1002 lines
38 KiB
Plaintext
1002 lines
38 KiB
Plaintext
I. ON JOINING A COVEN
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A. Reasons for joining a Coven
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1. To experience a sense of community.
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a. As Crafters, we seem to stand slightly to one side of
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mainstream society.
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(1) This setting apart makes us feel as though we are alone
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and surrounded by people who do not understand us.
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(a) A coven brings together like minded people who can form
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a surrogate clan or tribe, which then serves as a support group.
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(b) Most newcomers to the Craft express their feelings at
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Covenmeets as a 'coming home' or finding 'their people.'
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2. To find religious freedom
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a. Most Crafters have had a lifetime of religious bigotry with
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which to contend.
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b. Consequently they are more willing to tolerate other peoples
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beliefs.
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(1) And, because of their emphasis on direct experience with
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the Goddess, they are not so quick to condemn your experiences as the
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result of psychosis or delusion.
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(a) In most cases, they have had the same or similar
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experiences.
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3. To receive training in psychic development.
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a. A Coven serves as the training ground in which each member
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develops her/his personal power.
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(1) The support and security of the group reinforces each
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member's belief in themselves.
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(a) Psychic training opens new awareness and abilities.
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(b) And feedback from the group becomes the ever present
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mirror in which we 'see ourselves as others see us.'
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4. To gain power over others
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a. Many times this is the strongest motivation for becoming a
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witch and joining a Coven.
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b. The perceived need to gain power over others is a desperate
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cry for help which indicates an insecure and frightened individual.
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(1) Patriarchal systems teach that there are a privileged few
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who manipulate the masses and we are led to believe that our own self
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worth is direct proportion to the power we hold over other people.
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(a) This mindset leads to the view of fellow humans as
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being both competitors that must be 'beaten' and as potential slaves.
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c. One of the major objectives of the first degree training of a
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witch is to get the potential witch to face the Self truthfully.
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(1) During this process the witch examines her/his own
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motivations and internal programming.
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(a) This is in keeping with the Hermetic maxim to "know
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thyself".
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(2) As the witch comes to realize that the need to have power
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over others stems from a lack of power over one's own self, s/he is
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taught techniques which lead to gaining control over their own lives
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and that build personal power.
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(a) With personal power, the need to dominate others
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subsides along with feelings of powerlessness.
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II. TYPICAL STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF A COVEN.
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A. Structure
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1. The structure of the craft is cellular, based on small circles
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whose members share a deep commitment to each other and the craft.
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a. The craft tends to attract people who, by nature, do not like
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to join groups.
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(1) The coven structure makes it possible for rabid
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individualists to experience a deep sense of community without losing
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their independence of spirit.
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(a) Even so, because the coven becomes a family, that makes
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demands upon its members, just as any family does, there are crafters
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who cannot function within the strictures of a coven.
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(b) These crafters usually work their rites alone except
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for those rare occasions when they can join their brothers and sisters
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in the celebration of the Mysteries.
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(c) These people are rightly called Solitaries or Solos,
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and their dedication to the craft requires them to forego the
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camaraderie of a support group such as a coven.
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2. A coven, by tradition, never (?) contains more than thirteen
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members.
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a. In such a small group, each person's presence or absence
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affects the rest.
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(1) The group is colored by every individual's likes,
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dislikes, beliefs and tastes.
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b. Some, less traditional, covens consist of any number of
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members from 3 - 20.
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(1) Many times this comes about because of the many people who
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wish to work in the craft and the shortage of qualified leaders to
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accommodate everyone.
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(a) Other factors that may affect the size of a coven are
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the group's philosophy, the size of the working circle, and the
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available members.
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3. Originally, the members of a coven were the teachers and
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priestesses/priests of a large pagan population of non- initiates.
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a. They formed the Council of Elders in each clan, the wisewomen
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and wisemen who delved beneath the surface of their rites and sought
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the deeper meanings.
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(1) At the Sabbats, they led the rituals, organized the
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gatherings, and expounded upon the meanings of the ceremonies.
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4. Each coven had its own territory, which by tradition extended
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for a league in all directions (about 3 miles).
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a. When a new coven hived off from an established one, they were
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expected to honor the league rule and move off away from the
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established territory.
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(1) This allowed the new and old covens some elbow room and
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discouraged the new coven members from running to the old coven
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leaders whenever things did not go smoothly.
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(a) It is impractical in a modern urban setting to observe
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the league rule, but new coven members should at least try to keep
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their distance from their old coven except during community
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gatherings.
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(2) As mentioned above, neighboring covens might join together
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for the Great Sabbats in order to share knowledge, herbs, spells and
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(of course) gossip.
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5. Every coven is autonomous
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a. Each coven functions as its own authority in matters of
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ritual, thealogy, and training.
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(1) Groups of covens who follow the same rites may consider
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themselves part of the same tradition.
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(a) Some traditions make provisions for the leaders of
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parent covens that have other covens hive off to receive recognition
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for their work.
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b. The reputation of a coven in the community is many times all
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that other covens have to go on when determining whether it invite
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them to gatherings or not.
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(1) This means that the integrity of the coven leaders coupled
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with the reputation of its members as being sincere followers of the
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Path is what a coven is judged by.
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(a) The craft is a religion that is lived, and if the lives
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of this members do not reflect the teaching of the craft, then the
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reputation of the coven suffers.
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B. Organization
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1. Officers
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a. Every group which hopes to accomplish anything must have
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people who provide leadership and organization and the craft is no
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exception.
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(1) Most covens are led primarily by a High Priestess, who has
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gone through a lengthy training program in magic, psychic development,
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ritual and leadership as well as thealogy.
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(a) During ritual the Goddess is invoked into the High
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Priestess and she is treated accordingly.
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(b) Outside of ritual the High Priestess acts as the final
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authority when deciding coven policy, but to disagree with her is not
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an offense against the Goddess as some have espoused.
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(2) In those covens that recognize the God as separate from
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the Goddess, the High Priestess shares her authority and
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responsibilities with her High Priest.
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(a) As with the Goddess, the God is invoked into the High
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Priest during some rituals.
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(b) In covens that do not recognize the God as separate
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from the Goddess, the High Priest is subservient and below the High
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Priestess is authority.
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(c) It is extremely rare to find a High Priestess that is
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below or subservient to the High Priest in this day and age.
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(3) Traditionally, the High Priestess is aided by the Maiden.
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(a) The Maiden is usually a Priestess-in-training or a
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visiting High Priestess.
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(b) Some traditions call for the Maiden to be the daughter
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of the High Priestess and in some cases this is satisfied by having
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the High Priestess 'adopt' the Maiden when she accepts her as a
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Priestess-in-training.
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(c) It is the Maidens duty to assist the High Priestess
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during ritual by handing her equipment, keeping the candles and
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incense going, etc.
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(4) Some Traditions make allowances for a Summoner.
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(a) The Summoner, also called Puck, is responsible for
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acting as the private messenger of the High Priestess.
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(b) He may be a Priest-in-training or simply someone who is
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capable of being seen anywhere without arousing suspicion.
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(c) Along with the High Priestess, he is usually the only
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one who knows all the other witches in the area with the possible
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exception of the High Priest.
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(d) He is responsible for the mundane matters of the coven
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such as contacting coven members when a coven-meet is called,
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overseeing coven finances, buying ritual supplies, coordinating
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gatherings and providing light for the High Priestess or the High
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Priest as needed during circle.
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2. Finances
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a. The craft is not for sale. There are no fees for initiation
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and it is considered a breech of ethics to charge money for coven
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training.
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(1) Covens might charge dues to cover expenses for candles,
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incense, and other necessities but no one profits from commercializing
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the craft for long.
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(a) One of the tasks normally assigned to someone who is
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about to undergo initiation is to bring a bottle of wine or to provide
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some homemade Sabbat cakes for the ceremony.
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(b) This is to impress upon the new initiate that everyone
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is responsible for providing for the circle according to their
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ability.
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(c) More often than not, the coven members provide more
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than expected. Not to show off or gain favor, but because they want to
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contribute and have the ability. After the gathering the remains are
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offered to the feathered friends or sent home with other members who
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may have a need.
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(d) There is no shame in admitting a need and taking home
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any leftover food or supplies, because it was all given in the spirit
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of providing according to one's ability and you do the provider the
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honor of seeing that the gifts do not go wasted.
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3. Degrees of Training
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a. Most traditions possess a system of degrees to denote the
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amount of training that the members of the coven have undergone.
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b. Some traditions, such as the Welsh Celtic tradition taught in
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Georgia, go from the sublime to the ridiculous.
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(1) This tradition claims to have nine levels of
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enlightenment.
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(a) Most of which their leader believes even he may never
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reach.
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c. Happily for the rest of us mortals, most other traditions
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only recognize three degrees when they recognize any at all.
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(1) The 1st degree is the degree of the Initiate.
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(a) Training for this degree consists mainly of learning
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the mythology and cosmology of the tradition, psychic and personal
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development, Low Magic or spellcasting, divination, and healing.
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(2) Once you attain the 2nd degree, you become an Elder in the
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Coven.
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(a) Training involves learning the laws of the tradition,
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ritual magic, folklore, Spirit contact and trance mediumship.
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(3) The 3rd degree escorts you into the wonderful(?) world of
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being a Priest or Priestess.
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(a) Training focuses on rituals of life such as Wiccanings,
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blessings, handfastings, and funereal ceremonies as well as training
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in leadership and group dynamics.
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(b) Inner teachings are presented during this training and
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the Priest/ess is offered the option of leaving the group to start a
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coven of their own or remaining to serve on the Council of Elders as a
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representative of the Ancient Ones.
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d. Some traditions have pre-initiation degrees that apply to
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what is called 'outer-court' teachings.
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(1) Many times these teaching will consist of courses very
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similar to the ones associated with this series of lessons.
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(a) No matter what the degree structure is, the important
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thing to remember is that the material you are supposed to learn on
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your way up is the foundation on which you build your future
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understanding.
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(b) All too many people rush through the basics to collect
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as many degrees as possible only to find that they have wasted their
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time pursuing the illusion of prestige that goes along with the
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degrees and never gained the knowledge and experience the degrees are
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supposed to represent.
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III. THE COVEN PERSONA
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A. Group Mind
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1. Just as a mob of individuals can be galvanized into acting like
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a senseless animal, a coven can develop a group mind with its own
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goals and orientation.
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a. The orientation that a coven developes can be quite varied.
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(1) Some covens concentrate on healing or teaching.
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(2) Others may lean towards psychic work, trance states,
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social action or creativity and inspiration.
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(3) While others seem to throw great parties.
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B. Group Power
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1. In the craft, power is another word for that energy which is
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the subtle current of forces that shapes reality.
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a. A powerful person is seen as someone who draws power into the
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group, not out of it.
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(1) The sources of inner power are limited.
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(a) One person's power does not diminish anothers; instead,
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as each covener comes into his or her power, the power of the group
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grows stronger.
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C. Group Consciousness
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1. One of the laws of magic is that as thoughtforms are fed
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regularly they grow into self-sufficiency.
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a. This is why religious sites that have been abandoned for ages
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still affect sensitive people who visit them.
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(1) And why rituals performed the same way over and over again
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become more powerful with each repetition.
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2. Once the thoughtform is fully formed it is brought into
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manifestation through repeatedly re-forming it.
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a. Again, this is why rituals are performed over and over the
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same way.
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(1) You are following a blueprint for a thoughtform and
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deviation produces a distorted thoughtform.
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b. Once a coven has found its own orientation, it begins work on
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forming a thoughtform of the work it wishes to do.
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(1) Eventually, the coven actualizes its thoughtforms and the
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group consciousness becomes a source of healing for the members of the
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coven and a reservoir of power that any member can draw on in need.
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IV. FINDING A COVEN TO JOIN
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A. The Craft grows slowly.
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1. Witchcraft will never be a mass-market religion, because it
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requires a great deal from its followers in the way of learning and
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practicing.
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a. For this reason witches never proselytize.
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(1) Prospective members are expected to seek out covens and
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demonstrate a deep level of interest.
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(a) The strength of the craft is in the QUALITY of its
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members not the quantity.
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B. Finding a Coven can be Difficult
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1. Crafters are not usually listed in the Yellow Pages and rarely
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place classified ads.
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a. However, they often give classes through Open Universities or
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metaphysical bookstores.
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(1) And some Universities are beginning to offer courses about
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the craft in their religious studies programs.
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2. The Circle Guide to Wicca and Pagan Resources
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a. Guide published by Circle Publications in Wisconsin
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(1) Serves as a resource guide to books, periodicals, arts,
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music, supplies and contacts in the Wiccan community in the United
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States, Canada, and Britain.
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3. Occult Shops
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a. Occult shops are usually listed in the yellow pages of the
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phone book if there are any in your area.
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(1) If you make a good first impression, or are willing to
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establish yourself as a good customer, you might be able to get some
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leads from the manager.
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(a) Many times a group leader will leave a phone number to
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be given out to a prospective member that the manager feels is
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sincere.
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(b) Getting that number does not guarantee that you will
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get into a group but you will be closer than you were before.
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(2) Most occult stores have community bulletin boards that
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advertise festivals open to the public.
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(a) Chances are you will meet Crafters who are already in a
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coven or are about to form one at these festivals.
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(b) If not, at least you will have the opportunity to
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celebrate the season with like minded people.
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(c) It would not hurt your chances to learn as much as you
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can about the 8 sabbats so you will know when to look for the festival
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notices.
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(d) Once you are at the festival, you should show off any
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skill you might have. Music, juggling, or a good sense of humor breaks
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down barriers faster than calling cards and black robes.
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4. The best route is through personal contacts
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a. Most Crafters feel that when a person is internally ready to
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join the craft, s/he will be drawn to the right people.
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5. As a last resort, you can form your own group.
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a. You do not have to be an hereditary, or even an initiated
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witch to form your own group.
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(1) Stewart and Janet Farrar have provided the necessary
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framework for the Gardnerian tradition in their books.
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(a) And Ray Buckland has provided instructions on how to
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form groups around the Seax Tradition that he created.
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b. The school of trial and error is also a very fine one,
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although training by an established group helps a lot more and with a
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lot fewer surprises.
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(1) A Witch I respect very much once replied to the charge
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that only an initiation can make someone a witch with the question
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"Who initiated the first witch?"
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V. GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING PROSPECTIVE COVENS.
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A. Do Your Homework
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1. Before you join a coven you should try to learn as much about
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the craft as you can from books and other readily available material.
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a. This will prevent you from looking foolish to whoever you
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contact and provides you with basic information to found your
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judgement on.
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B. Trust Yourself.
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1. Always listen to the guidance of your inner voice.
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a. Pay attention to your inner feelings in sensing whether or
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not to pursue study, magical work, or other aspects of relationships
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with those you encounter.
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(1) If you get good feelings, gradually allow a relationship
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to unfold.
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(a) If you get bad feelings, do not get involved.
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(2) If you get mixed feelings, feel somewhat uncomfortable, or
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feel unsure about some group or individual, hold off on getting more
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deeply involved until you can identify where your feelings are coming
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from and what they are trying to tell you.
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(a) It might mean that those you have contacted are
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involved in negative magic of some sort.
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(b) Or it might mean that you are shy about meeting new
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people.
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(c) It could mean that the people, while not working
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negative magic, are just not right for you.
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(3) Meditate on your feelings
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(a) Remember that the High Self can only speak to us
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through the Younger Self who then speaks to us through feelings and
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emotions.
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(b) Seek out your inner voice and follow its direction
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always.
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C. Beware of others who try to convince you that theirs is the only
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proper way of development.
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1. There are many traditions and many paths of the craft and THERE
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IS NO ONE WAY THAT IS RIGHT FOR EVERYONE.
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a. Groups and individuals vary in size, structure, methods of
|
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working, cultural roots, and other factors.
|
||
|
||
(1) You should try to connect with the path or paths that seem
|
||
to harmonize most with your own vibrations, needs, and interests.
|
||
|
||
D. Beware of others who are overly quick to initiate you and make
|
||
you part of their system of magic.
|
||
|
||
1. This is often a sign that they want to use you, your money, and
|
||
your energy to feed their own ego trips and power games.
|
||
|
||
E. Beware of those who flatter you and nourish your Ego more than
|
||
your Spirit.
|
||
|
||
1. They are probably trying to control you for their own devices
|
||
and care little, if anything, for your spiritual needs.
|
||
|
||
a. On the other hand, beware of those who try to control you
|
||
with intimidation, guilt and/or fear.
|
||
|
||
(1) Watch out for teachers who constantly point out to you how
|
||
wise and powerful they are and how ignorant and weak you are.
|
||
|
||
(a) One who is truly wise does not have to call your
|
||
attention to it.
|
||
|
||
(b) Actions speak louder than words.
|
||
|
||
VI. WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE JOINED THE WRONG GROUP
|
||
|
||
A. Recognize WHY you joined this particular group.
|
||
|
||
1. People first contacting the craft rarely enter a specific
|
||
tradition out of deliberate choice.
|
||
|
||
a. Usually they are seeking 'The Craft' and they join the first
|
||
group that lets them in.
|
||
|
||
(1) This group gives them a plan of study, often lasting a
|
||
solar year.
|
||
|
||
(a) Then, if they seem to mesh with the other people of the
|
||
group, they are initiated into it.
|
||
|
||
(b) Usually that coven has a specific orientation and
|
||
tradition that it follows.
|
||
|
||
B. Making Plans to Leave
|
||
|
||
1. If you find that you are impatient or that you are not
|
||
advancing as quickly as you think you should be, you may want to start
|
||
making plans to leave the group.
|
||
|
||
a. This should be done as graciously as you can possibly manage.
|
||
|
||
(1) As a newcomer to the craft community you will not have
|
||
much of an established reputation.
|
||
|
||
(a) And it is human nature to place more value on the story
|
||
told by the leader of a group as to why you left, than your story,
|
||
especially if it was a bad break.
|
||
|
||
(b) Unless the group and/or its leaders already have a bad
|
||
reputation, in which case you should not have gotten mixed up with
|
||
them in the first place.
|
||
|
||
(2) If you can get out of the group without causing conflicts
|
||
or confrontations, do it, as it will then be much easier to build a
|
||
good reputation in the community.
|
||
|
||
(a) And you will find it easier to get into a new group if
|
||
they do not have to risk facing bad blood with another coven because
|
||
they took you in.
|
||
|
||
(3) For your own sake, do not bad mouth your old group or its
|
||
leaders.
|
||
|
||
(a) This only hurts you, as it tends to lower you in the
|
||
eyes of the other crafters and it will eventually get back to the ones
|
||
you are bad mouthing.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
VII. WARDING OFF PSYCHIC ATTACKS
|
||
|
||
A. Get to Know Your Enemy
|
||
|
||
1. TRUE psychic attacks are VERY RARE.
|
||
|
||
a. There are few people with the knowledge and/or training who
|
||
can launch an effective psychic attack.
|
||
|
||
(1) Most people who suspect that they are being attacked
|
||
psychically are paranoid.
|
||
|
||
(a) The paranoia usually has its roots in guilt felt by the
|
||
person who believes he is under attack.
|
||
|
||
(b) The guilt is normally related to some action or other,
|
||
that the paranoid person has committed against someone else and the
|
||
fear of the wrath or supposed power of the person he believes is
|
||
attacking.
|
||
|
||
(c) This guilt and fear is what works on their
|
||
subconsciousness until they start to manifest real symptoms or outward
|
||
appearances of being under attack.
|
||
|
||
2. Look for a link between yourself and your enemy
|
||
|
||
a. If in fact, there really is someone trying to attack you
|
||
psychically, they will need a link to you.
|
||
|
||
(1) Be very careful to dispose of all nail-clippings and hair,
|
||
so that they do not fall into the hands of your enemies and practice
|
||
restraint in giving out your picture.
|
||
|
||
(2) Wash all clothes that you are giving away and remove any
|
||
personalized initials or tags that connect them with you.
|
||
|
||
(a) All of these items are connected to you through the Law
|
||
of Contagion, and can serve as a link through which your enemy can
|
||
reach you.
|
||
|
||
b. Check to see if any of these items may be in the possession
|
||
of the person you suspect is attacking you.
|
||
|
||
(1) You should be able to remember if you have given anyone a
|
||
lock of your hair, a photograph, or an article of clothing.
|
||
|
||
3. Seek out stories of failure on the part of the person you
|
||
suspect is doing the attacking.
|
||
|
||
a. A large part of the success of the attack will depend on the
|
||
faith of the victim that the enemy is truly as powerful as the victim
|
||
believes the attacker to be.
|
||
|
||
|
||
(1) This faith not only reinforces the psychological effects
|
||
of being attacked but the fear it creates opens a channel between the
|
||
victim and attacker.
|
||
|
||
(a) Asking around should soon turn up stories of failure on
|
||
the part of the attacker and this plants doubts in the victims mind as
|
||
to whether they are truly at risk from this bumbler.
|
||
|
||
|
||
4. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER
|
||
|
||
a. If you are under attack, it is at least partly your own
|
||
fault, and you need to get your life in order.
|
||
|
||
(1) Take control of your life by cleaning your living quarters
|
||
from top to bottom.
|
||
|
||
(a) This will reassure you that there are no hidden charms
|
||
or fettishes hidden inside your space.
|
||
|
||
(b) If you discover any, then you can break the link by
|
||
bathing them in the running water of a stream, canal or the waves of
|
||
an ocean to wash away their power and then burn them in a fire to
|
||
break any connection between you and them.
|
||
|
||
(c) Do not forget to check outside of your house for
|
||
recent signs of digging which would indicate that someone has buried
|
||
something there recently.
|
||
|
||
(d) One favorite place is under your doorstep so that you
|
||
must cross it each time you leave or enter the house and outside your
|
||
bedroom window.
|
||
|
||
(2) If you have been raised in any particular religion that
|
||
you still feel an affinity for or have truly converted to, you might
|
||
try praying to your deity for protection and forgiveness for whatever
|
||
you have done to bring attack unto you.
|
||
|
||
(a) A good way to renew your faith is to sit down and read
|
||
the entire book, scroll, etc, that constitute your holy doctrines
|
||
which guide you through your life.
|
||
|
||
(3) Change your lifestyle if you feel that it has contributed
|
||
to opening you up to the attack.
|
||
|
||
(a) Unfortunately we are judged by others according to the
|
||
people we associate with and nobody needs friends who will turn on
|
||
you.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
B. Purify and Protect Your Home.
|
||
|
||
1. In addition to the physical cleansing of your home mentioned
|
||
above it is a good practice to spiritually cleanse your home on a
|
||
regular basis.
|
||
|
||
a. Natural cleansing agents such as sunshine and wind and also
|
||
prepared solutions such as floor washes and powders that can be
|
||
sprinkled into carpets or across doorways, etc.
|
||
|
||
(1) The sun has a disinfecting quality that is excellent for
|
||
bedding and rugs.
|
||
|
||
(a) Remove all cloth covered furniture, bedding and
|
||
clothing after it has been washed, and cloth floor and wall coverings
|
||
and hang or place them in the full sun for a minimum of 6 hours.
|
||
|
||
(2) Open all the windows of your home and allow the wind to
|
||
blow through your house.
|
||
|
||
(a) If there is no wind, then make some with a box fan,
|
||
bought or borrowed from a local source.
|
||
|
||
(b) Every house has a natural inlet and outlet for air
|
||
built into it. Light a stick of sweet incense and walk around your
|
||
home with it. Notice whether the air coming from each window or door
|
||
pulls the smoke of the incense out of the room or pushes it into the
|
||
room. Also notice which windows or doors produce the strongest push
|
||
and pull.
|
||
|
||
(c) Place the fan at the window which has the strongest
|
||
pull of air inward, so that it pulls the air into the room. Another
|
||
fan should be placed at the window with the strongest push out, so
|
||
that the fan blows the air out the window.
|
||
|
||
(3) Choose an incense that appeals to you and fill the house
|
||
with smoke from the incense while it is being aired out.
|
||
|
||
(a) An instant incense burner can be made from a pie plate
|
||
with a can of playdough set in the middle of it.
|
||
|
||
(b) Shove the ends of stick incense into the playdough at
|
||
an angle, so that the ashes fall out into the pie plate. Light the
|
||
sticks and you are in business.
|
||
|
||
(c) An alternative is to use self-igniting charcoal with a
|
||
powdered or resinous incense. Take a 2 quart saucepan and fill it half
|
||
full with fine dirt or sand and set the charcoal in the center of the
|
||
sand. Light the charcoal and place a few pinches of powdered incense
|
||
or a few pieces of resin on the glowing coal.
|
||
|
||
|
||
(d) Do not place the incense burner too close to any walls,
|
||
as the smoke will stain the walls. Turn off any negative-ion
|
||
generators that you may have in the house as they will grab the smoke
|
||
out of the air and bond it to the walls and fixtures in your home.
|
||
|
||
(4) Scrub the floors and walls with a cleansing solution
|
||
containing soap, water, sea salt and fragrances which you associate
|
||
with cleanliness.
|
||
|
||
(a) Some people prefer the hospital smell that comes from
|
||
using Lysol, others the pungent smell of pine oil, and still others
|
||
the lighter fragrances of lemon oil or lavender.
|
||
|
||
(b) I would suggest staying away from cleansers that leave
|
||
the smell of ammonia since that particular smell is often associated
|
||
with stale urine.
|
||
|
||
(c) Any decent formulary should give several recipes for
|
||
concocting your own floor washes, cleansing powders, etc.
|
||
|
||
2. Once the psychic atmosphere of your home has been cleansed, you
|
||
will want to take measures to prevent any unwanted intrusions.
|
||
|
||
a. Setting wards at all the windows and doors will prevent any
|
||
unwelcome entities from crossing your threshold.
|
||
|
||
(1) This is done after all locks and bars, if any, are in
|
||
place and secured.
|
||
|
||
(a) Remember, on the physical plane it is best to use
|
||
physical means backed up by psychic means, rather than to rely solely
|
||
on psychic means, unless you like to live dangerously.
|
||
|
||
b. A ward is set by drawing, or tracing a protective sign such
|
||
as the cross for christians, a banishing pentagram for witches, etc.,
|
||
at each of the windows and doors.
|
||
|
||
(1) Appropriate visualizations depicting what the protective
|
||
sign is supposed to accomplish, will program it as you are drawing it.
|
||
|
||
(a) You can leave instructions for it to let you know if
|
||
anything tries to get past it or, if you are afraid you might not be
|
||
able to control your fear, tell it to stand its ground as long as it
|
||
can.
|
||
|
||
(b) Personally, I prefer to visualize it as a local
|
||
manifestation of the Goddess and thereby set up a magical link that
|
||
allows the ward to draw on the natural protective urges of a mother
|
||
for her young.
|
||
|
||
<1> It's true that, in this case, that is playing a bit
|
||
of hardball, but I see no reason why I shouldn't feel as safe anywhere
|
||
I am as I do resting in the bosom of my Mother.
|
||
|
||
c. As a last line of defense, you might want to borrow a page
|
||
out of the ceremonial magicians book and cast a protective circle
|
||
about your bed before you go to sleep.
|
||
|
||
(1) If you are planning to go out and do some work on the
|
||
Astral Planes, it is almost mandatory that you do this to insure that
|
||
you are not messed with while you are "oot and aboot."
|
||
|
||
C. Learn how to handle yourself when confronted by your attacker.
|
||
|
||
1. Sit or stand with your arms crossed over your solar plexus.
|
||
|
||
a. The chakra through which energy enters and leaves your body
|
||
is located at the solar plexus.
|
||
|
||
(1) By blocking this chakra, you are denying the attacker any
|
||
of your energy and preventing him from sending any of his into your
|
||
system.
|
||
|
||
(a) The effect is heightened if you stand or sit in such a
|
||
way as to be facing slightly to one side or the other of the attacker,
|
||
in other words, do not face him front on.
|
||
|
||
2. Become aware of how you are controlling your eyes.
|
||
|
||
a. The key here is relaxation.
|
||
|
||
(1) If you find yourself staring, or transfixed, blink your
|
||
eyes until they feel comfortable.
|
||
|
||
(a) Many forms of hypnosis depend on catching the eye and
|
||
holding it until the subject tires enough to allow an opening.
|
||
|
||
b. Notice which eye of your attacker you are staring into and
|
||
deliberately change your gaze to the other one.
|
||
|
||
(1) The eye which you find yourself staring into is your
|
||
attackers 'strong' eye by which he 'fascinates' his victims.
|
||
|
||
(a) Changing your gaze to his 'weak eye' breaks his control
|
||
over you.
|
||
|
||
(2) It takes a lot of concentration to keep your gaze on his
|
||
'weak' eye.
|
||
|
||
(a) But exerting this effort will distract you from his
|
||
voice which he will try to use to 'charm' you.
|
||
|
||
3. Become aware of your personal zones and posture.
|
||
|
||
a. Get a book on, and study, body language.
|
||
|
||
(1) Body language is the non-verbal way your subconscious
|
||
communicates how it is feeling to yourself and others around you.
|
||
|
||
(a) Without an understanding of how body posture can be
|
||
controlled, other people can gain the upper hand by placing you in
|
||
subservient postures.
|
||
|
||
b. Learn how to recognize the positions and practice turning the
|
||
tables on aggressors by trading position while you subtly invade their
|
||
personal safety zone with a mildly aggressive move or two.
|
||
|
||
(1) This will remove you from being the one who is dominated,
|
||
while it throws your attacker off balance.
|
||
|
||
(a) For the most part, people who will threaten you with
|
||
psychic attack will not attempt to force their own will upon you
|
||
physically.
|
||
|
||
<1> But in the off chance they might try, stay away
|
||
from deserted or less than public places when confronting your
|
||
attacker.
|
||
|
||
4. Do not overlook the obvious ridiculousness of the situation in
|
||
your search for a solution.
|
||
|
||
a. People who attack or try to attack, others psychically take
|
||
themselves much too seriously.
|
||
|
||
(1) The quickest way to counter an attack is to invoke your
|
||
innate sense of humor.
|
||
|
||
(a) Smiling, with an occasional giggle or snicker, while
|
||
your attacker is putting his curse on you, will send him into a fit of
|
||
ranting and raving.
|
||
|
||
(b) Pretending to be looking forward to the curse will make
|
||
him 'foam at the mouth".
|
||
|
||
(c) Asking if there is anything you can do to help will
|
||
send him over the edge.
|
||
|
||
5. Whatever you do, DO NOT try to counter-attack your attacker.
|
||
|
||
a. This will lower your psychic energies to his level and open a
|
||
channel between you and him through which he may successfully attack
|
||
you.
|
||
|
||
b. This will play hell with your Karma and you will both be
|
||
required to work things out before either of you can proceed along the
|
||
Path of Return.
|
||
|
||
(1) Nor should you invoke the Crone aspect of the Goddess to
|
||
punish him.
|
||
|
||
(a) The Goddess is not concerned about such matters in Her
|
||
Maiden aspect, very forgiving of everybody in Her Mother aspect, and
|
||
only interested in Justice in Her Crone aspect.
|
||
|
||
<1> This means that as Maiden, she doesn't care and as
|
||
Mother, she will forgive and not punish, but as Crone she will kick
|
||
everybody's backside that is involved.
|
||
|
||
<a> There is a maxim of justice that - if there is a
|
||
dispute - everybody is at least somewhat at fault.
|
||
|
||
<b> Therefore to serve justice - everyone must be
|
||
punished.
|
||
|
||
<2> It is better to ask for mercy and let the laws of
|
||
Karma even things out.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
END OF LESSON EIGHT
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X
|
||
|
||
Another file downloaded from: NIRVANAnet(tm)
|
||
|
||
& the Temple of the Screaming Electron Jeff Hunter 510-935-5845
|
||
The Salted Slug Strange 408-454-9368
|
||
Burn This Flag Zardoz 408-363-9766
|
||
realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 510-527-1662
|
||
Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 415-583-4102
|
||
Tomorrow's 0rder of Magnitude Finger_Man 415-961-9315
|
||
My Dog Bit Jesus Suzanne D'Fault 510-658-8078
|
||
New Dork Sublime Demented Pimiento 415-566-0126
|
||
|
||
Specializing in conversations, obscure information, high explosives,
|
||
arcane knowledge, political extremism, diverse sexuality,
|
||
insane speculation, and wild rumours. ALL-TEXT BBS SYSTEMS.
|
||
|
||
Full access for first-time callers. We don't want to know who you are,
|
||
where you live, or what your phone number is. We are not Big Brother.
|
||
|
||
"Raw Data for Raw Nerves"
|
||
|
||
X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X
|