1087

{file "Wiccan Information Network" "bos245.htm"}

The WICCAN INFORMATION NETWORK

What is WIN?
The Wiccan Information Network is a project of the
Wiccans Invoking
Tolerance, Compassion, and Harmony Society (W.I.T.C.H.).
The WITCH Society
is a registered society in the province of British
Columbia.
The WITCH
Society works to support the right of Pagans (including
Goddess Worshippers) and Witches to practice their faith as they see
fit, as it falls
within the Craft, civil, and criminal law and does not
infringe in any way
on the rights of others. WITCH is working toward the
return of the Wiccan
and Pagan religions as respected faiths in society
through education via
the media and by public discussion.
The Wiccan Information Network is a non
denominational Wiccan project
sponsored by the WITCH Society.
The WIN project is
coordinated by the
police liaison committee of WITCH.
The WIN
coordinators are responsible
for coordinating the efforts of those involved in the
project. WIN is made
up of Wiccans from all over North America and includes
many Wiccans who are
law enforcement officers.
What are the objectives of WIN?
The objectives of the Wiccan Information Network are:
individuals;

1. To monitor anti-Wiccan activities, groups and

2. To research occult related crime;

3. To distribute this intelligence to those in

the Wiccan
community that are affected by it; and
4.To liaise with law enforcement agencies in
order to provide
them with accurate information on Pagan religions and
occult
related crime.
How does WIN work?

The WIN coordinators have assigned area

coordinators to specific
regions in the US and Canada. WIN members forward any
anti Wiccan information that they come across to their area
coordinators.
These coordinators investigate this information and forward it to:
1) Pagan groups in their areas affected by this
information;
and

2) Area coordinators of other areas affected;

3) The WIN coordinators.

The WIN coordinators analyze and collate all

intelligence received and
assign area coordinators to follow-up tasks if
necessary.
The WIN coordinators send out a monthly intelligence summary to WIN
members.

1088
What else does WIN do?
The Wiccan Information Network also:
1) Publishes information booklets and manuals
for law enforcement
investigators;
2) Publishes resource directories for those
seeking information
or speakers on Pagan beliefs or occult related crime;
3) Arranges public speaking engagements in order
to brief members
of the Pagan community on the subjects studied
by WIN.
Do I have to join WIN to participate?
No. You don't need to join WIN to help us. All
you need to do
is send us any information, newspaper clippings,
articles, etc. that you
feel we should be aware of.
We'll make sure this
information gets to the
right people.
that

Who receives the monthly WIN intelligence summary?

Only WITCH Society members, WIN project members,
selected Pagan
newsletters and Pagan organizations affiliated with WIN
receive the monthly

intelligence summary. You cannot subscribe to it, for

security reasons.
If you'd like to become a member of WITCH the current
dues are $25 (Canadian) per annum, which includes notice of meetings by mail
and subscription
to the WITCH Society newsletter.
A copy of the WITCH
constitution and
bylaws is available upon request if you send a stamped
and self addressed
envelope.
How can I become involved in WIN?
You don't have to belong to WITCH to be a part of
WIN, although it is
preferred. If you are interested in becoming a part of
WIN you should
contact the WIN coordinator with a r.sum. of your
previous experience in
anti defamation work for the Wiccan community.
Organizations or newsletters interested in obtaining WIN intelligence summaries
should contact the
WIN coordinator in writing and send information on their
constitution and
editorial policies.
Donations to assist us in our work are greatly
appreciated.
All
donations should be forwarded to the WITCH Society and all
checks should be
made payable to the WITCH Society.
Wiccan Information Network,
Society,
Box 2422, Main Post Office,
Ave.,
Vancouver, BC, V6B 3W7
4A8

W.I.T.C.H.
c/0 2708 Belmont
Victoria, BC, V8R

1089

{file "Runic Thorn Ritual (Faunus)" "bos248.htm"}

The Thorn Ritual

has been
the past

The Runic Sub-Committee of the Orgone Committee

working on many facets of the Runic Magical System in

four years. The following ritual is the result of

many months
of discussion and work. May it serve you well.
Set-up:

One's Runic Wand (or fingers if one is

not available)
(Thuriaz) Rune

A place in which to cast the circle...

Meditation on the aspects of the Thorn
Sit quietly in the space in which the cirle is

to be cast.

Meditate on the various aspects of the Thorn

rune (consult
various sources such as Thorrson's Futhark, F.
Asswyn's Tree
Yggdrasil, and N. Pennick's Runic Astrology).
Concentrate on the
passive and active protective aspects of the force
embodied int
the Thorn Rune.

together.

Stand Facing North.

Assume the Isa stance, hands at side and feet
Visualize yourself as an antennae for the forces

of the

Multiverse. Feel the forces flowing through you from

above and

below. Let the energy flow through your body from the

floor and

the sky passing your solar plexus and energizing it.

When you feel that the energy is flowing
smoothly through
your body visualize the space around you as deep
blue. The deep
blue of the late night sky. Shimmering with energy.
Scintillating
as you look in to it.
Inhale evenly and deeply from you diaphram
(letting your stomach
expand and contract with your breath. Do not allow
your upper body
to be moved by the intake of breath. Let the sides of
your mid section
and the back of your midsection expand and contract
with your breath.
Breath fully and calmly. Let the breath energize your
cells. Feel
the energy adding to the energy raised with the Isa
meditation.
Trace the Hammer of Thor with your dominant hand
using the

wand or your fingers...

I
I
I
I
_______________
As you trace the Thorn, say (vibrate) the word

Thorn (or

Thuriaz if you are using the Norse name). Visualize

the energy

flowing from you solar plexus, through your

hand/wand, tracing
the rune.
Turn to the East and repeat the invocation. Then
to the South
then to the West. Then Above you, then below you.
Turn to the North (if not already standing in
that direction)
and say:
Thorn in the North, Hallow and hold this Holy
Stead.
Do this for the other five Thorns you have
invoked.
Having invoked the six points of the circle, we
will be invoking

1098
a thorny circle of briar in four parts. Each "string"
will be

invoked as long as you can say the word Thorn. When

your breath runs
out then one shoud inhale and begin another string,
until you have
scribed four interlacing, intricate strings of ethric
briar. You will
be tracing these strings so as to create a ball
similar to yarn. As
you are tracing the strings of briar, visualize the
briar as being
covered with sharp, pointy, nasty looking thorns.
Invest these
thorns with the power to keep out unwanted
influences.
O.K. now. Stand facing North. Inhale and as you
exhale vibrate
the word "Thorn" make the vibration of the name last
as long as you
have breath. As you are saing the word trace briar in
a circle around
you. Visualize the stream of briar comming out of the
end of your
wand/finger. Trace the briar in any way you want. I
am fond of
dancing in spirals, spinning in cirlces, moving my
hand in the
way an artist would with a pencil if they were in a
globe of
canvas... When your breath runs out from the first
"Thorn", inhale
and invoke that name
again..."TTTTTTHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRNNN
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN", drawing a string of briar around
the inner surface

of a globe, forming a globe of briar with your

actions. Remember
to see what is already there and fill in the spaces
you have yet
to get to. When you are out of breath again, inhale,
and begin
the third string of Briar...Don't forget to get the
space over your
head and below your feet. Make wide sweeping motions,
small scribbly
motions. Let your enjoyment of movement arouse more
energy, feel the
energy flowing through you, through your hand, and
coming out in the
stream of briar. When you are out of breath inhale,
and invoke the
Thorn one last time. Make sure to get all of those
places that
have not been covered. Don't worry about small
spaces, just make
sure that there are no large gaps in the ball of
briar you have
just make. Fix the holes with this last invocation.
As you finish this last invocation of Thorn,
stand facing North.
It is not uncommon to feel both exhiliarated and
exhausted by this
process. Stand, with feet apart and hands spread
over your head.
Breath deeply. Visualize the glowing ball of
briar...see it, its green
tendrils intertwining, feel the vibrance of its life
force, a force
that you have given to it. Breath deeply, calming
yourself...
While standing with your feet apart, arms
upraised in a "Y"
inhale, and as you exhale feel your energy flowing
through the
orb of briar, and see, as you energize the orb, the
thorns grow. See
the thorns, browinsh and reddish, getting larger and
closing up
the small spaces that existed between the strings of
briar. Feel
the spaces being blocked off. See the blue of the
space around you,
see the orb of thorny briars...Keep the thorns
growing until you
feel that the orb is complete and capable of keeping
out any unwanted
influences. Infuse the orb of briar with the ability
to repel unwanted
energies and permit those energies desired.
Stand in a comfortable position. We are near the

end of the

ritual. The invocation of the God/desses.

Stand in the Isa position. Say IIIIIISsssssssss.

Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand
Stand

in
in
in
in
in

the
the
the
the
the

As (Anuz) position. Say Odhinn.

Beorch position. Say Urdh.
Ing position. Say Freyr.
Foeh position. Say Freya.
Thorn position. Say Thorr.

Stand in the Isa position. Breath deeply. Thank

the God/desses

1099
silently. Feel the Orb of Thorns surrounding you.
Begin your

working...secure in your circle.

Certain parts of the ritual were taken from

Thorrson's Hammer
Rite. But the ritual is mostly original. The God/dess
names at the
end can be altered at your behest but try to keep
Odhinn First,
Freya in the middle, and Thorr last. I will be
posting meditations
for the Runic God/desses to help with the last part
of this ritual.
May your path be filled with Wisdom and Wonder,
Blessings of the Aesir and Vanir,
Faunus,
The Runic Sub-Committee
of
The Orgone Committee

1100

{file "Solitary Moon Rite, Issian (Ellen Cannon Reed)" "bos249.htm"}

SOLITARY MOON RITE

By: Ellen Reed, Coven of Sothistar
This rite may be used for either New or Full Moon.
The difference is
in your meditation and mental attitude in
preparation. Remember that
the New Moon is a time of outward work and thought,
building to the
peak which is the Full Moon. At the Full Moon, you
should be preparing to lessen the outward flow of energy, bit by bit,
until the period

before New Mo on, during which you are passive,

building a pool of
energy within you, in preparation for the New Moon.
The altar should be placed in the center of the
ritual area.
On it
should be placed a rose or stick of incense on the
eastern side, a red
votive candle to the South; a cup of water on the
West, and a bowl of
salt or living plant on the North.
unlighted

Around your ritual area, you should place an

candle at the
cardinal point of each direction.

To begin your rite, enter your darkened temple,

one burning
candle, white or lavender, with you.
Place it on
the center of your
altar, sit, and meditate on the meaning of the
rite. When you feel
the time is right, stand, and go to the eastern
point, carrying with
you, the burning taper.
Light the votive at the
eastern point and go
to the southern, picturing, as you do, an arc of
pure strong light
curving from one candle to the next. Continue to the
West, and then
to the North, lighting the candles as you go, and
then walk to your
eastern candle again, having formed a circle of
pro tective light
surrounding the area in which you worship.
carrying

Return to the
candle on the altar,
and say:

center of the circle, replace the

My Lady of the Moon, who is called Diana, Artemis,

Levanah, Isis and
by any other names, I come to you to bring you my
love and my devotion. May you grant me the joy of your presence.
Mentally divide the room into four quadrants by
visualizing a line of
silvery moonlight from the southeast to the northw
est, and from the
northeast to the southwest. Go the East, taking
with you the rose or
incense. Say:
Sweet Goddess, the gentle breeze is the touch of your
loving hand, the
wind of storm a reminder of your strength. The s
ound of the trees in
the wind is your voice, and the fragrance of flowers
borne on the wind
is your gift of beauty.

Place the rose next to the votive candle, then

there as you
picture the quadrant filling with moonlight.
See the moonlight
streaming quietly and gently into the room, filling
the quadrant
from center point to the edge of your circle.
stand

South.

When this is complete, take the red candle to the

Place the
gift and see the quadrant fill with moonlight. Say:

Most loved Lady, the light of the candle is a

guide along our path
leading to you; its warmth the reassurance of your
presence and your

1101
love. The light of the Sun is the knowledge you
impart to us, driving
out ignorance and those things which can survive only
in darkness.
At the West:
Lovely One, the quiet pool is the serenity of your
The vast
sea where life began on this planet is the vast
sea of your being
whence all life came; its waves are the ebb and flow
of the universe
you rule.
being.

At the North:
Goddess of all, the fertility of the earth is a
your fertility, whence all life rose. The solidity and
permanence are still
of it are still less than yours.
The Earth's
fertility feeds our
bodies, and your fertility feeds our souls.
sign of

Go to the center of your temple, which is now filled

with moonlight.
Everything in the circle is touched by it, blessed
by it, including
you.
Sit down and feel this moonlight around you.
Know that it is
the Goddess. Realize that you are in the center of
a sphere of light
that is half above and half above and half below
where you sit. Begin

to breathe slowly and evenly, deep breaths that

your whole
body.
When this rhythmic breathing becomes natural,
imagine that the
moonlight by which you are surrounded enters you,
fills you entirely.
With each exhalation of your breath, some of the
essence of yourself
leaves your body, and with each inhalation, the light
enters you. You
are being filled ever so gently with this
beautiful light.
This
light, which is the presence, the being of the
Goddess, is within you
as well as without. With each breath, you are less
yourself and more
the Goddess.
penetrate

When you are filled with light, filled with the

the shell of
your body fades away. You have no body; there is
nothing to separate
you from the entire being of the Goddess. Nothing
exists but the
being of which you are apart.
You have ceased
to be a separate
entity.
You are nothing and everything.
All that
was, that is, and
all that will be, you are.
Goddess,

Enjoy this feeling as long as you like.

When you
is time,
picture the outer shell of your physical body
reformi ng, becoming
solid again. It is being built out of the Universe
of which you are a
part.
feel it

Now, as you continue your slow deep breathing,

the moonlight
flowing out of your body, as gently and slowly as it
entered. As it
flows out, realize there is a difference. Because
you have become one
with the Goddess, with the Universe, your being has
changed. As the
moonlight flows out of your body, it takes with it
a part of that
which was yourself, now part of the Goddess, and
leaves behind a part
of the Goddess, forever now part of you. You become
yourself again,
solid as you were, but changed. You are surrounded
by the presence of
the Goddess, which now contains a part of yourself .
see

Move again to the East.

picture the moonlight in that quadrant
source, lea ving that
quadrant as it was.

As you

speak, and after,

flowing back

to its

Do this at each quadrant, until

has returned to the
Moon.

all the moonlight

1102
At the East:
My Lady, guide my thoughts.
closer to you.

Let them lead always

At the South:
Gracious Goddess, guide my actions.
always help and never
harm others or myself.

Let them

At the West:
Lovely One, guide
healing and touched
always by you.

my emotions:

Let

them be

At the North:
Sweet Goddess, let my mind always be fertile and
storng, that I may
grow always toward you.
Return to the East to complete the circle and say:
Queen of Heaven, I thank you for your presence,
both now and always.
My love and devotion are yours. Blessed be!
All spirits who have joined
depart, with my love.
Return to your proper places.

me

tonight may

Walk again around your circle, but this time

counterclockwise, extinguishing the quadrant guards as you go, and at the
same time, mentally
erasing the white line which surrounded your circle.
When the candles
are out and the circle gone, rap on your altar and
say:
The rite is ended.

1103

{file "Quilting and "Craft" (J.M. Cortese)" "bos250.htm"}

Quilting and "CRAFT"

Janis Maria Cortese
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Last night I attended the first session of a
first-time quilter's
class. While I was there listening to the teachers
tell us the little
tricks that make quilting easier and buying all the
neat gadgets that
you use, something very fundamental struck me, to the
point that I was
unable to speak for a few minutes until I had
acknowledged this
movement in my mind.
Let me describe something to you, and you try
what I'm
talking about. The characteristics are as follows:

to guess

1) done by a group of women together, which is

frequently called a
circle.
2) handed down from mother to daughter, in a VERY
hands-on fashion.
3) uses specialized tools
don't understand and
usually don't recognize.

that other

people

4) requires strict adherence to ritual preparation of

materials.
5) can be monotonous and repetitive -- PERFECT for
meditation.
6) can be decorative as well as practical, and
frequently both.
7) can be done entirely by hand, OR with the aid of
techie stuff.
8) causes things to come into being that other people
usually call
"magic."
Sound like Wicca? Well, it's not, at least not the
"standard" type,
if there is any such thing. I'm talking about the
quilting class.
Have you ever wondered WHY so many WOMEN do it, and
so few men (apologies to male Witches out there; I discovered
these things through
feminism)?
What else has been so "religiously"
handed down through

generations aside from crafting skills, and how many

women do you know
who have a love affair with that old afghan that
their grandmother
made and wouldn't part with it for the world? Sound
familiar now? I
mean, REALLY. This *can't* be coincidence!
I will follow the Craft in the barest sense of the
a CRAFT,
some talent which can be used for practical and
beautiful purposes,
and has all the trappings of a "true" ritual. (And
believe me, you'd
better adhere to the rules hard and fast.
You must
use EXACTLY the
required seam allowance, and you'd better treat your
cloth before you
start sewing, or whatever you end up with might as
well be a dropcloth.)
And when you're done, you have
something. You have something to which you can point and say, "That's
where the last five
weeks have gone."
You can follow a pattern
established by another
woman, or you can create your own, or you can
follow a pattern and
personalize it with your choice of materials.
word --

1104
I mean, they're called QUILTING CIRCLES and SEWING
CIRCLES, people?
How much more of a HINT do you need?!?!?!
Howzaboutit? Anyone else interested in a coven of
Crafters who
literally craft? I feel it deeply enough that I can
finally call
myselef Wiccan/Witch and have it feel right.
However, I'd rather not do this by myself. I realize
that many people
would rather follow Wicca in a different way, but if
this way feels so
wonderful to me, it MIGHT be good for others, too.
I'm not saying
that you need to do this the same way *I* do it;
just give it a try
and see how it feels.
If you like, try
consecrating your materials
before starting. Make something (I'm not just
talking quilts, here,
but ALL kinds of crafts) with a Pagan theme. After I
finish here, I'd
LOVE to make a four-pane quilt with a full moon, a
chalice, a blade,

and a tree in the panes.

Any feedback on this? I can't tell you how strongly
I feel this and
how amazed I am at that strength.
If I really
allowed myself to
absorb this, I think I'd be in tears.
Maybe I'm
just typing this to
get it on "paper"; I don't know. But I've never felt
this way -- this
sublime -- about anything connected with
Paganism/Wicca before.
THIS CAN'T BE COINCIDENCE!!!!!!!
Blessings,
Janis C.

1105

{file "Sophia and Gnosticism (Terry J. McCombs)" "bos251.htm"}

SOPHIA
By Terry J. McCombs
NAME: SOPHIA which is the Greek verson of Her name,
names and
titles are Hohkma (Hebrew), Sapienta (Latin), MotherOf-All (Gnostic),
Holy Spirit (very early Christians),Wisdom (what
the other names
mean).
other

SYMBOLS: A cup, the cresent moon, a dove, a tree.

USUAL IMAGE: A red winged woman, crowned with seven
stars, at Her feet
lies the World, She carrys a golden cup. She is
also often shown
wareing a red gown, and pregnant.
HOLY DAYS: November 28th is the Day of Sophia.
HOLY BOOKS: The Trattato Gnostico.
Homilies. The
Gospel According to Mary.

The

Clementine

PLACES OF WORSHIP: Temples, but also places of

learning.
RELATIVES: Yahway (ex-husband), Adam, Eve, Lilith,
angels (children),
Jesus Christ (step-son).

SYNODIETIES:Isis (Egyptian), Juno

(Roman), Hera
Frigga
(Norse) Spider Grandmother (Native American), Inanna
(Sumerian), Tara
(Tibetan) Yemaya (African-Caribbean), Amaterasu
(Japanese), Pachamama
(Incan), Estsanatlehi \}Changing Woman\{ (Navajo
and Apache), Danu
(Celtic).
(Greek),

DETAILS: Sophia, or Hohkma or Sapienta etc... is

the primary female
figure of Judeo-Christianity, She was once very
important, but because
of the efforts of men who had a very serious
problem with the female
force in nature and themselfs She has all but
been exsponged from
modern Bibles. She was the veiled holy spirit of
wisdom, pregnant with
knowledge and inviting us to drink deeply from Her
cup. Old Jewish
literature tells of Her role as God's co-creator,
"She reaches out
from one end of the earth to the other with full
strength and orders
all things well...Herself unchanging, she makes
all things anew."
without Her God is powerless. She shares God's
throne, and is his
creative breath. The Shakers recognized her in
the rhyme: "Wisdom
holds the Mother's seat, and is the Father's helpermeet."
Yes, it's time that Mrs God got Her due!

1106
Gnostics and sophia
Gnosticism (Gnost = knowledge) was one of the very
earlyist forms of
Christianty being some what older then what became
the Roman Catholic
Church, and one of it's chief rivals during the
first part of the
first millennium. They sought communion with Sige
(Silence) who dwelt
at the beginning of all things and gave birth to
Sophia (Wisdom or
Knowledge), The Gnostic Great Mother, who was both
spouse and mother
of God. (Hey! it's how they thought back then,
read your Joseph
Campbell.)
What became the orthodox church especially hated
the Gnosticfemin-

ine imagery. Followers of Paul denounced the Gnostics

the spawn of
Satan and ravening wolves in human form, and both
devil worshipers AND
atheists, and other insults Christians used against
other Christians
of a diffrent type in those times, and for that
matter today against
other religions that they don't like today.
as

Starting mainly in the 4th and going through

the 8th the Paulist
church persecuted any Gnostic minorities that they
could find, killing
them in the thousands.
Church fathers of the Paulist type were very upset
and angry by the
Gnostics admiting women to ecclesiastical rank.
Tertullian reported
with horror that "All initiates, men and women
alike...might be
elected to serve as priest, bishop, or prophet.
Beyone that the women
teach, engage in discussion; they exorcise; they
cure. They even
baptize and in all way have equally, they pray
equally -- even Pagans,
if any happen to come...They also share the kiss of
peace with all who
come."
Some sects of Gnosticism even went sofar as to
say that there were
twelve female apostles lead by the beloved of
Jesus Mary Magdalene,
and that while Jesus was the real God made flesh,
Mary Magdalene was
the real Goddess also made flesh, most of their
gospels pertaining to
this were distroyed by the eary Paulist, though some
have survived.
In return for what the other Christians had to
say about them the
Gnostics said that the God of the Roman church was
not the real God
but was a devilish
demiurge who only wanted to entrap human souls in
lies, illusion, and
evil.
But what about some of these differences that
be found
between the
Gnostics who had a Yahway AND Sophia, and the
Paulist who had only
Jehovah and Jesus?
Lets take a short look at the
Gnostic verson of
the Garden of Eden myth next.
are to

The Gnostics said that Sophia was born from the

primordial female
power Sige (Silence). And that she \}Sophia\{ was
God's mother, "the
great revered Virgin in whom the Father was concealed
from the begining before He had created anything.

1107
Sophia gave birth to a male spirit, Christ, (who
much later
came to earth in human form) and a female spirit
Achamoth (who later
came to earth as Mary Magdalene). These two gave
birth to the elements
and the terrestrial world, then brought forth a new
god named Jehovah,
Son of Darkness, along with five planetary spirits
later regarded as
emanations of Jehovah: Iao, Sabaoth, Adonai, Eloi,
annd Uraeus. These
spirits produced archangels, angels, and finally men
and women.
only

Jehovah forbade men to eat the fruit of

knowledge, but his mother
Achamoth sent her own spirit to earth in the form of
the serpent Ophis
to teach menkind to disobey the jealous god. The
serpent was also
called Christ, who taught Adam to eat the fruit of
knowledge despite
Jehovah's prohibition.
...later
Sophia sent Christ again to earth in the shapeof
one of Her totems
the dove, to enter the man Jesus at his baptism in
Jordan. After Jesus
died,Christ left his body and returned to heaven
to help collect
souls.
But notall of Sophia was taken out ofthe final
verson of the Bible
by the Paulist, some was able to slip past ie from
the 8th and 9th
chapters Proverbs we see the early conflict
between followers of
Sophia and those of God. Maybe the divorse was going
on at this time?:
Doth not Sophia cry? and understanding put
forth her voice? She
standeth in the top of high places, by way in the
places of the paths.

She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at

the coming in of
the doors. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice
is to the sons of
man. O ye simple, understand Sophia: and , ye
fools, be ye of an
understanding heart.
Hear; for I will speak of
excellent things; and
the opening of my lips shall be right things... for
Sophia is better
then rubies; and all the things that may be
desired are not to be
compaired to Her. I Sophia dwell with prudence, and
find out knowlege
of witty inventions... Counsel is mine, and sound
wisdom; I am understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign,
and princes decree
justice. By me princes rule, and and nobles, even
all judges of the
earth. I love them that love me; and those that
seek me early shall
find me... I lead the way into righteousness, jin
the midst of the
paths of judgment: that I may cause those that
love me to inherit
substance; and I will fill their treasures...
Blessed is the man that
heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at
the posts of my
doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life... But
he that sinneth
against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate
me love death.

1108
Then we get:
Sophia hath builded her house, she hath hewn out
her sevenpillars:
she hath killed her beasts: she hath mingled her
wine: she hath also
furnished her table.
She hath sent forth her
maindens: she crieth
upon the highest places of the city. Whoso is
simple, let him turn in
hither; as for him that wanteth understanding, she
saith to him, Come,
eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I
have mingled...(but)
the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and
the kknowledge of
the holy is understanding.
For by me (God) thy
days shall be multiplied, and the years fo thy life shall be
increased... a foolish

woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth

For she
sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the
high place of the
city, (temples) to call passengers who go right on
their ways: whoso
is simple, let him turn in hither... But he knoweth
not that the dead
are there; and her guests are in the depths of hell.
nothing.

Sounds like thenasty sort of thing that goes on

in a lot of divorces to me. Or at least a heated PR battle.
Lets say that the campaign to bring Sophia (or
Sapienta or Hohkma or
Goddess which ever) is a success, what are some of
the effects that it
might have? I mean other then the religious aspects,
I mean also the
political or more mundane aspects, because as it is
now while women
make up the majority of those that DO anything in
the churchs the
power is in the hands of men, well, with Sophia back
thinks would have
to loosen up more then a little bit, so what are
some of the changes
that could take place?......:
Catholicism
Sure theyhave nuns, but that does not count
because even they have
to have a Priest that is over them (I think I'm
really not sure about
the details).
So with the return of Sophia we
could see also the
Catholic Priestess who would have her very on
sacraments and everything (see following message) and to be sure they
could also become
bishops and cardinals I understand that such things
were quite common
way back when.
And Pope? There was Pope Joan, but she had to be
in disguise to do
that.
and all that Pope stuff did not start till well after
the last of the
Sophiaist had been offed.
But I know the perfect compromise, there is a
lotof controveray in
the Roman Catholic church right now between
people who think that
Priest should be able to marry, and those that
think things should
stay just as they are.
But if you let Priest
marry who knows what

would happen! after all nobody can understand anybody

elses choices in
books or mates, and if your Catholic would would you
do if Father Dan
showed up one day married to a Yahway's Witness
or a nice Jewish
girl?! you know what gosips church people can be,
well here's the
solution, let them get married, but only to
Priestesses, sure that
cuts down the feld a lot but hey! that's tough, it
comes with the
territory.

1109
Protestantism
Now here's a group that needs some work, ever seen
some of the more
hard-core groups with the men in their PentaPimp suits and the
poofyed up hair-dos and their drab mousey wifes who
never seem to say
anything? (not to try and get anybody mad or upset,
but if I do...I
try) I think there is more then room for a little
loosening up to be
done there, and in the more avereage protestant
churchs too.
Along with the minister have a wominister, yeah
would work,
maybe haveing another power would help cut down on
the power triping
that often takes place. And just think, one more
person to gosip
about!
that

Judaism
Sorry, I really don't know enough about
talk about
changes that might take place with the return of a
Goddess figure, but
I'm sure it would have to mean something...right?
Judaism to

All Judeo-Christianity
One thing that is to be found in all Christian
religious groups is
the male-force verson of the leader, no matter if he
is called Priest
minister or what, who is let's face it more matter
how you might like
to not look at it, is for the most part a political
figure, somebody

in charge, so that you have a lot of religion but

very, very little if
any real spirituality.
Perhaps that could be fixed with the return of
Sophia because with
the return of a Female eleament to a religion you
open up the door to
the possibility of the Christian Shaman, something
that the world has
yet to see, this person could be ether male or
female and..well I
think this needs it's own message.
Even if you are not Catholic yourself I am sure
that you are at
least somewhat familiar with each of the seven
sacraments that a
priest can perform as part of his office. Just for
the record they are
listed below.
Catholic

The seven sacraments

church can
preform are:

that a priest

of the Roman

1. Baptism 2. Communion (eucharist) 3. Confirmation

4. Marriage 5.
Priesthood 6. Sacrament of the Sick (formerly known
as 'last rites')
7. Reconciliation (confession)
Now, what would be the case if a campaign to return
Sophia to JudeoChristianity were to succeed? There would be no need
to take anything
away from the priests, or even for them to share the
seven sacraments
for that matter, I think that the priestess would
have plenty to do
with the seven sacraments of the Priestesshood:

1110
1. Pre-Baptism (sacred midwifery) To atend in a
number of ways to the
spiritual and physical needs of pregnant women,
blessing the child,
doing some rite at the birth etc...
2. Blessing the Cup. Rite by which
water is imbued
with the essence of Sophia.

a cup of milk or

3. Bake the Love in. Rite in which an

is imbued with the
essence of Sophia.

entire meal

4. Match-Making. Something that is badly needed

before the Priest can
do the marriage bit. a number of ways in which the
compatablility is
tested between two people, also the aiding of
finding a suitable
match. ("Nu! have I got a girl for you!")
5. Nag. Sort of like confession, only while one is
told to the priest
this one is told to you by the priestess, sort of
like naging...but in
a good way, a way of pointing out where some
improvement could be
made, all under the influence of Sophia and not
the good Mother
herself `nach. Mayby it could start out by the
Priestess saying
something like "Watch it buster, for you have sined"
or something like
that.
6. Tidy-Up. Rite to "clean-up" the spiritual "being"
of the person in
question, sort of like all that aura cleaning that
the New Agers do.
7. Make-Over. Training that lets the Priestess note
changes that would
be helpfull if they were made in an individual, sort
of like that Hail
Mary thing, only the Priestess would asign things of
a more tangible
form. Like give me one week with no beer drinking, or
such like.
The White Goddess. Robert Graves.
Forerunners and Rivals of Christianity. (2 vols.)
Francis Legge.
The Gnostic Religion. Hans Jonas.
Venus in Sackcloth. Marjorie Malvern.
Myths to Live By. Joseph Campbell.
The Gnostic Gospels. Elaine Pagels.
When God Was a Woman. Merlin Stone.
The Lady Was a Bishop. Joan Morris.
Spiral Dance. Starhawk.
The Book of Goddesses and Heroines. Patricia
Monagham.
The Goddesses and the Tree. Ellen Cannon Reed.
Urban Shaman. Serge Kahili King.
Growing the Tree Within. William Gray.
The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets.
Barbara G. Walker.
Many of these booksare to be found at the libary.
. And there is a
new one out called Sophia the Black Goddess I believe
butI'm not sure
and I don't know the authors name.....sorry.

1111

{file "Beltane (The White Bard)" "bos252.htm"}

Phoenix, AZ

Bardic Beltaine
By "The White Bard", Dragonhart Cove,

-------------------------------------------------------------The BARD should stand to the WEST, unless otherwise

specified in the
ritual.
BELTANE RITUAL: May Day
-by the White Bard
Materials: One cauldron, filled with water
a wreath of flowers for the MAIDEN
the Maiden should wear white, if possible
two wooden swords (optional)
a fire, as close to the ground as possible
A BARD/GREEN MAN (note: if you have no
Bard, then a
male to act as Green Man should be
chosen either
by lottery, or by the Maiden. The
Maiden is, of
course, free to request a specific
person to
act as Green Man even if there is a
Bard available
to the coven.)
candles for all, if possible
*****************************************
% The place of ritual should be set up, away from
the gathered
% participants.
% It is more than a good idea to manage bathrooms
and such like
% before the circle is closed. This Mystery is not
something any
% of the participants should miss out on!
HPS: Go we now
And stand
Turn your
And dance
by a
The

to the sacred place

within the sacred space
minds to sacred things
with me unto the ring!

HP and HPS lead the coven to the place of ritual

spiral dance, ending in a circle around the altar.

Man

cauldron should be at the south. The Bard/Green

dances at the end of the line.

HPS: Come we forth, with the Spiral Dance

Within the Lady's radiance
To celebrate the Year renewed
And praise the Powers, with gratitude.
Earth and Water, Fire and Air
I invoke the Goddess there!
This night we are Between the Worlds
To celebrate the year unfurled!
HP: Earth and Water, Fire and Sky
I invoke the God on high
This night we are Between the Worlds
To celebrate the year unfurled!
hear, but

The corners shall be called thusly, that all may

%
shall not be called until the HPS reaches that
corner on her
%
circumnabulation.

1112
EAST:

O Guardians of the Eastern Tower,

Airy ones of healing power
I do summon, stir and call you
See these rites and guard this circle!
Come to us and heed our call!
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
Come to us; and Blessed Be!

SOUTH:

Oh fiery ones of Southern Power

Thus I invite you to this tower
I do summon, stir and call you
See these rites and guard this circle!
Come to us and heed our call!
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
Come to us; and Blessed Be!

WEST:

Western ones of water's flow

Help to guard us here below
I do summon, stir and call you
See these rites and guard this circle!
Come to us and heed our call!
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
Come to us; and Blessed Be!

NORTH:

Earthen ones of Northern fame

Bless and guard our Power's fane

I do summon, stir and call you
See these rites and guard this circle!
Come to us and heed our call!
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
Come to us; and Blessed Be!
% The HPS shall move to each corner, and say,
following each
% corner's crying as she moves to the next:
HPS: So I cast and consecrate
This Circle of the small and great:
By Fin and Feather, Leaf and Tree,
By Rock and Earth, by Land and Sea,
By Fire and Water, Earth and Air,
By the Lord, and Lady Fair!
By Love and Joy and Work and Play,
All things harmful cast away!
By lightening's flash, and rain's soft fall,
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
(Cast the Circle: Blessed be!)
%

On her return to the first corner she shall change

line above, and say:

the last

The Circle's cast; and Blessed Be!

1113
% The callers of the corners shall return their
tools to the
altar, and then shall join the circle at their
corners.
-------------------------------------------------%

Here begins the Beltane Mystery

BARD or GREEN MAN: Thus I invoke the Lady White

To come to us this sacred night.
By Fin and Feather, Leaf and Tree,
I show you a Mystery!
%

The Maiden shall stand beside the HP, who shall

wooden sword. The Bard/Green Man shall approach

hold a
them, also

%
carrying a wooden sword, and shall, in mime,
challenge the
%
HP. They shall strike their swords together in
three sets

%
of three blows, then Bard/Green Man shall strike
the HP, with
%
the last blow of his sword, who shall fall as if
dead.
%
(Note: This can be played as a Morris Dance, if
so wished.)
%
If no Maiden and Bard/Green Man are used, then
the above combat
%
may be eliminated, and the HP and HPS shall enact
the Mystery.
%
The HPS' part shall then be spoken by the
participants.
%
moves to the
%

The Maiden moves to the East. The Bard/Green Man

North.

HPS: Cunning and art she did not lack

But aye his whistle would fetch her back!
MAIDEN: Oh, I shall go into a hare
with sorrow, sighing and mickle care
And I shall go in the Lady's Name
Aye, until I be fetched hame!
BARD/GREEN MAN: Hare, take heed of a swift greyhound
Will harry thee all these fields
around

For here come I in the Lady's Name

All but for to fetch thee hame!

%
moves to the
%

The Maiden moves to the South. The Bard/Green Man

East.

HPS: Cunning and art she did not lack

But aye his whistle would fetch her back!
MAIDEN: Yet I shall go into a bee
With mickle fear and dread of thee
And flit to hive in the Lady's Name
Ere that I be fetch-ed hame!
BARD/GREEN MAN: Bee, take heed of a red, red cock
Will harry thee close thru door and
lock

For here come I in the Lady's Name

All but for to fetch thee hame!

%
moves to the
%

The Maiden moves to the West. The Bard/Green Man

South.

HPS: Cunning and art she did not lack

But aye his whistle would fetch her back!

1114

MAIDEN: Yet I shall go into a trout.

With sorrow and sighing and mickle doubt
And show thee many a merry game
Ere that I be fetch-ed hame!
BARD/GREEN MAN: Trout, take heed of an otter lank
Will harry thee close from bank to
bank

For here come I in the Lady's Name

All but for to fetch thee hame!

%
moves to the
%

The Maiden moves to the North. The Bard/Green Man

West.

HPS: Cunning and art she did not lack

But aye his whistle would fetch her back!
MAIDEN: Yet I shall go into a mouse
And haste me unto the Miller's House
There in his corn to have good game
Ere that I be fetch-ed hame!
BARD/GREEN MAN: Mouse, take heed of a white tom-cat
That never was baulked of mouse nor
rat

For here come I in the Lady's Name

And -thus- it is I fetch thee hame!
%

Bard/Green Man walks to Maiden and takes her

both move to the Cauldron, and face HPS.

hand. They

HPS: Cunning and art she did not lack

But aye his Song has fetched her back!
Old Winter's dead, the Lady reigns
And Summer has returned again!
%

Bard/Green Man and Maiden both wet their hands

from the Cauldron, and sprinkle it on the HP, who

life again.

with water
comes to

HP: Cunning and art I do not lack

But aye Her Cauldron will bring me back!
%

Bard/Green Man and Maiden both move to, and jump,

the fire.

%
Here ends the Beltane Mystery.
%
Note: This Mystery is the more historically
correct "Great Rite."
-----------------------------------------------%
If there is a May Pole, it should be erected by
the men -only- at
%
this point, and all dance around it, alternating
male and female

%
%
and healing:

to raise the cone of power as outlined below.

A normal cone-of-power may be raised, for growth

HPS: In a ring we all shall stand

Pass the Power, hand to hand.

1115

HP: As the year is given birth

Build the Power; root to Earth
HPS: Pass the Power, hand to hand
Bless the Lady, bless the Land
HP: Bless the Lord, and bless the Skies
Bless the Power that never dies!
%

times, (or

%
then the HPS
%

The above four verses should be repeated three

as many as needed to fully wrap the pole) and
should say:

HPS: By Fin and Feather, Leaf and Tree:

Let the Power flow out and free!
%

All should release, at this point.

-----------------------------------------------------%

done here.

Such coven business as must be transacted may be

-----------------------------------------------------%
The Circle is opened.
HPS: Thus I release the East and West
Thanks to them from Host to Guest
Thus I release the South and North
With "Blessed Be' I send them forth!
The Circle's open, dance we so
Out and homeward we shall go.
Earth and Water, Air and Fire
Celebrated our desire.
Winter's cold is gone away
Now it is the Day of May.
By Fin and Feather, Leaf and Tree,
Our circle's done; and Blessed Be!
COVEN: Blessed Be!
fire as

All spiral dance out from the Circle, jumping the

%
Maiden

%
Allow the Bel
%
otherwise put
%
the water
%
tree.
%
to take home
%
extinguished.

they go. HP and HPS lead, with Bard/Green Man and

taking care of bringing the Bel Fire into camp.
fire to burn out on its own, if possible,
it
out with the water from the Caldron. Disposal of
otherwise should be to pour it at the roots of a
All participants may take fire from the Bel Fire
with them, cook over, or whatever, before it is

----------------end of Beltain ritual: the

Bard--------------

1116