Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Anodea Judith Biography

Anodea Judith Biography Cover Anodea Judith is an American author, spiritual teacher, poet, artist, songwriter and musician, an expert on the Chakra system, mind and body integration and somatic therapy, a Yoga therapist and a Reiki master. She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Rosebridge Graduate School of Integrative Therapy, a Doctorate in Health and Human Services from Columbia Pacific University, and has done additional doctoral work in Systems Theory at Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center. She is a past president of the Church of All Worlds (CAW) and a founder of Sacred Centers, a school for the study of sacred principles and transformative arts.

Born Judith Anne Mull on the 1st of December 1952 in Elyria, Ohio, Judith was the youngest and only daughter of three children, her middle brother is called David Mull while her eldest brother is the comedian Martin Mull. Judith spent most of her formulative years on her grandmothers farm in Northern Ohio, and there gained an early appreciation for nature and animals. In the late 1950’s her family relocated to Connecticut and Judith was enrolled at New Canaan High School to begin her formal education. During her teens while studying mythology at school, Judith began to identify with various aspects of the Greek Goddesses, and this caused her to re-evaluate Christian deities and research more into alternative religions.

Judith was aided in this quest when her mother married for a second time to a devout Christian Scientist, who kindled her interests in healing. Their belief is that all illness stems from the mind, and that the use of positive thinking techniques can perfect mind, body and spirit to effect cure. “This taught me how our consciousness can effect our reality, which is one of the foundational principles of magic”, she said. Applying such techniques in high school, she quickly became known as the healer. Christian Science as a religion however, had no appeal for Judith and she sought other systems in which to apply the same principles.

In 1971 after completing high school, Judith enrolled at Clark University studying psychology. She had intended a career as an analyst/therapist, but then changed her mind in favour of Art. She moved to California and took up studies at the College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, with additional courses at John F. Kennedy University. After finishing college she spent the next few years living and working out of an artists ‘attic studio’ in Berkeley, where she made a name for herself painting murals and “cloudscapes on ceilings”.

In 1975 realising that health and consciousness were essential components to the quality of her artistic expression, she determined to transform her spiritual self. She gave up smoking, turned vegetarian, became bisexual and started a on a serious study of yoga and mediation. This led her onto a life long study of the Charka system, as well as Acupressure, Bioenergetics, Yoga, Gestalt therapy, Radical psychiatry, Ritual magic, Shamanism, Psychic readings and Alternative healing. The results of her cumulative studies later lead to the publication of her first book: Wheels of Life: A User's Guide to the Chakra System (Llewellyn - 1987, revised 1999).

As part of her studies Judith spent two months living alone in a tent atop of a California mountain, where a friend had given her a five-acre plot of land. She describes him as “A crazy Israeli chemist, who disappeared after bequeathing it to me”. She spent her time there becoming one with the elements, during which she felt and received direct teaching from the Goddess. This caused her to re-think her name and change it to Anodea Judith (Anodea is an anagram of: Ano - meaning year of or one of, and Dea – meaning the Goddess). To Judith the meaning is clear - “One who serves the Goddess”).

After the initial success of her first book the: Wheels of Life in 1987, Anodea became a sought after teacher and speaker on the workshop circuit, presenting and lecturing at such well known events as the Starwood Festival and the WinterStar Symposium (*see additional information below). However, due to the demands of her travelling workshops and other commitments, her active involvement with CAW gradually declined, although she still remains a member of the Church Clergy.

Since then Anodea has spent the last 20 years working as a somatic psychotherapist, and now travels the world teaching through her own organization called “Sacred Centers”. Through Sacred Centers, she also runs an intensive Certification Program training other teachers and therapists in the use of her work.

Into the new millennium, as well writing books, she has ventured into the Audio/Video market and in March 2000 released a six-tape audio course called The Chakra System: A Complete Course in Self-Diagnosis and Healing. She followed this in 2004 with an award winning DVD, The Illuminated Chakras, co-created with her son, artist and animator Alex Wayne, and in 2006 produced a popular spiral-bound box set called Chakra Balancing.

Also in 2006 she wrote a double award winning book called Waking the Global Heart: Humanity’s Rite of Passage from the Love of Power to the Power of Love. This is a book that charts human history as a developmental process, and argues that we are now undergoing our global initiation from cultural adolescence to adulthood, moving from the third Chakra of power to the fourth Chakra of love as a social organizing principle. More books are planned for the future, she say’s.

Downloadable books (free):

Marion Crawford - The Witch Of Prague
Ross Arthur - English Old Norse Dictionary
Swain Wodening - Anglo Saxon Witchcraft

Saturday, November 25, 2006

How To Make Your Own Wand

How To Make Your Own Wand Cover
The Wand corresponds to the South and the element of Fire. Its color is Red, its season Summer, and its time Noon. The wand is associated with the Witch's will and it is used to direct, or move energy.

Traditionally, the wand is roughly the same length as that from your own elbow to the tip of your smallest finger and about as thick as your thumb. It can be painted, decorated with symbols, tipped with crystals, or left plain.

The Wand is consecrated when the Full Moon is in a Fire Sign (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) on the day (Tuesday, Sunday, Thursday) and in the hour (Mars, Sun, Jupiter) of that sign's planetary ruler.

Traditional lore, dictates that to make your own wand one must rise early on the morning of the Full Moon. Next, go alone to a wooded area with a new, unused axe and find a healthy living tree. One must then ask the tree for permission to take one of it's branches in order to make your wand. If the permission is not given, you must respect the answer and seek another tree.

Once the permission is given, you then cut the branch in one swing of the axe and wrap it in special cloth. Before returning home the tree which donated a part of itself to your cause is given a ritual offering for it's sacrifice.

The branch is then reduced to correct size (long as the space between your elbow and the tip of your smallest finger) and stripped of all bark. The branch is then wrapped up again and allowed to dry for a week. Afterwards, use sandpaper to smooth down the nubs left from the twigs.

At this point, the wand can be embellished in several ways including the following:

* Hollowing out the tip(s) and setting crystals in the sockets.
* Painting or Staining the Wand.
* Using a wood burning tool to inscribe symbols on it's surface.
* Wrapping the handle in leather or ribbon for better gripping.

How you embellish your wand, or not, is completely up to you and whatever you choose will be right for you. Once the wand is finished it is important that it be ritually blessed and consecrated. (See Bath of the Elements, this page)

For those who don't feel up to this process, there are easier methods. For instance. In the early days of my craft I purchased a wooden dowel from a local hardware store, which I then soaked in chamomile tea (which is known to be a fiery herb), which acted as a natural stain. I then allowed the wand to dry and to personalize it, I anointed it with three drops of my own blood before cleansing and blessing the wand.

I've even used a decorative wooden spoon as a wand.

Books in PDF format to read:

Julia Phillips - History Of Wicca In England
John Sebastian Marlowe Ward - The Master Masons Handbook

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Monday, November 20, 2006

Witches Recruiting And Compatibility

Witches Recruiting And Compatibility Cover Pagans and Wiccans do not have any active recruiting and converting methods (Some people may try to convert, but that is looked down upon). We are very open teachers. Some people like our beliefs and philosophies enough to become Pagan or Wiccan. But there is absolutely NO pressure. It is important for each person practicing the Craft to be honest about who they are, and what they want out of life. If you are pressured into the Craft, or coerced, then that's worse than not having you around at all. To most Pagans it is very important that you are comfortable with what you believe, no matter what it is you believe.

The Pagan/Christian duality is an interesting one... Myself, I do not see Christ as the son of god... Because of my Relationship with the Universe, I believe that we are all the sons and daughters of God. I do believe that Jesus was an absolutely incredible philosopher and teacher, and I have great respect for him.

I have many Pagans on my site that are both Christian and Pagan. Because of a lot of Pagan beliefs were incorporated into Christianity to convert the original Pagans to a unified belief system, the two blend together very readily. Again, it would take time for you to fit the pieces together to create your own beliefs. There are often problems, however. Usually these problems come from the close-mindedness of Christians who were always taught that Pagans were devil worshippers. It is difficult to defend yourself against something like that. Usually because it is something they have been taught their whole life, yet without any real support or evidence.

I have literally seen arguments that went like this:

"You are a devil worshipper!"
"Uh, no I'm not. There is no devil in the Craft"
"Yes you are! The Bible says so!"
"No it doesn't."
"Well you still are! I know it!"
"Uhm... I do not worship the devil. I worship nature."
"Don't try to trick me!"
"(Sigh) I hope you do as much research into my religion as I've done into yours one day. Until then, goodbye."

The same holds true for many religions and faiths, honestly. The Pagan religions are very flexible and forgiving by nature. Every now and then you'll meet up with a religion that is too close-minded and strict to allow for any kind of mixtures of beliefs. But then, usually followers of those faiths are either really not interested in the Craft, or are perfectly willing to leave their old religion behind.

The rings you talk about are usually specific to the person. Often you'll see rings with commonly used symbols. However, there are no rings that carry meaning the same way as a wedding ring does (for example).

The direction you should face when you are practicing Magick depends on the spell. If there is no direction specified, East is a preferred direction, for exactly the reasons you mentioned.

As for candles/herbs/scents, use whatever feels right. Most spells give a list of ingredients such as this, but it's often just a starting point. If you think you want to use a scent not listed, or change a candle's color, than that makes the spell more personal to you, and therefore more likely to succeed.

Bright Blessings

Downloadable books (free):

Josh Norton - Charging An Enochian Tablet
Charles Wentworth Upham - Salem Witchcraft And Cotton Mather A Reply
Louise Jackson - Witches Wives And Mothers
Tom Peete Cross - Witchcraft In North Carolina
Kathryn Paulsen - Witches Potions And Spells

Thursday, November 9, 2006

A Witchs Guide To Faery Folk How To Work With The Elemental World

A Witchs Guide To Faery Folk How To Work With The Elemental World Cover

Book: A Witchs Guide To Faery Folk How To Work With The Elemental World by Edain Mccoy

Working on the idea that faeries are not merely mythological creatures or elemental archetypes, but actual beings who can aid in pagan rituals and magic, McCoy tells the reader where to find them, how to call them (or protect against them), spells and rituals involving the little people and a rather helpful dictionary of faery folk from around the world. I'm impressed with the amount of actually helpful Information which McCoy has included in this book.

Work magick with help from the little people. All over the world, people have reported encounters with a race of tiny people who are neither human nor deity. This book reclaims that lost, rich heritage of working with faery folk that our Pagan ancestors took for granted. Edain McCoy teaches how to work with faeries in a mutually beneficial way. Practice rituals and spells in which faeries can participate, and discover tips to help facilitate faery contact. These capricious creatures can help with divination, past life recall, scrying, and spiritual quests. Also included is a dictionary of more than 230 faeries that include goblins, gnomes, elementals, seasonal faeries, and angels.

Section one explains the nature of fairies, the fairie Experience aroung the globe, how and where to find them, how to protect yourself from the bad ones and a "guided Meditation to fairyland". Section two has ideas on spells and rituals for you and the little people and how to create your own fairy beings and section three is a dictionary of the "Fairies of the world". It is REALLY a great book! The descriptions are so detailed! I just opened up to a page and scanned in one of the descriptions of a fairy: Alven - Land of Origin: Netherlands. Other Origins: None known. Other Names: Ottermaaner. Element: Water. Appearance and Temperament: Alvens have bodies thatlight as to make them almost invisible. They are not winged but they can travel through the air by becoming encased in a water bubble. Occasionally they will show themselves while wearing the skins of otters. Their malice towards humans extends only to who choose to desecrate their homes and sacred plants. Time Most Active: At night. Lore: Alvens are creatures of the moon under whose light they dance and play. They are water faeries who live in ponds, lakes and rivers, but the River Elbe is sacred to them and in it they make principal home. They cherish night-blooming plants and will harm any human who attempts to pick or destroy them. Fish are their only known enemies, and they prefer to live in water enclosures there are none. Where to Find Them: In the River Elbe, an easy journey on the inner plane. How to Contact: Look for them in Faeryland and try approaching them as a friend, someone who also loves the moon and nature. Magickal and Ritual Help: Undetermined, but they may be useful in protective and healing spells for a night-blooming garden or for the marine environment. That is just an example of one type...a few other names: Ballybogs, Baraboas, Brownies, Coblynau, Domoviyr, Elle Maids, Fireesin, Gnomes, Gremlins, Hobgoblins, Jack Frost, Knockers, Lesidhe, Lorelei, Merrows, Nokke, Oakmen, Pixies, Portunes, Saleerandees, Spunkies, Twlwwyth Tegs, Undines, Wag-by-the-way, Zips... the list goes on! There is a great resource guide in the back and suggestions for making up stories, etc...

Buy Edain Mccoy's book: A Witchs Guide To Faery Folk How To Work With The Elemental World

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Moses Maimonides - The Guide For The Perplexed
Sirona Knight - The Cyber Spellbook Magick In The Virtual World
Gerina Dunwich - A Witchs Guide To Ghost And The Supernatural

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

The Book Of Secrets

The Book Of Secrets Cover

Book: The Book Of Secrets by Solomonic Grimoires

According to Lewis Spence in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism, the Oupnekhat or Oupnekhata (Book of the Secret) is a work written in Persian providing the following instructions for the production of visions: "To produce the wise Maschqgui (vision), we must sit on a four-cornered base, namely the heels, and then close the gates of the body. The ears by the thumbs; the eyes by the forefingers; the nose by the middle; the lips by the four other fingers. The lamp within the body will then be preserved from wind and movement, and the whole body will be full of light. Like the tortoise, man must withdraw every sense within himself; the heart must be guarded, and then Brahma will enter into him, like fire and lightning. In the great fire in the cavity of the heart a small flame will be lit up, and in its center is Atma (the soul); and he who destroys all worldly desires and wisdom will be like a hawk which has broken through the meshes of the net, and will have become one with the great being." Thus will he become Brahma-Atma (divine spirit), and will perceive by a light that far exceeds that of the sun. "Who, therefore, enters this path by Brahma must deny the world and its pleasures; must only cover his nakedness, and staff in hand collect enough, but no more, alms to maintain life. The lesser ones only do this; the greater throw aside pitcher and staff, and do not even read the Oupnekhata. "

This book is possibly a revision of one of the Hindu Upanishads. Oupnekhata is probably from a nineteenth-century German translation titled Das Oupnekhat; die aus den Veden zusammengefasste Lebre von dem Brahm (Dresden, 1882), derived from an earlier Latin edition of 1801.

Download Solomonic Grimoires's eBook: The Book Of Secrets

Free eBooks (Can Be Downloaded):

Ancient Grimoires - The 8th Book Of Moses
Benjamin Rowe - The Book Of The Seniors
Idres Shah - The Book Of Power
Solomonic Grimoires - The Book Of Secrets

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