General

IMBOLC RITUAL
By Kurt Hunter

REQUIRED
• 1 small white taper for each participant, with foil wax catchers at the bases
• 1 large white candle, to symbolize Brigid and Springtime
• 1 small paper boat.
• Early bloom flowers; crocus, daffodil, phlox, pussy willow, violet, primrose, cowslip. Scatter these about the edge of the circle. May also use bits of twigs, sticks and evergreen to symbolize the ending Winter.
• Small packages of early blooming flower seeds for each participant.
• (Optional) a large pot of fresh earth in which to plant the seeds together, or participants may take them home to plant themselves.
• Altar tools as needed: Incense, bag of dirt, bowl of scented water, yellow candle, besom, sword, cakes and wine and packets of seeds in a basket beneath the altar.

ROLES
• High Priest
• High Priestess
• The Winter Crone
• Brigid, Maiden of Spring
• The Horned Lord
• Heralds of the Spring (4) who also act as quarter callers

Each of the Heralds of Spring takes up the lit incense (flowery is best), a bag of fresh dirt or loam, a bowl of sweet fragrant water, and a lit yellow candle. They will line up at the East side of the circle. Each participant will, one at a time, file past them. They will be blessed and consecrated each, in turn, with the four elements. For added color, the Heralds can wear yokes, veils or ribbons of the appropriate elemental color; yellow for air, green for earth, blue for water, and red for fire.

HERALD OF AIR: [waves incense] The scent of new flowers guide you into Spring. Hail and Welcome.

HERALD OF EARTH: [crosses forehead with a dusting of earth] The promise of fertile lands beckon you into Spring. Hail and Welcome.

HERALD OF WATER: [brushes lips with water] The taste of sweet waters carry you into Spring. Hail and Welcome.

HERALD OF FIRE: [holds candle before them and gestures with it into circle] The growing light of the Sun warm you into Spring. Hail and Welcome.

When all have filed past, each of the Heralds should, from back to front, bless themselves and then bless each other Herald as they pass into the circle. The intention is that, by the end, each person has been blessed. Set the tools on the altar.

HIGH PRIESTESS: [takes up besom, casts widdershins East to East, to banish the Winter]
Old Man Winter, away, away!
Your time is ending this day!
Gone freeze and banish snow!
It is Spring we now know!

Returns besom to place near altar. High Priest takes up Sword. Note that, at this point, the circle and the quarters can either be cast using whatever standard Tradition the group may have for doing so, or this method, or some combination thereof. Also some Traditions, such as Temple Tradition, put Fire in the East and Air in the South, and cast North to North. It’s all good, just be consistent.

HIGH PRIEST: [casting circle East to East in normal fashion with blue witch fire]
I conjure thee o circle of power
To protect us here in this hour
A boundary to preserve and contain
And turn the wheel within again

Return sword to altar. The Heralds also serve as quarter callers, carrying in turn from East to East, the four elements– Incense, Candle, Water and Earth. Bless each quarter silently with the particular element by spiraling with it four times at each direction. Return the elements to the altar when complete. Each Herald/Quarter Caller faces a direction and rest of participants follow suit. People may hold up their athame’s or a hand to welcome the guardians of the watchtowers, as they will. At the end of each welcome make the appropriate invoking pentagram for that element.

HERALD OF AIR: [East] Lord and Lady of the Lightening Skies!
We summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites, and guard this circle. Blessed Be!

HERALD OF FIRE: [South] Lord and Lady of the Fertile Lands!
We summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites, and guard this circle. Blessed Be!

HERALD OF WATER: [West] Lord and Lady of the Flowering Islands!
We summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites, and guard this circle. Blessed Be!

HERALD OF EARTH: [North] Lord and Lady of the Shining Castle!
We summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rites, and guard this circle. Blessed Be!

HIGH PRIESTESS: [addressing circle]
We have come again, to the sacred time of Imbolc.
We turn the wheel towards the Spring
We sing to welcome the young maiden
We dance to welcome the budding Earth

HIGH PRIEST: [addressing circle]
Heed the words of the Horned Lord
Heed the words of the Winter’s Crone
Their guidance and wisdom have led us
Dreams in the dark giving way to dawn

HORNED LORD: [wearing antlers/horns, he steps before the altar and faces towards the circle]
Truly the Winter has been long and cold
My deer, elk and moose find little forage
The she-bear grows thin in her den, awaiting the birth of her cubs
The White Swan is gone from us and it is time for Her return

HIGH PRIEST: Listen to the high flying geese; do you hear their call approach from the South?

HIGH PRIESTESS: Smell the warming breezes; is that the scent of new flowers on the wind?

HORNED LORD: Gather in, Children of the Goddess. Is that a light I see on the distant shore, coming ever closer?

Everyone should take a step into the circle to gather more closely in around the Horned Lord, save the CRONE and BRIGID. High Priest and High Priestess pass small candles around to each of the participants including the HORNED LORD and themselves. The Crone lights Brigid’s white pillar candle. The Crone takes the small boat and holds it up before her. She and Brigid process around the outside of the circle. If possible, the Crone is dressed in black or dark grays. Brigid, if possible, is dressed in white.

WINTER CRONE:
Beyond the Veil of the Hidden World
Returned from the Shining Land of Apples
The White Swan of Promise returns
To give light, hope and love to those
Who faithfully and truly await Her

ALL: [begin softly, then repeat with growing intensity] Io Ivo He! Brede is Come!

After the Crone and Brigid make a full circle around, everyone but The Horned Lord steps back allowing them to join the circle and step into it.

HORNED LORD: [kneeling before Brigid]
My joy at seeing you, the greatest flower of Spring
Knows no bounds, and I honor thee
Brigid, Lady of Fire and the Poetry
The White Swan is returned. Blessed Be!

ALL: Blessed Be.

WINTER CRONE:
Rise, Hunter, for you have seen through your task
You have led my Children safely in the cold night
Bringing us through Samhain’s dread gates
To the threshold of promise anew
Come with me and I will hear
Of what great stories you have to tell!

The Crone and the Horned One step back into the circle. They place the boat and the horns on the altar and make sure they have small candles themselves.

BRIGID: [speaking to assembled circle, holding her lit candle]
As the new Sun was kindled at Yule
So do I carry this symbol of His Light returned
It grows fuller now, it brightens the World
Let us share it, that this be a most happy place
For Spring to be welcomed again

She walks around the circle, lighting the candles of all present.

BRIGID: I am the fire that bakes the grain to bread!
I am the fire on the altar that consumes the offering!
I am the fire of the forge that tempers the soul!

HERALD OF AIR: Brede is the breath of life! Blessed Be! [ALL] Blessed Be!

HERALD OF FIRE: Brede is the flame of love! Blessed Be! [ALL] Blessed Be!

HERALD OF WATER: Brede is the promise from beyond the sea! Blessed Be! [ALL] Blessed Be!

HERALD OF EARTH: Brede is the new flowering Earth! Blessed Be! [ALL] Blessed Be!

Brigid places her white pillar candle lit into the cauldron and rejoins the circle. Participants may either place their candles in the cauldron too or pinch them to use later in their own private observation of the Season. HPS places basket of seeds in middle of circle to be charged for the coming Spring.

HIGH PRIEST:
Charge charge o’ little seeds
Grow high and meet our needs
Grace us with your lovely blooms
That our dreams may come true soon

HPS explains that energy will be raised for the turning of the wheel, the charging of the seeds to bring about our hopes and dreams for the coming year (so tend to your dreams well and with due diligence!) and for any additional energy that may be specifically requested for healing. Everyone raises power with the chant:

She changes everything She touches, and everything She touches changes.

After the cone of power is raised, cakes and wine are offered in the usual manner by the HP and HPS.

HP/HPS hold chalice with wine or juice and athame, respectively.

HIGH PRIEST: As the athame is to the male
HIGH PRIESTESS: So the cup is to the female
BOTH: And conjoined they bring blessedness.

Chalice is passed around the circle. Afterwords the cakes are blessed. HPS holds the plate and HP places his hands over them.

HIGH PRIEST: We bless this offering of the grain
HIGH PRIESTESS: And the grain blesses us

This is also passed around. Be sure to leave a little bit of both for libation to the Gods. Personally I like to give the first offerings before circle is cast to the Gods, and the last offerings after circle is opened to them as well.

Sacred BS ensues for a time, news is exchanged, then everyone prepares to dismiss the circle. Cast appropriate pentagrams of devocation.

HIGH PRIESTESS:
We do thank the Gods for coming from afar
We do thank the Elements for their aid
We do thank you all for joining us here
Blessed Be

HERALD OF EARTH: [North] Spirits of Earth, we do thank thee for being near
And ere ye depart to your lovely realms we bid thee hail and farewell!

HERALD OF WATER: [West] Spirits of Water, we do thank thee for being near
And ere ye depart to your lovely realms we bid thee hail and farewell!

HERALD OF FIRE: [South] Spirits of Fire, we do thank thee for being near
And ere ye depart to your lovely realms we bid thee hail and farewell!

HERALD OF AIR: [East] Spirits of Air, we do thank thee for being near
And ere ye depart to your lovely realms we bid thee hail and farewell!

HIGH PRIEST [takes sword around the outside of participants, cutting away the circle, freeing the energy back to the cosmos]
Witches all, our rite is ended
The powers about the circle are being drawn back
Even as we watch, to remain there until next we meet
So be it!

Pinch or snuff out all remaining candles, offer libation with remaining cakes and wine, and celebrate!

Kurt Hunter is Georgian elder and NROOGD red cord who has been working in the Craft for over 25 years. He is High Priest of ElvenOak Coven in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and is currently a student in the ministerial seminary of the Temple of Witchcraft. Kurt works as a professional counselor and clinical supervisor and enjoys stone collecting, gardening, photography and gaming. He lives in Portland, OR and can be reached at [email protected]

Registration for the Temple’s Imbolc celebration and circle in Derry, NH, is now open! Just click on the links for additional information or to register. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged, as it helps us to gauge attendance and plan accordingly.

Both the afternoon workshop and the evening ritual are held at the Upper Village Hall, 52 East Derry Road, in Derry, NH (off Exit 4 on I-93).

Imbolc ritual registration (7 pm – 9:30 pm in Derry, NH)

Imbolc workshop: Shapeshifting for a Better Tomorrow with Adam Sartwell, Founder and Virgo lead minister (2 – 5 pm in Derry, NH)

The best gifts I was ever given were ones I participated in..My mother was diagnosed with stage four cancer that had metastasized to her bones and liver. When the chemo treatments no longer worked, my tough five foot-two mother decided to spend her last days at home. The gift was taking care of my mother when she was in hospice.
Since she and I shared a house, I was to be the primary care giver, with my sisters and brother-in-law taking shifts to help out so I could work as long as possible. Mom and I learned how to take care of her through trial and error. While she was still mobile, I would cook for her and leave her meals in plastic containers so she could eat while I was away at work. When her hands got weaker she told me she couldn’t open the containers, we switched plastic wrap. I fed her until she couldn’t eat any more then I gave her protein drinks from a syringe so she wouldn’t be thirsty. When something changed, we adjusted.
As my Mom’s condition worsened, I had to stop working and take care of her full-time. As she neared the end, it was mostly her and I in an insular domain, with very little interference from the outside world. The longer she was sick the less people other than family came to visit her. Mom said they “just forget,” without bitterness. We listened to music together, holding hands in companionable silence and watched TV. All our differences disappeared, they weren’t important anymore. Time had no meaning; I slept when she slept, we would sleep in the afternoons, be awake at night, it didn’t matter.
We got to the basic level of caring. My focus became taking care of Mom and making her comfortable like she did for me when I was a child. Forgotten were the material things, it was the small physical things that made her happy now. Things like brushing her teeth, to make her mouth feel fresher, combing her hair—her favorite thing was when I would rub moisturizer on her back to soothe her dry skin. It wasn’t that this caretaking wasn’t hard, scary and at times downright ugly–like cleaning out bedsores because she couldn’t lay a certain way because of her tumors,– but with all the pain she was in it was rewarding to do something for her that gave her a little bit of pleasure.
When Mom made her decision to stop fighting her disease, I approached hospice care like a business transaction, it was just something I had to do. Watching my tough little Mom stick by her decision ~ knowing the outcome, but doing it on her own terms ~ melted my heart. The only thing she required of me was to help her.
Caring for Mom brought out parts of me I didn’t know existed. I didn’t know I could care for someone so completely, nor did I know I had the strength to deal with watching her fade before my eyes despite doing everything I could do to stop it. She gave me the strength to accept her decision, and respect her choice. Most of all she made me realize what is most important it life, not the things but the people in my life and the comforts you can give them. These are the gifts she gave to me.
Raye Snover is a co-editor of The Temple Bell, a Third Degree Witch in the Cabot Tradition and lives in Manhattan.

Do you have an animal friend that just loves petting and stroking? Your touch conveys love, special attention, and feels great. If you’re interested in another way of touching that’s sure to delight, try massage.

Petting and stoking is a crucial part of the human-animal relationship. Massage takes your relationship to a deeper level through this hands-on bodywork, which enhances total well-being. It’s a deliberate way of touching that is methodical and specific to areas of the body for a response of relaxation and comfort.

Whether your pet is an athlete or a couch potato, massage promotes the body’s well-being. For the athlete, a sports massage can be either invigorating before an event, or soothing and rebuilding after the event. It’s a way of attaining top performance, while protecting your pet’s level of fitness to avoid injury during competitive events. For the less active animal, revitalized blood circulation from massage gives a terrific energy boost.

Massage is a wonderful heath-enhancer for all animals and all ages. For the older, it’s excellent for soothing achy or stiff muscles while stimulating internal body functions. It helps with ease of movement, instills a sense of peacefulness, and helps towards restful sleep. What a special way to show our seniors that we care and appreciate their many years of friendship!

And last but not least, what about the most endearing creatures on earth – the baby animal companions? Touch is an essential element in a young animal’s life, and massage on a regular basis builds a strong bond between you and your animal friend. During growth time, young animals can experience joint and muscle stress as their bones are developing, and massage helps to ease the discomfort of growing pains.

Massage is a nurturing, preventative, natural approach to animal health that can be safely added to most any animal’s care regimen. However, it is not a substitute for veterinary care. It’s a good idea to check with your veterinarian before beginning a massage program.

Here’s what massage can do:

• Improve blood and lymph circulation
• Reduce anxiety and build trust
• Reduce tight muscles, spasms, and improve muscle tone
• Speed healing time
• Improve skin and coat
• Increase flexibility, gait and movement
• Refresh after traveling or crating
• Aid the respiratory function
• Improve energy
• Lessen discomfort hip dysplasia and arthritis.

If you want to incorporate massage into your animal’s care, there are many educational resources to learn the art of animal massage. For your pet’s safety, it’s best to be trained by a certified pet massage provider.

I hope all animals lovers find this article informative and are encouraged to bring massage into their animals friend’s life.

Linda is an animal massage therapist from the Bancroft School of Massage.

Michael is a Witch, ordained minister, and Witchcraft V High Priest graduate of the Temple of Witchcraft. He is the lead minister of the Aries ministry and an active member of the Temple of Witchcraft community.  Michael is also a third degree black belt in Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu Shaolin and Hawaiian Kempo Method of karate. Besides a professional career in business, Michael maintains an active solitary witchcraft practice and an active public practice with the Temple.

Michael has been with the Temple of Witchcraft since its founding. As a practicing Witch, Michael is always eager to learn and willing to sharpen his skills and so he is often seen at witchcraft workshops.  Michael partakes in most of the Temple of Witchcraft Sabbats, whether it is calling quarters or some other part he is assigned.  He works magick almost daily and equates the continuous practice to  exercising, “If you don’t do it you lose your muscle.”

Michael has practiced martial arts since 1973. He taught martial arts for over 25 years at a karate school in Providence, RI, when he resided there. Michael competed in martial arts tournaments, and participated in and lead martial arts demonstrations. In his style of martial arts, which is both Japanese and Chinese of origin, he participated in the traditional art in and of itself as well as Tai Chi, kick boxing, jujitsu, judo, and Thai boxing. Additionally, Michael works with traditional martial arts weapons such as the samurai and ninja swords, sai swords, kama, nunchaku, and the staff.

Michael came to Witchcraft in about 2003 after reading Christopher Penczak’s Gay Witchcraft and practicing the exercises in that book and seeing the correlation of the energy work in Witchcraft to his work with Tai Chi. It was not until 2006 that Michael would start taking his first class taught by Christopher Penczak and he then became part of the mystery school at that time. “When I came to the Craft I became hungry for magick” Michael puts its, “…and then I just immersed myself in it.”

As the lead minister of Aries, Michael gets to combine his Witchcraft practice and martial arts training for his administration of the ministry. Michael’s rituals usually have a warrior element to them.  Michael, along with deputy ministers Wren and Rick, is responsible for the protection of the Temple of Witchcraft. Aries leads protection rituals quarterly in addition to a Veteran’s Day ritual each November. Michael is also responsible for the Temple’s military outreach as well as the creation of a martial arts system designed specifically for the Temple of Witchcraft.

Michael has contributed to the Temple Bell newsletter, lead rituals through social media such as Facebook, and wrote a chapter on elemental martinis in Tastes From The Temple.  Michael also contributed to the forthcoming Rites of Passage Temple of Witchcraft anthology. For the Temple, Michael has led workshops on self-defense, protection magick, and the yin and yang in Witchcraft. Additionally, Michael performs crossing over rites for the Temple of Witchcraft’s Scorpio ministry, home and office wardings, participates with the organization of TempleFest, mentors students in the mystery school, and counsels community members when sought.

Please feel free to reach out to Michael at [email protected].

 

 

by Kurt Hunter

Samhain is a time of both celebration and communion, of thanksgiving and of reflection. It’s a perfect time to examine our own lives and seek guidance from beyond the veil about how things are proceeding for us. It’s a time of endings and of beginnings. We sacrifice the things we carry that will not serve us or are too costly a personal burden to bring through the darkness. Then, come Imbolc, we emerge from that darkness in a hopefully lighter, more purified, place, ready to once again put what we’ve ruminated on into practice on the Earth and see if these seeds take root and grow.

I think if we sat down and thought about it for a bit, most of us could come up with a handful of self-identified spiritual “laws” that we try to guide our behavior and outlook by. Many books and articles have been written on this subject. They are all very much instructions on how to live a richer and more spiritually connected life. They’re supposed to bring us clarity of purpose, alignment with the Divine Source, or peace of mind. While we might not always live up to our own standards, they do give us a “bar” to aim for. They should also be something that can be shared with others, and even if others frame their particular laws in a different fashion, I think they should be able to be communicated in a way that is understood. If we can’t communicate them to others, how can we truly understand them for ourselves?

I have chosen to carry five critical laws with me. Like many gifts of the Goddess, five is an often repeated number. Five is the number of the four elements united by spirit. Five is the union of the Three who are One (Triple Goddess) and the Two who are One (Dual God). Five are the points on the Witch’s Pentagram, one of our most sacred and protective symbols. When I allow myself to be guided by these laws, I feel I am being the most genuine and true Witch I can be. When I get away from these laws, I know that the burdens and distractions of mortal life have separated me from eternal spirit and I probably need to figure out where I am and what it is I’m really doing. You may choose other numbers, but the exact number is not as important as the fact that you can quantify your guidance in a way that lets you measure yourself in a way that is both loving and exacting. A way this is not too hot, not too cold, not too many, not too few but — like Goldilocks finding the home of the three bears — “just right” for you.

These are the laws that have worked for me:

1. Have compassion of heart, cunning of mind, and curiosity of spirit

This has some definite similarities to the Temple of Witchcraft’s Three Rays of Love, Wisdom and Power. That compassion represents love is a self-evident. Cunning and wisdom are often thought of synonymous as well. But how is curiosity an expression of power? I think that it is of the spirit, the seeking out of the unknown, and by extension the willingness to change and be challenged by your exploration. Curiosity of spirit is the impetus behind the change-work I choose to do, whether on myself or acting outwardly in the Universe. Truly both of these things are a part of the same thing. Curiosity says “What if…”? Then it emboldens us to take the steps to make those changes that need doing. How many people do you know who are not guided by a sense of curiosity? Who live in their own completely safe and known boxes of life and don’t ever voyage into dangerous territory? Only seekers find, and when you find something, you might be able to bring it out of potential and into the reality of life.

2. Practice authenticity, but be open to change, which is eternal

Be Yourself, but acknowledge that the Self is on a journey of transformation and enlightenment. Who I am today isn’t the same person as who I was yesterday. Practicing authenticity means more than simply being honest in our dealings with others. It focuses on the intention of genuinely being ourselves and knowing that we can exist without subsuming or being subsumed by another. I don’t have to always be at my best, most grounded, or perfectly aligned in all my dealings. But authenticity requires that I at least give it a shot. I make the attempt to not hide from myself or from others.

3. Seek out the Mysteries

Are you starting to see that these laws are all slightly different ways of saying very much the same thing? This is another reinforcement of the importance of curiosity, integration and transformation. Dive bravely into the river of your own life. It’s filled with wonders and dangers that will delight and terrify you. Our lives are our greatest gift of opportunity for spiritual evolution. It is the crucible in which we burn away all that does not serve, and add all that serves us better. “The Mysteries” are a mystical way of referring to all these opportunities collectively. While no one has the exact same experience, we all share common source material since we have all — by definition —  emanated from the same Source. We walk together, but we take the steps on our own. Though we can be supported in our quest for the Mysteries, no one can actually come to them for us but us.

4. Protect those of the Craft, your sisters and brothers, who are favored by the Gods

Essentially a rewritten version of one of the Ordaines found in several Traditions’ Books of Shadows, this law is important because of the principle of “spiritual solidarity.” We recognize that ours is a path of service to our communities and to each other. We see that each of us is a conduit for the love, wisdom and power of the Gods (whoever They may be to us). By aiding others, we allow ourselves the gift of receiving aid when we need it. We also recognize that ours is a world where the Witch is not always warmly welcomed, especially not by those who do not seek out the Mysteries. Be authentically the Witch. This doesn’t mean you have to be “out of the broom closet” publicly, or even use that word to self-identify as I do. I consider this an ethical obligation to battle prejudice and persecution. If we all cover one another, to some degree, then we are all the more free for it.

5. Know Thyself, and more than that, Share Thyself with others

“Know Thyself” is the commonly known inscription at the Temple of Delphi in Ancient Greece. It has been adopted by many mystical Traditions as a Charge to better understand ourselves — our thoughts, our feelings, our spiritual reality, and ultimately, our Higher Purpose. This is the bedrock principle upon which many a spiritual practice has been built. But this isn’t the end of it. It’s just the start of it. We are living in an Age (of Aquarius) where it becomes necessary for us to reach out to others and collectively share our wisdom and experiences for the good of all. If we are all mirrors for each other, then a piece of me reflects a piece of you. My own Truth may help to inform yours. It doesn’t dictate yours, but neither is it divorced from yours. Sharing isn’t forcing another to take; it is merely offering to give. It may be accepted freely, or refused equally as freely, but don’t keep your wisdom hidden so tightly that none may see it: “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” How much better, then, if we all light candles as we spin through the night on our solitary-yet-unified journey?

What are your own “spiritual laws” then? Samhain is upon us, and use this time to dig deeply, reach further and uncover a guiding principle or principles that can light your way throughout the rest of the year.

Kurt Hunter is Georgian elder and NROOGD red cord who has been working in the Craft for over 25 years. He is High Priest of ElvenOak Coven in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and is currently a student in the ministerial seminary of the Temple of Witchcraft. Kurt works as a professional counselor and clinical supervisor and enjoys stone collecting, gardening, photography and gaming. He lives in Portland, OR and can be reached at [email protected]

by Tracey Frink

This is the season of harvest, when we admire the beauty of color around us and get ready for the cold and silence of winter. Everything around us is dead and dying. In this exquisite paradox, we gather the food that will sustain us through the cold, dark winter. Being closely tied to the earth, we learned to celebrate and give thanks for all of earth’s bounty and goodness. We learned it is necessary for death to come that life might be sustained. Deep in our bones and in our hearts, we understand this cycle of birth-death-rebirth. We know it happens every day. And most days we accept it; we are grateful and maybe even celebrate it. But what happens when we are suddenly struck by it in our wounded places? What happens when we are shaken off our foundations and have lost our footing? What then?

This autumn was not easy for me. My husband was hospitalized twice for a life-threatening illness. In between his hospitalizations, our front barn, which we were renovating into our Magic Cottage, caught fire and burned to the ground. We had been working on it for over a year and were almost finished. Friends and family had contributed various items for the Cottage, and I had placed many of my grandmother’s things in it. It was already a magickal place. Even now as I write about it, waves of grief wash over me, and it becomes difficult to convey what the Cottage meant to me and how much of myself I had poured into it.

I am a rational person. I understand my husband is okay. I understand I can rebuild my barn/cottage. I can even understand that the true significance of my grandmother is not in her things, but in the memories I have of her. I can know all of these things with my head; my heart, however, is still wounded. This is where an understanding of our many selves can come in handy. I have to be patient with my wounded selves and rely on my other selves help those parts heal.

Because of Elizabeth Kubler Ross and her phenomenal work with death and dying, we now have stages of grief: denial, bargaining, anger, depression and acceptance. There is no set order for the stages, and there is no time limit or pattern. Grief is as unique as the individual. And grief is as real a wound as a physical one; it is a wound of the heart. I am experiencing grief on the chakra level and the auric level which then affects my physical and emotional well-being. One could say grief hits us from the inside out.

So what is a magickal person to do? First, I would recommend being gentle with yourself and listening to your intuition. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself. Let yourself grieve. Second, ask for help. Last night I called a meeting of my Spirit Team which consists of the angels, spirit guides, Divine entities and animal spirit guides and elementals who work with me and guide me. I was feeling miserable. I asked for help. I told them I needed more direction and guidance. Third, talk about it. Tell people and others about your pain. This is not always easy to do. Choose your listeners wisely. You may want to find a therapist for a while so you can work through your grief. You can also journal your grief. Fourth, get some exercise. Even if you just walk around the block, get outside at least once a day. Fifth, take baby steps. Motivate yourself back into normal routines with small, specific concrete actions and then reward yourself with a healthy comfort.

If you find yourself sinking into the dark places and are not able to come out of it on your own, then please seek help. Remember, none of us get through this journey of life by ourselves. We are all in this together. No one gets extra points for “grinning and bearing it.” Be kind to yourself and call for help.

Most importantly, remember the Wheel. In time it will turn and soon we will once again experience the joy of rebirth and newness and life. We will rejoice and dance and our mourning will turn to joy. This is the promise. This is the dance. This is the beautiful paradox of life.

Blessed be.

Grace Epona aka Tracey R. Frink is a modern mystic, healer, equestrian and faery lover.  She lives on a small horse farm in North Carolina.  She has studied all the great world religions and is forever trying to throw her arms around the world.  She is just finishing her first year in TOW and is looking forward to Year Two.  She holds a Master of Divinity and is currently a Masters Student of Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Equine Assisted Mental Health.  She is a Reiki Master and an avid barrel racer.

Dates announced for Templefest 2014! August 2&3rd

Aries

Protection ritual at office lead by Wren
Crossed some spirits over
Participated in Mabon Ritual
Templefest meeting participation

Scorpio

Began coordination with Scorpio team, Pisces and Gemini ministries to collect the names of Those who have passed since last Samhain and the collection of letters to someone who has passed on from Temple membership. These will be held on Ancestor Altar at the office. The lists of names and letters from prior years will be ritually and reverently burned by the lead minister of Scorpio on the full moon in November.

Cancer

Ran kitchen and setup for Mabon feast.
Collected nonperishable food donations at Mabon and delivered 37lbs of food to NH Food Bank
Children’s Ministry is preparing for Harvest Celebration

Sagittarius

Rama Danu has stepped down as Dean of Students
Hired Stevie Grant to fill Dean of Students position
Witchcraft I, II and III registration open
Scheduled 2014 Sabbat Classes and Dark Moons

Gemini

Shifting Mystery School to online registration system
Migrating content to new website, including shifting the Temple Bell to a blog format
Journey work and planning for Templefest

Leo

Prosperity candle working on Full Moon for the Temple working with ancestor spirits
Poster/flyer design for Samhain Psychic Fair

Capricorn

Established Capricorn Prison Ministry Facebook page.

Pisces

Attended Western Mass Pagan Pride Day and taught class / helped with store

Libra

Choose class dates for Ethics class and Social Justice/Personal Advocacy for 2014

Taurus

Parking lot under construction

Treasurer’s Report

September 2013
Account Balances reflect the last day of the month.
Account Balances:
Opening Balance: August 31, 2013 $37,473.65
Closing Balance: 42,826.26
Petty Cash $21
Paypal balance: $3,955.98
Certificate of Deposit: $2,511.48
Events:
Income from W 1-5, Net: $1,120.12
September events: Dark Moon, Mabon, Full Moon, Protection Ritual. Net $301
Donations in August: $1,250.50

by T.W. Knox

To you who do not understand,

these words describe our way:

we journey on the spiral path

from dusk to dawn each day.

 

We do not heed the words of Mark

nor Matthew, Luke or Paul;

Creation is our holy book,

the Earth our worship hall.

 

The trees contain the chapters,

each leaf a single line,

our scripture rides upon the wind

then travels on through time.

 

Our faith defines what we perceive

with every passing hour,

For mirrored halls both high and low

convey the Witch’s power.

 

We stand together equally

in perfect love and peace;

the sacred circle binds us all

at will and word’s release.

 

Great wheel of life continue round

when spirits walk alone,

as winter finally fades away

our Goddess calls us home.

 

Br. William Knox is the founder and current Chancellor of the Contemporary Pagan Alliance. Ordained in 1995 as an interfaith minister, he serves as senior priest at the Sanctuary of Light in Ravenswood, WV, and is an invested brother in the Shanddite Order of Secular Pagan Monks.