Oxford Pagans Talking Stick

Nu-Thelemic Symposium 26th September 2009

2009-01-18T19:37:00.000Z

Hello agian

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Yup, Yule rest over so it's back to the grindstone. I have preliminary booked the Symposium to be held at the Holywell Music Room on the 26th of September this year. This is possibly one of the most listed buildings in the country so quite and difference from last year. It does mean that we can have 200 tickets available though so we won't have to turn so many away. The downside is that as the building is listed, staging a full rite with candles and incense there is unlikely to be possible. We will be getting a side room though so workshops are very much on the agenda.

Here is the Wiki entry for this very famous building:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holywell_Music_Room

The building is in the city centre right next to all the original University Campus buildings and Ashmole's original museum. That area is all laid out in the Alchemical design using Hermetic conceptualisation. There will be plenty of pubs and restaurants nearby too. I hope the day time event to start arround 10:00am and go on till the early evening when we will move to a seperate venue for a social, much like the old Symposiums but hopefully about double the size.

Speakers still have to be established though I have a few who are pencilled in. Suggestions are welcome but it is worth noting that the Symposium is not really geared toward beginners, though without meaning to lose them by blinding them with too much information. We don't really want it to become a soap box conference of rival orders trying to grab beginners you see. It is much more of an adepts conference, with speakers generally being asked to speak from experience on matters that they have worked on personally. The workshops will be introductions to practices that the people running them, have plenty of experience in too.

Anyway the ball is rolling again. I hope to see you there. We will be putting advanced sales of tickets up in the next few weeks, so be early to secure your seat.

Love is the law, love under will.

Thank you,
Alex Bennett

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Aleister Crowley and the Forbidden Lecture - Revisited

2009-01-16T19:38:00.004Z

Pagans at Oxfringe - 4th April 2009

Wyrdwords is a day of talks by some of oxford's pagan authors.
Mogg Morgan will be revisiting one notable day in the 1930s.
Aleister Crowley was to present a controversial lecture to the Oxford University Poetry Society but it was proscribed (ie forbidden) by the University Proctors.

The reason, partly the subject matter - the "satanic" medieval serial killer Gilles de Rais.

The lecturer, to some the celebrated neo-pagan Aleister Crowley, to others, notorious "black magician" and alleged "seducer" and "murderer" of Oxford graduate Raoul Loveday.

Local author Mogg Morgan will be exploring the background and themes to these events at the Mitra Public House, The High, oxford as part of the Oxfringe, 4th April 2009.
More info email

mandox2000@yahoo[dot]com

"Monsters" - Thursday 22nd

2009-01-16T19:36:00.000Z

Greetings

Can someone please forward next to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for next weeks 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot' will be The
Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we discuss a
topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively agreed upon
the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person is free to
speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.
This is an outdoor moot so remember to dress accordingly.

http://talking-
stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point next week will be "Monsters" The talking Stick
discussion starts around 8:30.

Bring yours with you.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WnG8nOK7nqM

__._,_.___

Traditional Witchcraft - 8th January

2009-01-02T12:45:00.000Z

Greetings

Can someone please forward next to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for the next (January 8th) 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.
This is an outdoor moot so remember to dress accordingly.

http://talking-
stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot next point will be" Traditional Witchcraft." The talking
Stick discussion starts around 8:30.

Thelemic Symposium, Oxford. 4th October 2008

2008-08-25T09:39:00.002+01:00

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Speakers (in no particular order):

Lon Milo DuQuette: Subject to be confirmed.

Constance DuQuette: Subject to be confirmed.

Mike Magee: Subject to be confirmed.

Charlotte Rodgers: A talk with pictures on 'Blood Rites & Taboo'.

Jake Stratton Kent: A talk on 'Goetic Magick'.

Melissa Harrington: Thelema & the Feminine II (sequel to her speech at
the last Thelemic Symposium back in the 90s).

A Gnostic Mass will be performed, by the E.G.C. Ordained Priest &
Priestess of
York and Eucharist administered to those who would like to attend.
This will happen after all the speeches in the evening.

To accompany the Mass and with a gig afterwards, Sharon Krauss,
famous
Goth-folk singer-songwriter and musician, will perform live.

The infamous OGDOS Discotheque:
This will finish off the event with DJ Ganesh confirmed (the notorious
and well timed OGDOS DJ), Other DJs to accompany, full listings to be
arranged.

Tickets are about to go on sale, priced £20 cash and a tiny bit more
for card payments with postage on top too if required. There are only
going to be 120 tickets available so book soon to make sure you get
one. I can take pre-bookings now but hope to launch a webpage selling
them online soon. There will be no concessionary prices as we have
worked hard to keep the price as low as it is. I look forward to
seeing you at the event!

Red Dragon

Love is the law, love under will.

http://www.dowhatthouwilt.com/symposium

"Shamanism" Thursday 10th

2008-07-07T09:34:00.001+01:00

Mircea Eliade "Shamanism, archaic techniques of ecstasy" interesting but perhaps not completely objective approach

Ronald Hutton / Shamanism

Michael Harner's classic "Way of the Shaman" is available in knockdown price from the innerbookshop.com

I'd also recommend Jan Fries "Visual Magick: a manual of Freestyle Shamanism"
one of our own books
and "Seidways: shaking, swaying and serpent mysteries"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJS_wwo4Fpk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism

Thursday 29th "Show & tell"

2008-05-28T11:42:00.000+01:00

Greetings

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for this weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point this week will be "Show and tell." - The talking
Stick discussion starts around 8:30.

i.e. bring an thing of magical/spiritual significance to you and tell
us about it, was fun last time.

"Belief and Reason?" Thursday 22 May

2008-05-16T09:28:00.000+01:00

The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.
This is an outdoor moot so remember to dress accordingly.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point next week will be "Belief and Reason?." The talking
Stick discussion starts around 8:30.

Alex Sanders

2008-05-08T10:15:00.002+01:00

Greetings

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.
This is an outdoor moot so remember to dress accordingly.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point next week will be "Alex Sanders." The talking Stick
discussion starts around 8:30.

Alex Sanders (King of the Witches;o)stuff.

Alex Sanders Witchcraft 1970 - Clip taken from the very rare
documnetary movie Witchcraft 1970 showing Alex & maxine Handfasting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n7DVxMg97A

Alex Sanders Initiation Into The Sacred Mysteries. Alex initiates A
novice into the sacred mysteries
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Adzr2ok5nU

Alex Sanders 1926 - 1988 Tribute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glvr5UNwRlE

Alex Sanders Fire Spirit Ritual, Alex Sanders performing a fire spirit
ritual by going into trance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQqZndWpIis

St George and the "Dragon"

2008-04-24T09:02:00.005+01:00

It has the head of a hawk - is wearing Roman armour -
and strikes at a crocodile -
which may become the dragon of european iconography.
But is is probably Coptic St George or maybe one of its other
"rider" saints - this piece is in the Louvre -
It shows the continuity and assimulation of the Egyptian religion into the
Coptic Christianity. It is thought to be a version of the myth "Horus and the Crocodiles" - images of which also have healing properties -
water is passed over the imaged and then drunk to cure certain ailments - which may also link with the disease connection of st george.

Mogg

PS I ave a new book out - third part of my "Tankhem Trilogy" -
this one called :
"Supernatural Assault In Ancient Egypt: Seth, Renpet and Moon Magick"
Also have a film on "Egyptian Magick" on Youtube
search under morganfilms if have trouble finding it - or let me know and i will post the link.
Covers some of this material in more depth

Mogg Morgan
www.mandrake.uk.net

"The Gods, are they real and does it matter

2008-04-10T10:10:00.000+01:00

Next weeks 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'

Greetings

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.
This is an outdoor moot so remember to dress accordingly.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point next week will be "The Gods, are they real and does it
matter" The talking Stick discussion starts around 8:30.

"Tantra"

2008-04-03T17:05:00.000+01:00

"The Goddess and the Left Hand path"

2008-03-27T19:14:00.000Z

Greetings

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for this weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.
This is an outdoor moot so remember to dress accordingly.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point this week will be "The Goddess and the Left Hand path"
The talking Stick discussion starts around 8:30.

Cunning Arts

2008-03-11T18:59:00.000Z

Greetings Folks

Later in the year (when the weather is somewhat better) I'm planning
to run a short course around ten sessions somewhat around the lines
of the course "encircling sorcery of self" I run a few years ago. The
reason why it will need to be better weather is that I'm hoping to
have most of them out in nature.

The course will be basically be an introduction to the working
of `Folk Magick' as I said the initial plan is to have about ten but
they may extend to more depending on how it all goes.

You may (or maybe not) be wondering why if I haven't yet worked out
the details and it is still a few months away why I'm posting about
it now, the reason is that I will now have to get my act together.
If anyone is interested and has any suggestions as to subject areas
then please feel free to email me of list. Some of the areas to be
covered will be, magickal worldview, construction of spells, charms
etc, folk magick tools, the social dynamics of spell casting, etc
etc.

The course will be on a no profit-making basis but there may be
minimal costs we can share or sort out in some other way.
I will post more details nearer the time.

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

Bucca, both Dark and Fair, divine androgyne, be in all hearts
and on the tip of every tongue. For your time has come again as it
does with the beginning of each moment! )O+>
http://www.geocities.com/cronnekdhu
http://jackdaw.covenspace.com/

"Satanism Fact or Fiction"

2008-03-06T12:18:00.000Z

Greetings

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for this weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.
This is an outdoor moot so remember to dress accordingly.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point this week will be "Satanism Fact or Fiction" The
talking Stick discussion starts around 8:30.

"What is my path and why"

2008-02-21T14:56:00.000Z

Next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot' >l<

Greetings

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.
This is an outdoor moot so remember to dress accordingly.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point next week will be "What is my path and why" The
talking Stick discussion starts around 8:30.

"When a piece of pagan "history" isreally nonsense, but then again, maybe there is something in it"

2008-02-07T09:44:00.000Z

>
>The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
>will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
>discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
>agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
>is free to speak or not as is their wish.
>Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
>Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
>pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
>etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
>Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
>should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.
>This is an outdoor moot so remember to dress accordingly.
>http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/
>
>The Moot point next week will be "When a piece of pagan "history" is
>really gust nonsense, but then again, maybe there is something in
>it."The talking Stick discussion starts around 8:30.

__._,_.___
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Pagans and Nature Worship

2008-01-31T09:40:00.000Z

The Devil

2008-01-24T17:27:00.000Z

I've appended the notes from a previous discussion a year or two back. Despite having discussed this several times we always manage to find some new material - and indeed there is definitely a slightly more experiential edge these days:)

We took it as red that Lucifer/Devil were not 'true' god forms but rather some kind of negative mirror images of Jahweh etc. Even so was some mileage in exploring their acquired meaning. When you start moving around on a checker board you're never sure who the real villain might be - if black is white then is the apparently white . . . ? We finished with a discussion of some of the possible ancient role models of the devil - most notably Egyptian god of Chaos Seth, who is an emanation of the sun god ra - representing his passionate, violate side which occasionally must out. No time to discuss the devil's gender - but perhaps that will come up in next week's discussion of Hindu magick.

Hail, Satan,
Lady of Darkness,
Queen of Hell,
sovereign of the Earth,
Goddess of this World!

Goddess who invites us to become as gods!
Muse of our civilization,
Dread Enemy of its tyrant god!
Satan, mighty Liberator,
Bearer of true Light!

Goddess of our flesh,
Goddess of our minds,
Goddess of our innermost Will!

O mighty Lady Satan,
teach us to become strong and wise!
Teach us to vanquish the enemies
of our freedom and well-being!

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

The Moot point this week will be "The Devil." - The talking Stick
discussion starts around 8:30.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GegaMEg-CA0

Horror

2008-01-17T19:02:00.000Z

Thursday, January 17, 2008
Horror

Greetings

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point next week will be "Horror." - The talking
Stick discussion starts around 8:30.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y81Vejnzkb0

Show and Tell

2008-01-10T19:03:00.000Z

Good session - we saw
The spiral wand made for Katy by JD;
Nigel's enormous obsidian scrying ball;
Someones special amulet;
An Indian story-telling box;
Weyland read the first of his cycle of poems on the themes of bardic birds;
Chris showed is his much prized example of an Austin Spare automatic drawing;
Andy showed and demonstrated his bronze 'demomic' sanctuary lamp ;
Lucia showed her shark's touth amulet;
And JD shows a Witch's Whisk for driving out bad luck, made from brambles and a Witches Goose feather sweeper for good luck brushed into the house.

Kabbalah

2007-12-13T20:01:00.000Z

Greetings All

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for this weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point this week will be "The Qabbala." - The talking Stick
discussion starts around 8:30.

"Is Paganism a Faith."/Why call yourself a Pagan?

2007-11-29T09:28:00.001Z

Why call yourself a Pagan?

“Pagan” and “Paganism” was early Christian slang, meaning “civilian” and not as some say, pejorative terms for “rustic” or “provincial”. Some of the most high profile “pagans” attacked by Christians in antiquity dwelt in sophisticated cities. For example the pagan martyr Hypatia, was from Alexandria, a city notorious to Christians, for its intellectual pagans.

Robin Lane Fox /Pagans & Christians/. Penguin 1986:

“In antiquity, pagans already owed a debt to Christians. Christians first gave them their name, /pagani/. The word first appears in Christian inscriptions of the early fourth century and remained colloquial, never entering the Latin translation of the Bible. In everyday use, it meant either civilian or a rustic. Since the sixteenth century, the origin of the early Christian’s usage has been disputed, but of the two meanings, the former is the likelier. /Pagani/ were civilians who had not enlisted through baptism as soldiers of Christ against the powers of Satan. By its word for non-believer, Christian slang bore witness to the heavenly battle which coloured Christian’s view of life.

“Paganism” too, is a Christian coinage, a word like “Judaism”, which suggests a system of doctrine and orthodoxy, as Christian religion knows one. By modern historians pagan religion has been defined as essentially a matter of cult acts . . . pagans performed rites but professed no creed or doctrine. They did pay detailed acts of cult, especially by offering animal victims to their gods; but they were not committed to revealed beliefs in the strong Christian sense of the term. They were not exhorted to faith: “to anyone brought up on classical Greek philosophy, faith was the lowest form of cognition . . . the state of mind of the uneducated.” Although followers of Plato’s philosophy began to give the term more value in the later third century ad, no group of pagans ever called themselves “the faithful”; the term remains one of the few ways of distinguishing Jewish and Christian Epitaphs from those which are Pagan.”

"Is Magick "real."

2007-11-08T08:57:00.000Z

Greetings All

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point next week will be "Is Magick "real." - The talking
Stick discussion starts around 8:30.

"I came down on a lightning bolt
Nine months in my Mama's belly.
When I was born, the midwife scream and shout,
I had fire crystals coming out of my mouth.
I'm Exuma, I'm the Obeah Man!"

Evil

2007-10-05T20:05:00.001+01:00

Greetings All

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point next week will be "Evil." - The talking Stick
discussion starts around 8:30.

Surrealist Games

2007-10-04T20:20:00.000+01:00

Results from playing of 'Exquisite Corpse'

The poptastic hospital lives excitedly
A dark cloud wobbling new anti-oxidents
two rotund diseases travel with smelly tranvestites
A violently purple boil flying its illustrious pustule
The glorious psychiatrist drinking ancient verve cliqot
Three vivid feet discombobulating the slimy mountains

Any awful animal gargling bloody stallions
The slutty Henbane plant sucking ecstatic goldfish
Thy overweight cat aggravating the pustulant pyramid
There long fishwifes lassoing the lowly table
100 sensuous demolitions leaked small a slugpile
A once blue tadpole flirted with faded balloons

"Paganism in the workplace."

2007-09-13T10:23:00.000+01:00

Three issues were discussed:

1. Do Pagans have a philosophy of work? Ie what is our attitude the things like the so-called 'Protestant work ethic'. Do we believe in the 'dignity of labour'. If so how does this fit with the 'alienation' of modern society. What ethical views can we derive from our small scale, communitarian models of social organisation?

2. Do Pagans have have a concept similar to that of the Buddhist 'Right Livelihood'.

3. Should Pagans 'come out at work'? Do those who keep their heads down and seek to offend noone fair better than those who, when challenged, stand up for their right to worship in their own way??

Pagan Picnic

2007-09-01T17:09:00.000+01:00

Greetings all

Well we had better have at least one OPC picnic this year while the
weather is still likely to be warm.
The picnic will be at Port meadow on the 1st of September i.e. next
weekend, meet at car park at 1.00 pm or find us on the meadow.
Bring what you expect to find � food and drink to share, musical
instruments, entertainment etc.

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

Christo-Pagans

2007-08-30T08:55:00.000+01:00

Meetings have been at Angel & Greyhound for more than a year now

Greetings All

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for this weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point this week will be "Christo-Pagans." - The talking
Stick discussion starts at 8:30.

Also called "Dual observance" i.e Historically elements of paganism
have survived Christian persecution by -giving Pagan Gods christian
masks and concealing Pagan mysteries within biblical language.
Many old charms sound like they come from the bible but cannot be
found.

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

The Spaghetti Goddess or

2007-08-23T08:57:00.000+01:00

Pagan Heresies, old chestnuts and myths. Prompted by a recent book that talked of the Celtic reverence for the Potato and its titulary goddess. On one of this summer's few balmy evenings, a lively exchange of views on issues of for example the supposed stoneage matriarchy, which was given a new boast by 1970s feminist scholarship although has since been modified by more sober commentators. Neverthess the ideas that our pagan forebears had some novel forms of social organisations that were perhaps more peaceful and user friendly than the subsequent 'patriachies' is still relevent and worthy of deep thought

Do Pagans need to practice

2007-08-09T19:59:00.000+01:00

Greetings All

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use.

The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians,
etc. wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the week's subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point next week will be "Do Pagans need to practice
Magick." - The talking Stick discussion starts at 8:30.

Most could do with more than a little practice ;o)

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

----------------------------------------------------------
Bucca, both Dark and Fair, divine androgyne, be in all hearts
and on the tip of every tongue. For your time has come again as it
does with the beginning of each moment! )O+>
http://www.geocities.com/cronnekdhu

Cardinality

2007-06-28T14:30:00.000+01:00

Training the Mind and Mind Training

2007-06-14T17:53:00.000+01:00

From: "JackDaw"
>Date: Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:19:00 -0000
>Subject: [OxfordPaganCircle] Next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick
>Pub Moot'
>
>
>Greetings All
>
>
>
>The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
>will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
>discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
>agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
>is free to speak or not as is their wish.
>Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
>Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
>pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians etc
>wishing to take part in the discussion.
>Prior knowledge of the weeks subject is not essential as these moots
>should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.
>
>http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/
>
>The Moot point next week will be "Training the mind, mind training"
>the talking Stick discussion starts at 8:30.
>
>
>
>Benna'sywes
>
>JackDaw
>
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------
>O Grand Bucca, both Dark and Fair, divine androgyne, be in all hearts
>and on the tip of every tongue. For your time has come again as it
>does with the beginning of each moment! )O+>
>http://www.geocities.com/cronnekdhu

"Language and reality"

2007-06-07T19:17:00.000+01:00

Greetings All

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use..

The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians etc
wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the weeks subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point next week will be "Language and reality" the talking
Stick discussion starts at 8:30.

You only get a single chance
The rules are very plain
The truth is well concealed inside
The details of the game
You can see it coming
You can hear it from afar
It's pale and it flickers
Like a faded movie star
And up there in the castle
They're trying to make us scream
By sticking thumb tacks in her flesh
And cancelling the dream
Can you find the valium?
Can you bring it soon?
Lost Johnny's out there
Baying at the Moon
The time has come for you to choose
You'd better get it right
Berlin girls with sharp white teeth
Are waiting in the night
But you oughta really get some
It surely can't be hard
There's always trouble waiting
When you leave your own back yard
And underneath the city
The alligators sing
About how the puppets cannot dance
Since someone cut the strings
Run and get the morphine
For God's sake make it brief
Lost Johnny's out there
Looking for relief
Now Simon looks so evil
And you know he really tries
But every time he makes a play
That vital number dies
And Sally buys her underwear
>From a store where no-one goes
She makes it big in photographs
On the strength of what she shows
And here inside the waiting room
The radio still screams
And we're all taking Tuenol
To murder our young dreams
Run and fetch your credit card
Try to make it quick
Lost Johnny's out there
Trying to turn a trick

"Lost Johnny" by Hawkwind

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

----------------------------------------------------------
O Grand Bucca, both Dark and Fair, divine androgyne, be in all hearts
and on the tip of every tongue. For your time has come again as it
does with the beginning of each moment! )O+>
http://www.geocities.com/cronnekdhu

"Paganism, What's Next"

2007-05-31T09:51:00.000+01:00

From: "JackDaw"
>Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 15:18:04 -0000
>Subject: [OxfordPaganCircle] Next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub
>Moot'
>
>
>Greetings All
>
>
>
>The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
>will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
>discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
>agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
>is free to speak or not as is their wish.
>Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
>Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
>pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians etc
>wishing to take part in the discussion.
>Prior knowledge of the weeks subject is not essential as these moots
>should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.
>
>http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/
>
>The Moot point next week will be "Paganism, What's Next" the talking
>Stick discussion starts at 8:30.
>
>
>
>Benna'sywes
>
>JackDaw
>
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------
>O Grand Bucca, both Dark and Fair, divine androgyne, be in all hearts
>and on the tip of every tongue. For your time has come again as it
>does with the beginning of each moment! )O+>
>http://www.geocities.com/cronnekdhu

__._,_.___

Pagan Sexuality

2007-05-24T09:32:00.000+01:00

Staff/Wand Making Day with Jack Daw

2007-05-19T10:48:00.000+01:00

Don't just talk about it
come to an OPC awayday
No charge
so why pay more for less
For those who prefer the company of a knowledgeable witch -
(as opposed to armchair pundits and self promoters )

The date for the Staff/Wand making day is the 19th of May
meeting at 1.30pm.

If anyone is interested and hasn't do so
already email for more info.

JD

"Lucifer and the Nephilim

2007-05-17T09:38:00.000+01:00

Greetings All

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use..

The venue for this weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians etc
wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the weeks subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point this week will be "Lucifer and the Nephilim
(Watchers) " the talking Stick discussion starts at 8:30.

O' Tubalo Lucifer, Cunning-Father and Lord of the North-eastern Airt,
Guardian of the Right-hand Pillar at the Silvern Gate of Argestes,
we bid Thee to hear us and to be here with us!
Be Thou before us as the Light-bearer, Guardian of the Morning-star!
O' Come Thou forth in Thy grand array,
robed in the splendour of darkness to beckon the light of dawn.
Here reveal Thy shining countenance,
red-golden tanned with the heat of Heaven's forge.
Bear down the Mysteries of Fire unto Man;
steal Thou the Flame from the Altar of the Highest Star.

Be Thou here amongst us to unsheath the blade from the heart of the
upright stone, to instruct us in the ways of metal and measure; yea,
to reveal the Forbidden Wisdom of Angels amid this, the Earthen
Circle of Our Arte.

In Thy four hands bear forth the signs of Thy dominion:-
the Star-lit Lantern of Morning, whose flame doth reveal a burning
book; the Skull-drum of Habila, whose rhythm is of a thousand
clashing swords; the Blacksmith's Sceptre - the striking hammer,
whose Word is the Uncooling Nail of Heresy rejoicing on the anvil;
and the Compass and Square for the Temple's Design - for the meter'd
line of all Fate and Faith.

O' Tubalo Lucifer, Lord of Argestes, be Thou here amongst us!
By hammer and by nail, we bid Thee to empower us.

>From "Conjuration of the Witch-Father Tubalo Lucifer"
By Andrew Chumbley

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

----------------------------------------------------------
O Grand Bucca, both Dark and Fair, divine androgyne, be in all hearts
and on the tip of every tongue. For your time has come again as it
does with the beginning of each moment! )O+>
http://www.geocities.com/cronnekdhu

__._,_.___

Magical Journies

2007-05-10T10:39:00.000+01:00

1.Keatman, Martin and Phillips, Graham, The Green Stone, 1984 Grafton
edition (first ed - 1983), Neville Spearman Limited, Jersey), London.

I shall go as a wren in spring
With sorrow and sighing on silent wing,
And I shall go in our Maid's name,
Aye, till I come home again!

We shall follow as falcons' grey,
And hunt thee cruelly as our pray,
But we shall go in our Masters name,
Aye, to fetch thee home again!

Then I shall go as a mouse in May,
In fields by night, in cellars by day,
And I shall go in our Maid's name,
Aye, till I come home again!

And we shall follow as black tom cats,
And chase thee through the corn and vats,
But we shall go in our Masters name,
Aye, to fetch thee home again!

Then I shall go as an autumn hare,
With sorrow and sighing and mickle care,
And I shall go in our Maid's name,
Aye, till I come home again!

But we shall follow as swift greyhounds,
And dog thy tracks by leaps and bounds,
And we shall go in our Masters name,
Aye, to fetch thee home again!

Then I shall go as a winter trout,
With sorrow and sighing and mickle doubt,
And I shall go in our Maid's name,
Aye, till I come home again!

But we shall follow as otters swift,
And snare thee fast ere thou canst shift,
and we shall go in our Masters name,
Aye, to fetch thee home again!

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

"Earth Energies"

2007-05-03T17:39:00.000+01:00

"Dragons and other magickal beings"

2007-04-26T09:16:00.000+01:00

"What Does It Mean To Lead A Pagan

2007-04-12T16:55:00.000+01:00

"Glamours and Enchantments."

2007-04-05T09:32:00.000+01:00

Next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'. )o+> + quote!

Greetings All

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use..

The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians etc
wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the weeks subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point next week will be "Glamours and Enchantments." the
talking Stick discussion starts at 8:30.

MANY years since, there lived as housekeeper with a celebrated
squire, whose name is associated with the history of his native
country, one Nancy Tregier. There were many peculiarities about
Nancy; and she was, being a favourite with her master, allowed to do
much as she pleased. She was in fact a petted, and, consequently, a
spoiled servant. Nancy left Pendeen one Saturday afternoon to walk to
Penzance, for the purpose of buying a pair of shoes. There was an old
woman, Jenny Trayer, living in Pendeen Cove who had the reputation of
being a witch or, as some people mildly put it, "who had strange
dealings;" and with her Nancy desired, for sundry reasons best known
to herself, to keep on the closest of terms. So on this Saturday,
Nancy first called on the old woman to inquire if she wished to have
anything brought home from Penzance. Tom, the husband of Nancy's
friend, did no work; but now and then he would go to sea for an hour
or two and fish. It is true everybody gave Jenny just what she asked
for her fish, out of pure fear. Sometimes they had a "venture" with
the smugglers, who, in those days, carried on a roaring trade in
Pendeen Cove. The old Squire was a justice; but he winked very hard,
and didn't know anything about the smugglers. Indeed, some ill-
natured people and there are always such to be found in any nook or
corner said Nancy often took her master home a choice bottle of
Cogniac; even a case of "Hollands" now and then; and, especially when
there was to be a particularly "great run," there were some beautiful
silk handkerchiefs to be seen at the Squire's. But this is beyond our
story. When Nancy went into Jenny's cottage, Tom was there, and right
busy was she in preparing some ointment, and touching her husband's
eyes with it: this Jenny tried to hide in the mouth of the oven at
the side of the chimney. Tom got up and said he must be off, and left
the two women together. After a few idle compliments, Jenny said that
Nancy must have something to drink before she started for Penzance,
and she went to the sj5ence for the bottles. Nancy, ever curious,
seized the moment, dipped her finger into the pot of green ointment,
and, thinking it was good for the eyes, she just touched her right
eye with it before Jenny returned. They then took a horn or two
together, and being thus spliced, Nancy started for Penzance.

Penzance Market was in those days entirely in the street; even the
old market house had not yet an existence. Nancy walked about doing a
little business and a great deal of gossiping; when amongst the
standings in Market Jew Street, whom should Nancy see but Tom Trayer,
picking off the standings, shoes, stockings, hanks of yarn, and
pewter spoons indeed, some of all the sorts of things which were for
sale. Nancy walked up to him, and, taking him by the arm, said, "Tom!
ar'then't ashamed to be here carrying on such a game? However thee
canst have the impudence, I can't think, to be picking the things
from the standings and putting them in thy pocket in broad daylight,
and the people all around thee." Tom looked very much surprised when
Nancy spoke to him. At last he said, "Is that you, Nancy?--which eye
can you see me upon?" Nancy shut her left eye, this made no
difference; she then shut her right eye, and, greatly to her
surprise, she saw all the people, but she no longer saw Tom. She
opened her right eye, and there was Tom as before. She winked, and
winked, and was surprised, you may be sure, to find that she could
not see Tom with either eye. "Now, Nancy," said Tom, "right or
left." "Well," said Nancy, "'tis strange; but there is something
wrong with my left eye."

"Oh, then, you see me with the right, do you?"

Then Tom put his finger on her right eye, and from that moment she
was blind on that side.

On her way home, Nancy was always going off the road on her blind
side; but the hedges kept her from wandering far away. On the downs
near Pendeen there were no hedges, so Nancy wandered into a furze
brake,night came on, she could not find her way out, and she was
found in it the next morning fast asleep.

The old Squire was out hunting in the early morning, according to his
usual custom. In passing along the road leading to Carnyorth, he saw
a woman's knitting-work hanging on a bramble, and the yarn from the
stocking leading away into the brake. He took the yarn in his hand
and followed it until he came to the old woman, who had the ball in
her pocket. When the Squire awakened the old woman, she told him the
story which I have told you. Her master, however, said that he didn't
believe she had been into Penzance at all, but that she had stayed in
the Cove arid got drunk: that when dark night came, she had
endeavoured to find her way home,lost her road, fallen down, and
probed her eye out on a furze bush, and then gone off in drunken
unconsciousness. Nancy told her master that he was no better than an
unbelieving heathen; and to the day of her death she protested that
Tom Trayer put her eye out. Jenny's ointment is said to have been
made with a four-leaved clover, gathered at a certain time of the
moon. This rendered Fairyland visible, and made men invisible.

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

--------------------------------------------------------------------
O Grand Bucca, both Dark and Fair, divine androgyne, be in all hearts
and on the tip of every tongue. For your time has come again as it
does with the beginning of each moment! )O+>
http://www.geocities.com/cronnekdhu

Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:33 pm

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Animal Magick

2007-03-29T18:22:00.000+01:00

Greetings All

The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians etc
wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the weeks subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

The Moot point next week will be "Animal Magick." the talking Stick
discussion starts at 8:30.

'I am a stag of seven tines,
I am a wild flood on the plain,
I am a wind on the deep waters,
I am a tear the Sun lets fall,
I am a hawk above the cliff,
I am a salmon in the pool,
I am a battle-waging spear,
I am a wave of the sea,
Who but I knows the mystery of the unhewn dolmen?'

http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/animal.htm

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

The Equinox

2007-03-22T17:20:00.000Z

Tarot

2007-03-15T12:23:00.000Z

A small select circle was an opportunity to go slightly deeper into the meaning of the Tarot. We started with discussion of the fool's journey and its relationship to the story of Hamlet - a piece of European mythic history that may even record the ancient Egyptian monomyth of Horus. Hamlet/Horus is a dis-enfrancised prince, haunted by the ghost of his murdered father who lays on Hamlet the heavy load of vengence. Hamlet/Horus grows up in the story as he does in the Tarot, coming to his full potential as a 'king'. On the way he escapes the assassin's knife, exposing his mother's shameful incest with his 'wicked' uncle etc etc. We discussed the importance of these and other Hamlet myths - how they often crop up in the works of Freud and Jung. Knowledge of the tarot often does come in small increments arising in the discussion between its users. It really does function as a magician's 'book' especially when one uses a really mature tarot deck, for example Crowley's Thoth tarot. We discussed some of the secret mysteries encoded into the background of some of the card, all of which was particularly revealing with the cards, the Universe, the Sun, the Lovers (or Brothers) and The Art card.

Blood, Lust and Magick

2007-03-08T20:10:00.000Z

The association of blood and magick is very ancient. A recurring theme in mythology is the idea that the gods live on blood. This is reflected in the kind of offerings made, whether they be actual sacrificial beasts or symbolic. The necessity of blood offerings is equally a feature of Abrahamic faiths such as Judaism or even Christianity - where blood rites are manifested as the eucharist and in the cult of the saints. The eucharist is in fact just another continuity from ancient pagan practice. It was amongst pagan practitioners such as the Georgian magus Francis Barrett and Edwardian adept Aleister Crowley, that the move away from use of animal blood first manifested. Modern pagans favour symbolic substitutes or voluntary blood such as 'of the moon'.

This discussion took place just a few days after a very fine lunar omina or 'red moon'. There was some discussion of whether blood is sacred because it is red - ie its really all about the centrality of the colour red in magick. This takes us back to the times of our earliest ancesters in the early Paleolithic - who collected and presumably reverenced red ochre much as pagans still do to this day.

Honouring the Ancient Dead

2007-03-01T09:44:00.000Z

Honouring the Ancient Dead
ensuring respect for ancient pagan remains

Policy on Consultation
on Human Remains of British Provenance

Draft (February 2007)

The following points are laid down as an agreed policy of Honouring the Ancient Dead, the implementation of which is understood to be a key part of the organisation’s remit.

HAD defines human remains as bones, ash, or any part of what was once a living human being, including hominid ancestors not classified as Homo sapiens.

1. Who Should be Consulted

1.1 Human remains found or stored in a particular area should be treated primarily as the antecedents of the current residents of that area. Therefore, the proper care and management of human remains found, or now retained within a museum, in any location are the collective responsibility of all that area’s modern residents. No one group or individual has any special claim to guardianship of them. However, some groups will inevitably have a greater interest in certain types of remains.

1.2 All interested communities should have an opportunity to be consulted when decisions are taken regarding the management of human remains, whether in archives or collections, or recently excavated. This should be seen as a positive process, facilitating a connection with the people who lived there before them, and through this enabling people to become more involved with local heritage and collections.

1.3 Interested communities may include faith groups active in the local/regional/national areas, plus heritage and culture related community groups, academics and scientists, and general representatives of the local population.

2. The Input of Pagans

2.1 Of all faith groups, Pagans probably give the greatest importance to respecting the antecedents of modern residents, their duty of care being heightened by the importance of reverence for heritage and ancestry fundamental to their religious practice. It is therefore most important that local Pagan communities are included in any consultation on human remains.

2.2 Many Pagans feel an affinity in particular for British human remains from the pre-Christian era, together with associated artefacts and burial sites. However, Pagans honour all their ancestors, whenever they lived and whatever their faith or lack of it. Pagans should therefore be included in consultation processes for recent remains and those of all Christian era, Jewish or other faiths, as well as pre-Christian remains. Although other faith communities may wish to exclude Pagans for religious reasons, this is not a reason for museums or other involved organisations to exclude them from consultations.

3. The Practicalities of Consultation

3.1 All human remains should have statements of significance drawn up and published. These should be accessible by all interested parties, both as part of the decision-making process and in order to meet the DCMS Guidance.

3.2 Local, regional or national consultation should be carried out according to the agreed significance of the remains. Local consultation is essential in all cases. Where appropriate, however, it should be extended to the regional or national, such as where specific expertise is required or a broader interest is evident.

3.3 HAD will work towards a broader consultation process involving all interested community groups around decisions to excavate and retain human remains.

4. The Role of HAD

4.1 Nearly all areas have active Pagan communities, but they are often excluded from mainstream public consultations and from local Councils of Faith and other interfaith bodies. For this reason, they should be approached through HAD, who will make the appropriate contacts and forge connections.

4.2 HAD is willing to act as a consultee in all cases of local significance, either where nominated by the local Pagan community, or contacted directly by organisers of any consultation. In this case, HAD will notify the local Pagan community, seek their approval and involve them in the process if possible.

4.3 HAD expects to be consulted directly for all cases of regional or national significance, using its own resource of theologians and contacts throughout the British Pagan faith community to ensure decisions are supported. Decisions made will be disseminated through the Pagan faith community through HAD’s website and other public media.

Celibacy : what do pagan's think?

2007-03-01T09:12:00.000Z

"Raising power and reaching gnosis"

2007-02-22T10:25:00.000Z

Are they different things and how are they related. Traditional techniques for raising power include dancing, drumming, chanting, seething, 'the way of the herb' etc., etc. Some felt very self conscious during this part of a ritual and wondered whether they could be avoided perhaps in favour of a more quietist, meditational approach. Others thought the power techniques were fun and an indispensible part of magick. Gnosis is a concept from classical Greek and Egyptian magick (Christian Gnosticism a continuation of this tradition). The idea has been given a new lease of life in contemporary Chaos Magick and the Typhonian tradition. Raising energy (from the earth or body) or drawing down energy from the sky; can be a useful part of magick in its own right but also a necessary prelude to Gnosis - or mystical enlightenment.

Do Pagans Need Legal Recognition

2007-02-15T15:58:00.000Z

A cool but comfortable evening round table. 'Paganism' is an umbrella term for a whole spectrum of non-christian religious activity - this vagueness can cause us difficulties when it comes to defending our right to do as we will. But most thought that yes of course we should have the same legal protection as any other religion but wouldn't want to make it the main focus of our activity. The current established status of the Church of England is an anachronism and should be ended rather than extended. Pagans are a radical bunch who would probably prefer a secular state that allowed very diverse religious expressions. The slight reservations would be that some use legalism as a short cut to magical status. The self appointed legal representatives often lack a real understanding of what pagan's really want. Hence the notorious support of the Pagan Federation for a 'ticket scheme' for solstice at Stonehenge - 250 tickets for 30K people always did seem a non starter. Rather than following the models of 'appointing leaders' and 'registered priesthoods' - pagans would probably prefer 'the law is for all' kind of approach. I.e. Why shouldn't any or every pagan be entitled to perform a legal handfasting if that is their desire - it's not as if its rocket science. On balance there is probably always going to be some tension between our antonomial nature with laws and authoritarian structures.

Hermetics and Hermeticism

2007-02-01T17:38:00.000Z

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any otherlist you this might find it of use..The venue for this weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week wediscuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectivelyagreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each personis free to speak or not as is their wish.Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford TalkingStick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to allpagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians etcwishing to take part in the discussion.Prior knowledge of the weeks subject is not essential as these mootsshould and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

The Moot point this week will be "Hermetics/Hermetisism" the talkingStick discussion starts at 8:30.http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/Benna'sywesJackDaw----------------------------------------------------------O Grand Bucca, both Dark and Fair, divine androgyne, be in all heartsand on the tip of every tongue. For your time has come again as itdoes with the beginning of each moment! )O+>http://www.geocities.com/cronnekdhu/Traditional_Cornish_Witchcraft.html

Pagan Handfasting

2007-01-25T18:57:00.000Z

This weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'

Greetings All

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use..

The venue for this weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians etc
wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the weeks subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

The Moot point this week will be "Pagan Handfasting"the talking Stick
discussion starts at 8:30.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

Climate Change & the Wheel of the Year

2007-01-18T20:34:00.000Z

Old Craft, New Craft

2007-01-06T18:03:00.001Z

next meeting 11th January

2006-12-18T09:32:00.001Z

Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Yule rest.
Greetings folksWell the Talking stick is another year older and yet again we havecome to our Yule rest, we will start again in all likly hood on thesecond or third Thursday of of the new year.Have a great Yule and watch this space.Benna'sywesJackDaw

H P Blavatsky & Theosophy

2006-12-14T09:32:00.000Z

Topic: Winter (note new start time)

2006-12-02T09:15:00.001Z

Landcraft

2006-11-29T18:17:00.001Z

An unfamiliar term for the things such as earth mysteries etc. For some the land and its cycles provide the best guide to the ebb and flow of the seasons. This is a form of 'primitive' time reckoning - for example when the 'the holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown' means its Yule. Others weren't so convinced that this would lead to a satifactory 'wheel' of the year without some sort of calibration by use of more 'reliable' natural clocks such as the moon. Afterall if May starts when the May blossom appears - does the season start when you happened to see it? What if you missed it? The idea that our ancestors relied on this kind of natural sign is very romantic; but in practice they soon augmented them with lunar/stellar forms of time measurement. Is the movement away from our earthy roots the price we pay for progress?

"The Tradition you draw upon is native to the land upon which youstand, solely because the power must ever be drawn direct through theearth wherever you might happen to be. The circle is the gate whichopens in the Earth and allows in/egress through the powers of theLand."Andrew Chumbley 1995

Necromancy

2006-11-23T10:13:00.000Z

Not a topic for the faint hearted concerning as it does the use of the dead for some form of divination. Some found this an historical oddity others still a concept with some continued relevance. Looked at from an eastern perspective like the notorious 'vira' or heroic rites of Hindu tantra in which a practitioner (sadhaka) goes to the cremation ground at midnight to find a corpse waiting cremation on the morrow. This he or she uses as a vehicle into which to invoke the a special kind of dangerous spirit entity called a yogini. When combined with 'shiva's seed' this can lead to terrifying visions thus justifying the words of the tantrik master that one uses a road to heaven that could equally well led to hell!

She then marked out a circle by drawing her Gwelen (Staff), on theground three times round the man, at the same time mumbling in herunknown tongue (i.e. Cornish). This done, turning to the sailor, shesaid, "Now, mind you don't move out of this charmed ring which I havemade to protect ye, and if you if you are still determined I will nowbegin and summon the Spirit."The Witch, holding out her Staff towards the spot where the old womanwas buried, began her incantation, or citation, with long, strangewords, slowly pronounced. Then she continued in a louder tone "Spiritof Jane Hendy, in the name of all the powers above and below, Isummon thee to rise from the grave and appear before me and this man!By the spirits of Fire, Air, Earth, and Water, I summon thee toarise! Come hither, appear, and speak to this man! Come!This she said three times, rising her voice at each repetition untilit ended in a shriek.The Witch paused. All was silent for a moment, and then were heard,most fearful, because unusual, sounds, which more than any otherearthly noise resembled the crashing or rending of wood and stones,mingled with painful moans, groans and shrieks, which seemed to comefrom the old woman's grave. The Witch, stretching out her arms, herred cloak and grey hair streaming back on the wind. Pointed with herStaff toward the place whence these frightful sounds proceeded, andsaid, "Behold, it cometh: be thou prepared!"

Totem & Taboo

2006-11-16T09:34:00.000Z

Cool but dry evening. The discussion focussed more on taboo, things like incest, murder or more famously the dietary rules of Judaism & Islam. Do these have a basis in 'primitive hygene' or are there mysterious or religious factors at work? Taboos and their breaking can according to some be a source of magical power - thus the famous five Ms or powerful enjoyments of Hindu magick - ie the 'code substances' - meat, fish, alchohol, sex and parched grain. In general most pagans aren't really into taboo - consciously or unconsciously the pagan is more into deconditioning themselves from what is often seen as the cultural hangups of previous religions. As Margaret Murray said, the sacred of one religion can become the taboo of another.

Magickal Rituals - do we need them?

2006-11-09T18:15:00.000Z

'The elements are our friends!' It's getting a bit cool sitting outside so we all wrapped up warm and cuddly. Ritual - the word has a slight pejorative sense as 'unnecessary activity' - even so we all thought them very necessary and indeed characteristic of the pagan way (and indeed at a less formal level - rituals are an ubiquitous part of everyone's life). The use of ritual reminds us of one of the basics of pagan theology - the primacy of sound as the fundamental principle of our universe. Thus rituals have to be spoken or even better 'vibrated' out loud, for the full impact and benefit to manifest. Ritual requires performance and action. Not just internal dialogue but external dialectic, which at the very least allows for that mysterious third thing to interveen - the word-play, puns and unforced errors that can be so creative. A further aspect of ritual stems from its etymology - 'appropriate timing'. Rituals are part of the process by which we attune ourself to the world's cycles. There was also some discussion of the value, or otherwise, of stipulating a time frame, traditionally one hour, thus determining the pace, also adding some productive pressure to the process. As evidence someone pointed to the number of hour-glasses owned by the traditional witches whose remains are to be seen in Boscastle's Museum of Witchcraft.

Aleister Crowley - zero or hero

2006-11-02T18:01:00.000Z

Samhain Walk - 7pm

2006-10-31T03:00:00.000Z

Meet at the Turf Tavern.
Finish about ninish probably at another pub.

Samhain Party

2006-10-27T19:09:00.000+01:00

Oxford Pagan Circle

Friday 27th October
7:45-11pm.

A fancy dress party marking the 10th anniversary of OPC.

Venue: Ground floor,
(that place at the end)
Manzil Way
off Cowley Road
Oxford, OX4 1GH.

Prize for the best fancy dress.
Music by DJ WorzleMangler
Pagan Quiz
An ancestral altar (please bring items for setting up this altar)
Apple bobbing

Please bring food and drink to share.
Cost: £2 to cover room hires.

FFI: nabarz@hotmail.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OxfordPaganCircle/

Halloween samhain

2006-10-26T10:00:00.000+01:00

Next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'

Greetings All

Can someone please forward this to the PF South list and any other
list you this might find it of use..

The venue for next weeks Thursday 'Oxford Talking Stick Pub Moot'
will be The Angel and Greyhound Pub (St . Clements st). Each week we
discuss a topic, using a talking stick, which we have collectively
agreed upon the week before, we do so in fellowship and each person
is free to speak or not as is their wish.
Most folks get to the pub about 8:00 to 8:30. The Oxford Talking
Stick meets every Thursday and is an independent group open to all
pagans, witches, Tantrics, Druids, Wiccans, Shaman and magickians etc
wishing to take part in the discussion.
Prior knowledge of the weeks subject is not essential as these moots
should and can be an opportunity for us to learn from each other.

The Moot point next week will be "halloween samhain"the talking Stick
discussion starts at 8:30.

http://talking-stick.blogspot.com/

ON the lone bleak moor,
At the midnight hour,
Beneath the Gallows Tree,
Hand in hand
The Murderers stand
By one, by two, by three!
And the Moon that night
With a grey, cold light
Each baleful object tips;
One half of her form
Is seen through the storm,
The other half 's hid in Eclipse!
And the cold Wind howls,
And the Thunder growls,
And the Lightning is broad and bright;
And altogether
It 's very bad weather,
And an unpleasant sort of a night!
'Now mount who list,
And close by the wrist
Sever me quickly the Dead Man's fist!--
Now climb who dare
Where he swings in air,
And pluck me five locks of the Dead Man's hair!

To the Dead Man's knock!
Fly bolt, and bar, and band!--
Nor move, nor swerve,
Joint, muscle, or nerve,
At the spell of the Dead Man's hand!
Sleep all who sleep!-- Wake all who wake!--
But be as the Dead for the Dead Man's sake! 'Now lock, nor bolt, nor
bar avails,
Nor stout oak panel thick-studded with nails.
Heavy and harsh the hinges creak,
Though they had been oil'd in the course of the week,
The door opens wide as wide may be,
And there they stand,
That murderous band,
Lit by the light of the glorious hand,
By one!-- by two!-- by three!

* * *

"She then marked out a circle by drawing her Staff (Gwelen), on the
ground three times round the man, at the same time mumbling in her
unknown tongue (i.e. Cornish). This done, turning to the sailor, she
said, "Now, mind you don't move out of this charmed ring which I have
made to protect ye, and if you if you are still determined I will now
begin and summon the Spirit."
The Witch, holding out her Staff towards the spot where the old woman
was buried, began her incantation, or citation, with long, strange
words, slowly pronounced. Then she continued in a louder tone "Spirit
of Jane Hendy, in the name of all the powers above and below, I
summon thee to rise from the grave and appear before me and this man!
By the spirits of Fire, Air, Earth, and Water, I summon thee to
arise! Come hither, appear, and speak to this man! Come!
This she said three times, rising her voice at each repetition until
it ended in a shriek.
The Witch paused. All was silent for a moment, and then were heard,
most fearful, because unusual, sounds, which more than any other
earthly noise resembled the crashing or rending of wood and stones,
mingled with painful moans, groans and shrieks, which seemed to come
from the old woman's grave. The Witch, stretching out her arms, her
red cloak and grey hair streaming back on the wind. Pointed with her
Staff toward the place whence these frightful sounds proceeded, and
said, "Behold, it cometh: be thou prepared!"

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

Dianic Traditions and Feminist Magic

2006-10-19T18:18:00.000+01:00

A rainy night but we were mostly dry under the awning. A surprisingly fruitful discussion in which the role of American feminism as a radicalising influence on British Wicca and Witchcraft was acknowledged. Some regreted the supposed 'highjacking' of the feminist cause by separatist elements. Local experience showed that many of the progressive initiatives of the 1970s eventually disappeared in a cul de sac of their own making. The collapse of the Cowley Road resource centre being a good example. Oxford once had its own feminist journal called 'Lilith' which took its lead from the instructive kabbalistic myth of the 'First Eve'. Time now to move beyond the fragments?

Our mother who art the earth
Nourishing are thy ways
Thy web of life be woven
Thy ways be found within
As it is all around.

Thank you this day for our bread and sweat
And forgive us our misuse of you
As we forgive others their misuse of us
And lead us not into exploitation
But deliver us from lording it over you
And over each other and over fellow creatures.

For thine are the waters of life
The feeding, breeding seeding ground
For now and as far as close to forever
As we shall ever come.

From http://www.zbudapest.com/du/sample.shtml

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

--------------------------------------------------------------------
O Grand Bucca, divine androgyne, be in all hearts and on the
tip of every tongue. For your time has come again as it does with the
beginning of each moment! )O+> www.geocities.com/cronnekdhu

'Missing Cards' in the Tarot

2006-10-12T11:53:00.000+01:00

Several years ago I received a phonecall from someone called 'Sandophon'.
He had a whole new take on the tarot that included the idea that there were some hidden cards known of only by adepts. Unlikely as this may sound, on investigation it seems that the original Tarot was a lot longer than today's 78 cards. The genesis of the modern deck is in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn - it was they who popularised the use of numbering for the triumphs and utilised a schema based on their version of the Kabalistic Tree of Life rather than what some say is the more authentic 'Lurianic' Tree. So there is still room for refinement. One of the most famous high ranking members of the Golden Dawn was the poet W B Yeats. The most significant events in his life occured some years after the demise of the Golden Dawn when he finally make his big spiritual breakthrough. His spirit guides told him that the tarot was far too solar and that the lunar componant needed to be restored. Could the missing cards be connected with the lunar cycle and indeed the paths around the so-called false sephira Daath?

further reading:
Mogg Morgan, Tankhem: Seth & Egyptian Magick

That's quite an arcane topic - had a thought that a down to earth
approach might be to think about one of your own personal 'fantasy'
tarot cards (ie if you are into zen buddhism maybe you'd like a blank
card) or something else perhaps from modern life that isn't
reflected in the renaissance images of the classic set - that kind of
thing.

Judging by the ever growing number of 'me-too' tarots and card decks
('thank' photoshop for that) - many people think there is a need to
reflect their favourite mythos - so the question could be what's
next - george bush tarot - ??

Alchemy

2006-10-05T09:26:00.000+01:00

Interesting as they are, most find it difficult to take the writings of the rennaissance alchemists at face value. Are they merely metaphors of some sort of internal meditative process of perfection or are the physical skills described really essential to unravelling its secrets? It's the longstanding mystery of alchmical history - are we dealing with an empty secret or is there something real behind the 'twilight language'? Many have turned to India as one of the purest sources of alchemy. Here it is easier to follow the thread from its medieval intellectual experiments. But we can also see what came before the obsession with metalic mercury, back to when, to give it its Hindu name - rasayana, was intimately connected with Hindu magick (tantrism) and the gift (prasad) of the yoginis (spirits of nature). Real alchemy takes us back to the body magick of the neolithic - and even Seth, the 'golden one', the ancient egyptian god of sex and death.

Reading: David White: The Alchemical Body

Sources:

Gibbon - The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

He supresses books of alchymy.
He caused a diligent inquiry to be made "for all the ancient books which treated of the admirable art of making gold and silver, and without pity committed them to the flames; apprehensive, as we are assured, lest the opulence of the Egyptians should inspire them with confidence to rebel against the empire."(50) But if Diocletian had been convinced of the reality of that valuable art, far from extinguishing the memory, he would have converted the operation of it to the benefit of the public revenue. It is much more likely that his good sense discovered to him the folly of such magnificent pretensions, and that he was desirous of preserving the reason and fortunes of his subjects from the mischievous pursuit.

Novelty and progress of that art.
It may be remarked that these ancient books, so liberally ascribed to Pythagoras, to Solomon, or to Hermes, were the pious frauds of more recent adepts. The Greeks were inattentive either to the use or to the abuse of chemistry. In that immense register, where Pliny has deposited the discoveries the arts, and the errors of mankind, there is not the least mention of the transmutation of metals; and the persecution of Diocletian is the first authentic event in the history of alchemy. The conquest of Egypt by the Arabs diffused that vain science over the globe. Congenial to the avarice of the human heart, it was studied in China as in Europe, with equal eagerness and with equal success. The darkness of the middle ages ensured a favourable reception to every tale of wonder, and the revival of learning gave new vigour to hope, and suggested more specious arts of deception. Philosophy, with the aid of experience, has at length banished the study of alchemy; and the present age, however desirous of riches, is content to seek them by the humbler means of commerce and industry.(51)

Staff - wand making day 1st October <-+o( empowerment

2006-10-01T20:22:00.000+01:00

OK folks so as I said the next Staff making day will be 1st October;
we will meet up at 1.30pm.

Things you may need, sharp knife, blunt knife (for bark stripping if
you wish to do this) a pruning saw / small bow saw if you have one,
food and drink to share.

If you are interested e-mail me direct for more details. @
cronnekdhu@yahoo.co.uk

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

Oxford Pagan Circle - blog, elist and files

2006-09-30T10:18:00.000+01:00

Dear Reader

If you want to view the amazing OPC files section and/or read messages from the elist then you have to subscribe to the following:
Oxford Pagan Circle Elist and Files
Membership of the list is moderated so you have to say a little but about yourself and why you want to join. After that you will be prompted to post a short introduction. You can adjust settings to receive regular posts, digests or read on line.

"Hindu Magick"

2006-09-28T18:17:00.000+01:00

Warm but damp evening under the awning. It's a big topic with a lot of misinformation and misappropriation of ideas by the New Age. Most of what people think they know about Hindu magick is actually a nineteenth century construction put about by Hindu Nationalists anxious to present the acceptable face of Hinduism. Hindu magick mirrors the way in which paganism is often hidden from history although this doesn't mean it is a minority pursuit. Even the Hindu term for magick - 'maya' is a bit of a blind - having changed meaning from an original of 'uncanny power' to the present day idea of 'illusion'. The Kaula cult, sometimes known as tantrism, presents an interesting parallel to modern witchcraft. Kaula, meaning members of a clan - are very like members of a coven. They summon or are possessed by female 'demonic' entities called 'yoginis' in open air circular temples often on mountain tops. They become possessed and practice a special form of 'fluid gnosis' by which they receive the wisdom of the clan via the 'mouth' of the clan mother.

Further reading:
Tales of King Vikram and the Vampire by Somadeva
Gods and Myths of Indian by Danlielou
The Alchemical Body by David White

The Nu Tantras Of The Uttarakaulas
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/johnpowers

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

"The Devil is she all bad?"

2006-09-21T18:55:00.000+01:00

Slight glitch as we moved to a quieter table outside the 'tent' (at my suggestion - sorry : )) and were almost immediately rained on so hard we had to go into the pub proper. Its so popular because of the absense of canned music but the accoustics inside can get a bit too much for conversation. So just one round in which we explored some of the iconography of lucifer, satan and the devil. We took it as red that Lucifer/Devil were not 'true' god forms but rather some kind of negative mirror images of Jahweh etc. Even so was some mileage in exploring their acquired meaning. When you start moving around on a checker board you're never sure who the real villain might be - if black is white then is the apparently white . . . ? We finished with a discussion of some of the possible ancient role models of the devil - most notably Egyptian god of Chaos Seth, who is an emanation of the sun god ra - representing his passionate, violate side which occasionally must out. No time to discuss the devil's gender - but perhaps that will come up in next week's discussion of Hindu magick.

Hail, Satan,
Lady of Darkness,
Queen of Hell,
sovereign of the Earth,
Goddess of this World!

Goddess who invites us to become as gods!
Muse of our civilization,
Dread Enemy of its tyrant god!
Satan, mighty Liberator,
Bearer of true Light!

Goddess of our flesh,
Goddess of our minds,
Goddess of our innermost Will!

O mighty Lady Satan,
teach us to become strong and wise!
Teach us to vanquish the enemies
of our freedom and well-being!

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

--------------------------------------------------------------------
O Grand Bucca, divine androgyne, be in all hearts and on the
tip of every tongue. For your time has come again as it does with the
beginning of each moment! )O+> www.geocities.com/cronnekdhu

Meditation Collective

2006-09-16T09:49:00.000+01:00

Meditation is a core techniques of many spiritual
paths including paganism, witchcraft, tantrism, Druidry, heathens, khemetics,
neo-shamans and magicians. The intention is to be inclusive and focus on the common ground between all neopagan traditions.

It could include a number of related techniques - mindfulness, path-working, visualisation, seething, vibration and chanting.

No prior knowledge necessary.

Twenty minutes of meditational type practice every
fortnite to start - aimed at neo-pagan type interests.
Discussion afterwards, perhaps continued at a cafe.
Might have to start as an outside - au naturel group - but if we
collect a small amount of cash each time we can rent a room for
winter if necessary.

Meditational collectives also includes those not physically present
other than timewise - but their visions, messages, comments etc can be
collated via comments etc usually on a blog site.

For more info or to join - leave a comment on
http://meditation-collective.blogspot.com

Magick, Black and White, Dark and Fair

2006-09-14T18:44:00.000+01:00

Another nice posse on a cloudy but humid evening. On the face of it most object to the oversimplification implicit in the dichotomy black magick / white magick. JD thought this was the creation of nineteen century folklorists perplexed by the preponderance of malign material in their witchy subjects. Comtemporary pagans are keen to rid the discourse of all talk of black and white, which causes more trouble than its worth. Most now talk of a middle way, that views a whole personality as being composed of dark and light elements, depending on the context, much as light and dark shadows move over the landscape.

Even so, it was possible to explore some of the possible meaning of black magick - perhaps in Crowley's sense of anything not connected with the realisation of the true will - his 'one star in sight'. Or perhaps magical dealings with underworld deities and the popularity of nighttime rites over the 'coming forth by day' variety. Only at the very end of a long, animated round table was the topic of the seemingly 'black' god broached - whether it be Kali, Shaitan or Seth. Just time to remind everyone that if you really want an acid test of which tarot is for you - take a look at the Devil card - a useful microcosm of the whole. But more on that next week.

Homework:
ALL those who have visited the fine piles of rocks in th vicinity of
the so-called "St Levan," Land's-End, callec Tol-Pedden-Penwith, -
and infinitely finer than anything immediately surrounding the most
western promontory itself,--cannot have failed to notice the
arrangement of cubical masses of granite piled one upon the other,
known as the Chair Ladder.

This remarkable pile presents to the beat of the Atlantic waves a
sheer face of cliff of very considerable height, standing up like a
huge basaltic column, or a pillar built by the Titans, the horizontal
joints representing so many steps in the so-called " Ladder."

On the top is placed a stone of somewhat remarkable shape, which is
by no great effort of the imagination converted into a chair. There
it was that Madgy Figgy, one of the most celebrated of the St Levan
and Burian witches, was in the habit of seating herself when she
desired to call up to her aid the spirits of the storm. Often has she
been seen swinging herself to and fro on this dizzy height when a
storm has been coming home upon the shores, and richly-laden vessels
have been struggling with the winds. From this spot she poured forth
her imprecations on man and beast, and none whom she had offended
could escape those withering spells; and from this " chair," which
will ever bear her name, Madgy Figgy would always take her flight.
Often, starting like some huge bird, mounted on a stem of ragwort,
Figgy has headed a band of inferior witches, and gone off rejoicing
in their iniquities to Wales or Spain.

This old hag lived in a cottage not far from Raftra, and she and all
her gang, which appears to have been, a pretty numerous crew, were
notorious wreckers. On one occasion, Madgy from her seat of storms
lured a Portuguese Indiaman into Perloe Cove, and drowned all the
passengers. As they were washed on shore, the bodies were stripped of
everything valuable, and buried by Figgy and her husband in the green
hollow, which may yet he seen just above Perloe Cove, marking the
graves with a rough stone placed at the head of the corpse. The
spoils on this occasion must have been large, for all the women were
supplied for years with rich dresses, and costly jewels were seen
decking the red arms of the girls who laboured in the fields. For a
long time gems and gold continued to be found on the sands. Howbeit,
amongst the bodies thrown ashore was one of a lady richly dressed,
with chains of gold about her. "Rich and rare were the gems she
wore," and not only so, but valuable treasure was fastened around
her, she evidently hoping, if saved, to secure some of her property.
This body, like all the others, was stripped; but Figgy said there
was a mark on it which boded them evil, and she would not allow any
of the gold or gems to be divided, as it would be sure to bring bad
luck if it were separated. A dreadful quarrel ensued, and bloodshed
was threatened; but the diabolical old Figgy was more than a match
for any of the men, and the power of her impetuous will was superior
to them all.

Everything of value, therefore, belonging to this lady was gathered
into a heap, and placed in a chest in Madgy Figgy's hut. They buried
the Portuguese lady the same evening; and after dark a light was seen
to rise from the grave, pass along the cliffs, and seat itself in
Madgy's chair at Tol-Pedden. Then, after some hours, it descended,
passed back again, and, entering the cottage, rested upon the chest.
This curious phenomenon continued for more than three months,--
nightly,--much to the alarm of all but Figgy, who said she knew all
about it, and it would be all right in time. One day a strange-
looking and strangely-attired man arrived at the cottage. Figgy's man
(her husband) was at home alone. To him the stranger addressed
himself by signs,--he could not speak English, so he does not appear
to have spoken at all,--and expressed a wish to be led to the graves.
Away they went, but the foreigner did not appear to require a guide.
He at once selected the grave of the lady, and sitting down upon it,
he gave vent to his pent-up sorrows. He sent Figgy's man away, and
remained there till night, when the light arose from the grave more
brilliant than ever, and proceeded directly to the hut, resting as
usual on the chest, which was now covered up with old sails, and all
kinds of fishermen's lumber.

The foreigner swept these things aside, and opened the chest. He
selected everything belonging to the lady, refusing to take any of
the other valuables. He rewarded the wreckers with costly gifts, and
left them--no one knowing from whence he came nor whither he went.
Madgy Figgy was now truly triumphant. "One witch knows another witch,
dead or living," she would say; "and the African would have been the
death of us if we hadn't kept the treasure, whereas now we have good
gifts, and no gainsaying 'em." Some do say they have seen the light
in Madgy Figgy's chair since those times.

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

Entities

2006-09-07T10:16:00.000+01:00

A select crew struggled a little with what some thought a vague topic. The focus soon falling on the stuff left over when you categorise the gods, demons, heroes and other spirits - oh yes and human beings - in many pagan theologies the epitome of the whole lot. So entities are partial things, like the Qlippotic 'shells' or the left over bits from the first creation. Said to be lacking in true will, these things seem to function on auto-pilot but can nevertheless cause a lot of trouble. Their monstrous qualities make them suitable fodder for the malign sorcerer. We might include ancient remnants such as the incubi and succubi - whose only 'function' seems to be to vamp the vitality from one organism and insert it where it's not wanted. We spoke a little of so-called 'disease entities' which were the precursor to modern ideas of micro-organisms. Over time 'disease entities' are replaced by other, perhaps more naturalistic concepts. In the mental sphere, disease entities still provide a useful way of conceptualising and dealing with problems through magical or imaginal means. Someone gave a personal account of a depressive entity that attached itself to them after an ill fated romance. Happily a new partner appeared and introduced herself by secretly cutting away and destroying the vampire.

and posted by Jack Daw:

Before me, in the Hidden Place
Between three Worlds and three Times,
In the shadow of the Dragon's Vessel
Stands our Master Qayin:

Evoi! Azha-Qayin – I bless Thee and hail Thee! –
Thou four-handed Lord of the Grave Mound and Forge!
Old One – the upright Stone of blackest gold Thou art –
Still axis of the ever-turning Wheel of Fate and Season –
One half beneath and one half above
The red-stained earth of Albion's land;
The Great Nail thrown down from heaven's height
To transfix the Hearth of every Circle
And mark with Crooked Cross the convergence of ev'ry shadowed Way.

Azha Qayin! – bloodied Bone-Tree of Death Thou art –
Draped with flayed skins of mortal kind and their meagre gods,
With the beauteous pelts of every bird and beast that lives,
Thy branches full-laden with noble fruits – the skulls of sorcerers
past;
Thy roots scourging the cavern-tombs of sorcerers yet unmade –
Where the corpse-child's echoing laughter betides the moment of its
waking.

Thy face it is the fire-blacked Skull,
Dark mirror of the Midnight Sun
Whose eyeless gaze none may endure –
Enhaloed by the emerald lustre of the Peacock's Eye,
Lambent shadow of the Flame that it thine eternal Nature.

From Thine Heart pour down four rivers of Blood
To encircle the Earth, and inundate the Hill of the Dead
Where stands the Serpent Cross – eleven Knives, Eleven Stars;
Above the horizon Thy left hand tolls the Passing Bell,
As Thy right hand wields the Fiery Sword;
Below, Thy left hand grips the trident Stang,
While Thy right sounds the Death-watch Drum.

Hail to Thee, our Master Qayin – this place be hallowed in Thy Name;
Before Thee I bow `pon the good earth that made me –
I adore Thee, who art the pure Flame that has raised me!

The Secret Form (Generation & Doxology)By Gavin Semple

"Black spirits and white, red spirits and gray,/ Mingle, mingle,
mingle, you that mingle may"

"Black spirits and white,
Red spirits and grey,
Harken to the rune I say.
Four points of the Circle, weave the spell,
East, South, West, North, your tale tell.
East is for break of day,
South is white for the noontide hour,
In the West is twilight grey,
And North is black, for the place of power.
Three times round the Circle's cast.
Great ones, spirits from the past,
Witness it and guard it fast."

Tarot Talk

2006-09-04T10:18:00.000+01:00

Tarot: An alternative view : Speaker: Sandie Cox.
Monday 4th September @7.30 pm
The Mitre on the High Street. (Upstairs)
Admission £3.50

This is the first of a series of talks and workshops scheduled over the
coming few months and will have an old craft emphasis for those interested in
traditional witchcraft.
Sandie is an international speaker on the Tarot and craft and lives in the
Alpes Maritime region of France. She is travelling over for this one so this is
one not to be missed!! Anyone requiring more info on this or future talks,
please feel free to send me an e-mail.
Much blessings, Cassi.

Earth Mysteries

2006-08-31T10:19:00.000+01:00

A big subject that drew a lot of people - maybe thirty by the end of a cool, dry evening. The discussion ranged around the twin poles of 'places of power' and 'ley lines' - whether or not they existed. These two phenomena are often linked with certain types of bodily 'energy' such as chakras and nadis - thus it provides a neat example of the occult doctrine of 'as above, so below' - the body as microcosm of a worldly meso- or macrocosm. The erotic and otherworldy quality of landscapes was discussed, leading to ideas about how to harnness this power, or interact with it as in some more recent ideas of eco-sexuality. Most agreed that the 'earth' was the source of much power in magick and this was one of the central mysteries in question. Another interesting new concept (for me) was that of places of negative power - to use a sanskrit term - 'earth marmas'. The antiquity of the notion of earth mysteries was discussed - going back via the geomantic culture of ancient Egypt to the neolithic. See for example recent discoveries at Catal Huyuk. Were these alignments just to aid direction finding or was there something more mysterious in the way our ancestors orientated themselves to their own ancient past?

reading:
Phillip Heselton Earth Mysteries
Mogg Morgan: 'The Erotic Landscape Revisited' in Tankhem: Seth and Egptian Magick

"They walked on, thinking of This and That, and by-and-by they came to an
enchanted place on the very top of the Forest called Galeons Lap, which is
sixty-something trees in a circle; and Christopher Robin knew that it was
enchanted because nobody had ever been able to count whether it was sixty-
three or sixty-four, not even when he tied a piece of string round each tree
after he had counted it. Being enchanted, its floor was not like the floor of
the
Forest, gorse and bracken and heather, but close-set grass, quiet and smooth
and green. It was the only place in the Forest where you could sit down
carelessly, without getting up again almost at once and looking for
somewhere else. Sitting there they could see the whole world spread out until
it reached the sky, and whatever there was all the world over was with them in
Galleons Lap."

A.A.Milne
The House at Pooh Corner

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

Drugs & Magick

2006-08-24T13:37:00.000+01:00

Even in the Yogasutras, written approximately 2000 years ago, there is mention of the 'way of the herb' usually taken to be an early reference to Alchemy and Tantrism. As you might expect there was some division between those who favoured the 'herbal' approach to magick and those who for various reasons preferred something else. Everyone seemed to agree that we were all seeking a common end - gnosis. But do the means determined the end? For some there is something a bit too easy about this compared with other body magick techniques such as extreme exercise, seething, dance, sex or even pain. For others drugs at least give a vision of the end of the tunnel - and open a door that never quite shuts.

recommened reading:
Pharmakon: Drugs and the imagination by Julian Vayne

Possession

2006-08-17T11:35:00.000+01:00

Quija Boards

2006-08-09T10:32:00.000+01:00

Curses and Hexes

2006-08-03T18:43:00.000+01:00

This was the topic at last night's talking stick.
I am aware that not all I said was perhaps accepted, but I would like to
ilustrate the point I made about a curse not being, simply, about one's own
spite, anger or feelings of vengance, there is a much deeper meaning to it,
and when I spoke about teaching lessons I didn't mean silly lessons...I can
argue my point or punch somebody who deserves it as much as the next
person can. I have and I will if I have to, haha!

So please.. read the following, and see what you think. You may have already
seen this, or you may not. It had a very profound effect on me a couple of
years ago when te people guiding me brought it to my attention.

~Marina~

Among Celtic peoples, there were historical Warrior queens, and perhaps
aspects of the Morrigan derive from their legends. Goddess of battle and
justice, in the guise of a raven She brought fallen heroes to the shining
lands in the West. And it was the Morrigan who also lamented the dead.

CURSE OF THE MORRIGAN

You who bring suffering to children: May you look into the sweetest, most
open eyes, and howl the loss of your innocence.

You who ridicule the poor, the grieving, the lost, the fallen, the inarticulate,
the
wounded children in grown-up bodies: May you look into each face, and see
a mirror. May all your cleverness fall into the abyss of your speechless grief,
your secret hunger, may you look into that black hole with no name, and
find....the most tender touch in the darkest night, the hand that reaches out.
May you take that hand. May you walk all your circles home at last, and
coming home, know where you are.

You tree-killers, you wasters - May you breathe the bitter dust, may you thirst,
may you walk hungry in the wastelands, the barren places you have made.
And when you cannot walk one step further, may you see at your foot a
single blade of grass, green, defiantly green. And may you be remade by it's
generosity.

And those who are greedy in a time of famine: May you be emptied out, may
your hearts break not in half, but wide open in a thousand places, and may
the waters of the world pour from each crevice, washing you clean.

Those who mistake power for love: May you know true loneliness. And when
you think your loneliness will drive you mad, when you know you cannot bear
it one more hour, may a line be cast to you, one shining, light woven strand of
the Great Web glistening in the dark. And may you hold on for dear life.

Those passive ones, those ones who force others to shape them, and then
complain if it's not to your liking: May you find yourself in the hard place
with
your back against the wall. And may you rage, rage until you find your will.
And may you learn to shape yourself.

And you who delight in exploiting others, imagining that you are better than
they are - may you wake up in a strange land as naked as the day you were
born and thrice as raw. May you look into the eyes of any other soul, in your
radiant need and terrible vulnerability. May you know yourSelf. And may you
be blessed by that communion.

And may you love well, thrice and thrice and thrice, and again and again and
again, may you find your face before you were born.
And may you drink from deep, deep waters.

Copyright © 2004 Lauren Raine
WebReVision by Creation-Designs

To some others at these times he [the Devil] teaheth how to make
pictures of wax or clay. That by the roasting thereof, the persons
that they beare the name of, may be continually melted or die away
by continually sickness.

They can bewitch and take the life of men or women, by roasting of
the pictures, as I spake of before, which likewise is verie possible
to their Maister to performe, for although, as I said before, that
instrument of waxe has no vertue in that turne doing, yet may he not
very well, even by the same measure that his conjured slaves, melts
that waxe in fire, may he not. I say at these times, subtily, as a
spirite, so weaken and scatter the spirites of life of the patient,
as may make him on the one part, for faintnesses, so sweate out the
humour of his bodie. And on the other parte, for the not concurrence
of these spirites, which causes his digestion, so debilitate his
stomake, that this humour redicall continually sweating out on the
one part, and no new good sucks being put in the place thereof, for
lacke of digestion on the other, he shall at last vanish away, even
as his picture will die in the fire.

From Daemonologie (1597): by King James I

The magickal/occult history of Oxford

2006-07-27T17:22:00.000+01:00

Eighteen squeezed round the table on another hot evening. Oxford has so much magical history its difficult to know where to start. The Oxford 'power zone' is probably a necessary condition for all this - afterall not every town of similar szie has such a lively and diverse community. However when i first came here in 1981 there wasn't a lot going - no open covens or magical groups, no inner bookshop. Which makes me think whilst those stories of the past are fun what really matters is the people - each generation making its own magick. For further reading see Mandrake's Strange Oxford and read Edward Pope's poem:

circle of coral in a shallow sea
reef rife with teeming life
when albion's ragged island rose
this ring of hills was named her navel
mild wet place of reedy rivers
fertile female sanctuary

. . . more on request

Pagan childhood

2006-07-20T13:47:00.000+01:00

The heatwave continues - we shall have to remind ourselves of this when during the winter we are shivering under blankets and unable to get a table inside. I guess the discussion broke down into two aspects: firstly issues arising out of 'pagan parenting' - how do you bring them up and what do you tell them? Most pagans seems quite wary of indoctrinating their children - they know what that's like. Perhaps a more hands off approach means the children find out anyway. Tales of Gerald York's children finding some of his magical books and trying to make each other invisible spring to mind.

The other aspect concerns more working with child godforms such as Mabon, Ganesha, Horus, Padmasambhava etc. Some occult theologians says this is the Age of Horus, 'Crowned and conquering Child.' Now there's a frightening thought considering children's positive and negative sides - yes intuitive, creative etc but also egocentric, tyrannical and at times irrational.

Dave Love said...
I remember a lot of talk, not just from myself, about how experiences and memories of childhood inform a feeling of magic in the world. That for me was the centre of the discussion. I don't remember talk of child godforms at all?

Mogg replies. . .
Well maybe you were having a smoke round the back of the bike sheds at the time ; )

Pagan Costume

2006-07-13T10:17:00.000+01:00

Another warm evening, must be a bit of a run now? A bunch of people, straggling over two big tables, almost twenty I guess, some refugees from 'Catweasel' storytelling club which has finished it current run and may well move to another nite. The topic was surprisingly fruitful. The conversation ranging over the issue of the efficacy, or otherwise, of wearing robes in ritual; to the attractions of 'pagan style.' The consensus was that robes in ritual had a powerful psychological effect, although there was quite a lot of dissent as to whether the default 'little black number' - the Tau robe was the best option. Many thought a more practical option might be some sort of Shalwar Kamise. Some there were not into robes at all, preferring what they saw as an integrated approach between their mundane and magical personas. On the question of synthetic versus natural fabric - there were certainly some who like to keep it natural but there again, even they could see the value of some of the new synthetics, especially lycra, spandex (especially popular for jock straps ; ) ) and even rubber!

Paganism & Literature (enter your favourites here)

2006-07-06T09:23:00.000+01:00

A lively discussion in which many fascinating titles were recommended.
So I thought it would be cool to compile a list.
So leave your comments here and I will intergrate them into a list.
Fiction only for now:

The TS Canon
Ancient Evenings by Norman Mailer (mogg)
The Gobetween by LP Hartley (rebecca)
Precious Bane by Mary Webb (marina)
Linnets & Valerians by Elizabeth Goudge (Katy)
The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper (Katy)
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Katy)
The Silver Bowl by Hugh Ross Williams 1939 (JackDaw)
various books by E Nesbit (Katy)
His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman (katy)
books by Alan Garner (Katy)
The Worm Ouroboros by E R Edison (available via sacred-texts.com) (Katy)
Mistress of Mistresses, E R Edison (Katy)
Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula le Guin (Katy)
Always Coming Home by Ursula le Guin (Katy)
A Hat Full Of Sky, Terry Pratchett (Katy)

Acting on the assumptions that ‘Many a true word spoken in jest’; ‘the ‘ritualists of the New Isis Lodge utilized certain novels and stories as other magicians might use paintings or musical compositions to effect perichoresis and astral encounters’ xxxvi. Apart from the usually occult litany, H P Lovecraft, Algernon Blackwood et al Grant primary source is Richard Marsh’s novel The Beetle which contains the only published account known [to Grant] of the Children of Isis who emerge in the channelled text in rather startling form.

Long ago Mathew Lutey of Cury, near Lizard Point, a Cornish fisherman
and wrecker, was combing the beach for jetsam when he found a
beautiful mermaid stranded in a pool by the receding tide. She
persuaded him to carry her down to the sea. As they went she offered
him three wishes, and he chose those he thought would do good: the
power to break the spells of witchcraft and to compel familiar
spirits for the good of others, and that these powers should descend
in his family. She granted these, and because he had wished
unselfishly said that none of his family should come to want, and
gave him her comb by which he could summon her. Then, as they grew
near the sea, the more sinister side of her nature showed itself. She
began to allure him to go with her, and tightened her grasp on his
neck. So great were her allurements that he would have gone with her,
but his dog howled to him from the shore, and he saw his own cottage
where his wife and children lived, and told her to let him go. Even
so she clung to him, and would have pulled him down, but he flashed
his knife in her face, and, presumably repelled by the iron, she
plunged into the sea, calling, 'Farewell my sweet, for nine long
years, then I'll come for thee my love.'
The mermaid was as good as her word, and for generations the Luteys
of Cury were famous healers, and prospered by their art. The first
Lutey, however, only enjoyed his powers for nine years, for at the
end of that time, when he was out in his boat with one of his sons, a
beautiful woman rose out of the sea and called him. 'My hour is
come,' he said, and he plunged into the water, never to be seen
again. And they say that ever after, every nine years, one of his
descendants was lost in the sea.

The 'Fetch'

2006-06-29T10:04:00.000+01:00

Fifteen of us crowded around the table on another scorching evening. The topic was for most of us, an obscure one, so there was much to be learnt. Book and film wise there are some interesting sources - Gustav Meyrinck's The Golem (which is also a film) and Castaway, with Tom Hanks, whose attachment to his companion 'Wilson' shows how much we can become attached to the 'inanimate.' Some round the table thought the magick of the Fetch did not sit well with modern political correctness. Others were not so bothered by that, and felt that traditional folklore and even classical magick probably had it right when viewing these things as they would any other machine or device. The story of the Golem, as a Kabbalistic entity constructed to protect the Jews in the Ghetto, but later becoming uncontrollable is instructive. Some saw this as a warning not to get involved with the Fetch; others that if you do, then be sure to set a limit to its activities.

FETCH:

1) The spiritual or ghostly double of an animal or person.

2) An apparition.

3) semi-tangible human or animal shape formulated by the Witch's power
sent to do the bidding of the Witch.

Some think the following song is about the self and another, but the
wise might see it more about another self ;o)

I shall go as a wren in spring
With sorrow and sighing on silent wing,
And I shall go in our Lady's name,
Aye, till I come home again!

We shall follow as falcons' grey,
And hunt thee cruelly as our pray,
But we shall go in our Masters name,
Aye, to fetch thee home again!

Then I shall go as a mouse in May,
In fields by night, in cellars by day,
And I shall go in our Lady's name,
Aye, till I come home again!

And we shall follow as black tom cats,
And chase thee through the corn and vats,
But we shall go in our Masters name,
Aye, to fetch thee home again!

Then I shall go as an autumn hare,
With sorrow and sighing and mickle care,
And I shall go in our Lady's name,
Aye, till I come home again!

But we shall follow as swift greyhounds,
And dog thy tracks by leaps and bounds,
And we shall go in our Masters name,
Aye, to fetch thee home again!

Then I shall go as a winter trout,
With sorrow and sighing and mickle doubt,
And I shall go in our Lady's name,
Aye, till I come home again!

But we shall follow as otters swift,
And snare thee fast ere thou canst shift,
And we shall go in our Masters name,
Aye, to fetch thee home again!

Benna'sywes

JackDaw

--------------------------------------------------------------------
O Grand Bucca, divine androgyne, be in all hearts and on the
tip of every tongue. For your time has come again as it does with the
beginning of each moment! )O+> www.geocities.com/cronnekdhu

The Wise Man and the Fool?

2006-06-22T09:41:00.000+01:00

There is a popular circle dance with the same name - two groups of dancers weave in and out of each other - alternatively playing the fool with proposterous gait or the wise man, precious but also hilarious. Most people made the link with the ambiguity of the so-called Fool's Journey in the tarot. Is the fool at the beginning or end of the sequence, and if he is such a fool, how does he end up at the top of the mountain, still in possession of his valuable things? And which, if any, of the several archetypes in the tarot sequence truly represents wisdom? Is it the Hermit, the Heirophant, the Magician, the High Priestess, the Devil etc - all of which have necessary parts of wisdom but none is sufficient in itself.

We talked also of the tarot as the journey of the Egyptian god Horus - who begins as a child/fool and whose journey is like that of Hamlet in Shakespeare's play - he must grow up, confront his mother and step-father, claim his inheritance. In the meantime the fool that he once was must die and when Hamlet/Horus finally achieves his destiny, he also dies - and the cycle begins again.

"The ritual use of masks"

2006-06-15T08:58:00.000+01:00

'The beast hides behind the mask of man'
Angela Carter, The Tiger's Bride

A mask can be on the inside, a mask can be on the outside.
Mask is ultimately an Arabic word, denoting a buffoon and ridicule.
Also spelt 'masque' meaning a drama as in the famous Venician masquerade. All these meanings seems relevant. For some the mask helps them to adopt a magical persona for the benefit of others in a ritual. For others it shields them from the external and helps send their consciousness inside so they can commune with the gods. We talked of the masks we wear all the time, whether via our clothes or the person we present to the world, our masculinity, our feminity. We talked of these multiple meanings and strategies for subverting the mask by such things as cross dressing or role playing games. Odin was there too, who as 'Grimface' - gives us our word grim and the old English art of grinning and girning (see the film Mask with Jim Carey). This led to a discussion of apotropiac uses of the mask to deflect and repel unwanted influences. The famous yogic 'lion-face' doing this whilst also toning and awakening the face. Or another of Odin's masks, the Helm of Horror. So all in all a very rich discussion for another fine summer evening with a table full of pagans on the nite a mask called England actually won its group game with ease.

'Individual vs group working'

2006-06-08T12:14:00.000+01:00

Balmy evening, round table in the garden of the Angel & Greyhound.
Everyone agreed that you start and finish 'the journey' alone but that companions can help along the way. Two experiments of last 100 years - the coven and the lodge - were both seen as failing institutions. They failed for various reasons, including the bossiness of the 'golden couple' or the megalomania, even sometimes dementia of the 'charismatic guru'. Much of people's best work is now done as solitaries with periodic coming together in small and larger groups to celebrate or accomplish specific projects - such as the manifestation of a particular mythos.