A Word on "Wicca"

 Wicca is a neo-pagan religion that evolved from pre-Christian traditions in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The discovery of cave paintings from more than 30,000 years ago points to the idea that Wicca is actually much older. The religion is based on an awe-inspiring appreciation of Nature and that the spirits of the One, Goddess and God exist in all things – nature’s creatures, trees, flowers and oceans. Everything on Earth is divine.

Many forms and branches of Wicca exist, but Gerald Brousseau Gardner is most often credited as its founder. In the early 1950s he claimed that he was a part of an ancient witches coven in Southern England and his writings about witchcraft became the cornerstone for the development of Wicca throughout the world.

Contrary to what has been popular belief, Wicca has nothing to do with Satanism or evil. Throughout history, witches have been unjustly hunted, chastised and murdered. During the medieval period, there were many myths about witchcraft (all evil) and that connotation carried over for centuries. Even in the early years of the American colonies, a lie turned into the Salem witch trials.

In May 2007, the U.S. Veteran’s Administration allowed (after an approximate 10-year delay) the pentacle to be placed on the headstones of fallen Wiccan and Pagan soldiers. And the U.S. military does recognize Wicca as a religion – people practicing the religion are allowed the same religious rights as people of other faiths.

The most commonly worshipped god within Wicca (and there are many variations) is the Horned God, who represents a masculine power. The counterpart is the Triple Goddess, who represents a female power. The Triple Goddess signifies the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone.

Wicca rituals, spells and magic are done for good and the benefit of the whole. Magic is used by Wiccans to bring positive change to the world and its people. Their belief is to do no harm, yet protect them from negative or evil influences. It is believed that any action performed, either good or bad, will manifest itself three times greater, giving way to a boomerang effect. This is referred to as the Law of Three. The magic and spells are also used for healing, fertility, love and creativity.

The most common symbol is the pentagram, which symbolizes the five elements of Wiccan beliefs: air, earth, fire, water and spirit. Wiccans have a tremendous respect for the earth and the elements. They acknowledge changing of the seasons, the lunar phases and cycles of nature to gain spirituality and worship the divine. Most Wiccans celebrate a cycle of festivals throughout the year, called Sabbats or Sabbaths. There are eight of these celebrations and are collectively known as Wheel of The Year. They are separated into six or seven weeks, which correlate with the seasonal cycles of the earth.

Groups of witches are called covens (formal groups) in which they practice their rituals and traditions. The traditions and teachings of the Gods and Goddesses are passed on to its followers using a system made up of three degrees. The first degree is for those newly coming into the Craft. It is what is considered an initiation period. The second degree marks the beginning of taking a deeper path within the teachings. The third degree is granted to those who have gained the knowledge and have obtained the status of elders within their covens. They have become a High Priestess or Priest....<<<Read More>>>...

What Is Magic?

 Magic, as opposed to magic the art of illusion and sleight of hand, is the Art Of Causation. Magic is a natural human ability, we are all born with this innate ability to make Magick, all it takes is the desire to learn, and practice. Magic is creating change by connecting with the energies of nature.

These energies of nature exist in all things, all solid matter is made of atoms, sub-atom particles, below this level is pure energy. At the this level of pure energy, there is no solid matter, here everything is connected by threads of energy.

Magic is the control and manipulation of these threads of energy, this energy exists at all levels and planes, so by creating changes to these energy threads causes effects to occur within the physical plane. Magic allows you to alter this energy reality to bring about changes in the material reality, conversely altering your material worlds causes changes to the energy reality....<<<Read More>>>....

A Pagan Easter

[David Icke]: In the pagan tradition of Easter, children painted eggs with bright colours, symbolising the fertility of new emerging life.

The egg has been a symbol of fertility for millenia in almost all countries of the world, and the re-enactment of decorating it in early Spring is a pagan tradition that long supersedes the churches claim to invention. Likewise the decorating of homes with plants, wreathes and other ornaments depicting the re-emergence of the light after the winter.

These activities are also taking place in our small home on the hill this Easter time, along with the recently introduced feature of decorating the wool from our alpaka and sheep and hanging it as a colourful tapestry on the wall.

It is a salutary experience to be able to participate in this powerful expression of a way of life on the edge of destruction. A way of life suffering under the jack-boot of neoliberal capitalist regimes and the standardised educational system that are perpetuated on behalf of the corporatist global agenda.

A regime that neuters all aspirations to a life that takes nature as its true guide....read more>>>..

The Fylgja

Remember the cats, ravens, and other familiar spirits who are often the companions of witches in European folktales? 

These are fylgjur (pronounced “FILG-yur”) in the plural and fylgja (pronounced “FILG-ya”) in the singular. The fylgja is generally perceived in an animal form by those with second sight, although human fylgjur aren’t unheard-of.

It’s an attendant spirit whose well-being is intimately tied to that of its owner – for example, if the fylgja dies, its owner dies, too. Its character and form are closely connected to the character of its owner; a person of noble birth might have a bear fylgja, a savage and violent person, a wolf, or a gluttonous person, a pig. In a sense, this helping spirit can be seen as the totem of a single person rather than of a group.

Fylgja literally translates as “follower,” but, as often as not, it’s depicted as traveling ahead of its owner, arriving at the intended destination before its owner or appearing in the dreams of someone who will meet the owner the following day. Intriguingly, the term is also applied to the afterbirth, but the connection is mysterious and unclear (Source: Norse Mythology.org)

The Rune "Wunjo"

This rune represents the balance between all things even in this chaotic world. It is commonly a rune of joy and good tidings and when it appears in a casting, regardless of all other runes, Wunjo represents a positive outcome in the long run. It provides hope and optimism when all good fortune appears to be lost - Matthew James

Bywong Pagan Festival - 26th & 27th September 2015

BYWONG PAGAN FESTIVAL 26TH AND 27TH SEPTEMBER 2015 - It's beginning to take shape Matthew James Medium and Lilitu Babalon will be co-organising this inaugural event ...

It's a two day outdoors festival at The Henge Bywong, NSW. Festival 'pitches' are going to be in the region of $150 - $225 for the two days as a stall holder and around $100 for the two days as a reader/advisor. We are looking for all kinds of stall holders ...

There will be a performance stage, a food village (So we need outside caterers too) and a chance to hire and use the stone circle during the festival ... plus oodles of other side events ...

IF YOU WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT ... can you contact either Matthew James or Lilitu via private message to lodge your interest.

Facebook Events Page ... here>>>... please join the event

Bywong Pagan Festival - Spring 2015

Deities of the Spring Equinox

Spring is a time of great celebration in many cultures. It's the time of year when the planting begins, people begin to once more enjoy the fresh air, and we can reconnect with the earth again after the long, cold winter. A number of different gods and goddesses from different pantheons are connected with the themes of Spring and Ostara. Lets take a look at some of the many deities associated with spring, rebirth, and new life each year ... read more>>>...

Eostre - Spring Goddess or NeoPagan Fancy?

Pagan Wiccan: Every year at Ostara, everyone begins chatting about a goddess of spring known as Eostre. According to the stories, she is a goddess associated with flowers and springtime, and her name gives us the word "Easter", as well as the name of Ostara itself. However, if you start to dig around for information on Eostre, you'll find that much of it is the same. In fact, nearly all of it is Wiccan and Pagan authors who describe Eostre in a similar fashion. Very little is available on an academic level.

So where does the Eostre story come from?...read more>>>...

The Wiccan Triple Goddess

The Goddess represents the feminine, nurturing side of Deity -intuitive, creative, and magical. She is the inner nature of Deity -the origin of the external Universe.

Thus the Goddess is the Creator, the Source - the God emerges from Her, when She sets the Universe into motion. The God is the Goddess’ Divine Child, formed from Her inner nature, Her “Other Self” as the Vangelo delle Streghe puts it. The God is also the Divine Consort, Whose union with the Goddess describes existence as we know it.

In this sense the Goddess and the God are the polar forces also termed Yin and Yang. Yin, the Feminine, spiritual, emotive aspect of Deity which is within all things and Whose presence gives all things life. Yang the Masculine, physical, volatile aspect of Deity which manifests in motion and action and Whose permutations build up the outer form of things.

In Wicca the Goddess is primarily revered through Her form as the Triple Goddess. As the God is often represented by the Sun, the Goddess is often represented by the Moon, and its three phases are taken as instructive as to the nature of Her being; the Waxing Moon representing creation and inspiration, embodied in the Maiden Goddess. The Full Moon representing fruition and sustenance, embodied in the Mother Goddess. And the Waning Moon representing fulfillment and endings, embodied in the Crone Goddess...read more>>>...

Currawong Totem Animal

Currawong energy teaches you to be more aware of when you take advantage of others, and when others take advantage of you.  

They are cunning, sneaky birds, adept at manipulation. This can - for some people - be the more 'shadow' aspect of the currawong, because it's hard to accept that whether we like it or not, there is usually someone we've taken advantage of, or will take advantage of in the future. And it can be difficult to realise that it's also been done to us as well. Currawong energy will bring an element of 'sneaking something away' that doesn't belong to you. It could be energy, it could be taking something away from someone else (like a job - Currawong deliberately challenges the notion of 'abundance'), or it could be as extreme as literal theft. When Currawong energy is active, a certain level of harassment is occurring, this could be coming from you, or coming from someone else...read more>>>...

A Word On 'Magical Potions'

Spells and Magick: Also known as a Philtre, a form of a Magickal Charm, a concoction of herbs and and extracts of or excretions of animals including animal parts. More intense forms of this practice were used in Alchemy. Sorcerers, Witches, Evil and Good doers of the Occult Arts engaging in the art of Magickal Potions. Intended use being to cause Love or Lust of one they desire, or perhaps make one fall asleep or maybe even bring the end to ones life. One can easily visualize the Being standing by the Cauldron mixing away the brew to is soon to slew...read more>>>...

What is Paganism?

Isle Of Avalon.com: In simplest terms Paganism is a religion of place, or a native religion, for example the Native American's religion is Pagan, Hinduism is a form of Paganism. All Pagan religions are characterised by a connection and reverence for nature, and are usually polytheistic i.e. have many Gods and/or Goddesses.

Modern Paganism as practised in the west is particular to the native peoples of the west and although there are many forms most are descended from Celtic origins. Modern Paganism or 'neo-Paganism' has the following characteristics:

1. Paganism is a religion of nature, in other words Pagans revere Nature. Pagans see the divine as immanent in the whole of life and the universe; in every tree, plant, animal and object, man and woman and in the dark side of life as much as in the light. Pagans live their lives attuned to the cycles of Nature, the seasons, life and death.

2. Unlike the patriarchal religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism) the divine is female as well as male and therefore there is a Goddess as well as a God. These deities are within us as well as without us (immanent); they are us. They are not simply substitutes for the Muslim or Judeo-Christian God. This is because the Gods of the major religions tend to be super-natural i.e. above nature whereas Pagan deities are natural, symbolizing aspects of nature or human nature. Having said that God and Goddess are split from the Great Spirit or Akashka which probably equates to the God of the patriarchal religions.

3. The Goddess represents all that is female and the God represents all that is male. But because nature is seen as female the Goddess has a wider meaning. Often called Mother Earth or Gaia she is seen as the creatrix and sustainer of life, the mother of us all which makes all the creatures on the planet our siblings.

4. There are sub-groups of named Gods and Goddesses called Pantheons, drawn from the distant past, for example Isis and Osiris from Egypt or Thor, Odin, Freya et al from Norse religion and mythology. Ancient Pagans would have worshipped one or a small number of Gods and Goddesses, whilst often recognizing the validity of other people's deities. The concept of an overall, un-named Goddess and God, the sum totals of all the others, appears to be a recent one but individual named deities represent particular human qualities or archetypes and are often used as a focus for celebrations and spiritual rites.

5. Paganism has developed alongside mankind for thousands of years; as cultures have changed so has Paganism, yet it is grounded in deep rooted genetic memories that go back to neolithic times and before. Thus Paganism is not just a nature religion but a natural religion.

6. Paganism in the west takes a number of forms including Wicca, Druidism, and Shamanism.

7. To Pagans the four ancient elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water have special significance. The importance of these is hard to define because they have so many correspondences, for example they are associated with the four directions, North, East, South and West. Each element is a kind of spiritual substance from which all things are made especially ourselves and at the same time are Guardians both of ourselves and of the Goddess and God, and guarding the gateways between this world and the other world.

8. Many Pagans believe in reincarnation in some form. It gives Pagans a substantially different view of life. Early Christians saw Karma as a kind of treadmill, trapping people in endless reincarnations, never free. But Pagans see reincarnation as, at best, a chance to improve or to continue unfinished work, and at worst just a simple re-cycling of souls...read more>>>...

The Rune Eolh

Pagan Lore: Another rune that appears to be connected with an older symbol-the splayed human hand which it resembles, an instinctive sign for warding off harm. Outlines of the human hand have been discovered in caves where prehistoric men once lived. The American Indians used this sign for peace. similar symbols, but with five branches, are used in North Africa to turn aside the evil eye.

A reasonable objection can be made that if Eolh is meant to represent the human hand, it should have five branches. In fact, it is one of the less understood runes. In later rune poems it seems to have stood for elk-sedge, which may be though kind of marsh grass that elk feed upon. But it has also been interpreted as willow, sea-holly, swan, and even as the sign of an obscure god named Alcis mentioned by Tacitus.

One thing at least is known: the rune was carried by warriors to protect them in battle, In the Old English Rune Poem the connotation of warding off survives..Read More>>>...

What is Paganism?

Spirit Walk Ministry: 'The word "pagan" comes from the Latin word “paganus”, meaning “country dweller”, however, there is no consensus on the exact modern meaning of the word and the label of “pagan” has various meanings to different people. This causes misunderstandings whenever the word is used, as most people assume that the meaning that they have been taught, usually in the context of their religious upbringing, is universally accepted. Therefore one must judge the meaning implied within the context in which the word is used in order to guess at the intent of its usage. In common modern usage, it may be used in an attempt to stigmatize pagans as being anything from “Witches” to “Worshippers of the Devil”. However, within Western patriarchal religious societies, the most common interpretation is “heathen” and/or “heretic”...read more>>>...

The Use of Spells/Magick in Modern Times

Spells are works of creativity to protect a person or persons from impending unpleasantness. As Meya Deren wrote in The Divine Horsemen: The Living Gods of Haiti, London, 1953, "Magic is an individual action, undertaken because the cosmos is not believed to be benevolent by nature, or at least, not benevolent enough to that person.“ This excerpt was taken from Judika Illes' book Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. Anything that occurs naturally on earth can be considered magic, and any action taken using what the earth offers us, can be considered a spell. The spelling of magic or magick does not alter the meaning. The usage of the spelling magick is to differential between optical illusion magic and the spell magic. A mother in her kitchen adding peppermint to her baby’s bottle for colic can be considered using spell magic to heal her baby, for example. Spells were developed long ago as a means to heal or as a dance to bring rain. Many cultures have used spells in one way or another as a means to bring about a desired effect. Many traditions are built around a spell, and many may not even realize that they are practicing a spell...read more>>>...

MJ's Mystic Bazaar - "The Heritage Collection"

Visit The Heritage Collection here ...

How To Incoporate Practical Magic Into Your Daily Life!

More and more people these days are turning to witchcraft, paganism and wiccan spiritual practices as more meaningful and inclusive forms of religion. Since the printing of Gerald Gardner's Witchcraft Today, thousands have discovered the power it can have.

Although we live in a highly modernized, technological world, the ancient wisdom and knowledge that is imparted through witchcraft is still relevant today, if in fact even more so, since it is a peaceful, inclusive and deeply conscious tradition, that reveres the earth and earthly cycles. In this day and age, which is dominated by war and wanton environmental destruction, witchcraft offers a gentle nonviolent alternative way of making sense of our world.

Some people sadly, fear witchcraft because they wrongly associate it with the dark arts of Satanism. This is a grave misconception, which witches everywhere are seeking to dispel. According to Gardner, contrary to the popular perceptions, witchcraft is more to do with honoring the earth and the divine feminine. In fact, most people who practice witchcraft, do so because it is holistic, non-judgmental and non-patriarchal inasmuch as it honors the sacred creativity of women, and recognizes the life-giving force of the earth upon which we live. Many people see witchcraft as a deeply ecological religion, that seeks to protect the earth and it’s gifts to humans...read more>>>...

Paganism: An Ancient Religion For A Modern Age

Paganism is on the increase and is rapidly spreading around the world, as people look to their pagan past for inspiration and religious guidance. Paganism is a religious set of beliefs, traditions and superstitions with ancient origins. It has been re-discovered here in the modern age and has become the way of life for many people seeking religious freedom, a closer union with nature, the planet and its wildlife and a sacred and personal union with both male and female deity. The Earth is callling to those who will listen as there is now a real need for practitioners from all walks of life in order to promote peace and ecological responsibility. Pagans establish a close relationship with 'mother Earth' and are generally opposed to pollution, deforestation and endangering animals...read more...

Grounding and Centering Techniques: A Foundation of Magical and Spiritual Practice

The process of relaxing and making yourself receptive and effective for any ritual, magical, or devotional activity is called grounding and centering. It is a foundational tool of many Pagan and magic traditions. Grounding literally means visualizing yourself connected to the earth. Once you are grounded, you then visualize yourself centered in the present instead of constantly thinking of the past or the future. The reasoning behind this is that you do not want to enter into ritual in your everyday state of mind with all of your stresses. It is best to let your daily disturbances fall by the wayside even if it is only for the short period of your intended ritual. With a clear mind you will be better able to perform the ritual or magical working and also reap the most benefit...read more...