The Queer Path of a Tsalagi and Irish Wiccan

Alright so it’s been awhile since I last made an entry here, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy. Allot of changes in my life lately, none of them which can really be measured to any emergent path- except possibly that I have been invited to visit the Tsalagi ceremonial ground in OK and to even go through the process of eventually getting settled there. That’s on the horizon… currently, there is much transition that I believe has to be dealt with first. Most of it is related to larger community, in particular that of my local UU congregation. Our minister is moving and we just voted in an Interim minister to start in September. The Religious Education director is stepping down and I am going to be either partially or fully working with another teacher in the teen room instead of Spirit Play. This is going at at a time when we have to consider the future and yet we often have trouble seeing five feet in front of us due to heavy fog. All these things seem to be converging to create a new dynamic and what we find beyond that fog is up to us; we just have to be daring enough to see it through. I’m not worried have the congregation- it’s tried and tested and gone above and beyond both as a whole and regarding it’s individual members. I’m not really sure where that puts me though, and I’m excited that I’ve been asked to become involved with the teen class as I think there is an answer in that. It seems like everyone is moving forward and I’m stuck in a limbo of sorts so I’ve been consider what it is that I actually want to do.

The answer seems to be teaching, and it’s more of a need than a want. Not necessarily RE, but I do see that as part of the process and a good fit for me as well. What I really want to do is more of a combination of teaching and path-working- helping others along their path. This is something that goes beyond any one path but I would also like to teach esoterica as I have done in the past but in more of a group setting as well as the single teacher-student interaction I have been familiar with. That is, that I do see the need for an occult teaching group- perhaps even to the extent of a magical order aimed at the preservation and exploration of the art. I see so many people with an interest, yet whom aren’t aware of much of the finer details which are dying out or otherwise cut off from those who have shown potential. I’m not sure that Danville is the place though I have seen such individuals, though many of them, quite responsibly are hesitant to dive in.

Regardless of whether I stay here or not there will be, I’m sure, a teaching element. Though much of the expression of the subject-matter thereof will change culturally - the mysteries are the same. Regardless, this pulls together many of my studies, needs and writing. The question here is of timing; I do not currently posses the resources to dedicate a room to being a temple nor are those present for a working group either.

I would hope that by the time I get things in order, the conditions of the time will be beneficial in this regard. The order will be Wiccan in nature with the broadening of Ceremonial roots as to define and refine more readily the various degrees within the primary three; to guide towards their attainment and; to preserve, explore and integrate the broader aspects of occultism. Such an undertaking has not happened since in large, since the days of the Golden Dawn and O.T.O - the former of which got hazy in the upper Adept degrees (granted, somewhat out of necessity). The O.T.O did manage to provide a greater understanding of these degrees and even included work to prepare the student to cross the abyss where more light on the final three degrees was shed. That these degrees are reached is not the important thing here as few ever do. Showing the way and including the proper correspondences and circle of course- is.  I want to work heavily on that and it will be done regardless of whether an order ever comes to be or not.

Here is a WIP of the Seal for the order:

At the moment I’m documenting the 72 Angelic seals of the Shemhamphoresch and their correspondences. I’m also in the process of documenting herblore any recipes and well as the properties of various stones. Soon I’ll likely be doing more work regarding the Tarot. However i may be doing a write-up on the Olympian spirits as I hear a calling to address them.

And of course I’ve also got a variant Goetic circle in the works so…. I honestly do loose all track of time, often and that’s why I’ve been forgetting about the Vespers lately- which have been wonderful btw.

Forgot to mention that there are certain individuals whom I have to look after before I do move from the area. I don’t want to just up and leave without having everything in order.

pathofwisdom:

Or is the person who just explained what a Deist was and basically explained Wicca an idiot?

They aren’t the same… You could, I suppose see Deism as watered down Pantheism but that’s really as that’s what most Deist actually are to be honest. This, however is a stretch, wouldn’t technically fly and is watering down both Deism and Wicca - especially Wicca.

skullpepper:

away-with-the-winds:

If you follow all that triangle symbolism shit or reblog photos of the triangle, or triangle with the all seeing eye in it, I hope you know the significance and what it stands for. Maybe if you did, you would have never done it. Don’t follow something just because it’s trendy. I think all of you should go take five minutes to look up the real dark and disgusting meaning behind it.

Mass hysteria at its modern best. 

There is no dark and disgusting meaning behind it. It’s a hermetic symbol for Divine Providence and authority. That said, people should know what it stands for instead of just treating it as trendy- or as some bad-ass symbol of the Illuminati. It is a symbol of pantheism/omnipresence; saying it is a symbol for exclusivity or some specific agenda is missing the point entirely. 

(Source: starmercat)

I wish I could give you a straight-forward depiction of what I think of Crowley but that would be like trying to form an opinion on someone with dozens of personalties (not in the sense of disorder) - partly because of the lore as well as his multi-facet nature as a Magician compounded with the channeling he did as a medium or with others filling that role. You really have to ask yourself what mysteries he is immersing himself in when you read his writings. Often the Magician takes on a god-form or entity-form - being the microcosm and reflective of the larger macrocosm or universe.

When an Occultist learns about the gods they learn about themselves as there is no part of the practitioner that is not of the gods and much work is done in altered states with a flair of ritual drama which engages the Psyche. So you can understand then why Crowley is such a confusing study for most people.

One thing that should be said about Crowley is that if you hear something about him it probably isn’t true and if it isn’t made up it has been severely embellished. The best way to understand Crowley is to not only read Crowley but to do his exorcises and come to understand what it means to be a practitioner.

Perhaps one of the most common stories is that Crowley was a Satanist- which is nonsense. He did call himself Therion, The Beast and used the number 666. Few people understand where that comes from. How those things were turned into a symbol of evil by those who did not want people going through a sense of genuine spiritual gnosis; as this was and is a threat to their church authority. It should also be noted that supposedly someone had called him that and he decided to go with it - liking the symbolism to which he would joke, “I’ll Try to live up to it”. That probably wasn’t the smoothest move to his reputation and Crowley is known for his liking of shocking people- which is certainly true but what is not generally mentioned is that it wasn’t just for shock value alone. Crowley liked to challenge peoples preconceptions of reality- including social taboos. He taught liberation from the societal filters we bind ourselves in saying that each must find their own will- True Will in which they are the most them-self- I AM.

Along with the claims of Satanism it is said that Crowley was anti-Christian and indeed he was- but you have to understand that what he was against was the social paradigm that is Christianity in modern times. He had respect of Jesus whom is actually associated with the Adeptus grades for as much as they are the mysteries of Isis and Osiris- their son Horus is of the same psychological complex as Jesus and much of the Christian symbolism of the Rosae Cross became the Inner order of the Golden Dawn (The Golden Dawn is actually just the Outer Order- The Inner being R. R. et A. C. -Order Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis or Order of the Ruby Rose and Gold Cross). The Golden Dawn being the foundation of both the O.T.O- Ordo Templi Orientis (Which Crowley didn’t actually found but reformed) and his A.A- Argentum Astrum.

Allot of people who see Crowley as perverse don’t understand what he practiced and those that see him was loathsome scum, and of generally bad character have never read his writings- all they have are stories that are taken out of context- My favorite being that Doreen Valiente is his illegitimate daughter.

When you read his stuff you actually find a strong sense of ethics; but you also find the belief that one must decide for them-selfs what is ethical because they are their own moral agent. The guideline being Love and the understanding of universal law - do what though wilt being the whole ecstasy of said law- which is Love.

Now certainly writing a code of ethics is different than following a code of ethics. You have to understand though, that Crowleys life was his work. If he fell short of living up to his ideals he would put forth all his effort to reach them, which is more than can be said for most people.

Crowley saw magick as a science as well as an art and he is renowned for experimentation- especially of the sexual kind which is of the highest of magickal formulae - the sexual act done in such a way as to cause an experience through which the highest degrees are obtained. Crowley wanted to know all aspects of that process and the sexual act conveyed different aspects of that experience. That is, he wanted to understand magic in all its operations. Keep in mind that many things were considered taboo at this time and Crowley would have been seen as a sexual fiend.

Crowley also appointment himself to certain degrees without the aid of a teacher. This isn’t inherently wrong as long as the self-work has been done but it can be dangerous- especially with what Crowley was doing. He is said to have had a knack for keeping himself safe when he really screwed up…. Despite his contributions and obvious talent which cannot be denied he was seen as being somewhat vulnerable- which was actually because of his sensitivity and potential. He was actually originally denied into the Gold Dawn for those reasons and I think he probably would have unnerved some of the teachers there. Think of him as Tom Riddle(sp) from Harry Potter but not as a psycho-murder without a nose and all that. He absorbed whatever he could get his hands on, even if it meant taking on darker aspects and even if those of higher degrees cautioned against it. In fact it was Mathers (I believe that’s who it was) who intervened and initiated (I’m thinking this instant was in relation to the Inner Order) which caused or otherwise set the foundation for the schism that led to the G.D’s downfall.

So he is certainly a controversial figure at times even within occult circles but his brilliance and ability isn’t generally questioned.

Honestly I do think he rose too quickly up the tree and despite that probably being the consensus at the time I have no doubt he was also pressured as “The Harry Potter” of the time - the one to usher in the new aeon so it was a double edged sword…. I’m not saying he didn’t actually reach those degrees. He certainly was of Adeptus Exemptus and I have no doubt he entered the supernal triad. Clearly he even entered the degree of Magus though it is often said that it wasn’t constant attainment nor did he usher in the new aeon as he had hoped however he seems to very well have set the stage for it so I wouldn’t call it a complete failure- rather that again he was a bit impatient…….

It’s not that he wasn’t capable of constant attainment at Magus and perhaps he was. However,  when you get to a new degree sometimes you have to go back down the tree and strengthen and/or change your foundation. If you don’t take care of the base of the tree even though your near the top your going to run into problems- especially when you get to the Third or “Invisible” Order.

I think the problem was when he declared himself Ipsissimus and began working on that level…. because that’s complete integration of masculine and feminine in which one is both and neither. Magus often being representative of the male adept who has embraced his feminine side….. and Crowley honestly could have had a better relationship with the feminine current….. so that would have led to imbalance fairly quickly. It’s not that he didn’t acknowledge the feminine current but it seems to me that there may have been issues there.

At the level he was operating- when you fall, you fall hard and keep in mind that that feminine current is half the tree in all measures so you hopefully will start to see the concern. It’s not that he wasn’t skilled in the art but rather that he was a tad reckless in his readiness.

That’s not to say, again that he did not have the keys to do the work for he continued where the R.R. et A. C. ended- his work is severely studied by all practitioners of high magick today.

Keep in mind that just because you have been initiated into a certain degree does not mean you have mastered the entire realm of that degree or even that you have mastered the degrees prior. It means the gate as has been opened to begin the work of that degree… except for Ipsissimus- Kether which is representative of the whole tree and of attainment.

Anonymous asked: Why do all Wiccans have persecution complexes about "being Witches" and blame Christianity as a religion for the actions of Roman Catholics?

Read This:
www.oswego.edu/~echel/Malleus%20Maleficarum.pdf

First of all- Catholicism IS Christianity, just to be clear on that.

I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “being Witches”. As for this complex you speak of; Do those of Hebrew ancestry have a persecution complex when they talk about how they have been treated time and again throughout history? What about Native Americans when they talk about being run-out of their ancestral homeland or how they have become a marketing slogan? No- because these prejudices are very real, they matter and should not be forgotten -swept under the proverbial rug as it where. Things only change when people speak out.

The reason that Catholicism is pointed out more than other denominations is because it was the institution that perpetrated the much of the slaughter by controlling the populace both legally and through fear of damnation. One shouldn’t judge a whole group or religion by the actions of any one person or fraction of the group. The Catholic Church, however is a strict authority structure and the same policies are generally across the board. There are rogue Catholics however, and they are pretty darn cool in my opinion. 

It’s not just mainstream Catholicism- most Christian denominations are against Witchcraft and often persecute within their means even today. Mainstream Catholics however, may cause emotions to fly even more so as they practice their fair share of magick (though they would never call it that) just to turn around and condemn others for it. I also haven’t met a Witch yet, straight or otherwise, who was happy with how mainstream Catholicism treats the LGBTQQ community.

Like I said, persecution still goes on today. People lose custody of their children just because they practice. Many are ostracized by family and friends. Some are denied work. I myself left High School because of death threats. So this complex you speak of is not a “woe is me” mentality. Obviously, some people may dabble to rebel (There is no place for dabbling- don’t do it). Perhaps they are just going through a difficult time finding themselves. These people may very well bring things on themselves; but to assume this is always the case shows how ignorant our society is to the challenges of the Pagan Community. Look up Sgt. Patrick Stewart and the Pentacle Quest if you really think this discrimination doesn’t exist today.

It is true that Wicca, as the religion we know it today stands (the word itself is older), is only 60-70 years of age (depending on your viewpoint). Many of the roots however are much older and the witches of old are our spiritual ancestors. Ours is a reconstruction of sorts. If those who practice Wicca today where around at the time; they would have been burned at the stake just the same. Must who were burned or stoned weren’t even Witches either. The hysteria led to the death of many innocent people who had nothing to do with the art either way. Not only were many helpless children, but many were also objectified and demonized women. Witches don’t think much of mainstream Catholicism not simply because it mistreats witches, but frankly because it mistreats everyone.

Recently, the Vatican just published/endorsed a book on how to convert witches- we’re still on their radar as it were.

Understand that most if not all denominations split from the Catholic Church. Protestantism split from Catholicism and then continued to split into the other denominations we have to day. It’s lineage, heritage, and in many ways the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Of the persecution I have received from others, none of them, to my knowledge have been Catholics. They tend to be much more accepting, though to be fair, I’ve been lucky enough to meet ones who do not follow the Vatican to the letter- and some would not call them Catholic. I have several Catholic and ex-Catholic friends whom I resonate very well with. They very well understand the nuances of ritual and tend to be more receptive to the expression of my ritualistic beliefs in that we have much in common to talk about. I know another ex-Catholic who is now Pagan but there will always be a place in her heart for Catholicism. The relationship between these communities is deeper than you’d think. I’ve been treated much, much worse by Baptists, Lutherans and so forth than I have by Catholics but then- your mileage may very. I think Catholics, because they are treated like shit by the other denominations to the point of not considering themselves Christian- get it now.

If you are referring to the poem I posted recently, please read it all the way through. I refer to what Christianity has become- comparing it to cancer. Remember that cancer resides in a once-healthy body. I mention Yeshua in said poem - That’s Jesus. Go look about what I said about him. 

So in short:
I. Most Christians are guilty, witches don’t need age-old Catholic black-mail
II. Catholics treat me better than other most other Christians
III. Other than said book, most persecution comes from elsewhere these days
IV. Wiccans certainly are witches (but not all witches are Wiccans)
V. It’s not some fantasy complex.