I lecture for a Unity ministry known as the People of Diversity. They have an interfaith format and welcome speakers from different religious backgrounds. We are all given a specific topic to speak on. Because I am a Neopagan, a witch, and a Hellenic Polytheist, I approach the given topic from that point of view. This lecture is on the topic of Abundance. Enjoy!
Yes, your witchcraft is political. It always has been. I wrote about Dionysos and Ares here and here, respectively. Many witches look to Aradia for their inspiration of the Craft. In fact, in many circles, when the Circle is cast to establish sacred space, Aradia is called upon to help lend her energy.
Aradia is an important character in witchcraft. Whether she actually lived or was a legend in Italian folklore doesn’t matter. A messianic figure of sorts, she is supposedly the daughter of the Goddess Diana and her brother Lucifer and lived in the 14th century in Tuscany, Italy.
In the High Middle Ages (1000-1250 BCE), the Goddess Diana was touted by papal Rome as the Goddess of the witches, who were able to fly on nocturnal journeys to join the Goddess Diana at her Sabbats (also known as the Tregunda). In some writings at the time, Aradia had another name: Herodias.
Aradia was sent to Earth by her mother Diana as the “first of all witches,” and was to teach the secret art of witchcraft to the poor and downtrodden. In “Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches of Italy,” her story is told. The book tells us that at the time the poor and subjugated were under the cruel heel of their noble masters. Many escaped their lords and hid in the forests, becoming outlaws.
Aradia taught a different religion than that of the corrupt Catholic Church at the time. The church grew fat on the backs of the poor, thus deserving the arts of witchcraft against them. The arts included the classic witches’ arsenal of using poisons. Curses also were thrown at the church and the nobles. Aradia cursed the God of the church as well:
And when the priests or the nobility Shall say to you that you should put your faith In the Father, Son, and Mary, then reply: ‘Your God, the Father, and Maria are Three devils…For the true God the Father is not yours; For I have come to sweep away the bad, The men of evil, all will I destroy!’
Aradia then went on to teach the Craft of the Witch:
I often get asked about patron deities a lot. Who has chosen me? How do I start? How can I find out my God and Goddess? What do I do once I know? Allow me to delve into this topic a bit more.
Wicca
In the 1950s a religion cropped up which became known as Wicca, although it was simply known as Witchcraft at the time. It was spearheaded by a man by the name of Gerald Gardner. In his writings (and those of later authors), Wicca as a whole had two patron deities: the Horned God and the Goddess. The Horned God is the embodiment of the Sacred Masculine, an archetype consisting of an amalgamation of Pan, Cernunnos, Gwyn ap Nudd, Donn, among others. The Horned God is a God of the Underworld, the sacred hunt, Nature, Sex, and the Wild, the Sun, and sacrifice.
The Goddess is the other half of the Craft’s deities. She is the embodiment of the Sacred Feminine. She is the Lady who is the Triple Goddess of Maiden, Mother, and Crone. She is connected to the green earth, the stars, the Moon, fertility, and the sea.
Both the Horned God and the Goddess are viewed as a pair which invoke the power of polarity; that is, as opposites, the Sacred Masculine and the Sacred Feminine come together for the purposes of creation, Magic, death, rebirth, and fertility. Wicca is viewed as being duotheistic: only two deities who embody all of the Gods and Goddesses. Some Wiccans take the occultist Dion Fortune’s words literally:
All of the Gods are one God, and all of the Goddesses, and there is but one Initiator.
This imagery has lasted in Traditional Craft for a very long time. It works for some Wiccans. However, I am a polytheist; I believe in the existence of all individual Gods and Goddesses, each with their own story and personality. They exist outside of ourselves, and so therefore I am not a duotheist.
When Traditional Initiatory Wicca spread here in the States from England in the 1960s, many Wiccans began to create their own covens because the demand for initiations and the eagerness of wanting to join a coven outnumbered how many covens actually existed. Many began to find whatever they could and started to “self-initiate” to the Gods. They started their own covens and sacred Traditions. They copied what they could from existing writings written by Wiccan initiates, and started their spiritual path.
However, this Wicca was do-it-yourself, and as a result the oral lore which was passed down in Traditional Initiatory Wicca was missing. DIY Wiccans took hold of the Horned God and the Goddess and insisted (in a way) that their witches individually had a patron God and a patron Goddess.
Side note: Some today use the word “matron” for the Goddess, but this is incorrect. Use patron, which is equally valid for both deities.
The Rise of Polytheism
Many polytheists then and now feel uncomfortable in Wicca, with its seemingly duotheistic philosophies. They yearn to experience connections with more than one deity. This is where I am at.
Early on in my studies I read the books which informed me of the need to pick a God and Goddess. I tried to think of some, and I couldn’t. When I started learning Druidry, the idea of a patron God and Goddess were foreign; other paths I followed didn’t have this duotheistic concept, such as Sicilian-Continental Craft and StrixCraft.
When I became initiated into Alexandrian Wicca (a “denomination” of Wicca, for lack of a better term), I already had Hekate and Dionysos whom I followed. Hekate was my original Goddess, and it just so happened that she led me to Dionysos, with whom I devoted myself to. So the presentation of being encouraged to have a God and Goddess was not necessary for me. That being said, others were exhorted to do so as a fundamental part of their training. But how would they find out? Some just picked a couple at random who they felt made sense. Others just didn’t have them.
Polytheism in Wicca
I am involved in Hellenic Polytheism as well as Wicca. I have also had the privilege to meet other Wiccan polytheists who didn’t follow the dying-and-rising God mythos. The Sabbats – celebration holidays for Wiccans – are dedicated to multiple deities who represented the cycles of Nature during that time. This contrasts with your average Wiccan Sabbat (whether DIY or Trad Craft), where usually Sabbats are routinely dedicated to a specific God or Goddess, or else follow a story of the God and Goddess throughout the year.
For polytheism, rituals have a different meaning. Sabbats can be for any number of deities and daimons. This isn’t limited to Hellenic Polytheism in Wicca mind you. There are Celtic Polytheists, Norse Polytheists, and Germanic Polytheists in Traditional Initiatory Craft who are changing the face of Wicca from being duotheistic to polytheistic. Duotheism may continue to exist on some level since the Horned God and the Goddess may be viewed as the default patron deities of the Craft itself. Individuals, however, may have their own which aren’t limited to two.
Patron Deities
So how do you find out your patron deities? The answer is that you don’t have to know that. Some witches and other spirit workers stick to working with their ancestors and their daimons, not worrying about deities except MAYBE to worship. I say maybe because I know some people who do not acknowledge deities period.
But if you are so inclined, I’d suggest perhaps looking at what you do and who can become a patron that matches your vocation. For example, artists may turn to Athena; doctors and health professionals to Asklepios or Apollo; metal workers to Hephaistos; sailors to Poseidon or Manannan Mac Lyr; and so forth. When in doubt, I also recommend seeking out a competent diviner who will be able to guide you.
However, do not be surprised if more than one deity or daimon calls you to their attention. While now DIY Wicca is more duotheistic in teaching than Traditional Initiatory Craft, one does not need to approach Wicca as merely a gateway to a God and Goddess. If you are drawn to two patrons, there isn’t anything wrong with that, so don’t feel like you need multiple ones as well. I just want you to know that you never need to limit yourself to be called by one or two deities or daimons. Keep in mind that this is an individual journey, and where you walk may ultimately find you journeying with more than two companions.
Devotions
Once you find out who your patrons are, I suggest beginning to worship them. One can do this by simply talking to them. Pray. If you have the space, build a small altar. You can use a flat surface or a cabinet. Light a candle; write your own poetry or hymns; light some incense; print out imagery if you can’t afford a statue; pray. As you research more, I’m sure your imagination will take over and you’ll be able to add stuff as you wish. These are devotional examples which will draw you closer to your deities.
Conclusion
Discovering your patrons is an individual journey. Some people have only one deity. Others have two or more. That’s fine. But don’t feel pressured that you need to have exactly two to reflect the Masculine and the Feminine. For many, this polarity is outdated as more intersex and transgender folks join our Craft and ways. They, too, are on a path and follow it wherever it may lead. Sacred Androgyny is also paramount. Some traditions of the Craft are reflecting these changes in their philosophies and thealogies as it continues to meet the needs of more people. Some continue the polarity schema, but again it isn’t the end all be all. Just be open to your intuition and research as your walk continues. May the blessings of the Gods be with you.
Eirene kai Hugieia!
(Peace and Health!)
Oracle
My book is now available for pre-order!
In StrixCraft, particularly Ophic Strix, we have the concept of the Triple Soul. The Triple Soul is a concept unique to our Craft and etheric anatomy. These are different parts of what we call in English the soul, although more specific words exist in many systems. We will explore here the etheric anatomy as we view it.
The Beginning
In StrixCraft as I teach it, the First Cause for the Cosmos and all that exists (and will exist) comes from the Star Goddess Nyx. Nyx means “Night,” and she is the enigmatic force and flow of all. She is the universe made manifest: the consciousness of evolution and the existence of all beings. She is also called First Mother. She is crowned with a billion blue and white stars, and her glory is wondrous to behold. She is also the First Oracle.
From her, all of the Primordials, Gods, and Spirits came into being. As did other beings who dwell on other planets, and humanity. By erotic Magic was the Cosmos born, and so it is by eroticism that the Cosmos is maintained, and Magic exists everywhere. Due to the fact that Magic exists, when humanity was birthed on the evolutionary scale, that Magic not only formed the body, but it also formed the psyche (“soul”).
Psyche
The psyche is the seat of the existence for a person. This is the sum of the entirety of our being, the basic framework of evolution and consciousness. The symbol of the psyche is a butterfly, as this creature “dies and lives again” when transforming from a caterpillar to a butterfly. While alive, the psyche holds everything together: the human body and the three parts. It is also where Magic resides, the source of our abilities and skills. Some people have a natural talent of Will to shape their Reality; the fabric of Fate. It is by the Triple Soul that the psyche is able to act.
The Lunar Body
The first part I would like to discuss is the Lunar Body. This is the “lowest” part of the psyche; that is, the closest to our physical bodies. What impacts the physical body will also impact the Lunar Body. The Lunar Body is the seat of the etheric double (the alter ego or ghost), desire, and the basic passions of the body. The Lunar Body is connected with the cycles of the Moon: as the Moon waxes, the Lunar Body is strengthened to externally impact and shape its Will. As the Moon wanes, the Lunar Body begins to introspect. At the dark of the moon, the Lunar Body is cloaked in darkness, being still. It is connected to the genitals. The Lunar Body is the one concerned with experiencing the out-of-body experience. To add, the Lunar Body is the one which also is linked to the ancestors; food and drink left for the ancestors feeds the Lunar Body. It is therefore linked to Memory. If the Lunar Body is not fed, it disappears.
The same goes for the Tides of Magic.
Tides of Magic
At the Tempis Eversionis (the time of the Winter Solstice through the Spring Equinox), the Lunar Body is incubated. While Magic can still be performed during this time, most of the energies in the Winter should be directed towards meditation, etheric travel, healing, and self-development. At this time, too, the dark spirits of the Fae are active. But it is because of the incubation period that the StrixCraft as I teach it does not perform dedications or initiations until after the Spring Equinox.
At the Tempus Sementis (the time from the Spring Equinox until the Summer Solstice), there is a sexual awakening in the psyche, and the Lunar Body begins to exercise Will and theurgical workings. Theurgy means “God Work,” or working Magic for self-development, spiritual contact with the Upper World Gods and spirits, and is the time of the light Fae. Initiations and dedications are performed during this time.
At the Tempus Messis (the time of the Summer Solstice to the Autumn Equinox), the Lunar Body as a whole begins to connect with thaumaturgy. Thaumaturgy means “Wonder Working,” and is concerned with Magics to perform summonings, evocations of spirits and deities, and healings.
At the Tempus Consilii (the time of the Autumn Equinox to the Winter Solstice), we enter the Underworld and work with the ancestors heavily. They shouldn’t be ignored throughout the year, but this is the time when they are most active.
The Solar Body
The Solar Body is centered in the heart. The heart is perhaps the most important of the bodies. Here is the seat of emotions, our conscious minds, Will, character, judgement, and behavior. It connects the physical body to the psyche (wherein all of the triple parts dwell). The Solar Body is also concerned with astral travel and, when leaving the body, can shapeshift into an animal familiar. In an out-of-body experience, this is the part which leaves this plane and heads “towards the light” to join the beloved dead. Because of the Sun’s ability to make shadows, here dwells the Shadow Self as well. At death, the Solar Body carries the essence of the individual and may reincarnate.
The Starry Body
The Starry Body is located in the crown of the head and third eye. The Starry Body is our highest genius, or the repository of our Higher Self. Here is the “True Name,” or the identity we carry from life to life. It is connected with the Solar Body, keeping the eternal repositories of our memories, initiations, the Group Soul (those individuals who have been with us for a long time, from life to life, and we remain strongly connected with), and the source of Magic. Oracular possessions, connection to divinity, and Reason are also here. It carries the power of the subconscious and the Collective. The Starry Body is also the imprint of the astrological powers defined at birth. It is my personal belief, however, that the imprint can be changed on oneself through the Work.
Conclusion
These are the Tripartite Soul anatomy that exists in StrixCraft as I teach it. It is powerful and effective. Many may not agree with my placements, and that’s fine. The Bodies blend here and there, and may separate as well to return to their pure states. However, for the sake of imagination and classification for linear thinking most of us possess, I divide them neatly. But that isn’t always the case; think again of the tides of both the Moon and the Four Tides of Magic. There is always more to our anatomies, such as the Triple Flame which I will go into in another blog. We are complex beings. But for us, it all comes down to the Star Goddess Nyx, in whom we live, move, and have our being. She is the Goddess Eternal, and at the end of all things, we will return to her and give her our memories and experiences so she may know herself once more.
Eirene kai Hugieia!
(Peace and Health!)
Oracle
Literal interpretations of our stories is something that pops up in a lot of places. From Zeus being someone who nobody will come near to Artemis hating men, I’d like to tackle this creature. There is a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to explaining Greek myths. In order to begin, we have to start with poets which programmed humans to literalism in the first place.
The Gospel of Homer and the Epistles of Hesiod
Ancient Greek poets such as Homer and Hesiod often wrote their stories after praising the Muses, Goddesses of Inspiration, Memory, Music, and other arts. This indicates that their poetry was divinely inspired, and not just their invention. The problem lies in that not much literature has survived from this time period, but we know that there are different mythic tales depending on the region of Greece or Magna Graecia (the Orphic Myths come to mind, as well as some of the stories of the city of Lokri). There were no uniform stories.
Still, scholars throughout the Middle Ages and the later 19th century were obsessed with viewing Homer and Hesiod as the critical texts that everyone believed in. Hardly anyone thought to give space for oral traditions passed down from mouth to ear, which was surely the case for most of Greek Mythos. Instead, epics such as Homer’s “The Iliad and the Odyssey,” along with Hesiod’s “Theogony,” were viewed as the final authority on how Greek Mythos was to be interpreted.
The Plays
In time, playwrights wrote about mythological narratives, but with the purpose of entertainment. The playwrights didn’t really (as far as we know) look at mythos as sacrosanct: holy relics to be untouched and reverenced. Instead, by reading some of the tragedies such as “The Bacchae” written by Euripides or the words of Aeschylus give us indication that – gasp! – fan fiction existed.
That’s right: the Greek Myths were nothing more than fodder for excitement and suspense to the audience as a whole. Unfortunately, many writings were lost, and in some cases only fragments survived. For example, for Aeschylus only seven plays survive, out of a possible ninety which are attributed to him.
The Presocratics
The Presocratics were a group of philosophers and mystics who predated or were contemporary with the philosopher Socrates. They are considered some of the first critics of poetic myth. They were early scientists who had a natural curiosity of the world around them, and began to view mythic tales as explanations for natural phenomena, or simply allegories and fables. Teachers in this school of thought often didn’t agree with one another, and that was fine (for some).
The Presocratics weren’t atheists; in fact, many were quite theistic and religious. It was just that they challenged interpretations of the natural world: that the deities and spirits were the first cause for activity in the world and the Cosmos.
The Rise of Christianity
This post is not an attack on Christianity, but it does deserve mention. When Christianity first began, many of the Greek Fathers (that is, major figures in the formation of the Early Church who were Greek or Hellenistic) encouraged the metaphorical interpretation of the Bible. An example is Origen who wrote that some parts of the Bible should have an allegorical interpretation. He lived most of his life in the great city of Alexandria, where he had access to the great library I’m sure.
Origen famously wrote:
When God is said to ‘walk in paradise in the cool of the day’ and Adam to hide himself behind a tree, I do not think anyone will doubt that these are figurative expressions which indicate certain mysteries through a semblance of history and not through actual event.
Following this, the Eastern Orthodox Church attempts to use a balanced approach between literalism, allegory, historical narrative, and moral lessons. The Roman Catholic Church as a whole also at times uses this approach. The Bible is not the only material they go by. They also have the oral traditions, the Mysteries, and the lives of the Saints.
Martin Luther and Sola Scriptura
Martin Luther, the Reformist who left the Roman Catholic church and formed his own movement (later the Protestants), saw the teaching of sola scriptura (by Scripture alone) as one of the fundamental differences between himself and the Church. As a result of rejecting the Catholic traditions, he was declared a heretic.
Protestant Christians grasped onto this teaching, and Biblical literalism was born. The Bible is literally believed to be “God-breathed,” the inerrant Word of God. Nothing outside of it can exist in contradiction to it. Every single word is to be the only answer to how a Christian should live in the world, no questions asked. This teaching is said to stem from the apostle Paul’s letter to his acolyte Timothy:
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:12-17).
The Protestant Framework
Due to this framework of sola scriptura, many Protestant Americans and other peoples have a difficult time with reading the Bible without questioning it. They take it at face value, and as a result transfer that mindset to other avenues. Critical thinking skills are discouraged, and the responsibility of a reader is no longer a part of their training. My late father taught me the value of a reader’s responsibility insofar as reading a text is concerned: read with an open mind, ask questions, examine the book section by section, analyze, and then interpret. And leave room for changes in interpretation as you continue to re-read the texts at different stages in your life.
These skills are hardly taught in public schooling anymore. As a result, when we grow and change religions or philosophies, we tend to see a philosopher or “esteemed writer” as an orthodox source of knowledge. This has unfortunately passed into Neopaganism, Polytheism, and Witchcraft.
There are many people who have come to these religious practices taking authors at their word that the final period is it. As a result, our stories and songs (myths) are distorted. A famous example in Hellenic Polytheism is how many handle Zeus or Hades. Zeus’ sexual exploits (rape included) create a strong reaction and aversion for people who have experienced those things. They refuse to worship a “patriarchal God” who does what he wants, being unfaithful to Hera and causing all sorts of mischief.
What people don’t realize is that we need to take a philosophical approach, a worship approach, and a critical approach to these stories. Zeus, a fertility God of the Storms and Weather, is why he is very active. Recall that there are different myths depending on the region and even Mystery Cult. Remember: the “Gospel of Homer” and the “Epistles of Hesiod” (tongue-in-cheek here) are someone’s fan fiction of mythic figures. It is their interpretation, and their own agenda.
Conclusion
Zeus is not a rapist. Hades didn’t rape Kore who became Persephone. Hekate is not a hag. Evolution is real. Personally, I do not look to the myths as how to view the Gods. I can, and that choice in how I interpret is up to me and how it defines my relationship with the Gods and spirits. However, archaeological evidence has a better tale in how everyday people approached the deities and spirits. It often clashes with the poetic styles we have. I encourage you to gain a foothold in philosophy, thealogy (yes with an “a”), hermeneutics, and exegesis. These will be of tremendous value moving forward for the budding Neopagan, polytheist, and witch. Our books may be sacred, but we are not Protestant. They are not scripture. You have your own mind, and Reason is a gift from the Gods.
I would also like to remind you: the Father of Rationalism, Parmenides, was taught the rules of Reason in an Underworld journey to the Goddess Persephone. So think about that the next time you worship your deities and spirits, using Reason to guide you.
Eirene kai Hugieia!
(Peace and Health!)
Oracle
My first time ever writing about Hekate can be found here. I even wrote an oracle one time and it can be found here. I should get back to writing those when they are for the community at large. These are trying times, and I know people want direction in their lives. Corporate oracles can be taken in and may speak to more than one individual. It might even be a prophecy to the world at large.
Note: When I mean prophecy I do not necessarily mean an oracle for the future all of the time.
I’d like to describe my Hekatean adventure, or how I and Hekate built our relationship all of these years.
Jason and the Argonauts
In 1963 a film was made titled “Jason and the Argonauts.” a film by Don Chaffey and featuring an actor named Todd Armstrong in the title role. Visual effects were done by the famous Ray Harryhausen of creature dynamation fame. The beautiful actress Nancy Kovak appeared as Medea, the High Priestess of Hekate.
I watched the film for the first time when I was 8 years old. I was immediately taken with the mythology. However, when I saw Medea, I fell in love. At first I wasn’t aware of who she was. But what enamored me was her dance in the Temple of Hekate and the depiction of the statue. The clip of the dance is below:
When Jason is captured, Medea struggles to figure out what to do. Then she prayed to the Goddess Hekate – “Queen of Darkness” – to aid her. It was a thrilling moment, as I was exposed to something exotic. They didn’t cover Hekate in my class lesson on Greek Mythology; and there was something about Hekate and Medea…
That night I had a dream. I dreamed a symbol came to me with regards to Hekate. When I woke up I drew it in my journal at the time. As I researched my dad’s library and the school library, I couldn’t find anything on the symbol or on Hekate. So I left it alone, wondering how I could reach her.
As I studied the occult growing up, I became interested in Witchcraft. I didn’t want to be involved in Santeria like my mom was. It just wasn’t something I wanted. However, my godmother read Tarot, could interpret symbols in the cup of coffee after it was drunk, and was able to contact spirits. Now that interested me. I just took it in a different direction.
I found a book on Witchcraft at my local library. There was a chant and spell you had to repeat 9 times while in the center of a circle. Keeping this a secret, I went in my backyard. I took our long hose and made it a circle out of it. I took some branches and made a pentagram out of that. I then sat in the middle. It was midnight. I repeated the chant to dedicate myself to the Craft and spirits. The wind whipped up and at the final saying a lightning bolt flashed across the night sky, and it began to pour. I quickly ran inside so the book wouldn’t get wet. It was done. I was a witch.
Pause
My life in the Craft, however, paused. We converted to a Holiness Pentecostal church (except my dad) and our spiritual direction changed. Well, in a way. I told you about some of my biography here, especially the book burning part. I kept hidden some of the books, especially Marion Zimmer Bradley’s “Mists of Avalon.” Truth be told, I became a fanatic. Well, outwardly anyway. I tried so hard to be ultra-Christian because deep down inside I was struggling with my sexuality and my penchant for Neopaganism and Witchcraft. I wanted to be a witch. A Druid even. I wanted my spiritual life to make sense to me and to accept me for who I was. It was a very nervous breakdown time.
This entire time, every now and then Hekate popped up in my memory. I wanted to rewatch the film and see Medea dance and pray to that triple-headed statue. Little did I know at the time that Hekate is also the Goddess of witches.
Restart
When I left the church, I struggled spiritually where to go. I knew I needed religion in my life. There was absolutely no question about that. I needed a buffer for my skills in healing and prophecy as well as seeing spirits and sensing energy. Many of you reading can probably relate to growing up different, experiencing trauma, and knowing that your life was meant for more.
I studied what I could before becoming a Neopagan and, more specifically, a witch. I’ve already written how Druidry was my first foray into Neopaganism, and it helped me a lot. It brought me the peace that I needed with regards to Christianity and the path calling to me.
To be honest, I didn’t know what I was missing when I attained the grade of Druid (you don’t automatically become one, but train towards that specific office if you want to). I was happy. Content. But, ever the challenger, I wanted to know what it was to be a witch. When that happened, I remembered the Goddess Hekate and she made an impression again in my life.
Hekate and the Craft
I was given so much misinformation on Witchcraft in the beginning. The more I spent time around people claiming to be witches, the more I realized they treated every book by an author with a name as infallible. I read books, too, and my dad taught me to be a critical reader and always ask questions. Apparently asking too many questions around these witches was anathema, probably because it caused them to question as well. I don’t know. But this critical mind was always attacked for being a know-it-all. I even had “friends” I knew tell others that I thought I was better than anyone else, even better than the Gods! I lost a lot of people. I’m sure many of you have also lost a lot of friends because of misinformation or questioning people’s beliefs and values.
Be that as it may, at one point I began to write rituals. They were basic, but we all start somewhere, and there is nothing wrong with basic. Simple circle casting, calling the four directions, and meditations. As a witch, I now had access to some exposure to other authors in the Neopagan and Witchcraft fields who wrote about her. Of course, once again there was a lot of conflicting information on her. I had to dig and figure this out myself.
Unlike others, I didn’t really have an active altar or images of the Gods. I couldn’t afford it. I wasn’t entirely sure I needed it anyway. As a Christian, all you had to do was pray, and the Christian God was there. If he can do that, why not the Goddess? So early on I learned about talking to her and meditating. I had no scripture to lead me, but I had my imagination and will, and that seemed enough.
I finally felt her speak to me one day after years of doing this. I felt her nudging to lead dark moon rituals in a certain format. They were:
This was my format for years. The dark moons became my hosted celebration for Hekate. Then Hekate led me to learn a form of Stregheria, or Sicilian-Continental Craft. It was from the family of the late Dr. Leo Martello, a prominent figure in the early Craft movement here in the States.
As I was learning and doing, I felt ready to dedicate myself formally to her. So, one night on November 16th, 2009 when it was the dark of the moon, I formally told her that I was ready for us to be with each other, I wanted to be her priest, and to start my life with her there.
Visions
That night, I had a dream-vision unlike anything I have ever had. I astral traveled across from my home across a great sea. It was dark. I heard the waves and the thunder. It was if the astral realm was alive and potent with energy. As I flew, I looked at my arms and there were wings. I glanced at myself over the ocean and I was a barred owl! Strange I know.
That’s when I saw it – a great tree in the center of the sea. Was this the World Tree? It seemed so. The 7 Classical planets surrounded the tree (Mercury, Venus, the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). The tree was large, old, and its roots went deep into the sea. I shapeshifted into something else, and followed a road less traveled beneath the roots. I followed a river and saw other rivers as well. Finally, there was a great lake along a certain route. Here, I was taken in and baptized in the Underworld. It was cold…colder than anything I had ever felt.
The Underworld accepted me. I woke up.
Seven Days
For the next seven days, I had what seemed like a thousand flashes and memories. I was revealed the secret name of the Sicilian Goddess, and was taken to a life in a place called Samothrace (I looked it up later). I did not sleep at all. My mind was racing with so much information.
That’s when it happened: my dreams became gateways again. I was “awake,” after having slept for so long when I left the church. I had some gifts then, but I shut down completely when I left. This freshness from the Goddess awakened something in me I had not felt in a really long time.
On the 9th day after that initial dream-vision, Hekate came to me and asked me for a contract: I would become her oracle, and she would guide me. This would place me in a precarious position, as I learned that any initiation comes with its own costs. But I accepted. I was awake now, and I wanted to remain that way. I was far from perfect at that time. Far. From. Perfect. She didn’t ask me to be that way in any case. But I knew being an Underworld creature meant struggling with my Shadow quite a bit, involving dancing with my demons when need be. On their part anyway.
Conclusion
Herein I have told the tale of my travels in my Hekatean Adventure. Hekate has always been with me, but there needed to be a time when I, in turn, was ready for her. She never forced the relationship. She never pushed her agenda onto me. She only responded when I finally did, and it was then that I became contracted to her. The Underworld is a wonderful place, and I admit I am on the “dark side” when it comes to my occult workings. But that’s because we always need a balance, a harmony, between the light and the dark. Some of us go to one end, and others of us at another. But together, we can manage the energies and blend them when need be. So don’t be afraid of her, dear reader and fellow traveler. The Goddess is only scary to the uninitiated. She remains there. She called me to StrixCraft. She it is who stated that those called to her are of the Strix: the owls. We are her owl people. What’s next? That’s an enigma only your worship and travels with her will tell in time.
Eirene kai Hugieia!
(Peace and Health!)
Oracle
The iatromantis was a significant player in ancient Greek medicine and mysticism. But their origins as to their techniques have been a mystery for a long time. However, thanks to the works of Peter Kingsley, we have a story to tell.
What is an Iatromanis?
An iatromantis is, literally, a “physician-seer,” or to use a modern expression, “medicine man.” An iatromantis is a shamanic figure, although in my writings I am loathe to use that word because it has the trappings of certain images, such as romanticizing Native Americans and other indigenous populations. I prefer to use the terms which belong to that specific culture.
For the ancient Greek tribes, an iatromantis was a necessary component of their lives, especially in the lands of Magna Graecia (“Greater Greece”). Magna Graecia encompasses the lands of Southern Italy as opposed to Athens. Magna Graecia had more temples than at Athens. Also, there was a very strong influence of “shamanism” which created the Mystery Schools of the iatromantis. It was quite a different culture, and I’ll go into those details in another blog post.
Origins
The meditative and ecstatic techniques that defined an iatromantis have roots going back into Central Asia. It is conjectured that an iatromantis was a foreigner, perhaps Scythian, Thracian, or from Central Asia itself. They came from the land of Hyperborea, or the “land beyond the North Wind.” It was said to be the place where the God Apollo went to every winter from Delphi (the place where his oracle lived in the temple there). In the winter Dionysos watched over the Delphic Oracle. In fact, legend tells us that three priests of the God Apollo dwelt and ruled over Hyperborea, now believed to be the in the Baltic areas. Amber, being Apollo’s sacred resin, is found in that area. Priests of Apollo from Magna Graecia traveled to that region often, including the British Isles.
Asklepios
Asklepios is the demigod Son of Apollo. He was taught by the wise centaur Chiron in the land of Thessaly in the healing arts. He is the Hero patron of physicians, the iatromantis, and medicine. This is significant because it demonstrates that the ancient Greeks saw medicine and mysticism go hand-in-hand. While some eschewed the mystic arts such as Galen and Hippocrates, others became a guild called the Asklepiades: doctors who were priests of Apollo.
Asklepios was so skilled that he even brought people back from the dead, a technique which angered Hades. He complained to his brother Zeus that he would have no one in his kingdom should Asklepios continue his work. So, Zeus killed him with a lightning blot and set his essence in the stars as the constellation Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer. I don’t interpret the story that way. I choose to view it as Zeus granting Asklepios immortality and the apotheosis of a God. Many stories are told which can paint the Gods in a bad light, but with another perception, the stories – without literalism – can grant a strong myth about the central character.
Apollo Oulios
Apollo was well-rounded in his abilities. He was a God of the Pythian Oracle, medicine, poetry, healing, and archery. Many envision him as a bright Sun God or Light Bearer who rides in a golden chariot. While this imagery is traditional, there is also another facet: an Underworld Apollo, the one of caverns, sleep, and the iatomantis. This Underworld Apollo was a healer using incubation. Incubation is a technique in which – in the stillness of silence – a priest of Apollo would receive divine information. This was the same method used by his son Asklepios. Later, many priests would have their last name “Ouliades,” (of Apollo). Some of the priests were lineaged and the information was passed down via family lines.
Asklepeions were built for these workings: dream temples. In the temples there would be purification rites along with chanting and a place for the ill to sleep. The purpose was to receive a dream-vision from Apollo or Asklepios, who would prescribe the cure. Upon waking, the patient would tell the priest what they had dreamed. By interpretation and oracling, the priest would then give them the cure. Many testimonies exist of these treatments working.
Conclusion
As an iatromantis, it goes well together with my abilities as an oracle. I am interested in medicine, and having a medical background helps. As I go forward with my interest in alternative medicine, I constantly wonder at the revival of these techniques in our time. I know a priestess in my tradition who is skilled at this, and I would like to see more of Apollo’s power and effectiveness built into modern-day asklepeions. I believe that Underworld Apollo is calling to us. I believe that dream-visions are already upon us by souls who are being spoken to and are trying to find a way to learn and incorporate what they are learning into a formal priesthood. If you’re out there, you’re not alone.
Of course, many who are healers are also wounded by trauma and shattered hearts. It will take time, but the calling of a healer normally comes from those wounded. They can empathize with the pain, and so they are the ones who can sense and reach out to others. The healing techniques of Underworld Apollo and his son are making a comeback. You will be made well, and though you carry trauma, slowly but surely new pieces will find you.
Eirene kai Hugieia!
(Peace and Health!)
Oracle
Spirit possession happens a lot more than most people think. It happens in houses, churches. temples, and circles. Just what is it though? How do we do it?
What Is Spirit Possession?
Spirit possession is exactly what it sounds like: being taken over by a spirit. Allowing an entity to use you like a rider using a horse, hence its other name, “horsing.” Spirit possession is perhaps one of the oldest Magics in the world. The notion that the person who allows a spirit to use them goes back to prehistory. For example, in the Cave of the Trois-Freres (Cave of the Three Brothers) in France there exists a painting of what looks like a shaman being possessed by a stag, dating to around 13,000BCE.
The Dionysian Cults
In due time, another cult in Southern Europe began to grow and spread throughout the known world (at that time). The following was inspired by the God Dionysos: God of Wine, Ecstasy, Madness, Liberation, Shapeshifting, Dance, and Theater.
In ancient Greek theater, actors would practice to transcend their own egos and actually method act in order to make their performances real. Their ability to enter into a state of “non-being,” with the aid of ritual masks, would enchant the audience and bring their emotions into a heightened state of madness. Because of the liberation of the spirit during these events, Dionysos was known as Eleuthereos: The Liberator. His spirit moved through the dances, words, and behaviors of the thespians, directing their energy to the audience.
Permission
In covering the state of spirit possession from the Sorcerer and the early Dionysian cults, there is one thing which remains fact based on my experiences: permission. You must be open and allow a spirit to take you over: to speak and act through you. Even when evil spirits possess a Christian, they are told that they must give that evil spirit “the license to depart.”
Permissive possession is very powerful. You enter into an agreement with the spirit to allow it to experience what we humans are involved with. I have found that some spirits yearn to know our world in all of its senses, just as seek them out to find something Other about ourselves and the illumination of knowledge they can grant.
Lady Sybil
My Craft moniker, Oracle, is that word for a reason. That’s what I am. In the beginning of my calling to be into spirit possession, it didn’t end well. I was immature and no one around me had ever encountered anything like it. I invoked Lady Sybil, the oracle of the past. It was an amazing experience, and I’ll never forget it. But in my naivety I did not turn off the license, and she remained with me for quite some time. I was getting sick, and experiencing strange symptoms such as claw marks on my back, fatigue, confusion, and headaches. In a ceremony with my chosen family, I gave up the license and she was exorcised.
Years later, I wanted to do it again. I knew this was part and parcel of my calling. I dedicated myself to Hekate as her priest, and with her aid, I was prepared to undergo this task. She reaffirmed my name as Oracle, and told me in no uncertain terms that this would be my name moving forward, no matter where I went. So, I slowly began preparations to invoke the Sybil. Hekate stopped me, however, and said that SHE would be the one to possess me. We made a contract: serve as her oracle, and she would watch over me.
I expanded to another deity one night during a dark moon ritual when Hekate introduced Dionysos into the mix. I never aspected him nor devoted myself to him as a priest (I have yet to do this and I have zero idea as to why I am held back from making this move). But, I found myself willingly possessed by the God. It is beautiful, liberating, and dangerous. He is known as the Render of Men among other names. Surely I thought at some point I would lose myself. But instead I have found him helpful when working on me, as he is very much the God of Madness and the mentally ill.
Soon others followed: Apollo, Pan, and Aphrodite.
It was enormously wonderful that I was privileged to host these beings. As a reward, not too long ago I elicited the aid of Lady Sybil again. But Hekate said something interesting: Lady Sybil would be my guide when being possessed. She would watch over me, and assist me in these endeavors.
Oracle
I say this many times: I am not a psychic, but an oracle. The two are different. A psychic is someone with the skill set to learn fortune telling by different methods (e.g. tarot, playing cards, I-Ching, palmistry, etc.) as well as being able to learn psychometry, telepathy, and energy work at will. An oracle does not do any of these things. They may be skilled in some areas, but their main focus is on possession to speak forth prophecy, healing, and to prophesy on immediate future events.
I’ve discovered the differences slowly but surely. It is part and parcel of being an iatromantis (“physician-seer’) and Dream Walker. But again, that only happens when the Gods want to me to see something specific. Other than that, I am blank. I use Tarot, for example, for self-development, spells, rituals, and astral travel. I don’t necessarily use them for divination.
Conclusion
Spirit possession occurs because one allows it to occur. The Gods and spirits take over, and often spectacular feats are performed to prove that the ecstasy happening is from the God and not the human. Many will insert nails and bamboo sticks; drink tons of liquor without getting drunk; stand still for hours without pain; walk over broken glass and not bleed. Or, in my case, I am able to drink heavily when in Dionysian mode and not come out drunk at all. Or eat hot ashes without burning my tongue. Healings also occur, and renewal of strength and purpose. I believe that these actions help us to touch the Divine, and the Divine touch us. They get to experience the flesh and blood of a human, and we get to touch the Spirit. There is rarely anything more blissful than that kind of contact.
Eirene kai Hugieia!
(Peace and Health!)
Oracle
I have written about the ancestors here. Anyone who knows me knows that I look at our ancestors as the lifeline to my Craft. The accumulation of their knowledge and wisdom flows through me, and getting in touch with that empowers me. But how do we honor the ancestors? What’s an example we can use for veneration and shrines?
Who are the Ancestors?
When most people think of the ancestors, the first thought are those who are connected with us in blood. This isn’t wrong, and in fact is a stepping stone to understanding the ancestral link we carry with the past. I call this the Crimson Thread. The idea of the Crimson Thread is that it represents our unity with the beloved dead.
For many folks, the Crimson Thread is a simple lineage via on ethnicity/race into the past. With modern technological advances such as found in organizations like ancestry.com or 23andme, we are able to explore our lineage even further and see where our bloodline stems from. For others, it is a mishmash of various cultures. One isn’t better than the other, and in fact when we go back far enough, we are all mutts.
The beloved dead can be divided into different categories:
Family
Family lineage is the first introduction people have to ancestral veneration. Many start with the death of parents, grandparents, or others. There are photos and/or mementos and we place those on a mantle or a table that acts as a shrine/memorial. It is a simple way to remember, and keep in mind the power of Memory: that lifeline which keeps the remembered dead some immortality. For the family lineage, we typically keep those members who belong there and had a good relationship with. It is an idealized format. It also includes family by choice: adopted family, group souls, and even pets.
The Shadowy Ones
These are the relatives we would rather not remember. The ones who were abusive, psycho, or others which were harmful to us. Ones we would rather not be related to. These we would rather cut the Crimson Thread from. We don’t want to be associated with that side of our bloodline.
The Heroes
These are the dead whom we exalt to a status of what would be idol worship: celebrities who made a positive impact on our lives. Not limited to celebrities, it extends to anyone not of family relation who influenced us for the better: mentors, teachers, friends, neighbors, and others.
The Collective
The collective dead are the sum of our past. They are not immediate members of our family, but generations within generations within generations. These are the ones which group themselves together and go all the way back to our very first ancestor in Africa. Power resides here.
Working with the Ancestors
Certain criteria are needed to work with the dead:
These three are crucial. Without these beliefs, there is zero point in forming a relationship with them. I believe that in our Craft and Occulture, ancestral veneration is a must if we are to claim our power and create a healing, vital, positive impact in our lives. Mind you, they are beliefs, subject to doubt. There is nothing wrong with doubt, and in fact healthy doubt keeps us sane. However, like Magic, it requires some faith to understand the workings of bloodline and see the synchronicity that occurs from veneration of the dead and watching the results in our lives.
Ancestral Shrine
If you want to interact with the ancestors, there are some things I have done which might help you. Mind you, the following isn’t necessarily a prescription so much as a set of ideas and a grounding framework from which you can launch your own praxis. I begin with a very basic foundation. The additions are up to you or whatever your particular tradition prescribes.
The Shrine
Pick a shelf, a table, a mantle, or any other flat surface you may have. If your space is limited, then I encourage you to use a dresser, a chest, a corner table, or anything you see which may be of use. You don’t need to complicate matters. In fact, as you continue to work and honor them, they may grant you blessings to eventually have more space. For now, use what you have. If you have a home and understanding family who would love to participate, leave an empty chair for them. You may also use a vertical space such as a cabinet.
Get a white cloth and place it on the flat surface. On it place a small glass for water. Water is the lifeline of who we are as beings in this world. The glass, when filled, reawakens their energies. Don’t leave it there for weeks though. Change out the water and clean the glass when you see it get dirty.
Place one candle on the shrine. I prefer tealights and votives. They don’t take up a lot of space like some tapers do. I’m also writing for people with small spaces in mind. If you have a larger space, use two candles and two glasses of water. If you have a table space, leave some food and drink for them which you will later dispose of.
KEY: DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EAT FOOD LEFT FOR THE DEAD!!!
Continuing with the shrine, place photos and/or mementos on there. Be sure that the photos only have their image on there; no living members should be on the shrine. Why? If someone alive is on there, you’re telling the ancestors that this person is ready to join them.
KEY: DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PLACE PHOTOS OF THE LIVING ON THERE!!
Offerings
As mentioned earlier, leave food and drink for the dead. Perhaps cook their favorite meal, or a family favorite if you have more than one ancestor on there. Place their favorite alcoholic drink, juice, cigars, cigarettes, or whatever you think will make the space homey. This is where they will visit you. This is a portal, and to attract them is the goal.
Other offerings you give perhaps may be reading from a book they loved, writing some hymns, or or engaging in an activity you know they would want to see you do (e.g. weaving, playing video games, talking to them from your heart, etc). You may also place fresh flowers they loved. To add, celebrating their birthdays or milestones in your life with them will certainly add to trust. The beloved dead yearn to communicate with us, and so offerings are an ideal thing to make and strengthen that connection.
Communication
Communing with the dead is simple: just talk. That’s right. Just speak to them. Tell them your wishes, your fears, and your goals. The ancestors are very adept at helping you make things happen…more so than deities I should say. Why? The ancestors have struggled to overcome life. Deities have not, and they may have demands which may be overwhelming. The ancestors, however, may not. The only demands I have ever had – which is overwhelming in and of itself – is to live my best life, and to honor their legacy by honoring myself.
But how will the dead speak? They speak in various ways: synchronicity, divination, trance work, dreams, or automatic writing. Each of these are skills which, with time, can be developed. The dead will help you.
But What If…
But what if your occult activities aren’t making grandma happy because she was a Southern Baptist? I get this question a lot, and it is a good one. I have generations of Roman Catholics in my family, and a bit of Holiness Pentecostal. However, I believe – based on my experiences – that these can be worked with. I believe that by addressing the Collective, grandma can remember her past and her lineage. This will bring about healing for you and yours. Grandma, after all, will know she is dead and be conscious about it. She’ll meet everyone else in the Collective. Being dead doesn’t make you a better person, but I believe it does help us in this day and age heal from the past.
Then again, to really give you something to think about, there is inherently nothing wrong with honoring grandma by putting a Bible on the shelf. She may be dead, but she will still help you. She’ll understand that much. Celebrate her triumphs, her goodness, and her faith. The Bible, although believed by many to be the inerrant Word of God, is also used loosely in Magic without the literalist baggage. I’m not saying grandma believed in using the Bible for Magic (unless you have conjure ancestors); I’m saying that making it comfortable for her and others in your bloodline to come to you is important. Remember: working with the dead isn’t just about you, but about instilling Memory in you to keep their legacy alive.
What about the Shadowy Ones? Those abusers with whom you eschew relationships with? I have a separate altar for them. Yes, an altar. On it is one candle. The candle is for me – to show that despite all, I am a survivor. Whatever happens with them in the afterlife is up to higher powers. I am not concerned about it. I don’t have to forgive anyone. I warn people about bitterness being a poison, which it is. But one can be unforgiving without being bitter. You just forget and let it go. I keep the Shadowy Ones there because I want to acknowledge that their spirits are there, but also that they cannot overcome my light. It is a ward, so to speak. I use a black altar cloth on that one. I only light it on the dark moon, during which the Goddess Hekate is active and helps with the train of the dead.
Hekate and the Restless Dead
For my personal religious calendar (also used in StrixCraft), I follow a lunar cycle. The end of one “moonth” (month) is the dark of the moon, when it doesn’t shine in the night sky. This day is sacred to the Goddess Hekate, the Lady of the Underworld, the Crossroads, the Dead, Witchcraft, the World Soul, and the Liminal Spaces. Because the dark moon is a transition time between one lunar cycle and the next, as a liminal being she guards that area.
For the Shadowy Ones, I believe they ride in her train and are taken to their destination, one I do not know about nor would I wish to. During this time, I also encourage you to clean your altars and shrines so that you can enter the next cycle prepared in cleanliness. The Goddess Hekate is also your protector from the Shadowy Ones. Remember that they cannot harm you when you connect with the Goddess. There are other beings of the Crossroads of course, and these will be specific to your traditions if you are in one.
I must add this as well: there might be times when the dead are restless and perhaps even the Shadowy Ones might be active to harm you. The Goddess, however, is Queen of the Restless Dead; she and your ancestors will ward you. It doesn’t mean you let your guard down. It means that your faith and connection will help you to be protected. When in doubt, seek out a specialist adept in exorcisms who can handle a haunting. I say this not to scare you, but to demonstrate how palpable ancestral working can be.
Generational Curses
Family curses, in my experience, happen more often than we would like. What is a generational curse? Simple. It is a vice or trait which creates a negative and perhaps even deadly impact from one generation of your family to the next. It can be alcoholism, mental illnesses like schizophrenia, early deaths, abusive behavior, or other. Generational curses can be healed with the help of the Collective Dead. It will take time and inner healing, but I encourage you to seek out an experienced spiritual guide to help you transition these pains. Doing it alone is never easy, and in fact may make things worse.
Conclusion
I didn’t touch on the Heroes and I realize that, but to be honest honoring them can be, in some ways, no different from your immediate ancestors or the Collective. In your Craft, ancestral veneration is powerful. The Crimson Thread unites you with your past, even your pre-Christian past that was conquered by Christianity. While yes your family was Christian probably for 2,000 years (at most), your pre-Christian practices go back longer. For me, my ideal connection to the Collective is a pre-Christian ancestor who is a spirit guide in all of this. For my immediate ancestors, it may take some time after grieving to release them to the Collective, but release them in time I will (they have to be prepared as well of course). When you honor and work with the Crimson Thread, you will be amazed at the results of your Magic and Craft. May the journey bless you, as it is well worth it.
Eirene kai Hugieia!
(Peace and Health!)
Oracle
Conceptualizing what happened to people once they had passed turned out to be a matter of debate (nothing has changed). In ancient Greece, there seems to have been a difference between what everyday people thought and what the literature mentioned. Poets had their own imaginations, yet it did spread to the populace. There were also hypotheses as to what awaited initiates into Mystery Traditions. What made it different? How was it envisioned? And what is taught by the Strix?
Shades of the Dead
In ancient Greece, the understanding of what happened with the dead was pretty much well established by about 8th – 6th centuries BCE. In the Odyssey, the poet Homer wrote of the dead wandering throughout the Underworld as shadows: gloomy and poor. It was not something to aspire too. It was so bad that when the spirit of Achilles was raised from the dead temporarily, he mentioned how he would rather be a slave than the king of the Underworld.
The Dead weren’t creepy, scary, or evil. They were just sad. Their life in the Underworld depended on the constant memory of their descendants who were charged with maintaining their tombs and celebrating their milestones. Offerings such as cakes and wine were given to them. In this, the Dead continued to have hope, because the inevitable was oblivion.
Paradise and Tartarus
By about the 5th century BCE, the image of the Underworld was going about a change. Instead of just some gloomy place, there were levels. Socrates, the famed philosopher, was probably taught this by the witch and prophetess Diotima, who was his mentor. It passed to Plato who, in his “Gorgias” (a dialogue featuring Socrates), mentions it as a place where the wicked receive judgement.
Originally a place where the Titans who fought against Zeus and the Gods went after their defeat, it was this place of wickedness which has filled the imagination of many people. This imagery even passed into Christianity, where a section of Hell is known as Tartarus. The punishments towards the wicked fit the crimes they committed.
On the other spectrum, we have Paradise, also known as Elysium (or the Elysian Fields). It was said to be located in the West, and also called the Blessed Isles. Originally a place for demigods and Heroes, it was expanded in later imagery to those who lived out of Piety, performed heroic deeds, and/or were specifically chosen by the Gods. The Elysian Fields even made it to the New Testament as “Abraham’s Bosom,” also called “Paradise.”
The Mystery Traditions
The Mystery Traditions had a different account of the afterlife than those mentioned above. Initiation into the Mysteries guaranteed one a different afterlife. The Eleusinian Mysteries were believed by some to grant them a happy reunion. The Orphic Mysteries, on the other hand, promulgated the belief in reincarnation – more accurately metempsychosis, a form of reincarnation. What’s the difference? Metempsychosis refers to the spirit leaving the body at death and working its way through the Wheel of Fate in order to break the cycle and be one with the Divine. When a soul is reincarnated, they may choose to be human or animal. It is a choice devoid of karma, which is an Asian concept belonging to a specific religious practice. In the Orphic Mysteries when one passed, they were given instructions to follow a certain path and overcome obstacles. Orphic initiates were faced with a path that led to two springs: one named Lethe (Forgetfulness) and the other named Mnemosyne (Memory). They said a password to allow them to enter, and drink from the Well of Memory. From here they would reincarnate with their past life memories intact.
StrixCraft
In the StrixCraft as I teach it, the Ophic Strix initiates are promised deliverance from their former selves by Dionysos. It is Dionysos who intercedes on behalf of the initiate as they stand before Persephone. Claimed by Dionysos, the initiate will then walk upon the Starry Road to Memory, drink from the Moon Well, and continue to their next life. Once an initiate, always an initiate.
There is a Fourfold scheme to our bodies as we teach it:
Our etheric anatomy is something I’ll touch on in another blog. For now, I would like to say that for us as Strix, our multiple bodies each have a destination. The physical body returns to Ge, from whose energy we borrowed to live. We now return that energy back to Earth Mother.
The Lunar Body remains attached to the physical body. Upon death, there is a separation between the two, and the Lunar Body is the active principle which either remains intact because of Memory, or may dissolve and return to the Earth Mother if nothing is there to keep it alive and fed.
The Solar Body, upon death, separates from the Lunar Body and reincarnates along family lines. In the form of a bird the Solar Body reaches the Sun and travels the road to the Underworld where it will meet Persephone. This is the entity which interacts with other beings and carries emotions, intelligence, and awareness.
The Starry Body, upon death, is the ruling God-Self which guides the Solar Body to remember the initiations and past life deeds. The Starry Body carries the “True Name” imprinted with the Solar Body that will allow the chain of initiations to continue throughout the rest of that individual’s lives. The Starry Body is the Higher Self which connects us to the Gods and the Cosmos. One day the Starry Body will become a part of Nyx, carrying our memories to her.
Conclusion
The Underworld’s geography often changed depending on the time period and the knowledge acquired by those who returned from the dead in near-death experiences. I believe that the concept of the Underworld came about because our ancestors felt there must be somewhere that we travel to while we sleep. Dreams are portals to other realities, and it may have seemed that while we were sleeping, another part of us was awake. That’s just my belief though. My hypothesis.
The revelation of the different bodies and their destinations in StrixCraft as I teach it is pulled from contemplation and communing with the spirits. They may not be orthodox insofar as Hellenic Reconstructionism is concerned, but they make sense for us and our initiates. We look forward to our lives continuing, and allowing Nyx to use us so she may know herself even better.
Eirene kai Hugieia!
(Peace and Health!)
Oracle
The Cave of Oracle 