“Magic is a funny term,’ she’d say. ‘There is nothing supernatural about the earth. As long as you know what does what.”
by Suzanne Palmieri, ‘The Witch of Little Italy’
Moro
Art title: ‘Madam Witch’ by artist: Aerythe @ http://aerythes.deviantart.com/art/Madam-Witch-3746479
‘Clan of the Dragon’s Code of Honor’
J’Karrah EbonDragon 1994, Revised 2003
from: http://ebon-dragon.com/cotd/Honor.html
*Adapted in part from traditional sources*
“1) In all that you do be honest and fair. Always consider how your actions will affect your family, your Clan, and your standing among those Dragons who call you friend. If what you are doing will not bring honor or justice, or improve the world around you by even the smallest measure don’t do it. It is your duty always to ensure that no dishonor or shame comes to those dependent upon you because of your words or actions.
2) Take credit for, and accept the consequences of, all of your own actions, be it for good or ill. Everyone makes mistakes. Shame only comes in not owning up to them. And when you do make an honest mistake, forgive yourself as you would forgive others.
3) Accept no blame for that which you did not do without a very good reason such as saving an innocent from harm. Accepting undue blame to save the “honor” of another is not a good reason, for if they *had* any honor worth saving they would accept the consequences of their own actions rather than trying to pass it on to you.
4) Give your word only after great consideration as to how it may affect your duty to your Gods, your family and Clan. And when you do give your word you are honor bound to keep it. Should you knowingly or deliberately fail to do so, your honor is diminished until you make amends.
5) Do not engage in idle gossip or speculation about the affairs or actions of others. Never reveal the secrets entrusted to you by family, Clan, or friend lightly. To do otherwise shows you to be an untrustworthy person and seriously lacking in honor. The old adage “Loose lips sink ships” applies in all areas of life. The spreading of unsubstantiated rumor brings dishonor upon you and shame to your family, your Clan, and your Dragon friends.
The only exception to keeping a secret is when doing so would endanger an innocent, bring unjustified dishonor to another, bring shame to family or Clan, allow a criminal to go unpunished, or seriously violate the laws of the land. In this matter let common sense prevail.
6) What is yours is yours. Let no one take from you by force or con you out of that which is legally and rightfully yours. But also respect the property of others. Take nothing you are not entitled to or which has been given to you freely and with an open heart.
7) If someone who has wronged you, your family, or Clan comes before you in genuine repentance forgive them with out reservation. However, you have no obligation to forgive those who have wronged you yet made no attempt at restitution. Remember, while holding stubbornly to old, useless anger does you no good, neither does forgiving those who have not earned it. Forgiveness is a gift freely given yet still must be earned. It is not something that can be demanded of you, nor an “obligation” you must submit to in order to “move on.”
If you cannot honestly forgive then don’t… But also don’t let old angers fester in your heart. Instead release them to the Universe that they may be cleansed and dissipated. This does not mean you forgive the offender, it simply means that you to choose no longer let them have any power over you in any form.
8) Never neglect your family or Clan. Have the fierceness of a Dragon in their defense if and when necessary, and always be certain they are provided for before starting any new endeavor or taking any risk.
9) Always remember that having a cool head and calm mind is a virtue. The ability to keep your head when all around you are losing theirs is a benefit that will serve you well in all aspects of life.
10) Remember that you are a representative of your family, your Clan and your Dragon friends. You physical appearance and demeanor should reflect that. Show pride in yourself, your appearance, and your position in the Clan without being arrogant. Always strive to do your best everything you do. Be generous with self-praise (without bragging) and self-forgiveness when warranted.
11) When you gain power or authority, use it carefully and with wisdom. Remember that both power and authority grow with experience, and as a member of the Draconic Tradition you should exercise both with care, dignity and humility. No matter how wise you think you are, or how powerful, if you abuse what has given you there will come a time when the universe may decide to take it back.
12) Do not give your friendship or your allegiance frivolously or without careful consideration. Not all those who seek to be friends with you are worthy of that honor. A false friend can be more dangerous than the most bitter enemy. Make sure those whom you call “friend” are trustworthy and honorable.
13) Unless the lives and safety of your family or Clan are in jeopardy always obey the “laws of the land.” To do otherwise without true justification brings dishonor to you, your family, and your Clan and shames you before your gods.
14) Remember that dignity, a gracious manner and a good sense of humor are traits to be admired and cultivated.
15) Always be prepared for whatever the Future may bring. Life with all of its joys, sorrows and secrets is to be embraced and experienced to the fullest, for this is how one gains wisdom, knowledge and experience. When your time in this Life is done, return to your Gods with joy. Stand before Them with pride for a life lived with honor, and wait with a glad heart until your time of rebirth comes once again.”
Shared by Moro
Art title: ‘ The Day of the Dragon’ by artist: kokodriliscus @ http://kokodriliscus.deviantart.com/art/The-Day-of-the-Dragon-273419243
Beautiful and sad…
Beautiful and sad as those that can hear but refuse to listen. Beautiful and sad as the life of a flower in the wilderness that can cure the aching soul but no one cares that it is there.
“Witch”
“She sees faeries
And talks to her herb garden.
And everyone laughs.
She feels colors,
And says there is magic in the moon.
And everyone laughs.
She never hurts anyone
And loves her oak tree like a child.
And everyone laughs.
She always helps a stranger
And the neighborhood strays adore her
And everyone laughs.
She sits and cries
And mumbles to the shadows,
And no one cares.
Once her hair was long and bright,
Now it is a matted mess
And no one cares.
She used to dance among the trees,
Now she can’t find them
And no one cares.
Dreams of magic fill her days;
Magic she can almost touch.
And no one cares.
The day she died her herbs did, too.
And her oak tree bowed its limbs.
A single candle burned in her window
With naught there but the cats.
And no one understands…”
by- Morgan Stardancer
http://blessedbe.sugarbane.com/poetry.htm
Moro
This fantastic artwork is titled ‘ Sleeping Beauty’ by artist: kimsol @ http://kimsol.deviantart.com/art/Sleeping-Beauty-385074952
“…What are the ethics of magick?”
From lovely “Beth’s World of Wonders”
“I’m so glad you asked. The basic rule is: Do as you will, as long as it harms no one.
Sound simple? Not entirely. There are certainly self-centered reasons to go along with “harm none” – as witches, we believe that our actions will come back to us. If you put a curse on someone, you are likely to face some negative consequences down the road. Beyond the effects of individual karma, we also believe in the interconnectedness of all beings, in which harm done to one is harm done to all.
At the same time, it is impossible to live without harming anyone. For one thing, we all eat beings (plants or animals) that had to die in order to feed us. For another, sometimes doing magick to help yourself (e.g. get a job) will inadvertently harm someone else (who therefore doesn’t get the job). We cannot avoid these contradictions; we have to face them squarely and accept the consequences of our actions.
Essentially, magickal ethics are no different than regular ethics. Would you beat someone up if they made you angry? No? Then don’t curse them to make them suffer pain. Would you try to bribe a prospective employer to get a job? No? Then don’t work magick on someone else to make them hire you. Would you try to make yourself look more attractive to an employer by wearing appropriate clothing to the interview and acting the way you think they want to see you? Sure you would. So there’s no reason not to work magick on yourself to attract a job….”
This post come from this fantastic blog. I highly recommend you go over and check it out for more fantastic information! http://www.soulrebels.com/beth/pagan.html & http://www.soulrebels.com/beth/magick.html
Shared by Moro
(I’ve looked on how or how to reblog/sharing her site directly but there isn’t an option, it seems)
Title: “Fires of universe” by artist: sasha-fantom @http://sasha-fantom.deviantart.com/art/Fires-of-universe-378874511
“The 13 Wiccan Principles”
The following set of thirteen principles was adopted by the Council of American Witches, in April, 1974.
— We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal Quarters and Cross Quarters.
— We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance offering fulfillment and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.
— We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary it is sometimes called supernatural, but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.
— We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through polarity ~ as masculine and feminine ~ and that this same Creative Power lies in all people, and functions through the interaction of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive to each other. We value sex as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energies used in magickal practice and religious worship.
— We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological, worlds sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner Planes, etc. ~ and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.
— We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.
— We see religion, magick, and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it ~a world view and philosophy of life which we identify as Witchcraft.
— Calling oneself “Witch” does not make a Witch – but neither does heredity itself, not the collecting of titles, degrees, and initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within her/himself that make life possible in order to live wisely and well without harm to others and in harmony with Nature.
— We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know and our personal role within it.
— Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be “the only way”, and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief.
— As American {Or World-Wide!} Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions. We are concerned with our present and our future.
— We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as Satan or the Devil, as defined by the Christian tradition. We do not seek power through the sufferings of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.
— We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our health and well-being….”
http://www.mysticmooncoven.org/rede.htm
(Check out this source for more that inspires you in your life and personal journey)
Source: http://www.mysticmooncoven.org/rede.htm
Moro
(I did not write this article in any way. I simply enjoy sharing pearls of wisdom and beauty from different sources into one source for many to enjoy. If inspired to from there, go to the original sources to discover more!)
Art title: “Daybreak” by artist: patriciabrennan @ http://patriciabrennan.deviantart.com/art/Daybreak-66741791
‘The Myth of “Elemental Dragons’
Regarding Draconic Magic
(I do like this page/site and recommend it for anyone even a little interested in Draconic Magic; See bottom of article for the direct link)
By J’Karrah, 2005
“I always have to laugh when I hear people talking about “elemental” Dragons as if they were actual species variants. And it makes me wonder if the people who spout this information have ever actually *met* a Dragon. Personally, I doubt it. There simply is no such thing as an “elemental” Dragon. People have too often confused the magical affiliation of specific Dragons with the habitat in which they live. For example, there is a big difference between a Dragon who works with the elemental properties of water, and a Dragon who makes his or her home near the sea.
The game “Dungeons and Dragons,” and the book “Dancing With Dragons” are the primary perpetrators of this continued proliferation of misinformation.
As with human magic workers, different Dragons can have an affinity for different elemental energies. Just as you don’t have “elemental humans” you don’t have “elemental Dragons…” you simply have those who prefer to work with the energies of one element over another. Sometimes, you will find a Dragon who works equally well with all elemental energies and other times you’ll find one who couldn’t tell a salamander from an undine.
Whenever you hear someone talking about “elemental Dragons,” those that embody the forces of a particular Element, most likely they are either confusing the mage with the magic, or they are seeing an elemental critter in draconic form… 9 times out of 10 by simple virtue of their own preconceived notions…. Or they are confusing alchemical associations of draconic energies with actual Dragons.
The common metaphysical representations of each element are: Fire- the Salamander; Water- the Undine; Air- the Zephyer; Earth- the Gnome.
In my magical dealing with Dragons over the course of the past 20 years, I have worked with a wide variety of them and have established close working relationships with several. In ritual, when calling the “Dragons of the Quarters,” you are asking for a willing Dragon who is proficient with the energies of a particular element to watch over and direct the elemental energies associated with that particular quarter/direction. You are not calling on, for example a “fire Dragon” to guard the south, you are calling on the assistance of a Dragon who works primarily with the energies associated with the element of Fire. See the difference?
If you are new to working magically with Dragons, at first you will probably get several different Dragons standing in as Quarter Guards each time you cast a circle. Eventually, you may find that the same four are answering your call each time (you’ll be able to tell by the “feel” of the energy each brings). If/when this happens, you can either wait until the Dragon chooses to reveal his or her name, or you can choose a name by which you will call each one (don’t worry, if you pick a name the Dragon doesn’t like, you’ll know!). Many Dragons actually prefer to work this latter way, taking the name you choose for them as a gift. In either case, you can then substitute those names for the phrases “One who is willing” and “Great ______ Dragon” at the appropriate quarter.
To get the greatest benefit when working with Dragons you must always remember to set aside any preconceived notions you might have about Dragons and their ways of working magic. Dragons cannot be easily pigeon-holed into neat little compartments. They are as individual as humans are, and their talents, associations, abilities, and methods are as varied and diverse as the stars above.
Work with them in all their diversity rather than try to force them into narrowly defined patterns of behavior and you will have a much richer, more rewarding experience than you could ever have imagined.”
Source: http://ebon-dragon.com/cotd/elemental_dragons.html
Moro
Art title: ‘Blue Dragon.’ by artist: Amisgaudi @ http://www.deviantart.com/art/Blue-Dragon-138136026
“If You’re a Witch, Why Can’t You…?”
From lovely “Beth’s World of Wonders”
“My friends and acquaintances sometimes tease me by saying things like, “Can’t you just do a spell to fix this problem?” “Don’t you have a crystal ball to give you the answer?”
My friends are joking, mostly. Of course they would kind of like it if I did have a crystal ball to give them the answers; but they know these stereotyped ideas about witchcraft and magic don’t apply to my practices. However, I’ve also heard these comments from acquaintances who actually don’t quite understand the problem with this reasoning. So I’d like to spell it out (no pun intended).
Common beliefs about magic assume that magic is a “supernatural” power which can counteract or reverse the laws of nature. This belief can be found in a wide variety of places, from the popular 1950’s movie Bell, Book, and Candle to the sociological and anthropological literature on witchcraft and magic. (This is particularly true about studies of magic and witchcraft in indigenous
societies, but it also holds true for many studies of modern witchcraft, for example Tanya Luhrmann’s Persuasions of the Witch’s Craft.) Given this belief, it makes sense that people want to know why I don’t have a spell to solve every problem. If magic trumps physics, chemistry, economics, and sociology, I certainly ought to be able to get myself an apartment, find out who’s going to win the next horse race, and (with enough effort) produce world peace.
The thing is that magic(k), as Witches understand it, is not a supernatural power. It is a natural power which allows us to create change in the world. This ability to create change occurs only in the context of other natural laws and powers (like gravity and conservation of mass), as well as cultural patterns. For example, economic and sociological influences, although culturally specific, are constantly affecting our lives and are certainly forces to be respected.
This doesn’t mean that magick only works psychologically and cannot affect the external world. It does mean that magick is more effective when it does not contradict major natural laws or cultural forces. For example, trying to influence the outcome of the next election doesn’t violate any natural laws, but it puts you up against some strongly entrenched political and economic forces. Trying to turn a traffic light from green to red (a la The Craft) doesn’t have major cultural ramifications, but it does go against natural laws of electricity.
Alternately, doing magick to find a job as a social worker, when I have a master’s degree in social work, does not go against any natural laws, and it doesn’t contradict our cultural beliefs and economic practices related to social work. Your magick is more likely to be effective if it meets these conditions.
I’m not sure about the boundaries of this interface – at what point it becomes impossible to influence events which are already shaped by natural laws and cultural forces. And I don’t believe it is wrong to try to influence these events, although magick may not always be the best way to do so. But it’s important to keep in mind that in magick – as in every other area of our lives – we are not all-powerful.
The bottom line: Magick is natural, not supernatural, and it is only one force among many.”
Article source: http://www.soulrebels.com/beth/whycant.html
http://www.soulrebels.com/beth/pagan.htm
Shared by Moro
(I’ve looked on how or how to reblog/sharing her site directly but there isn’t an option, it seems)
Picture title: “After the Sabbat” by artist: sasha-fantom @ http://sasha-fantom.deviantart.com/art/After-the-Sabbat-263322486
“The Sea Witch”
“ENDLESSLY fell her chestnut flowers,
Faint snow throughout the honeyed dark;
The myrtle spread his boughs to drink
Deep draughts of salt from the sea’s brink,
And like a moon-dial swung her tower’s
Straight shadow o’er her warded park.
From her calm coasts the galleons fled,
The fisher steered him further west,
No port was hailed, no keel came home
Across that pale, enchanted foam,
But by her roof the thrushes fed
And wandering swallows found their rest.
The shadows touched her tenderly,
The red beam lingered on her dress;
The white gull and the osprey knew
Her tower across the leagues of blue.
The wild swan when he sought the sea
Was laggard through her loveliness.”
By: @http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-sea-witch/
Moro
Art title: Nor’Tir Delia_The Sea Witch by artist: vivenaishide @ http://www.deviantart.com/art/Nor-Tir-Delia-The-Sea-Witch-6525153
“He woke
and saw my candles lit
and just because
I am “the witch”
he laughed a nervous
twittersnitch
and asked me
“Why would you have church?”
“I’m just praying” I seemed to hiss.
“Tonight I feel the needs of men.”
And brusk he blew out all the flame
and said, “Tell them I said ‘Amen.'”
“Candles can be lit again.”
I warned him as he left the room.
“Who knows?” I laughed in dark to self,
“I could have prayed for you.”
by Serenity Blaze
from: http://www.pagan-heart.co.uk/poems/twittersnitch.html
Moro
Title: “Emotion” by artist: Andreo Oprinca at http://www.andrei-oprinca.com/portfolio/emotion/
Shamanic Dreams of a Pagan Earth 