Axioms: VII. Law of Unity

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious

Symbolism”

Bill Whitcomb, 1997

Llyewellyn Publications

VII. Law of Unity

Everything (through all space and time) is linked, either directly or indirectly, to everything else. (See Law of Contagion within IX. Law of Association.)

          This is being proven through quantum physics. One of the basic ideas in quantum physics is entanglement. It is a form of link between objects that come into contact with each other. Traits carry over from one to the other. If something is done to the one it is then done to the other. This is in part sympathetic magic. 

Axioms: VI. Law of Paradox

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious

Symbolism”

Bill Whitcomb, 1997

Llyewellyn Publications

VI. Law of Paradox

No world view may encompass the whole world. Two models (or “laws”) may conflict with each other and still be true in their proper context. Two people may experience the same event yet perceive entirely different occurrences. Rationality is limited by the intellect, the world is not. The world is not bound by the confines of our world views. The trick is to switch from one model to another as it becomes appropriate. (See V. Law of Pragmatism)

          This is something that is becoming more and more of a fight among people. They do not realize that their world views are right for them and not for others. They fail to realize that people who are different from them (meaning everyone!) have different world views, different realities. They also fail to understand that just because their world view is right for them, it DOES NOT encompass all of the real world. It ONLY encompasses their small section of THEIR reality. Once humanity begins to understand that we will truly grow as a species. 

Clear findings of global warming

Courtesy of Ian Joughin

          It is sad in this day and age that anyone denies the effects of global warming. I have my questions on wither not humans are solely responsible for what is happening to our planet. That is because it seems our planet has gone through this many times in its past... but it seems we humans are unnaturally speeding the process up and perhaps causing a change that will never balance out again. But still there are those that like to believe it is not happening.

          Well here is a great article about come very clear findings that global warming and the ice caps melting is real. As a species we need to wake up and save ourselves before it is too late. The earth will carry on without us. The life on this planet will find a way to survive and carry one without us here. We are trying fighting to save the human species from extinction not the planet.

Courtesy of Ian Joughin

          So wake up and mess the ozone people! We as a species are racing to our doom. We have not yet hit the point of no return but we are rapidly reaching that point. Take a moment to read the full article at Popular Science.

(all images come from the article gallery. Do take a look at those images as they are beautiful but a warning of what is happening)

Axioms: V. Law of Pragmatism

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious

Symbolism”

Bill Whitcomb, 1997

Llyewellyn Publications

V. Law of Pragmatism

If it works, it is true. A world view is only valid if it enables its perceivers to accomplish their goals. The more successful a world view is in fulfilling the goal structure that its viewers possess, the more valid it could be said to be. By this definition, few people could be said to be completely insane. However, few people could be said completely sane, either.

          This is one of those that seems pretty self explanatory to me. This this interesting on a side note with magic and magic symbols. If one person uses a symbol and it works for them, then it is true and has power. But when that person then shares it with others and they have success with it the symbol becomes more true and gains more power.

Where you find yourself in life...

          I know that at times in our lives we can find we are not where we want to be... and in those times we wonder how we got where we were. But there is one thing that is true... we are where we are because of the choices we have made and we allow ourselves to stay where we are. It might not always be our doing that brought us to the situation we are currently in... but it ourselves that keep us there.

          What has spurred this is a friend's posting on Facebook about people using the phrase 'get a job' to others. This was brought up because of what so many companies do to their employees. Well here is my thought on the subject. You are the only person preventing you from leaving the job you are at. There are other jobs out there. The economy is not nearly as bad as the news paints. I live in Northwest Arkansas where there aren't many jobs to start with yet I see hiring signs all the time. Many times people do not want to go to a job they see as beneath them. Well as they say a job is a job. A paycheck is food on the table.

          Also I keep hearing people say that 'minimum wage isn't enough. Well I am sure for a family it is not enough. I know I worked a minimum wage job AND went to school full time all the while I lived alone and paid my bills. If you are unhappy with your minimum wage job then think about why you cannot get a job above minimum wage... it is education? If it is education well fix it. Get your GED... get a two year degree. There are so many programs to help you can get an education out there. You just have to look.

          I have someone in my life that is always struggling. They can never seem to get ahead in their life. When you look at where they are and where they have been it is easy to see a pattern. The pattern is the husband will not do what is needed to make the money the family needs. Personal comfort is coming before family comfort. I suggested instead of paying 800-1000 a month in a mortgage they can't afford go get an apartment in town to reduce the cost of living. That was rejected because the 'boys' needed to be outdoors running and playing. While I see the value in this, what is more important? Food, cloths, and a stable roof over their heads or the ability to have acres upon acres to run and play? Also the wife is staying home to take care of the kids, only one is left at home during the day. She could be working on an education at the local community college while she is staying home. This would be funded easily through Pell great and student loans. All she needs to do is make the effort. It would change that families life. They would have some extra money to live off of while she is in school from the student loans. But instead they stay where they are, refusing to make the changes that are needed.

          Of course I have not won any friends with this view point. But we stay where we are in life because we choose to stay there. You can always change your life. You can always make different choices that will further your goals in life. Just have the courage to do so.

Grow your own mushrooms at home with Back to the Roots

          This is the same company that is offering the kickerstart The Aquaponics Garden. This is a cardboard box which recycles coffee grounds into a mushroom farm. So if you love mushrooms here is your chance to order a home growing kit from a wonderful company, Back to the Roots, which uses recycled materials. What a wonderful way to reclaim growing our own food while being environmentally friendly!

          The cool thing about this is there is no shelf life because the mushrooms are growing there in the box. The kit allows you to grow 1 1/2 lbs of mushrooms! I get way excited about these kinds of things. Take a look at the kit.

          People are always asking for items like this... well here they are. Help keep them going and help out our planet and your wallet at the same time! If we do not purchase these kinds of products wonderful companies like Back to the Roots cannot stay in business. So help out! Visit their site and order a kit or two!

Cool way to have a pet AND grow an herb garden all in one!

          So I came across this on someone's post on Facebook. It has to be one of the greatest inventions I have yet to see! I will be ordering one of these from the Kickstart page ASAP! I love having a fish tank. They are so relaxing to watch... but this takes the enjoyment even further. It cleans itself!!!! while watering and feeding plants on top of the tank!

          The filtering system pulls all the fish pooh and excess food through the rocks below and pipes it up to the upper platform where the plants are located. The plants then take in the water, eat the organic material, release clean water into a holding area that then sends the cleaned water back into the tank! What a wonderful way to have fish, grow herbs, and help clean the air a little in your home!!!! Please take a moment to help this company out on Kickstart. This is yet another wonderful project that will help improve our lives!

The Aquaponics Garden

Axioms: IV. Law of Relative Truth

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious

Symbolism”

Bill Whitcomb, 1997

Llyewellyn Publications

IV. Law of Relative Truth

Every statement is true in one sense, false in one sense and meaningless in one sense. This is the function of one’s vantage point (world view). In words of Hassan Ibn Sabbah, “Nothing is true.  Everything is permissible.”

          This is one of those things that is so interesting. Take for example: I was making a deposit at a bank some years back. There was a guy in the line behind me that kept making me have goose bumps. I felt extremely uneasy. I got up to the teller window and handed the lady my check. The guy that was behind me went to the window next to me. He handed his 'deposit' slip to the teller. She turned very pale faced then handed him all the money that was in her booth. He grabbed the money and started to run... dropping his gun on the floor. He grabbed it before running away. (for anyone who hasn't been in this situation it SUCKS! you will spend HOURS upon HOURS locked down in the bank.)

          So they started questioning everyone on what they saw. What was interesting was that everyone saw and heard something different... some were only slightly different while others were wildly different. But each person saw something through their 'world view' and it was the holy truth for them. They were all correct from their perception but all incorrect on what actually happened.

          One of the things I noticed was that the gun when it dropped made a very funny sound... like a plastic gun instead of a metal one. I also noticed a strange looking orange tip. But I couldn't recall the mans face only that he was tall, white, shabby looking, and smelled like old cigars. When I was questioned I repeated what I recalled. And part of what I recalled was correct... oddly enough I was the only one that recalled it. You see they had already caught the guy just a few blocks away from the bank. He was tall, he was white, and he had a toy gun with an orange tip. So my truth of what happened was correct to a point, false to another, and the smell... well that was completely meaningless.

          But no one else noticed it was a toy gun... some even thought it was a knife.

Want to grow a better home garden or house plants while stopping waste?

          So you have decided you want to grow a better healthier more green home garden or house plants? Well this is an item what was posted about oh Facebook that is really awesome! It takes your food waste and turns it into compost with all the nasty smell mess. I will be looking into this for sure! I have a tone of waste from the skins and pits of the avocados I eat daily, there are meat and vegetable trimmings that are wasted as well. Heck not sure it will work on this compost but there are tons of coffee grounds I have as well. Better to put them to use instead of in the land fills!

This was be so awesome to have for all my house plants, my herbs each year, and for the small vegetable garden I will be growing this spring. It makes a 'tea' you can use to feed your plants and the 'raw' material is put in with you soil to become rich top soil in just a few months! What a great way to recycle you home food waste!

All Season Indoor Composter

100,000 Stars!

          This is a great new program from Google. It shows the most local stars in our part of the galaxy. It really gives you a since of just how small we are in the universe. I love these kinds of things. Yes they make me fill small but at the same time they make me very proud and honored to be live in this glorious universe.

Google 100,000 Stars

Axioms: III. Law of Synchronicity

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious

Symbolism”

Bill Whitcomb, 1997

Llyewellyn Publications

III. Law of Synchronicity

Synchronicity is a term invented by Dr. Carl Jung to describe meaningful coincidences that cannot be described by the law of cause and effect. They are events connected by pattern (meaning) rather than time. (See IX. Law of Association.) Some interpret this as a developing and ongoing dialogue between the perceiver and the consciousness of the universe. This dialogue is overt to the degree the perceiver is receptive to (or aware of) it.

          One of the most common examples of this in my life is when I think of a friend or be talking about a friend, I have not heard from in a while. Then suddenly will get a call or a text from them. They are like small messages from the Universe. Another one was the day of my graduation. I am in an area where jobs for IT professionals are very few. I worried all day about what I was going to do. When I got home after graduation I checked my email and found near 40 listings of IT jobs in my area. That brought me such a relief. Within 48 hours of that I already had a great job that I started a week later.

Curiosity's finding?....

          NASA is playing their little game of cat and mouse with the newest findings of the Curiosity Rover. It is likely that there is not much to truly be excited about. BUT what if there is? What if for the first time in the known history of human kind we have found evidence... TRUE evidence of life on another planet? What will it mean? What will happen to the fragile self-image of humankind?

          Well first off I believe we will find it sooner or later within our own solar system. If not moons then one of the moons of Jupiter or Saturn. But I do believe we will find it. I also believe for many it will be catastrophic to their beliefs. They will learn suddenly they are no longer the center of the universe. That they are not the pinnacle of all creating.

          But if means something else. If it is found on Mars then it means a planet can die. That a planet can go from support life to a sterile waste land. That will be a major awakening for humanity. It will mean our planet is fragile and we do need to take better care of it so what happened to Mars does not happen here.

          It also means that life is a lot heartier than we thought as well, if it is found a live on another planet or moon. It means that it will find a way to evolve not matter what. It also will be that our galaxy, our universe, is more than likely FILLED with life and has been for a long time. It means that civilizations have risen and fallen countless times through out the ages of our universe.

          And it means something else. It means though we are not solely unique, we are however all linked. That life is just as much a part of the make of the universe as protons and neutrons. That we ALL are a part of the very fabric of all creation.

Axioms: II. Law of Attention

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious Symbolism”

Bill Whitcomb, 1997

Llyewellyn Publications

II. Law of Attention

The more evidence one looks for to support a given law, conclusion, or world view

the more one will find.

Worldviews have inertia. Since we create our world each moment (as discussed above in the Law of World Views), we are constantly maintaining our world view. This is done by means of a recursive internal dialogue of wards and symbols with which we constantly edit our perceptions. By rearranging our attention, we rearrange our world view. To quote Lewis Carroll, “What I tell you three times is true.”

          This is one of the Axioms I find most interesting. This supports the first law of World Views. Our reality is our point of view. The more we re-enforce that reality the more real it will become to use. This is very powerful in magical traditions. Here is a good example: You cast a money spell to draw money to you. Within a week you find a 5 dollar bill laying on the ground in a parking lot. Your first thought is that the money spell is working. You are now giving the 'World View' the spell worked more 'Attention' therefor it is becoming more real. The following day you find say a 20 on the ground. Again you are re-enforcing the 'World View' that the spell is working by giving it more 'Attention'. Now every time you need extra cash you will cast that same spell with the knowledge that it works, which in turn re-enforces it even more.

Another idea for a winter garden

          I love finding innovative ideas that people have for gardening in small spaces and in the winter months. Here is one that looks really cool! I think this was be very doable at my current apartment with the raised garden I have. Gives me tons of ideas!!!!

A Winter Garden

Axioms: I. Law of World Views

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious Symbolism”

Bill Whitcomb, 1997

Llyewellyn Publications

I. Law of World Views

The world we perceive is actually the interface (mixture) of the nominal world (the Tao, the objective reality that is unknowable), and our selves (the subjective). Changing your world view does not change the eternal, real world, but it does change the perceived world. This is important because it is the world we touch, see, and act upon. Changing your world view makes real changes in the world, which is real to us. (See below, VIII. Law of Reflection)

Because there are an infinite number of ways to perceive the world, there are an infinite number of worlds we may assemble with our awareness. The true underlying reality is unknowable to us as long as we retain the worldview of separateness and self. You can become one with the universe but you cannot step back and observe it, because you are in it. You cannot observe a phenomenon without altering it by your mode of perception. There is no such thing as an independent observer. You participate in creating the world by perceiving it. You participate in creating the world by perceiving it.

          World view is one of the most important concepts for humanity, one we really need to grasp as a species. It would help to bring about peace and harmony among our people. Since each of us have our own world view we will never truly see the world the same as anyone else. If we can understand this then we begin to gain ground on true understanding. And if the true underlying reality is unknowable by us then we can begin to accept that we are not ever truly right nor are we ever truly wrong. From that point perhaps as a people we can begin to see that we much accept others as they are and their world views even if those world views do not match our own.

Axioms: Series on laws of Metaphysics

          One of the most important things I have learned through my studies is that just as there are rules that the govern the nature world from a scientific point of view there are also rules from a metaphysical point of view. These rules or laws are called Axioms. Just as modern science had brought us physics and quantum physics to understand the physical laws of nature, Metaphysics gives an understanding of the laws beyond those that science cannot yet explain. Bill Whitcomb wrote a wonder listing of them in his source book, “The Magician's Companion: A Practical and Encyclopedic Guide to Magical and Religious Symbolism”, Llewellyn Publications; 2nd edition (January 1993). I thought it would be a good series to explore on my blog. I will post one Axiom a day and give my thoughts on each one. I hope you grain something from exploring them with me.

          I will work to post on Axiom per day with some comments reflecting my thoughts on each one. Please let your thought and comments as well.

The Same Parents by Enigma... very powerful and thought provoking!

          I love this song. It is so powerful in meaning and in its message. This is something I ask myself everyday when I hear or read about violence, hatred, and prejudiced in our world. Take a moment to watch the video... and read the lyrics. I think you too will see how powerful the message is here.



We all had the same parents
Many million years ago
Why can't we live in freedom?
Without hunger, with no war

At the beginning we all had
One mother and one father
That's where we're descending from

Attention
I don't, I don't understand
Why so much hate?
Attention
Between races and religions

It's mad, insane
I don't understand
Amazing
Why it has to be like that?
Incredible experience

We all had the same parents
Many million years ago
Why can't we live in freedom?
Without hunger, with no war

Attention
I don't, I don't understand
Why so much hate?
Amazing
Between races and religions
Incredible experience

We all had the same parents
Many million years ago
Why can't we live in freedom?
Without hunger, with no war

At the beginning we all had
One mother and one father
That's where we're descending from

We all had the same parents
Many million years ago
Why can't we live in freedom?
Without hunger, with no war

I don't, I don't understand
(We all had the same parents)
Why so much hate?
Between races and religions
(Many million years ago)

I don't, I don't understand
(Why can't we live in freedom?)
I don't, I don't understand
I don't, I don't understand
(Without hunger, with no war)
I don't, I don't understand

We all had the same parents
Many million years ago
We all had the same parents
Many million years ago


Read more: ENIGMA - THE SAME PARENTS LYRICS

A different view on Creation...

          One of the first stories taught to youths in nearly all cultures is one of creation. It sets the foundation for the framework in which we build our worldviews on, from how we view the world around us, even how we view ourselves. For we Aourians (a term I use when speaking of those who have a ‘gay’ soul), there is a lack of creation myths that give us a place in the workings of the universe. Therefore it is our responsibility to create our own myths when none are available to us. By creating our own myths we reach into the unknown to rediscover our place within the universe.

          Similar beliefs can be found within animism, where the thought is that every object has a spirit that lives within it. The spirits are all part of a larger spirit that is the origin of all life. It is believed that many of these principles are the foundation of magick, like the belief that there are spirits that make up even the basis of the elements themselves. This gave primitive man a great respect for all of life in its many forms. They realized that they were neither above nature nor the center of it either… they knew they were part of nature, a part of the never ending-cycle of life.

          In many Eastern and Near Eastern religions these myths were shaped around the events of the heavens, the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth. Many of these faiths have a deity that rules over every aspect of creation, from the stars that give life to planets, down to the tiniest of creatures that crawl upon the earth. As with animism, the Eastern and Near Eastern have a great respect for nature and their place within it. This creates the idea that we are a part of nature not a part from nature.

          Within Christianity the purpose for creation was to bring into existence a being that would worship the Creator. The deity simply took the time to carefully create every aspect of the universe; everything has its purpose, its use. It the creation myth the Creator created man from the ashes and dirt of the earth in his image. Then from man the Creator fashioned a companion for this new follower. From the scripture of the Christian faith, the world was created so that man would have a place in which to live, a place to dominate and reign as a gift for worshiping the Creator. When we begin to see ourselves apart from nature we begin to lose the knowledge of whom and what we really are.

          Just as life has evolved through time, our outlook on creation and spiritually should evolve as well. Our intelligence gives us the ability to look beyond what was taught to us in our younger years, to see life, as it should be viewed. All things are a part of creation; all things are equal to one another no matter what their place in the world.

          I have always been very fond of looking at life with scientific eyes. Many believe to have faith in spirituality means you cannot have belief in science, and vice versa. On the contrary, I have always felt like there is no reason why science and spirituality cannot go hand in hand. Over the years I have slowly come to form my own view of creation. Science has taught me that all life evolved from single celled organisms. From the single cell all life divide into the beautiful array of species we see today. Yet with all of the evolution of millions upon millions of years we still have single celled organisms. Our bodies themselves are made up of 1st gendered cells as it was in the beginning. I believe this is the best point to resent my vision of creation to help explain the views I hold about gender and our place within life. Stories of creation are what form our views on life, even at a very young age. This version of Creation was inspired and a much modified form of Starhawk’s Creation myth in her book Earth Spiral.

“In the beginning, before the start of time itself, the Aour, the Great Spirit that is the essence all things, floated in the outer darkness of the abyss, shapeless, unaware. In the darkness there was only motionless silence. As the eons pasted the Aour began to awaken, to slowly move, the first stir of thought came into being.”

“As the Aour began to move, it took form, becoming conscious of itself, it saw its own brilliant light reflected in the emptiness of all that was. As the Aour focused on the reflection, the image began to take the shape of a being, the very likeness of the Aour and the Aour fell in love with it. The Aour drew the being to Itself and called it Awen, the “Living Spirit.” The Aour poured all the power within itself into the Awen, thus creating its equal. They were drawn explicitly to one another, dancing in the first attractions of love.”

“As they came together, separate beings yet the same, they made love to one another. The Aour and the Awen became swollen with love, with passion, with desire. Their love sent waves of energy into the abyss. The waves began to vibrate throughout the darkness, creating patterns the echoed throughout the darkness. In a moment of great release their ecstasy burst forth into the Great Song of all that is, was, and ever shall be. With the Great Song came a new motion, waves of their energy that poured into the darkness and became all the spheres of the stars and all the worlds. In the last throws of passion the two Great Spirits gave birth to a rain of bright spirits, a reflection of themselves that filled all the worlds which became all beings, the patterns began to echo through all of creation.”

“In that great movement, Awen was swept away, and as Awen moved out from the Aour, the movement in the patterns began to divide the Awen into two separate beings. Each part became different, opposite of from other. As the Awen began to change so did the spirits in which it had given birth to. One turned feminine, magnetic, a force that pulls all to Her. The other turned masculine, electric, becoming the essence of growth. The feminine being first became the Mother Goddess, the Cradle of all life. Then She became Mother Nature, the Spirit of all living things. At last She became the Star Goddess, She whose body is all the living worlds themselves and their eternal resting place. The masculine being first became the Sky Father, the gentle God of the heavens. Then He became the Green God, vine-covered, the Spirit of all growing things. At last He became the Horned God, the Hunter, the Great Sacrifice, He who gives his body so that all may live again. Just as the two Great Spirits danced with one another, so did the new forms of Awen began to dance to the echo all the patterns of movement. The overwhelming desire to return to the wholeness of the Aour in love compels them to encircle each other eternally, seeking union as the Awen once again.”

“As with the dance of the Aour and the Awen, each dance of union brings forth life, each life a reflection of all creation, each creation seeking to return to the Great Aour in love. All began in love; all seek to return to love. Love is the law, the teacher of wisdom, and the great revealer of mysteries.”

          As I believe that being gay is a reflection of the Aour, I see heterosexuals as a reflection of the divine that was created at the beginning of time, that of the Awen. From the one act of love from the Aour for the Awen, in essence Itself, ended the reign of the one Spirit. It created two other forms of spirit, that of wholly male and that of wholly female. From these creations all the worlds are filled with a great diversity, a diversity that should be respected and nurtured.

          As time passed Nature did what she does best, changed things. Life evolved from single celled, 1st gendered creatures, to more complex creatures such as fish, cats, dogs, and humans just to name a few. Even with life evolving the Aour would not be denied the presence of being in physical form. So as males and females came into being some began to form into the reflection of the Aour as gay, lesbian, and bisexual beings. So in the end I do see being gay not only a physical and mental factor but also one of Spirit, for the only part of us that is truly immortal is that of the spirit and that is the part that we become with all the other parts are left behind.

Hymn to the Muses

Oh great goddesses, patrons of the Arts and Sciences,

bringers of man’s art locked deep within,

I call upon You, the divine keys of ours soul’s true self,

Giving honor to You and your Lord Zeus.

Praise be to the Great God King Zeus, father of the gods, hero against the Titans, Son to Kronos and Lord to the Divine Muses!

Praise be to the Great Divine Muses!

Praise be to the Elder Muses, you who came first, you who brought the dawn’s light of soul to man!

Praise be to Melete, the Muse of meditation, She who gives deeper, inner thought to man!

Praise be to Mneme, the Muse of memory, She who gives the gift of what man has forgotten!

Praise be to Aoide, the Muse of Song, She who gives the divine voice to man!

Praise be to the Younger Muses, those who brought new enlightenment to man!

Praise be to Calliope, the Muse of eloquent and epic poetry!

Praise be to Clio, the Muse of historical and heroic poetry!

Praise be to Erato, the Muse of erotic and love poetry, of lyrics and mimicry!

Praise be to Euterpe, the Muse of lyrical poetry and music, of joy and pleasure, and of the flute!

Praise be to Melomene, the Muse of tragedy!

Praise be to Polyhymnia, the Muse of scared hymn, of eloquence and of dance!

Praise be to Terpsichore, the Muse of dramatic chorus and dance!

Praise be to Thalia, the Muse of pastoral poetry, of comedy!

Praise be to Urania, the Muse of astronomy and astrology!

As beauty is for beauties sake,

I give this prayer to You!

I give of myself,

And ask only that You give more of myself to me,

Than I had before!

Praise be to the Great Muses!

Praise be to the Muse within me!

An ADF styled Athenian Noumenia

           The ancient Greeks had a lunar based calendar as did much of the world. The official ritual calendar varied from city state to city. What we know the most about comes from the Athenian Festival Calendar. Though they have different festivals that come around each year what seemed the most important of all were the monthly festival cycles that started at the beginning of each month.

          The first thing to look at is that the New Year started with the first new moon after the summer solstice. Second is that that Greek day began with the setting of the sun, not with the rising of it. Each new moon was then celebrated and termed Noumenia, new moon Day. In some cases this was not the first day of the festival cycle for the new moon. Some of the city states used the four days preceding the new moon to honor the Chthonic Deities and land spirits, this was done for three days, then the last day of the old month to was for giving offering to Hekate, which were usually done in private.

          Each day thereafter for eight days had specific deities or entities associated with its celebration with the acceptation of the 5^th day where there seems to have been a day of rest. Then the cycle would begin again with the changing of the moon.

          In ADF we adapt many of the ancient customs to our modern ways of worship. The Hellenic culture is very near and dear to my heart so I wanted to bring some of the deeper aspects of their customs into my spiritual path. I have taken the previous understanding of the Athenian Calendar and Lunar Festival cycle modify it, creating my own personal set ritual schedules to work into my monthly devotion cycle.

I begin just after sun set. As was the custom I start all my rituals in this cycle giving offerings first to Hestia, the Hearth Goddess, for first offerings in the home go to her. From there I perform the rituals I have written in standard ADF ritual format. As it was standard practice to honor Zeus before all gods I have written the rituals so that he is the first Kindred of Occasion in all these rituals.

          The Libation Hymn in the ritual was heavily influenced by Aeschylus’ Queen Mother, Atossa, in Persians (vv.607-99), she using an invocation and hymn to call forth her dead son, much of which is very beautiful. When I read through her call to her son there just seemed to be very ‘right’ about it. It also was very Greek in its offering to the dead and would be fitting for the gods as well. Here is the Libation Hymn I wrote that was so inspired by Queen Atossa:

Libation Hymn:

Great Ones, Shining Gods and Goddesses,

I come to you as in times of old, bringing libations, gifts to honor and soothe:

To you all that have come, to all that heard my call I give you these gifts;

White milk, sweet to drink from the animal sacred Hermes, the cow;

Golden honey, the distillation of the bees that work on sweet Persephone’s blossoms;

Holy water brought from the source a pure spring domain of the Nymphs;

This refreshing, unmixed drink from the ancient vine, its mother Demeter the Goddess of all growing things, the gift to human kind from Beloved Dionysus;

And the fragrant fruit of the pale green olive that lives its abundant life among the leaves and light of Helios, the gift of Athena to her people;

These gifts I give to you in love and in respect, in friendship and kinship.

Might Ones accept my offerings!

The following is the schedule I use for the version of an ADF Athenian Noumenia. If you are interested in seeing the rituals themselves you can visit our Protogroves site. They will be listed under RESOURCES/GENERAL RITUALS.

4 Days before Noumenia (New Moon Festival)

Chthonic Day 1: Chthonic Land Deities, Nymph’s and Nature Spirits

Chthonic Day 2: Chthonic Sea Deities, Nymph’s and Nature Spirits

Chthonic Day 3: Chthonic Sky Deities, Nymph’s and Nature Spirits

Hekate’s Deipnon (Last Day Before the New Moon): Celebration for Hekate

Noumenia (New Moon Festival of New Moon): Celebration for Selene, Apollon Noumenios, and the Ancestors

Agathos Daimon (2^nd Day of New Moon): Celebration for the Good Spirits

Birthday of Athena & the Graces (3^nd Day after Noumenia):

Aphrodite, Hermes, Herakles & Eros (4^rd Day after Noumenia):

5^th Day is taken off

Birthday of Artemis (6^th Day after Noumenia):

Birthday of Apollon (7^th Day after Noumenia):

Poseidon (8^th Day after Noumenia):

Sources:

The Sacred and Civil Calendar of the Athenian Year, by Jon D. Mikalson, Princeton University Press 1975

The Oxford Classical Dictionary, ed. By S. Hornblower and A. Spawforth, Oxforth University Press 1996

Arcana Mundi, by Georg Luck, Johns Hopkins 1985

Hellenion: http://www.hellenion.org

A Druid Style House Cleansing, Warding, and Blessing

          The following is a ritual I wrote to create a house cleansing, warding and blessing. I wanted something that was in the tradition of ADF styled rituals. Four warning this ritual can take a LONG time to perform depending on the number of people and the size of the home. It has been a while since I have modified it. At some point I will update the ritual so that it reflects more of my current cultural tradition.

House Cleansing, Warding, and Blessing Ritual ADF Formatted

by David Crawford

Opening Prayers:

1.       Offering/Prayer to Inspiration (pour a libation into an offering bowl or Well as you say):   Scared spirit of words, guide of mortal speech and deed, I call upon  you to guide my words and actions in this rite!

2.       Earth Mother Offering (give offering of grains into an offering bowl at the Tree as you say):   Lady Sustainer, Mother of us all I give of my bounty calling to you, join me in this rite!

Establishing Scared Center:

1. Hallowing of the Well (pour libation into the Well):   Spirit of the Well, formless base of the world, flow beneath & about me, nourish my path, I give this offering to you as invitation to be with me at this rite!

2. Hallowing of the Tree (place offering of grains into the offering bowl at the Tree):   Spirit of the Tree, living axis to all the worlds, stand with me as I reach for beyond this world, I give this offering to you as invitation to be with me at this rite!

3. Hallowing of the Fire (place offerings [flammable liquor] into the fire/light incense):   Spirit of Fire, light of the heavens, shine upon me and light my path, I give this offering to you as invitation to be with me at this rite!

4. Invocation of Raven as Gate Keeper (place offering into the Well, the Tree offering bowl and into the Fire):   Raven, winged messenger of all the worlds, accept this offering to hold open the gates, carry my praise and offerings to those beyond!

Opening of the Gate:

1.       Opening of Well Gate (stand before the Well, arms at your side palms facing out. Feel the Wells energy. See a light begin to grow in it and say, raising your arms out to your sides slowly until palms are above your head as you finish. Then moved them slowly back down to your side feeling the gate open):  Let the Well be no more a well but all wells and all waters reaching into the depths of the Sea, let it be the foundation of the worlds and the anchor of the Gate.

2.       Opening of Tree Gate (stand before the Tree, arms at your side palms facing out. Feel the Trees energy. See a line of light begin to grow in the center of it and say, raising your arms out to your sides slowly until palms are above your head as you finish. Then moved them slowly back down to your side feeling the gate open): Let Tree be no more a tree but all trees and all life spanning the breadth of the Land, let it be the axis of the worlds and anchor the Gate.

3.       Opening of Fire Gate (stand before the Fire, arms at your side palms facing out. Feel the Fire energy. See a light begin to grow in it and say, raising your arms out to your sides slowly until palms are above your head as you finish. Then moved them slowly back down to your side feeling the gate open): Let the Fire be no more a flame but all fire and light of the Sky, let it be the crown of the worlds and anchor the Gate.

By the powers of the Hallows and Raven, Let the Gates be open! Let the Gates be open! Let the Gates be open!.... The Gates are open!

Kindred Invocations

1.       Offering to Ancestors (go to the Well, visualize the Ancestors coming through the gate and offer a libation after saying): Honored dead of our kin, who came before so that we might be, hear my words I pray. I wish to do you honor.  Blessed spirits of the dead attend my rite, accept this gift and join in my worship. Beloved Ancestors, accept my offering!

2.       Offering to Nature Spirits (go to the Tree, visualize the Nature Spirits coming to and through the gate and offer grains after saying): Noble spirits of nature pure, of sky and water, of fur and feather and scale, of soil and earth, hear my words I pray! I wish to do you honor. Noble spirits of nature attend my rite, accept this gift, and join in my worship. Spirits of Nature, accept my offering!

3.       Offering to Gods (go to the Fire, visualize the Gods coming through the gate and give an offering after saying): Shining gods of immortal realms, of sky and earth, of life and death, and the forces of all the worlds, hear my words I pray! I wish to do you honor. Shining gods of all the people attend my rite, accept this gift, and join in my worship. Bright Gods accept my offering!

Main Ritual:

Outside Offering ( [done by home owner] have tray with offerings. See all the unwanted beings within the home. Feel their presence. Hold the tray aloft and say): Outdwellers, you who are not a part of this home, you who are unwelcome here, though you are mighty, though you are strong, I ask that you accept this offering and leave my home in peace. (Carry the tray around the house saying): Outdwellers accept this offering and leave my home in peace! (end outside of the house.)

Ancestor Offering: Ancestors, I give you this offering and ask that you lend me your courage and power to cleanse, ward, and bless this home! (place offering into the Well)

Nature Spirit Offering: Natures Spirits, I give you this offering and ask that you lend me your strength and power to cleanse, ward and bless this home! (place offering into the Tree offering bowl)

Gods Offering: Shining Ones, I give you this offering and ask that you lend me your wisdom and power to cleanse, ward, and bless this home! (place offering into Fire or offering bowl)

Omen: (using Tarot or other divination tool draw THREE cards. These will tell you if the Kindreds give
their blessings on this rite. As long as the reading is positive you are good to continue.)

Blessing: (pour drink into the blessing glass. Then go to each of the Hallows)

1.       Hollowing of Waters by Ancestor (Hold Blessing Cup to the Well. Feel the energy of the Ancestors pouring into the cup): Ancestors if you have heard my prayers and accept them you will do what is right, bless these waters so that I may receive your blessings.

2.       Hollowing of Waters by Nature Spirits (Hold Blessing Cup to the Tree. Feel the energy of the Nature Spirits pouring into the cup): Nature Spirits if you have heard my prayers and accept them you will do what is right, bless these waters so that I may receive your blessings.

3.       Hollowing of Waters by Gods (Hold Blessing Cup to the Fire. Feel the energy of the Gods pouring into the cup): Shinning Ones if you have heard my prayers and accept them you will do what is right, bless these waters so that I may receive your blessings.

4.       Blessing: May no one ever know hunger nor thirst while I do you will!

(everyone present sips from the cup.)

Ritual Cleansing, Warding, and Blessing


Cleansing:

Well Cleansing (Take the Well and carry it around the house sprinkling water counter clockwise saying

until you have cleansed every part of the house): Scared Well, Waters of life, follow beneath and around us, cleanse this home from negative influences. (Light the black candle as you go on the first round at each of the four directional walls, all windows, doors, and mirrors.)

Tree Cleansing (Take the Tree and carry it around the house with a small bowl of salt which you will use to

sprinkle counter clockwise and say until you have cleansed every part of the house): Scared Tree, grow and spread your branches around us, cleanse this home from negative influences.

Fire Cleansing (Take lighted incense of Frankincense and Myrrh carry it around the house counter

clockwise and say until you have cleansed every part of the house):  Scared Fire, burn bright spilling your light around us, cleanse this home from negative influences.

Blessing:

Ancestor Blessing: (going CLOCKWISE to each room light ONE at each of the directional walls, all

windows, and doors, and mirrors tea lights saying until every part of the house is blessed. Visualize the Ancestors filling the candle with their blessings and it flowing through the house) Mighty Ancestors we ask that you bless this home and those who live within these walls.

 
Nature Spirits Blessing: (going CLOCKWISE to each room light ONE at each of the directional walls, all

windows, and doors, and mirrors tea lights saying until every part of the house is blessed. Visualize the Nature Spirits filling the candle with their blessings and it flowing through the house): Glorious nature spirits we ask that you bless this home and those who live within these walls.

Gods Blessing: (going CLOCKWISE to each room light ONE at each of the directional walls, all windows,

and doors, and mirrors tea lights saying until every part of the house is blessed. Visualize the Gods filling the candle with their blessings and it flowing through the house): Shining Ones we ask that you bless this home and those who live within these walls.

 

Warding:

Ancestor Warding: (using the white sage and sea salt mixture mark all directional walls, windows, doors,

and mirrors with your choice of power symbol visualizing the Ancestors forming a barrier of energy as you work COUNTER CLOCKWISE around the house): Ancestors, loved ones past and heroes of old, let nothing pass that does not pass in peace.

Nature Spirits Warding: (using the white sage and sea salt mixture mark all directional walls, windows,

doors, and mirrors with your choice of power symbol visualizing the Nature Spirits forming a barrier of energy as you work COUNTER CLOCKWISE around the house): Nature Spirits, creatures of fur and feather, of scale and skin, let nothing pass that does not pass in peace.

Gods Warding: : (using the white sage and sea salt mixture mark all directional walls, windows,

doors, and mirrors with your choice of power symbol visualizing the Nature Spirits forming a barrier of energy as you work COUNTER CLOCKWISE around the house): Shining One, gods and goddesses of the sky, land, and sea, let nothing pass that does not pass in peace.

Ending Ritual:

Return of the Waters to Earth (take the blessing Cup and pour what remains into the well saying):  I give what is unused to the land so that it may be better for me having been here.

                Thanks Patrons & Allies:
                Thank the Gods:
                Thank the Nature Spirits:
                Thank the Ancestors:
                Thank the Earth Mother:
                Thank Spirit of Poetic Inspiration:
                Close the Gate: Fire, Tree, Well:

Fire: (feel the energy return through the gate and close as you say ): Let the Fire be no more the Crown of all the worlds but simply a fire! Fare well Spirit of Fire!

Tree: (feel the energy return through the gate and close as you say ):  Let the Tree be no more the Axis of all the worlds but simply a tree! Fare well Spirit of Tree!

Well: (feel the energy return through the gate and close as you say ): Let the Well be no more the Foundation of all the worlds but simply a well! Fare well Spirit of Well!

Let the gates be closed! Let the gates be closed!.... THE GATES ARE CLOSED!!!

Thank Raven: Raven I give you thanks for your help and ask that you go swiftly upon you way carrying with you my offerings to the Otherside! I ask you be with me when next I call!

Solar Energy Farm... Google has the right idea!

          Who says that Google is completely evil? Take a look at what they are doing. This is a great large scale solar power farm. We need to have more of these kinds of things to help create an oil free future (though totally oil free isn't likely as plastic contains oil...but! you get the point). This is being built in the Mojave Desert in California.

          In the United States we have a great deal of desert area that really cannot be used for much. These places are extremely sunny, get very little cloud cover, or bad weather (barring sand storms of course). So these places make really wonderful location for solar farms. So what is the problem? Why aren't move of these being built?

          One of the biggest reason is cost... yes it will cost a great deal to transition from oil/coil to ANY new power system as we already have an established infrastructure. But think of the rewards this will bring. We will no longer be required to give money to other nations for oil to fuel our cars and power factories. Power generation in our country will be solely the property of the US (or the companies who invest in the farming). We can lower the cost of power bills for the average American... which they can then invest in more efficient appliances and lighting. That in turn frees even more money for people to buy and spend on the things they want. It is a snow ball effect which we are in desperate need of.