Axioms: XIX. Law of Pattern (Knowledge)

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious
Symbolism”
Bill Whitcomb, 1997
Llyewellyn Publications

XIX. Law of Pattern (Knowledge)


Information can be viewed as a measure of unpredictability of a message. The more
unpredictable a message is, the more information it contains.
In systems, the most probable state is rest (dispersion of available energy). Since
systems tend towards entropy, the least probable state is that of potential work. Thus,
we can think of the degree of order in a system as the amount of energy in it.

Pattern is Information.
Information is Energy.
“Information is Knowledge”.
Knowledge is Power.

To me when I think of this Law I think of a large round boulder sitting at the top of a hill. It sits there, unmoving, day after day. Then one day someone decides to push the boulder down the hill. Effort is put into moving and pushing the boulder. Different ways are applied to moving the massive stone until suddenly it is able to over come it's resting inertia and move down the hill. It's path unpredictable because of all the possible variations in the surface of the hill it is rapidly speeding down.

Garden Instead of Lawn

          This is a wonderful idea to have instead of a lawn. Imagine growing all the food you could want in your front and back yard instead of having a lawn you have to mow. This will also help cut down on your grocery bills!


          Gardening really is not as hard as some like to think it is. As long as you read about the amount of light and right about of water plants will grow. So think about replacing your yard with a raised box garden like this! Plus your vegetables will be market fresh and YOU will decide what goes into growing them. This can help allow families who want to eat more organic foods afford to do so. Plus you are adding more green to the world... which will help the planet!

Axioms: XVIII. Law of Information Packing

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious
Symbolism”
Bill Whitcomb, 1997
Llyewellyn Publications

XVIII. Law of Information Packing


The more information contained in a symbol, the more general (vague) it becomes. The more specific a symbol system is, the more information it excludes.

This is one of those Laws I still struggle to grasp sometimes. Perhaps it has to do with the Law of Labeling... the more you label the more you exclude. So if you use a more specific boiled down symbol it becomes easier to pin it down. What do you think?

Choose Understanding... Not Ignorance.

          I am always amazed at how ignorant people in our nation are. The prime example of this is the continual focus on any President as being the sole source of our nations issues. Well let me educate some of you, well those that do not know this... the President has little power.

          Our President, any of them in the past or in the future, make up 1/3 of a branch of power. Please see the graphic to better grasp what I am saying. There are 2/3's of the power of our nation that is controlled by Congress. Congress is made of the Senate and the House or Representatives, each holding 1/3 of the power of our federal governing body. So boys and girls what can you deduce from this? That the President alone has VERY little power compared to Congress as a whole?

          What to know something else? Congress are the ones who decide with their votes what laws, taxes, tax cuts, spending, etc that get pushed through. Hmmmm interesting that, is it not? Know what else? YOU and I hire the people who are in Congress. YOU and I pay their salaries, even though they feel THEY can raise them at any time. Well they work for us... not us for them. It is time to educate yourselves.

          If you do not care for the state of our nation, if you do not like what is happening with benefits that WE PAY for with our hard earned money such as Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare... then fire the idiots WE as a people hired. DO NOT go blaming someone who only has 1/3 of the power. Blame those that make the laws, that make the bills, that has 2/3's of the power. Those are the people to go after. The ones that filibuster so nothing can get pushed through. Blame those that get premium federal healthcare at your cost, outrageous retirement plans at your cost, 67 PAID holidays at your cost, three weeks paid vacation at your cost, that have unlimited paid sick days at your cost!

          Choose understanding of how our government works... not ignorance so that everything we work so hard for everyday can and WILL be taken from us by greedy politicians. Yes this is political but it pays to be political if you want to keep what is your earned rights.

Axioms: XVII. Law of Labeling

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious
Symbolism”
Bill Whitcomb, 1997
Llyewellyn Publications

XVII. Law of Labeling


When you label something, you exclude information about it. This is because the
thing becomes obscured by other information stored under the label for the thing.
If I were to say “I study magic,” this would immediately bring up all the
associations and stored data under the label “magic.” Some people would believe I
am a stage magician; some people think I am a satanist, while still others would
decide that I study magic as a historian. Yet none of these things actually has
anything to do with what I would mean by the word “magic.”
When you symbolize something, you impose the deep structure of the symbol
system used on the way you perceive the thing symbolized. There is a Japanese
proverb which relates that to confusing the Moon with the finger pointing at the
Moon.
People tend to believe that they understand something when they have a name for
it. This is called nominalization. It enables people to take very ill-defined concepts
and continuing processes and talk about them as if they were concrete things. The
problem is that frequently even the users of these terms (names) do not know what
they mean.

Nominalization is an important tool. However, we must realize when we are using it.

We find this law to be true in everyday events. We label ourselves, we label others, all we did is limit any broader possibilities when we do this. One of the things I find interesting about this is that most people refuse to accept that their 'label' for something is now the 'label' others see. This limits the definition even further. We are human so we cannot help but label things to a degree. What we need to strive for is allowing our 'labels' to expand and grow so they become more encompassing.

Hmmmm Mill Worms... the next cash crop?

          We as a species are beginning to realize that we need to create sustainable food sources. This means that we are going to have to rethink the 'cash crops' and foods that we currently use. The insane amount of cattle and pigs that we need to sustain us is... well insane. All those animals are creating more and more green house gases, they are taking up more and more land to raise, and they take even more food to feed.

          So what is the way of dealing this with? Insects... they are one of the most available food sources in the world. They provide amazing amounts of proteins and would take up WAY less space to farm in the quantities needed sustain our population as a species.

          Here is a create article on the use of Mill Worms as a 'cash crop' that we can use as a protein source.

Study: we should all be eating insects, not animals

Imbolc

          Imbolc is a cross quarter High Day, meaning it falls midway between two Major High Days or quarter High Days. Imbolc falls between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. It was traditionally seen as a time to prepare for the coming of spring. This is most likely the origin of the phase ”spring cleaning”. It is a High Day centered around the hearth and home.

          In the Celtic culture this holiday was associated with Brigid, the goddess of the hearth, flame, forge, and craftsmanship. This season was a time of fire and purification. Lighting candles and bonfires was a part of the celebrations to welcome back the warmth of spring. Rituals were preformed to Brigid for good health and protection as well as for a prosperous growing season.

          This time of year in the Greek culture seems to be a time when homes were protected or cleansed of evil or bothersome spirits. As for festivals, I have not yet found any that would really associate with Imbolc, though it would be very easy for people to do rituals for protecting the home. Also devotional rituals the Hestia, the goddess of hearth and home, would be well suited for Imbolc. Something else I noticed was that this also seemed from my reading to be a time of year that the dead where honored as well. Though not an official Greek festival time I think this is a great chance to honor our ancestors as well as a deity that brought culture to humanity. Without either we would not have developed into the thriving civilization we are today.

          There are other gods that are associated with Imbolc, though with the different cultures the High Day is known by different names. You will find a heath deity in nearly every culture, especially among the Indo-European nations. What is most common is that they all view the heath as the heart of a home. So in celebrating Imbolc we are celebrating ourselves, our homes, and our families. There is also any number of ways to celebrate the High Day in modern times depending on which or Neo-Pagan tradition you follow.

Axioms: XVI. Law of Magical Names

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious
Symbolism”
Bill Whitcomb, 1997
Llyewellyn Publications

XVI. Law of Magical Names


In magical symbols systems, a name is the thing named. This is to say that, in some
way, there is an analogical correspondence between the name and the thing named.
There is a connection created by shared structure.
To know the true name of a person, place, or thing is to have complete control
over it. Of course, you could never command something to do anything which was not
in its nature.
To know a thing’s true name is to know its nature.

What most people consider to be a name is really (in the magical sense) only a
label.

I have always found this Law to be most interesting. So many times in our world we 'label' things believe that this is the NAME for it. Nope... it's just a label. Pagan round around saying 'my magical name is...' and then ask me why I do not use a magical name... well I do use one but you will NEVER know it. Only those I trust completely with my very soul know my true magical name. It is complete power and that is NOT something to give away so easily.

New Blog on building a Druid sustainable living community

          Hello everyone,

          I have created a new blog that is going to serve as a journal for my journey on creating a sustainable Druid community. It will entail everything I am doing, planning, ideas, concerns, successes and failures of this process. It will contain leaks to other forums that I am using as resources and other blogs. I want to centralize this so those involved, those interested, and those wanting to do something similar can learn from what I am learning in this process.

          So please join me in this journey... and if this seems like a community you want to be involved in... let me know! At the 'fulling running stage' there will be 20 full time living homes. So there will be room for people wanting to come and live in a community of ADF Druids how are building a thriving spiritual community.

A Druid Sustainable Living Community


Bright Blessings,

David Crawford

Hierokeryx, Demeter and Eleusinian Order (DEO), ADF

Owner, The World Through a Druid's Point of View Blog

Owner, A Druid Sustainable Living Community

Owner, Setting Stone Brews: A Druid's Brew

Axioms: XV. Law of Words (Symbols) of Power

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious
Symbolism”
Bill Whitcomb, 1997
Llyewellyn Publications

XV. Law of Words (Symbols) of Power


There are words (symbols) that are able to change the inner and/or outer realities
of those using/perceiving them. These words (symbols) do not necessarily need to be
consciously understood by those using/perceiving them in order to have their effect.
One view is that these words or symbols have accumulated power through use
(attention) over thousands of years. Others would say that there is an intrinsic
primordial connection (resonance) between these words (symbols) and the forces or
concepts they represent that goes beyond human design. Many people believe this
about Sanskrit, claiming that it is the original root language of humanity.

          One example of this for me is the word (symbol) of Ohm. There seems to be some power that is innately endued to this symbol. It strikes a cord with those that do not even know its true meaning. Our cultures are filled with such symbols and works. It is amazing at the power we humans pour into such things that come to life.

Sickness... one of the soul!!!!

          Today another tragedy occurred. 27 people, 18 of which were children, were shot and killed in an Connecticut elementary school. This is a horror, terrible, insane tragedy that keeps occurring in our nation. Already people are beginning to polarize about guns and gun control.

          But this is NOT about guns and gun control. This is NOT about who is right and who is wrong. This IS about the deaths of 27 people... 27 souls who were torn from this life by violent actions of people filled with hate, filled with evil.

          This is just another example of a sickness that is plaguing our species. It is growing like a rot, like a cancer within every culture, within every nation. Hate is filling the soul, eating it alive, turning it into something dark and evil. Something capable of murdering in mass, capable of rationalizing actions that are an abomination against life, against the gods... against the Earth Mother.

          This has to stop! We have to find the root of this evil and STOP IT. And we have to STOP saying that this is due to guns... or the lack of gun control. This is something more than that. This is something fundamentally corrupt in our species. We are sick! We are rotting as a species.

Axioms: XIV. Law of Interfaces

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious
Symbolism”
Bill Whitcomb, 1997
Llyewellyn Publications


XIV. Law of Interfaces


          Power exists in the interfaces of things. These are the between places that are not entirely on thing or another. (See IX. Law of Association.) Traditionally, these places include caves, grottoes, towers, mountains, beaches, wells, crossroads, and cliffs. All the chief times of change of the day are considered to be powerful. These are dawn, noon, twilight (sunset), and midnight. Likewise, the solstices and equinoxes, the pivots of the year, have always been thought very important. There is a medieval legend that if a woman wished to become a witch she need only remove her cloths and stand between the high- and low-tide marks at the seashore.

          There isn't much to say on this one. It is another pretty self-explanatory Law. But I would like to mention here that throughout our recorded history these between places and times have always been in the minds of humans. I believe that we have always known that there is something powerful and magical about these.

Gravity Powered Light!!!

          It's funny at the times I wonder about things like how people use gravity to power grandfather clocks but not really for anything else. Well that is all changing. This group had created a light that works on the same principles as grandfather clocks. They use a weight which harnesses gravity to generate power. Take a look. this is really cool. What a great way to get light in places and times where there is no power to do it any other way!

Brilliant light for developing world is powered by gravity

Axioms: XIII. Law of Personification

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious
Symbolism”
Bill Whitcomb, 1997
Llyewellyn Publications

XIII. Law of Personification


           Any concept, force, object, or phenomena may be considered to be alive, to have a personality, to be an entity.


Corollary of Personification
(Law of Invocation and Evocation)

          Any concept, forces, or objects which manifest as entities can and should be treated 

as real beings. These beings (patterns) can also be viewed as objectified aspects 

of ourselves, but it is useless (perhaps even dangerous) to take this attitude while 

actually dealing with them. Do not be fooled just because something is only the 

personification of a pattern of energies. You can be described this way, too.

          This is something I have always found most interesting. The idea behind this is that things we power energy into become more and more complex as we do so. At a certain point they become living entities, not flesh and blood but they develop an intelligence which affords them the status of a living entity in a magical sense. This is something that can be seen in symbols such as the Christian Crucifix, the Wiccan Pentacle, the Druid Awen, etc. All these items have so much power poured into them by their believers that they become complex intelligent entities.

          The Law of Personification can be seen more clearly in the study of Runes. Anyone who is truly into the study of the Runes will tell you they are living entities. They are intelligent in a way that gives them much of their power. They are revered and respected by the people who work with them.

          So when you are working with symbols, concepts or objects show them respect because all of your effort and energy may very well have done their work in creating a magical entity.

Wolves Being Senselessly Killed In Yellowstone

Grey Wolf Pups:  Wikimedia Commons

          I was reading through my daily news when I came across the most appalling article I have read in a long time. As a Pagan and Druid it breaks my heart to see animals being needlessly killed.

          But when predators start being killed it seriously starts effecting the eco-system. These beautiful majestic creatures have a very important role in our world. They help keep the balance of predator and pray stable. They hunt other animals such as deer or Elk, which can become plagues on the land when over populated. These herbivorous can wreck havoc on farms, fields and forests alike. Wolves are the nature balance to over population. However we humans have some absurd fear that wolves are dangerous to human. If a wolf or pack of wolves contract rabies from other animals they can become a danger, just like any OTHER animal which contracts rabies. Though wolves are known to kill livestock they kill a much lower portion than even the common domesticated dog kills.

Juvenile Grey Wolf Wikimedia Commons

          So help educate people. Help free people of this mentality that wolves need to die... that they are a danger that needs to be removed from our planet. Because wolves play an important role in our eco-system!!! And they have just as much right to lives as we humans do.

Read more about it at POPSCI.com

Simple living: A Green Floating Mobile Home

          This is a great option for green living while floating on water. It is solar powered and a very simple compact device. I love the images on this article. Heck I won't mind having a vacation house boat like this.

          Though I do not like to swim in lakes it would be really awesome to be able to float around on the lake, enjoying the sun, even have my kayak tied too. With it being powered by solar you would not have to worry about extra fuel for a power generator. Check out the article to learn a bit more.

Solar-powered floating room offers mobile waterfront property

Axioms: XII. Law of Duality

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious
Symbolism”
Bill Whitcomb, 1997
Llyewellyn Publications


XII. Law of Duality


           Any concept or force may be divided into two totally opposite concepts or forces, each of which contains the essence of the other. Opposites can be defined only in relation to each other.

          I have always believed that for the most part this is true. The idea behind this is very much like cause and effect. I know that so many people believe in 'karma'. I do not really subscribe to this idea as much as I do cause and effect. The reason I believe in this is you cannot, in most cases, have a cause without and equal and opposite effect. If you drop a pebble into a lake there are ripples... those ripples spread out across the surface because of your actions. They do not effect just you but all those around you and those around them and so on until the ripples die down.

BirdBuggy... innovation for our feathered friends

This is one of the neatest things I have ever seen. A 'car' for a parrot. This really is just too funny. But what is amazing about is that the bird has learned rather quickly how to use this new tool. As someone that raised a parrot years ago, I know that these birds are WAY more intelligent that most people like to think. Heck they are more intelligent than some people I know. What makes this really awesome, something that any bird owner will tell you, is that in many cases you have to keep a parrots wings clipped. This prevents them from having a natural defense. A device like this could really help them get around and away from danger much faster in a home or outdoors.

Axioms: XI. Law of Synthesis

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious
Symbolism”
Bill Whitcomb, 1997
Llyewellyn Publications

XI. Law of Synthesis


          Any two opposing forces or concepts may be unified in a force or concept which will
contain both the original opposites.

          Since the two forces are opposing each other they are part of the subject as a whole. This can be seen in the example of baseball. The two teams are opposing forces. Though they are separate teams they are part of the same match. So they are unified into a single concept of THAT game.

Axioms: X. Law of Connection

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious
Symbolism”
Bill Whitcomb, 1997
Llyewellyn Publications

X. Law of Connection


          Every action is an energy exchange.
          To have power over something is for it to have power over you. To oppose something is to maintain it.
          Two opposites each contain the essence of the other.

          This is partly the idea behind Yin-Yan... each whole as a part of the other. But this is also a very important Law to remember when you are working magic. If you using sympathetic magic for someone you are making a connection to that person. That connection is a two way street. The person now has access to you magical as well. This is a word of warning for those that would use sympathetic magic, or any other kind of magic, against another in a harmful manner. You are building a connection that can be used to return or even send something worse your way. Always be respectful of what you are sending out.

Urban Gardening: just do it!

          I am always preaching to people about growing herbs and gardens no matter where you live. I always hear... 'I don't have room'... 'I can't do that in an apartment'... well there is always room and yes you CAN do it in an apartment.

          This is a great book to help give you ideas on how you too can have an urban garden no matter where you live. It is a wonderful feeling to grow things. It is an even more wonderful feeling to do this and have herbs and food you can eat. Check out the book... get some ideas... grow a garden! It really is pretty easy!

          And besides having food and herbs you are adding more plant life which helps to reduce carbon emissions.

Urban Gardening: How To Grow Food In Any City Apartment Or Yard No Matter How Small

Axioms: IX. Law of Association

“The Magician’s Companion: A Practical & Encyclopedic Guide to Magical & Religious
Symbolism”
Bill Whitcomb, 1997
Llyewellyn Publications

IX. Law of Association

          If two things, (A) and (B), have something in common, that thing can be used to
influence both. Also, (A) and (B) have a mutual influence on each other. The more
they have in common, the more influence they exert upon one another.
The Law of Association may be broken into two sublaws:

Law of Similarity

          The cause and the effect resemble (have resonance) with one another. A ritual to

cause a rainstorm might involve dripping water onto the ground. A ritual to fly might

involve wearing feathers and chirping like a bird, etc.

This is “sympathetic magick.”

Law of Contagion

          Things once in contact continue to interact after separation. Anything once in

contact with a substance, person, or object may be used as a “witness” for that

substance, person, or object. A good example would be the traditional use of hair or

nail clippings attached to a voodoo doll. A witness could be thought of like a tuning

crystal in a radio.

          In any case, power is contagious. (See VII. Law of Unity.) This is “homeopathic
magick.”

          This is the basic idea behind quantum entanglement. It is also the basis for all sympathetic forms of magic. It is how a magic user can use hair clippings, finger nails, and blood to influence the person they belong too. The idea behind this is extremely powerful.

New lighting... as soon as next year!

          For some time now we have waged war on inefficient lighting. First we had fluorescent lighting. Then came compact fluorescent lights... but of which were much cheaper than using the, by now, ancient traditional bulb. But they are made with extremely toxic chemicals and put off unpleasant lighting, not to mention the annoying humming sounds. Then we  found the wonders of LED lighting... not super cheap... not super bright... LEDs have begun to replace most lighting in homes. They still produce heat and can burn out cause of the circuit board.

          But now.... drum roll please!!!! We have: field-induced polymer elecroluminescent (FIPEL). They promise to change the world again... with safer, cheap, and extremely long lasting light. It can be manipulated into different colors and can be made into different forms (sheets, panels, and even standard bulb size.) To find out more... read this really cool article!

Axioms: VIII Law of Reflection

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

Symbolism”

Bill Whitcomb, 1997

Llyewellyn Publications

VIII. Law of Reflection

The microcosm is the macrocosm. The part contains the whole. As above, so below. This is one of the most common and widely applicable axioms of magic, reputedly first written on the fabled “Emerald Tablet” of Hermes Trismegistus:

Truly, without lies, certainly, and most definitely, that which is Below is like that which is Above, and that which is Above is like that which is Below, for the accomplishment of the miracle of one thing. And just as all things have come from One, through the mediation of One, so all things have been derived from this one thing, by Analogy. Its Father is the Sun; its Mother the Moon. The Wind has carried it

in its belly. Its nourishment is the Earth. It is the Father of every completed thing in the whole world. Its strength is intact if turned towards the Earth. Separate the Earth from Fire, the Fine from the Gross, gently and very carefully.

Every speck contains the image (or pattern) of the entire universe in the same way that a fragment of laser holograph still contains the entire original image. Each person contains this cosmic image. When the inner image is tuned (brought into resonance) with the outer image, a change in one will be simultaneous with a change in the other. To perceive one is to perceive the other. This is the basis of mantic systems such as the I Ching or tarot cards. It is also one reason why you could say humanity is created in God’s image. The universe is within us and without us.

          This one I feel does not need much explanation. It is very self-explanatory