the plow.
Rejoice in me and know the fullness of youth.
I am the blessed Mother, the gracious Lady of the Harvest.
I am clothed with the deep, cool wonder of the Earth and the gold of the fields heavy with grain.
By me the tides of the Earth are ruled; all things come to fruition according to my season.
I am refuge and healing.
I am the life-giving Mother, wondrously fertile.
Worship me as the Crone, tender of the unbroken cycle of death and rebirth.
I am the wheel, the shadow of the Moon.
I rule the tides of women and men and give release and renewal to weary souls.
Though the darkness of death is my domain, the joy of birth is my gift.
I am the Goddess of the Moon, the Earth, the Seas.
My names and strengths are manifold.
I pour forth magick and power, peace and wisdom.
I am the eternal Maiden, Mother of All, and Crone of darkness, and
I send you blessings of eternal love.

Goddess Speak to Me

A child whispered "Goddess, speak to me"
And a meadowlark sang but the child did not hear.
So the child yelled "Goddess speak to me!"
And the thunder rolled across the sky.
But the child did not listen.
The child looked around and said "Goddess let me see you"
And a star shone brightly.
But the child did not notice.
And the child shouted "Goddess show me a miracle"
And a life was born.
But the child did not know.
So, the child cried out in despair.
"Touch me Goddess and let me know that you are here!"
Whereupon Goddess reached down and touched the child.
But the child brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

An Earth Pledge by Patricia Telesco

I pledge to greet each day as a new beginning,
To walk with gentle, respectful steps on this Earth,
To live in peaceful reciprocity with nature,
To see the best in my fellow creatures,
I pledge to give some time each week to reclaiming the land,
To renew plants and animals that humankind, misused,
To learn the old ways, close to the soil,
To heal, to nurture, to grow in oneness.
I pledge to live a magickal life each day, each moment,
and try to meet needs spontaneously,
To serve with loving hands and heart,
To work in perfect trust.
So mote it be.

A Pentacle in my Pocket

Another old favorite of mine was a cross in my pocket and finding this by Amanda Dickerson brought a smile to my face! Enjoy!!!

I carry a pentacle in my pocket
A simple reminder to me
Of the fact that I am a Pagan
No matter where I may be
This little magic pentacle
One of my good luck charms
A symbol that I can manifest anything
As long as none it harms
It's not for identification
For all the world to see
It's simply an understanding
Between my Deity and me
When I put my hand in my pocket
To bring out a coin or key
The Pentacle is there to remind me
Of the Magick all around me
It reminds me too, to be thankful
For my blessings day by day
And to strive to live life better
In all that I do and say
It's also a daily reminder
Of the peace and comfort I share
With all who know of Magick
And conduct themselves with care
So, I carry a pentacle in my pocket
Reminding no one but me
That Magick brightens my life
And so mote it Be!

Footprints for Pagans

I always held a special place in my heart for the poem footprints and today while surfing around the web came across this. Hope you like it as much as I do!!!

Imagine you and the Lady are walking down the road together.
For much of the way, the Lady's footprints go along steadily,
consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized
stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and
returns.
For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually
your footprints come more in line with the Lady's, soon paralleling Hers
consistently.
You and Goddess are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens:
Your footprints that once etched the sand next to hers are now
walking precisely in Her steps.
Inside Her footprints are your smaller ones, you and the
Goddess are becoming one.
This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another
change..
The footprints inside the other footprints seem to grow
larger.
Eventually they disappear altogether.
There is only one set of footprints, they have become one.
This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of
footprints is back.
This time it seems even worse!
Zigzags all over the place.
Stops.
Starts.
Gashes in the sand.
A variable mess of prints.
You are amazed and shocked.
Your dream ends.
Now in meditation you speak with her:
"Dear Lady, I understand the first scene with zigzags and
fits. I was a new Pagan; I was just learning. But you walked on through the
storm and helped me learn to walk with you."
"That is correct."
"...And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I
was actually learning to walk in Your steps; following you very
closely."
"Very good. You have understood everything thus
far."
"...When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I
suppose that I was becoming you in every way."
"Precisely."
"So, Dear Lady, was there a regression or something? The
footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first."
There is a pause as my Dear Lady answers me with a smile in
her voice.
"You didn't know? That was when we danced and
sang!!!"

Drawing Down the Moon

"Drawing down the moon" isn’t exactly a piece of pagan mythos, pagan ethics or something that can really be included in the encyclopedia section- it’s something that really is in between. Usually this poem or incantation is used during ritual to bring the influence of the moon into your ritual. It’s quite popular and has a large following, however, not everyone uses it. It’s simply a nice, traditional way to connect to the goddess influence and lunar energies.

All ye assembled at my shrine,
Mother darksome and divine.
Mine the scourge and the kiss,
Here I charge you with this sign.
All ye assembled within my sight,
Bow before my spirit bright.
Aphrodite, Arianrod,
Lover of the Horned God.
Mighty Queen of Witchery and the night,
Morgan, Etione, Nisene,
Diana, Bridgid, Melusine,
Am I named of old by men.
Artemis, Cerridwen,
The Underworld’s Dark Mistress,
Summerland’s Queen.
Ye who ask me of this Rune,
or would ask me a boon.
Meet me in some secret glade,
dance my round in greenwood shade.
By the light of the full Moon,
In a place, wild and lone.
Dance about mine Alter Stone,
work my Holy Mystery.
Ye who are feign to sorcery.
I bring ye secrets yet unknown.
No more shall ye know of slavery,
who give true worship unto me.
Ye who tread my round on Sabbat night,
come ye naked to the rite.
In token that ye truly be free.
I teach ye the mystery of rebirth,
work ye my mysteries in mirth.
Heart joined to heart and lip to lip,
five are the points of fellowship.
That bring ye ecstacy on earth,
for I am the circle of rebirth.
I ask no sacrifice, but please do bow,
no other law but love I know,
By naught by love may I be known,
All things living are my own.
From me, they come,
To me, they go.
I invoke thee and call upon thee,
Mighty Mother of us all.
Bringer of fruitfulness by seed and by root.
I invoke thee by life and love,
and call upon thee to descend into the body of thy Priestess
and servant.
Hear with her ears, speak with her tongue,
touch with her hands, kiss with her lips.
That thy servants may be fulfilled.

Which Tarot Card are You?

You are the Lovers card. The Lovers card is about
union. Each of us carries in our DNA the
ability to be the opposite of what we think we
are. Often our romantic attachments grow out of
awe and respect as we see in another the
characteristics we repress in ourselves.
Society often presses us into molds of what it
thinks masculinity and femininity should be. As
a result, many of us associate with our gender
certain positive characteristics and call
others negative, when if these same qualities
were held by a person of the opposite sex, our
attitude towards them would be reversed.
Getting in touch with our inner animus and
anima, (Jung's terms for our inner male and
female), allows us to see the whole of our
personalities in a positive and constructive
light. When you draw The Lovers card in a
reading, you are working with balancing these
forces. Depending on where the card is, you
have either achieved balance or need to. The
Lovers could indicate a romantic or even a
platonic relationship. Ask yourself is this is
a positive relationship that contributes to
your growth as a complete human being, or if it
fills an emotional craving within you that is
actually detrimental to your personal growth.
Image from: The Iranian artist Riza.
http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/view1.asp?dep=14&item=50%2E164

Which Tarot Card Are You?
brought to you by

Element: EARTH

Direction: North
Season: Winter
Time of Day: Midnight
Tarot Suit: Pentacles
Magickal Tool: Pentacle
Sabbats: Lammas, Mabon
Moon Phase: Waning
Gender: Female
Colors: Black, Brown, Citrine, Green, Olive, Russet, White
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo
Elemental Being: Gnome
Sense: Touch
Stone(s): Black Tourmaline, Brown Jasper, Cat's Eye, Chrysoprase, Coral, Crystal, Emerald, Green Agate, Green Calcite, Green Jasper, Green Tourmaline, Jet, Malachite, Olivine, Peridot, Turquoise
Symbols: Acorn, Ant, Bison, Bull, Coal, Cow, Dog, Eagle, Earthworm, Gopher, Hawk, Horse, Ox, Rock, Salt, Snake, Soil, Stag, Wheat Sheaves, Wolf
Metal: Iron, Lead
Goddesses: Ceres, Demeter, Geae, Mah, Nephthys, Persephone, Prithivi, Rhea, Rhiannon
Gods: Adonis, Athos, Arawn, Cernunnos, Dionysus, Marduk, Pan, Tammuz

Creatures:
Cows and Bulls, Stags and Does, Buffalo, Moose, Antelope, Goats, Sheep Boars, Wolves Rabbits, Squirrels and Chipmunks, Gophers, Groundhogs, Badgers Centipedes, Termites, Worms, Woodbugs Earth Dragons, Gnomes, Dwarves,The Archangel of the North and the Earth is Uriel. Dressed in greens, browns, and black, he is a fearsome, quiet figure who offers justice. He is the patron of psychics and an initiator into the mysteries.

Herb/Essence:
Alfalfa, Barley, Beet, Benzoin, Bistort, Buckwheat, Comfrey, Corn, Cotton, Cypress, Daffodil, Fern, Fumitory, Grains, Honesty, Honeysuckle, Horehound, Ivy, Knotweed, Lichens, Loosestrife, Magnolia, Moss, Mugwort, Nuts, Oak, Oats, Oleander, Patchouly, Pea, Potato, Primrose, Quince, Rhubarb, Rice, Rye, Sage, Shave Grass, Tulip, Turnip, Vervain, Vetivert, Wheat, Wood Sorrel

Magick:
Abundance, Agriculture, Archeology, Buildings and Houses, Birth, Body, Burial Magick, Business Success, Centering, Construction and Fabrication, Creativity, Death, Emplyment, Endurance,Family, Ferility, Gardening Magick, Healing, Image Magick, Job and Career Matters, Knot Magick, Magnet Magick, Malleability, Material Gain, Material Need, Materialization, Money, Nature, Nutrition, Nurturing, Old Age, Peace, Planting Magick, Practicality, Prosperity, Responsibility, Silence, Stability, Stone Magick, Strength, Sustenance, Thoroughness, Tree Magick, Weight Problems, Wisdom

Psychological Qualities:
Balanced Earth:
Concentration, Connectedness, Endurance, Industry, Nutrition, Responsibility, Self-assurance, Thoroughness
Imbalanced Earth:
Dullness, Hoards posessions, Laziness, Misanthropy, Obsessiveness, Tardiness

Things to do to feel connected with the Element of Earth:
....Imagine yourself walking in the forest. See the tall trunks around you, smell the dry leaves on the forest floor. See where the sunlight filters through the branches, and see the little flies that are highlighted in the sunbeams. Beside you is a tree that has fallen over. You go to sit on it... You see a small seedling growing in the fallen log, its roots digging in to anchor it, its branches reaching up for the sky... ....And as you sit there, let part of your energy body grow like roots into the log...through the moss that covers the trunk...down into the wood itself...feel the grain of the wood as your roots grow down through it. ..see the insects that are eating the wood, let your roots search out moisture and nutrients...growing ever deeper and more solidly into the log.. .and as you pull the nutrients up into your being, feel them sucked up into your head and arms....turn your face up to the sun and feel its warmth and light...let the wind play around you and feel how solidly rooted you are in the log...

The element of Earth represents our Mother, the planet Earth itself. It represents body and solidness. It represents permanence, stability, and security. All the things of Earth are things you can see and hold. If Earth is Matter, it's also the Mother, or Mater. It represents nourishment on all levels. So Earth encompasses the soil which nourishes the plants and the insects and worms that process the decayed matter in the Earth to turn it into food. It represents the plants and all creatures that eat the plants. So it represents all the animals that run on four legs ...or two...or many...

Go out to a garden...preferably in the early or late winter when the ground is bare of snow but unplanted. Best to do this with your bare hands if you can. Stick your hands into the earth, and feel it...the moisture, the texture....ooops, something tickles....you pull your hands out and drop the handfulls of earth. Quick...look....see the little creatures that go scurrying into the earth...back to the moist darkness where they feel safe.. ..
Pull up another handfull of earth and really look at these little beings ...they are busy eating last year's cast off leaves and turning the matter they were made of into the rich dark soil that will nourish next year's growth. Without all these tiny friends, the earth would be smothered under a pile of garbage...and it would quickly be depleted of nourishment.
Take a moment to express your gratitude...for the Earth, for the food She provides, and for the infinite cycle of food and waste and recycling that support all life on this planet. Express your gratitude for the food that nourishes you. Express your gratitude for the beauty of the plants that will grow in this soil, and for how that beauty nourishes your soul. Blessed Be.

Earth is the element traditionally placed at the North pole of the circle. North represents Winter. It also represents the Winter of our lifetime... old age, when our bodies are no longer fertile, but our dreams are. Within the cycle of the day, Earth represents midnight, the time of complete darkness after dusk and before dawn.
If you know where you can find a cave, take a trip to it...or perhaps go into the woods to a place where a tree has fallen and you can sit in the hole left by its roots and look up and the wall of intertwined roots. If you can, and it's safe, go near dusk...so you are there as darkness gathers. If you are going to a cave, you can go at any time, if there is a spot in the cave that is dark...if all else fails...go into a root cellar for a bit.
But take some time to sit in the cool darkness. Let your mind be quiet.... sense the peace to be found in this place where you are partly within the Earth. Put aside all the concerns of daily living and really feel this peace. As the concerns of daily life fall away one by one, slow your breathing until you are barely moving. Allow yourself to feel your body... and to let the boundary between your body and the earth around it become hazy...so that they merge as one... Let your awareness gradually slow and become one with the earth. And rest in this dark silence...at peace... knowing that it is enough to be...and to be one with all Her children. Any thoughts that come to distract you...replace them with the mantra "I AM"... until your beingness, as Hers, is all there is....

While all of the elements offer their own types of healing, Earth is the element that rules the healing of our bodies. It is the element of the plants...so the healing herbs... although each herb will have a unique balance of the elements within it. And of course, it is the element of the crystals, used for healing on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.

Take some time to sit on the earth...you may go back to your cave or cellar for deep emersion, or just sit on some soft earth anywhere. Feel how your body touches the earth. Let your roots grow into the earth again, deep, deep into the rich nourishing soil, seeking out what they need. And let them grow down further, through the bedrock, finding the cracks and crannies they can grow through...deeper and deeper...until they come to the heart of Mother Earth herself. And let your connection to the Mother be deep and strong.
Then feel all the parts of your body. Have you pain or tension anywhere? Let your awareness to into that place, and see the pain. See what colour it is. Now let that colour start to drain down through your body, down into your roots and through them to the Mother. And feel the energy She offers in exchange coming back up your roots, into your body, and into the area where you hurt. Feel that energy, Her love, as warmth or coolness, whichever is most healing for you...it can be straight from the fire at Her core...or cooled by the underground streams it passes through. See that energy, possibly white or red, seeping into the painful area. Keep using your breath to encourage the painful energy down your roots, and to pull in the loving, healing energy of the Mother. Keep doing this, slowly, easily...peacefully...for several minutes...for as long as it takes to completely offer to the Mother all of your pain, knowing She will transform it in the fire at Her core and replace it with her cool love. And see how the area that was sore feels now...

Take a moment, while out in the woods on a winter day, when all is gray and black and brown, to be still and meditate on the processes of life. Perhaps you will feel the stirrings of life in the soil under your feet... for the soil is never still even when there is no green growing from it. Perhaps you will contemplate how this apparent barrenness is truly the gestation of the life that will burst forth as the wheel turns toward Spring . Perhaps you will feel and know the connection you have to all living things through being a creature with a body animated by energy. Perhaps you will feel the calling of the ancestors whose bodies lie in the earth and whose energies whisper through the living things that rest around you. This is the time to reach deep into yourself and deep into Mother Gaia to understand the mysteries of life.

You might wish to make an altar in the northern part of your house to honour the Element of Earth and the Gnomes. Drape it and decorate it in browns, greens, and black. Offer stones and crystals, pots of earth or bowls of salt, coins, gems, herbs sacred to Earth, and the cast off gifts of animals, such as antlers or hooves. Welcome the Element and the Gnomes to make this their home. Then light the candles on this altar when you cook, wrap gifts, work with your family, plan your finances, or do healing work.

Invocation to the North and the Earth Element:
Hail Guardian of the North, Element of Earth.
Hold this corner of our circle and let the Earth support it.
Send to me the industrious Gnomes to help in my healing work.
Bless me with the beauty and healing of the herbs and crystals,
Nourishment for my body, mind, heart, and spirit,
Understanding of my connection to all living things,
And a melding with the mysteries of life.
I feel you and welcome you.
Blessed Be.

Element: AIR

Direction: East
Season: Spring
Time of Day: Dawn
Tarot Suit: Swords
Magickal Tool: Athame, Sword, Censor
Sabbats: Imbolc, Samhain
Moon Phase: New
Gender: Male
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius, Gemini, Libra
Elemental Being: Sylph
Sense: Hearing, Smell
Stone(s): Amethyst, Aventurine, Mica, Moon Stone, Mottled Jasper, Pumice, Topaz
Symbols: Birds, Bubbles, Cow, Eagle, Feather, Flowers, Incense Smoke, Spider, Swan, Winged Insects, Wings
Metal: Copper, Mercury, Tin
Goddesses: Aradia, Arianrhod, Cardea, Nuit, Urania
Gods: Enlil, Khephera, Mercury, Shu, Thoth
Colors: Blue-White, Crimson, Gold, Sky Blue,Violet, White, Yellow

Creatures:
Eagles, Hawks, Nightingales, Larks, Hummingbirds, Wrens, Chickadees, Sparrows, etc. Butterflies, Dragonflies, Bees, Ladybugs, Air Dragons, Fairies, flying horses Angels are also associated with Air, although there are angels specifically associated with each of the elements. The Archangel often called as Guardian of the Air is Raphael. Raphael's name means "Healer of God." He is robed in gold, yellow, and blue. He carries a caduceus, the wand entwined by two serpents used as a symbol of healing. He rules science, knowledge, compassion, and healing. Another Being who carries a caduceus, of course, is Mercury, messenger of the Gods, who rules intellect, verbal expression, science, synthesis, and research. Mercury is another Guardian of the Air.

Herb/Essence:
Acacia, Agaric, Agrimony, Almond, Anise, Ash, Aspen, Banyan, Bean, Benzoin, Bergamot, Bistort, Bittersweet, Bodhi, Borage, Bracken, Brazil Nut, Bromeliad, Broom, Caraway, Chicory, Citron, Clover, Dandelion, Dill, Dock, Elecampane, Endive, Eyebright, Fenugreek, Filbert, Frankincense, Galbanum, Goat's Rue, Goldenrod, Hazel, Hops, Houseleek, Lavendar, Lemon Verbena, Lemongrass, Liliy of the Valley, Linden, Mace, Male Fern, Maple, Marjoram, Mastic, Meadowsweet, Mint, Mistletoe, Mulberry, Myrrh, Palm, Pansy, Papyrus, Parsley, Pecan, Peppermint, Pimpernel, Pine, Pistachio, Primrose, Rice Senna, Sage, Senna, Slippery Elm, Snowdrop, Southernwood, Star Anise, Summer Savory, Vervain, Violet, Wax Plant, Yarrow


Magick:
Abstract Thoughts, Breadth, Change, Communication, Concentration, Dispel Gossip, Divination, Dreams, Educations, Find Lost Item, Flying, Forgetfulness, Four Winds, Freedom, Freshness, Frivolity, Group Work, Ideas, Intellect, Intelligence, Intuition, Joy, Knowledge, Mental, Mind, Movement, New Beginnings, Organisation, Overcoming Addictions, Pattern, Positive Thinking, Psychic Power, Psychic Workings, Purification, Speaking, Studies, Suspension, Teaching, Tests and Examinations, Theory, Travel, Truth, Visualization, Visualization Magick, Will, Wind Magick, Will, Wisdom, Wish Fulfillment, Writing...Prose, Poetry, or Music

Psychological Qualities:
Balanced Air:
Clarity, Creativity, Diligence, Discernment, Flexibility, Independence, Joy, Optimism, Teaching Ability
Imbalanced Air:
Arrogance, Boastfullness, Contempt, Dishonesty, Emotional Coldness, Frivolity, Gossip, Paranoia, Slyness

Things to do to help you feel connected with the Element of Air:
...Take a deep breath into your heart, and let it out. As you breathe in, take a moment to ponder the mystery of this ocean of air we live in. We and all the other animals breathe in the air and remove the oxygen so that we can live...we use it to extract energy from our food. The waste product is Carbon Dioxide, which we breathe out. Our cousins the plants take in the Carbon Dioxide and use it to trap the energy of the sunlight, so that when we eat them we extract this energy. The plants give off oxygen, which they breathe out...and the cycle of life continues...giving and receiving so that we all live...like your breath...in...and out...

The element of Air is associated with the East in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the where the Sun rises, so this thinnest and most etherial of the elements is associated with Sunrise...and new beginnings. It is associated with Springtime and the wonder and curiosity of childhood.

Think of the joy you feel as the sky lightens in the East. Think of the sense of potential you feel as you see the clouds take on the glorious colours of the beginning of a new day. Of course, we feel the same sense of potential, of awe at the beauty of a life beginning when we hear the cry of a newborn babe, or when the winds of Spring blow the scents of the thaw and the bursting blossoms our way...

The element of Air is, of course, associated with the sense of smell. While there are scents we associate with each of the elements , the scents of Spring flowers come to mind. And the scents we use for cleaning the air...lavender, lemongrass, and pine. Incense is the magical tool of the East and the Air.

Think for a moment about how scent can effect your mood... your state of mind. How does the memory of cinnamon make you feel? ...perhaps you remember apple pies your mother used to make...it can make you feel loved and nurtured. And roses...late summer evenings...romantic interludes. And lavender...your grandmother's house...a sense of age and cleanliness. Frankincense and Myrrh...churches...sacred spaces...

The element of Air is also associated with music. Of course, sound is transmitted through airwaves. But Air provides the songs of the wind rustling in the trees. Of all the songbirds. Of flutes and whistles. Of our own voices raised in song. Certainly, one can associate certain types of instruments with each of the elements, and we will, but Air is the element of that first creative urge to create beautiful sounds...

Some morning when you are awake early enough to greet the dawn, make a point of really listening to the birds as they sing their joy at the coming light of a new day. In fact, get up out of bed and go outside...before coffee or anything else. Listen to the riot of song around you, and take part if you wish. Call back to the birds. Maybe offer them some seed. Really feel the joy of interacting with these creatures of Air at the time when Air's energy is highest...

Some sunny morning, perhaps in the Spring...get up early and go to some point, perhaps a hilltop somewhere where you are near the sky. Sit for a moment and enjoy the view. Feel the wind on your skin and in your hair. And take out a large notebook. Ask for the guidance and help of Raphael or Mercury if you wish. Start with a word, any word, maybe "beauty." And let the wind blow ideas, images, and associations into your mind. Write them all down...just jot them down, maybe in little clouds like in the comics...bursting out from the original word. For now just make as many connections and associations as you can. Fill up a few pages. Then take a few deep breaths, read what you have, and use the ideas and images to construct either a story, paragraph, word picture, or poem, whatever is easiest to you. Then stand and read it aloud to the wind...and know that you have received the gift of inspiration from the element of Air...and returned the gift of your own creativity.

You might wish to make an altar in the eastern part of your house to honour the Element of Air and the Sylphs. Drape it and decorate it in pale blue, yellow, and white. Offer feathers, dragonfly wings, pipes, pale blue stones, incense, herbs sacred to air. Welcome the Element and the Sylphs to make this their home. Then light the candles and incense on this altar when you read or write or study.

Invocation to the East and the Air Element:
Hail Guardian of the East, Element of Air.
Hold this corner of our circle and let the Air blow into it.
Send to me the beautiful Sylphs to help in my healing work.
Bless me with the music and strength of the winds,
The inspiration of the Sunrise,
The clarity and perception of the soaring eagle,
And the clear communicating power of language.
I feel you and welcome you.
Blessed Be.

The Goddess Etain

Have you ever felt a sense of magic in the air?

That titillating sense of excitement that can't quite be put into words?

Or, have you ever felt that you have been dragged through the mire

almost to the point of complete hopelessness and despair,

when suddenly, you break through,

a new day dawns and you find your soul soaring to new heights?

This is the wonder of Etain.

This is the magic and the beauty that She brings into our lives.

Etain (pronounced Ay-deen) is a Celtic Goddess whose name means "Shining One". A Goddess of beauty and grace, She is also one of the White Ladies of the Fae. She is associated with the sun, dawn, the sea, rain, water, healing, medicine, earth, fertility, horses, butterflies, apple blossoms, swans, music, fragrance and the transmigration of souls. It is said that the land goes dormant when Etain is not around and the flowers bloom when she comes near. Her stone, the emerald, signifies the greening of the earth that She brings about. Her trees are ash and elder. She belongs to the Hare Moon of April/May.

Etain's story is called "The Wooing of Etain". It begins with a king of Ireland named Eochaid Ollathair(also called the Dagda, or the 'good god') having a desire to lay with Eithne (or Boand) who was the wife of Elcmar. So the Dagda sends Elcmar away on a journey and works all manner of spells to keep him from returning early and thus discovering that the Dagda had been with his wife. Eithne conceives and bears a child names Aengus Mac Oc, the God of Love. The Dagda takes his son to Bri Leith in Tethba to be fostered by Midhir, King of the Fae. There Aengus was raised for nine years, thinking Midhir was his father. Finally, after a spat with another youth, Aengus comes to know his true parentage. He and Midhir set out to ask the Dagda for land to be given to Aengus as is his right, being the King's son. Through some conniving and trickery on the parts of all three, Aengus ends up with the land once owned by Elcmar.After a time, Midhir comes to visit Aengus Mac Oc, and a quarrel breaks out between some youths. Midhir goes down to the playing field to break it up, and in the process, loses an eye. Aengus brings the great Tuatha De Daanan physician, Dian Cecht, to restore Midhir's eye, and then promises him a reward. One of the many things that Midhir asks for as a reward is "the maiden that surpasses all the maidens in Ireland in form", who is Etain, daughter of Ailill. She is described as the dearest and gentlest and loveliest in Ireland. Aengus goes to Ailill and asks for Etain. He is declined unless he does a series of impossible tasks, which he performs with the help of the Dagda. Finally Ailill asks for Etain's weight in silver and gold. She was placed on the floor in Ailill's house and her weight of gold and silver was given to him, and Aengus brings Etain home to Midhir.
Etain and Midhir remained with Aengus for a year, and then left for Midhir's castle. Midhir's first wife, Fuanmach, was a jealous and powerful woman, who had been raised by a wizard. Immediately upon seeing Etain, she wished her ill and turned her into a pool of water, which changed in to a worm and then into a purple fly (butterfly).But alas, Fuanmach finds out where Etain is, and blows up another wind. This time, Etain is tossed around for a thousand years, until finally, she falls into the drinking cup of the wife of Etar, who becomes impregnated with her and gives birth to her again, naming the girl child Etain. From the time she is a young girl, Midhir finds her and comes visiting, but she doesn't recognize him. She grows up and marries Eochaid, king of Ireland. It is then that Midhir challenges Eochaid to a game of chess. They play a few games for stakes and Eochaid wins. Midhir gives him what he asks for. Finally, Midhir wins, and asks for a kiss from Etain. Eochaid could not turn down the request and retain his honorability, so he arranges for the kiss to take place on a certain night.However, on that night, he places guards all around and through-out his kingdom, to keep Midhir out. Midhir appears out of nowhere in the midst of the dining hall, takes Etain in his arms and the two of them change into swans, linked together by a golden chain, and then they fly off to his castle in Bri Leith.

Etain was bartered and sold. She was mistreated, hated, and changed into a lowly fly. It was one thousand and twelve years from the time of her first incarnation as the daughter of Ailill, to the time of her incarnation as the daughter of Etar. During that time she knew hunger, weariness, and hopelessness, yet she did not give up. She continued on, and in the end remembered who she was and was reunited with the love of her life.This is what Etain teaches us. No matter what comes our way, no matter how the storms of life toss us around, no matter if the entire world hates us and scorns us, there is still hope. We WILL be transformed, balanced and made whole. She reminds us that we too will shine like Her, and be reborn, both physically and spiritually. Nothing that happens to us can change our inner essence.

The butterfly is significant in Etain's story because of it's symbolism of transformation, rebirth and resurrection. Butterflies are not born butterflies. They must go through a series of stages. These stages are egg, larvae, cocoon, and finally emerging as butterfly We, too, go through these stages. Not only in our physical bodies and spiritual lives, but also in various projects we have in life. We can use these stages to determine exactly where we are. For example, do we have an idea? Then we are in the egg stage. We are in the larvae stage when we decide to act on our idea; the cocoon stage when we begin doing something to make it a reality; and the butterfly stage when we bring our idea out into the open and share it with others. All four of these stages are necessary steps that must be undertaken in order to arrive at transformation. All four of these stages are necessary steps on the road to rebirth.

The swan is also very symbolic in the story of Etain. Swans are symbols of love, beauty, transitions, spiritual evolution and faithfulness. Swan teaches us that by knowing ourselves and remaining faithful to who we truly are, we will be transformed from the ugly duckling to the beautiful swan. Swan teaches about surrendering to the spiritual flow in our lives and letting our true beauty shine forth.

Call on Etain when you are weary, she will answer.
Call on Etain when you have forgotten who you are and she will remind you.
Call on Etain when the only strength you have left is that of speaking her name
and she will come to you and bring the beauty back into your life
with her power of transformation.
Call on Etain. Her loveliness will surround you and take you home.

The Witches Creed

Hear now the words of the witches,
the secrets we hid in the night,
When dark was our destiny's pathway,
that now we bring forth into light.
Mysterious water and fire,
the earth and the wide-ranging air.
By hidden quintessence we know them,
and will and keep silent and dare.
The birth and rebirth of all nature,
the passing of winter and spring,
We share with the life universal,
rejoice in the magickal ring.
Four times in the year the Great Sabbat
returns and witches are seen,
At Lammas and Candlemas dancing,
on May Eve and old Hallowe'en.

The Witch's Rune

Eko, Eko, Azarak
Eko, Eko, Zomelak,
Eko, Eko, Aradia,
Eko, Eko, Cernunnos!
Darksome night and shining moon,
Hearken to the Witch's Rune
East, then South,
The West, the North,
Here we come to call ye forth
Earth and Water,
Air and Fire
Work ye unto our desire
Wand and pentacle and sword
Hearken ye unto our word!
Cords and censer,
scourge and knife,
Waken all ye into life.
Powers of the witch's blade--
Come ye as the charm is made!
Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell,
Lend your power unto the spell.
Horned hunter of the night
Work our will by magick rite!
By all the power of Land and Sea,
As we do will, So Mote it Be!
By all the might of Moon and Sun,
Chant the spell and be it done!
Eko, Eko, Azarak,
Eko, Eko, Zomelak
Eko, Eko, Aradia,
Eko, Eko, Cernunnos

The Wiccan Rede

Bide you the Wiccan laws you must,
in perfect love and perfect trust.
Live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the circle thrice about,
to keep the unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell every time,
let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch,
speak little and listen much.
Deosil go by the waxing moon,
chanting out the Wiccan rune.
Widdershins go by the waning moon,
chanting out the baleful tune.
When the Lady's moon is new,
kiss your hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak,
then the heart's desire seek.
Heed the North wind's mightly gale,
lock the door and trim the sail.
When the wind comes from the South,
love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind blows from the West,
departed spirits will have no rest.
When the wind blows from the East,
expect the new and set the feast.
Nine woods in the cauldron go,
burn them quick and burn them slow.
Elder be the Lady's tree,
burn it not or cursed you'll be.
When the wheel begins to turn,
let the Beltane fire burn.
When the wheel has turned to Yule, light the log,
the Horned One rules.
Heed you flower, bush and tree,
by the Lady, blessed be.
Where the rippling waters go,
cast a stone, the truth to know.
When you have and hold a need,
harken not to other's greed.
With a fool no seasons spend,
or be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and merry part,
bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law you should,
three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow,
wear the blue star on your brow.
True in love you must ever be, l
est their love be false to thee.
These words the Wiccan Rede fulfll:
An it harm none, do what you will.

The Charge of the Dark Goddess

Listen to the words of the Dark Mother, who of old was called Hecate, Nuit, Morrigan, Banba, Erda, Macha, MotherNight, Sekhmet and many other names.
Whenever you seek wisdom, at the time of the Darkening Moon, come together in love and trust and learn of Me, who am the Wisest of Crones. You who search the mysteries of the Earth, the secrets of air and darkness, of blood and fire, the silence of the uttermost stars, come unto me, and I shall whisper to you in the depths of midnight.
You shall approach Me in silence, and as a sign that you are free from fear, your breast shall bare to My blade, for fear has no place in My mysteries, and that which you seek of me will destroy you if you fear it.
For I am the dolmen arch beyond which stretch the mysteries of infinity. I am the silence before birth and after death. I am the clouded mirror in which you scry your own soul. I am mist in the twilight, the vast and starry sky of midnight, shadows on the Moon. All things come to Me in the end, and yet I am the beginning of all. I meet you at the crossroads, I lead you through the darkness, My hand you grasp in the passage between the worlds. To those that toy with Me, I am an instrument of self-destruction. Yet to the true seeker do I bring knowledge beyond mortal comprehension.
Of you shall I demand the utter truth of all that you are, and in return shall I give you all that you may be, all that I am. For My wisdom is beyond the Ages, and knowledge of My secrets is power over self, over fear, over death. Nor do I demand aught of you, which you cannot give. For I am the Mother of Mysteries, and as you know Me so shall you learn to know yourself.

The Charge of the Goddess (rhyming)

I am the harmonious tune of the songbird
And the laughter of a gleeful child.
I am the bubbling sound of the running brook
And the scent of the flowers wild.
I am the floating leaf upon the breeze
And the dancing fire in the forest glade.
I am the sweet smell of rains upon the soil
And the rapture of passion when love is made.
I am the germination of see in the Spring
And the ripening of wheat in the sun.
I am the peaceful depth of twilight
That soothes the soul when day is done.
I am found in the twinkling of an aged eye...
And found in the birth of a newborn pup....
Yes, birth and growth and death am I
I am the gracious Earth, on whom you sup.
I am your sister, your mother, the wise one.
I wrap you gently in the warmth of my love.
That which you seek you shall find within
Not without, not below, not above.
Remember always, my children, be reverent.
Be gentle, loving and kind to each other
And hold sacred the Earth and its creatures
For I am the Lady: Creatrix and Mother!

The Charge of the Goddess

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who was of old also called amongst men Artemis, Astarte, Diana, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianrhod, Isis, Bride and by many other names.
At my altars, the youth of most distant ages gave love, and made due sacrifice. Whenever you have need of anything, once in a month, and better it be when the Moon is full, then shall you gather in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me, who am Queen of all Witcheries.
There shall you assemble ye who are fain to learn all sorcery, yet have not won its deepest secrets; to these will I teach things that are yet unknown. And you shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be really free you shall be naked in your rites. And you shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love all in my praise; for mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and mine also is joy on Earth, for my law is love unto all beings.
Keep pure your highest ideal, strive ever towards it; let naught stop you or turn you aside, for mine is the secret door which opens upon the door of youth. And mine is the cup of the wine of life and the Cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of Immortality.
I am the gracious Goddess who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man, upon Earth I give knowledge of the Spirit eternal, and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those who have gone before; nor do I demand sacrifice, for behold I am the Mother of all living, and my love is poured out upon the Earth. Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess.
She in the dust of whose feet are the hosts of Heaven, whose body encircles the universe. I who am beauty of the green Earth and the white Moon amongst the stars. And the mystery of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man, call unto thy soul. Arise and come unto me, for I am the souls of Nature who gives life to the universe.
From me all things proceed, and unto me all things must return. And before my face, beloved of Gods and men, thine inmost divine self shall be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite.
Let my worship be with the heart that rejoices, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. And therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honour and humility, mirth and reverence within you.
And you who thinks to seek for me, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail you not, unless you know the mystery, that if that which you seek you find not within thee, you will never find it without thee. Behold I have been with you from the beginning and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

Dianic Creation Myth by Morgan McFarland

In the infinite moment before all time the Goddess arose from chaos
and gave birth to Herself.This was before anything else had been born ... not even Herself.And when She separated the skies from the waters she danced upon them.
As She danced, so did Her ecstasy increase.
In Her ecstasy She created everything that is.Her movements made the wind and the element Air was born and did breathe.And the Goddess named Herself: Arianrhod, Cardea, Astarte
And sparks were struck from Her dancing feet so that She shone forth as the Sun,
and the stars were caught in Her hair.
Comets raced about Her, and the element Fire was born.And the Goddess named Herself: Sunna, Vesta, Pelé
About her feet swirled the waters in tidal wave and river, and flowing stream.The element Water did move.And She named Herself: Binah, Mari Morgaine, Lakshmi
And She sought to rest her feet from their dance, and She brought forth the Earth so that the shores were Her footstool, the fertile lands Her womb, the mountains Her full breasts, and Her streaming hair the growing things.And the Goddess named Herself: Cerridwen, Demeter, the Corn Mother
She saw that which was and is and will be,
born of Her sacred dance and cosmic delight, and infinite joy.She laughed, and the Goddess created Woman in Her own image,
to be the Priestess of the Great Mother.From Her Elements; Earth, Air, Fire and Water, the Goddess created for Herself
a Consort- for love, pleasure, companionship and sharing.The Goddess then spoke to Her daughters, saying:
"I am the Moon to light your path and to speak to your rhythms.I am the Dancer and the Dance. I whirl without motion.I am the Sun who gives you warmth in which to stretch and grow.I am All that will Be.I am the Wind to blow at your call and the sparkling Waters that offer joy.I am the Fire of the Dance of Life, and I am the Earth beneath your dancing feet.I give to all my priestesses three aspects that are Mine:I am Artemis, the Maiden of the Animals, the Virgin of the Hunt.I am Isis, the Great Mother.I am Ngame, the Ancient One who winds the shroud.I shall be called a million names.Call unto me, daughters, and know that I am Nemesis."We are Virgins, Mothers, Old Ones- All.We offer our created energy:to the Spirit of Women Past,to the Spirit of Women yet to come,to Woman Spirit Present and Growing.Behold, we move forward together
And it is Good.”