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(360) Sun 21 Feb 88 13:33 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: The 27th Path, Tzaddi, The Moon, The Active or Exciting Intelligence St:


@EID:f00e 10556c3a The Moon, the Presence of God in or Mundane world, glows in unulant splendour from New to Full to New…

I am as the Moon

                         Our Light is ever changing
                         Healing, gathering

The Tzaddik, the Righteous One catches the Splendors of G-d, and illumines Mundane world as the Moon catches the splendours of the Sun.

The Moon through his-r aspects runs the world. When the Moon is unaspected, the cat's away and the mice can play…but in another octave the Ultimate, the One is there without interferance from the Moon and wonders can emerge…it is a time to let go and let God and enjoy when the Moon is Void of Course…it is a time to trust in the Grand Ultimate and "know that I am God!" for the is now no mediator between God and Human…not even the Moon.

"The Twenty-seventh Path is the Active or Exciting Intellgence and it is so called because every existent being recieves its spirit and motion."

Perhaps every esistent being does recieve its spirit and motion through the Moon on the 27th path between Netzach and Hod.

— * Origin: The Terraboard, Minneapolis, MN (Opus 1:282/341)


(361) Sun 21 Feb 88 13:43 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: The 28th Path, Pices, The Sun, The Natural Intelligence, The Sun St:


@EID:d8bd 6d761055 5. The Coordinator

From its earliest beginnings, the Magick Conference has@EID:f00e 10556d76 Pices the last mysterious sign of the zodiac, signifier of the Age coming to an end, the final sign in the zodiac where the soul is completed and perfected. The Path from Yesod, the Moon, to Netzach, Venus…and the mysterious Venus (the Hidden Intelligence) shows his-r nature and subtle, hidden ways again.

The 28th Path is called the Natural Intelligence: by it is completed and perfected the nature of all that exists beneath the Sun.

Once again the sychronistic beauty of this system of attribution shows its appropriateness: two children playing in the Sun, Who is mentioned in the Yetziratic Text…two children being purified by the benign Sun.

From The Stoned Tarot, Hugh Read, 1968

Thirteen sweet Tears of Mercy Fall from the Sun To feed the Children

These are the Children of Life and of Light Coming out of the Earth

They are clumsy and gentle And sweetly submissive Deeply dependent on God

The Sun Tears Surround them And touch them And heal them and nourish them Fully on Love

Touch me with Sun tears Touch me, dear God, Nourish me fully on Love

Notice that as we approach the "end" of the paths we are approaching what most think of as the beginning and the paths begin to become more abstract and less personal and mundane. Those who say Malkuth is the mundane world do not notice what the Yetziratic verse covering Malkuth says, ITSELF. They listen to what others say and ignor the words.

— * Origin: The Terraboard, Minneapolis, MN (Opus 1:282/341)


(362) Mon 22 Feb 88 17:02 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: The 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd Paths St:


@EID:f00e 10568850

"The Twentinineth path is called the Corporeal Intelligence; it informs every body which is incorporated under all orbs, and it is the growth thereof."

Judgement covers this Path, with Resh, the Sun: Initiation.

From the Stoned Tarot:

Miracle of patience: God!

Muttering man…childless man…slack, old, naked man,,, Crude woman… Sad child

They raise crude arms to Death: Black Sacophegus

The seek Joy, hiding in Defeat They are hiding in silent Defeat

Release!

Fail again…grow again…die again…

Faithful, patient, Joyous, Crude, Loving: God!

The thirtieth path is called the Collective Intelligence, for thense astrologers, by the judgement of the stars and the heavenly signs, derive their speculations and the perfection of their science according to the motions of the the stars"

This path is covered by the World and Tav…and what this path has to do with astrology I do not know…why the World and Tav…

The Stoned Tarot:

The Two sexted Creature, clothed in Flesh, Benignly dances on. Within a Wreath, with Gold beneath She dances in her mind

Angels in their varied forms Sadly watch her cance. They want to see her Faith in God. She dances in her mind

Touch, dear God, our Flesh with Faith Touch us with Holy Faith. Faith is all we need, dear God, To dance right out of our minds.

Tav indeed!

continued

— * Origin: The Terraboard, Minneapolis, MN (Opus 1:282/341)


(363) Mon 22 Feb 88 17:15 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: More Paths St:


@EID:f00e 105689fa

…correction…the thirtieth path is covered by shin, sharper than a serpents tooth…the old ways die hard…

The thirty-first path is called the Perpetual Intelligence. Why is it so called? Because it guides the sun and the moon according to their constitution and cases each to gravitate in its respective orb.

The thirty-first path is covered by the Fool and Tav. What does the Fool and what does Tav have to do with movement of the sun and the moon…I don't have the slightest idea. Case says this is the path of conscious immortality. Sounds good to me! Perhaps a little alchemy is hidden here.

The thirty-second path is called the Assisting Intelligence, because it directs all the operation of the seven planets, with their divisions, and concurs therein.

There is only one Aleph in this system, in Kether. There is only one Magician in this system, in Kether. The thirty second path, also called the Administrating Intelligence is void of symbolism, save that which you choose as you travel the path. Perhaps this is where Higher Self abides…or where the Holy Spirit whispers in silence and beauty.

Thank you all for bearing with me in this Mercury Retrograde operation which I am bringing to a close now amidst physical confusiong and computer madness. In time to come, I may get this into a presentable form. Now it is a tattered tree of spontaneous thoughts based mostly on the text of the Sepher Yetzirah as fond in A.E. Waite's, The Holy Kabbalah and in Gareth Knights, a Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symolism.

Blessed Be and 93 93/93

— * Origin: The Terraboard, Minneapolis, MN (Opus 1:282/341)


(364) Mon 22 Feb 88 20:08 By: Brad Hicks To: All Re: Instructions for Cut-Over to MagickNet * URGENT * St:


@EID:3db6 a10a1056 If you are on a board whose sysop does not read this echo, please insure that he or she reads this message. Thank you.

In instituting the changes discussed here recently, I am following Josh Gordon's advice and killing the MAGICK echo area name. If you do not follow these instructions, you will have problems, so please pay attention and ask questions - via crash netmail, as time is short - if you don't understand any thing that follows.

 STEP ONE - MARCH 1ST
 "STOP MAKING SENSE"

As soon as feasible after midnight on March 1st, every sysop on the Magick echo should change this echo to read-only, if not completely remove it from his or her list of available areas.

There's currently about six-day lag time from the far end of the net, which is either in net 107 (NY MetroNet) or 106 (Houston). This will allow the last of the messages in the combined echo, MAGICK, to reach me by the morning of March 7th.

 STEP TWO - MARCH 1ST TO 7TH
 "ENTROPY REQUIRES NO MAINTENANCE"

Once you have passed up the last packet for the nodes below you, there is no sense in polling anyone just to get the MAGICK echo - as there will be no more packets passed down.

While you are waiting, make sure that you have read and understood the file MAG-POL.ARC, the contents of which were also posted to this echo. (Version 1.0 has only cosmetic changes, but is now available from 1:100/523 except during the netmail hour and a half-hour or so either side of it.)

Personally, I before I transfer ANY system that polls me (other than the two hubs) to enter a netmail message to me, from its sysop: "I have read and will comply with MAG-POL.TXT, version 1.0." At that time, I will transfer them to the appropriate line in my AREAS.BBS file. I cannot recommend this too strongly to all systems which will carry the new echo, because you will (in event of a worst-case nightmare) be held responsible for the behavior of nodes downstream of you.

 STEP THREE - MARCH 7TH AND 8TH
 "LIKE A PHOENIX FROM THE ASHES ..."

I will spend almost all of the day on March 7th performing two tasks.

First of all, I will manually sort the most recent 600 messages in MAGICK. The best 30 or so (no fixed number, that's just my gut feeling for how it will work out) will be moved to METAPHYSICAL. Then, all message threads directly related to the topics of this echo will be moved to MAGICKNET. The remaining message area will be renamed MUNDANE.

Then, to insure that we all start from a common point, the seen-by lines will be removed from all of these messages. That done, I will perform the first ConfMail Export run on the newly born MagickNet Echos. By 11pm or so Central Time, I will have crashed the first packets to AT LEAST the other two hubs, and we will all be distributing it, touch wood, no later than National Mail Hour on the morning of March 8th. If you have stopped POLLing your links in the interim, resume the morning of March 8th (if you are an unreasonable distance down the topology, you may as well wait until the 9th or 10th).

And so, no later than March 8th you will need to have removed the MAGICK echo from your system, and modified your echo control files to accomodate the new, improved Neopaganism, Witchcraft, and Magick conference.

  1. Brad Hicks, 1:100/523

MagickNet Coordinator

— Sirius 0.50 * Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-389-WYRD * (Opus 1:100/523)


(365) Wed 24 Feb 88 0:06 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: Ribald Ram Rondeau St:


@EID:fbfd 105800d5 (written in traditional trouvere metre; part of a projected series of nine poems, of which 4 are finished, one for each Sabbat, to be set to madrigal music in 4-5 part harmony…)

The horned Ram runs high and low, And through the land his influence grows; The Equinox upon us springs

  With swellings and with moistenings,
  And pleasant pastime all folk know.

The blacksmith's iron hot doth glow; The planter's dibbing stick doth sow; The baker's loaf to th'oven clings.

The horny Ram runs high and low, And through the land his influence grows; The Equinox upon us springs!

The milkmaid's churn with cream o'erflows; The blossom doth attract the nose; The minstrel's pipe he's fingering.

  The ploughboy's joyfully ploughing;
  The shepherd's staff to work doth go.

The horned Ram runs high and low, And through the land his influence grows; The Equinox upon us springs

  With swellings and with moistenings,
  And pleasant pastime all folk know.

(copyright 1988, Leigh Ann Hussey)

— * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93)


(366) Thu 25 Feb 88 22:17 By: Ammond Shadowcraft To: All Re: Poetry St:


@EID:bf7a 1059b225

          _The_Cauldron_Chant_
          by Ammond ShadowCraft
      We form the Circle,
              The Circle most round.
      We form the Chalice,
              The Chalice now found.
      We call the Goddess,
              to meet the great need.
      We call the God,
              To plant His fertile seed.
      We call the quarters,
              which we call four.
      We summon the powers,
              that contain the force.
      We stir the Cauldron,
              from which we were born.
      We call the Gods,
              from whom we were torn.
      We say the words,
              which lead us round.
      We pass the kiss,
              with our lovers found.
      We face our dreams,
              in nights psychic flight.
      We face our hopes,
              in bright moon of the night.
      We face our fears,
              on the Dark Lords Horn.
      We face our failure,
              in the Mothers new planted corn.
      We live our lives,
              druming and dancing on the meadow.
      We confront our Death,
              in the dancing moon light shadow.
      Our paths run quickly,
              on fleet foot and wing.
      Our Circle is joyous,
              with our Queens and our Kings.
      Let our little Circle be happy,
              with Bell, Bowl or Bow.
      And form now this Circle,
              with gracious Love, Joy and Hope.
               BLESSED BE

— * Origin: SMARTNet - WOC'n faster HST (They made me say it!) (Opus 1:128/23)


(367) Sat 27 Feb 88 2:41 By: John Shklov To: Rich Harper Re: Hawaiian Myths St:


@EID:e73c 105b1532 Just some loose info re Hawaii/Hawaiian mythology etc…The Hawaiians of old had no written language so everything had to memorized and passed down from teacher to pupil. Comparing chants from different parts of the pacific show amazingly little change took place in this word of mouth process. Some cultures seperated by thousands of years (carbon-dating gives clues as to when migrations took place) have almost identical chants!(recorded when whitey came on the scene ) All knowledge was passed this way..as a result they were a culture of specialists. Each kahuna specialized in a specific aspect of knowledge, be it medicine for healing or for killing or fishing methodology or warfare. They believed in a highself a midself and a low self much as in Hinduism. Different Gods represented different aspects of life and had power over different times of the year and different activities. For example Ku, was the God of war and represented the forces of death. Lono represented the agricultural cycles and the power of life and renewal. In themind of the Hawaiian these were just two aspects of the same totality.

Hawaiians had a VERY structured society and a set of rules that MUST be obeyed or one risked death or some worse punishment…eyeball gouging, torture etc..The upper classes got better food and after many generations of superior victuals and intermarriage they became significantly larger and stronger. These upper classes ruled by force and superior warfare skills. One of the special areas of knowledge that the Alii or upper classes concentrated upon was the skills and technology of war. They passed these skills down to their men children. Women were disfranchised and although the bloodlines were passed thru the women they didn't even get to eat at the same mat as men.

The Hawaiian mythology got mixed in with western mythology when the missionryscame to bring their word to the PAGANS. As a result even today there are many misconceptions as to what the real beliefs were"pre-contact"as they say. For example, heres a funny story that illustrates that fact; When Fordandder was interviewing Hawaiians last century he asked who built"that" structure and who built "those" walls etc. Tiring of his repeated queries the chief answered "oh it was the mana-hune"(litterally translated it means the "people with little mana or power") Fordenander seized on this response and said "little People", how big were they? were they small? etc etc…. ignorant xtian missionaries. pleasures right under the noses of theiribeThe

— * Origin: Kauai1 - Aloha (Opus 1:12/4)


(368) Sat 27 Feb 88 2:53 By: John Shklov To: Rich Harper Re: Hawaiian Myths-2 St:


@EID:fabc 105b16b4

The Hawaiian mythology got mixed in with western mythology when the missionryscame to bring their word to the PAGANS. As a result even today there are many misconceptions as to what the real beliefs were"pre-contact"as they say. For example, heres a funny story that illustrates that fact; When Fordandder was interviewing Hawaiians last century he asked who built"that" structure and who built "those" walls etc. Tiring of his repeated queries the chief answered "oh it was the mana-hune"(litterally translated it means the "people with little mana or power") Fordenander seized on this response and said "little People", how big were they? were they small? etc etc…. he probably was thinking of some western myth such as the Leprechauns…The Hawaiians who loved a joke encouraged this foolishness, laughing to this day behind his back. Even today we have walls and structures said to be built by the "menehunes" and signs that proclaim to the tourists this legend!

One last tidbit…The Hawaiian language was high developed (perhps the most highly developed) in the area of lovemaking. They had words to describe every conceivable sexual position and act. The songs they sung had many layers of meaning with a desciption of a pounding wave or a dripping leaf that had explicit meaning with reference to lovemaking as well as its literal meaning. In this way the pleasure loving PAGANS were able to sing about and endorse their pleasures right under the noses of their ignorant xtian missionaries.

— * Origin: Kauai1 - Aloha (Opus 1:12/4)


(369) Mon 29 Feb 88 3:53 By: Tim Maroney To: Ammond Shadowcraft Re: Re: Reclaiming Lucifer St:


@EID:954a 105d1ea7 Good message!

Every known religion supplanted an earlier religion, and usually some derogatory mythological niche was created for the deities and spirits of the older religion when this happened. In the case of Satan, he is a fusion of our old friend the Horned God (especially in the Pan-form to which he was best known by the Greek-speaking world) and the Judaic mythic figure of Satan from the book of Job. But far from the loyal prosecuting attorney of Job, Satan as formulated to insult pagans was made into an evil nemesis of God, and the exemplar of what to the pain-worshipping Christians was "sin", that is, anything ecstatic and joyful. Satan is constantly telling us to get drunk, pig out on good food, and have sex in the Christians' accounts, to which my reaction is "Amen".

I think you have put it very well when you say that "Even though [new pagans] have thrown off the chains of Jehovah they still fear Lucifer. They cringe at the sound of his name." Over and over we hear this shallow refrain, that witches are NOT NOT NOT Satanists, and I think: Why the Hell not? There's more wisdom in any one page of William Blake's overtly Satanic "Marriage of Heaven and Hell" than in the whole corpus of Starhawk's work, after all. (But then, Blake wrote sophisticated and literate poetry, not folk tales, so few neo-pagans have read him.) What are these people so afraid of?

Not only are neo-pagans NOT NOT NOT Satanists, they are quite nasty toward anyone who recognizes the deep truth of Satanism. One widely liked member of this board called me a "neurotic Christian-lover" for espousing the reading of Blake and Shaw's Satanic works. Needless to say, no neo-pagan objected.

Within the last month a person interested in invoking Lucifer had his account removed by one of the sysops, who said the reason was that "he was extremely abusive"; of course, he didn't mention that the guy started out polite and only became abusive after the aforesaid sysop himself sent some *very* nasty and prejudiced messages to him. Again, zero objection from the neo-pagans.

Similar examples abound; but I think things are beginning to loosen up on this front, thanks to people like yourself, and (I like to think) because of my continued pounding on the counter-consensual drum.

Tim

PS. You called for resources; aside from the Blake, there is Shaw's "The Devil's Disciple", and you might want to check out Campbell's "Masks of God" for more information on the mythic disparagement of older deities such as happened to the Titans in Greek myth and various matriarchal deities. Campbell's sympathies are clearly with the underdog.

— * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93)


(370) Tue 1 Mar 88 11:54 By: Brad Hicks To: Rowan Moonstone Re: Re: Cult Awareness Week St:


@EID:3db6 5ece1061 Actually, back around '77 or so Congress almost passed a definition of a "cult" that was given to them by some religion and philosophy professor from the Ivy League. By that definition, a cult is any religion that accepts or solicits converts from any other religion; the only non-cults are religions (I assume he meant like Judaism or Catholicism) where you're born into it, raised in it, and expected to stay.

It was funny as heck to me at the time to see fundamentalist Christians, members of the Unification Church, and pagans bombarding Congress with letters, all taking the same side.

But then I've said before that there's about four or so different phenomena that we only have one word for in English. Religion can mean roughly the same thing as "culture" - the beliefs that parents teach their children and have an expectation, reasonable or not, that the kids will carry that culture on and pass it on to their kids. On the other hand, religion can mean doctrines and beliefs that the individual has to think, believe, or "have faith in" - and by definition, that's individual rather than cultural. On yet another hand, religion can mean personal relationship with Deity, with Higher Consciousness - which can be (and in my opinion usually is) separate from either of the other two. Then there's community and group work motivated by altruism, which only rarely overlaps any of the other three. Yet we only have one word for all these separate phenomena: they're "religion."

The same people who decry the work of Christian missionaries on Indian reservations ("Cultural imperialism! It'll be the death of that whole way of life!") defend heartily their right to practice a way of life, to maintain beliefs, to identify with a religious culture and to relate to Deity in a way entirely opposed to the way their parents brought THEM up. Perhaps this doesn't seem odd to you, but it certainly seems odd to me.

— Sirius 0.50 * Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-389-WYRD * (Opus 1:100/523)


(371) Sun 13 Mar 88 13:13 By: Larry Hudson To: Brad Hicks Re: Neo-Paganism St:


@EID:9b58 106d69ba This is a response to a response you gave to Curly Howard way back in Aug of 85 (File called Ritual.Txt Okay-here's where I am: Always, since I can remember ( in this life) I have been Pagan.(Other lives, too, but I won't go into these) I grew up in a very strict, small, Mormon town (to where myu family, at times, was the only "Heathen" family around) There was no Pagan structure to our lives - no religious structure at all j- since growing up, my sisters have chosen their own paths. I have always isolated myself from others, gone walking in the hills, and feel the Gods&Goddesses there with a fierceness that was sometimes frightening. If I let it happen, the "old energy" starts to rise within me. My trouble is: when this energy does rise, I don't have any release for it. I can't control it, and if I let it enter my physical body, I often get ill because of my lack of training. I get restless, I can't sleep, and I feel a tightness in my spine. About 8 yrs ago, my husband and I moved to California to persue the American Dream. While there, I encountered yoga & threw myself into it with much ferver & devotion. My teacher was (or seemed) very uptight and narrow. He would scorn avenues that were interesting to me )Tantra of which I know very little; Magick of which he refused even to speak; and other paths that seemed quite natural as my next step). The yoga group had a falling out, the teacher quit, and I was left with carrots dangling in front of me in all directions and no idea what to do. The "energy" was once again shut down and life took on the plastic on-dimension of "dry" times before. jRecently, I have moved back to that small town in which I grew with the moon, and the seasons. I came across the book "Drawing Down the Moon", read it with tears in my eyes and now the energy is back - with a vengence! I believe there will come a time (perhaps has already come) when I will no longer be able to "shut it down." jThere is definitely something pushing it's way through my psyche and I don't know what to do! It's making me bonkers - strung tight like a guitar string. Things are happening. I got other books. Scott Cunningham's Natural Magic series. Ed Fitch's Rituals from the Crystal Well. And the heavy-duty 80 lb. killer, the Golden Dawn. There are so many things that I know that I know, but I don't remember how to remember them! One morning I awoke and knew that I should go to this little second-hand store to get "my" mirror. I just KNEW. So I walked in the door and this huge 3 ft round mirror sits and grins right in fromt of me. So I buy it of course and lug it home. Now what do I DO with it? I feel like an amnesiac among people I love. I know I love them - I just don't remember WHY! I guess what I want from you is no advice, really but acknowledgement. Am I bonkers? Does my story match up with any others you have heard? Does anybody else out there want to comment? I am virtually alone in this, or so it seems. I've read and read everything I can get my hands on. I've read authors who say "Do this, and while you do this, say this…" Other authors who say "Neo-Pagans do this; they believe this; they are this…" Basically I feel this to be just more carrot-dangling . I WANT what you described in your response to Curly, but nobody will tell me HOW to get it. This town i'm in is a million light years from anywhere, and it doesn't look as though we will be leaving anytime in the near future. I've heard people say ther are Neo-Pagans who work alone. How?

— * Origin: House Atriedes-(818) 965-7220 HST-JungleLaser (Opus 1:103/602)


(372) Sat 19 Mar 88 8:22 By: Josh Gordon To: Draco … Re: Re: Crowley St: Pvt


@EID:954a 107342c8

D.>One other question which I haven't even begun to try to understand D.>yet is the relation between Nuit and Hadit. Think you can explain D.>what they represent? Why do they figure so prominenty in the D.>Book of the Law?

I think of Nuit and Hadit and Ra-Hoor-Khuit (or -Khut?) as something of a triple-god manifestation of the nature of godhead. Nuit is she who is adored; she is the power of beauty, and sensuality, and natural attractiveness, and omnipresent splendor. Hadit, on the other hand, is the inverse, the adorer, the act of worship itself; it is Hadit who worships Nuit (and, by extension, All). RHK is more difficult to fit into this paradigm, but I'm owrking on it. Perhaps the crowned and conquering child is the Magical Child of Nuit and Hadit, the precipitate that develops when the Worshipped and the Worshipper become as one.

It is easy (and common) to meditate on the nature of Nuit. Shakti is a relatively simple Yoga; to devote oneself to God or Goddess by adoration is an ancient, noble, and well known path to ones Holy Guardian Angel (to use the deliberately ridiculous word). It is more difficult, but equally beneficial, to do the reverse: devote oneself to Hadit, the worshipper; to become the object of adoration and of meditation. To do so, one has to accept one's godhood; in the absence of such acceptance, to be worshipped is to risk madness (or at least cognitive dissonance).

It would have been very easy (and perhaps more sensible, if this were an authored book!) for AC to have written in terms of, say, Geb and Nuit. I would think the imagery of Geb, lying on his back with his phallus rising to the sky, almost touching the lithe, arched body of Nuit, would have been very attractive to Crowley. It is well worth considering just why Nuit and Hadit are there, and Geb is absent. What is the message in the breaking of ancient convention?

Ra-Hoor-Khuit needs more consideration, as well. This complex, combined God is the result of the eclipsing of the pure Ra worshippers; he is a combination of Ra and Hoor-Khuit. (At the time RHK was worshipped, Ra worship had virtually disappeared, and showed up only as one of many combined forms). I understand RHK the least, and perhaps he deserves the most study. Perhaps he is the actual chemical process in the Alchymical Marriage of Nuit and Hadit, rather than the result; perhaps the actual _result_ is you, the reader, the student.

Consider "The Lovers" as the glyph of the marriage. Then is "Art" maybe the glyph of the consummation of the marriage; then perhaps "The Tower" might be the nature of RHK as the reaction itself; then perhaps, what, "the Universe" is the result?

It's so nice to be a Center of Pestilence. Glad I could help.

— * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93)


(373) Sat 19 Mar 88 8:21 By: Morgana Silverthorn To: Larry Hudson Re: Re: Neo-Paganism St:


@EID:e7cb 107342b3 Dear Larry, please excuse me for butting in. I am Morgana Silverthorn, Neo-Pagan, Witch and occasional teacher. While reading through the messages I notice that you had not received any replies (I'm sure will receive many) yet I thought I would try to help. There are many who work alone, some who have always worked alone and some who now work alone from choice.

   I have little insight to offer you about "how to" because each 

person's "how to" is slightly different. There is no one single absolute truth unless it is that there is no one single absolute truth. As difficult as it may be, the only and best advice I can offer is keep searching. Read, anything that sounds interesting, try. And not just once or twice. If it really sounds interesting, it may not be easy to do. I am still trying to learn "how to's" that I know I "should" be able to do but can't seem to get the hang of.

   Listen to people, go to lectures, classes etc.  Hypnosis, NLP, 

Herbcraft, etc. Wander though bookstores and read/thumb through interesting books. Keep yourself open to the possibilities - it will come through eventually. gotta run - outta time - Morgana

— * Origin: TIDMADT: Ex Skilletus Ad WOCum! (703) 370-7054 (Opus 1:109/728)


(374) Sun 20 Mar 88 12:05 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: Aries St:


@EID:c712 60ae1074

Slate grey, cold Aries Bites the Air with solemn grace In this Nothern place Of harsh Earth-wisdom Of hardy old souls Of new souls reaching for life

The ots are twisting Little, waiting shivering buds Waiting for bursting Ecstacy coming Hard on in the Sun Bustling, quivering buds

Hard with slick pleasure That will grow beyond measure And burst with great sighs Between the strong thighs Of men and women Grappling for Springtime's passions

(Well, young ones fuck Old ones dream Sipping the cream Out of memories muck!)

— ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)


(375) Sun 20 Mar 88 21:25 By: Rowan Moonstone To: All Re: We Are one….. St:


@EID:99b8 ab321074 Wrote some new verses to the song Cybele taught us in Dallas, and I wanted to share them with all of you. The original goes We are one with the infinite sun Forever and ever and ever ( x 2) And the wheel of the year goes round and round And the circle of the wheel goes round( x 2) We've added the following verses: We are one with the horses that run We fly high with the eagles in the sky We swim free with the fishes in the sea…. The dark moist Earth is the womb of our birth…. The ripples expand from the tough of Her hand….. The wolf children cry to the moon in the sky..( for Blackwolf)

We've also changed the chorus slightly to go "And the wheel of the year goes round and round and the circle of the wheel goes round And the wheel of the year goes round and round And the SPIRIT of the wheel goes round."

The ending we're currently singing uses the tune for the verse and the following words, growing softer as they end

"And my spirit soars with the turning of the wheel forever and ever and ever….."

— ConfMail V3.3 * Origin: On The Edge BBS - Only source for MAGICKNET in OKC. (1:147/4)


(376) Sat 26 Mar 88 7:53 By: Geoff Gilpin To: All Re: Christmas St:


@EID:513d 107a3ea6 Outside:

"Hark the Herald Angels sing, Glory to the newborn king…"

Then, inside:

"Azael, Baphomet, Chemosh, you many-headed star, you blinder of fools…"

"Peace on Earth and mercy mild…"

"Lean down and whisper your names, sit at my table and taste of my spirit…"

"God and sinners reconciled…"

"Lousy brats!"

The man in robes, his concentration broken, came down through the spheres and pulled the curtain in time to see the last caroller wandering out of the porch light. "Lousy brats," he said again as the odor of Chemosh departed. It's tough to be an occultist in a working class neighborhood.

— * Origin: Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, WI (414) 735-2513 (Opus 1:139 /640)


(377) Mon 28 Mar 88 12:47 By: Josh Gordon To: All Re: Newspaper story on Cult Awareness Week St:


@EID:954a 107c65ed

San Francisco Chronicle Monday, March 28, 1988

"Jonestown Resolution Ignites Debate" by Larry Liebert Chronicle Washington Bureau Chief

Washington–Commemorating the madness of the mass suicides at Jonestown a decade ago would hardly seem controversial in a capital where resolutions are passed by the truckload.

But the approaching 10th anniversary of the carnage that took the lives of 913 people, mostly from the Bay Area, has revived a bitter debate over the threat from cults and the threat to religious freedom posed by anticult crusaders.

The seemingly innocuous resolution that has caused conflict in the halls of Congress would designate a "Cult Awareness Week" this November to mark the 10th anniversary of the murders and mass suicides at the Rev. Jim Jones' cult retreat in Guyana.

The House resolution was introduced by Representative Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo. His predecessor from the Peninsula, Leo Ryan, was slain as he led a group to investigate Jones' Guyana retreat.

"We're approaching the 10th anniversary of one of the most ghoulish and nightmarish tragedies of recent years," said Lantos. "I think it would have been a dereliction of duty on my part not to remind the nation."

But the fine print in Lantos' resolution has revived a debate about cults and religious freedom.

The resolution asserts that there are more than 2,500 cults in the United States, with 1 million to 3 million members subjected to "mind-control techniques" ranging from "isolation from friends and family" to "promotion of total dependency on the group and fear of leaving it."

Such blanket assertions have angered a coalition of critics ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the Zen master from Malibu who calls himself Rama.

They charge that the resolution will encourage the coercive practices of "deprogrammers", who have been known to seize suspected cult members and pressure them into renouncing their beliefs. The critics trace the resolution to a group of anticult crusaders known as the Cult Awareness Network.

"For them to be asking the Congress to denounce 2,500 religious groups as cults and to make the kind of broad accusations that resolution makes is clearly an unconstitutional act," said Barry Lynn, legislative counsel to the American Civil Liberties Union. "Congress is not in the theology business."

Representatives of the Cult Awareness Network did not return repeated phone calls. Lantos acknowledged that his staff had worked on the anti-cult resolution with Ryan's daughter, Patricia, who is associated with the group.

Now that Lantos' resolution is attracting controversy, the congressman hinted that he may let it drop without even bringing it to a House vote. He argued that the resolution has "already achieved its purpose" by calling attention to the anniversary of the massacre.

If so, it has also underlined the difficulty of judging when a religious leader becomes a charlatan and when religious followers surrender their individuality to a cult.

The most outspoken foe of Lantos' resolution has been Frederick Lenz, a 38-year-old former English professor who lives in Malibu and calls himself Zen Master Rama. The ordinarily reclusive religious leader has been here lobbying for the defeat of the resolution–and to defend himself against charges that he is just the sort of cult leader parents should warn their children about.

"Jim Jones was clearly a hustler, charlatan, and madman," said Lenz. "But that's no excuse to push your own moral and political viewpoint to interfere with First Amendment rights and engage in illegal activities.

To make his case, Lenz brought along Jennifer Jacobs, a follower who says she was kidnapped in an unsuccessful deprogramming attempt.

"They terrified my parents so much that they were willing to put down $25,000 on the spot to have me kidnaped and psychologically abused," said Jacobs. "I was held for 11 days in a seedy motel room in Seattle, completely against my will."

— * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93)


(378) Thu 31 Mar 88 20:12 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: Hunger St:


@EID:c712 a199107f

Well, Spring in Minnesota has a coldness like mid-Western concrete or railroad tracks that run through the center of Minneapolis or the Mississippi River with ice that is breaking up. Spring in Minnesota is hard, the air is hard…Spring slips back into Winter for two days and then it rains and is bitter cold.

To my right is an Etrscan Sword, one of a kind, I am told. It leans against the East wall of my bedroom, the hilt crowned by a sunburst with 24 rays resting on the bottom of a metallic print of an owl that I bought from a sensitive, hungry asian on Lyndale Ave. last Fall. I also bought a metallic print of Pegasus from him. Over the owl print is a page from the Larousse Dictionary of Mythology with a photo of a statue of Minerva, a coin like thing with Minerva on it and another coinlike thing with a figure of Mercury on it. Above that is a very tasty color print photo of a statue of Minerva that I saw years ago in Bill Heidrick's pschedelic house in Marin County and loved but was not able to find a copy of the book until recently. He would not let me tear the page out of the book at that time…naturally.

The powerful release of energy in the Spring is torrential here in the upper Midwest. There is something brutal about what happens when Winter is overr. Winter is brutal enough but when it is finished it really gets strange.

Over the past week or so I have listened to the Llewellan (wierd, Welsh word that I could never quite master) tapes by Denning and Phillips and they have damn near taken over my life. I got them at Evenstar, a local Pagan bookstore I love quite dearly inspite of the fact that I have not been able to attract their attention. Oh, yes…I have indeed attracted their attention, but I am still looking for a receptive, sane, intelligent and wonderful wicca circle and have been in such a quiet, inarticulate rage at the store and the owners that I had not visited Evenstar for about a year. Well, I walked in, said a few words to the somber, exqusitely attractive witch who was running the shop. I had not met her. Poked around. Found eight or nine of these tapes. Bought them for sixty bucks and went home talking to myself about spells to sell and things like that. Paranoia is part of my psyche. (times up!)

— ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)


(379) Sat 2 Apr 88 6:59 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: Continued St:


@EID:c712 37611082 The paranoid streak in my nature seems to be gentled by these tapes which are supplying the soul food I have hungered for for months. I reccomend them to one and all with great enthusiasm.

They are showing me something about the Tree of Life. One can put anything anywhere on the Tree and it will work. The Tree is a very flexible geometry. THAT is the key to the Tree. It is the geometrical form that is the important thing. Whatever one imposes on the Tree is irrelevant or like frosting on a cake.

The four joined circles, each touching the center of another, on a line are the important thing. The points of intersection chosen by whoever it was who first designed the Tree are equally important…and of course the lines drawn to indicate the paths are important. Giving names to the Sephiroth, placing Intelligences on the Paths, Hebrew letters…and then ultimately "pathworkings," or initiatory, guided imagery trips…all of this is irrelevant to the purpose of the Tree of Life.

The purpose of all of the added stuff is to fix ever more clearly and ever more deeply the shape of the Tree which I suspect is some kind of astral design…astral vehicle that will be deeply etched in very deep levels of consciousness of those drawn to this work…whose genuine purpose will be realized at death. I think it may be a kind of Noah's Ark that is available even now for voyages through time, space, inner space and timeless space.

The path working is helping me see tsomething of the uses this dynamic geometry has. As one begins to see the differant pathworkings that others have applied, each more or less idiosycratic, one begins to see that anything goes…best it has an inner consistancy…but any logical story ccan be applied to these paths. The important thing is that the paths are learned. I learned them in the early 70's under the canny guidance of Frater Albertus in Utah. Though I had worked with them myself before that time, the word to ear teaching went deep within me.

Recently, with a gentleman named Bruce LaHue, I enjoyed a quicky course in the paths that was both powerful and wierdly idiosyncratic based mostly on Shining Paths and partly on Mr. LaHue rather gaudy and livid imagination. Though I paid him his forty bucks for eight sessions (as many as three paths a session, God help us all!), I feel a gratitude for his contribution to my spiritual growth. Inspite of his obsession with gory, exploitation horror films, he communicated a deep understanding of the Tree…which just goes to show you.

Inspite of the fact that the course was given in a yuppified supermarket for occult trivia, there was an initiation of sorts given and recieved, at least by me. Genuine occult growth takes place in strange places under even stranger circumstances.

At the moment on this cold, grey spring day…the Saturday between Good Friday (a special day indeed – eggs, Frater Albertus was wont to say, that are laid on Good Friday never spoil – a fact that eager alchemy students who lived on farms demonstrated time and again)…I am going to the local Science Fiction Conferance – Minicon.

Yesterday, on Good Friday, instead of finding a freshly laid egg, I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art and purchased a magnificent figure of Anubis which seems appropriate to the Good Friday, Black Saturday, Easter sequence. I will take him in spirit to Minicom, which may well have something to do with Hell where Jesus spent some time on this day.

— ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)


(380) Mon 4 Apr 88 10:02 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: A Buddhist (maybe) Statement that is beautiful: St:


@EID:c712 50441084

THIS IS THE GREATEST BLESSING

NOT TO SERVE THE FOOLISH BUT TO SERVE THE WISE TO HONOR THOSE WORTHY OF HONOR}i

TO DWELL IN A PLEASANT LAND WITH RIGHT DESIRES IN THE HEART

TO MAINTAIN SELF CONTROL AND BE PLEASANT OF SPEEK THAT EVERY WORD MAY BE WELL SPOKEN

TO LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY TO GIVE HELP TO KINDRED TO FOLLOW A PEACEFUL CALLING

TO ABHOR AND CEASE FROM EVIL-DOING NOT TO BE WEAR IN WELL DOING

TO BE LONG-SUFFERING AND MEEK, TO ASSOCIATE WITH PEACEABLE

Beneath the stroke of life's changes The mind that shaketh not Without grief or passion That is secure:

ON EVERY SIDE THEY ARE INVINCIBLE WHO DO ACTS LIKE THESE ON EVERY SIDE THEY WALK IN SAFETY AND THEIRS IS THE GREATEST BLESSING

attributed to Gautama Buddha (Fifth Century B.C.)

— ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)


(381) Mon 4 Apr 88 10:44 By: Ammond Shadowcraft To: All Members Re: Pagan Christs St:


@EID:ca31 10845590

                       The Sacrifical God man
      How did the Christian mythos arise? Where did it come from?
      The Christian myth is almost totally Pagan in origin. I 

used to

  think that anything outside the Judeo/Christian/Moslem Belief 

System or

  worldview was Pagan. Such is not the case.
      The two main features of the CBS are the Eucharist and 

Sacrifice of

  a God man. These two features were well known and well loved by 

Pagan

  mystery cults centuries before the Christian Cults intergrated 

them

  into the Gospels.
      The Eucharist goes way back into history and is based upon 

the

  ritual consumption of the God man. Osiris, Dionysus, Attis and 

many

  others were ritually consumed. The practice dates back to 

prehistory

  when a human sacrifice was identified with the God (perhaps a
  Vegetative God) and was sacrificed and eaten. Over the ages human
  sacrifice was found detestable. Animals were then substituted and
  sacrificed as the ritual identifier of the God which was then 

followed

  by grain offerings, breads shaped into the form of the God, 

sometimes

  in the shapes of natural items (sun, moon, etc.).
      The mythos of the Jewish Christ integrated this practice 

into it's

  mysteries. There is strong reason for this. For some 200 plus 

years

  before the time recorded for Jesus the Greeks and their mystery 

cults

  invaded and changed Israel for all time. A war was instituted to
  diminish or wipeout the Hellenizing influence. Part of the 

Hellenizing

  influence was an effort to update or change the Jewish religion 

to

  something more applicable to the times. After the Maccabbes War 

the

  Hellenizing cultist were driven underground; right to the heart 

of the

  Jewish mystical culture. Hence the Greek influence upon the 

myth of

  Jesus.
      The sacrifice of the God man (Jesus, Attis, Adonis, Osiris) 

was a

  well known and well loved feature also. In fact it was 

necessary to

  have a willing sacrifice before a Eucharist could be performed. 

When

  the sacrifice was not willing the legs and sometimes arms of the
  sacrifice were broken to make it look like the sacrifice was 

willing

  (not struggling against the sacrificers). Jesus was a willing
  sacrifice.

— * Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus 1:128/23)


(382) Mon 4 Apr 88 10:45 By: Ammond Shadowcraft To: All Members Re: Pagan Christs, part ii St:


@EID:ca31 108455ad

      Images of Attis (Tammuz/Dummuzi) were nailed or impaled 

upon a pine

  tree. The Jews knew this and wrote "Cursed is he who hangs upon a
  tree." A goat was substituted for a boy in sacrifice to 

Dionysus at

  Potniae and a hart for a virgin at Laodicea. King Athamas had 

been

  called upon to sacrifice his first born son by the Delphic 

Oracle,

  Melenloas sacrificed two children in Egypt when stayed by 

contrary

  winds; three Persian boys were offered up at the battle of 

Salamis. It

  was only in the time of Hadrian that the annual human sacrifice 

to Zeus

  was abolished at Salamis in Cyprus. The God man Jesus was hung 

upon a

  tree; he was also the lamb of God. As such the sacrifice and 

Eucharist of

  the God man Jesus is purely Pagan in origin.
      Part of the older Pagan sacrifices was in the King 

sacrificing his

  only begotten son. Jesus was the only begotten son of the King of
  Israel, sacrificed to take away the sins of the world. This 

practice

  was overturned in the myth of Abraham and Issac when it was found
  detestable and injurious to the tribe or kingdom. Yet the God 

man Jesus

  was sacrificed in the flesh. This was done to appeal to the 

underground

  Greek mystery cults who had much in common with the Jewish 

Christian

  Cultist.
      "During centuries of this evolution, the Jewish people 

tasted many

  times the bitterness of despair and the profound doubt 

denounced by the

  last of the prophets. In periods when many went openly over to
  Hellenism, it could not be but the the ancient rites of the 

Semitic

  race were revived, as some are declared to have been in earlier 

times

  of trouble. Among the rites of expiation and propititiation, 

none stood

  traditionally higher than the sacrifice of the king, or the 

king's son.

  The Jews saw such an act performed for them, as it were, when the
  Romans under Anthony, at Herod's wish, scourged, crucified 

[lit. bound

  to stake], and beheaded Antigonous, the last of the Asmonean 

priest

  kings in 37 B.C." _Pagan_Christs_ page 44,45 by J. M. Robertson
      The mode of sacrifice was predetermined by previous Pagan 

doctrine.

  The type of sacrifice was also predetermined by Pagan doctrine. 

Both

  the sacrifice of the king, and the king's son were incorporated 

into

  the Gospel myth. The God man Jesus is both the King of the Jews 

and the

  son of God, the king of Israel.
      As stated before the sacrifice of the king or king's son 

was found

  injurious to the state. Before animal and grain sacrifices, 

criminals

  and prisoners of war were substituted. Yet the criminal had to be
  identified with the king. This was done by putting royal robes 

on the

  sacrifice and parading the sacrifice around, calling it the king.

— * Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus 1:128/23)


(383) Mon 4 Apr 88 10:46 By: Ammond Shadowcraft To: All Members Re: Pagan Christs, part iii St:


@EID:ca31 108455ce

      "The number three was of mystic significance in many parts 

of the

  East. The Dravidians of India sacrificed three victims to the 

Sun-god.

  In western as in eastern Asia, the number three would have its 

votaries

  in respect of trinitartian concepts as well as the primary 

notions of

  'the heavens, the earth, and the underworld.' Traditionally, 

the Syrian

  rite called for a royal victim. The substitution of a criminal 

for the

  king or kings son was repugnet, however, to the higher doctrine 

that

  the victim be unblemished. To solve this problem one of the 

malefactors

  was distinguished from the other criminals by a ritual of 

mock-crowning

  and robing in the spirit of 'sympathetic magic'. By parading 

him as

  king, and calling the others what indeed they were, it was 

possible to

  attain the semblence of a truly august sacrifice." 

_Pagan_Christs_, by

  J.M. Robertson page 45
      There is nothing in this mythos that did not originate in 

other

  cultures.
      "We can only conclude that the death ritual of the 

Christian creed

  was framed in a pagan environment and embodies some of the most
  widespread ideas of Pagan religion. the two aspects in which the
  historic Christ is typically presented to his worshipers, those 

of his

  infancy and death, are typically Pagan." _Pagan_Christs_ by J.M
  Roberts, page 52.
      What about the man Jesus then? Was he divine? Did he exist? 

Is/was

  he the Savior?
      Most, if not all, of the Christian Belief System is Pagan in
  origin.  It is indeed hard to force oneself to believe that 

Jesus is

  the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God when such titles were 

readily

  copied from Pagan doctrine. Perhaps the only item not borrowed 

from

  Pagan sources was the Messiah concept. That, of course, was 

taken from

  the Jewish hysteria of the time. In the siege of Jerusalem in 

72 C.E.

  there were some 18 Messiahs inside Jerusalem alone. Neither the 

God man

  Jesus nor the self proclaimed militant messiahs saved 

Jerusalem. Such

  was the measure of hysterical superstition upon the nation of 

Israel.

— * Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus 1:128/23)


(384) Mon 4 Apr 88 10:47 By: Ammond Shadowcraft To: All Members Re: Pagan Christs, part iv St:


@EID:ca31 108455f7

      "There is not a conception associated with Christ that is not
  common to some or all of the Savior cults of antiquity. The title
  Savior was given in Judaism to Yahweh; among the Greeks to Zeus,
  Heilos, Artemis, Dionysus, Hercales, the Dioscurui, Ceybele and
  Aesculapius. It is the essential conception of Osiris. So, too, 

Osiris

  taketh away sin, is the judge of the dead and of the last 

judgment.

  Dionysus, the Lord of the UnderWorld and primarily a god of 

feasting

  ('the Son of Man commeth eating and drinking'), comes to be 

conceived

  as the Soul of the World and the inspirer of chastity and self
  purification. [J. M. Robertson may be referring to Attis here.] 

From the

  Mysteries of Dionysus and Isis comes the proclamation of the easy
  'yoke'. Christ not only works the Dionysiac miracle, but calls 

himself

  the 'true vine.'"
      "Like Christ, and like Adonis and Attis, Osiris and 

Dionysus also

  suffer and die and rise again. To become one with them is the 

mystical

  passion of their worshippers. They are all alike in that their
  mysteries give immortality. From Mithraism Christ takes the 

symbolic

  keys of heaven and hell and assumes the function of the 

virgin-born

  Saoshyant, the destroyer of the Evil One. Like Mithra, 

Merodach, and

  the Egyptian Khousu, he is the Mediator; like Khousu, Horus and
  Merodach, he is one of a trinity, like Horus he is grouped with a
  Divine Mother; like Khousu he is joined to the Logos; and like 

Merodach

  he is associated with the Holy Spirit, one of whose symbols is 

fire."

      "In fundamentals, therefore, Christism is but paganism 

reshaped. It

  is only the economic and doctrinal evolution of the system--the 

first

  determined by Jewish practice and Roman environment, the second 

by Greek

  thought--that constitutes new phenomena in religious history." 

_Pagan_

  _Christs_ by J.M. Robertson pages 52,53
      No religion develops in a vacuum. All religions are 

influenced not

  only by it's predecessors but by the contemporaries of the time 

also.

  Such is the nature of Christism yesterday and today.
      Now about Jesus the man, did he exist? I think not. All the
  teaching of Jesus can be attributed to other sources and 

grafted over

  the Gospel myth. Nothing he said was substantially different in 

any way

  from previous sayings. Jesus was not a man but a contrived myth.

— * Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus 1:128/23)


(385) Mon 4 Apr 88 10:48 By: Ammond Shadowcraft To: All Members Re: Pagan Christs, part v St:


@EID:ca31 1084561a

      "The Christian myth grew by absorbing details from pagan 

cults. The

  birth story is similar to many nativity myths in the pagan 

world. The

  Christ had to have a Virgin for a mother. Like the image of the
  child-god in the cult of Dionysus, he was pictured in swaddling 

clothes

  in a basket manger. He was born in a stable like Horus--the 

stable

  temple of the Virgin Goddess, Isis, Queen of Heaven. Again , like
  Dionysus, he turned water into wine, like Aesculapius, he 

raised men

  from the dead and gave sight to the blind; and like Attis and 

Adonis,

  he is mourned and rejoiced over by women. His resurrection took 

place,

  like that of Mithra, from a rock tomb."
      The man Jesus did not exist. There are however sources that 

speak

  of others seeing him. These were secondhand sources. No direct
  observations were made. At one time or another we have all had 

a vision

  of Deity in our minds. Such is the sight of Jesus, a mental 

image.

      What of the Gospels then? They are passion plays designed 

to be

  read or acted out in front of an audience. Passion plays were a 

common

  feature of pagan religion. Looking at the Gospels themselves 

one finds

  a chopply written, scene by scene, display of the life of the 

God man.

  Only the important aspects of his life are described. The minor 

events

  and influences of the life of Jesus are not recorded, which 

leaves one

  to think that the Gospels are indeed a play.
      "When we turn from the reputed teaching of Jesus to the 

story of

  his career, the presumption is that it has a factual basis is so
  slender as to be negligible. The Church found it so difficult 

to settle

  the date of its alleged founder's birth that the Christian era 

was made

  to begin some years before the year which chronologists latter 

inferred

  on the strength of other documents. The nativity was placed at 

the

  winter solstice, thus coinciding with the birthday of the 

Sun-god. And

  the date for the crucifiction was made to vary from year to 

year to

  conform to the astronomical principle which fixed the Jewish 

Passover.

  [The Passover is moon based, an already familiar pagan method of
  cyclic, monthly dating.] In between the birth and death of 

Jesus, there

  is an almost total absence of information except about the 

brief period

  of his ministry. Of his life between the ages of twelve and 

thirty we

  know nothing. There are not even any myths. It is impossible to
  establish with any accuracy the duration of the ministry from the
  Gospels. According to the tradition it lasted one year, which 

suggests

  that it was either based on the formula 'the acceptable year of 

the

  Lord', or on the myth of the Sun-god." _Pagan_Christs_ by J.M.
  Robertson, page 68

— * Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus 1:128/23)


(386) Wed 6 Apr 88 15:47 By: Ammond Shadowcraft To: All Re: Historical Jesus? St:


@EID:ca31 10867df6

                  The Quest for the Historical Jesus
"...It is only in comparitively modern times that the possibility 

was considered that Jesus does not belong to history at all. Those who come across this idea for the first time are naturally startled by it. In fact the suspicion that Jesus might be as mythical as other ancient saviors as Osiris, Mithra and Krishna arose as a result of a serious effort to discover his real voice and actions. the most scrupulous of analysis of the texts failed to reveal a convincing picture of an authentic person." _Pagan_Christs_, page 63

Well such is what J.M. Robertson claims.
"Modern biblical critics freely admit that some of the Gospel 

narritive must be fiction. We know now that much of it was composed well after the events it purports to describe. Comparitive religion has drawn attention to close pagan parallels–to the essential features of the story–the virgin birth, the sacrifical death and resurrection. The same is true of the rites of baptism and sacramental communion. Many critics still feel, however, that these are accretions which, together with, togehter with the miracles, can be safely shed without injury to a nucleus if historical fact. The argue that pagan Gods may have some of the attributes of Jesus, and although they may have been regarded as law givers and teachers, they did not leave behind a coherent and profound teaching. Apollo, Osiris and the rest seem, therefore, to be obviously mythical, whereas Buddha and Jesus are not. The teachings of each of the latter, it is felt, bear the unmistakable of a single, unique mind. Such a doctrine could not have formed itself spontaneously." _Pagan_Christs_, page 64.

The rite of baptism has already been discussed in this topic. Robertson contends that the rite of baptism superceeded the rite of circumsicion. This makes sense to me. It is much less painful and physically safer to undergo ritual initiation through baptism by water than by ritual circumcision. The gentile Christists would contend for this; and as the Jewish Christists died baptism did replace circumcision as a physical sign of new spiritual being.

— * Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus 1:128/23)


(387) Wed 6 Apr 88 15:49 By: Ammond Shadowcraft To: All Re: Historical Jesus, part ii St:


@EID:ca31 10867e2b

"We shall consider the case of Buddha later. First let us look at the main objections to this view that the existence of a body of teaching is overwhelming evidence of the existence of an historical teacher. The earliest Christian documents are ascribed to Paul. These epistles were written long before the canonical gospels were put together and accepted by the Church. The older protions, however, tell us nothing about the life of Jesus. The silence of paul is remarkable if indeed he was familiar with the Jesuine biography. Secondly, the unity of teaching, which it is said, would show it to have been the work of one mind is conspicuously absent. So far from displaying coherence, the ethical precepts are frequently obscure and contradictory. So far from being original, many of the sayings are merely quotations from Hebrew literature, and some have pagan parallels. As for the Sermon on the Mount, it is no more than a patchwork of utterances found in the Old Testament." _Pagan_Christs_ pg. 64

I was suprised to hear that some of the Epistles of Paul are the earliest of the Christian writings. Anyone care to point us to an already typed in dating of the N.T.? Care to type one in? If such is the case then it is outstanding that as Paul was the first to write about mystery of the sacrifice of Christ he tells us nothing of the life of Christ. It's as if he didn't know. Surely he would have known such details being close to the original twelve. Perhaps he didn't care, such details being meaningless as the ethics, mystery and sacrifice of the God man were most important.

It seems the earliest of the gospel forms was lost with Matthew 

and Mark being dependent opon these lost forms. This scans nicely. The earliest forms were probably the purest of the Jewish Christian story of the Messiah. As time went by more of the pagan gentile influence was felt as needed. Various features of the virgin birth of the God man, the nativity scenes, the Last Supper, the betrayal, the crucifiction and mysterious ressurection were incoroprated into the present gospels to appeal to pagan cultist.

Some scholars indicate that Revelations was next inline. This scans

nicely as it presents a supposedly Jewish-Christian eschotology. When one looks at the symbolism one can see the Mazedian influence in Revelations. Revelations seems to present a first or second step in the evolution of the Sacrifice and Resurrection of the God man. Perhaps a middle step is more appropriate. A middle step between Jewish Messiah cults and Gentile Savour cults.

— * Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus 1:128/23)


(388) Wed 6 Apr 88 15:51 By: Ammond Shadowcraft To: All Re: Historical Jesus, part iii St:


@EID:ca31 10867e68

It would be monumental to eliminate all supposedly contradictory 

and questionable passages from the Gospels. Fortunately that work has already been done with some suprising, for me at least, outcomes. Here's one..

"For over a hundred years German scholars have been struggling to 

solve this problem, and their efforts have been unavailing. In order to establish some solid textual foundation for the historicity of Jesus, they have piled hypothesis upon hypothesis with ever new refinements. The retreat from this hopless task was finally sounded by the emminent German critic, O. Schmeidel. Afer an exhuastive search, he was satisfied that he had discovered some texts which passes the most severe tests and were entirely credible. But in the whole of the gospels all he could salvage were NINE such texts. Let us enumerate this forlorn handful of unwounded survivors.

1) Mark XXX.17 [really mark 10.17] f.f. "Why callest me thou good?" etc. 2) Matt XII.31 f.f. "Blasphemy against the Son of Man pardonable" 3) Mark III.21 "He is beside himself" 4) Mark XII.32 "Of that hour and day knoweth no man" 5) Mark XV.34, Matt "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" etc. 6) Mark VIII.12 "No sign shall be given this generation." 7) Mark VI.5 "He was able to do no mighty work there." 8) Mark VIII.14-21 Rebuke to disciples concerning bread and leaven.." 9) Matt XI.5, Luke VII.22 Passage to be taken in the sense of spiritual

 healing, since it ends with mention of preaching--not a miracle 

at all." _Pagan_Christs_ pgs 64,65.

What was the basis for selecting these texts? Basicly O. 

Sshmeiedel felt that where Jesus speaks simply as a man, making no pretense to divinity, or to miraculous powers, and where he is presented as failing to impress his relatives and neighbors with any sense of his superiority–there the record is entirely credible. I'll have to quote this because of the logical content…

J.M. Roberts quoting Schmeidel:
"According to Schmidel, these passages represent "the foundation 

pillars for a truly scientific life of Jesus… They prove not only that in the person of Jesus we have to do with a completely human being, and that the divine is sought in him only in the form in which it is capable of being found in a man; THEY ALSO PROVE THAT HE REALLY DID EXIST, and that the Gospels contain at least SOME ABSOLUTELY TURSTWORTHY FACTS concerning him.

— * Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus 1:128/23)


(389) Wed 6 Apr 88 15:53 By: Ammond Shadowcraft To: All Re: Historical Jesus, part iv St:


@EID:ca31 10867eb4

This will shock the believer without satisfying the scientific

naturalist. I submit that the propostition I have italicized is absolutely untenable. On this point may be staked the whole dispute about the actuality of the gospel Jesus. It simply does not follow that because a statement is credible it is therefore trustworth or proved. If it were so, half the characters in fiction could be "proved" to be real people. Perfectly credible statements are made about them." _Pagan_Christs_ pgs 64-65.

And I would add that perfectly credible statements are made by 

fictional characters also. It is credible to pronounce that Joe Catholic said a hundred Hail Marys this morning. Such is a credible statement concerning Catholics. But is it trustworthy?

Such thinking requires a leap. The leap involves a thought 

process that says what is possible must indeed be true. T.X. Huxley makes this same mistake. Huxley says that Sauls visit with the Witch of Endor is entirely probable, so there is no reason not to believe it. It is probable that I, as a child, fell into a dark hole for 3 days and nights. History is full of discredited "probablilites".

To finish this section up I'd like to say that what applies to 

characters of fiction must also apply to demigods and characters about whom there is a fable. Unless it can be shown on independent grounds how the credible story came to be associated with the fable, we have no reason to accept one and reject the other. There are instances of myths being built up on a basis of facutal events, but although this can be established in modern times, such cases do not enable us to distinguish between the merely possible and the actual in ancient tradition. Admittedly there are borderline cases, but even when these are free from supernaturalism they may often be doubted.

— * Origin: SMARTNet - Changing for the better (I hope!) (Opus 1:128/23)


(390) Sat 9 Apr 88 7:35 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: Poems St:


@EID:c712 3c7b1089 (I found these poems from another time while prowling through Chaos!)

THE RAINBOW PROMISE

With quantum leap the light of love illumines every heart Humans of the world unite in the light of love Let the light of unity flash love from heart to heart And blow away the mushroom cloud in waves of living love

Lovers of the world unite in the light of love Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Moslem, Jew: all you others too Let the light of unity flash love from heart to heart And blow away that angry cloud in waves of living love

Let love explode in vaults of banks, in the hearts of thieves In generals hearts, in lawyers hearts. In our hears Let the light of unity flash love from heart to heart And blow away that bitter cloud in waves of living love

In prisons and in hospitals let human love flow free All races in a rainbow, one great loving symphony Let the light of unity flash love from heart to heart And blow away that hatefilled crowd in waves of living love

Let our one great rainbow song of love flow up Our rich and holy promise to the Living God on High To let the light of unity flash love from heart to heart And blow away the mushroom cloud in waves of living love

copywright

                                       by Hugh Read
                                       1983

— ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)


(391) Sat 9 Apr 88 7:47 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: Yet another poem out of Chaos St:


@EID:c712 3de91089

THE BALLAD OF ALLIGATOR FLATS …dedicated to Michael…

Old Mose he cried He sputtered and died His gas tank dried And there we sat In the desert flats Singing songs to Jesus

Visions danced before our eyes Silent vultures in the skies Sang silent songs of one who dies Where we sat In the desert flats Singing songs to Jesus

Old Mike, he sat, grinning wide Looked to God and Fate defied His songs decreed the Devil lied And there we sat In the Desert flats Singing songs to Jesus

That devil, fear, stung my heart Our gas tank dry as a desert fart My soul has shrunk to a gristly wart As there we sat In the desert flats Singing songs to Jesus

Old Mike, he sung, Water to wine, water to wine Water to gas would be just fine So we pissed in the tank, first his then mine And there we sat In the desert flats Singing songs to Jesus

Old Mose he coughed and gripped the tar Shuddered and sighed ready for war And lightning flashed on the mountain far As there we sat On the desert flats Singing songs to Jesus

He bucked and reared I shuddered and feared By God he started and we put him in gear No more we sat On the desert flats As we sang our songs to Jesus

— ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)


(392) Thu 5 May 88 7:50 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: The Book of the Law St:


@EID:c712 3e4010a5 Recently, I have had the joy of having Aleister Crowley's, Book of the Law, opened to me. I want to share some of my thoughts with you about this. Perhaps these thoughts will turn into a commentary as I find my way more deeply into the beauties of this book. For now, I only want to share some of my very subjective responses to this beautiful little book.

Some years ago through some idiot grace that may be manifesting her results now, Bill Hiedrick introduced me to Grady McMurtry, previous Caliph of O.T.O. At that time Grady showed me his signet ring given him by Crowley. I will never forget the impression of deep and powerful beauty that I got from that ring. I can see it now.

The feeling was a green feeling. I sense the same soft, feathery green feeling as I read The Book of the Law. It is like a delicate grey mist, or streamers of pale green silk. It is a green feeling.

Green is the color of illumination in Sufi land…some say because there is so little green in the austere, sun blasted desert. I heard an Arab wanderer say that the thing that impressed him the most about Minnesota was that it was so GREEN.

Cairo is an Arab place where green means illumination. The ring and the book have a green aura for me. Perhaps the Book of the Law hides a pure light of illuminatin. Perhaps…

— ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)


(393) Fri 6 May 88 19:44 By: Hugh Read Of 282/341 To: All Re: The Pentagram St:


@EID:01a6 10a69d92

I invoke Ancient Powers of The Star The Powers of Five The Spiral Powers The Powers of Earth

I invoke the Ancient Powers of Life Star in the Circle In the Iron Circle Quaint, ancient symbol

So ancient, primordial and timeless Dark symbol of life On planets bearing life Deep in DNA

Deeply branded in the Heart of our Earth Touchstone of Wisdom Of Ancient Knowledge, NOW, Living in the stars

I call out through the Circled Iron Star For my Star Power Out through the Galaxies Claiming Dark Powers

— * Origin: The Terraboard, Minneapolis, MN (Opus 1:282/341)


(394) Sat 7 May 88 17:58 By: Russ Anderson To: all Re: Invocation to Frigg St:


@EID:d466 8f4610a7 When this invocation was first used, each person in a healing circle invoked a healer into (her/him)self. This was my invocation. The rest of the circle was asked to echo "Join us, Frigg" as I was saying "Join us. Frigg,". This was my first attempt at writing an invocation, and it DID work. I hope that it also works for anyone else who wishes to use it, because it now feels like time to share it.

Blessed Be Russ

Frigg, Daughter of Jord, Join us. Frigg, Daughter of Fiorgyn, Join us. Frigg, Wife of Odin, Join us. Frigg, Sister of Thorr, Join us. Frigg, Mother of Balder, Join us. Frigg, Mother of Hodr, Join us. Frigg, Mother of Hermod, Join us. Frigg, Mother of the gods, Join us. Frigg, Wise in all fates, Join us. Frigg, Who will tell no fortunes, Join us. Frigg, First among the Asynjur, Join us. Frigg, Queen of Asgard, Join us. Frigg, Mistress of home and hearth, Join us. Frigg, Mistress of Eir, Join us. Frigg, Mistress of healing, Join us. Frigg, Your servant _ calls you! Come to me NOW! This invocation is being reposted as part of a group of invocations, most of which were patterned on this one. Permission is granted to use these invocations in your own rituals. I do ask, however, that I get credit in any copies of those rituals which are written or distributed. B*B Dragonfriend (Russ) — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (395) Sat 7 May 88 18:03 By: Russ Anderson To: all Re: invocation to Baldr St: ————————————————————————— @EID:d466 907210a7 "Baldr, Son of Frigg, Join us. Baldr, Son of Odin, Join us. Baldr, Husband of Nanna, Join us. Baldr, Brother of Hodr, Join us. Baldr, Brother of Hermod, Join us. Baldr, Father of Forsetti, Join us. Baldr, Slain by blind Hodr, Join us. Baldr, Master of Breidablik, Join us. Baldr, Who is much loved, Join us. Baldr, Who Thokk alone would not mourn, Join us. Baldr, The Fairest of the Aesir, Join us. Baldr, Whose Judgments stand unaltered, Join us. Baldr, Whose Judgments stand unheeded, Join us. Baldr, The Wisest of the Aesir, Join us. Baldr, The Shining One, Join us. Baldr, Your servant _ calls you! Come to me NOW!"

— Sirius 0.50

— ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)


(396) Sat 7 May 88 18:04 By: Russ Anderson To: all Re: invocation to Freyja St:


@EID:d466 909110a7

Freyja, Of the many names, Join us. Freyja, Of the golden tears, Join us. Freyja, Daughter of Njord, Join us. Freyja, Wife of Od, Join us. Freyja, Sister of Freyr, Join us. Freyja, Mother of Hnoss, Join us. Freyja, Claimed by Thrym, Join us. Freyja, Driver of cats, Join us. Freyja, Goddess of Fertility, Join us. Freyja, Who shares the slain with Odin, Join us. Freyja, Who taught the Aesir Magick, Join us. Freyja, Lender of Falcons' Flight, Join us. Freyja, Mistress of Brisingamen, Join us. Freyja, Mistress of Folkvang, Join us. Freyja, Mistress of nature, Join us. Freyja, Your servant _ calls you! Come to me NOW! — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (397) Sat 7 May 88 18:05 By: Russ Anderson To: all Re: invocation to Thorr St: ————————————————————————— @EID:d466 90aa10a7 Thorr, Red-beard, Join us. Thorr, Son of J”rd, Join us. Thorr, Brother of Frigg, Join us. Thorr, Father of M”di, Join us. Thorr, Father of Magni, Join us. Thorr, Father of Thr£dr, Join us. Thorr, Husband of Sif, Join us. Thorr, J”tunn bane, Join us. Thorr, Foe of I”rmungandr, Join us. Thorr, Who bears Marriage Hallower, Join us. Thorr, Who bears Death Hallower, Join us. Thorr, Who wields Mj”llnir, Join us. Thorr, Defender of Asgard, Join us. Thorr, Thunderer, Join us. Thorr, Storm Lord, Join us. Thorr, Your servant _ calls you! Come to me NOW!

— Sirius 0.50

— ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5)


(398) Sat 7 May 88 18:06 By: Russ Anderson To: all Re: invocation to Freyr St:


@EID:d466 90c510a7

HP: (both do "Freyr" and "Join us.") "Freyr, Son of Nj”rd, Join us. Freyr, Husband of Gerdr, Join us. Freyr, Brother of Freyja, Join us. Freyr, Father of kings, Join us. Freyr, Whose sword would fight for itself, Join us. Freyr, Who gave his sword for Gerdr, Join us. Freyr, Patron of married couples, Join us. Freyr, Most beautiful of Gods, Join us. Freyr, Whose tooth-gift was Alfheimr, Join us. Freyr, Master of Gullinbursti, Join us. Freyr, Owner of Skidbladnir, Join us. Freyr, Slayer of Beli, Join us. Freyr, Master of Frodi's Peace, Join us. Freyr, Who directs Man's good fortune, Join us. Freyr, Who brings fruitful seasons, Join us. Freyr, Your servant _ calls you! Come to me NOW!" — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (399) Sat 7 May 88 18:07 By: Russ Anderson To: all Re: invocation to Herne St: ————————————————————————— @EID:d466 90e410a7 "Herne, Winter Lord, We, your children, call to you. Horned One, Hunter, We, your children, invite you here. Woodland Spirit, We, your children, ask your presence. Herne, Winter Lord, We, your children, call to you. Horned One, Hunter, We, your children, invite you here. Woodland Spirit, We, your children, ask your presence. Herne, Winter Lord, We, your children, call to you. Horned One, Hunter, We, your children, invite you here. Woodland Spirit, We, your children, ask your presence, NOW." — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (400) Sat 7 May 88 18:07 By: Russ Anderson To: all Re: invocation to Brigit St: ————————————————————————— @EID:d466 90f810a7 "Brigit, Wise One, We, your children, call to you. Lady, Smithy, We, your children, invite you here. Triple Goddess, We, your children, ask your presence. Brigit, Wise One, We, your children, call to you. Lady, Smithy, We, your children, invite you here. Triple Goddess, We, your children, ask your presence. Brigit, Wise One, We, your children, call to you. Lady, Smithy, We, your children, invite you here. Triple Goddess, We, your children, ask your presence, NOW." — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (401) Sun 15 May 88 8:49 By: Russ Anderson To: Meredydd Harper Re: Re: invocation to Herne St: ————————————————————————— @EID:d466 462410af mh> These are lovely, Russ, but they evoke a question: mh> why is it that it felt comfortable to *demand* that mh> Freya, Thor, Freyr, and Baldr appear, and yet not mh> comfortable to do the same with Herne? The tone of mh> the Herne invocation is *noticeably* gentler. Meredydd, Answer 1. I Don't know! Answer 2, despite the previous, ACCURATE answer, I'll attempt to speculate. I don't see those as demands, I see them, rather, as strongly worded requests. It is a tone that I simply had not seen in them (we ALL have blind spots). Since I'm not ready to tamper with success, you may well see other Norse invocations with the same tone. All of the Norse invocations were built to a pattern set by the Frigg invocation. (god/dess name, kenning, join us. times 15, god/dess name, Your servent _ calls you, Come to me NOW!) This was my FIRST attempt at writing ANY piece of ritual. But it WORKS and seems to fit the god/desse/s of that mythos and their worshipers of old, etc. The Herne and Brigit invocations, along with a set of quarters invocations, came to me in the space of a few minutes as I was sitting in the bathroom thinking about what needed to be done for the Imbolc/Lady day/Brigit/… ritual that a friend and I were writing (We have half the wheel of the year so far. They will probably NOT be published as a whole, even here because Starhawk, Leigh Ann, and Raymond Buckland, at the very least, might have unfair use of copyrighted material claims. We drew on all of these sources and more in writing these rituals. At some future time, I will post the quarter invocations. My friend wrote 3 of the 4 sets we have (with some minor editing on my part [she hasn't asked for any changes in my invocations]) and I have her permission to post them. I feel like I should wait until we have the whole wheel before posting the quarters invocations. We have actually been using 5 quarters (NO MATH FLAMES will be accepted!); Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit/LifeForce - North, East, South, West, and Center respectivly, and we have been casting the circle from the appropriate quarter/cross quarter. We are lighting candles (no invocations) at NE, SE, SW, & NW. At Yule, we cast from North, at Brigit, from NE, etc. Center is invoked last, and "dismissed" first. B*B Dragonfriend (Russ) — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (402) Tue 24 May 88 13:28 By: Brad Hicks To: All Re: Book Review: Robert Anton Wilson, _Natural Law_ St: ————————————————————————— @EID:0 229a44b3 A few months ago, I did something that I almost never do. I bought a book, sight unseen. It was a safe bet, of course, because I'm a Robert Anton Wilson fan and a completist; I knew for sure that his book _Natural Law, or, Don't Put a Rubber on Your Willy_ would be worth the $6.00 it was going to cost me. I was wrong. A little history behind this volume: three years ago someone named L.A. Rollins wrote a book called _The Myth of Natural Rights_ in which he (apparently) held forth on the extreme Social-Darwinist argument that there are no "rights" other than those you can grab and defend. Perhaps you can imagine what members of the Libertarian Party (as opposed to real libertarians) thought of this, and true-to-form, Murray Rothbard and George H. Smith wrote review articles for _New Libertarian_ entitled "On the Duty of Natural Outlaws to Shut Up" and "Roughing Up Rights," respectively. Apparently, Robert Anton Wilson wants to side with Rollins against the rest of the Libertarian Party, so he submitted a lengthy rebuttal of Rothbard and Smith to _New Libertarian_. And now he's very, very angry because Samuel Konkin, the editor of _New Libertarian_, had the unbridled temerity to edit an article submitted to his own magazine. Konkin's editing didn't change a word of Wilson's article, by the way. He merely footnoted it heavily with his own refutation of Wilson's refutation of Rothbard and Smith's refutations of Rollin's refutation of the existence of "natural rights." But this has so deeply angered Wilson that he has blown his article up into a slim volume (68 pages) and persuaded Loompanics to print it as if it had validity on its own and free-standing. So you see, _Natural Law_ is Robert Anton Wilson's refutation of Samuel Konkin's refutation of Robert Anton Wilson's refutation of Murray Rothbard's and George Smith's refutations of a book by L.A. Rollins, which is itself a refutation of the Deist notion of "natural rights." If you read the original book and the original articles in _New Libertarian_ and this issue is one of mind-numbing urgency to you, then possibly you might think that you can get your $6.00 worth out of this volume. You're probably wrong. Wilson's argument is far, far below his standards elsewhere, and consists primarily of Swiftian ridicule combined with gutter language. (Scarcely a page goes by without his describing some argument as "Ideal Platonic Horseshit." This gets very, very tiring.) Pass this one up. You won't be missing anything. (Robert Anton Wilson, _NATURAL LAW or Don't Put A Rubber On Your Willy_. Port Townsend, WA: Loompanics Unlimited, 1987. Trade paperback, 68 pages, $5.95.) — Sirius 0.50 * Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-741-2231 * (Opus 1:100/523) ————————————————————————— (403) Tue 24 May 88 6:50 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: The Deva St: ————————————————————————— @EID:c712 364410b8 When a Deva descends…or rises up Within a human A god has come to rest To nest in a heart To brood without words over an old soul Of many lifetimes Giving quiet power Beyond that human Making that life a skillful game of love Healing and delight Guided by wise insight Through shadows and light What a subtle joy it is to see it In another's eyes To feel it in a heart That has grown so wise That it knows the tale before it is told And heals with a smile Hurts before they are felt Making us complete Even imperfections radiate love Sparks of rainbow light Twinkle through mistakes With happy mischief And we know it is alright…no harm meant It all rights itself What wonderful good luck To have a deva — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341) ————————————————————————— (404) Tue 24 May 88 6:57 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: The Deva, II St: ————————————————————————— @EID:c712 372e10b8 The deva is beautiful and cunning She gives ecstacy Unlimited healing As she does her work Her implacable power holds terror That shimmers like ice In the dry arctic Sun's Frozen rainbow fields Her tenderness in curiosity Relaxes to lust Of a sly beast of prey From other dimensions — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341) ————————————————————————— (405) Tue 24 May 88 7:10 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: A Special Kind of Healing St: ————————————————————————— @EID:c712 394010b8 Most non-human in their complications The other-minded Learn secrets of healing To cover their tracks They feed on pain of human souls dying Giving them more life They feed on disease Letting health increase Their strange gift is healing for all Their food is sickness They gain strength from weakness Leaving the weak strong Stronger themselves from eating the weakness Fungus of the soul That is a special food For these strange healers The mind parasites sapping others strength Are these healers Food of immortality The food of their gods — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341) ————————————————————————— (406) Tue 24 May 88 7:19 By: Hugh Read To: All Re: Avalokitsvara, or a crystal is not a diamond St: ————————————————————————— @EID:c712 3a7010b8 The crystal Kuan Yin Rooted within a human Quiet ecstacy That ancient being Neither man nor a woman Rainbow ecstacy Healing other planes Yielding non-human delight Clear light ecstacy The crystal Kuan Yin Rooted in man or woman Timeless ecstacy The crystal Kuan Yin Rooted within a human Divine ecstacy Divine Unity Within the crystal Kuan Yin The Crystal Body The Crystal body The Crystal Kuan Yin in my heart Crystal ecstacy — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341) ————————————————————————— (407) Sun 29 May 88 1:51 By: J_Random Folksinger To: all Re: laws (1 of 8) St: ————————————————————————— @EID:d466 e7d10bd YOUR HIGH PRIESTESS In the Magic Circle, the words, commands, and wishes of the High Priestess are Law. She is the earthly representative of our gracious Goddess. She is to be obeyed and respected in all things. She is our Lady and, above all others, a Queen in the highest sense of the word. All female coveners will curtsy and say "Blessed Be" when they come before Her, and all male coveners will bend their knee and kiss Her on the right cheek and say "Blessed Be". YOUR HIGH PRIEST In the Magic Circle, the High Priest is the earthly representative of the Great God. He commands the respect due a Magus, Lord Counselor, and father. THE LAWS THE LAWS WERE MADE FOR THE WITCHES TO ADVISE THEM IN THEIR TROUBLES. DO NOT CHANGE THEM LIGHTLY. 1. The Witches should worship the Gods as is their due, and obey their will. For the worship of the Gods is good for the Witches even as the worship of the Witches is good for the Gods: For the Gods love all their Witches. 2. As a man loves a woman more by acquiring more knowledge of her wants and desires, so should the Witches love the Gods by the learning (mastering) of them. 3. It is necessary that the Magic Circle, which is the Temple of the Gods in these times, be case and purified such that it may be a fitting place for the Gods; and the Witches should be properly prepared and purified to enter into the presence of the Gods. 4. With love and worship in their hearts the Witches shall raise power from their bodies (and the elements around them), and they shall offer this power to the Gods so that the Gods may help their Witches. 5. The High Priestess shall rule her coven as the representative of the Goddess, and the High Priest shall support her as the representative of the God. The High Priestess will choose any member of the coven to be her High Priest, if he has sufficient standing in the cover. As the God Himself kissed our Lady's feet, gave Her the five-fold salute, and offered Her His power because of Her youth and beauty, Her sweetness and kindness, Her wisdom and justice, Her humility, gentleness, and generosity, and shared His power with Her, so therefore the High Priestess should always be aware that all power comes from Him; it is only lent, to be used wisely and justly. 6. The greatest virtue of a High Priestess shall be recognition that youth is necessary to the representative of the Goddess. She will, therefore, gracefully retire in favor of a younger covener should the coven so decide in council. The true High Priestess should realize that gracefully surrendering the pride of place is one of the greatest virtues, and that thereby she will return to that pride of place in another life with even greater power and beauty. — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (408) Sun 29 May 88 1:53 By: J_Random Folksinger To: all Re: Laws (2 of 8) St: ————————————————————————— @EID:d466 eb810bd 7. In the Old Days, when there were many Witches, we were free and worshipped freely in the greatest temples; but in these times, we must celebrate our sacred mysteries in secret. Therefore, none but the Witches is to see our mysteries; no coven shall know the location of any other coven or who its members are, except the High Priest, the High Priestess, and the Messenger; and that there shall be no communication among the covens, except by the Messenger of the Gods or the Summoner. Only if it is safe may the covens meet in some safe place for the Great Festivals; and while there, none shall give their true names or any information about their coven or its members. This law is made for this reason: no one can tell our enemies what they do not themselves know. 8. It is ordained that no one shall tell any person not in the Craft who other Witches are, or give them names, or addresses, or in any way tell anything that can betray a Witch to their face. Nor may anyone tell where the covendom or covenstead is, where any meetings are held, or any other information about the coven unless directed to do so by the coven in council. 9. If anyone breaks these laws, even under torture, may the Curse of the God and the Goddess be upon them, so that they may not be reborn upon the Earth (but shall live forever in the Hell of the Christians). 10. Let each High Priest and High Priestess govern their coven with justice and love, with the help and advice of the other and of the elders of the coven, always heeding the advice of the Messenger of the Gods if he should arrive. They will heed all the suggestions of their coveners and strive to settle any differences among them. 11. It is recognized that there will always be people who will try to make everybody agree with their ideas: these people are not necessarily bad –they often have good ideas, and these ideas should be discussed in council. But if they will not come to agree with their other coveners, or if they say, "I will not work with this High Priestess," then the elders will have them leave. It should be suggested that they might join another coven, or if they are of sufficient standing they may be encouraged to found their own coven. For it is better this way, to avoid strife among the family of Witches. — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (409) Sun 29 May 88 1:55 By: J_Random Folksinger To: all Re: laws (3 of 8) St: ————————————————————————— @EID:d466 efa10bd 12. When using geographic boundaries, whenever anyone of Third Degree lives more than a league from the covenstead (or are about to), any of these may found a new coven; indeed, any Witch living within the covenstead who wishes to form a new coven will inform the elders of this intention, and immediately move to a new dwelling beyond the boundaries of known covensteads. Members of any coven may choose to join the new coven when it is formed, but they must totally avoid their old coven if they choose this course. The elders of the old and new covens should meet in peace and love to determine the boundaries of the covens. Any Witch living outside of any two covens may choose to join either coven, but never both. All may meet for the Great Festivals if the elders agree, so long as they meet in peace and love. Let the elders confer as to the use of this law when it is not directly applicable. Always be aware that the splitting of a coven breeds bad feelings; this law was made chiefly for this reason. And may happier times come! 13. If you would keep a Book (whether it is called a Black Book, Book of Shadows, Book of Light, or whatever), write it in your own hand. Let your brothers and sisters in the Craft copy as they will from your book in their hand, but never let your Book out of your hands and never keep the writing of another. Every Witch should keep and guard their own writings, that none may be discovered through their Book being found in another's possession. 14. Destroy your Book whenever danger threatens, and commit as many as possible of these Laws to memory. Destroy the writings of a deceased Witch if they did not have time to do so themselves. If any of their writings are found, it is clear proof against both the writer and the holder, for our enemies firmly believe that "one may not be a Witch alone": their family and all who are known to be friends may be suspected as Witches. Be responsible with your writings and you will protect all who love you. 15. If your Book is found on you, it is clear proof against you alone unless you tell our enemies what you know. You may be taken and tortured, but keep all thoughts of the Craft from your mind. If the torture is too much to bear, tell them, "I cannot bear this torture. I will confess. What do you want me to say?" If they try to make you talk about the Craft, do not; but if they try to make you speak of absurd things, such as flying through the air, consorting with the Christian devil, sacrificing children, or eating men's flesh, say, "I held an evil dream; I was beside myself; I was crazed," or words to that effect, to obtain relief from the torture. Not all magistrates are bad – if there is any semblance of an excuse, they may show mercy. If you have confessed to anything, deny it afterwards: say that you babbled under torture, or that you don't remember what you said. If you are condemned, do not be afraid, for the Craft is powerful and your escape will be aided if you stand fast. If you go steadfast to the flames, be certain that drugs will reach you and you will feel nothing of the pain. You will only go to death and what lies beyond – the ecstasy of the God and the Goddess. If you betray anything, however, there is no hope for you in this life or that which is to come. — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (410) Sun 29 May 88 1:58 By: J_Random Folksinger To: all Re: laws (4 of 8) St: ————————————————————————— @EID:d466 f5210bd 16. To avoid being discovered, choose your working tools to be ordinary items which you would have around the house. Make your Pentacles out of wax so that you can break and melt them at once. Do not keep a sword unless its presence would alarm no one. Have no signs or names visible on anything: write the signs in ink or water immediately before consecrating the tool, and wash them off immediately after. Do not engrave anything, for this will only help you be discovered. Keep your athame and kerfan (working knife) among your kitchen knives, and let the colors of the hilts determine the one from the other and from the other knives. Always remember that we are the Hidden Children of the Goddess. Never do anything to disgrace the Craft or Her –never boast, never threaten, and never say that you wish ill of anyone. 17. It is not forbidden to say, "There is Witchcraft in the land," for the Christians say so themselves and have made it heresy not to believe so; but always say, "I know nothing of it here, though it may be elsewhere." If any person speaks about the Craft outside of the Circle, say, "Don't speak of such things – it frightens me. It is bad luck to talk about such things." Say this for this reason: the Christians have their spies everywhere. These spies have been known to talk as if they were drawn to the Craft and as if they would want to come to our meetings, and they say such things as, "My fathers and forefathers worshipped the Old Ones, and my mother; I would like to worship in this way myself." To all of these, tell them that you do not know what they are talking about, and that you wish they would stop. But to others, say, "It's silly to talk about Witches flying around in the air; they would have to be lighter than feathers or thistle-down. Besides, everyone knows that Witches are all bleary-eyed old hags; what fun could they possibly have at their meetings, and why should I want to participate? And besides, you know we were taught in school that there are no such things as Witches." Always make fun of the subject, that we may worship in peace when the persecution ends: let us all work for that happy time. May the blessing of the God and the Goddess be upon all who keep this law. 18. If any in the Craft holds any property, let all Witches guard it and keep it clear and good for the use of the Craft. It is the further responsibility of all Witches to guard Craft funds wisely. 19. If any Witch offers a well-made item, it is proper to pay them for it according to the value of the work; this is not taking money for the Craft, but payment for honest work – even the Christians believe that "the labourer is worth his hire". Still, if any Witch works willingly for the good of the Craft and will not accept payment, this shall be to their greater honor. — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (411) Sun 29 May 88 2:00 By: J_Random Folksinger To: all Re: laws (5 of 8) St: ————————————————————————— @EID:d466 100f10bd 20. It is known that a coven may be bound together by sexual ties, and that this is often not desirable. When it is found that this is not desirable, the coven should be made up of loving couples, and there may also be single coveners. In such cases, it is required that the search for new love be undertaken outside the coven except when two single coveners find love with each other; otherwise, it will often cause division in the coven. For while all acts of love and pleasure are indeed the rituals of our beloved Goddess, She is not inclined to favor acts which divide her covens and scatter Her Witches unnecessarily. 21. If there should arise quarrels or disputes among the Witches, the High Priestess or High Priest shall immediately convene the elders and inquire into the problem. The elders shall hear each side separately, and then both together. Their decision should be just, not siding with one side until the matter is determined, recognizing that there are people who cannot work under others, and others who cannot make wise decisions. To those who must always be in charge, the possible solutions for them are to void the coven alto-gether, find another coven for them, or for them to found a new coven (taking with them all who will go). To those who cannot rule wisely, the solution is that those who cannot bear the rule will leave the coven. No one can truly worship the Gods when personal conflicts among the coveners are not resolved; all who cause strife in the coven must be told, "Go away from us, for the Craft must ever survive." 22. In the Old Days, we could use the Art against anyone who treated the Witches badly; but in these times, we must not do so. Our enemies have invented a burning pit of everlasting fire into which their God throws everyone who does not worship Him, except for those few who buy their penance from His priests (for their God always seems to be in need of money). Even as our Gods need our aid to make fertility for people and crops, so it is that the God of the Christians is always needing men to find and destroy us. Their priests tell them that any man who is helped by us will be damned to their Hell forever, to the point that men are mad with the terror of it. But the priests also make them believe that they may escape this Hell if they give up Witches to be tortured, so that these men are always thinking, "If I catch only one Witch, I will escape the fiery pit." For this reason we have our hiding places, and when no Witches are found, the searchers will say, "There aren't any Witches, or at least not in this area." But as soon as one of our oppressors dies or even catches a cold, the cry will go up that it is "Witches' work", and the hunt will be on again. And while they may kill ten Christians for every Witch, they will not care, for they are countless millions while we are few indeed. 23. THEREFORE, IT IS ORDAINED that none shall use the Art in any way to harm anyone or even wish them ill. However much they may injure us, HARM NONE, and may the Christians forget that we exist. — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (412) Sun 29 May 88 2:02 By: J_Random Folksinger To: all Re: laws (6 of 8) St: ————————————————————————— @EID:d466 105110bd 24. These laws are ordained to help us in our difficulties. No person, no matter how large the injury or injustice they incur, may use the Art in any way to do evil or harm anyone. But they may use the Art, after great consul-tation with the elders and fellow coveners, to keep the Christians and their tools from harming anyone – but only to constrain them. To this end, some day men will say, "That man says he is a mighty persecutor of Witches, but all we ever see him torture are old women – we cannot see that they have hurt anyone, and if they are all such powerful Witches, why has he not been harmed?" They will see him as an evil person regardless of his professed beliefs. We know that too many people have died because someone had a grudge against them, or were persecuted because another wanted their wealth or because they were too poor to bribe the witch-hunters. And many have died only for being old women – so many that most men now seem to believe that only old women are Witches. This is to our advantage, for it turns many suspicious eyes away from us; but we mourn deeply for the old women. Still, in England and Scotland, it has been hundreds of years since a Witch "died the death"; be vigilant, for the misuse of our power might begin the persecutions again. Never break this law no matter how much you are tempted. Never consent to the breaking of this law: even a High Priestess who merely consents to the breaking of this law must be deposed immediately, for it is the blood of all the Witches that she endangers. DO ONLY GOOD, and then only when it is safe to do anything at all. 25. Never accept money for the use of the Art, for money always smudges the receiver. Christians take money for the use of their arts, and they sell pot-metal charms, pardons, and potions to men so that they may escape from their sins. Do not act like these men; as long as you refuse to take money, you will be free from the temptation to use the Art for evil causes. All may use the Art for their own advantages, or for the advantage of the Craft, but you must always be certain that no one will be harmed by its use. Let the coven debate the use of the Art at length, and only when all are satisfied that none will be harmed by its use will the use be allowed. Remember that if you cannot achieve your means in one fashion, your aim may still be reached through another – always harming none. 26. If anyone in the Craft needs a house or land and there is no one willing to sell to them, you may use the Art to incline an owner's mind to be willing to sell, provided that the spell does not harm the owner or the property and that the full value is paid without haggling. Never bargain or cheapen anything wile living by the Art. 27. The most important of laws: Do nothing that will endanger anyone in the Craft or which will bring them into conflict with the law of the land or any of our persecutors. In this regard, it is NEVER permissible, in any dispute involving the Craft, to invoke any laws other than those of the Craft, nor may any tribunals be held other than one consisting of the High Priestess, the High Priest, and the elders. — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (413) Sun 29 May 88 2:04 By: J_Random Folksinger To: all Re: laws (7 of 8) St: ————————————————————————— @EID:d466 109110bd 28. The coven is to keep two books on herbalism: one of these will list the names and uses of all herbs which are cures for ills or are otherwise good for humans, and all may have access to this book to learn these things. But keep a separate book with the names of all poisonous herbs and those used in dark spells, letting only the elders and other trusted Witches know of these secrets or even of this book's existence. 29. Remember that the Art is the secret of the Gods and may only be used in earnest – never for show, or pride, or personal glory. The Christians may taunt you saying, "You have no power: Perform some magic for us, and then we may believe." Do not listen to them, for the Art is holy and is to be used only in need. 30. It has always been the way of men and women that they should seek after love, and while no one should be reproved for this, it may be to the disad-vantage of the Craft sometimes. It has happened too many times that a High Priestess has found a new love and run off with him, giving no word to the coven of this. A High Priestess may resign in full coven at any time, and this resignation is valid; but if she has not resigned, the coven shall wait for her to return for a year and a day (for she may return sooner, having left for love). If she has a deputy, that deputy is to act as Priestess for as long as the High Priestess is away. If she returns within this time, all will be as if she had never left; but if she does not return within this time, a new High Priestess shall be elected in full coven. Unless there is a good reason to the contrary, the deputy, having done the work, should reap the reward and be chose as the new High Priestess. But if another is chosen, the deputy shall be the maiden and deputy of the new High Priestess. 31. The High Priest serves at the pleasure of the High Priestess. If the High Priestess is gone for more than a year and a day, he shall continue in his office while the deputy serves in her place. However, once a new High Priestess has been chosen, the new High Priestess will appoint her own High Priest (and it may be the current High Priest or not). Neither the prior High Priest nor his friends may be angry if a new High Priest is chose, for pride must always give way to harmony in the coven. 32. The Art is sacred: it is the Art of the working of energies, and it must always be taught inside of the Magic Circle. It has been found that teaching the Art frequently leads to a sexual attraction between the teacher and student – and that this often improves the result. If for any reason this is not desirable, it should be avoided at the beginning by both persons firmly - and verbally - resolving that their relations will be limited to that of brother and sister, or parent and child. It is for the reason that shared love often increases the result of working magic that teaching should always be done from man-to-woman and from woman-to-man. When a coven is made up of members of all one sex, the masculine-to-feminine energy exchange should be adhered to whenever possible. Teaching people about the Craft, however, may be done whenever and wherever it is safe, so long as the teacher is knowledgeable, the student is willing, and the information taught is available publicly or is not a secret of the Art. No one may charge for teaching, unless it is to cover such expenses as the cost of the room, books or other printed materials, refreshments, and so forth. — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (414) Sun 29 May 88 2:06 By: J_Random Folksinger To: all Re: laws (8 of 8) St: ————————————————————————— @EID:d466 10c610bd 33. Order and discipline must be kept within the coven: the High Priestess of the High Priest should and may punish all faults. To this end, all in the Craft should receive their correction willingly. With the culprit kneeling, all in the Circle should be told of the offense, and the sentence will be pronounced. Punishment might include the scourge or the recasting of the Circle, followed by something silly such as several kisses. The culprit must acknowledge the justice of the punishment by kissing the scourge upon receiving sentence, and afterward by thanking everyone for their loving correction. SO MOTE IT BE! Note to MagickNet friends and acquaintances: The above is a combination of what I was taught and what I learned. Many different sources, including my NeoGardnerian training, two different sets of Celtic Craft laws, four versions found in print, and the picked brains of several of my students, went into it. (J. Random Folksinger) — Sirius 0.50 — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: Dragonfriend's Point (1:104/904.5) ————————————————————————— (415) Fri 17 Jun 88 21:30 By: Mordecai Shapiro To: Ammond Shadowcraft Re: Re: Historical Jesus, part iv St: ————————————————————————— @EID:0ac0 10d1abd6 RECOMMENDED FOR FURTHER READING Maccoby, Hyam, "The Mythmaker: Paul and the invention of Christianity" Harper & Row 1986. – presents some new historical criticism in the light of Talmudic scholarship. clear, vivid writing throughout. — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (416) Fri 17 Jun 88 21:35 By: Mordecai Shapiro To: All Re: Poem St: ————————————————————————— @EID:0ac0 10d1ac7c I am the Anticrowley here to abolish all necrophile-sycophants who suck dry marrow from long-dead bones and leave fresh sap of the world-ash to feed mere fungi, molds, bacteria, and snails. Hear me, ye Crowleyan fans and bigots, the lowliest creatures of slime are nobler than you! For instead of turning shit to life, you turn the brightest shining gold to puerile turds of deadest lead. You spurn the truth that Man is God and waste your worship on a fat old fraud. I am the Anticrowley and I am angry that even the word of Will is bent by you, not into a fitting yoke of discipline, but into links to forge a chain to bind yourselves to another's brain. I am the Anticrowley. I peck at the eyes of Aleister as he dies in purple ecstasy. I spit on your crapulous creed! — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (417) Mon 20 Jun 88 10:23 By: Rowan Moonstone To: Hugh Read Re: Re: Hawaiian Myths St: ————————————————————————— @EID:ee8a 52e010d4 Actually, this is the posting for ths chants that Devin did. My sysop hasn't taken off therestrictions on posting on Mataphysical so the only way I can get them in is to do it in "reply" mode. Sorry. God verses for the "Lady's Branle" on the Gwydion "Songs for the Olde Religion" The Hunter's call He leads in Fall Through leaf and thorny brier. In winter's cold He guards the hold And harps beside the fire. His children sing sweet in the spring The fields are in His keeping. He beards the corn that's summer born. Ale's power lies a'sleeping." words by Devin Storm Lady weave Your Circle Chant (Goddess verse given to me by Lady Phoenix coven of Our Lady of the Inner Sea, Dallas ,Tex. God verse by Devin Storm, harper to Coven Amber Moon, OKC> OK Lady weave your circle tight. Spin a web of glowing light. Earth and air, fire and water Bind us to you. Father in the coming night Gather in your ancient might. Sage and warrior,Horned hunter. Guide us to You. — QuickBBS v2.01 * Origin: On The Edge BBS - (405)848-2828 - OKC's only source for MAGI (1:147/4 ————————————————————————— (418) Sat 25 Jun 88 0:13 By: L.a. Hussey To: J_Random Folksinger Re: The Laws St: ————————————————————————— @EID:0ac0 10d901b0 I am disturbed and disappointed. "The Christians are our enemies." "They will torture you to make you talk about the Craft." "Lie about the Craft." "Covens splitting up makes for bad feelings." What depressing garbage. This is the 20th century, and this is America, this is not Inquisition days. The more we keep secret, the more the ignorant will assume that we have horrible secrets to keep. The true secrets of the Gods cannot be given away, because they cannot be spoken – they are beyond all language. And as for bad feelings when covens break up, maybe that is how it is where you are, but around here, there is rejoicing when one coven becomes two. Seems to me like my best possible response to your "Laws" is the following song: BURNING TIMES The songs are sung to rouse our anger of martyred Witches gone to the fires, But what is served by righteous singing, if all we do is stew in our ire? Nine million dead in four hundred years; More in that time simply died of disease. Why do we dwell on long past dead When we are alive in times like these? (cho) Rise up, Witches, throw off your masks And cease crying guilt for ancient crimes. Earth and all Her children need us For ALL face now the Burning Times. In the face of that hostile power, how did the old knowledge stay alive? How have we still a Craft to practise? Our ancestors knew how to fight and survive! How do we honour our blessed dead? Slavery threatens us all but few. We must teach their cunning ways – EVERYONE needs the skills they knew! (cho2) Rise up, Witches, gather your strength, And let your power spread and climb; Earth and all Her children need us For ALL face now the Burning Times. I will not cast off Science's works – Witches all forces to Will can bend; I'll not accuse for war and waste some patriarchy of faceless men. Men do not cast the only votes; Women alone do not demonstrate. Rather than shut out half the race, Who if not we will change that state? (cho2) I will not blame a Father's Church – blame and guilt are their tools, not mine, And even in the shuls and churches, allies there will I seek, and find! I will not answer hate with fear, Nor with a smug, cheek-turning love. I will not answer hate with rage; By strength alone will I not be moved! (cho2) (cont'd next msg) — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (419) Sat 25 Jun 88 0:36 By: L.a. Hussey To: J_Random Folksinger Re: Burning Times, cont'd St: ————————————————————————— @EID:0ac0 10d9049d I will not hide in my sacred grove – the fact'ries and cities yet ring me about; I will not climb my ivory tower – the real world exists tho' I shut it out. I will not work for Church nor State Who serve themselves while they serve us lies, Nor only for my Witchen kin, But for the family of all alive! (cho2) So if rebellion means to fight a State lost sight of why it was built, If heresy's to reject a Church that rules with force or fear or guilt, Then let us all be rebels proud, And shameless heretics by creed – A tyrant's hand subjects the Earth, More heretic rebels are what She needs! (cho2) (copyright 1988, Leigh Ann Hussey) Did it ever occur to the writers of your antique laws that the Craft might actually be WELCOMED by a great number of people? That there might actually be more of us than of those who wish us ill? That the only reason those who fear us are so active nowadays is because they see us becoming more and more welcomed by more people? As I say in another song, "When folk in sorrow turn away/ From paths that lead to misery/ And seek new ways for wholeness' sake/ Then waiting, ready shall we be." All I can say is, I'm Goddess-glad I'm not in your tradition. B*B Leigh Ann — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (420) Sat 25 Jun 88 0:38 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: The Darkness St: ————————————————————————— @EID:0ac0 10d904da As Pat suggested, I'm posting this here from the Magick subsection… From: L.a. Hussey Rec'd To: Peri Andren Msg #109, 07-Jun-88 14:33 Subject: Re: How do you KNOW ? No, Hugh is right. Modern Wicca is indeed a life-affirming religion, and life-sacrifice of any kind is looked on as repugnant. But it is unquestionable that old paganism did involve sacrifices of both animals and humans. And completely aside from that, the Goddess is not just the nurturing Mother. She is the Black Sow who devours her own young, she is the scouring wind that whips away all decay, She is the refiner's fire (to snatch a phrase from the Bible). The Craft ain't all sweetness and light, because life itself is not. Life lives off of death, as the ancients knew, and that's why She is Demeter Enraged, and Erishkegal, and Kali. She is the Crone who has heard every plea and throws you in the Cauldron anyway. We work with symbols and images and archetypes, and these come from the human subconscious – wherein, if we're healthy, dwell all manner of dark and uncontrollable forces. The difference between the yogi and the schizophrenic is the difference between a swimmer and a drowning person. We all have our dark side; the way to sanity is to accept that power and channel it into constructive uses, rather than to deny it and close it off entirely. Shut out the dark, and you may find it imploding on you, sucking you, helpless, into it. Indeed, we are not an ascetic religion, and that means that the unconscious, the body, the irrational, sensuality, and all the accompanying things which Christianity embodied in their Devil, are for us an important part of ourselves, to be integrated with and not cut off from the rational mind, the intellect, and so forth. At one time, Apollo and Dionysos (or if you prefer the Celtic pantheon, Lugh and Cernunnos) were one God. The darkness is there, and it is welcoming, not forbidding. We need no longer make human sacrifice, but we also need not sacrifice our humanity. B*B Leigh Ann — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (421) Sun 26 Jun 88 9:24 By: Jonathan Miran To: L.a. Hussey Re: Expressing our dark side St: ————————————————————————— @EID:5de8 4b1c10da To follow up on your commentary, Leigh Ann, We look around this world and find many people in the grips of acute depression. and what is depression? It is anger turned inward in a destructive manner. it is a failure to express our dark side in a useful and life affirming way. I agree totally with your commentary: The Craft is a religion of polarities and if we can't express the dark side we can't express the light. — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Short Line - Denver, Colorado - (303)-969-9510 (1:104/36) ————————————————————————— (422) Tue 28 Jun 88 20:12 By: Laura Creighton To: Jonathan Miran Re: what is depression St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dca182 One of my good friends, Chuck Guerigues, has been studying depression for more than 30 years. He says that it used to be orthodox belief that all depression was anger turned inward, but that this view is far too limited. While it is indeed true that some depression, and perhaps even most depression is anger turned inwards, there are a significant number of depressed people who are not angry at all. Certain depression is merely a chemical inbalance, for instance, and sometimes can even be cured by proper diet. Others he has treated have experienced a particular vision of the world as all-suffering, which is powerful enough to colour their entire experience. Some people he has met are only depressed because they believe that their depression is caused by an inner anger which after years of serching they are unable to find. Some people produce depression out of fear, or joy, or some other strong emotion which they do not know how to express, or for some reason do not desire to express. Depression is very complex. If you are depressed and can't find a reason that you are angry, don't give up – this may not be your problem at all. Sorry if this is too heavy – you pushed a major button of mine. Laura — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (423) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:15 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: New Book of the Law, Preface St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dd01f9 THE NEW BOOK OF THE LAW [sources: The Book of The Law, The Old Laws for the Old Religion, The Great Book of the Law, The Dragon Law] Preface: In my years of teaching and running a group, I have always had a dissatisfaction with the popular "Book of the Law" available to most Seekers. I felt it to be too archaic in its wording and perspective – and while it was valuable in the Burning Times, it simply does not deal with the concerns and needs of "modern-day" Witches. Over the years I became familiar with several other sets of Laws. Each of these had many good points, yet they also had their disadvantages as well. Recently, I decided to do something daring – I took the four different versions of the Laws which I had, and combined and reworked them. I deleted what was no longer pertinent or meaningful, rewording others to make them clearer and more understandable, as well as throwing in a few new ones which I felt had been lacking. I believe that what has evolved out of this work is a set of Laws which are readable, usable, and most importantly, pertinent to the needs of today's Witches and Neo-Pagans. It is with these thoughts and hopes that I would like to share them with you. If you should find merit or worth in them, then I will feel as though I have accomplished something. The material in this booklet has not been copyrighted, so you may reproduce the Laws for students or friends, or reprint them in your publication. It is my sincere hope that the New Book of the Law will be of use to the Craft Community. Blessed Be, Lady Galadriel — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (424) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:16 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: New Book o' Law 1 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dd0215 PART ONE 1. The Laws were created to give our lives form and order, that all might be balanced throughout all of the planes. In truth there are two sets of laws which govern us – one sets forth the ways of the Wiccan, an dthe oter the ways of the Universe. Both are important, both should be observed with respect and treated with honor. The Laws were shaped and molded to teach us, to advise us, and to counsel us in our time of mortal life on earth. 2. Honor the Gods, for They are the channels and the manifestation of the Source. Honor yourself, for this force also lies within you. Love the Gods as They love you, and by loving yourself and your brothers and sisters, so the Gods shall honor you. As the love and joy of a man and a woman [or "lover and beloved" – LAH] flowers and grows when nurtured with respect, and cultivated with understanding and honor, so should you love the Gods. 3. The Goddess is the Great Mother, and the God is the Great Father, and we are Their children; and we shall worship Them, for They are the rulers of the Universe, and all that is therein. Therefore, O Children of the Gods, try Them not, nor attempt to test Them, for They shall show you that he Ways of the Craft are not to be belittled or mocked. 4. Let the Power of the Craft flow from you only in love – or not at all. For it has always been known that the energy webs which we weave and maintain shall eventually return to encircle their creator. Thus our works become either the net which entagles and binds us, or th eweb of light by which we find the Gods. 5. Let the Rites of the Wicca be a way for the children of the Gods to be as One – for Power only flows when unified. Always should you revere the Earth, and heal and tend Her, for She is our life, our Mothership, on which we navigate the dark currents of space. 6. When you reap the harvests of your lands, then you shall not reap one corner of the field, nor glean the herb gardens, or the fallen fruits of the orchards. These you shall offer to the Earth Mother, in direct return, or through offerings made to your Circle, or to sustain its Priests and Priestesses. 7. Always be proud to be of the Wicca, but do not allow your pride to become vanity – for those who are conceited are a stubling block at the door of the Temple, and they shall be cast adrift, to swim within their own vanity. — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (425) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:21 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: New Book o' Law 2 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dd02a7 8. Observe and listen, reserving your judgement, for until all the silver is weighed, who can know the worth thereof? 9. As like breeds like, even more so does good beget love and joy. Your life will be full of love and joy if you are joyful and happy. 10. Your teachers are the servants of the Gods, and they shall plant the seeds of knowledge within the minds of their students, and they shall use their power for the good of the Wicca. Yet it is each individual's duty to tend the seeds which are planted, and to make the final harvest. Those who misuse the power and the trust of the teacher's position shall have to answer to the Lords of Karma, and adjust the balance accordingly. 11. The Temples of the Gods, which are Their abode on Earth, shall belong to all Their children, and each Circle shall be as a special family. Do naught against any Temple or any family of the Wicca, lest you do that thing unto the Gods, and against yourself. 12. You must not be a teller of tales amongst the children of the Goddess, and you must hold no malice or evil thoughts towards others of the Wicca. 13. You should not lie, nor give false testimony before your Elders, or those who are of the Wicca – for liars are fools, and a menace unto themselves, and to the Wicca. Be truthful in all your works and deeds, especially within the Circle, for what you say within the presence of the Gods becomes manifest. 14. You must not put stumbling blocks in the way of those who do not follow the Path of the Wicca. You must make no unrighteous judgements of their ways, and you should aid them with an attitude of love when it is asked for. Yet ever should you keep the Counsel of the Elders, and reveal naught to others of where our Circles may be, nor may you reveal our ways without the consent of the Priestess. 15. When you make a vow to the Lord or the Lady, or you swear an oath to another of the Wicca, then you must do all that has come forth from your mouth, for a covenant with the Gods, or with the Wicca, is your Honor, and woe to those who care not for the fetters they attach to their souls by not keeping their word. 16. The Great Mother and Father would not have their children suffer the indignities of oppressors for their sake, for what is within the hearts of Their children is dear and true to Them. The Ancient and Mighty Ones shall cause the balance to be made for those who desecrate the Lord and Lady, Their temples, or Their creations. 17. Never shall you use Magick, nor the Craft, to cause harm, for this is misuse of the Power, and it is not to be condoned. To cause the death of another through the Craft is to require the death of the Self in sacrifice. — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (426) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:22 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: New Book o' Law 3 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dd02c2 18. Never betray any of the brethren, nor the lore of our people, for you are all servants of the Gods, and must live by the virtues of love, honor and wisdom. Let truth, loyalty and honor be your creed. Let them be your guides, tempered by love and wisdom. 19. The Order of the Gods shall you keep, and within Their Circles shall you walk. You should not say "I believe" when you doubt, nor claim to obey the Lord and Lady's word when you never enter into the Temple. You must not profess with your lips that which is not in your heart. 20. Do not use the names of the Gods in negative or evil ways, for They love and cherish Their children above all others. All others They love, even those who know them not. Yet those who hate and curse in Their name shall have the Mighty Ones take the measure of their worth. 21. In any disputes between the children of the Goddess, no one may invoke any laws but those of the Craft, or any tribunal but that of Priestess, Priest, and Elders. 22. No one of the Wicca may do anything which will endagner the Craft, nor bring any of the Wicca into conflict with the Law of the Land, or with any of our persecutors. 23. Your magickal tools are channels to that which is most precious and pure within you. Do not cheapen them by haggling their price when you acquire them. 24. Never accept money for the use of the Power. It is sorcerors and charlatans who accept money for their spells and prayers. If you accept no money, you will be free from the temptation to use the Craft for evil or unworthy causes. 25. You shall never take unduly from any human, animal or elemental that which is not yours to take – for if you steal from another, in the end you will have to sacrifice something dearer to you in order to attain the balance. 26. Show honor to all people, that they may look up to you, and respect you, and their eyes shall become a mirror for your soul. 27. Those who are of the Wicca shall not own slaves, for one person may not own the spirit of another, for only the Great Mother and Father own our souls. Nor shall you take as a pledge any person's life, for to do so is to take upon yourself both a mill and a millstone. 28. If a stranger sojourns with you, you shall do them no wrong; they shall be as one of the Circle, born amongst ye, and you shall deal with them as you would yourself. 29. Just weights and just balances shall be given by you, and just value shall you give, and thereby receive threefold. 30. Your altars shall be kept clean, pure and holy, and all that is brought into the Temple or the Circle shall be cleansed and blessed, for the joy of the Gods, and of the Wicca. — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (427) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:22 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: New Book o' Law 4 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dd02d8 31. A clean mind should have a clean body. You should keep your body, your clothes, and your house clean, in honor of the Mother, who gives these things to you. 32. Let none die without honor, without love, without respect, unless their actions have decreed otherwise. 33. You should not couple together if it shall cause pain, jealousy or deprivation to another by doing so. Union for malice or evil reasons such as these upsets the balance, and the Lords of the Universe shall make adjustments accordingly. 34. Let those who would love, and would be as one, and bear child, be handfasted. For the sharing of love in this manner is beauteous, and love's union in the energy of the Gods, and the heritage of the child. It is important for children to know and to identify with those who brought them here. 35. The Law of the Goddess is that none of the Wicca shall take and wed someone who they do not love, whether it is to harm another, or for some form of material gain. 36. Remember that your children are Goddess-spawned, and are free spirits. You do not own nor control them. They are your brethren, come to visit for a while, that they may share in the vision of your love and wisdom. Let each parent realize that although they may teach and guide with love, the child shall also teach the parent, and aid them in their growth and lessons. END OF PART ONE PART TWO 37. The etheric web and energy vortexes of the earth are in constant flux and motion to adjust to the needs of the planet. The sacred trust of the Wicca is to create and to maintain centers of light and knowledge, using the magick of the divine spark within us to focus and channel the forces of the Universal fire. And these are the channels established between the worlds of the stars and the realms of the earth, bringing in and regulating the spirit flames which energize and activate all life forms. Thus we tend and guard the threads of creation, and we weave the patterns of life and manifestation in an ever-evolving tapestry. — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (428) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:23 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: New Book o' Law 5 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dd02ef 38. Never use your heritage or position for self-glorification or gain. Respect your magick and our ways. We must always recognize that while others may look to us to lead them, they too are our guides. 39. Keep yor body strong, your mind keen, and your purpose pure, for within your being you shall channel the Power, and it needs to be strong and pure. And these are the keys to the path of Oneness, and to communication with the Gods. Yet first you must learn to speak to Them in such a manner as They can comprehend you. For the children of the Wicca must aid the Gods, and work with Them, otherwise the Gods cannot aid and work with you. Ever remember that the Priest and Priestess are the living representatives of the God and Goddess Forces, and likewise that all humans carry these forces within them, though they may lie dormant and unawakened. 40. As the Great Mother and Father come unto one another and create with the pure vibration of Love-Wisdom, so should you strive to make your Temple pure in vibration, and thus a fitting place wherein you may invite the Gods. Thus, your Circle should always be duly purified and cast, and likewise, those who would use the gateways and travel the Circle between the earth and other realms should also be duly prepared and purified. 41. The Goddess hath said, "I shall not carry thee, yet neither shall I hinder thee, nor keep thee from having the same opportunities as all of my children. Thou art free, yet thou shalt not be coddled like babes in the storm. If thou hast true devotion within thee, then all obstacles may be overcome." 42. The laggard is but half a person – and though half is better than none, the whole is twice as good as the half. Those who do not work, or who lack the will and desire to learn the ways of the Gods, unto them is said, "The Ancient and Mighty Ones shall not keep thee within their house, if ye learneth not." 43. A sanctuary you shall make unto the Gods, that They may dwell amongst you. And you shall fashion it to the best of your ability, according to all tha your Elders shall show you, and pure energy shall you place therein. 44. An altar shall you make to unto the Lady, and you shall make due reverence unto Her, for every place where She is exalted, She will come to you and bless you. And you shall fashion your altar out of wood or stone, and burn incense and candles thereon, at the proper times, in observance of her ways. — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (429) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:24 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: New Book o' Law 6 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dd030a 45. You should set aside at least one day during each moon unto the Goddess, and on these days you shall do Her work; and on those days She shall renew Her children and bless them. 46. Learn to build your own Temple, and to craft your own sacred Circle, and all the tools that are used therein – for to be a person of the Craft is to be a person of consequence. 47. Let each of you inscribe your own record of our ways and teachings. For the course of each Wiccan should be charted, that the patterns of their life-web may be made known and utilized. Let each Wiccan start their Book of Light with the teachings and lore of their tradition, yet let it also contain the rites and ways of each individual, which are the harvest of each child of the Wicca, to use the wisdom of their heritage as the seeds of their own wisdom. Thus shall our lore and knowledge continue to grow and unfold, like a beautiful flower. 48. It is right to study and to understand the sigils, statues and stories of the Gods, for they shall guide your thoughts to Them, and They shall hear them. Yet you must ever remember that you worship not the sign nor the statue, but the Gods which inspired them. 49. If your Circle owns any land, let all guard it, and help to keep it clean. Let all justly guard all monies of the Circle, as well as the rights and property of all members of the Circle. 50. If any Wiccan truly labors, then it is right that they should have their just pay. This is not considered the taking of money for the Art, but good and honest work. Yet if any Wiccan works willingly for the good of the Craft, or for their brothers and sisters without pay, then it is to their greatest honor. 51. If any Wiccan should deny themselves some pleasure or material indulgence in order to do service in the Circle, this person shall be blessed and remembered. For those who give for the greater good of all shall have their spirit uplifted. 52. Know also that if you gift the Lady's Priests and Priestesses, or Her Circles, this is an offering made unto the Mother Herself, for a true Priest or Priestess strives always to do Her work, and to be of service to Her children, so to honor and respect them is to honor and respect the Queen of All. 53. And the offerings which are considered the most pleasing to the Gods are these: the fruits of the orchards the scents of the trees and herbs the metals of the earth the waters of the earth the flowers of the meadows and the milk of all mothers. Yet offerings of labor or money are honest too, and these will also be accepted – moreso if you work with love in your heart, for always there is work to be done for the Gods, and service to be given to the children of the Wicca. — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (430) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:25 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: New Book o' Law 7 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dd0326 54. If your offerings are made to restore the balance, it must by of a nature that it not offensive to the Gods. It must be of value, yet given with a free heart. Thus shall the harmony be restored. If your offerings are given with a heart filled with love and devotion, or are of service to the Gods, or to the Craft, then shall you receive blessings manifold. 55. And when you make an offering unto the Gods, you should offer it thru the most proper medium, at the proper times, and in such a manner as to make it acceptable. Any and all remains of the rituals shall be consumed in the fire, or buried within the Earth, as a way of returning to the Source all that we use in the observance of our ways, thus ensuring the continuity of the cycle. 56. All may use the Craft to help and aid them, or for the advantage of their Circle, or the Craft – yet only if you are sure that you harm none. Let each Wiccan and Circle always debate these matters at length. Only if all be satisfied that none be harmed in any way, may the Art then be used. If it is not possible to achieve your ends one way, then perhaps the goal may be achieved by actng in a different way, so as to harm none. 57. Throughout the world it has been many a year since Wiccans have been burned. Yet misuse of the Power might raise the persecutions once again. So never break the Laws, however much you might be tempted, and never consent to their being broken. And if you know they are being broken, then you must work strongly against it. 58. In days of old it was decided by the Mighty Ones who came before us that the Art might be used to restrain others from harming the Craft or its children, yet only after great consultation with all members of the Circle, and only then to deflect or to constrain them. 59. And such were the ways of the Lady that She brought us forth in joy, and such were the Ways of the Lord that His reign gave all life pleasure. Offer love in your worship and all shall be joyous in beauty. END OF PART TWO — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (431) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:26 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: New Book o' Law 8 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dd0348 PART THREE 60. In the dimly remembered dawn of ages past, the Wicca were truly free. Then, in Atlantis came the Age of the Misuse of Power, followed by the Ages of Persecution and Suffering. Thus the people of the Wicca hid themselves and cloaked their knowlege, and wove veils of secrecy and silence. And this is how the Ways of the Wicca have been preserved through the time of darkness. Yet much of the ways of our people were lost to the ignorance of others. 61. Yet the cycle spirals ever on – and the Age of the Earth Mother once again draws nigh. We must be strong – one with our birthright, and one with our Gods, if we are to bring forth the balance. Those who would harm us, or attempt to enslave us, we must overcome – yet only through light and love, and never through violence or the evil of chaos. And through our efforts the time of our people will come into being once more. In the times which lie ahead, there lies much work to be done, so that oncemore the cycles of life are drawn to the path of light, and the balance acheived through the power of love. 62. In order to bring the ways of Light and Love and Life to the peoples of the Earth, our secrets are slowly becoming secrets no more, and it is good that this is so – for the age of shadow and secrecy is passing. Yet the sharing of our ways needs always to be guided by wisdom and by love. Let our rites and our mysteries be kept sacred. Let no one defile our worship or our heritage. For the defilement of our ways is an honor loss to self, and for the Craft. 63. Let each High Priestess govern her Circle with justice and Love, and with the help and advice of the Elders and the High Priest, always heeding the messages of the Gods when they come. 64. Ever remember that although the Priest is the force with which the Circle is built, the Priestess is the ruler therein – for it is through her that the Goddess created the world, and all things therein. 65. The High Priestess will heed all complaints of all Pagans and Wiccans, and strive to settle any differences between them with reason and with justice. 66. Let each Circle of Light decide how it shall be known – whether by earthly name or magickal one. For each child of the Wicca knows best the safety or dangers of their homeland. 67. Let each Circle or Temple maintain and dedicate unto the Goddess and the God all the things that are required for Their rituals, for what is blessed in the name of the Gods rightly belongs to Them, and the Priest and Priestess shall be the caretakers thereof. — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (432) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:27 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: New Book o' Law 9 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dd0360 68. Anyone of the circle who is of sufficient rank, and wishes to form a new Circle, shall tell the High Priestess and the Elders of their intentions. Members of the old Circle may join the new Circle when it is formed, but if they do so they must leave the other Circle, unless otherwise instructed. For it is the Old Law that each Wiccan may join the Circle of their choice, yet their energy should not be divided between two or more Temples. 69. The Elders of the old and new Circles shall meet in peace and with respect, to decide the level of interaction and connection between the Circles. Yet it is known that the splitting of a Circle often means strife. So only if it is truly in a spirit of peace and harmony should the Circles meet for the celebration of the Great Festivals. 70. None shall enter the Circle that have a sickness or an ailment which may be passed on to the Lady's other children – for to do so causes harm to yourself, as well as to the others of the Circle. Rather should the Healers go unto the sick one, that through the love of the Gods they shall be made well and whole once more. 71. It has been judged lawful that if any of the Craft need a house, or land, and none will sell, to incline someone's mind so as to be willing to sell, providing it harms none and the full price is paid without haggling. 72. In the matter of quarrels or disputes between the members of the Circle, the High Priestess shall convene the Council, and inquire into the matter. The Council shall hear each person privately, and then both together. And they shall decide justly, not favoring one side nor the other. 73. If an agreeable resolution cannot be reached, then that Wiccan must leave the Circle, for a Circle of Light cannot be properly formed where there is disagreement and discord. And when a Circle is not properly formed, the energy within is either dissipated, or turns ugly, festering like a hidden sore. So let them leave, but only with love in their hearts and yours, for even though your paths may diverge, you are still all children of the Wicca, and there must be no violence between us. Bear no grudges, hold no thoughts of vengeance, for this will rot away the foundation of your power. 74. It has ever been recognized that there are some people who can never agree to work under any others. At the same time there are also people who cannot rule justly. To those who must ever be chief there is but one answer: "Void this Circle, and seek another one, or if ye be of sufficient rank, then form a Circle of your own." To those who cannot rule justly, the answer shall be "Those who cannot bear your rule will leave you." For none may come to Circle with those with whom they are at variance, for to do so angers the Gods, and hinders the Craft. — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (433) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:27 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: New Book o' Law 10 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dd037a 75. Those that do wrong without knowlege shall be held innocent; those that do wrong through carelessness shall be judged lacking in wisdom, and dealt with according to the nature of the transgression. Those who do wrong with deliberation and forethought shall be thrice punished, and the Lords of Karma shall lay low their pride. 76. Each person must make a balance for their words and actions, and the judgements of the Elders should incline to try to make good come from the injustice or wrong-doing. Many are the ways to restore the balance, so let the judgements of the Elders and the Priestess be in keeping with this. 77. Do not turn aside those who seek the ways of the Wicca for the want of an offering or the lack of a robe. You are the servants of the Gods, and the servants of Their people, and those that seek for the Gods you must aid in their quest. 78. Of those who would inquire as to the ways of the Goddess, or who wish to become of the Wicca, ye shall search their hearts, and even into their spirits you shall look, as you are able. For the Wicca do not look to acquire mere numbers. Let none be turned away if their hearts are true, and their desire earnest. 79. The hidden children are like the strings of a harp: each one may give a clear note, and when gathered together in sympathy and accord, they shall give rise to a beautiful symphony. Yet when struck without reason or thought, these notes may cause discord or disharmony. Therefore the Gods decree to Their Teachers and Priests that all must be taught to master their harp, and to pluck their strings with care, that they cause no discord or imbalance. 80. Choose the Priests and Teachers of the Wicca with diligence and with care. The qualities that you should search for within them are Faith, Belief, Knowledge, Ability, Patience, Leadership, Humility, and a loving nature – for they must lead and teach the children of the Goddess, and will thereby have the power to do great good, or to cause great imbalance. 81. In practice it should be that the greatest of the Priests and Priestesses should guide the rituals within each of the Temples of the Old Gods, and truly you should be content with the advice and guidance given by them. Yet ever it should be given so that it is clear and understandable, for within the Temple each of the Wicca is free, and thus they should be able to recognize and to understand our ways and their implications. And those who cannot explain the inner workings, or give just cause and reason for their decisions, may be questioned, or the wisdom of the advice weighed. — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (434) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:28 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: New Book o' Law 11 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dd0393 82. Let the Priestess and Priest lead as long as they are able, and their leader ship be wise and strong, and to the benefit of the Wicca. Yet if their health is ill -favo red, or if the next generation needs to try their hand, then let them have the v ision and the wisdom to step away from their position, and pass the duties of the Cir cle t o another. Let them not become overly attached to the office, nor too fond of t he po wer. 83. If a Priestess or a Priest should tire of their duties and charges, then the y may step down, but only after having trained and acknowledged a successor. If a Pr iest or Priestess deserts their Circle, then they have lost the right to ever lead ag ain w ithin this life, so great a trust they have broken. If they should return to th e Cir cle within one turn of the Wheel, and are judged to have true atonement in their hear ts, new insight and growth, then they may be forgiven, and allowed to return to the C ircle, yet they shall worship only, and hold no office or title. Leadership is a sac red commitment and an honor, and they have shown that they cannot be trusted wit h suc h responsibility. 84. Any Priestess, Priest, or Elder who consents to a breach of the Laws regardi ng th e use of the Craft to cause harm to others must immediately be relieved of their offi ce, for it is the lives of the children of the Goddess which they endanger, as w ell a s the honor of the Craft. 85. The High Priestess may take a Sabbatical from her Circle, if her personal li fe an d duties require it, for up to a year and a day. During that time, the Maiden s hall act as High Priestess. If the High Priestess does not return at the end of a ye ar an d a day, then the Initiates of the Circle shall name a new Priestess. Unless th ere i s good reason to the contrary, the person who has done the work of the Priestess shou ld reap the reward. If someone else is named, then the Maiden should continue i n tha t office. 86. Each Priestess and Priest shall choose their own consorts, yet let them be w ise i n the learning of our people, and thus others shall abide by the wisdom of their choi ce. Yet if the Circle feels the decision is ill-advised, or that they cannot ab ide a nd work in honor and trust with that consort, then they may request a gathering of al l concernted to meet and to talk, and to resolve the balance with love and honor . Fo r only those who are pure and strong, keen and wise, patient and loving, can eff ectiv ely and properly carry out the duties of a Keeper of the Circle. — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (435) Wed 29 Jun 88 0:29 By: L.a. Hussey To: All Re: New Book o' Law 12 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10dd03ac 87. Those of the Priesthood shall not neglect their mates, or their children, or thei r house, nor anything which is in their possession; nor shall the sick and the n eedy be neglected for the sake of the Circle. Therefore let them adjust the one thin g aga inst the other, that neither should suffer, and that which is given by the Gods is tr eated with love and respect. 88. Long ago, at the time of Creation, it was deemed that the female should hold the power of life-giving. And such was the male force drawn to the love and beauty of th e Creation of life, that he surrenders unto her keeping the force of his powers in th e furtherance of life. Yet the Priestess must always remember that the fuel of the f lames which light the fires within her Temple comes from the Priest. Thus she m ust u se the force wisely, and only with love, and she must honor and respect he who i s the activator of the Life Force. HERE ENDS THE NEW BOOK OF THE LAW. Published by: The Grove of the Unicorn PO Box 13384 Atlanta, GA 30324 Ordering Information: Send Legal size SASE A small contribution towards printing/handling costs will be appreciated. ——————————————————————— ——— To this I would add only one more admonishment, based on my own experience: It is as important not to take oneself, one's power, and one's Craft too seriously as it is not to take them too lightly. Moderation in all things, including moderation. And remember that all acts of love and pleasure are the rites of the Goddess, and this includes HAVING FUN. B*B Leigh Ann — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (436) Thu 30 Jun 88 9:55 By: Josh Gordon To: All Re: Liber OZ St: ————————————————————————— @EID:954a 10de4ef6 Oz: "the law of the strong; this is our law and the joy of the world." AL. II. 21 "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." -AL. I. 40 "thou hast no right but to do thy will. Do that, and no other shall say nay." - AL. I. 42-3. "Every man and every woman is a star."–AL. I. 3. There is no god but man. 1. Man has the right to live by his own law– to live in the way that he wills to do: to work as he will: to play as he will: to rest as he will; to die when and how he will. 2. Man has the right to eat what he will: to drink what he will: to dwell where he will: to move as he will on the face of the earth. 3. Man has the right to think what he will: to speak what he will: to write what he will: to draw, paint, carve, etch, mould, build as he will: to dress as he will: 4. Man has the right to love as he will: "take your fill and will of love as ye will, when, where, and with whom ye will."–AL. I. 51. 5. Man has the right to kill those who would thwart these rights. "the slaves shall serve." – AL. II. 58 "Love is the law, love under will."–AL. I. 57 — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (437) Fri 1 Jul 88 12:06 By: Brad Hicks To: All Re: If You Had Told Me 3 PSGs Ago … St: ————————————————————————— @EID:0 22cc6714 IF YOU HAD TOLD ME 3 PSG'S AGO … * that there wasn't going to be a ritual fire * that all of the parties would be over by 2 a.m. * that I'd see a horde of ecstatic dancers prancing around two candles * that we could lose about half of our regulars without the population decreasing noticeably * that there'd be no applause between announcements in the Village Meeting * that the drumming would all but stop most nights around midnight * that there'd be seven crowded tracks of programming * that there'd be no potluck * that we would hear no amplified rock-n-roll music in the evenings * that we could get about half of the Gathering to all wear the same uniform (in this case, tie-die) * that Selena would suggest that a nine-inch plastic Statue of Liberty would be an adequate substitute for a Solstice ritual fire–and say it with a straight face * that we'd someday see people stand in line–to use a microphone, no less–to make announcements at the Village Meeting * that there'd be only a few people in SCA garb * that even after midnight, most people would be sober * that there'd someday be only two people in Ar nDraiocht Fein uniforms * that we could have a PSG with no bonfires at all * that there'd be no Variety Show * that we could go a whole week without seeing glazed eyes and dialated pupils * that there'd be not one but several flashlight-lit processionals * that we'd see a member of the staff of a state Governor wearing a spirit bag and leading a workshop * that almost no one would sing "Give Me That (Real) Old Time Religion" * that a men's mysteries ritual would be on the schedule, but not women's mysteries * that we'd have dozens of small children, but almost no teenagers * that people could and would walk out of an energized circle in the main evening ritual * that a computer bulletin board sysop would be considered a "group leader" for the purpose of the Group Leader's session * that someone would bring a computer to the PSG–and use it * that the Med Tent wouldn't be talking about sex all the time–that instead they'd be talking about when they used to talk about sex * that almost nobody would be skyclad, most of the time–but that Dennis would * that we'd have someone selling pyramids and another person leading a UFO contactee's "support group" * that every member of the Gathering's security detail would make a point of carrying swords * that there'd be so little screwing that even Shiva was only seen coming out of one tent * that the people at the Village Meeting would all sit facing the same direction instead of in concentric circles, and that there'd be no arguments during the Village Meetings, and that they'd end mostly on time * that there'd be almost no rituals except the ones scheduled for the main, official evening rituals * that the Summer Solstice wouldn't even be during the PSG * … I WOULD'VE SAID THAT YOU WERE CRAZY. — Sirius 0.50 * Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-741-2231 * (Opus 1:100/523) ————————————————————————— (438) Thu 7 Jul 88 17:29 By: Brad Hicks To: All Re: Welcome to METAPHYSICAL St: ————————————————————————— @EID:0 22d50619 MAGICKNET, MUNDANE, and METAPHYSICAL are semi-restricted echos. This message is intended to serve as a periodic reminder of those rules. It is a =summary=, so for more details please see the file MAG-POL.TXT or MAG-POL.ARC, which should be available on any BBS which carries this echo. DEFINITIONS OF THE ECHOS: MAGICKNET: This is the normal Neopaganism, Witchcraft & Magick echo. Newcomers and the casually curious are welcome, and any topic relevant to Neopaganism, Witchcraft, Magick, the New Age, or Pagan Rights may be discussed here. Discussions of only marginal relevance to the topic(s) will be strongly encouraged to move to MUNDANE. METAPHYSICAL: Only messages of magazine-article quality should be posted in Metaphysical. Replies to articles posted in METAPHYSICAL should be posted in MAGICKNET. Each and every sysop is responsible for enforcing this rule on their own system, and users who are not trusted to follow this rule should =not= be permitted to post to this echo. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should unvalidated, first-time callers be permitted to post in METAPHYSICAL. MUNDANE: This echo is a general-purpose chatter channel which was created so that MAGICKNET echo participants could continue any conversation that was ruled irrelevant to MAGICKNET. RULES FOR ALL MAGICKNET ECHOS: 1) All nodes which make these echos available to the public or which distribute them to other systems =must= carry all three echos. 2) Any node which is carrying these echos legally may distribute it LOCALLY, but must inform Brad Hicks, at 1:100/523, as soon as they do so. 3) No node shall distribute these echos outside their local calling area without first obtaining permission from Brad Hicks, at 1:100/523. 4) No message which is blatantly illegal in content shall be entered into the MagickNet echos. The only exception will be for messages regarding legitimate religious practices or beliefs which are or may be made illegal. 5) No message which is intended to harrass someone because of their religious beliefs, or to convert them to another religion, shall be entered into any of the MagickNet echos. No exceptions will be made to this rule, even in the MUNDANE echo. 6) No message which is irrelevant to the topics of Neopaganism, Witchcraft, and Magick shall be entered into MAGICKNET or into METAPHYSICAL. For this rule, a warning will be issued, and in general the conversation will be permitted to continue in the MUNDANE echo. 7) No message which contains unnecessary profanity or personal insults shall be entered into any of the MagickNet echos. Only one warning will be issued to any violator. This includes messages in the MUNDANE echo. ENFORCEMENT In brief: each sysop is responsible for his or her own users, and must ensure that users which violate any of the above rules will not post to MagickNet on that system ever again. If a sysop breaks these rules, their "feed" for the echo will be instructed to cut them out. From then on, any system which distributes the echo to the evicted system will itself be evicted. LEGAL NODES Only the following FidoNet nodes are carrying the echo in accordance with all of the above: 100/523, 104/610, 104/18, 102/744, 107/539, 104/20, 104/93, 104/55, 104/739, 104/904, 109/728, 109/115, 109/712, 363/9, 141/222, 141/375, 322/210, 101/115, 101/196, 101/667, 15/7, 366/221, 366/222, 382/7, 382/1, 382/2, 161/93, 102/862, 103/602, 103/501, 103/507, 103/503, 107/293, 107/416, 161/414, 282/341, 106/117, 124/109, 124/106, 124/214, 137/12, 139/640, 147/4, 163/32, 163/523. If your system is not included in this list, then contact me AT ONCE. - J. Brad Hicks, 1:100/523 MagickNet Coordinator — Sirius 0.50 * Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-741-2231 * (Opus 1:100/523) ————————————————————————— (439) Mon 11 Jul 88 11:48 By: David Rice To: All Re: Basic Astrology Precept St: Pvt ————————————————————————— @EID:1eec 10eb5e0c The basic precept of Astrology has been summed up with the phrase "As Above, So Below." What is displayed in the heavens is said to be mimicked on Earth. Astrologers once believed that the planets, luminaries, and stars introduced a force or influence upon earthly creatures and events. One may easily imagine a Wise Man (or Woman, aka. the Essenes) standing on his palatial balcony in 5,000 B.C.E., gazing intently up at the night sky, carefully noting the passage of heavenly bodies. These notes would then be compared to the events of the Kingdom, realm, of region. If events of the current period matched previous events, the Magi would expect similar planetary configurations in the heavens. If the events of the period were original, careful notes would be made for future study. These notes would of necessity been closely guarded and secret, least they fall into the hands of a rival. There are accounts of Wise Men (Magi, Astrologer, same thing) who gained great power through contrived, controlling predictions that were not later born out in reality. These gentlemen and women usually lost their heads, but many lost their gonads- quite literally. Job security fell to those who new their profession well or could talk very fast. Many religious cults, as cults today, frowned upon astrology schools. The students were not conforming to what was religiously demanded of them by those in power, and were often hacked to pieces for their efforts. There is a story told by a woman who was "regressed" to a "past life," where she was a Astrology student. Those who were in her group were all male youths under the tutelage of one purple robed Teacher. Late one night while they were going about their business learning the Hieros Logoi (sacred accounts), another group who practiced religious intolerance decided to do a little butchering the same night. The astrology students were castrated and left to die. If this account is true or not, the point is the same: If they had spent more time considering earthly events (staying in the Present), they may have been able to avoid the horror that night. (They might have gone out for pizza instead). Around the time Rome was being built, those in power thought it a good idea to marry off the Goddess (the Triple Lunar Goddess) to their Air Gods. With the patriarchy taking power, something had to be done to diminish the Goddess in the eyes of mankind, and make Her subservient to the Male. Thus the goddess Juno was conceived, who would be the "goddess of marriage." Juno was married off to Zeus, who didn't believe he was bound to any marriage vows and liked to frolic in any and all pastures available, begetting sons by the score. No other goddess has been hurt by marriage more than Juno. To make the profane act of marriage complete, a new Sign was added to the Zodiac. Libra, which is said to rule marriage as well as relationships in general, was the twelfth Sign placed in the popular Zodiac. The Wise Men (and Women) of this period thus had to alter their methods and ways of thinking. The oldest known astrology "chart" only had eight signs. House systems were added later. It was square, and the planetary bodies had to be placed precisely on the paper so that a straight edged graduated "ruler" could be used to determine aspects. It seems that the "equal" or "fixed" house system was the one used. With the advent of "houses," the astrologer could determine which arena of life was to be involved. It seems reasonable that the number of houses should match the number of Signs in the Zodiac, right? Well, not really. There were usually eight houses used, even when the number of Signs grew to twelve. Today the most popular methods of Astrology use twelve Signs and houses, using the Tropical Zodiac in the West, Geocentric (Earth centered). There are many variations available. One may use Heliocentric (Sun centered) astrology, or use the Sidereal Zodiac (which takes into account the precession of the Equinox). There are many popular houses systems in use today as well. Porphyrus (spelling differs) was a poet, astrologer, and scholar in ancient times. He came up with a house system called "Porphyry," though I don't know anyone who uses it. Most astrologers today tend to believe that the heavenly bodies do not reach down and push us about. Rather, the planets, luminaries, and stars "mimic" Earthly events. Synchronistic in nature, they corollate instead of dictate. This hands one's fate back to the individual, to augment or squander as one sees fit. The slight comfort of Fate has been replaced by responsibility for one's actions. A few astrologers still portend death and destruction from the "astrological chart." This mode of thinking (a belief pattern based on preconceived ideas) is almost extinct. One may stay on the rail road tracks, deeming it "fate" has said one must be mashed by the train, or one may say "Screw it," and step to the side and let fate pass. It is one's right and responsibility to take charge of one's life events. Still, one always has the right to be squashed by one's "trains." If you refuse to drink, you are allowed to die of thirst. It's your right. The perceptions of "Fate Versus Free Will" seems to lean towards "free will" for the individual in the current astrological community, but the question of the "Fate of Nations," and the rulers of Nations, is still hotly disputed. There are arguments that a Nation must follow what is "Fated," and that those closely connected to that Nation are heavily minified in their rights to act freely. It is well documented that a Nation in trouble always produces a single individual to correct the problem. Abe Lincoln believed in Fate, and was said to know when he would die and how. Did he have the Right to choose? Since he was closely connected to the United States and the Civil War, I doubt it. Kennedy chose to ignore warnings from "psychics," we've been told to believe, and ended up slaughtered on national television, presumably by the hand of Cuba, Castro. But did he have a choice? I believe not. Someone ponderously, corpulently, grossly into religious intolerance mentioned to me that "The One True God destroys Nations," while individuals destroy themselves, I will add. Bending his idea of "God" to a non anthropomorphic deity, we could say that "The Universe" takes care of nations and leaves the individual to fend for her or his self. Astrology does not predict. It points to probabilities, not unequivocal, assured events. Any likely event can be circumnavigated if one knows about it first. This is why I believe Astrology to be the single most useful tool for taking responsibility for one's life. The question "Is Astrology valid?" is one that I cannot answer competently. It is always best to question everything, and take nothing as it is offered (without the arena of astrology as well as within). I leave this question to others for exploration. Document 3 in Astr-4.0 David Rice 7/11/88 unar Goddess) to their Air Gods. With the patriarchy taking power, something had to be done to diminish the — * Origin: Astro-Net 714 662-2294 The Lesbian Dorm (Opus 1:103/503) ————————————————————————— (440) Mon 11 Jul 88 12:12 By: David Rice To: All Re: Is Astrology valid? St: Pvt ————————————————————————— @EID:1eec 10eb6184 Astrology? "This is a joke, right?" someone asked me when I showed him the labels I developed for Astr-4.0. I had said that I planned on mailing a copy to President Ronald Reagan and Wife. After assuring him that my many months of hard work on this program was no joke, I started to wonder. Is Astrology valid? How in the hell can it be, when no logical scientific vehicle can be found to account for an alleged astrological influence? This question has been asked by thousands of men and women throughout history, with few receiving an answer they can be comfortable with. "It's synchronism, like Jung taught," some opinion. "As Above, so below," others say. "On Earth as it is in Heaven," Jesus was said to tell us. Many have offered opinions such as different dimensions, ethers, subtle radiation, gravity waves, and propagating vectors. Most look for a physical means by which to prove astrological influences. But can astrology be proven as valid? The mind of humankind often holds onto ideas and beliefs long after they are obsolete or no longer valid (bigotry, over compensatory defence mechanisms, religious intolerance, etc.). This tends to invalidate the argument that "If it wasn't valid Astrology wouldn't have lasted 5,000 years." Humans have been killing each other for sport for at least that long, which seems rather anti-survival, so the age of an event or belief cannot make it a viable one. "I know it works. My clients are very satisfied with the results," is a major argument made for astrology. But valid though it may be for the individual, it does not offer any means for proof. Satisfaction cannot be placed on a scale to be weighed and measured. It only offers subjective opinion at best, where the mind is fraught with mental gymnastics consciously or otherwise. These days there are very many astrologers doing "research." I put the word between quotes because their methods show a very poor understanding of scientific inquiry and methodology at best for the most part. Some "researchers" into astrology often have "significant results" at times, only to have duplication by another team fail. Homosexuality and astrological indicators of homosexuality has been sought for hundreds of years. There have been many astrologers who have come up with indicators that "prove" their method works, only to have their method fail when another astrologer tries it. (Most astrologers now know that homosexuality cannot be deduced from the chart, but some still try.) Astrology is NOT predictive. An astrologer cannot say "You have Sun in the XII and Venus in the IX Square Mars in the VI, so you're going to be fat and bald by age 32." There is a story told by an astrologer about a client who came to her for advice. The client had never been to an astrologer, and expected the astrologer to know all about her (the client) just by reading her chart. After the client said several times "Well, can't you tell?" the astrologer called for a break to give her client a short spill about astrology. "Astrology cannot tell me that your husband's name was John, and that he died in the Navy in 1943, and that you have a son who's in the army over seas, and that your son is getting married next week. It just isn't possible." The client looked up at the astrologer and said "But all that's correct. . . ." This story may or may not be true. The point is, astrology is not predictive. It only suggests, and points a direction for further questing. Astrology is an art form. As such, the astrologer may make up her or his own rules, and apply them as she or he sees fit. What works for one astrologer may not work for another. That's why there are so many house systems, and even zodiacs! One's reality is up to one's self, and what one makes of it. There are no rules to astrology. If you don't like the way something is done, try something new. The houses don't have to be numbered counter clockwise. If you, the astrologer, want the houses to go clockwise, that's fine. It's up to you. I don't presume to tell an artist to use the colors and tools I prefer. If you don't want houses, leave them out. If you don't like Virgo, leave it out too. See what I mean? Your craft, your rules. I had written an article called "Asteroids I'd Like To See." I gave them a name, a suggested meaning, and a suggested interpretation. "RAMBO" of course meaning that anyone with it on their Moon likes to sweat a lot and shoot people, preferable many, many times. "STUPIDITY" is an asteroid whose meaning, no doubt, you can probably figure out, unless it's on your Sun. The point? If I had given these made up asteroids ephemerides of their own, I feel they would be valid in every chart I draw up! They would be valid for me, and they could take directions, progressions, etc., and accurately time events. They might even work in your charts as well, if you like them. If you didn't like them, and thought they couldn't possibly "work," they wouldn't. They'd just sit there like an ink smudge on your chart and refuse to perform. And this is the heart of why astrology cannot be proven. Art, as is life and love, is always and forever only in the mind of humankind. It cannot be measured, sliced, examined, or put under a microscope. Indeed, it cannot even be taught. Astrology is an art form, and as such is beyond laws, rules, and restrictions. With Astr-4.0 you have the brush and canvas. Please, go paint. David Rice Document 2 Astr-4.0 , subtle radiation, gravity wav — * Origin: Astro-Net 714 662-2294 The Lesbian Dorm (Opus 1:103/503) ————————————————————————— (441) Sun 10 Jul 88 22:54 By: Josh Gordon To: All Re: Re: Tarot Cards St: ————————————————————————— * Original: FROM…..Brad Hicks (100/523) * Original: TO…….L.a. Hussey (161/93) * Forwarded by…….OPUS 161/93 @EID:0 22d855d6 LAH> I'd be interested to know what you didn't like. More than that: my critique. I'm no tarot genius, but I've studied a bit. Here are my opinions. [References first: the cards themself are in a MacPaint/ReadMac file called MAJ-ARC.MAC on WeirdBase. I will primarily compare them with the Rider-Waite major arcana, but will also make references to the Fantasy Showcase deck because I like it, and to the Morgan Robbins deck because this one reminds me of it in spots.] OVERALL #1: As I see it, you have attempted throughout to update the standard Tarot symbolism to Neopagan religious symbolism. Sometimes this works, sometimes I question it. For example, ALL of the figures in the Major Arcana look young to me, even when it's not necessarily appropriate (such as the Empress, the Emperor, the Moon). OK, the Hermit looks old - maybe. OVERALL #2: Oh, and I like the crescent-moon motif that you worked into the explicitly feminine cards (The Priestess, The Empress, The Moon). Why no similar, solar emblem for the explicitly masculine cards (The Magician, The Emperor, The Hanged Man)? OVERALL #3: One of the meditation tricks that I picked up from A.E. Waite is to think of the 22 Major Arcana as a Story, and work from card to card following the storyline as best you can. I perceive that this is much harder with your deck. I also note (without criticism) that your cards don't seem to quite so strictly follow the Qabalistic attributions - am I wrong? And being mostly ignorant of QBL, and weak on Astrology, the attributions in the corners could probably stand commentary and explanation for me. 0) THE FOOL - Quite different! I'd like to hear your explanation for your choice of that image for that card; I can effortlessly relate to the idea of, as Kim quoted when she saw it, "The face we wear to meet the faces we meet," and think it's a valid contribution as a tarot card: I'm uncertain it belongs in the Major Arcana and it seems to me unrelated to The Fool. Would you explain this one further to me? I) THE MAGICIAN - Nice, in a modern sort of way. Is the similarity between the Ferris wheel in the background and the Whirling Golden Wheel of the Morgan Robbins, as a symbol of endless (and profitless) motion, intentional? By putting the Magician against a carnival background, are you comparing him to the Prestidigitator, the OTHER kind of magic? The "balancing the elements" aspect is kinda nice - is it intentional that they both show a masculine symbol over, and in suggestive relationship to, a feminine symbol? Also, what is the symbolism of the snake that is entwined around this wand? I do like the way you've worked the Cosmic Lemniscate into the figure, by the way. II) THE PRIESTESS - Portrayed as a modern female Neopagan Witch. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this card. Wonderful! Oh, minor 1-pixel nit - the athame is one-sided. (BFD, right?) The two pillars as two kinds of tree (Oak and Ash?) is a subtle effect, and I can't make up my mind if YOU have made up your mind to preserve the "temple pillar" symbols of the RW. III) THE EMPRESS - Portrayed as the Earth Mother. Remarkably like the (simpler) portrayal in the Fantasy Showcase. I like it. IV) THE EMPEROR - I take this card to be Herne/Lugh, the solar God of the Hunt. It makes a nice, pagan pairing to The Empress. But (first peeve!) you've robbed me of a perfectly functional tarot card! The standard Emperor has a lot to do with EMPIRE, with monarchical patriarchal government. One of the things I especially =like= about my Fantasy Showcase deck is Trump IV, which makes the death-linked, warlike, and ruthless aspect of Government blatant. This is an important symbol, and one that is appropriate (and frequently useful, and sometimes necessary) in many readings. What =shall= I use for such a symbol in the future? V) THE PRIEST - I have the same complaint with this card that I have with The Emperor. The Hierophant in the Rider-Waite to me represents the sterility (but stability, and power) of ORGANIZED religion. Again, I like the fact that the Fantasy Showcase makes this coldness and sterility more blatant; but between them these two cards symbolize Patriarchy to me. Of course, I will grant that as displayed, you have an interesting pantheon of Maiden (The Priestess), Mother (The Empress) and Crone (The Moon) matching with the Hunter/Warrior (The Emperor), The Priest, and the Wise Man (The Hermit). But in the process, it seems to me that you've (a) stripped the Major Arcana of villains and (b) tangled a lot of inter-card relationships. VI) THE LOVERS - This may be the best card in the lot. I have nothing but good to say about this card. I am in Love with The Lovers. Oh, now that I think about it, I =do= have a nit to pick - but it's more appropriate that I cover it under XV, Intemperance. VII) THE CHARIOT - To me, the Chariot represents relentless oncoming motion; traditonally the unstoppable force of War. I cannot for the life of me guess what your Chariot is supposed to represent. VIII) STRENGTH - Remember the Cuteness Tarot? That lion looks like Hello Kitty with a mouth. Strength represents (to cop a familiar Judeao-Christian symbol) Daniel in the Lion's Den - the triumph of Harmlessness and Spirituality over the hungry, "powerful" predator. That lion doesn't look at all like a predator, and to me that robs Strength of much of its impressiveness. It is pretty, though. Or are you proposing a whole new symbol for Strength? IX) THE HERMIT - Traditionally, the Hermit resembles Diogenes searching endlessly by the light of the Lantern of Truth; endlessly and hopelessly because the wisdom he accumulates will never be the Wisdom he seeks. You may go to the Hermit for Wisdom; what you'll get is wisdom without the capital-W - which is more useful and real, but still not what you wanted. Sage and wise, at rest before the Flame of Truth, and surrounded by a powerful and beautiful aura, your Hermit looks to much to me like someone who has achieved Capital-W Wisdom. But this may be a matter of taste. Continued next message … — Sirius 0.50 * Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-741-2231 * (Opus 1:100/523) ————————————————————————— (442) Sun 10 Jul 88 22:56 By: Josh Gordon To: All Re: Re: Tarot Cards St: ————————————————————————— * Original: FROM…..Brad Hicks (100/523) * Original: TO…….L.a. Hussey (161/93) * Forwarded by…….OPUS 161/93 @EID:0 22d855d8 … continued from previous message X) THE WHEEL - From a traditional standpoint, I cannot criticize this card much. Oh, the three emblematic figures around the Rider-Waite Wheel seem more PERSONAL to me, but I can learn to attribute personal ebb and flow to the seasons if I try. Unrelated question: if you are converting to Neopagan symbolism, why keep the Four Evangelists? Wouldn't the standard emblems for the elements be better? XI) JUSTICE - I love this card. I have nothing bad to say about it at all. Beautiful, meaningful, appropriate. XII) THE HANGED [MAN] - I'm afraid I cannot translate the runes around his head, so I'm sure I'm missing something. Assuming that this is Odin hanging from Ygdrassil, then perhaps the missing eye (which I didn't notice until about the eight time I looked at this) should be more obvious - maybe substitute a straight line for the empty socket, the represent the eyelids swollen shut? Oh, and isn't this guy a bit young to be the All-Father? XIII) DEATH - The Rider-Waite displays Death as the Ultimate Democrat, taking down King and Priest and Peasant all. This is an aspect of Death that I can live without, and your Death as the birth canal (I assume the vulval shape is deliberate?) is very much in keeping with the traditional teachings on reincarnation. (Shame I don't really believe in it.) XIV) TEMPERANCE - Portrayed as Apollo. A bit juiceless, this card lacks the impact of some of the others. It is, however, perfectly appropriate. XV) INTEMPERANCE - In the Rider-Waite, Trump XV is The Devil. I can understand why you wanted to expunge this symbol (just as I see why you expunged the Last Judgement, number XX). But I miss the parallel between this card and V, the Lovers. I also like the message that the "chains" of Lust are illusionary, that we can slip them off when Lust is less appropriate than Love. (If you never noticed this, look at the chains around the necks of the figures "chained to the Devil" - they're both quite loose, and could be slipped off easily.) It also made sense numerically for 5 and 15 to be related. On the flip side, your Dionysus makes a similar parallel/contrast to/with XIV, Temperance/Apollo. There is complexity here that I will have to meditate on. XVI) THE TOWER - Simple and direct. Minor nit - the human figures falling from the top lent identification to the image. Can/will you work them back in? XVII) THE STAR - You have portrayed the Star as the intersection of Sun and Moon. I don't really like that, I think. Feel free to speak at length in favor of your reinterpretation (it's your deck, after all), but I much, much prefer the personification of Sirius, bridging land, sea, and sky in radiant, sexual beauty, as shown in Rider-Waite and portrayed SO beautifully in the Fantasy Showcase. XVIII) THE MOON - The Cauldron of Cerydwen is a beautiful lunar symbol, and I much prefer it to the traditional card. XIX) THE SUN - I do not understand the symbolism of this card at all. Could you explain it to me? I'm especially curious why you didn't use the Yule Child as a straight-forward adaptation, especially since some of your symbolism (the lemniscate on I, the pillars on II, and the evangelists on X) are =more= traditional than need be. XX) THE PHOENIX - This could stand to be drawn a bit better (perhaps a more flame-like flame) to make it look a bit less cartoony, but I like the substitution of this card for The Last Judgement. XXI) THE WORLD - As with The Sun, I think I'm missing the point on this one. P.S. Nice self-portrait on card III. Is IV supposed to be David? (Hard to tell with that helmet on.) — Sirius 0.50 * Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-741-2231 * (Opus 1:100/523) ————————————————————————— (443) Sun 17 Jul 88 8:26 By: Josh Gordon To: All Re: Re: Tarot Cards St: ————————————————————————— * Original: FROM…..L.a. Hussey (161/93) * Original: TO…….Brad Hicks (161/93) * Forwarded by…….OPUS 161/93 @EID:524a 10f1434e Good-oh, here are my responses to your critiques, point by point, as you made them. First of all, I have one major disclaimer to make. I am not an artist. I never have been. I possibly never will be. I know my stuff looks cartoonish sometimes, but that's only because it's the best I can do at the moment. The Mac has gone a long way toward liberating my graphic arts, but there's still a long way to go. Any inadequacies in the artwork, and any problems that arise because of them (ie the Hermit not looking old, the lion not looking like a lion) I would please ask you to indulge. OVERALL #1: There's no reason why the Emperor or Empress should look old. Mature, yes, old no. The Hermit does look old (or should); so does the Moon. Those hollow cheeks and white hair have nothing to do with malnutrition. I don't know what you think I could do to make Odhin any older looking; if he were a really old and decrepit figure, I couldn't see him even trying the ordeal on the Tree. OVERALL #2: Thanks. I knew the Triple Goddess was in the cards somehow, but never could place the Crone until I realised She was the Moon. As for solar symbols for the explicitly masculine cards, well, I don't associate the Mage with masculinity for starters. Coyote (as the Mage is depicted in the Native American deck) could be male or female; Mercury was often depicted somewhat androgynously. The sort of adeptness/artfulness I associate with the Mage is not specific to men. The Emperor, who is explicitly male, does have the sun on his breastplate. The Hanged is not a solar card, but more of a Saturnian card. OVERALL #3: I don't read the Majors as a story, so maybe that's part of the problem. The Majors are archetypal forces, which is why I reject the "villain" associations for Emperor and Priest – such petty associations have more to do with the Minors than with the energy of the Majors which is beyond good and evil or any other human moral categories, including political correctness. THE FOOL - He's the Tabula Rasa, the blank slate. He could be either face, or neither. He's at the beginning of the road (can you pick out the tiny direction pointer?); the traditional cliff is off in a corner, by the way. THE MAGICIAN - Yeah, you got it. I wanted him to be ambiguous, as though Coyote or Hermes took on the job of prestidigitator at the local sideshow – hence the halo ("Gee, Mabel, 'dja think that guy may be a god or something?"). I balanced the tools the way I did because it seemed the easiest way to balance them – they way I would do it if I were trying to (and the thame in the cup is indeed supposed to be suggestive – look at that grin on his face). I suppose the pentacle could have gone on top of the wand (like the plate-spinners do), but I just didn't do it that way. The snake around the wand turns the wand into a caduceus, which was Hermes' wand. THE PRIESTESS - Actually, this one was more of an intentional self-portrait than the Empress (who just turned out that way). Yeah, I did intend to preserve the "temple pillars"; as I've been ranting about lately, I do try to balance dark and light as a priestess. (more next msg) — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (444) Sun 17 Jul 88 8:31 By: Josh Gordon To: All Re: More Tarot Cards St: ————————————————————————— * Original: FROM…..L.a. Hussey (161/93) * Original: TO…….Brad Hicks (161/93) * Forwarded by…….OPUS 161/93 @EID:524a 10f143f1 THE EMPRESS - Interesting; the first pregnant Empress I saw was in the Sacred Rose deck (by the way, how can you stand to read the Fantasy Showcase? So many of the cards are way off – and you think MY cards are off!! Ah, well, de gustibus etc etc). It turns out that the pregnant Empress is traditional, pre-RW (I'll look up the sources if you want). THE EMPEROR - I absolutely reject the association of the Emperor with patriarchal monarchical government. He is the lightning-catalyst to the Empress' "primordial soup"; He cannot exist without Her anymore than She can without Him. Without Her, all his fire makes nothing; without Him, She is virtual space, potential but not actual (how'dya think She got pregnant?). Note his phallic staff. And again, my art wasn't quite up to this, but the stuff in his other hand is seeds – he is the inseminating Ram of spring. He's not the Hunter (the Hunter comes next), because I don't associate the Hunter with agriculture (and just plain culture) the way I do the Emperor. Like the Empress, that he looks like David is incidental (David shows up for real in The Sun). I guess my subconscious was working overtime… <grin> THE PRIEST - The word "Pontiff" comes from the Latin word, "Pontifex": Bridge-builder. The word "Hierophant" is Greek for "Shower of secret things". The difference between the Priest and the Priestess is that he shows, where she tosses you right into the experience. In traditional shamanic societies, the Shaman is the bridge between this world and the Otherworld, and the one who tells about that journey to help others along. Also, the shaman is the caller-up of wild animals, the master of beasts, hence the Hunter. There are no equivalent depictions of female figures in the caves to this one at Trois-Freres because the caves are the wombs of the Goddess, teeming with life. This figure is the one who coaxes them close. But he wears antlers also; he is both the Hunter and the Prey – the primary shamanic experience is that of death. This is a deck for Witches, Brad. We don't have a sterile, organised religion, therefore it is not fitting for that image to be among our archetypes (the same way it is not fitting for Hell to be a threat in our laws). The associations of repression, sterility, severity, and so on occur in the Minors (mostly among the Swords, interestingly enough). It's high time we reclaimed the God; the tendancy of the feminist decks to make the Emperor and the Hierophant villains is totally unacceptable to me. "Appropriate male energy" (ie, wimpy and/ or sexless) is not in my vocabulary. THE LOVERS - Thanks. Hm, I never associated the Lovers with the Devil because I see lust as a part of love. More later, at INTEMPERANCE. THE CHARIOT - It's the statue of Boudica in London. Do you know her story? STRENGTH - Notice the woman's eyes. Same as the lion's. It's Beauty and the Beast, the harmonious (or inharmonious, depending on context) juxtaposition of the beast self (of which we all have one) and the "human" self. "Harmlessness"? Gimme a break! You complain about "cuteness" and then you say she's supposed to be "harmless"! Beauty is far from harmless; she is just as powerful as Beast. But they're inseperable, which is why the aren't depicted with seperate bodies, but as two faces in a surrounding mane. Remember that episode of Star Trek where Kirk got split up into two personalities? That's the point of Strength. — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (445) Sun 17 Jul 88 8:40 By: Josh Gordon To: All Re: Daughter of Tarot Cards St: ————————————————————————— * Original: FROM…..L.a. Hussey (161/93) * Original: TO…….Brad Hicks (161/93) * Forwarded by…….OPUS 161/93 @EID:524a 10f14516 THE HERMIT - I never saw that lamp as Diogenes'. I saw it as the bodhisattva's lamp, lighting the way for other people. You bet He's capital-W Wisdom (the Hebrew letter YOD that corresponds to this card reminds David of the word "yodeah", meaning "knowledge"; but you have to walk through the fire first, the way you have to drink from the Moon's cauldron before you get Her Wisdom. THE WHEEL - The tetramorphs apply equally to the four Fixed Zodiacal signs as they do to the Evangelists (and you'll note I put them near the appropriate season). The early Celtic church used them in their imagery way back when, and those folk were a scant step removed from being Pagans themselves – how else do you suppose Brigid could have survived? The seasons suggest the slow, cyclical nature of the Wheel's turning to me. Joe Campbell, in the PBS series recently, said "If you're on the rim of the Wheel, you go up and down; if you're the hub of the Wheel, always acting from your own center, you're unaffected by the turning of the Wheel." All the seasons are good, to a person at the hub. JUSTICE - Thanks! You have no idea how tricky it was to fit the Anubis image in that little space… I like it better than the Justice with the sword, because to me Justice is not part of the outcome. Maat just judges, she doesn't punish or reward. And as I said a while ago, the person being judged knows the outcome already; we punish and reward ourselves. THE HANGED - The runes around his head have no fixed meaning, they're just runes. "None gave me bread or drinking horn, and there below I looked; I took up the runes, screaming I took them; then I fell back." ("Odhin" means "The Scream") The eye-socket was as clear as I could make it; I think a straight line would look too much like a wink, and the eye swollen shut both inaccurate and difficult to render at that resolution. Shit, I could have given him an eye patch if I'd wanted to, but I WANTED that empty socket staring. As for his age, see above. Odhin/The Hanged is the canonical image of self-sacrifice for knowledge. DEATH - Your problem if you don't believe in reincarnation. But consider this: what is birth but death to the life we knew in the womb? What is death? TEMPERANCE - I associate Apollo with all the things "civilisation" brings, hence the depiction of him in front of a formal temple and holding his lyre (as opposed to Dionysos out in the fields with his bottomless amphora); juiceless is the point. Here's your "sterile organisation" if you want it; remember that Apollo was as celibate as his sister. On the other hand, it isn't repressed sexuality, but redirected sexuality. Artemis keeps herself unburdened by children so she'll never be incapacitated when some other mother needs her (reminds me of a great aunt I had who chose never to marry and to become a nurse instead); Athene channels the sexual drive into creations of the hands and mind rather than the womb. Not all bad; there are no "bad" cards in the Major Arcana. (more next) — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (446) Sun 17 Jul 88 8:43 By: Josh Gordon To: All Re: Tarot Cards meets Mothra, er, Mother St: ————————————————————————— * Original: FROM…..L.a. Hussey (161/93) * Original: TO…….Brad Hicks (161/93) * Forwarded by…….OPUS 161/93 @EID:524a 10f14567 INTEMPERANCE - I prefer not to depict chains at all; the body should never be looked on as a fetter, however easy to remove. Not to mention the fact that the Devil as depicted in RW and its clones is the Christian image, which I reject. Sometimes Intemperance is more appropriate than Temperance; the dark more appropriate than the light. Sensuality, sexuality, and fleshly pleasures were nix for the ascetic early Christians (who in typical Semitic fashion were distinguishing themselves from their neighbours by engaging in opposing practises – the Jews forbade "seething a kid in its mother's milk" because that was a sacrament of another local tribe, the Christians were ascetic in opposition to the dissipated Roman pagans, and ate treyf food to be different from the Jews). Hence the association of Dionysos with everything evil. I've reclaimed him, is all. Check out the Hurley "New Tarot", which inspired my making XIV and XV opposites of each other. BTW, numerology doesn't really enter into my readings at all, and I'm seriously thinking of taking out the Hebrew letter associations (which are the traditional ones, I believe) – though it would somewhat unbalance the top of the card unless I took out the Astro signs too – which I just may do for the final version, since my Minors don't have either symbol set. THE TOWER - Nah, I'm not going to put humans in it. Maybe it would be more appropriate if I made the tower human-shaped. Here's my notes on The Tower: "A carefully built structure is losing its integrity under attack. Swift and abrupt change. Sometimes the best defense is no defense at all, since to put up a shield is to taunt attack." THE STAR - The image of the woman pouring from jugs has never made it for me. Not satisfying at all. The Star is clarity coming out of obscurity, hope, the sun coming out from behind the moon (remember the sun is technically a star too), that flash of enlightenment, the light at the end of the tunnel, the sign that the eclipse is over and the world is not at an end. That's all. There're plenty of other nice female images in the cards; no need to have gratuitous breasts and confusing imagery. My imagery is (evidently) just as confusing to somebody with whom it doesn't resonate, but what the hey. THE MOON - Thanks again. Like I said, I was pretty pleased to come up with this image. The Moon is associated with the sephira of Yesod, which is called "Treasure House of Images", and that's what Ceridwen's Cauldron is for me. The Akashic well, source of dream and vision. "Gwion tasted of the potent brew, and he gained all knowlege it is true, and sweet bardsong; but no taste is free! Whoso drinks my draught belongs to Me. As with him, through water, air and earth, you too I'll pursue, consume, and birth…" THE SUN - C'MON Brad, how long 'dya say you were in this religion? It's the Oak King and the Holly King. In the older decks, there were two children in that garden… The Yule Child is a good idea, which didn't occur to me when I was presented with the challenging opportunity to make a silhouette of David and translate it to pixels (and tiny ones at that). What the hey, I may make an alternate card – if Lady Whatserface could do it, so can I, since I don't want to throw out that image any more than she did the other depictions of Magus. THE PHOENIX - Draw me a flame on a Mac. Go ahead. I'm waiting… At least you recognised them as flames, right? (concluded next) — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (447) Sun 17 Jul 88 8:45 By: Josh Gordon To: All Re: Tarot Cards meets Mothra's Mother St: ————————————————————————— * Original: FROM…..L.a. Hussey (161/93) * Original: TO…….Brad Hicks (161/93) * Forwarded by…….OPUS 161/93 @EID:524a 10f145a2 THE WORLD - Usually drawn as a female dancer. I depict her as the Star Goddess, holding the Earth. Simple as that; equally apropos to the traditional interpretation of the card (namely, not at all; what the hell does a dancing woman have to do with the completion of cycles? I thought I'd at least put the Earth in there to give the name of the card some relevance). It's interesting that as I've been working on this deck, my own knowlege of the cards has expanded. With many of the other decks, if the image doesn't speak to me or I haven't completely figured out the associations, they mysteriously don't come up in any of my readings – other cards say similar things in context, and I've always been complimented (sometimes begrudgingly) on the accuracy of my readings. I don't do the "You will meet a tall dark handsome stranger and go on a long trip" sorts of readings; my angle is more archetypal and large scale, and interestingly enough, everybody who's ever asked me to read for them has been in some sort of transitional crisis in their lives. I find the Tarot real useful in pointing one or more ways out of such crises…But meanwhile, the ones that used not to come up are now appearing… Thanks for your frankness. I hope my responses make things more clear. When the deck comes out as a program, the interpretations in the less obvious cases (or in the ones where I want to make a point, like INTEMPERANCE) will include a description of the symbolism. There will be more cards, I hope before the end of the year. But I have two tapes to compose and record in the same time period, and the cards come when I get insights about them. Very little of my imagery is RW-esque – for example, I find that the severity and pain of the three of swords is more effectively depicted for me by the Morrigan, Irish triple war-goddess. I'll let you know when it's all done. The artwork will certainly be done before the program is written, so I'll just send you a disk or something. B*B Leigh Ann — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (448) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:25 By: Michelle Hass To: All Re: Laws: New Circle Pt1 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:2bad 533510f2 STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND ETHICS–LIFEWAY SHAMANIC FELLOWSHIP By Usen's grace, Ho-dah…. 1.) PURPOSES: This is an era of decision. Do we allow ourselves to cut the throat of the Mother Who has nourished us as a species since we "came down from the trees"? Or do we work to walk in Beauty and Harmony with Her, and cherish Her, and work to see Her healed? The resurgence of Shamanism, the primal Earth Religion of practically all of the Earth's pre-Agrarian cultures, is an important thing, foretold by the Paiute prophet Wovoka and in the Hopi Prophecies. It was said that both the Red Man would return to the Ways of the Old Ones and that the non-Native would also embrace the Lifeway. There are non-Natives who respectfully have chosen these Ways, and are carrying them on in a reverent way. If the Lifeway was only given for the Native peoples, it would die out within our lifetime. There are simply not enough traditional Elders left. It has been shown to some of us that Our Mother The Earth is not willing to die quietly. She has demonstrated this by the increase in natural disasters of the past decade, which continue day by day. The Hopi prophecies state that, when the "bowl full of ashes" (most interpret this as the Thermonuclear Bomb) is overturned, that Our Mother shall rise up in Her righteous anger and destroy humanity. This prophecy is coming true, although it may yet be reversable. Perhaps it is we who reverence the Ways and walk in harmony with Our Mother that may stay Her hand. The Lifeway Fellowship is here for those who wish to honor Our Mother and Our Father, Earth and Sky, and to honor The Giver Of Life, from whence all things flow in the Universe. Our world-view is primarily allied with that of the Navajo/Dineh, Apache/Teneh, and Hopi peoples. However we do not represent ourselves as the keepers of those ways. The secrets of those Nations are for them alone, unless Usen' wishes to reveal them to us. Our mission is to help heal Our Mother, The Earth, and to help each other walk in closer harmony with Her. We also exist to provide a way for urban and sub-urban people to learn and practice the root Shamanic techniques that aid us in finding our True Vision and True Way of Power, and following that Vision and that Way. We identify ourselves as Pagan (Webster's New World Dictionary "1. b)…a person who is not a Christian, Moslem, or Jew (by faith); heathen. Pagan specifically refers to one of the ancient polytheistic (or pantheistic) peoples.") and as unashamed Pantheists and Polytheists. The Lifeway is truly a religious commitment. No-one can make a commitment to the Lifeway and to the worship of Life Giver, The Earth Mother and The Sky Father and remain a worshiper of other Paradigms of the Deity, much as one cannot be a Christian and worship the Greco-Roman pantheon. However this does not imply the condemnation of other Paradigms, nor impel a duty to "convert" others. »> CONTINUED NEXT POST «< — TBBS v2.0 * Origin: Cult Monitor LA (818)985-2701 (102/744) ————————————————————————— (449) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:29 By: Michelle Hass To: All Re: Lf Laws:Pt2 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:2bad 53b310f2 We stand by other Pagans who do not share our paradigms, IE. Wiccans, Asatruans, Hellenists, and other Shamanic traditions, (African and neo-African(Santeria & Voudoun), Australian, Siberian, Traditional Native American, and Polynesian, to name a few) and even though we may disagree with some or all of their practices and beliefs, they are Brothers, Sisters and Cousins, and in times of persecution as well as times of goodwill we must defend them. We may even share in their open rituals and allow them to share in our open ceremonials. But that which is ours must remain ours, just as that which is theirs must remain theirs. 2.) THE(A)OLOGY: As our Fellowship is inherently religious, we must declare a The(a)ology. (The strange spelling refers to the fact that we acknowledge a Goddess as well as a God) This is summed up very easily. There are three main powers we worship, Usen' the Life Giver, The Earth Mother, and The Sky Father. The latter Two are emanations of the First, as all, including the God and the Goddess, are emanations from Usen', which is the primaeval First Cause. Usen': One cannot look upon The Life Giver as either Male or Female, for The Life Giver is beyond those distinctions. Usen', and The Life Giver, are names for this First Cause, this Force that pervades all and caused all to come into being. From Usen', the God, Sky Father, and the Goddess, Earth Mother, emanate, as the lesser Deities emanate from Them. The Earth Mother: We live and walk and are sustained from The Earth Mother, which is our Earth. She is alive, and we all exist within Her as part of Her structure. Science, through the Gaea Hypothesis, has finally acknowledged Her existence, and some even have learnt the lesson that our duty in this life is to care for and honor Her. This is a lesson that all must learn, for as long as we despoil Her, we risk Her wrath. She is expressed through the faces of White Painted Woman, Who is The Woman Warrior, through Corn Mother, Who is The Nourishing Mother, and through Spider Woman, Who is The Wise Woman, The Ancient One, The Custodian of Wisdom. Women are acknowledged as being human represent- atives of The Earth Mother. The Sky Father: Just as among we Humans, there is both Man and Woman, so there is no Earth Mother without Sky Father. Sky Father is the air we breathe, the flame that gives us warmth and cooks our food, and brings forth the rain that fertilizes Our Mother and allows Her to provide us with the crops and animals that sustain us. Sky Father is also expressed as The Hunter, The Warrior, and First Shaman, and is also expressed in Killer Of Enemies and The Child Of Water. He is also present and acknowledged as being present in every Man. »> CONTINUED NEXT POST «< — TBBS v2.0 * Origin: Cult Monitor LA (818)985-2701 (102/744) ————————————————————————— (450) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:33 By: Michelle Hass To: All Re: Lf Laws:Pt3 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:2bad 542910f2 There are other spirits that exist in the Universe, some beneficient, some maleficient. But most important is Usen', Earth Mother, and Sky Father. By walking in harmony with the God(esse)s, one can tell the Good from the Evil, welcoming in Good, and protecting each other from Evil. 3.)ETHICS: We have our code of Ethics. It is neither lengthy nor overly restrictive. We do not include ancient taboos in this list, such as Mother-In-Law avoidance or the taboo against Fish, because they may not apply nowadays. If you wish to not eat fish or to avoid your Mother-In-Law for religious reasons, it is your perogative. But it is not a requirement. 1.) If the action does not harm yourself, other people or intelligent beings, or Our Mother The Earth, you are free to do as you wish. 2.) To charge for healings, sweats or ceremonials is totally wrong and extremely offensive. Also, to charge excessively for teaching is equally offensive, but a modest fee over expenses is allowable. Your conscience is the best guide, that and the Will of the Deities. 3.) Magick should be limited only to protection of Self and Loved Ones, and to healing and helping those in need, provided that permission is given by the patient and that help other than healing does not interfere with the Will of others. Magick that is used in a coercive (IE. Love spells) or destructive (harming or killing magick) way is patently wrong and is considered Black Magick. 4.) Contact of spirits by any means other than Shamanic journeying or the Vision Quest is very risky, and Possession is a real possibility. The practice of mediumship, or "channeling" has no place in the Lifeway, and exposes not only Self but others to danger. 5.) Permission must always be asked of the spirits of plants and/or animals before taking them for either sustenance or for medicine. 6.) One's visions and one's personal ceremonies are one's own. Personal visions should not be spoken of, but shared visions are for all of the group. 7.) It is wrong to criticise another within the group or outside the group. Racism, sexism, xenophobia or general disrespect of others has no place in the Fellowship. Individual decisions about lifestyle and other ethical issues not covered here are an individual's own affair. »> CONTINUED NEXT POST «< — TBBS v2.0 * Origin: Cult Monitor LA (818)985-2701 (102/744) ————————————————————————— (451) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:36 By: Michelle Hass To: All Re: Lf Laws:Pt4 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:2bad 549710f2 4.):GROUP STRUCTURE AND INITIATION PRACTICES There is only one Initiation, which is the Initiation that makes one Kin within the group and in the sight of The Deities. It is given after one has taken their first Vision Quest, has found their Power Animal(s) and has met the Shaman Within. It can only be denied to those who have met these requirements, is younger than the legal Age Of Consent (in most places, 18 years) is not of sound mind, and/or is under suspicion of being a Law Enforcement Officer or other person antipathetic to Pagan and/or Shamanic belief who requests initiation for fraudulent purposes (usually to infilitrate to either sabotage or publically discredit the Fellowship) Initiation must not be denied on account of physical disabilities, blindness, deafness, or sterility, nor on account of sex, race, nationality, political belief, or sexual preference. There are no set offices within the Fellowship. Ideally, leadership should be by consensus, with true leaders being temporary and purpose-oriented. Facilitation of rituals may be done by any Initiate of the Fellowship. ANYONE WHO REPRESENTS THEMSELVES AS A HIGH PRIEST/ESS OF THE LIFEWAY SHAMANIC FELLOWSHIP IS A FRAUD, AND IS DOING SO CONTRARY TO THIS STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND ETHICS. Support of the Fellowship is done on a purely voluntary and mutual basis. No tithe or dues should be assessed unless they have been agreed upon by all members, initiates and non-initiates alike. Membership is extended to all. But initiation is reserved for those who meet the criteria mentioned above. Non-initiates can participate in open ceremonials and in basic workshops, but may be denied participation in certain ceremonials and advanced workshops. »> CONTINUED NEXT POST «< — TBBS v2.0 * Origin: Cult Monitor LA (818)985-2701 (102/744) ————————————————————————— (452) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:39 By: Michelle Hass To: All Re: Lf Laws:Pt5 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:2bad 54ea10f2 5.) THE QUESTION OF RECOGNIZING SHAMANS In traditional societies, the title Shaman was not just an honorific, or recognition of talents. Nor was it the highest initiatory level in a Shamanic society. The Shaman was, in most cases, above the Chief in decision-making power and was judge, doctor, father-confessor, and intercessor with the Deities for the tribe. Some Shamanic societies are now providing their membership with "Shaman training seminars" and "Shaman apprenticeships" that can be had for an exorbitant price. This implies that the cost of being a Shaman can be paid in money and in a set amount of time. This is not the case. Many tribes believe that the office of Shaman is not one that is earned, but one that one is born into. Certainly, the skills are never something one is born with, and this is not merely hereditary. Rather, when a child is born, the current Shaman would recognize that the child had the POTENTIAL of being the next one, and the child's training would begin when they were considered ready by the Shaman. At adulthood, they would be tested. If they passed the test, they would become the next Shaman. If they failed, usually the test was such that they would either die outright, or they would go insane. Many "heroic quest" tales, and most notably the Arthurian legends have echoes of this practice within the ancient Shamanic traditions of Europe. But the point that is being made here is that we should not go back to that sort of way of doing things, because in this society it is nigh on impossible. The stand I am offering here is that recognition as a Shaman can be conferred only through shared vision, and signs from the Deities. It is not my place to say what the signs are…it will be obvious to the Fellowship. I am not Shaman myself, and will not brook anyone calling me that. This is something I place in the lap of the Deities to decide. I cannot do anything more. It is a mockery of those people that can truly be called Shamans, who are respected, powerful people of traditional tribes, to do anything less. In any event, to claim such a title is definately not enough, and is punishable by withdrawing Fellowship from the one who claims to be Shaman falsely. »> CONTINUED NEXT POST «< — TBBS v2.0 * Origin: Cult Monitor LA (818)985-2701 (102/744) ————————————————————————— (453) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:42 By: Michelle Hass To: All Re: Lf Laws: Pt6 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:2bad 555d10f2 6.) FESTIVALS AND WORSHIP DAYS The festivals are reckoned as they have been for centuries by most Southwestern tribes, by both the Sun and the Moon. The seasons begin on the first full moon after a Solstice or an Equinox. The Solstices and Equinoxes themselves are times of celebration as well, and perhaps the period between the two (which usually works out to be no more than a week or so) could be considered a time of Holiday. Lesser ceremonials are held on New Moons and Full Moons between the first Full Moons of the seasons. Optionally certain Pagan festivals could be celebrated in conjunction with other groups, but they are not to be adopted as official Lifeway Fellowship ceremonial days. There are other ceremonials that are personal in nature, and can be held at any time, although synchronizing them with the Festivals and the New and Full Moons is advisable. They are Naming, where a newborn child is named in the presence of the group and their Life-beads given; Coming Of Age, where the child's physical maturity is acknowledged, and where, for a short time, they become Child of the Water (if a boy) or White Painted Woman (if a girl); Initiation, where a person becomes a full-fledged member of the group, given after a person becomes a legal adult; Joining, where a man and a woman consent to be married; Unjoining, where a man and woman who are married consent to have the bond dissolved, which is to be done only after four reconcili- ation attempts fail or after evidence of marital infidelity or abuse is given before the group; the Moonlodge, which is a special sweat for women in their Moon-time; and Release, where a ceremony for a dead member of the Fellowship is done to guide their soul Back Home. Other ceremonials that are dreamed or envisioned by a person or group are also encouraged. 7.) SUMMING UP A few quick ones: One can be either clothed or unclothed at ceremonies, but it should be known that none of the Southwestern tribes did ceremonies in the nude. However, one should disrobe for the sweat lodge, as clothes are not only uncomfortable within the sweat lodge, but interfere with the cleansing process of the lodge. This Statement can be accepted or rejected by individual groups that federate themselves with Lifeway Fellowship. But federation can be denied to those groups who stray too far from some of the basic guidelines, or do anything that would sully the reputation of the Fellowship in general. Hi-dicho…this is finished. May these proceeds please Life Giver Usen', and the Mother and the Father. ENJU! Chihacou White-Puma, 1988. »> SUMMARY NEXT POST «< — TBBS v2.0 * Origin: Cult Monitor LA (818)985-2701 (102/744) ————————————————————————— (454) Mon 18 Jul 88 10:46 By: Michelle Hass To: All Re: Lf Laws: Summation And Comments St: ————————————————————————— @EID:2bad 55d210f2 I hope all of you have found the last few posts edifying, if not perhaps a little long-winded. I am now in the process of finding like-minded people to join me in this circle, and although I am the one putting this together, I do not wish to set myself up as leader. Starhawk, bless her heart, has spoken many times about the concept of leaderless groups, and although I think perhaps she might not extend this to her circle, I wanted to do so myself. I am an inveterate Anarchist as well as a Shamanic Pagan, and I have seen enough times where power trips get in the way of things. However, I do not wish any longer to work Solitary, so I am offering this possibility to those in the LA area who are interested in exploring the Shamanic Way and celebrate Earth Mother and Sky Father in a respectful and reverent way. If one is interested in what I have here, and want to be a part of it, please leave me a private message here. ENJU! Walk in beauty, one and all…Michelle Chihacou White Puma Klein-Hass. — TBBS v2.0 * Origin: Cult Monitor LA (818)985-2701 (102/744) ————————————————————————— (455) Fri 22 Jul 88 10:28 By: Tim Maroney To: All Re: Blood on the Wire St: ————————————————————————— @EID:524a 10f65387 L.A. ANIMAL TORTURE-KILLINGS BLAMED ON SECT Associated Press Los Angeles Animal torture and slayings attributed to devil worshippers and the Afro-Cuban Santeria religion appear to be increasing in this area, and authorities are studying the legal question of how to stop the practices. The city Board of Animal Regulation has asked for a report on the matter, board member Arther Margolis said yesterday. Reed said authorities last fall found six goats bound and kept in the bathroom of a Culver city home, along with several chickens. Candles and other religious items suggested Santeria links, and the owners were charged with animal cruelty. Margolis, an attorney, hopes the report will lead to consideration of a law banning animal killing and torture as part of a religious ceremony. He expects a First Amendment fight to follow immediately, as it already has in Hialeah, Fla. That predominantly Hispanic city near Miami passed three laws in 1987 aimed at the Santeria Church of Lukumi Babalu Ave., Florida's first public church of the sect. The Hialeah laws prohibit sacrifice of animals, including goats, pigs, cows, poultry, cats or dogs, animals that sect members slaughter during rituals. The church sued the city in federal court, alleging that the laws violate the constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion. Santeria is a mix of Roman Catholicism, voodoo and African rituals attributed to a Nigerian tribe. (Taken without permission from the San Francisco Chronicle, Friday, July 22, 1988, page A14) — * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93) ————————————————————————— (456) Tue 26 Jul 88 20:54 By: Judy Harrow To: All Re: Exegesis on the Wiccan Rede (REDE.TXT) St: ————————————————————————— @EID:0 22ed5626 EXEGESIS ON THE WICCAN REDE by Judy Harrow originally published in HARVEST - Volume 5, Number 3 (Oimelc, 1985) second publication: THE HIDDEN PATH - Volume X, Number 2 Beltane, 1987) All religions began with somebody's sudden flashing insight, enlightenment, a shining vision. Some mystic found the way and the words to share the vision, and, sharing it, attracted followers. The followers may repeat those precise and poetic words about the vision until they congeal into set phrases, fused language, repeated by rote and without understanding. Cliches begin as great wisdom - that's why they spread so fast - and end as ritual phrases, heard but not understood. Living spirituality so easily hardens to boring religious routine, maintained through guilt and fear, or habit and social opportunism - any reason but joy. We come to the Craft with a first generation's joy of discovery, and a first generation's memory of bored hours of routine worship in our childhood. Because we have known the difference, it is our particular challenge to find or make ways to keep the Craft a living, real experience for our grandchildren and for the students of our students. I think the best of these safeguards is already built into the Craft as we know it, put there by our own good teachers. On our Path, the mystic experience itself is shared, not just the fruits of mysticism. We give all our students the techniques, and the protective/supportive environment that enable almost every one of them to Draw the Moon and/or Invoke the God. This is an incredibly radical change from older religions, even older Pagan religions, in which the only permissible source of inspiration has been to endlessly reinterpret and reapply the vision of the Founder (the Bible, the Book of the Law, the Koran, … ). The practice of Drawing the Moon is the brilliant crown of the Craft. But notice how often, in the old myths, every treasure has its pitfalls? I think I'm beginning to see one of ours. Between the normal process of original visions clotting into cliche, and our perpetual flow of new inspiration, we are in danger of losing the special wisdom of those who founded the modern Craft. I do not think we should assiduously preserve every precious word. My love for my own Gardnerian tradition does not blind me to our sexist and heterosexist roots. And yet, I want us to remain identifiably Witches and not meld into some homogeneous "New Age" sludge. For this, I think we need some sort of anchoring in tradition to give us a sense of identity. Some of the old sayings really do crystallize great wisdom as well, life-affirming Pagan wisdom that our culture needs to hear. So I think it's time for a little creative borrowing from our neighbors. Christians do something they call "exegesis;" Jews have a somewhat similar process called "midrash." What it is is something between interpretation and meditation, a very concentrated examination of a particular text. The assumption often is that every single word has meaning (cabalists even look at the individual letters). Out of this inspired combination of scholarship and daydream comes the vitality of those paths whose canon is closed. The contemporary example, of course, is Christian Liberation Theology, based on a re-visioning of Jesus that would utterly shock John Calvin. Although our canon is not closed - and the day it is is the day I quit -I'm suggesting that we can use a similar process to renew the life of the older parts of our own still-young heritage. So, I'd like to try doing some exegesis on an essential statement of the Craft way of life. Every religion has some sort of ethic, some guideline for what it means to live in accordance with this particular mythos, this worldview. Ours, called the Wiccan Rede, is one of the most elegant statements I've heard of the principle of situational ethics. Rather than placing the power and duty to decide about behavior with teachers or rulebooks, the Rede places it exactly where it belongs, with the actor. eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill: AN IT HARM NONE, DO WHAT YOU WILL. I'd like to start with the second phrase first, and to take it almost word by word. do what YOU will. This is the challenge to self-direction, to figure out what we want, and not what somebody else wants for us or from us. All of us are subject to tremendous role expectations and pressures, coming from our families, our employers, our friends, society in general. It's easy to just be molded, deceptively easy to become a compulsive rebel and reflexively do the opposite of whatever "they" seem to want. Living by the Rede means accepting the responsibility to assess the results of our actions and to choose when we will obey, confront or evade the rules. do what you WILL. This is the challenge to introspection, to know what we really want beyond the whim of the moment. The classic example is that of the student who chooses to study for an exam rather than go to a party, because what she really wants is to be a doctor. Again, balance is needed. Always going to the library rather than the movies is the road to burnout, not the road to a Nobel. What's more, there are others values in life, such as sensuality, intimacy, spirituality, that get ignored in a compulsively long-term orientation. So, our responsibility is not to mechanically follow some rule like "always choose to defer gratification in your own long-term self interest," but to really listen within, and to really choose, each time. DO what you will. This is the challenge to action. Don't wait for Prince Charming or the revolution. Don't blame your mother or the system. Make a realistic plan that includes all your assets. Be sure to include magic, both the deeper insights and wisdoms of divination and the focusing of will and energy that comes from active workings. Then take the first steps right now. But, beware of thoughtless action, which is equally dangerous. For example, daydreaming is needed, to envision a goal, to project the results of actions, to check progress against goals, sometimes to revise goals. Thinking and planning are necessary parts of personal progress. Action and thought are complementary; neither can replace the other. When you really look at it, word by word, it sounds like a subtle and profound guide for life, does it not? Is it complete? Shall "do what you will" in fact be "the whole of the law" for us? I think not. The second phrase of the Rede discusses the individual out of context. Taken by itself, "DO WHAT YOU WILL" would produce a nastily competitive society, a "war of each against all" more bitter than what we now endure. That is, it would if it were possible. Happily, it's just plain not. Pagan myth and modern biology alike teach us that our Earth is one interconnected living sphere, a whole system in which the actions of each affect all (and this is emphatically not limited to humankind) through intrinsic, organic feedback paths. As our technology amplifies the effects of our individual actions, it becomes increasingly critical to understand that these actions have consequences beyond the individual; consequences that, by the very nature of things, come back to the individual as well. Cooperation, once "merely" an ethical ideal, has become a survival imperative. Life is relational, contextual. Exclusive focus on the individual Will is a lie and a deathtrap. The qualifying "AN IT HARM NONE," draws a Circle around the individual Will and places each of us firmly within the dual contexts of the human community and the complex life-form that is Mother Gaia. The first phrase of the Rede directs us to be aware of results of our actions projected not only in time, as long-term personal outcomes, but in space - to consider how actions may effect our families, co-workers, community, and the life of the Earth as a whole, and to take those projections into account in our decisions. But, like the rest of the Rede, "an it harm none" cannot be followed unthinkingly. It is simply impossible for creatures who eat to harm none. Any refusal to decide or act for fear of harming someone is also a decision and an action, and will create results of some kind. When you consider that "none" also includes ourselves, it becomes clear that what we have here is a goal and an ideal, not a rule. The Craft, assuming ethical adulthood, offers us no rote rules. We will always be working on incomplete knowledge. We will sometimes just plain make mistakes. Life itself, and life-affirming religion, still demands that we learn, decide, act, and accept the results. Judy Harrow — Sirius 0.50 * Origin: WeirdBase * St. Louis * 1-314-741-2231 * (Opus 1:100/523) ————————————————————————— (457) Tue 2 Aug 88 2:20 By: David Schaal To: All Re: natural passages pt. 1 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:c712 128a1102 NATURAL PASSAGE P.O. BOX 33284 Minneapolis, MN 55433 Who are we? We are a group of people dedicated to reviving the custom of natural (ecological) burial. What is "Natural Passage"? "Natural passage" is a system whereby, after death, the body's nutrients are given back to the Earth for return to the life cycle. Why Natural Passage? Throughout our lives we take sustenance from nature. Our high technology and standards of creature comfort put considerable stress on natural resources and nonrenewable energy sources. To illustrate how grave is this drain on land and resources: the U.S., with 5% of the world's population, consumes 30% of the world's resources. Natural passage is a means by which we can give back some of what we have taken, reclaim land for nature, and provide new life from death. Why not traditional methods? Modern burial convention requires that trees be killed, land be ill used, energy be wasted, and considerable expense be incurred by the deceased's family. This system continues our drain on nature after our deaths. Local and state laws often require elaborate containment systems. these may consist of tightly sealed caskets, cement vaults or slabs to prevent soil or water contamination from communicable disease or embalming fluid (formaldehyde). The body's own bacteria is the only benefactor of this system. Eventually, it too dies. By the time these high-tech burial canisters decompose, the resulting matter is nearly inert. No nutritional value remains to return to the life cycle. Cremation, though less expensive, fares little better from an ecological standpoint. It requires vast amounts of energy (usually taken from nonrenewable sources) and the resulting product is of little ecological value. Our Proposal: Imagine a nature sanctuary, filled with trees, flowers, and native wildlife – living mememorials to those interred beneath the soil. Work toward these life cemeteries would begin with the purchase of unused farm or pasture land. Sack cloth or a simple pine box would serve as the repository for the deceased. Visitors would be encourages to donate living plants (rather than cut flowers) to be transplanted at the burial site. A young tree could be planted in place of a headstone. New graves would be dug with low impact machinery so as to minimize damage to surrounding vegetation. When all the plots have been filled the 'life cemetery' would become a nature preserve, serving as an eternal monument to the renewal of life. — ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341) ————————————————————————— (458) Tue 2 Aug 88 2:22 By: David Schaal To: All Re: Natural Passages pt. 2 St: ————————————————————————— @EID:c712 12d21102 How will this be accomplished? First, we need dedicated people to organize a core group and begin the necessary paperwork for establishing a legally recognized non-profit organization. Next, we will need to increase public awareness and gain general public support for natural burials. This will be accomplished through education and advertising. Additionally, we hope to solicit support from other organizations sympathetic to our cause. Ecologists, naturalists, animal rights activists, and certain religious groups might be sources of support. We must lobby to enact legislation and/or relax laws and ordinances so that natural burials will be permissible when the deceased has not died from communicable disease and the body has not been embalmed. Additionally, laws requiring the emblaming of bodies transported over state lines must be relxed. Finally, we hope to purchase land for 'life cemeteries' to be maintained and preserved as nature sanctuaries. How you can help. Our immediate need is not for money but for people willing to devote time and energy toward legal research and networking. We do not know the exact costs that will be incurred for printings, mailings, and legal paperwork; but we expect they will be minimal. Only after we have legal recognition do we plan to launch a contributions campain. Hopefully, most of these contributions can be put toward the legal battles ahead and toward a fund to purchase land (while we will gladly accept any monetary contributions toward defraying printing costs, please understand that, at the present, they will not be tax-deductable). If you support the concept of natural passage please fill out and return the enclosed form. Understand that this form does not necessarily mean that you have chosen natural passage, only that you support the philosophy and would like ti see natural passage as a legal and viable option for those who prefer it. If you so mark, your name will be matched with others from your geographic area so that state chapters may be formed. (Many of the legal obstacles occur at either the local or state level, so having an active chapter in each state is imperitive.) ——————————————————————— —— _ I Support the concept of natural passage. Please put me on your mailing list. _ I would like to become a working member of Natural Passage. Please send my name to others in my area (and their names to me). Name: Address: City, St: Zip Code: _ Telephone # (Optional): (_)

Thank you for your support Natural Passage, P.O. Box 33284, Minneapolis, MN 55433

— ConfMail V3.31 * Origin: The Terraboard, Mpls MN (1:282/341)


(459) Mon 8 Aug 88 11:18 By: Josh Gordon To: All Re: Air Force Times article St:


@EID:954a 11085a4d WITCHES, PAGANS CAST ASIDE SHROUD OF SECRECY By Grant Willis Times Staff Writer from The AIR FORCE TIMES, October 26, 1987

    WASHINGTON - Military members who practice witchcraft and 

paganism are emerging from secrecy to demand respect for their civil rights and increased recognition from the armed services.

    In interviews with Air Force Times, military witch and pagan 

activists said they want time off for their major religious holidays. Some said they want dog tags that state "Pagan" or "Wicca" as their religious preference. Other pagans and witches said they need chaplains who understand pre-Christian beliefs and who can help them form worship groups at remote duty locations.

    Signs of the new assertiveness appeared this fall in Europe, 

when some witches and pagans formed a network called the Farwanderer Military Pagan Fellowship. Air Force SSGt Lorie A. Johnson said she placed an announcement in European Stars and Stripes to recruit fellowship members.

    "The goal is to let military pagans know they're not alone," 

Johnson said, and "to show the military that we're not just a bunch of scattered weirdos."

    Johnson is assigned to the 601st Tactical Control Wing at 

Sembach AB, Germany. She said she is a witch, but added that witches prefer to call themselves Wiccans. Their religion is called Wicca.

    Wiccans are considered pagans because they worship several 

nature gods instead of a single god, according to the Army's chaplain handbook. They also believe in phychic powers and hold rituals according to lunar cycle. Other pagan groups include Druids, who base their rituals on solar cycles, and worshippers of the Norse gods, of the ancient Vikings.

    Military witches and pagans have tended to practice their 

religion secretly - so secretly, in fact, that many people outside the pagan subculture are startled to learn that it exists. Some people deny that paganism is a religion find pagan rituals offensive.

    But the pagans who were interviewed said their religion is 

serious and their problems are real. Those problems include choosing whether to keep their beliefs a secret from commanders and co-workers, unwelcome solicitations from people who try to convert them to Christianity, and harassment by those who erroneously regard pagans as devil-worshippers.

    No one knows how many of the estimated 30,000 to 40,000 

pagans in the United States are military members. In a December, 1986 Department of Defense survey, 10,487 military members marked "other religion" as their preference instead of choosing one of the 250 faith groups on the questionnaire. That was less than 1 percent of the 2.1 million who responded.

    Officially, the military takes a neutral view of pagan 

activity in the ranks. "We acknowledge their right to exist," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) William L. Hugham, a spokesman for the Army chief of chaplains office at the Pentagon.

    A 1984 Department of Defense directive allows any religious 

faith group to apply for recognition as an "ecclesiastical endorsing agent." This status allows a faith to seek chaplain commissions, among other things.

    Pagan and Wiccan groups are welcome to apply to the Armed 

Forces Chaplains Board for endorsing status, said Chaplain (Col.) John Mann (USAF), the board's executive director. However, Wiccans and pagans acknowledge that their groups probably are too loosely organized to meet DoD criteria.

    Even without official recognition, Mann said, military pagans 

are entitled to support from more than 3,400 active-duty Catholic, Protestant or Jewish chaplains. "The military chaplaincy exists to provide for the free exercise of religion," he said.

    But as long as the armed services don't count pagans, 

separately, they can continue to ignore pagans' needs, Johnson said. The military also tolerates a climate that makes many pagans afraid to exercise th their rights openly, said Sgt LaVern Bentz (USArmy), a Wiccan assigned to the 284th Military Police Company in Frankfurt, Germany.

   "You have these commanders who don't want to rock the boat," 

Bentz said. "So they tend to look at (paganism) as not part of the norm - is not uniform."

    "Then your assignments start getting changed.  They put you 

on the back burner somewhere in a nice little office…To me, this is very wrong."

    Bentz, a four-year Army veteran, said he started getting 

"rotten" job assignments after he revealed his beliefs to his previous unit commander. Then enlisted soldiers stopped listening to what Bentz said, or jokingly asked if he could cast a good-weather spell for their next field exercise, he said.

    Despite the problems, Bentz said, he managed to get 

transferred to a unit where no one cares that he is a witch. he has since joined the Farwandere Fellowship and hopes that other pagans will follow.

    "Most of them are finally coming out of the closet and 

saying: The military is the pinnacle of what we believe in - freedom of religion - so why are we afraid to reveal our beliefs?" Bentz said.

    But other pagans have chosen to keep a low profile.  Jack 

(not his real name), a Navy hospital corpsman second class stationed in the Deep South, said secrecy protects his family.

    "If I were a civilian and things got hot, I could always pick 

up and leave," he said. "Being in the Navy, I can't do that."

    Jack said he might consider practicing Wicca openly if he 

were stationed on a ship, because everyone aboard would be subject to Navy discipline and regulations that protect freedom of religion. On shore, however, Jack said he feels intimidated by vocal Christian fundamentalists on and off base. The Klu Klux Klan is still active in the civilian community, he added.

    Jack and his wife did attend a workshop for military pagans 

last summer at Barneveld, Wis. The worship had about eight participants and was sponsored by Circle Sanctuary, a 10-year old Wiccan church that claims 15,000 members.

    Some pagans find that their religious implements are banned 

in barracks, said J. Gordon Melton, a professor who heads the University of California at Santa Barbara's Institute for the Study of American Religion.

    For example, Melton said, some bases ban incense because it 

is sometimes used to cover the smell of marijuana. Candles may be considered a fire hazard. And the Wiccan ritual knife, the atheme, may be considered an unauthorized weapon.

    The estimate of 30,000 to 40,000 pagans in the United States 

comes from Melton's research.

    Wiccans and pagans don't try to convert others to their 

religion, but many feel harassed by the well-intentioned efforts of some Christians to "save" them from sin, said Kim Rayworth, the wife of an Air Force major at Incirlik AB, Turkey. Rayworth said she and her husband have been Wiccans since 1970.

    Last summer, Rayworth said, she woke up one morning to find a 

large wooden cross planted in the front yard of her on-base home. She could have made a formal complaint to the base commander but chose to ignore the incident, she said.

    A neighbor also tried to hang crosses around Rayworth's 

daughter's neck, Rayworth said.

    "At the age of 7, she had accumulated nine crosses from (the)

neighbor," Rayworth said. "I finally told her, 'I don't need your crosses. Please don't push your religion on my daughter.'"

— * Origin: ThelemaNet - Hail Eris! * (415) 548-0163 (Opus 1:161/93)

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